Limited Number Of Fields Research Articles

A Possible Role of Copernicus Sentinel-2 Data to Support Common Agricultural Policy Controls in Agriculture

Farmers that intend to access Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) contributions must submit an application to the territorially competent Paying Agencies (PA). Agencies are called to verify consistency of CAP contributions requirements through ground campaigns. Recently, EU regulation (N. 746/2018) proposed an alternative methodology to control CAP applications based on Earth Observation data. Accordingly, this work was aimed at designing and implementing a prototype of service based on Copernicus Sentinel-2 (S2) data for the classification of soybean, corn, wheat, rice, and meadow crops. The approach relies on the classification of S2 NDVI time-series (TS) by “user-friendly” supervised classification algorithms: Minimum Distance (MD) and Random Forest (RF). The study area was located in the Vercelli province (NW Italy), which represents a strategic agricultural area in the Piemonte region. Crop classes separability proved to be a key factor during the classification process. Confusion matrices were generated with respect to ground checks (GCs); they showed a high Overall Accuracy (>80%) for both MD and RF approaches. With respect to MD and RF, a new raster layer was generated (hereinafter called Controls Map layer), mapping four levels of classification occurrences, useful for administrative procedures required by PA. The Control Map layer highlighted that only the eight percent of CAP 2019 applications appeared to be critical in terms of consistency between farmers’ declarations and classification results. Only for these ones, a GC was warmly suggested, while the 12% must be desirable and the 80% was not required. This information alone suggested that the proposed methodology is able to optimize GCs, making possible to focus ground checks on a limited number of fields, thus determining an economic saving for PA and/or a more effective strategy of controls.

Molecular Characterization of an Emerging Root-Knot Nematode Meloidogyne enterolobii in North Carolina, USA.

An emerging threat to agriculture, Meloidogyne enterolobii Yang & Eisenback, 1983, is a tropical species and considered to be the most damaging root-knot nematode (RKN) in the world because of its wide host range, aggressiveness, and ability to overcome resistance to RKN in many crops. It was first detected in the United States on ornamental plants in Florida in 2001 but has since been identified in North Carolina, South Carolina, and Louisiana. Several thousand RKN populations were collected from North Carolina field crops, ornamental plants, and turfgrasses for species identification in the Nematode Assay Laboratory in the North Carolina Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services. From 2006 to 2019, root systems showing galling symptoms were dissected under the microscope, and females were obtained for DNA analysis. When only soil samples were submitted, the second-stage juveniles or males were used instead. Molecular characterization was performed via polymerase chain reaction with species-specific primers and DNA sequencing on the ribosomal DNA 18S-ITS1-5.8S and 28S D2/D3 and mitochondrial DNA CoxII-16S. One hundred thirty-five representative RKN populations from North Carolina were characterized and identified as M. enterolobii. Six populations from China where the species was originally described were included in this study for identity confirmation and comparison. As of December 2019, M. enterolobii has been confirmed from a limited number of fields in 11 North Carolina counties: Columbus, Craven, Greene, Harnett, Johnston, Lenoir, Nash, Pitt, Sampson, Wayne, and Wilson. Currently, M. enterolobii is the most important emerging RKN species in the United States and causes severe damage to agronomic and horticultural crops, especially sweetpotato in North Carolina.

Subsurface monitoring and surveillance using inter-well gas tracers

Abstract Tracer technology has gained considerable attention recently as an effective tool in the reservoir monitoring and surveillance toolkit, particularly in improved oil recovery (IOR) operations. Gas flow paths within the reservoir can be quite different from liquid (oil and water) flow paths. This is primarily due to gravity override, and differences in density and relative permeability between the gas and liquid phases. An Inter Well Gas Tracer Test (IWGTT) is a key monitoring and surveillance tool for any IOR projects. IWGTT should be designed and implemented to track the flow behavior of gas phase. The test generally entails injecting a small amount of unique perflouro-hydrocarbon tracers into the gas phase injectant stream. IWGTT have been conducted on a limited number of fields across the globe, and sample results of some will be presented. The sampling frequency of the tracers from the producers should be designed carefully to collect the necessary data that will provide insights about the connectivity between the injectors and producers well pairs, gas breakthrough times (“time of flight”), and possible interwell fluid saturations. Different fit-for-purpose unique tracers can be deployed in the subject injector(s) stream and their elution can be monitored in the corresponding up-dip producer(s). In addition to reservoir connectivity and breakthrough times between injector and producer pairs, an IWGTT helps in optimizing water altering gas (WAG) operations and production strategies for gas injection projects, improve sweep efficiency and ultimately enhance oil recovery. It can also be used to identify source of inadvertent gas leakage into shallow aquifers or soil gas, and help in the planning and placement of future wells. This paper reviews the workflow and necessary logistics for the successful deployment of an interwell gas tracer test. It will provide the best practices for designing, sampling, analyzing and interpreting a gas tracer deployment. The paper also highlights the benefits of gas tracer data and their usefulness in understanding well interconnectivity and dynamic fluid flow in the reservoir. The results can be used to refine the reservoir simulation model and fine-tune its parameters. This effort should lead to better reservoir description and an improved dynamic simulation model. The challenges associated with IWGTT will also be shared.

