Crseharacterization of land surface thermal structure from NOAA-AVHRR data over a northern ecosystem

This paper focuses on the estimation and analysis of surface thermal parameters (emissivities and surface temperatures) in a nordic environment (Québec, Canada). The land cover in this region varies from boreal forest in the south to tundra in the north. The thermal parameters are estimated from two variants of a new model that combines the radiances of the short wave infrared (SWIR) spectral band [advanced very high resolution radiometer (AVHRR) channel 3: 3.55–3.93 μm] and the thermal bands (AVHRR channel 4: 10.5–11.5 μm; and AVHRR channel 5: 11.5–12.5 μm). The study, carried out for images acquired on different dates, reveals that, in most situations, the two approaches allow the separation of emissivities and surface temperatures. Analysis of the variations of the estimated emissivities in relation to surface patterns shows that they are slightly variable in spectral bands 4, and 5, with values generally greater than 0.95. Variations are more important in the SWIR channel, where values less than 0.90 appear, especially in urban areas. In general, surface emissivities increase with the density of the vegetation cover. Moreover, for densely vegetated areas, SWIR surface reflectivities, which can be derived from emissivities, appear to be well correlated with the reflectivities of the AVHRR visible channel. As with emissivities, variations of the estimated land surface temperatures (LST) in relation to vegetation density, characterized by the normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI), were considered. The relations between the two parameters (LST and NDVI) show essentially two opposite directions of linear variations (positive and negative correlations). In the light of the main results obtained, the synergistic use of the different spectral regions (visible, near, mid-, and thermal infrareds) could be very useful in the parameterization of boreal ecosystems.     

Apertureless near-field optical microscopy: influence of the illumination conditions on the image contrast

We report a hybrid microscope composed of an apertureless scanning near-field optical microscope and a commercial atomic force microscope. We discuss the optical origin of the near-field images of a test sample. We show that the optical images have a sharp contrast that depends on the illumination parameters: the state of polarization and the angle of incidence of the incident light.     

When rights and responsibilities don't mix: Sex and sex-role patterns in moral judgment orientation.

Two experiments with 72 college students, 64 24–40 yr olds, and 24 14–16 yr olds investigated C. Gilligan's (see record 1979-03624-001) hypotheses regarding differences in the orientation of focus of moral reasoning. Exp I, using modified versions of the Defining Issues Test preference technique and a shortened form of the Bem Sex-Role Inventory, failed to support Gilligan's hypothesis that a focus on responsibilities would be more typical of women's moral thinking and a focus on rights more typical of men. However, relative femininity of the ideal self-concept was associated for the women with a responsibility focus, as hypothesized. Exp II again failed to show sex differences, but replicated the finding of an association between femininity of ideal (but not real) self-concept and responsibility orientation in women. Results are discussed in terms of the importance of considering non-stage-related differences in the patterning of moral judgment. (French abstract) (14 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

La prediction du risque de decrochage scolaire au secondaire : facteurs personnels, familiaux et scolaires.

Research indicates that students at-risk of dropping out of school have learning difficulties, behaviour problems, and come from low income families. It is likely that a high percentage of students at-risk of dropping out of school cannot be identified. The objective of this multidimensional study is to identify personal, familial and schooling variables associated with students at-risk of school dropout. A sample of 235 students at-risk and 567 students not at-risk of dropping out of school were assessed on several personal, family, and schooling variables. At-risk students differentiated themselves from controls and from dropout students on most of the variables. Logistic regression analysis indicated seven factors better classify at-risk students: depression affect, low family cohesion and organisation, low student involvement, negative teacher attitudes, low performance in mathematics and French. Results showed gender differences. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

A model-driven traceability framework for software product lines

Software product line (SPL) engineering is a recent approach to software development where a set of software products are derived for a well defined target application domain, from a common set of core assets using analogous means of production (for instance, through Model Driven Engineering). Therefore, such family of products are built from reuse, instead of developed individually from scratch. SPL promise to lower the costs of development, increase the quality of software, give clients more flexibility and reduce time to market. These benefits come with a set of new problems and turn some older problems possibly more complex. One of these problems is traceability management. In the European AMPLE project we are creating a common traceability framework across the various activities of the SPL development. We identified four orthogonal traceability dimensions in SPL development, one of which is an extension of what is often considered as “traceability of variability”. This constitutes one of the two contributions of this paper. The second contribution is the specification of a metamodel for a repository of traceability links in the context of SPL and the implementation of a respective traceability framework. This framework enables fundamental traceability management operations, such as trace import and export, modification, query and visualization. The power of our framework is highlighted with an example scenario.     

