Contrasting vulnerability and resilience to drought-induced decline of densely planted vs. natural rear-edge Pinus nigra forests

The southernmost European natural and planted pine forests are among the most vulnerable areas to warming-induced drought decline. Both drought stress and management factors (e.g., stand origin or reduced thinning) may induce decline by reducing the water available to trees but their relative importances have not been properly assessed. The role of stand origin - densely planted vs. naturally regenerated stands - as a decline driver can be assessed by comparing the growth and vigor responses to drought of similar natural vs. planted stands. Here, we compare these responses in natural and planted Black pine (Pinus nigra) stands located in southern Spain. We analyze how environmental factors - climatic (temperature and precipitation anomalies) and site conditions - and biotic factors - stand structure (age, tree size, density) and defoliation by the pine processionary moth - drive radial growth and crown condition at stand and tree levels. We also assess the climatic trends in the study area over the last 60 years. We use dendrochronology, linear mixed-effects models of basal area increment and structural equation models to determine how natural and planted stands respond to drought and current competition intensity. We observed that a temperature rise and a decrease in precipitation during the growing period led to increasing drought stress during the late 20th century. Trees from planted stands experienced stronger growth reductions and displayed more severe crown defoliation after severe droughts than those from natural stands. High stand density negatively drove growth and enhanced crown dieback, particularly in planted stands. Also pine processionary moth defoliation was more severe in the growth of natural than in planted stands but affected tree crown condition similarly in both stand types. In response to drought, sharp growth reduction and widespread defoliation of planted Mediterranean pine stands indicate that they are more vulnerable and less resilient to drought stress than natural stands. To mitigate forest decline of planted stands in xeric areas such as the Mediterranean Basin, less dense and more diverse stands should be created through selective thinning or by selecting species or provenances that are more drought tolerant. (C) 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Minderung physiologischer Reaktivität auf psychosozialen Stress durch Taiji-Training - wer profitiert besonders? Eine Untersuchung moderierender Effekte von selbstberichteter dispositioneller psychologischer Stressreaktivität und Achtsamkeit.

Theoretical background and objectives: Stress reducing effects of Taiji practice have been repeatedly reported. The aim of the present study was to investigate which persons benefit the most from Taiji practice in terms of reduced physiological stress reactivity. Methods: We conducted a secondary data analysis of a randomized controlled Taiji trial that significantly lowered stress reactivity of salivary cortisol and alpha-amylase in a Taiji group (n = 26) compared to a control group (n = 23). By using hierarchical regression analyses potential moderating influences of self-reported trait-mindfulness and trait values of general psychological stress reactivity on stress protective effects of a three months Taiji training were examined. Moderator variables were assessed at the beginning of the study using the Freiburg-Mindfulness-Inventory and the Perceived- Stress-Reactivity-Scale. Results: The interaction effect "study group x mindfulness" was significant for stress reactivity of salivary alpha-amylase (p = 0.050). Participants in the Taiji group with higher trait-mindfulness showed a lower salivary alpha-amylase stress reactivity, while in the control group higher trait-mindfulness was associated with higher alpha-amylase stress reactivity. In the control group (p = 0.042) but not in the Taiji group (p = 0.69) salivary cortisol stress reactivity was significantly increased in persons with higher trait-mindfulness scores. We could not find moderating effects of general psychological stress reactivity. Conclusion: Our results suggest that without intervention higher trait-mindfulness is associated with increased physiological stress reactivity. Persons with higher trait-mindfulness seem to benefit the most from practicing Taiji in terms of reduced sympathetic stress reactivity.

Active Testing for Face Detection and Localization

We provide a novel search technique which uses a hierarchical model and a mutual information gain heuristic to efficiently prune the search space when localizing faces in images. We show exponential gains in computation over traditional sliding window approaches, while keeping similar performance levels.

Four years follow-up after clavicle reconstruction in a child: a case report.

Clavicle reconstruction is a rare operation. In most cases a mid-shaft defect of the clavicle is bridged by using different grafting techniques or musculo-osteous flaps. In some clinical situations where reconstruction is not a suitable option claviculectomy as a salvation procedure has proven to be an acceptable solution. In the paediatric population the challenge of both the cosmetic and the functional result attempting reconstruction of large bone defects is of higher demand. To our knowledge, this is the first case of a successful clavicle reconstruction with a sufficient follow-up using a free vascularised fibula graft in a child. This case provides a technique description, considerations in the paediatric population, an overview of other techniques used, and a long-term follow-up.

