Small–footprint LiDAR Estimation of Structural Properties of Woody Plant Communities in Complex Terrain, North-eastern Australia

LiDAR remote sensing can be considered a key instrument for studies related to quantifyingthe vegetation structure. We utilised LiDAR metrics to estimate plot-scale structuralparameters of subtropical rainforest and eucalyptus dominated open forest in topographicallydissected landscape, in North-eastern Australia. This study is considered an extremeapplication of LiDAR technology for structurally complex subtropical forests in complexterrain. Thirty-one LiDAR metrics of vegetation functional parameters were examined.Multiple linear regression models were able to explain 62% of the variability associated withbasal area, 66% for mean dbh, 61% for dominant height and 60% for foliage projective coverin subtropical rainforest. In contrast, mean height (adjusted R2 = 0.90) and dominant height(adjusted R2 = 0.81) were predicted with highest accuracy in the eucalyptus dominated opencanopy forest. Nevertheless, the magnitude of error for predicting structural parameters ofvegetation was much higher in subtropical rainforest than those documented in the literature.Our findings reinforced that obtaining accurate LiDAR estimates of vegetation structure is afunction of the complexity of horizontal and vertical structural diversity of vegetation

Predicting annual stem diameter increment of selected tree species in Sinharaja rain forest by considering tree and stand level effects

Information on the diameter increment of tree species is important for developing a sustainable forest harvesting plan and for reforestation. Fitting a forest growth model for diameter increment can be utilized to get the information. The objective of this study was to develop a predictive model for the annual diameter increment of a multispecies stand in the Sinharaja Rain Forest in Sri Lanka. To fulfill this objective, four linear mixedeffect models were fitted to predict the annual diameter at breast height (dbh) increment of trees by using dbh, the natural logarithm of dbh, and species as a random effect. The model that contained random coefficients for the intercept term, dbh and log (dbh) were selected as the best-fitted model based on the Akaike Information Criterion (AIC) value and the likelihood ratio test. Then, the bestfitted model was expanded by adding other subsequent variables that describe the effects of competition from surrounding trees, and a size structure component, which is the maximum dbh. The final model comprised of this information dbh, log(dbh), stocking density, maximum dbh, and competition from trees smaller than the subject tree. Using the best-fitted final model, the annual dbh increment of the 10 selected abundant species was calculated. It was noted that all the selected species have growth rates that increase rapidly at the initial stage, and then reach its unique maximum growth rate. These increment patterns reflected that different species followed different annual dbh increment patterns. Therefore, this final model can be consolidated into an effective empirical model to project the future growth of a tropical rainforest

SEEDLING SURVIVAL AND GROWTH OF NINE LATE-SUCCESSESIONAL SPECIES ACROSS A TOPOGRAPHIC GRADIENT IN SINHARAJA RAIN FOREST

Growth performance of seedlings belong to nine late-successesional canopy treespecies was studied at three different topographic positions (ridgetop, midslopeand valley) in the Sinharaja rain forest, southwest Sri Lanka. Seedlings wereplanted in plots located in valleys, midslops and ridgetops. In each site fourcanopy openings and four adjacent understoreys were selected to plant seedlingsof nine late-successional canopy tree species. Seedling growth and mortality weremonitored for three years.Results demonstrated that a clear difference in survival and growth amongspecies. These differences appeared to be related to the availability of soilmoisture and groundstorey radiation regimes of the forest. SIlOrea distichaexhibits high growth rate than others in each topographic position in each site.Seedlings of Mesua ferrea and Shorea megistophylla exhibit a higher survivalthan other species in canopy openings and understorey conditions of alltopographic positions. Growth performance and survival of their species will bemonitored for several years to study the nich specialization of the latesuccessionalcanopy tree seedlings

EFFECT OF SHADING ON SURViVAL AND GROWTH OF Mesua (CLUSIACEAE) AND Shorea (DIPTEOCARPACEAE) SEEDLINGS ACROSSTOPOGRAPHIC GRADIENT IN SINHARAJA RAIN FOREST, SOUTHWEST SRI lANKA

The effect of shading on survival and growth of two species of Mesua (Clusiaceae) andfour species of Shorea (Dipteocarpaceaeh planted seedlings were investigated at differenttopographic positions in Sinharaja rain forest All occur together as canopy dominant treesIII Sinharaja rain forest Twelve-understory sites were selected, four each on differenttopographic posilions valley, midslope and ridgetop. Measurements of height, number ofleaves, root collar diameter and the mortality were recorded over a five-year period.Hemispherical canopy photographs were taken to calculate Indirect Site Factor (ISF),Direct Site Factor (DSF), and the Leaf Area Index (LAI). Analysis of photographsdemonstrated that LAI decreased from valley to ridge top while DSF and ISF increasedfrom the valley to ridge top. After five years thirty-four (34 %) seedlings died in the ridgelop and the lowest mortality was recorded in the midslope. Seedlings of Mesua ferrea L.had the highest survival than other species in all understory conditions and the lowestsurvival rate recorded for Shorea trapezifolia (Thw.) Ashton. Results showed cleardifferences in survival and growth among species. These differences appeared related (0availability of soil moisture and understory radiation regimes

COMPETITION AMONG LATE·SUCCESSIONAL TREE SPECIES ACROSS DIFFERENT TOPOGRAPHIC POSITIONS OF A SRI LANKAN RAIN FOREST.

