Awe and Wonder in Scientific Practice: Implications for the Relationship Between Science and Religion

This paper examines the role of awe and wonder in scientific practice. Drawing on evidence from psychological research and the writings of scientists and science communicators, I argue that awe and wonder play a crucial role in scientific discovery. They focus our attention on the natural world, encourage open-mindedness, diminish the self (particularly feelings of self-importance), help to accord value to the objects that are being studied, and provide a mode of understanding in the absence of full knowledge. I will flesh out implications of the role of awe and wonder in scientific discovery for debates on the relationship between science and religion. Abraham Heschel argued that awe and wonder are religious emotions because they reduce our feelings of self-importance, and thereby help to cultivate the proper reverent attitude towards God. Yet metaphysical naturalists such as Richard Dawkins insist that awe and wonder need not lead to any theistic commitments for scientists. The awe some scientists experience can be regarded as a form of non-theistic spirituality, which is neither a reductive naturalism nor theism. I will attempt to resolve the tension between these views by identifying some common ground

Оптимизация системы электропитания магнитоплазменного ускорителя

РЕФЕРАТ Выпускная квалификационная работа 143 с., 52 рис., 16 табл., 59 источников, 6 прил. Ключевые слова: коаксиальный магнитоплазменный ускоритель, получение медного покрытия, алюминиевые контактные поверхности, двухимпульсный режим работы, параметры изменения движения плазмы Объектом исследования является (ются) система на основе коаксиального магнитоплазменного ускорителя, на примере получения медного покрытия на алюминиевых контактных поверхностях Цель работы – оптимизации системы электропитания магнитоплазменного ускорителя в двухимпульсном режиме работы В процессе исследования проводились опыты по получению контактных пар медь-алюминий, анализ и обработка полученных данных В результате исследования были получены контактные пары медь-алюминий, произведен анализ медногABSTRACT Final qualifying work consists of 143 p., 52 fig., 16 tab., 59 sources, 6 adj. Keywords: coaxial magneto-plasma accelerator, copper coating, aluminum contact surfaces, a two-pulse operation mode, parameters change of the plasma motion. The object of the research is the system based on coaxial magneto-plasma accelerator (CMPA) for preparation copper coating on aluminum contact surfaces. The purpose of work - optimization of magneto-plasma accelerator power system in the two pulsed mode During the research experiments were performed to obtain the contact pairs of copper-aluminum, analysis and processing of data A result of research contact pair copper-aluminum were obtained, analyzes the copper coating on the contact surface of the aluminum, power system magneto-plasma accelerator

A genetic locus and gene expression patterns associated with the priming effect on lettuce seed germination at elevated temperatures

Seeds of most cultivated varieties of lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) fail to germinate at warm temperatures (i.e., above 25–30°C). Seed priming (controlled hydration followed by drying) alleviates this thermoinhibition by increasing the maximum germination temperature. We conducted a quantitative trait locus (QTL) analysis of seed germination responses to priming using a recombinant inbred line (RIL) population derived from a cross between L. sativa cv. Salinas and L. serriola accession UC96US23. Priming significantly increased the maximum germination temperature of the RIL population, and a single major QTL was responsible for 47% of the phenotypic variation due to priming. This QTL collocated with Htg6.1, a major QTL from UC96US23 associated with high temperature germination capacity. Seeds of three near-isogenic lines (NILs) carrying an Htg6.1 introgression from UC96US23 in a Salinas genetic background exhibited synergistic increases in maximum germination temperature in response to priming. LsNCED4, a gene encoding a key enzyme (9-cis-epoxycarotinoid dioxygenase) in the abscisic acid biosynthetic pathway, maps precisely with Htg6.1. Expression of LsNCED4 after imbibition for 24 h at high temperature was greater in non-primed seeds of Salinas, of a second cultivar (Titan) and of NILs containing Htg6.1 compared to primed seeds of the same genotypes. In contrast, expression of genes encoding regulated enzymes in the gibberellin and ethylene biosynthetic pathways (LsGA3ox1 and LsACS1, respectively) was enhanced by priming and suppressed by imbibition at elevated temperatures. Developmental and temperature regulation of hormonal biosynthetic pathways is associated with seed priming effects on germination temperature sensitivity

Adaptive Value of Phenological Traits in Stressful Environments: Predictions Based on Seed Production and Laboratory Natural Selection

Phenological traits often show variation within and among natural populations of annual plants. Nevertheless, the adaptive value of post-anthesis traits is seldom tested. In this study, we estimated the adaptive values of pre- and post-anthesis traits in two stressful environments (water stress and interspecific competition), using the selfing annual species Arabidopsis thaliana. By estimating seed production and by performing laboratory natural selection (LNS), we assessed the strength and nature (directional, disruptive and stabilizing) of selection acting on phenological traits in A. thaliana under the two tested stress conditions, each with four intensities. Both the type of stress and its intensity affected the strength and nature of selection, as did genetic constraints among phenological traits. Under water stress, both experimental approaches demonstrated directional selection for a shorter life cycle, although bolting time imposes a genetic constraint on the length of the interval between bolting and anthesis. Under interspecific competition, results from the two experimental approaches showed discrepancies. Estimation of seed production predicted directional selection toward early pre-anthesis traits and long post-anthesis periods. In contrast, the LNS approach suggested neutrality for all phenological traits. This study opens questions on adaptation in complex natural environment where many selective pressures act simultaneously

Neue Entwicklungen zur adsorptiven Gas- und Wasserreinigung Beitraege und Poster

Die Tagung beschaeftigte sich u.a. mit den Themen: Aktivkohle Herstellung und Vorbehandlung zum gezielten Einsatz, Adsorber aus Braunkohle, Reinigung von Schwermetall- und Salz-haltigem Abwasser, Reinigung von Abgasen und Erdgas, Entschwefelung, und der Regenerierung der AdsorbentienThe conference discussed the following issues: Activated carbon preparation and selective pretreatment, lignite adsorbers, purification of liquid effluents containing heavy metals and/or salts, purification of off-gas and natural gas, desulphurisation, regeneration of adsorbentsAvailable from TIB Hannover / FIZ - Fachinformationszzentrum Karlsruhe / TIB - Technische InformationsbibliothekSIGLEDEGerman