Effects of Strip Roads in a Pine Tree Stand (Pinus sylvestris L.) on the Diameter Growth and Pith Eccentricity of Trees Growing along Them

Although skid roads are more and more commonly used in Poland, they are still quite often criticised due to a certain loss of wood volume and the impact on edge trees. In this context, the results of the research described in this article can be used as a substantive contribution to discussions about strip roads. Research was carried out in a 42-year-old pine tree stand (Pinus sylvestris L.) in the Notecka Forest, where thinning had been performed and 2.5 and 3.5 m wide strip roads had been cut 10 years before. The analysis comprised two five-year periods recording diameter growth and pith eccentricity in trees growing at the distance zones of 0–1 m (adjacent trees), 2–4 m and 8–10 m (the control) away from the strip roads. The differences in growth and eccentricity between the different distance zones as well as the frequency of pith eccentricity in the N-W, S-W, N-E and S-E directions were assessed, related to the distance from the strip road and the measurement height. The measurements of the analysed traits were conducted on wood discs cut from the centres of two-metre-long sections on sample trees (12 trees in each distance zone). The trees growing directly beside the strip roads were statistically significantly thicker than those growing 8–10 m away, and in the case of the trees beside the narrower strip roads, in the second 5-year period, they were also thicker than the trees from the 2–4 m distance zone. The effect of the wider strip roads in the first growth period was also significant for the trees growing 3 m away from the strip road (their growth in this period was significantly greater than that of trees in the control zone). The research into tree-pith eccentricity showed no differences due to relative distance from the strip road. Furthermore, no statistically significant relationship between the distance of trees from the strip road, measurement height and frequency of tree-pith eccentricity to the N-W and S-W were found.

Specific Absolute Velocity Thresholds during Male Basketball Games Using Local Positional System; Differences between Age Categories

The aim of this study was (I) to establish absolute specific velocity thresholds during basketball games using local positional system (LPS) and (II) to compare the speed profiles between various levels of competitions. The variables recorded were total distance (TD); meters per minute (m·min); real time (min); maximum speed (Km h−1), distance (m), percentage distance, and percentage duration invested in four speed zones (standing–walking; jogging; running; and high-speed running). Mean and standard deviation (±SD) were calculated, and a separate one-way analysis of variance was undertaken to identify differences between competitions. TD (3188.84 ± 808.37 m) is covered by standing–walking (43.51%), jogging (36.58%), running (14.68%), and sprinting (5.23%) activities. Overall, 75.22% of the time is invested standing–walking, jogging (18.43%), running (4.77%), and sprinting (1.89%). M·min (large effect size), % duration zone 2 (moderate effect size); distance zone 4 (large effect size), and % distance zone 4 (very large effect size) are significantly higher during junior than senior. However, % distance zone 1 (large effect size) and % duration zone 1 (large effect size) were largely higher during senior competition. The findings of this study reveal that most of the distance and play time is spent during walking and standing activities. In addition, the proportion of time spent at elevated intensities is higher during junior than in senior competition.

Role of Acacia seyal on Selected Soil Properties and Sorghum Growth and Yield: A Case Study of Guba Lafto District, North Wollo, Ethiopia

Acacia seyal is one of the multipurpose parkland agroforestry tree species in eastern and southern Africa. It is a common on-farm tree in the Rift Valley of Ethiopia, but information is limited on its effect on soil properties and sorghum growth and yield. The study was conducted to evaluate its effect on selected soil properties and sorghum growth and yield in Guba Lafto district of northern Ethiopia. Six isolated and closely comparable Acacia seyal trees growing on sorghum farms were purposely selected, and plots were marked under the canopy of trees with three radial distances (0–2 m, 2–4 m, and 4–6 m) and one outside of the tree canopy (10 m away from any tree). Soil samples from each distance zone were taken between 0–20 cm and 20–40 cm soil depths for soil property analysis. Four quadrates with 1 m2 at each distance zone in four directions were laid for sorghum growth and yield attribute valuation. The results showed that only total nitrogen (TN) was significantly higher ( P < 0.05 ) at the subsoil layer under the canopy compared to an open area, while other selected soil parameters were not affected by the tree species. Sorghum biomass yield ( P = 0.006 ) and grain yield ( P = 0.025 ) were significantly lower under the canopy of the trees than in the open area. Generally, Acacia seyal had little effect in improving soil properties and showed a negative effect on sorghum yield and growth. Further research on its effect under wide area coverage of parkland system should be performed to bring a radical shift on the intercropping farming system.

