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An extreme snow avalanche occurred on Mt. Nodanishoji, Japan, in 2021. This avalanche was the second largest ever documented in Japan and destroyed many trees and structures. Despite the increasing interest in avalanche disaster mitigation effects of forests, there are limited opportunities to obtain actual data sets on avalanches and forests. In this study, we reconstructed the avalanche velocity based on the cedar forest damage and simulated the avalanche flow using the dynamical run-out model Titan2D to reveal the avalanche movement and ascertain the braking effect of the forest on the avalanche. We successfully simulated the whole movement of the extreme avalanche with a horizontal runout distance of 2,800 m from the starting zone at an altitude of 1,700 m to the run-out zone considering the effect of the forest by increasing the frictional parameters in the model. Whereas in the case of no forest, the avalanche spread beyond its actual reach, considering the forest, the run-out distance decreased and was consistent with the observed reach. Comparing the results with and without forests, we ascertained the distinct braking effect of the forest on the extreme avalanche and quantify it in terms of a locally increased friction angle. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In ancient Egypt, as with many cultures, funerary objects often communicated aspects of access, power, and social status. Lebanese cedar, for instance, was selected as a particularly desirable material from which to craft the coffins of Egypt's upper echelons. This imported timber was both structurally superior to local woods and had important social and religious significance. For the slightly lower-ranking elite of Egypt, for whom cedar was inaccessible, local wood skeuomorphs that imitated cedar coffins were created in their place. The skeuomorphs enabled these individuals to demonstrate their knowledge of elite styles and tastes, and, due to the power of the image in ancient Egypt, also allowed for them to borrow the religious power of cedar wood to protect and enhance their own coffins. In this paper, a selection of Old to Middle Kingdom coffins are discussed to demonstrate the ways that cedar was emphasized as a construction material by the upper elite and mimicked by the middle and lower elite. This helps to demonstrate both the value of cedar in ancient Egypt, as well as the means by which imagery could be manipulated to gain access to the power of this potent material. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background/Objectives: Ventral hernia repair (VHR) is a common surgical intervention linked to specific surgical site complications. In such occurrences, the related morbidity is often substantial. Although known risk factors have long been recognized, their systematic inclusion in risk stratification systems lacks universal validation. This study evaluates the effectiveness and correspondence of three risk assessment tools—CeDAR, VHWG, and the modified VHWG—in predicting postoperative wound complications in VHR patients. Methods: We analyzed data from 203 patients who underwent VHR for incisional midline or lateral wall hernia across two surgical departments between 2019 and 2023. Each patient was scored using CeDAR, VHWG, and the modified VHWG systems. Outcomes were assessed based on surgical site occurrences (SSOs) such as seroma formation, wound infections, and recurrences. Results: The incidence of SSOs was 8.9%, with two recorded deaths (0.89%). CeDAR scores showed a statistically significant relationship with SSOs but failed to accurately predict complication rates across subgroups. The VHWG grading system effectively predicted higher complication rates for grades III and IV compared to grades I and II, though its modified version did not show significant predictive improvements. Secondary outcomes indicated a higher SSO rate in patients requiring posterior component separation (TAR) and those with larger hernia defects, though the differences were not statistically significant. Major preoperative risk factors, including smoking, diabetes, and obesity, did not show significant correlations with SSO rates in this study. Conclusions: Current risk estimation tools inadequately predict SSOs in VHR. Enhancing prediction accuracy will require incorporating both patient-specific and surgical factors, potentially through advanced algorithms and large-scale studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lowland northern white-cedar (Thuja occidentalis L.) forests are increasingly exposed to extreme droughts and floods that cause tree mortality. However, it is not clear the extent to which these events may differentially affect regeneration of cedar and its increasingly common associate, balsam fir (Abies balsamea (L.) Mill.). To test this, we measured how seedlings of cedar and fir were able to avoid, resist and recover from experimental drought and flood treatments of different lengths (8 to 66 days). Overall, we found that cedar exhibited a strategy of stress resistance and growth recovery (resilience) from moderate drought and flood stress. Fir, on the other hand, appears to be adapted to avoid drought and flood stress and exhibited overall lower growth resilience. In drought treatments, we found evidence of different stomatal behaviors. Cedar used available water quickly and therefore experienced more drought stress than fir, but cedar was able to survive at water potentials > 3 MPa below key hydraulic thresholds. On the other hand, fir employed a more conservative water-use strategy and therefore avoided extremely low water potential. In response to flood treatments, cedar survival was higher and only reached 50% if exposed to 23.1 days of flooding in contrast to only 7.4 days to reach 50% mortality for fir. In both droughts and floods, many stressed cedar were able to maintain partially brown canopies and often survived the stress, albeit with reduced growth, suggesting a strategy of resistance and resilience. In contrast, fir that experienced drought or flood stress had a threshold-type responses and they either had full live canopies with little effect on growth or they died suggesting reliance on a strategy of drought avoidance. Combined with increasingly variable precipitation regimes, seasonal flooding and complex microtopography that can provide safe sites in these forests, these results inform conservation and management of lowland cedar stands. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: The Cancer Epitope Database and Analysis Resource (CEDAR) is a newly developed repository of cancer epitope data from peer-reviewed publications, which includes epitope-specific T cell, antibody, and MHC ligand assays. Here we focus on prostate cancer as our first cancer category to demonstrate the capabilities of CEDAR, and to shed light on the advances of epitope-related prostate cancer research. RESULTS: The meta-analysis focused on a subset of data describing epitopes from 8 prostate-specific (PS) antigens. A total of 460 epitopes were associated with these proteins, 187 T cell, 109B cell, and 271 MHC ligand epitopes. The number of epitopes was not correlated with the length of the protein; however, we found a significant positive correlation between the number of references per specific PS antigen and the number of reported epitopes. Forty-four different class I and 27 class II restrictions were found, with the most epitopes described for HLA-A*02:01 and HLA-DRB1*01:01. Cytokine assays were mostly limited to IFNg assays and a very limited number of tetramer assays were performed. Monoclonal and polyclonal B cell responses were balanced, with the highest number of epitopes studied in ELISA/Western blot assays. Additionally, epitopes were generically described as associated with prostate cancer, with little granularity specifying diseases state. We found that in vivo and tumor recognition assays were sparse, and the number of epitopes with annotated B/T cell receptor information were limited. Potential immunodominant regions were identified by the use of the ImmunomeBrowser tool. CONCLUSION: CEDAR provides a comprehensive repository of epitopes related to prostate-specific antigens. This inventory of epitope data with its wealth of searchable T cell, B cell and MHC ligand information provides a useful tool for the scientific community. At the same time, we identify significant knowledge gaps that could be addressed by experimental analysis.

