Juglans regia L. tree plantations for wood production in mining area of S. Barbara (AR). Evaluation of N-fixing accessory trees effect.The study was carried out in experimental plots located in the Arno valley (Cavriglia, province of Arezzo -Italy). The experimental plots, walnut (Juglans regia L.) plantations both pure and mixed to accessory trees (Alnus cordata Loisel., Corylus avellana L., Eleagnus angustifolia L. and Robinia pseudoacacia L.), were established in 1986 and 1989. Data on grown and architectural characteristics were collected in different periods on trees aged 9, 13 and 16. Walnut trees grown with accessory trees showed the best performances, especially if associated with N-fixing species. These positive effects are probably due to many co-occuring favourable causes, a remarkable aspect of which is the higher availability of N. To better investigate the above effect, N concentration in the soil and in walnut leaves was measured in plantations both pure and mixed with Italian alder (Alnus cordata) or black locust (Robinia pseudoacacia), and N concentration values were compared with growth characteristics. The results showed that Juglans regia trees associated with Italian alder grow faster, with straighter stems and better stem shapes for qualified wood production. PremessaA partire dagli anni '90 vari provvedimenti comunitari hanno contribuito alla realizzazione di numerosi impianti di arboricoltura da legno con latifoglie indigene pregiate; il noce comune, per il suo valore commerciale, è risultata essere fra le specie più impiegate. Nel corso degli anni si è andata diffondendo la pratica di realizzare piantagioni ricorrendo a mescolanze con specie legnose, arboree ed arbustive, al fine di migliorare la produzione legnosa delle piante principali e di ridurre l'intensività di coltivazione.Il presente contributo rappresenta la sintesi di diverse esperienze condotte negli impianti sperimentali realizzati dal CRA-ISSA (Consiglio per la Ricerca e la sperimentazione in Agricoltura -Istituto Sperimentale per la Selvicoltura di Arezzo) nell'area mineraria di S. Barbara (AR); tali parcelle sono le prime, costituite in Italia, per lo studio di aspetti concernenti l'arboricoltura da legno. Scopo dell'indagine è quello di valutare l'effetto di varie mescolanze sull'accrescimento e la conformazione di piante di noce comune facendo ricorso a dati rilevati dal 1997 al 2002. Vengono inoltre indagati alcuni possibili meccanismi causali, in particolare si prendono in considerazione aspetti nutrizionali, relativi all'azoto, e aspetti qualitativi della radiazione solare.

We investigated historical records (e.g. old diaries, historiography, and daily newspapers) and acquired phenological data series for autumn-tinted maple (Acer spp.) leaves in Kyoto, Japan. From the 10th to 21st centuries, we gathered 504 years of phenological data for maple leaves' autumn tints. A preliminary analysis suggested that the dates of the maple autumn tints were affected by the October mean temperature. Therefore, an attempt was made to reconstruct the October mean temperature in Kyoto by applying the phenological data for autumn tints of maple leaves. Autumn temperature series partially showed a pattern similar to springtime temperature series. A cooling trend over the 15th -16th centuries and cool conditions in the late 17th and the early 19th centuries were detected in both the October and the March temperature series; however, October temperature change preceded March temperature change by about 10-20 years. This suggests that the time-lag of response of October temperatures in Kyoto to the solar variation may be smaller than that of March temperatures.

Background Primary central nervous system lymphoma is a rare extra-nodal lymphoma of the central nervous system. Primary central nervous system lymphoma lesions usually appear in the vicinity of the ventricle, and there are few reports of primary central nervous system lymphoma with hypothalamic-pituitary lesions. Case presentation We treated a 56-year-old male with primary central nervous system lymphoma with the primary lesion in the hypothalamus, which was found by magnetic resonance imaging after sudden onset of endocrinological abnormalities. Initially, he was hospitalized to our department for hyponatremia. Endocrinological examination in conjunction with head magnetic resonance imaging and endoscopic biopsy revealed hypothalamic hypopituitarism and tertiary hypoadrenocorticism caused by a rapidly growing, diffuse large B-cell lymphoma in the hypothalamus. Remission of the tumor was achieved by high-dose methotrexate with whole brain radiotherapy, and some of the hormone responses were normalized. Conclusions While primary central nervous system lymphoma is rare, it is important to note that hypopituitarism can result and that the endocrinological abnormalities can be partially restored by its remission.

No abstract