Extreme Long-time Dynamic Monte Carlo Simulations

We study the extreme long-time behavior of the metastable phase of the three-dimensional Ising model with Glauber dynamics in an applied magnetic field and at a temperature below the critical temperature. For these simulations we use the advanced simulation method of projective dynamics. The algorithm is described in detail, together with its application to the escape from the metastable state. Our results for the field dependence of the metastable lifetime are in good agreement with theoretical expectations and span more than fifty decades in time.Comment: 13 pages with embedded eps figures. Int. J. Mod. Phys. C, in pres

Review of nonmarket forest goods and services evaluation methods

Background and Purpose: Natural resource systems that are commercially exploitable, such as forests, are valued by using many different factors. Policy makers and other decision makers must choose between scenarios in which there can be clear market values with easy to document influences on economy or scenarios in which the value is placed on difficult to document factors, such as the importance of natural systems, forest services without market values, and the benefits to human wellbeing. Several methods are described in this paper for documenting the non-market values that forest goods and services provide. We discuss different methods and assessment tools that provide different types of information, quantitative and qualitative, with respective strengths and weaknesses from varied scientific and decision-support perspective. In an attempt to provide scientists with different views and ideas, as well as planners and managers with a general appreciation of methods and their application, we have included selected examples that influence policy and/or management practices. Material and Methods: Most of the material has been developed based on a number of basic text books describing evaluation methods from the perspective of development and grounded in economical theory with a wide range of application. The second part has been developed from a list of references dealing with application in European countries and enriched with details and examples from documents based on seventeen country reports. The structure of those country reports was predefined, discussed, harmonized and completed by a group of scientists and professionals involved in COST action E-33, »Forest for recreation and tourism.« Evaluation methods related to forest goods and services were described from theoretical and practical viewpoints with emphasis on their applicability to a specific type of research. Results and Conclusion: Nonmarket values of forest goods and services can be estimated in a number of different ways. The methods can be divided into two basic categories: first, based on market prices, and second, based on non-market evaluation. Our focus is on the second strategy where the market prices are not known. Further division of this method goes in two broad categories according to the nature of the data generated for modelling and estimation: (a) »stated preference methods« where individuals’ preferences are not observed but rather stated, and (b) »revealed preference methods« where we can observe people acting in real-world settings where people live with the consequences of their choices.The most widely used method for valuing natural resources is the contingent valuation (CV) method. Choice experiments (CE) and hedonic pricing (HP) methods have been included in far fewer empirical studies, but the application of these methods has passed the demonstration stage. We also discuss the newly developed methods of benefit transfer and meta-analysis which use values, functions, and other descriptions from other studies to evaluate natural resources

Review of nonmarket forest goods and services evaluation methods

Background and Purpose: Natural resource systems that are commercially exploitable, such as forests, are valued by using many different factors. Policy makers and other decision makers must choose between scenarios in which there can be clear market values with easy to document influences on economy or scenarios in which the value is placed on difficult to document factors, such as the importance of natural systems, forest services without market values, and the benefits to human wellbeing. Several methods are described in this paper for documenting the non-market values that forest goods and services provide. We discuss different methods and assessment tools that provide different types of information, quantitative and qualitative, with respective strengths and weaknesses from varied scientific and decision-support perspective. In an attempt to provide scientists with different views and ideas, as well as planners and managers with a general appreciation of methods and their application, we have included selected examples that influence policy and/or management practices. Material and Methods: Most of the material has been developed based on a number of basic text books describing evaluation methods from the perspective of development and grounded in economical theory with a wide range of application. The second part has been developed from a list of references dealing with application in European countries and enriched with details and examples from documents based on seventeen country reports. The structure of those country reports was predefined, discussed, harmonized and completed by a group of scientists and professionals involved in COST action E-33, »Forest for recreation and tourism.« Evaluation methods related to forest goods and services were described from theoretical and practical viewpoints with emphasis on their applicability to a specific type of research. Results and Conclusion: Nonmarket values of forest goods and services can be estimated in a number of different ways. The methods can be divided into two basic categories: first, based on market prices, and second, based on non-market evaluation. Our focus is on the second strategy where the market prices are not known. Further division of this method goes in two broad categories according to the nature of the data generated for modelling and estimation: (a) »stated preference methods« where individuals’ preferences are not observed but rather stated, and (b) »revealed preference methods« where we can observe people acting in real-world settings where people live with the consequences of their choices.The most widely used method for valuing natural resources is the contingent valuation (CV) method. Choice experiments (CE) and hedonic pricing (HP) methods have been included in far fewer empirical studies, but the application of these methods has passed the demonstration stage. We also discuss the newly developed methods of benefit transfer and meta-analysis which use values, functions, and other descriptions from other studies to evaluate natural resources

Forest biomass and sequestered carbon estimation according to main tree components on the forest stand scale

