45,071 research outputs found
Observing giant panda habitat and forage abundance from space
No full textGiant pandas are obligate bamboo grazers. The bamboos favoured by giant pandas are typical forest understorey plants. Therefore, the availability and abundance of understorey bamboo is a key factor in determining the quantity and quality of giant panda food resources. However, there is little or no information about the spatial distribution or abundance of bamboo underneath the forest canopy, due to the limitations of traditional ground survey and remote sensing classification techniques. In this regard, the development of methods that can predict the understorey bamboo spatial distribution and cover abundance is critical for an improved understanding of the habitat, foraging behaviour and distribution of giant pandas, as well as facilitating an optimal conservation strategy for this endangered species. The objectives of this study were to develop innovative methods in remote sensing and GIS for estimating the giant panda habitat and forage abundance, and to explain the altitudinal migration and the spatial distribution of giant pandas in the fragmented forest landscape. It was concluded that 1) the vegetation indices derived from winter (leaf-off) satellite images can be successfully used to predict the distribution of evergreen understorey bamboo in a deciduous-dominated forest, 2) winter is the optimal season for quantifying the coverage of evergreen understorey bamboo in a mixed temperate forest, regardless of the classification methods used, 3) a higher mapping accuracy for understorey bamboo in a coniferous-dominated forest can be achieved by using an integrated neural network and expert system algorithm, 4) the altitudinal migration patterns of sympatric giant pandas and golden takins are related to satellite-derived plant phenology (a surrogate of food quality) and bamboo abundance (a surrogate of food quantity), 5) the driving force behind the seasonal vertical migration of giant pandas is the occurrence of bamboo shoots and the temperature variation along an altitudinal gradient, 6) the satellite-derived forest patches occupied by giant pandas were significantly larger and more contiguous than patches where giant pandas were not recorded, indicating that giant pandas appear sensitive to patch size and isolation effects associated with forest fragmentation. Overall, the study has been shown the potential of satellite remote sensing to map giant panda habitat and forage (i.e., understorey bamboo) abundance. The results are important for understanding the foraging behaviour and the spatial distribution of giant pandas, as well as the evaluation and modelling of giant panda habitat in order to guide decision-making on giant panda conservation. <br/
PSYNDEX Tests Review für PANDA - Parkinson Neuropsychometrie Dementia Assessment
No full textThis is a PSYNDEX Tests Review of PANDA - Parkinson Neuropsychometrie Dementia Assessment. PSYNDEX Tests Reviews are written in German and describe and evaluate psychological and educational tests used in the German-speaking countries. PSYNDEX Tests is offered by the Leibniz Institute for Psychology as open access documentation.Das ist ein PSYNDEX Tests Review zu PANDA - Parkinson Neuropsychometrie Dementia Assessment. PSYNDEX Tests Reviews beschreiben und bewerten zentrale psychologische und pädagogische Testverfahren, die in den deutschsprachigen Ländern eingesetzt werden, nach einem standardisierten Raster. PSYNDEX Tests wird durch das Leibniz-Institut für Psychologie als Open Access Dokumentation angeboten.Diagnostische Zielsetzung: Der PANDA will störungsspezifische kognitive Defizite bei Parkinson-Patienten zeitökonomisch mit hoher Sensitivität und Spezifität erfassen. Darüber hinaus können die Stimmungsfragen (Teil B) einen zusätzlichen Beitrag zur Planung therapeutischer Interventionen liefern. Aufbau: Der PANDA besteht aus einem Kognitionsteil (A), der sich aus den fünf Subtests (1) Paarassoziationslernen (gleichzeitig Subtest 5 Verzögerte Abfrage), (2) Wortflüssigkeit, (3) Räumliches Vorstellungsvermögen (mentales Spiegeln) und (4) Arbeitsgedächtnis zusammensetzt, sowie einem