High Risk Blueberry Viruses by Region in North America; Implications for Certification, Nurseries, and Fruit Production.

There is limited information on the distribution of blueberry viruses in the U.S. or around the world other than where the viruses were first discovered and characterized. A survey for blueberry viruses was carried out in the U.S. in 2015–2017. Most blueberry viruses have been characterized to the point that sensitive diagnostic assays have been developed. These assays are based on ELISA or variations of PCR, which were employed here to determine the presence of blueberry viruses in major blueberry production and nursery areas of the U.S. The viruses included in this study were: blueberry fruit drop (BFDaV), blueberry latent (BlLV), blueberry leaf mottle (BLMoV), blueberry mosaic (BlMaV), blueberry red ringspot (BRRV), blueberry scorch (BlScV), blueberry shock (BlShV), blueberry shoestring (BlSSV), blueberry virus A (BVA), peach rosette mosaic (PRMV), tobacco ringspot (TRSV), and tomato ringspot (ToRSV). In the Pacific Northwest BlShV was the most widespread virus, with BlScV and ToRSV detected in a limited number of fields in Oregon and Washington, but BlScV was widespread in British Columbia. In the upper midwest, the nematode-borne (ToRSV, TRSV), aphid-transmitted (BlSSV and BVA) and pollen-borne (BLMoV) viruses were most widespread. In the northeast, TRSV, ToRSV, and BlScV, were detected most frequently. In the southeast, BRRV and BNRBV were the most widespread viruses. BlLV, a cryptic virus with no known symptoms or effect on plant growth or yield was present in all regions. There are other viruses present at low levels in each of the areas, but with the lower incidence they pose minimal threat to nursery systems or fruit production. These results indicate that there are hotspots for individual virus groups that normally coincide with the presence of the vectors. The information presented highlights the high risk viruses for nursery and fruit production each pose a different challenge for control.

A Collaborative Effort toward an Integrative Web Portal at the University of Wisconsin-Madison

The University of Wisconsin (UW) Madison's five main natural history collections (Anthropology, Entomology, Geology, Herbarium, and Zoology) have joined together to begin digitizing our collections and disseminating information online via an integrated web portal. This two-year project, currently beginning its second year, is the result of a UW2020 grant, "Development of the Wisconsin Integrated Biodiversity, Human, and Environmental Specimen Portal." The first objective of the grant is to initiate, or assist with current, digitizing efforts within each collection. This step includes photographing, inventorying, and/or cataloging specimens and either entering new records or updating existing records in collection-specific databases. The remaining objective is to design and implement a web presence (in the planned format of a web portal) to allow the ability to search a limited number of fields from all of the collections' databases. This step, currently still in the planning stages, involved hiring a temporary employee to liaise between all of the collections, perform the web design, and write the background scripts to pull needed data from each collection's database program. This presentation will outline the grant goals and progress to date by each collection, although the primary focus will be on the successes and limitations in the Anthropology collection.

Employment in Adults with Down Syndrome in the United States: Results from a National Survey.

There is no current data about employment/unemployment of adults with Down syndrome in the United States. The data that exists includes adults with Down syndrome as part of the larger group of people with disabilities or people with intellectual disability. This study used a survey to investigate paid and volunteer employment, unemployment, types of jobs, job training, job settings, job schedules and job satisfaction in adults with Down syndrome. There were 511 survey responses received. Findings were that there is high unemployment for adults with Down syndrome and that current employment is in a limited number of fields, primarily in the areas of food, janitorial work, landscaping, and office work. A small percentage of respondents have full time paid employment. A combination of part time paid employment and unpaid volunteer work is typical. Implications for educators, counselors, legislators and employers are discussed.

