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PubMed2006

Factors affecting outdoor exposure in winter: population-based study.

The extent of outdoor exposure during winter and factors affecting it were examined in a cross-sectional population study in Finland. Men and women aged 25-74 years from the National FINRISK 2002 sub-study (n=6,591) were queried about their average weekly occupational, leisure-time and total cold exposure during the past winter. The effects of gender, age, area of residence, occupation, ambient temperature, self-rated health, physical activity and education on cold exposure were analysed. The self-reported median total cold exposure time was 7 h/week (8 h men, 6 h women),<1 h/week (2 h men, 0 h women) at work, 4 h/week (5 h men, 4 h women) during leisure time and 1 h/week (1 h men, 1.5 h women) while commuting to work. Factors associated with increased occupational cold exposure among men were: being employed in agriculture, forestry and industry/mining/construction or related occupations, being less educated and being aged 55-64 years. Factors associated with increased leisure-time cold exposure among men were: employment in industry/mining/construction or related occupations, being a pensioner or unemployed, reporting at least average health, being physically active and having college or vocational education. Among women, being a housewife, pensioner or unemployed and engaged in physical activity increased leisure-time cold exposure, and young women were more exposed than older ones. Self-rated health was positively associated with leisure time cold exposure in men and only to a minor extent in women. In conclusion, the subjects reported spending 4% of their total time under cold exposure, most of it (71%) during leisure time. Both occupational and leisure-time cold exposure is greater among men than women.

Adult↗
PubMed2002

The ectomycorrhizal symbiosis between Lactarius deliciosus and Pinus sylvestris in forest soil samples: symbiotic efficiency and development on roots of a rDNA internal transcribed spacer-selected isolate of L. deliciosus.

The effect on plant growth of pre-inoculation of Pinus sylvestris with the ectomycorrhizal (ECM) edible basidiomycete Lactarius deliciosus (isolate D45) under controlled conditions, and the development on roots of this basidiomycete, were investigated in gamma-irradiated and unsterilized containers containing different forest soil cores or a perlite-vermiculite mixture. Five months after planting, L. deliciosus mycorrhizal plants exhibited greater growth than the non-mycorrhizal ones in all soil types, i.e. up to a 325% increase in shoot height in the sterilized soils. The experiment demonstrated the dependency of P. sylvestris seedlings upon ECM symbiosis for their survival in gamma-irradiated, microbiologically disturbed soil samples. Furthermore, in two soils, the growth of L. deliciosus-inoculated seedlings was greater in the sterilized soil samples than in the non-sterilized ones, i.e. 46% and 132% increase in shoot height under sterilized soil conditions. In containers randomly sampled from each soil type, the degree of root colonization by the inoculated isolate, calculated as the number of mycorrhizal root tips divided by the total number of root tips x100, ranged from 80% to 35%. Within the short term, the inoculated isolate developed rapidly on roots, dominated, and hampered ectomycorrhiza formation by various unidentified (but not Lactarius) resident ECM fungi in unsterilized soil types. Results indicate that the ECM species L. deliciosus is worth investigating to ascertain if other isolates benefit pine growth like the isolate D45, and are therefore also attractive candidates for forestry applications in the Mediterranean area.

Basidiomycota↗
PubMed2006

Selecting ectomycorrhizal fungi for inoculating plantations in south China: effect of Scleroderma on colonization and growth of exotic Eucalyptus globulus, E. urophylla, Pinus elliottii, and P. radiata.

