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Sample records for alchemy

  1. Psychology and alchemy

    CERN Document Server

    Jung, C G

    2010-01-01

    Alchemy is central to Jung's hypothesis of the collective unconscious. In this volume he begins with an outline of the process and aims of psychotherapy, and then moves on to work out the analogies between alchemy, Christian dogma and symbolism and his own understanding of the analytic process. Introducing the basic concepts of alchemy, Jung reminds us of the dual nature of alchemy, comprising both the chemical process and a parallel mystical component. He also discusses the seemingly deliberate mystification of the alchemists. Finally, in using the alchemical process as providing insights into individuation, Jung emphasises the importance of alchemy in relating to us the transcendent nature of the psyche.

  2. Art & Alchemy

    DEFF Research Database (Denmark)

    Partly because of alchemy's dismissal from the Parnassus of rational sciences, the interplay between this esoteric knowledge and the visual arts is still a surprisingly neglected research area. This collection of articles covering the time span from the Late Middle Ages to the twentieth century...... intends, however, to challenge the current neglect. Areas on which its twelve authors cast new light include alchemical gender symbolism in Renaissance, Mannerist and modernist art, alchemical ideas of transformation in Italian fifteenth-century landscape imagery, Netherlandish seventeenth......-century portrayals of alchemists, and alchemy's tortured status as a forerunner of photography. Art and Alchemy indicates that alchemy indeed has several connections with art by examining some of the pictorial and literary books that disseminated alchemical symbols and ideas, delving into images, which in one way...

  3. Alchemy

    NARCIS (Netherlands)

    Forshaw, P.; Segal, R.A.; von Stuckrad, K.

    2015-01-01

    Alchemy, with its dreams of transmutation, transformation, and perfection, its quest for the Philosophers’ Stone capable of transmuting base metals into gold, and search for the Elixir capable of miraculous cures and prolonging life, has been one of the fascinations of humanity for almost two

  4. Alchemy and the history of science. Introduction.

    Science.gov (United States)

    Moran, Bruce T

    2011-06-01

    Alchemy is part of the cultural experience of early modern Europe and yet has had to overcome problems of demarcation to be considered relevant to the history of science. This essay considers historiographical and methodological issues that have affected the gradual demarginalization of alchemy among attempts to explain, and find things out about, nature. As an area of historical study, alchemy relates to the history of science as part of an ensemble of practices that explored the natural world through natural philosophy and speculative traditions and by functioning as a nexus of social and intellectual life.

  5. The modern alchemy: The chemical industry

    International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

    Valencia Giraldo, Asdrubal

    2002-01-01

    A brief history is presented on the development of chemistry from the antiquity, through alchemy, iatrochemistry, electrochemistry, atomic theory and the XVII, XVIII, XIX and X X centuries discoveries up to modern chemistry, fine chemistry, chemical engineering and the modern chemical industry with all of its consequences

  6. [Carl Gustav Jung's Theatrum Mundi. Can the description of modern alchemy in Jung's Psychologie und Alchemie be really regarded as a historical reconstruction?].

    Science.gov (United States)

    Płonka-Syroka, B

    2000-01-01

    In his work, Psychologie und Alchemie, published in 1944, Jung wanted to present a reconstruction of alchemy. In order to do this he used a method of psychology, which he modified and enriched with inspirations drawn from neo-romantically-oriented German medical historiographies of the nineteen thirties. Using historical materials, he intended to demonstrate the empirical character of his Depth Psychology, a widespread concept, ingrained in our supra-personal social unconscious. The present article questions the nature of Jung's reconstruction of alchemy as historical reconstruction. The author presents the methodological bases referred to by Jung derived from his concept of medical practice and compares them with a manner of thinking typical of contemporary historical analysis. The article also presents Jung's inspirations from the medical historiography of his time, as well as the dissimilarity of his concept with the model of historical narrative construction in force in the historiography of the thirties and forties. At the same time, it presents the elements of the "romantic inheritance" in Jung's thought, drawn from the tradition of German non-materialistic medicine of the first half of the nineteenth century.

  7. Cumbrian Alchemy (2012-2014)

    International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

    Williams, Robert; McGovern Wilson, Bryan

    2015-01-01

    The Cumbrian Alchemy project explores issues emerging from an enquiry into convergent relationships among the nuclear and other energy industries, archaeological monuments and oral traditions of the North Lancashire and Cumbrian region in the north-west of England. Topically, it focuses on ideas of 'places of power', issues and discourse associated with hazardous industrial sites, long-term nuclear repositories, matters of 'deep-time' with respect to the recording and remembering of these repositories, language preservation and stewardship of the land. The project was supported by Arts Council England and the University of Cumbria

  8. [Magician nature and human magician: on a fundamental analogy of alchemy].

    Science.gov (United States)

    Schott, Heinz

    2010-01-01

    This contribution discusses Paracelsism-influenced early-modern alchemy. There are notably two forms of analogy, each hierarchically arranged: a vertically ordered analogy ("as above, thus below") in which Nature is situated as mediator between God and man, and a horizontally ordered analogy ("as without, thus within") in which Nature's magic is regarded as a model for man, particularly expressed in the metaphor of "Vulcan" (smith) and doctor (e.g., Nature as inner healer). In alchemy the conventional "healing power of Nature" is pin-pointed: The doctor (as alchemist, magician) must unravel Nature's secrets and emulate her magic to perfect her work -particularly medicine production. Diagrams and historical depictions illustrate this.

  9. The Transmission of Secret Knowledge: Three Arabic Dialogues on Alchemy

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    Regula Forster

    2017-03-01

    Full Text Available Arabo-Islamic alchemy enjoyed considerable popularity until well into the 19th and 20th centuries. It can be considered both as a predecessor of modern chemistry and as a natural philosophy whose purpose is to explain the world. Yet one of the unresolved questions concerning alchemy is how one was supposed to learn it, since it was an art that was meant to be kept secret and only revealed to a few select individuals. While the practicalities of the learning experience remain obscure, it is noteworthy that Arabic alchemical literature often makes use of the literary form of the dialogue, a genre strongly associated with teaching and learning. This paper focuses on three Arabic dialogues on alchemy; namely, Masāʼil Khālid li-Maryānus al-rāhib (“Khālid’s questions to the monk Maryānus”, Kitāb Mihrārīs al-ḥakīm (“The book of the wise Mihrārīs” and Risālat al-ḥakīm Qaydarūs (“The epistle of the wise Qaydarūs”, and discusses how the transfer of secret knowledge is represented. I will focus on the literary frames of these texts, their mise-enscéne, the master-disciple relation as represented within them, and the question of interaction between unequal partners.

  10. Alchemy, Chinese versus Greek, an etymological approach: a rejoinder.

    Science.gov (United States)

    Mahdihassan, S

    1988-01-01

    The theory generally accepted maintains that Alchemy arose at Alexandria as a child of Greek culture. It has two names, Chemeia as the earlier and Chumeia as the later. There is another theory that Alchemy arose in China. Its founder was the aged ascetic who longed after drugs of longevity. He first tried jade, next gold and cinnabar, but the ideal was a drug which was red like cinnabar and fire-proof like gold. But what was actually prepared was red colloidal gold or "calcined gold," by grinding gold granules in a decoction of an herb of longevity. It was called Chin-I; Chin = gold and I = plant juice. In Fukin dialect Chin-I = Kim-Iya. This was Arabicized, by pre-Islamic Arabs trading in silk with China, as Kimiya, whence arose Al-Kimiya and finally Al-chemy. It was first accepted by Bucharic speaking Copts in Egypt who transliterated Kimiya = Chemeia, pronouncing it as the Arabs did. With the increase of trade in silk the Chinese also went to Alexandria and helped the Greeks to translate Chin-I as Chrusozomion meaning, gold (making) ferment, instead of gold making plant juice. Consistent with this origin of the word Chemeia is the fact that the earlier Alchemists were not Greeks but probably Bucharic speaks Copts or Egyptians. The consumer of Chin-I or Chemeia became "a drug-made immortal" called Chin-Jen, Golden-Man. This was translated into Greek as Chrusanthropos. Thus the etymoloogy of two Greek words Chrusozomion and Chrusanthropos support the origin of the loan word, Chemeia as Chinese. To save space it is not proposed to discuss the origin of Chumeia.

  11. Critical Review of Rasaratna Samuccaya: A Comprehensive Treatise of Indian Alchemy

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    Dhirajsingh Rajput Sumersingh

    2016-01-01

    Full Text Available Rasaratna Samuccaya (RRS a 13th century C.E. alchemical treatise, authored by Vāgbhaṭa, is a useful compilation related to preparation and properties of drugs of mineral and metallic origin. This text throws light on the state of Indian expertise in the field of alchemy regarding the extraction, purification, conversion of metals/minerals into therapeutically suitable forms, various instruments developed for alchemical purposes and treatment of numerous diseases by using herbo-mineral preparations. The present work is an attempt to summarize the key features of RRS to highlight its utility and contribution in the development of Indian alchemy. To study and summarize the important, comprehensive and specific points mentioned in RRS and to elaborate the contribution of RRS in the field of Indian alchemy. A critical review of RRS from Suratnojjvalā Hindi commentary by Ambikadatta Shastri was done and the collected information was compared with other available literature of Rasaśāstra. Research of modern science was also utilized to explore some facts mentioned by Vāgbhaṭa. RRS is a precise treatise among available ancient literature. It comprises of all eight branches of Ayurveda, although it mainly deals with therapeutic aspects of Rasaśāstra and emphasizes the use of metals and minerals in treating nearly 68 types of ailments. It contains 30 chapters, 3871 verses and detailed description of 960 formulations. Classification of metals and minerals; description of some new instruments, formulations and averting use of metals and minerals in pregnancy are the key features of RRS.

  12. Alchemy: A web 2.0 real-time quality assurance platform for human immunodeficiency Virus, hepatitis C Virus, and BK Virus quantitation assays

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    Emmanuel Agosto-Arroyo

    2017-01-01

    Full Text Available Background: The molecular diagnostics laboratory faces the challenge of improving test turnaround time (TAT. Low and consistent TATs are of great clinical and regulatory importance, especially for molecular virology tests. Laboratory information systems (LISs contain all the data elements necessary to do accurate quality assurance (QA reporting of TAT and other measures, but these reports are in most cases still performed manually: a time-consuming and error-prone task. The aim of this study was to develop a web-based real-time QA platform that would automate QA reporting in the molecular diagnostics laboratory at our institution, and minimize the time expended in preparing these reports. Methods: Using a standard Linux, Nginx, MariaDB, PHP stack virtual machine running atop a Dell Precision 5810, we designed and built a web-based QA platform, code-named Alchemy. Data files pulled periodically from the LIS in comma-separated value format were used to autogenerate QA reports for the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV quantitation, hepatitis C virus (HCV quantitation, and BK virus (BKV quantitation. Alchemy allowed the user to select a specific timeframe to be analyzed and calculated key QA statistics in real-time, including the average TAT in days, tests falling outside the expected TAT ranges, and test result ranges. Results: Before implementing Alchemy, reporting QA for the HIV, HCV, and BKV quantitation assays took 45–60 min of personnel time per test every month. With Alchemy, that time has decreased to 15 min total per month. Alchemy allowed the user to select specific periods of time and analyzed the TAT data in-depth without the need of extensive manual calculations. Conclusions: Alchemy has significantly decreased the time and the human error associated with QA report generation in our molecular diagnostics laboratory. Other tests will be added to this web-based platform in future updates. This effort shows the utility of informatician

  13. Alchemy: A Web 2.0 Real-time Quality Assurance Platform for Human Immunodeficiency Virus, Hepatitis C Virus, and BK Virus Quantitation Assays.

    Science.gov (United States)

    Agosto-Arroyo, Emmanuel; Coshatt, Gina M; Winokur, Thomas S; Harada, Shuko; Park, Seung L

    2017-01-01

    The molecular diagnostics laboratory faces the challenge of improving test turnaround time (TAT). Low and consistent TATs are of great clinical and regulatory importance, especially for molecular virology tests. Laboratory information systems (LISs) contain all the data elements necessary to do accurate quality assurance (QA) reporting of TAT and other measures, but these reports are in most cases still performed manually: a time-consuming and error-prone task. The aim of this study was to develop a web-based real-time QA platform that would automate QA reporting in the molecular diagnostics laboratory at our institution, and minimize the time expended in preparing these reports. Using a standard Linux, Nginx, MariaDB, PHP stack virtual machine running atop a Dell Precision 5810, we designed and built a web-based QA platform, code-named Alchemy. Data files pulled periodically from the LIS in comma-separated value format were used to autogenerate QA reports for the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) quantitation, hepatitis C virus (HCV) quantitation, and BK virus (BKV) quantitation. Alchemy allowed the user to select a specific timeframe to be analyzed and calculated key QA statistics in real-time, including the average TAT in days, tests falling outside the expected TAT ranges, and test result ranges. Before implementing Alchemy, reporting QA for the HIV, HCV, and BKV quantitation assays took 45-60 min of personnel time per test every month. With Alchemy, that time has decreased to 15 min total per month. Alchemy allowed the user to select specific periods of time and analyzed the TAT data in-depth without the need of extensive manual calculations. Alchemy has significantly decreased the time and the human error associated with QA report generation in our molecular diagnostics laboratory. Other tests will be added to this web-based platform in future updates. This effort shows the utility of informatician-supervised resident/fellow programming projects as learning

  14. Alchemy, Prophecy, and Politics in Eighteenth-Century Iberia: Anselmo Castelo Branco's Critique of Benito Feijoo.

    Science.gov (United States)

    Leitão, José Vieira

    2016-11-01

    The Benedictine monk Benito Jerónimo Feijoo (1676-1764) is now considered one of the major figures of the Spanish and Iberian Enlightenment. However his work, both in Spain and in Portugal, was far from being universally acclaimed. His critical approach to the subject of alchemy in his essay "Piedra Filosofal," published in the third volume of his magisterial Teatro Crítico Universal (1726-1739), sparked an unexpected response from the Portuguese alchemist Anselmo Castelo Branco, who sought to refute Feijoo's claims in his own work, the Ennoea. This paper presents an outline of this exchange and its position within Iberian Enlightenment circles. It further argues that Castelo Branco's defence of alchemy was informed by his political and prophetic views, in particular his adherence to the Portuguese messianic doctrine of Sebastianism.

  15. Spiritual alchemy from the age of Jacob Boehme to Mary Anne Atwood, 1600–1900

    NARCIS (Netherlands)

    Zuber, M.A.

    2017-01-01

    ‘Spiritual alchemy’ is a contested term that is often accompanied by far-reaching claims about the presumed essence of alchemy. Despite the troubled past of this term, this study reclaims ‘spiritual alchemy’ as a precisely definable category for historical research. The term stands for the practical

  16. Light-seeds within: The alchemy of re-finding light in the world soul

    Science.gov (United States)

    Erickson, Stacy Lynn

    The light of the Anima Mundi has been repressed for over two thousand years. From a feminine in-sighting, this dissertation considers the reasons for the World Soul's repression and how her light can be renewed. The division of body and mind, image and word, physicality and spirituality, as well as nature and science has been costly, though this time of crisis also holds great opportunity to change perspective and live differently. The art of alchemy contains the secrets to transform elements in opposition into those in relationship in order to give birth to something new. Where feminine and masculine have been divorced and divided, the 'Royal Art' of alchemy seeks to renew soul in the world as an experience of life's interconnectivity and as a sacred marriage of matter and spirit. Through the four elements and three alchemical stages, this journey articulates the amorphous unconscious to evolve the light within the body of the microcosm and the macrocosm. The study's phenomenological perspective merges creative imagination with experiential gnosis in an exploration of the rich tapestry and mystery of an esoteric tradition. Through dream tending and active imagination, one connects to the subtle body, the imaginal world, and mythological regions with archetypal energies where elemental symbols are seeds. When cultivated and tended, these seeds grow into embodied feelings, visceral happenings. These experiential moments contain the revelations necessary for personal and global transmutation. Alchemy's tenet of 'as above, so below' holds a simple truth. When an individual works on her light, the Anima Mundi's light grows brighter. The alchemical process awakens love as the animating essence, the divine spark within the heart of all life---the gold in every atom of creation. Where matter and spirit conjoin, the hierosgamos reveals life's divine nature as an intimate dance and a web of interconnectivity. When lived for the sake of the whole and seen with the eyes of an

  17. Efficient Parameter Searches for Colloidal Materials Design with Digital Alchemy

    Science.gov (United States)

    Dodd, Paul, M.; Geng, Yina; van Anders, Greg; Glotzer, Sharon C.

    Optimal colloidal materials design is challenging, even for high-throughput or genomic approaches, because the design space provided by modern colloid synthesis techniques can easily have dozens of dimensions. In this talk we present the methodology of an inverse approach we term ''digital alchemy'' to perform rapid searches of design-paramenter spaces with up to 188 dimensions that yield thermodynamically optimal colloid parameters for target crystal structures with up to 20 particles in a unit cell. The method relies only on fundamental principles of statistical mechanics and Metropolis Monte Carlo techniques, and yields particle attribute tolerances via analogues of familiar stress-strain relationships.

  18. Responding to the Charge of Alchemy: Strategies for Evaluating the Reliability and Validity of Costing-Out Research

    Science.gov (United States)

    Duncombe, William

    2006-01-01

    Reforming school finance systems to support performance standards entails estimating the cost of an adequate education. Cost of adequacy (COA) studies have been done in more than 30 states. Recently Eric Hanushek challenged the legitimacy of COA research, calling it alchemy and pseudoscience. The objectives of this study are to present reliability…

  19. Toward a Transformative Alchemy: The Phenomenology of the Event of Psychotherapy

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    Matthew Draper

    2015-09-01

    Full Text Available This paper takes up Jung’s concept of Alchemy and applies the theory of this transformational process to prison psychotherapy. In particular, it discusses the manifest meanings in the prison system, how those can be made present and manifest, and how psychotherapy can prove an event, a moment when transformation can take place. It then discusses the openness and closedness of the client and the therapist to the transformational possibilities of the event, and the consequences of those fluid positions. Contextualizing the degree of openness is the adjacent possible in this potentially very human form of relating, and how the apparatus of prisons situated within a broader culture informs the transformational alchemy of forensic psychotherapy. Este artículo recoge el concepto de alquimia de Jung, y aplica la teoría de este proceso transformativo a la psicoterapia de prisiones. En particular, se tratan los significados evidentes del sistema de prisiones, cómo éstos se pueden hacer presentes y evidentes, y cómo la psicoterapia puede probar un evento, un momento en el que la transformación puede tener lugar. Seguidamente analiza la apertura y cerrazón del cliente y el terapeuta a las posibilidades transformadoras del evento, y las consecuencias de esas posiciones flexibles. Contextualizar el grado de apertura es el adyacente posible en esta forma potencialmente muy humana de relacionarse, y cómo el sistema de prisiones situado en una cultura más amplia, informa de la alquimia transformacional de la psicoterapia forense. DOWNLOAD THIS PAPER FROM SSRN: http://ssrn.com/abstract=2624907

  20. Alchemy: The Great Art, exhibition at Kulturforum, Berlin, Germany 06.04.2017 – 23.07.2017

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    Lisa Gordon

    2017-11-01

    Full Text Available This temporary exhibition at Kulturforum, part of the Staatliche Museen zu Berlin, presented a selection of around 200 objects from its collection, alongside loans from prominent cultural institutions, including the Getty Research Institute in California with whom they have collaborated. In 2016, the Institute itself ran an exhibition entitled The Art of Alchemy which appears to have laid out the curatorial objectives for this recent show.

  1. Elixir, Alchemy and the Metamorphoses of Two Synonyms

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    Gotthard Strohmaier

    2017-03-01

    Full Text Available The history of the terms ‘elixir’ and ‘alchemy’ seems paradoxical; derived from Greek, the Arabic al-iksīr signified a dry powder capable of transforming base metals into gold or silver. Evolving through the European languages, elixir has come to mean a magic liquid that can be ingested to cure illness. The second term, al-kīmiyāʼ, which was in its Arabic beginnings almost synonymous with elixir, took a different turn and changed its meaning from a miraculous substance into an abstract noun connoting the art of alchemy. This article intends to show that these changes of meaning are linked to inevitable interrelations between the two synonyms and, consequently, the generally assumed etymology of the Arabic alkīmiyāʼ from the seemingly corresponding Greek expression χυμεία must be questioned. Of particular interest is the hitherto overlooked fact that al-kīmiyāʼ ends in a glottal stop, indicated by the hamza and being a consonant in its own right, which ultimately points to a non-Greek origin.

  2. Exploring early modern chemistry: the first twenty-five years of the Society for the Study of Alchemy & Early Modern Chemistry 1935-1960.

    Science.gov (United States)

    Brock, W H

    2011-11-01

    The article uses the recently deposited archives of the Society for the History of Alchemy and Chemistry to explore the ideas, motives and disagreements of its founders and officers between 1935 and 1960. The origin of the title Ambix for the society's journal is also explained. An appendix identifies the initial membership of the society.

  3. Alchemy in eden: entrepreneurialism, branding, and food marketing in the United States, 1880–1920.

    Science.gov (United States)

    Lonier, Terri

    2010-01-01

    Through an investigation into the origins of American food marketing, this dissertation reveals how branding—specifically, the centennial brands Quaker Oats, Coca-Cola, and Crisco—came to underpin much of today's market-driven economy. In a manner akin to alchemy, the entrepreneurs behind these three firms recognized the inherent value of an agricultural Eden, then found ways to convert common, low-cost agricultural goods—oats, sugar, and cottonseed oil—into appealing, high-revenue branded food products. In the process, these ventures devised new demand-driven business models that exploited technology and communications advances, enabling them to tap a nascent consumer culture. Their pioneering efforts generated unprecedented profits, laid the foundation for iconic billion-dollar brands, and fundamentally changed how Americans make daily food choices.

  4. From alchemy to super-actinides. The preparation, physical-chemical properties and the limits of the Periodic Table

    International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

    Kuruc, J.

    2016-01-01

    In this review a brief history of the discovery of the periodic law, discoveries of elements from the epoch of alchemy to the synthesis of actinides and transactinides is described. The preparation of transactinides (elements with Z ≥ 104 to Z = 118) is discussed, using already proposed names of the elements with Z = 113, 115, 117 and 118: nihonium, moscovium, tennessine and oganesson. The Periodic Tables are presented in short form, the long 18-column and 32-column form. The periodic table containing elements of 8"t"h and 9"t"h periods and its possible range is discussed. By extrapolation of decay half-time of the heaviest isotopes of elements from thorium up to oganesson decay half-time of unbihexium (Z = 126) was predicted about 378 seconds. (author

  5. “Who Began This Art? From Whence Did It Emerge?”: A Hermetic Frame Story on the Origins of Alchemy in Pseudo-Ibn Waḥshīya’s The Book of the Ziziphus Tree of the Furthest Boundary

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    Christopher Braun

    2017-03-01

    Full Text Available This paper explores the context of a Hermetic frame story in the pseudepigraphical alchemical treatise The Book of the Ziziphus Tree of the Furthest Boundary (Kitāb Sidrat almuntahā. The treatise is attributed to a prominent figure in the Arabic occult sciences, Abū Bakr b. Waḥshīya (fl. first half of the 4th/10th century. It was written in the form of a dialogue between the protagonist, Ibn Waḥshīya, and an alchemist from the Islamic West, al-Maghribī al-Qamarī. The last section of the introductory dialogue between these two characters consists of a frame story on the origins of alchemy and a legend of discovery (Fundlegende that introduces a cosmogony and an allegorical depiction of the process of transmutation. Both the frame story and the legend of discovery abound in Hermetic motifs and topoi known from other Greek and Arabic alchemical treatises. The exposition of the different prevailing theories on the beginnings of alchemy reflects, moreover, historical phenomena, such as the Graeco-Arabic translation movement and the shu‘ūbīya controversy. Consistent with the literary tradition of the Arabic Hermetica, Ancient Egypt emerges in this treatise as the cradle of alchemy; however, I suggest that more than merely literary convention, such evocations express a genuine fascination with Ancient Egypt and its surviving material culture. In this respect, the littleknown genre of Arabic books on hidden treasure might shed new light on common Hermetic narratives and their circulation in Arabic occult literature.

  6. Eski Kimyada Kibrît-i Ahmer Teriminin Klasik Türk Şiirine Yansımaları Reflections of the Term Kibrit-i Ahmar From Field of Alchemy Onto Classical Turkish Poetry

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    Mehmet Korkut ÇEÇEN

    2012-09-01

    Full Text Available The formation of metals is an important subject of alchemy.Metals take thousands years to form. Alchemists aim to accelarate thetime naturally required for this formation. In addition, alchemistsbelieved in the fact that materials could be transformed; their specialefforts were devoted to transform base metals into gold which isconsidered to be the most precious metal. On the basis of thistransformation thought, there were certain underlying theories.According to the four elements theory, sulfur-mercury theory and elixirtheory, transformation of a metal kind to another was possible. Kibrit-iahmar is one of the materials that was used in this transformation andsince ancient civilisations it has been believed to be an invaluable andvery rare elixir. Through time, kibrit-i ahmar which was regarded aselixir and some concepts in alchemy have gained figurative, symbolicand mystical meanings that do not stem from their actual value andmeaning.In Sufism, alchemy represents reaching maturity and perfection.Due to the fact that Sufism uses the language of alchemy, a concepthas evolved in Sufism to refer to state of reaching hapiness: “alchemy ofhapiness”. The term of kibrît-i ahmar symbolises rare and valuablebeings. As an object of transformation and perfection, kibrît-i ahmarhas been adopted in classical Turkish poetry with its mysticalmeanings.In this piece of work, brief information on alchemy and kibrit-iahmar has been presented. The beyits in divans which have containedthe term kibrit-i ahmar have been evaluated and via this evaluation useof the term kibrit-i ahmar in classical Turkish poetry have beenhighlighted. Madenlerin oluşumu eski kimyanın önemli konularındandır. Madenler yer altında binlerce yıl bekleyerek meydana gelir. Eski kimyacı, çeşitli kimyasal işlemlerle bu uzun süreyi kısaltarak madenlerin oluşumunu hızlandırmayı amaç edinmiştir. Buna ilave olarak eski kimyacılar maddelerin birbirine d

  7. Practising alchemy: the transmutation of evidence into best health care.

    Science.gov (United States)

    Goodyear-Smith, Felicity

    2011-04-01

    Alchemy was the synthesis or transmutation of all elements in perfect balance to obtain the philosopher's stone, the key to health. Just as alchemists sought this, so health practitioners always seek the best possible practice for optimal health outcomes for our patients. Best practice requires full knowledge--a little information can be dangerous. We need to serve our apprenticeship before we master our profession. Our profession is about improving health care. While the journey may start at medical school, the learning never ceases. It is not only about practising medicine, it is about the development of the practitioner. Professional practice requires systematic thinking combined with capacity to deal morally and creatively in areas of complexity and uncertainty appropriate to a specific context. It requires exemplary communication skills to interact with patients to facilitate collaborative decision making resulting in best practice. The synthesis of scientific and contextual evidence is a concept which applies to all disciplines where theoretical knowledge needs to be transferred to action to inform best practice. Decisions need to be made which take into account a complex array of factors, such as social and legal issues and resource constraints. Therefore, journey towards best practice involves transmutation of these three elements: scientific knowledge, the context in which it is applied and phronesis, the practical wisdom of the practitioner. All science has its limitations and we can never know all possible contextual information. Hence, like the philosopher's stone, best practice is a goal to which we aspire but never quite attain.

