Programming practice suggests a notion of general iteration corresponding to the while-do construct. This leads to new characterizations of general computable unary functions usable in computer science.

The set of unary functions of complexity classes defined by using bounded primitive recursion is inductively characterized by means of bounded iteration. Elementary unary functions, linear space computable unary functions and polynomial space computable unary functions are then inductively characterized using only composition and bounded iteration.

Iterative characterizations of computable unary functions are useful patterns for the definition of programming languages based on iterative constructs. The features of such a characterization depend on the pairing producing it: this paper offers an infinite class of pairings involving very nice features.

The set, the closure of F, is the closure with respect to substitution and concatenation recursion on notation of a set of basic functions comprehending the set F. By improving earlier work, we show that is the substitution closure of a simple function set and characterize well‐known function complexity classes as the substitution closure of finite sets of simple functions.

A basis for a set C of functions on natural numbers is a set F of functions such that C is the closure with respect to substitution of the projection functions and the functions in F. This paper introduces three new bases, comprehending only common functions, for the Grzegorczyk classes ℰ_n with n ≥ 3. Such results are then applied in order to show that ℰ_{n+1} = K_n for n ≥ 2, where {K_n}n∈ℕ is the Axt hierarchy.

This paper examines and evaluates the models and the most important methods for solving clinical cases; namely, 1) principlism, 2) deontologism, 3) consequentialism, 4) casuistry, 5) virtue ethics and 6) ethics centered on the person. The strengths and weaknesses of each are weighed and an instrument is proposed to facilitate this type of analysis. As a group, the preference is for a methodology that articulates three models: the virtue approach, the person-centered approach, and these two in harmony with an ethics (...) centered on principles. The reasons for this comprehensive option are based primarily on recognition of the primacy of the dignity of the human person and on acknowledgement that complex clinical situations require a comprehensive view of both the person and clinical practice. The latter requires virtues, ethical principles and recognition of the human person as being endowed with inherent dignity and, in turn, as the foundation of ethics and clinical practice. DOI: 10.5294/pebi.2016.20.1.2. (shrink)

Hume's Reception in Early America: Expanded Edition brings together the original American responses to one of Britain's greatest men of letters, David Hume. Now available as a single volume paperback, this new edition includes updated further readings suggestions and dozens of additional primary sources gathered together in a completely new concluding section. From complete pamphlets and booklets, to poems, reviews, and letters, to extracts from newspapers, religious magazines and literary and political journals, this book's contents come from a wide variety (...) of sources published in colonial America and the early United States between 1758 and 1850. As well as classics by Thomas Jefferson, John Adams and Alexander Hamilton, it contains scores of unknown and hard-to-locate items, many of which have not been reprinted since their original publication. These responses are divided into four parts covering Hume's Essays; his Philosophical Writings; his History of England; and his Character and Death. Each of those parts has a separate introductory essay, and every selection is introduced by a short headnote that sets the piece in its historical context and provides bibliographical references. Packed with new insights into Hume and American thought and culture, Hume's Reception in Early America reveals the relevance and impact of Hume on American political, philosophical, historical, religious, and aesthetic debates. (shrink)

This is a welcome reprint of a book that continues to grow in importance.

Editor James Fetzer presents an analytical and historical introduction and a comprehensive bibliography together with selections of many of Carl G. Hempel's most important studies to give students and scholars an ideal opportunity to appreciate the enduring contributions of one of the most influential philosophers of science of the 20th century.

Bioethical Proposals to Face Social and Ethical Problems Generated by Neglected Infectious Diseases Propostas bioéticas ante os problemas sociais e éticos que geram as doenças infecciosas desatendidas This review article appointed to the topic of Neglected Tropical Diseases, a group of 18 disabling pathologies, which are sometimes fatal, and often deforming, that prevail in the populations of Asia, Africa and the tropical areas of South America. We presented, categorized, and analyzed, through a bibliographical review, the elements that relate to these (...) diseases from the Universal Declaration of Bioethics and Human Rights, 2005, in terms of equality, justice and equity, the non-discrimination and stigmatization, social responsibility and health approach. Throughout the review, we concluded that the problem around NTDs is multifactorial and we propose solutions to mitigate and to attend the NTDs, from a perspective of focused bioethics around the dignity of the human person and the affected population. We proposed including bioethics in the debate about the care of the NTDs to analyze the problems and examine solutions through transdisciplinary research projects that involve collaborative and formative work among the affected communities, government entities, health professionals and veterinary sciences. Para citar este artículo / To reference this article / Para citar este artigo Sáenz V, Mazzanti di Ruggiero MA. Propuestas bioéticas frente a los problemas sociales y éticos que generan las enfermedades infecciosas desatendidas. Pers Bioet. 2019; 23: 84-110. DOI: https://doi.org/10.5294/pebi.2019.23.1.6 Recepción: 27/09/2018 Aceptación: 06/02/2019. (shrink)

Research Ethics Committees have the responsibility to protect the participants involved in researches and to guarantee the ethical behavior of researchers. In some institutions, such committees also review scientific projects of non-pharmaceutical areas, Public Health and Health Economics. Within this framework, the article analyzes what it means to be part of a Research Ethics Committee in a hospital or university based on personal experience as a community representative. By means of the convenience sampling technique, implemented in four Colombian cities that (...) have GCP-certified committees by INVIMA –National Institute for the Control of Medications and Food–, and by means of content analysis, based on fixed and emergent categories; the experience, perception, participation, representation, and ethical aspects are described as well as the learning process and personal contributions. Findings prove that representatives interviewed have been benefited by learning clinic and epidemiological aspects without necessarily being “experts in the community”. However, they seem not to recognize clearly the population they represent, which might lead these communities to being affected by certain particular studies. The article suggests to work on the minimal common elements that a community representative should possess to appropriately protect participants. (shrink)