Toward Using High-frequency Coastal Radars for Calibration of S-AIS Based Ocean Vessel Tracking Models

Most of the world relies on ships for transportation, shipping, and tourism. Automatic Identification System messages are transmitted from ships and provide a wealth of positional data on these open ocean vessels. This data is being utilized to determine the optimal path for ships, as well as predicting where a ship may be going in the near future. It has only been in the past decade that Automatic Identification Systems (AIS) signals have been easily received with satellites (S-AIS) so there have been few studies that look at using available information and pairing it with the new abundance of ship positional data. This study attempts to use High Frequency (HF) radar data that measures the velocity of surface ocean currents off the West Coast of North America and incorporates North Pacific Automatic Identification Systems data to create a basic prediction model that uses the radar data to refine the positional accuracy of the prediction. Determining the effects of ocean currents on a ship using these data sets allows for later calibration of currently available position prediction models using high frequency radar data. While the study was unable to obtain consistent prediction correlation results the work systematically analyzes inconstancy and limitations of existing S-AIS and HF radar data that is a valuable contribution to the field

Identification and Characterization of Rab39a and Its Role in Crosspresentation

Crosspresentation allows antigen presenting cells to present peptides from exogenously derived antigens onto MHC Class I for presentation to CD8+ T cells. Though this pathway shares key players with the Classical Class I and Class II pathways, several questions remain. A genomewide siRNA screen was performed to look for genes that selectively affected the crosspresentation or the Class II pathways. Among the genes identified in the screen was the Rab GTPase Rab39a. Rab39a was required for efficient crosspresentation but was dispensable for the presentation of endogenously expressed antigen. Both TAP-dependent and independent antigen required Rab39a for efficient presentation. Rab39a localized to late endosomes and phagosomes, though interestingly it was not required for the Class II pathway. Analysis of phagosomes from Rab39a KO or rescued cells has shown that in the presence of Rab39a, phagosomes were enriched for the open form of MHC Class I as well as TAP1, a member of the peptide loading complex. The enriched open form of MHC-I was peptide receptive, suggesting that it could contribute to crosspresentation. Phagosomes from Rab39a positive cells had reduced degradative capability and had increased levels of Sec22b, a SNARE protein reported to deliver ER-golgi sourced cargo to phagosomes. Furthermore, inhibition of ER-golgi transport via brefeldin A abolished the phenotype conferred by Rab39a. Thus, we hypothesize that Rab39a mediates the delivery of ER-golgi derived cargo to the antigen containing phagosome. This delivery allows peptide receptive MHC-I, as well as the peptide loading complex to reach the antigen, thereby facilitating crosspresentation

Reflections on the Status of Our Preaching

While not a few of those who answered our questionnaire stated that our preparatory schools and seminaries cannot, at least not as a rule, be held responsible for poor preaching heard in our circles, the general opinion seems to be that the alarming symptoms evident in our pulpit work do reflect in a measure upon the training received at our preparatory schools and seminaries

Reflections on the Status of Our Preaching

Among the eighty brethren who replied to the questionnaire submitted in the lost issue of this journal sixty-five went on record as being deeply concerned about the preaching that is being done in our Synod at the present time. They claim to have observed certain definite symptoms which must be regarded either as positive evidences of decline or as a handwriting on the wall warning us that a decline is bound to come unless we give more attention to the preparation and the delivery of our sermons. The following paragraphs present a number of the most interesting statements received on this point

Embedding finite lattices into finite biatomic lattices

For a class C of finite lattices, the question arises whether any lattice in C can be embedded into some atomistic, biatomic lattice in C. We provide answers to the question above for C being, respectively, — The class of all finite lattices; — The class of all finite lower bounded lattices (solved by the first author’s earlier work). — The class of all finite join-semidistributive lattices (this problem was, until now, open). We solve the latter problem by finding a quasi-identity valid in all finite, atomistic, biatomic, join-semidistributive lattices but not in all finite join-semidistributive lattice

Compositions, methods and devices for generating nanotubes on a surface

A method for modifying a surface by generating nanotubes at one or more selected sites on the surface, the surface including a first metal. The method includes the steps of positioning at least one cathode and at least one anode relative to the surface in an electrolyte solution including a fluoride salt of a second metal, and applying a voltage between the at least one anode and the at least one cathode sufficient to generate nanotubes at one or more selected sites on the surface and to inhibit nanotube formation at one or more of the other selected sites, wherein the nanotubes include the first metal and the second metal.https://digitalcommons.mtu.edu/patents/1130/thumbnail.jp

Inbetriebnahme und Leistungstest des Fokalreduktors MOSCA für das 3,5--Meter--Teleskop auf dem Calar Alto

