Soil moisture information is a key variable for guiding in‐season management decisions in rainfed and irrigated agricultural systems. However, methods for deciding the number and location of soil ...moisture sensors (SMS) per field still remain poorly explored in the scientific literature. The goal of this study was to evaluate a quantitative framework based on soil moisture‐based management zones (MZs) to determine the minimum number and tentative deployment location of SMS. Multiple spatially intensive (n > 100 observations) surveys of near‐surface (0–12 cm) soil moisture were conducted during the fallow periods and early growing seasons of 2017, 2018, and 2019 on three agricultural fields using a calibrated handheld soil water reflectometer. The fuzzy C‐means (FCM) clustering method was used to delineate MZs based on the soil moisture surveys, and the silhouette clustering evaluation method was used to identify the optimal number of MZs per field. Then, a sensor location index that considered the distance to the MZ boundaries and the FCM membership grade was developed to identify the tentative optimal deployment location of SMS. The proposed method effectively identified field areas with distinct soil moisture regimes and revealed the complex soil moisture spatial patterns that were not captured with elevation or soil texture alone. Dividing the fields using soil moisture‐based MZ reduced the intrazone soil moisture spatial variability by about 50% compared with that of the entire field. In the three studied fields, a total of two SMS were sufficient to capture the salient soil moisture spatial regimes.
Core Ideas
Field surveys of near‐surface soil moisture were used to delineate management zones.
Soil moisture‐based management zones were used to find the number and location of sensors.
Two soil moisture‐based management zones captured the salient soil moisture spatial patterns.
In situ soil moisture observations revealed spatial patterns not evident with proxy variables.
Aim: Springs in the Australian arid zone are distinct from other waterways because they house a large number of endemic species. We aimed to assess spatial patterns in endemic diversity at a ...basin-wide scale and whether environmental features can help to explain them. In doing so, we take the opportunity to summarize the current state of conservation in the system. Location: Great Artesian Basin (GAB), arid and semiarid regions of eastern Australia Methods: We combine data regarding the location of springs with published GIS layers regarding environmental characteristics and a literature review of all species and subspecies documented in the published literature to be endemic to GAB springs. Results: We found evidence of 96 species and subspecies of fishes, molluscs, crustaceans and plants endemic to these springs. The majority of endemic species are invertebrates with geographical distributions limited to a single spring complex (<61 km²). Endemic taxa are concentrated in 75 of the 326 spring complexes. Spring complexes with a large number of springs, high connectivity via drainage basins and low rainfall were more likely to contain endemic taxa, but environmental models were poor predictors of diversity. Only 24% spring complexes with high conservation value are within conservation reserves, and the majority of endemic species are unassessed under the IUCN and Australian conservation legislation, particularly the invertebrates. Main conclusions: Diversity in this system is underestimated given the current rate of species discovery and prevailing data deficiency for many taxa. Historical processes and species-specific environmental requirements may be more important for explaining why diversity is concentrated in particular complexes. Almost a decade after this system was listed as endangered, most complexes of high conservation value remain outside of conservation reserves, and the endangered species status of many taxa, and particularly the invertebrates, remain unassessed.
In this study, we tested soil water reflectometers represented by the CS65x series soil water reflectometers. The objectives were to (a) quantify the sensing volume of the CS65x sensors, (b) evaluate ...common univariate and multivariate calibration models, and (c) assess the implications of using uncalibrated sensors. The support volume was determined by analyzing the response of the bulk dielectric permittivity to a changing amount of surrounding media in the radial and axial directions of the sensor. Calibration models were tested using a dataset of ∼300 soil samples spanning nine soil textural classes. A time series of rootzone soil water storage recorded in two contrasting soils and two intensive (n ∼300) spatial surveys of near‐surface soil moisture were used to quantify the implications of using uncalibrated sensors. The electromagnetic signal of CS655 was concentrated within a ∼3.5‐cm radius around the center of the sensor rods. Univariate and multivariate calibration equations reduced the mean absolute error (MAE) in soil moisture observations by ∼40% compared with factory default equations. Uncalibrated sensors did not change the pattern of soil moisture temporal dynamics but resulted in a strong bias in soil water storage in a silty clay loam soil and altered the soil moisture spatial patterns obtained in moderate to wet field conditions in a silty clay soil. The CS655 sensor with the Kargas and Soulis calibration equation (MAE = 0.026 cm3 cm−3) appears to be an acceptable candidate for deployment in soil moisture monitoring networks seeking to avoid site‐specific sensor calibrations.
Core Ideas
The signal of the CS655 was concentrated in an elliptical cylinder of ∼3.5‐cm radius.
Univariate and multivariate calibration models reduced the mean absolute error by 40%.
Uncalibrated sensors biased time series of rootzone storage in a silty clay loam soil.
Maps created with uncalibrated sensors had zones of erroneously high water content.
This paper reports on the instrumentation and expertise developed within the INFN-CHNet network for X-ray and neutron imaging, which enable non-invasive identification of materials and production ...processes in the field of cultural heritage. INFN-CHNet is the network of the Italian National Institute of Nuclear Physics specifically dedicated to the development and application of scientific methods and technologies to cultural heritage. This article focuses on portable MA-XRF scanners, often complemented by additional techniques, PIXE imaging on a newly developed portable accelerator, X-ray radiography and tomography, exploited to their full potential also through the use of portable systems, and neutron radiography and tomography, which require large-scale facilities. In many respects, the information obtained from X-ray and neutron-based methods is complementary, facilitating a comprehensive characterisation of materials, structures, and manufacturing techniques.
Graphical abstract
Abstract
Introduction
In the last few years, genetic investigation has become an active part of the diagnostic and therapeutic pathway of cardiological patients with cardiomyopathies. Genetic ...investigation assumes a key role in the clinical–decision–making process of the proband acquiring a potential role in changing clinical action. Patients referred for genetic screening are affected by hypertrophic, arrhythmogenic and dilated cardiomyopathy. In the dilated form it is now a well–established notion that some mutations are associated with increased arrhythmic risk, regardless of the ejection fraction. This link was implemented by the 2022 ESC guidelines on ventricular arrhythmias, these patients can in fact benefit from a more aggressive therapeutic approach for the purpose of preventing sudden death.
Methods and results
In 2022 a diagnostic process was activated in collaboration with the genetics laboratory. Twenty–two patients underwent genetic examination and genetic testing. Of these, 61% were patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, 22% with dilated cardiomyopathy, 11% with arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy and 6% with Fabry disease. Two HCM patients have mutations in the MYBPC3 gene. A patient with Fabry has an exonic mutation in the GLA gene associated with the late onset phenotype. Two patients have a negative NGS panel and one patient has a mutation of uncertain significance (VUS) in TTN. In the remaining genetic analysis is ongoing.
Conclusions
We believe, as clinical cardiologist who deal with the field of cardiomyopathies, in the importance to acquire an integrated vision where genetic diagnosis is added alongside the traditional tools of cardiological expertise, as a risk stratification tool and as an additional element of the decision–making process.
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