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#OnThisDay 1982: Horizon looked at the evolution of computer graphics, from Steve Russell's original Spacewar! to the cutting edge 3D modelling techniques used by Jim Blinn. https://t.co/WGcEDGLpHu Source: https://twitter.com/BBCArchive/status/1340997951661899777 Uploader: BBC Archive

The Roadmap for the Structure and Evolution of the Universe (SEU) Theme embraces three fundamental, scientific quests: (1) To explain structure in the Universe and forecast our cosmic destiny, (2) To explore the cycles of matter and energy in the evolving Universe, (3) To examine the ultimate limits of gravity and energy in the Universe. We develop these quests into six focused research campaigns: (1) Identify dark matter and learn how it shapes galaxies and systems of galaxies, (2) Explore where and when the chemical elements were made (3) Understand the cycles in which matter, energy, and magnetic field are exchanged between stars and the gas between stars, (4) Discover how gas flows in disks and how cosmic jets are formed, (5) Identify the sources of gamma-ray bursts and high-energy cosmic rays, (6) Measure how strong gravity operates near black holes and how it affects the early Universe. These campaigns lead to a portfolio of future major missions of great scientific interest and popular appeal, strongly endorsed by the scientific community. Many have undergone significant initial study. Some are in a state of readiness that make them ideal candidates for the present Office of Space Science Strategic Plan; others may well feature in the next Plan. Each provides a golden scientific opportunity to advance our understanding of the Universe. We have identified three top-priority near-term science objectives together with missions to accomplish these goals. The three problems span a diverse range of subdisciplines, of observational technique, of timescales, and of cost, and are thus complementary, forming a coherent core program for the SEU theme in the 2003-2007 timeframe.These are : (1) Obtain precise measures of the chemical composition and physical conditions in objects ranging from the closest stars to the most distant quasars, (2) Utilize gravitational radiation as a probe of supermassive blackholes throughout the universe, (3) determine the nature of the highest energy cosmic rays. We also describe a small number of exciting missions which are strong candidates for new start status in the midterm, 2008-2013, pending technology development. These missions tackle fundamental problems through the entire electromagnetic spectrum, from the radio through gamma rays, and in many cases develop fascinating technologies with applicability not only elsewhere in NASA but outside of space science as well. Finally, we describe a set of "vision missions," which stretch our scientific imagination and set technology challenges for our field.

NAS 1.83:11-184-GSFC Digitized from IA1177308-08-0015 .

Paul Giem on The Edge of Evolution Strikes Again 8-2-2014 Michael Behe made some predictions in his book The Edge of Evolution . One of them was that when we found out what mutations it took to get a chloroquine complexity cluster (CCC) it would wind up requiring two specific relatively simultaneous mutations.  Several critics claimed that it would take more mutations than that (and some less than that, at least simultaneously), basing their arguments on the presumed feasibility of evolution. A new article reports experimental evidence. 1. Behe M, 2007. The Edge of Evolution. New York: Free Press. http://www.allbookstores.com/book/compare/9780743296229 2. Summers, R. L. et al. 2014. Diverse mutational pathways converge on saturable chloroquine transport via the malaria parasite's chloroquine resistance transporter. PNAS. 111(17): E1759-67. Abstract and Supporting Information available at http://www.pnas.org/content/111/17/E1759.abstract 3. http://www.uncommondescent.com/darwinism/anti-malaria-drug-requires-at-least-two-mutations/ 4. http://www.pandasthumb.org/archives/2007/07/reality-1-behe.html 5. http://www2.asa3.org/archive/asa/200708/0258.html 6. http://www.talkreason.org/articles/Coyne.cfm 7. Miller, K.R. 2007. Falling over the edge. Nature 447: 1055-1056. Available at http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v447/n7148/full/4471055a.html 8. http://ncse.com/rncse/27/1-2/review-edge-evolution 9. http://scienceblogs.com/pharyngula/2007/06/05/behes-edge-of-evolution-part-/ 10. http://www.evolutionnews.org/2007/11/rebuttal_to_paul_gross_review004428.html 11. http://freethoughtblogs.com/pharyngula/2014/07/17/quote-mined-by-casey-luskin/ For additional recordings on various topics regarding faith and science visit: ItsAboutGod.tv/sls

