Learning 3D Navigation Protocols on Touch Interfaces with Cooperative Multi-Agent Reinforcement Learning

Using touch devices to navigate in virtual 3D environments such as computer assisted design (CAD) models or geographical information systems (GIS) is inherently difficult for humans, as the 3D operations have to be performed by the user on a 2D touch surface. This ill-posed problem is classically solved with a fixed and handcrafted interaction protocol, which must be learned by the user. We propose to automatically learn a new interaction protocol allowing to map a 2D user input to 3D actions in virtual environments using reinforcement learning (RL). A fundamental problem of RL methods is the vast amount of interactions often required, which are difficult to come by when humans are involved. To overcome this limitation, we make use of two collaborative agents. The first agent models the human by learning to perform the 2D finger trajectories. The second agent acts as the interaction protocol, interpreting and translating to 3D operations the 2D finger trajectories from the first agent. We restrict the learned 2D trajectories to be similar to a training set of collected human gestures by first performing state representation learning, prior to reinforcement learning. This state representation learning is addressed by projecting the gestures into a latent space learned by a variational auto encoder (VAE).Comment: 17 pages, 8 figures. Accepted at The European Conference on Machine Learning and Principles and Practice of Knowledge Discovery in Databases 2019 (ECMLPKDD 2019

Transition to Long Range Magnetic Order in the Highly Frustrated Insulating Pyrochlore Antiferromagnet Gd_2Ti_2O_7

Experimental evidence from measurements of the a.c. and d.c. susceptibility, and heat capacity data show that the pyrochlore structure oxide, Gd_2Ti_2O_7, exhibits short range order that starts developing at 30K, as well as long range magnetic order at $T\sim 1$K. The Curie-Weiss temperature, $\theta_{CW}$ = -9.6K, is largely due to exchange interactions. Deviations from the Curie-Weiss law occur below $\sim$10K while magnetic heat capacity contributions are found at temperatures above 20K. A sharp maximum in the heat capacity at $T_c=0.97$K signals a transition to a long range ordered state, with the magnetic specific accounting for only $\sim$ 50% of the magnetic entropy. The heat capacity above the phase transition can be modeled by assuming that a distribution of random fields acts on the $^8S_{7/2}$ ground state for Gd$^{3+}$. There is no frequency dependence to the a.c. susceptibility in either the short range or long range ordered regimes, hence suggesting the absence of any spin-glassy behavior. Mean field theoretical calculations show that no long range ordered ground state exists for the conditions of nearest-neighbor antiferromagnetic exchange and long range dipolar couplings. At the mean-field level, long range order at various commensurate or incommensurate wave vectors is found only upon inclusion of exchange interactions beyond nearest-neighbor exchange and dipolar coupling. The properties of Gd$_2Ti_2O_7 are compared with other geometrically frustrated antiferromagnets such as the Gd_3Ga_5O_{12} gadolinium gallium garnet, RE_2Ti_2O_7 pyrochlores where RE = Tb, Ho and Tm, and Heisenberg-type pyrochlore such as Y_2Mo_2O_7, Tb_2Mo_2O_7, and spinels such as ZnFe_2O_4Comment: Letter, 6 POSTSCRIPT figures included. (NOTE: Figure 5 is not included --) To appear in Physical Review B. Contact: [email protected]

Actinopolyspora algeriensis sp. nov., a novel halophilic actinomycete isolated from a Saharan soil

A halophilic actinomycete strain designated H19T, was isolated from a Saharan soil in the Bamendil region (Ouargla province, South Algeria) and was characterized taxonomically by using a polyphasic approach. The morphological and chemotaxonomic characteristics of the strain were consistent with those of members of the genus Actinopolyspora, and 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis confirmed that strain H19T was a novel species of the genus Actinopolyspora. DNA–DNA hybridization value between strain H19T and the nearest Actinopolyspora species, A. halophila, was clearly below the 70 % threshold. The genotypic and phenotypic data showed that the organism represents a novel species of the genus Actinopolyspora for which the name Actinopolyspora algeriensis sp. nov. is proposed, with the type strain H19T (= DSM 45476T = CCUG 62415T)

