Monitoring of nitrogen leaching on a dairy farm during four drainage seasons

peer-reviewedThe authors acknowledge funding from the Environmental Protection Agency and Teagasc under the 2000–2006 RTDI programme.The effect of four commonly used dairy farm management systems (treatments), on nitrogen leaching to 1 m was studied over a 4-year period from October 2001 to April 2005. The treatments were (i) grazed plots receiving dirty water, (ii) 2-cut silage plots receiving slurry, (iii) grazed plots and (iv) 1-cut silage plots receiving slurry. All plots had fertiliser N applied; the soil was free-draining overlying fissured limestone. Mean 4-year N input (kg/ha) was 319 and mean annual stocking density was ~2.38 LU/ha. The annual average and weekly NO3-N and NH4-N concentrations in drainage water were analysed for all years, using a repeated measures analysis. For the annual NO3-N data, there was an interaction between treatment and year (P < 0.001). There were significant differences (P < 0.05) in NO3-N concentrations between the treatments in all years except the third. For the NH4-N data there was no interaction between treatment and year or main effect of treatment but there were differences between years (P < 0.01). Mean weekly concentrations were analysed separately for each year. For NO3-N, in all years but the third, there was an interaction between treatment and week (P < 0.001); this occurred with NH4-N, in all 4 years. Dirty water was significantly higher than grazed-fertiliser only and 1-cut silage in NO3-N concentrations in 2001–02; in 2002–03, dirty water and 2-cut silage were significantly higher than the other treatments; while in 2004–05, dirty water and grazed-fertiliser only were significantly higher than the other two treatments. The overall 4-year mean NO3-N and NH4-N concentrations were 8.2 and 0.297 mg/L, respectively.Environmental Protection Agenc

Effect of Agricultural Practices on Nitrate Leaching

Teagasc wishes to acknowledge with gratitude funding from the 2000-2006 EPA RTDI programme in financing this research project.End of project reportA farm-scale study, carried out at Teagasc, Moorepark (Curtin’s farm), examined the effect of four managements (treatments) on nitrate-nitrogen (NO3-N) leaching over the period 2001-`05. Leaching was measured in these treatments: (T1) plots receiving dirty water and N fertilizer which were grazed; (T2) 2-cut silage and grazing plots receiving slurry and fertilizer N; (T3) grazed plots receiving fertilizer N and (T4) 1-cut silage and grazing plots receiving slurry and fertilizer N. The soil is a free-draining sandy loam overlying Karstic fissured limestone. The mean direct N inputs (kg/ha) for T1-T4 in 2001-`04 were 311, 309, 326, 331, respectively, with stocking rates (LU/ha) of 2.12 - ~2.47. Eight ceramic cups per plot, in 3 replicate plots of each treatment, were used to collect water, on a weekly basis, from 1.0 m deep using 50 kPa suction. There were 33, 37, 26 and 24 sampling dates in the 4 years, respectively. The NO3-N and NH4-N concentrations (mg/l) were determined in the water samples. The annual average and weekly concentration of these parameters was statistically analysed for all years, using a repeated measures analysis. The aggregated data were not normally distributed. There was an interaction between treatment and year (p<0.001). Significant differences (p=0.05) in NO3-N concentrations showed between the treatments in years 1, 2, 4 but not in year 3. For the NH4-N data there was no interaction between treatment and year, p=0.12, or main effect of treatment, p=0.54 but there were differences between years, p=0.01. Mean weekly concentrations were analysed separately for each year. For NO3-N, in years 1, 2 and 4 there was an interaction between treatment and week (p<0.001). With NH4-N, there was an interaction between treatment and week in all 4 years. Dirty water was significantly higher than grazed and 1 cut silage in NO3-N concentrations in year 1; in year 2, dirty water and 2 cut silage were significantly higher than the other treatments while in year 4, dirty water and grazed were significantly higher than the other two treatments. The overall four-year weighted mean NO3-N and NH4-N concentrations were 8.2 and 0.297 mg/l. The NCYCLE (UK) model was adapted for Irish conditions as NCYCLE_IRL. The NCYCLE empirical approach proved to be suitable to predict N fluxes from Irish grassland systems in most situations. Experimental data appeared to agree quite well, in most cases, with the outputs from NCYCLE_IRL. The model was not capable of predicting data from some of the leaching experiments, which suggests that the observed leaching phenomena in these experiments could be governed by non-average conditions or other parameters not accounted for in NCYCLE_IRL. An approach that took into account denitrification, leaching and herbage yield would probably explain the differences found. NCYCLE_IRL proved to be a useful tool to analyse N leaching from grazed and cut grassland systems in Ireland.Environmental Protection Agenc

