scholarly journals How metaphysical commitments shape the study of psychological mechanisms

2019 ◽  
Vol 29 (5) ◽  
pp. 579-600 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eric Hochstein
Keyword(s):  
Computer Science ◽  
Essential Role ◽  
Scientific Study ◽  
Scientific Models ◽  
Experimental Conditions ◽  
Psychological Mechanisms ◽  
Interdisciplinary Project ◽  
Theoretical Neuroscience ◽  
Experimental Protocols ◽  
Set Up

The study of psychological mechanisms is an interdisciplinary endeavour, requiring insights from many different domains (from electrophysiology, to psychology, to theoretical neuroscience, to computer science). In this article, I argue that philosophy plays an essential role in this interdisciplinary project, and that effective scientific study of psychological mechanisms requires that working scientists be responsible metaphysicians. This means adopting deliberate metaphysical positions when studying mechanisms that go beyond what is empirically justified regarding the nature of the phenomenon being studied, the conditions of its occurrence, and its boundaries. Such metaphysical commitments are necessary in order to set up experimental protocols, determine which variables to manipulate under experimental conditions, and which conclusions to draw from different scientific models and theories. It is important for scientists to be aware of the metaphysical commitments they adopt, since they can easily be led astray if invoked carelessly.

scholarly journals Seeding hESCs to achieve optimal colony clonality

2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
L. E. Wadkin ◽  
S. Orozco-Fuentes ◽  
I. Neganova ◽  
S. Bojic ◽  
A. Laude ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Stem Cells ◽  
Pluripotent Stem Cells ◽  
Embryonic Stem ◽  
Colony Growth ◽  
Seeding Density ◽  
Experimental Conditions ◽  
Experimental Protocols ◽  
Homogeneous Cell ◽  
Set Up ◽  
Induced Pluripotent

Abstract Human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) and induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) have promising clinical applications which often rely on clonally-homogeneous cell populations. To achieve this, it is important to ensure that each colony originates from a single founding cell and to avoid subsequent merging of colonies during their growth. Clonal homogeneity can be obtained with low seeding densities; however, this leads to low yield and viability. It is therefore important to quantitatively assess how seeding density affects clonality loss so that experimental protocols can be optimised to meet the required standards. Here we develop a quantitative framework for modelling the growth of hESC colonies from a given seeding density based on stochastic exponential growth. This allows us to identify the timescales for colony merges and over which colony size no longer predicts the number of founding cells. We demonstrate the success of our model by applying it to our own experiments of hESC colony growth; while this is based on a particular experimental set-up, the model can be applied more generally to other cell lines and experimental conditions to predict these important timescales.

Antibiotic treatment of the breadcrumb sponge Halichondria panicea and subsequent recolonization v1

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lara Schmittmann ◽  
Ute U Hentschel
Keyword(s):  
Antibiotic Treatment ◽  
Recovery Phase ◽  
Phase 3 ◽  
Experimental Conditions ◽  
Host Environment ◽  
Halichondria Panicea ◽  
Set Up ◽  
Bacterial Recolonization ◽  
Sponge Halichondria Panicea

This protocol generates sponges (Halichondria panicea) with a disturbed microbiome under controlled experimental conditions, in order to study bacterial recolonization dynamics. Bacteria-bacteria interactions can be analysed with this set-up within the host environment aiming at a better understanding of sponge-microbe symbiosis in vivo. It is divided into the sections 1) preparation, 2) antibiotic treatment and recovery phase, 3) recolonization with the natural microbiome and 4) sampling.

Agent-Based Modeling for Simulation of Complex Business Systems

2011 ◽  
pp. 1852-1861
Author(s):  
Christopher Langdon
Keyword(s):  
Computer Science ◽  
Instrument Validation ◽  
Research Strategy ◽  
Agent Based Modeling ◽  
Scientific Study ◽  
Research Approach ◽  
Business Systems ◽  
Agent Based ◽  
Related Research ◽  
Advance Knowledge

This article aims to provide a synopsis of agent-based modeling and how to adapt an agent-based research strategy for the scientific study of complex business systems. Agent-based systems have been a popular field of study in computer science for some time. While computer science-related research has been focused on the artifact itself, such as computational languages and algorithms, research in the management sciences is explicitly focused on business problems. Research in Information Systems (IS) has begun to advance knowledge in the use of agent-based systems as a means to seek different, computational explanations for business phenomena that have eluded scientific inquiry reliant on traditional—specifically, law and axiomatic—explanation (Kimbrough, 2003). The focus on business problems requires a different research approach than what is successful in computer science. Key modifications include first, the explicit articulation of benefits specific to the management sciences, and second, instrument validation.

