(1991). Applied Linear Regression Models. Journal of Quality Technology: Vol. 23, No. 1, pp. 76-77.

Applied Linear Regression Models

https://www.fs.fed.us/pnw/pubs/journals/pnw_2002_franklin001.pdf

Disturbances and structural development of natural forest ecosystems with silvicultural implications, using Douglas-fir forests as an example

What determines the number and size of the seeds produced by a plant? How often should it reproduce them? How often should a plant produce them? Why and how are seeds dispersed, and what are the implications for the diversity and composition of vegetation? These are just some of the questions tackled in this wide-ranging review of the role of seeds in the ecology of plants. The authors bring together information on the ecological aspects of seed biology, starting with a consideration of reproductive strategies in seed plants and progressing through the life cycle, covering seed maturation, dispersal, storage in the soil, dormancy, germination, seedling establishment, and regeneration in the field. The text encompasses a wide range of concepts of general relevance to plant ecology, reflecting the central role that the study of seed ecology has played in elucidating many fundamental aspects of plant community function.

The ecology of seeds

The purpose of the National Cancer Institute pilot project to prioritize cancer antigens was to develop a well-vetted, priority-ranked list of cancer vaccine target antigens based on predefined and preweighted objective criteria. An additional aim was for the National Cancer Institute to test a new approach for prioritizing translational research opportunities based on an analytic hierarchy process for dealing with complex decisions. Antigen prioritization involved developing a list of "ideal" cancer antigen criteria/characteristics, assigning relative weights to those criteria using pairwise comparisons, selecting 75 representative antigens for comparison and ranking, assembling information on the predefined criteria for the selected antigens, and ranking the antigens based on the predefined, preweighted criteria. Using the pairwise approach, the result of criteria weighting, in descending order, was as follows: (a) therapeutic function, (b) immunogenicity, (c) role of the antigen in oncogenicity, (d) specificity, (e) expression level and percent of antigen-positive cells, (f) stem cell expression, (g) number of patients with antigen-positive cancers, (h) number of antigenic epitopes, and (i) cellular location of antigen expression. None of the 75 antigens had all of the characteristics of the ideal cancer antigen. However, 46 were immunogenic in clinical trials and 20 of them had suggestive clinical efficacy in the "therapeutic function" category. These findings reflect the current status of the cancer vaccine field, highlight the possibility that additional organized efforts and funding would accelerate the development of therapeutically effective cancer vaccines, and accentuate the need for prioritization.

https://clincancerres.aacrjournals.org/content/clincanres/15/17/5323.full.pdf

The Prioritization of Cancer Antigens: A National Cancer Institute Pilot Project for the Acceleration of Translational Research

Water management is facing major challenges due to increasing uncertainties caused by climate and global change and by fast changing socio-economic boundary conditions. More attention has to be devoted to understanding and managing the transition from current management regimes to more adaptive regimes that take into account environmental, technological, economic, institutional and cultural characteristics of river basins. This implies a paradigm shift in water management from a prediction and control to a management as learning approach. The change towards adaptive management could be defined as “learning to manage by managing to learn”. Such change aims at increasing the adaptive capacity of river basins at different scales. The paper identifies major challenges for research and practice how to understand a transition in water management regimes. A conceptual framework is introduced how to characterize water management regimes and the dynamics of transition processes. The European project NeWater project is presented as one approach where new scientific methods and practical tools are developed for the participatory assessment and implementation of adaptive water management.

Transitions towards adaptive management of water facing climate and global change

Tree seedling establishment and growth were studied in experimental canopy gaps to assess the effect of heterogeneity of regeneration microsites within and among gaps in mature conifer forests. Seedlings were studied for two years in closed-canopy areas and in recently created gaps ranging in size from 40 to 2000 m2 in four stands of mature (90–140 yr) and old-growth (>400 yr) Douglas-fir forest in the western Cascade Range of central Oregon and southern Washington, USA. We examined the relative importance of substrate type, shade from logs and shade cloth, density of understory vegetation, gap size, and forest age on the success of Pacific silver fir (Abies amabilis), Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii), and western hemlock (Tsuga heterophylla). Seedlings originating from seed sown on experimental microsites were compared with seedlings regenerating naturally on a range of microsites. Seedling establishment was greater on decayed wood than on forest floor or mineral soil in closed-canopy areas, particula...

