Multi-model mapping of phonemic fluency

The voluntary generation of non-overlearned responses is usually assessed with phonemic fluency. Like most frontal tasks, it draws upon different complex processes and systems whose precise nature is still incompletely understood. Many claimed aspects regarding the pattern of phonemic fluency performance and its underlying anatomy remain controversial. Major limitations of past investigations include small sample size, scant analysis of phonemic output and methodologically insufficient lesion analysis approaches. We investigated a large number of patients with focal unilateral right or left frontal (n = 110) or posterior (n = 100) or subcortical (n = 65) lesions imaged with magnetic resonance or computed tomography and compared their performance on the number of overall responses, words produced over time, extremely infrequent/unknown words and inappropriate words generated. We also employed, for the first time parcel‐based lesion-symptom mapping, tract-wise statistical analysis as well as Bayesian multi-variate analysis based on meta-analytically defined functional region of interest, including their interactions. We found that left frontal damage was associated with greater impairment than right frontal or posterior damage on overall fluency performance, suggesting that phonemic fluency shows specificity to frontal lesions. We also found that subcorticals, similar to frontals, performed significantly worse than posteriors on overall performance suggesting that subcortical regions are also involved. However, only frontal effects were found for words produced over time, extremely infrequent/unknown and inappropriate words. Parcel‐based lesion-symptom mapping analysis found that worse fluency performance was associated with damage to the posterior segment of the left frontal middle and superior gyrus, the left dorsal anterior cingulate gyrus and caudate nucleus. Tract-wise statistical analysis revealed that disconnections of left frontal tracts are critical. Bayesian multi-variate models of lesions and disconnectome maps implicated left middle and inferior frontal and left dorsomedial frontal regions. Our study suggests that a set of well localized left frontal areas together with subcortical regions and several left frontal tracts are critical for word generation. We speculate that a left lateralized network exists. It involves medial, frontal regions supporting the process of ‘energization’, which sustains activation for the duration of the task and middle and inferior frontal regions concerned with ‘selection’, required due to the competition produced by associated stored words, respectively. The methodology adopted represents a promising and empirically robust approach in furthering our understanding of the neurocognitive architecture underpinning executive processes

INFX GUIDE: DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY BILATERAL AGREEMENTS FOR COOPERATION IN THE FIELD OF RADIOACTIVE WASTE MANAGEMENT (INFX: INTERNATIONAL INFORMATION EXCHANGE)

As the U. S. Department of Energy (DOE) and DOE contractors have increased the magnitude and scope of their cooperative activities with other nations in the nuclear fuel cycle and waste management field, a need has developed for ready sources of information concerning foreign waste management programs, DOE technology exchange policies, bilateral fuel cycle and waste management agreements and plans and activities to implement those agreements. The INFX (International InLormation E~change) Guide is one of a series of documents that have been prepared to provide that information. The INFX Guide has been compiled under the charter of PNL's International Support Office (IPSO) to maintain for DOE a center to collect, organize, evaluate and disseminate information on foreign and international radioactive waste management programs. Because the information in this document is constantly subject to change, the document is assembled in loose-leaf form to accommodate frequent updates

The effects of perceived and received support on objective performance outcome.

This is a postprint of an article published in European Journal of Sport Science, 2008, Vol. 8, Issue 6, pp. 359 – 368 © 2008 copyright Taylor & Francis. European Journal of Sport Science is available online at: http://www.tandfonline.com/loi/tejs20In this study, we examined the main and stress-buffering effects of perceived and received support upon objective performance outcome. The sample consisted of 123 male British high performance golfers, mean age 25.3 years (SD = 5.4). Participants completed measures of perceived support, stressors, stress, and received support before competitions. After the competitions, performance outcome (number of shots) was recorded. When both types of support were considered separately, there were significant main effects for perceived (ΔR2 = .08, b = -.81, p < .01) and received support (ΔR2 = .05, b = -.68, p < .01) on performance. There were also significant stress-buffering effects for perceived (ΔR2 = .03, b = -.48, p = .02) and received support (ΔR2 = .06, b = -.61, p < .01). When both types of support were considered simultaneously, the significant main effect (DR2 = .09, p < .01) was primarily attributable to perceived support (b = -.63, p = .02). The significant stress-buffering effect (DR2 = .06, p = .01) was primarily attributable to received support (b = -.56, p = .04). These results demonstrate the beneficial influence of social support on performance. The findings highlight the need to recognise the distinction between perceived and received support, both in terms of theory and the design of social support interventions with athletes