The plant height growth, canopy expansion and foliar nutrients allocations provide theevidence to understand competitive role by canopy species in part of light and soilmoisture gradient. Experiments were designed to investigate competitive outcomes ofnine late-succesional tree seedlings in different light and soil moisture regimes. Treespecies were planted in the canopy gap and forest understory in different topographicpositions; valley, midslope and ridgetop. At the end of every year height, root collardiameter, leaf number and mortality were recorded. Results showed that Shoreatrapezifolia and Syzygium rubicundum can be regarded as the most light demandingspecies with competitive superiors as judged from its height increment, leaf and branchesincrements with crown structure, root collar diameter and leaf nutrients allocatingpattern. At other extremes are Mesua ferrea and Shorea worthingtonii, most which arethe most, shade tolerant and with lower competitive ability in this group. Patterns incompetitive hierarchy among late successional canopy species strongly support sitespecialisation and establishment of regeneratio

Prior exposure of graphic editing, video editing and animation software among new medical entrants at Faculty of Medicine, University of Kelaniya

Introduction: The use of graphic related educational materials is common in modern medicaleducation.Objectives: This study assesses the familiarity of graphic editing software (GES), video editingsoftware (VES) and animation software (AS) among new medical entrants.Methods: Moodle based self-administered questionnaire was given to new medical students who joinedthe Faculty of Medicine, University of Kelaniya in 2017.Results: There were 155 students in the batch where 66 (43%) were males. Thirty-nine percent (n=60)had used GES before entering to the faculty, among them 20% used GES at least once a month and55% reported to have at least an average skill level. Twenty-one percent (n=32) had used VES, amongthem 20% used it at least once and 24 % reported to have at least an average skill level. Ten percent(n=15) had used AS, among them 13% used it at least once and 11% reported to have at least an averageskill level. Students had used GES more than VES (P<0.01) and AS (P<0.01), and VES more than AS(P=0.01) before entering to the faculty.Conclusions: The majority of students had not used GES, VES and AS before entering to the facultyand it would be beneficial to teach this software to medical students. Self-assessment of skill level canunderestimate or overestimate the actual skill level of the student and can be identified as a limitationof the study

Antibiotic sensitivity pattern for non-beta lactam antibiotics and carbapenems in extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL) producing uropathogens versus non-ESBL producing uropathogens

Introduction and Objectives: Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are frequent and predominantly caused by coliforms. ESBL producers are increasing in number limiting therapeutic options. It is therefore vital to institute precise, empiric antibiotic guidelines in order to prevent life-threatening urosepsis. The objective of this study was to compare antibiotic sensitivity (ABST) pattern of ESBL producers and non-ESBL producers against selected non-beta lactams and carbapenem antibiotics. Methodology: Retrospective analysis of ABST of significant urinary coliform isolates was done. Study setting: Department of Medical Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Kelaniya and Base Hospital, Wathupitiwala, Sri Lanka. Study period: 01.01.2012 - 01.01.2016. Study groups: ESBL producers and non-ESBL producers, 63 in each group. Sensitivity profiles of amikacin, gentamicin, netilmicin, nitrofurantoin, nalidixic acid, norfloxacin, ciprofloxacin, imipenem and meropenem were analyzed. Statistical analysis: R programming language. Level of significance P&lt;0.05.Results: ESBL producers were present in 63 patients, 36 (57.1%) of whom were females and 39 were inpatients (61.9%). Non-ESBL producers were isolated from urine of 63 patients, of whom 49 (77.8%) were females and 17 (26.9%) inpatients. Antibiotic sensitivity of ESBL producers ranged from 82.2% to 100% for netilmicin, amikacin, meropenem and imipenem, 65% for nitrofurantoin and from 14.8% to 32.1% for nalidixic acid, ciprofloxacin, norfloxacin and gentamicin. Antibiotic sensitivity of the non-ESBL producers ranged from 56.7% for nalidixic acid and from 76.8% to 85.1% for ciprofloxacin, nitrofurantoin, norfloxacin and gentamicin.Conclusion: A female predominance was noted in both non ESBL and ESBL producers but there was a significant dominance of ESBL producers in male patients. ESBL producers were significantly common amongst inpatients than outpatients. ESBL-producers had significantly high resistance against nalidixic acid, ciprofloxacin, norfloxacin and gentamicin compared to non-ESBL producers. However, more than 2/3rd of isolates in both groups were sensitive to nitrofurantoin.</p

Social entrepreneurship: problems and ways of their solution

For modern constantly developing societies, it is normal to create categories in the process of the activity of the participants of socio-economic processes themselves. Practice is theoretical, and theory is pragmatic, because it creates those concepts in which «practice» exists and develops. Such a category is "social entrepreneurship", which is "umbrella" for a number of socio-economic phenomena. The general term for social entrepreneurship includes those types of entrepreneurial activity that contradict the traditional notion of entrepreneurship as an activity of independent economic entities aimed at maximizing their profits. The development of social entrepreneurship is an indicator of the quality of the business climate in the region and requires a set of measures to ensure the mechanism and access of non-governmental organizations to the provision of services in the social sphere, the provision of state support to socially-oriented non-profit organizations, and the promotion of the development of PPP practices in the social sphere