Precision health: A nursing perspective

Precision health refers to personalized healthcare based on a person's unique genetic, genomic, or omic composition within the context of lifestyle, social, economic, cultural and environmental influences to help individuals achieve well-being and optimal health. Precision health utilizes big data sets that combine omics (i.e. genomic sequence, protein, metabolite, and microbiome information) with clinical information and health outcomes to optimize disease diagnosis, treatment and prevention specific to each patient. Successful implementation of precision health requires interprofessional collaboration, community outreach efforts, and coordination of care, a mission that nurses are well-positioned to lead. Despite the surge of interest and attention to precision health, most nurses are not well-versed in precision health or its implications for the nursing profession. Based on a critical analysis of literature and expert opinions, this paper provides an overview of precision health and the importance of engaging the nursing profession for its implementation. Other topics reviewed in this paper include big data and omics, information science, integration of family health history in precision health, and nursing omics research in symptom science. The paper concludes with recommendations for nurse leaders in research, education, clinical practice, nursing administration and policy settings for which to develop strategic plans to implement precision health

Pseudonocardia hispaniensis sp. nov., a novel actinomycete isolated from industrial wastewater activated sludge

A novel actinomycete, designated PA3T, was isolated from an oil refinery wastewater treatment plant, located in Palos de la frontera, Huelva, Spain, and characterized taxonomically by using a polyphasic approach. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that the isolate formed a distinct subclade in the Pseudonocardia tree together with Pseudonocardia asaccharolytica DSM 44247T. The chemotaxonomic properties of the isolate, for example, the presence of MK-8 (H4) as the predominant menaquinone and iso-C16:0 as the major fatty acid are consistent with its classification in the genus Pseudonocardia. DNA:DNA pairing experiments between the isolate and the type strain of P. asaccharolytica DSM 44247T showed that they belonged to separate genomic species. The two strains were readily distinguished using a combination of phenotypic properties. Consequently, it is proposed that isolate PA3T represents a novel species for which the name Pseudonocardia hispaniensis sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is PA3T (= CCM 8391T = CECT 8030T).Cuesta Amat, G.; Soler Hernández, A.; Alonso Molina, JL.; Ruvira, M.; Lucena, T.; Arahal, D.; Goodfellow, M. (2013). Pseudonocardia hispaniensis sp. nov., a novel actinomycete isolated from industrial wastewater activated sludge. Antonie van Leeuwenhoek. 103(1):135-142. doi:10.1007/s10482-012-9792-1S1351421031Alonso JL, Cuesta G, Ramírez GW, Morenilla JJ, Bernácer I, Lloret RM (2009) Manual de técnicas avanzadas para la identificación y control de bacterias filamentosas. Epsar-Generalitat Valenciana, España, p 21–36Ara I, Tsetseg B, Daram D, Suto M, Ando K (2011) Pseudonocardia mongoliensis sp. nov. and Pseudonocardia khuvsgulensis sp. nov., isolated from soil. Int J Syst Evol Microbiol 61:747–756Arahal DR, Sánchez E, Macián MC, Garay E (2008) Value of recN sequences for species identification and as a phylogenetic marker within the family ‘‘Leuconostocaceae’’. Int Microbiol 11:33–39Auffret M, Labbé D, Thouand G, Greer CW, Fayolle-Guichard F (2009) Degradation of a mixture of hydrocarbons, gasoline, and diesel oil additives by Rhodococcus aetherivorans and Rhodococcus wratislaviensis. Appl Environ Microbiol 75:7774–7782Cashion P, Hodler-Franklin MA, McCully J, Franklin M (1977) A rapid method for base ratio determination of bacterial DNA. Anal Biochem 81:461–466Chen HH, Qin S, Li J, Zhang YQ, Xu LH, Jiang CL, Kim CJ, Li WJ (2009) Pseudonocardia endophytica sp. nov., isolated from pharmaceutical plant Lobelia clavata. Int J Syst Evol Microbiol 59:559–563De Ley J, Cattoir H, Reynaerts A (1970) The quantitative