Stimmungsteil (B), der die Stimmungslage des Patienten mit drei Items auf einer vierstufigen Antwortskala erfasst. Grundlagen und Konstruktion: Der PANDA wurde explizit konstruiert, um subkortikale Typen von Demenz zu identifizieren, die typisch für Parkinson-Patienten sind. Zur Konstruktion ziehen die Autoren relevante Ergebnisse empirischer Forschung heran, wie etwa von Pillon und Kollegen (1993), die insbesondere exekutive Dysfunktionen wie ineffiziente Kodier- und Abrufstrategien als primäre Ursache für eine eingeschränkte Gedächtnisfähigkeit sehen. Auf Grundlage einer Pilotstudie adaptierten die Autoren bewährte Testaufgaben aus der Demenzdiagnostik für die diagnostische Zielsetzung des Verfahrens. Dabei orientiert sich die Testkonstruktion des PANDA an Prinzipien der Klassischen Testtheorie. Empirische Prüfung und Gütekriterien: Reliabilität: Kalbe und Kollegen (2008) finden für einen Abstand von sechs Monaten eine Retestreliabilität von rtt = .93 für den Kognitionsteil (A) des PANDA und gleichzeitig keine signifikante Veränderung des Stimmungsteils (B). Die Interrater-Reliabilität betrug r = .95. Validität: Verschiedene Studien berichten Korrelationen der PANDA-Ergebnisse (Kognition) mit dem MMST (.22 < r < .76), dem MADRS (rho = -.25) und dem MoCA (r = .44). Kalbe und Kollegen (2008) berichten einen Zusammenhang zwischen BDI und dem PANDA-Stimmungsteil (rho = .64) sowie zwischen BDI und dem PANDA-Kognitionsteil (rho = -.34). Korrelationen zwischen PANDA-Kognitionsteil und PANDA-Stimmungsteil werden für zwei Studien zwischen -.16 < rho < -.29 angegeben. Normen: Die Normierungsstichprobe des PANDA beläuft sich auf N = 232 Personen (Kontrollgruppe: n = 108; n = 124 Parkinson-Patienten). Es liegen altersspezifische Normwerte für Parkinson-Patienten bis 59 Jahre und ab 60 Jahre vor. Für die Anwendung von Cut-off-Werten werden die Rohwerte in Wertpunkte transformiert, sodass ein maximaler Gesamtwert von 30 transformierten Wertpunkten im Kognitionsteil (A) erreicht werden kann. Auch für die erreichte Summe des Stimmungsteils (B) wird ein Cut-off-Wert angegeben.publishedVersio
The WTP for property rights for the Giant Panda: can a charismatic species be an instrument for conservation of natural habitat?
No full textThe paper presents the results from a stated preference study to address issues concerning the potential for using flag-ship species, such as the Giant Panda, to purchase the property rights for the conservation of natural habitat. The study finds, first, that there is clear WTP for acquiring the property rights for panda habitat. The nature of this demand is found both convincing and logically coherent in that it is an increasing function of land
(at a diminishing rate). Secondly, the study decomposed the elicited values into genetic stock, animal welfare and implicit biodiversity values. The results show that the latter type of value consist of almost half of total value implying that the Panda is in fact a potential instrument for greater biodiversity conservation. Thirdly, the study shows that these implicit biodiversity values are dependent on the preservation of the flagship species itself, implying that the panda is not only a potential instrument for habitat conservation, but a necessary one. Finally, the extent to which the flagship approach can be capable of contributing to wider biodiversity conservation is discussed
Informetrics of a Veteran Library Scientist and Academician Prof (Dr.) K. C. Panda
No full textThe study is a scientometric analysis of the magnitude of contributions of Prof. K. C. Panda, an eminent information scientist and academician of LIS. The paper highlights his 130 publications (120 articles and 10 books) during 1982-2011. The analysis of his 120 articles reveals that he has contributed 20 single papers and co-authored 80 papers with 45 collaborators that appeared 115 times yielding a greater collaboration coefficient of 0.79 which indicates his versatility of promoting research from the collaborative front. On an average, he has contributed 4 to 5 papers in a year during the stated period. Prof Panda is found to have contributed maximum (06) articles to Annals of Library and Information Studies
