Deception in Game Theory: A Survey and Multiobjective Model

Game theory is the study of mathematical models of conflict. It provides tools for analyzing dynamic interactions between multiple agents and (in some cases) across multiple interactions. This thesis contains two scholarly articles. The first article is a survey of game-theoretic models of deception. The survey describes the ways researchers use game theory to measure the practicality of deception, model the mechanisms for performing deception, analyze the outcomes of deception, and respond to, or mitigate the effects of deception. The survey highlights several gaps in the literature. One important gap concerns the benefit-cost-risk trade-off made during deception planning. To address this research gap, the second article introduces a novel approach for modeling these trade-offs. The approach uses a game theoretic model of deception to define a new multiobjective optimization problem called the deception design problem (DDP). Solutions to the DDP provide courses of deceptive action that are efficient in terms of their benefit, cost, and risk to the deceiver. A case study based on the output of an air-to-air combat simulator demonstrates the DDP in a 7 x 7 normal form game. This approach is the first to evaluate benefit, cost, and risk in a single game theoretic model of deception

Optimization of a Fluorescent In Situ Hybridization Protocol in the Chloroplast Hosting Mollusc Elysia chlorotica

The symbiosis between the mollusc Elysia chlorotica and chloroplasts of its algal prey, Vaucheria litorea, has challenged the understanding of chloroplast biology. E. chlorotica feeds on and retains the algal chloroplasts within its digestive cells. The chloroplasts remain photosynthetically active for months in the animal’s cells devoid of the algal nucleus which encodes approximately 90% of the proteins required for the chloroplasts. To help explain the ability of E. chlorotica to maintain functionally active chloroplasts, horizontal gene transfer (HGT) of V. litorea nuclear genes to the E. chlorotica genome has been hypothesized. However, the extent of HGT, as well as the transcriptional viability of putatively transferred genes, is still largely unknown. To better understand the genetic composition of E. chlorotica, optimization of a fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH) procedure was performed on both V. litorea and E. chlorotica to develop a direct molecular tool to understand the genetic components involved in this symbiosis. Successful FISH analysis of the chloroplast Rubisco gene (rbcL) was accomplished using whole-mounts of both E. chlorotica and V. litorea. Whole-mount FISH analysis of the E. chlorotica nuclear β-actin gene was accomplished in aposymbiotic E. chlorotica larvae. Sectioned, adult E. chlorotica tissue was successfully hybridized for both the rbcL and β-actin genes. The development of the FISH technique for use on whole-mount sea slugs and intact heterokont algal filaments is the first direct application of FISH and can help elucidate the genetic components required to maintain this remarkable symbiosis

Diversification of Ergot Alkaloid Biosynthesis in Natural and Engineered Fungi

Ergot alkaloids are a complex family of tryptophan-derived mycotoxins produced by a diverse range of fungi that occupy a wide variety of ecological niches including soil saprotrophs, plant endophytes, pathogens of plants or insects, and opportunistic pathogens of humans and other mammals. Ergot alkaloids are a similarly diverse family of chemicals that elicit a variety of pharmacological activities in animals due to their resemblance to neurotransmitters and high binding affinity for neurological receptors, including those that bind adrenaline, dopamine, and 5-hydroxytryptamine receptors. These structural similarities allow us to create medicines aimed at treating a range of neurological diseases and disorders including dementia, migraines, and Parkinson’s. The genes encoding ergot alkaloid biosynthesis are found clustered together in the genomes of the different fungi that make them. The fungus Metarhizium brunneum produces lysergic acid α-hydroxyethylamide (LAH), an ecologically and pharmaceutically relevant compound, as its main ergot alkaloid and secretes most of this compound into the surrounding environment. The first objective of this study involved engineering M. brunneum to produce the dihydrogenated versions of its natural ergot alkaloids, that is dihydrolysergic acid (DHLA) and dihydroLAH. The results showed that the fungus can produce both products and was also found to secrete most of both compounds at levels comparable to their unsaturated counterparts. The fungus Aspergillus leporis is a soil saprotroph that has been previously shown to have evolved the capacity for LAH production independently of species in the Clavicipitaceae. Two partial, fragmented gene clusters encoding different clavine-type ergot alkaloid branches were discovered in separate areas of the A. leporis genome and formed the basis for a second study. Chemical analyses indicated that fumigaclavine A production is encoded by one of the fragmented gene clusters. Concentrations of fumigaclavine A peaked around 15 days, following a decrease in LAH levels. The other partial cluster encoded two enzymes necessary to complete production of rugulovasines A and B, but rare production in A. leporis indicated some unknown environmental stimuli required for their production. Expression of these two genes in an appropriate background of M. brunneum allowed for confirmation of their function. The fungus Aspergillus fumigatus, an opportunistic human pathogen, is a known producer of fumigaclavines, another branch of clavine ergot alkaloids, and a distant relative to A. leporis. Due to this relation, A. fumigatus was chosen as platform with which to study the activity and localization of a novel gene from A. leporis, named easT, that encodes a putative major facilitator superfamily transporter. The results indicate that the transporter encoded by easT localizes to discrete regions of fungal hyphae independent of mCherry-tagged peroxisomes and plays a role in transport of ergot alkaloids and/or their precursors. Collectively, the results presented here showcase different ways that ergot alkaloid production can be diversified in both natural and engineered fungal systems

