Validating MODIS-derived land surface evapotranspiration with in situ measurements at two AmeriFlux sites in a semiarid region

Reducing uncertainties in the estimation of land surface evapotranspiration (ET) from remote-sensing data is essential to better understand earth-atmosphere interactions. This paper demonstrates the applicability of temperature-vegetation index triangle (T-s-VI) method in estimating regional ET and evaporative fraction (EF, defined as the ratio of latent heat flux to surface available energy) from MODIS/Terra and MODIS/Aqua products in a semiarid region. We have compared the satellite-based estimates of ET and EF with eddy covariance measurements made over 4 years at two semiarid grassland sites: Audubon Ranch (AR) and Kendall Grassland (KG). The lack of closure in the eddy covariance measured surface energy components is shown to be more serious at MODIS/Aqua overpass time than that at MODIS/Terra overpass time for both AR and KG sites. The T-s-VI-derived EF could reproduce in situ EF reasonably well with BIAS and root-mean-square difference (RMSD) of less than 0.07 and 0.13, respectively. Surface net radiation has been shown to be systematically overestimated by as large as about 60 W/m(2). Satisfactory validation results of the T-s-VI-derived sensible and latent heat fluxes have been obtained with RMSD within 54 W/m(2). The simplicity and yet easy use of the T-s-VI triangle method show a great potential in estimating regional ET with highly acceptable accuracy that is of critical significance in better understanding water and energy budgets on the Earth. Nevertheless, more validation work should be carried out over various climatic regions and under other different land use/land cover conditions in the future.

Image Ratio Features for Facial Expression Recognition Application

Video-based facial expression recognition is a challenging problem in computer vision and human-computer interaction. To target this problem, texture features have been extracted and widely used, because they can capture image intensity changes raised by skin deformation. However, existing texture features encounter problems with albedo and lighting variations. To solve both problems, we propose a new texture feature called image ratio features. Compared with previously proposed texture features, e. g., high gradient component features, image ratio features are more robust to albedo and lighting variations. In addition, to further improve facial expression recognition accuracy based on image ratio features, we combine image ratio features with facial animation parameters (FAPs), which describe the geometric motions of facial feature points. The performance evaluation is based on the Carnegie Mellon University Cohn-Kanade database, our own database, and the Japanese Female Facial Expression database. Experimental results show that the proposed image ratio feature is more robust to albedo and lighting variations, and the combination of image ratio features and FAPs outperforms each feature alone. In addition, we study asymmetric facial expressions based on our own facial expression database and demonstrate the superior performance of our combined expression recognition system.

Fast and facile preparation of superhigh aspect-ratio Cu-thiourea nanowires in large quantity

Superhigh aspect-ratio Cu-thiourea (Cu(tu)) nanowires have been synthesized in large quantity via a fast and facile method. Nanowires of Cu (tu)Cl center dot 0.5H(2)O and Cu(tu)Br center dot 0.5H(2)O were found to be 60-100 nm and 100-200 nm, in diameter, and could extend to several millimeters in length. It is found to be the most convenient and facile approach to the fabrication of one-dimensional superhigh aspect-ratio nanomaterials in large scale so far.

Effect of La/Ce ratio on the structure and electrochemical characteristics of La0.7-xCexMg0.3Ni2.8Co0.5 (x=0. 1-0.5) hydrogen storage alloys

The effect of La/Ce ratio on the structure and electrochemical characteristics of the La0.7-xCexMg0.3Ni2.8Co0.5 (x = 0.1, 0.2, 0.3, 0.4, 0.5) alloys has been studied systematically. The result of the Rietveld analyses shows that, except for small amount of impurity phases including LaNi and LaNi2, all these alloys mainly consist of two phases: the La(La, Mg)(2)Ni-9 phase with the rhombohedral PuNi3-type structure and the LaNi5 phase with the hexagonal CaCU5-type structure. The abundance of the La(La, Mg)(2)Ni-9 phase decreases with increasing cerium content whereas the LaNi5 phase increases with increasing Ce content, moreover, both the a and cell volumes of the two phases decrease with the increase of Ce content. The maximum discharge capacity decreases from 367.5 mAh g(-1) (x = 0.1) to 68.3 mAh g(-1) (x = 0.5) but the cycling life gradually improve. As the discharge current density is 1200 mA g(-1), the HRD increases from 55.4% (x = 0.1) to 67.5% (x = 0.3) and then decreases to 52.1% (x = 0.5). The cell volume reduction with increasing x is detrimental to hydrogen diffusion D and accordingly decreases the low temperature dischargeability of the La0.7-xCexMg0.3Ni2.8Co0.5 (x = 0.1-0.5) alloy electrodes.