Patterns of Genetic Diversity in Remaining Giant Panda Populations
No full textThe giant panda (Ailuropoda melanoleuca) is among the more familiar symbols of species conservation. The protection of giant panda populations has been aided recently by the establishment of more and better-managed reserves in existing panda habitat located in six mountain ranges in western China. These remaining populations are becoming increasingly isolated from one another, however, leading to the concern that historic patterns of gene flow will be disrupted and that reduced population sizes will lead to diminished genetic variability. We analyzed four categories of molecular genetic markers (mtDNA restriction-fragment-length polymorphisms [RFLP], mtDNA control region sequences, nuclear multilocus DNA fingerprints, and microsatellite size variation) in giant pandas from three mountain populations (Qionglai, Minshan, and Qinling) to assess current levels of genetic diversity and to detect evidence of historic population subdivisions. The three populations had moderate levels of genetic diversity compared with similarly studied carnivores for all four gene measures, with a slight but consistent reduction in variability apparent in the smaller Qinling population. That population also showed significant differentiation consistent with its isolation since historic times. From a strictly genetic perspective, the giant panda species and the three populations look promising insofar as they have retained a large amount of genetic diversity in each population, although evidence of recent population reduction—likely from habitat loss—is apparent. Ecological management to increase habitat, population expansion, and gene flow would seem an effective strategy to stabilize the decline of this endangered species
FIGURE 3. Gaultheria fragrantissima Wall. A in Gaultheria stapfiana (Ericaceae), a species to be recognized: insights from morphology, leaf anatomy and pollen morphology
No full textFIGURE 3. Gaultheria fragrantissima Wall. A. habit; B. flower; C–D. bracts; E–F. bracteoles; G–H. calyx lobes; I. corolla lobe; J–K. stamens; L. pistil; M. ovule; N–O. ovary (t. s.); P–Q. fruits; R. seeds. — Scale bars: A = 1 cm; B, P = 2 mm; C–H, J–L, N, O = 1 mm; Q = 5 mm (A–R: drawn from S. Panda 30701).Published as part of Panda, Subhasis, 2012, Gaultheria stapfiana (Ericaceae), a species to be recognized: insights from morphology, leaf anatomy and pollen morphology, pp. 1-12 in Phytotaxa 50 (1) on page 9, DOI: 10.11646/phytotaxa.50.1.1, http://zenodo.org/record/506073
Aulacocypus panda SMETANA 2003
No full text<i>Aulacocypus panda</i> SMETANA 2003 <p> <i>Aulacocypus panda</i> SMETANA 2003: 117.</p> <p>N e w r e c o r d s: C h i n a: [Shaanxi]: Qinling Shan, 12km SW Xunyangba, 1900-2250m, 14.- 18.6.2000, leg. C. Holzschuh, 1 (NMW); 15 km S Shou-Man vill., Daba Shan, 1800m, 32°08' 108°37'E, 25.5.- 14.6. 2000, 4, 3 (ASC, NMW); Daba Shan, Ten’ja vill., 2200-2600m, 31°55'N 109°05'E, 18.-27.VI. 2004, Plutenko, 1 (MSC).</p> <p> C o m m e n t: Additional specimens from Qinling Shan and Daba shan in Shaanxi. Note that the species occurs in Daba Shan together with <i>A</i>. <i>puetzi</i>.</p>Published as part of <i>Smetana, A., 2008, Contributions to the knowledge of the " Staphylinus-complex " (Insecta: Coleoptera, Staphylinidae, Staphylinini) of China. Part 18. Various genera, pp. 943-949 in Linzer biologische Beiträge 40 (1)</i> on page 948, DOI: <a href="http://zenodo.org/record/5429958">10.5281/zenodo.5429958</a>
Laguerre geometry of hypersurfaces in R-n
No full textLaguerre geometry of surfaces in R-3 is given in the book of Blaschke [Vorlesungen uber Differentialgeometrie, Springer, Berlin Heidelberg New York (1929)], and has been studied by Musso and Nicolodi [Trans. Am. Math. soc. 348, 4321-4337 (1996); Abh. Math. Sem. Univ. Hamburg 69, 123-138 (1999); Int. J. Math. 11(7), 911-924 (2000)], Palmer [Remarks on a variation problem in Laguerre geometry. Rendiconti di Mathematica, Serie VII, Roma, vol. 19, pp. 281-293 (1999)] and other authors. In this paper we study Laguerre differential geometry of hypersurfaces in R-n. For any umbilical free hypersurface x:M -> R-n with non-zero