Oxygen isotopes and metolachlor residues in water samples from a portion of the Canajoharie Creek watershed, central New York

Increased ground and surface water contamination has fueled the need for a better understanding of factors affecting hydrogeological settings. Seasonal variability in the recharge of an aquifer can affect the rate and amount of contamination that can occur. Stable isotopes have been previously investigated as tracers to determine flow paths of the water and contaminants. In this study, oxygen isotopes were used to determine the factors that influence seasonal variations in ground and surface water, such as well location, aquifer type, surface water sites, and soil type. Samples were collected from different locations around the Canajoharie Field Site, including wells that were screened in an unconfined aquifer, wells screened in confined aquifers, tile drains, and surface water sites, in an attempt to determine differences in seasonal variation. The proximity of the wells to the Canajoharie Creek affected the seasonal variation of both water table elevation and oxygen isotopic composition of well water. The closer the well to the stream, the greater the response to storm events and seasonal changes. Wells along fence and tree lines show more of an influence during spring snowmelts than wells located in the middle of the fields, due to snow drifting from open areas to the fence and tree lines, resulting in a disproportionately large amount of recharge. The confined aquifers show little to no seasonal and storm event response. Samples collected from two tile drains show that soil type also affects the recharge response. Soils with lower porosity, i.e. clayey soils, displayed macro pore flushing following storm events, whereas more porous sandy soils showed better water mixing capabilities. The samples collected from the tile drains were also analyzed for the herbicide metolachlor, and two metabolite compounds, metolachlor ESA (ethanasulfonic acid) and metolachlor OA (oxanilic acid), that are found in higher concentrations and persist longer than the parent compound. The oxygen isotopic composition of the tile drain water was compared with the ratios of metolachlor ESA to metolachlor (SAM ratio) and metolachlor ESA to metolachlor OA (SAO ratio) to illustrate macropore flushing and to determine how residence time of groundwater affects the herbicide degradation. A larger decrease in SAO ratios in the clay soil is the result of macropore flow which causes the breakdown of the less stable metolachlor OA in the infiltrating water. Pore water has a longer residence time in clayey soil, resulting in a higher SAM ratio in the water subsequently flushed out during storm events. Sandy soil retains less water in the pores, the briefer soil-water interaction resulting in lower metolachlor ESA production and lower SAM values

An Exploratory Analysis of Electric Usage Data from the Vermont Energy Investment Corporation

This paper examines energy usage patterns of residential and commercial households in the state of Vermont. There are three main objectives of this paper. The first is to aggregate the data from the “high bill” calls that the Vermont Energy Investment Corporation (VEIC) receives. This is accomplished by cleaning and organizing the data into one Excel spreadsheet using Google Refine. The second objective is to predict the presence of an appliance based solely on the total usage of a home. This is accomplished using data collected from 24 high performance homes in Vermont. This data set is analyzed using histograms, correlations, clustering, random forests, tree plots, and heat maps. The final objective is to predict the future electric usage for the commercial accounts in Vermont. This is accomplished by analyzing six different models on the monthly usage from the commercial accounts and then comparing the results of the models to determine the best approach

In-Suit Doppler Technology Assessment

The objective of this program was to perform a technology assessment survey of non-invasive air embolism detection utilizing Doppler ultrasound methodologies. The primary application of this technology will be a continuous monitor for astronauts while performing extravehicular activities (EVA's). The technology assessment was to include: (1) development of a full understanding of all relevant background research; and (2) a survey of the medical ultrasound marketplace for expertise, information, and technical capability relevant to this development. Upon completion of the assessment, LSR was to provide an overview of technological approaches and R&D/manufacturing organizations

Visual Effects of Logo on the Attentional Filter and Perception

The purpose of this project is to understand the effects of different logo design elements (i.e. spatial frequency, contrast sensitivity, and colour) to assess their effectiveness at gaining the attention of consumers. The propensity of elemental changes to break through the attentional filter is expected to provide insight into the decisions made about brand logo design to improve the likelihood that a logo can gain attention in a busy market or communication channel

