Within-site adaptation: growth and mortality of Norway spruce, Scots pine and silver birch seedlings in different planting positions across a soil moisture gradient

Adapting to site conditions is a central part of forest regeneration and can be done through selec-tion of different planting positions. Requirements are tree species specific, and the use of soil moisture maps could be a way to support decision making in forest regeneration planning. At two experimental sites with varying soil moisture conditions in southern Sweden Norway spruce (Picea abies (L.) Karst.), Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.), and silver birch (Betula pendula Roth) seedlings were planted in four different planting positions following mounding site preparation; Depression, Hinge, Mound and Unscarified. Soil moisture estimates were obtained from a high-resolution depth-to-water raster for each planting spot. The effect of soil moisture, planting position and their interactions on mortality, height and diameter was evaluated for each tree species. In wet conditions mounds proved to be the best option to minimize seedling mortality for conifers, but with decreasing soil moisture, differences between the planting positions decreased. Birch on the other hand had the greatest survival in the hinge. The coniferous species displayed increased height and diameter when planted in mounds independent of the soil moisture conditions, whereas silver birch was less dependent on a specific planting position. Results from this study shows that a soil moisture map can explain mortality, height and diameter and thus can be a useful tool when choosing planting position in different soil moisture conditions

Successful spruce regenerations - impact of site preparation and the use of variables from digital elevation models in decision-making?

Various site preparation methods are used in Swedish forestry. However, some methods can lead to unnecessary disturbance, which could be avoided by using variables from digital elevation models in management decisions. The current study aimed to investigate how different site preparation methods, and their intensities, affect Norway spruce (Picea abies (L.) Karst.) regeneration. Additional aims were to clarify how these methods affect soil disturbance and vegetation development, along with how variables from digital elevation models could be used in silvicultural decision-making. Experimental sites were established in southern Sweden to assess five different site preparation treatments with different planting densities: (1) conventional disc trenching 2500 seedlings/ha (DT2500); (2) low intensity disc trenching 1250 seedlings/ha (LDT1250); (3) low intensity disc trenching 2500 seedlings/ha (LDT2500); (4) low-intensity patch-wise 1250 seedlings/ha (PW1250); and (5) patch-wise 2500 seedlings/ha (PW2500). Site preparation intensity had no effect on seedling growth and, survival or vegetation development; the tested treatments differed in terms of soil disturbance. Planting spot properties and weather conditions influenced the seedling performance. DTW and slope could not substantially explain either seedling growth or survival. The results indicate that the choice of site preparation method should consider flexibility when planting while adapting the level of disturbance accordingly

Browsing on naturally regenerated oak seedlings : the interaction between cervid browsing and light availability

Browsing on oak seedlings and other tree species is a major problem when regenerating forest in Sweden. Several factors such as light, surrounding vegetation and season, can influence browsing intensity and browsing frequency. In this study the relationship between cervid browsing and light was examined. Five sites were selected, three in Hornsö (Kalmar county), one in Halmstad (Halland county) and one in Sösdala (Skåne county), and in each site four plots were marked in the spring of 2016. The plots were assigned two light treatments, low and high light, and one plot in each light treatment was fenced. To analyse the data a linear mixed regression model was used. Light had no significant effect on neither browsing intensity nor browsing frequency. The time of year, however, was shown to have a significant effect on browsing frequency and browsing intensity. Browsing frequency was the highest in winter and early spring. The lack of significance from light could be explained by the surrounding landscape and the low availability of palatable tree species. Habitat selection and difference in dietary choices could explain the increased browsing frequency on oak seedlings in winter and early spring. Cervids browse differently on oak seedlings depending on season and made no choice between oaks grown in high light or low light. Further studies on food quality selectivity in relation to food abundance are needed

