Variations in municipal urban forestry policies: A case study of Toronto, Canada

Urban forest conditions are driven by a range of biophysical and social factors, including urban form, socioeconomic conditions, and municipal policy. However, relatively little attention has been paid to policies, particularly those aimed at private property. The purpose of this study was to identify the types of urban tree policies that exist in the Greater Toronto Area, begin to understand why those variations may occur, and determine if such variations lead to on-the-ground differences. To address these objectives, we conducted a survey to identify policies covering the planting and removal of privately owned trees, as well as publicly owned trees along roadways in 29 municipalities. The results of the survey were then compared to census and vegetation abundance data to determine the relationship between municipal characteristics, level of policy adoption, and on-the-ground differences. We found substantial variation in the type of policies in place, with regulations addressing tree protection on private property occurring only in larger municipalities. The existence of on-the-ground differences was less clear, possibly because of the relatively recent adoption of most policies. These results highlight the need to assist smaller municipalities in developing urban forestry policies and to monitor these policies’ influence over the long term to better understand their role in shaping the urban forest.     

THE OUTPUT OF IRISH PASTURES

During the years 1956 and 1957, an attempt was made to assess the output of Irish Pastures using methods proposed by a Sub-Committee of the B.G.S. (9). It was found that the best results were obtained when output was determined on a single field, rather than on the whole farm basis. The yields showed highly significant correlations with both botanical composition and nutrient status of the pastures. The results were in agreement with the findings of others working on similar grasslands. It is suggested that the method might find a useful place in a programme either of advisory work or surveys concerned with grassland improvement.     

Genetic changes in quantity and composition of vegetable oils

Summary The oil contents of single kernels of corn can be determined by wideline nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. Since this analytical procedure does not alter seed composition or viability, it could accelerate the development of crops having higher oil contents. A highly significant correlation was found between the oil contents of single kernels of corn and their progeny ears. This indicates that single-kernel differences in oil content are heritable. The importance of this development in terms of the increasing world-wide demand for polyunsaturated oils is discussed.

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Zusammenfassung Der Öl-Gehalt einzelner Maiskörner kann durch kernmagnetische Resonanz-Spektroskopie festgestellt werden. Da dieses analytische Verfahren weder die Samenzusammensetzung noch die Lebensfähigkeit des Samens ändert, könnte sie dazu benutzt werden, die Entwicklung von Maisbeständen mit höherem Ölgehalt zu beschleunigen. Es wurde eine höchst beachtliche Korrelation zwischen dem Ölgehalt der einzelnen Kerne und dem der daraus entstehenden Kerne gefunden. Dies weist darauf hin, daß Einzel-Kern-Unterschiede im Ölgehalt vererbbar sind. Die Bedeutung dieser Entwicklung in Bezug auf die weltweite Nachfrage nach mehrfach ungesättigten Ölen wird besprochen.

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Résumé La quantité d'huile contenue dans les grains de maïs isolés peut être déterminée par la spectroscopie à résonance magnétique nucléaire à grande amplitude. Comme ce procédé ne cause aucune altération de la composition ou de la viabilité de la semence il pourrait accélérer la production de récoltes a rendement d'huile élevé. Une corrélation très étroite a été établie entre la quantité d'huile contenue dans les grains individuels et celle contenue dans leur progéniture. Ceci indique que la difference entre les quantités d'huile contenues dans deux grains individuels peut-être héritée. Cet article traite de l'importance de cette application scientifique en liaison avec la demande croissante d'huiles polyinsaturées dans le monde entier.

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with 4 figs.

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Paper presented at 6th International Congress of Nutrition, Edinburgh, August 9–15, 1963.     

Viability and stability of biological control agents on cotton and snap bean seeds

Cotton and snap bean were selected for a multi-year, multi-state regional (south-eastern USA) research project to evaluate the efficacy of both commercial and experimental bacterial and fungal biological control agents for the management of damping-off diseases. The goal for this portion of the project was to determine the viability and stability of biological agents after application to seed. The biological seed treatments used included: (1) Bacillaceae bacteria, (2) non-Bacillaceae bacteria, (3) the fungus Trichoderma and (4) the fungus Beauveria bassiana. Seed assays were conducted to evaluate the following application factors: short-term (< or = 3 months) stability after seed treatment; quality (i.e. isolate purity); compatibility with chemical pesticides and other biocontrol agents; application uniformity between years and plant species. For the bacterial treatments, the Bacillaceae genera (Bacillus and Paenibacillus) maintained the greatest population of bacteria per seed, the best viability over time and the best application uniformity across years and seed type. The non-Bacillaceae genera Burkholderia and Pseudomonas had the least viability and uniformity. Although Beauveria bassiana was only evaluated one year, the seed fungal populations were high and uniform. The seed fungal populations and uniformity for the Trichoderma isolates were more variable, except for the commercial product T-22. However, this product was contaminated with a Streptomyces isolate in both the years that it was evaluated. The study demonstrated that Bacillaceae can be mixed with Trichoderma isolates or with numerous pesticides to provide an integrated pest control/growth enhancement package.     