ABSTRACT Providing nutrients in optimum quantities is essential for increasing the productivity of timber species. Despite this, we know little about the actual potassium (K) requirements of native Amazonian Forest species. This study aimed to determine the critical level of K deficiency and toxicity for the initial cultivation of cedar. We grew Cedrela fissilis seedlings in a nutrient solution under the effect of five concentrations of K (0, 1, 2, 5, and 8 mmol L-1) in a completely randomized design with five replications. After 30 days, we evaluated the relative growth rate, dry mass production, proline content, symptomatology, macro and micronutrient content and accumulation, and K absorption and utilization efficiencies. Concentrations of K positively influence the growth, accumulation, and content of nutrients in the dry mass of the aerial part of young cedar plants. Providing varying amounts of potassium significantly affects the nutritional and growth parameters of Cedrela fissilis seedlings. Potassium doses of 3.5 - 4.00 mmol L-1 in the growing substrate led to better nutritional status (26.08 - 27.28 g kg-1 of K) and plant growth.

Plant responses to different light and water availability are variable among species and their respective phenotypic plasticity, and the combination between these two abiotic factors can alleviate or intensify stressful effects. This study aimed to evaluate the impacts of exposure time of Cedrela fissilis Vell. seedlings to different water and light availability considering natural radiation variations and the interaction of these factors. Seedlings were submitted to combinations of three shading levels—SH (0, 30 and 70%) and three water regimes based on the water holding capacity (WHC) in the substrate, constituting nine cultivation conditions: T1—0% SH + 40% WHC; T2—0% SH + 70% WHC; T3—0% SH + 100% WHC; T4—30% SH + 40% WHC; T5—30% SH + 70% WHC; T6—30% SH + 100% WHC; T7—70% SH + 40% WHC; T8—70% SH + 70% WHC; T9—70% SH + 100% WHC. C. fissilis seedlings are sensitive to water deficit, here represented by 40% WHC, regardless of exposure time, and when cultivated in full sun even though there are variations in radiation, the stressful effects were enhanced, acting in a synergistic manner. The condition that provided better gas exchange performance and greater total dry mass accumulation for C. fissilis seedlings was 30% shading combined with 100% WHC. C. fissilis seedlings have physiological plasticity and resilience to survive under different water and light conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is currently no satisfactory etymology for the hapax legomenon רַפְסֹדוֹת rapsōdôt in 2Chr 2:15 (Eng. 16), although its meaning is agreed to be »rafts, floats«. It is proposed here that the word comes from the phonetically identical Greek word ῥαψῳδία (the ancestor of English rhapsody), which literally means »linked song«. Logs linked together into rafts recalled verses linked together into songs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Arab Journal of Plant Protection is the property of Arab Society for Plant Protection and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Environmental & Social Management Journal / Revista de Gestão Social e Ambiental is the property of Environmental & Social Management Journal and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Modeling of moisture transfer in porous materials is typically partitioned into liquid transport and vapor diffusion. Coefficients for liquid transport are often derived from laboratory measurements of water absorption by partial immersion. Although the assumption that capillary liquid transport is dominant while vapor diffusion is negligible is a reasonable assumption for mineral-based materials, recent work indicates that it is not representative of water absorption in wood across the grain. This article builds on earlier work and develops an improved engineering model for liquid water transport in softwoods. The approach uses a constant liquid diffusivity value, relies primarily on ordinary hygrothermal property measurements, and partitions vapor and liquid transport in a practical way that is informed by current understanding of wood–water interactions. The model is optimized using one-dimensional simulations calibrated against measured water uptake across a range of softwood species. Laboratory measurements were conducted to investigate key properties of eastern white cedar, which had the highest relative error in a previous version of the model, and to examine the practicality and relevance of vacuum saturation and free saturation for southern yellow pine. The model accuracy is improved by paying closer attention to the moisture storage function and capillary saturation value. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The unassembled components of the Khufu-1 ship, dated to the mid-3rd millennium BC were found in 1954 just south of the Khufu pyramid in Egypt. It has two mid-sheer planks, one on each side: 23 m long, and a maximum of 40 cm wide and 14 cm thick. These planks were made from the cedar of Lebanon (Cedrus libani) imported from Lebanon, 320 Nautical Miles (600 km) away, along the eastern coast of the Mediterranean. According to scholars who studied this ship, the ship planks, which were curved in three dimensions, to fit the hull, were produced from the cedar trunk by carving, not by bending. Given that cedar wood was imported and expensive in Egypt, the choice of the carving technique was unexpected, and above all, would yield a plank weaker than one twisted and bent from a straight timber. The two production techniques (carving and bending) were compared, and it was found that bending was superior, and in fact, was demonstrated to be the actual method of shaping the planks of the Khufu-1 ship. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A study published in the journal Allergy investigated the potential immune-regulating genes that may alleviate Japanese cedar pollinosis (JCPsis) symptoms through the intake of Lactiplantibacillus plantarum YIT 0132 (LP0132), a type of lactic acid bacteria. The study found that the downregulation of IDO1 and upregulation of FOXP3 may be associated with the alleviation of JCPsis symptoms by LP0132 intake. However, the study did not compare results with individuals without JCPsis and did not clarify the gene expression profile in immune cells or local changes in mucosa. The study was funded by Yakult Honsha Co., Ltd. and the authors declare no conflicts of interest. [Extracted from the article]

