Tau Polarimetry with Multi Meson States

It is demonstrated that the analyzing power of multi-meson final states in semileptonic $\tau$ decays with respect to the $\tau$ spin is equal and maximal for all decay modes.Comment: 4 pages, LaTex. The complete paper is also available via anonymous ftp at ftp://ttpux2.physik.uni-karlsruhe.de/ , or via www at http://ttpux2.physik.uni-karlsruhe.de/cgi-bin/preprints

Assessing the efficacy of medetomidine and tiletamine-zolazepam for remote immobilisation of feral horses (Equus caballus)

Context The study of any wild animal's home range requires the collection of spatiotemporal data, obtained independently of climatic conditions or time of day. This can be achieved by the attachment of global positioning system (GPS) data loggers, which, in large species, is best achieved by remote immobilisation. Feral horses (Equus caballus) usually occupy remote areas of Australia; however, a considerable population increase has been observed in a close proximity to metropolitan areas of the Australian east coast, creating increasing conflict with human interests. Aim The aim of the present study was to investigate the efficacy of remote chemical immobilisation of feral horses with medetomidine combined with tiletamine-zolazepam to facilitate placement of satellite GPS collars. Methods Nine feral horses were darted from the ground with 60mg (i.m.) medetomidine and 1500mg (i.m.) tiletamine-zolazepam. The effects of medetomidine were reversed with 50-100mg (i.m. or i.v.) atipamezole 30-40min after induction (IV/IM). Physiological variables monitored during anaesthesia were heart rate, respiratory rate, temperature and oxygen haemoglobin saturation (Spo2). Key results All horses were successfully immobilised with between one and three darts (n≤9). The mean (± s.e.m.) dose of medetomidine was 0.15±0.01mg kg-1, whereas that of tiletamine-zolazepam was 3.61±0.16mg kg-1. Mean time from darting to lateral recumbency was 13.3±2.7min and mean recumbency time was 54±13min. Vital signs for all anaesthetised animals remained within the normal range during anaesthesia, with the exception of one animal exhibiting a transient drop in Spo2. There were no deaths. Key conclusions The combination of medetomidine and tiletamine-zolazepam provided adequate anaesthesia in feral horses in the field for application of GPS collars. Implications Although a limited number of horses was immobilised, the present study shows that the combination of medetomidine and tiletamine-zolazepam provides effective short-term anaesthesia for feral horses, affording a practical and field-accessible capture technique. This method could also be applied to other management actions requiring the safe and humane capture of feral horses

Rare occult macular dystrophy with a pathogenic variant in the RP1L1 gene in a patient of Swiss descent

Purpose: We report a first case of bilateral occult macular dystrophy (OMD) with a c.133C>T (p.Arg45Trp) pathogenic variant in the retinitis pigmentosa 1-like 1 (RP1L1) gene in a patient of Caucasian Swiss decent. Observations: A 34-year-old man presented with decreased visual acuity known since childhood. Fundus examination of both eyes revealed no pathology other than mildly increased granularity of the foveal retinal pigment epithelium. The full-field electroretinogram (ffERG) presented with normal findings while the multifocal electroretinogram (mfERG) showed severely reduced amplitudes of the foveal response. Optical coherence tomography (OCT) showed foveal outer retinal atrophy. Fundus autofluorescence (FAF) imaging demonstrated near-normal findings with minimal mottling at the posterior pole. The genetic analysis revealed a heterozygous pathogenic variant (c.133C>T, p.Arg45Trp) in the RP1L1 gene. Conclusion and importance: Our present case suggests that OMD shows a wide range of clinical presentations with a variety of ophthalmological findings, age of disease onset, visual acuity, and genetic diversity

Effective Hamiltonian for B \ra X_s e^+ e^- Beyond Leading Logarithms in the NDR and HV Schemes

We calculate the next-to-leading QCD corrections to the effective Hamiltonian for \Bsee in the NDR and HV schemes. We give for the first time analytic expressions for the Wilson Coefficient of the operator $Q_9 = (\bar s b)_{V-A}(\bar e e)_V$ in the NDR and HV schemes. Calculating the relevant matrix elements of local operators in the spectator model we demonstrate the scheme independence of the resulting short distance contribution to the physical amplitude. Keeping consistently only leading and next-to-leading terms, we find an analytic formula for the differential dilepton invariant mass distribution in the spectator model. Numerical analysis of the \mt, \Lms and \mu \approx {\cal O}(\mb) dependences of this formula is presented. We compare our results with those given in the literature.Comment: 18 pages, LaTeX, 5 postscript figures include

Testing the relative sensitivity of 102 ecological variables as indicators of woodland condition in the New Forest, UK.

