Pest categorisation of Gremmeniella abietina

Following a request from the European Commission, the EFSA Plant Health (PLH) Panel performed a pest categorisation of Gremmeniella abietina, a well-defined species and distinguishable fungus of the family Godroniaceae. The species G. abietina includes several varieties, races and biotypes that are found in different geographical locations, on different hosts and that vary in aggressiveness. The pathogen causes diseases on Pinus species and other conifers such as Abies spp., Picea spp., Larix spp. and Pseudotsuga spp. known as Scleroderris canker in North America and Brunchorstia dieback in Europe. G. abietina has been reported from 19 EU Member States, without apparent ecoclimatic factors limiting establishment. The pathogen is a protected zone (PZ) quarantine pest (Annex IIB) for Ireland and the UK (Northern Ireland). The main European hosts are widespread throughout most of the EU and have been frequently planted in the PZ. The main means of spread are wind-blown ascospores, rain-splashed conidia, plants for planting and traded Christmas trees. Given that G. abietina is most damaging to species that are grown towards the limit of their range, impacts can be expected in the PZ, should the pathogen be introduced there. Risk reduction options include selection of disease-free planting material, nursery inspections, selection of planting sites at some distance from infested plantations, appropriate spacing between plants and thinning. The main uncertainties concern the indeterminate endophytic stage of the fungus, the pathogen distribution and the future taxonomic status of G. abietina, given its intraspecific diversity. All the criteria assessed by the Panel for consideration as potential PZ quarantine pest are met. The criterion of plants for planting being the main pathway for spread for regulated non-quarantine pests is not met: plants for planting are only one of the means of spread of the pathogen

Moniakselisten kuorma-autojen akselipainojen ja kallistuksenvakauden hallinta

The purpose of this thesis is to create a functional and user-friendly tool for axle weight and rollover control in heavy duty vehicle design. The subject is approached from a solutions point of view suitable for dynamics and real-time simulations. The location of vehicles centre of mass has a significant effect on vehicle behaviour and dynamics. Loads on axles and tyres have also a great effect on the durability of road structures. Finland is globally an exception as it allows 60 ton masses for trailer combinations. The possibility to raise the limit to 80 tons would increase the need of vehicle dynamics research and development. Simulation is the imitation of certain real objects or processes. The purpose is to present features or behaviour of chosen physical or abstract systems. Otherwise subtle interactions can be presented 'with simulation. The purpose is to provide an overview of certain parts of R&D simulation and examine the basics of vehicle dynamics and their simulation possibilities. Heavy duty vehicle and working machine development has for example commonly implemented methods for simulating noise and vibrations and hardware in the loop (HIL) simulations. Sufficient precision is required from a model that is used to simulate behaviour of a vehicle in order to get reliable results. The vertical spring constant of a heavy duty vehicles leaf spring was measured in the tests run for this thesis. Springs hysteresis characteristics were defined at the same time. The simulation model can be defined and verified based on the test results. The leaf spring is the oldest spring type used in vehicles and it is still popular suspension alternative for stiff axles. The characteristics of a leaf spring have a great effect on vehicles kinematic behaviour and suspension features. Modelling hierarchy and the techniques which the built models are based on are introduced in the thesis. One of the most important parts of this thesis is building and testing spring models that are efficient and accurate enough. A dynamic simulation software developed by Finnish MeVEA Inc. was mainly used for simulations and building the models. The purpose is not to examine the features of dynamic simulation software in general, but to define the components, tools and features used in built models. Also forces, constraints and elements used in models are examined.Tämän työn tavoitteena on luoda toimiva ja helppokäyttöinen työkalu akselipainojen ja kallistuksenvakauden hallintaan raskaiden hyötyajoneuvojen suunnittelussa. Aihetta tarkastellaan erityisesti dynamiikka- sekä reaaliaikasimulointiin soveltuvien ratkaisujen kannalta. Ajoneuvon painopisteen sijainti sekä erilaiset kuormitukset akseleilla ja renkailla vaikuttavat huomattavasti ajoneuvon dynamiikkaan ja käyttäytymiseen eri tilanteissa. Ajoneuvon kuormauksella on myös suuri vaikutus teiden ja niiden rakenteiden kestävyyteen. Suomi on maailmanlaajuisesti katsottuna harvinaisuus salliessaan 60 tonnin kokonaispainot ajoneuvoyhdistelmille. Mahdollinen painorajan nosto 80 tonniin lisäisi tarvetta ajoneuvojen dynaamisten ominaisuuksien tutkimukselle ja kehitystyölle. Simulointi on tietyn todellisen asian tai prosessin jäljittelyä tarkoituksenaan esittää valitun fysikaalisen tai abstraktin systeemin haluttuja ominaisuuksia tai käyttäytymistä. Simuloinnin avulla mahdollistetaan muutoin vaikeasti havaittavien vuorovaikutussuhteiden esille tuominen. Työssä luodaan katsaus R&D simuloinnin tiettyihin osa-alueisiin sekä tarkastellaan ajoneuvodynamiikan perusteita ja niiden simulointimahdollisuuksia. Raskaiden ajoneuvojen ja työkoneiden tuotekehityksessä on otettu käyttöön yleisesti muun muassa äänen ja värähtelyjen simulointiin soveltuvia menetelmiä sekä Hardware in the loop -simulointi (HIL). Mallilta, jolla simuloidaan ajoneuvon käyttäytymistä, vaaditaan riittävää tarkkuutta, jotta simuloinnin tulokset olisivat luotettavia. Tämän työn yhteydessä suoritetuissa kokeissa mitattiin raskaan hyötyajoneuvon lehtijousen pystysuuntaista jousivakiota kuormittamalla ajoneuvoon kiinnitettyä jousta. Samalla määriteltiin jousen hystereesiskäyttäytyminen. Tulosten perusteella verifioidaan simulointimalli sekä asetetaan mallin voimille oikeat arvot. Lehtijousi on vanhin ajoneuvoissa käytetty jousimalli ja se on yhä edelleen suosittu vaihtoehto jäykkien akseleiden jousituksessa. Jousipakan ominaisuuksilla on suuri vaikutus ajoneuvon kinemaattiseen käyttäytymiseen ja jousto-ominaisuuksiin. Jousitusmallien rakentamista varten tarkastellaan mallinnushierarkian perusteita sekä erilaisia käyttökelpoisia mallinnustekniikoita sekä esitellään rakennettujen mallien perustana toimivan tekniikan teoriaa. Tehokkaiden ja riittävään tarkkuuteen kykenevien jousitusmallien rakentaminen ja testaus on yksi tämän työn tärkeimpiä osa-alueita. Simulointimallien ja simulointien tekemiseen on pääasiallisesti käytetty suomalaisen MeVEA Oy:n dynamiikkamallinnukseen kehittämää ohjelmistoperhettä. Tarkoituksena ei ole tarkastella yleisesti dynamiikkasimuloinnin ja siihen soveltuvien ohjelmistojen ominaisuuksia, vaan määrittää rakennetuissa malleissa käytettyjä komponentteja, työkaluja ja niiden eri käyttömahdollisuuksia. Lisaksi tarkastellaan malleissa esiintyvien voimien, rajoitteiden ja komponenttien teoriaa

