Abstract: For decades, beef cattle producers have safely used steroidal implants as a low-cost, highly effective growth technology, delivering improvements in average daily gain (10 to 30%) and feed efficiency (5 to 15%) compared with non-implanted cattle. These improvements stem from increased skeletal muscle hypertrophy resulting from exposure to steroidal implants. This literature review investigates the history of commercially available estrogens, androgens, and progestins, as well as the release rates of steroidal implants and carrier technologies. It also examines the genomic and non-genomic mechanisms of action of these growth-promoting technologies, along with the physiological responses across successive production phases from suckling to harvest, which highlight how these tools modify growth trajectories and metabolic rates in beef cattle. Presenting up-to-date implant administration strategies that align implant potency, active ingredients, and duration of effectiveness with various production stages to optimize weight gain while preserving carcass quality and marbling.

Abstract: Risk perception is an important factor in individual and community disaster response, but there is a paucity of research on specific factors that influence it, particularly in rural and disadvantaged populations. In this observational study after the 2023 East Palestine train derailment, 288 participants (84 male; 198 female, 6 unknown; 94% white), completed a survey of their health and environmental concerns about drinking water, soil and air due to chemical exposures from the derailment. Factors potentially related to risk perception, {demographic, health (new and pre-existing symptoms), and temporal and geographic proximity to the derailment site], were measured. Binomial logistic regression assessed the relative relationships of these factors to outcomes. Residents with new symptoms had > 10 times the odds of having extreme health concerns (OR: 10.67, 95% CI: 3.90 – 29.19,) and >4 times the odds of environmental concerns (OR: 4.32, 95% CI: 1.70 – 10.99) than those without new symptoms, controlling for all other factors. Residents closer to the site had greater health and environmental concerns and had higher economic disadvantage. Environmental concerns increased over time and were higher for households with children and for non-smokers. Continued symptom monitoring and longitudinal studies are needed to accurately inform public health communications to residents. Messaging strategies in public health disasters should consider determinants of risk perception to achieve a balance between reducing perceived risk and validating community concerns.

Abstract: This article analyzes in detail the structural, thermal and mechanical properties of the Ni₅₄Cr₂₈Mo₈Nb₅Ta₅ alloy, as well identify potential applications in areas where exceptional high-temperature performance is required — such as gas turbines, nuclear reactors or aeronautical engine components. Obtaining a very good correlation between the experimental and fitted profiles, as well as the low values ​​of the error parameters (R-factors), confirms the accuracy of the structural model and the validity of the phases identified following the XRD analysis.

Abstract: This study presents a multi-method, high-fidelity investigation into the thermal comfort performance of a window-type direct evaporative cooling (December) air-conditioning system installed in a student dormitory (Room 210, Building No. 1) at a university in Beijing. Conducted over a representative summer period (June 2025), the research integrates in situ physical measurements, standardized subjective questionnaire surveys (n = 198), and advanced computational thermal physiology modeling using ISO 7730–2021 and ASHRAE Standard 55–2023 frameworks. Environmental parameters—including dry-bulb temperature (t_a), relative humidity (RH), air velocity (v_a), and mean radiant temperature (t_r)—were monitored at eight spatially distributed points for 3 hours (12:00–15:00) with 1-minute resolution. Concurrently, clothing ensemble, activity level, and subjective thermal sensation votes (TSV) were collected via validated questionnaires aligned with ISO 10551 and ANSI/ASHRAE Standard 55 Annex B. The measured data served as input to a custom FORTRAN-based simulation platform implementing Fanger’s two-node thermoregulatory model, enabling deterministic calculation of the Predicted Mean Vote (PMV), Predicted Percentage Dissatisfied (PPD), Effective Temperature (ET*), and Standard Effective Temperature (SET*). Results demonstrate that the December unit achieved a stable outlet temperature depression of Δt = 8.48°C (inlet: 31.46°C; outlet: 22.98°C) with a wet-bulb efficiency of 59.6%, reducing indoor ta from ambient 31.5°C to a mean of 27.68°C while maintaining RH at 41.68%—a critical achievement given Beijing’s low summer humidity. The paper concludes with evidence-based design recommendations for December deployment in Northern Chinese educational buildings, emphasizing its energy-saving potential (32% lower electricity use), health advantages (no refrigerants, zero ozone depletion potential), and critical operational constraints (performance degradation above 65% RH). It provides a granular, academically rigorous critique of methodological, climatic, behavioral, and physiological limitations, establishing a definitive roadmap for future research.

