A study on marine boundary layer processes in the ITCZ and non-ITCZ regimes over Indian Ocean with INDOEX IFP-99 data

A one-dimensional numerical planetary boundary layer (PBL) model was applied to simulate the dynamical and thermodynamical characteristics of the tropical Indian Ocean under varying convective regimes. Using sounding as well as surface meteorological data obtained during the INDOEX field phase, the PBL was validated for three different regions within the INDOEX domain. The three regions identified were, a coastal location representing suppressed convection, an open ocean region with medium convection, and a region of intense convection in the vicinity of the Inter-Tropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ). The model was integrated using observed sounding as initial as well as lateral boundary conditions, for a period up to 48 h. The model simulated surface fields as well as vertical profiles were compared with observations for the three cases. In general the model performance was good. The one-dimensional model could not simulate the dynamical features associated with advection and winds satisfactorily. However, the convective regimes are well simulated. As such, the PBL processes near the ITCZ were better simulated compared to the coastal regions. Results suggest that such a model can be used as a tool to develop high resolution, time-varying profiles over data-sparse regions to enhance mesoscale analysis

Sea breeze Initiated Rainfall over the east Coast of India during the Indian Southwest Monsoon

Sea breeze initiated convection and precipitation is investigated along the east coast of India during the Indian southwest monsoon season. The sea breeze circulations are observed approximately 70 to 80% of the days during the summer months (June to August) along the Chennai coast. Observations of average sea breeze wind speeds are stronger at a rural location as compared to the wind speeds observed inside the urban region of Chennai. The sea breeze circulation is shown to be the dominant mechanism for initiating rainfall during the Indian southwest monsoon season. Roughly 80% of the total rainfall observed during the southwest monsoon over Chennai is directly related to the convection initiated by sea breeze circulation

The usability of recycled carbon fibres in short fibre thermoplastics: interfacial properties

The objective of this study was to investigate the feasibility of combining discontinuous recycled carbon fibres with polypropylene, to produce a low-cost, high specific stiffness material for high-volume applications. The inherent low affinity of carbon fibre and polypropylene motivated a detailed study of the surface characteristics of carbon fibre and interfacial behaviour between the two materials, using the microbond test. The effects of removing the sizing from the fibres, as well as introducing a maleic anhydride-grafted polypropylene coupling agent, were extensively investigated. Polypropylene was found to degrade when prepared under atmospheric conditions; therefore, it was necessary to form droplets under nitrogen. Removal of the sizing from the fibre using pyrolysis and solvolysis techniques altered the surface morphology of the fibre and increased the interfacial shear strength (IFSS) by 4 and 33 %, respectively. A more significant improvement in the fibre–matrix adhesion was achieved by adding a maleic anhydride coupling agent at 2 wt%, which increased the IFSS by 320 %

The usability of recycled carbon fibres in short fibre thermoplastics: interfacial properties

The objective of this study was to investigate the feasibility of combining discontinuous recycled carbon fibres with polypropylene, to produce a low-cost, high specific stiffness material for high-volume applications. The inherent low affinity of carbon fibre and polypropylene motivated a detailed study of the surface characteristics of carbon fibre and interfacial behaviour between the two materials, using the microbond test. The effects of removing the sizing from the fibres, as well as introducing a maleic anhydride-grafted polypropylene coupling agent, were extensively investigated. Polypropylene was found to degrade when prepared under atmospheric conditions; therefore, it was necessary to form droplets under nitrogen. Removal of the sizing from the fibre using pyrolysis and solvolysis techniques altered the surface morphology of the fibre and increased the interfacial shear strength (IFSS) by 4 and 33 %, respectively. A more significant improvement in the fibre–matrix adhesion was achieved by adding a maleic anhydride coupling agent at 2 wt%, which increased the IFSS by 320 %

