Nearshore Bathymetry Estimation from Drone Video Using PIV Technique

This research introduces a novel method to estimate nearshore bottom topography using an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), or drone. The UAV was manipulated over the area of interest to film video, and the Particle image velocimetry (PIV) technique was then applied to analyze the video frames in order to retrieve the wave speeds. Under the shallow water conditions, the wave dispersion relation can be simplified in a manner such that when the wave speed is known, the water depth can be inferred. In other words, when wave speed is known, water depth can be inferred. After combining the inferred water depths at multiple points from within the area of interest, the bathymetry was constructed. To validate the method, individual waves were recorded in the nearshore breaking zone during two trials at Freeport, Texas, USA. We measured the significant difference in intensity across the recorded images, as the intensity had a larger signal-to-noise ratio, and this improved the implementation of the PIV algorithm. We then compared the PIVestimated water depth with field measurement and observations, finding that the water depth was overestimated by 13.5%, which was primarily explained by non-linear wave breaking effects. We then introduced a correction factor, reducing the estimation error to within 6% of the true observed water depth. Though there are limitations, this new approach can lower the cost of developing bathymetric maps in the nearshore and result in greater flexibility across space and time. Further improvements in equipment and work on developing better correction factors may result in still greater precision

Nearshore Bathymetry Estimation from Drone Video Using PIV Technique

This research introduces a novel method to estimate nearshore bottom topography using an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), or drone. The UAV was manipulated over the area of interest to film video, and the Particle image velocimetry (PIV) technique was then applied to analyze the video frames in order to retrieve the wave speeds. Under the shallow water conditions, the wave dispersion relation can be simplified in a manner such that when the wave speed is known, the water depth can be inferred. In other words, when wave speed is known, water depth can be inferred. After combining the inferred water depths at multiple points from within the area of interest, the bathymetry was constructed. To validate the method, individual waves were recorded in the nearshore breaking zone during two trials at Freeport, Texas, USA. We measured the significant difference in intensity across the recorded images, as the intensity had a larger signal-to-noise ratio, and this improved the implementation of the PIV algorithm. We then compared the PIVestimated water depth with field measurement and observations, finding that the water depth was overestimated by 13.5%, which was primarily explained by non-linear wave breaking effects. We then introduced a correction factor, reducing the estimation error to within 6% of the true observed water depth. Though there are limitations, this new approach can lower the cost of developing bathymetric maps in the nearshore and result in greater flexibility across space and time. Further improvements in equipment and work on developing better correction factors may result in still greater precision

FUBP3 interacts with FGF9 3′ microsatellite and positively regulates FGF9 translation

A TG microsatellite in the 3′-untranslated region (UTR) of FGF9 mRNA has previously been shown to modulate FGF9 expression. In the present study, we investigate the possible interacting protein that binds to FGF9 3′-UTR UG-repeat and study the mechanism underlying this protein–RNA interaction. We first applied RNA pull-down assays and LC-MS analysis to identify proteins associated with this repetitive sequence. Among the identified proteins, FUBP3 specifically bound to the synthetic (UG)15 oligoribonucleotide as shown by supershift in RNA-EMSA experiments. The endogenous FGF9 protein was upregulated in response to transient overexpression and downregulated after knockdown of FUBP3 in HEK293 cells. As the relative levels of FGF9 mRNA were similar in these two conditions, and the depletion of FUBP3 had no effect on the turn-over rate of FGF9 mRNA, these data suggested that FUBP3 regulates FGF9 expression at the post-transcriptional level. Further examination using ribosome complex pull-down assay showed overexpression of FUBP3 promotes FGF9 expression. In contrast, polyribosome-associated FGF9 mRNA decreased significantly in FUBP3-knockdown HEK293 cells. Finally, reporter assay suggested a synergistic effect of the (UG)-motif with FUBP3 to fine-tune the expression of FGF9. Altogether, results from this study showed the novel RNA-binding property of FUBP3 and the interaction between FUBP3 and FGF9 3′-UTR UG-repeat promoting FGF9 mRNA translation

