Defectors cannot be detected during"small talk" with strangers.

To account for the widespread human tendency to cooperate in one-shot social dilemmas, some theorists have proposed that cooperators can be reliably detected based on ethological displays that are difficult to fake. Experimental findings have supported the view that cooperators can be distinguished from defectors based on "thin slices" of behavior, but the relevant cues have remained elusive, and the role of the judge's perspective remains unclear. In this study, we followed triadic conversations among unacquainted same-sex college students with unannounced dyadic one-shot prisoner's dilemmas, and asked participants to guess the PD decisions made toward them and among the other two participants. Two other sets of participants guessed the PD decisions after viewing videotape of the conversations, either with foreknowledge (informed), or without foreknowledge (naïve), of the post-conversation PD. Only naïve video viewers approached better-than-chance prediction accuracy, and they were significantly accurate at predicting the PD decisions of only opposite-sexed conversation participants. Four ethological displays recently proposed to cue defection in one-shot social dilemmas (arms crossed, lean back, hand touch, and face touch) failed to predict either actual defection or guesses of defection by any category of observer. Our results cast doubt on the role of "greenbeard" signals in the evolution of human prosociality, although they suggest that eavesdropping may be more informative about others' cooperative propensities than direct interaction

Hydrogenation of 2-methylnaphthalene in a Trickle Bed Reactor Over Bifunctional Nickel Catalysts

Biomass thermal conversion processes, such as pyrolysis, tend to produce mixtures of mono- and poly-aromatic species. While the high aromatic content is desirable in gasoline fractions, middle-distillate cuts, particularly jet fuel and diesel, require upgrading via hydrogenation and ring opening to achieve better combustion characteristics. There have been many proposed methods for producing drop-in fuels from woody biomass, one of them being Thermal DeOxygenation (TDO). The TDO process converts organic acids from cellulose hydrolysis into a low-oxygen bio-oil containing large amounts of substituted naphthalene compounds. Poly-aromatic molecules, such as those found in TDO oil, have low cetane numbers (CN), particularly due to their high aromatic content. Even after deep hydrogenation, certain combustion characteristics, such as specific volume, hydrogen content, and CN may still be below required specifications. Thus, naphthenic ring opening coupled with aromatic hydrogenation is the desired process to enhance the fuel characteristics. This research focuses on the hydrogenation of 2-methylnaphthalene (2-MN) to increase the CN. These reactions are performed industrially using a precious metal catalyst (e.g., based on palladium or platinum), but because of their intrinsically high cost and sensitivity to impurities, we focused on supported nickel catalysts to perform the desired reactions. We hydrogenated 2-MN in a down-flow trickle-bed reactor at a variety of operating conditions. In this research, we compared several Ni catalysts to a commercial Ni catalyst with respect to reaction rate and product selectivity. Impregnated Ni catalysts showed higher activation energies and lower reaction rates than the commercial catalysts, but coprecipitated Ni catalysts produced products with similar selectivities as the commercial catalyst. We found that higher amounts of Ni in the coprecipitated catalysts slightly increased the cis/trans-methyldecalin ratio, whereas higher temperatures decreased the same ratio. Impregnated coprecipitated catalysts with Ni and a precious metal also changed the cis/trans-methyldecalin ratio. Although bimetallic IrNi and PdNi catalysts barely altered the ratio, the PtNi catalyst was selective towards trans-methyldecalin, whereas RuNi was selective towards cis- methyldecalin. We provided a possible explanation for that observed selectivity as well as other trends throughout this research

Catalytic Ring Opening of Mono- and Bicyclic Compounds for the Production of Renewable Diesel and Jet Fuel

