MEASURING AND MODELING SPECIES SPECIFIC

Differences in transpiration have been reported in tree species over the last several decades; however, few studies have teased out the environmental component with a common garden. Species specific transpiration was measured via sap flow on twenty trees from five deciduous hardwood species, Prunus x yedoensis Matsum., Acer rubrum L. \u27Autumn Flame\u27, Acer buergeranum Miq., Prunus serrulata Lindl. \u27Kwanzan,\u27 and Platanus x acerifolia (Ait.) Willd., throughout the 2005 growing season in a plantation. In addition, monthly growth and gas exchange measurements were collected for each species and used to parameterize a three dimensional spatially explicit transpiration model, MAESTRA. The model estimates predicted differences in species mean daily and hourly diurnal transpiration and we validated the model predictions against measured sap flow. Throughout the growing season, Prunus x yedoensis had the highest mean daily diurnal transpiration, 1.54 kg m-2 d-1, while Prunus serrulata had the single highest diurnal daily rate, 2.72 kg m-2 d-1. A sensitivity analysis was conducted to determine the effect that individual parameters have on predicting differences in transpiration and to focus model parameterization efforts. The dark stomatal conductance parameter was the most physiologically significant and was more than eight times more sensitive than the next closest importance parameter

Impacts of Transportation Infrastructure on Stormwater and Surfaces Waters in Chittenden County, Vermont, USA

Transportation infrastructure is a major source of stormwater runoff that can alter hydrology and contribute significant loading of nutrients, sediment, and other pollutants to surface waters. These increased loads can contribute to impairment of streams in developed areas and ultimately to Lake Champlain. In this study we selected six watersheds that represent a range of road types (gravel and paved) and road densities (rural, suburban, and urban) present in Chittenden County, one of the most developed areas in Vermont. The location and density of road networks were characterized and quantified for each watershed using GIS analysis. Monitoring stations in each watershed were constructed and instrumented to measure discharge and water quality parameters continuously from spring through early winter. Storm event composite samples and monthly water chemistry grab samples were collected and analyzed for total nutrients, chloride, and total suspended sediments. Results from this study show that road type and road density are closely linked with the level of impairment in each watershed. Total phosphorus and total nitrogen from storm event composite samples and monthly grab samples significantly increased along a gradient of increasing road network density. Chloride concentrations increased several orders of magnitude along this same gradient. With the exception of Alder brook where total suspended sediment (TSS) concentrations tended to be high, there were no significant differences in TSS concentrations between rural and developed watersheds. The event TSS concentrations in the rural streams were slightly higher than we expected and the event and base TSS concentrations in the developed streams were somewhat lower than we expected, suggesting that the unpaved roads in the rural watersheds might contribute to stormwater runoff loads and that sediment control, at least, in the developed watersheds might be fairly effective. The overall results from this study show that local roads are significant source of impairment for streams in the Chittenden County area. Most of these roads are municipal roads that are not under to management of the Vermont Agency of Transportation. Thus, local actions will be necessary to control runoff from these roads

Review of the Leaf Essential Oils of the Genus Backhousia Sens. Lat. and a Report on the Leaf Essential Oils of B. gundarara and B. tetraptera

A review of the leaf oils of the 13 species now recognised in the genus Backhousia is presented. This review carries on from, and incorporates data from, an earlier (1995) review of the then recognised eight species. The leaf oils of two new species of Backhousia, B. gundarara and B. tetraptera are reported for the first time. B. gundarara contains a mixture of mono-and sesquiterpenes, with α-pinene (14%) and spathulenol (11%) being the main members. In B. tetraptera, the principal component of the mainly terpenoid leaf oil is myrtenyl acetate (20–40%). The review also incorporates the two species of the genus Choricarpia, which have been subsumed into Backhousia, viz. B. leptopetala and B. subargentea. Due to its history in Backhousia, Syzygium anisatum, which has been transferred out of Backhousia, is included in the review for historical reasons

Emplacement of oil in the Devonian Weardale Granite of northern England

The research was partly supported by NERC grant NE/M010953/1. MB is in receipt of a PhD studentship from PTDF (Nigeria). K.C. Dunham kindly provided samples from the Rookhope Borehole. P. Eakin collected bitumen at Moot Law. We are most grateful to very careful reviews by F. Smith and D. Holliday, which greatly improved presentation of the work.Peer reviewedPublisher PD

Relaciones culturales filipino-persas (I): las Rubaiyat de Manuel Bernabé

Life history trade-offs are a key notion in evolutionary biology, notably for understanding how selection shapes the diversity of traits among species. Despite the frequent study of such trade-offs, few studies synchronously investigate the effects of multiple factors, such as niche specialization and adaptation to harsh environments. We compared reproduction (fecundity and egg quality) in two sympatric couples (one habitat generalist and one specialist) of congeneric wolf spider species, in both Arctic and temperate habitats. We found that specialist species at both latitudes invested more in clutch size than did generalist species. We interpret this result as an optimization of clutch production. In the Arctic, the specialist was able to invest in fecundity with increasing body size at a much higher rate than the generalist species. In the temperate habitat, both species showed similar strategies: they increased quantity and quality of offspring relative to body size at the same rate. These results are consistent with the hypothesis that Arctic species must develop distinct strategies in order not to overlap each other’s ecological niches as a consequence of limited food resources or niche space. We emphasize the need to test the role of plasticity and environmentally mediated effects of competition on arthropod fitness

