Structural Features of Old Growth Forest from South Eastern Carpathians, Romania

Background and Purpose: Romania’s forests are of globally significant value due to their natural characteristics, as similar forests in some other parts of the world have been lost forever. These types of forests, so-called "virgin" and "quasi-virgin (old growth)" forests, are also identified in the Buzau Mountains, which are part of the Eastern Carpathians in Romania (Curvature Region). Materials and Methods: To study and understand the structure and dynamics of primeval forest, four permanent one-hectare research plots were installed in the Penteleu Mountains, part of the Buzau Mountains. All trees with a diameter at breast height (DBH) greater than 80 mm were measured and their main dendrometric characteristics (DBH, height and social position) registered. The forest structure was analysed by fitting different theoretical distribution functions (beta, gamma, gamma 3P, gamma 3P mixt, loglogistic 3p, lognormal 3P and Weibull 3p). The structural homogeneity of the permanent research plots was tested using the Camino index (H) and Gini index (G). Results: For the smaller DBH categories, Norway spruce was relatively shorter in height, but with increasing DBH, the heights of Norway spruce exceeded those of European beech. Stand volume varied between 615 and 1133 m3 per hectare. The area of maximum stability where we encountered the lowest tree height variability was recorded between the 60 cm and 100 cm diameter categories. The Lorenz curve and the Gini index indicated that the studied stands have high structural biodiversity. Conclusions: The results showed that the studied forests have an optimal structural diversity, assuring them a higher stability and multifunctionality. Thus, these forests are models for managed forests

Height Extraction and Stand Volume Estimation Based on Fusion Airborne LiDAR Data and Terrestrial Measurements for a Norway Spruce [Picea abies (L.) Karst.] Test Site in Romania

The objective of this study was to analyze the efficiency of individual tree identification and stand volume estimation from LiDAR data. The study was located in Norway spruce [Picea abies (L.) Karst.] stands in southwestern Romania and linked airborne laser scanning (ALS) with terrestrial measurements through empirical modelling. The proposed method uses the Canopy Maxima algorithm for individual tree detection together with biometric field measurements and individual trees positioning. Field data was collected using Field-Map real-time GIS-laser equipment, a high-accuracy GNSS receiver and a Vertex IV ultrasound inclinometer. ALS data were collected using a Riegl LMS-Q560 instrument and processed using LP360 and Fusion software to extract digital terrain, surface and canopy height models. For the estimation of tree heights, number of trees and tree crown widths from the ALS data, the Canopy Maxima algorithm was used together with local regression equations relating field-measured tree heights and crown widths at each plot. When compared to LiDAR detected trees, about 40-61% of the field-measured trees were correctly identified. Such trees represented, in general, predominant, dominant and co-dominant trees from the upper canopy. However, it should be noted that the volume of the correctly identified trees represented 60-78% of the total plot volume. The estimation of stand volume using the LiDAR data was achieved by empirical modelling, taking into account the individual tree heights (as identified from the ALS data) and the corresponding ground reference stem volume. The root mean square error (RMSE) between the individual tree heights measured in the field and the corresponding heights identified in the ALS data was 1.7-2.2 meters. Comparing the ground reference estimated stem volume (at trees level) with the corresponding ALS estimated tree stem volume, an RMSE of 0.5-0.7 m3 was achieved. The RMSE was slightly lower when comparing the ground reference stem volume at plot level with the ALS-estimated one, taking into account both the identified and unidentified trees in the LiDAR data (0.4-0.6 m3)

Voronovskaja-type theorem for certain GBS operators

In this paper we will demonstrate a Voronovskaja-type theorem and approximation theorem for GBS operator associated to a linear positive operator

Statistical indicator system for forestry and forest exploitation

One of the main objectives of the development of the Romanian statistical indicators system for forestry and forest exploitation was the harmonization of the statistical information characterizing the forest area and other lands covered by forest vegetation with the European forest statistical system standards (EUROSTAT) and other international bodies (United National Organization for Agriculture and food - FAO, Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development - OECD, International Tropical Timber Organization). During the development of the Romanian system of statistical indicators for forestry and forest exploitation it was considered that it should present the highest degree of representativity at all reference levels (local, regional-county and national). Also, one of the aims was that the system should allow the establishment and appropriate knowledge on the indicators as content, legislative framework, political and environment context, establishing methodology and available data sources, possibilities to establish them and the presentation method for each indicator. This system contains 25 statistical indicators included in 6 groups according to their content, with special reference to the general characteristics of the forests and other wooded lands, ownership over forest lands, size and structure of the growing stock, forest yield, regeneration and increase of forest area and other wooded lands, area with felling and the harvested wood volume, the phytosanitary status and wood and non-wood products harvested. In order to establish the statistical indicators for forestry and forest exploitation a general plan for collecting the information was developed based on statistical surveys, monitoring studies and administrative reports. These methods of collecting information are organized and planned so that they contain the entire reference population and the content of the indicators set which will be established. These components of the general plan for information collection refers to the statistical reference populations , the periods for data collecting, representativity level (county, national) as we as to the content (structure) of the reports. According to the content, the statistical forest indicators, harmonized with the ones in the statistical systems of the European Union and FAO, shows in the same time the specific cha-racteristics of the Romanian system for the sustainable development of the forest resource