NPK+ och blå målklassning

Vattendirektivets (2000/60/EG) krav på skydd och bevarande av vattenkvalitet i vattenförekomster har kraftigt ökat medvetenheten om vattenhänsyn och vattenvård i det svenska skogsbruket. Världsnaturfonden lanserade hösten 2011 tillsammans med skogsägarföreningarna (Södra skogsägarna, Mellanskog, Norrskog och Norra skogsägarna) vattenhänsynsverktygen NPK+ (Naturvärde, Påverkan, Känslighet och Plusvärde) och blå målklassning som hjälpmedel till skogsägare för att ta och synliggöra vattenhänsynen. Relevansen hos verktygen NPK+ och blå målklassning att identifiera och klassificera vattendrag efter vattenkvalitet undersöktes med antalet fiskarter som indikator på vattenkvaliteten. 55 vattendrag i Krycklanåns avrinningsområde strax utanför Vindeln i Västerbottens inland inventerades med NPK+ och blå målklassning i mitten av september 2011. Fältinventeringsdata analyserades statistiskt med fiskartsförekomst från en tidigare elfiskeinventering i vattendragen. Resultatet av analysen visade på en signifikant positiv korrelation för verktygen NPK+ och blå målklassning med antalet fiskarter i undersökningsområdet.The EU Water Framework Directive (2000/60/EC) requirements for protection and preservation of water quality in water bodies have greatly increased awareness of water management in Swedish forestry. World Wildlife Fund launched in autumn 2011 together with the forest owners' associations (Södra skogsägarna, Mellanskog, Norrskog and Norra skogsägarna) the water management toolkits NPK + (high biodiversity value, impact, sensitivity and plus value) and blå målklassning as an aid to forest owners to take and make visible the water concerns. The relevance of the tools NPK + and blå målklassning to identify and classify streams for water quality were investigated with the number of fish species as an indicator of water quality. 55 streams in Krycklanåns catchment just outside Vindeln in Västerbotten was inventoried with NPK + and blå målklassning in mid-September 2011. Field inventory data were analyzed statistically with fish species occurrence from a previous electrofishing survey in the streams. The results of the analysis showed a significant positive correlation for the tools NPK + and blå målklassning with the number of fish species in the study area

A Proof-of-Principle Study in Rural Kenya

Tungiasis (sand flea disease) is a neglected tropical disease, prevalent in resource-poor communities in South America and sub-Saharan Africa. It is caused by an inflammatory response against penetrated female sand fleas (Tunga penetrans) embedded in the skin of the host. Although associated with debilitating acute and chronic morbidity, there is no proven effective drug treatment. By consequence patients attempt to remove embedded sand fleas with non-sterile sharp instruments, such as safety pins, a procedure that represents a health threat by itself. In this proof-of-principle study we compared the topical application of a mixture of two dimeticones of low viscosity (NYDA) to the topical application of a 0.05% solution of KMnO4 in 47 school children in an endemic area in rural Kenya. The efficacy of the treatment was assessed during a follow up period of seven days using viability signs of the embedded parasites, alterations in the natural development of lesion morphology and the degree of local inflammation as outcome measures. Seven days after treatment, in the dimeticone group 78% (95% CI 67–86%) of the parasites had lost all signs of viability as compared to 39% (95% CI 28–52%) in the KMnO4 group (p<0.001). In the dimeticone group 90% (95% CI 80–95%) of the penetrated sand fleas showed an abnormal development already after 5 days, compared to 53% (95% CI 40–66%; p<0.001) in the KMnO4 group. Seven days after treatment, signs of local skin inflammation had significantly decreased in the dimeticone group (p<0.001). This study identified the topical application of dimeticones of low viscosity (NYDA) as an effective means to kill embedded sand fleas. In view of the efficacy and safety of the topical treatment with dimeticone, the mechanical extraction of embedded sand fleas using hazardous instruments is no longer warranted