  8. Equivocal quintessence. Spiritual Alchemy and counterfeit money in 16th-century Spain

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    Tausiet, María

    2011-12-01

    Full Text Available One of the main obsessions of the Early Modern Era was that of determining the notions of true and false, in order to apply them to various fields of knowledge and thus establish the divide between the lawful and the unlawful. This trend was to have a particular impact on the fields of re ligion and science, where it became necessary to distinguish not only between true and false spirits, relics or miracles, but also between genuine and fake astrologers and alchemists. Situated in the middle ground between idealism and materialism, alchemy was prime territory for such tensions, as was demonstrated by a trial held in 1593 at the Jeronymite monastery of Santa Engracia in Saragossa, whose prior accused a friar of making «silver out of smoke and jewels from goblins».

    Una de las principales obsesiones de la Edad Moderna consistió en determinar las nociones de verdadero y falso para aplicarlas a los distintos campos del saber y, de ese modo, fundamentar la separación entre lo lícito y lo prohibido. Dicha tendencia iba a afectar especialmente a los terrenos de la religión y la ciencia, haciéndose necesario distinguir no sólo verdaderos y falsos espíritus, reliquias o milagros, sino también verdaderos y falsos astrólogos y alquimistas. Situada a caballo entre el idealismo y el materialismo, la alquimia ejemplificaba especialmente dichas tensiones, como se comprobará a través del proceso incoado en 1593 contra un fraile del monasterio jerónimo de Santa Engracia de Zaragoza, a quien su prior acusó de fabricar «plata de humo y joyas de trasgos».

  9. The Duke, the Soldier of Fortune, and a Rosicrucian Legacy: Exploring the Roles of Manuscripts in Early-Modern Alchemy.

    Science.gov (United States)

    Zuber, Mike A

    2018-05-19

    By the time it was published in 1705, the Speculum Sapientiae claimed to have had a long history going back to 1672. However, the fact that exaggerated stories were commonplace in alchemical literature leads us to question its credibility. This paper explores the secret lives of this alchemical text prior to its print publication to clarify the roles of manuscripts in early-modern alchemy. Specifically, I argue that there were three aspects that could distinguish manuscript from print: provenance, materiality, and exclusivity. These can be seen at work in the fate of Johann Heinrich Vierordt, an itinerant alchemist and cavalry captain whose career is inextricably linked to the scribal dissemination of the Speculum Sapientiae. In addition to manuscript copies of that text at libraries across Europe, a significant cache of correspondence preserved in Gotha documents Vierordt's dealings with Duke Friedrich I of Saxe-Gotha. The verisimilitudinous provenance of Vierordt's alchemical secrets and tincture played a crucial role in allowing him to gain Friedrich's trust. Yet it was only after Vierordt presented him with a precious parchment manuscript of the Speculum Sapientiae that he truly succeeded in gaining the duke's patronage. Subsequently, reports of multiple conflicting copies surfacing in Amsterdam sealed Vierordt's fall from favour.

  10. Transmutation: The Roots of the Dream.

    Science.gov (United States)

    Karpenko, Vladimir

    1995-01-01

    Examines the history of alchemical attempts at transmutation and classifies them by differing approaches and techniques. Traces the development of alchemy in Asia, Europe, and the Middle East, and compares alchemy with craftsmanship. (18 references) (DDR)

  11. A alquimia organizacional: qualificação e construção do consentimento Organizational alchemy: managing skills and consent

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    Nadya Araujo Castro

    1998-10-01

    Full Text Available Dirigimos a nossa reflexão neste texto para três questões: 1 Como se têm manufaturado novas formas de consentimento em situações de reestruturação em empresas que já se caracterizavam, no contexto brasileiro, por um tipo de gestão mais moderna das relações sociais de trabalho, como é o caso de indústrias de processo na cadeia químico-petroquímica? 2 Poder-se-ia dizer que uma nova alquimia organizacional dos interesses estaria em curso, a sugerir a possível emergência de um novo regime fabril? 3 Qual o lugar das estratégias e políticas empresariais com relação à qualificação neste novo arranjo institucional de interesses? Procuramos enfrentar estas indagações através da análise de quatro estudos de caso que tipificam situações diferenciadas em termos de posição das empresas na cadeia produtiva, propriedade de capital, perfil dos mercados regionais de trabalho, contextos sindicais, natureza do regime de welfare e tipo de cultura gerencial.This article addresses three main questions: 1 Do managerial strategies in modern chemical plants produce new forms of individual consent towards organizational restructuring and intense work rationalization? 2 Is there a new institutional alchemy of interests indicating the emergence of a different kind of micro-regulatory institutions (a new factory regime? 3 What is the role of human resources politics on skills and employability in re-shaping the institutional ambience? The answers emerge from the analysis of four case studies in Brazilian chemical-petrochemical plants which typify different situations in terms of: position in the productive chain, capital property, regional labor markets, unionism, welfare regime and managerial culture.

  12. Improving Defense Acquisition Management and Policy Through a Life-Cycle Affordability Framework

    Science.gov (United States)

    2014-02-04

    14  Are the PBL Prophets Using Science or Alchemy to Create Life Cycle...or role (engineering, SCM, finance ). Two Select managers for baseline study. Select managers whose self-description and supervisor feedback...networks into value . Are the PBL Prophets Using Science or Alchemy to Create Life Cycle Affordability? Using Theory to Predict the Efficacy of

  13. Alchemical crossings in Psychology

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    Helton Marculino de Souza

    2014-12-01

    Full Text Available The objective of this article is to discuss the contributions of Alchemy to the field of Psychology, especially for Analytical Psychology as a proposal of an Alchemical Psychology, whose representatives highlighted here are Carl Gustav Jung and James Hillman. It is understood that the knowledge of Alchemy have been applied in various areas such as metallurgy, chemistry, philosophy, and it has a possible application in the field of Psychology. In this sense, it is observed that if to Jung the concepts of Alchemy interlace connections with the knowledge proposed by Analytical Psychology, on the other hand Hillman adopts this knowledge to develop a strategy for use in the field of psychotherapy, proposing to think alchemically. Thus, for this second author in the exercise of Psychology, the meetings with the patient go beyond the application of theories, constituting as a “do-soul” in the office. This is, more than translating symbols, it is proposed to “stay with the image”, with an attention from both the patient and the psychologist for that the words expressed in this dialogue does not become “wordthings” or be reduced to a unique meaning that tends to discard the image. It is hoped, through this work, to promote knowledge of the professionals about the Analytical Psychology and Alchemy Psychology in their connections with Alchemy and its reverberations in the field of psychotherapy in these approaches.

  14. The Aspiring Adept: Robert Boyle and His Alchemical Quest (Lawrence M. Principe)

    Science.gov (United States)

    Kovac, Jeffrey

    1999-10-01

    Robert Boyle is widely regarded as the Father of Modern Chemistry, who broke once and for all from the irrational, misguided alchemy that preceded him. One of the goals of this carefully researched and argued new book by Lawrence M. Principe, Assistant Professor in the Department of Chemistry and the Institute for the History of Science, Medicine, and Technology at The Johns Hopkins University, is to refute the two errors in this characterization of Boyle and to understand his life, thought, and work in the intellectual and social context of his time. This book is not for the casual reader; it is a detailed scholarly treatise in the history of science, but it provides a fresh and interesting perspective on Boyle and on the development of chemistry in the 17th century. Boyle is usually characterized as a modern scientist and his most famous book, The Skeptical Chymist, as a critique of traditional alchemy. Principe demonstrates that this characterization is based on a selective and sometimes incorrect reading of Boyle's works. Like Newton, Boyle was deeply involved in traditional transmutational alchemy, reading the works of other alchemists, performing experiments, and even witnessing transmutations. Alchemy, however, was not a monolith and Boyle adhered to what Principe tentatively identifies as a uniquely English school of supernatural alchemy. According to Principe, The Skeptical Chymist was mainly a criticism of the Paracelsians interested in chemical medicine rather than a defense of what we would now regard as modern chemistry. To further support his characterization of Boyle and to better reveal Boyle's involvement in alchemyparticularly the transmutation of base metals to gold, termed chrysopoeiaPrincipe has reconstructed from some 20 fragments one of Boyle's alchemical manuscripts, his Dialogue on the Transmutation of Metals. The full text of this lost work is included as Appendix 1. Two other primary sources, Interview Accounts of Transmutations and

  15. Bringing Intelligence About: Practitioners Reflect on Best Practices

    Science.gov (United States)

    2003-05-01

    1 The Intelligence Pro and the Professor: Toward an Alchemy of Applied Arts and Sciences...Thursday, June 12, 2003 6:26 AM 7 THE INTELLIGENCE PRO AND THE PROFESSOR: TOWARD AN ALCHEMY OF APPLIED ARTS AND SCIENCES Pauletta Otis...research financed by the U.S. Government, but distance themselves from government “intrusion” in the social sci- ences. This is understandable but can be

  16. An Improved Algorithm for Generating Database Transactions from Relational Algebra Specifications

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    Daniel J. Dougherty

    2010-03-01

    Full Text Available Alloy is a lightweight modeling formalism based on relational algebra. In prior work with Fisler, Giannakopoulos, Krishnamurthi, and Yoo, we have presented a tool, Alchemy, that compiles Alloy specifications into implementations that execute against persistent databases. The foundation of Alchemy is an algorithm for rewriting relational algebra formulas into code for database transactions. In this paper we report on recent progress in improving the robustness and efficiency of this transformation.

  17. Nuclear alchemy

    CERN Multimedia

    Cartlidge, Edwin

    2003-01-01

    "Physicists around the world are carrying out research on 'transmutation', a technique they believe could be used to destroy large quantities of long-lived radioactive waste. [The author] reviews the prospects for this novel technology" (2 pages)

  18. Wall Street Alchemy.

    Science.gov (United States)

    Cobb, Brian T.; Hanna, John P.

    1998-01-01

    In the process of restructuring its debt and taking on additional debt, Franklin Pierce College (New Hampshire) accepted the consequences of a downgrade in its investment-grade rating. This resulted in a successful bond sale, with bonds carrying an insured single-A rating. Events leading up to the restructuring and credit issues considered by the…

  19. Alchemy of stars

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Parashar, D [A.R.S.D. Coll., New Delhi (India); Bhatia, V B [Delhi Univ. (India). Dept. of Physics and Astrophysics

    1976-05-01

    Developments in studies on stellar evolution during this century are reviewed. Recent considerations indicate that almost all elements between helium and zinc (a range which comprises more than 99 percent by mass of elements heavier than helium) can be synthesised in nuclear processes occurring during the late violent stages of an exploding star or supernova and a vigorous study in the new field of explosive nucleosynthesis is in progress. The process of nucleosynthesis has been classified into 8 sets of nuclear reactions, namely, (1) hydrogen burning, (2) helium burning, (3) ..cap alpha..-process, (4) e-process, (5) s-process, (6) r-process, (7) p-process and (8) x-process. The abundance of helium and heavier elements are explained and the formation of various elements during supernova explosions is discussed. The questions regarding the appropriate astrophysical conditions for the formation of massive stars (3 to 8 times solar mass) is still unanswered.

  20. Iznīqī and Jābir, Sirr and Miftāḥ: Two Authors, Four Titles, One Alchemical Treatise

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    Paola Carusi

    2017-03-01

    Full Text Available An alchemical Arabic treatise alternatively entitled Miftāḥ al-ḥikma, Miftāḥ jannāt al-khuld, Sirr al-asrār and Sirr al-sārr wa-sirr al-asrār is attributed in its manuscripts to two different authors: al-Iznīqī and Jābir b. Ḥayyān. In this article I briefly discuss some characteristic aspects of the treatise and its significance for the history of alchemy. These aspects include its ancient and important sources, such as the Muṣḥaf al-jamā‛a (Turba philosophorum and the Kitāb al-Ḥabīb, and its connection with the tradition of the artists and the activity of the workshop and laboratory, which first comes to the fore in Greek alchemy and later in Islamic alchemy. Furthermore, the work includes references to alchemical physical theories in which the influence of Islamic theology may perhaps be traced. This article, which summarises the results of investigations carried out over the last few years, could be considered as a kind of introduction to the edition and translation of the text currently in progress.

  1. Astrologie alchemiche: Ermetismi in transizione e culture occidentali

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    Ezio Albrile

    2017-07-01

    Full Text Available Alchemy is the “sacred art” of the transmutation of metals or human beings, and often these two tendencies are expressed together in an allegorical mode infused with an astrological imager reflecting their mystical nature. The astrology is bound to alchemy in the search for the most favorable moment for commencing an enterprise (catarchic astrology or in the form of the interrogational method, in which the horoscope of the precise moment at which a query is made to the astrologer is interpreted to provide an answer. Finally, the article illustrates these themes in some ancient manuscripts from Turin’s National University Library.

  2. Will and Wille | Wright | Shakespeare in Southern Africa

    African Journals Online (AJOL)

    Abstract. Ronald Gray. Shakespeare on Love: The Sonnets and Plays in Relation to Plato's Symposium, Alchemy, Christianity and Renaissance Neo-Platonism. Newcastle: Cambridge Scholars Publishing, 2011.

  3. La influencia de la Alquimia medieval hispana en la Europa moderna,

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    López Pérez, Miguel

    2002-12-01

    Full Text Available The pseudolullian texts of german paracelsists in Spain specify the peninsular paracelsism. This texts, and many others, were influenced by other previous texts, like these of the same Lull, Arnau of Vilanova and John of Rupescissa, that's the reason why this ideas made a return trip and the spanish mediaeval alchemy determined directly to the european alchemy.

    Los textos pseudolulianos de paracelsistas alemanes en España concretan los años del paracelsismo peninsular. Dichos textos, y algunos más, estaban influenciados por otros anteriores, como los del propio Lulio, Arnau de Vilanova y Juan de Rupescissa, por lo que dichas ideas hicieron un viaje de ida y vuelta y la Alquimia hispana medieval influenció directamente a la europea.

  4. Z pokladů... Knihovny Ústavu pro českou literaturu AV ČR : zedník alchymistou?

    Czech Academy of Sciences Publication Activity Database

    Malínek, Vojtěch

    2015-01-01

    Roč. 67, č. 10 (2015), s. 3 ISSN 0011-2321 Institutional support: RVO:68378068 Keywords : academic libraries * Institute of Czech Literature, CAS * history of alchemy Subject RIV: AJ - Letters, Mass-media, Audiovision

  5. Fulltext PDF

    Indian Academy of Sciences (India)

    life) are man-made chemicals foreign to the Earth's ecosystem. From alchemy to .... the effect of high pressures on chemical reactions; piezoelectricity ... action of acid on carbonates causes effervescence (L. fervere to ..... Phototaxis is moving.

  6. Das alchemistische Traktat des Marcus Eugenius Bonacina von 1616 über Trinkgold

    Czech Academy of Sciences Publication Activity Database

    Purš, Ivo

    -, č. 8 (2008), s. 77-90 ISSN 1213-5372 R&D Projects: GA AV ČR IAA800330702 Institutional research plan: CEZ:AV0Z80330511 Keywords : alchemy * iconography * history Subject RIV: AL - Art, Architecture, Cultural Heritage

  7. Oswald Croll und die Symbolik des Titelblattes seines Werkes Basilica chymica

    Czech Academy of Sciences Publication Activity Database

    Purš, Ivo

    -, č. 15 (2015), s. 64-87 ISSN 1213-5372 R&D Projects: GA ČR GAP405/12/1268 Institutional support: RVO:68378033 Keywords : paracelsian alchemy * art history * iconography * Oswald Croll Subject RIV: AL - Art, Architecture, Cultural Heritage

  8. Jakub Horčický (Sinapius) und seine Nobilitation

    Czech Academy of Sciences Publication Activity Database

    Smolka, J.; Purš, Ivo

    -, č. 14 (2014), s. 101-113 ISSN 1213-5372 R&D Projects: GA ČR GAP405/12/1268 Institutional support: RVO:68378033 Keywords : alchemy * heraldry * symbols * Rudolf II * Voynich manuscript Subject RIV: AL - Art, Architecture, Cultural Heritage

  9. Sir Prafulla Chandra Ray

    Indian Academy of Sciences (India)

    New Chemical Laboratory, Alercurous Nitrite and History of Hindu Chemistry ... I dreamt a dream that, God willing, a time would come when she too would contribute her .... of his encyclopaedic work on Syriac, Arabic, and middle-age alchemy.

  10. Site occupancies in ternary C15 ordered Laves phases

    International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

    Kotula, P.G.; Chu, F.; Thoma, D.J.; Mitchell, T.E.; Anderson, I.M.; Bentley, J.

    1996-01-01

    Site occupancies in three C15-structured AB 2 (X) Laves phases have been determined by Atom Location by CHanneling Enhanced MIcroanalysis (ALCHEMI). In NbCr 2 (V), the results were consistent with exclusive site occupancies of Nb for the A sublattice and Cr and V for the B sublattice. The B-site occupancy of V is not expected from atom size effects alone. In NbCr 2 (Ti), the results were consistent with Ti partitioning mostly to the A sites with some anti-site defects likely. In HfV 2 (Nb), the results were consistent with Nb partitioning between the A and B sites. The results of the ALCHEMI analyses of these ternary C15 Laves phase materials will be discussed with respect to previously determined phase diagrams and first-principles total energy and electronic structure calculations

  11. Rand National Security Division Annual Report 2006

    Science.gov (United States)

    2007-01-01

    Infrastructure and development will depend on the ability of the intervening authorities and the host government to control inflation and finance ...Partner, Perkins Coie LLP Eugene Rosenfeld President, ForestLane Group Lenny Sands President & CEO, Alchemy Worldwide, LLC Michael J. Shockro

  12. The Paranormal: A Selected Bibliography of Serials and Reference Works, with Commentary.

    Science.gov (United States)

    Smith, Charles H.

    1997-01-01

    Provides bibliography of references and serials to assist acquisitions librarians in selection of the paranormal. Topics include alchemy, astrology, magic, conjuring, witchcraft, paganism, demonology, satanism, voodooism, sorcery, cults, shamanism, UFOs, exobiology, curious physical and biological phenomena, ghosts, poltergeists, haunted places,…

  13. A Decision-Making Tools Workshop

    Science.gov (United States)

    1999-08-01

    alchemy for the decision support systems that you are creating. Dimensions will expand to unfathomable proportions. Measurements will span from the...into consideration information such as a company’s finances , forecasts of sales, earnings, expansion plans etc. The Technical Analysis agent uses

  14. Jung's quest for the "Aurora consurgens"

    DEFF Research Database (Denmark)

    Haaning, Aksel

    2014-01-01

    Auriferae (1593); and it raises the question of whether this could be the possible missing link to Jung's subsequent research in Alchemy and Hermetic Philosophy in the years to come. It is argued that here was the beginning of Jung's quest for the Aurora consurgens, the publication of which concludes...... the Mysterium Conuinctionis more than twenty years later. It is further maintained that this choice of the Aurora is a profound expression of Jung's ambition to revitalize the past from within the individual, and helps explain Jung's deep concern with the welfare and future of modern society.......The paper focuses on the year 1929 when Jung published ‘A European commentary’ to Richard Wilhelm's German translation of the Taoist text The Secret of the Golden Flower. This shows that Jung had already started on the track of European alchemy by following up Conrad Waldkirch's preface in Artis...

  15. Business, Anthropology, and Magical Systems

    DEFF Research Database (Denmark)

    Moeran, Brian

    2014-01-01

    —encompassing related concepts of alchemy, animism, and enchantmen—is reflected in other business practices, which have developed their own parallel and interlocking systems of magic. Certain forms of capitalism, the—fashion, for example, or finance—may be analysed as a field of magical systems....

  16. Planning: Complex Endeavors

    Science.gov (United States)

    2007-04-01

    of the Coordina- tor for Reconstruction and Stabilization (S/CRS) operational expenses; a Response Readiness Corps with $25 millions financing ; and...an issue that takes us into the realms of the unknown. Defence thinkers everywhere are searching forward for the science and alchemy that will

  17. Devising and Attaining National Health Objectives: A Case Study in Policy Formulation Using Asthma Targets in Healthy People 2000

    Science.gov (United States)

    1991-05-06

    Soros, George. The Alchemy of Finance , New York:Simon & Schuster, 1987. Stein, Harold. ed. Public Adminstration and Policy Development: A Case Book...of asthma in the United States. The Health Care Financing Administration has reported that asthma-related expenditures were more than $4 billion in

  18. Cabala Chymica or Chemia Cabalistica - Early Modern Alchemists and Cabala

    NARCIS (Netherlands)

    Forshaw, P.J.

    2013-01-01

    This essay investigates the relationships between early modern alchemy and the Jewish mystical tradition of Kabbalah, following its introduction to the Christian West by Giovanni Pico della Mirandola at the end of the fifteenth century, and its promulgation by Johannes Reuchlin in the early

  19. Descartes, Cardiac Heat, and Alchemy.

    Science.gov (United States)

    Heitsch, Dorothea

    2016-11-01

    René Descartes (1596-1650) insisted on a heat and light theory to explain cardiac movement, and used concepts such as distillation of the vital spirits, fermentation in the digestive process, and fermentation in the circulation of the blood. I argue that his theory of the body as a heat-exchange system was based on alchemical and natural philosophical notions of fire and light expounded by precursors and contemporaries who included Jean D'Espagnet, Jean Fernel, Jan Baptist van Helmont, and Andreas Libavius. Descartes endeavoured to mechanise their approaches, creating a theory in which fire and heat, a legacy from thermal explanations of physiology, were transformed into alchemical fire, and then into mechanistic or physicalist heat.

  20. Linguistic Documentation of Metal System

    Science.gov (United States)

    1978-05-01

    AERonautics AESTHetics AGRiculture = same = ALCHEMY ANATomy = MEDical, PHYSIOLogy ANTiquity « ANTIQuity ANTHRopology ARCHitecture « same ARCHAEOLogy... Ecclesiastical = RELIGion ’ ECONomics * same ELectricity ■ ELECTRicity EMBRoidery ENGINeering = TECHnology ENGRaving ENTOMology = ZOOlogy [ENTomology...ETHNology « sociology EXCHange, stock « ECONoraics FENCing FORestry = AGRiculture, GARTENBAU FORTification = MILitary, ARCHitecture = [GAME

  1. Evaluating the Reliability, Validity, and Usefulness of Education Cost Studies

    Science.gov (United States)

    Baker, Bruce D.

    2006-01-01

    Recent studies that purport to estimate the costs of constitutionally adequate education have been described as either a "gold standard" that should guide legislative school finance policy design and judicial evaluation, or as pure "alchemy." Methods for estimating the cost of constitutionally adequate education can be roughly…

  2. Ammonia in the environment: From ancient times to the present

    International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

    Sutton, Mark A.; Erisman, Jan Willem; Dentener, Frank; Moeller, Detlev

    2008-01-01

    Recent research on atmospheric ammonia has made good progress in quantifying sources/sinks and environmental impacts. This paper reviews the achievements and places them in their historical context. It considers the role of ammonia in the development of agricultural science and air chemistry, showing how these arose out of foundations in 18th century chemistry and medieval alchemy, and then identifies the original environmental sources from which the ancients obtained ammonia. Ammonia is revealed as a compound of key human interest through the centuries, with a central role played by sal ammoniac in alchemy and the emergence of modern science. The review highlights how recent environmental research has emphasized volatilization sources of ammonia. Conversely, the historical records emphasize the role of high-temperature sources, including dung burning, coal burning, naturally burning coal seams and volcanoes. Present estimates of ammonia emissions from these sources are based on few measurements, which should be a future priority. - Past ammonia applications reveal new emphases in biospheric transformations

  3. The Prophetic Voice in Jeremy Rifkin's "Algeny."

    Science.gov (United States)

    Sullivan, Dale

    1990-01-01

    Argues that Jeremy Rifkin's "Algeny" is epideictic rhetoric, related to the European "Jeremiad," a traditional lamentation mode. Notes that Rifkin draws a parallel between genetic engineering and alchemy and adopts a world view dominated by a static hierarchy. Suggests that the teaching of the epideictic genre underscore both…

  4. Shakespeare for Analysts: Literature and Intelligence

    Science.gov (United States)

    2003-07-01

    helping to finance and at the same time providing the moral justification for his war: 29 Spiekerman, Shakespeare’s Political Realism, 131. 30... alchemy , Will change to virtue and to worthiness. Cassius Him and his worth and our great need of him You have right well conceited. Julius Caesar

  5. The Use of Molecular Modeling Programs in Medicinal Chemistry Instruction.

    Science.gov (United States)

    Harrold, Marc W.

    1992-01-01

    This paper describes and evaluates the use of a molecular modeling computer program (Alchemy II) in a pharmaceutical education program. Provided are the hardware requirements and basic program features as well as several examples of how this program and its features have been applied in the classroom. (GLR)

  6. English in Africa - Vol 40, No 1 (2013)

    African Journals Online (AJOL)

    Revelation and Legitimation in Albie Sachs's The Strange Alchemy of Life and Law · EMAIL FULL TEXT EMAIL FULL TEXT DOWNLOAD FULL TEXT DOWNLOAD FULL ... Versions of Hospitality in Recent Writing on the Fiction of J. M. Coetzee · EMAIL FULL TEXT EMAIL FULL TEXT DOWNLOAD FULL TEXT DOWNLOAD ...

  7. Budgeting for the Nation’s Defense Following the End of National Conflicts

    Science.gov (United States)

    2009-06-01

    anticipation of the probable and preparation for the possible. It is, in a word, alchemy ; a method of transmutation from idea into action.”8 These...this combination, Congress disbanded the army at the end of the Revolutionary War due to financial concerns as the war had resulted in “the finances

  8. The Evolution of Naval Warfare Technology and the Impact of Space Systems

    Science.gov (United States)

    1987-09-01

    product of some vague alchemy it was the unique possession of one force and for several centuries its use offered a military advantage which kept its...over the shape of the n<wy. The willingness of the public to finance the private industry of warship construction had fanned the flames of

  9. Our Cosmic Origins: From the Big Bang to the Emergence of Life and Intelligence

    Science.gov (United States)

    Delsemme, Armand H.; de Duve, Foreword by Christian

    2001-01-01

    Preface Christian de Duve; Foreword; 1. Locating man in the universe; 2. The race towards complexity; 3. The stellar alchemy of metals; 4. The formation of the planets; 5. Emergence of life; 6. History of life; 7. Awakening of intelligence; 8. The other worlds; 9. Perspectives; Appendices; Glossary; References; Name index; Subject index.

