Modelling dominant height growth from national forest inventory individual tree data with short time series and large age errors

We developed dominant height growth models for Norway spruce (Picea abies (L.) Karst.) and Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) in Norway using national forest inventory (NFI) data. The data were collected for a different purpose which potentially causes problems for dominant height growth modelling due to short time series and large age errors. We used the generalized algebraic difference approach and fitted 15 different models using nested regression techniques. Despite the potential problems of NFI data the models fitted to these data were unbiased for most of the age and site index range covered by the NFI data when tested against independent data from long-term experiments (LTE). Biased predictions for young stands and better site indices that are better represented in the LTE data, led us to fit models to a combined data set for unbiased predictions across the total data range. The models fitted to the combined data that were unbiased with little residual variation when tested against an independent data set based on stem analysis of 73 sample trees from southeastern Norway. No indications of regional differences in dominant height growth across Norway were detected. We tested whether the better growing conditions during the short time series (22 years) of the NFI data had affected our dominant height growth models relative to long-term growing conditions, but found only minor bias. The combination with LTE data that have been collected during a longer period (91 years) reduced this potential bias. The dominant height growth models presented here can be used as potential height growth models in individual tree-based forest growth models or as site index models.     

Total tree,merchantable stem and branch volume models for miombo woodlands of Malawi

The objective of this study was to develop general (multispecies) models for prediction of total tree, merchantable stem and branch volume including options with diameter at breast height (dbh) only, and with both dbh and total tree height (ht), as independent variables. The modelling data set was based on destructively sampled trees and comprised 74 trees from 33 tree species, collected from four forest reserves located in different ecological zones of Malawi. The dbh and ht ranges for the data set were 5.3–111.2?cm and 3.0–25.0?m, respectively. A number of alternative model forms were tested and the final model selection was based on root mean square error (RMSE) values calculated using a leave-one-out cross-validation procedure. The model performances and the evaluations of the finally selected models (R? 2 range 0.72 to 0.92; RMSE range 38% to 71%; mean prediction errors range ?1.4% to 1.3%) suggest that all models can be used over a wide range of geographical and ecological conditions in Malawi with an appropriate accuracy in predictions. The appropriateness of the developed models was also supported by the fact that the mean prediction errors of these models were much lower than the mean prediction errors (range ?23.6% to 48.9%) of some previously developed models tested on our data.     

Morphological characterization of snake melon (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Cucumis melo</Emphasis> var. <Emphasis Type="Italic">flexuosus</Emphasis>) populations from Palestine

Genetic diversity in 50 snake melon accessions collected from Palestine (West Bank) was assessed by examining variation in 17 phenotypic characters. These accessions belonged to four important landraces of Cucumis melo var. flexuosus: Green “Baladi” (GB), white Baladi (WB), green Sahouri (GS), and white Sahouri (WS). Principal component analysis (PCA) and a dendrogram were performed to determine relationships among populations and to obtain information on the usefulness of those characters for the definition of cultivars. PCA revealed that secondary fruit skin color, flesh color, primary fruit skin color, and secondary skin color pattern were the principal characters to discriminate melon accessions examined in the present study. According to the scatter diagram and dendrogram, landraces of C. melo var. flexuosus: GB, WB, GS, and WS formed different clusters. However, based on Euclidean genetic coefficient distances, GB and WB had the least degree of relatedness with GS and WS, indicating distantly related landraces (Baladi and Sahouri). On the other hand, the highest degree of relatedness was detected between WS on one hand, and both GS and WB on the other indicating closely related cultivars. Fruit traits variability among the different snake melon landraces was evaluated and discussed in this study. This evaluation of fruit trait variability can assist geneticists and breeders to identify populations with desirable characteristics for inclusion in cultivars breeding programs.     

An Eco-Friendly Multifunctional Nano-Finishing of Cellulose/Wool Blends

A new approach for an eco-friendly multi-functionalization of cotton/wool (C/W) and viscose/wool (V/W) blended fabrics was investigated. In this study, Ag-nanoparticle (Ag-NP) and/or ZnO-nanoparticle (ZnO-NP) functional agents were incorporated into the finishing bath along with citric acid (CA) or succinic acid (SA) as ester-crosslinking or esterifying agent, and sodium hypophosphite catalyst using the padding technique. The obtained results indicated that the extent of multi-functionalization expressed as antibacterial activity, UV-blocking functionality and wrinkle recovery ability were determined by kind of nanomaterial, nature of carboxylic acid, i.e., bi- or tri-functional and type of substrate. The results also demonstrated that blended fabrics finished with Ag-NP/ZnO-NP/CA/SHP nano-finishing formulation exhibited outstanding durable multi-functional properties even after 10 washing cycles. In addition, the change in surface morphology and the existence of Ag and/or Zn onto the selected V/W fabric surfaces have been confirmed by SEM and EDX analysis respectively.     