Abstract: This study aimed to evaluate, through a meta-analysis, the effects of available phosphorus levels and phytase supplementation on the bone quality of laying hens. The methodology consisted of a systematic review and quantitative integration of data from nine scientific articles published between 2019 and 2025, analyzing statistical contrasts among diets with adequate phosphorus levels (positive control), deficient diets (negative control), and diets supplemented with the enzyme phytase. The main results showed that the reduction of available phosphorus, particularly at levels above 0.2%, significantly compromised skeletal integrity, reducing bone strength by an average of 1.33 kgf and ash content by 2.16%. Although phytase supplementation promoted a significant recovery in strength (average gain of 1.94 kgf) and mineralization (1.41%) compared to the deficient group, it was not able to fully restore bone parameters to the levels of the positive control under conditions of severe mineral restriction. Additionally, the enzyme’s efficacy remained sta-ble regardless of its origin (bacterial or fungal) or the evaluated dosage (up to 1000 FTU/kg), while individual calcium and phosphorus contents in bone did not show uniform reduc-tions due to strong homeostatic regulation in the birds. It is concluded that phytase is a key tool for mitigating mineral deficiency; however, its ability to match the bone integrity of non-challenged birds is limited by the magnitude of dietary phosphorus restriction.

Abstract: We present a global metadata comprising results from studies investigating the effects of cover crops (CCs) on six key soil hydraulic properties, namely total porosity, infiltration rate, saturated hydraulic conductivity, water retention at field capacity and permanent wilting points, and available water holding capacity. This data repository is the result of a global meta-analysis entitled “Cover crop performance and functional groups regulate improvements in Soil Hydrology: A Global Meta-analysis". Globally, numerous studies have investigated the role of CCs on soil hydraulic properties, but the results have varied across sites and years. Hence, the objective of the meta-analysis was to synthesize existing knowledge base to assess overall effects of CCs on these soil hydraulic properties and evaluate how environmental and management factors moderate these overall CC responses. We searched for peer-reviewed research articles published through 5th October 2024 in the ISI Web of Science database and reference checking following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. A total of 146 relevant articles were identified from which data on CC responses were extracted. The metadata consists of 1007 pairwise observations comparing CC vs no-CC controls across diverse geographic regions worldwide. Moreover, we collected associated metadata for each pairwise comparison that includes a broad set of bibliographic, geographic, soil, climate, and management variables. Categorical variables were grouped into pre-defined factor levels or classes. Missing soil and climate data were filled using publicly available data-products. Our data repository can be a valuable resource for the field and modeling community to identify knowledge gaps and guide future research.

Abstract: Hydrolates are aqueous distillation byproducts generated during the production of essential oils from aromatic and medicinal plants. Although historically considered low-value residual streams, they contain water-compatible volatile and semi-volatile compounds, including oxygenated terpenes, phenolic derivatives, alcohols, aldehydes, and ketones, which may support antimicrobial, antioxidant, and complementary biological activities. This review critically examines hydrolates as sustainable phytochemical platforms for nano-enabled applications in food preservation, active packaging, and agriculture. Particular attention is given to the relationship between hydrolate composition, biological activity, technological limitations, and formulation strategies. The current evidence indicates that hydrolates should not be interpreted as diluted essential oils, but rather as chemically distinct aqueous systems with specific advantages, including compatibility with hydrophilic matrices, lower sensory intensity, and potential contribution to circular economy models. However, their practical application remains limited by compositional variability, low concentration of bioactive compounds, physicochemical and microbiological instability, lack of standardized production and characterization protocols, and limited validation under real application conditions. Nano-enabled systems, including nanoemulsions, liposomes, polymeric nanoparticles, nanogels, thermoresponsive matrices, and active films or coatings, may improve hydrolate stability, retention, controlled release, and functional performance. Nevertheless, hydrolate-specific evidence remains scarce, and many current perspectives are still extrapolated from studies on essential oils, plant extracts, or isolated natural compounds. Future research should prioritize quantitative bioactivity assessment, stability studies, realistic food and agricultural models, safety evaluation, scalability, regulatory planning, and sustainability analysis. Overall, hydrolate valorization through nano-enabled strategies represents a promising but still emerging pathway for transforming aqueous distillation byproducts into functional systems for sustainable applications.

