Remotely Sensed Estimates of Evapotranspiration in Agricultural Areas of Northwestern Nevada: Drought, Reliance, and Water Transfers

The arid landscape of northwestern Nevada is punctuated by agricultural communities that rely on water primarily supplied by the diversion of surface waters and secondarily by groundwater resources. Annual precipitation in the form of winter snowfall largely determines the amount of surface water that is available for irrigation for the following agricultural growing season. During years of insufficient surface water supplies, particular basins can use groundwater in order to meet irrigation needs. The amount of water used to irrigate agricultural land is influenced by land use changes, such as fallowing, and water right transfers from irrigation to municipal use. To evaluate agricultural water consumption with respect to variations in weather, water supply, and land use changes, monthly estimates of evapotranspiration (ET) were derived from Landsat multispectral optical and thermal imagery over a eleven-year period (2001 to 2011) and compared to variations in weather, water supply, and land use across four hydrographic areas in northwestern Nevada. Monthly ET was estimated using a land surface energy balance model, Mapping EvapoTranspiration at high Resolution with Internalized Calibration (METRIC), using Landsat 5 and Landsat 7 imagery combined with local atmospheric water demand estimates. Estimates of net ET were created by subtracting monthly precipitation from METRIC-derived ET, and seasonal estimates were generated by combining monthly ET for April-October (the regional agricultural growing season). Results highlight that a range of geographic, climatic, hydrographic, and anthropogenic factors influence ET. Hydrographic areas such as Mason Valley have the ability to mitigate deficiencies in surface water supplies by pumping supplemental groundwater, thereby resulting in low annual variability in ET. Conversely, the community of Lovelock has access to limited upstream surface water storage and is restricted by groundwater that is saline and unsuitable for irrigation use. These factors result in Lovelock being extremely susceptible to instances of prolonged drought, and exhibiting large fluctuations in annual ET. This work clearly illustrates that agricultural consumptive use is a function of water supply, weather, and land use change, which is useful in distinguishing how prolonged droughts and changing climate will potentially affect different hydrographic areas and agricultural communities in the future

Formations – Music from rocks: New approaches to systematic composition

Composers have adopted compositional systems in some way or another for many years, such processes involving various approaches. Most important to this project is twelve-tone serial technique, a compositional technique associated with the work of the Second Viennese School, but certainly not limited only to these composers. This project is largely inspired by the compositional techniques of Schoenberg as used in his mature serial output in addition to a range of other approaches adopted by other composers including Messiaen, Boulez, and Satie. The main goals of this project are to create a compositional system capable of removing almost all creative composer input from the process, and to find new methods of responding to visual imagery in an ultra-literal way. My strategy in this project was to study techniques used by other composers and to combine these with my own systematic compositional techniques in order to achieve these two main goals. In this project, I respond to the macrophotographic imagery of Richard Weston, in particular his investigation of rock and crystal microstructures. All images are taken from Weston’s private archives and are used, and reproduced, with permission. A trial-and-error approach was taken to the project whereby a work might be composed using a newly devised system or idea, after which a reflection was taken on the piece that resulted, and the system tweaked to eliminate any weaknesses and errors in the system-process in order to attempt to create the systems capable of producing the music I wanted to achieve. Throughout the project, sixteen compositions were completed of which twelve are submitted in the composition portfolio. Extracts of a further two are included as portfolio appendices. The project successfully resulted in new methods of composition in response to imagery, and in the creation of the all-encompassing system which eliminates the necessity for creative composer input. It has also produced systems which can be reapplied to new stimuli to create new and varied compositions

Toxin release by conditional remodelling of ParDE1 from Mycobacterium tuberculosis leads to gyrase inhibition

