Ant-Plant Relationships in a Re-Created Tallgrass Prairie

Relationships between the distributions of nesting ants and flora were investigated in a re-created tallgrass prairie located in northeastern Illinois. One-third of 167 randomly selected 1m2 quadrats in the prairie contained ant nests. Basal coverage of ground by tall grass shoots was greater in quadrats having ant nests than in those lacking ant nests. In addition, clumps of big bluestem (Andropogon gerardii) that were inhabited by the ant, Acanthomyops clavigera, had higher median rank densities than adjacent clumps lacking nests. The clumps also showed a negative correlation between big bluestem shoots/ cm2 and area occupied by the clump at ground level. These significant findings relating to the distribution of nesting ants and tall grasses indicate ants have ecologic importance in re-created prairie that warrants greater scrutiny among restoration scientists

Delineation of soil temperature regimes from HCMM data

The subsetting of HCMM data into ORSER format was completed for four dates using a modified SUBSET program. Large areas (approximately 2500 scan lines, 1680 elements) were selected to increase the occurrence of suitable control points for registration. Average daily temperatures (ADT) were calculated for each date. The MERGE program combined registered daytime temperature (DAY-IR) with nighttime temperature (NIGHT-IR) to form a separate two-channel data set. The SUBTRAN program averaged the DAY-IR and NIGHT-IR creating a third ADT channel. Registration equations for the four ADT data sets were generated. A one dimensional soil heat flow equation was modified to allow for mean annual soil temperature predictions using merged ADT data sets

Delineation of soil temperature regimes from HCMM data

Evaluation of LANDSAT and Heat Capacity Mapping Mission (HCMM) data as input into National Cooperative Soil Survey is discussed. Signature classification techniques were applied to 13 May 76 LANDSAT data. LANDSAT data was overlaid with HCMM data, revealing registration problems caused by a shortage of control points in LANDSAT data, and the WARP program developed to improve registration accuracy. Initial images for control point selection were produced using digital terrain elevation data. Statistical procedures for evaluating data classification and to describe spatial distribution of surface temperature and its correlation with soil surface conditions were investigated

Soil temperature investigations using satellite acquired thermal-infrared data in semi-arid regions

Thermal-infrared data from the Heat Capacity Mapping Mission satellite were used to map the spatial distribution of diurnal surface temperatures and to estimate mean annual soil temperatures (MAST) and annual surface temperature amplitudes (AMP) in semi-arid east central Utah. Diurnal data with minimal snow and cloud cover were selected for five dates throughout a yearly period and geometrically co-registered. Rubber-sheet stretching was aided by the WARP program which allowed preview of image transformations. Daytime maximum and nighttime minimum temperatures were averaged to generation average daily temperature (ADT) data set for each of the five dates. Five ADT values for each pixel were used to fit a sine curve describing the theoretical annual surface temperature response as defined by a solution of a one-dimensinal heat flow equation. Linearization of the equation produced estimates of MAST and AMP plus associated confidence statistics. MAST values were grouped into classes and displayed on a color video screen. Diurnal surface temperatures and MAST were primarily correlated with elevation

Delineation of soil temperature regimes from HCMM data

Supplementary data including photographs as well as topographic, geologic, and soil maps were obtained and evaluated for ground truth purposes and control point selection. A study area (approximately 450 by 450 pixels) was subset from LANDSAT scene No. 2477-17142. Geometric corrections and scaling were performed. Initial enhancement techniques were initiated to aid control point selection and soils interpretation. The SUBSET program was modified to read HCMM tapes and HCMM data were reformated so that they are compatible with the ORSER system. Initial NMAP products of geometrically corrected and scaled raw data tapes (unregistered) of the study were produced

Satellite detection of vegetative damage and alteration caused by pollutants emitted by a zinc smelter

