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We compare invertebrate herbivory upon 13 macrophyte species in freshwater wetland systems located in two global ecozones, the Afrotropics and Neotropics, in the context of biotic and environmental factors influencing these wetlands. The two ecozones are climatically similar regions, with similar water chemistry, but experience contrasting grazing and disturbance pressures from large mammalian herbivores. Our results for macrophytes show that small invertebrates removed significantly more lamina biomass per leaf in Neotropical macrophytes (6.55%) than Afrotropical ones (4.99%). Overall, the results indicate that underestimation of up to 15.6% of leaf biomass may occur if plant tissue removal by invertebrate herbivores is not included in estimates of plant biomass. Regarding the contrasting grazing and disturbance pressures from large herbivores influencing these wetlands, seven mammal species (especially the Black Lechwe antelope, Kobus leche) were observed impacting macrophytes in the Afrotropical wetlands, while in the Neotropics, only much smaller rodents, capybara, (Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris) were sporadically observed. We discuss the relevance of results for invertebrate herbivory in the context of both the methodological approach and the importance of large mammalian herbivores as biotic factors additionally impacting macrophyte populations in these subtropical to tropical wetlands., Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Museo

An extensive survey of tropical rivers, conducted during 2009–2012 throughout Zambia, collected 151 samples of benthic macroinvertebrates, located on 95 rivers in six of the nine freshwater ecoregi...

The impact of riparian wetlands on the cycling, retention and export of nutrients from land to water varies according to local environmental conditions and is poorly resolved in catchment management approaches. To determine the role a specific wetland might play in a catchment mitigation strategy, an alternative approach is needed to the high-frequency and spatially detailed monitoring programme that would otherwise be needed. Here, we present a new approach using a combination of novel and well-established geochemical, geophysical and isotope ratio methods. This combined approach was developed and tested against a 2-year high-resolution sampling programme in a lowland permeable wetland in the Lambourn catchment, UK. The monitoring programme identified multiple pathways and water sources feeding into the wetland, generating large spatial and temporal variations in nutrient cycling, retention and export behaviours within the wetland. This complexity of contributing source areas and biogeochemical functions within the wetland were effectively identified using the new toolkit approach. We propose that this technique could be used to determine the likely net source/sink function of riparian wetlands prior to their incorporation into any catchment management plan, with relatively low resource implications when compared to a full high-frequency nutrient speciation and isotope geochemistry-based monitoring approach.

The abundant energy provided by sunlight makes visible-light driven photoredox catalysis an attractive means of performing chemical transformations. Titanium dioxide (TiO2) and conjugated polymers are semiconducting materials that have been used as photoredox catalysts. Driving electron transfer process with photoredox catalysts and visible light has become a powerful method for achieving efficient chemical transformations. However, titanium dioxide does not readily absorb visible light, and conjugated polymers have not been extensively studied as photoredox catalysts for organic transformations. In this work, TiO2 and the conjugated polymer poly-p-phenylene (PPP) were successfully used as heterogeneous co-catalysts for the dehalogenation of some simple aryl halides using triethylamine as a sacrificial electron donor. While PPP alone exhibited some photocatalytic activity upon irradiation with visible light, the efficiency of dehalogenation was enhanced by the addition of titanium dioxide. No reaction was observed in the absence of both photocatalysts or when TiO2 was used as the sole photocatalyst. The optimum operating parameters were examined.

