scholarly journals A hierarchical thermodynamic imperative drives the evolution of self-replicative life systems towards increased complexity

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sergio Menendez
Keyword(s):  
Open Systems ◽  
Energy Levels ◽  
Point Of View ◽  
Coarse Grained ◽  
State Transitions ◽  
Time And Space ◽  
External Energy ◽  
Empirical Observation ◽  
Far From Equilibrium ◽  
External Driving

From a basic thermodynamic point of view life structures can be viewed as dissipative open systems capable of self replication. Energy flowing from the external environment into the system allows growth of its self replicative entities with a concomitant decrease in internal entropy (complexity) and an increase of the overall entropy in the universe, thus observing the second law of thermodynamics. However, efforts to derive general thermodynamic models of life systems have been hampered by the lack of precise equations for far from equilibrium systems subjected to arbitrarily time varying external driving fields (the external energy input), as these systems operate in a non-linear response regime that is difficult to model using classical thermodynamics. Recent theoretical advances, applying time reversal symmetry and coarse grained state transitions, have provided helpful semi-quantitative insights into the thermodynamic constraints that bind the behaviour of far from equilibrium life systems. Setting some additional fundamental constraints based on empirical observations allows us to apply this theoretical framework to gain a further semi-quantitative insight on the thermodynamic boundaries and evolution of self replicative life systems. This analysis suggests that complex self replicative life systems follow a thermodynamic hierarchical organisation based on increasing accessible levels of usable energy (work), which in turn drive an exponential punctuated growth of the system's complexity, stored as internal energy and internal entropy. This growth has historically not been limited by the total energy available from the external driving field for the earth life system, but by the internal system's adaptability needed to access higher levels of usable energy. Therefore, in the absence of external perturbations, the emergence of an initial self replicative dissipative structure capable of variation that enables access to higher energy levels is sufficient to drive the system's growth perpetually towards increased complexity across time and space. Furthermore, the self-replicative system would adopt a hierarchical organisation with all permitted energy niches evolving to be optimally occupied in order to dissipate the work input from the external drive and further adapting as higher energy levels are accessed. This model is consistent with current empirical observation of life systems across both time and space and explains from a thermodynamic point of view the evolutionary patterns of complex life systems on earth. We propose that predictions from this model can be further corroborated in a variety of artificially closed systems and that they are supported by experimental observations of complex ecological systems across the thermodynamic hierarchy.

scholarly journals Semiclassical calculations of the quadruple excited four-electron systems

2007 ◽  
pp. 33-44
Author(s):  
N. Simonovic ◽  
M. Predojevic ◽  
V. Pankovic ◽  
P. Grujic
Keyword(s):  
Energy Levels ◽  
Point Of View ◽  
Interstellar Space ◽  
Vibrational Modes ◽  
Electron Systems ◽  
Atomic Systems ◽  
Excited Atoms ◽  
Relative Contribution ◽  
Quantum Numbers ◽  
Semiclassical States

Highly excited atoms acquire very large dimensions and can be present only in a very rarified gas medium, such as the interstellar space. Multiply excited beryllium-like systems, when excited to large principal quantum numbers, have a radius of r ? 10 ?. We examine the semiclassical spectrum of quadruple highly excited four-electron atomic systems for the plane model of equivalent electrons. The energy of the system consists of rotational and vibrational modes within the almost circular orbit approximation, as used in a previous calculation for the triply excited three-electron systems. Here we present numerical results for the beryllium atom. The lifetimes of the semiclassical states are estimated via the corresponding Lyapunov exponents. The vibrational modes relative contribution to the energy levels rises with the degree of the Coulombic excitation. The relevance of the results is discussed both from the observational and heuristic point of view.

Rheology of hydrocarbon gels

1950 ◽  
Vol 200 (1061) ◽  
pp. 183-188 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Mechanical Properties ◽  
Experimental Measurement ◽  
Theoretical Basis ◽  
Continuous Media ◽  
Point Of View ◽  
Coarse Grained ◽  
Testing Instrument ◽  
Fine Grained ◽  
Mineral Oils ◽  
Space And Time

Hydrocarbon gels contain a number of materials, such as rubber, greases, saponified mineral oils, etc., of great interest for various engineering purposes. Specific requirements in mechanical properties have been met by producing gels in appropriately chosen patterns of constituent components of visible, colloidal, molecular and atomic sizes, ranging from coarse-grained aggregates, represented by sponges, foams, emulsions, etc.; to fine-grained and apparently homogeneous ones, represented by optically clear compounds. The engineer who has to deal with the whole range of such materials will adopt a macroscopic point of view, based on an apparent continuity of all the material structures and of the distributions in space and time of the displacements and forces occurring under mechanical actions. It has been possible to determine these distributions in the framework of a comprehensive scheme in which the fundamental principles of the mechanics of continuous media provide the theoretical basis, and a testing instrument of new design, termed Rheogoniometer, the means of experimental measurement (Weissenberg 1931, 1934, 1946, 1947, 1948).

