Construction and nonnegativity of sign idempotent sign pattern matrices

AbstractIn this paper, we modify Eschenbach’s algorithm for constructing sign idempotent sign pattern matrices so that it correctly constructs all of them. We find distinct classes of sign idempotent sign pattern matrices that are signature similar to an entrywise nonnegative sign pattern matrix. Additionally, if for a sign idempotent sign pattern matrix A there exists a signature matrix S such that SAS is nonnegative, we prove such S is unique up to multiplication by -1 if the signed digraph D(A) is not disconnected

Sensitivity Analysis and Optimization of a Radiative Transfer Numerical Model for Turbid Lake Water

Remote sensing can detect and map algal blooms. The HydroLight (Sequoia Scientific Inc., Bellevue, Washington, DC, USA) model generates the reflectance profiles of various water bodies. However, the influence of model parameters has rarely been investigated for inland water. Moreover, the simulation time of the HydroLight model increases as the amount of input data increases, which limits the practicality of the HydroLight model. This study developed a graphical user interface (GUI) software for the sensitivity analysis of the HydroLight model through multiple executions. The GUI software stably performed parameter sensitivity analysis and substantially reduced the simulation time by up to 92%. The GUI software results for lake water show that the backscattering ratio was the most important parameter for estimating vertical reflectance profiles. Based on the sensitivity analysis results, parameter calibration of the HydroLight model was performed. The reflectance profiles obtained using the optimized parameters agreed with observed profiles, with R-2 values of over 0.98. Thus, a strong relationship between the backscattering coefficient and the observed cyanobacteria genera cells was identified

Fractography of Stress Corrosion Cracking of 20% Cold Worked Type 304 H Stainless Steel Containing δ-Ferrite in Oxidizing Primary Water

Fractography of stress corrosion cracking (SCC) of 20% cold worked Type 304 H stainless steel containing δ-ferrite was studied using a compact tension (CT) specimen in oxidizing primary water with a scanning electron microscope (SEM) and electron back scattered diffraction (EBSD). The stress corrosion crack propagated mostly in transgranular stress corrosion cracking (TGSCC) mode and sometimes in intergranular stress corrosion cracking (IGSCC) mode. TGSCC paths were along the {111} plane with both high resolved shear stress and high resolved tensile stress. IGSCC preferentially propagated along the grain boundary perpendicular to the loading axis. The findings in this work suggest that TGSCC proceeds through formation of a weakening zone at the head of the crack tip by interaction of slip and corrosion and then cracking of the weakened zone by tensile stress

UKIRT Widefield Infrared Survey for Fe+

The United Kingdom Infrared Telescope (UKIRT)Widefield Infrared Survey for Fe+ (UWIFE) is a 180 deg2 imaging survey of the first Galactic quadrant (7° < l < 62° |b| <1°.5) that uses a narrow-band filter centred on the [Fe II] 1.644-μm emission line. The [Fe II] 1.644-μm emission is a good tracer of dense, shock-excited gas, and the survey will probe violent environments around stars: star-forming regions, evolved stars, and supernova remnants, among others. The UWIFE survey is designed to complement the existing UKIRTW idefield Infrared Survey for H2 (UWISH2). The survey will also complement existing broad-band surveys. The observed images have a nominal 5Ï? detection limit of 18.7 mag for point sources, with a median seeing of 0.83 arcsec. For extended sources, we estimate a surface brightness limit of 8.1 Ã? 10-20 W m-2 arcsec-2. In this paper, we present an overview and some preliminary results of this survey. © 2014 The Authors Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Royal Astronomical Society

Anti-inflammatory effect of supercritical extract and its constituents from Ishige okamurae

The anti-inflammatory properties of the supercritical fluid extract of Ishige okamurae (SFEIO) on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated murine RAW 264.7 macrophages. The lipid profile of the SFEIO, reviled the presence of palmitic acid (220.2 mg/g), linoleic acid (168.0 mg/g), and oleic acid (123.0 mg/g). SFEIO was found to exert it’s anti-inflammatory effects through inhibiting nitric oxide (NO), prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, interleukin (IL)-1β, and IL-6 production in LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells, without inducing cytotoxicity. SFEIO did not effect on the LPS-induced p38 kinase phosphorylation, whereas it attenuated the extracellular-related signaling kinase (ERK) and c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) phosphorylation. Furthermore, SFEIO inhibited the LPS-induced IκB-α degradation and p50 NF-κB activation. These results suggest that SFEIO exerts its anti-inflammatory effects in LPS-activated RAW 264.7 cells by down-regulating the activation of ERK, JNK, and NF-κB