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Distributed fiber-optic sensing (DFOS) technologies have been used for decades to detect damage in infrastructure. One recent DFOS technology, Optical Frequency Domain Reflectometry (OFDR), has attracted attention from the structural engineering community because its high spatial resolution and refined accuracy could enable new monitoring possibilities and new insight regarding the behavior of reinforced concrete (RC) structures. The current research project explores the ability and potential of OFDR to measure distributed strain in RC structures through laboratory tests on an innovative beam–column connection, in which a partial slot joint was introduced between the beam and the column to control damage. In the test specimen, fiber-optic cables were embedded in both the steel reinforcement and concrete. The specimen was tested under quasi-static cyclic loading with increasing displacement demand at the structural laboratory of the Pacific Earthquake Engineering Research (PEER) Center of UC Berkeley. Different types of fiber-optic cables were embedded both in the concrete and the rebar. The influence of the cable coating and cable position are discussed. The DFOS results are compared with traditional measurements (DIC and LVDT). The high resolution of DFOS at small deformations provides new insights regarding the mechanical behavior of the slotted RC beam–column connection, including direct measurement of beam curvature, rebar deformation, and slot opening and closing. A major contribution of this work is the quantification of the performance and limitations of the DFOS system under large cyclic strains. Performance is quantified in terms of non-valid points (which occur in large strains when the DFOS analyzer does not return a strain value), maximum strain that can be reliably measured, crack width that causes cable rupture, and the effect of the cable coating on the measurements. Structural damage indices are also proposed based on the DFOS results. These damage indices correlate reasonably well with the maximum sustained drift, indicating the potential of using DFOS for RC structural damage assessment. The experimental data set is made publicly available.

Genome-wide association studies (GWASs) have identified many SNPs underlying variations in plasma-lipid levels. We explore whether additional loci associated with plasma-lipid phenotypes, such as high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), total cholesterol (TC), and triglycerides (TGs), can be identified by a dense gene-centric approach. Our meta-analysis of 32 studies in 66,240 individuals of European ancestry was based on the custom ∼50,000 SNP genotyping array (the ITMAT-Broad-CARe array) covering ∼2,000 candidate genes. SNP-lipid associations were replicated either in a cohort comprising an additional 24,736 samples or within the Global Lipid Genetic Consortium. We identified four, six, ten, and four unreported SNPs in established lipid genes for HDL-C, LDL-C, TC, and TGs, respectively. We also identified several lipid-related SNPs in previously unreported genes: DGAT2, HCAR2, GPIHBP1, PPARG, and FTO for HDL-C; SOCS3, APOH, SPTY2D1, BRCA2, and VLDLR for LDL-C; SOCS3, UGT1A1, BRCA2, UBE3B, FCGR2A, CHUK, and INSIG2 for TC; and SERPINF2, C4B, GCK, GATA4, INSR, and LPAL2 for TGs. The proportion of explained phenotypic variance in the subset of studies providing individual-level data was 9.9% for HDL-C, 9.5% for LDL-C, 10.3% for TC, and 8.0% for TGs. This large meta-analysis of lipid phenotypes with the use of a dense gene-centric approach identified multiple SNPs not previously described in established lipid genes and several previously unknown loci. The explained phenotypic variance from this approach was comparable to that from a meta-analysis of GWAS data, suggesting that a focused genotyping approach can further increase the understanding of heritability of plasma lipids.

We present an inexpensive autonomous underwater pumping system that is lightweight, compact, independent, and versatile, making it easy to deploy in a multitude of settings. This system can be used to pump water into discrete and flow-through sensor systems. With the exception of the custom built pressure case housing, this system can be fabricated with off-the-shelf parts, making it easier to maintain. This system uses open source Arduino software code for easier customization and operations. The electronics and battery pack used to power this system can be adapted to fit into commercially available pressure case housings.

The 9-m and 1-m radius geotechnical centrifuges at the Natural Hazards Engineering Research Infrastructure (NHERI) facility at the University of California at Davis provide the national research community with open access to unique and versatile modeling capabilities for advancing methods to predict and improve the performance of soil and soil-structure systems affected by earthquake, wave, wind, and storm surge loadings. Large-scale centrifuge models are particularly effective for the building of basic science knowledge, the validation of advanced computational models from the component to the holistic system level, and the validation of innovative soil remediation strategies. The capabilities and unique role of large-scale centrifuge modeling are illustrated using three example research projects from the shared-use NHERI facility. Education impacts stemming from operations activities and coordination of activities by the center’s user base are discussed. Future directions and opportunities for research using the NHERI facilities are discussed.

