TB154: Phosphorus and Potassium Availability in Wood Ash-Amended Soils: An Incubation Study

The objective of this study was to monitor the temporal changes in soil properties and plant availability of P and K in wood ash-amended soils during a 72-week incubation period.https://digitalcommons.library.umaine.edu/aes_techbulletin/1054/thumbnail.jp

Sediment-Induced Amplification in the Northeastern United States: a Case Study in Providence, Rhode Island

We employed ambient-noise measurements to assess the potential for seismic site response in sediment-filled valleys that intersect beneath downtown Providence, Rhode Island. At eight valley stations and at two sites on an adjacent bedrock highland, we recorded ground motion from two types of sources: pile drivers at a local construction site and ambient microtremors. At all valley sites where sediment thicknesses exceed 10 m, spectral ratios contain amplitude peaks at frequencies of 1.5 to 3.0 Hz. In contrast, spectral ratios from the two sites on the bedrock highland where sediment cover is less than 4-m thick are relatively flat within this frequency range. A variety of borehole logs identified two fundamental sediment types (soft sediment and a consolidated glacial till) and were used to map layer thicknesses over the entire study region. Refraction data constrained P-wave velocity in the bedrock to be 3680 ± 160 m/sec and indicated two soft-sediment layers with P-wave velocities of 300 ± 50 and 1580 ± 120 m/sec. Using a one-dimensional reflection matrix technique, we matched the spectral-ratio peak observed at each valley site with the frequency of fundamental resonance predicted for local layer thicknesses and velocities. A positive correlation between the best-fitting soft-sediment velocities and bedrock depth may reflect greater compaction in the deepest sediments or a locally two-dimensional sediment resonance at the deepest sediment sites. We conclude that unconsolidated sediment layers under downtown Providence have the potential to amplify earthquake ground motion at frequencies damaging to engineered structures

Experimental and Theoretical Cross Sections for Molecular-frame Electron-impact Excitation-ionization of D₂

We present both experimental and theoretical results for the dissociative ionization of D2 molecules induced by electron impact. Cross sections are determined in the molecular frame and are fully differential in the energies and emission angles of the dissociation fragments. Transitions are considered from the X1Σg+ electronic ground state of D2 to the 2sσg, 2pπu and 2pσu excited states of D2+. The experimental results are compared to calculations performed within the molecular four-body distorted-wave framework to describe the multicenter nature of the scattering process. The cross sections reveal a dramatic dependence on both the alignment of the internuclear axis with respect to the direction of the projectile momentum and on the symmetry of the excited dissociating state which is energetically resolved

Quantitative, Architectural Analysis of Immune Cell Subsets in Tumor-Draining Lymph Nodes from Breast Cancer Patients and Healthy Lymph Nodes

Background: To date, pathological examination of specimens remains largely qualitative. Quantitative measures of tissue spatial features are generally not captured. To gain additional mechanistic and prognostic insights, a need for quantitative architectural analysis arises in studying immune cell-cancer interactions within the tumor microenvironment and tumor-draining lymph nodes (TDLNs). Methodology/Principal Findings: We present a novel, quantitative image analysis approach incorporating 1) multi-color tissue staining, 2) high-resolution, automated whole-section imaging, 3) custom image analysis software that identifies cell types and locations, and 4) spatial statistical analysis. As a proof of concept, we applied this approach to study the architectural patterns of T and B cells within tumor-draining lymph nodes from breast cancer patients versus healthy lymph nodes. We found that the spatial grouping patterns of T and B cells differed between healthy and breast cancer lymph nodes, and this could be attributed to the lack of B cell localization in the extrafollicular region of the TDLNs. Conclusions/Significance: Our integrative approach has made quantitative analysis of complex visual data possible. Our results highlight spatial alterations of immune cells within lymph nodes from breast cancer patients as an independent variable from numerical changes. This opens up new areas of investigations in research and medicine. Future application of this approach will lead to a better understanding of immune changes in the tumor microenvironment and TDLNs, and how they affect clinical outcome

