Rainy Time Research Articles

Reproductive aspects of female Andean bears (Tremarctos ornatus) in the Chingaza massif, eastern range of the Colombian Andes

Abstract Knowledge of reproduction in wild Andean bears (Tremarctos ornatus) is scarce. Here we provide novel information about litter size, birth timings, courtship and multi-generational groups in a population in the Chingaza massif in Colombia. Pregnant females, mothers with cubs, estimated birth times, and litter size were registered through camera trapping of a population at the Chingaza massif (Colombia) between 2011 and 2016. A total of 34 independent records of reproductive female bears were obtained. Twenty-eight (28) different reproductive females were recognized by external key features. Six different females were recorded only pregnant, two others were recorded pregnant and later with cubs, and 20 others were recorded only with cubs. In total, 29 cubs were recorded in 22 litters, with a mean litter size of 1.27 (SD = 0.45): 16 litters with one cub, 5 with 2 cubs, and 1 with 2 cubs + a big cub from a previous litter (>1 year). The highest records of mothers with little cubs were obtained for the low rain season in December, January, and February, full of dry-season-fruiting Ericaceae shrubs. Likewise, the highest estimated births were obtained during the rainy time in June. Multi-generational groups and the courtship behaviors are reported for the first time in Colombia.

Seasonal and Periodical Assessment of the Abundance and Diversity of Epigaeic Invertebrates in an Urban Forest Remnant, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania

Urban Forest (UF) refers to a complex human-environment system encompassing urban and peri-urban vegetation such as gardens, rivers and coastal corridors, and uninhabited yards. Human beings benefit from a healthy UF in a variety of ways such as recreation, disasters management, and the lessening of the effects of environmental deterioration (caused by the ongoing anthropogenic activities) like air pollution and ozone concentration affecting many epigaeic fauna. Epigaeic Invertebrates (EIs) are above ground foraging or litter dwelling invertebrates carrying important roles in UFs ecosystems such as ecosystem engineers and pests’ natural enemies. The present study assessed the influence of dry and wet seasons and different periods of a day (morning, afternoon, and evening hours) towards the abundance and diversity of ground dwelling invertebrates around urban forest remnant in Dar es salaam city, Tanzania. Data collection used pitfall trap, baited traps, and dry leaf litter sifting methods. A total of 10,363 EIs individuals were collected with 133 morpho species, 87 families and 18 orders (Hymenoptera dominated by 71.4%). Wet season had significantly higher abundance (6,360 individuals with 121 morpho species) than dry season (4,003 individuals and 88 morpho species), possibly due to the higher availability of food resources during rainy times. However, quite unexpectedly dry season had higher species diversity, probably due to the over dominance of a very aggressive Formicidae species in wet season that displaced some intolerable species. Also, the overall variations of species diversity and abundance between morning, afternoon, and evening hours were significantly different but higher in the morning. This suggested that EIs were active at different times of the day but were more attracted to the morning sunshine and decreased as the land became hotter. This study depicts urban forests to be among world ecosystems with relatively high levels of EIs biodiversity and hence an urgent call for their conservation efforts before it is too late.

Geospatial Technique Integrated with MCDM Models for Selecting Potential Sites for Harvesting Rainwater in the Semi-arid Region

Severe droughts and mismanagement of water resources during the last decades have propelled authorities in the Kurdistan Region to be concerned about better management of precipitation which is considered the primary source of recharging surface and groundwater in the area of interest. The drought cycles in the last decades have stimulated water stakeholders to drill more wells and store uncontrolled runoff in suitable structures during rainy times to fulfill the increased water demands. The optimum sites for rainwater harvesting sites in the Qaradaqh basin, which is considered a water-scarce area, were determined using the analytical hierarchy process (AHP), sum average weighted method (SAWM), and fuzzy-based index (FBI) techniques. The essential thematic layers within the natural and artificial factors were rated, weighted, and integrated via GIS and multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM) approaches. As a consequence of the model results, three farm ponds and four small dams were proposed as future prospective sites for implementing rainwater harvesting structures. The current work shows that the unsuitable ratio over the study area in all methods AHP, SAWM, and FBI occupied 12.6%, 12.7%, and 14.2% respectively. The area under the curve (AUC) and receiver operating characteristics were used to validate the model outcomes. The AUC values range from 0.5 to 1, meaning that all MCDM results are good or are correctly selected. Based on the prediction rate curve for the suitability index map, the prediction accuracy was 72%, 57%, and 59% for AHP, SAWM, and fuzzy overlay, respectively. The final map shows that the potential sites for rainwater harvesting or suitable sites are clustered mainly in the northern and around the basin’s boundary, while unsuitable areas cover northeastern and some scatter zones in the middle due to restrictions of geology, distance to stream with the villages, and slope criteria. The total harvested runoff was 377,260 m3 from all the suggested structures. The proposed sites may provide a scientific and reasonable basis for utilizing this natural resource and minimize the impacts of future drought cycles.

