Murray State University

The Step it UP! Game, a modified version of the Good Behavior Game (GBG), has previously been shown to increase physical activity levels among elementary school children and adults with disabilities. The purpose of this study was to compare a novel modification of the GBG targeting physical activity, the Don't Stop! Game, with the Step it UP! Game. Participants included 14 young adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Three conditions were alternated randomly within a multielement design: baseline, Step it UP! Game (in which the team with the most steps wins a prize), and Don't Stop! Game (in which the team with the fewest demerits for standing still wins a prize). All 14 participants had higher steps per minute during intervention conditions relative to baseline, but the degree of difference between intervention conditions differed across participants. The Don't Stop! Game was preferred by more participants.

A series of covalently cross-linked networks and ionogels were prepared, whereby a protic sulfonic acid group was introduced either through a polymerizable or free ionic liquid (IL) group. The resulting ionene networks and ionogels were synthesized using thiol–ene photopolymerization. As the amount of protic IL (polymerizable or free) was increased, a reduction in the DSC glass transition temperature (Tg) and DMA storage modulus in the rubbery plateau region (E′) was observed as the IL groups generally acted as plasticizers. Introduction of a mixed anion [NTf2]/[OTf] system into the ionogel series led to a synergistic reduction in DSC Tg and an increase in ionic conduction (anhydrous conductivity of ∼10–5 at 30 °C). The conductivity was further enhanced when the film was exposed to varying degrees of relative humidity, leading to conductivities approaching 10–2 S/cm at 90 °C and 70% RH. This study underscores the potential of protic ionic liquid-containing ionene networks, in particular those that contain a combination of anions, as membranes in fuel cell applications.

The use of new psychoactive substances (NPS) poses a persistent threat to public health and safety worldwide. The lack of early and comprehensive detection of NPS has been a significant challenge for harm reduction initiatives. In this study, we demonstrate the use of wastewater-based epidemiology (WBE) for the early detection of NPS, analyzing 547 samples collected over 12 months from five rest areas and two commercial weigh stations along interstate highways in Kentucky. Using a validated ultraperformance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry method, several target NPS were quantified, including two synthetic opioids (p-fluorofentanyl and metonitazene), a synthetic cannabinoid (MAB-CHMINACA), a phenylpiperazine (mCPP), an alkaloid (mitragynine), and two synthetic cathinones (MDPV and MMMP). Notably, metonitazene was detected for the first time in 30% of wastewater samples─preceding reports in the state's seized and toxicological data. Similarly, p-fluorofentanyl was also quantified for the first time in wastewater collected from these roadway facilities, with concentrations reaching up to 0.48 mg/d/1,000 people in 83% of samples (n = 66) at I-64E. The lower dilution factors of human excreta at these point-of-release facilities, combined with higher-resolution data on wastewater inflow and user populations, highlight the potential of WBE as an effective regional early warning system for NPS.

Bison producers commonly utilize grain- or grass-finishing across both extensive and intensive management systems that can vary in diet composition and nutrient concentration. Finishing systems may impact the growth rate and composition of gain, as well as tenderness and sensory characteristics of bison meat. Therefore, the objective of this study was to determine the effect of diverse finishing systems on carcass composition and meat quality of bison. Bison heifers (n = 263, approximately 25 months of age) from a single source were randomly assigned to one of six finishing systems: 1) pen-finished with free choice access to each feedstuff (grass hay, alfalfa, and corn grain in separate feeders) at low stocking density (55 m 2 per animal, n = 45); 2) pen-finished with grass hay, alfalfa, and corn provided as a total mixed ration (TMR) at low stocking density (n = 43); 3) pen-finished with the same TMR at high stocking density (27 m 2 per animal, n = 44); 4) range-finished on high diversity rangeland (n = 44); 5) range-finished on low diversity rangeland (n = 44); and 6) range-finished on low diversity rangeland with free choice access to corn supplement (n = 43). At approximately 31-32 months of age, all heifers were transported to a commercial harvest facility. Carcass data were recorded, and one striploin was collected from a subsample of carcasses for analysis of composition, meat tenderness, and trained sensory panel evaluation. Addition of corn grain increased live weight, carcass weight, dressing percentage, ribeye area, and backfat thickness compared with heifers finished only on rangeland. Finishing systems did not influence objective tenderness. Pen-finishing systems that included corn grain improved perception of several sensory attributes including juiciness, brown/roasted, sweetness, and umami, whereas the intensity of characteristic bison flavor was more prominent in range-finished bison. However, corn supplementation on rangeland, pen stocking density, rangeland diversity, and pen-based feed delivery rarely influenced sensory attributes. Collectively, finishing systems influenced many bison carcass composition and meat characteristics, suggesting that bison meat products from differing finishing systems could influence economic outcomes of bison enterprises and provide alternative marketing opportunities to meet varied consumer preferences.

