Enhancing the USDA FAS Crop Forecasting System Using SMAP L3 Soil Moisture Observations

One of the U.S. Department of Agriculture-Foreign Agricultural Services (USDA-FAS) mission objectives is to provide current information on global crop supply and demand estimates. Crop growth and development is especially susceptible to the amount of water present in the root-zone portion of the soil profile. Therefore, accurate knowledge of the root-zone soil moisture (RZSM) is an essential for USDA-FAS global crop assessments. This paper focusses on the possibility of enhancing the USDA-FAS's RZSM estimates through the integration of passive-based soil moisture observations derived from the Soil Moisture Active Passive (SMAP) mission into the USDA-FAS Palmer model. Lag-correlation analysis, which explores the agreement between changes in RZSM and crop status indicated that the satellite-based observations can enhance the model-only estimates

Hydrologic and Agricultural Earth Observations and Modeling for the Water-Food Nexus

In a globalizing and rapidly-developing world, reliable, sustainable access to water and food are inextricably linked to each other and basic human rights. Achieving security and sustainability in both requires recognition of these linkages, as well as continued innovations in both science and policy. We present case studies of how Earth observations are being used in applications at the nexus of water and food security: crop monitoring in support of G20 global market assessments, water stress early warning for USAID, soil moisture monitoring for USDA's Foreign Agricultural Service, and identifying food security vulnerabilities for climate change assessments for the UN and the UK international development agency. These case studies demonstrate that Earth observations are essential for providing the data and scalability to monitor relevant indicators across space and time, as well as understanding agriculture, the hydrological cycle, and the water-food nexus. The described projects follow the guidelines for co-developing useable knowledge for sustainable development policy. We show how working closely with stakeholders is essential for transforming NASA Earth observations into accurate, timely, and relevant information for water-food nexus decision support. We conclude with recommendations for continued efforts in using Earth observations for addressing the water-food nexus and the need to incorporate the role of energy for improved food and water security assessment

Earth Observations and Integrative Models in Support of Food and Water Security

Global food production depends upon many factors that Earth observing satellites routinely measure about water, energy, weather, and ecosystems. Increasingly sophisticated, publicly-available satellite data products can improve efficiencies in resource management and provide earlier indication of environmental disruption. Satellite remote sensing provides a consistent, long-term record that can be used effectively to detect large-scale features over time, such as a developing drought. Accuracy and capabilities have increased along with the range of Earth observations and derived products that can support food security decisions with actionable information. This paper highlights major capabilities facilitated by satellite observations and physical models that have been developed and validated using remotely-sensed observations. Although we primarily focus on variables relevant to agriculture, we also include a brief description of the growing use of Earth observations in support of aquaculture and fisheries

THE BALKAN MOUNTAINS PALEOZOIC GOLD DEPOSITS

A number of Paleozoic gold deposits are situated in the Hercynian terrains of the Balkan Mountain. On Bulgarian territory Govezhda and Svishti Plaz deposits are the most important ones. Neresnitza, Blagoev-Ka nen and Osanitza deposits are located in the Serbian part of the Balkan Mountain. All these deposits are hosted in the Pre-Alpine basement of the Balkanide zone. The orehosting structures are veins, lenses and mineralized fissures related to tension and shear faults. The structural characteristics of the ores are an evidence for tectonic control and tectonic activity during the ore deposition. All stages of ore deposition were accompanied by strong fracturing of already deposited minerals and subsequent precipitation of next portion. The economically important mineral in all these deposits is the native gold, with variable Ag contents. In the two Bulgarian deposits the main ore minerals are arsenopyrite and pyrite. Arsenopyrite is not reported for Serbian deposits, but scheelite is a main mineral there instead. Based on mineral associations, three possible genetic concepts of Au deposition could be expressed. 1) The gold is genetically associated with arsenopyrite and pyrite from stage 1 (Fe-As- Au+W). It is primarily deposited as invisible gold in these minerals. During the next stage of sulfide deposition driven by induced heating, it is remobilized and redeposited in cracks, formed during the cataclastic events of this stage. 2) The gold is genetically connected to the stage 2 (Pb-Zn-Cu-Ag- Au). 3) Dual generation of gold related to both stages 1 and 2. All Balkan Paleozoic gold deposits show lots of similarities to mesothermal gold deposits in shear zones in Archaean greenschists terrains in Canada, Western Australia and Africa, as well as to Hercynian gold deposits in France and Portugal. The similarity especially concerns their connection to granodiohtic magmatism, the mineral parageneses and the gold occurrence and its associations. Despite that the mining in the Balkan gold deposits is already closed, they still have nonexplored and non-operated reserve

Heavy metal and metalloid concentration dynamics in mine and surface waters in the vicinity of Chiprovtsi and Martinovo mines, Northwestern Bulgaria

