Climatic Signals in Wood Property Variables of Picea Crassifolia

Little attention has been given to climatic signals in wood properties. In this study, ring width(RW), annual average microfibril angle (MFA), annual average tracheid radial diameter (TRD), andannual average density (DEN), as the annual and intra-annual wood property variables, were measured at high resolution by SilviScan-3 on dated Picea crassifolia trees. Dendroclimatological methods were used to analyze climatic signals registered in wood property variables. RW, MFA, and TRD negatively correlated with temperature and positively correlated with precipitation in the growing season, whereas the reverse was true for DEN. Climatic signals recorded in the earlywood were similar to those measured for the full width of the annual rings. Climatic signals recorded in latewood were very weak except for latewood MFA. This study showed that wood property variables could be extensive resources for learning more about the influences of climate on tree growth and how trees adapt to ongoing climate change

The impact of a standardised intramuscular sedation protocol for acute behavioural disturbance in the emergency department

Background: Acute behavioural disturbance (ABD) is an increasing problem in emergency departments. This study aimed to determine the impact of a structured intramuscular (IM) sedation protocol on the duration of ABD in the emergency department. Methods: A historical control study was undertaken comparing 58 patients who required physical restraint and parenteral sedation with the structured IM sedation protocol, to 73 historical controls treated predominantly by intravenous sedation, according to individual clinician preference. The primary outcome was the duration of the ABD defined as the time security staff were required. Secondary outcomes were the requirement for additional sedation, drug related-adverse effects and patient and staff injuries. Results: The median duration of the ABD in patients with the new sedation protocol was 21 minutes (IQR: 15 to 35 minutes; Range: 5 to 78 minutes) compared to a median duration of 30 minutes (IQR: 15 to 50 minutes; Range: 5 to 135 minutes) in the historical controls which was significantly different (p = 0.03). With IM sedation only 27 of 58 patients (47%; 95% CI: 34% to 60%) required further sedation compared to 64 of 73 historical controls (88%; 95%CI: 77% to 94%). There were six (10%) drug-related adverse events with the new IM protocol [oxygen desaturation (5), oxygen desaturation/airway obstruction (1)] compared to 10 (14%) in the historical controls [oxygen desaturation (5), hypoventilation (4) and aspiration (1)]. Injuries to staff occurred with three patients using the new sedation protocol and in seven of the historical controls. Two patients were injured during the new protocol and two of the historical controls. Conclusion: The use of a standardised IM sedation protocol was simple, more effective and as safe for management of ABD compared to predominantly intravenous sedation

Targeting LIF-mediated paracrine interaction for pancreatic cancer therapy and monitoring.

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) has a dismal prognosis largely owing to inefficient diagnosis and tenacious drug resistance. Activation of pancreatic stellate cells (PSCs) and consequent development of dense stroma are prominent features accounting for this aggressive biology1,2. The reciprocal interplay between PSCs and pancreatic cancer cells (PCCs) not only enhances tumour progression and metastasis but also sustains their own activation, facilitating a vicious cycle to exacerbate tumorigenesis and drug resistance3-7. Furthermore, PSC activation occurs very early during PDAC tumorigenesis8-10, and activated PSCs comprise a substantial fraction of the tumour mass, providing a rich source of readily detectable factors. Therefore, we hypothesized that the communication between PSCs and PCCs could be an exploitable target to develop effective strategies for PDAC therapy and diagnosis. Here, starting with a systematic proteomic investigation of secreted disease mediators and underlying molecular mechanisms, we reveal that leukaemia inhibitory factor (LIF) is a key paracrine factor from activated PSCs acting on cancer cells. Both pharmacologic LIF blockade and genetic Lifr deletion markedly slow tumour progression and augment the efficacy of chemotherapy to prolong survival of PDAC mouse models, mainly by modulating cancer cell differentiation and epithelial-mesenchymal transition status. Moreover, in both mouse models and human PDAC, aberrant production of LIF in the pancreas is restricted to pathological conditions and correlates with PDAC pathogenesis, and changes in the levels of circulating LIF correlate well with tumour response to therapy. Collectively, these findings reveal a function of LIF in PDAC tumorigenesis, and suggest its translational potential as an attractive therapeutic target and circulating marker. Our studies underscore how a better understanding of cell-cell communication within the tumour microenvironment can suggest novel strategies for cancer therapy