Biological effect of dose distortion by fiducial markers in spot‐scanning proton therapy with a limited number of fields: A simulation study

In accurate proton spot-scanning therapy, continuous target tracking by fluoroscopic x ray during irradiation is beneficial not only for respiratory moving tumors of lung and liver but also for relatively stationary tumors of prostate. Implanted gold markers have been used with great effect for positioning the target volume by a fluoroscopy, especially for the cases of liver and prostate with the targets surrounded by water-equivalent tissues. However, recent studies have revealed that gold markers can cause a significant underdose in proton therapy. This paper focuses on prostate cancer and explores the possibility that multiple-field irradiation improves the underdose effect by markers on tumor-control probability (TCP). A Monte Carlo simulation was performed to evaluate the dose distortion effect. A spherical gold marker was placed at several characteristic points in a water phantom. The markers were with two different diameters of 2 and 1.5 mm, both visible on fluoroscopy. Three beam arrangements of single-field uniform dose (SFUD) were examined: one lateral field, two opposite lateral fields, and three fields (two opposite lateral fields + anterior field). The relative biological effectiveness (RBE) was set to 1.1 and a dose of 74 Gy (RBE) was delivered to the target of a typical prostate size in 37 fractions. The ratios of TCP to that without the marker (TCP(r)) were compared with the parameters of the marker sizes, number of fields, and marker positions. To take into account the dependence of biological parameters in TCP model, α∕β values of 1.5, 3, and 10 Gy (RBE) were considered. It was found that the marker of 1.5 mm diameter does not affect the TCPs with all α∕β values when two or more fields are used. On the other hand, if the marker diameter is 2 mm, more than two irradiation fields are required to suppress the decrease in TCP from TCP(r) by less than 3%. This is especially true when multiple (two or three) markers are used for alignment of a patient. It is recommended that 1.5-mm markers be used to avoid the reduction of TCP as well as to spare the surrounding critical organs, as long as the markers are visible on x-ray fluoroscopy. When 2-mm markers are implanted, more than two fields should be used and the markers should not be placed close to the distal edge of any of the beams.

Direct aperture optimization for FLEC‐based MERT and its application in mixed beam radiotherapy

Despite promising research in modulated electron radiotherapy (MERT), an applicator to produce modulated electron beams and associated treatment planning software is still not commercially available. This work investigated an optimization process in treatment planning for the McGill few leaf electron collimator (FLEC) MERT delivery device. In addition, the possibility of combining MERT with photon fields was examined to investigate mixed beam radiotherapy. A FLEC direct aperture optimization (DAO) method, in which FLEC apertures and weights were iteratively optimized was created. The authors evaluated the performance of DAO against our previous technique for generating FLEC plans and with commercially available photon beam optimization algorithms using a basic target and organ at risk geometry. The authors applied the DAO technique on a sarcoma treatment to evaluate clinical parameters. Finally, the authors examined the merit of mixing the DAO generated FLEC electron fields with photon fields to improve the dosimetry of the sarcoma treatment. In relation to the alternative plans, the DAO generated sarcoma MERT plan was competitive in its ability to reduce the dose to OAR but weaker in its ability to highly conform the dose to the target volume. The addition of photon fields improved the quality of the MERT plan in terms of OAR sparing and target conformality. The DAO approach yielded deliverable FLEC-based MERT plans with a limited number of fields. The approach combined with photon optimization added flexibility, where the mutual benefits of each radiation type was used in unison to improve plan quality.

E3 Program and Its Role in International Cooperation in Engineering Education

Hokkaido University started out in 1876 as Sapporo Agricultural College with foreign professors teaching agriculture and civil engineering to Japanese students in English. Since then HU has expanded to cover various disciplines and changed its medium of instruction to Japanese. In 2000, HU School of Engineering launched a graduate program with English as a medium of instruction. It is a complete reverse from a century ago because this time professors are Japanese while students are mainly international students from overseas. The main objective is to disseminate advanced knowledge Japan has accumulated through international students and at the same time “internationalize” our educational system.The “English Engineering Education program” or e3 started in October 2000 with a limited number of fields. As of 2010 it has expanded to cover all fields offered by the School of Engineering. At present close to 100 graduate students from 27 countries enrolled in the program. 114 courses are offered in English, out of which 47 are regular courses, in other words, attended by both Japanese and e3 students. This paper introduces the e3 program and its practices. Its role on international cooperation in engineering education and on engineering education itself is described.

