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SABER (Sounding of the Atmosphere using Broadband Emission Radiometry) is a 10-channel infrared radiometer that is one of four instruments on the NASA TIMED (Thermosphere-Ionosphere-Mesosphere Energetics and Dynamics) satellite mission to study the structure, energetics, chemistry, and dynamics of the Earth’s mesosphere and lower thermosphere. The TIMED spacecraft was launched into a 625 km circular polar orbit (74.1º inclination) via a Boeing Delta II rocket from Vandenberg Air Force Base on 7 December 2001. SABER continues to operate nominally and collect data routinely as it has for over 21 years. Over 2,200 peer-reviewed journal articles have been published worldwide using SABER data. A list of these articles is included in the Supporting Information accompanying this paper. This paper presents a detailed technical description of the SABER instrument including major subsystems of the instrument and technical performance parameters. This paper comprehensively describes the instrument and its components and provides final instrument design and performance parameters. The motivation for this paper is to document this information permanently for future reference. The Space Dynamics Laboratory (SDL) of Utah State University designed, fabricated, and calibrated the SABER instrument in close collaboration with NASA Langley Research Center, Hampton University, and Global Atmospheric Technologies and Science (GATS).

Enzyme reactivity is often enhanced by changes in oxidation state, spin state, and metal-ligand covalency of associated metallocofactors. The development of spectroscopic methods for studying these processes coincidentally with structural rearrangements is essential for elucidating metalloenzyme mechanisms. Herein, we demonstrate the feasibility of collecting X-ray emission spectra of metalloenzyme crystals at a 3rd generation synchrotron source. In particular, we report the development of a von Hamos spectrometer for the collection of Fe Kβ emission optimized for analysis of dilute biological samples. We further showcase its application in crystals of the immunosuppressive heme-dependent enzyme indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase. Spectra from protein crystals in different states were compared with relevant reference compounds. Complementary density functional calculations assessing covalency support our spectroscopic analysis and identify active site conformations that correlate to high- and low-spin states. These experiments validate the suitability of an X-ray emission approach for determining spin states of previously uncharacterized metalloenzyme reaction intermediates.

Restoration planning requires a reliable seed supply, yet many projects occur in response to unplanned events. Identifying regions of greater risk could help guide seed procurement. Using fire perimeters (2000–2019), we investigated differences in fire occurrence (frequency, area burned, percent of area burned) among seed transfer zones within Cold Deserts of the US. We considered both provisional seed transfer zones (PSTZs), created using climate and stratified by ecoregion, and empirical seed transfer zones (ESTZs) for two species commonly used in restoration. Finally, we present a case study on fire occurrence within Northern Basin and Range greater sage-grouse Priority Areas for Conservation (PACs). Historic fire was effective for prioritizing seed zones: 23 of 132 PSTZs burned every year, and, within each ecoregion, two PSTZs comprised ≧ 50% of the total area burned across all years. Similarly, fire disproportionately occurred in some ESTZs; in the Northern Basin and Range, one (Artemisia tridentata - 83%) or two zones (Pseudoroegneria spicata - 65%) made up a majority of total area burned. Fire occurrence within PACs largely reflected the PSTZ and ESTZ priorities found for the ecoregion, with small exceptions. Imperiled PSTZs (high proportion burned) in PACs largely reflected the patterns found across the ecoregion, while imperiled ESTZs departed from ecoregional patterns. Considering historic disturbance can focus seed procurement efforts on regions that encounter regular disturbance, experience large disturbances, or have particular conservation value. This information can guide seed production, purchase, and storage, create more certainty for growers and managers, and ultimately increase restoration success.IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICEAvailable data on past disturbance patterns may inform strategies for prioritizing seed procurement decisions, especially as geospatial information becomes more widely availableThe methods presented here illustrate an approach for using historic disturbance data to identify regions that are of greatest need for seed collection and conservation, using seed transfer zones within US Cold Desert ecoregions as an exampleIdentifying regions that experience disturbance over large areas or are likely to be imperiled due to disturbance at a high proportion can guide the collection and conservation of plant materials and better align available plant material with future restoration needs

