Wavelength-dependent spatial variation in the reflectance of 'homogeneous' ground calibration targets (Paper presented at XIX ISPRS Congress, 16-22 July, 2000, Amsterdam, The Netherlands)

Remotely sensed data are most useful if calibrated to spectral reflectance of known features. One simple method of calibration is regression of remote data on the reflectance of several ground targets as measured in the field, the so called empirical line method (ELM). The ideal situation would be one where a range of ground targets representing all the features of interest in the remote image were available for ground measurements (Lawless et al., 1998). The identification of suitable ground targets is constrained by several limitations, such as their size (to minimise edge effects), their absolute reflectance (to represent spectral characteristics of the image) and their effective spatial variability (to extract reflectance characteristics representative of the target). The size of a ground target is dependent on the spatial resolution of the image that must be calibrated (Justice & Townshend, 1981) and the number of observations needed to represent features in the image has been suggested to depend upon the spatial resolution of the remotely sensed image (Justice & Townshend, 1981) and on the spatial variability of the ground target (Harlan et al., 1979; Curran & Williamson, 1986). Although ground targets used for calibration should be spectrally “bland” and spatially uniform by definition (Clark et al., 1999), it is sometimes very difficult to find such places available for calibrating remotely sensed images. When surfaces that apparently satisfy these conditions are available in suitable size, their sampling needs to be designed to optimise representation of the whole surface and available resources (e.g., effort and time). Surfaces that look spatially uniform by eye may actually contain spatial variation, and this spatial variation may depends on wavelength (Atkinson & Emery, 1999). Such variability can be detected using geostatistics, which is concerned with issues such as spatial correlation and analyses of spatial data. Geostatistical tools have been used in a variety of studies and the variogram has been applied in remote sensing and ecology to design optimal sampling strategies for variables sampled in space (Atkinson, 1991; Rossi et al., 1992) and time (Salvatori et al., 1999). This study investigates the spatial variability of potentially suitable ground calibration targets (GCT) using a geostatistical approach, which gives results that can be used to design optimal sampling strategies for such surfaces. The targets were selected from an area where an Itres Instruments Compact Airborne Spectral Imager (casi) with ground resolution of about 1.5 metres was flown at the same time as ground data were acquired

On the Bethe Ansatz for the Jaynes-Cummings-Gaudin model

We investigate the quantum Jaynes-Cummings model - a particular case of the Gaudin model with one of the spins being infinite. Starting from the Bethe equations we derive Baxter's equation and from it a closed set of equations for the eigenvalues of the commuting Hamiltonians. A scalar product in the separated variables representation is found for which the commuting Hamiltonians are Hermitian. In the semi classical limit the Bethe roots accumulate on very specific curves in the complex plane. We give the equation of these curves. They build up a system of cuts modeling the spectral curve as a two sheeted cover of the complex plane. Finally, we extend some of these results to the XXX Heisenberg spin chain.Comment: 16 page

Nesting symmetries and diffusion in disordered d-wave superconductors

The low-energy density of states (DOS) of disordered 2D d-wave superconductors is extremely sensitive to details of both the disorder model and the electronic band structure. Using diagrammatic methods and numerical solutions of the Bogoliubov-de Gennes equations, we show that the physical origin of this sensitivity is the existence of a novel diffusive mode with momentum close to $(\pi,\pi)$ which is gapless only in systems with a global nesting symmetry. We find that in generic situations, the DOS vanishes at the Fermi level. However, proximity to the highly symmetric case may nevertheless lead to observable non-monotonic behavior of the DOS in the cuprates

Joint Probabilities Reproducing Three EPR Experiments On Two Qubits

An eight parameter family of the most general nonnegative quadruple probabilities is constructed for EPR-Bohm-Aharonov experiments when only 3 pairs of analyser settings are used. It is a simultaneous representation of 3 Bohr-incompatible experimental configurations valid for arbitrary quantum states.Comment: Typo corrected in abstrac

Advice to parents changes over the years parts I-II

This short article on family living appeared across 2 issues in Broome County Living magazine, published by Cornell Cooperative Extension of Broome County, New York, and is part of a collection of such articles available on the Open Repository at Binghamton University. It explores advice given to parents of young children during the 19th century and early 20th century, looking at well-known sources such as Dr. Spock\u27s books as well as more esoteric publications. Infant feeding, bedtime practices, discipline, toilet training, and issues encountered by mothers in the workforce are traced through that historical period. Along with descriptions of quaint parenting practices is a theme of ever-changing expert recommendations, leading the author to recommend that parents regard such advice with healthy skepticism, as much of it has not stood the test of time

Changing roles of men and women

This short article on family living appeared in Broome County Living magazine, published by Cornell Cooperative Extension of Broome County, New York, and is part of a collection of such articles available on the Open Repository at Binghamton University. The article cites statistics on the increase in women in the workforce and discusses resulting role changes within the family. Four groups are identified according to attitudes toward more equitable roles, progressives,” “traditionalists,” “ambivalents,” and “all talk and no action.” Benefits as well as stresses of multiple roles are explored along with the concept of role-buffering. Coping strategies are offered

Are your children “over-programmed?”

This short article on family living appeared in Broome County Living magazine, published by Cornell Cooperative Extension of Broome County, New York, and is part of a collection of such articles available on the Open Repository at Binghamton University. This article explores the role of structured programs in children’s lives, exploring issues such as finding the appropriate balance of such programs and free play time, along with completion resulting from intensive programming for children. Changing family structures are cited as supporting the demand for more out-of-home programming for children. Suggestions are provided for vetting programs for developmental appropriateness and other criteria

What’s right with families?

This short article on family living appeared in Broome County Living magazine, published by Cornell Cooperative Extension of Broome County, New York, and is part of a collection of such articles available on the Open Repository at Binghamton University. Written at a time when changes in and troubles within American families were much-discussed in the popular press, this article provides perspective on family strengths and characteristics of strong families, along with recommended coping strategies. A sidebar titled “Who is the American Family?” provides statistical information to augment the ideas in the article

The inside scoop on outdoor play

This short article on family living appeared in Broome County Living magazine, published by Cornell Cooperative Extension of Broome County, New York, and is part of a collection of such articles available on the Open Repository at Binghamton University. The 3-part article (1) describes backyard play equipment and play ideas, stressing fun, safety, and variety along with attention to the needs of both children and parents; (2) identifies trends in the design of public playgrounds over the years; and (3) presents social and other issues related to private play vs. community playgrounds. Information about liability that might be incurred by families related to backyard play equipment is included

Bringing up super baby

This short article on family living appeared in Broome County Living magazine, published by Cornell Cooperative Extension of Broome County, New York, and is part of a collection of such articles available on the Open Repository at Binghamton University. This article explores the “superbaby syndrome” of the 1980s, with accounts of very early academic programing and competition among parents for children\u27s achievement. Caution and common sense are urged, and criteria are provided for evaluating the developmental appropriateness of programs for young children. Anecdotes from the author and local parents are included