The study tested the hypothesis that measurement, using multivariate Principal Components Analy-sis (PCA), of the niche-breadth of river macrophyte species in southern tropical Africa, may predicttheir larger-scale biogeographical range. Two measures of niche-breadth were calculated for 44 riverinemacrophyte species, from 20 families commonly occurring in Zambia, using an approach based on PCAordination with 16 bio-physico-chemical input variables. These included altitude, stream order, streamflow, pH, conductivity and soluble reactive phosphate concentration (SRP). In the absence of additionalchemical water quality data for Zambian rivers, invertebrate-based measures of general water qualitywere also used. These were benthic macroinvertebrate Average Score per Taxon (ASPT), and individualabundance of nine macroinvertebrate families with differing water quality tolerance, indicated by theirSensitivity Weightings within the Zambian Invertebrate Scoring System (ZISS). Macrophyte large-scalelatitudinal range was derived from world geopositional records held by online databases, and additionalrecords held by the authors. The two niche-breadth metrics divided the species into narrow-niche andintermediate/broad-niche categories, showing significant variation (from one or both of correlation andANOVA test outcomes) in altitude, stream flow, conductivity, SRP, pH and ASPT, but not stream order.Macrophyte alpha-diversity (as a measure of number of individual niches co-existing per habitat) showedno significant relationship with individual species niche-breadth. Narrow-niche species included a higherproportion of Afrotropical endemics than did species with broader niche size. There were significant pre-dictive relationships between macrophyte niche-breadth and latitudinal range of the target species atglobal and Afrotropical scales, but not for the Neotropics. Fil: Kennedy, Michael. University Of Aberdeen; Reino Unido Fil: Lang, Pauline. University of Glasgow; Reino Unido Fil: Tapia Grimaldo, Julissa. University of Glasgow; Reino Unido Fil: Varandas Martins, Sara. University of Glasgow; Reino Unido Fil: Bruce, Alannah. University of Glasgow; Reino Unido Fil: Moore, Isabel. University of Glasgow; Reino Unido Fil: Taubert, Rebeca. University of Glasgow; Reino Unido Fil: Macleod-Nolan, Chantal. University of Glasgow; Reino Unido Fil: McWaters, Stephanie. University of Glasgow; Reino Unido Fil: Briggs, John. University of Glasgow; Reino Unido Fil: Lowe, Steve. University of Glasgow; Reino Unido Fil: Saili, Kochelani. University Of Zambia; Fil: SICHINGABULA, Henry. University Of Zambia; Fil: Dallas, Helen. Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University, Sudafrica; Sudáfrica Fil: Morrison, Sean. University of Glasgow; Reino Unido Fil: Franceschini, Maria Celeste. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Nordeste. Centro de Ecología Aplicada del Litoral. Universidad Nacional del Nordeste. Centro de Ecología Aplicada del Litoral; Argentina Fil: Willems, Frank. The Kasanka Trust; Zambia Fil: Bottino, Flavia. Universidad Federal de San Carlos; Brasil Fil: MURPHY Kevin. University of Glasgow; Reino Unido

The hypothesis was examined that sources of variation in macrophyte species richness (alpha-diversity: S) and community composition (“species-set”), attributable to spatial and environmental, variables, may differ in importance between tropical and temperate calcareous rivers (>10 mg CaCO3 L−1). To test this hypothesis geographic, environmental, and aquatic vegetation data was acquired for 1151 sites on calcareous rivers within the British Isles, supporting 106 macrophyte species (mean S: 3.1 species per sample), and 203 sites from Zambian calcareous rivers, supporting 255 macrophyte species (mean S: 8.3 species per sample). The data were analysed using an eigenfunction spatial analysis procedure, Moran’s Eigenvector Maps (MEM), to assess spatial variation of species richness and community composition at large regional scale (>105 km2: British Isles and Zambia); and at medium catchment scale (104–105 km2: British Isles only). Variation-partitioning was undertaken using multiple regression for species richness data, and partial redundancy analysis (pRDA) for community data. For the British Isles, spatial and environmental variables both significantly contributed to explaining variation in both species richness and community composition. In addition, a substantial amount of the variation in community composition, for the British Isles as a whole and for some RBUs, was accounted for by spatially-structured environmental variables. In Zambia, species richness was explained only by pure spatial variables, but environmental and spatially-structured environmental variables also explained a significant part of the variation for community composition. At medium-scale, in the British Isles, species richness was explained by spatial variables, and only for four of the six RBUs.

