Self-Driving Networks

This chapter presents a new vision of network operations, the self-driving network, that takes automation to the next level. This is not a description of existing work; rather, it is a challenge to dramatically rethink how we manage networks (or rather, how we do not manage networks). It draws upon an analogy with the development of self-driving cars and presents motivations for this effort. It then describes the technologies needed to implement this and an overall architecture of the system. As this endeavor will cause a major shift in network management, the chapter offers an evolutionary path to the end goal. Some of the consequences and human impacts of such a system are touched upon. The chapter concludes with some research topics and a final message. Key takeaways are that machine learning and feedback loops are fundamental to the solution; a key outcome is to build systems that are adaptive and predictive, for the benefit of users.

What causes the absence of pulsations in Central Compact Objects in supernova remnants?

Most young neutron stars belonging to the class of Central Compact Objects (CCOs) in supernova remnants do not have known periodicities. We investigated seven such CCOs to understand the common reasons for the absence of detected pulsations. Making use of XMM-Newton, Chandra, and NICER observations, we perform a systematic timing and spectral analysis to derive updated sensitivity limits for both periodic signals and multi-temperature spectral components that could be associated with radiation from hotspots on the neutron star surface. Based on these limits, we then investigated for each target the allowed viewing geometry that could explain the lack of pulsations. We find that it is unlikely (< 10−6) to attribute that we do not see pulsations to an unfavorable viewing geometry for five considered sources. Alternatively, the carbon atmosphere model, which assumes homogeneous temperature distribution on the surface, describes the spectra equally well and provides a reasonable interpretation for the absence of detected periodicities within current limits. The unusual properties of CCOs with respect to other young neutron stars could suggest a different evolutionary path, as that proposed for sources experiencing episodes of significant fallback accretion after the supernova event.

Digital Humanism: Navigating the Tensions Ahead

The assumption of digital humanism that a human-centered approach is possible in the design, use, and further development of AI entails an alignment with human values. If the more ambitious goal of building a good digital society along the co-evolutionary path between humans and the digital machines invented by them is to be reached, inherent tensions need to be confronted. Some of them are the result of already existing inequalities and divergent economic, social, and political interests, exacerbated by the impact of digital technologies. Others arise from the question what makes us human and how our interaction with digital machines changes our identity and relations to each other. If digital humanism is to succeed, a widely shared set of practices and attitudes is needed that sensitize us to the diversity of social contexts in which digital technologies are deployed and how to deal with complex, non-linear systems.

Academization of bandura by bandurism exponents in Ukraine

Ukrainian bandura underwent a long and difficult evolutionary path. Its academicization process took place in the XX-XXI centuries. The impact of prominent bandura craftsmen O. Korniievskyi, V. Tuzychenko, I. Skliar, and V. Herasymenko on the process of the Ukrainian bandura academization was studied. The authors devoted their work to historical assessment in the affirmation of the academized instruments of Chernihiv (or Kyiv-Chernihiv) and Kharkiv types. The specifics of the creation of the academized instrument in 1920–2010 by leading Ukrainian designers – bandura craftsmen became a purpose of the study. The abovementioned bandura craftsmen made a significant impact on the academization of diatonic banduras, their transformation into the instrument with a double-diatonic tuning system and bringing it closer to European trends. The particular roles of O. Korniievskyi, V. Tuzychenko, I. Skliar, and V. Herasymenko in this process were characterized. It was noted that the Kyiv method of play on an academic instrument is much more popular than Kharkiv-type which is why the latter needs additional attention.

Stop codon recoding is widespread in diverse phage lineages and has the potential to regulate translation of late stage and lytic genes

The genetic code is a highly conserved feature of life. However, some alternative genetic codes use reassigned stop codons to code for amino acids. Here, we survey stop codon recoding across bacteriophages (phages) in human and animal gut microbiomes. We find that stop codon recoding has evolved in diverse clades of phages predicted to infect hosts that use the standard code. We provide evidence for an evolutionary path towards recoding involving reduction in the frequency of TGA and TAG stop codons due to low GC content, followed by acquisition of suppressor tRNAs and the emergence of recoded stop codons in structural and lysis genes. In analyses of two distinct lineages of recoded virulent phages, we find that lysis-related genes are uniquely biased towards use of recoded stop codons. This convergence supports the inference that stop codon recoding is a strategy to regulate the expression of late stage genes and control lysis timing. Interestingly, we identified prophages with recoded stop codons integrated into genomes of bacteria that use standard code, and hypothesize that recoding may control the lytic-lysogenic switch. Alternative coding has evolved many times, often in closely related lineages, indicating that genetic code is plastic in bacteriophages and adaptive recoding can occur over very short evolutionary timescales.

From reminiscence to robustness: an interview with prof Deborah Blackman on the ways organizations “learn”

Purpose This paper aims to understand in-depth the concepts applied to the domains of organizational learning (OL) and learning organization, based on the notional perspectives of Professor Deborah Blackman and traces the evolutionary path of her academic journey and contributions in this regard. Design/methodology/approach A conversation with the distinguished academician, Professor Deborah Blackman. Findings How OL has pivoted around “shared mental models” that will enable in collective evidence-based decision-making across the organizational hierarchy. Originality/value The interactive session with Professor Deborah Blackman captured her ideas and critique pertaining to the theme of OL and the crucial aspect of “shared mental models” which promote “learning” in an organization. Delving deeper, it is seen that this trajectory offers the space and orientation to researchers and professionals to verify.

Patterns of Gene Content and Co-occurrence Constrain the Evolutionary Path toward Animal Association in Candidate Phyla Radiation Bacteria

Studying the genetic differences between related microorganisms from different environment types can indicate factors associated with their movement among habitats. This is particularly interesting for bacteria from the Candidate Phyla Radiation because their minimal metabolic capabilities require associations with microbial hosts.