Blueberry Advisory Committee Research Report

The 1988 edition of the Blueberry Advisory Committee Research Reports was prepared for the Maine Wild Blueberry Commission and the University of Maine Wild Blueberry Advisory Committee by researchers with the Maine Agricultural Experiment Station and Maine Cooperative Extension Service at the University of Maine, Orono. Projects in this report include: 1. Monitoring methods, economic injury levels, and action thresholds for blueberry spanworm larvae in vegetative year fields. 2. Control of secondary blueberry pests 3. Control of blueberry maggot 4. Effect of pruning practices on blueberry insect abundance 5. Survey of Fungi Contaminating Lowbush Blueberries 6. Nutrition Survey 1988 7. Phosphorus Dose/Response Curve 8. Effect of Several Mulches on Frost Heaving, Soil Moisture, Soil Temperature and Rhizome Development 9. Influence of Mulch Sources on Clonal Spread-SCS Study, Deblois 10. Effect of Surface Mulches on Stabilizing Lowbush Blueberry Soil in Barren Areas 11. Nitrogen-Phosphorus Study 12. Changes in Sugar and Organic Acids of Blueberries During Development, Preprocess Lag Time and Storage 13. Characterization of Pectin in Blueberries 14. Effect of Hexazinone (VELPAR) on Species Distribution in Lowbush Blueberry Fields 15. Evaluation of Setyhoxydim (POAST) for Bunchgrass Control 16. Evaluation and modification of commercial wipers 17. Evaluation of Five Preemergence Herbicides for Control of Oatgrass and Bunchgrass 18. Effect of rate and formulation of hexazinone (VELPAR) on bunchberry 19. Bracken fern control alternatives 20. Hexazinone (VELPAR) and terbacil (SINBAR) combinations for weed control 21. Evaluation of hexazinone (VELPAR) with spot treatments of glyphosate (ROUNDUP) or sethoxydin (POAST) for bunchgrass control 22. Directed sprays of glyphosate (ROUNDUP) for bunchberry control. 23. Evaluation of Postemergence Applications of Chlorimuron for Bunchberry Control 24. Seedling Pruning Study 25. Blueberry Harvester Trials 26. Blueberry Extension Progra

Blueberry Advisory Committee Research Report

The 1987 edition of the Blueberry Advisory Committee Research Reports was prepared for the Maine Wild Blueberry Commission and the University of Maine Wild Blueberry Advisory Committee by researchers with the Maine Agricultural Experiment Station and Maine Cooperative Extension Service at the University of Maine, Orono. Projects in this report include: 1. Effect of Pruning Practices on Blueberry Insect Abundance 2. Economic Thresholds and Control of Secondary Blueberry Pests 3. Control of Blueberry Maggot 4. Evaluation of Fungicides for Control of Botrytis Blight on Lowbush Blueberry, 1987 5. Evaluation of Fungicides for Control of Mummy Berry on Lowbush Blueberry, 1987 6. Miscellaneous Activity: a) Fungicide Residue Analysis b) Blueberry fact sheet c) Berry contamination 7. Effects of Pruning Methods on Mummy Berry Disease Incidence, 1987 8. Effects of Pruning Methods on Powdery Mildew and Red Leaf Disease Incidence, 1987 9. Nutrition Survey 1987 10. Nutritional Responses of Seedlings 11. The Effect of Several Mulches on Frost Heaving, Soil Moisture, Soil Temperature and Rhizome Development 12. Time-temperature Effects on Sugar Migration and Physical Characterization in Lowbush Blueberries 13. Fabricated Blueberry Raisins Prepared from Puree using Alginate as the Gelling Agent 14. Blueberry Gelatin 15. Effect of Hexazinone (VELPAR) on Species Distribution in Lowbush Blueberry Fields 16. Evaluation of Postemergence Herbicides for Grass Control 17. Evaluation of Sulfonyl urea and Imidazoline compounds for Bunchberry Control 18. Use of Mechanical wiper with glyphosate (ROUNDUP) or dicamba for control of dogbane 19. Integrated Weed Management 20. Evaluation of Five Preemergence Herbicides for Control of Oat grass and Bunchgrass 21. Wiper Application of Dicamba for Woody Weed control 22. Hexazinone (VELPAR) and terbacil (SINBAR) combinations for weed control 23. Evaluation of Clopyralid and Lactofen for Bunchberry Control 24. Evaluation of Postemergence Applications of chlorimuron for Bunchberry Control 25. Hexazinone seedling study 26. Seedling Pruning Study 27. Effect of bracken fern on blueberry yield 28. Evaluation of two mechanical harvesters vs hand raking of lowbush blueberrie

