Corn and Soybean Response to Wastewater-recycled Phosphorus Fertilizers

The ability to recycle phosphorus (P) from wastewaters could provide a sustainable, continuous source of P that might also help protect surface water quality from P enrichment. The mineral struvite (MgNH4PO4·6H2O) is an understudied material that can be created from Pcontaining wastewater and has been shown to have agricultural fertilizer value. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of electrochemically precipitated struvite (ECST), chemically precipitated struvite (Crystal Green; CG), diammonium phosphate (DAP), monoammonium phosphate (MAP), rock phosphate (RP), and triple super phosphate (TSP) on corn (Zea mays) and soybean (Glycine max) response in a 79-day greenhouse pot study. The effects of fertilizer treatment (i.e., ECST, CG, TSP, MAP, DAP, RP, No P/+N, and No P/-N) on select plant and soil properties were evaluated separately by crop (i.e., soybean and corn). Results demonstrated that when a crop response to P fertilization was expected, there were differences in degree of plant response depending on fertilizer-P source. Although soybean plant properties were not, corn plant properties and corn and soybean elemental tissue concentrations differed (P \u3c 0.05) among fertilizer amendments. Total corn dry matter from ECST did not differ from that from RP and TSP and was 1.2 times greater than that from CG. Belowground corn dry matter from ECST was 1.9 times greater than that from CG, TSP, DAP, No P/+N, and No P/-N. Corn cob-plus-husk dry matter from CG and ECST were similar. Corn belowground tissue P concentration from CG did not differ from that from DAP, TSP, and MAP and was 1.4 times larger than that from ECST. Corn cob-plus-husk tissue P concentration from ECST was similar to that from MAP and DAP and was 1.2 times larger than that from CG. Corn stem-plus-leaves tissue P concentration from ECST differed from that from all other treatments and was 1.8 times greater than that from the No P/+N control. Results generated from this study not only provide information on the understudied electrochemically precipitated struvite, but also further reasons why more research should be conducted on not only the implementation of struvite as a fertilizer-P source, but also struvite\u27s potential impact on sustainable food production and the preservation of water resources

The Role of Interior Design in the Psychotherapist\u27s Office

A growing body of research in environmental and design psychology indicates that our surroundings can have subtle but significant effects on how we feel and think. One setting where thoughts and feelings are at the forefront of the work done is the psychotherapist’s office, where clients go to process stressors and learn strategies to overcome emotional difficulties. The current study aimed to investigate how therapists and clients view the therapist office and identify the features associated with the “ideal” therapist office. Therapists, current or past therapy clients, and individuals who have not been to therapy completed short surveys. Surveys asked participants to rate how much attention they pay to interior design in general, as well as how much of an effect they believe the therapist office has on client perceptions of the therapist and therapy outcomes. Results indicated that clients pay a moderately significant amount of attention to their therapist’s office. Therapists pay more attention to how their office looks and comes across than clients do and design their office equally for themselves and clients. Therapists and clients rated the therapy office as having a moderately significant effect on how clients view the therapist and the therapy office as having a moderately insignificant to moderate effect on therapy outcomes. Overall, therapists should not overlook the design of their office, as it is noticed by clients and may affect how they view their therapist

Delineating Field Variation Using Apparent Electrical Conductivity in an Ozark Highlands Agroforestry System

