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Highly effective acid-catalysed reactions of amines with dimethyl carbonate (DMC) have been conducted with significant yields and selectivity of carboxymethylation or methylation products.

This article describes a process for the repair and re-use of an aluminium-containing pouch used as an outer casing for a Lithium-ion battery cell. As Lithium-ion batteries become more widespread, particularly with their increasing use in the automotive industry and in consumer electronics, recycling them is becoming an important challenge. Current recycling approaches for Li-ion batteries focus on reclamation of the high-value metals found in the electrodes. However, in order to minimise the environmental impact of the battery it would be optimal to be able to reclaim and re-use other components. Since many battery cells consist of an electrode stack held inside an outer pouch, we herein describe the structure of such a pouch and suggest methods for selectively stripping and repairing the inner layer, allowing the material to be re-used. We investigated the use of three different solvents (xylene, limonene, and 2,2,5,5-tetramethyloxolane) for the selective stripping of the polypropylene (PP) layer on the inner side of a pouch material. Each solvent was tested on both ‘pristine’ pouch material (as obtained from the manufacturer) and pouch material that had previously been part of a battery. For ‘used’ pouch material, the overall thickness of the film decreased from 150–160 μm to 70–80 μm in under 1 h for all three solvents (corresponding to the removal of the PP layer), whereas for the ‘pristine’ pouch higher temperatures and longer times were required; this result is suggestive of some polymer degradation during the life of the pouch. Following the removal of the PP layer, virgin PP was subsequently added to renew the multi-layer structure.

Toxic solvents like n,n-dimethylformamide (DMF), n,n-dimethylethanamide (DMAc), and 1-methyl-2-pyrrolidone (NMP) are commonly used to fabricate polymer support membranes. Replacing these toxic solvents with green solvents such as CyreneTM can imbue sustainability into membrane fabrication, but at the expense of poor membrane separation performances. Here we overcome this limitation by spray coating CyreneTM-based polymer dope solutions to form highly porous asymmetric membranes. The pure water permeance of spray coated polyethersulfone (PES) membranes reached 68.9 L m-2 h-1 bar-1, 7-folds higher than knife cast membranes. This significant increase in permenace was ascribed to a porous, thin skin layer and macrovoids interconnected with finger-like pores in spray coated PES films. However, this did not impacton the ability to yield thin film composites (TFCs) with high separation performances. Through interfacial polymerisation, we deposited a polyamide selective layer on to the surface of spray coated PES films to yield TFCs for desalination of a 2000 ppm NaCl solution. The salt rejection rate and permeance of such TFCs reached 93 % and 1.76 L m-2 h-1 bar-1, respectively. This desalination performance was similar to knife cast membranes produced from DMF-, NMP- and DMAc-based polymer dope solutions, but fabricated here in a more sustainable manner. This indicated that spray coating can overcome the trade-off between poor membrane separation performance and sustainability.

The interaction between Active Galactic Nuclei (AGN) and their host galaxies is scarcely resolved. Narrow-line Seyfert 1 (NLS1) galaxies are believed to represent AGN at early stages of their evolution and allow to observe AGN feeding and feedback processes at high accretion rates. We apply a spectroastrometric analysis to VLT MUSE NFM-AO observations of Mrk 1044, a nearby super-Eddington accreting NLS1. This allows us to map two ionised gas outflows traced by [O$\,$III] which have velocities of $-560\pm20\,{\rm km\:s}^{-1}$ and $-144 \pm 5 \,{\rm km\:s}^{-1}$. Both outflows are spatially unresolved and located close to the galaxy nucleus ($, 17 pages. 12 figures. Re-submitted to A&A after minor revision. Comments welcome

Recent research has highlighted numerous environmental concerns with US prisons, including that prisons are often located on undesirable land that is in close proximity to environmental hazards. We utilize an environmental justice and green criminology perspective to test this in Oklahoma using data on prison sites and toxic releases provided by the US Environmental Protection Agency for a period of seven years (2011–2017). We focus on Oklahoma because it recently became the state with the highest overall incarceration rate and has a history of elevated levels of pollution. Our results find that prison zip codes have greater TRI emissions compared to non-prison zip codes. We conclude with a discussion of the implications of the study and directions for future research.

