Monitoring successful urban stream restorations can provide guidance for best practices for restoration design. My case study was located at Critter Creek, a tributary to the Grand River, in northeast Waterloo, Ontario, Canada, where due to high flow and tight meanders, six constructed offline ponds have become connected to the main stream and are now online ponds. This project aimed to evaluate how these online (formerly offline) ponds are affecting the restoration of the stream. The majority of research on this topic has concentrated on ponds specifically constructed for stormwater management or on urban restored streams without ponds. In many restoration plans, offline ponds are proposed to compensate for cut-fill balances and/or for habitat diversity. The relationship of these offline ponds to the function and ecology of the channel has not often been assessed. Benthic macroinvertebrates were used as indicators of restoration as a proxy for water quality. Using a Surber sampler, samples were collected in the reaches of the stream upstream of the inlet and downstream of the outlet of each pond. Comparative samples were taken from waterbodies that provided a restored stream without offline ponds and a reference stream. In the laboratory, all benthic macroinvertebrates were identified to the Family level. Ecology-based metrics (EPT, functional feeding groups, etc.) and an index (Hilsenhoff FBI) were used to characterize the assemblages. The Percent Model Affinity (PMA) Method was used to determine the impairment of the streams and Mann-Whitney tests were conducted to determine if differences existed between the samples taken close to the ponds and those not close to the ponds. Those tests were also conducted to determine differences between Critter Creek and the reference and other restored stream. PMA results from monitoring from previous years indicated that Critter Creek was an impaired stream, and this research shows that the stream is still impaired with PMA values less than 33.23% for 83 of 89 samples. Mann-Whitney tests showed that the location in Critter Creek, whether it be adjacent to an online pond or not, does not have an effect on the benthic assemblages. They also indicate that the composition of the benthic assemblages in Critter Creek has not reached the same stage as those in Laurel Creek, the reference stream, or Clair Creek, the other restored stream. While the habitat and functional requirements of organisms between all three streams is similar, the water quality present in Critter Creek is much lower than in the other two streams. Further monitoring could be completed to determine the trajectory of the benthic macroinvertebrate assemblages in this restoration. However, given that monitoring for the past 10 years has shown that the ecosystem integrity of Critter Creek is not improving, it is advised that action be taken now to improve the stream restoration. The concepts of urban ecology were addressed in this study and a wider-scope monitoring program could be completed to determine the impact of urbanization on the restoration of Critter Creek.

Artificial drainage networks established throughout peatlands during the peat extraction process often remain active following abandonment, maintaining a water table relatively far from the surface of the peat and hindering the survival and reestablishment of Sphagnum mosses. Since cutover peatlands are characterized by low (negative) soil water pressures, sufficient internal water storage and balanced water fluxes are critical for the physiological function of spontaneously regenerated Sphagnum mosses. The relative importance of water exchanges between spontaneously regenerated Sphagnum moss cushions and their surroundings are addressed through investigation of the sensitivity of moss moisture dynamics to a range of environmental variables. Precipitation waters are poorly retained within the cushions, which indicated that rain event water can only be relied upon by the mosses for a short period of time. An imbalance between water inputs and losses from moss cushions identified that additional (small) sources of water, such as dewfall and distillation, are potentially important for physiological processes under dry conditions, common in disturbed peatland ecosystems. As an initial restoration effort, rewetting of the peatland by blocking drainage ditches consequently reduced the runoff efficiency and caused the site-average water table to rise by 32 cm. Higher water tables and a blocked drainage network created conditions more favourable for Sphagnum survival through increasing the moisture content and soil-water pressures within the remnant peat deposit. The hydrologic connectivity between moss cushions and the remnant peat was strong when conditions were wet and the water table was within 30 cm of the surface of the cutover peat but weakened as conditions became drier, as reflected by weakened upward hydraulic gradients in the unsaturated zone below the moss cushions. Runoff variability increased following rewetting, and displayed a greater dependence upon antecedent conditions (capacity to retain additional water on-site) and event-based precipitation dynamics. Evapotranspiration rates were 25% higher following rewetting (3.6 mm day-1) compared to pre-restoration ET rates of 2.7 mm day-1. Total storage changes were restricted following rewetting, as a factor of the reduced runoff losses limiting water table drawdown, thereby constraining peat compression and preventing undue drying of the unsaturated zone. Changes to the system hydrology following rewetting of the peatland by blocking drainage ditches created conditions more favourable for Sphagnum survival through increasing the moisture content and soil-water pressures within the remnant peat deposit; although restoration efforts should aim to constrain water table fluctuations to within the upper 30 cm.

