Beef Cattle Producer Sustainability and Organic” Indices

This paper covers one component of a research project aimed at exploring the sustainability of beef cattle production in South Dakota. In this exploratory research, farmers/ranchers who follow alternative near-organic production practices are being studied in relation to farmers/ranchers who follow mainstream production practices. The study is being accomplished through comparisons of four matching pairs of near-organic and mainstream case study farms/ranches, with the members of each pair being as similar as possible in size-of-operation, types of cattle, natural and economic resources, and overall farm management levels. The comparisons involve both physical and economic measures of production. To determine farmers/ranchers who follow production practices most consistent with organic certification standards, we developed a producer organic index (POI) system intended to reflect in single composite numbers the degree to which each cow-calf operator and each cattle feeder being studied follows organic beef cattle standards. We also developed producer sustainability indices (PSls) to reflect the degree to which the same producers follow more broadly defined sustainable beef cattle production practices. The indices are being operationalized with information provided by South Dakota cow-calf producers and cattle feeders who responded to recent mail surveys covering production management practices [see Taylor and Feuz (1992 and 1993) for reports of the overall survey findings]. In this paper, we first describe the conceptual basis underlying development of the sustainability/organic index number systems and the procedures followed in developing the systems. We then present the four index number systems developed: a PSI and a POI for each of cow-calf producers and cattle feeders. Finally, we conclude with a brief indication of plans for future research. In that connection, we solicit reactions of readers that can be considered in further development of the index measures

South Dakota Beef Cow-Calf Producer Management Practices

This research report is based on the results of a mail survey of randomly selected South Dakota beef cow-calf operators undertaken during late 1991. The purpose of the survey was to determine the nature of management practices followed by the state\u27s cow-calf producers and whether those practices differ by size and/or location of herd. Attention was given to producers\u27 overall cowcalf, breeding, feeding, and health management practices

Chronic Pain History and its Relationship to Executive Function and Pain Perception

Chronic pain is a burdensome and potentially debilitating condition that affects approximately one-third of the United States population. A large body of research has indicated that individuals with chronic pain typically exhibit a number of deficits. Executive functioning levels are diminished, touch perception is amplified, and pain is perceived as more intense and unpleasant as compared to matched controls. While this literature is invaluable in characterizing the profile of chronic pain, little research has examined individuals with a history of chronic pain. The current study aims to fill this gap in the literature by examining executive functioning, touch perception, and conditioned pain modulation in individuals with a history of chronic pain. It was found that individuals with a history of chronic pain had better performance on an attentional control task (Stroop test) than control participants but no difference in a working memory task (Ospan). Those with a history of chronic pain exhibited a lower threshold for tactile (pressure) unpleasantness than control subjects, under baseline conditions, but not while simultaneously experiencing a painful thermal stimulus. These individuals also exhibited higher ratings of pressure sensation unpleasantness and intensity while simultaneously experiencing a painful thermal stimulus, but not during the neutral thermal stimulus. These results indicate that individuals with a history of chronic pain not only differ from individuals without a history of chronic pain but also from individuals (described in the literature) with current chronic pain. Future studies should aim to better understand the causal relationships among these variables and how they transform over an individual’s life course.Bachelor of Scienc

Research Synthesis for the California Zero Traffic Fatalities Task Force

This research synthesis consists of a set of white papers that jointly provide a review of research on the current practicefor setting speed limits and future opportunities to improve roadway safety. This synthesis was developed to inform thework of the Zero Traffic Fatalities Task Force, which was formed in 2019 by the California State Transportation Agencyin response to California Assembly Bill 2363 (Friedman). The statutory goal of the Task Force is to develop a structured,coordinated process for early engagement of all parties to develop policies to reduce traffic fatalities to zero. Thisreport addresses the following critical issues related to the work of the Task Force: (i) the relationship between trafficspeed and safety; (ii) lack of empirical justification for continuing to use the 85th percentile rule; (iii) why we need toreconsider current speed limit setting practices; (iv) promising alternatives to current methods of setting speed limits;and (v) improving road designs to increase road user safety