Τα ορυχεία αργύρου-μολύβδου στο Chiprovtsi και σιδήρου στο Martinovo που λειτουργούσαν έως το 1999, αποτελούν την κύρια περιοχή μεταλλευτικής δραστηριότητας στη βορειοδυτική Βουλγαρία. Η μακροχρόνια λειτουργία τους είχε ως αποτέλεσμα εμφανή περιβαλλοντική ρύπανση, κυρίως στα ύδατα και στο έδαφος της ευρύτερης περιοχής. Για να καθοριστεί το επίπεδο μόλυνσης της ποτάμιας λεκάνης Chiprovska Ogosta από τη μακροχρόνια μεταλλευτική δραστηριότητα, αλλά και να προσδιοριστεί εάν τα σημερινά εγκαταλειμμένα μεταλλεία συνεχίζουν να αποτελούν πηγή ρύπανσης των υδάτων, πραγματοποιήθηκε εποχικός έλεγχος των συγκεντρώσεων βαρέων μετάλλων (Cu, Zn, Cd και Pb) και μεταλλοειδών (As και Sb) σε επιφανειακά (ποτάμια), πόσιμα ύδατα, καθώς και στα ύδατα των μεταλλείων κατά τη διάρκεια του Μάιου και του Αυγούστου του 2006. Από τη μελέτη πιστοποιούνται σημαντικές συγκεντρώσεις As στα ύδατα των μεταλλείων (έως 170 μξ/l) και στα επιφανειακά ύδατα (μεταξύ 50 και 621 μξ/l). Επίσης, καταγράφεται η παρουσία άλλων βαρέων μετάλλων, όπως είναι τα Cu, Cd, Zn και Pb, και μεταλοειδών - Sb. Ανάμεσα σε αυτά, ο Pb παρουσίασε υψηλές συγκεντρώσεις -έως 1456 pg/l κατά τη διάρκεια της δειγματοληψίας του Μαΐου του 2006 εμφανίζοντας μεγάλη διακύμανση των συγκεντρώσεων μεταξύ ξηρών και υγρών περιόδων δειγματοληψίας. Επίσης, το Sb στα ύδατα των μεταλλείων παρουσίασε αξιοσημείωτες τιμές συγκεντρώσεων (μέχρι 25 pg/), οι οποίες δεν παρατηρήθηκαν στα επιφανειακά και πόσιμα ύδατα. Τα πόσιμα ύδατα αποδεικνύεται ότι δεν φέρουν βαρέα μέταλλα και μεταλλοειδή.Chiprovtsi silver-lead and Martinovo iron mines represent the biggest mining area in Northwestern Bulgaria, which was operated till 1999. Their long-lived operation leads to proved pollution of the environment in the vicinity of the mines, especially water and soil. Seasonal monitoring of heavy metal (Cu, Zn, Cd and Pb) and metalloid (As and Sb) concentrations in mine, surface (river) and drinking waters was carried out during May and August 2006 to determine the level of contamination of the Chiprovska Ogosta river basin resulting from the long-lived mining activity and whether these abandoned mines continue to be potential source for water pollution. This study proves significant As concentrations in mine (up to 170 μg/l) and surface waters (between 50 and 621 μg/l). The presence of other heavy metals, such as Cu, Cd, Zn and Pb, and metalloid — Sb is also recorded. Among them, Pb was found in considerable concentrations - up to 1456 pg/l during May 2006 sampling exhibiting great concentration variability between dry and wet sampling seasons. Sb is also determined in mine waters (up to 25 pg/l), but not exists in surface and drinking waters. Drinking waters are proved to be free of heavy metals and metalloids

Seasonal differences in fatty acid content of white brine cheese offered at the Bulgarian market

The present study provides scientific information for fatty acid composition of white brine cheese from cow milk, produced from all regions of Bulgaria, across seasons for the period 2012–2016. A total of 670 samples produced from different manufacturers and collected from supermarkets by Offi-cial control of Bulgarian Food Safety Agency (BFSA) were examined. Fatty acid composition was determined by gas chromatography. The milk fat purity of 18 samples was established through gas chromatographic analysis of triglycerides. Seasonal variations were observed in fatty acid composi-tion of white brine cheese. The seasonal changes in the concentration of lauric, myristic, palmitic, stearic, oleic and α-linolenic acids have largely contributed to the variation of fatty acid composition of cheese. Saturated fatty acids (SFAs) were in the range 68.39–71.53% of total FAs and the propor-tion of unsaturated fatty acids (UFA) was 28.44–31.61% of total FAs. Fourty-five out of examined samples have exhibited different fatty acid profile than that established in the present study for cow milk cheese. The determined SFAs were 44.7–57.5% and UFA varied from 42.5% to 55.3%. The fatty acids with short chain (C4:0 ÷ C10:0) were not detected or in traces, lauric and myristic acids were in small amounts, while palmitic and oleic acids predominated in the fatty acid composition of cheese analogues

Adar3 is involved in learning and memory in mice

© 2018 Mladenova, Barry, Konen, Pineda, Guennewig, Avesson, Zinn, Schonrock, Bitar, Jonkhout, Crumlish, Kaczorowski, Gong, Pinese, Franco, Walkley, Vissel and Mattick. The amount of regulatory RNA encoded in the genome and the extent of RNA editing by the post-transcriptional deamination of adenosine to inosine (A-I) have increased with developmental complexity and may be an important factor in the cognitive evolution of animals. The newest member of the A-I editing family of ADAR proteins, the vertebrate-specific ADAR3, is highly expressed in the brain, but its functional significance is unknown. In vitro studies have suggested that ADAR3 acts as a negative regulator of A-I RNA editing but the scope and underlying mechanisms are also unknown. Meta-analysis of published data indicates that mouse Adar3 expression is highest in the hippocampus, thalamus, amygdala, and olfactory region. Consistent with this, we show that mice lacking exon 3 of Adar3 (which encodes two double stranded RNA binding domains) have increased levels of anxiety and deficits in hippocampus-dependent short- and long-term memory formation. RNA sequencing revealed a dysregulation of genes involved in synaptic function in the hippocampi of Adar3-deficient mice. We also show that ADAR3 transiently translocates from the cytoplasm to the nucleus upon KCl-mediated activation in SH-SY5Y cells. These results indicate that ADAR3 contributes to cognitive processes in mammals