2. Pathways to detection of non-infectious childhood uveitis in the UK: findings from the UNICORN cohort study

Introduction Prompt detection of childhood uveitis is key to minimising negative impact. From an internationally unique inception cohort, we report pathways to disease detection. UNICORNS is a national childhood non-infectious uveitis study with longitudinal collection of a standardised clinical dataset and patient reported outcomes. Descriptive analysis of baseline characteristics are reported. Amongst 150 recruited children (51% female, 31% non-white ethnicity) age at detection ranged from 2–18yrs (median 10). In 69%, uveitis was diagnosed following onset of symptoms: time from first symptoms to uveitis detection ranged from 0-739days (median 7days), with longer time to detection for those presenting initially to their general practitioner. Non symptomatic children were detected through JIA/other disease surveillance (16%), routine optometry review (5%) or child visual health screening (1%). Commonest underlying diagnoses at uveitis detection were JIA (17%), TINU (9%, higher than pre-pandemic reported UK disease frequency) and sarcoid (1%). 60% had no known systemic disease at uveitis detection. At disease detection, in at least one eye: 34% had structural complications (associated with greater time to detection – 17 days versus 4 days for uncomplicated presentation). The larger relative proportions of children with non-JIA uveitis reported here increase the importance of improving awareness of childhood uveitis amongst the wider clinical communities. There is scope for improvement of pathways to detection. Forthcoming analysis on the full cohort (251 recruited to date across 33 hospitals and 4 nations) will provide nationally representative data on management and the determinants of visual and broader developmental/well-being outcomes

Effects of the biological nematicide, DiTera, on hatching of Globodera rostochiensis and G. pallida

AbstractDiTera® (Valent Biosciences Corp.), a novel biological nematicide, did not stimulate hatch of Globodera rostochiensis or G. pallida, but exposing cysts to 1 and 10% DiTera® in distilled water for 5 weeks irreversibly prevented hatch when the cysts were transferred to the natural hatching stimulus potato root diffusate (PRD). Similarly, exposing cysts of both species for 5 weeks to 1 and 10% DiTera® dissolved in PRD resulted in a significant inhibition of hatch which was irreversible when cysts were transferred to PRD alone. Tests on free eggs indicated that, when mixed with PRD, DiTera® prevented eggshell permeability change, normally caused by PRD as an initial phase in the hatching process, in a majority of eggs. This indication that DiTera® interfered with the specific hatching mechanism of G. rostochiensis was reinforced by the lack of hatch inhibition of Meloidogyne incognita. The potential for DiTera® as a novel control agent to prevent hatch of G. rostochiensis or G. pallida in the field is discussed.Das neuartige biologische Nematizid DiTera® (Valent Biosciences Corp.) regte das Schlüpfen von Globodera rostochiensis und G. pallida nicht an. Wenn Zysten 5 Wochen lang in 1 und 10%igen Lösungen von DiTera® in destilliertem Wasser gehalten wurden, war das Schlüpfen auch nach Überführung in das natürliche Schlüpfmedium Kartoffelablaufwasser (PRD) irreversibel blockiert. In ähnlicher Weise trat eine signifikante Schlüpfhemmung auf, wenn die Zysten für 5 Wochen in 1 und 10%igen Lösungen von DiTera® in PDR waren. Diese Schlüpfhemmung war irreversibel, auch wenn die Zysten anschliessend in reines PRD gebracht wurden. Versuche mit freien Eiern zeigten, dass DiTera® in Mischung mit PRD den Wechsel in der Durchlässigkeit der Eischale verhindert, der normalerweise bei den meisten Eiern als Anfangsphase des Schlüpfvorganges durch PRD verursacht wird. Dieser Hinweis darauf, dass DiTera® den spezifischen Schlüpfmechanismus von G. rostochiensis stört, wurde dadurch bestätigt, dass das Schlüpfen von Meloidogyne incognita nicht gestört wurde. Die Verwendungdsmöglichkeiten von DiTera® als neuartiges Bekämpfungsmittel zur Verhinderung des Schlüpfens von G. rostochiesis oder G. pallida im Freiland werden diskutiert. </jats:sec