Deep bed drying performance on paddy using hybrid infrared-solar dryer

Hybrid infrared-solar dryer has a potential for drying fruits, vegetables, and grains such as paddy. This study aims to assess the performance of hybrid infrared-solar dryer on paddy in different of deep layer. Three different infrared heaters were used with a power of 25 W, 50 W, and 100 W. The hybrid infrared-solar dryer equipped with sensors placed in an open space so that sunlight can reach the drying chamber. The paddy samples were dried in different of deep layer (2 cm, 4 cm, 6 cm) until it reaches a moisture content of 14%. The input sensors in the drying chamber such as temperature, humidity, and moisture content were recorded using microcontroller and stored in Microsoft Excel® using the Parallax Data Acquisition tool. The algorithm was developed in order to control the heater from the input of temperature and humidity sensors by adjusting turn on/off relay. The study confirmed that the infrared heating power of 100 W is recommended for paddy drying if the ambient temperature is unfavourable (temperature less than 30°C). In general, the hybrid infrared-solar dryer with a power of 25 W-100 W has a potential to dry paddy quickly at a thickness of 2 cm-6 cm with a time range of 90-150 minutes.

SPC Mesoscale Analysis Compared to Field-Project Soundings: Implications for Supercell Environment Studies

Two-hundred-fifty-seven supercell proximity soundings obtained for field programs over the central U.S. are compared to profiles extracted from the SPC mesoscale analysis system (the SFCOA) to understand how errors in the SFCOA and in its baseline model analysis system – the RUC/RAP – might impact climatological assessments of supercell environments. A primary result is that the SFCOA underestimates the low-level storm-relative winds and wind shear, a clear consequence of the lack of vertical resolution near the ground. The near-ground (≤ 500 m) wind shear is underestimated similarly in near-field, far-field, tornadic, and nontornadic supercell environments. The near-ground storm-relative winds, however, are underestimated the most in the near field and in tornadic supercell environments. Under-prediction of storm-relative winds is therefore a likely contributor to the lack of differences in storm-relative winds between nontornadic and tornadic supercell environments in past studies that use RUC/RAP-based analyses. Furthermore, these storm-relative wind errors could lead to an under emphasis of deep-layer SRH variables relative to shallower SRH in discriminating nontornadic from tornadic supercells. The mean critical angles are 5–15° larger and farther from 90° in the observed soundings than in the SFCOA, particularly in the near field, likely indicating that the ratio of streamwise to crosswise horizontal vorticity is often smaller than that suggested by the SFCOA profiles. Errors in thermodynamic variables are less prevalent, but show low-level CAPE to be too low closer to the storms, a dry bias above the boundary layer, and the absence of shallow near-ground stable layers that are much more prevalent in tornadic supercell environments.

Indications of a Decrease in the Depth of Deep Convective Cores with Increasing Aerosol Concentration During the CACTI Campaign

An aerosol indirect effect on deep convective cores (DCCs), by which increasing aerosol concentration increases cloud-top height via enhanced latent heating and updraft velocity, has been proposed in many studies. However, the magnitude of this effect remains uncertain due to aerosol measurement limitations, modulation of the effect by meteorological conditions, and difficulties untangling meteorological and aerosol effects on DCCs. The Cloud, Aerosol, and Complex Terrain Interactions (CACTI) campaign in 2018-19 produced concentrated aerosol and cloud observations in a location with frequent DCCs, providing an opportunity to examine the proposed aerosol indirect effect on DCC depth in a rigorous and robust manner. For periods throughout the campaign with well mixed boundary layers, we analyze relationships that exist between aerosol variables (condensation nuclei concentration >10 nm, 0.4% cloud condensation nuclei concentration, 55-1000 nm aerosol concentration, and aerosol optical depth) and meteorological variables [level of neutral buoyancy (LNB), convective available potential energy, mid-level relative humidity, and deep layer vertical wind shear] with the maximum radar echo top height and cloud-top temperature (CTT) of DCCs. Meteorological variables such as LNB and deep-layer shear are strongly correlated with DCC depth. LNB is also highly correlated with three of the aerosol variables. After accounting for meteorological correlations, increasing values of the aerosol variables (with the exception of one formulation of AOD) are generally correlated at a statistically significant level with a warmer CTT of DCCs. Therefore, for the study region and period considered, increasing aerosol concentration is mostly associated with a decrease in DCC depth.

