Large Branches Research Articles

Refractory Angina Secondary to Large Unligated Side Branch of Internal Mammary Artery

Coronary artery disease (CAD) has become a common diagnosis. Managing the symptoms of CAD continues to be an ongoing dilemma requiring optimal medication management or potential revascularization with either percutaneous coronary interventions or coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). We present a case of debilitating refractory angina in a patient with severe CAD after optimal medical therapy and CABG secondary to coronary steal phenomenon via the left internal mammary artery conduit supplying a large unligated side branch to the internal chest wall. While current data are inconclusive on this phenomenon, our patient had complete resolution of angina following coil embolization of unligated side branch of the internal mammary artery.

Branch mass allocation increases wind throw risk for Fagus grandifolia

AbstractWind is a major force of disturbance in forests throughout the world, causing trees to break or uproot and topple over, depending on tree morphology and growing conditions. Previous research has suggested that trees that are more massive or which have lower height–diameter ratios are less at risk to wind throw, but the influence of crown size and branching architecture has been more difficult to elucidate. In general, there has been more research on coniferous trees, which have more simplified and symmetrical crown structures, relative to broad-leaved, deciduous trees. Here, we modelled the probability of wind throw for American beech (Fagus grandifolia Ehrh.), a broad-leaved, deciduous species common in the eastern USA, for trees covering a broad range of sizes (5.6–79.8 cm, diameter at breast height), in two nearby stands, in an experimental forest in southwestern Michigan, USA, where a wind event occurred. After a major blow-down of more than 200 trees in one of the stands, a subset of trees was destructively sampled after the storm. Analysis of the characteristics of the wind-thrown versus non-wind-thrown, residual trees, indicated that a very large branch fraction of total tree mass was a key factor leading to toppling of the wind-thrown trees. This study provides new empirical data related to the characteristics of wind-thrown American beech trees and suggests a potentially important role for branch to stem mass ratios as a predictor of wind throw risk for this species and possibly other broad-leaved, deciduous tree species, with a deliquescent branching architecture.

Genetic differentiation of populations of Pseudoregma bambucicola based on mtDNA cytb gene sequences

Pseudoregma bambucicola is an economically significant bamboo pest which is highly reproductive found in Eastern Asia that influences the normal growth of bamboo, induces the formation of sooty molds, and even causes substantial injury or death among young bamboos. This study provides a theoretical and practical basis for the comprehensive prevention and control of Pseudoregma bambucicola. The results showed that 10 geographical populations of Pseudoregma bambucicola showed high genetic diversity (Hd = 0.879 PI + 0.075, =0.08295 + 0.03901) and the average genetic distance was 0.018. In the haplotype phylogenetic tree constructed, the branches of MP tree and BI tree were basically the same, the Sichuan Basin was clustered into one and the populations from other provinces were clustered into a large branch and had a high posterior probability (the posterior probability of MP tree was 99% and the posterior probability of BI tree was 1). The NJ tree showed the differences among the 10 geographies. It was found that the experimental results were consistent with the actual geographical conditions because different geographical Pseudoregma bambusicola experienced natural isolation due to the possible impact of the natural environment, resulting in no genetic exchange between them, thus having a great genetic variability and high genetic diversity.