A comprehensive analysis on single image-based deraining using generative adversarial network

Deraining is a process by which we can get a transparent image by removing raindrops from a rainy image. In the rainy time visibility of any scene decreases as vision property is affected by the rain. Recently generative adversarial network (GAN) is getting popular in the visual enhancement of hazy, dusty, and noisy images. It is essential to know the effectiveness of the diverse GAN algorithms in the natural rainy situations of different intensities. From this perspective, the present paper describes a comprehensive study on four single-image state-of-the-art GAN models, such as attentive GAN, cGAN, DHSGAN, and Cycle GAN for deraining. The experiment is done using the standard dataset consisting of real-world rainy images and the results are evaluated both objectively and subjectively. We have found somehow mixed results based on quantitative metrics and comparatively satisfactory results by the cGAN based on visual analysis.

A Novel Faster RCNN with ODN-Based Rain Removal Technique

During rainy times, the impact of outdoor vision systems gets considerably decreased owing to the visibility barrier, distortion, and blurring instigated by raindrops. So, it is essential to eradicate it from the rainy images for ensuring the reliability of outdoor vision system. To achieve this, several rain removal studies have been performed in recent days. In this view, this paper presents a new Faster Region Convolutional Neural Network (Faster RCNN) with Optimal Densely Connected Networks (DenseNet)-based rain removal technique called FRCNN-ODN. The presented involves weighted mean filtering (WMF) is applied as a denoising technique, which helps to boost the quality of the input image. In addition, Faster RCNN technique is used for rain detection that comprises region proposal network (RPN) and Fast RCNN model. The RPN generates high quality region proposals that are exploited by the Faster RCNN to detect rain drops. Also, the DenseNet model is utilized as a baseline network to generate the feature map. Moreover, sparrow search optimization algorithm (SSOA) is applied to choose the hyperparameters of the DenseNet model namely learning rate, batch size, momentum, and weight decay. An extensive experimental validation process is performed to highlight the effectual outcome of the FRCNN-ODN model and investigated the results with respect to several dimensions. The FRCNN-ODN method produced a higher UIQI of 0.981 for the applied image 1. Furthermore, on the applied image 2, the FRCNN-ODN model achieved a maximum UIQI of 0.982. Furthermore, the FRCNN-ODN algorithm produced a higher UIQI of 0.998 on the applied image 3. The simulation outcome showcased the superior outcome of the FRCNN-ODN (Optimal Densely Connected Networks) model with existing methods in terms of distinct measures.

Seasonal trends of Cyclospora cayetanensis infections in a community of Falcon State, Northwestern Venezuela.

Cyclosporiasis has a marked seasonality. Few community-based studies have addressed this issue and there are no reports from Venezuela. A study was conducted to determine the seasonal variation of infection in a community from Falcon State, Venezuela. A sample of 732 individuals was collected for 1 y. Stools were examined with modified Ziehl-Neelsen carbolfuchsin staining of ethyl acetate-formalin concentrates and ultraviolet epiflorescence of wet mounts. Cyclospora prevalence was 9.9% (73/732) with monthly variation from 0% to 35.3%. A trend of increased infections coinciding with the rainy time was observed (p<0.001). Cyclosporiasis is common in this area with high endemicity during the rainy periods.

