Leaf and stand-level carbon uptake of a Mediterranean forest estimated using the satellite-derived reflectance indices EVI and PRI

Various aspects of global environmental change affect plant photosynthesis, the primary carbon input in ecosystems. Thus, accurate methods of measuring plant photosynthesis are important. Remotely sensed spectral indices can monitor in detail the green biomass of ecosystems, which provides a measure of potential photosynthetic capacity. In evergreen vegetation types, however, such as Mediterranean forests, the amount of green biomass changes little during the growing season and, therefore, changes in green biomass are not responsible for changes in photosynthetic rates in those forests. This study examined the net photosynthetic rates and the diametric increment of stems in a Mediterranean forest dominated by Quercus ilex using three spectral indices (normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI), enhanced vegetation index (EVI), and photochemical reflectance index (PRI)) derived from Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) sensors. Average annual EVI accounted for 83% of the variability of the diametric increment of Q. ilex stems over a 10 year period. NDVI was marginally correlated with the diametric increment of stems. This study was the first to identify a significant correlation between net photosynthetic rates and radiation use efficiency at the leaf level using PRI derived from satellite data analysed at the ecosystem level. These results suggest that each spectral index provided different and complementary information about ecosystem carbon uptake in a Mediterranean Q. ilex forest.     

The Influence of Method and Environment in Torquing Screws Used in Bucket Wheel to Stacker-Reclaimer Machine

Mining machines are of heavy-duty and robust type, and at the same time, they are keys to mining performance and operation. It is well known that mining environment is dirty and dusty as a whole, and this scenario contributes detrimentally for machines and equipment maintenance. This article reveals quantitatively the effect of the environment and the method in tightening screws to clamp the wheel buckets of a Stacker Reclaimer Machine at an Iron Ore Mining. For this study, a statistical tool called Minitab was utilized. The data were collected in the field during an intervention in the machine and treated statistically afterward. The elongations of the screws were measured by ultrasound which revealed that, when only torques are used to tighten the screws, referenced on the theoretical torque (N?m) value, the aimed elongation (elastic strain) of screws might not be reached, with the worst case being it may be widely spread; the values obtained by ultrasound revealed such differences. After knowing such discrepancy, the screws were tightened properly to insure that the bucket wheel was correctly clamped. This statistical study quantified the spread values of torque versus elongation condition (bell curves). The ultrasound measurement credited the method utilized.     

Accurate interferometric system to perform the substrate focusing and alignment in laser writing processes

Abstract

A simple, low cost system useful in laser writing processes to set the focal spot on the substrate surface with micrometre precision is described. Evaluation of its sensitivity is also presented. The lack of essential critical adjustments accounts for the utility of this system and its performance.     

Synthesis and characterization of aniline copolymers containing carboxylic groups and their application as sensitizer and hole conductor in solar cells

Copolymers of m-aminobenzoic acid and o-anisidine doped with p-toluenesulphonic acid in different proportions were successfully synthesized by oxidative polymerization. The copolymers were characterized by FT-IR, UV–vis, ¹H NMR and EPR spectroscopies, cyclic voltammetry, conductivity and SEM. The copolymer with equivalent amounts of the monomers o-anisidine and m-aminobenzoic acid presented the highest conductivity, The EPR analyses and SEM images show that this copolymer provides more homogeneous films with particle size distribution of approximately 1–2 μm. The copolymer with a high fraction of o-anisidine gives rises to films with larger particle sizes and a more defined electrochemical process. The m-aminobenzoic acid monomer was intentionally chosen in order to promote a better electronic coupling between the conducting copolymer and the TiO₂ surface. The copolymers were tested as both sensitizers and hole conducting materials in dye-sensitized solar cells. The device assembled using the copolymer with the highest proportion of m-aminobenzoic acid units as sensitizer produced the highest photocurrent (I_sc = 0.254 mA cm^?2) and photovoltage (V_oc = 0.252 V) at 100 mW cm^?2. The energy diagram shows that although the electronic injection from the conducting polymer excited state is an allowed process the regeneration of the positive charges created after the electron transfer process is forbidden, thus explaining the low efficiency of solar energy conversion. When this copolymer was applied as a hole conducting material, an improvement in the V_oc to 0.4 V, was observed, indicating that this material is more suitable for charge transport when applied in this type of solar cells.     

Inference on some parametric functions in the univeriate lognormal diffusion process with exogenous factors

In this paper we consider, for the univariate lognormal diffusion process with exogenous factors, the inference for some parametric functions that include as particular cases the trend and the covariance function of the process. Concretely, we obtain the UMVU estimators of these functions and the efficiency of them relative to the corresponding ML estimators. Finally, we conclude with an application to a particular case of exogenous factor. This research was partially supported by DGYCIT PB97-0855 and BFM2000-0602 Grants.     

