Soil Chemical Methods – Australasia describes over 200 laboratory and field chemical tests relevant to Australasia and beyond. The information and methodology provided across 20 chapters is comprehensive, systematic, uniquely coded, up-to-date and designed to promote chemical measurement quality. There is guidance on the choice and application of analytical methods from soil sampling through to the reporting of results. In many cases, optional analytical ‘finishes’ are provided, such as flow-injection analysis, electro-chemistry, multiple flame technologies, and alternatives to chemical testing offered by near-range and mid-range infrared diffuse reflectance spectroscopy. The book supersedes and updates the soil chemical testing section of the 1992 Australian Laboratory Handbook of Soil and Water Chemical Methods of Rayment and Higginson, while retaining method codes and other strengths of that Handbook. Chapters cover soil sampling, sample preparation and moisture content; electrical conductivity and redox potential; soil pH; chloride; carbon; nitrogen; phosphorus; sulphur; gypsum; micronutrients; extractable iron, aluminium and silicon; saturation extracts; ion-exchange properties; lime requirements; total miscellaneous elements; miscellaneous extractable elements; alkaline earth carbonates and acid sulfate soils. In addition, there are informative Appendices, including information on the accuracy and precision of selected methods. This book targets practising analysts, laboratory managers, students, academics, researchers, consultants and advisors involved in the analysis, use and management of soils for fertility assessments, land use surveys, environmental studies and for natural resource management.

This study was conducted to assess the usefulness of petiole sap nitrate and total nitrogen (N) in dried leaf for determining N status and yield response in capsicum (Capsicum annuum L.) grown with plastic mulch and trickle irrigation in subtropical Australia. Five rates of N (0, 70, 140,210, 280 kg/ha) were applied in factorial combination with 2 rates of potassium (K: 0, 200 kg/ha) in randomised block experiments to capsicum cv. Bell Tower grown at Bundaberg Research Station in spring 1990 and autumn 1991. Critical nutrient ranges for nitrate concentration in petiole sap and for total N concentration in dried youngest mature leaf blades plus petioles (YMB + P) were derived at different stages of crop development (bud development, BD; first anthesis, FA; 80% flowering, F; fruit set, FS). Sap nitrate was about 5 times more sensitive to changes in N application than total N. Petiole sap nitrate accounted for a greater amount of the variation in marketable fruit yield (quadratic square root relationships, 0.45 < R2 < 0.83) than total N concentration in dried YMB + P (linear relationships, 0.29 < R2 < 0.74). Simple linear regressions indicated a stronger relationship between applied N and petiole sap nitrate concentration than total N concentration in dried YMB + P (range in R2 values among 8 sampling events: 0.71-0.91 for petiole sap nitrate, 0.35-0.78 for YMB + P total N). For the fertiliser application strategy, 60% of N was applied pre-fruitset and 40% after. Sap nitrate concentrations associated with 95 and 100% of maximum marketable fruit yield increased from BD (5010-6000 mg/L spring, 4980-5280 mg/L autumn) to FA (6220-7065 mg/L spring, 555M000 mg/L autumn). After FA, the range progressively decreased to 1640-2800 and 520-1220 mg/L at FS, for spring and autumn, respectively. It was concluded that petiole sap nitrate was a better indicator of plant N status and yield response than total N concentration in dried YMB + P for capsicum in subtropical Australia. A critical petiole sap K concentration (corresponding with maximum yield and at which no yield response to K addition was measured) of >4800 mg/L was proposed by correlating sap K with yield responses.

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Therapeutic, III.

Vegetables were collected near peak harvest from the main production regions in Queensland and were analysed for residues of nitrate and nitrite. A small sample of hydroponic produce was also included in the survey. Nitrite-N from 1 to 4 mg kg-' was found only in dwarf beans and in lettuces. Levels of nitrate in potatoes, cabbages and beets were higher than those reported in other surveys and exceeded threshold limits set in one other country. The median nitrate-N concentration measured in hydroponic lettuce (465 mg kg-nitrate-N) was more than twice the median concentration for field-grown lettuce. Poor correlation between total N and nitrate in vegetables raises doubts about the use of total N alone as an indicator of N status.

