Differentiation of the indigenous goat populations in Ethiopia based on morphometric features and zoometric indices: The primary step for conservation

This study was conducted to describe the indigenous goat populations of South Gondar, Ethiopia based on morphometric traits and body indices. To this effect, morphometric measurements were taken from 512 goats (153 male and 359 female) of both sexes drawn from three districts (Farta, Fogera and Libokemkem). Twenty structural indices were computed from morphometric measurements. Results indicated that age at first kidding and kidding intervals was 13.6 and 8.39 months, respectively, with an average litter size of 1.54 kids. Sex affected (p<0.001) all quantitative traits except ear length (EL), rump width (RW) and fore canon circumference (FCC) being higher in bucks than in does. The effect of age was significant (p<0.001) for all morphometric traits except for EL resulting in a linear increase with advancing age in both sexes. Except for EL and scrotal circumferences (SC), all quantitative traits were (p<0.01) affected by district of the goats rearing. Accordingly, Fogera goats had higher live weight (LW), heart girth (HG), height at withers (HW), body length (BL), chest width (CW), rump height (RH), rump length (RL) and teat length (TL) than those of Libokemkem. Fogera goats had also the highest LW and HG compared with those of Farta. Conversely, the Farta goats had higher RW, BL, TL, RL, CW, chest depth (CD), and paunch girth (PG) than those of Libokemkem. Libokemkem goats were inferior in most of the studied morphometric traits. Both HG and HW variables were identified as best predictors of LW in both sexes. Structural indices indicated that the goat populations could be characterized as meat phenotype with short legs being well adapted to midland altitudes. In conclusion, goats reared in the region could have a genetic potential for meat production with very good prolificacy. The Fogera goats were particularly better in most morphometric traits indicating their suitability for commercial meat production. However, further on-station research is recommended to verify their potentials as meat animals for enhanced food security in the region.

Exploring Correlation between Stand Structural Indices and Parameters across Three Forest Types of the Southeastern Italian Alps

Forest stand structure can be described through stand structural parameters as well as using stand structural indices. However, to date, there is still much uncertainty regarding how stand structural indices and parameters are intercorrelated. The analysis of correlation can guide their selection in research applications and forest management, avoiding redundancies and loss of time during data collection. In this study, using a sample of forest stands belonging to three forest types of the southeastern Italian Alps, we explored the correlation among stand structural indices, and then we checked the relationships between stand structural indices and stand structural parameters. The results indicate that the stand structural indices vary among the sampled forest types. Moreover, the correlation among stand structural indices indicates that some of them are strongly intercorrelated and, thus, they can give redundant information. Strong correlations have been found between the Shannon index and the Mingling index, between the Gini index and the Diameter differentiation index, and between size dominance indices. Correlations between stand structural indices and stand structural parameters were weak, and, therefore, we cannot recommend the exclusive use of stand structural indices as alternative to the common stand structural parameters. Instead, the combined use of stand structural indices and parameters can be a robust solution for describing forest stand structure.

Circumstantial determinants in the structure of a complex sentencein modern French

Рассмотрены некоторые особенности функционирования обстоятельственного детерминанта в структуре сложноподчиненного предложения. Теоретическая значимость определяется в поле конструктивного синтаксиса и выявления наиболее устойчивых и частотных признаков функционирования различных структурных компонентов предложения. В результате компонентного анализа намечены основные параметры систематизации особенностей функционирования детерминирующих компонентов в структуре сложного предложения, что формирует практическую значимость проведенного исследования при работе с текстами. Исследование строилось на проведении анализа конструктивных показателей полипредикативных конструкций, связанных характером включения детерминантов в структуру предложения. В результате выявлена специфика семантико-синтаксического взаимодействия детерминанта со структурными компонентами сложного предложения, определены условия, которые могут влиять на типологические свойства при образовании особых сложноподчиненных конструкций. Some peculiarities of functioning of a circumstantial determinant in the structure of a complex sentence are considered. The theoretical significance is determined in the field of constructive syntax and the identification of the most stable and frequency signs of the functioning of various structural components of the sentence. The component analysis made it possible to outline the main parameters of the systematization of the features of the functioning of the determinant components in the structure of the complex sentence, which form the practical significance of the study when working with texts. The study was based on analysis of structural indices of polypredicative constructions related to the nature of inclusion of determinants in the sentence structure. As a result, the specifics of the semantic-syntactic interaction of the determinant with the structural components of the complex sentence were revealed, the conditions that can affect typological properties in the formation of special complex structures have been identified.

