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2012, 4(9), 2510-2529; https://doi.org/10.3390/rs4092510
Hyperspectral Time Series Analysis of Native and Invasive Species in Hawaiian Rainforests
Centre for Remote Sensing and Earth Observation Processes (TAP), Flemish Institute for Technological Research (VITO), Boeretang 200, BE-2400 Mol, Belgium
Department of Global Ecology, Carnegie Institution for Science, 260 Panama Street, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Received: 26 June 2012; in revised form: 21 August 2012 / Accepted: 22 August 2012 / Published: 29 August 2012
The unique ecosystems of the Hawaiian Islands are progressively being threatened following the introduction of exotic species. Operational implementation of remote sensing for the detection, mapping and monitoring of these biological invasions is currently hampered by a lack of knowledge on the spectral separability between native and invasive species. We used spaceborne imaging spectroscopy to analyze the seasonal dynamics of the canopy hyperspectral reflectance properties of four tree species: (i) Metrosideros polymorpha, a keystone native Hawaiian species; (ii) Acacia koa, a native Hawaiian nitrogen fixer; (iii) the highly invasive Psidium cattleianum; and (iv) Morella faya, a highly invasive nitrogen fixer. The species specific separability of the reflectance and derivative-reflectance signatures extracted from an Earth Observing-1 Hyperion time series, composed of 22 cloud-free images spanning a period of four years and was quantitatively evaluated using the Separability Index (SI). The analysis revealed that the Hawaiian native trees were universally unique from the invasive trees in their near-infrared-1 (700–1,250 nm) reflectance (0.4 > SI > 1.4). Due to its higher leaf area index, invasive trees generally had a higher near-infrared reflectance. To a lesser extent, it could also be demonstrated that nitrogen-fixing trees were spectrally unique from non-fixing trees. The higher leaf nitrogen content of nitrogen-fixing trees was expressed through slightly increased separabilities in visible and shortwave-infrared reflectance wavebands (SI = 0.4). We also found phenology to be key to spectral separability analysis. As such, it was shown that the spectral separability in the near-infrared-1 reflectance between the native and invasive species groups was more expressed in summer (SI > 0.7) than in winter (SI < 0.7). The lowest separability was observed for March–July (SI < 0.3). This could be explained by the invasives taking advantage of the warmer summer period to expand their canopy. There was, however, no specific time window or a single spectral region that always defined the separability of all species groups, and thus intensive monitoring of plant phenology as well as the use of the full-range (400–2,500 nm) spectrum was highly advantageous in differentiating each species. These results set a basis for an operational invasive species monitoring program in Hawai'i using spaceborne imaging spectroscopy.
Keywords:Earth Observing-1; Hyperion; Morella faya; Psidium cattleianum; Spectral Separability Index; phenology; time series analysis
1. Introduction
Invasive species rank second only to habitat loss as a threat to biodiversity and ecosystem processes. Invasive plant species can change entire habitats by penetrating the native canopy and eventually replacing it [1]. At times, fundamental ecosystem processes such as nitrogen (N) cycling as well as disturbance regimes such as fire frequency are altered by the introduced species, resulting in a major change in biological diversity and ecosystem functioning [2].
Effective management of introduced species starts with monitoring and mapping, which is a central component of the biological diversity protection programs of many government agencies and non-governmental organizations worldwide [3]. Remote detection and mapping of biodiversity and invasive species from airborne or spaceborne instruments is promising (review by [4]), but operational approaches are lacking because of our limited biophysical understanding of when remotely sensed signatures indicate the presence of unique species—native or invasive—within and across ecosystems. The spectra express the biochemical and structural properties of the vegetation, but translating that to species composition requires an increased understanding of the spectral separability of species at different levels of ecological and taxonomic aggregation.
In this light, Asner et al. [2] reported on the spectral separability of the most common native and invasive tree species found in tropical and subtropical forests of Hawai'i. Using high spatial resolution airborne imaging spectroscopy, Asner et al. [2] found that the reflectance and derivative-reflectance signatures of Hawaiian native trees were generically unique from those of introduced trees; while N-fixing trees were spectrally unique from non-fixing trees. The observed spectral differences were quantitatively linked to differences in leaf pigment, nutrient and structural properties, and the findings were used to develop a new invasive species monitoring capability in Hawai'i based on imaging spectroscopy [5].
In the current study we extend the work of Asner et al. [2] by including a temporal dimension to the analysis. Although clear spectral differences among the major groups of species were demonstrated, previous findings [2] were based on a single January 2005 image acquisition. Seasonal and inter-seasonal variation in canopy spectral properties were ignored, yet phenological differences throughout and between growing seasons can affect the spectral separability of species [6,7]. A temporal analysis of the spectral separability is thus important not only to broaden our understanding of how to translate the biochemical and structural properties of the vegetation to species composition, but also to place previous results in the proper temporal context. Intensive monitoring of plant species dynamics allows us to capture the phenological differences among taxa, which in turn, can aid in determining the best time to discriminate between targeted species [8]. Whereas such an intensive temporal spectral analysis is not generally feasible using airborne campaigns, the advent of spaceborne imaging spectrometer missions (e.g., Hyperion, EnMap, Prisma) is increasing the availability of hyperspectral time series enabling temporal analysis of vegetation dynamics.
Here we focus on a montane rainforest in Hawai'i using an Earth Observing-1 Hyperion time series composed of 22 cloud-free images captured over a period of four years. Native forests in the study area are dominated by the keystone Hawaiian tree species Metrosideros polymorpha and the native N-fixing species Acacia koa. However, these forests have been heavily invaded by several introduced tree species [9, 10]. Two of the most severe threats are the N-fixing Morella faya and the non-fixing Psidium cattleianum tree species. Our Hyperion dataset provided a unique way to evaluate the spectro-temporal separability of these four major upper canopy tree species, each of which falls into a different plant group: (i) non-fixing native; (ii) N-fixing native; (iii) non-fixing invasive; and (iv) N-fixing invasive. We addressed the following research questions: Are the spectral differences between the species groups originally observed by Asner et al. [2] consistent over time? Or does phenology plays a significant role in determining the spectral separability of these tree species? Which time of year is best suited for discriminating different species groups? Can we integrate spectral information from different times of year to optimize spectral separability, or is there a specific time of year that allows for systematic separation of species groups? Answering these questions is requisite to advancing invasive species mapping and monitoring efforts in Hawai'i.
2. Materials and Methods
2.1. Study Area and Remote Sensing
This study focused on a 1,500 ha rainforest in Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park on the Island of Hawai'i (Figure 1). The island is located at approximately 20° north latitude, which creates a seasonal sunlight cycle [11] that affects forest chemical phenology and leaf area index (LAI) [12]. The area is located at approximately 1,200 m above sea level, and characterized by a mean annual rainfall of 2,500 mm [13,14] and an annual temperature fluctuating between 14 °C in winter and 17 °C in summer [1]. The young volcanic soils are poor in N [1]. The dominant native Hawaiian overstory tree species are Metrosideros polymorpha and the N-fixing Acacia koa [5,15]. Yet, infestations of two highly invasive tree species, N-fixing Morella faya and the non-fixing Psidium cattleianum, are widespread. Psidium was introduced from Brazil in 1825 and is among the most highly invasive trees in Hawai'i [16]. Morella was introduced from the Azores about fifty years ago, and is also considered highly invasive.
Different life strategies results in structural and physiological differences between species and over time. Metrosideros forests in the area are approximately 20 m tall and have a LAI of about 3 [5]. Its foliage is low in N (0.7–0.8%) and water concentrations (45–55%; [12]). The native Acacia has a comparable leaf water content, but a much higher leaf N content (2.6–2.9%) than Metrosideros. The invasive Morella is characterized by a LAI > 5, and a moderate leaf water content ranging of 50–65%. Due to its N-fixing capacity, the leaf N concentration is relatively high (1.5–1.9%). Psidium trees have an LAI of around 4, a leaf canopy water content of approximately 60%, and an average leaf N content of 1.2% [2]. Currently, about 35% of the montane rainforest canopy is covered by Metrosideros, 20% by Acacia, 25% by Morella and 20% by Psidium.
No cloud-free images could be acquired in April and May. For all other months, at least one cloud-free Hyperion image covering the study area was acquired. Most images with little to no cloud cover were obtained in winter (December–February) or summer (July–August), corresponding to the two drier times of year [13].
The Hyperion data were processed to apparent surface reflectance using the ACORN-5LiBatch (Imspec LLC, Palmdale, CA, USA) atmospheric correction model. Subsequently, a destriping algorithm was applied to compensate for miscalibration between cross-track detectors. A cubic spline curve was fit to the water bands at 940 and 1,140 nm in each pixel to reduce effects of miscalibration and modeling errors introduced by atmospheric correction. Full details on the preprocessing chain can be found in [18]. The spectral information in 1,800–2,500 nm was not considered in further analysis due to its low signal-to-noise (SNR) ratio.
Based on our knowledge of the study area, and spatially guided by data from an airborne, very high resolution image dataset [19], each of the targeted species patches with approximately 100% canopy cover were selected for analyses of the Hyperion images. Approximately 400 spectra (or image pixels) were selected for each species and used to build species-specific databases. These time series were then used to evaluate spectral-phenological changes among species throughout the year.
2.2. Spectral Separability
For each image in the time series, the spectral separability of the different species was quantified using a Separability Index (SI) [20,21], defined as the ratio of the between-class variability and the within-class variability:where Rmean,1,i and Rmean,2,i are the mean reflectance values at wavelength i for endmember class 1 and endmember class 2, respectively, and σ1,i and σ2,i are the standard deviations of class 1 and 2, respectively. The higher the SI value, the more separable are the two species in the given waveband.
The SI was not only calculated for the calibrated reflectance spectra but we also worked with the 1st derivative spectra. A Savitzky-Golay smoothing filter (filter size = 50 nm) was applied prior to derivative analysis [22,23]. Due to its increased sensitivity to noise, higher order derivatives were not included in the separability analysis [24]. Further, we also analyzed the SI of the temporal spectral displacement or the temporal spectral derivative. Temporal displacement spectra were calculated as the per-waveband difference in reflectance between two consecutive time steps or images in the time series. This transformation of the image data is intended to highlight spectral changes due to differences in phenology between species.
3. Results and Discussion
3.1. Species Comparisons
Figures 2 and 3 provide the spectro-temporal SI charts for the different pairwise species comparisons of the original reflectance and derivative-reflectance spectra, respectively. Similar charts for the temporal displacement spectra are presented in Figures 4 and 5. The X and Y axes of the charts represent the spectral bands and the time scale, respectively. The charts were compiled from the 22 cloud free images (see Section 2.1), and the color coding shows the monthly SI values. Per month all endmember spectra (of different years, Table 1) were included in the SI calculation. Be aware that the color coding key is specific to each panel, as not to discard subtle differences in the temporal dynamics of SI. Figures 4 and 5 show the SI charts for the temporal spectral displacement spectra, i.e., the change in reflectance between consecutive time steps. The charts should be interpreted as an indicator for species differences in the change in reflectance between two consecutive months, keeping in mind that no images were available in April and May.
Next we will systematically discuss the spectral differences between the different species groups. Recall that Metrosideros polymorpha is a proxy for a Hawaiian non-fixing tree (H); Acacia Koa a typical example of a Hawaiian N-fixer (HN); Morella faya a representative invasive N-fixing tree (IN); and Psidium cattleianum an invasive non-fixer (I).
With SI values exceeding 1.5, the spectral reflectance differences between H and I were highest in the near-infrared-1 domain between 680 and 1080 nm (Figure 2). Although consistently high throughout the year, the highest SI values (>1.9), and therefore best separability between H and I, were observed in December and January, particularly for the 770–870 nm spectral range (Figure 2). Corroborating the findings of Asner et al. [2], we found that the non-fixing invader (I) had significantly higher reflectance in the near-infrared as compared to H. This is illustrated in Figure 6 presenting the mean and standard deviation spectra for H and I in December and August. The year-round strong separability in this spectral domain could be attributed to a higher LAI for the invader [2]. Metrosideros is a slow-growing hardwood native species with a relatively stable canopy structure and chemistry throughout the year [12]. Compared to the near-infrared-1, SI values for the near-infrared-2 (1,090–1,270 nm) were systematically lower (Figure 2). Yet the highest values (∼1.3) were again observed in winter. Little to no differences between species were observed in the shortwave-infrared (SI < 0.3, Figure 2).
In our densely foliated canopies the near-infrared-2 and the shortwave-infrared reflectance were foremost dominated by variations in canopy water content, but to varying canopy depths [2]. As described by [12] the shortwave-infrared reflectance has a lower "effective photon penetration depth" (EPPD) compared to near-infrared-2 reflectance. Consequently, while the shortwave-infrared reflects mainly the upper canopy water content, the amount of foliage that contributes to the Hyperion reflectance spectrum is maximal in the 1,125–1,300 nm region. This explained the difference in separability between spectral domains as well as the slight increase in near-infrared-2 reflectance in winter which could be attributed to relative changes in LAI. During these winter months the green bands centered around 550 nm also showed a slight increase in separability (SI = 0.8) compared to the rest of the year (Figure 2). In December I showed higher reflectance in this spectral domain compared to H (Figure 6) because of yellowing of Psidium leaves due to unfavorable low sun conditions at a time when precipitation is high (Asner, unpublished data).
The first derivative transformed data indicated separability opportunities similar to those provided by the reflectance data (Figure 2). A year round high separability was observed for the 670-770 nm 1st-d reflectance (SI ranging between 1.5 and 2), with slightly higher SI values in December and January (Figure 2). Figure 7, showing the 1st-d reflectance spectra for the H and I libraries in December and August, verified this increased spectral difference in the red edge region. Although not as expressed, particularly in the summer months we also observed SI values > 1 for the 1st-d reflectance band centered around 1,150 nm (Figure 2). This absorption feature is associated with canopy water and the increased derivative values (Figure 7; or steeper slope in the original reflectance spectra, Figure 6) for Psidium support the higher leaf water content values reported in [2]. The analysis as such indicated that especially in summer months the difference in leaf water content between H and I increased which translated itself in a better spectral discrimination in the derivative spectra.
