New Records for the Vascular Flora of the Santa Ana Mountains, California

Documentation is provided for 23 taxa not included in other published floristic accounts of the Santa Ana Mountains. A representative voucher specimen and generalized distribution information are cited for each taxon

Arabis hirshbergiae (Brassicaceae), A Narrow Endemic from the Cuyamaca Mountains, San Diego County, California

A narrow endemic from the Cuyamaca Mountains of southern California is described as a new species, Arabis hirshbergiae. Closest relationships appear to be with A. johnstonii and A. parishii, also narrow endemics from the San Jacinto and San Bernardino Mountains respectively. All three species are associated with pebble plain habitats in montane areas characterized by relatively gentle relief compared with surrounding canyons and ridge systems

WECOF: A new project developing enhanced weed control through improved crop and plant architecture

A primary objective of the EU-funded WECOF project is to optimise the natural competitiveness of winter wheat in reducing weed growth, and thus reduce the need for direct weed control interventions. Crops are characterised by ranking the relative importance of key plant and crop factors in shading weed growth. A series of core trials have been established in Germany, Scotland, Poland and Spain comparing plant structure by the use of different varieties and crop architectural factors by the use of different sowing row widths and direction. Variety trials have also been established in Scotland with constant row width and sowing direction to give more detailed varietal comparisons. Results from the first set of trials in Scotland are described. There are clear varietal differences in weed suppression; row-width has a bigger effect than sowing direction. Results will be used to develop models to assist breeders in producing improved crop ideotypes for organic production, and in production of a decision support system to assist farmers and advisers in variety selection and management for improved weed suppression. WECOF also includes work on allelopathy and photocontrol, and on the related economic factors

Additions to the Vascular Flora of San Clemente Island, Los Angeles County, California, with Notes on Clarifications and Deletions

The number of vascular plant taxa reported from San Clemente Island, California, is briefly summarized. Recent additions to the vascular flora are presented and, with one exception, representative voucher specimens are cited as substantiation. Of the taxa di scussed, 68 are previously unreported taxa, and six are substantiations of previously dubious reports. An additional dozen taxa are cited in relation to clarifications or deletions. Based on current knowledge, we estimate the known flora to consist of 396 species with an additional 19 infraspecific taxa represented. Of these 415 taxa, 69.2% (272 speciesl15 additional subspecies or varieties) are considered indigenous to the island

Ranunculus arvensis (Ranunculaceae), an Alien Weed New to Southern California

We report the first known records of Ranunculus arvensis from southern California. This alien species shows a tendency to behave as a facultative wetland plant, and could become a pest in scoured washes and flood plains, ephemeral pools, and on disturbed stream banks in the coastal lowlands

KSwAGS: A Swift X-ray and UV Survey of the Kepler Field. I

We introduce the first phase of the Kepler-Swift Active Galaxies and Stars survey (KSwAGS), a simultaneous X-ray and UV survey of ~6 square degrees of the Kepler field using the Swift XRT and UVOT. We detect 93 unique X-ray sources with S/N>3 with the XRT, of which 60 have observed UV counterparts. We use the Kepler Input Catalog (KIC) to obtain the optical counterparts of these sources, and construct the X-ray to optical flux ratio as a first approximation of the classification of the source. The survey produces a mixture of stellar sources, extragalactic sources, and sources which we are not able to classify with certainty. We have obtained optical spectra for thirty of these targets, and are conducting an ongoing observing campaign to fully identify the sample. For sources classified as stellar or AGN with certainty, we construct SEDs using the 2MASS, UBV and GALEX data supplied for their optical counterparts by the KIC, and show that the SEDs differ qualitatively between the source types, and so can offer a method of classification in absence of a spectrum. Future papers in this series will analyze the timing properties of the stars and AGN in our sample separately. Our survey provides the first X-ray and UV data for a number of known variable stellar sources, as well as a large number of new X-ray detections in this well-studied portion of the sky. The KSwAGS survey is currently ongoing in the K2 ecliptic plane fields.Comment: Accepted for publication in the Astronomical Journal. 19 pages, 8 figures, 3 table

Vascular flora of the Liebre Mountains, western Transverse Ranges, California

The Liebre Mountains form a discrete unit of the Transverse Ranges of southern California. Geographically, the range is transitional to the San Gabriel Mountains, Inner Coast Ranges, Tehachapi Mountains, and Mojave Desert. A total of 1010 vascular plant taxa was recorded from the range,representing 104 families and 400 genera. The ratio of native vs. nonnative elements of the flora is 4:1, similar to that documented in other areas of cismontane southern California. The range is noteworthy for the diversity of Quercus and oak-dominated vegetation. A total of 32 sensitive plant taxa (rare, threatened or endangered) was recorded from the range

Can Porous Tantalum Be Used to Achieve Ankle and Subtalar Arthrodesis?: A Pilot Study

A structural graft often is needed to fill gaps during reconstructive procedures of the ankle and hindfoot. Autograft, the current gold standard, is limited in availability and configuration and is associated with donor-site morbidity in as much as 48%, whereas the alternative allograft carries risks of disease transmission and collapse. Trabecular metal (tantalum), with a healing rate similar to that of autograft, high stability, and no donor-site morbidity, has been used in surgery of the hip, knee, and spine. However, its use has not been documented in foot and ankle surgery. We retrospectively reviewed nine patients with complex foot and ankle arthrodeses using a tantalum spacer. Minimum followup was 1.9years (average, 2years; range, 1.9-2.4years). Bone ingrowth into the tantalum was analyzed with micro-CT in three of the nine patients. All arthrodeses were fused clinically and radiographically at the 1- and 2year followups and no complications occurred. The American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society score increased from 32 to 74. The micro-CT showed bony trabeculae growing onto the tantalum. Our data suggest tantalum may be used as a structural graft option for ankle and subtalar arthrodesis. All nine of our patients achieved fusion and had no complications. Using tantalum obviated the need for harvesting of the iliac spine. Level of Evidence: Level IV, therapeutic study. See Guidelines for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidenc