Search

Microbial community in wetland soils is crucial for maintaining the stability of the wetland ecosystem. Nevertheless, the soil microbial community is sensitive to the environmental stress in wetlands. This leads to the possibility that the microbial community structure may be influenced by environmental factors. To gain an in-depth understanding in the response of microbial community structure in wetland soils under different environmental factors, this review comprehensively explores the factors of natural conditions (e.g., different types of wetland, soil physical and chemical properties, climate conditions), biological factors (e.g., plants, soil animals), and human activities (e.g., land use, soil pollution, grazing). Those factors can affect microbial community structure and activities in wetland soils through different ways such as (i) affecting the wetland soil environment in which soil microorganisms survived in, (ii) influencing the available nutrients (e.g., carbon, nitrogen) required for microbial activity, and (iii) the direct effects on soil microorganisms (toxicity or promotion of resistant species). This review can provide references for the conservation of microbial diversity in wetland soils, the maintenance of wetland ecosystem balance, and the wetland ecological restoration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Indonesia has quite a serious nutritional problem which is characterized by the large number of cases of malnutrition in children under five, as a result this problem has become the attention of the Indonesian government so that it has become a national protas called stunting, so it must be resolved in an integrated manner across sectors. Unfortunately, this problem has not been resolved so stunting cases are still very high, one of which is Maros district which has the eighth number of stunting cases based on SSGI data for 2022. Method: Qualitative research is carried out in natural settings to seek information from executive and legislative experience based on knowledge, attitudes, actions and interests. We used indepth interviews, assisted by interview guides, and reviewed the rules to answer the research objectives. The researchers carried out a review of the regulations in the form of basic reading of the recommendations and outreach carried out by the relevant government. Results: Interestingly, government planning uses new methods, namely bottom up, participatory and top down. The reason given by the executive is that this method is the most effective method in government organizations because planning is made based on the Maros district government budget calendar. Conclusion: In analyzing the behavior of the Executive and the legislature, not all of them understand stunting program planning so their involvement is lacking and not all of them play an active role in the stunting program, even though they have an interest in improving the level of health in the people of Maros district by trying to achieve zero stunting for the sustainability of regional development in Maros district. Recommendation: Continuing research on the theme of Analysis of Community Behavior towards the Implementation of Stunting Program Planning in Maros Regency, we suggest to the regional government to accelerate the realization of community welfare through improving human resource services and health levels, overcoming poverty. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The native populations of Iris hymenospatha and Iris histrio, two endangered bulbous species within the large Iris genus in Iridaceae, are threatened with extinction due to mining and other industrial activities in their natural habitats in Central Asia, including Iran. These species not only have a significant economic impact on the global horticultural industry due to their versatility and attractive phenotypic traits, but also have significant ecological value that necessitates their conservation. In this study, we examined the morphological and functional diversity between individuals within these two species, which exhibit high tolerance to environmental stresses. Our study examined 10 populations of I. hymenospatha and two populations of I. histrio based on bulb, flower, and leaf characteristics throughout Iran. We recognized a gradation of five different leaf shapes among I. hymenospatha populations with significant differences between some populations, including "Arak-Khomain" and "Arak-Gerdo". The "Jaro", "Natanz-Karkas", "Ardestan-Taleghan", "Arak-Rahjerd", "Arak-Gerdo", "Ganjnameh", and "Abas-Abad" populations of I. hymenospatha displayed maximal values in leaf width, stem diameter under flower, crown diameter, flower number, leaf number, and bulb diameter. The I. histrio "Velian" population had a significantly larger flower size, a longer stem length, a larger style width, a longer flowering date, and a higher plant height compared to the "Ganjnameh" population of I. histrio. Such characteristics of both species make them remarkable ornamental plants. Our study also revealed that I. hymenospatha populations grow on different soils and elevations and have the ability to adapt to different growing conditions. Given the threats they face, conservation through horticultural selection and propagation offers a viable conservation strategy for both species. This approach not only preserves the genetic diversity of these species, but also enables their further contribution to the horticultural industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Bylye Gody is the property of Cherkas Global University Press and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The aging dynamics of materials used to build the active part of optoelectronic devices is a topic of current interest. We studied epitaxial samples of GaAs doped with Ge and Sn up to 1 × 10 19 cm−3, which were stored in a dry and dark environment for 26 years. Photoluminescence spectra were taken in three periods: 1995, 2001 and 2021. In the last year, time-resolved photoluminescence, Raman, and X-ray measurements were also performed to study the evolution of defects formed by the action of O2 in the samples and its correlation with the doping with Ge and Sn impurities. We found that oxygen formed oxides that gave off Ga and As atoms, leaving vacancies mainly of As. These vacancies formed complexes with the dopant impurities. The concentration of vacancies over the 26 years could be as large as 1 × 10 18 cm−3. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The native populations of Iris hymenospatha and Iris histrio, two endangered bulbous species within the large Iris genus in Iridaceae, are threatened with extinction due to mining and other industrial activities in their natural habitats in Central Asia, including Iran. These species not only have a significant economic impact on the global horticultural industry due to their versatility and attractive phenotypic traits, but also have significant ecological value that necessitates their conservation. In this study, we examined the morphological and functional diversity between individuals within these two species, which exhibit high tolerance to environmental stresses. Our study examined 10 populations of I. hymenospatha and two populations of I. histrio based on bulb, flower, and leaf characteristics throughout Iran. We recognized a gradation of five different leaf shapes among I. hymenospatha populations with significant differences between some populations, including “Arak-Khomain” and “Arak-Gerdo”. The “Jaro”, “Natanz-Karkas”, “Ardestan-Taleghan”, “Arak-Rahjerd”, “Arak-Gerdo”, “Ganjnameh”, and “Abas-Abad” populations of I. hymenospatha displayed maximal values in leaf width, stem diameter under flower, crown diameter, flower number, leaf number, and bulb diameter. The I. histrio “Velian” population had a significantly larger flower size, a longer stem length, a larger style width, a longer flowering date, and a higher plant height compared to the “Ganjnameh” population of I. histrio. Such characteristics of both species make them remarkable ornamental plants. Our study also revealed that I. hymenospatha populations grow on different soils and elevations and have the ability to adapt to different growing conditions. Given the threats they face, conservation through horticultural selection and propagation offers a viable conservation strategy for both species. This approach not only preserves the genetic diversity of these species, but also enables their further contribution to the horticultural industry.