The California Current System is thought to be particularly vulnerable to ocean acidification, yet pH remains chronically undersampled along this coast, limiting our ability to assess the impacts of ocean acidification. To address this observational gap, we integrated the Deep-Sea-DuraFET, a solid-state pH sensor, onto a Spray underwater glider. Over the course of a year starting in April 2019, we conducted seven missions in central California that spanned 161 glider days and >1600 dives to a maximum depth of 1000 m. The sensor accuracy was estimated to be ± 0.01 based on comparisons to discrete samples taken alongside the glider (n = 105), and the precision was ±0.0016. CO2 partial pressure, dissolved inorganic carbon, and aragonite saturation state could be estimated from the pH data with uncertainty better than ± 2.5%, ± 8 μmol kg−1, and ± 2%, respectively. The sensor was stable to ±0.01 for the first 9 months but exhibited a drift of 0.015 during the last mission. The drift was correctable using a piecewise linear regression based on a reference pH field at 450 m estimated from published global empirical algorithms. These algorithms require accurate O2 as inputs; thus, protocols for a simple predeployment air calibration that achieved accuracy of better than 1% were implemented. The glider observations revealed upwelling of undersaturated waters with respect to aragonite to within 5 m below the surface near Monterey Bay. These observations highlight the importance of persistent observations through autonomous platforms in highly dynamic coastal environments.

The COVID-19 public health emergency caused widespread economic shutdown and unemployment. The resulting surge in Unemployment Insurance claims threatened to overwhelm the legacy systems state workforce agencies rely on to collect, process, and pay claims. In Rhode Island, we developed a scalable cloud solution to collect Pandemic Unemployment Assistance claims as part of a new program created under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act to extend unemployment benefits to independent contractors and gig-economy workers not covered by traditional Unemployment Insurance. Our new system was developed, tested, and deployed within 10 days following the passage of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act, making Rhode Island the first state in the nation to collect, validate, and pay Pandemic Unemployment Assistance claims. A cloud-enhanced interactive voice response system was deployed a week later to handle the corresponding surge in weekly certifications for continuing unemployment benefits. Cloud solutions can augment legacy systems by offloading processes that are more efficiently handled in modern scalable systems, reserving the limited resources of legacy systems for what they were originally designed. This agile use of combined technologies allowed Rhode Island to deliver timely Pandemic Unemployment Assistance benefits with an estimated cost savings of $502,000 (representing a 411% return on investment).

Lewis flax (Linum lewisii) is widely distributed across western North America and is currently used in native ecosystem restoration. There is also growing interest in de novo domestication of Lewis flax as a perennial oilseed crop. To better understand this species and facilitate both restoration and domestication, we used common gardens to assess biogeographical variation in a variety of seed and growth traits from 37 flax accessions, consisting of 35 wild populations from the Intermountain West region, the pre-variety germplasm Maple Grove (L. lewisii) and the cultivar ‘Appar’ (L. perenne) and related this variation to collection site geography and climate. Results from linear mixed models suggest there is extensive phenotypic variation among populations of Lewis flax within the Intermountain West. Using a multivariate approach, we identify a key suite of traits that are related to latitude and climate and may facilitate adaptation, including flowering indeterminacy, seed mass and stem number. These traits should be taken into account when considering the release of new germplasm for restoration efforts. We also find that Lewis flax seed contains desirably high amounts of alpha-linolenic acid and is otherwise mostly indistinguishable in fatty acid composition from oil-type varieties of domesticated flax (L. usitatissimum), making it a strong candidate for domestication. This study provides fundamental knowledge for future research into the ecology and evolution of Lewis flax, which will inform its use in both restoration and agriculture.

