Prediction of Land Surface Temperature under Cloudy Conditions using Microwave Remote Sensing and ANN

Land surface temperature (LST) is an important variable in climate, hydrologic, ecological, biophysical and biochemical studies (Mildrexler et al., 2011). The most effective way to obtain LST measurements is through satellites. Presently, LST from moderate resolution imaging spectroradiometer (MODIS) sensor is applied in various fields due to its high spatial and temporal availability over the globe, but quite difficult to provide observations in cloudy conditions. This study evolves of prediction of LST under clear and cloudy conditions using microwave vegetation indices (MVIs), elevation, latitude, longitude and Julian day as inputs employing an artificial neural network (ANN) model. MVIs can be obtained even under cloudy condition, since microwave radiation has an ability to penetrate through clouds. In this study LST and MVIs data of the year 2010 for the Cauvery basin on a daily basis were obtained from MODIS and advanced microwave scanning radiometer (AMSR-E) sensors of aqua satellite respectively. Separate ANN models were trained and tested for the grid cells for which both LST and MVI were available. The performance of the models was evaluated based on standard evaluation measures. The best performing model was used to predict LST where MVIs were available. Results revealed that predictions of LST using ANN are in good agreement with the observed values. The ANN approach presented in this study promises to be useful for predicting LST using satellite observations even in cloudy conditions. (C) 2015 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V.

Enhancing the mechanical and biological performance of a metallic biomaterial for orthopedic applications through changes in the surface oxide layer by nanocrystalline surface modification

Nanostructured metals are a promising class of biomaterials for application in orthopedics to improve the mechanical performance and biological response for increasing the life of biomedical implants. Surface mechanical attrition treatment (SMAT) is an efficient way of engineering nanocrystalline surfaces on metal substrates. In this work, 316L stainless steel (SS), a widely used orthopedic biomaterial, was subjected to SMAT to generate a nanocrystalline surface. Surface nanocrystallization modified the nature of the oxide layer present on the surface. It increased the corrosion-fatigue strength in saline by 50%. This increase in strength is attributed to a thicker oxide layer, residual compressive stresses, high strength of the surface layer, and lower propensity for intergranular corrosion in the nanocrystalline layer. Nanocrystallization also enhanced osteoblast attachment and proliferation. Intriguingly, wettability and surface roughness, the key parameters widely acknowledged for controlling the cellular response remained unchanged after nanocrystallization. The observed cellular behavior is explained in terms of the changes in electronic properties of the semiconducting passive oxide film present on the surface of 316L SS. Nanocrystallization increased the charge carrier density of the n-type oxide film likely preventing denaturation of the adsorbed cell-adhesive proteins such as fibronectin. In addition, a net positive charge developed on the otherwise neutral oxide layer, which is known to facilitate cellular adhesion. The role of changes in the electronic properties of the oxide films on metal substrates is thus highlighted in this work. This study demonstrates the advantages of nanocrystalline surface modification by SMAT for processing metallic biomaterials used in orthopedic implants.

Effect of viscosity and surface tension on breakup and coalescence of bicomponent sprays

This work deals with an experimental study of the breakup characteristics of liquids with different surface tension and viscosity from a hollow cone hydraulic injector nozzle induced by pressure-swirl. The experiments were conducted at Reynolds numbers Re-p=9500-23,000. The surface tension and viscosity of the surrogate fuels were altered from 72 to 30 mN/m and 1.1 to 1.6 mN s/m(2), respectively. High speed photography and Phase Doppler Particle Anemometry were utilized to study the atomization process. Velocity and drop size measurements of the spray using PDPA in both axial and radial directions indicate a dependency on surface tension. However, these effects are dominant only at low Reynolds numbers and are negligible at high Reynolds number. Downstream of the nozzle, coalescence of droplets due to collision was also found to be significant and the diameters were compared for different liquids. For viscous fluids up to 1.6 cP, the independent effects of viscosity and injection pressure are studied. In general, the spray cone angle increases with increase in pressure. At high pressures, an increase in viscosity leads to higher drop sizes following primary and secondary breakup compared to water. This study will extend our understanding of surrogate fuel film breakup and highlight the importance of long and short wavelength instabilities. (C) 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved

Engineering a nanostructured ``super surface'' with superhydrophobic and superkilling properties

We present a nanostructured ``super surface'' fabricated using a simple recipe based on deep reactive ion etching of a silicon wafer. The topography of the surface is inspired by the surface topographical features of dragonfly wings. The super surface is comprised of nanopillars 4 mm in height and 220 nm in diameter with random inter-pillar spacing. The surface exhibited superhydrophobicity with a static water contact angle of 154.0 degrees and contact angle hysteresis of 8.3 degrees. Bacterial studies revealed the bactericidal property of the surface against both gram negative (Escherichia coli) and gram positive (Staphylococcus aureus) strains through mechanical rupture of the cells by the sharp nanopillars. The cell viability on these nanostructured surfaces was nearly six-fold lower than on the unmodified silicon wafer. The nanostructured surface also killed mammalian cells (mouse osteoblasts) through mechanical rupture of the cell membrane. Thus, such nanostructured super surfaces could find applications for designing selfcleaning and anti-bacterial surfaces in diverse applications such as microfluidics, surgical instruments, pipelines and food packaging.

