Using the Tools of the Information Age to Enhance Research and Management of the Southern Pine Beetle

The Southern Pine Beetle (SPB) is a major pest in southern U.S.A., Mexico, and Central America. Enormous resources in terms of funding, personnel, and effort have been allocated for research and development of pest management tools for this pest over the past century. Access to information from journal articles, reports, fact sheets, etc. does require some effort and is often incomplete and difficult to obtain. The emergence of the Internet now allows rapid access to information from diverse sources. We have created a comprehensive website entitled, 'The Southern Pine Beetle Internet Control Center' (SPBICC) (www.spbicc.vt.edu). The goal of the site is to provide all available resources on SPB to anyone with access to the Internet. It is also designed to increase communication among researchers and professionals to help advance the management of this pest. The site is interactive, which permits constant updating without contacting a webmaster. Attributes of the site include background information in the form of fact sheets, reviews, and government handbooks; an interactive diagnostic identification key for SPB and other bark beetles; a searchable expertise directory; a calendar of SPB-related events; a discussion forum; an online SPB spot growth predictive model; a searchable bibliographic database; a webcrawler designed to search for SPB-related websites, and more. Web-based tools were developed to integrate relational databases as the functional base of this site. The dynamic nature of the SPBICC makes it a powerful tool and a model for development of websites for other major agricultural or forest pests.     

Exposure and contamination of the air and employees of a pentachlorophenol plant, Idaho--1972.

A pentachlorophenol (PCP) wood treatment plant was studied to determine PCP exposure to people by occupation and to the plant by work area. This plant operates on a year-round basis with a 25 percent increase in production from May through October. Approximately 2.5 million board feet of timber are processed annually. Samples were taken in the morning of the second work week of each month for 5 consecutive months. Samples consisted of serum and urine from the employees and air from locations throughout the plant work area. All samples were analyzed for PCP residue. Peripheral blood was used to culture cells to investigate possible chromosomal aberrations.     

Electrothermal control of weed beet and bolting sugar beet

The proportion of weed beet and bolting beet in sugar beet crops is increasing, and as much as 24% of beet acreage may now be badly infested. Mechanical and chemical methods of control are being developed, but neither is completely satisfactory. The use of electricity has recently been suggested as a means of control and is investigated in this paper. It is found that high voltages around 5 kV rms can physically destroy annual beet in pots in under 20 sec. Maximum currents vary according to the plant size and range from 0·5 to I A rms for bolters 1-1·4 m high. It is not necessary to completely burn the plant in two to kill it and various ways of minimizing the treatment for speed and energy economy are suggested. Field trials using hand-held electrodes to apply the electric currents to annual beet growing amongst a crop showed that much larger powers (up to 20 kW) were necessary to kill the plants. A tractor-driven system was constructed producing 8kV rms which enabled it to cover 6 rows and travel at speeds up to 16 km/h and it removed 75% of the bolting and weed beet. La lutte électro-thermique contre les betteraves sauvages el les montées dans les betteraves sucrières. La proportion des ressemis et des montées dans les cultures de betteraves à sucre est en augmentation et jusqu'à 14%, des surfaces cultivées en betteraves peuvent maintenant être fortement infestées. Des procédés mécaniques et chimiques de lutte ont été proposés, mais aucun n'est pleinement satisfaisant. L'emploi de l'électricité a été récemment suggéré comme moyen de lutte el il est examiné dans cette publication. II a été constaté que des voltages élevés. autour de 5 k Veff. peuvent détruire physiquenient des betteraves de I'année. cultivées en pots, en moins de 20 sec. Les courant maximaux varient selon la talle de la plante et s'échelonnent entre 0,5 et 1 A_eff, pour des plantes montées de I m à 1,40m de haut.II n'est pas nécessaire de brûler complètement la planie pour la tuer et divers procédés économisant sur la vitesse et l'énergie sont suggérés pour alléger le traitement. Des essais du champ utilisant des électrodes manipulées à la main, pour appliquer les courants électriques aux betteraves annuelles poussant dans une culture, ont montré que des puissances élevées (jusqu'à 20 kW) étaient nécessaires pour tuer les plantes. Un dispositif tiré par un tracteur a été construit produisant 8K V_eff lequel permet decouvrir 6 rangs et travaille à des vitesses atteignant 1.6 km/h; il élimine 75%, des montées et des betteraves sauvages. Elekrothermische Bekämpfung von Unkrautrüben und Zukerrübenschossern Der Anteil von Unkraut- und Schossrüben in Zuckerrüben ist ansteigend und derzeit sind 14% der Rübenfläche damit stark verseucht. Zu ihrer Bekämpfung werden mechanische und chemische Verfahren entwickelt, aber keines ist befriedigend. In dieser Arbeit wird über Untersuchungen zur neuerdings vorgeschlagenen Anwendung von Elektrizität berichtet. Unter hohen Spannungen von durchschnittlich 5 kV werden annuelle Rüben, die zu diesem Zweck in Gefässen kultiviert wurden, in weniger als 20 Sekunden zerstört. Die maximalen Stromstärken bewegen sich hierbei. Abhängig von der Pflanzengrösse, zwischen durchschnittlich 0.5 bis I A. wenn die Schossrüben 1 bis 1,4 m hoch sind. Um die Pflanze abzutöten ist es nicht nötig, sie völlig zu verbrennen. Es werden verschiedene Vorschläge zur Reduktion des Aufwandes bezüglich Fahrgeschwindigkeit und Energie gemacht. In Feldversuchen, in denen mit manuell bedienten Elektroden annuelle Rüben in einer Kultur behandelt wurden, zeigte sich, dass weit höhere Leistungen (bis zu 20 kW) notwendig waren, um die Pflanzen zu töten. Es wurde ein traktorbetriebenes Gerät konstruiert. das durchschnittlich 8 kV produziert und mit dem 6 Reihen mit einer Fahrgeschwindigkeit bis zu 1.6 km/Stunde bebandelt werden können. Mit diesem Gerät konnten 75%, der Schossrüben und Unkrautrüben beseitigt warden.     

