The use of IASI data to identify systematic errors in the ECMWF forecasts of temperature in the upper stratosphere

Since data from the Infrared Atmospheric Sounding Interferometer (IASI) became available in 2007, a number of papers have appeared in the literature which have reported relatively large discrepancies between IASI spectra and forward calculations in the centre of the CO<sub>2</sub> Q-branch at 667 cm<sup>−1</sup>. In this paper we show that these discrepancies are primarily due to errors in the temperature profiles used in the forward calculations. In particular, we have used forecasts of temperature profiles from the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF) to demonstrate that, for the case study considered in this paper, these profiles are affected by systematic errors of the order of ≈10 K at the level of the stratopause. To derive the magnitude and the spatial location of the systematic errors in the temperature profile, we have carried out forward/inverse calculations for a number of clear-sky, daytime, IASI tropical soundings over the sea. The forward calculations have been performed using atmospheric state vectors which have been obtained either from the direct inversion of the IASI radiances or from space-time co-located profiles derived from radiosonde observations and from the ECMWF model. To rule out any effect due to the accuracy of the forward model, we have performed the forward calculations using two independent models. The sensitivity of the temperature biases to the variability of the CO<sub>2</sub> profile and to spectroscopy errors has also been studied

Tackling Prejudice and Discrimination Towards Families with Same-Sex Parents: An Exploratory Study in Italy

Though studies have shown that the sexual orientation of parents does not influence their parenting skills or the well-being of their children, prejudice against same-sex families is still very widespread. Research has not sufficiently explored the ways in which parents tackle this prejudice. Using qualitative methodologies, in particular textual analyses, this study has analysed the discourse used by same-sex families to handle the prejudices that they face. The results highlighted that conflicts, which may even be ideological in nature, are sometimes created between traditional families and “atypical” families. These often result in estrangement and isolation from their own family and the communities to which they belong, in turn damaging the growth of the children involved. Furthermore, means for moving beyond conflict, sharing experiences and effectively tackling prejudices are also discussed

Change Detection Techniques with Synthetic Aperture Radar Images: Experiments with Random Forests and Sentinel-1 Observations

This work aims to clarify the potential of incoherent and coherent change detection (CD) approaches for detecting and monitoring ground surface changes using sequences of synthetic aperture radar (SAR) images. Nowadays, the growing availability of remotely sensed data collected by the twin Sentinel-1A/B sensors of the European (EU) Copernicus constellation allows fast mapping of damage after a disastrous event using radar data. In this research, we address the role of SAR (amplitude) backscattered signal variations for CD analyses when a natural (e.g., a fire, a flash flood, etc.) or a human-induced (disastrous) event occurs. Then, we consider the additional pieces of information that can be recovered by comparing interferometric coherence maps related to couples of SAR images collected between a principal disastrous event date. This work is mainly concerned with investigating the capability of different coherent/incoherent change detection indices (CDIs) and their mutual interactions for the rapid mapping of "changed" areas. In this context, artificial intelligence (AI) algorithms have been demonstrated to be beneficial for handling the different information coming from coherent/incoherent CDIs in a unique corpus. Specifically, we used CDIs that synthetically describe ground surface changes associated with a disaster event (i.e., the pre-, cross-, and post-disaster phases), based on the generation of sigma nought and InSAR coherence maps. Then, we trained a random forest (RF) to produce CD maps and study the impact on the final binary decision (changed/unchanged) of the different layers representing the available synthetic CDIs. The proposed strategy was effective for quickly assessing damage using SAR data and can be applied in several contexts. Experiments were conducted to monitor wildfire's effects in the 2021 summer season in Italy, considering two case studies in Sardinia and Sicily. Another experiment was also carried out on the coastal city of Houston, Texas, the US, which was affected by a large flood in 2017; thus, demonstrating the validity of the proposed integrated method for fast mapping of flooded zones using SAR data

Trend and Multi‐Frequency Analysis Through Empirical Mode Decomposition: An Application to a 20‐Year Record of Atmospheric Carbonyl Sulfide Measurements