The Patterson Lake corridor (PLC) in the southwestern margin of the Athabasca Basin hosts several high-grade uranium deposits. These deposits are located in the basement up to 900 m below the unconformity surface, raising questions about their affiliation with typical unconformity-related uranium (URU) deposits elsewhere in the basin. Based on cross-cutting relationships four pre- and three syn- to post-mineralization quartz generations were identified. Fluid inclusion analyses indicate that pre-mineralization fluids have salinities ranging from 0.2 to 27.2 wt% NaCl equiv. (avg. 9.0 wt%), whereas syn-mineralization fluids have salinities ranging from 8.8 to 33.8 wt% NaCl + CaCl2 (avg. 25.4 wt%), with NaCl- and CaCl2-rich varieties. The homogenization temperatures (Th) of fluid inclusions from pre-mineralization quartz range from 80 to 244°C (avg. 147°C), and from syn-mineralization quartz range from 64 to 248°C (avg. 128°C). Fluid boiling is indicated by the co-development of liquid-dominated and vapour-dominated fluid inclusions within individual fluid inclusion assemblages from the syn-mineralization quartz and is related to episodic fluid pressure drops caused by reactivation of basement faults. Our results indicate that composition and P–T conditions of the ore fluids in the PLC are comparable to those of typical URU deposits in the Athabasca Basin, indicating that the uranium deposits in the PLC formed under similar hydrothermal conditions. Episodic reactivation of basement faults was an important driving force to draw uraniferous fluids from the basin and reducing fluids from the basement to the mineralization sites, forming deep basement-hosted deposits. Supplementary material: Table 1, microthermometric results of type-2 and -5 fluid inclusion assembladges and isolated inclusions from the Patterson Lake corridor, and table 2, microthermometric results of type-6 fluid inclusions from the Patterson Lake corridor are available at https://doi.org/10.6084/m9.figshare.c.5510179 Thematic collection: This article is part of the Uranium Fluid Pathways collection available at: https://www.lyellcollection.org/cc/uranium-fluid-pathways

We have noticed an error in the radial metallicity gradient fits provided in Table 3 (Appendix C) of the published article. The columns that list the metallicity gradients have units of dex arcmin-1, rather than the noted dex kpc-1. In the following we provide a corrected version of the table. All figures in the published article are shown in units of R25, and are unchanged from the published version. The results and conclusions of the paper are not affected by this error.

The feedback from young stars (i.e. pre-supernova) is thought to play a crucial role in molecular cloud destruction. In this paper, we assess the feedback mechanisms acting within a sample of 5810 HII regions identified from the PHANGS-MUSE survey of 19 nearby ($ 1$, and expanding, yet there is a small sample of compact HII regions with $P_\mathrm{tot,max}/P_\mathrm{de} < 1$ ($\sim$1% of the sample). These mostly reside in galaxy centres ($R_\mathrm{gal}, Comment: 28 pages total, 16+3 figures, and 3 tables. Accepted for publication in MNRAS

We calibrate commonly used star formation rate (SFR) prescriptions using observations in five kpc-sized fields in the nearby galaxy Andromeda (M31) at 10\,pc spatial resolution. Our observations at different scales enable us to resolve the star-forming regions and to distinguish them from non star-forming components. We use extinction corrected H$\alpha$ from optical integral field spectroscopy as our reference tracer and have verified its reliability via tests. It is used to calibrate monochromatic and hybrid (H$\alpha$+a$\times$IR and FUV+b$\times$IR) SFR prescriptions, which use FUV (GALEX), 22\,$\mu$m (WISE) and 24\,$\mu$m (MIPS). Additionally, we evaluate other multi-wavelength infra-red tracers. Our results indicate that the SFR prescriptions do not change (in M31) with spatial scales or with subtraction of the diffuse component. For the calibration factors in the hybrid SFR prescriptions, we find a$\approx$0.2 and b$\approx$22 in M31, which are a factor of 5 higher than in the literature. As the fields in M31 exhibit high attenuation and low dust temperatures, lie at large galacto-centric distances, and suffer from high galactic inclination compared to measurements in other galaxies, we propose that the fields probe a dust layer extended along the line of sight that is not directly spatially associated with star-forming regions. This (vertically) extended dust component increases the attenuation and alters the SFR prescriptions in M31 compared to literature measurements. We recommend that SFR prescriptions should be applied with caution at large galacto-centric distances and in highly inclined galaxies, due to variations in the relative (vertical) distribution of dust and gas., Comment: 17 pages of the main text, 28 pages in total, 19 figures (13 figures in the main text), 5 tables (3 tables in the main text)

