Tree growth depends on many factors such as microsite conditions, vitality, and variations in climate and genetics. It is generally accepted that higher growth indicates both an economic benefit and ...better vitality of any tree. Here we use a modified approach of evaluating tree social area to study mutual tree competition based on the orientation and shape of trees social area. The investigation was performed in nine Norway spruce stands in the Czech Republic. The objective of this study performed from 2008 to 2012 was to quantify relative tree radial increments with respect to the lowest and highest competition found in specific sectors of tree social area (AS). Specific groups of trees (tree classes) were evaluated according to their classes (dominant, co-dominant and sub-dominant) and their composition status in ninety-degree sectors of AS using established classifying rules. The results showed that a spatially-available area (AA) is an inappropriate parameter for predicting tree growth, whereas AS provided robust explanatory power to predict relative radial growth. Tree size was observed as an important indicator of relative radial increments. A significantly positive correlation was found for a radial increment of sub-dominant trees with the lowest competition from western directions; whereas a negative correlation was observed when the lowest competition was observed from eastern directions. For dominant trees, there was an evident growth reaction only when more than 50% of the AS was oriented towards one of the cardinal points. Individual differences in the orientation of tree AS may be important parameters with regard to competition and its spatial variability within an area surrounding a particular tree and deserve more detailed attention in tree growth models and practice.
The Thies-Touba toll highway is one of the largest road projects in West Africa. It is 115 km long and is made of 2 × 2 lanes for a speed limit of 130 km / h. Indeed, the geotechnical studies carried ...out, in order to characterize the ground foundations of the route and the major civil engineering structure, revealed the presence of karsts (cavities of dissolution in the marno-calcareous formations) under certain overpasses of the highway. The modelling of piles in the presence of karsts has shown that these cavities influence the stability of projected crossing structures. Thus, a solution of cavity treatment by drilling, followed by an injection of cement grout was proposed and carried out up to 29 m of depth compared to the natural ground in order to fill all the voids (fractures and holes). To control the effectiveness of cavity filling at depth, 29 m test cores were taken at the axis of the pile location. They showed that the filling of cavities was well done and gives a good bearing capacity of the soil.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UILJ, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK, ZAGLJ, ZRSKP
Norway spruce is one of the most economically important coniferous species in Europe, but it has faced high mortality rates in the last few decades due to the increasing frequency of extreme weather ...events. Primary and secondary growth development may be affected by these non-optimal conditions. In this study, we aimed to analyze the timing, possible asynchrony and time-lag between the growth processes of Norway spruce. We used a novel methodological approach of primary (based on phenocamera picture evaluation) and secondary (dendrometers) growth detection. The combination of these novel approaches allowed us to compare these growth process in high temporal resolution. Measurements were performed in two experimental plots with contrasting climatic conditions (middle and higher elevations) in the years 2016–2019, during the presence of extreme climatic conditions. We demonstrated a significant elongation of the growing season, with a more pronounced effect at higher elevation. Compared to the long-term mean, we observed an additional 50 days with a temperature above 15 °C at the higher elevation plot. There were no found patterns in the time-shift of both growth processes between plots. On the other hand we observed asynchrony of radial growth and meristems growth. Radial growth began earlier than the phenology of apical meristems growth. The onset, end and duration of meristem growth differed between studied plots and years as well. The onset of radial growth did not follow the gradient of microclimatic parameters; however, the differences in climatic conditions between plots did cause a shift in the onset of meristem growth. The process of the radial growth was twice as long as for apical meristem development. On average, radial growth requires 71 days more than meristem phenology to reach full process completion. Our data confirmed that these growth processes are strongly affected by external weather conditions and the duration of the growing season. More advanced and detailed monitoring of these processes can provide more accurate data of the health status of trees in the forest.
