Spatial scaling of wildland fuels for six forest and rangeland ecosystems of the northern Rocky Mountains, USA

Wildland fuels are important to fire managers because they can be manipulated to achieve management goals, such as restoring ecosystems, decreasing fire intensity, minimizing plant mortality, and reducing erosion. However, it is difficult to accurately measure, describe, and map wildland fuels because of the great variability of wildland fuelbed properties over space and time. Few have quantified the scale of this variability across space to understand its effect on fire spread, burning intensity, and ecological effects. This study investigated the spatial variability of loading (biomass) across major surface and canopy fuel components in low elevation northern Rocky Mountain forest and rangeland ecosystems to determine the inherent scale of surface fuel and canopy fuel distributions. Biomass loadings (kg?m^?2) were measured for seven surface fuel components??four downed dead woody fuel size classes (0?C6?mm, 6?C25?mm, 25?C75?mm, and 75?+?mm), duff plus litter, shrub, and herb??using a spatially nested plot sampling design within a 1?km² square sampling grid installed at six sites in the northern US Rocky Mountains. Bulk density, biomass, and cover of the forest canopy were also measured for each plot in the grid. Surface fuel loadings were estimated using a combination of photoload and destructive collection methods at many distances within the grid. We quantified spatial variability of fuel component loading using spatial variograms, and found that each fuel component had its own inherent scale with fine fuels varying at scales of 1?C5?m, coarse fuels at 10?C150?m, and canopy fuels from 100 to 500?m. Using regression analyses, we computed a scaling factor of 4.6?m for fuel particle diameter (4.6?m increase in scale with each cm increase in particle diameter). Findings from this study can be used to design fuel sampling projects, classify fuelbeds, and map fuel characteristics, such as loading, to account for the inherent scale of fuel distributions to get more accurate fuel loading estimations.     

Identification and Characterization of a Novel Lectin from the Clam Glycymeris yessoensis and Its Functional Characterization under Microbial Stimulation and Environmental Stress

Lectin from the bivalve Glycymeris yessoensis (GYL) was purified by affinity chromatography on porcine stomach mucin–Sepharose. GYL is a dimeric protein with a molecular mass of 36 kDa, as established by SDS-PAGE and MALDI-TOF analysis, consisting of 18 kDa subunits linked by a disulfide bridge. According to circular dichroism data, GYL is a β/α-protein with the predominance of β-structure. GYL preferentially agglutinates enzyme-treated rabbit erythrocytes and recognizes glycoproteins containing O-glycosidically linked glycans, such as porcine stomach mucin (PSM), fetuin, thyroglobulin, and ovalbumin. The amino acid sequences of five segments of GYL were acquired via mass spectrometry. The sequences have no homology with other known lectins. GYL is Ca²⁺-dependent and stable over a range above a pH of 8 and temperatures up to 20 °C for 30 min. GYL is a pattern recognition receptor, as it binds common pathogen-associated molecular patterns, such as peptidoglycan, LPS, β-1,3-glucan and mannan. GYL possesses a broad microbial-binding spectrum, including Gram-positive (Bacillus subtilis, Staphylococcus aureus) and Gram-negative bacteria (Escherichia coli, Vibrio proteolyticus), but not the fungus Candida albicans. Expression levels of GYL in the hemolymph were significantly upregulated after bacterial challenge by V. proteolyticus plus environmental stress (diesel fuel). Results indicate that GYL is probably a new member of the C-type lectin family, and may be involved in the immune response of G. yessoensis to bacterial attack.     

Improved physical control of glyphosate‐resistant Italian ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum) on rice paddy levees in Japan

