Assessment of the Age Structure of Sable Samples Using Three Methods of Age Determination

The age structure of sable samples has been analyzed on the basis of parameters obtained by three methods of age determination: by annual cementum layers (Klevezal, 1988), canine root canal width (Smirnov, 1960), and the degree of development of the mastication muscles and sagittal crest on the skull (Timofeev and Nadeev, 1955). It has been found that the first two methods produce similar results (r = 0.95) that are suitable for use in the practice of monitoring and commercial game management. The third method is simpler but less accurate and can be recommended only for the preliminary assessment of age ratios in populations. The results of such assessment by the method proposed by Klevezal are sufficiently accurate for a detailed analysis of population structure and dynamics of its reproductive core, but this method is laborious and involves a complicated histological procedure. When large samples are studied for the purposes of monitoring and management planning, the method proposed by Smirnov is preferable.     

Combining remote sensing imagery and forest age inventory for biomass mapping

Aboveground biomass (AGB) of forests is an important component of the global carbon cycle. In this study, Landsat ETM(+) images and field forest inventory data were used to estimate AGB of forests in Liping County, Guizhou Province, China. Three different vegetation indices, including simple ratio (SR), reduced simple ratio (RSR), and normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI), were calculated from atmospherically corrected ETM(+) reflectance images. A leaf area index (LAI) map was produced from the RSR map using a regression model based on measured LAI and RSR. The LAI map was then used to develop an initial AGB map, from which forest stand age was deduced. Vegetation indices, LAI, and forest stand age were together used to develop AGB estimation models for different forest types through a stepwise regression analysis. Significant predictors of AGB changed with forest types. LAI and NDVI were significant predictors of AGB for Chinese fir (R(2)=0.93). The model using LAI and stand age as predictors explained 94% of the AGB variance for coniferous forests. Stand age captured 79% of the AGB variance for broadleaved forests (R(2)=0.792). AGB of mixed forests was predicted well by LAI and SR (R(2)=0.931). Without differentiating among forest types, the model with SR and LAI as predictors was able to explain 90% of AGB variances of all forests. In Liping County, AGB shows a strong gradient that increases from northeast to southwest. About 64% of the forests have AGB in the range from 90 to 180 t ha(-1).     

Estimating the removal of atmospheric particulate pollution by the urban tree canopy in Beijing北大核心CSCD

Urban green space, particularly the tree canopy, plays an important role in potential mitigation against atmospheric particulate pollution and protecting human health. In this study, current and future air particulate matter [including total suspended particulate (TSP), particulate matter 10 (PM10), and particulate matter 2.5 (PM2.5)] removal by the urban tree canopy of Beijing was estimated. A modeling approach was used based on the distributed measurement evaluation and a modified version. The urban tree canopy of Beijing, including mostly Platycladus sp., Pinus sp., Quercus sp., Robinia pseudoacacia, and economic forests, currently removes about 8.33 million kg/a air particulates, in which TSP accounted for 4.51 million kg/a, PM10 accounted for 2.74 million kg/a, and PM2.5 accounted for 1.08 million kg/a. The study on the removal of air particulates by different aged tree canopies showed that in coniferous trees, the ability to capture air particulates changed in the order of mature and over-mature > near-mature forest > young forest; in broadleaf forest, the ability changed in the order of near-mature forest > mature and over-mature > young forest. For total particulate matter, the biggest contribution was coarse particulates (60.74%); the contribution rate of fine particulates was different owing to different tree species groups. The results suggested that the ability of different trees to capture particles and age of forests varied widely and that suitable trees should be chosen to enhance pollution mitigation for city greening. © 2018 Science Press. All rights reserved.     

Early detection of abdominal pregnancy by maternal serum AFP+ screening

We present two cases of abdominal pregnancy identified in our maternal serum screening programme—an additional, as yet unreported benefit of AFP+ (multiple analyte) maternal serum oncofetal antigen screening in pregnancy.     

