Nontronite NAu-1 was exposed to moderate temperature and pressure conditions (250 and 300°C at 100 MPa pressure) in KCl brine to simulate burial diagenetic systems over accelerated time periods appropriate for laboratory experiments. Powder X-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy analysis of the coexisting mixed-layer and discrete 10 Å clay reaction products, and inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry analysis of the remaining fluids, indicated that the clay retained octahedral Fe and was identified as Fe-celadonite. The release of Fe from smectite during burial diagenesis has been hypothesized as a mechanism for magnetite authigenesis. High Al activity relative to Fe may be critical to the formation of an aluminous illite and any associated authigenic magnetite.

Objectives: The present study constitutes the first randomized controlled trial to investigate the relation of lutein (L) and zeaxanthin (Z) to brain function using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). It was hypothesized that L and Z supplementation in older adults would enhance neural efficiency (i.e., reduce activation) and cognitive performance on a verbal learning task relative to placebo. Methods: A total of 44 community-dwelling older adults (mean age=72 years) were randomly assigned to receive either placebo or L+Z supplementation (12 mg/daily) for 1 year. Neurocognitive performance was assessed at baseline and post-intervention on an fMRI-adapted task involving learning and recalling word pairs. Imaging contrasts of blood-oxygen-level-dependent (BOLD) signal were created by subtracting active control trials from learning and recall trials. A flexible factorial model was employed to investigate the expected group (placebo vs. supplement) by time (baseline vs. post-intervention) interaction in pre-specified regions-of-interest. Results: L and Z appeared to buffer cognitive decline on the verbal learning task (Cohen’s d=.84). Significant interactions during learning were observed in left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex and anterior cingulate cortex (p < .05, family-wise-error corrected). However, these effects were in the direction of increased rather than decreased BOLD signal. Although the omnibus interaction was not significant during recall, within-group contrasts revealed significant increases in left prefrontal activation in the supplement group only. Conclusions: L and Z supplementation appears to benefit neurocognitive function by enhancing cerebral perfusion, even if consumed for a discrete period of time in late life. (JINS, 2018, 24, 77–90)

Yield loss of hard red spring wheat due to competition from common milkweed was measured in grower fields in Minnesota. Wheat yield loss was measured using the area of influence and additive competitive methods. Simple linear regression of wheat yield and percentage wheat yield loss against distance from a common milkweed shoot gave r2 values of 0.013 and 0.015, respectively, indicating limited value of the area of influence model for common milkweed in spring wheat. In an additive competition model, wheat yield was reduced 47% at the highest density of 12 common milkweed shoots m−2. Coefficients of determination for percentage yield loss regressed against common milkweed shoot density were 0.548, 0.547, and 0.529 for simple linear, nonlinear rectangular hyperbolic, and linear square root function models, respectively. Regression of percentage yield loss against common milkweed biomass resulted in r2 values of 0.566, 0.645, and 0.658 for simple linear, nonlinear rectangular hyperbolic, and linear square root function models, respectively. Restrictions of common milkweed density due to factors other than competition limited yield loss response to the simple linear phase of both the nonlinear rectangular hyperbolic and the linear square root function models previously described.

Rates and application timings of postemergence herbicides for wild oat control in spring wheat and barley were evaluated at Crookston, MN, from 1994 to 1996. Diclofop, imazamethabenz, and fenoxaprop plus MCPA plus thifensulfuron plus tribenuron were applied to one- to three-leaf wild oat; and difenzoquat, imazamethabenz, fenoxaprop plus MCPA plus thifensulfuron plus tribenuron, and fenoxaprop plus 2,4-D plus MCPA were applied to four- to five-leaf wild oat at 1/2 ×, 3/4 ×, and 1 × rates. Wild oat response to herbicide rate and timing was similar in wheat and barley. Wild oat control with 1/2 × rates generally was less than that with 3/4 × rates, which was lower than or similar to that with 1 × rates. Wild oat biomass was often reduced less with 1/2 × rates than 1 × rates. However, reducing herbicide rates generally did not influence grain yields or net economic return. Grain yields and net economic return were generally greater in herbicide-treated plots than in the nontreated control.

Studies were conducted at Rosemount and Crookston, MN, in 1994 and 1995 to determine weed control efficacy and crop injury of F8426 (proposed common name carfentrazone-ethyl) in hard red spring wheat. F8426 alone and with 2,4-D or dicamba generally controlled common lambsquarters, kochia, and velvetleaf 90% or more at 0.026 and 0.035 kg/ha. F8426 alone and with 2,4-D or dicamba controlled Pennsylvania smartweed, wild buckwheat, and wild mustard 39 to 100% and was less consistent than control of the aforementioned species. Weed control varied little among the F8426 rates. Weed control was inconsistent between location, year, and species when F8426 was combined with crop oil concentrate, urea–ammonium nitrate solution, and nonionic surfactant. Control was more consistent when 0.28 kg/ha 2,4-D or 0.07 kg/ha dicamba was tank mixed with either F8426 rate. The best control with an F8426 treatment was similar to control from MCPA tank mixed with thifensulfuron plus tribenuron, bromoxynil, or dicamba. Weed control 30 and 45 days after treatment (DAT) was less for F8426-containing treatments than standard treatments, which likely was related to reduced crop competition after severe crop injury. Increasing F8426 rate from 0.026 to 0.035 kg/ha did not greatly increase wheat injury, whereas adding 0.28 kg/ha 2,4-D to either F8426 rate greatly increased crop injury. Wheat yield was reduced up to 63% by F8426 and 2,4-D combinations.

In North America, terrestrial records of biodiversity and climate change that span Marine Oxygen Isotope Stage (MIS) 5 are rare. Where found, they provide insight into how the coupling of the ocean–atmosphere system is manifested in biotic and environmental records and how the biosphere responds to climate change. In 2010–2011, construction at Ziegler Reservoir near Snowmass Village, Colorado (USA) revealed a nearly continuous, lacustrine/wetland sedimentary sequence that preserved evidence of past plant communities between ~140 and 55 ka, including all of MIS 5. At an elevation of 2705 m, the Ziegler Reservoir fossil site also contained thousands of well-preserved bones of late Pleistocene megafauna, including mastodons, mammoths, ground sloths, horses, camels, deer, bison, black bear, coyotes, and bighorn sheep. In addition, the site contained more than 26,000 bones from at least 30 species of small animals including salamanders, otters, muskrats, minks, rabbits, beavers, frogs, lizards, snakes, fish, and birds. The combination of macro- and micro-vertebrates, invertebrates, terrestrial and aquatic plant macrofossils, a detailed pollen record, and a robust, directly dated stratigraphic framework shows that high-elevation ecosystems in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado are climatically sensitive and varied dramatically throughout MIS 5.