Priraščanje navadne smreke (Picea abies (L.) Karst.) in evropskega macesna (Larix decidua Mill.) na nekdanjih novinah v koprivni v Karavankah

Based on previous measurements from 1962 to 2017 on forest research plots located on former slash-and-burn farming areas in the cadastral municipality of Koprivna, the diameter and height increment as well as volume increments of the two main tree species - spruce and larch - were calculated. These set-aside natural research plots have a smaller mean basal area diameter, but the number of trees is higher than in comparable managed forests. Due to the high-density of tree stands over the past thirty years, radial increment of spruce and larch has declined. To determine the influence of environmental factors on radial growth of spruce and larch, a dendrochronological analysis was conducted. According to the dendrochronological analysis of radial increment of trees, the number of years with a negative response has been higher since 1984.

Performance of fatty acid composition, iodine value, carotene content, height and height increment of oil palm interspecific hybrids

A total of sixteen oil palm interspecific hybrid progenies were evaluated for their fatty acid composition, iodine value, carotene content, height and height increment at Malaysian Palm Oil Board (MPOB) Bagan Datuk, Malaysia. Based on the results, unsaturated fatty acids were higher with a range of 60% compared to current breeding materials. Iodine value showed a considerable amount of the oil palm interspecific hybrid which was around 65. Carotene among some individuals showed an outstanding value of 3424 ppm. Height and height increment showed lower value than current breeding materials with an average 0.17 m height increment per year. Heritability values showed that the genetic component gave higher influence towards height and height increment while the fatty acid composition and carotene content were largely influenced by the environment.

Effects of Variations in Hormonal Treatments Upon In vitro Regeneration Potential in Embryo Explants of Arenga pinnata

One of the challenges related to propagation of Arenga pinnata is its lengthy period of seed dormancy. In this study, in vitro regeneration was carried out to determine the effect of hormonal treatment on the embryo explant of Arenga pinnata. Embryos were surface sterilized and cultured into different media supplemented with various hormones concentrations and combinations. Each treatment contained of Kinetin (KN) hormone (1.0, 2.0, and 3.0 mg/l) and in combination with indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) of 0.1, 0.2, 0.3 mg/l. The height of plumule and length of radical was observed and recorded. Treatment 8 (3 mg/ml KN + 0.1 mg/ml IAA) showed 59.09% in plumule height increment while treatment 4 (1 mg/ml KN + 0.3 mg/ml IAA) showed the highest radical increments with 93.62%. The knowledge gained in this study consequently helps us to better understand the role of KN and IAA in the in vitro regeneration protocol. Since in vitro method able to produce higher number of in vitro seedlings at one time, it is important to establish the in vitro regeneration protocol for this plant.

Influence and Effect of Acupoint Application of Chinese Medicine on Height and Bone Age of Children with Short Stature

Objective. To explore the effect of acupoint application of Chinese medicine on children’s height and bone age. Methods. Altogether, 120 children with a short stature treated in our hospital from September 2017 to September 2018 were divided into the control group (CG, n = 60) and the observation group (OG, n = 60) according to the random number table method. The children in CG were given healthy diet and exercise plans and supplemented with daily vitamin intake. The OG was treated with acupoint application of Chinese medicine on the basis of the CG. The clinical efficacy of the CG and the OG of children after treatment was observed. The height increment, growth rate, and bone age of children were compared before and after treatment. The levels of IGF-1 and 25-(OH)D in the serum of children before and after treatment were tested. According to the clinical curative effect after treatment, the children were divided into good curative effect group (markedly effective + effective) and poor curative effect group (ineffective). Logistics regression analysis was applied to analyze the risk factors. Results. Compared with the CG, the curative effect on the OG was evidently improved ( P < 0.05 ). In addition, the height increment, the growth speed, and the bone age of the OG increased evidently ( P < 0.05 ). Compared with the CG, the expression of IGF-1 and 25-(OH)D of the OG elevated ( P < 0.05 ). Serum IGF-1 and 25-(OH)D concentrations were positively correlated with growth rate and bone age ( P < 0.05 ). Risk factors analysis showed that disease course, IGF-1, 25-(OH)D expression, and heredity were the risk factors affecting the curative effect on children. Conclusion. Acupoint application of Chinese medicine has effect on the height and bone age of children with short stature, which is worthy of clinical promotion. In addition, early treatment should be carried out to improve the clinical efficacy of children.

