12. Results from Four Decades of Successional Prairie Restoration and an Update on Ecological Land Management at Fermilab in Batavia, Illinois

Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory (Fermilab) is a 2,573-ha (6,800-acre) Department of Energy site located in Batavia, Illinois, USA. Tucked among the particle accelerators are nearly 1,619 ha (4,000 ac) of natural areas including remnant and restored grasslands, woodlands, and wetlands. Dr. Robert F. Betz began his large-scale prairie restoration project on the Fermilab site in 1975. During the course of that work, he defined 4 successional stages of prairie restoration and listed species occurring in each of the stages. We present results after 40 y of successional prairie restoration and summarize current ecological land management efforts at Fermilab. Ninety-five percent of the 110 species making up his 4 stages of successional restoration established in at least 1 of the 25 Fermilab prairie plantings. Three-fourths of species in Stage 1 were observed in 80% of the plantings and 54% of Stage 2 species were found in at least half of the plantings. Many Stage 3 and almost all Stage 4 species did not frequently establish in the plantings, but this may be an artifact of seed availability. Species richness and floristic quality index (FQI) increased over time in most plantings as seeded and spontaneous species established. As of 2015, 268 native plant species were recorded in the 25 prairie plantings combined. Current ecological land management includes continuing to enrich all 25 prairie plantings by targeted overseeding. Fermilab staff are attempting to create spatial and structural heterogeneity in plantings dominated by big bluestem (Andropogon gerardii) by experimenting with 2 hemiparasitic plants (wood betony [Pedicularis canadensis] and false toadflax [Comandra umbellata]) known to parasitize A. gerardii and thought to reduce its competitiveness. Fermilab staff have vastly improved invasive species control efforts and collection and spreading of native seeds in the prairie plantings thanks in part to the use of geographic information system technology. Volunteers help in the prairies as well as perform stewardship duties in remnant woodlands and oak savannas on site. Public outreach and partnerships remain important aspects of the Fermilab prairie project. Wildlife monitoring and ecological research continue to provide information guiding adaptive land management at Fermilab

Control of linear switched systems using state feedback with saturation constraints

This thesis considers the stabilization of discrete time switched systems using average output variance as the performance criterion, incorporating actuator saturation constraints into this optimal synthesis. Necessary and sufficient conditions are presented for the existence of a stabilizing static state feedback controller subject to saturation constraints, together with a constructive method to find this controller. These are presented as semi-definite optimization problems

Morphometric analyses of the visual pathways in macular degeneration

Introduction. Macular degeneration (MD) causes central visual field loss. When field defects occur in both eyes and overlap, parts of the visual pathways are no longer stimulated. Previous reports have shown that this affects the grey matter of the primary visual cortex, but possible effects on the preceding visual pathway structures have not been fully established. Method. In this multicentre study, we used high-resolution anatomical magnetic resonance imaging and voxel-based morphometry to investigate the visual pathway structures up to the primary visual cortex of patients with age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and juvenile macular degeneration (JMD). Results. Compared to age-matched healthy controls, in patients with JMD we found volumetric reductions in the optic nerves, the chiasm, the lateral geniculate bodies, the optic radiations and the visual cortex. In patients with AMD we found volumetric reductions in the lateral geniculate bodies, the optic radiations and the visual cortex. An unexpected finding was that AMD, but not JMD, was associated with a reduction in frontal white matter volume. Conclusion. MD is associated with degeneration of structures along the visual pathways. A reduction in frontal white matter volume only present in the AMD patients may constitute a neural correlate of previously reported association between AMD and mild cognitive impairment. Keywords: macular degeneration - visual pathway - visual field - voxel-based morphometryComment: appears in Cortex (2013

Method of plant tissue culture and regeneration

Plants may be regenerated from stomatal cells or protoplasts of such cells. Prior to regeneration the cells or protoplasts may be genetically transformed by the introduction of hereditary material most preferably by a DNA construct which is free of genes which specify resistance to antibiotics. The regeneration step may include callus formation on a hormone-free medium. The method is particularly suitable for sugar beet

Human retinal Müller cells synthesize collagens of the vitreous and vitreoretinal interface in vitro