Analysis of the temporal spectral displacement did not add significant information in terms of spectral separability between H and I (all SI values < 0.7, Figure 4). Yet the highest SI were observed for the September–February transition in the 720–770 nm bands which again could be attributed to the more dynamic LAI for Psidium at the one side and the relative stable Metrosideros canopy at the other.
Similar spectral differences as observed between H and I were also observed when comparing HN and I. The highest SI values (1–1.2) were obtained for the near-infrared-1 (Figure 6) and 670–770 nm 1st-d reflectance bands (red edge) and there was a tendency for increased separability in winter (Figure 2). In the transition period from summer to winter we also noticed the increased separability (SI > 1) in the 1,150 nm derivative reflectance band (canopy water) which was also observed when comparing H and I. As opposed to the H-I comparison, however, the spectral separability in the near-infrared-2 (canopy water) and the visible wavebands was relatively low (SI < 0.4) while in the first half of the year the separability in the shortwave-infrared (1,550–1,800 nm) was relatively high (SI > 0.9; Figure 2) due to an overall higher shortwave-infrared reflectance of Acacia Koa (HN) in winter months (Figure 6).
When comparing H and IN, the near-infrared-1 plateau is the best spectral reflectance domain for separating these species. However, separability was highest in summer, rather than winter (SI >1 in August and September vs. SI < 0.7 in December and January, Figure 2). Morella exhibited increased reflectance compared to Metrosideros, but Figure 6 indicates that the difference between these species in the near-infrared-1 was lower in December than August. This confirmed the earlier results of [9] and [12], who showed a similar trend in LAI for a smaller endmember library and a shorter time series, respectively. Morella produces more photosynthetically active leaves in summer meanwhile the native canopy remains relatively stable [12]. The near-infrared-2 (canopy water) and shortwave-infrared (upper-canopy water) did not contribute significantly to spectral separability (<0.4) which points to limited differences in canopy water content between H and IN (Figure 2). This corroborated the results of Asner et al. [2] in which destructive field measurements showed high resemblance between the leaf water content of both species (51% for Metrosideros vs. 52% for Morella). Although the observations were made only during winter months, our temporal spectral analysis indicates a limited difference in canopy water content throughout the year.
The 1st-d reflectance spectra remained useful in separating H and IN. The red edge derivative bands, between 720 and 770 nm, were the most discriminating, with a clear shift towards higher separability in summer months (Figure 2). The temporal displacement spectra proved useful in separating species (Figure 4) particularly during the transition period from February to June, which showed a relatively high separability potential for the near-infrared (SI ranging between 0.7 and 1). This could be explained by an increase in Morella LAI towards the summer [12]. Slightly higher SI values were also observed for the temporal shift in visible and shortwave-infrared reflectance during the seasonal transition periods February–June and September–December (SI around 0.6, Figure 4). This was related to the yellowing of Morella leaves during the unfavorable wet winter conditions and increasing leaf chlorophyll concentration in the winter-summer transition period [12]. In comparison, the Metrosideros canopy remained relatively stable throughout the entire year.
As opposed to previous comparisons, the spectral separability between HN and IN was not well expressed in the near-infrared-1 reflectance plateau (Figure 2). However, we found a clear increase in spectral separability in August–November (SI around 0.8) compared to the winter months (SI < 0.2). This trend was also confirmed by the spectral libraries shown in Figure 6 and could be attributed to a slight increase in LAI for Morella when conditions are favorable [12]. Yet, the 520–570 nm band was better suited to separating both species, except for the August–October period for which SI dropped from >1 to <0.7. The same trend could be observed for the shortwave-infrared reflectance with a drop from 0.8 in winter to <0.4 in the rest of the year (Figure 2). Morella clearly showed lower reflectance in both the green (higher chlorophyll) and shortwave-infrared (higher upper canopy water) bands (Figure 6).
Winter separability was further increased in the 1st-d reflectance band centered around 520 nm, with SI values exceeding 1.5 (Figure 2) due to stronger Chl-b absorption in Morella (Figure 7). Finally, analysis of the temporal shift indicated a significantly different behavior between Morella and Acacia in the transition from October to December in the visible reflectance (SI > 1; Figure 4). This resulted from an increase in visible reflectance for Morella compared to Acacia (and all other species, Figure 6). As mentioned above, this was due to the yellowing of Morella leaves in the unfavorable wetter periods of the year when photosynthetic active radiation is low. For the near-infrared a considerable difference in spectral shift was observed for the transition from July to August (SI around 0.8). In this period the increase in near-infrared reflectance was more expressed for Morella than for Acacia, again explained by an increase in Morella's LAI in summer.
A comparison between invasive species I and IN showed that, in winter months, the near-infrared reflectance band centered around 720 nm has strong discriminative power (SI between 1.5 and 2, Figure 3). The reflectance bands around 540 nm also showed relatively high SI values in winter ranging between 1.2 and 1.5. SI dropped slightly in summer to 0.8–1, while in November and March, the typical seasonal transition months, separability was low in this spectral domain (Figures 3 and 6). However, with a consistently high discriminative power (SI values between 1 and 2) throughout the entire year the 1st-d reflectance in the bands centered around 530 nm, 620 nm and 690 nm probably were best suited to separation of these species (Figure 3). Differences in temporal reflectance shifts were most pronounced in the visible reflectance during the transition from October to January and February to June (SI up to 0.8, Figure 5). In the near-infrared and shortwave-infrared the temporal shift was most expressed during the February–July transition (SI around 0.8; Figure 5). The observed differences were predominantly in the visible reflectance and were most likely to be linked to the significant differences in leaf N content between I and IN. While Asner et al. [2] reported a leaf N content of ∼1.2% for Psidium, the average N content of Morella foliage in the study area was around 2.0%. Based on this assumption, the temporal analysis suggested that the differences in leaf N, or leaf pigmentation in general, were highest in winter and lowest in summer.
Similar differences were observed between H and HN, with an overall better discrimination in winter, in the near-infrared-2 (canopy water) and shortwave-infrared (upper canopy water) reflectance (Figure 3). The highest SI values were observed for the 690–920 nm (SI >1) and 540 nm (SI between 0.7 in November–December and 1 in January–February) wavebands. This was due to the higher LAI of Acacia and the higher leaf chlorophyll content for Metrosideros (Figure 6) [2]. For the 750 nm 1st-d reflectance, a systematic difference between both species was observed (SI > 1) throughout the year (Figure 3). In winter the 510 nm 1st-d reflectance also showed consistent differences between both species (SI > 0.7) which again could be attributed to differences in leaf chlorophyll content (Figure 3). The difference in temporal displacement between H and HN was generally low (SI < 0.5; Figure 5), with the highest separability in the visible domain due to differences in leaf pigmentation and N content.
To summarize, Table 2 provides a separability matrix indicating the season, spectral region, and SI value for the period of greatest overall separability among species.
3.2. Invasive vs. Native
To study the overall spectral separability between invasive and native species, we regrouped the spectral database by combining the spectral information of both invasive species, I and IN, in one class and the native species, H and HN, in another. We then carried out the spectral separability tests on these two distinct groups of plants. The spectro-temporal separability maps are shown in Figure 8.
As expected, the overall discriminative power was lower than the pairwise species comparisons (SI < 0.9). The near-infrared-1 reflectance plateau was best suited to separation of the invasive and native species groups (Figure 8). However, SI values exceeding 0.7 were observed only between August and November, while separability progressively declined through the winter (SI < 0.4). The lowest values were observed for March–July (SI < 0.3). The increased separability was the result of the systematic higher near-infrared reflectances of invasive trees, as compared to native Hawaiian species (Figure 6), driven by higher LAI values among the invasives. Although Asner et al. [2] came to the same conclusion based on their January observation, our results indicated that the August–September period was better suited for the spectral separation, detection and monitoring of invasive species extent in Hawaiian rainforests.
3.3. N-Fixing vs. Non-Fixing
With SI values < 0.4, no consistent differences in the reflectance, 1st-d reflectance (Figure 8) and temporal displacement spectra (results not shown) of N-fixing and non-fixing trees was observed. The visible (June–November) and shortwave-infrared (January–June) reflectance performed best in discriminating both groups, although the overlap between the species groups was significant, as demonstrated in Figure 6, resulting in a low to very low SI of 0.2–0.25 (Figure 8).
Notwithstanding the strong overlap, improved separability in the visible and shortwave-infrared reflectance corresponded to the difference in leaf N concentrations present between both species groups [2]. These spectral domains are major contributors to the prediction of leaf N concentration [25]. Due to the stoichiometric balance between chlorophyll and N in plant leaves [26], the spectral reflectance weightings for leaf N closely agreed with those of leaf pigments. Further it is well acknowledged that protein-N absorptions exist in the shortwave-infrared region [19,27,28]. The reason for the increased spectral overlap between the species groups (SI< 0.4) might be the combined result of differences in leaf water content and LAI between and among the species groups, obscuring as such the absorption features associated with N.
4. Conclusions
Biological invasions are among the most important threats to biodiversity and ecosystem processes, especially in island ecosystems, such as the Hawaiian Islands, where ecosystems undergo rapid changes following the introduction and proliferation of exotic species. Many efforts are made to develop methods to map and monitor the spread of new species, and to understand their impact on native ecosystems. In this light, remote sensing can play a crucial role. Despite its undeniable potential, reliable remote sensing methods for the detection of invasive plant species over large areas have not been widely established. In part, this is due to an incomplete understanding of the spectral separability of species at different levels of ecological and taxonomic aggregation.
In 2008, Asner et al. [2] published a comprehensive assessment of the spectral separability of the most common tree species found in the (sub)tropical forests of Hawai'i. The analysis revealed significant spectral differences among native and invasive species which could be linked to relative differences in leaf pigment, nutrient and structural properties. In the current study we greatly expanded this research to include a temporal dimension to the analysis. Asner et al. [2] focused on data from a single acquisition window in January only. Here we analyzed the spectral separability, quantitatively evaluated using the Separability Index (SI),of four key upper canopy tree species: two natives and two invasives, found in the Hawaiian rainforests using a four year time series of Hyperion images. In general terms we could verify the results of Asner et al. [2] in that native and invasive trees are unique in their reflectance and derivative spectral properties. To a lesser extent N-fixing trees are also spectrally unique from non-fixing trees. While invasive trees generally have a higher near-infrared-1 (700–1,250 nm) reflectance (due to higher LAI) compared to native trees (0.4 > SI > 1.4), the higher leaf N content of N-fixing trees expresses itself through slightly increased separabilities in the visible and shortwave-infrared spectral properties compared to non-fixing trees (SI = 0.4). We could further demonstrate clear seasonal patterns in the spectral separability of the species. It was for instance shown that the spectral separability in the near-infrared-1 reflectance between the native and invasive species groups was more expressed in summer (SI > 0.7) than in winter (SI < 0.7). The lowest values were observed for March–July (SI < 0.3). This could be explained by the invasives taking advantage of the warmer summer period to expand their canopy. Overall, highest separability was observed between Metrosideros (non-fixing native) and Morella (non-fixing invasive) with SI values for the 770–870 nm reflectance exceeding 1.9 in winter; and between Acacia (N-fixing native) and Psidium (N-fixing invasive) with SI values for the derivative reflectance in 530, 630 and 690 nm ranging between 1 and 2 throughout the year.
Our findings here, together with those from previous work [1,2,29–34], highlight the fact that differing life strategies and functional properties among species directly express themselves in spectral differences. We further revealed the importance of phenology in our spectral separability analysis. By intensive monitoring of the plant species dynamics in Hawai'i we were able to identify specific acquisition windows and spectral regions better or less suited for species specific image classification. Thereby, this study can also be seen as a sensible response to Hesketh and Azofeifa [8], who were critical of the utility of spectral databases for in-situ species-based studies. Although we share these authors' concern that inter-seasonal variation in leaf optical properties can be significant, we are still convinced that spectral databases are useful to identify the best seasons and spectral regions for separation of individual species of interest; information that is crucial for optimal image tasking and analysis when setting up an operational monitoring scheme.
The research presented in this paper is funded by the Belgian Science Policy Office in the framework of the STEREO II Programme—Project VEGEMIX (SR/67/146). The Carnegie Airborne Observatory is supported by the W.M. Keck Foundation, the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation, the Grantham Foundation for the Protection of the Environment, and William Hearst III. This study was supported by a grant from the NASA Terrestrial Ecology Program. The scientific input of Luc Bertels, Kristof Van Tricht, Reinout Van Bets, Roberta Martin, Laurent Tits and David Knapp is gratefully acknowledged.
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Figure 1. Overview of the Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park on the Island of Hawai'i (19.4°N, 155.2°W; imagery from the Carnegie Airborne Observatory; [17]).
Figure 2. Reflectance and 1st-d reflectance spectro-temporal Separability Index charts for the pairwise species comparisons.
Figure 3. Reflectance and 1st-d reflectance spectro-temporal Separability Index chart for the pairwise comparison of (i) invasives and (ii) natives.
Figure 4. Spectro-temporal SI charts for the pairwise species comparisons of the temporal displacement spectra (i.e., temporal derivatives or the change in reflectance between two consecutive time steps/months).
Figure 5. The spectro-temporal SI charts for the pairwise comparison of (i) invasives and (ii) natives of the temporal displacement spectra (i.e., temporal derivatives).
Figure 6. Mean and 95% confidence interval for December and August reflectance of native and invasive species for the visible, near-infrared and shortwave-infrared. Approximately 400 spectra (or image pixels) were selected for each species (see Section 2.1).
Figure 7. Mean and 95% confidence interval for December and August 1d-reflectance of native and invasive species. Approximately 400 spectra (or image pixels) were selected for each species (see Section 2.1).
Figure 8. Reflectance and 1st-d reflectance spectro-temporal Separability Index charts for the comparisons of native vs. invasive tree species.
Table 2. Separability matrix indicating the season, spectral region, format (R = reflectance, D = derivative reflectance, T = temporal displacement spectra) and SI value for the period of greatest overall separability.
|R690–920 nm (SI > 1)
|D720–770 nm, Tfeb–jun, 700–1250 nm (0.7–1)
|R770–870 nm (>1.9)
|D520 nm (>1.5)
|D760–770 nm (1–1.2)
|All seasons
|D530 nm, D630 nm, D690 nm (1–2)