Abstract: The linear–quadratic (LQ) model treats radiosensitivity as fixed: it describes how dose accumulates, but not how delivery patterns interact. That radiation response is governed by a treatment-written internal state is now a convergent view; what has been missing is a coupling between such a state and the kill law whose structure forces falsifiable results rather than fitting them. We supply one. Coupling the radiation-tolerant persister — a heritable, reversible tolerance state absent from prior state-based models — to LQ through a specific topology, a lagged write and a multiplicative tolerance back-arm on two populations, makes this the minimal non-commuting structure. From one fixed parameter set it forces, via operator-perturbation reduction, a single tolerance-gated commutator carrying all delivery-sequence, timing and dose-rate dependence; two exact nulls, one a persister-ablation kill switch; a cross-modality selection rule predicting which combinations interact from which state variables they perturb; a consolidation-timing window; and a bistable escape. The same structure makes BED, TCP and NTCP history-dependent and the latent state identifiable through designed perturbations. Grounded in published persister data, uncalibrated and qualitative by design, the framework is falsifiable at the level of structure.

Abstract: Lipoprotein(a) [Lp(a)] is a predominantly genetic risk factor for atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease and calcified aortic valve disease (CAVD). In addition to its epidemiological and genetic association with aortic stenosis, Lp(a) transports oxidized phospholipids, lysophosphatidylcholine, and autotaxin, components capable of promoting inflammation, oxidative stress, and valvular fibrocalcifying remodeling. This review synthesizes the molecular, cellular, and clinical evidence linking Lp(a) to CAVD progression. Retention of Lp(a) and other apolipoprotein B-containing lipoproteins in the valvular matrix promotes endothelial activation, monocyte and macrophage recruitment, and the release of proinflammatory mediators. Oxidized phospholipids and the autotaxin-lysophosphatidic acid axis activate redox-dependent pathways and promote the transition of valvular interstitial cells to myofibroblastic and osteogenic phenotypes. These processes converge in alterations in cholesterol metabolism, the release of procalcifying extracellular vesicles, and hydroxyapatite nucleation. Genetic and imaging evidence support an association between elevated Lp(a), microcalcifying activity, and accelerated hemodynamic progression. Although anti-Lp(a) therapies substantially reduce plasma Lp(a) concentrations, their effect on valvular outcomes has not yet been demonstrated.

Abstract: How to optimize the single-path transmission is a common issue for resource schedul-ing and network operation in a complex network, where cost and flow must be bal-anced. With the expansion of network scale, traditional optimization methods suffer from rapidly increasing computational complexity in high-dimensional decision space with the nonlinear cost-flow relationship. To solve this problem, this paper proposes a quantum optimization framework for single-path transmission for the first time. In particular, logarithmic-qubit encoding is adopted for path and flow selection, and cost-flow bias coefficients and path flows are embedded into the quadratic uncon-strained binary optimization (QUBO) model, compressing the decision space exponen-tially from O(2^j+k) to O(j(k+i)). The quantum approximate optimization algorithm (QAOA) is then used to obtain the optimal solutions including the selected single path and its discretized optimal flow corresponding to the set bias coefficients. If a precise optimal flow is wanted, the traditional spline interpolation can be applied to refine the discretized flow without introducing much calculation burden. Experimental results on a network with 122 nodes and 131 edges show that the proposed method can achieve high-quality single-path optimization result.

Abstract: Objective: Female athletes are a distinct high-risk population for Anorexia nervosa. Current clinical guidelines and psychological treatments are based predominantly on general population evidence, and review evidence is needed to support guideline development. The purpose of this review is to evaluate the psychological components of interventions for anorexia nervosa in adult female athletes, and to integrate quantitative effectiveness data with qualitative athlete experiences to identify factors that moderate treatment outcomes. Methods: This review was conducted as a convergent sequential mixed-methods systematic review in accordance with PRISMA 2020 and JBI guidelines (PROSPERO: CRD420251073240). Five databases were searched up to April 2026. Studies were eligible if they involved adult female athletes (≥18 years) with a clinical diagnosis of AN and included a psychological intervention component. The quantitative findings were synthesised narratively using the SWiM framework and certainty was assessed using GRADE. The qualitative findings underwent JBI meta-aggregation and certainty was assessed using CERQual. Results were then integrated. Results: Thirteen studies were included. A total population of 168 athletes were identified (137 female, 17 male, 12 unknown). Most of the studies were conducted in the USA and most utilised Cognitive Behavioural Therapy as a key component. From the quantitative results, the certainty was very low all outcome domains (eating disorder psychopathology, weight restoration, return to sport). Although the potential for meaningful recovery was identified. Although recovery was likely to be achieved when the environment, culture and support from the multi-disciplinary team was in place. Three themes from the qualitative synthesis provide insight to this. Conclusions: Standard psychological treatments may be insufficient for female athletes with AN without meaningful athlete-specific adaptation. Psychological interventions may be most effective when they incorporate sport-specific cultural competence, performance-framed cognitive restructuring, structured coach integration, and return-to-sport as an explicit therapeutic goal. This study has provided evidence that future research must prioritise athlete-adapted RCTs with sport-specific outcome measures to build the evidence base for this underserved population.

