Search

Each new generation of grassland managers could benefit from an improved understanding of how modification of nitrogen application and harvest dates in response to different weather and soil conditions will affect grass yields and quality. The purpose of this study was to develop a freely available grass yield simulation model, validated for England and Wales, and to examine its strengths and weaknesses as a teaching tool for improving grass management. The model, called LINGRA-N-Plus, was implemented in a Microsoft Excel spreadsheet and iteratively evaluated by students and practitioners (farmers, consultants, and researchers) in a series of workshops across the UK over 2 years. The iterative feedback led to the addition of new algorithms, an improved user interface, and the development of a teaching guide. The students and practitioners identified the ease of use and the capacity to understand, visualize and evaluate how decisions, such as variation of cutting intervals, affect grass yields as strengths of the model. We propose that an effective teaching tool must achieve an appropriate balance between being sufficiently detailed to demonstrate the major relationships (e.g., the effect of nitrogen on grass yields) whilst not becoming so complex that the relationships become incomprehensible. We observed that improving the user-interface allowed us to extend the scope of the model without reducing the level of comprehension. The students appeared to be interested in the explanatory nature of the model whilst the practitioners were more interested in the application of a validated model to enhance their decision making.

Report of experience from a single institution in treating postoperative lymphatic leakage (PLL) applying conventional transpedal lymphangiography (TL).453 patients with the initial diagnosis of PLL receiving TL between 03/1993 and 09/2018 were identified in the database. Only patients with confirmed PLL were included in the study. The technical success, safety, and treatment success of TL were evaluated. Independent predictors of TL treatment failure were examined using univariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis.355 consecutive patients (218 men, 137 women; median age of 62 years) who underwent TL for PLL (e. g., chylothorax) after ineffective conservative treatment were included. The median time between causal surgery and TL was 27 days. The median technical success rate of TL was 88.5 %, with a median volume of Lipiodol of 10.0 ml. No complication of TL was recorded. Three groups were defined according to the different clinical courses: group A (41/355, 11.5 %) - TL with technical failure; group B (258/355, 72.7 %) - "therapeutic" TL alone with technical success; and group C (56/355, 15.8 %) - "diagnostic" TL with simultaneously invasive treatment (incl. surgical revision and percutaneous sclerotherapy). Treatment success rate and median time to treatment success were higher in group C than in group B, but without significant differences (64.3 % vs. 61.6 %, p = 0.710; six vs. five days, p = 0.065). Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses for group B confirmed drainage volume ( 500 ml/d) and Lipiodol extravasation as independent predictors of TL clinical failure (odds ratios [ORs] of 2.128 and 2.372 [p = 0.005 and p = 0.003, respectively]).TL is technically reliable, safe, and effective in treating PLL. When conservative treatment fails, TL can be regarded as the next treatment option.· TL is technically reliable, safe, and effective for treating PLL.. · When conservative treatment fails, TL can be regarded as the next treatment option.. · Drainage volume 500 ml/day is an independent predictor of clinical failure after TL.. · Lipiodol extravasation is an independent predictor of clinical failure after TL..· Pan F, Richter GM, Do TD et al. Treatment of Postoperative Lymphatic Leakage Applying Transpedal Lymphangiography - Experience in 355 Consecutive Patients. Fortschr Röntgenstr 2022; 194: 634 - 643.ZIEL: Erfahrungsbericht über die interventionelle Behandlung der postoperativen Lymphleckage (PLL) mittels konventioneller transpedaler Lymphangiografie (TL).Über digitale Datenbanken konnten 453 Patienten identifiziert werden, die in unserer Klinik zwischen 03/1993 und 09/2018 eine TL erhielten. Von diesen Patienten wurden lediglich diejenigen eingeschlossen, die eine TL aufgrund einer PLL erhielten. Der technische Erfolg, die Sicherheit und das klinische Ergebnis der TL wurden bewertet. Unabhängige Prädiktoren für das klinische Versagen nach TL wurden mittels univariater und multivariater logistischer Regressionsanalyse identifiziert.Bei 355 konsekutiven Patienten (218 Männer, 137 Frauen; medianes Alter 62 Jahre) wurde eine TL bei klinischem Versagen nach konservativer Behandlung einer PLL (z. B. Chylothorax) durchgeführt. Das mediane Zeitintervall zwischen kausaler Operation und TL betrug 27 Tage. Die mediane technische Erfolgsrate von TL betrug 88,5 % bei einem medianen Lipiodol-Volumen von 10,0 ml. Es wurde keine Komplikation der TL beobachtet. Entsprechend den verschiedenen klinischen Verläufen wurden 3 Patientengruppen definiert: Gruppe A (41/355, 11,5 %) – TL mit technischem Versagen; Gruppe B (258/355, 72,7 %) – „therapeutische“ TL allein mit technischem Erfolg; und Gruppe C (56/355, 15,8 %) – „diagnostische“ TL mit gleichzeitig invasiver Behandlung (inkl. chirurgische Revision und perkutane Sklerotherapie). Die mediane klinische Erfolgsrate und das mediane Zeitintervall bis zum klinischen Erfolg nach TL waren in Gruppe C höher als in Gruppe B, jedoch ergaben sich hierbei keine signifikanten Unterschiede (64,3 % vs. 61,6 %, p = 0,710; 6 vs. 5 Tage, p = 0,065). Univariate und multivariate logistische Regressionsanalysen für Gruppe B identifizierten das Drainagevolumen ( 500 ml/Tag) und die Extravasation von Lipiodol als unabhängige Prädiktoren für das klinische Versagen nach TL (Odds Ratios [ORs] von 2,128 und 2,372 [p = 0,005 bzw. p = 0,003]).Die TL ist technisch zuverlässig, sicher und wirksam bei der Behandlung der PLL. Wenn die konservative Behandlung versagt, kann die TL als nächste Behandlungsoption angesehen werden.· Die TL ist technisch zuverlässig, sicher und wirksam bei der Behandlung der PLL.. · Wenn die konservative Behandlung versagt, kann die TL als nächste Behandlungsoption angesehen werden.. · Ein Drainagevolumen von 500 ml/Tag ist ein unabhängiger Prädiktor für klinisches Versagen nach TL.. · Die Extravasation von Lipiodol ist ein unabhängiger Prädiktor für das klinische Versagen nach TL..

Agriculture is challenged to produce healthy food and to contribute to cleaner energy whilst mitigating climate change and protecting ecosystems. To achieve this, policy-driven scenarios need to be evaluated with available data and models to explore trade-offs with robust accounting for the uncertainty in predictions. We developed a novel model ensemble using four complementary state-of-the-art agroecosystems models to explore the impacts of land management change. The ensemble was used to simulate key agricultural and environmental outputs under various scenarios for the upper River Taw observatory, UK. Scenarios assumed (i) reducing livestock production whilst simultaneously increasing the area of arable where it is feasible to cultivate (PG2A), (ii) reducing livestock production whilst simultaneously increasing bioenergy production in areas of the catchment that are amenable to growing bioenergy crops (PG2BE) and (iii) increasing both arable and bioenergy production (PG2A + BE). Our ensemble approach combined model uncertainty using the tower property of expectation and the law of total variance. Results show considerable uncertainty for predicted nutrient losses with different models partitioning the uncertainty into different pathways. Bioenergy crops were predicted to produce greatest yields from Miscanthus in lowland and from SRC-willow (cv. Endurance) in uplands. Each choice of management is associated with trade-offs; e.g. PG2A results in a significant increase of edible calories (6736 Mcal ha−1) but reduced soil C (−4.32 t C ha−1). Model ensembles in the agroecosystem context are difficult to implement due to challenges of model availability and input and output alignment. Despite these challenges, we show that ensemble modelling is a powerful approach for applications such as ours, offering benefits such as capturing structural as well as data uncertainty and allowing greater combinations of variables to be explored. Furthermore, the ensemble provides a robust means for combining uncertainty at different scales and enables us to identify weaknesses in system understanding.

