Historical Development and Applications of the EPIC and APEX Models, June 2005

The development of the field-scale Erosion Productivity Impact Calculator (EPIC) model was initiated in 1981 to support assessments of soil erosion impacts on soil productivity for soil, climate, and cropping conditions representative of a broad spectrum of U.S. agricultural production regions. The first major application of EPIC was a national analysis performed in support of the 1985 Resources Conservation Act (RCA) assessment. The model has continuously evolved since that time and has been applied for a wide range of field, regional, and national studies both in the U.S. and in other countries. The range of EPIC applications has also expanded greatly over that time, including studies of (1) surface runoff and leaching estimates of nitrogen and phosphorus losses from fertilizer and manure applications, (2) leaching and runoff from simulated pesticide applications, (3) soil erosion losses from wind erosion, (4) climate change impacts on crop yield and erosion, and (5) soil carbon sequestration assessments. The EPIC acronym now stands for Erosion Policy Impact Climate, to reflect the greater diversity of problems to which the model is currently applied. The Agricultural Policy EXtender (APEX) model is essentially a multi-field version of EPIC that was developed in the late 1990s to address environmental problems associated with livestock and other agricultural production systems on a whole-farm or small watershed basis. The APEX model also continues to evolve and to be utilized for a wide variety of environmental assessments. The historical development for both models will be presented, as well as example applications on several different scales.

The effects of tourism, beachfront development and increased light pollution on nesting Loggerhead turtles Caretta caretta (Linnaeus, 1758) on Sal, Cape Verde Islands

Loggerhead Caretta caretta is now the only species of marine turtle nesting on the island of Sal, Cape Verde Islands. Since 2008, ADTMA - SOS Tartarugas has patrolled all the southern beaches of the island in order to protect nesting females and to collect nesting data. Although hunting is still a major issue, with 90 turtles killed in 2009, habitat loss and light pollution are becoming an ever more serious threat. Construction sites, hotels, apartment buildings and restaurants close to beaches, bright lights and illegal removal of sand are contributing to a marked decrease in the total number of nesting turtles on some beaches. In 2009, beaches on Sal experienced an average increase in nests of 200%, while the beach most affected by construction (Tortuga Beach) saw a decrease of nests of 7.3% (from 19.1% of total number of nests in 2008 to 11.8% in 2010). This beach also recorded a much lower nest to emergence ratio than normal (17.6% of emergences resulting in nests compared to 29.9% in other areas), indicating reluctance to nest due to light pollution and other disturbances.

Children's work in Spanish textiles during the 19th and 20th Centuries

This essay deals with the reasons explaining children s work in 19th century textile factories and their removal during the first part of the 20th century. The inadequacy of the structure of incomes and expenditures of the household and the very low economic incentives to educate children can explain why children were in the factories and not in the school. Moreover, the marginal economic contribution to the economy of the household of a child was the same as that of his mother. This normally implied that women and children were perfect substitutes. When the family had a child at working age this allowed to replace the paid work input of the mother. With the beginnings of the 20th century a set of changes leading to the increase of women s productivity and hourly real wages, switched the situation and involved the new incorporation of women into paid work and the investment in children s human capital.

Indications, management, and complications of temporary inferior vena cava filters

PURPOSE: We describe the results of a preliminary prospective study using different recently developed temporary and retrievable inferior vena cava (IVC) filters. METHODS: Fifty temporary IVC filters (Gunther, Gunther Tulip, Antheor) were inserted in 47 patients when the required period of protection against pulmonary embolism (PE) was estimated to be less than 2 weeks. The indications were documented deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and temporary contraindications for anticoagulation, a high risk for PE, and PE despite DVT prophylaxis. RESULTS: Filters were removed 1-12 days after placement and nine (18%) had captured thrombi. Complications were one PE during and after removal of a filter, two minor filter migrations, and one IVC thrombosis. CONCLUSION: Temporary filters are effective in trapping clots and protecting against PE, and the complication rate does not exceed that of permanent filters. They are an alternative when protection from PE is required temporarily, and should be considered in patients with a normal life expectancy.

