Cloud parameter retrievals from Meteosat and their effects on the shortwave radiation at the surface

A method based on Spinning Enhanced Visible and Infrared Imager (SEVIRI) measured reflectance at 0.6 and 3.9 µm is used to retrieve the cloud optical thickness (COT) and cloud effective radius (r_e) over the Iberian Peninsula. A sensitivity analysis of simulated retrievals to the input parameters demonstrates that the cloud top height is an important factor in satellite retrievals of COT and r_e with uncertainties around 10% for small values of COT and r_e; for water clouds these uncertainties can be greater than 10% for small values of r_e. The uncertainties found related with geometries are around 3%. The COT and r_e are assessed using well-known satellite cloud products, showing that the method used characterize the cloud field with more than 80% (82%) of the absolute differences between COT (r_e) mean values of all clouds (water plus ice clouds) centred in the range from ±10 (±10 µm), with absolute bias lower than 2 (2 μm) for COT (r_e) and root mean square error values lower than 10 (8 μm) for COT (r_e). The cloud water path (CWP), derived from satellite retrievals, and the shortwave cloud radiative effect at the surface (CRE_SW) are related for high fractional sky covers (F_sc >0.8), showing that water clouds produce more negative CRE_SW than ice clouds. The COT retrieved was also related to the cloud modification factor, which exhibits reductions and enhancements of the surface SW radiation of the order of 80% and 30%, respectively, for COT values lower than 10. A selected case study shows, using a ground-based sky camera that some situations classified by the satellite with high F_sc values correspond to situations of broken clouds where the enhancements actually occur. For this case study, a closure between the liquid water path (LWP) obtained from the satellite retrievals and the same cloud quantity obtained from ground-based microwave measurements was performed showing a good agreement between both LWP data set values.     

Investigation of incurred single- and multi-component model food matrices for determination of food proteins triggering allergy and coeliac disease

For detection and quantification of food proteins triggering hypersensitivity reactions, reliable, validated analytical methods are necessary. At present, the most commonly used methodology for this purpose is ELISA. The lack of incurred reference materials (RM) complicates the fulfilling of method validation. Today, a well identifiable research direction is the development of methods (immunoanalytical, PCR and MS methods) suitable for multi-component analysis. As a consequence of these R+D efforts, the development of multi-component RMs is reasonable. Our work presented here is focusing on the development and investigation of multi-component model food matrices that can be suitable for supporting the validation processes. On the basis of the relative incidence of hypersensitivity reactions, four components—wheat, milk, egg and soy—were selected for our preliminary work. The target proteins were determined in single- and multi-component matrices with different ELISA methods, and the results were compared by statistical evaluation. The main direction of our investigation was to identify the effects of the potential interactions of these proteins on the analytical results, and the influence of food processing was also investigated. The results showed that the presence of multiple allergenic components caused much less uncertainty in the analytical results than analytical and technological steps, such as sample preparation, repetition or even heat treatment. However, probably due to the relatively complex matrices, some discrepancies from the expected outcome could also be observed.     

Oscillation Susceptibility Analysis along the Path of the Longitudinal Flight Equilibriums in ADMIRE Model

Our goal is the oscillation susceptibility analysis in the framework of a nonlinear mathematical model in the so-called ADMIRE or Aero Data Model in a Research Environment. First, we analyze the oscillation susceptibility along the path of the longitudinal flight equilibriums when the flight control system (FCS) is decoupled. After that, a similar analysis is undertaken in the case when the FCS is coupled. For decoupled FCS, it is shown that on the path of the longitudinal flight equilibriums there exists a saddle-node where stability is lost and fold bifurcation occurs. Maneuvers are simulated showing the effect of an instantaneous change of the elevator angle, and the evolution of the unstable equilibriums (due to the maneuvers) to the corresponding exponentially stable equilibriums. It is shown numerically that at the saddle-node oscillations occur when the elevator angle is less than the critical value and the start is from the saddle-node. More precisely, it is shown that if the plane state parameters coincide with the saddle-node coordinates and the elevator angle is changed instantaneously from the critical value to a value which is less than this value, then two of the state parameters (α,q) begin to oscillate with the same period and the third parameter (θ) increases, tending to infinity. Thus, the orbit of the system evolves spiraling. It is shown also, that if the elevator angle is reset, the plane returns to a stable equilibrium. Therefore, a soft or no catastrophic stability loss takes place. When the FCS is coupled, the plane for every value of the amplification factor has a unique equilibrium which is exponentially stable and attracts all the equilibriums which exist in decoupled case. In this case, there are no bifurcation points on the equilibrium path. The dependence of the equilibrium and of the relaxation period on the amplification factor value is found numerically. Finally, it is concluded that when the FCS is decoupled, then along the path of the longitudinal equilibriums oscillations can occur, but when the FCS is coupled and the pilot can modify (instantaneously) only the amplifier factor value, then the vehicle, defined by the considered numerical data, is not anymore susceptible to oscillation.     

