Comparison of Scots pine growth dynamics in Polissya and Steppe zone of Ukraine

The goal of the study was to compare the dynamic changes in individual biometric indices of Scots pine in different natural zones of Ukraine, Polissya and Steppe. Scots pine stands were mainly concentrated in the Polissya zone, and their area was 3.6 times larger than that of forests in the Steppe zone, and the total wood stock by 4.6 times. The regression equations for biometric indices of artificial modal stands were developed. A comparison of the average height, diameter, and wood stock for pine stands of site index І^а, I, and II growing in Polissya and Steppe was made. It was found that the average differences in the average height (from 1.9 to 2.6 m) are observed at the age of 15–20 years. For the average diameter, the difference increases with age and the growth of the site index. The difference in the average stock is constantly increasing with age. At the age of 20 years this difference is 20–30 m³, and at the age of 120 years from 100 to 120 m³ depending on the site index. The developed growth models can be used in planning and prioritizing appropriate forestry activities for pine stands growing in specific regional conditions.

Biometric indices and population parameters of three polynemid fishes from Batang Lassa Estuary of East Malaysia

The length-weight relationships (LWRs), condition factor (Kn), growth, mortality and exploitation status of three polynemid fishes, i.e., Filimanus xanthonema (Valenciennes, 1831), Polynemus melanochir (Valenciennes, 1831) and Polynemus paradiseus (Linnaeus, 1758) from Batang Lassa River estuary were estimated. Fish samples were caught during April 2019 to September 2020 using the ESBN (locally called Gnian) having 1.25 to 4.00 cm mesh size. The total length (TL) and body weight of each individual fish was measured to the nearest 0.1 cm and 0.01 g respectively. The growth coefficients (b) for F. xanthonema, P. melanochir and P. paradiseus, were 2.880, 2.717 and 2.724 with the R2 values 0.956, 0.972 and 0.936 respectively. Estimated growth coefficients indicated a negative allometric growth pattern for all three threadfin fishes. To date, information regarding length-weight relationships for F. xanthonema and P. melanochir is insufficient whereas the information is available for P. paradiseus. About 40–48% of fishes exhibited flat or thin body shape (Kn < 1), 48–50% were rounded or fat (Kn > 1) and only 1–3% of fishes showed proportional body shape (Kn = 1). The growth parameters L∞, K and ϕ’ were estimated at 15.75 cm, 0.95 yr−1 and 2.37 for F. xanthonema; 27.61 cm 0.87 yr−1 and 2.82 for P. melanochir; and 27.30 cm, 0.58 yr−1 and 2.64 for P. paradiseus; respectively. The estimated natural mortality (M) included 2.10, 1.69 and 1.30 yr−1; the fishing mortality (F) 0.57, 0.67 and 0.60 yr−1; and exploitation ratio (E) 0.21, 0.28 and 0.31 for F. xanthonema, P. melanochir and P. paradiseus respectively. The study concluded that the stocks are still under exploitation (E < 0.5) condition. However, the studied Batang Lassa estuary could be a potential nursery ground considering the minimum lengths of 5.0, 3.8 and 4.0 cm for F. xanthonema, P. melanochir and P. paradiseus respectively. Therefore, management initiatives are needed to escape juvenile catches.

Characterisation of Finger Dermatoglyphics Traits and other Biometric Indices among Health Science Undergraduates of the Osun State University, Nigeria

Background: Finger dermatoglyphics has been useful in diagnosing genetically related diseases and detecting crimes. A cross-sectional study was carried out to establish the relationship between fingerprint traits and biometric indices Methods: Finger dermatoglyphics data were obtained using the ink method among the Health Sciences Students of Osun State University, Osogbo, Nigeria. Finger pattern intensity, finger pattern distribution, and finger ridge counts were measured and compared. These were done by counting and classifying ridge patterns and pattern configuration of arches, loops, and whorls and counting their ridge densities. The subject’s height, weight, and colour of the pupil were measured and recorded, respectively Results: The ulnar loops and arches were the most predominant finger patter ns in females, while males showed significantly spiral whorls. The sex differences between these patterns were not statistically significant (P>0.05). Subjects with brown pupils demonstrated higher ulnar loop and elliptical whorl, while those with black pupils possessed significantly well-distributed arches, and were insignificant in pattern width and intensity. Body Mass Index (BMI) polymorphism showed the lowest pattern size (Finger Ridge Counts) demonstrated by significantly reduced total finger ridge count among the subjects with BMI range of 24-26 and predominance of the concentric whorl, radial loop, and arches. However, higher pattern size was observed in subjects with a higher BMI value 27-29 BMI range with corresponding ulanr and spiral whorl respectively. Conclusion: This study demonstrated the prevalent biometrics measure of finger dermatoglyphics traits, in relations to the biometrics distribution of pupillary colour and body mass index among the Health Sciences Students of Osun State University, Osogbo Nigeria

Influence of pre-sowing treatment of flax seeds in a magnetic field on biometric indices of plants

Pre-sowing treatment of flax seeds in a magnetic field increases its yield, reduces plant morbidity, improves their biochemical parameters and product quality. Under the action of the magnetic field, the rate of chemical and biochemical reactions in flax seeds, solubility of salts and acids, biopotential, ion transport, membrane permeability, seed water absorption and oxygen concentration in cells increases, which has a positive effect on plant growth and development. It is established that the change in the biometric parameters of flax during pre-sowing treatment of seeds in a magnetic field depends on the square of the magnetic induction, the gradient of the magnetic field and the velocity of the seeds. Based on the experimentally obtained growth curves of flax plants, it can be concluded that during pre-sowing treatment of seeds in a magnetic field, plants have the best biometric indicators throughout the growing season. The best biometric indicators were in plants whose seeds were treatment in a magnetic field with a magnetic induction of 0.065 T, with four-fold re-magnetization, a magnetic field gradient of 0.57 T / m (pole division of 0.23 m) and a seed velocity of 0.4 m/s. Under this mode of pre-sowing treatment of seeds in a magnetic field, the length of flax stalks increased by 10.5 %, straw yield - by 0.7 t/ ha, seeds - 0.79 t/ ha. Key words: flax, seeds, magnetic induction, seed velocity, magnetic field gradient, plant biometrics

