The Importance of Consistent Global Forest Aboveground Biomass Product Validation

Several upcoming satellite missions have core science requirements to produce data for accurate forest aboveground biomass mapping. Largely because of these mission datasets, the number of available biomass products is expected to greatly increase over the coming decade. Despite the recognized importance of biomass mapping for a wide range of science, policy and management applications, there remains no community accepted standard for satellite-based biomass map validation. The Committee on Earth Observing Satellites (CEOS) is developing a protocol to fill this need in advance of the next generation of biomass-relevant satellites, and this paper presents a review of biomass validation practices from a CEOS perspective. We outline the wide range of anticipated user requirements for product accuracy assessment and provide recommendations for the validation of biomass products. These recommendations include the collection of new, high-quality in situ data and the use of airborne lidar biomass maps as tools toward transparent multi-resolution validation. Adoption of community-vetted validation standards and practices will facilitate the uptake of the next generation of biomass products.

Estimating forest net primary production under changing climate: adding pests into the equation

The current approach to modelling pest impacts on forest net primary production (NPP) is to apply a constant modifier. This does not capture the large spatial and temporal variability in pest abundance and activity that can occur, meaning that overestimates or underestimates of pest impacts on forest NPP are likely. Taking a more mechanistic approach that incorporates an understanding of how physiology is influenced by pest attack, enables us to better capture system feedbacks and dynamics, thereby improving the capacity to predict into novel situations such as changing climate, and to account for both changes in pest activity and host responses to the growing environment now and into the future. We reviewed the effects of pests on forest NPP and found a range of responses and physiological mechanisms underlying those responses. Pest outbreaks can clearly be a major perturbation to forest NPP, and it seems likely that the frequency and intensity of pest outbreaks, and the ways in which host species respond to pest damage, will change in the future. We summarized these impacts in the form of a conceptual model at leaf, tree and stand scales, and compared the physiological processes embedded within that framework with the capacity of a representative range of NPP models to capture those processes. We found that some models can encapsulate some of the processes, but no model can comprehensively account for the range of physiological responses to pest attack experienced by trees. This is not surprising, given the paucity of empirical data for most of the world's forests, and that the models were developed primarily for other purposes. We conclude with a list of the key physiological processes and pathways that need to be included in forest growth models in order to adequately capture pest impacts on forest NPP under current and future climate scenarios, the equations that might enable this and the empirical data required to support them.

Orbital lymphoma presenting as an unstable ocular prosthesis: a salutary lesson

We report the unusual presentation of an extranodal marginal zone B-cell lymphoma presenting as instability of an ocular prosthesis. More commonly, the stability of an ocular prosthesis can be affected by orbital implant migration, sunken superior sulcus, eyelid malformations, shallow inferior fornix, and contracted sockets (Charlton & Weinstein, 1995). Although rare, this case highlights the importance of meticulous examination of the socket, including careful palpation for any potential masses. To our knowledge, instability of an ocular prosthesis in association with orbital lymphoma has not been described previously.

Gender differences in the effect of job stressors on alcohol consumption

Using a Toronto sample of 994 employed men and women, this analysis considers gender differences and the effect of job stressors on alcohol consumption. Controlling for age, income, marital status, hours of work, and family history of alcohol abuse, results indicate that both male and female respondents in jobs high in substantive complexity consume significant less alcohol than respondents in jobs low in complexity. Two gender differences were found. Job demands have no impact on men's alcohol consumption, but they significantly increase women's drinking. Conversely, job noxiousness has no effect on women's alcohol consumption, but it significantly increases men's consumption. Results are discussed with reference to the public health policy implications of the findings and with reference to the multiple health risks confronting women in stressful jobs.

Gender differences in work and well-being: effects of exposure and vulnerability

Evidence regarding women's differential exposure to job stressors has accumulated; however, there is also evidence that women are more vulnerable to stressors. Using a sample of 994 employed Canadians, a job stress model that evaluates the differential exposure and vulnerability of men and women to job stressors is tested. The analysis considers the direct and moderating effects of occupational self-direction, job demands, and co-worker social support on distress. Results provide support for the conditional effects of job demands. Two dimensions of occupational self-direction, substantive complexity and routinization, interact with one measure of job demands. Although women are exposed to lower substantive complexity and lower job control, the effect of these dimensions of occupational self-direction are similar for men and women, suggesting that differential exposure to job stressors does not account for women's higher distress. Results indicate that, controlling for exposure, marital status, and income, women are more vulnerable to the negative effect of job routinization.

Effect of postoperative mydriatics on the iris

PURPOSE

To assess the role postoperative mydriatics play after extracapsular cataract extraction (ECCE) and posterior chamber intraocular lens (IOL) implantation in causing iris modifications and in controlling inflammation.

SETTING

Outpatients Department, Ninewells Hospital, Dundee, Scotland.

METHODS

The prospective study comprised 136 patients who had standardized ECCE. Half the patients used a mydriatic for 2 weeks postoperatively. Anterior chamber activity, pain, and eye redness were evaluated at 2 weeks postoperatively; pupil shape, peripheral anterior synechias, IOL position, and iris adhesions, at 6 weeks.

RESULTS

Iris-lens adhesions were significantly more common in the group using a mydriatic. There was no difference between the two groups in postoperative inflammation.

CONCLUSION

Mydriatics should not be used routinely after ECCE with posterior chamber IOL implantation.

Use of mobile screening unit for diabetic retinopathy in rural and urban areas

OBJECTIVES

To compare the effectiveness of a mobile screening unit with a non-mydriatic polaroid camera in detecting diabetic retinopathy in rural and urban areas. To estimate the cost of the service.

DESIGN

Prospective data collection over two years of screening for diabetic retinopathy throughout Tayside.

SETTING

Tayside region, population 390,000, area 7770 km2.

SUBJECTS

961 patients in rural areas and 1225 in urban areas who presented for screening.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Presence of diabetic retinopathy, need for laser photocoagulation, age, duration of diabetes, and diabetic treatment.

RESULTS

Compared with diabetic patients in urban areas, those in rural areas were less likely to attend a hospital based diabetic clinic (46% (442) v 86% (1054), p < 0.001); less likely to be receiving insulin (260 (27%) v 416 (34%), p < 0.001 and also after correction for differences in age distribution); more likely to have advanced (maculopathy or proliferative retinopathy) diabetic retinopathy (13% (122) v 7% (89), p < 0.001); and more likely to require urgent laser photocoagulation for previously unrecognised retinopathy (1.4% (13) v 0.5% (6), p < 0.02). The screening programme cost 10 pounds per patient screened and 1000 pounds per patient requiring laser treatment.

CONCLUSION

The mobile diabetic eye screening programme detected a greater prevalence of advanced retinopathy in diabetic patients living in rural areas. Patients in rural areas were also more likely to need urgent laser photocoagulation. Present screening procedures seem to be less effective in rural areas and rural patients may benefit more from mobile screening units than urban patients.

Clinical and biochemical abnormalities in coppersmiths exposed to cadmium

5(18.5%) of a group 27 coppersmiths exposed to cadmium fume had stone disease. When compared with a control group of assembly workers in the same factory they had evidence of renal impairment as shown by blood biochemistry and proteinuria. A greater tendency to liver damage was found in the coppersmiths. There was evidence that restrictive airways disease was more common in the coppersmiths than in the control group. Blood-cadmium concentrations were significantly higher in the coppersmiths and in the assembly workers than in a reference population.