Theoretical flow regime diagrams for the AGCE

The major criterion for the design of the Atmospheric General Circulation Experiment is that it be possible to realize strong baroclinic instability in the apparatus. A spherical annulus configuration which allows only steady basic state flows was chosen for the first set of stability analyses. Baroclinic instability was found for this configuration and few results suggest a regime diagram very different from the cylindrical annulus regime diagram

Wood ash from bioenergy systems as a soil amendment for crop production

Paper presented at the 11th North American Agroforesty Conference, which was held May 31-June 3, 2009 in Columbia, Missouri.In Gold, M.A. and M.M. Hall, eds. Agroforestry Comes of Age: Putting Science into Practice. Proceedings, 11th North American Agroforestry Conference, Columbia, Mo., May 31-June 3, 2009.Wood is a renewable energy source that can be practical for many applications. Wood ash produced as a byproduct of commercial, industrial, and institutional bioenergy operations can be an economical, effective, and environmentally friendly soil amendment for crop production. Wood ash provides liming benefits along with potassium, phosphorus, calcium, magnesium, and micronutrients. Research in Wisconsin has demonstrated that wood ash benefits a variety of agronomic crops and can be practical for farmers to use. We conducted greenhouse and field studies to evaluate the effects of landspreading industrial wood ash on the yield and elemental composition of forage crops and on soil nutrient levels. Biomass yields generally increased with ash application up to 20 tons/acre and decreased at applications exceeding this level (Meyers and Kopecky, 1998). Wood ash application usually produced yields greater than those obtained with the limed and fertilized control treatment. No undesirable elements accumulated in forage tissue at ash application rates up to 20 tons/acre. Clean wood ash (produced from only wood and bark without synthetic substances in the fuel stream) is permitted for organic crop production systems in the United States. It is especially valuable in areas with acidic soils, and can be landspread with equipment that is commonly used in cropping systems. Wood ash is already being used as a soil amendment in some areas of North America, but in other cases it is disposed of in landfills. Using wood ash for crop production can save money for farmers and bioenergy users and is a more sustainable stewardship practice.Mark J. Kopecky (1) and N. Larry Meyers (2) ; 1. Department of Agriculture and Agribusiness, University of Wisconsin-Extension, Price County UW-Extension, 104 South Eyder Avenue, Phillips WI (USA) 54555. 2. Professor Emeritus, Department of Plant and Earth Science, University of Wisconsin-River Falls, River Falls WI (USA) 54022.Includes bibliographical references

Topographic Wetness Index as a Proxy for Soil Moisture : The Importance of Flow-Routing Algorithm and Grid Resolution

The Topographic Wetness Index (TWI) is a commonly used proxy for soil moisture. The predictive capability of TWI is influenced by the flow-routing algorithm and the resolution of the Digital Elevation Model (DEM) that TWI is derived from. Here, we examine the predictive capability of TWI using 11 flow-routing algorithms at DEM resolutions 1-30 m. We analyze the relationship between TWI and field-quantified soil moisture using statistical modeling methods and 5,200 study plots with over 46 000 soil moisture measurements. In addition, we test the sensitivity of the flow-routing algorithms against vertical height errors in DEM at different resolutions. The results reveal that the overall predictive capability of TWI was modest. The highest r(2) (23.7%) was reached using a multiple-flow-direction algorithm at 2 m resolution. In addition, the test of sensitivity against height errors revealed that the multiple-flow-direction algorithms were also more robust against DEM errors than single-flow-direction algorithms. The results provide field-evidence indicating that at its best TWI is a modest proxy for soil moisture and its predictive capability is influenced by the flow-routing algorithm and DEM resolution. Thus, we encourage careful evaluation of algorithms and resolutions when using TWI as a proxy for soil moisture.Peer reviewe

Topographic Wetness Index as a Proxy for Soil Moisture : The Importance of Flow-Routing Algorithm and Grid Resolution

