A Satellite-Based Sky Luminance Model for the Tropics

This paper presents a sky luminance model for the tropics. The model is mathematically expressed as a multiplication of two functions. These are , which is a function of the zenith angle of a sky element and solar zenith angle, and f, which is a function of the angle between the sky element and the sun. To obtain the analytical forms of these functions, the sky luminance data collected at Nakhon Pathom (13.82 ∘ N, 100.04 ∘ E), Thailand, during a four-year period were analyzed. Additionally, satellite-derived cloud index at the position of the sky luminance measurements during the same period was estimated. Based on values of the cloud index, the skies were classified into 10 types, from clear to overcast skies. By using appropriate grouping and mathematical operation of the sky luminance data, the values of the two functions were obtained and then fitted with empirical equations. The multiplication of these equations gives the final form of the sky luminance model. To validate the model, it was used to calculate the relative sky luminance at other three sites in the tropics. It was found that values of relative sky luminance calculated from the model and those obtained from the measurements were in reasonable agreement

Optimal physicochemical properties of dried litchis for Thai consumers

The litchi is a fruit essential for the economies of several Southeast Asian countries, but markets regularly reject it, mainly due to spoilage. Drying extends the shelf-life of litchis, but in Thailand the optimal characteristics of the dried product have not yet been determined. The purpose of this study was to determine the optimum physicochemical properties of dried litchis – those suitable for Thai consumers. The dried fruits were submitted to physicochemical measurement and consumer evaluation, with datasets subsequently integrated using circular ideal-point regression analysis. Response surface methodology was then used to predict the optimum physicochemical properties of the fruits. It was found that Thai consumer preferences with regard to dried litchis are for the fruits to be of golden-yellow color (L* ranging around 54; H ranging around 79°), to have a soft flesh (SMF ranging between 13 and 14 kN/100 g) and to have a sweet taste (TSS:TA ranging between 25 and 28). The results may be used in the future to prescribe pretreatments and drying conditions

Identification and in vitro evaluation of lipids from sclerotia of lignosus rhinocerotis for antioxidant and anti-neuroinflammatory activities

Lignosus rhinocerotis (Cooke) Ryvarden (Tiger milk mushroom) is traditionally used to treat inflammation triggered symptoms and illnesses such as cough, fever and asthma. The present study evaluated the in vitro antioxidant, cytotoxic and anti-neuroinflammatory activities of the extract and fractions of sclerotia powder of L. rhinocerotis on brain microglial (BV2) cells. The ethyl acetate fraction had a total phenolic content of 0.30 ± 0.11 mg GAE/g. This fraction had ferric reducing capacity of 61.8 ± 1.8 mg FSE/g, ABTS+ scavenging activity of 36.8 ± 1.8 mg TE/g and DPPH free radical scavenging activity of 21.8% ± 0.7. At doses ranging from 0.1 μg/mL - 100 μg/mL, the extract and fractions were not cytotoxic to BV2 cells. At 100 μg/mL, the crude hydroethanolic extract and the ethyl acetate fraction elicited the highest nitric oxide reduction activities of 68.7% and 58.2%, respectively. Linoleic and oleic acids were the major lipid constituents in the ethyl acetate fraction based on FID and GC-MS analysis. Linoleic acid reduced nitric oxide production and down regulated the expression of neuroinflammatory iNOS and COX2 genes in BV2 cells

Advances in Production Management Systems: Issues, Trends, and Vision Towards 2030

Since its inception in 1978, the IFIP Working Group (WG) 5.7 on Advances in Production Management Systems (APMS) has played an active role in the fields of production and production management. The Working Group has focused on the conception, development, strategies, frameworks, architectures, processes, methods, and tools needed for the advancement of both fields. The associated standards created by the IFIP WG5.7 have always been impacted by the latest developments of scientific rigour, academic research, and industrial practices. The most recent of those developments involves the Fourth Industrial Revolution, which is having remarkable (r)evolutionary and disruptive changes in both the fields and the standards. These changes are triggered by the fusion of advanced operational and informational technologies, innovative operating and business models, as well as social and environmental pressures for more sustainable production systems. This chapter reviews past, current, and future issues and trends to establish a coherent vision and research agenda for the IFIP WG5.7 and its international community. The chapter covers a wide range of production aspects and resources required to design, engineer, and manage the next generation of sustainable and smart production systems.acceptedVersio

