In place merging of satellite based atmospheric water vapour measurements

Atmospheric water vapour plays a key role in the climatology of the Earth. It has traditionally been measured using radiosondes for reasons of instrumental simplicity but these offer limited opportunities for spatial and continuous measurements of dynamic water vapour changes over large areas of the Earth's atmosphere. Efforts have recently turned to using satellite remote sensing instruments with different spectral and spatial capabilities to derive measurements of total water vapour content in atmospheric columns or simply precipitable water. The merging of remote sensing data with different spectral and spatial capabilities can result in large biases when independent measurements are not nested correctly to produce the final product. Consequently, such merging of data must take into account the intrinsic time dynamics of measured parameters. In this paper, the impact of atmospheric water vapour dynamics on the merging of satellite-based retrieval of precipitable water estimates is investigated by comparing independent measurements obtained at different spatial resolutions from the High Resolution Infrared Sounder (HIRS) and the Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer (AVHRR). Correlations are used to infer optimal merging parameters depending on the observational conditions. The authors conclude that the merging technique reproduces HIRS-based retrievals in cloud-free and partly cloudy locations from AVHRR soundings.     

Effect of Ar+ ion beam in the process of plasma surface modification of PET films

In general, plasma modified polymer surfaces tend to show short aging time and rapid hydrophobic recovery after treatment. To prevent reorientation from the surface to the bulk, appropriate crosslinking is necessary among the polymer chains. In this work, an Ar⁺ ion beam was used to provide crosslinking to the surface. Crosslinking was shown by spectroscopic ellipsometry, AFM, and FTIR. Contact angle measurements were performed to see the aging of the modified surfaces. The surface modified with Ar⁺ ion beam followed by RF plasma treatment exhibited reduced chain mobility and a highly stable hydrophilic surface. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 77: 1679–1683, 2000     

The Role of Formyl Peptide Receptors in Permanent and Low-Grade Inflammation: Helicobacter pylori Infection as a Model

Formyl peptide receptors (FPRs) are cell surface pattern recognition receptors (PRRs), belonging to the chemoattractant G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) family. They play a key role in the innate immune system, regulating both the initiation and the resolution of the inflammatory response. FPRs were originally identified as receptors with high binding affinity for bacteria or mitochondria N-formylated peptides. However, they can also bind a variety of structurally different ligands. Among FPRs, formyl peptide receptor-like 1 (FPRL1) is the most versatile, recognizing N-formyl peptides, non-formylated peptides, and synthetic molecules. In addition, according to the ligand nature, FPRL1 can mediate either pro- or anti-inflammatory responses. Hp(2-20), a Helicobacter pylori-derived, non-formylated peptide, is a potent FPRL1 agonist, participating in Helicobacter pylori-induced gastric inflammation, thus contributing to the related site or not-site specific diseases. The aim of this review is to provide insights into the role of FPRs in H. pylori-associated chronic inflammation, which suggests this receptor as potential target to mitigate both microbial and sterile inflammatory diseases.     

Glenohumeral instability: evaluation with MR arthrography

Magnetic resonance arthrography is superior to other imaging techniques in evaluation of the glenohumeral joint. Normal variants that can be diagnostic pitfalls include the anterosuperior sublabral foramen, the Buford complex, and hyaline cartilage under the labrum. Anteroinferior dislocation is the most frequent cause of anterior glenohumeral instability and produces a constellation of lesions (anteroinferior labral tear, classic and osseous Bankart lesions, Hill-Sachs lesion). Variants of anteroinferior labral tears include anterior labroligamentous periosteal sleeve avulsion and glenoid labral articular disruption. Anterior glenohumeral instability can also involve tears of the anterior or anterosuperior labrum or the glenohumeral ligaments. Posterior glenohumeral instability can involve a posterior labral tear, posterior capsular stripping or laxity; fracture, erosion, or sclerosis and ectopic ossification of the posterior glenoid fossa; reverse Hill-Sachs lesion; McLaughlin fracture; or posterosuperior glenoid impingement. Superior labral anterior and posterior lesions involve the superior labrum with varying degrees of biceps tendon involvement.     

The IPCS Collaborative Study on Neurobehavioral Screening Methods: V. Results of chemical testing. Steering Group

The goal of the International Programme on Chemical Safety (IPCS) Collaborative Study on Neurobehavioral Screening Methods was to determine the intra- and inter-laboratory reliability of a functional observational battery (FOB) and an automated assessment of motor activity in eight laboratories worldwide. The control data were crucial to the outcome of the studies in terms of sensitivity and reliability of the test measures, which in turn impact on the between-laboratory comparisons of chemical effects. In addition, analyses of control data can aid in determining endpoints that may require modification to improve their sensitivity and reliability. The control data from the eight laboratories were examined in terms of the following parameters: 1) control variability within studies for each laboratory; 2) within-laboratory replicability of control values across studies; 3) within-laboratory stability of control values over the course of testing for a given study; and 4) between-laboratory comparisons of parameters (1), (2), and (3). The analyses indicated considerable differences across endpoints, wherein some measures showed high variability and little replicability, while others were extremely reproducible. Generally, there were similar ranges of variability and replicability of control data across laboratories, although in some cases one or two laboratories were markedly different from the others. The physiological (weight, body temperature) and neuromuscular (grip strength, landing foot splay) endpoints exhibited the least variability, whereas the subjective assessments of reactivity varied the most. These data indicate a reasonable degree of comparability in the data generated in the participating laboratories.     