This study addresses the issue of assessing the functioning of farms in areas with diverse natural farming conditions by evaluating them using the latest version of the Agricultural Production Area Valorization (APAV) index. Analyses were performed on three types of farms: fully organic farms, organic farms with co-existing conventional production, and conventional-production farms. To achieve the research objective, 259 communes were selected depending on the level of their APAV. Assessments were made of their production potential, production organization, production and economic results in communes with average APAVs below, equal to, and higher than the national average (66.6 points) based on data from farms continuously keeping accounts for the Polish farm accountancy data network (FADN) in between 2019–2021. The Shannon-Wiener index (S-W index) was used to measure the degree of diversity of crop species in the farms’ sown crops, and determine what proportion of those were structure-forming plants. This research demonstrates that in order for interest in organic production to develop under current conditions, there must be sufficient financial support for agricultural producers, especially in areas with more difficult farming conditions.

OBJECTIVE: In the context of a study of Equine Odontoclastic Tooth Resorption and Hypercementosis (EOTRH), elderly Icelandic horses were examined in theiroriginating country. Thesubject of this survey wasthe impact of dental treatmentand keeping and feeding management on the health of the rostral oral cavity. ANIMALS: A total of 170 horses (aged 2 15) located in different areas of Northwest, West, and South Iceland. METHODS: The horse owners completed a questionnaire about keeping, feeding, and preventative dental care. The horses were clinically examined with particular attention to gingival and dental disorders of the rostral mouth, such as gingivitis, fistula, gingiva retraction, enlargement of the roots and dental calculus as well as integrity of incisors, bite angle, and tooth mobility. RESULTS: Most of the horses were kept on pasture all year with little supplementary feeding. The frequency of dental treatment in Iceland was low. Only a few horses were affected by tooth loss, gingivitis, gingival recession, and incisor calculus. Calculus occurred more frequently and more severely in canines than in incisors. The findings did not depend on the location of the horse. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Assuming that the remarkable health of the rostral oral cavity in elderly Icelandic horses was not caused by preventive dental care, it is likely that it was due to living conditions in Iceland. Continuity, intensity of chewing, and nativeness of forage might promote the health of incisors and tissue surrounding the tooth even in elderly horses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study addresses the issue of assessing the functioning of farms in areas with diverse natural farming conditions by evaluating them using the latest version of the Agricultural Production Area Valorization (APAV) index. Analyses were performed on three types of farms: fully organic farms, organic farms with co-existing conventional production, and conventional-production farms. To achieve the research objective, 259 communes were selected depending on the level of their APAV. Assessments were made of their production potential, production organization, production and economic results in communes with average APAVs below, equal to, and higher than the national average (66.6 points) based on data from farms continuously keeping accounts for the Polish farm accountancy data network (FADN) in between 2019–2021. The Shannon-Wiener index (S-W index) was used to measure the degree of diversity of crop species in the farms' sown crops, and determine what proportion of those were structure-forming plants. This research demonstrates that in order for interest in organic production to develop under current conditions, there must be sufficient financial support for agricultural producers, especially in areas with more difficult farming conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The development of the stormwater management strategies, e.g., low-impact development (LID), water-sensitive urban design (WSUD), and sustainable drainage solutions (SUDS), was initiated in the mid-1980s as a set of engineering approaches and technologies to reduce the harmful effects of stormwater. Over time, all of them evolved in the holistic, multidisciplinary approaches and, today, they are increasingly viewed and implemented under the umbrella term "Nature-based Solutions" (NbS). The technical elements and measures of these NbS represent various technical solutions, implemented i.a., according to the suitability of the site to achieve their maximum efficiency. Currently, there are no standards or procedures for the application of NbS technologies in Serbia. To overpass this and encourage implementation, we carried out preliminary assessment of NbS elements suitability for application in eight urban settlements in the Region of Southern and Eastern Serbia. The assessment is based on publicly available data and performed according to the existing recommendations in the field of spatial planning and rainwater management for WSUD. The analyses were conducted by GIS tools that involved spatial analyses of various terrain characteristics and provided an insight into the criteria, i.e., constraints that are key to the placement of various technical elements, including bioretention, rain garden, and permeable pavement. Research findings point out that creation of the thematic maps with area suitability ratings for individual NbS stormwater elements might represent a good starting point for further investigation, planning, and design. The proposed framework for preliminary assessment is potentially useful for the countries and regions without regulations in the field of NbS for stormwater management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Industrial Minerals & Processing / Huagong Kuangwu yu Jiagong is the property of Industrial Minerals & Processing Editorial Office and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Grape leafhopper, Arboridia kermanshah, is an important pest species in Iranian vineyards. Adults and nymphs cause damages by piercing the leaf tissues and sucking the intracellular contents. This study was focused on the biology of grape leafhopper in Kermanshah Province. Grape leaves was used as sampling units to estimate eggs and nymphs populations and sticky yellow traps was used to estimate adult’s population. A vineyard was sampled weekly, during growing seasons in 2017 and 2018. Our findings indicated that the leafhopper has three generations per year in Kermanshah. Overwintering of adults happened in the remnants of sheds and under grape barks. Population dynamics of A. kermanshah was studied in relation to temperature and relative humidity. Population dynamics of grape leafhopper was significantly and positively related to temperature in all biological instars of pest in 2017 except the second and the third nymphal instars. Population fluctution was significantly related to relative humidity only for the fifth nymphal instar in 2017. There were significant and positive relationship between temperature and population dynamics of eggs, and the fifth nymphal instars in 2018. Relative humidity changes had also significant relation with all stages except the fourth and the fifth instar nymphs. The density of parasitized eggs by Oligosita pallida Kryger were 93.24±1.1% and 89.74±4.9% in the first and second sampling year, respectively. Hence, the egg parasitoids were very effective in the last generation, therefor, the chemical control for this pest is not recommended.

