To Keep that Bond: Navigating Black Motherhood under a Parental State

Senior Project submitted to The Division of Social Studies of Bard College

Quantum graphs as holonomic constraints

We consider the dynamics on a quantum graph as the limit of the dynamics generated by a one-particle Hamiltonian in R^2 with a potential having a deep strict minimum on the graph, when the width of the well shrinks to zero. For a generic graph we prove convergence outside the vertices to the free dynamics on the edges. For a simple model of a graph with two edges and one vertex, we prove convergence of the dynamics to the one generated by the Laplacian with Dirichlet boundary conditions in the vertex.Comment: 28 pages, 3 figure

Integrated Management Strategies for Phytophthora sojae Combining Host Resistance and Seed Treatments

Phytophthora sojae has re-emerged as a serious soybean pathogen in the past decade. This may be due in part to changes in resistance levels in current cultivars, adoption of P. sojae populations to deployed Rps genes, and highly favorable environments in the past decade. This multilocation study evaluated the effect of seed treatments on the incidence and severity of Phytophthora root and stem rot on soybeans with different combinations of Rps genes and levels of partial resistance. The efficacy of the seed treatments was highly variable across locations. Seed treatments (metalaxyl and mefenoxam) provided protection and increased yields across cultivars in locations where rain or irrigation occurred shortly after planting (Ohio, South Dakota, and Ontario). However, there were no significant differences in stand or yield consistently across cultivars in Iowa, Nebraska, Wisconsin, or Ohio, where heavy precipitation did not occur until later growth stages. The environment, levels of inoculum, and pathogen complex may have played a role in the different responses to the seed treatments and to the different combinations of Rps genes and levels of partial resistance to P. sojae in the cultivars. Fields that are poorly drained and have P. sojae populations with complex pathotypes may benefit the most from seed treatments. Individual fields where producers may see the greatest benefit to utilizing these integrated management strategies will need to be identified

calabrian extra virgin olive oil from frantoio cultivar chemical composition and health properties

Extra virgin olive oil (EVOO) plays a crucial role in the Mediterranean diet. Recently, attention has been focused on presence in EVOO of phenolic compounds, phytochemicals characterized by a series of healthy properties. This paper analyzed the phenolic profile, the inhibitory activity against carbohydrate hydrolising enzyme as well as the radical scavenging activity of EVOO obtained from Olea europea L. cv. Frantoio. Samples derived from fruits collected in four different areas: Cariati, Vaccarizzo Albanese, Montalto Uffugo, and Praia a Mare. The phenolic profile obtained by HPLC revealed the presence of hydroxytyrosol (3,4-DHPEA, between 1.2 and 5.3 mg/kg) and p-hydroxyphenylethanol or tyrosol (p-HPEA, between 1.1 and 5.4 mg/kg), as the main components. Secoiridoids and their derivatives were also found in high concentrations (3,4-DHPEA-EDA 50.3-98.4 mg/kg, p-HPEA-EDA 34.6-52.9 mg/kg). All samples showed carbohydrate-hydrolyzing enzymes inhibition. The most promising activity was observed with EVOO from Vaccarizzo Albanese (IC50 of 65.5 and 57.7 µg/ml against α-glucosidase and α-amylase, respectively). The same sample showed the highest antioxidant activity of 45.3 and 56.3 µg/ml against DPPH and ABTS radicals, respectively. This sample was richest in phenols. In conclusion, EVOO has high-level bioactive compounds and a promising antioxidant and hypoglycemic activity

A comparison of methods to quantify greenhouse gas emissions of cropping systems in LCA

Carbon dioxide and nitrous oxide are two important greenhouse gases (GHG) released from cropping systems. Their emissions can vary substantially with climate, soil, and crop management. While different methods are available to account for GHG emissions in life cycle assessments (LCA) of crop production, there are no standard procedures. In this study, the objectives were: (i) to compare several methods of estimating CO2 and N2O emissions for a LCA of cropping systems and (ii) to estimate the relative contribution of soil GHG emissions to the overall global warming potential (GWP) using results from a field experiment located in Manitoba, Canada. The methods were: (A) measurements; (B) Tier I and (C) Tier II IPCC (Intergovernmental panel on Climate Change) methodology, (D) a simple carbon model combined with Intergovernmental Panel for Climate Change (IPCC) Tier II methodology for soil N2O emissions, and (E) the DNDC (DeNitrification DeComposition) agroecosystem model. The estimated GWPs (−7.2–17 Mg CO2eq ha−1 y−1; −80 to 600 kg CO2eq GJ−1 y−1) were similar to previous results in North America and no statistical difference was found between GWP based on methods D and E and GWP based on observations. The five methods gave estimates of soil CO2 emissions that were not statistically different from each other, whereas for N2O emissions only DNDC estimates were similar to observations. Across crop types, all methods gave comparable CO2 and N2O emission estimates for perennial and legume crops, but only DNDC gave similar results with respect to observations for both annual and cereal crops. Whilst the results should be confirmed for other locations, the agroecosystem model and method D can be used, at certainly one selected site, in place of observations for estimating GHGs in agricultural LCA

On occurrence of spectral edges for periodic operators inside the Brillouin zone

The article discusses the following frequently arising question on the spectral structure of periodic operators of mathematical physics (e.g., Schroedinger, Maxwell, waveguide operators, etc.). Is it true that one can obtain the correct spectrum by using the values of the quasimomentum running over the boundary of the (reduced) Brillouin zone only, rather than the whole zone? Or, do the edges of the spectrum occur necessarily at the set of ``corner'' high symmetry points? This is known to be true in 1D, while no apparent reasons exist for this to be happening in higher dimensions. In many practical cases, though, this appears to be correct, which sometimes leads to the claims that this is always true. There seems to be no definite answer in the literature, and one encounters different opinions about this problem in the community. In this paper, starting with simple discrete graph operators, we construct a variety of convincing multiply-periodic examples showing that the spectral edges might occur deeply inside the Brillouin zone. On the other hand, it is also shown that in a ``generic'' case, the situation of spectral edges appearing at high symmetry points is stable under small perturbations. This explains to some degree why in many (maybe even most) practical cases the statement still holds.Comment: 25 pages, 10 EPS figures. Typos corrected and a reference added in the new versio

European Organization for Caries Research Workshop: Methodology for Determination of Potentially Available Fluoride in Toothpastes

Toothpastes are the most universally accepted form of fluoride delivery for caries prevention. To provide anti-caries benefits, they must be able to release fluoride during the time of tooth brushing or post brushing into the oral cavity. However, there is no standard accepted procedure to measure how much fluoride in a toothpaste may be (bio) available for release. The European Organization for Caries Research proposed and supported a workshop with experts in fluoride analysis in toothpastes and representatives from industry. The objective of the workshop was to discuss issues surrounding fluoride analysis in toothpaste and reach consensus on terminology and best practices, wherever the available evidence allowed it. Participants received a background paper and heard presentations followed by structured discussion to define the problem. The group also reviewed evidence on the validity, reliability and feasibility of each technique (namely chromatography and fluoride electroanalysis) and discussed their strengths and limitations. Participants were able to reach a consensus on terminology and were also able to identify and summarize the advantages and disadvantages of each technique. However, they agreed that most currently available methods were developed for regulatory agencies several decades ago, utilizing the best available data from clinical trials then, but require to be updated. They also agreed that although significant advances to our understanding of the mechanism of action of fluoride in toothpaste have been achieved over the past 4 decades, this clearly is an extraordinarily complex subject and more work remains to be done