A high-resolution map of direct and indirect connectivity of erosion risk areas to surface waters in Switzerland: A risk assessment tool for planning and policy-making

Off-site effects of soil erosion are becoming increasingly important, particularly the pollution of surface waters. In order to develop environmentally efficient and cost effective mitigation options it is essential to identify areas that bear both a high erosion risk and high connectivity to surface waters. This paper introduces a simple risk assessment tool that allows the delineation of potential critical source areas (CSA) of sediment input into surface waters concerning the agricultural areas of Switzerland. The basis are the erosion risk map with a 2 m resolution (ERM2) and the drainage network, which is extended by drained roads, farm tracks, and slope depressions. The probability of hydrological and sedimentological connectivity is assessed by combining soil erosion risk and extended drainage network with flow distance calculation. A GIS-environment with multiple-flow accumulation algorithms is used for routing runoff generation and flow pathways. The result is a high resolution connectivity map of the agricultural area of Switzerland (888,050 ha). Fifty-five percent of the computed agricultural area is potentially connected with surface waters, 45% is not connected. Surprisingly, the larger part of 34% (62% of the connected area) is indirectly connected with surface waters through drained roads, and only 21% are directly connected. The reason is the topographic complexity and patchiness of the landscape due to a dense road and drainage network. A total of 24% of the connected area and 13% of the computed agricultural area, respectively, are rated with a high connectivity probability. On these CSA an adapted land use is recommended, supported by vegetated buffer strips preventing sediment load. Even areas that are far away from open water bodies can be indirectly connected and need to be included in planning of mitigation measures. Thus, the connectivity map presented is an important decision-making tool for policy-makers and extension services. The map is published on the web and thus available for application.

Quaternary uplift rates of the Central Anatolian Plateau, Turkey: insights from cosmogenic isochron-burial nuclide dating of the Kızılırmak River terraces

The Central Anatolian Plateau (CAP) in Turkey is a relatively small plateau (300 × 400 km) with moderate average elevations of ∼1 km situated between the Pontide and Tauride orogenic mountain belts. Kızılırmak, which is the longest river (1355 km) within the borders of Turkey, flows within the CAP and slowly incises into lacustrine and volcaniclastic units before finally reaching the Black Sea. We dated the Cappadocia section of the Kızılırmak terraces in the CAP by using cosmogenic burial and isochron-burial dating methods with 10Be and 26Al as their absolute dating can provide insight into long-term incision rates, uplift and climatic changes. Terraces at 13, 20, 75 and 100 m above the current river indicate an average incision rate of 0.051 ± 0.01 mm/yr (51 ± 1 m/Ma) since ∼1.9 Ma. Using the base of a basalt fill above the modern course of the Kızılırmak, we also calculated 0.05–0.06 mm/yr mean incision and hence rock uplift rate for the last 2 Ma. Although this rate might be underestimated due to normal faulting along the valley sides, it perfectly matches our results obtained from the Kızılırmak terraces. Although up to 5–10 times slower, the Quaternary uplift of the CAP is closely related to the uplift of the northern and southern plateau margins respectively.

Management of spontaneous intracranial hypotension - Transorbital ultrasound as discriminator.

OBJECTIVE Spontaneous intracranial hypotension (SIH) is most commonly caused by cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leakage. Therefore, we hypothesised that patients with orthostatic headache (OH) would show decreased optic nerve sheath diameter (ONSD) during changes from supine to upright position. METHODS Transorbital B-mode ultrasound was performed employing a high-frequency transducer for ONSD measurements in the supine and upright positions. Absolute values and changes of ONSD from supine to upright were assessed. Ultrasound was performed in 39 SIH patients, 18 with OH and 21 without OH, and in 39 age-matched control subjects. The control group comprised 20 patients admitted for back surgery without headache or any orthostatic symptoms, and 19 healthy controls. RESULTS In supine position, mean ONSD (±SD) was similar in patients with (5.38±0.91 mm) or without OH (5.48±0.89 mm; p=0.921). However, in upright position, mean ONSD was different between patients with (4.84±0.99 mm) and without OH (5.53±0.99 mm; p=0.044). Furthermore, the change in ONSD from supine to upright position was significantly greater in SIH patients with OH (-0.53±0.34 mm) than in SIH patients without OH (0.05±0.41 mm; p≤0.001) or in control subjects (0.01±0.38 mm; p≤0.001; area under the curve: 0.874 in receiver operating characteristics analysis). CONCLUSIONS Symptomatic patients with SIH showed a significant decrease of ONSD, as assessed by ultrasound, when changing from the supine to the upright position. Ultrasound assessment of the ONSD in two positions may be a novel, non-invasive tool for the diagnosis and follow-up of SIH and for elucidating the pathophysiology of SIH.

