Estimation of Regional Scale Evapotranspiration Through Analysis of Satellite Thermal-infrared Data

Since the mid 70's the LANDSAT series of satelites has acquired visible and near-infrared observations of the earth at a frequency and spatial resolution suitable for agriculture assessment purposes. More recently satellite systems have acquired high precision thermalinfrared data relating to surface thermal properties and moisture status. A data set from the Heat Capacity Mapping Mission [1] illustrates the potential applications of such data for inferring evapotranspiration on a regional scale. Methods described previously [2] are utilized to estimate evapotranspiration rates, yielding results which are consistent with surface measurements of pan evaporation.     

Toward continued independent living for older Americans.

The author describes his US Senate bill (S. 1244), the Senior Citizens Independent Community Care Act, which would expand the scope of benefits in the Medicare program to include individual assessment and treatment plans, homemaker/home-health aid, adult daycare services, interim care, and any other services that the US Health and Human Resources Department deems necessary. The goal of the bill is to provide home health care to allow individuals to stay with their families or in their communities. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Suggestions for altered auditory sensitivity, the negative subject effect and hypnotic susceptibility: A signal detection analysis.

In Experiment I, using 96 undergraduates, low susceptibles (Harvard Group Scale of Hypnotic Susceptibility, Form A) showed higher sensitivity than high susceptibles, and hypnotic induction failed to affect the sensitivity of either highs or lows. Among the high susceptibles, suggestion to either increase or decrease acuity produced increments in sensitivity and reduced individual differences. Suggestions (regardless of the direction of change suggested) probably motivated high susceptibles, who would have otherwise performed inefficiently, to perform as efficiently as low susceptibles. With respect to response bias, high-susceptible Ss given a suggestion for increased acuity behaved in terms of suggested demands; they showed an increased tendency to respond "signal." Low-susceptible Ss given the same suggestion responded in a counterdemand or "negative subject" fashion; they developed a bias to say "noise." Exp II used a more difficult discrimination task with 80 Ss to replicate and extend this counterdemand effect in low susceptibles. (43 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Ordering the data for Lee's algorithm

It is shown that, when using Lee's algorithm for interconnection programs, if the order in which the tracks are routed is determined by the distance between the start and end points of each tracks, on average more paths may be placed than if the order is chosen at random.     

Consistency of performance under stable conditions of work.

Weekly production data were obtained over a 3?-yr period from a group of 27 women sewing-machine operators and a group of 19 women in folding and packaging jobs. Average intercorrelations (r̄) computed between work periods separated by time intervals (K) ranging from 1–278 wks revealed an orderly decline in the magnitude of r̄ as K assumed larger values. For both groups, the regression of r̄ on K can be described by an equation of hyperbolic form with an added constant. The constant serves as an estimate of an asymptotic level approached by r̄ as the interval between production periods increased. Subsequent analyses indicated that a major portion of the correlation between production periods was attributable to week-to-week stability in absolute levels of output. Factors believed to contribute to the consistency of performance data are discussed. (14 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Direct substitution of polyolefins

Reaction of solutions of ethylene-propylene copolymer with carbonium ion sources, such as isopropylbenzene, in the presence of acid catalysts leads to the introduction of the aromatic and hydroxylic moieties onto the copolymer backbone. Major gaseous products are isobutane and propane. Chain scission accompanies the reaction.     

Thermoelastic and thermomechanical studies on natural rubber vulcanized in the swollen state

Three samples of natural rubber were crosslinked in n-decane solution. After the solvent had been removed, a thermodynamic investigation was made of the elastic behaviour of the samples in simple extension. Thermoelastic measurements at constant pressure and length were carried out on the first two samples. The third sample was subjected to a thermomechanical heat of extension study using a Calvet microcalorimeter. The experiments enabled the temperature coefficient of the mean-square unperturbed dimensions, 〈r²₀〉, to be derived. From the thermoelastic measurements average values for dln $\text{〈r}{}^2{}_0\text{d}\text{T}$ of (0.44 ± 0.08) × 10^?3deg^?1 and (0.38 ± 0.07) × 10^?3deg^?1 were obtained, whilst the thermomechanical measurements gave a value of (0.54 ± 0.04) × 10^?3deg^?1.     

Deformation-induced release of ATP from erythrocytes in a poly(dimethylsiloxane)-based microchip with channels that mimic resistance vessels

The ability of nitric oxide to relax smooth muscle cells surrounding resistance vessels in vivo is well documented. Here, we describe a series of studies designed to quantify amounts of adenosine triphosphate (ATP), a known stimulus of NO production in endothelial cells, released from erythrocytes that are mechanically deformed as these cells traverse microbore channels in lithographically patterned microchips. Results indicate that micromolar amounts of ATP are released from erythrocytes flowing through channels having cross sectional dimensions of 60 x 38 micron (2.22 +/- 0.50 microM ATP). Microscopic images indicate that erythrocytes, when being pumped through the microchip channels, migrate toward the center of the channels, leaving a cell-free or skimming layer at the walls of the channel, a profile known to exist in circulatory vessels in vivo. A comparison of the amounts of ATP released from RBCs mechanically deformed in microbore tubing (2.54 +/- 0.15 microM) vs a microchip (2.59 +/- 0.32 microM) suggests that channels in microchips may serve as functional biomimics of the microvasculature. Control studies involving diamide, a membrane-stiffening agent, suggest that the RBC-derived ATP is not due to cell lysis but rather physical deformation.     

A non-lensed fiber-optic resonance-enhanced multiphoton ionization probe

We have developed a miniature fiber-optic probe with no focusing optics for in situ analysis of volatile organic compounds (VOCs). The probe uses an optical fiber to transmit a laser pulse to a vapor sample causing it to ionize adjacent to the fiber tip through a resonance-enhanced multiphoton ionization (REMPI) process. The distal end of the optical fiber is contained co-axially within 2-mm-inner-diameter stainless steel tubing that serves as an electrode. The electrode is biased at a high positive potential to collect electrons. The current generated is shown to be proportional over about two orders of magnitude to the concentration of the species ionized. Visible wavelength REMPI spectroscopy is used to determine probe sensitivities of 20 ppb (benzene) and 43 ppb (toluene). Designing the probe without focusing optics specifies an achromatic ionization region constant in size and position as the laser wavelength is scanned, which simplifies data collection and reduction. Focusing achromatic systems are discussed and the potential signal improvement is estimated.