Vertical Stratification of Insect Species Developing in Water-Filled Tree Holes

Forest ecosystems have a distinct vertical dimension, but the structuring of communities in this three-dimensional space is not well understood. Water-filled tree holes are natural microcosms structured in metacommunities. Here, we used these microcosms as model systems to analyze how insect communities and the occurrence and abundance of individual species are influenced by biotic and abiotic microhabitat characteristics, the vertical position of the tree hole, and stand-scale habitat availability. We found that both the characteristics of water-filled tree holes and their insect communities differ significantly between canopy and ground level. Individual insect species showed contrasting responses to the vertical position of the tree holes when important environmental factors at the stand and the tree-hole scale were considered. While some species, such as the mosquito Aedes geniculatus and the beetle Prionocyphon serricornis, decreased in abundance with increasing tree-hole height, the biting midge Dasyhelea sp., the non-biting midge Metriocnemus cavicola and the hoverfly Myiatropa florea increased in abundance. Our results suggest that vertical stratification in forests is most likely driven not only by variation in tree-hole microhabitat properties, i.e., niche separation, but also by individual species traits, such as adult dispersal propensity, food preferences and mating behavior of adult stages, and interspecific competition of larval stages. Therefore, communities of insect species developing in tree holes are likely structured by competition–colonization trade-offs predicted by metacommunity theory.

The protist community mirrors seasonality and mesoscale hydrographic features in the oligotrophic Sargasso Sea

Protists represent the majority of the eukaryotic diversity in the oceans. They have different functions in the marine food web, playing essential roles in the biogeochemical cycles. Meanwhile the available data is rich in horizontal and temporal coverage, little is known on their vertical structuring, particularly below the photic zone. The present study applies DNA metabarcoding to samples collected over three years in conjunction with the BATS time-series to assess marine protist communities in the epipelagic and mesopelagic zones. The protist community showed a dynamic seasonality in the epipelagic, responding to hydrographic yearly cycles. Mixotrophic lineages dominated throughout the year; however, autotrophs bloomed during the rapid transition between the winter mixing and the stratified summer, and heterotrophs had their peak at the end of summer, when the base of the thermocline reaches its deepest depth. Below the photic zone, the community, dominated by Rhizaria, is depth-stratified and relatively constant throughout the year, mirroring local hydrographic and biological features such as the oxygen minimum zone. The results suggest a dynamic partitioning of the water column, where the niche vertical position for each community changes throughout the year, likely depending on nutrient availability, the mixed layer depth, and other hydrographic features. Finally, the protist community closely followed mesoscale events (eddies), where the communities mirrored the hydrographic uplift, raising the deeper communities for hundreds of meters, and compressing the communities above.

Water-air ejector with conical-cylindrical mixing chamber

In the paper, the hydrodynamics of the liquid-gas mixture in the mixing chamber of the ejectors at different spatial positions was analyzed and the comparative study of such ejectors was carried out. It was found that a more ordered mode of movement of the mixture in the mixing chamber is created as a result of the coincidence of the velocity vector of liquid drops and the direction of gravity in the vertical position of the ejectors. This leads to increasing the volume entrainment ratio almost twice. The analysis of the liquid-gas mixture flow in the mixing chamber, evaluation calculations and research allowed to develop and to patent a jet apparatus with a conical-cylindrical (combined) mixing chamber. It was also found that for such ejectors, the volume entrainment ratio is 15–55% higher than for a jet apparatus with a cylindrical mixing chamber due to the reduction of the resistance of the passive flow into the mixing chamber and prevention of the formation of reverse-circulating flows. A study has been conducted on liquid-gas ejectors in the range of the main geometric parameter m (ratio of the mixing chamber area to the nozzle area) 9.4–126.5, which allowed to establish its rational values at which the maximum volume entrainment ratio is achieved (m = 25–40).

Correction of Astigmatism by a Single-Focus Toric Intraocular Lens during Cataract Surgery: Refractive State and Visual Acuity

Purpose: the main purpose of study is to obtain a better visual outcome after implantation of a monofocal toric IOLs by accurate measurement, calculations and visual assessment.Methods. Fifty eyes with astigmatism of more than 2.5 D were included in a hospital-based prospective study. A biometric evaluation is done by Lenstar. Barette's toric calculation method is used to measure toric IOLs power. In a vertical position, preoperative axis marking was done by both bubble marker and direct slit beam. On table, in a horizontal position, axis marking was reassessed. After phacoemulsification, a monofocal Supra Phob toric IOL was implanted and rotated to match corneal axis marking. Best-corrected visual acuity was measured postoperatively at 1 and 3 months.Results. Reduction of mean of refractive astigmatism was reported postoperatively from 4.0 ± 0.79 preoperatively to 0.7 ± 0.28 at 1 month and 0.6 ± 0.27 at 3 months postoperatively. In whole, 96 % has residual astigmatism less than 1 D at 3 months postoperatively, while 8 % eyes had residual astigmatism more than 1 D. In whole, 76 % patients had IOLs rotation of less than or equal to 5°, 20 % patients had it between 6° and 10° and 4 % eyes had more than 10° at day 7 postoperatively, in which repositioning of IOLs was required.Conclusion. To reduce postoperative residual astigmatism after toric IOLs and to get better results, accurate measurement of parameters and proper calculation are essential.