Portrayals and perceptions of AI and why they matter

How researchers, communicators, policymakers, and publics talk about technology matters. Shared understandings about the nature, promise and risks of new technologies develop through the explicit or implicit stories that different groups tell about technology and its place in our lives. The AI narratives project – a joint endeavour by the Leverhulme Centre for the Future of Intelligence and the Royal Society – has been examining which narratives currently influence public debates about AI, and how these portrayals might shape public perceptions of the capabilities, risks, and benefits of AI technologies. Many of the current ideas about AI technologies that are pervasive in public consciousness – typically that AI is an embodied, super-human intelligence – are shaped by hundreds of years of stories that people have told about humans and machines, and our places in the world. This cultural hinterland shapes how AI is portrayed in media, culture, and everyday discussion; it influences what societies find concerning – or exciting – about technological developments; and it affects how different publics relate to AI technologies. Building a well-founded public dialogue about AI technologies will be key to continued public confidence in the systems that deploy AI technologies, and to realising the benefits they promise across sectors. Since the launch of the machine learning project, the Royal Society has been creating spaces for public discussion about AI technologies, and their implications for society. In a series of four workshops, the Royal Society and Leverhulme Centre for the Future of Intelligence explored: which narratives around intelligent machines are most prevalent, and their historical roots; what can be learned from how the narrative around other complex, new technologies developed, and the impact of these; how narratives are shaping the development of AI, and the role of arts and media in this process; and the implications of current AI narratives for researchers and communicators. The report brings together the conclusions of these workshops, and is for anyone interested in how AI is portrayed and perceived.Drs Cave, Dihal, and Dillon are funded by a Leverhulme Trust Research Centre Grant awarded to the Leverhulme Centre for the Future of Intelligence. Dr Singler was funded by a Templeton World Charitable Foundation grant during the course of the AI narratives project, awarded to the Faraday Institute for Science and Religion, St Edmund's College, Cambridge

Composition?Nanostructure Steered Performance Predictions in Steel Wires

Neutron scattering in combination with scanning electron and atomic force microscopy were employed to quantitatively resolve elemental composition, nano-through meso-to metallurgical structures and surface characteristics of two commercial stainless steel orthodontic archwires—G&H and Azdent. The obtained bulk composition confirmed that both samples are made of metastable austenitic stainless steel type AISI 304. The neutron technique’s higher detection sensitivity to alloying elements facilitated the quantitative determination of the composition factor (CF), and the pitting resistance equivalent number (PREN) for predicting austenite stability and pitting-corrosion resistance, respectively. Simultaneous neutron diffraction analyses revealed that both samples contained additional martensite phase due to strain-induced martensite transformation. The unexpectedly high martensite content (46.20 vol%) in G&H was caused by combination of lower austenite stability (CF = 17.37, p = .03), excessive cold working and inadequate thermal treatment during material processing. Together, those results assist in revealing alloying recipes and processing history, and relating these with corrosion resistance and mechanical properties. The present methodology has allowed access to unprecedented length-scale (µm to sub-nm) resolution, accessing nano-through meso-scopic properties. It is envisaged that such an approach can be extended to the study and design of other metallic (bio)materials used in medical sciences, dentistry and beyond. © 2019 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland

Reciprocal regulation of IL-23 and IL-12 following co-activation of Dectin-1 and TLR signaling pathways

Recognition of microbial products by germ-line-encoded PRR initiates immune responses, but how PRR mediate specific host responses to infectious agents is poorly understood. We and others have proposed that specificity is achieved by collaborative responses mediated between different PRR. One such example comprises the fungal β-glucan receptor Dectin-1, which collaborates with TLR to induce TNF production. We show here that collaborative responses mediated by Dectin-1 and TLR2 are more extensive than first appreciated, and result in enhanced IL-23, IL-6 and IL-10 production in DC, while down-regulating IL-12 relative to the levels produced by TLR ligation alone. Such down-regulation occurred with multiple MyD88-coupled TLR, was dependent on signaling through Dectin-1 and also occurred in macrophages. These findings explain how fungi can induce IL-23 and IL-6, while suppressing IL-12, a combination which has previously been shown to contribute to the development of Th17 responses found during fungal infections. Furthermore, these data reveal how the collaboration of different PRR can tailor specific responses to infectious agents