Dynamic and Regulated Association of Caveolin with Lipid Bodies: Modulation of Lipid Body Motility and Function by a Dominant Negative Mutant

Caveolins are a crucial component of caveolae but have also been localized to the Golgi complex, and, under some experimental conditions, to lipid bodies (LBs). The physiological relevance and dynamics of LB association remain unclear. We now show that endogenous caveolin-1 and caveolin-2 redistribute to LBs in lipid loaded A431 and FRT cells. Association with LBs is regulated and reversible; removal of fatty acids causes caveolin to rapidly leave the lipid body. We also show by subcellular fractionation, light and electron microscopy that during the first hours of liver regeneration, caveolins show a dramatic redistribution from the cell surface to the newly formed LBs. At later stages of the regeneration process (when LBs are still abundant), the levels of caveolins in LBs decrease dramatically. As a model system to study association of caveolins with LBs we have used brefeldin A (BFA). BFA causes rapid redistribution of endogenous caveolins to LBs and this association was reversed upon BFA washout. Finally, we have used a dominant negative LB-associated caveolin mutant (cavDGV) to study LB formation and to examine its effect on LB function. We now show that the cavDGV mutant inhibits microtubule-dependent LB motility and blocks the reversal of lipid accumulation in LBs.

Temporal variation of the biomass and structure of Caulerpa prolifera (Forsskal) Lamouroux meadows in the Mar Menor lagoon (SE Spain).

The temporal changes in the structure, biomass and C, N and P content of meadows of Caulerpa prolifera (Forsskal) Lamouroux in the Mar Menor coastal lagoon (SE Spain) are described over the period from November 1986 to March 1989. C. prolifera meadows showed a unimodal pattern of vegetative development with maximum biomass values (168-173 g d.w. m-2) reached in summer and maintained during autumn, and minimum biomass values (0-57 g d.w. m-2) during late winter and early spring. Leaf area index values changed between 0.37-0.40 m2 m-2 in January-February and 2.60-7.06 m2 m-2 in July. The seasonality in the biomass and structure of the meadow was mainly related to the vegetative development of the secondary fronds. Carbon and phosphorus content of the thallus (32.5-34.8% d.w. and 0.065-0.069% d.w., respectively) had no seasonality, but nitrogen content showed a bimodal annual pattern with higher values in spring and fall (>2.5% d.w.) than in summer and winter (<2.5% d.w.).

Low-Cost Rural Surface Alternatives: Literature Review and Recommendations, TR-632, 2013

Freezing and thawing action induces damage to unbound gravel roads in Iowa resulting in maintenance costs for secondary road departments. Some approaches currently used by County Engineers to deal with this problem include temporarily spreading rock on the affected areas, lowering or improving drainage ditches, tiling, bridging the area with stone and geosynthetic covered by a top course of aggregate or gravel, coring boreholes and filling them with calcium chloride to melt lenses and provide drainage, and re-grading the crown to a slope of 4% to 6% to maximize spring drainage. However, most of these maintenance solutions are aimed at dealing with conditions after they occur. This study was tasked with identifying alternative approaches in the literature to mitigate the problem. An annotated bibliographic record of literature on the topic of frost-heave and thaw-weakening of gravel roads was generated and organized by topic, and all documents were assessed in terms of a suitable rating for mitigating the problem in Iowa. Over 300 technical articles were collected and selected down to about 150 relevant articles for a full assessment. The documents collected have been organized in an electronic database, which can be used as a tool by practitioners to search for information regarding the various repair and mitigation solutions, measurement technologies, and experiences that have been documented by selected domestic and international researchers and practitioners. Out of the 150+ articles, 71 articles were ranked as highly applicable to conditions in Iowa. The primary mitigation methods identified in this study included chemical and mechanical stabilization; scarification, blending, and recompaction; removal and replacement; separation, and reinforcement; geogrids and cellular confinement; drainage control and capillary barriers, and use of alternative materials. It is recommended that demonstration research projects be established to examine a range of construction methods and materials for treating granular surfaced roadways to mitigate frost-heave and thaw-weakening problems. Preliminary frost-susceptibility test results from ASTM D5916 are included for a range of Iowa materials.

