Altitudinal patterns of stand structure and herb layer diversity of Picea schrenkiana forests in the central Tianshan Mountains,Northwest China

Altitude is a useful indicator to examine patterns of forest structure and species diversity in relation to environmental factors.In this study,the altitude patterns of forest stand structure and species diversity were analyzed across 20 plots in the Tianchi Nature Reserve,Northwest China.The results showed that mean stem height（Hm）,maximum stem height（Hmax） and mean stem diameter at breast height（Dm） of Picea schrenkiana trees all decreased significantly with increasing altitude.Potential tree height（H＊） decreased while stem taper increased significantly as altitude increased,suggesting remarkable altitudinal changes in biomass allocation between the diameter and height growth of Picea schrenkiana.Understory herbaceous richness increased significantly with increasing altitude,or with decreasing total basal area（TBA）,Hm and stand volume（Volume）.High light availability for understory herbs might account for the higher species richness at high altitude.Sorensen Index decreased significantly with the increase in altitude intervals,while the Cody Index demonstrated a converse pattern,suggesting greater differences in species composition with larger distances.

Evaluation of Terpenes’Degradation Rates by Rumen Fluid of Adapted and Non-adapted Animals

The aim of the present study was to evaluate terpenes degradation rate in the rumen fluid from adapted and non-adapted animals.Four castrated healthy animals,two rams and two bucks,were used.Animals were daily orally dosed for 2 weeks with 1 g of each of the following terpenes,α-pinene,limonene andβ-caryophyllene.At the end of each week,rumen fluid(RF)samples were assayed in vitro for their potential to degrade terpenes over time.For each animal,a 10 mL reaction medium(RM)at a ratio 1:9(v/v)was prepared and a terpenes solution at a concentration of 100μg/ml each,was added in each RM tube.Tubes were incubated at 39℃ under anaerobic conditions and their contents sampled at 0,2,4,8,21 and 24 h.RF could degrade terpenes as it was shown by the significantly(P<0.05)higher overall degradation rates.Individual terpene degradation rates,were significantly(P<0.05)higher in week 5 for limonene and marginally(P=0.083)higher also in week 5 forα-pinene.In conclusion,the findings of the present preliminary study suggest that terpenes can be degraded in the rumen fluid.

The Future of Sustainability

The focus of the present research is not on expected developments that are by one means or another linked to the concept of sustainability and to questions, whether current sustainability-models are fit for the future, so that they can be employed as corrective or functional factors applicable to the planning and governance of predictable scenarios in the field of ecology, economy, and social issues. But the focus lies on questions like： How does the concept of sustainability relate to the future？ How is the future as such affected and conditioned by the concept of sustainability？ To what extent is the concept of sustainability open to the future and how can the concept of sustainability conceive of something like the future？ The aim of the paper is therefore to clarify and better understand what is at stake when we address a sustainable future, i.e. a future under the conditions of an economy, of a technology, of a science that is supposed to be sustainable. The paper is based on a distinction that has its part in the tradition of ethics with far-reaching consequences for what throughout this tradition was called into question namely： the ethos （the dimension of the human being）. It is the distinction between two aspirant principles. In terms of form, the one allows and sustains accomplishment, whereas the other doesn＇t. As for the former, the reference is mainly to classical ethical positions （on the one hand Plato and Aristotle, on the other hand Kant）. As for the latter, on which the focus of this research lies, a phenomenological analysis of the concept of sustainability might help in its comprehension as well as in the understanding of the way in which we, today, by complying with it, conceive of something like an open future.

The Urban Singularity-Envisioning the Future of Cities

This paper is a hypothetical exploration of the connections between teleological evolution,the Omega Singularity,and the future of cities,weaving together insights from a diverse array of disciplines.Our investigation delves into the possibility that cities are evolving towards a Singularity,a state characterized by infinite knowledge,intelligence,and adaptability,which would bring about a radical transformation of urban environments and their underlying dynamics in the 21st century and beyond.At the heart of this exploration lies the role of language and time as crucial dimensions of the Urban Singularity.Moreover,we examine how linguistic developments and cross-cultural exchanges can foster more inclusive,adaptable,and resilient urban environments,while also highlighting the need for advanced technologies and communication modalities that can support the dynamic needs of future cities.Furthermore,the paper investigates the profound implications and transformative potential of merging human consciousness with the urban Singularity.By examining the interplay between these concepts,we seek for a deeper understanding of the potential trajectories and implications of these concepts for the transformation of human society and our relationship with the built environment.

