Pressure Treated Wood

Discusses chemical treatments to increase wood's fire resistance and protect it from rot and termites

Chain saw safety tips

Sponsored by the Extension Services of Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Michigan, Nebraska, Ohio and Wisconsin."In cooperation with the NCR Educational Materials Project."Cover title

High-Yielding Corn Response to Applied Phosphorus, Potassium, and Sulfur in Nebraska

Nutrient management recommendations may change as yield levels and efficiency of crop production increase. Recommendations for P, K, and S were evaluated using results from 34 irrigated corn (Zea mays L.) trials conducted in diverse situations across Nebraska. The mean yield was 14.7 Mg ha-1 with adequate fertilizer applied. Th e median harvest index values were 0.52, 0.89, 0.15, and 0.56 for biomass, P, K, and S, respectively. Median grain yields were 372, 49, and 613 kg kg-1 of above-ground plant uptake of P, K, and S, respectively. The estimated critical Bray-1 P level for corn response to 20 kg P ha-1 was 20 mg kg-1 when the previous crop was corn compared with 10 mg kg-1 when corn followed soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.]. Soil test K was generally high with only three site-years kg-1. Over all trials, application of 40 kg K ha-1 resulted in a 0.2 Mg ha-1 mean grain yield decrease. Application of 22 kg S ha-1 did not result in significant yield increase in any trial. Soil test results accounted for twice as much variation in nutrient uptake when soil organic matter (SOM) and pH were considered in addition to the soil test nutrient values. The results indicate a need to revise the current recommendation for P, to maintain the current K and S recommendations, and to use SOM and pH in addition to soil test nutrient values in estimating applied nutrient requirements for irrigated high yield corn production

High-Yielding Corn Response to Applied Phosphorus, Potassium, and Sulfur in Nebraska

Nutrient management recommendations may change as yield levels and efficiency of crop production increase. Recommendations for P, K, and S were evaluated using results from 34 irrigated corn (Zea mays L.) trials conducted in diverse situations across Nebraska. The mean yield was 14.7 Mg ha-1 with adequate fertilizer applied. Th e median harvest index values were 0.52, 0.89, 0.15, and 0.56 for biomass, P, K, and S, respectively. Median grain yields were 372, 49, and 613 kg kg-1 of above-ground plant uptake of P, K, and S, respectively. The estimated critical Bray-1 P level for corn response to 20 kg P ha-1 was 20 mg kg-1 when the previous crop was corn compared with 10 mg kg-1 when corn followed soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.]. Soil test K was generally high with only three site-years kg-1. Over all trials, application of 40 kg K ha-1 resulted in a 0.2 Mg ha-1 mean grain yield decrease. Application of 22 kg S ha-1 did not result in significant yield increase in any trial. Soil test results accounted for twice as much variation in nutrient uptake when soil organic matter (SOM) and pH were considered in addition to the soil test nutrient values. The results indicate a need to revise the current recommendation for P, to maintain the current K and S recommendations, and to use SOM and pH in addition to soil test nutrient values in estimating applied nutrient requirements for irrigated high yield corn production

Restless legs syndrome shows increased silent postmortem cerebral microvascular disease with gliosis

Background Patients with restless legs syndrome (RLS) have increased silent microvascular disease by magnetic resonance imaging. However, there has been no previous autopsy confirmation of these magnetic resonance imaging findings. RLS is also frequently associated with inflammatory and immunologically mediated medical disorders. The postmortem cortex in patients with RLS was therefore evaluated for evidence of microvascular and immunological changes. Methods and Results Ten microvascular injury samples of precentral gyrus in 5 patients with RLS (3 men, 2 women; mean age, 81 years) and 9 controls (2 men, 7 women; mean age, 90 years) were studied by hematoxylin and eosin stains in a blinded fashion. None of the subjects had a history of stroke or neurologic insults. In a similar manner, the following immunohistochemistry stains were performed: (1) glial fibrillary acidic protein (representing gliosis, reactive change of glial cells in response to damage); (2) CD3 (a T-cell marker); (3) CD19 (a B-cell marker); (4) CD68 (a macrophage marker); and (5) CD117 (a mast cell marker). Patients with RLS had significantly greater silent microvascular disease

Universities and community-based research in developing countries: community voice and educational provision in rural Tanzania

The main focus of recent research on the community engagement role of universities has been in developed countries, generally in towns and cities and usually conducted from the perspectives of universities rather than the communities with which they engage. The purpose of this paper is to investigate the community engagement role of universities in the rural areas of developing countries, and its potential for strengthening the voice of rural communities. The particular focus is on the provision of primary and secondary education. The paper is based on the assumption that in order for community members to have both the capacity and the confidence to engage in political discourse for improving educational capacity and quality, they need the opportunity to become involved and well-versed in the options available, beyond their own experience. Particular attention is given in the paper to community-based research (CBR). CBR is explored from the perspectives of community members and local leaders in the government-community partnerships which have responsibility for the provision of primary and secondary education in rural Tanzania. The historical and policy background of the partnerships, together with findings from two case studies, provide the context for the paper

