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The focus of this paper is on the development of methodology for short-term (1–3 days) oceanic bioluminescence (BL) predictions and the optimization of spatial and temporal bioluminescence sampling strategies. The approach is based on predictions of bioluminescence with an advection–diffusion–reaction (tracer) model with velocities and diffusivities from a circulation model. In previous research, it was shown that short-term changes in some of the salient features in coastal bioluminescence can be explained and predicted by using this approach. At the same time, it was demonstrated that optimization of bioluminescence sampling prior to the forecast is critical for successful short-term BL predictions with the tracer model. In the present paper, the adjoint to the tracer model is used to study the sensitivity of the modeled bioluminescence distributions to the sampling strategies for BL. The locations and times of bioluminescence sampling prior to the forecast are determined by using the adjoint-based sensitivity maps. The approach is tested with bioluminescence observations collected during August 2000 and 2003 in the Monterey Bay, California, area. During August 2000, BL surveys were collected during a strong wind relaxation event, while in August 2003, BL surveys were conducted during an extended (longer than a week) upwelling-favorable event. The numerical bioluminescence predictability experiments demonstrated a close agreement between observed and model-predicted short-term spatial and temporal changes of the coastal bioluminescence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A high resolution, data assimilating ocean model of the Monterey Bay area (ICON model) is under development within the framework of the project “An Innovative Coastal-Ocean Observing Network” (ICON) sponsored by the National Oceanographic Partnership Program. The main objective of the ICON model development is demonstration of the capability of a high resolution model to track the major mesoscale ocean features in the Monterey Bay area when constrained by the measurements and nested within a regional larger-scale model.This paper focuses on the development of the major ICON model components, including grid generation and open boundary conditions, coupling with a larger scale, Pacific West Coast (PWC) model, atmospheric forcing etc. Impact of these components on the Model''s predictive skills in reproducing major hydrographic conditions in the Monterey Bay area are analyzed.Comparisons between observations and the ICON model predictions with and without coupling to the PWC model, show that coupling with the regional model improves significantly both the correlation between the ICON model and observed ADCP currents, and the ICON model''s skill in predicting the location and intensity of observed upwelling events.Analysis of the ICON model mixed layer depth predictions show that the ICON model tends to develop a thicker than observed mixed layer during the summer time, and while assimilation of sea surface temperature data is enough for development of observed thin mixed layer in the regional larger-scale model, the fine-resolution ICON model needs variable heat fluxes as surface boundary conditions for the accurate prediction of the vertical thermal structure.The paper targets researchers involved in high-resolution numerical modeling of coastal areas in which the dynamics are determined by the complex geometry of a coastline, variable bathymetry and by the influence of complex water masses from a complicated hydrographic system (such as the California Current system). [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

A data assimilation approach to specify open boundary conditions is proposed. The boundary values are determined from the solution of the special optimization problem: minimization of the difference between the model and reference boundary values under the integral constraints on the open boundary. These constraints represent the energy, momentum, and mass fluxes through the open boundary. Reference values represent the a priori knowledge about the boundary values. They might be derived from observations, results of another model run, or from another approach to the specification of open boundary conditions. Optimized open boundary conditions are presented in detail for the barotropic case and when only one integral constraint is considered: energy flux through the open boundary. It is shown that well-known radiation-type boundary conditions introduced by Reid and Bodine, and Flather, are special cases of the derived optimized conditions. The results of application of the proposed boundary conditions are demonstrated in the modeling of tidal and wind-driven circulation for a channel and for the northern part of the Adriatic Sea. The results of studies of the model predictions' sensitivity to errors in the reference values used in the boundary conditions are presented. The applications of optimized open boundary conditions show a significant reduction in errors when compared to the commonly used, nonoptimized schemes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two Al-Mg-silicate glass sample sets with variable BiO content were prepared. One set was sintered by melting in an iridium crucible at 1850°C in nitrogen, the other-in alumina crucibles at 1550°C in air. Their absorption and emission properties were investigated and compared in the 200-1600 nm spectral range. It was determined that the visible range extinctions values of high-temperature melted samples were almost two orders of magnitude higher than those of the low-temperature melted samples with the same doping level. The concentration dependences of the extinction values at 500, 700 and 800 nm were nonlinear. The investigations allowed us to estimate the absolute concentrations of Bi ions and NIR-emitting centers as well as the efficiency of the Bi ions conversion into these centers. It was concluded that optical centers emitting at 1100 and 1300 nm contain a pair of bismuth ions. Speculations about some possible structures of Bi dimer NIR-emitting centers were made. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mango malformation disease ( MMD), caused by Fusarium mangiferae, is a major constraint to mango production, causing significant yield reduction resulting in severe economic impact. The present study characterizes fungal localization in planta during initiation and development of vegetative and floral malformation. Young mango trees were artificially inoculated with a green fluorescent protein ( GFP)-expressing strain of F. mangiferae. Shoots and buds were sampled periodically over a period of more than a year and localization of the GFP-expressing fungi was determined using confocal microscopy. Fungal localization appears to be epiphytic: mycelia remained in close contact with the plant surface but did not penetrate the tissue. In vegetative malformation and in young inflorescences, the fungus was confined to protected regions between scales, young leaf bases and buds. Fungal colonization was only very rarely detected on open leaves or on exposed shoot sections. In developed flowers, mycelia were localized mainly to protected regions at the base of the flower organs. Upon development of the inner flower organs, specific mycelial growth occurred around the anthers and the style. Mycelial penetration through the stylar tract into aborting carpels was observed. For several months, mycelia were confined