RADIOGRAPHIC ANATOMY OF THE CRIBRIFORM PLATE (LAMINA CRIBROSA)

The radiographic appearance of the cribriform plate was investigated in 16 canine cadaver heads. The cribriform plate appeared as a "V"-shaped multilinear bone-opaque stripe in the caudal nasal region in projections perpendicular to the hard palate in 6 dogs with a skull index between 50.00 and 54.00. In 9 dogs with a skull index between 55.40 and 74.40, the cribriform plate had a more "C"-shaped and sharp appearance. In vertically oblique projections with an obliquity greater than 20 degrees, the cribriform plate lost its sharp outline and finally (40 degrees) disappeared. In lateral projections the cribriform plate appeared as a "C"-shaped interrupted bone-opaque stripe in all 16 dogs. In more brachycephalic dogs frontal bone structures superimposed on the cribriform plate on ventrodorsal and dorsoventral views and accentuated the radiographic appearance of the plate. Vertically oblique views separated both structures to produce two lines.     

Restoration and stress relief through physical activities in forests and parks

A field survey assessed the restorative effects of visiting an urban forest and a city park in Zurich, Switzerland. Respondents rated their headaches, level of stress, and how balanced they felt both prior to visiting the outdoor location and at the time of being interviewed. Suffering from headaches and stress decreased significantly, and feeling well-balanced increased significantly. The recovery ratio for stress was 87%, and the reduction in headaches was 52%, in terms of the possible improvements on five-point rating scales. With respect to feeling well-balanced, the observed changes amounted to 40% of the possible enhancement. Positive effects increased with length of visit, and individuals practising sports (e.g., jogging, biking, playing ball) showed significantly higher improvements than those engaged in less strenuous activities (e.g., taking a walk or relaxing). These findings support previous research on how exercise in green spaces promotes well-being and recovery from stress.     

Molecular characterization of the incitant of cowpea bacterial blight and pustule, Xanthomonas campestris pv. vignicola

Strains of Xanthomonas campestris pv. vignicola (Xcv), isolated from cowpea leaves with blight or minute pustules and collected from various geographic areas, were selected on the basis of pathological and physiological features. All strains were analyzed for genotypic markers by two methods: ribotyping with EcoRI endonuclease, and RFLP analysis with a plasmid probe (pthB) containing a gene required for pathogenicity from Xanthomonas campestris pv. manihotis. Ribotyping revealed a unique pattern for all the strains that corresponded to the previously described ribotype rRNA7. Based on polymorphism detected by pthB among Xcv strains, nine haplotypes were defined. The observed genetic variation was independent of the geographic origin of the strains and of pathogenic variation. Some haplotypes were widely distributed, whereas others were localized. In some cases, we could differentiate strains isolated from blight symptoms and pustules according to haplotypic composition. However, in most cases, no significant differences were observed. Our results and the previous pathogenic and biochemical characterizations suggest that the strains isolated from leaves with blight symptoms or minute pustules belong to the same pathovar. We provide information on pathogen diversity that can be used to identify and characterize resistant germplasm.     

Studies on the effect of deltamethrin sprays on the numbers of epigeal predatory arthropods occurring in arable fields

The effect of spraying winter rape and winter wheat with deltamethrin on the numbers of epigeal Carabidae, Staphylinidae and Linyphiidae caught in pitfall traps was studied in Northern Germany in 1980 and 1981. Two experiments were performed with each crop, deltamethrin being sprayed at 7.5 g a.i. ha^?1 in 300 litres of water in springtime on rape, and in midsummer on wheat. Sprayed plots were rectangles of 2 and 3 ha; unsprayed plots were squares of 0.5 ha each (two replicates). Ten pitfall traps were placed per replicate at least 3 weeks before spraying and were left for at least 3 weeks after spraying, the traps being emptied weekly. Beneficial Carabid species which have been shown already to have an economic significance, were rare during this study, but four other species (three of them were autumn breeders) were not affected by deltamethrin. At the spraying dates the autumn breeders were hidden in the soil as pupae. Three Staphylinid species, studied in only one experiment each, appeared to be strongly reduced in numbers by deltamethrin. The Linyphiid spiders were affected most heavily by deltamethrin sprayed in spring or in midsummer; the initial mortality of more than 92% lasted longer than 4 weeks, and an adverse effect was still significant in winter wheat 6 weeks after spraying. Overall, deltamethrin appears to have a broad spectrum effect concerning the epigeal predatory arthropods.     

