Computation in cognitive science: it is not all about Turing-equivalent computation

It is sometimes suggested that the history of computation in cognitive science is one in which the formal apparatus of Turing-equivalent computation, or effective computability, was exported from mathematical logic to ever wider areas of cognitive science and its environs. This paper, however, indicates some respects in which this suggestion is inaccurate. Computability theory has not been focused exclusively on Turing-equivalent computation. Many essential features of Turing-equivalent computation are not captured in definitions of computation as (digital) symbol manipulation. Turing-equivalent computation did not play the role in McCulloch and Pitts’s early cybernetic work that is sometimes attributed to it. Finally, various segments of the neuroscientific community invoke a notion of computation that differs from the Turing-equivalent notion.     

The importance of the diurnal and annual cycle of air traffic for contrail radiative forcing

Air traffic condensation trails, or contrails, are believed to have a net atmospheric warming effect, although one that is currently small compared to that induced by other sources of human emissions. However, the comparably large growth rate of air traffic requires an improved understanding of the resulting impact of aircraft radiative forcing on climate. Contrails have an effect on the Earth's energy balance similar to that of high thin ice clouds. Their trapping of outgoing longwave radiation emitted by the Earth and atmosphere (positive radiative forcing) is partly compensated by their reflection of incoming solar radiation (negative radiative forcing). On average, the longwave effect dominates and the net contrail radiative forcing is believed to be positive. Over daily and annual timescales, varying levels of air traffic, meteorological conditions, and solar insolation influence the net forcing effect of contrails. Here we determine the factors most important for contrail climate forcing using a sophisticated radiative transfer model for a site in southeast England, located in the entrance to the North Atlantic flight corridor. We find that night-time flights during winter (December to February) are responsible for most of the contrail radiative forcing. Night flights account for only 25 per cent of daily air traffic, but contribute 60 to 80 per cent of the contrail forcing. Further, winter flights account for only 22 per cent of annual air traffic, but contribute half of the annual mean forcing. These results suggest that flight rescheduling could help to minimize the climate impact of aviation.     

Small changes in expression affect predisposition to tumorigenesis.

We have used quantitative measures of gene expression to show that constitutional 50% decreases in expression of one adenomatous polyposis coli tumor suppressor gene (APC) allele can lead to the development of familial adenomatous polyposis.     

Stimulated platelets use serotonin to enhance their retention of procoagulant proteins on the cell surface.

Activated platelets bind numerous adhesive and procoagulant proteins by receptor-mediated processes. Although there is little evidence to suggest that these processes are heterogeneous in platelets, we previously found that platelets co-stimulated with collagen and thrombin express functional alpha-granule factor V only on a subpopulation of cells. Here we show that these cells, referred to as 'COAT-platelets', bind additional alpha-granule proteins, including fibrinogen, von Willebrand factor, thrombospondin, fibronectin and alpha2-antiplasmin. These proteins are all transglutaminase substrates, and inhibitors of transglutaminase prevent the production of COAT-platelets. A synthetic transglutaminase substrate (CP15) also binds to COAT-platelets, and analysis by high performance liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry shows that a product is formed with a relative molecular mass (Mr) equal to CP15 plus 176. Serotonin, an abundant component of platelet-dense granules, has an Mr of 176, and fibrinogen isolated from COAT-platelets contains covalently linked serotonin. Synthetic bovine serum albumin-(serotonin)6 binds selectively to COAT-platelets and also inhibits the retention of procoagulant proteins on COAT-platelets. These data indicate that COAT-platelets use serotonin conjugation to augment the retention of procoagulant proteins on their cell surface through an as yet unidentified serotonin receptor.     

The use of space in living systems theory: Extensions and applications

Space, especially physical or geographical space, is a very important concept in living systems theory (LST). Indeed, along with time, it is included in the very definition of a concrete living system. But while time has its own critical subsystem in LST, space receives relative neglect. There is no space subsystem, but space is discussed in the boundary and supporter subsystems. The problem here is that discussion of the boundary emphasizes the regulation of matter-energy and information flows, while discussion of the supporter emphasizes vertical support rather than lateral spacing. The purpose of this paper is to rectify the relative neglect of spacing by unifying the scattered discussion of space in LST. After discussing space in the boundary and supporter subsystems at six levels (the organism, group, organization, community, society, and supranational), the paper extends and complements the literature of LST by discussing additional relevant literature on space, and by discussing possible applications at the six levels.     

