scholarly journals Towards Understanding Variability in Droughts in Response to Extreme Climate Conditions over the Different Agro-Ecological Zones of Pakistan

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (12) ◽  
pp. 6910
Author(s):  
Adil Dilawar ◽  
Baozhang Chen ◽  
Arfan Arshad ◽  
Lifeng Guo ◽  
Muhammad Irfan Ehsan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Pearson Correlation ◽  
Principal Component ◽  
Mitigation Strategies ◽  
Precipitation Extremes ◽  
Climate Mitigation ◽  
Mean Annual Temperature ◽  
Climate Extreme ◽  
Ecological Zones ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Agro Ecological Zones

Here, we provided a comprehensive analysis of long-term drought and climate extreme patterns in the agro ecological zones (AEZs) of Pakistan during 1980–2019. Drought trends were investigated using the standardized precipitation evapotranspiration index (SPEI) at various timescales (SPEI-1, SPEI-3, SPEI-6, and SPEI-12). The results showed that droughts (seasonal and annual) were more persistent and severe in the southern, southwestern, southeastern, and central parts of the region. Drought exacerbated with slopes of −0.02, −0.07, −0.08, −0.01, and −0.02 per year. Drought prevailed in all AEZs in the spring season. The majority of AEZs in Pakistan’s southern, middle, and southwestern regions had experienced substantial warming. The mean annual temperature minimum (Tmin) increased faster than the mean annual temperature maximum (Tmax) in all zones. Precipitation decreased in the southern, northern, central, and southwestern parts of the region. Principal component analysis (PCA) revealed a robust increase in temperature extremes with a variance of 76% and a decrease in precipitation extremes with a variance of 91% in the region. Temperature and precipitation extremes indices had a strong Pearson correlation with drought events. Higher temperatures resulted in extreme drought (dry conditions), while higher precipitation levels resulted in wetting conditions (no drought) in different AEZs. In most AEZs, drought occurrences were more responsive to precipitation. The current findings are helpful for climate mitigation strategies and specific zonal efforts are needed to alleviate the environmental and societal impacts of drought.

scholarly journals Profils morpho-biometriques de la poule locale du Burkina Faso

2020 ◽  
Vol 14 (6) ◽  
pp. 2240-2256
Author(s):  
S. Pinde ◽  
A.S.R. Tapsoba ◽  
M. Sanou ◽  
F.G. Traore ◽  
R.W. Ouedraogo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Burkina Faso ◽  
Phenotypic Variability ◽  
Principal Component ◽  
Phenotypic Characterization ◽  
Accurate Identification ◽  
Ecological Zones ◽  
Large Size ◽  
Dimorphisme Sexuel ◽  
Rational Management ◽  
Agro Ecological Zones

Au Burkina Faso les informations sur la poule locale sont rares entrainant des difficultés objectives de son exploitation rationnelle. Un total de 948 individus (692 femelles et 256 mâles) provenant de 251 élevages reparties dans les 3 zones agro-écologiques du Burkina Faso a été évalué pour 13 traits corporels quantitatifs et 09 qualitatifs dans le but de caractériser la variabilité phénotypique de la poule locale. Il ressort 13 coloris de plumage avec le blanc (19,16%) et l’herminé (16,75%) comme couleurs dominantes. Le site et le sexe ont eu une influence (p<0,05) sur les traits corporels analysés. L’Analyse en Composante Principale révèle l’existence de 2 sous-populations: une souche légère de petit gabarit (0,91 kg) dans les trois zones agro-écologiques et une souche lourde de grand gabarit (1,37 kg) dans les zones soudano-sahélienne et soudanienne, laissant présager des différences d’adaptation liées aux facteurs environnementaux. Un dimorphisme sexuel en faveur des mâles a été observé au niveau du poids vif moyen (1,64 kg vs 1,14 kg), de la longueur du corps (42,16 cm vs 37,30 cm) et du périmètre thoracique (29,01 cm vs 25,96 cm). Les résultats rapportés dans cette étude serviront de base pour l’élaboration de programmes de développement basés sur une exploitation rationnelle de la poule locale.Mots clés : Caractérisation phénotypique, poules locales, zones agro-écologiques, Burkina Faso.   In Burkina Faso, information on poultry genetic resources is scarce and this scenario does not allow an accurate identification and management strategy for this species. A total of 948 individuals (692 females and 256 males) belonging to 251 different household, accros the 3 agro-ecological zones of Burkina Faso have been assessed for 13 quantitative traits and 9 qualitative traits in order to characterize phenotypic variability of local poultry. The most frequent plumage colors are white (19.16%) and hermine (16.75%) out of 13 different coulors identified. The site and the sex of the individuals had a statistically significant influence (P <0.05) on the 13 body measurements analyzed. Principal Component Analysis reveals the existence of 2 subpopulations in the 3 agro-ecological zones, a light hen with small size (0.91 kg) and a heavy and large size hen (1.37 kg), almost encountered in Sudan-Sahel and Sudan areas, suggesting differences in adaptation due to environmental factors. A sexual dimorphism was observed in favor of the males considering bodyweight (1,64 kg vs 1,14 kg), body length (42.16 cm vs 37.30 cm) and the Heart girth (29.01 cm vs 25.96 cm for females). The results reported in the current study will be useful for the establishment of breeding programme based on rational management of local poultry in Burkina Faso.Keywords : Phenotypic characterization, local hens, agro-ecological zones, Burkina Faso.  