Stability of Railway Embankment in Saturated and Unsaturated Conditions

Slope failure is a vital issue in civil engineering infrastructures. Besides, climate change implications made this problem more critical. Therefore, in this study, a railway embankment’s slope stability has been studied in saturated and unsaturated conditions. The soil sample was collected from Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, Johor Bahru. The necessary and required data obtained through lab experiments. The obtained data from lab experiments then used in Seep/W and Slope/W to model the railway embankment numerically. The results obtained from this study indicate that rainfall infiltration plays a vital role in the safety factor value. The obtained results also depicted that both rainfall intensity and duration play an important role in slope stability. The factor of safety showed a declining pattern with increasing rainfall and duration of rainfall. The safety factor decrement occurred since the matric suction was reduced (negative pore water pressure) by rainfall infiltration. Besides, the safety factor decrease was more acute when train load was applied in a rainy period. Thus, it is suggested that in a long period of rainy time, the railway authorities should stop the train operation, or the embankment stability should be increased using some stabilizations methods in the planning and designing stage.

THE RISK FACTORS AND PATTERNS OF INJURIES IN THE RIDER AND PILLION PASSENGERS INVOLVED IN MOTORIZED TWO WHEELER ACCIDENTS.

Aims and objectives: To study and analyze the various patterns of injuries and Risk factors involved in motorized two-wheelers accident Material and Methods: This is a prospective observational study on patients who are presenting with complaints of the road traffic accident, any motorized two wheeler accidents attending primarily to the Emergency Department of a tertiary care center, Kolkata. The duration of the study will be 1year between January 2017 to December 2017. Results: This study found that apart from head injuries there was a significant occurrence of limb injuries and facial trauma. We observe that helmet was preventive for a head injury but still helmet use is less in pillion passengers as compared to riders which might be the cause of the almost equal appearance of head injuries among both. Incidence of abrasion injuries was the most common type of injury pattern sustained by both, though the incidence of the lacerated wound was found to be significantly higher in pillion passengers. Conclusion: This study concludes that there are several measures that can be suggested to lower the injury rate and severity among motorized two-wheeler drivers, which are Helmet laws that need to be implemented more strictly. Helmets should be made compulsory for pillion riders as well. More preventive measures, such as lowering the speed limits and avoiding motorized two-wheelers in the rainy time.

Human Rights in a Pandemic

The article is focused on the problem of human rights (HRs), limited or derogated from, due to the Covid-19 pandemic. While addressing some HRs limitations, derogations and even abuses, and their consequent problems, the aim is to try to analyze policy, social, moral and personal dilemmas of HRs restrictions as well as motivations behind the types of public and social behavior, in the course of the pandemic, in response to the public measures of sanitation, social distancing and confinement, travel restrictions and social assistance, recommended by the WHO and selectively followed by governments. Learning from some old experience and deriving new lessons from the pandemic, as well as from public and social actions and reactions, the purpose of the present article is to assess whether or not public health policies in this context, implemented nationally or internationally, can promote change in the HRs paradigm in the face of the existing dilemmas and dichotomies in HRs, aggravated by the pandemic. The conclusion is that the extant HRs paradigm should be redefined to address better the political, social, economic, environmental and, especially, existential exigencies of “rainy times”, thus leading to the creation of a new universal HRs code or to harmonizing the existing one.

An Enhanced Human Activity Prediction at Rainy and Night Times

Human activity prediction aims to recognize an unfinished activity with limited motion and appearance information. A generalized activity prediction framework was proposed for human activity prediction where Probabilistic Suffix Tree (PST) was introduced to model casual relationships between constituent actions. Then, each kind of activity in videos was predicted by modeling interactive object information through Spatial Pattern Mining (SPM). This framework mined the temporal sequence patterns. For efficient human activity prediction a Spatio-Temporal Frequent Object Mining (STOM) was proposed in which the spatial, size and motion correlation among objects information were collected along with the temporal information. After the collection of this information, the objects were identified by using Modified Histogram Of Gradient (MHOG) and then the objects were tracked by particle filter technique. The frequent action of detected objects were identified by using Frequent Pattern-growth (FP-growth) which predicted the infrequent action as abnormal human activity in videos. However, MHOG based Object Detection and Tracking-STOM (MHOGODT-STFOM) based human activity prediction is not more effective at night time and rainy time. So in this paper, Enhanced Object Detection and Tracking- STFOM (EODT- STFOM) and Removing Rain Streaks-EODT-STFOM (RSR-EODT-STFOM) are proposed for human activity prediction even at night time and rainy time. In EODT, a modified Contrast Model is used which combined the contrast information and local entropy information to detect object contents present in the current image frame. Then, the objects are tracked by Kalman filter. In RSR-EODT, the rain streaks in the images are removed based on the deep Convolutional Neural Network (CNN). Then the objects are detected and tracked by modified Contrast Model and Kalman filter respectively. After the object detection and object tracking by EODT and RSR-EODT, the frequent actions are obtained by applying STFOM. The frequent actions are considered as normal activities and the infrequent actions are considered as abnormal activities. Thus the proposed EODT-STFOM and RSR-EODT- STFOM methods predict the human activities even at night time and rainy time.

