Flow resistance of flexible vegetation in real-scale drainage channels

The definition of simple and accurate methods to estimate flow resistance in vegetated channels is still a challenging issue in soil bioengineering practices and programming riparian vegetation management to control channel conveyance capacity, sediment deposition, and flooding propensity. In this paper, measurements collected by Errico et al. (2018, 2019) in drainage channels colonized by common reed (Phragmites australis) were used to study the effect of flexible vegetation and its management in flow resistance estimate. At first, a theoretical flow resistance equation, obtained applying dimensional analysis and incomplete self-similarity condition for the velocity distribution of an open channel flow, was briefly summarized. Then, this flow resistance equation was calibrated and tested by open-field hydraulic experiments carried out by Errico et al. (2018, 2019) at the real scale of existing vegetated drainage channels. In particular, the Gamma function of the power velocity profile was empirically related to the slope energy and the flow Froude number by using the available measurements. Taking into account the hydrological regime of the flow in the investigated channels, the original data set was divided into two sub-data sets (calibrating and testing data set) exploring the same range of measured discharges. The calibration and testing of the flow resistance equation were carried out without distinguishing measurements corresponding to different vegetation conditions (full-vegetated, half-vegetated, non-vegetated, central vegetation cut, extensive vegetation cut). The analysis demonstrated that the theoretical flow resistance equation allows an accurate estimate of the Darcy-Weisbach friction factor which is characterized by errors that are always less than 10% and less than or equal to 5% for 90.9% of the investigated cases. The finding of this study also allowed to evaluate the effects of different vegetation management scenarios on flow resistance

Comparison of different computer vision methods for vineyard canopy detection using UAV multispectral images

In viticulture, the rapid and accurate acquisition of canopy spectral information through ultra-high spatial resolution imagery is increasingly demanded for decision support. The prevalent practice involves creating vigor maps using spectral data obtained from pure vine canopy pixels. Object-Based Image Analysis (OBIA) among conventional methods exhibits a reasonable efficiency in canopy classification due to its feature extraction capabilities. In recent years, deep learning (DL) techniques have demonstrated significant potential in orchard monitoring, leveraging their ability to automatically learn image features. This study assessed the performance of different methodologies, including Mask R-CNN, U-Net, OBIA and unsupervised methods, in identifying pure canopy pixels. The effectiveness of shadow and background detection methods and the impact of misclassified pixels on NDVI were compared. Results were compared with agronomic surveys conducted during the 2021 and 2022 growing seasons, focusing on two distinct phenological stages (BBCH65-BBCH85). Mask R-CNN and U-Net exhibited superior performance in terms of Overall Accuracy (OA), F1-score, and Intersection Over Union (IoU). Among OBIA methods, the Gaussian Mixture Model (GMM) proved to be the most effective classifier for canopy segmentation, and Support Vector Machine (SVM) also demonstrated reasonable stability. Conversely, Random Forest (RF) and K-Means yielded lower accuracy and higher error rates. As a result of the limited accuracy, it is noted for vineyard rows with low vigor canopies that NDVI was overestimated, while for high vigor canopies NDVI was underestimated. Significantly improved determination coefficients were observed for the comparison between Total Leaf Area (TLA) and NDVI data derived from Mask R-CNN and U-Net. Positive correlations were also found with NDVI data from GMM and SVM algorithms. Regarding leaf chlorophyll (Chl) and NDVI correlations, Mask R-CNN and U-Net methods showed superior performance. Additionally, the relationship between TLA and projected canopy area (PCA) was significantly better represented by U-Net and Mask R-CNN, while PCA was not recommended for estimating chlorophyll content. This investigation establishes that improved vine canopy delimitation contributes to improved vineyard vigour monitoring, providing winegrowers with more accurate and reliable agronomic information for management decisions

A review on effects of biological soil crusts on hydrological processes

Biological soil crusts (BSCs) are complex consortia of microorganisms able to modify soil physical, chemical, and hydrological characteristics and influence soil erosion resistance. Given their importance, this paper analyses the current knowledge about BSCs reporting the findings of 163 papers about different BSC aspects published from 1990 to 2023. At first, a review of the BSC main detection methods (visual inspection, remote sensing, and morphological characterization) is presented as they represent valuable tools in BSC identification and mapping, revealing some issues related to the adopted classification criteria and the BSC microbial composition. Then, the literature results about their influence on soil characteristics, hydrology, and erosion processes are reported. Although their positive effects on soil characteristics (e.g., stability and fertility) and resistance to soil erosion are widely recognized, conflicting results are reported on their influence on soil hydrology. The analysis of the available literature allowed for providing indications about the choice of which microorganisms are the most suitable to form BSCs, following the required objectives (soil physic-chemical improvements, soil hydrology, erosion processes resistance, cost, and time to produce their effects). In particular, the results showed that i) the BSC effects on the soil physic-chemical characteristics improve along their successional series; ii) bacteria and cyanobacteria can be considered the most valuable BSC in limiting and degraded conditions (sediment concentration in the runoff reduced by 87% in comparison to bare soils, cost of 350 USD ha−1, and a recovery time of 5–10 years); iii) the intrinsic heterogeneity of BSCs does not allow for explaining the divergence of the literature results on soil hydrology; and iv) mosses are the best BSC anti-erosive type as they produce the most similar effects as compared to vegetation. Finally, the main steps required to obtain microbial inoculums, the effects of their application to induce BSC formation, and future prospects of research are reported