Plantation forestry with exotic trees in south China needs compatible symbionts to improve the growth of seedlings in nurseries and to enhance establishment and growth in the field. Scleroderma, a potentially suitable symbiont for inoculation, is not being used in containerized nurseries in the region due to poor knowledge of its host range. The ability of 15 collections of Scleroderma, nine from Australia and six from Asia, to colonize and promote growth of four important exotic plantation trees (Eucalyptus globulus Labill., Eucalyptus urophylla ST Blake, Pinus elliottii Engl., and Pinus radiata D. Don) was examined in a nursery potting mix. There was generally low host specificity of Scleroderma between tree genera. At 12 weeks after inoculation, 13 to 14 of the 15 spore collections formed ectomycorrhizas on seedlings of eucalypts or pines. The extent of colonization differed between spore treatments with two or four collections forming abundant mycorrhizas (>50% fine roots colonized) on E. globulus or E. urophylla, respectively, and three or five on P. radiata or P. elliottii, respectively. Three collections from Australia strongly colonized all hosts resulting in 26 to 100% of short roots being colonized. Chinese Scleroderma collections resulted in fewer mycorrhizas on eucalypts than on pines. Inoculation stimulated the growth (shoot height and dry weight) of eucalypt and pine seedlings by up to 105% where Scleroderma mycorrhizas developed. The results suggest that there is a need to source Scleroderma from outside China for inoculating eucalypts in Chinese nurseries whereas Chinese collections of Scleroderma could be used in pine nurseries. Further screening of Australian and Chinese Scleroderma should be performed in Chinese nurseries and in the field before final commercial decisions are made.

Agriculture↗
PubMed2006

Polyhydroxyalkanoate copolymers from forest biomass.

The potential for the use of woody biomass in poly-beta-hydroxyalkanoate (PHA) biosynthesis is reviewed. Based on previously cited work indicating incorporation of xylose or levulinic acid (LA) into PHAs by several bacterial strains, we have initiated a study for exploring bioconversion of forest resources to technically relevant copolymers. Initially, PHA was synthesized in shake-flask cultures of Burkholderia cepacia grown on 2.2% (w/v) xylose, periodically amended with varying concentrations of levulinic acid [0.07-0.67% (w/v)]. Yields of poly(beta-hydroxybutyrate-co-beta-hydroxyvalerate) [P(3HB-co-3HV)] from 1.3 to 4.2 g/l were obtained and could be modulated to contain from 1.0 to 61 mol% 3-hydroxyvalerate (3HV), as determined by 1H and 13C NMR analyses. No evidence for either the 3HB or 4HV monomers was found. Characterization of these P(3HB-co-3HV) samples, which ranged in molecular mass (viscometric, Mv) from 511-919 kDa, by differential scanning calorimetry and thermogravimetric analyses (TGA) provided data which were in agreement for previously reported P(3HB-co-3HV) copolymers. For these samples, it was noted that melting temperature (Tm) and glass transition temperature (Tg) decreased as a function of 3HVcontent, with Tm demonstrating a pseudoeutectic profile as a function of mol% 3HV content. In order to extend these findings to the use of hemicellulosic process streams as an inexpensive carbon source, a detoxification procedure involving sequential overliming and activated charcoal treatments was developed. Two such detoxified process hydrolysates (NREL CF: aspen and CESF: maple) were each fermented with appropriate LA supplementation. For the NREL CF hydrolysate-based cultures amended with 0.25-0.5% LA, P(3HB-co-3HV) yields, PHA contents (PHA as percent of dry biomass), and mol% 3HV compositions of 2.0 g/l, 40% (w/w), and 16-52 mol% were obtained, respectively. Similarly, the CESF hydrolysate-based shake-flask cultures yielded 1.6 g/l PHA, 39% (w/w) PHA contents, and 4-67 mol% 3HV compositions. These data are comparable to copolymer yields and cellular contents reported for hexose plus levulinic acid-based shake-flask cultures, as reported using Alcaligenes eutrophus and Pseudomonas putida. However, our findings presage a conceivable alternative, forestry-based biorefinery approach for the production of value-added biodegradable PHA polymers. Specifically, this review describes the current and potential utilization of lignocellulosic process streams as platform precursors to PHA polymers including hemicellulosic hydrolysates, residual cellulose-derived levulinic acid, tall oil fatty acids (Kraft pulping residual), and lignin-derived aromatics.

Alcaligenes↗
PubMed2006

Biodegradability of tannin-containing wastewater from leather industry.