The petrogenesis of type B1 Ca-Al-rich inclusions: The spinel perspective

Minor element variations in MgAl_2O_4 spinel from the type B1 calcium-aluminum-rich inclusion (CAI) Allende TS-34 confirm earlier studies in showing correlations between the minor element chemistry of spinels with their location within the inclusion and with the chemistry of host silicate phases. These correlations result from a combination of crystallization of a liquid produced by re-melting event(s) and local re-equilibration during subsolidus reheating. The correlation of the Ti and V in spinel inclusions with the Ti and V in the adjacent host clinopyroxene can be qualitatively explained by spinel and clinopyroxene crystallization prior to melilite, following a partial melting event. There are, however, difficulties in quantitative modeling of the observed trends, and it is easier to explain the Ti correlation in terms of complete re-equilibration. The correlation of V in spinel inclusions with that in the adjacent host clinopyroxene also cannot be quantitatively modeled by fractional crystallization of the liquid produced by re-melting, but it can be explained by partial re-equilibration. The distinct V and Ti concentrations in spinel inclusions in melilite from the edge regions of the CAI are best explained as being affected by only a minor degree of re-equilibration. The center melilites and included spinels formed during crystallization of the liquid produced by re-melting, while the edge melilites and included spinels are primary. The oxygen isotope compositions of TS-34 spinels are uniformly ^(16)O-rich, regardless of the host silicate phase or its location within the inclusion. Similar to other type B1 CAIs, clinopyroxene is ^(16)O-rich, but melilite is relatively ^(16)O-poor. These data require that the oxygen isotope exchange in TS-34 melilite occurred subsequent to the last re-melting event

A Quantitative Genetic Analysis of the Associations Among Language Skills, Peer Interactions, and Behavioral Problems in Childhood: Results From a Sample of Twins

A body of empirical research has revealed that there are associations among language skills, peer interactions, and behavioral problems in childhood. At the same time, however, there has been comparatively less research devoted to exploring the mutual unfolding of these factors over the first few years of life. The current study is designed to partially address this gap in the literature by examining how language skills, negative peer interactions, and behavioral problems are interrelated in a sample of twins drawn from the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study–Birth Cohort (ECLS-B). Employing a quantitative genetic framework, the results of the current study revealed that variance in language skills, negative peer interactions, and externalizing behavioral problems were all due to a combination of genetic and environmental factors. Bivariate Cholesky models indicated that most of the covariance among language skills, negative peer interactions, and externalizing behavioral problems was due to common genetic factors. Additional analyses using a modified DeFries–Fulker approach nested within a path model revealed a bidirectional association between negative peer interactions and externalizing behavioral problems, wherein there appeared to be feedback loops between the two. Implications of the results are discussed and avenues for future research are offered

The Darlington and Northallerton Long Term Asthma Study: pulmonary function

BACKGROUND: The Darlington and Northallerton Asthma Study is an observational cohort study started in 1983. At that time little was published about long term outcome in asthma and the contribution of change in reversible disease or airway remodelling to any excess deterioration in function. The study design included regular review of overall and fixed function lung. We report the trends over fifteen years. METHODS: All asthmatics attending secondary care in 1983, 1988 and 1993 were recruited. Pulmonary function was recorded at attendance and potential best function estimated according to protocol. Rate of decline was calculated over each 5-year period and by linear regression analysis in those seen every time. The influence of potential explanatory variables on this decline was explored. RESULTS: 1724 satisfactory 5-year measurements were obtained in 912 subjects and in 200 subjects on all occasions. Overall rate of decline (ml/year (95%CI)) calculated from 5-year periods was FEV1 ♂41.0 (34.7–47.3), ♀28.9 (23.2–34.6) and best FVC ♂63.1 (55.1–71.2)ml/year, ♀45.8 (40.0–51.6).The principal association was with age. A dominant cubic factor suggested fluctuations in the rate of change in middle life with less rapid decline in youth and more rapid decline in the elderly. Rapid decline was possibly associated with short duration. Treatment step did not predict rate of deterioration. CONCLUSIONS: Function declined non-linearly and more rapidly than predicted from normal subjects. It reports for the first time a cubic relationship between age and pulmonary function. This should be taken into account when interpreting other articles reporting change in function over time