Interaction-induced singular Fermi surface in a high-temperature oxypnictide superconductor

In the family of iron-based superconductors, LaFeAsO-type materials possess the simplest electronic structure due to their pronounced two-dimensionality. And yet they host superconductivity with the highest transition temperature T-c approximate to 55K. Early theoretical predictions of their electronic structure revealed multiple large circular portions of the Fermi surface with a very good geometrical overlap (nesting), believed to enhance the pairing interaction and thus superconductivity. The prevalence of such large circular features in the Fermi surface has since been associated with many other iron-based compounds and has grown to be generally accepted in the field. In this work we show that a prototypical compound of the 1111-type, SmFe0.92Co0.08AsO, is at odds with this description and possesses a distinctly different Fermi surface, which consists of two singular constructs formed by the edges of several bands, pulled to the Fermi level from the depths of the theoretically predicted band structure by strong electronic interactions. Such singularities dramatically affect the low-energy electronic properties of the material, including superconductivity. We further argue that occurrence of these singularities correlates with the maximum superconducting transition temperature attainable in each material class over the entire family of iron-based superconductors.

Biofunctionalized surface-modified silver nanoparticles for gene delivery

Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) find use in different biomedical applications including wound healing and cancer. We propose that the efficacy of the nanoparticles can be further augmented by using these particles for gene delivery applications. The objective of this work was to engineer biofunctionalized stable AgNPs with good DNA binding ability for efficient transfection and minimal toxicity. Herein, we report on the one-pot facile green synthesis of polyethylene glycol (PEG) stabilized chitosan-g-polyacrylamide modified AgNPs. The size of the PEG stabilized AgNPs was 38 +/- 4 nm with a tighter size distribution compared to the unstabilized nanoparticles which showed bimodal distribution of particle sizes of 68 +/- 5 nm and 7 +/- 4 nm. To enhance the efficiency of gene transfection, the Arg-Gly-Asp-Ser (RGDS) peptide was immobilized on the silver nanoparticles. The transfection efficiency of AgNPs increased significantly after immobilization of the RGDS peptide reaching up to 42 +/- 4% and 30 +/- 3% in HeLa and A549 cells, respectively, and significantly higher than 34 +/- 3% and 23 +/- 2%, respectively, with the use of polyethyleneimine (25 kDa). These nanoparticles were found to induce minimal cellular toxicity. Differences in cellular uptake mechanisms with RGDS immobilization resulting in improved efficiency are elucidated. This study presents biofunctionalized AgNPs for potential use as efficient nonviral carriers for gene delivery with minimal cytotoxicity toward augmenting the therapeutic efficacy of AgNPs used in different biomedical products.

Tuning the metal-insulator transition in NdNiO3 heterostructures via Fermi surface instability and spin fluctuations

We employed in situ pulsed laser deposition (PLD) and angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy (ARPES) to investigate the mechanism of the metal-insulator transition (MIT) in NdNiO3 (NNO) thin films, grown on NdGaO3(110) and LaAlO3(100) substrates. In the metallic phase, we observe three-dimensional hole and electron Fermi surface (FS) pockets formed from strongly renormalized bands with well-defined quasiparticles. Upon cooling across the MIT in NNO/NGO sample, the quasiparticles lose coherence via a spectral weight transfer from near the Fermi level to localized states forming at higher binding energies. In the case of NNO/LAO, the bands are apparently shifted upward with an additional holelike pocket forming at the corner of the Brillouin zone. We find that the renormalization effects are strongly anisotropic and are stronger in NNO/NGO than NNO/LAO. Our study reveals that substrate-induced strain tunes the crystal field splitting, which changes the FS properties, nesting conditions, and spin-fluctuation strength, and thereby controls the MIT via the formation of an electronic order parameter with QAF similar to (1/4,1/4,1/4 +/- delta).

