The short-term effects of management changes on watertable position and nutrients in shallow groundwater in a harvested peatland forest

This work was funded by the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food and the Environmental Protection Agency under the STRIVE program 2007 – 2013.peer-reviewedManagement changes such as drainage, fertilisation, afforestation and harvesting (clearfelling) of forested peatlands influence watertable (WT) position and groundwater concentrations of nutrients. This study investigated the impact of clearfelling of a peatland forest on WT and nutrient concentrations. Three areas were examined: (1) a regenerated riparian peatland buffer (RB) clearfelled four years prior to the present study (2) a recently clearfelled coniferous forest (CF) and (3) a standing, mature coniferous forest (SF), on which no harvesting took place. The WT remained consistently below 0.3 m during the pre-clearfelling period. Results showed there was an almost immediate rise in the WT after clearfelling and a rise to 0.15 m below ground level (bgl) within 10 months of clearfelling. Clearfelling of the forest increased dissolved reactive phosphorus concentrations (from an average of 28–230 μg L−1) in the shallow groundwater, likely caused by leaching from degrading brash mats.Environmental Protection AgencyDepartment of Agriculture, Food and the Marin

Dangerous delay 2: The cost of inaction

In 2011, Somalia experienced a devastating famine that killed over a quarter of a million people. Afterwards, leaders in the region made a commitment to end drought emergencies by 2022. The international community sought to ensure that there would be no repeat of the failures that led to famine. Next time, the world would heed the warnings and act early to avoid the crisis. But despite various warnings and alarms over the past two years, the commitment to anticipatory action has proven half-hearted. We are once again responding too late and with too little to avert the crisis. In this follow-up to their 2012 briefing A Dangerous Delay, Oxfam and Save the Children, supported by the Jameel Observatory, examine what has changed and what has not in the humanitarian system since 2011. They explain how it must evolve in order to enable and fully fund anticipatory action. With the climate crisis set to deepen, the current system must change quickly in order to meet the challenges we face in the years ahead

Synovial membrane protein expression differs between juvenile idiopathic arthritis subtypes in early disease

Introduction: Juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) is the most common rheumatological disease of childhood with a prevalence of around 1 in 1,000. Without appropriate treatment it can have devastating consequences including permanent disability from joint destruction and growth deformities. Disease aetiology remains unknown. Investigation of disease pathology at the level of the synovial membrane is required if we want to begin to understand the disease at the molecular and biochemical level. The synovial membrane proteome from early disease-stage, treatment naive JIA patients was compared between polyarticular and oligoarticular subgroups. Methods: Protein was extracted from 15 newly diagnosed, treatment naive JIA synovial membrane biopsies and separated by two dimensional fluorescent difference in-gel electrophoresis. Proteins displaying a two-fold or greater change in expression levels between the two subgroups were identified by matrix assisted laser desorption ionization-time of flight mass spectrometry with expression further verified by Western blotting and immunohistochemistry. Results: Analysis of variance analysis (P ≤ 0.05) revealed 25 protein spots with a two-fold or greater difference in expression levels between polyarticular and oligoarticular patients. Hierarchical cluster analysis with Pearson ranked correlation revealed two distinctive clusters of proteins. Some of the proteins that were differentially expressed included: integrin alpha 2b (P = 0.04); fibrinogen D fragment (P = 0.005); collagen type VI (P = 0.03); fibrinogen gamma chain (P = 0.05) and peroxiredoxin 2 (P = 0.02). The identified proteins are involved in a number of different processes including platelet activation and the coagulation system. Conclusions: The data indicate distinct synovial membrane proteome profiles between JIA subgroups at an early stage in the disease process. The identified proteins also provide insight into differentially perturbed pathways which could influence pathological events at the joint level

Specificity of the STAT4 Genetic Association for Severe Disease Manifestations of Systemic Lupus Erythematosus

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a genetically complex disease with heterogeneous clinical manifestations. A polymorphism in the STAT4 gene has recently been established as a risk factor for SLE, but the relationship with specific SLE subphenotypes has not been studied. We studied 137 SNPs in the STAT4 region genotyped in 4 independent SLE case series (total n = 1398) and 2560 healthy controls, along with clinical data for the cases. Using conditional testing, we confirmed the most significant STAT4 haplotype for SLE risk. We then studied a SNP marking this haplotype for association with specific SLE subphenotypes, including autoantibody production, nephritis, arthritis, mucocutaneous manifestations, and age at diagnosis. To prevent possible type-I errors from population stratification, we reanalyzed the data using a subset of subjects determined to be most homogeneous based on principal components analysis of genome-wide data. We confirmed that four SNPs in very high LD (r2 = 0.94 to 0.99) were most strongly associated with SLE, and there was no compelling evidence for additional SLE risk loci in the STAT4 region. SNP rs7574865 marking this haplotype had a minor allele frequency (MAF) = 31.1% in SLE cases compared with 22.5% in controls (OR = 1.56, p = 10−16). This SNP was more strongly associated with SLE characterized by double-stranded DNA autoantibodies (MAF = 35.1%, OR = 1.86, p<10−19), nephritis (MAF = 34.3%, OR = 1.80, p<10−11), and age at diagnosis<30 years (MAF = 33.8%, OR = 1.77, p<10−13). An association with severe nephritis was even more striking (MAF = 39.2%, OR = 2.35, p<10−4 in the homogeneous subset of subjects). In contrast, STAT4 was less strongly associated with oral ulcers, a manifestation associated with milder disease. We conclude that this common polymorphism of STAT4 contributes to the phenotypic heterogeneity of SLE, predisposing specifically to more severe disease

