Modelling gross primary production of a tropical semi-deciduous forest in the southern Amazon Basin

Semi-deciduous forest in the Amazon Basin is sensitive to temporal variation in surface water availability that can limit seasonal rates of leaf and canopy gas exchange. We estimated the seasonal dynamics of gross primary production (GPP) over 3 years (2005–2008) using eddy covariance and assessed canopy spectral reflectance using MODIS imagery for a mature tropical semi-deciduous forest located near Sinop, Mato Grosso, Brazil. A light-use efficiency model, known as the Vegetation Photosynthesis Model (VPM), was used to estimate seasonal and inter-annual variations in GPP as a function of the enhanced vegetation index (EVI), the land surface water index (LSWI), and local meteorology. Our results indicate that the standard VPM was incapable of reproducing the seasonal variation in GPP, primarily because the model overestimated dry-season GPP. In the standard model, the scalar function that alters light-use efficiency (ε_g) as a function of water availability (W_scalar) is calculated as a linear function of the LSWI derived from MODIS; however, the LSWI is negatively correlated with several measures of water availability including precipitation, soil water content, and relative humidity (RH). Thus, during the dry season, when rainfall, soil water content, and RH are low, LSWI, and therefore, W_scalar, are at a seasonal maximum. Using previous research, we derived new functions for W_scalar based on time series of RH and photosynthetic photon flux density (PPFD) that significantly improved the performance of the VPM. Whether these new functions perform equally well in water stressed and unstressed tropical forests needs to be determined, but presumably unstressed ecosystems would have high cloud cover and humidity, which would minimize variations in W_scalar and GPP to spatial and/or temporal variation in water availability.     

Level 2 analysis to estimate LERF risk from a thermally induced rupture of a steam generator tube defect

This paper outlines the Level 2 portion of a methodology for determining the incremental induced steam generator tube rupture large early release fraction caused by an actual through-wall defect. This defect was responsible for the minor steam generator tube leak that occurred in September 2002 at the Comanche Peak Steam Electric Station Unit 1. In order to quantify the performance of the defect over the operating cycle, a range of defect lengths were input to the PROBFAIL computer code [Kenton, M., 2001. PROBFAIL: A Computer Code for Evaluating the Likelihood of Steam Generator Tube Rupture in Severe Nuclear Power Plant Accidents, CREARE TM-2138], using appropriate boundary conditions derived from MAAP4 [Henry, R., et al., May 1994. MAAP4—Modular Accident Analysis Program for LWR Power Plants, Computer Code Manual, EPRI Research Project 3131-02] runs. From the analysis of the calculated times of burst for each assumed defect length, the minimum through-wall defect length necessary for tube burst to occur prior to hot leg or surge line creep rupture was calculated. The probability that the defect would actually have this length was then estimated by determining the fraction of the cycle for which the defect would be at least that long. The methodology development and implementation relied on MAAP4 runs, which are discussed extensively in connection with their role in: (1) guiding the construction of the accident progression event tree, (2) generating relevant information for probability assignments in the various underlying fault trees and (3) obtaining boundary conditions of pressure and temperature for use in PROBFAIL. The overall increment in LERF due to the existence of the defect was calculated to be approximately 4E−08.     

New chemosensors based on thiomacrocycle-containing coumarin-343 fluoroionophor: X-ray structures and previous results on the effect of cation binding on the photophysical properties

Two new emissive chemosensors based on coumarin-343 have been synthesized, and their photophysical studies conducted. L1 contains an aza-thio macrocycle ring as the chelating unit, which has great affinity for soft metal ions, whereas L2 is a parent species without macrocyclic unit. Both compounds were separated by column chromatography and characterized by elemental analysis, ¹H,¹³C NMR, UV–vis and FAB mass spectroscopy. The X-ray structures of L1 and L2 and the supramolecular interactions in the solid state are discussed. Preliminary results on the metal–ion sensing effects of the ligands are presented. Titrations with Ag⁺, Pd²⁺ and Ni²⁺ have been studied by UV–vis absorption and fluorescence spectroscopy.     

The Use of Infrared Thermography as a Novel Approach for Real-Time Validation of PCR Thermocyclers

Validation of PCR thermocycler performance is crucial to obtain reliable results. In this study, infrared (IR) thermography was evaluated as a novel validation tool. After stabilisation, no significant difference in the temperatures recorded using thermography and a reference block-based system was found. By employing IR thermography, information about the length of the time until temperature stabilisation in the sample could be obtained. This study shows the potential of using IR thermography for validation of thermocyclers.     

Biogenic versus abiogenic emissions from agriculture in the Netherlands and options for emission control in tomato cultivation

In this paper, present-day emissions of greenhouse gases and acidifying compounds from agriculture are analysed at the farm level. Quantitative estimates are given for these emissions from three nested systems in the Netherlands: the agricultural sector, greenhouse horticulture, and tomato cultivation under glass. Total emissions are subdivided into emissions from biogenic sources and abiogenic sources. We conclude that, although most of the emissions from the agricultural sector have biogenic sources, those from abiogenic sources should not be neglected. Abiogenic emissions are mainly from greenhouse horticulture. The cost-effectiveness of options to reduce carbon dioxide (CO₂) and nitrogen oxides (NO_x) emissions from on-farm combustion of natural gas in tomato cultivation under glass is analysed. An inventory is given of technical reduction options that are presently available in practice. Based on information about the costs and the reduction potential of each option, cost-efficiency curves are derived for both types of emissions. Relative to a situation where none of the described options were applied (early nineties), CO₂ and NO_x emissions from tomato cultivation can be reduced at most by about 70% and 75%, respectively, by combinations of technical options. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Post-war public high-rise housing estates: What went wrong with housing policy,with the design and with management?

Journal of Housing and the Built Environment -