THE PATH OF CARBON IN PHOTOSYNTHESIS. XXVII. SUGAR-CONJUGATED PLANT GROWTH REGULATORS ENHANCE GENERAL PRODUCTIVITY

We have found that applications of sugar-conjugated plant growth regulators (SPGRs) by exposures of roots or shoots to millimolar (mM) SPGRs are key to their uptake and transport for enhancement of vegetative productivity of the entire plant as compared to control populations. Initial surveys utilizing foliar applications of identically nutrient-supplemented 0.3 mM cytokinin glycosides, N⁶-benzyladenine glycosides, kinetin glycosides; and a 0.3 mM auxin glycoside, indoxyl-β-D-glucopyranoside (IG) resulted in significant shoot enhancements over controls. Foliar application of 0.3 mM kinetin glucoside resulted in significant root increase above the control. Foliar application of 3 mM to 6 mM IG resulted in enhanced root and shoot growths over controls. Similarly, increases of root and shoot yields over controls were observed as a result of foliar application of 3 mM indoxyl-β-D-glucuronide. Foliar application of 1 mM trans-zeatin-β-D-glucoside was particularly effective, resulting in significant enhancement of root and shoot growth with no phytotoxicity.     

Evaluating alternative methods for biophysical and cultural ecosystem services hotspot mapping in natural resource planning

Context

Data for biophysically modeled and Public Participatory GIS (PPGIS)-derived cultural ecosystem services have potential to identify natural resource management synergies and conflicts, but have rarely been combined. Ecosystem service hot/coldspots generated using different methods vary in their spatial extent and connectivity, with important implications.

Objectives

We map biophysically modeled and PPGIS-derived cultural services for six U.S. national forests using six hot/coldspot delineation methods. We evaluate the implications of hotspot methods for management within and outside of designated wilderness areas.

Methods

We used the ARIES and SolVES modeling tools to quantify four biophysically modeled and 11 largely cultural ecosystem services for six national forests in Colorado and Wyoming, USA. We mapped hot/coldspots using two quantile methods (top and bottom 10 and 33 % of values), two area-based methods (top and bottom 10 and 33 % of area), and two statistical methods (Getis-Ord Gi* at α = 0.05 and 0.10 significance level) and compare results within and outside wilderness areas.

Results

Delineation methods vary in their degree of conservatism for hot/coldspot extents and spatial clustering. Hotspots were more common in wilderness areas in national forests near the more densely populated Colorado Front Range, while coldspots were more common in wilderness areas in more urban-distant forests in northwest Wyoming.

