The science of spin: targeted strategies to manufacture doubt with detrimental effects on environmental and public health.

BACKGROUND: Numerous groups, such as the tobacco industry, have deliberately altered and misrepresented knowable facts and empirical evidence to promote an agenda, often for monetary benefit, with consequences for environmental and public health. Previous research has explored cases individually, but none have conducted an in-depth comparison between cases. The purpose of this study was to compile a comprehensive list of tactics used by disparate groups and provide a framework for identifying further instances of manufactured doubt. METHODS: We examined scholarly books, peer-reviewed articles, well-researched journalism pieces, and legal evidence related to five disparate industries and organizations selected for their destructive impacts on environmental and public health (tobacco, coal, and sugar industries, manufacturers of the pesticide Atrazine, and the Marshall Institute, an institute focused on climate change research, and other scientists from the era that associated with those in the Institute). These documents provided evidence for a list of tactics used to generate pro-industry spin and manufacture doubt about conferred harm. We then identified trends among sets of strategies that could explain their differential use or efficacy. RESULTS: We recognized 28 unique tactics used to manufacture doubt. Five of these tactics were used by all five organizations, suggesting that they are key features of manufactured doubt. The intended audience influences the strategy used to misinform, and logical fallacies contribute to their efficacy. CONCLUSIONS: This list of tactics can be used by others to build a case that an industry or group is deliberately manipulating information associated with their actions or products. Improved scientific and rhetorical literacy could be used to render them less effective, depending on the audience targeted, and ultimately allow for the protection of both environmental health and public health more generally.

Soybean yield loss and economic thresholds due to glyphosate resistant hairy fleabane interference / Perda de rendimento da soja e nível de dano econômico pela interferência de buva resistente ao glifosato

The interference of glyphosate resistant hairy fleabane (Conyza bonariensis) has caused yield losses in soybean crop. Knowledge of the economic threshold is an important aspect for the economic management of resistant weeds. Because of it, the interference of the glyphosate resistant hairy fleabane density on the soybean yield loss was evaluated, as well as to estimate the economic threshold. Two experiments were conducted to verify the effect of different weed densities on the yield of two soybean cultivars (BRS Estância and BMX Turbo). Weed density ranged from 0 to 124 plants m-2. The yield of the BRS Estância decreased by 1.4% to the increase of one single plant, while for the BMX Turbo the loss was 25.9%. Soybean yield and economic threshold were lower for the BMX Turbo cultivar compared to the cultivar BRS Estância, which can be attributed to the genotype, competitive ability, weed development stage and/or environment. Increases in crop yield expectation, soybean price and herbicide efficiency reduce the economic threshold, indicating that the adoption of control measures should be taken when the weed density is low. Due to the high cost of hairy fleabane control, it is only feasible at high densities.(AU)

A interferência de plantas de buva (Conyza bonariensis) resistente ao herbicida glyphosate tem causado perdas de produtividade na cultura da soja. O conhecimento do nível de dano econômico é um importante fator para o manejo econômico de plantas daninhas resistentes na cultura da soja. Para isso, foi avaliada a interferência da densidade de buva resistente ao glyphosate sobre a perda de rendimento da soja, bem como estimado o nível de dano econômico. Dois experimentos foram conduzidos para verificar o efeito de diferentes densidades da planta daninha sobre a produtividade de dois cultivares de soja (BRS Estância e BMX Turbo). As densidades de buva variaram de 0 a 124 plantas m-2. A produtividade do cultivar BRS Estância reduziu 1,4% ao aumento de uma planta, enquanto para o cultivar BMX Turbo a perda foi de 25,9%. A produtividade da soja e o nível de dano econômico foram menores para o cultivar BMX Turbo, em comparação com o cultivar BRS Estância, o que pode ser atribuído ao genótipo, à habilidade competitiva, ao estádio de desenvolvimento da buva e/ou a ambiente. Aumentos na expectativa de produtividade da cultura, no preço da soja e na eficiência dos herbicidas reduzem o nível de dano econômico, indicando que a adoção de medidas de controle deve ser tomada quando a população de buva é baixa. Em função do elevado custo de controle da buva, este somente é viável em altas densidades.(AU)

Vir a ser psicanalista: caminho sem fim / How can we be a psychoanalyst

Tentativa de aproximação das dificuldades e fantasias do vir a ser psicanalista, não só pela estranheza, a objeção e a confusão que um processo psicanalítico desperta na sociedade de modo geral, mas também pelas inúmeras e variadas características que muitos autores propõem como imprescindíveis para o exercício da psicanálise. A autora enfatiza a importância e utilidade de apresentação de material clínico para exemplificar, clarificar e possibilitar a percepção da metabolização dos conceitos teóricos. Apresenta a experiência de um processo de longa duração, ainda em andamento(AU)

There are many difficulties in the process of being a psychoanalyst, not only because of the oddness in face of a person who appears to be between a doctor and a magician, but also because since Freud, psychoanalysts try to define the indispensable characteristics to be able to work in a psychoanalytic process. So, it is important to present a session or a fragment of a session to show how we assimilate the theory(AU)