The research process consisted of studies of natural and cultural conditions of the Kashubian Lake District This is an area of exceptional natural conditions. For centuries, it has seen human habitation with respect to landscape values. Given its extensive forest cover and the lack of heterogeneity of natural conditions, the area has become an interesting inspiration for the author’s original project. The project is aimed at searching for appropriate forms of human habitation. Creative activities, owing to the creation of a large number of drawings and paintings that feature diagrams of initial forms, followed by sculptures inspired by them, aim at identifying biomorphic solutions, spatial forms that match the site of the study. Methodically, in order to achieve the goal, an original research and artistic concept was designed whose non-obvious results make it possible to treat the given task as a divergence problem. The essential artistic part comprised creating small-scale sculptures of clay, which were later to be placed in appropriately selected places. The photographic documentation offered the possibility to work at the analytical and comparative level, with an account of the obtained effects and their potential. Ultimately, the author seeks an answer to how to design houses in this region. The results come in the form of a complete multi-element set of biomorphic forms; directly or indirectly transformable into architectural objects, they provide model hints to classifiable sets of features conducive to arriving at a match with a place. The creative method proves appropriate for architectural design, as it constitutes its initial stage in the case of inhabiting natural environments. It yields favourable forecasts for creating a catalogue of design guidelines for residential buildings located in the area of the Kashubian Lake District. [Figure: see text]

Two thermoplastic polycarbonate bisphenol A types were exposed to the influence of natural weathering at continental location and at marine location for a period of 8 years (96 months). Every six months the specimens of medium molecular weight polycarbonate and high molecular weight polycarbonate were taken from mentioned locations and tested. Seven characteristics were chosen for determination of quality before exposition and during the process of degradation of two mentioned polycarbonate types (tensile strength, elongation to break, Shore hardness, Vicat softening point, water absorption, density and Charpy impact resistance). Changes of these seven properties at continental location are similar to the changes of mentioned characteristics at marine location during specified period of time. Data obtained by testing specimens of medium molecular weight polycarbonate pointed out that there were two important changes of quality regarding elongation to break and Charpy impact resistance (first after 36 months and second after 54 months of exposure). After 96 months of natural weathering of the above-mentioned material at both locations meaningful drop of tensile strength, moderate change of water absorption and negligible changes of Shore hardness, Vicat softening point and density were recorded. The influence of molecular weight is very apparent because high molecular weight polycarbonate exhibited higher resistance to the degradation process in natural conditions. Two very important characteristics of this polycarbonate material (tensile strength and Charpy impact resistance) practically did not change during 96 months of exposition in an open air, while drop of elongation to break is meaningful, diminution of water absorption is moderate and changes of Shore hardness, Vicat softening point and density are very small.

