Microbes,mathematics, and models

Microbial model systems have a long history of fruitful use in fields that include evolution and ecology. In order to develop further insight into modelling practice, we examine how the competitive exclusion and coexistence of competing species have been modelled mathematically and materially over the course of a long research history. In particular, we investigate how microbial models of these dynamics interact with mathematical or computational models of the same phenomena. Our cases illuminate the ways in which microbial systems and equations work as models, and what happens when they generate inconsistent findings about shared targets. We reveal an iterative strategy of comparative modelling in different media, and suggest reasons why microbial models have a special degree of epistemic tractability in multimodel inquiry.     

Making the abstract concrete: The role of norms and values in experimental modeling

Experimental modeling is the construction of theoretical models hand in hand with experimental activity. As explained in Section 1, experimental modeling starts with claims about phenomena that use abstract concepts, concepts whose conditions of realization are not yet specified; and it ends with a concrete model of the phenomenon, a model that can be tested against data. This paper argues that this process from abstract concepts to concrete models involves judgments of relevance, which are irreducibly normative. In Section 2, we show, on the basis of several case studies, how these judgments contribute to the determination of the conditions of realization of the abstract concepts and, at the same time, of the quantities that characterize the phenomenon under study. Then, in Section 3, we compare this view on modeling with other approaches that also have acknowledged the role of relevance judgments in science. To conclude, in Section 4, we discuss the possibility of a plurality of relevance judgments and introduce a distinction between locally and generally relevant factors.     

What’s so special about model organisms?

This paper aims to identify the key characteristics of model organisms that make them a specific type of model within the contemporary life sciences: in particular, we argue that the term “model organism” does not apply to all organisms used for the purposes of experimental research. We explore the differences between experimental and model organisms in terms of their material and epistemic features, and argue that it is essential to distinguish between their representational scope and representational target. We also examine the characteristics of the communities who use these two types of models, including their research goals, disciplinary affiliations, and preferred practices to show how these have contributed to the conceptualization of a model organism. We conclude that model organisms are a specific subgroup of organisms that have been standardized to fit an integrative and comparative mode of research, and that it must be clearly distinguished from the broader class of experimental organisms. In addition, we argue that model organisms are the key components of a unique and distinctively biological way of doing research using models.     

The x-phi(les): unusual insights into the nature of inquiry

Experimental philosophy is often regarded as a category mistake. Even those who reject that view typically see it as irrelevant to standard philosophical projects. We argue that neither of these claims can be sustained and illustrate our view with a sketch of the rich interconnections with philosophy of science.     

嵌入隔离小生境技术的混沌粒子群算法

针对标准粒子群算法(standard particle swarm optimization,SPSO)无法很好平衡全局与局部搜索能力,且收敛速度较慢、易于早熟收敛等问题,提出了嵌入隔离小生境技术的混沌粒子群算法(isolation niches em-bedded in chaos particle swarm optimization,INCPSO)。利用隔离小生境技术,保证了解的多样性,同时,引入混沌搜索策略,提高了解的搜索精度和收敛速度,且避免早熟收敛。仿真试验结果表明,与标准粒子群算法和只嵌入隔离小生境技术的粒子群算法(isolation niches particle swarm optimization,INPSO)相比,嵌入隔离小生境技术的混沌粒子群算法对复杂问题的求解能力较强,寻优性能较好。     

绿色GDP与环境污染成本核算

可持续发展观要求建立绿色GDP的核算体系,在注重经济增长的同时,要注重资源消耗和环境损害.以天津市2004年公开的环境统计资料为基础,对该市环境污染虚拟成本进行核算,探讨性地试算了天津市经环境污染调整的绿色GDP,并对绿色GDP核算方法提出了一些建议.     

关于Van Der Corput不等式加强的进一步改进

利用传统方法,将Van Der Corput不等式的一个加强式做了改进,建立了Van Der Corput不等式两个更强的加强式,它们优于现有的众多结论.     

浅谈西藏图书馆的服务创新

图书馆是传播思想文化的场所。探索图书馆服务新途径，对提高广大人民群众的道德、文化素质和构建和谐社会具有重要的促进作用。文章阐述西藏图书馆服务创新的重要意义，分析西藏图书馆服务中存在的问题，进而提出了相应的创新措施。     

重视实验教学的育人作用

实验教学是高等教育的一个重要组成部分，但大部分教师只注意了其培养学生实验技能方面的作用，而忽略了实验教学育人方面的重要作用。实验教学是进行德育教育的重要途径，高校教师应该重视实验教学的育人作用。     

污水生化处理过程仿真及在A2/O工艺改进中的应用

基于国际水协会IWA发布的国际评价基准 Benchmark,建立了与污水处理厂实际特性相近的标准仿真平台.对污水处理传统A2/O工艺做了合理改进,在不影响出水水质的情况下,取消内回流.应用该平台分别对晴天、雨天与暴雨三种天气的工艺过程模拟,验证了工艺改进的合理性.仿真结果表明,与传统A2/O工艺相比,出水指标差别不大,但污泥泵能耗降低约50%.