The Zambian Macrophyte Trophic Ranking system (ZMTR) is a new bioassessment scheme to indicate the trophic status of tropical southern African river systems. It was developed using a dataset of 218 samples of macrophytes and water chemistry, collected during 2009–2012, from river sites located in five world freshwater ecoregions primarily represented in Zambia. A typology based on these ecoregions, and three stream order categories, was used to determine soluble reactive phosphate (SRP) reference conditions. Zambian Trophic Ranking Scores (ZTRSsp) were calculated for 156 species, using direct allocation from SRP data for 80 species, in samples for which sufficient available SRP data existed. An indirect quantitative procedure, based upon occurrence of species in six sample-groups, of differing mean SRP status, produced by TWINSPAN classification, allocated provisional ZTRSsp values for the remaining 76 species. Additional data for nitrate, pH, alkalinity and conductivity were used to help assess the trophic preferences of macrophyte species showing differing ZTRSsp values. ZMTRsample values were calculated as the mean ZTRSsp score of species present per sample. ZMTR indicated trophic status reasonably accurately for 83.1% of Zambian samples, and for all samples within a test dataset from Botswanan rivers. Examples of application of the methodology, and its potential for hindcasting river trophic status are provided. The scheme currently underestimates highly-enriched conditions, and, to a lesser extent, overestimates the trophic status of some very low-nutrient rivers, but at this pilot stage of development it generally predicts the trophic status of tropical southern African river systems quite well.

The authors wish to make the following corrections to this paper [...]

To test the hitherto generally-accepted hypothesis that most aquatic macrophytes have broad world distributions, we investigated the global distribution, diversity and endemism patterns of 3457 macrophyte species that occur in permanent, temporary or ephemeral inland freshwater and brackish waterbodies worldwide. At a resolution of 10 × 10° latitude x longitude, most macrophyte species were found to have narrow global distributions: 78% have ranges (measured using an approach broadly following the IUCN-defined concept “extent of occurrence”) that individually occupy T: 625 species/gridcell, 350 of them Neotropical endemics). In contrast, the Sahara/Arabian Deserts, and some Arctic areas, have the lowest macrophyte α-diversity (ST 5-fold difference between the most species-rich (Neotropics) and species-poor (Palaearctic) ecozones. Our findings strongly support the assertion that small-ranged species constitute most of Earth's species diversity.

This paper describes a new bio-indicator method for assessing wetland ecosystem health; as such, the study is particularly relevant to current legislation such as the EU Water Framework Directive, which provides a baseline of the current status of surface waters. Seven wetland sites were monitored across northern Britain, with model construction data for predicting eco-hydrological relationships collected from five sites during 1999. Two new sites and one repeat site were monitored during 2000 to provide model test data. The main growing season for the vegetation, and hence the sampling period, was May–August during both years. Seasonal mean concentrations of nitrate (NO3-) in surface and soil water samples during 1999 ranged from 0.01 to 14.07 mg N l–1, with a mean value of 1.01 mg N l–1. During 2000, concentrations ranged from trace level (–1) to 9.43 mg N l–1, with a mean of 2.73 mg N l–-1. Surface and soil-water nitrate concentrations did not influence plant species composition significantly across representative tall herb fen and mire communities. Predictive relationships were found between nitrate concentrations and structural characteristics of the wetland vegetation, and a model was developed which predicted nitrate concentrations from measures of plant diversity, canopy structure and density of reproductive structures. Two further models, which predicted stem density and density of reproductive structures respectively, utilised nitrate concentration as one of the independent predictor variables. The models were tested where appropriate using data collected during 2000. This approach is complementary to species-based monitoring, representing a useful and simple tool to assess ecological status in target wetland systems and has potential for bio-indication purposes. Keywords: bio-indicators, surface water, water quality, wetland vegetation