Agricultural grass cultivars bred for increased forage yield commonly have extensive root systems. As roots are an important input of organic matter into the soil, it follows that such cultivars could lead to important increases in soil organic carbon (SOC), but this, and the mechanisms involved, are poorly understood with little empirical field evidence. We assessed the effect of two cultivars, Lolium perenne L. cv. ‘AberMagic’ and L. perenne L. × Festuca pratensis Huds. cv. ‘Prior’, in comparison with mixed-species permanent pasture (‘Pasture’) in a field experiment on temperate alluvial soil in the southwest UK. Root and SOC stocks, and specific plant-derived lipids as mechanistic biomarkers for shoot and root inputs of C, were measured on intact 1-m volumetric soil cores collected on four dates in 2013-2015. Total grass yields were greater for both grass cultivars (40-43 Mg ha–1) than Pasture (39 Mg ha–1), and by 2015 root stocks in the upper 0.1 m were significantly greater by more than 4.7 Mg ha–1. At 0.1-0.3 m depth, SOC stocks (per 0.1-m depth) were significantly greater under the two grass cultivars (24-50 Mg ha–1) compared to Pasture (18-32 Mg ha–1). In the full 1-m profile, mean SOC stocks were 137, 133 and 110 Mg ha–1 for AberMagic, Prior and Pasture, respectively, matching root biomass distribution. Odd-chain n-alkane concentrations were significantly greater for shoots than roots (274 vs. 64 mg kg–1, respectively), and roots had significantly greater concentrations than shoots of even-chain hydroxy fatty acids (1829 vs. 305 mg kg–1, respectively) and diacids (317 vs. 93 mg kg–1, respectively). This confirmed lipids as candidate biomarkers for distinguishing shoot and root inputs into the soil, with the latter being the dominant source of SOC. Based on the observations of increased forage yield and SOC stock, high-yielding forage grass cultivars can contribute to future strategies for climate-smart agriculture in grassland-dominated temperate regions.

We investigate the potential in producing biodegradable bio-plastics to support the emergent ‘net-zero’ greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions targets in the UK. A ‘cradle to grave’ life cycle assessment was developed to evaluate GHG mitigation potentials of bio-based polybutylene succinate plastics produced from wheat straw-only (single feedstock) or wheat straw plus Miscanthus (mixed feedstocks) agricultural supply systems. For scenarios using mixed feedstocks, significant carbon mitigation potentials were identified at catchment and national levels (emission reduction of 30 kg CO2eq kg−1 plastic compared to petroleum-based alternatives), making the system studied a significant net carbon sink at marginal GHG abatement costs of £0.5–14.9 t−1 CO2eq. We show that an effective ‘net-zero’ transition of the UK’s agricultural sector needs spatially explicit, diversified and integrated cropping strategies. Such integration of perennial bio-materials into food production systems can unlock cost-effective terrestrial carbon sequestration. Research & Development and scale-up will lower costs helping deliver a sustainable bioeconomy and transition to ‘net-zero’.

Postoperative lymphatic leakage (PLL) is usually managed by conservative and/or surgical treatments but these procedures can be challenging to perform and potentially clinically ineffective. Therefore, conventional lymphangiography (CL) has emerged as an important alternative. The aim of this review is to present the available outcome data on CL in the management of PLL. A systematic literature search (PubMed) using the MeSH term "lymphangiography" was performed and the search was restricted to literature published between January 2007 and August 2019. Identification, screening, and assessment for eligibility and inclusion were conducted in accordance with PRISMA. From the initially obtained 1006 articles (identification), 28 articles with a total of 201 patients were finally included (inclusion). The methodological quality of all included articles corresponds to level 4 (Oxford Centre for Evidence-based Medicine - Levels of Evidence, March 2009). PLL occurs after oncological and non-oncological surgery in the form of chylothorax, chylous ascites, and cervical, thoracic, abdominal and peripheral lymph fistula and/or lymphocele. The technical success rate of CL is 75-100 %. Access for CL is transpedal (176 patients) or intranodal (25 patients). Lipiodol is used as the contrast material in all articles, with a maximum amount of 20 ml for transpedal CL and 30 ml for intranodal CL. The X-ray imaging modalities used for CL are fluoroscopy, radiography and/or CT. Two articles report CL-associated major complications and CL-associated morbidity and mortality. The PLL cure rate is 51-70 % for transpedal CL (time to PLL cure: 2-29 days) and 33-100 % for intranodal CL (time to PLL cure: 2- 30 days). Bailout procedures in the case of clinically ineffective CL include a range of treatments. CL is feasible, safe, and effective in the management of PLL. Lipiodol as the contrast material is essential in CL because the highly viscous iodinated poppy-seed oil has not only diagnostic but therapeutic effects. Guidelines and randomized controlled trials are further steps towards defining the ultimate value of CL. · PLL is a difficult-to-treat and potentially life-threatening surgical complication.. · CL has emerged as an alternative to conservative/surgical treatment of PLL.. · CL is feasible, safe, and effective in the management of PLL. · Lipiodol-based CL can be regarded as a therapeutic procedure.. · Guidelines and randomized controlled trials are further important steps..· Sommer CM, Pieper CC, Itkin M et al. Conventional Lymphangiography (CL) in the Management of Postoperative Lymphatic Leakage (PLL): A Systematic Review. Fortschr Röntgenstr 2020; 192: 1025 - 1035. Die postoperative Lymphleckage (PLL) wird meist konservativ und/oder chirurgisch behandelt, jedoch können diese Behandlungen anspruchsvoll und potenziell klinisch ineffektiv sein. Die konventionelle Lymphangiografie (KL) entwickelte sich zur wichtigen Alternative. Ziel der vorliegenden Übersicht ist es, die verfügbaren Outcome-Daten zur KL beim Management der PLL darzustellen. Eine systematische Literaturrecherche (PubMed) unter Verwendung des MeSH-Begriffs „lymphangiography” wurde durchgeführt, wobei ausschließlich Artikel berücksichtigt wurden, die zwischen Januar 2007 und August 2019 publiziert wurden. Identifikation, Screening sowie Beurteilung auf Eignung und Einschluss erfolgten in Übereinstimmung mit PRISMA. Von den ursprünglich erhaltenen 1006 Artikeln (Identifikation) wurden letztendlich 28 Artikel mit insgesamt 201 Patienten eingeschlossen (Einschluss). Die methodische Qualität aller eingeschlossenen Artikel entspricht Level 4 (Oxford Centre for Evidence-based Medicine – Levels of Evidence, March 2009). Die PLL tritt nach onkologischen und nichtonkologischen Operationen in Form von Chylothorax, chylösem Aszites sowie zervikalen, thorakalen, abdominellen, pelvinen und peripheren Lymphfisteln und/oder Lymphozelen auf. Die technische Erfolgsrate der CL liegt bei 75–100 %. Der Zugang für die CL ist transpedal (176 Patienten) oder intranodal (25 Patienten). Lipiodol wird in allen Artikeln als Kontrastmittel verwendet, mit einer Maximaldosis von 20 ml für die transpedale CL und 30 ml für die intranodale CL. Röntgen-Bildgebungsmodalitäten beinhalten Fluoroskopie, Radiografie und/oder CT. 2 Artikel berichten über CL-assoziierte Major-Komplikationen sowie CL-assoziierte Morbidität und Mortalität. Die PLL-Abheilungsrate beträgt 51–70 % für die transpedale CL (Abheilungszeit: 2–29 Tage) bzw. 33–100 % für die intranodale CL (Abheilungszeit: 2– 30 Tage). Rettungsprozeduren im Fall der klinisch ineffektiven CL beinhalten unterschiedliche Behandlungen. Die KL ist technisch machbar und sicher und effektiv beim Management der PLL. Lipiodol als Kontrastmittel spielt für die KL eine essenzielle Rolle, da das hochvisköse jodierte Mohnöl nicht nur diagnostische, sondern auch therapeutische Effekte aufweist. Leitlinien und randomisierte kontrollierte Studien sind weitere Schritte, um den tatsächlichen Nutzen der KL zu definieren. · Die PLL ist eine schwer behandelbare und potenziell lebensbedrohliche chirurgische Komplikation.. · Die KL entwickelte sich als Alterative zur konservativen/operativen Behandlung der PLL.. · Die KL ist technisch machbar und sicher und effektiv beim Management der PLL.. · Die Lipiodol-basierte KL kann als therapeutische Prozedur angesehen werden.. · Leitlinien und randomisierte kontrollierte Studien sind weitere wichtige Schritte..

Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) is sensitive to the surface structure as well as dielectric properties, so can be used to quantify the canopy characteristics and surface moisture. High temporal frequency SAR backscatter data are useful in terms of quantifying crop phenological development, growth and yield formation. The aim of this research is to identify the growth dynamics of winter wheat from SAR at field scale, validated using farm sites with different productivity between two years (2018-2019). We identify and explore the parameters which characterize crop performance from SAR temporal curves and use these to improve and automate the monitoring of wheat fields. Our novel methodology includes the extraction of crop indicators using the VH/VV ratio temporal curve from Sentinel-1. Sigmoid curve fitting is used to simulate the VH/VV response and the extracted parameters are related to the field development. The results show that specific indicators, such as the duration of the high vegetation (stem elongation to dough development) as well as the timing of the booting stage of wheat significantly correlate with the final yield. Other indicators can provide information about the canopy characteristics of wheat (e.g. above ground biomass and plant water content). The combination of selected indicators can provide a more robust analysis of the fields. These results demonstrate the potential of SAR to remotely quantify yield without using any management data from the farm.

To compare radiation exposure of a state-of-the-art and a conventional angiography unit in patients undergoing uterine fibroid embolization (UFE).Between January 2009 and December 2016, 286 patients underwent UFE in our Interdisciplinary Fibroid Center. The inclusion criteria for this retrospective analysis were first-time transarterial embolization for symptomatic fibroids, bilateral embolization, procedures applying a state-of-the-art (Group 1) or a conventional angiography unit (Group 2), and bilateral technical success with an adequate embolization endpoint after the injection of microspheres. Study endpoints included radiation exposure, major complications, morphological success (MRI), and clinical success (questionnaire on quality-of-life). Propensity score matching controlled for confounders.The inclusion criteria were met by 58 (Group 1) and 177 (Group 2) patients. After propensity score matching, there was no significant difference between Group 1 (n = 46) and Group 2 (n = 92) regarding age, body-mass index, volume of the dominant fibroid and the uterus, fluoroscopy time, and amount of embolic agent (p ≥ 0.10 each). The dose-area product was significantly lower in Group 1 than in Group 2 (1159.0 cGycmA state-of-the-art angiography unit has the potential to reduce radiation exposure in patients undergoing UFE without increasing the risk of major complications and with comparably high morphological and clinical success.· A state-of-the-art angiography unit potentially reduces radiation exposure in patients undergoing UFE.. · Reduced radiation exposure does not seem to negatively influence the rate of major complications.. · Reduced exposure does not seem to negatively affect morphological and clinical success..· Sommer C, Voigt W, Oliger MK et al. Radiation Exposure During Uterine Fibroid Embolization (UFE): A Confounder-Controlled Comparison Between a State-of-the-Art Angiography Unit and a Conventional Angiography unit. Fortschr Röntgenstr 2018; 190: 250 - 258.ZIEL: Vergleich der Strahlenexposition zwischen einem modernen und einem konventionellen Angiografiesystem bei Patientinnen, die sich einer Uterusmyomembolisation (UME) unterzogen.Zwischen Januar 2009 und Dezember 2016 unterzogen sich in unserem Interdisziplinären Myomzentrum insgesamt 286 Patientinnen einer UME. Einschlusskriterien für die retrospektive Analyse waren eine erstmalige transarterielle Embolisation aufgrund symptomatischer Myome, die bilaterale Embolisation, Prozeduren mittels modernem (Gruppe 1) oder konventionellem (Gruppe 2) Angiografiesystem sowie bilateraler technischer Erfolg mit adäquatem Embolisationsendpunkt nach Injektion von Mikrosphären. Studienendpunkte waren Strahlenexposition, Major-Komplikationen, morphologischer Erfolg (MRT) und klinischer Erfolg (Fragebogen zur Lebensqualität). Die Kontrolle von Störgrößen erfolgte mittels Propensity Score Matching.Die Einschlusskriterien wurden von 58 (Gruppe 1) bzw. 177 (Gruppe 2) Patientinnen erfüllt. Nach Propensity Score Matching ergaben sich keine signifikanten Unterschiede zwischen Gruppe 1 (n = 46) and Gruppe 2 (n = 92) bezüglich Alter, Body-Mass-Index, Volumen des dominanten Myoms, Uterusvolumen, Fluoroskopiezeit und Embolisatmenge (jeweils p ≥ 0,10). Das Dosisflächenprodukt war in Gruppe 1 signifikant geringer als in Gruppe 2 (1159,0 cGycmEin modernes Angiografiesystem hat das Potenzial, die Strahlenexposition bei Patientinnen zu reduzieren, die sich einer UME unterziehen, ohne Erhöhung des Risikos für Major-Komplikationen und mit vergleichbarem morphologischen und klinischen Erfolg.· Ein modernes Angiografiesystem kann die Strahlenexposition bei UME-Patientinnen reduzieren.. · Die reduzierte Strahlenexposition scheint keinen negativen Einfluss auf die Major-Komplikationsrate zu haben.. · Die reduzierte Strahlenexposition scheint den morphologischen und klinischen Erfolg nicht negativ zu beeinflussen..

The sustainability of grazing lands lies in the nexus of human consumption behavior, livestock productivity, and environmental footprint. Due to fast growing global food demands, many grazing lands have suffered from overgrazing, leading to soil degradation, air and water pollution, and biodiversity losses. Multidisciplinary efforts are required to understand how these lands can be better assessed and managed to attain predictable outcomes of optimal benefit to society. This paper synthesizes our understanding based on previous work done on modelling the influences of grazing of soil carbon (SC) and greenhouse gas emissions to identify current knowledge gaps and research priorities. We revisit three widely-used process-based models: DeNitrification DeComposition (DNDC), DayCent, and the Pasture Simulation model (PaSim) and two watershed models: The Soil & Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) and Variable Infiltration Capacity Model (VIC), which are widely used to simulate C, nutrient and water cycles. We review their structures and ability as process-based models in representing key feedbacks among grazing management, SOM decomposition and hydrological processes in grazing lands. Then we review some significant advances in the use of models combining biogeochemical and hydrological processes. Finally, we examine challenges of incorporating spatial heterogeneity and temporal variability into modelling C and nutrient cycling in grazing lands and discuss their weakness and strengths. We also highlight key research direction for improving the knowledge base and code structure in modelling C and nutrient cycling in grazing lands, which are essential to conserve grazing lands and maintain their ecosystem goods and services.

Background and Aims Bioenergy is central for the future energy mix to mitigate climate change impacts; however, its intricate link with the water cycle calls for an evaluation of the carbon–water nexus in biomass production. The great challenge is to optimize trade-offs between carbon harvest and water use by choosing cultivars that combine low water use with high productivity. Methods Regional scenarios were simulated over a range of willow genotype × environment interactions for the major UK soil × climate variations with the process-based model LUCASS. Soil available water capacity (SAWC) ranged from 51 to 251 mm and weather represented the north-west (wet, cool), north-east (dry, cool), south-west (wet, warm) and south-east (dry, warm) of the UK. Scenario simulations were evaluated for small/open narrow-leaf (NL) versus large/closed broad-leaf (BL) willow canopy phenotypes using baseline (1965–89) and warmer recent (1990–2014) weather data. Key Results The low productivity under baseline climate in the north could be compensated by choosing BL cultivars (e.g. ‘Endurance’). Recent warmer climate increased average productivity by 0.5–2.5 t ha−1, especially in the north. The modern NL cultivar ‘Resolution’ had the smallest and most efficient water use. On marginal soils (SAWC Conclusions With an increase in air temperature and occasional water scarcities expected with climate change, high-yielding NL cultivars should be the preferred choice for sustainable use of marginal lands and reduced competition with agricultural food crops.

Our call set out to enlarge the evidence base and methods for improving and evaluating grasslands in a changing environment as a sustainable ecosystem for all life [...]