Contribution of climatic changes in means and variability to temperature and precipitation extremes

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Karin van der Wiel ◽  
Richard Bintanja
Keyword(s):  
High Temperature ◽  
Extreme Events ◽  
Global Climate ◽  
Heavy Precipitation ◽  
Climatic Changes ◽  
Precipitation Extremes ◽  
Climate Extreme ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Mean Climate ◽  
Mean State

&lt;p&gt;Weather or climate extreme events disproportionately affect societies and ecosystems. Physical understanding of the impact of global climate change on the occurrence of such extreme events is therefore crucial. Here we separate changes in the occurrence of high-temperature and heavy-precipitation events in a part caused by climatic changes of the mean state and a part caused by climatic changes in variability. We extend the frequently used Probability Ratio (PR) framework, used to quantify changes in the occurrence of extreme events, such that it produces a 'PRmean' value for changes due to a change in mean climate and a 'PRvar' value for changes due to changes in climate variability. Large ensemble climate model simulations are used to quantify changes in extreme events in a 2C warmer world. It is found that the increased occurrence of high-temperature extremes is predominantly caused by the increase of mean temperatures, with a much smaller role for changes in variability (PRmean &gt;&gt; PRvar). The spatial differences are considerable, however, with the polar regions standing out as regions where changes in temperature variability do have a considerable limiting effect on extreme event occurrence. Changes in heavy-precipitation extremes are generally due to changes in both mean climate and variability (PRvar &amp;#8776; PRmean). Despite complex feedbacks in the global climate system, the ratio of PRmean to PRvar is largely independent of the event threshold and the climate scenario. These results help to quantify robustness of projected changes in climate extremes, given that projections of changes in the mean state are in many cases much better constrained than projections of changes in variability.&lt;/p&gt;

Exploring the Different Patterns for Generation Process of Driving Fatigue Based on Individual Driving Behavior Parameters

2021 ◽  
pp. 036119812199835
Author(s):  
Zhibiao Peng ◽  
Jian Rong ◽  
Yiping Wu ◽  
Chenjing Zhou ◽  
Yuan Yuan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Reaction Time ◽  
Pearson Correlation ◽  
Principal Component ◽  
Driving Behavior ◽  
Detection Accuracy ◽  
Generation Process ◽  
Entropy Weight ◽  
Driving Fatigue ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Mean Similarity