On closure properties of bounded two-sided error complexity classes

We show that if a complexity classC is closed downward under polynomial-time majority truth-table reductions ( _mtt ^p ), then practically every other polynomial closure property it enjoys is inherited by the corresponding bounded two-sided error class BP[C]. For instance, the Arthur-Merlin game class AM [B1] enjoys practically every closure property of NP. Our main lemma shows that, for any relativizable classD which meets two fairly transparent technical conditions, we haveC ^BP[C] BP[D ^C]. Among our applications, we simplify the proof by Toda [Tol], [To2] that the polynomial hierarchy PH is contained in BP[P]. We also show that relative to a random oracleR, PH ^R is properly contained in P ^R .The first author was supported in part by NSF Grant CCR-9011248 and the second author was supported in part by NSF Grant CCR-89011154.     

Theoretical basis of regularized integral equations for elastostatic crack problems

Integral equations derived by means of the potential theory for statical crack problems are singular in the sense of the principal value. In the present paper, these integrals are transformed into weakly singular ones and the so-called regularized integral equation is thus obtained. The conditions which permit the transformation are discussed and the weak singularity is proved. The kernel of the regularized equation is written in terms of the density, equal to the displacement discontinuity on the crack surface, in such a way that no extension of this density is involved. The results obtained hold for either embedded or surface crack problems.     

Integral equations for three-dimensional problems

An integral equations method for a three-dimensional crack in a finite or infinite body is achieved by means of Kupradze potentials. Surface and through cracks can be studied according to this approach with only the assumption that the body has a linear, elastic, homogeneous and isotropic behavior. Both singular surface integrals and line integrals appear in the derived equations. For surface and through cracks, the line integral is taken on a part of the crack boundary. The use of our integral equations to the particular problem of an embedded plane crack leads to those formulated by Bui. Another application is devoted to a through crack in a circular cylinder.

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Résumé A l'aide des potentiels de Kupradzé on formule sous forme d'équations intégrales le problème d'une fissure tridimensionnelle dans un solide fini ou non. Le solide a un comportement élastique linéaire homogène et isotrope et la fissure peut être débouchante ou non ou même traversante. Dans les équations finales apparaissent dans le cas général à la fois des intégrales de surface et des intégrales curvilignes. Pour une fissure débouchante, l'intégrale curviligne est prise sur une portion du front de fissure. Pour une fissure plane, immergée, on retrouve les équations intégrales développées par Bui. Une autre application concerne le cas d'une fissure traversante dans un tube circulaire.

     

Organization of prose materials: Stimulus, storage, and retrieval.

Gave prose passages which were organized around names of countries or attributes or were randomly organized to 180 college students. Ss were required to recall the material by name, attribute, or free recall. One-half of each group was instructed about recall requirements prior to reading the passages. Recall scores and clustering indices led to the conclusion that name and attribute input organization is superior to random organization. Results provide evidence suggesting basic processing differences between the Ss in the different organization groups. (French summary) (15 ref.) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Timing of riverine export of nitrate and phosphorus from agricultural watersheds in Illinois: implications for reducing nutrient loading to the Mississippi River

Agricultural watersheds in the upper Midwest are the major source of nutrients to the Mississippi River and Gulf of Mexico, but temporal patterns in nutrient export and the role of hydrology in controlling export remain unclear. Here we reporton NO3(-)-N, dissolved reactive phosphorus (DRP), and total P export from three watersheds in Illinois during the past 8-12 years. Our program of intensive, long-term monitoring allowed us to assess how nutrient export was distributed across the range of discharge that occurred at each site and to examine mechanistic differences between NO3(-)-N and DRP export from the watersheds. Last, we used simple simulations to evaluate how nutrient load reductions might affect NO3(-)-N and P export to the Mississippi River from the Illinois watersheds. Artificial drainage through under-field tiles was the primary mechanism for NO3(-)-N export from the watersheds. Tile drainage and overland flow contributed to DRP export, whereas export of particulate P was almost exclusively from overland flow. The analyses revealed that nearly all nutrient export occurred when discharge was > or = median discharge, and extreme discharges (> or = 90th percentile) were responsible for >50% of the NO3(-)-N export and >80% of the P export. Additionally, the export occurred annually during a period beginning in mid-January and continuing through June. These patterns characterized all sites, which spanned a 4-fold range in watershed area. The simulations showed that reducing in-stream nutrient loads by as much as 50% during periods of low discharge would not affect annual nutrient export from the watersheds.