Competency-based medical education (CBME) curricula are becoming increasingly common in graduate medical education. Put simply, CBME is focused on educational outcomes, is independent of methods and time, and is composed of achievable competencies.1 In spite of widespread uptake, there remains much to learn about implementing CBME at the program level. Leveraging the collective experience of program leaders at Queen’s University, where CBME simultaneously launched across 29 specialty programs in 2017, this paper leverages change management theory to provide a short summary of how program leaders can navigate the successful preparation, launch, and initial implementation of CBME within their residency programs.

Abstract Elves are a class of transient luminous events, with a radial extent typically greater than 250 km, that occur in the lower ionosphere above strong electrical storms. We report the observation of 1,598 elves, from 2014 to 2016, recorded with unprecedented time resolution (100 ns) using the fluorescence detector (FD) of the Pierre Auger Cosmic‐Ray Observatory. The Auger Observatory is located in the Mendoza province of Argentina with a viewing footprint for elve observations of 3·106 km 2, reaching areas above the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans, as well as the Córdoba region, which is known for severe convective thunderstorms. Primarily designed for ultrahigh energy cosmic‐ray observations, the Auger FD turns out to be very sensitive to the ultraviolet emission in elves. The detector features modified Schmidt optics with large apertures resulting in a field of view that spans the horizon, and year‐round operation on dark nights with low moonlight background, when the local weather is favorable. The measured light profiles of 18% of the elve events have more than one peak, compatible with intracloud activity. Within the 3‐year sample, 72% of the elves correlate with the far‐field radiation measurements of the World Wide Lightning Location Network. The Auger Observatory plans to continue operations until at least 2025, including elve observations and analysis. To the best of our knowledge, this observatory is the only facility on Earth that measures elves with year‐round operation and full horizon coverage.

Abstract Economic projections after widespread deep compaction during wet harvests are essentially nonexistent. Therefore, we project state‐level economic costs to producers in North Dakota and Minnesota for the upcoming 2020 and 2021 crops. We provide economic cost graphs as functions of grain sell prices and fractions of land impacted by deep wheel‐traffic compaction. At corn (Zea mays L.) and soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] sell prices of US$3.06 bu−1 and $8.78 bu−1 for North Dakota and $3.26 bu−1 and $8.98 bu−1 for Minnesota, we estimate a minimum economic cost of US$587 million through 2021, excluding environmental externalities and other feedbacks, for every 10% of lands compacted during the 2019 harvest. Actual impacted land area may range up to 30%, resulting in a range of US$0 to $1.76 billion of actual costs. Precise large‐scale, deep‐compaction reports/sensing is needed to determine actual fractions of impacted land. Policies incentivizing conservation practices to reduce the occurrence of field traffic on wet soils are strongly encouraged.

Abstract Objectives Natural killer (NK) cells are an attractive source of cells for an ‘off the shelf’ cellular therapy because of their innate capacity to target malignant cells, and ability to be transferred between donors and patients. However, since not all NK cells are equally effective at targeting cancer, selecting the right donor for cellular therapy is critical for the success of the treatment. Recently, cellular therapies utilising NK cells from cytomegalovirus (CMV)‐seropositive donors have been explored. However, whether these NK cells are the best source to treat paediatric acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL) remains unclear. Methods Using a panel of patient‐derived paediatric B‐ and T‐ALL, we assessed the ability of NK cells from 49 healthy donors to mount an effective functional response against these two major subtypes of ALL. Results From this cohort, we have identified a pool of donors with superior activity against multiple ALL cells. While these donors were more likely to be CMV+, we identified multiple CMVneg donors within this group. Furthermore, NK cells from these donors recognised B‐ and T‐ALL through different activating receptors. Dividing functional NK cells into 29 unique subsets, we observed that within each individual the same NK cell subsets dominated across all ALL cells. Intriguingly, this occurred despite the ALL cells in our panel expressing different combinations of NK cell ligands. Finally, we can demonstrate that cellular therapy products derived from these superior donors significantly delayed leukaemia progression in preclinical models of ALL. Conclusions We have identified a pool of superior donors that are effective against a range of ALL cells, representing a potential pool of donors that can be used as an adoptive NK cell therapy to treat paediatric ALL.