The Meteoritical Bulletin, No. 92, 2007 September

Abstract— In this edition of The Meteoritical Bulletin, 1394 recognized meteorites are reported, 27 from specific locations within Africa, 133 from Northwest Africa, 1227 from Antarctica (from ANSMET, PNRA, and PRIC expeditions), and 7 from Asia. The Meteoritical Bulletin announces the approval of four new names series by the Nomenclature Committee of the Meteoritical Society, two from Africa and one from Asia, including Al Haggounia, from Al Haggounia, Morocco, which is projected to be on the order of 3 metric tons of material related to enstatite chondrites and aubrites. Approved are two falls from Africa, Bassikounou (Mauritania) and Gashua (Nigeria). Approved from areas other than Antarctica are one lunar, two Martian, 32 other achondrites, three mesosiderites, two pallasites, one CM, two CK, one CR2, two CV3, one CR2, and four R chondrites. The Nomenclature Committee of the Meteoritical Society announces 48 newly approved relict meteorites from two new name series, Österplana and Gullhögen (both from Sweden)

Clinical and Laboratory Associations with Methotrexate Metabolism Gene Polymorphisms in Rheumatoid Arthritis

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic systemic autoimmune disease that causes loss of joint function and significantly reduces quality of life. Plasma metabolite concentrations of disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs) can influence treatment efficacy and toxicity. This study explored the relationship between DMARD-metabolising gene variants and plasma metabolite levels in RA patients. DMARD metabolite concentrations were determined by tandem mass-spectrometry in plasma samples from 100 RA patients with actively flaring disease collected at two intervals. Taqman probes were used to discriminate single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) genotypes in cohort genomic DNA: rs246240 (ABCC1), rs1476413 (MTHFR), rs2231142 (ABCG2), rs3740065 (ABCC2), rs4149081 (SLCO1B1), rs4846051 (MTHFR), rs10280623 (ABCB1), rs16853826 (ATIC), rs17421511 (MTHFR) and rs717620 (ABCC2). Mean plasma concentrations of methotrexate (MTX) and MTX-7-OH metabolites were higher (p &lt; 0.05) at baseline in rs4149081 GA genotype patients. Patients with rs1476413 SNP TT or CT alleles have significantly higher (p &lt; 0.001) plasma poly-glutamate metabolites at both study time points and correspondingly elevated disease activity scores. Patients with the rs17421511 SNP AA allele reported significantly lower pain scores (p &lt; 0.05) at both study intervals. Genotyping strategies could help prioritise treatments to RA patients most likely to gain clinical benefit whilst minimizing toxicity

Lineage tracing suggests that ovarian endosalpingiosis does not result from escape of oviductal epithelium

Most high‐grade serous carcinomas are thought to arise from Fallopian tube epithelium (FTE), but some likely arise outside of the tube, perhaps from ectopic tubal‐type epithelium known as endosalpingiosis. Importantly, the origin of endosalpingiosis is poorly understood. The proximity of the tubal fimbriae to the ovaries has led to the proposal that disruptions in the ovarian surface that occur during ovulation may allow detached FTE to implant in the ovary and form tubal‐type glands and cysts. An alternative model suggests that cells present in ectopic locations outside the Müllerian tract retain the capacity for multi‐lineage differentiation and can form glands with tubal‐type epithelium. We used double transgenic Ovgp1‐iCreERT2;R26RLSL‐eYFP mice, which express an eYFP reporter protein in OVGP1‐positive tissues following transient tamoxifen (TAM) treatment, to track the fate of oviductal epithelial cells. Cohorts of adult mice were given TAM to activate eYFP expression in oviductal epithelium, and ovaries were examined at time points ranging from 2 days to 12 months post‐TAM. To test whether superovulation might increase acquisition of endosalpingiosis, additional cohorts of TAM‐treated mice underwent up to five cycles of superovulation and ovaries were examined at 1, 6, and 12 months post‐TAM. Ovaries were sectioned in their entirety to identify endosalpingiosis. Immunohistochemical staining for PAX8, tubulin, OVGP1, and eYFP was employed to study endosalpingiosis lesions. Ovarian endosalpingiosis was identified in 14.2% of TAM‐treated adult mice. The endosalpingiotic inclusion glands and cysts were lined by secretory and ciliated cells and expressed PAX8, tubulin, OVGP1, and eYFP. Neither age nor superovulation was associated with a significant increase in endosalpingiosis. Endosalpingiosis was also occasionally present in the ovaries of pre‐pubertal mice. The findings imply that ovarian endosalpingiosis in the mouse does not likely arise as a consequence of detachment and implantation of tubal epithelium and other mechanisms may be relevant. © 2019 Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.Peer Reviewedhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/151844/1/path5308.pdfhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/151844/2/path5308-sup-0001-FigS1.pdfhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/151844/3/path5308_am.pd

