Estimation of Optimum Plot Size and Shape for Use in Safflower Yield Trials

One of the big problems encountered in experimental yield trials of field crops is the variation that occurs in yield estimates regardless of how the trial is handled with respect to variety or treatment. This so-called natural variation is the result of such factors as heredity, human error, and environment

Contributions to the plant ecology of the Oregon coastal sand dunes

Sand dunes are found along the coasts of most of the large land masses of the world. Because of their proximity to man and his activities, the maritime sand dunes of Europe, particularly Germany, France, Holland and Scandinavia, have the longest history of stabilization activities and botanical investigation. There are coastal dune areas, some of great extent, in Africa, tropical Asia, Australia, and South America. In general, little published information is available concerning these areas. Ecological studies of coastal dune vegetation and environment have been most extensive in Great Britain, and to a lesser extent, in North America. Of the North American coastal dunes, those of the east coast have received considerable attention while those of the west coast have been largely neglected. Along the Oregon coast are found some of the most extensive and best developed coastal sand dune areas in North America. Occurring on some 225 km. of the state's 500 km. of ocean facing coastline, these areas are made up of a great variety of dune landscape features and present unique conditions for the development and maintenance of vegetation. There are many places in this dune area where the strong, constant winds have eroded the sand surface to or near the water table resulting in a stabilized surface - the deflation plain - which provides an excellent starting point for the development of vegetation. After preliminary ground and air reconnaissance, 11 deflation plains were selected for detailed study, ranging in location from Sand Lake on the north to Tahkenitch Creek on the south. These deflation plains and their location are described in detail. Vegetation data (species and cover) were taken on a total of 134 sampling stands, each consisting of five meter-square quadrats for herbaceous vegetation, and one 6 x 6 meter quadrat for shrub and forest vegetation. The species and stand data we arranged on comparative charts so as to bring together stands with mutually occurring species. This resulted in the delineation of seven communities with definite successional relationships. Primary succession begins with one of four herbaceous communities: dry meadow, meadow, rush meadow or marsh. Succession then proceeds to low shrub, tall shrub and finally forest. The dry meadow is dominated by three species: Lupinus littoralis, Ammophila arenaria and Poa macrantha. The site is dry with no standing water at any time. Sand deposition and deflation occur in varying degrees. The important species of the meadow are Festuca rubra, Aira praecox, Hypochaeris radicata and Fragaria chiloensis. The surface is dry except for short periods of standing water during the winter months. There is no sand deposition. The rush meadow is characterized by its dense growth of Trifolium willdenovii and Juncus phaeocephalus. The site is low and moist, with water standing on the surface during the winter months. The marsh is found on areas which are quite damp-water stands on the surface for around six months of the year, and is just below the surface for the remainder of the time. It is made up of dense stands of Carex obnupta and Potentilla anserina. The low shrub community is an open stand of Salix hookeriana, Gaultheria shallon, Vaccinium ovatum and Myrica californica. This develops into a tall shrub stage which is frequently an impenetrable thicket with increasing dominance of seedlings of Pinus contorta and Picea sitchensis. Development of a forest of Pinus and Picea is very rapid. If the area is free from disturbance long enough, the shorter lived Pinus dies out, leaving a forest of Picea. The deflation plains represent only part of the many aspects of the total dune landscape still awaiting investigation. The increasing importance of the Oregon coastal dunes to industry and recreation make imperative the initiation of long term ecological studies

Apfeltriebsucht in Sachsen

In sieben sächsischen Betrieben mit integrierter Produktion und drei Betrieben mit ökologischem Anbau wurden erstmals Erhebungen zur Verbreitung und zum Befallsgrad der Apfeltriebsucht durchgeführt. Die Befallssituation der Apfelanlagen wurde anhand der Symptome »Besenwuchs und vergrößerte gezahnte Nebenblätter« bewertet. Der latente Befall wurde mittels molekularbiologischem Nachweis der AP-Phytoplasmen (Erreger der Apfeltriebsucht) in Wurzeln und Trieben bei verschiedenen Sorten untersucht. Der Überträger der Apfeltriebsucht Cacopsylla picta, sein Vorkommen und die Populationsentwicklung sind bildhaft dokumentiert. Am Beispiel der Sorte Jonagored wurde nachgewiesen, dass die Apfeltriebsucht die Qualitäts- und Ertragsparameter gravierend negativ beeinflusst

Influence of preoperative serum N-terminal pro-brain type natriuretic peptide on the postoperative outcome and survival rates of coronary artery bypass patients