Pharmacists must be able to navigate prescription drug coverages to help providers and patients reduce out-of-pocket costs. Traditionally, curricula on drug insurance benefits rely on lectures and lack a practicum that offers students hands-on experience with determining formulary and cost-sharing information. An activity for pharmacy students to update a free public website that summarizes formularies and copayment requirements across major insurers was piloted. Pharmacy students were trained to locate online formularies and identify a drug’s coverage tier, step therapy, prior authorization, and cost-sharing during a 6-week experiential rotation. Students checked formularies from six insurance plans for 250-plus drugs across 15 health conditions. Graduates were surveyed (74% response rate) about the activities’ impact on their learning and ability to navigate drug benefits. Respondents rated the training as helpful in learning whether a drug was covered (100%), or required step therapy or prior authorization (100%). The majority of graduates reported being able to look up formulary coverage (90%), step therapy or prior authorization (90%), and copayment requirements (65%). Our innovative skills-based pilot activity was effective in teaching pharmacy students to navigate insurance formularies, which is essential for helping patients access medications.

Abstract Background Observational studies suggest that loss of skeletal muscle mass (SMM) is associated with chemotherapy‐related toxicity, poor quality of life, and poor survival in metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) patients. Little is known about the evolution of SMM during palliative systemic therapy. We investigated changes in SMM during various consecutive palliative systemic treatment regimens using repeated abdominal computed tomography scans of mCRC patients who participated in the randomized phase 3 CAIRO3 study. Methods In the CAIRO3 study, mCRC patients with stable disease or better after 6 cycles of first‐line treatment with capecitabine + oxaliplatin + bevacizumab (CAPOX‐B) were randomized between maintenance treatment with capecitabine + bevacizumab (CAP‐B) or observation. Upon first disease progression, in both groups, CAPOX‐B or other treatment was reintroduced until the second disease progression, which was the primary study endpoint. We analysed 1355 computed tomography scans of 450 (81%) CAIRO3 patients (64 ± 9.0 years, CAP‐B n = 223; observation n = 227) for SMM at four time points (i.e. prior to the start of pre‐randomization initial treatment, at randomization, and at first and at second disease progression) using the Slice‐o‐matic software and single slice evaluation at the lumbar 3 level. By using accepted and widely used formulas, whole body SMM was calculated. A linear mixed effects model, adjusted for relevant confounders, was used to assess SMM changes for the total group and within and between study arms. Results During 6 cycles of initial treatment with CAPOX‐B prior to randomization, SMM decreased significantly in all patients [CAP‐B arm: −0.53 kg (95% CI −1.12; −0.07) and observation arm: −0.85 kg (−1.45; −0.25)]. After randomization, SMM recovered during CAP‐B treatment by 1.32 kg (0.73; 1.90) and observation by 1.20 kg (0.63; 1.78) (median time from randomization to first disease progression 8.6 and 4.1 months for CAP‐B arm and observation arm, respectively). After first progression and during reintroduction treatment with CAPOX‐B or other treatment, SMM again decreased significantly and comparable in both arms, CAP‐B: −2.71 kg (−3.37; −2.03), and observation: −2.01 kg (−2.64; −1.41) (median time from first progression until second progression CAP‐B arm: 4.7 months and observation arm: 6.6 months). Conclusions This longitudinal study provides a unique insight in SMM changes in mCRC patients during palliative systemic treatment regimens, including observation. Our data show that muscle loss is reversible and may be influenced by the intensity of systemic regimens. Although studies have shown prognostic capacity for SMM, the effects of subsequent changes in SMM are unknown and may be clues for new future therapeutic interventions.

