Effective LAI and CHP of a single tree from small-footprint full-waveform LiDAR

This letter has tested the canopy height profile (CHP) methodology as a way of effective leaf area index (LAIe) and vertical vegetation profile retrieval at a single-tree level. Waveform and discrete airborne LiDAR data from six swaths, as well as from the combined data of six swaths, were used to extract the LAIe of a single live Callitris glaucophylla tree. LAIe was extracted from raw waveform as an intermediate step in the CHP methodology, with two different vegetation-ground reflectance ratios. Discrete point LAIe estimates were derived from the gap probability using the following: 1) single ground returns and 2) all ground returns. LiDAR LAIe retrievals were subsequently compared to hemispherical photography estimates, yielding mean values within ±7% of the latter, depending on the method used. The CHP of a single dead Callitris glaucophylla tree, representing the distribution of vegetation material, was verified with a field profile manually reconstructed from convergent photographs taken with a fixed-focal-length camera. A binwise comparison of the two profiles showed very high correlation between the data reaching R2 of 0.86 for the CHP from combined swaths. Using a study-area-adjusted reflectance ratio improved the correlation between the profiles, but only marginally in comparison to using an arbitrary ratio of 0.5 for the laser wavelength of 1550 nm.

CHP toolkit: case study of LAIe sensitivity to discontinuity of canopy cover in fruit plantations

This paper presents an open-source canopy height profile (CHP) toolkit designed for processing small-footprint full-waveform LiDAR data to obtain the estimates of effective leaf area index (LAIe) and CHPs. The use of the toolkit is presented with a case study of LAIe estimation in discontinuous-canopy fruit plantations. The experiments are carried out in two study areas, namely, orange and almond plantations, with different percentages of canopy cover (48% and 40%, respectively). For comparison, two commonly used discrete-point LAIe estimation methods are also tested. The LiDAR LAIe values are first computed for each of the sites and each method as a whole, providing “apparent” site-level LAIe, which disregards the discontinuity of the plantations’ canopies. Since the toolkit allows for the calculation of the study area LAIe at different spatial scales, between-tree-level clumpingcan be easily accounted for and is then used to illustrate the impact of the discontinuity of canopy cover on LAIe retrieval. The LiDAR LAIe estimates are therefore computed at smaller scales as a mean of LAIe in various grid-cell sizes, providing estimates of “actual” site-level LAIe. Subsequently, the LiDAR LAIe results are compared with theoretical models of “apparent” LAIe versus “actual” LAIe, based on known percent canopy cover in each site. The comparison of those models to LiDAR LAIe derived from the smallest grid-cell sizes against the estimates of LAIe for the whole site has shown that the LAIe estimates obtained from the CHP toolkit provided values that are closest to those of theoretical models.

Identification of an Operon, Pil-Chp, That Controls Twitching Motility and Virulence in Xylella fastidiosa

Xylella fastidiosa is an important phytopathogenic bacterium that causes many serious plant diseases, including Pierce`s disease of grapevines. Disease manifestation by X. fastidiosa is associated with the expression of several factors, including the type IV pili that are required for twitching motility. We provide evidence that an operon, named Pil-Chp, with genes homologous to those found in chemotaxis systems, regulates twitching motility. Transposon insertion into the pilL gene of the operon resulted in loss of twitching motility (pilL is homologous to cheA genes encoding kinases). The X. fastidiosa mutant maintained the type IV pili, indicating that the disrupted pilL or downstream operon genes are involved in pili function, and not biogenesis. The mutated X. fastidiosa produced less biofilm than wild-type cells, indicating that the operon contributes to biofilm formation. Finally, in planta the mutant produced delayed and less severe disease, indicating that the Pil-Chp operon contributes to the virulence of X. fastidiosa, presumably through its role in twitching motility.