principal curvatures we define a Laguerre invariant metric g on M and a Laguerre invariant self-adjoint operator S:TM -> TM, and show that {g,S} is a complete Laguerre invariant system for hypersurfaces in R-n with >= 4. We calculate the Euler-Lagrange equation for the Laguerre volume functional of Laguerre metric by using Laguerre invariants. Using the Euclidean space R-n, the semi-Euclidean space R-1(n) and the degenerate space R-0(n) we define three Laguerre space forms URn, UR1n and UR0n and define the Laguerre embeddings URn1 -> URn and UR0n -> URn, analogously to what happens in the Moebius geometry where we have Moebius space forms S-n, H-n and R-n (spaces of constant curvature) and conformal embeddings H-n -> S-n and R-n -> S-n[cf. Liu et al. in Tohoku Math. J. 53, 553-569 (2001) and Wang in Manuscr. Math. 96, 517-534 (1998)]. Using these Laguerre embeddings we can unify the Laguerre geometry of hypersurfaces in R-n, R-1(n) and R-0(n). As an example we show that minimal surfaces in R-1(3) or R-0(3) are Laguerre minimal in R-3.MathematicsSCI(E)0ARTICLE173-9512
An unconventional distribution pattern of retinal ganglion cells in the giant panda (Ailuropoda melanoleuca)
No full text
PURPOSE:: Characterize the vertical distribution pattern of retinal ganglion cells in the giant panda.
Methods: Four eyeballs were immediately collected from deceased adult pandas. Routine immunohistochemical staining techniques were applied to label retinal ganglion cells (RGCs). RNA-binding protein with multiple splicing (RBPMS) was used as an RGC marker to selectively label RGCs (custom-made by ProSci Inc, CA) and SMI-32 was used as an Alpha RGC marker. Immunostained RGCs were scanned under confocal microscopy and analyzed with commercial software (Adobe Photoshop and Microsoft Excel).
RESULTS: As expected, the isodensity map of RGCs in the cat exhibited a typical horizontally positioned visual streak, in contrast, that of the panda showed a vertically oriented isodensity RGCs band. This band crossed the center of AC-like peak density region and extended vertically from the superior to the inferior retina (5.22 ± 0.46 mm, n=3). The averaged width of the band was 2.18 ± 0.32 mm (n=3). SMI-32 positive RGCs were also analyzed, accordingly.
CONCLUSION: The present study suggests that the giant panda adopted a retinal structure that is essential for better visual performance and survival. These morphological characteristics of RGCs could be important for understanding visual adaptation and evolution of this living fossil.</p
Improved Power Quality in a Solar PV Plant Integrated Utility Grid by Employing a Novel Adaptive Current Regulator
No full textIntegration of solar photovoltaic plants into the distribution systems using various power processing units produces the harmonics that may cause malfunctioning of sensitive equipment connected to the point of common coupling. To overcome this drawback, a novel adaptive current regulator is employed for the grid interfacing voltage source inverter. In addition, a high-gain dc-dc converter with a Kalman-based maximum power point tracking algorithm is designed to achieve the high voltage level at the common dc bus. To determine three-phase reference currents, the proposed adaptive current regulator is designed by using a recurrent neural network trained with the Hebbian least mean square weight updating algorithm. They are used to generate the three-phase compensating currents for suppressing the harmonics present in the system. The proposed method has several merits, such as better harmonic mitigation ability, adaptive behavior, improved stability, and lesser settling time, as compared with the conventional PI controller. The system performance with the proposed current control regulator is analyzed via MATLAB/Simulink. Comparative analysis via simulation platform assures the improved performance in terms of power quality, settling time, and stability of the proposed controller. Also, the effectiveness of the proposed controller is validated under several transient conditions by developing a laboratory scale prototype model with the dSPACE control desk
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