Microbial ecology of Keane Wonder Spring, Death Valley National Park

This research is focused on developing a better understanding of he physiological and phylogenetic diversity as well as environmental abundance of bacteria of the genus: Shewanella in selected desert ecosystems. Prior research from this laboratory has revealed that these bacteria are very abundant in sulfurand organic-rich aquatics habitats. We have selected a number of habitats for detailed investigation (cultivation, molecular ecology and relevant environmental chemistry) including the Tropicana Wash, spring in Death Valley, the lower Virgin River and possibly Big Soda Lame, Nevada

Two-dimensional ‘discrete hydrodynamics’ and Monge–Ampere equations

An integrable discrete-time Lagrangian system on the group of area-preserving plane diffeomorphisms SDiff (R2) is considered. It is shown that non-trivial dynamics exists only for special initial data and the corresponding mapping can be interpreted as a Backlund transformation for the (simple) Monge–Ampere equation. In the continuous limit, this gives the isobaric (constant pressure) solutions of the Euler equations for an ideal fluid in two dimensions. In the Appendix written by E. V. Ferapontov and A. P. Veselov, it is shown how the discrete system can be linearized using the transformation of the simple Monge–Ampere equation going back to Goursat

Switchgrass Seedling Development as Affected by Seed Size

Seed size has been associated with early seedling vigor (i.e., germination rate, emergence rate, and growth) in grasses. This study was conducted to compare seedling development over a 60-d period in the field as affected by heavy seed (HS) (0.19 to 0.21 g 100 seed-1) and light seed (LS) (0.13 to 0.16 g 100 seed-1) of \u27Blackwell\u27 and \u27Trailblazer\u27 switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.). The experiment was conducted in 1995 and 1996 at Lincoln, NE, on a Kennebec silt loam (fine-silty, mixed, superactive, mesic Cumnlic Hapludolls). The experimental design was a randomized complete block with four replicates. Seed was separated into two sizes using a South Dakota seed blower. Seed was planted into rows at a rate of 100 pure live seed per meter of row. Plants were excavated and evaluated for shoot weight, leaf area, and root weight. Shoot and root systems were morphologically staged four times during the summer. Seed size differences in switchgrass appeared to produce only slight differences in morphological development of shoot and root systems, leaf area, shoot weight, and adventitious root weight from seedling emergence to 6 wk of growth. Adventitious roots formed more quickly on seedlings from heavier than lighter seed, but the advantage to seedling establishment was minimal even when soil moisture appeared to be lacking. By 8 to 10 wk after emergence, growth and development of LS seedlings were similar to HS seedlings. Once seedlings formed two or more adventitious roots, seed size no longer affected establishment and growth. Seed size in switchgrass appears to have a minimal long-term effect on growth and development of seedlings

Morphological Development of Switchgrass as Affected by Planting Date

Late-spring and early-summer plantings of warm-season grasses often fail, due to dry soil conditions and competition from annual grass and broadleaf weeds. The objective of this study was to compare the morphological development of switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.) planted in early, mid, and late spring in eastern Nebraska. This study was conducted in 1994 and 1995 at Lincoln, NE, on a Kennebec silt loam (fine-silty, mixed, mesic Cumulic Hapludolls). \u27Blackwell\u27 and \u27Trailblazer\u27 switchgrass were planted in mid-March, late April, and late May using a single-row, precision grass-seed cone planter to a depth of 0.6 to 1.3 cm at 98 pure live seed per linear meter of row in a split-plot design. Twenty seedlings from each plot were excavated to a depth of 20 cm with a spade. Seedling morphological parameters measured were mean stage count root (MSCR) and shoot (MSCS), leaf area, shoot weight, and primary and adventitious root weight. Plots were sampled every 10 d following the first sample date. In 1994, seedlings from the March planting date were more advanced morphologically in MSCR and MSCS, had accumulated 2.5 times more leaf area, and about 3 times more shoot and adventitious root mass than the April planting date when sampled from late May to late June. In 1995, seedlings from the March planting date generally were more advanced morphologically in root and shoot development, had accumulated 2 to 12 times more leaf area, had 2 to 10 times more shoot mass, and had 2 to 33 times more adventitious root mass than the April or May planting dates at the sample periods from early June to mid-July. We suggest that switchgrass should be planted in early spring instead of in late April and May, as suggested by previous research

