Remote sensing in forestry: Application to the Amazon region

The utilization of satellite remote sensing in forestry is reviewed with emphasis on studies performed for the Brazilian Amazon Region. Timber identification, deforestation, and pasture degradation after deforestation are discussed

Democratization and the development of Japan's uneven welfare state

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Political Science, 2012.Cataloged from PDF version of thesis.Includes bibliographical references (p. 320-343).Comparative data reveal that Japan consistently has had one of the highest poverty rates among advanced industrialized nations, yet its government taxes the poor more heavily and gives them less in public cash transfers than its peers. Why does a country, endowed with democratic institutions, deep pockets, and a sizable social welfare system provide so little public assistance to the poor? I identify two features of Japan's political and economic development that gave rise to a distinctively threadbare safety net. First, the country's late-developer status paired with state-led industrial development incentivized the primary interest groups-namely, the agrarian landlords, industrialists, and organized labor-to oppose redistribution. Second, the manner in which democratic institutions were introduced in the late nineteenth century and the subsequent expansion of suffrage enabled these groups to gain political influence and block expansion of poor relief in the Diet. Beyond formulating redistributive policies, they locked in the minimalist pattern of redistribution by denying the poor the right to vote (pre-1945) and adopting an electoral system that muted their political voice after suffrage was obtained (post-1945). Consequently, Japan's welfare state developed unevenly, featuring a heavy layer of social insurance programs that benefit well-organized interest groups and an exceptionally minimalist public assistance program for the poor. Thus, contrary to extant theories that associate democracy, economic modernization, and a robust labor movement with higher social spending for the poor, I show that these factors stifled redistribution in the case of Japan. My findings strongly suggest that how a country built its democracy and wealth influences whether a welfare state reinforces or ameliorates existing inequality.by Yumiko T. Shimabukuro.Ph.D

Thin-ribbon tapered coupler for dielectric waveguides

A recent discovery shows that a high-dielectric constant, low-loss, solid material can be made into a ribbon-like waveguide structure to yield an attenuation constant of less than 0.02 dB/m for single-mode guidance of millimeter/submillimeter waves. One of the crucial components that must be invented in order to guarantee the low-loss utilization of this dielectric-waveguide guiding system is the excitation coupler. The traditional tapered-to-a-point coupler for a dielectric rod waveguide fails when the dielectric constant of the dielectric waveguide is large. This article presents a new way to design a low-loss coupler for a high- or low-dielectric constant dielectric waveguide for millimeter or submillimeter waves

The effectiveness of mouthwashes in alleviating radiation-induced oral mucositis in head and neck cancer patients: A systematic review

Objective The aim of the study was to perform a systematic literature search and meta-analysis to reveal the most effective mouthwash for head and neck cancer patients who are experiencing radiation therapy-induced mucositis. Methods Using two electronic databases, a literature search and data interpretation were systematically performed as follows: (i) problem specification, (ii) devising of a literature search plan, (iii) literature search and retrieval of publications, and (iv) meta-analysis and data interpretation. The main problem was specified as follows: what mouthwash is effective in alleviating oral mucositis for head and neck cancer patients who are undergoing radiotherapy? Results The literature search yielded 354 titles and abstracts. After reviewing the extracted literature, 25 publications met the inclusion criteria for this study and 17 of 25 were eventually evaluated in the meta-analysis. Conclusion The results of the meta-analysis indicated that the use of a mouthwash that includes anti-inflammatory properties contributes the most to alleviating oral mucositis in patients who are undergoing radiotherapy to treat head and neck cancer

Variáveis e modelos para estimativa da produtividade do cafeeiro a partir de índices de vegetação derivados de imagens Landsat.

Abstract. Coffee fields present a specific pattern of productivity resulting in high and low production in alternated years. Branches grown the first phenological year will produce coffee beans the second phenological year. In high-production years a plant works mostly to grain-filling to the detriment of new branches which will be responsible for production the following year. In low-production years the plant works rather to grow new branches which will produce beans the subsequent year. This feature can be related to the foliar biomass, which can be estimated through remote sensing derived vegetation indices. Several studies report this feature must be incorporated in modeling coffee yield coupled with agrometeorogical models. In this paper we derived Landsat vegetation indices related to coffee plots in order to obtain relationships to yield of the same coffee plots. Biophisical variables and yield data were colected in interviews with farmers from four locations in the whole largest Brazilian coffee-exporting province. Vegetation indices and biophysical variables were selected through stepwise regression in order to obtain the best regression models to estimate coffee yield. Outcomes showed that general models and specific models obtained for Mundo Novo variety presented Pearson's correlation coeficients (r) from 0,64 to 0,71 while models for Catuaí variety showed better results (r = 0,85). Although coffee yield cannot be estimated exclusively from these models, they can be usefull coupled with agrometeorogical models for estimating coffee yield

Do various imaging modalities provide potential early detection and diagnosis of medication-related osteonecrosis of the jaw? A review

Objective: Patients with medication-related osteonecrosis of the jaw (MRONJ) often visit their dentists at advanced stages and subsequently require treatments that greatly affect quality of life. Currently, no clear diagnostic criteria exist to assess MRONJ, and the definitive diagnosis solely relies on clinical bone exposure. This ambiguity leads to a diagnostic delay, complications, and unnecessary burden. This article aims to identify imaging modalities' usage and findings of MRONJ to provide possible approaches for early detection. Methods: Literature searches were conducted using PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, and Cochrane Library to review all diagnostic imaging modalities for MRONJ. Results: Panoramic radiography offers a fundamental understanding of the lesions. Imaging findings were comparable between non-exposed and exposed MRONJ, showing osteolysis, osteosclerosis, and thickened lamina dura. Mandibular cortex index Class II could be a potential early MRONJ indicator. While three-dimensional modalities, CT and CBCT, were able to show more features unique to MRONJ such as a solid type periosteal reaction, buccal predominance of cortical perforation, and bone-within-bone appearance. MRI signal intensities of vital bones are hypointense on T1WI and hyperintense on T2WI and STIR when necrotic bone shows hypointensity on all T1WI, T2WI, and STIR. Functional imaging is the most sensitive method but is usually performed in metastasis detection rather than being a diagnostic tool for early MRONJ. Conclusion: Currently, MRONJ-specific imaging features cannot be firmly established. However, the current data are valuable as it may lead to a more efficient diagnostic procedure along with a more suitable selection of imaging modalities

Alterações antropogênicas nos remanescentes de vegetação natural (RVN) de savana do estado de São Paulo no ano de 2009.

Deforestation in São Paulo State was mainly driven by sugarcane and coffee crops during the XVIII and XIX centuries which caused a significant fragmentation in native forests. More recently, between the 1970?s and 1980?s decades the native forest fragmentation process was intensified and also the savannah area was drastically reduced due to sugarcane expansion for ethanol production. Much native vegetation was deteriorated and fragmented into smaller disconnected portions during this period. This work was performed within the scope of a technical cooperative agreement between the Environmental Secretary of São Paulo State (SMA) and the National Institute for Space Research (INPE). It consisted in monitoring monthly the land cover changes of 7,000 polygons of remanescent native vegetation (RVN) in the São Paulo State. The environmental assessment of the vegetation cover status was performed based on mesoregions for better discussion of the geographical distribution of the deforested RVN's from May to December 2009. The results showed that Bauru and Ribeirão Preto mesoregions presented the highest land cover changes with 19.4 and 12.1 km², respectively

Military Base Closures and Affected Defense Department Civil Service Employees

This report discusses the department of defense recommended closures and realignments that the agency estimated would eliminate approximately 18,000 civilian support positions