Kantzoner, skogsbruk och vattenkvalitet : modellgenererad kantzonsbredd

Kantzoner mot vattendrag är av stor betydelse för att upprätthålla eller förbättra vattenkvaliteten i våra vattendrag. De strandnära zonerna fungerar som reservat i skogen med stor biologisk mångfald. De utgör barriärer för näringsämnen, löst organiskt kol, sediment, kvicksilver och andra miljögifter. Trädens rötter armerar jorden närmast vattendraget och minskar erosion och sedimentation. Syftet med detta arbete har varit att beskriva varför kantzoner bör användas och hur bredden på kantzonen, med hjälp av en modell i ArcMap, kan anpassas efter förhållandena runt vattendraget. För att beskriva varför kantzoner mot vattendrag bör användas samt bredden på dessa utförde vi en litteraturstudie. Den information vi fann under litteratursökningen tillämpas på Krycklanområdet Vindelns kommun, Västerbotten. Kantzonernas bredd anpassades med hjälp av modellen efter erosionsbenägenhet, lutningen i terrängen, sumpskogsförekomst samt vattendragsrang. Skillnaden mellan en fast kantzonsbredd och en varierad var stor. På många platser är en kantzon med fast bredd antingen för smal eller överdrivet bred. Nyckelord: Vattenkvalitet, kantzonsbredd, modell, skogsbruk, avverkningRiparian buffer zones to waters are essential for maintaining or improving water quality in our waters. The riparian zone have great biological diversity and serve as sanctuaries in the forests. They serve as a barriers for nutrients, dissolved organic carbon, sedimentation, mercury and other pollutants. Tree roots reinforce the soil closest to the stream and reduce erosion and sedimentation. The purpose of this work has been to describe why the zones should be used and how the width of the buffer zone, by using a model in ArcMap, can be adapted to conditions around the watercourse. In order to describe why the buffer zone against watercourses should be used and the width of these, we performed a literature review. The information we found during the literature search applied to the Krycklan area Vindelns Municipality, Västerbotten. The width of the riparian edge zones was adapted by the model, after propensity of erosion, the slope of the terrain, the presence of swamp forest and stream order. The difference between a fixed and a varied buffer zone width was large. In many places a fixed buffer width is either too narrow or excessively wide

Online encoder-decoder anomaly detection using encoder-decoder architecture with novel self-configuring neural networks &amp; pure linear genetic programming for embedded systems

Recent anomaly detection techniques focus on the use of neural networks and an encoder-decoder architecture. However, these techniques lead to trade offs if implemented in an embedded environment such as high heat management, power consumption and hardware costs. This paper presents two related new methods for anomaly detection within data sets gathered from an autonomous mini-vehicle with a CAN bus. The first method which to the best of our knowledge is the first use of encoder-decoder architecture for anomaly detection using linear genetic programming (LGP). Second method uses self-configuring neural network that is created using evolutionary algorithm paradigm learning both architecture and weights suitable for embedded systems. Both approaches have the following advantages: it is inexpensive regarding resource use, can be run on almost any embedded board due to linear register machine advantages in computation. The proposed methods are also faster by at least one order of magnitude, and it includes both inference and complete training

Applications of AM

In this chapter, three strategic domains of Additive Manufacturing application are presented: tool making, medicine and transportation, with main benefits and results obtained by application of AM. Chapter presents some of on-going or already finished project from mentioned AM application fields

An inverse association between plasma benzoxazinoid metabolites and PSA after rye intake in men with prostate cancer revealed with a new method

Prostate cancer (PC) is a common cancer among men, and preventive strategies are warranted. Benzoxazinoids (BXs) in rye have shown potential against PC in vitro but human studies are lacking. The aim was to establish a quantitative method for analysis of BXs and investigate their plasma levels after a whole grain/bran rye vs refined wheat intervention, as well as exploring their association with PSA, in men with PC. A quantitative method for analysis of 22 BXs, including novel metabolites identified by mass spectrometry and NMR, was established, and applied to plasma samples from a randomized crossover study where patients with indolent PC (n = 17) consumed 485 g whole grain rye/rye bran or fiber supplemented refined wheat daily for 6 wk. Most BXs were significantly higher in plasma after rye (0.3-19.4 nmol/L in plasma) vs. refined wheat (0.05-2.9 nmol/L) intake. HBOA-glc, 2-HHPAA, HBOA-glcA, 2-HPAA-glcA were inversely correlated to PSA in plasma (p < 0.04). To conclude, BXs in plasma, including metabolites not previously analyzed, were quantified. BX metabolites were significantly higher after rye vs refined wheat consumption. Four BX-related metabolites were inversely associated with PSA, which merits further investigation