T1ρ MRI detects cartilage damage in asymptomatic individuals with a cam deformity

Hips with a cam deformity are at risk for early cartilage degeneration, mainly in the anterolateral region of the joint. T1ρ MRI is a described technique for assessment of proteoglycan content in hyaline cartilage and subsequently early cartilage damage. In this study, 1.5 Tesla T1ρ MRI was performed on 20 asymptomatic hips with a cam deformity and compared to 16 healthy control hips. Cam deformity was defined as an alpha angle at 1:30 o'clock position over 60° and/or at 3:00 o'clock position over 50.5°. Hip cartilage was segmented and divided into four regions of interest (ROIs): anterolateral, anteromedial, posterolateral and posteromedial quadrants. Mean T1ρ value of the entire weight bearing cartilage in hips with a cam deformity (34.0 ± 4.6 ms) was significantly higher compared to control hips (31.3 ± 3.2 ms, p = 0.050). This difference reached significance in the anterolateral (p = 0.042) and posteromedial quadrants (p = 0.041). No significant correlation between the alpha angle and T1ρ values was detected. The results indicate cartilage damage occurs in hips with a cam deformity before symptoms occur. A significant difference in T1ρ values was found in the anterolateral quadrant, the area of direct engagement of the deformity, and in the posteromedial quadrant. To conclude, T1ρ MRI can detect early chondral damage in asymptomatic hips with a cam deformity. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

Diabetes, use of antidiabetic drugs, and the risk of glioma

BACKGROUND Prior epidemiologic studies suggest inverse relations between diabetes and glioma risk, but the underlying mechanisms, including use of antidiabetic drugs, are unknown. METHODS We therefore performed a matched case-control analysis using the Clinical Practice Research Datalink (CPRD). We identified incident glioma cases diagnosed between 1995 and 2012 and matched each case with 10 controls on age, gender, calendar time, general practice, and years of active history in the CPRD. We performed conditional logistic regression to estimate odds ratios (ORs) with 95% CIs, adjusted for body mass index and smoking. RESULTS We identified 2005 cases and 20 050 controls. Diabetes was associated with decreased risk of glioma (OR = 0.74; 95% CI = 0.60-0.93), particularly glioblastoma (OR = 0.69; 95% CI = 0.51-0.94). Glioblastoma risk reduction was markedly pronounced among diabetic men (OR = 0.60; 95% CI = 0.40-0.90), most apparently for those with diabetes of long-term duration (OR for >5 vs 0 y = 0.46; 95% CI = 0.26-0.82) or poor glycemic control (OR for HbA1c ≥8 vs <6.5% = 0.20; 95% CI = 0.06-0.70). In contrast, the effect of diabetes on glioblastoma risk was absent among women (OR = 0.85; 95% CI = 0.53-1.36). No significant associations with glioma were found for use of metformin (OR for ≥30 vs 0 prescriptions = 0.72; 95% CI = 0.38-1.39), sulfonylureas (OR = 0.71; 95% CI = 0.39-1.30), or insulin (OR = 0.79; 95% CI = 0.37-1.69). CONCLUSIONS Antidiabetic treatment appears to be unrelated to glioma, but long-term diabetes duration and increased HbA1c both show decreased glioma risk. Stronger findings in men than women suggest low androgen levels concurrent with diabetes as a biologic mechanism.

Early growth characteristics and the risk of reduced lung function and asthma: A meta-analysis of 25,000 children

BACKGROUND Children born preterm or with a small size for gestational age are at increased risk for childhood asthma. OBJECTIVE We sought to assess the hypothesis that these associations are explained by reduced airway patency. METHODS We used individual participant data of 24,938 children from 24 birth cohorts to examine and meta-analyze the associations of gestational age, size for gestational age, and infant weight gain with childhood lung function and asthma (age range, 3.9-19.1 years). Second, we explored whether these lung function outcomes mediated the associations of early growth characteristics with childhood asthma. RESULTS Children born with a younger gestational age had a lower FEV1, FEV1/forced vital capacity (FVC) ratio, and forced expiratory volume after exhaling 75% of vital capacity (FEF75), whereas those born with a smaller size for gestational age at birth had a lower FEV1 but higher FEV1/FVC ratio (P < .05). Greater infant weight gain was associated with higher FEV1 but lower FEV1/FVC ratio and FEF75 in childhood (P < .05). All associations were present across the full range and independent of other early-life growth characteristics. Preterm birth, low birth weight, and greater infant weight gain were associated with an increased risk of childhood asthma (pooled odds ratio, 1.34 [95% CI, 1.15-1.57], 1.32 [95% CI, 1.07-1.62], and 1.27 [95% CI, 1.21-1.34], respectively). Mediation analyses suggested that FEV1, FEV1/FVC ratio, and FEF75 might explain 7% (95% CI, 2% to 10%) to 45% (95% CI, 15% to 81%) of the associations between early growth characteristics and asthma. CONCLUSIONS Younger gestational age, smaller size for gestational age, and greater infant weight gain were across the full ranges associated with childhood lung function. These associations explain the risk of childhood asthma to a substantial extent.