measurement of DNA hybridization from renaturation rates. Eur J Biochem 12:133–142Duangmal K, Thamchaipenet A, Matsumoto A, Takahashi Y (2009) Pseudonocardia acaciae sp. nov., isolated from roots of Acacia auriculiformis A. Cunn. ex Benth. Int J Syst Evol Microbiol 59:1487–1491Gordon RE, Barnett DA, Handerhan JE, Pang CH-N (1974) Nocardia coeliaca, Nocardia autotrophica, and the nocardin strain. Int J Syst Bacteriol 24:54–63Hamid ME, Minnikin DE, Goodfellow M, Ridell M (1993) Thin-layer chromatographic analysis of glycolipids and mycolic acids from Mycobacterium farcinogenes, Mycobacterium senegalense and related taxa. Zbl Bakt 279:354–367Hasegawa T, Takizawa M, Tanida S (1983) A rapid analysis for chemical grouping of aerobic actinomycetes. J Gen Microbiol 29:319–322Henssen A (1957) Beiträge zur Morphologie und Systematik der thermophilen Actinomyceten. Arch Mikrobiol 26:373–414Huang,Y, Goodfellow M (2012) Genus Pseudonocardia Hennsen 1957, 408VP emend. In: Goodfellow M, Kämpfer P, Busse H-J, Trujillo M, Suzuki KE, Ludwig W, Whitman WB (eds) Bergey’s manual of systematic bacteriology, 2nd edn, vol 5, part B. Springer, New YorkHuang Y, Wang L, Lu Z, Hong L, Liu Z, Tan GYA, Goodfellow M (2002) Proposal to combine the genera Actinobispora and Pseudonocardia in an emended genus Pseudonocardia, and description of Pseudonocardia zijingensis sp. nov. Int J Syst Evol Microbiol 52:977–982Huss VAR, Festl H, Schleifer KH (1983) Studies on the spectrophotometric determination of DNA hybridization from renaturation rates. Syst Appl Microbiol 4:184–192Kaewkla O, Franco CMM (2010) Pseudonocardia adelaidensis sp. nov., an endophytic actinobacterium isolated from the surface-sterilized stem of a grey box tree (Eucalyptus microcarpa). Int J Syst Evol Microbiol 60:2818–2822Kaewkla O, Franco CMM (2011) Pseudonocardia eucalypti sp. nov., an endophytic actinobacterium with a unique knobby spore surface, isolated from roots of a native Australian eucalyptus tree. Int J Syst Evol Microbiol 61:742–746Kämpfer P, Kohlweyer U, Thiemer B, Andreesen JR (2006) Pseudonocardia tetrahydrofuranoxydans sp. nov. Int J Syst Evol Microbiol 56:1535–1538Labeda DP, Goodfellow M, Chun J, Zhi XY, Li WJ (2011) Reassessment of the systematics of the suborder Pseudonocardineae: transfer of genera within the family Actinosynnemataceae Labeda and Kroppenstedt 2000 emend. Zhi et al. 2009 into an emended family Pseudonocardiaceae Embley et al. 1989 emend. Zhi et al. 2009. Int J Syst Evol Microbiol 61:1259–1264Lane DJ (1991) 16S/23S rRNA sequencing. In: Stackebrandt E, Goodfellow M (eds) Nucleic acid techniques in bacterial systematics. Wiley, Chichester, pp 115–148Lechevalier MP, Lechevalier H (1970) Chemical composition as a criterion in the classification of aerobic actinomycetes. Int J Syst Bacteriol 20:435–443Lechevalier MP, Stern AER, Lechevalier HA (1981) Phospholipids in the taxonomy of actinomycetes. Zbl Bakt Suppl 11:111–116Li J, Zhao GZ, Huang HY, Zhu WY, Lee JC, Kim CJ, Xu LH, Zhang LX, Li WJ (2010) Pseudonocardia rhizophila sp. nov., a novel actinomycete isolated from a rhizosphere soil. Antonie Van Leeuwenhoek 98:77–83Liu ZP, Wu JF, Liu ZH, Liu SJ (2006) Pseudonocardia ammonioxydans sp. nov., isolated from coastal sediment. Int J Syst Evol Microbiol 56:555–558Lucena T, Pascual J, Garay E, Arahal DR, Macián MC, Pujalte MJ (2010) Haliea mediterranea sp. nov., a new marine gammaproteobacterium. Int J Syst Evol Microbiol 60:1844–1848Ludwig W et al (2004) ARB: a software environment for sequence data. Nucleic Acids Res 32:1363–1371Mahendra S, Alvarez-Cohen L (2005) Pseudonocardia dioxanivorans sp. nov., a novel actinomycete that grows on 1,4-dioxane. Int J Syst Evol Microbiol 55:593–598Mesbah M, Premachandran U, Whitman WB (1989) Precise measurement of the G+C content of deoxyribonucleic acid by high-performance liquid chromatography. Int J Syst Bacteriol 39:159–167MIDI (2008) Sherlock microbial identification system operating manual, version 6.1. MIDI Inc., NewarkMinnikin DE, O’Donnell AG, Goodfellow M, Alderson G, Athalye M, Schaal A, Parlett JH (1984) An integrated procedure for the extraction of isoprenoid quinones and polar lipids. J Microbiol Methods 2:233–241Nam S-W, Chun J, Kim S, Kim W, Zakrzewska-Czerwinska