The Indian monsoon and its variability

For over 300 years, the monsoon has been viewed as a gigantic land-sea breeze. It is shown in this paper that satellite and conventional observations support an alternative hypothesis, which considers the monsoon as a manifestation of seasonal migration of the intertropical convergence zone (ITCZ). With the focus on the Indian monsoon, the mean seasonal pattern is described, and why it is difficult to simulate it is discussed. Some facets of the intraseasonal variation, such as active-weak cycles; break monsoon; and a special feature of intraseasonal variation over the region, namely, poleward propagations of the ITCZ at intervals of 2-6 weeks, are considered. Vertical moist stability is shown to be a key parameter in the variation of monthly convection over ocean and land as well as poleward propagations. Special features of the Bay of Bengal and the monsoon brought out by observations during a national observational experiment in 1999 are briefly described.

An Effective Seamless Connectivity Scheme for Ubiquitous Applications

The idea of ubiquity and seamless connectivity in networks is gaining more importance in recent times because of the emergence of mobile devices with added capabilities like multiple interfaces and more processing abilities. The success of ubiquitous applications depends on how effectively the user is provided with seamless connectivity. In a ubiquitous application, seamless connectivity encompasses the smooth migration of a user between networks and providing him/her with context based information automatically at all times. In this work, we propose a seamless connectivity scheme in the true sense of ubiquitous networks by providing smooth migration to a user along with providing information based on his/her contexts automatically without re-registration with the foreign network. The scheme uses Ubi-SubSystems(USS) and Soft-Switches(SS) for maintaining the ubiquitous application resources and the users. The scheme has been tested by considering the ubiquitous touring system with several sets of tourist spots and users.

Nanoparticle-Driven Intermolecular Cooperativity and Miscibility in Polystyrene/Poly(vinyl methyl ether) Blends

The effect of silver nanoparticles (nAg) in PS/PVME polystyrene/poly(vinyl methyl ether)] blends was studied with respect to the evolution of morphology, demixing temperature, and segmental dynamics. In the early stage of demixing, PVME developed an interconnected network that coarsened in the late stage. The nAg induced miscibility in the blends as supported by shear rheological measurements. The physicochemical processes that drive phase separation in blends also led to migration of nAg to the PVME phase as supported by AFM. The segmental dynamics was greatly influenced by the presence of nAg due to the specific interaction of nAg with PVME. Slower dynamics and an increase in intermolecular cooperativity in the presence of nAg further supported the role of nAg in delaying the phase separation processes and augmenting the demixing temperature in the blends. Different theoretical models were assessed to gain insight into the dynamic heterogeneity in PS/PVME blends at different length scales.

Simultaneously targeting inflammatory response and parasite sequestration in brain to treat Experimental Cerebral Malaria

Malaria afflicts around 200 million people annually, with a mortality number close to 600,000. The mortality rate in Human Cerebral Malaria (HCM) is unacceptably high (15-20%), despite the availability of artemisinin-based therapy. An effective adjunct therapy is urgently needed. Experimental Cerebral Malaria (ECM) in mice manifests many of the neurological features of HCM. Migration of T cells and parasite-infected RBCs (pRBCs) into the brain are both necessary to precipitate the disease. We have been able to simultaneously target both these parameters of ECM. Curcumin alone was able to reverse all the parameters investigated in this study that govern inflammatory responses, CD8(+) T cell and pRBC sequestration into the brain and blood brain barrier (BBB) breakdown. But the animals eventually died of anemia due to parasite build-up in blood. However, arteether-curcumin (AC) combination therapy even after the onset of symptoms provided complete cure. AC treatment is a promising therapeutic option for HCM.

Impedance spectroscopic studies on microwave synthesized NaPO3-V2O5 glasses containing SO42- ions

Impedance spectroscopic studies on modified phospho-vanadate glasses containing SO42- ions have been carried out over wide range of frequency. Modulated DSC studies suggest that the addition of alkali salt makes the glass less rigid and more fragile. The frequency dependent impedance data has been used to calculate d.c conductivity and activation energies. These values are comparable with the other ionic liquids. The conductivity and relaxation phenomenon was rationalized using universal a.c conductivity power law and modulus formalism. The activation energies for relaxation mechanism was also determined using imaginary parts of electrical modulus peaks which were close to those of the d.c conductivity implying the involvement of similar energy barriers in both the processes. Kohlrausch-William-Watts (KWW) stretched exponent beta, is temperature insensitive and power law (s) exponent is temperature dependent. The enhanced conductivity in these glasses is attributed to the depolymerised structure in which migration of Na+ ions proceeds in an expanded network comprising SO42- ions in the interstitials. The effect of structure on activation energy is well supported by abinitio DFT computations. (C) 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