Case Report: Successful Management of Refractory Keratomycosis in an Alpaca Using Penetrating Keratoplasty and Combination Antifungal Therapy (Caspofungin 0.5% and Terbinafine 1%)

Fungal keratitis is a common disease in certain parts of the world and affects several species, including equids, camelids, and homo sapiens, leading to blindness or loss of the eye if the infection is not adequately controlled. Reports of clinical use of antifungals caspofungin and terbinafine are limited across both veterinary and human medical literature. The alpaca presented in this case demonstrates that deep keratomycosis can be caused by Scopulariopsis brevicaulis and Fusarium verticillioides, two previously unreported fungi to cause keratomycosis in camelids. This report demonstrates successful management with a combination of surgery and topical ophthalmic treatment with caspofungin 0.5% solution and terbinafine 1% dermatologic cream, after initially failing treatment with topical voriconazole 1% solution. Combination therapy appears more effective than monotherapy with some fungal organisms, and synergy between antifungal agents is thought to play a role in the success of combination therapy. Surgery to remove the bulk of the fungal infection is especially helpful in cases that fail initial medical therapy

Effect of indomethacin and adrenocorticotrophic hormone on renal function in man: An experimental model of inappropriate antidiuresis

Effect of indomethacin and adrenocorticotrophic hormone on renal function in man: An experimental model of inappropriate antidiuresis. The effect of prostaglandin synthesis inhibition on basal and ACTH-stimulated adrenal and renal function was investigated in normai volunteers. Data were collected during control and experimental study periods (13 days each). Adrenocorticotrophic hormone (Cosyntropin, 80 U/day) was administered i.v. on days 8 and 9 of each period. Indomethacin (150 mg/day) was given on days 5 through 13 of the experimental period. The subjects ate a constant diet containing 9 mEq of sodium, 100 mEq of potassium, and 2,500 ml of fluid daily. Indomethacin markedly inhibited urinary PGE excretion and plasma PGE concentration. The effect of ACTH alone as compared to the effect of ACTH and indomethacin showed: plasma sodium concentration, 139 ± 1 vs. 131 ± 3 mEg/liter (P < 0.01, mean ± SEM); plasma osmolality, 287 ± 3 vs. 270 ± 3 mOsm/liter (P < 0.01); free water clearance, 97 ± 66 vs. -1100 ± 380 ml/24hr (P < 0.01); urine volume, 2,000 ± 60 vs. 950 ± 200 ml/day (P < 0.01); and urine osmolality 282 ± 12 vs. 720 ± 144 mOsm/liter (P < 0.01). We conclude that the effects of ACTH and prostaglandin synthesis inhibition interact to result in inappropriate antidiuresis.Effet de l'indométhacine et de l'hormone adrénocorticotrope sur la fonction rénale chez l'homme: Un modèle expérimental d'antidiurèse inappropriée. L'effet de l'inhibition de la synthèse de prostaglandine sur la fonction surrénalienne basale et stimulée par l'ACTH et sur la fonction rénale a été étudié chez des sujets normaux volontaires. Les résultats ont été obtenus au cours de périodes contrôles et expérimentales de 13 jours chacune. De l'hormone adrénocorticotrope (Cosyntropin) a été administrée par voie i.v. les 8ème et 9ème jours de chaque période à raison de 80 U par jour. L'indométhacine, 150 mg/jour, a été donnée du 8ème au 13ème jour de la période expérimentale. Les sujets ont été soumis à un régime constant contenant 9 mEq de sodium, 100 mEq de potassium, et 2,500 ml de liquide par jour. L'indométhacine a fortement inhibé l'excrétion urinaire de PGE et abaissé la concentration plasmatique de PGE. L'effet de l'ACTH seul comparé à l'effet de l'ACTH associé à l'indométhacine a montré: une concentration plasmatique de sodium de 139 ± 1 vs. 131 ± 3 mEq/litre (P < 0,01) moyenne et SEM); une osmolalité plasmatique de 287 ± 3 vs. 270 ± 3 mOsm/litre (P < 0,01); une clearance de l'eau libre de 97 ± 66 vs. - 1100 ± 380 ml/24 hr (P < 0,01); un débit urinaire de 2,000 ± 60 vs. 950 ± 200 ml/jour (P < 0,01); et une osmolalité urinaire de 282 ± 12 vs. 720 ± 144 mOsm/litre (P < 0,01). Nous considérons que les effets de l'ACTH et de l'inhibition de la synthèse de prostaglandine se combinent pour déterminer une antidiurése inappropriée