西藏色季拉山急尖长苞冷杉原始林粗木质残体空间格局分析

PDF HTML阅读 XML下载 导出引用 引用提醒 西藏色季拉山急尖长苞冷杉原始林粗木质残体空间格局分析 DOI: 10.5846/stxb201806211358 作者: 作者单位: 西藏农牧学院,西藏农牧学院,西藏农牧学院,西藏农牧学院,西藏农牧学院 作者简介: 通讯作者: 中图分类号: 基金项目: 西藏特色农牧资源研发协同创新中心（高原生态项目）；西藏自治区自然科学基金项目（ZR2018ZRG-17） Spatial distribution patterns of coarse woody debris in the Abies georgei var. smithii pristine forest in the Sejila Mountain Author: Affiliation: Tibet Agriculture & Animal Husbandry University,Tibet Agriculture & Animal Husbandry University,,, Fund Project: 省、部研究计划基金 摘要 | 图/表 | 访问统计 | 参考文献 | 相似文献 | 引证文献 | 资源附件 | 文章评论 摘要:粗木质残体（Coarse woody debris，CWD）的空间格局反映了森林群落的死亡格局和干扰格局，在一定程度上体现了群落内林木的死亡过程。采用相邻网格法对色季拉山急尖长苞冷杉（Abies georgei var.smithii）原始林1 hm2固定样地内CWD进行调查，从CWD类型、腐烂等级、径级3个方面对CWD空间分布格局进行分析。结果表明：样地内CWD总密度为582株/hm2，倒木占55.33%，是CWD的主要输入形式。CWD密度在腐烂等级上的分布可用多项式拟合（R2=0.9973），在径级上的分布可用指数衰减模型拟合（R2=0.9746），且在不同类型、腐烂等级及径级上的分布差异较大。在50 m尺度内，CWD整体表现为小尺度的集群分布和中、大尺度的随机分布。在3种CWD分类中，仅有大枯枝、Ⅰ级腐烂、径级ⅠCWD在小尺度或中尺度表现为较强的集群分布，其余则均以随机分布为主，只是在个别尺度达到或接近集群分布。不同类型CWD间整体关联不显著，只有枯立木与大枯枝在0-21 m尺度内达到显著负关联。CWD空间分布格局是急尖长苞冷杉原始林的重要结构特征，在很大程度上决定着林下植物群落及林型自然更新格局。 Abstract:The spatial pattern of coarse woody debris (CWD) reflects the death and disturbance patterns of forest communities, and to some extent, the death of forest trees. The adjacent grid method was used to investigate the CWD, in a 1 hm2 fixed plot, of the original Abies georgei var. smithii forest in the Sejila Mountain and analyze the spatial distribution of CWD from three perspectives:CWD type, decay grade, and diameter grade. The results showed that the total density of CWD in the plot was 582 plantshm2, among which the inverted wood, the main form of CWD, accounted for 55.33%. The distribution of CWD density at the decay level can be fitted by a polynomial (R2=0.9973), while the distribution at the diameter level can be fitted by an exponential decay model (R2=0.9746), which is greatly affected by its types, decay grades, and diameter classes. Over a 50 m area, the overall performance of CWD displays a cluster distribution at a small-scale and random distribution at medium and large scales. Among the three CWD classifications, only the large dead branches, the first-grade decay, and the diameter-level I CWD displayed a strong cluster distribution at a small-scale or mesoscale and the rest were basically distributed randomly, but only reached or approached the cluster distribution at individual scales. The overall correlation between different types of CWD was not significant, and only the dead standing trees and large dead branches reached a significant negative correlation over a 0-21 m scale. The spatial distribution pattern of CWD is an important structural feature of the primitive forest of Abies georgei var. smithii, which largely determines the natural regeneration pattern of understory plant communities and forest types. 参考文献 相似文献 引证文献

