Remote sensing of air-sea interactions

A number of preliminary concepts for the measurement or inference of fluxes across the air-sea interface through remote sensing are proposed. All the methods are achievable from aircraft with state-of-the-art technology. Only one is now ready for space implementation. The focus is on cold outbreaks. Sensible (latent) heat flux is inferred from the difference between initial surface air temperature (vapor mixing ratio) and the downwind SST (and corresponding saturation mixing ratio). The downwind growth rate of the PBL as measured by lidar also provides estimates of surface heating and the cross-inversion entrainment velocity. The lidar also provides a measure of the depth of the inversion and its penetration by surface-forced convection; this permits estimates of the surface heat flux. Lidar and radiometric measurements of cloud top height and temperature provide means of deducing the temperature sounding downstream so that heating is computed with the aid of a known sounding upstream

Full Characterization of the First 1 Inch Industrial Prototype of a New Concept Photodetector

The VSiPMT (Vacuum Silicon PhotoMultiplier Tube) is an original design for an innovative light detector we proposed with the aim to create new scientific instrumentation for industrial applications and physics research. The idea behind this device is to replace the classical dynode chain of a photomultiplier tube with a silicon photomultiplier, the latter acting as an electron detector and amplifier. The VSiPMT offers very attractive features and unprecedented performance, definitely superior to every other photodetector with comparable sensitive surface, such as: negligible power cosumption, excellent photon counting, easy low-voltage-based stabilization and very good time performance. After the feasibility test of the idea, Hamamatsu Photonics realized for our research group two VSiPMT industrial prototypes, that have been fully characterized. The results of the full characterization of the 1-inch industrial prototype are presented in this work.Comment: 11 pages, 14 figure

Increasing Competency for Parents of Adolescents with Executive Functioning Deficits: Enhancing Occupational Performance with Mindfulness

Background: Executive functions are higher order cognitive processes occurring in the frontal lobe that influence cognitive, emotional, and behavioral functions. Adolescents with executive functioning deficits are at risk for difficulties in all domains of occupational functioning. Parents of these adolescents often live in a persistent state of stress that leads to highly reactive exchanges with their children. Studies have shown that a mindful approach to parenting can enhance a parent’s caregiving ability and self-awareness in the family unit. Methods: A pretest/posttest study evaluated the effectiveness of a 6-week mindful parenting program. Four parents of adolescents with executive function deficits participated in six consecutive group sessions for 1.5 hr each, one time per week, to learn mindful strategies. Results: Although most results were not found to be statistically significant, findings demonstrated promising trends for three of the parents. Statistically significant results indicated that one parent experienced improved communication with his or her adolescent, two had fewer concerns at school for their adolescent, three showed increased ability to problem-solve, one decreased his or her perfectionistic parenting skills, and one was more likely to be in the middle between the other parent and their adolescent. Conclusions: Support for parents after program conclusion may be necessary to promote lasting change. Further research is needed with larger groups and longer periods to determine the effectiveness of mindfulness programs for parents with adolescents with executive functioning deficits

Tectonic control on the petrophysical properties of foredeep sandstone in the Central Apennines, Italy

Petrophysical properties of rocks and their applicability at larger scale are a challenging topic in Earth sciences. Petrophysical properties of rocks are severely affected by boundary conditions, rock fabric/microstructure, and tectonics that require a multiscale approach to be properly defined. Here we (1) report laboratory measurements of density, porosity, permeability, and P wave velocities at increasing confining pressure conducted on Miocene foredeep sandstones (Frosinone Formation); (2) compare the laboratory results with larger-scale geophysical investigations; and (3) discuss the effect of thrusting on the properties of sandstones. At ambient pressure, laboratory porosity varied from 2.2% to 13.8% and P wave velocities (Vp) from 1.5 km/s to 2.7 km/s. The P wave velocity increased with confining pressure, reaching between 3.3 km/s and 4.7 km/s at 100 MPa. In situ Vp profiles, measured using sonic logs, matched the ultrasonic laboratory measurement well. The permeability varied between 1.4 × 10 15m2 and 3.9 × 10 15m2 and was positively correlated with porosity. The porosity and permeability of samples taken at various distances to the Olevano–Antrodoco fault plane progressively decreased with distance while P wave velocity increased. At about 1 km from the fault plane, the relative variations reached 43%, 65%, and 20% for porosity, permeability, and P wave velocity, respectively. This suggests that tectonic loading changed the petrophysical properties inherited from sedimentation and diagenesis. Using field constraints and assuming overburden-related inelastic compaction in the proximity of the fault plane, we conclude that the fault reached the mechanical condition for rupture in compression at differential stress of 64.8 MPa at a depth of 1500 m

