Recruitment and Mortality in Populations of Banksia grandis Willd. In Western Australian Forest

1985 ◽  
Vol 33 (3) ◽  
pp. 261 ◽  
Author(s):  
I Abbott

This paper examines seed release and seed dispersal; recruitment in relation to fire and logging; mortality of seedlings in relation to their age; and the dynamics of one population from November 1979 to March 1983. Dehiscence of follicles is caused by wetting and drying of the infructescence, so that most seeds fall to the ground during autumn in the Mediterranean climate of south-western Australia. Seeds are wind- dispersed, settling downward from the parent tree: 90% of seed falls within the first year. There is large variation in annual recruitment of seedlings, reflecting large annual differences in the number of infructescences produced. Fires of various intensities or logging do not enhance recruitment. Seedling mortality is greatest during the first summer after germination; this may be related to the rudimentary development of the lignotuber. A population of 1890 individually marked plants was studied for 3.5 years. Over twice as many deaths took place in summer and autumn as in winter and spring, and 90% of deaths were of plants less than 20 cm tall. At the conclusion of the study, total population size, through recruitment of three cohorts of seedlings, had increased by 7%. This indicates how important control of reproduction would be in achieving long-term reduction in the abundance of B. grandis, which harbours the pathogenic fungus Phytophthora cinnamomi.

Forests ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (10) ◽  
pp. 1101
Author(s):  
William A. Dunstan ◽  
Kay Howard ◽  
Andrew Grigg ◽  
Christopher Shaw ◽  
Treena I. Burgess ◽  
...  

While eradication from haul roads was achieved, more work is required to eradicate P. cinnamomi from stockpiles and bunds. We can now implement different management strategies to the construction of bunds and stockpiles to facilitate eradication. Infestation by Phytophthora cinnamomi results in large financial and management constraints to environmental managers. This pathogen was considered impossible to eradicate until recent success with treatments including host removal, herbicide and fungicide application, soil fumigation and physical root barriers. We investigated the most benign of these treatments; keeping the area devoid of living host material. In a Western Australian mine site within a Mediterranean climate, haul roads, stockpiles and roadside bunds had P. cinnamomi colonised Pinus stem plugs buried at multiple depths. Over time, we examined the effects of soil moisture and temperature in different soil conditions and types to compare the recovery of the pathogen. Results: Within 12 months, the pathogen could not be recovered from the haul roads. In the stockpiles, depth produced significantly different results. In 3 of the 4 sites, the pathogen was not recovered at 10 cm after 20 months. By 12 months, at 50 cm, there was an 80% reduction in recovery, but only one stockpile had no recovery from 50 cm, which occurred by 36 months. Bunds were up to 1.75 m high and had variable results for plugs buried at 30 cm, influenced by height, the types of soils and shading. One of the smallest bunds was the only bund where the pathogen was not recoverable (by 22 months). This study provides strong support for using a fallow period to reduce or eliminate P. cinnamomi inoculum.


Crustaceana ◽  
2011 ◽  
Vol 84 (8) ◽  
pp. 905-937 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Unno ◽  
V. Semeniuk

AbstractThe previously undescribed population dynamics of the Western Australian soldier crab, Mictyris occidentalis Unno, 2008, in King Bay, north-western Australia are elucidated, with annual observations and sampling over a 30-year period from 1980 to 2010. This is the longest recorded study of a single inter-tidal brachyuran population and shows long-term persistence of soldier crab populations in stable, sheltered habitats. The life cycle of M. occidentalis follows a cryptic subsurface juvenile and immature adult (= adolescent) phase and an emergent adult phase. Population densities were generally 500 crabs/m2 for the early 1980s, late 1980s, and during the early 2000s. Maximum population densities were high in the mid 1980s (800 crabs/m2). The spatial and temporal variability in the distribution of the population was consistent over the study period. Juvenile recruitment extends for up to 7 months of a given year between May and November with the main influx of juveniles usually in June and occasional minor influxes in August or October. Juvenile recruitment is followed by incremental growth of individuals at a rate of 1 mm/month reaching sexual maturity in the first year at 6.0-6.9 mm carapace length (CL). Adult males are larger than females with a maximum size of 15.0 mm CL compared to 12.0 mm CL, respectively. Ovigerous females are low in numbers throughout most of the year but reach a peak in February. During swarming, M. occidentalis populations partition not only by size class, with surface crabs being adults only and subsurface crabs mainly adult females and juveniles, but also by sex in that swarms are male-dominated in varying ratios.