Customer Churn Prediction in Telecommunication Industry Having Data Certainty

Customer Churn Prediction is a challenging activity for decision makers because most of the time, churn and non-churn customers have similar features. It is one of the major concerns for large companies, especially in the field of telecommunication field. Churn can be considered as a binary classification. The classifiers shows different accuracy levels at different zones of data. In such cases, a correlation can easily be observed in the level of classifier's accuracy and certainty of its prediction. So a mechanism to estimate the classifier’s certainty for different zones within the data is needed so that the expected classifier’s accuracy can be estimated. Here the classifier’s certainty estimation is done using six sigma rule of normal distribution applied on the correlation values of all features in the dataset. Based on this the dataset is grouped into two categories such as (i) data having high certainty, and (ii) data having low certainty. Based on these criteria, classifier accuracy is estimated in the high distance zone. From the different evaluation measures like accuracy, f-measure, precision, recall and Receiving Operating Characteristics (ROC) area, the performance of classifier is evaluated. Then by applying a k fold approach the certainty of the classifier decision is estimated.

His bundle has shorter chronaxie than adjacent ventricular myocardium: Implications for pacemaker programming

BackgroundStrength-duration curves for permanent His bundle (HB) pacing are potentially important for pacemaker programming.ObjectiveWe aimed to calculate strength-duration curve and chronaxie of the His bundle (HB) and of the adjacent right ventricular (RV) working myocardium and to analyze zones of selective HB capture and battery current drain when pacing at different pulse durations (PDs).MethodsConsecutive patients with permanent HB pacing were studied. The RV and HB capture thresholds were assessed at several PDs. Battery current drain and zones of selective HB capture at PDs of 0.1, 0.2, 0.4 and 1.0 ms were determined.ResultsIn the whole group (n =127) the HB chronaxie was shorter than the RV chronaxie. This difference was driven by patients with selective HB pacing (HB chronaxie of 0.47 vs RV chronaxie of 0.79 ms). Strength-duration curve for HB had lower rheobase and its steep portion started at shorter PDs thus creating wider distance - zone of programmable selective HB pacing - between the HB and RV strength-duration curves at shorter PDs. The battery current drain was lower with pacing at PDs of 0.1 - 0.4 ms vs 1.0 ms. Chronaxie adjusted PDs offered lowest current drain.ConclusionFor the first time the strength-duration curves for permanent selective and non-selective HB pacing were determined. Selective HB capture and battery longevity can be promoted by shorter PDs (0.2 ms). Longer PDs (1.0 ms) offer bigger safety margin for RV capture and may be preferable if simultaneous RV capture during HB pacing is desired.

PERENCANAAN SETTING PENGAMAN SALURAN UDARA TEGANGAN TINGGI 150 KV DENGAN DIBANGUNNYA GIS TANAH LOT

In an effort to increase electricity supply PT PLN (Persero) build GIS Tanah Lot in Nyitdah Village Tabanan regency. The new GIS development makes the network transmission system High Voltage Air Line 150 kV changed. Changes in this transmission system impact on the channel safety settings due to changes in transmission length and impedance value. Prior to the analysis of the impedance setting, the Distance Relay Distance Zone with current, working time and OCR Relay coordination (Over Current Relay) firstly analyzes short circuit flows two phases and three symmetric phases using ETAP PowerStation program. After calculation of distance relation setting, the value of channel impedance in Tanah Lot GIS is 2,4 + j 6,96 ? with Zone 1 setting (80%): 0,200 + j 0,588 ?, Zone 2 (120%): 0,30 + j 0.882 ?, and Zone 3 (220%): 0.68 + j 2.30 ?. OCR (Over Current Relay) release time setting is indicated by releasing delay (tD>) for Tanah Lot GIS - Antosari and Tanah Lot GIS - The vessel has a value of 0.48 with an actual working time release of 1.134 seconds.

Spatial Zonation Model of Local Irrigation System Sustainability (A Case of Subak System in Bali)

This study was aimed at designing a spatial zonation model of a subak sustainability type based on the internal and external dimentions from 69 subaks in three districts in Badung regency. The internal dimention was measured based on subak capability index in implementing Tri Hita Karana (THK) philosophy. The external dimention was measured by using index of four variables, namely: road density, population density, social economic facilities, and number of nonfarmer families.The data were analyzed using descriptive quantitative technique and spatial analysis using Geographical Information System (GIS) software. The results found three zones of subak sustainability type, spatially follows the principle of distance decay of the growth of tourism and city center. Unsustainable - less sustainable subak zone dominates short distance zone, sustainable - less sustainable subak zone dominates transitional zone, while sustainable subak zone dominates long distance zone. To protect subak from destruction, less sustainable subaks have to be restored into sustainable ones and the sustainable subaks should be made eternal/exclusive subaks