bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
HHV-8-negative, idiopathic multicentric Castleman disease: novel insights into biology, pathogenesis, and therapy
Authors: Fajgenbaum David C. , van Rhee Frits , Nabel Christopher S.
Published: March 2014

Multicentric Castleman's disease (MCD) describes a heterogeneous group of disorders involving proliferation of morphologically benign lymphocytes due to excessive proinflammatory hypercytokinemia, most notably of interleukin-6. Patients demonstrate intense episodes of systemic inflammatory symptoms, polyclonal lymphocyte and plasma cell proliferation, autoimmune manifestations, and organ system impairment. Human herpes virus-8 (HHV-8) drives the hypercytokinemia in all HIV-positive patients and some HIV-negative patients. There is also a group of HIV-negative and HHV-8-negative patients with unknown etiology and pathophysiology, which we propose referring to as idiopathic MCD (iMCD). Here, we synthesize what is known about iMCD pathogenesis, present a new subclassification system, and propose a model of iMCD pathogenesis. MCD should be subdivided into HHV-8-associated MCD and HHV-8-negative MCD or iMCD. The lymphocyte proliferation, histopathology, and systemic features in iMCD are secondary to hypercytokinemia, which can occur with several other diseases. We propose that 1 or more of the following 3 candidate processes may drive iMCD hypercytokinemia: systemic inflammatory disease mechanisms via autoantibodies or inflammatory gene mutations, paraneoplastic syndrome mechanisms via ectopic cytokine secretion, and/or a non-HHV-8 virus. Urgent priorities include elucidating the process driving iMCD hypercytokinemia, identifying the hypercytokine-secreting cell, developing consensus criteria for diagnosis, and building a patient registry to track cases.
The impact of a weight reduction program with and without meal-replacement on health related quality of life in middle-aged obese females
Authors: Koohkan Sadaf , Schaffner Denise , Milliron Brandy J , Frey Ingrid , König Daniel , Deibert Peter , Vitolins Mara , Berg Aloys
Published: March 2014

Background

In addition to an increased risk for chronic illnesses, obese individuals suffer from social stigmatization and discrimination, and severely obese people may experience greater risk of impaired psychosocial and physical functioning. Lower health-related quality of life (HRQOL) has been reported among obese persons seeking intensive treatment for their disease. To aid in the treatment of obesity, meal replacements have been recommended as an effective therapeutic strategy for weight loss, particularly when consumed in the beginning of an intervention. Hence, the objective of this study was to assess the impact of two 12-month weight reduction interventions (one arm including a meal replacement) on changes in HRQOL among obese females.

Methods

This controlled trial compared two versions of a standardized 12-month weight reduction intervention: the weight-reduction lifestyle program without a meal replacement (LS) versus the same lifestyle program with the addition of a soy-based meal replacement product (LSMR). 380 women (LS: n = 190, LSMR: n = 190) were matched by age, gender, and weight (51.4 ± 7.0 yrs., 35.5 ± 3.03 kg/m2). This sample of women all completed the 12-month lifestyle intervention that was part of a larger study. The lifestyle intervention included instruction on exercise/sport, psychology, nutrition, and medicine in 18 theoretical and 40 practical units. Led by a sport physiologist, participants engaged in group-based exercise sessions once or twice a week. To evaluate HRQOL, all participants completed the SF-36 questionnaire pre- and post-intervention. Anthropometric, clinical, physical performance (ergometric stress tests), and self-reported leisure time physical activity (hours/day) data were collected.

Results

The LSMR sample showed lower baseline HRQOL scores compared to the LS sample in six of eight HRQOL dimensions, most significant in vitality and health perception (p < 0.01). After the intervention, body weight was reduced in both lifestyle intervention groups (LS: -6.6±6.6 vs. LSMR -7.6±7.9 kg), however, weight loss and HRQOL improvements were more pronounced in the LSMR sample (LSMR: seven of eight, LS: four of eight dimensions).

Conclusions

Our results show that HRQOL may improve among middle-aged obese females during a standardized lifestyle weight reduction program and may be enhanced by consuming a soy-based meal replacement product.

Trial registration

ClinicalTrials.gov NCT00356785
Village health volunteers’ social capital related to their performance in Lao People’s Democratic Republic: a cross-sectional study
Authors: Sato Yu , Pongvongsa Tiengkham , Nonaka Daisuke , Kounnavong Sengchanh , Nansounthavong Phetsomphone , Moji Kazuhiko , Phongmany Panom , Kamiya Yasuhiko , Sato Miho , Kobayashi Jun
Published: March 2014

Background

Improving the performance of community health workers (CHWs) is a global issue. The relationship between CHWs and their community may impact their performance. In Lao People’s Democratic Republic (Lao PDR), CHW are called village health volunteers (VHV). Lao PDR has a problem with VHV inactivity, especially in rural areas. This study focused on which aspects of social capital are related to VHV performance.

