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The separation, purification and determination methods of betaine are mainly reviewed, and the application status of betaine in medicine, aquaculture, agriculture and forestry industries is expounded, and finally a relatively clean membrane filtration separation technology is proposed in view of the shortcomings of current research, which prospects the green and efficient preparation of betaine, which provides a reference for the research of betaine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: This study aimed to determine the factors associated with knowledge and practices related to menstrual hygiene management among adolescent girls in urban slums in Jaipur, India. Material and Methods: A cross-sectional study among 417 adolescent girls was conducted. Descriptive statistics, Chi-square, and bivariate and multivariate logistic regression methods were used to analyze the data and determine the associated factors. Findings: Only 48.7% of girls had a correct understanding of menstruation. In addition, 55.1% of the menstruating girls had faced health problems related to mensuration in the last 6 months; however, only 47.6% visited a health facility for treatment. Educational status of the girl (AOR = 1.89, 95% CI = 0.88-4.06), mother's education (AOR = 2.19, 95% CI = 1.30-3.67) and income (AOR = 1.89, 95% CI = 0.67-3.95), father's income (AOR = 1.42, 95% CI = 0.76-2.95), and counseling by field health workers (AOR = 2.08, 95% CI = 1.23-3.51) were found to be associated with knowledge about menstruation. Girl's education (AOR = 1.49, 95% CI = 0.74-2.95), mother's education (AOR = 1.46, 95% CI = 0.7-2.84) and income (AOR = 1.314, 95% CI = 0.44-2.02), father's education (AOR = 1.64, 95% CI = 0.55-3.08) and income (AOR = 2.0, 95% CI = 0.86-3.28), and counseling by field health workers (AOR = 1.48, 95% CI = 0.76-2.64) were found to be associated with the type of absorbents used. Conclusion: The findings from the study show that the awareness about mensuration and utilization of health services among adolescent girls is low. There is a need to create an enabling environment for girls to access knowledge and health services related to menstruation by creating awareness at the community level, strengthening outreach by field health workers, and ensuring privacy in healthcare facilities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper delves into the ritualization of menstrual blood within the Indic religious traditions, focusing particularly on the Tantric practices. It further investigates the depiction of Kamakhya, the esteemed Tantric site in Assam, India. The annual menstruation festival at Kamakhya, known as Ambuachi Mela, takes place in June. The "Happy to Bleed" campaign aptly encapsulates the annual menstruation event at Kamakhya, presenting a paradoxical view when compared to the veneration of Lord Ayyappan's shrine in Kerala. This perspective is intertwined with themes of sexual desire and patriarchal views, which manifest to different extents in both contexts. While the patriarchal aspect in Lord Ayyappan's case is evident, in Kamakhya's case, it is perceived as a notion that associates menstrual blood with sacred spaces, supposedly diminishing their sanctity. Such beliefs are labeled as hot, dangerous, and impure. This interpretation of the menstruation paradigm is narrow and flawed, necessitating broader research and understanding. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Old Hall Manuscript (OH, c. 1413-1419) is the largest and most complete surviving witness to English music of the early fifteenth century. The extraordinary notational complexity encountered in OH has led to doubt being cast on the performability of some of the repertory copied within this manuscript (Bent 1969, 172). Adopting an approach that places historical theory (Dygon [1510s-1530s] 2006; Willelmus [14th century] 1966) in dialogue with modern theories of musical meter (Cohn 2001; Krebs 1999) reveals that complex proportional changes (anything more complex than a 4:3 or 3:4 proportion) in OH are always introduced incrementally in a process that I term "proportional preparation." From the perspective of performers and scribes who read their own parts sequentially directly from the manuscript, some of the most "virtuosic" (Bent 2022a) notational devices of OH can be seen as serving to make hard proportions easier to sing. The presence of proportional preparations in OH invites further consideration not only of this phenomenon in contemporaneous repertory, but also of the relationships between mensuration, meter, rhythm, notation, and counterpoint. Additionally, it opens a path to further interrogate whether historical composers and theorists possessed an innate or intuitive awareness for the kinds of cognitive constraints that are placed upon musicians during the performance of repertory that is technically demanding from the perspective of rhythm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Phenotyping has been a reality for aiding the selection of optimal crops for specific environments for decades in various horticultural industries. However, until recently, phenotyping was less accessible to tree breeders due to the size of the crop, the length of the rotation and the difficulty in acquiring detailed measurements. With the advent of affordable and non-destructive technologies, such as mobile laser scanners (MLS), phenotyping of mature forests is now becoming practical. Despite the potential of MLS technology, few studies included detailed assessments of its accuracy in mature plantations. In this study, we assessed a novel, high-density MLS operated below canopy for its ability to derive phenotypic measurements from mature Pinus radiata. MLS data were co-registered with above-canopy UAV laser scanner (ULS) data and imported to a pipeline that segments individual trees from the point cloud before extracting tree-level metrics. The metrics studied include tree height, diameter at breast