We survey the phase diagram of high-pressure molecular hydrogen with path integral molecular dynamics using a machine-learned interatomic potential trained with Quantum Monte Carlo forces and energies. Besides the HCP and C2/c-24 phases, we find two new stable phases both with molecular centers in the Fmmm-4 structure, separated by a molecular orientation transition with temperature. The high temperature isotropic Fmmm-4 phase has a reentrant melting line with a maximum at higher temperature (1450K at 150GPa) than previously estimated and crosses the liquid-liquid transition line around 1200K and 200GPa., Comment: 4 pages, 4 figures, updated acknowledgment

Lewis flax (Linum lewisii) is widely distributed across western North America and is currently used in native ecosystem restoration. There is also growing interest in de novo domestication of Lewis flax as a perennial oilseed crop. To better understand this species and facilitate both restoration and domestication, we used common gardens to assess biogeographical variation in a variety of seed and growth traits from 37 flax accessions, consisting of 35 wild populations from the Intermountain West region, the pre-variety germplasm Maple Grove (L. lewisii) and the cultivar ‘Appar’ (L. perenne) and related this variation to collection site geography and climate. Results from linear mixed models suggest there is extensive phenotypic variation among populations of Lewis flax within the Intermountain West. Using a multivariate approach, we identify a key suite of traits that are related to latitude and climate and may facilitate adaptation, including flowering indeterminacy, seed mass and stem number. These traits should be taken into account when considering the release of new germplasm for restoration efforts. We also find that Lewis flax seed contains desirably high amounts of alpha-linolenic acid and is otherwise mostly indistinguishable in fatty acid composition from oil-type varieties of domesticated flax (L. usitatissimum), making it a strong candidate for domestication. This study provides fundamental knowledge for future research into the ecology and evolution of Lewis flax, which will inform its use in both restoration and agriculture.

The mismatch between the skills that employers seek and the skills that workers possess will increase substantially as demand for technically skilled workers accelerates. Skill mismatches disproportionately affect low-income workers and those within industries where relative demand growth for technical skills is strongest. As a result, much emphasis is placed on reskilling workers to ease transitions into new careers. However, utilization of training programs may be sub-optimal if workers are uncertain about the returns to their investment in training. While the U.S. spends billions of dollars annually on reskilling programs and unemployment insurance, there are few measures of program effectiveness that workers or government can use to guide training investment and ensure valuable reskilling outcomes. We demonstrate a causal machine learning method for estimating the value-added returns to training programs in Rhode Island, where enrollment increases future quarterly earnings by $605 on average, ranging from -$1,570 to $3,470 for individual programs. In a nationwide survey (N=2,014), workers prefer information on the value-added returns to earnings following training enrollment, establishing the importance of our estimates for guiding training decisions. For every 10% increase in expected earnings, workers are 17.4% more likely to express interest in training. State and local governments can provide this preferred information on value-added returns using our method and existing administrative data.

The diurnal-eastward propagating tide with zonal wavenumber 3 (DE3) has gained significant attention due to its ability to preferentially propagate to the ionosphere and thermosphere (IT) from the ...

The biological generation of oxygen by the oxygen-evolving complex (OEC) in photosystem II (PS II) is one of nature's most important reactions. The OEC is a Mn4Ca cluster that has multiple Mn-O-Mn and Mn-O-Ca bridges and binds four water molecules. Previously, binding of an additional oxygen was detected in the S2 to S3 transition. Here we demonstrate that early binding of the substrate oxygen to the five-coordinate Mn1 center in the S2 state is likely responsible for the S2 high-spin EPR signal. Substrate binding in the Mn1-OH form explains the prevalence of the high-spin S2 state at higher pH and its low-temperature conversion into the S3 state. The given interpretation was confirmed by X-ray absorption spectroscopic measurements, DFT, and broken symmetry DFT calculations of structures and magnetic properties. Structural, electronic, and spectroscopic properties of the high-spin S2 state model are provided and compared with the available S3 state models. New interpretation of the high-spin S2 state opens opportunity for analysis of factors controlling the oxygen substrate binding in PS II.