English

Fishing during periods close to spawning (breeding) season results in a decline in fish population. Identifying the breeding season of each fish species is important for conservation and aquaculture development. Published and unpublished sources of data were used to prepare this review manuscript. Based on the review process, it is possible to observe that the breeding season of fish occurred all year round. Although, the intensive or peak breeding period occurred uni-annual or bi-annual and also it is different from the fish species as well as the nature of water bodies. The peak breeding seasons of the African catfish Clarias gariepinus was observed from (March-June), (April, June-July), (April-July) and (February-March) in Lakes Chamo, Babogaya,Tana and Hawassa, respectively. The intensive spawning season of the Nile tilapia Oreochromis niloticus was appeared at (January and July), (September, March-April and August), (September, April-August), (January-March and July-September) in Fincha Reservoir, Lakes Beseka, Babogaya and Hawassa, respectively. The common carp Cyprinus carpio was breed intensively during (March and June), (February and April) in Fincha and Tropical Amerti Reservoir respectively. The crucian carp Carassius carassius was reproduced from (March-July, August and October) in Melka-Wakena Reservoir. The breeding behavior of the Labeobarbus fish species was observed from (July-October) in the Tana and Blue Nile basin. The breeding condition of fishes in Ethiopian water bodies has been associated with the rainfall and periodicity where the abundance of food items present in water bodies. Generally, the close season of the fish (spawning) depending on physiological and environmental factors attributes that effective management is very important during breeding seasons to sustain fish resources for food security in the country as well as further study is needed why the fish mostly breed in rainy time. Key words: Breeding season, environmental factors, Ethiopia, fishes, lakes, reservoir, physiological factors.

Development of Passengers’ Vehicle Overloading Control System

Passengers overloading control has been a challenge in Tanzania, with the current practices checkup for overloading is done at special inspections points, leaving loopholes to both drivers and conductor deploy alternative ways to circumvent burdens. Sophisticated measures are required in controlling public buses’ overloading because they can help in reducing deaths and casualties as the findings show that excessive passengers is one of the major causes of many deaths and casualties when accidents occur. There are a number of existing technics for passengers’ overloading control in public busses, counting of passengers, video processing using the zenithal camera for capturing the bio-directional passengers flow, infra-red motion analyzer and stereovision are commonly used. The current practice of checking and controlling passengers’ overloading which is done by stationed police officers and SUMATRA is associated with many challenges and limitations, being labor-intensive, not providing real-time data, being reactive rather than proactive, not applicable in rainy and night time, encourage bribery and lacking control are some of the commonly identified problems and limitations.This research concentrates with the design and develops a sophisticated embedded passengers’ vehicles overloading system that monitors and automatically controlling the overloading process. Development was possible through the use of ADCUM Camera,Diode 1N4007, Arduino UNO R3, GSM modem A6, SIM900 Liquid crystal display 16X4, DC motor, Relay 5v, Regulator 7805 and battery 4AH. Both qualitative and quantitative design approach was used when undertaking this research, a stratified sampling technique was used when collecting data and to present findings SPSS was used to analyze data

Evaluación del comportamiento reproductivo postparto, influido por la época del año y la raza en bovinos bajo el sistema doble propósito