Computer modeling in mechanics of circulation

Some cardiovascular pathology connected with variations in geometry, wall properties and microcirculatory disorders can be studied by computer simulations. The mathematical model that allows to calculate the parameters of blood circulation – velocities of blood and pressure, displacements of the artery walls - for a complex vascular tree in real time is proposed.The geometrical model is based on the detailed postmortem measurements on the systemic arterial trees (more than 1000 arterial segments). The aortic model consists of 32 aortic segments and 59 side branches of the aorta including the larger and medium vessels. Mathematical model of blood flow in the system is described by Womersley model of the pulsatile viscous flow in the viscoelastic tube using the pressure and volumetric rate continuity conditions at the bifurcations of arteries. The Windkessel and structured tree outflow boundary conditions at the outlets of the branches have been used. The solution has been found as superposition of the forward and backward running waves. Based on the model, blood circulation parameters were calculated in the aortic model (91 tubes). The calculation results correspond to in vivo measurements. It was shown most of the branches have zero wave reflection coefficients but the large branches like celiac, renal and iliac arteries could produce noticeable wave reflections. The smaller branches possess negative wave reflection coefficient and, thus, contribute to the blood suction effect and lower aortic resistance to the blood flow. It is shown, the individual geometry plays an essential role in the location of the positive and negative wave reflection sites along the aorta and, thus, in the pressure and flow patterns and blood distribution into the branches. The influence of occlusion of the iliac arteries, low/high wall rigidity, and total length of aorta are studied on different individual geometries. The model can be used for determination of the individual parameters for patient-specific cardiovascular models and further modeling of the outcomes of the surgical and therapeutic procedures.

Recirculation syndrome in hemodialysis patients

To study the causes of recirculation syndrome and optimize surgical correction. There were 2329 procedures of formation and restoration of permanent vascular access in 2109 patients for the period from 1998 to 2018. Recirculation syndrome occurred in 66 (3.1%) patients. Instrumental diagnosis of the causes of recirculation syndrome included Doppler ultrasound of permanent vascular access (100%) and angiography in accordance with indications. All patients were divided into 4 groups. The first group included 39 (59.1%) patients with native arteriovenous fistula. The second group included 12 (18.2%) patients with high arteriovenous fistula (between the brachial artery and the cephalic vein). The third group included 10 (15.1%) patients with major vein transposition. Synthetic prosthesis to create an arteriovenous fistula was used in the fourth group (n=5, 7.6%). In the first group, recirculation syndrome was caused by the presence of a large branch in close proximity to the arteriovenous anastomosis, its combination with significant stenosis of the anastomosis, hypoplasia of the outflow pathways of the fistulous vein. In the second group, the reasons were subclavian vein stenosis and dilated tributaries of the saphenous veins. In the third group, the main cause of recirculation syndrome was major vein stenosis in the upper third of the shoulder. In the fourth group, recirculation syndrome was caused by stenosis of the prosthetic-venous anastomosis. Recirculation syndrome in hemodialysis patients is usually caused by malfunction of permanent vascular access. Ultrasound or angiography may be successfully used to diagnose dysfunction. Effective treatment of this problem implies surgical or endovascular correction of permanent vascular access.

Bayesian inference for extreme value flood frequency analysis in Bangladesh using Hamiltonian Monte Carlo techniques

In Bangladesh, major floods are frequent due to its unique geographic location. About one-fourth to one-third of the country is inundated by overflowing rivers during the monsoon season almost every year. Calculating the risk level of river discharge is important for making plans to protect the ecosystem and increasing crop and fish production. In recent years, several Bayesian Markov chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) methods have been proposed in extreme value analysis (EVA) for assessing the flood risk in a certain location. The Hamiltonian Monte Carlo (HMC) method was employed to obtain the approximations to the posterior marginal distribution of the Generalized Extreme Value (GEV) model by using annual maximum discharges in two major river basins in Bangladesh. The discharge records of the two largest branches of the Ganges-Brahmaputra-Meghna river system in Bangladesh for the past 42 years were analysed. To estimate flood risk, a return level with 95% confidence intervals (CI) has also been calculated. Results show that, the shape parameter of each station was greater than zero, which shows that heavy-tailed Frechet cases. One station, Bahadurabad, at Brahmaputra river basin estimated 141,387 m3s-1 with a 95% CI range of [112,636, 170,138] for 100-year return level and the 1000-year return level was 195,018 m3s-1 with a 95% CI of [122493, 267544]. The other station, Hardinge Bridge, at Ganges basin estimated 124,134 m3 s-1 with a 95% CI of [108,726, 139,543] for 100-year return level and the 1000-year return level was 170,537 m3s-1 with a 95% CI of [133,784, 207,289]. As Bangladesh is a flood prone country, the approach of Bayesian with HMC in EVA can help policy-makers to plan initiatives that could result in preventing damage to both lives and assets.