Snow Removal on Iowa's Secondary Roads, HR-267, 1984

Snow removal on the 90,000 mile Iowa secondary road system is a major concern of county engineers. Rural residents rely almost entirely on motor vehicles for travel. They have come to expect passable roads during all types of weather and as most county engineers know, the public is less tolerant of problems in snow removal than in any other highway department function. To avoid snow removal problems, maintenance personnel begin preparation before the winter maintenance season. The slide tape presentation, "Snow Removal on Iowa's Secondary Roads", was developed to assist in training and retraining maintenance personnel each year prior to winter. The program covers preparation for winter, snow and ice removal, and after storm care of equipment.

Recent human-induced trophic change in the large and deep perialpine Lake Lucerne (Switzerland) compared to historical geochemical variations

This study investigates the sedimentological and geochemical changes that occurred during the last 2200 years in the meromictic Lake Lucerne (Switzerland), one of the largest freshwater lakes of Central Europe. The stable isotope composition (delta C-13 and delta O-18 values) of bulk carbonates is compared to changes in grain-size distribution (clay and silt fraction), natural trace element input (titanium and thorium concentrations), and organic material abundance (C-org, nitrogen and phosphorus) and composition (C/N ratios and hydrogen and oxygen indexes). A drop in carbonate accumulation and in the delta O-18 values of sediments between ca. AD 500 and 700 followed a large and consistent rise in chemical weathering, marked by increases in the silicate-clay fraction and in crustal element concentrations. During the following millennium, there was a long-term decreasing trend in the lithogenic trace element input and in the phosphorus loading, suggesting decreasing terrigeneous input from runoff water. The major sedimentological change over the studied period occurred after ca. AD 1800 with a significant increase in the erosion-driven silt-fraction and in the sedimentation rate. During the last century, human-induced increase in nutrient input to the lake highly enhanced the accumulation of organic matter in sediment. Changes in nutrients and oxygen conditions in the hypolimnion of Lake Lucerne during the eutrophication period (i.e., the last 40 years) highly modified the geochemical fluxes compared to the relatively stable oligotrophic conditions that prevailed during the previous 2000 years. Before the 19th century, climate driven meromixis had a limited impact on the organic matter flux to the sediments, but the accumulation of carbonate considerably decreased during periods of lower mechanical erosion rates and high chemical weathering rates. (C) 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Structural Analysis and Overlay Design of Pavements Using the Road Rater, MLR-84-3, 1986

In recent years the Iowa DOT has shifted emphasis from the construction of new roads to the maintenance and preservation of existing highways. A need has developed for analyzing pavements structurally to select the correct rehabilitation strategy and to properly design a pavement overlay if necessary. This need has been fulfilled by Road Rater testing which has been used successfully on all types of pavements to evaluate pavement and subgrade conditions and to design asphaltic concrete overlays. The Iowa Road Rater Design Method has been simplified so that it may be easily understood and used by the widely diverse groups of individuals which may be involved in pavement restoration and management. Road Rater analysis techniques have worked well to date and have been verified by pavement coring, soils sampling and testing, and pavement removal by block sampling. Void detection testing has also been performed experimentally in Iowa, and results indicate that the Road Rater can be used to locate pavement voids and that Road Rater analysis techniques are reasonably accurate. The success of Road Rater research and development has made deflection test data one of the most important pavement management inputs.

Adjustable Suture Removal: Increasing Aqueous Flow in "Safe" Trabeculectomy.