NASA follow-on to the Bangladesh Agro-Climatic Environmental Monitoring Project

The NASA responsibility and activities for the follow-on to the original Agro-Climatic Environmental Monitoring Project (ACEMP) which was completed during 1987 is described. Five training sessions which comprise the NASA ACEMP follow-on are: Agrometeorology, Meteorology of Severe Storms Using GEMPAK, Satellite Oceanography, Hydrology, and Meteorology with TOVS. The objective of the follow-on is to train Bangladesh Government staff in the use of satellite data for remote sensing applications. This activity also encourages the scientific connection between NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center and The Bangladesh Space and Remote Sensing Organization (SPARRSO)

Variaciones supra-anuales de la ictiofauna de lagunas bonaerenses

La bibliografía y la tradición oral sostienen que los ambientes lagunares sufren un deterioro progresivo con escasa información histórica fehaciente. La disponibilidad de datos históricos puntuales no permiten evaluar si las observaciones se refieren a tendencias o a fenómenos cíclicos. La presente contribución pretende aprovechar información de aproximadamente 40 años e investigar su utilidad para este propósito. Se utilizaron muestreos realizados con una red de tiro a costa (normalizada) obtenidos en el período 1986 –87 en la laguna de Lobos, y 1986 – 1993 en la laguna de Monte para calibrar los datos históricos. Para ello se obtuvo la relación longitud estándar – peso para cada una de las especies capturadas. Con esta información se estimó el el peso medio por muestreo para Lobos y se calculó el peso medio anual. Según la descripción bibliográfica de la dieta y la evaluada por los autores para las lagunas Monte y Lobos se clasificaron a las especies capturadas como correspondientes a diferentes tipos habitacionales. Se compararon las representaciones relativas de estas agrupaciones utilizando el peso mensual con aquellas obtenidas a partir del peso medio anual. Comprobada la similitud de ambos procedimientos se aplicó este análisis a diversas lagunas y periodos de los cuales sólo se contaba con los datos de captura en número obtenidos con el mismo arte de pesca. Se concluye que la estructura de la comunidad de peces refleja aspectos de la historia del sistema pero no confirman la existencia de una tendencia general

Central and Peripheral NPY Age‐Related Regulation: A Comparative Analysis in Fish Translational Models

NPY is among the most abundant neuropeptides in vertebrate brain and is primarily involved in the regulation of food intake. The NPY system is also associated with the aging process showing beneficial effects on neuronal survival via autophagy modulation. Here, we explore the age‐related regulation of NPY in the brain and foregut of the shortest‐ and longest‐lived fish species, Nothobranchius furzeri and Danio rerio, respectively. These two research models, despite some similarities, display profound biological differences making them attractive vertebrates to elucidate the mechanisms underlying the regulation of neuropeptide synthesis and function. It is noteworthy that in both fish species only Npya has been identified, while in the other teleosts two classes of NPY (Npya and Npyb) have been annotated. Our findings document that in both species: i) NPY is centrally regulated; ii) NPY levels increase in the brain during aging; iii) NPY is localized in the enteroendocrine cells as well as in the myenteric plexus and drastically decreases in old animals. According to our data, the age‐related regulation in the gut resembles that described in other vertebrate species while the increased levels in the brain offer the unique possibility to explore the role of NPY in model organisms to develop future experimental and translatable approaches