Fludarabine, cytarabine, granulocyte colony-stimulating factor, and idarubicin with gemtuzumab ozogamicin improves event-free survival in younger patients with newly diagnosed aml and overall survival in patients with npm1 and flt3 mutations

Purpose To determine the optimal induction chemotherapy regimen for younger adults with newly diagnosed AML without known adverse risk cytogenetics. Patients and Methods One thousand thirty-three patients were randomly assigned to intensified (fludarabine, cytarabine, granulocyte colony-stimulating factor, and idarubicin [FLAG-Ida]) or standard (daunorubicin and Ara-C [DA]) induction chemotherapy, with one or two doses of gemtuzumab ozogamicin (GO). The primary end point was overall survival (OS). Results There was no difference in remission rate after two courses between FLAG-Ida + GO and DA + GO (complete remission [CR] + CR with incomplete hematologic recovery 93% v 91%) or in day 60 mortality (4.3% v 4.6%). There was no difference in OS (66% v 63%; P = .41); however, the risk of relapse was lower with FLAG-Ida + GO (24% v 41%; P < .001) and 3-year event-free survival was higher (57% v 45%; P < .001). In patients with an NPM1 mutation (30%), 3-year OS was significantly higher with FLAG-Ida + GO (82% v 64%; P = .005). NPM1 measurable residual disease (MRD) clearance was also greater, with 88% versus 77% becoming MRD-negative in peripheral blood after cycle 2 (P = .02). Three-year OS was also higher in patients with a FLT3 mutation (64% v 54%; P = .047). Fewer transplants were performed in patients receiving FLAG-Ida + GO (238 v 278; P = .02). There was no difference in outcome according to the number of GO doses, although NPM1 MRD clearance was higher with two doses in the DA arm. Patients with core binding factor AML treated with DA and one dose of GO had a 3-year OS of 96% with no survival benefit from FLAG-Ida + GO. Conclusion Overall, FLAG-Ida + GO significantly reduced relapse without improving OS. However, exploratory analyses show that patients with NPM1 and FLT3 mutations had substantial improvements in OS. By contrast, in patients with core binding factor AML, outcomes were excellent with DA + GO with no FLAG-Ida benefit

Assessment of the impact of forestry on peatlands on the environment

Ireland\u27s forest cover stands at approximately 10 %, or 700,000 ha, of the total surface area of the island and it is estimated that almost 60 % of this forestry is on peat. Forestry on peatland throughout the world is now moving towards a \u27progressive management approach\u27, which incorporates sustainable timber production alongside multiple uses such as habitat restoration, ecological regeneration and the minimisation of any potentially negative effects to the surrounding environment. However, the legacy of blanket peatland forestry, planted in the 1950s, must be dealt with, as most of this forestry is now at harvestable age and current and future recommended best management practices (BMPs) for forestry operations must consider soil and water quality, environmental impacts and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. The aim of this project was to investigate the short and long-term changes in nutrient and sediment releases, watertable (WT) fluctuations, and GHG emissions arising from harvesting (clearfelling) of forested peatlands in the west of Ireland. The study was located in three sites: (1) the Altaconey (Altahoney) forest, which comprised a regenerated riparian peatland buffer clearfelled 5 years before the present study, a recently clearfelled coniferous forest, and a standing mature coniferous forest (2) a virgin peat site and (3) a paired catchment study in the Glennamong forest. The Altaconey forest was instrumented with a network of piezometers, one of which was automated, for WT and water quality measurement, a rain gauge, and open-bottomed collars for gas flux measurement. Water, soil and gas measurements, the latter of which were also collected at the VP site, were taken regularly over a 2 ¼ -year study duration (12 months before clearfelling, 15 months after). Two paired catchments in the Glennamong forest, one a study control (no clearfelling) and the other clearfelled, and each with an area of approximately 10 ha, were instrumented for water quality and flow measurement. Management changes such as drainage, fertilisation, afforestation and subsequent clearfelling of forested peatlands influences WT position, nutrient load transfer to shallow groundwater, and GHG emissions from soil respiration. In the Altaconey forest, there was an immediate rise in the WT after clearfelling, but this had no significant impact on the concentrations of total oxidized nitrogen (TON), nitrate nitrogen (NO3--N) or dissolved reactive phosphorus (DRP), the latter of which was more impacted by degrading logging residues (brash material) than by WT fluctuations. However, fluctuations in WT did influence concentrations of ammonium-nitrogen (NH4+-N), which was highest under the standing mature coniferous forest, an area with the deepest WT. Nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) discharges to the adjacent watercourse in excess of maximum admissible concentrations were negligible due to the low lateral saturated conductivity and the high inherent natural attenuation capacity of the peat. Fluctuations in the WT also affected GHG emissions from soil respiration and sequestration, as clearfelling of the forest at Altaconey produced significant increases in carbon dioxide (CO2) (11±2 kg CO2-C ha-1 d-1 before clearfelling to 19±2 kg CO2-C ha-1 d-1 after clearfelling) and methane (CH4) emissions (22±14 g CH4-C ha-1 d-1 to 163±99 g CH4-C ha-1 d-1), but a decrease in nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions (1.7 g N2O-N ha-1 d-1 to 0.7 g N2O-N ha-1 d-1). Elevated levels of nutrients and suspended sediment (SS) in surface waters are frequently associated with forestry clearfelling operations for up to 4 years. Despite significant rises in nutrients and SS at the Glennamong study site and changes to some water parameters, the implementation of BMP, where possible, and the quick execution of a site restoration plan comprising silt traps and water management on extraction racks, appeared to negate excessive nutrients and SS export to the adjoining watercourse