  10. Theoretical and Experimental Investigation of Heterojunction Interfaces

    Science.gov (United States)

    1983-11-01

    every two surface atoms at the junction. In terms of our theoretical alchemy one proton must be added for every two surface atoms. Note that this...Chye. I. Lindau. P PianetU, C. M. Gamer , and W E Spicer, Phys Rev. B 17, 2682 11978|. "J. R. Waldrop and R W. Grant. Appl. Phys. Lett. 34. 630

  11. The Coast Artillery Journal. Volume 72, Number 5, May 1930

    Science.gov (United States)

    1930-05-01

    Executive CoL. H. L. STEELE Organization and Training Section MAJ. S. JARMAN MAJ. E. W. PuTNEY MAJ. J. B. CRAWFORD CAPT. J. H. WILSON Plans, Finance , and...the JOURNAL’Swelfare. ’rVeare pleased to learn that it is increasing its goodwill at Barrancas. Let us hope that the arts of alchemy ,vill be practiced

  12. A Study of Strategic Lessons Learned in Vietnam. Omnibus Executive Summary

    Science.gov (United States)

    1980-04-28

    can advance a determined and clever opponent yet. closer to his * ultimate aim. A primary ingredient in the alchemy of war is the relative value which...of the way in which we chose to finance the war. Defense spending at the height of the war accounted for 9 percent of GNP, of which the war itself

  13. The Alchemist of Today

    Science.gov (United States)

    Serret, Natasha

    2010-01-01

    Traditionally, alchemy has involved the power of transmuting base metals such as lead into gold or producing the "elixir of life" for those wealthy people who wanted to live forever. But what of today's developments? One hundred years ago, even breaking the four-minute mile would have been deemed "magic," which is what the alchemists of the past…

  14. Transmutation of Matter in Byzantium: The Case of Michael Psellos, the Alchemist

    Science.gov (United States)

    Katsiampoura, Gianna

    2008-01-01

    There is thus nothing paradoxical about the inclusion of alchemy in the ensemble of the physical sciences nor in the preoccupation with it on the part of learned men engaged in scientific study. In the context of the Medieval model, where discourse on the physical world was ambiguous, often unclear, and lacking the support of experimental…

  15. The Alchemy of CDO Credit Ratings

    OpenAIRE

    Efraim Benmelech; Jennifer Dlugosz

    2009-01-01

    Collateralized Loan Obligations (CLOs) were one of the largest and fastest growing segments of the structured finance market, fueling the 2003-2007 boom in syndicated loans and leveraged buyouts. The credit crisis brought CLO issuance to a halt, and as a result the leveraged loan market dried up. Similar to other structured finance products, investors in CLOs rely heavily on credit rating provided by the rating agencies, yet little is known about CLO rating practices. This paper attempts to f...

  16. Harmonious colors: from alchemy to science

    Science.gov (United States)

    Beretta, Giordano B.; Moroney, Nathan M.

    2012-01-01

    There is a very long tradition in designing color palettes for various applications, going back to at least the Upanishad. Although color palettes have been influenced by the available colorants, starting with the advent of aniline dyes in the late 1850s there have been few physical limits on the choice of individual colors. This abundance of choices exacerbates the problem of limiting the number of colors in a palette, i.e., in keeping them into a manageable quantity. For example, it is not practical for a car company to offer each model in hundreds of colors. Instead, for each model year a small number of color palettes is offered, each containing the colors for the body, trim, interior, etc. Another example is the fashion industry, where in addition to solid colors there are also patterns, leading to a huge variety of combinations that would be impossible to stock. The traditional solution is that of "color forecasting." Color consultants assess the sentiment or affective state of a target customer class and compare it with new colorants offered by the industry. They assemble a limited color palette, name the colors according to the sentiment, and publish their result. Textile manufacturers will produce fabrics in these colors and fashion designers will design clothes, accessories, and furniture based on these fabrics. Eventually, the media will communicate these forecasts to the consumers, who will be admired by their cohorts when they choose colors from the forecast palette, which by then is widely diffused. The color forecasting business is very labor intensive and difficult, thus for years computer engineers have tried to come up with algorithms to design harmonious color palettes, alas with little commercial success. For example, Johannes Itten's color theory has been implemented many times, but despite Itten's success in the Bauhaus artifacts, the computer tools have been of little utility. Indeed, contrary to the auditory sense, there is no known physiological mechanism sustaining harmony and the term "harmonious" just has the informal meaning of "going well together." We argue that the intellectual flaw resides in the belief that a masterful individual can devise a "perfect methodology" that the engineer can then reduce to practice in a computer program. We suggest that the correct approach is to consider color forecasting as an act of distillation, where a palette is digested from the sentiment of a very large number of people. We describe how this approach can be reduced to an algorithm by replacing the subjective process with a data analytic process.

  17. Alchemy and atomism in the Quixote

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    Carlos García-Verdugo Caso

    2008-12-01

    Full Text Available When the Quixote was published, the scientific and humanist languages were not split yet. In this work, passages in the novel have been studied that enable to relate both fields of knowledge. This allows us to understand the ideas that an educated person of that time had on what, in a wide sense, we know as science. Moreover, some scientific ideas are used in a creative way from a literary point of view. Understanding these ideas involves knowing more extensively purely artistic aspects of the novel. That symbiotic relation is limited in this work to the alchemical area in its diverse manifestations. It is also possible to find traces of atomism.

  18. Complexity Theory and Network Centric Warfare

    Science.gov (United States)

    2003-09-01

    in Surface Growth. Cambridge University Press. Cambridge, UK. 10 MANDELBROT B (1997). Fractals and Scaling in Finance . Springer-Verlag. 11 TURNER A...to Econophysics; Correlations and Complexity in Finance . Cambridge University Press. Cambridge, UK. ADDITIONAL REFERENCE 14 PEITGEN H-O, JURGENS H...realms of the unknown. Defence thinkers everywhere are searching forward for the science and alchemy that will deliver operational success. CCRP

  19. Spring 2005 Industry Study. Strategic Materials

    Science.gov (United States)

    2005-01-01

    older, increasingly obsolescent, technologies are marshaled to finance the newly produced capital assets that embody cutting-edge technologies. This...Research Laboratory, Weapons and Materials Research Center. Presented at ARL, Aberdeen, MD. March 17, 2005. Ashley, Steven. “ Alchemy of a...and London: Westview Press, 1985 Butkiewicz, James. “Reconstruction Finance Corporation.” EH.Net Encyclopedia. http://www.eh.net/encyclopedia

  20. Marine Corps Readiness: The Costs of First-Term Dependency

    Science.gov (United States)

    2000-01-01

    Marines always get the job done, and the Marines are the masters of unfailing alchemy which converts unoriented youths into proud, self-reliant...tempo, marriage, stress, pregnancy, divorce, finances , dependent 27 services, substance abuse, and other factors as they affect individual enlistees...especially in localities with high off base housing costs. Finances and housing problems are at the root of many other problems which service

  1. Open Access what's been going on

    CERN Multimedia

    CERN. Geneva

    2005-01-01

    New gold journals, alchemy at work on existing journals, hybrids and chimaeras; new repositories, growing repositories, empty repositories; Anglo-Saxon governments in a tizz; funder fudges, funders holding firm; employer moves; gold publishers, green publishers, grey publishers, green publishers going grey; authors - yes, no, don't know; Dutch cream, Scotland the Brave, the QUT-ting edge; Google; Jan Velterop. And more. All in 30 minutes.

  2. Green chemistry education in the Middle East

    Science.gov (United States)

    Kolopajlo, Larry

    2017-06-01

    The Middle East once dominated the age of alchemy, and today it is experiencing a resurgence by transforming the age of petroleum chemicals into a greener science through Estidama. This green conversion is taking place through green chemical research and education. This report examines and reviews the understudied subject of green chemical education in the Middle East through the lens of context and history.

  3. The Fundamental Issues Study within the British BMD Review

    Science.gov (United States)

    1998-02-01

    on. Applications to military usage may then take place on a smallish scale, not too difficult to finance and organise while remaining very hard...fail to achieve a political and economic alchemy , the USSR could become ’another Lebanon’. A year earlier, Eduard Shevardnadze had warned that...usefulness, cost-effectiveness’ ,47 Sensitive to Japanese expressions of resentment (e.g. over Okinawa; and the financing of the Gulf War), the

  4. European Union’s Military Crisis Management: Challenges and Perspectives

    Science.gov (United States)

    2012-06-08

    financing for these policies. In addition, he discusses the concern that some member states have about the EU’s further expansion and integration...respond quickly and decisively, but “the curious alchemy of German leadership, Italian support for it, British limitation of it, [and] French ambition...what the EU knew best and could accomplish most effectively-politics, economics, and finance . “Put simply, NATO provided the muscle for the proper

  5. Federal Research and Development Funding: FY2009

    Science.gov (United States)

    2009-05-22

    are funded through the NIH Management Fund, financed by taps on other NIH appropriations.) President Bush’s FY2009 budget proposal gave most of the... Alchemy of the 21st Century,” remarks, Texas Academy of Medicine, Engineering and Science Fourth Annual Conference, Austin, Texas, January 4, 2007...significant decrease in financing for MEP. Funding for in-house research and development under the Scientific and Technology Research and Services (STRS

  6. Does Homeland Security Constitute an Emerging Academic Discipline?

    Science.gov (United States)

    2013-03-01

    the Only Means of Survival in This Age of Complexity,” July 10, 2011, http://www.telegraph.co.uk/ finance /comment/8628701/Co-operation-is-the-only...The same can be said for virtually every area and industry (e.g., finance , law, government, manufacturing, etc.). The following represents the...with the discipline—just as alchemy eventually became chemistry and medicine. Regardless, what society is witnessing currently is the emergence of an

  7. Federal Research and Development Funding: FY2011

    Science.gov (United States)

    2011-03-25

    NSF’s offices in 54 Arden L. Bement, Jr., Transformative Research: The Artistry and Alchemy of the 21st... financing for the Technology Innovation Program (TIP) increases 14.3% over FY2010 funding to $79.9 million. The construction budget declines 15.1% to $124.8...Extension Partnership Program received $124.7 million, 13.4% more than FY2009, while financing for TIP increased 7.5% to $69.9 million. Construction

  8. Stellar alchemy. The celestial origin of atoms

    Science.gov (United States)

    Cassé, Michel

    Why do the stars shine? What messages can we read in the light they send to us from the depths of the night? Nuclear astrophysics is a fascinating discipline, and enables connections to be made between atoms, stars, and human beings. Through modern astronomy, scientists have managed to unravel the full history of the chemical elements, and to understand how they originated and evolved into all the elements that compose our surroundings today. The transformation of metals into gold, something once dreamed of by alchemists, is a process commonly occurring in the cores of massive stars. But the most exciting revelation is the intimate connection that humanity itself has with the debris of exploded stars. This engaging account of nucleosynthesis in stars, and the associated chemical evolution of the Universe, is suitable for the general reader.

  9. Rhythmical Alchemy: Village Drumming with Arthur Hull.

    Science.gov (United States)

    Hillerson, Gary R.; Hull, Arthur

    As a step toward writing a master's thesis in psychology, the connection between rhythm circles and psychotherapeutic process was explored. Arthur Hull, who experienced and preached about the healing power of rhythm for many years, was interviewed. This article recorded the interview between Arthur and the researcher. The interviewer learned that…

  10. Can alchemy solve the nuclear waste problem?

    International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

    Gibson, D.

    1991-01-01

    One new technology being explored to deal with highly radioactive elements that remain dangerous for thousands of years is transmutation-a modern twist on the ancient idea of transforming one element into another. This modern version of transmutation is not a new concept: transmutation is the essence of nuclear reactions. The latest idea is to harness the process not to create an explosive chain reaction, as in a nuclear weapon, or even primarily to generate power, as in a nuclear power reactor, but to transform dangerous radionuclides into less harmful elements. Last year a Los Alamos team began looking into using a particle accelerator instead of a conventional nuclear reactor to drive the transmutation process. Accelerator transmutation is being pursued elsewhere as well. The Los Alamos project envisions using a linear accelerator to generate extremely high intensities of neutrons for transmutation. The most powerful medium-energy accelerator in the world is located at Los Alamos-the Meson Physics Facility. All major components have been demonstrated individually but have yet to be tested in an integrated unit; when built, these accelerators will produce very intense beams of fast-moving protons. The beams will be directed into heavy-metal targets of lead and bismuth, where each proton will knock-out more than 50 neutrons from the target atoms. The scheme calls for the target to be surrounded by a moderator of heavy water, which would slow the neutrons so they could more easily be captured by the waste products to be transmuted-the lightweight fission products and the heavy actinides. These substances would be carried in a molten salt solution in a separate loop through the moderator. Circulation of both the moderator and the salt loop would dissipate the heat generated by the fission process in what is essentially a subcritical reactor. The paper discusses the advantages of this process and summarizes related research

  11. Alchemy of the Oracle: The Delphi Technique.

    Science.gov (United States)

    Wilhelm, William J.

    2001-01-01

    Discusses the origins and foundations of the Delphi technique. Outlines procedures for using it in research to obtain the insights of experts. Addresses limitations of the technique. (Contains 44 references.) (SK)

  12. Site determination of Ni atoms in Cu-Al-Ni shape memory alloys by electron channelling enhanced microanalysis

    International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

    Nakata, Yoshiyuki; Tadaki, Tsugio; Shimizu, Ken-ichi

    1990-01-01

    The crystallographic site of Ni atoms in the parent phase of differently heat-treated Cu-28.6Al-3.7Ni (at.%) shape memory alloys has been examined by electron channelling enhanced microanalysis (ALCHEMI) in order to clarify effects of heat-treatments on the Ni atom site and M s temperature. The heat-treatments were as follows: (a) Quenching into a 10% NaOH solution at 263 K, (b) Quenching into hot water at 363 K and (c) Aging at 523 K for 3.6 ks after treatment (b). The M s temperatures of specimens (a), (b) and (c) were 158, 185 and 259 K, respectively, increasing with lowering quenching rate or aging. ALCHEMI revealed that Ni atoms occupied an identical site in all the three kinds of specimens: The Ni atoms were located at the nearest neighbor sites around Al atoms. This preferential occupation of Ni atoms was attributed to the strong binding force between Ni and Al atoms. Thus, the change in M s temperature due to different heat-treatments was not directly related to the crystallographic site of Ni atoms, but might be caused by the ordering between the next nearest neighbor Cu and Al atoms. (author)

  13. Estimated Impact of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act on Employment and Economic Output from October 2011 Through December 2011

    Science.gov (United States)

    2012-02-01

    used to finance 11. Changes in the output gap affect unemployment gradually over several quarters. Initially, part of a rise in output shows up as...discussion of the long-run effects of other debt- financed policies for boosting output and employment, see statement of Douglas W. Elmendorf, Director...DECEMBER 2011 CBO 6. See Eric M. Leeper, "Monetary Science, Fiscal Alchemy " (paper presented at the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City symposium

  14. The Civil Engineer, Winter 00-01, Volume 8, Number 4

    Science.gov (United States)

    2001-01-01

    Accounting and Finance Center and the Air Reserve Personnel Center, remained on Lowry proper, and there were others in the Denver area. About four years ago...host nation security requirements. It would be easy to say this alchemy would never jell. Yet the results spoke for themselves — all assigned tasks...goals for the Air Force. The agency received DoE’s Alternative Financing Projects Award (small group category) for its use of Energy Savings

  15. Federal Research and Development Funding: FY2010

    Science.gov (United States)

    2010-01-12

    Foundation, “Transformative Research: The Artistry and Alchemy of the 21st Century,” remarks, Texas Academy of Medicine, Engineering and Science Fourth Annual...Administration’s budget and both House and Senate bills. Financing for the Technology Innovation Program (TIP) is budgeted at $69.9 million, an increase...would have increased 13.3% to $534.6 million. The Manufacturing Extension Program received $124.7 million, 13.4% more than FY2009, while financing for

  16. Nano Materials

    International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

    Jin, In Ju; Lee, Ik Mo; Kwon, Yeung Gu

    2006-02-01

    This book introduces background of nano science such as summary, plenty room at the bottom, access way to nano technique, nanoparticles using bottom-up method which are a marvel of nature, and modern alchemy : chemical synthesis of artificial nano structure, understanding of quantum mechanics, STM/AFM, nano metal powder, ceramic nanoparticles, nano structure film, manufacture of nanoparticles using reverse micelle method, carbon nano tube, sol-gel material, nano energy material, nano catalyst nano bio material technology and spintronics.

  17. The theory of reflexivity: A non-stochastic randomness theory for business schools only?

    OpenAIRE

    Ehnts, Dirk; Carrión Álvarez, Miguel

    2013-01-01

    The Alchemy of Finance, a book written by George Soros (1987) on the workings of financial markets, 'has found a place in the reading lists of business schools as distinct from economics departments', according to the author (2003, 4). His theory of reflexivity, which is at the center of the book, states that interdependence exists between the cognitive and manipulative functions of market participants. While Soros claims that imperfect knowledge rules on financial markets, academic orthodoxy...

  18. Architects and the housing challenge: a process, not a product

    CSIR Research Space (South Africa)

    Osman, A

    2010-09-01

    Full Text Available , creative responses can be encouraged through design products and processes. This is referred to as a process of ?negotiated reactions?; Gwendolyn Wright refers to it as the ?alchemy of design and social interaction? and this responds positively... planning. The community is the basic architectural unit. This is the daily face-to-face social network ? the pattern of interaction that ultimately defines the settlement. As Turan explains, vernacular architecture teaches us about building activity...

  19. Chemistry Progress and Civilization in Ancient China

    Institute of Scientific and Technical Information of China (English)

    JIANG Yu-Qian; RUAN Shu-Xiang; TANG Shan; SHUAI Zhi-Gang

    2011-01-01

    @@ During the 6,000 years of Chinese civilization, chemistry has played an essential role.The bronzed chime bells of the Warring States Period (475-221 BC) unearthed in Hubei Province shows not only the excellence in musical instruments in ancient China, but also the technological advances in metallurgy.Chinese alchemy was not originated from the quest to turn common metals to gold, instead, it was for searching medicines for longevity of human beings, mostly practised by Taoists.

  20. To search new technology of dream

    International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

    Heo, Chang Uk

    1998-08-01

    This book deals with new technology of dream like cold nuclear fusion is possible, alchemy of the 21 century, cold transmutation of element, cold nuclear fusion on the desk, fire of multiarc recalling earth environment, like miracle fire and multiarc device, field fulfilling of dream, pioneers of anti gravity research, dream of anti gravity which is realized by mobius, N-machine and space energy, challenge for infinite power unit like engine of dream, Kawai magnet motor and attaching magnet on the motorcycle.

  1. Courtroom Alchemy: Adequacy Advocates Turn Guesstimates into Gold

    Science.gov (United States)

    Guthrie, James W.; Springer, Matthew G.

    2007-01-01

    Beginning in the late 1960s, and accelerating unabated through to the present, plaintiffs have filed more than 125 court cases questioning the constitutionality of school district and school spending levels. Much of the litigation, particularly early on, centered on the issue of funding "equity." Few would seek to deny American public school…

  2. "The Mangled Miracle and the Alchemy of Finance"

    OpenAIRE

    Haider Ali Khan

    2003-01-01

    In this chapter I introduce the basic problems for a new theory of 21st century financial crises in light of the Asian and other subsequent crises. Do these crises all have somethimg in common, or are they idiosyncratic events? My contention is that there are deep structural causes at work in the global markets that affect the political economy of countries and regions. Methodologically, new concepts, models and theories are needed to conduct further meaningful empirical work leading to relev...

  3. The Alchemy of "Costing Out" an Adequate Education

    Science.gov (United States)

    Hanushek, Eric A.

    2006-01-01

    In response to the rapid rise in court cases related to the adequacy of school funding, a variety of alternative methods have been developed to provide an analytical base about the necessary expenditure on schools. These approaches have been titled to give an aura of a thoughtful and solid scientific basis: the professional judgment model, the…

  4. Oil from coal: alchemy for the 1990's

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Whitehead, J

    1980-06-06

    Gulf Oil Chemical is taking a great interest in developments in the energy and synthetic feedstocks area, and is one of the leaders of technological advance in obtaining feedstocks from coal. The company's work in this direction, and the problems facing the petrochemical industry in the USA are reviewed in this article.

  5. Stellar alchemy: The origin of the chemical elements

    International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

    Norman, E.B.

    1994-01-01

    What makes the stars shine? This question puzzled human beings for thousands of years. Early in this century, chemists and physicists discovered radioactivity; and the nuclear model of the atom was developed. Once nuclear reactions were produced in the laboratory, it did not take long before their role in stellar energy generation was realized. The theory that nuclear fusion is the source of stellar energy was initially developed in the 1930's and was elaborated in detail in the 1950's. Only within the last ten years, however, have astronomical observations provided direct confirmation of these theoretical ideas. In this paper, I describe the sequences of nuclear reactions that are believed to be responsible for the power generation in stars. The ashes of these reactions are the heavy elements that we find on earth and throughout the universe. The evolution and final fates of stars are examined. The key astronomical observations that provide support for these theoretical ideas are presented

  6. Inner Alchemy: Transforming Dilemmas in Education Through Mindfulness

    Science.gov (United States)

    Burrows, Leigh

    2015-01-01

    This article reports on face-to-face and online qualitative research conducted with 25 teachers from 8 schools in Australia that explored their experience of mindfulness and reflection in relation to a self-identified relational dilemma with a student, colleague, or parent who was causing them concern at work. The aim of this study was to find out…

  7. Alquimia: Isaac Newton revisitado Alchemy: Isaac Newton Revisited

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    Reginaldo Carmello Corrêa de Moraes

    1997-01-01

    Full Text Available Nota sobre publicações recentes que revelam aspectos pouco conhecidos da biblioteca de Newton - os numerosos textos religiosos, místicos e herméticos. Os biógrafos de Newton resistiram muito até admitir que os escritos esotéricos fossem genuíno interesse do sábio e que tivessem importância para entender sua trajetória intelectual. As publicações aqui indicadas afirmam o contrário, seguindo trilha aberta por ensaio pioneiro de J. M. Keynes (1946.A note on recent books about an unexplored side of Newton’s library: religious, mystical and hermetic texts. Newton's biographers had resisted so much to believe that esoteric writings were in Newton’s field of interest. Even if they recognized that, they didn't believe those strange works were important elements to understand his intellectual trajectory. The studies we mention here are saying just the opposite thing, exploring the way opened by the pioneer essay of J. M. Keynes (1946.

  8. Primordial alchemy: a test of the standard model

    International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

    Steigman, G.

    1987-01-01

    Big Bang Nucleosynthesis provides the only probe of the early evolution of the Universe constrained by observational data. The standard, hot, big bang model predicts the synthesis of the light elements (D, 3 He, 4 He, 7 Li) in astrophysically interesting abundances during the first few minutes in the evolution of the Universe. A quantitative comparison of the predicted abundances with those observed astronomically confirms the consistency of the standard model and yields valuable constraints on the parameters of cosmology and elementary particle physics. The current status of the comparison between theory and observation will be reviewed and the opportunities for future advances outlined

  9. The world made by Noble prize : chemistry volume I

    International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

    2007-06-01

    This book contains two parts about items by chemistry. The first part introduces Alfred Bernhard Nodel, Pioneers without Nobel Prize, Garbage Bag, Non-sticky Frying Pan, Nylon Stockings, Plastic Electricity, Synthetic Dyestuff, Gin and Tonic, Soccer Ball, Fertilizer, DDT, Dentifrice, Kimchi, Makgeolli, Ice cream, Anodyne and Firefly. The second part lists PET-MRI, Color photo, Holography, Art diamond Incandescent lamp and Neon Sign, Imitation work, Alchemy, Nuclear Power plant, Synthetic Oil and Sugar, Freon gas, Water Car, Estate agency Mars, and winners of Nobel prize in physics.

  10. The world made by Noble prize : chemistry volume I

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    NONE

    2007-06-15

    This book contains two parts about items by chemistry. The first part introduces Alfred Bernhard Nodel, Pioneers without Nobel Prize, Garbage Bag, Non-sticky Frying Pan, Nylon Stockings, Plastic Electricity, Synthetic Dyestuff, Gin and Tonic, Soccer Ball, Fertilizer, DDT, Dentifrice, Kimchi, Makgeolli, Ice cream, Anodyne and Firefly. The second part lists PET-MRI, Color photo, Holography, Art diamond Incandescent lamp and Neon Sign, Imitation work, Alchemy, Nuclear Power plant, Synthetic Oil and Sugar, Freon gas, Water Car, Estate agency Mars, and winners of Nobel prize in physics.

  11. Valency state changes in lanthanide-contained systems under high pressure

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Jayaraman, A

    1980-08-01

    Changes in valency state induced by pressure in samarium sulphide SmS remind one of alchemy, as the mat black initial substance shines golden after the electron transition. The alchemist's dream is of course not realized, however the compound does exhibit an unusually interesting behaviour in the new state. The valency state of samarium as newly appeared fluctuated very rapidly between two electron configurations. Manipulation of the valency state by pressure or chemical substitution can basically change the physical properties of systems containing lanthanides. The phenomena are described and discussed in the following survey.

  12. The world made by Noble prize : chemistry volume II

    International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

    2007-06-01

    This book has two parts of items related chemistry. The contents of the first part are Preface, Alfred Bemhard Nobel, Pioneers without Nobel Prize, Garbage Bag, Non-sticky Frying Pan, Nylon Stockings, Plastic Electricity, Synthetic Dyestuff, Gin and Tonic, Soccer Ball, Fertilizer, DDT, Dentifrice, Kimchi, Makgeolli, Ice cream, Anodyne, and firefly. The contents of the second part are PET-MRI, Color photo, Holography, Art diamond, an incandescent lamp and Neon Sign, Imitation works, Alchemy, Nuclear Power plant, Synthetic Oil and Sugar, Propane gas, Water Car, Estate agency Mars, and reference.

  13. “Though Hermes never taught thee”: The Anti-Patriarchal Tendency of Charles Brockden Brown’s Mercurial Outcast Carwin, the Biloquist

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    Evert Jan van Leeuwen

    2010-02-01

    Full Text Available This article traces the allusions to the utopian cultural schemas of alchemy and hermetic philosophy in Charles Brockden Brown’s Wieland and “Memoirs of Carwin the Biloquist” in order to show that the mysterious anti-hero Carwin does not have to be cast in the role of gothic villain but instead can play the part of marginalised utopian idealist, whose dissident presence in the novel reveals that the seemingly enlightened community of Mettingen is in fact reliant on old-world patriarchal ideology to ensure its stability.

  14. The world made by Noble prize : chemistry volume II

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    NONE

    2007-06-15

    This book has two parts of items related chemistry. The contents of the first part are Preface, Alfred Bemhard Nobel, Pioneers without Nobel Prize, Garbage Bag, Non-sticky Frying Pan, Nylon Stockings, Plastic Electricity, Synthetic Dyestuff, Gin and Tonic, Soccer Ball, Fertilizer, DDT, Dentifrice, Kimchi, Makgeolli, Ice cream, Anodyne, and firefly. The contents of the second part are PET-MRI, Color photo, Holography, Art diamond, an incandescent lamp and Neon Sign, Imitation works, Alchemy, Nuclear Power plant, Synthetic Oil and Sugar, Propane gas, Water Car, Estate agency Mars, and reference.