This study examines the effectiveness of a model called LINGRA-N-Plus to simulate the interaction of climate, soil and management on the green leaf and total dry matter yields of ryegrass in England and Wales. The LINGRA-N-Plus model includes modifications of the LINGRA-N model such as temperature- and moisture-dependent soil nitrogen mineralization and differential partitioning to leaves and stems with thermal time from the last harvest. The resulting model was calibrated against the green leaf and total grass yields from a harvest interval x nitrogen application experiment described by Wilman et al. (1976). When the LINGRA-N-Plus model was validated against total grass yields from nitrogen experiments at ten sites described by Morrison et al. (1980), its modelling efficiency improved greatly compared to the original LINGRA-N. High predicted yields, at zero nitrogen application, were related to soils with a high initial nitrogen content. The lowest predicted yields occurred at sites with low rainfall and shallow rooting depth, mitigating the effect of drought at such sites increased yields by up to 4 t ha−1. The results highlight the usefulness of grass models, such as LINGRA-N-Plus, to explore the combined effects of climate, soil, and management, like nitrogen application, and harvest intervals on grass productivity.

Grazing lands provide many goods and ecosystem services, such as forage, livestock, soil carbon (C) storage, biodiversity, and recreational opportunities. Ensuring the long-term sustainability of grazing lands requires optimal management to simultaneously balance livestock productivity for sustaining human food and nutritional demands while reducing environmental impacts, such as greenhouse gases (GHG) emissions and soil degradation. In this paper, we revisit grazing management in grazing lands exposed to different grazing systems. In Section 2, we briefly review parameterization and multi-faceted goals for sustainability of grazing systems considering broader sustainability from economic to environmental aspects. We also discuss the inconsistencies between grazing researchers and ranchers’ practices. In Section 3, we review the separate experimental data to examine the impacts of multi-paddock rotational grazing on soil carbon, nutrient and GHGs. In Section 4, we present status and upcoming challenges in monitoring and upscaling of grazing ecosystem research and management. In Section 5, new concepts of multiple source monitoring networks are presented that enable the analysis of scale-dependent processes. Finally, we point out future directions for monitoring and assessment of managing soil C and GHG emissions from grazing lands. The results show that the inconsistences are essentially due to (1) effects of spatiotemporal scales on both economic and ecological outcomes, and (2) simplistic representations of multi-faceted grazing systems and sustainability. The development of multi-faceted monitoring systems needs to be further parametrized and standardized to make consistent for meaningful and comparable assessment of grazing management impacts on SOC and GHGs.

High-frequency Earth observation (EO) data have been shown to be effective in identifying crops and monitoring their development. The purpose of this paper is to derive quantitative indicators of crop productivity using synthetic aperture radar (SAR). This study shows that the field-specific SAR time series can be used to characterise growth and maturation periods and to estimate the performance of cereals. Winter wheat fields on the Rothamsted Research farm in Harpenden (UK) were selected for the analysis during three cropping seasons (2017 to 2019). Average SAR backscatter from Sentinel-1 satellites was extracted for each field and temporal analysis was applied to the backscatter cross-polarisation ratio (VH/VV). The calculation of the different curve parameters during the growing period involves (i) fitting of two logistic curves to the dynamics of the SAR time series, which describe timing and intensity of growth and maturation, respectively; (ii) plotting the associated first and second derivative in order to assist the determination of key stages in the crop development; and (iii) exploring the correlation matrix for the derived indicators and their predictive power for yield. The results show that the day of the year of the maximum VH/VV value was negatively correlated with yield (r = −0.56), and the duration of “full” vegetation was positively correlated with yield (r = 0.61). Significant seasonal variation in the timing of peak vegetation (p = 0.042), the midpoint of growth (p = 0.037), the duration of the growing season (p = 0.039) and yield (p = 0.016) were observed and were consistent with observations of crop phenology. Further research is required to obtain a more detailed picture of the uncertainty of the presented novel methodology, as well as its validity across a wider range of agroecosystems.

Irrigated dryland agroecosystems could become more sustainable if crop and soil management enhanced soil organic carbon (SOC). We hypothesized that combining high inputs from cover crops with no-tillage will increase long-term SOC stocks. Caatinga shrublands had been cleared in 1972 for arable crops and palm plantations before implementing field experiments on Mango and Melon systems (established in 2009 and 2012, respectively). Each of the two experiments were managed with no-till (NT) or conventional till (CT), and three types of cover cropping, either a plant mixture of 75% (PM1) or 25% (PM2) legumes, or spontaneous vegetation (SV). The RothC model was used with a daily timestep to simulate the soil moisture dynamics and C turnover for this dry climate. Carbon inputs were between 2.62 and 5.82 Mg C ha−1 year−1 and increased the depleted SOC stocks by 0.08 to 0.56 Mg C ha−1 year−1. Scenarios of continuous biomass inputs of ca. 5 Mg C ha−1 year−1 for 60 years are likely to increase SOC stocks in the mango NT beyond the original Caatinga SOC by between 19.2 and 20.5 Mg C ha−1. Under CT similar inputs would increase SOC stocks only marginally above depletion (2.75 to 2.47 Mg C ha−1). Under melon, annual carbon inputs are slightly greater (up to 5.5 Mg C ha−1 year−1) and SOC stocks would increase on average by another 8% to 22.3 to 20.6 Mg C ha−1 under NT and by 8 Mg C ha−1 under CT. These long-term simulations show that combining NT with high quality cover crops (PM1, PM2) would exceed SOC stocks of the initial Caatinga within 20 and 25 years under irrigated melon and mango cultivation, respectively. These results present a solution to reverse prior loss of SOC by replacing CT dryland agriculture with irrigated NT plus high input cover crops agroecosystems.

Feedstocks from lignocellulosic biomass (LCB) include crop residues and dedicated perennial biomass crops. The latter are often considered superior in terms of climate change mitigation potential. Uncertainty remains over their availability as feedstocks for biomass provision and the net greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) during crop production. Our objective was to assess the optimal land allocation to wheat and Miscanthus in a specific case study located in England, to increase biomass availability, improve the carbon balance (and reduce the consequent GHG emissions), and minimally constrain grain production losses from wheat. Using soil and climate variables for a catchment in east England, biomass yields and direct nitrogen emissions were simulated with validated process‐based models. A ‘Field to up‐stream factory gate’ life‐cycle assessment was conducted to estimate indirect management‐related GHG emissions. Results show that feedstock supply from wheat straw can be supplemented beneficially with LCB from Miscanthus grown on selected low‐quality soils. In our study, 8% of the less productive arable land area was dedicated to Miscanthus, increasing total LCB provision by about 150%, with a 52% reduction in GHG emission per ton LCB delivered and only a minor effect on wheat grain production (−3%). In conclusion, even without considering the likely carbon sequestration in impoverished soils, agriculture should embrace the opportunities to provide the bioeconomy with LCB from dedicated, perennial crops. © 2019 Society of Chemical Industry and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd

To optimise trade-offs provided by future changes in grassland use intensity, spatially and temporally explicit estimates of respective grassland productivities are required at the systems level. Here, we benchmark the potential national availability of grassland biomass, identify optimal strategies for its management, and investigate the relative importance of intensification over reversion (prioritising productivity versus environmental ecosystem services). Process-conservative meta-models for different grasslands were used to calculate the baseline dry matter yields (DMY; 1961–1990) at 1 km2 resolution for the whole UK. The effects of climate change, rising atmospheric [CO2] and technological progress on baseline DMYs were used to estimate future grassland productivities (up to 2050) for low and medium CO2 emission scenarios of UKCP09. UK benchmark productivities of 12.5, 8.7 and 2.8 t/ha on temporary, permanent and rough-grazing grassland, respectively, accounted for productivity gains by 2010. By 2050, productivities under medium emission scenario are predicted to increase to 15.5 and 9.8 t/ha on temporary and permanent grassland, respectively, but not on rough grassland. Based on surveyed grassland distributions for Great Britain in 2010 the annual availability of grassland biomass is likely to rise from 64 to 72 million tonnes by 2050. Assuming optimal N application could close existing productivity gaps of ca. 40% a range of management options could deliver additional 21 ∗ 106 tonnes of biomass available for bioenergy. Scenarios of changes in grassland use intensity demonstrated considerable scope for maintaining or further increasing grassland production and sparing some grassland for the provision of environmental ecosystem services.

