Fire History at the Eastern Great Plains Margin, Missouri River Loess Hills

The purpose of this paper is to provide quantitative fire history information for a geographically unique region, the Loess Hills of northwest Missouri. We sampled 33 bur oak (Quercus macrocarpa Michx.), chinkapin oak (Q. muehlenbergii Engelm.), and black oak (Q. velutina Lam.) trees from the Brickyard Hill Conservation Area in northwest Missouri. The period of tree-ring record ranged in calendar years from 1671 to 2004 and fire-scar dates (n = 97) ranged from 1672 to 1980. Fire intervals for individual trees ranged from 1 to 87 years. The mean fire interval was 6.6 years for the pre-Euro-American settlement period (1672-1820), and 5.2 years for the entire record (1672-1980). A period of more frequent fire (mean fire interval = 1.6 for 1825 to 1850) coincided with Euro-American settlement of the area. The average percentage of trees scarred at the site was 16.8%, or about 1 in 7 trees sampled per fire. No significant relationship between fire years and drought conditions was found; however, events prior to 1820 may have been associated with wet to dry mode transitions.

SCWDS Briefs: Volume 25, Number 2 (July 2009)

Table of Contents: Piroplasmosis Hits Missouri Horses Cytauxzoon felis in Wild Felids SCIF & Mossy Oak Fund HD Research Hardware Disease in a Key Deer Wildlife Poisoning in Kansas Swine Brucellosis Infects Hog Hunters SCWDS Personnel Changes NWHC Has New Director New USDI Publication on Bats Recent SCWDS Publications Available

Chloroacetamid Spray Drift and Leaf Tatters in Hackberry

During the last decade, leaf tatters has been reported in white oak and hackberry across several Midwestern states. Herbicide spray drift studies have shown that chloroacetamides can induce leaf tatters. The objectives of this research were to: 1) identify vulnerable bud developmental stages in hackberry and 2) determine if different commercial chloroacetamides affect severity of leaf tatters. In 2008, a preliminary spray drift experiment was conducted on mature trees from a former hackberry provenance test stand. Acetochlor (Harness), S-metolachlor (Dual II Magnum), and dimethenamid (Outlook) were applied at concentrations approximating 27%, 54%, 81%, or 108% of the recommended field rate. Three developmental stages before bud burst were present on the selected trees. Leaf tatters did not develop on the selected hackberry trees. However, symptoms were observed on neighboring, non-target hackberry trees, which had been in the leaf unfolding and expanding stages at the time of spraying. In 2009, three year old hackberry seedlings were treated with 1%, 10%, and 100% of the recommended field rate of acetochlor (Harness), S-metolachlor (Dual II Magnum), and dimethenamid (Outlook). Folded buds and two unfolding leaf developmental stages were present on seedlings. Another spray study was conducted on 32 mature hackberry trees from the provenance stand. A solution of 5608 mg a.i./L dimethenamid (Outlook) was applied to trees in the unfolding and/or expanding leaf stage. Treated trees represented four provenances. Image analysis was used to calculate seedling and mature tree leaf areas and estimate the seedling percentage of leaf tissue loss. Foliar damage was not significantly different between seedlings treated with water, 1%, or 10% of the field rate. Foliar damage was significantly different between seedlings treated with 1% or 100% of the field rate, and between seedlings treated with 10% or 100% of the field rate. Foliar damage in seedlings was not significantly different between the developmental stages. Additionally, symptoms of leaf tatters were observed on the treated mature hackberry. Future studies should focus on chloroacetamide concentrations above 10% of the recommended field rate.

Infant Mortality as a Potential Measure of Community Health in Urban Growth

This document is one of a series which contains the results of research carried out during a 1969 Summer Study of Urban Decentralization at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory, sponsored by the Department of Housing and Urban Development and the U.S. Atomic Energy Commission. The summary of the Summer Study is contained in "An Introduction to Urban Decentralization Research," ORNL-HUD-3.

SETTING UP AN EFFECTIVE URBAN BLACKBIRD ROOST CONTROL PROGRAM

The City of Denton is situated 35 miles north of north-central Texas. This area is within one of the major N-S corridors for migratory birds. It is also far enough south so that winters are generally mild and open. The average rainfall of 30 inches sustains good stands of pecan and several species of oak, which serve as excellent roost sites for blackbirds. For the past several years, summering flocks of blackbirds have chosen Denton as a roosting site. Interviews with oldtimers here indicate that flocks of birds have always been around. It is only in recent years that their numbers seem much greater and the resulting mess deeper. They also say that "in the old days" if flocks appeared and started creating a problem, they were simply shot with little fuss resulting. This method is not generally acceptable today.

