Time dependent correlations in marine stratocumulus cloud base height records

The scaling ranges of time correlations in the cloud base height records of marine boundary layer stratocumulus are studied applying the Detrended Fluctuation Analysis statistical method. We have found that time dependent variations in the evolution of the $\alpha$ exponent reflect the diurnal dynamics of cloud base height fluctuations in the marine boundary layer. In general, a more stable structure of the boundary layer corresponds to a lower value of the $\alpha$ - indicator, i.e. larger anti-persistence, thus a set of fluctuations tending to induce a greater stability of the stratocumulus. In contrast, during periods of higher instability in the marine boundary, less anti-persistent (more persistent like) behavior of the system drags it out of equilibrium, corresponding to larger $\alpha$ values. From an analysis of the frequency spectrum, the stratocumulus base height evolution is found to be a non-stationary process with stationary increments. The occurrence of these statistics in cloud base height fluctuations suggests the usefulness of similar studies for the radiation transfer dynamics modeling.Comment: 12 pages, 6 figures; to appear in Int. J. Mod. Phys. C, Vol. 13, No. 2 (2002

Long term persistence in the sea surface temperature fluctuations

We study the temporal correlations in the sea surface temperature (SST) fluctuations around the seasonal mean values in the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. We apply a method that systematically overcome possible trends in the data. We find that the SST persistence, characterized by the correlation $C(s)$ of temperature fluctuations separated by a time period $s$, displays two different regimes. In the short-time regime which extends up to roughly 10 months, the temperature fluctuations display a nonstationary behavior for both oceans, while in the asymptotic regime it becomes stationary. The long term correlations decay as $C(s) \sim s^{-\gamma}$ with $\gamma \sim 0.4$ for both oceans which is different from $\gamma \sim 0.7$ found for atmospheric land temperature.Comment: 14 pages, 5 fiure

Differential sensitivity of basal and acetylcholine-induced activity of nitric oxide to blockade by asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA) in the rat aorta

<b>Background and purpose</b>: Previous work has shown that NG-monomethyl-l-arginine (l-NMMA) paradoxically inhibits basal, but not ACh-stimulated activity of nitric oxide in rat aorta. The aim of this study was to determine if the endogenously produced agent, asymmetric NG, NG-dimethyl-l-arginine (ADMA), also exhibits this unusual selective blocking action. <b>Experimental approach</b>: The effect of ADMA on basal nitric oxide activity was assessed by examining its ability to enhance phenylephrine (PE)-induced tone in endothelium-containing rings. Its effect on ACh-induced relaxation was assessed both in conditions where ADMA greatly enhanced PE tone and where tone was carefully matched with control tissues at a range of different levels. <b>Key results</b>: ADMA (100 µM) potentiated PE-induced contraction, consistent with inhibition of basal nitric oxide activity. Higher concentrations (300–1000 µM) had no greater effect. Although ADMA (100 µM) also appeared to block ACh-induced relaxation when it enhanced PE tone to maximal levels, virtually no block was seen at intermediate levels of tone in the presence of ADMA. Even ADMA at 1000 µM had no effect on the maximal relaxation to ACh, although it produced a small (two- to threefold) reduction in sensitivity. ADMA and l-NMMA, like l-arginine (all at 1000 µM), protected ACh-induced relaxation against blockade by l-NAME (30 µM). <b>Conclusions and implications</b>: In the rat aorta, ADMA, like l-NMMA, blocks basal activity of nitric oxide, but has little effect on that stimulated by ACh. Further studies are required to explain these seemingly anomalous actions of ADMA and l-NMMA

Statistical Physics in Meteorology

Various aspects of modern statistical physics and meteorology can be tied together. The historical importance of the University of Wroclaw in the field of meteorology is first pointed out. Next, some basic difference about time and space scales between meteorology and climatology is outlined. The nature and role of clouds both from a geometric and thermal point of view are recalled. Recent studies of scaling laws for atmospheric variables are mentioned, like studies on cirrus ice content, brightness temperature, liquid water path fluctuations, cloud base height fluctuations, .... Technical time series analysis approaches based on modern statistical physics considerations are outlined.Comment: Short version of an invited paper at the XXIth Max Born symposium,Ladek Zdroj, Poland; Sept. 200

Information-analytical system for forecasting indicators of the social and economic sphere of the Russian Federation

Currently, the need for the real-time evaluation of the functioning effectiveness of the subjects of the Russian Federation is observed. To achieve this goal, the situation centers,able to perform the monitoring of the socio-economic indicators both at the federal and regional levels, are created in Russia.At the same time, it is necessary to implement the information-analytical system to make forecasts for the following periods, as well as to conduct a plan-fact analysis based on the available data, using various methods. In the framework of this study, the situation center of federal State Budgetary Educational Institution of Higher Education “Plekhanov Russian University of Economics” (FSBEI HE "Plekhanov RUE") is considered.The development of the information-analytical system based on a hybrid forecasting model,integrated with the software of the center under consideration, is proposed by the authors.The examples of the calculations and the estimation of their accuracy and quality, obtained with the prototype of the system under development, are presented.peer-reviewe

You Want Me to Do What? But I Can’t Read That... Cataloging Soviet Russia Space Exploration Books

The Al Harris Library received a donation of the archive of retired astronaut General Thomas P. Stafford. The continually growing collection includes over 200 boxes containing NASA reports, professional and personal pictures, videos, and more. Part of the collection is the approximately 700 books used for research by Stafford and his co-author Michael Cassutt to write the memoir We Have Capture: Tom Stafford and the Space Race (2002). Half of these books are a collection of Soviet-era Russia (USSR) space program books and periodicals written in Russian. Michael Cassutt has characterized the books as the most comprehensive collection about the USSR space program. The main issue the library ran into was how to catalog books in a foreign language no one could read. This article will discuss the unique solutions developed to ensure these items were cataloged properly, and the issues that came up and had to be addressed