Rewinding the molecular clock in the genus Carabus (Coleoptera: Carabidae) in light of fossil evidence and the Gondwana split: A reanalysis

Molecular clocks have become powerful tools given increasing sequencing and fossil resources. However, calibration analyses outcomes depend on the choice of priors. Here, we revisited the seminal dating study published by Andújar and coworkers of the genus Carabus proposing that prior choices need re-evaluation. We hypothesized that reflecting fossil evidence and the Gondwanan split properly significantly rewinds the molecular clock. We re-used the dataset including five mitochondrial and four nuclear DNA fragments with a total length of 7888 nt. Fossil evidence for Oligocene occurrence of Calosoma was considered. Root age was set based on the fossil evidence of Harpalinae ground beetles in the Upper Cretaceous. Paleogene divergence of the outgroup taxa Ceroglossini and Pamborini is introduced as a new prior based on current paleontological and geological literature. The ultrametric time-calibrated tree of the extended nd5 dataset resulted in a median TMRCA Carabus of 53.92 Ma (HPD 95% 45.01–63.18 Ma), roughly 30 Ma older than in the Andújar study. The splits among C. rugosus and C. morbillosus (A), C. riffensis from the European Mesocarabus (B), and Eurycarabus and Nesaeocarabus (C) were dated to 17.58 (12.87–22.85), 24.14 (18.02–30.58), and 21.6 (16.44–27.43) Ma. They were decidedly older than those previously reported (7.48, 10.93, and 9.51 Ma). These changes were driven almost entirely by constraining the Carabidae time-tree root with a Harpalinae amber fossil at ~99 Ma. Utilizing the nd5 dating results of three well-supported Carabus clades as secondary calibration points for the complete MIT-NUC dataset led to a TMRCA of Carabus of 44.72 (37.54–52.22) Ma, compared with 25.16 Ma (18.41–33.04 Ma) in the previous study. Considering fossil evidence for Oligocene Calosoma and Late Cretaceous Harpalini together with the Gondwanan split as a new prior, our new approach supports the origin of genus Carabus in the Eocene. Our results are preliminary because of the heavy reliance on the nd5 gene, and thus will have to be tested with a sufficient set of nuclear markers. Additionally, uncertainties due to dating root age of the tree based on a single fossil and outgroup taxon affect the results. Improvement of the fossil database, particularly in the supertribe Carabitae, is needed to reduce these uncertainties in dating Carabus phylogeny.

Intrinsic neural activity predisposes susceptibility to a body illusion

Susceptibility to the rubber hand illusion (RHI) varies. Thus far, however, there is no consensus as regards how to explain this variation. Previous studies, focused on the role of multisensory integration, have searched for neural correlates of the illusion. Those studies, however, have failed to identify a sufficient set of functionally specific neural correlates. An alternative explanation of the illusion is that it results from demand characteristics, chiefly variability in the disposition to respond to imaginative suggestion: the degree to which intrinsic neural activity allows for a blurring of boundaries between self and external objects. Some evidence suggests that frontal alpha power is one means of tracking neural instantiations of self; therefore, we hypothesized that the higher the frontal alpha power during eyes-closed resting state, the more stable the self. As a corollary, we infer that the more stable the self, the less susceptible are participants to a blurring of boundaries, to feeling that the rubber hand belongs to them. Indeed, we found that frontal alpha amplitude oscillations negatively correlate with susceptibility. Moreover, since alpha and delta oscillations seem to be associated in pathological states that allow for a blurring of boundaries between self and external objects, we conjectured that the high frontal alpha power observed in low-RHI participants is modulated by delta frequency oscillations. Indeed, we found this to be the case. Based on our findings we propose that the two explanatory frameworks might be complementary: that is, the neural correlates of multisensory integration might be necessary for the RHI, but a sufficient explanation requires investigation of variable intrinsic neural activity that acts to modulate how the brain responds to incompatible sensory stimuli.

