Satellite-Based Energy Balance for Mapping Evapotranspiration with Internalized Calibration (METRIC)—Model

Mapping evapotranspiration at high resolution with internalized calibration (METRIC) is a satellite-based image-processing model for calculating evapotranspiration (ET) as a residual of the surface energy balance. METRIC uses as its foundation the pioneering SEBAL energy balance process developed in The Netherlands by Bastiaanssen, where the near-surface temperature gradients are an indexed function of radiometric surface temperature, thereby eliminating the need for absolutely accurate surface temperature and the need for air-temperature measurements. The surface energy balance is internally calibrated using ground-based reference ET to reduce computational biases inherent to remote sensing-based energy balance and to provide congruency with traditional methods for ET. Slope and aspect functions and temperature lapsing are used in applications in mountainous terrain. METRIC algorithms are designed for relatively routine application by trained engineers and other technical professionals who possess a familiarity with energy balance and basic radiation physics. The primary inputs for the model are short-wave and long-wave (thermal) images from a satellite (e.g., Landsat and MODIS), a digital elevation model and ground-based weather data measured within or near the area of interest. ET “maps” (i.e., images) via METRIC provide the means to quantify ET on a field-by-field basis in terms of both the rate and spatial distribution. METRIC has some significant advantages over many traditional applications of satellite-based energy balance in that its calibration is made using reference ET, rather than the evaporative fraction. The use of reference ET for the extrapolation of instantaneous ET from periods of 24?h and longer compensates for regional advection effects by not tying the evaporative fraction to net radiation, since ET can exceed daily net radiation in many arid or semi-arid locations. METRIC has some significant advantages over conventional methods of estimating ET from crop coefficient curves in that neither the crop development stages, nor the specific crop type need to be known with METRIC. In addition, energy balance can detect reduced ET caused by water shortage.     

Comprehensive study on the membrane currents of porcine granulosa cells in culture

The membrane currents of primary cultured porcine granulosa cells have been studied using the whole-cell configuration of the patch-clamp technique. And effects of K+ channel blockers upon progesterone production of the cells have been also studied. The author has identified and characterized two types of K+ currents, transient outward current (Ito) and a delayed rectifier K+ current (Ik), and Ca2+ current (Ica). Ito and Ik were voltage -and calcium-dependent. Both of the currents were blocked by 4-aminopyridine (4-AP), a K+ channel blocker, but only Ik was sensitive to tetraethylammonium (TEA), another K+ channel blocker. Ica was inactivated within 50 ms of the test pulse. Nifedipine and verapamil, L-type Ca2+ channel blockers, did not suppress Ica even at a concentration of 10 microM. Tetramethrin (1 microM), a T-type Ca2+ channel blocker, decreased Ica. These findings suggested that the current was T-type Ca2+ current. LH and dibutyryl cAMP, potent stimulants of steroid production, attenuated Ito by 13.9 +/- 1.8% (n = 7) and 21.0 +/- 1.5% (n = 4), respectively. However, they did not affect Ik and Ica. These results indicated that LH did not modulate Ca2+ current directly, but it suppressed Ito through cAMP. 4-AP (0.2-5 mM) suppressed basal and LH-induced progesterone production of porcine granulosa cells dose-dependently, but TEA (2-10 mM) did not influence progesterone production. These data suggest that Ito may play a role in steroid secretion or other functions in granulosa cells.     

Invited Paper: New technology for HTPS‐LCD panels for projection systems

Abstract— A new technology has been developed for high‐temperature‐polysilicon (HTPS) TFT liquid‐crystal panels employed in projection systems. It consists of vertically aligned nematic (VAN) liquid‐crystal, inorganic alignment layers, and a new driving technique. Full‐HD (1080p) resolution was realized in a 0.7‐in.‐diagonal device with high contrast and low power consumption.     