J, Goodfellow M (2003) Tsukamurella spumae sp. nov., a novel actinomycete associated with foaming in activated sludge plants. Syst Appl Microbiol 26:367–375Okoh A, Ajisebutu S, Babalola G, Trejo-Hernandez MR (2001) Potential of Burkholderia cepacia RQ1 in the biodegradation of heavy crude oil. Int Microbiol 4:83–87Park SW, Park ST, Lee JE, Kim YM (2008) Pseudonocardia carboxydivorans sp. nov., a carbon monoxide-oxidizing actinomycete, and an emended description of the genus Pseudonocardia. Int J Syst Evol Microbiol 58:2475–2478Pruesse E, Quast C, Knittel K, Fuchs B, Ludwig W, Peplies J, Glöckner FO (2007) SILVA: a comprehensive online resource for quality checked and aligned ribosomal RNA sequence data compatible with ARB. Nucleic Acids Res 35:7188–7196Qin S, Su YY, Zhang YQ, Wang HB, Jiang CL, Xu LH, Li WJ (2008) Pseudonocardia ailaonensis sp. nov., isolated from soil in China. Int J Syst Evol Microbiol 58:2086–2089Qin S, Zhu WY, Jiang JH, Klenk HP, Li J, Zhao GZ, Xu LH, Li WJ (2010) Pseudonocardia tropica sp. nov., an endophytic actinomycete isolated from the stem of Maytenus austroyunnanensis. Int J Syst Evol Microbiol 60:2524–2528Qin S, Xing K, Fei SM, Lin Q, Chen XM, Li WJ, Jiang JH (2011) Pseudonocardia sichuanensis sp. nov., a novel endophytic actinomycete isolated from the root of Jatropha curcus L. Antonie Van Leeuwenhoek 99:395–401Rehfuss M, Urban J (2005) Rhodococcus phenolicus sp. nov., a novel bioprocessor isolated actinomycete with the ability to degrade chlorobenzene, dichlorobenzene and phenol as sole carbon sources. Syst Appl Microbiol 28:695–701Reichert K, Lipski A, Pradella S, Stackebrandt E, Altendorf K (1998) Pseudonocardia asaccharolitica sp. nov. and Pseudonocardia sulfidoxidans sp. nov., two new dimethyl disulfide-degrading actinomycetes and emended description of the genus Pseudonocardia. Int J Syst Bacteriol 48:441–449Sakiyama Y, Thao NKN, Vinh HV, Giang NM, Miyadoh S, Hop DV, Ando K (2010) Pseudonocardia babensis sp. nov., isolated from plant litter. Int J Syst Evol Microbiol 60:2336–2340Sasser M (1990) Identification of bacteria by gas chromatography of cellular fatty acids. MIDI Tech Note 101:1–7Schäfer J, Busse HJ, Kämpfer P (2009) Pseudonocardia parietis sp. nov., from the indoor environment. Int J Syst Evol Microbiol 59:2449–2452Seviour RJ, Kragelund C, Kong Y, Eales K, Nielsen JL, Nielsen PH (2008) Ecophysiology of the actinobacteria in activated sludge systems. Antonie Van Leeuwenhoek 94:21–33Shirling EB, Gottlieb D (1966) Methods for characterization of Streptomyces species. Int J Syst Bacteriol 16:313–340Staneck JL, Roberts GD (1974) Simplified approach to identification of aerobic actinomycetes by thin-layer chromatography. Appl Microbiol 28:226–231Warwick S, Bowen T, McVeigh HP, Embley TM (1994) A phylogenetic analysis of the family Pseudonocardiaceae and the genera Actinokineospora and Saccharothrix with 16S rRNA sequences and a proposal to combine the genera Amycolata and Pseudonocardia in an emended genus Pseudonocardia. Int J Syst Bacteriol 44:293–299Wayne LG, Brenner DJ, Colwell RR, Grimont PAD, Kandler O, Krichevsky MI, Moore LH, Moore WEC, Murray RGE, Stackebrandt E, Starr MP, Trüper HG (1987) International committee on systematic bacteriology report on the ad hoc committee on the reconciliation of approaches to bacterial systematics. Int J Syst Bacteriol 37:463–464Yarza P, Ludwig W, Euzeby J, Amann R, Schleifer KH, Glöckner FO, Rossello-Mora R (2010) Update of the all-species living tree project based on 16S and 23S rRNA sequence analyses. Syst Appl Microbiol 33:291–299Zhao GZ, Li J, Zhu WY, Li XP, Tian SZ, Zhao LX, Xu LH, Li WJ (2011a) Pseudonocadia bannaensis sp. nov., a novel actinomycete isolated from the surface-sterilized roots of Artemisiae annua L. Antonie Van Leeuwenhoek 100:35–42Zhao GZ, Li J, Huang HY, Zhu WY, Zhao LX, Tang SK, Xu LH, Li WJ (2011b) Pseudonocardia artemisiae sp. nov., isolated from surface-sterilized Artemisia annua L. Int J Syst Evol Microbiol 61:1061–1065Zhao GZ, Li J, Huang HY, Zhu WY, Park DJ, Kim CJ, Xu LH, Li WJ (2011c) Pseudonocardia kunmingensis sp. nov., an actinobacterium isolated from surface-sterilized roots of Artemisia annua L. Int J Syst Evol Microbiol 61:2292–229

