APPLICATION AND COMPARISON OF THREE SPATIAL STATISTICAL METHODS FOR MAPPING AND ANALYZING SOIL ERODIBILITY

The Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation (RUSLE) is a model to predict longtime average annual soil loss, related to rainfall-runoff, soil erodibility, slope length and steepness, cover management, and support practice. The soil erodibility factor K accounts for the influence of soil properties on soil loss during storm events in upland areas. In this paper, ordinary kriging, sequential Gaussian and indicator simulation methods were used and compared for spatial prediction and uncertainty analysis of soil erodibility based on a data set from a very intensive soil survey (524 observations, 10 m by 10 m grid). Half the data was used for calibration, the other half used for validation. The results show that the three methods produce similar spatial distributions for predicted values. The method yielding the smallest mean square error was Gaussian simulation, followed by ordinary kriging and indicator simulation. However, the variance estimates obtained using indicator simulation consistent with the spatial variation, while those obtained by Gaussian simulation and ordinary kriging were overly smoothed

Quantifying forest reference conditions for ecological restoration: The Woolsey Plots

Sixty-six of the approximately 140 original historical plots (or 47percent) have been relocated on eight National Forests thus far. Of these 66 relocated plots 0 (0/13) are spruce-fir, 13 (13/29) are mixed conifer, and the remainder 53 (53/98) are dominated by ponderosa pine (at least historically pine dominated). This study focused on the ponderosa pine-dominated plots, of which we have relocated over 54 percent. NOTE: This total does NOT include those historical plots located on the Long Valley Experimental Forest near Clints Well, AZ

High Incidence of Metabolically Active Brown Adipose Tissue in Healthy Adult Humans: Effects of Cold Exposure and Adiposity

OBJECTIVE—The significant roles of brown adipose tissue (BAT) in the regulation of energy expenditure and adiposity are established in small rodents but have been controversial in humans. The objective is to examine the prevalence of metabolically active BAT in healthy adult humans and to clarify the effects of cold exposure and adiposity. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS—In vivo 2- [ 18 F]fluoro-2-deoxyglucose (FDG) uptake into adipose tissue was measured in 56 healthy volunteers (31 male and 25 female subjects) aged 23–65 years by positron emission tomography (PET) combined with X-ray computed tomography (CT). RESULTS—When exposed to cold (19°C) for 2 h, 17 of 32 younger subjects (aged 23–35 years) and 2 of 24 elderly subjects (aged 38–65 years) showed a substantial FDG uptake into adipose tissue of the supraclavicular and paraspinal regions

Uncertainty in Ecological Simulation Modeling: Applications to Conservation of Endangered Species and Forest Growth

206 p.Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 1998.Finally, a framework is proposed to employ process models in hypothesis testing of ecological scenarios when external entities either interact or do not interact with treatment entities. The analysis of the effect of acidic deposition on the site index of a red pine stand is employed to illustrate this methodology. It is argued that these are valuable methods for conducting process model-based experiments.U of I OnlyRestricted to the U of I community idenfinitely during batch ingest of legacy ETD

Uncertainty in Ecological Simulation Modeling: Applications to Conservation of Endangered Species and Forest Growth

206 p.Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 1998.Finally, a framework is proposed to employ process models in hypothesis testing of ecological scenarios when external entities either interact or do not interact with treatment entities. The analysis of the effect of acidic deposition on the site index of a red pine stand is employed to illustrate this methodology. It is argued that these are valuable methods for conducting process model-based experiments.U of I OnlyRestricted to the U of I community idenfinitely during batch ingest of legacy ETD

Clean technologies and energy efficiency in SMEs

A strategic association has been made between the National University of Tres de Febrero (UNTREF) and the Municipality of Tres de Febrero. These institutions jointly analyzed SMEs (small and medium-sized enterprises) located in the mentioned district, with the aim of designing and analyzing the implementation of clean technologies. Firstly, based on the information provided by the Industry Department, the SME sector was surveyed. Three manufacturing companies from different industries were selected, in order to carry out the proposed study. In this connection, a diagnosis tool was designed for each case, in order to detect possible areas for improvement to optimize the resources required for the process, implement renewable energy sources, minimize waste and improve the working environment, among others. This tool is designed to be used through the whole SME sector, and not exclusively for the analyzed cases. Based on the results achieved, a working team has been constituted with representatives of the associated sectors, in order to design different alternatives to be implemented in each case. Said alternatives aim at minimizing or mitigating the environmental impact caused by the Companies manufacturing processes. The objective is to incorporate technologies and practices following the premise of sustainable development, promoting the environment care, thus improving companies competitiveness