Potato is an important crop in the Northwest China, however, its production is constrained by water scarcity. Plastic mulching film is an efficient technical measure to alleviate potato production restrictions. Therefore, studying the response of potato yield and water use efficiency to plastic mulching film is of great significance. The study conducted a meta-analysis to quantify the effect of plastic film on potato yield and water use efficiency in the Northwest. The study then quantified the effects of different levels of natural conditions (mean annual precipitation, mean annual accumulated temperature ≥ 10 °C), fertilizer application (nitrogen fertilizer, phosphate fertilizer, potassium fertilizer), cultivation measures (planting density, cultivation method, mulching method), and mulching properties (mulching color, mulching thickness) through subgroups analysis. Finally, the random forest model was used to quantify the importance of factors. Plastic film mulching increased yield by 27.17% and water use efficiency by 27.16%, which had a better performance under relatively lower mean annual precipitation, low mean annual accumulated temperature ≥ 10 °C, relatively lower fertilizer application, planting density of 15,000–45,000 plants·ha−1, ridge, and black mulching. Natural conditions, fertilization measures were vital to improve productivity. The research results can provide reference for agricultural management strategies of potato cultivation using plastic film in the Northwest China and other potato-producing areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Contemporary agriculture is a fertile ground for the effective use of economic and mathematical models, which can be evaluated to unwind several problems with characteristic optimization features: multiple solution opportunities and freedom of choice, limited production resources, and efficiency valuation. The presented study aims to develop a model of optimal crop production structure under the existing weather risks in the agricultural management system. The article reviews the basic theoretical concepts in optimizing the production structure of agricultural enterprises, examines the specific features of crop production, proves the influence of weather and climate conditions on forming the production structure, demonstrates the use of correlation and regression analysis for trend modeling and forecasting of crop yields, and offers suggestions for determining the optimal production structure. The study concludes that multivariate forecasting helps optimize management in economic organizations and ensure their development under the variability of natural conditions. Natural and climatic conditions significantly impact the development of production structures in agricultural enterprises, along with nature acting as an innate participant in the game. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Packaging & Food Machinery is the property of Packaging & Food Machinery Magazine and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The physical and geographical characteristics of the natural conditions and the morphometric and hydrological characteristics of the Rybinsk Reservoir and the mouth areas of its tributaries are presented. The influence of climatic conditions on the considered section of the Upper Volga basin is considered. The conditions for the formation of the relief, its main types, the places where rocks of the Mesozoic era (Jurassic period) emerged are described, and the important influence of the cover glaciation of the Quaternary period is indicated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Istraživanja: Journal of Historical Researches is the property of Faculty of Philosophy, University of Novi Sad and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Rozwój Regionalny & Polityka Regionalna is the property of Uniwersytetu im. Adama Mickiewicza (IH UAM) and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Explanation. The tourism industry, its functioning and development depend on many factors. One of them is natural-geographical. What natural resources a region has will determine its touristical policy. It can also be noted that the tourism industry is usually considered in terms of infrastructure, culture and politics. The natural and geographical factor is considered secondary or it considered schematically. The purpose of the study is to identify and characterize the natural and geographical factors, to analyze how in practice they affect to the tourism industry of the Astrakhan region. Methods. The research was conducted on the basis of several methods. These are analytical, comparative, method of induction, structural and functional, the method of analysis of sources. It allowed to consider the factors from different points of view.Documents from the State Archives of the Astrakhan Region were examined. Sectoral target programs dedicated to the development of tourism in the Astrakhan region were studied. Results. Natural and geographical factors affecting the tourism industry in general and the Astrakhan region in particular were identified. Theses put forward in the beginning of the article (influence of nature and geography on tourism) were confirmed, both in theory and in practice. Scope of application of the results. Materials of work can be used in various areas of knowledge. It is history, tourism, ecology. The results of the work can be used in the research of geographical science. Both the history of the region and local history can be added to this list.

This study aims to explore the opportunities and challenges of sustainable conservation in the Drina Transboundary Biosphere Reserve (TBR Drina). Two countries in 2004 launched activities on the designation of TBR Drina, which would make a unique territorial system of Tara National Park (NP Tara) in the Republic of Serbia and Drina National Park (NP Drina) in the Republic of Srpska/Bosnia and Herzegovina. Through the analysis of institutional and legal jurisdiction, the authors presented the management system of protected areas in both countries, with detailed insight into the specific mechanisms of government functioning and management in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Its complex state apparatus represents the biggest limiting factor for the formation of TBR Drina. Through qualitative research, the researched area's natural, cultural-historical, and socio-economic potentials were identified and recommendations were made for their optimal valorization and utilization. Research has shown that the natural, cultural-historical conditions of TBR Drina represent the potential for development, in contrast to the socio-economic conditions that make up its limiting factor. By planning through the cooperation between the border regions of both countries through support at the state level, TBR Drina can be recovered gradually, with the relative coexistence of ecological, social, and economic components of space, in the forthcoming period. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Among the main problems of mankind, a special place is occupied by the protection, use, and renovation of natural resources, as well as ensuring the environmental safety of the population. The development of production and the growth of economic activity, in which mankind uses more and more natural resources, lead to increased anthropogenic pressure on the environment. Nowadays, the attitude of the majority of the world's population towards nature is of definitely consumerist character, where natural conditions and natural resources are perceived only as a factor influencing economic development. This approach of society is wrong and leads to the environment degradation, large-scale biological disasters, deterioration of the quality of life and health of the population. Mankind's consumer attitude towards nature and its resources in recent years has led to global environmental problems. The natural living conditions of the population in most regions of the world remain extremely difficult. The current generation is almost the first to experience extremely complex environmental and economic problems. The problems of the natural living environment are gradually aggravated, therefore it is necessary to develop and take specific environmental and economic measures to eliminate them, to devise new tools that ensure the practical implementation of the sustainable development concept. Since the main goals of sustainable development are to ensure dynamic socio-economic growth, environmental quality, and rational use of natural resources, the priority is to implement the principles of ecological economics, aimed at environmentally friendly management, which contributes to the achievement of high economic and social results while protecting and improving quality of the natural environment, rational use and reproduction of natural resources. Effective protection, rational use and reproduction of natural resources, as well as ensuring environmental safety and creating favourable natural conditions for the life of present and future generations can only be achieved through proper training of specialists and formation of a system of professional environmental and economic competence in line with the requirements of the sustainable development concept. The ecological-economic competence of specialists provides an opportunity to develop and implement appropriate, science-based tools for implementing the sustainable development concept. The main tool for implementing the globally recognized concept of sustainable development is ecological economics. The paradigm of ecological economics considers the use of natural resources and natural conditions as a process of social production as a whole, as well as the rational use, reproduction and protection of natural resources and appropriate conditions of the natural environment. In the current difficult environmental conditions, it is necessary to choose the priority instruments of the ecological economics, that is, those that take into account national ecological and economic characteristics, protection, use and reproduction of natural resources, the state of the national economy, and the environmental safety of the population. Today, it is necessary to introduce such tools of ecological economics that would ensure the transition from the consumer method, where natural conditions and resources are perceived only as a factor influencing the development of the economy, to a sustainable development model, where the main theoretical ideology is to meet the needs of the current generation without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. If in the near future humanity does not introduce new science-based approaches and tools that ensure the practical implementation of the sustainable development concept, the dangerous trends in the field of environmental degradation will deepen. To objectively assess the awareness and attitude of Ukraine’s population towards the development of ecological economics and understanding of the concept of sustainable development, a socio-economic study was conducted which showed that the majority of Ukrainian citizens (84%) consider that ecological economics is the main tool for sustainable development. The majority of respondents (87%) consider that economic development should be based on the theoretical and methodological basis of the concept of sustainable development. Conceptual provisions for improving economic development have been established, based on the principles of ecological economics and the model of sustainable development. Substantiated is the necessity of strengthening the role of the state in the development of the environmental economics and practical implementation of sustainable development, aimed at ensuring appropriate control mechanisms and the inevitability of responsibility for violations of the law and proper coordination of public authorities in implementing sustainable development policy. The classification and comparative characteristics of ecological and economic instruments for the implementation of sustainable development are proposed. Proposals have been made to improve the ways of introducing the tools of ecological economics for the implementation of the concept of sustainable development.