Driving fatigue is one of the main causes of traffic accidents in monotonous environments such as grassland highways. However, the process of generation of driving fatigue on grassland highways is still not clear. A driving simulation experiment with 23 participants was performed to collect data on driving behavior, reaction time and electrocardiogram (ECG) results when driving on a grassland highway. The effective feature indicators of driving fatigue based on driving behavior data were calculated by Pearson correlation coefficient and principal component analysis method. The matter-element model based on entropy weight method was used to quantify the generation process of driving fatigue (GPDF). GPDF was classified as different patterns by the eigenvalue of GPDF curves. Reaction time and ECG data were utilized to verify the rationality of GPDF. Results show that there were 13 feature indicators of driving behavior suitable for driving fatigue description. GPDF was not completely consistent among different participants and was classified into three patterns (i.e., mild, moderate and severe fatigue). The mean similarity for GPDF in each pattern was 0.87, 0.61 and 0.50. Validation test demonstrated that driving fatigue detection accuracy by GPDF was 72%. The mean similarity of the GPDF between driving behavior and ECG was 0.72. Driving fatigue tended to occur with driving time of 19 min or 33 min. This study is helpful to understand GPDF on grassland highways from the perspective of individual driving behavior, which would provide suggestions for the reasonable setting of anti-fatigue devices.

scholarly journals Effects of Climatic Variability on Cassava Production in Nigeria

2020 ◽  
Vol 57 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Fatai Abiola Sowunmi
Keyword(s):  
Relative Humidity ◽  
Crop Production ◽  
Climatic Variability ◽  
Climatic Variables ◽  
Annual Rainfall ◽  
Mean Annual Temperature ◽  
Ecological Zones ◽  
Cassava Production ◽  
Rainforest Zone ◽  
Agro Ecological Zones

Climate change has brought about irregularity in pattern and intensity of climatic variables such as rainfall and temperature that are important in crop production; making planning in agriculture difficult. The importance of cassava in the diet of Nigerian and its industrial use necessitate the need to examine the effects of climatic variability on cassava production. Secondary data obtained from Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NIMET) were used for the study. Analysis of Variance and Error Correction model were utilized.  The study showed that the rainforest zone had the highest averages of annual rainfall (1709mm) and relative humidity (82.1%) while the Sahel savannah had the highest mean annual temperature (35.3oC). The variability in annual rainfall and relative humidity was low in the rainforest zone. The study showed that the rainforest zone had the least dispersion of average annual relative humidity (2.06%) while the guinea savannah had highest dispersion (4.68%). The average cassava output from the agro-ecological zones was 49,118,871MT per year. Rainforest and guinea savannah accounted for 56.3% and 41.9% of total cassava output respectively. There were significant variations in the climatic variables (rainfall and temperature) among the agro-ecological zones but not significant among the years (p>0.05).  The annual rainfall and solar radiation were the factors that influenced cassava output in all the agro-ecological zones. The need for affordable irrigation by cassava farmers and the adoption of Climate-Smart Agriculture are recommended to boost cassava production in Sudan savannah and Sahel savannah.

scholarly journals A Nationwide Survey of Tabanidae Fauna of Cameroon

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Silas Lendzele Sevidzem ◽  
KOUMBA Aubin Armel ◽  
Geneviève Lydie L. Yao-Acapovi ◽  
Jacques François MAVOUNGOU
Keyword(s):  
Nationwide Survey ◽  
Current Data ◽  
Transmission Risk ◽  
Mechanical Transmission ◽  
Distribution Maps ◽  
Ecological Zones ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Sudan Savanna ◽  
Abundance And Distribution ◽  
Agro Ecological Zones

