Environmental Implications of Increased Bioenergy Production on Midwest Soil Landscapes [abstract]

Only abstract of poster available.Track III: Energy InfrastructurePrairie soil landscapes encompass over 16 million acres in Missouri and surrounding states. Much of this area has been degraded by erosion but is still used for grain production. Erosion has caused variable topsoil depth within fields which in turn has resulted in greater within-field variability of crop yield, magnified the drought-prone nature of these soils, and lowered the overall soil productivity and ecosystem function. In recent years, pressure on these sensitive soils has risen due to higher demand for grain production, in part for ethanol and biodiesel. In some areas, highly erodible fields which were historically managed as CRP and pasture are being turned into grain crop acres. Thus as new and fluctuating feed and bioenergy markets develop, land management practices will also shift, resulting in changes in soil and water quality of watersheds. This presentation will explore the likely environmental implications of different types of bioenergy production on the soil resource. Further, the positive benefits of potential changes in land use will be in explored. For example, one alternative for sensitive soils is production of perennial grass as a feedstock for coal co-burning plants and for potential future use in cellulosic ethanol production. Perennial grass yields are likely to be less variable than grain yields, both year-to-year and within fields, primarily because of greater resistance to drought. Grass production systems also provide environmental services not obtained from annual grain crops. We will also discuss our work on developing ways to target the most appropriate places in the landscape for grain or perennial production so as to enhance ecosystem services and improve soil and water quality

Keratinocyte growth factor impairs human thymic recovery from lymphopenia

Background: The lymphocyte-depleting antibody alemtuzumab is a highly effective treatment of relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS); however 50% of patients develop novel autoimmunity post-treatment. Most at risk are individuals who reconstitute their T-cell pool by proliferating residual cells, rather than producing new T-cells in the thymus; raising the possibility that autoimmunity might be prevented by increasing thymopoiesis. Keratinocyte growth factor (palifermin) promotes thymopoiesis in non-human primates. Methods: Following a dose-tolerability sub-study, individuals with RRMS (duration ≤10 years; expanded disability status scale ≤5·0; with ≥2 relapses in the previous 2 years) were randomised to placebo or 180mcg/kg/day palifermin, given for 3 days immediately prior to and after each cycle of alemtuzumab, with repeat doses at M1 and M3. The interim primary endpoint was naïve CD4+ T-cell count at M6. Exploratory endpoints included: number of recent thymic-emigrants (RTEs) and signaljoint T-cell receptor excision circles (sjTRECs)/mL of blood. The trial primary endpoint was incidence of autoimmunity at M30. Findings: At M6, individuals receiving palifermin had fewer naïve CD4+T-cells (2.229x107 /L vs. 7.733x107 /L; p=0.007), RTEs (16% vs. 34%) and sjTRECs/mL (1100 vs. 3396), leading to protocoldefined termination of recruitment. No difference was observed in the rate of autoimmunity between the two groups Conclusion: In contrast to animal studies, palifermin reduced thymopoiesis in our patients. These results offer a note of caution to those using palifermin to promote thymopoiesis in other settings, particularly in the oncology/haematology setting where alemtuzumab is often used as part of the conditioning regime.Trial - MRC and Moulton Trust Funding Me (senior Author) - Wellcome Trust Funding

A measurement of the millimetre emission and the Sunyaev-Zel'dovich effect associated with low-frequency radio sources

We present a statistical analysis of the millimetre-wavelength properties of 1.4GHz-selected sources and a detection of the Sunyaev–Zel’dovich (SZ) effect associated with the haloes that host them. We stack data at 148, 218 and 277GHz from the Atacama Cosmology Telescope at the positions of a large sample of radio AGN selected at 1.4GHz. The thermal SZ effect associated with the haloes that host the AGN is detected at the 5σ level through its spectral signature, representing a statistical detection of the SZ effect in some of the lowest mass haloes (average M 200 ≈ 10 13 M. h −1 70 ) studied to date. The relation between the SZ effect and mass (based on weak lensing measurements of radio galaxies) is consistent with that measured by Planck for local bright galaxies. In the context of galaxy evolution models, this study confirms that galaxies with radio AGN also typically support hot gaseous haloes. Adding Herschel observations allows us to show that the SZ signal is not significantly contaminated by dust emission. Finally, we analyse the contribution of radio sources to the angular power spectrum of the cosmic microwave background

The Centers of Early-Type Galaxies with HST. V. New WFPC2 Photometry

We analyze HST+WFPC2 images of 77 early-type galaxies. Brightness profiles are classed into "core" or "power-law" forms. Cores are typically rounder than power-law galaxies. Nearly all power-laws with central ellipticity >=0.3 have stellar disks, implying that disks are present in power-laws with epsilon <0.3, but are not visible due to unfavorable geometry. A few low-luminosity core galaxies also have disks; these may be transition forms from power-laws. Cores and power-laws both have twisting isophotes at small radii. Core galaxies have somewhat weaker color gradients than power-laws. Nuclei are found in 29% of the cores and 60% of the power-laws. Nuclei are typically bluer than the surrounding galaxy. NGC 4073 and 4382 have central minima in their intrinsic starlight distributions; NGC 4382 resembles the double nucleus of M31. In general, the peak brightness location is coincident with the photocenter of the core to <1 pc. Five galaxies, however, have centers significantly displaced from their cores; these may be unresolved asymmetric double nuclei. Central dust is visible in half of the galaxies. The presence and strength of dust correlates with nuclear emission. The prevalence of dust and its morphology suggests that dust clouds form, settle to the center, and disappear repeatedly on ~10^8 yr timescales. We discuss the hypothesis that cores are created by the decay of a massive black hole binary. Apart from their brightness profiles, there are no strong differences between cores and power-laws that demand this scenario; however, the rounder shapes of cores, their lack of disks, and their reduced color gradients may be consistent with it.Comment: 76 pages, 40 figures, submitted to the Astronomical Journal. The complete postscript version of the paper is available at http://www.noao.edu/noao/staff/lauer/nuker.html (the Nuker Team page

