ALLMAT - A TSS/360 FORTRAN 4 subroutine for eigenvalues and eigenvectors of a general complex matrix

Subroutine ALLMAT for eigenvalues and eigenvectors of general complex natur

Exact semiclassical theory for galvanomagnetic effects in metals

Closed form solution for conductivity tensor for magnetic field strength obtained from linearized Boltzmann equation for electron conduction distribution functio

Rational approximations to the generalized Duffing equation Final report, 15 Jan. - 1965 - 14 Jan. 1966

Linear transformation to obtain rational approximation to response of physical system described by nonlinear differential equation including Duffing equation as special cas

Effects of epoxy-phenolic enamel on DDT, DDD, and DDE during blanching and thermal processing of turnip greens

The agricultural applications of pesticides have played an important role in increasing the yield of food products throughout the world. It is unfortunate that residues of pesticides are sometimes found on food products before and after processing. Attempts have been made to reduce the levels of various pesticides in food products, but they have been relatively unsuccessful. This study was designed to determine the effect of epoxy-phenolic enamel on levels of DDT [1,1,1- trichloro-2,2-bia(p-chlorophenyl)ethane] and its metabolites in turnip greens during blanching and thermal processing. Turnip greens were grown on three plots and were given periodic spray applications of DDT. The greens were harvested, washed, and blanched by steam for three minutes or in boiling water for three or five minutes. A steam-jacketed kettle was used for water blanching and was operated with and without an interior lining composed of epoxy-phenolic enamel coated tin plate. Greens blanched by steam or in water for three minutes were thermally processed subsequently at 121°C for 45 minutes. The greens were thermally processed in plain tin plate cans or epoxy-phenolic enamel lined cans. Samples of greens were taken at the following times: prior to the first application of DDT, prior to washing, and immediately following each of the process treatments. The pesticides were extracted by macerating the plant tissue with acetonitrile followed by eluting the extract through a column of Florisil to remove other interfering materials. The extract was analyzed quantitatively by gas liquid chromatography to determine levels of DDE [l,l-dichloro-2,2-bis(p-chloropheny1)ethylene], DDD [1,l-dichloro-2,2-bis(p-chlorophenyl)ethane], o,p\u27-DDT [l-trichloro-2-o-chlorophenyl-2-p-chlorophenylethane], and P,p\u27-DDI [1,trichloro-2,2-bis(p-chlorophenyl)ethane]. The data indicated that low concentrations of o,p\u27-DDT and p,p\u27-DDT were present in the turnip greens prior to the first application of the pesticide material. Residues remaining in or on the greens at the time of harvest were in excess of the established tolerance limits. Blanching methods and blanching times in water did not produce significant different levels of residue. Enamel lining in kettles or cans did not significantly reduce the levels of pesticides during blanching or thermal processing. From the results of this study, it is evident that epoxy-phenolic enamel does not have an absorptive capacity for DDT or its metabolites, and is not an effective means of reducing residue levels

Partisan impacts on the economy: evidence from prediction markets and close elections

Analyses of the effects of election outcomes on the economy have been hampered by the problem that economic outcomes also influence elections. We sidestep these problems by analyzing movements in economic indicators caused by clearly exogenous changes in expectations about the likely winner during election day. Analyzing high frequency financial fluctuations following the release of flawed exit poll data on election day 2004, and then during the vote count we find that markets anticipated higher equity prices, interest rates and oil prices, and a stronger dollar under a George W. Bush presidency than under John Kerry. A similar Republican–Democrat differential was also observed for the 2000 Bush–Gore contest. Prediction market based analyses of all presidential elections since 1880 also reveal a similar pattern of partisan impacts, suggesting that electing a Republican president raises equity valuations by 2–3 percent, and that since Ronald Reagan, Republican presidents have tended to raise bond yields

Harnessing behavioral psychology to encourage individuals' adoption of pollinator conservation behaviors