This paper studies the Egyptian building design strategies for different building envelope shapes based on the green building design using the DesignBuilder program by simulating the outdoor climate conditions depending on the Egyptian meteorological data. The simulated results are applied to Minia City as one of the hot-desert climate regions in Egypt. The research is performed on the hottest day in summer according to the analysis of climatic data overall months using the climate consultant tool. This research studies two main variables to characterize the quantitative relationships between the building form and the Natural Ventilation (NV) of thermal comfort to be achieved, which are mixed-mode maximum wind speed, and natural ventilation setpoint temperature. The research focuses on two output parameters, which are air velocity and pressure, relating to natural outdoor ventilation. The simulation findings revealed that the circle form offers the best case, which has a significant role in achieving thermal comfort that optimized the value between the two major parameters in building design, while the worst case is the U-shaped building based on the same two optimized values. Finally, the usage of natural ventilation, simultaneously with choosing the suitable building geometry, is principal for adapting the current outdoor air velocity and pressure, thus reducing the energy consumption of buildings.Practical application: This paper studies the relationship between building form and natural ventilation to achieve outdoor thermal comfort and its effects on buildings. The study assesses the wind speed and temperature parameters using the DesignBuilder tool. The study suggests a combination between natural ventilation and choosing the suitable building form to adapt the air velocity and pressure to reduce the energy consumption of the buildings.

The article summarizes the theoretical and methodological knowledge about ecotourism as one of the viable types of tourism in the postmodern era, clarifies the patterns of its formation and development, a variety of approaches to its interpretation, interaction with other types of tourism, features of motivation and management in ecotourism. On the basis of the generalized data a number of perspective educational conditions is modeled: the orientation of the maintenance of pedagogical education on formation of steady positive motivation; updating the content of professional training; availability of educational and methodical support; interrelation of competence, system and personal-activity approaches. Diagnostic methods relevant for postmodern education are selected: methods of diagnosing students' learning motivation; methods of diagnosis of value orientations in career; tests to identify the levels of components of professional competence. It is proved that the professional training of teachers who are able to use ecological tourism in their professional activities at a high level is one of the important conditions for increasing the interest of children and young people in physical education, tourism and sports, ensuring the necessary physical activity, developing, maintaining and strengthening their health, adaptation to the flexible postmodern society. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Natural conditions and their changes in the late Boreal – early Atlantic period (from ∼8200 to 7700 cal. yr BP) of the Holocene in the Tobol-Ishim interfluve are analyzed based on palynological and zoological materials obtained from archaeological and natural sections and bottom sediments, as well as on the analysis of the hypsographic position of settlements situated on the shores of Lake Mergen (Ishim District of Tyumen Region) where plane-bottomed and round-bottomed Early Neolithic dishes were found. According to author’s reconstruction, the climatic indicators and hydrological regime of Lake Mergen during that part of the Holocene were unstable. The altitude of ancient settlements, the proportion of steppe and forest flora and fauna changed. There were fluctuations in average annual temperatures and the amount of precipitations. The same territory was inhabited by both “local” species and mammals and birds whose habitats fell outside of the region. An Irish Elk (Megaloceros giganteus) of the Pleistocene era was found in the area under consideration. In the late Boreal period, when the water level in the lake was high, people built settlements on floodplain terraces. When the flooding diminished and the seasonal floods ceased, people began to settle on floodplains near the water. Two episodes of aridization can be singled out based on geochemical indicators of bottom sediments of Lake Kyrtyma. One episode was long and had a peak about 6200 cal. yr BP (optimum), another one occurred in the middle of the Sub-Boreal period and was shorter. The informational capacity of geochemical data, as well as that of spore/pollen indicators, is low (at least 100 years) and doesn't reflect short-term paleoclimatic events. The whole spectrum of data should be applied in order to reflect such events. In particular, hypsometric characteristics of ancient settlements are of great importance, because people react to changes in the hydrological regime faster than the flora and fauna do.