We report spatially resolved [C ii] λ158 μm observations of HE 0433-1028, which is the first detection of a nearby luminous active galactic nucleus (AGN; redshift 0.0355) with the Field-Imaging Far-Infrared Line Spectrometer (FIFI-LS) on board the airborne Stratospheric Observatory For Infrared Astronomy (SOFIA). We compare the spatially resolved star formation tracers [C ii], as provided by our SOFIA observations, and Hα from the Multi Unit Spectroscopic Explorer (MUSE) optical integral-field spectroscopy. We find that the [C ii] emission is mainly matching the extended star formation as traced by the extinction-corrected Hα line emission but some additional flux is present. While a larger sample is needed to statistically confirm our findings and investigate possible dependencies on AGN luminosity and star formation rate, our study underlines the necessity of collecting a spatially resolved optical-far-infrared data set for nearby AGNs, and shows that it is technically feasible to collect such data sets with FIFI-LS on board SOFIA. © 2018. The American Astronomical Society. All rights reserved., Based in part on observations made with the NASA/DLR Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy (SOFIA). SOFIA is jointly operated by the Universities Space Research Association, Inc. (USRA), under NASA contract NAS2-97001, and the Deutsches SOFIA Institut (DSI) under DLR contract 50 OK 0901 to the University of Stuttgart. We thank the anonymous referee for a constructive report that helped to clarify the manuscript. This work was supported by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) via SFB 956, subprojects A2, and A6. The work of S.B. and C.O. was supported by NSERC (Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada). M.G. is supported by NASA through Einstein Postdoctoral Fellowship Award No. PF5-160137 issued by the Chandra X-ray Observatory Center, which is operated by the SAO for and on behalf of NASA under contract NAS8-03060. Support for this work was also provided by Chandra grant GO7-18121X. M.K. acknowledges support by DLR 50OR1802. M.P.T. acknowledges support from the Spanish MINECO through grants AYA2012-38491-C02-02 and AYA2015-63939-C2-1-P.

We explore the radial distribution of star formation in galaxies in the SAMI Galaxy Survey as a function of their local group environment. Using a sample of galaxies in groups (with halo masses less than $ \simeq 10^{14} \, \mathrm{M_{\odot}}$) from the Galaxy And Mass Assembly Survey, we find signatures of environmental quenching in high-mass groups ($M_{G} > 10^{12.5} \, \mathrm{M_{\odot}}$). The mean integrated specific star formation rate of star-forming galaxies in high-mass groups is lower than for galaxies in low-mass groups or that are ungrouped, with $\Delta \log(sSFR/\mathrm{yr^{-1}}) = 0.45 \pm 0.07$. This difference is seen at all galaxy stellar masses. In high-mass groups, star-forming galaxies more massive than $M_{*} \sim 10^{10} \, \mathrm{M_{\odot}}$ have centrally-concentrated star formation. These galaxies also lie below the star-formation main sequence, suggesting they may be undergoing outside-in quenching. Lower mass galaxies in high-mass groups do not show evidence of concentrated star formation. In groups less massive than $M_{G} = 10^{12.5} \, \mathrm{M_{\odot}}$ we do not observe these trends. In this regime we find a modest correlation between centrally-concentrated star formation and an enhancement in total star formation rate, consistent with triggered star formation in these galaxies., Comment: 22 Pages, 11 Figures, accepted for publication in MNRAS

Little applied research focuses on teaching feminine hygiene skills to females with disabilities, yet this is a common clinical concern. The current study demonstrates the use of chaining to teach two young females with autism spectrum disorder feminine hygiene skills. A nonconcurrent multiple baseline across participants was utilized, and the results indicate that both participants acquired the skill. Generalization probes with one participant indicated the skill generalized to novel stimuli.

