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Culicoides biting midges are small dipterous insects known as biological vectors of arboviruses, protozoa, and filaria parasites worldwide. Many studies on Culicoides focus on trapping them at ground level, without considering the best trap heights for different vector species. This implies that we might overlook insects positioned higher in the canopy. From June to August, we used UV traps to catch Culicoides biting midges at three different heights in three temperate mature forest areas in east Lithuania, Baltic region of Europe. We conducted this study to test the differences in midge numbers, male and female proportions, and female parity at each height. We caught the majority of biting midges (80.6%) at the mid-canopy and high-canopy. A higher number of female Culicoides midges than males was caught, with the proportion of males varying based on height and reaching its lowest point at ground level. No significant difference between the proportion of nulliparous and parous females caught at different height was detected. Culicoides pictipennis and C. festivipennis were the most common species of biting midge we found. They were found in the mid-canopy (86.8%) and the high-canopy (50.0%), respectively. Culicoides kibunensis was next, found at ground level (66.2%), and C. punctatus was found at the high canopy strata (63.0%). Each species' abundance was seasonal dependent. Information on the vertical distribution of vector species in the temperate forest ecosystem is an important step in understanding patterns of vector borne disease transmission in wildlife. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The precipitation and raindrop size distribution (RSD) characteristics of the four seasons and different rain types were studied using a PARSIVEL2 raindrop disdrometer set in the southwest mountain areas of China from 2019 to 2021. The seasonal precipitation in the southwest mountain areas was mainly stratiform rain. The peaks of the RSD were about 1–2 orders of magnitude higher than those in the plains. The convective rain in spring and autumn was very close to the ocean-like convective mass. The local shape–slope (μ–Λ), radar reflectivity–rain rate (Z–R), and kinetic energy–rain rate (KE–R) relationships were further derived, and the diversity of these relationships was mainly due to the variability of the RSDs. In addition, the differences in the RSD characteristics between the top and the foot of the mountain during a typical precipitation process in the summer of 2020 were further compared. It was found that the number density of the small particles at the top of the mountain was higher than that at the foot of the mountain due to the broken large raindrops caused by the high wind speed, while the high evaporation rate, strong convective available potential energy (CPAE), and water vapor content at the foot of the mountain could strengthen the RSD, making the number density of the large raindrops at the foot of the mountain higher than that at the top. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, the effect of five different hues of blue colored basin traps at different heights on capture rates of Tropinota (Epicometis) hirta (Poda, 1761) (Coleoptera: Cetoniidae) adults in a cherry garden in Çanakkale (Ezine-Akköy) province, was investigated. Basin traps, which were painted with blue colors coded as #B4C8E1, #C4D5E3, #A6CDE3, #4D9AC9 and #05467A, and made from 35x25x15 cm sized basins, were used to capture T. hirta adults. The trial was conducted on a 21 da cherry orchard with 5 years old Regina cultivar trees on Maxima 14 rootstock. It was planned with three repetitions, traps were mounted on platforms on wooden stakes placed between two trees with 10 m space with other traps at three different heights as; on ground level (0 cm), on 50 cm and 100 cm from ground level, on 22 March, 15 days before the trees bloomed with a total of 45 traps. The basin traps were filled with 1/3 of water and licensed attractants (100 mg Trans-Anethol + 100 mg Cinnamyl Alcohol) are added to the traps. The samplings were done with an interval of 2 days and the adults caught in the traps were recorded. The adult flight period was determined from the number of T. hirta adults caught in different blue colored traps at three heights. A total of 3828 adults were captured in all traps. 73.45% of the total adults caught in the traps were found before flowering period (before April 7th). The difference between the numbers of adults caught in traps at three heights was statistically significant. Highest number of adults was caught on the ground level (0 cm) in the #C4D5E3 code trap (429 adults) and this trap was followed by the trap #B4C8E1 at 50 cm height (384 adults). The number of adults caught by all traps at 100 cm height was lower than the other two heights. As a result, traps color and heights were found to be different in catching T. hirta adults in cherry orchard. With these results in mind, there is a strong possibility to use #C4D5E3 coded traps (Light grayish blue) successfully in cherry orchards against T. hirta adults in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The research objectives were to analyze reproduction performance and productivity of swamp buffalofrom different altitudes in Cianjur and draw up a hierarchy of productivity strategy development usinganalysis of SWOT (Strength, Weakness, Opportunity, Threats) and Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP)with four criteria: technology, costs, impact, and the response of farmers. Survey was conducted in Cianjurduring January-March 2014 by interview prepared questionnaires and direct observation of 63 buffalo farmers. Secondary data were also obtained from relevant agencies. Primary data were collected usingdirect observation of 139 reproductive female buffaloes then were further analyzed. A total of 58 buffaloesat their productive period were sampled and taken their morphometric data. Whilst 37 buffaloes weremeasured their frame size using Body Condition Score (BCS). The results showed that the reproductionperformance of buffaloes in the lowlands are not significantly different from those in the highland. The ageat first oestrus, first mating, first calving, gestation period were 25.6 months, 26.6 months, 38.7 months,11.8 months, respectively.. The oestrus period was 5.3 days, and post-partum mating interval was 54.6days. Differences in altitude and sex significantly affected (P

Long‐term decreasing trends of near‐surface wind speed (SWS) have been well demonstrated in China, and at the same time the factors causing the slowdown in SWS have also been explored. However, changes in wind speed and pressure gradient force (PGF) at higher elevations have received little attention. In this paper, the spatio‐temporal changes of wind speed and PGF at different heights were explored in eastern China during the period 1980–2011, and the potential causes inducing the changes of wind speed were analysed. The results included that the reduction in wind speed emerged from the near surface to 300 hPa, while the PGF also exhibited a synchronous reduction. The influence of PGF on the decrease of wind speed was relative smaller at near surface than that at higher levels (850–300 hPa). At the near surface, 71.8% of changes in annual mean SWS could be attributed to the changes of PGF, in which the seasonal difference of the influence of PGF on wind speed was less than 7.0%. At the higher levels, most of the changes in wind speed (>90%) was induced by PGF, in which the seasonal difference of the influence of PGF was less than 1.0%. Furthermore, the changes of PGF in eastern China could be mainly influenced by both the Northern Hemisphere annular mode (NAM) and the Pacific Decadal Oscillation (PDO). The NAM could affect the inter‐annual and inter‐decadal changes of PGF, and the effects of NAM played more significant role on the inter‐annual scale than that on the inter‐decadal scale. At the same time, the correlation between NAM and PGF increased with height. Otherwise, the PDO mainly affected the inter‐decadal changes of PGF, and their correlation decreased with height. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We studied the information basis for the assessment of wind power potential on the territory of Russia. We described the methodology to determine the parameters of the Weibull function, which reflects the density of distribution of probabilities of wind flow speeds at a defined basic height above the surface of the earth using the available data on the average speed at this height and its repetition by gradations. The application of the least square method for determining these parameters, unlike the use of graphical methods, allows performing a statistical assessment of the results of approximation of empirical histograms by the Weibull formula. On the basis of the computer-aided analysis of the statistical data, it was shown that, at a fixed point where the wind speed changes at different heights, the range of parameter variation of the Weibull distribution curve is relatively small, the sensitivity of the function to parameter changes is quite low, and the influence of changes on the shape of speed distribution curves is negligible. Taking this into consideration, we proposed and mathematically verified the methodology of determining the speed parameters of the Weibull function at other heights using the parameter computations for this function at a basic height, which is known or defined by the average speed of wind flow, or the roughness coefficient of the geological substrate. We gave examples of practical application of the suggested methodology in the development of the Atlas of Renewable Energy Resources in Russia in conditions of deficiency of source meteorological data. The proposed methodology, to some extent, may solve the problem related to the lack of information on the vertical profile of repeatability of the wind flow speeds in the presence of a wide assortment of wind turbines with different ranges of wind-wheel axis heights and various performance characteristics in the global market; as a result, this methodology can become a powerful tool for effective selection of equipment in the process of designing a power supply system in a certain location. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aims at identifying the differences that are forced by different heights of the single fence that appear as Biokenematic variables. In this study, five foreign horses from the Qatari Equestrian Federation are used. Each horse is given three tries at fences with three different heights (1.3, 1.4 and 1.5) meters. The best try has been chosen with the help of experts in this field. The photographic images provided are taken by Sony NEX-VG10E.MOUNT HD camera at a rate of 50 fps. The camera is placed 10meteres from the fence at a height of 1.6 meters. The statistical methods used are arrhythmic mean, Analytic variance and Least Significant Difference (L.S.D). The researchers have concluded that for the taking off and landing angle variable there are differences in favor of (1.4) meters fence. Meanwhile for the vertical distance of taking off variable, angle of the centre of mass of the knight variable and the front legs of the force at the moment of takeoff are in favor of heights of (1.3,1.5) meters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: This study was to investigate the feeding quality of rice (Oryza sativa L.) straw at different cutting heights and the related stem morphological traits. Wuyujing 3, Yangfujing 8 and Liangyoupeijiu in 2010, and Wuyujing 3, Nanjing 44, Nanjing 46, and Liangyoupeijiu in 2011 were used in this study. In 2010, we investigated the feeding quality related traits (such as nonstructural carbohydrates (NSC), crude protein (CP), hemicelluloses and acid detergent fiber (ADF) contents) of rice straw among three cutting heights 10cm, 20cm and 30cm. In 2011, we investigated the nutrient contents (such as NSC, CP, hemicelluloses and ADF contents and in vitro dry matter digestibility (IVDMD)) of leaf, sheath and stem in the top 1st, 2nd and 3rd nodes and the stem morphological characteristics by free hand sections. The results in 2010 indicated that the NSC content of rice straw at 10cm cutting height was higher than that at 20cm and 30cm cutting heights, CP content of rice straw at 10cm cutting height was lower than that at 20cm and 30cm cutting heights, hemicelluloses and ADF contents were not significantly different among 3 cutting heights. The results of 2011 indicated that the NSC content in stem of the top 3rd node was much higher than that in the 2nd and 1st node, and higher than that in leaf and sheath of the same node. CP content in leaf was much higher than that in stem and sheath. Hemicelluloses content in leaf and sheath was higher than that in stem, and ADF content was higher in sheath than that in leaf and stem, but all not significantly (p >0.05). IVDMD of stem was higher than leaf and sheath. Those results could explain the feeding quality differences of rice straw at different cutting heights. Wall thickness (WT) and the parenchyma area percentage of stem were significantly positively correlated with NSC content and IVDMD (p <0.05), which could be used as selection traits for more digestible rice straw. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Background and Aims: Airborne pollen is an important source of allergens in a number of allergic diseases. Data on the concentrations of pollen at different heights in the air are scarce. The aim of the present study was to investigate different types and numbers of airborne pollen and their seasonal variation at different heights in the urban area of Shenzhen (China) and their associations with meteorological factors. Methods: The concentration of airborne pollen at different heights was monitored with Burkard traps from July 1, 2006, to June 30, 2007, in Shenzhen; the results were analyzed with SAS 9.13 software. Results: In total, 1,095 films (at 3 heights, 365 films at each height) were exposed throughout the year, and 48 families and 85 genera of pollen taxa were identified. The total pollen count was 55,830 grains (25,204 grains at 1.5 m; 16,218 grains at 35 m, and 14,408 grains at 70 m); pollen grains were present in the atmosphere throughout the year, with two peaks of airborne pollen: one peak in February to April and the other in September to November. Conclusions: On the basis of our local investigations, the pollen concentrations and the pollen types in the air decrease gradually with increasing height. The distribution and concentrations of airborne pollen at different heights in the atmosphere were influenced by composite factors such as the season and meteorological factors. Copyright © 2012 S. Karger AG, Basel [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Bacterial community was analyzed in IC reactor for brewery wastewater treatment. • Proteobacteria , Bacteroidetes , Chloroflexi were dominant phyla in IC reactor. • Longilinea , Desulfomicrobium , Caldithrix and Geobacter were abundant genera. • COD and BOD removal efficiency of IC reactor were > 80% for brewery wastewater. This study analyzed bacterial community structure for large-scale brewery wastewater treatment at different heights in internal circulation (IC) reactor. Proteobacteria , Bacteroidetes and Chloroflexi were dominant bacteria, which accounted for 64.17%, 64.04%, 59.87% and 55.79% in phylum level, respectively. The unidentified bacteria were accounted for a large proportion in genus level, available data showed that Longilinea , Desulfomicrobium , Caldithrix , Geobacter and Syntrophorhabdus were relatively abundant. Organic fermentation, hydrolysis, and acidification were mainly completed at the bottom, and production of hydrogen and methane were completed in the upper and middle part of reactor. Alpha diversity and cluster distance analysis showed the bacterial community could be divided into bottom, middle and upper part of IC reactor. The IC reactor possessed the COD Cr removal efficiency of 80% − 84.09%, and BOD 5 of 77.50% − 86% for brewery wastewater. This study would provide bacterial analysis references of IC reactor for industrial wastewater treatment in future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]