The prairies of North America have undergone substantial changes since European settlement in the 1800's, with some estimates suggesting that 96% of the tallgrass prairie has been converted. Multiple factors contributed to reduction in prairie, including: grazing, row-crop farming, depressed fire regimes, and exotic grass species introduction. In Texas, 35% of the historic grassland ecosystems have been either altered or converted. Introduced in the 1940's, exotic grass species such as Bermuda grass (Cynodon sp) have displaced native grass species throughout Texas. Introduced grass species can alter the existing plant communities degrading habitat for birds and other animals. Grassland birds are declining faster than any other bird group within North America; due in part to a reduction in suitable breeding habitat. I addressed this issue by comparing nesting success of grassland birds between exotic grass sites and restored native grass sites in the blackland prairie region of east-central Texas during 2007-2008 breeding seasons. I conducted point counts and nest searching from March - July. Point count data indicate no difference in species richness between sites. Dickcissel (Spiza americana) nests represented 89% of the nests found (n = 104). Dickcissel abundance was 44% higher in restored sites and 76% of nests were located in restored sites. Daily survival (DSR) for dickcissels in restored sites was 0.895 (SE = 0.013) and for exotic sites was 0.930 (SE = 0.017). I used an independent samples t-test to compare mean nest height, which was 56% higher in restored sites than exotic sites (n = 83, x bar = 38.0 cm plus/minus 1.90; x bar = 15.2 cm plus/minus 2.19, df = 81, t = -6.31, P = 0.001), and mean nest substrate height which was 58% higher in restored sites than in exotic sites (n = 83, x bar = 118.8 cm plus/minus 6.50; x bar = 46.5 cm plus/minus 4.77, df = 81, t = -6.08, P = 0.001). Although dickcissel abundance was greater in restored sites than exotic sites, their observed nesting success and DSR was lower in restored sites. This is indicative of an ecological trap, which occurs when an organism is attracted to a habitat that negatively impacts the organism. Some research suggests that restored fields in other states are acting as traps for dickcissels, and according to my results restored sites I sampled may also be acting as ecological traps for dickcissels in Texas.

First, we study a Poisson model a polluted random screen. In this model, the defects on random screen are assumed Poisson-distribution and overlapped. The transmittance effects of overlapping defects are multiplicative. We can compute the autocorrelation function of the screen is obtained by defects' density, radius, and transmittance. Using the autocorrelation function, we then restore the telescope astronomy images. These image signals are generally degraded by their propagation through the random scattering in atmosphere. To restore the images, we estimate the three key parameters by three methods. They are expectation- maximization (EM) method and two Maximum-Entropy (ME) methods according to two different definitions. The restoration are successful and demonstrated in this thesis.

<p>There is an important potential for a development of a building system, if the present AACblock plants are completed with high performance concrete and pre-stressing technique. This can be done as a continuation of a present AAC production or in a site factory.</p><p>Hybrid cooperation between AAC and concrete is not a new technology. Traditionally, AAC is covered with rendering. The wetted material is first sprayed with cement slurry after which comes lime/cement-based rendering which strengthens the wall and supplies a mechanical protection. AAC blocks can be used as infill members in concrete deck plates and concrete framed walls (Hellers, 1993), in which the shrinkage of the surrounding concrete locks completely the cured blocks into a stable composite.</p><p>A good cooperation between AAC and concrete is a requirement for the pre-stressed hybrid. This combination has been investigated with reference to bond and moisture content. The interface must have sufficient bond to supply shear strength to the structural member. Also, the concrete should be suitable for pre-stressing which requires a minimum strength class K40. Here, K60 is applied in order to reduce creep and avoid creep failure of the AAC. A production layout for the purpose is suggested.</p><p>This research consists of three parts:</p><p>1- Hybrid concrete elements The principal formulation of hybrids, built on cooperation between two concrete materials, a weak AAC and a strong HPC poured on top, shows that this combination unites the most favourable qualities of the two concretes into a structural element with rational building technology.</p><p>Load-bearing capacity is good, and the fire protection is excellent. Through pre-stressing of the structural concrete, a crack-free behaviour is guaranteed up to the service limit, and deflection from dead weight (incl. floor covering and possibly half the service load) be eliminated. The most important structural elements needed in a building system could be taken as hybrids. In drawings, different members like floor- roof- and wall members, window and door lintels are shown.</p><p>2- Production system for hybrids AAC blocks form a bed containing the pre-stressing steel in slits and on which high performance concrete is poured. Pre-stressing brings the two concretes together. This is especially important for the shear capacity of a building member, by which extra dowels can be omitted. The pre-stressing force is anchored by plates directly against the cured AAC blocks. A special pre-stressing bed is not required. The production is arranged in such a way that necessary equipment (trays, form strips, wedges, locks) are circulated within twenty-four hours. The necessary manpower for this facility is analysed. Normally 8 men are needed per shift.</p><p>A detailed conceptual production layout for a hybrid production plant is included for discussion. See figure 6.2 (suggested production layout).</p><p>3- Application in building The hybrid members are united at joints and through seams. Continuity over connections is achieved by filling seams with mortar grout. Reinforcement may be included to achieve ductility. By a similar method, it is possible to make connections between horizontal and vertical building members. Common connection details are shown in the report. This building method replaces the equivalent method with concrete or AAC members, and it is in fact a coordination between these two.</p><p>The maximum span of floor members is up to 9 m. It makes the system suitable for modern residential house production, but also suitable for office buildings, industrial halls and other applications. See attached drawings, part 2 and part 3.</p>

Thesis (M.S.)--University of West Florida, 2007. / Title from title page of source document. Document formatted into pages; contains 117 pages. Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (M.S.)--Oregon State University, 2010. / Printout. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 60-62). Also available on the World Wide Web.

Thesis (M.L.A) -- University of Texas at Arlington, 2008.

Thesis (M.S.)--Brigham Young University. Dept. of Plant and Wildlife Sciences, 2008. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 20-22).

Thesis (M.S. in environmental science)--Washington State University, December 2009. / Title from PDF title page (viewed on Feb. 18, 2010). "School of Earth and Environmental Science." Includes bibliographical references (p. 24-29).