Integrated drought monitoring index: A tool to monitor agricultural drought by using time-series datasets of space-based earth observation satellites

In this study, integrated drought monitoring index (IDMI) was proposed as a tool to assess and monitor the spatio-temporal dynamics of agricultural drought during the northeast monsoon season for the period from 2000 to 2016 in Tamil Nadu state, south-eastern part of Indian peninsula. The IDMI is characterized as the principal component of precipitation condition index (PCI), soil moisture condition index (SMCI), temperature condition index (TCI), and vegetation condition index (VCI) derived from time-series satellite observations of climate hazards group infra-red precipitation with stations (CHIRPS), European space agency climate change initiative (ESA-CCI) and moderate resolution imaging spectroradiometer (MODIS). The study shows that in the year 2016, about 44.4 and 17.8% of Tamil Nadu state was under extreme and severe drought conditions, respectively. Sensitivity analysis of the study shows that PCI is the most influential parameter to IDMI, followed by VCI and TCI. The validation of IDMI with 3-month standardized precipitation index (SPI) by using Pearson correlation test shows a strong positive correlation between IDMI and 3-month SPI with correlation coefficient (r) value of 0.73 and 0.77 for the wet (2005) and dry year (2016), respectively. The study clearly demonstrates the potential of IDMI derived from time-series datasets of earth observation satellites as a tool in assessment and monitoring of spatio-temporal dynamics of agricultural drought. The proposed IDMI could be effectively used as a reliable tool to monitor agricultural drought and develop its mitigation strategies to minimise the adverse effects of drought on agriculture, water resources, and livelihoods of the people.     

The Long-Term Evolution of the Atmosphere of Venus: Processes and Feedback Mechanisms

Space Science Reviews - The BepiColombo Environment Radiation Monitor (BERM) on board the European Space Agency’s Mercury Planetary Orbiter (MPO), is designed to measure the radiation...     

硬度法测定渗氮层深度结果的测量不确定度评定

主要以综合评定法对硬度法测定渗氮层深度结果的测量不确定度来源进行了分析,分别讨论了硬度法测定总渗氮层和有效渗氮层深度由于界限硬度值要求不同,导致引入的标准不确定度分量不同,并对每个标准不确定度分量进行了评定。结果表明:在相同试验条件和方法下,硬度法测定总渗氮层深度结果测量不确定度明显小于硬度法测定有效渗氮层深度结果测量不确定度。其原因在于试验测定结果重复性引入的标准不确定度分量是硬度法测定总渗氮层深度结果测量不确定度主要来源;而硬度法测定有效渗氮层深度结果测量不确定度主要来源却是由计算模型中插入的界限硬度值引入的。另外,采用硬度法测定深度,应注意硬度计工作台移动的分度值和垂直度偏差对测量结果的影响。     

Retrieval of vegetation equivalent water thickness from reflectance using genetic algorithm (GA)-partial least squares (PLS) regression

This study aimed to investigate the performance of genetic algorithms coupled with partial least squares (GA-PLS) modeling of spectral reflectance in retrieving equivalent water thickness (EWT) at leaf and canopy level. A genetic algorithm was used to identify a subset of spectral bands sensitive to the variation in EWT, and PLS was then applied to relate the identified bands to EWT values. GA-PLS was applied to leaf level reflectance available from LOPEX dataset, and canopy data includes reflectance simulated by a leaf radiative transfer model PROSPECT and a canopy radiative transfer model SAILH and acquired by airborne visible/infrared imaging spectrometer (AVIRIS). The results indicate that GA-PLS has the capability of retrieving EWT from leaf and canopy reflectance, and achieved good estimation accuracy, i.e. low root mean square errors (RMSE) and high squared correlation coefficients (R²). For the retrieval at leaf level, the estimation accuracy can be as good as RMSE = 0.0019 g/cm² and R² = 0.939 or better. For the retrieval at canopy level, the model accuracy is RMSE = 0.0061 g/cm² and R² = 0.966 or better when PROSPECT-SAILH simulated reflectance was used; when AVIRIS image spectra were used, the model accuracy is RMSE = 0.0094 g/cm² and R² = 0.8734 for the calibration, and RMSE = 0.0132 g/cm² and R² = 0.7756 for the validation. These results from GA-PLS modeling support the conclusion that GA-PLS has the potential to be applied to AVIRIS, Hyperion and HyMap imagery for retrieving EWT. The selected bands for the AVIRIS datasets differ from those for the LOPEX and PROSPECT-SAILH simulated datasets, and this inconsistence of the selected bands for different datasets indicates that the GA-PLS method has the advantage of tuning the optimum bands for PLS regression and accommodating the effects of confounding factors.     

