scholarly journals The Epistemology of Biomimetics: The Role of Models and of Morphogenetic Principles

2021 ◽  
pp. 583-601
Author(s):  
Ulrich Krohs
Keyword(s):  
Theoretical Model ◽  
Synthetic Biology ◽  
Biological System ◽  
Function Form ◽  
Technological Systems ◽  
Technical Design ◽  
Realization Problem ◽  
Technical Function ◽  
Technical Artifact

Abstract Form follows function, but it does not follow from function. Form is not derivable from the latter. To realize a desired technical function, a form must first be found that is able to realize it at all. Secondly, the question arises as to whether an envisaged form realizes the function in an appropriate way. Functions are multiply realizable—various different forms can bear the very same function. One needs to find a form of a technical artifact that realizes an envisaged function sufficiently efficient, robust, or whatever criteria might be imposed. This paper scrutinizes biomimetics as one way to find a good solution to the realization problem. Drawing on an approach from the philosophy of simulations, it reconstructs the biomimetic relation as being mediated by a theoretical model. It is shown that the robustness of the functioning system is usually reached in different ways in biological and in technological systems, which explains differences in morphogenetic mechanisms or principles found in these fields. This reconstruction helps to understand problems with robustness in synthetic biology that occur when technical design principles are implemented in a biological system. The mimetic relation between the biological and the technical realm is found to be asymmetric.

scholarly journals Working Backward

2008 ◽  
Vol 130 (07) ◽  
pp. 30-34
Author(s):  
Jean Thilmany
Keyword(s):  
Synthetic Biology ◽  
Reverse Engineering ◽  
Biological System ◽  
Biomedical Engineering ◽  
Biological Systems ◽  
Electrical Engineer ◽  
Field Of Study ◽  
Early Introduction ◽  
Biological Circuits

This paper discusses role of reverse engineering in biomedical and other bioscience applications. Reverse engineering is one of the most relevant examples of methods that have moved from engineering to find a role in biomedical and other bioscience applications. For an early introduction to the method's use in both biomedical and engineering fields, reverse engineering is commonly taught to biomedical undergraduates. Scientists in the biomedical hybrid fields of systems and synthetic biology call upon reverse engineering in ways that may look foreign to the practicing mechanical or electrical engineer—or even to the practicing biomedical engineer. The paper also highlights that synthetic biology, a new area of research, focuses solely on designing and building new biological systems. Synthetic biology often focuses on ways of taking parts of natural biological systems, characterizing and simplifying them, and using them as components of an engineered, biological system. According to critics, biological circuits can be integrated into organisms to change their interactions or products or, ultimately, to synthesize fundamentally new and possibly hazardous organisms. The new field of study—like all other fields encompassed by biomedical engineering—has seen fit to use reverse engineering as an everyday tool.

Microbial Biofilms and Biotechnology – Some Perceptions

2020 ◽  
Vol 09 ◽  
Author(s):  
Subba Rao Toleti
Keyword(s):  
Tissue Culture ◽  
Synthetic Biology ◽  
Industrial Effluents ◽  
Aquatic Environments ◽  
Biochemical Processes ◽  
Microbial Biofilms ◽  
Biofilm Bacteria ◽  
Prophylactic Vaccines ◽  
Design Construction

: The review is an attempt to introduce the readers in brief about biofilms and their implications as well as some new perceptions in biotechnology. Biofilms are adherent microbial communities, which are developed on submerged surfaces in aquatic environments. Biofilms play a significant role in exopolymer production, material deterioration and also cause harmful infections. Further, the role of corrosion causing biofilm bacteria in deterioration of different materials, microbial biofilms and their enzymatic processes in reducing the toxicity of pollutants in industrial effluents are elaborated, along with clean technologies for wastewater treatment. Biotechnology is defined as any technological application that uses biological systems to synthesize or modify products or processes. The applications include biochemical processes, medical care, cell and tissue culture as well as synthetic biology and others. Synthetic biology details about the design, construction of new biological components and systems for useful purposes. Finally, to overcome the limitations that are inherent to the use of cellular host’s, cell-free systems as critical platforms for synthetic biology applications. This mini-review also mentions about new diagnostic products based on enzymes, monoclonal antibodies and engineered proteins as well as novel prophylactic vaccines.

