Why evolutionary psychology should abandon modularity

A debate surrounding modularity—the notion that the mind may be exclusively composed of distinct systems or modules—has held philosophers and psychologists captive for nearly 40 years. Concern about this thesis—which has come to be known as the massive modularity debate—serves as the primary grounds for skepticism of evolutionary psychology’s claims about the mind. In this article we argue that the entirety of this debate, and the very notion of massive modularity itself, is ill-posed and confused. In particular, it is based on a confusion about the level of analysis (or reduction) at which one is approaching the mind. Here we provide a framework for clarifying at what level of analysis one is approaching the mind and explain how a systemic failure to distinguish between different levels of analysis has led to profound misunderstandings of not only evolutionary psychology but also of the entire cognitivist enterprise of approaching the mind at the level of the mechanism. We furthermore suggest that confusions between different levels of analysis are endemic throughout the psychological sciences—extending well beyond issues of modularity and evolutionary psychology. Therefore, researchers in all areas should take preventive measures to avoid this confusion in the future

Progress Report on Iowa State University Burroughs Endowment Activities

Faculty in the Department of Animal Science initiated soliciting of funds in 1987 to establish a permanent endowment to recognize the distinguished career and major contributions of Dr. Wise Burroughs, a distinguished professor in animal science at Iowa State University. The endowment was established in the Iowa State University Foundation in 1991. The purpose of the fund is to support research and graduate education in the areas of fundamental factors regulating growth in food-producing animals, with emphasis on ruminants; to enhance growth of animals with the goal of improving the competitive position of ruminants as food-producing animals; and to develop innovative approaches to ruminant nutrition and/or growth enhancement as a means to improve desirability of meat produced by food animals. Dr. Burroughs’ research resulted in important and significant developments in technology for modern production systems for beef cattle. He was widely known for his ability to communicate complex ideas and research results for use by those involved in the animal industry. The current Burroughs Team has established three research projects: 1) Ghrelin--How does ghrelin affect blood and body composition in rats?; 2) Use of 25- hydroxyvitamin D3 to improve tenderness of beef; 3) Redesigning beef cattle to have a more healthful fatty acid composition

Estimation of Spin-Spin Interaction by Weak Measurement Scheme

Precisely knowing an interaction Hamiltonian is crucial to realize quantum information tasks, especially to experimentally demonstrate a quantum computer and a quantum memory. We propose a scheme to experimentally evaluate the spin-spin interaction for a two-qubit system by the weak measurement technique initiated by Yakir Aharonov and his colleagues. Furthermore, we numerically confirm our proposed scheme in a specific system of a nitrogen vacancy center in diamond. This means that the weak measurement can also be taken as a concrete example of the quantum process tomography.Comment: 4 pages, 1 table, 2 figures, to appear in Europhysics Letter

An earth pole-sitter using hybrid propulsion

In this paper we investigate optimal pole-sitter orbits using hybrid solar sail and solar electric propulsion (SEP). A pole-sitter is a spacecraft that is constantly above one of the Earth's poles, by means of a continuous thrust. Optimal orbits, that minimize propellant mass consumption, are found both through a shape-based approach, and solving an optimal control problem, using a direct method based on pseudo-spectral techniques. Both the pure SEP case and the hybrid case are investigated and compared. It is found that the hybrid spacecraft allows consistent savings on propellant mass fraction. Finally, is it shown that for sufficiently long missions (more than 8 years), a hybrid spacecraft, based on mid-term technology, enables a consistent reduction in the launch mass for a given payload, with respect to a pure SEP spacecraft

The Influence of Maternal Energy Status During Mid‐gestationon Beef Offspring Carcass Characteristics and Meat Quality

Research has suggested that maternal under‐nutrition may cause the development of a thrifty phenotype in the offspring, potentially resulting in greater adiposity and reduced muscle mass. These alterations in fat and muscle development could have lasting impacts on offspring growth, carcass characteristics, and meat quality. Thus, the objective of this study was to determine the influence of maternal energy status during mid‐gestation on offspring carcass characteristics and meat quality. To alter maternal energy status, cows either grazed pasture or were fed in a dry‐lot at 80% of the energy requirements for body weight maintenance during a mean period of 109 to 207 d of gestation. Changes in body condition score (BCS), body weight, ribeye area (REA), and 12th rib backfat were measured throughout mid‐gestation and were used to determine cow energy status [Positive (PES) or Negative (NES)]. Cows in the NES group had a significantly greater reduction in BCS, body weight, REA, and 12th rib backfat during mid‐gestation. Maternal energy status had no influence on offspring hot carcass weight, dressing percent, REA, percent kidney, pelvic, and heart fat, marbling score, percent intramuscular fat, objective color, or Warner‐Bratzler shear force. A tendency was seen for NES calves to have improvements in 12th rib backfat and USDA Yield Grade. A greater MRatio and IRatio (calculations used to compare the ratio of marbling (MRatio) and percent intramuscular fat (IRatio) with 12th rib backfat) were discovered in calves from cows experiencing a negative energy status during midgestation. These results suggest that maternal energy status during mid‐gestation may impact fat deposition in intramuscular and subcutaneous fat depots without impacting muscle mass

Superconducting properties of nanocrystalline MgB2_2 thin films made by an in situ annealing process

We have studied the structural and superconducting properties of MgB$_2$ thin films made by pulsed laser deposition followed by in situ annealing. The cross-sectional transmission electron microscopy reveals a nanocrystalline mixture of textured MgO and MgB$_2$ with very small grain sizes. A zero-resistance transition temperature ($T_{c0}$) of 34 K and a zero-field critical current density ($J_c$) of $1.3 \times 10^6$ A/cm$^2$ were obtained. The irreversibility field was $\sim$ 8 T at low temperatures, although severe pinning instability was observed. These bulk-like superconducting properties show that the in situ deposition process can be a viable candidate for MgB$_2$ Josephson junction technologies

Polariton Condensation and Lasing

The similarities and differences between polariton condensation in microcavities and standard lasing in a semiconductor cavity structure are reviewed. The recent experiments on "photon condensation" are also reviewed.Comment: 23 pages, 6 figures; Based on the book chapter in Exciton Polaritons in Microcavities, (Springer Series in Solid State Sciences vol. 172), V. Timofeev and D. Sanvitto, eds., (Springer, 2012

Technology requirements of exploration beyond Neptune by solar sail propulsion

This paper provides a set of requirements for the technology development of a solar sail propelled Interstellar Heliopause Probe mission. The mission is placed in the context of other outer solar systems missions, ranging from a Kuiper Belt mission through to an Oort cloud mission. Mission requirements are defined and a detailed parametric trajectory analysis and launch date scan performed. Through analysis of the complete mission trade space a set of critical technology development requirements are identified which include an advanced lightweight composite High-Gain Antenna, a high-efficiency Ka-band travelling-wave tube amplifier and a radioisotope thermoelectric generator with power density of approximately 12 W/kg. It is also shown that the Interstellar Heliopause Probe mission necessitates the use of a spinning sail, limiting the direct application of current hardware development activities. A Kuiper Belt mission is then considered as a pre-curser to the Interstellar Heliopause Probe, while it is also shown through study of an Oort cloud mission that the Interstellar Heliopause Probe mission is the likely end-goal of any future solar sail technology development program. As such, the technology requirements identified to enable the Interstellar Heliopause Probe must be enabled through all prior missions, with each mission acting as an enabling facilitator towards the next