Oat cultivar AC Vermont was malted to concentrate antioxidants, milled to fractionate only the endosperm portion and extracted with methanol to isolate the crude antioxidants. The oat malt antioxidant fraction was assessed as a natural antioxidant based upon enhancing the stability of corn oil against oxidation and compared to the synthetic antioxidant butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT). The induction time (time required for the formation of 10 meq hydroperoxide per kilogram corn oil thermally oxidized) was used to measure antioxidant activity of oat antioxidant or BHT. The protection factor achieved by crude oat malt antioxidant extract concentrate at 0.26% (2,600 μg/g) was comparable to BHT (75 μg/g). The antioxidant activity of the oat and barley malt extract concentrates was not significantly different. However, the extract concentrate of oat malt had 44% less color compared to that of barley malt at equal concentrations showing its potential as a natural food antioxidant.

The European corn borer (Ostrinia nubilalis Hubner), or ECB, is a major pest of hemp (Cannabis sativa L.). During the course of a study of hemp germplasm and cultivar accessions, the ECB attacked the vertical stem leader of hundreds of plants. At the site of invasion the main stem was typically destroyed, and the plant became strongly branched. Although the damaged plants were an average 9% shorter, mean shoot weight was 20% heavier. Seed productivity was also greater, based on a visual scale. The practical significance of such an “overcompensation” response to insect damage, with damaged plants growing more robustly and productively than their undamaged counterparts, is controversial. Certainly, some aspects of productivity, such as fibre quality, are detrimentally affected by the ECB. The insect showed a preference for larger plants, but was indifferent to the level of tetrahydrocannabinol, the chief intoxicant of C. sativa.

A data set of 348 urea-like compounds that inhibit the soluble epoxide hydrolase enzyme in mice and humans is examined. Compounds having IC(50) values ranging from 0.06 to500 microM (murine) and 0.10 to500 microM (human) are categorized as active or inactive for classification, while quantitation is performed on smaller compound subsets ranging from 0.07 to 431 microM (murine) and 0.11 to 490 microM (human). Each compound is represented by calculated structural descriptors that encode topological, geometrical, electronic, and polar surface features. Multiple linear regression (MLR) and computational neural networks (CNNs) are employed for quantitative models. Three classification algorithms, k-nearest neighbor (kNN), linear discriminant analysis (LDA), and radial basis function neural networks (RBFNN), are used to categorize compounds as active or inactive based on selected data split points. Quantitative modeling of human enzyme inhibition results in a nonlinear, five-descriptor model with root-mean-square errors (log units of IC(50) [microM]) of 0.616 (r(2) = 0.66), 0.674 (r(2) = 0.61), and 0.914 (r(2) = 0.33) for training, cross-validation, and prediction sets, respectively. The best classification results for human and murine enzyme inhibition are found using kNN. Human classification rates using a seven-descriptor model for training and prediction sets are 89.1% and 91.4%, respectively. Murine classification rates using a five-descriptor model for training and prediction sets are 91.5% and 88.6%, respectively.