Histologic studies of fish from Douglas Lake, Cheboygan County, Michigan, USA show that Diplostomum spp. infect the lens of spottail shiners (Notropis hudsonius) and common shiners (Luxilus cornutus). In contrast, infection was confined to the choroidal vasculature of yellow perch (Perca flavescens), and the morphology of the pigment epithelium and retina in regions adjacent to the metacercariae was abnormal. The difference in location of metacercariae within the host suggested that different Diplostomum species may infect shiners and perch in Douglas Lake. Species diversity was investigated by sequencing the barcode region of the cytochrome oxidase I gene of metacercariae. Four species of Diplostomum were identified, all four of which were present in shiner lenses; however, only Diplostomum baeri was present in the perch choroid. To determine whether infection of perch eyes affects the response of the retina to a light stimulus, electroretinograms (ERG) were recorded. The amplitude of the b-wave of the ERG was reduced and the b-wave latency was increased in infected perch, as compared to uninfected eyes, and the flicker-fusion frequency was also reduced. Infection of the yellow perch choroid by Diplostomum baeri, which shows strong host and tissue specificity, has an adverse effect on retinal function, lending support to the hypothesis that parasite-induced impairment of host vision may afford Diplostomum baeri the evolutionary benefit of increasing the likelihood of transmission, via host fish predation, to its definitive avian host. Keywords: Diplostomum, Electroretinogram, Lens, Retina, Common shiner (Luxilus cornutus), Spottail shiner (Notropis hudsonius), Yellow perch (Perca flavescens)

Fibroblasts are abundantly present in the prostate tumor microenvironment (TME), including cancer‐associated fibroblasts (CAFs) which play a key role in cancer development. Androgen receptor (AR) signaling is the main driver of prostate cancer (PCa) progression, and stromal cells in the TME also express AR. High‐grade tumor and poor clinical outcome are associated with low AR expression in the TME, which suggests a protective role of AR signaling in the stroma against PCa development. However, the mechanism of this relation is not clear. In this study, we isolated AR‐expressing CAF‐like cells. Testosterone (R1881) exposure did not affect CAF‐like cell morphology, proliferation, or motility. PCa cell growth was not affected by culturing in medium from R1881‐exposed CAF‐like cells; however, migration of PCa cells was inhibited. AR chromatin immune precipitation sequencing (ChIP‐seq) was performed and motif search suggested that AR in CAF‐like cells bound the chromatin through AP‐1‐elements upon R1881 exposure, inducing enhancer‐mediated AR chromatin interactions. The vast majority of chromatin binding sites in CAF‐like cells were unique and not shared with AR sites observed in PCa cell lines or tumors. AR signaling in CAF‐like cells decreased expression of multiple cytokines; most notably CCL2 and CXCL8 and both cytokines increased migration of PCa cells. These results suggest direct paracrine regulation of PCa cell migration by CAFs through AR signaling.

Introduction: Demoralization is a relatively neglected issue in which low morale and poor coping result from a stressor such as familial cancer risk. Female BRCA1/2 mutation carriers are highly susceptible for developing breast and ovarian cancer. The aim of this study was to evaluate demoralization in oophorectomized BRCA1/2 mutation carriers and its relation to quality of life. Methods: This cross-sectional study examined 288 oophorectomized BRCA1/2 mutation carriers using the following standardized self-report measures: Demoralization Scale, EORTC Quality of Life Questionnaire-C30, State-Trait Anxiety Inventory and the Cancer Worry Scale. Results: The mean score on the Demoralization Scale was 17.8 (SD 14.0). A clinically significant level of demoralization, defined as a score ≥30, was found in 45 BRCA1/2 mutation carriers (16%). Being highly demoralized was associated with a significantly lower quality of life, and higher levels of physical problems, anxiety and cancer worries. No demographic or clinical factors could predict higher levels of demoralization. Conclusions: Our findings established that a clear proportion of oophorectomized BRCA1/2 mutation carriers experience demoralization impacting on their well-being. Further research is needed to explore the natural trajectory of demoralization and the resultant need for support in these women.

Abstract Background Among naturally occurring small molecules, tRNA-derived cyclodipeptides are a class that have attracted attention for their diverse and desirable biological activities. However, no tools are available to link cyclodipeptide synthases identified within prokaryotic genome sequences to their chemical products. Consequently, it is unclear how many genetically encoded cyclodipeptides represent novel products, and which producing organisms should be targeted for discovery. Results We developed a pipeline for identification and classification of cyclodipeptide biosynthetic gene clusters and prediction of aminoacyl-tRNA substrates and complete chemical structures. We leveraged this tool to conduct a global analysis of tRNA-derived cyclodipeptide biosynthesis in 93,107 prokaryotic genomes, and compared predicted cyclodipeptides to known cyclodipeptide synthase products and all known chemically characterized cyclodipeptides. By integrating predicted chemical structures and gene cluster architectures, we created a unified map of known and unknown genetically encoded cyclodipeptides. Conclusions Our analysis suggests that sizeable regions of the chemical space encoded within sequenced prokaryotic genomes remain unexplored. Our map of the landscape of genetically encoded cyclodipeptides provides candidates for targeted discovery of novel compounds. The integration of our pipeline into a user-friendly web application provides a resource for further discovery of cyclodipeptides in newly sequenced prokaryotic genomes.