Premise of research. Juniperus virginiana is the most widespread native conifer in the eastern United States. There are two disjoint varieties of J. virginiana , the eastern red cedar (var. virginiana) and the southern red cedar (var. silicicola). While the eastern red cedar occurs in the eastern United States, the southern red cedar primarily occurs along the coast marshes and swamps from North Carolina south to Florida and west to southeast Texas. Methodology. We studied the genetic variation and differentiation of the southern red cedar in Florida, Georgia, and North Carolina using eight microsatellite markers. Pivotal results. The genetic diversity of the southern red cedar was similar to that of other species of Juniperus. The mean number of alleles per locus was highest in the west coast region of Florida and the lowest in North Carolina. Analysis of molecular variance and Wright's F coefficients revealed significant differentiation among regions. Principal coordinate analysis and phylogenetic analysis revealed three distinct groups among the six regions. Mantel test showed significant correlations between geographic distance between regions and their genetic differentiation, suggesting that limited gene flow determines the genetic structure. In addition, a population tree suggested that coastal regions are central regions while North Carolina and inland Florida are marginal. Our findings also showed that a Bayesian model best describes the genetic structure of a southern red cedar with four clusters (K = 4). The model supports isolation by distance, but our results also indicate that environmental factors explain differences observed in inland regions. Conclusions. We found significant genetic diversity and differentiation among southern red cedar regions. Genetic differentiation can be explained, at least in part, by limitation in gene flow because of isolation by distance and isolation by environment. Our results support the predictions of the central-marginal model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Artvin Çoruh Üniversitesi Orman Fakültesi Dergisi is the property of Artvin Coruh University and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Callitropsis nootkatensis (D. Don) Oerst. ex D.P. Little and Thuja plicata Donn ex D. Don are ecologically and culturally important tree species in the forests of Southeast Alaska, and there is great interest in maintaining both species across the landscape. This study investigated the impact of browsing and nearby vegetation as a potential limitation for regenerating both species. Three different stock types of both species were planted on five recently clearcut sites. There were four browsing treatments, including a control, chemical repellent, physical protection, and delayed planting until after the spring browsing season. Browsing levels varied among sites, and on sites with higher browsing levels only seedlings with tree shelters benefited from browsing protection. Browsing during the first year was lower for seedlings with obstructions and slash that limited accessibility for deer. Seedlings protected from browsing by tree shelters and slash exhibited greater height and diameter and lower probabilities of seedling mortality after eight growing seasons. On the site with low incidence of severe browsing, most seedlings grew well regardless of browsing treatments. The benefits of larger seedling stock were evident eight years after planting on all sites. The results suggest good regeneration potential for both species in clearcuts with low browsing levels. In contrast, on sites with higher browsing levels, installing tree shelters at time of planting appears to be an effective treatment to reduce the impact of browsing on seedling growth and survival. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research examines the impact of wettability alteration on the end points of relative permeability, a crucial property of fluids and porous media that influences the displacement processes of immiscible fluids through such media. The estimation of the mobility ratio for oil recovery relies on these end points, which are influenced by connate water saturation and residual oil saturation. To investigate this relationship, carbonate rock is generally subjected to wettability alteration using surfactant agents, and core flooding is employed to determine the relative permeability before and after the alteration. The wettability of the rock is commonly assessed through contact angle measurements. Two surfactants, TritonX-100 (Tx-100) and Cedar, were tested in reducing the wettability of the porous media for oil. The contact angle measurements revealed that Tx-100 was more effective for this purpose than Cedar. Furthermore, the relative permeability tests indicated that both surfactants decreased residual oil saturation, but Tx-100 also improved system pressure. In contrast, Cedar reduced residual oil saturation but increased system pressure, possibly because of its high viscosity. The results also demonstrate that injecting Tx-100 leads to a 14% increase in ultimate oil recovery compared with water injection, while Cedar injection increased the recovery factor by 5%. This difference may be attributed to the incomplete coverage of the pore wall by Cedar or its weaker chemical structure than Tx-100. Notably, in carbonate cores, neither non-ionic surfactant enhanced oil recovery.

