HUMAN CAPITAL NEEDS OF BLACK LAND-GRANT INSTITUTIONS

Labor and Human Capital, Teaching/Communication/Extension/Profession,

Focus Stacking Images of Morphological Character States for Differentiating the Adults of \u3ci\u3eIxodes affinis\u3c/i\u3e and \u3ci\u3eIxodes scapularis\u3c/i\u3e (Acari: Ixodidae) in Areas of Sympatry

Adult females and males of Ixodes affinis and Ixodes scapularis are illustrated by focus stacking image photography, and morphological character states are described that reliably differentiate the two species. In conjunction with other environmental cues, such as the questing phenology of adults, these characteristics will enable the rapid identification of adults of either sex along the southern Coastal Plain of the United States, where these species are sympatric

Mycorrhizal colonization and nutrient uptake of dry bean in manure and compost manure treated subsoil and untreated topsoil and subsoil

Eroded or leveled Portneuf silt loam soils (coarse-silty mixed mesic Durixerollic Calciorthid) have been restored to topsoil productivity levels by manure application, but not by other organic sources such as cheese whey. In dry bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L. cv. Viva), only soil organic matter and Zn concentration of leaf tissue correlated with improved yields. Manure application could potentially increase or decrease mycorrhizal colonization depending on which factors dominate. Manured and unmanured soils from a long-term field experiment were sampled and mycorrhizal spores were quantified, but there was no significant manure treatment effect on spore numbers. A greenhouse study was conducted to see if manure or composted manure freshly applied to subsoils would facilitate mycorrhizal colonization in dry bean roots compared to untreated topsoil or conventionally fertilized subsoil. Low level colonization (< 5%) was observed 21 days after planting and that increased to 58% by 56 days after planting. Roots grown on subsoil treated with manure or composted manure showed higher percent colonization than roots from untreated subsoil, but roots on topsoil had highest colonization. This increase in colonization was statistically significant for the last two sampling dates. Topsoil promoted the greatest percent colonization in early bean growth and this was reflected in greater Zn uptake during early growth stages. By day 56, plants grown in manured subsoil absorbed Zn equal to topsoil and at higher levels than the subsoil control. However, this increase in Zn uptake was not seen in plants grown in compost manured subsoil. A decrease in root and shoot weight was observed in the composted manure treatment and this seemed to decrease mycorrhizal efficiency. Uptake of other nutrients was either not related or was negatively related to mycorrhizal infection. The higher percent colonization of roots by mycorrhizal fungi stimulated by manure could explain the field observations of higher bean yield and Zn contents in dry bean in manured than in untreated subsoils

Diet Composition and Body Condition of Northern Continental Divide Grizzly Bears, Montana

From 2009–2013, we documented apparent population health by investigating food use and physiological condition of grizzly bears (Ursus arctos) in the Northern Continental Divide Ecosystem (NCDE), Montana.  We used stable isotope analysis upon hair and blood tissue to obtain information on percent terrestrial meat and plant matter in the diets of NCDE bears.  We also assessed body fat content of grizzly bears via bioelectrical impedance analysis.  Adult females used less meat compared to subadults and adult males (P &lt; 0.0001).  Bears within regions on the southwestern, southern, and eastern periphery of the ecosystem consumed a significantly higher proportion of meat than those in the interior or northwestern periphery (P &lt; 0.0001).  Diets of bears in the Whitefish Mountains and North and South Fork of the Flathead River were, on average, composed of 70% less meat than those on the East Front.  Adult males had significantly higher den entrance body fat contents than adult females and subadults (P &lt; 0.0001).  Average body fat of adult females varied significantly between those in areas of high consumption of meat and those otherwise.  However, we find adult females across all regions enter dens at mean fat levels above those thought to be critical for cub production (i.e., &gt; 20%).  We conclude that, within each region, the quantity and quality of foods appear adequate to meet the needs of reproductively-active adult females.  As truly opportunistic omnivores, grizzly bears in each region of the NCDE exploit diverse combinations of food items to arrive at productive body conditions

Preparing and staining mycorrhizal structures in dry bean, sweet corn, and wheat using a block digester