Purpose: To investigate the capacity of cultured Muller cells to synthesize collagens, since previous studies indicated that Muller cells could be involved in collagen remodeling at the vitreoretinal border in adult human eyes. Methods: Spontaneously immortalized cultured human Muller cells were analyzed for the presence of mRNA of types I-VII, IX, XI, and XVII collagen by RT-PCR. Furthermore, Muller cells were immunocytochemically stained for light microscopic (LM) evaluation of these collagens and their main characteristics. Finally, cell extracts and culture medium were evaluated by western blot (WB) analysis using anticollagen antibodies. Results: Cultured Muller cells contained mRNA for types I-VII, IX, and XI collagen, but not for type XVII collagen. LM and WB confirmed the intracellular expression of all the above-mentioned collagens with the exception of type XVII. Collagen secretion into the medium was established for types I-VII, IX, and XI collagen. Conclusions: Cultured Muller cells can synthesize internal limiting lamina and vitreous collagens. Possible collagen production by Muller cells could explain and expand on previous in vivo morphological findings in the embryonic and postnatal period and in pathologic conditions

Comparing the effectiveness of bevacizumab to ranibizumab in patients with exudative age-related macular degeneration. The BRAMD study

Purpose: To compare the effectiveness of bevacizumab and ranibizumab in the treatment of exudative age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Design: Multicentre, randomized, controlled, double-masked clinical trial in 327 patients. The noninferiority margin was 4 letters. Patients: Patients ≥ 60 years of age with primary or recurrent sub- or juxtafoveal choroidal neovascularization (CNV) secondary to AMD with a total area of CNV < 12 disc areas and a best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) score between 20 and 78 letters on an EDTRS like chart in the study eye. Methods: Monthly intravitreal injections with 1.25 mg bevacizumab or 0.5 mg ranibizumab were given during one year. Intention to treat with last observation carried forward analysis was performed. Main Outcome Measures: Primary outcome was the change in BCVA in the study eye from baseline to 12 months. Results: The mean gain in BCVA was 5.1 (±14.1) letters in the bevacizumab group (n = 161) and 6.4 (±12.2) letters in the ranibizumab group (n = 166) (p = 0.37). The lower limit of the 95% confidence interval of the difference in BCVA gain was 3.72. The response to bevacizumab was more varied; 24% of patients showed a gain of ≥15 letters, 11% a loss of ≥15 letters and 65% a gain or loss < 15 letters compared to 19%, 5% and 76% respectively for ranibizumab (p = 0.038). No significant differences in absolute CRT and CRT change (p = 0.13) or in the presence of subretinal or intraretinal fluid (p = 0.14 and 0.10, respectively) were observed. However, the presence of any fluid on SD-OCT (subretinal and/or intraretinal) differed significantly (p = 0.020), with definite fluid on SD-OCT in 45% of the patients for bevacizumab versus 31% for ranibizumab. The occurrence of serious adverse events and adverse events was similar, with 34 SAEs and 256 AEs in the bevacizumab group and 37 SAEs and 299 AEs in the ranibizumab group (p = 0.87 and p = 0.48, respectively). Conclusions: Bevacizumab was not inferior to ranibizumab. The response to bevacizumab was more varied with higher percentages of both gainers and losers and more frequently observed retinal fluid on SD-OCT at 12 months when compared to the ranibizumab group. Trial Registration: Trialregister.nl NTR1704

Screening of diabetic retinopathy with two-field retinal photography

Objective: To compare the sensitivity of two-field 45° retinal photography as a method for screening of diabetic retinopathy with the usual examination by an ophthalmologist using retinoscopy. To calculate the direct medical costs of two-field photography for screening of diabetic retinopathy. Method: Patients who frequented the university hospital practice or the general practitioner laboratory for the screening of diabetic retinopathy had a routine examination by an ophthalmologist, including visual acuity measurement, indirect retinoscopy and slitlamp biomicroscopy. At the same time two-field retinal photographs were made and assessed by an ophthalmologist. The results were compared. For the costs-analysis the direct medical costs of the two screening methods were calculated. Results: 311 type 2 diabetes patients and 158 type 1 diabetes patients were included. The sensitivity of two-field photography in identifying diabetes patients with sight-threatening retinopathy was 95%, the specificity 99%. The positive predictive value of visual acuity measurement for the detection of macular edema was only 7.5%. The percentage of referrals to an ophthalmologist was 6.2%. The analysis of the costs showed that screening using retinal photography in the general practitioner's laboratory was the cheaper method. Conclusion: Two-field photography is a sensitive and inexpensive alternative to the routine ophthalmologist's examination in the screening for diabetic retinopathy. It can substantially lower the number of ophthalmic referrals.</p