Planting the perennial biomass crop Miscanthus in the UK could offset 2–13 Mt oil eq. yr−1, contributing up to 10% of current energy use. Policymakers need assurance that upscaling Miscanthus production can be performed sustainably without negatively impacting essential food production or the wider environment. This study reviews a large body of Miscanthus relevant literature into concise summary statements. Perennial Miscanthus has energy output/input ratios 10 times higher (47.3 ± 2.2) than annual crops used for energy (4.7 ± 0.2 to 5.5 ± 0.2), and the total carbon cost of energy production (1.12 g CO2‐C eq. MJ−1) is 20–30 times lower than fossil fuels. Planting on former arable land generally increases soil organic carbon (SOC) with Miscanthus sequestering 0.7–2.2 Mg C4‐C ha−1 yr−1. Cultivation on grassland can cause a disturbance loss of SOC which is likely to be recovered during the lifetime of the crop and is potentially mitigated by fossil fuel offset. N2O emissions can be five times lower under unfertilized Miscanthus than annual crops and up to 100 times lower than intensive pasture. Nitrogen fertilizer is generally unnecessary except in low fertility soils. Herbicide is essential during the establishment years after which natural weed suppression by shading is sufficient. Pesticides are unnecessary. Water‐use efficiency is high (e.g. 5.5–9.2 g aerial DM (kg H2O)−1, but high biomass productivity means increased water demand compared to cereal crops. The perennial nature and belowground biomass improves soil structure, increases water‐holding capacity (up by 100–150 mm), and reduces run‐off and erosion. Overwinter ripening increases landscape structural resources for wildlife. Reduced management intensity promotes earthworm diversity and abundance although poor litter palatability may reduce individual biomass. Chemical leaching into field boundaries is lower than comparable agriculture, improving soil and water habitat quality.

The biofuel-related land use in the USA and the EU has significantly expanded during the last decade; models have been used to estimate land availability and demand in these regions. This paper provides an overview of different land-use modeling practices applicable to first- and second-generation biofuels. We review the importance of different land categories for biofuels, modeling approaches (top-down/bottom-up) and their integration, data availability for calibration and validation, model scale, and uncertainty. Possible future changes of biofuel land use and research gaps and limitations are synthesized. Key issues are the lack of data for independent validation and the need for better integration of dynamic bottom-up models into the top-down policy analysis. More research is needed to deal with the large-scale introduction of second-generation biofuel crops required. The paper culminates in describing how models can help to meet the challenge of supplying more fuel from lignocellulosic crops (LCC) in ways that reduce indirect land-use change (iLUC) and how such transition could be implemented in policy and practice. (c) 2013 Society of Chemical Industry and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd

Fast growing short rotation coppice willows are being developed as biomass crops for bioenergy and biofuels. The UK Perennial Bioenergy Crops programme (BSBEC-BioMASS) aims to optimise biomass yield and wood composition of willow. Towards this goal, new trials were established in 2009 of contrasting genotypes (Endurance, Resolution, Terra Nova and Tora) in two different environments (wet and dry) for intensive studies and to increase our process understanding. From data of the first growth cycle we developed a model for light interception, representing the canopy structure, and accounting for both the vertical and horizontal heterogeneity of willow canopies. The key components of light interception were considered as: leaf inclination distribution and its effects on the extinction coefficient; clumping index; and leaf area index as a function of canopy height. The model realistically represents the varietal differences observed in the field and predicts well light interception for willow (r2 ranges from 0.91 to 0.99) when compared with measured data. The extinction coefficient proved to be well represented using a standard ellipsoidal distribution function (r2 ranges from 0.81 to 0.97). Vertical leaf area distribution and clumping index were found to be the most important traits for light interception and, unlike the extinction coefficient, the clumping index can be expressed as a function of the leaf area. We conclude that the new model provides a useful and simple approach to characterise the efficiency of light interception in willow genotypes and can help to identify target traits for the selection of varieties with an improved architecture for light interception.

Estimating spatially resolved grassland productivity is essential for benchmarking the total UK productive potential to assess food, feed and fuel trade-offs in the context of whole systems analyses. Our objectives were to adapt and evaluate a well-known process-based model (PBM) and estimate productivity of improved (permanent, temporary) and semi-natural grassland systems using meta-models (MM) trained by extensive PBM scenario simulations. Observed dry matter (DM) yields in multi-site nitrogen (N) response (0, 150 and 300 kg N ha−1) experiments were well emulated describing the average productivity of rough grazing, permanent and temporary grassland (3.1, 7.4 and 9.8 t DM ha−1, respectively). Cross-validated with independent and long-term data (Park Grass Experiment), the PBM explained more variation when considering all systems combined (81%) than across all improved grasslands (61%) but little for rough grazing (26%). The PBM-trained MMs explained 48, 72 and 70% of the simulated yield variation in the grasslands of increasing management intensity, and 43 and 75% of observed variation in the combined improved and all three grassland systems, respectively. Considering the assessment of ecosystem services, like drainage and water productivity, PBM scenario simulations are essential. Compared to improved grassland rough grazing will result in 40% more groundwater recharge due to its lower simulated water use and water productivity (12 versus 25 and 43 kg ha−1 mm−1 for permanent and temporary grassland, respectively).&nbsp

Biomass from lignocellulosic energy crops can contribute to primary energy supply in the short term in heat and electricity applications and in the longer term in transport fuel applications. This paper estimates the optimal feedstock allocation of herbaceous and woody lignocellulosic energy crops for England and Wales based on empirical productivity models. Yield maps for Miscanthus, willow and poplar, constrained by climatic, soil and land use factors, are used to estimate the potential resource. An energy crop supply-cost curve is estimated based on the resource distribution and associated production costs. The spatial resource model is then used to inform the supply of biomass to geographically distributed demand centres, with co-firing plants used as an illustration. Finally, the potential contribution of energy crops to UK primary energy and renewable energy targets is discussed.

Non‐destructive assessment of root systems is important in order to understand and optimise the potential of resource capture and allocation by the plant. We studied the relationships between electrical capacitance (EC) and the below‐ and above‐ground biomass of willows. Cuttings of Salix viminalis × Salix schwerinii cv. Olof were maintained in pots and root development was followed up using a portable capacitance meter over the course of 2.5 months. Pot observations were compared with excavation of two‐year‐old established trees. A strong significant linear relationship (R 2 = 0.81, p < 0.001) was obtained between EC and root biomass (dry weight [DW]) for the pot experiment. EC also showed good correlations with stem and leaf biomass, as well as with stem height. In the excavated willow trees, there was a strong logarithmic relationship between EC and root biomass (R 2 = 0.66, p < 0.001). These results suggest that EC is a good estimator of below‐ground biomass in willow and may become useful in...

Complex crop models with large parameter sets and high temporal resolution need a parsimonious screening method to identify the most important parameters for the genotype by environment interaction in a specific context. Morris’ method of sensitivity analysis, changing parameters “One-at-a-Time” (OAT) was applied to yield formation of Durum wheat (DW) in two different Mediterranean sites (Italy, Tunisia) and rainfall regimes (average, −25%). 46 crop and site-specific parameters were screened and ranked for their sensitivity, and our objective was also to determine the minimum requirements for the parameter sampling strategy. The number of levels and trajectories for sampling the multi-dimensional parameter space were varied between 4 and 8 and 4 and 10, respectively. Key results are that (1) Parameters for development and early light interception ranked higher than those for photosynthesis and assimilate partitioning, of which the latter also showed some redundancy. (2) Parameters referring to transpiration and water stress response are ranked in 11th position or greater; however, their rank differed greatly between sites in response to natural and imposed water shortage. (3) Ranking for sensitivity is stable within each site, but differs among sites; the choices of level and trajectory number have a similar impact on the ranking stability. Finally, first order sensitivity rank (strength, μ*) is similar to 2nd order sensitivity (spread, σ), which indicates that parameters with a high effect on output show also high interaction with other parameters or non-linearities. Overall, Morris’ method proves an effective and reliable tool to identify key phenotypic crop and management parameters and to select traits for optimizing yield in different environments.

