Palmer Amaranth (Amaranthus palmeri) Suppression with Half Rates of Dicamba and Atrazine with Increasing Sorghum (Sorghum bicolor) Density and Nitrogen Rate

Palmer amaranth (PA) competition can result in severe yield loss in grain sorghum. Increasing sorghum density and nutrient supply could promote early/rapid canopy closure and therefore reduce the amount of light that could otherwise penetrate the canopy and promote PA growth in sorghum. A study was conducted at the Southwest Research-Extension Center near Garden City, KS, to determine if PA could be suppressed with dicamba and atrazine applied as PRE at half rates combined with increasing sorghum density (60,000, 90,000, and 120,000 seeds/a), and nitrogen rate (0, 100, 200 lb/a). Preliminary results indicate that increasing plant density and nitrogen rate did not suppress PA growth. The increase in plant density and nitrogen (N) rate had no affect on reducing PA height, number, and biomass in plots without in-season control (hoeing). In-season control of Palmer amaranth significantly (P \u3c 0.01) increased grain yield, sorghum height and number of heads, and was required to maximize yield. These results suggest that increasing plant density within the row does not reduce light penetration into sorghum canopy to suppress PA growth. Therefore, narrow-row planting will be added to the treatment structure to further determine the effect of plant density on suppressing PA in irrigated sorghum production

LARES/WEBER-SAT and the equivalence principle

It has often been claimed that the proposed Earth artificial satellite LARES/WEBER-SAT-whose primary goal is, in fact, the measurement of the general relativistic Lense-Thirring effect at a some percent level-would allow to greatly improve, among (many) other things, the present-day (10^-13) level of accuracy in testing the equivalence principle as well. Recent claims point towards even two orders of magnitude better, i.e. 10^-15. In this note we show that such a goal is, in fact, unattainable by many orders of magnitude being, instead, the achievable level of the order of 10^-9.Comment: LaTex, 4 pages, no figures, no tables, 26 references. Proofs corrections included. To appear in EPL (Europhysics Letters

Forage Sorghum and Corn Silage Response to Full and Deficit Irrigation

There is limited information on forage sorghum and corn silage yield response to full and deficit irrigation in Kansas. The objective of this study was to generate information on forage sorghum (brown mid-rib hybrids (BMR and non-BMR)) and corn silage yield response to different levels of irrigation as influenced by irrigation capacity in southwest Kansas. Preliminary results indicate the effect of irrigation capacity on forage yield was significant (P = 0.0009) in 2014 but not 2015, probably due to high growing season rainfall received in 2015. Corn silage produced significantly (p \u3c 0.05) higher biomass at all irrigation capacities compared to forage sorghum hybrids in 2015. BMR forage sorghum produced significantly lower biomass compared to non-BMR hybrid in both 2014 and 2015 (P \u3c 0.05). The highest amounts of forage produced for corn silage, BMR, and non-BMR forage sorghum were 24.6, 17.4, and 21.1 tons/a adjusted to 65%, moisture respectively. Water productivity ranged from 1.0 to 1.4 dry matter tons/a/in. More research is needed under normal and dry years to quantify forage sorghum and corn silage yield and forage quality response to full and deficit irrigation

Statistical Mechanics of Kinks in (1+1)-Dimensions

We investigate the thermal equilibrium properties of kinks in a classical $\phi^4$ field theory in $1+1$ dimensions. The distribution function, kink density, and correlation function are determined from large scale simulations. A dilute gas description of kinks is shown to be valid below a characteristic temperature. A double Gaussian approximation to evaluate the eigenvalues of the transfer operator enables us to extend the theoretical analysis to higher temperatures where the dilute gas approximation fails. This approach accurately predicts the temperature at which the kink description breaks down.Comment: 8 pages, Latex (4 figures available on request), LA-UR-92-399

Integrating Half Rates of Dicamba and Atrazine with Increasing Sorghum Density and Nitrogen Rate for Palmer Amaranth Control

Sorghum is an important crop in Kansas. However, in-season weed control options for sorghum are limited. This limitation is exacerbated by Palmer amaranth season-long interference and resistance to multiple herbicide modes of action. This 2-year study investigated the ability of a contrasting combination of cultural and chemical practices to control Palmer amaranth while maintaining or improving sorghum grain yield. Particular research emphasis was to evaluate the effect(s) of integrating half rates of dicamba and atrazine applied as PRE with increasing sorghum density and nitrogen rate on Palmer amaranth control and grain yield in an irrigated environment

