Ethnobotanical Knowledge of Local Cassava Varieties and Characteristics Desired by Farmers in Sierra Leone

It has been observed that farmers adopt only a small number of the “improved” cultivars. A nationwide germplasm collection exercise in February 2018 provided the opportunity to collect indigenous technical knowledge (ITK) of the diversity of cassava varieties in terms of: their morphology, growth characteristics, uses (of tubers and leaves) and desirable characteristics. The objective is to see to what extent the objectives of the plant breeders are consistent with what farmers’ value. We performed 405 structured and semi-structured interviews with informants who were selected based on “purposive household sampling”. We found a considerable turn-over in cassava varieties, just over a third (45) have been in cultivation for at least 40 years, however, since the end of the civil war an additional 25 varieties are cultivated, while others varieties seem to have disappeared. One major issue with estimating turnover of varieties is whether the same variety might have several local names, and conversely the same name may be applied to different cultivars. Farmers overwhelmingly use ITK to select and preserve cassava germplasm for future use. Farmers have a clear preference for: sweet taste, high yield, early maturity and easy cooking and preferentially adopt cultivars that have those qualities. Cassava is primarily a human food eaten boiled or fried, some are processed into fufu and gari, and uses as livestock feed and medicine are reported but at low levels. The information produced during this study could help plant breeders choose selection criteria that will ensure their efforts are adopted and sustainable, the importance of preserving the genetic resources of local cultivars is also highlighted.

Research progress of local characteristic drugs for treatment of rheumatoid arthritis in Xinjiang

Rheumatoid arthritis(RA)is a systemic autoimmune disease characterized by synovitis.This disease tends to recur,persist,and is difficult to cure.The pathogenesis of RA is complex.Currently,the commonly used treatments for RA—non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs(NSAIDs),disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs(DMARDs),glucocorticoids,and immunosuppressants—have notable side effects with long-term use and may be ineffective for some patients.Therefore,it is crucial to find drugs with limited side effects and significant curative effects.Xinjiang's local characteristic drugs have a long history,abundant resources,and are known for their safety and effectiveness in treating RA.In recent years,many studies have reported on the mechanisms of action and therapeutic effects of Xinjiang's local characteristic drugs on RA.This article reviews the pathogenesis of RA,as well as the research progress and treatment characteristics of Xinjiang-featured drugs.

Construction controlling and strength increasing characteristics of locally developed epoxy asphalt mixture

The construction controlling elements,including construction performance at low ambient temperatures,reserved time ranges,and the strength increasing rule,for locally developed epoxy asphalt mixture（LDEAM） are studied through laboratory tests.Air void and Marshall stability are chosen as the performance measures for evaluating the construction quality.The wheel rolling test is used to simulate the actual construction situations,while the Marshall test and the Brookfield viscosity test are adopted to study the strength increasing rule.The experimental results reveal that the LDEAM can be constructed under a low ambient temperature condition of 10℃,and its longest reserved time is 70 min at a reserved temperature of 120℃.Test also shows that the strength of the LDEAM increases with time and temperature before cured.Finally,the theoretical reason for the strength increasing rule is analyzed on the basis of the organic chemistry theory.

Experimental study of power consumption, local characteristics distributions and homogenization energy in gas–liquid stirred tank reactors

In this paper, the power consumption, the vertical local void fraction and the local gas–liquid interfacial area are investigated in the aerated stirred tank reactors(STRs) equipped with a rigid-flexible impeller. Meanwhile, the regressive correlation based on power consumption and interfacial area is proposed. Then a novel homogenization energy(HE = RSDPtm) expression based on power consumption and local interfacial area is redefined and used to indicate the mixing efficiency. The optimal operating mode is selected based on the change of the HE value. This paper can provide research ideas for structural optimization of stirred reactors.