Anatomical and Imagistic Aspects of the Aortic Arch in Chinchilla lanigera

Background: The investigation on the cardiocirculatory system in chinchilla has become increasingly important due to the use of the species in experimental medicine (toxicology, pathology, parasitology etc.). Even though initially this species was regarded with a strict economic interest, in the last period, chinchillas have become an increasingly-encountered patient in veterinary clinics and hospitals. Another aspect is the use of the species in medical research, as experimental model or in parasitology. The present study tackles a combined anatomical and radiological (angiographical) study to accurately describe the vascular anatomy of the initial part of the aortic arch (Arcus aortae).Materials, Methods & Results: The anatomical distribution of collaterals detached from arcus aorticus (brachiocephalic trunk and subclavian arteries) are highlighted in this paper. To do that, the classical stratigraphic anatomical investigation, followed by the radiological study with the help of the contrast substance injected into the vascular bed were used in combination. Several Chinchilla lanigera female carcasses, obtained from a private commercial farming unit in Cluj county, Romania were used for this study. Ten carcasses were used for the anatomical study, being injected into the vascular bed with a mixture of latex and acrylic dye, fixated into formaldehyde 5% and later dissected, while the other ten carcasses were injected at the level of the aortic arch with Visipaque 320 contrast substance and subjected to the angiographical procedure.The anatomical investigation was carried after an initial 5 day-fixation period, while the angiographic procedure was initiated using the TEMCO Grx-01 device and the Veterinary Digital Imaging System® as digital imaging processing software. This combined study shows the differential mode of emergence of the subclavian and carotid arteries in this species. The brachiocephalic trunk is the first large collateral branch arising from the initial part of the aortic cross while the left subclavian artery, in all studied cases, stems from this initial part of the aortic arch. The right subclavian artery arises from the terminal part of the brachiocephalic trunk, at the cranial border of the first rib. The continuation of the trunk is represented by right common carotid artery that follows the right jugular groove. The left common carotid artery emerges at the medial aspect of the first intercostal space as a collateral branch detached from the brachiocephalic trunk, in its initial sector. In respect to the collaterals emerging from the subclavian arteries, our study showed that in all studied cases, four branches arise in sequence- the internal thoracic, dorsal scapular, vertebral and superficial cervical arteries. The existence of the common trunks (internal thoracic, dorsal scapular arteries and superficial and deep cervical arteries (as described by other authors) was not confirmed on the investigated specimens.Discussion: The paper highlights some interesting facts referring to the specific morphology of the aortic arch in chinchilla, as literature data provides some divergent data. Some of the aspects noted are confirmed (the emergence of subclavian arteries) while some others are still subjects to discussion and further investigation (collateral branches of subclavian arteries). Our approach focuses also on the comparative aspects of the morphology of the branches emerging from the aortic arch. According to the available literature, the following species were used as comparison: leporids, Guinea pig, squirrel, yellow-necked mouse, Egyptian mouse, rat, armadillo, nutria, capybara, paca, fox and leopard.

