63,180 research outputs found
Comments on the cybernetics of stability and regulation in social systems
No full textThis thesis was submitted for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy and awarded by Brunel University.The methods and principles of cybernetics are applied to a discussion of stability and regulation in social systems taking a global viewpoint. The fundamental but still classical notion of stability as applied to homeostatic and ultrastable systems is discussed, with a particular reference to a specific well-studied example of a closed social group (the Tsembaga studied by Roy Rappaport in New Guinea).
The discussion extends to the problem of evolution in large systems and the question of regulating evolution is addressed without special qualifications. A more comprehensive idea of stability is introduced as the argument turns to the problem of evolution for viability in general.
Concepts pertaining to the problem of evolution are exemplified by a computer simulation model of an abstractly defined ecosystem in which various dynamic processes occur allowing the study of adaptive and evolutionary behaviour. In particular, the role of coalition formation and cooperative behaviour is stressed as a key factor in the evolution of complexity.
The model consists of a population of several species of dimensionless automata inhabiting a geometrically defined environment in which a commodity essential for metabolic requirements (food) appears. Automata can sense properties of their environment, move about it, compete for food, reproduce or combine into coalitions thus forming new and more complex species. Each species is associated with a specific genotype from which the species’ behavioural characteristics (its phenotype) are derived. Complexity and survival efficiency of species increases through coalition formation, an event which occurs when automata are faced with an “undecidable” situation that is resolvable only by forming a new and more complex organization.
Exogenous manipulation of the food distribution pattern and other critical factors produces different environmental conditions resulting in different behaviour patterns of automata and in different evolutionary “pathways.”
Eve-1, the computer program developed to implement this model, accepts a high-level command language which allows for the setting of parameters, definition of initial configurations, and control of output formats. Results of simulation are produced graphically and include various pertinent tables. The program was given a modular hierarchical structure which allows easy generation of new versions incorporating different sets of rules.
The model strives to capture the essence of the evolution of complexity viewed as a general process rather than to describe the evolution of a particular “real” system. In this respect it is not context-specific, and the behaviours which are observable in different runs can receive various interpretation depending on specific identifications. Of these, biological, ecological, and sociological interpretations are the most obvious and the latter, in particular, is stressed.J. M. Kaplan Fund in New Yor
Solid-State Characterization and Role of Solvent Molecules on the Crystal Structure, Packing, and Physiochemical Properties of Different Quercetin Solvates
No full textIn this work, a novel quercetin and dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) solvate (QDMSO) crystal structure was grown from a mixture of DMSO and water as solvent. Quercetin is a naturally occurring bioflavonoid widely used in the nutraceutical industry due to its many health benefits. Understanding quercetin solvates formation is essential for the design of novel particulate products with tailored quality attributes, including solubility, thermal resistance, and bioavailability. Here, the physiochemical properties and phase transitions of QDMSO were characterized by a wide range of experimental techniques, and the crystal structure, molecular packing, and intermolecular interactions (synthons) within the crystal lattice were modeled. Modeling and experimental results were compared to those of other known quercetin crystal structures, an anhydrous, a monohydrate, and a dihydrate form, to elucidate the role of the solvent molecules on the molecular packing and intermolecular interactions and, ultimately, on the physiochemical properties of each crystal form. It was found that in QDMSO, hydrogen bonds and dipole-dipole interactions had a greater contribution to the total lattice energy, and quercetin-solvent hydrogen bonds were stronger in energy compared to those of the other quercetin structures. These findings were used to explain the superior thermal stability of the QDMSO structure as well as its moisture-dependent behavior. This work demonstrates a coupled modeling and experimental methodology that relates intermolecular interactions and molecular packing in different solvated forms to physiochemical properties and can help in a better prediction and design of particulate products via the rational choice of the solid form
The view from the paradoxical world
No full textThis thesis was submitted for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy and awarded by Brunel University.The consequences of using such complex tools as Logic and Mathematics, which are so ingrained in our own nature as thinking living organisms, to explain precisely that Nature in which we ourselves are imbedded, are disucssed from a new perspective. The interplay between the individual (subjective) world and the social (objective) world emerges with clarity under this light.
Paradoxes, a nightmare for Logicians and Mathematicians, are returned to their cradle, the observer, where no hunt is set up to “solve" them. Though I am not alone in this endeavour to consider paradoxes from a different perspective, new insights into the nature of the living organization and the working of the nervous system allow today the opportunity to strengthen this revolutionary viewpoint.
Several experiments performed on a multicomputer realization of organizationally closed (paradoxical) unities, suggest a nervous system where processes and descriptions are more fundamental concepts than time and space.