  15. Legacy of the Luoshu the 4,000 year search for the meaning of the magic square of order three

    CERN Document Server

    Swetz, Frank

    2008-01-01

    A symbol of the Divine, a good luck charm, a cosmogram of the world order, a template for fengshui -through the ages, the luoshu, or magic squre of order three, has fascinated people of many different cultures. In this riveting account of cultural detective work, renowned mathematics educator, Frank J. Swetz relates how he uncovered the previously hidden history of the luoshu, from its Chinese origins, shrouded in legend, through its eventual association with Chinese fortunetelling, Daoism, and fengshui, to its incorporation into Islamic astrology and alchemy and its migration into Kabbalistic

  16. Evidence for the occurrence of LENR-type processes in alchemic transmutations

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Perez-Pariente, Joaquin [Instituto de Catalisis y Petroleoquimica, CSIC, Marie Curie 2, 28049 Cantoblanco, Madrid (Spain)

    2006-07-01

    The relevance of experimental aspects of alchemy have been neglected for too long in the academic milieu, but in recent years more thoughtful studies of texts from the middle ages and early modern European alchemy evidence the presence of coherent and relevant laboratory practices. However, the central core of western alchemy, the quest for the Philosophers' Stone, the substance claimed to transmute base metals into gold, remains, needless to say, elusive. While no book will ever tell us how to prepare such substance, it is nevertheless also true that detailed reports on alchemic transmutations, often authored by witnesses of such events, can be found profusely in alchemic literature. These reports usually contain valuable information regarding quantitative aspects of the transmutation processes. Taking into account numerical parameters of alchemic transmutations such as the weights of starting base metal, gold and Philosophers' Stone, and the duration of the transmutation experiences, it has been found that the transmutation processes follow a specific pattern similar to that generally observed in conventional catalytic reactions. In the present work, several examples of alchemic practices and objects are reported that, taken as a whole, challenge our actual view on the constitution of matter. First, new data are presented which support the catalytic-like performance of the Philosophers' Stone. Indeed, such behaviour is consistent with the alchemic view on the evolution of metals, which conceives the transmutation as an acceleration of the ripening of base metals towards the more perfect gold which takes place in Nature by means of a slow maturation process inside the Earth's womb. Second, differences between the weight of the starting base metal and the weight of the gold (or silver) obtained at the end of the transmutation process are often noticed in the texts, but no satisfactory explanation for such observation has been given so far

  17. Evidence for the occurrence of LENR-type processes in alchemic transmutations

    International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

    Perez-Pariente, Joaquin

    2006-01-01

    The relevance of experimental aspects of alchemy have been neglected for too long in the academic milieu, but in recent years more thoughtful studies of texts from the middle ages and early modern European alchemy evidence the presence of coherent and relevant laboratory practices. However, the central core of western alchemy, the quest for the Philosophers' Stone, the substance claimed to transmute base metals into gold, remains, needless to say, elusive. While no book will ever tell us how to prepare such substance, it is nevertheless also true that detailed reports on alchemic transmutations, often authored by witnesses of such events, can be found profusely in alchemic literature. These reports usually contain valuable information regarding quantitative aspects of the transmutation processes. Taking into account numerical parameters of alchemic transmutations such as the weights of starting base metal, gold and Philosophers' Stone, and the duration of the transmutation experiences, it has been found that the transmutation processes follow a specific pattern similar to that generally observed in conventional catalytic reactions. In the present work, several examples of alchemic practices and objects are reported that, taken as a whole, challenge our actual view on the constitution of matter. First, new data are presented which support the catalytic-like performance of the Philosophers' Stone. Indeed, such behaviour is consistent with the alchemic view on the evolution of metals, which conceives the transmutation as an acceleration of the ripening of base metals towards the more perfect gold which takes place in Nature by means of a slow maturation process inside the Earth's womb. Second, differences between the weight of the starting base metal and the weight of the gold (or silver) obtained at the end of the transmutation process are often noticed in the texts, but no satisfactory explanation for such observation has been given so far. Weight decreases are

  18. Creating new β cells: cellular transmutation by genomic alchemy.

    Science.gov (United States)

    Moss, Larry G

    2013-03-01

    To address insulin insufficiency, diabetes research has long focused on techniques for replacing insulin-producing β cells. Studies in mice have suggested that, under some conditions, α cells possess the capacity to transdifferentiate into β cells, although the mechanisms that drive this conversion are unclear. In this issue, Bramswig et al. analyzed the methylation states of purified human α, β, and acinar cells and found α cells exhibit intrinsic phenotypic plasticity associated with specific histone methylation profiles. In addition to expanding our understanding of this potential source of β cells, this compendium of carefully generated human gene expression and epigenomic data in islet cell subtypes constitutes a truly valuable resource for the field.

  19. Alchemy or Science? Compromising Archaeology in the Deep Sea

    Science.gov (United States)

    Adams, Jonathan

    2007-06-01

    In the torrid debate between archaeology and treasure hunting, compromise is often suggested as the pragmatic solution, especially for archaeology carried out either in deep water or beyond the constraints that commonly regulate such activities in territorial seas. Both the wisdom and the need for such compromise have even been advocated by some archaeologists, particularly in forums such as the internet and conferences. This paper argues that such a compromise is impossible, not in order to fuel confrontation but simply because of the nature of any academic discipline. We can define what archaeology is in terms of its aims, theories, methods and ethics, so combining it with an activity founded on opposing principles must transform it into something else. The way forward for archaeology in the deep sea does not lie in a contradictory realignment of archaeology’s goals but in collaborative research designed to mesh with emerging national and regional research and management plans.

  20. Fiesta y Patria durante la Regeneración en Colombia. Santander (1886-1899

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    Oscar Blanco Mejía

    2012-07-01

    Full Text Available

    Resumen

    La fiesta patria durante la Regeneración en Colombia, adquiere importancia  no sólo porque es la representación de una nación católica en el país, acorde con el proyecto político implementado por los conservadores, sino además, y lo más importante,  porque cumple un papel de alquimia social, que transforma lo arbitrario en legitimo al  instaurar una rutina. Para comprender esta función, la presente ponencia pasara revista de manera breve a los orígenes de las fiestas nacionales en la región, y posteriormente, se adentrará en el  tema de la Regeneración.

     

    Palabras claves: Fiesta  republicana, regeneración, alquimia social.

     

    Abstract

    The national holiday during Regeneration in Colombia, becomes important not only because was the representation of a Catholic nation in the country, according to the political project implemented by the Conservatives, but also and most importantly, it plays the role of social alchemy, which transforms the arbitrary toward legitimate to establish a routine. To understand this function, this essay  briefly  review of the origins of national holidays in the region, and subsequently, will development  the theme of Regeneration.

     

    Keywords: Republican holiday, regeneration, social alchemy.

  1. Data mining practical machine learning tools and techniques

    CERN Document Server

    Witten, Ian H

    2005-01-01

    As with any burgeoning technology that enjoys commercial attention, the use of data mining is surrounded by a great deal of hype. Exaggerated reports tell of secrets that can be uncovered by setting algorithms loose on oceans of data. But there is no magic in machine learning, no hidden power, no alchemy. Instead there is an identifiable body of practical techniques that can extract useful information from raw data. This book describes these techniques and shows how they work. The book is a major revision of the first edition that appeared in 1999. While the basic core remains the same

  2. Mixtum compositum: oniric image in the analytical treatment of a Transsexual FtM

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    Mario Gullì

    2014-12-01

    Full Text Available The aim of this paper is to analyze the process of individuation of a transsexual female to male using the dream analysis in Jungian perspectives. The dreams were amplified using fairy-tales, alchemy, and archetypes theory. After a description of some dreams of the beginning of therapy it was suggest that was symbolized image of androgynous as representation of emersion of the archetypes of Anima and Animus and the integration of this image can facilitated individuation process and Self constellation. It seems that take place in a dream with a Self image confirming that analytical process can facilitate personal growth and the integration between consciousness and unconsciousness.

  3. Złoty kurz. O jednej metaforze Bolesława Leśmiana

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    Dorota Wojda

    2016-06-01

    Full Text Available The topic of this paper is the golden dust metaphor in Bolesław Leśmian’s poems, fairy-tale prose, essays and plays. It is interpreted as one of many variations of the black sun trope, the gnostic and alchemical symbol for the unity of oppositions and for transformation. Analysis of Leśmian’s metaphor leads to the conclusion that his writing corresponds to gnosticism and alchemy. It takes up the concept of material concreteness, nudging the reader to combine oppositions and transmutation. Acting through words, through tropes, reflects the performative status of Leśmian’s creative work.

  4. Modern alchemy: Fred Hoyle and element building by neutron capture

    Science.gov (United States)

    Burbidge, E. Margaret

    Fred Hoyle's fundamental work on building the chemical elements by nuclear processes in stars at various stages in their lives began with the building of elements around iron in the very dense hot interiors of stars. Later, in the paper by Burbidge, Burbidge, Fowler and Hoyle, we four showed that Hoyle's "equilibrium process" is one of eight processes required to make all of the isotopes of all the elements detected in the Sun and stars. Neutron capture reactions, which Fred had not considered in his epochal 1946 paper, but for which experimental data were just becoming available in 1957, are very important, in addition to the energy-generating reactions involving hydrogen, helium, carbon, nitrogen and oxygen, for building all of the elements. They are now providing clues to the late stages of stellar evolution and the earliest history of our Galaxy. I describe here our earliest observational work on neutron capture processes in evolved stars, some new work on stars showing the results of the neutron capture reactions, and data relating to processes ending in the production of lead, and I discuss where this fits into the history of stars in our own Galaxy.

  5. Software Alchemy: Turning Complex Statistical Computations into Embarrassingly-Parallel Ones

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    Norman Matloff

    2016-07-01

    Full Text Available The growth in the use of computationally intensive statistical procedures, especially with big data, has necessitated the usage of parallel computation on diverse platforms such as multicore, GPUs, clusters and clouds. However, slowdown due to interprocess communication costs typically limits such methods to "embarrassingly parallel" (EP algorithms, especially on non-shared memory platforms. This paper develops a broadlyapplicable method for converting many non-EP algorithms into statistically equivalent EP ones. The method is shown to yield excellent levels of speedup for a variety of statistical computations. It also overcomes certain problems of memory limitations.

  6. Building Budgets and Trust through the Alchemy of Superintendent Leadership

    Science.gov (United States)

    Bird, James J.

    2010-01-01

    Superintendents have the burden and the opportunity to exert leadership through the budget-building process. This article details a dozen tenets which can be implemented by practicing superintendents. Doing so increases the chances of building trust among the stakeholders of administrators, staff, community, and school board members. The district…

  7. The I Ching and the psyche-body connection.

    Science.gov (United States)

    Ma, Shirley S Y

    2005-04-01

    Carl G. Jung's fateful meeting with Richard Wilhelm in 1929 has helped to build a bridge of depth psychological understanding between the East and the West. When Jung emerged from his 'confrontation with the unconscious', he felt validated by Wilhelm in his discovery of the healing power of medieval alchemical symbolism for the European psyche. Analytical psychology however offers a scientific, psychological understanding of Chinese wisdom as contained in the I Ching and Taoist alchemy. The Taoist alchemical tradition (also known as the Inner Elixir tradition of which 'The Secret of the Golden Flower' is a sample text) is based on the premise that psychological experience of the Tao can be achieved through mental and physiological means such as breathing and meditative techniques, gymnastics, dietary regimens such as fasting, consumption of medicinal herbs and minerals, and special sexual practices. This tradition incorporates the I Ching and traditional Chinese medicine in the alchemical opus. Taoist alchemy assumes the primacy of the physical body in the process of self-realization. The psychological and cosmic forces of the trigrams of the I Ching are stored in the internal organs of the body and are the basic material for the experience of Tao. The internal organs are the foundation of the material and subtle bodies and through cultivation, the body becomes spiritualized as the spirits are embodied. The body as a reflection of the entire cosmos becomes the residence of the gods. The realization of a new consciousness is symbolized by the hexagram Fu, meaning rebirth. The Chinese notion of Tao coincides with Jung's postulation of the unus mundus, the unity of existence which underlies the duality of psyche and matter, the psycho-physical background of existence. In this light, in the world of inner experience, East and West follow similar paths symbolically.

  8. [Illustrations of of alchemy vessels in a manuscript of Pseudo-Geber].

    Science.gov (United States)

    Kurzmann, Peter

    2011-01-01

    Manuscript ric. 933 "Geber de investigatione perfectionis magisterii", kept in the Libreria Riccardiana in Florence, is a 13th century Latin version of the "Book of the Secret of the Secrets" ("kitab sirr al-asrar") by the Arabian alchemist al-Razi (865-925). The manuscript shows on page 25r a series of drawings of alchemistic vessels and apparatus which do not figure in the Arabian original but which are of particular interest as they date from as early as the 13th century and are numbered amongst the earliest drawings of this kind which we possess. The publication of the manuscript by Julius Ruska in 1935 shows only copied drawings with his interpretations of the legends. There was considerable interest in the publication of the original page 25r and in the course of further study it became clear that these interpretations had to be revised. These new interpretations presented in detail in this paper are justified and put into an alchemistic context. In some cases they give a new understanding and differ considerably from Ruska's versions.

  9. The Alchemy of College Philanthropy: What Dynamics Inspire the Transformational Gift?

    Science.gov (United States)

    Gallagher, Geraldine

    2014-01-01

    Modest inquiry exists to elucidate why donors make large contributions to community colleges. Of every charitable dollar donated to education, two-year colleges receive 2 to 4 cents. This grounded theory study included 30 major donors to 23 colleges in 18 states. The questions were comprehensive: why donors and how donors make major gifts;…

  10. Alchemy & algorithms: perspectives on the philosophy and history of open science

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    Leo Lahti

    2017-05-01

    Full Text Available This paper gives the reader a chance to experience, or revisit, PHOS16: a conference on the History and Philosophy of Open Science. In the winter of 2016, we invited a varied international group to engage with these topics at the University of Helsinki, Finland. Our aim was a critical assessment of the defining features, underlying narratives, and overall objectives of the contemporary open science movement. The event brought together contemporary open science scholars, publishers, and advocates to discuss the philosophical foundations and historical roots of openness in academic research. The eight sessions combined historical views with more contemporary perspectives on topics such as transparency, reproducibility, collaboration, publishing, peer review, research ethics, as well as societal impact and engagement. We gathered together expert panelists and 15 invited speakers who have published extensively on these topics, which allowed us to engage in a thorough and multifaceted discussion. Together with our involved audience we charted the role and foundations of openness of research in our time, considered the accumulation and dissemination of scientific knowledge, and debated the various technical, legal, and ethical challenges of the past and present. In this article, we provide an overview of the topics covered at the conference as well as individual video interviews with each speaker. In addition to this, all the talks were recorded and they are offered here as an openly licensed community resource in both video and audio form.

  11. Are the advocates of nuclear power and the adversaries listening to each other? Does Dialogue have a chance? Introductory remarks by John A. Macpherson[Roundtable discussion on whether the advocates of nuclear power and the adversaries are listening to each other

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Macpherson, John A [Atomic Energy of Canada Ltd., Mississauga, ON (Canada)

    1989-07-01

    Are the advocates of nuclear power and the adversaries listening to each other? Does dialogue have a chance? My short answer to both questions posed as the title for this discussion is 'no'. And I would add: There is no point in trying to bring opposite poles together, it requires too much investment for too little return. A nuclear dialogue will have a chance only it a distinction can be shown between physics and metaphysics, between chemistry and alchemy, and if the gap can be bridged between the polarized views of the world's societal needs which, incidentally, create the nuclear issue in the first place. This is a daunting task Movements in search of a cause have a passion for preaching rather than a love for listening.

  12. The Scientific Legacy of Fred Hoyle

    Science.gov (United States)

    Gough, Douglas

    2011-08-01

    Introduction M. Rees; 1. Fred Hoyle's major work in the context of astronomy and astrophysics today W. L. W. Sargent; 2. Sir Fred Hoyle and the theory of the synthesis of the elements D. Arnett; 3. Fred Hoyle: contributions to the theory of galaxy formation G. Efstathiou; 4. Highlights of Fred Hoyle's work on interstellar matter and star formation P. M. Solomon; 5. Accretion H. Bondi; 6. From dust to life C. Wickramasinghe; 7. Worlds without end or beginning J. D. Barrow; 8. Evolutionary cosmologies - then and now M. S. Longair; 9. Alternative ideas in cosmology J. N. Narlikar; 10. Red Giants - then and now J. Faulkner; 11. Modern alchemy: Fred Hoyle and element building by neutron capture E. M. Burbidge; 12. Concluding remarks G. Burbidge.

  13. Are the advocates of nuclear power and the adversaries listening to each other? Does Dialogue have a chance? Introductory remarks by John A. Macpherson

    International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

    Macpherson, John A.

    1989-01-01

    Are the advocates of nuclear power and the adversaries listening to each other? Does dialogue have a chance? My short answer to both questions posed as the title for this discussion is 'no'. And I would add: There is no point in trying to bring opposite poles together, it requires too much investment for too little return. A nuclear dialogue will have a chance only it a distinction can be shown between physics and metaphysics, between chemistry and alchemy, and if the gap can be bridged between the polarized views of the world's societal needs which, incidentally, create the nuclear issue in the first place. This is a daunting task Movements in search of a cause have a passion for preaching rather than a love for listening

  14. Art, archetypes and alchemy: images of self following treatment for breast cancer.

    Science.gov (United States)

    Thibeault, Catherine; Sabo, Brenda M

    2012-04-01

    The loss or alteration of a breast poses a threat to a woman's selfhood, particularly those aspects that embrace feminine identity such as sexuality and caring. The use of art as a vehicle for recreating a sense of self after breast cancer surgery framed the study that generated the stories reported here. A team of nurse-researchers and professional artists entered into a collaborative partnership aimed at creating life-like prototypes of the torsos of two breast cancer survivors. The authors sought to understand participants' experiences of healing through the narratives of their breast cancer journeys and their experiences of creating art through the use of their bodies. The participants consented to having interviews and casting sessions audio-taped. The authors used thematic analysis to explore the narratives. The authors present excerpts of stories and comment on how participants articulated the feminine archetype in the form of the Greek goddesses Hestia, Artemis, and Aphrodite. The authors explore the transformative nature of participants' experiences. The emergence of the goddess archetypes in participants' narratives was an unanticipated result of the study. The authors invite readers to contemplate these anecdotes and embark on their own quest for deeper knowledge of breast cancer experiences. Copyright © 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  15. Conference "The Cultural Alchemy of the Exact Sciences : Revisiting the Forman Thesis"

    CERN Document Server

    Kojevnikov, Alexei; Trischler, Helmuth; Weimar culture and quantum mechanics : selected papers by Paul Forman and contemporary perspectives on the Forman thesis

    2011-01-01

    This volume reprints Paul Forman's classic papers on the history of physics in post-World War I Germany and the invention of quantum mechanics. The Forman thesis has become famous as the first argument in favor of the cultural conditioning of scientific knowledge, in particular for its demonstration of the historical connection between the culture of Weimar Germany - known for its irrationality and antiscientism - and the emerging concept of quantum acausality.This volume reprints Paul Forman's classic papers on the history of physics in post-World War I Germany and the invention of quantum mechanics. The Forman thesis has become famous as the first argument in favor of the cultural conditioning of scientific knowledge, in particular for its demonstration of the historical connection between the culture of Weimar Germany - known for its irrationality and antiscientism - and the emerging concept of quantum acausality. At the 2007 international conference in Vancouver, Canada, leading historians of physics disc...

  16. Alchemy to reason: Effective use of Cumulative Effects Assessment in resource management

    International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

    Hegmann, George; Yarranton, G.A.

    2011-01-01

    Cumulative Effects Assessment (CEA) is a tool that can be useful in making decisions about natural resource management and allocation. The decisions to be made include those (i) necessary to construct planning and regulatory frameworks to control development activity so that societal goals will be achieved and (ii) whether or not to approve individual development projects, with or without conditions. The evolution of CEA into a more successful tool cannot occur independently of the evolution of decision making processes. Currently progress is painfully slow on both fronts. This paper explores some opportunities to accelerate improvements in decision making in natural resource management and in the utility of CEA as a tool to assist in making such decisions. The focus of the paper is on how to define the public interest by determining what is acceptable.

  17. From alchemy to quarks the study of physics as a liberal art

    CERN Document Server

    Glashow, Sheldon L

    1994-01-01

    This text is intended for a short introduction to pre-calculus physics. Nobel Laureate physicist, Sheldon Glashow, who first proposed the charmed quark, the zee-zero particle, and the idea of grand unification, surveys science's on-going quest to explain the wonders of nature in terms of the simplest laws and the smallest particles - from fire, water, earth and air to quarks and leptons; from the Leaning Tower of Pisa to today's supercolliders.

  18. Ossian & the Hare: An Experiment in Poetry and the Alchemy of Film

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    Wilson, Naomi

    2016-12-01

    Full Text Available Ossian & the Hare is an experimental film-essay combination intended to work like two sides of the one coin. The 20-minute long film is designed to be more experiential than narrative driven, moving us through various spaces and atmospheres as if in a kind of dreamscape. In pointing up some of the thinking and ideas that are embedded in the film, the text provides a framework situating the film within a film-as-artwork context. It outlines many of the influences that contribute both to visual style and content, offering more depth to the overall experience of viewing the film.

  19. History of radioactivity

    International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

    Minder, W.

    1981-01-01

    The author describes the historical development of the physics of atoms and nuclei. After a consideration of the ancient Greek philosophy concerning atoms the behaviour of gases is discussed with regards to statistical mechanics. Then the developement of chemistry from alchemy is described. Thereafter the early studies of gas discharges are described with regards to the electronic structure of atoms. In this connection the periodic system of elements is considered. Then the detection of the α-radiation of Uranium by Becquerel and the detections of M. and P. Curie are described. Thereafter the radiactive decay of nuclei is discussed. Then a popular introduction into nuclear structure is given with special regards to artificial radioactivity and nuclear fission. Finally nuclear reactors, the atomic bombs, applications of radionuclides, and problems of radiation protection are described. (HSI) [de

  20. Cofrentes maintenance. Life essence

    International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

    Sala, J.

    2009-01-01

    Even though it may seem like something much more complex, maintenance is not more than the seed of continuity, the alchemy of eternal youth or the key to combating the cruel passage of time that haunts us all. Little does it matter where you are from or where you are going; it is irrelevant whether you are man, woman or machine. If you do not have a more or less sensible strategy of survival, reality can take you by surprise, without prior warning, at the wrong place and the wrong time. It is sad to see how what we thought was eternal, and thus do not care for and pamper as we should, eventually loses its qualities and functions over the years and fades away like a vague memory. (Author)

  1. "To Improve upon Hints of Things": Illustrating Isaac Newton.

    Science.gov (United States)

    Schilt, Cornelis J

    2016-01-01

    When Isaac Newton died in 1727 he left a rich legacy in terms of draft manuscripts, encompassing a variety of topics: natural philosophy, mathematics, alchemy, theology, and chronology, as well as papers relating to his career at the Mint. One thing that immediately strikes us is the textuality of Newton's legacy: images are sparse. Regarding his scholarly endeavours we witness the same practice. Newton's extensive drafts on theology and chronology do not contain a single illustration or map. Today we have all of Newton's draft manuscripts as witnesses of his working methods, as well as access to a significant number of books from his own library. Drawing parallels between Newton's reading practices and his natural philosophical and scholarly work, this paper seeks to understand Newton's recondite writing and publishing politics.

  2. A study of understanding: Alchemy, abstraction, and circulating reference in tertiary science education

    Science.gov (United States)

    Merritt, Brett W.

    Understanding is widely touted to be of paramount importance for education. This is especially true in science education research and development where understanding is heralded as one of the cornerstones of reform. Teachers are expected to teach for understanding and students are expected to learn with understanding. This dissertation is an empirical study of the concept of understanding. After analyzing various constructions of understanding in current U.S. education literature, I suggest that understanding is defined by five distinct features---they are knowledge (or knowledge base), coherence, transfer, extrapolation, and cognition--- and that these features are heavily informed and shaped by the psychological sciences. This relationship is neither good nor bad, I argue, but it means that teaching for and learning with understanding are not heavily informed and shaped by, for example, the natural sciences. Drawing from historical, philosophical, and anthropological perspectives of science, but especially from the work of Bruno Latour, I enact a radical revision(ing) of psychological notions such as "abstraction" and "transfer." The two main purposes of this re-visioning are (1) to draw critical attention to particular characteristics of a cognitive learning theory that emphasizes abstract concepts, and (2) to align many of the principles and tools used in science education more closely with those used in empirical scientific research. Finally, by bringing some examples of teaching and learning from an undergraduate biology classroom into conversation with both psychological and empirical practices and perspectives, I suggest that problematizing the current construction of understanding creates much needed room in mainstream science education for more empirical forms of learning and styles of teaching. A shift to such forms and styles, I conclude, should prove to be more inclusive and less constraining for both students and teachers.

  3. La alquimia y los sacerdotes mineros en el Virreinato del Perú en el siglo XVII

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    2001-01-01

    Full Text Available L’ALCHIMIE ET LES PRÊTRES MINIERS DANS LA VICE-ROYAUTÉ DU PÉROU AU XVIIÈME SIÈCLE À travers l’examen des manuels de minéralogie et de métallurgie de Alonso Barba, curé résidant à Potosí et de Miguel de Monsalve, dominicain résidant à Lima, ce travail se propose d’analyser un ensemble d’idées alchimiques qui circulèrent au Pérou pendant le XVIIème siècle, et les modalités de leur transfert et d’implantation dans le vice-royaume. De manière plus générale, cette étude se veut une contribution à la réflexion sur la construction d’un corpus de savoirs miniers dans le Pérou colonial et sur les mécanismes de leur transmission. A través del examen de los manuales mineralógicos y metalúrgicos de Alonso Barba, sacerdote seglar residente en Potosí y de Miguel de Monsalve, dominico residente en Lima, este trabajo se propone analizar un conjunto de ideas alquímicas que circularon en el Perú en el siglo XVII, estudiar sus modalidades de traslación e implantación en este virreinato. De manera más general este estudio pretende reflexionar sobre la construcción de un corpus de saberes mineros en el Perú colonial y sobre sus mecanismos de transmisión. ALCHEMY AND PRIESTS ENVOLVED IN MINING PROJECTS IN THE VICEROYALTY OF PERU IN THE 17TH CENTURY Through the study of the manuals of mineralogy and metallurgy written by Alonso Barba, a lay priest residing in Potosi, and Miguel de Monsalve, a Dominican residing in Lima, this article sets out to analyse a series of ideas concerning alchemy which circulated in Peru in the 17th century and to study the ways in which they were introduced and developed in the viceroyalty. In more general terms, the study aims at analysing the establishment of a corpus of mining knowledge in colonial Peru and the mechanisms of its transmission.

  4. Life is hard: countering definitional pessimism concerning the definition of life

    Science.gov (United States)

    Smith, Kelly C.