Evolutionary Sequence of Spacetime and Intrinsic Spacetime and Associated Sequence of Geometries in Metric Force Fields I

Two classes of three-dimensional metric spaces are identified. They are the conventional three-dimensional metric space and a new ‘three-dimensional’ absolute intrinsic metric space. Whereas an initial flat conventional proper metric space IE′3 can transform into a curved three-dimensionalRiemannian metric space IM′3 without any of its dimension spanning the time dimension (or in the absence of the time dimension), in conventional Riemann geometry, an initial flat ‘three-dimensional’ absolute intrinsic metric space ∅IˆE3 (as a flat hyper-surface) along the horizontal, evolves into a curved ‘three-dimensional’ absolute intrinsic metric space ∅IˆM3, which is curved (as a curved hyper-surface) toward the absolute intrinsic metric time ‘dimension’ along the vertical, and it is identified as ‘three-dimensional’ absolute intrinsic Riemannian metric space. It invariantly projects a flat ‘three-dimensional’ absolute proper intrinsic metric space ∅IE′3ab along the horizontal, which is made manifested outwardly in flat ‘three-dimensional’ absolute proper metric space IE′3ab, overlying it, both as flat hyper-surfaces along the horizontal. The flat conventional three-dimensional relative proper metric space IE′3 and its underlying flat three-dimensional relative proper intrinsic metric space ∅IE′3 remain unchanged. The observers are located in IE′3. The projective ∅IE′3ab is imperceptibly embedded in ∅IE′3 and IE′3ab in IE′3. The corresponding absolute intrinsic metric time ‘dimension’ is not curved from its vertical position simultaneously with ‘three-dimensional’ absolute intrinsic metric space. The development of absolute intrinsic Riemannian geometry is commenced and the conclusion that the resulting geometry is more all-encompassing then the conventional Riemannian geometry on curved conventional metric space IM′3 only is reached.

Vertical differentiation of pedogenic iron forms – a key of hydromorphic soil profile development

This paper focuses on the vertical distribution and characterisation of pedogenic iron forms in a Gleysol- Histosol transect developed in a marshy area in the Danube-Tisza Interfluve, Hungary. Four soil profiles were investigated along a series of increasing waterlogging and spatial and temporal patterns of hydromorphic pedofeatures (characteristics of pedogenic iron forms) were recorded. Frequent and wide-range redox potential (Eh) changes caused the emergence of many types of redoximorphic iron features, including mottles, plaques and nodules. The forms of these features depended on the micro-environments determined by the vertical position in the soil profile and the presence of plant roots. The greatest iron enrichment occurred in the zone of most intensive and widest-range redox fluctuations. Increasing water saturation resulted the extension of gleyic pattern due to the existence of permanent reduction. Most of the features also showed annual variations during the varying periods of water saturation and aeration.

Microstructure evolution of young sea ice from a Svalbard fjord using micro-CT analysis

We analysed the three-dimensional microstructure of sea ice by means of X-ray-micro computed tomography. Microscopic (brine- and air- pore sizes, numbers and connectivity) and macroscopic (salinity, density, porosity) properties of young Arctic sea ice were analysed. The analysis is based on ice cores obtained during spring 2016. Centrifuging of brine prior to CT imaging has allowed us to derive confident relationships between the open, vertically connected and total porosity of young sea ice at relatively high temperatures. We analysed the dependence of the microscopic properties on vertical position and total brine porosity. Most bulk properties (salinity, density) and pore space properties (pore sizes and their distribution) show a strong dependence on total brine porosity, but did not change significantly over the course of the field work. However, significant changes were observed for pore numbers (decreasing over time) and pore connectivity (increasing over time). CT-based salinity determinations are subject to larger than standard uncertainties (from conductivity), while the CT method yields important information about the salinity contributions from closed and open pores. We also performed a comparison of CT-based air porosity with calculations based on density from hydrostatic weighing. The consistency is encouraging and gives confidence to our CT-based results.

