Long-term corn and soybean response to phosphorus fertilization in Iowa

Efficient P fertilization practices are of great concern to Corn Belt farmers because of the agronomic and environmental implications of increasing soil-test P (STP) trends. This study evaluated (1) long-term STP trends for various initial STP levels and annual P application rates, (2) yields of corn (Zea mays L.) and soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] as affected by P fertilization and STP. Yield and STP data were collected from three experiments established in Iowa during the 1970s on Webster (fine-loamy, mixed, mesic Typic Endoaquolls)-Nicollet (fine-loamy, mixed, mesic Aquic Hapludolls) soils, Webster-Canisteo (fine-loamy, mixed, calcareous, mesic Typic Endoaqualls) soils, and Kenyon (fine-loamy, mixed, mesic Typic Hapludolls) soils. Crops were grown in rotation each year until 2002. Three initial contrasting STP levels ranging from 17 to 75 mg kg−1 (Bray-P1) were created at two sites, and annual treatments of 0, 11, 22, and 33 kg P ha−1 were superimposed. At a third site, annual rates of 0, 22, and 45 kg P ha−1 were applied annually. Annual P rates required to maintain 16-20 mg kg−1 STP were similar at Webster-Nicollet-Canisteo soils (13-17 kg P ha−1), however, \u3e30 kg P ha−1 was required to maintain STP levels four times higher. At the Kenyon soil, a similar Phosphorus rate maintained a higher STP level (28 mg kg−1). Critical STP concentrations identified with linear-plateau and quadratic-plateau models across sites were 18-23 mg kg−1 for corn and 11-18 mg kg−1 for soybean. Results indicate that 10-15 years of cropping without P fertilization were required on high testing soils before yield response to P was observed. Abbreviations: AGRON, Agronomy and Agricultural Engineering Research Farm; NERF, Northeast Iowa Research Farm; NIRF, Northern Iowa Research Farm; STP, soil-test P

Verbal Descriptions of Cue Direction Affect Object Desirability

Approach-avoidance behaviors are observed across a broad range of species. For humans, we tend move toward things we like, and away from things we dislike. Previous research tested whether repeatedly shifting visuo-spatial attention toward an object in response to eye gaze cues can increase liking for that object. Here, we tested whether a gaze-liking effect can occur for verbal descriptions of looking behavior without shifts of attention. Also, we tested the gaze specificity hypothesis – that the liking effect is specific to gaze cues – by comparing the effect of different types of cue (pointing gestures and arrow cues). In Experiment 1, participants (N = 205) were split into 5 groups according to the type of cue that was described as directed either toward or away from an object. The results show that (1) attention is not necessary; the liking effect was recorded for verbal descriptions of looking, (2) the effect also occurs for descriptions of pointing and arrows, and (3) the liking effect is enhanced for gaze cues compared to arrows, consistent with the gaze specificity hypothesis. Results from a further experiment suggest that the effect is not due to demand compliance. We conclude that the gaze-liking effect occurs for verbal descriptions of eye gaze. Indeed, because our method bypasses altogether the use of visual cues, objects, and shifts in visual selective attention, our paradigm appears to be more sensitive at tapping into the fundamental approach-avoidance response that mediate the implicit liking effect. As such, it offers new opportunities for research investigations in the future

Struggling first-year science students – who’s gonna fix them?

Research examining the first-year transition experience demonstrates that students struggle in finding a balance between academic, social and personal demands on their time (McInnis, 2001). This results in a misperception of the amount of work and time required to accomplish academic tasks (Watson et al., 2002). Most institutions attempt to ease this transition by offering a variety of academic and non-academic supplemental programs and services. When it comes to improving academic skills, another approach that is commonly used is to intentionally integrate these skills into the first-year curriculum. However, these efforts still occur during the period when students are struggling to adapt to their new social and physical environments, and to cope with the psychological and cognitive demands of higher education. Since there is limited time available in the university semester, a third approach to easing the first-year academic transition is to allow for more practice time between the introduction and the use of a particular academic skill. We will present our SPOT (Science Portal for Ontario Teachers) online module as an example of this third approach to facilitate the introduction of university-level academic skills within the high school curriculum. In this session, participants will identify key skill areas for development among first year students. This will provide the basis for the exploration of mechanisms through which university faculty and staff can work together with high school instructors to communicate the post-secondary academic skill expectations of students prior to their entering university. As a group, we will brainstorm “How can we introduce university-level academic skills into the high school setting?” and “Who is responsible?” McInnis, C. (2001). Researching the first year experience: Where to from here? Higher Education Research and Development, 20(2), 105-114. Watson, G., Johnson, G., & Billett, S. (2002). Ready or not? Results of an orientation week survey of education students. Paper presented at 6th Pacific Rim Conference on First Year in Higher Education, Christchurch NZ, July