This paper studies the Egyptian building design strategies for different building envelope shapes based on the green building design using the DesignBuilder program by simulating the outdoor climate conditions depending on the Egyptian meteorological data. The simulated results are applied to Minia City as one of the hotdesert climate regions in Egypt. The research is performed on the hottest day in summer according to the analysis of climatic data overall months using the climate consultant tool. This research studies two main variables to characterize the quantitative relationships between the building form and the Natural Ventilation (NV) of thermal comfort to be achieved, which are mixed-mode maximum wind speed, and natural ventilation setpoint temperature. The research focuses on two output parameters, which are air velocity and pressure, relating to natural outdoor ventilation. The simulation findings revealed that the circle form offers the best case, which has a significant role in achieving thermal comfort that optimized the value between the two major parameters in building design, while the worst case is the U-shaped building based on the same two optimized values. Finally, the usage of natural ventilation, simultaneously with choosing the suitable building geometry, is principal for adapting the current outdoor air velocity and pressure, thus reducing the energy consumption of buildings. Practical application: This paper studies the relationship between building form and natural ventilation to achieve outdoor thermal comfort and its effects on buildings. The study assesses the wind speed and temperature parameters using the DesignBuilder tool. The study suggests a combination between natural ventilation and choosing the suitable building form to adapt the air velocity and pressure to reduce the energy consumption of the buildings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Little is known about the healthy aging of the circadian timing system under natural living conditions. This study explores changes in the circadian rhythm of distal skin temperature (DST) with aging and relates these changes to sleep-wake timing and environmental influences. DST, sleep-wake timing, 24-h light exposure, and physical activity were measured and averaged over seven consecutive days using temperature sensors, actigraphy with a light meter, and sleep diaries in 35 healthy older women (60-79 years) and 30 young women (20-34 years). Circadian rhythm characteristics, describing strength (amplitude) and timing (acrophase) of the DST rhythm, were calculated using cosinor analysis. The older adults displayed an 18-19% smaller amplitude and a 66-73 min earlier acrophase (peak time) for DST rhythm than the young adults, indicating a weaker and phase-advanced DST rhythm. The phase advance for DST was not due to an earlier evening increase, but to a shorter nocturnal plateau period. Daytime light exposure inversely affected strength (amplitude) but not phasing of the DST rhythm in older adults. The DST rhythm was 3.5 times more advanced than the sleep-wake rhythm, showing an altered phase relationship (phase angle) between both rhythms with aging. The phase angle was more heterogeneous among older adults, showing differential aging. The phase advance for DST rhythm and the altered and heterogeneous phase relationship between DST and sleep-wake rhythms were not related to ambient light exposure and the physical activity of older adults. This suggests that healthy aging of the circadian system might be due to endogenous mechanisms such as an internal rearrangement rather than external influences.

Copyright of Stratum Plus Journal is the property of P.P. Stratum plus and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Geothermal energy can be an attractive source of renewable energy in many respects. The purpose of this paper is to assess the role of geothermal energy in the West Pomeranian Region of Poland. The article presents the key principles of geothermal energy development, its role, functions and perspectives in fostering renewable energy usage in the region in question. Strengths, weaknesses as well as opportunities and threats of using geothermal energy are analysed based on the literature review. A regional geothermal energy development model is proposed. The study is based on statistical data. The results of the conducted study show that geothermal energy can be an important source of regional energy supply in the West Pomeranian Region. However, advantages and shortcomings should be taken into account when deciding on the promotion of geothermal energy in the selected region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The adaptive significance of adjusting behavioral activities to the right time of the day seems obvious. Laboratory studies implicated an important role of circadian clocks in behavioral timing and rhythmicity. Yet, recent studies on clock-mutant animals questioned this importance under more naturalistic settings, as various clock mutants showed nearly normal diel activity rhythms under seminatural zeitgeber conditions. We here report evidence that proper timing of eclosion, a vital behavior of the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster, requires a functional molecular clock under quasi-natural conditions. In contrast to wild-type flies, period01 mutants with a defective molecular clock showed impaired rhythmicity and gating in a temperate environment even in the presence of a full complement of abiotic zeitgebers. Although period01 mutants still eclosed during a certain time window during the day, this time window was much broader and loosely defined, and rhythmicity was lower or lost as classified by various statistical measures. Moreover, peak eclosion time became more susceptible to variable day-to-day changes of light. In contrast, flies with impaired peptidergic interclock signaling (Pdf01 and han5304 PDF receptor mutants) eclosed mostly rhythmically with normal gate sizes, similar to wild-type controls. Our results suggest that the presence of natural zeitgebers is not sufficient, and a functional molecular clock is required to induce stable temporal eclosion patterns in flies under temperate conditions with considerable day-to-day variation in light intensity and temperature. Temperate zeitgebers are, however, sufficient to functionally rescue a loss of PDF-mediated clock-internal and -output signaling [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Particulate pollution is currently regarded as a severe environmental problem, which is intimately linked to reductions in air quality and human health, as well as global climate change. Objective: Accurately identifying the key factors that drive air pollution is of great significance. The temporal and spatial heterogeneity of such factors is seldom taken into account in the existing literature. Method: In this study, we adopted a geographically and temporally weighted regression model (GTWR) to explore the direction and strength of the influences of natural conditions and socioeconomic issues on the occurrence of PM2.5 pollutions in 287 Chinese cities covering the period 1998 to 2015. Result: Cities with serious PM2.5 pollution were discovered to mainly be situated in northern China, whilst cities with less pollution were shown to be located in southern China. Higher temperature and wind speed were found to be able to alleviate air pollution in the country’s southeast, where enhanced precipitation was also shown to reduce PM2.5 concentrations; whilst in southern and central and western regions, precipitation and PM2.5 concentrations were positively correlated. Increased relative humidity was found to reinforce PM2.5 concentration in southwest and northeast China. Furthermore, per capita GDP and population density were shown to intensify PM2.5 concentrations in northwest China, inversely, they imposed a substantial adverse effect on PM2.5 concentration levels in other areas. The amount of urban built-up area was more positively associated with PM2.5 concentration levels in southeastern cities than in other cities in China. Conclusion: PM2.5 concentrations conformed to a series of stages and demonstrated distinct spatial differences in China. The associations between PM2.5 concentration levels and their determinants exhibit obvious spatial heterogeneity. The findings of this paper provide detailed support for regions to formulate targeted emission mitigation policies.

