A study to explore the use of orbital remote sensing to determine native arid plant distribution

The author has identified the following significant results. It is possible to determine, from ERTS imagery, native arid plant distribution. Using techniques of multispectral masking and extensive fieldwork, three native vegetation communities were defined and mapped in the Avra Valley study area. A map was made of the Yuma area with the aid of ground truth correlations between areas of desert pavement visible on ERTS images and unique vegetation types. With the exception of the Yuma soil-vegetation correlation phenomena, only very gross differentiations of desert vegetation communities can be made from ERTS data. Vegetation communities with obvious vegetation density differences such as saguaro-paloverde, creosote bush, and riparian vegetation can be separated on the Avra Valley imagery while more similar communities such as creosote bush and saltbush could not be differentiated. It is suggested that large differences in vegetation density are needed before the signatures of two different vegetation types can be differentiated on ERTS imagery. This is due to the relatively insignificant contribution of vegetation to the total radiometric signature of a given desert scene. Where more detailed information concerning the vegetation of arid regions is required, large scale imagery is appropriate

Methyl Reorientation in Methylphenanthrenes: 1. Solid-State Proton Spin-Lattice Relaxation in the 3-Methyl, 9-Methyl, and 3,9-Dimethyl Systems

We have investigated the dynamics of methyl group reorientation in solid methyl‐substituted phenanthrenes. The temperature dependence of the proton spin–lattice relaxation rates has been measured in polycrystalline 3‐methylphenanthrene (3‐MP), 9‐methylphenanthrene (9‐MP), and 3,9‐dimethylphenanthrene (3,9‐DMP) at Larmor frequencies of 8.50, 22.5, and 53.0 MHz. The data are interpreted using a Davidson–Cole spectral density which implies either that the correlation functions for intramolecular reorientation are nonexponential or that there is a distribution of exponential correlation times. Comparing the fitted parameters that characterize the relaxation data for the three molecules shows that the individual contributions to the relaxation rate from the 3‐ and 9‐methyls in 3,9‐DMP can be separated and that the parameters specifying each are similar to the equivalent group in the two single methylphenanthrenes. The 9‐methyl group is characterized by effective activation energies of 10.6±0.6 and 12.5±0.9 kJ/mol in 9‐MP and 3,9‐DMP, respectively, whereas the 3‐methyl group is characterized by effective activation energies of 5.2±0.8 and 5±1 kJ/mol in 3‐MP and 3,9‐DMP, respectively. The agreement between the fitted and calculated values of the spin–lattice interaction strength, assuming only intramethyl proton dipole–dipole interactions need be considered, is excellent. A comparison between experimentally determined correlation times and those calculated from a variety of very simple dynamical models is given, and the results suggest, as have several previous studies, that at high temperatures where tunneling plays no role, methyl reorientation is a simple, thermally activated, hopping process. We have also analyzed many published data in methyl‐substituted phenanthrenes, anthracenes, and naphthalenes (14 molecules) in the same way as we did for the phenanthrene data presented here, and a consistent picture for the dynamics of methyl reorientation emerges

Methyl reorientation in methylphenanthrenes. II. Solid-state proton spin-lattice relaxation in the 1-CH3, 9-CH3, and 1-CD3, 9-CH3 systems

We report proton Zeeman relaxation rates R as a function of temperature T at 8.5 and 53 MHz in polycrystalline 1,9-dimethylphenanthrene (1,9-DMP) and l-trideuteriomethyl-9-methylphenanthrene (1, 9-DMP[1-d3]). The data are interpreted using a Davidson-Cole spectral density for intramolecular reorientation and the implications of this are discussed. R vs T−1data for 1,9-DMP[1-d3] are used to determine the parameters that characterize the reorientation of the 9-methyl group. By assuming that the parameters characterizing the dynamics of the 9-methyl group are the same in 1,9-DMP and 1,9-DMP[1-d3], we subtract out the R vs T−1 contribution of the 9-methyl group in 1,9-DMP to determine the parameters that characterize the dynamics of the 1-methyl group. We find that the barrier for reorientation of the 9-methyl group is larger than the barrier for the 1-methyl group and this is discussed in terms of the various contributions to the barrier

Methyl Reorientation in Methylphenanthrenes: 1. Solid-State Proton Spin-Lattice Relaxation in the 3-Methyl, 9-Methyl, and 3,9-Dimethyl Systems

