Circular 49

A program of field research relating to the commercial production o f potatoes was initiated in 1982 at the University of Alaska Agricultural Experiment Station ’s research center in Palmer. T he experimental fields are located at the Matanuska Research Farm on Trunk Road near Palmer. This program is a modified continuation of a potato research program initiated more than 30 years ago by D r. C .H . Dearborn. Whereas the major emphasis of D r. Dearborn ’s potato program w as variety development and testing, the major emphasis here is study o f general cultural practices, disease development and control, and the comparative evaluation (yield trials) o f potato varieties having commercial potential. Plans call for the comparative evaluation of thirty to forty named varieties or numbered selections each year. Varieties are selected for testing on the basis o f yield potential, general quality characteristics, and disease resistance. An attempt is made to include all varieties grow n commercially in the state, newly developed varieties from breeding program s in the U .S ., Canada, and elsewhere, as well as established varieties that have yet to be thoroughly tested in this environment. Commercial varieties with locally proven “ track record s ," such as Alaska 114, Bakeking, Green Mountain, and Superior will serve as a comparative base for m ore recently introduced varieites. New varieties will be tested for 4-5 years before being dropped , kept for further study, or recommended to commercial growers. Summarized in this circular are the results o f three years o f variety trials (1982, ’83, and ’84). Also included are summaries of environmental conditions at or near the experimental test site and some detailed information about several locally grown commercial varieties.Introduction -- Weather Data Summary: 1982 -- Weather Data Summary: 1983 -- Weather Data Summary: 1984 -- Yield Data Summary -- Variety Descriptions -- See

Circular 58

A comparative yield trial with 44 named varieties and numbered selections of potatoes was conducted at the University of Alaska-Fairbanks, Agricultural and Forestry Experiment Station’s (AFES) Palmer Research Center during the 1986 growing season. This yield trial is the continuation of a potato variety testing program initiated in 1982. The trial again was conducted at the Matanuska Research Farm, located on Trunk Road near Palmer. Nonirrigated trials have been conducted each year beginning in 1982, but irrigated trials were not initiated until 1985. Results of previous trials are recorded in Circulars 49 and 54, available at the Agricultural and Forestry Experiment Station offices in Fairbanks and Palmer. As in past years, varieties with long production histories in Alaska (Alaska 114, Bakeking, Green Mountain, Kennebec, Superior) are included and serve as a comparative base for newly developed varieties or older varieties that in the past have escaped testing at this location. Varieties that compare favorably with the above listed standards may warrant some consideration by commercial growers. In continuance of a program that was initiated in 1985, abbreviated versions of the AFES potato yield trial were conducted at locations in various parts of the state. These off-station trials again were made possible by the willingness of cooperators to plant, tend and harvest the crop. The seven off-station sites include several where comparative testing of potato varieties has not been reported previously.Introduction -- Matanuska Farm Yield Trials: Cultural Practices - Environmental Conditions, Results, Discussion -- Trials at Other Locations in Alaska: General Procedures, Specific Site Information: Ambler, Copper Center, Delta Junction, Fairbanks, Kake, Kodiak, Noorvi

Circular 54

Comparative yield suitable, or potentially suitable, commercial production potato varieties were conducted during the 1985 growing season by the University of Alaska-Fairbanks, Agricultural and Forestry Experiment Station, Palmer Research Center. Forty names and numbered varieties were included in the 1985 trial. Numbered varieties originated in the potato-breeding program of Dr. C. H. Dearborn.Introduction -- Matanuska Valley Yield Trials -- Trial Results -- Other Yield Trial

The Grassholme Channels

The design and construction of four experimental channels at Grassholme reservoir in Teesdale, County Durham (UK) are briefly described. The problem of obtaining valid replication between channels is examined using published data obtained for previous experiments in the channels. It is concluded that replication may be obtained by careful experimental design. The limitations of the existing configuration of pipework and channel design are discussed and solutions suggested. Finally a list of the main components of the channels and suppliers is appended. Alternative materials and suppliers could well be found for most items. (PDF contains 23 pages

