The Casson invariant and the word metric on the Torelli group

We bound the value of the Casson invariant of any integral homology 3-sphere $M$ by a constant times the distance-squared to the identity, measured in any word metric on the Torelli group \T, of the element of \T associated to any Heegaard splitting of $M$. We construct examples which show this bound is asymptotically sharp.Comment: 5 pages, minor corrections; to appear in C. R. Math. Acad. Sci. Pari

Lentil (Lens culinaris Medik.) Prebiotic Carbohydrates and Protein Quality: Uncovering Genomic Associations and Developing Rapid FTIR Phenotyping Methods

Lentil (Lens culinaris Medik.) is a cool-season food legume cultivated around the globe. This pulse crop boasts a rich nutrient profile including high concentrations of prebiotic carbohydrates, protein, essential amino acids, and micronutrients, such as folate, iron, zinc, and selenium. Prebiotic carbohydrates promote a healthy gut microbiome, which, in turn, is associated with reduced risk of numerous pathologies including obesity/overweight, type II diabetes, irritable bowel disease, and colon cancer. Known as “poor man’s meat,” lentil also provides high quality plant-based protein at a low cost. As the world increasingly looks to crops to supplement and replace animal-based protein, lentil protein offers an excellent alternative. To fully take advantage of lentil’s unique nutrient profile and promote global food security, breeding programs may wish to add prebiotic carbohydrates and protein quality to their breeding target traits. Additionally, with the advance of genomics-assisted breeding approaches, genetic markers could significantly accelerate breeding efforts through marker-assisted selection and genomic selection. However, crucial lentil population data, genetic resources, and high-throughput phenotyping methods are lacking. To help address this gap, the present research quantifies seed prebiotic carbohydrates (sugar alcohols, raffinose-family oligosaccharides, fructooligosaccharides, and resistant starch) and protein quality traits (amino acids and in vitro protein digestibility) and calculates trait heritability estimates in a lentil diversity panel. Genome-wide association studies identify significantly associated SNP markers and candidate genes, while admixture analysis elucidates lentil ancestral subpopulations and their global distribution. Finally, the development of high-throughput Fourier-Transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) phenotyping methods promises to significantly reduce breeding operation costs in developed and developing countries alike. Thus, this research advances lentil nutritional breeding to aid in the development of new germplasm and varieties targeted for unique growing environments and consumer populations

Factors Influencing Participation in Liberal Student Organizations on College Campuses

Despite a long history of student organizations on college campuses there is relatively little research on participation and student experiences in such groups, especially on what factors motivate students to become involved. This study sought to examine factors that influence participation in political organizations on college campuses through dependent variables of attendance and holding a leadership role. The sample focused on groups understood to be “liberal” such as the College Democrats, environmental groups, and others. Respondents were reached through personal connections, social media, and distributing the survey to student organizations. The examined factors accounted for less than a fifth of the influence on joining or holding a leadership role, however, being a Democrat, living on campus, and being involved with another organization were all significant. This data will hopefully result in further research into factors motivating participation in student organizations among college students

Land Grant Application- Johnson, Nathan (Cumberland)

Land grant application submitted to the Maine Land Office on behalf of Nathan Johnson for service in the Revolutionary War, by their widow Mary.https://digitalmaine.com/revolutionary_war_me_land_office/1500/thumbnail.jp

Decision making limitations from communication barriers in government structures in Chinese rural energy projects

Field research was conducted in the Li Cheng District (about 1,200 km 2) of Shan Dong Province. Data collection occurred during a two-week period in July 2006. At that time, seven villages represented all relevant sites in the district that contained gasification technologies. Small-group interviews with village leaders, station managers, and community members were conducted locally. Contact with external government agencies and technology scientists completed the set of potential stakeholders.;This study analyzes the failure of state-owned energy development initiatives in China. Communication barriers in bureaucratic structures and culturally prescribed patterns of interaction were revealed as inhibiting information transfer, thus restricting capabilities for individual decision making, group decision making, and learning. These presented significant challenges to maintaining successful operation of community-level gasification technologies in rural Chinese villages