Interim Calibration Report for the SMMR Simulator

The calibration data obtained during the fall 1978 Nimbus-G underflight mission with the scanning multichannel microwave radiometer (SMMR) simulator on board the NASA CV-990 aircraft were analyzed and an interim calibration algorithm was developed. Data selected for the analysis consisted of in flight sky, first-year sea ice, and open water observations, as well as ground based observations of fixed targets with varied temperatures of selected instrument components. For most of the SMMR channels, a good fit to the selected data set was obtained with the algorithm

An alternate algorithm for correction of the scanning multichannel microwave radiometer polarization radiances using Nimbus-7 observed data

The manner in which Nimbus-7 scanning multichannel microwave radiometer (SMMR) scan radiance data was used to determine its operational characteristics is described. The predicted SMMR scan radiance was found to be in disagreement at all wavelengths with a large area of average measured ocean radiances. A modified model incorporating a different phase shift for each of the SMMR horizontal and vertical polarization channels was developed and found to provide good data correlation. Additional study is required to determine the validity and accuracy of this model

Seismic risk of infrastructure systems with treatment of and sensitivity to epistemic uncertainty

Modern society’s very existence is tied to the proper and reliable functioning of its Critical Infrastructure (CI) systems. In the seismic risk assessment of an infrastructure, taking into account all the relevant uncertainties affecting the problem is crucial. While both aleatory and epistemic uncertainties affect the estimate of seismic risk to an infrastructure and should be considered, the focus herein is on the latter. After providing an up-to-date literature review about the treatment of and sensitivity to epistemic uncertainty, this paper presents a comprehensive framework for seismic risk assessment of interdependent spatially distributed infrastructure systems that accounts for both aleatory and epistemic uncertainties and provides confidence in the estimate, as well as sensitivity of uncertainty in the output to the components of epistemic uncertainty in the input. The logic tree approach is used for the treatment of epistemic uncertainty and for the sensitivity analysis, whose results are presented through tornado diagrams. Sensitivity is also evaluated by elaborating the logic tree results through weighted ANOVA. The formulation is general and can be applied to risk assessment problems involving not only infrastructural but also structural systems. The presented methodology was implemented into an open-source software, OOFIMS, and applied to a synthetic city composed of buildings and a gas network and subjected to seismic hazard. The gas system’s performance is assessed through a flow-based analysis. The seismic hazard, the vulnerability assessment and the evaluation of the gas system’s operational state are addressed with a simulation-based approach. The presence of two systems (buildings and gas network) proves the capability to handle system interdependencies and highlights that uncertainty in models/parameters related to one system can affect uncertainty in the output related to dependent systems

The Bering Sea ice cover during March 1979: Comparison of surface and satellite data with the Nimbus-7 SMMR

During March 1979, field operations were carried out in the Marginal Ice Zone (MIZ) of the Bering Sea. The field measurements which included oceanographic, meteorological and sea ice observations were made nearly coincident with a number of Nimbus-7 and Tiros-N satellite observations. The results of a comparison between surface and aircraft observations, and images from the Tiros-N satellite, with ice concentrations derived from the microwave radiances of the Nimbus-7 Scanning Multichannel Microwave Radiometer (SMMR) are given. Following a brief discussion of the field operations, including a summary of the meteorological conditions during the experiment, the satellite data is described with emphasis on the Nimbus-7 SMMR and the physical basis of the algorithm used to retrieve ice concentrations

MIZEX-WEST NASA CV-990 flight report

As part of the Bering Sea marginal ice zone winter experiment (MIZEX-WEST), the CV-990 airborne laboratory was flown to assess the potential of using an extended range of wavelengths for improving passive microwave sea ice observations from spacecraft and second to provide an overview of the MIZ for large-scale processes studies. The aircraft was equipped with both imaging and fixed-beam, dual-polarized passive microwave radiometers ranging from 1.5 millimeter to 3 centimeter wavelengths. Visual, photographic, and thermal (10.7 micron) infrared surface observations were also made from the aircraft to complement the microwave measurements. The flight operations and in-flight observations are discussed and each flight is summarized including flight objective and instrument status. Preliminary mosaic images obtained with the ESMR imager, Nimbus-7 orbits over the Bering Sea, ice observations obtained by an ice observer on board, and composite maps of the general ice conditions for the month of February are also presented

Alargamientos quirúrgicos de las extremidades en la talla baja patológica

Se presenta nuestra experiencia de elongacione s óseas en 207 paciente s afectos de talla baja patológica: 165 condrodisplasias, 15 síndromas de Turner, 11 casos de pubertad precoz, 9 casos de talla baja constitucional, 2 raquistismos médico-resistentes, 2 enanismos hipotróficos, 2 displasias epifisarias y un síndrome de Schwasman. Se describe la táctica y técnica quirúrgica, destacando la importancia de las tenotomías al inicio del alargamiento. Se han alargado 408 segmentos tibiales, 34 humerale s y 240 femorales. El alargamiento medio obtenido ha sido de 14.74 cm para la tibia, 10.5 cm para el húmer o y 15.5 cm para el fémur. Las complicacione s más frecuente s fueron las desviacione s axiales, pérdida de movilidad articular y fractura postalargamiento; resueltas posteriormente. Se pone de relieve la importancia de un equipo multidisciplina - rio para la planificación y control de los alargamientos.The authors show their experience in the lengthening of the limbs in 207 patients afecte d b y pathologica l shor t height: 165 chondrodysplasia , 1 5 Turne r Syndrome, 11 case s of precocious puberty, 9 cases of constitutional short height, 2 me - dical-resitant rickets, 2 hipotrofic dwarfism, 2 epiphyseal dysplasia and one Schwasman syndrome. Surgical planning and procedure are described, emphasizing the value of tenotomie s at the begining of lengthening . 408 tibial, 34 humera l and 240 femoral segments hav e bee n lengthened. The average lenghening obtained was: 14.74 cm (tibia), 10.5 cm (humerus) and 15.5 cm (femur). The most frequent complications were : axial desviation, lost of articular movility, and fracture after lengthening; resolved later. The authors emphasizing the importance of a multidisciplinary team to plan and control of bone lengthening

