Growth and yield of mixed versus pure stands of Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L. ) and European beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) analysed along a productivity gradient through Europe

Mixing of complementary tree species may increase stand productivity, mitigate the effects of drought and other risks, and pave the way to forest production systems which may be more resource-use efficient and stable in the face of climate change. However, systematic empirical studies on mixing effects are still missing for many commercially important and widespread species combinations. Here we studied the growth of Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) and European beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) in mixed versus pure stands on 32 triplets located along a productivity gradient through Europe, reaching from Sweden to Bulgaria and from Spain to the Ukraine. Stand inventory and taking increment cores on the mainly 60-80 year-old trees and 0.02-1.55 ha sized, fully stocked plots provided insight how species mixing modifies the structure, dynamics and productivity compared with neighbouring pure stands. In mixture standing volume (+12 %), stand density (+20 %), basal area growth (+12 %), and stand volume growth (+8 %) were higher than the weighted mean of the neighbouring pure stands. Scots pine and European beech contributed rather equally to the overyielding and overdensity. In mixed stands mean diameter (+20 %) and height (+6 %) of Scots pine was ahead, while both diameter and height growth of European beech were behind (−8 %). The overyielding and overdensity were independent of the site index, the stand growth and yield, and climatic variables despite the wide variation in precipitation (520-1175 mm year−1), mean annual temperature (6-10.5 °C), and the drought index by de Martonne (28-61 mm °C−1) on the sites. Therefore, this species combination is potentially useful for increasing productivity across a wide range of site and climatic conditions. Given the significant overyielding of stand basal area growth but the absence of any relationship with site index and climatic variables, we hypothesize that the overyielding and overdensity results from several different types of interactions (light-, water-, and nutrient-related) that are all important in different circumstances. We discuss the relevance of the results for ecological theory and for the ongoing silvicultural transition from pure to mixed stands and their adaptation to climate change.The networking in this study has been sup-ported by COST Action FP1206 EuMIXFOR. All contributors thanktheir national funding institutions to establish, measure, and analysedata from the triplets. The first author also thanks the BayerischenStaatsforsten (BaySF) for supporting the establishment of the plots,the Bavarian State Ministry for Nutrition, Agriculture, and Forestryfor permanent support of the project W 07 ‘‘Long-term experimentalplots for forest growth and yield research’’ (# 7831-22209-2013) andthe German Science Foundation for providing the funds for the pro-jects PR 292/12-1 ‘‘Tree and stand-level growth reactions on droughtin mixed versus pure forests of Norway spruce and European beech’’.Thanks are also due to Ulrich Kern for the graphical artwork, and totwo anonymous reviewers for their constructive criticism

Parasympathetic Activity and Blood Catecholamine Responses Following a Single Partial-Body Cryostimulation and a Whole-Body Cryostimulation

The aim of this study was to compare the effects of a single whole-body cryostimulation (WBC) and a partial-body cryostimulation (PBC) (i.e., not exposing the head to cold) on indices of parasympathetic activity and blood catecholamines. Two groups of 15 participants were assigned either to a 3-min WBC or PBC session, while 10 participants constituted a control group (CON) not receiving any cryostimulation. Changes in thermal, physiological and subjective variables were recorded before and during the 20-min after each cryostimulation. According to a qualitative statistical analysis, an almost certain decrease in skin temperature was reported for all body regions immediately after the WBC (mean decrease±90% CL, -13.7±0.7°C) and PBC (-8.3±0.3°C), which persisted up to 20-min after the session. The tympanic temperature almost certainly decreased only after the WBC session (-0.32±0.04°C). Systolic and diastolic blood pressures were very likely increased after the WBC session, whereas these changes were trivial in the other groups. In addition, heart rate almost certainly decreased after PBC (-10.9%) and WBC (-15.2%) sessions, in a likely greater proportion for WBC compared to PBC. Resting vagal-related heart rate variability indices (the root-mean square difference of successive normal R-R intervals, RMSSD, and high frequency band, HF) were very likely increased after PBC (RMSSD: +54.4%, HF: +138%) and WBC (RMSSD: +85.2%, HF: +632%) sessions without any marked difference between groups. Plasma norepinephrine concentrations were likely to very likely increased after PBC (+57.4%) and WBC (+76.2%), respectively. Finally, cold and comfort sensations were almost certainly altered after WBC and PBC, sensation of discomfort being likely more pronounced after WBC than PBC. Both acute cryostimulation techniques effectively stimulated the autonomic nervous system (ANS), with a predominance of parasympathetic tone activation. The results of this study also suggest that a whole-body cold exposure induced a larger stimulation of the ANS compared to partial-body cold exposure