Socialantropologiska teorier applicerbara på solenergiteknik : Del 2 Diskussion av mikro- och makroperspektiv

Denna skrift färdigställdes i augusti -96. De metoder som redogörs för i rapporten har använts i ett socialantropologiskt translokalt fältarbete som pågått periodvis under loppet av en fyraårsperiod. Dessa metoder, liksom de teorier som tas upp här, är utvalda för att användas i en kommande doktorsavhandling om försöken att integrera solenergiteknik i det svenska samhället (Solenergiteknik diskuteras emellertid inte explicit i denna rapport. För en närmare redogörelse av det pågående avhandlingsarbetet se Socialantropologisk studie av solenergiteknikers införande i Sverige. Projektpresentation oktober 1995, arbetshandling SERC). Jag förespråkar i rapporten en användning av begreppen nätverk och process som metod- och analysredskap. Jag för också fram en kulturteori som utgör en samlad syn på de teoretiska begreppen kultur, struktur och process. Dikotomin mellan individ och samhälle försvagas här kraftigt, både genom mitt sätt att använda kulturbegreppet och genom min användning av begreppet struktur .Denna kulturteori inbegriper såväl idémässiga, sociala som materiella förhållanden och är samtidigt en teori om förändring. Jag framför här också ett förslag till två lämpliga målsättningar för att föra socialantropologiska mikro- och makroperspektiv närmare varandra. Den ena målsättningen innebär att man vid teoretiska mer generaliserande beskrivningar av förhållanden i världen bör sträva mot att uttrycka sig så att dessa beskrivningar också blir applicerbara på specifika fältarbeten. Detta innebär både att de begrepp som används ska vara bra redskap att tänka med för antropologen i fält, och att de makroteoretiska resonemang som förs i allt högre utsträckning bygger på fältarbeten som på varierande sätt inkluderar globala skeenden. Den andra målsättningen gäller fältarbetet och beskrivningen av detta. Här menar jag att också fältarbeten behöver planeras, utföras och presenteras så att sådana fältarbeten tillsammans kan ingå i det makroantropologiska projektet att skapa underlag för makroteorier om förhållanden i världen. Min avsikt är att i mitt eget avhandlingsarbete använda mig av teoretiska begrepp och metodologiska tillvägagångssätt som överensstämmer med dessa två målsättningar.

Ecological efficiency in CHP: Biodiesel case

This paper evaluates and quantifies the environmental impact resulting from the combination of biodiesel fuel (pure or blended with diesel), and diesel combustion in thermoelectric power plants that utilize combined cycle technology (CC). In regions without natural gas, the option was to utilize diesel fuel; the consequence would be a greater emission of pollutants. Biodiesel is a renewable fuel which has been considerably interesting in Brazil power matrix in recent years. The concept of ecological efficiency, largely evaluates the environmental impact caused by CO(2), SO(2), NO(x) and particle matter (PM) emissions. The pollution resulting from biodiesel and diesel combustion is analyzed, separately considering CO(2), SO(2), NO(x) and particulate matter gas emissions, and comparing them international standards currently used regarding air quality. It can be concluded that it is possible to calculate the qualitative environmental factor, and the ecological effect, from a thermoelectric power plant utilizing central heat power (CHP) of combined cycle. The ecological efficiency for pure biodiesel fuel (B100) is 98.16%; for biodiesel blended with conventional diesel fuel, B20 (20% biodiesel and 80% diesel) is 93.19%. Finally, ecological efficiency for conventional diesel is 92.18%, as long as a thermal efficiency of 55% for thermoelectric power plants occurs. Crown Copyright (C) 2009 Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Theoretical and Experimental Analysis of micro-CHP Energy Systems

In the framework of the micro-CHP (Combined Heat and Power) energy systems and the Distributed Generation (GD) concept, an Integrated Energy System (IES) able to meet the energy and thermal requirements of specific users, using different types of fuel to feed several micro-CHP energy sources, with the integration of electric generators of renewable energy sources (RES), electrical and thermal storage systems and the control system was conceived and built. A 5 kWel Polymer Electrolyte Membrane Fuel Cell (PEMFC) has been studied. Using experimental data obtained from various measurement campaign, the electrical and CHP PEMFC system performance have been determinate. The analysis of the effect of the water management of the anodic exhaust at variable FC loads has been carried out, and the purge process programming logic was optimized, leading also to the determination of the optimal flooding times by varying the AC FC power delivered by the cell. Furthermore, the degradation mechanisms of the PEMFC system, in particular due to the flooding of the anodic side, have been assessed using an algorithm that considers the FC like a black box, and it is able to determine the amount of not-reacted H2 and, therefore, the causes which produce that. Using experimental data that cover a two-year time span, the ageing suffered by the FC system has been tested and analyzed.

