Convergent evolution of skin surface microarchitecture and increased skin hydrophobicity in semi-aquatic anole lizards

ABSTRACT Animals that habitually cross the boundary between water and land face specific challenges with respect to locomotion, respiration, insulation, fouling and waterproofing. Many semi-aquatic invertebrates and plants have developed complex surface microstructures with water-repellent properties to overcome these problems, but equivalent adaptations of the skin have not been reported for vertebrates that encounter similar environmental challenges. Here, we document the first evidence of evolutionary convergence of hydrophobic structured skin in a group of semi-aquatic tetrapods. We show that the skin surface of semi-aquatic species of Anolis lizards is characterized by a more elaborate microstructural architecture (i.e. longer spines and spinules) and a lower wettability relative to closely related terrestrial species. In addition, phylogenetic comparative models reveal repeated independent evolution of enhanced skin hydrophobicity associated with the transition to a semi-aquatic lifestyle, providing evidence of adaptation. Our findings invite a new and exciting line of inquiry into the ecological significance, evolutionary origin and developmental basis of hydrophobic skin surfaces in semi-aquatic lizards, which is essential for understanding why and how the observed skin adaptations evolved in some and not other semi-aquatic tetrapod lineages.

Partition Function Estimation: A Quantitative Study

Probabilistic graphical models have emerged as a powerful modeling tool for several real-world scenarios where one needs to reason under uncertainty. A graphical model's partition function is a central quantity of interest, and its computation is key to several probabilistic reasoning tasks. Given the #P-hardness of computing the partition function, several techniques have been proposed over the years with varying guarantees on the quality of estimates and their runtime behavior. This paper seeks to present a survey of 18 techniques and a rigorous empirical study of their behavior across an extensive set of benchmarks. Our empirical study draws up a surprising observation: exact techniques are as efficient as the approximate ones, and therefore, we conclude with an optimistic view of opportunities for the design of approximate techniques with enhanced scalability. Motivated by the observation of an order of magnitude difference between the Virtual Best Solver and the best performing tool, we envision an exciting line of research focused on the development of portfolio solvers.

The Endocannabinoid System as a Potential Mechanism through which Exercise Influences Episodic Memory Function

Emerging research demonstrates that exercise, including both acute and chronic exercise, may influence episodic memory function. To date, mechanistic explanations of this effect are often attributed to alterations in long-term potentiation, neurotrophic production, angiogenesis, and neurogenesis. Herein, we discuss a complementary mechanistic model, suggesting that the endocannabinoid system may, in part, influence the effects of exercise on memory function. We discuss the role of the endocannabinoid system on memory function as well as the effects of exercise on endocannabinoid alterations. This is an exciting line of inquiry that should help delineate new insights into the mechanistic role of exercise on memory function.

Single File Flow of Biomimetic Beads for Continuous SERS Recording in a Microfluidic Device

A major challenge in cancer treatment is the quantification of biomarkers associated with a specific cancer type. Important biomarkers are the circulating tumor cells (CTCs) detached from the main cancer and circulating in the blood. CTCs are very rare and their identification is still an issue. Although CTCs quantification can be estimated by using fluorescent markers, all the fluorescence techniques are strongly limited by the number of emissions (therefore markers) that can be discriminated with one exciting line, by their bleaching characteristics, and by the intrinsic autofluorescence of biological samples. An emerging technique that can overcome these limitations is Surface Enhanced Raman Scattering (SERS). Signals of vibrational origin with intensity similar to those of fluorescence, but narrower bandwidths, can be easily discriminated even by exciting with a single laser line. We recently showed the benefit of this method with cells fixed on a surface. However, this approach is too demanding to be applied in clinical routine. To effectively increase the throughput of the SERS analysis, microfluidics represents a promising tool. We report two different hydrodynamic strategies, based on device geometry and liquids viscosity, to successfully combine a microfluidic design with SERS.