Little to no work has been conducted assessing field variability using repeated electromagnetic induction (EMI) apparent electrical conductivity (ECa) surveys in agroforestry (AF) systems within regions similar to the Ozark Highlands. The objectives of this thesis were to identify i) spatiotemporal ECa variability; ii) ECa-derived soil management zones (SMZs); iii) correlations among EMI-ECa and in-situ, sentential-site soil properties; iv) whether fewer, EMI-ECa surveys could be conducted to capture similar ECa variance as mid-monthly EMI-ECa surveys; v) correlations between ECa and forage yield, tree growth, and terrain attributes based on plant (forage and tree) species, and fertility treatments, and ECa-derived SMZs, and vi); and terrain attributes that have the largest contribution to ECa variability at a 20-year-old, 4.25-ha, AF system in the Ozark Highlands of northwest Arkansas. Between August 2020 and July 2021, 12, mid-monthly ECa surveys were conducted and soil-sensor-based volumetric water content and ECa measurement were made and soil samples for gravimetric water content, EC, and pH were collected from various soil depths at fixed locations. Fourteen terrain attributes of the AF site were obtained. Tree diameter at breast height (DBH) and tree height (TH) measurements were made in December 2020 and March 2021, respectively, and total forage yield samples were collected seven times during Summer 2018 and 2019. The overall mean perpendicular geometry (PRP) and horizontal coplanar geometry (HCP) ECa ranged between 1.8 to 18.0 and 3.1 to 25.8 mS m-1, respectively, and the overall mean HCP ECa was 67% greater than the mean PRP ECa. Largest measured ECa occurred within the local drainage way, which has mapped inclusions with aquic soil moisture regimes, or areas of potential groundwater movement, and smallest measured ECa values occurred within areas with decreased effective soil depth and increased coarse fragments. A positive (r2 = 0.4; P \u3c 0.05) linear relationship occurred over time between PRP ECa standard deviation, with a negative linear relationship (r2 = 0.93; P \u3c 0.05) between HCP ECa coefficient of variation across season (i.e., Summer to Spring). The K-means-clustering method was used to delineate three precision SMZs that were reflective of areas with similar ECa and ECa variability. Relationships between ECa and tree properties were generally stronger within the whole-site, averaged across tree property and ECa configuration (| r | = 0.38), than the SMZs, averaged across tree property, ECa configuration, and SMZ (| r | = 0.27). The strength of the SMZs’ terrain-attribute-PRP-ECa relationships were 9 to 205% greater than that for the whole-site. Whole-site, multi-linear regressions showed that Slope Length and Steepness (LS)-Factor (10.5%), Mid-slope (9.4%), and Valley Depth (7.2%) were terrain attributes that had the greatest influence (i.e., largest percent of total sum of squares) on PRP ECa variability, whereas Valley Depth (15.3%), Wetness Index (11.9%), and Mid-slope (11.2%) had the greatest influence on HCP ECa variability. Results of this study show how ECa varies and relates to soil, plant (i.e., DBH and TH and forage yield), and terrain attributes in AF systems with varying topography that could be used to influence AF management

Delineating Field Variation Using Apparent Electrical Conductivity in an Ozark Highlands Agroforestry System