BACKGROUND: The N-terminal fragment of pro-brain type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) is an established biomarker for cardiac failure. OBJECTIVE: To determine the influence of preoperative serum NT-proBNP on postoperative outcome and mid-term survival in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). METHODS: In 819 patients undergoing isolated CABG surgery preoperative serum NT-proBNP levels were measured. NT-proBNP was correlated with various postoperative outcome parameters and survival rate after a median follow-up time of 18 (0.5-44) months. Risk factors of mortality were identified using &#967;2, Mann-Whitney test, and Cox regression. RESULTS: NT-proBNP levels >430 ng/ml and >502 ng/ml predicted hospital and overall mortality (p<0.05), with an incidence of 1.6% and 4%, respectively. Kaplan-Meier analysis revealed decreased survival rates in patients with NT-proBNP >502 ng/ml (p=0.001). Age, preoperative serum creatinine, diabetes, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, low left ventricular ejection fraction and BNP levels >502 ng/ml were isolated as risk factors for overall mortality. Multivariate Cox regression analysis, including the known factors influencing NT-proBNP levels, identified NT-proBNP as an independent risk factor for mortality (OR = 3.079 (CI = 1.149-8.247), p = 0.025). Preoperative NT-proBNP levels >502 ng/ml were associated with increased ventilation time (p=0.005), longer intensive care unit stay (p=0.001), higher incidence of postoperative hemofiltration (p=0.001), use of intra-aortic balloon pump (p<0.001), and postoperative atrial fibrillation (p=0.031) CONCLUSION: Preoperative NT-proBNP levels >502 ng/ml predict mid-term mortality after isolated CABG and are associated with significantly higher hospital mortality and perioperative complications

Phytoplasmen im sächsischen Obstbau

Untersucht wurde die Verbreitung der meldepflichtigen Krankheiten Apfeltriebsucht und Birnenverfall in Anlagen mit integrierter und ökologischer Produktion. Anhand der Krankheitssymptome wurde der Einfluss auf Ertrag und Fruchtqualität erfasst, die Populationsentwicklung der Phytoplasma übertragenden Blattsauger und die Wirkung von Insektiziden beurteilt. In älteren Apfel- und Birnenanlagen waren bis zu 20% der Bäume erkrankt. Die Äpfel der erkrankten Bäume der Sorte Jonagored hatten ein deutlich geringeres Einzelfruchtgewicht und schlechter ausgefärbte Früchte. Die Übertragung der Apfeltriebsucht durch den Vektor Cacopsylla picta fand von Ende Mai bis Anfang Juli statt. Spritzungen im April mit den Insektiziden Calypso und Spruzit reduzierten deutlich die Population der Blattsauger

Cardiac Safety of Modified Vaccinia Ankara for Vaccination against Smallpox in a Young, Healthy Study Population

Background Conventional smallpox vaccines based on replicating vaccinia virus (VV) strains (e.g. Lister Elstree, NYCBOH) are associated with a high incidence of myo-/pericarditis, a severe inflammatory cardiac complication. A new smallpox vaccine candidate based on a nonreplicating Modified Vaccinia Ankara (MVA) poxvirus has been assessed for cardiac safety in a large placebo-controlled clinical trial. Methods Cardiac safety of one and two doses of MVA compared to placebo was assessed in 745 healthy subjects. Vaccinia-naive subjects received either one dose of MVA and one dose of placebo, two doses of MVA, or two doses of placebo by subcutaneous injection four weeks apart;vaccinia-experienced subjects received a single dose of MVA. Solicited and unsolicited adverse events (AE) and cardiac safety parameters (recorded as Adverse Events of Special Interest, AESI) were monitored after each injection. Results A total of 5 possibly related AESI (3 cases of palpitations, 2 of tachycardia) were reported during the study. No case of myo- or pericarditis occurred. One possibly related serious AE (SAE) was reported during the 6-month follow-up period (sarcoidosis). The most frequently observed AEs were injection site reactions. Conclusions Vaccination with MVA was safe and well tolerated and did not increase the risk for development of myo-/pericarditis

Long term measurements of aerosol optical properties at a primary forest site in Amazonia