Purpose To determine the arterial distribution pattern of the embolic agent Embozene within the porcine kidney and compare it with those of other spherical embolic agents. Materials and Methods Embozene, Embosphere, Bead Block, and Contour SE in size classes of 100–300 μm, 500–700 μm, and 700–900 μm and Embozene and Embosphere in the size class of 40–120 μm were used for total arterial occlusion in minipig kidneys. Organs were evaluated microscopically regarding vascular distribution of the different embolic agents and particle sizes. Results The following variations of arterial distribution were identified. In the 40–120-μm size class, Embosphere particles penetrated significantly deeper compared with Embozene ( P = .04). In the 100–300-μm size class, Bead Block showed a significantly deeper distribution as microscopy identified particles in arteries much smaller than their nominal size. In the 500–700-μm size class, Embosphere and Contour SE showed a deeper distribution. The most uniform arterial distribution was observed in the 700–900 μm size class,. However, few Embosphere and Contour SE particles were found in arcuate arteries, also indicating a distal distribution. Conclusions Throughout the four most-used size classes, from very small (40–120 μm) to large (700–900 μm), the distribution characteristics of the four tested materials vary substantially. Particularly, small Embosphere particles and small Bead Block particles showed a more distal distribution, as did medium-sized Embosphere and Contour SE particles. In the largest investigated size class, the distribution was more uniform. In general, the Embozene particles are very uniform in size, and they seem to reach vessels closely corresponding to their nominal size.

Purpose In part 1 of the present study, the authors demonstrated that coronary paclitaxel uptake from drug eluting stents (DESs) was not dependent on exposure time and dose. In this second part, the effect of the different paclitaxel dose densities on long-term biologic behavior was evaluated. Materials and Methods In 40 minipigs, (with 4- and 12-week follow-up), identical stents with the same three paclitaxel dose densities as in part 1 were implanted in the right coronary artery. Minipigs implanted with Polyzene-F nanocoated stents served as the control group. Quantitative angiography measuring average luminal diameter (from three in-stent reference points), minimal luminal diameter (from the point of maximum in-stent stenosis), average late loss, maximum late loss, and binary stenosis rate was performed, as was microscopy to determine neointimal thickening, injury score, and inflammation. Results All three DESs were associated with a high average late loss, binary stenosis rate, and neointimal thickening, without significant differences. Drug-free stents had significantly less late in-stent stenosis: there was an average late loss of 0.3 mm ± 0.3 in drug-free stents versus 0.8 mm ± 0.2 in intermediate-dose stents and 1.5 mm ± 0.6 in high-dose stents ( P = .04). DES-associated inflammation was high in all DESs and six times higher as in the drug-free stents (Kornowski scores of 0.2 ± 0.1 in drug-free stents, 1.3 ± 0.9 in low-dose stents, 1.7 ± 0.8 in intermediate-dose stents, and 1.3 ± 1.0 in high-dose stents; P = .04). It worsened with time in all DESs, as did late in-stent stenosis. Conclusions The extensive and long-term retention of paclitaxel even in a low-dose formulation, at least according to the present labeling of DESs, might be associated with negative long-term results with regard to inflammation and late in-stent stenosis.

Purpose To compare outcomes with a thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU)–covered self-expanding nitinol stent-graft (TPU graft) with those of a bare self-expanding nitinol stent in a porcine model. Materials and Methods Fourteen TPU grafts and 14 commercially available bare nitinol stents were implanted, one each, in the iliac arteries of 14 minipigs. Follow-up was performed at 1 week (six animals), 4 weeks (four animals), and 12 weeks (four animals). The primary study endpoint was in-stent stenosis assessed with quantitative angiography and microscopy. Secondary endpoints were injury, inflammation, and endothelialization. Results After 1 week, the maximum percentage luminal loss was significantly greater in TPU grafts (average, 16.2%; range, 0.0%–35.8%) than in bare nitinol stents (8.2%; 0.0%–17.3%) ( P = .04). Three of the four TPU grafts were occluded after 4 weeks, and all four TPU grafts were occluded after 12 weeks. Binary stenosis was seen in three of four bare nitinol stents after both 4 and 12 weeks. At 4-week follow-up, the average percentage luminal loss was significantly greater in TPU grafts (85.2%; 40.8%–100%) than in bare nitinol stents (49.5%; 37.9%–62.4%) ( P = .003). The difference in neointimal height and percentage average stenosis between TPU grafts (1,028.7 μm and 68.4%) and bare nitinol stents (1,033.6 μm [918.0–1,118.40 μm] and 68.1% [60.44%–71.99%]) was not statistically significant. After 12 weeks, the average percentage luminal loss was 100% in TPU grafts due to occlusion of all stent-grafts and 24.9% (8.0%–63.9%) in bare nitinol stents ( P = .011). Conclusions TPU grafts failed to provide improved patency compared with the bare nitinol stents because of excessive neointimal growth and subsequent occlusion. In addition, the bare nitinol stents showed considerable in-stent stenosis at angiography and microscopy.

The topography of hilly landscapes modifies crop environment changing the fluxes of water and energy, increasing risk in these vulnerable agriculture systems, which could become more accentuated under climate change (drought, increased variability of rainfall). In order to quantify how wheat production in hilly terrain will be affected by future climate, a newly developed and calibrated micro-meteorological model for hilly terrain was linked to a crop growth simulation model to analyse impact scenarios for different European regions. Distributions of yield and growing length of rainfed winter wheat and durum wheat were generated as probabilistic indices from baseline and low (B2) and high (A2) emission climate scenarios provided from the Hadley Centre Regional Climate Model (HadRM3). We used site-specific terrain parameters for two sample catchments in Europe, ranging from humid temperate (southeast UK) to semi-arid Mediterranean (southern Italy). Results for baseline scenario show that UK winter wheat is mainly affected by annual differences in precipitation and yield distributions do not change with terrain, whilst in the southern Mediterranean climate yield variability is significantly related to a slope × elevation index. For future climate, our simulations confirm earlier predictions of yield increase in the UK, even under the high emission scenario. In the southern Mediterranean, yield reduction is significantly related to slope × elevation index increasing crop failure in drier elevated spots but not in wet years under baseline weather. In scenarios for the future, the likelihood of crop failure rises sharply to more than 60%, and even in wet years, yields are likely to decrease in elevated spots.

The need for climate change mitigation and to meet increasing energy demands has led to a rise in the land area under bioenergy crops in many countries. There are concerns that such large-scale land conversion will conflict with food production and impact on the environment. Perennial biomass crops could be grown on more marginal agricultural land. However, for sustainable solutions, biomass yields will need to be sufficient and the wider implications of land-use changes considered. Here, focus- ing on Miscanthus in England as an example, we combined an empirical model with GIS to produce a yield map and estimated regional energy generation potentials after mask- ing out areas covered by environmental and socio-economic factors which could preclude the planting of energy crops. Agricultural land quality and the distributions of currently grown food crops were then taken into account. Results showed that: (i) regional contrasts occur in the importance of different factors affecting biomass planting; (ii) areas with the highest biomass yields co-locate with food producing areas on high grade land, and; (iii) when such high grade land and unsuitable areas are excluded, a policy-related scenario for increased planting on350,000 ha utilised 4-28% (depending on the region) of lower grade land and would not necessarily greatly impact on UK food security. We conclude that the GIS-based yield and suitability mapping described here can help identify important issues in bioenergy generation potentials and land use implications at regional or finer spatial scales that would be missed in analyses at the national level.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the potential of nanoscale coating with the highly biocompatible polymer Polyzene-F (PZF), in combination with cobalt chromium and stainless steel stents, to reduce in-stent stenosis, thrombogenicity, and vessel wall injury and inflammation. One bare cobalt chromium, PZF-nanocoated stainless steel or PZF-nanocoated cobalt chromium stent was implanted in right coronary artery of 30 mini-pigs (4- or 12-week follow-up). Primary study end points were in-stent stenosis and thrombogenicity. Secondary study end points were vessel wall injury and inflammation as evaluated by microscopy and a new immunoreactivity score applying C-reactive protein (CRP), tumor-necrosis factor alpha (TNFalpha), and TGFbeta. At 12 weeks, angiography showed a significantly lower average loss in lumen diameter (2.1% +/- 3.05%) in PZF-nanocoated cobalt chromium stents compared with stents in the other groups (9.73% +/- 4.93% for bare cobalt chromium stents and 9.71% +/- 7% for PZF-nanocoated stainless steel stents; p = 0.04), which was confirmed at microscopy (neointima 40.7 +/- 16 lm in PZF-nanocoated cobalt chromium stents, 74.7 +/- 57.6 lm in bare cobalt chromium stents, and 141.5 +/- 109 lm in PZF-nanocoated stainless steel stents; p = 0.04). Injury and inflammation scores were low in all stents and were without significant differences. PZF-nanocoated cobalt chromium stents provided the highest efficacy in reducing in-stent stenosis at long-term follow-up. The PZF nanocoat proved to be biocompatible with respect to thromboresistance and inflammation. Our data suggest that its combination with cobalt chromium stents might provide an interesting passive stent platform.

