Metabolic pathways of acetyl-L-carnitine administered via the intracerebro-ventricular route in the mouse

Abstract

Multidimensional value orientations – which can be expressed in corresponding goal functions – are basic emergent features of evolutionary adaptation of systems to their environments. The need for balanced satisfaction of essential system needs, that is, basic orientors (existence, effectiveness, freedom of action, security, adaptability, coexistence) emerges in response to general environmental challenges (physical conditions, sparse resources, variety, variability, change, other systems). In ecosystems, satisfaction of these basic orientors in processes of self-organization requires contributions by a number of thermodynamic, ecophysiological, functional, and systems orientors (structure, community, networks, information flow, dynamics, etc.). Orientor dimensions can be used to define indicator sets for the comprehensive assessment of the state of a system. Goal functions (or objective functions) define attractor states for quantitative assessment in models and optimization studies. Goal functions are context-specific and system-specific expressions of basic orientor requirements. Survival success is a sign of successful adaptation and evolution, that is, the accumulation of knowledge for the successful solution of tasks that requires significantly more than just feeding on available resources. Emerging value orientation can be demonstrated in computer experiments with artificial organisms (animats) using genetic algorithms to study knowledge growth and organization. Even under identical environmental conditions, basic orientor emphasis emerges differently among individuals of a population, resulting in different ‘lifestyles’ and different coping (fitness) advantages under changing environmental conditions. Pathological behavior and system failure results if there is insufficient attention to any one of the basic orientors. Orientor satisfaction analysis allows comprehensive assessments of system fitness and performance, in particular also of the feasibility and viability of future development paths.