Comparison of Terrain Indices and Landform Classification Procedures in Low-Relief Agricultural Fields

Landforms control the spatial distribution of numerous factors associated with agronomy and water quality. Although curvature and slope are the fundamental surface derivatives used in landform classification procedures, methodologies for landform classifications have been performed with other terrain indices including the topographic position index (TPI) and the convergence index (CI). The objectives of this study are to compare plan curvature, the convergence index, profile curvature, and the topographic position index at various scales to determine which better identifies the spatial variability of soil phosphorus (P) within three low relief agricultural fields in central Illinois and to compare how two methods of landform classification, e.g. Pennock et al. (1987) and a modified approach to the TPI method (Weiss 2001, Jenness 2006), capture the variability of spatial soil P within an agricultural field. Soil sampling was performed on a 0.4 ha grid within three agricultural fields located near Decatur, IL and samples were analyzed for Mehlich-3 phosphorus. A 10-m DEM of the three fields was also generated from a survey performed with a real time kinematic global positioning system. The DEM was used to generate rasters of profile curvature, plan curvature, topographic position index, and convergence index in each of the three fields at scales ranging from 10 m to 150 m radii. In two of the three study sites, the TPI (r ≥ -0.42) was better correlated to soil P than profile curvature (r ≤ 0.41), while the CI (r ≥ -0.52) was better correlated to soil P than plan curvature (r ≥ -0.45) in all three sites. Although the Pennock method of landform classification failed to identify footslopes and shoulders, which are clearly part of these fields’ topographic framework, the Pennock method (R² = 0.29) and TPI method (R² = 0.30) classified landforms that captured similar amounts of soil P spatial variability in two of the three study sites. The TPI and CI should be further explored when performing terrain analysis at the agricultural field scale to create solutions for precision management objectives

Loggerhead turtle Caretta caretta density and abundance in Chesapeake Bay and the temperate ocean waters of the southern portion of the Mid-Atlantic Bight

Funding was provided by the NOAA Species Recovery Grants to States program (Award #NA 47200033) issued to the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries which contracted with the Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Center Foundation. Additional funding for tags and turtle capture was also provided by US Fleet Forces Command as well as the Virginia Aquarium Batten Collaborative Research Fund and Batten Professional Development Fund.We conducted aerial surveys of sea turtles in 2011 and 2012, incorporating corrections for perception and availability bias in Chesapeake Bay and near-shore continental shelf waters of the Mid-Atlantic Bight off the US states of Virginia and Maryland. Results of these surveys and ancillary research to determine surface times for loggerhead turtles provide us with a new baseline population estimate for turtles in the region. Prior surveys were conducted in Chesapeake Bay in the mid-1980s and early 2000s, and in ocean waters in the late 1970s and early 1980s. Although comparison of density estimates not corrected for availability between prior surveys and this effort suggests that the population of sea turtles, especially loggerhead turtles, is higher than previous estimates, differences between surveys may be the result of survey methodologies and cannot be assumed to be true changes in density. Surface time for availability corrections was calculated using dive summaries from satellite telemetry on 27 loggerhead turtles tracked between 2011 and 2015. We calculated stratified seasonal availability corrections for bay and ocean waters based on assumed differences in turtle behavior and water clarity between the 2 habitats. For each habitat, we provided seasonal corrections for 3 detection depth bins (shallow, moderate, and deep) to account for differences in sub-surface detection ranges. Differences and trends toward differences among availability corrections underscore the need to better understand the many variables that affect surface time for sea turtles in temperate waters, and the effect that availability has on abundance and density estimates.Publisher PDFPeer reviewe

Estrogens and their precursors in postmenopausal women with early breast cancer receiving anastrozole

PURPOSE: We determined hormone concentrations (estradiol [E2], estrone [E1], estrone conjugates [E1-C], androstenedione [A], testosterone [T]) before and on anastrozole therapy where we also determined plasma concentrations of anastrozole and its metabolites. EXPERIMENTAL: Postmenopausal women who were to receive adjuvant anastrozole for resected early breast cancer were studied. Pretreatment, blood samples were obtained for the acquisition of DNA and for plasma hormone measurements (E2, E1, E1-C, A, and T). A second blood draw was obtained at least 4 weeks after starting anastrozole for hormone, anastrozole and metabolite measurements. For hormone assays, a validated bioanalytical method using gas chromatography negative ionization tandem mass spectrometry was used. Anastrozole and metabolite assays involved extraction of plasma followed by LC/MS/MS assays. RESULTS: 649 patients were evaluable. Pretreatment and during anastrozole, there was large inter-individual variability in E2, E1, and E1-C as well as anastrozole and anastrozole metabolite concentrations. E2 and E1 concentrations were below the lower limits of quantitation in 79% and 70%, respectively, of patients on anastrozole therapy, but those with reliable concentrations had a broad range (0.627-234.0 pg/mL, 1.562-183.2 pg/mL, respectively). Considering E2, 8.9% had the same or higher concentration relative to baseline while on anastrozole, documented by the presence of drug. CONCLUSIONS: We demonstrated large inter-individual variability in anastrozole and anastrozole metabolite concentrations as well as E1, E2, E1-C, A, and T concentrations before and while on anastrozole. These findings suggest that the standard 1mg daily dose of anastrozole is not optimal for a substantial proportion of women with breast cancer

Dual isotope analyses indicate efficient processing of atmospheric nitrate by forested watersheds in the northeastern U.S.