Evaluating the Relationship between National Park Management and Local Communities’ Perceptions Based on Survey, a Case of Nyungwe National Park, Rwanda

A sustainable management of national park requires collaboration between park staff, NGOs, local organizations and stakeholders, and government intervention. This collaboration promotes community-based welfare and inspires a sense of responsibility, thus promoting more benefits than conflicts. A survey administered to residents surrounding Nyungwe National Park was used to evaluate the relationship between Nyungwe National Park management and local communities. The residents acknowledged a positive attitude towards participating in conservation organizations where there was involvement, while a negative response revealed weak community mobilization. The community’s opinions about protection and tourism progression noted weak conflict resolution, but a positive attitude towards tourism activities in the area since they believed employment was likely as a result. In addition, the residents asked for support from government investments and stakeholders to develop the local private sector, and asked to be involved during the planning process. Approaches including the design of coordination mechanisms and integrated conservation and developments projects are suggested to promote a management structure leading to community involvement in conservation and tourism activities. This will increase visitor numbers and contribute to economic development not only in the region but also in the whole country. Empirical studies along with the factors shaping tourism and conservation activities should be considered as the basis for sustainable decision and policy making for sustainable management, and will contribute to government, stakeholders and park manager collaborations at Nyungwe national park.

LOCAL ERROR ESTIMATES FOR METHODS OF CHARACTERISTICS INCORPORATING STREAMLINE DIFFUSION

Allen and Liu (1995) introduced a new method for a time-dependent convection dominated diffusion problem, which combines the modified method of characteristics and method of streamline diffusion. But they ignored the fact that the accuracy of time discretization decays at half an order when the characteristic line goes out of the domain. In present paper, the author shows that, as a remedy, a simple lumped scheme yields a full accuracy approximation. Forthermore, some local error bounds independent of the small viscosity axe derived for this scheme outside the boundary layers.

Comparison of the local pivotal method and systematic sampling for national forest inventories

Background:The local pivotal method(LPM)utilizing auxiliary data in sample selection has recently been proposed as a sampling method for national forest inventories(NFIs).Its performance compared to simple random sampling(SRS)and LPM with geographical coordinates has produced promising results in simulation studies.In this simulation study we compared all these sampling methods to systematic sampling.The LPM samples were selected solely using the coordinates(LPMxy)or,in addition to that,auxiliary remote sensing-based forest variables(RS variables).We utilized field measurement data(NFI-field)and Multi-Source NFI(MS-NFI)maps as target data,and independent MS-NFI maps as auxiliary data.The designs were compared using relative efficiency(RE);a ratio of mean squared errors of the reference sampling design against the studied design.Applying a method in NFI also requires a proven estimator for the variance.Therefore,three different variance estimators were evaluated against the empirical variance of replications:1)an estimator corresponding to SRS;2)a Grafström-Schelin estimator repurposed for LPM;and 3)a Matérn estimator applied in the Finnish NFI for systematic sampling design.Results:The LPMxy was nearly comparable with the systematic design for the most target variables.The REs of the LPM designs utilizing auxiliary data compared to the systematic design varied between 0.74–1.18,according to the studied target variable.The SRS estimator for variance was expectedly the most biased and conservative estimator.Similarly,the Grafström-Schelin estimator gave overestimates in the case of LPMxy.When the RS variables were utilized as auxiliary data,the Grafström-Schelin estimates tended to underestimate the empirical variance.In systematic sampling the Matérn and Grafström-Schelin estimators performed for practical purposes equally.Conclusions:LPM optimized for a specific variable tended to be more efficient than systematic sampling,but all of the considered LPM designs were less efficient than the systematic sampling design for some target variables.The Grafström-Schelin estimator could be used as such with LPMxy or instead of the Matérn estimator in systematic sampling.Further studies of the variance estimators are needed if other auxiliary variables are to be used in LPM.

Sporting Usefulness Potential of Nine Local Taxa of Grasses for Lawns in the Agro-Ecological Zone with Bimodal Rainfall in Cameroon

The Cameroonian flora has a very high biodiversity that remains largely unexplored. It contains many grasses that can be used for sports lawns, but are currently underutilized. In order to contribute to the improvement of the quality of sports lawns, nine local grass taxa from the agro-ecological zone with bimodal rainfall in Cameroon were evaluated for their potential for sporting use in natural lawns. The method of the Study and Control Group for Varieties and Seeds was used to evaluate the sports lawn characteristics of the taxa. The resistance to trampling and pulling, the density of the lawn, and the aesthetic appearance, which are factors in calculating the sports index, were monitored at two sites, including the experimental space at the University of Yaounde 1 in the Center region and Kagnol 2 in the East region, from January 2017 to January 2020. The monthly lawn characteristic data allowed for the differentiation between the means and the determination of the sports index of the taxa compared to commercialized lawn varieties. The sports index of the evaluated taxa varied: Cynodon dactylon (6.989), Eleusine indica (6.338), Sporobolus natalensis (6.301), Cynodon cf Cynodon dactylon (6.257), Eragrostis tremula (5.939), Sporobolus pyramidalis (5.583), Agrostis rupestris (5.335), Axonopus compressus (4.991), and Digitaria sp. (4.544). These results show that these grass taxa have potential for sporting use in lawn mixtures at different levels of sports disciplines.