The age-old question of why  Homo sapiens  flourished on Earth while our close evolutionary cousins, the Neanderthals , faded into extinction remains a subject of intrigue. It has been hypothesized that maybe we were just naturally smarter, yet evidence to support this claim is lacking.  Despite having large brains , advanced language capabilities, and the ability to create complex tools, art , and jewellery , suggesting their intelligence rivaled ours, Neanderthals still vanished. This raises the possibility that it wasn’t individual aptitude that set our ancestors apart, but rather the collective strength of our social systems.  In the past, scientists believed that hominin evolution was largely driven by changes in climate. But now, research from the  University of Cambridge  has suggested that competition was, in fact, fundamental to hominin evolution.  

#OTD 1982: Horizon looked at the evolution of computer graphics, from Steve Russell's original Spacewar! to the cutting edge 3D modelling techniques used by Jim Blinn https://t.co/GRDUkAc1tg Source: https://twitter.com/BBCArchive/status/943913472114462720 Uploader: BBC Archive

The functioning of animal as well as human societies fundamentally relies on cooperation. Yet, defection is often favorable for the selfish individual, and social dilemmas arise. Selection by individuals' fitness, usually the basic driving force of evolution, quickly eliminates cooperators. However, evolution is also governed by fluctuations that can be of greater importance than fitness differences, and can render evolution effectively neutral. Here, we investigate the effects of selection versus fluctuations in social dilemmas. By studying the mean extinction times of cooperators and defectors, a variable sensitive to fluctuations, we are able to identify and quantify an emerging 'edge of neutral evolution' that delineates regimes of neutral and Darwinian evolution. Our results reveal that cooperation is significantly maintained in the neutral regimes. In contrast, the classical predictions of evolutionary game theory, where defectors beat cooperators, are recovered in the Darwinian regimes. Our studies demonstrate that fluctuations can provide a surprisingly simple way to partly resolve social dilemmas. Our methods are generally applicable to estimate the role of random drift in evolutionary dynamics.

The secular perturbations exerted by an inclined satellite orbiting in a gap in a broad planetary ring tends to excite the inclinations of the nearby ring particles, and the ring's self-gravity can allow that disturbance to propagate away in the form of a spiral bending wave. The amplitude of this spiral bending wave is determined, as well as the wavelength, which shrinks as the waves propagate outwards due to the effects of the central planet's oblateness. The excitation of these bending waves also damps the satellite's inclination I. This secular I damping is also compared to the inclination excitation that is due to the satellite's many other vertical resonances in the ring, and the condition for inclination damping is determined. The secular I damping is likely responsible for confining the orbits of Saturn's two known gap-embedded moons, Pan and Daphnis, to the ring plane.

We study the maturation of the antibody population following primary antigen presentation as a global optimization problem. Emphasis is placed on the trade-off between the safety of mutations that lead to local improvements to the antibody's affinity and the necessity of eventual mutations that result in global reconfigurations in the antibody's shape. The model described herein gives evidence of the underlying optimization process from which the rapidity and consistency of the biologic response could be derived.

We study the maturation of the antibody population following primary antigen presentation as a global optimization problem. Emphasis is placed on the trade-off between the safety of mutations that lead to local improvements to the antibody's affinity and the necessity of eventual mutations that result in global reconfigurations in the antibody's shape. The model described herein gives evidence of the underlying optimization process from which the rapidity and consistency of the biologic response could be derived.