Genetic variation for forage yield of orchardgrass is abundant, but there are few reports of progress from selection for increased forage yield. The objective of this study was to estimate direct effects of selection from one cycle of half-sib family selection for forage yield in orchardgrass. Eleven selected populations were compared with their parent populations within three maturity groups. Populations were evaluated under hay management at three locations and management-intensive rotational grazing at two locations. Nine of the 11 selected populations differed, by an average of 7.4%, from their parent population in forage yield. Nine of the selected populations also showed changes in Drechslera leafspot reaction, all indicating a negative genetic correlation with forage yield. Selection for high forage yield tended to result in greater ground cover and later relative maturity. However, changes in net herbage accumulation (NHA) under rotational grazing were generally not significant and were uncorrelated with changes in forage yield, indicating that forage yield of hay plots is not correlated with the NHA of grazed plots. Although genetic gains in forage yield measured under hay management were very favourable relative to other reports from the literature, the lack of correlated progress under grazing management indicates that directed selection for NHA of orchardgrass should be conducted under grazing management.

There has been considerable activity in breeding orchardgrass (Dactylis glomerata L.) cultivars in North America during the latter half of the 20th century. The objective of this study was to determine if genetic improvements in the North American orchardgrass germplasm pool have been realized or can be detected under management intensive grazing. Forty-three orchardgrass cultivars, in three maturity groups, representing adapted North American germplasm and potentially unadapted European germplasm, were evaluated under management-intensive rotational grazing at two locations in the northern USA. Cultivar means varied for apparent preference and this variation was largely due to herbage availability at State College, PA, where grazing pressure was relatively high, but to other factors at Arlington, WI, where grazing pressure was relatively low. North American cultivars tended to have higher net herbage accumulation than European cultivars, corresponding well to differences in forage yield of hay plots. Orchardgrass cultivars that were significantly higher in hay yield than their predecessors showed mixed results with respect to net herbage accumulation under grazing: some increases, some decreases, and some with no change. These results indicate that an individual orchardgrass cultivar can be well adapted to both management systems, only one of the two systems, or neither system. Genetic increases in net herbage accumulation may occur serendipitously, but directed selection for specific traits that confer productivity under grazing, or net herbage accumulation per se, will probably ensure a higher probability of success for an orchardgrass breeding program directed to pastures. Key words: Dactylis glomerata, cultivar evaluation, breeding, selection, grazing

There has been considerable activity in breeding orchardgrass (Dactylis glomerata L.) cultivars in North America during the latter half of the 20th century, but little effort devoted to quantification of breeding progress. The objectives of this study were to quantify changes in mean cultivar performance for that time compared with the progress achieved from one cycle of half-sib progeny selection within the USDA population of orchardgrass accessions. Forty-two cultivars (32 North American cultivars and 10 European cultivars) were tested at three locations (Arlington, WI and Rock Springs, PA, and Ottawa, Ontario, Canada) in 1995 through 1997. Cultivars were grouped into three experiments by maturity class: early, medium, and late. North American cultivars averaged 3,9, and 12 % higher in forage yield than European cultivars for early, medium, and late maturity groups, respectively. Between 1955 and 1997, forage yield and ground cover of early-maturity cultivars increased by 2.5 Mg ha -1 decade -1 and 4.0% decade -1 , respectively. Forage nutritional value of medium-maturity cultivars increased during that time, although this was probably not due to direct selection. Significant gains were made in forage yield and Drechslera spp. leafspot reaction of cultivars derived from two individual breeding programs, although the majority of orchardgrass cultivars lack improvements in forage traits.

Various preconditioning treatments of alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) somatic embryos to improve embryo quality and conversion were studied. Four different regenerating genotypes were compared. Embryogenic cultures were established in liquid culture. Globular embryos were collected and plated on an embryo development medium until they reached cotyledonary stage. They were then exposed to three treatments: a standard embryo development medium (control), media supplementation with 1 μM abscisic acid (ABA), 50 mM glutamine and 5% sucrose (T), additional supplementation with 50 μM ABA (TT), and additional supplementation followed by desiccation (TTD). Treatments affected embryo conversion, but not uniformly for all genotypes. Embryo conversion was increased (P