Proactive and reactive approach to employee competence configuration problem in planning and scheduling processes

At the time of commonplace automation, robotization and the rapid development of IT, high qualifications of employees have become the critical element of every industry system. This follows from their limited availability, frequently high costs of procurement and possible employee absenteeism. Moreover, the concept of Industry 4.0 will transform current industry employees into knowledge employees. This is due to the fact that hard and routine tasks will be executed by robots and computers. This constitutes change in the required employee competences. Unfortunately, the aspect of management and configuration of employee competences is often overlooked in industrial practice. In response to the existing problem, the article puts forward the original model of employee competence configuration which is a basis for responses to numerous questions of managers of production processes, both general ones, e.g., Do we have a sufficient set of competences to execute a production schedule? as well as detailed ones, e.g., Which and how many competences are missing? etc. An important novelty of the presented model is the possibility of its application with both proactive and reactive questions. Due to the discrete and combinatorial nature of the problem under consideration, the use of mathematical programming methods was limited only to small data instances. Therefore, a proprietary dedicated genetic algorithm was proposed to solve this problem, which turned out to be extremely effective. The use of this genetic algorithm has enabled finding a solution depending on the instance data up to 70 times faster than by use of the mathematical programming.

Causal Sufficiency and Actual Causation

Pearl opened the door to formally defining actual causation using causal models. His approach rests on two strategies: first, capturing the widespread intuition that X = x causes Y = y iff X = x is a Necessary Element of a Sufficient Set for Y = y, and second, showing that his definition gives intuitive answers on a wide set of problem cases. This inspired dozens of variations of his definition of actual causation, the most prominent of which are due to Halpern & Pearl. Yet all of them ignore Pearl’s first strategy, and the second strategy taken by itself is unable to deliver a consensus. This paper offers a way out by going back to the first strategy: it offers six formal definitions of causal sufficiency and two interpretations of necessity. Combining the two gives twelve new definitions of actual causation. Several interesting results about these definitions and their relation to the various Halpern & Pearl definitions are presented. Afterwards the second strategy is evaluated as well. In order to maximize neutrality, the paper relies mostly on the examples and intuitions of Halpern & Pearl. One definition comes out as being superior to all others, and is therefore suggested as a new definition of actual causation.

Mechanisms Of Creating An Electronic Methodological Set In The Professional Development Programs For The State Language

The educational and methodological complex is a complete, self-sufficient set of educational and methodological materials that provide high-quality mastering by students of the content of the discipline, which is part of the main educational program and program of additional professional education in the specialties implemented in the college.The teaching materials are developed by the teaching staff based on the requirements from State educational standards, a curriculum of the academic discipline. The following article looks into the mechanisms of creating n electronic methodological set for professional training programs.

Managing the resilience of future marine specialists to sickness

В статье приводится обоснование условий тренировки устойчивости к укачиванию будущих морских специалистов, способствующих снижению объемов нагрузки в специальных упражнениях и временных затрат на цикл подготовки. Предложен способ расчета перегрузок в упражнениях, применяемых в активной, пассивной и смешанной тренировках устойчивости к укачиванию. Значение критерия определяется путем вычисления отношения полного ускорения, действующего на вестибулярный анализатор в процессе движения, к ускорению свободного падения. Установлено, что ведущей теорией для отбора средств тренировки является теория сенсорного конфликта. Дается описание и обоснование применения авторских разработок для тренировки статического и динамического равновесия на возвышенной, наклонной, качающейся и соскальзывающей опорах, моделирующих условия сохранения статокинетической устойчивости в морских условиях. Предложен необходимый и достаточный комплекс технических устройств и тренажеров для управления устойчивостью будущих морских специалистов к укачиванию. The article substantiates the conditions of resistance to motion sickness of future marine specialists, the possibilities of the system for measuring the load in special exercises and the time spent on the training cycle. A method for calculating overloads in exercises used in active, passive and mixed trainings of resistance to motion sickness is proposed. The value is determined by calculating the ratio of the total acceleration acting on the vestibular analyzer during the acceleration of gravity. It has been established that the leading theory for the selection of training means is the theory of sensory conflict. A description and justification of the use of author's developments for training static and dynamic balance on an elevated, inclined, swinging and sliding support, simulating the conditions for maintaining statokinetic stability in marine conditions, is given. The necessity and a sufficient set of technical devices and simulators for the sustainable development of marine specialists for motion sickness is proposed.