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Well Hello, Welcome to this months Blog Hop
What can I say so many lovely new things in the catalogue, but I am so happy some of my favourites have stayed, one of them being the fox punch and stamps.
As soon as I saw the new catalogue I knew this card had to happen. It was also a way to used up my foxy DSPS up.
I love the create and the little label
To Kate's Blog
Product List


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Juanita de Villiers Velts is a freelance actress who recently starred in the Afrikaans film "Somer Son". This leading lady says that she has a wonderful stylist for events, but for interviews and smaller events she has to decide on her own what to wear and that can be scary at times – mainly due to the fact that she is still learning what her style is. Juanita says that getting the combination of feminine yet sexy in a look can be difficult at times – and this is something I can relate to as well.
Juanita's favourite clothing item to wear is a pair of jeans and then of course a beautiful evening dress. This spontaneous, friendly and passionate young woman describes her personal fashion style being comfortable, safe and fitting with a hint of sexy. Her favourite time of day is after 9 am as this is the time where she is full of energy. Juanita says that she is currently not very happy with her current style. In her twenties it was all about comfort, but now she is trying to go for a more feminine with a hint of sexy. Her best friend, Lindi Delport, has a massive influence on her personal style. Juanita says that Lindi can put stuff together so that it looks stunning. Another woman also influencing Juanita's style is her stylist that helps her with her evening looks.
|Lindi Delport (left) with Juanita (right)
|Juanita at Follicle Hair Atelier where the hairstylists ensure that she always look stunning and up to date.
|Juanita with her husband at the Huisgenoot Tempo awards this year.
For the inspiration for this look I decided to stay with lighter shades of cool colours and combining it with shades of grey and metallic. I love spending many hours on Pinterest looking for inspiration for the looks I style. For Juanita's look I found images ranging from interior to nail colours and even paint swatches.
It has been such a pleasure working with Juanita and I am so excited to see what this wonder-woman still has to offer to the South African entertainment industry.
(The items used in this blog post is available at the following stores)


