Green leaf phenology at Landsat resolution: Scaling from the field to the satellite

Despite the large number of in situ, plot-level phenological measurements and satellite-derived phenological studies, there has been little success to date in merging these records temporally or spatially. In this research, we bridge this scale gap through higher resolution satellite records (Landsat) and quantify the accuracy of satellite-derived metrics with direct field measurements. We compiled fifty-seven Landsat scenes from southern New England (P12 R51) from 1984 to 2002. Green vegetation areal abundance for each scene was derived from spectral mixture analysis and a single set of endmembers. The leaf area signal was fit with a logistic-growth simulating sigmoid curve to derive phenological markers (half-maximum leaf-onset and offset). Spring leaf-onset dates in homogenous stands of deciduous forests displayed significant and persistent local variability. The local variability was validated with multiple springtime ground observations (r² = 0.91). The highest degree of verified small-scale variation occurred where contiguous forests displayed leaf-onset gradients of 10-14 days over short distances (< 500 m). These dramatic gradients occur in of low-relief (< 40 m) upland regions. The patterns suggest that microclimates resulting from springtime cold-air drainage may be influential in governing the start of leaf growth; every 4.16 m loss in elevation delayed spring leaf onset by 1 day. These microclimates may be of crucial importance in interpreting in situ records and interpolating phenology from satellite data. Regional patterns from the Landsat analyses suggest topographic, coastal, and land-use controls on phenology. Our results indicate that deciduous forests in the Providence, RI metropolitan area leaf out 5-7 days earlier than comparable rural areas. The platform-independent curve-fit methodology may be extended across platforms and field data. The methodologically consistent approach, in tandem with Landsat data, allows an effective scaling from plot to satellite phenological observations.     

Drugs,Guts, Brains,but Not Rock and Roll: The Need to Consider the Role of Gut Microbiota in Contemporary Mental Health and Wellness of Emerging Adults

Emerging adulthood (ages 18–25) is a critical period for neurobiological development and the maturation of the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal axis. Recent findings also suggest that a natural perturbation of the gut microbiota (GM), combined with other factors, may create a unique vulnerability during this period of life. The GM of emerging adults is thought to be simpler, less diverse, and more unstable than either younger or older people. We postulate that this plasticity in the GM suggests a role in the rising mental health issues seen in westernized societies today via the gut–brain–microbiota axis. Studies have paid particular attention to the diversity of the microbiota, the specific function and abundance of bacteria, and the production of metabolites. In this narrative review, we focus specifically on diet, physical activity/exercise, substance use, and sleep in the context of the emerging adult. We propose that this is a crucial period for establishing a stable and more resilient microbiome for optimal health into adulthood. Recommendations will be made about future research into possible behavioral adjustments that may be beneficial to endorse during this critical period to reduce the probability of a “dysbiotic” GM and the emergence and severity of mental health concerns.     

Nutritional Calcium Supply Dependent Calcium Balance,Bone Calcification and Calcium Isotope Ratios in Rats

Serum calcium isotopes (δ^44/42Ca) have been suggested as a non-invasive and sensitive Ca balance marker. Quantitative δ^44/42Ca changes associated with Ca flux across body compartment barriers relative to the dietary Ca and the correlation of δ^44/42Ca_Serum with bone histology are unknown. We analyzed Ca and δ^44/42Ca by mass-spectrometry in rats after two weeks of standard-Ca-diet (0.5%) and after four subsequent weeks of standard- and of low-Ca-diet (0.25%). In animals on a low-Ca-diet net Ca gain was 61 ± 3% and femur Ca content 68 ± 41% of standard-Ca-diet, bone mineralized area per section area was 68 ± 15% compared to standard-Ca-diet. δ^44/42Ca was similar in the diets, and decreased in feces and urine and increased in serum in animals on low-Ca-diet. δ^44/42Ca_Bone was higher in animals on low-Ca-diet, lower in the diaphysis than the metaphysis and epiphysis, and unaffected by gender. Independent of diet, δ^44/42Ca_Bone was similar in the femora and ribs. At the time of sacrifice, δ^44/42Ca_Serum inversely correlated with intestinal Ca uptake and histological bone mineralization markers, but not with Ca content and bone mineral density by µCT. In conclusion, δ^44/42Ca_Bone was bone site specific, but mechanical stress and gender independent. Low-Ca-diet induced marked changes in feces, serum and urine δ^44/42Ca in growing rats. δ^44/42Ca_Serum inversely correlated with markers of bone mineralization.     

