Anastomosis and the continuum of channel pattern

Anastomosing rivers are characterized by multiple channels separated by islands excised from the floodplain. Their status relative to the continuum concept of channel pattern is assessed with channel pattern defined in terms of three variables—flow strength, bank erodibility and relative sediment supply. Using an ordinal scaling (L(ow)–M(oderate)–H(igh)), the traditional forms of straight, meandering and braided have respective representations of (L,L,L), (M,L/M,L/M) and (H,H,M/H) in terms of those variables. The anastomosing pattern is on average represented by (L,L,M/H) but not so definitively as other forms. Specification of the third element (sediment supply) is particularly hampered by the paucity of data but aggradation, a characteristic of many anastomosing rivers, can be thought of as symptomatic of a moderately high rate of supply relative to the ability for onward transport. A sufficiently high rate of supply to a channel with low flow strength and resistant banks would induce shoaling and/or lateral constriction that locally forces flow out of the main channel and ultimately leads to the cutting of anabranches. A flow regime characterized by concentrated floods of relatively large magnitude is also regarded as highly conducive to the formation of new channels where low bank erodibility constrains channel capacity. Anastomosis may in certain cases represent a transitional form of channel pattern but there is no denying the longevity of some anastomosing systems.     

The Near-Infrared Continuum Slope of Martian Dark Region Reflectance Spectra

The planet Mars has a bimodal albedo distribution with bright and dark regions. Earth-boundreflectance spectra ofbright Martian regions are generally characterized by a flat to positive continuum slope in the near-infrared (NIR), while those of dark regions tend to have a negative slope. Spectra obtained with the instrument ISM (Imaging Spectrometer for Mars) onboard the Phobos 2 spacecraft usually show the same relationship between brightness and NIR continuum slope. Nevertheless, some ISM spectra show deviations from this relationship, the most conspicuous ones being observed in the Syrtis Major and Valles Marineris regions, where some dark areas are characterized by a flat continuum slope. So far, this was interpreted to indicate a basaltic material covered with a weathering coating or a thin layer of dust. The results of a new spectroscopic investigation of analog materials for the Martian crust revealed that reflectance spectra of bulk samples generally show a preference for a negative NIR continuum slope, in contrast to spectra of powder samples. This suggests a different interpretation of the ISM spectra, namely that the unusual dark regions, which are characterized by a flat NIR continuum slope, are covered by sand-sized basaltic particles. In contrast, the common dark regions, which are characterized by a blue continuum slope, are dominated by bedrock or blocky basalt rocks. This interpretation is in agreement with the findings of other methods of remote sensing. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

不同质量比并合对黑洞自旋演化的影响

研究了在仅有并合时黑洞自旋的演化分布.利用了后牛顿近似处理并合后的角动量问题,采用蒙特卡洛方法模拟了不同条件下的并合影响.结果表明主并合不能使黑洞自旋分布稳定,而小并合可使黑洞自旋平稳地降低.当取并合质量比为幂指数形式时黑洞自旋分布可以稳定在-个小自旋占绝对份额的水平,同时,也讨论了射电强活动星系核和黑洞自旋在不同假设下的关系.最后计算并给出了射电噪度的分布情况.     

IDENTIFICATION OF FINITE IMPULSE RESPONSE MODELS WITH CONTINUUM REGRESSION

The use of continuum regression(CR)for the identification of finite impulse response(FIR)dynamicmodels is investigated.CR encompasses the methods of principal component regression(PCR),partialleast squares(PLS)and multiple linear regression(MLR).PCR and MLR are at the two extremes of thecontinuum.In PCR and PLS,cross-validation is used to determine the optimum number of factors or‘latent variables’to retain in the regression model.CR allows one to vary the method in addition.Cross-validation then determines both the optimum method and the number of latent variables.The CR‘prediction error surface’—a function of the method and number of latent variables—is elucidated.Theoptimal model is defined as the minimum of this surface.Among the cases studied,the optimal modelusually comes from the region of the continuum between PCR and PLS.Few derive from the regionbetween PLS and MLR.It is also demonstrated that FIR models identified by CR have frequency domainproperties similar to those identified by PCR.     

Observations of Comet C/2001 A2 (Linear) with the Multipupil Fiber Spectrograph

We present preliminary results of observations of the spectrum of comet C/2001 A2(LINEAR) obtained with the Multipupil Fiber Spectrograph, installed in the PrimeFocus of the 6-m Telescope of the SAO of the RAS (Northern Caucasus, NizhnyArkhyz), on August 11/12, 12/13 and 14/15, 2001. High resolution spectra of thecomet were obtained in the range from 3800–5200 AA. The emission lines in the spectrum of comet C/2001 A2 (LINEAR) on Aug. 12, 2001 were identified. Thefluorescent continuum in the spectrum of comet C/2001 A2 (LINEAR) on Aug. 12,2001 is detected.     