An efficient strategy to develop microwave shielding materials with enhanced attenuation constant

A mutually miscible homopolymer (here polymethyl methacrylate; PMMA) was employed to tailor the interfacial properties of immiscible polycarbonate/styrene acrylonitrile (PC/SAN) blends. In order to design materials that can shield microwave radiation, one of the key properties i.e. electrical conductivity was targeted here using a conducting inclusion; multiwall carbon nanotubes (MWNTs). Owing to higher polarity, MWNTs prefer PC over SAN which though enhance the electrical conductivity of the blends, they don't improve the interfacial properties and results in poor mechanical properties. Hence, an efficient strategy has been adopted here to simultaneously enhance the mechanical, electrical and microwave attenuation properties. Herein, the MWNTs were wrapped by PMMA via in situ polymerization of MMA (methyl methacrylate). This strategy resulted in the migration of PMMA modified MWNTs towards the blend's interface and resulted in an effective stress transfer across the interface leading to improved mechanical and dynamic mechanical properties. Interestingly, the bulk electrical conductivity of the blends was also enhanced, manifesting the improved dispersion of the MWNTs. The state of dispersion of the MWNTs and the phase morphology were assessed using scanning electron microscopy. The microwave attenuation properties were evaluated using a vector network analyzer (VNA) in the X and K-u-band frequencies. The blends with PMMA wrapped MWNTs manifested a -21 dB of shielding effectiveness which suggests attenuation of more than 99% of the incoming microwave radiation. More interestingly, the attenuation constant could be tuned here employing this unique strategy. This study clearly opens a new tool box in designing materials that show improved mechanical, dynamic mechanical, electrical conductivity and microwave shielding properties.

Electrical conductivity and dielectric relaxation studies on microwave synthesized Na2SO4 center dot NaPO3 center dot MoO3 glasses

Electrical conductivity and dielectric relaxation studies on SO4 (2-) doped modified molybdo-phosphate glasses have been carried out over a wide range of composition, temperature and frequency. The d.c. conductivities which have been measured by both digital electrometer (four-probe method) and impedance analyser are comparable. The relaxation phenomenon has been rationalized using electrical modulus formalism. The use of modulus representation in dielectric relaxation studies has inherent advantages viz., experimental errors arising from the contributions of electrode-electrolyte interface capacitances are minimized. The relaxation observed in the present study is non-Debye type. The activation energies for relaxation were determined using imaginary parts of electrical modulus peaks which were close to those of the d.c. conductivity implying the involvement of similar energy barriers in both the processes. The enhanced conductivity in these glasses can be attributed to the migration of Na+, in expanded structures due to the introduction of SO4 (2-) ions.

Austauschprozesse zwischen den Dorschbeständen der westlichen und östlichen Ostsee

Quantitative proofs for the occurrence of juvenile cods in the Bornholm Sea, which had been spawned in Kiel Bay or Mecklenburg Bay, were the staring point to develop a method, which makes quantitative estimates possible. From these analyses it could be estimated that 20 to 50 % of the cods in the area of the eastern Baltic stock had been spawned in the western Baltic Sea. This expansion in eastern direction was determined partly by passive transport of pelagic cod stages. The main factor was an active migration of cod in the first year of their life. These analyses suggest the necessity to reassess the actual model of the relations between the Baltic cod stocks.

微模式化基底上大鼠骨髓间充质干细胞的增殖、分化和迁移

目的 利用微模式化基底研究基底几何微结构对骨髓间充质干细胞增殖、分化及迁移过程的影响.方法 设计制作微模式化基底,用以控制细胞的铺展形态和面积.比较不同模式控制下大鼠骨髓间充质干细胞的增殖、分化和迁移数据.结果 细胞铺展宽度狭小可抑制骨髓间充质干细胞的增殖,细胞铺展形状可以调节其向成骨细胞分化的进程,细胞铺展面积受限时迁移增强,其增殖迁移行为减弱与成骨细胞诱导因子地塞米松的作用有关.结论 细胞铺展的几何形状和面积是骨髓间充质干细胞增殖、分化及迁移过程中的重要调节因子.