SEX-SPECIFIC TRAJECTORIES OF REELIN-DEPENDENT MATURATION OF DEEP LAYER PREFRONTAL NEURONS

Throughout early adulthood, the anatomical and functional maturation of PFC circuitry continues under the influence of multiple extrinsic and intrinsic factors, most notably electrical activity, and molecular cues. We previously showed that the extracellular matrix protein reelin orchestrates the structural and functional maturation of deep layers medial PFC (mPFC) pyramidal neurons. Additionally, we reported that reelin haploinsufficiency is associated to prefrontal disruptions of long-term memory retention thereby illustrating the eminent role of reelin in cognitive maturation of the PFC. Prefrontal maturation follows a sex-specific developmental pattern, supporting the existence of sexual differences in the morphology-functional properties PFC. Here, we interrogated the role of reelin in the functional maturation of excitatory networks in the mPFC. The developmental trajectory of reelin's expression and deep layer pyramidal neurons synaptic plasticity was tracked in the mPFC of male and female mice, from the juvenile period to adulthood. To assess the role of reelin in both sexes, wild-type and heterozygous reeler mice (HRM) were compared. The results show that the maturational profile of reelin expression in the mPFC is sex-dependent and that the developmental trajectory of long-term potentiation is different between wild-type males and females. These data demonstrate reelin influence on prefrontal synapses is sex and period specific.

210Pb-Derived Bioturbation Rates in Sediments Around Seamounts in the Tropical Northwest Pacific

To evaluate bioturbation coefficients (DB) and mixing depths (L), 210Pb and 226Ra activity was measured in two sediments cores (from water depths of 5,398 m and 4,428 m), which were collected from seamount areas in the Northwest Pacific. Using a steady-state diffusion mode, we estimated DB values of 16.8 and 24.1 cm2/a, higher than those in abyssal sediments and those predicted by traditional empirical equations. Corresponding L values varied between 19.3 and 23.1 cm. These high values indicate that seamounts are the area of active bioturbation. A one-dimensional model for the transport of total organic carbon (TOC) from the surface layer of sediments to the deep layer was developed using the distribution pattern of the specific activity of excess 210Pb (210Pbex) and its relationship with TOC. The model showed that the TOC flux transmitted downward by bioturbation was 0.09 mmol/(cm2⋅a) and 0.12 mmol/(cm2⋅a).

Decreased retinal microvasculature densities in pterygium

AIM: To investigate the retinal vascular network alterations in eyes of patients with pterygium. METHODS: Totally 18 left eyes from 18 female pterygium patients and 18 left eyes from 18 female healthy control subjects were enrolled. Optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) images were generated of the superficial retinal layer and deeper retinal layer of the macular retina for each eye. The microvascular (MIR) and macrovascular (MAR) densities were calculated and MIR, MAR, and total microvascular (TMI) density was compared in the healthy control and pterygium groups. RESULTS: In pterygium group, in the superficial retinal layer, the vascular density in superficial MIR, superior right (SR), inferior right (IR), right (R), superficial central annuli (SC)1, SC2, and SC3 decreased significantly in the macular area (P<0.05). Furthermore, the vascular density in all those decreased regions except R, was significantly and negatively correlated with the disease course (r=-0.6038 to -0.7762, P=0.0008), and the area size of pterygium (r=-0.6043 to -0.9508, P<0.05). For the deeper retinal layer, the density of deep total microvessel (DTMI), deeper MIR, SR, IR, R, DC2, and DC3 decreased significantly in macular area of pterygium patients (P<0.05). Furthermore, the vascular density in all those decreased regions was significantly and negatively correlated with the disease course (r=-0.6901 to -0.7795, P=0.0015), and the area size of pterygium (r=-0.6043 to -0.9563, P<0.05). No statistically significant differences and correlation was found in other region density (|r|<0.47, P>0.05). CONCLUSION: OCTA findings suggest that pterygium patients present with decreased retinal MIR density, and the major vascular alterations occurr mainly on the bitamporal side. The vascular density of the superficial SC1, SC2, SC3 adjacent to the foveal and deep layer of DC2, DC2 regions, significantly decreased.

Einfluss atmosphärischer Umgebungsbedingungen auf den Lebenszyklus konvektiver Zellen im Nowcasting