Synthesis of nanowires, nanorods and nanoparticles of ZnO through modulating the ratio of water to methanol by using a mild and simple solution method

ZnO nanowires, nanorods and nanoparticles through modulating the ratio of water to methanol have been synthesized by using a mild and simple solution method. The as-prepared ZnO nanostructures have been characterized by atomic force microscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. With the increase of the ratio of water to methanol, the morphology of ZnO nanostructures varied form denser nanowires, to sparse nanowires, to nanorods, and then to nanoparticles. The ratio of water to methanol is supposed to play an important role in the formation of ZnO nanostructures. The mechanism of formation is related to the chemical potential, which is simply proportional to their surface ratio.

Syntheses of Ag, PbSe, and PbTe nanocrystals and their binary self-assembly exploration at low size-ratio

Nanocrystals of Ag, PbSe, and PbTe were prepared via a high-temperature organic solution approach, respectively. Using a size-selection technique, the size-distribution of each set of nanocrystals could be fine-tuned and finally monodisperse products were achieved. Superlattice structure of binary self-assemblies in low size-ratio were also explored and characterized by transmission electron microscopy. It is realized that a success of achieving binary self-assembly pattern is greatly dependent on several key factors including particle size-distributions, relative concentrations of both components, as well as the size-ratios between Ag and PbSe (or PbTe) nanocrystals.

Determination of ethenzamide and acetoaminophen in quaternary powdered samples by near infrared spectroscopy and searching combination moving window partial least squares algorithm: effects of spectral resolution and signal-to-noise ratio

The present study reports an application of the searching combination moving window partial least squares (SCMWPLS) algorithm to the determination of ethenzamide and acetoaminophen in quaternary powdered samples by near infrared (NIR) spectroscopy. Another purpose of the study was to examine the instrumentation effects of spectral resolution and signal-to-noise ratio of the Buchi NIRLab N-200 FT-NIR spectrometer equipped with an InGaAs detector. The informative spectral intervals of NIR spectra of a series of quaternary powdered mixture samples were first located for ethenzamide and acetoaminophen by use of moving window partial least squares regression (MWPLSR). Then, these located spectral intervals were further optimised by SCMWPLS for subsequent partial least squares (PLS) model development. The improved results are attributed to both the less complex PLS models and to higher accuracy of predicted concentrations of ethenzamide and acetoaminophen in the optimised informative spectral intervals that are featured by NIR bands. At the same time, SCMWPLS is also demonstrated as a viable route for wavelength selection.

Studies of effect of phase volume ratio on transfer of ionizable species across the water/1,2-dichloroethane interface by a three-electrode setup

The electrochemical behavior of pyridine distribution at the water/1,2-dichloroethane interface with variable phase volume ratios (r=V-0/V-W) was investigated by cyclic voltammetry. The system was composed of an aqueous droplet supported on a Ag/AgCl disk electrode covered with an organic solution or an organic droplet supported on a Ag/AgTPBCl disk electrode covered with an aqueous solution. In this way, a conventional three-electrode potentiostat can be used to study an ionizable compound transfer process at a liquid/liquid interface with a wide range of phase volume ratios (from 0.0004 to 1 and from 1 to 2500). Using this special cell we designed, only very small volumes of both phase were needed for r equal to unity, which is very useful for the investigation of the distribution of ionizable species at a biphasic system when the available amount of species is limited. The ionic partition diagrams were obtained for different phase volume ratios.

