Modelling Soil Degradation in Libya

Soil degradation is considered one of the most important factors limiting agricultural development in Libya, however little effort has been taken to identify the distribution of soil degradation occurrence and type for the country. While the soil degradation for the primary agriculture regions (PAR) has been previously determined as thirty-three percent (33%), the degradation for the rest of the country was still unknown. For this reason, polygons representing soil and climate characteristics, landscape feature and soil degradation from the PAR were converted to raster using ArcGIS (at a resolution of 1000 m2) resulting in 850 points which were then exported as a table for modelling purposes. The data set was subjected to logistic regression to model the binomial outcome of soil degradation occurrence (occurrence, no occurrence). A multinomial logistic regression was used to relate predictor variables to the type of soil degradation since there was more than two outcome options (salinization, water erosion, and wind erosion). Finally, the prediction models were used to determine the remainder of the country’s degradation occurrence and type. Results indicated that slope, texture and wind speed are the most important variables for soil degradation occurrence and type in PAR. When these models are applied to the reminder of the country, they show that salinization was the primary type of soil degradation (30 %), with water erosion and wind erosion causing 10 % and 15 % of soil degradation, respectively. The intention is for these models to assist stakeholders in identifying areas where agriculture is most likely to be successful, while also applicable to countries with similar climate and soils in North Africa. Keywords: Agriculture, GIS, Libya, Logistic regression, Soil degradation

Bacteria in Construction Site Sediment Basins

2010 S.C. Water Resources Conference - Science and Policy Challenges for a Sustainable Futur

B771: Long-Time Series Temperature and Precipitation Records for Maine, 1808-1978

The purpose of this Bulletin is to reconstruct a series of long run temperature and precipitation instrumental records for Maine (monthly means and accumulations). We hope that the data tables and graphs produced here will be of use to climatologists and other researchers and to Maine residents who are interested in the climatic history of the state. To aid in reconstruction, regional records were formed by grouping records from several geographical locations. Much of the data reproduced here have been published elsewhere in a wide variety of publications. Some are found easily in libraries while others are not readily available. A small number of records are published here for the first time. A bibliography of source materials, organized by region and then location is provided for those wishing to consult the original records.https://digitalcommons.library.umaine.edu/aes_bulletin/1132/thumbnail.jp

Passive Polymer Application for Turbidity Reduction

2012 S.C. Water Resources Conference - Exploring Opportunities for Collaborative Water Research, Policy and Managemen

Climate Fluctuation and Agricultural Change in Southern and Central New England, 1765-1880

This article discusses the theory that previous discussions of the decline of Maine population in the period 1765-1880 failed the address the impact of weather fluctuations on the society of Maine

ACC/AHA 2007 guidelines for the management of patients with unstable angina/non ST-elevation myocardial infarction: a report of the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association Task Force on Practice Guidelines (Writing Committee to Revise the 2002 Guidelines for the Management of Patients With Unstable Angina/Non ST-Elevation Myocardial Infarction)

"The ACC/AHA Task Force on Practice Guidelines was formed to make recommendations regarding the diagnosis and treatment of patients with known or suspected cardiovascular disease (CVD). Coronary artery disease (CAD) is the leading cause of death in the United States. Unstable angina (UA) and the closely related condition of non–ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI) are very common manifestations of this disease. The committee members reviewed and compiled published reports through a series of computerized literature searches of the English-language literature since 2002 and a final manual search of selected articles. Details of the specific searches conducted for particular sections are provided when appropriate. Detailed evidence tables were developed whenever necessary with the specific criteria outlined in the individual sections. The recommendations made were based primarily on these published data. The weight of the evidence was ranked highest (A) to lowest (C). The final recommendations for indications for a diagnostic procedure, a particular therapy, or an intervention in patients with UA/NSTEMI summarize both clinical evidence and expert opinion.

