Inverse modelling for predicting both water and nitrate movement in a structured-clay soil (Red Ferrosol).

Soil physical parameter calculation by inverse modelling provides an indirect way of estimating the unsaturated hydraulic properties of soils. However many measurements are needed to provide sufficient data to determine unknown parameters. The objective of this research was to assess the use of unsaturated water flow and solute transport experiments, in horizontal packed soil columns, to estimate the parameters that govern water flow and solute transport.

Short-term impact of biochar amendments on eukaryotic communities in three different soils.

This study determined the loading impacts of wood-based biochar on the eukaryotic community in three different soils (brown sandy loam-BSL, red loam-RL and a black clay loam-BCL) using a pot trial conducted over 10 months. Soil analysis and 18S rRNA gene sequencing performed using the Illumina MiSeq platform was carried out to evaluate the changes in eukaryotic community composition in relation to different added amounts of biochar. It was found that biochar addition had a negligible effect on diversity parameters in the brown sandy loam Kurosol (BSL) and red loam Dermosol (RL) soils.

Novel 3D geometry and models of the lower regions of large trees for use in carbon accounting of primary forests.

There is high uncertainty in the contribution of land-use change to anthropogenic climate change, especially pertaining to below-ground carbon loss resulting from conversion of primary-to-secondary forest. Soil organic carbon (SOC) and coarse roots are concentrated close to tree trunks, a region usually unmeasured during soil carbon sampling. Soil carbon estimates and their variation with land-use change have not been correspondingly adjusted.

Fellowship Colonoscopy Training and Preparedness for Independent Gastroenterology Practice.

Goals: To objectively assess when gastroenterology (GI) fellows achieve technical competency to perform colonoscopy independently.

Background: New guidelines to assess the procedural competency of GI fellows in training have been developed. Although comprehensive, they do not account for the quality metrics to which independently practicing gastroenterologists are held.