Conclusions

Statistical hotspot methods of intermediate conservatism (i.e., Getis-Ord Gi*, α = 0.10 significance) may be most useful for ecosystem service hot/coldspot mapping to inform landscape scale planning. We also found spatially explicit evidence in support of past findings about public attitudes toward wilderness areas.

     

Ultrastructure of pits inPinus banksiana lamb

Summary The cross-sectional view of pitting between various cell types inPinus banksiana Lamb. was studied at the ultrastructural level. Cell types inPinus banksiana include longitudinal tracheids, ray tracheids, ray parenchyma cells, buffer cells and epithelial cells. Two common characteristic features of bordered pit-pairs between longitudinal tracheids are an initial pit border and a thickened torus at the center of the pit membrane. The shape and size of the pit border and torus of bordered pit-pairs between two compression wood cells, and between the last-formed latewood longitudinal tracheid and first-formed earlywood longitudinal tracheid were different from those in the earlywood and latewood longitudinal tracheids. The pit border on the ray tracheid side varied in size and shape due to wall dentation. No initial pit border was found on the pit border of the ray tracheid side. The shape of bordered pit-pairs between two ray tracheids varied considerably due to irregularity of the dentate cell wall. The size of bordered pit-pairs in longitudinal tracheids was between 16 m to 20 m, which was twice the diameter of bordered pit-pairs in ray tracheids. Bordered pitpairs at the end wall of two ray tracheids appeared to be the smallest at 5 m, Pit aspiration occurred in the bordered pit-pairs with or without a torus. In the heartwood zone, some half-borders pit-pairs between tracheary and ray parenchyma cells showed an additional secondary wall on the ray parenchyma cell side. Plasmodesmata were found in the half-bordered pit-pairs as well in the simple pit-pairs. Blind pits were observed between a ray tracheid and a longitudinal tracheid. Bordered pit-pairs between two buffer cells were also observed. The possible functions of buffer cells were discussed.Use of transmission electron microscope provided by the Science Instrumentation Lab, Lakehead University and the technical assistance provided by Mr. A. MacKenzie, Director of Science Instrumentation Lab are gratefully appreciated     

Water/nutrient interactions affecting the productivity of stands of Pinus radiata

The accumulation of above-ground biomass and the seasonal patterns of leaf-area development, foliar nutrient concentrations and tree and soil water-status have been measured for fertilised, irrigated, and control stands of Pinus radiata D. Don growing on a low-productivity site, average annual precipitation of 790 mm, near Canberra in southeastern Australia. In the second growing-season after treatments commenced, projected leaf-area index reached peak values of 7 on the irrigated/fertilised stands compared with approximately 5 on the other stands. Average canopy nitrogen concentration (dry-weight basis) varied across the treatments from 9 to 17 mg g⁻¹. Measurements of soil and tree water-status over a 2-year period indicated that stands which were not irrigated experienced summer droughts of up to 4 months duration.

Annual volume production measured over the 2-year period ranged from 17 to 45 m³ ha⁻¹. The extent to which this variation could be attributed to differences in leaf area, rats of photosynthesis, duration of the period of positive net photosynthesis, and hence growth, was analysed in terms of a process-based model of stand growth dependent on climate and soil water-balance.

Annual canopy net photosynthesis simulated by the model ranged from 18 t carbon ha⁻¹ for the control stand to 38 t ha⁻¹ for the irrigated/fertilised stands. Simulations indicated that 67% of this difference could be attributed to the role of irrigation in extending the period of active growth. The additional leaf area carried by the irrigated/fertilised stands contributed a further 23%, while differences in rates of photosynthesis, related to nitrogen nutrition, explained the remaining 10%.     

Tracheal rupture in cats: 16 cases (1983-1998)

OBJECTIVE: To determine causes of tracheal rupture in cats and the mechanism of injury. DESIGN: A retrospective study was conducted to identify cats with tracheal rupture. A second study was conducted to establish mechanism of injury, and a third study was conducted to determine volume of air needed to obtain an airtight seal when inflating the cuff of an endotracheal tube in a cat. ANIMALS: 16 cats with clinical signs of tracheal rupture, 10 cat cadavers, and 20 clinically normal cats that were undergoing anesthesia. PROCEDURES: Details were extracted from medical records of 16 cats with tracheal rupture (9 treated surgically and 7 treated conservatively). For the cadaver study, the trachea of each cat cadaver was intubated and observed during overinflation of the endotracheal tube cuff. For clinically normal cats, volume of air needed to obtain an airtight seal for the endotracheal tube was recorded. RESULTS: Most ruptures were associated with cats anesthetized for dental procedures. Clinical signs associated with tracheal rupture included subcutaneous emphysema, coughing, gagging, dyspnea, anorexia, and fever. Tracheoscopy was the method of choice for documenting tracheal rupture. Surgical and conservative management were successfully used, unless the injury extended to the carina. In the cadaver study, overinflation of the endotracheal tube cuff with > 6 ml of air resulted in tracheal rupture in 7 of 10 cadavers. For clinically normal cats, the volume of air (mean +/- SD) needed to obtain an airtight seal was 1.6 +/- 0.7 ml. CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS: Overinflation of an endotracheal tube cuff may result in tracheal rupture in cats.     