Author Posting. © Springer, 2008. This is the author's version of the work. It is posted here by permission of Springer for personal use, not for redistribution. The definitive version was published in Biogeochemistry 90 (2008): 15-27, doi:10.1007/s10533-008-9227-2.Nitrogen from atmospheric deposition serves as the dominant source of new nitrogen to forested ecosystems in the northeastern U.S.. By combining isotopic data obtained using the denitrifier method, with chemistry and hydrology measurements we determined the relative importance of sources and control mechanisms on nitrate (NO3-) export from five forested watersheds in the Connecticut River watershed. Microbially produced NO3- was the dominant source (82-100%) of NO3- to the sampled streams as indicated by the δ15N and δ18O of NO3-. Seasonal variations in the δ18O-NO3- in streamwater are controlled by shifting hydrology and temperature affects on biotic processing, resulting in a relative increase in unprocessed NO3- export during winter months. Mass balance estimates find that the unprocessed atmospherically derived NO3- stream flux represents less than 3% of the atmospherically delivered wet NO3- flux to the region. This suggests that despite chronically elevated nitrogen deposition these forests are not nitrogen saturated and are retaining, removing, and reprocessing the vast majority of NO3- delivered to them throughout the year. These results confirm previous work within Northeastern U.S. forests and extend observations to watersheds not dominated by a snow-melt driven hydrology. In contrast to previous work, unprocessed atmospherically derived NO3- export is associated with the period of high recharge and low biotic activity as opposed to spring snowmelt and other large runoff events.This work was funded by an EPA STAR Fellowship (FP-91637501-1) and a grant from QLF/The Sound Conservancy to RTB

Radiotherapy for Soft Tissue Sarcomas after Isolated Limb Perfusion and Surgical Resection: Essential for Local Control in All Patients?

Background: Standard treatment for localized soft tissue sarcoma (STS) is resection plus adjuvant radiotherapy (RTx). In approximately 10% of cases, resection would cause severe loss of function or even require amputation because of the extent of disease. Isolated limb perfusion (ILP) with tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) and melphalan can achieve regression of the tumor, facilitating limb-saving resection. RTx improves local control but may lead to increased morbidity. Methods: In our database of over 500 ILPs, 122 patients with unifocal STS were treated by ILP followed by limb-sparing surgery. All included patients were candidates for amputation. Results: Surgery resulted in 69 R0 resections (57%), and in 53 specimens (43%) resection margins contained microscopic evidence of tumor (R1). Histopathological examination revealed >50% ILP-induced tumor necrosis in 59 cases (48%). RTx was administered in 73 patients (60%). Local recurrence rate was 21% after median follow-up of 31 months (2-182 months). Recurrence was significantly less in patients with >50% ILP-induced necrosis versus ≤50% necrosis (7% vs. 33%, P = 0.001). A similar significant correlation was observed for R0 versus R1 resections (15% vs. 28%, P = 0.04). In 36 patients with R0 resection and >50% necrosis, of whom 21 were spared RTx, no recurrences were observed during follow-up. Conclusions: In patients with locally advanced primary STS, treated with ILP followed by R0 resection, and with >50% ILP-induced necrosis in the resected specimen, RTx is of no further benefit

Automatic Real Time Data Quality Analysis

International Telemetering Conference Proceedings / October 02-04, 1967 / Marriott Motor Hotel, Washington, D.C.This paper deals with methods of detecting and displaying the quality of received telemetry data automatically and in real time. The most commonly used forms of telemetry multiplexing are considered in detail-with reference to application of the techniques to other similar forms of multiplexing. This paper is a result of a study -and hardware development which resulted in equipment now at Cape Kennedy and capable of detecting and displaying bit error rate on PCM telemetry, percentage of channel error on PAM and PDM telemetry and signal-to-noise ratio on FM/FM telemetry. The discussion -is oriented toward the theory of operation and techniques for automatic real time data quality analysis rather than toward the hardware. Methods of detecting and displaying the various data quality indicators is emphasized resulting in conclusions that in many instances relatively reliable data quality indications are possible in real time, but it must be realized that any indication of quality represents a review of conditions of the received signal over some finite averaging interval and thus no measurement can ever provide instantaneous quality indications.International Foundation for TelemeteringProceedings from the International Telemetering Conference are made available by the International Foundation for Telemetering and the University of Arizona Libraries. Visit http://www.telemetry.org/index.php/contact-us if you have questions about items in this collection

Refinements on Analysis of PCM Synchronization

International Telemetering Conference Proceedings / October 18-20, 1966 / Ambassador Hotel, Los Angeles, CaliforniaIn this paper, the author reconsiders some of his previously reported assumptions on an analysis of mean time to establish PCM synchronization, and he provides further insight into the effect of specific synchronization patterns and parameters of the synchronization process. An improvements in one assumption shows how the analysis can provide slightly more accurate results. Specific recommendations are made for standardization of PCM sync patterns.International Foundation for TelemeteringProceedings from the International Telemetering Conference are made available by the International Foundation for Telemetering and the University of Arizona Libraries. Visit http://www.telemetry.org/index.php/contact-us if you have questions about items in this collection

Engineering fundamentals of the Internal combustion engine/ Pulkabrek

xix, 411 hal.: ill.; 25 cm