Spouting behaviour of binary mixtures in square-based spouted beds

From experime nts, the influe nee of the physical characteristics of different bin ary mixtures of solids on the spouting regime of a pyramidal square-based spouted bed reactor is assessed. The applied methodology permits a more precise evaluation of the effects of the tested variables (diameter, density, sphericity) on the response variables (minimum air flows at which spouting begins and at which to maintain spouting con ditions). The associated pressure drops along the bed of particles a nd the height of the formed fountai n are analysed in each case. During the initial stages of fluidisation, binary mixtures containing different density ratios show dead zones. Segregation becomes more evident at large-size and high-density ratios. The lack of sphericity was found to be the main reason leading to blocking, channelling, and start-up problems when system failures occur. Nevertheless, the extent of segregation in all cases decreases with increasing the spouting velocity. In addition, a computational fluid dynamic model based on the discrete element method, previously validated for a single solid bed, is proposed as a tool to predict and evaluate potential segregation phenomena in binary mixtures. This model reproduced with high accuracy the encountered segregation phenomena. Its use may help define the technical limts inherent in the pyramidal spouted bed reactor.

Influence of soil and microclimate on species composition and grass encroachment in heath succession

Aims and Methods Mostly due to land use changes,European heathlands have become increasingly rare.In addition,the increasing amount of atmospheric nitrogen deposition has resulted in an encroachment of grasses and a loss in species diversity.Despite many investigations,information about the precise environmental parameters that determine the development and maintenance of heathland vegetation is still insufficient.In order to determine the environmental factors that control heath succession and grass encroachment,and to develop appropriate management schemes,we studied the influence of several soil and microclimate parameters on species composition and vegetation characteristics in five successional stages in a coastal heathland on the island of Hiddensee,north-east Germany,where the encroachment of Carex arenaria has become a major problem.Important Findings We recorded the highest plant species richness in grey dune and birch forest plots,while the encroachment of C.arenaria let to a significant decline in plant species richness.The most important environmental factors influencing species richness and distribution of single species were microclimate,soil moisture,soil pH and the C/N ratio.While many studies reported the importance of differences in nutrient availability,we found no significant correlations between soil nutrient availability and vegetation pattern.Environmental conditions in dense C.arenaria stands,especially soil properties(e.g.soil pH),showed great differences in comparison to the other successional stages.However,no correlations between the encroachment of C.arenaria and single environmental factors were found.Our results show that not only soil nutrients are important abiotic factors in heaths but that also microclimate and soil moisture play an important role and that many factors are involved in heath succession and in the promotion of grass encroachment.Management plans for the conservation and restoration of heathlands should therefore focus on the specific site conditions and should take several abiotic and biotic factors into account.

Tendril-Based Climbing Plants to Model, Simulate and Create Bio-Inspired Robotic Systems

Bioinspiration can be considered one of the keys for future smart and versatile robotic systems. Plants could be an im- portant source of ideas despite the fact that they have not yet been deeply observed and considered. In this paper, climbing tendril-bearer plants that, by means of irritable filiform organs called tendrils, search for a support, grasp it and climb to gain height, have been used to study and develop an effective climbing robot. The study aimed first to evaluate the main movements and behaviors of the tendril from a biomimetic point of view. The tendril complexity was then simplified, a robotic model was developed and a kinematic simulator was designed and implemented to visualize and evaluate the chosen system. Finally, based on the biological, technical and numerical evaluations, the main tendril behaviors were replicated by proof of concept devices made of smart materials to move towards a practical realization and to replicate the simulated results. The designed proof of concept prototypes showed food repeatability and feasibility.

Integrating Functional Status Information into Knowledge Graphs to Support Self-Health Management

Functional Status Information(FSI)describes physical and mental wellness at the whole-person level.It includes information on activity performance,social role participation,and environmental and personal factors that affect the well-being and quality of life.Collecting and analyzing this information is critical to address the needs for caring for an aging global population,and to provide effective care for individuals with chronic conditions,multi-morbidity,and disability.Personal knowledge graphs(PKGs)represent a suitable way for meaning in a complete and structured way all information related to people's FSI and reasoning over them to build tailored coaching solutions supporting them in daily life for conducting a healthy living.In this paper,we present the development process related to the creation of a PKG by starting from the HeLis ontology in order to enable the design of an Al-enabled system with the aim of increasing,within people,the self-awareness of their own functional status.In particular,we focus on the three modules extending the HeLis ontology aiming to represent(i)enablers and(ii)barriers playing potential roles in improving(or deteriorating)own functional status and(iii)arguments driving the FSI collection process.Finally,we show how these modules have been instantiated into real-world scenarios.