IDENTIFICATION OF ETHANOLIC WOOD EXTRACTS USING ELECTRONIC ABSORPTION SPECTRUM AND MULTIVARIATE ANALYSIS

IDENTIFICATION OF ETHANOLIC WOOD EXTRACTS USING ELECTRONIC ABSORPTION SPECTRUM AND MULTIVARIATE ANALYSIS. The application of multivariate analysis to spectrophotometric (UV) data was explored for distinguishing extracts of cachaca woods commonly used in the manufacture of casks for aging cachacas (oak, cabretiva-parda, jatoba, amendoim and canela-sassafras). Absorbances close to 280 nm were more strongly correlated with oak and jatoba woods, whereas absorbances near 230 nm were more correlated with canela-sassafras and cabretiva-parda. A comparison between the spectrophotometric model and the model based on chromatographic (HPLC-DAD) data was carried out. The spectrophotometric model better explained the variance data (PC1 + PC2 = 91%) exhibiting potential as a routine method for checking aged spirits.

Multidetector CT Evaluation of the Postoperative Pancreas

Several pancreatic diseases may require surgical treatment, with most of these procedures classified as resection or drainage. Resection procedures, which are usually performed to remove pancreatic tumors, include pancreatoduodenectomy, central pancreatectomy, distal pancreatectomy, and total pancreatectomy. Drainage procedures are usually performed to treat chronic pancreatitis after the failure of medical therapy and include the Puestow and Frey procedures. The type of surgery depends not only on the patient's symptoms and the location of the disease, but also on the expertise of the surgeon. Radiologists should become familiar with these surgical procedures to better understand postoperative changes in anatomic findings. Multidetector computed tomography is the modality of choice for identifying normal findings after surgery, postoperative complications, and tumor recurrence in patients who have undergone pancreatic surgery. (C)RSNA, 2012 . radiographics.rsna.org

BIOCIVILIZACAO: OVERVIEW AND BACKGROUND TO COMPLETE OUR independence

Latin American countries have a privileged position to tackle the environmental crisis, producing a new framework of relations and interdependencies: a biocivilizacao. Inspired by the ideas and Gourou Sachs, founded in centralities other than those of the "global market", and fed by other "sources" than those of high-carbon, embodied in examples like those provided by the Amazons, that teach us how the interaction between cultural and natural elements can produce the main source of biodiversity on the planet and your invaluable environmental service. Countries that share, if you can settle in other conditions (have) dependencies, guided references and values different from those that have chaired the hegemonic order. But for that, the paths that lead only to "cooperate" with the construction of "common markets", which will be replaced by others, eg, dialogues between the Organization of the Amazon Cooperation Treaty and Pan Amazonian Social Forum.

Characterization of Bean Necrotic Mosaic Virus: A Member of a Novel Evolutionary Lineage within the Genus Tospovirus

Background: Tospoviruses (Genus Tospovirus, Family Bunyaviridae) are phytopathogens responsible for significant worldwide crop losses. They have a tripartite negative and ambisense RNA genome segments, termed S (Small), M (Medium) and L (Large) RNA. The vector-transmission is mediated by thrips in a circulative-propagative manner. For new tospovirus species acceptance, several analyses are needed, e. g., the determination of the viral protein sequences for enlightenment of their evolutionary history. Methodology/Principal Findings: Biological (host range and symptomatology), serological, and molecular (S and M RNA sequencing and evolutionary studies) experiments were performed to characterize and differentiate a new tospovirus species, Bean necrotic mosaic virus (BeNMV), which naturally infects common beans in Brazil. Based upon the results, BeNMV can be classified as a novel species and, together with Soybean vein necrosis-associated virus (SVNaV), they represent members of a new evolutionary lineage within the genus Tospovirus. Conclusion/Significances: Taken together, these evidences suggest that two divergent lineages of tospoviruses are circulating in the American continent and, based on the main clades diversity (American and Eurasian lineages), new tospovirus species related to the BeNMV-SVNaV clade remain to be discovered. This possible greater diversity of tospoviruses may be reflected in a higher number of crops as natural hosts, increasing the economic impact on agriculture. This idea also is supported since BeNMV and SVNaV were discovered naturally infecting atypical hosts (common bean and soybean, respectively), indicating, in this case, a preference for leguminous species. Further studies, for instance a survey focusing on crops, specifically of leguminous plants, may reveal a greater tospovirus diversity not only in the Americas (where both viruses were reported), but throughout the world.

