The Effects of Swathing Wheat on the Date of Harvest, Yield and Seed Quality

In 1975 approximately 350,000 acres were double-cropped using small grain and soybeans in Kentucky. Due to the low acreage of winter barley (48,000 acres) most of the soybeans were either planted by no-till or conventional means following winter wheat. The major problem with winter wheat in a double-cropping system is that the date of planting for soybeans is delayed. Research at the West Kentucky Experiment Station at Princeton indicates that this delay can reduce soybean yields from 7 to 11 bushels per acre depending upon the soybean variety used. The research at Princeton also indicates no reduction in soybean yields following Barsoy barley; however disease and winter-kill problems have reduced acreage in Kentucky in recent years. If barley fits the farming program, however, it could still be considered on part of the acreage double-cropped

Experimental study of the 11B(p,3α)γ^{11}\text{B}(p,3\alpha)\gamma reaction at Ep=0.5−2.7E_p = 0.5-2.7 MeV

Our understanding of the low-lying resonance structure in $^{12}$C remains incomplete. We have used the $^{11}\text{B}(p,3\alpha)\gamma$ reaction at proton energies of $E_p=0.5-2.7$ MeV as a selective probe of the excitation region above the $3\alpha$ threshold in $^{12}$C. Transitions to individual levels in $^{12}$C were identified by measuring the 3$\alpha$ final state with a compact array of charged-particle detectors. Previously identified transitions to narrow levels were confirmed and new transitions to broader levels were observed for the first time. Here, we report cross sections, deduce partial $\gamma$-decay widths and discuss the relative importance of direct and resonant capture mechanisms.Comment: 9 pages, 7 figures, 5 tables; added details on data analysi

The Pinnacles of Callisto

Many regions of Callisto feature an unusual landscape consisting of rolling dark plains with interspersed bright knobs (pinnacles) and ridges. In earlier work we interpreted the dark plains as dusty, mass-wasted residue from sublimation from volatile-rich bedrock and the bright knobs (often crater rims) as water ice accumulations at locations sheltered from thermal reradiation from the dusty residue. We simulated evolution of Callisto's craters as a combination of bedrock volatile sublimation, mass wasting of the dark, non-coherent residue, and redeposition of ice, and concluded that the ice pinnacles and ridges might be underlain by tens to hundreds of meters of ice. Here we report the initial work of a new study of pinnacles addressing additional questions: 1) Is there an evolutionary sequence starting, e.g., from a cratered initial surface through growth and formation of a dust mantle and pinnacles, to eventual loss of ice to sublimation resulting in just a dark, dusty surface? 2) What determines the areal density and spatial scale of pinnacles - volatile content of bedrock, crater density, surface age, broad-scale topographic setting? 3) Are pinnacles still forming? Several observations address these questions. In a few places scattered high-albedo blocks approx. 25-60 m in diameter occur in the vicinity of large icy pinnacles. We interpret these blocks to be remnants from the collapse of tall pinnacles that were undermined by mass wasting. Some high-relief icy knobs have developed a skeletonized planform due to mass wasting by avalanching, or perhaps to seeding of new sites of ice deposition on mass-wasted ice blocks. Some areas nearly lack fresh craters with well-defined ejecta and ice-free rims. This may imply rapid transformation of fresh craters by sublimation, mass wasting, and ice reprecipitation. In other areas small sharp-rimmed craters occur which lack ice pinnacles, but the craters nonetheless lack visible ejecta sheets. Our preliminary interpretation is that mass wasting is very efficient on Callisto, or alternatively the dust cover is very thick and lacks competent coarse materials

Fresh shallow valleys in the Martian midlatitudes as features formed by meltwater flow beneath ice

Significant numbers of valleys have been identified in the Martian midlatitudes (30–60°N/S), spatially associated with extant or recent ice accumulations. Many of these valleys date to the Amazonian, but their formation during these cold, dry epochs is problematic. In this study, we look in detail at the form, distribution, and quantitative geomorphology of two suites of these valleys and their associated landforms in order to better constrain the processes of their formation. Since the valleys themselves are so young and thus well preserved, uniquely, we can constrain valley widths and courses and link these to the topography from the Mars Orbiter Laser Altimeter and High-Resolution Stereo Camera data. We show that the valleys are both qualitatively and quantitatively very similar, despite their being >5000 km apart in different hemispheres and around 7 km apart in elevation. Buffered crater counting indicates that the ages of these networks are statistically identical, probably forming during the Late Amazonian, ~100 Ma. In both localities, at least tens of valleys cross local drainage divides, apparently flowing uphill. We interpret these uphill reaches to be characteristic of flow occurring beneath a now absent, relatively thin (order 101–102 m), regionally extensive ice cover. Ridges and mounds occasionally found at the foot of these valley systems are analogous to eskers and aufeis-like refreezing features. On the basis of their interaction with these aufeis-like mounds, we suggest that this suite of landforms may have formed in a single, short episode (perhaps order of days), probably forced by global climate change

