A microbolometer-based far infrared radiometer to study thin ice clouds in the Arctic

A far infrared radiometer (FIRR) dedicated to measuring radiation emitted by clear and cloudy atmospheres was developed in the framework of the Thin Ice Clouds in Far InfraRed Experiment (TICFIRE) technology demonstration satellite project. The FIRR detector is an array of 80 × 60 uncooled microbolometers coated with gold black to enhance the absorptivity and responsivity. A filter wheel is used to select atmospheric radiation in nine spectral bands ranging from 8 to 50 µm. Calibrated radiances are obtained using two well-calibrated blackbodies. Images are acquired at a frame rate of 120 Hz, and temporally averaged to reduce electronic noise. A complete measurement sequence takes about 120 s. With a field of view of 6°, the FIRR is not intended to be an imager. Hence spatial average is computed over 193 illuminated pixels to increase the signal-to-noise ratio and consequently the detector resolution. This results in an improvement by a factor of 5 compared to individual pixel measurements. Another threefold increase in resolution is obtained using 193 non-illuminated pixels to remove correlated electronic noise, leading an overall resolution of approximately 0.015 W m−2 sr−1. Laboratory measurements performed on well-known targets suggest an absolute accuracy close to 0.02 W m−2 sr−1, which ensures atmospheric radiance is retrieved with an accuracy better than 1 %. Preliminary in situ experiments performed from the ground in winter and in summer on clear and cloudy atmospheres are compared to radiative transfer simulations. They point out the FIRR ability to detect clouds and changes in relative humidity of a few percent in various atmospheric conditions, paving the way for the development of new algorithms dedicated to ice cloud characterization and water vapor retrieval

Gender differences on the Rorschach test

This study examines gender differences in Rorschach test responses. It begins with a short history of the masculine bias believed to be inherent in western civilization and includes a history of gender research in western psychology. In particular, it examines gender differences in real, whole human content responses [H], color responses [C], human movement responses [HM], and two composite responses: real, whole- figure, humans engaged in socially appropriate, nonmalevolent, movement, or, [H,HM,+,B or N]; and, the ratio of the number of these responses to the total number of human movement responses involving real, whole-figure human content, or, [H,HM,-I-,B or N]/[H,HM]. Rorschach test score data were scored for a sample of 31 male, and a sample of 31 female, non paid volunteers who were all full time employees of the University of Tennessee. The Mann-Whitney U test was used to test for significance of the differences in scores between these two samples. The women in this sample were found to produce significantly more [C], [HM], and [H,HM,+,B or N] responses than the males. No significant difference were found for the number of [H] responses nor for the ratio of [H,HM,+,B or N] responses to [H,HM] responses. The greater number of [C] responses by women is interpreted as reflecting the association between affect and color on the Rorschach test and supporting the belief that women are in more profound contact with their feelings than men are. The greater number of [HM] responses by women is interpreted as reflecting the association between intelligence, imagination and Rorschach test [HM] responses, supporting the notion that women have a greater intellectual and imaginative capacity than men do. The [H,HM,+,B or N] response is used in this study as a measure of empathy. The greater number of these repsonses produced by women, as opposed to men, is consistent with the notion of a greater empathic capacity on the part of females. The number of [H] responses is interpreted as a measure of interest in interpersonal relationships. The lack of a significant difference in the number of [H] responses suggests that the females in this study may have no more investment in interpersonal relationships than the males in this study have. The ratio score [H,HM,+,B or N]/[H,HM] is used in this study as a second measure of empathy. The lack of a significant difference between men and women in this ratio suggests that the number of positive Social Appropriateness [+] and non-malevolent Motivational Valuation [B or N] scores do not differentiate males and females on the Rorschach test and may not be important in the measurement of empathy. Significant differences in the number of [C], [HM] and [H,HM,+,B or N] responses is consistent with the belief that women, more so than men, may be characterized as imaginative, intelligent, empathic and in profound contact with their feelings. These characteristics are believed to reflect the manifestation of the ancient principle of feminine receptivity in the daily lives of women

Phytosphingosine-phosphate is a signal for AtMPK6 activation and Arabidopsis response to chilling

Long-chain bases (LCBs) are pleiotropic sphingolipidic signals in eukaryotes. We investigated the source and function of phytosphingosine-1-phosphate (PHS-P), a phospho-LCB rapidly and transiently formed in Arabidopsis thaliana on chilling.PHS-P was analysed by thin-layer chromatography following in vivo metabolic radiolabelling. Pharmacological and genetic approaches were used to identify the sphingosine kinase isoforms involved in cold-responsive PHS-P synthesis. Gene expression, mitogen-activated protein kinase activation and growth phenotypes of three LCB kinase mutants (lcbk1, sphk1 and lcbk2) were studied following cold exposure. Chilling provoked the rapid and transient formation of PHS-P in Arabidopsis cultured cells and plantlets. Cold-evoked PHS-P synthesis was reduced by LCB kinase inhibitors and abolished in the LCB kinase lcbk2 mutant, but not in lcbk1 and sphk1 mutants. lcbk2 presented a constitutive AtMPK6 activation at 22°C. AtMPK6 activation was also triggered by PHS-P treatment independently of PHS/PHS-P balance. lcbk2 mutants grew comparably with wild-type plants at 22 and 4°C, but exhibited a higher root growth at 12°C, correlated with an altered expression of the cold-responsive DELLA gene RGL3. Together, our data indicate a function for LCBK2 in planta. Furthermore, they connect PHS-P formation with plant response to cold, expanding the field of LCB signalling in plants