While the consequences of this new approach remain still to be explored, a sensitive reader will already enjoy them
Erratum to: Effect of moderate red wine intake on cardiac prognosis after recent acute myocardial infarction of subjects with Type 2 diabetes mellitus (Diabetic Medicine, (2006), 23, 9, (974-981), 10.1111/j.1464-5491.2006.01886.x)
No full textIn an article by Marfella et al, the author name C. Saron is incorrect and should be listed as C. Sardu. Therefore the correct author list is: R. Marfella, F. Cacciapuoti, M. Siniscalchi, F. C. Sasso, F. Marchese, F. Cinone, E. Musacchio, M. A. Marfella, L. Ruggiero, G. Chiorazzo, D. Liberti, G. Chiorazzo, G. F. Nicoletti, C. Sardu, F. D'Andrea, C. Ammendola, M. Verza and L. Coppola.In an article by Marfella et al, the author name C. Saron is incorrect and should be listed as C. Sardu. Therefore the correct author list is: R. Marfella, F. Cacciapuoti, M. Siniscalchi, F. C. Sasso, F. Marchese, F. Cinone, E. Musacchio, M. A. Marfella, L. Ruggiero, G. Chiorazzo, D. Liberti, G. Chiorazzo, G. F. Nicoletti, C. Sardu, F. D'Andrea, C. Ammendola, M. Verza and L. Coppola
Measurement of the ratio of prompt χ c to J / ψ production in pp collisions at √s = 7 TeV
No full textThe prompt production of charmonium χ c and J / ψ states is studied in proton-proton collisions at a centre-of-mass energy of √s = 7 TeV at the Large Hadron Collider. The χ c and J / ψ mesons are identified through their decays χ c → J / ψ γ and J / ψ → μ + μ - using 36 pb - 1 of data collected by the LHCb detector in 2010. The ratio of the prompt production cross-sections for χ c and J / ψ, σ (χ c → J / ψ γ) / σ (J / ψ), is determined as a function of the J / ψ transverse momentum in the range 2 < p T J / ψ < 15 GeV / c. The results are in excellent agreement with next-to-leading order non-relativistic expectations and show a significant discrepancy compared with the colour singlet model prediction at leading order, especially in the low p T J / ψ region
Faust : Romance Of The Secret Tribunals / By George W. M. Reynolds, Author Of "The Mysteries Of London", "Pickwick Abroad", &c. Illustrated In The First Style Of The Art
No full textFAUST : ROMANCE OF THE SECRET TRIBUNALS / BY GEORGE W. M. REYNOLDS, AUTHOR OF "THE MYSTERIES OF LONDON", "PICKWICK ABROAD", &C. ILLUSTRATED IN THE FIRST STYLE OF THE ART
Faust : Romance Of The Secret Tribunals / By George W. M. Reynolds, Author Of "The Mysteries Of London", "Pickwick Abroad", &c. Illustrated In The First Style Of The Art (1)
Cover (1)
Umschlagtitel (8)
Titelseite (9)
Contents (10)
Illustrations / Prologue (11)
Prologue (12)
Chapter I.-XCV. (14)
Epilogue (119
Genome sequence of an Australian kangaroo, Macropus eugenii, provides insight into the evolution of mammalian reproduction and development.
No full textBACKGROUND: We present the genome sequence of the tammar wallaby, Macropus eugenii, which is a member of the kangaroo family and the first representative of the iconic hopping mammals that symbolize Australia to be sequenced. The tammar has many unusual biological characteristics, including the longest period of embryonic diapause of any mammal, extremely synchronized seasonal breeding and prolonged and sophisticated lactation within a well-defined pouch. Like other marsupials, it gives birth to highly altricial young, and has a small number of very large chromosomes, making it a valuable model for genomics, reproduction and development. RESULTS: The genome has been sequenced to 2 × coverage using Sanger sequencing, enhanced with additional next generation sequencing and the integration of extensive physical and linkage maps to build the genome assembly. We also sequenced the tammar transcriptome across many tissues and developmental time points. Our analyses of these data shed light on mammalian reproduction, development and genome evolution: there is innovation in reproductive and lactational genes, rapid evolution of germ cell genes, and incomplete, locus-specific X inactivation. We also observe novel retrotransposons and a highly rearranged major histocompatibility complex, with many class I genes located outside the complex. Novel microRNAs in the tammar HOX clusters uncover new potential mammalian HOX regulatory elements. CONCLUSIONS: Analyses of these resources enhance our understanding of marsupial gene evolution, identify marsupial-specific conserved non-coding elements and critical genes across a range of biological systems, including reproduction, development and immunity, and provide new insight into marsupial and mammalian biology and genome evolution
Erratum to: Effects of nutraceuticals on quality of life and sexual function of perimenopausal women (Journal of Endocrinological Investigation, (2017), 40, 1, (27-32), 10.1007/s40618-016-0500-2)
No full textUnfortunately, one of the co-author first name was wrongly published in the original version. The complete correct name of the co-author is given below. A. M. C. Rapisarda. The original version of this article is also updated
Dispelling the Myths Behind First-author Citation Counts
No full textWe conducted a full-scale evaluative citation analysis study of scholars in the XML research field to explore just how different from each other author rankings resulting from different citation counting methods actually are, and to demonstrate the capability of emerging data and tools on the Web in supporting more realistic citation counting methods. Our results contest some common arguments for the continued
use of first-author citation counts in the evaluation of scholars, such as high correlations between author rankings by first-author citation counts and other citation
counting methods, and high costs of using more realistic citation counting methods that are not well-supported by the ISI databases. It is argued that increasingly available digital full text research papers make it possible for citation analysis studies to go beyond what the ISI databases have directly supported and to employ more
sophisticated methods
Passing C*-correspondence relations to the Cuntz–Pimsner algebras
No full textWe construct a functor that maps C*-correspondences to their Cuntz–Pimsner algebras. Applications include a generalization of the well-known result of Muhly and Solel: Morita equivalent C*-correspondences have Morita equivalent Cuntz–Pimsner algebras; as well as the result of Muhly, Pask, and Tomforde: regular strong shift equivalent C*-correspondences have Morita equivalent Cuntz–Pimsner algebras
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