Abstract Introduction To improve the detection of changes in Alzheimer's disease (AD), we designed the cognitive‐functional composite (CFC). As a first validation step, we investigated its test–retest reliability and feasibility of use. Methods We performed a test–retest study with 2–3 weeks between assessments, including patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) or mild AD dementia and cognitively healthy participants. We calculated intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs) type absolute agreement for all CFC measures and compared baseline and retest scores using paired‐samples t‐tests. We evaluated feasibility by interviewing participants. Results Forty‐three patients (40% female, mean age = 69.9) and 30 controls (50% female, mean age = 65) were included. Subtest intraclass correlation coefficients ranged from .70 to .96. We found negligible improvements after retesting on only two subtests. Overall, patients perceived the administration of the CFC as feasible. Discussion The CFC is a stable and feasible measure in MCI and mild AD dementia, and thereby meets important quality metrics for clinically meaningful outcome measures.

Forward genetic screens with ENU (N-ethyl-N-nitrosourea) mutagenesis can facilitate gene discovery, but mutation identification is often difficult. We present the first study in which an ENU-induced mutation was identified by massively parallel DNA sequencing. This mutation causes heterotaxy and complex congenital heart defects and was mapped to a 2.2-Mb interval on mouse chromosome 7. Massively parallel sequencing of the entire 2.2-Mb interval identified 2 single-base substitutions, one in an intergenic region and a second causing replacement of a highly conserved cysteine with arginine (C193R) in the gene Megf8. Megf8 is evolutionarily conserved from human to fruit fly, and is observed to be ubiquitously expressed. Morpholino knockdown of Megf8 in zebrafish embryos resulted in a high incidence of heterotaxy, indicating a conserved role in laterality specification. Megf8(C193R) mouse mutants show normal breaking of symmetry at the node, but Nodal signaling failed to be propagated to the left lateral plate mesoderm. Videomicroscopy showed nodal cilia motility, which is required for left-right patterning, is unaffected. Although this protein is predicted to have receptor function based on its amino acid sequence, surprisingly confocal imaging showed it is translocated into the nucleus, where it is colocalized with Gfi1b and Baf60C, two proteins involved in chromatin remodeling. Overall, through the recovery of an ENU-induced mutation, we uncovered Megf8 as an essential regulator of left-right patterning

The Akimel O’odham, or “River People” (Pima), have lived in the middle Gila River Valley for centuries, irrigating and cultivating the same land as their Huhugam ancestors did for millennia. This history of agriculture is part of the social, economic, and cultural fabric of the Pima, who benefited from a sufficient and fertile land, a steady and reliable supply of water, and favorable physiographic conditions to produce an abundance of food and fiber crops. These conditions continued until upstream diversions from the Gila River by settlers in the latter 1860s.The Pima economy depended on the waters of the Gila River and its tributaries. Following the himdag, or the cultural ways, of the Huhugam, the Pima exercised sovereignty over their land, enabling them to remain economically and politically independent for generations. They were, as sixty-five-year-old Pima elder George Pablo noted in 1914, “a self-supporting people” who raised crops “in abundance.” This independence changed to dependence in the 1860s, when federal land policies encouraged and fueled settlement in the Gila River Valley. Emigrants then diverted the limited water supplies from the river upstream of the Pima villages, leaving the Indians, in the words of one Pima elder, “high and dry.”The Huhugam built the earliest canals along the Gila River. Many of the historic canals constructed by the Pima followed these prehistoric alignments and irrigated lands in the historic breadbasket of the Pima villages. The Pima cultivated these lands since before the arrival of Spanish conquistadors in the sixteenth century, with the period between the late 1700s and the 1860s representing the pinnacle of Pima agriculture before upstream water deprivation destroyed their agricultural economy (see fig. 1).