Classification of Grass and Forb Species on Riverdike Using UAV LiDAR-Based Structural Indices

Herbaceous vegetation on riverdikes plays an important role in preventing soil erosion, which, otherwise, may lead to the collapse of riverdikes and consequently, severe flooding. It is crucial for managers to keep suitable vegetation conditions, which include native grass species such as Imperata cylindrica, and to secure visibility of riverdikes for inspection. If managers can efficiently find where suitable grass and unsuitable forb species grow on vast riverdikes, it would help in vegetation management on riverdikes. Classification and quantification of herbaceous vegetation is a challenging task. It requires spatial resolution and accuracy high enough to recognize small, complex-shaped vegetation on riverdikes. Recent developments in unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) technology combined with light detection and ranging (LiDAR) may offer the solution, since it can provide highly accurate, high-spatial resolution, and denser data than conventional systems. This paper aims to develop a model to classify grass and forb species using UAV LiDAR data alone. A combination of UAV LiDAR-based structural indices, V-bottom (presence of vegetation up to 50 cm from the ground) and V-middle (presence of vegetation 50–100 cm from the ground), was tested and validated in 94 plots owing to its ability to classify grass and forb species on riverdikes. The proposed method successfully classified the “upright” grass species and “falling” grass species / forb species with an accuracy of approximately 83%. Managers can efficiently prioritize the inspection areas on the riverdikes by using this method. The method is versatile and adjustable in other grassland environments.

Role OF Structural Indices and Other Spatial Measures in the Improvement Of Crown Variables Prediction For Lannea fructicosa

Theoretically, the stem of the tree must be strong enough to withstand the forces that act on it. These forces include the weight of the crown and the drag exerted on it by the wind. This mean that for a well-established root system, there should be some kind of balance between crown and stem sizes, otherwise the stem be break. The sizes, shapes and relative locations of crowns both determine and respond to the shading and constriction effects that characterize aboveground interactions between trees. Due to this kind of balance, tree crown parameters have been used as predictor variables in diameter and height growth equations. Although the correlation between tree variables and crown dimensions has well documented in the literature, other stand composition and conditions such as competition, elevation and aspect are believed to be among the unexplained forces that exert strong influences on the accuracy of the allometric models used for that relationship. This study attempted to quantify the effect of structural indices and other spatial measures to improve the prediction of crown radius and crown length for trees in natural woodlands. Field data were recorded for Lannea fruticosa tree species that naturally grown in Elgarri forest reserve in Blue Nile State, Sudan. The data was used to test the performance of estimating crown dimensions on the basis of allometric relationships with tree diameter and height. A total of thirteen spatial and non-spatial indices were incorporated into modified crown dimension models. Coefficient of multiple determination (R2) and relative bias were used to test the performance of these indices in improving the accuracy of estimates. According to the results all predictions of crown length and radius were found to be better after the incorporation of the spatial and non-spatial, with positive R2 gain and acceptable negative bias values for crown radius and positive ones for crown length. For all cases, the spatial indices were found to be better than the non-spatial ones.