The first-ever extensive macrophyte survey of Zambian rivers and associated floodplain waterbodies, conducted during 2006–2012, collected 271 samples from 228 sites, mainly located in five freshwater ecoregions of the world primarily represented in Zambia. The results supported the hypothesis that variation in macrophyte community structure (measured as species composition and diversity) in southern tropical African river systems, using Zambia as a case study area, is driven primarily by geographical variation in water physico-chemical conditions. In total, 335 macrophyte taxa were recorded, and a chronological cumulative species records curve for the dataset showed no sign of asymptoting: clearly many additional macrophyte species remain to be found in Zambian rivers. Emergent macrophytes were predominant (236 taxa), together with 26 floating and 73 submerged taxa. Several species were rare in a regional or international context, including two IUCN Red Data List species: Aponogeton rehmanii and Nymphaea divaricata. Ordination and classification analysis of the data found little evidence for temporal change in vegetation, at repeatedly-sampled sites, but strong evidence for the existence of seven groups of samples from geographically-varied study sites. These supported differing sets of vegetation (with eight species assemblages present in the sample-groups) and showed substantial inter-group differences in both macrophyte alpha-diversity, and geographically-varying physico-chemical parameters. The evidence suggested that the main environmental drivers of macrophyte community composition and diversity were altitude, stream order, shade, pH, alkalinity, NO3-N, and underwater light availability, while PO4-P showed slightly lower, but still significant variation between sample-groups.

This study assessed the hypothesis that spatial and environmental drivers of river macrophyte diversity and community composition differ in relative importance in calcareous river systems located in warm regions of America versus Africa. We collected aquatic vegetation and spatio-environmental data, during 2006–11, from >200 hardwater rivers, and associated floodplain waterbodies, located up to 30° north or south of the Equator, in México, Trinidad, Brazil, Argentina, U.S.A. (Florida), South Africa, Botswana and Zambia. Species rarefaction procedures were used to assess the impacts of differing sampling effort in the two continents upon estimation of γ-diversity (“species pool”). We then used a cluster analysis approach (two-way indicator species analysis: TWINSPAN) to classify samples into groups based upon species composition. Variation in species richness, community composition and six spatial and environmental variables, among samples making up these groups, were compared using ANOVA and Kruskal–Wallis procedures. Regression trees and redundancy analysis were used to infer the relative importance of spatial and environmental drivers in explaining variation in local species richness and species community composition between the two continents. Sorensen's index (Cs) was calculated to estimate species turnover (β-diversity) between African and American samples. In total, 378 macrophyte taxa were recorded, with no significant difference in mean macrophyte α-diversity between African and American sites, but with evidence for high species turnover between the two continents (Cs = 0.17). Rarefaction analysis confirmed the existence of a larger macrophyte species pool in the hardwater rivers sampled in Africa compared to America. TWINSPAN classification identified seven sample end-groups, only one of which contained a mix of sites from both continents. PERMANOVA and non-metric multidimensional scaling ordination analysis confirmed significant differences in community composition present in these sample-groups. There were substantial differences between the sample-groups for α-diversity, and for spatial and environmental variables. The high species turnover between Africa and America may be accounted for by geographical segregation, along with differences in aquatic habitat characteristics, and varying long-distance dispersal capacities of individual species. The relative importance of spatial and physicochemical drivers (latitude, pH, altitude, alkalinity and electrical conductivity but not flow) differed between the continents in influencing variation in both macrophyte diversity and community composition. Latitude was a significant, although nonlinear and rather complex, spatial driver of macrophyte α-diversity in both American and African hardwater rivers. Water chemistry variables varied in relative importance as drivers of macrophyte α-diversity for African and American sites individually, and for all sites combined, but pH and/or electrical conductivity were more important than alkalinity in each case. In all three cases, altitude was consistently the third most important driver of α-diversity. Spatial and environmental variables played important roles in structuring macrophyte community composition in warm-water calcareous rivers in both America and Africa, with latitude being the strongest individual driver. Thus, this spatial variable, which is a surrogate for numerous enviro-climatic variables, appears to be of importance in determining macrophyte distributions at large spatial scales, for the ecosystem type examined here.

The higher mid-latitudes of the Northern Hemisphere are particularly sensitive to climate change as small differences in temperature determine frozen ground status, precipitation phase, and the mag ...