The author has identified the following significant results. Field observations and data collected by low flying aircraft were used to verify the accuracy of maps produced from the satellite data. Although areas of vegetation as small as six acres can accurately be detected, a white pine stand that was severely damaged by sulfur dioxide could not be differentiated from a healthy white pine stand because spectral differences were not large enough. When winter data were used to eliminate interference from herbaceous and deciduous vegetation, the damage was still undetectable. The analysis was able to produce a character map that accurately delineated areas of vegetative alteration due to high zinc levels accumulating in the soil. The map depicted a distinct gradient of less damage and alteration as the distance from the smelter increased. Although the satellite data will probably not be useful for detecting small acreages of damaged vegetation, it is concluded that the data may be very useful as an inventory tool to detect and delineate large vegetative areas possessing differing spectral signatures

Microminiaturized, biopotential conditioning system (MBCS)

Multichannel, medical monitoring system allows almost complete freedom of movement for subject during monitoring periods. System comprises monitoring unit (biobelt), transmission line, and data acquisition unit. Belt, made of polybenzimidizole fabric, is wrapped around individual's waist and held in place by overlapping sections of Velcro closure material

NEST DENSITIES OF THE WANDERING ALBATROSS DIOMEDEA EXULANS AT THE PRINCE EDWARD ISLANDS, ESTIMATED USING GPS

Hand-held Global Positioning System (GPS) receivers provide opportunities for detailed and rapid mapping of features, including biological ones, further enhanced by the removal during 2000 of “selective availability”. GPS was used to map, describe and compare nest densities within wandering albatross Diomedea exulans colonies at subantarctic Marion and Prince Edward islands. On Prince Edward Island, the coordinates of 1 061 wandering albatross nests were determined and, on Marion Island, 1 779 nests. For describing nest densities of wandering albatrosses, a 50-m grid is recommended, at which scale, the densest area of Prince Edward Island was in Albatross Valley, where the area of the colony was 46 ha and nest density was 22.3 nests ha-1. For Marion Island, the total area of the wandering albatross colonies was 306 ha and the nest density was 5.8 nests ha-1. In the three study colonies there (Macaroni Bay, 28 nests; Sealer\'s Beach, 117 nests; Goney Plain, 140 nests), the density statistics did not differ greatly from the overall densities on the island, with overall mean densities of 4.9, 5.7 and 8.0 birds ha-1 respectively. Although comparisons with nest densities at other breeding colonies are uncertain because of differing methods of computing them, the nest densities in Albatross Valley lie within the reported ranges for other colonies of great albatrosses.Afr. J. mar. Sci. 25: 529–53

Program to Optimize Simulated Trajectories (POST). Volume 1: Formulation manual

A general purpose FORTRAN program for simulating and optimizing point mass trajectories (POST) of aerospace vehicles is described. The equations and the numerical techniques used in the program are documented. Topics discussed include: coordinate systems, planet model, trajectory simulation, auxiliary calculations, and targeting and optimization

An Online Educational Program Improves Pediatric Oncology Nurses’ Knowledge, Attitudes, and Spiritual Care Competence

This study evaluated the potential impact of an online spiritual care educational program on pediatric nurses’ attitudes toward and knowledge of spiritual care and their competence to provide spiritual care to children with cancer at the end of life. It was hypothesized that the intervention would increase nurses’ positive attitudes toward and knowledge of spiritual care and increase nurses’ level of perceived spiritual care competence. A positive correlation was expected between change in nurses’ perceived attitudes toward and knowledge of spiritual care and change in nurses’ perceived spiritual care competence. A prospective, longitudinal design was employed, and analyses included one-way repeated-measures analysis of variance, linear regression, and partial correlation. Statistically significant differences were found in nurses’ attitudes toward and knowledge of spiritual care and nurses’ perceived spiritual care competence. There was a positive relationship between change scores in nurses’ attitudes toward and knowledge of spiritual care and nurses’ spiritual care competence. Online spiritual care educational programs may exert a lasting impact on nurses’ attitudes toward and knowledge of spiritual care and their competence to provide spiritual care to children with cancer at the end of life. Additional studies are required to evaluate the direct effects of educational interventions patient outcomes