Abstract Background: Tabanid flies are a neglected group of haematophagous dipterans, yet contains 4400 species, regrouped under 144 genera. They are mechanical vectors of important pathogens, including viruses, bacteria and protozoa of humans, domesticated and wild animals. As it is over 50 years since publication of a preliminary nationwide record of tabanids of Cameroon identified 84 species, updated information is provided.Objective: To provide current data on the species composition, abundance and distribution of Tabanidae of Cameroon in the 5 main agro-ecological zones (AEZs).Methods: From 2015-2017, a systematic entomological prospection using Nzi, Vavoua, Biconical and Sevi traps (N=106) was conducted in 604 trap-points over 11,448 traps days, in the 5 main AEZs of Cameroon.Results: A total of 25,280 tabanid specimens were collected, identifying 25 species with 8 not previously documented in Cameroon, including: Tabanus Latipes Macquart, 1838 (1 ♀), Tabanus ricardae Surcouf, 1906 (1 ♀), Tabanus fasciatus Fabricus, 1775 (32 ♀♀, 6♂♂), Haematopota pluvialis Linnaeus, 1758 (18 ♀♀), Haematopota decora Walker, 1850 (19 ♀♀, 3 ♂♂), Haematopota nigripennis Austen, 1914 (18 ♀♀), C. distinctipennis Austen, 1906 (47 ♀♀, 5 ♂♂) and Ancala fasciata Fabricus, 1977 (34 ♀♀, 7 ♂♂). The distribution maps of the newly identified tabanids differed between AEZs, with most from the Guinean savanna. The highest Tabanidae apparent density (ADT) was recorded in the Sudan savanna region and the mean apparent densities of species with type-localities was statistically significantly different (Student t-test=2.519, df=24, P=0.019). The highest species diversity was found in the rain forest.Conclusions: This study increased the list of Tabanidae recorded in Cameroon from 84 species in the preliminary record to 92 species, with most of the newly identified species occurring in the Guinean savanna AEZ. The high diversity and abundance of Tabanidae in the livestock/wildlife interface areas of the rain forests and Sudan savanna AEZs respectively, suggests risk of mechanical transmission risk of pathogens. Investigations of the microbiota within the Tabanidae in the different AEZs to define their role as disease vectors are proposed.

scholarly journals A nationwide survey of the tabanid fauna of Cameroon

2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Silas L. Sevidzem ◽  
Aubin A. Koumba ◽  
Genevieve L. Yao-Acapovi ◽  
Jacques F. Mavoungou
Keyword(s):  
Nationwide Survey ◽  
Current Data ◽  
Mechanical Transmission ◽  
Distribution Maps ◽  
Ecological Zones ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Sudan Savanna ◽  
Abundance And Distribution ◽  
High Diversity ◽  
Agro Ecological Zones

Abstract Background Tabanids are a neglected group of haematophagous dipterans despite containing 4434 species, regrouped in > 144 genera. They are mechanical vectors of important pathogens, including viruses, bacteria and protozoa of humans and domesticated and wild animals. As it is > 50 years since the publication of a preliminary nationwide record of the tabanids of Cameroon identified 84 species, updated information is needed. The aim of this study was to provide current data on the species composition, abundance and distribution of tabanids in the five main agro-ecological zones (AEZs) of Cameroon. Methods From 2015 to 2017, a systematic entomological study using Nzi, Vavoua, Biconical and Sevi traps (n = 106) was conducted in 604 trapping points over 11,448 trap-days in the five main AEZs of Cameroon. Results A total of 25,280 tabanids belonging to 25 species were collected, including eight species not previously documented in Cameroon, namely Tabanus latipes (1 female), Tabanus ricardae (1 female), Tabanus fasciatus (32 females and 6 males), Haematopota pluvialis (18 females), Haematopota decora (19 females and 3 males), Haematopota nigripennis (18 females), Chrysops distinctipennis (47 females and 5 males) and Ancala fasciata (34 females and 7 males). The distribution maps of the newly identified tabanids differed between AEZs, with most tabanids collected from the Guinean savanna. The highest apparent density of tabanids was recorded in the Sudan Savanna region, and the mean apparent densities of species with sites was statistically significantly different (Student t-test: 2.519, df = 24, P = 0.019). The highest species diversity was found in the rainforest. Conclusions This study increased the list of tabanids recorded in Cameroon from 84 species in the preliminary record to 92 species, with most of the newly identified species occurring in the Guinea Savanna AEZ. The high diversity and abundance of tabanids in the livestock/wildlife interface areas of the rain forests and Sudan Savanna AEZs, respectively, suggest risk of mechanical transmission of pathogens. Investigations of the microbiota of tabanids in the different AEZs to define their role as disease vectors are proposed. Graphical abstract

Construct Validity of the Chinese Version of the Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand Questionnaire (DASH-HKPWH)

2005 ◽  
Vol 30 (1) ◽  
pp. 29-34 ◽  
Author(s):  
E. W. C. LEE ◽  
M. M. H. CHUNG ◽  
A. P. S. LI ◽  
S. K. LO
Keyword(s):  
Construct Validity ◽  
Rating Scale ◽  
Pearson Correlation ◽  
Principal Component ◽  
Principal Component Factor Analysis ◽  
Sf 36 ◽  
Convergent And Divergent Validity ◽  
Numeric Pain Rating Scale ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Pain Rating Scale