Surface motions and intraplate continental deformation in Alaska driven by mantle flow

The degree to which the lithosphere and mantle are coupled and contribute to surface deformation beneath continental regions remains a fundamental question in the field of geodynamics. Here we use a new approach with a surface deformation field constrained by GPS, geologic, and seismicity data, together with a lithospheric geodynamic model, to solve for tractions inferred to be generated by mantle convection that (1) drive extension within interior Alaska generating southward directed surface motions toward the southern convergent plate boundary, (2) result in accommodation of the relative motions between the Pacific and North America in a comparatively small zone near the plate boundary, and (3) generate the observed convergence within the North American plate interior in the Mackenzie mountains in northwestern Canada. The evidence for deeper mantle influence on surface deformation beneath a continental region suggests that this mechanism may be an important contributing driver to continental plate assemblage and breakup.

Simvastatin Induced Neurite Outgrowth Unveils Role of Cell Surface Cholesterol and Acetyl CoA Carboxylase in SH-SY5Y Cells

Statins are known to modulate cell surface cholesterol (CSC) and AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) in nonneural cells; however no study demonstrates whether CSC and AMPK may regulate simvastatin induced neuritogenesis (SIN). We found that simvastatin (SIM) maintains CSC as shown by Fillipin III staining, Flotillin-2 protein expression / localization and phosphorylation of various receptor tyrosine kinases (RTKs) in the plasma membrane. Modulation of CSC revealed that SIN is critically dependent on this CSC. Simultaneously, phospho array for mitogen activated protein kinases (MAPKs) revealed PI3K / Akt as intracellular pathway which modulates lipid pathway by inhibiting AMPK activation. Though, SIM led to a transient increase in AMPK phosphorylation followed by a sudden decline; the effect was independent of PI3K. Strikingly, AMPK phosphorylation was regulated by protein phosphatase 2A (PP2A) activity which was enhanced upon SIM treatment as evidenced by increase in threonine phosphorylation. Moreover, it was observed that addition of AMP analogue and PP2A inhibitor inhibited SIN. Biocomposition of neurites shows that lipids form a major part of neurites and AMPK is known to regulate lipid metabolism majorly through acetyl CoA carboxylase (ACC). AMPK activity is negative regulator of ACC activity and we found that phosphorylation of ACC started to decrease after 6 hrs which becomes more pronounced at 12 hrs. Addition of ACC inhibitor showed that SIN is dependent on ACC activity. Simultaneously, addition of Fatty acid synthase (FAS) inhibitor confirmed that endogenous lipid pathway is important for SIN. We further investigated SREBP-1 pathway activation which controls ACC and FAS at transcriptional level. However, SIM did not affect SREBP-1 processing and transcription of its target genes likes ACC1 and FAS. In conclusion, this study highlights a distinct role of CSC and ACC in SIN which might have implication in process of neuronal differentiation induced by other agents.

A novel interferometric technique to estimate thermal diffusivity of `optically transparent solid' using `Isothermal surface velocimetry'

One-dimensional transient heat flow is interpreted as a procession of `macro-scale translatory motion of indexed isothermal surfaces'. A new analytical model is proposed by introducing velocity of isothermal surface in Fourier heat diffusion equation. The velocity dependent function is extracted by revisiting `the concept of thermal layer of heat conduction in solid' and `exact solution' to estimate thermal diffusivity. The experimental approach involves establishment of 1 D unsteady heat flow inside the sample through Step-temperature excitation. A novel self-reference interferometer is utilized to separate a `unique isothermal surface' in time-varying temperature field. The translatory motion of the said isothermal surface is recorded using digital camera to estimate its velocity. From the knowledge of thermo-optic coefficient, temperature of the said isothermal surface is predicted. The performance of proposed method is evaluated for Quartz sample and compared with literature.

Effects of site stiffness and source to receiver distance on surface wave tests' results

By using six 4.5 Hz geophones, surface wave tests were performed on four different sites by dropping freely a 65 kg mass from a height of 5 m. The receivers were kept far away from the source to eliminate the arrival of body waves. Three different sources to nearest receiver distances (S), namely, 46 m, 56 m and 66 m, were chosen. Dispersion curves were drawn for all the sites. The maximum wavelength (lambda(max)), the maximum depth (d(max)) up to which exploration can be made and the frequency content of the signals depends on the site stiffness and the value of S. A stiffer site yields greater values of lambda(max) and d(max). For stiffer sites, an increase in S leads to an increase in lambda(max). The predominant time durations of the signals increase from stiffer to softer sites. An inverse analysis was also performed based on the stiffness matrix approach in conjunction with the maximum vertical flexibility coefficient of ground surface to establish the governing mode of excitation. For the Site 2, the results from the surface wave tests were found to compare reasonably well with that determined on the basis of cross boreholes seismic tests. (C) 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Seismotectonics of the April-May 2015 Nepal earthquakes: An assessment based on the aftershock patterns, surface effects and deformational characteristics