Adsorption of herbicide, 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D), on active carbon samples based on cedar nut shell (CN) was studied. The textural characteristics of CN, adsorption capacity, and kinetics of 2,4-D adsorption from an aqueous medium were studied. The activation of CN in a water vapor was shown to result in the formation of a developed microporous structure providing a high adsorption capacity of the carbon with respect to 2,4-D. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper discusses an earlier emendation to fr. 54 GRF Funaioli from Varro's De bibliothecis and argues that, while the text et citro refers to cedar oil, it should not be emended to et cedro. A comparison with a passage from Pliny the Elder (HN 13.86) is used to support the view presented in the article. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The use of biochar in soilless media is becoming more common in greenhouse production. This study was conducted to evaluate Eastern red cedar biochar as a soilless-media supplement for the growth of geranium (Pelargonium graveolens L.) and petunia (Petunia sp. J.) as potted plants in greenhousese. Eastern red cedar biomass was produced at three different temperature ranges 300–350 °C, 400–450 °C, and 500–550 °C and applied at 15%, 30%, 45%, and 60% v/v to a soilless media plus a control. Additionally, Eastern red cedar (ERC) bark was also applied at 15%, 30%, 45%, and 60% v/v to a soilless media. The growth characteristics of the plants along with the physical and nutrient properties of the growth media were recorded. For physical properties, 100% soilless media had the greatest bulk density, 60% biochar at 400–450 °C showed the greatest total porosity, and 60% ERC bark showed the greatest air porosity. For geranium, 15% biochar at 500–550 °C showed the greatest height, water use efficiency, and shoot dry weight, while 15% biochar at 300–350 °C showed the greatest width. The greatest number of flowers was at 45% biochar at 500–550 °C. For petunia, 15% biochar at 300–350 °C showed the greatest height, and 15% biochar at 500–550 °C showed the greatest width. The greatest number of flowers and flower diameter was achieved with 100% soilless media. The 15% biochar at 500–550 °C had the greatest shoot dry weight and water use efficiency, and 60% biochar at 400–450 °C had the greatest root dry weight. Biochar treatment outperforms the ERC bark treatment for both species. Within biochar treatment, 15% biochar outperforms dry biomass, while for flowering, 100% soilless media performs best for petunia, and biochar performs best at less than 45% for geranium. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Juniperus, a genus of fragrant evergreen trees in the Cupressaceae family, encompasses up to 67 distinct species distributed globally. Among these, Juniperus procera, also known as the East African pencil cedar or African Juniper, stands out for its notable medicinal properties. Due to the wellrecognized therapeutic benefits of Juniper species, assessing genetic diversity is essential for various breeding initiatives. Thus, in this work, six ISSR and six SCoT primers were utilized to evaluate the genetic diversity between 23 Juniper genotypes collected from different locations in Saudi Arabia. 29 out of 103 and 26 out of 105 amplified bands, respectively, were found to be polymorphic markers using the ISSR and SCoT studies. With the help of 120 genotype-specific markers, including 60 for ISSR and 60 for SCoT, several varieties of Juniper were discovered. In addition, the polymorphism information content (PIC) was computed to assess the effectiveness of the markers. The findings of this study highlight the importance of conserving the genetic diversity of Juniperus procera, as it holds immense potential for developing new medicinal products. Additionally, the results provide valuable insights into the genetic structure of Juniper populations in western Saudi Arabia, which can inform future conservation and management efforts. However, all of the techniques utilized to profile the genotypes of Juniper can be regarded as useful techniques for long-term fingerprinting and diagnostic markers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To better guide Cedruslibani provenances movement to northerly and higher-altitude sites for afforestation, the limits of hardiness to cold should be better known. In this study, we quantified the cold hardiness of seven C.libani provenances sampled from a provenance trial in Ankara, Türkiye, a site located outside the natural range of distribution of the species. Visual damage observation and chlorophyll fluorometry screening methods were used to assess variation in cold hardiness (LT50, the temperature estimated at which 50% of the needle tissue is damaged) among populations. Overall, C.libani can tolerate winter temperatures down to − 21.5 °C. Even though there were significant differences in cold hardiness among populations, the maximum difference was only 1.9 °C between the most and the least cold-resistant provenances. Cold tolerance was generally greater for provenances that experienced colder temperatures in March and lower levels of total precipitation in their native ranges. We also conclude that the fluorometry method provides a more efficient and stable comparison of cold hardiness than visual observation for C.libani. The results of this study may be useful for assisted migration and breeding programs, as well as for developing guidelines for genetic materials transfer, to increase productivity or adaptability of C.libani. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although northern white-cedar (Thuja occidentalis; henceforth cedar) is thought to have few insect pests, arborvitae leafminers (primarily Argyresthia thuiella) have been known to cause leaf necrosis. Yet, historical evidence for leafminer outbreaks is limited. We combined leafminer larval surveys conducted between 1950 and 1992 with tree-ring analyses from eight cedar stands to reconstruct a history of leafminer outbreaks in Maine, USA. Our tree-ring data show distinctive 2- to 3-year growth reductions that we attribute to leafminers. Several such growth reductions correspond to peak leafminer larval abundances, providing evidence that the reductions are reliable indicators of leafminer activity. Outbreak severity within a site was unrelated to cedar abundance. Outbreak periods thus identified (beginning ca. 1919, 1937, 1950, 1962, mid-1970s, but not at all sites) suggest that leafminer damage may have been more prevalent (albeit patchy) than previously thought. This historical information is relevant given current outbreaks in Maine and elsewhere. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As Indigenous-led education mandates proliferate globally, understanding how educators teach Indigenous perspectives and sovereignty remains urgent. Learning and integrating such knowledge proves difficult for non-Native teachers, given their lengthy participation in settler colonial schooling and society. What does learning to implement Native sovereignty curriculum entail? Codesigned with eight Native education leaders, this qualitative study examines five non-Native K–12 teachers' learning processes with Washington's Since Time Immemorial curriculum across three schools, using interviews, observations, and other data. Findings indicate six themes of learning supporting meaningful implementation, one potential catalyst for overall growth, and two distinct learning trajectories that suggest outward, rather than inbound, directionality. Implications for teacher education and educational leadership clarify needed steps for teacher learning and curriculum implementation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reproductive characteristics (e.g., pollen, strobili, cones, seeds, and fruit) are one of the main tools in sustainable forestry. However, many biotic (e.g., growth characteristics, species, population, and individual) and abiotic (e.g., edaphic, climatic, geographic, and year) factors can affect these characteristics. In this study, the impact of climatic characteristics, including minimum, maximum, and average temperatures, annual total precipitation, and relative humidity, on female and male strobilus production was examined in three natural populations of Taurus cedar (Cedrus libani A. Rich.) during three consecutive years (2020–2022). For this purpose, fifty trees were sampled randomly and marked in each population to observe strobilus production. Analysis of variance showed that climatic characteristics were similar (p > 0.05) among years and among populations, while female and male strobilus production showed significant (p < 0.01) differences among years, among populations, and among years within populations. In contrast, interactions of population × year were not significant (p > 0.05) for climatic characteristics. Two populations had the highest strobilus production (155.4 and 82.3 for females and 889.4 and 186.1 for males) in 2022. The studied climatic characteristics had no significant (p > 0.05) effects on strobilus production. The results of the study emphasized similar forestry practices in local areas based on climatic conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nematode communities in natural pristine forests composed of trees aged over 1000 years have not been thoroughly studied. Old-growth forests can provide diverse microhabitats for nematodes such as fallen trees with mossy conditions. This study aimed to characterize the community and trophic compositions of nematodes in relation to different microhabitats in old-growth Japanese cedar (Cryptomeria japonica (L. f.) D. Don) forests in Yakushima Island, Japan. To this aim, nematodes retrieved from four different types of microhabitats were morphologically identified at the family/genus level and divided into five trophic groups. A nonmetric multidimensional scaling scatterplot showed that nematode communities clustered significantly in each microhabitat and their community compositions were significantly affected by C/N ratio. With respect to nematode trophic composition, bacterivorous nematodes dominated decaying barks of fallen trees, with a relative abundance of 45%, while fungivorous nematodes were dominant in living barks of cedar trunks (61%). Predatory–omnivorous nematodes predominated in mosses of fallen trees (51%). These results showed that nematode community and trophic composition were different among microhabitats characterized by nutrient conditions. The predatory–omnivorous nematodes were abundant in mosses with N-rich conditions. In contrast, fungivorous nematodes were abundant in cedar trunks with high C/N conditions. Thus, old-growth natural forests can provide diverse microhabitats where various nematode taxa coexist due to the presence of fallen trees and mosses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Allometric equations are often applied to estimate volume and carbon stocks of forest ecosystems. This study focused on formulating or developing allometric equations or models for estimating the volume of standing Toona ciliata M. Roem. trees in the red cedar woodlands of Northwestern Himalayas of India. Despite rich floral diversity, there has been a scarcity of such equations for this region. The research involved sampling and measuring 100 red cedar trees across four sites. Dendrometric variables were then measured for each site to create model s based on height, diameter at breast height (DBH), and form factor as predictor variables. This work underscores the importance of allometric equations in accurately assessing the volume of red cedar woodlands, as they consider factors like vegetation type, management practices, and environmental conditions. The findings will enhance our grasp of allometric equations and contribute to the development of tools for forest planners, farmers, and researchers, enabling precise prediction of forest resources in terms of volume. This will, in turn, support effective management strategies for red cedar woodlands in the Northwestern Himalayas and similar ecosystems worldwide. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Western redcedar (Thuja plicata) is an important species in the Cupressaceae both at economic and cultural levels in the Pacific Northwest of North America. In adult trees, the species produces one of the most weatheringresistant heartwoods among conifers, making it one of the preferred species for outdoor applications. However, young T. plicata plants are susceptible to infection with cedar leaf blight (Didymascella thujina), an important foliar pathogen that can be devastating in nurseries and small-spaced plantations. Despite that, variability in the resistance against D. thujina in T. plicata has been documented, and such variability can be used to breed T. plicata for resistance against the pathogen. Objective: This investigation aimed to discern the phenotypic and gene expression differences between resistant and susceptible T. plicata seedlings to shed light on the potential constitutive resistance mechanisms against cedar leaf blight in western redcedar. Methods: The study consisted of two parts. First, the histological differences between four resistant and four susceptible families that were never infected with the pathogen were investigated. And second, the differences between one resistant and one susceptible family that were infected and not infected with the pathogen were analyzed at the chemical (C, N, mineral nutrients, lignin, fiber, starch, and terpenes) and gene expression (RNA-Seq) levels. Results: The histological part showed that T. plicata seedlings resistant to D. thujina had constitutively thicker cuticles and lower stomatal densities than susceptible plants. The chemical analyses revealed that, regardless of their infection status, resistant plants had higher foliar concentrations of sabinene and a-thujene, and higher levels of expression of transcripts that code for leucine-rich repeat receptor-like protein kinases and for bark storage proteins. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cedrol‐like compounds are of pharmacological interest due to their diverse range of medicinal effects and are used globally in traditional medicines and cosmetics. Many cedrol tautomers are known from molecular studies but few have been studied in crystalline form by X‐ray diffraction. Acicular white crystals collected from the wood of eastern red cedar (Juniperus virginiana) are determined to be (+)‐cedrol hemihydrate, namely, (1S,2R,5S,7R,8R)‐2,6,6,8‐tetramethyltricyclo[5.3.1.01,5]undecan‐8‐ol hemihydrate, C15H26O·0.5H2O, a novel packing of two unique cedrol molecules (Z′ = 2) with a single water molecule [space group P212121; a = 6.1956 (1), b = 14.5363 (1), and c = 30.9294 (4) Å]. The hydrogen bonding forms a one‐dimensional spiral chain running along the a axis, following the chirality of the cedrol molecule, through hydrogen‐bonding interactions with a right‐handed helical configuration in graph‐set notation Δ‐C33(6) > a > c > b. The crystal packing and symmetry are different from crystalline isocedrol due to the different hydrogen‐bonding geometry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We review the complicated nomenclatural history of the Clanwilliam cedar. Much of this centres around the application of the name Widdringtonia wallichii Endl. ex Carrière. We are unable to identify any original material of this name and designate a neotype to fix its application as it appears to have been originally intended and as it is currently understood. We also confirm that the correct name for the Clanwilliam cedar is W. cedarbergensis J.A.Marsh. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Pediatric allergic rhinitis (AR), including cedar pollinosis (CP), is increasing in Japan. We investigated the effects of sublingual immunotherapy (SLIT), which has limited studies of its effectiveness in real‐world settings, on children with CP. Methods: This retrospective cohort study used a claim database in 2018–2021. Children aged ≤15 years with CP records in 2019 were eligible and were followed up through 2021. We included 2962 CP children undergoing SLIT and 547 who were not. The medication score was used to evaluate SLIT effectiveness in the cedar pollen dispersal season each year. Adverse events and the occurrence of allergic diseases were also evaluated. Results: Medication score was higher in the SLIT group during the index period but lower in 2021 compared to the non‐SLIT group (mean ± standard deviation: 5.17 ± 2.39 and 4.74 ± 2.38 in 2019, 3.13 ± 2.30 and 3.55 ± 2.48 in 2021, respectively). The adjusted mean difference between groups from 2019 to 2021 was −0.62 (95% confidence interval: −0.86 to −0.39, p <.0001), and the medication score was reduced in the SLIT group (risk ratio: 1.2: 1.1 to 1.3). The occurrence of adverse events involving abdominal disorders (adjusted odds ratio [aOR]: 0.64: 0.51 to 0.81), asthma exacerbation (aOR: 0.37: 0.24 to 0.57), and allergic diseases involving hay fever unrelated to CP (aOR: 0.60: 0.45 to 0.80) or asthma (aOR: 0.71: 0.58 to 0.86) was lower in the SLIT group. Conclusion: In children with CP, SLIT is effective, well tolerated, and could decrease the occurrence of other allergic diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gap dynamics facilitate recruitment of late-successional species such as northern white-cedar (Thuja occidentalis L.). For this reason, harvests that result in partial rather than complete canopy removal have been suggested for cedar. However, success of regenerating cedar following partial harvests is uncertain, especially where there is heavy browsing by white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus Zimmerman) or snowshoe hare (Lepus americanus). Efforts to understand how partial harvests and browsing interact to affect natural regeneration of cedar have been limited. We inventoried partially harvested stands along a gradient of 1–11 years since harvest in New Brunswick, Canada, in an area where deer frequently overwinter. Cedar regeneration was negatively influenced by browsing, but positively influenced by years since harvest and sapling basal area. Cedar seedling survival was assessed over a 2-year period and found to be primarily a function of height at initial measurement, with little influence of browsing. Annual vertical gain of cedar seedlings (a surrogate for height growth) decreased with increasing years since harvest and was influenced by distance from gap edge. In gaps, vertical gain increased with distance to gap edge, while distance to gap edge had a negative influence on vertical gain of seedlings in the matrix (between-gap areas). Many tagged cedar seedlings disappeared prior to remeasurement. These were likely completely consumed by browsers, limiting our ability to determine relative influences of partial harvest and browsing on cedar regeneration. We conclude that partial harvests, as applied in this study, increase cedar abundance and vertical gain, but browsing may necessitate seedling protection. We suggest monitoring to confirm sufficient cedar regeneration in partially harvested stands, using exclosures where browsing is a concern, and retaining or at least delaying removal of seed-bearing cedar overstory trees until regeneration has reached heights safe from browsing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plant responses to different light and water availability are variable among species and their respective phenotypic plasticity, and the combination between these two abiotic factors can alleviate or intensify stressful effects. This study aimed to evaluate the impacts of exposure time of Cedrela fissilis Vell. seedlings to different water and light availability considering natural radiation variations and the interaction of these factors. Seedlings were submitted to combinations of three shading levels—SH (0, 30 and 70%) and three water regimes based on the water holding capacity (WHC) in the substrate, constituting nine cultivation conditions: T1—0% SH + 40% WHC; T2—0% SH + 70% WHC; T3—0% SH + 100% WHC; T4—30% SH + 40% WHC; T5—30% SH + 70% WHC; T6—30% SH + 100% WHC; T7—70% SH + 40% WHC; T8—70% SH + 70% WHC; T9—70% SH + 100% WHC. C. fissilis seedlings are sensitive to water deficit, here represented by 40% WHC, regardless of exposure time, and when cultivated in full sun even though there are variations in radiation, the stressful effects were enhanced, acting in a synergistic manner. The condition that provided better gas exchange performance and greater total dry mass accumulation for C. fissilis seedlings was 30% shading combined with 100% WHC. C. fissilis seedlings have physiological plasticity and resilience to survive under different water and light conditions.