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Every spring or fall, you may find yourself suffering from seasonal allergy symptoms. Although you may take over-the-counter medications, you may wonder if there are any natural alternatives for finding relief. If so, use the following three-step home remedy for relieving your congestion, sneezing, and itchy eyes.
Step 1: Drink a Cup of Ginger Tea Sweetened with Local Honey
The first part of this home treatment involves drinking a cup of ginger tea sweetened with local honey. The ginger helps breaks up congestion. Some individuals suggest that consuming local honey can help make you immune to certain pollens in your area. While this isn't backed up by scientific proof, drinking tea sweetened with honey at least increases the tastiness of it.
To make the tea, you need a piece of cheesecloth, a half-inch piece of ginger root, a fine grater, and a tablespoon of local honey. You can find the ginger root in the produce section of your grocery store, while local honey can be purchased at some supermarkets and health food stores.
Grate the root into fine pieces, place them in the center of the cheesecloth, and tie the ends with a piece of twine. Bring a cup of water to a boil in a small pan, then drop in the cloth. Let the water boil for about two minutes, then remove it from heat. Allow the ginger to steep for five minutes.
Remove the cheesecloth and pour the tea into a cup. Add the honey and stir to dissolve it. Before drinking it, breathe in the steam to start the process of breaking up your congestion. Once you have enjoyed your tea, go on to the next step.
Step 2: Inhale Peppermint Oil Mist
The next step in this home remedy is to inhale mist infused with peppermint oil. The menthol in peppermint oil helps relieve your nasal and respiratory congestion. It also serves as an expectorant, and its anti-inflammatory properties can relieve the inflammation in your mucous membranes. You can find peppermint oil in pharmacies and department stores.
If you have a humidifier, add water to it per the manufacturer's instructions along with five drops of peppermint oil to the well. Turn on the machine and let it heat the water. Position the humidifier eight to 10 inches away from your face and deeply inhale the steam for five minutes.
If you do not have a humidifier, you can still reap the benefits of inhaling the peppermint mist. Do this by bringing two cups of water to a boil. Put eight drops of peppermint oil into a bowl and pour the boiling water on top of it. Hold your face about eight inches from the bowl and breathe deeply for five minutes. If desired, you can place a towel over your head to catch the steam. Once you have finished, go on to the third step.
Step 3: Rinse Your Eyelids with Rose Water
This step treats your red, irritated eyes by rinsing them with rose water. The rose water soothes the inflammation and puffiness caused by the pollens. It also helps flush them away and continues to protect them after the treatment has been completed. You can usually find rose water at health food stores.
To use the rose water, saturate two cotton balls or gauze pads with the liquid. Place them on your closed eyes. Do not put them directly on your eyeballs, as it could irritate them. Leave the cotton balls on your eyelids for 10 minutes, then remove them. Use a dry cotton ball or gauze to pat them off, then let your skin completely air dry.
Using the above home treatment twice a day can help relieve your seasonal allergy symptoms. However, if you want to find the specific cause of your allergies and possible long-term treatments, you may want to see an allergy specialist.Share


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Projection mapping
Projection mapping in Lightact is done in 3 steps: Create objects in the Visualizer which have content mapped on them. These objects can be either video screens or UV mapped objects. Create virtual projectors in the Visualizer. Their position and properties (throw ratio etc.) should match their real-world positions and … Continued


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Turser Tourism Service Publishing & Trade Inc. has been working in the tourism sector since 1985 and in the area of tourism investment and administration since 1993, with the ownership of Sheraton Ankara Hotel & Convention Center that has the biggest column-free convention center and Lugal A Luxury Collection Hotel; has focused on the customer satisfaction in the five-star and plus facilities and service quality and keeps following the temporary technological improvements and the demands renew the facilities accordingly.
As a result of this understanding Sheraton Hotel & Convention Center participated to "A Luxury Collection" hotels category of Starwood Group in 2003, then won "World Travel Awards"" at Europe's and Turkey's Leading Congress Hotel category in 2007, "Turkey's Leading Conference Hotel" award in 2008, "Turkey's Leading Business Hotel" award in 2010 and "Turkey's Leading Conference Hotel" , "Europe's Leading Meeting and Conference Hotel" awards in 2011.
Nurol Group of Companies has always been proud of the quality of social and economic values it has created through its half a century of business experience, its services in 5 different sectors ranging from trade to defense, from construction to machinery and manufacturing, from tourism to finance, its participations and affiliated companies, and over 20,000 native and foreign employees.
Nurol Construction with its over USD300 millions worth machines park, and field of activities expanding into three continents covering the Russian Federation and the Turkic Republics; from the Gulf countries to Northern Africa, and from Georgia to Bulgaria enjoys the status of being a world company.
FNSS, as the first private sector defense industry entity has an export potential nearing one billion dollars.
Nurol Machinery has been manufacturing high quality products made by its most up-to-date manufacturing technology in the fields of defense and security for over 30 years.
Nurol Steel with its 12,000 tons of production capacity takes its righful place among the leading Turkish companies in the sector.
Nurol Technology focuses on nanotechnology and its applications at its fully automated modern manufacturing facilities in order to cater to the needs of defense industry, aviation, energy, medicine, automotive products, textile, metallurgy and chemicals.
Nurol Club Salima Resort Village continues to offer a warm atmosphere with its 1100 bed capacity in Antalya Kemer to its guests coming from all around the world.


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It's been all about prepping for Christmas around here. I've been baking cookies, making bonbons, and all manner of other healthy treats.
I'm in the middle of A Boy Called Christmas. I've been too busy to get much reading done the past few days. I don't like that feeling. I'm really hoping to finish this holiday read before the holidays are over!
After I finish my current book it'll be time to pick the first book of 2016. Doesn't that sound bonkers? Isn't it still 1998? Gah.
|I'd like to be Captain Janeway when I grow up.
Last night I finished my re-watch of Star Trek Voyager. I have other television show irons in the fire (The Knick, The Affair, etc.) but that one was my number one binge lately. I'll miss it! It's time to move on to Enterprise. #Nervous
My groovy new hat from the latest Book Riot box. I was thisclose to cancelling my Book Riot Quarterly subscription. But this hat has made me rethink that.


