Implementation of a Two-Channel Maximally Decimated Filter Bank using Switched Capacitor Circuits

The aim of this paper is to describe the implementation of a two-channel filter bank (FB) using the switched capacitor (SC) technique considering real properties of operational amplifiers (OpAmps). The design procedure is presented and key recommendations for the implementation are given. The implementation procedure describes the design of two-channel filter bank using an IIR Cauer filter, conversion of IIR into the SC filters and the final implementation of the SC filters. The whole design and an SC circuit implementation is performed by a PraCAn package in Maple. To verify the whole filter bank, resulting real property circuit structures are completely simulated by WinSpice and ELDO simulators. The results confirm that perfect reconstruction conditions can be almost accepted for the filter bank implemented by the SC circuits. The phase response of the SC filter bank is not strictly linear due to the IIR filters. However, the final ripple of a magnitude frequency response in the passband is almost constant, app. 0.5 dB for a real circuit analysis

Designing a regeneration zone for the Cuyahoga River Valley: Ecological restoration

The University Archives has determined that this item is of continuing value to OSU's history.The potential for ecological restoration of the lower Cuyahoga River is presented as part of a planning for a Regenerative Development Zone (RDZ) in industrial/ commercial land near downtown Cleveland. First, hydrology, water quality, and fish and invertebrate data and composite biological indicators are presented for this lower reach of the Cuyahoga River. While there are some signs of recent improvement in river fish richness, the biological indicators generally still indicate poor aquatic habitat. Channel dredging, large ship use, and rigid shoreline pilings limit the diversity of habitat and ensure continual resuspension of chemically contaminated river sediments. We present three general alternatives for restoration of the riverine system. One is the creation of 70 acres of oxbow wetlands on the floodplain terrace with seasonal hydrologic connections to the river but otherwise with connections to upland urban runoff. A second alternative is for the restoration of a 0.5-mile reach of a tributary stream, Kingsbury Run, to the Cuyahoga River, thus avoiding some of the problems associated with restoration of the Cuyahoga River itself while providing a significant habitat connected to the river. A third alternative considered is 5.6 miles of “pocket wetlands” along the Cuyahoga River riparian edge itself. Costs and ecological benefits of each of these options are provided. Cessation of river channel dredging and improvement in water quality in the upstream river are vital to any effective restoration techniques in the lower Cuyahoga River. Data on costs of a detailed study of the lower Cuyahoga River and of demonstration projects that would be needed as the next step are also provided

Integrating human and ecosystem health through ecosystem services frameworks

The pace and scale of environmental change is undermining the conditions for human health. Yet the environment and human health remain poorly integrated within research, policy and practice. The ecosystem services (ES) approach provides a way of promoting integration via the frameworks used to represent relationships between environment and society in simple visual forms. To assess this potential, we undertook a scoping review of ES frameworks and assessed how each represented seven key dimensions, including ecosystem and human health. Of the 84 ES frameworks identified, the majority did not include human health (62%) or include feedback mechanisms between ecosystems and human health (75%). While ecosystem drivers of human health are included in some ES frameworks, more comprehensive frameworks are required to drive forward research and policy on environmental change and human health

The impact of red deer on liverwort-rich oceanic heath vegetation

Background: There is concern about increasing numbers of large herbivores including red deer (Cervus elaphus) but little is known about their impact on bryophytes. Aims: This study set out to determine the effect of different localised densities of red deer on the internationally important Northern Atlantic hepatic mat, characteristic of oceanic heath vegetation, at four locations in the Scottish Highlands where sheep have been absent for decades. Methods: Thirty 7 m x 7 m plots were randomly located in each study area. The standing crop dung pellet group count method was used to estimate red deer density. Species richness, diversity and cover of hepatic mat liverworts were obtained from 1 m x 1 m quadrats placed at random within the sample plots. Calluna vulgaris cover, ericoid height, rock cover, gradient and altitude were also recorded. Results: Model simplification in ANCOVA revealed a consistent pattern of decreasing cover of hepatic mat and Calluna with increasing red deer density at all four study areas. Northern Atlantic hepatic mat cover, diversity and species richness were positively correlated with Calluna cover. Conclusions: The data suggest that Calluna cover is reduced (through trampling and browsing) at high local densities of red deer which has had cascading effects on the Northern Atlantic hepatic mat. Alternative explanations are discussed