&lt;p&gt;Trotz signifikanter Verbesserungen in den vergangenen Jahren sind die Unsicherheiten insbesondere bei der Vorhersage von Gewittern und ihren Begleiterscheinungen wie Starkregen, Hagel oder Sturmb&amp;#246;en selbst mit konvektionsaufl&amp;#246;senden Wettervorhersagemodellen der Wetterdienste noch immer zu gro&amp;#223;, um daraus verl&amp;#228;ssliche und m&amp;#246;glichst punktgenaue Warnungen abzuleiten. F&amp;#252;r kurzfristige Pr&amp;#228;ventionsma&amp;#223;nahmen bis hin zur Evakuierung von Menschen beispielsweise bei Veranstaltungen im Freien sind pr&amp;#228;zise Vorhersagen auf kurzen Zeitskalen jedoch unerl&amp;#228;sslich. Mit den Verfahren der Echtzeit-Vorhersage (Nowcasting) lassen sich Gewitterereignisse und ihre wesentlichen Merkmale identifizieren und aus der Kenntnis der Historie f&amp;#252;r Zeitskalen von einigen Minuten bis zu wenigen Stunden extrapolieren beziehungsweise vorhersagen. Die &amp;#252;blicherweise kurze Lebensdauer konvektiver Ereignisse und deren schnelle Entwicklung w&amp;#228;hrend instabiler Wetterlagen f&amp;#252;hren jedoch oftmals zu einer erheblichen Diskrepanz zwischen den Nowcasting-Vorhersagen und den beobachteten Wetterbedingungen. Hier besteht folglich ein gro&amp;#223;es Verbesserungspotential.&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;Pr&amp;#228;sentiert wird eine Analyse der Lebenszyklen von konvektiven Zellen in Deutschland, welche die vorherrschenden atmosph&amp;#228;rischen Bedingungen miteinbezieht. Au&amp;#223;erdem werden verschiedene statistische Modelle zur Absch&amp;#228;tzung der Lebensdauer und Gr&amp;#246;&amp;#223;e konvektiver Zellen im Sinne des Nowcastings vorgestellt. Ein Vergleich dieser Modelle erm&amp;#246;glicht es zu beurteilen, welche Methode am besten geeignet ist, Nowcasting-Verfahren f&amp;#252;r Warnmanagementsysteme von Wetterdiensten zu verbessern.&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;Unter Verwendung von Daten des radarbasierten Zellverfolgungsalgorithmus KONRAD des Deutschen Wetterdienstes (DWD) wurden objektbasierte Lebenszyklen von isolierter Konvektion (Einzel- und Superzellen) f&amp;#252;r die Sommerhalbjahre 2011-2016 analysiert. Zus&amp;#228;tzlich wurde eine Vielzahl konvektionsrelevanter atmosph&amp;#228;rischer Variablen (z.B. Deep Layer Shear, CAPE, Lifted Index), die mittels hochaufl&amp;#246;sender COSMO-EU Assimilationsanalysen berechnet wurden, mit den Lebenszyklen kombiniert. Auf der Grundlage dieses kombinierten Datensatzes werden statistische Zusammenh&amp;#228;nge zwischen verschiedenen Zellattributen und atmosph&amp;#228;rischen Variablen diskutiert. Wie die Analysen zeigen, sind insbesondere Ma&amp;#223;e der vertikalen Windscherung aufgrund ihres Einflusses auf die Organisationsform der Zellen geeignet, zwischen solchen mit kurzer und langer Lebensdauer zu unterscheiden. Erh&amp;#246;hte thermische Instabilit&amp;#228;t ist mit einem schnelleren anf&amp;#228;nglichen Zellwachstum verbunden, was eine gr&amp;#246;&amp;#223;ere horizontale Zellexpansion (Zellfl&amp;#228;che) w&amp;#228;hrend des Lebenszyklus und indirekt eine l&amp;#228;ngere Lebensdauer beg&amp;#252;nstigt.&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;Drei verschiedene multivariate Methoden (logistische Regression, &lt;em&gt;Random Forest&lt;/em&gt;, nichtlinearer polynomialer Ansatz) wurden als statistische Modelle zur Sch&amp;#228;tzung der Lebensdauer und der maximalen Zellfl&amp;#228;che konvektiver Zellen unter Verwendung eines Ensemble-Ansatzes untersucht (&quot;&amp;#220;berwachtes Maschinelles Lernen&quot;). Die Vorhersageg&amp;#252;te der Modelle wurde mittels probabilistischer Evaluation bewertet und die Bedeutung der anf&amp;#228;nglichen Zellentwicklung und der atmosph&amp;#228;rischen Variablen f&amp;#252;r den weiteren Verlauf des Lebenszyklus quantifiziert. Es werden Potentiale und Grenzen der drei Methoden aufgezeigt, die verdeutlichen, dass die Wahl einer geeigneten Methode von dem genauen Nowcasting-Problem bzw. der Anforderung abh&amp;#228;ngt. Die Untersuchungen legen nahe, dass die maximale Zellfl&amp;#228;che konvektiver Zellen besser abgesch&amp;#228;tzt werden kann als ihre Lebensdauer. Atmosph&amp;#228;rische Variablen, die den dynamischen und thermodynamischen Zustand der Atmosph&amp;#228;re charakterisieren, sind zu Beginn der Zellentwicklung besonders wichtig f&amp;#252;r die Absch&amp;#228;tzung der zuk&amp;#252;nftigen Entwicklung der Zellattribute, w&amp;#228;hrend mit zunehmendem Zellalter die Zellhistorie immer relevanter wird.&lt;/p&gt;

Convective boundary layer structure over the equatorial Indian oceanic region

Results of an investigation of the Convective Boundary Layer (CBL) structure over the oceanic region in the vicinity of the equator during the summer monsoon season are presented. The data were obtained from stationary research vessels viz., Shirshov, Okean, Shokalsky and Priboy during the MONSOON-77 Experiment. Variations in structure between convective boundary layers over the four ships with respect to their position about the equator have been studied. The technique of saturation point, mixing line and conserved variable diagrams has been used to bring out these differences. The CBL structure over the four ships showed that in the vicinity of the equator there are no marked differences. However, the analysis carried out for the period of study revealed that the ships situated south of the equator represented more convective activity, higher moisture content and deep layer clouds as compared to the ships which were located at the equator and north of equator. The two ships, located at the equator, showed approximately similar convective boundary layer structure.