Regression Techniques for Oceanographic Parameter Retrieval Using Space-Borne Microwave Radiometry

Variations of conventional multiple regression techniques are applied to the problem of remote sensing of oceanographic parameters from space. The techniques are specifically adapted to the scanning multichannel microwave radiometer (SMMR) launched on the Seasat and Nimbus 7 satellites to determine ocean surface temperature, wind speed, and atmospheric water content. The retrievals are studied primarily from a theoretical viewpoint, to illustrate the retrieval error structure, the relative importances of different radiometer channels, and the tradeoffs between spatial resolution and retrieval accuracy. Comparisons between regressions using simulated and actual SMMR data are discussed; they show similar behavior.     

A view of the relation between the continuum theory of lattice defects and non-euclidean geometry in the linear approximation

A view is presented of the relation between the continuum theory of defects in crystals and the mathematical theory of non-metric, non-Riemannian geometry. Both theories are treated in the linear approximation. The lattice defects consist of disclinations, dislocations, and extra-matter, which are identified with the following three important tensors from non-Euclidean geometry: the Riemann-Christoffel curvature tensor, the Cartan torsion tensor and the non-metric Q-tensor. The correspondence between the two theories is established by finding a relation between the coefficients of linear connection of non-Euclidean geometry and the elastic strain, bend-twist, and quasi-plastic strain of defect theory. The definitions of the important tensors from non-Euclidean geometry then generally correspond to the field equations of defect theory. The identities for the curvature tensor generally correspond to the continuity equations of defect theory. The relation to the conventional formulation of defect theory is pointed out. Two examples are given to illustrate the concepts of the paper. One example is related to the deformations associated with constant dislocation distribution and the other to the deformations of a constant disclination distribution.     

The system Ag-As-S: Phase relations between 920° and 575°c

Phase relations between 920° and 575°C in the system Ag-As-S were studied at the vapor pressure of the system by quenching experiments using sealed silica capsules as sample containers. Only liquids and binary solids were encountered in this temperature interval. Three extensive liquid-immiscibility fields are present at 920°C; two of these persist within the ternary system at 575°C. Condensed isothermal diagrams at 920°, 625°, and 575°C are presented and reactions occurring between these temperatures are discussed. Formerly Research Associate, Lehigh University, Bethlehem, Pa.     

The effect of levitated water on fermentation kinetics

The rate of anaerobic glucose fermentation by baker's yeast is found to be altered when tap water is replaced with "levitated" (i.e., hydrodynamically processed) water. To analyze the effect in more detail, we developed a fermentation kinetics model that differentiates between (i) nutrient transport into the cell, (ii) the "catabolic" and (iii) the "anabolic" reactions. As a result, the levitated water affects specifically the glucose uptake kinetics, whereas the other kinetic parameters remain unchanged. Remarkably, the sign of the effect changes with the water used to prepare the culture. When levitated water is used for both the culture preparation and the fermentation, the rate constant of glucose transport is increased by (67+/-25)%, relative to ordinary tap-water. When the culture is prepared in ordinary water and only the fermentation is performed in levitated water, the rate constant of glucose transport decreased by (50+/-12)%. Three-week old levitated water has no discernable effect any more.     

A lagrangian based scalar pdf method for turbulent combustion models

In this paper, a new “presumed” Probability Density Function (PDF) approach coupled with a Lagrangian tracking method is proposed for turbulent combustion modeling. The test and the investigation of the model are conducted by comparing the model results with DNS data for a premixed flame subjected in a decaying turbulent field. The newly constructed PDF, which incorporates the instantaneous chemical reaction term, demonstrates consistent improvement over conventional assumed PDF models. It has been found that the time evolution of the mean scalar, the variance and the mean reaction rate are strongly influenced by a parameter deduced by a Lagrangian equation which takes into account explicitly the local reaction rate. Tests have been performed for a moderate Damköhler number, and it is expected the model may cover a broader range of Damköhler number. The comparison with the DNS data demonstrates that the proposed model may be promising and affordable for implementation in a moment-equation solver.     