Abstract: The growing misalignment between workforce competences and the skill requirements of digitally evolving occupations is a critical barrier to SME competitiveness in the Industry 4.0 and 5.0 transitions. This study develops and demonstrates, through a working prototype, an ESCO-aligned analytical framework for skill-gap detection and adaptive reskilling, produced within the LUCE (LUtech Campus Ecosystem) project. Its contribution is theoretical, methodological, and technological rather than purely applicative. Drawing on human capital theory, the knowledge-based view of the firm, and skill-biased technical change, it conceptualizes reskilling as the relaxation of a firm-level human-capital–technology complementarity constraint, using ESCO to render this constraint observable and commensurable across firms. Methodologically, it defines the skill gap as a standardized, ontology-grounded measure; technologically, it integrates functions usually kept separate — performance analytics, skill assessment, and learning provision — into a single pipeline, instantiated as a proof-of-concept Intelligent Learning Management System. Workforce competences are extracted from anonymized employee CVs via a deterministic, rule-based Natural Language Processing procedure, mapped to ESCO preferred labels, alternative labels, and concept URIs, and linked to occupational requirements through occupation–skill relations. A Skill Gap Indicator, defined as the complement of evidenced ESCO competence coverage, yields a mean of 0.956, interpreted as a conservative upper-bound estimate rather than a literal measure of absent competences. The prototype then translates detected gaps into targeted training recommendations. As a research prototype, the system is validated along its technical and analytical dimensions rather than for training effectiveness; the relationship between gap closure and firm performance is advanced as a proposition for future longitudinal evaluation.

Abstract: Infant feeding practices have environmental consequences that are largely absent from climate policy discussions. Breastfeeding relies on maternal metabolism and local support systems, whereas commercial milk formula depends on dairy production, industrial processing, packaging, and extensive supply chains. Comparative analyses report higher greenhouse-gas and water burdens for commercial milk formula than for breastfeeding. Globally, commercial milk formula use among infants under 6 months of age adds roughly 5.9-7.5 billion kg of carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e) annually. Pumping and bottle-feeding add material, electricity, and cleaning-related burdens relative to feeding at the breast, but the magnitude of these impacts is far less than that of commercial milk formula. Climate change and water insecurity can also threaten breastfeeding through heat stress, food insecurity, and disruptions during disasters and emergencies. Moreover, uncontrolled formula donations during upheavals, while well-intended, impede continuation of breastfeeding. Collectively, these pressures can generate a feedback loop: climate shocks undermine breastfeeding, increasing reliance on resource-intensive substitutes that further strain water and energy systems. Recognizing breastfeeding as both a mitigation and resilience issue highlights co-benefits for child health and climate action and points to practical policy levers, including paid maternity leave, workplace lactation protections, responsible marketing of commercial milk formula, and continuity of lactation support during emergencies that are needed to align optimal infant feeding with climate adaptation planning.

Abstract:

Clostridioides difficile can persist within the colon across a spectrum ranging from colonization to severe infection (CDI). Although progression to CDI is strongly associated with antibiotic exposure and colonic inflammation, current models do not fully explain why hosts with similar risk factors can differ in their vulnerability to CDI. Here, it is hypothesized that epithelial damage, inflammation, and regeneration represent sequential stages in the development of CDI susceptibility. Specifically, epithelial damage associated with established CDI risk factors initiates inflammatory repair, generating regenerative epithelial states that are enriched for C. difficile toxin receptors and intracellular host targets while simultaneously creating a colonic environment favorable for pathogenesis. This hypothesis is supported by published evidence, secondary analyses of single-cell transcriptomic data from antibiotic-treated human colonoids, and extension of the model to additional bacterial and viral pathogens that target the inflamed colon. If validated experimentally, this framework may improve understanding of host susceptibility to CDI and provide a broader model for epithelial regeneration as a determinant of infection vulnerability within the inflamed colon.