El objetivo de este estudio fue evaluar el efecto que ejerce la época del año y la raza en el desempeño reproductivo postparto de vacas manejadas bajo el sistema de doble propósito. Fueron utilizadas 28 vacas multíparas homogéneas en número de partos, producción de leche, raza, manejo, sanidad, medio ambiente, alimentación y sistema de amamantamiento. Fueron distribuidas en cuatro tratamientos utilizando un diseño completamente al azar, con un arreglo factorial 2 x 2, con dos épocas (sequía y lluvia) y dos razas (mestiza (30% Holstein y 70% Cebú) y Cebú) con siete repeticiones por grupo (combinación: época x raza): T1 - Sequía x Mestiza; T2 - Sequía x Cebú; T3 - Lluvia x Mestiza; T4 - Lluvia x Cebú. Para la tasa de gestación y días abiertos, se encontró diferencia estadísticamente significativa (P&lt;0.05) en la tasa de gestación para el factor época a favor de la época seca del año (92.85 vs 57.14%), mientras que en los días abiertos no se encontró diferencias significativas (P&gt;0.05) entre épocas del año, 92.71 ± 23.74 días para la época seca contra 115.78 ± 47.35 días para la época lluviosa del año. En el factor raza, no se encontró diferencias significativas (P&gt;0.05) en la tasa de gestación (Cebú 78.57 vs mestiza 71.42%) y en los días abiertos (Cebú 100.71 ± 31.76 vs mestiza 107.78 ± 45.35 días). Esto es una indicación de la importancia del efecto que ejercen la época del año y la raza en el comportamiento reproductivo postparto en vacas bajo el sistema de doble propósito.

Componentes del rendimiento y valor nutritivo de Brachiaria humidicola cv Chetumal a diferentes estrategias de pastoreo

&#x0D; &#x0D; &#x0D; El objetivo de la investigación fue estudiar el efecto del rendimiento del pasto Brachiaria humidicola cv Chetumal a diferentes frecuencias e intensidades de pastoreo. Se evaluaron las frecuencias de corte de 21 y 28 d y las intensidades de 9-11 y 13-15 cm, que se distribuyeron de forma aleatoria en un diseño de bloques al azar con arreglo factorial 2*2 con tres repeticiones. Se observaron efecto del manejo en la acumulación de materia seca, siendo mayor la acumulación a menor frecuencia e intensidad ligera de pastoreo. La producción del forraje tuvo una distribución estacional del 66, 26 y 7% en épocas de lluvias, nortes y seca, respectivamente. La proporción de hoja en el forraje cosechado fue de 20, 30 y 86% para las épocas de nortes, seca y lluvias, respectivamente. Se registraron reducciones en la digestibilidad de la materia seca en las épocas de nortes y lluvias al aumentar el intervalo de corte. La proteína cruda con pastoreo severo fue 11, 10 y 17% mayor en las épocas de nortes, seca y lluvias que con el ligero. Se concluye que la mayor producción del forraje se obtuvo al cosechar a una intensidad ligera de 13-15 cm, cada 28 d y el mayor contenido de proteína y digestibilidad se obtuvo cuando el forraje se cosecho a intensidad severa cada 21 d.&#x0D; &#x0D; &#x0D;

Entropy theory for analysing water resources in northeastern region of Brazil

ABSTRACTUsing the Shannon entropy, the space–time variability of rainfall and streamflow was assessed for daily rainfall and streamflow data for a 10-year period from 189 stations in the northeastern region of Brazil. Mean values of marginal entropy were computed for all observation stations and entropy maps were then constructed for delineating annual and seasonal characteristics of rainfall and streamflow. The Mann-Kendall test was used to evaluate the long-term trend in marginal entropy as well as relative entropy for two sample stations. The marginal entropy values of rainfall and streamflow were higher for locations and periods with the highest amounts of rainfall. The entropy values were higher where rainfall was higher. This was because the probability distributions of rainfall and the resulting streamflow were more uniform and less skewed. The Shannon entropy produced spatial patterns which led to a better understanding of rainfall and streamflow characteristics throughout the northeastern region of Brazil. The total relative entropy indicated that rainfall and streamflow carried the same information content at annual and rainy season time scales.

Forecasting Monthly Electricity Demands: An Application of Neural Networks Trained by Heuristic Algorithms

Electricity demand forecasting plays an important role in capacity planning, scheduling, and the operation of power systems. Reliable and accurate prediction of electricity demands is therefore vital. In this study, artificial neural networks (ANNs) trained by different heuristic algorithms, including Gravitational Search Algorithm (GSA) and Cuckoo Optimization Algorithm (COA), are utilized to estimate monthly electricity demands. The empirical data used in this study are the historical data affecting electricity demand, including rainy time, temperature, humidity, wind speed, etc. The proposed models are applied to Hanoi, Vietnam. Based on the performance indices calculated, the constructed models show high forecasting performances. The obtained results also compare with those of several well-known methods. Our study indicates that the ANN-COA model outperforms the others and provides more accurate forecasting than traditional methods.

