Simulation of crop-weed competition : Models and their applications

La compétition entre les cultures et les mauvaises herbes est un phénomène complexe. Des modèles de simulation exhaustifs, orientés vers les processus et traitant la compétition selon une approche systématique plutôt qu'empirique, peuvent offrir un aperçu des relations qui existent entre la compétition, la densité des cultures et des mauvaises herbes, les périodes relatives d'émergence, les divers caractères morphologiques et physiologiques, ainsi que les niveaux de ressources. Ils peuvent aussi être utilisés pour la prévision en tant que composante d'une approche systémique de lutte contre les mauvaises herbes. Cet article passe en revue les caractéristiques de quelques modèles de simulation récents de compétition entre les cultures et les mauvaises herbes, les espèces pour lesquelles leurs paramètres ont été adaptés, ainsi que leurs applications. Jusqu'à maintenant, ces modèles ont été principalement utilisés afin de prédire les pertes de rendement attribuables à la compétition exercée par les mauvaises herbes. Leur aptitude à simuler la production de graines de mauvaises herbes en réponse à certains facteurs environnementaux n'a pas été exploitée. La prochaine étape consistera à relier les modèles de simulation de compétition cultures-adventices aux modèles de dynamique des populations de mauvaises herbes, pour améliorer notre aptitude à prédire dans le temps les effets de diverses stratégies de lutte contre les mauvaises herbes. Les avantages et inconvénients de l'approche par modèles pour résou dre les problèmes de lutte contre les mauvaises herbes sont discutés.Competition between crops and weeds is a complex phenomenon. Comprehensive, process-oriented simulation models which treat competition in a mechanistic rather than an empirical fashion, can offer insight into relationships among competition, crop and weed density, relative time of emergence, various morphological and physiological traits, and resource levels. They can also be used for prediction as part of a Systems approach to weed management. This paper reviews the features of a number of recent simulation models of crop-weed competition, the species for which they have been parameterized, and their applications. To date, these models have been used primarily to predict crop yield losses due to weed competition. Their ability to simulate weed seed production in response to the environment has not been exploited. The next step is to link simulation models of crop-weed competition to weed population dynamics models, in order to improve our ability to predict the effect of various weed management strategies over time. Advantages and drawbacks of a modeling approach to weed management problems are discussed

On the Adaptive Real-Time Detection of Fast-Propagating Network Worms

We present two light-weight worm detection algorithms thatoffer significant advantages over fixed-threshold methods.The first algorithm, RBS (rate-based sequential hypothesis testing)aims at the large class of worms that attempts to quickly propagate, thusexhibiting abnormal levels of the rate at which hosts initiateconnections to new destinations. The foundation of RBS derives fromthe theory of sequential hypothesis testing, the use of which fordetecting randomly scanning hosts was first introduced by our previouswork with the TRW (Threshold Random Walk) scan detection algorithm. The sequential hypothesistesting methodology enables engineering the detectors to meet falsepositives and false negatives targets, rather than triggering whenfixed thresholds are crossed. In this sense, the detectors that weintroduce are truly adaptive.We then introduce RBS+TRW, an algorithm that combines fan-out rate (RBS)and probability of failure (TRW) of connections to new destinations.RBS+TRW provides a unified framework that at one end acts as a pure RBSand at the other end as pure TRW, and extends RBS's power in detectingworms that scan randomly selected IP addresses

Flow Diagnostics and the Acoustic Behavior of a Fan-and-Coil Assembly

Project 84 concentrated on understanding the noise generating mechanisms of axial-flow fans with the intent of proposing methods of component design and system assembly by which noise generation is reduced or minimized. The project focused on the fan-coil unit typical to room air conditioners and many split-system applications. This report presents the accomplishments of the project, including the design, construction, and qualification of an anechoic chamber, the acquisition of acoustic, flow, and pressure data within a fan-coil unit over a typical operating range, and the development of an understanding of the flow-structure interactions responsible for noise generation in the fan-coil unit. This report focuses on the investigation of a method for measuring the dynamic axial force generated by a fan operating in a steady but spatially non-uniform flow field. Several variations of a measurement system that uses a cantilever beam were tested. Experimental results indicated, in all designs, that the measurement system introduced additional sources of axial motion, occurring at the frequencies of interest and at amplitudes much larger than the one to be measured. Recommendations for future work are given.Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Project 8

Making Black Holes in Supernovae

The possibility of making stellar mass black holes in supernovae that otherwise produce viable Type II and Ib supernova explosions is discussed and estimates given of their number in the Milky Way Galaxy. Observational diagnostics of stellar mass black hole formation are reviewed. While the equation of state sets the critical mass, fall back during the explosion is an equally important (and uncertain) element in determining if a black hole is formed. SN 1987A may or may not harbor a black hole, but if the critical mass for neutron stars is 1.5 - 1.6 M\sun, as Brown and Bethe suggest, it probably does. Observations alone do not yet resolve the issue. Reasons for this state of ambiguity are discussed and suggestions given as to how gamma-ray and x-ray observations in the future might help.Comment: 14 pages, uuencoded gzipped postscript, Accepted Nuclear Physics A, Gerry Brown Festschrift contributio

Topological Orthoalgebras

We define topological orthoalgebras (TOAs) and study their properties. While every topological orthomodular lattice is a TOA, the lattice of projections of a Hilbert space is an example of a lattice-ordered TOA that is not a toplogical lattice. On the other hand, we show that every compact Boolean TOA is a topological Boolean algebra. We also show that a compact TOA in which 0 is an isolated point is atomic and of finite height. We identify and study a particularly tractable class of TOAs, which we call {\em stably ordered}: those in which the upper-set generated by an open set is open. This includes all topological OMLs, and also the projection lattices of Hilbert spaces. Finally, we obtain a topological version of the Foulis-Randall representation theory for stably ordered TOAsComment: 16 pp, LaTex. Minor changes and corrections in sections 1; more substantial corrections in section