Of robot ants and elephants: A computational comparison

In the robotics community, there exist implicit assumptions concerning the computational capabilities of robots. Two computational classes of robots emerge as focal points of recent research: robot ants and robot elephants. Ants have poor memory and communication capabilities, but are able to communicate using pheromones, in effect, turning their work area into a shared memory. By comparison, elephants are computationally stronger, have large memory, and are equipped with strong sensing and communication capabilities. Unfortunately, not much is known about the relation between the capabilities of these models in terms of the tasks they can address. In this paper, we present formal models of both ants and elephants, and investigate if one dominates the other. We present two algorithms: AntEater, which allows elephant robots to execute ant algorithms and ElephantGun, which converts elephant algorithms-specified as Turing machines-into ant algorithms. By exploring the computational capabilities of these algorithms, we reach interesting conclusions regarding the computational power of both models.     

Book review

This article outlines how adolescents are currently overlooked as a specific user group of medical devices and positions the contribution that ergonomics (human factors) can make in mitigating this issue. Details are provided of the current barriers to adolescent inclusion in medical device design research. The discussion then provides guidance and suggested strategies for researchers, clinical staff and medical device developers about how to overcome difficulties such as ethical considerations and gaining access to this specific population. This is tackled through discussion of: informed consent, assent, gatekeepers, confidentiality, appropriateness of topics and proxies. The overall aim of this article is to raise awareness about adolescents in ergonomics research, specifically for the elicitation of requirements for medical devices.     

An Overview of Synergistic Data Tools for Biological Scrutiny

A network of biological databases is reviewed, supplying a framework for studies of human genes and the association of their genomic variations with human phenotypes. The network is composed of GeneCards, the human gene compendium, which provides comprehensive information on all known and predicted human genes, along with its suite members GeneDecks and GeneLoc. Two databases are shown that address genes and variations focusing on olfactory reception (HORDE) and transduction (GOSdb). In the realm of disease scrutiny, we portray MalaCards, a novel comprehensive database of human diseases and their annotations. Also shown is GeneKid, a tool aimed at generating novel kidney disease biomarkers using systems biology, as well as Xome, a database for whole-exome next-generation DNA sequences for human diseases in the Israeli population. Finally, we show LifeMap Discovery, a database of embryonic development, stem cell research and regenerative medicine, which links to both GeneCards and MalaCards.     

Dynamics of support perceptions among couples coping with cardiac illness: The effect on recovery outcomes.

Objective: The current prospective study explored how male cardiac patients' perceptions of received support (i.e., active engagement, protective buffering, and overprotection) moderated the associations between female partners' perceptions of provided support and patients' recovery outcomes: psychological well-being, cholesterol levels, and smoking cessation. Methods: Couples (N = 86) completed surveys at the initial hospitalization after patients' Acute Coronary Syndrome (ACS), and 1 and 6 months later. Partners' ways of providing support and patients' concurrent perceptions of these ways were measured using the Ways of Giving Support Questionnaire; patients' depressive and anxiety symptoms were measured using the Brief Symptom Inventory (BSI). Patients' cholesterol levels were assessed during hospitalization and 6 months later, and smoking habits were reported by the patients. Results: Female partners' protective buffering was positively associated with male patients' depressive symptoms at follow-up only when male patients' own perceptions of partners' protective buffering were low. Female partners' active engagement was positively associated with better odds for male patients' cessation of smoking only when patients' own perceptions of partners' active engagement were high. Finally, female partners' overprotection was associated with higher levels of male patients' harmful blood lipids at follow-up, but only when patients' own perceptions of partners' overprotection were high. Conclusions: As hypothesized, the effect of partners' perceptions of support provided on patients' recovery was moderated by patients' own perceptions of the support received. The effect of this interaction was determined by the specific types of support provided or received and by the specific recovery outcome that was measured. The clinical and theoretical implications of the findings are discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2011 APA, all rights reserved)     

Mimicking the Brain Extracellular Matrix in Vitro: A Review of Current Methodologies and Challenges

The brain's extracellular matrix (ECM), a 3-dimensional macromolecular network that supports cell growth and viability, has crucial roles in homeostasis and disease. Accurate recapitulation of the chemical, structural, and mechanical properties of the ECM in brain cell cultures is essential for the development of translatable in vitro models; however, thus far, this task has proven highly challenging. This review provides an in-depth discussion of this challenge, including an overview of the properties of the ECM that in vitro models should endeavour to capture, a survey of ECM analogues that are currently used for this purpose, and a discussion of the main hindrances to developing more effective ECM-like coating materials.     