应用绿色半导体量子点进行乳腺癌原位成像

乳腺癌是癌症中引起妇女死亡的首要因素。本文采用绿色量子点作为荧光显色材料，建立了一种用于早期乳腺癌诊断的原位成像技术。利用生物素标记的抗HER2／neu抗体与乳腺癌细胞表面表达的HER2结合的特点，然后用偶联绿色量子点的链霉亲和素作为荧光检测标记物，与HER2抗原抗体复合物中的生物素发生特异结合，检测出乳腺癌细胞的存在。结果表明，在荧光显微镜下用绿色量子点原位显色的乳腺癌细胞，相对有机染料组显色亮度增强，故检测灵敏度有所提高。     

Gravi- and photostimuli in moss protonema growth movements.

Moss protonemal growth direction is controlled by at least three factors, photo-, gravi- and autotropism. It is possible to experimentally separate these factors and to control selectively their morphological appearance. In darkness protonema grow negatively gravitropically, and unilateral illumination initiated positive phototropism. Red light suppressed auto- and gravitropism, blue light suppressed only gravitropism. Green light allowed both gravi- and autotropism. The effect of light on gravitropism might involve changes in starch synthesis.     

Multi-channel data structure and real-time compression algorithm research

The development of space telemetry technology has brought forward the need for large capacity memory of any solid-state recorder; data compression therefore, becomes more and more important. The compression feasibility and potentiality of telemetry data are examined by analyzing the statistical characteristics of actual telemetry data recovered from recorders. Aiming at the disadvantage of present data formats in data compression for multi-channel telemetry data acquisition systems, this introduces a data packet structure, and a real-time compression algorithm for low complex hardware design. The principles and implementations of data package compression are described. Simulation results show that this technology can meet the requirements of multi-channel real-time data compression with a high compression ratio and a fast compression speed, which possesses great application value.     

Diagnostics of equatorial and low latitude ionosphere by TEC mapping over Brazil

The total electron content (TEC) in the equatorial and low-latitude ionosphere over Brazil was monitored in two dimensions by using 2011 data from the ground-based global navigation satellite system (GNSS) receiver network operated by the Brazilian Institute for Geography and Statistics. It was possible to monitor the spatial and temporal variations in TEC over Brazil continuously during both day and night with a temporal interval of 10 min and a spatial resolution of about 400 km. The daytime equatorial ionization anomaly (EIA) and post-sunset plasma enhancement (PS-EIA) were monitored over an area corresponding to a longitudinal extension of 4000 km in South America. Considerable day-to-day variation was observed in EIA and PS-EIA. A large latitudinal and longitudinal gradient of TEC indicated a significant ionospheric range error in application of the GNSS positioning system. Large-scale plasma bubbles after sunset were also mapped over a wide range. Depletions with longitudinally separated by more than 800 km were observed. They were extended by more than 2000 km along the magnetic field lines and drifted eastward. It is expected that 2-dimensional TEC mapping can serve as a useful tool for diagnosing ionospheric weather, such as temporal and spatial variation in the equatorial plasma trough and crest, and particularly for monitoring the dynamics of plasma bubbles.     

利用导流板降低流场对光传输影响的试验研究

在一座小型跨超声速风洞上采用夏克-哈特曼波前传感器进行了Ma=3试验段流场对光传输特性影响的试验研究。空风洞流场的测试结果表明,由于试验段壁面湍流边界层中气流脉动与流场密度变化的影响,光波前会发生畸变。为了降低湍流边界层流场对光传输的影响,在风洞试验段单侧壁板上安装导流板进行了试验。测试数据表明,光波前畸变量的PV均值和RMS均值分别由3.5λ和0.73λ降低到了1.09λ和0.22λ,而且光波前畸变量的波动幅度也大为降低。初步研究结果说明,采用加装导流板等措施可以显著降低风洞流场对光传输的影响,有利于提高风洞试验时流场显示与测量结果的可靠性和有效性。