Charting the course for a Blue Economy in Peru: A Research Agenda

Ocean- and coastal-based economic activities are increasingly recognised as key drivers for supporting global economies. This move towards the “blue economy” is becoming globally widespread, with the recognition that if ocean-based activities are to be sustainable, they will need to move beyond solely extractive and exploitative endeavours, aligning more closely with marine conservation and effective marine spatial planning. In this paper we define the “blue economy” as a “platform for strategic, integrated and participatory coastal and ocean development and protection that incorporates a low carbon economy, the ecosystem approach and human well-being through advancing regional industries, services and activities”. In Peru, while the seas contribute greatly to the national economy, the full potential of the blue economy has yet to be realised. This paper presents the findings of an early career scientist workshop in Lima, Peru, in March 2016. The workshop “Advancing Green Growth in Peru” brought together researchers to identify challenges and opportunities for green growth across three Peruvian economic sectors—tourism, transport and the blue economy with this paper exploring in detail the priorities generated from the “blue economy” stream. These priorities include themes such as marine spatial planning, detailed evaluations of existing maritime industries (e.g. guano collection and fisheries), development of an effective MPA network, support for sustainable coastal tourism, and better inclusion of social science disciplines in understanding societal and political support for a Peruvian blue economy. In addition, the paper discusses the research requirements associated with these priorities. While not a comprehensive list, these priorities provide a starting point for future dialogue on a co-ordinated scientific platform supporting the blue growth agenda in Peru, and in other regions working towards a successful “blue economy”

