Vegetation-soil relations as a basis for resource management on the Ochoco National Forest of central Oregon

The study was conducted on the Ochoco National Forest in central Oregon. Vegetation-soil relationships were evaluated for the following objectives: 1. Develop a sound ecological foundation on which total land management decisions may be based. 2. Evaluate forest succession, stocking, and growth to improve management. 3. Develop accurate range condition and trend guides. The concept of non-random distribution of plant communities in a continuum gradient was used to guide the investigation. This philosophy requires sampling the entire spectrum of vegetation and environmental variability in order to determine plant community groupings for classification purposes. Data were collected on a fifth-acre plot for trees, and on two 100-foot three-quarter-inch loop transects for subordinate vegetation. Forage production was determined on ten 9.6-square foot plots. Soil profiles were described according to standard procedure. Only vegetation free from grazing or logging disturbance was sampled. Vegetation was classified by use of association tables. Mathematical computations included standard errors and correlation analysis. Non-forest associations were: Artemisia rigida/Poa secunda on about six inches of soil, Artemisia arbuscula/Festuca idahoensis on about 14 inches of clayey soil derived from acid igneous rock, and Artemisia arbuscula/Agropyron spicatum on about 14 inches of clayey soil derived from basic igneous rock. These associations occur as natural openings in the forest zone due to soil properties inimical to tree establishment. Climax pine associations occurred on 12 to 30 inches of sandy, stony soil. Pinus ponderosa/Purshia tridentata/Agropyron spicatum occurs at lower elevations. Pinus ponderosa/Purshia tridentata/Sitanion hystrix occurs on acid igneous derived soils. Pinus ponderosa/Carex geyeri occurs on basic igneous derived soils. All are grazed by livestock and require open tree stocking for optimum tree growth. The Abies grandis/Calamagrostis rubescens association occupies more land area than all other forest types combined. It has been maintained in open Pinus ponderosa by natural, recurrent ground fires. With fire control, this association gradually moves toward a climax of fir. The Abies grandis/Bromus vulgaris association occurs at upper elevations. Dense forest cover makes it unsuitable for grazing. Management is different than for the Abies/Calamagrostis. Even though the Pinus contorta/Vaccnium scoparurn/Calamagrostis rubescens is successional, it was classified as an associes for management purposes. It pioneers on Abies/Bromus sites following conflagration fires. Four other vegetation associations were briefly described. Numerical variability within associations poses problems for development of range and forest management guides. In most cases, correlation analysis permits refinement of data. Variability is caused by the continuum effect of vegetation and environment. The information derived from this study is discussed for application in management. Mapping recommendations include a basic vegetation map with overlays for timber and range management use. Guides are presented for development of range condition and trend standards, interpretation of trend, and evaluation of management. Forestry guides include suggestions for silviculture, stocking and growth, and timber management. In addition, application in watershed and multiple use is briefly discussed

CEO pay, shareholder returns, and accounting profits

We assess the impact on CEO pay (including salary, cash bonus, and benefits in kind) of changes in both accounting and shareholder returns in 99 British companies in the years 1972-89. After correcting for heterogeneity biases inherent in the standard specifications of the problem, we find a strong positive relationship between CEO pay and within-company changes in shareholder returns, and no statistically significant relationship between CEO pay and within-company changes in accounting returns. Differences between firms in long-term average profitability do appear to have a substantial effect on CEO pay, while differences between firms in shareholder returns add nothing to the within-firm pay dynamics.These findings call into question the rationale for explicitly share-based incentive schemes

Mathematical analysis of the regulation of competing methyltransferases

Background Methyltransferase (MT) reactions, in which methyl groups are attached to substrates, are fundamental to many aspects of cell biology and human physiology. The universal methyl donor for these reactions is S-adenosylmethionine (SAM) and this presents the cell with an important regulatory problem. If the flux along one pathway is changed then the SAM concentration will change affecting all the other MT pathways, so it is difficult for the cell to regulate the pathways independently. Methods We created a mathematical model, based on the known biochemistry of the folate and methionine cycles, to study the regulatory mechanisms that enable the cell to overcome this difficulty. Some of the primary mechanisms are long-range allosteric interactions by which substrates in one part of the biochemical network affect the activity of enzymes at distant locations in the network (not distant in the cell). Because of these long-range allosteric interactions, the dynamic behavior of the network is very complicated, and so mathematical modeling is a useful tool for investigating the effects of the regulatory mechanisms and understanding the complicated underlying biochemistry and cell biology. Results We study the allosteric binding of 5-methyltetrahydrofolate (5mTHF) to glycine-N-methyltransferase (GNMT) and explain why data in the literature implies that when one molecule binds, GNMT retains half its activity. Using the model, we quantify the effects of different regulatory mechanisms and show how cell processes would be different if the regulatory mechanisms were eliminated. In addition, we use the model to interpret and understand data from studies in the literature. Finally, we explain why a full understanding of how competing MTs are regulated is important for designing intervention strategies to improve human health. Conclusions We give strong computational evidence that once bound GNMT retains half its activity. The long-range allosteric interactions enable the cell to regulate the MT reactions somewhat independently. The low K m values of many MTs also play a role because the reactions then run near saturation and changes in SAM have little effect. Finally, the inhibition of the MTs by the product S-adenosylhomocysteine also stabilizes reaction rates against changes in SAM