Methods

This research represents a cross-sectional study with a quantitative survey based primarily on interviews using a semi-structured questionnaire. Interviews were conducted with 149 VHVs living and working in the Sepon District. VHV performance evaluation was measured with scores on a 5-point scale, and the cutoff point for designating performance as good or poor was set at the median score. This evaluation of VHV performance was conducted as a self-evaluation by VHVs and by health center staff who were supervisors of the VHVs. Measurement of social capital was accomplished using the short version of the Adapted Social Capital Assessment Tool (SASCAT). For statistical analyses, logistic regression was used to calculate adjusted odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI).

Results

The results of multiple logistic regression adjusted by moderator variables showed that citizenship activities in the structural social capital component of SASCAT were significantly related to performance in self-evaluation by VHVs (adjusted OR: 2.10, 95% CI: 1.19-3.71) and the evaluations by health center staff (adjusted OR: 1.67, 95% CI: 1.01-2.77). Support from groups (adjusted OR: 1.87, 95% CI: 1.27-2.76) and cognitive social capital (adjusted OR: 7.48, 95% CI: 2.14-26.10) were found to be significantly associated but only for VHV self-evaluation.

Conclusions

The results suggest that individuals who interact with important figures in the community and who cooperate with other villagers whenever problems arise, i.e., have social capital, exhibit good performance as VHVs. These findings suggest that increasing citizenship activities could increase the retention rate of CHWs and help improve their performance. Citizenship activities could also be used as a predictive indicator when selecting new CHWs.
Voltage-Gated Sodium Channel Expression in Mouse DRG after SNI Leads to Re-Evaluation of Projections of Injured Fibers
Authors: Laedermann Cédric J , Pertin Marie , Suter Marc R , Decosterd Isabelle
Published: March 2014

Background:

Dysregulation of voltage-gated sodium channels (Navs) is believed to play a major role in nerve fiber hyperexcitability associated with neuropathic pain. A complete transcriptional characterization of the different isoforms of Navs under normal and pathological conditions had never been performed on mice, despite their widespread use in pain research. Navs mRNA levels in mouse dorsal root ganglia (DRG) were studied in the spared nerve injury (SNI) and spinal nerve ligation (SNL) models of neuropathic pain. In the SNI model, injured and non-injured neurons were intermingled in lumbar DRG, which were pooled to increase the tissue available for experiments.

Results:

A strong downregulation was observed for every Navs isoform expressed except for Nav1.2; even Nav1.3, known to be upregulated in rat neuropathic pain models, was lower in the SNI mouse model. This suggests differences between these two species. In the SNL model, where the cell bodies of injured and non-injured fibers are anatomically separated between different DRG, most Navs were observed to be downregulated in the L5 DRG receiving axotomized fibers. Transcription was then investigated independently in the L3, L4 and L5 DRG in the SNI model, and an important downregulation of many Navs isoforms was observed in the L3 DRG, suggesting the presence of numerous injured neurons there after SNI. Consequently, the proportion of axotomized neurons in the L3, L4 and L5 DRG after SNI was characterized by studying the expression of activating transcription factor 3 (ATF3). Using this marker of nerve injury confirmed that most injured fibers find their cell bodies in the L3 and L4 DRG after SNI in C57BL/6 J mice; this contrasts with their L4 and L5 DRG localization in rats. The spared sural nerve, through which pain hypersensitivity is measured in behavioral studies, mostly projects into the L4 and L5 DRG.

Conclusions:

The complex regulation of Navs, together with the anatomical rostral shift of the DRG harboring injured fibers in C57BL/6 J mice, emphasize that caution is necessary and preliminary anatomical experiments should be carried out for gene and protein expression studies after SNI in mouse strains.
An explicit time evolution method for acoustic wave propagation
Authors: Liu Huafeng , Dai Nanxun , Niu Fenglin , Wu Wei
Published: March 2014

Cost-effective waveform modeling is the key to practical reverse time migration (RTM) and full-waveform inversion (FWI) implementations. We evaluated an explicit time evolution (ETE) method to efficiently simulate wave propagation in acoustic media with high temporal accuracy. We started from the constant-density acoustic wave equation and obtained an analytical time-marching scheme in the wavenumber domain. We then formulated an ETE scheme in the time-space domain by introducing a cosine function approximation. Although the ETE operator appears to be similar to the second-order temporal finite-difference (FD) operator, the exact nature of the ETE formula ensures high accuracy in time. We further introduced a set of optimum stencils and coefficients by minimizing evolution errors in a least-squares sense. Our numerical tests indicated that ETE can achieve similar waveform accuracy as FD with four times larger time steps. Meanwhile, the compact ETE operator keeps the computation efficient. The efficiency and capability to handle complex velocity field make ETE an attractive engine in acoustic RTM and FWI.
The automatic determination of the location, depth, and dip of contacts from aeromagnetic data
Authors: Cooper Gordon R. J.
Published: March 2014