Background: Traumatic spinal cord injury (SCI) is a neurological disorder that causes a traumatic anatomical discontinuity of the spinal cord. SCI can lead to paraplegia, spastic, or motor ...impairments. Go-karting for people with SCI is an adapted sport that is becoming increasingly popular. The purpose of this case report is to shed light on the effects of driving a go-kart on a patient with SCI-related spasticity and to deepen understanding of the possible related role of whole-body vibration (WBV) and neuroendocrine reaction. Methods: The patient was a 50-year-old male with a spastic paraplegia due to traumatic SCI. He regularly practiced go-kart racing, reporting a transient reduction in spasticity. He was evaluated before (T0), immediately after (T1), 2 weeks after (T2), and 4 weeks after (T3) a go-kart driving session. On both sides, long adductor, femoral bicep, and medial and lateral gastrocnemius spasticity was assessed using the Modified Ashworth Scale (MAS), and tone and stiffness were assessed using MyotonPro. Results: It was observed that a go-kart driving session could reduce muscle spasticity, tone, and stiffness. Conclusions: Go-kart driving can be a valid tool to obtain results similar to those of WBV and hormone production in the reduction of spasticity.
A kart equipped with two DC motors has to be controlled. Each rear wheel has its own motor which is powered from individual battery pack. Buck converters are used to power the motors, additional ...boost converters are to be used for regenerative braking. Use of PID regulator with current feedback for individual motors is proposed to avoid dangerous current levels and torque spikes. Step-response simulations are done to verify PID performance. MSP430 series microcontroller is used to implement PID regulator in the system. Experimental step-response performance is verified on a test bench. Future research is proposed. Ill. 6, bibl. 5, tabl. 1 (in English; abstracts in English and Lithuanian). Karte irengti du nuolatines sroves varikliai turi buti valdomi. Kiekvienas galinis ratas turi savo varikli. Varikliai maitinami is atskiru bateriju. Zeminamieji itampos keitikliai naudojami varikliams maitinti, o papildomi aukstinamieji itampos keitikliai-- regeneraciniam stabdymui. Siekiant isvengti pavojingu sroves lygiu, pasifllytas naudoti PID reguliatoru su sroves grjztamuoju rysiu. PID veiksmingumui patikrinti atliktas perdavimo funkcijos modeliavimas. MSP430 serijos mikrovaldiklis panaudotas PID reguliatoriui idiegti i sistema. Perdavimo funkcijos veiksmingumas patikrintas eksperimentiskai. Pasiulyta tyrimus testi. Il. 5, bibl. 5, lent. 1 (anglu kalba; santraukos anglu ir lietuviu k.).
This notice advises on work-in-progress that substantially revises the existing chronology of architectural development at the shrine-complex in Turbat-i Jām (Iran), the Mazār-i Shaykh Aḥmad-i Jām. ...The Ṣūfī Shaykhs of Jām initially venerated only AṢmad-i Jām; they had no ṭarīqa. In the ninth/fifteenth century, influential shaykhs joined the Khwājagān-Naqshbandiyya, and these mystical bonds played seminal roles in acquiring patronage. Recently-acquired waaf documents are currently being analysed; among them, the waqfivya for the Masjid-i Gawhar Shād in Mashhad shows that Shāh Rukh and Gawhar Shād had endowed Aḥmad's shrine with substantial amlak.
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On location (recording)
Youngsters in Copenhagen on a Saturday in 1966.
Beatniks relaxing by the canal.
The go-cart track in Amager where youngsters are fixing ...their go-carts and racing.
Original language summary:
Ungdommens København en lørdag i 1966.
Beatniks der slapper af ved Kanalen.
Go-cartbanen på Amager, hvor unge reparerer deres go-cart og kører løb.