Little to no work has been conducted assessing field variability using repeated electromagnetic induction (EMI) apparent electrical conductivity (ECa) surveys in agroforestry (AF) systems within regions similar to the Ozark Highlands. The objectives of this thesis were to identify i) spatiotemporal ECa variability; ii) ECa-derived soil management zones (SMZs); iii) correlations among EMI-ECa and in-situ, sentential-site soil properties; iv) whether fewer, EMI-ECa surveys could be conducted to capture similar ECa variance as mid-monthly EMI-ECa surveys; v) correlations between ECa and forage yield, tree growth, and terrain attributes based on plant (forage and tree) species, and fertility treatments, and ECa-derived SMZs, and vi); and terrain attributes that have the largest contribution to ECa variability at a 20-year-old, 4.25-ha, AF system in the Ozark Highlands of northwest Arkansas. Between August 2020 and July 2021, 12, mid-monthly ECa surveys were conducted and soil-sensor-based volumetric water content and ECa measurement were made and soil samples for gravimetric water content, EC, and pH were collected from various soil depths at fixed locations. Fourteen terrain attributes of the AF site were obtained. Tree diameter at breast height (DBH) and tree height (TH) measurements were made in December 2020 and March 2021, respectively, and total forage yield samples were collected seven times during Summer 2018 and 2019. The overall mean perpendicular geometry (PRP) and horizontal coplanar geometry (HCP) ECa ranged between 1.8 to 18.0 and 3.1 to 25.8 mS m-1, respectively, and the overall mean HCP ECa was 67% greater than the mean PRP ECa. Largest measured ECa occurred within the local drainage way, which has mapped inclusions with aquic soil moisture regimes, or areas of potential groundwater movement, and smallest measured ECa values occurred within areas with decreased effective soil depth and increased coarse fragments. A positive (r2 = 0.4; P \u3c 0.05) linear relationship occurred over time between PRP ECa standard deviation, with a negative linear relationship (r2 = 0.93; P \u3c 0.05) between HCP ECa coefficient of variation across season (i.e., Summer to Spring). The K-means-clustering method was used to delineate three precision SMZs that were reflective of areas with similar ECa and ECa variability. Relationships between ECa and tree properties were generally stronger within the whole-site, averaged across tree property and ECa configuration (| r | = 0.38), than the SMZs, averaged across tree property, ECa configuration, and SMZ (| r | = 0.27). The strength of the SMZs’ terrain-attribute-PRP-ECa relationships were 9 to 205% greater than that for the whole-site. Whole-site, multi-linear regressions showed that Slope Length and Steepness (LS)-Factor (10.5%), Mid-slope (9.4%), and Valley Depth (7.2%) were terrain attributes that had the greatest influence (i.e., largest percent of total sum of squares) on PRP ECa variability, whereas Valley Depth (15.3%), Wetness Index (11.9%), and Mid-slope (11.2%) had the greatest influence on HCP ECa variability. Results of this study show how ECa varies and relates to soil, plant (i.e., DBH and TH and forage yield), and terrain attributes in AF systems with varying topography that could be used to influence AF management

Pre-flood Vulnerability Capacity Assessment Approach for Buildings Located in Floodplain Areas

This paper develops a new methodology for pre-flood vulnerability assessment approach for buildings located in floodplain urban areas of the Philippines. This method aims to provide baseline data on the location of vulnerable buildings and their flood vulnerability capacities useful in enhancing flood resistivity design and reducing potential flood damages on structures. The five-stage process of the method was tested in the floodplain areas of the Municipality of Kabacan, North Cotabato, Philippines. Results showed flood vulnerability capacities of buildings, namely, threshold, coping, recovery, and adaptive capacities, which became the basis for determining the flood vulnerability index (FVI) of the area. The determinants of vulnerability of buildings were also identified using the proposed assessment method. A map of vulnerable buildings as the final output of the proposed method targets vulnerable areas for flood emergency planning and flood risk management considerations. Further comparative studies on the use of this approach to other areas and studies to include other design parameters, flood exposure, and water flow intensity levels were recommended

Corn response to wastewater-recycled phosphorus fertilizers

The ability to recycle phosphorus (P) from wastewaters could provide a sustainable, continuous source of P that might also help protect surface water quality from P enrichment. The mineral struvite (MgNH4PO4 · 6H2O) is an understudied material that can be created from P- and nitrogen (N)-containing wastewater and has been shown to have agricultural fertilizer value. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of electrochemically precipitated struvite (ECST), chemically precipitated struvite (Crystal Green; CG), diammonium phosphate (DAP), monoammonium phosphate (MAP), rock phosphate (RP), and triple superphosphate (TSP) on corn (Zea mays) response in a greenhouse pot study. The effects of fertilizer treatment on select plant properties were evaluated. Corn plant properties and elemental tissue concentrations differed (P \u3c 0.05) among fertilizer amendments. Belowground dry matter from ECST was 1.9 times greater than that from CG, TSP, DAP, and the No P/+N, and No P/-N control treatments. Corn cob-plus-husk tissue P concentration from ECST was similar to that from MAP and DAP and was 1.2 times larger than that from CG. Corn stem-plus-leaves tissue P concentration from ECST differed from that from all other treatments and was 1.8 times greater than that from the No P/+N control. Results generated from this study not only provide information on the new, thus understudied, electrochemically precipitated struvite material, but also further demonstrate why more research should be conducted on the implementation of struvite as an alternative fertilizer-P source and struvite’s potential impact on sustainable food production and the preservation of water resources