Combination of Local Culture and Landscape in Urban Plaza Design——A Case Study of Yingmeng Plaza Design in Zitong County, Mianyang City of China

Taking the design of Yingmeng Plaza in Zitong County, Mianyang City for example, location feature and overall design objective were analyzed on the basis of design background. By analyzing the theme of Yingmeng Plaza, design principles were proposed as "based on overall functions, fully considering users' needs, showing characteristics of a tourist city and cultural city". Guided by the overall planar layout, the whole plaza was classified into 5 functional areas to highlight its landscape structure of "four centers, four axes, two districts and two belts". By following the concept of "Beginning of a dream- Expectations of the dream-Transition of the dream-Dream coming true", and considering theme and design principles of Yingmeng Plaza, design concepts of its major scenic spots were elaborated.

Non-Local Analysis of Forming Limits of Ductile Material Considering Void Growth

The current study performed a finite element analysis of the strain localization behavior of a voided ductile material using a non-local plasticity formulation in which the yield strength depends on both an equivalent plastic strain measurement (hardening parameter) and Laplacian equivalent. The introduction of gradient terms to the yield function was found to play an important role in simulating the strain localization behavior of the voided ductile material. The effect of the mesh size and characteristic length on the strain localization were also investigated. An FEM simulation based on the proposed non-local plasticity revealed that the load-strain curves of the voided ductile material subjected to plane strain tension converged to one curve, regardless of the mesh size. In addition, the results using non-local plasticity also exhibited that the dependence of the deformation behavior of the material on the mesh size was much less sensitive than that with classical local plasticity and could be successfully eliminated through the introduction of a large value for the characteristic length.

Doppler Radar Analysis on A Local Heavy Precipitation in Jieyang Area of Guangdong

By using Doppler weather radar data,the meso-scale characteristics of extremely heavy rainstorm process which happened suddenly in Jieyang urban area on July 31,2008 were analyzed.The results showed that the radar echo only needed 20 minutes from the generation to the strong echo which quickly strengthened above 50 dBz.The storm center went down south and went up north near Jieyang City all the time.The component which moved eastward was very tiny,and the heavy precipitation echo stagnated.In this heavy precipitation process,the characteristics types of radial velocity which were favorable to the generation and development of heavy precipitation echo appeared alternately each other.The radial velocity's characteristics types were the first type headwind zone,the second type headwind zone,meso-scale convergence type and cyclonic convergence and so on.Thus,this heavy precipitation process which broke the record happened.The analyses showed that the headwind zone which developed vigorously and the convergence which had influx and outflux airflow in the vertical direction of headwind zone made obvious contributions to the precipitation.

Residential environmental evaluation of local cities considering regional characteristic and personal residential preference—a case study of Saga City,Japan

Questionnaire surveys and subjective evaluations on residential environment were performed in order to grasp the main factors of residential environment of small local cities. The suitable evaluation index system was established, and the regional residential environment characteristics and personal residential preference types were analyzed, so that their influence on residential environment evaluation could be grasped. The results can be applied to the residential environment planning, construction and monitoring of local cities.

LOCAL 2-COCYCLES

The aim of this paper is to show that every local 2-cocycle of a von Neumann algebra R with coefficients in S (a unital dual R-bimodule) is a 2-cocycle.