Quantification of Orbital Apex Crowding for Screening of Dysthyroid Optic Neuropathy Using Multidetector CT

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: DON, a serious complication of GO, is frequently difficult to diagnose clinically in its early stages because of confounding signs and symptoms of congestive orbitopathy. We evaluated the ability of square area measurements of orbital apex crowding, calculated with MDCT, to detect DON. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Fifty-six patients with GO were studied prospectively with complete neuro-ophthalmologic examination and MDCT scanning. Square measurements were taken from coronal sections 12 mm, 18 mm, and 24 mm from the interzygomatic line. The ratio between the extraocular muscle area and the orbital bone area was used as a Cl. Intracranial fat prolapse through the superior orbital fissure was recorded as present or absent. Severity of optic nerve crowding was also subjectively graded on corona! images. Orbits were divided into 2 groups (with or without clinical evidence of DON) and compared. RESULTS: Ninety-five orbits (36 with and 59 without DON) were studied. The CIs at all 3 levels and the subjective crowding score were significantly greater in orbits with DON (P<.001). No significant difference was observed regarding intracranial fat prolapse (P=.105). The area under the ROC curves was 0.91, 0.93, and 0.87 for CIs at 12, 18, and 24 mm, respectively. The best performance was at 18 mm, where a cutoff value of 57.5% corresponded to 91.7% sensitivity, 89.8% specificity, and an odds ratio of 97.2 for detecting DON. A significant correlation (P<.001) between the CIs and VF defects was observed. CONCLUSIONS: Orbital Cls based on area measurements were found to predict DON more reliably than subjective grading of orbital crowding or intracranial fat prolapse.

Selection and Use Recommendation in Hybrids of Ornamental Banana

The ornamental market is dynamic and demands constant novelties. The use of fruit crops as ornamental plants can be an interesting alternative with very differentiated and original products. The banana germplasm bank at Embrapa Cassava and Fruits has been primarily used in the breeding program for generating new cultivars as food. To diversify and expand the use of this collection, accessions with ornamental potential have been selected to obtain new hybrids. This work was aimed at characterizing the progeny of ornamental Musa L. spp. by grouping the hybrids according to the following uses: landscape plants, potted plants, cut flower, or minifruits. Forty-two hybrids were evaluated with 14 quantitative and 12 qualitative descriptors in three production cycles. In addition, assays for resistance to black and yellow Sigatoka and to Fusarium wilt were performed. Variability was observed for all the characteristics evaluated within progenies, especially with regard to leaf color, fruit, peduncle, rachis, and heart. All evaluated hybrids were resistant to yellow Sigatoka and to Fusarium wilt and were resistant or showed reduced symptoms of susceptibility to black Sigatoka. Most hybrids (82%) presented reduced plant height. After clustering by use category, the hybrids RM 09, RM 38, RM 37, and RM 33 were selected and recommended to be used as cut flowers, minifruits, or landscaping plants.

Multivariate analyses of UV-Vis absorption spectral data from cachaca wood extracts: a model to classify aged Brazilian cachacas according to the wood species used

Multivariate analyses of UV-Vis spectral data from cachaca wood extracts provide a simple and robust model to classify aged Brazilian cachacas according to the wood species used in the maturation barrels. The model is based on inspection of 93 extracts of oak and different Brazilian wood species by a non-aged cachaca used as an extraction solvent. Application of PCA (Principal Components Analysis) and HCA (Hierarchical Cluster Analysis) leads to identification of 6 clusters of cachaca wood extracts (amburana, amendoim, balsamo, castanheira, jatoba, and oak). LDA (Linear Discriminant Analysis) affords classification of 10 different wood species used in the cachaca extracts (amburana, amendoim, balsamo, cabreuva-parda, canela-sassafras, castanheira, jatoba, jequitiba-rosa, louro-canela, and oak) with an accuracy ranging from 80% (amendoim and castanheira) to 100% (balsamo and jequitiba-rosa). The methodology provides a low-cost alternative to methods based on liquid chromatography and mass spectrometry to classify cachacas aged in barrels that are composed of different wood species.

LC-DAD/ESI-MS/MS study of phenolic compounds in ash (Fraxinus excelsior L. and F. americana L.) heartwood. Effect of toasting intensity at cooperage

The phenolic composition of heartwood extracts from Fraxinus excelsior L. and F. americana L., both before and after toasting in cooperage, was studied using LC-DAD/ESI-MS/MS. Low-molecular weight (LMW) phenolic compounds, secoiridoids, phenylethanoid glycosides, dilignols and oligolignols compounds were detected, and 48 were identified, or tentatively characterized, on the basis of their retention time, UV/Vis and MS spectra, and MS fragmentation patterns. Some LMW phenolic compounds like protocatechuic acid and aldehyde, hydroxytyrosol and tyrosol, were unlike to those for oak wood, while ellagic and gallic acid were not found. The toasting of wood resulted in a progressive increase in lignin degradation products with regard to toasting intensity. The levels of some of these compounds in medium-toasted ash woods were much higher than those normally detected in toasted oak, highlighting vanillin levels, thus a more pronounced vanilla character can be expected when using toasted ash wood in the aging wines. Moreover, in seasoned wood, we found a great variety of phenolic compounds which had not been found in oak wood, especially oleuropein, ligstroside and olivil, along with verbascoside and isoverbascoside in F. excelsior, and oleoside in F. americana. Toasting mainly provoked their degradation, thus in medium-toasted wood, only four of them were detected. This resulted in a minor differentiation between toasted ash and oak woods. The absence of tannins in ash wood, which are very important in oak wood, is another peculiar characteristic that should be taken into account when considering its use in cooperage. Copyright (C) 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Short-term efficacy of physical interventions in osteoarthritic knee pain. A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised placebo-controlled trials