    2016-10-01

    Cleland and Chyba published a classic piece in 2002 that began a movement I call definitional pessimism, where it is argued that there is no point in attempting anything like a general definition of life. This paper offers a critical response to the pessimist position in general and the influential arguments offered by Cleland and her collaborators in particular. One such argument is that all definitions of life fall short of an ideal in which necessary and sufficient conditions produce unambiguous categorizations that dispose of all counterexamples. But this concept of definition is controversial within philosophy; a fact that greatly diminishes the force of the admonition that biologists should conform to such an ideal. Moreover, biology may well be fundamentally different from logic and the physical sciences from which this ideal is drawn, to the point where definitional conformity misrepresents biological reality. Another idea often pushed is that the prospects for definitional success concerning life are on a par with medieval alchemy's attempts to define matter - that is, doomed to fail for lack of a unifying scientific theory. But this comparison to alchemy is both historically inaccurate and unfair. Planetary science before the discovery of the first exoplanets offers a much better analogy, with much more optimistic conclusions. The pessimists also make much of the desirability of using microbes as models for any universal concept of life, from which they conclude that certain types of 'Darwinian' evolutionary definitions are inadequate. But this argument posits an unrealistic ideal, as no account of life can both be universal and do justice to the sorts of precise causal mechanisms microbes exemplify. The character of biology and the demand for universality in definitions of life thus probably accords better with functional rather than structural categories. The bottom line is that there is simply no viable alternative, either pragmatically or

  5. The Radium Terrors. Science Fiction and Radioactivity before the Bomb.

    Science.gov (United States)

    Candela, Andrea

    2015-01-01

    At the beginning of the 20th century the collective imagination was fascinated and terrified by the discovery of radium. A scientific imagery sprang up around radioactivity and was disseminated by public lectures and newspaper articles discussing the ambiguous power of this strange substance. It was claimed that radium could be used to treat cholera, typhus and tuberculosis, but at the same time there were warnings that it could be used for military purposes. The media and the scientists themselves employed a rich vocabulary influenced by religion, alchemy and magic. The ambivalent power of radioactive elements exerted a great influence on science fiction novelists. This paper will examine some significant works published in Europe, America and Russia during the first decades of the 20th century and their role in the creation of the complex imagery of radioactivity that seized the public imagination long before the invention of the atomic bomb.

  6. Ab initio investigation of the structural and electronic properties of amorphous HgTe

    International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

    Zhao, Huxian; Chen, Xiaoshuang; Shu, Haibo; Lu, Wei; Lu, Jianping

    2014-01-01

    We present the structure and electronic properties of amorphous mercury telluride obtained from first-principle calculations. The initial configuration of amorphous mercury telluride is created by computation alchemy. According to different exchange–correlation functions in our calculations, we establish two 256-atom models. The topology of both models is analyzed in terms of radial and bond angle distributions. It is found that both the Te and the Hg atoms tend to be fourfold, but with a wrong bond rate of about 10%. The fraction of threefold and fivefold atoms also shows that there are a significant number of dangling and floating bonds in our models. The electronic properties are also obtained. It is indicated that there is a bandgap in amorphous HgTe, in contrast to the zero bandgap for crystalline HgTe. The structures of the band tail and defect states are also discussed. (paper)

  7. Ab initio investigation of the structural and electronic properties of amorphous HgTe.

    Science.gov (United States)

    Zhao, Huxian; Chen, Xiaoshuang; Lu, Jianping; Shu, Haibo; Lu, Wei

    2014-01-29

    We present the structure and electronic properties of amorphous mercury telluride obtained from first-principle calculations. The initial configuration of amorphous mercury telluride is created by computation alchemy. According to different exchange–correlation functions in our calculations, we establish two 256-atom models. The topology of both models is analyzed in terms of radial and bond angle distributions. It is found that both the Te and the Hg atoms tend to be fourfold, but with a wrong bond rate of about 10%. The fraction of threefold and fivefold atoms also shows that there are a significant number of dangling and floating bonds in our models. The electronic properties are also obtained. It is indicated that there is a bandgap in amorphous HgTe, in contrast to the zero bandgap for crystalline HgTe. The structures of the band tail and defect states are also discussed.

  8. Los griegos y la doctrina esotérica de los elementos

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    Ronald Casas Ulate

    2016-03-01

    Full Text Available According to Empedocles, a Greek philosopher, scientist, healer and ser, who lived in Sicily in the fifth century B.C., all m atter consists of “rootclumps” or elements. Empedocles described these elements not only as physical manifestations, but also as spiritual essences. He as associated them with four gods and goddesses. Empedocles philosophy was influenced by Pythagoras and by the ancient greek mystery traditions. In the works and practices of the alchemists, neoplatonists and gnostics that further developed his theories, the elements are not only material and spiritual forces, but also facets of a human being. Their varying combinations result in different personality types. Carl Gustav Jung (1875 – 1961, one of the founders of modern psychology, studied mystical literature and alchemy and his conceptualization of the four basic components of personality is a derivation of Empedocles ancient theories about earth, water, air and fire.

  9. Outreach activity by using three-dimensional nuclear chart. Understanding nuclear physics and nuclear energy

    International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

    Koura, Hiroyuki

    2015-01-01

    A three-dimensional nuclear chart is constructed with toy blocks for usage of outreach activity related on nuclear physics and atomic energy. The height of each block represents quantities like atomic mass per nucleon, the total half-life, etc. The bulk properties of the nuclei can be easily understood by using these charts. Explanations for the energy generation of nuclear fusion and fission are visually given. In addition, we newly set another chart with blocks of fission fragment mass distribution from U-235 + a thermal neutron. As an example, the origin of abundances of rather radioactive isotopes like Sr-90 and Cs-137 is explained which created in nuclear reactor and also distributed in the eastern side of Fukushima prefecture due to the accident of Fukushima-Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant. Using our charts, lectures entitled 'Alchemy of the Universe' were delivered to high schools and public places. (author)

  10. Exploring the alchemy of qualitative management research: Seeking trustworthiness, credibility and rigor through crystallization

    OpenAIRE

    Stewart, Heather; Gapp, Rod; Harwood, Ian

    2017-01-01

    In this paper we explore crystallization in terms of its contribution to qualitative management research. This exploration of crystallization is based on a postmodern view where we utilize triangulation as a point of departure. Currently, the use of crystallization is under developed in the management discipline. Qualitative literature and metaphors are utilized to develop a focus on moving qualitative management research away from positivist terms. To do this we crystalize crystallization wi...

  11. Stem cell therapy for cardiovascular disease: the demise of alchemy and rise of pharmacology.

    Science.gov (United States)

    Jadczyk, T; Faulkner, A; Madeddu, P

    2013-05-01

    Regenerative medicine holds great promise as a way of addressing the limitations of current treatments of ischaemic disease. In preclinical models, transplantation of different types of stem cells or progenitor cells results in improved recovery from ischaemia. Furthermore, experimental studies indicate that cell therapy influences a spectrum of processes, including neovascularization and cardiomyogenesis as well as inflammation, apoptosis and interstitial fibrosis. Thus, distinct strategies might be required for specific regenerative needs. Nonetheless, clinical studies have so far investigated a relatively small number of options, focusing mainly on the use of bone marrow-derived cells. Rapid clinical translation resulted in a number of small clinical trials that do not have sufficient power to address the therapeutic potential of the new approach. Moreover, full exploitation has been hindered so far by the absence of a solid theoretical framework and inadequate development plans. This article reviews the current knowledge on cell therapy and proposes a model theory for interpretation of experimental and clinical outcomes from a pharmacological perspective. Eventually, with an increased association between cell therapy and traditional pharmacotherapy, we will soon need to adopt a unified theory for understanding how the two practices additively interact for a patient's benefit. © 2012 The Authors. British Journal of Pharmacology © 2012 The British Pharmacological Society.

  12. Ideological Alchemy: The Transmutation of South African Didactics (and Fundamental Pedagogics) into "Apartheid Education"

    Science.gov (United States)

    Yonge, George D.

    2008-01-01

    In his response to Kruger, Le Grange claims that: (1) the South African discourse of fundamental pedagogics was closely allied with Christian National Education and functioned as a powerful educational doctrine in the service of the South African policy of apartheid education; (2) fundamental pedagogics bracketed political discourse; (3) the…

  13. The Innermost Kernel Depth Psychology and Quantum Physics. Wolfgang Pauli's Dialogue with C.G Jung

    CERN Document Server

    Gieser, Suzanne

    2005-01-01

    "The Innermost Kernel" recounts the physicist and Nobel Laureate Wolfgang Pauli and his interest in Jungian psychology, philosophy and western world-view. It is also an exploration of the intellectual setting and context of Pauli's thinking, which has its starting point in the cultural and intellectual climate of fin-de-siècle Europe. As a contribution to the general history of quantum physics this study has a special focus on the psychological and philosophical issues discussed by physicists belonging to the Copenhagen school. The work is mainly based on the correspondence of the principle characters and explores some of the central issues discussed there, as for instance the subject-object relation, complementarity, the relation of conscious and unconscious, the process underlying concept-formation, the psychology of scientific discovery, the symbolic world of alchemy, the theories of archetypes and of synchronicity. Ultimately this book is about a remarkable scientist searching for a new understanding of ...

  14. Ordering and site occupancy of D03 ordered Fe3Al-5 at%Cr evaluated by means of atom probe tomography

    KAUST Repository

    Rademacher, Thomas W.

    2011-05-01

    Addition of ternary elements to the D03 ordered Fe3Al intermetallic phase is a general approach to optimise its mechanical properties. To understand the physical influences of such additions the determination of the probability of site occupancies of these additions on the lattice site and ordering parameters is of high interest. Some common experimental techniques such as X-ray diffraction or Atom Location by Channelling Enhanced Microanalysis (ALCHEMI) are usually applied to explore this interplay. Unfortunately, certain published results are partly inconsistent, imprecise or even contradictory. In this study, these aspects are evaluated systematically by atom probe tomography (APT) and a special data analysis method. Additionally, to account for possible field evaporation effects that can falsify the estimation of site occupancy and induce misinterpretations, APT evaporation sequences were also simulated. As a result, chromium occupies most frequently the next nearest neighbour sites of Al atoms and local ordering parameters could be achieved. © 2010 Elsevier B.V.

  15. Supervising the uncanny: the play within the play.

    Science.gov (United States)

    Leader, Carol

    2015-11-01

    The writer offers a combined experience in analysis and the performing arts to explore uncanny aspects of the unconscious subtext of the patient's inner drama; subtext which can remain hidden from view in supervision. Freud and Jung's understanding of uncanny experience is considered together with a painting from medieval alchemy and Matte Blanco's conceptions concerning the symmetrical nature of unconscious process. Theatre and the work of the theatre director and actor in approaching the multidimensional aspects of a play are then introduced. Finally clinical case material from group supervision demonstrates how the 'theatre of therapy' and the work of the supervisory couple and group promote the emergence of a more authentic conscious asymmetrical response to the patient's 'script' that can break the 'spell' of the transference/countertransference relationship. This in turn brings meaning to the underlying and implicit 'stage directions' that the patient has been unconsciously communicating. © 2015, The Society of Analytical Psychology.

  16. Newton’s apple and other myths about science

    CERN Document Server

    Kampourakis, Kostas

    2015-01-01

    A falling apple inspired Isaac Newton’s insight into the law of gravity—or so the story goes. Is it true? Perhaps not. But the more intriguing question is why such stories endure as explanations of how science happens. Newton’s Apple and Other Myths about Science brushes away popular misconceptions to provide a clearer picture of great scientific breakthroughs from ancient times to the present. Among the myths refuted in this volume is the idea that no science was done in the Dark Ages, that alchemy and astrology were purely superstitious pursuits, that fear of public reaction alone led Darwin to delay publishing his theory of evolution, and that Gregor Mendel was far ahead of his time as a pioneer of genetics. Several twentieth-century myths about particle physics, Einstein’s theory of relativity, and more are discredited here as well. In addition, a number of broad generalizations about science go under the microscope of history: the notion that religion impeded science, that scientists typically a...

  17. Visualization environment and its utilization in the ITBL building

    International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

    Yasuhara, Yuko

    2004-12-01

    In recent years, visualization techniques have become more and more important in various fields. Especially in scientific fields, a large amount of numerical output data crucially needs to be changed into visualized form, because computations have grown to larger and larger scales as well as have become more complicated, so that computed results must be intuitively comprehensible by using various visualization techniques like 3D or stereo image construction. In the visualization room in the ITBL building, a 3-screen Virtual Reality system, a Portable Virtual Reality system, a Mixed Reality system, and Visualization tools like alchemy etc. are installed for the above-mentioned use. These devices enable us to easily change numerical data into visualized images of a virtual reality world with the use of eye-glasses or a head-mount-display device. This article describes the visualization environment in the ITBL building, it's use, and the tasks to be solved. (author)

  18. John Napier life, logarithms, and legacy

    CERN Document Server

    Havil, Julian

    2014-01-01

    John Napier (1550–1617) is celebrated today as the man who invented logarithms—an enormous intellectual achievement that would soon lead to the development of their mechanical equivalent in the slide rule: the two would serve humanity as the principal means of calculation until the mid-1970s. Yet, despite Napier’s pioneering efforts, his life and work have not attracted detailed modern scrutiny. John Napier is the first contemporary biography to take an in-depth look at the multiple facets of Napier’s story: his privileged position as the eighth Laird of Merchiston and the son of influential Scottish landowners; his reputation as a magician who dabbled in alchemy; his interest in agriculture; his involvement with a notorious outlaw; his staunch anti-Catholic beliefs; his interactions with such peers as Henry Briggs, Johannes Kepler, and Tycho Brahe; and, most notably, his estimable mathematical legacy. Julian Havil explores Napier’s original development of logarithms, the motivations for his approa...

  19. The diffident naturalist Robert Boyle and the philosophy of experiment

    CERN Document Server

    Sargent, Rose-Mary

    2009-01-01

    In a provocative reassessment of one of the quintessential figures of early modern science, Rose-Mary Sargent explores Robert Boyle's philosophy of experiment, a central aspect of his life and work that became a model for mid- to late seventeenth-century natural philosophers and for many who followed them. Sargent examines the philosophical, legal, experimental, and religious traditions-among them English common law, alchemy, medicine, and Christianity-that played a part in shaping Boyle's experimental thought and practice. The roots of his philosophy in his early life and education, in his religious ideals, and in the work of his predecessors-particularly Bacon, Descartes, and Galileo-are fully explored, as are the possible influences of his social and intellectual circle. Drawing on the full range of Boyle's published works, as well as on his unpublished notebooks and manuscripts, Sargent shows how these diverse influences were transformed and incorporated into Boyle's views on and practice of experiment.

  20. All That Glitters Is Not Gold

    CERN Multimedia

    2001-01-01

    The surface treatment lab team. From left to right, J. Carosone, M. Malabaila, J-P. Malivert (front row), M. Thiebert, and A. Lasserre (back row). Apiece of stainless steel equipment, destined for the LHC, was delivered to building 102 last Friday morning. This past Monday the equipment emerged from the same building in the afternoon, looking very much the same as it did when it arrived... with one small difference. The equipment was no longer steel, but gold. This may sound like medieval alchemy, but not all is as it appears. In fact there is no sorcery involved, just lots of careful chemical engineering. No wizards either, but rather a talented team of individuals... the CERN surface treatment lab group. Copper, silver, and gold are all incredibly important to particle physics projects because of their ability to conduct electricity with very low resistance. Unfortunately, these metals are also expensive and cannot be used frequently in large quantities. So instead of building equipment out of gold, equi...

  1. Ordering and site occupancy of D03 ordered Fe3Al-5 at%Cr evaluated by means of atom probe tomography

    KAUST Repository

    Rademacher, Thomas W.; Al-Kassab, Talaat; Deges, Johannes; Kirchheim, Reiner

    2011-01-01

    Addition of ternary elements to the D03 ordered Fe3Al intermetallic phase is a general approach to optimise its mechanical properties. To understand the physical influences of such additions the determination of the probability of site occupancies of these additions on the lattice site and ordering parameters is of high interest. Some common experimental techniques such as X-ray diffraction or Atom Location by Channelling Enhanced Microanalysis (ALCHEMI) are usually applied to explore this interplay. Unfortunately, certain published results are partly inconsistent, imprecise or even contradictory. In this study, these aspects are evaluated systematically by atom probe tomography (APT) and a special data analysis method. Additionally, to account for possible field evaporation effects that can falsify the estimation of site occupancy and induce misinterpretations, APT evaporation sequences were also simulated. As a result, chromium occupies most frequently the next nearest neighbour sites of Al atoms and local ordering parameters could be achieved. © 2010 Elsevier B.V.

  2. [Federik Grisogono and alchemistry].

    Science.gov (United States)

    Pausek-Bazdar, Snjezana

    2011-01-01

    Frederico Grisogono's 1958 collection of essays De modo collegiandi, prognosticandi et curandi febres: necnon de humana felicitate ac denique de fluxu et refluxu maris presents his views on alchemy. He acknowledges the traditional association between the sky and earth and the correlation between the seven planets and seven earthly metals. He attempted to empirically determine the position and the properties of these planets (the Sun and the Moon were also considered planets at the time). He clearly distinguished the good and the bad planets and those that agree (love) or disagree (hate) with one another. However, Grisogono abandons the traditional Renaissance viewpoint on planet position inasmuch as he claims that Venus (copper) and Jupiter (tin) need to change places. He discards alchemist practical teaching that base metals can be turned into noble metals such as gold and silver. His argument against it is based on then generally adopted sulphur-mercury metal structure theory.

  3. Chimie et mécanisme dans la nouvelle Académie royale des sciences : les débats entre Louis Lémery et Etienne-François Geoffroy

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    Bernard Joly

    2008-03-01

    Full Text Available Au début du XVIIIe siècle, une querelle éclate entre deux chimistes français à propos de la fabrication artificielle du fer. C’est en fait un conflit entre une interprétation mécaniste des processus chimiques et une approche plus traditionnelle, soupçonnée d’emprunter ses thèses à l’alchimie, mais qui sera pourtant à l’origine de la table des affinités qui sera adoptée par tous les chimistes jusqu’au début du XIXe siècle.In the early eighteenth century a quarrel came out between two French chemists concerning artificial making of iron. It was in fact a conflict between a mechanist interpretation of chemical process and a more traditional approach, which was suspected of having taken his thesis from alchemy. But nevertheless, this approach will lead to affinity table which was accepted by all the chemists until the early nineteenth century.

  4. Alchemy in the underworld - recent progress and future potential of organic geochemistry applied to speleothems.

    Science.gov (United States)

    Blyth, Alison

    2016-04-01

    Speleothems are well used archives for chemical records of terrestrial environmental change, and the integration of records from a range of isotopic, inorganic, and organic geochemical techniques offers significant power in reconstructing both changes in past climates and identifying the resultant response in the overlying terrestrial ecosystems. The use of organic geochemistry in this field offers the opportunity to recover new records of vegetation change (via biomarkers and compound specific isotopes), temperature change (via analysis of glycerol dialkyl glycerol tetraethers, a compound group derived from microbes and varying in structure in response to temperature and pH), and changes in soil microbial behaviour (via combined carbon isotope analysis). However, to date the use of organic geochemical techniques has been relatively limited, due to issues relating to sample size, concerns about contamination, and unanswered questions about the origins of the preserved organic matter and rates of transport. Here I will briefly review recent progress in the field, and present a framework for the future research needed to establish organic geochemical analysis in speleothems as a robust palaeo-proxy approach.

  5. RETRACTED ARTICLE: Happiness as alchemy: Positive mood leads to self-serving responses to social comparisons

    OpenAIRE

    Johnson, Camille S.; Stapel, Diederik A.

    2011-01-01

    People in a positive mood process information in ways that reinforce and maintain this positive mood. The current studies examine how positive mood influences responses to social comparisons and demonstrates that people in a positive mood interpret ambiguous information about comparison others in self-benefitting ways. Specifically, four experiments demonstrate that compared to negative mood or neutral mood participants, participants in a positive mood engage in effortful re-interpretations o...

  6. Hiding in plain sight: Jung, astrology, and the psychology of the unconscious.

    Science.gov (United States)

    Buck, Stephanie

    2018-04-01

    Astrology was a lifelong interest for C.G. Jung and an important aid in his formulation of psyche and psychic process. Archetypally configured, astrology provided Jung an objective means to a fuller understanding of the analysand's true nature and unique individuation journey. Jung credits astrology with helping to unlock the mystery of alchemy and in so doing providing the symbol language necessary for deciphering the historically remote cosmology of Gnosticism. Astrology also aided Jung's work on synchronicity. Despite astrology's worth to Jung's development of analytical psychology, its fundamental role in guiding his discoveries is all but absent from historical notice. The astrological natal chart seems rarely used clinically, and many clinicians seem unaware of its value as a dynamic diagram of the personality and the potentialities within which nature and nurture foster and/or discourage for individual growth and development over the lifespan. This paper charts Jung's interest in astrology and suggests why his great regard for it and other paranormal or occult practices remains largely neglected and unknown. © 2018, The Society of Analytical Psychology.

  7. Lorenz Oken and Naturphilosophie in Jena, Paris and London.

    Science.gov (United States)

    Breidbach, Olaf; Ghiselin, Michael T

    2002-01-01

    Although Lorenz Oken is a classic example of Naturphilosophie as applied to biology, his views have been imperfectly understood. He is best viewed as a follower of Schelling who consistently attempted to apply Schelling's ideas to biological data. His version of Naturphilosophic, however, was strongly influenced by older pseudoscience traditions, especially alchemy and numerology as they had been presented by Robert Fludd, whose works were current in Jena and available to him. According to those influences, parts of Oken's philosophical conception were communicable even in a non-idealistic scientific culture, for example in Paris, where Oken met Etienne Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire. Geoffroy however was embedded in a French intellectual tradition, and the correspondence between his views and those of Oken was only superficial. The English anatomist Richard Owen attempted to incorporate the views of Oken and Geoffroy within his own, idiosyncratic system. Although Darwin knew of Oken's ideas, it was Geoffroy who really affected his evolutionary biology, and any influence of Oken must have been attenuated to the point of triviality.

  8. Transatlantic tussles in the fission race

    CERN Document Server

    Seidel, R

    2003-01-01

    Atom-smashing was as popular as barrel-smashing in the 1930s. Ernest Rutherford, who many believed was a force of nature, inspired experimental physicists to probe the atomic nucleus, which he had discovered with brute force. His early discoveries all employed the simple sources that nature offered the would-be students of alpha and beta rays. However, his transmutation of the nitrogen nucleus at the end of the First World War persuaded him that nature needed help from man if the nucleus was to yield its secrets. Rutherford was well aware of the allure of what he called the 'newer alchemy' even if he failed to share contemporary visions of nuclear energy and the bombs that might harness it. And when he summoned kindred spirits to the task, they did come, even from the deepest recesses of America. Per Dahl's book chronicles three of the principal groups of atom-smashers who answered Rutherford's call. They were: Ernest Lawrence and his Radiation Laboratory at Berkeley; John Cockcroft and Ernest Walton at the C...

  9. Newton's apple Isaac Newton and the English scientific renaissance

    CERN Document Server

    Aughton, Peter

    2003-01-01

    In the aftermath of the English Civil War, the Restoration overturned England's medieval outlook and a new way of looking at the world allowed the genius of Isaac Newton (b. 1642) and his contemporaries to flourish. Newton had a long and eventful life apart from his scentific discoveries. He was born at the beginnings of the Civil War, his studies were disrupted by the twin disasters of the Great Plague and the Fire of London; a brilliant and enigmatic genius, Newton dabbled in alchemy, wrote over a million words on the Bible, quarrelled with his contemporaries and spent his last years as Master of the Royal Mint as well as President of the Royal Society. This book sets Newton's life and work against this dramatic intellectual rebirth; among his friends and contemporaries were Samuel Pepys, the colourful diarist, John Evelyn, the eccentric antiquarian, the astronomers Edmund Halley and John Flamsteed, and Christopher Wren, the greatest architect of his age. They were all instrumental in the founding of the Ro...

  10. Spiritual practices of taoism

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    Yulia L. Butko

    2016-01-01

    Full Text Available In the article the spiritual practices of Taoism. Established that the spiritual path in Taoism is the main ultimate goal - achieving eternal, indestructible personality transformation through meditation and the reduction of lower mental strength to their upper classes. To achieve this, the Taoist practices, special practices that include, along with the meditative contemplation technique classes and various gymnastics, breathing exercises and the like, and (for a significant period of its history - Laboratory (“foreign” alchemy. Among the spiritual practices of Taoism is the main meditation that has little to do with certain external techniques. Taoist meditation leads people to unity, the only person that connects with the cosmos and society. The author concluded that the path of self-improvement Taoist, under the guidance of a teacher, is a series of distinct stages, gaining purely individual instruction. Spiritual practices like Taoist, were widely known in other religious and philosophical systems. However, the semantics of Taoist practices are significantly different, as well as their function in the structure of religious practices in general.

  11. Environmentally appropriate technology, part 2

    International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

    McCallum, B.

    1976-01-01

    In this his second article on alternatives to thermally generated electricity, the author considers the economics of solar heating in Canada and existing or planned demonstration projects. Solar heating is at its best in February and March; it is admitted that December and January are dark months. Most solar-heated houses incorporate large heat-storage systems, but some only store heat for a day or two, and they, naturally, are cheaper. For an example of the cheaper type, a group at McGill Univ. has built four innovative houses for Indians in Quebec, with partial solar heating. For a more elaborate example, the New Alchemy Institute 'Ark' on Prince Edward Islnd includes greenhouses, fishponds and windmills. The author calculates that at 20% inflation of oil, gas and electricity prices, the annual cost of a house with 75% solar and 25% electric heating will rise from about $940 to about $5300 in 20 years, whereas that of oil or gas heating will rise from $600 to about $15,000. (N.D.H.)

  12. Aterradora transcendência? Uma análise simbólica do Bafomé de Éliphas Lévi (Terrifying transcendence? A symbolic analysis of Eliphas Levi's Baphomet - DOI: 10.5752/P.2175-5841.2013v11n31p1129

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    Ermelinda Ganem Fernandes

    2013-09-01

    Full Text Available Bafomé, a mais duradoura criação do escritor Éliphas Lévi, é um ícone do universo esotérico: é a imagem “satânica” mais conhecida da história. Na tentativa de desvendar a sua rica composição simbólica, uma exegese iconográfica será conduzida por intermédio da psicologia analítica, fundada pelo psiquiatra suíço Carl Gustav Jung. As origens de Bafomé na alquimia, na cabala e no gnosticismo serão perscrutadas e os conceitos Junguianos do inconsciente coletivo e dos arquétipos irão, em grande parte, balizar a interpretação proposta neste trabalho. Tal análise será dividida em oito subáreas, entre elas: o significado do seu aspecto animalesco na escatologia cristã, o hermafroditismo na psicologia e nas ciências arcanas, as qualidades mágicas do pentagrama e a importância hermética do caduceu. Por fim, conclui-se que o Bafomé é um símbolo de self, o arquétipo da totalidade psíquica. Bafomé tem por finalidade ser uma alternativa à imagem primordial cristã de autorrealização, mais integradora e menos repressora que esta. Palavras-chave: Alquimia. Cristianismo. Magia. Psicologia junguiana. Religião e psicologia.   Abstract Baphomet, the lasting creation of the French writer Éliphas Lévi, is an icon of the esoteric universe: it is the history’s best-known “satanic” image. In an attempt to unravel its rich symbolic composite, an iconographic exegesis will be conducted through the use of analytical psychology, founded by the Swiss psychiatrist Carl Gustav Jung. The origins of Baphomet in alchemy, Kabbalah and Gnosticism will investigated mostly through the application of Jungian concepts such as the collective unconscious and the archetypes. Such analysis will be divided into eight sub-areas, including: the significance of his animal appearance in Christian eschatology, hermaphroditism in psychology and the arcane sciences, the magical qualities of the pentagram and the importance of the caduceus in

  13. Synthetic Biology: Applications in the Food Sector.

    Science.gov (United States)

    Tyagi, Ashish; Kumar, Ashwani; Aparna, S V; Mallappa, Rashmi H; Grover, Sunita; Batish, Virender Kumar

    2016-08-17

    Synthetic biology also termed as "genomic alchemy" represents a powerful area of science that is based on the convergence of biological sciences with systems engineering. It has been fittingly described as "moving from reading the genetic code to writing it" as it focuses on building, modeling, designing and fabricating novel biological systems using customized gene components that result in artificially created genetic circuitry. The scientifically compelling idea of the technological manipulation of life has been advocated since long time. Realization of this idea has gained momentum with development of high speed automation and the falling cost of gene sequencing and synthesis following the completion of the human genome project. Synthetic biology will certainly be instrumental in shaping the development of varying areas ranging from biomedicine, biopharmaceuticals, chemical production, food and dairy quality monitoring, packaging, and storage of food and dairy products, bioremediation and bioenergy production, etc. However, potential dangers of using synthetic life forms have to be acknowledged and adoption of policies by the scientific community to ensure safe practice while making important advancements in the ever expanding field of synthetic biology is to be fully supported and implemented.

