Mountain oases in northern Oman: An environment for evolution and<Emphasis Type="Italic"> in situ</Emphasis> conservation of plant genetic resources

Several botanical studies have been conducted in different parts of Oman, but knowledge about agro-biodiversity in the rapidly decaying ancient mountain oases of this country remains scarce. To fill this gap we assessed the genetic resources of three mountain oases in the al-Hajar range using a GIS-based field survey and farmer interviews. While arid conditions prevail throughout the mountain range, the different elevations of Balad Seet (950–1020 m a.s.l.), Maqta (930–1180 m a.s.l.) and Al Jabal al Akhdar (1750–1930 m a.s.l.) provide markedly differing agro-climatic conditions. Overall, 107 different crop species were identified belonging to 39 families. Species number was highest among fruits (33 spp.), followed by vegetables (24 spp.). Intensive irrigation allows cultivation of a broad range of species at all oases. However, the number of species varied significantly between sites. Fruit species diversity and homogeneity of distribution of individual fruit species was highest at Balad Seet and lowest at Maqta as indicated by respective Shannon indices of 1.00 and 0.39 and evenness values of 32% and 16%. Century plant (Agave americana L.), faba bean (Vicia faba L. var. minor Peterm. em. Harz) and lentil (Lens culinaris Medik.) were identified as relict crops, supporting oral reports of past cultivation and providing evidence of genetic erosion. Some species, such as the temperate fruits of Al Jabal al Akhdar, were exclusively found at the coolest site, while others only occurred at the hotter locations. Overall greatest species similarity was found between Balad Seet and Al Jabal al Akhdar as indicated by a Sørensen coefficient of similarity of 67%. At all oases a multilayered vegetation structure dominated with a canopy, an understory and a ground layer. Greatest species richness was recorded in the lowest stratum. Overall the study shows a location-specific but surprisingly diverse mosaic of crops in Omani mountain oases which merits further studies and conservation efforts.     

Foxtail millet (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Setaria italica</Emphasis> (L.) P. Beauv.) in Mazandaran/Northern Iran

Foxtail millet, Setaria italica is still cultivated in Mazandaran (N-Iran). It is used for the preparation of local food and for feeding cage-birds. The cultivated race is convar. moharia, formerly widely grown from Europe to SW Asia. The newly found material allows conclusion with respect to evolution and distribution of this old crop.

Euthyroid sick syndrome in dogs with idiopathic epilepsy before treatment with anticonvulsant drugs

Euthyroid sick syndrome is a common finding in dogs and is attributable to nonthyroidal illness or treatment with any of a variety of drugs such as phenobarbital. In dogs with epilepsy, treatment with anticonvulsant drugs can lead to subnormal plasma thyroid hormone concentrations despite normal thyroid function. One-hundred thirteen dogs with seizure activity were retrospectively evaluated to determine the influence of idiopathic epilepsy (IE) on thyroid hormone concentrations. Blood samples were taken from 60 dogs with IE before initiation of anticonvulsant therapy. Control groups consisted of 34 dogs with IE and receiving anticonvulsants and 19 dogs with secondary epilepsy. Thyroid concentrations consistent with euthyroid sick syndrome were diagnosed in 38% of dogs with untreated IE without clinical signs of hypothyroidism or concomitant diseases. There was a significant correlation (r = 0.363, P = .01) between seizure frequency and plasma thyroid hormone concentrations: the longer the interval between 2 seizure events, the higher the serum total thyroxine concentration. There was no correlation between the degree of alteration of thyroid hormone concentrations and the time span between the most recent seizure event and blood collection, the type of the most recent seizure event, the duration of the complete seizure history, or the predominant seizure type. These results suggest that IE can be a reason for euthyroid sick syndrome in dogs. The effect of phenobarbital on plasma thyroid hormone concentrations must be investigated in future studies, as it might be less pronounced than expected.     

An octahedral coordination complex of iron(VI)

The hexavalent state, considered to be the highest oxidation level accessible for iron, has previously been found only in the tetrahedral ferrate dianion, FeO4(2-). We report the photochemical synthesis of another Fe(VI) compound, an octahedrally coordinated dication bearing a terminal nitrido ligand. M?ssbauer and x-ray absorption spectra, supported by density functional theory, are consistent with the octahedral structure having an FeN triple bond of 1.57 angstroms and a singlet d2(xy) ground electronic configuration. The compound is stable at 77 kelvin and yields a high-spin Fe(III) species upon warming.     

Pulmonary artery wedge pressure during treadmill exercise in warmblood horses with atrial fibrillation

The heart rate and the pulmonary artery wedge pressure (PWP) was measured in 10 healthy warmblood horses and in six warmblood horses with atrial fibrillation (AF) at rest and during standardised treadmill exercise. During treadmill exercise, the increase in heart rate was significantly higher in the horses with AF than in the healthy horses. Horses with AF showed a significantly higher increase in PWP at treadmill velocities of 5m/s and faster, than did the healthy horses. The differences in PWP between both groups increased with treadmill strain. The present study demonstrates that there is an influence on the haemodynamics in horses with AF during treadmill exercise, which could explain exercise intolerance in some horses with lone AF.     

