Spatio-temporal Cox point process models with a multiplicative structure for the driving random intensity, incorporating covariate information into temporal and spatial components, and with a residual term modelled by a shot-noise process, are considered. Such models are flexible and tractable for statistical analysis, using spatio-temporal versions of intensity and inhomogeneous "K"-functions, quick estimation procedures based on composite likelihoods and minimum contrast estimation, and easy simulation techniques. These advantages are demonstrated in connection with the analysis of a relatively large data set consisting of 2796 days and 5834 spatial locations of fires. The model is compared with a spatio-temporal log-Gaussian Cox point process model, and likelihood-based methods are discussed to some extent. Copyright (c) 2010 Board of the Foundation of the Scandinavian Journal of Statistics.
The distribution of ciliates in a Mexican coastal lagoon was studied. The 4 goals were to: examine small-scale (<100 m) patches; indicate how geostatistical techniques can be used to examine these patches; make inferences concerning ciliate distribution and behaviour in the lagoon using geostatistical techniques; and assess geostatistics as a method for modelling ciliate distributions. Underlying these goals we attempt to make geostatistical techniques accessible to the non-expert. We provide an overview of the methodology, references to the geostatistical literature, and use our system as an example. Ciliates were sampled in a 40 × 40 m grid, divided at 10 m intervals; the grid was further divided into subsets, to determine 1 to 10 m scale variation. Between 30 and 35 points were sampled on 2 occasions (January and October). Ciliates were preserved with Lugol's iodine; abundance and species composition were determined by standard inverted microscopy. The work focused on 4 abundant ciliate species. We indicate, using the variographic analysis, that the abundance of 3 of the 4 ciliates is neither randomly nor homogeneously distributed, but exhibits a structured small-scale patchy distribution. We indicate that species-specific patterns of patchiness exist in stratified and in mixed waters, supporting the notion of behavioural niche-separation of planktonic ciliates. Patches of <13, <18, and < 77 m were formed by Lohmaniella oviformis, Tintinnopsis sp. and Strombidium sp., respectively. In contrast, Pleuronema sp. formed patches below the detection limits of the analysis (<1 m). Using geostatistical techniques, we established variograms and used them to model ciliate distribution and predict ciliate behaviour. Distribution maps were then generated that depicted the shape, distinctness, and gradient of the different patches. After analysing the data, we proposed a working definition of a 'ciliate patch': regions with abundance above the cut-off of the upper quartile from the kriging prediction model. Finally, error-maps were developed, indicating the coefficient of variation of the predicted distributions. We conclude that geostatistical analysis is a powerful tool to examine microzooplankton at small-scales, and we support its further application in the field.
A transversal study was conducted at the University City campus of the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM) in Mexico City, with the goal of estimating the university community preference for drinking either tap water or bottled water and the reasons for their selection. A representative sample of three university community subpopulations (students, workers/administrative staff, and academic personnel) were interviewed with respect to their water consumption habits. The results showed that 75% of the university community drinks only bottled water and that the consumption of tap water is low. The interviewees responded that the main reason for this preference is the organoleptic features of tap water independent of quality. In general, the participants in this study do not trust the quality of the tap water, which could be caused by the facilities that distribute bottled water encouraging a general disinterest in learning about the origin and management of the tap water that is distributed on campus.
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