A new nonoperative catheter technique to perform an intrahepatic portosystemic shunt by transjugular approach was applied to ten patients with recurrent bleeding from oesophageal and fundal varices. Therefore a balloon-expandable stent was placed between a portal vein and a hepatic vein. Implantation of the stent was successful in seven of the ten patients. Two of these seven patients died 10 and 11 days, respectively, after the procedure, one of them in consequence of respiratory failure, the other due to an uncontrollable bleeding from the site of the percutaneous transhepatic puncture because of a marked clotting disorder. The intrahepatic shunt construction led to a mean reduction of the pressure gradient between portal and hepatic vein of 40%. No recurrence of variceal haemorrhage occurred during the average follow-up time of 5.6 months (3-9 months). One patient developed several episodes of portosystemic encephalopathy. The transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt is effective in the treatment of portal hypertension and might become an alternative to shunt surgery.

We report a rare case of late transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic stent shunt (TIPSS) occlusion due to progressive stent protrusion into the periportal liver parenchyma, which was a result of delayed liver shrinkage 2 years after TIPSS. The initial TIPSS procedure had been carried out in a 52-year-old man as a bridge for liver transplantation because of post-alcoholic liver cirrhosis. We describe the applied TIPSS recanalization and revision technique. Immediately after TIPSS revision acute liver failure developed, which required emergency liver transplantation.

Successful management of emergency patients with multiple trauma in the hospital resuscitation room depends on the immediate diagnosis and rapid treatment of the most life-threatening injuries. In order to reduce the time spent in the resuscitation room, an in-hospital algorithm was developed in an interdisciplinary team approach with respect to local structures. The aim of the study was to analyse whether this algorithm affects the interval between hospital admission and the completion of diagnostic procedures and the start of life-saving interventions. Moreover, in-hospital mortality was investigated before and after the algorithm was introduced.In this prospective study, all consecutive trauma patients in the resuscitation room were investigated before (group I, 01/04-10/04) and after (group II, 01/05-11/05) introduction of the algorithm. The times between hospital admission and the end of the diagnostic procedures (ultrasound [sono], chest X-ray [CF], and cranial computed tomography [CCT]), and between hospital admission and the start of life-saving interventions were registered and in-hospital mortality analysed.In the study period, 170 patients in group I and 199 patients in group II were investigated. Injury severity score (ISS) were comparable between the two groups. The intervals between admission and completion of diagnostic procedures were significantly lower after the algorithm was introduced (mean+/-S.D.): sono (11 +/- 10 min versus 7 +/- 6 min, p0.05), CF (21 +/- 12 min versus 12 +/- 9 min, p0.01), and CCT (55 +/- 27 min versus 32 +/- 14 min, p0.01). Moreover, the interval to the start of life-saving interventions was significantly shorter (126 +/- 90 min versus 51 +/- 20 min, p0.01). After introducing the algorithm, in-hospital mortality was reduced significantly from 33.3% to 16.7% (p0.05) in the most severely injured patients (ISSor=25).The introduction of an algorithm for early management of emergency patients significantly reduced the time spent in the resuscitation room. The periods to completion of sono, CF, and CCT, respectively, and the start of life-saving interventions were significantly shorter after introduction of the algorithm. Moreover, introduction of the algorithm reduced mortality in the most severely injured patients. Although further investigations are needed to evaluate the effects of the Heidelberg treatment algorithm in terms of outcome and mortality, the time reduction in the resuscitation room seems to be beneficial.

Highlight The process-based model LUCASS gave insights into the sink–source control of willow growth, identifying key parameters and predicting the performance of contrasting canopy phenotypes in different environments., Identifying key performance traits is essential for elucidating crop growth processes and breeding. In Salix spp., genotypic diversity is being exploited to tailor new varieties to overcome environmental yield constraints. Process-based models can assist these efforts by identifying key parameters of yield formation for different genotype×environment (G×E) combinations. Here, four commercial willow varieties grown in contrasting environments (west and south-east UK) were intensively sampled for growth traits over two 2-year rotations. A sink–source interaction model was developed to parameterize the balance of source (carbon capture/mobilization) and sink formation (morphogenesis, carbon allocation) during growth. Global sensitivity analysis consistently identified day length for the onset of stem elongation as most important factor for yield formation, followed by various ‘sink>source’ controlling parameters. In coastal climates, the chilling control of budburst ranked higher compared with the more eastern climate. Sensitivity to drought, including canopy size and rooting depth, was potentially growth limiting in the south-east and west of the UK. Potential yields increased from the first to the second rotation, but less so for broad- than for narrow-leaved varieties (20 and 47%, respectively), which had established less well initially (–19%). The establishment was confounded by drought during the first rotation, affecting broad- more than narrow-leaved canopy phenotypes (–29%). The analysis emphasized quantum efficiency at low light intensity as key to assimilation; however, on average, sink parameters were more important than source parameters. The G×E pairings described with this new process model will help to identify parameters of sink–source control for future willow breeding.

Soil moisture and temperature, sowing depth and penetration resistance affect the time and percentage of seedling emergence, which are crucial for the simulation of drought-limited crop production. The aim of this research was to measure the effect of soil water potential on germination and emergence, shoot and root elongation rates (SER and RER) of two different seed/crop types. Sugar beet and durum wheat seeds were sown into two soils (clay and loam), submitted to five matric potentials (-0.01, -0.1, -0.2, -0.4 and -0.8 MPa) and incubated at constant temperature (25 degrees C) and humidity. Cumulative count analysis was used to estimate parameters of the distribution of germination or emergence times for each box of beet or wheat seeds and to derive estimates for base potentials (psi(b)), hydrothermal times (H) and numbers of viable units. In a second experiment, NaCl solution was used to mimic the soil matric potentials to estimate potential RER and SER. Germination of sugar beet was slightly more sensitive to matric potential than durum wheat (psi(b) Of - 1.13 and - 1.23 MPa, respectively). H-(g) was longer for sugar beet than for durum wheat (67 vs 47 MPa degrees Cd). For emergence Ob was similar for both seed types and soils but hydrothermal times (H-(e)) were 40 MPa degrees Cd higher for sugar beet than for wheat. Emergence was about 20 MPa degrees Cd earlier in loam than in clay. SER measured in soils were similar for both crops and for durum wheat it agreed with those determined in NaCl solution. RER and SER fell with decreasing osmotic potential to approximately 20% of their maximum values (1.03 rum h(-1) and 0.57 mm h(-1), respectively). Seedling viability decreased with decreasing matric potential and more in clay than in loam soil and more for sugar beet than durum wheat. Seed and soil aggregate size are discussed with respect to the effects of water diffusion and soil-seed contact on germination and emergence modelling.

OBJECTIVES: We sought to evaluate the new polymer PTFEP (poly(bis(trifluoroethoxy)phosphazene) for (1) its ability to reduce thrombogenicity and late in-stent stenosis and (2) its effect on endothelialization in a rabbit iliac artery model. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Nanocoated ( approximately 50 nm) and bare stainless-steel stents were implanted bilaterally in the iliac arteries of 30 New Zealand White rabbits (1, 4, 8, 12, and 16 weeks follow-up) and evaluated by angiography, light, and scanning electron microscopy. RESULTS: Bilateral stent placement was successful in 27 of 30 rabbits. Thrombus depositions occurred in none of the 27 coated but in 4 of the 27 bare stents (P=0.037). A normal angiogram was obtained in 18 of 22 coated stents at risk for restenosis (follow-up >or=4 weeks) but only in 13 of 22 bare stents (P=0.023). Marked restenosis (luminal loss >30%) was found in 6 bare stents (P=0.011) but not in any coated stents. The neointima was 47.7-73.9 mum on coated and 66.9-115.2 mum on bare stents (statistically significant at 4, 8, and 16 weeks). Scanning electron microscopy detected full endothelialization in all stents from 4 weeks on (22 stents in both groups). CONCLUSION: PTFEP nanocoating successfully showed thromboresistance and reduced late in-stent stenosis. Endothelialization was equal in both stent types. Studies in more human-like models and human feasibility studies in human arteries are encouraged.

