Arkansas Cotton Variety Test 2015

The primary goal of the Arkansas Cotton Variety Test is to provide unbiased data regarding the agronomic performance of cotton varieties and advanced breeding lines in the major cotton-growing areas of Arkansas. This information helps seed companies establish marketing strategies and assists producers in choosing varieties to plant. These annual evaluations will then facilitate the inclusion of new, improved genetic material in Arkansas cotton production

Arkansas Cotton Variety Test 2014

The primary goal of the Arkansas Cotton Variety Test is to provide unbiased data regarding the agronomic performance of cotton varieties and advanced breeding lines in the major cotton-growing areas of Arkansas. This information helps seed companies establish marketing strategies and assists producers in choosing varieties to plant

Clinical Evaluation of a Universal Adhesive in Non-Carious Cervical Lesions

Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI)The “total-etch” or “etch-and-rinse” systems have been the gold standard of dental bonding for decades. However, these systems are very technique-sensitive and time-consuming compared to newer “self-etch” or “self-adhesive” systems and have been implicated in cases of postoperative sensitivity. The purpose of this study was to compare the effects of two surface treatment protocols (self-etch vs. selective-etch) on the clinical performance of a universal adhesive and resin composite in Class V non-carious cervical lesions (NCCLs). Thirty-three volunteer subjects (17 male; 16 female; age range = 20 to 75 years) having at least two NCCLs were selected from patients of record at Indiana University School of Dentistry. Each subject received one resin composite restoration (Tetric EvoCeram, Ivoclar Vivadent) utilizing a self-etch (SfE) universal adhesive (Adhese Universal, Ivoclar Vivadent) with no separate enamel etching and another restoration utilizing adhesive and selective enamel etching (SelE) with 37% phosphoric acid (H3PO4). Both the adhesive and composite were placed following the manufacturer’s instructions. The two techniques were compared for differences in sensitivity, retention, marginal discoloration, marginal adaptation, and clinical acceptability at baseline and 6 months using the Cochran-Mantel-Haenszel tests for stratified, ordered categorical outcomes. Seventy-four restorations (37 SfE, 37 SelE) in 30 volunteers were evaluated at 12 months. No significant differences were found between the SfE and SelE groups for any variable at the 12-month recall (p>0.21). Retention was 100% at 12 months for both groups. Marginal adaptation was significantly worse at 12 months than at baseline for SelE (p=0.0163), but there was no difference for SfE (p=0.08). Sensitivity improved significantly from baseline to 12 months for both SelE (p=0.0113) and SfE (p=0.0128). The results obtained from this study are comparable to results observed in similar studies. Like similar studies involving self-etch adhesives in non-carious cervical lesions, our study showed no restorations lost to caries and excellent retention. The deterioration of selective-etch dentin margins was a result that differed from similar studies. A likely explanation for this finding would be the difficulty of controlling precise placement of phosphoric acid gel, causing undesired etching of dentin; this could result in suboptimal bonding to dentin. This report on 12-month data for a two-year study indicates significantly reduced sensitivity for both the SelE and SfE groups, and deterioration of SelE marginal adaptation. No decreases in retention, marginal discoloration, or clinical acceptability were observed in either group

Radar studies of arctic ice and development of a real-time Arctic ice type identification system

Studies were conducted to develop a real-time Arctic ice type identification system. Data obtained by NASA Mission 126, conducted at Pt. Barrow, Alaska (Site 93) in April 1970 was analyzed in detail to more clearly define the major mechanisms at work affecting the radar energy illuminating a terrain cell of sea ice. General techniques for reduction of the scatterometer data to a form suitable for application of ice type decision criteria were investigated, and the electronic circuit requirements for implementation of these techniques were determined. Also, consideration of circuit requirements are extended to include the electronics necessary for analog programming of ice type decision algorithms. After completing the basic circuit designs a laboratory model was constructed and a preliminary evaluation performed. Several system modifications for improved performance are suggested. (Modified author abstract

Creating Dialogical Preaching Experiences

The Protestant Church in the United States has enjoyed a rich history of monological preaching in the local church throughout its history. However, Jesus’ ministry, Scripture, and our culture’s advancing dialogical pedagogy point to the need for the local church to create dialogical preaching experiences. The age of the internet has also been a driving force in creating circular learning styles that demand the church take notice and discover how this model can be deployed to better shape and grow our people as pastors. While some argue this is impractical or even altogether unhelpful, others believe that creating dialog again in the church house as was once enjoyed in house churches at the birth of the church, must be done if it is going to continue to engage its culture in a method that effectively disciples emerging generations. The current small group model deployed by many contemporary churches misses the mark in that it does not provide a conduit of real-time engagement with the message. This project seeks to provide key insights from those leading the way in creating dialogical experiences as well as pastoral perspectives on the issue. An effort is made to point out obstacles as well as provide leadership solutions for how such a shift could be made by training church lay leaders, creating creative sharing opportunities and leveraging technology, and leading toward a long-term dialogical model. If a dialogical setting were provided for in churches across our country during or after the word is preached, many could be released in ministry to share what the Holy Spirit was speaking to them uniquely in regard to the Word