In der vorliegenden Diplomarbeit werden Eigenschaften des Fokalreduktor--Spektrografen MOSCA gemessen und kritisch bewertet. MOSCA wird am 3,5--Meter--Teleskop des Max--Planck--Instituts für Astronomie auf dem Calar Alto in Spanien zum Einsatz kommen. Es wird festgestellt, dass der Einfluss der Biegung auf Direktaufnahmen von bis zu einer Stunde mit ( 0,04 bogensekunden) innerhalb der Spezifikation liegt. Fehler im Aperturenschlitten bewirken eine Positionierungsungenauigkeit von bis zu drei Pixel. Das optische Zentrum und der Abbildungsmaßstab werden bestimmt. Der Maßstab von durchschnittlich ( 21,572 bogeneskunden/mm ) ändert sich über das 11,4 bogenminutenmin * 11,4 bogenminuten große Bildfeld um 4%. Deshalb ist eine Verzeichnungsfunktion bestimmt worden, die eine Positionsbestimmung mit bis zu 0,1 bogensekunden Genauigkeit zulässt. Die volle Halbwertsbreite eines Sternbildes vergrößert sich infolge von Bildfehlern von der Mitte bis zum Rand des Bildfeldes um 0,17 bogensekunden. Wegen des grossen Öffnungsverhältnisses von ( 1 / 2,7 ) macht sich die gemessene Schieflage des CCD--Chips von 0,11 mm in der Abbildungqualität bemerkbar. Der Einsatz und die Funktionsweise eines Fokussierprismas zur schnellen und exakten Fokussierung werden beschrieben. Die Transmissionen der eingebauten Standardfilter und des Gesamtsystems werden bestimmt. Für den Einsatz als Spektrograf wird die Dispersion der eingebauten Grisms gemessen und für die Wellenlängenkalibration die Spektrallinien der Kalibrationseinheit identifiziert, so dass mit MOSCA eine Wellenlängengenauigkeit von 0,05 bis 0,79 Angstrom bei einer Bogensekunde Spaltbreite erreicht werden kann. Mit Hilfe von Standardsternen wurde die Effizienz des Gerätes für die Spektroskopie gemessen; Sie beträgt 25 - 36 %

Light sensor platform based on the integration of Bacteriorhodopsin with a single electron transistor

This paper reports on the integration of an optical protein with single electron transistors to form a nano-bio-hybrid device for sensing. Bacteriorhodopsin (bR) is an optoelectric protein that translocates a proton across a distance of several nanometers in response to an absorbed photon of incident light. This charge gradient results in a measurable voltage in the dried state. Single electron transistors (SETs) have active regions consisting of one or more quantum islands with a size typically 10 nanometers or less. Integrating bacteriorhodopsin with the gate of a SET provides a device capable of a modulated electrical output in response to optical modulation at the device gate. Modulation of the optoelectric activity of the bR by chemical binding with a targeted environmental antigen can form a direct chemical-to-electrical sensor reducing the size and complexity of fluorescence-based systems. The work resulted in electrical resistance and capacitance characterization of purple membrane containing bR under variable illumination to ensure minimal impact on SET operation. Purple membrane containing bacteriorhodopsin was electrodeposited on the SET gates, and current throughput was well correlated with variable and cyclic illumination. It was confirmed that bR optoelectric activity is capable of driving SETs

Modification of a Steam Valve Diffuser for Enhanced Full Load and Part Load Operation Using Numerical Methods

The flow in a steam turbine inlet valve is investigated and improved by numerical methods. From the fluid dynamic point of view two requirements exist: Low pressure losses are desired at the fully opened valve position and dynamic fluid forces acting on the valve plug should be minimized to reduce valve vibration. Usually these undesired dynamic fluid forces occur when the flow is throttled at part load. It is found that these fluid forces are generated by separated jets in the diffuser. The attachment and the separation of the jet are related to the Coanda effect.By understanding the flow physics a way is found to modify the diffuser design in such a way that the flow separations are reduced. Bell-shaped diffusers are able to reduce the flow losses at full load operation. A diffuser contour that fulfils both requirements is developed

Biogeochemical modelling of dissolved oxygen in a changing ocean

Secular decreases in dissolved oxygen concentration have been observed within the tropical oxygen minimum zones (OMZs) and at mid- to high latitudes over the last approximately 50 years. Earth system model projections indicate that a reduction in the oxygen inventory of the global ocean, termed ocean deoxygenation, is a likely consequence of on-going anthropogenic warming. Current models are, however, unable to consistently reproduce the observed trends and variability of recent decades, particularly within the established tropical OMZs. Here, we conduct a series of targeted hindcast model simulations using a state-of-the-art global ocean biogeochemistry model in order to explore and review biases in model distributions of oceanic oxygen. We show that the largest magnitude of uncertainty is entrained into ocean oxygen response patterns due to model parametrization of pCO2-sensitive C : N ratios in carbon fixation and imposed atmospheric forcing data. Inclusion of a pCO2-sensitive C : N ratio drives historical oxygen depletion within the ocean interior due to increased organic carbon export and subsequent remineralization. Atmospheric forcing is shown to influence simulated interannual variability in ocean oxygen, particularly due to differences in imposed variability of wind stress and heat fluxes