POLICY IMPLICATIONS ON THE REDUCTION OF NITROGEN FERTILIZER USE ON NON-IRRIGATED CORN-WINTER WHEAT PRODUCTION IN NORTH ALABAMA

Environmental and economic effects of nitrogen fertilizer reduction on North Alabama small farms are evaluated using GPFARM. GPFARM incorporates climate, soil data and management practices to simulate science and economic analysis for a farm/ranch management unit. Nitrate leaching, crop yield and profitability are evaluated and presented under different policy scenarios. Key words: nitrate leaching, profitability, management unit, GPFARMnitrate leaching, profitability, management unit, GPFARM, Crop Production/Industries,

Image-Optimized Coronal Magnetic Field Models

We have reported previously on a new method we are developing for using image-based information to improve global coronal magnetic field models. In that work we presented early tests of the method which proved its capability to improve global models based on flawed synoptic magnetograms, given excellent constraints on the field in the model volume. In this follow-up paper we present the results of similar tests given field constraints of a nature that could realistically be obtained from quality white-light coronagraph images of the lower corona. We pay particular attention to difficulties associated with the line-of-sight projection of features outside of the assumed coronagraph image plane, and the effect on the outcome of the optimization of errors in localization of constraints. We find that substantial improvement in the model field can be achieved with this type of constraints, even when magnetic features in the images are located outside of the image plane

Narrow-band noise due to the moving vortex lattice in superconducting niobium

We report measurements of voltage noise due to vortex motion in Niobium, a conventional low-Tc superconductor. A coherent oscillation leading to narrow band noise (NBN) is evidenced. Its characteristic frequency is a linear function of the overcritical transport current in the flux-flow regime, and hence scales as the main velocity of the vortex flow. The associated length scale is not the intervortex distance but the width of the sample, indicating temporal coherence at a large scale. NBN is also observed in the non linear part of the V(I) at the onset of depinning, in apparent disagreement with a stochastic creep motion of flux bundles. NBN exists in the peak effect region, showing that long range temporal correlations are preserved in this regime.Comment: accepted for publication in Phys Rev

Temporal Changes in Gene Transcription of Salmonella Typhimurium Induced by Pulsed Electric Field

Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences (FAES): 1st Place (The Ohio State University Edward F. Hayes Graduate Research Forum)Pulsed electric field (PEF) is a novel food processing technology that promises to deliver safe foods with increased quality by inactivating potentially harmful microorganisms while generating a minimum thermal effect. The engineering aspects of this technology have been thoroughly studied and as a result, PEF is now feasible for commercial application. However, the mechanism of microbial inactivation via PEF is still unclear and must be resolved before the technology can be approved for commercial use. Theories of the mechanism of microbial inactivation of PEF via membrane disruption have been suggested but specific cellular targets have yet to be elucidated. The purpose of this study is to examine temporal changes in the transcriptome of PEF treated Salmonella Typhimurium LT2 in order to elucidate the molecular basis for cellular inactivation. This knowledge will allow for more directed efforts to increase the killing efficiency of PEF and aid in the development standardized processing procedures for use in the food industry. Briefly, Salmonella Typhimurium LT2 ATCC 19585 was inoculated into 5% strength tryptose soy broth (TSB), with electrical conductivity of 1.2 mS/m, and incubated at 32°C for 18-22 h with shaking at 150 rpm. This was followed by two additional passages of the inoculum under identical conditions. The final culture was collected at mid-log phase (7.3–7.5 log cfu/mL) for treatment. Cells of the final culture were treated with a PEF processor (OSU-4ERRC) using a predetermined treatment that produced a 1-log cfu/mL reduction in cell population as determined by the plate count method on tryptose soy agar (TSA). The treatment conditions were: square wave, bipolar pulse, 25.6 kV/cm electric field, 3 μs pulse width, 1 ms delay time, and 3 mL/s flow rate, giving a total treatment time of 91 μs. The temperature of the treated culture was maintained at 30-32°C with cooling before the first chamber, after the second chamber, and after the fourth chamber, via cooling coils submerged in a circulating water bath. RNA of treated cells was extracted at 0 (control), 3, 30, and 60 min post treatment and used to produce labeled complementary DNA (cDNA) via Reverse Transcriptase PCR (RT-PCR). cDNA from opposing samples was labeled for comparison with either or Cy3 and Cy5 and opposing samples were competitively hybridized to a Salmonella microarray slide (Pathogen Functional Genomic Research Center Salmonella Typhimurium, Version 5) containing four replicates of each Salmonella open reading frame. The slides were manually washed and scanned at 10 μm spot resolution. Image and data analysis were performed using the TIGR TM4 software suite; specifically, Spotfinder v. 3.2.1 for image analysis, MIDAS v. 2.21 for data normalization, and Multiple Experiment Viewer (MeV) v 4.5.1 for statistical analysis and gene clustering. Data processing included spots identification using the Otsu algorithm, LOWESS normalization of spot intensities, standard deviation regularization, flip dye cross-slide replicate analysis, and in-slide replicate analysis. ANOVA between time points was performed using Pearson correlation distance metric with p=0.02 and fold change of 1.5 was used as the arbitrary cutoff ratio. All slides were duplicated and fold change of all samples was determined with respect to the 0 min. sample. A total of 560 genes, representing ~2% of the genes in the Salmonella genome showed a significant difference in transcription between samples, and of these 276, representing ~1% of the genome had a fold change of ≥ 1.5. Genes related the DNA damage induced SOS response were prevalent among those unregulated at 30 and 60 min post treatment. These included genes of the rec, umu, din, uvr, and rtc operons, which are responsible for DNA damage repair and mutagenesis. Genes in the wca, yjb, and psp operons, which are associated with stress to the cell envelope and are responsible for exopolysaccharide production, showed a transient increase in transcription at 30 min post treatment. Flagellar synthesis genes in the fli and flg operons showed a transient decrease in transcription at 30 min post treatment. Patterns of transient gene expression, which include genes mainly involved in maintenance of components of the cell envelope, suggest damage to cell membranes. This agrees with previous reports of the cellular inactivation mechanism attributed to PEF, especially the temporary nature of the damage as implied by the transient up regulation of response and repair genes. Sustained increase in the transcription of SOS genes suggests that cells also experience significant DNA damage as a result of PEF processing. The up regulation of SOS genes may also explain the reports of a recovery period post PEF processing during which damaged cells are viable, but non-recoverable. It is unclear as to whether DNA damage is a direct result of the applied electric field, or if DNA damage occurs indirectly, due to influx of damaging materials into the cell during the time that membrane integrity is reduced. The function of many genes remains to be investigated and most are expected to be related to the DNA and envelope damage repair pathways. However, due to the large number of genes yet to be investigated in this study, it is likely that additional cellular targets of PEF will also be identified. As the full scope of cellular components affected by PEF is realized, methods for increasing the treatment’s effectiveness against undesirable bacteria in foods will be more readily determined.A one-year embargo was granted for this item