The inner junction protein CFAP20 functions in motile and non-motile cilia and is critical for vision

Motile and non-motile cilia are associated with mutually-exclusive genetic disorders. Motile cilia propel sperm or extracellular fluids, and their dysfunction causes primary ciliary dyskinesia. Non-motile cilia serve as sensory/signalling antennae on most cell types, and their disruption causes single-organ ciliopathies such as retinopathies or multi-system syndromes. CFAP20 is a ciliopathy candidate known to modulate motile cilia in unicellular eukaryotes. We demonstrate that in zebrafish, cfap20 is required for motile cilia function, and in C. elegans, CFAP-20 maintains the structural integrity of non-motile cilia inner junctions, influencing sensory-dependent signalling and development. Human patients and zebrafish with CFAP20 mutations both exhibit retinal dystrophy. Hence, CFAP20 functions within a structural/functional hub centered on the inner junction that is shared between motile and non-motile cilia, and is distinct from other ciliopathy-associated domains or macromolecular complexes. Our findings suggest an uncharacterised pathomechanism for retinal dystrophy, and potentially for motile and non-motile ciliopathies in general

The inner junction protein CFAP20 functions in motile and non-motile cilia and is critical for vision

Motile and non-motile cilia are associated with mutually-exclusive genetic disorders. Motile cilia propel sperm or extracellular fluids, and their dysfunction causes primary ciliary dyskinesia. Non-motile cilia serve as sensory/signalling antennae on most cell types, and their disruption causes single-organ ciliopathies such as retinopathies or multi-system syndromes. CFAP20 is a ciliopathy candidate known to modulate motile cilia in unicellular eukaryotes. We demonstrate that in zebrafish, cfap20 is required for motile cilia function, and in C. elegans, CFAP-20 maintains the structural integrity of non-motile cilia inner junctions, influencing sensory-dependent signalling and development. Human patients and zebrafish with CFAP20 mutations both exhibit retinal dystrophy. Hence, CFAP20 functions within a structural/functional hub centered on the inner junction that is shared between motile and non-motile cilia, and is distinct from other ciliopathy-associated domains or macromolecular complexes. Our findings suggest an uncharacterised pathomechanism for retinal dystrophy, and potentially for motile and non-motile ciliopathies in general.</p

Thrive: Success Strategies for the Modern-Day Faculty Member

The THRIVE collection is intended to help faculty thrive in their roles as educators, scholars, researchers, and clinicians. Each section contains a variety of thought-provoking topics that are designed to be easily digested, guide personal reflection, and put into action. Please use the THRIVE collection to help: Individuals study topics on their own, whenever and wherever they want Peer-mentoring or other learning communities study topics in small groups Leaders and planners strategically insert faculty development into existing meetings Faculty identify campus experts for additional learning, grand rounds, etc. If you have questions or want additional information on a topic, simply contact the article author or email [email protected]://digitalcommons.unmc.edu/facdev_books/1000/thumbnail.jp

Growth at the microscale : long term thinning effects on patterns and timing of intra-annual stem increment in radiata pine

CITATION: Drew, D. M. & Downes, G. M. 2018. Growth at the microscale : long term thinning effects on patterns and timing of intra-annual stem increment in radiata pine. Forest Ecosystems, 5:32, doi:10.1186/s40663-018-0153-z.The original publication is available at https://forestecosyst.springeropen.comBackground: Stem radial growth in forests is not uniform. Rather, it is characterized by periods of relatively fast or slow growth, or sometimes no growth at all. These fluctuations are generally a function of varying environmental conditions (e.g. water availability) and, importantly, will also be associated with adjustments in properties in the wood formed. Stand level conditions and forest management, particularly thinning and stand density will, however, also have a major influence on patterns of growth variation. We explore how different thinning histories and/or stand densities influence these dynamics of tree growth in the important commercial plantation species Pinus radiata D. Don. Methods: Daily stem size change was measured using electronic point dendrometers over two growing seasons on P. radiata trees at two sites, subjected to different thinning regimes. Timing, rates and periodicity of annual growth were calculated from these data. Results: Greater overall cross-sectional growth in thinned plots was driven mainly by two dynamics. First, the cessation of seasonal growth occurred at least 3 weeks later in the stands in which thinning had taken place. There was no difference between thinned/unthinned stands, however, in the timing of growth onset. Second, within the longer season, trees in thinned plots had more growth days (as much as 20% more) than unthinned plots. The rates of growth on days when growth occurred were not different, however. In this context, it is notable that in trees in the unthinned plots experiencing the most severe competition there were strong “pulses” of growth following drought-breaking rainfall events. Unthinned plots at high stand densities also maintained a smaller (but consistent) zone of dividing cells throughout the season than thinned plots. Conclusions: In Pinus radiata growing under conditions as in our study, conditions late in summer, particularly drought, have an important effect on the timing of cessation of growth. Early season temperature appears to have no effect in determining timing of annual growth. Limiting conditions during the season reduce growing duration, and thus total growth, more in unthinned stands than thinned stands. These findings are valuable in developing new generations of fine-scale growth and wood property models.https://forestecosyst.springeropen.com/articles/10.1186/s40663-018-0153-zPublisher's versio