Blueberry Research Progress Reports

The 1989 edition of the Blueberry Research Progress Reports was prepared for the Maine Wild Blueberry Commission and the University of Maine Wild Blueberry Advisory Committee by researchers with the Maine Agricultural Experiment Station and Maine Cooperative Extension Service at the University of Maine, Orono. Projects in this report include: 1. Control of Secondary Blueberry Pests 2. Monitory Methods, Economic Injury Levels, and Action Thresholds of Secondary Blueberry Pests 3. Control of Blueberry Maggot 4. Phosphorus Dose/Response Curve 5. Nitrogen-Phosphorus Study 6. Multiple Cropping of Wild Stands 7. Changes in Sugars and Organic Acids of Blueberries During Development 8. Investigation of Preprocess Changes That Could Lead to the Development of a Simple and Inexpensive Method to Measure Preprocess Berry Spoilage 9. Development of Simple and Less Expensive Methods to Analyze Pesticides Used on Maine and Canadian Blueberries 10. Evaluation and Modification of Commercial Wipers 11. Effect of Rate and Formulation of Hexazinone on Bunchberry 12. Bracken Fern Control Alternatives 13. Evaluation of Hexazinone with Spot Treatments of Glyphosate Sethoxydim or Fluazifop-P for Bunchgrass Control 14. Directed Sprays of Glyphosate for Bunchberry Control 15. Evaluation of Norflurazon with or without Hexazinone for Bunchgrass Control 16. Selective Wiper and Mechanical Control of Dogbane 17. Evaluation of Sulfonyl Urea Herbicides for Bunchberry Control 18. Seedling Pruning Study 19. Evaluation of Sethoxydim in Lowbush Blueberry Fields 20. Blueberry Extension Program 21. Pollination of the Low-bush Blueberry by Native Bees 22. Postharvest Fungi of Lowbush Blueberries 23. Effects of Pruning Methods on Mummy Berry Incidenc

Genetic Determinants of Circulating Sphingolipid Concentrations in European Populations

Sphingolipids have essential roles as structural components of cell membranes and in cell signalling, and disruption of their metabolism causes several diseases, with diverse neurological, psychiatric, and metabolic consequences. Increasingly, variants within a few of the genes that encode enzymes involved in sphingolipid metabolism are being associated with complex disease phenotypes. Direct experimental evidence supports a role of specific sphingolipid species in several common complex chronic disease processes including atherosclerotic plaque formation, myocardial infarction (MI), cardiomyopathy, pancreatic beta-cell failure, insulin resistance, and type 2 diabetes mellitus. Therefore, sphingolipids represent novel and important intermediate phenotypes for genetic analysis, yet little is known about the major genetic variants that influence their circulating levels in the general population. We performed a genome-wide association study (GWAS) between 318,237 single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and levels of circulating sphingomyelin (SM), dihydrosphingomyelin (Dih-SM), ceramide (Cer), and glucosylceramide (GluCer) single lipid species (33 traits); and 43 matched metabolite ratios measured in 4,400 subjects from five diverse European populations. Associated variants (32) in five genomic regions were identified with genome-wide significant corrected p-values ranging down to 9.08 x 10(-66). The strongest associations were observed in or near 7 genes functionally involved in ceramide biosynthesis and trafficking: SPTLC3, LASS4, SGPP1, ATP10D, and FADS1-3. Variants in 3 loci (ATP10D, FADS3, and SPTLC3) associate with MI in a series of three German MI studies. An additional 70 variants across 23 candidate genes involved in sphingolipid-metabolizing pathways also demonstrate association (p = 10(-4) or less). Circulating concentrations of several key components in sphingolipid metabolism are thus under strong genetic control, and variants in these loci can be tested for a role in the development of common cardiovascular, metabolic, neurological, and psychiatric diseases

Observational study on variability between biobanks in the estimation of DNA concentration.

BACKGROUND: There is little confidence in the consistency of estimation of DNA concentrations when samples move between laboratories. Evidence on this consistency is largely anecdotal. Therefore there is a need first to measure this consistency among different laboratories and then identify and implement remedies. A pilot experiment to test logistics and provide initial data on consistency was therefore conceived. METHODS: DNA aliquots at nominal concentrations between 10 and 300 ng/mul were dispensed into the wells of 96-well plates by one participant - the coordinating centre. Participants estimated the concentration in each well and returned estimates to the coordinating centre. RESULTS: Considerable overall variability was observed among estimates. There were statistically significant differences between participants' measurements and between fluorescence emission and absorption spectroscopy. CONCLUSION: Anecdotal evidence of variability in DNA concentration estimation has been substantiated. Reduction in variability between participants will require the identification of major sources of variation, specification of effective remedies and their implementation