A Crying Economy in a Bleeding State

Nigeria's multi-ethnic, multi-cultural, and multi-ideological nature is a complexity that should spur a synergy for development in all spheres. The theory of dissipative structures employed suggests that. Contrarily, the pursuit of individual group interests to the detriment of others leads to entropy that dissipates development and economic growth that its population needs. Ethnic and religious militia emerged in response to such problems and threats that has brought in consistent loss of lives and properties which whip the economy and country leaving the state bleeding. Militia internationalisation are important factors discussed as well. This chapter looks at the factors behind the emergence of these militias and the consequences their activities have on local economies of their regions and the national economy.

How the mind comes to life: The physics and metaphysics of dissipative structures

This monograph tries to illuminate the process of live and mind by focusing on a thermodynamic perspective. In doing so a fundamental link is offered between psychology and neuroscience on the one hand and physics on the other hand. Non-equilibrium thermodynamics applied on human structures leads to explanations for highly complex processes like self-healing, the forecast of the structuring of stable neuronal connections or the importance of feedback loops for the formation of metastable neuronal structures. Besides energy there is evidence for the necessity of a second concept: information. To integrate this into a resilient ontology a new definition for „biological information” is required and will be provided. Transferring in analogy the thermodynamic framework of energy to biological information leads to what I shall call Dual Dissipation Theory (DDT). Its essentials will be presented and a short introduction, why dualism can be supported if introduced correctly. Finally, DDT suggests the following insight:The common concept for life is „energy flow“ and „information flow“, grounded in dissipative structures. It could offer a plausible heuristic for the explanation of mind and consciousness closing the gap from physics, i.e. non-ecquilibrium thermodynamics, to neuroscience and psychology.

Bifurcation approach in the study of the history of state and law: understanding and methodological construction

The authors address one of the problems of interaction between natural sciences and humanities — the use of theoretical provisions of synergetic, theories of dissipative structures and turbulence in the study of problems of the history of state and law through the prism of a bifurcation approach. The article discusses the general conceptual issues of understanding bifurcation and the bifurcation approach as tools for studying social processes and institutions. Special attention is focused on the methodological design and the possibilities of its use as a cognitive tool in research practices.

Kink propagation in the artificial axon

The Artificial Axon is a unique synthetic system, based on biomolecular components, which supports action potentials. Here we consider, theoretically, the corresponding space extended system, and discuss the occurrence of solitary waves, or kinks. Such structures are indeed observed in living systems. In contrast to action potentials, stationary kinks are possible. We point out an analogy with the interface separating two condensed matter phases, though our kinks are always non-equilibrium, dissipative structures, even when stationary.

The effect of temperature on the tribological characteristics of high speed steels under conditions of friction without lubricant on the structural steel 30HGSA

This article focuses on the study of the effect of temperature in the contact zone on the process of dissipative structures formation on the surfaces of specimens made of high speed steels (HSS) grades with different levels of thermal entropy and absolute thermo-EMF under conditions of friction without lubricant on the structural steel 30HGSA. Tribological tests were performed on the tribometer which implemented a scheme of friction “pin on disk” at constant sliding speed and normal load values. The temperature in the friction zone has changed artificially from 100 to 300°C with a special intelligent heating device. It has been established experimentally that in the process of friction of HSS specimens characterized by low values of absolute thermo-EMF the dissipative structures thickness growth rate over time at temperatures of 200-250oC decreases or remains virtually unchanged; friction coefficient decreases with the increase in temperature. For specimens made of steels with high absolute thermo-EMF the rates of dissipative structures thickness growth and their utmost thicknesses increase when the contact zone temperature increases, which is accompanied by an increase in friction coefficients.