height (DBH), stem volume and whorl characteristics. MLS-derived tree metrics were compared to field measurements and metrics derived from ULS alone. Our pipeline was able to segment individual trees with a success rate of 90.3%. We also observed strong agreement between field measurements and MLS-derived DBH (R2 = 0.99, RMSE = 5.4%) and stem volume (R2 = 0.99, RMSE = 10.16%). Additionally, we proposed a new variable height method for deriving DBH to avoid swelling, with an overall accuracy of 52% for identifying the correct method for where to take the diameter measurement. A key finding of this study was that MLS data acquired from below the canopy was able to derive canopy heights with a level of accuracy comparable to a high-end ULS scanner (R2 = 0.94, RMSE = 3.02%), negating the need for capturing above-canopy data to obtain accurate canopy height models. Overall, the findings of this study demonstrate that even in mature forests, MLS technology holds strong potential for advancing forest phenotyping and tree measurement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In mensural notation, certain combinations of notes could be notated either individually or bound together as ligatures. The choice of whether or not to use a ligature provided an opportunity for composers and scribes to encode different types of musical meaning. It has long been accepted that ligatures could help to show text underlay, and scholars have also proposed that ligatures could clarify aspects of musical structure, such as melodic and rhythmic patterns, phrasing, and articulation. It is difficult to prove wide applicability of these proposals, not least because they tend to rely primarily on the evidence of practical sources. Fortunately, there is more theoretical evidence about the purpose and function of ligatures than has been heretofore recognized. While much of the evidence unsurprisingly points toward the textual significance of ligatures, a substantial amount of theory from the early fifteenth century to the midsixteenth century shows that ligatures were also important for clarifying aspects of mensural context, sometimes forcing perfection and alteration. The evidence leads us to reconsider widely held assumptions about the significance of ligatures and to look beyond text underlay as the primary meaning that may (or may not) be signified. Drawing on these insights, contextual analysis of notation can provide a clearer window into the concerns and priorities of composers and scribes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reverse projection photogrammetry has long been used to estimate the height of an individual in forensic video examinations. A natural extrapolation would be to apply the same technique on a video to estimate the speed of an object by determining the distance traveled between two points over a set amount of time. To test this theory, five digital video recorders (DVRs) were connected to a single fixed camera to record a vehicle traveling down a track. The vehicle's speed was measured through Doppler radar by a trained operator and the speedometer of the vehicle was also recorded with a video camera. The recorded video was examined and the frames that best depict the beginning and end of the vehicles course were selected. Two reverse projection photogrammetric examinations were performed on the selected frames to establish the position of the vehicle. The distance between the two points was measured, and the time elapsed between the two points was examined. The outcome provided an accurate speed result with a standard degree of uncertainty. This study proves the feasibility of using video data and reverse projection photogrammetry to determine the speed of a vehicle with a limited set of variables. Further research is needed to determine how additional variables would impact the standard degree of uncertainty. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Johannes Ockeghem's Missa Prolationum is a well-known specimen of fifteenth-century notational complexity. As it is notated in the Chigi Codex, it consists entirely of mensuration canons. However, the other complete manuscript copy of the piece, in the manuscript Vienna 11883, eschews this complexity in favor of resolved notations (resolutiones) with uniform mensurations. Reexamining these resolutiones in light of generic mensural norms, statistical analysis of the work's metrical structure, and subtle notational correspondences between the two manuscript copies suggests that the resolved notations in the Vienna manuscript are the result of a productive, formalist music-analytic encounter between their creator and the Missa Prolationum. Seen in this light, these resolutiones offer a new perspective on the early reception of this music. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sperm morphometry is the tool that confers objectivity to the morphological evaluation by accurately measuring the dimensions of the gamete and its structures. Thus, the aim of the study was to perform a morphometric characterization of the domestic cat sperm. Therefore, sperm samples were collected from twenty pairs of epididymis in a TRIS extender at 37ºC. An aliquot of the sample was used to make a smear with Rose Bengal solution, and afterwards, the morphology and morphometry were analysed. In the morphology, were quantified the percentage of normal sperm cells, morphological changes of head, midpiece and tail. In morphometry, each normal sperm cell was measured for length, width, area and perimeter of head and midpiece, tail length and total length. The parameters ellipticity, elongation, regularity and rugosity were also determined. The percentage of normal sperm was 67.21%. Of the abnormalities, the curled/folded tail, followed by the curved midpiece, abnormal shaped head and detached head were the most quantified. The sperm head presented 5.56 ± 0.01 μm and 3.10 ± 0.01 μm of length and width, respectively. The head area was 16.94 ± 0.05 μm2, while the perimeter was 16.16 ± 0.03 μm. In the derived parameters, the values were as follows: ellipticity of 1.81 ± 0.00; elongation of 21.39 ± 0.12; regularity of 0.81 ± 0.00; and rugosity of 0.14 ± 0.00. The midpiece presented length and width of 7.96 ± 0.01 μm and 0.76 ± 0.01 μm, respectively. The mean length of the sperm tail was 45.12 ± 0.06 μm, and the total cell size was 58.67 ± 0.06 μm. Thus, it was concluded that the cat sperm is an elongated cell, with high rugosity and regularity. The spermatic tail represents more than ¾ of the total length of the cell and the midpiece exceeds the length of the head. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Guillaume Du Fay's Nuper rosarum flores (1436) has been subject to symbolic interpretation ever since Charles Warren suggested that the structure of the motet reflects the architectural proportions of the cathedral of Florence. More recent analyses have accepted the premise that the motet's form has extramusical meaning, in particular, that mensural and architectural proportions can be directly analogized. These tantalizing connections have led scholars to canonize this motet, now a mainstay of music history textbooks. The extent and specificity of the extramusical associations Nuper rosarum flores enjoys--an occasion, a place, and a secure attribution--are rare in the fifteenth century. This fact alone makes the motet appear to be exceptional. But reading Nuper rosarum flores alongside the norms of genre and notation and against the grain of the work's modern historiography suggests that it isn't all that special--or at least that it is no more special than Du Fay's other ceremonial motets. The interpretive history of Nuper rosarum flores exemplifies what I call "false exceptionalism," which relates to a more general problem in music studies--the alluring but often elusive relationship between musical form and social meaning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Precision and bias of a model designed to predict site index of Scots pine (P. sylvestrisL.) from site variables in Sweden were tested using data from 1985 inventory plots. The model was biased and relatively imprecise (standard error = 3.7 m). A new model was constructed using a fitting subset of data, employing sums of mean monthly estimates of photosynthetically active radiation modified by local monthly climatic conditions as a primary independent variable. The best model used day-time temperature modifiers to calculate potential radiation-use efficiency. Modifiers for vapour pressure deficit and soil water did not improve the model. Elevation, distance to the sea, and phytometer indicators of nutritional fertility added small but significant improvements to the predictions. The final model had a standard error of 2.06 m for predictions of site index that ranged from 18 to 30 m at age 100. When applied to a validation subset of plots the model displayed a standard error of 2.09 m and very similar residual patterns to those observed during fitting. The new model represents a significant improvement over the older model, and further improvements may be feasible when historical climatic estimates and a higher resolution digital elevation model become available. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Centroid method with three of the traditional methods used to estimate the volume of logs (Newton`s, Smalien`s, Huber`s) and four species Eucalyptus, Platanus, Cypress and Pine. Different in terms of natural growth had been adopted to determine which of these equations are the best and most accurate in estimating the volume of these species so (30) tree of each species were taken. The measurements taken are the diameter at the breast, height and elevations at various levels began to 0.3, 1.3, 2.3 and up to 6.3 m which represents length of the piece of wood desired in market, and through the use of ordinary models for Newton`s, Smalien`s, Huber`s, Centroid and the real comparing of the volume of the equations and the true volume by using bias, standard error and T-test, we found that equations of comparisons have no-significant effect, but the equation of Newton`s have best estimate for rest of equations in roughly, we recommend using the equation of Newton`s was the best in estimate of volume of the logs of wood [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this work was to improve the measurement and cubage of the Pinus maestrensis logs, the production conditions of the Gran Piedra-Baconao Agroforestry Company. A volume table was obtained in situ and compared with those used in the conditions of production. With the use of correlation and regression techniques, the volume equation of logs was determined from a sample represented by a total of 215 logs, of which 140 were used for the adjustment and the rest for validation. The results showed that the equations defined from the diameter crust at the base of the log and length; as well as the one that defines the lower end of the log and the length were selected to estimate volume without crust, since they reached adjustments greater than 76 % of the coefficient of determination and deviations from the real volume of less than 3 %, in addition to their application practice because it is a variable of the easy measurement equation. When comparing the equations with tables and formulas for e stimating volumes used in production, it turned out to be of greater accuracy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Facing a competitive market, organizations that invest in knowledge and appreciation of its employees, empowering attributes that develop their intellectual capital add value to their activities increasing their efficiency and credibility among its internal and external customers. Therefore the aim of this work is to verify the existence of intellectual capital initiatives and the level of monitoring of those shares in the company studied, basing on a case study conducted in an accounting firm, it appears that the company needs to invest in actions for the development