Environmental predictors of pulmonary nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) sputum positivity among persons with cystic fibrosis in the state of Florida

Nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) are opportunistic human pathogens that are commonly found in soil and water, and exposure to these organisms may cause pulmonary nontuberculous mycobacterial disease. Persons with cystic fibrosis (CF) are at high risk for developing pulmonary NTM infections, and studies have shown that prolonged exposure to certain environments can increase the risk of pulmonary NTM. It is therefore important to determine the risk associated with different geographic areas. Using annualized registry data obtained from the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation Patient Registry for 2010 through 2017, we conducted a geospatial analysis of NTM infections among persons with CF in Florida. A Bernoulli model in SaTScan was used to identify clustering of ZIP codes with higher than expected numbers of NTM culture positive individuals. Generalized linear mixed models with a binomial distribution were used to test the association of environmental variables and NTM culture positivity. We identified a significant cluster of M. abscessus and predictors of NTM sputum positivity, including annual precipitation and soil mineral levels.

The Effect of Meat and Bone Meal (MBM) on Crop Yields, Nitrogen Content and Uptake, and Soil Mineral Nitrogen Balance

A long-term (six year) field experiment was conducted in Poland to evaluate the effect of meat and bone meal (MBM), applied without or with mineral nitrogen (N) fertilizer, on crop yields, N content and uptake by plants, and soil mineral N balance. Five treatments were compared: MBM applied at 1.0, 1.5, and 2.0 Mg ha−1, inorganic NPK, and zero-fert check. Mineral N accounted for 100% of the total N rate (158 kg ha−1) in the NPK treatment and 50%, 25%, and 0% in MBM treatments. The yield of silage maize supplied with MBM was comparable with that of plants fertilized with NPK at 74 Mg ha−1 herbage (30% DM) over two years on average. The yields of winter wheat and winter oilseed rape were highest in the NPK treatment (8.9 Mg ha−1 grain and 3.14 Mg ha−1 seeds on average). The addition of 25% and 50% of mineral N to MBM had no influence on the yields of the tested crops. The N content of plants fertilized with MBM was satisfactory (higher than in the zero-fert treatment), and considerable differences were found between years of the study within crop species. Soil mineral N content was determined by N uptake by plants rather than the proportion of mineral N in the total N rate. Nitrogen utilization by plants was highest in the NPK treatment (58%) and in the treatment where mineral N accounted for 50% of the total N rate (48%).

Sunflower productivity dependence on inter-row cultivation methods

Currently using the system Clearfield combined with other technologies of cultivation, given the state of the fields, soil and climatic conditions, the availability of soil mineral nutrients is a promising direction in the cultivation of sunflower in the Lower Volga region. In this regard, the experience of studying various technologies of cultivation for sunflower hybrids was laid on ordinary chernozems. The highest biological yield on average for 2015-2017 was created in the hybrid Mowgli with the herbicide Eurolighting fungicide Pictor with the introduction of liquid complex fertilizer in the phase of 2-4 leaves at the rate of 120 l/ha. On average, it was 2.57 t/ha in terms of repetitions. The lowest biological yield of sunflower was obtained from the Bosphorus hybrid with the herbicide Gezagard and the fungicide Thanos without the use of mineral fertilizers and was 1.61 t/ha. According to the factor B “Mineral fertilizers” in the control variants the average yield was 1.55 t/ha. In the variants with the introduction of NP (12:52) 80 kg/ha of ammophos, the average yield was 1.99 t/ha. In the variants with spraying in the phase of 5-6 leaves of liquid complex fertilizer NP (11:37) 120 l/ha, the average yield was 2.13 t/ha.