The Lagrange planetary equations are used to study to secular evolution of a small, eccentric satellite that orbits within a narrow gap in a broad, self-gravitating planetary ring. These equations show that the satellite's secular perturbations of the ring will excite a very long-wavelength spiral density wave that propagates away from the gap's outer edge. The amplitude of these waves, as well as their dispersion relation, are derived here. That dispersion relation reveals that a planetary ring can sustain two types of density waves: long waves that, in Saturn's A ring, would have wavelengths of order 100 km, and short waves that tend to be very nonlinear and are expected to quickly damp. The excitation of these waves also transports angular momentum from the ring to the satellite in a way that damps the satellite's eccentricity e, which also tends to reduce the amplitude of subsequent waves. The rate of eccentricity damping due to this wave action is then compared to the rates at which the satellite's Lindblad and corotation resonances alter the satellite's e. These results are then applied to the gap-embedded Saturnian satellites Pan and Daphnis, and the long-term stability of their eccentricities is assessed.

We study Andreev bound states (ABS) and resulting charge transport of Rashba superconductor (RSC) where two-dimensional semiconductor (2DSM) heterostructures is sandwiched by spin-singlet s-wave superconductor and ferromagnet insulator. ABS becomes a chiral Majorana edge mode similar to that in spinless chiral p-wave pairing in topological phase (TP). We clarify that two types of quantum criticality about the topological change of ABS near a quantum critical point (QCP), whether ABS exists at QCP or not. In the former type, ABS has a energy gap and does not cross at zero energy in non-topological phase (NTP). These complex properties can be detected by tunneling conductance between normal metal / RSC junctions.

Motivated by the evolution of complex bird songs, an abstract imitation game is proposed to study the increase of dynamical complexity: Artificial "birds" display a "song" time series to each other, and those that imitate the other's song better win the game. With the introduction of population dynamics according to the score of the game and the mutation of parameters for the song dynamics, the dynamics is found to evolve towards the borderline between chaos and a periodic window, after punctuated equilibria. The importance of edge of chaos with topological chaos for complexity is stressed.

Edge computing is revolutionizing data processing and storage by bringing computational and data storage facilities closer to the data sources. This technique tackles the challenges faced by conventional clouds such as high latency and network congestion by employing the concept of data processed at the edge of the network in real-time. This paper discusses the edge computing paradigm and its evolution by covering the relevant concepts, benefits and trends that are changing within various industries. In particular, we assess the factors that make edge computing beneficial in terms of security, performance and efficiency concerns in smart cities, self-driving cars and internet of things (IoT) industries. This paper also reviews and reflects on the challenges of edge computing in terms of security, interoperability and scalability issues and how it can be overcome by integrating edge computing with fog computing, 5G and artificial intelligence (AI).

In this work the central area of Corsica island was studied in order to reconstruct the tectono-metamorphic history of the continental and oceanic high pressure units that occupy the structurally deeper levels of the tectonic stacking of Alpine Corsica and their stratigraphic and structural relationship with the European margin (Hercynian Corsica). The study includes the geological mapping, the mesoscale and microscale structural analysis, the acquisition of chemical analyzes and micromaps with the microprobe, thermobarometric estimation through specific methodologies for metapelites, U-Th-Pb dating of zircons and allanites. The results obtained allows to reconstruct the geodynamic model of this sector of the Alpine belt from the Permian to the Burdigalian.

Includes bibliographical references (p. 277-305) and index

The presence of a well-defined and narrow dust lane in an edge-on spiral galaxy is the observational signature of a thin and dense molecular disk, in which gravitational collapse has overcome turbulence. Using a sample of galaxies out to z~1 extracted from the COSMOS survey, we identify the fraction of massive disks that display a dust lane. Our goal is to explore the evolution in the stability of the molecular ISM disks in spiral galaxies over a cosmic timescale. We check the reliability of our morphological classifications against changes in restframe wavelength, resolution, and cosmic dimming with (artificially redshifted) images of local galaxies from SDSS. We find that the fraction of L* disks with dust lanes in COSMOS is consistent with the local fraction (~80%) out to z~0.7. At z=0.8, the dust lane fraction is only slightly lower. A somewhat lower dust lane fraction in starbursting galaxies tentatively supports the notion that a high specific star formation rate can efficiently destroy or inhibit a dense molecular disk. A small subsample of higher redshift COSMOS galaxies display low internal reddening (E[B-V]), as well as a low incidence of dust lanes. These may be disks in which the growth of the dusty ISM disk lags behind that of the stellar disk. We note that at z=0.8, the most massive galaxies display a lower dust lane fraction than lower mass galaxies. A small contribution of recent mergers or starbursts to this most massive population may be responsible. The fact that the fraction of galaxies with dust lanes in COSMOS is consistent with little or no evolution implies that models to explain the Spectral Energy Distribution or the host galaxy dust extinction of supernovae based on local galaxies are still applicable to higher redshift spirals. It also suggests that dust lanes are long lived phenomena or can be reformed over very short time-scales.