The Topographic Wetness Index (TWI) is a commonly used proxy for soil moisture. The predictive capability of TWI is influenced by the flow-routing algorithm and the resolution of the Digital Elevation Model (DEM) that TWI is derived from. Here, we examine the predictive capability of TWI using 11 flow-routing algorithms at DEM resolutions 1-30 m. We analyze the relationship between TWI and field-quantified soil moisture using statistical modeling methods and 5,200 study plots with over 46 000 soil moisture measurements. In addition, we test the sensitivity of the flow-routing algorithms against vertical height errors in DEM at different resolutions. The results reveal that the overall predictive capability of TWI was modest. The highest r(2) (23.7%) was reached using a multiple-flow-direction algorithm at 2 m resolution. In addition, the test of sensitivity against height errors revealed that the multiple-flow-direction algorithms were also more robust against DEM errors than single-flow-direction algorithms. The results provide field-evidence indicating that at its best TWI is a modest proxy for soil moisture and its predictive capability is influenced by the flow-routing algorithm and DEM resolution. Thus, we encourage careful evaluation of algorithms and resolutions when using TWI as a proxy for soil moisture.Peer reviewe

Genomic Constitution of \u3cem\u3eFestulolium\u3c/em\u3e Varieties

Hybrids between species of ryegrass (Lolium) and fescue (Festuca) combine useful agronomical characteristics such as rapid establishment from seed and fodder quality from ryegrass and tolerance against abiotic and biotic stressses from fescue. The superior potential of hybrids has stimulated breeding programs generating so called Festulolium varieties. While the varieties have been evaluated extensively for their agronomic characteristics, little information is publicly available on their genomic constitution. The aim of our study was to analyse genomic constitution of a representative set of commercially available European Festulolium cultivars. To do this, we have employed genomic in situ hybridization (GISH)

Group F Streptococcal Bacteremia Complicating a Bartholin's Abscess

Background: Group F streptococci are Gram-positive cocci typically isolated from wound infections and abscesses. Bacteremia with group F streptococcus is uncommon, and the lower gynecologic tract has not been reported as a source. We report a case of a Bartholin's abscess leading to group F streptococcal bacteremia. Case: A 31-year-old female noted fever and rigors 30 min after manipulation of a 3-day-old vulvar abscess. An empty Bartholin's gland abscess was found on examination, and blood cultures grew β-hemolytic group F streptococci. The patient was treated with ampicillin/sulbactam, symptoms improved, and follow-up blood cultures revealed no growth. Conclusion: Group F streptococci are known to inhabit various body sites and have a predilection for forming abscesses; however, bacteremia is infrequent. They have occasionally been identified in true infections of the genitourinary tract but only very rarely in Bartholin's abscesses. This case of group F streptococcal bacteremia following self-drainage of a Bartholin's abscess constitutes the first such description in the medical literature

Holographic analysis of diffraction structure factors

We combine the theory of inside-source/inside-detector x-ray fluorescence holography and Kossel lines/x ray standing waves in kinematic approximation to directly obtain the phases of the diffraction structure factors. The influence of Kossel lines and standing waves on holography is also discussed. We obtain partial phase determination from experimental data obtaining the sign of the real part of the structure factor for several reciprocal lattice vectors of a vanadium crystal.Comment: 4 pages, 3 figures, submitte

Thermal and electromagnetic properties of 166-Er and 167-Er

The primary gamma-ray spectra of 166-Er and 167-Er are deduced from the (3-He,alpha gamma) and (3-He,3-He' gamma) reaction, respectively, enabling a simultaneous extraction of the level density and the gamma-ray strength function. Entropy, temperature and heat capacity are deduced from the level density within the micro-canonical and the canonical ensemble, displaying signals of a phase-like transition from the pair-correlated ground state to an uncorrelated state at Tc=0.5 MeV. The gamma-ray strength function displays a bump around E-gamma=3 MeV, interpreted as the pygmy resonance.Comment: 21 pages including 2 tables and 11 figure

Revisiting M&M with Taxes: An Alternative Equilibrating Process

Modigliani and Miller present an equity-quantity shifting equilibrating process to achieve an optimal firm value in the presence of corporate taxes. However, in the era in which they derived their various propositions regarding the relation between a firm’s value and its capital structure, well-capitalized takeover specialists including private equity firms and sovereign funds did not exist, at least by today’s standards. In this paper we develop a simple arbitrage strategy, made viable by the presence of takeover firms, which presents an alternative equilibrating process to achieve the same optimal firm value. This alternative process is markedly different from that of the Modigliani and Miller theorem in terms of its predictions for debt use and restores the prospect of capital structure irrelevancy despite the existence of corporate taxes