The RAINFOR database: monitoring forest biomass and dynamics

Problem: Data from over 100 permanent sample plots which have been studied for 10–20 years need a suitable system for storage which allows simple data manipulation and retrieval for analysis. Methods: A relational database linking tree records, taxonomic nomenclature and corresponding environmental data has been built in MS Access as part of the RAINFOR project. Conclusion: The database allows flexible and long‐term use of a large amount of data: more than 100 tree plots across Amazonia, incorporating over 80 000 records of individual trees and over 300 000 total records of tree diameter measurements from successive censuses. The database is designed to enable linkages to existing soil, floristic or plant‐trait databases. This database will be a useful tool for exploring the impact of environmental factors on forest structure and dynamics at local to continental scales, and long term changes in forest ecology. As an early example of its potential, we explore the impact of different methodological assumptions on estimates of tropical forest biomass and carbon storage.     

Scale sensitivity of synthetic long‐term vegetation time series derived through overlay of short‐term field records

Questions: Is change in cover of dominant species driving the velocity of succession or is it species turnover (1)? Is the length of the time‐step chosen in sampling affecting our recognition of the long‐term rate of change (2)1 Location: 74 permanent plots located in the Swiss National Park, SE Switzerland, ca. 1900 m a.s.l. Methods: We superimpose several time‐series from permanent plots to one single series solely based on compositional dissimilarity. As shown earlier (Wildi & Schütz 2000) this results in a synthetic series covering about 400 to 650 yr length. Continuous power transformation of cover‐percentage scores is used to test if the dominance or the presence‐absence of species is governing secondary succession from pasture to forest. The effect of time step length is tested by sub‐samples of the time series. Results: Altering the weight of presence‐absence versus dominance of species affects the emerging time frame, while altering time step length is uncritical. Where species turnover is fast, different performance scales yield similar results. When cover change in dominant species prevails, the solutions vary considerably. Ordinations reveal that the synthetic time series seek for shortest paths of the temporal pattern whereas in the real system longer lasting alternatives exist. Conclusions: Superimposing time series differs from the classical space‐for‐time substitution approach. It is a computation‐based method to investigate temporal patterns of hundreds of years fitting between direct monitoring (usually limited to decades) and the analysis of proxy‐data (for time spans of thousands of years and more).     

The introduction ofMimorista pulchellalis [Lepidoptera: Pyraustidae] into South Africa for the biological control of jointed cactus,Opuntia aurantiaca. 2. Field evaluation

The mothMimorista pulchellalis was monitored over 2 years after liberation in a jointed cactus (Opuntia aurantiaca) infestation in South Africa. Moth and cactus densities were estimated using a system of randomly-assigned quadrats and the impact of the moth on the cactus population quantified. Moths appeared adapted to survive on the etiolated form of jointed cactus plants, killing approximately 1% of the increment in small plants annually. Large plants were also attacked but damage was negligible. The moths occurred in low numbers throughout the study period and generally went through 3 generations in a year.

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Résumé La pyraleMimorista pulchellalis a été surveillée durant les deux années qui suivirent sa libération dans une infestation de figuier de Barbarie en Afrique du Sud. Les densités de pyrale et de cactus ont été estimées en utilisant un système de quadrats distribués au hasard et l'impact de la pyrale sur la population de cactus a été quantifiée. Les pyrales semblaient adaptées à survivre sur la forme étiolée des plants de cactus tuant approximativement 1% de l'accroissement annuel des petits plants. Les gros plants étaient aussi attaqués, mais les dégats étaient négligeables. La pyrale existait en faibles nombres durant toute la période d'étude et elle présentait généralement 3 générations par an.

     

IND综合评价的逻辑结构及成药性评价

基于各学科信息作出安全性、有效性和质量可控性方面的综合评价是新药研究评价的灵魂，是一个多学科、多组织参与的综合决策过程。根据新药评价研究的实际工作经验，介绍一个新药临床试验综合评价的逻辑性、结构性的工作思考模式，有助于将不同专业的技术信息和技术结论有机整合，作出科学决策。     