ACC/AHA 2007 Guidelines for the Management of Patients With Unstable Angina/Non-ST-Elevation Myocardial Infarction. A Report of the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association Task Force on Practice Guidelines (Writing Committee to Revise the 2002 Guidelines for the Management of Patients With Unstable Angina/Non-ST-Elevation Myocardial Infarction)

"The ACC/AHA Task Force on Practice Guidelines was formed to make recommendations regarding the diagnosis and treatment of patients with known or suspected cardiovascular disease (CVD). Coronary artery disease (CAD) is the leading cause of death in the United States. Unstable angina (UA) and the closely related condition of non–ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI) are very common manifestations of this disease. The committee members reviewed and compiled published reports through a series of computerized literature searches of the English-language literature since 2002 and a final manual search of selected articles. Details of the specific searches conducted for particular sections are provided when appropriate. Detailed evidence tables were developed whenever necessary with the specific criteria outlined in the individual sections. The recommendations made were based primarily on these published data. The weight of the evidence was ranked highest (A) to lowest (C). The final recommendations for indications for a diagnostic procedure, a particular therapy, or an intervention in patients with UA/NSTEMI summarize both clinical evidence and expert opinion.

Effect of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor and angiotensin receptor blocker initiation on organ support-free days in patients hospitalized with COVID-19

IMPORTANCE Overactivation of the renin-angiotensin system (RAS) may contribute to poor clinical outcomes in patients with COVID-19. Objective To determine whether angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor or angiotensin receptor blocker (ARB) initiation improves outcomes in patients hospitalized for COVID-19. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS In an ongoing, adaptive platform randomized clinical trial, 721 critically ill and 58 non–critically ill hospitalized adults were randomized to receive an RAS inhibitor or control between March 16, 2021, and February 25, 2022, at 69 sites in 7 countries (final follow-up on June 1, 2022). INTERVENTIONS Patients were randomized to receive open-label initiation of an ACE inhibitor (n = 257), ARB (n = 248), ARB in combination with DMX-200 (a chemokine receptor-2 inhibitor; n = 10), or no RAS inhibitor (control; n = 264) for up to 10 days. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES The primary outcome was organ support–free days, a composite of hospital survival and days alive without cardiovascular or respiratory organ support through 21 days. The primary analysis was a bayesian cumulative logistic model. Odds ratios (ORs) greater than 1 represent improved outcomes. RESULTS On February 25, 2022, enrollment was discontinued due to safety concerns. Among 679 critically ill patients with available primary outcome data, the median age was 56 years and 239 participants (35.2%) were women. Median (IQR) organ support–free days among critically ill patients was 10 (–1 to 16) in the ACE inhibitor group (n = 231), 8 (–1 to 17) in the ARB group (n = 217), and 12 (0 to 17) in the control group (n = 231) (median adjusted odds ratios of 0.77 [95% bayesian credible interval, 0.58-1.06] for improvement for ACE inhibitor and 0.76 [95% credible interval, 0.56-1.05] for ARB compared with control). The posterior probabilities that ACE inhibitors and ARBs worsened organ support–free days compared with control were 94.9% and 95.4%, respectively. Hospital survival occurred in 166 of 231 critically ill participants (71.9%) in the ACE inhibitor group, 152 of 217 (70.0%) in the ARB group, and 182 of 231 (78.8%) in the control group (posterior probabilities that ACE inhibitor and ARB worsened hospital survival compared with control were 95.3% and 98.1%, respectively). CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE In this trial, among critically ill adults with COVID-19, initiation of an ACE inhibitor or ARB did not improve, and likely worsened, clinical outcomes. TRIAL REGISTRATION ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT0273570

ASSESSING MIGRATION OF RUBY-THROATED HUMMINGBIRDS (ARCHILOCHUS COLUBRIS) AT BROAD SPATIAL AND TEMPORAL SCALES Evaluación de la Migración de Archilochus colubris a Escalas Amplias de Tiempo y Espacio