A long term experiment was conducted in a primary forest area in Amazonia, with continuous in-situ measurements of aerosol optical properties between February 2008 and April 2011, comprising, to our knowledge, the longest database ever in the Amazon Basin. Two major classes of aerosol particles, with significantly different optical properties were identified: coarse mode predominant biogenic aerosols in the wet season (January-June), naturally released by the forest metabolism, and fine mode dominated biomass burning aerosols in the dry season (July-December), transported from regional fires. Dry particle median scattering coefficients at the wavelength of 550 nm increased from 6.3 Mm(-1) to 22 Mm(-1), whereas absorption at 637 nm increased from 0.5 Mm(-1) to 2.8 Mm(-1) from wet to dry season. Most of the scattering in the dry season was attributed to the predominance of fine mode (PM2) particles (40-80% of PM10 mass), while the enhanced absorption coefficients are attributed to the presence of light absorbing aerosols from biomass burning. As both scattering and absorption increased in the dry season, the single scattering albedo (SSA) did not show a significant seasonal variability, in average 0.86 +/- 0.08 at 637 nm for dry aerosols. Measured particle optical properties were used to estimate the aerosol forcing efficiency at the top of the atmosphere. Results indicate that in this primary forest site the radiative balance was dominated by the cloud cover, particularly in the wet season. Due to the high cloud fractions, the aerosol forcing efficiency absolute values were below -3.5 Wm(-2) in 70% of the wet season days and in 46% of the dry season days. Besides the seasonal variation, the influence of out-of-Basin aerosol sources was observed occasionally. Periods of influence of the Manaus urban plume were detected, characterized by a consistent increase on particle scattering (factor 2.5) and absorption coefficients (factor 5). Episodes of biomass burning and mineral dust particles advected from Africa were observed between January and April, characterized by enhanced concentrations of crustal elements (Al, Si, Ti, Fe) and potassium in the fine mode. During these episodes, median particle absorption coefficients increased by a factor of 2, whereas median SSA values decreased by 7 %, in comparison to wet season conditions.Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)European Integrated FP6 project on Aerosol Cloud Climate and Air Quality Interactions (EUCAARI) under the scope of LBA experimentUniversidade Federal de São Paulo, Inst Environm Chem & Pharmaceut Sci, Dept Earth & Exact Sci, São Paulo, BrazilUniv São Paulo, Inst Phys, Dept Appl Phys, São Paulo, BrazilLeibniz Inst Tropospher Res, Leipzig, GermanyNatl Inst Amazonian Res INPA, Manaus, Amazonas, BrazilLund Univ, Inst Phys, Div Nucl Phys, Lund, SwedenHarvard Univ, Dept Earth & Planetary Sci, Div Engn & Appl Sci, Cambridge, MA 02138 USAUniv Helsinki, Div Atmospher Sci, Dept Phys Sci, Helsinki, FinlandUniversidade Federal de São Paulo, Inst Environm Chem & Pharmaceut Sci, Dept Earth & Exact Sci, São Paulo, BrazilFAPESP: AEROCLIMA 08/58100-2European Integrated FP6 project on Aerosol Cloud Climate and Air Quality Interactions (EUCAARI) under the scope of LBA experiment: 34684Web of Scienc

A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Phase II Trial Investigating the Safety and Immunogenicity of Modified Vaccinia Ankara Smallpox Vaccine (MVA-BN\u3csup\u3e®\u3c/sup\u3e) in 56-80-Year-Old Subjects

Background Modified Vaccinia Ankara MVA-BN® is a live, highly attenuated, viral vaccine under advanced development as a non-replicating smallpox vaccine. In this Phase II trial, the safety and immunogenicity of Modified Vaccinia Ankara MVA-BN® (MVA) was assessed in a 56–80 years old population. Methods MVA with a virus titer of 1 x 108 TCID50/dose was administered via subcutaneous injection to 56–80 year old vaccinia-experienced subjects (N = 120). Subjects received either two injections of MVA (MM group) or one injection of Placebo and one injection of MVA (PM group) four weeks apart. Safety was evaluated by assessment of adverse events (AE), focused physical exams, electrocardiogram recordings and safety laboratories. Solicited AEs consisted of a set of pre-defined expected local reactions (erythema, swelling, pain, pruritus, and induration) and systemic symptoms (body temperature, headache, myalgia, nausea and fatigue) and were recorded on a memory aid for an 8-day period following each injection. The immunogenicity of the vaccine was evaluated in terms of humoral immune responses measured with a vaccinia-specific enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and a plaque reduction neutralization test (PRNT) before and at different time points after vaccination. Results Vaccinations were well tolerated by all subjects. No serious adverse event related to MVA and no case of myopericarditis was reported. The overall incidence of unsolicited AEs was similar in both groups. For both groups immunogenicity responses two weeks after the final vaccination (i.e. Visit 4) were as follows: Seroconversion (SC) rates (doubling of titers from baseline) in vaccine specific antibody titers measured by ELISA were 83.3% in Group MM and 82.8% in Group PM (difference 0.6% with 95% exact CI [-13.8%, 15.0%]), and 90.0% for Group MM and 77.6% for Group PM measured by PRNT (difference 12.4% with 95% CI of [-1.1%, 27.0%]). Geometric mean titers (GMT) measured by ELISA two weeks after the final vaccination for Group MM were 804.1 and 605.8 for Group PM (with ratio of GMTs of 1.33 with 95% CI of [0.96, 1.84]). Similarly, GMTs measured by PRNT were 210.3 for Group MM and 126.7 for Group PM (with ratio 1.66 and 95% CI [0.95, 2.90]). Conclusions One or two doses of MVA were safe and immunogenic in a 56–80 years old vaccinia-experienced population. No cases of myopericarditis were observed following vaccinations with MVA. The safety, reactogenicity and immunogenicity were similar to that seen in younger (18–55 year old) healthy populations as investigated in other MVA trials. The results suggest that a single dose of MVA in a 56–80 years old population was well tolerated and sufficient to rapidly boost the long-term B cell memory response induced by a prior vaccination with a traditional smallpox vaccine. Trial Registration ClinicalTrials.gov NCT00857493