Progression to chronic atrial fibrillation after pacing: the Canadian Trial of Physiologic Pacing

AbstractOBJECTIVESThis study examined the effect of physiologic pacing on the development of chronic atrial fibrillation (CAF) in the Canadian Trial Of Physiologic Pacing (CTOPP).BACKGROUNDThe role of physiologic pacing to prevent CAF remains unclear. Small randomized studies have suggested a benefit for patients with sick sinus syndrome. No data from a large randomized trial are available.METHODSThe CTOPP randomized patients undergoing first pacemaker implant to ventricular-based or physiologic pacing (AAI or DDD). Patients who were prospectively found to have persistent atrial fibrillation (AF) lasting greater than or equal to one week were defined as having CAF. Kaplan-Meier plots for the development of CAF were compared by log-rank test. The effect of baseline variables on the benefit of physiologic pacing was evaluated by Cox proportional hazards modeling.RESULTSPhysiologic pacing reduced the development of CAF by 27.1%, from 3.84% per year to 2.8% per year (p = 0.016). Three clinical factors predicted the development of CAF: age ≥74 years (p = 0.057), sinoatrial (SA) node disease (p < 0.001) and prior AF (p < 0.001). Subgroup analysis demonstrated a trend for patients with no history of myocardial infarction or coronary disease (p = 0.09) as well as apparently normal left ventricular function (p = 0.11) to derive greatest benefit.CONCLUSIONSPhysiologic pacing reduces the annual rate of development of chronic AF in patients undergoing first pacemaker implant. Age ≥74 years, SA node disease and prior AF predicted the development of CAF. Patients with structurally normal hearts appear to derive greatest benefits

Association between vitamin K₁ intake and mortality in the Danish Diet, Cancer, and Health cohort

Reported associations between vitamin K(1) and both all-cause and cause-specific mortality are conflicting. The 56,048 participants from the Danish Diet, Cancer, and Health prospective cohort study, with a median [IQR] age of 56 [52–60] years at entry and of whom 47.6% male, were followed for 23 years, with 14,083 reported deaths. Of these, 5015 deaths were CVD-related, and 6342 deaths were cancer-related. Intake of vitamin K(1) (phylloquinone) was estimated from a food-frequency questionnaire (FFQ), and its relationship with mortality outcomes was investigated using Cox proportional hazards models. A moderate to high (87–192 µg/d) intake of vitamin K(1) was associated with a lower risk of all-cause [HR (95%CI) for quintile 5 vs quintile 1: 0.76 (0.72, 0.79)], cardiovascular disease (CVD)-related [quintile 5 vs quintile 1: 0.72 (0.66, 0.79)], and cancer-related mortality [quintile 5 vs quintile 1: 0.80 (0.75, 0.86)], after adjusting for demographic and lifestyle confounders. The association between vitamin K(1) intake and cardiovascular disease-related mortality was present in all subpopulations (categorised according to sex, smoking status, diabetes status, and hypertension status), while the association with cancer-related mortality was only present in current/former smokers (p for interaction = 0.002). These findings suggest that promoting adequate intakes of foods rich in vitamin K(1) may help to reduce all-cause, CVD-related, and cancer-related mortality at the population level. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s10654-021-00806-9