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Emily woke up early and decided to watch cartoons downstairs before waking us up. Scott and I were up with the babies several times last night, so initially this sounded like a good plan. Emily is four now, and can work the remote. No big deal.
Then we saw this.
Apparently she got hungry and helped herself to a Fun Dip.
Its raining again today. I will keep my camera handy in case there are any other moments that could bring a smile to somebody else. As for me, I'm need to check to make sure there isn't anything else I need to clean up.


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+44 (0)7970 153048
15.75x15.75 inches (40x40cm) 0.75 inch (2cm)deep
Original Painting - Acrylic on canvas
Varnished & Finished around the Sides
Ready to Hang in your home
A modern abstract painting in white, yellow & sage tones. This abstract painting in complimentary texured tones will bring an individual colourful & textured focal point to your living space. A simple study in colour texture and pattern.
Created using high quality materials. I use the best canvas, high quality paints and pigments and varnish everything at least twice to protect and add depth to the colours. All paintings are finished around the sides so if you choose not to frame they will still look great, and they are ready for hanging in your space straight from the box. Finally I make bespoke packaging for each piece to ensure it arrives safely to your door by courier.
includes international delivery
All works are carefully packaged and dispatched within 24 hours. To purchase this painting choose your delivery option and click on the add to cart button to pay via the Paypal network or payment can also be made via bank transfer or personal cheque email me for more information


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"And then there was an explosion, only it was contained behind the walls of my heart. Jackson's fingers wrapped around my wrist and it was as if my body, my mind, my power were all suddenly hooked up to jumper cables. A blinding light burst behind my lids, sending a shower of colorful sparks flying into the sky of my brain. With a gasp, my eyes flew open. I turned to him and I was immediately lost to the world around us. My bones melted and swirled inside me, leaving me with nothing more than the electricity of Jackson's touch to keep me upright. A feeling, a want, like nothing I'd ever felt before squeezed my lungs and burned in my chest. It was primal and profound, and I knew that he felt it, too."
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Thursday, August 22, 2013
Swoon Thursday #61: Madly by: M. Leighton
7 comments:
*Sigh* Jackson! I really love Michelle's Madly series!! Glad you are enjoying it!ReplyDelete
Here's My Swoon!
Naomi @ Nomi's Paranormal Palace
Jackson! Just wait until you get to book three! Sa-woon!ReplyDelete
Ooo, I have this book! Jackson is.... mmmmm ;) I think I have the first book as well. Just the NAME Jackson is yummy-sounding, don't you think? ;)ReplyDelete
Check out my swoon post!
So love Jackson!ReplyDelete
OOOOOH! Yes! I like this guy already! I can't wait to read this!!!!ReplyDelete
I can't wait to read this! I know how much you enjoy M. Leighton books, so I know I am going to LOVE meeting Jackson! :D Love the swoon! Thanks for sharing, doll! :DReplyDelete
~ Maida xoxo
Great swoon, and I just love this cover! Awesome choice, love! xoReplyDelete
I love getting comments and appreciate every single one of them! It always brightens my day =]
This is an award free blog. I truly appreciate the thought but I simply do not have the time. Comments are an award all on their own =]


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Kate Ravilious wrote a piece about the idea that 'homo sapiens rose to dominance over other hominins because of a greater tolerance for psychiatric conditions that produce unorthodox ways of thinking...' In the editorial accompanying that issue (2837 November 2011) the editor put forward a case for the benefits to modern society of being more accept- ing of mental illness (Gosh, really?). There followed a critique of DSM, and the idea that the 'bewildering array of conditions' could be replaced by a similar framework of 'dimensions'. – scores for traits along continuous scales. 'That would reinforce the view that these is no clear dividing line between mental health and illness.'
'Will discarding the concepts of 'normal' and 'mad' lead humanity to new heights, mirroring the advances that might have stemmed from earlier tolerance of unusual thinking? Perhaps not. But it should definitely promote a clearer and more compassionate view of the misfit minds among us. That must be a good thing.' This editorial was actually truly revolutionary –and extraordinary coming from a science viewpoint.
Read Kate Ravilious' article in New Scientist 2837 – usually available in public libraries.


text: December 30, 2013 | Taylor Court Reporters | 0 Comments | Articles | court, court reporters, Kentucky, KY, Lexington, Louisville, technology, transcripts, traveling to a deposition, Video Find Success in Going the Extra Mile You've been told to "go the extra mile" for as long as you can remember, but did you know if you went that extra mile you'd likely be alone. Few are willing, nor even want, to go the extra mile, thinking to themselves, "Why am I working so hard when no one else is making the effort?" That's why that extra mile can be such a desolate place, yet one that's ripe with opportunities. Get to your job early and stay late. Be helpful, ask questions, and offer assistance. Touch base with clients and peers. Do your homework and practice your skills. Every day ask yourself what others aren't doing and do that one extra thing you can think of. Go the extra mile consistently and you'll find the success you're looking for.


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When considering a roof replacement, most homeowners who live in warmer climates make the mistake of prioritizing the entire cost of the project over the selected roofing materials types. This can cause them to purchase in inferior types of roofing materials that won't absorb heat as well nor last as long. Basically, these types of roofing won't provide the same return-on-investment.
Homeowners living in warmer areas should consider replacing their roofs with one of these types of roofing materials.
Slate Tiles.
Slate is great because it's durable, aesthetically pleasing, and low maintenance. Thanks to its many light, earth tones, it naturally reflects light and absorbs heat well. There Continue reading "Three Types of Roofing That Work Well in Hotter Climates"


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A companion study guide to Life in the Great Ice Age. Perfect for high school and small groups!
Checking for included items.
Checking for discount packs.
Checking for more in this series.
Retired from the National Weather Service, meteorologist Mike Oard gives fascinating illustrated talks.
Answers in Genesis is an apologetics ministry, dedicated to helping Christians defend their faith and proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ.


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Mob: 07845 111 500 | Tel: 0113 212 7887 | eMail: email@example.com
Careers .
We at Purrfect Sitters pride ourselves on providing a quality service, where we look after our customers pets in their own home, while also keeping any eye on the property. We don't just see cat's, but tortoises, parrots, chickens as well! mornings and afternoons can be busy, with a lot of driving between visits all across Leeds, but getting a purr of satisfaction from a kitten or collecting fresh warm eggs from a chicken makes it worth the work! If this sounds like something you might be interested in, we might have a role for you!.
Information for recruitment agencies
Whilst we appreciate there are many suitable candidates currently looking for opportunities, we would prefer not to be contacted by recruitment agencies unless we have specifically requested that you act on our behalf.


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I've been looking for some information on Virtual Aviation based in Cambridge on behalf of a friend. From what I can make out they have one fixed base 737-800 sim and then use others not owned by them to provide simulator experience days and JOC/MCC training. From their website, which is extremely difficult to navigate and has no actual information regarding prices/terms etc on, I can see that they offer TR courses for A320/B737 with base training to be completed with a 'partner airline' - although there is no other mention of who these partner airlines are on their site.
Has anyone used this company and if so are they any good? Does anyone know who provides base training for their students?
I didn't find the right solution from the internet.
http://www.pprune.org/professional-pilo ... ation.html
2d animation
Virtual Aviation
За любителите на компютърните авиосимулатори
Първо непрочетено мнение • 1 мнение • Страница 1 от 1
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Tod's Envelope bag in rich suede with sheepskin trims and detailing, stamped Tod's logo, flap, soft leather detailing, metal buckle snap closing, double handle and bottom with iconic rubber pebbles. Removable and adjustable straps allow the Tod's Envelope bag to be worn as a backpack or as a document holder.
Made in Italy
Men's Tod's Shopping Bag
Item crafted in suede
Stamped Tod's logo
Sheepskin and soft leather trims and detailing
Buckle snap closing
Iconic rubber pebble bottom
Fabric lining
Internal zip pocket and internal pockets
Dimensions: 15.7 x 12.5 x 3.9 ins, double handle approx 5.9 ins, removable and adjustable leather shoulder straps
Maintenance and care cards included
Branded dustbag


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The leading political contest in Suffolk in 2019 will be the race for county executive, the top post in Suffolk County government. READ
Articles by
The leading political contest in Suffolk in 2019 will be the race for county executive, the top post in Suffolk County government. READ
Suffolk County's visionary farmland preservation program has just achieved a triumph. The state's Appellate Division last month rejected a ruling by a state Supreme Court justice in 2016 that hamstrung the program. Conceived by County Executive John Klein, the program, begun in 1974, is based on the brilliant and then novel idea of purchasing development rights. Farmers are paid the difference between the value of their land in agriculture and what they could get for it if they sold it to a developer. In return, the land is kept in agriculture in perpetuity. READ
Good for democracy.
That's the significance of the legislation authored by State Senator Kenneth LaValle (R-Port Jefferson) and Assemblyman Fred W. Thiele, Jr. (I-Sag Harbor) signed into law last week by Governor Andrew Cuomo providing that if any future East Hampton Town Board wants a Federal Aviation Administration grant running 10 years or more, it would have to be approved by the voters.
Want some good news?
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced last month a plan to expedite the approval process for a vaccine to ward off Lyme disease. READ
It was quite unlikely for me, a vegetarian for 50 years, to be out shopping the other day for a gun to shoot squirrels.
But squirrels have been stripping our fruit trees. I've planted nearly 40 apple, pear, peach and plum trees, and last summer squirrels stripped all of them of their fruit. Squirrels scampered across the property with fruit in their mouths all day long.
Long Island, with a centuries-long history of farming, has undergone an agricultural revolution in just a few decades, sparked in 1973 by a pair of pioneers in planting grapes for fine wine, Louisa and Alex Hargrave. READ
What's going on at Stony Brook University?
The university has just suspended student admissions into its theater arts, comparative literature and cinema arts departments, part of a series of cuts in liberal arts. READ
This could be a bad year for Suffolk County for Lyme disease — the malady that residents of the Island and the county were numbered among the earliest victims. READ
New York Governor Andrew Cuomo's proposal last week for free tuition at SUNY and CUNY schools has roots going back nearly two centuries in this region, to 1847 and the founding of the Free Academy of the City of New York, which became City College.
It was later dubbed "the poor man's Harvard."
A local environmental organization has brought a lawsuit challenging the implementation of the Suffolk County Farmland Preservation Program, a visionary concept that has been the key to saving an important and historical activity here and keeping Suffolk a top agricultural county in the state.


