Artificial Intelligence in the Context of Human Consciousness

Artificial intelligence (AI) can be defined as the ability of a machine to learn and make decisions based on acquired information. AI’s development has incited rampant public speculation regarding the singularity theory: a futuristic phase in which intelligent machines are capable of creating increasingly intelligent systems. Its implications, combined with the close relationship between humanity and their machines, make achieving understanding both natural and artificial intelligence imperative. Researchers are continuing to discover natural processes responsible for essential human skills like decision-making, understanding language, and performing multiple processes simultaneously. Artificial intelligence attempts to simulate these functions through techniques like artificial neural networks, Markov Decision Processes, Human Language Technology, and Multi-Agent Systems, which rely upon a combination of mathematical models and hardware

Visible Light Communication Systems

Undergraduate Basi

Regulation of levels and localization of thimet oligopeptidase in prostate cancer cells by β-estradiol

The enzyme thimet oligopeptidease (TOP) catalyzes the hydrolysis of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) in vitro, and evidence suggests that TOP is the primary enzyme responsible for GnRH hydrolysis in vivo, as well. If this is true, TOP could play an important role in regulating steroid hormone production via the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal (HPG) axis. In addition to its function at the level of the hypothalamus, TOP may also have a direct effect at the target tissue level. In order to determine if TOP has a direct modulating effect androgen and estrogen functions, prostate cancer cells were treated with estradiol, an end product of the HPG axis. If TOP and steroid hormones comprise a feedback loop, treatment with estradiol could regulate TOP levels, localization or activity. After estradiol treatment, TOP staining was imaged confocally in prostate cancer cells. TOP was also detected and quantified in cell lysates by immunoblot. Quantification of TOP staining in prostate cancer cell images suggested that estradiol treatment increased cellular TOP levels and also increased nuclear TOP levels in particular. However, Western analysis showed that overall TOP levels varied very little with estradiol treatment. Although not definitive, these results indicate that TOP responds differently with direct treatment of prostate cancer cells by estradiol as compared to estradiol treatment within the context of the HPG axis

Occurrence of preterm calving in Great Britain and associations with milk production and reproductive performance in dairy cattle

This study describes the occurrence of preterm calving in Great Britain and evaluates its associations with subsequent milk production and reproductive performances and survival on farm of dairy cows. A total of 53 British dairy farms and 5759 animals with detailed breeding and milk recording data available were used to form two study groups: preterm calving (calving occurring between days 266 and 277 of gestation) and full-term calving (calving occurring at 278 days of gestation and over). Mixed effects models were implemented to compare milk production, clinical cases of mastitis and number of services per conception between groups. Kaplan-Meier curves and Cox regression analyses compared time from calving to conception, calving interval and survival on farm between groups. Preterm calving cows showed significantly lower milk yield (P<0.01) and butter fat per cent (P=0.02), increased milk protein per cent (P=0.01), longer survival on farm (P<0.01), and a tendency for shorter calving to conception intervals and fewer services per conception, although other factors were involved in the reproduction outcomes. Experiencing a preterm calving is associated with lower milk production and longer survival times on farm. Potential risk factors for preterm calving, such as infectious diseases, diet and husbandry practices, should be further investigated

Fragmentation Increases Impact of Wind Disturbance on Forest Structure and Carbon Stocks in a Western Amazonian Landscape

Tropical second-growth forests could help mitigate climate change, but the degree to which their carbon potential is achieved will depend on exposure to disturbance. Wind disturbance is common in tropical forests, shaping structure, composition, and function, and influencing successional trajectories. However, little is known about the impacts of extreme winds in fragmented landscapes, though second-growth forests are often located in mosaics of forest, pasture, cropland, and other land cover types. Though indirect evidence suggests that fragmentation increases risk of wind damage, few studies have found such impacts following severe storms. In this study, we ask whether fragmentation and forest type (old vs. second growth) were associated with variation in wind damage after a severe convective storm in a fragmented production landscape in western Amazonia. We applied linear spectral unmixing to Landsat 8 imagery from before and after the storm, and combined it with field observations of damage to map wind effects on forest structure and biomass (Figure 4, 5). We also used Landsat 8 imagery to map land cover with the goals of identifying old- and second-growth forest and characterizing fragmentation. We used these data to assess variation in wind disturbance across 95,596 hectares of forest, distributed over 6,110 patches. We find that fragmentation is significantly associated with wind damage, with damage severity higher at forest edges and in edgier, more isolated patches (Figure 7). Damage was more severe in old-growth than in second-growth forests, but this effect was weaker than that of fragmentation (Figure 8). These results illustrate the importance of considering spatial configuration and landscape context in planning tropical forest restoration and predicting carbon sequestration in second-growth forests. Future research should address the mechanisms behind these results, to minimize wind damage risk in second-growth forests so their carbon potential can be maximally achieved

A Qualitative Analysis of the Recommended Implementation and Replication of the Cure Violence Model According to New York City and Chicago Program Staff Interviews

Gun violence is a significant threat to the health and safety of many urban youth in the United States. Gun violence also has a high social and economic cost. One analysis estimated that the annual cost of gun violence in the U.S. is $100 billion (Cook, 2000). To combat this issue of urban gun violence, Dr. Gary Slutkin developed the CeaseFire program in Chicago in 1995 in order to reduce youth firearm violence. The CeaseFire intervention (now called Cure Violence) is a community-based program that involves the use of street outreach workers (often former gang members or former drug dealers) who cultivate relationships with high-risk youth in high crime urban areas. An independent evaluation found some evidence that the Chicago program led to significant reductions in gun violence (Skogan, 2009). However, several other studies have found mixed results regarding the effectiveness of the intervention (Butts J. G., 2015) (Skogan, 2009) (Webster D. W., 2013) (Fox, 2015) (Picard-Fritsche, 2010) (Wilson J. C., 2011). This study’s main goal was to gain insight into the recommended implementation and replication of the Cure Violence model by conducting semi-structured interviews with current program staff at six sites in New York City and the one remaining Cure Violence site in Chicago. Eight major themes emerged from the Cure Violence staff interviews. The individual-level theme that emerged was about hiring practices/recommendations. Organization-level themes that emerged included maintaining fidelity to the original Cure Violence model, the inclusion of hospital and school responders in the program, recommended training, how to prevent staff burnout, and how to prioritize the program budget (Themes 2-7). For example, participants recommended that all programs include school and hospital responders (Themes 3 and 4). Interview participants mentioned the stress of such a dangerous job and emphasized the need for a staff therapist (Theme 6). Participants mentioned the importance of funding year-round employment programs and participant activities, increasing staff salaries, and organizing community events (Theme 7). The community-level theme that emerged was about the recommended relationship with the police force. The participants emphasized that they could not have any relationship with the police force (Theme 8)