#Network Protocols

[el-ffej]

I'm reading this and it seems so familiar....

Oh, yeah: network handshaking protocols.

im reading a lot of research about the mycorrhizal network because this is a HUGE emerging area of research and there is so much new stuff coming out its sooooo neat

So basically "the mycorrhizal network is how trees send each other nutrients and help each other" is wrong,

but the main reason people were mad at it—because they thought everything in the ecosystem is selfish and competitive acting for its own interests—is much wronger.

How come?

Well...fungi aren't just a postal service for trees. They have lives of their own! Plants aren't just controlling the mycorrhizal network to send nutrients where they want, they are communicating with the fungus and negotiating the terms of that relationship.

The genetic basis in plants for forming the mycorrhizal symbiosis is old. REALLY old. Like, "before plants even came onto land" OLD. Other forms of symbiosis, like what legumes have going on with the Rhizobia, are using the same genes to do their thing. There's a LOT of genes involved with creating the symbiosis, including some redundancies just to be safe, and we're only just now starting to understand them.

Why so many genes? What are all these genes for? Everything! Communication chemicals, hormones the other partner will respond to, flipping switches in the other partner's genes. There was a lot of arguing over which partner, the plant or the fungus, was "controlling" the partnership, but this question turned out to be total nonsense. Both symbionts have to recognize each other, respond to each other, prepare for symbiosis by adjusting how their genes are expressed, form the symbiosis, and continuously negotiate the relationship by exchanging chemical signals. Both can actively select the partner that offers the best benefits. There's even experiments where it's been shown that if the fungus turns parasitic, the plant will start secreting fungicidal chemicals. (But also the mutualist fungi in the experiment outcompeted the parasitic one when the pots were seeded with both.)

Mycorrhizal symbiosis is an incredibly intimate relationship. Like, the fungus produces special organs that literally grow inside the plant's cells, and the plant is actively participating in allowing this to happen. The plants and fungi have genes for hormones used by the other species, they have soooooo much stuff encoded in their DNA for interacting with their symbionts, it's like, blurring the lines for whether they're even separate organisms. There are SO many chemicals involved in communication between them and we only understand a few of those chemicals.

This is SO MUCH COOLER than if the plants were just using the fungus as a passive conduit to communicate with and support each other. The fungus is actively participating!

We were fools and assumed there had to be one partner that was "in control," but both plant AND fungus have to initiate and to some extent they're each engaging on their own terms! Or maybe it's better to think of them as one and the same organism?

We're also finding out that there's a lot more types of mycorrhizal symbiosis than we thought (at least five) and a lot more variety in how it works.

And that's not even getting into fungal endosymbionts—fungi that live inside plant cells completely instead of having part of them be outside and in the soil. They aren't considered mycorrhizae because they're fully inside the plant cells and not connected with any soil fungi network but they do a lot of complicated things we don't understand and interact with the plant's other symbionts.

Fungal endosymbionts produce a lot of chemicals that are useful to the plants in some way, and it turns out, that a lot of them kill cancer. Seriously, we've gotten a LOT of anti-cancer drugs from these guys. I think it's because they have to bypass the plant's immune system, but they also fight each other/other little guys that get inside plant cells, so they kind of...are part of the plant's immune system?

And what's MORE

Is that plants and fungus aren't the only things part of this system! There's also bacteria that are symbiotic with the plants and fungi! Even the endosymbiont fungi have bacteria that are endosymbionts inside THEM. Double endosymbiosis.

I think I read one paper saying the bacteria use the fungi to get around? Like that's how Rhizobia find their way to the legume roots in the first place? Have to double check that one

[avertigo]

Mastering Network Protocols: An Essential Guide

At the heart of every network, whether it’s the vast expanse of the Internet or the intricate mesh of an office, beat network protocols. Protocols are the way in which two machines communicate with each other, they understand the same language. These invisible rules allow devices to communicate, share data, and work together in harmony. What are Network Protocols? Imagine a world where every…

[filehulk]

PuTTY

PuTTY is a widely-used, open-source, lightweight, and free SSH client and terminal emulator. Created by Simon Tatham using the C programming language, its main purpose is to enable remote computer connections while providing file transfer and data manipulation capabilities. PuTTY supports various network protocols, including SSH, Telnet, Serial, SCP, and SFTP. It also includes a command-line tool…

[simranrajput09]

Network Protocols: Types, Functions, and Importance

Understanding Protocols: Types and Their Importance

In the field of computer networking, protocols are fundamental to how data is transmitted, received, and interpreted across networks. They offer the guidelines and protocols that control how devices communicate with one another, guaranteeing smooth connectivity and effective data transfer. Let’s explore what protocols are, their types, and their significance in modern networking.

