Forests to buildings: A geography of log home manufacturing

The article presents a material-geographic study of contemporary log home manufacturing in the Eastern Woodlands of North America. The study investigated relationships between log conversion (i.e., processing) methods and regional location. Manufacturers were grouped by their conversion methods, using hierarchical cluster analysis; and analyzed for spatial correlation, using standard deviational ellipses (SDEs). Tree species utilization, log treatment, horizontal surface type, and corner notch type were found to be spatially differentiating. These attributes were tested for their ability to predict manufacturers’ culture region using multinomial logistic regression (MLR) models. Tree species utilization was an independent variable in all of the predictive models, suggesting a correspondence between building culture and ecological regions. This is consistent with earlier research. The findings suggest that location drives tree species utilization and, thereby, building methods. Like the eco-region itself, log conversion methods vary on a north-south gradient. It is argued that construction knowledge is geo-contextual and that the replacement of scientific wood extraction with ecosystem management as the central paradigm in forestry calls for geo-contextual approaches to sustainability in the construction industry.     

Evidences of osteoporosis improvement in Wistar rats treated with Ginkgo biloba extract: A histomorphometric study of mandible and femur

This study was aimed at investigating the anti-osteoporotic effects of the extract of Ginkgo biloba (EGb) in glucocorticoid-induced-osteoporosis. A significant reduction was observed in the percentage of the bone of the osteoporosis group in both the mandible and femur. The EGb group treated with 28 and 56 mg/Kg showed a significant increase in the percentage of trabecular bone (PTB) of the femur. The percentage of the alveolar bone of the mandible (PAB) had a significant increase with all doses of EGb. The treatment with EGb significantly reversed the loss of the PAB of the mandible and of the PTB of the femur.     

Modeling the invasive emerald ash borer risk of spread using a spatially explicit cellular model

The emerald ash borer (EAB, Agrilus planipennis) is decimating native ashes (Fraxinus sp.) throughout midwestern North America, killing millions of trees over the years. With plenty of ash available throughout the continent, the spread of this destructive insect is likely to continue. We estimate that the insect has been moving along a “front” at about 20 km/year since about 1998, but more alarming is its long-range dispersal into new locations facilitated by human activities. We describe a spatially explicit cell-based model used to calculate risk of spread in Ohio, by combining the insect’s flight and short-range dispersal (“insect flight”) with human-facilitated, long-range dispersal (“insect ride”). This hybrid model requires estimates of EAB abundance, ash abundance, major roads and traffic density, campground size and usage, distance from the core infested zone, wood products industry size and type of wood usage, and human population density. With the “insect flight” model, probability of movement is dependent on EAB abundance in the source cells, the quantity of ash in the target cells, and the distances between them. With the “insect-ride” model, we modify the value related to ash abundance based on factors related to potential human-assisted movements of EAB-infested ash wood or just hitchhiking insects. We attempt to show the advantage of our model compared to statistical approaches and to justify its practical value to field managers working with imperfect knowledge. We stress the importance of the road network in distributing insects to new geographically dispersed sites in Ohio, where 84% were within 1 km of a major highway.     

Impact of short-term intake of red wine and grape polyphenol extract on the human metabolome

Red wine and grape polyphenols are considered to promote cardiovascular health and are involved in multiple biological functions. Their overall impact on the human metabolome is not known. Therefore, exogenous and endogenous metabolic effects were determined in fasting plasma and 24 h urine from healthy male adults consuming a mix of red wine and grape juice extracts (WGM) for 4 days in a placebo-controlled, crossover study. Syringic acid, 3-hydroxyhippuric acid, pyrogallol, 3-hydroxyphenylacetic acid, and 3-hydroxyphenylpropionic acid were confirmed as the strongest urinary markers of WGM intake. Overall, WGM had a mild impact on the endogenous metabolism. Most noticeable were changes in several amino acids deriving from tyrosine and tryptophan. Reductions in the microbial metabolites p-cresol sulfate and 3-indoxylsulfuric acid and increases in indole-3-lactic acid and nicotinic acid were observed in urine. In plasma, tyrosine was reduced. The results suggest that short-term intake of WGM altered microbial protein fermentation and/or amino acid metabolism.     