Crop models are indispensable to assess crop production under climate change, and they need evaluation preferably on long-term experiments. The certainty of estimates depends on the detail of input data and selection of an appropriate model. Aggregation may allow the use of simpler models, but it is unknown how this increases the prediction uncertainty. The purpose of our study was to assess the efficiency of a meteorological dataset from regional and local sources using two different models simulating sugar beet growth. Experimental data (1961-1992) originated from the Static Fertilization Experiment in Bad Lauchstadt, Germany. Regional weather (temperature, radiation and rainfall) was retrieved from the European database. Biomass of sugar beet was simulated with a relatively simple single-season model (BB) and a more complex mechanistic multi-season model (CA). Simulations compared best to de-trended observations using CA with local daily weather data (R2=0.55). Using model CA with regional weather data...

Dynamic models of nitrogen turnover in soil are being used increasingly in agricultural science. To be of value, a model must be thoroughly evaluated, and the expected accuracy of simulated values must be defined. Frequent field measurements are time-consuming and costly, and so models are often evaluated against only few data. However, this mismatch between the measured and simulated values can result in error statistics that are themselves subject to large errors and therefore unreliable. The dot-to-dot method quantifies the error associated with having too few measured values by interpolating linearly between measured data (hence, dot-to-dot) and evaluating the simulation at each time step using interpolated data where actual measurements are unavailable. A large error will be seen if the measured data do not capture the fluctuations predicted by the model. Other quantitative methods can be used to evaluate the performance of a model, but the dot-to-dot method can be used in conjunction with these to estimate whether or not the data are adequate for testing the model. If the performance of the model at the measured points is within the acceptable error, then the dot-to-dot method is used to judge whether there are too few points to evaluate the model's performance, and so to determine whether the evaluation of the model is valid.

Miscanthus is a low input energy crop suitable for low fertility marginal arable land and thought to provide carbon sequestration in soil. We analysed a long-term field experiment (14-year) to determine whether differences in genotype, growth habit, and root distribution affected soil carbon spatially under different Miscanthus genotypes. Soil cores were taken centrally and radially to a depth of 1 m, and divided into six vertical segments. Total root length (TRL), root dry matter (RDM) and δ 13 C signature of soil organic carbon (SOC) were measured directly, and root length density (RLD), fractions of Miscanthus -derived soil organic C (SOC M ), and residual soil carbon (SOC orig ) were calculated. Genotype was found to exhibit a statistically significant influence on spatial allocation of SOC. Grouping varieties into ‘tuft-forming’ (T) and ‘non-tuft-forming’ (NT) phenotypes revealed that respective groups accumulated similar amounts of RDM over 14 years (11.4 ± 3.3 vs. 11.9 ± 4.8 Mg ha −1 , respectively). However, phenotype T allocated more carbon to roots in the subsoil than NT (33% vs. 25%). Miscanthus genotypes sequestered between 4.2 and 7.1 g C 4 -SOC kg −1 soil over the same period, which was more than the average loss of C 3 -derived SOC (3.25 g kg −1 ). Carbon stocks in the ‘A horizon’ under Miscanthus increased by about 5 Mg ha −1 above the baseline, while the net increase in the subsoil was marginal. Amounts of Miscanthus root C in the subsoil were small (1.2–1.8 Mg C ha −1 ) but could be important for sustainable sequestration as root density (RLD) explained a high percentage of SOC M ( R 2 = 0.66).

Crop growth of winter rye ( Secale cereale ) was simulated on sandy soils in northwest Germany at the meso-scale (6 km 2 catchment, 5 year rotation). Based on site-specific soil data, simulated grain yields ( Y MOD ) were compared to observed yields ( Y OBS ), and the results were discussed with respect to the N balance. The mean annual yields simulated for rain-fed (3.8–7.3 t/ha) and irrigated conditions (5.2–8 t/ha) varied more strongly than those observed in the region (4.6–6.0 t/ha). Excluding years with strongly deviating simulation results, the ratio Y OBS / Y MOD decreased from 0.82 to 0.73 under irrigation. Spatially, the effect of plant available water (PAW) on simulated yields varied considerably over the years, explaining 5–75% of the yield variability. In reality, yields depended on water availability (PAW+irrigation) in a year with spring drought, suggesting a time-specific water stress function. In the simulation scenario, there was ample N supply, and variable N mineralization explained 10% of the yield variability. Simulated mean N uptake and export were greater than the observed (160 vs. 140 and 112 vs. 100 kg N/ha, respectively), which may explain the overestimated growth rates. The mean harvest index varied less (0.36–0.55) than the fraction of N returned with the residues (0.17–0. 50), and irrigation decreased the variation of both. With respect to scaling methods, soil data could be aggregated, and simulations based on distributed inputs could be substituted by the weighted mean of simulations based on mean inputs. Down-scaling from the EU map created the difficulty of selecting appropriate soil units. The simple factor Y OBS / Y MOD was unreliable for scaling simulated yields to assess regional yields because of its temporal variation in response to climatic variables. The results suggest that changes in model structure and parameters are required to describe water stress, sink limitations, and N diffusion or influx rates better.

Purpose To establish a relationship between flow, acute thrombus formation, and late intimal hyperplasia in arterial stents. Materials and Methods To compare short-term stent patency in the canine femoral artery with normal flow to that in the opposite femoral artery with restricted flow, 24 dogs were subdivided in four groups: groups 1 (no intravenous heparin) and 2 (intravenous heparin) had unilateral flow restriction by surgically created stenosis, downstream of a Palmaz stent. Group 3 (no intravenous heparin) and 4 (intravenous heparin) had sham surgical exposure of the corresponding arterial segment, without flow restriction. Thrombocyte activity over the stent segment was evaluated for 3 hours after stent placement with nuclear scanning, after administration of indium-111-labeled platelets. To evaluate long-term stent patency in relationship to arterial flow, 14 additional dogs were subjected to long-term observation. Matched, symmetrically implanted femoral stents with normal and restricted flow, were explanted at 1, 12, and 24 weeks for histologic analysis and comparative measurement of neointimal thickness. Angiographic studies were performed before and after nuclear scanning in the short-term study group and before explant in the long-term animal group. Results In the short-term, groups 2 and 4 showed neither increased platelet uptake nor angiographically demonstrable thrombus. Group 1 had increased platelet uptake and occlusive or subocclusive angiographic thrombus. Group 3 had increased platelet uptake and angiographic thrombus in one instance. In the long-term, stents with flow restriction had significantly greater neointimal formation in comparison with unrestricted stents. Histologic studies suggested that the stent neointima resulted from progressive replacement of stent thrombus. Conclusion Regardless of flow condition, intravenous heparinization is necessary to prevent thrombus formation in the stent lumen. Within the experimental parameters of this study, low flow and absent heparinization consistently lead to stent thrombosis. Stent implantation under low flow is associated with increased neointima formation. It is not known whether this is preventable by antithrombotic medication.

Willows (Salix spp.) grown as short rotation coppice (SRC) are among the leading commercially grown biomass crops in temperate regions, however, compared with major arable crops they are relatively undomesticated. Initial advances in improving the crop were made by selecting stem characteristics (height, diameter, straightness) and coppicing response (shoot number, shoot vigour), as well as resistance to pests, diseases and environmental stress. Selections were achieved purely on the basis of phenotype, with little understanding of the genetics for many of these important traits, or how they interact with each other and the environment. To enhance yields further, and to adapt the crop to future climates and more marginal environments where biomass crops will be encouraged, a more holistic understanding is needed of the key traits to target and expected gene-environment interactions. In this chapter we begin by reviewing what is known about growth in willow in relation to the parameterisation of process-based models and the advances made in willow genetics and genomics. We finish by considering an integrative approach which feeds genotypic information into phenotypic models of source-sink interaction to identify target traits for crop improvement.