Effects of Inter and Intra Row Spacing on Growth and Yield Components of Hot Pepper (Capsicum Annum L.) Var Halaba

A field experiment was carried out during 2014 and 2015 growing seasons at Galato research farm located in Halaba, southern Ethiopia to identify optimum plant density (row x plant spacing) that maximize growth and pod yield components of hot pepper. Four row spacing (40, 50, 60 and 70cm) and four plant spacing (20, 30, 40 and 50 cm) were arranged in 4 x 4 factorial combination in Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with three replications. Results indicated that year x row spacing produced more significant (P&lt;0.05) interaction compared to year x plant spacing, row x plant spacing or year x row x plant spacing. Row x plant spacing of 70 cm x 30 cm (47,619 plants/ha), 60 cm x 30 cm (55,555 plants/ha), 50 cm x 30 cm (66,666 plants/ha), 40 cm x 40 cm (62,500 plants/ha) and 40 cm x 50 cm (50,000 plants/ha) produced statistically similar HI results to that of 50 cm x 20 cm row x plant spacing (100,000 plants/ha). Lowest HI was measured due to 40 cm x 20 cm row x plant spacing (125,000 plants/ha). The maximum of 29.3 qt/ha of dry pod yield of hot pepper was measured due to 60 cm wide rows in 2014 (good year) where as the lowest pod yield of 15.4 qt/ha was obtained due to 40 cm wide rows in 2015 (bad year). Dry biomass yield of hot pepper was significantly higher (P&lt;0.05) due to 50 cm wide rows in 2014 where as the lowest dry biomass yield was recorded due to 70 cm wide rows in 2015. Fruit yield/plant showed positive significant correlation with plant height (r=0.572) and pod numbers (r=0.641). Significant negative association was observed between HI (harvest index) and plant height (r=-0.429), and HI and branch number (r=-0.512). Results indicated that significantly higher (P&lt;0.01) dry pod yield in 2014 was obtained due to 60 cm x 20 cm row x plant spacing (83,333plants/ha). However, 50 cm x 30 cm (66,666plants/ha) spacing produced statistically similar dry pod yield to that of 60 cm x 20 cm row x plant spacing. In 2015, dry pod yield was significantly higher (P&lt;0.01) due to 70 cm x 30 cm row x plant spacing (47,617 plants/ha) compared to other row x plant spacing combinations. 60 cm x 30 cm row x plant spacing produced intermediary results in 2015. Thus, hot pepper requires wider row x plant spacing in drier times and narrower row x plant spacing in rainy times under field conditions of Halaba.

空心莲子草叶甲对越冬保护的响应与控害效能比较

The alligator weed flea beetle,Agasicles hygrophila( Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) is a biological control agent of the alligator weed Alternanthera philoxeroides( Amaranthacese: Alternanthera),a worldwide invading weed. Low temperature and frost stress in winter-spring seasons are the key factors that affect A. hygrophila. To explore whether the protections used in habitat could increase the population of overwintered A. hygrophila,we investigated and compared the populationnumber,structure,distributing characteristic in spatial niches of A. hygrophila and the controlling efficiency of A.hygrophila on A. philoxeroides in protected habitat( PH) with those in natural habitat( NH). The investigation was phased with the variation of air temperature and the elapse of time. Low temperature stage was from 21th,January to 9th,April,2009,followed by temperature rise period from 15th,April to 1st,May,and the third investigated period which was the first emergence time of beetle adults in NH from 1stto 29th,June. The protected habitat was constructed by covering plastic film on net room before low temperature and freezing came. The results showed that A. hygrophila could overwinter smoothly and no dormancy was observed in protected habitat at low temperature in winter-spring time. Adults gadded and fed on up-right stems of A. philoxeroides both in sunny and air temperature rising day in winter-spring time,but were inactive and stayed creep layer of weed or surface or crevice of soil at overcast,rainy or low temperature time. Beetle adults in protected habitat laid eggs in early April. There was a rapid increasing of the populationwhich played an important role in controlling the above ground parts of A. philoxeroides. Only a few beetle adults can be found in natural habitat even at the beginning of June. Consequently,the weed grew very well due to the low density of the beetle population which was difficult to play the role of a biocontrol factor. Comparing the results obtained in the first day with that in 15th,June,the increasing rate of stem height of A. philoxeroides in this interval of time were-13.91% in the protected habitat and-2.94% in the natural habitat,respectively. The stem height of A. philoxeroides in the natural habitat was significantly higher than that in the protected habitat. The control rate of a plant biomass of A. philoxeroides by A. hygrophila in the protected habitat was 47.56% which was significantly stronger comparing with the control rate of 4.89% in the natural habitat. The control effect to leaves of A.philoxeroides in the protected habitat was extremely better as compared with that in the natural habitat in the interval of time from 15thto 29th,June. There were no leaves left on stems of A. philoxeroides plants as leaves being either eaten up by A.hygrophila or withered after attacked by A. hygrophila in the protected habitat. The rate of damage stem,rate of stem bore hole and the number of stem bore hole per plant in the protected habitat were significantly higher than that in the natural habitat. These results suggested that the overwintered A. hygrophila population could be significantly increased by covering plastic film to protect the habitat. The beetle adults in protected habitat could lay eggs ahead of time compared to that in the natural one,thus could effectively control the growing of weed.

