Mapping Spatial Patterns with Morphological Image Processing

We use morphological image processing for classifying spatial patterns at the pixel level on binary land-cover maps. Land-cover pattern is classified as ‘perforated,’ ‘edge,’ ‘patch,’ and ‘core’ with higher spatial precision and thematic accuracy compared to a previous approach based on image convolution, while retaining the capability to label these features at the pixel level for any scale of observation. The implementation of morphological image processing is explained and then demonstrated, with comparisons to results from image convolution, for a forest map of the Val Grande National Park in North Italy.     

Timber investment returns for selected plantations and native forests in South America and the Southern United States

Timber investment returns were estimated for the principal exotic and selected native species in the Southern Cone of Latin America and in the Southern United States. Exotic eucalyptus plantations in South America were most profitable, with internal rates of returns (IRRs) ranging from 13% to 23%, followed by exotic loblolly pine, with IRRs from 9% to 17%. Average loblolly pine plantation returns in the US South were less profitable, with an IRR of about 9.5%, and natural forest management in the South had IRRs of 4% to 8%. Subtropical native species plantations of the best araucaria and nothofagus species had reasonable financial returns, with IRRs ranging from 5% to 13%. Subtropical or tropical native forests had fewer commercial timber species, and had much lower growth rates and returns. Their IRRs were less than 4%, or even negative for unmanaged stands. State subsidy payments for forest plantations or for timber stand improvements increased IRRs somewhat and reserving areas for environmental protection reduced their IRRs slightly. Including land costs in the cash flows decreased these internal rates of return substantially. Natural stand returns in Latin America were much less than those of plantations, but management of those stands offered better rates of return than only holding the land.     

Insect natural enemies of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Ips typographus</Emphasis> (L.) (Coleoptera,Scolytinae) in managed and unmanaged stands of mixed lowland forest in Poland

We tested the effects of forest management type (managed vs. unmanaged) on the abundances of Ips typographus (L.) (Col., Curculionidae, Scolytinae) and related parasitoids and predators reared from spruce bolts exposed in Białowieża, Poland. Habitat availability for these species differed between forest types mainly as a result of regular sanitary fellings occurring in managed forests. Populations of the common polyphagous insect predators Paromalus paralellepipedus (Herbst) and Plegaderus vulneratus (Panz.) (Col., Histeridae) or parasitoids Rhopalicus tutela (Walk.), Dinotiscus eupterus (Walk.) and Roptrocerus xylophagorum Ratz. (Hym., Pteromalidae) related to I. typographus did not differ between managed and unmanaged forests. Only Thanasimus spp. (Col., Cleridae) was significantly more abundant in managed forest, possibly because it was favored by the more open, sunny stands. However, the experiment was performed in stands where spruce is only a minor component and during the non-epidemic phase of the bark beetle population, so further experiments may be necessary to determine if the effects of sanitary fellings are greater in different forest types and at different stages of the population cycle.     

Where water is oxidized to dioxygen: structure of the photosynthetic Mn4Ca cluster

The oxidation of water to dioxygen is catalyzed within photosystem II (PSII) by a Mn(4)Ca cluster, the structure of which remains elusive. Polarized extended x-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) measurements on PSII single crystals constrain the Mn(4)Ca cluster geometry to a set of three similar high-resolution structures. Combining polarized EXAFS and x-ray diffraction data, the cluster was placed within PSII, taking into account the overall trend of the electron density of the metal site and the putative ligands. The structure of the cluster from the present study is unlike either the 3.0 or 3.5 angstrom-resolution x-ray structures or other previously proposed models.     

The effect of auto-vaccination therapy on the phenotypic variation of one clonal type of Staphylococcus aureus isolated from cows with mastitis

The aim of this study was to demonstrate the effect of auto-vaccine therapy on selected properties of Staphylococcus aureus strains, isolated from milk of cows with subclinical mastitis. The experiment was based on auto-vaccines which were prepared from S. aureus strains isolated from 16 cows. S. aureus strains isolated from cows on the 7th, 21st and 35th day following auto-vaccination, were analyzed phenotypically and genotypically. The isolated strains represented 17 biotypes all belonging to one clonal type. Increases of new biotypes of S. aureus were detected on the 35th day of therapy. Among 48 re-isolated strains, 18.75% (9/48) revealed single and 12.50% (6/48) multiple phenotypical changes. The present study demonstrated that during auto-vaccine therapy, S. aureus strains can change phenotypically, pointing out the necessity for using precise diagnostic methods, that would make possible a better assessment of the used therapy.     

Plant growth regulating activity of aromatic aminophosphonates and their short peptides

Phosphonic acid analogues of phenylalanine, tyrosine and 3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine exhibited interesting plant growth regulatory properties when tested on Cucumis sativus L. Depending on the chemical structure, they slightly inhibited or strongly promoted the growth of C. sativus roots, while their influence on hypocotyls was negligible. Phosphono peptides based on these acids showed less significant plant growth regulating activity.     

Studies on liver sufficiency of cows fed on food with unbalanced mineral composition

In 90 cows of black white and red white race, aged 3-9 years and of 450 kg mean body weight fed on food with low level of Ca, P, and Na, several parameters of protein, carbohydrates and lipid liver metabolism before and after supply of special mineral mixtures were evaluated. After the supply the increased concentration of total protein, urea and cholesterol esters and decrease of AspAT, AlAT, and AP activities were recorded in the blood. Cholesterol esters: total cholesterol ratio improved and a slight increase of milk yield and content of fat in milk was observed. Food mineral mixtures favourably influenced the stabilization of liver metabolism.     

Morphometric and molecular characterisation of Cyprinus carpio × Carassius auratus hybrids

Among members of the Cyprinidae family, hybridisation is more widespread than in any other group of freshwater fish. Therefore, the aim of this work has been to use two different approaches, biometric and genetic, to assess differences between common carp (Cyprinus carpio) × goldfish (Carassius auratus) hybrids and their parents. Twenty-three length measurements of 10 fish from each group have been performed. Statistical analyses of results were conducted using Levene’s, ANOVA, NIR and Kruskal–Wallis tests. Genetic analysis has been conducted by means of amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) technique. The AFLP allowed us to distinguish groups of fish and showed that hybrids had more in common with C. auratus than with C. carpio.