Variability of Three Isolates of Botrytis cinerea Affects the Inhibitory Effects of Calcium on this Fungus

ABSTRACT Botrytis cinerea is an economically important pathogen. Epidemiological studies are difficult because of the genetic variability within this species. The objectives of this work were to study the variability and to compare the inhibitory effects of Ca on three isolates of B. cinerea from decayed apple (B) and grape (C and C77:4). Among these isolates, B had the least radial growth but had a sporulation rate 40% higher than that of both C77:4 and C. In situ, isolate C incited the largest decay area in the fruit of two of four apple cultivars examined and had the highest polygalacturonase activity in vitro. Maximum mycelial growth was reached with CaCl(2) at 1 g liter(-1) for isolates B and C77:4 and at 4 g liter(-1) for isolate C. Calcium (CaCl(2)) inhibited polygalacturonase activity at 1 g liter(-1) for C and C77:4 and at 16 g liter(-1) for B. Calcium infiltration reduced decay caused by all three isolates by three to five times. Mycelial DNA analysis showed that 42% of the character loci scored were polymorphic and the greatest similarities were found between B and C77:4. These results support the evidence that the biological and statistical variability in research can be affected by the B. cinerea isolate selected. Despite this variation, Ca treatment of apples reduced decay caused by all three Botrytis cinerea isolates.     

Ion,Protein, Phospholipid and Energy Substrate Content of Oviduct Fluid During the Oestrous Cycle of Buffalo (Bubalus bubalis)

The aim of this research was to analyse the composition of oviduct fluid (ODF) in buffalo cows at different oestrous cycle phases to fulfil the requirements of buffalo embryos in vitro. ODF was collected by chronic cannulation from three cows that were synchronized by administering a synthetic prostaglandin. Based on hormonal profiles, the pre‐ovulatory, ovulatory, post‐ovulatory and luteal phases of the oestrous cycle were defined. The volume of ODF produced (ml/24 h) was influenced by the oestrous cycle, with values (mean ± SE) around ovulation (1.0 ± 0.2) greater (p < 0.05) than in both the luteal (0.4 ± 0.1) and the post‐ovulatory phases (0.5 ± 0.1), but not different from the intermediate values in the pre‐ovulatory phase (0.8 ± 0.2). Among cycle phases, no differences were found in sodium, potassium, calcium and magnesium concentrations (130.0 ± 1.1, 5.1 ± 0.3, 2.8 ± 0.1 and 0.59 ± 0.04 mmol/l respectively). Interestingly, the chloride secretion (μm /24 h) was higher (p < 0.05) at ovulation (150.2 ± 16.5) than during both the luteal (73.7 ± 22.0) and the post‐ovulatory phases (63.7 ± 11.2), with intermediate values in the pre‐ovulatory phase (113.4 ± 23.5). Glucose concentration (mmol/l) was higher (p = 0.056) in the pre‐ovulatory phase (0.06 ± 0.02) than in the luteal (0.02 ± 0.01) and post‐ovulatory (0.02 ± 0.01) phases but not different from values in the ovulatory phase (0.04 ± 0.02). Concentrations of pyruvate and lactate among oestrous cycle phases were similar (0.08 ± 0.01 and 1.0 ± 0.1 mmol/l respectively). The total quantity of phospholipids (μmol/24 h) was greater (p < 0.05) at ovulation (0.21 ± 0.02) compared with the luteal, pre‐ovulatory and post‐ovulatory phases of the cycle (0.09 ± 0.02, 0.13 ± 0.02 and 0.09 ± 0.01 respectively). No differences were found in either the protein concentration (1.8 ± 0.3 mg/ml) or the quantity of proteins secreted in 24 h (1.8 ± 0.4 mg) among oestrous cycle phases. In conclusion, this study provides the first characterization of buffalo ODF during the oestrous cycle, showing species‐specific differences that may be useful for developing suitable media for buffalo in vitro embryo production.     