Mycobacterium tuberculosis, the causative agent of tuberculosis, is a growing threat to global health, with recent efforts towards its eradication being reversed in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. Increasing resistance to gyrase-targeting second-line fluoroquinolone antibiotics indicates the necessity to develop both novel therapeutics and our understanding of M. tuberculosis growth during infection. ParDE toxin–antitoxin systems also target gyrase and are regulated in response to both host-associated and drug-induced stress during infection. Here, we present microbiological, biochemical, structural, and biophysical analyses exploring the ParDE1 and ParDE2 systems of M. tuberculosis H37Rv. The structures reveal conserved modes of toxin–antitoxin recognition, with complex-specific interactions. ParDE1 forms a novel heterohexameric ParDE complex, supported by antitoxin chains taking on two distinct folds. Curiously, ParDE1 exists in solution as a dynamic equilibrium between heterotetrameric and heterohexameric complexes. Conditional remodelling into higher order complexes can be thermally driven in vitro. Remodelling induces toxin release, tracked through concomitant inhibition and poisoning of gyrase activity. Our work aids our understanding of gyrase inhibition, allowing wider exploration of toxin–antitoxin systems as inspiration for potential therapeutic agents

Quantum enhanced measurement of rotations with a spin-1 Bose-Einstein condensate in a ring trap

We present a model of a spin-squeezed rotation sensor utilizing the Sagnac effect in a spin-1 Bose-Einstein condensate in a ring trap. The two input states for the interferometer are seeded using Raman pulses with Laguerre-Gauss beams and are amplified by the bosonic enhancement of spin-exchange collisions, resulting in spin-squeezing and potential quantum enhancement of the interferometry. The ring geometry has an advantage over separated beam path atomic rotation sensors due to the uniform condensate density. We model the interferometer both analytically and numerically for realistic experimental parameters and find that significant quantum enhancement is possible, but this enhancement is partially degraded when working in a regime with strong atomic interactions

Mapping habitat indices across river networks using spatial statistical modelling of River Habitat Survey data

Freshwater ecosystems are declining faster than their terrestrial and marine counterparts because of physical pressures on habitats. European legislation requires member states to achieve ecological targets through the effective management of freshwater habitats. Maps of habitats across river networks would help diagnose environmental problems and plan for the delivery of improvement work. Existing habitat mapping methods are generally time consuming, require experts and are expensive to implement. Surveys based on sampling are cheaper but provide patchy representations of habitat distribution. In this study, we present a method for mapping habitat indices across networks using semi-quantitative data and a geostatistical technique called regression kriging. The method consists of the derivation of habitat indices using multivariate statistical techniques that are regressed on map-based covariates such as altitude, slope and geology. Regression kriging combines the Generalised Least Squares (GLS) regression technique with a spatial analysis of model residuals. Predictions from the GLS model are ‘corrected’ using weighted averages of model residuals following an analysis of spatial correlation. The method was applied to channel substrate data from the River Habitat Survey in Great Britain. A Channel Substrate Index (CSI) was derived using Correspondence Analysis and predicted using regression kriging. The model explained 74% of the main sample variability and 64% in a test sample. The model was applied to the English and Welsh river network and a map of CSI was produced. The proposed approach demonstrates how existing national monitoring data and geostatistical techniques can be used to produce continuous maps of habitat indices at the national scale

The Vehicle, Spring 1995

Table of Contents Poetry The SwimmersJennifer Moropage 2 Everlasting ArmsSue Songerpage 2 Talking to an AddictBridgett Jensenpage 3 SecretsTiffany Abbottpage 5 CryingMatthew Berrypage 6 winter fieldsKeith Spearpage 7 untitledKemp Nishan Munizpage 7 Rainy Night in ParisDiana Matijaspage 8 nap timeKelly A. Pricepage 10 Angel of the EarthHeather Anne Winterspage 10 Color DreamsMatthew J. Nelsonpage 12 Dandelion PaintSandy Beauchamppage 13 Merry Go Round MarathonElizabeth Bromleypage 14 The ArmadilloKeith Spearpage 15 The Shoe SagaJennifer Moropage 16 Coffee Cup Confessional BoothSue Songerpage 18 What Gravity, A Rock And A Rabbit Have To Do With My Love LifeMartin Paul Brittpage 19 Good Bye, Good KnightRich Birdpage 20 Photography Railroad Station IKelly A. Pricepage 22 1000 VinesKelly A. Pricepage 23 Self PortraitKelly A. Pricepage 24 Prose Queen of Dead AirBryan Levekpage 26 Closer to the noiseMichell Heidelpage 29 Somewhere in BetweenKimberly Hunterpage 32 Miss SteakBryan Levekpage 37 Chasing the ChasteTerry Bassettpage 43 Biographies Authors, editorspage 48https://thekeep.eiu.edu/vehicle/1065/thumbnail.jp