  14. Mining Tacitus: secrets of empire, nature and art in the reason of state.

    Science.gov (United States)

    Keller, Vera

    2012-06-01

    A new political practice, the 'reason of state', informed the ends and practices of natural study in the late sixteenth century. Informed by the study of the Roman historian Tacitus, political writers gathered 'secrets of empire' from both history and travel. Following the economic reorientation of 'reason of state' by Giovanni Botero (1544-1617), such secrets came to include bodies of useful particulars concerning nature and art collected by an expanding personnel of intelligencers. A comparison between various writers describing wide-scale collections, such as Botero, Francis Bacon (1561-1626), Jakob Bornitz (1560-1625) and Matthias Bernegger (1582-1640), reveals that seventeenth-century natural intelligencers across Europe not only were analogous to political intelligencers, but also were sometimes one and the same. Those seeking political prudence cast themselves as miners, prying precious particulars from the recesses of history, experience and disparate disciplines, including mathematics, alchemy and natural philosophy. The seventeenth-century practice of combining searches for secrets of empire, nature and art contests a frequent historiographical divide between empirical science and Tacitism or reason of state. It also points to the ways political cunning shaped the management of information for both politics and the study of nature and art.

  15. Using Twitter to Better Understand the Spatiotemporal Patterns of Public Sentiment: A Case Study in Massachusetts, USA.

    Science.gov (United States)

    Cao, Xiaodong; MacNaughton, Piers; Deng, Zhengyi; Yin, Jie; Zhang, Xi; Allen, Joseph G

    2018-02-02

    Twitter provides a rich database of spatiotemporal information about users who broadcast their real-time opinions, sentiment, and activities. In this paper, we sought to investigate the holistic influence of land use and time period on public sentiment. A total of 880,937 tweets posted by 26,060 active users were collected across Massachusetts (MA), USA, through 31 November 2012 to 3 June 2013. The IBM Watson Alchemy API (application program interface) was employed to quantify the sentiment scores conveyed by tweets on a large scale. Then we statistically analyzed the sentiment scores across different spaces and times. A multivariate linear mixed-effects model was used to quantify the fixed effects of land use and the time period on the variations in sentiment scores, considering the clustering effect of users. The results exposed clear spatiotemporal patterns of users' sentiment. Higher sentiment scores were mainly observed in the commercial and public areas, during the noon/evening and on weekends. Our findings suggest that social media outputs can be used to better understand the spatial and temporal patterns of public happiness and well-being in cities and regions.

  16. Using Twitter to Better Understand the Spatiotemporal Patterns of Public Sentiment: A Case Study in Massachusetts, USA

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    Xiaodong Cao

    2018-02-01

    Full Text Available Twitter provides a rich database of spatiotemporal information about users who broadcast their real-time opinions, sentiment, and activities. In this paper, we sought to investigate the holistic influence of land use and time period on public sentiment. A total of 880,937 tweets posted by 26,060 active users were collected across Massachusetts (MA, USA, through 31 November 2012 to 3 June 2013. The IBM Watson Alchemy API (application program interface was employed to quantify the sentiment scores conveyed by tweets on a large scale. Then we statistically analyzed the sentiment scores across different spaces and times. A multivariate linear mixed-effects model was used to quantify the fixed effects of land use and the time period on the variations in sentiment scores, considering the clustering effect of users. The results exposed clear spatiotemporal patterns of users’ sentiment. Higher sentiment scores were mainly observed in the commercial and public areas, during the noon/evening and on weekends. Our findings suggest that social media outputs can be used to better understand the spatial and temporal patterns of public happiness and well-being in cities and regions.

  17. ["The multiple science instructional curious artist". Alchemy, folk magic and folk medicine in baroque home reference books].

    Science.gov (United States)

    Priesner, Claus

    2011-01-01

    Germany's Hausväterliteratur, the "literature of the fathers of the houses," was once a popular genre but today is seldom studied. Roughly, this literature, as its name suggests, comprises books on the proper keeping of noble households and mansions. Interestingly, besides the content which one might expect in such books, the organization of personnel, the arrangement of festivities, discussions of the various branches of technical skills, economic advice and the whole field of agriculture, fishing and hunting, these books also contain remarkably large amounts of information directly connected with magic and an associated popular medicine (Volksmedizin). This medicine involved treatment administered mostly by laywomen instead of regular physicians and was based not just upon traditional medical knowledge per se but also upon magical practices. Also found in such texts are alchemical ideas and recipes. This means that despite the fact that such books were written and published in the 17th and early 18th century, the Age of Enlightenment, conceptions found in them are still deeply rooted in older intellectual currents, in Medieval and Renaissance thinking. The present study examines examples of alchemical, magical and popular medical ideas in three such works and seeks to explain how pre-enlightenment ideas and thought could maintain such an influential place in the intellectual world of a later time dominated by other philosophies.

  18. Anti-Inflamm-Ageing and/or Anti-Age-Related Disease Emerging Treatments: A Historical Alchemy or Revolutionary Effective Procedures?

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    Carmela Rita Balistreri

    2018-01-01

    Full Text Available The “long-life elixir” has long represented for humans a dream, a vanity’s sin for remaining young and to long survive. Today, because of ageing population phenomenon, the research of antiageing interventions appears to be more important than ever, for preserving health in old age and retarding/or delaying the onset of age-related diseases. A hope is given by experimental data, which evidence the possibility of retarding ageing in animal models. In addition, it has been also demonstrated in animal life-extending studies not only the possibility of increasing longevity but also the ability to retard the onset of age-related diseases. Interestingly, this recent evidence is leading to promise of obtaining the same effects in humans and resulting in benefits for their health in old ages. In order to achieve this goal, different approaches have been used ranging from pharmacological targeting of ageing, basic biological assays, and big data analysis to the recent use of young blood, stem cells, cellular, genetic, and epigenetic reprogramming, or other techniques of regenerative medicine. However, only a little fraction of these approaches has the features for being tested in clinical applications. Here, new emerging molecules, drugs, and procedures will be described, by evidencing potential benefits and limitations.

  19. Performative and Multimedia Aspects of Late-Renaissance Meditative Alchemy: The Case of Michael Maier’s Atalanta Fugiens (1617.

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    Johann F. W. Hasler.

    2011-01-01

    Full Text Available In 1617 the alchemist, counselor and court physician to the then recently deceased Holy Roman Emperor Rudolf II (1552-1612 published his Atalanta Fugiens (Atalanta feeing. The book fits into the general category of an ‘alchemical emblem book’, very popular in the day: it contains 50 beautiful engravings to which are assigned poetic sextets in both Latin and German. The main difference with all known similar works is that it includes a three-part canon with each engraving. According to the author, the purpose is for all of this input “to be looked at, read, meditated, understood, weighed, sung and listened to, not without a certain pleasure” (Maier 1990, 91. In this sense, this book might be interpreted as a very early example of multimedia, and as a work which requires a performative attitude and activity (in the form of singing and not merely to be read, for its original purpose to be fully accomplished. In this brief article I will describe the work, and present arguments to support my belief that it would be reasonable to conclude that it is an early form of multimedia.

  20. Synthesis meets theory: Past, present and future of rational chemistry

    Science.gov (United States)

    Fianchini, Mauro

    2017-11-01

    Chemical synthesis has its roots in the empirical approach of alchemy. Nonetheless, the birth of the scientific method, the technical and technological advances (exploiting revolutionary discoveries in physics) and the improved management and sharing of growing databases greatly contributed to the evolution of chemistry from an esoteric ground into a mature scientific discipline during these last 400 years. Furthermore, thanks to the evolution of computational resources, platforms and media in the last 40 years, theoretical chemistry has added to the puzzle the final missing tile in the process of "rationalizing" chemistry. The use of mathematical models of chemical properties, behaviors and reactivities is nowadays ubiquitous in literature. Theoretical chemistry has been successful in the difficult task of complementing and explaining synthetic results and providing rigorous insights when these are otherwise unattainable by experiment. The first part of this review walks the reader through a concise historical overview on the evolution of the "model" in chemistry. Salient milestones have been highlighted and briefly discussed. The second part focuses more on the general description of recent state-of-the-art computational techniques currently used worldwide by chemists to produce synergistic models between theory and experiment. Each section is complemented by key-examples taken from the literature that illustrate the application of the technique discussed therein.

  1. Ordering and site occupancy of D03 ordered Fe3Al-5 at%Cr evaluated by means of atom probe tomography

    International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

    Rademacher, Thomas; Al-Kassab, Talaat; Deges, Johannes; Kirchheim, Reiner

    2011-01-01

    Addition of ternary elements to the D0 3 ordered Fe 3 Al intermetallic phase is a general approach to optimise its mechanical properties. To understand the physical influences of such additions the determination of the probability of site occupancies of these additions on the lattice site and ordering parameters is of high interest. Some common experimental techniques such as X-ray diffraction or Atom Location by Channelling Enhanced Microanalysis (ALCHEMI) are usually applied to explore this interplay. Unfortunately, certain published results are partly inconsistent, imprecise or even contradictory. In this study, these aspects are evaluated systematically by atom probe tomography (APT) and a special data analysis method. Additionally, to account for possible field evaporation effects that can falsify the estimation of site occupancy and induce misinterpretations, APT evaporation sequences were also simulated. As a result, chromium occupies most frequently the next nearest neighbour sites of Al atoms and local ordering parameters could be achieved. -- Research highlights: → APT measurements of Fe 3 Al-Cr are systematically analysed to study ordering. → APT measurements are simulated using EAM to calculate binding energies. → Cr occupies next nearest neighbour sites of aluminium with at least 83% ordering. → Aluminium ordering is at least 92%

  2. [A study of the sexual art of having intercourse with several young virgins in traditional Chinese medicine].

    Science.gov (United States)

    Yan, Shanzhao

    2002-06-01

    The emergency treatments for the damage and bleeding of the vagina, and the sharp pubic pain of young virgins which were caused occurred by the sexual art, were recorded in traditional medicine books, such as the "Ji yan fang" and others. It is a fact that in ancient China some people used the sexual art of having intercourse with several young virgins at the same time in order to increase their health and keep perpetual youth and longevity. The famous traditional general-medical book, "qian jin yao fang" recommended that method to rich persons too. It is supposed that the beginning of the sexual art of having intercourse with several young virgins traces back to the times of Emperor Hanwu , but it seems to have disappeared from the historical stage in the Song period. On the other hand, the criticisms from the traditional medicine books and the secret languages of internal alchemy used for the Taoist sacred books show that the sexual art of having intercourse with several young virgins was still going on behind the scene in the Ming and Qing periods. Even if we consider the historical changes of ethics and mortality, we now cannot but criticize this behavior of abusing juveniles for the sexual art.

  3. Ex-Corporation: On Male Birth Fantasies

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    Christine Kanz

    2011-10-01

    Full Text Available Between 1890 and 1933, male birth fantasies became a widespread phenomenon in European culture. One of the key examples of male birth fantasies is Filippo Tommaso Marinetti’s “African” novel Mafarka the Futurist. The novel’s protagonist, Mafarka, gives birth to a child by his will power and by drawing on diverse formations of knowledge, from alchemy to theories of evolution. In addition to the consideration given the psycho-historical, cultural, and scientific contexts of male birth fantasies in the avant-garde, the contribution reflects on sibling encryptment within the relationship to the mother as one more aspect of a span of genealogy one might term “Maternal Modernity.” Christine Kanz is Professor of German Literature at Ghent University in Belgium. Her contribution refers to her 2009 book Maternale Moderne. Männliche Gebärphantasien zwischen Kultur und Wissenschaft, 1890- 1933. In addition she edited several collections and authored another book on Ingeborg Bachmann, and numerous articles and reviews in the area of interdisciplinary studies. Before entering the Academy of Fine Arts Karlsruhe, class of Daniel Roth, in 2008, Adam Cmiel trained in various media in Bad Dürkheim, Hamburg, Mannheim, and Trier. He has participated in nine exhibitions since the onset of his studies in Karlsruhe.

  4. ESOTERIC IN CONTEMPORARY LITHUANIAN PROSE

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    Ieva Naikienė

    2018-04-01

    Full Text Available This article focuses on esotericism in contemporary Lithuanian prose. For the revelation of this topic, Donaldas Kajokas’ novel Ežeras ir kiti jį lydintys asmenys (The Lake and Other Escort Members, 2003 and Jurga Ivanauskaitė’s novel Placebas (Placebo, 2012 have been chosen. The analysed writings reveal the point of view of contemporary Lithuanian writers about esoteric beliefs. In this article, esotericism is related with persons’ feelings but is excluded from occult and parapsychology fields such as alchemy, cabbala, Tarot, etc. This work focuses on the idea that an individual, who has only a few senses, cannot reach actuality. On the other hand, the possibility of acquiring those senses is not rejected. In addition, obtaining those senses would help to reach higher, over-sensational worlds and in that way to discover personal correlation with forms of multiple personal identities. This article establishes an idea that awareness of higher worlds/spheres unlocks the possibilities of revealing the main core of human (as micro-cosmos and the Universe (as macro-cosmos. The possibility to perceive oneself as a micro-cosmos discloses not only personal identity, but also the value of Other’s entity and inevitable entities stratifying.

  5. Definition, Identification, Identity, and Culture: A Unique Alchemy Impacting the Success of Gifted African American Millennial Males in School

    Science.gov (United States)

    Bonner, Fred A., II; Lewis, Chance W.; Bowman-Perrott, Lisa; Hill-Jackson, Valerie; James, Marlon

    2009-01-01

    This article focuses on the underrepresentation of African American males in gifted and talented programs, and offers a number of key recommendations to practitioners and researchers who seek viable strategies to circumvent this problem. Beyond the focus on underrepresentation, several additional topics for discussion are excogitated to provide a…

  6. Heavy metal: Can molten metal technology turn toxic dross into gold? A study in alchemy, controversy, and green tech

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Lerner, S.

    1995-12-31

    In a Massachusetts industrial park, inside a renovated helicopter factory, stands a giant, Rube Goldbergesque machine of metal boxes and pipes. Technicians in blue uniforms, hard hats, and safety glasses attend this contraption, watching over the fire at its heart: a cauldron of molten metal, usually iron, heated to some 3,000 degrees Fahrenheit. Hazardous wastes are injected into this molten bath. There, according to its inventor, the metal acts as a catalyst for a chemical reaction that instantly reduces compound molecules to their elemental components. A considerable portion for the wastes thus digested are spit out again in the form of industrial-grade materials, ready for reuse or resale. This article describes both the processing of hazardous wastes by using molten metal to drive reactions that would recover useful materials from hazardous waste and the future possibilities for its use.

  7. A green economy?

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    Petrus Simons

    2014-08-01

    Full Text Available Economic growth has become a fetish, as it is believed to yield many benefits to society. It has its origins in the Enlightenment ideal of progress through science, technology and a free market economy. J.W. Goethe anticipated the problems of such progress in his poem Faust, especially its second part. Binswanger interprets Goethe’s view on the modern economy as a form of alchemy, an attempt to master time through the invention of monetary capital. Keynes’s views on progress and liquidity are compatible with this analysis. The problems, evoked by the uncritical application of scientific technology so as to increase material welfare, have given rise to a dialectic between business seeking growth and those concerned about its effects, especially on ecology. Sustainable development is an outcome of this dialectic, without abandoning it. Others, particularly those advocating décroissance [de-growth], reject the concepts underlying growth. The ideology underlying this is a combination of technicism and economism. A spiritual revolution is called for to break the hold of this ideology on society, with a change from the metaphor of the world as a machine to that of a garden-city. It is suggested that working groups should analyse the various proposals for change from the perspective of the garden-city metaphor.

  8. Microreactors for Gold Nanoparticles Synthesis: From Faraday to Flow

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    Md. Taifur Rahman

    2014-06-01

    Full Text Available The seminal work of Michael Faraday in 1850s transmuted the “Alchemy of gold” into a fascinating scientific endeavor over the millennia, particularly in the past half century. Gold nanoparticles (GNPs arguably hold the central position of nanosciences due to their intriguing size-and-shape dependent physicochemical properties, non-toxicity, and ease of functionalization and potential for wide range of applications. The core chemistry involved in the syntheses is essentially not very different from what Michael Faraday resorted to: transforming ions into metallic gold using mild reducing agents. However, the process of such reduction and outcome (shapes and sizes are intricately dependent on basic operational parameters such as sequence of addition and efficiency of mixing of the reagents. Hence, irreproducibility in synthesis and maintaining batch-to-batch quality are major obstacles in this seemingly straightforward process, which poses challenges in scaling-up. Microreactors, by the virtue of excellent control over reagent mixing in space and time within narrow channel networks, opened a new horizon of possibilities to tackle such problems to produce GNPs in more reliable, reproducible and scalable ways. In this review, we will delineate the state-of-the-art of GNPs synthesis using microreactors and will discuss in length how such “flask-to-chip” paradigm shift may revolutionize the very concept of nanosyntheses.

  9. Sirr al-khalīqa and its influence in the Arabic and Persianate world: ‘Awn b. al-Mundhir’s commentary and its unknown Persian translation

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    Mohammad Karimi Zanjani Asl

    2017-03-01

    Full Text Available In the Islamic period, Apollonius of Tyana (c. 15-100 CE was well known both as “Lord of the Talismans” (ṣāḥib al-ṭilasmāt and as a Neo-Pythagorean-Hermetic philosopher. In his Kitāb al-Aḥjār, Jābir b. Ḥayyān cites “the Muslim advocates of Apollonius” (aṣḥāb Balīnās al-Islāmīyūn. The reference shows that Apollonius’ most prominent work, Sirr alkhalīqa, was already famous in the Arabicspeaking world from very early on. This article gives an overview of citations of Apollonius in Islamic sources from different fields and of the works generally attributed to him. Furthermore, I review Sirr al-khalīqa, its influences on the Jābirian works and its reception in the Ismā‘īlī tradition. This article additionally discusses an Arabic commentary of Sirr al-khalīqa by ‘Awn b. al-Mundhir (4th/10th century, which is extant in a unique manuscript, and its hitherto unknown Persian translation. This Persian translation covers parts of Ibn al-Mundhir’s work not available in the Arabic excerpt and is therefore an important source for the history of Islamic alchemy. An edition of the Persian translation is given as an appendix.

  10. A collective unconscious reconsidered: Jung's archetypal imagination in the light of contemporary psychology and social science.

    Science.gov (United States)

    Hunt, Harry T

    2012-02-01

    A needed rapprochement between Jung and the contemporary human sciences may rest less on the much debated relevance of a biologistic collective unconscious than on a re-inscribing of an archetypal imagination, as the phenomenological and empirical core of Jungian psychology. The most promising approaches in this regard in terms of theory and research in psychology come from combining the cognitive psychology of metaphor and synaesthesia, individual differences in imaginative absorption and openness to numinous experience and spirituality as a form of symbolic intelligence. On the socio-cultural side, this cognitive psychology of archetypal imagination is also congruent with Lévi-Strauss on the metaphoric roots of mythological thinking, and Durkheim on a sociology of collective consciousness. This conjoined perspective, while validating the cross cultural commonality of physical metaphor intuited by Jung and Hillman on alchemy, also shows Jung's Red Book, considered as the expressive source for his more formal psychology, to be far closer in spirit to a socio-cultural collective consciousness, based on metaphoric imagination, than to a phylogenetic or evolutionary unconscious. A mutual re-inscribing of Jung into congruent areas of contemporary psychology, anthropology, sociology, and vice versa, can help to further validate Jung's key observations and is fully consistent with Jung's own early efforts at synthesis within the human sciences. © 2012, The Society of Analytical Psychology.

  11. [A study of development of medicine and science in the nineteenth century science fiction: biomedical experiments in Mary Shelley's Frankenstein].

    Science.gov (United States)

    Choo, Jae-Uk

    2014-12-01

    As the sciences advanced rapidly in the modern European world, outstanding achievements have been made in medicine, chemistry, biology, physiology, physics and others, which have been co-influencing each of the scientific disciplines. Accordingly, such medical and scientific phenomena began to be reflected in novels. In particular, Mary Shelley's Frankenstein includes the diverse aspects of the change and development in the medicine and science. Associated with medical and scientific information reflected in Frankenstein and Frankenstein's experiments in the text, accordingly, this research will investigate the aspects of medical and scientific development taking place in the nineteenth century in three ways. First, the medical and scientific development of the nineteenth century has been reviewed by summerizing both the information of alchemy in which Frankenstein shows his interest and the new science in general that M. Waldman introduces in the text. Second, the actual features of medical and scientific development have been examined through some examples of the experimental methods that M. Waldman implicitly uttered to Frankenstein. Third, it has been checked how the medical and scientific development is related to the main issues of mechanism and vitalism which can be explained as principles of life. Even though this research deals with the developmental process of medicine & science and origin & principles of life implied in Mary Shelley's Frankenstein, its significance is that it is the interdisciplinary research focussing on how deeply medical and scientific discourse of Mary Shelley's period has been imbedded in the nineteenth century novel.

  12. The late medieval kidney--nephrology in and about the fourteenth century.

    Science.gov (United States)

    Eknoyan, Garabed

    2012-01-01

    The Late Medieval Period was a decisive period in the history of medicine. It was then that medical education was integrated into the universities that were coming into existence and when medicine made its transition from a menial trade to a regulated profession with a statutory basis of learning and graduation. It was also then that the necessities of understanding the fabric of the body was realized; for the first time in history, the study of anatomy and of human dissection were incorporated into the medical curriculum. This was a defining change whose subsequent expansion and evolution would bring about the study of function (physiology) and changes in disease (pathology). Few advances were made in the study of the kidney, which was considered part of the venous circulation, whose function was subservient to that of nutrition in eliminating excess fluid. Uroscopy flourished and reached unrealistic levels of dominance in the diagnosis, treatment, and prognostication of any and all diseases, especially in the hands of quacks and charlatans. Alchemy, a mysterious pseudo-science, blossomed into a discipline that nurtured experimentation and laid the rudimentary foundations of scientific study, chemistry, and pharmacology. It was also then that surgery took form as a specialty that actually provided much of the medical care of the period including that of the principal diseases of the kidney, obstruction and calculi, and thereby laid the foundations of what in time would become urology. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

  13. WEATHER DERIVATIVES: THE MOST COMMON PRICING AND VALUATION METHODS

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    Botos Horia Mircea

    2013-07-01

    Full Text Available In recent years , weather derivatives have become a common tool in risk management for many sectors. This has its roots in that there is no unique way to determine de value and price solutions that would be generally approved by market-participants, like in the case of the Black-Scholes formula for options on non-dividend-paying stocks is the source for a constant debate between academics and practitioners. One look for fair and truly correct prices, while the others search every-day applicable solutions. To be honest... this is somehow like alchemy. This paper has as purpose the examination of statistical characteristics of weather data, data clearing and filling techniques. The study will be referring to temperatures because that is the best analyzed phenomenon, being the most common. This was also heavily influenced by energy companies and energetic interests, because the degree days were of interest ever before weather derivatives were put for sale. Main ideas are explaining what ways of pricing and valuation are, put into perspective for this financial instrument, taking into consideration that the Black-Scholes Model is not suitable. Also here, we will present the pros and cons that we found for each method. The methods are: the Burn analysis, the index value simulation method (IVSM, the daily simulation method (DSM.On the hole, this paper wants to shed light the weather derivatives pricing methods a mix of insurance pricing and standard financial models. At the end we will prospect the discounting problem, by means of the Consumption based Capital Asset Pricing Model (CCAPM.

  14. Fallen star legends and traditional religion of Japan: an aspect of star lore

    Science.gov (United States)

    Goto, Akira

    2015-08-01

    Japanese star lore is a complex mixture of animism, Buddhism, Shinto-ism, Confucianism and folk beliefs. Although some studies have been done on rituals concerning constellation developed in esoteric Buddhism (e.g. Journal Culture and Cosmos, Vol. 10 no 1 and 2), studies on other aspects of Japanese star lore are limited, in particular, to the English audience.In historic literatures, there often mentioned abnormal astronomical phenomena, such as, eclipse, meteors and comets. In this paper, I will discuss the possibility of reference to these astronomical phenomena in order to talk about some historical facts.In western part of Japan, there are Shinto shrines and Buddhistic temples that are said to be built as monuments of fallen stars. Usually fallen stars were divided into three, and a trio of shrines/temples are said to be the remnants of this phenomenon. Similar legends are found in Kudamatsu (that means "fallen pine=pine where stars fallen") of Yamaguchi Prefecture, Bisei-cho (that means "beautiful star") of Okayama Prefecture, Hoshida (that means "rice field or village of star") shrine of Osaka, and also Hoshida shrine of Nagoya.The purpose of this presentation is not to argue whether fallen star legend was truly astronomical phenomenon, such as, meteor or not. Instead, I will discuss why similar legends have been talked concerning the origin of particular shrines or temples. Citing Eliade who related gorge and alchemy producing spark to astronomical phenomena, I will disclose the possibility to relate these astronomical legends to the coming of the naturalized Japanese from Korean Peninsula who introducd forge to Japan abound 5 to 6 centuries.

  15. Boosters and barriers for direct cardiac reprogramming.

    Science.gov (United States)

    Talkhabi, Mahmood; Zonooz, Elmira Rezaei; Baharvand, Hossein

    2017-06-01

    Heart disease is currently the most significant cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide, which accounts for approximately 33% of all deaths. Recently, a promising and alchemy-like strategy has been developed called direct cardiac reprogramming, which directly converts somatic cells such as fibroblasts to cardiac lineage cells such as cardiomyocytes (CMs), termed induced CMs or iCMs. The first in vitro cardiac reprogramming study, mediated by cardiac transcription factors (TFs)-Gata4, Tbx5 and Mef2C-, was not enough efficient to produce an adequate number of fully reprogrammed, functional iCMs. As a result, numerous combinations of cardiac TFs exist for direct cardiac reprogramming of mouse and human fibroblasts. However, the efficiency of direct cardiac reprogramming remains low. Recently, a number of cellular and molecular mechanisms have been identified to increase the efficiency of direct cardiac reprogramming and the quality of iCMs. For example, microgrooved substrate, cardiogenic growth factors [VEGF, FGF, BMP4 and Activin A], and an appropriate stoichiometry of TFs boost the direct cardiac reprogramming. On the other hand, serum, TGFβ signaling, activators of epithelial to mesenchymal transition, and some epigenetic factors (Bmi1 and Ezh2) are barriers for direct cardiac reprogramming. Manipulating these mechanisms by the application of boosters and removing barriers can increase the efficiency of direct cardiac reprogramming and possibly make iCMs reliable for cell-based therapy or other potential applications. In this review, we summarize the latest trends in cardiac TF- or miRNA-based direct cardiac reprogramming and comprehensively discuses all molecular and cellular boosters and barriers affecting direct cardiac reprogramming. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  16. Short, natural, and extended photoperiod response in BC2F4 lines of bread wheat with different photoperiod-1 (Ppd-1) alleles.