Abstract: Okra (Abelmoschus esculentus L.) represents an alternative for agriculture in warm regions due to its adaptation to high temperatures, drought tolerance, and content of bioactive compounds with nutraceutical potential. The objective of this study was to evaluate the yield and nutraceutical quality of the Carmine Splendor (red fruit) and Jambalaya (green fruit) hybrids under organic and conventional production systems in temperate to cold greenhouse conditions. The experiment was conducted during the 2024 fall-winter season in Buenavista, Saltillo, Coahuila, Mexico, using a completely randomized block design. Yield variables (fruits plant⁻¹, kg plant⁻¹, and t ha⁻¹) and the content of β-carotene, phenols, and total flavonoids were evaluated. The results showed that Carmine under organic management achieved the highest yield (10.153 t ha⁻¹), demonstrating the predominant influence of genotype on productivity. Conventional Jambalaya had the highest concentration of β-carotene (0.013 mg g⁻¹ FW), while conventional Carmine had the highest content of total phenols (0.581 mg GAE g⁻¹ DW). Likewise, organic Carmine had the highest concentration of total flavonoids (0.503 mg CAT g⁻¹ DW), suggesting that the interaction between genotype and organic management favors the accumulation of antioxidant compounds.

Abstract: This work introduces a framework in which signals are represented as probability distributions over a generalized phase space, and organization is defined as a measure of structured conformity relative to an expected distribution. Existing approaches based on energy and entropy characterize magnitude and statistical dispersion but do not explicitly describe the persistence of structural configurations. The proposed methodology defines organization through occupancy deviation using divergence measures and introduces a recognition boundary that determines whether a structured configuration remains identifiable. The framework is illustrated through conceptual and quantitative examples, including structured pattern degradation, visual acuity limits, and channel constraints modeled as restricted observable regions. The results demonstrate that entropy and organization can evolve independently, with structural identity degrading even when entropy remains approximately constant. Additionally, observability is shown to be a critical factor, as insufficient contrast or measurement sensitivity may prevent structure recognition despite its physical presence. These findings support the interpretation of communication and sensing systems as processes governed by the preservation of recognizable structure rather than energy alone. The proposed formulation provides a complementary perspective to entropy-based methods for analyzing signal processing, detection, and communication systems.

Abstract: This study assessed a CA. We explored its effects on fermentation characteristics, aerobic stability and microbial communities of HMC at 35°C and 5°C. Two treatments were set up: CON and CA group. HMC silage was fermented for 28 days at either 35°C or 5°C. All silages then received a 7-day aerobic exposure. High-throughput sequencing was performed to analyze microbial communities in this stage. CA produced positive effects under both temperatures. It raised lactic acid and CP levels, reduced pH, NH₃-N and NDF. CA suppressed yeasts and enterobacteria, and greatly improved aerobic stability. Storage temperature was the main factor shaping microbial community composition. CA further optimized the community structure of HMC silage. At 35°C, CA completely removed spoilage yeast Nakaseomyces glabratus. It enriched heterolactic strain Levilactobacillus brevis and beneficial Aspergillus spp. At 5°C, CA inhibited cold-resistant spoilage microbes. Beneficial Latilactobacillus curvatus accumulated, while cyanobacteria growth was restrained. Metabolic pathway analysis showed the regulatory function of CA. It upregulated lactic acid synthesis pathways and downregulated pathways related to protein hydrolysis and silage spoilage. In summary, CA reshapes microbial communities and metabolic profiles of HMC silage. It restrains silage deterioration under two storage temperatures. This additive is suitable for HMC preservation across different temperatures.