Forests globally are facing an increasing number of threats from modified disturbance regimes, novel stressors and changing environmental conditions. This has ultimately resulted in declines in the ecological condition of many forest and woodland ecosystems, leading to widespread tree mortality and stand dieback. Effective indicators of overall woodland ecological condition are therefore needed for environmental monitoring and to support management responses. To test the effectiveness of different variables that could potentially be used as indicators of woodland condition, 102 variables that describe woodland structure, composition, functioning, edaphic conditions and disturbance regimes were assessed along 12 replicate gradients of beech stand dieback. Results indicated that 35 variables differed significantly between at least two stages of the dieback gradient, indicating their sensitivity to stand dieback. Seven of these indicators related to woodland species composition, two to functional processes, 20 to structural features, four to edaphic conditions, and two to disturbance regimes. These results demonstrate that effective indicators can potentially be identified for each of the ecological categories. Effective composition indicators included species richness of ectomycorrhizal fungi, ground flora and epiphytic lichens; functional indicators were soil respiration rate and net nitrification rate; edaphic conditions included soil Na:Ca ratio, exchangeable sodium, total carbon, Ca:Al ratio; structural indicators included canopy openness, litter cover, sward height, and volume of deadwood, and for disturbance the indicator was Equus dung density. Other measures, such as shrub cover and species richness of carabid beetles and spiders, were not found to vary significantly along the dieback gradients, and were therefore not identified as effective indicators. These results demonstrate the value of gradient analysis for evaluating indicators of woodland condition, but also highlight the need for multi-site studies to identify indicators with widescale applicability

Optimum fertilization of hybrid poplar plantations in coastal British Columbia

The principles of optimum nutrition were examined in a short-rotation intensive-culture (SRIC) hybrid poplar plantation near Sayward, B.C. One-year-old SRIC hybrid poplar (Populus trichocarpa x P. deltoides) were fertilized with N or NPK applied once, in 3 equal additions, or in 3 incremental additions. Total loading rates were 225 kg N/ha, 75 kg P/ha and 75 kg K/ha. Height and diameter growth increased after fertilization, with NPK generally providing the best response after two growing seasons. Application timing did not affect growth. Two-year-old hybrid poplar were fertilized with N , NP, NPK or NPKS. Total loading rates were 225 kg N/ha, 75 kg P/ha, 75 kg K/ha and 15 kg S/ha. Height and diameter growth were highest after one growing season in trees fertilized with NPKS. One-month-old poplar stecklings were fertilized with 5 nutrient combinations (N, NK, NP, NKP or NKPCaMg) at 4 rates (0, 150, 300 or 450 kg N/ha). Loadings were based on 100N:70K: 13P:7Ca:7Mg. Biomass, leaf area and foliar nutrient concentrations were measured after 17 weeks. Foliar nutrient concentrations and contents increased after fertilization. Additional nutrients, in combination with N , increased steckling biomass, but application rate did not. Growth responses to 5 organic wastes and NPK fertilizer were compared in a second pot bioassay. Biomass, leaf area and foliar nutrient concentrations were measured after 17 weeks. The greatest growth response was to organic wastes, particularly fish-wood compost. Application of these results to SRIC hybrid poplar nutrition are discussed.Forestry, Faculty ofGraduat

Nutrition and fertilization response : a case study using hybrid poplar

Three hybrid poplar (Populus trichocarpa x Populus deltoides) plantations on the east side of Vancouver Island were fertilized with N, Nand P, and N, P, and K at the beginning of the third growing season, followed by fertilization with N in the fourth growing season. Three-yearvolume growth increased with application of N alone, but was greatest in plots receiving both N and P. Potassium added with the N and P provided a slight benefit at one site. Litterfall biomass and leaf area of one clone increased with fertilization and remained unchanged in a second clone, as compared with untreated controls. Foliar N and P concentrations were linearly correlated with leaf area index, and leaf area index was linearly correlated with poplar volume growth. Amounts of N and P resorbed from the foliage increased with fertilization, but resorption efficiency and proficiency were unaffected by fertilization. Foliar resorption efficiency and proficiency of N and P differed between two of the three sites. Diagnostic techniques tested to determine if poplar growth response to fertilization could accurately be predicted were soil analysis, critical foliar nutrient concentrations, foliar N:P ratios, Diagnosis and Recommendation Integrated System (DRIS) analysis, optimum nutrient ratios and vector analysis. Neither soil chemical characteristics nor DRIS analysis were an effective diagnostic tool. Fertilizer prescriptions including the nutrients diagnosed as limiting using critical foliar nutrient concentrations, matched tree growth response to fertilization 63% of the time. A foliar N:P ratio of 9.5 coincided with differences in tree growth response to N or N-plus- P application. In a nursery trial, steady-state nutrient ratios were derived for three hybrid poplar clones. Ratios were somewhat similar among clones, but were not identical. Fertilizer prescriptions derived from differences between the diagnostic ratios and foliar nutrient ratios of unfertilized trees in the field had a success rate of 63%. Diagnoses of nutrient limitations from vector analysis using the whole plant, shoot, foliage and root tissues of poplar growing in the nursery were dissimilar among tissues. Foliar vector analysis provided the best index of tree growth response to fertilization.Forestry, Faculty ofGraduat