What is a Protocol?

A protocol can be defined as a set of rules and guidelines that dictate how data should be formatted, transmitted, and received within a network. 

Consider protocols as the language that devices use to communicate with each other. Without protocols, devices would not be able to understand each other's signals or data. Read here.

[queereads-bracket]

Queer Adult SFF Books Bracket: Round 1

Book summaries and submitted endorsements below:

The Murderbot Diaries series (All Systems Red, Artificial Condition, Rogue Protocol, Exit Strategy, Network Effect, Fugitive Telemetry, System Collapse, and other stories) by Martha Wells

Endorsement from submitter: "Asexual and agender main character. In later books side characters are revealed to be in poly relationship."

"As a heartless killing machine, I was a complete failure."

In a corporate-dominated space-faring future, planetary missions must be approved and supplied by the Company. For their own safety, exploratory teams are accompanied by Company-supplied security androids. But in a society where contracts are awarded to the lowest bidder, safety isn’t a primary concern.

On a distant planet, a team of scientists is conducting surface tests, shadowed by their Company-supplied ‘droid--a self-aware SecUnit that has hacked its own governor module and refers to itself (though never out loud) as “Murderbot.” Scornful of humans, Murderbot wants is to be left alone long enough to figure out who it is, but when a neighboring mission goes dark, it's up to the scientists and Murderbot to get to the truth.

Science fiction, novella, series, adult

Hunger Pangs series (True Love Bites) by Joy Demorra

In a world of dwindling hope, love has never mattered more...

Captain Nathan J. Northland had no idea what to expect when he returned home to Lorehaven injured from war, but it certainly wasn't to find himself posted on an island full of vampires. An island whose local vampire dandy lord causes Nathan to feel strange things he'd never felt before. Particularly about fangs.

When Vlad Blutstein agreed to hire Nathan as Captain of the Eyrie Guard, he hadn't been sure what to expect either, but it certainly hadn't been to fall in love with a disabled werewolf. However Vlad has fallen and fallen hard, and that's the problem.

Torn by their allegiances--to family, to duty, and the age-old enmity between vampires and werewolves--the pair find themselves in a difficult situation: to love where the heart wants or to follow where expectation demands.

The situation is complicated further when a mysterious and beguiling figure known only as Lady Ursula crashes into their lives, bringing with her dark omens of death, doom, and destruction in her wake.

And a desperate plea for help neither of them can ignore.

Thrown together in uncertain times and struggling to find their place amidst the rising human empire, the unlikely trio must decide how to face the coming darkness: united as one or divided and alone. One thing is for certain, none of them will ever be the same.

Fantasy, romance, paranormal, series, adult

[angeliquecloud]

I’m so glad I found the murderbot diaries

I randomly started listening to the audiobook and haven’t looked back since. I’ve listened to all of them probably 7-8 times and it never gets old. It almost immediately became a comfort series for me, and makes tedious tasks and anxiety riddled moments so much easier.

[longearedhare]

uhhh…how old do we think Murderbot IS??? (Obviously since constructs don’t have a childhood phase this does NOT have a 1:1 ratio with human ages or anything near)

We know that it is at least 4 years old by All Systems Red, and the text implies that ~ a year passes between the end of Exit Strategy and the beginning of Network Effect.

Despite the enhanced strength and hardiness, the lifespan of a normal SecUnit with a governor module CANNOT be that long considering the way they are abused and the fact that they routinely have bits of their organic brains fried.

I’m personally betting that Murderbot is under 15, IF that. (Which makes its past more horrifying, it that was possible)

[enivrez-vous]

As I have been spending almost two weeks sick at home, I’ve been listening to podcasts a lot. A LOT. Currently I’m binging woe.begine. Despite all the killings and stuff, it is so light and funny in comparison to everything else I was listening to recently lol

[couldtheyescortelliewilliams]

Propaganda:

It’s literally designed to do stuff like this. Also it survived getting infected by a spore fungus thing before. Also it would totally get attached, despite how much it would claim otherwise.

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How would they have handled the Firefly hospital massacre:

Ngl probably the same way Joel did

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Do you want to submit a potential protector for Ellie? Click here if you do!

[faceofpoe]

re-reading Murderbot all like

[agentem]

Does Murderbot dislike its function, as ART says?

I think the name "murderbot" is somewhat derisive, the way it refers to "Comfort Units" as "Sex Bots". But it did murder people at the mines, even if it was not its own will. And this seems to be a source of a lot of understandable self hatred.