Influences of temporal independence of data on modelling species distributions

Modelling species distributions has been widely used to understand present and future potential distributions of species, and can provide adaptation and mitigation information as references for conservation and management under climate change. However, various methods of data splitting to develop and validate functions of the models do not get enough attention, which may mislead the interpretation of predicted results. We used the Taiwanese endemic birds to test the influences of temporal independence of datasets on model performance and prediction. Training and testing data were considered to be independent if they were collected during different survey periods (1993–2004 and 2009–2010). The results indicated no significant differences of six model performance measures (AUC, kappa, TSS, accuracy, sensitivity, and specificity) among the combinations of training and testing datasets. Both species- and grid cell-based assessments differed significantly between predictions by the annual and pooled training data. We also found an average of 85.8% similarity for species presences and absences in different survey periods. The remaining dissimilarity was mostly caused by species observed in the late survey period but not in the early one. The method of data splitting, yielding training and testing data, is critical for resulting model species distributions. Even if similar model performance exists, different methods can lead to different species distributional maps. More attention needs to be given to this issue, especially when amplifying these models to project species distributions in a changing world.     

Gene assignment by means of somatic cell hybrids: a new method for the analysis of data

Summary A statistical approach to the interpretation of data from gene assignment with somatic cell hybrids is presented. The observed data are analysed under a variety of hypotheses. The fit to the hypotheses is compared by means of the likelihood obtained under a given hypothesis. Two of these hypotheses are related to fundamental questions: is a gene responsible for the enzyme observation and if so, is that gene located on a specific chromosome or could it change its position and be sometimes on chromosome j and, in another hybrid line, on chromosome k? The other hypotheses concern the assignment of the gene to just one of the chromosomes.To improve the traditional data analysis approach we considered additional information: the uncertainties and possible errors of laboratory methods in all our calculations and the length of the donor chromosomes in connection with one specific hypothesis.This method allows us to account for the reliability of the investigation methods and the nature of the hybrid lines involved. Data can be evaluated at different error probabilities within a realistic range in order to compare and discuss results.     

A practical test for in vitro evaluation of photosensitization: Assessment with hematoporphyrin derivative (HPD)

A simple procedure is described for the determination of the photosensitizing potency of drugs, using three leukemic cell lines, two of lymphocytic origin, L1210 and P388 and one of erythroid type, Friend-745. The procedure allows one to investigate several aspects of the photosensitization properties of tested compounds such as cellular localization and direct (trypan blue exclusion) or delayed (clonogenicity) photomediated toxicities.The method was assessed using crude hematoporphyrin derivative (HPD) as well as dihematoporphyrin ether (DHE) or commercially available Photofrin II. Results were compared to those obtained with normal cells, e.g spleen lymphocytes and erythropoietic stem cells (CFU-e), and discussed in the light of the relative response of normal versus transformed cells.Abbreviations DHE Dihematoporphyrin Ether - FCS Fetal Calf Serum - HPD Hematoporphyrin Derivative - PDT Photodynamic Therapy     

A gastric trichobezoar in a chimpanzee

A firm, mobile, oblong mass was discovered as an incidental finding in the stomach of a chimpanzee (Pan troglodytes) during routine surgery. It was removed and determined to be a trichobezoar.     

Processing of multi-dimensional NMR data with the new software PROSA

Summary The new program PROSA is an efficient implementation of the common data-processing steps for multi-dimensional NMR spectra. PROSA performs linear prediction, digital filtering, Fourier transformation, automatic phase correction, and baseline correction. High efficiency is achieved by avoiding disk storage of intermediate data and by the absence of any graphics display, which enables calculation in the batch mode and facilitates porting PROSA on a variety of different computer systems; including supercomputers. Furthermore, all time-consuming routines are completely vectorized. The elimination of a graphics display was made possible by the use of a new, reliable automatic phase-correction routine. CPU times for complete processing of a typical heteronuclear three-dimensional NMR data set of a protein vary between less than 1 min on a NEC SX3 supercomputer and 40 min on a Sun-4 computer system.     

A comparison of sperm morphology and silver nitrate staining characteristics in the domestic ferret and the black-footed ferret

Ejaculated sperm from the domestic ferret (Mustela putorius furo) and the black-footed ferret (Mustela nigripes) were compared for differences in morphological abnormalities and argentophilic protein distribution. Thawed domestic ferret sperm was also compared to fresh sperm to determine whether there were any effects on cell morphology due to cryopreservation. There were statistically significant differences between the two species of ferret in two of the categories scored. The domestic ferret had a higher frequency of cells that were bent in the midpiece and in the principal piece, and a higher frequency of headless and tailless cells when compared to the black-footed ferret. There were no statistically significant differences in cell morphology between the fresh and cryopreserved ejaculates of the domestic ferret employing a standard egg yolk cryoextender. Silver nitrate staining distribution was different between the two species in both the head and tail region.