Effects of different land-use systems (grazing and understory cultivation) on growth and yield of semi-arid oak coppices

The present study examines the extent of negative eff ects of traditional multiple land-use systems on oak coppices,from a forest management point of view.The study area was located in approximately 10,000 ha of hilly Brant’s oak(Quercus brantii Lindl.)woodlands in the central Zagros Mountains.In the same site-quality class,three land-use systems were compared:simple coppice(Co),coppice in conjunction with small ruminant grazing(CoG),and coppice with understory rain-fed wheat cultivation plus grazing(CoCG).Data on total wood volume of trunk and major branches,and annual ring growth,were collected and analyzed from 74 stands in 15 coppiced woodland patches.The results showed the advantage of Co over CoG and CoCG land-uses by 43 and 60 m 3 of mean accumulated wood volume per hectare,respectively.The diameter growth analysis also revealed an annual increase in wood production of trees in Co land-uses over 43 years,with an exception of the recent decade,when growth coincided with a severe drought.Using a back-extrapolation method,the minimum rotation age of woodlands in Co land-use was found to be 23.6 years,5 and 7 years shorter than those of CoG and CoCG land-uses,respectively.Unlike CoCG,woodlands located in Co and CoG land-use systems demonstrated a high level of agreement with self-thinning rule of−3/2.Values for the stand density index for coppiced oak woodlands were between more than 1000 for the least disturbed(Co)and less than 400 for the most disturbed woodlands(CoCG).The structure and growth rate of the coppiced oak woodlands were irreversibly disrupted by understory tillage plus grazing and in less extent by grazing alone.It was concluded that ending undergrowth cultivation in semi-arid oak coppices should be addressed as a priority by adopting minimum regulations.

Early differentiation in biomass production and carbon sequestration of white poplar and its two hybrids in Central Iran

We assessed the potential of white poplar（Populus alba L.） and its inter-sectional hybridization with euphrates poplar（P. euphratica Oliv.） for carbon storage and sequestration in central Iran. Trials were established at planting density of 2,500 trees per hectare in block randomized design with three replicates. After 6 years, we measured the above-ground biomass of tree components（trunk, branch, bark, twig and leaf）, and assessed soil carbon at three depths. P. alba 9 euphratica plantation stored significantly more carbon（22.3 t ha-1） than P. alba（16.7 t ha-1） and P. euphratica 9 alba（13.1 t ha-1）.Most of the carbon was accumulated in the above-ground biomass（61.1 % in P. alba, 72.4 % in P. alba 9 euphratica and 56.0 % in P. euphratica 9 alba）. There was no significant difference in soil carbon storage. Also, biomass allocation was different between white poplar P. alba and its inter-sectional hybridization. Therefore, there was a yield difference due to genomic imprinting, which increased the possibility that paternally and maternally inherited wood production alleles would be differentially expressed in the new crossing.

Modeling and control for cooperative transport of a slung fluid container using quadrotors

In this paper, dynamic modeling and control problem for transfer of a sloshing liquid container suspended through rigid massless links from a team of quadrotors are investigated. By the proposed solution, pose of the slung container and fluid sloshing modes are stabilized appropriately. Dynamics of the container-liquid-quadrotors system is modeled by Euler-Lagrange method.Fluid slosh dynamics is included using multi-mass-spring model. According to derived model, a proper control law is designed for a system with three or more quadrotors. Implementing the proposed control law, quadrotors can control pose of the container, directions of the links and liquid sloshing modes simultaneously. Stability of closed loop system of tracking errors and sloshing modes are demonstrated using a theory of singularly perturbed systems and Lyapunov stability theorem. Also, the capability of the proposed feedback control laws in solving a formerly organized transport problem of a liquid filled container has been demonstrated in simulations. Moreover, priority of the proposed control scheme to an existing slung load controller in the literature is demonstrated.

Walking as soft mobility:A multi-criteria GISbased approach for prioritizing tourist routes

Walking,as the main mode of soft mobility,has become an integral aspect of urban tourism.The development of pedestrian tourist routes plays a crucial role in enhancing the positive walking experience in urban tourist destinations.This research employs a hybrid multi-criteria decision-making(MCDM)with GIS to rank street segments,establishing walking-oriented tourist paths in Shiraz’s historic district,Iran.The initial steps involve identifying pivotal criteria through literature reviews and expert surveys.The Analytical Hierarchy Process(AHP)establishes criteria and sub-criteria weights using input from 30 experts.The Technique for Order Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution(TOPSIS)then prioritizes street segments based on sub-criteria such as traffic safety,image ability and heritage assets,security,land use and activity,accessibility,comfort and convenience,and human scale.Furthermore,a Space Syntax analysis(SSA)is conducted to evaluate the morphology of the street network in the study area and identify streets with potential for pedestrian movement.By integrating these analyses,a prime corridor for a pedestrian tourist route is identified.This study offers planners and policymakers a valuable tool for pre-investment decision-making,aiding the promotion of walkability in tourist-centric areas.

Street network patterns for mitigating urban heat islands in arid climates

This study explores the impact of street pattern measurements on urban heat islands(UHI)in the arid climate of Mashhad,Iran.The Landsat-8 top-of-the-atmosphere(TOA)brightness images from 2013 to 2021,average values of normalized difference vegetation index(NDvI)and land surface temperature(LST)were calculated.Street pattern measurements,including closeness-centrality,straightness,and street orientation,were employed to analyse the patterns in each district.The results indicated that districts with higher straightness and lower closeness-centrality exhibit,cooler surface temperatures.Strong correlations were observed between LST and NDVl,straightness,and local closeness-centrality.The research highlighted the importance of considering street network measurements in long-term urban planning and design to mitigate the UHI effect in arid regions.A moderate grid street pattern with a reasonable distribution of green spaces throughout the region is suggested to reduce surface temperatures sustainably.Street pattern indexes,such as straightness and local closeness-centrality,are identified as significant factors in urban design to mitigate UHl.These findings have implications for urban planners,who can use this information to create street network patterns with lower UHI effects by reducing local closeness-centrality and increasing straightness.