Experimental Techniques for Laboratory Investigation of Clay Colloid Transport and Filtration in a Stream with a Sand Bed

The exchange of kaolinite clay between a stream and its associated sand bed was investigated in a recirculating flume. Bedforms at the sediment-water interface result in two bed-exchange mechanisms: the bedform shape induces an advective flow through the bed (‘pumping’), and dune propagation causes the trapping and release of pore water (‘turnover’). Chemical and electrostatic interactions then result in filtration of clay by the bed. In order to allow modeling of chemical effects, all flume materials must have defined chemical parameters. This required improvements in the flume water supply, construction of sand-washing equipment, and the use of defined clay and sand preparation procedures.Flume experimental result-, indicate that clay is extensively trapped by the bed. Advective pumping tends to carry clay to the deep bed where it can be permanently trapped, while turnover tends to continuously mix the upper layers of the bed, hindering penetration to the deep bed.     

Economic decision analysis model of a paratuberculosis test and cull program.

A spreadsheet program was written to perform decision tree analysis for control of paratuberculosis (Johne's disease), when testing all adults in a herd and culling all animals with positive test results. The program incorporated diagnostic test sensitivity, specificity, and test cost with the cost or value of each of the 4 possible outcomes; true-positive, true-negative, false-positive, and false-negative test results. The program was designed to repeat the analysis for the independent variable pretest paratuberculosis prevalence (0 to 100%). Model output was graphed as profit or loss in dollars vs pretest prevalence. The threshold was defined as the pretest prevalence at which benefit-cost equaled zero. Reed-Frost disease modeling techniques were used to predict the number of Mycobacterium paratuberculosis-infected replacement heifers resulting from infected cows during a control program. Sensitivity analysis was performed on variables of the decision tree model; test sensitivity, specificity, test cost, and factors affecting the cost of paratuberculosis to a commercial dairy. A test and cull program was profitable when paratuberculosis caused greater than or equal to 6% decrease in milk production if the pretest prevalence was greater than 6%, test sensitivity was 50%, test specificity was 98%, and the testing cost was $4/cow. Test specificities greater than 98% did not markedly affect the threshold for tests with a 50% sensitivity and costing $4/cow. Test sensitivity had minimal effect on the threshold. Using a diagnostic test with a 50% sensitivity and a 98% specificity as an example, test cost was shown to affect the threshold prevalence at which the test and cull program became profitable.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Interactions between Escherichia coli and allophane—II. Metabolism

A purified allophane clay fraction increased the respiration of Escherichia coli (ATCC 11303B) by buffering the suspension against decreases in pH. Allophane had no significant effect on respiration in the presence of 0.02 M phosphate buffer. When E. coli was exposed to pH values below 5.0 in the presence of allophane, allophane supernatant (which contains soluble Al), or soluble Al. toxicity was evident even after raising the pH to 7.0.     

Ontology-based simulation of water flow in organic soils applied to Florida sugarcane

An ontology-based simulation (OntoSim) is a unique data modeling environment where soil–plant-nutrient processes are represented as database objects and the user-defined relationships among objects are used to generate computer code (Java) for running the simulation. The aim of this study was to model hydrologic processes of sugarcane-grown organic soils utilizing OntoSim in the Everglades Agricultural Area (EAA) of South Florida. This OntoSim-Sugarcane model describes the complex hydrology of sub-irrigation and open ditch drainage commonly used on Florida farms.Model calibration was conducted by (i) selecting rectangular farm water management units (<12 ha), which are encompassed with farm ditches, from two farms in the EAA, (ii) assembling all relevant input data including water tables (WT) recorded at the monitoring farm well of each unit, and (iii) optimizing the fits between the simulated and observed daily WT during two consecutive water years (WY). By calibrating two site-specific parameters – lateral saturated hydraulic conductivities of soil profiles and vertical saturated hydraulic conductivity of the underlying limestone bedrock – good agreement between simulated and observed daily WT was obtained (Nash–Sutcliffe efficiency coefficient >0.65; coefficient of residual mass <1%) within the units during WY96–97 (May 1995–April 1997). The validation of the model during subsequent WY98–99 at both units also showed Nash–Sutcliffe efficiency >0.55 and coefficient of residual mass <3%. It indicated that OntoSim-Sugarcane is able to simulate daily fluctuations of WT within the farm units and estimate lateral drainage/sub-irrigation and deep seepage that significantly contribute to the water balance at farms in the EAA. Thus, it can be a promising management tool to provide farmers with accurate assessment of water movement in this agricultural area.     

Fisher accessibility and habitat complexity influence the distribution of adult Cherax cainii (Decapoda: Parastacidae) in a water supply reservoir

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