Optimal Harvest Time of Florida Valencia Oranges to Maximize Grower Returns

Research goals are to estimate the optimal harvest time of Florida Valencia oranges for Florida growers and calculate the economic consequences of harvesting inside or outside the optimal window. Determining the optimal fruit harvest time will help the industry anticipate how mechanical harvesting may affect deviations from this optimum.Crop Production/Industries,

Detection of a Third Planet in the HD 74156 System Using the Hobby-Eberly Telescope

We report the discovery of a third planetary mass companion to the G0 star HD 74156. High precision radial velocity measurements made with the Hobby-Eberly Telescope aided the detection of this object. The best fit triple Keplerian model to all the available velocity data yields an orbital period of 347 days and minimum mass of 0.4 M_Jup for the new planet. We determine revised orbital periods of 51.7 and 2477 days, and minimum masses of 1.9 and 8.0 M_Jup respectively for the previously known planets. Preliminary calculations indicate that the derived orbits are stable, although all three planets have significant orbital eccentricities (e = 0.64, 0.43, and 0.25). With our detection, HD 74156 becomes the eighth normal star known to host three or more planets. Further study of this system's dynamical characteristics will likely give important insight to planet formation and evolutionary processes.Comment: 24 pages, 4 tables, 6 figures. Accepted for publication in ApJ. V2 fixed table 4 page overrun. V3 added reference

Persistent complete hydatidiform molar pregnancy following assisted reproductive technology in a gestational carrier: Case report

A hydatidiform mole is a rare pathology associated with pregnancy, attributed to abnormal gametogenesis and fertilization. When assisted reproduction techniques (ART) are used, the incidence of molar pregnancy is significantly lower however not eliminated. We report a case of a patient serving as a gestational carrier who developed a complete molar pregnancy, with features indicating persistent trophoblastic disease. This 33-year-old G4T3P0A1L3 woman presented with bleeding at 8 weeks gestational age, after in vitro fertilization and frozen embryo transfer. Ultrasound findings and beta-HCG levels were consistent with molar pregnancy. Pathology specimen from D&C confirmed a complete hydatidiform mole. Despite surgical treatment, beta-HCG remained elevated and multiple pulmonary nodules and enlarged lymph nodes were noted on imaging. Methotrexate was considered but was deemed unnecessary because beta-HCG levels returned to normal over time and nodules resolved. Because molar pregnancy carries a risk of malignant transformation, albeit low, individuals undergoing ART should be counselled

Metallicities of M Dwarf Planet Hosts from Spectral Synthesis

We present the first spectroscopic metallicities of three M dwarfs with known or candidate planetary mass companions. We have analyzed high resolution, high signal-to-noise spectra of these stars which we obtained at McDonald Observatory. Our analysis technique is based on spectral synthesis of atomic and molecular features using recently revised cool-star model atmospheres and spectrum synthesis code. The technique has been shown to yield results consistent with the analyses of solar-type stars and allows measurements of M dwarf [M/H] values to 0.12 dex precision. From our analysis, we find [M/H] = -0.12, -0.32, and -0.33 for GJ 876, GJ 436, and GJ 581 respectively. These three M dwarf planet hosts have sub-solar metallicities, a surprising departure from the trend observed in FGK-type stars. This study is the first part of our ongoing work to determine the metallicities of the M dwarfs included in the McDonald Observatory planet search program.Comment: 13 pages, 2 figures, accepted for publication in ApJ

Dataset on species incidence, species richness and forest characteristics in a Danish protected area

The data presented in this article are related to the research article entitled “Restoring hydrology and old-growth structures in a former production forest: Modelling the long-term effects on biodiversity” (A. Mazziotta, J. Heilmann-Clausen, H. H.Bruun, Ö. Fritz, E. Aude, A.P. Tøttrup) [1]. This article describes how the changes induced by restoration actions in forest hydrology and structure alter the biodiversity value of a Danish forest reserve. The field dataset is made publicly available to enable critical or extended analyses

Successful endovascular reconstruction of symptomatic vertebrobasilar dolichoectasia using multiple Leo stents and nondominant vertebral artery occlusion: a case report

Vertebrobasilar dolichoectasia (VBD) is a rare vascular anomaly of increased diameter, length, and tortuosity of vertebral and/or basilar artery, but debilitating due to its risk of ischemia, hemorrhage, and nerve or brain compression. The management is also controversial due to various possible clinical manifestation and outcome. This study aimed to describe a combined approach of multiple scaffolding Leo stents and nondominant vertebral artery occlusion as a definitive approach to reconstruct vertebrobasilar arteries. A 40-year old male presented with severe headache and reduced consciousness, which was explained with brain CT findings of subarachnoid hemorrhage and hydrocephalus. Further etiologic approach until digital subtraction angiography revealed VBD. An endovascular reconstruction approach was considered one month following the event onset using multiple scaffolding Leo stents from left vertebral to basilar artery with right vertebral artery occlusion. This stent had the best radial strength, lowest bending stiffness, highest kink resistance, highest bending wall coverage, and lowest cell size, which provided strong vascular reconstruction properties. Combined nondominant vertebral artery occlusion was also performed to avoid the disturbance of flow-diverting pathway by the stents. Double antiplatelet was administered from three weeks following the event onset afterwards. The patient’s condition improved at three-month follow-up. This case report presented that combined multiple Leo stents and nondominant vertebral artery occlusion may be considered as an approach to successful endovascular reconstruction for symptomatic VBD

The Mass of the Candidate Exoplanet Companion to HD136118 from Hubble Space Telescope Astrometry and High-Precision Radial Velocities

We use Hubble Space Telescope Fine Guidance Sensor astrometry and high-cadence radial velocities for HD136118 from the HET with archival data from Lick to determine the complete set of orbital parameters for HD136118b. We find an orbital inclination for the candidate exoplanet of i_{b} = 163.1 +- 3.0 deg. This establishes the actual mass of the object, M_{b} = 42^{+11}_{-18} MJup, in contrast to the minimum mass determined from the radial velocity data only, M_{b}sin{i} ~ 12 MJup. Therefore, the low-mass companion to HD 136118 is now identified as a likely brown dwarf residing in the "brown dwarf desert".Comment: 35 pages, 12 figures, 10 tables. Accepted for publication in Astrophysical Journa