The nitrogen cycle in lodgepole pine forests,southeastern Wyoming

Storage and flux of nitrogen were studied in several contrasting lodgepole pine (Pinus contorta spp.latifolia) forests in southeastern Wyoming. The mineral soil contained most of the N in these ecosystems (range of 315–860 g · m^–2), with aboveground detritus (37.5–48.8g · m^–2) and living biomass (19.5–24.0 g · m^–2) storing much smaller amounts. About 60–70% of the total N in vegetation was aboveground, and N concentrations in plant tissues were unusually low (foliage = 0.7% N), as were N input via wet precipitation (0.25 g · m^–2 · yr^–1), and biological fixation of atmospheric N (<0.03 g · m^–2 · yr^–1, except locally in some stands at low elevations where symbiotic fixation by the leguminous herbLupinus argenteus probably exceeded 0.1 g · m^–2 · yr^–1).Because of low concentrations in litterfall and limited opportunity for leaching, N accumulated in decaying leaves for 6–7 yr following leaf fall. This process represented an annual flux of about 0.5g · m^–2 to the 01 horizon. Only 20% of this flux was provided by throughfall, with the remaining 0.4g · m^–2 · yr^–1 apparently added from layers below. Low mineralization and small amounts of N uptake from the 02 are likely because of minimal rooting in the forest floor (as defined herein) and negligible mineral N (< 0.05 mg · L^–1) in 02 leachate. A critical transport process was solubilization of organic N, mostly fulvic acids. Most of the organic N from the forest floor was retained within the major tree rooting zone (0–40 cm), and mineralization of soil organic N provided NH₄ for tree uptake. Nitrate was at trace levels in soil solutions, and a long lag in nitrification was always observed under disturbed conditions. Total root nitrogen uptake was calculated to be 1.25 gN · m^–2 · yr^–1 with estimated root turnover of 0.37-gN · m^–2 · yr^–1, and the soil horizons appeared to be nearly in balance with respect to N. The high demand for mineralized N and the precipitation of fulvic acid in the mineral soil resulted in minimal deep leaching in most stands (< 0.02 g · m^–2 · yr^–1). These forests provide an extreme example of nitrogen behavior in dry, infertile forests.     

Ammonia formation and soil pH increase caused by decomposing fruitbodies of macrofungi

The formation of gaseous compounds from decomposing fruibodies of three common macrofungi was qualitatively analysed. It was shown that significant production of ammonia took place. When the fruitbodies were decomposing on the surface of a podzolic forest floor more than 90% of the ammonia produced was absorbed by the soil, causing soil pH to increase.     

Pubic symphyseal synostosis and sexual dimorphism of the pelvis inPresbytis cristata andPresbytis rubicunda

This study examines the relationship between public symphyseal synostosis and sexual dimorphism of the pelvis in two sympatric species ofPresbytis—P. cristata andP. rubicunda. Whereas no specimen ofP. cristata shows fusion of the interpubic joint, a high percentage of female (43.8%) and male (83.3%)P. rubicunda have a fused public symphysis. As females of both species are similar in body size, they are predicted to give birth to similarly sized newborns. Based on comparison with other anthropoids, the percentage dimorphism in the ischiopubic index inP. cristata andP. rubicuda suggests selection on pelvic capacity in relation to obstetrics. In species characterized by cephalopelvic constriction (i.e., the size of the fetal cranium closely approximates the capacity of the maternal birth canal), successful birth seems possible only by a hormonally induced increase in pelvic joint mobility during delivery. However, fusion of the interpubic joint obviates pelvic joint mobility. Consequently, this study tests the hypothesis thatP. rubicunda shows obstetric adaptations of the pelvis that are not found inP. cristata. The results show that pelvic capacity is larger in females than males in bothP. cristata andP. rubicunda; the sexual difference is most pronounced at the inlet. Moreover, the pattern of pelvic dimorphism is nearly identical between the species. When females of the two species are compared,P. rubicunda evidences a shorter distance between the sacroiliac and hip joints and a wider bituberous diameter. The former is related to interspecific differences in locomotion, and the latter is associated with obstetrics.     

Changes in O horizon mass,thickness and carbon content following fire in northern hardwood forests

This study examines temporal changes in the thickness, mass, and organic carbon content of the O horizon (forest floor) of eight forested plots in northern Michigan, USA. Each plot had experienced a recent burn (prescribed or accidental); burn dates ranged from 1798 to 1980. The climax forest in this region is mixed Pinus-Acer-Betula-Tsuga, whereas the fire successional species are predominantly Populus spp. and Betula papyrifera. O horizon data were fit to logarithmic functions (chronofunctions) that depicted rapid accumulations of mass and thickness in the first years after the fire, followed by decreasing rates of increase after 100 years. Extension of the chronofunctions to 5000 years allowed for a theoretical examination of forest floor conditions, e.g., steady state and time to steady state, after long periods without disturbance. The models predicted greater O horizon thicknesses and slightly lower mass for steady state conditions than have been reported for old-growth stands elsewhere. Steady state accumulations of litter in these mixed, temperate forests requires at least 200 and possibly > 1000 years, which is markedly longer than most other estimates. Although frequent disturbance by fire in these forests would likely preclude such values from being attained, these data provide theoretical maximum values for forest floor conditions in these ecosystems.     