2018 ◽  
Vol 97 (3) ◽  
pp. 24-28
Author(s):  
M.R. Tumanyan ◽  
◽  
A.A. Svobodov ◽  
E.G. Levchenko ◽  
A.G. Anderson ◽  
...  

2019 ◽  
Vol 24 (4) ◽  
pp. 415-422 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bianca K. den Ottelander ◽  
Robbin de Goederen ◽  
Marie-Lise C. van Veelen ◽  
Stephanie D. C. van de Beeten ◽  
Maarten H. Lequin ◽  
...  

OBJECTIVEThe authors evaluated the long-term outcome of their treatment protocol for Muenke syndrome, which includes a single craniofacial procedure.METHODSThis was a prospective observational cohort study of Muenke syndrome patients who underwent surgery for craniosynostosis within the first year of life. Symptoms and determinants of intracranial hypertension were evaluated by longitudinal monitoring of the presence of papilledema (fundoscopy), obstructive sleep apnea (OSA; with polysomnography), cerebellar tonsillar herniation (MRI studies), ventricular size (MRI and CT studies), and skull growth (occipital frontal head circumference [OFC]). Other evaluated factors included hearing, speech, and ophthalmological outcomes.RESULTSThe study included 38 patients; 36 patients underwent fronto-supraorbital advancement. The median age at last follow-up was 13.2 years (range 1.3–24.4 years). Three patients had papilledema, which was related to ophthalmological disorders in 2 patients. Three patients had mild OSA. Three patients had a Chiari I malformation, and tonsillar descent < 5 mm was present in 6 patients. Tonsillar position was unrelated to papilledema, ventricular size, or restricted skull growth. Ten patients had ventriculomegaly, and the OFC growth curve deflected in 3 patients. Twenty-two patients had hearing loss. Refraction anomalies were diagnosed in 14/15 patients measured at ≥ 8 years of age.CONCLUSIONSPatients with Muenke syndrome treated with a single fronto-supraorbital advancement in their first year of life rarely develop signs of intracranial hypertension, in accordance with the very low prevalence of its causative factors (OSA, hydrocephalus, and restricted skull growth). This illustrates that there is no need for a routine second craniofacial procedure. Patient follow-up should focus on visual assessment and speech and hearing outcomes.


2018 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Chinweike Eseonu ◽  
Martin A Cortes

There is a culture of disengagement from social consideration in engineering disciplines. This means that first year engineering students, who arrive planning to change the world through engineering, lose this passion as they progress through the engineering curriculum. The community driven technology innovation and investment program described in this paper is an attempt to reverse this trend by fusing community engagement with the normal engineering design process. This approach differs from existing project or trip based approaches – outreach – because the focus is on local communities with which the university team forms a long-term partnership through weekly in-person meetings and community driven problem statements – engagement.


Author(s):  
Manjiri Walinjkar ◽  
P.D. Londhe ◽  
S. R. Makhare ◽  
Anil Avhad

Background: Shvitra (vitiligo) is a kind of skin disorder comprising of white coloured skin patches which is considered as a social stigma. Worldwide prevalence of Vitiligo is observed as 1% of the total population. Due to the chronic nature, long term treatment, lack of uniform effective therapy and unpredictable course the disease is usually very demoralizing for patients. Aim: To study the efficacy of ‘Dhatryadi Ghanavati’ in the management of Shvitra. Materials and Methods: Total 50 patients of Shvitra from OPD and IPD unit of Dr. M.N. Agashe Hospital, Satara were selected and provided with Dhatryadi Ghanavati 1gm B.D. for the duration of 3 months. Results: 100% relief was observed in Daha and Kandu followed by 83.33% relief was observed in Rukshata. 34.51% improvement was seen in number of patches, 34.82% in size of patches and 34.29% in percentage area involved. Color of the patches was improved by 69.01% whereas 44% improvement was seen in hair discoloration. Conclusion: The compound formulation ‘Dhatryadi Ghanavati’ was found as an effective remedy for ‘Shvitra’. The parameters like number of patches, size of patches, percentage area involved and colour of patches showed statistically highly significant results.


Author(s):  
Kristin Hartshorn ◽  
Carolyn Rovee-Collier ◽  
Peter Gerhardstein ◽  
Ramesh S. Bhatt ◽  
Teresa L. Wondoloski ◽  
...  