Omega-3 Index and Clinical Outcomes of Severe COVID-19: Preliminary Results of a Cross-Sectional Study

The potentially detrimental effects of the worldwide deficiency of Omega-3 fatty acids on the COVID-19 pandemic have been underestimated. The Omega-3 Index (O3I), clinical variables, biometric indices, and nutritional information were directly determined for 74 patients with severe COVID-19 and 10 healthy quality-control subjects. The relationships between the OI3 and mechanical ventilation (MV) and death were analyzed. Results: Patients with COVID-19 exhibited low O3I (mean: 4.15%; range: 3.06–6.14%)—consistent with insufficient fish and Omega-3 supplement consumption, and markedly lower than the healthy control subjects (mean: 7.84%; range: 4.65–10.71%). Inverse associations were observed between O3I and MV (OR = 0.459; C.I.: 0.211–0.997) and death (OR = 0.28; C.I.: 0.08–0.985) in severe COVID-19, even after adjusting for sex, age, and well-known risk factors. Conclusion: We present preliminary evidence to support the hypothesis that the risk of severe COVID-19 can be stratified by the O3I quartile. Further investigations are needed to assess the value of the O3I as a blood marker for COVID-19.

Preliminary biometric characteristics of Greyster dogs

<b>The aim of the study was to record and analyse selected biometric data based on the results of measurements of Greyster dogs actively involved in sports. The results of our study were compared with the biometric indices of other breeds of dogs, including the original breeds from which Greysters derive, and the indices of Polish native breeds. The study showed that the Greysters were characterised by intermediate height, as compared with their original breeds, i.e. they were shorter than Greyhounds and taller than German Shorthaired Pointers, and their height index was lower than one. This means that the height at the withers dominated over the diagonal body length in the rectangular shape of the Greyster body. The massiveness index showed that the advantage of the chest girth over the height at the withers was similar to that of the Polish Greyhound. The Greyster eurysomy index was also similar to that of the Polish Greyhound. The biometric parameters of Greysters incline them to run fast. This inclination was also indicated by the leg length index and the proportions of the length of the sections of the pelvic limb. Further research is necessary to obtain full biometric characteristics of Greysters. The results obtained at this stage of the research can be used as an auxiliary tool to select these animals for reproduction or sport competitions. If a breed standard is to be established for Greyster dogs and they are classified as an FCI breed, any information with biometric data may help to set this standard.

Maternal first antenatal care visit biometric indices as potential predictors of umbilical cord morphometric parameters

BACKGROUND: One key factor proven to increase quality of pregnancy outcome has been antenatal care (ANC) service. The perinatal triad of mother, placenta and fetus becomes functionally complete with a functional umbilical cord. The objective of the study was to establish mathematical models to predict the outcome of umbilical cord morphometric parameters using maternal first antenatal care visit biometric indices. METHOD: This analytical descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted on 240 pregnant women who attended antenatal care for the first time in their first trimester at the Victory Maternity Home and Clinic in the Kumasi Metropolis, between April 2016 and October 2019. Umbilical cord length, diameter, area, volume and weight were measured after delivery. Maternal first antenatal care visit blood pressure was taken and their non-fasting blood samples were collected and lipid profile done. RESULTS: Mean values for umbilical cord measurements were; cord length, 38.10±7.86 cm; diameter, 1.04±0.17 cm; area, 66.10±24.49 cm2 and volume was 34.02±11.16 cm3 respectively while mean cord weight was 65.01±21.35 g. The study found that a unit increase in total cholesterol led to an increase of 2.33 units in umbilical cord length, high-density lipoprotein also resulted in 0.06 units increase in cord diameter while low-density lipoprotein decreases cord length by 3.31 units. Also, a unit increase in maternal booking total cholesterol resulted in 2.33 units increase in umbilical cord length. CONCLUSION: Maternal first antenatal care visit total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein and low-density lipoprotein could influence the outcome of umbilical cord length, diameter and area.

VARIABILITY OF SOME BROOMRAPE POPULATIONS FROM CHINA. MORPHOMETRY AND RACE IDENTIFICATION (I)

The article is a synthesis of some studies on the identification of broomrape races originating from China and the determination of the level of intra- and interpopulation variability based on the morphometric parameters of the seeds. The racial status of the analyzed populations was established, also two races of broomrape were identified: race G (Ch1 from Inner Mongolia and Ch3 from HeBei) and race H (Ch2 from Inner Mongolia) using internationally recognized differential Or homosygous lines set. Comparative analyses on the morphometric characteristics of broomrape revealed significant differences in seed Length (Ch1 and Ch3 populations, race G) and Length/width ratio (Ch3 and Ch4), which is an indication of the moderate level of interpopulation variability. In the case of assess of the intrapopulation variability level, the relatively homogeneous (Ch2, Ch3 and Ch4) and relatively heterogeneous (Ch1) populations were identified. According to the coefficient of variation, the population Ch2 identified as H broomrape race has distinguished as the most homogeneous for the investigated biometric indices of the seeds. The moderate positive correlations (between Length and width seed, between seed length and L/w ratio), the strong positive correlations (between Length and L/w ratio) and also the strong negative correlations (between width and L/w ratio) were established. The results obtained through Pearson coefficient revealed the discrimination of populations by region.