Satellite and ground-based monitoring of smoke in the atmosphere during the summer wildfires in European Russia in 2010 and Siberia in 2012

Using Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) (Aqua and Terra satellites) and in situ observations, a comparative analysis of two large-scale smoke events caused by the summer wildfires in European Russia (ER) in 2010 and Western Siberia (WS) in 2012 was carried out. In the 5-day periods of the extreme smoke pollution (5–9 August 2010 in ER and 27–31 July 2012 in WS), the number of active fires in the equal territories, confined by the coordinates 47°–65° N, 25°–55° E and 51°–70° N, 71°–104° E, was found to be 4754 for ER and 3823 for WS. With this, the regional mean aerosol optical depths (AODs) were found to be (1.02 ± 0.02) and (1.00 ± 0.04), not much differing for both the events. The regional mean aerosol radiative forcing effects at the top (R₁) and the bottom (R₂) of the atmosphere over ER/WS according to MODIS observations were estimated to be (?61 ± 1) and (?54 ± 2) W m^?2, and (?107 ± 2) and (?96 ± 3) W m^?2, respectively. At the same time, the local values of AOD and the local absolute values of R₁ and R₂ over WS were considerably higher than those over ER. MODIS AOD (L3) data during the wildfires of 2010 were validated by AOD data obtained by the sun-sky photometer CIMEL, operating at the AERONET station Zvenigorod. The rates of radiative heating of the smoky atmosphere over ER and WS were also estimated and compared with the existed temperature anomalies, obtained using National Centers for Environmental Prediction National Center for Atmospheric Research reanalysis data. Optical and microphysical properties of smoke aerosols during the wildfires in ER and WS also revealed some similar characteristics. The aerosols were mostly found in the submicron-size fraction and characterized by very high single-scattering albedos (0.95–0.98). In the dense smoke conditions, the degree of linear polarization at the scattering angle 90° during both the events decreased to negative values ranging between ?0.1 and ?0.15. The optical properties of smoke aerosols were mainly conditioned by unusually narrow particle size distribution.     

Platelet-derived growth factor-specific regulation of the JE promoter in rat aortic smooth muscle cells

JE is a member of the family of "immediate early" genes induced by growth factors and cytokines. JE encodes a low molecular weight secretory glycoprotein analogous to the human monocyte chemoattractant protein, MCP-1. JE and MCP-1 proteins are thought to play an important role in inflammation and in the recruitment of monocyte/macrophages to the vessel wall during the development of atherosclerosis. We have previously reported that the induction of JE in rat aortic smooth muscle cells (SMC) was specific to platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) and was not seen with other growth agonists. Using a luciferase reporter system and transient transfection assays of rat aortic SMC, we now report the identification of a region in the proximal rat JE promoter that is responsive to PDGF but not to other growth factors (angiotensin II and alpha-thrombin) or cytokines (interleukin 1-beta and tumor necrosis factor-alpha). The full response to PDGF (approximately 6-fold) requires the cooperative activity of two potentially novel cis-acting elements, at positions -146 to -128 and -84 to -59. While each element produces a different pattern in electrophoretic mobility shift assays, they appear to bind the same PDGF-responsive species. Further analysis of these regions should provide important insights into PDGF-specific responses in vascular SMC.     

A general simulation procedure for the electrical characteristics of metal-insulator-semiconductor tunnel structures

The algorithm is suggested for calculating the I–V characteristics of a voltage- or current-controlled metal-tunnel-thin insulator-semiconductor system. The basic underlying physical models are discussed. Applicability of the algorithm is confirmed by a comparison of the simulation results with the measurement data obtained by the authors and borrowed from the literature, for several different structures. The presented information is supposed to suffice for calculating the electrical characteristics of the investigated structures with the various combinations of materials: metal or polysilicon gate, single-layer or stacked insulator, and semiconductor with any doping type and level.     

Control of Length of Concrete Piles in Soil by the Acoustic Probing Method

The prototype of portable device is developed and approved for probing the concrete piles located in soil. The procedure for determining the pile length is proposed.