Tannins occur commonly in the wastewaters from forestry, plant medicine, paper and leather industries. The treatment of this kind of wastewaters, including settling and biodegradation, is usually difficult because tannins are highly soluble in water and would inhibit the growth of microorganisms in activated sludge. The objective of this study is to investigate biodegradability of tannin-containing wastewaters, so as to characterize the pollution properties of such wastewaters and provide a reference for their biological treatment in wastewater treatment plants. The research was typified by using the wastewater collected from vegetable tanning process in leather industry. A model was developed to describe the activated sludge process, and the biodegradation kinetics of vegetable tanning wastewater (VET wastewater) was studied. It was found that the biodegradability of tannin-containing wastewater varies heavily with the content of tannins in wastewater. The biodegradation of VET wastewater with tannin content around 4,900 mg/l occurred inefficiently due to the inhibition of tannins to the activated sludge process, and only 34.7% of biodegradation extent was reached in 14 days of incubation. The optimal biodegradability of VET wastewater was observed when its tannin content was diluted to 490 mg/l, where the COD and tannin removals reached 51.3% and 45.1% respectively in 6 days. Hence, it is suggested that a proper control of tannin content is necessary to achieve an effective biodegradation of tannin-containing wastewaters in wastewater treatment plants.

Kinetics↗
PubMed2005

Genomic research in Eucalyptus.

Eucalyptus L'Hérit. is a genus comprised of more than 700 species that is of vital importance ecologically to Australia and to the forestry industry world-wide, being grown in plantations for the production of solid wood products as well as pulp for paper. With the sequencing of the genomes of Arabidopsis thaliana and Oryza sativa and the recent completion of the first tree genome sequence, Populus trichocarpa, attention has turned to the current status of genomic research in Eucalyptus. For several eucalypt species, large segregating families have been established, high-resolution genetic maps constructed and large EST databases generated. Collaborative efforts have been initiated for the integration of diverse genomic projects and will provide the framework for future research including exploiting the sequence of the entire eucalypt genome which is currently being sequenced. This review summarises the current position of genomic research in Eucalyptus and discusses the direction of future research.

Agriculture↗
PubMed2026

Phytoplasma-plant interactions: effector-mediated host reprogramming, hormonal crosstalk, metabolic alterations and plant-mediated vector manipulation.

Phytoplasmas are wall-less, phloem-restricted bacterial pathogens that infect over 1,000 plant species, causing substantial losses in agriculture, horticulture, and forestry worldwide. Despite their reduced genomes and limited metabolic autonomy, these obligate parasites colonize diverse hosts through secreted effector proteins that extensively reprogram plant development, metabolism, immune signalling, and vector interactions. Advances in genomics, transcriptomics, proteomics, metabolomics, and functional studies have substantially clarified the molecular basis of phytoplasma pathogenicity and symptom development. This review synthesizes current understanding of phytoplasma-plant interactions, covering phytoplasma biology, genome evolution, and the infection cycle across plant and insect vector hosts. We examine the molecular functions of key effectors, SAP11, SAP54/PHYL1, SAP05, TENGU, SWP1, and recently identified virulence factors, focusing on how they target host transcription factors, phytohormone networks, protein degradation pathways, and immune responses to promote colonization and disease progression. We further discuss how phytoplasma infection disrupts phytohormone signalling, primary and secondary metabolism, and developmental programs to produce characteristic disease symptoms, with particular attention to pathogen-induced changes in host volatiles and nutritional quality that alter vector behaviour and enhance transmission. Finally, we summarize insights from multi-omics studies and emerging management strategies, including CRISPR-based genome editing, RNAi, rapid molecular diagnostics, resistant cultivars, microbiome-based approaches, and sustainable vector control, and highlight key knowledge gaps and priorities for developing effective, environmentally sustainable phytoplasma disease management.

Phytoplasma↗
PubMed1994

Motorcycle crashes resulting in death and hospitalisation. II: Traffic crashes.

