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the new guide has been published and it looks great. Loads of great information and you can pick up a copy free from The Register Office at Brighton Town Hall www.brighton-hove.gov.uk/registeroffice 01273 292016, technorati.com

Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology, Vol. 237, No. 1. (21 July 2006), pp. 32-39.Vegetation reconstruction based on pollen from coprolites of extinct spotted hyena (Crocuta crocuta spelaea, Goldfuss 1832) recovered from excavations carried out in 1998 at San Teodoro Cave (Sicily, Italy) supports previous indications of pre-Late Glacial conditions. Eight of the twelve coprolites analysed contained well-preserved pollen grains. There is a general similarity between the pollen contents from the coprolites but they show variability. They suggest a main vegetation type dominated by steppic taxa (Poaceae, Artemisia, Ephedra, Chenopodiaceae and Asteraceae) but also including arboreal taxa (Pinus and Cupressaceae). Low percentages of pollen of mesophilous woody taxa (Quercus, Betula, Abies, Alnus, Pistacia, among others) are noticeable, suggesting the existence of nearby refugia for temperate and Mediterranean vegetation. A reconstruction of the landscape, using the coprolite pollen record and other pollen records from Sicily and south Italy, shows the predominance, during the pre-Late Glacial, of a wooded steppe biome, with elements representing a variety of local environmental conditions., citeulike.org

Journal of Archaeological Science, Vol. 29, No. 10. (October 2002), pp. 1161-1188.This paper investigates the use of mine sediments to reconstruct the vegetational changes and atmospheric pollution history associated with prehistoric and Mediaeval metal mining in the Ystwyth valley, Dyfed, mid-Wales. Pollen, charcoal, plant macrofossils, fossil insects and chemical analyses are presented from radiocarbon-dated sediments contained within a prehistoric mine situated on the upper slope of Copa Hill, close to the village of Cwmystwyth. The results provide additional support to the hypothesis that prehistoric mining had a negligible impact on woodland and that deforestation took place after Bronze Age mining ceased. Although high concentrations of Cu, Pb and Zn were determined from sediments of prehistoric and Roman Age, the patterns bear little resemblance to off site atmospheric pollution records and to the archaeological evidence for metal mining. Interpreting geochemical data from mine contexts is problematic as numerous factors influence the distribution and concentration of metals. However, an on-site and off-site approach to investigate human-environment interactions caused by metal mining is advocated., citeulike.org

(1999), pp. 87-94.To test models predicting biological reponse to future climate change, it is essential to find climatically-sensitive, easily monitored biological indicators that respond to climate change. Routine monitoring of airborne pollen, now undertaken on a near-global basis, could be adapted for this purpose. Analysis of spatial and seasonal variations in pollen levels in New Zealand suggests that the timing of onset and peak abundance of certain pollen taxa should be explored as possible bio-indicators of climate change. The onset of the airborne grass pollen season during the summer of 1988/89 varied consistently with latitude, and hence temperature, with the season in Southland commencing 8--9 days after Northland. However, these patterns were only apparent after sampling sites were separated into two groups reflecting predominantly urban or rural pollen sources. A less consistent north to south trend was apparent in the frequency of high (30 grains/m^3) grass pollen levels, with high levels frequent in North Island localities in November, December and January and in southern localities during December and January. The successive onset of pollen seasons for the principal tree species during the spring-to-early summer warming interval may also be a useful bio-indicator of climate change. As well as assisting forecasts of the onset of the pollinosis season, these biogeographical patterns, reflecting climatic variation with latitude, suggest that routine aeropalynological monitoring might provide early signals of vegetation response to climate change. These conclusions are supported by recent investigations of long-term aeropalynological datasets in Europe that indicate earlier onset of pollen seasons in response to recent global warming., citeulike.org