Breaking the Ecosystem Services Glass Ceiling: Realising Impact

Through changes in policy and practice, the inherent intent of the ecosystem services (ES) concept is to safeguard ecosystems for human wellbeing. While impact is intrinsic to the concept, little is known about how and whether ES science leads to impact. Evidence of impact is needed. Given the lack of consensus on what constitutes impact, we differentiate between attributional impacts (transitional impacts on policy, practice, awareness or other drivers) and consequential impacts (real, on-the-ground impacts on biodiversity, ES, ecosystem functions and human wellbeing) impacts. We conduct rigorous statistical analyses on three extensive databases for evidence of attributional impact (the form most prevalently reported): the IPBES catalogue (n = 102), the Lautenbach systematic review (n = 504) and a 5-year in-depth survey of the OPERAs Exemplars (n = 13). To understand the drivers of impacts, we statistically analyse associations between study characteristics and impacts. Our findings show that there exists much confusion with regard to defining ES science impacts, and that evidence of attributional impact is scarce: only 25% of the IPBES assessments self-reported impact (7% with evidence); in our meta-analysis of Lautenbach’s systematic review, 33% of studies provided recommendations indicating intent of impacts. Systematic impact reporting was imposed by design on the OPERAs Exemplars: 100% reported impacts, suggesting the importance of formal impact reporting. The generalised linear models and correlations between study characteristics and attributional impact dimensions highlight four characteristics as minimum baseline for impact: study robustness, integration of policy instruments into study design, stakeholder involvement and type of stakeholders involved. Further in depth examination of the OPERAs Exemplars showed that study characteristics associated with impact on awareness and practice differ from those associated with impact on policy: to achieve impact along specific dimensions, bespoke study designs are recommended. These results inform targeted recommendations for ES science to break its impact glass ceiling

Functional Stability Theory and Its Application in Complex Systems

In the contribution the basic principles of the Functional Stability Theory are described, some problems discussed in more details, the Criterion of the Theory is shown, possibilities in Synergetics are mentioned and an example of the Theory application is introduced to show the effectiveness of the approach

To the Possibility of Calculation of Phase Synchronism Active Range in Two-Modes Laser

The contribution intends to promote further application possibilities of Donocik's method for stability investigation of dynamical systems and presents a nontrivial application - the attempt to calculate a phase synchronism active range of two oscillating modes in a laser by attraction regions of stationary states of a nonlinear system testing. The emphasis is laid upon a final discussio

Transit-oriented smart growth can reduce life-cycle environmental impacts and household costs in Los Angeles

The environmental and economic assessment of neighborhood-scale transit-oriented urban form changes should include initial construction impacts through long-term use to fully understand the benefits and costs of smart growth policies. The long-term impacts of moving people closer to transit require the coupling of behavioral forecasting with environmental assessment. Using new light rail and bus rapid transit in Los Angeles, California as a case study, a life-cycle environmental and economic assessment is developed to assess the potential range of impacts resulting from mixed-use infill development. An integrated transportation and land use life-cycle assessment framework is developed to estimate energy consumption, air emissions, and economic (public, developer, and user) costs. Residential and commercial buildings, automobile travel, and transit operation changes are included and a 60-year forecast is developed that compares transit-oriented growth against growth in areas without close access to high-capacity transit service. The results show that commercial developments create the greatest potential for impact reductions followed by residential commute shifts to transit, both of which may be effected by access to high-capacity transit, reduced parking requirements, and developer incentives. Greenhouse gas emission reductions up to 470 Gg CO2-equivalents per year can be achieved with potential costs savings for TOD users. The potential for respiratory impacts (PM10-equivalents) and smog formation can be reduced by 28–35%. The shift from business-as-usual growth to transit-oriented development can decrease user costs by $3100 per household per year over the building lifetime, despite higher rental costs within the mixed-use development