The dimensions of currently available spinal needles (0.7 mm (22-gauge) to 0.45 mm (26-gauge) external diameter) were measured and compared with the International Standard (ISO 7864-1984 E). The in vitro performance of the needles was assessed by comparing times to appearance of cerebrospinal fluid and flow rates through the needles. There were wide variations in the measurements and performanc...

The three youngest age-classes of needles of Norway spruce (Picea abies) were collected from four sites in the Krusne Hory Mountains (Czech Republic) characterized by different levels of damage caused by environmental pollution. Histochemical methods did not reveal any differences in localization of phenolics among the needles. Mesophyll cells close to the epidermis of needles and cells around ...

HSIANG, T., and EDMONDS, R. L. 1989. Physiological specialization of Heterobasidion annosum on conifer hosts. Can. J. Bot. 67: 2396-2400. Eight conifer hosts belonging to five conifer species were inoculated in vitro with conidial suspensions of eight isolates of Heterobasidion annosum from Washington and Califomia. The conifer trees were represented in inoculation tests by 1 cm diameter branch...

Down logs provide important ecosystem services in forests and affect surface fuel loads and fire behavior. Amounts and kinds of logs are influenced by factors such as forest type, disturbance regime, forest management, and climate. To quantify potential short-term changes in log populations during a recent globalclimate-change type drought, we sampled logs in mixed-conifer and ponderosa pine (P...

Araucaria angustifolia (Bert.) O. Kuntze is a dioecious conifer species native of Brazil. The rare occurrence of monoiceous specimens have been attributed to pathogenic infections or other injuries in adult trees. Here, the morphological characteristics of male and female cones and pollen grains of a monoiceous A. angustifolia are described. Male and female cones and pollen grains presented nor...

We present data from a study of early conifer regeneration and fuel loads after the 2002 Biscuit Fire, Oregon, USA, with and without postfire logging. Natural conifer regeneration was abundant after the high-severity fire. Postfire logging reduced median regeneration density by 71%, significantly increased downed woody fuels, and thus increased short-term fire risk. Additional reduction of fuel...

Concentrations of the elements Ca, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, K, Mg, Mn, N, Ni, P, Pb, and Zn were measured in needles and bark of Taxus baccata from the urban environment of Wrocław, Poland, and from a control site relatively free from pollution. In Wrocław the concentrations of N, P, K, and Mg in needles were significantly higher than in bark, but concentrations of Cd, Co, Cr, Cu Fe, Ni, and Zn were...

OBJECTIVE To compare the specificity and sensitivity of the skin pathergy test performed with blunt and sharp needles in patients with Behçet's disease. METHODS The skin pathergy test was performed using the simultaneous four needle prick method with blunt and sharp, thick and thin needles in 92 patients with Behçet's disease, 64 healthy controls, and 128 patients without Behçet's disease. Th...