Phenological patterns in birds appear to be temperature-dependent in part, and global temperatures are undergoing change. Many studies of bird phenology are conducted at broad temporal but local spatial scales, making it difficult to assess how temperature affects bird migration across landscapes. Recently, networks of “citizen science” volunteers have emerged whose collective efforts may improve phenology studies as biases associated with such efforts are recognized and addressed. We compared mean Rubythroated Hummingbird (Archilochus colubris) first arrival dates from Journey North (2001-2010) with data from the North American Bird Phenology Program (1880-1969). Ruby-throated Hummingbirds arrived earlier in the more recent period throughout the eastern United States; these advances, however, varied by latitude from 11.4 to 18.2 days, with less pronounced changes above 41°N. Warmer winter and spring temperatures in North American breeding grounds were correlated with earlier arrivals at lower latitudes in our recent period. Surprisingly, Ruby-throated Hummingbirds arrived later at high latitudes (42-43°N) during warmer winters and later at both mid- and high latitudes (38-39, 41-44°N) during warmer springs, which perhaps indicates extended migratory stopovers below 40°N during these years. Overall, weather variables predicted arrival dates better in the recent than in the historical period. Our results document spatial variability in how warming temperatures affect hummingbird arrivals and add credence to the hypothesis that spatial differences in arrival patterns at high versus low latitudes could exacerbate asynchrony between some birds and their food resources and modify associated ecosystem services such as pollination and insect pest suppression. Los patrones fenológicos de las aves parecen ser en parte dependientes de la temperatura y las temperaturas globales están cambiando. Muchos estudios de fenología de aves son hechos a lo largo de escalas temporales amplias pero a escalas espaciales locales, lo que hace difícil evaluar cómo los cambios de temperatura afectan la migración de las aves a través de diferentes paisajes. Recientemente, han aparecido redes de “científicos ciudadanos” voluntarios, cuyos esfuerzos colectivos podrían mejorar los estudios de fenología en la medida en que los sesgos asociados con dichos esfuerzos sean reconocidos y abordados. Comparamos las fechas medias de llegada de Archilochus colubris de Journey North (2001-2010) con datos del North American Bird Phenology Program (1880-1969). El arribo de A. colubris fue más temprano en periodos m) duanitudes medias y altas (38-39, 1-44tro periodo reciente. 18.2 diada con los parentales se correlacionaron con los ial en eás recientes a través del este de Estados Unidos; sin embargo, estos avances variaron con la latitud entre 11.4 y 18.2 días, con cambios menos pronunciados por encima de 41°N. Temperaturas mayores en invierno y primavera en las áreas de reproducción en Norte América estuvieron correlacionadas con llegadas más tempranas en latitudes menores en nuestro periodo reciente. Sorpresivamente, A. colubris llegó más tarde a latitudes altas (42-43°N) durante inviernos más cálidos, y más tarde a latitudes medias y altas (38-39, 41-44°N) durante primaveras más cálidas, lo que tal vez indicaría paradas migratorias extendidas a menos de 40°N durante esos años. En general, las variables climáticas fueron mejores predictores de las fechas de llegada en el periodo reciente que en el periodo histórico. Nuestros resultados documentan variabilidad espacial en cómo las temperaturas más cálidas afectan la llegada de los colibríes y dan credibilidad a la hipótesis de que las diferencias espaciales en los patrones de llegada en latitudes altas y bajas podrían aumentar la asincronía entre algunas aves y sus recursos alimenticios, y modificar los servicios ecosistémicos asociados como la polinización y la supresión de pestes de insectos

Interseeded cover crops did not reduce silage corn performance in the sandy loam soils of South Carolina

Abstract A major concern with interseeding summer cover crops alongside cash crops is the possibility of cover crops competing with the main crop for water and nutrients and thus, reducing the main crop yields. We conducted on‐farm trials in the sandy loam soils of the upstate of South Carolina in 2020 and 2021 to evaluate the effect of white clover (Trifolium repens L.), buckwheat (Fagopyrum esculentum Moench), and pigeon pea (Cajanus cajan (L.) Millsp.) and their mixture interseeded at V4, V7, and V10 corn growth stages on silage corn performance and soil moisture content. We found that none of the cover crops affected silage corn height and aboveground biomass production regardless of the interseeding time. Further, the volumetric water content in the upper 20‐cm soil profile was not decreased by cover crops irrespective of their interseeding time. At physiological maturity, corn height, aboveground biomass, and volumetric water content ranged between 131 and 163 cm, 9 and 23 Mg ha−1, and 10% and 22%, respectively, in season‐1 and between 181 and 216 cm, 0.48 and 1.03 Mg ha−1, and 10% and 17%, respectively, in season‐2 when interseeded with cover crops. When cover crops were not interseeded, the average corn height, aboveground biomass, and volumetric water content values were 152 cm, 13 Mg ha−1, and 13%, respectively, in season‐1 and 204 cm, 0.7 Mg ha−1, and 14%, respectively, in season‐2. These results would encourage farmers who want to consider cover crop interseeding with corn in the regional production systems