Accessible@tourism 4.0

2021 ◽  
pp. 1444-1463
Author(s):  
Pedro Teixeira ◽  
Leonor Teixeira ◽  
Celeste Eusébio
Keyword(s):  
Industry 4.0 ◽  
Essential Role ◽  
Industrial Revolution ◽  
Tourism Industry ◽  
Fourth Industrial Revolution ◽  
Tourism Sector ◽  
Challenges And Opportunities ◽  
The Government ◽  
Set Up

This chapter describes how Tourism 4.0 is a concept that combines tourism and the fourth industrial revolution, and although the literature in this field is very scarce, this concept has been explored in some research projects, such as the government-sponsored research project in Slovenian tourism. People with various kinds of access requirements represent a combination of challenges and opportunities for the tourism industry. Tourism 4.0 set up the main goals of making tourism accessible to everyone at any time. Therefore, this new phenomenon may have an essential role in the development of accessible tourism. The adoption of technological components in accessible tourism enables the development of a new technological solution that can facilitate access to tourism products for disabled people, contributing to the development of accessible tourism. The new term Accessible@Tourism 4.0 is the answer to the role of the fourth industrial revolution in accessible tourism, emphasizing the effect of Industry 4.0 components in the tourism sector.

Administering social security and health in Denmark: Between centralisation and decentralisation

2019 ◽  
Vol 21 (2) ◽  
pp. 183-191
Author(s):  
Catherine Jacqueson
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Social Security ◽  
Essential Role ◽  
Social Problems ◽  
Local Authorities ◽  
Social Shopping ◽  
Set Up ◽  
Financial Arrangements

In Denmark, large parts of welfare have traditionally been the business of local authorities. In particular, municipalities have played an essential role because they have the power to levy taxes and their autonomy is guaranteed by the Constitution. Yet, most welfare schemes are regulated by acts of the Parliament. This contribution analyses the Danish set up and discusses the extent of decentralisation in the area of social security and health care, focusing on the criteria for the allocation of competences, financial arrangements and the issue of equality of treatment across the country. The article concludes that, while the export of social problems between municipalities is a well-known phenomenon in Denmark, social shopping does not seem to take place.

scholarly journals UHPLC-UV/Vis Quantitative Analysis of Hydroxylated and O-prenylated Coumarins in Pomegranate Seed Extracts

Molecules ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 24 (10) ◽  
pp. 1963 ◽  
Author(s):  
Serena Fiorito ◽  
Federica Ianni ◽  
Francesca Preziuso ◽  
Francesco Epifano ◽  
Luca Scotti ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Punica Granatum ◽  
Biologically Active ◽  
Experimental Conditions ◽  
Analytical Methodology ◽  
Extraction Solvent ◽  
Versatile Technique ◽  
Efficient Extraction ◽  
Pomegranate Seed ◽  
Set Up ◽  
Seed Extracts

A simple and rapid analytical UHPLC methodology with spectrophotometric (UV/Vis) detection, coupled with different extraction procedures, has been perfected to investigate the presence of biologically active O-prenylated umbelliferone derivatives, such as auraptene and umbelliprenin, in pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) seed extracts. Absolute ethanol was the most efficient extraction solvent in terms of yields, after a short ultrasound-assisted. The highest concentration values recorded under these experimental conditions were 1.99 μg/g of dry extract and 6.53 μg/g for auraptene and umbelliprenin, respectively. The parent metabolite umbelliferone was also detected (0.67 μg/g). The extraction and UHPLC analytical methodology set up in the present study proved to be an efficient, powerful, and versatile technique for the simultaneous qualitative analysis and quantification of oxyprenylated coumarins in pomegranate seed extracts. The characterization of such secondary metabolites in the mentioned phytopreparation represents, to the best of our knowledge, the first example in the literature.

Experimental study on the effect of pressure and flow rate on cavitation in a poppet throttle valve

2019 ◽  
Vol 72 (5) ◽  
pp. 629-636
Author(s):  
Jian Zhang ◽  
Tingting Luo
Keyword(s):  
Flow Rate ◽  
Pressure Difference ◽  
High Speed ◽  
High Speed Camera ◽  
Experimental Conditions ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Experimental Support ◽  
Throttle Valve ◽  
Set Up

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to study the variation of cavitation scale with pressure and flow in poppet throttle valve, to obtain the cavitation scale under pressure and flow conditions and to provide experimental support for the research of suppressing throttle valve cavitation and cavitation theory. Design/methodology/approach A hydraulic cavitation platform was set up, a valve was manufactured with highly transparent PMMA material and a high-speed camera was used to observe the change in cavitation scale. Findings Through experiments, it is found that the pressure difference between inlet and outlet of throttle valve affects the cavitation scale, and the more the pressure difference is, the easier the cavitation will be formed. Under the condition of small pressure difference, the cavitation is not obvious and reducing the pressure difference can effectively suppress the cavitation; the flow rate also affects the cavitation scale, the smaller the flow rate, the more difficult the cavitation will be formed and the lower the flow rate, the more the cavitation will be suppressed. Research limitations/implications Because of the magnification factor of the high-speed camera lens, the morphology of smaller bubbles cannot be observed in this study, and the experimental conditions need to be improved in the follow-up study. Originality/value This study can provide experimental support for the study of throttle valve cavitation suppression methods and cavitation theory.

scholarly journals Changes in Geochemical Composition of Groundwater Due to CO2 Leakage in Various Geological Media