SHELL WORDS IN ANATOMY A CONTRASTIVE STUDY OF BULGARIAN AND ENGLISH ANATOMICAL SYSTEMS

Shell words are a particular category of lexemes that make up an open-ended functionally defined class of abstract nouns having the potential to be as conceptual shells for complex, proposition-like pieces of information. Examples include: “fact”, “case”, “idea”, “problem”, “position”, “cause”, “situation”, “something”, etc. The idea of a particular class of words that group semantic features, but are not related to a referent is also found in many authors. Such words have greater reference potential and thus become useful for naming different referents (onomasiological salience). From a theoretical point of view, the need for a context to determine the meaning of a single lexeme is in fact equivalent to deleting the difference between polysemy and vagueness. Shell nouns are indexical words or "hollow words, envelopes" because their meaning is incomplete; they only point to what can fill the envelope, but still give it some structure. Thus, the meaning associated with these shell units is both context-related and in turn generates a linguistic context. At first glance it seems strange that generalized words such as shells are not hyperonimic, but in connection with the nature of the anatomical terms (physically perceived) it is important to note that it is precisely words from the basic level that are conceptualized as sensory and functional gestalts. The eventual clash between the specificity of the object and the abstract nature of terms causes the conflict in terminology. Once again, the choice of a linguistic rather than a terminological approach to the names of the anatomical objects is argued. The current research assumes that shell function may be applicable to specific nouns, i.e. anatomical terms, the so-called termini generales. In both Bulgarian and English anatomical terminologies, there are about 190 such terms that are head words in anatomical expressions and occur in all parts of anatomy, e.g. terms such as: glava (en – head), greben (en – crest), gynka (en –fold), klon (en – branch), list (en – leaf), plocha (en – plate), sloy (en – layer), tyalo (en – body), vryzka (en – “link”, “connection”), etc. What is special about them is that with their help are formed the names of organs in the different systems. Their semantic value is contextually defined. They "mark” large branches in the anatomical terminology system and are expressions of terminological multiplicity. Obtained through specialization of commonly used nouns, general terms are a manifestation of re-terminologization through metaphorical projection. In our view, termini generales have lost their metaphorical status (if they have one) and some of them serve as shell nouns. We also perform a cross-linguistic Bulgarian – English analysis of shells in both anatomical systems.

SHELL WORDS IN ANATOMY A CONTRASTIVE STUDY OF BULGARIAN AND ENGLISH ANATOMICAL SYSTEMS

Shell words are a particular category of lexemes that make up an open-ended functionally defined class of abstract nouns having the potential to be as conceptual shells for complex, proposition-like pieces of information. Examples include: “fact”, “case”, “idea”, “problem”, “position”, “cause”, “situation”, “something”, etc. The idea of a particular class of words that group semantic features, but are not related to a referent is also found in many authors. Such words have greater reference potential and thus become useful for naming different referents (onomasiological salience). From a theoretical point of view, the need for a context to determine the meaning of a single lexeme is in fact equivalent to deleting the difference between polysemy and vagueness. Shell nouns are indexical words or "hollow words, envelopes" because their meaning is incomplete; they only point to what can fill the envelope, but still give it some structure. Thus, the meaning associated with these shell units is both context-related and in turn generates a linguistic context. At first glance it seems strange that generalized words such as shells are not hyperonimic, but in connection with the nature of the anatomical terms (physically perceived) it is important to note that it is precisely words from the basic level that are conceptualized as sensory and functional gestalts. The eventual clash between the specificity of the object and the abstract nature of terms causes the conflict in terminology. Once again, the choice of a linguistic rather than a terminological approach to the names of the anatomical objects is argued. The current research assumes that shell function may be applicable to specific nouns, i.e. anatomical terms, the so-called termini generales. In both Bulgarian and English anatomical terminologies, there are about 190 such terms that are head words in anatomical expressions and occur in all parts of anatomy, e.g. terms such as: glava (en – head), greben (en – crest), gynka (en –fold), klon (en – branch), list (en – leaf), plocha (en – plate), sloy (en – layer), tyalo (en – body), vryzka (en – “link”, “connection”), etc. What is special about them is that with their help are formed the names of organs in the different systems. Their semantic value is contextually defined. They "mark” large branches in the anatomical terminology system and are expressions of terminological multiplicity. Obtained through specialization of commonly used nouns, general terms are a manifestation of re-terminologization through metaphorical projection. In our view, termini generales have lost their metaphorical status (if they have one) and some of them serve as shell nouns. We also perform a cross-linguistic Bulgarian – English analysis of shells in both anatomical systems.