Habitat relationships with fish assemblages in minimally disturbed Great Plains regions

Abstract – Effects of local environmental influences on the structure of fish assemblages were evaluated from 159 sites in two regions of the Great Plains with limited anthropogenic disturbance. These regions offered an opportunity to evaluate the structure and variation of streams and fish assemblages within the Great Plains. We used canonical correspondence analyses to determine the influence of environmental conditions on species abundances, species occurrences and assemblage characteristics. Analysis of regions separately indicated that similar environmental factors structured streams and fish assemblages, despite differences in environmental conditions and species composition between regions. Variance in fish abundance and assemblage characteristics from both regions was best explained by metrics of stream size and associated metrics (width, depth, conductivity and instream cover). Our results provide a framework and reference for conditions and assemblage structure in North American prairie streams.     

Active enzymes in wood chips and their action on lignin during outside storage

Summary Wood storage has a great influence on the efficiency of a pulpmill. Great problems arise when using outside chip storage, especially in processing hardwoods, in that hardwood chips discolorate after a few days, which is not the case with spruce chips. The causes of such a different behavior of beech and spruce were investigated. It could be shown that a sufficient amount of active peroxidase, malate dehydrogenase and oxygen are prerequisites for the formation of phenoxy radicals within the beech lignin. This causes formation of new chromophores that discolorize the wood. Sufficient amounts of such enzymes are present in beech wood after harvesting.     

The Level II aggregated forest soil condition database links soil physicochemical and hydraulic properties with long-term observations of forest condition in Europe

Key message

Aggregated, consolidated, and derived soil physicochemical data of 286 ICP Forests Level II plots were completed with soil hydraulic properties for integrated use with forest monitoring data. Database access should be requested at http://icp-forests.net . Metadata associated available at https://metadata-afs.nancy.inra.fr/geonetwork/apps/georchestra/?uuid=153e599e-6624-4e2b-b862-8124386ea9cd&hl=eng

Context

The ICP Forests database is one of the most comprehensive forest ecosystem datasets in Europe and contains the accumulated results of more than two decades of harmonised forest monitoring all over Europe.

Aims

The aim of this paper is to share knowledge on the ICP Forests Level II soil data for broader use among forest scientists.

Methods

After standard analysis, quality checks, aggregation, and calculation of derived variables (e.g. nutrient stocks, base saturation, C:N ratio, and water retention parameters), data have been gathered into a static database (AFSCDB.LII.2.2), which will be updated to new versions as soon as new measurements become available.

Results

The database provides a basis for the combined evaluation of up to 130 unique soil variables of 286 plots with dynamic data on tree growth, ground vegetation, foliar chemistry, crown condition, tree phenology, leaf area index, ozone injury, litterfall, soil solution chemistry, deposition, ambient air quality, and meteorological data assessed on the same plots.

Conclusion

The unprecedented comprehensiveness and level of detail in this newly aggregated database may overcome existing restrictions so far impeding the realisation of large-scale forest ecosystem studies in Europe.

     

Einige neue Erkenntnisse über die Bionomie der europäischen Monochamus-Arten (Col. Cerambyc.)1)

Ohne ZusammenfassungVortrag gehalten beim ersten Südtiroler Entomologentag in Dietenheim, 22. September 1970.I 39042 Brixen, Prov. Bozen/Italien, Rienzdamm 38