Study of the ammonia ice cloud layer in the north tropical zone of Jupiter from the infrared interferometric experiment on Voyager

An average of 51 Voyager 1 IRIS spectra of Jupiter's North Tropical Zone was analyzed to infer the abundance, vertical extent, and size distribution of the particles making up the ammonia cloud in this region. It is assumed that the cloud base coincides with the level at which 100% saturation of ammonia vapor occurs. The vertical distribution of particulates above this level is determined by assuming a constant total ammonia mixing ratio and adjusting the two phases so that the vapor is saturated throughout the cloud. A constant scaling factor then adjusts the base number density. A radiative transfer program is used that includes the effects of absorption and emission of all relevant gases as well as anisotropic scattering by cloud particles. Mie scattering from a gaussian particle size distribution is assumed. The vertical thermal structure is inferred from a temperature retrieval program that utilizes the collision induced S(0) and S(1) molecular hydrogen lines between 300 and 700.cm, and the 1304.cm methane band

Spectrophotometric, chemometric and chromatographic determination of naphazoline hydrochloride and chlorpheniramine maleate in the presence of naphazoline hydrochloride alkaline degradation product

AbstractFour accurate and sensitive methods were developed and validated for determination of naphazoline hydrochloride (NAP) and chlorpheniramine maleate (CLO) in the presence of naphazoline hydrochloride alkaline degradation product (NAP Deg). The first method is a spectrophotometric one , where NAP was determined by the fourth derivative (D4) spectrophotometric method by measuring the peak amplitude at 302nm, while CLO was determined by the second derivative of the ratio spectra (DD2) spectrophotometric method at 276.4nm. The second method is a chemometric-assisted spectrophotometric method in which partial least squares (PLS-1) and partial component regression (PCR) were used for the determination of NAP, CLO and NAP Deg using the information contained in their absorption spectra of ternary mixture. The third method is a TLC-densitometric one where NAP, CLO and NAP Deg were separated using HPTLC silica gel F254 plates using ethyl acetate:methanol:ammonia: (8:2:0.5, by volume) as the developing system followed by densitometric measurement at 245nm. The fourth method is HPLC method where NAP, CLO and NAP Deg were separated using ODS C18 column and a mobile phase consisting of 0.1M KH2PO4 (pH=7):methanol (55:45 v/v) delivered at 1.5mLmin−1 followed by UV detection at 265nm. The proposed methods have been successfully applied to the analysis of NAP and CLO in pharmaceutical formulations without interference from the dosage form additives and the results were statistically compared with a reported method

A source of polarized electrons based on photoemission of GaAsP.

The source described is based on photoemission of electrons from 100-GaAs0.62P0.38 activated to negative electron affinity. It is built to inject a beam of polarized electrons into the 350 MeV linear accelerator in Mainz. It is capable of delivering a mean current of 28 μA spin-polarized longitudinally to a degree of 0.44. The lifetime of the cathode under operational conditions is better than 200 h. The source was successfully run in a parity experiment, in which the analysing power of quasielastic scattering from beryllium for longitudinally polarized electrons was measured

Improved limits on the weak, neutral, hadronic axial vector coupling constants from quasielastic scattering of polarized electrons.

In scattering polarized electrons (P1 = 44% by 9Be at an energy of 300 MeV at angles 115°⩽ϑ⩽145° a parity violating asymmetry of Acorr = (−3.5 ± 0.7 ± 0.2) × 10−6 was measured. After correction for finite electron polarization and background we deduce an experimental asymmetry of Acx = (−9.4 ± 1.8 ± 0.5) × 10−6. The quoted errors indicate the statistical and the systematic uncertainties, respectively. The asymmetry, which is dominated by the quasielastic cross section, is interpreted in terms of model-independent electron-nucleon coupling constants of the weak neutral current. The error limits in the sector of axial vector coupling constants have been improved by a factor of 3 over previous results. A model-dependent analysis for the Weinberg angle yields the result sin2θw = 0.221 ± 0.014 ± 0.004

Palomar observations of the R impact of comet Shoemaker-Levy 9: II. Spectra

We present mid-infrared spectroscopic observations from Palomar observatory of the impact of fragment R of comet P/Shoemaker-Levy 9 with Jupiter on 21 July 1994. Low-resolution 8–13 µm spectra taken near the peak of the lightcurve show a broad emission feature that resembles the silicate feature commonly seen in comets and the interstellar medium. We use this feature to estimate the dust content of the impact plume. The overall infrared spectral energy distribution at the time of peak brightness is consistent with emission from an optically-thin layer of small particles at ∼600 K. Integrating over the spectrum and the lightcurve, we obtain a total radiated energy from the R impact of ≥ 2 × 10^(25) ergs and a plume mass of ≥ 3 × 10^(13) g

A model based approach for complex dynamic decision-making

Current state-of-the-practice and state-of-the-art of decision-making aids are inadequate for modern organisations that deal with significant uncertainty and business dynamism. This paper highlights the limitations of prevalent decision-making aids and proposes a model-based approach that advances the modelling abstraction and analysis machinery for complex dynamic decision-making. In particular, this paper proposes a meta-model to comprehensively represent organisation, establishes the relevance of model-based simulation technique as analysis means, introduces the advancements over actor technology to address analysis needs, and proposes a method to utilise proposed modelling abstraction, analysis technique, and analysis machinery in an effective and convenient manner. The proposed approach is illustrated using a near real-life case-study from a business process outsourcing organisation

Compensatory Growth of the Sandbar Shark in the Western North Atlantic Including the Gulf of Mexico

