The Midwestern US is dominated by corn (Zea mays L.) and soybean (Glycine max L. Merr.) production, and the carbon dynamics of this region are dominated by these production systems. An accurate ...regional estimate of gross primary production (GPP) is imperative and requires upscaling approaches. The aim of this study was to upscale corn and soybean GPP (referred to as GPPcalc) in four counties in Central Iowa in the 2016 growing season (DOY 145–269). Eight eddy-covariance (EC) stations recorded carbon dioxide fluxes of corn (n = 4) and soybean (n = 4), and net ecosystem production (NEP) was partitioned into GPP and ecosystem respiration (RE). Additional field-measured NDVI was used to calculate radiation use efficiency (RUEmax). GPPcalc was calculated using 16 MODIS satellite images, ground-based RUEmax and meteorological data, and improved land use maps. Seasonal NEP, GPP, and RE ( x ¯ ± SE) were 678 ± 63, 1483 ± 100, and −805 ± 40 g C m−2 for corn, and 263 ± 40, 811 ± 53, and −548 ± 14 g C m−2 for soybean, respectively. Field-measured NDVI aligned well with MODIS fPAR (R2 = 0.99), and the calculated RUEmax was 3.24 and 1.90 g C MJ−1 for corn and soybean, respectively. The GPPcalc vs. EC-derived GPP had a RMSE of 2.24 and 2.81 g C m−2 d−1, for corn and soybean, respectively, which is an improvement to the GPPMODIS product (2.44 and 3.30 g C m−2 d−1, respectively). Corn yield, calculated from GPPcalc (12.82 ± 0.65 Mg ha−1), corresponded well to official yield data (13.09 ± 0.09 Mg ha−1), while soybean yield was overestimated (6.73 ± 0.27 vs. 4.03 ± 0.04 Mg ha−1). The approach presented has the potential to increase the accuracy of regional corn and soybean GPP and grain yield estimates by integrating field-based flux estimates with remote sensing reflectance observations and high-resolution land use maps.
Abstract
Minimal research has been conducted relating apparent electrical conductivity (ECa) surveys to plant and terrain properties in agroforestry systems. Objectives were to identify: (i) ...ECa–forage yield, –tree growth, and –terrain attribute relationships within ECa‐derived soil management zones (SMZs) and (ii) terrain attributes that drive ECa variability within a 20‐year‐old, 4.25‐ha, agroforestry system in the Ozark Highlands of northwest Arkansas. The average of 12 monthly perpendicular (PRP) and horizontal coplanar (HCP) ECa surveys (August 2020 to July 2021) and 14 terrain attributes were obtained. Tree diameter at breast height (DBH) and height (TH) measurements were made in December 2020 and March 2021, respectively, and forage yield samples were collected during Summer 2018 and 2019. Apparent EC‐tree property relationships were generally stronger within the whole site (averaged across tree property and ECa configuration, |
r
| = 0.38) than within 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. In whole‐site, multi‐linear regressions, slope length and steepness factor (10.5%), mid‐slope (9.4%), and valley depth (7.2%) had the greatest influence (i.e., 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 show how ECa relates to plant (i.e., DBH, TH, and forage yield) and terrain data within SMZs in agroforestry systems with varying topography and could be used to precisely manage agroforestry systems.
Core Ideas
ECa had positive relationships with tree properties across the agroforestry site.
ECa–forage, –tree, and –terrain property relationships varied with soil depth and when separated into SMZs.
Largest contributors of ECa variability varied with soil depth and when separated into SMZs.
PRP ECa generally had stronger and additional tree, forage, and terrain property relationships than HCP ECa.