宁静高效的磁冰箱

18 8 1年 ,德国物理学家埃米尔·沃伯格 (ＥｍｉｌＷａｒｂｕｒｇ)把一片金属放在一块强磁铁附近 ,结果金属片热了起来。今天的科学家和工程师们希望利用这一现象 ,但不是用于致热 ,而是用于制造既安静又高效的新型冰箱。现有冰箱的制冷能力来自气体的重复压缩和膨胀。当气体膨胀时 ,它就冷却 ,并在一个绝缘的闭合空间里循环使内容物降温。与此相反 ,磁冰箱则通过反复开、关磁场来实现致冷。在某些金属里 ,原子就像方向任意排列的细小磁棒。当置于磁场中时 ,这些磁棒就会迅速转动 ,直至与磁力线平行。这是一种较低能态 ,而剩余的能量则使原…     

An ancient cytokine,astakine, mediates circadian regulation of invertebrate hematopoiesis

Invertebrate circulating hemocytes are key players in the innate immune defense and their continuous renewal from hematopoietic tissues is tightly regulated in crustaceans by astakine, a new family of cytokines sharing a prokineticin (PROK) domain. In vertebrates, brain PROKs function as transmitters of circadian rhythms and we present evidence that hemocyte release from hematopoietic tissues in crayfish is under circadian regulation, a direct result of rhythmic expression of astakine. We demonstrate that the observed variation in astakine expression has an impact on innate immunity assessed as susceptibility to a pathogenic Pseudomonas species. These findings enlighten the importance of comparing immune responses at fixed times not to neglect circadian regulation of innate immunity. Moreover, our results entail an evolutionary conserved function for prokineticins as mediators of circadian rhythm, and for the first time show a role for this domain in circadian regulation of hematopoiesis that may have implications also in vertebrates.     

Populations and habitat relationships of Piute ground squirrels in southwestern Idaho

Piute ground squirrels ( Spermophilus mollis idahoensis ) are normally above ground from late January until late June or early July in the Snake River Birds of Prey National Conservation Area in southwestern Idaho. In 2002 they were rarely seen above ground after early May. Because of the ecological importance of ground squirrels for nesting raptors and other species, we sought to determine the reasons for their early disappearance. We sampled 12 sites from January 2003 through March 2003 to determine if a population crash had occurred in 2002. Tests indicated that Piute ground squirrels had not been exposed to plague within the past year. The presence of yearlings in the population indicated that squirrels reproduced in 2002 and that at least some yearlings survived the winter. Both yearling and adult squirrels appeared to be reproducing at or above normal rates in 2003. The most plausible explanation for the early disappearance of Piute ground squirrels in 2002 is that squirrels entered seasonal torpor early in response to a late spring drought. In addition, the breeding chronology of squirrels may have shifted during the past 2 decades in response to climate change and/or habitat alteration. Shrub habitats provide a more favorable and stable environment for squirrels than grass habitats. Squirrel abundance was higher on live-trapping grids with sagebrush than on grids dominated by grass, and squirrel masses were higher at sites dominated by shrubs and Sandberg bluegrass ( Poa secunda ). Densities in big sagebrush ( Artemisia tridentata ) were within the ranges reported for earlier years, but densities in grass were lower than previously reported. Low densities at grassland sites in 2003 support other findings that drought affects squirrels in altered grass communities more than those in native shrub habitats. Long-term shifts in ground squirrel breeding chronology may have implications for raptors that depend on them for food.     

Status and distribution of American White Pelican nesting colonies in Wyoming: an update

Historically, one American White Pelican nesting area was known in Wyoming. In 1986 White Pelicans nested at four locations consisting of four different colonies and approximately 949 active nests. Nesting success was probably adequate for population stability at Pathfinder Reservoir from 1984 through 1986 and at Yellowstone Lake in 1984 and 1985, but insufficient there in 1986. White Pelican colonies at Bamforth and Cooper lakes most likely failed because of predation. With the exception of the Yellowstone Lake colony, the future of White Pelican nesting colonies in Wyoming is uncertain. Current threats are human disturbance of nesting birds, predation, and loss of habitat, including breeding areas and foraging sites.     

Food habits and dietary overlap of nongame insectivorous fishes in Flint Creek, Oklahoma, a western Ozark foothills stream

Insectivorous fishes were sampled from March, 1983 to February 1984, in Flint Creek, Delaware Co., Oklahoma. There was insignificant habitat segregation between Etheostoma spectabile and E. punctulatum and seasonal habitat partitioning between Cottus carolinae and both darters. Mature E. spectabile ate primarily chironomids and mayflies, whereas juveniles fed primarily on microcrustaceans. Mature E. punctulatum consumed fewer Ephemerella and Leptophlebia than E. spectabile , feeding on Stenonema and other crustaceans. Juvenile E. punctulatum fed mainly on amphipods and mayflies, and juvenile E. spectabile ate primarily microcrustaceans. Cottus carolinae elected primarily mayflies in spring - summer and chironomids in January - February. Coefficients of dietary overlap were highest between larger E. spectabile and juvenile E. punctulatum and lowest between immature E. spectabile and mature E. punctulatum . Overlap between the two darters was significantly correlated with differences in mean prey size (p E. spectabile was also significantly correlated to differences in mean prey sizes. Etheostoma spectabile generally preferred smaller prey than E. punctulatum . All three species avoided Stenelmis . Cottus carolinae avoided microcrustaceans. The study showed that resource partitioning among these three insectivorous fishes is affected by complex interactions of habitat and prey electivity, and prey size selectivity.