Genetic determinants and an epistasis of LILRA3 and HLA-B*52 in Takayasu arteritis

Takayasu arteritis (TAK) is a systemic vasculitis with severe complications that affects the aorta and its large branches. HLA-B*52 is an established susceptibility locus to TAK. To date, there are still only a limited number of reports concerning non-HLA susceptibility loci to TAK. We conducted a genome-wide association study (GWAS) and a follow-up study in a total of 633 TAK cases and 5,928 controls. A total of 510,879 SNPs were genotyped, and 5,875,450 SNPs were imputed together with HLA-B*52. Functional annotation of significant loci, enhancer enrichment, and pathway analyses were conducted. We identified four unreported significant loci, namely rs2322599, rs103294, rs17133698, and rs1713450, in PTK2B, LILRA3/LILRB2, DUSP22, and KLHL33, respectively. Two additional significant loci unreported in non-European GWAS were identified, namely HSPA6/FCGR3A and chr21q.22. We found that a single variant associated with the expression of MICB, a ligand for natural killer (NK) cell receptor, could explain the entire association with the HLA-B region. Rs2322599 is strongly associated with the expression of PTK2B Rs103294 risk allele in LILRA3/LILRB2 is known to be a tagging SNP for the deletion of LILRA3, a soluble receptor of HLA class I molecules. We found a significant epistasis effect between HLA-B*52 and rs103294 (P = 1.2 × 10-3). Enhancer enrichment analysis and pathway analysis suggested the involvement of NK cells (P = 8.8 × 10-5, enhancer enrichment). In conclusion, four unreported TAK susceptibility loci and an epistasis effect between LILRA3 and HLA-B*52 were identified. HLA and non-HLA regions suggested a critical role for NK cells in TAK.

Outcome after prostatic artery embolization in patients with symptomatic benign prostatic hyperplasia.

Background Prostatic artery embolization (PAE) has recently been described as a promising alternative treatment for lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) due to an enlarged, benign prostate. Purpose To evaluate the safety, morbidity, and functional outcomes after PAE. Material and Methods Twenty-nine consecutive patients were included. All patients had computed tomography angiography before the procedure. Microcatheters were used for selective embolization of the PAs. Large side branches to non-target organs were embolized with coils. The PAs were embolized with calibrated 300–500 µm tris-acryl gelatin microspheres. Complications were recorded before discharge. Clinical visit was performed after three months, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) after 6–12 months, and any further intervention recorded in the chart. Mean follow-up was 23 months. Clinical success was defined as no longer needing urinary catheter, no long-term complications, and no need of further interventions. Results Sixteen patients (55%) had permanent or intermittent catheter before the procedure. Bilateral embolization was performed in 26 patients (90%). Five patients underwent two procedures. Twelve of 16 patients (75%) with permanent or intermittent catheter were able to remove the catheter. Five patients were operated with transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP). Except for one patient, all patients without catheter at baseline improved in the International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS) and had no further treatment. Twelve patients experienced complications; all were grade 1 according to the Clavien–Dindo classification. Conclusion PAE reduced LUTS symptoms in most patients without severe complications. The treatment did not exclude additional surgical treatment when needed.

Detection and molecular characteristics of neboviruses in dairy cows in China.

In this study, 98 diarrhoeic and 70 non-diarrhoeic samples were collected from 13 dairy farms located across 5 provinces in China from April 2017 to May 2018. Approximately 41.8 % (41/98) of diarrhoeic samples and 5.7 % (4/70) of non-diarrhoeic samples were nebovirus-positive based on RT-PCR results, and some diarrhoeic samples were co-infected with bovine rotavirus (73.2 %), bovine coronavirus (36.6 %) and/or bovine viral diarrhoea virus (31.7 %). A phylogenetic analysis of 23 nebovirus RdRp fragments showed that these strains were closely related to Nebraska-like (NB-like) strains but were all located in a unique large branch. Moreover, a phylogenetic analysis of the 18 complete VP1 sequences from this study revealed that 14 strains belonged to lineage 1 and 4 strains belonged to lineage 3. Notably, all four lineage 3 strains shared the same recombination event, with a breakpoint located within the P1A domain. The complete genome of one nebovirus strain, Bo/YLA-2/17/CH, which had a recombination event within the P1A domain of its VP1, was successfully sequenced and was found to be 7453 nt in length, and this may represent a novel nebovirus strain based on the phylogenetic analysis of its complete genome sequence. In conclusion, this study reveals that neboviruses circulate widely in dairy cows in China and exhibit a unique evolution of RdRp. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first reported recombination event located within the P1A domain of nebovirus VP1.