This study investigated the response of freshwater wetland vegetation to hydrological driving factors by assessing collective vegetation variables, traits of dominant plant populations and hydrological and hydrochemical variables, repeat-sampled within wetland sites across Scotland and northern England. Sampling was conducted at 55 permanent sample stations located along 11 independent transects. Eco-hydrological interactions were investigated using a regression-based modelling approach. Facets of the water-table dynamic (e.g., level of drawdown, level of fluctuation), along with vegetation abundance (e.g., biomass, stem density) and diversity (e.g., species richness) values, were used to build predictive models. Of the models predicting vegetation characteristics, the greatest predictive power was R 2=0.67 (p < 0.001) for a model predicting stem density (m−2). Conversely, vegetation variables proved useful for predicting characteristics of the water-table environment. In this instance, the greatest predictive power was R 2=0.79 (p < 0.001) for a model predicting minimum water table level (i.e. maximum level of drawdown). The models were tested using data collected during 2000 from repeat sites and independent sites. This approach might be successfully applied for the purposes of integrated eco-hydrological management and monitoring of freshwater wetland vegetation.

The AOCS Official Method Ce 1h-05 was recently approved at the 96th AOCS Annual Meeting (2005) by the Uniform Methods Committee as the official method for determining cis and trans FA in vegetable or non-ruminant fats and oils. A series of experiments was undertaken using a margarine (hydrogenated soybean oil) sample containing approximately 34% total trans FA (28% 18∶1 trans, 6% 18∶2 trans, and 0.2% 18∶3 trans), a low-trans oil (ca. 7% total trans FA), and a proposed system suitability mixture (12∶0, 9c−18∶1, 11c−18;1, 9c,12c,15c−18∶3, 11c−20∶1, and 21∶0) in an effort to evaluate and optimize the separation on the 100-m SP-2560 and CP-Sil 88 flexible fused-silica capillary GC columns recommended for the analysis. Different carrier gases and flow rates were used during the evaluation, which eventually lead to the final conditions to be used for AOCS Official Method Ce 1h-05.

Background: Coralline hydroxyapatite bone graft substitute material is created by the conversion of the calcium carbonate structure of coral into hydroxyapatite. The microstructure of the material resembles cancellous bone and provides an osteoconductive scaffold for bone ingrowth. The use of this material is reported in the orthopedic oncology and trauma literature. Short-term reports in foot procedures have been reported. Method: A retrospective review identified 10 patients who had undergone hindfoot arthrodesis with coralline hydroxyapatite bone graft. The charts were reviewed for outcomes, operative complications, and time to union. Nine of the 10 patients were available for additional examination. Results: The average followup was 6 years. There were three complications. One patient had sural nerve numbness with partial resolution which was unrelated to the graft material. A rheumatoid patient on methotrexate and prednisone developed a deep wound infection 9 months after surgery. One patient had a nonunion of the talonavicular joint. Eight of the 10 patients reported good or excellent results. Radiographs continued to demonstrate the presence of the graft material at 6 years. Radiographs showed extrusion of the graft from the joint in all patients. No patient had symptoms from the extruded material. Discussion: Coralline hydroxyapatite bone graft substitute appears to be a clinically effective material for use in foot procedures. No adverse events could be linked to the graft material. The graft material is difficult to contain and extrusion was present in all patients. The slow resorption is a concerning characteristic of the graft material. At 6-year followup, the continued presence of the material has not shown any adverse effect.

Multivariate techniques were used to compare and contrast the effects of land cover and farming practice on ground beetle and spider assemblages of Scottish farmland. For both ground beetles and spiders, the ordination and fuzzy clustering of sites were related to land cover rather than geographical location or year of sampling. The same four types of land cover group were identified: that is, heather moorland, semi-natural grassland, intensive grassland and arable land. The robustness of these land cover groups was tested using previously unsampled sites and it was found that 79 and 86% of sites, for ground beetle and spider assemblages respectively, were allocated to the land cover group predicted from their actual land cover. Furthermore, procrustes rotational analysis found a strong relationship between ground beetle and spider assemblages in intensively managed sites, suggesting that the assemblage structure of one group could be used to predict that of the other. The observed relationship between spider and ground beetle assemblages does not necessarily indicate that both groups were responding to agricultural practices in the same way. Indeed, the highest number of beetle species occurred in intensively managed grassland and arable sites while the highest number of spider species occurred in semi-natural grassland and heather sites. When conducting ecological assessments, one might wish to collect information on a wide range of ecologically different taxa; however, financial constraints make this unfeasible. From the results it could be concluded that spiders should be chosen in preference to ground beetles when seeking to make predictions on how farming practices influence invertebrates. However, such a conclusion would be premature since not only were spiders more numerous in the traps, but they were also more time consuming to process. In addition, the strong relationship found between the spider and ground beetle assemblages further justifies carabids as a target group when monitoring the influence of farming practices on biodiversity.