This is the second paper in a series of three that describe the epidemiology of motorcycle crashes in New Zealand that result in death and hospitalisation. The first paper presented an overview of all motorcycle crashes. This paper focuses on traffic crashes. The source of the fatality data was national mortality data files for the years 1978 to 1987 inclusive. The source of the hospitalisation data was the 1988 national morbidity file which records all public hospital discharges in New Zealand. For the period 1978 to 1987, 1,175 fatalities were identified resulting in a mortality rate of 3.5 per 100,000 persons per year. Males aged 15-19 and 20-24 had very high rates (25.2 and 26.4, respectively), especially labourers (40.0) and forestry workers (32). Maori and non-Maori had similar rates. The majority (63%) of the deaths were attributable to a collision with another motor vehicle. During 1988 2,222 motorcyclists were hospitalised giving an incidence rate of 68.1 per 100,000 persons per year. Males aged 15-19 and 20-24 had very high rates (409 and 416, respectively), especially labourers (355). Maori had a higher morbidity rate than non-Maori (99 versus 61). The most common (40%) crash was a collision with another motor vehicle. The most common sites of injury were the lower limb (43%) and head (23%). Collision crashes were more likely to result in lower limb injury, be more severe, and result in longer stays in hospital.

Abbreviated Injury Scale↗
PubMed1987

The effect of an adjustable sitting angle on the perceived discomfort from the back and neck-shoulder regions in building crane operators.

In a previous working environment study of building crane operators, it has been found that approximately 70% experienced discomfort from the locomotor system. Comments by the interviewed crane operators indicated that it is, among other things, the forward flexed sitting position during lifts close to the crane that causes discomfort. This investigation sought to apply knowledge from the forestry industry concerning the beneficial effects of improved operator's seats to the work situation of crane operators. On a construction site with three cranes, an operator's seat with adjustable sitting angle was installed in one of the cranes. Estimation of perceived strain-discomfort in the lumbar region of the back as well as in the neck-shoulder region was assessed according to Borg's scale. Data were collected from the crane operators seated in their ordinary operator's seat, seated in the test seat, and seated in another crane with an ordinary type of seat. The results showed that in [Formula: see text] of all lifts, the crane operator was sitting bent-forward with little opportunity for relief via a backrest or armrests. The highest estimated discomfort values in the study were also obtained in an ordinary operator's seat on days with a high proportion of lifts close to the crane. When working in the test seat, none of the subjects gave an estimate higher than 0.5 (discomfort equivalent to very, very weak). An adjustable operator's seat could be a good alternative to a fixed seat, and more tests would be desirable.

Journal Article↗
PubMed1977

Pulmonary haemorrhage in disseminated cardiac haemangiosarcoma.

A male forestry worker presented with chest pain followed by severe continuing haemoptysis and an extensive bilateral nodular pulmonary infiltrate. A needle biopsy of lung demonstrated micronodular deposits of malignant tissue. The patient died from respiratory failure. Necropsy showed a disseminated haemangiosarcoma arising in the right atrium. Haemoglobin and serum iron levels were normal. Electron microscopy of the lung biopsy showed a close relationship between tumour cells and basement membrane and suggested that haemorrhage occurred directly from the tumour nodules. The ultrastructure of alveoli adjacent to tumour deposits was normal. This case provides further indirect evidence that the clinical and histological features of idiopathic pulmonary haemosiderosis cannot be explained by the mere occurrence of alveolar haemorrhage.

Adult↗
PubMed1993

Investigation of roe deer--criteria for use as a bioindicator in specimen banking.

Some results are given for a 5-year study to establish standard operation procedures for roe deer (Capreolus capreolus). The criteria for bioindication of roe deer are listed for three forestry districts in the east of Lower Saxony (Braunschweig, Fallersleben, Lappwald). The organs investigated for use are liver, kidney, kidney fat, brain and were collected from animals with an intact abdomen and were packed in Teflon bags after being shot. The fresh samples are kept at +4 degrees C and prepared in a laboratory within 24 h. The organs were investigated for 20 organic and 15 inorganic constituents. Twenty-two detectable contaminants from different collections are evaluated by using a personal computer (PC) with a Statistical Package of Social Science (SPSS) program. The results show that liver is a good accumulating organ; organ size and the regular distribution of the contaminants throughout the organ are an advantage. Significant variations in concentrations of contaminants are observed in May until August; levels stabilize in September to November. Animals < 18 months of age should be selected from rather narrow and uniform biotopes for specimen banking during the periods of autumn to winter or May. Pooling of the samples is not recommended.