Guidelines for the investigation of chronic diarrhoea in adults: British Society of Gastroenterology, 3rd edition

Chronic diarrhoea is a common problem, hence clear guidance on investigations is required. This is an updated guideline from 2003 for the investigations of chronic diarrhoea commissioned by the Clinical Services and Standards Committee of the British Society of Gastroenterology (BSG). This document has undergone significant revision in content through input by 13 members of the Guideline Development Group (GDG) representing various institutions. The GRADE system was used to appraise the quality of evidence and grading of recommendations

Flight 20 (STS-45) polysulfide gas path investigation

This report documents the results of the investigation into causes of gas paths on the 20A and 20B case-to-nozzle joints on STS-42. The investigation was conducted by the Investigation Board appointed by the senior vice president and general manager of Space Operations, Mr. R. E. Lindstrom, on 7 Feb. 1992. The probability of gas path occurrence in the nozzle-to-case-joint polysulfide had been identified during joint redesign. However, actual flight gas path incidence has been limited to RSRM-11 and the 20A and 20B segments. The blow-by condition on the 20A segment was a first time occurrence which was a special concern. The investigation covered all technical aspects associated with the gas path and blow-by conditions: materials and processing history, design requirements and as-built compliance to the design, thermal and structural analyses, computer modeling, and laboratory experimentation with the materials involved. The investigation was coordinated with Mr. Ken Jones at NASA Marshall in bi-weekly teleconferences. The Board also supported Dr. James C. Blair's independent NASA investigation team by providing copies of collected data, conducting requested analyses, and supporting several all-day teleconferences to provide understanding and resolve issues. The Dr. Blair support requirement was successfully concluded on 4 Mar. 1992

Nurturing lifelong learning in communities through the National University of Lesotho: prospects and challenges

This paper analyses one aspect of a pan-African action research project called ITMUA (Implementing the Third Mission of Universities in Africa). This particular paper draws on the data from that project to explore the National University of Lesotho’s contribution to lifelong learning in its communities. It provides background information on the ITMUA initiative and analyses interview and focus group responses to two case studies in terms of their contribution to lifelong learning. It uses, as its analytical framework, a modified version of Mbigi’s African perspective on the four De Lors’ ‘pillars’, by adding a fifth pillar, courtesy of Torres. The paper argues that community engagement is a two-way process between universities and their wider constituencies with opportunities for mutual lifelong learning. But there are also challenges of understanding and process which must be addressed if the full range of these lifelong learning pillars is to be accommodated within African contexts. The paper provides an introduction to the history of community engagement in Africa as a university mission, followed by a brief discussion of lifelong learning within African perspectives. After describing the particular context of Lesotho, the concept of community service and community engagement in contemporary African contexts introduces the action research project and the case studies. The final part of the paper presents and discusses the research findings

Classification and risk stratification of invasive breast carcinomas using a real-time quantitative RT-PCR assay

INTRODUCTION: Predicting the clinical course of breast cancer is often difficult because it is a diverse disease comprised of many biological subtypes. Gene expression profiling by microarray analysis has identified breast cancer signatures that are important for prognosis and treatment. In the current article, we use microarray analysis and a real-time quantitative reverse-transcription (qRT)-PCR assay to risk-stratify breast cancers based on biological 'intrinsic' subtypes and proliferation. METHODS: Gene sets were selected from microarray data to assess proliferation and to classify breast cancers into four different molecular subtypes, designated Luminal, Normal-like, HER2+/ER-, and Basal-like. One-hundred and twenty-three breast samples (117 invasive carcinomas, one fibroadenoma and five normal tissues) and three breast cancer cell lines were prospectively analyzed using a microarray (Agilent) and a qRT-PCR assay comprised of 53 genes. Biological subtypes were assigned from the microarray and qRT-PCR data by hierarchical clustering. A proliferation signature was used as a single meta-gene (log(2 )average of 14 genes) to predict outcome within the context of estrogen receptor status and biological 'intrinsic' subtype. RESULTS: We found that the qRT-PCR assay could determine the intrinsic subtype (93% concordance with microarray-based assignments) and that the intrinsic subtypes were predictive of outcome. The proliferation meta-gene provided additional prognostic information for patients with the Luminal subtype (P = 0.0012), and for patients with estrogen receptor-positive tumors (P = 3.4 × 10(-6)). High proliferation in the Luminal subtype conferred a 19-fold relative risk of relapse (confidence interval = 95%) compared with Luminal tumors with low proliferation. CONCLUSION: A real-time qRT-PCR assay can recapitulate microarray classifications of breast cancer and can risk-stratify patients using the intrinsic subtype and proliferation. The proliferation meta-gene offers an objective and quantitative measurement for grade and adds significant prognostic information to the biological subtypes