The application of X-ray emission spectroscopy (XES) has grown substantially with the development of X-ray free electron lasers, third and fourth generation synchrotron sources and high-power benchtop sources. By providing the high X-ray flux required for XES, these sources broaden the availability and application of this method of probing electronic structure. As the number of sources increase, so does the demand for X-ray emission detection and sample delivery systems that are cost effective and customizable. Here, we present a detailed fabrication protocol for von Hamos X-ray optics and give details for a 3D-printed spectrometer design. Additionally, we outline an automated, externally triggered liquid sample delivery system that can be used to repeatedly deliver nanoliter droplets onto a plastic substrate for measurement. These systems are both low cost, efficient and easy to recreate or modify depending on the application. A low cost multiple X-ray analyzer system enables measurement of dilute samples, whereas the sample delivery limits sample loss and replaces spent sample with fresh sample in the same position. While both systems can be used in a wide range of applications, the design addresses several challenges associated specifically with time-resolved XES (TRXES). As an example application, we show results from TRXES measurements of photosystem II, a dilute, photoactive protein.

Key Insights●The COVID-19 public health emergency caused widespread economic shutdown. The resulting surge in unemployment and Unemployment Insurance benefits claims threatened to overwhelm the legacy systems state workforce agencies rely on to collect, process, and pay claims.●In the State of Rhode Island, we developed a scalable cloud solution to collect Pandemic Unemployment Assistance claims robustly and securely. These claims are part of a new program created under the CARES Act that extended Unemployment Insurance benefits to independent contractors and gig-economy workers not covered by traditional Unemployment Insurance programs.●Our new system was developed, tested, and deployed within ten days following the passage of the CARES Act, making Rhode Island the first state in the country to collect, validate, and pay Pandemic Unemployment Assistance claims. A cloud-enhanced interactive voice response system was deployed a week later to handle the corresponding surge in weekly certifications for continuing unemployment benefits. ●Cloud solutions can augment legacy systems by offloading processes that are more efficiently handled in modern scalable systems, reserving the limited resources of legacy systems for what they were originally designed for. This agile use of combined technologies allowed Rhode Island to deliver timely Pandemic Unemployment Assistance benefits with an estimated cost savings of $502 thousand (representing a 411% return on investment).

The Colorado Plateau is one of North America's five major deserts, encompassing 340,000 km² of the western United States, and offering many opportunities for restoration relevant to researchers and land managers in drylands around the globe. The Colorado Plateau is comprised of vast tracts of public land managed by local, state, and federal agencies that oversee a wide range of activities (e.g., mineral and energy extraction, livestock grazing, and recreation). About 75% of the Plateau is managed by federal and tribal agencies and tens of millions of people visit the Plateau's public lands each year. However, even in the face of this diverse use, our knowledge of effective ways to restore Plateau ecosystems remains relatively poor. Further, the multiple agencies on the Plateau have mandates that differ greatly in allowable practices, restoration needs, and desired outcomes. The Colorado Plateau is also expected to undergo ecosystem shifts in the face of climate change, further complicating management decisions and potentially limiting some options while creating others. Here, we explore the current state of Colorado Plateau restoration science and underscore key challenges and opportunities for improving our capacity to maintain the myriad of services provided by these desert ecosystems. We highlight past research efforts and future needs related to restoration concepts, including consideration and design of novel ecosystems, mitigation for and adaptation to climate change, use of genetically diverse seed adapted for current and future conditions, and the value of strong multi‐agency and stakeholder collaborations in restoring systems on the Colorado Plateau and beyond.