Background and Purpose: The estimation of forest woody biomass has a significant role in forestry due to several reasons. One of the reasons is that good woody biomass estimation is important for the planning of forest woody assortments production, for main commercial roundwood assortment and for assortments like »waste wood« or »recovered wood« as a potential for electricity (heat) generation (firewood, wood bricks, wood pellets etc.). Economic and political meaning of woody biomass estimation is important to know forest biomass resources in the country and present these facts to international institutions or in treaties as needed. The estimation is also important for strategic planning of the use of renewable energy sources from woody biomass. On the other hand, estimation of the carbon content in forest woody biomass has importance in global climatemitigation policy and processes (Kyoto- and post-Kyoto period). The purpose of this paper is to present methodology applied for estimation of forest woody biomass and its carbon content according to main tree components, on the forest stand scale. Material and Methods: As research area, two representative Croatian forest communities/stands were selected. The one represents flooded lowland pedunculate oak forest of Pokupski Basin, and the other represents mountain fir-beech forest of the Gorski Kotar region. Emphasis in the paper is on themethodology which was developed for the purpose of research. The methods applied in this study consist of: a) dendrometrical measurements on selected forest stands (research sites), b) sampling of main tree components and sample analyses in laboratory, and c) calculation of forest woody biomass and its carbon content according to main tree components. Results: General result of the laboratory analyses of the samples of main tree componets is that the carbon content in biomass was around 50,0% of the dry matter of a component. In line with volume allocation of main tree components are the biomass of tree components and the content of carbon sequestered in these components. Stem had the largest share in total tree biomass while foliage or needle biomass had the smallest share. The shares of main tree components in total biomass of the tree depend on morphology each of tree species. Conclusion: This research was a pilot and pioneering research of forest biomass in Croatian forestry, and it should be continued to acquire better knowledge of relations in forest woody biomass in main forest communities in Croatia

Mycoplasma gallisepticum infection in the grey partridge Perdix perdix: outbreak description, histopathology, biochemistry and antioxidant parameters

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The grey partridge is an important game bird in Europe that has declined considerably over the last decades. The production and release of farm-bred birds can be threatened by infectious agents. The objective of this study was to describe the outbreak, pathology, and blood and tissue biochemical responses in a flock of grey partridges naturally infected with <it>Mycoplasma gallisepticum</it>.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Morbidity and mortality rates were 100% and 60%, respectively. Necropsy revealed an accumulation of caseous exudate within the infraorbital sinuses, tracheitis, pneumonia and airsacculitis. There were significant increases in activities of lactate dehydrogenase, creatine kinase and amylase, and levels of total protein and glucose in <it>Mycoplasma</it>-infected birds when compared to control. Catalase showed significantly lower activity in the heart, lungs, liver and gonads of <it>Mycoplasma</it>-infected birds. Glutathione-S-transferase activity was elevated in the eye and the associated infraorbital sinus and kidneys, and decreased in the liver. Decreased levels of reduced glutathione were found in the heart, kidneys, liver and gonads. The activity of glutathione reductase was lower only in the lungs. Compared to healthy birds, mycoplasmosis in the grey partridge caused significant differences in the level of lipid peroxidation in lungs and plasma (p < 0.05), while the ferric reducing antioxidant power was lower in the heart and kidneys (p < 0.01). Significant correlations among responses of the antioxidant parameters were found namely in the heart, lungs, spleen, liver and plasma. There were also numerous significant inter-tissue correlations of all the studied antioxidant parameters.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>The present study demonstrates the high susceptibility of grey partridges to natural infection by <it>M. gallisepticum</it>, the severity of the disease based on histopathology, and the modulation of blood chemical profiles and oxidative stress-associated parameters in the avian hosts, thus enhancing the understanding of the pathogenesis of mycoplasmosis in birds. Moreover, the reported reference values can be useful for the evaluation of the state of health in grey partridges.</p

Double-strand break repair and colorectal cancer: gene variants within 3' UTRs and microRNAs binding as modulators of cancer risk and clinical outcome

Genetic variations in 3' untranslated regions of target genes may affect microRNA binding, resulting in differential protein expression. microRNAs regulate DNA repair, and single-nucleotide polymorphisms in miRNA binding sites (miRSNPs) may account for interindividual differences in the DNA repair capacity. Our hypothesis is that miRSNPs in relevant DNA repair genes may ultimately affect cancer susceptibility and impact prognosis.In the present study, we analysed the association of polymorphisms in predicted microRNA target sites of double-strand breaks (DSBs) repair genes with colorectal cancer (CRC) risk and clinical outcome. Twenty-one miRSNPs in non-homologous end-joining and homologous recombination pathways were assessed in 1111 cases and 1469 controls. The variant CC genotype of rs2155209 in MRE11A was strongly associated with decreased cancer risk when compared with the other genotypes (OR 0.54, 95% CI 0.38-0.76, p = 0.0004). A reduced expression of the reporter gene was observed for the C allele of this polymorphism by in vitro assay, suggesting a more efficient interaction with potentially binding miRNAs. In colon cancer patients, the rs2155209 CC genotype was associated with shorter survival while the TT genotype of RAD52 rs11226 with longer survival when both compared with their respective more frequent genotypes (HR 1.63, 95% CI 1.06-2.51, p = 0.03 HR 0.60, 95% CI 0.41-0.89, p = 0.01, respectively). miRSNPs in DSB repair genes involved in the maintenance of genomic stability may have a role on CRC susceptibility and clinical outcome

Effect of Seven Newly Synthesized and Currently Available Oxime Cholinesterase Reactivators on Cyclosarin-Intoxicated Rats

Seven new oxime-based acetylcholinesterase reactivators were compared with three currently available ones (obidoxime, trimedoxime, HI-6) for their ability to lessen cholinesterase inhibition in blood and brain of cyclosarin-treated rats. Oximes were given at doses of 5% their LD50 along with 21 mg/kg atropine five min before the LD50 of cyclosarin (120 ug/kg) was administered. Blood and brain samples were collected 30 minutes later. The greatest difference between acetylcholinesterase inhibition in blood of cyclosarin-treated rats was found after administration of HI-6 (40%), compared to 22% for trimedoxime and 6% for obidoxime. Only two of the seven newly synthesized oximes had any effect (K203 at 7%, K156 at 5%). Effective oximes against cyclosarin-inhibited plasma butyrylcholinesterase were HI-6 (42%), trimedoxime (11%), and K156 (4%). The oximes were less effective in brain than in blood, with reactivation values for HI-6 30% against acetylcholinesterase and 10% against butyrylcholinesterase. Values for newly synthesized oximes were less than 10% for K206, K269 and K203