scholarly journals Markov Stochastic Processes in Biology and Mathematics -- the Same, and yet Different

2018 ◽  
Vol 14 (1) ◽  
pp. 7540-7559
Author(s):  
MI lOS lAWA SOKO
Keyword(s):  
Stochastic Process ◽  
Stochastic Processes ◽  
Discrete Time ◽  
Stochastic Matrix ◽  
Random Number Generator ◽  
Point Of View ◽  
State Transitions ◽  
Similar Principle ◽  
Probabilistic Space ◽  
And Mathematics

Virtually every biological model utilising a random number generator is a Markov stochastic process. Numerical simulations of such processes are performed using stochastic or intensity matrices or kernels. Biologists, however, define stochastic processes in a slightly different way to how mathematicians typically do. A discrete-time discrete-value stochastic process may be defined by a function p : X0 × X → {f : Î¥ → [0, 1]}, where X is a set of states, X0 is a bounded subset of X, Î¥ is a subset of integers (here associated with discrete time), where the function p satisfies 0 < p(x, y)(t) < 1 and  EY p(x, y)(t) = 1. This definition generalizes a stochastic matrix. Although X0 is bounded, X may include every possible state and is often infinite. By interrupting the process whenever the state transitions into the X −X0 set, Markov stochastic processes defined this way may have non-quadratic stochastic matrices. Similar principle applies to intensity matrices, stochastic and intensity kernels resulting from considering many biological models as Markov stochastic processes. Class of such processes has important properties when considered from a point of view of theoretical mathematics. In particular, every process from this class may be simulated (hence they all exist in a physical sense) and has a well-defined probabilistic space associated with it.

scholarly journals PALEOPROSTŘEDÍ VE SPODNÍM BADENU NA SEVERNÍM OKRAJI BRNA (DIVIŠOVA ČTVRŤ)

2018 ◽  
Vol 25 (1-2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Pavla Tomanová Petrová ◽  
Slavomír Nehyba ◽  
Karel Diviš ◽  
Šárka Hladilová ◽  
Růžena Gregorová ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Point Of View ◽  
Coarse Grained ◽  
Open Sea ◽  
First Time ◽  
Littoral Area

Lower Badenian sediments were studied on the locality Hvozdíkova at the Diviš district, Brno. There were interpreted 4 lithofacies of Neogene (Lower Badenian) sediments (lithofacies M1, M2, Sl, and SGl). Occurrence of basal Lower Badenian clastics is connected with existence of coarse-grained delta (foreset). Overlying pelites document pelagic sedimentation of open sea. Garnet dominates in assemblage of heavy translucent minerals.Rich assemblages of foraminifers, molluscs, spines of echinoids, ostracods and shark fauna were discovered in sediments. Diversified assemblages are dominated by plankton specimens. Species Orbulina suturalis Brön., Praeorbulina glomerosa circularis (Blow) and Globigerinoides bisphericus Todd. indicate the Lower Badenian age.From the point of view of the shark fauna diversity the locality Hvozdíkova is unique; shark fauna is very rare in Lower Badenian clays, and the genera of Squaliolus and Paraetmopterus are identified for the first time. Oysters – especially species Neopycnodonte navicularis (Brocchi) – dominate in Lower Badenian sediments. Small gastropods (for example Cancellaria sp., ?Tornus sp., Rissoa sp., Alvania sp.) probably represent fossils reworked from shallow littoral area. 

Sociocultural Implications of Wikipedia

2009 ◽  
pp. 1333-1338 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ramanjit Singh
Keyword(s):  
Open Source ◽  
Point Of View ◽  
Cultural Relativism ◽  
Communication Process ◽  
The Internet ◽  
Time And Space ◽  
Technological Infrastructure ◽  
Group Collaboration ◽  
Cultural Climate ◽  
Collaborative Efforts

Wikipedia is a free encyclopedia that operates worldwide on the Internet. Articles on Wikipedia are developed with close collaboration of volunteers and anyone can edit the content (Wikipedia, 2006e). Although there are many advantages of using Wikipedia as a group collaboration tool, there are important implications. First, Wikipedia community is diverse and intercultural differences can distort the communication process. Second, the neutral point of view (NPOV) policy can lead to disputes. Third, lack of supervision and open source policy can be another source of conflict. Forth, administration of articles can be complex due to differing cultural and political stand points (Smith & Kollock, 1999). Laslty, differences in time and space as well as low level of access to the Internet can significantly impede collaboration efforts at Wikipedia (Berry, 2006; Madon, 2000; Parayil, 2006; Sahay, Nicholson, & Krishna, 2003). Hence, the aim of this paper is to examine sociocultural implications of using Wikipedia as a group collaboration tool spanning multiple countries and how social and cultural climate, differences in time and space, as well as technological infrastructure of countries affect collaboration between individuals given the distinctive operational and administration policies at Wikipedia. It is believed that findings from this research will increase the awareness of the underlying cause of many disputes arising at Wikipedia. In addition, this research will lead to cultural relativism and provide neutral grounds for collaborative efforts at Wikipedia in the future.

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