A scoring index for disease activity in canine inflammatory bowel disease

The clinical course of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) in dogs is characterized by spontaneous exacerbations and remissions, which makes assessment of disease burden difficult. The objectives of this study were to develop a scoring system for evaluation of canine IBD activity and to validate this scoring method by correlating it to objective laboratory and histologic indices of intestinal inflammation. Fifty-eight dogs with IBD were evaluated prospectively and compared to 9 disease-free control dogs. Clinical disease activity was quantified by a simple scoring system, the canine IBD activity index (CIBDAI), and compared to serum concentrations of C-reactive protein (CRP), haptoglobin (HAP), alpha-acid glycoprotein (AGP), and serum amyloid A (SAA), as well as histology scores derived from endoscopic biopsy specimens. Forty-six dogs were available for a reevaluation of the CIBDAI, CRP HAP, and AGP, and 34 dogs had repeat analysis of SAA performed after medical therapy. Serum concentrations of CRP were significantly (P < .02) increased in dogs with CIBDAI scores > or = 5 (mild disease activity or greater) compared to controls. Among IBD dogs, the CIBDAI showed good correlation (r = 0.82, P < .0001) to both histology and HAP scores, but CRP also was a strong co-correlate of disease activity. The IBD dogs showed significantly (P < .0001) decreased CIBDAI and CRP values but significantly (P < .0001) increased HAP concentrations after medical therapy compared to pretreatment values. We conclude that the CIBDAI is a reliable measure of inflammatory activity in canine IBD and that CRP is suitable for laboratory evaluation of the effect of therapy in these patients.     

Dorsal displacement of the soft palate in 92 horses during high-speed treadmill examination (1993-1998)

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the occurrence of dorsal displacement of the soft palate (DDSP) during high-speed treadmill (HSTM) exercise in racehorses, and determine treatment efficacy relative to the endoscopic findings observed during resting and HSTM endoscopic examination. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective study. Animals-Ninety-two racehorses (74 Thoroughbreds, 18 Standardbreds). METHODS: The signalment, history (clinical and race), treatments, and video recordings made during resting and HSTM endoscopy were reviewed in 92 racehorses that developed DDSP during HSTM exercise. Only horses that completed 3 starts before and after HSTM examination were included in performance-outcome analysis. Statistical associations were made between the independent variables (the historical findings and the resting and HSTM endoscopic findings) and performance outcome. RESULTS: Forty-five horses (49%) displaced their palate in an uncomplicated manner, whereas the other horses either had another upper-respiratory abnormality in association with DDSP (35) or displaced after swallowing (12). Although respiratory noise was not recorded during HSTM exercise, only 57 horses (62%) that developed DDSP during HSTM examination had a history of abnormal upper-respiratory noise. For the 45 horses that met the criteria for performance outcome analysis, there were no independent variables recorded during resting or HSTM endoscopy that had a significant association with performance outcome. Treatment for DDSP varied by clinician. Overall, 29 horses (64%) had improved average earnings per start after diagnosis and treatment. CONCLUSIONS: Thirty-five horses (38%) that had DDSP during HSTM endoscopy had no previous history of abnormal upper-respiratory noise, and 74 (80%) had no structural abnormalities noted on resting endoscopic examination. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: HSTM examination is an excellent tool for diagnosis of DDSP and the manner in which it occurs. DDSP did not occur similarly in all horses, and was often associated with another upper-respiratory abnormality. Thus, it is unlikely that a single treatment can be applied effectively for all horses that experience DDSP. Both surgical and medical treatments can be beneficial in improving a horse's performance after a diagnosis of DDSP is made. Neither resting nor HSTM endoscopic findings were clearly prognostic.