Is the valid species Synchaeta monopus Plate, 1889 (Rotifera: Monogononta) a product of preparation artefacts?

The morphology of soft-bodied rotifers, including those of Synchaeta spp, can be strongly affected by preparation artefacts including contraction and deformation. The long-standing, valid species Synchaeta monopus is known exclusively from ethanol- or formaldehyde-preserved material and no live specimens of it have ever been described. Although this alone is cause for concern, we could also reproduce unique characteristics diagnostic for this species (e.g. the swollen body and the rudimental foot) by subjecting specimens of Synchaeta pectinata to the preservation conditions under which it was first described. This proxy experiment and comparisons to other Synchaeta species indicate that literature occurrences of S. monopus likely represent preserved and deformed specimens of Synchaeta cecilia or other marine species of Synchaeta, thereby highlighting the importance of thorough morphological investigations of the habitus using live specimens and of features that are unaffected by preservation (e.g. the trophi). We therefore recommend that S. monopus be listed as a species inquirenda until topotypes are examined. Furthermore, in ecological studies including rotifers, where the examination of preserved material is often unavoidable, we stress that light-microscopical images of the habitus and trophi of the specimens minimally be included to facilitate independent verification of the species assignments.     

Scientific patronage in the age of Darwin: The curious case of William Boyd Dawkins

This essay examines the curious relationship between Charles Darwin and the palaeontologist William Boyd Dawkins (1837–1929). Dawkins was a beneficiary of Darwin's patronage and styled himself as a Darwinian to Darwin and the public, yet viciously attacked Darwin and his theory in anonymous reviews. This has confused historians who have misunderstood the exact nature of Dawkins's attitude towards evolution and his relationship to Darwin. The present study explains both the reasons for Dawkins's contradictory statements and his relationship with Darwin. I introduce Batesian mimicry as a conceptual framework to make sense of Dawkins's actions, suggesting that Dawkins mimicked a Darwinian persona in order to secure advancement in the world of Victorian science. Dawkins's pro-Darwinian stance, therefore, was a façade, an act of mimicry. I argue that Dawkins exploited Darwin for his patronage – which took the form of advice, support from Darwin's well-placed friends, and monetary assistance – while safely expressing his dissent from Darwinian orthodoxy in the form of anonymous reviews. This is, therefore, a case study in how scientific authority and power could be gained and maintained in Victorian science by professing allegiance to Darwin and Darwinism.     

Wolves in sheep’s clothing: three new cases of aggressive mimicry in Red Sea coral reef fishes

ABSTRACT

Here we document three cases of mimicry in coral reef fishes not previously reported in the literature involving two groupers (Epinephelus leucogrammicus and Plectropomus marisrubri) and a soapfish (Diploprion drachi) as mimics, and two wrasses (Larabicus quadrilineatus and Cheilinus quinquecinctus) and a blenny (Meiacanthus nigrolineatus) as models. All three cases are of aggressive mimicry, with a predatory species mimicking a harmless one, and in one of the cases, the mimicry is also Müllerian, where both the predator and harmless species are unpalatable.     

The material theory of induction and the epistemology of thought experiments

John D. Norton is responsible for a number of influential views in contemporary philosophy of science. This paper will discuss two of them. The material theory of induction claims that inductive arguments are ultimately justified by their material features, not their formal features. Thus, while a deductive argument can be valid irrespective of the content of the propositions that make up the argument, an inductive argument about, say, apples, will be justified (or not) depending on facts about apples. The argument view of thought experiments claims that thought experiments are arguments, and that they function epistemically however arguments do. These two views have generated a great deal of discussion, although there hasn't been much written about their combination. I argue that despite some interesting harmonies, there is a serious tension between them. I consider several options for easing this tension, before suggesting a set of changes to the argument view that I take to be consistent with Norton's fundamental philosophical commitments, and which retain what seems intuitively correct about the argument view. These changes require that we move away from a unitary epistemology of thought experiments and towards a more pluralist position.     

行人下肢有限元模型的建立与验证研究

下肢损伤是行人与车辆碰撞事故中的主要损伤形式之一,建立具有较高生物逼真度的行人下肢有限元模型,可以为下肢保护提供有效的研究手段.在下肢长骨(股骨、胫骨、腓骨)、韧带(ACL,PCL,MCL,LCL)及膝关节得到全面验证的基础上,建立了包含骨骼、韧带、肌肉及皮肤等详细解剖学结构的行人下肢有限元模型,并定义了各组织间的接触.利用行人下肢弯曲的生物力学实验,对下肢有限元模型进行了整体弯曲验证.结果显示,下肢有限元模型的损伤形式、损伤发生时刻、膝关节弯矩和弯曲角度均与实验结果吻合较好,能够较真实地反映行人下肢的损伤和生物力学响应,具有较好的生物逼真度.     

Command and control model based on complex information relation integration北大核心CSCD

In order to describe collaborative decision-making process, the command and control model is put forward based on complex information relation integrtion and OODA. The characteristics of individual decision-making are analyzed, the complex information relation is considered as the cause of OODA difficulty to describe collaborative decision-making exactly. From the perspective of armament system of systems combat, the information, data, intelligence and knowledge is defined based on knowledge management and Shannon's entropy theory. The basic element is confirmed and the information flow way is analyzed which in the physical, information, cognitive and social domains. From the perspective of information, the armament system of systems complex networks model framework is put forward based on the idea of using OODA to guide armament system of systems complex networks model design. The data, information, intelligence and knowledge flow is analyzed and the describing meta-model is put forward. Using the reticular structure of OODA to describe collaborative decision-making idea is proposed, the command and control model is put forward based on the idea, the simulating tool ExtendSim is used for simulation analysis and results show that our work offer a reference for innovate command and control thory. ©, 2015, The Journal Agency of Complex Systems and Complexity Science. All right reserved.