East Meets West, Buddhism Meets Christianity: The Lucid Dream as a Path for Union

When I think about lucid dreaming I think about a vast universe, so vast that everything we say here today has to be qualified. In particular, I think about Christopher Columbus and regard his epic voyage as a perfect metaphor for what we are attempting to do in exploring the lucid dream state. When Columbus discovered a new world (new to Europeans) there were many ramifications of his discovery. I have always been intrigued by the maps that appear in our history books, maps of the new world that originated in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, attempts on the part of those early cartographers to begin to describe and delineate what the explorers were discovering. Some of those early maps had some degree of accuracy and some of them were intriguingly misshapen. I think it is important for us to keep this metaphor in mind as we approach the vast spectrum of lucid dreaming which we are attempting to explore

Access to award winning literature for children with disabilities

Includes bibliographical references.Historically, Newbery Medal and Honor books have had high readability levels unsuitable for early elementary students and those with reading disabilities. This project calculated Newbery readability levels 2007 to the present and explored use of Caldecott Medal and Honor books from that same time period and their “picturebooks” format to determine readability levels and whether they possess qualities to facilitate foundational reading skills. The Scholastic Book Wizard was utilized to find Lexile reading levels for all books reported on the awards’ websites. Results indicated Newbery books aim at older audiences, and Caldecott books serve a larger, more representative population within the reading and age range of elementary students. Review of the literature confirmed the value of picturebooks to facilitate foundational reading skills. Based on the literature, a table of Caldecott Medal and Honor books (2007-2011) was created that cross-references the reading and interest levels with literacy skills. This table will assist parents and educators working with elementary students in choosing high quality, award-winning literature that will best meet the needs of their student(s).B.S. (Bachelor of Science

The effect of feeding high-protein distillers dried grains on milk production of Holstein cows

The objectives of this study were to evaluate the effects of feeding high-protein distillers dried grains (HPDDG) on rumen degradability, dry matter intake, milk production, and milk composition. Sixteen lactating Holstein cows (12 multiparous and 4 primiparous) averaging 80 ± 14 d in milk were randomly assigned to 1 of 2 dietary treatments in a 2 × 2 crossover design. A portion of forage and all soy-based protein in the control diet were replaced by HPDDG (20% dry matter). Milk production and dry matter intake were recorded daily and averaged for d 19 to 21 of each 21-d period. Milk samples were collected on d 20 to 21 of each period. Milk yield increased with the inclusion of HPDDG (33.4 vs. 31.6 ± 2.13 kg/d), and 3.5% FCM was higher for the ration containing HPDDG (36.3 vs. 33.1 ± 2.24 kg/d). Percentage protein was not affected by treatment (average 3.04 ± 0.08%), but protein yield increased with inclusion of HPDDG (0.95 to 1.00 ± 0.05 kg/d). Milk fat concentration was not different between treatments (average 3.95 ± 0.20%), but fat yield increased for the ration containing HPDDG (1.35 vs. 1.21 ± 0.09 kg/d). Dry matter intake was not affected and averaged 21.9 ± 0.80 kg across treatments. Because of greater milk production, feed conversion was improved by the inclusion of HPDDG (1.47 to 1.73 ± 0.09). Milk urea N was greater for the HPDDG ration than the control (14.5 vs. 12.8 ± 0.67 mg/dL). This research suggests that HPDDG may effectively replace soy-based protein in lactating dairy cow diets

Effect of sulfur content in wet or dry distillers grains fed at several inclusions on cattle growth performance, ruminal parameters, and hydrogen sulfide

Effects of S from wet or dry distillers grains with solubles (DGS) containing 0.82 or 1.16% S on animal growth performance, carcass characteristics, apparent total tract digestibility, and ruminal parameters were evaluated. In Exp. 1, crossbred beef steers (n = 120; 345 ± 34 kg BW) were individually fed ad libitum using Calan gates. Treatments were applied as a 2 × 2 × 3 + 1 factorial treatment arrangement with factors of DGS type (wet or dry), S content in DGS (0.82 or 1.16% DM basis), and DGS inclusion (20, 30, and 40%, DM basis), as well as a corn control diet (no DGS). In Exp. 2, ruminally cannulated crossbred beef steers (n = 6; 381 ± 31 kg BW) were assigned to 1 of 5 diets in a 5 × 6 unbalanced Latin Square design and fed ad libitum through five 14-d periods. A 2 × 2 + 1 factorial treatment arrangement was used with the factors of DGS type and S content in DGS (similar to Exp. 1). Inclusion of DGS was 40%, except for a MATCH diet containing wet 1.16% S DGS included at 31.4% (DM basis). Intake of DM decreased linearly (P \u3c 0.01) and quadratically (P \u3c 0.01) for steers fed wet and dry DGS that was 1.16% S, respectively. In addition, steers fed dry DGS consumed 9% more DM (P \u3c 0.01) than those fed wet. Gain decreased linearly (P = 0.02) when wet 1.16% S DGS increased in the diet, representing a 12% drop in ADG between the Control and 40% DGS inclusion. A quadratic (P = 0.02) improvement in G:F was observed for steers fed wet DGS compared with dry, regardless of S content (P = 0.52). Feeding diets with wet 1.16% S DGS linearly decreased (P = 0.03) HCW. In Exp. 2, molar proportion of propionate declined (P = 0.01) 9% and A:P ratio tended (P = 0.13) to be greater when 1.16 compared with 0.82% S DGS was fed. Apparent total tract DMD was not affected (P \u3e 0.16) and only subtle changes (P \u3c 0.01) in ruminal pH parameters were observed. Greater (P = 0.02) ruminal H2S concentration for steers fed wet compared with dry DGS was observed, while 1.16% S DGS tended (P = 0.12) to produce greater ruminal H2S than 0.82% S. Sulfur in wet DGS appears to be more prone to be converted to ruminal H2S, because feeding 1.16% S as wet DGS had a greater impact on ADG, DMI, and ruminal H2S compared with dry DGS

