Modeling the CO2-effects of forest management and wood usage on a regional basis

BACKGROUND: At the 15(th) Conference of Parties of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, Copenhagen, 2009, harvested wood products were identified as an additional carbon pool. This modification eliminates inconsistencies in greenhouse gas reporting by recognizing the role of the forest and timber sector in the global carbon cycle. Any additional CO(2)-effects related to wood usage are not considered by this modification. This results in a downward bias when the contribution of the forest and timber sector to climate change mitigation is assessed. The following article analyses the overall contribution to climate protection made by the forest management and wood utilization through CO(2)-emissions reduction using an example from the German state of North Rhine-Westphalia. Based on long term study periods (2011 to 2050 and 2100, respectively). Various alternative scenarios for forest management and wood usage are presented. RESULTS: In the mid- to long-term (2050 and 2100, respectively) the net climate protection function of scenarios with varying levels of wood usage is higher than in scenarios without any wood usage. This is not observed for all scenarios on short and mid term evaluations. The advantages of wood usage are evident although the simulations resulted in high values for forest storage in the C pools. Even the carbon sink effect due to temporal accumulation of deadwood during the period from 2011 to 2100 is outbalanced by the potential of wood usage effects. CONCLUSIONS: A full assessment of the CO(2)-effects of the forest management requires an assessment of the forest supplemented with an assessment of the effects of wood usage. CO(2)-emission reductions through both fuel and material substitution as well as CO(2) sink in wood products need to be considered. An integrated assessment of the climate protection function based on the analysis of the study’s scenarios provides decision parameters for a strategic approach to climate protection with regard to forest management and wood use at regional and national levels. The short-term evaluation of subsystems can be misleading, rendering long-term evaluations (until 2100, or even longer) more effective. This is also consistent with the inherently long-term perspective of forest management decisions and measures

Symbolic dynamics for the NN-centre problem at negative energies

We consider the planar $N$-centre problem, with homogeneous potentials of degree -\a<0, \a \in [1,2). We prove the existence of infinitely many collisions-free periodic solutions with negative and small energy, for any distribution of the centres inside a compact set. The proof is based upon topological, variational and geometric arguments. The existence result allows to characterize the associated dynamical system with a symbolic dynamics, where the symbols are the partitions of the $N$ centres in two non-empty sets

Widespread Treponema pallidum Infection in Nonhuman Primates, Tanzania

We investigated Treponema pallidum infection in 8 nonhuman primate species (289 animals) in Tanzania during 2015–2017. We used a serologic treponemal test to detect antibodies against the bacterium. Infection was further confirmed from tissue samples of skin-ulcerated animals by 3 independent PCRs (polA, tp47, and TP_0619). Our findings indicate that T. pallidum infection is geographically widespread in Tanzania and occurs in several species (olive baboons, yellow baboons, vervet monkeys, and blue monkeys). We found the bacterium at 11 of 14 investigated geographic locations. Anogenital ulceration was the most common clinical manifestation; orofacial lesions also were observed. Molecular data show that nonhuman primates in Tanzania are most likely infected with T. pallidum subsp. pertenue–like strains, which could have implications for human yaws eradication

Linear Sigma Models with Torsion

Gauged linear sigma models with (0,2) supersymmetry allow a larger choice of couplings than models with (2,2) supersymmetry. We use this freedom to find a fully linear construction of torsional heterotic compactifications, including models with branes. As a non-compact example, we describe a family of metrics which correspond to deformations of the heterotic conifold by turning on H-flux. We then describe compact models which are gauge-invariant only at the quantum level. Our construction gives a generalization of symplectic reduction. The resulting spaces are non-Kahler analogues of familiar toric spaces like complex projective space. Perturbatively conformal models can be constructed by considering intersections.Comment: 40 pages, LaTeX, 1 figure; references added; a new section on supersymmetry added; quantization condition revisite

Hamiltonian dynamics of the two-dimensional lattice phi^4 model

The Hamiltonian dynamics of the classical $\phi^4$ model on a two-dimensional square lattice is investigated by means of numerical simulations. The macroscopic observables are computed as time averages. The results clearly reveal the presence of the continuous phase transition at a finite energy density and are consistent both qualitatively and quantitatively with the predictions of equilibrium statistical mechanics. The Hamiltonian microscopic dynamics also exhibits critical slowing down close to the transition. Moreover, the relationship between chaos and the phase transition is considered, and interpreted in the light of a geometrization of dynamics.Comment: REVTeX, 24 pages with 20 PostScript figure

Conifolds and Geometric Transitions

Conifold geometries have recieved a lot of attention in string theory and string-inspired cosmology recently, in particular the Klebanov-Strassler background that is known as the "warped throat". It is our intention in this article to give a pedagogical explanation for the singularity resolution in this geometry and emphasise its connection to geometric transitions. The first part focuses on the gauge theory dual to the Klebanov-Strassler background, which we also explain from a T-dual intersecting branes scenario. We then make the connection to the Gopakumar-Vafa conjecture for open/closed string duality and summarise a series of papers verifying this model on the supergravity level. An appendix provides extensive background material about conifold geometries. We pay special attention to their complex structures and re-evaluate the supersymmetry conditions on the background flux in constructions with fractional D3-branes on the singular (Klebanov-Tseytlin) and resolved (Pando Zayas-Tseytlin) conifolds. We agree with earlier results that only the singular solution allows a supersymmetric flux, but point out the importance of using the correct complex structure to reach this conclusion.Comment: 37 pages, v3: accepted for publication in Reviews of Modern Physic