MDO: assessment and direction for advancement—an opinion of one international group

This paper is a summary of topics presented and discussed at the 2006 European–U.S. Multidisciplinary Optimization (MDO) Colloquium in Goettingen, Germany, attended by nearly seventy professionals from academia, industry, and government. An attempt is made to accurately reflect the issues discussed by this diverse group, qualified by interest, experience, and accomplishment to present an opinion about the state-of-the-art, trends, and developments in Multidisciplinary Design Optimization. As such, its main purpose is to provide suggestions and stimulus for future research in the field. The predominant content of the colloquium was centered on aerospace, with a few contributions from the automotive industry, and this is reflected in the article. Due to the timeframe that has passed since the conclusion of the workshop, the authors have updated topics where appropriate to reflect observed developments over the past 3 years. Finally, rather than dwelling extensively on past accomplishments and current capabilities in MDO we focus on the needs and identified shortcomings from the colloquium which lead to potential future research directions. A brief MDO background is provided to set the discussion in its proper context.     

Locking‐free discontinuous finite elements for the upper bound yield design of thick plates

This work investigates the formulation of finite elements dedicated to the upper bound kinematic approach of yield design or limit analysis of Reissner–Mindlin thick plates in shear‐bending interaction. The main novelty of this paper is to take full advantage of the fundamental difference between limit analysis and elasticity problems as regards the class of admissible virtual velocity fields. In particular, it has been demonstrated for 2D plane stress, plane strain or 3D limit analysis problems that the use of discontinuous velocity fields presents a lot of advantages when seeking for accurate upper bound estimates. For this reason, discontinuous interpolations of the transverse velocity and the rotation fields for Reissner–Mindlin plates are proposed. The subsequent discrete minimization problem is formulated as a second‐order cone programming problem and is solved using the industrial software package MOSEK . A comprehensive study of the shear‐locking phenomenon is also conducted, and it is shown that discontinuous elements avoid such a phenomenon quite naturally whereas continuous elements cannot without any specific treatment. This particular aspect is confirmed through numerical examples on classical benchmark problems and the so‐obtained upper bound estimates are confronted to recently developed lower bound equilibrium finite elements for thick plates. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Survey on communication architectures for wind energy integration with the smart grid

Communication systems are needed to integrate generated power from wind farms with the electrical grid. This paper provides a comprehensive review of available communication technologies, protocols and objectives related to wind energy and electrical grid integration. This paper summarizes the communication system solutions for wind generation. A major obstacle is an absence of unified communication architectures and standards.     

Designs on the Public: The Private Lives of New York's Public Spaces

America's Housing Needs to the 2lst Century Raymond J. Struyk and Christopher Walker. The Urban Institute and the National Association of Realtors, Washington, D.C. 1988. $7.50.

A Blueprint for National Housing Policy National Association of Home Builders, Washington, D.C. 1987. Free.

A Decent Place to Live: The Report of the National Housing Task Force. National Housing Task Force. U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, D.C. 1988.

Future U.S. Housing Policy: Meeting the Demographic Challenge Raymond J. Struyk, Margery A. Turner, and Makiko Ueno. The Urban Institute, Washington, D.C. $14.95.

Preventing the Disappearance of Low Income Housing National Low Income Housing Preservation Commission, National Corporation for Housing Partnerships, Washington, D.C. 1988. Free.

The Report of the president's Commission on Housing President's Commission on Housing. U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, D.C. 1982.

The State of the Nation's Housing William C. Apgar, Jr., and H. James Brown. Joint Center for Housing Studies of Harvard University, Cambridge, MA. 1988.

Subsidizing Shelter: The Relationship between Welfare and Housing Assistance Sandra J. Newman and Anne B. Schnare. The Urban Institute, Washington, D.C. 1988. $14.95.

Toward a National Housing Policy National Association of Home Builders, National Association of Realtors, and Mortgage Bankers Association of America, Washington, D.C. 1987. Free.

Private Supply of Public Services: Evaluating of Real Estate Exactions, Linkage, and Alternative Land Policies, Rachelle Alterman, editor. New York University Press, New York and London, 1988. 273 pp. $40.00.

Homeowners and Neighborhood Reinvestment, George C. Galster. Duke University Press, Durham, NC, 1987. 354 pp. $60.

Small Scale Municipal Solid Waste Recovery Systems Gershman, Brickner &; Bratton, Inc., Van Nostrand Rein-hold, New York, 1986. 272 pp. $42.00.

Economic Valuation Techniques for the Environment: A Case Study Workbook John A. Dixon and Maynard M. Hufschmidt, editors. The Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore and London, 1986. 203 pp. $25.00 (cloth), $8.95 (paperback).