PREDICTION OF VERTICAL IMPACTION OF LOWER WISDOM TOOTH ACCORDING ORTHOPANTOMOGRAPHY OF LOWER JAW

Topic relevance. The dental surgeon often is left alone with the dilemma: to save or remove the third lower molars. The justification of indications for tooth extraction must have objective criteria. It should be noted that a patient with this problem does not always have the opportunity to receive comprehensive advice from an orthodontist. In view of this, the solution to this problem requires the search for radiological data, which are the most available today and would help to justify treatment tactics for preservation or removal of the tooth. The conditions of tooth preservation in the dentition are most favorable with a slight medio-distal inclination and a vertical position of the third lower molars. However, this does not exclude the possibility of tooth impaction, which is often accompanied by periodic inflammatory phenomena in the tissues adjacent to the tooth and motivates both the patient and the dental surgeon to solve this problem. The aim of our study was to research of radiographic indicators of orthopantomography of the mandible to predict the vertical retention of the third lower molars. Material and methods of research. The platforms of Google Scholar, Research Gate and PubMed are used for research and analysis of the scientific literature on the application of objective criteria of mandibular orthopantomography data in the prediction of vertical impaction of the third lower molars. Impaction of mandibular molars is the result of a number of factors, including heredity, racial characteristics, muscle function, the nature of the food consumed, insufficient growth of the mandible, the size of the retromolar space. The accurately determination the positions of the molars and the size of the retromolar space of the mandible by available methods of X-ray diagnosis (the most common of which is the method of orthopantomography of the jaws) are necessary to prediction of tooth retention. The accuracy of imaging and measurements on orthopantomograms of the jaws was studied by both domestic and foreign authors. The angle of inclination of lower wisdom tooth, the size of the retromolar space of the mandible and the mesiodistal size of the teeth are determined on OPTG of jaws in the vast majority of publications. The age aspect of patients is also important for prediction of tooth impaction. In particular, most researchers state the fact that up to 20 years of life there is a significant probability of changing the position of the teeth during their eruption and therefore it is quite appropriate to wait. To predict the nature of the impaction of the third lower molars, the authors provide indicators of the angle of the tooth, the structure of their roots, the degree of impact and age of the patient. The publication of Maria Mersedes Gallas-Torreira and co-authors, which compared two methods of linear measurements on OPTG – Olive-Basford’s and Olmos ’methods have greatest interest. Both methods can be used to predict of impaction of lower wisdom tooth. However, if the prognostic estimate is based on orthopantomogram data rather than cone-beam computed tomography, the Olmos` method demonstrates a lower error rate and a more plausible prediction. To substantiate the algorithm for predicting the vertical retention of third lower molar in order to improve treatment tactics for the preservation or removal of the tooth which based on the obtained search data and the results of our own clinical observations and it is planned in the future.

Thermal performance of a low and medium temperature flat plate solar collector when controlling the output-input temperature difference and the tilt angle

This work presents a sensitivity analysis of the overall heat loss coefficient UL and the thermal efficiency η in low and medium temperature encapsulated flat plate solar collectors when controlling the output-input temperature difference ΔT and the angle of inclination β. The UL and η were determined using heat flow calorimetry at indoor conditions, emulating the solar radiation by the Joule effect and a PID control. The angle of inclination β range was 0-90°, and the ΔT range was 5.0-25.0 K. The ambient temperature and the mass flow rate were preset for each test. The UL experimental uncertainty was ±0.85 W/m2K for the inclination range of 0-45° and ±0.27 W/m2K for the inclination range of 45-90°. The results matched previous outcomes with a difference of up to 0.3 W/m2K. The UL behaved exponentially as β increased from horizontal to vertical position and linearly with ΔT. It was also observed that the UL and the efficiency were sensitive to the confined airflow variations. This model shows a sensitivity of low and medium temperature flat plate solar collectors, as the efficiency increased 140% when β was raised and 40% with ΔT.

Determination of a Cone-Beam Computed Tomography based Assessment of Mental Foramen Position

Objective: To assess the occurrence and location of the mental foramen in relation to gender and age by using cone-beam computed tomography. Materials and Methods: A descriptive case series study was conducted at department of radiology at advance diagnostic care centre, Institute of Dentistry, Liaquat University of Medical & Health Sciences Hyderabad. One hundred and fifty patients of either gender, having age 18-40 years with retained permanent dentition and recommended for cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) radiograph were selected by non-probability convenient sampling technique. Patients with history of bone disease, old trauma and not willing to participate were excluded. CBCT imaging of each patient will be performed and assessed for occurrence and location of the mental foramen. Results: Out of 150 patients, male were 98 (65.3%) and female were 52 (34.7%) with mean age of 28.8 ± 6.9 (18-40) years. Position 4 was the most common right side horizontal position with 74(49.3%) patients followed by position 3 with 69(46.0%) patients, position 5 with 6(4.0%) patients and position 2 with 1(0.7%) patients. Similarly position 4 was the most common left side horizontal position with 75(50.0%) patients followed by position 3 with 70(46.7%) patients, and position 5 with 5(3.3%) patients. Position 1 was only choice either for right or left side vertical position in all patients i.e., 150 (100.0%). Conclusion: It was concluded from the study that no significant difference was observed in occurrence and location of the mental foramen in relation to gender and age by using cone-beam computed tomography.