Smoke and Mirrors: Policy Solutions for Deterring Adolescent Use of Nicotine Electronic Cigarettes

In recent years, there has been a dramatic spike in the number of adolescents that regularly use nicotine electronic cigarettes. As recently as 2019, a large outbreak of e- cigarette, or vaping, product use-associated lung injuries was observed in adolescents, leading many to question the safety of these devices, particularly when use by adolescents. By way of a literature review, this thesis will examine the history of nicotine and electronic cigarettes in the United States, as well as existing data on the nature of nicotine electronic cigarettes and the ways in which they are marketed. From these findings, it is clear that adolescents are particularly susceptible to beginning nicotine use, due to the questionable marketing practices of nicotine electronic cigarette firms, as well as social and peer influences to try nicotine electronic cigarettes. It is clear that while nicotine electronic cigarettes have not proven to be uniquely harmful to a user, some of the chemical components used to produce vapour in these devices can be harmful and carcinogenic. Nevertheless, it was found that the recent outbreak of e- cigarette related lung injury cases was not directly associated with nicotine electronic cigarettes that are presently available on the market; rather, these injuries were a result of bootlegged vaping products. In order to analyse the findings of this thesis, an evaluative policy framework was used so as to create a policy solution that deters adolescent use of nicotine electronic cigarettes. This thesis proposes the use of regulation, education, and repeal of certain legislative actions in order to address this public issue

The effect of process parameters on laser-deposited TI-6A1-4V.

The purpose of this research is to understand how the process parameters surrounding the Direct Metal Deposition (DMD) process affect the properties of the deposition. The powder used in this research is pre-alloyed titanium powder (Ti-6Al-4V), containing 6% wt. aluminum and 4% wt. vanadium. A few process parameters involved with the DMD include the laser power, traverse speed, powder flow rate, and gas flow rates. Due to the detrimental effect of oxygen on titanium, oxygen content is one of the main deposition properties of significance involved with this research. In addition to the oxygen content, the powder efficiency, build rate, and build height per layer are also properties of importance. The experiments varied process parameters such as the laser power, CNC velocity, gas flow rate, powder flow rate, and final deposition geometry. In addition to calculating tool path factors such as the line width and build height per layer, the oxygen content, hardness, density, and mechanical properties were determined for each experiment

Odorous House Ants (Tapinoma sessile)

This fact sheet describes odorous house ants (Tapinoma sessile), how to identify them, their biology, and management, including inspections, insecticide application to nests, perimeter barrier application, and baits

Feasibility Evaluation of Commercially Available Video Conferencing Devices to Technically Direct Untrained Nonmedical Personnel to Perform a Rapid Trauma Ultrasound Examination.

Introduction: Point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) is a rapidly expanding discipline that has proven to be a valuable modality in the hospital setting. Recent evidence has demonstrated the utility of commercially available video conferencing technologies, namely, FaceTime (Apple Inc, Cupertino, CA, USA) and Google Glass (Google Inc, Mountain View, CA, USA), to allow an expert POCUS examiner to remotely guide a novice medical professional. However, few studies have evaluated the ability to use these teleultrasound technologies to guide a nonmedical novice to perform an acute care POCUS examination for cardiac, pulmonary, and abdominal assessments. Additionally, few studies have shown the ability of a POCUS-trained cardiac anesthesiologist to perform the role of an expert instructor. This study sought to evaluate the ability of a POCUS-trained anesthesiologist to remotely guide a nonmedically trained participant to perform an acute care POCUS examination. Methods: A total of 21 nonmedically trained undergraduate students who had no prior ultrasound experience were recruited to perform a three-part ultrasound examination on a standardized patient with the guidance of a remote expert who was a POCUS-trained cardiac anesthesiologist. The examination included the following acute care POCUS topics: (1) cardiac function via parasternal long/short axis views, (2) pneumothorax assessment via pleural sliding exam via anterior lung views, and (3) abdominal free fluid exam via right upper quadrant abdominal view. Each examiner was given a handout with static images of probe placement and actual ultrasound images for the three views. After a brief 8 min tutorial on the teleultrasound technologies, a connection was established with the expert, and they were guided through the acute care POCUS exam. Each view was deemed to be complete when the expert sonographer was satisfied with the obtained image or if the expert sonographer determined that the image could not be obtained after 5 min. Image quality was scored on a previously validated 0 to 4 grading scale. The entire session was recorded, and the image quality was scored during the exam by the remote expert instructor as well as by a separate POCUS-trained, blinded expert anesthesiologist. Results: A total of 21 subjects completed the study. The average total time for the exam was 8.5 min (standard deviation = 4.6). A comparison between the live expert examiner and the blinded postexam reviewer showed a 100% agreement between image interpretations. A review of the exams rated as three or higher demonstrated that 87% of abdominal, 90% of cardiac, and 95% of pulmonary exams achieved this level of image quality. A satisfaction survey of the novice users demonstrated higher ease of following commands for the cardiac and pulmonary exams compared to the abdominal exam. Conclusions: The results from this pilot study demonstrate that nonmedically trained individuals can be guided to complete a relevant ultrasound examination within a short period. Further evaluation of using telemedicine technologies to promote POCUS should be evaluated