Afforestation trends were compared between two continentally-distinct, yet similar ecoregions to characterize similarities or differences in forest advancement due to natural and anthropogenic ...forcings. Temporal changes in forest cover were analyzed using high resolution aerial and satellite photographs for Southeast Iowa, USA, and satellite photographs for the western Belgorod Oblast, Russia. An increase in forested area was shown to occur over a 44-year period from 1970-2014 in Iowa where afforestation was reflected by the aggregation of smaller forest units. In the Belgorod region the opposite occurred in that there was an increase in the number of smaller forested units. The rate of forest expansion into open grassland areas, previously used as haying lands and pastures, was 14 m decade-1 and 8 m decade-1 in Iowa and the Belgorod Oblast, respectively. Based on current trends, predicted times for complete forest coverage in the study areas was estimated to be 80 years in Iowa and 300 years in the Belgorod Oblast. In both the Iowa and Belgorod Oblast, there was an increase in annual precipitation at the end of the 20th and the beginning of the 21st centuries, thus providing a contributing mechanism to forest advancement in the study regions and implications for future management practices.
IMPORTANCE: Use of empirical broad-spectrum antibiotics for pneumonia has increased owing to concern for resistant organisms, including methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). The ...association of empirical anti-MRSA therapy with outcomes among patients with pneumonia is unknown, even for high-risk patients. OBJECTIVE: To compare 30-day mortality among patients hospitalized for pneumonia receiving empirical anti-MRSA therapy vs standard empirical antibiotic regimens. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: Retrospective multicenter cohort study was conducted of all hospitalizations in which patients received either anti-MRSA or standard therapy for community-onset pneumonia in the Veterans Health Administration health care system from January 1, 2008, to December 31, 2013. Subgroups of patients analyzed were those with initial intensive care unit admission, MRSA risk factors, positive results of a MRSA surveillance test, and positive results of a MRSA admission culture. Primary analysis was an inverse probability of treatment–weighted propensity score analysis using generalized estimating equation regression; secondary analyses included an instrumental variable analysis. Statistical analysis was conducted from June 14 to November 20, 2019. EXPOSURES: Empirical anti-MRSA therapy plus standard pneumonia therapy vs standard therapy alone within the first day of hospitalization. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES: Risk of 30-day all-cause mortality after adjustment for patient comorbidities, vital signs, and laboratory results. Secondary outcomes included the development of kidney injury and secondary infections with Clostridioides difficile, vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus species, or gram-negative bacilli. RESULTS: Among 88 605 hospitalized patients (86 851 men; median age, 70 years interquartile range, 62-81 years), empirical anti-MRSA therapy was administered to 33 632 (38%); 8929 patients (10%) died within 30 days. Compared with standard therapy alone, in weighted propensity score analysis, empirical anti-MRSA therapy plus standard therapy was significantly associated with an increased adjusted risk of death (adjusted risk ratio aRR, 1.4 95% CI, 1.3-1.5), kidney injury (aRR, 1.4 95% CI, 1.3-1.5), and secondary C difficile infections (aRR, 1.6 95% CI, 1.3-1.9), vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus spp infections (aRR, 1.6 95% CI, 1.0-2.3), and secondary gram-negative rod infections (aRR, 1.5 95% CI, 1.2-1.8). Similar associations between anti-MRSA therapy use and 30-day mortality were found by instrumental variable analysis (aRR, 1.6 95% CI, 1.4-1.9) and among patients admitted to the intensive care unit (aRR, 1.3 95% CI, 1.2-1.5), those with a high risk for MRSA (aRR, 1.2 95% CI, 1.1-1.4), and those with MRSA detected on surveillance testing (aRR, 1.6 95% CI, 1.3-1.9). No significant favorable association was found between empirical anti-MRSA therapy and death among patients with MRSA detected on culture (aRR, 1.1 95% CI, 0.8-1.4). CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: This study suggests that empirical anti-MRSA therapy was not associated with reduced mortality for any group of patients hospitalized for pneumonia. These results contribute to a growing body of evidence that questions the value of empirical use of anti-MRSA therapy using existing risk approaches.