Ecological Integrity Assessment of Lakes Using Fish Communities: An Example from Traunsee Exposed to Intensive Fishing and to Effluents from the Soda Industry

In order to analyse potential influences of soda industryeffluents on the ecological integrity of Traunsee (TS) weinvestigated the fish community of the lake in comparison witha reference lake (Hallstättersee HS) and used a reconstructionfrom the (older) literature concerning the original speciescomposition of Traunsee. Published `Index of Biotic Integrity(IBI)' metrics were considered to be of limited value due tothe relatively low species number in the oligotrophic, Alpinelake. Therefore we included, in addition to speciescomposition, studies on egg distribution, larval fishdensities, life-history parameters (i.e. growth, maturity,fecundity, age and size composition), stress levels and heavymetal content of the dominant whitefish (Coregonuslavaretus), as well as overall fish density and biomass (usinghydroacoustics) to assess the ecological status of the fishcommunity. Two of the original 18 species have disappearedfrom the lake, presumably in connection with the introductionof non-native eel (Anguilla anguilla) and theconstruction of a power plant in the outflow. Silt from grindedlimestone together with highly alkaline pore waters is emittedvia industrial wastewater from Sodaworks and covers part of thelake bottom. We observed that eggs of whitefish were spawnedmainly in the main inflowing river and close to the shore, thusavoiding the silty areas and making the anticipated damage tothe reproductive potential of whitefish neglectable. This wascorroborated by larval surveys done weekly on both lakes fromJanuary to May, which showed halve the density of whitefishlarvae in TS compared to HS. Estimates of potentially spawningfish from hydroacoustic surveys resulted in a ratio of 1(TS) :3 (HS). Analysis of whitefish revealed that they are growingfaster in TS and have higher fecundity leading to somecompensation of lower abundance. High levels of fishing in TSmight have led to this pattern and to depressed yields asindicated by the age composition. Level of oxidative stress andheavy metal content were not discernible from the referencelake. Therefore we concluded that negative impacts on theecological status of the fish community resulted from fisheriesmismanagement and a power plant situated in the outflow of thelake, considered to have damaged spawning places for somespecies, but not from soda industry effluents.     

The Workplace Intergenerational Climate Scale (WICS): A self‐report instrument measuring ageism in the workplace

The Workplace Intergenerational Climate Scale (WICS) is designed to measure employees' attitudes and perceptions about workers of different ages in the workplace. In Study 1, an initial 18‐item measure was developed, reflecting five subscales: Intergenerational Contact, Workplace Intergenerational Retention, Positive Intergenerational Affect, Workplace Generational Inclusiveness, and Lack of Generational Stereotypes. Scores on the five WICS subscales were linked to workplace mentoring, opinions about older workers, and job satisfaction. In Study 2, the WICS items and subscales were further refined, and subscale relationships with similar constructs were explored via structural equation modeling. In Study 3, a more occupationally diverse sample was used to support criterion, incremental, discriminant, and external validity. Evidence supports the use of the WICS as a valid and reliable multidimensional measure of an organization's intergenerational climate. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

The influence of confounding factors on the relationship between muscle contraction level and MF and MPF values of EMG signal: a review

The purpose of this article is to gather results of studies on the relationship between median frequency (MF) and mean power frequency (MPF) and the level of muscle contraction, and to use those results to discuss the differences in the trends according to factors related to measurement technique and subject. Twenty-one studies with 63 cases for upper limb muscles and nine studies with 31 cases for lower limb muscles were analysed. Most results showed an increase in parameters with an increased level of muscle contraction, only some studies showed a decrease. The influence on parameters of the level of muscle contraction and factors such as subjects, type of contraction, muscle length and electrodes was analysed for each muscle. It was concluded that when analysing the influence of different factors on MF and MPF, because those factors interact they should be considered together, not separately.     

The challenge of being a young manager: The effects of contingent reward and participative leadership on team‐level turnover depend on leader age

Effective leadership requires a leader claiming as well as team members granting the leadership position. Contingent reward and participative leadership may both facilitate this mutual process. However, these behaviors differ in the degree to which they require a leader to have status and be prototypical. Their effectiveness might thus depend on the status‐related characteristics of the leader. In this respect, we propose that younger leaders, by deviating from the leader prototype in terms of age, lack a natural status cue, which will determine the effectiveness of these two leadership behaviors in shaping turnover. Two pilot studies (N = 113 and 121 individuals) confirm that younger leaders are perceived as less prototypical and to have lower status than older leaders. Examining 83 work teams, we show that leader age differently moderates the effects of contingent reward and participative leadership on time‐lagged team turnover. For younger (compared with older) leaders, contingent reward was effective as illustrated by decreased voluntary turnover and increased involuntary turnover, whereas participative leadership, which was associated with increased voluntary turnover and decreased involuntary turnover, was ineffective. These findings point to the importance of incorporating natural status cues of leaders for understanding the effectiveness of different leadership behaviors. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.