The stylisation of violence in film

This thesis explores the stylisation of violence in film with the use of different elements of filmmaking. It involves a deep analysis of scenes, genres, cinematography, lighting, soundtracks, and special effects. In each chapter there is a case study on a film director to help understand film styles are created. The directors included are John Carpenter, Tim Burton, and Quentin Tarantino. Film style, the history of violence and purpose of violence in cinema will be discussed, and how stylised violence is designed as an experience for the audience.</p

Implications of applied best management practice for peatland forest harvesting

Elevated levels of nutrients and suspended sediment (SS), and changes to other environmental parameters, are frequently associated with forestry harvesting (clearfelling) operations, and are indicative of the potentially complex changing environment associated with clearfelling. Current and future recommended best management practices (BMPs) for forestry clearfelling on upland peat catchments must provide for a healthy soil and good water quality. The aim of this study was to quantify the effects of implementation, or violation, of BMPs in the clearfelling of an upland peat conifer forest. Over periods of 12 months prior to clearfelling and 15 months after clearfelling, two peatland forests, comprising a study control (no clearfelling) and a study site (clearfelling), were monitored for the release of phosphorus (P) and nitrogen (N) species (dissolved reactive phosphorus (DRP), total phosphorus (TP), total oxidised nitrogen (TON) and ammonium nitrogen (NH4+-N)), SS, dissolved oxygen (DO), electrical conductivity (EC), pH and stream water temperature. Clearfelling was conducted during poor weather conditions and a watercourse, which drained the study site, was not protected. The maximum recorded concentration exported from the study site after clearfelling was 471 µg L-1 for DRP, 611 µg L-1 for TP, 1336 µg L-1 for NH4+-N, and 194 µg L-1 for TON. Concentrations of SS exiting the study site increased in one of the two samples taken during clearfelling (maximum release of 481 mg L-1, with 68% of this organic) and returned to pre-clearfelling levels, or below, within 6 months of the commencement of clearfelling. Exports of TP and DRP from the study site were 0.9 and 0.4 kg ha-1 yr-1, which were greater than the study control (0.6 and 0.2 kg ha-1 yr-1, respectively). This indicated that the mitigation practices employed on site were not effective in phosphorus retention.peer-reviewe

Nutrient dynamics in a peatland forest riparian buffer zone and implications for the establishment of planted saplings.

Forestry on peatland throughout the world is now focused on minimising destructive effects to the surrounding environment, especially during harvesting. These effects may be mitigated through the use of well-developed riparian buffers zones (RBZs). However, much of the commercial forestry planted in Ireland and the UK in the mid 20th century was planted without adequate RBZs. The creation of new RBZs prior to clearfelling may be a possible mitigation measure in these circumstances. The aim of this paper was to assess the nutrient content and phosphorus (P) adsorption capacity of the soil, and survival of planted saplings in a RBZ, positioned downslope from a standing forest and partly covered with brash mats, five years after its establishment. Dissolved reactive phosphorus (DRP) concentrations were significantly higher under the brash mats in the RBZ when compared to all other areas. The standing forest had the highest concentrations of ammonium nitrogen (NH4 N), while total oxidised nitrogen (TON) was similar for all areas. Water extractable phosphorus and desorption-adsorption testing also confirmed the high concentrations of P under the brash mats, but P did not leach through the peat to the stream. The overall survival rate of the saplings was relatively high, with over half of Quercus robur (oak) (57 %), Sorbus aucuparia (rowan) (57 %) and Betula pendula (birch) (51 %) surviving. Salix cinerea (willow) (22 %), Alnus glutinosa (alder) (25 %) and Ilex aquifolium (holly) (44 %) did not survive as successfully. The RBZ was capable of providing nutrients for the survival of planted saplings, fertilizing the peat with degrading brash material and preventing elevated levels of nutrients entering the adjacent aquatic ecosystem.Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food; Environmental Protection Agency (STRIVE program 2007¿2013)peer-reviewe