NF-κB memory coordinates transcriptional responses to dynamic inflammatory stimuli

Many scenarios in cellular communication requires cells to interpret multiple dynamic signals. It is unclear how exposure to immune stimuli alters transcriptional responses to subsequent stimulus under inflammatory conditions. Using high-throughput microfluidic live cell analysis, we systematically profiled the NF-κB response to different signal sequences in single cells. We found that NF-κB dynamics stores the history of signals received by cells: depending on the dose and type of prior pathogenic and cytokine signal, the NF-κB response to subsequent stimuli varied widely, from no response to full activation. Using information theory, we revealed that these stimulus-dependent changes in the NF-κB response encode and reflect information about the identity and dose of the prior stimulus. Small-molecule inhibition, computational modeling, and gene expression profiling show that this encoding is driven by stimulus-dependent engagement of negative feedback modules. These results provide a model for how signal transduction networks process sequences of inflammatory stimuli to coordinate cellular responses in complex dynamic environments.

Self-Organized Cultural Cycles and the Uncertainty of Archaeological Thought

Contributing to the issue of complex relationship between social and cultural evolution, this paper aims to analyze repetitive patterns, or cycles, in the development of material culture. Our analysis focuses on culture change associated with sociopolitical and economic stasis. The proposed toy model describes the cyclical character of the quantitative and qualitative composition of archaeological assemblages, which include hierarchically organized cultural traits. Cycles sequentially process the stages of unification, diversity, and return to unification. This complex dynamic behavior is caused by the ratio between cultural traits’ replication rate and the proportion of traits of the higher taxonomic order’s related unit. Our approach identifies a shift from conformist to anti-conformist transmission, corresponding with open and closed phases in cultural evolution in respect to the introduction of innovations. The model also describes the dependence of a probability for horizontal transmission upon orders of taxonomic hierarchy during open phases. The obtained results are indicative for gradual cultural evolution at the low orders of taxonomic hierarchy and punctuated evolution at its high orders. The similarity of the model outcomes to the patters of material culture change reflecting societal transformations enables discussions around the uncertainty of explanation in archaeology and anthropology.

An Effective Dynamic Path Planning Approach for Mobile Robots Based on Ant Colony Fusion Dynamic Windows

To further improve the path planning of the mobile robot in complex dynamic environments, this paper proposes an enhanced hybrid algorithm by considering the excellent search capability of the ant colony optimization (ACO) for global paths and the advantages of the dynamic window approach (DWA) for local obstacle avoidance. Firstly, we establish a new dynamic environment model based on the motion characteristics of the obstacles. Secondly, we improve the traditional ACO from the pheromone update and heuristic function and then design a strategy to solve the deadlock problem. Considering the actual path requirements of the robot, a new path smoothing method is present. Finally, the robot modeled by DWA obtains navigation information from the global path, and we enhance its trajectory tracking capability and dynamic obstacle avoidance capability by improving the evaluation function. The simulation and experimental results show that our algorithm improves the robot's navigation capability, search capability, and dynamic obstacle avoidance capability in unknown and complex dynamic environments.

Nationalism and Populism as the Driving Forces of Economic Deglobalization, Regionalism, and Localism Processes

The aim of this chapter is to analyze nationalism and populism as the driving forces of economic deglobalization processes and regionalism. The analysis departs from the assumption that the economic deglobalization processes respond to more complex dynamic forces created by the economic, financial, and the most recent sanitary crisis that blocks the continuity of economic globalization. Moreover, at the center of the analysis is the conceptualization that both globalization and deglobalization are two faces of the same coin, but with opposite driving forces. These driving forces of deglobalization lead to regional and more local solutions to economic growth and social and environmental problems.

ONOMASTIC METAPHOR IN THE ORIGINAL AND TRANSLATION

The authors of the article discuss the problem of translating an onomastic metaphor in humorous discourse, relying on the results of research in the field of proper name theory, cognitive metaphor theory, comic theory, discourse theory, and the theory of harmonious translation space, which are the research methodology. The purpose of the work is to show that the metaphorical onym, as a complex dynamic transformation of a proper name-anthroponym, has a high cultural potential, and in humorous discourse acquires a pragmatic humorous effect, reflecting the author's intention. The material of the work was the literary texts of A.P. Chekhov in Russian and their translations into Chinese, as well as literary texts in English by P.G. Woodhouse and their translations into Russian and Chinese. The choice of these authors is due to their belonging to the same historical era - the beginning of the twentieth century. The novelty of the research lies in the fact that the semantics of Chinese anthroponyms differs significantly from the semantics of English and Russian-language proper names-anthroponyms, which should be known and taken into account by the translator in the process of translating metaphorical meanings into Chinese in order to ensure mutual understanding of representatives of different linguistic cultures. Translations into Chinese are ongoing. Linguistic and translation analysis consists in identifying the level of harmony of translations of an onomastic metaphor, correlated with the nature of the reconstruction of metaphorical meanings and the humorous effect of the original. Such a translation is recognized as harmonious, in which there is a remetaphorization of the onomastic metaphor, accompanied by synergy - an increment of new meanings acceptable to the host culture.

A Convergent Approach to the Viability of the Dynamical Systems: The Cognitive Value of Complexity

The integration of information and industrial technologies, digitalization and differentiation of sciences are accompanied by an increase in various types of complexity. This limits the capabilities of computer modelling, data mining, and predictive analytics. The increasing cognitive complexity of information flows and their diversity creates problems of safety, reliability and stability of the functioning of a complex dynamic system in extreme conditions. Here we show the possibility of cognitive visualization of signals of different nature through their geometrization in the form of a topological 3D model of functioning. Its projections are spatio-temporal signatures, the configurations of which reflect the dynamic, energetic and structural features of the model. An increase in the number of components of the signature configuration and its area under external influence indicates an increase in structural and functional complexity. Therefore, the signal structure can be analyzed in real time using complementary probabilistic and deterministic methods. A set of tools for the synthesis and analysis of 3D models has innovative potential for monitoring the functioning of elements of complex dynamic systems, risk management and predictive analytics.