Adipose Tissue↗
PubMed1994

Cellulose pretreatments of lignocellulosic substrates.

Cellulose in inedible plant materials, forestry residues, and municipal wastes must be pretreated to disrupt its physical structure, thereby making its hydrolysis to glucose practical. Developments since 1991 are summarized.

Acids↗
PubMed1995

Influence of weight and frequency on thigh and lower-trunk motion during repetitive lifting employing stoop and squat techniques.

Changes in kinematics as a function of lifting weight and frequency was investigated in sagittal symmetric repetitive lifting. For every lift cycle (lowering and lifting) the motion range between the upright position (0 degrees ) and the maximum angular displacement of the thigh and lower-trunk body segments was recorded. Ten subjects performed five repetitive lifting bouts with different weight/frequency combinations, using both stoop and squat lifting techniques. In total, 6384 lifts were analysed. The lifting weight or frequency did not influence the motion ranges in stoop lifting. In squat lifting the weight lifted did not appear to have any influence on the motion ranges, while the thigh motion range was significantly smaller at lifting frequency of 20 lifts min(-1) than at a frequency of 10. A significant gradual decrease in the thigh motion range and corresponding increase in the lower-trunk motion range were seen for a majority of the subjects during squat lifting at frequency 20. These changes suggest that quadriceps muscle strength is the limiting factor in repetitive squat lifting. Also the variation in motion ranges was greater in squat lifting than in stoop lifting. RELEVANCE: Forestry work involves frequent lifting. However, compliance in using squat lifting technique, which is recommended for safe lifting, is sometimes poor. Fatigue may be one of the determinants for changes in kinematics and choice of technique in lifting tasks.

Journal Article↗
PubMed1988

Ecological half-life of caesium in roe deer (Capreolus capreolus).

Biological half-lives for various radionuclides have been determined for many animals kept in the laboratory or under controlled conditions. Only occasionally has been it possible to determine the ecological half-lives of radionuclides in wild animals, where the contamination has occurred in their natural habitats. Following the fallout from the Chernobyl accident and its subsequent ingestion by wildlife, no one knew how long it would take the wild animals to eliminate the radionuclides, and in particular radiocaesium, from their bodies. In this study of roe deer (Capreolus capreolus), bucks (males)were shot at weekly/fortnightly intervals from mid-May till the end of July, as part of the annual cull on an area, which included some young forestry (Stone Chest-National Grid Reference NY48090), planted in 1971/72. The ration of 137Cs:134Cs, typical of the Chernobyl fallout, was seldom observed in these animals due to the highly variable concentrations of 137Cs originating from bomb fallout. Therefore, 134Cs was used instead because its presence was almost entirely due to the Chernobyl fallout. After using log10 transformation of the 134Cs concentrations, a significant (p < 0.01) regression was obtained which accounted for 85% of the variation. From the regression, the ecological half-life for 134Cs was found to be 28.3 days.

Journal Article↗
PubMed1989

Long-term change in the suitability of welsh streams for dippers Cinclus cinclus as a result of acidification and recovery: a modelling study.

Using a recognized and widely used hydrochemical model, MAGIC, long-term changes in acidity were simulated at 104 sites in the acid sensitive region of upland Wales. Conditions were modelled in the future (2010) under different reductions in sulphate deposition from 0 to 90% of 1984 values. Chemical output from the model was used to simulate change in the chemical suitability of streams for a species of river bird, the Dipper Cinclus cinclus, known to be affected by acidification According to simulations, only reductions in sulphate deposition by over 50% of 1984 levels prevented decline in the number of streams chemically suitable for Dippers. Greater reductions in deposition in the model permitted some recovery except where conifer forestry occupied acid sensitive catchments. There are several uncertainties with the models in their present form.

