Energy-efficient traffic engineering

The energy consumption in telecommunication networks is expected to grow considerably, especially in core networks. In this chapter, optimization of energy consumption is approached from two directions. In a first study, multilayer traffic engineering (MLTE) is used to assign energy-efficient paths and logical topology to IP traffic. The relation with traditional capacity optimization is explained, and the MLTE strategy is applied for daily traffic variations. A second study considers the core network below the IP layer, giving a detailed power consumption model. Optical bypass is evaluated as a technique to achieve considerable power savings over per-hop opticalelectronicoptical regeneration. Document type: Part of book or chapter of boo

Robotic bees for crop pollination: why drones cannot replace biodiversity

The notion that robotic crop pollination will solve the decline in pollinators has gained wide popularity recently (Fig. 1), and in March 2018 Walmart filed a patent for autonomous robot bees. However, w present six arguments showing that this is a technically and economically inviable 'solution' at present and poses substantial ecological and moral risks: (1) despite recent advances, robotic pollination is far from being able to replace bees to pollinate crops efficiently; (2) using robots is very unlikely to be economically viable; (3) there would be unacceptably high environmental costs; (4) wider ecosystems would be damaged; (5) it would erode the values of biodiversity; and, (6) relying on robotic pollination could actually lead to major food insecurity

Assessment of Vaginal Lactobacillary Flora in Wet Mount and Fresh or Delayed Gram's Stain

Objective: The assessment of the vaginal lactobacillary flora helps to direct further diagnostic microbiologic investigations in genital infectious disease and seems to represent a powerful tool in predicting infectious morbidity and preterm labor during pregnancy. In the absence of a “gold standard,” we studied the variations in assessing lactobacillary morphotypes according to the method used

Reproducibility and validity of a diet quality index for children assessed using a FFQ

The diet quality index (DQI) for preschool children is a new index developed to reflect compliance with four main food-based dietary guidelines for preschool children in Flanders. The present study investigates: (1) the validity of this index by comparing DQI scores for preschool children with nutrient intakes, both of which were derived from 3d estimated diet records; (2) the reproducibility of the DQI for preschoolers based on a parentally reported forty-seven-item FFQ DQI, which was repeated after 5 weeks; (3) the relative validity of the FFQ DQI with 3d record DQI scores as reference. The study sample included 510 and 58 preschoolers (2-5-6.5 years) for validity and reproducibility analyses, respectively. Increasing 3d record DQI scores were associated with decreasing consumption of added sugars, and increasing intakes of fibre, water, Ca and many micronutrients. Mean FFQ DQI test-retest scores were not significantly different: 72 (so 11) v. 71 (Si) 10) (P-=0-218) out of a maximum of 100. Mean 3d record DQI score (66 (so 10)) was significantly lower than mean FFQ DQI (71 (so 10);

Mechanical competence of bone-implant systems can accurately be determined by image-based micro-finite element analyses

The precise failure mechanisms of bone implants are still incompletely understood. Micro-computed tomography in combination with finite element analysis appears to be a potent methodology to determine the mechanical stability of bone-implant constructs. To assess this microstructural finite element (μFE) analysis approach, pull-out tests were designed and conducted on ten sheep vertebral bodies into which orthopedic screws were inserted.μFE models of the same bone-implant constructs were then built and solved, using a large-scale linear FE-solver.μFE calculated pull-out strength correlated highly with the experimentally measured pull-out strength (r 2= 0.87) thereby statistically supporting theμFE approach. These results suggest that bone-implant constructs can be analyzed usingμFE in a detailed and unprecedented way. This could potentially facilitate the development of future implant designs leading to novel and improved fracture fixation method

Relationship between vegetation microwave optical depth and cross-polarized backscatter from multiyear Aquarius observations

Soil moisture retrieval algorithms based on passive microwave remote sensing observations need to account for vegetation attenuation and emission, which is generally parameterized as vegetation optical depth (VOD). This multisensor study tests a new method to retrieve VOD from cross-polarized radar backscattering coefficients. Three years of Aquarius/SAC-D data were used to establish a relationship between the cross-polarized backscattering coefficient σHV and VOD derived from a multitemporal passive dual-channel algorithm (VODMT). The dependence of the correspondence is analyzed for different land use classes. There are no systematic differences in the slope for woody versus nonwoody vegetation, resulting in a strong correlation (80% explained-variance) and a global linear relationship when all classes are combined. The relationship is stable over the years of observations. The comparison of the Aquarius-derived VODMT to Soil Moisture and Ocean Salinity's multi-angular VOD estimates shows similar spatial patterns and temporal behavior, evident in high correlations. However, VODMT has considerably higher mean values, but lower dynamic range globally. Most of the differences can be attributed to differences in instrument sampling. The main result of this study, a relationship between backscatter and VOD, will permit high-resolution mapping of VOD with synthetic aperture radar measurements. These maps allow future studies of scaling and heterogeneity effects of vegetation on soil moisture retrieval at the coarser scales of land microwave radiometry. The study shows that VOD based on passive measurements and predicted by active measurements are comparable globally and that the breakdown by land cover classification does not affect the relationship appreciably

Simulation of spatial variability in crop leaf area index and yield using agroecosystem modeling and geophysics-based quantitative soil information

Agroecosystem models that simulate crop growth as a function of weather conditionsand soil characteristics are among the most promising tools for improving crop yield and achieving more sustainable agricultural production systems. This study aims at using spatially distributed crop growth simulations to investigate how field-scale patterns in soil properties obtained using geophysical mapping affect the spatial variability of soil water content dynamics and growth of crops at the square kilometer scale. For this, a geophysics-based soil map was intersected with land use information. Soilhydraulic parameters were calculated using pedotransfer functions. Simulations of soilwater content dynamics performed with the agroecosystem model AgroC were com-pared with soil water content measured at two locations, resulting in RMSE of 0.032and of 0.056 cm3cm−3, respectively. The AgroC model was then used to simulate thegrowth of sugar beet (Beta vulgaris L.), silage maize (Zea maysL.), potato (SolanumtuberosumL.), winter wheat (Triticum aestivumL.), winter barley (Hordeum vulgareL.), and winter rapeseed (Brassica napusL.) in the 1- by 1-km study area. It was found that the simulated leaf area index (LAI) was affected by the magnitude of simulated water stress, which was a function of both the crop type and soil characteristics. Simulated LAI was generally consistent with the observed LAI calculated from normalized difference vegetation index (LAINDVI) obtained from RapidEye satellite data. Finally, maps of simulated agricultural yield were produced for four crops, and it was found that simulated yield matched well with actual harvest data and literature values. Therefore, it was concluded that the information obtained from geophysics-based soilmapping was valuable for practical agricultural applications