Laser-Induced Plasma Analysis for Surrogate Nuclear Debris

This work identifies analytical lines in laser-induced plasma for chemical analyses of major elements found in surrogate nuclear debris. These lines are evaluated for interferences and signal strength to insure they would be useful to measure relative concentrations. Compact, portable instruments are employed and can be included as part of a mobile nuclear forensics laboratory for field screening of nuclear debris and contamination. The average plasma temperature is measured using the well-established Boltzmann plot technique, and plasma\u27s average electron density is determined using empirical formulae based on Stark broadening of the H-alpha line. These measurements suggest existence of partial local thermal equilibrium

Implicit Theories of Emotion and Disruptive Behaviors in Adolescence: Pathways Through Emotion Dysregulation

Disruptive behavior, such as aggression and rule-breaking, tend to increase in adolescence and are linked to negative academic outcomes and psychosocial difficulties. Emotion dysregulation also increases from childhood to adolescence. An individual’s implicit beliefs about their emotions, such as whether they view emotions as changeable versus fixed, may relate to how they regulate their emotions. Adolescents who view emotions as fixed may be less likely to use adaptive emotion regulation strategies and experience emotion dysregulation. Viewing one’s anger as fixed may lead to more emotion dysregulation which may then contribute to aggression and violence towards others. Neurological studies show that emotion dysregulation and disruptive behavior activate similar brain structures, providing support that emotion dysregulation may be a possible pathway to disruptive behavior. There is evidence for implicit emotion theories impact on depression symptoms through emotion dysregulation, with little research on how it might impact disruptive behavior disorder symptoms. Therefore, we hypothesized that a fixed mindset towards emotions would relate to increased disruptive behavior symptoms, and this effect would be mediated by emotion dysregulation. Participants were 165 adolescents (M = 14.56 years; 33.7% female; 73.5% European American) and their parents, both of whom completed questionnaires via Qualtrics online platform. Adolescents reported on their implicit theories of emotion and emotion dysregulation. Parents reported on their adolescent’s disruptive behaviors, such as conduct problems and oppositionality. We tested the mediation models in SPSS using the Process macro v.4.2. There were no significant indirect effects of a fixed mindset on oppositionality. However, a fixed mindset had an indirect relation to conduct problems. There was a direct effect of a fixed mindset on conduct problems, which was no longer significant once emotion dysregulation was entered into the model. These results show that emotion dysregulation mediates the link between implicit emotion theories and conduct problems, but not oppositionality, in adolescence. There may have been no association with oppositionality behaviors because they typically occur at a younger age than conduct problems. Adolescents who view emotions as unchangeable may not attempt emotion regulation strategies as often, which leads to more conduct problems. In clinical settings, it might be advantageous to assess and address how youth view their emotions and support emotion regulation strategies. Although this study relied on cross-sectional self-report data, it provides an important first step to exploring risk factors and pathways for disruptive behaviors. Future research may benefit from experimental and longitudinal designs to investigate causality

First detection of fluorine on Mars: Implications for Gale Crater's geochemistry

International audienceVolatiles and especially halogens (F and Cl) have been recognized as important species in thegenesis and melting of planetary magmas. Data from the Chemical Camera instrument on board the MarsScience Laboratory rover Curiosity now provide the first in situ analyses of fluorine at the surface of Mars. Twoprincipal F-bearing mineral assemblages are identified. The first is associated with high aluminum and lowcalcium contents, in which the F-bearing phase is an aluminosilicate. It is found in conglomerates and mayindicate petrologically evolved sources. This is the first time that such a petrologic environment is found onMars. The second is represented by samples that have high calcium contents, in which the main F-bearingminerals are likely to be fluorapatites and/or fluorites. Fluorapatites are found in some sandstone and may bedetrital, while fluorites are also found in the conglomerates, possibly indicating low-T alteration processes