A simple new method (termed the contact-depth method) for the determination of the depth, location, and dip of contacts from pole reduced magnetic data was evaluated. The depth was obtained by computing the horizontal derivative of the tangent of the tilt angle of the magnetic field over the contact. Although it is based upon the tilt-depth method, it does not require the distance between contour lines to be measured, and it additionally allows the dip of the contact to be estimated from the gradient of the depth estimates. The horizontal location of the contact is that of the zero value of the tilt angle. The method uses second- and third-order derivatives of the magnetic field to obtain the parameters of the contact, so it is sensitive to noise. When tested on synthetic data and on aeromagnetic data from southern Africa, the method gave plausible results.
A semiautomatic method to tie well logs to seismic data
Authors: Herrera Roberto H. , van der Baan Mirko
Published: March 2014

We evaluated a semiautomatic method for well-to-seismic tying to improve correlation results and reproducibility of the procedure. In the manual procedure, the interpreter first creates a synthetic trace from edited well logs, determines the most appropriate bulk time shift and polarity, and then applies a minimum amount of stretching and squeezing to best match the observed data. The last step resembles a visual pattern recognition task, which often requires some experience. We replaced the last step with a constrained dynamic time-warping technique, to help guide the interpreter. The method automatically determined the appropriate amount of local stretching and squeezing to produce the highest correlation between the original data and the created synthetic trace. The constraint ensured that stretching and squeezing were kept within reasonable bounds, as determined by the interpreter. Results compared well with the manual method, leading to ties along the entire trace length in contrast to the shorter analysis window in the conventional method. Yet, we advise against unsupervised applications because the method is intended as a guide instead of a fully automated blind approach.
Is it optimal to tow air guns shallow to enhance low frequencies?
Authors: Landrø Martin , Amundsen Lasse
Published: March 2014

In marine seismic acquisition, it used to be commonly accepted that it is optimal to tow the source deep to enhance the low-frequency content in the seismic data. However, Mayne and Quay found in 1971 that the low-frequency response of air guns actually improves as the source depth decreases. We evaluated a simple ad hoc theory that demonstrates that two effects are counteracting each other: The free-surface effect favors deep-towed sources, whereas the bubble time period (increasing with decreasing source depth) favors shallower tow depths. From a fjord test, we found that combining several source depths in an air gun array might flatten and improve the low-frequency part of the source spectrum. The experiment confirms that various source depths result in local, characteristic maxima in the low-frequency spectrum, corresponding to the bubble time period of the air gun.
Integrated seismic and gravimetric model of Jocolí Basin, Argentina
Authors: Martinez Patricia , Gimenez Mario , Folguera Andres , Lince Klinger Federico
Published: March 2014

Gravity measurements and reinterpretations of previously released seismic lines were made, focusing on the provincial border between neighboring provinces San Juan and Mendoza. A Bouguer anomaly map was obtained after the processing of gravimetric data, which were previously filtered, to obtain the Bouguer residual anomalies used for studying the geologic structures located on the upper crust. The analysis of these Bouguer residual anomalies allowed identification of the Jocolí Basin in a foreland position within a triangle zone at the boundary of the Precordillera fold-and-thrust belt with the Sierras Pampeanas thick-skinned foreland province. The seismic images allowed interpretation of three horizons: Paleozoic, Triassic, and Tertiary-Quaternary ages. The authors have reinterpreted the seismic and well data and reconstructed gravity models for the area under study aiming at unraveling the deep structure of the region and identifying features with potential for oil and gas exploration.
Glottal opening and closing events investigated by electroglottography and super-high-speed video recordings
Authors: Herbst Christian T. , Lohscheller Jörg , Švec Jan G. , Henrich Nathalie , Weissengruber Gerald , Fitch W. Tecumseh
Published: March 2014

Previous research has suggested that the peaks in the first derivative (dEGG) of the electroglottographic (EGG) signal are good approximate indicators of the events of glottal opening and closing. These findings were based on high-speed video (HSV) recordings with frame rates 10 times lower than the sampling frequencies of the corresponding EGG data. The present study attempts to corroborate these previous findings, utilizing super-HSV recordings. The HSV and EGG recordings (sampled at 27 and 44 kHz, respectively) of an excised canine larynx phonation were synchronized by an external TTL signal to within 0.037 ms. Data were analyzed by means of glottovibrograms, digital kymograms, the glottal area waveform and the vocal fold contact length (VFCL), a new parameter representing the time-varying degree of ‘zippering’ closure along the anterior–posterior (A–P) glottal axis. The temporal offsets between glottal events (depicted in the HSV recordings) and dEGG peaks in the opening and closing phase of glottal vibration ranged from 0.02 to 0.61 ms, amounting to 0.24–10.88% of the respective glottal cycle durations. All dEGG double peaks coincided with vibratory A–P phase differences. In two out of the three analyzed video sequences, peaks in the first derivative of the VFCL coincided with dEGG peaks, again co-occurring with A–P phase differences. The findings suggest that dEGG peaks do not always coincide with the events of glottal closure and initial opening. Vocal fold contacting and de-contacting do not occur at infinitesimally small instants of time, but extend over a certain interval, particularly under the influence of A–P phase differences.
Noncovalent Functionalization of Graphene with Spiropyran Molecular Switches via a Specially Designed Perylenediimide Adsorption Anchor
Authors: Song Yawei , He Jingwen , Peng Chang , Hu Ding , Ou Encai , Li Yefei , Peng Hua , Bao Lin , Shu Chen , Gao Tao , Xu Weijian
Published: March 2014