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Top sellers!
|www.Aviapress.com > Model kits > Maquette >
MAQ-44001 1/144 R-7A Soviet Intercontinental Ballistic Missile model kit
Please send us a list of items you need to
MAQ-44001 1/144 R-7A Soviet Intercontinental Ballistic Missile model kit
Four side blocks of the first missile stage were equipped of liquid propelled rocket RD-107 and four two-chamber control liquid propelled rocket. The second stage was equipped of RD-108 four-chamber liquid propelled rocket. Fuel consisted of T-1 kerosene and liquid oxygen. The control system was the inertial type with radiocorrected. The thermonuclear war-head 46A type.
The R-7A serial production was developed on Kuibyshev airplant Ns1. During the Caribbean crisis the SS-6 were stand by near Arkhangel.
Range - 9500 km
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Nuclear war head power - 3 Mt
Fuel weight - 250t
Length - 31,4m
Max hull diameter - 10,3 m
First stage rocket traction - 82 ts
Second stage rocket traction - 75 ts


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Vintage Gold Ring, Rubies & Blue SapphiresCollection: HV Vintage
Unavailable $2,300
A golden basket bearing fruits commemorates the cocktail ring of the 1940's with Rubies & Blue Sapphires.
- 18k yellow gold
- Burma Rubies
- Ceylan blue Sapphires
- Vintage (1-2 weeks)
- Size & Fit
- Vintage ring with basket design crafted in 18k yellow gold with rubies and blue sapphires. The 15 rubies and 30 sapphires are set in prongs in white gold in a diamond shape. The ring is stamped K18 and is is probably from 1940's to 1950's. The rubies are probably from Burma and the sapphires from Ceylon (Sri Lanka). The basket design measures approx. 0.8"x0.6" (2.1cmx1.5cm) and the ring as shown is 1.1" (2.8cm) high. The ring is currently in size 6.5 and we do offer complimentary resizing. The ring shows very little sign of wear. Size Chart
- Product Care
- Visit Product Care page


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Parrots are considered as unique birds that can adapt to the trainings effectively and also have the potential to copy your words exactly the same. If you have brought home a parrot and want to tame it as a pet, you need to assure that you are rendering with the correct training techniques.
While training a parrot, you need to make sure that the bird is feeling safe and comfortable similar to a human baby. When the environment or the ambience of the training is proper, it can be meted out more effectively. Make sure that the parrot is not agitated and always wait for the calmer moments.
It is recommended that the training session is not too long. Make sure that you carry out not more than two to three sessions maximum of ten minutes. This helps the bird to retain the attention and the focus. Moreover, the sessions must be carried out at the same time.
You have to understand that every parrot is different and doesn't possess the same attributes and behavior. There are some that can pick up your words easily and learn to talk quickly while the others cannot. Hence, according to their capabilities you need to start their training properly.
Training sessions with parrots are a lot of fun. You can make use of props in order to train your bird. Infact, if you want your parrot to pick up certain words faster, you need to make sure that you are repeating them often during the day and night. The bird can thereby pick it early and repeat it every time you say it.
As a parrot owner giving training you should also keep in your mind that even the parrot urge for rewards either in the form of food or a gesture of love and affection and appreciating the good training session. You have to keep in mind that parrots are no different from human babies.


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Hello, my dear Robin's Nest friends! Irit is here again and this time I made a cute gift for a teacher using all possible Robin's Nest products. I wanted to post it a month ago, but it was picked for web publishing in SNR web magazine May issue and I can post it only now.
Classified cardstock over a simple black one to simulate a blackboard.
The I added 3 red Glitter die cut apples and using white alphabet glued ABC over the first one.
The Classified ABC ribbon was glued over the piece and the I added this cutest ever Chalkboard with stamped word Thanks (white heat embossed stamp from The Rubber Cafe)
I added some random white letters over the paper and then a word Love from Red glitter alpha set.
For the final RN touch 3 Apple clips were hanged over a natural twine.
All piece was glued over the kitchen wooden piece and I added a real and very small colored pencils.
I love those school products we have in RN shop a lot! I think I may even make another Teacher project soon.
See you again in 2 weeks
Friday, June 29, 2012
Thanks, Teacher gift
Posted by Irit Shalom at 9:00 PM
Labels: apples, blackboard, Classified, glitte die cuts, Irit
My name is Irit Shalom and I am an artist and lots of other things too: mother, grandmother, wife, daughter, sister, working dentist, addicted crafter and even more addicted folk and ballroom dancer. When I don't do anything of these- I love to read historical novels and to dream about the next place I am going to visit. Want to contact me? info(at)albomy.co.il
4 comments:
- Danie May said...
What a fabulously fun teachers gift. I love the cute little blackboard and the bright colors, they really pop against the classified background paper. Just gorgeous! xx
- June 30, 2012 at 12:22 AM
- Rachel said...
This is beautiful Irit! TFS!
- June 30, 2012 at 6:15 AM
- Berni Cuttino said...
So clever and great teacher gift. Thanks so much for stopping by my blog and leaving the sweet love. Hugs. Hope your winter is not too cold and long.
- June 30, 2012 at 6:32 PM
- Robin said...
Beautiful Irit, You have been such a good design team member, I have learned so much from you. Thnaks. This was really thinking outside the box!
- June 30, 2012 at 8:33 PM
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Picture: Wu Tang Clan The 2011 Glastonbury Music Festival held at Worthy Farm in Pilton - Day 1 - Performances Somerset, England - 24.06.11
Wu-Tang Clan rapper RZA has come clean about the 1998 riot that almost led to his untimely death at a California show - he started it.
The hip-hop star admits he was "the problem" that sparked the infamous club fight that ended with late bandmate OL' DIRTY BASTARD pulling out a gun on stage and firing it into the rafters, clearing the venue.
He says, "Some n**ga looked at me funny, and I threw my drink in his face, and he was a tough dude and wanted to fight. So we beat his a*s and security came, and we were beating security's a*s.
"I remember taking my chair and just breaking the whole bar up. Then a n**ga pulled a gun on me, two feet away, and Dirty caught him before he had a chance to shoot me. It was pandemonium."
Ironically, the show went on for the rap supergroup and it was one of their best.
RZA, real name ROBERT DIGGS, regrets the group's violent shows and their bombastic manner because it has won them many enemies in the music industry.
He explains, "Wu-Tang Clan came in so egotistic, so aggressive, that we basically made no friends in the rest of the industry."


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Modifying and Hiding Report Sections in ACT! 2007
An ACT! 2007 report template is divided into sections of information. Each section has a section title that appears in the report template but doesn't appear in the report itself. You can determine which fields you want to appear in each given section. A report template consists of five main sections; you can't delete or change the order of the sections, but you can hide a section if you don't want it to appear in your report.
The five main sections are
- Report Header: Information that appears at the top of the first page of the report, such as the report's title and creator
- Page Header: Information that appears at the top of each page, such as column headings
- Detail: Area that contains one or more of your Contact or Group fields
- The Detail section is the meat and potatoes of the report — where you find pertinent information, such as the contact's name, address, and phone number.
- Page Footer: Information that appears at the bottom of each page in your report, such as the date and page number
You can resize a section to make room for additional fields by dragging the horizontal gray line (that appears at the bottom of the section) lower on the template.
After you fiddle with your report template and have it exactly the way you want it, don't forget to resize each section back to the original size — or close it up as much as possible. Any blank areas in a section appear as blank areas in your report!
Modifying report sections
Most of you will be quite happy to rely on the five default report sections. However, from time to time, you might want to get a bit fancier. Maybe you want to list each of your contacts alphabetically by last name, grouped by city. You need to create subsections within your report to accomplish this. Not a problem; here's all you need to do:
1. In the Report Designer, double-click any section header.
The Define Sections dialog box opens. Notice that in addition to adding subsections, you can choose a few other options as well:
• Page Break: Indicates whether you want to have each section appear on a new sheet of paper or start a new sheet at the end of a section
• Collapse if Blank: Closes up a section if no information is contained in it
• Allow Section to Break Across Multiple Pages: Allows a long section to continue on to multiple pages
2. Click the Add button to add a new section to the report.
The Select a Field to Group By dialog box opens.
3. Select the field that you want to use to group your report and then click OK.
4. Select an ascending order from the Define Sections dialog box.
After you select the field that you wish to group with in Step 3, you are returned to the Define Sections dialog box. The new subsection is highlighted, and you can indicate whether the new subsection appears in ascending or descending alphabetical order.
After you create a new subsection, you can place as many fields on it as you need.
Hiding a report section
There might be times when you want to hide a section. For example, say you want a report that counts the number of contacts in each of your ID/Status fields. Theoretically, ACT! needs to list all those contacts so that they can be counted, but you really don't want to see all those contacts because you're interested only in seeing a total. Although you can't remove any of the default report template sections, you can hide them, which gives you the same result.
To hide a section
1. In the Report Designer, open the Properties window by choosing View –> Properties Window.
2. Select the name of the section that you wish to hide.
3. Click the Visible property in the Properties window and then change it to No.
Although you can still see the section in the Report Designer, it doesn't appear in your finished reports.