Production of small-seeded natto soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] has increased in eastern Canada during the past decade. Improved natto quality characteristics are important for maintaining and increasing this market. This study was conducted to examine environmental and genotype x environment effects on quality characteristics. Two data sets were used for statistical analysis: seven lines grown at five locations in 1989 and 1990 (Data Set 1) and fifteen lines grown at the same five locations in 1993 and 1994 (Data Set 2). Quality characteristics important in natto production were measured: small-seed fraction, percentage of seeds with impermeable seed coats, water uptake, seed shape, and levels of the seed constituents, Ca, oil, and sugar. Genotypes were significantly different for most traits in both data sets. Location effects were not significant for any quality traits. Year effects were significant only for seed shape and sugar levels in Data Set 2. Year x location interactions were often significant, but no patterns were apparent in these interactions. Genotype x environment interactions were often significant, but these variance components were usually an order of magnitude smaller than the main effects of genotype. These results indicate that it is possible to develop natto soybean cultivars that are broadly adapted to the short-season areas of eastern Canada.

We recently discovered that the active galactic nucleus (AGN) of Mrk 1018 has changed optical type again after 30 years as a type 1 AGN. Here we combine Chandra, NuStar, Swift, Hubble Space Telescope and ground-based observations to explore the cause of this change. The 2-10keV flux declines by a factor of ~8 between 2010 and 2016. We show with our X-ray observation that this is not caused by varying neutral hydrogen absorption along the line-of-sight up to the Compton-thick level. The optical-UV spectral energy distributions are well fit with a standard geometrically thin optically thick accretion disc model that seems to obey the expected $L\sim T^4$ relation. It confirms that a decline in accretion disc luminosity is the primary origin for the type change. We detect a new narrow-line absorber in Lya blue-shifted by ~700km/s with respect to the systemic velocity of the galaxy. This new Lya absorber could be evidence for the onset of an outflow or a companion black hole with associated gas that could be related to the accretion rate change. However, the low column density of the absorber means that it is not the direct cause for Mrk 1018's changing-look nature., 4 pages, 4 figures, Published in A&A

In 2008, a northwest Texas feedlot underwent an outbreak of Bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV) causing high morbidity and mortality involving 2 lots of calves (lots A and B). Severe mucosal surface lesions were observed grossly in the oral cavity, larynx, and esophagus. Mucosal lesions varied from small (1–3 mm) infrequent mucosal ulcerations to large (5 mm to 1 cm) and coalescing ulcerations. Necrotic debris was present in ulcerations of some mortalities with some having plaque-like debris, but other mortalities presented more proliferative lesions. A calf persistently infected with BVDV arrived with one lot and the isolated virus was genotyped as BVDV-1b. Identical BVDV-1b strains were isolated from 2 other mortalities. A BVDV-2a genotype was also isolated in this outbreak. This genotype was identical to all BVDV-2a strains isolated in both lots. Serum samples were collected from exposed and unexposed animals and tested for antibodies for multiple viral pathogens. Seropositivity ranged from zero percent for calicivirus to 100% positive to Pseudocowpox virusx. At the end of the feeding period, the morbidity and mortality for the 2 lots involved was 76.2% and 30.8%, respectively, for lot A, and 49.0% and 5.6%, respectively, for lot B. Differential diagnoses included vesicular stomatitis viruses, Bovine papular stomatitis virus, and Foot-and-mouth disease virus. Based on the present case, acute BVDV should be considered when mucosal lesions are observed grossly.

Improving the nutritive value of timothy (Phleum pratense L.) through breeding is dependent on selecting for genetic traits which directly contribute to ruminant digestibility. The identification of these traits is the goal of many forage researchers. The objectives of this research were to evaluate the leaf and stem digestibility of six timothy genotypes under different temperature conditions using two methods of estimating digestibility. Correlations between leaf and stem digestibility were not significant, suggesting that separation of these components is nessessary to clearly evaluate genotypic differences. Temperature had an important effect on digestibility, particularly for the stem fraction. Isolating leaf from stem and evaluating genotypes individually across temperatures may permit the identification of more simple genetic factors which control digestibility in timothy. Genotypic differences were observed at all temperatures. The rumen fluid digestion resulted in a much greater range within and among genotypes for both stem and leaf fractions. Genotypes tended to follow the same trends with respect to temperature using both techniques suggesting that only a portion of the dry matter digested by rumen fluid is available to the cellulases used in these experiments. Lignin content was measured for two of the most variable genotypes and the results showed that while levels increased with higher growth temperature, differences between genotypes are more pronounced at 10 °C for both leaf and stem. Key words: Digestibility, forage quality, lignin, temperature, timothy, Phleum pratense L.