Perspectives on IT Outsourcing Success: Covariance Structure Modelling of a Survey of Outsourcing in Australia

Australia has been at the forefront of the adoption of outsourcing as a means for delivering IT services, but the success of IT outsourcing in Australia has been mixed. With two hundred and forty one responses from the top 1000 IT users in the country, the survey reported in this paper is one of the largest and most representative IT outsourcing studies in the world. Covariance structure modelling and confirmatory factor analysis has shed new light on the concept of outsourcing success, highlighting its complex, multidimensional nature. It has also confirmed many insights gained to date from qualitative research. Analysis also emphasises the importance to the outsourcing relationship of the management processes adopted by the client organization. L'Australie a été un pionnier dans l'adoption de l'impartition pour les services informatiques. Toutefois, les résultats ont été mitigés. Avec plus de deux cent répondants, provenant des 1000 plus grandes entreprises australiennes, cette étude et une des plus larges et représentatives faites jusqu'à0501ntenant. Une analyse des structure de co-variance, de même qu'une anlayse factorielle confirmatoire jettent un regard neuf sur la notion de succès de l'impartition. L'étude met en lumière le caractère complexe et multi-dimensionel de ce succès.Outsourcing, Australia, survey research, success, information systems, Impartition, Australie, enquête, succès, services informatiques

Arkansas Cotton Variety Test 2016

The primary goal of the Arkansas Cotton Variety Test is to provide unbiased data regarding the agronomic performance of cotton varieties and advanced breeding lines in the major cotton-growing areas of Arkansas

The geography of strain: organizational resilience as a function of intergroup relations

Organizational resilience is an organization’s ability to absorb strain and preserve or improve functioning, despite the presence of adversity. In existing scholarship there is the implicit assumption that organizations experience and respond holistically to acute forms of adversity. We challenge this assumption by theorizing about how adversity can create differential strain, affecting parts of an organization rather than the whole. We argue that relations among those parts fundamentally shape organizational resilience. We develop a theoretical model that maps how the differentiated emergence of strain in focal parts of an organization triggers the movements of adjoining parts to provide or withhold resources necessary for the focal parts to adapt effectively. Drawing on core principles of theories about intergroup relations, we theorize about three specific pathways—integration, disavowal, and reclamation—by which responses of adjoining parts to focal part strain shape organizational resilience. We further theorize about influences on whether and when adjoining parts are likely to select different pathways. The resulting theory reveals how the social processes among parts of organizations influence member responses to adversity and, ultimately, organizational resilience. We conclude by noting the implications for organizational resilience theory, research, and practice.Accepted manuscrip

Flexible memory controls sperm competition responses to male Drosophila melanogaster

Males of many species use social cues to predict sperm competition (SC) and tailor their reproductive strategies, such as ejaculate or behavioural investment, accordingly. While these plastic strategies are widespread, the underlying mechanisms remain largely unknown. Plastic behaviour requires individuals to learn and memorize cues associated with environmental change before using this experience to modify behaviour. Drosophila melanogaster respond to an increase in SC threat by extending mating duration after exposure to a rival male. This behaviour shows lag times between environmental change and behavioural response suggestive of acquisition and loss of memory. Considering olfaction is important for a male's ability to assess the SC environment, we hypothesized that an olfactory learning and memory pathway may play a key role in controlling this plastic behaviour. We assessed the role of genes and brain structures known to be involved in learning and memory. We show that SC responses depend on anaesthesia-sensitive memory, specifically the genes rut and amn. We also show that the γ lobes of the mushroom bodies are integral to the control of plastic mating behaviour. These results reveal the genetic and neural properties required for reacting to changes in the SC environment

Explaining Delinquent Behavior Among Adolescent Girls: Internal Social Control and Differential Association

Questionnaires were completed by ninety girls participating in a therapeutic wilderness program. Indexes were constructed of problems in school, sexual activities, drug and alcohol use, violent acts, major property offenses, minor property offenses, and miscellaneous misdemeanors. Measures of internal social control were of attachment to parents and to school, commitment to educational goals, involvement in homework, beliefs about drug use, and respect for the law. Differential association was measured by questions about friends\u27 behaviors. The combined influence of internal social control as a barrier to deviance and differential association as a push toward deviance was examined. Theories used earlier to explain delinquency among boys generally worked well in identifying the correlates of deviant behavior among these adolescent girls, though results varied for the different types of deviance considered. Implications of results for program development are discussed