Purpose: Aqueous flow through trabeculectomy blebs has been suggested to influence filtration bleb survival. We investigated the relationship between the requirement to increase aqueous flow via adjustable suture removal and surgical outcomes following "safe trabeculectomy" with mitomycin C (MMC). Methods: 62 consecutive eyes of 53 patients underwent fornix based trabeculectomy with adjustable sutures, intraoperative MMC and intensive postoperative steroids. Subconjunctival antimetabolite injections and bleb needlings were administered according to bleb vascularity and IOP trends. Main outcome measures were: success rates (definition: IOP≤21mmHg and 20% IOP reduction); number of antimetabolite injections; bleb needlings; number of of eyes recommencing glaucoma medications and complications. Results: Mean age was 70.4±16.0 years (mean± SD); mean preoperative IOP was 24.5±9.1 mmHg and decreased to 12.3±8.9mmHg postoperatively. Mean number of sutures was 2.6 ± 0.7. Eyes were divided into 2 groups in relation to the number of sutures removed. The number of subconjunctival MMC injections required for those requiring 2 suture removals was significantly greater than those requiring 1 suture removal (p<0.05) The number of needlings and 5FU injections also increased but did not reach significance (p=0.09 and p=0.34 respectively). Least-squared linear regression analysis showed the number of needlings required had a statistically significant (p=0.05) trend with respect to time elapsed between surgery and first suture removal. No other interventions had significant trends. Mean time between surgery and suture removal was: 4.2±9.2 weeks (suture #1) and 5.7±9.7 weeks (suture#2). Antiglaucoma medication was restarted in only 5 eyes. Postoperative complications were infrequent: Seidel (3.2%), peripheral choroidal effusions at any time (3.2%), and shallow anterior chamber (1.6%). Conclusion: Eyes requiring a greater number of suture removals required a significantly greater number of antifibrosis interventions. The time elapsed before suture removal was inversely related to the number of postoperative needlings, suggesting these eyes may have decreased aqueous production and therefore require aggressive post-operative management to prevent bleb failure.

1003-001 Williamson Pond Final Report

Williamson Pond is a 26-acre publicly owned lake located about 2 miles east of the town of Williamson, in Lucas County. It has a watershed area of 1,499 acres. It has been managed since 1976 by the Lucas County Conservation Board (while still under state ownership) for fishing, boating, hunting, picnicking and other passive uses. Designated uses are Class AI, primary contact, and Class B (LW) aquatic life. Williamson Pond is on the 2004 EPA 303(d) List of Impaired Waters. A Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) for turbidity and nutrients at Williamson Pond was prepared by IDNR in 2005 and approved by EPA in 2006. The TMDL set reduction targets for both suspended sediment and phosphorus. The Williamson Pond Watershed Management Plan has provided the local work group and partners with information to develop and implement strategies to improve and protect water quality. These strategies are based on a three phase approach that will ultimately lead the removal of Williamson Pond from the Impaired Waters List. The goals identified in this proposal (Phase I) will reduce sediment and phosphorus delivery by 453 tons and 589 pounds annually. The Lucas County SWCD has and will continue to provide leadership on the Williamson Pond Project and has secured the partnerships necessary to address water quality problems and hired a part-time project coordinator to manage, implement, and oversee all activities pertaining to this proposal.

Urinary saturation and nephrocalcinosis in preterm infants: effect of parenteral nutrition.

Urinary lithogenic and inhibitory factors were studied in 27 preterm infants; 16 had total parenteral nutrition (TPN) and 11 had breastmilk with an additional glucose-sodium chloride infusion. Urines were collected for 24 hours on day 2 (period A), day 3 (B), and once between days 4 and 10 (C). Urinary calcium oxalate saturation was calculated by the computer program EQUIL 2. Renal ultrasonography was performed every second week until discharge. The calcium/creatinine ratio increased in infants on TPN (A 0.91; C 1.68 mol/mol) and was significantly higher at period C than that in infants on breastmilk/infusion (A 0.52; C 0.36). The oxalate/creatinine ratio was persistently higher with TPN (203 mmol/mol) than with breastmilk/infusion (98; 137). The citrate/creatinine remained constant with TPN (0.44 mol/mol), whereas it increased significantly with breastmilk/infusion (0.26; 0.49). Calcium/citrate rose considerably with TPN, but decreased with breastmilk/infusion to a significantly lower level than with TPN. The urinary calcium oxalate saturation increased with TPN (2.4; 4.5) and decreased with breastmilk/infusion (2.1; 1.5) to a significantly lower value than with TPN. Nephrocalcinosis developed in two infants on TPN. Mean daily calcium intake was similar in both groups, whereas protein, sodium, and phosphorus intake were significantly higher on TPN. It is concluded that the increase in urinary calcium oxalate saturation observed with TPN is due to the combined effect of an increased urinary calcium excretion and higher urinary oxalate/creatinine and calcium/citrate ratios. The changes observed are likely to be caused by TPN itself, which differs in several respects from breastmilk feeding.