The number of Sandbar Sharks Carcharhinus plumbeus in the western North Atlantic Ocean has experienced a drastic decline since the early 1980s, reaching a minimum during the early 1990s. Catch rates in the early 1990s were a mere 25% of those during the 1980s. According to several fishery-independent surveys, the low point in Sandbar Shark abundance followed a period of high exploitation. Growth models fit to age-length data collected from 1980 to 1983 and from 2001 to 2004 were compared to investigate potential changes in parameter estimates that might reveal compensatory responses in the Sandbar Shark population. Statistical differences were found between the model parameters for the two time periods, but the differences in growth rates were minimal. The parameters from the three-parameter von Bertalanffy growth model for female sharks during the 1980-1983 and 2000-2004 time periods were as follows: L = 188.4 and 178.3cm FL; k = 0.084 and 0.106; and t(0) = -4.097 and -3.41. For males the growth parameters were as follows: L = 164.63 and 173.66cm; k = 0.11 and 0.11; and t(0) = -3.62 and -3.33. The estimated age at 50% maturity for female Sandbar Sharks changed from 15years to 12.49years between the two time periods

CFTR activity is enhanced by the novel corrector GLPG2222, given with and without ivacaftor in two randomized trials

Background Several treatment approaches in cystic fibrosis (CF) aim to correct CF transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) function; the efficacy of each approach is dependent on the mutation(s) present. A need remains for more effective treatments to correct functional deficits caused by the F508del mutation. Methods Two placebo-controlled, phase 2a studies evaluated GLPG2222, given orally once daily for 29 days, in subjects homozygous for F508del (FLAMINGO) or heterozygous for F508del and a gating mutation, receiving ivacaftor (ALBATROSS). The primary objective of both studies was to assess safety and tolerability. Secondary objectives included assessment of pharmacokinetics, and of the effect of GLPG2222 on sweat chloride concentrations, pulmonary function and respiratory symptoms. Results Fifty-nine and 37 subjects were enrolled into FLAMINGO and ALBATROSS, respectively. Treatment-related treatment-emergent adverse events (TEAEs) were reported by 29.2% (14/48) of subjects in FLAMINGO and 40.0% (12/30) in ALBATROSS; most were mild to moderate in severity and comprised primarily respiratory, gastrointestinal, and infection events. There were no deaths or discontinuations due to TEAEs. Dose-dependent decreases in sweat chloride concentrations were seen in GLPG2222-treated subjects (maximum decrease in FLAMINGO: –17.6 mmol/L [GLPG2222 200 mg], p < 0.0001; ALBATROSS: –7.4 mmol/L [GLPG2222 300 mg], p < 0.05). No significant effects on pulmonary function or respiratory symptoms were reported. Plasma GLPG2222 concentrations in CF subjects were consistent with previous studies in healthy volunteers and CF subjects. Conclusions GLPG2222 was well tolerated. Sweat chloride reductions support on-target enhancement of CFTR activity in subjects with F508del mutation(s). Significant improvements in clinical endpoints were not demonstrated. Observed safety results support further evaluation of GLPG2222, including in combination with other CFTR modulators. Funding Galapagos NV. Clinical trial registration numbers FLAMINGO, NCT03119649; ALBATROSS, NCT0304552

The fine-scale structure of the trade wind cumuli over Barbados – An introduction to the CARRIBA project

The CARRIBA (Cloud, Aerosol, Radiation and tuRbulence in the trade wInd regime over BArbados) project, focused on high resolution and collocated measurements of thermodynamic, turbulent, microphysical, and radiative properties of trade wind cumuli over Barbados, is introduced. The project is based on two one-month field campaigns in November 2010 (climatic wet season) and April 2011 (climatic dry season). Observations are based on helicopter-borne and ground-based measurements in an area of 100 km2 off the coast of Barbados. CARRIBA is accompanied by long-term observations at the Barbados Cloud Observatory located at the East coast of Barbados since early in 2010 and which provides a longer-term context for the CARRIBA measurements. The deployed instrumentation and sampling strategy are presented together with a classification of the meteorological conditions. The two campaigns were influenced by different air masses advected from the Caribbean area, the Atlantic Ocean, and the African continent which led to distinct aerosol conditions. Pristine conditions with low aerosol particle number concentrations of ∼100 cm3 were alternating with periods influenced by Saharan dust or aerosol from biomass burning resulting in comparably high number concentrations of ∼ 500 cm3. The biomass burning aerosol was originating from both the Caribbean area and Africa. The shallow cumulus clouds responded to the different aerosol conditions with a wide range of mean droplet sizes and number concentrations. Two days with different aerosol and cloud microphysical properties but almost identical meteorological conditions have been analyzed in detail. The differences in the droplet number concentration and droplet sizes appear not to show any significant change for turbulent cloud mixing, but the relative roles of droplet inertia and sedimentation in initiating coalescence, as well as the cloud reflectivity, do change substantially. © Author(s) 2013

Molecular markers for tolerance of European ash (Fraxinus excelsior) to dieback disease identified using Associative Transcriptomics

Tree disease epidemics are a global problem, impacting food security, biodiversity and national economies. The potential for conservation and breeding in trees is hampered by complex genomes and long lifecycles, with most species lacking genomic resources. The European Ash tree Fraxinus excelsior is being devastated by the fungal pathogen Hymenoscyphus fraxineus, which causes ash dieback disease. Taking this system as an example and utilizing Associative Transcriptomics for the first time in a plant pathology study, we discovered gene sequence and gene expression variants across a genetic diversity panel scored for disease symptoms and identified markers strongly associated with canopy damage in infected trees. Using these markers we predicted phenotypes in a test panel of unrelated trees, successfully identifying individuals with a low level of susceptibility to the disease. Co-expression analysis suggested that pre-priming of defence responses may underlie reduced susceptibility to ash dieback