Circular 58

A comparative yield trial with 44 named varieties and numbered selections of potatoes was conducted at the University of Alaska-Fairbanks, Agricultural and Forestry Experiment Station’s (AFES) Palmer Research Center during the 1986 growing season. This yield trial is the continuation of a potato variety testing program initiated in 1982. The trial again was conducted at the Matanuska Research Farm, located on Trunk Road near Palmer. Nonirrigated trials have been conducted each year beginning in 1982, but irrigated trials were not initiated until 1985. Results of previous trials are recorded in Circulars 49 and 54, available at the Agricultural and Forestry Experiment Station offices in Fairbanks and Palmer. As in past years, varieties with long production histories in Alaska (Alaska 114, Bakeking, Green Mountain, Kennebec, Superior) are included and serve as a comparative base for newly developed varieties or older varieties that in the past have escaped testing at this location. Varieties that compare favorably with the above listed standards may warrant some consideration by commercial growers. In continuance of a program that was initiated in 1985, abbreviated versions of the AFES potato yield trial were conducted at locations in various parts of the state. These off-station trials again were made possible by the willingness of cooperators to plant, tend and harvest the crop. The seven off-station sites include several where comparative testing of potato varieties has not been reported previously.Introduction -- Matanuska Farm Yield Trials: Cultural Practices - Environmental Conditions, Results, Discussion -- Trials at Other Locations in Alaska: General Procedures, Specific Site Information: Ambler, Copper Center, Delta Junction, Fairbanks, Kake, Kodiak, Noorvi

Circular 49

A program of field research relating to the commercial production o f potatoes was initiated in 1982 at the University of Alaska Agricultural Experiment Station ’s research center in Palmer. T he experimental fields are located at the Matanuska Research Farm on Trunk Road near Palmer. This program is a modified continuation of a potato research program initiated more than 30 years ago by D r. C .H . Dearborn. Whereas the major emphasis of D r. Dearborn ’s potato program w as variety development and testing, the major emphasis here is study o f general cultural practices, disease development and control, and the comparative evaluation (yield trials) o f potato varieties having commercial potential. Plans call for the comparative evaluation of thirty to forty named varieties or numbered selections each year. Varieties are selected for testing on the basis o f yield potential, general quality characteristics, and disease resistance. An attempt is made to include all varieties grow n commercially in the state, newly developed varieties from breeding program s in the U .S ., Canada, and elsewhere, as well as established varieties that have yet to be thoroughly tested in this environment. Commercial varieties with locally proven “ track record s ," such as Alaska 114, Bakeking, Green Mountain, and Superior will serve as a comparative base for m ore recently introduced varieites. New varieties will be tested for 4-5 years before being dropped , kept for further study, or recommended to commercial growers. Summarized in this circular are the results o f three years o f variety trials (1982, ’83, and ’84). Also included are summaries of environmental conditions at or near the experimental test site and some detailed information about several locally grown commercial varieties.Introduction -- Weather Data Summary: 1982 -- Weather Data Summary: 1983 -- Weather Data Summary: 1984 -- Yield Data Summary -- Variety Descriptions -- See

Circular 54

Comparative yield suitable, or potentially suitable, commercial production potato varieties were conducted during the 1985 growing season by the University of Alaska-Fairbanks, Agricultural and Forestry Experiment Station, Palmer Research Center. Forty names and numbered varieties were included in the 1985 trial. Numbered varieties originated in the potato-breeding program of Dr. C. H. Dearborn.Introduction -- Matanuska Valley Yield Trials -- Trial Results -- Other Yield Trial

Observations of microquasars with the MAGIC telescope

We report on the results from the observations in very high energy band (VHE, E_gamma > 100GeV) of the black hole X-ray binary (BHXB) Cygnus X-1. The observations were performed with the MAGIC telescope, for a total of 40 hours during 26 nights, spanning the period between June and November 2006. We report on the results of the searches for steady and variable gamma-ray signals, including the first experimental evidence for an intense flare, of duration between 1.5 and 24 hours.Comment: Contribution to the 30th ICRC, Merida Mexico, July 2007 on behalf of the MAGIC Collaboratio