Effect of exposure of guinea pigs to cigarette smoke on elastolytic activity of pulmonary macrophages

STUDY OBJECTIVE: To determine the effect of exposure to cigarette smoke on the elastolytic activity of guinea pigs' alveolar macrophages (AMs), and to compare elastolytic activity of AMs obtained by BAL with that of lung macrophages (LMs) obtained from minced lung tissue. METHODS: AMs were obtained by BAL from seven adult guinea pigs exposed to cigarette smoke for 5 d/wk during 6 weeks, as well as from age-matched control guinea pigs. From each animal, one lung was used to obtain LMs by mincing and teasing the lung, followed by enzymatic digestion and isolation of mononuclear cells by Hypaque-Ficoll separation. The other lung was inflated and fixed to quantitate emphysema by the destructive index (DI). Elastolytic activity (microgram of elastin degraded by 10(6) macrophages) was determined at 24, 48, and 72 h, by culturing AMs and LMs (1 x 10(6) cells in 1 mL of medium) in 3H-elastin-coated wells. RESULTS: In animals exposed to cigarette smoke, the total number of BAL cells (8.6+/-2.1 x 10(6)) and DI (21.8+/-8.1) were significantly higher than in nonexposed animals (6.4+/-1.8 x 10(6), p<0.05 for cells, and 12.1+/-4.1, p<0.01 for DI). Elastolytic activity of AMs from smoke-exposed guinea pigs was significantly higher at 24, 48, and 72 h than elastolytic activity of AMs from control animals (19.0+/-9.4 vs 10.0+/-5.3, p<0.05 at 72 h). Likewise, elastolytic activity of LMs was significantly higher in exposed than nonexposed guinea pigs (11.8+/-7.7 vs 7.4+/-5.0 at 72 h, p<0.05). Elastolytic activity of LMs was not significantly different from elastolytic activity of AMs, both in exposed guinea pigs (11.8+/-7.7 vs 19.0+/-9.4 at 72 h) and nonexposed animals (7.4+/-5.0 vs 10.0+/-5.3 at 72 h). CONCLUSIONS: These results indicate that elastolytic activity of both AMs and LMs of guinea pigs increases significantly after exposure to cigarette smoke and that AMs and LMs have similar elastolytic activities.     

Inter-comparison of OC-CCI chlorophyll-a estimates with precursor data sets

Ocean colour is the only essential climate variable that targets a biological variable (chlorophyll-a concentration (chl-a)) and is also amenable to remote sensing at the global scale. However, the finite lifetime of individual ocean-colour sensors, and the differences in their characteristics increase the difficulty of creating a long-term, consistent, ocean-colour time series that meets the requirements of climate studies. The Ocean Colour Climate Change Initiative (OC-CCI), a European Space Agency programme, has recently produced a time series of satellite-based ocean-colour products at the global scale, merging data from three sensors: Sea-viewing Wide Field-of-view Sensor (SeaWiFS), Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer on the Aqua Earth Observing System (MODIS-Aqua), and Medium Resolution Imaging Spectrometer (MERIS), while attempting to reduce inter-sensor biases.In this work we present a comparison between the OC-CCI chlorophyll-a product and precursor satellite-derived data sets, from both single missions (SeaWiFS, MODIS-Aqua, and MERIS) and multi-mission products (global ocean colour (GlobColour) and Making Earth Science Data Records for Use in Research Environments (MEaSUREs)). To this end, OC-CCI global monthly composites are compared to the similar products offered by single-mission and multi-mission records. Our results indicate that the OC-CCI product provides a higher number of observations. Comparing the observations that match with precursors, the OC-CCI product was generally most similar to the single-mission products. Relationships between OC-CCI and other precursors did not change significantly during a common and continuous period, and, on average the root-mean-square differences between log-transformed chlorophyll-a concentration are below or equal to 0.11. Further, when considering variability that could arise when merging data from different sources, it is shown that the OC-CCI product is a longer term constant than those from other multi-mission initiatives studied here.     