to the surface of the organs and were not detected within plant tissues. Only at later stages, transient saprophytic growth of the fungus was detected causing the malformed inflorescences to senesce and collapse, concurrent with dispersion of conidia. Implications of the present study on MMD in natural field infections are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Coastal marine ecosystems are profoundly influenced by processes that originate from their boundaries. These include fluid boundaries—with the atmosphere, oceanic boundary currents and terrestrial aquatic systems, as well as solid boundaries—with the seafloor and coast. Phytoplankton populations transfer complexly interacting boundary influences into the biosphere. In this contribution, we apply data from an ocean observing and modeling system to examine boundary influences driving phytoplankton ecology in Monterey Bay, CA, USA. The study was focused on species that may cause harmful algal blooms (HABs). During September–October 2010, autonomous molecular analytical devices were moored at two locations characterized by different degrees of stratification and exposure to upwelling dynamics. The time-series revealed multiple transitions in local HAB phytoplankton communities, involving diatoms (Pseudo-nitzschia spp.), dinoflagellates (Alexandrium catenella), and raphidophytes (Heterosigma akashiwo). Observational and model results showed that the biological transitions were closely related to environmental changes that resulted from a variety of boundary processes—responses of oceanic circulation to wind forcing, influxes of different water types that originated outside the bay, and emergence of strongly stratified nearshore water into the greater bay. Boundary processes were further implicated at patch scales. High-resolution mapping and sampling of a phytoplankton-enriched patch were conducted in a Lagrangian framework using autonomous underwater vehicles. These highly resolved measurements showed that small-scale spatial patterns in the toxicity of Pseudo-nitzschia populations were related to the coupling of resuspended sediments from the bottom boundary layer to the surface mixed layer. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The NIR-emitting optical centers in Bi2O3-doped MgO–Al2O3–SiO2 glass were shown to be bismuth dimers formed in a reversible endothermic redox chemical reaction. The reaction enthalpy and the effective dimer charge were determined. It was also brought out that the red (∼720 nm) emission band originates from the centers that are quite different from IR-emitting ones. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new Bi-doped Mg–Al–silicate glass is suggested and investigated. It can be fabricated by moderate-temperature routine technology. The characteristic relaxation time of 300–800 μs in combination with the high quantum yield (up to 85%) and wide excitation spectrum makes this glass a promising laser material. The obtained quadratic dependence of the visible absorption intensity is an argument in favor of the hypothesis that the absorption and infrared luminescence in Bi-doped glasses are caused by Bi2 dimers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The Autonomous Ocean Sampling Network Phase Two (AOSN-II) experiment was conducted in and offshore from the Monterey Bay on the central California coast during July 23–September 6, 2003. The objective of the experiment was to learn how to apply new tools, technologies, and analysis techniques to adaptively sample the coastal ocean in a manner demonstrably superior to traditional methodologies, and to use the information gathered to improve predictive skill for quantities of interest to end-users. The scientific goal was to study the upwelling/relaxation cycle near an open coastal bay in an eastern boundary current region, particularly as it developed and spread from a coastal headland. The suite of observational tools used included a low-flying aircraft, a fleet of underwater gliders, including several under adaptive autonomous control, and propeller-driven AUVs in addition to moorings, ships, and other more traditional hardware. The data were delivered in real time and assimilated into the Harvard Ocean Prediction System (HOPS), the Navy Coastal Ocean Model (NCOM), and the Jet Propulsion Laboratory implementation of the Regional Ocean Modeling System (JPL/ROMS). Two upwelling events and one relaxation event were sampled during the experiment. The upwelling in both cases began when a pool of cold water less than 13°C appeared near Cape Año Nuevo and subsequently spread offshore and southward across the bay as the equatorward wind stress continued. The primary difference between the events was that the first event spread offshore and southward, while the second event spread only southward and not offshore. The difference is attributed to the position and strength of meanders and eddies of the California Current System offshore, which blocked or steered the cold upwelled water. The space and time scales of the mesoscale variability were much shorter than have been previously observed in deep-water eddies offshore. Additional process studies are needed to elucidate the dynamics of the flow. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Background: Monitoring blood transfusion for overutilization is standard practice at most institutions.Study Design and Methods: This study monitored for underutilization of blood transfusion over a 14-month period, by evaluating patients who had Hb levels that were reported to be <5 g per dL or platelet counts <10 x 10(9) per L and who did not receive an RBC or platelet transfusion within 24 hours of the reported results.Results: During the study period, 24,004 units of RBCs and 3,967 units of apheresis platelets were transfused. There were 148 patients who had a Hb level that was reported to be <5 g per dL or a platelet count reported to be <10 x 10(9) per L and who did not receive a transfusion during the 24 hours after the reporting of these results. In 5 cases, the patients died before the reporting of the low Hb or platelet counts, which precluded the low Hb or low platelet count reports from triggering transfusion therapy. In 8 cases, an underutilization review investigation could not be done, because of the unavailability of patient charts. Of the remaining 135 cases, investigation revealed justifiable reasons for withholding transfusion in 133. In 2 cases, the withholding of transfusion was deemed by peer review to be inappropriate, as the patients should have received a transfusion. Overall, there was one documented underutilization of RBC transfusion therapy during a period when 24,004 units were transfused and one underutilization of platelet transfusion therapy during a period when 3,967 units of apheresis platelets were transfused.Conclusion: Monitoring for underutilization of transfusion therapy fulfills the requirements of the Joint Commission on the Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations: While the underutilization of transfusion therapy did not appear to be a significant problem at this medical center, determining the reasons for withholding transfusions shed light on important patient care-related issues, including preexisting causes of falsely low platelet counts and Hb levels, delays in investigating critical laboratory values, and the need for policies for the treatment of patients who refuse transfusion for personal or religious reasons. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]