The study evaluated the construct validity of the Chinese Hong Kong version of the disabilities of the arm, shoulder and hand questionnaire (DASH-HKPWH). Three hundred and thirty four patients with a broad range of upper extremity disorders were recruited into the study. Each completed DASH-HKPWH and SF-36 forms and their pain intensity (numeric pain rating scale) and grip strength were also measured. The mean DASH-HKPWH score was 40 (SD = 20). Principal component factor analysis identified a single factor, which accounted for 47% of the total variance. Pearson correlation was applied to assess convergent and divergent validity of the DASH-HKPWH by comparison with the above-mentioned subjective and objective measurements. Our findings were comparable to the DASH of other languages.

scholarly journals Effects of precipitation and temperature on precipitation use efficiency of alpine grassland in Northern Tibet, China

2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Xiaoke Zhang ◽  
Xindong Du ◽  
Zhangming Zhu
Keyword(s):  
Alpine Meadow ◽  
Pearson Correlation ◽  
Temporal Patterns ◽  
Alpine Grassland ◽  
Lower Sensitivity ◽  
Mean Annual Temperature ◽  
Northern Tibet ◽  
Use Efficiency ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Precipitation Use Efficiency

AbstractPrecipitation use efficiency (PUE) is crucial in understanding the coupling between ecosystem carbon and water cycling. In this study, we used a time series (2000–2013) dataset of net primary productivity (NPP) based on the Carnegie–Ames–Stanford Approach (CASA) model together with precipitation to reveal the spatial and temporal patterns of alpine grassland PUE in Northern Tibet. The mean annual PUE values of alpine meadow, alpine meadow steppe, alpine steppe, alpine desert steppe, and alpine desert were 0.48, 0.39, 0.36, 0.29 and 0.23 gc m−2 mm−1, respectively. The spatial patterns of PUE of alpine grassland demonstrated an initial increase in the arid region and a subsequent decrease in the humid region along the precipitation gradient and peaked at approximately 500 mm. To evaluate the temporal patterns, the sensitivity $$Slope$$ Slope and the Pearson correlation coefficient $${R}_{xy}$$ R xy between the PUE and climatic factors were calculated. The inter-annual variability of PUE exhibited a significant negative correlation with annual precipitation (P < 0.05), which implies that NPP had a lower sensitivity to precipitation in most regions. The relationship between PUE and the mean annual temperature is different for different regions. Our findings have an important role in understanding the impacts of precipitation availability on climate change and in the scientific management of the alpine grassland ecosystems.

scholarly journals Global Sustainability Crossroads: A Participatory Simulation Game to Educate in the Energy and Sustainability Challenges of the 21st Century

2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (13) ◽  
pp. 3672 ◽  
Author(s):  
Iñigo Capellán-Pérez ◽  
David Álvarez-Antelo ◽  
Luis J. Miguel
Keyword(s):  
Mitigation Strategies ◽  
Simulation Game ◽  
Climate Mitigation ◽  
Global Sustainability ◽  
Environmental Consequences ◽  
Environment Model ◽  
Participatory Simulation ◽  
Simulation Group ◽  
Energy Economy ◽  
Sustainability Challenges

There is a general need to facilitate citizens’ understanding of the global sustainability problem with the dual purpose of raising their awareness of the seriousness of the problem and helping them get closer to understanding the complexity of the solutions. Here, the design and application of the participatory simulation game Global Sustainability Crossroads is described, based on a global state-of-the-art energy–economy–environment model, which creates a virtual scenario where the participants are confronted with the design of climate mitigation strategies as well as the social, economic, and environmental consequences of decisions. The novelty of the game rests on the global scope and the representation of the drivers of anthropogenic emissions within the MEDEAS-World model, combined with a participatory simulation group dynamic flexible enough to be adapted to a diversity of contexts and participants. The performance of 13 game workshops with ~420 players has shown it has a significant pedagogical potential: the game is able to generate discussions on crucial topics which are usually outside the public realm such as the relationship between economic growth and sustainability, the role of technology, how human desires are limited by biophysical constraints or the possibility of climate tipping points.

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