The Empirical Mode Decomposition (EMD) is a fully non-parametric analysis of frequency modes and trends in a given series that is based on the data alone. We have devised an improved strategy based on a series of best practices to use EMD successfully in the analysis of the monthly time series of carbonyl sulfide (OCS) atmospheric mole fractions measured at NOAA network stations (2000–2020). Long-term trends and intra- and inter-annual variability has been assessed. After a phase of generally increasing mole fractions up to 2015, with a temporary decline around 2009, we found that the OCS atmospheric mole fraction subsequently decreased at all stations, reflecting a recent imbalance in its total sources and losses. Our analysis has revealed a characteristic time scale for variation of 8–10 years. The variance associated with this long-term behavior ranges from urn:x-wiley:2169897X:media:jgrd58461:jgrd58461-math-000115% to 40% of the total strength of the signal, depending on location. Apart from this complex long-term behavior, the OCS time series show a strong annual cycle, which primarily results from the well-known OCS uptake by vegetation. In addition, we have also found one more frequency of minor variance intensity in the measured mole fraction time-history, which corresponds to periods in the range of 2–3 years. This inter-annual variability of OCS may be linked to the Quasi-Biennial Oscillation

Extension of the Discrete-Ordinates Transport Solver IDT to Regular Two-Dimensional Triangular Meshes

In this work, the Integro-Differential Transport solver (IDT), which is one of the transport solvers available in the APOLLO3(R) lattice code, has been extended to handle 2D unstructured meshes. In particular, the previously implemented method of short characteristics (MoSC) used to solve for the spatial variable in the framework of an SN approach has been extended to triangular cells which represent the natural discretization for calculating the hexagonal lattices present in fast reactors. The coefficients of the collision-probability matrices have been evaluated by means of a split-cell algorithm, specialized for dealing with different orientations of the triangle with respect to each discrete ordinate of the SN sweeping. A new sweeping routine for unstructured meshes has been added to IDT. The correct implementation of the method and its robustness with respect to the skewness and the optical thickness of the triangle has been verified. The method of manufactured solutions has been employed to obtain a numerical estimate of the spatial convergence order of the method. The same version of the MoSC has then been implemented in MINARET, another solver available in APOLLO3(R). Finally, the modified IDT applied to an unstructured mesh for the C5G7 benchmark has been successfully benchmarked against MC calculations, and the modified MINARET has been applied to a neutron transport calculation for the RJH research reactor

Optical Polarization Analogs in Inelastic Free Electron Scattering

Advances in the ability to manipulate free electron phase profiles within the electron microscope have spurred development of quantum-mechanical descriptions of electron energy loss (EEL) processes involving transitions between phase-shaped transverse states. Here, we elucidate an underlying connection between two ostensibly distinct optical polarization analogs identified in EEL experiments as manifestations of the same conserved scattering flux. Our work introduces a procedure for probing general tensorial target characteristics including global mode symmetries and local polarization

PRIMA-1 induces autophagy in cancer cells carrying mutant or wild type p53.

PRIMA-1 is a chemical compound identified as a growth suppressor of tumor cells expressing mutant p53. We previously found that in the MDA-MB-231 cell line expressing high level of the mutant p53-R280K protein, PRIMA-1 induced p53 ubiquitination and degradation associated to cell death. In this study, we investigated the ability of PRIMA-1 to induce autophagy in cancer cells. In MDA-MB-231 and HCT116 cells, expressing mutant or wild type p53, respectively, autophagy occurred following exposure to PRIMA-1, as shown by acridine orange staining, anti-LC3 immunofluorescence and immunoblots, as well as by electron microscopy. Autophagy was triggered also in the derivative cell lines knocked-down for p53, although to a different extent than in the parental cells expressing mutant or wild type p53. In particular, while wild type p53 limited PRIMA-1 induced autophagy, mutant p53 conversely promoted autophagy, thus sustaining cell viability following PRIMA-1 treatment. Therefore, the autophagic potential of PRIMA-1, besides being cell context dependent, could be modulated in a different way by the presence of wild type or mutant p53. Furthermore, since both cell lines lacking p53 were more sensitive to the cytotoxic effect of PRIMA-1 than the parental ones, our findings suggest that a deregulated autophagy may favor cell death induced by this drug

Plasma protein's glycation is decreased in Sprague Dawley rats under caloric restriction.