Journal Article↗
PubMed1991

Caesium concentration factors in wild herbivores and the fox (Vulpes vulpes L).

A selection of wild animals was sampled in the winter of 1986/87. The sites chosen for sampling were based on information obtained from survey carried out by The Institute of Terrestrial Ecology in the spring and autumn of 1986. Animals included deer, grouse, hares and rabbits, and foxes which were collected as a top carnivore in the food chain. Variation in concentration of caesium between species from the same area was unpredictable; rabbits, for instance, never exceeded 200 Bq kg(-1) (fresh wt) of (137)Cs in their flesh, even when adjacent to deer forests with over 1000 Bq kg(-1) in the venison. The greatest complication grose from areas of peaty uplands where the pre-Chernobyl (137)Cs from weapons-testing was much higher than expected. This pre-Chernobyl contribution amounted to 630 Bq kg(-1) in a red grouse from the Pennines, and 650 Bq kg(-1) in a roe deer from near the Borders, being c. 60% of the total. Concentration factors were calculated using values from freshly ingested vegetation and tissues from individual animals. Significant differences in concentration factors were found depending on species, food, sex, breeding condition and age. Contrasting the decrease of the two caesium isotopes in roe deer from forestry on peat with those from woodlands on mineral soils, it appeared that after an initial fall in concentration, the only decrease thereafter occurred on the mineral soils. Nowhere were radiocaesium concentrations high enough to cause concern amongst consumers of game and other wild animals, even when levels exceed 3000 Bq kg(-1) (fresh wt) as they did in red deer, red grouse and the blue hare.

Journal Article↗
PubMed1995

Contents of free amino acids in needles of Norway Spruce trees in relation to novel forest decline. Studies on trees from a site in the northern Black Forest.

The free amino acid content in needles of Norway spruce trees (about 45-year-old) was determined by means of HPLC. The studied trees have been growing at a forestry site in the Black Forest which is characterized by a high impact of ozone and magnesium deficiency. Measurements were carried out on visibly healthy and on damaged trees on several dates during two vegetation periods and during the course of a day. The amino acids occurring at the highest concentrations were glutamate, arginine, aspartate, and glutamine. The typical seasonal changes in the content of free amino acids, with their minimum during summer, were disturbed in the needles of the damaged trees. Particularly in summer and autumn the damaged trees showed increased levels of total amino acids and of most single amino acids. During the course of a day, the needles of the damaged trees showed a reduced amplitude in diurnal variations with the absolute level almost always higher in comparison to that of the undamaged trees. The results suggest that a shift in protein turnover towards enhanced degradation has taken place.

Journal Article↗
PubMed1988

The effects of ethylene dibromide on semen quality: a comparison of short-term and chronic exposure.

Two occupational field studies were conducted to determine the effects of ethylene dibromide (EDB) exposure on male reproductive potential. The first study was a longitudinal study of 10 EDB-exposed forestry employees and 6 unexposed men conducted in Colorado in the summer of 1983. The exposure time was approximately 6 weeks. The second study was a cross-sectional study of 46 EDB-exposed papaya workers and 43 unexposed men conducted in Hawaii in December 1983 in which the average term of employment was about 5 years. In the longitudinal study, sperm velocity decreased in all 10 exposed men and in only two unexposed men. Semen volume was also decreased in 9 of the 10 exposed men (there was no change in the other man); only two unexposed men had a decrease in their semen volume. The longer term EDB exposure resulted in decreases in sperm motility and viability, suggesting that the short term exposure may slow sperm velocity, but longer exposures cause immotility and cell death. An apparent decrease in semen volume that was observed in the longitudinal study was not statistically significant in the cross sectional study of workers having chronic exposure. However, a significantly higher semen pH was observed in the exposed men compared to the unexposed men in the cross-sectional study. The results from both studies suggest that the accessory sex glands may be affected by EDB exposure.

Cell Survival↗