Synthesis and Structures of Co Bis-Trifluoromethylpyrazolate Complexes

Reactions of Co(PMe3)(3)Cl or CoCl2 with 3,5-(CF3)(2)-PzNa in hexane give Co(PMe3)(3)(3,5-(CF3)(2)-Pz) (1) and Co(PMe3)(3)(3,5-(CF3)(2)-Pz)(2) (2) respectively (3,5-(CF3)(2)-PzNa = sodium bis-trifluoromethylpyrazolate). Reaction of (3,5-(CF3)(2)-PzH) with Co(PMe3)(4) produces the unusual complex [cis-Co(PMe3)(4)H-2][Co(PMe3)(3,5-( CF3)(2)-Pz)(3)] (3) which formally contains a [Co(III)](+)[Co(II)](-) complex ion pair. Reaction of 3,5-(CF3)(2)-PzLi with an oxygenated suspension of CoCl2 and 3 equivalents of PMe3 gives (3,5-(CF3)(2)-Pz)(2)Co(mu-3,5-(CF3)(2)Pz)(mu-OPMe3)Li(OPMe3)(2) (4), while 2 reacts with LiOH to give [(PMe3)Co(mu-3,5-(CF3)(2)-Pz)(2)(mu(3)-OH)Li](2) (5). Both 2 and 3 react with O-2 in toluene solution to give Co(OPMe3)(2)(3,5-(CF3)(2)-Pz)(2) (6). All compounds have been characterized spectroscopically and by single crystal X-ray diffraction studies.Welch Foundation F-816Petroleum Research Fund 47014-ACSNSF 0741973Chemistr

Heating of the intergalactic medium due to structure formation

We estimate the heating of the intergalactic medium due to shocks arising from structure formation. Heating of the gas outside the collapsed regions, with small overdensities (${n_b \over {\bar n_b}}\ll 200$) is considered here, with the aid of Zel'dovich approximation. We estimate the equation of state of this gas, relating the density with its temperature, and its evolution in time, considering the shock heating due to one-$\sigma$ density peaks as being the most dominant. We also estimate the mass fraction of gas above a given temperature as a function of redshift. We find that the baryon fraction above $10^6$ K at $z=0$ is $\sim 10$. We estimate the integrated Sunyaev-Zel'dovich distortion from this gas at present epoch to be of order $10^{-6}$.Comment: 5 pages (3 figs), To appear in MNRAS (pink pages

Syntheses, Structures, and Photoluminescence of 1-D Lanthanide Coordination Polymers

Five new lanthanide 1-D coordination polymers are reported which are formed from flexible salen type Schiff-base ligands H(2)L and H(2)L' (H(2)L = N, N(1)-ethylene bis(salicylideneimine); H(2)L' = N,N(1)-bis(3-methoxysalicylidene) ethylene-1,2-diamine). The polymeric structures are formed by bridging neutral H(2)L units in the case of {[Ln(2)L(2)(CF(3)SO(3))(H(2)L)(4)(MeOH)]center dot CF(3)SO(3)}(n) (Ln = Eu (1), Nd (2) and Er (3)), and by acetate (OAc(-)) groups in [Yb(2)(L)(2)(OAc)(2)(MeOH)(2)](n) (4) and {[Tb(3)(L')(2)(OAc)(5)]center dot Et(2)O center dot(MeOH)(0.5)}(n) (5). The structures of 1-5 were determined by single crystal X-ray crystallographic studies and the luminescence properties of 1 and 5 in MeOH solution were determined.ong Kong Baptist University FRG/06-07/II-16Hong Kong Research Grants Council HKBU 202407Robert A. Welch Foundation F-816Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board ARP 003658-0010-2006Petroleum Research FundAmerican Chemical Society 47014-AC5Chemistr