Water ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (9) ◽  
pp. 2597
Author(s):  
Jisu Jeong ◽  
Sung-Wook Jeen ◽  
Hyoun-Tae Hwang ◽  
Kang-Kun Lee
Keyword(s):  
Cation Exchange ◽  
Exchange Capacity ◽  
Co2 Leakage ◽  
Experimental Conditions ◽  
Geochemical Composition ◽  
Ph Buffering ◽  
Physico Chemical ◽  
High Concentrations ◽  
Set Up ◽  
One Year

This study evaluated the effects of CO2 leakage on the geochemical composition of groundwater in various geological media through long-term column experiments. Four columns were set up with soil representing a silicate aquifer; clean sand; a sand and limestone mixture; and alluvium soil, respectively. The experiments were conducted under the same experimental conditions for approximately one year. As the CO2-saturated synthetic groundwater was introduced into the columns, a decrease in pH and increases in electrical conductivity (EC), alkalinity, and concentrations of cations and trace elements were observed in all geological media. However, different patterns of changes were also observed depending on the mineralogical and physico-chemical characteristics of each material. As the column operation continued, while the pH decreased and low alkalinity values were more evident in the silicate soil and clean sand columns, the carbonate column continued to show high alkalinity and EC values in addition to high concentrations of most cations. The alluvium soil showed distinctive cation-exchange behaviors during the initial introduction of CO2. The results indicate that changes in the geochemical composition of groundwater will depend on the characteristic of the geological medium such as pH buffering capacity and cation exchange capacity. This study can be useful for monitoring and managing the impacts of CO2 leakage in various aquifer environments.

Criteria for analysis of arterial and venous occlusion

1991 ◽  
Vol 70 (2) ◽  
pp. 665-675 ◽  
Author(s):  
T. S. Hakim
Keyword(s):  
Autologous Blood ◽  
Venous Pressure ◽  
Venous Occlusion ◽  
Pressure Gradients ◽  
Experimental Conditions ◽  
Pressure System ◽  
Arterial Inflow ◽  
Outflow Rate ◽  
Set Up

To provide a better understanding of analysis of arterial (AO) and venous occlusion (VO) tracings, using a constant and nonpulsatile perfusion pressure system, we set up an isolated in situ dog lobe preparation perfused with autologous blood. Four signals were recorded: arterial pressure, arterial inflow rate, venous pressure, and venous outflow rate. The four signals were recorded into the memory of a computer. When flow into the lobe was abruptly stopped (AO), flow out of the lung continued unchanged for approximately 150 ms and then decreased slowly to zero. Likewise, when flow out of the lung was abruptly stopped (VO), the flow into the lung continued unchanged for approximately 130 ms and then decreased slowly to zero. A monoexponential curve was fitted to different stretches of data between 0.1 and 5 s postocclusion and extrapolated to the instant of occlusion (defined here as the instant when flow at the site of occlusion becomes zero). The results indicate that 1) the first 150 ms postocclusion should be avoided because of the oscillatory artifacts generated by the occlusion maneuver, 2) use of a long segment of postocclusion data (5 s) tends to underestimate the middle pressure gradient and overestimate the arterial and venous pressure gradients, and 3) the changes in segmental vascular resistance under different experimental conditions were found to be unaffected by the criteria of analysis. Analysis of the postocclusion (AO and VO) tracings was found to be most compatible with the double-occlusion capillary pressure by fitting a stretch of data between 0.2 and 2.5 s postocclusion and extrapolating back to the instant when flow becomes zero at the site of occlusion but no earlier.

Precise Set-Point Control of Temperature for Coral Bleaching Experiments

2002 ◽  
Vol 36 (1) ◽  
pp. 70-75 ◽  
Author(s):  
Phil Turner ◽  
Ray Berkelmans ◽  
Matt Brodie
Keyword(s):  
Temperature Control ◽  
Control Technology ◽  
Experimental Conditions ◽  
Set Point ◽  
Testing Environment ◽  
Precise Control ◽  
Precision Temperature ◽  
Control Technologies ◽  
Set Up ◽  
Better Than

Experimental research into the upper thermal limits of corals is underpinned by the need for precise control of water temperature in the testing environment, with evidence that temperature differences of as little as 0.1°C can be a significant factor in whether coral bleaches or not. Off-the-shelf temperature control equipment is generally unsuitable for high precision temperature experiment because the realized accuracy of temperature control is typically less than 0.5°C, even from state-of-the-art proportional, integral, derivative (PID) control technology. However, high temperature resolution and accuracy is achievable using simple control technology. This paper reviews the principles behind two temperature control technologies and describes a system capable of controlling temperature in actual experimental conditions to better than ±0.05°C over a 24-hr period and typically better than ±0.1°C over a 12-day period. This result is obtained through appropriate design of the experimental tank set-up and the use of “on-off” temperature control technology with very small hysteresis. Accuracy of set-point temperature is maintained by calibration against a reference temperature. Sensor drift, resulting from ambient temperature fluctuations, is avoided by immersing the circuitry in the temperature-controlled water.

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