Raman Spectroscopy identifies differences in ochronotic and non-ochronotic cartilage:a potential novel technique for monitoring ochronosis

Objective Alkaptonuria (AKU) is a rare, inherited disorder of tyrosine metabolism, where patients are unable to breakdown homogentisic acid (HGA), which increases systemically over time. It presents with a clinical triad of features; HGA in urine, ochronosis of collagenous tissues, and the subsequent ochronotic arthritis of these tissues. In recent years the advance in the understanding of the disease and the potential treatment of the disorder looks promising with the data on the efficacy of nitisinone. However, there are limited methods for the detection and monitoring of ochronosis in vivo, or for treatment monitoring. The study aim was to test the hypothesis that Raman spectra would identify a distinct chemical fingerprint for the non-ochronotic, compared to ochronotic cartilage. Design: Ochronotic and non-ochronotic cartilage from human hips and ears were analysed using Raman spectroscopy. Results: Non-ochronotic cartilage spectra were similar and reproducible and typical of normal articular cartilage. Conversely, the ochronotic cartilage samples were highly fluorescent and displayed limited or no discernible Raman peaks in the spectra, in stark contrast to their non-ochronotic pairs. Interestingly, a novel peak was observed associated with the polymer of HGA in the ochronotic cartilage that was confirmed by analysis of pigment derived from synthetic HGA. Conclusion: This technique reveals novel data on the chemical differences in ochronotic compared with non-ochronotic cartilage, these differences are detectable by a technique that is already generating in vivo data and demonstrates the first possible procedure to monitor the progression of ochronosis in tissues of patients with AKU

Constructions of difference sets in nonabelian 2-groups

Difference sets have been studied for more than 80 years. Techniques from algebraic number theory, group theory, finite geometry, and digital communications engineering have been used to establish constructive and nonexistence results. We provide a new theoretical approach which dramatically expands the class of $2$-groups known to contain a difference set, by refining the concept of covering extended building sets introduced by Davis and Jedwab in 1997. We then describe how product constructions and other methods can be used to construct difference sets in some of the remaining $2$-groups. We announce the completion of ten years of collaborative work to determine precisely which of the 56,092 nonisomorphic groups of order 256 contain a difference set. All groups of order 256 not excluded by the two classical nonexistence criteria are found to contain a difference set, in agreement with previous findings for groups of order 4, 16, and 64. We provide suggestions for how the existence question for difference sets in $2$-groups of all orders might be resolved.Comment: 38 page

The Hydrogen Epoch of Reionization Array Dish II: Characterization of Spectral Structure with Electromagnetic Simulations and its science Implications

We use time-domain electromagnetic simulations to determine the spectral characteristics of the Hydrogen Epoch of Reionization Arrays (HERA) antenna. These simulations are part of a multi-faceted campaign to determine the effectiveness of the dish's design for obtaining a detection of redshifted 21 cm emission from the epoch of reionization. Our simulations show the existence of reflections between HERA's suspended feed and its parabolic dish reflector that fall below -40 dB at 150 ns and, for reasonable impedance matches, have a negligible impact on HERA's ability to constrain EoR parameters. It follows that despite the reflections they introduce, dishes are effective for increasing the sensitivity of EoR experiments at relatively low cost. We find that electromagnetic resonances in the HERA feed's cylindrical skirt, which is intended to reduce cross coupling and beam ellipticity, introduces significant power at large delays ($-40$ dB at 200 ns) which can lead to some loss of measurable Fourier modes and a modest reduction in sensitivity. Even in the presence of this structure, we find that the spectral response of the antenna is sufficiently smooth for delay filtering to contain foreground emission at line-of-sight wave numbers below $k_\parallel \lesssim 0.2$ $h$Mpc$^{-1}$, in the region where the current PAPER experiment operates. Incorporating these results into a Fisher Matrix analysis, we find that the spectral structure observed in our simulations has only a small effect on the tight constraints HERA can achieve on parameters associated with the astrophysics of reionization.Comment: Accepted to ApJ, 18 pages, 17 Figures. Replacement matches accepted manuscrip