Slope threshold for overland flow resistance on sandy soils

Recent research on rill flows recognised that an 18% slope can be used to distinguish between ‘gentle’ and ‘steep’ slope cases for the detected differences in hydraulic (flow depth and velocity) and sediment transport variables (flow transport capacity, actual sediment load). The effects of slope on flow velocity, friction factor and transport capacity and their interactions affect process-based erosion modelling. The main aim of this paper is to investigate, for the first time, how slope affects the overland flow resistance on sandy soils, which are characterised by loose particles readily available to be transported and deposited. Using literature measurements carried out in sandy soils for both gentle and steep slopes, a theoretical overland flow resistance equation, based on the integration of the power velocity distribution, is tested. The relationship between the velocity profile parameter Γ, the channel slope, the Reynolds and Froude number is calibrated using measurements characterized by a wide range of hydraulic conditions and distinguishing between gentle (5.2%–13.2%) and steep (17.4%–42.3%) slope conditions. The analysis demonstrated that: (1) the parameter Γ can be accurately estimated by Equation (15) in which the exponents are independent of slope condition; (2) the coefficient a of Equation (15) is equal to 0.8750 and 0.8984 for the gentle and steep slope condition, respectively; (3) the estimations of the Darcy–Weisbach friction factor f (Equation 19) are accurate and characterised by errors less than or equal to ±5% for 97.2% of cases; and (4) in the range of steep slopes, the flow resistance law calibrated for the gentle slope condition (Equation (19) with a = 0.8750) systematically overestimates the f value. In conclusion, this study allowed the recognition, for an unlimited soil detachment condition and an overland flow, of how the energy dissipation processes and the estimate of the friction factor are affected by slope. Highlights: A theoretical overland flow resistance law is tested by data obtained on sandy soils. Differences between gentle and steep slope conditions are investigated. The Darcy–Weisbach friction factor estimate by the flow resistance law is accurate. The law calibrated for gentle slopes overestimates f in the range of steep slopes

Chronic bacterial prostatitis: efficacy of short-lasting antibiotic therapy with prulifloxacin (Unidrox®) in association with saw palmetto extract, lactobacillus sporogens and arbutin (Lactorepens®)

Bacterial prostatitis (BP) is a common condition accounting responsible for about 5-10% of all prostatitis cases; chronic bacterial prostatitis (CBP) classified as type II, are less common but is a condition that significantly hampers the quality of life, (QoL) because not only is it a physical condition but also a psychological distress. Commonly patients are treated with antibiotics alone, and in particular fluoroquinolones are suggested by the European Urology guidelines. This approach, although recommended, may not be enough. Thus, a multimodal approach to the prolonged antibiotic therapy may be helpful.210 patients affected by chronic bacterial prostatitis were enrolled in the study. All patients were positive to Meares-Stamey test and symptoms duration was > 3 months. The purpose of the study was to evaluate the efficacy of a long lasting therapy with a fluoroquinolone in association with a nutraceutical supplement (prulifloxacin 600 mg for 21 days and an association of Serenoa repens 320 mg, Lactobacillus Sporogens 200 mg, Arbutin 100 mg for 30 days). Patients were randomized in two groups (A and B) receiving respectively antibiotic alone and an association of antibiotic plus supplement.Biological recurrence at 2 months in Group A was observed in 21 patients (27.6%) and in Group B in 6 patients (7.8%). Uropathogens found at the first follow-up were for the majority Gram - (E. coli and Enterobacter spp.). A statistically significant difference was found at the time of the follow-up between Group A and B in the NIH-CPSI questionnaire score, symptoms evidence and serum PSA.Broad band, short-lasting antibiotic therapy in association with a nutritional supplement (serenoa repens, lactobacillus sporogens and arbutin) show better control and recurrence rate on patients affected by chronic bacterial prostatitits in comparison with antibiotic treatment alone.NCT02130713Date of trial Registration: 30/04/2014

Reduction of Lie-Jordan Banach algebras and quantum states

A theory of reduction of Lie-Jordan Banach algebras with respect to either a Jordan ideal or a Lie-Jordan subalgebra is presented. This theory is compared with the standard reduction of C*-algebras of observables of a quantum system in the presence of quantum constraints. It is shown that the later corresponds to the particular instance of the reduction of Lie-Jordan Banach algebras with respect to a Lie-Jordan subalgebra as described in this paper. The space of states of the reduced Lie-Jordan Banach algebras is described in terms of equivalence classes of extensions to the full algebra and their GNS representations are characterized in the same way. A few simple examples are discussed that illustrates some of the main results