Circular 89

A yield trial in which 43 named varieties and numbered selections of potatoes were compared was conducted during the 1991 growing season at the University of Alaska Fairbanks, Agricultural and Forestry Experiment Station’s Palmer Research Center, Matanuska Research Farm, located six miles west of Palmer, Alaska. Varieties with a history of commercial production in the Matanuska Valley (Alaska 114, Bake-King, Green Mountain, and Superior) are included and serve as a comparative base for newly developed varieties, numbered selections or older varieties that have not been tested at this location. Varieties that compare favorably with the above listed standards may warrant consideration by commercial growers. Nonirrigated trials have been conducted annually since 1982, whereas irrigated trials were initiated in 1985 (AFES Circulars 49, 54, 58, 65, 71, 77, and 84). These circulars are available at the AFES Offices in Fairbanks and Palmer. Included in this report are the results of abbreviated versions of the AFES potato yield trial conducted by cooperating individuals and agencies at other locations in Alaska including Delta Junction, Fairbanks, Homer, Kenai- Soldotna, and Kodiak.[Part 1: Potato Variety Performance] -- Introduction -- Matanuska Farm Yield Trials -- Trials at Other Locations in Alaska -- [Part 2: Commercial Potato Crop Data Summary] -- Introduction -- Potato Varieties and Yields -- Acreage per grower -- Irrigation -- Seed and Planting -- Fertilizer -- Other Cultural Practices -- Chemical Contro

Moving boulders in flash floods and estimating flow conditions using boulders in ancient deposits

Boulders moving in flash floods cause considerable damage and casualties. More and bigger boulders move in flash floods than predicted from published theory. The interpretation of flow conditions from the size of large particles within flash flood deposits has, until now, generally assumed that the velocity (or discharge) is unchanging in time (i.e. flow is steady), or changes instantaneously between periods of constant conditions. Standard practice is to apply theories developed for steady flow conditions to flash floods, which are however inherently very unsteady flows. This is likely to lead to overestimates of peak flow velocity (or discharge). Flash floods are characterised by extremely rapid variations in flow that generate significant transient forces in addition to the mean-flow drag. These transient forces, generated by rapid velocity changes, are generally ignored in published theories, but they are briefly so large that they could initiate the motion of boulders. This paper develops a theory for the initiation of boulder movement due to the additional impulsive force generated by unsteady flow, and discusses the implications. Keywords

Analysis of repeated high-intensity running performance in professional soccer

The aims of this study conducted in a professional soccer team were two-fold: to characterise repeated high-intensity movement activity profiles in official match-play; b) to inform and verify the construct validity of tests commonly used to determine repeated-sprint ability in soccer by investigating the relationship between the results from a test of repeated-sprint ability and repeated high-intensity performance in competition. High-intensity running performance (movement at velocities >19.8 km/h for a minimum of 1-s duration) in 20 players was measured using computerised time motion analysis. Performance in 80 French League 1 matches was analysed. In addition, 12 out of the 20 players performed a repeated-sprint test on a non-motorized treadmill consisting of 6 consecutive 6s sprints separated by 20s passive recovery intervals. In all players, the majority of consecutive high-intensity actions in competition were performed after recovery durations ≥61s, recovery activity separating these efforts was generally active in nature with the major part of this spent walking, and players performed 1.1±1.1 repeated high-intensity bouts (a minimum of 3 consecutive high-intensity with a mean recovery time ≤20s separating efforts) per game. Players reporting lowest performance decrements in the repeated-sprint ability test performed more high-intensity actions interspersed by short recovery times (≤20s, p<0.01 and ≤30s, p<0.05) compared to those with higher decrements. Across positional roles, central-midfielders performed a greater number of high-intensity actions separated by short recovery times (≤20s) and spent a larger proportion of time running at higher intensities during recovery periods while fullbacks performed the most repeated high-intensity bouts (statistical differences across positional roles from p<0.05 to p<0.001). These findings have implications for repeated high-intensity testing and physical conditioning regimens

Interpreting physical performance in professional soccer match-play: Should we be more pragmatic in our approach?