Faculty Recital: John Warren and Friends

KSU School of Music presents John Warren and Friends featuring Associate Professor of Clarinet, John Warren.https://digitalcommons.kennesaw.edu/musicprograms/1653/thumbnail.jp

NsrR from Streptomyces coelicolor is a nitric oxide-sensing [4Fe-4S] cluster protein with a specialized regulatory function

The Rrf2 family transcription factor NsrR controls expression of genes in a wide range of bacteria in response to nitric oxide (NO). The precise form of the NO-sensing module of NsrR is the subject of controversy because NsrR proteins containing either [2Fe-2S] or [4Fe-4S] clusters have been observed previously. Optical, Mössbauer, resonance Raman spectroscopies and native mass spectrometry demonstrate that Streptomyces coelicolor NsrR (ScNsrR), previously reported to contain a [2Fe-2S] cluster, can be isolated containing a [4Fe-4S] cluster. ChIP-seq experiments indicated that the ScNsrR regulon is small, consisting of only hmpA1, hmpA2, and nsrR itself. The hmpA genes encode NO-detoxifying flavohemoglobins, indicating that ScNsrR has a specialized regulatory function focused on NO detoxification and is not a global regulator like some NsrR orthologues. EMSAs and DNase I footprinting showed that the [4Fe-4S] form of ScNsrR binds specifically and tightly to an 11-bp inverted repeat sequence in the promoter regions of the identified target genes and that DNA binding is abolished following reaction with NO. Resonance Raman data were consistent with cluster coordination by three Cys residues and one oxygen-containing residue, and analysis of ScNsrR variants suggested that highly conserved Glu-85 may be the fourth ligand. Finally, we demonstrate that some low molecular weight thiols, but importantly not physiologically relevant thiols, such as cysteine and an analogue of mycothiol, bind weakly to the [4Fe-4S] cluster, and exposure of this bound form to O2 results in cluster conversion to the [2Fe-2S] form, which does not bind to DNA. These data help to account for the observation of [2Fe-2S] forms of NsrR

Toward respiratory assessment using depth measurements from a time-of-flight sensor

Introduction: There is increasing interest in technologies that may enable remote monitoring of respiratory disease. Traditional methods for assessing respiratory function such as spirometry can be expensive and require specialist training to perform and interpret. Remote, non-contact tracking of chest wall movement has been explored in the past using structured light, accelerometers and impedance pneumography, but these have often been costly and clinical utility remains to be defined. We present data from a 3-Dimensional time-of-flight camera (found in gaming consoles) used to estimate chest volume during routine spirometry maneuvres. Methods: Patients were recruited from a general respiratory physiology laboratory. Spirometry was performed according to international standards using an unmodified spirometer. A Microsoft Kinect V2 time-of-flight depth sensor was used to reconstruct 3-dimensional models of the subject's thorax to estimate volume-time and flow-time curves following the introduction of a scaling factor to transform measurements to volume estimates. The Bland-Altman method was used to assess agreement of model estimation with simultaneous recordings from the spirometer. Patient characteristics were used to assess predictors of error using regression analysis and to further explore the scaling factors. Results: The chest volume change estimated by the Kinect camera during spirometry tracked respiratory rate accurately and estimated forced vital capacity (FVC) and vital capacity to within ± <1%. Forced expiratory volume estimation did not demonstrate acceptable limits of agreement, with 61.9% of readings showing >150 ml difference. Linear regression including age, gender, height, weight, and pack years of smoking explained 37.0% of the variance in the scaling factor for volume estimation. This technique had a positive predictive value of 0.833 to detect obstructive spirometry. Conclusion: These data illustrate the potential of 3D time-of-flight cameras to remotely monitor respiratory rate. This is not a replacement for conventional spirometry and needs further refinement. Further algorithms are being developed to allow its independence from spirometry. Benefits include simplicity of set-up, no specialist training, and cost. This technique warrants further refinement and validation in larger cohorts

Brass Ensembles Showcase

Kennesaw State University School of Music presents Brass Ensembles Showcase featuring performances by various brass ensembles showcasing the KSU brass faculty and students.https://digitalcommons.kennesaw.edu/musicprograms/1777/thumbnail.jp