Forty-six academics and practitioners participated in the second Journal of Information Systems Conference to discuss data analytics and Big Data from an accounting information systems perspective. The panels discussed the evolving role of technology in accounting, privacy within the domain of Big Data, and people and Big Data. Throughout all three panels, several topics emerged that impact all areas of accounting—developing enhanced analytical and data handling skills; evaluating privacy, security requirements, and risks; thinking creatively; and assessing the threat of automation to the accounting profession. Other topics were specific to a segment of the profession, such as the growing demand for privacy compliance audits and the curriculum adjustments necessary to develop data analytic skills. This commentary synthesizes and expands the discussions of the conference panels and suggests potential areas for future research.

Electrosurgery involves the use of high-frequency (typically 100–500 kHz) alternating current to elicit a clinical response in tissue (e.g., cutting or cauterization) using a plasma arc. Standard electrosurgical generators (ESGs) are based on resonant inverters, which constrain the output frequency and waveshape. This paper describes a fast tracking ESG capable of shaping the output ac waveform over a range of frequencies, thus providing improved flexibility and control in electrosurgery applications. The proposed fast tracking ESG is based on a two-rail multiphase buck topology using GaN switches. Experimental results are given for a four-phase ESG prototype operating from $\pm$ 250 V with 2-MHz per-phase switching frequency, capable of providing up to 50 W to an arc modeled as a 300–4000 Ω load.

Grazing could be used to control invasive grass species on rangeland. However, the characterization of the seasonal changes in the nutritive value of the invasive grass species will enable the development of targeted grazing strategies. Therefore, the objective of this study was to determine the in vitro fermentation characteristics of Cheatgrass (Bromus tectorum L.) and Medusahead (Taeniatherum caputmedusae L.) harvested on Idaho rangeland. Forage samples were collected from the Reynold Creek watershed (Owyhee county, ID) in summer (June 2018), fall (September 2018) and winter (January 2019). A batch culture system was then used to evaluate volatile fatty acid (VFA) production (6 h), and in vitro dry matter (IVDMD) and NDF digestibility (IVNDFD; 24 h and 48 h). All data was analyzed using the MIXED procedure of SAS. There was no season or grass species effect (P ≥ 0.24) on total VFA concentration and the molar proportion of acetate. However, there was a season × grass species interaction (P = 0.04) for the molar proportion of propionate; it was higher for cheatgrass than medusahead in summer, but not in winter and fall. Both season and grass species had no effect (P ≥ 0.11) on the molar proportions of butyrate, valerate, and total branch chain VFA. There was a season × grass species interaction for 24 and 48 h IVDMD and 24 h IVNDFD (Table 1). In addition, 48 h IVNDFD was greater (P < 0.01) when grasses were harvested during the summer compared to the fall and winter seasons. In summary, although there were no differences across invasive grass species when harvested during the fall and winter seasons, the molar proportion of propionate, 24 and 48 h IVDMD and 24 h IVNDFD were greater for cheatgrass compared to medusahead when harvested in summer.

We discuss the design of a fault-detection system for an unmanned underwater vehicle (UUV) actuator and present the results of in-water testing. We first discuss the design of the system, then its integration onto the UUV, the in-water testing sequence, and finally the analysis of the test results –- missed detection and false-alarm rate. This system serves as a platform for UUV fault detection and isolation research, enabling the development of system requirements, and providing the opportunity to compare the merits of the centralized vs decentralized fault-detection design approaches.