Nonlinear stiffness profiles of external fixators constructed with composite rods

OBJECTIVE: To determine if composite connecting rods confer nonlinear stiffness characteristics on unilateral and bilateral external skeletal fixators (ESF) in cranial-caudal bending and axial loading. STUDY DESIGN: Mechanical testing performed on models. SAMPLE POPULATION: Six models of 6-pin ESF constructs composed of birch dowels, a commercial ESF system, and composite connecting rods. METHODS: Unilateral and bilateral ESF configurations were assembled using either specially designed composite titanium and silicone (composite group) or solid titanium (solid group) connecting rods. Mechanical testing was performed in axial loading and 4-point cranial-caudal bending. Stiffness was determined at a low and high-load range, and was considered increasing and nonlinear if the stiffness at high loads was greater than at low loads. RESULTS: The stiffness of the solid group was linear in all testing modes and configurations. Bilateral composite fixators had a nonlinear increasing stiffness in axial loading and cranial-caudal bending. Unilateral composite fixators had a nonlinear increasing stiffness in axial loading, but not cranial-caudal bending. Solid connecting rods conferred a higher stiffness in all testing modes and configurations. CONCLUSIONS: Composite connecting rods resulted in nonlinear increasing axial and bending stiffness in bilateral fixators, and in axial load in unilateral fixators. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Conventional ESF can be constructed so that the stiffness increases as load increases. This provides the surgeon with additional options to control the local mechanical environment of a healing fracture, which may be used to enhance fracture healing.     

Variability and Relationships Among Mixolab,Mixograph, and Baking Parameters Based on Multienvironment Spring Wheat Trials

Because of the large number of cultivars that require examination in the development of spring wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) cultivars, breeding programs use predictive methods to test end use quality. The Mixograph is a widely used predictive test with which end use quality of many genotypes can be assessed in a short time. By comparison, the Mixolab is a relatively new device with additional capability that might be used for the same purpose. Our objective was to document variability of, and relationships among, 20 parameters obtained from Mixolab, Mixograph, and bake tests. Tests were performed on flour from 18 genotypes grown in 20 environments. Both genotype and environment had significant effects on quality parameter values. Several Mixograph and Mixolab parameters were highly significantly correlated, particularly when genotype mean values over environments were considered. Correlations between loaf volume and Mixolab parameters within environments were inconsistent and suggest that average genotype values over environments will be most useful. For example, the correlation between Mixolab stability and loaf volume (r = 0.25, P < 0.001) was much higher when genotype averages (r = 0.70, P < 0.001) were considered. Our results show that selection for Mixolab stability and water absorption should help delineate and improve the selection of genotypes with greater loaf volume.     

Predicting depth translocation of base cations after forest liming: results from long-term experiments

Forest liming is a common measure to counteract soil acidification. In forest practice, lime is applied to the forest floor where it changes the chemical properties. However, little is known about the depth impact of liming and the depth translocation of lime components. To investigate the long-term impact of forest liming, several study plots have been established in the 1980s in Germany in stands with different site conditions. We analysed soil chemical data obtained during the last 28?years from 45 of the study plots. We examined the depth impact of liming and predicted the main factors responsible for the increase in Calcium (Ca) and Magnesium (Mg) stocks after liming in the mineral soil using multiple linear regression analyses (MLR). Stocks of Ca and Mg as well as base saturation (BS) showed a strong depth gradient with significant differences between limed and control plots down to 40?cm of the mineral soil. About 65–70?% of applied Ca and Mg were recovered in the forest floor and the upper 40?cm of the mineral soil. BS in 0–40?cm increased by a mean of 11?%. MLR models could explain 48–74?% of the variation in mean changes of Ca and Mg in 0–10, 10–20 and 20–40?cm soil depth when soil and climate variables, amount of applied lime and years after liming are included in the model. After testing the model robustness with a cross-validating procedure, we concluded that these models might be applied to many regions in Central Europe with comparable soil and climate conditions and thus, have widespread application.     

Comparison of new foliar nutrient thresholds derived from van den Burg’s literature compilation with established central European references

In this paper, we suggest new nutrient threshold values and ratios for the major nutrients (N, P, K, Ca, Mg) for four main trees species Pinus sylvestris, Picea abies, Fagus sylvatica and Quercus (Q. robur and Q. petraea) statistically derived from the data collection of van den Burg’s literature compilation (1985, 1990), and compare them with widely used central European literature. The comparison is focused on the normal range of nutrition of major elements. We could show that the new critical foliar nutrient concentrations and ratios do not have the imponderabilities of the established reference systems, like restricted calibration range or data gaps for species in general or some major nutrients in particular. Ranges from the new critical foliar nutrient concentrations are generally smaller, except for broadleaves foliar Ca and Mg values, where another reference provides the narrowest ranges. The practicability of the different systems has been exemplary tested on a foliage data set of Norway spruce from the Bavarian soil survey. This application illustrates that an evaluation based on the new nutrient thresholds is in the majority of cases more cautious than the other reference systems. Moreover, evaluations based on the new concentrations and ratios are quite consistent. Comparisons with nutrient ratios related to the susceptibility to parasite attacks show that the thresholds are close to a general optimum range, indicating health and intact resistance mechanisms of these tree species. Uncertainties of the new threshold values as well as the need to further evaluate and develop reference systems for nutrient status of forest trees are discussed.