The use of safe staining techniques in the evaluation of mycorrhizal colonization is critical to the continued understanding of this important symbiosis. Several procedures being utilized currently involve regulated and/ or toxic chemicals. The integration of unregulated and nontoxic chemicals into these procedures is important to alleviate potential dangers currently used chemicals pose. We eliminated all regulated reagents by combining portions of several previously published staining and root preservation procedures. A block digester for plant tissue digestion was used as a heating unit and proved to be easier to use, quicker and more reliable than either a water bath or a circulating air oven. Optimum clearing time in KOH varied from 8 to 10 min and 30 to 40 min for wheat, sweet corn, and dry bean roots, respectively. We also successfully used both drying and freezing of roots for storage prior to staining. These modified procedures were quick and easy and provided reliable temperature control and excellent staining while protecting individuals and the environment from toxic chemicals

Explorations, Vol. 2, No. 1

Cover: The painting reproduced on the cover is a 22” by 30” acrylic on paper entitled Passage-10, by James Linehan, Assistant Professor of Art at the University of Maine at Orono, where he teaches painting. ©James Linehan, 1985. Articles include: Polyunsaturated Fats: are they killing us? by Linda J. Kling Where are the Dreamers: aspirations of Maine\u27s rural high school students, by Robert A. Cobb, Walter G. McIntire, and Philip A. Pratt Elsewhere in Education: a research sampler \u22Physical Education and Handicapped Children, Stephen A. Butterfield School Climate and Teacher Efficacy, Theodore Coadarci The Principal Principle, Gordon A. Donaldson, Jr. Assessing Leadership, Ronald L. Sparkes Malnutrition in Maine, by Richard A. Cook Hypertension: aging and intellect, by Merrill F. Elias and Michael Robbins From Campus to Public Schools A Ceiling on Shelter, by Peggy K. Schomaker From the Dispatch Case: Control of Cell Growth at the Level of the Genetic Code, by R.D. Blake In the Spring issue of EXPLORATIONS: The sure but silent force in American foreign policy in post World War II Japan—Harry F. Ker

Science and Ideology in Economic, Political, and Social Thought

This paper has two sources: One is my own research in three broad areas: business cycles, economic measurement and social choice. In all of these fields I attempted to apply the basic precepts of the scientific method as it is understood in the natural sciences. I found that my effort at using natural science methods in economics was met with little understanding and often considerable hostility. I found economics to be driven less by common sense and empirical evidence, then by various ideologies that exhibited either a political or a methodological bias, or both. This brings me to the second source: Several books have appeared recently that describe in historical terms the ideological forces that have shaped either the direct areas in which I worked, or a broader background. These books taught me that the ideological forces in the social sciences are even stronger than I imagined on the basis of my own experiences. The scientific method is the antipode to ideology. I feel that the scientific work that I have done on specific, long standing and fundamental problems in economics and political science have given me additional insights into the destructive role of ideology beyond the history of thought orientation of the works I will be discussing

Isometric Embeddings and Noncommutative Branes in Homogeneous Gravitational Waves

We characterize the worldvolume theories on symmetric D-branes in a six-dimensional Cahen-Wallach pp-wave supported by a constant Neveu-Schwarz three-form flux. We find a class of flat noncommutative euclidean D3-branes analogous to branes in a constant magnetic field, as well as curved noncommutative lorentzian D3-branes analogous to branes in an electric background. In the former case the noncommutative field theory on the branes is constructed from first principles, related to dynamics of fuzzy spheres in the worldvolumes, and used to analyse the flat space limits of the string theory. The worldvolume theories on all other symmetric branes in the background are local field theories. The physical origins of all these theories are described through the interplay between isometric embeddings of branes in the spacetime and the Penrose-Gueven limit of AdS3 x S3 with Neveu-Schwarz three-form flux. The noncommutative field theory of a non-symmetric spacetime-filling D-brane is also constructed, giving a spatially varying but time-independent noncommutativity analogous to that of the Dolan-Nappi model.Comment: 52 pages; v2: References adde

Symmetry, Gravity and Noncommutativity

We review some aspects of the implementation of spacetime symmetries in noncommutative field theories, emphasizing their origin in string theory and how they may be used to construct theories of gravitation. The geometry of canonical noncommutative gauge transformations is analysed in detail and it is shown how noncommutative Yang-Mills theory can be related to a gravity theory. The construction of twisted spacetime symmetries and their role in constructing a noncommutative extension of general relativity is described. We also analyse certain generic features of noncommutative gauge theories on D-branes in curved spaces, treating several explicit examples of superstring backgrounds.Comment: 52 pages; Invited review article to be published in Classical and Quantum Gravity; v2: references adde