We have investigated the dynamics of methyl group reorientation in solid methyl‐substituted phenanthrenes. The temperature dependence of the proton spin–lattice relaxation rates has been measured in polycrystalline 3‐methylphenanthrene (3‐MP), 9‐methylphenanthrene (9‐MP), and 3,9‐dimethylphenanthrene (3,9‐DMP) at Larmor frequencies of 8.50, 22.5, and 53.0 MHz. The data are interpreted using a Davidson–Cole spectral density which implies either that the correlation functions for intramolecular reorientation are nonexponential or that there is a distribution of exponential correlation times. Comparing the fitted parameters that characterize the relaxation data for the three molecules shows that the individual contributions to the relaxation rate from the 3‐ and 9‐methyls in 3,9‐DMP can be separated and that the parameters specifying each are similar to the equivalent group in the two single methylphenanthrenes. The 9‐methyl group is characterized by effective activation energies of 10.6±0.6 and 12.5±0.9 kJ/mol in 9‐MP and 3,9‐DMP, respectively, whereas the 3‐methyl group is characterized by effective activation energies of 5.2±0.8 and 5±1 kJ/mol in 3‐MP and 3,9‐DMP, respectively. The agreement between the fitted and calculated values of the spin–lattice interaction strength, assuming only intramethyl proton dipole–dipole interactions need be considered, is excellent. A comparison between experimentally determined correlation times and those calculated from a variety of very simple dynamical models is given, and the results suggest, as have several previous studies, that at high temperatures where tunneling plays no role, methyl reorientation is a simple, thermally activated, hopping process. We have also analyzed many published data in methyl‐substituted phenanthrenes, anthracenes, and naphthalenes (14 molecules) in the same way as we did for the phenanthrene data presented here, and a consistent picture for the dynamics of methyl reorientation emerges

Hydrodynamic coupling and rotational mobilities near planar elastic membranes

We study theoretically and numerically the coupling and rotational hydrodynamic interactions between spherical particles near a planar elastic membrane that exhibits resistance towards shear and bending. Using a combination of the multipole expansion and Faxen's theorems, we express the frequency-dependent hydrodynamic mobility functions as a power series of the ratio of the particle radius to the distance from the membrane for the self mobilities, and as a power series of the ratio of the radius to the interparticle distance for the pair mobilities. In the quasi-steady limit of zero frequency, we find that the shear- and bending-related contributions to the particle mobilities may have additive or suppressive effects depending on the membrane properties in addition to the geometric configuration of the interacting particles relative to the confining membrane. To elucidate the effect and role of the change of sign observed in the particle self and pair mobilities, we consider an example involving a torque-free doublet of counterrotating particles near an elastic membrane. We find that the induced rotation rate of the doublet around its center of mass may differ in magnitude and direction depending on the membrane shear and bending properties. Near a membrane of only energetic resistance toward shear deformation, such as that of a certain type of elastic capsules, the doublet undergoes rotation of the same sense as observed near a no-slip wall. Near a membrane of only energetic resistance toward bending, such as that of a fluid vesicle, we find a reversed sense of rotation. Our analytical predictions are supplemented and compared with fully resolved boundary integral simulations where a very good agreement is obtained over the whole range of applied frequencies.Comment: 14 pages, 7 figures. Revised manuscript resubmitted to J. Chem. Phy

ALT-I Pump Limiter Experiments With ICRF Heating on TEXTOR

The ALT-I (Advanced Limiter Test-I) was installed on TEXTOR to benchmark the ability of a pump limiter as an efficient particle collector and to determine the physics of pump limiter operation. Experiments continue to show its capability of removing particles from the plasma edge under different operating conditions. In this paper we report first experimental results using ALT-I in conjunction with high power ICRF heating. The particle removal rate increases as the edge flux and density increase during the ICRF pulse. For a head geometry that collects flux from both electron and ion drift sides, the plasma temperature rise is asymmetric with electron temperature on the electron side increasing more than on the ion side during the ICRF pulse. When ALT-I is the major limiter, the particle fluxes on both sides increase by about the same factor and the particle flux on the ion side is always larger, by a factor of 1.5 to 2 than on the electron side during both ohmic and ICRF periods. The degradation of particle confinement inferred from Langmuir probe measurement is more than a factor of two at a maximum achieved power of 2 MW

