UK PubMed Central (United Kingdom)

The conifer Picea abies (Norway spruce) defends itself against herbivores and pathogens with a terpenoid-based oleoresin composed chiefly of monoterpenes (C₁₀) and diterpenes...Full Text Available

UK PubMed Central (United Kingdom)

Norway spruce (Picea abies L. Karst) produces an oleoresin characterized by a diverse array of terpenoids, monoterpenoids, sesquiterpenoids, and diterpene resin acids that can protect...Full Text Available

British Library Electronic Table of Contents (United Kingdom)

Primary objective: Acquired brain injury (ABI) is associated with significant cognitive, behavioural, psychological and physical impairment. Hence, it has been important to leverage assessment approaches in rehabilitation by using current and emerging technologies, including virtual reality (VR). A number of VR rehabilitation programmes have been designed in recent years, mainly to improve upper limb function. However, before this technology gains widespread use, evaluation of the scientific evidence supporting VR-assisted rehabilitation is needed. The present review aimed to assess the rationale, design and methodology of research investigating the clinical impact of VR on ABI upper-limb rehabilitation. Research design: A total of 22 studies were surveyed using a Cochrane-style review. Re...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

A study of two forest areas in India investigated how much energy is wasted when high stumps are left after trees are cut to produce wooden boxes for packing the apple harvest. Measurements of the stumps determined the total wood pulp wasted, which was 1191 tons during 1981. The calorific value of the stumps would supply a year's cooking and heating fuels for 747 families of five. Additional fuel is wasted by abandoning the branches and tree tops which are unsuitable for box construction. 5 references, 4 tables.

Science.gov (United States)

Sulfur dioxide emissions from an iron ore sintering plant have severely damaged vegetation up to 16 km northeast of the source. Concentric zones of increasing vegetation loss have formed around the point of maximum ground level concentration of the gas. Species diversity, sulfur and heavy metal concentrations in vegetation and soil amount to SO/sub 2/ injury were measured along a transect through the injury zones. Surrounding a central denuded area were zones dominated respectively by tussock-forming hair grass (Deschampsia flexuosa); low-growing shrubs and trailers (Sambucus pubens, Polygonum cilinode); higher-growing shrubs and suckering Populus tremuloides and Betula papyrifera) stunted forest tree species (Populus, Betula, Picea glauca, Abies Balsamea), and finally, normal boreal forest flora. Although SO/sub 2/ injury is continuing in this area, these zones now appear to be maintained primarily by severe erosion and destruction of suitable habitats for ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Statements about the dynamic processes of uptake, transport, and deposition of Ca and Mg in norway spruce and Scots pine are made in this paper. Concerning the storage of these elements it is shown that there are great differences in their functional importance in cell metabolism. There is evidence that the role of Mg in enzyme and protein metabolism is of far greater significance for the understanding of Mg-deficiency symptoms than its function as the central atom of the chlorophyll complexes. In regard to the transport and especially to the incorporation of Ca into the needles differences between species were evident, expressing the special status of pine among the gymnosperms. With increasing needle age an accumulation of Ca-oxalate crystals, which are physiologically inert, could be proved for the studied conifers. This was interpreted as a 'detoxication' from surplus Ca to hold constant the level of the physiologically active fraction. Accordingly, the low Ca-contents of yellowed ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

One set of hypotheses offered to explain the decline of red spruce (Picea rubens Sarg.) in eastern North America focuses on the effect of acidic deposition on soil chemistry changes that may affect nutrient availability and root function. Long-term soils data suggests that soil acidification has occurred in some spruce stands over the past 50 yr, with plant uptake and cation leaching both contributing to the loss of cations. Studies of tree ring chemistry also have indicated changes in Ca/Al and Mg/Al ratios in red spruce wood, suggesting increases in the ionic strength of soil solution. Irrigation studies using strong acid inputs have demonstrated accelerated displacement of base cations from upper horizons. Spruce-fir (Abies spp.) nutrient budgets indicate that current net Ca and Mg leaching loss rates are of the same order of magnitude as losses to whole tree harvest removals, spread out over a 50-yr rotation. For most cations, red spruce foliar nutrient levels ...

Science.gov (United States)

Medicinal plants play a major role in the life of Turkish people and of late medicinal plant usage has increased in many countries. Green plants in general contain mutagenic and carcinogenic substances, but there is little information about the biological activities of herbal medicine. In the present study, therefore, various Turkish medicinal herbs were investigated for their genotoxic potential in the Salmonella typhimurium microsomal activation assay and the alkaline single cell gel electrophoresis (COMET) assay. Extracts from these medicinal herbs and some fractions of these extracts were examined. The species investigated were Arctium minus, Ecballium elatterium, Momordica charantia, Plantago major, Urtica dioica, Viscum album, Salvia triloba, Euphorbia rigida, Stachys lavandulifolia, Acteoside, Abies nordmannia. They are used for various immune disorders and are applied either topically or taken orally as a herbal tea. Of the 19 samples of the extracts and ...