A spiropyran derivative, which is a well-known photochromic molecule, is attached noncovalently to graphene via a specially designed perylenediimide adsorption anchor group. To explore the feasibility of functionalization, several characterizations were used to prove the π–π interaction between graphene and spiropyran–perylenediimide. This facile and effective noncovalent functionalization strategy provides a new way of introducing various functional molecules to graphene without disturbing its electronic network. The graphene hybrid shows excellent switching ability after modification with spiropyran derivative; furthermore, the switching performance is stable over many cycles. This hybrid has potential application in optical electronic devices and sensors.
From Divergence to Convergence: Reevaluating the History Behind China's Economic Boom
Authors: Brandt Loren , Ma Debin , Rawski Thomas G.
Published: March 2014

China's long-term economic dynamics pose a formidable challenge to economic historians. The Qing Empire (1644–1911), the world's largest national economy before 1800, experienced a tripling of population during the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries with no signs of diminishing per capita income. While the timing remains in dispute, a vast gap emerged between newly rich industrial nations and China's lagging economy in the wake of the Industrial Revolution. Only with an unprecedented growth spurt beginning in the late 1970s did this great divergence separating China from the global leaders substantially diminish, allowing China to regain its former standing among the world's largest economies. This essay develops an integrated framework for understanding that entire history, including both the divergence and the recent convergent trend. We explain how deeply embedded political and economic institutions that contributed to a long process of extensive growth before 1800 subsequently prevented China from capturing the benefits associated with the Industrial Revolution. During the twentieth century, the gradual erosion of these historic constraints and of new obstacles erected by socialist planning eventually opened the door to China's current boom. Our analysis links China's recent development to important elements of its past, while using recent success to provide fresh perspectives on the critical obstacles undermining earlier modernization efforts, and their eventual removal. (JEL N15, N45, O11, O47, P21, P24, P26)
Methods of adaptation of the OpenTS parallel programming system runtime for the hybrid computing clusters.
Authors: Осипов Валерий , Osipov Valeriy , Матвеев Герман , Matveev German , Кузнецов Антон , Kuznetsov Anton , Роганов Владимир , Roganov Vladimir
Published: March 2014

Methods of adaptation of the OpenTS parallel programming system

runtime for the hybrid computing clusters.
Using parallel Batcher sort in Active Storage System
Authors: Тютляева Екатерина , Tyutlyaeva Ekaterina
Published: March 2014

This paper describes a modified parallel Batcher sort algorithm for big data processing. The main novelty of implemented sort algorithm is to integrate effective parallel batcher sort and Active Storage concept. We use Active Storage based on Lustre File System and TSim C++ template library for parallelization. This paper presents experimental testing results for scientific processing real seismic data. Presented results indicate that described algorithm can reach linear acceleration on sorting big data sets (More then 100 Gb).
An Integer-Programming-Based Approach to the Close-Enough Traveling Salesman Problem
Authors: Behdani Behnam , Smith J. Cole
Published: March 2014

We address a variant of the Euclidean traveling salesman problem known as the close-enough traveling salesman problem (CETSP), where the traveler visits a node if it enters a compact neighborhood set of that node. We formulate a mixed-integer programming model based on a discretization scheme for the problem. Both lower and upper bounds on the optimal CETSP tour length can be derived from the solution of this model, and the quality of the bounds obtained depends on the granularity of the discretization scheme. Our approach first develops valid inequalities that enhance the bound and solvability of this formulation. We then provide two alternative formulations, one that yields an improved lower bound on the optimal CETSP tour length, and one that greatly improves the solvability of the original formulation by recasting it as a two-stage problem amenable to decomposition. Computational results demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed methods.
A Degradation-Informed Battery-Swapping Policy for Fleets of Electric or Hybrid-Electric Vehicles
Authors: Almuhtady Ahmad , Lee Seungchul , Romeijn Edwin , Wynblatt Michael , Ni Jun
Published: March 2014

Motivated by high oil prices, several large fleet companies initiated future plans to hybridize their fleets to establish immunity of their optimized business models against severe oil price fluctuations, and adhere to increasing awareness of environmentally friendly solutions. The hybridization projects increased maintenance costs especially for costly and degradable components such as Li-ion batteries. This paper introduces a degradation-based resource allocation policy to optimally utilize batteries on fleet level. The policy, denoted as degradation-based swapping optimization, incorporates optimal implementation of swapping and substitution actions throughout a plan of finite-time horizon to minimize projected maintenance costs. The swapping action refers to the interchange in the placement of two batteries within a fleet. The substitution action refers to the replacement of degraded batteries with new ones. The policy takes advantage of the different degradation rates of the state of health of the batteries because of different loading conditions, achieving optimal placement at different time intervals throughout the plan horizon. A mathematical model for the policy is provided. The optimization of the generated model is studied through several algorithms. Numerical results for sample problems are obtained to illustrate the capability of the proposed policy in establishing substantial savings in the projected maintenance costs compared to other policies.
Weekly and 90-Minute Biological Variations in Cardiac Troponin T and Cardiac Troponin I in Hemodialysis Patients and Healthy Controls
Authors: Aakre Kristin M , Røraas Thomas , Petersen Per Hyltoft , Svarstad Einar , Sellevoll Hilde , Skadberg Øyvind , Sæle Kristin , Sandberg Sverre
Published: March 2014