Comparison of selected foreign plans and practices for spent fuel and high-level waste management

This report describes the major parameters for management of spent nuclear fuel and high-level radioactive wastes in selected foreign countries as of December 1989 and compares them with those in the United States. The foreign countries included in this study are Belgium, Canada, France, the Federal Republic of Germany, Japan, Sweden, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom. All the countries are planning for disposal of spent fuel and/or high-level wastes in deep geologic repositories. Most countries (except Canada and Sweden) plan to reprocess their spent fuel and vitrify the resultant high-level liquid wastes; in comparison, the US plans direct disposal of spent fuel. The US is planning to use a container for spent fuel as the primary engineered barrier. The US has the most developed repository concept and has one of the earliest scheduled repository startup dates. The repository environment presently being considered in the US is unique, being located in tuff above the water table. The US also has the most prescriptive regulations and performance requirements for the repository system and its components. 135 refs., 8 tabs

Comparison of Selected Foreign Plans and Practices for Spent Fuel and High-Level Waste Management

This report describes the major parameters for management of spent nuclear fuel and high-level radioactive wastes in selected foreign countries as of December 1989 and compares them with those in the United States. The foreign countries included in this study are Belgium, Canada, France, the Federal Republic of Germany, Japan, Sweden, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom. All the countries are planning for disposal of spent fuel and/or high-level wastes in deep geologic repositories. Most countries (except Canada and Sweden) plan to reprocess their spent fuel and vitrify the resultant high-level liquid wastes; in comparison, the US plans direct disposal of spent fuel. The US is planning to use a container for spent fuel as the primary engineered barrier. The US has the most developed repository concept and has one of the earliest scheduled repository startup dates. The repository environment presently being considered in the US is unique, being located in tuff above the water table. The US also has the most prescriptive regulations and performance requirements for the repository system and its components. 135 refs., 8 tabs

How Does Perceived Support Lead to Better Performance? An Examination of Potential Mechanisms

This is a postprint of an article published in Journal of Applied Sport Psychology, 2009, Vol. 21, pp. 421 – 429 © 2009 copyright Taylor & Francis. Journal of Applied Sport Psychology is available online at: http://www.tandfonline.com/toc/uasp20/currentUsing a high-performance sample of 118 golfers, we examined the relationship between perceived support and performance. Observed variable path analysis revealed that the beneficial effects of perceived support were primarily attributable to esteem support. High levels of esteem support were associated with appraising a competition as less of a threat. Esteem support was also positively associated with situational control, which was positively associated with challenge appraisals and negatively associated with threat appraisals. Challenge appraisals were associated with better performance and threat appraisals with poorer performance. These results highlight possible mechanisms underlying the relationship between esteem support and performance

Kentucky bluegrass invaded rangeland: ecosystem implications and adaptive management approaches

USDA-NRCS National Resources Inventory data indicates that between 2011 and 2015 Kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis) was present in 14.5% on non-Federal rangelands nationally and 86% in North Dakota, 63% in South Dakota, 40% in Kansas, 38% in Nebraska, and 32% in Montana. Native grasslands provide important services such as nutrient cycling, forage and habitat for wildlife and livestock, pollinator habitat, carbon capture, and regulation of hydrologic cycles, among others. Therefore, grassland degradation due to invasive plant species has far-ranging consequences for both human and ecological systems. We present information from a symposium at the 2019 Society for Range Management Annual Meeting. The symposium covered three topic areas that have been the foci of NGP Kentucky bluegrass research in the last five years: (1) impacts of Kentucky bluegrass on ecosystem services (especially soil water regulation, pollinator services, and forage production); (2) opportunities for using adaptive management approaches that include natural disturbances (such as fire and livestock grazing) for restoring and maintaining diverse grasslands; and (3) how to effectively overcome social barriers to treatment options aimed at restoring these grasslands. We present brief summaries of research progress on these topics. We conclude that despite great advances in knowledge related to Kentucky bluegrass invaded ecosystems there are still knowledge gaps regarding management of this novel ecosystem under changing climatic conditions as well as challenges regarding large scale adoption of management practices needed to manage these systems appropriately