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-11
Author(s):  
Stefanie Bruschke ◽  
Uwe Baumann ◽  
Timo Stöver

Background: The cochlear implant (CI) is a standard procedure for the treatment of patients with severe to profound hearing loss. In the past, a standard healing period of 3–6 weeks occurred after CI surgery before the sound processor was initially activated. Advancements of surgical techniques and instruments allow an earlier initial activation of the processor within 14 days after surgery. Objective: Evaluation of the early CI device activation after CI surgery within 14 days, comparison to the first activation after 4–6 weeks, and assessment of the feasibility and safety of the early fitting over a 12 month observation period were the objectives of this study. Method: In a prospective study, 127 patients scheduled for CI surgery were divided into early fitting group (EF, n = 67) and control group (CG, n = 60). Individual questionnaires were used to evaluate medical and technical outcomes of the EF. Medical side effects, speech recognition, and follow-up effort were compared with the CG within the first year after CI surgery. Results: The early fitting was feasible in 97% of the EF patients. In the EF, the processor was activated 25 days earlier than in the CG. No major complications were observed in either group. At the follow-up appointments, side effects such as pain and balance problems occurred with comparable frequency in both groups. At initial fitting, the EF showed a significantly higher incidence of medical minor complications (p < 0.05). When developing speech recognition within the first year of CI use, no difference was observed. Furthermore, the follow-up effort within the first year after CI surgery was comparable in both groups. Conclusions: Early fitting of the sound processor is a feasible and safe procedure with comparable follow-up effort. Although more early minor complications were observed in the EF, there were no long-term wound healing problems caused by the early fitting. Regular inspection of the magnet strength is recommended as part of the CI follow-up since postoperative wound swelling must be expected. The early fitting procedure enabled a clear reduction in the waiting time between CI surgery and initial sound processor activation.


2020 ◽  
Vol 0 (0) ◽  
Author(s):  
Marc Fakhoury ◽  
Zaynab Shakkour ◽  
Firas Kobeissy ◽  
Nada Lawand

Abstract Traumatic brain injury (TBI) represents a major health concern affecting the neuropsychological health; TBI is accompanied by drastic long-term adverse complications that can influence many aspects of the life of affected individuals. A substantial number of studies have shown that mood disorders, particularly depression, are the most frequent complications encountered in individuals with TBI. Post-traumatic depression (P-TD) is present in approximately 30% of individuals with TBI, with the majority of individuals experiencing symptoms of depression during the first year following head injury. To date, the mechanisms of P-TD are far from being fully understood, and effective treatments that completely halt this condition are still lacking. The aim of this review is to outline the current state of knowledge on the prevalence and risk factors of P-TD, to discuss the accompanying brain changes at the anatomical, molecular and functional levels, and to discuss current approaches used for the treatment of P-TD.


2021 ◽  
Vol 0 (0) ◽  
Author(s):  
Enkhtsogt Sainbayar ◽  
Nathan Holt ◽  
Amber Jacobson ◽  
Shalini Bhatia ◽  
Christina Weaver

Abstract Context Some medical schools integrate STOP THE BLEED® training into their curricula to teach students how to identify and stop life threatening bleeds; these classes that are taught as single day didactic and hands-on training sessions without posttraining reviews. To improve retention and confidence in hemorrhage control, additional review opportunities are necessary. Objectives To investigate whether intermittent STOP THE BLEED® reviews were effective for long term retention of hemorrhage control skills and improving perceived confidence. Methods First year osteopathic medical students were asked to complete an eight item survey (five Likert scale and three quiz format questions) before (pretraining) and after (posttraining) completing a STOP THE BLEED® training session. After the surveys were collected, students were randomly assigned to one of two study groups. Over a 12 week intervention period, each group watched a 4 min STOP THE BLEED® review video (intervention group) or a “distractor” video (control group) at 4 week intervals. After the 12 weeks, the students were asked to complete an 11 item survey. Results Scores on the posttraining survey were higher than the pretraining survey. The median score on the five Likert scale items was 23 points for the posttraining survey and 14 points for the pretraining survey. Two of the three knowledge based quiz format questions significantly improved from pretraining to posttraining (both p<0.001). On the 11 item postintervention survey, both groups performed similarly on the three quiz questions (all p>0.18), but the intervention group had much higher scores on the Likert scale items than the control group regarding their confidence in their ability to identify and control bleeding (intervention group median = 21.4 points vs. control group median = 16.8 points). Conclusions Intermittent review videos for STOP THE BLEED® training improved medical students’ confidence in their hemorrhage control skills, but the videos did not improve their ability to correctly answer quiz-format questions compared with the control group.


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