Unterrichtliche Konzepte individueller Lernförderung. Theoretische Impulse für die individualisierte und bildungsstandardbezogene Lernförderung auf Mikro-Ebene: ein Lehr-Lern-Modell zur Ko-Konstruktion im Unterricht

Im vorliegenden Beitrag wird versucht, den [Lehr-Lern-Prozess] in Hinblick auf individualisierten Unterricht genauer zu klären und auf die aktuelle Diskussion zur wirksamen Implementierung von Bildungsstandards zu beziehen. Dabei wird ein lehr-lerntheoretisches Modell dargestellt, das Orientierungshilfen für die lern-wirksame Gestaltung von unterrichtlichen Prozessen bieten soll. Es wird im Weiteren auf die folgenden Qualitätsmerkmale guten Unterrichts bezogen: das Fördern einer positiven Lernatmosphäre, das Herstellen einer (bildungsstandardbezogenen) Zielorientierung und die Berücksichtigung von Lernvoraussetzungen durch pädagogische Diagnostik, die mit aufgabenbasierten und protokollierten Lernförderungskreisläufen gekoppelt ist. Abschließend werden Anwendungsmöglichkeiten dieses Modells insbesondere in der Unterrichtsgestaltung und -evaluation kurz aufgezeigt und kritisch diskutiert.

Megaleh nistarot : Enthüller literärischer Geheimnisse eines unvergleichlichen Literaten ; eine außergewöhnliche Rezension über e. in Sárospatak 1868 u. d. Namen "Mikroé-Kodesch" ersch., angeblich von Is. R-er. ... verf. "Biblische Geschichte"

von Israel Singer. Mit e. Beitr. von Ignatz Führer

Mikro- versus Makroperspektive der retributiven Gerechtigkeit, Strafziele und die Forderung nach Strafe

Wie Personen auf Straftaten reagieren und welche Strafziele sie dabei verfolgen, war bisher kaum Gegenstand psychologischer Forschung. In der vorliegenden Arbeit wird die dimensionale Struktur der Präferenz von Strafzielen untersucht. In zwei Befragungen wurden juristischen Laien Fallgeschichten zur Beurteilung vorgelegt (Raubüberfall, Körperverletzung, Betrug, Vergewaltigung). Die multivariaten Auswertungen weisen eine hohe Übereinstimmung auf: Strafziele lassen sich durch die zwei voneinander unabhängigen Dimensionen Strafhärte und Mikro- versus Makroperspektive klassifizieren. Wird eine Makroperspektive eingenommen, so ist dies mit einer stärkeren Gewichtung von Gesellschaftsinteressen verbunden sowie mit der Präferenz für das Strafziel der positiven Generalprävention. Die Mikroperspektive ist hingegen mit der Überzeugung verbunden, dass Gerechtigkeit insbesondere aus der Perspektive der konkret Beteiligten herzustellen ist. Je nach geforderter Strafhärte geht die Mikroperspektive mit einem Bias entweder für das Opfer und das Strafziel der Vergeltung oder aber für den Täter und das Strafziel der Resozialisierung einher.

Using biomass-based fuels including pyrolysis liquids for power and CHP production

The use of biomass-derived liquids (in short: bioliquids) instead of solid biomass can help overcome some of the barriers hindering a wider use of biomass in smaller-scale CHP systems. Relevant bioliquids included biodiesel, vegetable oils as well straight and upgraded pyrolysis oil. In this joint EU-Russian research project Bioliquids-CHP prime movers (engines and turbines) will be developed and modified so that these can run efficiently on bioliquids. At the same time, bioliquids will be upgraded and blended in order to facilitate their use in prime movers. Preliminary results with regard to bioliquid selection, production, and characterisation; the selection and modification of a micro gas turbine; and the development of engines and components are discussed. The research also covers NOx emission reduction and control and an assessment of the benefits and economics of bioliquids-based CHP systems in EU and Russian markets.

Biomass-based small and micro combined heat and power (CHP) systems:application and status in the United Kingdom

This chapter discusses the current state of biomass-based combined heat and power (CHP) production in the UK. It presents an overview of the UK's energy policy and targets which are relevant to the deployment of biomass-based CHP and summarises the current state for renewable, biomass and CHP. A number of small-scale biomass-based CHP projects are described while providing some indicative capital costs for combustion, pyrolysis and gasification technologies. For comparison purposes, it presents an overview of the respective situation in Europe and particularly in Sweden, Finland and Denmark. There is also a brief comment about novel CHP technologies in Austria. Finally it draws some conclusions on the potential of small-scale biomass CHP in the UK. © 2011 Woodhead Publishing Limited All rights reserved.