The economic and ecological importance of pollinators and the increasingly evident decline of their populations have drawn concern from scientists, governments, and individuals alike. While research has focused on the ecological causes and solutions to pollinator declines, it is less understood how to motivate actual behavior changes to help conserve pollinators. Behavioral psychologists have developed many theories to explain how human behavioral drivers affect the adoption of pro-environmental behaviors such as recycling and other sustainability actions. A comprehensive model incorporating norm activation theory, the new ecological paradigm, values-belief-norm theory, and the theory of planned behavior suggests various psychological determinants that drive changes in pro-environmental behaviors. A survey was constructed using Qualtrics software to measure and analyze >1,500 individuals' responses to questions designed to test the relationships between different types of pollinator conservation behaviors and the sociopsychological determinants of an individual's intention to perform said behaviors. Previous behaviors, issue awareness, and positive attitudes toward pollinators consistently predict increased intention to perform pollinator conservation behaviors, which supports related research on pro-environmental behaviors. Other determinants, such as ascription of responsibility and perceived behavioral control, had positive effects on the intention to perform some of the tested pollinator conservation behaviors. Understanding these relationships could help improve efforts to educate and increase the adoption of these pollinator conservation behaviors. Finally, many determinants had mixed and fewer significant relationships with the intention to perform conservation behaviors, which suggests the need for revisions to the specific wording of the survey tools and additional testing of these psychological determinants

Effect of exposing rams to a female stimulus before semen collection on ram libido and semen quality

peer-reviewedRams with strong libido and desirable semen characteristics can provide more insemination doses per ejaculate and produce more progeny, improving population genetic linkage to improve the accuracy of EBV. The objective of this study was to determine if teasing rams, either by sight and smell alone (Exp. 1), or physical contact (Exp. 2), could improve libido and semen quality of rams. In Exp. 1, there were 3 treatments in which rams were exposed to the sight and smell of the ewe for 1 h: control treatment (n = 5) in which rams were exposed to a ewe not in estrus; non-novel treatment (n = 6) in which rams were exposed to a ewe in estrus and the same ewe was used for semen collection; and novel treatment (n = 6) in which rams were exposed to a ewe in estrus and a different ewe in estrus was used for semen collection. In Exp. 2, rams were individually given full access to a ewe, which had a cotton apron fi tted to cover her vulva, for 15 min. The 3 treatments in Exp. 2 were: control treatment (n = 5) in which rams were placed in a pen with a ewe not in estrus; a nonnovel treatment (n = 5) in which rams were placed in a pen with a ewe in estrus and the same ewe was used for semen collection; novel treatment (n = 6) in which rams were placed in a pen with a ewe in estrus and a different ewe in estrus was used for semen collection. Experiment 1 was repeated for 5 consecutive days and Exp. 2 was repeated for 4 consecutive days. Data on reaction time, number of mounts, semen volume, semen concentration, sperm wave motion, and progressive linear motion (Exp. 1 only) were collected and analyzed as a randomized complete block design, where rams were initially blocked for breed and age. In Exp. 1, there was an effect of day (P < 0.05) and a treatment × day interaction (P < 0.05) on semen volume, whereas there was also an effect of treatment (P < 0.05) and day (P < 0.01) on semen concentration, which was most evident on d 1. In Exp. 2, there was an effect of treatment on reaction time (P < 0.05) and semen volume (P = 0.08), which was most evident on d 1. This study demonstrates an acute effect on d 1 on semen concentration when rams were exposed to the sight and smell of a ewe in estrus. Alternatively, when rams were stimulated with physical contact of a ewe in estrus, an acute increase in semen volume was evident on d 1. These effects were not evident on subsequent days and thus the overall benefi ts on ram libido and semen quality of exposing rams to ewes in estrus are minimal.PUBLISHEDpeer-reviewe

Genomic identification, expression profiling, and functional characterization of CatSper channels in the bovine

peer-reviewedCation channels of sperm (CatSper) are sperm-specific calcium channels with identified roles in the regulation of sperm function in humans, mice, and horses. We sought to employ a comparative genomics approach to identify conserved CATSPER genes in the bovine genome, and profile their expression in reproductive tissue. We hypothesized that CATSPER proteins expressed in bull testicular tissue mediates sperm hyperactivation and their rheotactic response in the reproductive tract of the cow. Bioinformatic analysis identified all four known CATSPER genes (CATSPER 1-4) in the bovine genome, and profiling by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction identified site-specific variation in messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) expression for all four genes along the reproductive tract of the bull. Using a novel antibody against CATSPER 1, protein expression was confirmed and localized to the principal piece of bull sperm, in agreement with what has been reported in other species. Subsequent treatment of bull sperm with either the calcium chelator ethylene glycol tetraacetic acid; mibefradil, a specific blocker of CatSper channels in human sperm; or CATSPER1 antibody all significantly inhibited caffeine-induced hyperactivation and the rheotactic response, supporting the concept that the calcium influx occurs via CatSper channels. Taken together, the work here provides novel insights into expression and function of CatSper channels in bull testicular tissue and in the function of ejaculated sperm.peer-reviewe