BACKGROUND

Myocardial infarction (MI) is diagnosed by the finding of a single cardiac troponin value above the 99th percentile and a significant time-dependent change in cardiac troponin concentration. The aim of this study was to determine the 90-min and weekly biological variations, the reference change value (RCV), and the index of individuality (II) of high-sensitivity cardiac troponin T (hs-cTnT) (Roche Diagnostics) and hs-cTnI (Abbott Diagnostics) in patients receiving hemodialysis (HD) and in healthy individuals.

METHOD

Blood samples were collected from 19 HD patients (on an HD-free day) and 20 healthy individuals at 90-min intervals over a 6-h period (between 08:30 and 14:30) and before the midweek HD treatment for 10 weeks. The within-person variation (CVi), between-person variation, RCV, and II were calculated.

RESULTS

During the 6-h sampling period, the concentrations of hs-cTnT (both groups) and hs-cTnI (HD patients only) decreased on average by 0.8% to 1.7% per hour, respectively. These declining trends were included in the calculation of a 90-min asymmetric RCV: −8%/+5% in HD patients (hs-cTnT), −18%/+21% in HD patients (hs-cTnI), −27%/+29% in healthy individuals (hs-cTnT), and −39%/+64% in healthy individuals (hs-cTnI). The II was low in both groups for both assays. The weekly CVi values were approximately 8% (hs-cTnT) and 15% (hs-cTnI) in both groups.

CONCLUSIONS

When using a cardiac troponin change of 20%–50% to diagnose an MI, the false-positive rate is likely to be lower for the hs-cTnT assay than for the hs-cTnI assay. The low II suggests that use of a diagnostic cutoff value can be omitted.
Adolescentes y tecnologías de la información y la comunicación en España
Authors: Martínez Gras Rodolfo , Espinar Ruiz Eva
Published: March 2014

El objetivo fundamental de este artículo es analizar la relación entre las tecnologías de la información y la comunicación (TIC) y los adolescentes españoles. Concretamente, se estudia, a través de metodología cualitativa, los usos que hacen los adolescentes de los dispositivos tecnológicos, así como el acceso a los mismos. Por otra parte, también se analizan las finalidades por las cuales utilizan las tecnologías de la información y la comunicación, destacando su íntima relación con la comunicación entre iguales y el entretenimiento, mientras se observa una infrautilización de las tecnologías para el proceso de enseñanza y aprendizaje.
Cherry leaf roll virus – an emerging virus in Finland?
Authors: Bargen Susanne , Grubits Elise , Jalkanen Risto , Büttner Carmen
Published: March 2014

Cherry leaf roll virus, CLRV, is a plant pathogen that infects a variety of deciduous trees and shrubs in temperate regions. Little is known about its occurrence at high latitudes and especially in Finnish birch species. Still, symptoms that seemed to be associated with CLRV such as vein banding, leaf roll and decline have been observed in birch trees throughout the country since the summer of 2002. Six different birch species, subspecies or varieties, i.e. Betula pubescens subsp. pubescens (downy birch), B. pendula (silver birch), B. nana (dwarf birch), B. pubescens var. appressa (KiilopÃ¤Ã¤ birch), B. pubescens subsp. czerepanovii (mountain birch) and B. pendula var. carelica (curly birch) originating from all over Finland were assessed by immunocapture-reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (IC-RT-PCR) for CLRV infection. It was shown that CLRV is widely distributed in B. pendula and B. pubescens throughout the country. Furthermore, dwarf birch, mountain birch, KiilopÃ¤Ã¤ birch and curly birch were confirmed to be previously unkown hosts of CLRV. Genetic analysis of virus sequence variants originating from Finnish birch trees revealed atypical phylogenetic relationships. In contrast to CLRV isolates from birches growing in the United Kingdom and Germany which clustered exclusively within group A, Finnish CLRV isolates belonged either to group B, D or E. Thus, virus population structure in Finnish birches seems to be more variable and host plant dependency seems not to apply for Finnish CLRV isolates.
Community-level physiological profiling in monitoring rehabilitative effects of Acacia auriculiformis plantation on degraded land in Sakaerat, Thailand
Authors: Doi Ryoichi , Ranamukhaarachchi Senaratne
Published: March 2014

