scholarly journals Reflections on Curiosity

2008 ◽  
Vol 17 (01) ◽  
pp. 103-108
Author(s):  
J. H. van Bemmel

Summary Objective The purpose of this article is to show that curiosity is the driving force behind all scientific endeavors. The second purpose is to show that all science is constrained on its underlying assumptions. Methods Three examples are used to illustrate the above theses: one from cosmology, the second from biomedical research, and the third from the formalization of human reasoning in a computer. The three examples are supported by quotes from Albert Einstein [1]. Results and conclusionsResearch in cosmology shows that the horizon of our knowledge is continuously expanding but that major scientific questions remain to be solved. The second example from biomedicine explains that the more we discover of the details of living phenomena, the more complex they appear to be. The example involving human reasoning makes clear that the brain is still largely unknown territory. Like Einstein, who said he held ‘humble admiration of the illimitable superior spirit who reveals himself in the slight details we are able to perceive with our frail and feeble mind’, I have a deep admiration for the Architect who reveals himself in the details that we are privileged to study in our research. As Albert Einstein said: The important thing is not to stop questioning. Curiosity has its own reason for existing.

1962 ◽  
Vol 40 (2) ◽  
pp. 254-262 ◽  
Author(s):  
H. H. Bassøe ◽  
R. Emberland ◽  
E. Glück ◽  
K. F. Støa

ABSTRACT The steroid excretion and the plasma corticosteroids were investigated in three patients with necrosis of the brain and of the pituitary gland. The patients were kept alive by artificial ventilation. In two of the patients the neutral 17-ketosteroids and the 17-hydrocorticosteroids fell to extremely low levels. At the same time, the number of eosinophil cells showed a tendency to increase. Corticotrophin administered intravenously twice to the third patient had a stimulating effect on the adrenal cortex. The theoretical and practical significance of these findings is discussed.


Author(s):  
Shaveta Bhatia

 The epoch of the big data presents many opportunities for the development in the range of data science, biomedical research cyber security, and cloud computing. Nowadays the big data gained popularity.  It also invites many provocations and upshot in the security and privacy of the big data. There are various type of threats, attacks such as leakage of data, the third party tries to access, viruses and vulnerability that stand against the security of the big data. This paper will discuss about the security threats and their approximate method in the field of biomedical research, cyber security and cloud computing.


2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xiaoyang Yu

Nomological determinism does not mean everything is predictable. It just means everything follows the law of nature. And the most important thing Is that the brain and consciousness follow the law of nature. In other words, there is no free will. Without life, brain and consciousness, the world follows law of nature, that is clear. The life and brain are also part of nature, and they follow the law of nature. This is due to scientific findings. There are not enough scientific findings for consciousness yet. But I think that the consciousness is a nature phenomenon, and it also follows the law of nature.


Author(s):  
Walter Ott

Despite its difference in aspiration, the Meditations preserves the basic structure of perceptual experience outlined in Descartes’s earliest works. The chapter explores Descartes’s notion of an idea and uses a developmental reading to clear up the mystery surrounding material falsity. In the third Meditation, our protagonist does not yet know enough about extension in order to be able to tell whether her idea of cold is an idea of a real feature of bodies or merely the idea of a sensation. By the time she reaches the end of her reflections, she has learned that sensible qualities are at most sensations. As in his earliest stages, Descartes believes that the real work of perceiving the geometrical qualities of bodies is done by the brain image, which he persists in calling an ‘idea,’ at least when it is the object of mental awareness.


1971 ◽  
Vol 49 (1) ◽  
pp. 129-131 ◽  
Author(s):  
F. S. Abbott ◽  
M. B. Favreau

Thirty-eight Fundulus heteroclitus were tested for ability to adapt to white and black backgrounds. They were then hypophysectomized and distributed individually to white and black containers. Their ability to adapt to background was determined for periods up to 2 weeks. Sixteen operated fish retained their preoperative ability to adapt; 8 became dark temporarily; 14 became persistently dark. Histological examination confirmed the result of the operation. In the third group of fish the persistent darkness was not associated with damage to specific areas of the brain although damage was more widespread in this group. It is concluded that hypophysectomy does not interfere with physiological color change in F. heteroclitus. The location of the central relays in the melanophore system could not be determined.


Neurosurgery ◽  
2003 ◽  
Vol 53 (2) ◽  
pp. 387-392 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael B. Horowitz ◽  
Kamal Ramzipoor ◽  
Ajit Nair ◽  
Susan Miller ◽  
George Rappard ◽  
...  

Abstract OBJECTIVE Endoscopic third ventriculostomy has developed into a therapeutic alternative to shunting for the management of carefully selected patients with primarily noncommunicating hydrocephalus. This procedure, however, requires a general anesthetic and necessitates violation of the brain parenchyma and manipulation near vital neural structures to access the floor of the third ventricle. Using two cadavers and off-the-shelf angiographic catheters, we sought to determine whether it was possible to navigate a catheter, angioplasty balloon, and stent percutaneously through the subarachnoid space from the thecal sac into the third ventricle so as to perform a third ventriculostomy from below. METHODS Using biplane angiography and off-the-shelf angiographic catheters along with angioplasty balloons and stents, we were able to pass a stent coaxially from the thecal sac to and across the floor of the third ventricle so as to achieve a third ventriculostomy from below. RESULTS Coaxial catheter techniques allowed for the percutaneous insertion of a stent across the floor of the third ventricle. Ventriculostomy was confirmed by injecting contrast medium into the lateral ventricle and seeing it pass through the stent and into the chiasmatic cistern. CONCLUSION We describe the performance of third ventriculostomies in two cadavers by use of the new concept of percutaneous intradural neuronavigation. This procedure may obviate the need for general anesthetic and minimize the potential for brain and vascular injury, especially if ultimately combined with magnetic resonance fluoroscopy.


2014 ◽  
Vol 5 (4) ◽  
pp. 84-88 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maryna Alfaouri-Kornieieva ◽  
Azmy M Al-Hadidi

Background: Recent clinical trials have shown a rising trend of stroke in Asian population. Approximately 20% strokes of total occur at the vertebrobasilar basin that supplies the occipital lobes of the brain, the cerebellum, and the brainstem. The anatomical features and variability of the third segment of the vertebral artery (VA) in Asians are analyzed in this study. Methods: A prospective cohort study of 68 consecutive Asian patients underwent MRA examination for head and neck in the Department of Radiology of Hospital of University of Jordan from 1.10.2011 to 30.04.2012. The 116 VA were analyzed on the obtained angiograms. Results: The third segment (V3) of the VA was studied according to its conventional division into vertical, horizontal, and oblique parts. The mean outer diameter of the V3 varied up 3.18 ± 0.73 to 4.28 ± 1.08 mm. The parameter prevailed on the left in 91% cases and was greater in males, than in females. The distal loop of the VA projected downward in 26 cases on the right (78%) and in 28 cases on the left (74%). The tortuosity of loop?formations of V3 was evaluated subject to angles between their ascending and descending bends. Conclusion: In comparison with other ethnic groups, the V3 of the VA in Asians has lesser outer diameter, especially along its oblique part; the zero?distance between the occipital bone and horizontal segment of VA occurs more often (up to 26%); the Lang’s III type of V3 variability is the most common in Asians. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/ajms.v5i4.6150 Asian Journal of Medical Sciences 2014 Vol.5(4); 84-88


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