Environmental DNA (eDNA) can be used to identify macroorganisms and describe biodiversity, and thus has promise to supplement biological monitoring in marine ecosystems. Despite this promise, scaling sample acquisition to the spatial and temporal scales needed for effective monitoring would require prohibitively large investments in time and human resources. To address this challenge, we evaluated the efficacy of an autonomous eDNA sampling system and compare results obtained to traditional eDNA sampling methods. The autonomous sampling instrument consisted of the Environmental Sample Processor (ESP) coupled to an autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV). We tested equivalency between the ESP and traditional eDNA sampling techniques by comparing the quantification of eDNA across a broad range of taxa, from microbes (SAR11), phytoplankton (Pseudo-nitzschia spp.), and invertebrates (krill: Euphausia pacifica) to vertebrates (anchovy: Engraulis mordax). No significant differences in eDNA densities were observed between the two sample collection and filtration methods. eDNA filters collected by the ESP were preserved and stable for 21 days, the typical deployment length of the instrumentation. Finally, we demonstrated the unique capabilities of an autonomous, mobile ESP during a deployment near Monterey Bay, CA, by remotely and repeatedly sampling a water mass over 12 h. The development of a mobile ESP demonstrates the promise of utilizing eDNA measurements to observe complex biological processes in the ocean absent a human presence.

Over the past several decades, Utah has experienced rapid population growth, resulting in increased demand on Utah’s existing interstate and arterial infrastructure. In the Salt Lake City, Utah, metropolitan area, recurring traffic congestion (i.e., peak commute times) and nonrecurring congestion (weather related) result in an estimated average annual cost of $449 million. Recent Utah Department of Transportation (UDOT) studies have confirmed that inclement weather plays a significant role in nonrecurring congestion and associated negative impacts. In an effort to measure and potentially mitigate weather-related traffic congestion, a cooperative research study between academic (University of Utah), state [Utah Department of Transportation (UDOT)], federal (National Weather Service), and private sector (Weathernet) entities was undertaken. Driver awareness surveys were conducted for two significant winter storms along the Wasatch Front urban corridor. Participants typically used media and personal sources for gathering weather and road information, with government sources (UDOT and NWS) used less frequently. Use of government and personal sources were significant predictors of behavior change. Satisfaction with all information sources was high. The most frequent commuting changes reported were route changes and shifts in travel schedule, especially leaving early to avoid the storm. Self-reported actions from interviewees were supported by measured changes in speed, flow, and travel time from the Performance Measurement System (PeMS) utilized by UDOT. The long-term goal is to use these results to provide insight into how the weather enterprise might more effectively communicate hazard information to the public in a manner that leads to improved response (change travel times, modes, etc.).

The volume of the existing research literature is such it can make it difficult to find highly relevant information and to develop an understanding of how a scientific topic has evolved. Prior research on topic evolution has often leveraged refinements to Latent Dirichlet Allocation (LDA) to identify emerging topics. However, such methods do not answer the question of which studies contributed to the evolution of a topic. In this paper we show that meta-paths over a heterogeneous bibliographic network (consisting of papers, authors and venues) can be used to identify the network elements that made the greatest contributions to a topic. In particular, by adding derived edges that capture the contribution of papers, authors, and venues to a topic (using PageRank algorithm), a restricted meta-path over the bibliographic network can be used to restrict the evolution of topics to the context of interest to a researcher. We use such restricted meta-paths to construct a topic evolution tree that can provide researchers with a web-based visualization of the evolution of a scientific topic in the context of interest to them. Compared to baseline networks without restrictions, we find that restricted networks provide more useful topic evolution trees.

Stereotyping and biases continue to be a problem in many facets of society. Understanding how biases may affect recruitment and retention of employees has become a priority issue for companies, not only from an image perspective but also from a firm performance perspective, since both research and industry experience have shown that diverse teams generate better results. The need to address these issues, particularly with students who will become leaders in organizations, remains a priority in business education. In this article, we present an experiential activity that management instructors can use to help students understand and appreciate the reality and power of unconscious bias. The focus of this activity is on uncovering gender bias, yet the basic framework of the activity can easily be adapted to focus on other types of unconscious bias and stereotyping.