Abstract: Personalized neurorehabilitation requires continuous monitoring of neurological con-ditions to support adaptive interventions and improve patient safety. Electroenceph-alography (EEG) has emerged as a valuable tool for capturing brain activity associated with neurological disorders; however, conventional EEG systems often rely on a large number of electrodes, limiting their applicability in wearable and long-term monitor-ing scenarios. This work proposes a reduced-channel EEG intelligence framework de-signed to enable adaptive human–machine interaction in future rehabilitation and as-sistive robotic systems through reliable real-time neurological monitoring. EEG re-cordings from the CHB-MIT Scalp EEG Database were processed through signal filter-ing, feature extraction based on the Discrete Wavelet Transform (DWT), correla-tion-based feature reduction, and feature selection using Recursive Feature Elimina-tion (RFE) and Sequential Feature Selection (SFS). Multiple machine learning algo-rithms, including Support Vector Machine (SVM), Random Forest, Gradient Boosting, Decision Tree, Logistic Regression, K-Nearest Neighbors, Naïve Bayes, and Linear Dis-criminant Analysis, were evaluated to distinguish ictal and non-ictal states while as-sessing the impact of feature and electrode reduction on classification performance. Experimental results demonstrated that the original feature space could be substan-tially reduced while preserving high classification accuracy. The experimental results demonstrated that reducing the system configuration from 10 to only 4 optimal chan-nels (C3–P3, T7–P7, T8–P8, and CZ–PZ) maintained high classification performance. In the final testing phase, the tree-based ensemble models achieved a peak accuracy of 94.74%, with the Random Forest Classifier (RFC) showing the most balanced perfor-mance across all evaluation metrics (0.95 for precision, sensitivity, and specificity). This demonstrates that high-performance seizure detection can be achieved with low-complexity architectures, enabling its integration into real-time rehabilitation robotics.

Abstract: The ecological consequences of pesticide application for soil fungal communities remain insufficiently resolved. We assessed the short-term direct effects of eight pesticides on fungal abundance, alpha diversity, community composition, and trophic structure across three agricultural soils. Responses varied strongly among soils and pesticides, with no consistent fungal suppression. Alpha-diversity metrics changed little and inconsistently, whereas community composition shifted markedly, indicating that short-term pesticide exposure can rapidly reorganize fungal communities before detectable changes in richness or evenness occur. Soil 1 showed the strongest responses, while Soil 2 was resistant. Although the relative abundance of most trophic groups remained largely stable, their internal composition was often substantially restructured, suggesting taxonomic turnover without major functional-group-level shifts. Total arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal (AMF) abundance varied among soils, increasing under several treatments in Soil 1 but decreasing under selected treatments in Soil 3. Soil pH was associated with fungal diversity, community composition, and total AMF abundance; however, pesticide-induced pH changes were not consistently linked to microbial responses, indicating that pH alone does not explain them. Overall, short-term pesticide exposure drove selective community restructuring rather than uniform diversity loss, with effects dependent on soil context. These findings support soil-specific risk assessment of pesticide impacts on soil fungi.

Abstract: Acoustic Emission (AE) measurements have many uses to evaluate the integrity of mate-rials. AE is often used to detecting leakage in pipelines. It has also been used to monitor changes in strength properties of fiber reinforced concrete. In the oil and gas industry, AE is predominantly used to study fracture initiation and propagation. In particular, charac-terization of samples is key for evaluating subsurface formations for successful under-ground storage. Research has been done to understand the behavior of AE in uniaxial compression and single stage triaxial compression tests. However, the validity of this method has not been documented in a multistage triaxial test. This characterization is required to understand the stability of the host rock under the related stress changes and potential mineralogic changes which may occur. Typically, there is a shortage of geolog-ic samples. A single multistage triaxial test eliminates the need for twin samples and provides an economic and time saving protocol compared to conventional methods. A single multi-stage triaxial (MST) test allows a constitutive model to be developed for a host rock. This work establishes a protocol for performing these tests with minimal correc-tions to the measurements. Acoustic Emissions were measured on five different samples undergoing Multi-stage Triaxial Tests. Two different behaviors were observed. For the “coarse grained” samples, designated Group 1 (Miocene sandstone, Wilcox and Cambri-an sandstone), the number of AE events did not show a strong dependence on confining stress. They did show an exponential increase of AE events with increasing deviatoric stress during each stage. In contrast, the Group 2 samples (Niobrara Marl and Niobrara Chalk) exhibited a significantly different stress dependent AE behavior. The amplitude of the AE events is significantly smaller than the quartz dominated samples indicating a more ductile and diffuse failure mechanism. The correction between maximum compres-sive strength and the point of positive dilatancy is still 1.2 for these samples, even though a different pattern of AE events is observed.