Soil microorganisms play crucial roles in nutrient cycling and provisioning ecosystem services. However, little is known about how soil microbial communities are affected by soil management and ...landscape position in silvopastures. The current study aimed to understand effects of forage species non-native, cool season orchardgrass (Dactylis glomerata L.) and a warm-season native grass mix (Andropogon gerardii L. and Schizachyrium scoparium L.) planted in strips between hedgerows, soil fertility (poultry litter and a control), and soil moisture regimes (aquic and udic) on soil bacterial communities to evaluate linkages between terrain attributes and soil bacterial assemblages. Thirteen terrain attributes representing topographic variability were clustered into four topographic functional units (TFUs) using the k-means method, and their impact on soil microbial diversity was evaluated. Illumina sequencing results identified a soil moisture regime × forage species interaction, with native grass species under wet (aquic) conditions resulting in the most diverse microbial assemblages relative to dry (udic) and wet soil conditions for the non-native forage (orchardgrass). These results suggest an enhanced soil microbial diversity under native grasses with greater available soil water. Overall, microbial diversity was negatively correlated with elevation, suggesting niche differentiation and microbial preference for lower elevations. Overall, TFUs and selected terrain attributes may be useful for predicting microbiota dynamics in integrated tree-livestock systems.
To perform well over time, teams must balance competing needs—the need to make quality decisions and the need to coordinate action. However, these elements are paradoxically related because the ...processes that improve one can inhibit the other. The present article examines the role of task accomplishment phases as moderating the value of cognitive structure on teams’ performance trajectory and end-state performance. Using student teams engaged in a business simulation, we find that heterogeneous task cognition is beneficial in the strategizing phase, but that this effect reverses during the implementation–adjustment phase when homogeneous task cognition becomes more useful. In addition, we examine action processes as a substitute for homogeneous task cognition during implementation–adjustment and propose that teams can overcome suboptimal cognitive configurations. We discuss the implications of our research in terms of what is important for team performance.
Systems-level studies aimed at determining how soil properties are linked to plant production and ultimately animal response spatially are lacking. This study aims to identify if grazing pressure is ...linked to soil properties, terrain attributes, and above-ground plant accumulation and nutritive value in a silvopastoral (or integrated tree-livestock) system. Overall, cattle prefer grazing native grasses (2.81 vs. 1.24 h ha
AU
) and udic (dry) landscape positions compared to aquic (wet) areas (2.07 vs. 1.60 h ha
AU
). Greater grazing frequency occurs in udic soils with greater phosphorus and potassium contents and with accumulated forage with less lignin (P ≤ 0.05), which correspond to reduced elevation and greater tree height and diameter (shade) during summer mob grazing. Combining spatial monitoring technologies (both soil and animal) with forage allowance can optimize grazing systems management and sustainability spatially and temporally.
The human leukocyte antigen (HLA) complex contains the most polymorphic genes in the human genome. The classical HLA class I and II genes define the specificity of adaptive immune responses. Genetic ...variation at the HLA genes is associated with susceptibility to autoimmune and infectious diseases and plays a major role in transplantation medicine and immunology. Currently, the HLA genes are characterized using Sanger- or next-generation sequencing (NGS) of a limited amplicon repertoire or labeled oligonucleotides for allele-specific sequences. High-quality NGS-based methods are in proprietary use and not publicly available. Here, we introduce the first highly automated open-kit/open-source HLA-typing method for NGS. The method employs in-solution targeted capturing of the classical class I (HLA-A, HLA-B, HLA-C) and class II HLA genes (HLA-DRB1, HLA-DQA1, HLA-DQB1, HLA-DPA1, HLA-DPB1). The calling algorithm allows for highly confident allele-calling to three-field resolution (cDNA nucleotide variants). The method was validated on 357 commercially available DNA samples with known HLA alleles obtained by classical typing. Our results showed on average an accurate allele call rate of 0.99 in a fully automated manner, identifying also errors in the reference data. Finally, our method provides the flexibility to add further enrichment target regions.
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