Fine needle aspiration of the thyroid: A cytohistologic correlation and study of discrepant cases

OBJECTIVE: Fine needle aspiration (FNA) is a reliable method in the initial assessment of thyroid nodules. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the causes for discordance between the interpretation on FNA and the pathologic findings in the resected thyroid. METHODS: A computer search of all thyroidectomy specimens with previous FNA from January 1998 to December 2001 was obtained from the files of the Lauren V. Ackerman laboratory of surgical pathology, Barnes-Jewish Hospital. Excluded from the study were those FNAs performed for suspected and confirmed metastatic disease to the thyroid as well as those cases unavailable for review. A total of 45 FNA cases were identified with cytologic and histologic discrepancies. RESULTS: Of the 1253 individual thyroid FNA performed during the study period, 255 patients (20%) subsequently had an open surgical procedure on the thyroid. Of those who underwent surgery, 196 cases (77%) were concordant, whereas 45 patients (18%) were discordant, and 14 cases were excluded due to unavailability of slides for review (for example, returned consult slides). The causes of the 45 discordant cases were: 20 cases (44%) were unsatisfactory for diagnosis, 14 cases (31%) were due to interpretation error (false positive), and 11 cases (24%) were due to sampling error (false negative). CONCLUSIONS: The most common causes of our discrepant cases are those whose FNA diagnosis was interpreted as unsatisfactory for diagnosis, in 20 (7.8%) of 255 surgical cases. The false negative rate due to sampling error in 11 (4%) of 255 cases was mainly due to the presence of microscopic papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC); the false positive rate was due to interpretation error in 14 (6%) of 255 cases, and those were explained by the occurrence of overlapping cytologic features among adenomatous nodules, follicular neoplasms, the follicular variant of PTC, and Hashimoto\u27s thyroiditis

Who We Are Is What Makes Us Laugh: Humour as Discourse on Identity and Hegemony

There exists a sociocultural function to humour that is geared towards maintaining order through a subversion (or inversion) of the more serious, structured status quo, and while there is a pragmatic side to the dispensation of humour across any given society, humour can also serve a fundamentally ontological function in determining and representing a group’s identity. Though notions of social organization and culture exist and are perpetuated primarily within a group’s literary canon, as espoused for example in the privileging of genres such as the epic or the novel as loci of national identity, this paper argues that such identities can be just as effectively – if not better – constructed through popular representations in humour, especially in satirical content found in “ephemeral” mediums such as comic strips. Such representations in turn can be mobilized to complement or even dismantle the status quo and offer alternative paradigms of understanding national identities and cultural affiliations

Retinal pigment epithelium adenoma in vitreous fluid cytology

Ocular cytology specimens are relatively uncommon, adding to the difficulty of their evaluation by cytopathologists. While melanomas account for a majority of primary intraocular pigmented lesions, other diagnostic considerations must be included in the differential. This brief report highlights a case of a pigmented ocular lesion in a 24‐year‐old man and key morphologic, immunohistochemical, and clinical differences between melanoma, melanocytoma, choroidal nevus, and retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) adenoma.Peer Reviewedhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/140045/1/dc23781.pdfhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/140045/2/dc23781_am.pd

Ready or Not, Here We Go! Preparing for the Education Specialist Teaching Performance Assessment

In the state of California, the Education Specialist Teaching Performance Assessment (EdSp TPAs) is the latest accountability measure to be required of aspiring education specialists. Existing literature has been overwhelmingly critical of the TPAs (Dover, 2022; Valdez et al., 2020). And now, in the dawn of the EdSp TPAs, there must be a candid conversation about preparing candidates sufficiently for the TPAs in order to avoid exacerbating the field that is struggling to recruit teachers. This article discusses three significant obstacles in preparing candidates for the assessment: challenges associated with identifying focus students, insufficient preparation among mentor teachers, and program timelines