Yeast as a model to investigate the mitochondrial role in adaptation to dietary fat and calorie surplus

Several research strategies are focused towards understanding the genetic basis and molecular mechanisms that regulate uptake, synthesis, deposition, and mobilization of lipids, in the context of energy homeostasis. Because of the complexity of the problem, major input comes from the use of model systems. The aim of this work was to test the feasibility of using yeast as a model organism for studies related to dietary challenges due to high fat diet and investigate the correlation between FA metabolism and oxidative metabolism. In particular, we ask to what extent the utilization of oleic acid is dependent on mitochondrial function. We studied growth on oleic acid as a sole carbon source, and oleate stress (growth in 2 and 5% oleate) in both laboratory (BY4741 wild-type and Δsco1, Δsco2, Δtgl3, Δtgl4 mutants) and natural strains, comparing the growth phenotypes with the respiratory behaviour for each strain. We confirmed that respiratory competence is fundamental for growth on oleic acid, since the respiratory deficient mutant Δsco1 was unable to grow on oleic acid. In order to understand if the ability to use oleate as carbon source and adapt to high oleate concentrations is a general trait for the Saccharomyces cerevisiae genus, we also studied some natural strains, both diploid and haploid, identifying two meiotic derivatives of SGU90 as unable to grow in oleic acid as a sole carbon source. We investigate some aspects of mitochondrial metabolism in order to gain insights on this new finding

Prepartum Supplementation to Improve Transfer of Passive Immunity and Growth

Late pregnant cows often experience nutritional stress in northern Australia, which reduces colostrum secretion, health, and likelihood of survival of neonatal calves. The effect of prepartum supplementation on the transfer of passive immunity and growth of calves was investigated. The decline in prepartum progesterone was the hypothesised mechanism regulating the transfer of passive immunity. Ninety pregnant Droughtmaster heifers and 45 Brahman cows were used. Animals were stratified by body weight and expected calving date, and separated into two blocks of heifers and one block of cows. Animals were randomly allocated into nutritional treatments, where all were fed low quality Rhodes-grass hay: (1) Control hay only; (2) Protein (PRO), supplemented with 1 kg/d of protein supplement; and (3) Yeast fermentation products (YFP), protein supplement plus 14 g Saccharomyces cerevisiae fermentation product (NaturSafeTM). Data for final analyses was available from 92 calves on transfer of passive immunity and from 59 cow/calf pairs on prepartum progesterone decline. Treatment means were compared via orthogonal contrasts for the effect of supplementation PRO and YFP. Protein supplementation for an average of 14 d hastened the decline in the concentration of serum progesterone before parturition (p < 0.01) and tended (p = 0.09) to increase growth rate of calves during the first 10 d (1.0 vs. 0.9 kg/d). However, there was no effect of PRO on neonatal calves plasma immunoglobulin-G1 (IgG1) concentration (p = 0.43). Adding YFP further hastened the progesterone decline before parturition (p < 0.05) and tended to increase plasma IgG1 (p = 0.08). Short term nutritional supplementation prepartum may improve transfer of passive immunity and neonatal calf growth

Characterizing horizontal variability and energy spectra in the Arctic Ocean halocline

Energy transfer from the atmosphere into the upper Arctic Ocean is expected to become more efficient as summer sea-ice coverage decreases and multiyear ice thins due to recent atmospheric warming. However, relatively little is known about how energy is transferred within the ocean by turbulent processes from large to small scales in the presence of ice and how these pathways might change in future. This study characterises horizontal variability in several regions of the Eurasian Arctic Ocean under differing sea-ice conditions. Historic along track CTD data collected by a Royal Navy submarine during summer 1996 allows a unique examination of horizontal variability and associated wavenumber spectra within the Arctic Ocean halocline. Spectral analysis indicates that potential energy variance under perennial sea-ice in the Amundsen Basin is O(100) less than within the Marginal Ice Zone (MIZ) of Fram Strait. Spectra from all regions show a transition in scaling at wavelengths of approximately 5 to 7 km. At scales greater than the transition wavelength to 50 km, energy spectra are consistent with a k-3 scaling (where k is wavenumber) and interior quasi-geostrophic dynamics. The scaling of spectra at these scales is extremely similar between regions suggesting similar dynamics and energy exchange pathways. The k-3 scaling is steeper than typically found in regions of mid latitude open ocean. At scales below the transition wavelength to 300 m, spectra are close to a k-5/3 scaling or flatter, indicating a change in dynamics, which is potentially due to internal waves dominating variability at small scales