Coherent Description for Hitherto Unexplained Radioactivities by Super- and Hyperdeformed Isomeric States

Recently long-lived high spin super- and hyperdeformed isomeric states with unusual radioactive decay properties have been discovered. Based on these newly observed modes of radioactive decay, consistent interpretations are suggested for previously unexplained phenomena seen in nature. These are the Po halos, the low-energy enhanced 4.5 MeV alpha-particle group proposed to be due to an isotope of a superheavy element with Z = 108, and the giant halos.Comment: 8 pages, 2 figures, 1 table, to be published in Int. J. Mod. Phys.

Power of peers: How effective are Indiana farmer networks?

Several formal farmer networks have emerged throughout the Midwest to address the issue of nitrogen runoff and eutrophication. In Indiana, the On-Farm Network and Adapt Network attempt to enable farmers to learn together about improved nitrogen management practices. The goal of this study is to determine the effectiveness of these formal farmer networks. The research was guided by two main questions; (1) Are farmers who participate in the networks actually implementing better nutrient management practices? (2) Are participating farmers spreading their knowledge of better nutrient management practices to other farmers outside the formal networks? ^ Interviews with select network members were conducted in early 2014 and a mail survey of the 250 network members was conducted in the summer of 2014. Survey results were compared to the results of a statewide Indiana Nutrient Management Survey conducted during the winter of 2014. ^ The results show that network farmers vary significantly from non-network farmers in multiple ways. Network farmers have more positive attitudes towards water quality, perceive water pollution as a more severe problem, and utilize more conservation practices than non-network farmers. Network farmers also vary in demographic characteristics. These network farmers were not different because of their involvement in the networks, but appear to have been different from non-network farmers prior to their involvement in the networks. Few farmers say that they have changed their nitrogen management practices because of what they have learned through their involvement with a network. Diffusion of nutrient management practices outside the networks seems very limited. .^ The findings do not suggest that farmer networks are a bad idea, but rather point to ways that they can be improved. For example, instead of targeting the farmers who have already adopted improved nitrogen management practices, a more effective arrangement would be to find a handful of progressive, influential farmers in each group and surround them with farmers who need to adopt better nitrogen management practices. The few progressive farmers serve as examples to the others, and the farmers that need help receive the data and assistance they need to improve their farming practices. Another recommendation is to increase the number of group meetings during the year. One meeting is insufficient to build the trust and report necessary for farmers to accept and adopt the technologies being shared by others. Finally, outreach should focus on economic arguments for improved nitrogen management. The network farmers are motivated by economics than environmental concerns and outreach efforts should reflect that

Super- and Hyperdeformed Isomeric States and Long-Lived Superheavy Elements

The recent discoveries of the long-lived high spin super- and hyperdeformed isomeric states and their unusual radioactive decay properties are described. Based on their existence a consistent interpretation is given to the production of the long-lived superheavy element with Z = 112, via secondary reactions in CERN W targets, and to the low energy and very enhanced alpha-particle groups seen in various actinide fractions separated from the same W target. In addition, consistent interpretations are suggested for previously unexplained phenomena seen in nature. These are the Po halos, the low-energy enhanced 4.5 MeV alpha-particle group proposed to be due to an isotope of a superheavy element with Z = 108, and the giant halos.Comment: 4 pages. Contribution to the 2nd Int. Conf. on the Chemistry and Physics of the Transactinide Elements (TAN 03) Napa California, November 200

Solubility and diffusion of oxygen in tantalum

Solubility of oxygen in tantalum determined by resistivity techniqu

Predicting human cooperation in the Prisoner’s Dilemma using case-based decision theory

In this paper, we show that Case-based decision theory, proposed by Gilboa and Schmeidler (Q J Econ 110(3):605–639, 1995), can explain the aggregate dynamics of cooperation in the repeated Prisoner’s Dilemma, as observed in the experiments performed by Camera and Casari (Am Econ Rev 99:979–1005, 2009). Moreover, we find CBDT provides a better fit to the dynamics of cooperation than does the existing Probit model, which is the first time such a result has been found. We also find that humans aspire to a payoff above the mutual defection outcome but below the mutual cooperation outcome, which suggests they hope, but are not confident, that cooperation can be achieved. Finally, our best-fitting parameters suggest that circumstances with more details are easier to recall. We make a prediction for future experiments: if the repeated PD were run for more periods, then we would be begin to see an increase in cooperation, most dramatically in the second treatment, where history is observed but identities are not. This is the first application of Case-based decision theory to a strategic context and the first empirical test of CBDT in such a context. It is also the first application of bootstrapped standard errors to an agent-based model

The Sensitivity of Auditory-Motor Representations to Subtle Changes in Auditory Feedback While Singing

Singing requires accurate control of the fundamental frequency (F0) of the voice. This study examined trained singers’ and untrained singers’ (nonsingers’) sensitivity to subtle manipulations in auditory feedback and the subsequent effect on the mapping between F0 feedback and vocal control. Participants produced the consonant-vowel /ta/ while receiving auditory feedback that was shifted up and down in frequency. Results showed that singers and nonsingers compensated to a similar degree when presented with frequency-altered feedback (FAF); however, singers’ F0 values were consistently closer to the intended pitch target. Moreover, singers initiated their compensatory responses when auditory feedback was shifted up or down 6 cents or more, compared to nonsingers who began compensating when feedback was shifted up 26 cents and down 22 cents. Additionally, examination of the first 50 ms of vocalization indicated that participants commenced subsequent vocal utterances, during FAF, near the F0 value on previous shift trials. Interestingly, nonsingers commenced F0 productions below the pitch target and increased their F0 until they matched the note. Thus, singers and nonsingers rely on an internal model to regulate voice F0, but singers’ models appear to be more sensitive in response to subtle discrepancies in auditory feedback

Multilayered printed circuit boards inspected by X-ray laminography

Technique produces high resolution cross-sectional radiographs with close interplane spacing for inspecting multilayer boards to be used in providing circuitry routing and module structural support

Selection of reference genes for diurnal and developmental time-course real-time PCR expression analyses in lettuce

Background: Real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) analysis is a low cost and sensitive technique that is widely used to measure levels of gene expression. Selecting and validating appropriate reference genes for normalising target gene expression should be the first step in any expression study to avoid inaccurate results. Results: In this study, ten candidate genes were tested for their suitability for use as reference genes in diurnal and developmental timecourse experiments in lettuce. The candidate reference genes were then used to normalise the expression pattern of the FLOWERING LOCUS T (FT) gene, one of key genes involved in the flowering time pathway whose expression is known to vary throughout the day and at different stages of development. Three reference genes, LsPP2A-1 (PROTEIN PHOSPHATASE 2A-1), LsPP2AA3 (PROTEIN PHOSPHATASE 2A REGULATORY SUBUNIT A3) and LsTIP41 (TAP42-INTERACTING PROTEIN OF 41 kDa), were the most stably expressed candidate reference genes throughout both the diurnal and developmental timecourse experiments. In the developmental experiment using just LsPP2A-1 and LsTIP41 as reference genes would be sufficient for accurate normalisation, whilst in the diurnal experiment all three reference genes, LsPP2A-1, LsPP2AA3 and LsTIP41, would be necessary. The FT expression pattern obtained demonstrates that the use of multiple and robust reference genes for RT-qPCR expression analyses results in a more accurate and reliable expression profile. Conclusions: Reference genes suitable for use in diurnal and developmental timecourse experiments in lettuce were identified and used to produce a more accurate and reliable analysis of lsFT expression levels than previously obtained in such timecourse experiments