Eucalyptus spp.

The purpose of the joint FAO/IPGRI programme is to generate a series of crop/tree-specific technical guidelines that provide relevant information on disease indexing and other procedures that will help to ensure phytosanitary safety when germplasm is moved internationally. The scope of the recommendations in these quidelines is confirmed to small, specialized consignments used in technical programmes, e.g. for conservation, research and basic plant breeding programmes. Eucalypts are the mst widely grown trees in exotic plantations worldwide. At the end of 1990, there were an estimated 10.06 million ha of eucalypt plantings in the tropics, comprising 23% of all tropical forest plantings (FAO 1993). Most of the species originate in Australia, the 'isolated continent.' Australia is rich in biodiversity and eucalypts dominate the tree cover of areas which receive in excess of 500 mm of annual precipitation. Introduction of exotic pests into Australia in the future could severely damage entire ecosystems. The catastrophic damage caused by the root pathogen Phytophthora cinnamomi to Eucalyptus marginata and other components of native vegetation in Western Australia is an example. Of particular concern are pests which do not currently occur in Australia and appear to have adapted to eucalypts

Macrosocial determinants of population health in the context of globalization

Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/55738/1/florey_globalization_2007.pd

Presurgical orthopedics and satisfaction in motherhood: a randomized clinical trial (Dutchcleft).

Contains fulltext : 71391.pdf (publisher's version ) (Closed access)OBJECTIVE: To study the effect of infant orthopedics on satisfaction in motherhood. DESIGN: Prospective two-arm randomized controlled trial in parallel with three participating academic cleft palate centers. Treatment allocation was concealed and was performed by means of a computerized balanced allocation method. Setting: Cleft palate centers of Amsterdam, Nijmegen, and Rotterdam, the Netherlands. PATIENTS: Two groups of infants with complete unilateral cleft lip and palate and no other malformations. INTERVENTIONS: Group IO+ (n = 27) wore passive maxillary plates during the first year of life, group IO- (n = 27) did not. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Mean satisfaction scores were obtained from completed questionnaires at 6, 24, and 58 weeks of age. A 4-point scale was used (1 = very satisfactory to 4 = very unsatisfactory). RESULTS: The range of the mean scores for the individual items on the questionnaires for both groups ranged between 1.1 and 2.4. No differences were found between groups. Mothers appear to be satisfied in motherhood, least satisfied with the available time for themselves, and very satisfied with hugging and walking their babies. No differences were found between groups. CONCLUSIONS: Results from the present study show that infant orthopedics, with a passive plate during the first year of life, in children with a unilateral cleft lip and palate has no influence on the mothers' satisfaction in motherhood

A Two-Tier or Multi-Tier Europe? Assessing the Innovation Capacities of Central and East European Countries in the Enlarged EU

This article assesses the innovation capacities of the candidate central and east European countries (CEECs) and the countries of the EU by using a new framework for measuring national innovation capacity (NIC), based on 25 indicators. Based on regression and cluster analysis the article shows that NIC in the enlarged EU does not follow a simple east-west divide. The wider Europe is structured into three groups of countries, and CEECs fall into two, the less-developed and medium-developed EU groups. NICs in the enlarged EU are assessed across four dimensions of capacity: absorptive, R&D, diffusion and demand. In each of these dimensions a two- to three-tiering of countries is observed, which goes beyond a simple east-west pattern. The results of this assessment have important implications for new Member States and candidate countries, as well as for the EU policy towards structural assistance. Copyright Blackwell Publishing Ltd 2004.