The structure of a planar double layer system containing both positively charged and negatively charged dimer ions is explored using Monte Carlo simulation in the canonical ensemble. The dimer ions are immersed in a structureless solvent mimicked by a dielectric continuum adjacent to a charged electrode. The dimer cations and dimer anions consist of two equally sized hard spheres fused together; in each dimer, one sphere is charged, while the other is neutral. For a bulk concentration of 1 mol/dm 3 and symmetric dimer valencies of 1:1, singlet distribution functions and the average orientation of the dimers perpendicular to the electrode are obtained for both positive and negative electrode surface charges. At the same fusion levels for both species of dimers, more structure is observed when the fusion level is low rather than when this level is high. Additionally, the coion and counterion profiles tend to be inverted when the electrode surface charge is reversed.

<span>Soil microbial populations and activities have been repeatedly reported to be severely affected by high concentrations of heavy metals. However, little of this information comes from tropical soil. The fungal and bacterial populations in tropical soils contaminated with heavy metals were observed in a laboratory study. Soils that have been amended once with different rates of heavy-metal-containing waste (0-60 Mg ha<sup>-1</sup>) in 1998 (23 years ago) were used in this study. We then treated the contaminated soils with different rates of biochar (0-10 Mg ha<sup>-1</sup>). Biochar is known to significantly reduce heavy metal contaminants through various immobilization reactions. The soil-biochar mixtures were allowed to equilibrate at the soil field water capacity, maintained by a common water reservoir beneath the soil-biochar mixtures, for 4 weeks. After this period, the soil fungal and bacterial populations were counted. The results of the present study showed that high soil levels of Cu and Zn significantly enhanced the fungal population. In contrast, the bacterial population was not affected by the presence of Cu and Zn. In the highly contaminated pots, the addition of biochar significantly enhanced the population of soil fungi (identified as <em>Aspergillus</em> sp.), but it did not affect the population of bacteria. The results of the study suggest that biochar application led to significant enhancement of the population of <em>Aspergillus</em> sp. in pots with high soil Cu and Zn levels, most likely through improved habitat conditions provided by biochar’s porous structure, which could be leveraged in bioremediation efforts for heavy metal-contaminated soils.</span>

Abstract Bigheaded carps (i.e., Silver Carp Hypophthalmichthys molitrix and Bighead Carp H. nobilis ) are non‐native species that continue to expand their ranges throughout North American river systems, including the Tennessee and Cumberland river systems in the southeastern United States. These species are known to have deleterious effects on native fishes. Management efforts have focused on reducing upstream passage at dams coupled with intensive removal of individuals occupying upstream reaches. Understanding mechanisms affecting the success of upstream fish passage through lock chambers is critical to determining immigration rates into upstream habitats, the likelihood of success for upstream removal efforts, and potential effects of upstream passage reduction using deterrents. We used acoustic telemetry to examine the timing of Silver Carp upstream and downstream dam passages, patterns of fish movement throughout the river systems, and the relationship between fish size and upstream passage through the lock chamber. During 2016–2019, 465 Silver Carp were surgically implanted with transmitters within the two river systems. We documented 37 upstream passages and 57 downstream passages of Barkley, Kentucky, and Pickwick dams. During the two years in which dam passages were observed, most upstream dam passages (89%) occurred during April–August when water temperature ranged from 12–31°C. Most downstream passages (89%) occurred from late‐February through July. The relatively small portion of Silver Carp tagged in Pickwick Lake (11% of total tagged), the uppermost reach of the study area, accounted for nearly two‐thirds of all dam passages. Our findings may help managers model Silver Carp populations and inform decisions regarding fish deterrent placement and operation.