Simulation of the water and nitrogen balances of forests within a catchment in the northeastern German lowlands

The simulation model FOREST-BGC was used to calculate the regional water and nitrogen balances of coniferous and deciduous forests within the Stöbber catchment area over a period of 4 years. This catchment area is located in the northeastern German lowlands. The forest inventory database of the Landesforstanstalt Eberswalde served as a basis for the estimation of initial values of the forest stands and the soil conditions. The mean annual precipitation rate of the calculation period was 560 mm a^–1, the overall mean annual rate of the calculated interception loss was 178 mm a^–1. Furthermore, a mean annual transpiration rate of 329 mm a^–1 and a mean annual soil water discharge of 77 mm a^–1 were calculated by the model. The simulation of nitrogen leaching resulted in a mean annual rate of 7 kg N ha^–1 a^–1. Some simulation results are compared with measurements, and the database used for the estimation of the model initial values as well as for the model calibration is discussed. Additionally, an evaluation of the model performance was carried out for the purposes of our study. Due to the results of this evaluation, the model algorithms of the nitrogen turnover processes, especially in the soil, seem to be too simple and inappropriate for a realistic calculation of the nitrogen budget of forest ecosystems.     

Land Use Effects on Mangrove Nutrient Status in Phang Nga Bay,Thailand

Tropical mangrove forests can play an important role in the functioning of adjacent marine ecosystems, by protecting them from an excess in land‐derived sediment and nutrients. The strength of this interaction may however depend on the nutrient status of the mangrove forest. This study related the nutrient status of eight mangrove forests in Phang Nga Bay (Thailand) to the land‐cover distributions in the upstream catchment areas. Nutrient status was assessed using indicators integrating over short (porewater and sediment nutrient composition) and long timespans (mangrove leaves and sesarmid crab tissue characteristics). Using multivariate statistics (PCA analysis), these nutrient status data were then related to the land cover data, which were obtained through the analysis of satellite imagery. Nutrient availability was lowest for mangroves in catchments with large natural vegetation cover and was elevated in catchments with increasing levels of anthropogenic influence. Furthermore, nutrient availability was significantly correlated with several forms of land use, including natural forest, rice paddies, cleared ground and urban areas. While all indicators supported these results, relationships were strongest for long‐term indicators. Information on the relationship between land use in the catchment area and mangrove nutrient status may be important for the effective management of this habitat, as well as adjacent marine systems. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Evaluation of a vessel-sealing device for laparoscopic granulosa cell tumor removal in standing mares

OBJECTIVE: To describe a laparoscopic technique for granulosa cell tumor removal using a vessel sealing device (LigaSuretrade mark) in standing mares. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective study. ANIMALS: Eight mares (8-24 years old; weighing, 406-525 kg). METHODS: Before surgery, ovarian size and adjacent body wall thickness was determined by ultrasonography. Mares were sedated and after local anesthesia (inverted L and local infiltration), laparoscopic cannulation was performed without insufflation. The mesovarium was anesthetized and the LigaSure instrument applied to the mesovarium for hemostasis and resection to remove the affected ovary. Mares were hospitalized for 24 hours before discharge. RESULTS: Median ovarian diameter was 10.5 cm (range, 6-14 cm). Median surgery time was 75 minutes (range, 40-180 minutes). Hemostasis was achieved using the LigaSure device in all mares. Median length of the abdominal wall incision made to remove the ovary was 13 cm (range, 5-17 cm); no incisional complications occurred. CONCLUSIONS: The LigaSure vessel sealing device provided adequate hemostasis for removal of larger neoplastic ovaries in standing mares. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Concerns of ligature placement can be alleviated by use of the LigaSure device and standing laparoscopic technique provides excellent observation of the surgical field ensuring hemostasis.     

Orthographic processing in baboons (Papio papio)

Skilled readers use information about which letters are where in a word (orthographic information) in order to access the sounds and meanings of printed words. We asked whether efficient processing of orthographic information could be achieved in the absence of prior language knowledge. To do so, we trained baboons to discriminate English words from nonsense combinations of letters that resembled real words. The results revealed that the baboons were using orthographic information in order to efficiently discriminate words from letter strings that were not words. Our results demonstrate that basic orthographic processing skills can be acquired in the absence of preexisting linguistic representations.     

Short‐time clay‐mineral evolution in a soil chronosequence in Oléron Island (France)

Major weathering sequences in soils are well established; however, knowledge on rates of mineral transformations remains unknown, because it is often difficult to date precisely soil processes. This work was carried out on soils developed on recent (< 188 y) sand dunes on the W coast of Oléron Island (France). The coast has been protected against marine and wind erosion by constructing five consecutives barriers close to the coastline since 1820 (1820, 1864, 1876, 1889, 1948) defining the maximum age of the soil parent material, as before the areas between the barriers were under water. Soils on the older dunes have low clay content (> 94% of sand) and exhibit a bleached E horizon that overlies a yellowish brown B horizon. The process responsible for their formation is podzolization promoted by the high permeability of the material and complexing organic matter produced by coniferous vegetation. Initial mineralogy of C horizons is homogenous and constituted of chlorite, illite, illite/smectite mixed‐layer minerals, and kaolinite, quartz, calcite (≈ 8% related to shell fragments), and feldspars. The initial clay‐mineral assemblage of the E horizons is dominated by illite (well‐crystallized WCI and poorly crystallized PCI) and chlorite. With progressive podzolization, poorly crystallized illite is first transformed to illite/smectite mixed‐layer minerals and in a further step into smectite. In addition, transformation of well‐crystallized illite leads to formation of ordered illite/smectite mixed‐layer minerals in the E horizons, which is not commonly described in soils. In the B horizons, illite/smectite mixed‐layer minerals are present with traces of smectite, as well as Al and Fe oxi‐hydroxides as revealed by DCB and oxalate chemical extractions. This chronosequence illustrates that over short distances and short time (< 188 y) intense mineral weathering and soil development occur. Major clay‐mineral changes occur between 132 and 188 y in agreement with development of the pine forest producing acidic litter.     

Selection of single-chain variable fragment antibodies to black currant reversion associated virus from a synthetic phage display library

ABSTRACT Single-chain variable fragment (scFv) antibodies that bind to black currant reversion associated virus (BRAV) were obtained from a synthetic phage display antibody gene library without recourse to animal immunizations. Several different BRAV-specific phage scFv were obtained quickly, after only three rounds of selection against immobilized virus antigen. The phage scFv gave enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) absorbance values that were greater than seven times the control healthy plant extracts. In contrast, comparative tests using a rabbit antiserum failed, because unacceptably high background values were obtained with healthy plant extracts. Two of the scFv were subcloned into the pDAP2 vector for the rapid and efficient production of scFv-alkaline phosphatase fusion proteins. Functional fusion proteins were obtained after expression in Escherichia coli, and preparations from periplasmic extracts detected BRAV in ELISA. The results demonstrate that antibody fragments obtained from a synthetic phage display library are useful research tools, and they proved to be a viable practical alternative when traditional antisera failed to detect BRAV, a weak immunogen. Furthermore, the genetic fusion of antibody fragments to alkaline phosphatase obviates the need for further chemical coupling procedures, and the fusion proteins can be obtained cheaply.