Abstract Background Treatment efficacy of physical agents in osteoarthritis of the knee (OAK) pain has been largely unknown, and this systematic review was aimed at assessing their short-term efficacies for pain relief. Methods Systematic review with meta-analysis of efficacy within 1–4 weeks and at follow up at 1–12 weeks after the end of treament. Results 36 randomised placebo-controlled trials (RCTs) were identified with 2434 patients where 1391 patients received active treatment. 33 trials satisfied three or more out of five methodological criteria (Jadad scale). The patient sample had a mean age of 65.1 years and mean baseline pain of 62.9 mm on a 100 mm visual analogue scale (VAS). Within 4 weeks of the commencement of treatment manual acupuncture, static magnets and ultrasound therapies did not offer statistically significant short-term pain relief over placebo. Pulsed electromagnetic fields offered a small reduction in pain of 6.9 mm [95% CI: 2.2 to 11.6] (n = 487). Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS, including interferential currents), electro-acupuncture (EA) and low level laser therapy (LLLT) offered clinically relevant pain relieving effects of 18.8 mm [95% CI: 9.6 to 28.1] (n = 414), 21.9 mm [95% CI: 17.3 to 26.5] (n = 73) and 17.7 mm [95% CI: 8.1 to 27.3] (n = 343) on VAS respectively versus placebo control. In a subgroup analysis of trials with assumed optimal doses, short-term efficacy increased to 22.2 mm [95% CI: 18.1 to 26.3] for TENS, and 24.2 mm [95% CI: 17.3 to 31.3] for LLLT on VAS. Follow-up data up to 12 weeks were sparse, but positive effects seemed to persist for at least 4 weeks after the course of LLLT, EA and TENS treatment was stopped. Conclusion TENS, EA and LLLT administered with optimal doses in an intensive 2–4 week treatment regimen, seem to offer clinically relevant short-term pain relief for OAK.

Metodi molecolari nello studio della variabilità genetica di Tuber borchii

Tuber borchii (Ascomycota, order Pezizales) is highly valued truffle sold in local markets in Italy. Despite its economic importance, knowledge on its distribution and population variation is scarce. The objective of this work was to investigate the evolutionary forces shaping the genetic structure of this fungus using coalescent and phylogenetic methods to reconstruct the evolutionary history of populations in Italy. To assess population structure, 61 specimens were collected from 11 different Provinces of Italy. Sampling was stratified across hosts and habitats to maximize coverage in native oak and pine stands and both mychorrizae and fruiting bodies were collected. Samples were identified considering anatomo-morphological characters. DNA was extracted and both multilocus (AFLP) and single-locus (18 loci from rDNA, nDNA, and mtDNA) approaches were used to look for polymorphisms. Screening AFLP profiles, both Jaccard and Dice coefficients of similarity were utilized to transform binary matrix into a distance matrix and then to desume Neighbour-Joining trees. Though these are only preliminary examinations, phylogenetic trees were totally concordant with those deriving from single locus analyses. Phylogenetic analyses of the nuclear loci were performed using maximum likelihood with PAUP and a combined phylogenetic inference, using Bayesian estimation with all nuclear gene regions, was carried out. To reconstruct the evolutionary history, we estimated recurrent migration, migration across the history of the sample, and estimated the mutation and approximate age of mutations in each tree using SNAP Workbench. The combined phylogenetic tree using Bayesian estimation suggests that there are two main haplotypes that are difficult to be differentiated on the basis of morphology, of ecological parameters and symbiontic tree. Between these two lineages, that occur in sympatry within T. borchii populations, there is no evidence of recurrent migration. However, migration over the history of the sample was asymmetrical suggesting that isolation was a result of interrupted gene flow followed by range expansion. Low levels of divergence between the haplotypes indicate that there are likely to be two cryptic species within the T. borchii population sampled. Our results suggest that isolation between populations of T. borchii could have led to reproductive isolation between two lineages. This isolation is likely due to sympatric speciation caused by a multiple colonization from different refugia or a recent isolation. In attempting to determinate whether these haplotypes represent separate species or a partition of the same species we applied Biological and Mechanistic species Concepts. Notwithstanding, further analyses are necessary to evaluate if selection favoured premating or post-mating isolation.