FACT -- the First Cherenkov Telescope using a G-APD Camera for TeV Gamma-ray Astronomy (HEAD 2010)

Geiger-mode Avalanche Photodiodes (G-APD) bear the potential to significantly improve the sensitivity of Imaging Air Cherenkov Telescopes (IACT). We are currently building the First G-APD Cherenkov Telescope (FACT) by refurbishing an old IACT with a mirror area of 9.5 square meters and construct a new, fine pixelized camera using novel G-APDs. The main goal is to evaluate the performance of a complete system by observing very high energy gamma-rays from the Crab Nebula. This is an important field test to check the feasibility of G-APD-based cameras to replace at some time the PMT-based cameras of planned future IACTs like AGIS and CTA. In this article, we present the basic design of such a camera as well as some important details to be taken into account.Comment: Poster shown at HEAD 2010, Big Island, Hawaii, March 1-4, 201

A novel camera type for very high energy gamma-ray astronomy based on Geiger-mode avalanche photodiodes

Geiger-mode avalanche photodiodes (G-APD) are promising new sensors for light detection in atmospheric Cherenkov telescopes. In this paper, the design and commissioning of a 36-pixel G-APD prototype camera is presented. The data acquisition is based on the Domino Ring Sampling (DRS2) chip. A sub-nanosecond time resolution has been achieved. Cosmic-ray induced air showers have been recorded using an imaging mirror setup, in a self-triggered mode. This is the first time that such measurements have been carried out with a complete G-APD camera.Comment: 9 pages with 11 figure

Effects Of Methylmercury And Retinol Palmitate Co-Administration In Rats During Pregnancy And Breastfeeding: Metabolic And Redox Parameters In Dams And Their Offspring

Ubiquitous low-dose methylmercury (MeHg) exposure through an increased fish consumption represents a global public health problem, especially among pregnant women. A plethora of micronutrients presented in fish affects MeHg uptake/distribution, but limited data is available. Vitamin A (VitA), another fish micronutrient is used in nutritional supplementation, especially during pregnancy. However, there is no information about the health effects arising from their combined exposure. Therefore, the present study aimed to examine the effects of both MeHg and retinyl palmitate administered on pregnant and lactating rats in metabolic and redox parameters from dams and their offspring. Thirty Wistar female rats were orally supplemented with MeHg (0,5 mg/kg/day) and retinyl palmitate (7500 µg RAE/kg/day) via gavage, either individually or in combination from the gestational day 0 to weaning. For dams (150 days old) and their offspring (31 days old), glycogen accumulation (hepatic and cardiac) and retinoid contents (plasma and liver) were analyzed. Hg deposition in liver tissue was quantified. Redox parameters (liver, kidney, and heart) were evaluated for both animals. Cytogenetic damage was analyzed with micronucleus test. Our results showed no general toxic or metabolic alterations in dams and their offspring by MeHg-VitA co-administration during pregnancy and lactation. However, increased lipoperoxidation in maternal liver and a disrupted pro-oxidant response in the heart of male pups was encountered, with apparently no particular effects in the antioxidant response in female offspring. GST activity in dam kidney was altered leading to possible redox disruption of this tissue with no alterations in offspring. Finally, the genomic damage was exacerbated in both male and female pups. In conclusion, low-dose MeHg exposure and retinyl palmitate supplementation during gestation and lactation produced a potentiated pro-oxidant effect, which was tissue-specific. Although this is a pre-clinical approach, we recommend precaution for pregnant women regarding food consumption, and we encourage more epidemiological studies to assess possible modulations effects of MeHg-VitA co-administration at safe or inadvertently used doses in humans, which may be related to specific pathologies in mothers and their children

First bounds on the very high energy gamma-ray emission from Arp 220

Using the Major Atmospheric Gamma Imaging Cherenkov Telescope (MAGIC), we have observed the nearest ultra-luminous infrared galaxy Arp 220 for about 15 hours. No significant signal was detected within the dedicated amount of observation time. The first upper limits to the very high energy $\gamma$-ray flux of Arp 220 are herein reported and compared with theoretical expectations.Comment: Accepted for publication in Ap