The Health of Nations: True Causes of Sickness and Well-Being Leonard A. Sagan. Basic Books, New York, 1987. 240 pp. $19.95.

The Geography of De-Industrialisation Ron Martin and Bob Rowthorn, editors. Macmillan, London, 1986. Distributed by Sheridan House, New York. 365 pp. $45.00.

Spaces for Children: The Built Environment and Child Development Carol Simon Weinstein and Thomas G. David; editors. Plenum Press, New York, 1987. 322 pp. $39.50.

Play for All Guidelines: Planning, Design, and Management of Outdoor Play Settings for All Children Robin C. Moore, Susan M. Goltsman, and Daniel S. lacofano. MIG Communications, Berkeley, CA, 1987. 280 pp. $39.95.

Privatization: The Key to Better Government E. S. Savas. Chatham House Publishers, Chatham, NJ, 1987. 308 pp. $14.95 (paperback).

When Government Goes Private: Successful Alternatives to Public Services Randall Fitzgerald. Universe Books, New York, NY, 1988. 330 pp. $24.95.

The Metropolis Era. Volume 1: A World of Giant Cities; Volume 2: Mega Cities Mattei Dogan and John D. Kasarda, editors. Sage Publications, Newbury Park, California, 1988. Volume 1: 394 pp. $40.00. Volume 2: 322 pp. $40.00.

FDR's Utopian: Arthur Morgan of the TVA Roy Talbert, Jr. University Press of Mississippi, Jackson and London, 1987. 218 pp. $25.00.

Urban Shelter and Services: Public Policies and Management Approaches G. Shabblr Cheema. Praeger, New York, 1987. 221 pp. $39.95.

Spontaneous Shelter: International Perspectives and Prospects Carl V. Patton, editor. Temple University Press, Philadelphia, 1988. 380 pp. $39.95.

Shelter, Settlement and Development Lloyd Rodwin, editor. Allen &; Unwin, Boston, 1987. 476 pp. $39.95.

Hopeful Openings: A Study of Five Women's Organizations in Latin America and the Caribbean Sally Yudelman. Kumarian Press, West Hartford, CT, 1987. 127 pp. $14.95 (paperback).

Women, Human Settlements, and Housing Caroline O. N. Moser and Linda Peake, editors. Tavistock, London and New York, 1987. 222 pp. $49.95 (cloth), $14.95 (paperback).

The Role of Women in Developing Countries: A Study International Center for Public Enterprises in Developing Countries, Ljubljana, Yugoslavia. Distributed by Kumarian Press, West Hartford, CT. 1986. 121 pp. $10.00 (paperback).

Architecture of the Private Streets of St. Louis: The Architects and the Homes They Designed Charles C. Savage. University of Missouri Press, Columbia, 1987. 237 pp. $25.00.

Main Street Ready-Made: The New Deal Community of Greendale, Wisconsin Arnold R. Alanen and Joseph A. Eden. The State Historical Society of Wisconsin, Madison, 1987. 156 pp. $20.00.

Black Philadelphia Street Life: South Philadelphia, 1969–1971 Dan Rose. University of Pennsylvania Press, Philadelphia, 1987. 278 pp. $37.50 (cloth), $14.95 (paperback).     

Biomolecular Structure and Dynamics with Neutrons: The View from Simulation

The characterization of the structure and internal dynamics of biomolecules is essential to understanding their biological function. Neutron scattering probes similar time- and length-scales to molecular dynamics simulation. Hence, simulation models of biomolecules have become invaluable in the interpretation of experimental neutron data. Here, we report on advances in the application of simulation in developing neutron scattering to investigate internal protein motions and, as an example of industrial relevance, in the derivation of physical models of use in biofuel renewable energy research.     

Optimization models for shale gas water management

There are four key aspects for water use in hydraulic fracturing, including source water acquisition, wastewater production, reuse and recycle, and subsequent transportation, storage, and disposal. Water use life cycle is optimized for wellpads through a discrete‐time two‐stage stochastic mixed‐integer linear programming model under uncertain availability of water. The objective is to minimize expected transportation, treatment, storage, and disposal cost while accounting for the revenue from gas production. Assuming freshwater sources, river withdrawal data, location of wellpads, and treatment facilities are given, the goal is to determine an optimal fracturing schedule in coordination with water transportation, and its treatment and reuse. The proposed models consider a long‐time horizon and multiple scenarios from historical data. Two examples representative of the Marcellus Shale play are presented to illustrate the effectiveness of the formulation, and to identify optimization opportunities that can improve both the environmental impact and economical use of water. © 2014 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 60: 3490–3501, 2014