Thermal DeOxygenation (TDO) is a process that converts organic acids produced from cellulose hydrolysis and dehydration into a low-oxygen bio-oil containing substituted naphthene compounds. The high aromatic content is desirable for gasoline fractions, but middle distillates such as diesel and jet fuel require upgrading via hydrogenation and ring opening to achieve better combustion characteristics. Previous research has demonstrated that TDO oil could be hydrogenated over high-surface-area nickel catalysts to improve the combustion characteristics, but the cetane number was still below the specifications. Multiple supported catalysts were synthesized by ion exchange and incipient wetness impregnation, and the catalysts were characterized by N2 physisorption, H2 chemisorption, NH3 temperature programmed desorption, and X-ray diffraction. Catalysts were evaluated for the ring opening of decalin, a bicyclic molecule with similar composition to compounds found in hydrogenated TDO oil. Using our trickle-bed reactor, we selected catalysts that showed promise due to a high product cetane number and high activity (as measured by turnover frequency or reaction rate). The best candidate, Ir/SiO2, yielded products with a cetane number increase of 5-6 points and possessed a high activity (5.7 ks-1, 481 mmol g-1 h-1). Iridium and platinum catalysts were used to determine the ring opening mechanisms of mono- and tri-branched alkylnaphthenes. We utilized product selectivities to ascertain the endocyclic hydrogenolysis mechanism and we observed these differences as the substituent size changed. Iridium catalysts preferentially cleaved unsubstituted C-C bonds, while Pt/SiO2 cleaved substituted bonds, especially as the substituent bulkiness increased. Tri-branched alkylnaphthenes were also ring opened, and we observed the product distribution diverged from the three commonly accepted mechanisms. Lastly, we focused on the application of these catalysts to produce diesel and jet fuel from TDO oil. Several catalysts were evaluated, and the Ir/SiO2 catalyst was determined to be optimal for this process. We also evaluated several different methods of converting TDO oil into fuels. The Ir/SiO2 catalyst proved tolerable of unsaturated compounds in the feedstock, and we showed that the ring opened TDO oil products could be used as blending agents or drop-in substitutes for diesel and jet fuels

The Aquatic Heteroptera (Hemiptera) of Marshes in the Florida Everglades

The Everglades is a large subtropical wetland that has been modified heavily by humans and now is undergoing restoration. Aquatic and semiaquatic Heteroptera (Hemiptera) in the infraorders Gerromorpha and Nepomorpha were collected in the Florida Everglades using standardized 1-m2throw-traps. Sampling efforts were conducted in marshes distributed from southern Everglades National Park, north throughout the Water Conservation Areas to Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge. In total, 12,833 individuals were identified representing 17 species in 13 genera and 8 families (Belostomatidae, Corixidae, Gerridae, Mesoveliidae, Naucoridae, Nepidae, Veliidae). The naucorid Pelocoris femoratus (Palisot de Beauvois) (Hemiptera: Naucoridae) was by far the most abundant species, whereas 2 other species, Belostoma lutarium (Stål) (Hemiptera: Belostomatidae) and Neogerris hesione Kirkaldy (Hemiptera: Gerridae), were widespread but less abundant. Two species, Abedus immaculatus (Say) (Hemiptera: Belostomatidae) and Pelocoris balius La Rivers (Hemiptera: Naucoridae) had localized distributions, whereas all other species were collected rarely. We discuss the abundance and distribution of species recorded, along with unique traits and the biology of the aquatic Heteroptera in the Everglades and implications for the restoration of the Everglades

ABO, D Blood Typing and Subtyping Using Plug-Based Microfluidics

A plug-based microfluidic approach was used to perform multiple agglutination assays in parallel without crosscontamination and using only microliter volumes of blood. To perform agglutination assays on-chip, a microfluidic device was designed to combine aqueous streams of antibody, buffer, and red blood cells (RBCs) to form droplets 30-40 nL in volume surrounded by a fluorinated carrier fluid. Using this approach, proof-of-concept ABO and D (Rh) blood typing and group A subtyping were successfully performed by screening against multiple antigens without cross-contamination. On-chip subtyping distinguished common A1 and A2 RBCs by using a lectinbased dilution assay. This flexible platform was extended to differentiate rare, weakly agglutinating RBCs of A subtypes by analyzing agglutination avidity as a function of shear rate. Quantitative analysis of changes in contrast within plugs revealed subtleties in agglutination kinetics and enabled characterization of agglutination of rare blood subtypes. Finally, this platform was used to detect bacteria, demonstrating the potential usefulness of this assay in detecting sepsis and the potential for applications in agglutination-based viral detection. The speed, control, and minimal sample consumption provided by this technology present an advance for point of care applications, blood typing of newborns, and general blood assays in small model organisms