Well adapted animals are characterized by maintain homeostasis under natural conditions. The present study aimed to evaluate physiological and morphological responses, as well as identify the relationship between these parameters in order to maintain homoeothermic status, in the dry and rainy season. Measurements were taken from 383 Morada Nova hair ewes, under dry and rainy season. The studied variables included rectal temperature (RT), respiratory rate (RR), coat thickness (CT), hair length (HL), hair diameter (HD) and hair density (D). Blood samples were collected for determining biochemical, erythrogam and hormone concentration. The evaluated blood parameters from the Morada Nova breed did not demonstrate any variation from the reference interval established for sheep, confirming its adaptability profile even under high radiation and air temperatures. Multivariate analyses were performed in order to determine relationship between morphological, biochemical, erythrocyte and hormonal traits in each season. Differences correlations were observed according to season of the year. In the dry season, the correlations were significant among RT, RR, Packed cell volume (PCV), thyroxine (T4), Glucose (GLU), CT, HL, Globulin (GLO) and Total Protein (TP), whereas in dry season the characteristics that showed greater correlation were Mean corpuscular volume (MCV), thyroid hormones, Creatinine, GLO, TP, PCV and GLU. In conclusion, Morada Nova ewes was able to maintain homeothermy, even in the most stressful environmental conditions. Their hematological, biochemical and hormonal profile were within the normal range for sheep, confirming the adaptability of this local breed to the Brazilian semiarid environment.

The paper examines the influence of the natural factor on the military history of Russia. It is natural conditions that determined the choice of military strategy and tactics, the state of the system and supply of troops, and to a large extent - and the results of combat operations. The major part of the territory in the south of the country (1250 km from Voronezh to Ordzhonikidze, from north to south and 1,000 km from Taman to Astrakhan from west to east) was turned into a combat zone from the summer of 1942 to the autumn of 1943. It is characterized by various forms of relief (from the plains and lowlands to highlands), climatic zones (from temperate continental to subtropical) and native zones (from the steppes to the semi-desert and glaciers). Various natural conditions had different effects on the course of military operations. Analyzing combatant operations in the south of the country it became evident that the Soviet military commanders didn’t always take into account the influence of natural factors. Hundreds of thousands of ordinary soldiers and commanding officers with much effort and loss of their lives had to correct the errors of the military commanders in order to improve the situation. Only after the radical turn in the Great Patriotic War, the Soviet tactics underwent major changes. For instance, when planning offensive and defensive operations, one took into account natural factors. In particular, terrain models were studied to present the features of the upcoming battles in detail. This was one of the most important conditions for the victory, the beginning of which was laid in the battles of 1942-1943 in the south.

Facilities for generating renewable energy form important elements in the rural landscape of the Czech Republic. The distribution of these facilities is highly uneven due to various natural and socio-economic factors. In our paper, we are focusing our attention on one of the important facilities for the generation of renewable energy in the Czech Republic; anaerobic digestion (AD) plants. In 2016, more than five hundred AD plants could be found in the country with a total installed capacity of 360 MW. By means of analyses of data on location of individual AD plants, quality of soils, size of agricultural farms (in which majority of AD plants is incorporated) we found that agricultural AD plants in the Czech Republic tend to concentrate in areas with larger agricultural farms and also in areas with average and slightly below average conditions for agricultural activities. Core areas where agricultural AD plants are the most densely located were also identified. In these areas, large farms with AD plants tend to crowd out smaller farms. Pressure to grow maize for ADs significantly competes here with growing of other agricultural crops for food. This finding is in strong contradiction with the official national agricultural policy where support for small farms is systematically emphasized. Core areas with AD plants make a belt that mostly covers sub-mountainous central parts of the Czech Republic where traditional agricultural plants are now significantly being displaced by maize to feed AD plants.