Étude expérimentale et modélisation thermodynamique de sous-système CuO-CaO-NaO en équilibre avec du cuivre

Théorie et données thermodynamiques -- Méthodologie d'optimisation et de calcul -- Données thermodynamiques de substances pures -- Gas idéal -- Formalisme des paramètres d'interactions unifiés -- Solution Henrienne -- Modèle quasi-chimique -- Utilisation et description des programmes pour la modélisation et le calcul -- SAD -- FACT-WIN -- FACTOOLS -- Trempe des phases à l'équilibre -- Analyse thermique -- Activité de l'oxygène par voie électrochimique -- Outils disponibles pour les analyses chimiques -- ICPMS -- Analyse de l'oxygène dans le cuivre par LECO -- Analyse de l'oxygène dans le cuivre métallique par perte de poids -- Analyse EDS et WDS -- Revue de la littérature et étude expérimentale du système -- CuO1/2 -- CaO-Nao1/2 en équilibre avec du cuivre -- Cu2O-CaO -- Cu2O -- Na2O -- Sous système CuO1/2 -- CaO-NaO1/2

Kobold Schachtel : installation interactive

Ce projet se veut une exploration des thèmes de la féerie et du conte en utilisant l'installation interactive comme moyen de diffusion. Dans le document qui accompagne ce mémoire, nous retrouvons de l'information sur notre processus de création, sur les personnages que l'on retrouve dans le projet, sur les apprentissages effectués et quelques résultats que nous avons obtenus lors des évaluations de prototypes. Au départ, nous avions décidé de travailler sur les contes de fées et de recréer une soirée d'autrefois où les gens se réunissaient pour se faire raconter des histoires. Nous voulions créer un endroit favorable aux échanges entre les individus. Pour cela, nous avons créé une histoire autour d'un professeur qui aurait fait la découverte d'une boîte de Kobold. Il décide d'effectuer des recherches sur les Kobolds et tout ce qui se rattache à la féerie. À la mort du professeur, nous invitons le public à venir découvrir ses recherches. Les spectateurs peuvent lire les recherches faites par le professeur et explorer à leur tour l'intérieur de la boîte grâce à une caméra miniature placée sur une voiture téléguidée. Le fait de réunir différentes personnes autour d'un même objet qui doit être manipulé pour divulguer ses secrets permet de créer un dialogue entre les spectateurs et ainsi de réaliser notre première idée, soit de trouver un contexte favorable pour les échanges. ______________________________________________________________________________ MOTS-CLÉS DE L’AUTEUR : Installation, Interactivité, Féerie, Conte

An Examination of Death in Premier Counseling Journals

This qualitative content analysis (QCA) examined five premier counseling journals and their coverage of death related issues from 1986-2022: Journal of Counseling and Development (JCD), Journal of Humanistic Counseling (JHC), Journal of Multicultural Counseling and Development (JMCD), Counselor Education and Supervision (CES) and Counseling and Values (CV). Of the 6180 journal articles published across all five journals, 62 articles covered death related topics. Eight major death related themes emerged through the QCA process and included: Research on Death-Related Issues, Personal Reflection and Poetry, Grief and Loss Education, Book Reviews, Responding to Campus Death, Providing Grief Counseling, DSM and Bereavement Diagnosis and Counseling the Dying. Special attention was also given to analyzing how the five journals covered death related issues from a multicultural perspective. Results indicated that minimal attention has been paid to death related issues in the field of counseling. Death will touch 100% of all people and yet it was only covered one percent of the time in the five counseling journals analyzed for this study. The results of this study clearly demonstrate an extreme neglect of publishing about death. There is an urgent need to begin and expand a robust research agenda which will help counselors, counselor educators, counselor trainees and most importantly the clients that seek counseling services

Adaptation d'une méthode de sectorisation des réseaux de distribution d'eau potable et application aux réseaux de deux municipalités au Québec