Palmer Amaranth (Amaranthus palmeri) Suppression with Half Rates of Dicamba and Atrazine with Increasing Sorghum (Sorghum bicolor) Density and Nitrogen Rate

Palmer amaranth (PA) competition can result in severe yield loss in grain sorghum. Increasing sorghum density and nutrient supply could promote early/rapid canopy closure and therefore reduce the amount of light that could otherwise penetrate the canopy and promote PA growth in sorghum. A study was conducted at the Southwest Research-Extension Center near Garden City, KS, to determine if PA could be suppressed with dicamba and atrazine applied as PRE at half rates combined with increasing sorghum density (60,000, 90,000, and 120,000 seeds/a), and nitrogen rate (0, 100, 200 lb/a). Preliminary results indicate that increasing plant density and nitrogen rate did not suppress PA growth. The increase in plant density and nitrogen (N) rate had no affect on reducing PA height, number, and biomass in plots without in-season control (hoeing). In-season control of Palmer amaranth significantly (P \u3c 0.01) increased grain yield, sorghum height and number of heads, and was required to maximize yield. These results suggest that increasing plant density within the row does not reduce light penetration into sorghum canopy to suppress PA growth. Therefore, narrow-row planting will be added to the treatment structure to further determine the effect of plant density on suppressing PA in irrigated sorghum production

Statistical Mechanics of Kinks in (1+1)-Dimensions: Numerical Simulations and Double Gaussian Approximation

We investigate the thermal equilibrium properties of kinks in a classical \F^4 field theory in $1+1$ dimensions. From large scale Langevin simulations we identify the temperature below which a dilute gas description of kinks is valid. The standard dilute gas/WKB description is shown to be remarkably accurate below this temperature. At higher, ``intermediate'' temperatures, where kinks still exist, this description breaks down. By introducing a double Gaussian variational ansatz for the eigenfunctions of the statistical transfer operator for the system, we are able to study this region analytically. In particular, our predictions for the number of kinks and the correlation length are in agreement with the simulations. The double Gaussian prediction for the characteristic temperature at which the kink description ultimately breaks down is also in accord with the simulations. We also analytically calculate the internal energy and demonstrate that the peak in the specific heat near the kink characteristic temperature is indeed due to kinks. In the neighborhood of this temperature there appears to be an intricate energy sharing mechanism operating between nonlinear phonons and kinks.Comment: 28 pages (8 Figures not included, hard-copies available), Latex, LA-UR-93-276

The model of mortality with incident cirrhosis (MoMIC) and the model of long-term outlook of mortality in dcirrhosis (LOMiC)

The purpose of this study was to produce two statistical survival models in those with cirrhosis utilising only routine parameters, including non-liver-related clinical factors that influence survival. The first model identified and utilised factors impacting short-term survival to 90-days post incident diagnosis, and a further model characterised factors that impacted survival following this acute phase. Data were from the Clinical Practice Research Datalink linked with Hospital Episode Statistics. Incident cases in patients ≥18 years were identified between 1998 and 2014. Patients that had prior history of cancer or had received liver transplants prior were excluded. Model-1 used a logistic regression model to predict mortality. Model-2 used data from those patients who survived 90 days, and used an extension of the Cox regression model, adjusting for time-dependent covariables. At 90 days, 23% of patients had died. Overall median survival was 3.7 years. Model-1: numerous predictors, prior comorbidities and decompensating events were incorporated. All comorbidities contributed to increased odds of death, with renal disease having the largest adjusted odds ratio (OR = 3.35, 95%CI 2.97–3.77). Model-2: covariables included cumulative admissions for liver disease-related events and admissions for infections. Significant covariates were renal disease (adjusted hazard ratio (HR = 2.89, 2.47–3.38)), elevated bilirubin levels (aHR = 1.38, 1.26–1.51) and low sodium levels (aHR = 2.26, 1.84–2.78). An internal validation demonstrated reliability of both models. In conclusion: two survival models that included parameters commonly recorded in routine clinical practice were generated that reliably forecast the risk of death in patients with cirrhosis: in the acute, post diagnosis phase, and following this critical, 90 day phase. This has implications for practice and helps better forecast the risk of mortality from cirrhosis using routinely recorded parameters without inputs from specialists