Metaphorical modeling concept of "energy" in the scientific discourse

Статья вписывается в актуальное направление исследований аспектов метафорического моделирования в научном дискурсе. На основе методологии теории концептуальной мета-форы анализируются метафорические модели, функционирующие в дискурсе природопользования. Выявлены наиболее часто встречающиеся модели метафорической концептуализации общенаучного понятия «энергия» ("ЭНЕРГИЯ - ЭТО ОБЪЕКТ", "ЭНЕРГИЯ - ЭТО ВЕЩЕСТВО", "ЭНЕРГИЯ - ЭТО ЖИВОЕ СУЩЕСТВО", "ЭНЕРГИЯ - ЭТО СОЦИАЛЬНЫЙ СУБЪЕКТ"). Энергия в текстах по природопользованию метафорически моделируется как активная, динамичная, самостоятельная, всеохватывающая субстанция, имеющая первостепенное значение в устройстве Вселенной и жизни на Земле. The article complies with up-to-date line of research in the area of modeling in scientific discourse. Based on the methodology of the theory of conceptual metaphor metaphorical model examines operating in environmental management discourse. Revealed common patterns of metaphorical conceptualization of scientific concept «energy» ("ENERGY - IS OBJECT", "ENERGY - IS SUBSTANCE", "ENERGY - IS A LIVING BEING", "ENERGY - IS A SOCIAL SUBJECT"). The energy in the texts for Nature metaphorically modeled as active, dynamic, independent, all-encompassing substance, has paramount importance in the structure of the universe and life on Earth

On the detection of nearly optimal solutions in the context of single-objective space mission design problems

When making decisions, having multiple options available for a possible realization of the same project can be advantageous. One way to increase the number of interesting choices is to consider, in addition to the optimal solution x*, also nearly optimal or approximate solutions; these alternative solutions differ from x* and can be in different regions – in the design space – but fulfil certain proximity to its function value f(x*). The scope of this article is the efficient computation and discretization of the set E of e–approximate solutions for scalar optimization problems. To accomplish this task, two strategies to archive and update the data of the search procedure will be suggested and investigated. To make emphasis on data storage efficiency, a way to manage significant and insignificant parameters is also presented. Further on, differential evolution will be used together with the new archivers for the computation of E. Finally, the behaviour of the archiver, as well as the efficiency of the resulting search procedure, will be demonstrated on some academic functions as well as on three models related to space mission design

Лазерное инициирование порошков тэна в условиях объемного сжатия

Определены энергетические пороги инициирования и исследована кинетика процесса взрывного разложения порошков тетранитрата пентаэритрита, объемносжатых до давления 5·108Н/м2, при воздействии импульсом лазерного излучения на длинах волн 1064 нм (область прозрачности) и 266 нм (область собственного поглощения). Реализованы условия низкопорогового инициирования для порошков чистого тэна первой, второй и четвертой гармониках излучения неодимового лазера

A Descent Method for Equality and Inequality Constrained Multiobjective Optimization Problems

In this article we propose a descent method for equality and inequality constrained multiobjective optimization problems (MOPs) which generalizes the steepest descent method for unconstrained MOPs by Fliege and Svaiter to constrained problems by using two active set strategies. Under some regularity assumptions on the problem, we show that accumulation points of our descent method satisfy a necessary condition for local Pareto optimality. Finally, we show the typical behavior of our method in a numerical example

Computing the set of Epsilon-efficient solutions in multiobjective space mission design

In this work, we consider multiobjective space mission design problems. We will start from the need, from a practical point of view, to consider in addition to the (Pareto) optimal solutions also nearly optimal ones. In fact, extending the set of solutions for a given mission to those nearly optimal significantly increases the number of options for the decision maker and gives a measure of the size of the launch windows corresponding to each optimal solution, i.e., a measure of its robustness. Whereas the possible loss of such approximate solutions compared to optimal—and possibly even ‘better’—ones is dispensable. For this, we will examine several typical problems in space trajectory design—a biimpulsive transfer from the Earth to the asteroid Apophis and two low-thrust multigravity assist transfers—and demonstrate the possible benefit of the novel approach. Further, we will present a multiobjective evolutionary algorithm which is designed for this purpose

Progression of Retinal Pigment Epithelial Atrophy in Antiangiogenic Therapy of Neovascular Age-Related Macular Degeneration

PurposeTo monitor retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) atrophy progression during antiangiogenic therapy of neovascular age-related macular degeneration (AMD) over 2 years using polarization-sensitive optical coherence tomography (OCT).DesignProspective interventional case series.Methodssetting: Clinical practice. study population: Thirty patients (31 eyes) with treatment-naïve neovascular AMD. observation procedures: Standard intravitreal therapy (0.5 mg ranibizumab) was administered monthly during the first year and pro re nata (PRN; as-needed) during the second year. Spectral-domain (SD) OCT and polarization-sensitive OCT (selectively imaging the RPE) examinations were performed at baseline and at 1, 3, 6, 12, and 24 months using a standardized protocol. RPE-related changes were evaluated using a semi-automated polarization-sensitive OCT segmentation algorithm and correlated with SD OCT and fundus autofluorescence (FAF) findings. main outcome measures: RPE response, geographic atrophy (GA) progression.ResultsAtrophic RPE changes included RPE thinning, RPE porosity, focal RPE atrophy, and development of GA. Early RPE loss (ie, RPE porosity, focal atrophy) increased progressively during initial monthly treatment and remained stable during subsequent PRN-based therapy. GA developed in 61% of eyes at month 24. Mean GA area increased from 0.77 mm2 at 12 months to 1.10 mm2 (standard deviation = 1.09 mm2) at 24 months. Reactive accumulation of RPE-related material at the lesion borders increased until month 3 and subsequently decreased.ConclusionsProgressive RPE atrophy and GA developed in the majority of eyes. RPE migration signifies certain RPE plasticity. Polarization-sensitive OCT specifically images RPE-related changes in neovascular AMD, contrary to conventional imaging methods. Polarization-sensitive OCT allows for precisely monitoring the sequence of RPE-related morphologic changes