Visualization of and Access to CloudSat Vertical Data through Google Earth

Online tools, pioneered by the Google Earth (GE), are facilitating the way in which scientists and general public interact with geospatial data in real three dimensions. However, even in Google Earth, there is no method for depicting vertical geospatial data derived from remote sensing satellites as an orbit curtain seen from above. Here, an effective solution is proposed to automatically render the vertical atmospheric data on Google Earth. The data are first processed through the Giovanni system, then, processed to be 15-second vertical data images. A generalized COLLADA model is devised based on the 15-second vertical data profile. Using the designed COLLADA models and satellite orbit coordinates, a satellite orbit model is designed and implemented in KML format to render the vertical atmospheric data in spatial and temporal ranges vividly. The whole orbit model consists of repeated model slices. The model slices, each representing 15 seconds of vertical data, are placed on the CloudSat orbit based on the size, scale, and angle with the longitude line that are precisely and separately calculated on the fly for each slice according to the CloudSat orbit coordinates. The resulting vertical scientific data can be viewed transparently or opaquely on Google Earth. Not only is the research bridged the science and data with scientists and the general public in the most popular way, but simultaneous visualization and efficient exploration of the relationships among quantitative geospatial data, e.g. comparing the vertical data profiles with MODIS and AIRS precipitation data, becomes possible

The Olympic Games and associative sponsorship: Brand personality identity creation, communication and congruence

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to explore the brand relationships between a mega-sports event, the Olympic Games, and its branded main sponsors, using the lens of brand personality. Design/methodology/approach: The study uses the internet-based website communications of the sponsor and event brands to assess congruence in brand personality identity exhibited in the communications of sponsors and how these relate to the event brand itself. A lexical analysis of the website text identifies and graphically represents the dominant brand personality traits of the brands relative to each other. Findings: The results show the Olympic Games is communicating excitement as a leading brand personality dimension. Sponsors of the Olympics largely take on its dominant brand dimension, but do not adapt their whole brand personality to that of the Olympics and benefit by adding excitement without losing their individual character. The transference is more pronounced for long-running sponsors. Practical implications: Sponsorship of the Olympic Games does give brands the opportunity to capture or borrow the excitement dimension alongside building or reinforcing their own dominant brand personality trait or to begin to subtly alter their brand positioning. Originality/value: This study is the first to examine how the sponsor’s brand aligns with the event being sponsored as a basis for developing a strong shared image and associative dimensions complimentary to the positioning of the brand itself

Quality of Baled Grass-Clover Silage as Affected by Additives and Harvest Methods

Previous studies have shown increased loading and ensiling capacities with a rotor cutter wagon compared to a precision chopping wagon with no effects on silage fermentation (Arvidsson and Lingvall 2005; Lingvall and Knicky 2008). However, to our knowledge, there are no studies on the effects of different mowing techniques in combination with chopping/cutting of the forage at harvest when the forage is ensiled with different types of additives. The aim of this experiment was to investigate the effects of mowing method, chopping vs. cutting of the forage, types of additives and their interactions on grass-clover silage quality

Exposure to NO2, CO, and PM2.5 is linked to regional DNA methylation differences in asthma.

Background:DNA methylation of CpG sites on genetic loci has been linked to increased risk of asthma in children exposed to elevated ambient air pollutants (AAPs). Further identification of specific CpG sites and the pollutants that are associated with methylation of these CpG sites in immune cells could impact our understanding of asthma pathophysiology. In this study, we sought to identify some CpG sites in specific genes that could be associated with asthma regulation (Foxp3 and IL10) and to identify the different AAPs for which exposure prior to the blood draw is linked to methylation levels at these sites. We recruited subjects from Fresno, California, an area known for high levels of AAPs. Blood samples and responses to questionnaires were obtained (n = 188), and in a subset of subjects (n = 33), repeat samples were collected 2 years later. Average measures of AAPs were obtained for 1, 15, 30, 90, 180, and 365 days prior to each blood draw to estimate the short-term vs. long-term effects of the AAP exposures. Results:Asthma was significantly associated with higher differentially methylated regions (DMRs) of the Foxp3 promoter region (p = 0.030) and the IL10 intronic region (p = 0.026). Additionally, at the 90-day time period (90 days prior to the blood draw), Foxp3 methylation was positively associated with NO2, CO, and PM2.5 exposures (p = 0.001, p = 0.001, and p = 0.012, respectively). In the subset of subjects retested 2 years later (n = 33), a positive association between AAP exposure and methylation was sustained. There was also a negative correlation between the average Foxp3 methylation of the promoter region and activated Treg levels (p = 0.039) and a positive correlation between the average IL10 methylation of region 3 of intron 4 and IL10 cytokine expression (p = 0.030). Conclusions:Short-term and long-term exposures to high levels of CO, NO2, and PM2.5 were associated with alterations in differentially methylated regions of Foxp3. IL10 methylation showed a similar trend. For any given individual, these changes tend to be sustained over time. In addition, asthma was associated with higher differentially methylated regions of Foxp3 and IL10