Les domaines subalpin et jurassien sont constitués de nombreux systèmes karstiques de dimension et de surface réduites qui peuvent représenter localement l'unique ressource des communes. Les bassins ...d'alimentation de ces systèmes sont essentiellement composés de forêts et de pâturages et ne présentent qu'une urbanisation limitée. Les systèmes karstiques sont des milieux de transferts rapides assez mal connus dans la région. L'objectif principal de cette thèse s'attache à étudier les relations entre le fonctionnement et la vulnérabilité des systèmes karstiques de moyenne montagne. La vulnérabilité est abordée selon trois approches : intrinsèque, anthropique et climatique. Pour cela huit sites de nature différente et complémentaire (sources karstiques, galerie karstique et rivières) ont été étudiés.La vulnérabilité intrinsèque est étudiée par l'application de la méthode PaPRIKa. Cette analyse se fonde sur la superposition par pondération de cartes des bassins d'alimentation réalisées en fonction des critères Roche, Infiltration, Protection et Karstification. Elle permet de spatialiser les degrés de vulnérabilité sur le bassin d'alimentation d’un système karstique. Bien que les systèmes étudiés présentent des fonctionnements hydrodynamiques et une occupation des sols relativement similaires, les degrés de vulnérabilité diffèrent en fonction des sites.La vulnérabilité anthropique est étudiée, dans le cadre du programme Interreg Alpeau, sous l'angle de la remobilisation des sols suite à des travaux de sylviculture programmés sur les bassins d'alimentation. La recherche s'est concentrée sur la matière organique dissoute et en suspension et plus particulièrement sur la matière organique fluorescente. Ce travail a d’abord nécessité la réalisation d’un état des lieux sur les transferts associés au fonctionnement hydrodynamique des sites d’étude sur un cycle hydrologique. Pendant ou à la suite des travaux, les eaux des systèmes karstiques présentent des pics de turbidité ainsi que des venues en matières organiques fluorescentes du type humique et protéique, en azote total et en carbone organique total beaucoup plus importants (entre 5 et 10 fois plus). Cependant, tous les sites ne présentent pas d’augmentation significative des apports en matières en suspension et dissoutes, malgré l'ampleur des travaux réalisés.Enfin la vulnérabilité climatique est approchée par l'étude de chroniques historiques sur plus de 60 ans. Les précipitations et les températures de trois stations météorologiques ainsi que les débits de deux sources et une rivière ont été analysés afin d'extraire les grandes tendances. En plus de l'augmentation de la température ambiante de +1.5°C en 50 ans, les précipitations présentent une tendance à la baisse des cumuls annuels depuis 1980. La baisse des cumuls est plus particulièrement marquée à partir de 2003. Cette baisse de précipitations et l'augmentation des températures ont une répercussion quantitative sur les eaux de surface et souterraines. Les tendances observées sur les débits moyens annuels des systèmes étudiés sont en corrélation avec les précipitations. Malgré une tendance à la fonte des neiges de plus en plus précoce, les étiages basés sur les VCN10 ne montrent pas de réelle tendance à l’augmentation sur la période 1960-2011. Basées sur les données du GIEC 2007, les débits des sources subalpines ont été estimés pour les années 2030, 2050 et 2080. Les résultats montrent une diminution importante de la ressource en eau qui pourrait atteindre des baisses de l'ordre de 46% à l'horizon 2080.
The subalpine and jura middle mountains are composed of a many karstic systems characterized by small size and area. For local towns, these systems can represent the only water resource. The catchment areas are mainly composed of forests and pastures and have a limited urbanisation. Local karst systems have quick flow transfer and are not really known in the region. The main goal of this thesis is the study of the relationship between functioning and vulnerability of middle mountains karst systems. The vulnerabilities are analysed with three approaches: intrinsic, anthropogenic and climatic, applied on eight sites with variable natures (karst spring, karst conduit and rivers) which are additional. The intrinsic vulnerability is studied by the use of PaPRIKa method. This method is based on the overlaying by weighting catchment area maps. Each map is represented by one criterion. Criteria used to carry out a final map are: Rock, Infiltration, Protection and karstification. The method allows the characterization of the vulnerability degrees on the catchment area. Although the study systems have hydrodynamic functioning and similar soil occupation, the vulnerability degrees change for each site. Within the ALPEAU program, the soil remobilization due to sylvicultural activities is used as an anthropogenic vulnerability factor on the catchment area. The study is focused on dissolved and suspended organic matter, especially the fluorescent organic matter. This work has begun with the study of the organic matter transfers during hydrological cycle in natural conditions (without anthropogenic activities). During or after sylvicultural activities, karst waters can show turbidity peaks associated with concentration increasing of humic like, protein like, total nitrogenous and total organic carbon. However, all sites don't show a significant increase in spite of the intensity of sylvicultural activities. The climatic vulnerability is approached with the study of historical data since 60 years. The temporal evolution of precipitation, discharge and temperature have been analysed in order to extract global trends. Besides temperature increase (+15°C) since 50 years, the quantity of precipitations shows a decrease from 1980. This decrease is particularly accentuated since 2003. The decrease of precipitation and the increase of temperature lead an impact on the ground and fresh water quantity. Trends observed on mean annual discharge are correlated with the variation of precipitations. Despite an early snowmelt, low flow periods, defined by the VCN10, don't show significant increase on the period 1960-2011.
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