Key message: This study compares the measured radial variation in wood stiffness, strength, and density of noble fir, Norway spruce, western hemlock, and western red cedar by developing mixed-effects models for each property using age as the explanatory variable. These models could be used to simulate the effect of rotation length and species choice on sawn wood properties. Context: Timber production in Great Britain relies primarily on Sitka spruce. The use of multiple species is desirable to mitigate against biotic and abiotic risks posed to a single species. When considering alternative species, quantifying and modeling radial variation in wood properties is important to determine the potential for sawn timber production at a given rotation length. Aims: To build empirical models for the radial variation in wood properties that can account for species. Methods: Clear-wood samples were produced along radial transects in trees from four conifer species: Abies procera Rehder, Picea abies (L.) Karst, Tsuga heterophylla (Raf.) Sarg., Thuja plicata Donn. ex D.Don. Modulus of Elasticity, Modulus of Rupture, and density were measured on each species according to established standards. Mixed-effects models were built using ring numbers from the pith and species as explanatory variables. Results: The same model forms could be used across the four species. Nonlinear models were developed for the Modulus of Elasticity and density. For the Modulus of Rupture, a linear model was most appropriate. The effect of species in the models was significant. Conclusion: At similar rotation lengths, noble fir, Norway spruce, and western hemlock can produce timber with comparable properties to Sitka spruce. Overall, western red cedar would have worse properties for structural use. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigated the potential acaricidal and repellent effects of tar obtained from the Lebanon cedar (Cedrus libani A. Rich.) against the brown dog tick species Rhipicephalus sanguineus sensu lato Latreille (Acari: Ixodidae). The goal was to find an alternative, safe, and effective way to eliminate ticks. Tar is traditionally extracted from cedar trees in the Antalya region of Türkiye. The composition of the tar is primarily characterized by a diverse mixture of terpenes, with β-himachalene (29.16%), α-atlantone (28.7%), ar-turmerone (8.82%), longifolene-(V4) (6.66%), α-himachalene (5.28%), and β-turmerone (5.12%) emerging as the predominant constituents. The toxic effects of tar on tick larvae were studied through larval immersion tests (LIT), and its repellent activity was evaluated using a new larval repellent activity test (LRAT). The results revealed significant acaricidal effects, with mortality rates of 77.7% and 82.2% for the Konyaalti and Kepez strains of the brown dog tick, respectively, in response to a 1% concentration of tar. LC50 and LC90 values were determined as 0.47% and 1.52% for the Kepez strain and 0.58% and 1.63% for the Konyaalti strain, respectively. When comparing the repellent effect of tar to the widely used synthetic repellent DEET, repellency rates of up to 100% were observed. As a result, this study establishes, for the first time, the larvicidal and repellent effects of C. libani tar on ticks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sidewalks are an important part of public space, but they are becoming increasingly dangerous, especially at night. Therefore, it is important that sidewalks are adequately illuminated to meet the safety, comfort, and accessibility needs (i.e., provide high levels of pedestrian reassurance) to sidewalk users. The objective of this case study was to quantitatively measure and subsequently explore the spatial and statistical distributions of light intensities along the sidewalks that surround Southern Utah University in Cedar City, Utah. A secondary objective was to develop a set of "adequate lighting" guidelines (i.e., 5 to 10 lux) to help identify areas that could benefit from sidewalks lighting enhancements. A digital light meter was used to measure horizontal light intensity, in lux, at a systematic sample of 208 points along the sidewalks within the study area. Geographic coordinates were also collected for each sample observation to enable mapping and spatial analysis of the light intensity data. Results indicate 61% of the observations have lux values equal to zero (complete darkness), 13.4% met or exceeded the minimum guidelines, while 4.3% fell within the "adequate lighting" guidelines adopted by this case study. These results suggest that sidewalks are too dark in too many places to provide reassurance to sidewalk users in the study area. The mapping and spatial analysis results from this case study also provide information to support targeted visibility enhancements of sidewalks within the study area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding the dynamics of tree biomass is a significant factor in forest ecosystems, and accurate quantitative knowledge of its development provides support for the optimization of forest management. This work aimed to employ innovative practices in tree biomass modeling, artificial neural network approaches along with the least-squares regression methodology, in order to construct reliable and accurate estimation and prediction models that contribute to solving the emerging problems in the field of sustainable forest management. Based on this aim, different modeling strategies were developed and explored. The nonlinear seemingly unrelated regression (NSUR) methodology, the generalized regression (GRNN), the resilient propagation (RPNN) and the Bayesian regularization (BRNN) artificial neural network algorithms were utilized for the construction of reliable biomass models to attain the most accurate and reliable tree biomass components and total tree biomass estimations. The work showed that GRNN