Derivation of Land Surface Temperature from MODIS Data Using the General Split Window Technique

Fast Atmospheric Signature Code (FASCODE), a line-by-line radiative transfer programme, was used to simulate Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) data at wavelengths 11.03 and 12.02 mm to ascertain how accurately the land surface temperature (LST) can be inferred, by the split window technique (SWT), for a wide range of atmospheric and terrestrial conditions. The approach starts from the Ulivieri algorithm, originally applied to Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer (AVHRR) channels 4 and 5. This algorithm proved to be very accurate compared to several others and takes into account the atmospheric effects, in particular the water vapour column (WVC) amount and a non-unitary surface emissivity. Extended simulations allowed the determination of new coefficients of this algorithm appropriate to MODIS bands 31 and 32, using different atmospheric conditions. The algorithm was also improved by removing some of the hypothesis on which its original expression was based. This led to the addition of a new corrective term that took into account the interdependence between water vapour and non-unitary emissivity values and their effects on the retrieved surface temperature. The LST products were validated within 1K with in situ LSTs in 11 cases

Performance of the helical coils for the large helical device in six years\u27 operation

A pair of helical coils of the large helical device is the largest pool-cooled superconducting magnet. The first excitation test up to 1.5 T was carried out at the end of March, 1998. In the first trial to charge up to the design value of 3 T, wide propagation of a normal-zone was induced at 11.45 kA, and the quench detection system acted. It was revealed that a normal-zone could propagate below the cold-end recovery current by additional heat generation due to the slow current diffusion into the thick pure aluminum stabilizer. In these six years\u27 operation, propagation of a normal-zone has been observed 17 times at almost the same current. The normal-zones were recovered within several seconds except for the wide propagation. By a detection system of the propagation with pick-up coils along the helical coils, it was disclosed that the recovered normal-zones propagated in only one side. In order to attain plasma experiments near 3 T, higher excitations were tried by the current grading method, in which the current of the innermost block is decreased and those of the other two blocks are increased. The average current of 11.67 kA was attained. The excitation tests up to the highest currents have been carried out after each cool-down. Degradation is not observed in the coil performance, and the stable operation has been demonstrated

Development of superconducting conductors for Large Helical Device

The superconducting helical coils of the Large Helical Device (LHD) require superconducting conductors with large current capacities (from 20 kA to 30 kA) and high current densities (55 A/mm2 at 8 T). An NbTi superconductor/bin with pool boiling is being used because of the large electromagnetic force and the complicated helical windings. Several conductors are designed to show how the difference of the position of pure aluminum in the conductors affects the stability and the mechanical properties. Scaled-down R&D conductors with operational currents from 7 kA to 10 kA were made on an experimental basis. The superconducting characteristics, stability, and mechanical properties of these scaled-down conductors were tested. The design and the test results concerning the superconducting characteristics are describe

Coexistence of Superconductivity and Charge Density Waves in Tantalum Disulfide : Experiment and Theory

The coexistence of charge density wave (CDW) and superconductivity in tantalum disulfide (2H-TaS2) at low temperature is boosted by applying hydrostatic pressures to study both vibrational and magnetic transport properties. Around Pc, we observe a superconducting dome with a maximum superconducting transition temperature Tc=9.1 K. First-principles calculations of the electronic structure predict that, under ambient conditions, the undistorted structure is characterized by a phonon instability at finite momentum close to the experimental CDW wave vector. Upon compression, this instability is found to disappear, indicating the suppression of CDW order. The calculations reveal an electronic topological transition (ETT), which occurs before the suppression of the phonon instability, suggesting that the ETT alone is not directly causing the structural change in the system. The temperature dependence of the first vortex penetration field has been experimentally obtained by two independent methods. While a d wave and single-gap BCS prediction cannot describe the lower critical field Hc1 data, the temperature dependence of the Hc1 can be well described by a single-gap anisotropic s-wave order parameter. © 2020 authors. Published by the American Physical Society

Commentary on Metabolic Health Disparities Affecting the Rio Grande Valley Mexican American Population: Seeking Answers Using Animal Models

Mexican Americans living in the Rio Grande Valley (RGV) have a high prevalence of type 2 diabetes (T2D). The US–Mexico border frontier has a unique blended culture of American lifestyle and Mexican traditions. Some examples of the cultural traditions are the food and the use of herbal medicine, but these traditions are in danger of disappearing after a very short number of generations living in the United States. This article describes the use of animal models under experimental conditions to solve practical questions (etiology or treatment). We performed studies with murine (ie, mouse and rat) models to elucidate the characteristics of medicinal plants that modulate glucose metabolism and inflammation and protect from bone loss, complications related to T2D. The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley researchers also have collaborated with the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio researchers in performing studies in nonhuman primates (NHP) (ie, baboon) to understand the effect of T2D and diets on organs and tissues. With the new knowledge gained from the use of animal models (murine and NHP), new therapies are discovered for the prevention and treatment of T2D and its related complications, such as bone loss and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, all of which the Mexican American and other human populations are at high risk of developing

Stability tests of module coil (TOKI-MC) wound with an aluminum stabilized superconductor

The module coil TOKI-MC is a twisted solenoid coil wound with an aluminum stabilized superconductor developed as an R&D program for the Large Helical Device (LHD). The TOKI-MC can simulate the conductor and winding structure cooled by pool boiling helium, the twisted winding and the large electromagnetic force of the helical coils for LHD. The TOKI-MC was designed as a cryostable coil at an operating current of 20 kA, but the coil quenched around 17 kA in excitation tests. The cause of quenches was thought to be the result of wire movement. Stability tests were also carried out and the measured recovery current was less than the designed value. The degradation of recovery current was due to the excess magnetoresistivity of the copper clad aluminum stabilizer. The stability of TOKI-MC was evaluated and compared with the data of short sample test