Snow cover monitoring by machine processing of multitemporal LANDSAT MSS data

LANDSAT frames were geometrically corrected and data sets from six different dates were overlaid to produce a 24 channel (six dates and four wavelength bands) data tape. Changes in the extent of the snowpack could be accurately and easily determined using a change detection technique on data which had previously been classified by the LARSYS software system. A second phase of the analysis involved determination of the relationship between spatial resolution or data sampling frequency and accuracy of measuring the area of the snowpack

TEACHING THE CURRENTOR FUTURE GENERAL MANAGERS: A CRITICAL FUNCTION FOR THE MIS FACULTY

For the past several years, information systems faculties have worked diligently to develop effective curriculums for students majoring in the field. Today, an increasingly important, and perhaps more important role for the information systems faculty is that of educating non-majors -- students who wish to be, ar currently are, general managers. Increasingly, general managers are determining the extent or use of the computer and the effectiveness of the information systems function in their organizations. Systems design and programming is more and more being performed within end-user departments and by end-users themselves. Therefore, in the 80\u27s an increased degree of understanding of the information function by general management is vital. However, general management students vary widely. In addition, the amount of material which might be taught is overwhelming. Finally, the amount of time available in general management curriculums for information systems material is limited. Three current approaches to these constraints, and some general conclusions concerning teaching information systems to general managers are presented

Quantitative assessment of organosulfates in size-segregated rural fine aerosol

International audienceOrganosulfates have recently come into the focus of organic aerosol research as potentially important components of water-soluble secondary organic aerosol (SOA) which now dominate tropospheric fine aerosol. Their presence has been confirmed by the identification of sulfate esters of abundant biogenic carbonyl compounds in both smog chamber and continental aerosol. However, none of the studies have been able to determine the mass contribution of organosulfates to SOA. In this paper, as possibly the very first attempt to quantify organosulfates in ambient aerosol, we inferred the mass concentrations of organosulfates by concurrently determining mass concentrations of total sulfur, sulfate and methanesulfonate in rural fine aerosol using two highly sensitive analytical techniques. Although uncertainties were relatively large, we found that mass concentrations of organosulfates in water-soluble fine aerosol ranged from 0.02 ?gS m?3 to 0.09 ?gS m?3 yielding a mass contribution of 6?12% to bulk sulfur concentrations (or 6?14% to sulfate concentrations). The inferred size distribution of organosulfates suggested that they possibly form in heterogeneous reactions from semi-volatile carbonyl compounds with subsequent or concurrent condensation of gaseous sulfuric acid producing a refractory organic film on particle surfaces

Analysis of Integrating Sphere Performance for IR Enhanced DT Layering

Absorbed IR energy can supplement the beta decay energy from DT ice to improve the driving force toward uniform layers. A significant problem with this approach has been to deliver the added IR energy with sufficient uniformity to enhance rather than destroy the uniformity of the ice layers. Computer modeling has indicated that one can achieve {approximately}1% uniformity in the angular variation of the absorbed power using an integrating sphere containing holes large enough to allow external inspection of the ice layer uniformity. The power required depends on the integrating sphere size, a 25 mm diameter sphere requires {approximately}35 mW of IR to deposit as much energy in the ice as the 50 mW/cm{sup 3}(35 pW total) received from tritium decay in DT. Power absorbed in the plastic can cause unacceptable ice-layer non-uniformities for the integrating sphere design considered here

Rs12979860 and rs8099917 single nucleotide polymorphisms of interleukin-28B gene: simultaneous genotyping in Caucasian patients infected with hepatitis C virus

Introduction. Recent studies have demonstrated the role of the interleukin 28B (IL28B) polymorphisms in predicting treatment induced and spontaneous clearance from Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection, suggesting the possibility of tailored therapy in HCV infected patients. Genome-wide association studies have shown that single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) near IL 28B gene on chromosome 19 are strong predictors of sustained virologic response (SVR) to pegylated interferon and ribavirin. This study was aimed at analyzing the co-prevalence of two common and clinically significant SNPs in a cohort of Ligurian patients. Methods. Two SNPs (rs12979860, rs8099917) were genotyped in the IL28B locus from 175 DNA samples collected from HCV- infected consecutive patients in a Laboratory of Liguria Region, northern Italy. A real-time polymerase chain reaction in a Cor- bett Research Termocycler (Rotor Gene 3000A) by fluorescent probes (Fast Set IL 28B©, Arrow Diagnostics) was used for the detection, according to the manufacturer?s instructions. Results. Carriers of rs12979860CT genotype predominated (87/175, 50%), homozygotes for allele C were 68/175 (39%) and the remaining were homozygotes for IFN-resistant allele T (11%). As for the rs8099917 SNP, genotypes were thus distributed: 96/175 (55%) carried the rs8099917 TT genotype, whereas 70/175 (40%) and 9/175 (5%), were heterozygotes or homozygotes for the G allele. The variants rs12979860CC and rs8099917TT were found in 39% and 54% of overall patients with HCV genotype 1, respec- tively. The combined assessment of examined SNPs resulted in three most prevalent genotypes (rs12979860CC/rs8099917TT, rs12979860CT/rs8099917TG and rs12979860CT/rs8099917TT) with a frequency of 35%, 31% and 18%, respectively. Discussion. Recent findings demonstrated that in carriers of rs12979860CT the determination of additional genotype of rs8099917 SNP could significantly improve the prediction of SVR. In our study cohort carriers of rs12979860CT represented 50% of all patients, who could take advantage with respect to SVR prediction by further determination of the rs8099917 SNP. The simultaneous genotyping of two IL28B SNPs should thus be recommended in HCV infected patients prior to treatment initiation