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The news everyone is waiting for from time to time was already released. Something about Android Lollipop's up to date version. But the big question is how much longer are we going to wait before it becomes applicable to our smartphones? It had been six months since Google first introduced about Android L, and that is already a tormenting wait for any tech savvy. To give you up-to-the-minute information about the Android Lollipop 5.0 update, here is a list of smartphones to get the Android Lollipop 5.0 update and the when you can get it!
HTC One (M8) – everyone was disappointed when January 3, 2015 arrived and no Android L landed on this HTC handset. And now, it is rumored to be presented within 1 to 2 weeks.
HTC One (M7) – another HTC phone that is bound to get the update is this former flagship phone. And it is expected to have it after the M8.
HTC One (E8), One Mini 2, One Max, One Mini
LG G3 – although the update has already been released last November, it covers only a narrow range. All the same it is good news for LG users that the G3 is in line for the update.
LG G2 – there is no specific information as to when the G2 is going to get the update, but the more important thing now is that it is confirmed to get the Android Lollipop 5.0 update!
Motorola Moto G (2014) – this was one of the non-nexus devices to get the update last November. But there are no further information yet when it would be available in several markets.
Motorola Moto G (2013) – allegedly, some Moto G users already has the update.
Motorola Moto X (2014), Motorola Droid Ultra, Droid Maxx, Droid Mini, Moto E, Motorola Moto X (2013)
Samsung Galaxy S5 – not surprising that the Galaxy S5 is one of the smartphones to get the update. It is actually available, at present, to Galaxy S5 users in the U.K.
Samsung Galaxy Note 4 – Android L is expected to land on this Samsung bad boy before January ends.
Samsung Galaxy S4 – as of now, it is only settled that the S4 is going to have the update. No word yet about the date.
Samsung Galaxy Note 3 – lucky for Note 3 users, it is one of the smartphones to get the update. However, it would be behind the newer handsets in getting it.
Galaxy Note Edge, Galaxy Alpha, Galaxy S5 Active, Galaxy S5 Mini, Galaxy Note II
Sony Xperia Z3 – this would probably be the first non-GPe Sony smartphone to get the Android L update. And Sony is doing its best to roll it out early February.
Sony Xperia Z2, Sony Xperia Z1, Xperia Z, Xperia ZL, Xperia ZR, Xperia Tablet Z, Xperia Z1S, Xperia Z Ultra, Xperia Z1 Compact, Xperia Z2 Tablet, Xperia Z3v, Xperia Z3 Compact, Xperia Z3 Tablet Compact.
Hope your smartphone is included!


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Follow these links to read the seven appendices to Money and Sustainability: The Missing Link.
They are all free to read.
Appendix A: A Primer on How Money Works
Appendix B: The Sixth Extinction
Appendix C: Mapping Paradigms
Appendix D: Quantifying Sustainability
Appendix E: A Chinese Insight
Appendix F: Concentration of Wealth
Appendix G: Kondratieff and the Long Wave


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Meet the Board
Joy Walker - Chairperson
Joy is a Management Consultant assisting not for profit organisations and local governments to improve their strategic planning and operational service improvement capabilities. Previous work experience has been primarily in senior management roles within the not for profit sector, including experience of working within aged and disability services, a charity advocating for children and families; and the university sector in Australia.
Joy holds a Bachelor of Arts (Hons) in Business majoring in Public Relations and Event Management (LMU); a Certificate in Health and Social Care (Open University UK); a Cert IV in Training and Assessment; a Graduate Certificate in Management (Australian Institute of Management) and a Masters in Public Policy and Management (Monash University). She is currently studying the Science of Happiness online through UC Berkeley. Since discovering Appreciative Inquiry, Joy is a strong advocate of organisational development through emphasising inquiry into strengths rather than focusing on weaknesses.
Previous Board experience includes time served as Treasurer of Cheltenham Community Centre and as Chair of the Governing Body of a Primary School in West Yorkshire.
Originally from the UK, Joy moved to Australia in 2003 with her husband and two daughters, living in the South East area ever since. With strong feminist beliefs, Joy is committed to equality, women's health and the public sector in general.
Sinfree Chirunga - Treasurer
Sinfree is a Business Manager at Peninsula Health and has extensive experience in senior financial and management accounting roles in the health public sector as well as the private sector in Australia, UK and Africa. She holds a Masters of Business Administration (MBA) majoring in Business Consultancy from Deakin University; Bachelor of Accounting Science (BCompt.) from University of South Africa; Diploma of Business Accounting from Chartered Institute of Management Accountants CIMA UK; and a Diploma of Project Management from Swinburne University of Technology.
Sinfree is passionate about innovation and continuous business process improvement and believes that leadership is about empowering others to do great things.
Sinfree was born in Zimbabwe where her interest in voluntary work started at an early age when she partnered with Compassion Ministries in caring for destitute children and widows. She migrated to the United Kingdom in the mid-90s and relocated to Melbourne 10 years ago.
Sinfree is committed to gender equality, empowerment of women, freedom from oppression and an end to family violence.
Rhiannon Matthews
Rhiannon is a PR and communications consultant with over 10 years experience of working in senior management positions in the UK public sector. This includes roles within the UK and Welsh governments and for one of the largest integrated healthcare providers. She has worked with Ministers, Senior Civil Servants and Board Members, providing leadership and advice, and managing all aspects of communication campaigns.
Rhiannon now lives in Mount Eliza and uses her strategic communication planning skills to help organisations effectively reach their audiences. Her experience spans internal and external communications through to campaigns, public relations, digital engagement, stakeholder management, crisis communications and more.
Rhiannon is married with three young children and is passionate about equality issues. She has managed Family Violence Prevention Campaigns on the Mornington Peninsula and wants to use her skills to help WHISE improve health outcomes for women.
Priyanka Akula
Priya is a Chartered Accountant (ICAA) and a Chartered Secretary (AGIA) with a strong background in external audit and internal controls; having worked on large-listed clients both in Australia and the USA.
Having grown up in the south east suburbs of Melbourne, Priya commenced her journey with volunteering at the age of 16 with MOIRA. Since then, she has pursued her passion for volunteering with various organisations such as Young UN Women Australia Melbourne Committee, Radio 3ZZZ and Special Olympics Victoria and Western Interchange.
Maya Avdibegovic
Maya Avdibegovic is currently Executive Director of Court Network Inc. Her previous role was the Strategic Advisor, Sector & Diversity at Family Safety Victoria, the first government agency dedicated to ending family violence. The agency is leading the implementation of many of the government's family violence reforms including establishing and operationalising 17 Support and Safety Hubs across Victoria, establishing a Central Information Point, which will allow police, courts and government services to track perpetrators and keep victims safe and establishing and housing the new Centre for Workforce Excellence to build workforce capacity and capability in partnership with the sector.
Maya was born in Bosnia and graduated from Sarajevo University. She fled war-torn Bosnia in 1992 and lived in Germany for three years before migrating to Australia in 1995.
Maya is MBA qualified and highly skilled in strategic and business planning, innovation, operational, financial and change management.
From 2009 to 2017 as the CEO of inTouch, Multicultural Centre against Family Violence, she transformed the organisation from its grassroots level to becoming a national leading agency.
Being a refugee and a migrant herself, Maya is passionate about supporting migrant women and their families to settle in Australia and have equitable access to services.
Elizabeth Benedetti
Elizabeth is a passionate, highly motivated and strategic HR professional with proven success in leading and managing high performing service teams to deliver best practice across HR functions including recruitment, onboarding, policy management, ER/IR advice, problem solving, Workday HRIS system management and payroll. Strong stakeholder management skills along with involvement in mergers, business closures, sales, acquisitions and joint ventures within Pharmaceutical, FMCG, Finance and manufacturing sectors.
Elizabeth is passionate about giving back to the community commencing her volunteering journey in her early 20's with the Salvation Army, Avocare, AIMS and Wellsprings for Women.
Elizabeth was born in Melbourne to Italian parents who migrated to Australia in the early 1950's and is married to Mick and they have two boys, Luca & Dante.
Elizabeth looks forward to supporting WHISE and continuing to give back to the community, supporting migrant women and improving the health and well-being of women in the South East.