Treponema Infection Associated With Genital Ulceration in Wild Baboons

The authors describe genital alterations and detailed histologic findings in baboons naturally infected with Treponema pallidum. The disease causes moderate to severe genital ulcerations in a population of olive baboons (Papio hamadryas anubis) at Lake Manyara National Park in Tanzania. In a field survey in 2007, 63 individuals of all age classes, both sexes, and different grades of infection were chemically immobilized and sampled. Histology and molecular biological tests were used to detect and identify the organism responsible: a strain similar to T pallidum ssp pertenue, the cause of yaws in humans. Although treponemal infections are not a new phenomenon in nonhuman primates, the infection described here appears to be strictly associated with the anogenital region and results in tissue alterations matching those found in human syphilis infections (caused by T pallidum ssp pallidum), despite the causative pathogen’s greater genetic similarity to human yaws-causing strains

M-theory Compactifications on Manifolds with G2 Structure

In this paper we study M-theory compactifications on manifolds of G2 structure. By computing the gravitino mass term in four dimensions we derive the general form for the superpotential which appears in such compactifications and show that beside the normal flux term there is a term which appears only for non-minimal G2 structure. We further apply these results to compactifications on manifolds with weak G2 holonomy and make a couple of statements regarding the deformation space of such manifolds. Finally we show that the superpotential derived from fermionic terms leads to the potential that can be derived from the explicit compactification, thus strengthening the conjectures we make about the space of deformations of manifolds with weak G2 holonomy.Comment: 34 pages. Minor changes: typos corrected, references added. Version to appear in Class. Quantum Gra

Use of gonadotropin releasing hormone (GnRH) vaccines for behavioural and reproductive control in managed Asian elephant Elephas maximus and African elephant Loxodonta africana populations

Because of their size and reproductive anatomy, surgical castration is not a practical option in adult elephants. However, similar to other species in human care, the effects of gonadectomy are desired in specific situations. This may be for contraceptive purposes, or for behavioural or veterinary management of elephants in human care or wild elephants managed in small reserves. Research into non‐surgical contraceptive measures for wild and domestic animals has resulted in an array of hormonal and immunological options to downregulate gonadal function. Driven by the production‐animal industry, commercial gonadotrophin releasing hormone (GnRH) vaccines are readily and cheaply available. This immunocontraceptive is effective in both males and females as it inhibits gonadotrophic hormone release and, thus, downstream stimulation of testicles and ovaries. Here, available studies from the past 10 years on the GnRH vaccine application in male and female elephants are reviewed. Furthermore, we add our own experience gathered from the treatment of male African elephants Loxodonta africana and female Asian elephants Elephas maximus in human care. The GnRH vaccine offers a viable approach for various management purposes. It should be noted that the GnRH vaccine was not primarily designed as a reversible contraceptive. Therefore, its use must be well justified on an individual basis and the effects closely monitored.https://zslpublications.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/journal/174810902020-07-01hj2020Anatomy and PhysiologyProduction Animal Studie

Update in the management of chronic lymphocytic leukemia

Advances in the treatment of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) have improved initial overall response (OR) rates, complete response (CR) rates and progression free survival (PFS). Despite these advances, CLL remains incurable with standard therapies. Thus, there remains a need for more effective therapies in both the upfront and relapsed setting, particularly for patients with high-risk cytogenetic abnormalities such as del(11q22) and del(17p13). The 2008 American Society of Hematology (ASH) Annual Meeting featured several presentations which highlighted the ongoing clinical advances in CLL. The benefit of adding rituximab to purine analog therapy in the upfront setting was demonstrated by a large randomized study which showed that the addition of rituximab to fludarabine and cyclophosphamide (FCR) significantly improved OR, CR and PFS. The improvement in PFS directly resulted from an improved ability to eliminate minimal residual disease (MRD) in the peripheral blood, highlighting the importance of MRD eradication. However, a multi-center study suggested that the high CR rates to chemoimmunotherapy regimens such as FCR obtained in academic centers may not be reproducible when the same regimens are given in the community setting. The immunomodulatory drug lenalidomide is active in relapsed high-risk CLL, but two studies of lenalidomide in previously untreated CLL patients failed to achieve a CR and were associated with significant tumor lysis, tumor flare and hematologic toxicity. In the relapsed setting, a combination study of the bifunctional alkylator bendamustine and rituximab (BR) demonstrated a high OR rate in patients with del(11q22) and del(17p13), indicating that further studies to define's bendamustine activity are warranted in high-risk CLL. Similarly, the CDK inhibitor flavopiridol demonstrated significant clinical activity and durable remissions in heavily treated, refractory CLL patients with high-risk cytogenetic features and bulky lymphadenopathy. The monoclonal anti-CD20 antibody ofatumumab appeared to be superior to rituximab in relapsed CLL patients with bulky nodal disease or high-risk cytogenetic features. Ongoing studies of these agents and other novel therapeutic agents in clinical development hold forth the promise that treatment options for CLL patients will continue to expand and improve