We present circumstantial evidence that the central region of the edge-on S0 galaxy NGC 4570, which harbors a 150 pc scale nuclear disc in addition to its main outer disc, has been shaped under the influence of a small (approx. 500pc) bar. This is based on the finding of two edge-on rings, whose locations are consistent with the Inner Lindblad and Ultra Harmonic Resonances of a rapidly tumbling triaxial potential. Observed features in the photometry and rotation curve nicely correspond with the positions of the main resonances, strengthening the case for a tumbling bar potential. The relative blue colour of the ILR ring, and the complete absence of any detected ISM, indicates that the nuclear ring is made of relatively young ( < 2 Gyr) stars. We discuss a possible secular-evolution scenario for this complex multi-component galaxy, which may also apply to many other S0-galaxies with observed rings and/or multiple disc-components.

The quantum phase transition between topological and non-topological insulators or between fully gapped superfluids/superconductors can occur without closing the gap. We consider the evolution of the Majorana edge states on the surface of topological superconductor during transition to the topologically trivial superconductor on example of non-interacting Hamiltonian describing the spin-triplet superfluid 3He-B. In conventional situation when the gap is nullified at the transition, the spectrum of Majorana fermions shrinks and vanishes after the transition to the trivial state. If the topological transition occurs without the gap closing, the Majorana fermion spectrum disappears by escaping to ultraviolet, where Green's function approaches zero. This demonstrates the close connection between the topological transition without closing the gap and zeroes in the Green's function. Similar connection takes place in interacting systems where zeroes may occur due to interaction.

The quantum phase transition between topological and non-topological insulators or between fully gapped superfluids/superconductors can occur without closing the gap. We consider the evolution of the Majorana edge states on the surface of topological superconductor during transition to the topologically trivial superconductor on example of non-interacting Hamiltonian describing the spin-triplet superfluid 3He-B. In conventional situation when the gap is nullified at the transition, the spectrum of Majorana fermions shrinks and vanishes after the transition to the trivial state. If the topological transition occurs without the gap closing, the Majorana fermion spectrum disappears by escaping to ultraviolet, where Green's function approaches zero. This demonstrates the close connection between the topological transition without closing the gap and zeroes in the Green's function. Similar connection takes place in interacting systems where zeroes may occur due to interaction.

Includes bibliographical references and index

Includes bibliographical references and index

I describe possible analogies between what occurs in computer gaming and biological evolution in comparison to the movie The Edge of Tomorrow with Tom Cruise. JF's Main Website: http://jfg.world JF's Twitch Channel: http://twitch.jfg.world Original Stream: https://www.twitch.tv/videos/131763346 JF's YouTube Channel: http://youtube.jfg.world JF's Twitter: http://twitter.jfg.world JF's Gab.ai: https://gab.ai/JFGariepy JF's Minds: https://www.minds.com/JFGariepy Community Discord: http://discord.jfg.world Community Reddit: http://reddit.jfg.world Paypal link: http://paypal.jfg.world Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LGO9MTIJkE0 Uploader: Jean-Francois Gariépy