Growth of Bi-(Sr,La)-Cu-O single crystals with the floating-zone technique

The TSFZ method has been used to grow crystals of the Bi-oxide superconductor of the Bi-n = 1 structure. The investigated compositions are Bi2Sr2CuO6+z, Bi2.3Sr1.7CuO6+z, and Bi2+xSr1.6- LayCuO6+z (x+y = 0.4). Except for the stoichiometric composition, the TSFZ experiments yield plate-like crystals of the superconducting R-phase. Superconductivity was only present in La substituted crystals and the TC could be changed by annealing procedures. A maximum TC = 29 K is found for Bi2.0Sr1.6La0.4CuO6+z

Influência da imersão nas respostas cardiorrespiratórias em repouso Influence of immersion on resting cardiorespiratory responses

Diversos benefícios nos componentes da aptidão física podem ser adquiridos com a prática de exercícios aquáticos. Além disso, a água proporciona um ambiente para a prática de exercícios com reduzido impacto nos membros inferiores e maior ou menor sobrecarga cardiorrespiratória, de acordo com os movimentos realizados. Porém, tais exercícios podem produzir respostas fisiológicas diferentes daquelas ao ar livre, visto que ocorrem alterações fisiológicas importantes durante a imersão, sendo importante a compreensão das mesmas em repouso para melhor prescrição nesse meio. O presente estudo tem como objetivo revisar estudos sobre o comportamento da frequência cardíaca e do consumo de oxigênio durante a imersão em repouso e compreender os fatores que influenciam nesse comportamento. Várias pesquisas indicam que a frequência cardíaca de repouso é reduzida com a imersão em meio aquático, porém, é importante salientar que fatores tais como temperatura da água, posição corporal, profundidade de imersão e frequência cardíaca inicial podem minimizar ou maximizar tais respostas. Os estudos que abordaram as respostas de consumo de oxigênio não são conclusivos; entretanto, ao contrário da frequência cardíaca, os mesmos indicam semelhante ou maior resposta durante a imersão em repouso. Assim, pode-se concluir que, devido às alterações cardiorrespiratórias verificadas com a imersão em ambiente aquático, a prescrição de exercícios nesse meio deve ser diferenciada daquela para exercícios em ambiente terrestre.<br>Several benefits in the physical fitness components can be acquired with the practice of aquatic exercises. Moreover, water provides an environment for the practice of exercises with reduced impact on lower limbs and major or minor cardiorespiratory overload, depending on the movements performed. However, such exercises can produce physiological responses different from those on dry land, since important physiological alterations occur during immersion, being important to understand them at rest for better prescription in this environment. The present study has the purpose to review studies about the heart rate behavior and the oxygen uptake during immersion at rest and to understand the factors that influence in this behavior. Several investigations indicate that heart rate at rest is reduced with immersion in aquatic environment; however, it is important to highlight that factors such as water temperature, body position, immersion depth and initial heart rate may minimize or maximize such responses. The studies which approached the oxygen uptake responses are not conclusive; however, contrary to heart rate, the same ones indicate similar or greater response during immersion at rest. Thus, it can be concluded that, due to the verified cardiorespiratory alterations with immersion in aquatic environment, the prescription of exercises in this environment must be differentiated from exercises on dry land