Corpus Luteum Development and Function after Supplementation of Long‐Acting Progesterone During the Early Luteal Phase in Beef Cattle

Strategic supplementation of P4 may be used to increase conception rates in cattle, but timing of supplementation in relation to ovulation, mass of supplementary P4 and formulation of the P4‐containing supplement has not been determined for beef cattle. Effects of supplementation of long‐acting progesterone (P4) on Days 2 or 3 post‐ovulation on development, function and regression of corpus luteum (CL) were studied in beef cattle. Cows were synchronized with an oestradiol/P4‐based protocol and treated with 150 or 300 mg of long‐acting P4 on Day 2 or 3 post‐ovulation (6–7 cows/group). Colour‐doppler ultrasound scanning and blood sample collection were performed from Day 2–21.5. Plasma P4 concentrations were greater (p < 0.05) from Day 2.5–5.5 in the Day 2‐treated groups and from Day 3.5–5.5 in the Day 3‐treated cows than in the control group. CL area and blood flow during Day 2–8.5 did not differ (p > 0.05) among groups, suggesting no effect of P4 treatment on luteal development. The frequency of cows that began luteolysis before Day 15 was greater (p < 0.04) in cows treated with 300 mg than in the controls, but there were no differences between non‐treated and 150 mg‐treated cows. The interval from pre‐treatment ovulation to functional and structural luteolysis was shorter (p < 0.01) in the combined P4‐treated groups than in the control cows. In conclusion, was showed for the first time that long‐acting P4 supplementation on Day 2 or 3 post‐ovulation increases P4 concentrations for ≥3 day, has no effect on luteal development, but anticipates the beginning of luteolysis in beef cattle.     

Use of Porcine Luteinizing Hormone at Oestrous Onset in a Protocol for Fixed‐Time Artificial Insemination in Gilts

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of porcine luteinizing hormone (pLH) given at oestrous onset in gilts, by different routes and doses, on the interval between onset of oestrus and ovulation (IOEO) and reproductive performance using a single fixed‐time artificial insemination (FTAI). A total of 153 gilts were submitted to oestrous detection at 8‐h intervals and assigned to three groups: control – without hormone application and inseminated at 0, 24 and 48 h after oestrous onset; VS2.5FTAI – 2.5 mg pLH by the vulvar submucosal route at oestrous onset and a single FTAI 16 h later; IM5FTAI – 5 mg pLH by the intramuscular route at oestrous onset and a single FTAI 16 h later. More VS2.5FTAI gilts (47.1%; p < 0.05) ovulated within 24 h after oestrous onset than control gilts (25.5%) whereas IM5FTAI gilts had an intermediate percentage (31.4%; p > 0.05). The IOEO tended to be shorter (p = 0.06) in VS2.5FTAI (30.2 ± 1.4 h) than in control (34.7 ± 1.4 h) gilts, but there was no difference (p > 0.05) between control and IM5FTAI (32.8 ± 1.4 h) gilts. Farrowing rate was not different (p > 0.05) among treatments. Total born piglets (TB) was lower (p < 0.05) in VS2.5FTAI (12.3 ± 0.4) than in control gilts (14.1 ± 0.4), whereas intermediate TB was observed in IM5FTAI gilts (13.3 ± 0.4). Due to the advancement of ovulation, reduction of the hormonal dose and the ease of application, the vulvar submucosal route would be the best option for FTAI protocols, but their negative impact on litter size remains to be elucidated. Taking into account the good fertility results obtained in IM5FTAI gilts whose ovulation was not advanced, the possibility of a single FTAI without any hormonal treatment should be further investigated, to establish reliable FTAI protocols for gilts.     

Halwaxiids and the early evolution of the lophotrochozoans

Halkieriids and wiwaxiids are cosmopolitan sclerite-bearing metazoans from the Lower and Middle Cambrian. Although they have similar scleritomes, their phylogenetic position is contested. A new scleritomous fossil from the Burgess Shale has the prominent anterior shell of the halkieriids but also bears wiwaxiid-like sclerites. This new fossil defines the monophyletic halwaxiids and indicates that they have a key place in early lophotrochozoan history.     

On the Quantum Nature of the Shared Proton in Hydrogen Bonds

The relative influence of thermal and quantum fluctuations on the proton transfer properties of the charged water complexes H5O2+ and H3O2- was investigated with the use of ab initio techniques. These small systems can be considered as prototypical representatives of strong and intermediate-strength hydrogen bonds. The shared proton in the strongly hydrogen bonded H5O2+ behaved in an essentially classical manner, whereas in the H3O2- low-barrier hydrogen bond, quantum zero-point motion played a crucial role even at room temperature. This behavior can be traced back to a small difference in the oxygen-oxygen separation and hence to the strength of the hydrogen bond.