Sixteen scholarly papers and twenty abstracts comprise the content of the eighteenth annual Brick & Click Libraries Conference, held annually at Northwest Missouri State University in Maryville, Missouri. The proceedings, authored by academic librarians and presented at the conference, portray the contemporary and future face of librarianship. The 2018 paper and abstract titles include: (1) Committee on Diversity & Inclusion: Cultivating an Inclusive Library Environment (Orolando Duffus, Andrea Malone, Margaret Dunn, Lisa Cruces, Matthew Moore, Annie Wu, and Frederick Young); (2) Checking Out the LGBT+ (Kayla Reed); (3) Tailoring Library Instruction to Adult Students: Applying the Science and Methods of Andragogy for Modern Instructional and Reference Services (Eric Deatherage and Jason Smith); (4) Library-Faculty Collaboration for OER Promotion and Implementation (Paula Martin); (5) The Facts of Fiction: Research for Creative Writers (Addison Lucchi); (6) Location and the Collection Connection (Kayla Reed and Amber Carr); (7) Gay for No Pay: How to Maintain an LGBTQ+ Collection with No Budget (Rachel Wexelbaum); (8) A Step Up: Piloting Integrated Information Literacy Instruction Throughout a Discipline (Nathan Elwood and Robyn Hartman); (9) Not Just a Collection: The Emergence and Evolution of Our Contemporary Collection (Hong Li and Kayla Reed); (10) Flipster: How One Community College Library Supports Faculty and Student Academic Needs with Flipster Digital Magazines (Stephen Ambra); (11) Three Ring Circus: A Model for Understanding and Teaching Students about Bias (Virginia Cairns); (12) Demystifying DH: How to Get Started with Digital Humanities (Sherri Brown and Forstot Burke); (13) Academic Libraries Embracing Technology with a Purpose (Lavoris Martin); (14) (A)ffective Management: A People First Management Approach (Ryan Weir); (15) Plugged & Unplugged Active Learning Strategies for One Shots (Judy Bastin, Justina Mollach, Leslie Pierson, Ruth Harries, and Teresa Mayginnes); (16) Giving a Booster Shot to Your One Shot: Incorporating Engaging Activities into Library Instruction (Kelly Leahy, Gwen Wilson, and Angela Beatie); (17) Adventures with Omeka.net: Metadata, Workflows, and Exhibit-based Storytelling at UNO Libraries (Yumi Ohira, Angela Kroeger, and Lori Schwartz); (18) Online Badge Classes for High School Students (Angela Paul); (19) Fake News: The Fun, the Fear, and the Future of Resource Evaluation (Lindsay Brownfield); (20) Making Outreach the Library's Mission (April K. Miller); (21) Active Learning for Metaliteracies: Digital Modules from the New Literacies Alliance (Rachel R. Vukas, Prasanna Vaduvathiriyan, and Brenda Linares); (22) Calculating Return on Investment in Libraries (Nicholas Wyant); (23) Crossing Borders: Expanding Digitization Efforts Across Library Departments (Jay Trask, Jane Monson, and Jessica Hayden); (24) From Silos to Collaboration (Joyce Meldrem); (25) Key Performance Indicator Tracking Using Google Forms (Joshua Lambert); (26) Bridging the Gap: Providing Equal Access of Library Resources and Services to Distance Learners (Nancy Crabtree, Xiaocan (Lucy) Wang, Bob Black); (27) Coming to the Plains: Latino/a Stories in Nebraska (Laurinda Weisse, Michelle Warren, and Jacob Rosdail); (28) Five Keys to #SocialMediaSuccess in Academic Libraries (Hannah E. Christian and Alison Hanner); (29) Easy Information Literacy Assessments for Small Academic Libraries (Julie Pinnell); (30) Traversing the Path: A Library Director's Guide to the Higher Learning Commission's Open Pathway for Accreditation (Sandy Moore); (31) Drawing Magic: Visualizing the Internet to Introduce Information Literacy (Kelly Leahy); (32) Chatspeak for Librarians: Best Practices for Chat Reference (Tanner D. Lewey); (33) The Creative Learning Spiral: A Python Learner in the Library (Greta Valentine); (34) The Poet's Papers: Literary Research in the Small College Archives (Martha A. Tanner); (35) Giving Students an Edge: Enhancing Resumes with a Digital Information Research Certificate (Rachel R. Vukas); and (36) Where Did You Get That eBook? Comparison of Student/Faculty Use of eBooks, Library Space, and Citation Management Programs (Alice B. Ruleman). (Individual papers contain references.) [For the 2017 proceedings, see ED578189.]