СИСТЕМНИЙ ПІДХІД ДО УПРАВЛІННЯ ПРОЄКТАМИ

The article presents the author's approach to building a gnoseological model of project management research from a system approach. The aim of the article is to form the conceptual principles of the theoretical and methodological basis for the analysis of project management processes based on axiomatic conditions of consistency. The methodological basis of the research was the theses of classical and modern economic theory and the research work of domestic and foreign scientists on project management issues. The author's methodological concept is based on the unification, within a systematic paradigm, of the Marxist school of political economy and the principles of the institutional trend. The basic hypothesis of the research was the assumption that it is possible and expedient to use a descriptive methodology for identifying systems to requests for managing investment projects as open systems. Statement of the basic material. Methodological analysis has shown that the system is an integrity which is capable of self-development, formed by a sufficient set of elements that are able to reproduce themselves and function relatively independently, united by a network of significant structural, genetic and subordinate links. In the analysis of investment projects, the content of these links is presented through the investment legal relationship. From the point of view of the system paradigm, an investment project can be regarded as an organisational, financial and technically conditioned integrity, formed by a sufficient set of elements (property, property rights and other values) capable of self-reproduction and united by an investment legal relationship that establishes structural and subordinate relationships. It has been proved that the circulation area is a necessary and sufficient condition for the integrity of investment projects, transforms individual capital into public capital and ensures its circulation and reproduction. Also, the axiomatic condition of unity for investment systems is implemented through a set of formal and informal rules (laws) of composition. Originality and practical relevance of the research. The theoretical and methodological concept has theoretical significance and can be transformed into an appropriate applied toolkit for developing scientific and practical recommendations for project management. Conclusions and prospects for further research. The conceptual theoretical and methodological basis for the analysis of project management processes based on axiomatic conditions of consistency allows us to define the system triad of an investment project and formally identify the basic system components. Further research will focus on the development of instrumental and methodological support for project management.

Model of Psychological and Pedagogical Support for Students with Disabilities

The article actualizes the problem of the effectiveness of escorting students with disabilities and disabilities (hereinafter referred to as disabilities) in the process of their education at the university. The goal is to develop a model and complement the trajectory of psychological and pedagogical support of this category of students. Turning to the modeling method allowed the authors in the educational space of a higher educational institution to provide accompanied with the necessary and sufficient set of organizational and pedagogical conditions for obtaining higher education. The structural and functional model and the trajectory of psychological and pedagogical support for students with disabilities and disabilities, developed and introduced into the educational process of the pedagogical university, will make it possible to specify the substantive and organizational and methodological aspect of the vocational training of this category of students, to optimize the activities of the university services and structural units.

PYTHON AS AN EFFECTIVE TOOL OF DEVELOPING DIGITAL RESOURCES FOR NUMERICAL SOLVING SYSTEMS OF LINEAR ALGEBRAIC EQUATIONS

The solution of systems of linear algebraic equations (SLAE) is one of the most common problems in applications. Such problems usually require large amounts of computing. Often, solving a system is an incorrect task when the matrix of its coefficients has a rectangular shape, degenerate or poorly conditioned. Today, without the use of modern means of information and communication technologies, it is generally impossible to imagine solution of a SLAU. The article substantiates the need to develop a digital resource for solving systems of linear algebraic equations of any complexity, with different types of coefficient matrix. It is shown that one of the most effective development tools is the Python programming language. Due to the presence of many packages, it has a sufficient set of tools for its implementation. The built-in functions of the mathematical packages NumPy and SciPy, designed to solve linear algebra problems, are considered. The possibilities of using the Matplotlib package to visualize the solution of SLAE and the Tkinter built-in package for developing the graphical interface of the resource being developed are shown.

Burr XII Fréchet Distribution: Properties, Bayesian and Classical Estimation

In this work, we introduce a new extension of the Fréchet distribution. A sufficient set of the mathematical and statistical properties have been derived. The estimation of the parameters is carried out by considering the different method of estimation. The performances of the proposed estimation methods are studied by Monte Carlo simulations. The potentiality of the proposed model has been analyzed through two data sets. The weighted least square method is the best method for modelling breaking stress data, the least square method is the best method for modelling strengths data, however all other methods performed well for both data sets. On the other hand, the new model gives the best …ts among all other …fitted extensions of the Fréchet models to these data. So, it could be chosen as the best model for modeling breaking stress and strengths real data.