An Analysis of the Association Between Dialogue, Rhetoric and Engagement in President Trump\u27s First 100 Days on Twitter

President Donald Trump’s use of Twitter to primarily communicate with the public is unprecedented and demonstrates a simplistic and informal style of presidential communication. The purpose of this study was to determine whether or not this online presidential communication strategy successfully implements traditional public relations strategies, specifically Kent & Taylor’s (1998) Dialogic Communication Theory and rhetorical strategies. A content analysis was used to examine the use of Dialogic Communication Principles and rhetorical strategies in tweets sent from @realDonaldTrump within his first 100 days in office. It was then determined whether or not the use of these principles and strategies have an effect on engagement (the total number of retweets, likes and comments) on tweets. Key findings of this study suggest that the use of pathos (emotional and patriotic appeals) within tweets positively affects engagement totals on tweets, and the use of various dialogic communication principles within tweets negatively affects engagement totals received on tweets

Evaluation of molecular diversity of new castor lines (Ricinus communis L.) using random amplifi ed polymorphic DNA markers

The aim of this work was to detect genetic variability among the set of 32 castor genotypes using five random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) markers. Amplification of genomic DNA of 32 genotypes, using RAPD analysis, yielded 41 fragments, with an average of 8.20 polymorphic fragments per primer. Number of amplified fragments ranged from 5 to 11, with the size of amplicons varied from 100 to 1200 bp. The polymorphic information content value ranged from 0.598 (RLZ 9) to 0.811 (RLZ 6) with an average of 0.746 and diversity index value ranged from0.557 (RLZ 9) to 0.889 (RLZ 7) with an average of 0.784. The dendrogram based on hierarchical cluster analysis using unweighted pair group method with arithmetic average algorithm was prepared

The Impact of Brief Animal Assisted Therapy Dog Interactions on College Student Stress and Self-Efficacy Levels

The aim of the current study was to examine the potential benefits of dog therapy programs on student stress levels on a college campus. While these programs have become increasingly popular there is little evidence on the effectiveness of animal centered activities. We compared the differences on three types of assessments related to stress levels (e.g., Self-Efficacy Scale, Perceived Stress Scale and relative changes in stress hormone levels (cortisol)) for college students before and after interacting with therapy dogs for 10 minutes. Saliva samples were collected using Salimetrics’ Salivabio Oral Swab (SOS) method from student participants 15 minutes after arrival at the study (baseline) and 15 minutes after interaction with therapy dogs (treatment). Saliva samples were processed for cortisol using Salimetrics’ High Sensitivity Salivary Cortisol ELISA kit. This data will provide insight on how interacting with therapy animals can affect stress levels

Genetic diversity of maize (Zea mays) accessions revealed by random amplifi ed polymorphic DNA markers

In the present study, random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) markers were used to assess genetic diversity of the maize genotypes. Five arbitrary random primers were used to determine RAPD polymorphism in the set of 20 maize genotypes. Amplification of genomic DNA of 20 genotypes, using RAPD analysis, yielded 33 fragments, with an average of 6.60 polymorphic fragments per primer. Number of amplified fragments ranged from 5 (OPA-02, OPB-08) to 10 (OPA-13), with the size of amplicons ranging from 250 to 2000 bp. The polymorphic information content value ranged from 0.751 (OPD-02) to 0.872 (OPA-13), with an average of 0.781 and diversity index value varied from 0.718 (OPB-08) to 0.874 (OPA-13) with an average of 0.790. The dendrogram based on hierarchical cluster analysis using unweighted pair group method with arithmetic average (UPGMA) algorithm was prepared. A dendrogram based on UPGMA analysis separated 20 maize genotypes into two clusters. RAPD markers are useful in the assessment of maize diversity, the detection of the duplicate sample in genotypes collection, and the selection of a core collection to enhance the efficiency of genotypes management for use in maize breeding and conservation.Â