BackgroundFluorescent reporters are useful for assaying gene expression in living cells and for identifying and isolating pure cell populations from heterogeneous cultures, including embryonic stem (ES) cells. Multiple fluorophores and genetic selection markers exist; however, a system for creating reporter constructs that preserve the regulatory sequences near a gene's native ATG start site has not been widely available.MethodologyHere, we describe a series of modular marker plasmids containing independent reporter, bacterial selection, and eukaryotic selection components, compatible with both Gateway recombination and lambda prophage bacterial artificial chromosome (BAC) recombineering techniques. A 2A self-cleaving peptide links the reporter to the native open reading frame. We use an emerald GFP marker cassette to create a human BAC reporter and ES cell reporter line for the early cardiac marker NKX2-5. NKX2-5 expression was detected in differentiating mouse ES cells and ES cell-derived mice.ConclusionsOur results describe a NKX2-5 ES cell reporter line for studying early events in cardiomyocyte formation. The results also demonstrate that our modular marker plasmids could be used for generating reporters from unmodified BACs, potentially as part of an ES cell reporter library.

Although forest conservation activities particularly in the tropics offer significant potential for mitigating carbon emissions, these types of activities have faced obstacles in the policy arena caused by the difficulty in determining key elements of the project cycle, particularly the baseline. A baseline for forest conservation has two main components: the projected land-use change and the corresponding carbon stocks in the applicable pools such as vegetation, detritus, products and soil, with land-use change being the most difficult to address analytically. In this paper we focus on developing and comparing three models, ranging from relatively simple extrapolations of past trends in land use based on simple drivers such as population growth to more complex extrapolations of past trends using spatially explicit models of land-use change driven by biophysical and socioeconomic factors. The three models of the latter category used in the analysis at regional scale are The Forest Area Change (FAC) model, the Land Use and Carbon Sequestration (LUCS) model, and the Geographical Modeling (GEOMOD) model. The models were used to project deforestation in six tropical regions that featured different ecological and socioeconomic conditions, population dynamics, and uses of the land: (1) northern Belize; (2) Santa Cruz State, Bolivia; (3) Parana State in Brazil; (4) Campeche, Mexico; (5) Chiapas, Mexico; and (6) Michoacan, Mexico. A comparison of all model outputs across all six regions shows that each model produced quite different deforestation baseline. In general, the simplest FAC model, applied at the national administrative-unit scale, projected the highest amount of forest loss (four out of six) and the LUCS model the least amount of loss (four out of five). Based on simulations of GEOMOD, we found that readily observable physical and biological factors as well as distance to areas of past disturbance were each about twice as important as either sociological/demographic or economic/infrastructure factors (less observable) in explaining empirical land-use patterns. We propose from the lessons learned, a methodology comprised of three main steps and six tasks can be used to begin developing credible baselines. We also propose that the baselines be projected over a 10-year period because, although projections beyond 10 years are feasible, they are likely to be unrealistic for policy purposes. In the first step, an historic land-use change and deforestation estimate is made by determining the analytic domain (size of the region relative to the size of proposed project), obtaining historic data, analyzing candidate historic baseline drivers, and identifying three to four major drivers. In the second step, a baseline of where deforestation is likely to occur --a potential land-use change (PLUC) map is produced using a spatial model such as GEOMOD that uses the key drivers from step one. Then rates of deforestation are projected over a 10-year baseline period using any of the three models. Using the PLUC maps, projected rates of deforestation, and carbon stock estimates, baselineprojections are developed that can be used for project GHG accounting and crediting purposes: The final step proposes that, at agreed interval (eg, +10 years), the baseline assumptions about baseline drivers be re-assessed. This step reviews the viability of the 10-year baseline in light of changes in one or more key baseline drivers (e.g., new roads, new communities, new protected area, etc.). The potential land-use change map and estimates of rates of deforestation could be redone at the agreed interval, allowing the rates and changes in spatial drivers to be incorporated into a defense of the existing baseline, or derivation of a new baseline projection.

The growth and productivity of peach fruit can be limited by many factors, including weather. Previous research indicated that early-spring temperatures for 30 days after bloom have a strong effect on early peach fruit growth, and both the time and potential fruit size at harvest. We analyzed fruit-size trends of three major cultivars in the California fresh-market peach industry (Flavorcrest, Elegant Lady and O’Henry) over a 20-year period to determine if there is a clear relationship between early-spring temperatures and packed fruit sizes industrywide. This research confirmed two significant trends: the size of packed fruit has increased over the 20-year period between 1985 and 2004, and high early-spring temperatures tended to decrease the size of packed fruit at harvest for any given year.

