Embryology of Maldives Clownfish, Amphiprion nigripes (Amphiprioninae)

This study investigated the embryonic development of Maldives clownfish Amphiprion nigripes under natural conditions (28 - 30℃) at a lagoon of Agatti Island, Lakshadweep, India. The newly deposited fish egg was capsule-shaped and orange-red, with a (0.73 ± 0.04) mm3 yolk containing 5 - 10 fat globules. The embryonic development of fertilized eggs was divided into 26 stages and the time elapsing for each stage was recorded. Results showed that the cleavage was rapid, with the first division observed 1 h 20 min after fertilization. Blastulation occurred 4 h later, followed by gastrulation 12 h after fertilization, with a yolk volume of (0.61 ± 0.06) mm3. The organogenesis process started 22 h after fertilization when the blastopores closed and notochord formation began. The embryonic stage was recorded 24 h later, with the appearance of forebrain, midbrain, hindbrain, melanophores on yolk-sac and 22 somites, and a decreased yolk volume of (0.54 ± 0.08) mm3. Other organs developed well 31 h after fertilization, whereas the heart started beating and blood circulation began 78 h later. Red pigmentation (erytrophores) appeared 96 h after fertilization, with a small yolk volume of (0.22 ± 0.02) mm3. Mouth developed well and eyes were noticeable 120 h later, with head, pectoral fin and tail frequently moving 144 h after fertilization. The embryo reached the pre-hatching stage 168 h later and started to hatch after 170 - 180 h incubation. This study first detailed the embryonic development and yolk absorption of A. nigripes under natural conditions.

The Cooperative Multi-agent Learning with Random Reward Values

This paper investigated how to learn the optimal action policies in cooperative multi-agent systems if the agents’ rewards are random variables, and proposed a general two-stage learning algorithm for cooperative multi-(agent) decision processes. The algorithm first calculates the averaged immediate rewards, and considers these learned rewards as the agents’ immediate action rewards to learn the optimal action policies. It is proved that the learning algorithm can find the optimal policies in stochastic environment. Extending the algorithm to stochastic Markov decision processes was also discussed.

Distribution of First Passage Times for Lumped States in Markov Chains

First passage time in Markov chains is defined as the first time that a chain passes a specified state or lumped states. This state or lumped states may indicate first passage time of an interesting, rare and amazing event. In this study, obtaining distribution of the first passage time relating to lumped states which are constructed by gathering the states through lumping method for a irreducible Markov chain whose state space is finite was deliberated. Thanks to lumping method the chain＇s Markov property has been preserved. Another benefit of lumping method in the way of practice is reduction of the state space thanks to gathering states together. As the obtained first passage distributions are continuous, it may be used in many fields such as reliability and risk analysis

From Swift to Mr. Ed： Comedic Representations of the Noble Horse in High and Low Culture

Few would deny the nobility of an animal which has played a significant role, historically, in the lives of humankind： the fabled unicorn, the Trojan Horse, and Pegasus, together with the Houyhnhnms of Jonathan Swift are testaments to the nobility of horses. In a modern context, Seabiscuit, Black Beauty, Silver, steed of the iconic Lone Ranger, and Tir na nog, from Irish folk tale history, have maintained the tradition of nobility. High comedic elements such as TV＇s Mr. Ed, Aspercel, from The Horse in the Gray Flannel Suit （1968）, Ollie, of Laurel and Hardy fame, reincarnated as a horse, and Tir na nog, hiding in an elevator to avoid being apprehended by the law, help to complete the comedic portrait of equine nobility

THE MARCINKIEWICZ -ZYGMUND INEQUALITYIN Ba SPACES (I)

The Marcinkiewicz-Zygmund inequality with derivative for an algebraic polynomial of order 【 N = (q + 1)n - 1 is established in a Ba space. As a corollary, the Marcinkiewicz-Zygmund inequality with derivative for an algebraic polynomial in a particular Orlicz space is obtained.