经会阴盆底超声联合血清雌二醇对女性压力性尿失禁的诊断价值研究

摘要 目的：研究经会阴盆底超声联合血清雌二醇对女性压力性尿失禁（SUI）的诊断价值。方法：选取川北医学院附属医院2018年1月～2022年12月收治的女性SUI患者81例,记作观察组。另选取同期体检正常女性80例作为对照组。比较两组盆底超声参数以及血清雌二醇水平。采用受试者工作特征（ROC）曲线分析上述各项指标单独和联合检测的诊断效能。结果：观察组静息状态下近段尿道和人体纵轴间夹角（UIA）、最大Valsalva动作下近段尿道和膀胱后壁的夹角（PUVA）以及尿道旋转角（URA）相较于对照组较高（均P＜0.05）。观察组血清雌二醇水平相较于对照组明显更低（P＜0.05）。经ROC曲线分析发现：各项盆底超声参数联合血清雌二醇诊断女性SUI的效能优于各项指标单独诊断。结论：经会阴盆底超声可诊断女性SUI,在联合血清雌二醇时诊断女性SUI的价值更高。     

Reconstruction of the STS 14 (Australopithecus africanus) pelvis

The study reports a reconstruction of the sacrum in STS 14 based on extrapolation from the measurements of the first two sacral vertebrae of STS 14 and of the angle formed by the anterior surfaces of their vertebral bodies. Reconstruction is based on comparisons of, and extrapolation from, sacra of Pan troglodytes, Homo sapiens, and Australopithecus afarensis. The reconstructed sacrum has an anterior sacral curvature of 39°. The two ossa coxae were also completed by mirror imaging of one side by the other. With the pelvis completely reconstructed, the pelvic dimensions for the antero-posterior (AP) diameters of the pelvic inlet, midpelvis, and pelvic outlet are 85, 68, and 69 mm and the corresponding transverse (TR) diameters are 109, 88, and 103 mm, respectively. The posterior sagittal diameters in the three pelvic planes are small compared to the anterior sagittal diameters. This analysis indicates that the STS 14 pelvis is platypelloid in the three pelvic planes; i.e., all the AP diameters are smaller than the corresponding TR diameters. This makes the STS 14 pelvis similar to that to Al 288-1, save for a less pronounced degree of platypelloidy at the inlet in the former. © 1995 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

经会阴二维超声对自然分娩女性产后盆底三腔室运动和早期盆底功能的评估价值

目的:探讨经会阴二维超声对自然分娩女性产后盆底三腔室运动和早期盆底功能的评估价值。方法:选取2019年2月～2019年7月于我院进行自然分娩的产妇284例作为研究组,另选取同期于我院接受诊治的未育女性200例作为对照组。两组均进行经会阴二维超声检查,比较两组静息期、张力期、缩肛期的肛管直肠连接部(ARJ)、宫颈外口(CV)、尿道膀胱连接部(UVJ)的位置及运动变化情况,对比两组静息状态下以及最大Valsaval动作下盆底超声参数。结果:研究组静息期、张力期、缩肛期的CV距离水平参照线的垂直长度(CV-VD)、UVJ距离水平参照线的垂直长度(UVJ-VD)均低于对照组(均P0.05)。研究组张力期对应静息期垂直长度△r-s CV-VD、△r-s UVJ-VD均高于对照组,而缩肛期对应静息期垂直长度△r-s CV-VD、△r-s UVJ-VD均低于对照组(均P0.05)。研究组静息状态下膀胱颈位置(BNP)低于对照组,而膀胱尿道后角(PUA)高于对照组(均P0.05);研究组最大Valsaval动作下膀胱颈移动度(BND)、PUA、尿道旋转角(URA)均高于对照组(均P0.05)。结论:经会阴二维超声可对自然分娩女性产后盆底三腔室运动和早期盆底功能进行有效观察,有助于评估女性盆底结构、功能变化,具有一定的临床推广应用价值。     

经会阴实时三维盆底超声评估不同分娩方式对产后女性前腔室结构和盆膈裂孔的影响

摘要 目的：探讨经会阴实时三维盆底超声评估不同分娩方式对产后女性前腔室结构和盆膈裂孔的影响。方法：回顾性分析2015年1月至2019年10月在我院接受检查的100例产妇的诊治资料。根据分娩方式的不同,将患者分为经阴道分娩组（n=55）和剖宫产分娩组（n=45）。比较两组产妇在静息状态和Valsalva状态下的前腔室和盆膈裂孔超声参数。结果：在静息状态下,两组的膀胱颈位置、逼尿肌厚度、膀胱后角和尿道倾斜角相比无差异（P>0.05）。经阴道分娩组在Valsalva状态下的膀胱颈移动度和尿道旋转角均大于剖宫产分娩组,尿道内口漏斗形成率和膀胱膨出率均高于剖宫产分娩组（P<0.05）。在Valsalva状态下,经阴道分娩组的盆膈裂孔前后径、左右径、面积和周长均大于剖宫产分娩组（P<0.05）;在静息状态下,两组的上述指标相比,差异均无统计学意义（P>0.05）。结论：应用经会阴实时三维盆底超声技术观察产妇前腔室结构和盆膈裂孔的参数变化,可评估产妇盆底功能受损的程度,经阴道分娩对其影响较大。