scholarly journals Copernicanism and the typicality in time

2019 ◽  
Vol 19 (2) ◽  
pp. 101-109
Author(s):  
Milan M. Ćirković ◽  
Amedeo Balbi
Keyword(s):  
Reference Class ◽  
Parameter Spaces ◽  
Contemporary Research ◽  
Specific Parameter ◽  
Relevant Context

AbstractHow special (or not) is the epoch we are living in? What is the appropriate reference class for embedding the observations made at the present time? How probable – or else – is anything we observe in the fulness of time? Contemporary cosmology and astrobiology bring those seemingly old-fashioned philosophical issues back into focus. There are several examples of contemporary research which use the assumption of typicality in time (or temporal Copernicanism) explicitly or implicitly, while not truly elaborating upon the meaning of this assumption. The present paper brings attention to the underlying and often uncritically accepted assumptions in these cases. It also aims to defend a more radical position that typicality in time is not – and cannot ever be – well-defined, in contrast to the typicality in space, and the typicality in various specific parameter spaces. This, of course, does not mean that we are atypical in time; instead, the notion of typicality in time is necessarily somewhat vague and restricted. In principle, it could be strengthened by further defining the relevant context, e.g. by referring to typicality within the Solar lifetime, or some similar restricting clause.

The Influence of Emotionally Relevant Context on the Evoked Cardiac Response Triggered by an Irrelevant Stimulus

2003 ◽  
Vol 17 (2) ◽  
pp. 61-68 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michal Kuniecki ◽  
Robert Barry ◽  
Jan Kaiser
Keyword(s):  
Task Performance ◽  
Auditory Stimulus ◽  
Irrelevant Stimulus ◽  
Cardiac Response ◽  
Mental Task ◽  
Negative Valence ◽  
Cardiac Deceleration ◽  
Relevant Context ◽  
Stimulus Valence ◽  
Affective Stimulus

Abstract The effect of stimulus valence was examined in the evoked cardiac response (ECR) elicited by the exposition of neutral and negative slides as well as by an innocuous auditory stimulus presented on the affective foregrounds generated by the slides. The exposition of the aversive slide produced prolonged cardiac deceleration in comparison with the neutral slide. Similar prolonged deceleration accompanied exposition of the neutral auditory stimulus on the negative visual foreground in comparison with the neutral foreground. We interpret these results as an autonomic correlate of extended stimulus processing associated with the affective stimulus. The initial deceleration response, covering two or three slower heart beats, may be prolonged for several seconds before HR reaches the baseline level again. In such a case the evoked cardiac deceleration can be functionally divided into two parts: the reflexive bradycardia (ECR1) elicited by neutral stimuli and a late decelerative component (LDC). We can speculate that the latter is associated with an additional voluntary continuation of processing of the stimulus. This must involve some cognitive aspect different from the mental task performance which leads to the accelerative ECR2, and we suggest that processing of a stimulus with negative valence is involved in generating the LDC.

Standardization and bacteria inhibitory test of purified extract of mahogany (Swietenia mahagoni (L.) Jacq) seeds and leaves

2019 ◽  
Vol 10 (3) ◽  
pp. 2132-2138
Author(s):  
Virsa Handayani ◽  
Rezki Amriati Syarif ◽  
Ahmad Najib ◽  
Aktsar Roskiana Ahmad ◽  
Abdullah Mahmud ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Escherichia Coli ◽  
Heavy Metal ◽  
Bitter Taste ◽  
Drying Shrinkage ◽  
Ash Content ◽  
Water Soluble ◽  
Lead Contamination ◽  
Specific Parameter ◽  
Chemical Content ◽  
Swietenia Mahagoni

Mahogany (Swietenia mahagoni (L.) Jacq) is one of the plants that is often used by the community as traditional medicine. One of them is antifungal, antibacterial, antidiabetic, and eczema. This study aims to obtain standardized extracts from mahogany seeds and leaves. Standardization of purified extract of mahogany has been carried out according to the monographs of extract standardization guidelines, which include testing of specific and non-specific parameters. The results of the specific parameter testing showed that the purified extract of mahogany seeds is a thick extract, brown to reddish, smells distinctive and has a bitter taste. While the purified extract of mahogany leaves is a thick extract, greenish-brown in color, distinctive smell and has a bitter taste. The chemical content of purified extract of mahogany seeds and leaves showed the presence of flavonoids, alkaloids, terpenoids and saponins. Water-soluble essence levels in mahogany seeds and leaves was 14.84% and 10.28%. While the ethanol-soluble essence levels in mahogany seeds and leaves were 15.38% and 12.43%. Testing of non-specific parameters on mahogany seeds and leaves showed the results of drying shrinkage levels of 0.22% and 8.84%, moisture content of 2.60% and 4.04%, total ash content of 1.71% and 1.93%, levels acidic insoluble ash 0.38% and 0.32%, Total Plate Number (ALT) of mahogany seed bacteria 1x102 colonies/g, Number of mahogany mold seeds 4x10 colonies/g, heavy metal lead contamination and cadmium in mahogany seeds 0.0607µg/g and<0.003µg/g. The inhibitory diameter of each concentration of seeds against Escherichia coli, 3%, 5%, 7%, and 9%, is 12,67; 13,67; 17,67; and 19,67 mm, respectively. The inhibitory diameter of each concentration of leaves against Escherichia coli, 3%, 5%, 7%, and 9%, is 10,27; 10,90; 13,46; and 15,68 mm, respectively.

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