Essential Oil Content of the Rhizome of Curcuma purpurascens

Curcuma purpurascens Bl., belonging to the Zingiberaceae family, is known as temu tis in Yogyakarta, Indonesia. In this study, the hydrodistilled dried ground rhizome oil was investigated for its chemical content and antiproliferative activity against selected human carcinoma cell lines (MCF7, Ca Ski, A549, HT29, and HCT116) and a normal human lung fibroblast cell line (MRC5). Results from GC-MS and GC-FID analysis of the rhizome oil of temu tis showed turmerone as the major component, followed by germacrone, ar-turmerone, germacrene-B, and curlone. The rhizome oil of temu tis exhibited strong cytotoxicity against HT29 cells (IC50 value of 4.9 ± 0.4 μg/mL), weak cytotoxicity against A549, Ca Ski, and HCT116 cells (with IC50 values of 46.3 ± 0.7, 32.5 ± 1.1, and 35.0 ± 0.3 μg/mL, resp.), and no inhibitory effect against MCF7 cells. It exhibited mild cytotoxicity against a noncancerous human lung fibroblast cell line (MRC5), with an IC50 value of 25.2 ± 2.7 μg/mL. This is the first report on the chemical composition of this rhizome’s oil and its selective antiproliferative effect on HT29. The obtained data provided a basis for further investigation of the mode of cell death

From BASE-ASIA Toward 7-SEAS: A Satellite-Surface Perspective of Boreal Spring Biomass-Burning Aerosols and Clouds in Southeast Asia

In this paper, we present recent field studies conducted by NASA's SMART-COMMIT (and ACHIEVE, to be operated in 2013) mobile laboratories, jointly with distributed ground-based networks (e.g., AERONET, http://aeronet.gsfc.nasa.gov/ and MPLNET, http://mplnet.gsfc.nasa.gov/) and other contributing instruments over northern Southeast Asia. These three mobile laboratories, collectively called SMARTLabs (cf. http://smartlabs.gsfc.nasa.gov/, Surface-based Mobile Atmospheric Research & Testbed Laboratories) comprise a suite of surface remote sensing and in-situ instruments that are pivotal in providing high spectral and temporal measurements, complementing the collocated spatial observations from various Earth Observing System (EOS) satellites. A satellite-surface perspective and scientific findings, drawn from the BASE-ASIA (2006) field deployment as well as a series of ongoing 7-SEAS (2010-13) field activities over northern Southeast Asia are summarized, concerning (i) regional properties of aerosols from satellite and in situ measurements, (ii) cloud properties from remote sensing and surface observations, (iii) vertical distribution of aerosols and clouds, and (iv) regional aerosol radiative effects and impact assessment. The aerosol burden over Southeast Asia in boreal spring, attributed to biomass burning, exhibits highly consistent spatial and temporal distribution patterns, with major variability arising from changes in the magnitude of the aerosol loading mediated by processes ranging from large-scale climate factors to diurnal meteorological events. Downwind from the source regions, the tightly coupled-aerosolecloud system provides a unique, natural laboratory for further exploring the micro- and macro-scale relationships of the complex interactions. The climatic significance is presented through large-scale anti-correlations between aerosol and precipitation anomalies, showing spatial and seasonal variability, but their precise cause-and-effect relationships remain an open-ended question. To facilitate an improved understanding of the regional aerosol radiative effects, which continue to be one of the largest uncertainties in climate forcing, a joint international effort is required and anticipated to commence in springtime 2013 in northern Southeast Asia

A Satellite-Based Sky Luminance Model for the Tropics

This paper presents a sky luminance model for the tropics. The model is mathematically expressed as a multiplication of two functions. These are φ, which is a function of the zenith angle of a sky element and solar zenith angle, and f, which is a function of the angle between the sky element and the sun. To obtain the analytical forms of these functions, the sky luminance data collected at Nakhon Pathom (13.82°N, 100.04°E), Thailand, during a four-year period were analyzed. Additionally, satellite-derived cloud index at the position of the sky luminance measurements during the same period was estimated. Based on values of the cloud index, the skies were classified into 10 types, from clear to overcast skies. By using appropriate grouping and mathematical operation of the sky luminance data, the values of the two functions were obtained and then fitted with empirical equations. The multiplication of these equations gives the final form of the sky luminance model. To validate the model, it was used to calculate the relative sky luminance at other three sites in the tropics. It was found that values of relative sky luminance calculated from the model and those obtained from the measurements were in reasonable agreement

Lycopodiella cernua (L.) Pic. Serm.

Honduras, El Cajón. Dpts. Cortés, Comayagua y Yoro. LAT (15°02'49'' N); LONG (87°45'43'' W); ALT (0) "Vegetación Proyecto Arqueológico. Instituto Hondureño de Antropología e Historia.