Integrated global assessment of the natural forest carbon potential

Forests are a substantial terrestrial carbon sink, but anthropogenic changes in land use and climate have considerably reduced the scale of this system1. Remote-sensing estimates to quantify carbon losses from global forests2,3,4,5 are characterized by considerable uncertainty and we lack a comprehensive ground-sourced evaluation to benchmark these estimates. Here we combine several ground-sourced6 and satellite-derived approaches2,7,8 to evaluate the scale of the global forest carbon potential outside agricultural and urban lands. Despite regional variation, the predictions demonstrated remarkable consistency at a global scale, with only a 12% difference between the ground-sourced and satellite-derived estimates. At present, global forest carbon storage is markedly under the natural potential, with a total deficit of 226 Gt (model range = 151–363 Gt) in areas with low human footprint. Most (61%, 139 Gt C) of this potential is in areas with existing forests, in which ecosystem protection can allow forests to recover to maturity. The remaining 39% (87 Gt C) of potential lies in regions in which forests have been removed or fragmented. Although forests cannot be a substitute for emissions reductions, our results support the idea2,3,9 that the conservation, restoration and sustainable management of diverse forests offer valuable contributions to meeting global climate and biodiversity targets

Disentangling above- and below-ground competition between lianas and trees in a tropical forest

1 Light is thought to be the most limiting resource in tropical forests, and thus aboveground competition is commonly accepted as the mechanism that structures these communities. In many tropical forests, trees compete not only with other trees, but also with lianas, which compete aggressively for below-ground resources and thus may limit tree growth and regeneration. 2 Using a replicated experiment, we tested the relative strengths of above- and belowground competition from lianas on tree saplings in a disturbed forest in Côte d¿Ivoire with a heterogeneous canopy and relatively high light penetration. We planted seedlings of three tree species and subjected them to below-ground competition with lianas (BGC), above- and below-ground competition with lianas (ABGC), or a liana-free control treatment. After 2 years, we harvested the saplings and compared the amount of above-ground biomass and its relative allocation among the three experimental treatments and different tree species. 3 Lianas competed intensely with saplings in this tropical forest, substantially limiting sapling growth. Saplings grown in the ABGC and BGC treatments had only 18.5% and 16.8% of the above-ground dry biomass of those grown in the liana-free control treatment. 4 Sapling biomass did not differ significantly among the ABGC and BGC treatments, suggesting that below-ground competition was the driving force behind liana vs. tree competition in this forest. Above-ground competition with lianas, however, did affect the allocation of biomass in saplings, resulting in shorter, thicker stems and a poorly developed crown. 5 Collectively, our findings suggest that below-ground competition with lianas plays a substantial role in limiting the growth of saplings in disturbed and secondary tropical forests, and above-ground effects may be due to a combination of above-ground competition and mechanical stress. 6 Disentangling above- and below-ground competition between lianas and trees is critical for a comprehensive understanding of the dynamics of naturally regenerating tropical forests, as well as formulating successful management plans for sustainable timber harvest. Key-words: above-ground, below-ground, competition, Côte d¿Ivoire, forest regeneration, lianas, trees, tropical fores

Pelvic organ function in randomized patients undergoing laparoscopic or abdominal hysterectomy.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: To assess the incidence of urinary incontinence, bowel dysfunction, and sexual problems after laparoscopic hysterectomy as compared with abdominal hysterectomy. DESIGN: Randomized controlled trial (Canadian Task Force classification I). SETTING: Single-center teaching hospital in the Netherlands, experienced in gynecologic minimal access surgery. PATIENTS: Women with a benign or malignant condition scheduled for hysterectomy where vaginal hysterectomy was not feasible and laparoscopic hysterectomy was possible. INTERVENTIONS: Laparoscopic (n = 38) and abdominal hysterectomy (n = 38). MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Patients were asked before and 3 months after surgery whether they experienced urinary incontinence and completed the validated questionnaires Urogenital Distress Inventory, Incontinence Impact Questionnaire, Defecatory Distress Inventory, and the Questionnaire for screening Sexual Dysfunctions 1 year after surgery. The incidence of urinary incontinence at 3 months after surgery decreased equally in both groups as compared with baseline. De novo urinary incontinence and sexual problems were rare. One year after surgery, a significant treatment effect favoring laparoscopic hysterectomy was found in the Urogenital Distress Inventory and Incontinence Impact Questionnaire, whereas no differences were found in the Defecatory Distress Inventory and Questionnaire for screening Sexual Dysfunctions. CONCLUSION: Laparoscopic hysterectomy is superior to abdominal hysterectomy with respect to postoperative symptoms of urinary dysfunction

Comparison of laparoscopic and abdominal hysterectomy in terms of quality of life: a systematic review.

Contains fulltext : 71139.pdf (publisher's version ) (Closed access)The objective of this study was to investigate the randomized studies reporting on quality of life after laparoscopic hysterectomy as compared to abdominal hysterectomy. A systematic qualitative review was performed on published studies identified by the databases PubMed and EMBASE, as well as cross-references. Randomized clinical trials on laparoscopic versus abdominal hysterectomy were assessed for the methods in which studies reported on postoperative health or quality of life as an outcome measure. Study results were described qualitatively. Thirty papers, published between 1994 and 2004, were identified. Only seven studies, incorporating data on 1450 patients, reported on postoperative health or quality of life. Four of these studies used eight different validated quality of life questionnaires. Two of these four studies reported significant differences between the treatment groups, with better quality of life in the first 6 weeks after laparoscopic hysterectomy when compared to the abdominal approach. Although, the main reason for performing a laparoscopic hysterectomy instead of an abdominal hysterectomy is the improvement of quality of life, only a few studies have used this as an outcome measure. The data available show that laparoscopic hysterectomy performs equally or better in terms of postoperative health and quality of life in the first weeks after surgery. In the decision for an approach to hysterectomy, the advantage of better quality of life should be offset against the increased risk of complications in laparoscopic hysterectomy

Safety, Feasibility, and Reliability of the Maximal Step Length, Gait Speed, and Chair Test Measured by Seniors Themselves: The Senior Step Study

Item does not contain fulltextSelf-management of mobility and fall risk might be possible if older adults could use a simple and safe self-test to measure their own mobility, balance, and fall risk at home. The aim of this study was to determine the safety, feasibility, and intraindividual reliability of the maximal step length (MSL), gait speed (GS), and chair test (CT) as potential self-tests for assessing mobility and fall risk. Fifty-six community-dwelling older adults performed MSL, GS, and CT at home once a week during a four-week period, wherein the feasibility, test-retest reliability, coefficients of variation, and linear mixed models with random effects of these three self-tests were determined. Forty-nine subjects (mean age 76.1 years [SD: 4.0], 19 females [42%]) completed the study without adverse effects. Compared with the other self-tests, MSL gave the most often (77.6%) valid measurement results and had the best intraclass correlation coefficients (0.95 [95% confidence interval: 0.91-0.97]). MSL and GS gave no significant training effect, whereas CT did show a significant training effect (p < .01). Community-dwelling older adults can perform MSL safely, correctly, and reliably, and GS safely and reliably. Further research is needed to study the responsiveness and beneficial effects of these self-tests on self-management of mobility and fall risk