    Science.gov (United States)

    Bentley, A R; Horsnell, R; Werner, C P; Turner, A S; Rose, G A; Bedard, C; Howell, P; Wilhelm, E P; Mackay, I J; Howells, R M; Greenland, A; Laurie, D A; Gosman, N

    2013-04-01

    Flowering is a critical period in the life cycle of flowering plant species, resulting in an irreversible commitment of significant resources. Wheat is photoperiod sensitive, flowering only when daylength surpasses a critical length; however, photoperiod insensitivity (PI) has been selected by plant breeders for >40 years to enhance yield in certain environments. Control of flowering time has been greatly facilitated by the development of molecular markers for the Photoperiod-1 (Ppd-1) homeoloci, on the group 2 chromosomes. In the current study, an allelic series of BC2F4 lines in the winter wheat cultivars 'Robigus' and 'Alchemy' was developed to elucidate the influence on flowering of eight gene variants from the B- and D-genomes of bread wheat and the A-genome of durum wheat. Allele effects were tested in short, natural, and extended photoperiods in the field and controlled environments. Across genetic background and treatment, the D-genome PI allele, Ppd-D1a, had a more potent effect on reducing flowering time than Ppd-B1a. However, there was significant donor allele effect for both Ppd-D1a and Ppd-B1a, suggesting the presence of linked modifier genes and/or additional sources of latent sensitivity. Development of Ppd-A1a BC2F4 lines derived from synthetic hexaploid wheat provided an opportunity to compare directly the flowering time effect of the A-genome allele from durum with the B- and D-genome variants from bread wheat for the first time. Analyses indicated that the reducing effect of Ppd-A1a is comparable with that of Ppd-D1a, confirming it as a useful alternative source of PI.

  17. Canto pré-natal: alquimias sonoras para gestantes

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    Janaina Trasel Martins

    2017-10-01

    Full Text Available Este artigo irá focar no canto pré-natal; nos benefícios da música e do canto durante a gestação; na audição do feto no ventre e na escuta da gestante do seu corpo. Como metodologia para pesquisar sobre estes temas foram realizados estudos teóricos nas áreas da musicoterapia obstétrica, da terapia sonora e da medicina e também foram realizadas práticas de canto pré-natal. Arte, movimento e saúde são integrados com as alquimias sonoras para ampliar a consciência da corporeidade da mulher durante a gestação. Com cantos femininos em um círculo de mulheres, nos apoiamos e nos fortalecemos durante a gestação e enviamos vibrações sonoras harmoniosas para o bebê no ventre. ABSTRACT This article will focus on prenatal singing; on the benefits of music and singing during pregnancy; on the baby's hearing in the womb and on the listening of the pregnant woman to her body. To determine the methodology for researching these themes, theoretical studies were done in obstetrical music therapy, sound therapy, medicine and also practical research in prenatal singing classes. Art, movement and health are integrated with sound alchemy to widen the woman’s body awareness during pregnancy. With feminine chants in a circle of women, we support and strengthen ourselves during pregnancy and we send harmonious sounds vibrations to the baby in the womb. KEYWORDS Prenatal singing, prenatal music, pregnancy, listening, consciousness.

  18. It’s Not [Just] Cricket: The Art and Politics of the Popular – Cultural Imperialism, ‘Sly Civility’ & Postcolonial Incorporation

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    Andrew Jones

    2013-01-01

    Full Text Available Ashutosh Gowariker’s critically acclaimed Lagaan (2001, is a marvellous piece of cinematic troubling, which, via an astute use of allegory, reflects upon identity politics and power relations in both colonial and postcolonial contexts. Bringing two cornerstones of Indian popular culture together, namely cricket and Hindi formulae films, Gowariker produces an engagingly, affective alchemy of image and sound, which intervenes critically in the discourses of British colonial rule. This article’s intention is to demonstrate the mimetic devices inherent in Lagaan’s narrative, and how they mirror the regional resilience evident in the global success of both popular Indian cinema and the Indian performance of cricket. The sport of cricket and its role and effectiveness within a larger colonial project, is contextualized and reconsidered by tracing some resistant tangents in the sports evolution and performance in the Asia Pacific region. Making the most of the South Asian diaspora, which has exploited the networks and routes of the former British Empire, Indian popular cinema, likewise, serves to illustrate the point that local cultural dynamics can add their own nuances to global media flows. Interdisciplinary approaches are required to traverse within and between cultures, and to underscore the deep currents of contestation, as well as the radical and often surprising politics that characterise popular culture. In this respect, a range of scholars from different fields of study are consulted; Ashis Nandy, Arjun Appadurai, Chandrima Chakraborty and Homi Bhabha amongst them. Their voices will help to open up uncertainties in the conventional discourses, and to articulate some of the cultural politics and poetics at play in Lagaan specifically and the performance of cricket more generally.

  19. A descriptive statistical analysis of volume, visibility and attitudes regarding nursing and care robots in social media.

    Science.gov (United States)

    Salzmann-Erikson, Martin; Eriksson, Henrik

    2018-02-01

    Technology in the healthcare sector is undergoing rapid development. One of the most prominent areas of healthcare in which robots are implemented is nursing homes. However, nursing and technology are often considered as being contradictory, an attitude originating in the view of "the natural" versus "the artificial". Social media mirror this view, including in attitudes and societal debates regarding nursing and care robots. However, little is known about this topic in previous research. To examine user behaviour in social media platforms on the topic of nursing and care robots. A retrospective and cross-sectional observation study design was applied. Data were collected via the Alchemy streaming application programming interface. Data from social media were collected from 1 January 2014 to 5 January 2016. The data set consisted of 12,311 mentions in total. Nursing and care robots are a small-scale topic of discussion in social media. Twitter was found to be the largest channel in terms of volume, followed by Tumblr. News channels had the highest percentage of visibility, while forums and Tumblr had the least. It was found in the data that 67.9% of the mentions were positive, 24.4% were negative and 7.8% were neutral. The volume and visibility of the data on nursing robots found in social media, as well as the attitudes to nursing robots found there, indicate that nursing care robots, which are seen as representing a next step in technological development in healthcare, are a topic on the rise in social media. These findings are likely to be related to the idea that nursing care robots are on the breakthrough of replacing human labour in healthcare worldwide.

  20. Nuclear astrophysics: a new era

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Wiescher, Michael; Aprahamian, Ani [Department of Physics, University of Notre Dame (United States); Regan, Paddy [Department of Physics, University of Surrey (United Kingdom)

    2002-02-01

    The latest generation of radioactive-ion-beam facilities promises to shed light on the complex nuclear processes that control the evolution of stars and stellar explosions. The most fundamental question in nature is where do we come from, or, put another way, what are we made of? The late Carl Sagan poetically said that we are all made of stardust, but the origin of the elements has fascinated scientists for thousands of years. Many of the greatest medieval and renaissance scientists dabbled in alchemy, trying to create the elements that make up the cosmos, but we had to wait until the early 20th century to recognize that elements are really defined by the number of protons in the nucleus. According to our current understanding, after the big bang most of the normal or baryonic material in the universe consisted of the lightest two elements, hydrogen and helium, with only trace amounts of lithium and beryllium. All the heavier elements that occur naturally on Earth were created from this original material via a series of nuclear reactions in the cores of stars or in stellar explosions. Over the last decade, ground-based telescopes and satellite-based Observatories have opened new windows on the stars across the electromagnetic spectrum, from infrared to gamma radiation. New technology now makes it possible to observe and analyse short-lived stellar explosions. Indeed, the distribution of elements in 'planetary nebula' and in the ejecta of supernovae and novae give a direct glimpse of individual nucleosynthesis processes. In the February issue of Physics World, Michael Wiescher, Paddy Regan and Ani Aprahamian describe how sate-of-the-art facilities are set to plug many of the gaps in our understanding of nuclear astrophysics. (U.K.)

  1. To succeed in the long-term, focus on the middle-term.

    Science.gov (United States)

    Moore, Geoffrey A

    2007-01-01

    When a mature company fails to endure over the long term, it's often due to the "Horizon 2 vacuum," argues Moore, author of Crossing the Chasm and several other books on innovation strategy, and managing director of the consulting firm TCG Advisors. The reference is to the strategic horizons outlined by McKinsey's Mehrdad Baghai and colleagues in The Alchemy of Growth: Horizon 1 is today's cash-generating business, Horizon 2 is the set of innovations just being commercialized, and Horizon 3 consists of forward-thinking R&D. Most companies understand they must invest in their future, so the funding and management of Horizon 3 is not the problem. The trouble starts when those innovations are brought to market and must compete with the mainstay business for company resources. They disappear from top management's radar screen and suffer a level of neglect few ventures could survive. Cisco Systems is one company that has recognized the problem and tried to address it. To begin with, CEO John Chambers has insulated Horizon 2 projects from many of the pressures of Horizon 1--for example, by reorchestrating sales coverage so that emerging markets won't be neglected. He has also kick-started some Horizon 2 businesses by augmenting them with acquisitions, increasing their scale, and giving them more management attention. For the same reason, he has challenged his head of product development to think in terms of new businesses, not simply new products--knowing that the latter tend to get lost in salespeople's bags. Most important, Cisco is handicapping its Horizon 2 projects so that they need not compete head-to-head with established businesses. Their success is judged by metrics that are appropriate to new businesses, and they are given the benefit of Cisco's best managerial talent.

  2. Are the Performance Based Logistics Prophets Using Science or Alchemy to Create Life-Cycle Affordability? Using Theory to Predict the Efficacy of Performance Based Logistics

    Science.gov (United States)

    2013-10-01

    certain PBL ecosystems , their suppliers, customers, and integrator, can efficiently adapt to environmental changes, and thus predict competitive...capability = budget – cost. An effective entrepreneurial program leader will increase capability (i.e., lethality, maintainability, and/or

  3. Klasifikasi Ilmu Pengetahuan Dalam Perspektif Jābir Bin Ḥayyān

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    Asep N. Musadad

    2015-12-01

    Full Text Available Abstract : The central purpose of this article is to provide a preliminary exploration on epistemological background of the classical Islamic sciences through the investigation on the classification of knowledge. One of the earliest exponent to turn to this problem is Jābir bin Ḥayyān (Geber (721 - 815 AD, known as the Father of Arabic and – indirectly – Latin Alchemy. Start on describing  Jābir’s  profile  and  his  significance  in  Islamic  philosophy,  this  article  discusses the  classification  of  knowledge  according  to  him  in  his  book  “Kitāb  al-Ḥudūd”  (Book  of Limits, in which he make his own classification of various knowledge. It finally deals with the philosophical basis of the classification and the intellectual perspective of its author. Keywords : Jabir bin Hayyan, classification of knowledge, Islamic philosophy, natural sciences.   Abstrak : Artikel ini bertujuan untuk melakukan eksplorasi singkat terkait latar epistemologis dalam pengetahuan  Islam  klasik  melalui  analisis  terhadap  konsep  klasifikasi  ilmu  pengetahuan. Salah satu eksponen awal yang berbicara hal tersebut adalah Jābir bin Ḥayyān (Geber (721 - 815 M, dikenal sebagai Bapak Ilmu Kimia Arab dan – secara tidak langsung – Eropa-Latin. Diawali  dengan  penjelasan  tentang  signifikansi  Jābir  bin  Ḥayyān  dalam  wacana  filsafat Islam,  artikel  ini  mendiskusikan  klasifikasi  ilmu  pengetahuan  dalam  perspektifnya  yang terdapat  dalam  karyanya,  “Kitāb  al-Ḥudūd”  (Buku  tentang  Batas-Batas,  yang  membuat klasifikasi versinya sendiri dari berbagai macam ilmu pengetahuan. Pada akhirnya, tulisan ini juga akan menjelaskan basis filosofis dari klasifikasi tersebut dan perspektif intelektual pembuatnya. Kata-Kata Kunci : Jabir bin Hayyan, klasifikasi pengetahuan, filsafat Islam, ilmu-ilmu alam.

  4. Importance of All-in-one (MCNPX2.7.0+CINDER2008) Code for Rigorous Transmutation Study

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Kim, Oyeon [Institute for Modeling and Simulation Convergence, Daegu (Korea, Republic of); Kim, Kwanghyun [RadTek Co. Ltd., Daejeon (Korea, Republic of)

    2015-10-15

    It can be utilized as a possible mechanism for reducing the volume and hazard of radioactive waste by transforming hazardous radioactive elements with long half-life into less hazardous elements with short halflife. Thus, the understanding of the transmutation mechanism and beneficial machinery design technologies are important and useful. Although the terminology transmutation was rooted back to alchemy which transforms the base metals into gold in the middle ages, Rutherford and Soddy were the first observers by discovering the natural transmutation as a part of radioactive decay of the alpha decay type in early 20th century. Along with the development of computing technology, analysis software, for example, CINDER was developed for rigorous atomic transmutation study. The code has a long history of development from the original work of T. England at Bettis Atomic Power Laboratory (BAPL) in the early 1960s. It has been used to calculate the inventory of nuclides in an irradiated material. CINDER'90 which is recently released involved an upgrade of the code to allow the spontaneous tracking of chains based upon the significant density or pass-by of a nuclide, where pass-by represents the density of a nuclide transforming to other nuclides. Nuclear transmutation process is governed by highly non-linear differential equation. Chaotic nature of the non-linear equation bespeaks the importance of the accurate input data (i.e. number of significant digits). Thus, reducing the human interrogation is very important for the rigorous transmutation study and 'allin- one' code structure is desired. Note that non-linear characteristic of the transmutation equation caused by the flux changes due to the number density change during a given time interval (intrinsic physical phenomena) is not considered in this study. In this study, we only emphasized the effects of human interrogation in the computing process solving nonlinear differential equations, as shown in

  5. De los dioses a los hombres: Un recorrido histórico del descubrimiento de los elementos químicos

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    Pellón González, I.

    2014-12-01

    Full Text Available To achieve the apparently simple Periodic Table of the Elements has implied tremendous efforts over thousands of years. In this paper we present a brief history of the discovery of the chemical elements from prehistory to the present day, revealing the controversies that arose on the way and claiming the important work performed by alchemists in the advancement of knowledge. This is especially important if we consider that alchemy had a period of existence of many thousands of years, while the “Chemistry”, officially established as a science in the eighteenth century, has operated as such for only a few hundred years. Even so, if we consider the progress of discovery and isolation of chemical elements throughout history, it can be observed that the number of elements identified is achieved mainly in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, reflecting the development of instrumental techniques, that facilitated this task.Llegar hasta la aparentemente sencilla Tabla Periódica de los Elementos le ha costado a la humanidad enormes esfuerzos a lo largo de miles de años. En este trabajo se recorre la historia del descubrimiento de los elementos químicos desde la Prehistoria hasta nuestros días, reflejando las controversias que se suscitaron y reivindicando el importante trabajo que realizaron los alquimistas en el progreso de los conocimientos, ya que la alquimia tuvo un período de existencia de muchos miles de años, mientras que la “Química” oficialmente establecida como ciencia en el siglo XVIII consta de sólo unos cientos de años. Aún así, al realizar un balance de la progresión del descubrimiento y aislamiento de los elementos químicos a lo largo de la Historia se puede comprobar el elevado número de elementos identificados en los siglos XIX y XX, reflejo del perfeccionamiento de las técnicas instrumentales que facilitaron esta labor.

  6. Electronic Structure of Transition Metal Clusters, Actinide Complexes and Their Reactivities

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Krishnan Balasubramanian

    2009-07-18

    This is a continuing DOE-BES funded project on transition metal and actinide containing species, aimed at the electronic structure and spectroscopy of transition metal and actinide containing species. While a long term connection of these species is to catalysis and environmental management of high-level nuclear wastes, the immediate relevance is directly to other DOE-BES funded experimental projects at DOE-National labs and universities. There are a number of ongoing gas-phase spectroscopic studies of these species at various places, and our computational work has been inspired by these experimental studies and we have also inspired other experimental and theoretical studies. Thus our studies have varied from spectroscopy of diatomic transition metal carbides to large complexes containing transition metals, and actinide complexes that are critical to the environment. In addition, we are continuing to make code enhancements and modernization of ALCHEMY II set of codes and its interface with relativistic configuration interaction (RCI). At present these codes can carry out multi-reference computations that included up to 60 million configurations and multiple states from each such CI expansion. ALCHEMY II codes have been modernized and converted to a variety of platforms such as Windows XP, and Linux. We have revamped the symbolic CI code to automate the MRSDCI technique so that the references are automatically chosen with a given cutoff from the CASSCF and thus we are doing accurate MRSDCI computations with 10,000 or larger reference space of configurations. The RCI code can also handle a large number of reference configurations, which include up to 10,000 reference configurations. Another major progress is in routinely including larger basis sets up to 5g functions in thee computations. Of course higher angular momenta functions can also be handled using Gaussian and other codes with other methods such as DFT, MP2, CCSD(T), etc. We have also calibrated our RECP

  7. Electronic Structure of Transition Metal Clusters, Actinide Complexes and Their Reactivities

    International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

    Balasubramanian, Krishnan

    2009-01-01

    This is a continuing DOE-BES funded project on transition metal and actinide containing species, aimed at the electronic structure and spectroscopy of transition metal and actinide containing species. While a long term connection of these species is to catalysis and environmental management of high-level nuclear wastes, the immediate relevance is directly to other DOE-BES funded experimental projects at DOE-National labs and universities. There are a number of ongoing gas-phase spectroscopic studies of these species at various places, and our computational work has been inspired by these experimental studies and we have also inspired other experimental and theoretical studies. Thus our studies have varied from spectroscopy of diatomic transition metal carbides to large complexes containing transition metals, and actinide complexes that are critical to the environment. In addition, we are continuing to make code enhancements and modernization of ALCHEMY II set of codes and its interface with relativistic configuration interaction (RCI). At present these codes can carry out multi-reference computations that included up to 60 million configurations and multiple states from each such CI expansion. ALCHEMY II codes have been modernized and converted to a variety of platforms such as Windows XP, and Linux. We have revamped the symbolic CI code to automate the MRSDCI technique so that the references are automatically chosen with a given cutoff from the CASSCF and thus we are doing accurate MRSDCI computations with 10,000 or larger reference space of configurations. The RCI code can also handle a large number of reference configurations, which include up to 10,000 reference configurations. Another major progress is in routinely including larger basis sets up to 5g functions in thee computations. Of course higher angular momenta functions can also be handled using Gaussian and other codes with other methods such as DFT, MP2, CCSD(T), etc. We have also calibrated our RECP

  8. [Treatment and personality development with art therapy. A description of the method].

    Science.gov (United States)

    Antalfai, Márta

    2007-01-01

    Composition as a creative form of self-expression plays an important role not only in maintaining health, but also in gaining insight into the healthy personality and in the definition of this category. It seems nowadays that psychology has collected more information on the pathological personality than on the healthy one. Therefore, different workshops of art therapy are also scenes of a "spiritual alchemy" because they can give a deeper insight into the personality in addition to the primary aim of treatment. The method of the thematic art psychotherapy based on catharsis-experience is based on analytical psychology and on analytically oriented group-therapy. The aim is to generate artificial catharsis-experiences employing the impressive forces of poems, music compositions in order to raise the unconscious or the partly experienced partner-conflicts to the surface, which could manifest themselves in the process of the creative work and could be elaborated in group-activity. The creative process (specially adapted art techniques) provides good opportunities for patients to depict their traumas and complexes and also to resolve them involving the whole personality and not only at a cognitive level. The method, tuned to the workings of nature, helps the personality to develop the emotional and volitional segments, the sensitive and empathetic capabilities, as well as the recognition skills of consciousness. In the therapeutic process, the work of art that is created holds a mirror to the creator, offering to him or her the opportunity to face the real complex at the background the actual conflict. The method aims to achieve a reconstruction of psychic dynamics in two ways. The first is an emotional resonance to the changes of nature, of the year and of the feasts, in which the psychic process starts from inside to the direction of the outside world (psychic enrichment and accomodation). The second way leads from the outer world to the inner one and this psychic

  9. ECOLOGICAL CHEMISTRY THROUGH POPULAR SCIENTIFIC ARTICLES

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    Ketevan KUPATADZE

    2017-07-01

    Full Text Available Popularization of Ecological Chemistry is the aim of scientific-popular articles, which are published in the online journal for teachers. With the articles of this type Ecological Chemistry is linked with literature and history. Due to this linkage articles, this module turns into an easily comprehensible one and it becomes fun. In all articles there is also included very useful and interesting information pertaining to Ecological Chemistry. It must be underlined the titles of such articles, because they should not only show the common meaning of article, but they should also attract readers.The utmost interest is generated by the historical papers, where chemical issues are connected with history. The period of alchemy is more popular and that’s why the alchemical stories are described in the articles.The outcome of the pedagogical experiment has made it clear, that such a method of teaching of Ecological Chemistry with scientific popular articles affects positively on school students motivation and changes their attitude towards the environmental pollution.CHIMIA ECOLOGICĂ ÎN ARTICOLELE ȘTIINȚIFICO-POPULAREPopularizarea Chimiei ecologice este scopul articolelor științifico-populare, care sunt publicate în reviste online pentru profesori. Prin intermediul articolelor de acest tip, Chimia ecologică este legată de literatură și istorie. Datorită respectivelor publicaţii, acest modul este ușor de înțeles și el devine distractiv. Toate articolele conțin informații foarte utile și interesante referitoarela Chimiaecologică. Trebuie de subliniat importanţa titlurilor acestor articole, deoarece ele ar trebui nu doar să redea succint înțelesul articolului, dar şi să atragă cititorul.Un interes deosebit trezesc documentele istorice, în cazul în care problemele chimiei sunt legate de istorie. Perioada alchimiei este mai populară, de aceea şi sunt descrise în articole poveștile alchimice.Rezultatul experimentului

  10. The new functional identity: a body that thinks, a mind that feels - Frontiers and unexplored territories of the "Body and Mind zone".

    Science.gov (United States)

    Spurio, Maria Grazia

    2016-09-01

    For a long time, terms like "mind" and "emotion" have rarely been taken into account, not even mentioned in the medical texts. The latest scientific researches, including the studies of Candace Pert, on the contrary, have emphasized that the entire body thinks, because every single cell hears, and feels emotions. The international researcher has discovered the endocrines and a vast number of neuropeptides, that work as an "information network" that interconnects the entire body, the "psychic" molecules are transmitted and travel, communicating information as in a circular and recursive body - mind mechanism. This is a sort of body and mind functional identity, which is different in each person, because each person is a unique universe, and the body is the place where mind and body meet in a unique and unrepeatable alchemy. So, if it is true that only in the body the secret of its potential for development and transformation is well hidden, it is also true that this secret is unique for each of us. Then, the strategic therapy becomes 'tailor-made', and the knowledge of the body component is essential to unlock behavior patterns and planning new ones, in order to improve relationships and the quality of life, and enhance the sense of well-being. People are not as simple containers which merely record external incitements, on the contrary, they are able to evaluate and weigh what happens around. Depending on the meaning attributed to each stimulus, a stress response of different magnitude and duration is activated, this can be considered functional or dysfunctional. Many recent studies, in fact, states that there is a significant correlation between the coping strategy chosen and the onset of a disease. According to the theory of 'psychogenic tumor', for example, anyone can potentially develop cancer, but only those who do not have the psychological strength to resist disease get sick. No matter what is the theoretical framework and the conclusion adopted, we go

  11. Educação, meio ambiente e cultura: alquimias do conhecimento na sociedade de controle Education, environmental and culture: alchemical of knowledge in the control society

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    Ana Godoy

    2009-12-01

    Full Text Available Por meio da noção de regime pedagógico, investiga-se a articulação entre epistemologia e política em dois eixos de funcionamento: um em torno da disciplina corporal ligado às exigências do processo de industrialização, outro em torno da autonomia do sujeito ligado à formação dos Estados nacionais. Os historiadores da educação situaram no coração das práticas escolares a inscrição pedagógica do cidadão como sujeito político dotado de direitos e obrigações; essa inscrição respondeu às exigências inerentes ao quadro conceitual próprio das sociedades democráticas. A noção de alquimia, proposta por Popkewitz, foi retomada para compreender como as práticas pedagógicas traduzem saberes disciplinares em conteúdos psicológicos que são inseparáveis de contextos políticos mais amplos; esse aspecto confere à pedagogia uma dimensão estratégica que deve ser levada em conta na análise dos investimentos pedagógicos no presente. Considerando as características que atravessam as práticas sociais de nossos dias, a intervenção de tipo ambiental (Foucault e a lógica do controle (Deleuze, são abordados Educação, Meio Ambiente e Cultura como domínios de objetos sobre os quais atua o investimento pedagógico hoje.Through the notion of pedagogic regime, we investigate the articulation between epistemology and politics in two operational axes: one concerning the body discipline related to the needs of the industrialization process, the other concerning the subject's autonomy related to the formation of the national States. Educational historians set, on the core of school practices, the citizen's pedagogic inscription as a political citizen endowed with rights and obligations; this inscription responded to the inherent demands of the democratic societies' own conceptual perspectives. The alchemy notion, proposed by Popkewitz, was used to comprehend how pedagogic practices translate discipline knowledge into

  12. Savoirs mondains, savoirs savants : les femmes et leurs cabinets de curiosités au siècle des Lumières

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    Adeline Gargam

    2010-01-01

    Full Text Available Dans la France des Lumières, la culture de la curiosité est un phénomène de mode mais surtout un jeu social et intellectuel. La présente étude entend retracer l’histoire d’une trentaine de cabinets féminins de curiosité tenus à cette époque. Des femmes fortunées de l’aristocratie et de la bourgeoisie parisienne et provinciale ont alors constitué sous l’emprise de leur libido sciendi des cabinets d’alchimie, de minéralogie, de physique‑chimie, d’histoire naturelle et d’anatomie naturelle et artificielle. Ces cabinets obéissent à une typologie particulière. Il en existe deux catégories : les cabinets d’amateurs, constitués pour la parade et le spectacle des visiteurs et fonctionnant comme de véritables écoles de plaisirs intellectuels et éducatifs ; les cabinets à finalité scientifique et didactique, formés par des savantes expérimentées qui se livrent dans leurs laboratoires à des recherches personnelles et expérimentales au nom des progrès de la science médicale et de l’instruction publique. La réflexion porte aussi sur le fonctionnement de ces cabinets privés de curiosité, particulièrement sur leur mode de constitution, leur décor intérieur ainsi que sur le contenu des collections qui nécessitaient certaines techniques d’organisation, d’acquisition et de conservation communes à celles de leurs homologues masculins.During the Enlightenment in France, curiosity culture constituted both a fashion and an intellectual and social game.  This article explores thirty cabinets of  curiosities run by women during this period. Wealthy women from the Parisiain and provincial aristocracy and middle classes organized cabinets in alchemy, mineralogy, physics and chemistry, natural history and biology studies. These cabinets can be divided into two distinct categories. The first represented amateur interests; they were developed for show and served as schools for intellectual and

  13. Synthesis of Black and Red Mercury Sulfide Nano-Powder by Traditional Indian Method for Biomedical Application

    International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

    Padhi, Payodhar; Sahoo, G.; Das, K.; Ghosh, Sudipto; Panigrahi, S. C.

