A Radio Perspective on Star-Formation in Distant Galaxies

Determination of the epoch dependent star-formation rate of field galaxies is one of the principal goals of modern observational cosmology. Deep radio surveys, sensitive to starbursts out to $z \sim$ 1-2, may hold the key to understanding the evolution of the starburst phenonemon unhindered by the effects of dust. Using deep, high resolution radio observations of the Hubble Deep Field, we show that the $\mu$Jy radio emission from field galaxies at $z\sim 0.4-1$ is primarily starburst in origin. In addition, we have discovered a population of optically faint, possibly obscured systems that are candidate high-$z$ protogalaxies. At least one of these radio sources is identified with a sub-mm detection.Comment: 4 pages, 3 figs., paper presented at Maryland October Astrophysics Conference, 'Before the Dark Ages: When the Galaxies were Young

Memory-Efficient Symbolic Heuristic Search

A promising approach to solving large state-space search problems is to integrate heuristic search with symbolic search. Recent work shows that a symbolic A * search al-gorithm that uses binary decision diagrams to compactly rep-resent sets of states outperforms traditional A * in many do-mains. Since the memory requirements of A * limit its scal-ability, we show how to integrate symbolic search with a memory-efficient strategy for heuristic search. We analyze the resulting search algorithm, consider the factors that affect its behavior, and evaluate its performance in solving bench-mark problems that include STRIPS planning problems

Demographic Factors Affecting the Adoption of Multiple Value-Added Practices by Oklahoma Cow-Calf Producers

The utilization of marketing programs to enhance feeder calf value has been met with modest success in Oklahoma. Value-added programs are continually promoted as avenues for improving cow-calf profitability, but producer adoption of value-added practices lags in spite of research showing the value of these practices. Identifying producer characteristics that increase their likelihood to adopt value-added practices is critical to developing successful outreach efforts. Results from a survey of Oklahoma producers on value-added practice adoption indicate that multiple demographic variables influence a producer’s likelihood of practice adoption. For Extension specialists, results can help in targeting likely adopters and developing methods to overcome barriers to adoption by producers less likely to adopt.Beef producers, value-added practices, practice adoption, negative binomial regression, Poisson regression, Farm Management, Livestock Production/Industries, Q12, Q16,

TREATMENT OF PARKINSON'S DISEASE USING THE CAYCE WET CELL BATTERY

Parkinson's disease, a condition involving progressive deterioration of the nervous system, is at present incurable by conventional medicine. Here we report on a study in which we have evidence of clinical improvement from using a treatment modality recommended by Edgar Cayce, a subtle energy device known as the wet cell battery. Cayce said that the wet cell would transfer vibratory energy into the body, and specifically recommended it for neurological disorders, but there have been no previous clinical studies of this modality. T en participants with Parkinson's disease used the wet cell, a chemical battery, with gold and silver solutions, for a four-month treatment period at home. Nine of the ten people followed the protocol consistently (but none completely or perfectly). They averaged slight to moderate improvement in Parkinson's disease symptoms over four months, based on observations by researchers and subjective questionnaires. Over the long term (three years), one participant obtained almost complete remission of his Parkinson's disease symptoms. Since there was no control group the placebo effect cannot be ruled out. However, many minor symptoms showed interesting improvement in several individuals. For example, two people reported regaining their sense of smell, and one had improved color vision. Several people had more facial emotional expressiveness, and reported reduced tremors

IMPROVEMENT OF CIRCUlATION USING THE RADIAL APPLIANCE

The purpose of this study was to determine if a subtle energy device, the Cayce Radial Appliance, could improve circulation in the extremities. There were two aspects to the study: a doubleblind, placebo-controlled experiment and a small clinical investigation. In the experiment, 30 subjects were selected for cold extremities, with the criterion that either the hands or the feet had to be below 800 F during the initial measurement session. To measure improvement of circulation, we used digital thermometers to record the temperatures of the thumbs and big toes on both hands and feet. Subjects were instructed to use the appliance 16 times; laboratory measurements were taken during the 1st, 4th and 16th sessions. Skin temperature turned our to be a difficult variable to work with, due to the wide variability in temperature apparently unrelated to the experimental siruation. The strongest results were observed in the 4th session. During session baseline, differences between hand and foot temperatures of the experimental group were significantly greater than those of the control group (t [13,11] 2.49, p '" .02). The 16th session did not yield significant differences between the experimental and control groups. However, in the experimental group, there was a correlation of r (9) -.56 (p '" .07) of hand temperarure increase with the number of days it took to complete the 16 sessions. That is, those subjects who were more consistent in using the appliance may have obtained better results, though statistically the result is only suggestive due to the small sample size. In contrast, in a clinical follow-up study with five subjects and no control group, we found that all subjects had a substantial increase in hand temperature following three sessions on the appliance (Mean increase'" 8.40 F, SO = 3.3). This increase was well in excess of that seen in either the experimental or control groups in the previous study. One important difference was that in the clinical study, use of the appliance was closely supervised, whereas in the blind study most of the appliance sessions were conducted by the subjects alone in their homes

A cluster or filament of galaxies at redshift z = 2.5?

We report the discovery of 56 new Lyα-emitting candidates (LECs) at redshift z ≈ 2.5 in a field of 8′ × 14′ around two previously known weak radio QSOs and a cosmic microwave background decrement (CMBD) that is plausibly due to the Sunyaev-Zeldovich effect. Broadband and medium-band imaging at the redshifted Lyα wavelength have allowed us to identify the LECs at the redshift of the QSOs. Three of the brightest LECs have been confirmed spectroscopically, with redshifts between z = 2.501 and z = 2.557; one of them is another QSO. Excluding the third QSO, the four spectroscopically confirmed objects form a 3′ filament with a rest-frame velocity dispersion of 1000 km s-1 lying adjacent to the CMBD, and there is a significant concentration of LECs at the northwest end of the filament around the brightest QSO. If confirmed, a velocity dispersion ~1000 km s-1 on a proper scale of ~1 Mpc at redshift z = 2.5 would, in and of itself, constrain the cosmological model to low Ω.Part of this work was supported by NASA grants AR-07551.01-96A (to AY), and GO-5985.01- 94A, GO-6610.01-95A, and GO.2684.03-94A (to RAW) from STScI, which is operated by AURA, Inc., under NASA contract NAS5-26555.Peer Reviewe

Model systems for studying lipid oxidation associated with muscle foods: Methods, challenges, and prospects

Lipid oxidation is a complex process in muscle-based foods (red meat, poultry and fish) causing severe quality deterioration, e.g., off-odors, discoloration, texture defects and nutritional loss. The complexity of muscle tissue -both composition and structure- poses as a formidable challenge in directly clarifying the mechanisms of lipid oxidation in muscle-based foods. Therefore, different in vitro model systems simulating different aspects of muscle have been used to study the pathways of lipid oxidation. In this review, we discuss the principle, preparation, implementation as well as advantages and disadvantages of seven commonly-studied model systems that mimic either compositional or structural aspects of actual meat: emulsions, fatty acid micelles, liposomes, microsomes, erythrocytes, washed muscle mince, and muscle homogenates. Furthermore, we evaluate the prospects of stem cells, tissue cultures and three-dimensional printing for future model system development. Based on this reviewing of oxidation models, tailoring correct model to different study aims could be facilitated, and readers are becoming acquainted with advantages and shortcomings. In addition, insight into recent technology developments, e.g., stem cell- and tissue-cultures as well as three-dimensional printing could provide new opportunities to overcome the current bottlenecks of lipid oxidation studies in muscle