Bax-induced cell death in Candida albicans

Bax is a pro-apoptotic member of the Bcl-2 family of proteins involved in the regulation of genetically programmed cell death in mammalian cells. It has been shown that heterologous expression of Bax in several yeast species, such as Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Schizosaccharomyces pombe and Pichia pastoris, also induces cell death. In this study we investigated the effects of Bax expression in the pathogenic yeast Candida albicans. Cell death inducing expression of Bax required a synthetic BAX gene that was codon-optimized for expression in Candida albicans. Expression of this BAX gene resulted in growth inhibition and cell death. By fusing Bax with the yeast enhanced green fluorescent protein of Aequoria victoria, the cell death-inducing effect of Bax was increased due to reduced proteolytic degradation of Bax. Using this fusion protein we showed that, upon expression in C. albicans, Bax co-localizes with the mitochondria. Furthermore, we showed for the first time that expression of Bax in yeast causes the mitochondria, which are normally distributed throughout the cell, to cluster in the perinuclear region.     

Development of a sustained release dosage form for alpha-lipoic acid. I. Design and in vitro evaluation

The purpose of this study was the design and evaluation of a sustained release dosage form for the oral administration of alpha-lipoic acid. The cationic polymer chitosan was used in order to provide a controlled drug release based on ionic interactions with the anionic drug. The effect of such ionic interactions on the release of alpha-lipoic acid could be verified by diffusion studies. In vitro release studies with tablets (diameter: 10.0 mm; thickness: approximately 4 mm) containing 80% alpha-lipoic acid and 20% chitosan acetate showed a controlled drug release over a time period of 24 h. Raising the ratio of chitosan acetate in such delivery systems led to an even stronger retardation of drug release. In addition, permeation studies carried out in Ussing-type chambers with freshly excised intestinal mucosa from guinea pigs demonstrated no significant (p < 0.05) influence of the degree of drug ionization on its absorption behavior. The apparent permeability coefficient (Papp) for alpha-lipoic acid was determined to be 1.39 +/- 0.28 x 10(-5) cm/sec at pH 6.4 (means +/- SD). The use of a sustained delivery system for alpha-lipoic acid, which is based on ionic interactions, should therefore have no influence on the absorption behavior of the drug. The sustained release dosage forms described here might provide a constant plasma level of the drug being highly beneficial for various therapeutic reasons.     

Glucose quantification in dried-down nanoliter samples using mid-infrared attenuated total reflection spectroscopy

The aim of this study was to determine the feasibility of minimally invasive glucose concentration measurement of a body fluid within the physiologically important range below 100 nL with a number of samples such as interstitial fluid, plasma, or whole blood using mid-infrared spectroscopy, but starting with preliminary measurements on samples of simple aqueous glucose solutions. The Fourier transform infrared spectrometer was equipped with a Golden Gate single reflection diamond attenuated total reflection (ATR) accessory and a room-temperature pyroelectric detector. As the necessary detection limits can be achieved only for dried samples within the spectrometric conditions realized by a commercial instrument, the work focused on the optimization of such ATR measurements. We achieved quantification of samples with volumes as low as 7 nL between 10 and 600 mg/dL. The standard error of prediction (SEP) for the concentration range 10-100 mg/dL is 3.2 mg/dL with full interval data between 1180 and 940 cm(-1). The performance of the prediction is given by a coefficient of variation of prediction (CV(pred) ) of 6.2%. When all samples within the whole concentration range are included, the SEP increases to 20.2 mg/dL, and hence the CV(pred) to 10.6% due to a nonlinear signal dependence on glucose concentration. A detection limit for glucose of 0.7 ng with a signal-to-noise ratio of 10 was obtained.     

Assessing forest fire as a potential PCDD/F source in Queensland, Australia

Forest fires are suggested as a potential and significant source of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDD/Fs), even though no studies to date provide sufficient evidence to confirm forest fires as a source of PCDD/Fs. Recent investigations in Queensland, Australia have identified a widespread contamination of PCDDs (in particular OCDD) in soils and sediments in the coastal region from an unknown source of PCDD/Fs. Queensland is predominately rural; it has few known anthropogenic sources of PCDD/Fs, whereas forest fires are a frequent occurrence. This study was conducted to assess forest fires as a potential source of the unknown PCDD/F contamination in Queensland. A combustion experiment was designed to assess the overall mass of PCDD/Fs before and after a simulated forest fire. The results from this study did not identify an increase in sigmaPCDD/Fs or OCDD after the combustion process. However, specific non-2,3,7,8 substituted lower chlorinated PCDD/Fs were elevated after the combustion process, suggesting formation from a precursor. The results from this study indicate that forest fires are unlikely to be the source of the unknown PCDD contamination in Queensland, rather they are a key mechanism for the redistribution of PCDD/Fs from existing sources and precursors.