East Meets West, Buddhism Meets Christianity: The Lucid Dream as a Path for Union

When I think about lucid dreaming I think about a vast universe. In particular, I think about Christopher Columbus and regard his epic voyage as a perfect metaphor for what we are attempting to do in exploring the lucid dream state. When Columbus discovered a new world (new to Europeans) there were many ramifications of his discovery. I have always been intrigued by the maps that appear in our history books, maps of the new world that originated in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, attempts on the part of those early cartographers to begin to describe and delineate what the explorers were discovering. Some of those early maps had some degree of accuracy and some were intriguingly misshapen. I think it is important for us to keep this metaphor in mind as we approach the vast spectrum of lucid dreaming which we are beginning to explore. I would like to discuss one end of this vast spectrum, the end that constitutes one of my primary areas of interest, namely the lucid dream as mystical experience

The effect of feeding high-protein distillers dried grains on milk production of Holstein cows

The objectives of this study were to evaluate the effects of feeding high-protein distillers dried grains (HPDDG) on rumen degradability, dry matter intake, milk production, and milk composition. Sixteen lactating Holstein cows (12 multiparous and 4 primiparous) averaging 80 ± 14 d in milk were randomly assigned to 1 of 2 dietary treatments in a 2 × 2 crossover design. A portion of forage and all soy-based protein in the control diet were replaced by HPDDG (20% dry matter). Milk production and dry matter intake were recorded daily and averaged for d 19 to 21 of each 21-d period. Milk samples were collected on d 20 to 21 of each period. Milk yield increased with the inclusion of HPDDG (33.4 vs. 31.6 ± 2.13 kg/d), and 3.5% FCM was higher for the ration containing HPDDG (36.3 vs. 33.1 ± 2.24 kg/d). Percentage protein was not affected by treatment (average 3.04 ± 0.08%), but protein yield increased with inclusion of HPDDG (0.95 to 1.00 ± 0.05 kg/d). Milk fat concentration was not different between treatments (average 3.95 ± 0.20%), but fat yield increased for the ration containing HPDDG (1.35 vs. 1.21 ± 0.09 kg/d). Dry matter intake was not affected and averaged 21.9 ± 0.80 kg across treatments. Because of greater milk production, feed conversion was improved by the inclusion of HPDDG (1.47 to 1.73 ± 0.09). Milk urea N was greater for the HPDDG ration than the control (14.5 vs. 12.8 ± 0.67 mg/dL). This research suggests that HPDDG may effectively replace soy-based protein in lactating dairy cow diets

Evaluation of protein fractionation and ruminal and intestinal digestibility of corn milling co-products

Novel corn milling co-products developed from technological advancements in ethanol production vary widely in chemical composition and nutrient availability. The objectives of this study were to characterize feed protein fractions and evaluate differences in rumen-undegradable protein (RUP) and its digestible fraction (dRUP), amino acid concentration, and in vitro gas production of 7 corn milling co-products. The crude protein (CP; % of dry matter) of co-products was 12.7 for germ, 26.9 for dried distillers grains plus solubles that had no heat exposure before fermentation (DDGS1), 45.4 for highprotein dried distillers grains (HPDDG), 12.7 for bran, 30.2 for wet distillers grains plus solubles (WDGS), 23.1 for wet corn gluten feed (WCGF), and 26.0 for dried distillers grains plus solubles that had heat exposure before fermentation (DDGS2). Two ruminally and duodenally fistulated Holstein steers weighing 663 ± 24 kg were used to determine RUP and dRUP with the in situ and mobile bag techniques. Samples of each feed were ruminally incubated for 16 h, and mobile bags were exposed to simulated abomasal digestion before insertion into the duodenum and subsequent collection in the feces. Protein fractions A, B1, B2, B3, and C were characterized as follows (% CP): germ = 30.0, 15.0, 38.1, 13.5, 3.4; DDGS1 = 17.0, 7.0, 67.0, 4.8, 4.2; HPDDG = 7.4, 0.6, 82.4, 8.8, 0.8; bran = 33.5, 4.0, 54.3, 6.0, 2.2; WDGS = 18.6, 2.4, 53.1, 11.0, 14.9; WCGF = 36.6, 15.9, 33.2, 10.1, 4.1; and DDGS2 = 17.9, 2.1, 41.1, 11.1, 27.9. The proportions of RUP and dRUP were different and are reported as follows (% CP): DDGS2 = 56.3, 91.9; HPDDG = 55.2, 97.7; WDGS = 44.7, 93.1; DDGS1 = 33.2, 92.1; bran = 20.7, 65.8; germ = 16.5, 66.8; and WCGF = 11.5, 51.1. The concentrations of Lys and Met in the RUP were different and are listed as follows (% CP): germ = 2.9, 2.0; DDGS1 = 1.9, 2.0; HPDDG = 2.0, 3.2; bran = 3.2, 1.5; WDGS = 1.9, 2.3; WCGF = 3.5, 1.6; and DDGS2 = 1.9, 2.4. In vitro gas production (mL/48 h) was highest for germ (52.1) followed by bran (50.1), WDGS (40.7), DDGS2 (40.1), WCGF (39.0), DDGS1 (38.6), and HPDDG (37.5). Comparison of co-products defined differences in chemical composition, protein fractionation, ruminal availability, and microbial fermentation