Capturing an area-covering robot

Area coverage is a fundamental task in robotics, where one or more robots are required to visit all points in a target area at least once. In many real-world scenarios, the need arises for protecting one’s territory from being covered by a robot, e.g., when we need to defend a building from being surveyed by an adversarial force. Therefore, this paper discusses the problem of defending a given area from being covered by a robot. In this problem, the defender needs to choose the locations of k stationary guards in the target area, each one having some probability of capturing the robot, in a way that maximizes the probability of stopping the covering robot. We consider two types of covering robots: one that has an a-priori map of the environment, including the locations of the guards; and the other has no prior knowledge of the environment, and thus has to use real-time sensor measurements in order to detect the guards and plan its path according to their discovered locations. We show that in both cases the defender can exploit the target area’s topology, and specifically the vulnerability points in the area (i.e., places that must be visited by the robot more than once), in order to increase its chances of capturing the covering robot. We also show that although in general finding an optimal strategy for a defender with zero-knowledge on the robot’s coverage strategy is \({\mathcal {NP}}\)-Hard, for certain values of k an optimal strategy can be found in polynomial time. For other cases we suggest heuristics that can significantly outperform the random baseline strategy. We provide both theoretical and empirical evaluation of our suggested algorithms.     

Lytic Polysaccharide Monooxygenase from Talaromyces amestolkiae with an Enigmatic Linker-like Region: The Role of This Enzyme on Cellulose Saccharification

The first lytic polysaccharide monooxygenase (LPMO) detected in the genome of the widespread ascomycete Talaromyces amestolkiae (TamAA9A) has been successfully expressed in Pichia pastoris and characterized. Molecular modeling of TamAA9A showed a structure similar to those from other AA9 LPMOs. Although fungal LPMOs belonging to the genera Penicillium or Talaromyces have not been analyzed in terms of regioselectivity, phylogenetic analyses suggested C1/C4 oxidation which was confirmed by HPAEC. To ascertain the function of a C-terminal linker-like region present in the wild-type sequence of the LPMO, two variants of the wild-type enzyme, one without this sequence and one with an additional C-terminal carbohydrate binding domain (CBM), were designed. The three enzymes (native, without linker and chimeric variant with a CBM) were purified in two chromatographic steps and were thermostable and active in the presence of H₂O₂. The transition midpoint temperature of the wild-type LPMO (Tm = 67.7 °C) and its variant with only the catalytic domain (Tm = 67.6 °C) showed the highest thermostability, whereas the presence of a CBM reduced it (Tm = 57.8 °C) and indicates an adverse effect on the enzyme structure. Besides, the potential of the different T. amestolkiae LPMO variants for their application in the saccharification of cellulosic and lignocellulosic materials was corroborated.     

Blocking the PCNA/NKp44 Checkpoint to Stimulate NK Cell Responses to Multiple Myeloma

Simple SummaryMembrane-associated PCNA is expressed on the surface of human MM cell lines and primary MM cells. Mab 14-25-9 interacts with membrane-associated PCNA and blocks its binding to NK-expressed NKp44, thus activating NK function. We showed that mAb 14-25-9 can serve as an immune checkpoint blocker, enhancing the function of NK cells on target human MM cell lines and primary cells.AbstractMultiple Myeloma (MM) is a devastating malignancy that evades immune destruction using multiple mechanisms. The NKp44 receptor interacts with PCNA (Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen) and may inhibit NK cells’ functions. Here we studied in vitro the expression and function of PCNA on MM cells. First, we show that PCNA is present on the cell membrane of five out of six MM cell lines, using novel anti-PCNA mAb developed to recognize membrane-associated PCNA. Next, we stained primary bone marrow (BM) mononuclear cells from MM patients and showed significant staining of membrane-associated PCNA in the fraction of CD38⁺CD138⁺ BM cells that contain the MM cells. Importantly, blocking of the membrane PCNA on MM cells enhanced the activity of NK cells, including IFN-γ-secretion and degranulation. Our results highlight the possible blocking of the NKp44-PCNA immune checkpoint by the mAb 14-25-9 antibody to enhance NK cell responses against MM, providing a novel treatment option.     

Assessing Usability of Human–Machine Interfaces for Life Science Automation Using Computational Cognitive Models

The objective of this study was to assess the plausibility of using computational cognitive models for evaluating the usability of human–machine interfaces in supervisory control of high-throughput (biological) screening (HTS) operations. Usability evaluations of new interface prototypes were conducted by comparisons with existing technologies. Model assessment occurred through comparison with human test results. Task completion times and the number of errors were recorded during human performance trials, and task time was predicted in cognitive model trials in tests with two HTS interfaces. Computational GOMSL (Goals, Operators, Methods, and Selection rules Language) models were constructed based on a combination of cognitive task analyses (abstraction hierarchy modeling and goal-directed task analysis). The usability tests revealed improvements in task performance with the new prototypes. The cognitive model outputs were correlated with actual human performance, and the approach was considered useful for evaluating the usability of new interfaces in life sciences automation in the future.