Mild Cognitive Impairment, Incidence, Progression, and Reversion: Findings from a Community-based Cohort of Elderly African Americans

Objective To examine the long-term outcomes of community-based elderly African Americans by following their transitions from normal cognition to mild cognitive impairment (MCI), and to dementia. Methods Participants were from the community-based Indianapolis Dementia Project. A total of 4104 African Americans were enrolled in 1992 or 2001 and followed until 2009 with regularly scheduled evaluation of cognitive assessment. A two-stage sampling was used at each evaluation to select individuals for extensive clinical assessment following the results of stage one cognitive testing. Age and gender specific incidence, progression and reversion rates for MCI were derived using the person-year method in a dynamic cohort and predicted probabilities from weighted multinomial logistic models of transitional probabilities among normal cognition, MCI and dementia. Results Annual overall incidence rate for MCI is 5.6% (95% CI: 4.6–6.6%). Annual progression rate from MCI to dementia is 5.9% (95% CI: 5.3–6.5%) and annual reversion rate from MCI to normal is 18.6% (95% CI: 16.7–20.4%). Both MCI incidence rates and MCI to dementia progression rates increase with age, while reversion rates from MCI to normal decrease with age. Conclusion MCI progression to dementia is much more frequent in the older age groups than in the younger participants where reversion to normal cognition is more common. Future research is needed to determine factors related to the heterogeneous outcomes in MCI individuals

Growth basal area handbook

Growth basal area (GBA) is that basal area at which dominant trees grow at 1.0 inch in diameter per decade at age 100. Diameter growth rate of 1.0 inch per decade is a constant used to compare sites; basal area is a variable used to express stockability. GBA is a field method for es­timating site potential for stockability using current stand growth. Parameters measured are basal area per acre and rate of diameter growth. Current basal area is ad­justed by use of a GBA curve to that basal area which will result in 1.0 inch diameter growth per decade of dominant trees, the GBA of the site. Two GBA curves are provided. The GBA concepts employed, development of GBA, deter­mination of GBA, use of GBA, and GBA in relation to stand growth are discussed. GBA is combined with site index to index different productivity levels within a site index class and to help identify those productivity levels in the field. Appendixes provide description of a GBA slide rule, addi­tional data, and forms for determining GBA

Dementia incidence declined in African-Americans but not in Yoruba

INTRODUCTION: To compare dementia incidence of African-American and Yoruba cohorts aged ≥70 years enrolled in 1992 and 2001. METHODS: African-Americans residing in Indianapolis and Yoruba in Ibadan, Nigeria without dementia were enrolled in 1992 and 2001 and evaluated every 2-3 years until 2009. The cohorts consist of 1440 African-Americans, 1774 Yoruba in 1992 and 1835 African-Americans and 1895 Yoruba in the 2001 cohorts aged ≥70 years. RESULTS: In African-Americans, dementia and Alzheimer's disease (AD) incidence rates were significantly lower in 2001 than 1992 for all age groups except the oldest group. The overall standardized annual dementia incidence rates were 3.6% (95% confidence interval [CI], 3.2%-4.1%) in the 1992 cohort and 1.4% (95% CI, 1.2%-1.7%) in the 2001 cohort. There was no significant difference in dementia or AD incidence between the Yoruba cohorts. DISCUSSION: Future research is needed to explore the reasons for the differential changes in incidence rates in these two populations

“Don’t Label Them as Addicts!” Student Pharmacists’ Views on the Stigma Associated with Opioid use Disorder

Background: Student pharmacists represent an important potential population for targeted educational interventions focused on skill and confidence development in order to improve interactions with opioid users and to decrease stigma. The objective of this study was to understand student pharmacists’ perceptions of opioid users. Methods: Focus groups were conducted with student pharmacists across Tennessee over two months in 2020. Concepts from the Transtheoretical Mode, Social Cognitive Theory, stigma, and results from a survey sent to student pharmacists were used to develop the open-ended questions. Thematic analysis was conducted to inductively identify main themes. The recruitment of student pharmacists continued until thematic saturation was obtained. Results: Three focus groups were conducted with a total of 16 student pharmacists in second, third, and fourth professional years. Thematic analysis revealed two themes: Don’t label them as addicts, Student Insight into OUD-Associated Stigma and five sub-themes: developing a judgment-free environment; unconscious bias; a possible connection between physical appearance and addiction; socio-cultural factors, addiction, and isolation; and motivators to decrease stigma. This study not only presents the pharmacy students experiences and their significance, but also reports their recommendations for addressing the stigma associated with OUD in the pharmacy curriculum. Conclusions: These findings highlight the need to normalize appropriate language when describing patients with OUD and avoid negative labels such as “addict.” The findings also indicate where the roots of stigma lie and provide some of the tools to fight stigma on different fronts. Future research should explore and address potential implicit biases throughout pharmacy curriculum