The syntheses of poly (diethylene glycol adipate) in low-intensity ultrasound

Poly (diethylene glycol adipate) is an important product of chemical technology. Several grades of polyesters (P-9, P-9A) are produced in the industry, in which poly(diethylene glycol adipate) is the main component. These composites are used in production of binders of mixed rocket solid fuels, as well as consumer goods. Poly(diethylene glycol adipate) is obtained by polycondensation of diethylene glycol and adipic acid. Usually, the polycondensation is carried out using catalysts. The use of catalysts complicates this process: requires further purification process or in solvent free system might slow reaction rate due to the limiting diffusion between reactants and mass transfer limitations. Therefore, it was proposed to use low-intensity ultrasound, which allows to influence the kinetics of the process without complicating the system. In this work, the reaction of polycondensation of diethylene glycol and adipic acid in low-intensity ultrasound was studied. The results of applying low-intensity ultrasound to the preparation of poly(diethylene glycol adipate) showed an increase in the reaction rate of the formation of a high-molecular compound and a change in the thermal regime. Application of low-intensity ultrasound provides synchronization of vibration and rotation of self-organizing dissipative structures, which leads to the decrease in energy consumption for mass transfer, thereby increasing the reaction rate. The low-intensity ultrasound demonstrated to be an effective method to intensify the polycondensation reaction.

Natural Selection beyond Life? A Workshop Report

Natural selection is commonly seen not just as an explanation for adaptive evolution, but as the inevitable consequence of “heritable variation in fitness among individuals”. Although it remains embedded in biological concepts, such a formalisation makes it tempting to explore whether this precondition may be met not only in life as we know it, but also in other physical systems. This would imply that these systems are subject to natural selection and may perhaps be investigated in a biological framework, where properties are typically examined in light of their putative functions. Here we relate the major questions that were debated during a three-day workshop devoted to discussing whether natural selection may take place in non-living physical systems. We start this report with a brief overview of research fields dealing with “life-like” or “proto-biotic” systems, where mimicking evolution by natural selection in test tubes stands as a major objective. We contend the challenge may be as much conceptual as technical. Taking the problem from a physical angle, we then discuss the framework of dissipative structures. Although life is viewed in this context as a particular case within a larger ensemble of physical phenomena, this approach does not provide general principles from which natural selection can be derived. Turning back to evolutionary biology, we ask to what extent the most general formulations of the necessary conditions or signatures of natural selection may be applicable beyond biology. In our view, such a cross-disciplinary jump is impeded by reliance on individuality as a central yet implicit and loosely defined concept. Overall, these discussions thus lead us to conjecture that understanding, in physico-chemical terms, how individuality emerges and how it can be recognised, will be essential in the search for instances of evolution by natural selection outside of living systems.

Tectono-magmatogenering structures in zones of increased geodynamic instability as priority objects for exploration of hydrogen fields

Based on comparison of the migration activity of hydrocarbons, helium and hydrogen, the paper substantiates the types of cap rocks for hydrogen accumulations (pools), which most of all contributes to its partial shieldingat steady feed. Such cap rocks are represented by predominantly smectite clay, pure (without inclusions) salt at depths over 1—2 km, non-fractured quartz sandstone at depths over 4 km, effusive and hypabissal intrusive rocks, as well as basement rocks undisturbed by metamorphic decomposition processes. Endogenous hydrogen isconsidered as the main factor of dissipative structures formation. Occurrence of hydrogen, hydrocarbon and ore macro accumulations is a kind of energy, information-geochemical fluctuations, which are intermediate states of dissipative structures subordinated to the planetary heat and mass transfer processes caused by the deep Earth degassing. In this context, the nature of geodynamic instability (activation of vertical movements, shifts, tensile and compressive stresses) can be considered as a growing sequence of dissipative processes associated with the energy percolation role of endogenous hydrogen. In the hierarchy of ring structures (RS) (from minor depressions to large structures of dozens kilometres in diameter) special attention should be paid to Sribne RS within the Dnieper-Donets Basin and Kaluga RS within the SW part of the Voronezh anteclisepericline. These ring structuresare genetically related to explosion or volcanic calderas, and characterized by ancient origin (Proterozoic) and long-term development, including neo- and actuotectonic stages. Intensity of hydrogen degassing in the Sribne RSis confirmed by micro- and nano-inclusions in the black-shale domanicoid rocks of the productive horizons in the form of particles of native metals(including oxyphile elements Al, Zn, W and others), natural alloys and intermetallids, which are tracers of ascending flows of deep reduced fluids. It is reasonable to assume the occurrence of a large hydrogen or helium-hydrogen field (group of fields) within the Sribne RS in the Lower Visean, Lower Bashkirian and Lower Permian aged rocks, which are shielded by the Lower Permian salt deposits.