New experimental evidence from controlledglasshouse studies was used to testprevious empirical field observations aboutthe interactions of hydrological dynamicswith individual plant species in wetlandhabitats. Manipulation of water levels, andthe presence/ absence of competitorspecies, produced significant morphologicalresponses (e.g. resource allocation toabove- and below-ground structures; plantheight; leaf size; tiller production) inmature individuals of five freshwaterwetland plant species characteristic ofBritish northern poor-fen habitats. Theseresponses provide evidence for potentialadvantages in survival and ability tospread vegetatively. The data also providenew insight into factors controlling thedistribution of wetland plants alonggradients of water table level, in thepresence or absence of competing species.Although there were variations betweenspecies, the effects of competition were,in general, less than those attributable tohydrological regime.

The hydrological and hydrochemical conditions which characterise one of the two known UK habitats supporting Carex chordorrhiza (a glacial relict, occurring in riverine wetlands) were quantified. The environmental data were related to structural measurements of the species, and the plant assemblages in which it occurred. The communities which contain C. chordorrhiza in Scotland are closely related to two wetland vegetation types quite widely distributed in Europe, but the fact that C. chordorrhiza shows a severely limited, and scattered, European distribution within this general community type suggests that it has highly specific habitat requirements. These include moderately reducing hydrosoil conditions and near-constant shallow inundation, both producing intermediate levels of stress. The results suggest that management aimed at maintaining such conditions, and preventing invasion of more competitive species into habitats which support C. chordorrhiza, is a pre-requisite for conservation of this species in boreal regions of Europe.

Analysis of field survey data collected during 1999, from waterbodies (river channel, secondary channels and backwaters, temporary lagoons, permanent lagoons) within the riverine floodplain wetlands of the Upper Rio Parana in southern Brazil showed: (i) strong dominance by five aquatic macrophyte species (most important being Eichhornia azurea), out of 28 species recorded at the survey stations; (ii) based on TWINSPAN clustering, the existence of three major aquatic vegetation types. These comprised an E. azurea–Limnobium laevigatum sub-community (at 20% of stations sampled); an E. azurea–Salvinia sub-community (commonest, at 67% of stations); plus a Nymphaea amazonum–Myriophyllum aquaticum community (rarest, at 13%) which occurred in habitats showing significant between-type differences in environmental conditions for water (depth, underwater light regime, conductivity, pH, alkalinity, phosphate) and sediments (redox potential, calcium, total Kjeldahl nitrogen, phosphate, iron); (iii) predictable patterns of variation in plant size and shape, among populations of the dominant plant species present: E. azurea, Cyperus diffusus, Polygonum ferrugineum, Salvinia spp., Eichhornia crassipes, N. amazonum, along gradients of water and sediment physico-chemistry; (iv) significant variation in both macrophyte community abundance and species diversity between the three vegetation types, with the highest species richness occurring in the E. azurea–L. laevigatum sub-community, but highest community biomass in the E. azurea–Salvinia sub-community. Minimal linear models are presented which use a combination of environmental and vegetation attribute data as predictor variables to predict species richness and biomass of aquatic vegetation for the floodplain waterbodies. Such models can be used to assess vegetation response to likely scenarios of future change in river conditions in sub-tropical areas, for example modification of flow regime by dam construction.

