A Combination Chemotherapy Protocol (VELCAP-L) for Dogs with Lymphoma

Ninety-eight dogs with lymphoma treated with a 5-drug combination chemotherapy regimen (vincristine, L-asparaginase. cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, prednisone [VELCAP-L]) were evaluated for pretreatment characteristics predictive for response and remission duration. The complete remission rate was 69%, with a median remission duration of 55 weeks. Dogs with advanced stage of disease, constitutional signs, dogs that were older, and dogs that were dyspneic were less likely to achieve remission. Once in remission, small dogs and dogs without pretreatment thrombocytopenia were likely to have longer remission duration. Toxicoses were frequent, but rarely fatal, and no predictitive factors were found for a dog developing toxicoses. VELCAP-L is an effective treatment for dogs in stage I-III lymphoma, particularly in young, small animals.     

Intratree Variability of Tensile Strength Parallel to Grain in Chinese Fir and I-214 Poplar from Plantation

The variation of tensile strength parallel to grain in Chinese fir and I-214 poplar wood from plantations was studied in this paper. Aaccording to the national standards The Testing Methods for Physical and Mechanical Properties of Wood (GB 1927 to 1943 ? 1991), the small clear wood samples were cut and tested, which represent the south and north of trees with heights of 1.3, 3.3, 5.3 and 7.3 m. The results showed: the tensile strength parallel to grain of the north wood was higher than that of south wood. ANOVA shows that the tensile strength parallel to the grain with height is of significant difference (at 0.05 level).     

Preparation and Characterization of Phenolated Wood Using Sulfuric Acid as a Catalyst I: Liquefaction Behavior of Plantation Wood

Chinese fir (Cunninghamia lanceolata) and poplar (Populus spp.) wood meal were phenolated in the presence of sulfuric acid used as a catalyst. The effects of reaction time and reaction temperature on the wood liquefaction were investigated. The results showed that the reaction temperature had the greater influence on the residue content than reaction time. Additionally, the liquefaction curve for the Chinese fir and Poplar were similar in general.     

Overstory and shrub effects on natural regeneration processes in native Pinus radiata stands

Native Monterey pine (Pinus radiata D. Don) stands on the Monterey peninsula have been significantly modified by natural and anthropogenic disturbances. The exclusion of fire and the introduction of pitch canker (caused by Fusarium circinatum Nirenberg & O’Donnell) created a need for the examination of these changing ecosystems with respect to regeneration, especially as these stands reach mature ages. We established 210 plots on 35 transects distributed throughout five stands in order to describe the current stand structure and quantify the extent and condition of regeneration. The results indicated that Monterey pine seedling establishment varies throughout the peninsula depending on percent canopy cover, duff and litter depth, and percent shrub cover while seedling growth is influenced by percent shrub cover. Canopy cover was also found to inversely influence shrub cover. Our study highlights the importance of understory removal to increase Monterey pine regeneration and seedling growth as canopy cover decreases, especially in areas where coast live oak (Quercus agrifolia Nee) and poison-oak (Toxicodendron diversilobum E. Greene) are abundant.     

Pilot Study to Examine Radial Variation in Annual Ring Width, Density and Shrinkage

The annual ring width, density and shrinkage variation from pith to bark in Chinese fir (Cunninghamia lanceolata) and Boka sugi (Cryptomeria japonicd) were studied and compared. The results show that the ring width decreased sharply from pith to bark for Chinese fir. However, the ring width variation pattern for Boka sugi followed a different way, i.e., the ring width decreased to the fifth ring, increased to the tenth ring, decreased again to the fifteenth, and then increased to the twentieth, where it became constant. The large variations of Boka sugi appeared to show the maintenance of fast growth for many years. The annual ring mean density of Chinese fir increased gradually from pith to bark. However, the density changes for Boka sugi indicated the opposite trend, i.e., the mean density decreased gradually from pith to bark. The former showed a pattern as the same as a pine and a larch, and the latter was often found in a cedar and a cypress. The longitudinal shrinkage in juvenile wood was much hig