Automated Estimation of Standing Dead Tree Volume Using Voxelized Terrestrial Lidar Data

Standing dead trees (SDTs) are an important forest component and impact a variety of ecosystem processes, yet the carbon pool dynamics of SDTs are poorly constrained in terrestrial carbon cycling models. The ability to model wood decay and carbon cycling in relation to detectable changes in tree structure and volume over time would greatly improve such models. The specific objectives of this paper were to: 1) develop an automated SDT volume estimation algorithm providing accurate volume estimates for trees scanned with terrestrial lidar in dense forests; 2) assess the volume estimation algorithm’s accuracy with respect to large and small branches; and 3) characterize the impact of occlusion with regards to volume estimation accuracy and the ability of the algorithm to mitigate challenges posed by lower quality point clouds. A voxel-based volume estimation algorithm, “TreeVolX,” was developed and incorporates several methods designed to robustly process point clouds of varying quality levels. The algorithm operates on horizontal voxel slices by segmenting the slice into distinct branch or stem sections then applying an adaptive contour interpolation and interior filling process to create solid reconstructed tree models. The concept of vertical point cloud resampling is introduced to facilitate the modeling of lower quality point clouds with a small voxel size. TreeVolX estimated large and small branch volume with a root-mean-square error of 7.3% and 13.8%, respectively, and the adaptive contour interpolation was shown to significantly reduce volume estimation errors in the case of significantly occluded point clouds.

Predicting abundance and diversity of tree-related microhabitats in Central European montane forests from common forest attributes

The continued provision of old-growth elements in forest landscapes is a critical factor for biodiversity conservation in Central Europe. A well-established method for predicting the potential of forests to maintain biodiversity is to quantify tree-related microhabitat structures (TreMs). Our aim was to predict the TreM abundance and diversity for collectives of TreM-bearing trees; here 15 large trees per plot that were preselected by the largest crown sizes using remote sensing information. TreMs were inventoried on 2085 living trees across 139 plots (each 1 ha) in montane forests of the Black Forest, southwest Germany according to a detailed catalogue comprising 64 different TreM structures. We tested the influence of forest management, forest cover in the surrounding landscape (25 km radius), forest type, the number of standing dead trees, altitude and mean diameter at breast height (DBH) on the abundance and diversity of TreMs on living trees. All plots are managed or have been recently (20–40 yrs) abandoned from management. Generalized linear models (GLM) were used to identify the drivers of abundance and diversity of TreMs. The abundance of TreMs borne by the 15 large trees per plot is greater on plots located at higher altitudes. Increasing mean DBH leads to significantly higher abundance and diversity of TreMs. Groups of TreM-bearing trees in monospecific coniferous forests have the highest abundance but those in mixed-coniferous-broadleaved forests have the greatest diversity of TreMs. The occurrences of 11 out of 64 specific TreM structures were related to forest management, forest type, altitude or mean DBH. Large branch holes and buttress cavities increased with mean DBH and were found more frequently in mixed-coniferous-broadleaved forests than in the other forest types. The abundance of epiphytes on TreM bearing trees increased with altitude. This study demonstrates that the average abundance and diversity of TreMs can be predicted with readily available forest attributes. Additionally, the occurrence of specific TreMs could be described with the variation in these selected forest attributes.

