Estimation of leaf area index in eucalypt forest with vertical foliage, using cover and fullframe fisheye photography

This study compared fullframe fisheye photography and cover photography with destructive leaf area index (L) estimation and the Licor LAI-2000 plant canopy analyser (PCA) in plantations of the vertical leaved species Eucalyptus globulus. Fullframe fisheye photography differs from circular fisheye photography in that the images have reduced field of view such that the zenithal range of 0-90° extends to the corners of the rectangular image, roughly doubling image resolution compared to circular images. Cover images instead are obtained by pointing a 70 mm equivalent focal length lens (in 35 mm format) straight upwards. Measurements of cover and indirect estimates of plant area index (Lt) were made in 12 stands of 6-8 years old Eucalyptus globulus. L was measured using destructive sampling and allometry in nine of these stands and ranged from 2.5 to 6.6. Both foliage cover and Lt from the PCA were well correlated with L from allometry, but fullframe fisheye photography provided poor estimates of L despite corrections for foliage clumping. Sampling location had a significant effect on estimates of crown porosity, crown cover and zenithal clumping index from cover photography. The zenithal extinction coefficient (k), calculated from L, crown porosity and cover, ranged from 0.14 to 0.25 and appeared to decrease as L increased; hence, we were unable to obtain an unambiguous estimate of k for E. globulus stands. Nonetheless, the study showed that L can be estimated from foliage cover with similar certainty to that of the PCA. We conclude that the greatest challenge facing indirect estimation of L in forests using photographic methods is to separate the effects of foliage angle from those of foliage clumping. © 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved

A Holstein-Primakoff and a Dyson realization for the quantum algebra Uq[sl(n+1)]U_q[sl(n+1)]

The known Holstein-Primakoff and Dyson realizations of the Lie algebra $sl(n+1), n=1,2,...$ in terms of Bose operators (Okubo S 1975 J. Math. Phys. 16 528) are generalized to the class of the quantum algebras $U_q[sl(n+1)]$ for any $n$. It is shown how the elements of $U_q[sl(n+1)]$ can be expressed via $n$ pairs of Bose creation and annihilation operators.Comment: 5 pages, Te

Kerr-Newman Black Hole Thermodynamical State Space: Blockwise Coordinates

A coordinate system that blockwise-simplifies the Kerr-Newman black hole's thermodynamical state space Ruppeiner metric geometry is constructed, with discussion of the limiting cases corresponding to simpler black holes. It is deduced that one of the three conformal Killing vectors of the Reissner-Nordstrom and Kerr cases (whose thermodynamical state space metrics are 2 by 2 and conformally flat) survives generalization to the Kerr-Newman case's 3 by 3 thermodynamical state space metric.Comment: 4 pages incl 2 figs. Accepted by Gen. Rel. Grav. Replaced with Accepted version (minor corrections

The qq-boson-fermion realizations of quantum suprealgebra Uq(gl(2/1))U_q(gl(2/1))

We show that our construction of realizations for Lie algebras and quantum algebras can be generalized to quantum superalgebras, too. We study an example of quantum superalgebra $U_q(gl(2/1))$ and give the boson-fermion realization with respect to one pair od q-deformed boson operator and 2 pairs of fermions.Comment: 8 page

Improving the normalization of complex interventions: measure development based on normalization process theory (NoMAD): study protocol

<b>Background</b> Understanding implementation processes is key to ensuring that complex interventions in healthcare are taken up in practice and thus maximize intended benefits for service provision and (ultimately) care to patients. Normalization Process Theory (NPT) provides a framework for understanding how a new intervention becomes part of normal practice. This study aims to develop and validate simple generic tools derived from NPT, to be used to improve the implementation of complex healthcare interventions.<p></p> <b>Objectives</b> The objectives of this study are to: develop a set of NPT-based measures and formatively evaluate their use for identifying implementation problems and monitoring progress; conduct preliminary evaluation of these measures across a range of interventions and contexts, and identify factors that affect this process; explore the utility of these measures for predicting outcomes; and develop an online users’ manual for the measures.<p></p> <b>Methods</b> A combination of qualitative (workshops, item development, user feedback, cognitive interviews) and quantitative (survey) methods will be used to develop NPT measures, and test the utility of the measures in six healthcare intervention settings.<p></p> <b>Discussion</b> The measures developed in the study will be available for use by those involved in planning, implementing, and evaluating complex interventions in healthcare and have the potential to enhance the chances of their implementation, leading to sustained changes in working practices

The coupling of fermions to the three-dimensional noncommutative CPN−1CP^{N-1} model: minimal and supersymmetric extensions

We consider the coupling of fermions to the three-dimensional noncommutative $CP^{N-1}$ model. In the case of minimal coupling, although the infrared behavior of the gauge sector is improved, there are dangerous (quadratic) infrared divergences in the corrections to the two point vertex function of the scalar field. However, using superfield techniques we prove that the supersymmetric version of this model with ``antisymmetrized'' coupling of the Lagrange multiplier field is renormalizable up to the first order in $\frac{1}{N}$. The auxiliary spinor gauge field acquires a nontrivial (nonlocal) dynamics with a generation of Maxwell and Chern-Simons noncommutative terms in the effective action. Up to the 1/N order all divergences are only logarithimic so that the model is free from nonintegrable infrared singularities.Comment: Minor corrections in the text and modifications in the list of reference

Major electrocardiographic abnormalities according to the Minnesota coding system among Brazilian adults (from the ELSA-Brasil cohort study)

The electrocardiogram is a simple and useful clinical tool; nevertheless, few studies have evaluated the prevalence of electrocardiographic abnormalities in the Latin American population. This study aims to evaluate the major electrocardiographic abnormalities according to the Minnesota coding system in Brazilian adults, stratified by gender, age, race, and cardiovascular risk factors. Data from 14,424 adults (45.8% men, age 35 to 74 years) were obtained at baseline of the Brazilian Longitudinal Study of Adult Health (ELSA-Brasil), according to standardized protocol. The electrocardiogram were obtained with the Burdick Atria 6100 machine, stored on Pyramis System, automatically coded according to the Minnesota coding system by the Glasgow University software and then manually revised. Major abnormalities were more prevalent in men than women (11.3% and 7.9%, p <0.001). These differences were consistent through the different age groups, race, and number of cardiovascular risk factors. Electrocardiographic major abnormalities were more prevalent in black participants for both men (black: 15.1%, mixed: 10.4%, white: 11.1%, p = 0.001) and women (black: 10%, mixed: 7.6%, white: 7.2%, p = 0.004). In conclusion, in this large sample of Brazilian adults, the prevalence of major electrocardiographic abnormalities was higher among men, the elderly, black, and among people with more cardiovascular risk factors