Organic Spring Wheat Planting Date Trial

The local food movement has revived otherwise historical crops in Vermont including small-scale grains. As the demand for local organic wheat has risen over the last few years, University of Vermont Extension has been developing best agronomic practices for wheat production. In an organic system, weed management can be one of the biggest challenges. One strategy to manage weeds is to modify planting dates. Early planting dates can establish a crop prior to weed flushes, while a late-planted crop can avoid some weed species. Planting date can also have an overall impact on both grain yield and quality. Certain wheat varieties may respond better to earlier or later planting dates. At this time, there is minimal data to document optimum spring wheat planting dates for the Northeast. The objective of this project was to determine the effect of planting date on the yield and quality of multiple spring wheat varieties

Forage Brassica Variety Trial

Forage brassica can provide a near-concentrate type diet late in the grazing season. This allows for an extra grazing opportunity after annual row crops are harvested, and establishes forage to fill a gap in feed quality and supply. These crops can provide a high-quality feed in a short period of time, fitting well into rotations of other crops, extending the grazing season, and reducing reliance on expensive commercial feed inputs. In 2013, the University of Vermont’s Northwest Crops & Soils Program conducted a forage brassica variety trial to evaluate yield and quality of this annual crop

Brown Mid-Rib Corn Variety Trial

Brown mid-rib (BMR) corn has a lower lignin content than other silage corn varieties. The lower lignin content increases the fiber digestibility (NDF digestibility) of the corn silage. Increases in NDF digestibility lead to increased in dry matter intake, milk production, milk protein content, and better body condition. Several studies have reported that for every one percentage point increase in NDF digestibility fed to dairy cattle there will be a 0.50 lb per day increase in milk production. Feeding BMR corn silage is a means to increase NDF digestibility and milk production. Since 2010, the University of Vermont Extension Northwest Crops & Soils program has conducted research trials to evaluate BMR corn silage varieties. In 2012, the trial included 10 varieties from three different seed companies. While the information presented can begin to describe the yield and quality performance of these BMR corn varieties in this region, it is important to note that the data represent results from only one season and one location. Compare other hybrid performance data before making varietal selections

Brown Mid-Rib Corn Population Trial

Brown mid-rib (BMR) corn hybrids are of interest to many growers in the Northeast who would like to maximize milk production on homegrown forage. BMR corn has a naturally-occurring genetic mutation that leads to less lignin in the stalk and makes corn silage more digestible. Corn yields can be highly dependent on population, and it is generally recommended to plant BMR corn at lower populations than conventional silage corn. BMR corn has always been considered to be more prone to lodging due to its lower lignin content, and lower populations allow for less stress on each individual plant. However, optimal populations for the Northeast have yet to be developed. With this in mind, the University of Vermont Extension Northwest Crops & Soils Program conducted a field experiment in 2013 designed to evaluate the yield and quality performance of a BMR corn hybrid at three different populations across two different varieties. The data presented are only representative of one year, but this information can be combined with other research to aid in making agronomic decisions for BMR corn in the Northeast

Chemotropic guidance facilitates axonal regeneration and synapse formation after spinal cord injury.

A principal objective of spinal cord injury (SCI) research is the restoration of axonal connectivity to denervated targets. We tested the hypothesis that chemotropic mechanisms would guide regenerating spinal cord axons to appropriate brainstem targets. We subjected rats to cervical level 1 (C1) lesions and combinatorial treatments to elicit axonal bridging into and beyond lesion sites. Lentiviral vectors expressing neurotrophin-3 (NT-3) were then injected into an appropriate brainstem target, the nucleus gracilis, and an inappropriate target, the reticular formation. NT-3 expression in the correct target led to reinnervation of the nucleus gracilis in a dose-related fashion, whereas NT-3 expression in the reticular formation led to mistargeting of regenerating axons. Axons regenerating into the nucleus gracilis formed axodendritic synapses containing rounded vesicles, reflective of pre-injury synaptic architecture. Thus, we report for the first time, to the best of our knowledge, the reinnervation of brainstem targets after SCI and an essential role for chemotropic axon guidance in target selection

Using Photo ID to Examine Injuries in Eastern Pacific Gray Whales: From Calving to Feeding Grounds and Along the Migratory Corridor