Transition Times in Memory

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Donatella della Porta ◽  
Massimiliano Andretta ◽  
Tiago Fernandes ◽  
Eduardo Romanos ◽  
Markos Vogiatzoglou
Keyword(s):  
Theoretical Model ◽  
Social Movement ◽  
Transition Period ◽  
Two Dimensions ◽  
Democratic Regime ◽  
Organizational Models ◽  
Different Types ◽  
Transition Times ◽  
Movement Participation

The second chapter covers the main characteristics of transition time in the four countries: Italy, Greece, Spain, and Portugal. After developing the theoretical model on paths of transition, with a focus on social movement participation, the chapter looks at social movements and protest events as turning points during transition, covering in particular the specific movement actors, their organizational models, and their repertoires of action and frames. The chapter focuses on two dimensions: the role of mobilization in the transition period, which implies the analysis of how elites and masses interact, ally, or fight with each other in the process, and the outcome of transitions as continuity versus rupture of the democratic regime vis-à-vis the old one. It concludes by elaborating some hypotheses on how different modes of transition may produce different types and uses of (transition) memories.

scholarly journals Epigenetic transgenerational inheritance, Gametogenesis and Germline Development

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Millissia Ben Maamar ◽  
Eric E Nilsson ◽  
Michael K Skinner
Keyword(s):  
Developmental Biology ◽  
Environmental Factors ◽  
Biological System ◽  
Developmental Stages ◽  
Primordial Germ Cell ◽  
Cell Types ◽  
Transgenerational Inheritance ◽  
Germline Development ◽  
Current Review

Abstract One of the most important developing cell types in any biological system is the gamete (sperm and egg). The transmission of phenotypes and optimally adapted physiology to subsequent generations is in large part controlled by gametogenesis. In contrast to genetics, the environment actively regulates epigenetics to impact the physiology and phenotype of cellular and biological systems. The integration of epigenetics and genetics is critical for all developmental biology systems at the cellular and organism level. The current review is focused on the role of epigenetics during gametogenesis for both the spermatogenesis system in the male and oogenesis system in the female. The developmental stages from the initial primordial germ cell through gametogenesis to the mature sperm and egg are presented. How environmental factors can influence the epigenetics of gametogenesis to impact the epigenetic transgenerational inheritance of phenotypic and physiological change in subsequent generations is reviewed.

scholarly journals Triggering avalanches by transverse perturbations in a rotating drum

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Vicente Salinas ◽  
Cristóbal Quiñinao ◽  
Sebastián González ◽  
Gustavo Castillo
Keyword(s):  
Hopf Bifurcation ◽  
Theoretical Model ◽  
Order Parameter ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Rotating Drum ◽  
Governing Parameter ◽  
Stick Slip ◽  
Slip Regime ◽  
Axis Of Rotation

AbstractWe study the role of small-scale perturbations in the onset of avalanches in a rotating drum in the stick-slip regime. By vibrating the system along the axis of rotation with an amplitude orders of magnitude smaller than the particles’ diameter, we found that the order parameter that properly describes the system is the kinetic energy. We also show that, for high enough frequencies, the onset of the avalanche is determined by the amplitude of the oscillation, contrary to previous studies that showed that either acceleration or velocity was the governing parameter. Finally, we present a theoretical model that explains the transition between the continuous and discrete avalanche regimes as a supercritical Hopf bifurcation.

The Internationalization of Family Firms

2013 ◽  
Vol 27 (2) ◽  
pp. 103-125 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thilo J. Pukall ◽  
Andrea Calabrò
Keyword(s):  
Theoretical Model ◽  
Family Firms ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Risk Attitudes ◽  
Journal Articles ◽  
Suggested Model ◽  
Socioemotional Wealth ◽  
Uppsala Model ◽  
Research Themes

This article systematically reviews and critically examines 72 journal articles published (from 1980 to 2012) on the internationalization of family firms. Stemming from existing literature, core aspects and main gaps are identified. We aim to overcome the inconclusiveness of findings of previous research by offering an integrative theoretical model integrating the concept of socioemotional wealth with the revised Uppsala model. Our framework helps understand behaviors of internationalizing family firms by focusing on when and how they internationalize, especially related to risk attitudes, the role of knowledge and networks. Ultimately, we provide future research themes flowing from our suggested model.