models provided a significantly better performance compared with the other modeling methodologies tested. Considering the non-parametric nature of the GRNN neural network algorithm, the fact that it was designed for nonlinear regression-type problems capable of dealing with small datasets, this modeling approach warrants consideration as an effective alternative to nonlinear regression or to other neural network approaches to the field of tree biomass modeling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The removal of heavy metals from wastewater has become the subject of considerable interest at present. Thus, the use of novel adsorbents that are highly efficient is of critical importance for the removal of Cr (VI) ions from aqueous media. The adsorption of Cr (VI) ions from aqueous solutions by a new adsorbent, cedar wood sawdust, and the optimization of its adsorption parameters, were investigated in this study. Cedar wood sawdust was used in its native and HNO3/NaOH chemically modified forms as new low-cost sorbents to remove Cr (VI) ions from aqueous solutions in a batch system. The adsorption conditions were analyzed via response surface methodology. The RSM results showed that the optimal adsorption conditions yielding the best response were an adsorbent mass of 2 g for native Cedar and 1.125 g for its activated form, a metal concentration of 150 mg/L for native Cedar and 250 mg/L for activated, a temperature of 50 °C, a pH of 1, and a contact time of 67.5 min. At optimum adsorption conditions, the maximum adsorption capacities and the adsorption yields were 23.64 mg/g and 84% for native Cedar and 48.31 mg/g and 99% for activated Cedar, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Microbial communities, particularly Basidiomycota fungi, play crucial roles in ecosystem functioning, including wood decay and the recycling of carbon and nutrients. However, the relationship between fungal diversity and wood decomposition remains poorly understood. This study investigated the effect of fungal community, gene expression, and activity of specific ligninolytic enzymes on wood decay in pine, cedar, and alkaline copper quaternary (ACQ)-treated pines for 30 months. The fungal community and gene expression levels were characterized using DNA sequencing and RT–qPCR, respectively. The Azure-B assay and phenol red test were conducted to determine enzyme activity. The results showed that non-wood-decaying fungi dominated early in the decay process, whereas true wood-decaying fungi, such as Trametes sp., dominated later. Visual decay ratings and modulus of elasticity data implied that pine deteriorated more than cedar and that ACQ treatment helped prevent deterioration of pine. The gene expression levels of lignin peroxidase (LiP), manganese peroxidase (MnP), and laccase (Lcc) produced by the predominant fungus, T. elegans, varied depending on the wood type. LiP expression was the highest in ACQ-treated pines after 10 months of treatment. MnP expression was higher in both decay-resistant woods (cedar- and ACQ-treated pines) than in untreated pines. No Lcc expression was detected. Moreover, the specific activity of these enzymes was generally higher in untreated pine than in the decay-resistant wood. This study contributes to the understanding of the role of fungal communities in wood decay and the impact of preservation treatments on the gene expression and activity of wood decay enzymes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Deadwood in forests plays a critical role in maintaining the ecological functions. Small mammals use deadwood, and thus deadwood can mitigate the negative impacts of plantation on small mammals. This study focused on fallen dead trees in planted forests, and aimed to verify whether fallen dead trees affect behavioral patterns of Japanese squirrels. To clarify the use of fallen dead trees by Japanese squirrels in a Japanese cedar plantation, we observed squirrel behavior by camera trap surveys at 61 survey sites. Our findings showed that fallen dead trees play a crucial role in the behavior of Japanese squirrels, serving as landmarks for movement, vigilance, resting, and hoarding sites. These functions are critical for the survival of Japanese squirrels, suggesting that fallen dead trees in planted forests have positive impacts on their microenvironment use. The increase of deadwood due to disturbances such as heavy rainfall and snowfall resulting from climate change may provide benefits to arboreal small mammals in poorly managed planted forests. Additionally, leaving some of the deadwood generated during the harvesting process in properly managed forests can improve the quality of habitat for arboreal small mammals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper describes the first phase of a Coast Salish Knowledge Repatriation Project being coordinated by the Curator of Indigenous Collections and Engagement at the Museum of Vancouver, within the unceded, ancestral territories of the xʷməθkʷəýəm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) nations. The goal of this knowledge repatriation work is to support cultural revitalization and language renewal through activities that generate learning opportunities for community members. These activities pivot around knowledge that has been lost due to urbanization, forced assimilation efforts, and other colonial activities that may have restricted access to traditional lands and resources, preventing knowledge transmission. This work is about shifting the focus from extractive projects, that benefit external audiences, to one that supports capacity building and cultural renewal within communities. This essay describes a project to reintroduce coiled cedar root basketry into communities within the Greater Vancouver area in the province of British Columbia, Canada. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]