Understanding how proximity to a robot affects perceived workload

Human-robot collaboration is fast becoming a preferable alternative to traditional manual assembly work in manufacturing. Large industrial robots and small force-limited ‘co-bots’ can now be deployed with sophisticated safety systems to enable human skills and robot skills to be employed most effectively. However, an understanding of the affect this introduction may have on cognitive workload is required prior to their full installation into industry. This paper describes an investigation which explored the effect of working in proximity to a robot on people’s workload. The NASA- Task Load Index (NASA-TLX) was used to assess subjective workload for participants after completing trials. Results showed centralised workload levels which were higher for the assembly activity requiring greater fine motor control

Topological Incarnations of Electroweak Defects

We propose a criterion to classify hybrid defects occurring in field theoretic models such as the standard electroweak model. This criterion leads us to consider the minimal extension of the electroweak model in which electroweak magnetic monopoles and $Z$-strings are topological. We briefly discuss the cosmology of such defects.Comment: 12 pages + 1 figure; LaTe

Value Added Grains for Local and Regional Food Systems

Small grains provide numerous benefits for organic farming systems. However, because they have relatively low value and require special equipment, many organic farming systems do not integrate them. Heritage varieities of ommon wheat (Triticum aestivum ssp. Aestivum) and its antecedents spelt (Triticum aestivum, ssp. spelta), emmer (Triticum turgidum subsp. dicoccum) and einkorn (Triticum monococcum) are the subject of a project that looks at their viability. Preliminary results of variety trials show that organic farmers have several promising small grain options. Improved management and appropriate equipment are barriers to adoption that the project aims to overcome. Viability will depend on overcoming marketing as well as production obstacles

Agronomic and Kernel Compositional Traits of Blue Maize Landraces from the Southwestern United States

Diverse landraces of maize have been cultivated for centuries in the southwestern United States and northern Mexico primarily for human food consumption. A striking feature of these landraces is the wide array of kernel colors displayed. Traditional cultivation is declining, but blue maize has received increasing commercial interest due to rising consumer demand for unique food products with health benefits and special culinary uses. We evaluated grain yield, agronomic and morphological traits, and analyzed the kernel biochemical composition of five blue and one purple landraces representative of diversity in the Southwest. These were compared with selected open-pollinated populations derived from Southwest and Corn Belt blue maize at several New Mexico locations in 2012 and 2013. Kernel amino acids, oil, protein, starch, fatty acids, crude fiber, ash and anthocyanin pigment contents were determined. Grain yield across all locations, years, and accessions averaged 2.11 Mg ha−1. Navajo Blue and Hopi Blue were the highest and lowest yielding accessions, respectively. The majority of southwestern landraces displayed higher oil content, and two displayed higher protein content, than the Corn Belt Dent variety. Little variation in total amino acid content was observed. Several southwestern floury accessions displayed ∼10% greater lysine and methionine than did dent or flint genotypes. Considerable variation for plant, ear, and kernel compositional traits within and across southwestern landraces was consistent with the presence of racial admixtures. The health-promoting properties of anthocyanin-rich landraces contribute to sound dietary nutrition and human health. This study further illustrates the diversity of southwestern maize and supports the rationale for their continued conservation through sustained cultivation and utilization. Directed selection to improve grain yield and uniformity will be necessary to enhance their potential for commercial production

Computerized analysis of coronary artery disease: Performance evaluation of segmentation and tracking of coronary arteries in CT angiograms

Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/134780/1/mp0294.pd

Microhabitat use by the white-clawed crayfish in a Tuscan stream.

Habitat modification, pollution, overfishing, poaching, competition from nonindigenous species, and diseases have led to the extinction in Europe of many populations of indigenous crayfish. Under the rationale that any programme of reintroduction should be preceded by a thorough understanding of habitat requirements of the species of concern, we studied the microhabitat use of an Austropotamobius pallipes population in Tuscany, central Italy. Microhabitat use was assessed for water depth, current velocity, substrate, percentages of boulders, underwater tree roots, and in-stream vegetation cover. Results show that A. pallipes’ habitat use is size-partitioned. Smaller individuals mostly occupy stream edges in shallow waters with submerged roots, whereas larger individuals use deeper waters, often associated with boulders. Crayfish spatial distribution is restricted mostly to the microhabitats characterised by extensive cover and slow current velocity. The study highlights the importance of habitat heterogeneity and cover elements for the protection of this indigenous species