Size Distribution of Sediment as Affected by Corn Residue

Size distribution of sediment was measured under simulated rainfall conditions at selected downslope distances on plots with corn residue rates ranging from 0.00 to 6.73 t/ha. The formation of rills caused increases in the percentage of larger sized sediment material. Greater surface cover usually resulted in an increase in the percentage of smaller sized sediment. Considerable variation in the size of sediment from both rill and interrill areas was found with downslope distance. On interrill regions, the presence of residue served to reduce sediment size along the entire plot length. Transport of aggregated sediment occurred on each of the residue treatments

Geographic variation and new taxa of western North American butterflies, especially from Colorado

Dec. 3, 2008.Includes bibliographical references (pages 67-68).Michael Fisher is currently updating the 1957 book Colorado Butterflies, by F. Martin Brown, J. Donald Eff, and Bernard Rotger (Fisher 2005a, 2005b, 2006). This project has emphasized the necessity of naming certain butterflies in Colorado and vicinity that are distinctive, but currently have no name, as part of our goal of applying correct species/subspecies names to all Colorado butterflies. Eleven of those distinctive butterflies are named here, in the genera Anthocharis, Neominois, Asterocampa, Argynnis (Speyeria), Euphydryas, Lycaena, and Hesperia. New life histories are reported for species or subspecies of Neominois & Oeneis & Euphydryas & Lycaena that were recently described or recently elevated in status. Lycaena florus differs in hostplant, egg morphology, and somewhat in a seta on 1st-stage larvae. We also report the results of research elsewhere in North America that was needed to determine which of the current subspecies names should be applied to other butterflies in Colorado, in the genera Anthocharis, Neominois, Apodemia, Callophrys, Atlides, Euphilotes, PlebeJus, Polites, & Hylephila. This research has added additional species to the total of Colorado butterflies. Nomenclatural problems in Colorado Lycaena & Callophrys are settled with lectotypes and designations of type localities and two pending petitions to suppress toxotaxa. Difficulties with the ICZN Code in properly applying names to clines are explored, and new terminology is given to some necessary biological solutions

Mutational Characterization of the Bile Acid Receptor TGR5 in Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis

TGR5, the G protein-coupled bile acid receptor 1 (GPBAR1), has been linked to inflammatory pathways as well as bile homeostasis, and could therefore be involved in primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) a chronic inflammatory bile duct disease. We aimed to extensively investigate TGR5 sequence variation in PSC, as well as functionally characterize detected variants. Complete resequencing of TGR5 was performed in 267 PSC patients and 274 healthy controls. Six nonsynonymous mutations were identified in addition to 16 other novel single-nucleotide polymorphisms. To investigate the impact from the nonsynonymous variants on TGR5, we created a receptor model, and introduced mutated TGR5 constructs into human epithelial cell lines. By using confocal microscopy, flow cytometry and a cAMP-sensitive luciferase assay, five of the nonsynonymous mutations (W83R, V178M, A217P, S272G and Q296X) were found to reduce or abolish TGR5 function. Fine-mapping of the previously reported PSC and UC associated locus at chromosome 2q35 in large patient panels revealed an overall association between the TGR5 single-nucleotide polymorphism rs11554825 and PSC (odds ratio = 1.14, 95% confidence interval: 1.03-1.26, p = 0.010) and UC (odds ratio = 1.19, 95% confidence interval 1.11-1.27, p = 8.5 x 10(-7)), but strong linkage disequilibrium precluded demarcation of TGR5 from neighboring genes. Resequencing of TGR5 along with functional investigations of novel variants provided unique insight into an important candidate gene for several inflammatory and metabolic conditions. While significant TGR5 associations were detected in both UC and PSC, further studies are needed to conclusively define the role of TGR5 variation in these diseases

Effects of Language Context on Ratings of Shy and Unsociable Behaviors in English Language Learning Children

Purpose The primary goal of this study was to explore the effect of the language context on the socially withdrawn behaviors of school aged-children who are English Language Learners (ELLs) from middle to high SES backgrounds. This is one of the first studies to address the frequently confused concepts of shyness and unsociability as independent constructs within the ELL population. This study also investigated the feasibility of an experimental parent and child questionnaire that examines shyness and unsociability across native and English speaking contexts. Method Children and parents (34 ELL and 37 native English speaking) were administered an experimental questionnaire examining shy and unsociable behavior in native language and English-speaking contexts. Results Parents and children from the ELL group reported significantly higher ratings of shy behavior in English versus native language contexts, whereas unsociable ratings did not differ across language contexts. Conclusions Shyness and unsociability are distinguishable behaviors in ELL children and these constructs should be considered when examining withdrawal. Additionally, examining ELL children’s behavior across language contexts provides a valuable method for investigating language influenced behavioral problems. This study demonstrates the need for service providers to evaluate behavior across subtype and language context before pathologizing withdrawal in ELL children

Size Distribution of Sediment as Affected by Corn Residue

Size distribution of sediment was measured under simulated rainfall conditions at selected downslope distances on plots with corn residue rates ranging from 0.00 to 6.73 t/ha. The formation of rills caused increases in the percentage of larger sized sediment material. Greater surface cover usually resulted in an increase in the percentage of smaller sized sediment. Considerable variation in the size of sediment from both rill and interrill areas was found with downslope distance. On interrill regions, the presence of residue served to reduce sediment size along the entire plot length. Transport of aggregated sediment occurred on each of the residue treatments

Runoff and Erosion as Affected by Corn Residue: Prt II: Rill and Interill Components

Hydraulic and soil loss variables were measured under simulated rainfall conditions at selected downslope distances on plots with corn residue rates ranging from 0.0 to 6.7 t/ha. Application of corn residue produced substantial reductions in runoff rate, runoff velocity, sediment concentration and soil loss rate along the entire slope length. On those plots subject to rilling, runoff rate, sediment concentration and soil loss rate usually increased with downslope distance. Rill and interrill sediment concentration and soil loss rate were also measured at selected slope lengths. lnterrill sediment concentration changed little with downslope distance while greater interrill soil loss rates were observed with increasing slope length. Rill sediment concentration and soil loss rate increased rapidly near the bottom of the plots

Runoff and Erosion as Affected by Corn Residue: Part I. Total Losses

The effects of verying rates of corn residue on runoff and erosion from a loess soil in southwestern Iowa were measured using a rainfall simulator. Consistent reductions in runoff, sediment concentration and soil loss resulted from increased residue application. Small amounts of surface cover produced substantial reductions in erosion. A regression equation relating surface cover to residue weight was obtained. Equations describing relative runoff, sediment concentration and soil loss as a function of surface cover were also developed using regression analysis