Maturation of Eugenia pyriformis seeds under different hydric and thermal conditions

This study aims to analyze the maturation and dispersal of Eugenia pyriformis Cambess. seeds produced in different years, and the influence of variation in thermal and hydric environment on seed physical and physiological characteristics at dispersal. Fruits at different developmental stages were harvested in the city of São Paulo between 2003 and 2010, as well as in the cities of Campinas and Lavras, in 2009 and 2010 and analyzed for size and color. The seeds were extracted from the fruits and their dry mass, water content, germination and vigor were assessed. Results showed that seed maturation is unsynchronized to the maturation of the fruit, taking 45 days on average (430 growing degree-days), longer in rainy times or lower temperatures. Seeds with higher physiological quality were produced in rainy years and when the temperature range was larger. We concluded therefore that hydric and thermal environmental variations during development influence the maturation of Eugenia pyriformis seeds and are able to determine the formation cycle and the final seed quality.

A mathematical theory of de‐integrating long‐time integrated rainfall statistics. Part II: from 1 day to 1 minute

SUMMARYWe have developed, tested and discussed a theory for de‐integrating the probability distribution (PD) of the daily rain rate to the PD of the rain rate integrated in 1 min, through many simple steps, with a good or very good precision, for a large range of probabilities and in many sites. The theory can also estimate the number of rain events (in the sense of rainstorms), NR, their average duration and the (conditional) PD of daily rainy time. The theory needs only three inputs, measured on site: the daily rain rate PD, the number of rainy days, ND (only for finding NR) and the PD of the rain rate integrated in two consecutive and disjoint couples of days. The theory contains two complementary parts, both successfully tested: the first deals mainly with duration of daily rainy time and rain events, and the second deals with the main issue, namely de‐integrating daily rain rate PDs in 1‐min PDs. We have tested the theory on duration of rainy time in Spino d'Adda, Gera Lario, Fucino and Prague and subsequently with real (blind) field tests in Milan, Lugano, many sites in the USA, and Canada. The sites tested belong to very different climatic regions. Nevertheless, the predictions are generally very close to the experimental data. The theory, and its powerful predictions, can be useful for several research communities: radio propagation, agriculture, climatology, hydrology and applied meteorology. For all disciplines and applications, seasonal studies or even monthly studies could be pursued because the data banks available can be very large, even for restricted sub‐data banks. The theory will estimate its parameters on on‐site seasonal, or monthly, measurements. Future developments could deal with de‐integrating large‐area and long‐time integrated rain rate, observed by means of meteorological satellites, for obtaining ‘point’ 1‐min rain rate PDs concerning a small homogeneous area. We have tested the theory to sites with very different climates and for latitudes between 65°N and 28°N. Therefore, we think that the theory can be applied globally in this latitude range because its parameters are derived from local measurements and, perhaps, down to the tropics. Because of the simplicity of the theory, and its use of few local measurements, it may be applied also to equatorial sites. This, however, is only a conjecture because we have not tested the theory directly there. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley &amp; Sons, Ltd.