Diabetic gastroparesis: Therapeutic options

Gastroparesis is a condition characterized by delayed gastric emptying and the most common known underlying cause is diabetes mellitus. Symptoms include nausea, vomiting, abdominal fullness, and early satiety, which impact to varying degrees on the patient’s quality of life. Symptoms and deficits do not necessarily relate to each other, hence despite significant abnormalities in gastric emptying, some individuals have only minimal symptoms and, conversely, severe symptoms do not always relate to measures of gastric emptying. Prokinetic agents such as metoclopramide, domperidone, and erythromycin enhance gastric motility and have remained the mainstay of treatment for several decades, despite unwanted side effects and numerous drug interactions. Mechanical therapies such as endoscopic pyloric botulinum toxin injection, gastric electrical stimulation, and gastrostomy or jejunostomy are used in intractable diabetic gastroparesis (DG), refractory to prokinetic therapies. Mitemcinal and TZP-101 are novel investigational motilin receptor and ghrelin agonists, respectively, and show promise in the treatment of DG. The aim of this review is to provide an update on prokinetic and mechanical therapies in the treatment of DG

Interbilayer-crosslinked multilamellar vesicles as synthetic vaccines for potent humoral and cellular immune responses

available in PMC 2011 September 1Vaccines based on recombinant proteins avoid the toxicity and antivector immunity associated with live vaccine (for example, viral) vectors, but their immunogenicity is poor, particularly for CD8+ T-cell responses. Synthetic particles carrying antigens and adjuvant molecules have been developed to enhance subunit vaccines, but in general these materials have failed to elicit CD8+ T-cell responses comparable to those for live vectors in preclinical animal models. Here, we describe interbilayer-crosslinked multilamellar vesicles formed by crosslinking headgroups of adjacent lipid bilayers within multilamellar vesicles. Interbilayer-crosslinked vesicles stably entrapped protein antigens in the vesicle core and lipid-based immunostimulatory molecules in the vesicle walls under extracellular conditions, but exhibited rapid release in the presence of endolysosomal lipases. We found that these antigen/adjuvant-carrying vesicles form an extremely potent whole-protein vaccine, eliciting endogenous T-cell and antibody responses comparable to those for the strongest vaccine vectors. These materials should enable a range of subunit vaccines and provide new possibilities for therapeutic protein delivery.Ragon Institute of MGH, MIT and HarvardBill & Melinda Gates FoundationUnited States. Dept. of Defense (contract W911NF-07-D-0004)National Institutes of Health (U.S.) (P41RR002250)National Institutes of Health (U.S.) (RC2GM092599

Evolution of Streptococcus pneumoniae and Its Close Commensal Relatives

Streptococcus pneumoniae is a member of the Mitis group of streptococci which, according to 16S rRNA-sequence based phylogenetic reconstruction, includes 12 species. While other species of this group are considered prototypes of commensal bacteria, S. pneumoniae is among the most frequent microbial killers worldwide. Population genetic analysis of 118 strains, supported by demonstration of a distinct cell wall carbohydrate structure and competence pheromone sequence signature, shows that S. pneumoniae is one of several hundred evolutionary lineages forming a cluster separate from Streptococcus oralis and Streptococcus infantis. The remaining lineages of this distinct cluster are commensals previously collectively referred to as Streptococcus mitis and each represent separate species by traditional taxonomic standard. Virulence genes including the operon for capsule polysaccharide synthesis and genes encoding IgA1 protease, pneumolysin, and autolysin were randomly distributed among S. mitis lineages. Estimates of the evolutionary age of the lineages, the identical location of remnants of virulence genes in the genomes of commensal strains, the pattern of genome reductions, and the proportion of unique genes and their origin support the model that the entire cluster of S. pneumoniae, S. pseudopneumoniae, and S. mitis lineages evolved from pneumococcus-like bacteria presumably pathogenic to the common immediate ancestor of hominoids. During their adaptation to a commensal life style, most of the lineages gradually lost the majority of genes determining virulence and became genetically distinct due to sexual isolation in their respective hosts