The use of quantitative structure-property relationships (QSPRs) to predict aqueous solubilities (log S) of heteroatom-containing organic compounds from their molecular structure is presented. Three data sets are examined. Data set 1 contains 176 compounds having one or more nitrogen atoms with some oxygen (log S[mol/L] range is -7.41 to 0.96). Data set 2 contains 223 compounds having one or more oxygen atoms, with no nitrogen (log S[mol/L] range is -8.77 to 1.57). Data set 3 contains all 399 compounds from sets 1 and 2 (log S/mol/L] range is -8.77 to 1.57). After descriptor generation and feature selection, multiple linear regression (MLR) and computational neural network (CNN) models are developed for aqueous solubility prediction. The best results were obtained with nonlinear CNN models. Root-mean-square (rms) errors for training with the three data sets ranged from 0.3 to 0.6 log units. All models were validated with external prediction sets, with the rms errors ranging from 0.6 log units to 1.5 log units.

Previous studies have indicated that individual timothy (Phleum pratense L.) genotypes being evaluated for quality should be grown under competition. There is little information on the effect of differential plant competition on the precision of yield or quality estimates. In a series of three experiments, timothy genotypes of uniform maturity were grown in field simulated swards with a population density of 100 plants m−2. The objectives were (i) to investigate the effect of planting patterns (1, 2 or 4 plants per experimental unit) on the precision of DM yield and a quality parameter, acid-pepsin digestibility (APD) estimates; (ii) to determine if adjusting for differential competition would increase the precision of yield estimates; and (iii) to evaluate the adequacy of a two-replicate simulated sward for commercial screening of timothy genotypes for yield and APD. Wide ranges among genotypes for DM yield indicated that plants within the sward were under strong competitive pressure. The highest precision for DM yield was obtained with the four-plant experimental unit but was marginally better than the two-plant unit. Size of experimental unit had little effect on the precision of APD estimates. Differential competitive pressure had no effect on either DM yield or APD estimates. Including the yield of neighbouring plants in the statistical model as a covariate did not improve the precision of yield estimates. It is concluded that a two-replicate sward with a two-plant experimental unit is adequate for routine screening of yield and APD in a breeding program.Key words: Competition, Phleum pratense L., simulated swards, timothy

Deep, stratigraphic gas traps in the Dnieper-Donets Basin (DDB), Ukraine, are subject to increased interest and development activities in recent years. 3D time-migrated seismic data processed in 2008, first time access to full well log coverage by means o

The level of heterozygosity at multi-allelic loci is related to vigor in autotetraploid forage species. Increasing the proportions of tri- and tetra-allelic individuals in the commercial seed generation is one approach for improving yield. In this study, computer simulation was used to determine the expected genotypic structures of progeny populations from various mating designs. Four- and 8-allele models were examined.

A field study of over 4 km thickness of Cambro-Ordovician to Cretaceous sediments deposited on the passive margin of northern India has provided significant new data on the thickness, age and depositional environments of these deposits. The first detailed structural map of the Phuctal area and a regional map of Eastern Zanskar are presented, together with sequentially restored structural cross sections. An imbricate thrust duplex and a lateral ramp stack, which formed in the Phuctal area during SW-directed thrust propagation, were later deformed by NE-directed structures probably produced during gravitational collapse of the thrust stack. Collapse occurred along the previously documented Zanskar shear zone, and also by reactivation of the basal detachment of the Zangla nappe. This dorsal collapse of the orogen was probably related to an increase in uplift rate during the Neogene, and may have coincided with the initiation of the Main Boundary Thrust farther south.

Extended abstract of a paper presented at Microscopy and Microanalysis 2013 in Indianapolis, Indiana, USA, August 4 – August 8, 2013.