Validation of multi-channel scanning microwave radiometer on-board Oceansat-I

Sea surface temperature (SST), sea surface wind speed (WS) and columnar water vapour (WV) derived from Multi-frequency Scanning Microwave Radiometer (MSMR) sensor on-board IRS-P4 (Oceansat-I) were validated against the in situ measurements from ship, moored buoy (MB), drifting buoy (DB) and autonomous weather station (AWS). About 1400 satellite in situ match-ups were used for the validation of SST and WS, while only 60 match-ups were available for the validation of WV. Therefore specific humidity, Q a was used as a proxy for validating WV. The drifting buoy SSTs showed good correlation with the satellite values (r = 0.84). The correlation of MB SSTs was better during night when the WS varied between 0 and 10 m/s. During the day, correlation peaked for higher wind speeds (> 10 m/s). MB (r > 0.80) was relatively better than AWS (r � 0.70) and ship (r < 0.50) for validating satellite-derived WS. Daytime winds exhibited better correlation with satellite values when measured from ocean platforms (MB and ship), but the winds measured from land-based platforms (AWS) were closer to satellite values during night-time. Q a values consistently showed higher correlation with satellite values during night-time. The low root mean square deviation (RMSD) of DB SST (1.17°C) and MB WS (1.52 m s -1) is within the achievable accuracy of the microwave sensor when validated with data collected over the tropical Indian Ocean. The RMSD of Q a (1.81 g kg -1), however, falls much beyond the attainable accuracy of the microwave sensor

Synthesis and characterization of CaO-loaded electrospun matrices for bone tissue engineering

Objectives To synthesize and characterize biodegradable polymer-based matrices loaded with CaO-nanoparticles for osteomyelitis treatment and bone tissue engineering. Materials and methods Poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL) and PCL/gelatin (1:1, w/w) solutions containing CaO nanoparticles were electrospun into fibrous matrices. Scanning (SEM) and transmission (TEM) electron microscopy, Fourier Transformed Infrared (FTIR), Energy Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy (EDS), contact angle (CA), tensile testing, and antibacterial activity (agar diffusion assay) against Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) were performed. Osteoprecursor cell (MC3T3-E1) response (i.e., viability and alkaline phosphatase expression/ALP) and infiltration into the matrices were evaluated. Results CaO nanoparticles were successfully incorporated into the fibers, with the median fiber diameter decreasing after CaO incorporation. The CA decreased with the 0addition of CaO, and the presence of gelatin made the matrix very hydrophilic (CA = 0°). Increasing CaO concentrations progressively reduced the mechanical properties (p≤0.030). CaO-loaded matrices did not display consistent antibacterial activity. MC3T3-E1 cell viability demonstrated the highest levels for CaO-loaded matrices containing gelatin after 7 days in culture. An increased ALP expression was consistently seen for PCL/CaO matrices when compared to PCL and gelatin-containing counterparts. Conclusions Despite inconsistent antibacterial activity, CaO nanoparticles can be effectively loaded into PCL or PCL/gelatin fibers without negatively affecting the overall performance of the matrices. More importantly, CaO incorporation enhanced cell viability as well as differentiation capacity, as demonstrated by an increased ALP expression. Clinical significance CaO-loaded electrospun matrices show potential for applications in bone tissue engineering

Combining Computational Fluid Dynamics and Agent-Based Modeling: A New Approach to Evacuation Planning

We introduce a novel hybrid of two fields—Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) and Agent-Based Modeling (ABM)—as a powerful new technique for urban evacuation planning. CFD is a predominant technique for modeling airborne transport of contaminants, while ABM is a powerful approach for modeling social dynamics in populations of adaptive individuals. The hybrid CFD-ABM method is capable of simulating how large, spatially-distributed populations might respond to a physically realistic contaminant plume. We demonstrate the overall feasibility of CFD-ABM evacuation design, using the case of a hypothetical aerosol release in Los Angeles to explore potential effectiveness of various policy regimes. We conclude by arguing that this new approach can be powerfully applied to arbitrary population centers, offering an unprecedented preparedness and catastrophic event response tool

Observed anomalous upwelling in the Lakshadweep Sea during the summer monsoon season of 2005

Repeat near-fortnightly expendable bathythermograph (XBT) transects made along Kochi-Kavaratti (KK) shipping lane in the Lakshadweep Sea (LS) during 2002–2006 are examined to describe the observed year-to-year variability of upwelling during summer monsoon season (SMS). Among all the years, the upwelling characterized by up-sloping of 25°C isotherm is relatively weaker and persisted until November during SMS of 2005 and is stronger during the SMS of 2002. As a result of prolonged upwelling, the sea surface temperature has shown cooling extending into the postmonsoon season. The estimated marine pelagic fish landings along the southwest coast of India (SWCI) have also shown increase until December. The governing mechanisms both in terms of local and remote forcings are examined to explain the observed anomalous upwelling during SMS of 2005. The equatorward alongshore wind stress (WS) along the KK XBT transect persisted in a transient manner beyond September only during SMS of 2005. The westerly wind bursts over the equator during the winter of 2004–2005 are both short-lived and relatively weaker triggering weaker upwelling Kelvin waves that propagated into LS in the following SMS of 2005. The observed distribution of negative sea surface height anomaly in the LS is relatively weaker during the SMS of 2005 and lasted longer. The correlation analysis suggests that the local alongshore WS off the SWCI and the remote forcing from the southern coast of Sri Lanka has greater influence on the observed interannual variability of upwelling in the LS when compared to the remote forcing from the equator