4,307 research outputs found
Applying trait-based models to achieve functional targets for theory-driven ecological restoration
Manipulating community assemblages to achieve functional targets is a key component of restoring degraded ecosystems. The response-and-effect trait framework provides a conceptual foundation for translating restoration goals into functional trait targets, but a quantitative framework has been lacking for translating trait targets into assemblages of species that practitioners can actually manipulate. This study describes new trait-based models that can be used to generate ranges of species abundances to test theories about which traits, which trait values and which species assemblages are most effective for achieving functional outcomes. These models are generalisable, flexible tools that can be widely applied across many terrestrial ecosystems. Examples illustrate how the framework generates assemblages of indigenous species to (1) achieve desired community responses by applying the theories of environmental filtering, limiting similarity and competitive hierarchies, or (2) achieve desired effects on ecosystem functions by applying the theories of mass ratios and niche complementarity. Experimental applications of this framework will advance our understanding of how to set functional trait targets to achieve the desired restoration goals. A trait-based framework provides restoration ecology with a robust scaffold on which to apply fundamental ecological theory to maintain resilient and functioning ecosystems in a rapidly changing world
Determination of the heat balance of the earth: Interpretation of radiation measurements from satellites
A method is developed for estimating the mean and mean-square variation of the flux at an altitude arbitrarily chosen to represent the top of the atmosphere. When applied to practical satellite measurements, the method is shown to be optimum in that the estimated mean is unbiased and the mean square variation of the estimates converges to that of the true flux. Data from the Meteor-1 and -2 satellites support the essential assumptions and provide a quantitative indication of the performance that can be expected
Position location system and method Patent
Position locating system for remote aircraft using voice communication and digital signal
Traffic control system and method
Frequency of carrier received by aircraft is measured and compared with reference to indicate magnitude of Doppler shift. One Doppler frequency range is selected and indicated by digital signal. Difference between frequency is offset of apparent carrier frequency transmitted by aircraft
Seeing the forest for the genes: using metagenomics to infer the aggregated traits of microbial communities
Most environments harbor large numbers of microbial taxa with ecologies that remain poorly described and characterizing the functional capabilities of whole communities remains a key challenge in microbial ecology. Shotgun metagenomic analyses are increasingly recognized as a powerful tool to understand community-level attributes. However, much of this data is under-utilized due, in part, to a lack of conceptual strategies for linking the metagenomic data to the most relevant community-level characteristics. Microbial ecologists could benefit by borrowing the concept of community-aggregated traits (CATs) from plant ecologists to glean more insight from the ever-increasing amount of metagenomic data being generated. CATs can be used to quantify the mean and variance of functional traits found in a given community. A CAT-based strategy will often yield far more useful information for predicting the functional attributes of diverse microbial communities and changes in those attributes than the more commonly used analytical strategies. A more careful consideration of what CATs to measure and how they can be quantified from metagenomic data, will help build a more integrated understanding of complex microbial communities
Diversity RF receiving system with improved phase-lock characteristics
Improved diversity receiving system automatically utilizes the combined output from its two independent receiving channels /with cross- polarized receiving antennas/ to increase the reliability of maintaining the requisite phase lock for optimum signal reception. It is adapted for use with AM, PM, or narrow band FM signals
Traffic control system and method Patent
Traffic control system for supersonic transports using synchronous satellite for data relay between vehicles and ground statio
Relativistic Effects in Extrasolar Planetary Systems
This paper considers general relativistic (GR) effects in currently observed
extrasolar planetary systems. Although GR corrections are small, they can
compete with secular interactions in these systems and thereby play an
important role. Specifically, some of the observed multiple planet systems are
close to secular resonance, where the dynamics is extremely sensitive to GR
corrections, and these systems can be used as laboratories to test general
relativity. For the three-planet solar system Upsilon Andromedae, secular
interaction theory implies an 80% probability of finding the system with its
observed orbital elements if GR is correct, compared with only a 2% probability
in the absence of GR. In the future, tighter constraints can be obtained with
increased temporal coverage.Comment: Accepted for publication in International Journal of Modern Physics
D; this paper received ``Honorable Mention'' in the 2006 Essay Competition of
the Gravity Research Foundation; 9 pages including 1 figur
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