Effects of longitudinal profile shape on scour and flow resistance in rills

The literature regarding how rill longitudinal profile (concave and convex) affects soil loss and flow resistance is still lacking. The only analysis available in the literature for rills is limited by the fact that measurements were performed for a unique mean slope value sp (18%). In this article, further rill measurements were conducted on a plot with sp = 15% and complex profile shapes and were used to widen the knowledge about the influence of longitudinal profile shape on rill scour, eroded volume, and flow resistance. The findings highlighted that the concave profile has a homogeneous spatial distribution of moderate scours, whereas the scours in the convex one are deeper and more confined, but they are not placed after the slope change as found for sp = 18%. The mean scour depth, which accounts for the discharge and profile shape effects, is not (concave) or is weakly (convex) related to the flow discharge. The concave profile determined a reduction of approximately 57% of the total eroded volume when compared with the convex profile shape, confirming that a concave hillslope limits erosive phenomena. Finally, the flow resistance equation guaranteed a precise estimation of the Darcy–Weisbach friction factor

Plot investigation on rill flow resistance due to path tortuosity

The path tortuosity t is an indicator of rill morphology accounting for the deviation of the thalweg from a straight alignment. The effect of t on flow resistance has been little investigated for rills. This paper reports the results of a plot investigation aimed to establish the suitable accuracy of the rill thalweg measurement to determine the tortuosity parameter and to test the reliability of a theoretical flow resistance law. Four rills were incised in clay soil (CS) and clay-loam soil (LS) and shaped by a clear flow discharge. The three-dimensional Digital Terrain Models were created by the Structure from Motion technique. For rills on LS, an approximate thalweg was tracked by photo-interpretation, and a specific calculation routine was applied to identify the cross sections with a constant spacing d. The actual rill thalweg was obtained as the line joining the lowest points of these cross-sections. Among the different tested d values, d = 0.075 m was chosen to determine t. For both CS and LS, the Darcy-Weisbach friction factor f featured a non-monotonic relation with t, which was explained as the result of three additive components due to bed roughness, sediment transport, and localized energy losses due to curves. The effect of the former two components on f contrasts that of the third, resulting in a linearly decreasing f-t relationship and constant flow velocity for the three lowest tortuosity values, and an increased friction factor and reduced flow velocity for the highest tortuosity value. The flow resistance law was positively tested, and the predicted friction factor was dependent on t

Characterizing the Kamphorst rainfall simulator for soil erosion investigations

In this paper, the results of the characterization of Kamphorst’s rainfall simulator obtained by laboratory experiments carried out at the Department of Agricultural, Food, and Forest Sciences of the University of Palermo, are presented. At first, the rainfall uniformity distribution was positively verified considering several pressure heads (ranging from 1.9 cm to 11.9 cm) and water temperatures (from 24 °C to 27 °C), achieving a uniformity coefficient ranging from 96 to 99 %. Then, using a single nozzle, the simulator has been characterized in terms of kinetic power and momentum by applying both a photographic and a weighing technique. In particular, terminal drop velocity was measured by the displacement of a single raindrop measured between two consecutive frames, while the mean mass of single drops was evaluated by weighing a fixed number of drops. The analysis of the experimental data highlighted that the rainfall intensity, which increases with water temperature and pressure head, is the variable affecting the measurement of the single raindrop mass. Measurements also showed that an increase in rainfall intensity determines a decrease in the mean mass of the raindrops and an increase in the number of raindrops that fall in the unit time and area. This circumstance allowed to justify the increasing trend of the rainfall kinetic power and momentum with rainfall intensity. The measurements allowed to develop empirical relationships relating kinetic power and momentum with the simulated rainfall intensity and falling height of the raindrops. Finally, a theoretical expression suggested in the literature for estimating simulated rainfall intensity was positively tested

Optical spectrum of the post-AGB star HD56126 in the region 4010-8790 AA

We studied in detail the optical spectrum of the post-AGB star HD56126 (IRAS07134+1005). We use high resolution spectra (R=25000 and 60000) obtained with the echelle spectrographs of the 6-m telescope. About one and a half thousand absorptions of neutral atoms and ions, absorption bands of C_2, CN, and CH molecules, and interstellar bands (DIBs) are identified in the 4010 to 8790 AA wavelength region, and the depths and radial velocities of these spectral features are measured. Differences are revealed between the variations of the radial velocities measured from spectral features of different excitation. In addition to the well-known variability of the Halpha profile, we found variations in the profiles of a number of FeII, YII, and BaII lines. We also produce an atlas of the spectrum of HD56126 and its comparison staralpha Per. The full version of the atlas is available in electronic form from Web-address: http://www.sao.ru/hq/ssl/Atlas/Atlas.htmlComment: 42 pages, 6 figure