Academic and practitioner interest in the physical performance of male professional soccer players in the competition setting determined via time-motion analyses has grown substantially over the last four decades leading to a substantial body of published research and aiding development of a more systematic evidence-based framework for physical conditioning. Findings have forcibly shaped contemporary opinions in the sport with researchers and practitioners frequently emphasising the important role that physical performance plays in match outcomes. Time-motion analyses have also influenced practice as player conditioning programmes can be tailored according to the different physical demands identified across individual playing positions. Yet despite a more systematic approach to physical conditioning, data indicate that even at the very highest standards of competition, the contemporary player is still susceptible to transient and end-game fatigue. Over the course of this article, the author suggests that a more pragmatic approach to interpreting the current body of time-motion analysis data and its application in the practical setting is nevertheless required. Examples of this are addressed using findings in the literature to examine: a) the association between competitive physical performance and ‘success’ in professional soccer, b) current approaches to interpreting differences in time-motion analysis data across playing positions and, c) whether data can realistically be used to demonstrate the occurrence of fatigue in match-play. Gaps in the current literature and directions for future research are also identified

Formation of Shore-Normal Grooves (Gutters) in Sandstone by Wave Action.

Regularly spaced incised shore-normal grooves (gutters) on plane consolidated surfaces in littoral and sublittoral zones are widely observed in the marine geological record. Despite their common occurrence there are few investigations into their origins in contemporary marine environments. While their formation is often attributed to wave-induced currents related to wave swash and backwash on the beach-face, no conceptual model has been advanced to explain the presence of gutters, their morphology or their quasi-regular alongshore spacing. The paper examines gutters cut in soft sandstone at Medmerry near Selsey, UK and argues that their formation is related to wave breaking and swash zone processes during an unprecedented sequence of storms in the winter of 2013/14. During this period exceptionally high near-shore waves (Hs around 6m) were recorded for the south coast beaches and these storm conditions persisted periodically through to mid-February 2014. The consequence was extensive beach erosion and the exposure of underlying substrates. In this study gutter morphology was quantified using terrestrial lidar and a wave-resolving numerical model was used to defined the nearshore wave conditions and swash characteristics. Three of the largest storm events during the winter of 2013/14 were modelled: (a) moderate waves coincident with an exceptionally high tide; (b) exceptionally high waves occurring during neap tides; and (c) high waves occurring during spring tides. The model results showed swash zone shear stress is a dome-shaped function of distance across the beach-face thereby controlling gutter depth. Further, high-speed sheet flows characterised by periodic, shore-normal, high and low speed streaks alongshore are thought to be implicated in the mechanism controlling gutter spacing. However, in any situation, the specific spacing of gutters is moderated by both the local sheet flow characteristics and the larger-scale morphological forcing. Together these factors indicate that gutter spacing is an emergent property which makes spacing unpredictable

The Role of Epigenetic Alterations in Papillary Thyroid Carcinogenesis

Papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) accounts for over 80% of all thyroid malignancies. The molecular pathogenesis remains incompletely clarified although activation of the RET fusion oncogenes, and RAS and BRAF oncogenes, has been well characterized. Novel technologies using genome-wide approaches to study tumor genomes and epigenomes have provided great insights into tumor development. Growing evidence shows that acquired epigenetic abnormalities participate with genetic alterations to cause altered patterns of gene expression/function. It has been established beyond doubt that promoter cytosine methylation in CpG islands, and the subsequent gene silencing, is intimately involved in cancer development. These epigenetic events very likely contribute to significant variation in gene expression profiling, phenotypic features, and biologic characteristics seen in PTC. Hypermethylation of promoter regions has also been analyzed in PTC, and most studies have focused on individual genes or a small cohort of genes implicated in tumorigenesis