Bostonia: The Boston University Alumni Magazine. Volume 34

Founded in 1900, Bostonia magazine is Boston University's main alumni publication, which covers alumni and student life, as well as university activities, events, and programs

Measles virus causes immunogenic cell death in human melanoma

Oncolytic viruses (OV) are promising treatments for cancer, with several currently undergoing testing in randomised clinical trials. Measles virus (MV) has not yet been tested in models of human melanoma. This study demonstrates the efficacy of MV against human melanoma. It is increasingly recognised that an essential component of therapy with OV is the recruitment of host anti-tumour immune responses, both innate and adaptive. MV-mediated melanoma cell death is an inflammatory process, causing the release of inflammatory cytokines including type-1 interferons and the potent danger signal HMGB1. Here, using human in vitro models, we demonstrate that MV enhances innate antitumour activity, and that MV-mediated melanoma cell death is capable of stimulating a melanoma-specific adaptive immune response

Novel patient-centered approach to facilitate same-day discharge in patients undergoing elective percutaneous coronary intervention

Background Same‐day discharge ( SDD ) after elective percutaneous coronary intervention is safe, less costly, and preferred by patients, but it is usually performed in low‐risk patients, if at all. To increase the appropriate use of SDD in more complex patients, we implemented a “patient‐centered” protocol based on risk of complications at Barnes‐Jewish Hospital. Methods and Results Our objectives were as follows: (1) to evaluate time trends in SDD ; (2) to compare (a) mortality, bleeding, and acute kidney injury, (b) patient satisfaction, and (c) hospital costs by SDD versus no SDD ( NSDD ); and (3) to compare SDD eligibility by our patient‐centered approach versus Society for Cardiovascular Angiography and Interventions guidelines. Our patient‐centered approach was based on prospectively identifying personalized bleeding, mortality, and acute kidney injury risks, with a personalized safe contrast limit and mitigating those risks. We analyzed Barnes‐Jewish Hospital's National Cardiovascular Data Registry Cath PCI Registry data from July 1, 2009 to September 30, 2015 (N=1752). SDD increased rapidly from 0% to 77% ( P &lt;0.001), independent of radial access. Although SDD patients were comparable to NSDD patients, SDD was not associated with adverse outcomes (0% mortality, 0% bleeds, and 0.4% acute kidney injury). Patient satisfaction was high with SDD . Propensity score–adjusted costs were 7331 lower/ SDD patient ( P <0.001), saving an estimated 1.8 million annually. Only 16 patients (6.95%) met the eligibility for SDD by Society for Cardiovascular Angiography and Interventions guidelines, implying our patient‐centered approach markedly increased SDD eligibility. Conclusions With a patient‐centered approach, SDD rapidly increased and was safe in 75% of patients undergoing elective percutaneous coronary intervention, despite patient complexity. Patient satisfaction was high, and hospital costs were lower. Patient‐centered decision making to facilitate SDD is an important opportunity to improve the value of percutaneous coronary intervention. </jats:sec

Inflammation in benign prostate tissue and prostate cancer in the finasteride arm of the Prostate Cancer Prevention Trial

BACKGROUND: A previous analysis of the placebo arm of the Prostate Cancer Prevention Trial (PCPT) reported 82% overall prevalence of intraprostatic inflammation and identified a link between inflammation and higher-grade prostate cancer and serum PSA. Here we studied these associations in the PCPT finasteride arm. METHODS: Prostate cancer cases (N=197) detected either on a clinically indicated biopsy or on protocol-directed end-of-study biopsy, and frequency-matched controls (N=248) with no cancer on an end-of-study biopsy were sampled from the finasteride arm. Inflammation in benign prostate tissue was visually assessed using digital images of H&E stained sections. Logistic regression was used for statistical analysis. RESULTS: In the finasteride arm, 91.6% of prostate cancer cases and 92.4% of controls had at least one biopsy core with inflammation in benign areas; p < 0.001 for difference compared to placebo arm. Overall, the odds of prostate cancer did not differ by prevalence (OR=0.90, 95% CI 0.44-1.84) or extent (P-trend=0.68) of inflammation. Inflammation was not associated with higher-grade disease (prevalence: OR=1.07, 95% CI 0.43-2.69). Furthermore, mean PSA concentration did not differ by the prevalence or extent of inflammationin either cases or controls. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of intraprostatic inflammation was higher in the finasteride than placebo arm of the PCPT, with no association with higher-grade prostate cancer. IMPACT: Finasteride may attenuate the association between inflammation and higher-grade prostate cancer. Moreover, the missing link between intraprostatic inflammation and PSA suggests that finasteride may reduce inflammation-associated PSA elevation