Rasvaisten ja öljyisten jätevesien biologisen puhdistuksen mallinnus

Työn kirjallisuusosassa on tarkasteltu rasvaistenjätevesien puhdistuksessa käytettyjä perinteisiä käsittelymenetelmiä ja ultrasuodatusta. Perinteisiä rasvaisten jätevesien käsittelymenetelmiä ovat muun muassalaskeutus, flotaatio, hydrosykloni, pisarakoon kasvattaminen suodatus sekä biologinen käsittely. Lisäksi happohydrolyysia voidaan soveltaa edellä mainittujen menetelmien esikäsittelynä. Perinteisten puhdistusmenetelmien käyttöä rajoittavatniiden tehottomuus emulgoituneen ja liukoisen öljyn poistossa. Tämä sekä kiristyneet päästövaatimukset ja kalvotekniikan nopea kehittyminen ovat lisänneet kiinnostusta kalvotekniikkaan. Työn soveltavassa osassa on tarkasteltu rasvojen mahdollisesti aiheuttamia ongelmia Porvoon jalostamon kemiallisessa ja biologisessa puhdistuksessa. Rasvaisia jätevesiä muodostuu biodieselin valmistuksessa, jossa rasvoja käytetään syöttöaineena. Vertailtaessa jalostamon vesilaitoksen nykyisiä olosuhteita ja rasvojen käsittelyn vaatimia olosuhteita havaitaan, että optimiolosuhteet ovat melko lähellä toisiaan ja rasvaisten jätevesien mukana tulevat fosfori-, typpi- ja COD-kuormat melko pieniä. Suurimmat mahdolliset rasvojen aiheuttamat ongelmat syntyvät aktiivilietelaitoksella, jossa kevyt pinnalle nouseva rasva nostaa mukanaan lietettä. Rasvat ja rasvahapot myös lisäävät rihmamaisten bakteerien kasvua, joiden runsas esiintyminen aiheuttaa huonosti laskeutuvaa lietettä, eli paisuntalietettä. Rasvaisten vesien aiheuttamaa kuormitusta aktiivilieteprosessiin on tarkasteltu Activated sludge Model No. 3:n ja bio-P fosforin poisto moduuliin pohjautuvan Excel-taulukkolaskentamallin avulla. Pohjana työssä on käytetty Tuomo Hillin vuonna 2002 diplomityönä tekemää taulukkolaskentamallia. Työssä on esitelty kaikki mallin kannalta oleelliset yhtälöt ja parametrit. Tämän tutkimuksen perusteella mallin käytettävyyttä rajoittaa se, että sitä ei ole kalibroitu Porvoon jalostamolle. Kalibroimattomalla mallilla voidaan saada vain suuntaa antavia tuloksia.

Response of wheat to additional nitrogen fertilizer application after pig slurry on over-fertilized soils

Pig slurry is a valuable nutrient resource but constitutes a waste disposal problem in areas of high animal density. In the semiarid area of Pla d’Urgell, in the Ebro Valley, North-East Spain, irrigated crops receive large amounts of nutrients in the form of manure and mineral fertilizers. We studied the effect of pig slurry and additional side-dress mineral fertilizers on irrigated wheat, Triticum aestivum L., on a coarse loam soil, with high soil P and K levels. Yields increased by 62.3% when using pig slurry. The application of ammonium sulfate nitrate sidedress did not significantly increase wheat production. The average apparent recoveries were higher for potassium (88.7%) than for nitrogen (51.3%) and phosphorus (36.3%). Greater amounts of soil NO3-N were measured over the four growing seasons, which was consistent with the amount of N applied. Macronutrient and micronutrient uptake was significant higher for pig slurry treatments, but only small differences were found between the pig slurry and pig slurry plus ammonium sulfate nitrate treatments. The unfertilized treatment showed significantly lower soil P, K, Cu and Zn content than pig slurry treatments; 34%, 21%, 34%, and 26% respectively. These findings could be used to develop a nutrient management plan based on knowledge of soil test results and crop nutrient removal. This could help to improve the use of pig slurry and mineral fertilizers on limited available land areas and prevent the accumulation of potentially toxic elements in soils and the export of nutrients through agricultural drainage.