Monitoring coniferous forest characteristics using a multifrequency (5–90 GHz) microwave radiometer

The objective of this study is to analyze the potential interest of microwave radiometry to monitor coniferous forests. Microwave data were acquired by the airbone multifrequency radiometer PORTOS (5 GHz, 10.6 GHz, 23.8 GHz, 36.5 GHz, and 90 GHz) over a test site in Les Landes Forest (France). The test site consists of large homogeneous stands of maritime pines (Pinus pinaster). The stands are monospecies and even-aged and cover a large range of age and biomass conditions (the above-ground dry biomass ranges from 0 to about 180 tons/ha). The stands were flown over twice in May and August 1994. The microwave response to the coniferous stand characteristics is analyzed. A statistical study is carried out to investigate the potential interest of the PORTOS data to discriminate between the different stand categories. The sensitivity of the stand emissivity to view angle, frequency, measurement date, and stand characteristics is analyzed. It is found that the range of forest stand microwave emissivity is relatively narrow for a vegetation coverage exceeding 95%. Although different stand categories can be distinguished from the PORTOS data, the level of discrimination is not sufficient to allow the development of accurate rules of classification. No relationship could be found between low frequency measurements and the stand biovolume. On the other hand, a linear negative relationship is found between emissivity at 10.6 GHz and average tree variables of the stands (age, height, trunk diameter) for well-developed pine stands. Also, potential interest of PORTOS to estimate forest stand characteristics seems to be significant at 90 GHz. For this frequency channel, good correlation is found between emissivity and tree basal area B_A. The results presented in this work contribute to better assess the potential applications of the future ESA/MIMR instrument over coniferous areas.     

Influence of Roasting on the Water Sorption Isotherms of Argentinean Algarroba (Prosopis alba Griseb) Pods

Prosopis alba is an arboreal legume that occurs naturally in Argentine. Its fruits (algarroba or Prosopis pods) are dried or roasted, ground and then used in foods and feeds. The influence of roasting process on the water sorption isotherms of Prosopis pod flour at three storage temperatures was studied. The equilibrium data for each sorption isotherm were determined by the standard static gravimetric method. Experimental values were fitted to the BET and GAB sorption models. Type II isotherms were obtained according to Brunauer classification. The calculated isosteric heats of sorption (Qs) near the monolayer moisture content were 7.30 and 7.68 kJ/mol for raw and roasted flour, respectively. The results showed that roasting did not significantly change the behavior of the products with regard to water adsorption, although a slight reduction of the tendency to humectation was observed, this being somewhat less spontaneous. In this aspect, the stability of Prosopis flour is similar in the raw and roasted states.     

Potential for evolution of resistance to pheromones: Interindividual and interpopulational variation in chemical communication system of pink bollworm moth

After an extensive examination of the release rates and blend ratios of pheromonal components emitted by field-collected femalePectinophora gossypiella (Saunders), we find no evidence of resistance to pheromones applied to cotton fields to disrupt mating. Females from fields with 3–5 years of exposure to disruptant pheromones as well as those from fields with only minimal exposure to disruptant pheromones emitted (Z,Z)-7,11-hexadecadienyl acetate at a rate of ca. 0.1 ng/min and (Z,E)7,11-hexadecadienyl acetate at ca. 0.06 ng/min. The ratio of pheromonal components was much less variable than the measured emission rate and was centered about a 61:39Z, Z to Z,E ratio. In contrast to the blend ratio emitted by females, the composition of the pheromonal blend used in monitoring populations and disrupting mating is centered about 50:50 Z,Z to Z.E. In general there was a remarkable consistency in the release rate and blend ratio among populations of females throughout southern California and those from a laboratory colony. It would appear that, although resistance to theP. gossypiella pheromone is still a very real possibility when it is used heavily in pest management as a mating disruptant, there are current agricultural practices and conditions which would hinder its development. Pectinophora gossypiella (Saunders), Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae.     

Parent-offspring recognition in thick-billed murres (Aves: Alcidae)

Using field experiments, we investigated the development of parent-offspring recognition in the thick-billed murre, Uria lomvia. Cross-fostering experiments (N=73) showed that the likelihood of parents accepting a foreign chick decreased with chick age. Simultaneous-choice playback experiments demonstrated that chicks discriminate between the calls of their parents and both strange and familiar adult conspecifics from as early as 3 days old. In presentation experiments with chicks of fledging age (>/=14 days), adults responded more strongly to the calls of their own chicks than to other familiar chicks from the same breeding ledge. Results are consistent with those of earlier studies of parent-offspring recognition in the congeneric and ecologically similar common murre, U. aalge, which were among the first to suggest that parent birds and their chicks can identify each other's calls. Copyright 1998 The Association for the Study of Animal Behaviour. Copyright 1998 The Association for the Study of Animal Behaviour.     

Overall maturity of object relations as assessed by the McGill Object Relations Scale

The McGill Object Relations Scale (MORS) is an instrument for assessing levels of drive-based object relations along a continuum of positions representative of psychosexual development. Its theoretical foundations as well as empirical antecedents are presented, and its rating procedure is demonstrated through a case application. The MORS was applied, by five experienced psychiatrists, to 67 adult patients seeking psychoanalytic psychotherapy, in order to assess interrater reliability, internal structure, and construct validity. Results indicate that overall maturity of object relations stems from structural indices of self-object differentiation determined by a particular configuration of many positions, rather than from the thematic aspects included in the individual psychosexual positions.     

Optimal control of a fractional diffusion equation with state constraints

This paper is concerned with the state constrained optimal control problems of a fractional diffusion equation in a bounded domain. The fractional time derivative is considered in the Riemann-Liouville sense. Under a Slater type condition we prove the existence a Lagrange multiplier and a decoupled optimality system.     

Correction to: PolyGraph: a data flow model with frequency arithmetic

International Journal on Software Tools for Technology Transfer - The publication of this article unfortunately contained a mistake.     

Impact of confirming patient expectations of change processes in behavioral, cognitive, and brief dynamic psychotherapy.

Used archival data from a study by L. Thompson et al (see record 1987-32037-001) to examine the association between patient expectations of various change processes (ECPs) and outcome across behavioral, cognitive, and brief dynamic therapy. 56 elderly patients (mean age 67.18 yrs) with major depression received from 16 to 20 sessions of individual psychotherapy. Outcome was assessed on the Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression and the Young Loneliness Inventory. Confirming patient ECPs sometimes had a beneficial impact on both symptomatology and interpersonal functioning outcome variables, while disconfirming patient ECPs sometimes was associated with a detrimental effect. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

The recycling and reclamation of metal-matrix composites

The development of viable techniques for the recycling and reclamation of metal-matrix composites (MMCs) is critical to the commercialization of these advanced materials. The recycling of both MMC wrought alloy (6061) scrap and foundry alloy (high-silicon) returns has been studied. The MMC extrusion alloy scrap has been recycled back into direct-chill cast logs and the resulting billet has been tested to determine whether the composite properties are degraded by repeated recycling. Similarly, fluxing and degassing techniques have been developed so that MMC foundry alloy gates and risers produced in shape-casting may be recycled back into useful castings. These fluxing and degassing processes have been tested commercially. Ultimately, when either type of MMC scrap can no longer be recycled, the alumina particles in the wrought alloys or the silicon carbide particles in the foundry alloys may be removed by common salt or other fluxing techniques. Rotary salt furnace technology has been shown to be effective for this approach, and the results of large-scale trials are reported here.