The Rio Parana is the world's tenth largest river (discharge in the upper river, studied here, during major flood events exceeds 12 700 m3 s-1). Together with its associated floodplain water bodies, this Neotropical river system supports a freshwater biodiversity of worldwide conservation significance, but one increasingly affected by human pressures, particularly the effects of river impoundment. Multivariate analysis of data from repeated (2000–2002 and 2011) macrophyte–environment surveys of a set of stations within a 230 km stretch of functioning riverine floodplain, downstream of the most recently completed dam on the Upper Parana, the Porto Primavera Dam, together with published data (from 1999 and 2005–2007), was used to test the hypothesis that human influences might outweigh the importance of natural factors in driving the aquatic vegetation dynamics (macrophyte community composition, alpha-diversity, and abundance) of this system during the period 1999–2011. The macrophyte communities present showed differences of species composition and abundance that could be strongly related to the scale and duration of the immediately preceding annual flood pulse, as well as local variations in physico-chemical conditions. For rare Neotropical endemic species, which are a good marker of the conservation status of the system, there was a reasonable degree of stability between the 2000–2002 and 2011 survey periods, with eight of 16 such species being present in both surveys, three present in 2000–2002 only, but an additional five such species found only in 2011. The conclusion is that vegetation changes in the system can be referred both to direct human impacts (river regulation), and to indirect human or natural impacts (floods, alien species invasion by Hydrilla verticillata, and local environmental factors). Overall there was evidence that major floods associated with El Nino - Southern Oscillation (ENSO) climatic events had a much greater impact than other drivers, whether natural or anthropogenic. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Background: Excessive first ray mobility has been implicated as the cause of many forefoot abnormalities. The association between hypermobility and forefoot pathology is controversial, and this is largely related to the difficulty in quantifying first ray motion. Manual examinations have been shown to be unreliable. Klaue et al. developed a device consisting of a modified ankle-foot orthosis with an attached micrometer to objectively measure first ray mobility. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the validity and reliability of this device. Methods: Sixteen fresh-frozen, below-knee amputation specimens with hallux valgus were used for the study. The study was divided into two parts. Part I was an analysis of the validity of the Klaue device; first ray dorsal displacement was measured on lateral radiographs following manual manipulation, and values were statistically compared to the Klaue device measurements. Part II of the study was an evaluation of intraobserver and interobserver agreement. Two clinicians used the Klaue device on each of the cadaver limbs, and values of first ray sagittal mobility were recorded and compared. Results: The mean value of first ray mobility measured with the Klaue device was 7.5 mm and the average displacement measured from the lateral radiographs was 7.4 mm. Paired t-testing showed no significant difference between the Klaue and radiographic measurements ( p = 0.83). The mean first ray mobility by examiners 1 and 2 with the Klaue device were identical (10.5 mm), and statistical analysis showed no significant interobserver or intraobserver differences. Conclusions: The results confirm the validity of the Klaue device and limited variability of measurements between experienced users.

Surgical correction of hallux valgus deformities often results in decreased first metatarsophalangeal joint (MTPJ) range of motion. Loss of motion has been shown to affect patient satisfaction. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the immediate change in MTPJ range of motion that occurs after a distal soft-tissue reconstruction (DSTR) and proximal metatarsal osteotomy (PMO).DSTR and PMO were done on 16 below-knee cadaver specimens with clinically apparent hallux valgus deformities. Two examiners assessed preoperative and postoperative dorsiflexion (DF), plantarflexion (PF), and the total range of motion of the first MTPJ. The hallux valgus angle (HVA) and 1-2 intermetatarsal angle (1-2 IMA) were measured on simulated weightbearing radiographs before and after operative correction. Changes in motion were analyzed and correlated with the angular measurements.The mean total range of motion preoperatively was 85.4 degrees (DF 70.5 degrees, PF 14.9 degrees) and significantly decreased (p0.005) 23.2 degrees to a postoperative value of 62.2 degrees (DF 47.9 degrees, PF 14.3 degrees). There was a significant (p0.005) decrease in DF (22.6 degrees) with the operative correction, but the loss of PF (0.6 degrees) was not significant (p = 0.7). There was no correlation between the magnitude of correction (HVA, 1-2 IMA) and the change in PF, DF, or total motion.Correction of a hallux valgus deformity with a DSTR and PMO is associated with an immediate loss of range of motion that primarily affects the DF arc of the first MTPJ. The selective loss of DF may be related to a nonisometric capsular repair or tight intrinsic musculature, although there was no correlation with the magnitude of angular correction. The immediate decrease in motion observed in this cadaver study underscores the importance of early postoperative joint mobilization to prevent long-term stiffness after bunion surgery.