Le Québec est la province canadienne ayant la consommation d’eau la plus élevée (795 litres/personne/jour en 2006). Cet important volume d’eau est en partie dû au pourcentage élevé de pertes en réseau de distribution d’eau potable (26%). Dans ce contexte, la sectorisation consiste en la division d’un réseau en plusieurs secteurs permanents ou non, délimités par des vannes fermées et des débitmètres (points d’entrée). Pour chaque secteur, un suivi des débits peut être effectué à une échelle qui permet de distinguer, après analyse des débits de nuit, la consommation normale et les fuites. À ce jour, quelques études européennes se sont concentrées sur le développement d’approches visant à informatiser la sectorisation tout en respectant un ensemble de critères. Toutefois, les caractéristiques des réseaux de distribution d’eau potable nord-américains rendent difficile l’application directe de ces méthodes puisque trois principaux facteurs diffèrent : (1) la topologie des réseaux nord-américains est habituellement plus maillée (et moins ramifiée) que celle des réseaux européens; (2) les réseaux nord-américains sont composés de conduites de plus grands diamètres pour assurer la protection contre les incendies, ce qui n’est pas le cas des réseaux européens et (3) la formation des secteurs des réseaux européens est généralement déterminée dès la phase de conception (contrairement aux réseaux nord-américains). Dans le cadre de ce mémoire, une approche heuristique récemment développée par DiNardo et DiNatale (2011) a été adaptée de façon à définir les frontières des secteurs des réseaux de distribution d’eau potable québécois (délimitation des secteurs, identification du nombre et de la localisation des vannes à fermer et des débitmètres à installer). Les travaux, réalisés en collaboration avec l’entreprise Aqua Data Inc., guident l’utilisateur vers l’obtention d’une solution parmi un ensemble de solutions de sectorisation géographiquement et hydrauliquement semblables tout en tenant compte des besoins en matière de protection contre les incendies. Contrairement aux travaux existants, les frontières des secteurs finaux considèrent les vannes disponibles et opérables. Cet aspect des travaux repose sur les recours à un algorithme d’optimisation. Les réseaux de distribution d’eau potable de deux municipalités québécoises sont à l’étude; ceux-ci possèdent des caractéristiques topologiques (maillage et ramification) et topographiques (présence de paliers hydrauliques) différentes, ce qui permet de vérifier la pertinence de l’applicabilité des présents travaux. Les résultats obtenus avec la sectorisation développée par DiNardo et DiNatale (2011) et la sectorisation issue des présents travaux sont comparés pour les deux réseaux d’étude québécois, à l’aide d’un ensemble d’indicateurs de natures hydraulique et topologique. Cette comparaison démontre la pertinence d’appliquer la méthode adaptée dans le cadre des présents travaux pour obtenir une solution hydrauliquement convenable pour des réseaux nord-américains. La comparaison des indices évaluant la performance de l’ensemble du réseau met en perspective l’approche nouvellement développée (avantages, limites, utilités)

QTLs and candidate genes for desiccation and abscisic acid content in maize kernels

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Kernel moisture at harvest is an important trait since a low value is required to prevent unexpected early germination and ensure seed preservation. It is also well known that early germination occurs in viviparous mutants, which are impaired in abscisic acid (ABA) biosynthesis. To provide some insight into the genetic determinism of kernel desiccation in maize, quantitative trait loci (QTLs) were detected for traits related to kernel moisture and ABA content in both embryo and endosperm during kernel desiccation. In parallel, the expression and mapping of genes involved in kernel desiccation and ABA biosynthesis, were examined to detect candidate genes.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The use of an intermated recombinant inbred line population allowed for precise QTL mapping. For 29 traits examined in an unreplicated time course trial of days after pollination, a total of 78 QTLs were detected, 43 being related to kernel desiccation, 15 to kernel weight and 20 to ABA content. Multi QTL models explained 35 to 50% of the phenotypic variation for traits related to water status, indicating a large genetic control amenable to breeding. Ten of the 20 loci controlling ABA content colocated with previously detected QTLs controlling water status and ABA content in water stressed leaves. Mapping of candidate genes associated with kernel desiccation and ABA biosynthesis revealed several colocations between genes with putative functions and QTLs. Parallel investigation via RT-PCR experiments showed that the expression patterns of the ABA-responsive <it>Rab17 </it>and <it>Rab28 </it>genes as well as the late embryogenesis abundant <it>Emb5 </it>and aquaporin genes were related to desiccation rate and parental allele effect. Database searches led to the identification and mapping of two <it>zeaxanthin epoxidase </it>(<it>ZEP</it>) and five novel <it>9-cis-epoxycarotenoid dioxygenase </it>(<it>NCED</it>) related genes, both gene families being involved in ABA biosynthesis. The expression of these genes appeared independent in the embryo and endosperm and not correlated with ABA content in either tissue.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>A high resolution QTL map for kernel desiccation and ABA content in embryo and endosperm showed several precise colocations between desiccation and ABA traits. Five new members of the maize <it>NCED </it>gene family and another maize <it>ZEP </it>gene were identified and mapped. Among all the identified candidates, aquaporins and members of the <it>Responsive to ABA </it>gene family appeared better candidates than <it>NCEDs </it>and <it>ZEPs</it>.</p