Lipid Plaque Modification During Resorption of Absorb Bioresorbable Scaffold: Insights From Optical Coherence Tomography

A 65-year-old man with non–ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction underwent implantation of two 3.0 × 28-mm Absorb bioresorbable vascular scaffolds (BVSs) (Abbott Vascular, Santa Clara, California), in a large obtuse marginal branch. Post-procedural optical coherence tomography (OCT) showed

Retracted: Reappraisal of the accessory internal thoracic artery

This article has been retracted by the Editor.The accessory internal thoracic artery (AITA) is a variably large branch of the initial portion of the internal thoracic artery (ITA). The AITA has been neglected as an important anatomical structure and has been identified as the culprit for the “steal-syndrome” of coronary blood flow after the use of the ITA in coronary artery revascularisation. A cadaveric study of 50 cadavers was performed to investigate the occurrence of the AITA. We found 10 (20%) out of the 50 cadavers examined, presented with AITAs either bilaterally (4%) or unilaterally (16%). Five of the eight unilateral specimens showed a left-sided appearance of the AITA. Fourteen percent of the AITAs were found in cadavers of Mixed-race (Coloured) and 6% in individuals of African descent. Knowledge of the AITA is essential for any thoracic surgeon, during the preparation of the ITA for coronary revascularisation. Data from or study supports the notion that the AITA is a highly variable structure with little correlates based on ethnicity. The AITA appear to be found more often on the left in unilateral specimens.Keywords: Accessory, Internal Thoracic artery

Potential winter niche partitioning between Tufted Titmice (Baeolophus bicolor) and Black-capped Chickadees (Poecile atricapillus)

ABSTRACT The northward range expansion of Tufted Titmice (Baeolophus bicolor) has increased their contact with Black-capped Chickadees (Poecile atricapillus). Tufted Titmice and Black-capped Chickadees were observed foraging naturally in 3 Connecticut forests and at a residential bird feeder to assess the degree of foraging niche overlap and competition between the 2 species during winter 2015–2016. Chickadees spent significantly more time in the outer portion of the upper canopy than did titmice, which used different subsections of the canopy fairly evenly. Chickadees also foraged in shrubs significantly more than did titmice. Titmice spent much of their time foraging on the ground, which chickadees largely avoided. These differences may be explained by the ability of larger titmice to better forage on larger branches and to flip leaves to forage on the ground. The larger size of titmice may also explain their dominance to chickadees at the bird feeder. Given a choice between safflower seeds, black oil s...

Acute Myocardial Infarction Due to Prolapse of Covered Stent Into Coronary Artery Aneurysm

A 65-year-old man was admitted for angina pectoris and evidence of anteroseptal myocardial ischemia on perfusion imaging. Angiography revealed a large left anterior descending (LAD) coronary artery aneurysm (CAA) arising 2 mm distal to the bifurcation of a large first diagonal branch ([Figure 1A][1

A new find of macrofossils of Picea crassifolia Kom. in early–middle Holocene sediments of the Qinghai Lake basin and its paleoenvironmental significance

AbstractHere we report a new find of abundant woody debris and cones in stratum of two sections located to the east of the Qinghai Lake basin in China. Analysis of the anatomical structure of the wood and cones confirmed that they are Picea crassifolia Kom. The results of accelerator mass spectrometry 14C dating indicate that the buried Qinghai spruce grew during 9.7–4.2 ka, and the ages of the large trunks or branches are mainly concentrated within the interval 7.5–6.5 ka. This finding gives direct evidence at the species level about the presence of coniferous forest in the early–middle Holocene in Qinghai lake basin. In addition, the buried cones suggest that the early-middle Holocene environment was suitable for the propagation of Picea crassifolia Kom. The variations in the occurrence of Qinghai spruce forest in the Holocene probably reflect changes in humidity/moisture. The humid early-middle Holocene was suitable for the growth and reproduction of Qinghai spruce forest, while a shift toward an increasingly arid climate during the late Holocene resulted in the disappearance of Picea crassifolia Kom. from the Qinghai Lake basin, although human activities may also have contributed to the environmental change.