The Eastern Pacific population of gray whales (Eschrichtius robustus) migrates along the west coast of North America every year; this migration brings them into close contact with shipping lanes and fishing operations which present major anthropogenic (human caused) threats to gray whales. The purpose of this study is to use photo ID of the whales from their feeding and calving grounds, and their migratory corridor to study which body regions are susceptible to both natural and anthropogenic injury and examine the most common types of injury tot he whales. In order to do this, photos were collected from each location and analyzed. Study sites include Bahia Magdalena, BCS, Mexico, Flores Island, BC, Canada, and Redondo Beach and San Pedro, CA United States. Photographs were entered into catalogs for photo ID, and then analyzed to determine the body regions and injuries observed. Types of injuries included: scar, wound, rake mark (from attack by killer whale), entanglement, and fluke (injury on tail that does not fall into another category). It was found that scars, rake marks, and entanglements represented the most common types of injuries, each occurring in about 10% of the whales. Rake marks were found more often on the flukes of the whale than the body, but there was no significant difference in locations of wounds or scars when compared between the body and flukes. From examination of the results of other studies, I estimate that 3-6% of gray whales die from ship strikes. However, because the population is quite large (17,000-22,000 individuals) I conclude that anthropogenic injuries are not representing a significant source of mortality to the Easter Pacific stock of gray whales. I suspect that anthropogenic injuries are more of a threat to smaller populations of cetaceans such as the Western Pacific gray whales and North Atlantic right whale

Nonlinear dynamic analysis and seismic fragility assessment of a corrosion damaged integral bridge

Purpose In this paper the impact of corrosion of reinforcing steel in RC columns on the seismic performance of a multi-span concrete integral bridge is explored. A new constitutive model for corroded reinforcing steel is used. This model simulates the buckling of longitudinal reinforcement under cyclic loading and the impact of corrosion on buckling strength. Cover concrete strength is adjusted to account for corrosion induced damage and core concrete strength and ductility is adjusted to account for corrosion induced damage to transverse reinforcement. This study evaluates the impact which chloride induced corrosion of the reinforced concrete columns on the seismic fragility of the bridge. Fragility curves are developed at a various time intervals over the lifetime. The results of this study show that the bridge fragility increases significantly with corrosion. Design/methodology/approach This paper firstly evaluates the impact which chloride induced corrosion of the columns has on bridge fragility. Finally, fragility curves are developed at various time intervals over the lifetime of the bridge. The results of this study show that the bridge fragility increases significantly with corrosion. Findings 1) It was found that columns dominate the system fragility at all levels of deterioration. Therefore, it highlights the importance of good column design in terms of both seismic detailing and durability for this integral bridge type. 2) In terms of foundation settlement coupled with corrosion, it was found that settlements on the order of the discrete levels adopted for this study increased the system fragility at the slight, moderate and extensive damage states but their impact at the complete damage states is negligible. 3) Ageing considerations are currently neglected in widespread regional risk assessment and loss estimation packages for transport infrastructure. The result of this study provides a methodology that enables bridge managers and owners to employ in seismic risk assessment of existing aging bridges. Originality/value The modelling technician developed in this paper considers the impact of detailed corrosion damaged of RC column on nonlinear dynamic response and fragility of a corroded integral bridge under earthquake loading. The current modelling technique is the most comprehensive 3D fibre element model for seismic analysis and risk assessment of corroded bridges. </jats:sec

The Role of Personality Traits in Young Adult Fruit and Vegetable Consumption

This project investigated how individual differences in the big-five personality traits (neuroticism, extraversion, openness to experience, conscientiousness, and agreeableness) predicted plant-food consumption in young adults. A total of 1073 participants from two samples of young adults aged 17–25 reported their daily servings of fruits, vegetables, and two unhealthy foods for comparison purposes using an Internet daily diary for 21 or 13 days (micro-longitudinal, correlational design). Participants also completed the Neuroticism, Extraversion, Openness Five Factor Inventory (NEO-FFI) measure of personality, and demographic covariates including gender, age, ethnicity, and body mass index (BMI). Analyses used hierarchical regression to predict average daily fruit and vegetable consumption as separate dependent variables from the demographic covariates (step 1) and the five personality traits (step 2). Results showed that young adults higher in openness and extraversion, and to some extent conscientiousness, ate more fruits and vegetables than their less open, less extraverted, and less conscientious peers. Neuroticism and agreeableness were unrelated to fruit and vegetable consumption. These associations were unique to eating fruit and vegetables and mostly did not extend to unhealthy foods tested. Young adult women also ate more fruit and vegetables than young adult men. Results suggest that traits associated with greater intellect, curiosity, and social engagement (openness and extraversion), and to a lesser extent, discipline (conscientiousness) are associated with greater plant-food consumption in this population. Findings reinforce the importance of personality in establishing healthy dietary habits in young adulthood that could translate into better health outcomes later in life

County-Level Extension Programming: Continuity and Change in the Alabama Cooperative Extension System

Production agriculture is no longer a dominant feature of Alabama\u27s rural life. Forestry and natural resource issues have emerged as significant concerns expressed by County Advisory Boards designed to help shape county-level Extension programming in Alabama. Our findings indicate that county-level Extension programming continues to put greater emphasis on traditional agricultural programs than on forestry and natural resources even though County Advisory Boards considered the latter issues to have greater priority. We examine the potential causes for the continued dominance of traditional programs in Alabama and conclude that initiatives to change program priorities are unlikely to begin at the county level