Solitary scapula mass: atypical presentation of esophageal adenocarcinoma

The stability of adenosine in various diluents in polypropylene syringes and polyvinyl chloride (PVC) bags at three temperatures was studied. Portions of pooled undiluted adenosine infusion (3 mg/ mL) were stored in 60-mL capped syringes, 20 for each storage condition. Adenosine infusions were prepared by mixing adenosine with 5% dextrose injection, 0.9% sodium chloride injection, lactated Ringer's injection, or 5% dextrose and lactated Ringer's injection to produce a concentration of 0.75 mg/mL. Samples of each infusion were stored in 60-mL capped syringes and 50-mL bags, 20 syringes and 20 bags for each storage condition. Syringes and bags were stored in the dark at 25, 5, and -15 degrees C. At various sampling times, three syringes and three bags of each infusion were removed for visual inspection, pH measurement, and high-performance liquid chromatographic analysis. At 10 and 16 days, fungal growth at 25 degrees C was suspected in the infusions prepared with 5% dextrose injection. For all other samples, there was no evidence of precipitation or change in pH. The concentration of adenosine remained constant in all samples at all storage conditions. Adenosine 3 mg/mL was stable in polypropylene syringes for 7 days at 25 degrees C, 14 days at 5 degrees C, and 28 days at -15 degrees C; adenosine 0.75 mg/ mL in 0.9% sodium chloride injection and in 5% dextrose injection was stable in polypropylene syringes and PVC bags for 16 days at 25, 5, and -15 degrees C; and adenosine 0.75 mg/mL in lactated Ringer's injection and in 5% dextrose and lactated Ringer's injection was stable in syringes and bags for 14 days at 25, 5, and -15 degrees C.     

Improving soil wetness variations monitoring from passive microwave satellite data: The case of April 2000 Hungary flood

Precipitation-runoff processes are correlated with catchment's hydrological conditions before the precipitation. Thus, an estimation of these conditions, particularly regarding soil wetness variations, is of considerable importance to improve the reliability of flood warning. In this paper, a new methodology is presented which, on the basis of microwave satellite observations, could permit us to monitor soil wetness variations at a global scale. The proposed method seems able to overcome the problems connected to surface roughness and vegetation cover that mainly limit the soil moisture estimations from satellite in the microwave region.Preliminary results achieved for the flooding event which occurred in the Carpathian basin (Hungary) in April 2000 will be described in detail. They seem to confirm the reliability of the proposed technique in the identification of different amounts of soil wetness, not only during and after the considered event, but, in order to possibly use it for warning system purposes, in the phase preceding the event as well.Such an approach is automatic and, for construction, globally exportable. Moreover, because of the complete independence from the specific satellite platform, such a technique could be easily exported to the new generation of satellite sensors with improved performances like AMSR-E aboard EOS-Aqua and MIRAS aboard SMOS.     

Amorphous magnetic materials for bubble domain and magneto-optics application

Magnetic bubble domains have been found in rare earth intermetallic systems with GdCo alloys, as an example. Films prepared by sputtering are found to be amorphous with perpendicular anisotropy. The GdCo system will support magnetic domains in a wide variety of compositions and the magnetic bubble domains are readily varied in diameter. The use of these amorphous systems is shown to be substrate independent. The amorphous magnetic system is described and domain size variations with film composition are shown. These materials are also useful magneto-optic materials with excellent signal to noise characteristics.     

The rôle of renewable energy sources in the Italian agricultural system

Italy imports more than 83 per cent of its primary energy. In particular, the Italian agricultural sector imports 100 per cent of its primary energy needs. Today, an effort is being made towards a better mix of primary sources and towards reducing the country's dependence on imports, especially in this sector where there are considerable endogenous energy sources. Solar thermal energy and energy from biomass can be substituted for oil. The present paper analyses the end uses of energy in Italian agriculture and assesses the amount which can be substituted by solar thermal and biogas technologies. For each end use category, the benefits of renewable technologies are compared with the economics of non-renewable sources. The results of the analyses show that the most competitive technologies are biogas systems, passive solar systems (especially solar greenhouses) and energy-saving measures. Active solar systems are close to the threshold of competitiveness for low temperature heating, so that their penetration is very dependent on fuel prices and on the politics of financial subsidies.