Circuits using uniform TFTs based on amorphous In‐Ga‐Zn‐O

Abstract— High‐performance and excellent‐uniformity thin‐film transistors (TFTs) having bottom‐gate structures are fabricated using an amorphous indium‐gallium‐zinc‐oxide (IGZO) film and an amorphous‐silicon dioxide film as the channel layer and the gate insulator layer, respectively. All of the 94 TFTs fabricated with an area 1 cm² show almost identical transfer characteristics: the average saturation mobility is 14.6 cm²/(V‐sec) with a small standard deviation of 0.11 cm²/(V‐sec). A five‐stage ring‐oscillator composed of these TFTs operates at 410 kHz at an input voltage of 18 V. Pixel‐driving circuits based on these TFTs are also fabricated with organic light‐emitting diodes (OLED) which are monolithically integrated on the same substrate. It is demonstrated that light emission from the OLED cells can be switched and modulated by a 120‐Hz ac signal input. Amorphous‐IGZO‐based TFTs are prominent candidates for building blocks of large‐area OLED‐display electronics.     

Obstacle avoidance of snake robot by switching control constraint

In this paper, we propose an obstacle avoidance method for autonomous locomotion control of a snake robot. The snake robot consists of rigid links, active joints and passive wheels, and can move only by varying its shape. The pass planning for the obstacle avoidance is a complicated problem because the snake robot has many states, control inputs and the under-actuated property. In our proposed method, the snake motion is restricted to a periodic undulate curve (called a serpenoid curve) by an additional control constraint and the undulate curve is tuned by switching the control constraint in order that the snake robot avoids the obstacle. Therefore, the path planning is simplified and the snake robot will achieve the obstacle avoidance with an efficient path. In this paper, we denote the details of our method and investigate the effectiveness of our strategy by numerical simulations.     

Research tokamak system with multimode discharges using inverter power supply

In the Current Sustaining Tokamak of the Nagoya University (CSTN)‐IV research tokamak system, using a compact 40‐kHz pulse width modulation (PWM) inverter power supply, which is controlled through the LabVIEW program, we construct a new tokamak discharge system with multimode including a stable alternating current discharge and a high‐repetition high‐duty one. These discharge modes can be operated continuously for as long as 60 seconds. The continuous discharge of long duration is able to simulate the important physical and chemical processes of long discharges in fusion devices, in which the heat load to the wall and the particle balance in the plasma‐wall system are crucial topics in order to realize a long pulse fusion reactor, like ITER. An ergodic divertor is one of the tools used to control the particle balance and the heat load to the wall. In addition, we installed another inverter power supply to generate a rotating magnetic perturbation for a dynamic ergodic divertor (DED) with the appropriate measurement system so that we could carry out experiments on heat and particle control with DED in prolonged operation. © 2000 Scripta Technica, Electr Eng Jpn, 133(4): 8–18, 2000     

Stability tests of quadrupole mass spectrometer by two-stage flow-dividing system

Stability tests of two quadrupole mass spectrometers (QMSs) were performed using a two-stage flow-dividing system from the following viewpoints: (1) fluctuation and drift of ion current, (2) repeatability of ion current, (3) change in ion current owing to prior conditions of use, (4) long-term stability of sensitivity, and (5) interference effect. These tests were performed at the pressure from 8 × 10⁻⁶ Pa to 8 × 10⁻⁴ Pa using N₂, Ar, He, and H₂.The fluctuation and drift of two QMSs over 1 h were within 2%. The repeatabilities at pressures of 8 × 10⁻⁶ Pa and 8 × 10⁻⁵ Pa were within 2% during eight cycles with an interval of 1 h between each cycle. However, the repeatability at 8 × 10⁻⁴ Pa increased to be within 4%. The changes in sensitivities of QMS-1 and QMS-2 for 757 days were less than ±15% and less than ±25%, respectively. The change owing to the interference effect was less than 2% while the partial pressure of the interference gas was under 2 × 10⁻⁴ Pa. However, both positive and negative changes were observed less than 60% with increasing the partial pressure of the interference gas until 8 × 10⁻³ Pa.