Continuum Energy Distribution of Bright Be Stars

This paper presents the spectrophotometric observations of five Be stars belonging to spectral type from B2.5 to B5 and luminosity class from III to V. The continuum energy distribution data of these stars are extracted from the spectrophotometric measurements over the wavelength range of λλ 3200–8000 Å. The observed data of continuum energy distribution are compared with the theoretical energy distribution curves to derive the value of effective temperatures of these stars. We have also examined the effect of circumstellar envelopes of Be stars on their continuum energy distribution. It has been found that the extended circumstellar envelope of Be stars affect the underlying continua in the near-ultraviolet and near-infrared regions. Three Be stars are found to exhibit near-ultraviolet and near-infrared flux deficiency in their continua. For one of the Be, namely star HR 1289, we report the first continuum energy distribution measurements. Another normal B star HR 1363, which was observed as comparison star, was found to exhibit near-ultraviolet and excess emission, which are signatures of a Be star, thus putting this star in the category of Be stars.     

Estimating mineral content of indigenous browse species using laboratory spectroscopy and sentinel-2 imagery

Trees provide low-cost organic inputs, with the potential to improve livelihoods for rural communities. Understanding foliar nutrients of tree species is crucial for integration of trees into agroecosystems. The study explored nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), potassium (K) and calcium (Ca) concentrations of nine browse species collected from the bushveld region of South Africa using wet analysis and laboratory spectroscopy in the region 400–2500 nm, along with partial least squares (PLS) regression. We further explore the relationship between canopy reflectance of Sentinel-2 image and foliar N, P, K & Ca. Laboratory spectroscopy was significant for N estimation, while satellite imagery also revealed useful information about the estimation of nitrogen at landscape level. Nitrogen was highly correlated with spectral reflectance (R² = 0.72, p < 0.05) for winter and (R² = 0.88, p < 0.05) for summer, whilst prediction of phosphorus potassium and calcium were considered not accurate enough to be of practical use. Modelling the relationship using Sentinel-2 data showed lower correlations for nitrogen (R² = 0.44, p < 0.05) and the other nutrients when compared to the dried samples. The findings indicate that there is potential to assess and monitor resource quality of indigenous trees using nitrogen as key indicator. This multi-level remote sensing approach has promise for providing rapid plant nutrient analyses at different scales.     

Application of a continuum numerical model for pile driving analysis and comparison with a real case

This paper presents the results of a so-called continuum numerical model for wave propagation analysis and soil-pile dynamic response during pile driving. An axisymmetric finite difference numerical model is developed having solid elements for both pile structure and the soil media surrounding and below the pile. Interface elements are used between the pile shaft and the soil to facilitate the sliding between the two media. The performance of the developed model is verified in two stages. First, a simple rod is subjected to a half sine-wave force function at the rod head and the corresponding reflections of force and velocity (multiplied by impedance) are presented for different boundary conditions at the rod tip. The model is then used for signal matching analysis of a real driven pile for which complete information of soil layering, dynamic test signals, and static load test results are available. The signal matching analysis was performed successfully and comparison between several other predicted and measured parameters proved the reasonably good performance of the developed continuum model.     

A GLOBAL PERSPECTIVE ON MULTIVARIATE CALIBRATION METHODS

This paper consists of two distinct but related parts.In the first part a geometric theory of generalizedinverses is presented and a methodology based on this theory is developed and applied to solve the K-matrix and P-matrix forms of Beer's law.It is shown that most currently accepted and practiced methodsfor solving these forms of Beer's law are just special cases of this geometric theory of generalized inverses.In addition,this geometric theory is used to explain why the current methods work and why they fail.In the second part a general methodology that includes as special cases least squares,principalcomponent regression,partial least squares 1 and 2,continuum regression plus a variety of otherdescribed and undescribed methodologies is presented and then applied to solve the P-matrix formulationof Beer's law.This general methodology,like the first,is also geometric in nature and relies on anunderstanding of projections.The main emphasis of this paper is one of perspective,which,if understood,provides the properfoundation for answering the general but extremely hard and possibly unanswerable question‘what isthe best method?’.     

Periodic Variations of the Jet Flow Lorentz Factor in 3C 273

1 INTRODUCTIONThe quasar 3C 273 (z = 0.158) is one of the classical rwho sources showal apparellt superltalnal motion (Zensus et al. 1990, 1997). It has a large-scale jet (~ 20n of length, 3C273A)elliltting at radio, optical and X-ray bands. It has been suggested that its compel source(3C 273B) is a rmm-blazar, Undergoing strong and rapid Variations in ratio, optical-UV, X-rayand 7-my bands at various tab scales (from hours to years, Courvoisier et al. 1998, Tet al. 1999, Stevens et …