Effects of Assimilating Clear-Sky FY-3D MWHS2 Radiance on the Numerical Simulation of Tropical Storm Ampil

A new advanced microwave humidity sounder FY-3D MWHS2 radiance has been assimilated under the clear-sky conditions by implementing its data assimilation interface. The case of the tropical storm Ampil in 2018 is selected to address the effectiveness of the new-built module in the initialization and forecast of typhoons. Apart from the experiment assimilating both the Global Telecommunications System (GTS) data and the FY-3D MWHS2 radiance data, an experiment with only GTS data is also conducted for comparison. The results show that the bias correction of this humidity sounder is effective, and the analysis field after assimilating its radiance data matches well with the observation. The increment of specific humidity below the middle layers is evident after the assimilation of the radiance data. Besides, the geopotential height increment and the specific humidity increment at 500 hPa and 850 hPa, respectively, are favorable, resulting in more accurate rain belt distribution and a higher fraction skill score (FSS). In the deterministic forecast, the track error of the FY-3D MWHS2 experiment is consistently less than 90 km.

Performance of Coconut Hybrids Dwarf X Bido Tall

The desirable future coconut variety characteristics should include (1) short trunk and low height increment, (2) early bearing, (3) high nut yield, and (4) high neera (coconut sugar sap). High yoelding but short coconut palm statures make it easy to harvest the nuts and tap the neera. The Dwarf coconut varieties are generally early bearing with a low height increment and plenty nuts per fruit bunch. The Bido tall coconut bears fruits as early as three years after planting and with high nut yield, a low height increment and a very short trunk. This study aims to evaluate early vegetative growth (2 – 3 years after planting) of eight coconut hybrids derived from combinations of Dwarfs x Bido tall hybridizations. The arrays of hybrid coconuts consisted of hybridization between three Dwarf coconut varieties by Bido tall generated in 2016, and those between five Dwarf coconut varieties by Bido tall generated in 2017. The KHINA-1 hybrid was used as the standard hybrid control. Results of the evaluation showed the evaluated Waingapu Red Dwarf x Bido tall hybrids have the largest stem girth and the highest plant heightOn the other hand, Aromatic Green Dwarf x Bido tall hybrids showed the highest leaf numbers. However, all hybrid combinations showed the same stem girth diameter at two years after planting. At two and three years after planting, the Raja Brown Dwarf x Bido tall hybrids were the tallest, while the Nias Yellow Dwarf x Bido tall coconut hybrids have the highest leaf number. All of the Dwarf x Bido tall coconut hybrids showed good vegetative performance at two and three years after planting. The differences in early vegetative performances among the evaluated Dwarf x Bido tall might indicate the differences in early bearing, high nut yield and high neera characters of the hybrids.

Growth performance of Santalum album its income potentiality: A study from Pyuthan District, Nepal

The Santalum album is becoming a popular income generating tree species in Nepal but its growth performance has not been assessed so far yet. Thus, this study was objectively conducted to assess mean annual increment, income from Santalum album and value chain analysis. The Private plantation of Pyuthan district was selected for the study site. The diameter and height of 450 plants were measured and their age was recorded. Total fifteen key informant interviews, forty five farmers’ interviews and one focused group discussion were conducted to collect primary data. The collected data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics .Mean annual increment, price of Santalum album and contribution of Santalum album in total income were analyzed. The result showed that the highest mean annual diameter increment was 51.94 cm and lowest mean annual increment was 28.25cm, the highest mean height increment was 6.39 m and the lowest mean annual height increment was4.47m and the highest mean volume increment was 0.678 m3but the lowest mean annual volume increment was 0.134 m3. The estimated maximum range of annual income from Santalum album was US$ 221-530 which was 10-15% contribution in farmers annual income while minimum range of this was US$ 194-265 and it contributes<10%.The difference of the price of Santalum album between the farmers and users in Kathmandu was2200 times more.