Water reuse through greywater irrigation has been adopted worldwide and has been proposed as a potential sustainable solution to increased water demands. Despite widespread adoption, there is limited domestic knowledge of greywater reuse. There is no pressure to produce low-level phosphorus products and current guidelines and legislation, such as those in Australia, may be inadequate due to the lack of long-term data to provide a sound scientific basis. Research has clearly identified phosphorus as a potential environmental risk to waterways from many forms of irrigation. To assess the sustainability of greywater irrigation, this study compared four residential lots that had been irrigated with greywater for four years and adjacent non-irrigated lots that acted as controls. Each lot was monitored for the volume of greywater applied and selected physic-chemical water quality parameters and soil chemistry profiles were analysed. The non-irrigated soil profiles showed low levels of phosphorus and were used as controls. The Mechlich3 Phosphorus ratio (M3PSR) and Phosphate Environmental Risk Index (PERI) were used to determine the environmental risk of phosphorus leaching from the irrigated soils. Soil phosphorus concentrations were compared to theoretical greywater irrigation loadings. The measured phosphorus soil concentrations and the estimated greywater loadings were of similar magnitude. Sustainable greywater reuse is possible; however incorrect use and/or lack of understanding of how household products affect greywater can result in phosphorus posing a significant risk to the environment.

BACKGROUND: Maternal X chromosome abnormalities may cause discordant results between noninvasive prenatal screening tests and diagnostic evaluation of the fetus/newborn, leading to unnecessary invasive testing. Women with X chromosome abnormalities are at increased risk for reproductive, pregnancy, or other health complications, which may be reduced or ameliorated by early diagnosis, monitoring, and intervention. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to validate a single nucleotide polymorphismebased noninvasive prenatal test to identify X chromosome abnormalities of maternal origin. STUDY DESIGN: All tests unable to evaluate fetal risk for aneuploidy because of uninformative algorithm results were eligible for inclusion. Two groups of cases were prospectively identified: Group A (n¼106) where a maternal X chromosome abnormality was suspected and Group B (control group, n¼107) where a fetal chromosome abnormality involving chromosome 13, 18, 21, or X was suspected but did not meet criteria for reporting. Maternal DNA was isolated from the plasma-depleted cellular pellet and sent to a reference laboratory for blinded analysis using chromosomal microarray. A chromosome abnormality involving chromosomes 13, 18, 21, or X was reported by the reference laboratory if !5 Mb in size and present in !20% of the DNA. RESULTS: A maternal X chromosome abnormality was suspected in 1/ 1305 tests (149/194,385; 0.08%). In Group A, a maternal X chromosome abnormality was confirmed in 100/106 cases (94.3% positive predictive value, 1-sided 97.5% confidence interval, 88.1%e100.0%). Turner syndrome was the most commonly suspected maternal abnormality (58/ 106, 54.7%), with confirmation of mosaic or nonmosaic 45,X by microarray in 38/58 (65.5%) cases. Noninvasive prenatal screening tests suspected the presence of maternal 47,XXX with or without mosaicism in 40/106 (37.7%) cases, confirmed by microarray in 38/40 (95.0%). In Group B (n¼107), no maternal microarray abnormalities were reported, providing a negative predictive value of 100% (1-sided 97.5% confidence interval, 96.6%e100.0%). CONCLUSION: When noninvasive prenatal testing suspected a maternal X chromosome abnormality, maternal microarray confirmed an X chromosome abnormality with 94.3% positive predictive value. Of the maternal X chromosome abnormalities detected by array, >50% were 45,X. When fetal chromosome abnormalities involving chromosomes 13, 18, 21, or X were suspected, no maternal chromosome abnormalities were reported, yielding a negative predictive value of 100%. Women with maternal X abnormalities suspected with noninvasive prenatal testing may be at increased risk for reproductive and health complications; early evaluation and treatment may prevent long-term consequences or disability.

Subpectoral implants for breast reconstruction after mastectomy requires the surgical disinsertion of the sternocostal fiber region of the pectoralis major. This technique is associated with significant shoulder strength and range of motion deficits, but it is unknown how it affects the underlying integrity of the shoulder joint or pectoralis major. The aim of this study was to characterize the long-term effects of this reconstruction approach on shoulder joint stiffness and pectoralis major material properties. Robot-assisted measures of shoulder strength and stiffness and ultrasound shear wave elastography images from the pectoralis major were acquired from 14 women an average of 549 days (range: 313-795 days) post reconstruction and 14 healthy, age-matched controls. Subpectoral implant patients were significantly weaker in shoulder adduction (p < 0.001) and exhibited lower shoulder stiffness when producing submaximal adduction torques (p ¼ 0.004). The underlying material properties of the clavicular fiber region of the pectoralis major were altered in subpectoral implant patients, with significantly reduced shear wave velocities in the clavicular fiber region of the pectoralis major when generating adduction torques (p ¼ 0.023). The clinical significance of these findings are that subpectoral implant patients do not fully recover shoulder strength or stability in the long-term, despite significant recovery time, and substantial shoulder musculature left intact. The impact of these procedures extends to the remaining, intact volume of the pectoralis major. Optimization of shoulder function should be a key aspect of the post-reconstruction standard of care. ß