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2012 Children-Baby-Maternity Expo (CBME) Innovation Product Awards Call for Nominations Now Open
May 14, 2012, 02:01 ET
Asia's largest and the world's second event for the Child, Baby and Maternity industry to hold fourth annual innovation product awards
SHANGHAI, May 14, 2012 /CNW/ - Now in its fourth year, the call for nominations for 2012 Children-Baby-Maternity Expo (CBME) Innovation Product Awards, is now open until 31st May. The CBME Innovation Product Awards celebrates the most innovative products across Asia in design from function to creativity. Industry and community members can also participate in the awards by voting online (www.cbmexpo.com) from early June to 17th July and onsite at the 12th Annual Children-Baby-Maternity Expo from 18th - 20th July. The winners and finalists will be announced on 20th July at CBME 2012 which will be held at the Shanghai New International Expo Centre (SNIEC).
Originally conceived to encourage independent research and development on safer quality products for mothers and babies, the CBME Innovation Product Awards continues the tradition by providing a platform for inspiring innovative products meeting the highest standards. Award Categories include:
- Baby and Maternity Products
- Babies' and Children's Furniture
- Babies' and Children's Apparel
- Toys, Educational Products and Souvenirs
- Children-Baby-Maternity Food, Health Care Items
Winners of the 2011 CBME Innovation Awards include Beijing's Inere International Trading Co. Ltd for their Lucky Rabbit Bed's unique design; Hangzhou Sunrise Trade Co., Ltd's MAM Perfect Pacifier with innovative "caressing" features; and Shanghai Les Enphants Children Articles Co,. Ltd's for their Joie Dining Chair and it's easy to use features and comfort for babies.
(Photo: http://www.prnasia.com/sa/2012/05/14/20120514122030548051.html )
"The Innovation Product Awards are one of the most popular activities onsite at CBME. Exhibitors and visitors alike participate actively every year in a combined goal to drive innovation and creativity for the children, baby, maternity industry," said Athena Gong, CBME General Manager. "Furthermore, we pride ourselves in producing an awards program and exhibition that upholds the highest quality of certified products which also adheres to intellectual property guidelines and laws."
For more information on the Child-Baby-Maternity Industry Expo, 2012 Children- Baby- Maternity Expo (CBME) Innovation Product Awards and view all previous winners, please visit www.cbmexpo.com.
For press enquiries, please contact:
Fanny Kwok, Marketing Manager, CBME
Tel: +86 20 86266235
Email: email@example.com
Notes to Editors:
1. About UBM Asia (www.ubmasia.com)
Owned by UBM plc listed on the London Stock Exchange, UBM Asia operates in 18 market sectors with headquarters in Hong Kong and subsidiary companies across Asia, including UBM China in Shanghai, Hangzhou, Guangzhou and Beijing. We have over 200 products including trade fairs, conferences, trade publications, B2B/B2C portals and virtual event services. As Asia's leading exhibition organizer and the biggest commercial organizer in the two fastest growing markets in Asia: China and India, we stage the leading events of their kind across Asia. Our 150 events, 24 publications and 18 vertical portals serve a 1,000,000 plus quality exhibitors, visitors, conference delegates, advertisers and subscribers from all over the world with high value face-to-face business-matching events, quality and instant news on market and industry trends and round-the-clock online trading networks and sourcing platforms. We have 1,000 staff in 21 major cities across Asia, stretching from Japan to Turkey.
2. About UBM plc (www.ubm.com)
UBM plc is a leading global company. We inform markets and bring the world's buyers and sellers together at events, online, in print and provide them with the information they need to do business successfully. We focus on serving professional commercial communities, from doctors to game developers, from journalists to jeweler traders, from farmers to pharmacists around the world. Our 6,000 staff in more than 30 countries are organized into specialist teams that serve these communities, helping them to do business and their markets to work effectively and efficiently
SOURCE UBM China
For further information:


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Our window blinds franchises are currently available in all areas Scotland.
Minimum Investment:
TopCat Blinds is a market leading Window Blind company, with Head Offices based in Twechar near Glasgow and with reps servicing Central Scotland
What makes this franchise different?
Whether you are looking to try something new, fancy a career change or just want to take control of your life by becoming your own boss, our proven business model and unrivalled support structure could help you on your way.
• Fantastic earnings potential – rewards for hard-working franchisees are unlimited, depending on your ambitions, our proven franchise model offers the opportunity to turn over £100,000+pa.
• Unrivalled training and ongoing support – Our dedicated franchise development team provides unlimited business, marketing and technical support.
• No experience necessary – The system is easy to learn and simple to manage, with unrivalled training held at our head office in Twechar, no previous experience is necessary.
• National advertising – Your business will benefit from national advertising activity increasing demand through regular advertising campaigns, extensive online, social media and offline marketing activity.
• Expansion opportunities – The franchise model is flexible and allows for rapid expansion into multiple territories.
• Exclusive territory – Fully profiled territory which is dedicated and protected, providing you with access to tens of thousands of home and business owners.
Interested in becoming part of the TopCat Window Blinds franchise?
Contact Mark on 01236 809 787 or 07804 735041
Email firstname.lastname@example.com


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The remote estimation of a region's population has for decades been a key application of geographic information science in demography. Most studies have used 2D data (maps, satellite imagery) to estimate population avoiding field surveys and questionnaires. As the availability of semantic 3D city models is constantly increasing, we investigate...journal article 2016


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Events for May 31, 2019
Events Search and Views Navigation
- No events scheduled for May 31, 2019. Please try another day.
Bear Mountain uses cookies to enhance the usability of its website and provide you with the best experience on our website. To learn more about how cookies are used and how you can manage them, please visit our Privacy Centre for more information.


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Cultural programme
"Café des images" evening launch
On the occasion of the "Café des images" evening launch, the film "2 Autumns, 3 Winters" by Sébastien Betbeder, with Vincent Macaigne, Maud Wyler and Bastien Bouillon (2013) will be premiered on Tuesday, March 3rd at 7pm.
Cultural programme - December 2014
The Cooperation and Cultural Action Department of the Embassy of France is delighted to present to you a selection of events taking place in December 2014, together with the Alliance française and the Association francophone de Bahreïn (AFBH).
Cultural programme - October 2014
The cultural department of the French Embassy is delighted to present to you a selection of events taking place in October 2014.


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Sapna is highly personable by nature, energetic and always shows a genuine empathy for her clients and appreciation of the trust put in her to assist them from one stage of their life to the next. She has a great insight and appreciation for the city and its various localities. She has witnessed the areas growth in popularity as well as the improved amenities and developments.
Aside from her enthusiasm and approachability, Sapna is highly skilled in areas of organisation and problem solving, qualities she honed in her previous job as Senior Sales Assistant. As a member of the Lady Hive family, Sapna has welcomed the guidance and support the company offer. "There's a real team focus at Lady Hive", she explains. "We have a strong pooling system of highly professional and experienced negotiators, which is why we achieve the best prices."
Away from her busy work schedule, Sapna enjoys going to the gym, cycling and spending time with her husband, her kid and friends.
Contact Details
- Office : 0141-2598745
- Mobile : 7821822844
- Fax : 0141-2598745


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Making the decision to improve your smile with teeth straightening braces has the potential to change your life. People like you who have taken that step say they have found new confidence and love to show off their smile rather than try to hide it as they did before.
Once your braces have been fitted, it's important to do everything you can to look after them to ensure your treatment goes smoothly and so that you get the best possible results.
Eating the right foods and avoiding things that can cause problems is a vital part of looking after fixed braces. (Fixed braces use brackets attached to the teeth that are connected with wires.)
Removable braces such as Invisalign plastic aligners, meanwhile, are always taken out before eating or drinking anything other than water.
With removable braces patients can then eat any foods but they must always brush their teeth before putting the aligners back in.
Find out if you could have straight teeth by taking our online quiz "Can I have straight teeth?"
The brackets and wires on a fixed brace can be damaged or loosened by excessively hard, chewy or sticky foods.
With sugary foods and drinks, in particular, there is also an increased risk of things becoming trapped and plaque building up, which can cause tooth decay.
During your teeth-straightening treatment you might have to make some small adjustments to your diet but there are plenty of foods you can eat with braces.
In the first few days after your braces are fitted, or following adjustments made by the orthodontist, your teeth will probably feel tender.
Luckily there are lots of soft foods for braces!
During these stages it's best to stick entirely to non-chewy meals such as soups, casseroles, pasta, mashed potatoes, omelettes, smoothies, pancakes or porridge.
You can then start to introduce other foods - as long as you follow the advice below.
If you have any more questions about how to look after braces, please ask the experts.
At Metamorphosis Orthodontics, we've helped thousands of people to enjoy the new confidence of straight teeth - so we can help you with any questions or concerns.
An increasing number of adults are realising it's not too late to improve their teeth, and their confidence, with orthodontic treatment.
Call our friendly, expert team on 020 3828 7116 or email firstname.lastname@example.com if you want to make an appointment or if you have any questions.