Different dietary regimens were applied to three cohorts of rats. The first was fed ad libitum every day (AL), the second was fed ad libitum every other day (EOD) and the third was fed a diet equivalent to 60% of the caloric intake (60% CI) of the AL cohort. Levels of stable early glycation products in plasma proteins were then measured according to two different methods, Glycation of plasma proteins progressively increased in AL animals belonging to the 2-12 month age interval, while it showed a less pronounced age-dependent increase in EOD and 60% CI animals. The lowest degree of glycation was detected 2-3 months after the beginning of caloric restriction, After 12 months of age a lower level of glycation was detected in 60% CI rats than in EOD animals, Body weight was lower in restricted animals than in AL animals and was lowest in 60% CI rats. During the life span, glycemia was lower in fasting 60% CI than in EOD or AL rats

Age-dependent changes in insulin-like immunoreactivity in rat submandibular salivary glands.

In recent years, a growing interest had arisen in hormonal factors in salivary glands. We have investigated the changes in the content of an insulin-like immunoreactive (ILI) compound in the submandibular salivary glands of Sprague Dawley rats during physiological aging, in the range 15 days-27 months. The amount of ILI in the submandibular glands of young adult rats was found to be doubled in the post-natal period until the age of puberty and was maintained in senescence. No significant correlation was found between age-dependent variations in ILI levels of submandibular salivary glands and circulating insulin concentrations, further supporting previous indications that ILI is being synthesized in situ. It is possible that ILI could exert paracrine effects within the glands, as regards the development of other glandular structures during the first months of life, as well as the preservation of glandular function in senescent animals as well

UV Raman lidar measurements of relative humidity for the characterization of cirrus cloud microphysical properties

Abstract. Raman lidar measurements performed in Potenza by the Raman lidar system BASIL in the presence of cirrus clouds are discussed. Measurements were performed on 6 September 2004 in the frame of the Italian phase of the EAQUATE Experiment. The major feature of BASIL is represented by its capability to perform high-resolution and accurate measurements of atmospheric temperature and water vapour, and consequently relative humidity, both in daytime and night-time, based on the application of the rotational and vibrational Raman lidar techniques in the UV. BASIL is also capable to provide measurements of the particle backscatter and extinction coefficient, and consequently lidar ratio (at the time of these measurements, only at one wavelength), which are fundamental to infer geometrical and microphysical properties of clouds. A case study is discussed in order to assess the capability of Raman lidars to measure humidity in presence of cirrus clouds, both below and inside the cloud. While air inside the cloud layers is observed to be always under-saturated with respect to water, both ice super-saturation and under-saturation conditions are found inside these clouds. Upper tropospheric moistening is observed below the lower cloud layer. The synergic use of the data derived from the ground based Raman Lidar and of spectral radiances measured by the NAST-I Airborne Spectrometer allows the determination of the temporal evolution of the atmospheric cooling/heating rates due to the presence of the cirrus cloud. Lidar measurements beneath the cirrus cloud layer have been interpreted using a 1-D cirrus cloud model with explicit microphysics. The 1-D simulations indicate that sedimentation-moistening has contributed significantly to the moist anomaly, but other mechanisms are also contributing. This result supports the hypothesis that the observed mid-tropospheric humidification is a real feature which is strongly influenced by the sublimation of precipitating ice crystals. Results illustrated in this study demonstrate that Raman lidars, like the one used in this study, can resolve the spatial and temporal scales required for the study of cirrus cloud microphysical processes and appear sensitive enough to reveal and quantify upper tropospheric humidification associated with cirrus cloud sublimation