Communication Pattern Analysis in Human-Autonomy Teaming

Communication is critical to team coordination and interaction because it provides information flows allowing a team to build team cognition, which contributes to overall team performance. In recent years, autonomous (AI) team members are beginning to be considered as effective substitutes for human teammates. However, research has shown that AI team members may lack the communication skills that are required for effective team performance (McNeese et al., 2018). To better understand which aspects of communication an AI team member performs differently compared to a human team member, and how they impact team performance, the current study analyzes communication features of three-person teams that include all human teams and human-AI teams operating in a remotely piloted aircraft system (RPAS). The current study analyzed communication pattern predictability (communication determinism) and transition probabilities to measure communication flow and Latent Semantic Analysis (LSA) to measure communication content. The current study found that both communication flow and content distinguished communication in all-human teams from communication in human-AI teams and found that these communication flow and content features predicted team performance in all-human versus human-AI teams. In this way, the current study hopes these communication differences can provide feedback and suggestions to future adoption of AI as a teammate in team training and team operations.M.S

Mibefradil reduces blood glucose concentration in db/db mice

OBJECTIVE: Numerous recent studies suggest that abnormal intracellular calcium concentration ([Ca2+]i) is a common defect in diabetic animal models and patients. Abnormal calcium handling is an important mechanism in the defective pancreatic β-cell function in type 2 diabetes. T-type Ca2+ channel antagonists lower blood glucose in type 2 diabetes, but the mechanism remains unknown. METHODS: We examined the effect of the Ca2+ channel antagonist mibefradil on blood glucose in male db/db mice and phenotypically normal heterozygous mice by intraperitoneal injection. RESULTS: Mibefradil (15 mg/kg, i.p., b.i.d.) caused a profound reduction of fasting blood glucose from 430.92±20.46 mg/dl to 285.20±5.74 mg/dl in three days. The hypoglycemic effect of mibefradil was reproduced by NNC 55-0396, a compound structurally similar to mibefradil but more selective for T-type Ca2+ channels, but not by the specific L-type Ca2+ channel blocker nicardipine. Mibefradil did not show such hypoglycemic effects in heterozygous animals. In addition, triglycerides, basal insulin and food intake were significantly decreased by mibefradil treatment in the db/db mice but not in the controls. Western blot analysis, immunohistochemistry and immunofluorescence staining showed a significantly increased expression of T-type Ca2+ channel α-subunits Cav3.1 and Cav3.2 in liver and brain tissues from db/db mice compared to those from heterozygous animals. CONCLUSIONS: Collectively, these results suggest that T-type Ca2+ channels are potential therapeutic targets for antidiabetic drugs

Translithospheric magma plumbing system of intraplate volcanoes as revealed by electrical resistivity imaging

AbstractThe magma plumbing systems of volcanoes in subduction and divergent tectonic settings are relatively well known, whereas those of intraplate volcanoes remain elusive; robust geophysical information on the magma pathways and storage zones is lacking. We inverted magnetotelluric data to image the magma plumbing system of an intraplate monogenetic volcanic field located above the stagnant Pacific slab in northeast China. We identified a complex, vertically aligned, low-resistivity anomaly system extending from the asthenosphere to the surface consisting of reservoirs with finger- to lens-like geometries. We show that magma forms as CO2-rich melts in a 150-km-deep asthenospheric plume crossing the whole lithosphere as hydrated melt, inducing underplating at 50 km depth, evolving in crustal reservoirs, and erupting along dikes. Intraplate volcanoes are characterized by low degrees of melting and low magma supply rates. Their plumbing systems have a geometry not so different from that of volcanoes in subduction settings

Increased Expression and Altered Methylation of HERVWE1 in the Human Placentas of Smaller Fetuses from Monozygotic, Dichorionic, Discordant Twins

<div><h3>Background</h3><p>The human endogenous retroviral family W, Env(C7), member 1 gene (<em>HERVWE1</em>) is thought to participate in trophoblast cell fusion, and its expression is diminished in the placentas of singleton intrauterine growth-retarded pregnancies. However, there is limited information about the role of <em>HERVWE1</em> in discordant fetal growth in twins. This study was to compare <em>HERVWE1</em> gene expression between the placentas of discordant monozygotic twins and to identify its regulation by methylation.</p> <h3>Methodology/Principal Findings</h3><p>Fetuses from twenty-one pairs of monozygotic, dichorionic, discordant twins were marked as “smaller” or “larger” according to birth weight. Placental <em>HERVWE1</em> mRNA and protein expression profiles were analyzed using quantitative RT-PCR and immunohistochemistry (IHC) staining. Methylation profiles of the <em>HERVWE1</em> promoter region were analyzed using a pyrosequencing assay. DNA methyltransferase (<em>DNMT</em>) transcript levels were analyzed by RT-PCR. 5-methyl cytosine (5-MC) was stained using an immunohistochemical assay. There was a significant negative correlation between <em>HERVWE1</em> mRNA levels and birth weight in twins (<em>P</em><0.01). Whereas the mean methylation level of the <em>HERVWE1</em> promoter region was diminished in the smaller group in discordant twins(<em>P</em><0.01), increased mRNA and protein levels of <em>HERVWE1</em> were found in smaller fetuses compared with larger fetuses in discordant twins(<em>P</em><0.01). There was no significant difference in 5-MC staining intensity between discordant twins (<em>P</em>>0.05). The <em>DNMT3b3</em> mRNA levels in the smaller group were significantly downregulated compared with the larger group in discordant twins(<em>P</em><0.05), whereas the <em>DNMT3b7</em> mRNA levels in the smaller group were significantly upregulated compared with the larger group in discordant twins(<em>P</em><0.05).</p> <h3>Conclusions/Significance</h3><p>In discordant, monozygotic, dichorionic twins, <em>HERVWE1</em> expression was higher in smaller fetuses and lower in larger fetuses. Methylation of the <em>HERVWE1</em> gene promoter region may participate in the regulation of <em>HERVWE1</em> gene expression in discordant twin pregnancies.</p> </div

Anomaly Detection and Explanation Discovery on Event Streams

International audienceAs enterprise information systems are collecting event streams from various sources, the ability of a system to automatically detect anomalous events and further provide human readable explanations is of paramount importance. In this position paper, we argue for the need of a new type of data stream analytics that can address anomaly detection and explanation discovery in a single, integrated system, which not only offers increased business intelligence, but also opens up opportunities for improved solutions. In particular , we propose a two-pass approach to building such a system, highlight the challenges, and offer initial directions for solutions