Efficient determination of cysteine sulphoxides in Allium plants applying new biosensor and HPLC-MS² methods

Cysteine sulphoxide (CSO) contents of 16 different accessions of garlic (Allium sativum L.) and 15 varieties of onion (Allium cepa L.) were measured using two different rapid analytical methods: a biosensoric approach and a newly developed HPLC-MS2 technique. Both methods allow quantification of naturally occurring cysteine sulphoxides present in Allium plants without time-consuming sample pretreatment such as derivatisation of amino acid derivatives prior to HPLC-separation. It has been found that the amount of alliin, which is the predominant CSO occurring in garlic, varies between 0.2 and 2.2 g/100 g dry matter. Contrary to that, isoalliin representing the main CSO in onion has been detected in significantly lower amounts (0.3 to 1.25 g/100 g dry matter)

The three-way relationship of polymorphisms of porcine genes encoding terminal complement components, their differential expression, and health-related phenotypes

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The complement system is an evolutionary ancient mechanism that plays an essential role in innate immunity and contributes to the acquired immune response. Three modes of activation, known as classical, alternative and lectin pathway, lead to the initiation of a common terminal lytic pathway. The terminal complement components (TCCs: C6, C7, C8A, C8B, and C9) are encoded by the genes <it>C6</it>, <it>C7</it>, <it>C8A</it>, <it>C8B</it>, <it>C8G</it>, and <it>C9</it>. We aimed at experimentally testing the porcine genes encoding TCCs as candidate genes for immune competence and disease resistance by addressing the three-way relationship of genotype, health related phenotype, and mRNA expression.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Comparative sequencing of cDNAs of animals of the breeds German Landrace, Piétrain, Hampshire, Duroc, Vietnamese Potbelly Pig, and Berlin Miniature Pig (BMP) revealed 30 SNPs (21 in protein domains, 12 with AA exchange). The promoter regions (each ~1.5 kb upstream the transcription start sites) of <it>C6</it>, <it>C7</it>, <it>C8A</it>, <it>C8G</it>, and <it>C9</it> exhibited 29 SNPs. Significant effects of the TCC encoding genes on hemolytic complement activity were shown in a cross of Duroc and BMP after vaccination against Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae, Aujeszky disease virus and PRRSV by analysis of variance using repeated measures mixed models. Family based association tests (FBAT) confirmed the associations. The promoter SNPs were associated with the relative abundance of TCC transcripts obtained by real time RT-PCR of 311 liver samples of commercial slaughter pigs. Complement gene expression showed significant relationship with the prevalence of acute and chronic lung lesions.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>The analyses point to considerable variation of the porcine TCC genes and promote the genes as candidate genes for disease resistance.</p

Magnetic resonance imaging analysis of the bioabsorbable Milagro™ interference screw for graft fixation in anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction

Ligament graft fixation with bioabsorbable interference screws is a standard procedure in cruciate ligament replacement. Previous screw designs may resorb incompletely, and can cause osteolysis and sterile cysts despite being implanted for several years. The aim of this study was to examine the in vivo degradation and biocompatibility of the new Milagro™ interference screw (Mitek, Norderstedt, Germany). The Milagro™ interference screw is made of 30% ß-TCP (TriCalcium phosphate) and 70% PLGA (Poly-lactic-co-glycolic acid). In the period between June 2005 and February 2006, 38 patients underwent graft fixation with Milagro™ screws in our hospital. Arthroscopic ACL reconstruction was performed using hamstring tendon grafts in all the patients. MR imaging was performed on 12 randomly selected patients out of the total of 38 at 3, 6 and 12 months after surgery. During the examination, the volume loss of the screw, tunnel enlargement, presence of osteolysis, fluid lines, edema and postoperative screw replacement by bone tissue were evaluated. There was no edema or signs of inflammation around the bone tunnels. At 3, 6 and 12 months, the tibial screws showed an average volume loss of 0, 8.1% (±7.9%) and 82.6% (±17.2%, P < 0.05), respectively. The femoral screws showed volume losses of 2.5% (±2.1%), 31.3% (±21.6%) and 92.02% (±6.3%, P < 0.05), respectively. The femoral tunnel enlargement was 47.4% (±43.8%) of the original bone tunnel volume after 12 months, and the mean tunnel volume of the tibial tunnel was −9.5% (±58.1%) compared to the original tunnel. Bone ingrowth was observed in all the patients. In conclusion, the resorption behaviour of the Milagro™ screw is closely linked to the graft healing process. The screws were rapidly resorbed after 6 months and, at 12 months, only the screw remnants were detectable. Moreover, the Milagro™ screw is biocompatible and osteoconductive, promoting bone ingrowth during resorption. Tunnel enlargement is not prevented in the first months but is reduced by bone ingrowth after 12 months