Quenched Staggered Spectrum at Beta=6.0, 6.2 and 6.4

We give a preliminary report on the hadron spectrum on an ensemble of quenched lattices at $\beta$ values of 6.0, 6.2 and 6.4, using staggered fermions and collaborators Rajan Gupta and Steve Sharpe. Because of the relatively small number of configurations we pay marginally more attention to the question of statistics than in previous analyses. We are unable to discredit quenched QCD.Comment: 4 pages of PostScrip

Optimizing outcomes in ADHD treatment: From clinical targets to novel delivery systems

Our knowledge and understanding of the underlying neurobiology and symptomatic expression of ADHD has advanced dramatically over the past decade. Associated with these advances has been a similar explosion of new treatment options to individualize treatment for our patients.This article will:∙review strategies to measure ADHD symptoms and functional difficulties while seeking to achieve full symptomatic remission throughout the day∙summarize recent findings regarding the management and prioritization of ADHD and comorbid conditions and∙discuss the various pharmacologic treatment options with a focus on recently developed molecules and novel delivery systems</jats:p

First record of the agave snout weevil, Scyphophorus acupunctatusGyllenhal (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Dryophthorinae), in Puerto Rico

The agave snout weevil, Scyphophorus acupunctatus Gyllenhal (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Dryophthorinae), is reported from Puerto Rico for the first time. It was collected on feral sisal, Agave sisalana Perrine (Agavaceae), in the Guánica Dry Forest Reserve in the southwestern part of the island

REPLACING ASSETS UNDER ACCELERATED DEPRECIATION LAWS

The accelerated depreciation laws provide more revenue in earlier years of a new asset due to shielding of taxes. The laws seem designed to encourage farmers to purchase assets more often. This paper exams the optimal purchase period for a beef cattle farm buying replacement cows. While the accelerated depreciation laws do help farms, the optimal asset life is seldom shortened.Farm Management,

Open Cow Replacement Decisions: an Application of Asset Replacement Theory

Beef producers must decide what to do with a cow that fails to conceive during the breeding season. Keeping the open cow results in a years expenses without any revenue. Replacing the open cow with a bred heifer provides immediate revenue although it will take a few years before the heifer reaches peak productivity. A net present value framework is employed to examine this decision. The problem is unique because the open cow and the replacement heifer have different life spans. Finding a common timeframe is impossible since both alternatives will eventually employ replacement heifers if a long enough time frame is considered.Livestock Production/Industries,

Leadership traits of long tenured youth ministers in Churches of Christ

Although typically not responsible for leadership decision-making that impacts the spiritual growth of the entire organization, youth ministers play a vital leadership role in congregational health as leaders of smaller communities within greater communities of faith. This leadership role is threatened by numerous challenges facing youth ministers of all denominations. Specific to this study, the vital role of youth ministry in Churches of Christ is threatened by high turnover rates of those within the profession. The purpose of this study was to determine leadership practices and strategies that are employed by long tenured youth ministers in Churches of Christ, identify the challenges those youth ministers have faced in implementing leadership practices, discover how they measure successful youth ministry leadership strategies and practices and ascertain their recommendations for implementing leadership strategies and practices within their profession. Data were collected from 15 full time youth ministers in Churches of Christ from throughout the United States. The qualitative, phenomenological study utilized a 12-question semi-structured interview format to gather the lived experience of subjects. Key study findings identified 70 themes that answered four research questions. Specifically, self-awareness was the top trait study participants used to describe themselves as leaders. Additionally, participants identified creating an others-focused environment as the top strategy or practice as a contributor to long tenure at the same church. The findings of this study have substantive implications for men and women considering youth ministry as a career or calling, and for institutions of learning that train those preparing for the youth ministry profession

An improved dental composite with potent antibacterial function

A new BisGMA-based antibacterial dental composite has been formulated and evaluated. Compressive strength and bacterial viability were utilized to evaluate the formed composites. It was found that the new composite exhibited a significantly enhanced antibacterial function along with improved mechanical and physical properties. The bromine-containing derivative-modified composite was more potent in antibacterial activity than the chlorine-containing composite. The modified composites also exhibited an increase of 30–53% in compressive yield strength, 15–30% in compressive modulus, 15–33% in diametral tensile strength and 6–20% in flexural strength, and a decrease of 57–76% in bacterial viability, 23–37% in water sorption, 8–15% in shrinkage, 8–13% in compressive strength, and similar degree of conversion, than unmodified composite. It appears that this experimental composite may possibly be introduced to dental clinics as an attractive dental restorative due to its improved properties as well as enhanced antibacterial function

Lost Letters of Lewis at the Lambeth Palace Library

Three recently discovered letters from C. S. Lewis provide a window through which we can observe the Oxford don as he is first coming into national prominence during, and immediately after, World War II. They are a 1942 letter from C. S. Lewis to Archbishop William Temple and two 1946 letters from him to Canon Lewis John Collins. Lewis is seen in these letters struggling with the issue of calling or vocation, and this gives us a glimpse into his decision making at critical times both in his career and in the life of his country