Robust Lane Detection in Shadows and Low Illumination Conditions using Local Gradient Features

This paper presents a method for lane boundaries detection which is not affected by the shadows, illumination and un-even road conditions. This method is based upon processing grayscale images using local gradient features, characteris-tic spectrum of lanes, and linear prediction. Firstly, points on the adjacent right and left lane are recognized using the local gradient descriptors. A simple linear prediction model is deployed to predict the direction of lane markers. The contribution of this paper is the use of vertical gradient image without converting into binary image(using suitable thre-shold), and introduction of characteristic lane gradient spectrum within the local window to locate the preciselane marking points along the horizontal scan line over the image. Experimental results show that this method has greater tolerance to shadows and low illumination conditions. A comparison is drawn between this method and recent methods reported in the literature.

Fracture evolution and localization effect of damage in rock based on wave velocity imaging technology

By utilizing wave velocity imaging technology,the uniaxial multi-stage loading test was conducted on siltstone to attain wave velocity imagings during rock fracture.Based on the time series parameters of acoustic emissions(AE),joint response characteristics of the velocity field and AE during rock fracture were analyzed.Moreover,the localization effect of damage during rock fracture was explored by applying wave velocity imagings.The experimental result showed that the wave velocity imagings enable three-dimensional(3-D)visualization of the extent and spatial position of damage to the rock.A damaged zone has a low wave velocity and a zone where the low wave velocity is concentrated tends to correspond to a severely damaged zone.AE parameters and wave velocity imagings depict the changes in activity of cracks during rock fracture from temporal and spatial perspectives,respectively:the activity of cracks is strengthened,and the rate of AE events increases during rock fracture;correspondingly,the low-velocity zones are gradually aggregated and their area gradually increases.From the wave velocity imagings,the damaged zones in rock were divided into an initially damaged zone,a progressively damaged zone,and a fractured zone.During rock fracture,the progressively damaged zone and the fractured zone both develop around the initially damaged zone,showing a typical localization effect of the damage.By capturing the spatial development trends of the progressively damaged zone and fractured zone in wave velocity imagings,the development of microfractures can be predicted,exerting practical significance for determining the position of the main fracture.

Study on Continuity of Temple of Local Land God in Rural Construction Based on the Perspective of Place Spirit

Temple of local land god is a kind of traditional sacrificial architecture in China's village,and is cultural landscape generated under special farming system of China,which reflects the spiritual world of the working people and bears the history of the village. Its protection and continuity must take inheriting the cultural spirit as the most important prerequisite,and "place spirit" established by Norberg Schultz provides important theoretic basis for it. In this paper,based on "place spirit","place spirit" of temple of local land god is interpreted,and important role of "place spirit" in its protection and continuity and the ways to create "place spirit" of temple of local land god are explored.

They Retain Their Beauty:Christianity and Local Cultures in the Global Era

The article examines a variety of local cultures in their relationship with modern Christianity as a global institution.The review summarizes three case studies conducted by the author in Israel and Canada over the past decade.These studies,reviewed in the article through various lenses and considered as three different sociocultural narratives,tell the reader how music,consciously or unconsciously,determines the contours of the cultural and religious identity of the groups whose members are natives or resettled residents of the Holy Land,Old and New Worlds,China and Australia.An updated analysis of ethnographic data points to local cultures as the true indicators of global change.

Local Identity in Palestine in the Late 19th and Early 20th Centuries--- Challenging Dominant Methodologies

By using top-down methods, periodizing exclusively along the Arab-Zionist conflict and basing on either Hebrew or Arab primary sources, leading scholars tend to ignore the existence of popular local identity shared by Jews and Arabs in center Palestine during late 19th-early 20th century. To explore this identity this paper suggests using history from below methods i.e. history of average citizens that looks into many individual＇s multi-dimensional life-experiences, particularly in Palestine mix areas, and based it on both Hebrew and Arabic sources. Through history from below this paper shows that joint Jewish-Arab local identity prevailed prior to the establishment of Jewish or Palestinian national movement and afterwards existed along with them till it was defeated by the escalating national conflict.

Research on The Development of Derivative Products of Comic and Animation Advertising Video of Local Characteristic Culture

Rich historical and humanistic resources and local characteristic culture provides a wealth of material for creation of comic and animation.In recent years,animation industry of our country has achieved rapid development.However,the limitations of the traditional concept and the external environment make the development of derivative products of local characteristic culture comic and animation advertising video still exists many problems.It need to strengthen efforts of derivatives development of this field,clear animation market positioning,pay attention to intellectual property protection,make animation industry of our country in a state of benign development.