2,764 research outputs found
Singular and regular solutions of a non-linear parabolic system
We study a dissipative nonlinear equation modelling certain features of the
Navier-Stokes equations. We prove that the evolution of radially symmetric
compactly supported initial data does not lead to singularities in dimensions
. For dimensions we present strong numerical evidence supporting
existence of blow-up solutions. Moreover, using the same techniques we
numerically confirm a conjecture of Lepin regarding existence of self-similar
singular solutions to a semi-linear heat equation.Comment: 16 page
Intention of preserving forest remnants among landowners in the Atlantic Forest: The role of the ecological context via ecosystem services
Unravelling the psychological processes determining landowners' support towards forest conservation is crucial, particularly in rural areas of the tropics, where most forest remnants are within private lands. As humanânature connections are known to shape proâenvironmental behaviours, the intention of preserving forest remnants should ultimately be determined by the ecological context people live in. Here, we investigate the pathways through which the ecological context (forest cover), via direct contact with forests and ecosystem services and disservices, influence the psychological antecedents of conservation behaviour (beliefs, attitude and intention of preserving forest remnants). We conceptualized a model based on the Reasoned Action Approach, using the ecological context and these three forest experiences as background factors, and tested the model using Piecewise Structural Equation Modelling. Data were collected through an interviewâbased protocol applied to 106 landowners across 13 landscapes varying in forest cover in a consolidated rural region in the Brazilian Atlantic Forest. Our results indicate that: (a) ecosystem services are more important than disservices for shaping intention of preserving forests, particularly nonâprovisioning services; (b) contact with forest has an indirect effect on intention, by positively influencing the frequency of receiving ecosystem services; (c) people living in more forested ecological contexts have more contact with forests, receive ecosystem services more frequently and, ultimately, have stronger intention of preserving forests. Hence, our study suggests a dangerous positive feedback loop between deforestation, the extinction of forest experiences and impairment of humanânature connections. Local demands across the full range of ecosystem services, the balance between services and disservices and the ecological context people live in should be considered when developing conservation initiatives in tropical rural areas
Cork derived TiO2 biomorphic ecoceramics
Environmentally conscious biomorphic ceramics (Ecoceramics) are a new class of material manufactured from renewable resources and wastes. Sustainable cork wastes were pyrolysed, and this activated carbon template infiltrated with a sol-gel precursor (from aqueous green-chemistry) to form TiO2 on heating in air, with the honeycomb microstructure of cork. Physical and optical band gap properties were characterised by XRD, SEM and Raman and UVâvis spectroscopy, and differences between alkaline and acidic activation of the carbon template also studied. With activation by HCl, HNO3 or H2SO4, a mixture of anatase and rutile formed. NaOH activation resulted in pure anatase, but a large amount of Na was retained. At 1000 °C acid activated ecoceramics formed pure rutile, but the NaOH activated one formed Na2Ti6O13 (sodium hexatitanate) as the major phase, coexisting with anatase, brookite and rutile. This material is worth further investigation, as Na2Ti6O13 is reported as a photocatalyst in its own right
Local ecosystem feedbacks and critical transitions in the climate
Global and regional climate models, such as those used in IPCC assessments, are the best tools available for climate predictions. Such models typically account for large-scale land-atmosphere feedbacks. However, these models omit local vegetationenvironment 5 feedbacks that are crucial for critical transitions in ecosystems. Here, we reveal the hypothesis that, if the balance of feedbacks is positive at all scales, local vegetation-environment feedbacks may trigger a cascade of amplifying effects, propagating from local to large scale, possibly leading to critical transitions in the largescale climate. We call for linking local ecosystem feedbacks with large-scale land10 atmosphere feedbacks in global and regional climate models in order to yield climate predictions that we are more confident about
Lack of uniqueness for weak solutions of the incompressible porous media equation
In this work we consider weak solutions of the incompressible 2-D porous
media equation. By using the approach of De Lellis-Sz\'ekelyhidi we prove
non-uniqueness for solutions in in space and time.Comment: 23 pages, 2 fugure
Dissipative continuous Euler flows
We show the existence of continuous periodic solutions of the 3D
incompressible Euler equations which dissipate the total kinetic energy
A Cognitive Model of an Epistemic Community: Mapping the Dynamics of Shallow Lake Ecosystems
We used fuzzy cognitive mapping (FCM) to develop a generic shallow lake
ecosystem model by augmenting the individual cognitive maps drawn by 8
scientists working in the area of shallow lake ecology. We calculated graph
theoretical indices of the individual cognitive maps and the collective
cognitive map produced by augmentation. The graph theoretical indices revealed
internal cycles showing non-linear dynamics in the shallow lake ecosystem. The
ecological processes were organized democratically without a top-down
hierarchical structure. The steady state condition of the generic model was a
characteristic turbid shallow lake ecosystem since there were no dynamic
environmental changes that could cause shifts between a turbid and a clearwater
state, and the generic model indicated that only a dynamic disturbance regime
could maintain the clearwater state. The model developed herein captured the
empirical behavior of shallow lakes, and contained the basic model of the
Alternative Stable States Theory. In addition, our model expanded the basic
model by quantifying the relative effects of connections and by extending it.
In our expanded model we ran 4 simulations: harvesting submerged plants,
nutrient reduction, fish removal without nutrient reduction, and
biomanipulation. Only biomanipulation, which included fish removal and nutrient
reduction, had the potential to shift the turbid state into clearwater state.
The structure and relationships in the generic model as well as the outcomes of
the management simulations were supported by actual field studies in shallow
lake ecosystems. Thus, fuzzy cognitive mapping methodology enabled us to
understand the complex structure of shallow lake ecosystems as a whole and
obtain a valid generic model based on tacit knowledge of experts in the field.Comment: 24 pages, 5 Figure
The Clumping Transition in Niche Competition: a Robust Critical Phenomenon
We show analytically and numerically that the appearance of lumps and gaps in
the distribution of n competing species along a niche axis is a robust
phenomenon whenever the finiteness of the niche space is taken into account. In
this case depending if the niche width of the species is above or
below a threshold , which for large n coincides with 2/n, there are
two different regimes. For the lumpy pattern emerges
directly from the dominant eigenvector of the competition matrix because its
corresponding eigenvalue becomes negative. For the lumpy
pattern disappears. Furthermore, this clumping transition exhibits critical
slowing down as is approached from above. We also find that the number
of lumps of species vs. displays a stair-step structure. The positions
of these steps are distributed according to a power-law. It is thus
straightforward to predict the number of groups that can be packed along a
niche axis and it coincides with field measurements for a wide range of the
model parameters.Comment: 16 pages, 7 figures;
http://iopscience.iop.org/1742-5468/2010/05/P0500
- âŠ