This study was conducted to investigate the rehabilitative effects of planting Acacia auriculiformis trees on degraded land by observing variations in soil bacterial community profiles provided by community-level physiological profiling. Soil bacterial and physicochemical comparisons between an original evergreen forest and the Acacia plantation plot, established on an area severely degraded as a result of deforestation, showed that most soil characteristics were rehabilitated 18 to 19 years after the plantation of Acacia according to single variables, Shannon and Simpson diversity indices based on the community-level physiological profiles, principal component analysis and redundancy analysis. However, a more strict statistical comparison, discriminant analysis, completely discriminated between the Acacia plantation and the evergreen forest soils when the community-level physiological profiles were compared. Thus, the Acacia plantation soil was shown to still be in the process to full recovery. Here, we discuss the relevance of planting A. auriculiformis in land rehabilitation schemes in savanna regions.
Stand structure and spatial pattern of regeneration of Pinus sylvestris in a natural treed mire in Latvia
Authors: Brumelis Guntis , Strazds Maris , Eglava Zanna
Published: March 2014

We examined the regeneration patterns of Pinus sylvestris L. in a natural treed mire in the hemiboreal zone in Latvia. Data on tree stem age and size was collected in 207 fine-scale plots (10 m) and 4 medium-scale plots (400 m). Size structure of living and dead trees was also estimated on transects 180-m and 250-m length and 10-m width. In addition, the vegetation was described in 1-m plots to determine preferred microsites for P. sylvestris establishment. Pinus sylvestris showed continuous regeneration by an inverse J-shaped age and size structure. Pulses of mortality induced by fire were also evident. Regeneration of P. sylvestris was mostly on Sphagnum magellanicam Brid. hummocks free of competition from Ledum palustre L. and graminoids, which were found in small interspersed patches throughout the mire. The spatial pattern of tree cohorts differed, probably due to changing moisture conditions altering seedbed conditions and by fire-induced mortality in specific areas. Recent rapid invasion by Betula pubescens Ehrh. and Picea abies (L.) Karst. in a post-fire period since 1971 is probably associated with drier conditions.222
The transformation of a Norway spruce dominated landscape since pre-industrial times in northern Sweden: the influence of modern forest management on forest structure
Authors: Hellberg Erik , Josefsson Torbjörn , Östlund Lars
Published: March 2014

Logging history and the study of reference conditions in Scandinavian boreal forests has tended to focus on Scots pine dominated ecosystems. This paper presents a regional study of pre-industrial forest conditions and examines the effects of the industrial exploitation of ecosystems dominated by Norway spruce in northern Sweden. Historical records covering a period which preceded industrial logging in the study area (1917â1927) were used to obtain quantitative data on forest structure and influence of forest fires. These data were compared with a modern data set (2003) to analyse changes due to the industrial transformation of the forest. The early 20th century landscape was dominated by old, multi-cohorted spruce forests and mixed coniferous forests. It was found that fire affected both the structure and composition of the landscape. In post-burnt areas, even-aged forests dominated by deciduous species were the principal forest type. Between the early and modern data sets, profound changes in tree-species composition and age structure were documented. While the total volume of deciduous species increased substantially, the coverage of forests dominated by deciduous species decreased. There was also a significant increase in pine-dominated forests and in the total volume of pine. The industrial transformation of the studied landscapes has had profound effects on the structure of spruce forests, but much less so on deciduous forests. The study concludes that the present forest structure is a function of past management regimes, and that future transformations of the landscape will continue, thus affecting the natural variability and biodiversity of the forests.
Ground-based estimation of leaf area index and vertical distribution of leaf area density in a Betula ermanii forest
Authors: Sumida Akihiro , Nakai Taro , Yamada Masahito , Ono Kiyomi , Uemura Shigeru , Hara Toshihiko
Published: March 2014

We developed a ground-based method for estimating leaf area index (LAI) and vertical distribution of leaf area density (LAD) for two Betula ermanii plots, combining an allometric method for tree leaf area with the MacArthurâHorn (MH) method using a portable laser rangefinder, including a correction for changes in leaf inclination angle along the vertical gradient measured with a portable digital protractor from a canopy access tower in each plot. Vertical distribution of projected leaf area density obtained by the MH method (LADMH) was transformed to relative distribution for allotting fixed LAI to different heights. Hence, we first developed an allometric method for estimating tree leaf area for LAI determination. Trunk cross-sectional area at branching height (AB) was accurately estimated (r = 0.97) from ground-based measurements of tree dimensions. We used this method to apply pipe model allometry between tree leaf area and AB, and estimated LAI (4.56 and 4.57 m m). We then examined how leaf inclination angle affected estimation of the vertical distribution of actual LAD. Leaf inclination angle measurements revealed that actual LAD in the upper canopy was 1.5â1.8-times higher than LADMH, because of steep leaf inclination, while the correction factor was 1.15â1.25 in the lower canopy. Due to the difference among heights, vertical distribution of LAD estimated with correction for vertical change in leaf inclination was more skewed to the upper canopy than that without correction. We also showed that error in LAD distribution can result if horizontal canopy heterogeneity is neglected when applying the MH method.22â2
Optimal management of Pinus radiata silvopastoral systems established on abandoned agricultural land in Galicia (north-western Spain)
Authors: Pasalodos-Tato María , Pukkala Timo , Rigueiro-Rodríguez Antonio , Fernández-Nunez Esther , Mosquera-Losada María
Published: March 2014

