• Green roofs have potential to function as islands of biodiversity in urban environments. •
Sedum species reduced peak soil temperature by 5–7
°C. •
Sedum species reduced growth of neighboring plant ...species during favorable conditions •
Sedum species increased performance of neighboring plant species during summer water deficit. • The palette of green roof plants can be expanded by using
Sedum species as nurse plants.
Green roofs have the potential to function as islands of biodiversity within urban and suburban environments. However, plant diversity is constrained by the harsh environment of a green roof, especially summertime water deficit and heat stress. We hypothesized that
Sedum species, which are highly tolerant of the roof-top environment, would reduce peak soil temperature and increase performance of neighboring plants during summer water deficit. To test these hypotheses, we grew focal plant species with and without
Sedum on a green roof. We then monitored growth during wet periods and drought tolerance during dry periods. During a three-year experiment,
S. album reduced maximum growth of neighbor plants,
Agastache rupestris and
Asclepias verticillata, during favorable growth conditions, but increased performance of neighbors during summer water deficit. In a second experiment, four species of
Sedum were each found to decrease peak soil temperature by 5–7
°C. All species decreased total growth of neighboring
Agastache ‘Black Adder’ during favorable growth conditions, but again increased performance during summer water deficit. These results suggest that the palette of green roof plants can be expanded by using
Sedum species as nurse plants.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK
Environmental conditions during seed maturation influence germination, but the genetic basis of maternal environmental effects on germination is virtually unknown. Using single and multiple mutants ...of phytochromes, it is shown here that different phytochromes contributed to germination differently, depending on seed-maturation conditions. Arabidopsis thaliana wild-type seeds that were matured under cool temperatures were intensely dormant compared with seeds matured at warmer temperature, and this dormancy was broken only after warm seed-stratification followed by cold seed-stratification. The warm-cold stratification broke dormancy in fresh seeds but not in dry after-ripened seeds. Functional PHYB and PHYD were necessary to break cool-induced dormancy, which indicates a previously unknown and ecologically important function for PHYD. Disruption of PHYA in combination with PHYD (but not PHYB) restored germination to near wild-type levels, indicating that PHYA contributes to the maintenance of cool-induced dormancy on a phyD background. Effects of seed-maturation temperature were much stronger than effects of seed-maturation photoperiod. PHYB contributed to germination somewhat more strongly in seeds matured under short days, whereas PHYD contributed to germination somewhat more strongly in seeds matured under long days. The variable contributions of different phytochromes to germination as a function of seed-maturation conditions reveal further functional diversification of the phytochromes during the process of germination. This study identifies among the first genes to be associated with maternal environmental effects on germination.
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BFBNIB, FZAB, GIS, IJS, KILJ, NLZOH, NMLJ, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBMB, UL, UM, UPUK
Germination timing is a fundamental life-history trait, as seedling establishment predicates realized fitness in the wild. Light and temperature are two important cues by which seeds sense the proper ...season of germination. Using Arabidopsis thaliana, we provide evidence that phytochrome-mediated germination pathways simultaneously respond to light and temperature cues in ways that affect germination. Phytochrome mutant seeds were sown on agar plates and allowed to germinate in lit, growth chambers across a range of temperatures (7°C to 28°C). phyA had an important role in promoting germination at warmer temperatures, phyE was important to germination at colder temperatures and phyB was important to germination across a range of temperatures. Different phytochromes were required for germination at different temperatures, indicating a restriction or even a potential specialization of individual phytochrome activity as a function of temperature. This temperature-dependent activity of particular phytochromes reveals a potentially novel role for phytochrome pathways in regulating the seasonal timing of germination.
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BFBNIB, FZAB, GIS, IJS, KILJ, NLZOH, NMLJ, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBMB, UL, UM, UPUK
The study documented in this paper builds upon the concept of multiple intelligences by examining the need for a greater concept of intelligence within the construction profession. Specifically, the ...paper documents the study of 130 construction executives for their emotional intelligence (EI) as measured by their emotional quotient. In this study, the writers analyze the relationship between EI and leadership behaviors, specifically examining the relationship between EI and transformational leadership behaviors. The paper outlines the strengths and weaknesses found in executives in relation to developing transformational leadership behaviors. Through the use of established testing procedures, the researchers identify five specific components of EI that are related to transformational leadership behavior at a convincing level of statistical significance. Of particular importance is the identification of interpersonal skills and empathy as key EI behaviors that need additional attention during the development of construction industry executives. The writers contend that these traits are as important as classical traits of intelligence and experience in developing the leaders of tomorrow’s construction organizations.
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DOBA, FGGLJ, IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
We identified a new role of phytochrome in mediating germination responses to seasonal cues and thereby identified for the first time a gene involved in maternal environmental effects on germination. ...We examined the germination responses of a mutant, hy2-1, which is deficient in the phytochrome chromophore. The background genotype, Landsberg erecta (Ler), lacked dormancy in most treatments, while hy2-1 required cold stratification for germination in a manner that resembled a more dormant ecotype, Columbia (Col). Unlike Col, hy2-1 was not induced into dormancy by warm stratification. Therefore, the down-regulation of phytochrome-mediated germination pathways results in sensitivity to cold, but we found no evidence that reduced phytochrome activity enables the warm-induction of dormancy. Cool temperatures during seed maturation induced dormancy. The hy2-1 mutants did not overcome this dormancy, indicating that phytochrome-mediated pathways are required to break cold-induced dormancy. Ler did not respond to post-stratification temperature, but hy2-1 did respond, suggesting phytochrome pathways are involved in germination responses to temperature. In summary, phytochromes mediate dormancy and germination responses to seasonal cues experienced both during seed maturation and after dispersal. Phytochromes therefore appear to be involved in mediating seasonal germination timing, a trait of great ecological importance and one that is under strong natural selection.
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BFBNIB, FZAB, GIS, IJS, KILJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, SAZU, SBCE, SBMB, UL, UM, UPUK
The review of literature suggests the pediatric population is at risk for skin breakdown and therefore pressure ulcer development. The literature reveals limited information on pediatric skin care ...issues in comparison to the adult population. The prevention and treatment of pressure ulcers and maintenance of skin integrity in the pediatric population often is not a high priority especially in the critically ill child. Research has demonstrated that children differ from adults in the anatomical sites of skin breakdown; however, treatment remains the same. It is important to have an understanding of the underlying physiology of ulcer formation, the factors responsible for ulcer development, and the factors that put infants and children at risk for developing pressure ulcers. Accurate assessment, documentation, prevention, and treatment are all key factors.
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DOBA, IZUM, KILJ, NUK, OILJ, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, SIK, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK, VSZLJ
Among the most important environmental sensors in plants are the phytochromes, members of a duplicated‐gene family of photoreceptors. We characterized the functional diversification of this gene ...family with respect to a single ecologically important and highly environmentally sensitive process—germination—and thereby addressed the consequence of gene duplication in the evolution of environmental sensitivity. We exposed single and multiple mutants of different phytochromes ofArabidopsis thalianato dormancy‐breaking or dormancy‐inducing treatments that resemble different seasonal environmental conditions, and we recorded their germination responses. Much redundancy of function occurred, but an impressive degree of functional diversification was also apparent. Specifically, PHYB was an important contributor to germination when seeds did not receive low‐temperature imbibition. It interacted nonadditively with PHYA, whose contribution to germination was redundant to that of PHYB and most apparent when seeds experienced high followed by low temperatures. We also determined that PHYD was necessary for full germination when seeds were exposed to a high temperature during imbibition. PHYE appears to contribute redundantly to germination, except when seeds experienced high followed by low temperatures. Finally, we found new evidence that PHYA and possibly PHYD redundantly contribute to the suppression of germination. The diversification of activities of all these phytochromes during this one process of germination suggests that they all have a combined function in the regulation of germination responses to complex seasonal conditions and that gene duplication can contribute to the evolution of precise responses to variable environments.
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BFBNIB, IZUM, KILJ, NMLJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, UL, UM, UPUK
The aim of this quality improvement project was to reduce the rate of severe intraventricular hemorrhage (sIVH) by 50% within 3 years for extremely preterm infants born at a children's teaching ...hospital.
A multidisciplinary team developed key drivers for the development of intraventricular hemorrhage in preterm infants. Targeted interventions included the development of potentially better practice guidelines, promoting early noninvasive ventilation, consistent use of rescue antenatal betamethasone, and risk-based indomethacin prophylaxis. The outcome measure was the rate of sIVH. Process measures included the rate of intubation within 24 hours and receipt of rescue betamethasone and risk-based indomethacin prophylaxis. Common markers of morbidity were balancing measures. Data were collected from a quarterly chart review and analyzed with statistical process control charts. The preintervention period was from January 2012 to March 2016, implementation period was from April 2016 to December 2018, and sustainment period was through June 2020.
During the study period, there were 268 inborn neonates born at <28 weeks' gestation or <1000 g (127 preintervention and 141 postintervention). The rate of sIVH decreased from 14% to 1.2%, with sustained improvement over 2 and a half years. Mortality also decreased by 50% during the same time period. This was associated with adherence to process measures and no change in balancing measures.
A multipronged quality improvement approach to intraventricular hemorrhage prevention, including evidence-based practice guidelines, consistent receipt of rescue betamethasone and indomethacin prophylaxis, and decreasing early intubation was associated with a sustained reduction in sIVH in extremely preterm infants.
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