Methods:We report a retrospective review of 57 consecutive patients (72 feet) over a period of 20 years who had been treated operatively for either a lateral fifth toe corn or an interdigital corn of the fourth interdigital space more than two years previously. Of these, 51 patients (62 feet) returned for a follow-up evaluation at a minimum of two years (average of over seven years) which included a review of the interval history since the surgery, a physical examination, a radiographic evaluation, and assessment of the patient's satisfaction with the alignment and results of surgery. Treatment of 31 lateral fifth toe corns involved either a lateral condylectomy and flexor tenotomy or a complete condylectomy. Treatment of 31 interdigital corns comprised either a single condylectomy, double condylectomy of adjacent corns, or a complete condylectomy (hammertoe repair) of a symptomatic corn. Treatment in each case was dependent upon the severity of the deformity.Results:There was found to be no significant difference in comparison of the two major groups (interdigital corns and lateral fifth toe corns) with the measurement of the relative length of the fourth and fifth metatarsals, toe malalignment, angulation of the fourth and fifth toes (MTP-4, MTP-5 angles), and the phalangeal-5 angle. Pain was relieved in 58 of 62 feet (93%) and subjective acceptable alignment was achieved in 54 of 62 feet (87%). At final follow-up 53 feet were rated by patients as excellent, seven as good, one as fair, and one as poor. Complications included numbness of the involved digit (six feet). There were two superficial infections. There were two cases of joint instability due to excessive bone resection. Joint stiffness was commonly observed (34/62 feet, 55%), but was not associated with diminished satisfaction at final follow-up. Mild asymptomatic recurrence of a callosity was noted in 10 feet and moderate or severe recurrence was noted in two feet. Dissatisfaction was associated with moderate or severe recurrence.Conclusion:In this retrospective study at an average of more than seven years, we achieved a high level of patient satisfaction treating both lateral fifth toe corns and interdigital corns with a partial and/or complete condylectomy, the choice depending upon the magnitude of the deformity and the callus, and the fixed nature of the lesser toe deformity.

This paper defines three Upper Cretaceous formations exposed in and near San Diego, California. The lowest, which consists of boulder conglomerate, is the previously named Lusardi Formation; the intermediate, which consists of siltstone and sandstone, is the Point Loma Formation (new name); and the uppermost, which consists of sandstone and conglomerate, is the Cabrillo Formation (new name). Together these constitute the Rosario Group, redesignated from its former rank as a formation. Eight partly intertonguing Eocene formations also are defined. Of these, six have new names and two are former members raised in rank to formational status. The lowest of the Eocene formations is the Mount Soledad Formation (new name), a marine conglomerate and sandstone unit occurring in th western part of the area. Above and northeast of the Mount Soledad Formation are the laterally equivalent Delmar Formation and Torrey Sandstone (both raised here from member to formational rank) and the Ardath Shale (new name). The Delmar Formation is an oyster-bearing sandy claystone, the Torrey Sandstone is a massively crossbedded sandstone, and the Ardath Shale is a fossiliferous silty shale. Overlying and partly intertonguing with these formations is the Scripps Formation (new name), composed of sandstone, siltstone, and conglomerate, and overlying the Scripps is the chiefly nonmarine Friars Formation (new name), which consists of sandstone and sandy claystone. All these Eocene rocks were formerly included in the La Jolla Formation, which is here elevated to group status. The remain ng part of the Eocene section in the San Diego area, above the La Jolla Group, was formerly called the Poway Conglomerate and is here elevated to group status, and two new formations are designated in its lower part. The lower, which consists of cobble conglomerate, is the newly named Stadium Conglomerate; the upper, which consists chiefly of marine sandstone and siltstone, is the newly named Mission Valley Formation.