Timber production has been the main objective in forest production in Galicia for a long time. Nevertheless, factors such as fire risk and the need to obtain non-timber benefits make other production alternatives like silvopastoral systems worth of consideration. Integration of grazing in the production system not only diversifies products and benefits, but also decreases fire risk by enhancing fuel control. Nonetheless, few studies have examined the economic profitability of these systems. This article analyses the economics of silvopastoral systems established on abandoned agricultural soils afforested with Pinus radiata D. Don. Different tree planting densities, discounting rates, grass values and fire risk scenarios were analysed. The technique employed is based on the combination of an optimization algorithm and a simulator of stand growth and grass yield. The most profitable schedules were obtained with initial stand densities of 1500 trees per hectare. However, with high unit values of pasture production (high value of grass), schedules with an initial stand density of 500 trees per hectare were the most profitable. When the risk of fire was included in the analyses, silvopastoral systems were always more profitable than timber production systems. With an assumption that grazing reduces fire risk thinnings should be done earlier and heavier to reduce the expected losses due to fire and to promote grass production. This lengthens the pasture period. In general, rotation lengt
Applying the activity-based costing to cut-to-length timber harvesting and trucking
Authors: Nurminen Tuomo , Korpunen Heikki , Uusitalo Jori
Published: March 2014

The supply chain of the forest industry has increasingly been adjusted to the customerâs needs for precision and quality. This has changed the operative environment both in the forest and on the roads. As the total removal of timber is increasingly divided into more log assortments, the lot size of each assortment decreases and the time consumed in sorting the logs increases. In this respect, the extra assortments have made harvesting work more difficult and affected the productivity of both cutting and forest transport; this has thus increased the harvesting costs. An activity-based cost (ABC) management system is introduced for timber harvesting and long-distance transport, based on the cut-to-length (CTL) method, in which the logistic costs are assigned to timber assortments and lots. Supplying timber is divided into three main processes: cutting, forest transport, and long-distance transportation. An ABC system was formulated separately for each of these main operations. Costs were traced to individual stands and to timber assortment lots from a stand. The cost object of the system is thus a lot of timber that makes up one assortment that has been cut, forwarded, and transported from the forest to the mill. Application of the ABC principle to timber harvesting and trucking was found to be relatively easy. The method developed gives estimates that are realistic to actual figures paid to contractors. The foremost use for this type of costing method should be as a tool to calculate the efficiency of an individual activity or of the whole logistic system.
Variation in mass-loss rate of foliar litter in relation to climate and litter quality in Eurasian forests: differences among functional groups of litter
Authors: Kang Hongzhang , Berg Björn , Liu Chunjiang , Westman Carl
Published: March 2014

With a data set of litter decomposition collected by means of literature survey, our objectives are 1) to determine the differences in the variation in the first-year mass loss (%) of leaf litter with regard to climate and litter quality among different functional groups of tree species in Eurasian forests, and 2) to determine the difference in effect of mean annual temperature (Â°C), annual precipitation (dm), as well as concentration of nitrogen (%), and lignin (%) on first-year mass loss over a wide range in climate and litter quality. The main results are as follows. 1) The significant differences between litter types in the relationships between first-year mass loss and climatic factors plus litter quality revealed clearly different decomposition patterns over the continent. Thus, differences were found between coniferous and broadleaf litter, between deciduous broadleaf and evergreen broadleaf as well as between genera and even within a genus, viz. between deciduous and evergreen Quercus. 2) With a change in a relative unit of climate and litter quality variables, there were clear differences in effects of mean annual temperature, annual precipitation, and nitrogen on first-year mass loss for different functional groups of trees. 3) We identified some broadleaf litter species that decomposed to 100% in one year and thus did not contribute to carbon sequestration in a humus layer. Thus, the variation in pattern of foliar litter decomposition with climate and litter quality across functional groups in Eurasian forests showed different decomposition strategies for litter of different groups and genera.
Modelling the abundance and temporal variation in the production of bilberry (Vaccinium myrtillus L.) in Finnish mineral soil forests
Authors: Miina Jari , Hotanen Juha-Pekka , Salo Kauko
Published: March 2014