Immunohistochemical detection of macrophage migration inhibitory factor in fetal and adult bovine epididymis: Release by the apocrine secretion mode?

Originally defined as a lymphokine inhibiting the random migration of macrophages, the macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) is an important mediator of the host response to infection. Beyond its function as a classical cytokine, MIF is currently portrayed as a multifunctional protein with growth-regulating properties present in organ systems beyond immune cells. In previous studies, we detected substantial amounts of MIF in the rat epididymis and epididymal spermatozoa, where it appears to play a role during post-testicular sperm maturation and the acquisition of fertilization ability. To explore its presence in other species not yet examined in this respect, we extended the range of studies to the bull. Using a polyclonal antibody raised against MIF purified from bovine eye lenses, we detected MIF in the epithelium of the adult bovine epididymis with the basal cells representing a prominently stained cell type. A distinct accumulation of MIF at the apical cell pole of the epithelial cells and in membranous vesicles localized in the lumen of the epididynnal duct was obvious. In the fetal bovine epididymis, we also detected MIF in the epithelium, whereas MIF accumulation was evident at the apical cell surface and in apical protrusions. By immuno-electron microscopy of the adult bovine epididymis, we localized MIF in apical protrusions of the epithelial cells and in luminal membrane-bound vesicles that were found in close proximity to sperm cells. Although the precise origin of the MIF-containing vesicles remains to be delineated, our morphological observations support the hypothesis that they become detached from the apical surface of the epididymal epithelial cells. Additionally, an association of MIF with the outer dense fibers of luminal spermatozoa was demonstrated. Data obtained in this study suggest MIF release by an apocrine secretion mode in the bovine epididymis. Furthermore, MIF localized in the basal cells of the epithelium and in the connective tissue could be responsible for regulating the migration of macrophages in order to avoid contact of immune cells with spermatozoa that carry a wide range of potent antigens. Copyright (c) 2006 S. Karger AG, Basel

Spectral light absorption by ambient aerosols influenced by biomass burning in the Amazon Basin. I: Comparison and field calibration of absorption measurement techniques

International audienceSpectral aerosol light absorption is an important parameter for the assessment of the radiation budget of the atmosphere. Although on-line measurement techniques for aerosol light absorption, such as the Aethalometer and the Particle Soot Absorption Photometer (PSAP), have been available for two decades, they are limited in accuracy and spectral resolution because of the need to deposit the aerosol on a filter substrate before measurement. Recently, a 7-wavelength (?) Aethalometer became commercially available, which covers the visible (VIS) to near-infrared (NIR) spectral range (?=450?950 nm), and laboratory calibration studies improved the degree of confidence in these measurement techniques. However, the applicability of the laboratory calibration factors to ambient conditions has not been investigated thoroughly yet. As part of the LBA-SMOCC (Large scale Biosphere atmosphere experiment in Amazonia ? SMOke aerosols, Clouds, rainfall and Climate) campaign from September to November 2002 in the Amazon basin we performed an extensive field calibration of a 1-? PSAP and a 7-? Aethalometer utilizing a photoacoustic spectrometer (PAS, 532 nm) as reference device. Especially during the dry period of the campaign, the aerosol population was dominated by pyrogenic emissions. The most pronounced artifact of integrating-plate type attenuation techniques (e.g. Aethalometer, PSAP) is due to multiple scattering effects within the filter matrix. For the PSAP, we essentially confirmed the laboratory calibration factor by Bond et al. (1999). On the other hand, for the Aethalometer we found a multiple scattering enhancement of 5.23 (or 4.55, if corrected for aerosol scattering), which is significantly larger than the factors previously reported (~2) for laboratory calibrations. While the exact reason for this discrepancy is unknown, the available data from the present and previous studies suggest aerosol mixing (internal versus external) as a likely cause. For Amazonian aerosol, we found no absorption enhancement due to hygroscopic particle growth in the relative humidity (RH) range between 40% and 80%. However, a substantial bias in PSAP sensitivity that correlated with both RH and temperature (T) was observed for 20%RH<30% and 24°