There are several instances where its instinct is to murder a human, but it does not and feels good about that. For example, when it is asked to leave Girth's air vents open. Or when, in the help.me file, it is relieved that not killing to GreyCris agent worked out because Mensah and Indah understand the assignment.

There's also that part in "Fugitive Telemetry" where it thinks it has been acting like a Combat Bot and not a Sec Unit. Perhaps it wants to be a Sec Unit (keyword being security) and not a murderer, but that is not how the humans have been using it.

But there are times when it kills and feels no remorse. Murderbot is not at all upset to have murdered the Targets in "Network Effect." It refers to killing one of them as "satisfying" and wants to do it again. I think that has a lot to do with the fact that it feels like it is protecting Amena by doing that. And also the Targets tried to kill it and, perhaps more importantly, already hurt ART.

So I don't think it's a Pacificist Bot, but I do sort of hope it can stop thinking of itself as "Murderbot." Or at least come to some acceptance about the Ganaka pit incident.

[space-manatees]

them: how many times have you read Murderbot Diaries this year

me: yes

[friskafriskito]

Magnus Protocol designs! I hadn't drawn in a while and this seemed like good practice. I started this when it first came out and then added more as it went along. c:

---

The Magnus Protocol (CC) The Rusty Quill Podcast Network

[fullibooked]

I love Murderbot. I love, love and love Murderbot. On the cover of the first of Martha Wells' Murderbot Diaries is a quote from Ann Leckie that says "I love Murderbot!" I agree with her. and yes, I know that Murderbot looks mostly human so all the bot parts wouldn't be showing but it wouldn't look at all bot if I just left my hand human, so here we are. I still love Murderbot.

All Systems Red, Artificial Condition, Rogue Protocol, Exit Strategy, and lastly the novel, Network Effect are now among my favourite books of all time. The sarcastic, grouchy, genderless, socially awkward, narrating, bot is just the best character. It's internal monologue is so funny, and angry, and everything I want from a unit that is learning all about itself as a potential person.

I devoured the five of these stories in less than two nights each, and not just because they are mostly novellas in size. The excitement didn't let up, nor did the sass. I was giggling at 3am and it was all thanks to Murderbot.

There is a lot of depth to these books that I cannot even remotely delve into in a tiny review so I'll just say holy crap and you need to read them. I'll stop gushing sometime soon, I promise, it's just, I don't know if you've noticed, but I love Murderbot.

[queereads-bracket]

Queer Adult SFF Books Bracket: Round 3

Book summaries and submitted endorsements below:

The Murderbot Diaries series (All Systems Red, Artificial Condition, Rogue Protocol, Exit Strategy, Network Effect, Fugitive Telemetry, System Collapse, and other stories) by Martha Wells

Endorsement from submitter: "Asexual and agender main character. In later books side characters are revealed to be in poly relationship."

"As a heartless killing machine, I was a complete failure."

In a corporate-dominated space-faring future, planetary missions must be approved and supplied by the Company. For their own safety, exploratory teams are accompanied by Company-supplied security androids. But in a society where contracts are awarded to the lowest bidder, safety isn’t a primary concern.

On a distant planet, a team of scientists is conducting surface tests, shadowed by their Company-supplied ‘droid--a self-aware SecUnit that has hacked its own governor module and refers to itself (though never out loud) as “Murderbot.” Scornful of humans, Murderbot wants is to be left alone long enough to figure out who it is, but when a neighboring mission goes dark, it's up to the scientists and Murderbot to get to the truth.

Science fiction, novella, series, adult

The Left Hand of Darkness by Ursula K. Le Guin

A groundbreaking work of science fiction, The Left Hand of Darkness tells the story of a lone human emissary to Winter, an alien world whose inhabitants spend most of their time without a gender. His goal is to facilitate Winter's inclusion in a growing intergalactic civilization. But to do so he must bridge the gulf between his own views and those of the completely dissimilar culture that he encounters.

Embracing the aspects of psychology, society, and human emotion on an alien world, The Left Hand of Darkness stands as a landmark achievement in the annals of intellectual science fiction.

Science fiction, classics, speculative fiction, anthropological science fiction, distant future, adult

[rosewind2007]

I loved Sherlock Holmes in the original books, which I first read in the 1970s

My Doctor (in my heart) will always truly be Tom Baker

Loki was one of my favourite (not technically a god) gods some three decades before the Marvel Cinematic Universe was even a thing

I argued as a child about whether Darth Vader could have a redemption arc

I read and re-read my 1990s copy of Good Omens until it fell apart

I am OLD, and damnit—if they do make Murderbot into a TV series I will welcome newcomers to the fandom with arms wide open: because they’ll have very bit as much right to be in it as anyone else