The research experiences for teachers program at Central Michigan University was initiated to team in-service and pre-service teachers with undergraduate engineering students and engineering faculty, in an engineering research setting. During the six-week program, teachers learn engineering concepts and develop high-school instructional material following the new Next Generation Science Standards, so they can bring experiences back to their high school science classrooms. The program has completed its second year. This paper presents a program overview, changes made for the second year based on first year results, assessment of the teachers' experiences and understanding of engineering, and lessons learned by everyone involved.

Functional-structural plant models simulate the development of plant structure, taking into account plant physiology and environmental factors. The L-PEACH model is based on the development of peach trees. It demonstrates the usefulness of L-systems in constructing functional-structural models. L-PEACH uses L-systems both to simulate the development of tree structure and to solve differential equations for carbohydrate flow and allocation. New L-system-based algorithms are devised for simulating the behavior of dynamically changing structures made of hundreds of interacting, time-varying, nonlinear components. L-PEACH incorporates a carbon-allocation model driven by source-sink interactions between tree components. Storage and mobilization of carbohydrates during the annual life cycle of a tree are taken into account. Carbohydrate production in the leaves is simulated based on the availability of water and light. Apices, internodes, leaves and fruit grow according to the resulting local carbohydrate supply. L-PEACH outputs an animated three-dimensional visual representation of the growing tree and user-specified statistics that characterize selected stages of plant development. The model is applied to simulate a tree's response to fruit thinning and changes in water stress. L-PEACH may be used to assist in horticultural decision-making processes after being calibrated to specific trees.

Simply put, a fruit tree can be viewed as a solar collector that converts sunlight into fruit. The more efficiently this is done, the greater the potential yield and profit. Consequently, growers face an important question when planting an orchard — what planting system to use? While varieties can be changed rather easily through grafting, the spacing, rootstock and conformation aspects of an orchard are typically permanent until that orchard is removed entirely, usually only after 15 to 20 years. These aspects can have profound effects on orchard productivity. Research conducted at the UC Kearney Research and Extension Center on orchard systems — including higher-density plantings and pruning techniques that enhance light interception — has allowed growers to make better-informed decisions when planting new orchards.

Production costs in peaches are highly dependent on the cost of labor to prune, thin and harvest trees — costs that would drop if growers had rootstocks that decreased tree size. Collaborating researchers from UC Davis and the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Horticulture Crops Research Laboratory in Parlier screened several promising clonal, size-controlling rootstocks for California peach production. In field tests, two peach scion cultivars (‘Flavorcrest’ and ‘Loadel’) on five interspecific hybrid rootstocks yielded positive results. After 8 years in the orchard, they performed well compared with trees on ‘Nemaguard’ rootstock (the California standard for peaches), with reduced trunk circumferences (60% to 95%), reduced dormant (22% to 80%) and summer (40% to 80%) pruning weights, and acceptable fruit size and crop yields (54% to 98%), since smaller trees will be planted at higher densities. This project has identified three new dwarfing rootstocks with commercial potential for California peach production. One rootstock (‘Hiawatha’) is already available through commercial nurseries and UC and USDA have jointly licensed the two others for commercial use.

[T]he Indians . . . continued to increase their cultivated lands and were prosperous and contented. White people began to take water from the river about forty years ago. The first diversion being so small we hardly noticed it, but they gradually took more out each year till we noticed our loss by not being able to irrigate all our fields. We were forced to abandon them little by little, until some twenty years ago when we were left high and dry.—Chir-purtke, sixty-seven-year-old Pima elder, June 1914INTRODUCTIONOn 17 June 1902, after more than a decade of political debate and maneuvering, the National Reclamation Act became law. This legislation provided direct federal subsidies for the development of irrigation projects across the arid West. Initially, reclamation projects focused on public, rather than private, lands; and since there were large tracts of public lands in the Gila River and Casa Grande valleys, many people—including government officials—believed the first federal reclamation project in Arizona would be built there. Political leaders and farmers from these valleys, banking on a large area of public lands waiting to be developed, were well aware of the chief factor they believed would carry them in their desire for the first federally financed reclamation project: the well-known but unfulfilled government promises to alleviate the water problems of the Pima tribe.