Plant pararetroviral sequences in wild Dahlia species in their natural habitats in Mexican mountain ranges

Selected wild Dahlia species in their natural habitats from west‐central Mexico were tested for the presence of three caulimoviruses known to be associated with cultivated dahlia (Dahlia variabilis), viz. Dahlia mosaic virus (DMV), DMV‐D10 and Dahlia common mosaic virus. Virus species‐specific primers and PCR were used followed by cloning and sequencing of the amplicons. Results showed that the wild dahlia species in their natural habitat contained DMV‐D10, which is an endogenous plant pararetrovirus. Viral sequences were found in 91% of the samples (n = 56) representing four different wild species. The gene coding for the movement protein of DMV‐D10 from Dahlia coccinea and all other species was cloned and sequenced. Sequence comparisons showed divergence of this gene when compared to that of DMV‐D10 from cultivated dahlias. The discovery of plant pararetroviruses in wild dahlia species in their natural habitats suggests a possible emergence, co‐existence and co‐evolution of pararetroviruses and their host plants.     

Effects of site productivity on forest harvest scheduling subject to green-up and maximum area restrictions

Green-up requirements are of great interest for forests near cities since these forests are commonly used for recreational activities by the local population as well as for commercial forestry activities. We present three formulations to establish green-up requirements, based on a dynamic green-up approach and constructed by means of: (i) a predefined fixed length for the green-up time, (ii) a predefined variable length for the green-up time and (iii) height information produced by the growth simulator. Additionally, restrictions on harvested volume and maximum open areas were applied. All the green-up formulations were applied to five datasets comprising different initial forest conditions regarding age and site index distribution. Results show that higher net present values are obtained by the formulation that allow a predefined variable length for the green-up time and by using the height information from the growth simulator compared to the formulations using a predefined fixed length for the green-up time. The increase in NPV was most pronounced for the old forest datasets and varied between 4.23% and 8.15%. The optimal solution was always found when modeling the green-up requirement using the height information. This formulation also tended to find optimal solutions faster than other formulations.     

New Briarane diterpenoids from the gorgonian coral Junceella juncea

Chemical investigation of Junceella juncea has resulted in the isolation of three new briaranes designated juncenolides M-O (1-3). The structures of these compounds were determined by spectroscopic analysis including 2D-NMR (COSY, HMBC and NOESY) and HRMS. Compound 1 is a new chlorinated briarane while compound 3 contains a rare methyl ester at C-16. The anti-inflammatory activities tested on superoxide anion generation and elastase release by human neutrophils in response to FMLP/CB were evaluated.     

Sodium carboxylmethylate cellulose from date palm rachis as a sizing agent for cotton yarn

The chemical composition of date palm rachis wastes, which are widely available cellulosic biomass-based agricultural crops in Tunisia, were characterized to determine if they had the potential for use as a starting raw material to prepare cellulose derivatives. To accomplish this, several sodium cellulose carboxylmethylates (NaCMCs) were prepared and tested as sizing agents for coating yarn. The synthesis of NaCMC was conducted in n-butanol containing NaOH (40 %) as a solvent mixture and monochloroacetic acid (MAC) as the etherifying reagent. The NaCMC samples were characterized based on their degrees of substitution (DS) and polymerization (DP). The prepared NaCMC samples were then tested as sizing agents for cotton yarn in textile applications. Specifically, different NaCMC samples were used to prepare a coating bath, which was then applied to size a cotton yarn textile. The quality of the coated yarns was subsequently evaluated by determining three parameters, yarn hairiness, the load at break, and the elongation at break. The sizing performances of the NaCMCs prepared from date palm rachis wastes were then compared with those of commercial NaCMC. The values of hairiness, breaking load, and breaking elongation of some of the NaCMC-treated yarns were as high as those prepared using commercial additives as sizing agents. These findings indicate that the cellulose derivatives prepared in this study are good candidates for alternatives to currently available additives.