Biofuel Feedstock Assessment for Selected Countries

Findings from biofuel feedstock production assessments and projections of future supply are presented and discussed. The report aims to improve capabilities to assess the degree to which imported biofuel could contribute to meeting future U.S. targets to reduce dependence on imported oil. The study scope was focused to meet time and resource requirements. A screening process identified Argentina, Brazil, Canada, China, Colombia, India, Mexico, and the Caribbean Basin Initiative (CBI) region for initial analysis, given their likely role in future feedstock supply relevant to U.S. markets. Supply curves for selected feedstocks in these countries are projected for 2012, 2017 and 2027. The supply functions, along with calculations to reflect estimated supplies available for export and/or biofuel production, were provided to DOE for use in a broader energy market allocation study. Potential cellulosic supplies from crop and forestry residues and perennials were also estimated for 2017 and 2027. The analysis identified capacity to potentially double or triple feedstock production by 2017 in some cases. A majority of supply growth is derived from increasing the area cultivated (especially sugarcane in Brazil). This is supplemented by improving yields and farming practices. Most future supplies of corn and wheat are projected to be allocated to food and feed. Larger shares of future supplies of sugarcane, soybean and palm oil production will be available for export or biofuel. National policies are catalyzing investments in biofuel industries to meet targets for fuel blending that generally fall in the 5-10% range. Social and environmental concerns associated with rapid expansion of feedstock production are considered. If the 2017 projected feedstock supply calculated as ‘available’ for export or biofuel were converted to fuel, it would represent the equivalent of about 38 billion gallons of gasoline. Sugarcane and bagasse dominate the available supply, representing 64% of the total. Among the nations studied, Brazil is the source of about two-thirds of available supplies, followed distantly by Argentina (12%), India and the CBI region

Impact of Age and Estimated Glomerular Filtration Rate on the Glycemic Efficacy and Safety of Canagliflozin: A Pooled Analysis of Clinical Studies.

AbstractObjectiveReduced efficacy has been reported in the elderly; it may be a consequence of an age-dependent decline in estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) rather than ageing per se. We sought to determine the impact of these 2 parameters, as well as sex and baseline body mass index (BMI), on the efficacy and safety of canagliflozin, a sodium glucose co-transporter 2 inhibitor, in people with type 2 diabetes.MethodsData were pooled from 6 randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled studies (18 or 26 weeks; N=4053). Changes in glycated hemoglobin (A1C) and systolic blood pressure (BP) from baseline with canagliflozin 100 mg and 300 mg and placebo were evaluated in subgroups by sex, baseline BMI, baseline age and baseline eGFR. Safety was assessed by reports of adverse events.ResultsPlacebo-subtracted reductions in A1C with canagliflozin 100 mg and 300 mg were similar in men and women. A1C reductions with canagliflozin were seen across BMI subgroups and in participants aged <65 years and ≥65 years. Significantly greater placebo-subtracted reductions in A1C were seen with both canagliflozin doses in participants with higher baseline eGFR (≥90 mL/min/1.73 m2). Reductions in systolic BP were seen with canagliflozin across subgroups of sex, BMI, age and eGFR. A1C reductions with canagliflozin were similar for participants aged <65 or ≥65 years who had baseline eGFR ≥60 mL/min/1.73 m2 and were smaller in older than in younger participants with baseline eGFR 45 to <60 mL/min/1.73 m2. The overall incidence of adverse events was similar across treatment groups regardless of sex, baseline BMI, baseline age or baseline eGFR.ConclusionsCanagliflozin improved glycemic control, reduced BP and was generally well tolerated in people with type 2 diabetes across a range of ages, BMIs and renal functions