Tree Species Diversity and Spatial Distribution of Aleppo Pine Stands in Northeastern Algeria

The spatial pattern of species is one of the key studied parameters in ecology so as to better understand the ecological processes and the functioning of forest ecosystems. This paper describes the classification of structural indices measuring the alpha diversity and examines typical representatives of the classification groups such as the Shannon’s index, aggregation index by Clark and Evans, the mingling index, the diameter differentiation index and the coefficient of segregation by Pielou. The tree inventory made it possible to count 7 species that are divided into six (06) families. Only Pinus halepensis Mill. trees were taken into account via calculation in spatial distribution. Western exposure shows the most regular tree patterns (1.6±0.1) according to the aggregation index by Clark and Evans, while the species mingling index for south- and east-facing stands indicates segregation of Pinus halepensis Mill. groups. The diameter differentiation index for the majority of the studied stands is assumed through estimated values within the range that starts from 0.4 to 0.9 for the four exposures. The distribution shows that western and eastern exposures belong to the fourth class of differentiation (very large differentiation), which means that the trees with the smallest DBH have less than 30% of the size of the neighbouring trees since the diameter differentiation index for the two exposures is 0.9±0.05 and 0.7±0.2.

Foaming Performance and FTIR Spectrometric Analysis of Foamed Bituminous Binders Intended for Surface Courses

This study explores the effects of foaming on three selected bituminous binders: 50/70 paving grade bitumen, 45/80-55 polymer modified bitumen and 45/80-80 HiMA binder. The first part of the investigations included the evaluation of the foaming performance in terms of foaming temperature and foaming water content with the utilization of desirability functions and based on the equality of maximum expansion ratio and bitumen foam half-life. The second part of the study investigated the effects of foaming on the chemical structure of the binders using Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy. The results of the spectroscopic measurements permitted calculation of structural indices specific to functional groups associated with bitumen oxidation, as well as those indicative of elastomeric modification. The results have shown that the different types of bitumen exhibited different foaming characteristics, which was most evident in bitumen foam half-lives, with the HiMA binder performing the best. The spectrometric measurements did not show any significant effects of foaming on the chemical structure of the evaluated binders related to oxidative stress, neither were any major changes in the PmB-specific regions found.

Magnetic signatures of subsurface faults on the northern upper flank of Mt Etna (Italy)

A ground magnetic study was performed on the northern upper flank of Mt. Etna to provide new insights into subsurface volcano-tectonic structures. The high resolution magnetic survey was focused on the main structures of Piano delle Concazze, a large flat area dominated by the North- East crater and bounded by the rim of the Valle del Leone depression and the extremity of the North- East Rift. More than 2,500 measurements were gathered with a sampling step of about 3 m covering an area of about 0.2 km2. The total-intensity anomaly field shows the presence of intense South- North aligned maxima related to shallow geological structures affecting this area. Filtering techniques and 2.5D modeling have been applied for the determination of the magnetic source parameters. In order to distinguish the near surface structure, filters of the vertical derivatives, Butterworth high-pass and the tilt derivative were used. The 3D Euler deconvolution has been applied to estimate the depth and the structural indices of the causative sources. The calculated structural indices, that express the geometrical nature of the source, are in agreement with forward modeling. They show that the area is mainly affected by subvertical normal fault and the estimated depth of magnetic sources ranges between 10 m and 40 m. Our total field magnetic survey shows that characteristic magnetic anomalies are related to fault zones in the Piano delle Concazze that are well consistent with the local tectonics. The subsurface structures that have been detected allowed to delineate the general structural framework of the area. In particular, it was possible to clarify that these structures seem to be not deep rooted and consequently they can hardly act as preferential pathways for magma ascent.

Design and development of fibrous filter media induced by structural characteristics of needle punched nonwoven

This article discussed the structural changes influenced by punching parameters and their impact on the functional properties of needle punched nonwoven. Three punching parameters i.e., punch density, needle penetration depth and stroke frequency were considered as process variables. Three factors three levels Box Behnken experimental design was used for sample preparation. Newly proposed structural indices were used to evaluate the fibre orientation in X and Y direction of fabric using tracer fibre technique. It was found that measured functional properties of fabrics are well correlated with considered structural indices. The fibre coverage area inferred an increase but coefficient of fibre curliness and anisotropy of inclination angle of fibre observed a decrease, with the increase of punch density, needle penetration depth and stroke frequency. Mean flow pore size followed an initial decrease and then, increase, but filtration efficiency and pressure drop followed an initial increase and then, decrease with the increase of punch density, needle penetration depth and stroke frequency. Finally, process parameters were optimized to achieve a filter media with maximum filtration efficiency and minimum pressure drop.