The paper presents the analysis of natural conditions for the development of the agricultural branch - raspberry growing in the municipality of Štrpce. The following analyses were carried out using GIS technology: the analysis of pedological cover, terrain aspect and slope, hypsometric conditions, precipitation and land use methods. The paper also presents the materials and methods for obtaining the final evaluation of the conditions and assessing the natural characteristics for the territory of Štrpce. By cabinet work, elimination method, and valorisation method through software packages, the analysis and interpretation of natural characteristics was carried out on all maps individually. In the geographic information systems, one of the most important materials in research is the database, i.e. its availability and scope. The final version of the work is formed by processing all natural conditions through GIS. The final result of the work and research is a synthetic map of the benefits for raspberry growing in the area of Štrpce, with pronounced areas suitable for the development of raspberry growing. The main reason for determining these locations is the uncertain economic stability and insufficiently informed local population due to the unfavourable political situation in the Autonomous Province of Kosovo and Metohija.

Rice blast (Magnaporthe grisea) is an epidemic rice disease that reduces rice yield and quality worldwide. The objective of this study was to present and evaluate a data reconstruction method for assessment of rice leaf blast severity using hyperspectral imaging technology at the late vegetative growth stage. Experiments were carried out on Mongolian rice, which is susceptible to the disease. To carry out the study under natural conditions, rice was cultivated without any disease control measures. We obtained hyperspectral images of rice leaves and extracted average spectral reflectance data for entire leaves and undiseased leaf regions. To analyze the hyperspectral data, we presented a spectral reflectance ratio (SRR) data reconstruction method. A support vector machine model was constructed to identify five infection severities based on the transformed data. The classification accuracy of the model at jointing, booting and heading stages was 83.33%, 97.06% and 83.87%, respectively. According to our results, the SRR data reconstruction method presented here can be used to assess rice leaf blast severity during late vegetative growth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fluctuating soil salinity and competition for light are the main factors affecting plant distribution and performance in coastal salt marshes. The aim of the present study was to assess plant performance by means of non-destructive instrumental methods in a highly heterogeneous natural habitat. More specifically, environmental factors affecting growth and physiological performance of a clonal plant Hydrocotyle vulgaris L. were investigated. Changes in soil salinity, soil mineral characteristics, leaf nutrient concentrations, morphological parameters, chlorophyll fluorescence, and mycorrhizal symbiosis were analysed in different experimental plots of naturally growing H. vulgaris plants. The dynamic nature of interaction between sea water flooding-affected changes in soil salinity and competition-dependent changes in light availability led to micro-environmental heterogeneity differentially affecting physiological performance and growth of H. vulgaris in natural conditions. Plant growth was mostly affected by intensity of photosynthetically active radiation in the respective plots. Increased growth rate in shaded conditions specifically pointed to shade tolerance strategy of H. vulgaris. High heterogeneity of mineral nutrients between the plots was established. However, considerable plasticity of metabolism in respect to highly variable soil concentration of mineral nutrients together with effective mineral adaptation mechanisms ensured optimal supply of material for growth. Photochemistry of photosynthesis was only marginally affected by differences in microenvironmental conditions as shown by respective changes in chlorophyll a fluorescence parameters. Mycorrhizal symbiosis was stimulated by moderately increasing soil salinity and suppressed by relatively high salinity. When the effect of soil salinity was omitted, intensity of mycorrhizal symbiosis was positively associated with intensity of photo-synthetically active radiation. In general, a relatively high stable level of photosynthetic performance across a wide range of micro-environmental conditions indicates an adequate level of physiological adaptation of H. vulgaris to conditions of a coastal salt marsh. The present data clearly reflect complex interactions between environmental factors and plastic physiological responses of H. vulgaris. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite evidence that organisms are more likely to exhibit their full range of cognitive abilities under conditions found in nature, studies evaluating cognition under such conditions remain rare, particularly in vertebrate species. Here, we conducted an experiment to evaluate problem-solving and motor self-regulation in free-living arboreal lizards, Anolis sagrei, under natural conditions. We presented lizards with a novel detour problem which challenged individuals to circumvent a transparent barrier in order to obtain a food reward. Individuals varied in their ability to solve the detour problem. Furthermore, those that solved the problem were able to improve their performance across trials by modifying the natural response of attempting to strike the reward through the transparent barrier, providing evidence of motor self-regulation. Solving the problem required individuals to modify their typical foraging behavior, as approaching the prey in a single burst of movement that culminated with an attack was an unsuccessful strategy. Contrary to expectations, our findings provide evidence of motor self-regulation in a visually oriented, sit-and-wait predator under natural conditions, suggesting motor self-regulation is not limited by foraging strategy. Our results also underscore the need to evaluate the cognitive abilities of free-living organisms in the wild, particularly for taxa that perform poorly under laboratory conditions. Significance statement: Studies of animal cognition have a long history in animal behavior, which, in vertebrate species, has been dominated by experiments conducted under controlled laboratory conditions. Here, we showed that experiments can be taken "outside the box," from the laboratory into natural conditions, and by doing so overcome some of the obstacles that have hindered our ability to study cognition in species unlikely to remain motivated when removed from the wild. We implemented a modified version of the cylinder task, which provided the stimuli needed for a visually oriented, sit-and-wait foraging lizard to participate in the experiments. Individuals of Anolis sagrei learned to solve the task by modifying what was previously described as a stereotyped prey capture behavior. In addition, individuals decreased the number of times they attempted to strike the prey through the transparent barrier. These findings provide further evidence of behavioral flexibility in anoles and new evidence of motor self-regulation. The latter demonstrates the need to extend our current understanding of potential forces favoring the evolution of cognition beyond those that have been proposed in birds and mammals. More generally, our findings demonstrate the importance of using experimental paradigms that are rooted in an understanding of the natural history of the species of interest. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]