The mirage of the metropolis: city imaging in the age of digital chorography

Even as cities evolved geographically, the basis of city imaging (as codified by Kevin Lynch) remained relatively stable for over half a century. More recently, digitally driven transformations in urban life challenge the continued relevance of established city-imaging paradigms. Although digital navigation and mapping devices are readily at hand to neutralize any disorienting predicaments, the ability to image cognitively the wider urban environment remains integral to the construction of a meaningful sense of place. Towards the objective of reconciling city imaging with the place-making challenges of the contemporary metropolis, this paper explores the potential for innovating modes of urban mapping and representation. Specifically, the digital re-envisioning of the historical mapping practice of ‘chorography’ is positioned within Fredric Jameson’s challenge for a new aesthetic of cognitive mapping that enables the situational representation of the individual within the vaster totality. In doing so, the paper contributes to the wider adaptation of urban discourse to digitally propelled shifts in urban life

Impact of COVID-19 on cardiovascular testing in the United States versus the rest of the world

Objectives: This study sought to quantify and compare the decline in volumes of cardiovascular procedures between the United States and non-US institutions during the early phase of the coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted the care of many non-COVID-19 illnesses. Reductions in diagnostic cardiovascular testing around the world have led to concerns over the implications of reduced testing for cardiovascular disease (CVD) morbidity and mortality. Methods: Data were submitted to the INCAPS-COVID (International Atomic Energy Agency Non-Invasive Cardiology Protocols Study of COVID-19), a multinational registry comprising 909 institutions in 108 countries (including 155 facilities in 40 U.S. states), assessing the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on volumes of diagnostic cardiovascular procedures. Data were obtained for April 2020 and compared with volumes of baseline procedures from March 2019. We compared laboratory characteristics, practices, and procedure volumes between U.S. and non-U.S. facilities and between U.S. geographic regions and identified factors associated with volume reduction in the United States. Results: Reductions in the volumes of procedures in the United States were similar to those in non-U.S. facilities (68% vs. 63%, respectively; p = 0.237), although U.S. facilities reported greater reductions in invasive coronary angiography (69% vs. 53%, respectively; p < 0.001). Significantly more U.S. facilities reported increased use of telehealth and patient screening measures than non-U.S. facilities, such as temperature checks, symptom screenings, and COVID-19 testing. Reductions in volumes of procedures differed between U.S. regions, with larger declines observed in the Northeast (76%) and Midwest (74%) than in the South (62%) and West (44%). Prevalence of COVID-19, staff redeployments, outpatient centers, and urban centers were associated with greater reductions in volume in U.S. facilities in a multivariable analysis. Conclusions: We observed marked reductions in U.S. cardiovascular testing in the early phase of the pandemic and significant variability between U.S. regions. The association between reductions of volumes and COVID-19 prevalence in the United States highlighted the need for proactive efforts to maintain access to cardiovascular testing in areas most affected by outbreaks of COVID-19 infection

Simulation of the energy, carbon, and water balance of a fluid-roof greenhouse

Typescript (photocopy).The energy, water, and CO(,2) balance of a greenhouse was analyzed with two simulation models: an existing one that simulated the flows of energy and mass in a greenhouse, based on a single leaf crop representation, and an expanded version that included a more detailed crop submodel. Each model was tested with data obtained on a test greenhouse fitted either with a fluid roof or a double plastic roof. Data describing the ambient weather and greenhouse conditions were collected over nine periods of 1-4 days. The weather data included solar irradiance, air and dew point temperatures, wind speed, and, in three tests, CO(,2) concentration. These data were used to drive each of the two models, for calculating greenhouse conditions. Greenhouse data included air, crop, individual leaf, roof, and fluid storage tank temperatures, interior air humidity, and in four tests, CO(,2) concentration. The exchange rates of water vapor and CO(,2) were also calculated from the measurements. Direct measurements of crop water use were available for the first five tests. Results from a comparison of calculated and measured greenhouse variables were mixed. The simulations of the energy and water vapor balances were adequate, but the simulation of the CO(,2) balance was not. Temperatures were generally simulated within 2.5(DEGREES)C (root mean square deviation), and the humidity within 2.0 g/m('3), during those tests in which reliable psychrometric data were obtained. The net radiation above and below the roof was simulated within 15-65 W/m('2). The simulated CO(,2) concentrations and exchange rates differed significantly from the measurements, but the latter showed considerable random error. There was no clear distinction in the performance of the two models. The simpler model fitted the data better in 67 of 162 variable-days, the expanded model in 70, and 25 were even. The expanded model required 6 times the computing time as the original one, hence one should use the simple one unless details of the crop action are of interest. In future uses of the simple model, transfer rates of the crop could be made dependent on leaf area. Also, the ventilation rate should be measured more accurately

The role of heat storage in the soil in the energy balance of a greenhouse

Due to the character of the original source materials and the nature of batch digitization, quality control issues may be present in this document. Please report any quality issues you encounter to [email protected], referencing the URI of the item.Bibliography: leaves 80-81.Not availabl