Leaf area index estimation with MODIS reflectance time series and model inversion during full rotations of Eucalyptus plantations

The leaf area index (LAI) of fast-growing Eucalyptus plantations is highly dynamic both seasonally and inter-annually, and is spatially variable depending on pedo-climatic conditions. LAI is very important in determining the carbon and water balance of a stand, but is difficult to measure during a complete stand rotation and at large scales. Remote-sensing methods allowing the retrieval of LAI time series with accuracy and precision are therefore necessary. Here, we tested two methods for LAI estimation from MODIS 250m resolution red and near-infrared (NIR) reflectance time series. The first method involved the inversion of a coupled model of leaf reflectance and transmittance (PROSPECT4), soil reflectance (SOILSPECT) and canopy radiative transfer (4SAIL2). Model parameters other than the LAI were either fixed to measured constant values, or allowed to vary seasonally and/or with stand age according to trends observed in field measurements. The LAI was assumed to vary throughout the rotation following a series of alternately increasing and decreasing sigmoid curves. The parameters of each sigmoid curve that allowed the best fit of simulated canopy reflectance to MODIS red and NIR reflectance data were obtained by minimization techniques. The second method was based on a linear relationship between the LAI and values of the GEneralized Soil Adjusted Vegetation Index (GESAVI), which was calibrated using destructive LAI measurements made at two seasons, on Eucalyptus stands of different ages and productivity levels. The ability of each approach to reproduce field-measured LAI values was assessed, and uncertainty on results and parameter sensitivities were examined. Both methods offered a good fit between measured and estimated LAI (R² = 0.80 and R² = 0.62 for model inversion and GESAVI-based methods, respectively), but the GESAVI-based method overestimated the LAI at young ages.     

Determining the damping factor of sedimentary rocks required for seismically designed structures

Relationships for the shear damping ratio D_s (a function of shear quality factor Q_s) and modulus decay curve G_seis/G_max as a function of shear strain for mudrocks have been developed. Field experiments to determine damping ratio and elastic moduli should be performed at frequencies as close as possible to the bandwidth (0–100 Hz) of interest for building design. Estimates of these parameters made from extrapolating laboratory core (MHz) or wireline (kHz) data to lower frequencies can be highly unreliable. Field estimates of damping ratio are very dependent on, and often totally dominated by, the effects of scattering of P and S waves by inhomogeneities in the rock mass structure. This is, particularly, the case when open fractures or cracks are present in near-surface rocks.     

Representing Melodic Patterns as Networks of Elaborations

Previous discussions of musical pattern haveunderlined difficulties in seeking pattern as asequence of pitches, or of intervals or of other localand atomic features. This paper describes a manner ofrepresenting melodies through a hierarchical structureof elaboration, derived from concepts common in musictheory (in particular, the concept of reduction foundin the work of Schenker and of Lerdahl & Jackendoff).The fundamental structure is a planar directed acyclicgraph, each node of which represents a musical note(not necessarily as it is present in the actualmelody) and an elaboration which generates that noteon the basis of two parents. These graph structurescan be converted to trees, aiding processing andcomparison, in two ways. Firstly, any graph can betransformed into a set of binary trees in which eachnode represents an interval between two notes and anelaboration of that interval. Secondly, in the planargraph, the link of a node to one of its parents oftenprovides no useful information and can be disregarded,resulting in a reduction of the graph tending towardsa set of trees. From this arises a new approach to thequestion of melodic segmentation. Examples of melodicfragments represented in this manner demonstrate howthe representation makes explicit similarities betweenfragments which would not be found by an approachusing sequences of features.     

Dynamic RWA with FWM-induced crosstalk awareness and modulation format conversion in wavelength-routed optical networks

The constraint of signal transmission quality and network resources utilization in transparent optical networks are herein addressed through a representative cost function based upon an impairment-constraint-base routing (ICBR) approach, taking into account link capacity utilization and the nonlinear physical effect, in the primary instance due to Four-Wave Mixing (FWM)-induced crosstalk. The FWM effect is considered one of the most severe physical impairments for the future photonic networks since the accumulation of FWM crosstalk may cause a fatal degradation in the teletraffic network performance. This paper presents an added functionality to the network model design based on all-optical modulation format conversion from conventional on-off keying (OOK) to quadrature phase-shift keying (QPSK) sending more data within the same bandwidth while minimizing the blocking probability. The joint effect of physical impairment (i.e., FWM-induced crosstalk) awareness and two different modulation formats is considered through numerical simulations. The proposed scheme is expected to realize an all-optical transparent interconnection between networks that employ diverse modulation formats. Results show that the proposed FWM-aware Routing and Wavelength Assignment (RWA) algorithm leads to a more realistic system performance while giving a significant improvement on the network performance.     

Central nervous system tissue detection in meat from advanced meat recovery systems

Three hundred meat samples, recovered from beef neck- and breast-bones using a conventional advanced meat recovery (AMR) system, the de-sinewed minced meat (DMM10) technology, and hand-boning, were collected and tested for presence of central nervous system tissue (CNST) in meat using an ELISA-based test. Samples were collected at two processing facilities (Est. A and B). Sternum meat was the non-CNST reference (control) – it is distant from brain and spinal cord locations on a carcass, with low likelihood of contamination with CNST. Neckbone meat was recovered from bones obtained from carcasses where the spinal cord was removed manually, Est. B, or using a Jarvis circular hydraulic cord remover saw, Est. A. All samples from AMR, DMM, and hand methods showed lower calculated levels of “risk material” than the stated limit of detection (0.1%) of ELISA kit. There was no apparent difference among these, and use of the Jarvis saw had no perceptible advantage.     