Empirical models for the abundance and berry yield of V. myrtillus were constructed using generalized linear mixed model (GLMM) techniques. The percentage coverage of bilberry was predicted as a function of site and stand characteristics using the permanent sample plots of the National Forest Inventory (NFI) in 1995. The number of bilberries was predicted as a function of percentage coverage and stand characteristics using a sub-sample of the NFI plots in North Karelia. The between-year variation in the bilberry yield was analysed using the permanent experimental plots (MASI) established in different areas of Finland and measured in 2001â2007. The highest coverage of bilberry was found on mesic heath sites; on sub-xeric and herb-rich heath sites the values were 62% of that for mesic sites. The decreasing effect of deciduous trees (compared to spruce) was significant only on herb-rich heath sites. The coverage increased along with stand development up to certain stand ages and basal areas. The bilberry yields were higher in pine-dominated stands than in spruce-dominated ones. In spruce stands, the coverage of bilberry and stand basal area significantly affected the number of berries, whereas in pine stands only the coverage was a significant predictor. In the MASI data, the bilberry yield of pine stands was two times higher than that of spruce stands; however, the between-year variation in bilberry yield was higher in the spruce than in the pine stands. The estimated models were used to predict the bilberry coverage and yield along with stand development. On mesic heath sites in southern Finland (1200 dd.), the predicted annual yield of bilberry was about 25 kg ha (95% confidence interval 9â73 kg ha) in a mature pine stand and about 10 kg ha (3â35 kg ha) in a mature spruce stand. The models can be included in stand simulators, where they would facilitate the prediction of bilberry abundance and yields for silvicultural and forest planning purposes.â1â1â1â1
Changes in landscape-scale habitat selection of capercaillie (Tetrao urogallus) in managed north-boreal forest
Authors: Miettinen Janne , Helle Pekka , Nikula Ari , Niemelä Pekka
Published: March 2014

We studied changes in habitat selection of capercaillie in northern Finnish boreal forests at two spatial scales during two time periods, 1989â1992 and 2000â2003. We studied capercaillie densities and their changes between the study periods in relation to the landscape class proportions within 3-km buffer zones around the wildlife triangle center points. Furthermore, we compared the landscape class proportions in 800-meter buffer zones around capercaillie wildlife triangle count observations and around the counted wildlife triangle transects using t-tests and compositional analysis. At the local population scale (3 km) the change in adult density between the study periods was associated positively with the proportion of young thinning stands in 2003 and reversely with the mature stand (1992 and 2003) and clear-cut (1992) proportions. Capercaillie juvenile and pooled densities during 2000â2003 were positively associated with the advanced thinning stand proportion in 2003. At the capercaillie home range scale (800 m) habitats were rich in mature stands during 1989â1992 in relation to available habitats, but not during 2000â2003 when young thinning stands were more abundant in relation to available habitats. Relatively young managed forests can be suitable for capercaillie, but mature managed forests as capercaillie habitats may have deteriorated between the study periods. Spatial planning may help to form suitable areas that are large enough for the species, but the highest potential may lay in the forest stand scale, where increased cover on the ground could promote the habitat quality.
Imputing mean annual change to estimate current forest attributes
Authors: Eskelson Bianca , Barrett Tara , Temesgen Hailemariam
Published: March 2014

When a temporal trend in forest conditions is present, standard estimates from paneled forest inventories can be biased. Thus methods that use more recent remote sensing data to improve estimates are desired. Paneled inventory data from national forests in Oregon and Washington, U.S.A., were used to explore three nearest neighbor imputation methods to estimate mean annual change of four forest attributes (basal area/ha, stems/ha, volume/ha, biomass/ha). The randomForest imputation method outperformed the other imputation approaches in terms of root mean square error. The imputed mean annual change was used to project all panels to a common point in time by multiplying the mean annual change with the length of the growth period between measurements and adding the change estimate to the previously observed measurements of the four forest attributes. The resulting estimates of the mean of the forest attributes at the current point in time outperformed the estimates obtained from the national standard estimator.
Differences in growth and wood density traits in Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) genetic entries grown at different spacing and sites
Authors: Peltola Heli , Gort Jaume , Pulkkinen Pertti , Zubizarreta Gerendiain Ane , Karppinen Jouni , Ikonen Veli-Pekka
Published: March 2014

In forest breeding, stem volume has typically taken as the most important selection trait, whereas less attention has been given to wood density traits. In this work, we investigated the effects of spacing and genetic entry on the growth, yield and wood density traits in 20 year old Scots pines (Pinus sylvestris L.) based on 10 genetic entries harvested from a spacing trial (stand density range 2000â4000 trees/ha) in central Finland. In order to study also the site effects, we harvested additional material from a trial located in southern Finland (stand density of 2000 trees/ha). Compared to growth and yield properties, wood density traits showed a lower phenotypic variation. Phenotypic correlations among different traits were negative, and mostly moderate to high, suggesting that selection for one trait would simultaneously affect the others. In addition, moderate to strong phenotypic correlations were found among different wood density traits. Stem volume (V) and breast height diameter (DBH) were the largest in widest spacing, whereas in the densest one tree height (H) and latewood percentage were the highest. Genetic entry affected H and wood density traits regardless of spacing. When comparing two sites (with same stand density), genetic entry affected H, whereas site affected DBH and wood density traits. Ranking between genetic entries changed depending on the trait, spacing or site considered. Therefore, no overall ranking was possible. However, we could identify genetic entries having a high V and a relatively high wood density, showing potential for future forest regeneration material.