of its human capital, especially in actions for the dissemination of knowledge, structural and relational capital in view of employees is being developed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mesquite is one of the most important forest resources in northern Mexico, constituting an important part of the national flora and its great importance to the inhabitants of the arid and semiarid regions. This paper shows a volumen and wood weight table obtained in m³ which can be used in the área of influence. This technique was based on dimensional analysis, measuring the tres readily available, which enables farmers, foresters and institutions, rely on production parametersand volumen of timber (wood) for the rational and sustainable use of natural populations of mesquite, in turn providing protection and conservation of the environment. The evaluation was conducted in Ejido San Antonio de la Sierrecilla, municipality of Mazapil, Zacatecas. The largest diameter was measured on crown and total height in cm, destructive sampling was carried out in 39 trees, and volume and weight of branches were determined. In regression analysis polynomial model was used resulting in timber volumen (m³)=2,341E-6X²-0,0012X+0,1803 and determination of weight (kg)=0,001X2- 0,556X+81,909*D with 95% reliability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Forest inventory is vital to all aspects of forest management and inventory methods can vary greatly in their accuracy, precision, efficiency and cost. In Maine, much of the forestland base has been managed using partial harvesting methods over the past two decades. These partial harvesting methods generally produce highly heterogeneous stand structures and composition. Consequently, it is currently unclear which inventory methods are best given the distinct spatial and structural heterogeneity that is created. We compared efficiency and stand-level inventory estimates using horizontal point, fixed area and horizontal line sampling measurement methods in 16 partially harvested stands across northern and central Maine. Some stand-level variables were sensitive to measurement method (e.g., volume, quadratic mean diameter and small stem density and basal area), while others were less sensitive (e.g., overall basal area and stem density). Efficiency, defined as a combination of precision of volume estimates and measurement time, varied among measurement methods at lower stand basal area values but was similar at higher basal area, with the exception of the fixed area method. Overall, horizontal line sampling proved to be a viable method in post-partial harvest stand conditions. Our results illustrate the trade-offs between precision and time costs involved in several measurement methods under a range of heterogeneous stand conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Routine monitoring of above ground biomass within purpose-grown willow biomass energy production systems is important for timing harvest and other operations to maximize profit and increase plantation productivity. The objective of this study was to assess the efficacy of an elegant nondestructive mensurative technique for providing reliable estimates of harvestable biomass for six willow varieties during a 3-year rotation. The LAI-2000 Plant Canopy Analyser was used to measure the stem area index of growing willow and relate it to harvestable biomass at four locations within Saskatchewan, Canada over a 3-year period. Given the highly significant relationship ( R = 0.95; P < 0.0001) between measured stem area index and harvestable willow biomass, independent of variety, age, or location, this simple mensurative technique is a promising alternative for estimating above ground biomass in short-rotation willow plantations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Successful purpose-grown willow production systems require regular monitoring of willow growth to apply timely management techniques for increased productivity and timing of harvest for maximizing profit. The objective of this study was to assess the efficacy of a novel method of estimating above-ground willow biomass, involving measuring light attenuation through the willow canopy, to calculate a ‘stem area index’ for relating to harvested willow biomass. Two different willow clones, with contrasting growth form, were used: single stem (Charlie) and multi-stem (SV1). Given the strong correlations (r2  > 0.97; p < 0.05) between the measured stem area index and harvested willow biomass, regardless of growth form, it appears that this simple mensurative technique is a promising alternative for estimating above-ground biomass in short-rotation willow plantations. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

This paper presents a video metrology approach using an uncalibrated single camera that is either stationary or in planar motion. Although theoretically simple, measuring the length of even a line segment in a given video is often a difficult problem. Most existing techniques for this task are extensions of single image-based techniques and do not achieve the desired accuracy especially in noisy environments. In contrast, the proposed algorithm moves line segments on the reference plane to share a common endpoint using the vanishing line information followed by fitting multiple concentric circles on the image plane. A fully automated real-time system based on this algorithm has been developed to measure vehicle wheelbases using an uncalibrated stationary camera. The system estimates the vanishing line using invariant lengths on the reference plane from multiple frames rather than the given parallel lines, which may not exist in videos. It is further extended to a camera undergoing a planar motion by automatically selecting frames with similar vanishing lines from the video. Experimental results show that the measurement results are accurate enough to classify moving vehicles based on their size. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We consider Egyptian mathematics from a postmodern perspective, by which we mean suspending judgement as to strict correctness in order to appreciate the genuine mathematical insights which they did have in the context in which they were working. In particular we show that the skill which the Egyptians possessed of obtaining the general case from a specific numerical example suggests a complete solution to the well-known, but hitherto not completely resolved, question of how the volume of the truncated pyramid given in Problem 14 of the Moscow papyrus was derived. We also point out some details in Problem 48 of the Rhind papyrus, on the area of the circle, which have previously gone unnoticed. Finally, since many of their mathematical insights have long been forgotten, and fall within the modern school syllabus, we draw some important lessons for contemporary mathematics education. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Balance pan weights are used in both manufacture and trade and therefore are a correlate of economic activity. Ancient examples can provide insight into the nature and extent of ancient economies. Many ancient weights have been discovered at the site of Nippur in Iraq and most are here analyzed for the first time. Common weight forms at Nippur are those that are typical across the ancient Near East, but a single system of weight measurement is strongly indicated in statistical analysis. This is in contradiction to most analyzed sites farther north, where many weight systems are simultaneously in play. It seems to indicate Nippur's relative isolation within a socio-economic system, reflecting a general lack of incoming merchants or craftspeople from distant regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mensurational attributes of Melocanna baccifera culms were studied from five different locations in the state of Mizoram, India. Attributes such as culm height, internode length, internode diameter, culm wall thickness and number of nodes per culm were measured. Regression models were developed for internode length, internode diameter, culm wall thickness, culm height and culm volume. Results were found to be significant. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The relationship between fishing line height (FLH), shrimp catch and bycatch in a semi-pelagic ocean shrimp (Pandalus jordani) trawl was investigated using a newly developed recording inclinometer. The inclinometer was effective at measuring FLH and indicating trawl performance deficits. FLH was determined to be stable during a haul and also between hauls within a given footrope and groundline configuration. FLH was readily adjusted with simple modifications to the footrope “dropper” chains. Inclinometer data showed that FLH can be unequal between double-rigged nets of identical configuration. Shrimp catch and the bycatch of flatfish and juvenile rockfish varied inversely with FLH, suggesting FLH can be adjusted to equalize the catch of shrimp, flatfish and juvenile rockfish between two double-rigged shrimp nets. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

This study aimed to improve one basic circle of allometry-based forest biometrics—diameter at breast height (DBH) mensuration. To address its common shortage of low efficiency in field measurement, this study attempted mobile laser scanning (MLS) as an efficient alternative and proposed a new MLS-based DBH mensuration algorithm to further exclude the effect of stem bending. That is, prior to the procedure of cone-based geometric modeling of a tree stem, an operation of Aligning the local stem axis series that is calculated by the Successive Cone-based Fitting of those continuously equi-height-layered laser points on the stem (ASCF) is appended. In the case of an urban boreal forest, tests showed that the proposed algorithm worked better (the coefficient of determination, R2 = 0.81 and root mean square error, RMSE = 52.1 mm) than the circle- (0.16 and 189.4 mm), cylinder- (0.77 and 58.7 mm), and cone-based (0.77 and 56.7 mm) geometric modeling algorithms. From a methodological viewpoint, the new ASCF algorithm was preliminarily validated for MLS-based tree DBH mensuration, with the “cornerstone-rebuilding” significance for allometry-based forest biometrics. With the development of MLS variants available for complex forest environments, this study will contribute fundamental implications for advancements in forestry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article deals with the use of note-blackening in dance music by Leipzig composers in the second half of the 17th century. Blackening was part of the system of mensural notation used in the German lands for much of the 16th century. Despite the attempts of Michael Praetorius to clarify the complications of the system, it fell out of use in the early 17th century and Sethus Calvisius, the influential Leipzig-trained theorist, was not alone in disparagingly referring to mensural signs as nothing but ‘clever devices’. However, elements of mensuration remained in use, especially in dance music. While the use of the C3/2 seems to have been little more than a nod to a past tradition, blackening was retained as a practical notation, albeit changed from the Proportio hemiola of Praetorius. A succession of three blackened semibreves became a popular way of marking cross-beat accentuation, particularly at cadences in triple-time dance music. In Leipzig, this seems to have been taken one stage further, when a single blackened semibreve was used to denote single off-beat accents in courantes and sarabandes. Such blackening could lead to a profound change in the characteristics of these dances. Given the importance of this for performance, it is disappointing that blackening is suppressed in many 20th-century editions. Even today, editors are often cavalier with this aspect of the text; at the very least, the modern-day performer should be able to see note-blackening in its proper context. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]