Social policy reform in Hong Kong and Shanghai: a tale of two cities

Social Policy Reform in Hong Kong and Shanghai: A Tale of Two Cities, edited by Linda Wong, Lynn T. White and Shixun Gui. Armonk: M. E. Sharpe, 2004. xix + 292 pp. US$69.95 (hardcover). Social policy reform is not new to China. In the first half of the 20th century, both the Kuomintang and the Chinese Communist Party adopted legislation designed to provide a measure of protection to workers, even though they were unable to implement most of these policies. Before the establishment of the People's Republic, the Communist Party tested welfare and retirement programs for industrial workers in a limited number of fields, and medical care programs for job-related injuries. Though much of the profit made in Shanghai enterprises was diverted to other regions of China, the city's industrial workers were recipients of various benefits under Mao. Post-Mao, much of Shanghai's profits were retained locally, with the result that in the past twenty years there has been a marked upgrading of housing, schools and medical services. In Hong Kong, post-World War II developments were the reverse of those in Shanghai. The laissez-faire attitude in this British colony initially eschewed state intervention in housing, education, medical care and other social reform activities (except perhaps policing). Only slowly and cautiously did the colonial government allocate finances for some social services, for example providing low-cost housing when catastrophic fires left no other choice. Beset by a refugee population and needing workers for manufacturing companies, the Hong Kong government slowly implemented modest educational programs and some medical services, but this conservative policy slowly changed, especially as the date for a return to Chinese control drew near. As the 21st century now unfolds, it is interesting to consider how these two important urban centers compare. This book, edited by Linda Wong (City University of Hong Kong), Lynn White (Princeton University) and Gui Shixun (East China Normal University), provides a first cut at this comparison. What have the two cities done and how successful have they been? The book has nine chapters. Excluding the introduction (Wong and Gui) and the concluding commentary (White), the seven core chapters are analytical descriptions and comparisons of Hong Kong and Shanghai policies with respect to health finance, housing, education, labor, poverty and social security, elder care, and migration and competitiveness. Each topical chapter (all of these have three authors) presents data in the form of charts, and summarizes and analyses relevant legislation. All have bibliographies, mostly (though not exclusively) of Chinese sources. Despite effort, a comparison has been difficult to achieve, for two reasons. Although each chapter has three authors, most of them have expertise about only one city, with general knowledge of the other. This results in uneven coverage and a disparity of space allocated between the two cities. …

The not so simple relationship between seismicity and oil production in the Permian Basin, west Texas

We have relocated seismicity occurring in the Permian Basin of west Texas between 1975 and 1979 using three-dimensional velocity models constructed from well log information and compared the locations to detailed geological and geophysical models of specific oil fields. The seismicity appears to be related to a variety of causes including migration of naturally occurring overpressured fluids, tectonic activity, reservoir production, and enhanced recovery operations. Many earthquakes may represent a combination of these effects. Although the Permian Basin is the site of numerous oil and gas fields, only a limited number of fields appears to be associated with seismicity. We find that there are similarities in the structural setting in the fields associated with seismicity. Furthermore, fields within the Delaware Basin that are associated with seismicity are located in regions of high vertical and lateral fluid pressure gradients related to an overpressured zone within the Delaware Basin.

Determinants of Educational Participation and Achievement of Women in the Third World: A Review of the Evidence and a Theoretical Critique

This review discusses several factors that affect women’s participation and achievement in the formal educational system and that contribute to significant gender inequalities in education. Cultural norms and the division of labor within the home function to the detriment of girls, who are defined primarily as future mothers. Women in higher socioeconomic classes experience less restriction in gaining access to university, but cultural norms still lead them to select from a limited number of fields of study. The school experience of most women provides them with messages and practices that reinforce rather than challenge the sexual division of labor. Although the literature treats the various determinants of participation and achievement in a segmented, decontextualized manner, the evidence suggests that the family and school-related factors are not independent but operate in a symbiotic relationship. The review uses feminist theories to provide an interpretation of the empirical findings and discusses the explanatory power of these theories. The review concludes with a number of recommendations to improve and expand research on gender issues in education.

The use of U.S. General Accounting Office reports in the social sciences

The purpose of the study is to understand social scientists' use of General Accounting Office reports as measured by citations in articles listed in the Social Sciences Citation Index. The citing articles were located by a computerized search. The representation of General Accounting Office reports is shown for source journals classified by subject area. Journals in category areas related to public policy use the reports more intensively than do those in other subjects. The usage of the report collection in a limited number of fields may suggest changes in library selection decisions and in document distribution.

Focal centres of specialization

The Council for Scientific Policy in its second report (see review in December 1967 Bulletin) rejects the idea of a number of universities becoming 'centres of excellence' and instead favours the creation of focal centres of specialization, within which each university would be able to specialize in a limited number of fields. As the Council recognizes, this is already happening, since no university can do everything, but the intention here is clearly to encourage such specialization.