Global Geographic Distribution and Host Range of Fusarium circinatum, the Causal Agent of Pine Pitch Canker

Fusarium circinatum, the causal agent of pine pitch canker (PPC), is currently one of the most important threats of Pinus spp. globally. This pathogen is known in many pine-growing regions, including natural and planted forests, and can affect all life stages of trees, from emerging seedlings to mature trees. Despite the importance of PPC, the global distribution of F. circinatum is poorly documented, and this problem is also true of the hosts within countries that are affected. The aim of this study was to review the global distribution of F. circinatum, with a particular focus on Europe. We considered (1) the current and historical pathogen records, both positive and negative, based on confirmed reports from Europe and globally; (2) the genetic diversity and population structure of the pathogen; (3) the current distribution of PPC in Europe, comparing published models of predicted disease distribution; and (4) host susceptibility by reviewing literature and generating a comprehensive list of known hosts for the fungus. These data were collated from 41 countries and used to compile a specially constructed geo-database. A review of 6297 observation records showed that F. circinatum and the symptoms it causes on conifers occurred in 14 countries, including four in Europe, and is absent in 28 countries. Field observations and experimental data from 138 host species revealed 106 susceptible host species including 85 Pinus species, 6 non-pine tree species and 15 grass and herb species. Our data confirm that susceptibility to F. circinatum varies between different host species, tree ages and environmental characteristics. Knowledge on the geographic distribution, host range and the relative susceptibility of different hosts is essential for disease management, mitigation and containment strategies. The findings reported in this review will support countries that are currently free of F. circinatum in implementing effective procedures and restrictions and prevent further spread of the pathogen

"Informatiivinen graafi premillä" : johdatusta sanomalehtigrafiikan kielioppiin

fi=vertaisarvioitu|en=peerReviewed