Preliminary observations of caulerpin accumulation from the invasive Caulerpa cylindracea in native Mediterranean fish species

Recent studies have shown that the Mediterranean white sea bream Diplodus sargus includes the invasive green alga Caulerpa cylindracea in its diet, with consequent metabolic and enzymatic alterations. As a result of this novel alimentary habit, the bioactive algal red pigment caulerpin has been detected in its tissues. However, this may not be an isolated case: other fish species have also been reported to feed on C. cylindracea, although the possible accumulation of caulerpin in their tissues has not yet been investigated. In this report, we analysed stomach contents and caulerpin levels in the native sparid species Spondyliosoma cantharus, Sarpa salpa, and Diplodus vulgaris, and in the scarid Sparisoma cretense, along with the Lessepsian siganid Siganus luridus. C. cylindracea was found in the stomachs of all but one fish species, the exception being S. cretense, in which prey items could not be determined due to the high degree of digestion. Chemical analysis of fish tissues revealed that only S. cantharus and S. salpa accumulated caulerpin, while no traces of the compound were detected in the other species. Despite intense research efforts on natural products obtained from C. cylindracea, a complete picture of the impacts caused by fish including this alga in their diet has not been elucidated. The identification of caulerpin in other Mediterranean native fish suggests a need for further research in order to assess the possible transfer of such molecules to humans through seafood consumption

Dynamic semantic cognition : Characterising coherent and controlled conceptual retrieval through time using magnetoencephalography and chronometric transcranial magnetic stimulation

Distinct neural processes are thought to support the retrieval of semantic information that is (i) coherent with strongly-encoded aspects of knowledge, and (ii) non-dominant yet relevant for the current task or context. While the brain regions that support readily coherent and more controlled patterns of semantic retrieval are relatively well-characterised, the temporal dynamics of these processes are not well-understood. This study used magnetoencephalography (MEG) and dual-pulse chronometric transcranial magnetic stimulation (cTMS) in two separate experiments to examine temporal dynamics during the retrieval of strong and weak associations. MEG results revealed a dissociation within left temporal cortex: anterior temporal lobe (ATL) showed greater oscillatory response for strong than weak associations, while posterior middle temporal gyrus (pMTG) showed the reverse pattern. Left inferior frontal gyrus (IFG), a site associated with semantic control and retrieval, showed both patterns at different time points. In the cTMS experiment, stimulation of ATL at ∼150 msec disrupted the efficient retrieval of strong associations, indicating a necessary role for ATL in coherent conceptual activations. Stimulation of pMTG at the onset of the second word disrupted the retrieval of weak associations, suggesting this site may maintain information about semantic context from the first word, allowing efficient engagement of semantic control. Together these studies provide converging evidence for a functional dissociation within the temporal lobe, across both tasks and time

Piccole e medie imprese e finanziamento del progetto imprenditoriale: una ricerca per un nuovo tipo di emittente

L’esigenza finanziaria della piccola e media impresa, manifestata anche ed esemplarmente tramite il c.d. crowdfunding, evoca la partecipazione, quanto al reperimento del c.d. capitale di rischio, di un “socio”, né c.d. risparmiatore, né c.d. imprenditore e neppure interessato alla gestione dell’impresa. Un socio, allora, “inedito”, non incline alla gestione (ed al controllo) dell’impresa ma neppure ad essa indifferente. Socio, invero, che aderisce (non tanto ad una società con un oggetto sociale bensì) ad un progetto imprenditoriale, ad una “idea che sposa”, all’attuazione del quale è, in primo luogo, interessato. Un nuovo emittente, dunque, che “organizzativamente” sia acconcio a questo interesse: dal che la necessità, nel silenzio normativo e per arginare regolamenti pattizi incerti, difformi e non comparabili, di individuare le informazioni necessarie ad una adesione consapevole e gli strumenti atti ad appurare una “attuazione conforme” del progetto imprenditoriale a quello promesso e, prima, in “cerca” di finanziamenti