    2008-01-01

    The use of metals and minerals in the traditional Indian system of medicine known as aired is very common and is practiced since seventh century B.C. Metals were reduced to calcined powder form for medicinal purpose. For detoxification, a further step of purification of the metals and minerals with different vegetable extracts was practiced. The people of East India were using mercury and its sulfide as medicine. Gradually this secret was leaked to Arabic physicians who used mercury in skin ointment. Subsequently Italian Physicians adopted Arabic prescriptions of mercurial ointments for skin diseases. In the olden days, metals and minerals were impregnated with decoction and juice of vegetables and animal products like milk and fat for purification. These were then reduced to fine particles by milling with a pestle and mortar. It was known by then that the fineness of the powder had a significant influence on the color, texture, and medicinal properties as is cited by Charak. Nagarjun studied in detail the processing of metals and minerals, particularly mercury and the influence of the processing parameters on the medicinal values. Mercury is unique in many aspects. Indian alchemy developed a wide variety a chemical processes for the ostensible transmutation of metals and preparation of elixir of life, in which mercury occupied a prime position .The present investigation attempts to use the traditional methods as prescribed in the ancient texts to prepare mercury sulfide in both red and black form for medicinal use. XRD, SEM and HRTEM investigations of the sulfides obtained shows that the ancient Indians were able to produce nano-sized powders. Possibly this may be taken as the earliest application of the production and use of nano powder. The study proves that even in ancient time the knowledge of nano particle synthesis was prevalent and used to enhance effectiveness of medicines. Further mercury in the free form is not acceptable in medicines. The ancient

  14. Synthesis of Black and Red Mercury Sulfide Nano-Powder by Traditional Indian Method for Biomedical Application

    Science.gov (United States)

    Padhi, Payodhar; Sahoo, G.; Das, K.; Ghosh, Sudipto; Panigrahi, S. C.

    2008-10-01

    The use of metals and minerals in the traditional Indian system of medicine known as aired is very common and is practiced since seventh century B.C. Metals were reduced to calcined powder form for medicinal purpose. For detoxification, a further step of purification of the metals and minerals with different vegetable extracts was practiced. The people of East India were using mercury and its sulfide as medicine. Gradually this secret was leaked to Arabic physicians who used mercury in skin ointment. Subsequently Italian Physicians adopted Arabic prescriptions of mercurial ointments for skin diseases. In the olden days, metals and minerals were impregnated with decoction and juice of vegetables and animal products like milk and fat for purification. These were then reduced to fine particles by milling with a pestle and mortar. It was known by then that the fineness of the powder had a significant influence on the color, texture, and medicinal properties as is cited by Charak. Nagarjun studied in detail the processing of metals and minerals, particularly mercury and the influence of the processing parameters on the medicinal values. Mercury is unique in many aspects. Indian alchemy developed a wide variety a chemical processes for the ostensible transmutation of metals and preparation of elixir of life, in which mercury occupied a prime position .The present investigation attempts to use the traditional methods as prescribed in the ancient texts to prepare mercury sulfide in both red and black form for medicinal use. XRD, SEM and HRTEM investigations of the sulfides obtained shows that the ancient Indians were able to produce nano-sized powders. Possibly this may be taken as the earliest application of the production and use of nano powder. The study proves that even in ancient time the knowledge of nano particle synthesis was prevalent and used to enhance effectiveness of medicines. Further mercury in the free form is not acceptable in medicines. The ancient

  15. BOOK REVIEW: Tycho Brahe and Prague: Crossroads of European Science

    Science.gov (United States)

    Sterken, C.; Christianson, J. R.; Hadravová, A.; Hadrava, P.; Solc, M.

    2003-01-01

    The 16th volume of the Acta Historica Astronomiae is the Proceedings of the International Symposium on the History of Science in the Rudolphine Period. The meeting was held in Prague from 22 to 25 October 2001, on the 400th anniversary of Tycho's sudden death, and was attended by approximately 65 scientists and historians. The volume contains 36 contributions dealing with the life and work of Tycho Brahe, the astronomy of the era, and many cultural aspects of Rudolphine Prague. One of the first papers is an eye-opener on the fact that Tycho Brahe was a cosmologically-driven observer. This is followed by a very illuminating paper on gender roles in science in the late 16th century, with emphasis on the role of Sophie Brahe, Tycho's youngest sister. Several subsequent papers reveal the existence of barely known links between Tycho and his contemporaneous colleagues. These extremely-well documented papers also deal with the broader philosophical investigation he was involved in, viz. meteorology, medicine, astrology, alchemy and even theology. Important names of Tycho's days are Petrus Severinus, Johannes Pratensis, Theophrastus Paracelsus, John Craig, Ursus (Nicolai Reymers Baer) etc. Very illuminating is the information on the relations between Tycho and the Jesuits in Prague, explaining the reason why this order was very supportive of the Tychonic cosmological model. The relationsship with Kepler, and also Kepler's observational activities (after Tycho's death) are highlighted as well as the hideous mode of communication between Galileo and Kepler. More than one paper deals with the accuracy and precision of Tycho's observations, and the causal impact of this accuracy on the scientific revolution. Another study discusses the study of Tycho's handwriting, this paper brings the aditional bonus of a list of accessible works which contain notes by him. One very interesting project was Brahe's proposal to the Republic of Venice to determine the exact latitudes of

  16. A autoridade, o desejo e a alquimia da política: linguagem e poder na constituição do papado medieval (1060-1120 Authority, desire and the alchemy of politics: language and power in the constitution of the Medieval Papacy (1060-1120

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    Leandro Duarte Rust

    2011-06-01

    Full Text Available O tema deste artigo é a compreensão política propagada entre as décadas de 1060 e 1120 por eminentes eclesiásticos engajados na legitimação e no exercício do poder papal. O exame de epístolas, crônicas e de outros registros escritos do período revela que os assim chamados "papistas" freqüentemente operavam uma transfiguração da política ao envolvê-la em ancestrais tramas de sentido colhidas junto à tradição letrada eclesiástica. Aspecto exemplificado pela idéia de "desejo", que desponta na documentação quando o historiador volta suas atenções para a investigação dos fundamentos do poder político na civilização medieval. Ela permeia as experiências de autoridade e legitimidade, os posicionamentos acerca do recurso à violência; a crença na hierarquização de poderes. Este breve estudo se detém, portanto, nas imbricadas relações existentes entre a prática do poder, o pensamento político e a linguagem.The theme of this paper is the political vision propagated between the decades of 1060 and 1120 by prominent churchmen engaged in the legitimacy and the exercise of the pontifical power. An examination of epistolae, chronicae and other written records of the period reveal that the so-called "papists" frequently performed a transfiguration of politics by involved it in the ancient webs of meaning conveyed from the ecclesiastical literate tradition. Aspect exemplified by the idea of "desire", which occurs in the historical sources very frequently when the historian turns his attention to investigate the basis of political power in the medieval civilization. It permeates the ideas of authority and legitimacy, the positions about the use of violence and the beliefs in the hierarchy of the powers. Therefore, this brief study aims at the intertwined relationship between the practice of power, political thought and language.

  17. The role of herbometallic preparations in traditional medicine--a review on mica drug processing and pharmaceutical applications.

    Science.gov (United States)

    Wijenayake, Apsara; Pitawala, Amarasooriya; Bandara, Ratnayake; Abayasekara, Charmalie

    2014-09-11

    Biotite mica enriched with Fe(2+) ions are widely used as a major mineral ingredient in traditional pharmaceutical science of alchemy (Rasashastra). Abhrak bhasma (mica ash), a pharmaceutical product containing treated mica, is utilized, for example, in Ayurvedic treatments for ailments such as gastritis, renal disease, skin disease and mainly in rejuvenation formulations. However, the untreated mica minerals may be harmful when used directly, as they carry considerably high amounts of trace-elements that can cause undesirable effects in the human body. In order to remove toxic factors and produce readily absorbable materials having high nutrient capacity, specific thermal and chemical treatments (purification, detoxification, particle size reduction and incineration) are performed during the preparation of Rasashastra. This review evaluates the chemical and pharmacological aspects of mica ash as well as the technological aspects of mica ash production. The detailed literature review on the chemistry and scientific basis of mica ash, its preparation techniques, mica alterations and pharmaceutical applications was carried out by using published Ayurvedic text books and research articles, available from Science Direct, on mica minerals, mica ash and their physico-chemical alteration processes and pharmacological applications. During the purification and detoxification procedures, heating followed by quenching (in ionic medium) influences the structural distortion and the development of stress-induced cracks and spallations of the micaceous plates. Thus, the efficient diffusion of the external medium takes place at successive heating and quenching steps. Acidic organic liquids and animal byproducts can enhance the cation exchange capacity and solubility of mica. Further, these natural compounds facilitate the removal of toxic-elements in the structure. When treated-mica and paddy husks are tied up in a cloth and squeezed, particle size reduction and further

  18. Water 2010. Abstracts; Wasser 2010. Kurzreferate

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    NONE

    2010-07-01

    Within the Annual Conference 2010 of the Wasserchemischen Gesellschaft (Berlin, Federal Republic of Germany) from 10th to 12th May, 2010, in Bayreuth (Federal Republic of Germany) the following lectures were held: (1) Retention and fouling in submerged membranes and hybrid procedure (F. Saravia); (2) Fouling of organic membranes in the ultrafiltration of municipal sewage sludges (J. Haberkamp); (3) Arsenic meets NOM - On the abiotic interactions of a toxic element with natural organic material (M. Bauer); (4) Application possibilities of modern bio-analytic methods in the water chemistry? (U. Billitewski); (5) Discussion of the applicability of new reporter cell test systems for the detection of pharmaceutical active substances in water (D. Sokolis); (6) Analytics of chlorine paraffines - a priority group of materials of the European Water Framework Directive (Preparation of ISO 12010) (S. Geiss); (7) Investigation of the disinfection side products in the chlorinbation of N,N-dimethyl sulfamid (DMS) (O. Happel); (8) Development of a photometric analysis method for polyfluorinated chemicals (PFC) as a basis for a cost-effective process monitoring analytics in the galvanic industry (A. Emmel), (9) An investigation of the elution of organic trace contaminants from artificial turf into the groundwater by means of HPTLC/AMD in combination with LC-MS (S.C. Weiss); (10) From the alchemy to contaminated sites - The chemical factory Marktredwitz: It began with the production of gold, at the end it cost million Euro (R. Roeder); (11) An investigation of the influence of the water quality on the effort for drinking water purification - a statistic model (B. Skibinski); (12) Phosphate adsorption onto granular ferric hydroxide: isotherm and fixed-bed column studies (A. Sperlich); (13) Advantages of an upstream bank filtration in the combination of ozonation and groundwater recharge (U. Huebner); (14) An oxidative treatment of barrage water in the purification of drinking water

  19. Perrault's experiments, a matter of soil hydrology and epistemology

    Science.gov (United States)

    Barontini, Stefano; Berta, Andrea; Settura, Matteo

    2017-04-01

    to misinterpretate the experiments by a physical point of view. As his interpretation of the experiments did not corroborate the hypothesis that precipitation might be at the origin of all the springs, it accepted one of the forms of the traditional scheme of water circulation. According to it, greatly productive springs should be sustained by evaporation and condensation processes taking place below the soil surface. Even if Perrault's conclusions went in the direction of the ancient opinion, not only De l'origine des fontaines is a seminal work of experimental hydrology, but also it can be regarded to as a milestone of scientific revolution. In his critique of both ancient (e.g. Aristotle) and modern scholars (e.g. Nicolas Papin) he makes use of principles drawn by the works of Bacon, Galilei and Pascal. Stating that "the first and most usual maxim of our moderns is to doubt everything", he shows deep awareness of the specific essence of scientific modernity. Moreover his rejection of alchemy, analogical reasoning and astrological influences arises from the conviction that "it is to experiments that we owe the finest knowledge we now have concerning the things of nature". According to this perspective, despite of all the difficulties of the soil-hydrologic laboratory practice, Perrault was nevertheless able to report his experiments in terms that we can properly reproduce nowadays.

  20. History of the discovery of transmutation at Texas A and M University

    International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

    Bockris, J.O.M.

    2006-01-01

    had received a letter from a Roberto Monti. He complained that he had not got a reply from writing to Fleischmann and Pons and he decided to write to him instead. His letter concerned a theory which he said would easily rationalize the synthesis of tritium from deuterium and moreover indicate conditions under which many elements in the periodic table could be transmuted to neighboring elements in the cold. On reading the letter, the author thought that the writer must be elderly and out of touch with theoretical chemistry, for what he said was clearly impossible, indeed, it sounded like a claim to alchemy. The author replied, humoring the writer and promised to meet with him in the forthcoming Cold Fusion meeting in Como in Italy (1991). When the author met, Monti he was astonished to find that Monti seemed to be a bright normal person about 40-year old and speaking in a vigorous and seemingly informed manner. He had an established position in an Italian Research Institute in Bologna. His emphasis was not on the reactions which Fleischmann and Pons had carried out but on his own work where he claimed that he was able to carry out transmutation reactions. In spite of author's impression that Monti was a normal scientist, the author still regarded transmutation with extreme skepticism

  1. History of the discovery of transmutation at Texas A and M University

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Bockris, J.O.M. [Molecular Green Technology, College Station, TX 77845 (United States)

    2006-07-01

    . Earlier (1990) the author had received a letter from a Roberto Monti. He complained that he had not got a reply from writing to Fleischmann and Pons and he decided to write to him instead. His letter concerned a theory which he said would easily rationalize the synthesis of tritium from deuterium and moreover indicate conditions under which many elements in the periodic table could be transmuted to neighboring elements in the cold. On reading the letter, the author thought that the writer must be elderly and out of touch with theoretical chemistry, for what he said was clearly impossible, indeed, it sounded like a claim to alchemy. The author replied, humoring the writer and promised to meet with him in the forthcoming Cold Fusion meeting in Como in Italy (1991). When the author met, Monti he was astonished to find that Monti seemed to be a bright normal person about 40-year old and speaking in a vigorous and seemingly informed manner. He had an established position in an Italian Research Institute in Bologna. His emphasis was not on the reactions which Fleischmann and Pons had carried out but on his own work where he claimed that he was able to carry out transmutation reactions. In spite of author's impression that Monti was a normal scientist, the author still regarded transmutation with extreme skepticism.

  2. Women in Chemistry: Their Changing Roles from Alchemical Times to the Mid-Twentieth Century (by Marelene Rayner-Canham and Geoffrey Rayner-Canham)

    Science.gov (United States)

    Caserio, Marjorie C.

    1999-07-01

    Women who made significant contributions in the chemical sciences prior to the 20th century do not come readily to mind. Yet, as this book relates so engagingly, women have been influential in chemistry since the earliest period of recorded history. However, Women in Chemistry is more than a dated collection of biographical sketches of notable women scientists. The book highlights the main periods of history when it was possible for women to have some measure of success in the chemical sciences and focuses on their changing roles from alchemical times to the mid-20th century. By glimpsing into the life and work of individuals in the context of the time in which they lived, the authors impart a credible and moving image of the restraints imposed on aspiring women scientists and the obstacles that confronted them-making the extent of their contributions all the more remarkable. Each chapter has a theme into which are woven selected biographical sketches. Chapter 1 offers a whirlwind tour of the centuries from Babylonian times (1200 B.C.E.) through the Middle Ages and into the 17th century, giving perspective on how the various civilizations did (or did not) consider women capable of intellectual achievement or permit such of them. This short but powerful chapter invokes appreciation for the major contributions made by women in the face of enormous obstacles of prejudice, superstition (witchcraft), monastic reprisals, pseudoscience (alchemy), and denial of education. The women featured include Maria Hebraea (around 300 C.E.famed for the water bath, bain Marie), Hypatia (mathematician, 400 C.E.), Western alchemists (de Gourney and Meudrac), and Chinese alchemists. By the 18th century, science had progressed and alchemy was at an end. Though enlightened scientifically, western society still considered women's intellect inferior. But, as Chapter 2 relates, the literary salons of France nurtured intellectual discussion in society women, and it was in this context that

  3. Matta en el inverso del universo con sus amigos detrás del espejo

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    Enrique de Santiago

    2015-08-01

    . Matta evokes the immersion from a project of the being to a cosmic and alchemic project where the relationship between alchemy and science concurs with irrevocable determination: Eliphas Lévi, Fulcanelli, and Albert Einstein; the text also deals with the communication means between artist Matta’s search and his very free commitment to the surrealistic movement (Breton and to himself, en la medida en lo extrae y traduce ??? from such artistic movement and from his interventions and participation in movements of modern art and his own movement. According to Roberto Matta’s own words in 1965: An artist’s role in our society involves being that glaring and repudiated character (the child of Andersen’s short story who is the only one that affirms that the king is nude. This denouncement of the scandal makes of him a minority member. For the artist, it is not a question of establishing a relationship between color blue and color green: these aesthetic scenarios belong in a certain way to those who contemplated them. On the contrary, I want to agitate so that the contemplating person becomes a minority member. I want the spectator to be possessed by the picture instead of possessing it; I want him to be bombarded from everywhere with a huge amount of consciousness. In this way, caught within an unbearable situation caused by the picture, he is then forced to perform a poetic creation act to possess it: beset by the real world he feels defeated and then forced to reflect. In this way, this essay about Roberto Matta deals with the aesthetic furor. There is not aesthetics without science and evidence, as proposed and induced by Matta.

  4. SentiHealth-Cancer: A sentiment analysis tool to help detecting mood of patients in online social networks.

    Science.gov (United States)

    Rodrigues, Ramon Gouveia; das Dores, Rafael Marques; Camilo-Junior, Celso G; Rosa, Thierson Couto

    2016-01-01

    into English, and submitted to sentiment analysis tools that do not support the Portuguese language (AlchemyAPI and Textalytics) and also to Semantria and SentiStrength, using the English option of these tools. Six experiments were conducted with some variations and different origins of the collected posts. The results were measured using the following metrics: precision, recall, F1-measure and accuracy The proposed tool SHC-pt reached the best averages for accuracy and F1-measure (harmonic mean between recall and precision) in the three sentiment classes addressed (positive, negative and neutral) in all experimental settings. Moreover, the worst accuracy value (58%) achieved by SHC-pt in any experiment is 11.53% better than the greatest accuracy (52%) presented by other addressed tools. Finally, the worst average F1 (48.46%) reached by SHC-pt in any experiment is 4.14% better than the greatest average F1 (46.53%) achieved by other addressed tools. Thus, even when we compare the SHC-pt results in complex scenario versus others in easier scenario the SHC-pt is better. This paper presents two contributions. First, it proposes the method SentiHealth to detect the mood of cancer patients that are also users of communities of patients in online social networks. Second, it presents an instantiated tool from the method, called SentiHealth-Cancer (SHC-pt), dedicated to automatically analyze posts in communities of cancer patients, based on SentiHealth. This context-tailored tool outperformed other general-purpose sentiment analysis tools at least in the cancer context. This suggests that the SentiHealth method could be instantiated as other disease-based tools during future works, for instance SentiHealth-HIV, SentiHealth-Stroke and SentiHealth-Sclerosis. Copyright © 2015. Published by Elsevier Ireland Ltd.

  5. Fragmentos da história das concepções de mundo na construção das ciências da natureza: das certezas medievais às dúvidas pré-modernas Episodes in the history of conceptions of the world of natural sciences: from medieval certainties to pre-modern doubts

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    Antônio Fernandes Nascimento Júnior

    2003-01-01

    do mundo. Os pensadores italianos, como uma reação à Escolástica, constroem um pensamento humanista influenciado pelo pensamento grego clássico original e pelos últimos filósofos bizantinos. Por todas essas mudanças se inicia a construção de um novo universo e de um novo método, que viria décadas mais tarde.The philosophical concept of world thought begins with the Greeks, synthesized by Plato and Aristotle. For Plato the one physical world is apparent and, to reach the truth, it is necessary to remember the original ideas that determine its meaning. For Aristotle, material things are guided by ideas and logic is needed to understand them. During the Hellenistic period, the school of Alexandria elaborated Neo-Platonism, the base of Patristics. After the fall of Rome, the Byzantine philosophers kept the classic inheritance. The Church built a Neo-Platonic vision of Christianity, Scholastacism. In the east the Persians also came under Greek influence. Among the Arabs of the East Neo-Platonic thought guided philosophers and religious people so that for them reason and faith were not separated. At this point sciences grew: physics, alchemy, botany, medicine, mathematics and logic, until they were overtaken by the conservative doctrine of the Ottomans. In Muslin Spain, without the restrictions of theology, Aristotle's philosophy was better understood than in the rest of Islam.

  6. Complaint in Shahriyar’s poems

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    Yadoolah Nasroolahi

    2016-06-01

    , Shahriyar is of a spiritual mystic old face who has fallen far away from the right and truth and desirably plays the return song to Sugar Cane plantation like Mawlanaw’s reed. In the Philosophical Complaint, one can find sort of Khayyam’s thought in not finding and not obtaining a response to truth. Despite the fact that Shahriyar’s grievances are diverse, one can say that their tone is sad and is accompanied by a sharp and stinging rebuke and protest in order to express the atmosphere of this chain of emotional vocabularies, words and phrases like emotional, sentence composition, using Monada he employs appropriate rhymes. Apart from the tone of the speech, he has also used other literary devices.  He has mostly used symbols of classical Persian poetry to express grievances and complaints. Another feature of Shariyar’s grievances is expression of regret and nostalgia of the soul. The sense of being a stranger and loss of time and youth are among the most significant subjects. Yet another feature of Shahriyar’s Complaint is the simple expression of and invocation to the common expressions of the slang and street appeal in which the poet contributes a lot to their beauty and strength by selecting exact titles to them. The poet has mostly chosen the form of Ghazal to express his Complaint.   Finally, the experience of the poet’s emotional breakdown was a minor wickedness that transformed Shahriyar into one of the greatest poets, at least in the area of composing Complaint. This was the alchemy that transformed him from school and the limited environment into a mate of the sun and the moon and the Ghazal’s Shahriyar.

  7. EDITORIAL: Power is nothing without control Power is nothing without control

    Science.gov (United States)

    Demming, Anna

    2012-04-01

    review, synthesis of these materials is now a refined art allowing considerable control over the parameters. The mechanisms behind the growth using different techniques is also understood, making the alchemy of creating these prized nanostructures into an advanced science. With these new nanomaterials researchers in nanoscale science and technology now have the power to create devices with performance attributes previously unimagined, and the advancing fine art of controlled synthesis allows these devices to be made on demand. References [1] Kroto H W, Heath J R, O'Brien S C, Curl R F and Smalley R E Nature 318 162-3 [2] Iijima S 1991 Nature B 354 56-8 [3] Journet C, Picher M and Jourdain V 2012 Nanotechnology 23 296-304 [4] Singh N, Zhang T and Lee P S 2009 Nanotechnology 20 195605 [5] Qiu J, Li X, He W, Park S-J, Kim H-K, Hwang Y-H, Lee J-H and Kim Y-D 2009 Nanotechnology 20 155603 [6]Dmitriev S, Lilach Y, Button B, Moskovits M and Kolmakov A 2007 Nanotechnology 18 055707 [7] Hao H L and Shen W Z 2008 Nanotechnology 19 055601 [8] Rocha A R, Martins T B, Fazzio A and da Silva A J R 2010 Nanotechnology 21 345202

  8. Inventário e digitalização do patrimônio museológico da educação: um projecto de preservação e valorização do património educativo - The inventory and digitalization of the heritage museum of education: a project of preservation and valorization of the ed

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    Maria João Mogarro, Fernanda Gonçalves

    2011-03-01

    reused. Historically, these objects are connected to several of the subjects taught; they play a key role in the interconnection between scientific knowledge and the  alchemy to which this knowledge was subjected  in   order  to  become  teaching  material.  We  establish, therefore,  the  convergence with  the  current  policies   that   value education  and cultural heritage, with  research  and organisation of museums dedicated to the school, to its heritage and legacy in several countries.  It   is  a   transnational   movement,  and  the  similarities between countries emphasise the globalisation of the school form and its materials. Keywords: Educational heritage; inventory; museology;  school culture.   INVENTARIO Y DIGITALIZACIÓN DEL PATRIMONIO MUSEOLÓGICO DE LA EDUCACIÓN: UN PROYECTO DE PRESERVACIÓN Y VALORIZACIÓN DEL PATRIMONIO EDUCATIVO Resumen En  este texto presentamos el Proyecto Inventario y Digitalización  del Patrimonio  Museológico de la Educación, desarrollado por el Ministerio de la Educación portugués.  Las escuelas que integran el Proyecto poseen   importantes   colecciones de  patrimonio  museológico y   se pretende  realizar  su  inventario,  preservación y   divulgación.  Las instituciones escolares fueron acogiendo muchos objetos a lo largo del tiempo  y se lleva en  cuenta  su  recorrido, dónde se utilizaron  y reutilizaron los materiales. Estos materiales se integran, históricamente, al campo de diversas  disciplinas, teniendo un papel fundamental en la interconexión entre el conocimiento científico y la alquimia a que este conocimiento estuvo sujeto para transformarse en materia de enseñanza. Se establece, de ese modo, la convergencia con las actuales políticas de valorización de la educación y del patrimonio cultural, con investigaciones y organización de museos dedicadas a la escuela, a su patrimonio y memoria en diversos países. Se trata de un movimiento

  9. European astronomers' successes with the Hubble Space Telescope*

    Science.gov (United States)

    1997-02-01

    American opposite number, John Bahcall, prefers to stress those quasar hosts that look like undisturbed galaxies. But the important thing is that we have wonderfully clear pictures to argue about. Quasar theories were mostly pure speculation before we had Hubble." The history of the elements Astronomers at the Hamburger Sternwarte use the Faint Object Spectrograph to analyse ultraviolet light from distant quasars, which they also examine by visible light from the ground. They trace the origin, through cosmic time, of elements like carbon, silicon and iron, from which planets and living things can be built. On its way to Hubble, the quasar light passes through various intervening galaxies and gas clouds, like the skewer of a kebab. Each object visited absorbs some of the quasar light, depending on the local abundances of the elements. As they detect more and more objects, Dieter Reimers and his colleagues form an impression of galaxies building up their stocks of elements progressively through time, by the alchemy of successive generations of stars. Apart from primordial hydrogen the second lightest element, helium, has also been abundant since the origin of the Universe. The first major discovery after Hubble's last refurbishment came from Peter Jakobsen of ESA's Space Science Department at Noordwijk, who detected ionized helium in the remote Universe, by the light of a very distant quasar, 0302-003. That was in January 1994, and since then Jakobsen has looked for the ionized helium using other quasars. He now suspects that this helium is nearly all gathered in clumps, rather than scattered freely through intergalactic space. If so, it greatly increases the estimates of the total mass of ordinary matter in the Universe. Through a lens to the early Universe Natural lenses scattered through the cosmos reveal distant galaxies, and make an astronomical tool for Richard Ellis of the Institute of Astronomy, Cambridge (UK). The strong gravity of an intervening cluster of galaxies