Italian ryegrass ( Lolium multiflorum Lam.) is a non‐native annual winter grass that has seriously infested rice paddy levees and wheat fields in Japan. Recently, glyphosate‐resistant Italian ryegrass was found on paddy levees in central Japan, thereby making control of the grass by using glyphosate less effective. In this study, physical control methods were tested that combined the timing and frequency of mowing in order to more effectively control glyphosate‐resistant Italian ryegrass on rice paddy levees. A 3 year field experiment was conducted from 2012 to 2014 in a western region of Shizuoka Prefecture, where glyphosate‐resistant Italian ryegrass has become dominant. Five treatments were tested: (i) mowing once before the flowering of the grass (i.e. conventional mowing measure); (ii) mowing once during flowering; (iii) mowing twice during flowering; (iv) glyphosate application before flowering (i.e. one of the conventional mowing measures); and (v) no treatment. The above‐ground biomass, seed production, soil seed bank and seedling occurrence of Italian ryegrass were measured to determine the effectiveness of these treatments. Mowing during the flowering period resulted in reduced above‐ground biomass, seed production and soil seed bank when compared with the other treatments. Additionally, mowing twice during the flowering period resulted in a lower seedling density than mowing once. The results suggest that, in this region, physical control by mowing during the flowering period would be more effective than conventional measures for controlling glyphosate‐resistant Italian ryegrass.     

Cardiopulmonary effects of pleural insufflation with CO2 during two-lung ventilation in dorsally recumbent anesthetized horses

Objective

To record the cardiopulmonary effects of pleural CO₂ positive pressure insufflation in anesthetized horses.

Colloidal Carbon-Based Nanoparticles as Heavy Metal Adsorbent in Aqueous Solution: Cadmium Removal as a Case Study

Hydrophilic carbonaceous nanoparticles (HNPs) of uniform sizes with a good degree of dispersion in water were produced from a commercial carbon black by nitric acid treatment. The surface treatment, performed at different reaction times, generates a variable number of oxygen functional groups, mainly carboxylic, which enhance the nanoparticles hydrophilicity and heavy metal adsorption capability. The HNPs were characterized by a number of analytical techniques, including FTIR spectroscopy, thermal and elemental analysis, N₂ adsorption, dynamic light scattering, and zeta-potential measurements. The acid–base properties of the functional groups on the HNPs surface were also investigated by coulometric–potentiometric titrations. Cadmium adsorption tests were carried out in stirred reactors containing colloidal aqueous suspensions of HNPs and HNPs supported over silica. The effects of several parameters, such as the cadmium concentration, the temperature, and the solution pH, were studied. Sorbents showed an appreciable cadmium adsorption capability at different temperatures and in a wide range of pH values comparable or superior to several carbon-based sorbents, indicating a feasible use in commercial units.     

Digitization of farinogram plots and estimation of mixing stability

Twenty-four farinograms and accompanying flour characteristics obtained from a bakery were used to get additional information for baking characteristics of flours. Farinograms were digitized and four novel parameters were included for comparison: a and b were extracted from an equation of the form y = ae^−bt; the height of the upper curve and the width of the farinograph curve at a time value equal to the dough development time. Stepwise multiple regressions were carried out relating bread volume to novel and existing parameters (water absorption, development time, arrival time, departure time, stability and degree of softening). Results indicated that four farinogram parameters, resistance, water absorption, a and b were related to bake height with an overall value of 61%. A relatively weak correlation (R = 0.44, P < 0.05) was detected between specific loaf volume and bake height.     

A scoring system for risk assessment of the introduction and spread of bovine viral diarrhoea virus in dairy herds in Northern Italy

To support a voluntary disease control program, this study aimed to develop an integrated scoring system for the risk assessment of bovine viral diarrhoea virus (BVDV) infection in dairy herds in Northern Italy. Sixty-two dairy herds were classified according to their BVDV serological status. Farmers were interviewed using a questionnaire on potential BVDV risk factors. Scores were used to define risk levels for factors related to (1) BVDV introduction (through livestock trade, attendance of animals at shows/exhibitions and grazing common pasture), (2) within-herd spread of BVDV and (3) the results of initial serological testing. The calculated odds ratios were significant for all categories, except for livestock trade. The application of the screening test, the questionnaire and the related risk assessment showed this to be a practical approach to predicting BVDV herd status.     

Desaturation times between dogs preoxygenated via face mask or flow-by technique before induction of anesthesia

Objective

To compare time to desaturation after induction of anesthesia following administration of oxygen via face mask or flow-by for 3 minutes.

Effects of two fentanyl constant rate infusions on thermal thresholds and plasma fentanyl concentrations in awake cats

Objective

To determine the pharmacokinetics and effects on thermal thresholds (TT) of two fentanyl constant rate infusions in awake cats.