Statistical indicator system for forestry and forest exploitation

One of the main objectives of the development of the Romanian statistical indicators system for forestry and forest exploitation was the harmonization of the statistical information characterizing the forest area and other lands covered by forest vegetation with the European forest statistical system standards (EUROSTAT) and other international bodies (United National Organization for Agriculture and food - FAO, Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development - OECD, International Tropical Timber Organization). During the development of the Romanian system of statistical indicators for forestry and forest exploitation it was considered that it should present the highest degree of representativity at all reference levels (local, regional-county and national). Also, one of the aims was that the system should allow the establishment and appropriate knowledge on the indicators as content, legislative framework, political and environment context, establishing methodology and available data sources, possibilities to establish them and the presentation method for each indicator. This system contains 25 statistical indicators included in 6 groups according to their content, with special reference to the general characteristics of the forests and other wooded lands, ownership over forest lands, size and structure of the growing stock, forest yield, regeneration and increase of forest area and other wooded lands, area with felling and the harvested wood volume, the phytosanitary status and wood and non-wood products harvested. In order to establish the statistical indicators for forestry and forest exploitation a general plan for collecting the information was developed based on statistical surveys, monitoring studies and administrative reports. These methods of collecting information are organized and planned so that they contain the entire reference population and the content of the indicators set which will be established. These components of the general plan for information collection refers to the statistical reference populations , the periods for data collecting, representativity level (county, national) as we as to the content (structure) of the reports. According to the content, the statistical forest indicators, harmonized with the ones in the statistical systems of the European Union and FAO, shows in the same time the specific cha-racteristics of the Romanian system for the sustainable development of the forest resource

Indurative Edema of the Prepuce Mimicing Phimosis, an Atypical Manifestation of Primary Syphilis

No abstract availabl

PFO-spectrum disorder: two different cerebrovascular diseases in patients with PFO as detected by AI brain imaging software

BackgroundPatent foramen ovale (PFO) is a prevalent cardiac remnant of fetal anatomy that may pose a risk factor for stroke in some patients, while others can present with asymptomatic white matter (WM) lesions. The current study aimed to test the hypothesis that patients with a PFO who have a history of stroke or transient ischemic attack, compared to those without such a history, have a different burden and distribution of cerebral WM hyperintensities. Additionally, we tested the association between PFO morphological characteristics and severity of shunt, and their impact on the occurrence of ischemic cerebral vascular events and on the burden of cerebral WM lesions.Patients and methodsRetrospective, case–control study that included patients with PFO confirmed by transesophageal echocardiography. Right-to-left shunt size was assessed using transcranial Doppler ultrasound. Cerebral MRIs were analyzed for all participants using the semi-automated Quantib NDTM software for the objective quantification of WM lesions. WM lesions volume was compared between patients with and without a history of stroke. Additionally, the anatomical characteristics of PFOs were assessed to explore their relation to stroke occurrence and WM lesions volume.ResultsOf the initial 264 patients diagnosed with PFO, 67 met the inclusion criteria and were included in the analysis. Of them, 62% had a history of PFO-related stroke/TIA. Overall burden of WM lesions, including stroke volume, was not significantly different (p = 0.103). However, after excluding stroke volume, WM lesions volume was significantly higher in patients without stroke (0.27 cm3, IQR 0.03–0.60) compared to those with stroke/TIA (0.08 cm3, IQR 0.02–0.18), p = 0.019. Patients with a history of PFO-related stroke/TIA had a tendency to larger PFO sizes by comparison to those without, in terms of length and height, and exhibited greater right-to-left shunt volumes.DiscussionWe suggest that PFO may be associated with the development of two distinct cerebrovascular conditions (stroke and “silent” WM lesions), each characterized by unique imaging patterns. Further studies are needed to identify better the “at-risk” PFOs and gain deeper insights into their clinical implications

Economic and Life Cycle Analysis of Passive and Active Monitoring of Ozone for Forest Protection

At forest sites, phytotoxic tropospheric ozone (O3) can be monitored with continuously operating, active monitors (AM) or passive, cumulative samplers (PM). For the first time, we present evidence that the sustainability of active monitoring is better than that of passive sensors, as the environmental, economic, and social costs are usually lower in the former than in the latter. By using data collected in the field, environmental, social, and economic costs were analyzed. The study considered monitoring sites at three distances from a control station in Italy (30, 400, and 750 km), two forest types (deciduous and Mediterranean evergreen), and three time windows (5, 10, and 20 years of monitoring). AM resulted in more convenience than PM, even after 5 years, in terms of O3 depletion, global warming, and photochemical O3 creation potential, suggesting that passive monitoring of ozone is not environmentally sustainable, especially for long time periods. AM led to savings ranging from a minimum of EUR 9650 in 5 years up to EUR 94,796 in 20 years in evergreen forests. The resulting social cost of PM was always higher than that of AM. The present evaluation will help in the decision process for the set-up of long-term forest monitoring sites dedicated to the protection of forests from O3