Bose–Einstein condensation in large time-averaged optical ring potentials

Interferometric measurements with matter waves are established techniques for sensitive gravimetry, rotation sensing, and measurement of surface interactions, but compact interferometers will require techniques based on trapped geometries. In a step towards the realisation of matter wave interferometers in toroidal geometries, we produce a large, smooth ring trap for Bose–Einstein condensates using rapidly scanned time-averaged dipole potentials. The trap potential is smoothed by using the atom distribution as input to an optical intensity correction algorithm. Smooth rings with a diameter up to 300 μm are demonstrated. We experimentally observe and simulate the dispersion of condensed atoms in the resulting potential, with good agreement serving as an indication of trap smoothness. Under time of flight expansion we observe low energy excitations in the ring, which serves to constrain the lower frequency limit of the scanned potential technique. The resulting ring potential will have applications as a waveguide for atom interferometry and studies of superfluidity

Are different groups of patients with stroke more likely to be excluded from the new UK general medical services contract? A cross-sectional retrospective analysis of a large primary care population

Peer reviewedPublisher PD

OpenET : filling a critical data gap in water management for the western United States.

The lack of consistent, accurate information on evapotranspiration (ET) and consumptive use of water by irrigated agriculture is one of the most important data gaps for water managers in the western United States (U.S.) and other arid agricultural regions globally. The ability to easily access information on ET is central to improving water budgets across the West, advancing the use of data-driven irrigation management strategies, and expanding incentive-driven conservation programs. Recent advances in remote sensing of ET have led to the development of multiple approaches for field-scale ET mapping that have been used for local and regional water resource management applications by U.S. state and federal agencies. The OpenET project is a community-driven effort that is building upon these advances to develop an operational system for generating and distributing ET data at a field scale using an ensemble of six well-established satellite-based approaches for mapping ET. Key objectives of OpenET include: Increasing access to remotely sensed ET data through a web-based data explorer and data services; supporting the use of ET data for a range of water resource management applications; and development of use cases and training resources for agricultural producers and water resource managers. Here we describe the OpenET framework, including the models used in the ensemble, the satellite, meteorological, and ancillary data inputs to the system, and the OpenET data visualization and access tools. We also summarize an extensive intercomparison and accuracy assessment conducted using ground measurements of ET from 139 flux tower sites instrumented with open path eddy covariance systems. Results calculated for 24 cropland sites from Phase I of the intercomparison and accuracy assessment demonstrate strong agreement between the satellite-driven ET models and the flux tower ET data. For the six models that have been evaluated to date (ALEXI/DisALEXI, eeMETRIC, geeSEBAL, PT-JPL, SIMS, and SSEBop) and the ensemble mean, the weighted average mean absolute error (MAE) values across all sites range from 13.6 to 21.6 mm/month at a monthly timestep, and 0.74 to 1.07 mm/day at a daily timestep. At seasonal time scales, for all but one of the models the weighted mean total ET is within ±8% of both the ensemble mean and the weighted mean total ET calculated from the flux tower data. Overall, the ensemble mean performs as well as any individual model across nearly all accuracy statistics for croplands, though some individual models may perform better for specific sites and regions. We conclude with three brief use cases to illustrate current applications and benefits of increased access to ET data, and discuss key lessons learned from the development of OpenET