Seeds of most Great Basin lupine ( Lupinus spp. [Fabaceae]) species are physically dormant and thus, difficult to establish in uniform stands in seed production fields. We designed this study to examine 5 seed scarification techniques, each with 11 levels of application (including a non-scarified control), to reduce the physical seed dormancy of longspur lupine ( L. arbustus Douglas ex Lindl.), silvery lupine ( L. argenteus Pursh), hairy bigleaf lupine ( L. prunophilus M.E. Jones), and silky lupine ( L. sericeus Pursh). These 4 perennial Great Basin lupine species are of interest for both rehabilitation and restoration of degraded rangelands. We evaluated 10 treatments of each of 5 scarification methods, one mechanical, 2 thermal, and 2 chemical (sulfuric acid and sodium hypochlorite) techniques on the above-mentioned species. The sulfuric acid and the mechanical scarification treatments significantly improved germination for both silvery and silky lupine. Additionally, one thermal scarification method (60 s at 95 °C [203 °F]) was effective for silvery lupine. Both sulfuric acid and sodium hypochlorite scarification methods had treatment levels that significantly improved germination of hairy bigleaf lupine. For longspur lupine, all treatments within the 5 scarification methods either decreased or were not a significant improvement of germination as compared with the control, except for the treatment of soaking the seeds for 35 s at 95 °C (203 °F). We found scarification to be an effective tool for reducing physical dormancy in silvery lupine, hairy bigleaf lupine, and silky lupine, thus allowing for a more efficient use of limited seeds.

Astragalus utahensis (Torr.) Torr. & A. Gray (Fabaceae) (Utah milkvetch) is native to the arid Great Basin and has desirable attributes that make it a good candidate for restoration in arid, noncompetitive situations. Seed dormancy is a significant barrier to consistent establishment for this species. Species of Alternaria and Aspergillus fungi have potential to enhance germination of A. utahensis seed; therefore, we conducted trials to investigate Alternaria and Aspergillus effects on germination and emergence under controlled in vitro conditions or in soil in a growth chamber, in a greenhouse, and in the field. Seed was either acid scarified or left untreated and then inoculated with spores from Alternaria and Aspergillus. Under in vitro and greenhouse conditions, rates of germination or emergence increased significantly for seed inoculated with the 2 fungi. Inoculated seed in field experiments planted at Fountain Green and Nephi, Utah, had significantly higher emergence rates than the non-scarified/non-inoculated control, and Aspergillus-inoculated seed outperformed seed treated with Alternaria. Inoculation of seed planted at Spanish Fork did not provide an advantage over acid scarification, but all treatments showed greater emergence than the non-scarified/non-inoculated control. This study demonstrates that inoculating A. utahensis seed with Alternaria or Aspergillus prior to planting has a positive impact on rates of emergence in a field setting.

The overarching logistical challenge in microbial oceanography is acquiring enough samples to provide meaningful scientific interpretation. The number of samples collected during ship expeditions is limited by weather, time on station, and budget. Here we describe a robotic, autonomous vehicle platform equipped with a unique sampling instrument that mitigates some of these constraints. In a joint cruise on the R/V Falkor, the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute and the University of Hawaii deployed two of these vehicles in a mesoscale eddy north of the island of Maui. One vehicle collected contextual measurements while circling a freely drifting sampling vehicle. On the sampling vehicle we implemented several behaviors, including sampling every three hours for a 4-day underwater drift while maintaining position within the deep chlorophyll maximum layer (~100m). Results demonstrate the ability to remain with features of interest and point to an exciting future of long-term, directed, persistent sampling.

Mark Ashurst-McGee, Robin Scott Jensen, and Sharalyn D. Howcroft introduce Foundational Texts of Mormonism: Examining Major Early Sources by noting the rich documentary record of the early history of Mormonism and the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Among these the documents from the founding era under Joseph Smith are several major sources to which historians continually turn for information. However, as the authors explain, this is often with little appreciation for the complexity of the circumstances under which these documents were produced. The volume provides several examples of how understanding the complexity of documentary production helps historians to use these sources more critically. The authors individually introduce the chapters of the book.