Acta Dermatovenerol Alp Panonica Adriat, Vol. 16, No. 4. (December 2007), pp. 143-148.BACKGROUND: Sublingual immunotherapy (SLIT) is a recognized and safe treatment for allergic rhinitis and conjunctivitis. The aim was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of tablets for grass and rye pollen- induced rhinitis and conjunctivitis. METHODS: A double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial was carried out over 9 months. 105 patients received a standardized grass/rye mix extract or a placebo using sublingual drops during the build-up phase. Drops were replaced by sublingual tablets during the maintenance phase (300 IR/daily). RESULTS: In patients that received active treatment, a significantly lower total symptom score (rhinitis and conjunctivitis) compared to the placebo group was observed (p = 0.038). The investigators' assessment revealed a significant improvement in favor of the active treatment group (p = 0.018). Skin reactivity to grass and rye pollen was significantly reduced in the active treatment group (p < 0.05). No statistical difference was observed between the two groups for serum-specific IgG4 levels. Side effects were local and mild, and no severe systemic reactions were reported. CONCLUSION: This study indicates that tablet-based sublingual immunotherapy was safe and significantly improved grass/rye pollen-induced rhinoconjunctivitis symptoms. It was also associated with a significant inhibition of the immediate skin response., citeulike.org

Sexual Plant Reproduction, Vol. 20, No. 4. (1 December 2007), pp. 181-189.Abstract  The pollination droplet is a highly conservative pollination mechanism that is observed in all major gymnosperm taxa. Proteomics analysis of the pollination drops was carried out on four gymnosperm species: Juniperus communis (common juniper), Juniperus oxycedrus (prickly juniper), Chamaecyparis lawsoniana (Port Orford cedar), and Welwitschia mirabilis. Pollination drop proteins were purified by SDS-PAGE, and the most abundant proteins were analyzed by mass spectrometry and sequenced. Based on BLAST searching of combined amino acid sequences, the following proteins were identified in the following species: an 83-kDa subtilisin-like proteinase, a 62-kDa glycosyl hydrolase, a 47.5-kDa glucan 1,3-?-glucosidase precursor, a 30-kDa chitinase, and a 25-kDa thaumatin-like protein were identified in J. communis; a 30-kDa chitinase, a 25-kDa thaumatin-like protein, and a 32.5-kDa glucanase-like protein were identified in J. oxycedrus; an 83-kDa subtilisin-like proteinase, a 62-kDa ?-d-glucan exohydrolase, a 47.5-kDa glucan 1,3-?-glucosidase, and two 25-kDa thaumatin-like proteins were identified in C. lawsoniana, and a 25-kDa chitinase was identified in W. mirabilis. Based on protein identifications, there is strong evidence that the pollination drop functions in both pathogen defense and pollen development. The discovery of similarities in terms of peptide sequence and protein identifications indicates that ovular secretions are functionally conservative, and that they are essential to reproductive success., citeulike.org

Site Helps Those With Food Allergies Save Money (CBS 13 Sacramento) The numbers are staggering. About 12 million Americans now have some type of food allergy, many of which can have deadly reactions. Even more have other types of dietary restrictions. That can make a trip to the grocery store not only confusing, but also costly. Source: cbs13.com Doctor holds talk about neurodevelopmental diseases (Mississauga News) A naturopathic doctor is hosting a series of clinics this weekend at his Mi, technorati.com

Notes from the CEO: Pets and Allergies - Seattle Post Intelligencer Notes from the CEO: Pets and Allergies Seattle Post Intelligencer - Nov 19, 2008 ? allergies are found not only in animals' fur or hair but also in saliva, urine, mucous, hair roots and in the dander sloughed from the animals' skin. ? Source: news.google.com For the Life of Me: Stories of living with cancer (The Daily News) The Daily News wanted to hear from people dealing with cancer, in their own words. The follow, technorati.com

nytimes.com Some plants that were thought to be invasive species in the Galapagos Islands predate humans by thousands of years. The evidence for this is in the form of fossilized pollen grains found in sediment cores from bogs on Santa Cruz island in the heart of the archipelago. Jacqueline F.N. van Leeuwen of the University of Bern in Switzerland and Cynthia A. Froyd of? http://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/25/science/25obplants.html?ex=1384923600&en=89640 98b8cc3?, technorati.com

A bee leaves a yellow daisy after feeding itself. Note the large sacs of pollen on its legs., technorati.com