SERENITY: THE FUTURE OF COGNITIVE MODULATION FOR THE HYPER ENABLED OPERATOR

In the Special Operations community, cognitive enhancement and resilience is at the forefront of the 2035 Hyper Enabled Operator Program (HEO). The United States Special Operations Command’s vision is to combine cutting-edge communications and data capabilities into a next generation tactical system for the end user. Using algorithms and autonomous systems to enhance the ability to make rational decisions faster can ultimately determine life or death on the battlefield. Over the past several years, cognitive enhancement with the introduction of brain computer interface (BCI) technology has had major breakthroughs in the medical and science fields. This thesis looks to analyze BCI technology for future cognitive dominance and cognitive overmatch in the Hyper Enabled Operator. Machine-assisted cognitive enhancement is not beyond reach for special operations; throughout the research and after multiple interviews with subject matter experts, it has been concluded that interfaces using transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS), median nerve stimulation (MNS), or several other exploratory procedures have been successful with enhancing cognition and reducing cognitive load. Special Operations should not shy away from transformational innovative technology or wait for commercial or lab-tested solutions. To start, Special Operations should foster avant-garde theories that provide solutions and evolve ideas into unsophisticated prototypes that can be fielded immediately.Major, United States ArmyApproved for public release. Distribution is unlimited

Repeated Evolution of Digital Adhesion in Geckos: A Reply to Harrington and Reeder

We published a phylogenetic comparative analysis that found geckos had gained and lost adhesive toepads multiple times over their long evolutionary history (Gamble et al., PLoS One, 7, 2012, e39429). This was consistent with decades of morphological studies showing geckos had evolved adhesive toepads on multiple occasions and that the morphology of geckos with ancestrally padless digits can be distinguished from secondarily padless forms. Recently, Harrington & Reeder (J. Evol. Biol., 30, 2017, 313) reanalysed data from Gamble et al. (PLoS One, 7, 2012, e39429) and found little support for the multiple origins hypothesis. Here, we argue that Harrington and Reeder failed to take morphological evidence into account when devising ancestral state reconstruction models and that these biologically unrealistic models led to erroneous conclusions about the evolution of adhesive toepads in geckos

A paralysis in public health policy: water fluoridation in Queensland (1996-2006)

By focusing on developments between 1996 and 2006, this paper explains the reasons for one of Australia’s public health inconsistencies, the comparatively low adoption of adjusted water fluoridation in Queensland. As such, this work involved literature review and traditional historical method. In Queensland, parliamentary support for water fluoridation is conditional on community approval. Political ambivalence and the constraints of the “Fluoridation of Public Water Supplies Act (1963)” Qld have hindered the advocacy of water fluoridation. The political circumstance surrounding the “Lord Mayor’s Taskforce on Fluoridation Report” (1997) influenced its findings and confirms that Australia’s biggest local authority, the Brisbane City Council, failed to authoritatively analyse water fluoridation. In 2004, a private member’s bill to mandate fluoridation failed in a spectacular fashion. In 2005, an official systems review of Queensland Health recommended public debate about water fluoridation. Our principal conclusion is that without mandatory legislation, widespread implementationof water fluoridation in Queensland is most unlikely

What screening tests should you use to evaluate a man with low testosterone?

Obtain a repeat morning testosterone level, as well as levels of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), and prolactin to help understand the cause of low testosterone when there is a lack of adequate empiric evidence to guide evaluation, advise the experts. When low or normal FSH and LH levels accompany low testosterone, evaluation of the pituitary gland is recommended. Chromosomal studies are indicated in prepubertal males with low testosterone and elevated FSH and LH levels to assess for Klinefelter syndrome. Perform a semen analysis if fertility is an issue. Bone densitometry is indicated in men with chronic hypogonadism to identify increased risk of hip fracture (strength of all recommendations: C, consensus guidelines and disease-oriented evidence)

Climatic and Biogeochemical Effects of a Galactic Gamma-Ray Burst

It is likely that one or more gamma-ray bursts within our galaxy have strongly irradiated the Earth in the last Gy. This produces significant atmospheric ionization and dissociation, resulting in ozone depletion and DNA-damaging ultraviolet solar flux reaching the surface for up to a decade. Here we show the first detailed computation of two other significant effects. Visible opacity of NO2 is sufficient to reduce solar energy at the surface up to a few percent, with the greatest effect at the poles, which may be sufficient to initiate glaciation. Rainout of dilute nitric acid is could have been important for a burst nearer than our conservative nearest burst. These results support the hypothesis that the characteristics of the late Ordovician mass extinction are consistent with GRB initiation.Comment: 12 pages, 2 figures, in press at Geophysical Research Letters. Minor revisions, including details on falsifying the hypothesi

Experimental X-ray Stress Analysis Procedures for Ultra High Strength Materials

X-ray stress analysis procedures for accurate measurement of elastic strain in high strength steel

Ozone Depletion from Nearby Supernovae

Estimates made in the 1970's indicated that a supernova occurring within tens of parsecs of Earth could have significant effects on the ozone layer. Since that time, improved tools for detailed modeling of atmospheric chemistry have been developed to calculate ozone depletion, and advances have been made in theoretical modeling of supernovae and of the resultant gamma-ray spectra. In addition, one now has better knowledge of the occurrence rate of supernovae in the galaxy, and of the spatial distribution of progenitors to core-collapse supernovae. We report here the results of two-dimensional atmospheric model calculations that take as input the spectral energy distribution of a supernova, adopting various distances from Earth and various latitude impact angles. In separate simulations we calculate the ozone depletion due to both gamma-rays and cosmic rays. We find that for the combined ozone depletion roughly to double the ``biologically active'' UV flux received at the surface of the Earth, the supernova must occur at <8 pc. Based on the latest data, the time-averaged galactic rate of core-collapse supernovae occurring within 8 pc is ~1.5/Gyr. In comparing our calculated ozone depletions with those of previous studies, we find them to be significantly less severe than found by Ruderman (1974), and consistent with Whitten et al. (1976). In summary, given the amplitude of the effect, the rate of nearby supernovae, and the ~Gyr time scale for multicellular organisms on Earth, this particular pathway for mass extinctions may be less important than previously thought.Comment: 24 pages, 4 Postscript figures, to appear in The Astrophysical Journal, 2003 March 10, vol. 58

Natural Cycles, Gases

The major gaseous components of the exhaust of stratospheric aircraft are expected to be the products of combustion (CO2 and H2O), odd nitrogen (NO, NO2 HNO3), and products indicating combustion inefficiencies (CO and total unburned hydrocarbons). The species distributions are produced by a balance of photochemical and transport processes. A necessary element in evaluating the impact of aircraft exhaust on the lower stratospheric composition is to place the aircraft emissions in perspective within the natural cycles of stratospheric species. Following are a description of mass transport in the lower stratosphere and a discussion of the natural behavior of the major gaseous components of the stratospheric aircraft exhaust