A SUSTAINABLE HERBICIDE AND GRASS ESTABLISHMENT APPROACH FOR LAND RECLAMATION: A CASE OF RUSSIAN KNAPWEED

Controlling Russian knapweed with an integrated system of herbicide followed by seeding perennial grass is profitable in yielding an 8.7% average rate of return, and repaying the establishment costs in approximately six years. Moreover, the system is sustainable by exploiting plant competition and eliminating herbicide usage in later years.Land Economics/Use,

Measurements in atmospheric electricity designed to improve launch safety during the Apollo series

Ground test measurements were made during the launches of Apollo 13 and 14 in an effort to better define the electrical characteristics of a large launch vehicle. Of particular concern was the effective electrical length of the vehicle and plume since this parameter markedly affects the likelihood of a lightning stroke being triggered by a launch during disturbed weather conditions. Since no instrumentation could be carried aboard the launch vehicle, the experiments were confined to LF radio noise and electrostatic-field measurements on the ground in the vicinity of the launch pad. The philosophy of the experiment and the instrumentation and layout are described. From the results of the experiment it is concluded that the rocket and exhaust do not produce large-scale shorting of the earth's field out to distances of thousands of feet from the launch pad. There is evidence, however, that the plume does add substantially to the electrical length of the rocket. On this basis, it was recommended that there be no relaxation of launch rules for launches during disturbed weather

“Patch”ing Up Our Tumor Signaling Knowledge

The tumor suppressor Patched1 (Ptch1) possesses well-described roles in regulating sonic hedgehog (SHH) signaling in the skin and preventing the formation of basal cell carcinomas (BCCs). In this issue, Kang et al. extend their previous work to show that a naturally occurring allele of Ptch1 found in FVB mice promotes early squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) growth without aberrant activation of the SHH pathway. The study reveals new roles for Ptch1 that lie at the nexus between BCC and SCC formation

The Resonance in the B-P-a Reaction

The yield of alpha particles of range greater than 2 cms. from boron bombarded by protons has been studied as a function of bombarding energy in the range from 100 to 200 ekv, using a thin target, either methyl borate or boron trifluoride at pressures of 1 mm. of Hg. The yield vs. energy curve shows an approximately exponential rise on which is superposed a sharp (half breadth ~ 6 ekv) intense line at 150 ± ekv. There is some indication of a weaker and much broader line at 190 ekv. Number range curves are not yet available, but the appearance of pulses on the oscillograph screen leads us to suppose that the high yield (line) at 150 ekv is due to emission of a homogeneous long-range group

American Geriatrics Society and National Institute on Aging Bench-to-Bedside conference: sensory impairment and cognitive decline in older adults

This article summarizes the presentations and recommendations of the tenth annual American Geriatrics Society and National Institute on Aging Bench‐to‐Bedside research conference, “Sensory Impairment and Cognitive Decline,” on October 2–3, 2017, in Bethesda, Maryland. The risk of impairment in hearing, vision, and other senses increases with age, and almost 15% of individuals aged 70 and older have dementia. As the number of older adults increases, sensory and cognitive impairments will affect a growing proportion of the population. To limit its scope, this conference focused on sensory impairments affecting vision and hearing. Comorbid vision, hearing, and cognitive impairments in older adults are more common than would be expected by chance alone, suggesting that some common mechanisms might affect these neurological systems. This workshop explored the mechanisms and consequences of comorbid vision, hearing, and cognitive impairment in older adults; effects of sensory loss on the aging brain; and bench‐to‐bedside innovations and research opportunities. Presenters and participants identified many research gaps and questions; the top priorities fell into 3 themes: mechanisms, measurement, and interventions. The workshop delineated specific research questions that provide opportunities to improve outcomes in this growing population.Funding was provided by National Institutes of Health (NIH) Grant U13 AG054139-01. Dr. Whitson's efforts and contributions were supported by R01AG043438, R24AG045050, UH2AG056925, and 5P30AG028716. Dr. Lin's effort and contributions were also supported by R01AG055426, R01HL096812, and R33DC015062. (U13 AG054139-01 - National Institutes of Health (NIH); R01AG043438; R24AG045050; UH2AG056925; 5P30AG028716; R01AG055426; R01HL096812; R33DC015062)Accepted manuscrip

Fabrication of the helical field coil components for the advanced toroidal facility

The fabrication techniques used to manufacture the major components of the helical field (HF) coil segments for the Advanced Toroidal Facility (ATF) are described. The major components of an HF coil segment are 14 water-cooled, copper conductors and a T-shaped stainless steel support member (or ''tee''). Twenty-four of these segments were used in the fabrication of two coils for the ATF experiment. The helical shape, accurate position requirements, large size, and potential for high cost required unique approaches to the fabrication of these components. One method of fabrication was to use 44-mm-thick (standard size) plate to form the base and leg of the tee and to join the sections by welding. Because of the tolerance requirements, a thicker plate (70 mm) was used and then contour machined to the final shape. The second approach, conducted in parallel with the first, was to cast the tee as a single piece. The first attempts were to make the casting larger than required, then machine it to final size and shape. The cost of machining either the welded tee or the cast tee was extremely high, so several prototypes were fabricated until a cast tee that required no contour machining was produced. The shape and positional requirements were also the major problems in fabricating the copper conductors, or turns. The approach taken was to make an accurate fixture and position the turns in the fixture, then anneal to remove residual stresses and form the copper turns to the shape of the fixture. The lessons learned in pursuing these fabrication methods are presented. 5 refs., 3 figs