Occurrence of the April 25, 2015 (Mw 7.8) earthquake near Gorkha, central Nepal, and another one that followed on May 12 (Mw 7.3), located similar to 140 km to its east, provides an exceptional opportunity to understand some new facets of Himalayan earthquakes. Here we attempt to assess the seismotectonics of these earthquakes based on the deformational field generated by these events, along with the spatial and temporal characteristics of their aftershocks. When integrated with some of the post-earthquake field observations, including the localization of damage and surface deformation, it became obvious that although the mainshock slip was mostly limited to the Main Himalayan Thrust (MHT), the rupture did not propagate to the Main Frontal Thrust (MFT). Field evidence, supported by the available InSAR imagery of the deformation field, suggests that a component of slip could have emerged through a previously identified out-of-sequence thrust/active thrust in the region that parallels the Main Central Thrust (MCT), known in the literature as a co-linear physiographic transitional zone called PT2. Termination of the first rupture, triggering of the second large earthquake, and distribution of aftershocks are also spatially constrained by the eastern extremity of PT2. Mechanism of the 2015 sequence demonstrates that the out-of-sequence thrusts may accommodate part of the slip, an aspect that needs to be considered in the current understanding of the mechanism of earthquakes originating on the MHT. (c) 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Effect of Surface Energy Anisotropy on the Stability of Growth Fronts in Multiphase Alloys

Eutectic growth offers a variety of examples for pattern formation which are interesting both for theoreticians as well as experimentalists. One such example of patterns is ternary eutectic colonies which arise as a result of instabilities during growth of two solid phases. Here, in addition to the two major components being exchanged between the solid phases during eutectic growth, there is an impurity component which is rejected by both solid phases. During progress of solidification, there develops a boundary layer of the third impurity component ahead of the solidification front of the two solid phases. Similar to Mullins-Sekerka type instabilities, such a boundary layer tends to make the global solidification envelope unstable to morphological perturbations giving rise to two-phase cells. This phenomenon has been studied numerically in two dimensions for the conditions of directional solidification, by Plapp and Karma (Phys Rev E 66:061608, 2002) using phase-field simulations. While, in the work by Plapp and Karma (Phys Rev E 66:061608, 2002) all interfaces are isotropic, in our presentation, we extend the phase-field model by considering interfacial anisotropy in the solid-solid and solid-liquid interfaces and characterize the role of interfacial anisotropy on the stability of the growth front through phase-field simulations in two dimensions.

Shock tunnel measurements of surface pressures in shock induced separated flow field using MEMS sensor array

Characterized not just by high Mach numbers, but also high flow total enthalpies-often accompanied by dissociation and ionization of flowing gas itself-the experimental simulation of hypersonic flows requires impulse facilities like shock tunnels. However, shock tunnel simulation imposes challenges and restrictions on the flow diagnostics, not just because of the possible extreme flow conditions, but also the short run times-typically around 1 ms. The development, calibration and application of fast response MEMS sensors for surface pressure measurements in IISc hypersonic shock tunnel HST-2, with a typical test time of 600 mu s, for the complex flow field of strong (impinging) shock boundary layer interaction with separation close to the leading edge, is delineated in this paper. For Mach numbers 5.96 (total enthalpy 1.3 MJ kg(-1)) and 8.67 (total enthalpy 1.6 MJ kg(-1)), surface pressures ranging from around 200 Pa to 50 000 Pa, in various regions of the flow field, are measured using the MEMS sensors. The measurements are found to compare well with the measurements using commercial sensors. It was possible to resolve important regions of the flow field involving significant spatial gradients of pressure, with a resolution of 5 data points within 12 mm in each MEMS array, which cannot be achieved with the other commercial sensors. In particular, MEMS sensors enabled the measurement of separation pressure (at Mach 8.67) near the leading edge and the sharply varying pressure in the reattachment zone.

Surface modification of titania aerogel films by oxygen plasma treatment for enhanced dye adsorption

Titania aerogels were synthesized by sol-gel route followed by ambient pressure subcritical drying technique. The aerogels synthesized in the present work possess a maximum surface area of 252 m(2)/g. The pore size distribution is between 2 and 30 nm which confirms their mesoporosity. The oxygen plasma treatment on titania aerogel thin films improved the surface area up to 273 m(2)/g and produced additional hydrophilic groups on the surface. It is confirmed by BET surface area, XPS and thermal analysis in conjunction with dye adsorption studies. After plasma treatment the dye adsorption capacity was increased 2.5 times higher than that of untreated aerogel film. The increased surface area and the hydrophilic groups generated on the titania aerogel surface during plasma treatment are responsible for enhanced dye adsorption. The overall nanoporous morphology of titania aerogel is preserved after plasma treatment. (C) 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.