Morphology of sealant/enamel interface after surface treatment with bioactive glass

The purpose of this study was to analyze, by confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM), the morphology of sealant/enamel interface after surface treatment with Biosilicate. Before pits and fissures sealing, the occlusal surfaces of 10 sound human molars were sectioned perpendicularly at the fissures in order to obtain three slices for each tooth. Slices were randomly assigned into three groups (n = 10) according to sealing protocol: Group 1‐ Acid etching + Biosilicate + glass ionomer‐based sealant (Clinpro XT Varnish, 3M ESPE); Group 2‐ Acid etching + glass ionomer‐based sealant (Clinpro XT Varnish, 3M ESPE); Group 3‐ No sealing. All slices were subjected to thermal cycling (5,000 cycles; 5–55°C; dwell time: 30s). Half of the slices from each group (n = 5) were analyzed by CLSM and the other half by SEM. Groups 1 and 2 were also submitted to EDS analysis and their data were evaluated by Two‐Way ANOVA e Tukey's test (α=5%). EDS data analysis showed higher amounts of silicon (Si) ions than calcium (Ca) ions in Group 1 (P < 0.05); Group 2 presented higher amounts (P < 0.05) of Ca ions than Si ions. It may be concluded that the use of Biosilicate for surface treatment did not affect the morphology of glass ionomer‐based sealant/enamel interfaces. Microsc. Res. Tech. 78:1062–1068, 2015. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Galerkin and Least Squares Methods to Solve a 3D Convection–Diffusion–Reaction Equation with Variable Coefficients

This study addresses how to implement the Galerkin finite element and least square finite element methods using auxiliary equations to solve the partial differential equation numerically, which models the convection–diffusion–reaction, set on a steady 3D domain. In the spatial discretization, hexahedral elements with eight (linear element) and 27 (quadratic element) nodes were used, in which Lagrange interpolation functions were adopted in local coordinates. Turning all the formulation of the problem of global coordinates into local coordinates, the Gauss–Legendre quadrature method was used to integrate coefficients of the element matrices numerically. In addition to the formulation by the two methods, a computer code was implemented to simulate the phenomenon proposed. By using analytical solutions, sundry numerical error analysis was performed from L₂ norm (domain–average error) and L_∞ norm (domain–top error), thus validating the numerical results. A real case is proposed and assessed.     

Long-Chain-Amine Metal Complexes as Hydrogenation Catalysts. Heterogenisation on Activated Carbon

The catalytic activity of [PdCl₂(NH₂(CH₂)₁₂CH₃)₂] (named [Pd(TDA)]) and [RhCl(NH₂(CH₂)₁₂CH₃)₃] (named [Rh(TDA)]) complexes for the hydrogenation of cyclohexene has been analysed both in homogeneous phase and heterogenised on activated carbon. The [Rh(TDA)] complex has been found to be more active than the [Pd(TDA)], both homogeneous and heterogenised. Experimental and modelled results indicate that these complexes follow a similar reaction mechanism, but with different rates. A clear positive effect of the carbon support has been found in the case of the complex [Rh(TDA)], which has been related to the anchorage of the aliphatic chains of the amine ligands on the activated carbon pores. Experiments in consecutive catalytic runs show that the heterogenised complexes can be used several times giving an acceptable conversion level.     

Structural Test Approach for Embedded Analog Circuits Based on a Built-in Current Sensor

This paper presents a test method based on the analysis of the dynamic power supply current, both quiescent and transient, of the circuit under test. In an off-chip measurement, the global interconnect impedance associated with the chip package and the test equipment and, also, the chip input/output cells will complicate the extraction of the information provided by the current waveform of the circuit under test. Thus, the supply current is measured on-chip by a built-in current sensor integrated in the die itself. To avoid the effective reduction of the voltage supply, the measurement is performed in parallel by replicating the current that flows through selected branches of the analog circuit. With the aim of reducing the test equipment requirements, the built-in current sensor output generates digital level pulses whose width is related to the amplitude and duration of the circuit current transients. In this way the defective circuit is exposed by comparing the digital signature of the circuit under test with the expected one for the fault-free circuit. A fault evaluation has been carried out to check the efficiency of the proposed test method. It uses a fault model that considers catastrophic and parametric faults at transistor level. Two benchmark circuits have been fabricated to experimentally verify the defect detection by the built-in current sensor. One is an operational amplifier; the other is a structure of switched current cells that belongs to an analog-to-digital converter.