Sewage Sludge Compared with Other Substrates in the Inoculation, Growth, and Tolerance to Water Stress of Samanea saman

This study evaluated the initial growth and tolerance to water stress after planting Samanea saman seedlings produced with different substrates and inoculation patterns. The experiment used a factorial design (3 × 3), with three substrates: standard (67% subsoil + 33% cattle manure), a commercial substrate (composed mainly of peat), and treated sewage sludge; and three inoculation patterns: control (no inoculation), fertilized (no inoculation + chemical fertilization), and inoculation with nitrogen-fixing bacteria and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi. The seedlings were planted in plastic pots inside a greenhouse. They received irrigation after planting and were submitted to water deficit for 35 days, followed by rehydration for 31 days. The inoculation promoted higher height and biomass for seedlings produced in the standard substrate. In the sludge, the roots biomass decreased when fertilized or inoculated. Seedlings grown in sludge showed higher height and biomass before planting and at the end of the experiment. Although, after rehydration, the height increment was similar for the sludge and the standard substrate. Seedlings grown with the commercial substrate are not recommended for planting sites subjected to water deficit. The standard substrate with inoculation and the sludge without inoculation or fertilization produced seedlings that showed better recovery and growth after water deficit.

Growth Relationships in Silver Fir Stands at Their Lower-Altitude Limit in Romania

This study presents the biometric relationships among various increments that is useful in both scientific and practical terms for the silvicultural of silver fir. The increments recorded in the biometric characteristics of trees are a faithful indicator of the effect of silvicultural work measures and of environmental conditions. Knowing these increments, and the relationships among them, can contribute to adaptations in silvicultural work on these stands with the purpose of reducing risks generated by environmental factors. We carried an inventory based on tree increment cores. The sample size was determined based on both radial increment and height increment variability of the trees. The sample trees were selected in proportion to their basal area on diameter categories. Current annual height increment (CAIh) was measured on felled trees from mean tree category. For CAIh we generated models based on the mean tree height. Percentages of the basal area increment and of form-height increment were used to compute the current annual volume increment percentage (PCAIv). For the mean tree, the CAIh estimated through the used models had a root-mean-square error (RMSE) of 0.8749 and for the current annual volume increment (CAIv) the RMSE value was 0.1295. In even-aged stands, the mean current volume increment tree is a hypothetical tree that may have the mean basal area of all the trees and the form-height of the stand. Conclusions: The diameter, height, and volume increments of trees are influenced by structural conditions and natural factors. The structures comprising several generations of fir mixed with beech and other deciduous trees, which have been obtained by the natural regeneration of local provenances, are stable and must become management targets. Stable structures are a condition for the sustainable management of stands.

Osteoporosis Delimit the Indication for Additional Fixation in Oblique Lumbar Interbody Fusion

Study design: A retrospective cohort study.Objective: To detect the boundary of indications of fixation in OLIF surgery.Methods: Review patients undergoing stand-alone or combined OLIF. Measure the disc height increment (ΔDH), foraminal height (FH), cage subsidence (CS). VAS and the ODI was used to evaluate low back pain and functionality. Multiple linear regression were used to determine the risk factors of CS.Results: A totle of 66 consecutive patients included. The BMD in combined group was significantly lower than that of stand-alone group(p=0.005). The combined group showed better FH maintenance at 6 months (p= 0.049) and last follow-up (p= 0.019). In combined group, tCS was significantly lower at all post-operation point (p≤0.001). BMD was a mild negative correlated factor for CS in combined group (r= -0.602, p= 0.001)and a strongly negative correlated factor in stand-alone group (r= -0.797, p< 0.001). Greater mCS significantly associated with worse VAS (r=0.685, p<0.001) and ODI (r=0.616, p<0.001) in stand-alone group, and this effect was significantly weakened in the combined group as VAS (r=0.427, p=0.033) and ODI (r=0.594, p=0.002). Patients with stand-alone OLIF were at risk of severe CS when BMD <-1.38, while those with combined OLIF had an equal risk when BMD < -4.77.Conclusions: The long-term fusion rates and functionality improvements of OLIF with or without fixation are comparable. Patients with BMD < -1.38 may not suitable for stand-alone procedure due to higher risk of severe CS and worse clinical outcomes. Additional fixation can extends the applicable boundary to a BMD = -4.77.