Study of ionizable drugs transfer across the water/1,2-dichloroethane interface with phase volume ratio equal to unity using a three-electrode system

The electrochemical behavior of ionizable drugs (Amitriptyline, Diphenhydramine and Trihexyphenedyl) at the water/1,2-dichloroethane interface with the phase volume ratio (r = V-o/V-w) equal to 1 are investigated by cyclic voltammetry. The system is composed of an aqueous droplet supported at an Ag/AgCl disk electrode and it was covered with an organic solution. In this manner, a conventional three-electrode potentiostat can be used to study the ionizable drugs transfer process at a liquid/liquid interface. Physicochemical parameters such as the formal transfer potential, the Gibbs energy of transfer and the standard partition coefficients of the ionized forms of these drugs can be evaluated from cyclic voltammograms obtained. The obtained results have been summarized in ionic partition diagrams, which are a useful tool for predicting and interpreting the transfer mechanisms of ionizable drugs at the liquid/liquid interfaces and biological membranes.

Study of facilitated potassium ion transfer across a water vertical bar 1,2-dichloroethane interface using different phase volume ratio systems

A study of potassium ion transfer across a water \ 1,2-dichloroethane (W \ DCE) interface facilitated by dibenzo-18-crown-6 (DB18C6) with various phase volume ratio systems is presented. The key point was that a droplet of aqueous solution containing a redox couple, Fe(CN)(6)(3-)/Fe(CN)(6)(4-), with equal molar ratio, was first attached to a platinum electrode surface, and the resulting droplet electrode was then immersed into the organic solution containing a hydrophobic electrolyte to construct a platinum electrode/aqueous phase/organic phase system. The interfacial potential of the W \ DCE within the series could be externally controlled because the specific compositions in the aqueous droplet make the Pt electrode function like a reference electrode as long as the concentration ratio of Fe(CN)(6)(3-)/Fe(CN)(6)(4-) remains constant. In this way, a conventional three-electrode potentiostat can be used to study the ion transfer process at a liquid \ liquid (L \ L) interface facilitated by an ionophore with variable phase volume ratio (r = V-o/V-w). The effect of r on ion transfer and facilitated ion transfer was studied in detail experimentally. We also demonstrated that as low as 5 x 10(-8) M DB18C6 could be determined using this method due to the effect of the high phase volume ratio.

Charge transport in a blue-emitting alternating block copolymer with a small spacer to conjugated segment length ratio

We analyze current versus voltage data obtained using single carrier injection in several metal/polymer/metal sandwich structures. The polymer used in each case is a soluble blue-emitting alternating block copolymer. Our experimental results demonstrate that the electron transport is space-charge limited by the high density of traps having an exponential energy distribution (temperature dependent characteristic energy) in the copolymer. The electron mobility of 8x10(-10) cm(2)/V s is directly determined using space-charge-limited current analytical expressions. Hole transport is also space-charge limited, with a mobility of 2x10(-6) cm(2)/V s. A hole trap with energy 0.17 eV is observed. We compare these results with those obtained for related block copolymers with different spacer and conjugated segment lengths and discuss the influence of spacer length and conjugated segment length on the charge transport properties. (C) 2000 American Institute of Physics. [S0021-8979(00)04501-1].

Study on the microstructure and properties of nanosized stannic oxide powders

Stannic oxide xerogel was prepared by a forced hydrolysis method using SnCl4 as the precursor. The average grain sizes of the nanosized stannic oxide powders varied with the sintering temperatures. The powders were characterized by several different physico-chemical techniques. TEM was employed for the direct observation on grain sizes, shape and state of aggregation of the particles. XRD technique was used for the determination of the crystalline structure. Microstructural parameters of average crystallite size () and mean-square root microstrain (epsilon(2)>(1/2)) for the samples were calculated from the broadened values of the half-peak intensity of XRD. The atomic ratio between oxygen and tin in the surface region of the particles was estimated through the analysis of XPS. Attributing to lots of oxygen vacancies in the surface region of the nanoparticulates and the 'trapped electrons' in the vacancies, an ESR signal was observed in the sample sintered at 300 degrees C for 2 h. FTIR of the powders showed that intensity of the transverse optical mode of Sn-O stretching vibration increased with the sintering temperature while the bending vibration of O-Sn-O showed a blue shift. For Raman spectra, very important spectral characteristics such as variations of intensity and width of the bands were observed. A new Raman vibrational band located at 572 cm(-1) was identified in the samples of nanosized stannic oxide powders. Variation of these spectroscopic properties were strongly affected by grain size, shape and state of aggregation of the nanosized particulates.