Repurposing N,N-Dimethylacetamide (DMA), a Pharmaceutical Excipient, as a Prototype Novel Anti-inflammatory Agent for the Prevention and/or Treatment of Preterm Birth

Background: Preterm birth (PTB), or birth that occurs before 37 weeks of gestation, accounts for the majority of perinatal morbidity and mortality. As of 2016, PTB has an occurrence rate of 9.6% in the United States and accounts for up to 18 percent of births worldwide. Inflammation has been identified as the most common cause of PTB, but effective pharmacotherapy has yet to be developed to prevent inflammation driven PTB. Our group has discovered that N,N-dimethylacetamide (DMA), a readily available solvent commonly used as a pharmaceutical excipient, rescues lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced timed pregnant mice from PTB. Methods: We have used in vivo, ex vivo and in vitro approaches to investigate this compound further. Results: Interestingly, we found that DMA suppresses cytokine secretion by inhibiting nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB). In ongoing work in this exciting line of investigation, we are currently investigating structural analogs of DMA, some of them novel, to optimize this approach focused on the inflammation associated with PTB. Conclusion: Successful development of pharmacotherapy for the prevention of PTB rests upon the pursuit of multiple strategies to solve this important clinical challenge.

From Single-Cell Neuropathology to Mathematics Education

One of the most productive research directions in numerical cognition is its combination with neuroscience. This navigator aims to provide the current outlook to this exciting line of studies, together with future directions. I will cover here studies from single-cell neurophysiology in monkeys, to non-invasive neuroimaging studies in children and adults, and will end by discussing a particularly exciting application of neuroscience to education.

American Telemedicine Association: Federal Telemedicine Policy Summit

ATA Federal Telemedicine Policy Summit, Washington DC - Hyatt Regency on Capitol Hill June 27, 2013 at 1:00 pm and June 28, 2013 at 12:00 pm The ATA Federal Telemedicine Policy Summit is an opportunity to hear and interact with leaders from Congress, key federal agencies and influential policy thinkers about the latest developments affecting telemedicine. The Summit will include participation of key stakeholders including healthcare providers, business interests, medical societies, consumer groups and more. Join the conversation and hear the latest, inside information about the swift changes underway in healthcare delivery, public policy and the opportunities these provide for those involved in telemedicine. The Summit has an exciting line-up of speakers, representing the nation’s top policy leaders in healthcare. For information: http://www.americantelemed.org/ata-federal-telemedicine-policy-summit/summit-overview

Continuous Reporting and Continuous Assurance: Opportunities for Behavioral Accounting Research

The movement to more continuous reporting (CR) and continuous assurance (CA) of financial statements appears to be a matter of when and how such changes will take place, rather than if they will occur. Research evidence suggests that computing infrastructures and software applications have advanced to the point where it is now technically and economically feasible to begin preparing and disseminating financial statements on at least a monthly basis (Hunton, Wright, and Wright 2003), and someday it is likely that full or partial financial and nonfinancial disclosures will be processed and presented in real time. Additionally, information consumers are demanding, and the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA), and International Accounting Standards Board (IASB) are contemplating reporting and assurance changes of this nature. Thus, whether “continuous” is defined in terms of monthly, daily, hourly, or real-time reporting, rapidly converging market factors indicate that in the foreseeable future firms will publish and auditors will assure financial information on a more frequent basis than the current quarterly interval. The major challenge going forward for behavioral researchers in accounting is to investigate how changes of this nature might affect the decision-making processes and consequential outcomes of various constituent groups, such as investors, preparers, and assurers. The combinations of affected parties, contexts, and tasks that could be examined are too numerous to explore in a single article. Accordingly, to keep the following discussion focused and manageable, the scope of this paper is aimed at understanding the potential impact of CR and CA on individual investors. Perhaps by identifying a number of the psychological issues and reviewing some of the studies in this area, accounting behavioral researchers will be motivated to investigate many of the issues and opportunities related to this new and exciting line of research.

Raman Microprobe with Holographic Beamsplitter for Low-Frequency Operation

A Raman microprobe with a holographic beamsplitter is described. The beamsplitter is shown to have 90% laser insertion efficiency and high Raman transmission efficiency on both the Stokes and anti-Stokes side. Useful spectra are obtainable as close as ±60 cm−1 from the exciting line using 4 mW power.