Reactive and Senescent Astroglial Phenotypes as Hallmarks of Brain Pathologies

Astrocytes, as the most abundant glial cells in the central nervous system, are tightly integrated into neural networks and participate in numerous aspects of brain physiology and pathology. They are the main homeostatic cells in the central nervous system, and the loss of astrocyte physiological functions and/or gain of pro-inflammatory functions, due to their reactivation or cellular senescence, can have profound impacts on the surrounding microenvironment with pathological outcomes. Although the importance of astrocytes is generally recognized, and both senescence and reactive astrogliosis have been extensively reviewed independently, there are only a few comparative overviews of these complex processes. In this review, we summarize the latest data regarding astrocyte reactivation and senescence, and outline similarities and differences between these phenotypes from morphological, functional, and molecular points of view. A special focus has been given to neurodegenerative diseases, where these phenotypic alternations of astrocytes are significantly implicated. We also summarize current perspectives regarding new advances in model systems based on astrocytes as well as data pointing to these glial cells as potential therapeutic targets.     

New Bis-Cyclometalated Iridium(III) Complexes with β-Substituted Porphyrin-Arylbipyridine as the Ancillary Ligand: Electrochemical and Photophysical Insights

An efficient synthetic access to new cationic porphyrin-bipyridine iridium(III) bis-cyclometalated complexes was developed. These porphyrins bearing arylbipyridine moieties at β-pyrrolic positions coordinated with iridium(III), and the corresponding Zn(II) porphyrin complexes were spectroscopically, electrochemically, and electronically characterized. The features displayed by the new cyclometalated porphyrin-bipyridine iridium(III) complexes, namely photoinduced electron transfer process (PET), and a remarkable efficiency to generate ¹O₂, allowing us to envisage new challenges and opportunities for their applications in several fields, such as photo(catalysis) and photodynamic therapies.     

The Small Heat Shock Protein,HSPB1, Interacts with and Modulates the Physical Structure of Membranes

Small heat shock proteins (sHSPs) have been demonstrated to interact with lipids and modulate the physical state of membranes across species. Through these interactions, sHSPs contribute to the maintenance of membrane integrity. HSPB1 is a major sHSP in mammals, but its lipid interaction profile has so far been unexplored. In this study, we characterized the interaction between HSPB1 and phospholipids. HSPB1 not only associated with membranes via membrane-forming lipids, but also showed a strong affinity towards highly fluid membranes. It participated in the modulation of the physical properties of the interacting membranes by altering rotational and lateral lipid mobility. In addition, the in vivo expression of HSPB1 greatly affected the phase behavior of the plasma membrane under membrane fluidizing stress conditions. In light of our current findings, we propose a new function for HSPB1 as a membrane chaperone.     

An investigation into the forging of Bi-metal gears

This paper introduces a method for the production of bi-metal gears using the forging technique. To study the process, model materials of copper (tooth ring material) and lead (core material), were used for both experimentation and simulation. Firstly, experimental setup and test procedures are introduced and the bi-metal gears are forged with different thicknesses of the outer ring material. A simplified FE model is established based on the symmetry of a gear forging process, which enables the 3D FE analysis to be carried out in an efficient manner. The material flow and thickness distribution of the experimentally forged bi-metal gears are analysed and compared with FE predictions. The effect of friction on the axial lock caused by the material flow of the forged gears is also studied. Finally, simulations of different combinations of the inner core and outer ring materials, specifically steel (ring material), copper (ring and core material) and lead (core material) are performed. The numerical and experimental data showed that: thin rings can deform excessively, affecting the structure of the gear; and that both tooling friction and flow stress can significantly affect the relative material flow between the core and the ring.     

High pressure unfolding of ovalbumin

Summary The effects of high pressure processing of ovalbumin have been investigated. After treatment with pressures in excess of 400 MPa at pH 6.5, circular dichroism (CD) and Fourier transform infra-red spectroscopy (FTIR) spectroscopy showed limited irreversible changes in secondary structure. Fluorescence and derivative spectroscopy as well as fluorescence-quenching experiments indicated greater solvent exposure of aromatic residues in pressure-treated protein. Pressure treatment also caused enhanced binding of anilino-1-naphthalene-8-sulphonic acid (ANS). The pressure necessary to cause these changes was lower at low pH. These data indicate a pressure-induced molten-globule formation. The pressurized protein may be structurally similar to forms of the protein found at acid pH or as intermediates in protein folding.