Reduction of Hamilton's variational principle

This paper builds on the initial work of Marsden and Scheurle on nonabelian Routh reduction. The main objective is to carry out the reduction of variational principles in further detail. In particular, we obtain reduced variational principles which are the symplectic analogue of the well-known reduced variational principles for the Euler-Poincare equations and the Lagrange-Poincare equations. On the Lagrangian side, the symplectic analogue is obtained by suitably imposing the constraints of preservation of the momentum map.     

Relationship between lake trout spawning,embryonic survival,and currents: A case of bet hedging in the face of environmental stochasticity?

Lake trout, Salvelinus namaycush, spawning in the Great Lakes occurs primarily on cobble substrate at relatively shallow water depths that can experience strong water currents. Strong currents may limit embryonic survival by damaging or displacing eggs, but may also reduce the accumulation of fine material and limit foraging by potential egg predators. To better understand the importance of currents, we evaluated the role of currents in spawning habitat selection, egg density and survival, and egg predator density at a spawning reef in Lake Champlain (USA). Most spawning occurred one week after the largest storm event associated with the strongest currents and greatest upwelling. Highest spawning activity was associated with a relatively shallow part of the reef that had the highest current velocity and greatest potential for egg displacement. Within the interstices, the survival of naturally deposited eggs was unrelated to the concurrent loss of artificial eggs. We propose that the reproductive strategy of spawning on shallow areas of a reef that have the highest current velocity and high potential for egg loss represents a type of bet hedging to optimize survival of those embryos that remain within interstices. This strategy may have evolved in response to environmental stochasticity that resulted in higher egg survival.     

Lake trout in northern Lake Huron spawn on submerged drumlins

Recent observations of spawning lake trout Salvelinus namaycush near Drummond Island in northern Lake Huron indicate that lake trout use drumlins, landforms created in subglacial environments by the action of ice sheets, as a primary spawning habitat. From these observations, we generated a hypothesis that may in part explain locations chosen by lake trout for spawning. Most salmonines spawn in streams where they rely on streamflows to sort and clean sediments to create good spawning habitat. Flows sufficient to sort larger sediment sizes are generally lacking in lakes, but some glacial bedforms contain large pockets of sorted sediments that can provide the interstitial spaces necessary for lake trout egg incubation, particularly if these bedforms are situated such that lake currents can penetrate these sediments. We hypothesize that sediment inclusions from glacial scavenging and sediment sorting that occurred during the creation of bedforms such as drumlins, end moraines, and eskers create suitable conditions for lake trout egg incubation, particularly where these bedforms interact with lake currents to remove fine sediments. Further, these bedforms may provide high-quality lake trout spawning habitat at many locations in the Great Lakes and may be especially important along the southern edge of the range of the species. A better understanding of the role of glacially-derived bedforms in the creation of lake trout spawning habitat may help develop powerful predictors of lake trout spawning locations, provide insight into the evolution of unique spawning behaviors by lake trout, and aid in lake trout restoration in the Great Lakes.     

Prediction of fuel channel—graphite gas-gap behaviour in RBMK reactors

To maintain thermal contact between the fuel assembly and the graphite moderator, RBMK design reactors employ graphite split rings, which are alternatively tight on the pressure tube or tight on the graphite brick central bore. The split in the graphite rings allows a helium/nitrogen gas mixture to flow up the fuel channel. This prevents oxidation of the graphite and can be sampled to detect pressure tube leaks. The initial clearance between the rings and pressure tube or graphite brick is approximately 2.7 mm (1.35 mm each side). Due to material property changes of the pressure tubes and graphite during operation of the reactor, the size of the clearance between the rings and the pressure tube/brick, called the “gas-gap”, varies. Closure of these gaps has been identified as a possible safety case issue by reactor designers and by independent reviews carried out as part of TACIS reviews and as part of the Ignalina Safety Analysis Report. The reasons for this are that gas-gap closure would cause the pressure tube to be tightly gripped by the graphite bricks via the split rings, which could lead to:

• Extra loading on the upper pressure tube zirconium/steel transition joint, particularly during shut down and emergency transients.

• Splitting of the graphite brick, leading to loss of thermal contact between the pressure tube and graphite. As approximately 5.6% of the heat in graphite-moderated reactor is generated within the moderator through neutron and gamma-heating, loss of thermal contact would result in higher graphite temperatures, accelerating the rate of graphite expansion and hence increasing the loading of the core radial restraint.

• Graphite debris may become lodged in inter-brick gaps, leading to increased axial pressure tube loading during shut down and emergency transients.

The authors have carried out deterministic assessments based on the Ignalina RBMK-1500 reactors in Lithuania, modelling the behaviour of the graphite under irradiation and have predicted graphite bore diameter changes that are in good agreement with the measurements of graphite bore diameters taken at Ignalina Nuclear Power Plant (NPP). A probabilistic model has been developed using the actual results of the deterministic calculations with non-linear graphite behaviour. Statistical analysis of the measurements of tube and graphite diameters taken from Units 1 and 2 at Ignalina NPP has been carried out. Further work has been carried out to try to determine the uncertainty inherent in the predictions of the gas-gap closure from the calculations. The overall objective of the studies is to aid prediction of the gas-gap closure process, and help to identify a suitable monitoring strategy for gas-gap closure that could be used for any RBMK reactor.     

多样性:拒绝还是接纳?——对可持续发展的持续追寻

1引言 平民斗争和法律之间存在着矛盾的关系.平民往往把法律视作维持现状和统治的力量,法律要么被更大规模的政治斗争利用,要么被大多数人忽视,觉得无关紧要.但是,他们很难脱离开法律,因为法律也为他们提供了抵抗的空间.事实上,越来越多的人意识到法律是不同行动者之间争执的战场,包括社会运动和国家之间.