High-resolution analysis of radial growth and wood density in Eucalyptus nitens, grown under different irrigation regimes

Wood density is the most important determinant of wood quality and a critical factor in short rotation forestry. Daily radial growth of six-year-old Eucalyptus nitens trees were monitored on a two hectare plantation in south-eastern Tasmania using point dendrometers, under different irrigation regimes. At the end of the second growing season 12-mm cores were extracted from the trees and processed for high-resolution wood density using SilviScan-2. The dendrometer measurements were utilized to rescale wood density on a time axis. In general, lower density was formed early in the growing season, and higher wood density later. The irrigated-droughted trees showed an obvious relationship between wood density and soil water deficits with the density decreasing in response to water stress releases. The density decrease was accompanied by acceleration in daily increment. With the presented approach the annual level is no longer the basis of analysis. This opens new opportunities for genotype $\times$ environmental interaction studies of trees, which is of particular importance in clonal forestry.Analyse haute résolution de la croissance radiale et de la densité du bois d'Eucalyptus nitens, croissant sous divers régimes d'irrigation. La densité du bois est le plus important déterminant de la qualité du bois et un facteur critique pour la sylviculture en courte rotation. La croissance radiale journalière d'Eucalyptus nitens, âgé de 6 ans, a été suivie dans une plantation de 2 hectares dans le Sud-Est de la Tasmanie en utilisant des dendromètres à point, sous différents régimes d'irrigation. À la fin de la seconde saison de végétation, des carottes de 12 mm ont été prélevées sur les arbres et une mesure haute résolution de la densité du bois a été réalisée à l'aide d'un SilviScan-2. Les mesures à l'aide du dendromètre ont été utilisées pour recaler la densité du bois sur un axe de temps. En général, le bois ayant la densité la plus faible a été formé tôt dans la saison de végétation, et le bois de haute densité plus tardivement. Les arbres irrigués ou soumis à la sécheresse montraient une relation évidente entre la densité du bois et le déficit hydrique du sol avec une densité diminuant en réponse à une réduction du stress hydrique. La diminution de densité a été accompagnée par une accélération de l'accroissement journalier. Selon l'approche présentée, le niveau annuel ne sera plus la base de l'analyse. Ceci ouvre de nouvelles opportunités pour des études de l'interaction génotype $\times$ environnement sur des arbres, ce qui est d'une importance primordiale en foresterie clonale

Relationship between Ring Width and Tracheid Characteristics In Picea crassifolia: Implication in Dendroclimatology

Ring width represents the total width of cells in a growing season. Relatively few studies have identified which of the parameters, cell number, size, or wall thickness is the greater contributor to variations in ring width. It is difficult to clearly explain the relationship between the climate in which a tree is located and the ring growth. In this study, the ring width and various tracheid characteristics (radial lumen diameter, double wall thickness, and number) in 298 rings of Picea crassifolia wood were investigated. Tree rings were quantitatively categorized based on their width into large, medium, and narrow classes. The tracheid number and lumen diameter were strongly correlated with annual ring width. The tracheid number had the strongest effect on the ring width. The effect of the tracheid number was three times larger than that of the lumen diameter. More earlywood cells were formed in larger rings, while larger earlywood cells were produced in years when narrow rings were formed. Wall thickness had no appreciable effect on ring width. The results of this study help to understand the relationship between the climate and the ring growth from the tree physiology perspective, when ring width is used as a climate proxy