Gli standard privati di sicurezza alimentare: un modello di teoria dei contratti per l'analisi degli aspetti organizzativi e promozionali

2012 ◽  
pp. 85-105
Author(s):  
Antonella Di Fonzo ◽  
Maria Angela Perito ◽  
Carlo Russo
Keyword(s):  
Theoretical Model ◽  
Food Safety ◽  
Product Differentiation ◽  
Diversification Strategy ◽  
Private Standards ◽  
Food Distributors ◽  
Definition Of ◽  
Large Distribution ◽  
Current Behavior

In recent years, large food distributors poured considerable effort in the definition of private standards of food safety for their products. Despite these efforts, medium and large retailers have yet to begin advertising to their consumers the adoption of such standards and, in doing so, do not actively pursue a diversification strategy for their products. This behavior seems paradoxical as large retailers would benefit from product differentiation. This article focuses on the role of standards in the coordination of the supply channels and proposes a theoretical model that gives an economic motivation to the current behavior of large retailers. The first objective of this study is to demonstrate how the adoption of standards is a rational choice for large retailers, even in the case in which consumers are not willing to pay for food safety. The reason is that standards can also be used to solve information asymmetry problems and organize the supply chain. Secondly, the theoretical model of contracts suggests that, investments related to the promotion of standards to the consumers, might, under certain conditions, undermine the profits of the large distribution.

Antioxidative Role of Synthetic and Natural Ascorbic Acid (Vitamin C) in Metabolic Pathways of A Biological System

2021 ◽  
Vol 15 (12) ◽  
pp. 3143-3143
Author(s):  
Naveed Shuja
Keyword(s):  
Ascorbic Acid ◽  
Vitamin C ◽  
Silica Gel ◽  
Biological System ◽  
Metabolic Pathways ◽  
Citrus Fruit ◽  
Pharmaceutical Preparations ◽  
Metabolic Reaction ◽  
Fresh Vegetables

The properties of a substance are determined by the structure of its component molecules. Ascorbic acid occurs abundantly in fresh fruit, especially blackcurrants, citrus fruit and strawberries, and in most fresh vegetables; good sources are broccoli and peppers. It is destroyed by heat and is not well stored in the body3. Ascorbic acid is a good reducing agent and facilitates many metabolic reaction and repair processes. In pharmaceutical preparations and fruit juices, ascorbic acid is readily separated from other compounds by TLC on silica gel and quantitated directly by absorption at 254nm. Serum and plasma may be deproteinized with twice the volume of methanol or ethanol.

scholarly journals Lattice-based microenvironmental uncertainty driven phenotypic decision-making: a comparison with Notch-Delta-Jagged signaling

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Aditi Ajith Pujar ◽  
Arnab Barua ◽  
Divyoj Singh ◽  
Ushasi Roy ◽  
Mohit Kumar Jolly ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Variational Principle ◽  
Signaling Pathway ◽  
Biological System ◽  
Single Cells ◽  
Tissue Level ◽  
Spatiotemporal Patterns ◽  
Complex Environment ◽  
Agent Based

Phenotypic decision-making is a process of determining important phenotypes in accordance with the available microenvironmental information. Although phenotypic decision at the level of a single cell has been precisely studied, but the knowledge is still imperceptible at the multicellular level. How cells sense their environment and adapt? How single cells change their phenotype in a multicellular complex environment (without knowing the interactions among the cells), is still a rheotorical question. To unravel the fragmental story of multicellular decision-making, Least microEnvironmental Uncertainty Principle (LEUP) was refined and applied in this context. To address this set of questions, we use variational principle to grasp the role of sensitivity, build a LEUP driven agent-based model on a lattice which solely hinges on microenvironmental information and investigate the parallels in a well-known biological system, viz., Notch-Delta-Jagged signaling pathway. The analyses of this model led us to interesting spatiotemporal patterns in a population of cells, responsive to the sensitivity parameter and the radius of interaction. This resembles the tissue-level pattern of a population of cells interacting via Notch-Delta-Jagged signaling pathway in some parameter regimes.

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