Microsite controls on tree seedling establishment in conifer forest canopy gaps

The effects of gap formation on solar radiation, soil and air temperature, and soil moisture were studied in mature coniferous forests of the Pacific Northwest, U.S.A. Measurements were taken over ...

/pdf/microclimatic-and-soil-moisture-responses-to-gap-formation-4g8opo74g3.pdf

Microclimatic and soil moisture responses to gap formation in coastal Douglas-fir forests

1 Emergence, establishment and growth of Abies amabilis, Pseudotsuga menziesii and Tsuga heterophylla were studied for 2 years in variously sized canopy gaps created in four stands on the west slope of the Cascade Range in central Oregon and southern Washington, USA. Seedlings originating from seeds sown on controlled microsites were compared with natural seed rain. 2 Seedling establishment was greater in gaps than in closed-canopy areas, but was relatively low in portions of large gaps exposed to direct solar radiation, particularly for Tsuga. Some evidence of gap partitioning by regenerating seedlings was found, though all species were most abundant in shaded portions of gaps. 3 Seedling size increased with gap size, and was greatest at gap centres. Pseudotsuga growth was relatively low except in the largest gaps, Tsuga growth increased dramatically with gap size, and Abies growth responded the least to gap size. 4 Seedling establishment and growth differed among the four stands. Establishment in closed-canopy areas was lowest in stands with dense conifer canopies relatively close to the forest floor. Natural establishment of Tsuga in gaps was very low in mature stands but abundant in old-growth stands, reflecting differences in seed rain. 5 Silviculturally created openings may accelerate the development of multiple canopy layers in mature forests, but gap size and the availability of shade-tolerant tree seeds will also control the rate and spatial pattern of canopy development.

https://www.fs.fed.us/pnw/pubs/journals/pnw_1996_gray001.pdf

Gap size, within-gap position and canopy structure effects on conifer seedling establishment.

Sierra Nevada forests have high understory species richness yet we do not know which site factors influence herb and shrub distribution or abundance. We examined the understory of an old-growth mixed-conifer Sierran forest and its distribution in relation to microsite conditions. The forest has high species richness (98 species sampled), most of which are herbs with sparse cover and relatively equal abundance. Shrub cover is highly concentrated in discrete patches. Using overstory tree cover and microsite environmental conditions, four habitats were identified; tree cluster, partial canopy, gap, and rock/shallow soil. Herb and shrub species were strongly linked with habitats. Soil moisture, litter depth and diffuse light were the most significant environmental gradients influencing understory plant distribution. Herb cover was most strongly influenced by soil moisture. Shrub cover is associated with more diffuse light, less direct light, and sites with lower soil moisture. Herb richness is most affected by conditions which influence soil moisture. Richness is positively correlated with litter depth, and negatively correlated with direct light and shrub cover. Disturbance or management practices which change forest floor conditions, shallow soil moisture and direct light are likely to have the strongest effect on Sierran understory abundance and richness.

/pdf/influence-of-light-and-soil-moisture-on-sierran-mixed-3rj395li7d.pdf

Influence of light and soil moisture on Sierran mixed-conifer understory communities

https://www.fs.fed.us/pnw/pubs/journals/pnw_2006_fiala001.pdf

Andrew N. Gray

Papers

Microsite controls on tree seedling establishment in conifer forest canopy gaps

Microclimatic and soil moisture responses to gap formation in coastal Douglas-fir forests

Gap size, within-gap position and canopy structure effects on conifer seedling establishment.

Influence of light and soil moisture on Sierran mixed-conifer understory communities

Comparison of five canopy cover estimation techniques in the western Oregon Cascades