Cytotoxic Effects of CdSe Quantum Dots on Maturation of Mouse Oocytes, Fertilization, and Fetal Development

Quantum dots (QDs) are useful novel luminescent markers, but their embryonic toxicity is yet to be fully established, particularly in oocyte maturation and sperm fertilization. Earlier experiments by our group show that CdSe-core QDs have cytotoxic effects on mouse blastocysts and are associated with defects in subsequent development. Here, we further investigate the influence of CdSe-core QDs on oocyte maturation, fertilization, and subsequent pre- and postimplantation development. CdSe-core QDs induced a significant reduction in the rates of oocyte maturation, fertilization, and in vitro embryo development, but not ZnS-coated CdSe QDs. Treatment of oocytes with 500 nM CdSe-core QDs during in vitro maturation (IVM) led to increased resorption of postimplantation embryos and decreased placental and fetal weights. To our knowledge, this is the first study to report the negative impact of CdSe-core QDs on mouse oocyte development. Moreover, surface modification of CdSe-core QDs with ZnS effectively prevented this cytotoxicity

Chronic Kidney Disease Stage Is a Modulator on the Association between High-Sensitivity C-Reactive Protein and Coronary Vasospastic Angina

The prevalence of coronary vasospasm and also the factors associated with coronary vasospasm in CKD is still unclear. In this cross-sectional study of 859 consecutive CKD patients with angina pectoris received coronary catheterization, we evaluated the factors associated with coronary vasospasm. Patients with vasospasm were older and had higher peripheral blood white cell counts, higher peripheral blood monocyte cell counts, higher haemoglobin levels, higher hs-CRP levels, and lower levels of serum creatinine than patients without vasospasm. The results of multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that peripheral blood monocyte count and hs-CRP level were independently associated with coronary vasospasm in patients with stage 1 CKD. Only peripheral blood monocyte count but not hs-CRP was independently associated with coronary vasospasm in patients with stages 2 and 3 of CKD. In conclusion, peripheral blood monocyte count is independently associated with coronary vasospasm in patients with stage 1–3 CKD, whereas hs-CRP is only independently associated with coronary vasospasm in patients with stage 1 CKD

A side-by-side comparison of Daya Bay antineutrino detectors

The Daya Bay Reactor Neutrino Experiment is designed to determine precisely the neutrino mixing angle $\theta_{13}$ with a sensitivity better than 0.01 in the parameter sin$^22\theta_{13}$ at the 90% confidence level. To achieve this goal, the collaboration will build eight functionally identical antineutrino detectors. The first two detectors have been constructed, installed and commissioned in Experimental Hall 1, with steady data-taking beginning September 23, 2011. A comparison of the data collected over the subsequent three months indicates that the detectors are functionally identical, and that detector-related systematic uncertainties exceed requirements.Comment: 24 pages, 36 figure

Observation of electron-antineutrino disappearance at Daya Bay

The Daya Bay Reactor Neutrino Experiment has measured a non-zero value for the neutrino mixing angle $\theta_{13}$ with a significance of 5.2 standard deviations. Antineutrinos from six 2.9 GW$_{\rm th}$ reactors were detected in six antineutrino detectors deployed in two near (flux-weighted baseline 470 m and 576 m) and one far (1648 m) underground experimental halls. With a 43,000 ton-GW_{\rm th}-day livetime exposure in 55 days, 10416 (80376) electron antineutrino candidates were detected at the far hall (near halls). The ratio of the observed to expected number of antineutrinos at the far hall is $R=0.940\pm 0.011({\rm stat}) \pm 0.004({\rm syst})$. A rate-only analysis finds $\sin^22\theta_{13}=0.092\pm 0.016({\rm stat})\pm0.005({\rm syst})$ in a three-neutrino framework.Comment: 5 figures. Version to appear in Phys. Rev. Let

Improved Measurement of Electron Antineutrino Disappearance at Daya Bay

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