Transmission of potato leafroll virus to or from tuber slices by aphids feeding through a membrane

Summary Eye-bearing slices, cut from healthy potato tubers and placed between Parafilm membranes, were inoculated with potato leafroll virus (PLRV) byMyzus persicae. PLRV was detected by ELISA and by transmission tests in tuber slices and in plants grown from the slices of the susceptible cv. Désirée, but not in those of the resistant cv. Arkula. These results suggest that PLRV replication and transport within tuber phloem is controlled by specific mechanisms of resistance.M. persicae was also able to acquire and transmit PLRV toPl floridana from slices cut from tubers of infected plants. The aphids effectively transmitted PLRV from slices cut from the sprouting rose end but they failed to transmit it from slices cut from the heel end of tubers.     

Impacts of elevated atmospheric CO2 and temperature on plant community structure of a temperate grassland are modulated by cutting frequency

To determine the impacts of climate change and defoliation on the community structure and plant diversity of a semi‐natural temperate grassland, monoliths of a permanent grassland were exposed to ambient or elevated atmospheric CO₂ concentrations (ambient + 235 ppmv) and temperature (ambient + 3°C) from October 1998 to December 2000. The monoliths were subjected to two different cutting frequencies, either two or six cuts per year. The grassland community structure changed during the course of the experiment and was more responsive to changes in management than to changes in climate. Increased cutting frequency stimulated plant diversity by enhancing the number of forb species, but plant diversity was not significantly affected by climate change. The contribution of individual plant species to the vegetation cover revealed species‐specific responses to climate change and cutting frequency, but for most species significant interactions between climate change and cutting frequency were present. There were no clear‐cut effects of treatments on the total annual yield and the proportion of forbs present, as significant interactions between climate change and cutting frequency occurred. It is concluded that differential grassland management will modify plant species‐specific responses to climate change and resulting changes in the botanical composition of mixed‐species, temperate grasslands.     

Bovine neonatal pancytopenia in German Holstein calves

Profiles of blood cell counts were evaluated for 15 calves from three different farms. These calves showed petechia in the mucous membranes and in the skin and prolonged secondary bleeding after puncture. The clinical course of the disease could be observed in eleven calves. With exception of one case, the blood cell counts indicated a severe anaemia, leukocytopenia and thrombocytopenia. Out of these 15 calves, six calves survived and the other nine calves died or had to be euthanized due to the severity of the disease. Necropsy of these nine calves revealed petechia in the skin, subcutis, muscles, in inner organs and all serous membranes. Pathohistological examination showed a depletion of the bone marrow and lymphatic tissue in eight calves. These findings confirmed the diagnosis of bovine neonatal pancytopenia (BNP) for eight of these nine calves. Bluetongue virus serotype 8 was tested negatively using PCR. Bovine virus diarrhoea virus (BVDV) was negatively tested using immunofluorescence and cell culture and salmonella species were negatively tested in seven dissected calves. A cluster of toxins was negatively tested in one of the dissected calves. All 15 calves had high antibody titres for BVDV. The BVDV-antibody titres from twelve dams with affected calves were positive in six cases and not detectable in the other six cases. In three of the six dams with not detectable BVDV-antibody titres, calves were fed with colostrum of a further dam with high BVDV-antibody titres. In the further three dams without detectable BVDV-antibody titres, we could not ascertain which colostrum has been fed to the calves. BVDV-specific antigen could not be detected in any of the samples from the calves and dams tested. Using the activity of the gamma-glutamyl-transferase, we assumed a sufficient supply with colostrum for the examined calves.The cause for the occurrence of these BNP cases was due to bone marrow depletion.The reason for the bone marrow depletion remained unclear. However, it was obvious that the BNP described here is highly likely caused by colostrum from cows with positive BVDV-antibody titres.