Sexual abuse of caredependent people

Hintergrund. Sexuelle Gewalt gegen pflegebedürftige Menschen stellt die Langzeitpflege vor Herausforderungen. Oft bleibt Sie unentdeckt, dabei hat Gewalt gegen Pflegebedürftige bedeutsame Folgen hinsichtlich der Morbidität und Mortalität der Patienten. Ziel der Arbeit. Ziel dieser Arbeit ist es, die bisher wenig untersuchte Rolle des Hausarztes bei sexueller Gewalt gegen Pflegebedürftige, hinsichtlich ihrer Einstellung und Verantwortung, des Fortbildungsinteresse und ihrer subjektiven Sicherheit bei Verdacht von sexueller Gewalt gegen pflegebedürftige Menschen zu untersuchen. Material und Methoden. In einer bundesweiten Querschnittsstudie wurden 1.700 Hausärzte in Deutschland zwischen September und November 2016 schriftlich befragt. Die Fragebögen wurden postalisch versandt. Neben soziodemographischen Daten, enthielt der Fragebogen Fragen bezüglich der subjektiven Sicherheit, des Fortbildungsinteresse und der Einstellung bezüglich hausärztlicher Verantwortung bei sexueller Gewalt. Es konnten von 302 Ärzten Fragebögen in die Auswertung eingeschlossen werden. Ergebnisse. Bei zeitgleich hohem ärztlichem Verantwortungsbewusstsein besteht auch eine große Unsicherheit bezüglich des weiteren Vorgehens bei einem Verdacht auf sexuelle Gewalt gegen pflegebedürftige Patienten. Die subjektive Sicherheit hat einen signifikanten Einfluss auf die wahrgenommene Rolle des Hausarztes. Andere erhobene Strukturvariablen zeigten keinen signifikanten Einfluss. Die Befragten geben ein großes Fortbildungsinteresse an. Traditionelle Fortbildungsmaßnamen werden bevorzugt gewünscht. Schlussfolgerung. Durch eine höhere subjektive Sicherheit wird vermehrt und früher gegen sexuelle Gewalt vorgegangen. Die subjektive Sicherheit von Hausätzten sollte daher gesteigert werden. Für geeignete Fortbildungsmaßnahmen kann diese Untersuchung einen thematischen Anhalt liefern und zeigt die gewünschten Fortbildungsformate. Insbesondere sind Fortbildungen für die Unterscheidung von sexueller Gewalt zu alterstypischen Symptomen und Fortbildungen zum richtigen Ton treffen gewünscht.Sexual abuse of people in need of care constitutes a challenge for long-term care since it can have considerable consequences regarding morbidity and mortality. However, in most cases it remains undetected. Aim. The aim of this study was to examine how general practitioners (GPs) in Germany perceive their responsibility in cases of sexual abuse of care-dependent patients. Additionally, we wanted to investigate their interest in further education and personal confidence in handling these kinds of situations. Material and methods. In a cross-sectional study from September to November 2016, 1.700 GPs in Germany were asked to fill out a questionnaire that was designed to answer our objectives including sociodemographic factors. 302 questionnaires could be included in our analysis. Results. Even though nearly all participants see it as their responsibility as doctors to take action in cases of sexual abuse, there are big insecurities about the right course of action. Main interests regarding further education lie especially in diagnostics as well as a guideline on what to do and who to contact if suspicion is raised. Conclusion. Sexual abuse in patient care is a sensitive and scarcely discussed issue that requires further training to strengthen the physician’s security of correctly diagnosing and handling these cases

Improvement of Machine Learning Models for Time Series Forecasting in Radial-Axial Ring Rolling through Transfer Learning

Due to the increasing computing power and corresponding algorithms, the use of machine learning (ML) in production technology has risen sharply in the age of Industry 4.0. Data availability in particular is fundamental at this point and a prerequisite for the successful implementation of a ML application. If the quantity or quality of data is insufficient for a given problem, techniques such as data augmentation, the use of synthetic data and transfer learning of similar data sets can provide a remedy. In this paper, the concept of transfer learning is applied in the field of radial-axial ring rolling (rarr) and implemented using the example of time series prediction of the outer diameter over the process time. Radial-axial ring rolling is a hot forming process and is used for seamless ring production

Time Evolution of Spin Waves

A rigorous derivation of macroscopic spin-wave equations is demonstrated. We introduce a macroscopic mean-field limit and derive the so-called Landau-Lifshitz equations for spin waves. We first discuss the ferromagnetic Heisenberg model at T=0 and finally extend our analysis to general spin hamiltonians for the same class of ferromagnetic ground states.Comment: 4 pages, to appear in PR

On discrete integrable equations with convex variational principles

We investigate the variational structure of discrete Laplace-type equations that are motivated by discrete integrable quad-equations. In particular, we explain why the reality conditions we consider should be all that are reasonable, and we derive sufficient conditions (that are often necessary) on the labeling of the edges under which the corresponding generalized discrete action functional is convex. Convexity is an essential tool to discuss existence and uniqueness of solutions to Dirichlet boundary value problems. Furthermore, we study which combinatorial data allow convex action functionals of discrete Laplace-type equations that are actually induced by discrete integrable quad-equations, and we present how the equations and functionals corresponding to (Q3) are related to circle patterns.Comment: 39 pages, 8 figures. Revision of the whole manuscript, reorder of sections. Major changes due to additional reality conditions for (Q3) and (Q4): new Section 2.3; Theorem 1 and Sections 3.5, 3.6, 3.7 update