Sea-level rise in Hawaii: Implications for future shoreline locations and Hawaii coastal management

Management of coastal development in Hawaii is based on the location of the certified shoreline, which is representative of the upper limit of marine inundation within the last several years. Though the certified shoreline location is significantly more variable than long-term erosion indicators, its migration will still follow the coastline's general trend. The long-term migration of Hawaii’s coasts will be significantly controlled by rising sea level. However, land use decisions adjacent to the shoreline and the shape and nature of the nearshore environment are also important controls to coastal migration. Though each of the islands has experienced local sea-level rise over the course of the last century, there are still locations across the islands of Kauai, Oahu, and Maui, which show long- term accretion or anomalously high erosion rates relative to their regions. As a result, engineering rules of thumb such as the Brunn rule do not always predict coastal migration and beach profile equilibrium in Hawaii. With coastlines facing all points of the compass rose, anthropogenic alteration of the coasts, complex coastal environments such as coral reefs, and the limited capacity to predict coastal change, Hawaii will require a more robust suite of proactive coastal management policies to weather future changes to its coastline. Continuing to use the current certified shoreline, adopting more stringent coastal setback rules similar to Kauai County, adding realistic sea-level rise components for all types of coastal planning, and developing regional beach management plans are some of the recommended adaptation strategies for Hawaii. (PDF contains 4 pages)

IPCC WGII Fifth Assessment Report (AR5): Expanding the solution space for adaptation

6 p.

Quinto informe de evaluación (AR5) del GT-II del IPPC: aumentando el espacio de las soluciones para la adaptación

6 p.

IPPC-ren II. lan-taldearen bosgarren ebaluazio txostena (AR5): egokitzerako konponbideeremua zabaltzen

6 p.

Tunable heparan sulfate glycomimetics for modulating chemokine activity

Heparan sulfate (HS) glycosaminoglycans participate in critical biological processes by modulating the activity of a diverse set of protein binding partners. Such proteins include all known members of the chemokine superfamily, which are thought to guide the migration of distinct subsets of immune cells through their interactions with HS proteoglycans on endothelial cell surfaces. Animal-derived heparin polysaccharides have been shown to reduce inflammation levels through the inhibition of HS-chemokine interactions; however, the clinical usage of heparin as an anti-inflammatory drug is hampered by its anticoagulant activity and potential risk for side effects, such as heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT).

Here, we describe an expedient, divergent synthesis to prepare defined glycomimetics of HS that recapitulate the macromolecular structure and biological activity of natural HS glycosaminoglycans. Our synthetic approach uses a core disaccharide precursor to generate a library of four differentially sulfated polymers. We show that a trisulfated glycopolymer antagonizes the chemotactic activities of pro-inflammatory chemokine RANTES with similar potency as heparin polysaccharide, without potentiating the anticoagulant activities of antithrombin III. The same glycopolymer also inhibited the homeostatic chemokine SDF-1 with significantly more efficacy than heparin. Our work offers a general strategy for modulating chemokines and dissecting the pleiotropic functions of HS/heparin through the presentation of defined sulfation motifs within multivalent polymeric scaffolds.

Estado e administração no Rio de Janeiro Joanino: a Secretaria do Estado de Negócios do Brasil (1808-1821)

A transmigração da Corte portuguesa para a América no ano de 1808 implicou na transferência de boa parte do aparato administrativo existente em Lisboa, de modo a permitir que o príncipe regente, D. João, pudesse governar o Império, a partir do Rio de Janeiro. Esta tese de doutorado analisa um dos órgãos então estabelecidos: a Secretaria de Estado dos Negócios do Brasil. Partindo-se do princípio de que a dominação se estabelece pela administração, pretendeu-se, pelo estudo dessa instituição, atentar para determinados aspectos que envolveram a instalação dos órgãos de poder no continente americano. Nesse sentido, duas questões nortearam a estruturação e o desenvolvimento dos capítulos deste trabalho. Em um nível mais recortado, atentou-se para um exame sobre as principais caraterísticas da estrutura administrativa dessa instituição, percebendo quem eram os seus oficiais, os cargos ocupados e os seus respectivos ordenados, de modo a compreender as especificidades, o perfil do seu corpo burocrático; bem como a importância desse grupo de funcionários na configuração de um estilo administrativo na nova Corte. No tocante a um âmbito mais amplo, inseriu-se a Secretaria de Estado dos Negócios do Brasil no quadro que a relaciona a outros órgãos de poder então existentes. A partir deste aspecto, tentou-se apreender o eixo da política do príncipe regente para o Brasil. O exame dos tópicos de ação político-administrativa dessa instituição permitiu demonstrar o sentido da administração joanina, durante os quatro primeiros anos de permanência no Rio de Janeiro.