The Local Interstellar Ultraviolet Radiation Field

I have used the Hipparcos Input Catalog, together with Kurucz model stellar atmospheres, and information on the strength of the interstellar extinction, to create a model of the expected intensity and spectral distribution of the local interstellar ultraviolet radiation field, under various assumptions concerning the albedo a of the interstellar grains. (This ultraviolet radiation field is of particular interest because of the fact that ultraviolet radiation is capable of profoundly affecting the chemistry of the interstellar medium.) By comparing my models with the observations, I am able to conclude that the albedo a of the interstellar grains in the far ultraviolet is very low, perhaps a = 0.1. I also advance arguments that my present determination of this albedo is much more reliable than any of the many previous (and conflicting) ultraviolet interstellar grain albedo determinations. Beyond this, I show that the ultraviolet background radiation that is observed at high galactic latitudes must be extragalactic in origin, as it cannot be backscatter of the interstellar radiation field.Comment: Astrophysical Journal, in press; 9 figures + 16 text page

Stakeholders' Participation in Planning and Priority Setting in the Context of a Decentralised Health Care system: the case of prevention of mother to child Transmission of HIV Programme in Tanzania.

In Tanzania, decentralisation processes and reforms in the health sector aimed at improving planning and accountability in the sector. As a result, districts were given authority to undertake local planning and set priorities as well as allocate resources fairly to promote the health of a population with varied needs. Nevertheless, priority setting in the health care service has remained a challenge. The study assessed the priority setting processes in the planning of the prevention of mother to child transmission of HIV (PMTCT) programme at the district level in Tanzania. This qualitative study was conducted in Mbarali district, south-western Tanzania. The study applied in-depth interviews and focus group discussions in the data collection. Informants included members of the Council Health Management Team, regional PMTCT managers and health facility providers. Two plans were reported where PMTCT activities could be accommodated; the Comprehensive Council Health Plan and the Regional PMTCT Plan that was donor funded. As donors had their own globally defined priorities, it proved difficult for district and regional managers to accommodate locally defined PMTCT priorities in these plans. As a result few of these were funded. Guidelines and main priority areas of the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare (MoHSW) also impacted on the ability of the districts and regions to act, undermining the effectiveness of the decentralisation policy in the health sector. The challenges in the priority setting processes revealed within the PMTCT initiative indicate substantial weaknesses in implementing the Tanzania decentralisation policy. There is an urgent need to revive the strategies and aims of the decentralisation policy at all levels of the health care system with a view to improving health service delivery

The effectiveness of interventions to change six health behaviours: a review of reviews

Background: Several World Health Organisation reports over recent years have highlighted the high incidence of chronic diseases such as diabetes, coronary heart disease and cancer. Contributory factors include unhealthy diets, alcohol and tobacco use and sedentary lifestyles. This paper reports the findings of a review of reviews of behavioural change interventions to reduce unhealthy behaviours or promote healthy behaviours. We included six different health-related behaviours in the review: healthy eating, physical exercise, smoking, alcohol misuse, sexual risk taking (in young people) and illicit drug use. We excluded reviews which focussed on pharmacological treatments or those which required intensive treatments (e. g. for drug or alcohol dependency). Methods: The Cochrane Library, Database of Abstracts of Reviews of Effectiveness (DARE) and several Ovid databases were searched for systematic reviews of interventions for the six behaviours (updated search 2008). Two reviewers applied the inclusion criteria, extracted data and assessed the quality of the reviews. The results were discussed in a narrative synthesis. Results: We included 103 reviews published between 1995 and 2008. The focus of interventions varied, but those targeting specific individuals were generally designed to change an existing behaviour (e. g. cigarette smoking, alcohol misuse), whilst those aimed at the general population or groups such as school children were designed to promote positive behaviours (e. g. healthy eating). Almost 50% (n = 48) of the reviews focussed on smoking (either prevention or cessation). Interventions that were most effective across a range of health behaviours included physician advice or individual counselling, and workplace- and school-based activities. Mass media campaigns and legislative interventions also showed small to moderate effects in changing health behaviours. Generally, the evidence related to short-term effects rather than sustained/longer-term impact and there was a relative lack of evidence on how best to address inequalities. Conclusions: Despite limitations of the review of reviews approach, it is encouraging that there are interventions that are effective in achieving behavioural change. Further emphasis in both primary studies and secondary analysis (e.g. systematic reviews) should be placed on assessing the differential effectiveness of interventions across different population subgroups to ensure that health inequalities are addressed.</p