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Silvia Metzger, Bogomil Poliakov, Stefan LautenbacherDepartment of Physiological Psychology, University of Bamberg, Bamberg, GermanyBackground: Anxiety has been associated with both increased and decreased pain perception. Rhudy and Meagher (2000) showed that pain sensitivity is enhanced by anxiety (anticipation of shocks), but diminished by fear (confrontation with shocks). A problem of this approach is the confounding of emotional and attentional effects: Administered shocks (fear induction) divert attention away from pain, which might account for lower pain in this condition. Moreover, heterogeneous findings in the past might be due to inter-individual differences in the proneness to react to anxiety and fear such as ones anxiety sensitivity (AS) level.Objectives: Our aim was to clarify the association between anxiety, fear and pain. We used the NPU paradigm for inducing these emotions and recording pain sensitivity at once with one stimulus to prevent interference by distraction. We assumed that anxiety and fear affect pain differently. Moreover, we hypothesized that subjects with clinically relevant (high) AS (H-AS group) show enhanced pain perception in contrast to low AS subjects (L-AS group).Method: Forty healthy subjects (female: N=20; age M=23.53 years) participated and H-AS or L-AS status was determined by clinically discriminating cut-off scores of the Anxiety Sensitivity Index-3 (ASI-III). Emotions were induced by the application of unpredictable (anxiety) and predictable (fear) electric stimuli. Pain ratings of electric stimuli were compared between the conditions. Startle reflex and anxiety ratings were recorded.Results: Results showed no general effects of anxiety and fear on pain perception. However, anxiety enhanced pain sensitivity in H-AS subjects, whereas fear did not affect pain sensitivity. In L-AS subjects no effects on pain perception were found.Conclusion: Results revealed that anxiety, not fear, enhanced pain perception but only in subjects with clinically relevant AS levels. This indicates that subclinical AS levels are sufficient to increase pain sensitivity, in uncertain situations.Keywords: anxiety sensitivity index-3, enhanced pain sensitivity, attention effects, electric stimuli

Large datasets of greenhouse gas and energy surface-atmosphere fluxes measured with the eddy-covariance technique (e.g., FLUXNET2015, AmeriFlux BASE) are widely used to benchmark models and remote-sensing products. This study addresses one of the major challenges facing model-data integration: To what spatial extent do flux measurements taken at individual eddy-covariance sites reflect model- or satellite-based grid cells? We evaluate flux footprints—the temporally dynamic source areas that contribute to measured fluxes—and the representativeness of these footprints for target areas (e.g., within 250–3000 m radii around flux towers) that are often used in flux-data synthesis and modeling studies. We examine the land-cover composition and vegetation characteristics, represented here by the Enhanced Vegetation Index (EVI), in the flux footprints and target areas across 214 AmeriFlux sites, and evaluate potential biases as a consequence of the footprint-to-target-area mismatch. Monthly 80% footprint climatologies vary across sites and through time ranging four orders of magnitude from 103 to 107 m2 due to the measurement heights, underlying vegetation- and ground-surface characteristics, wind directions, and turbulent state of the atmosphere. Few eddy-covariance sites are located in a truly homogeneous landscape. Thus, the common model-data integration approaches that use a fixed-extent target area across sites introduce biases on the order of 4%–20% for EVI and 6%–20% for the dominant land cover percentage. These biases are site-specific functions of measurement heights, target area extents, and land-surface characteristics. We advocate that flux datasets need to be used with footprint awareness, especially in research and applications that benchmark against models and data products with explicit spatial information. We propose a simple representativeness index based on our evaluations that can be used as a guide to identify site-periods suitable for specific applications and to provide general guidance for data use.

Research infrastructures play a key role in launching a new generation of integrated long-Term, geographically distributed observation programmes designed to monitor climate change, better understand its impacts on global ecosystems, and evaluate possible mitigation and adaptation strategies. The pan-European Integrated Carbon Observation System combines carbon and greenhouse gas (GHG; CO 2 , CH 4 , N 2 O, H 2 O) observations within the atmosphere, terrestrial ecosystems and oceans. High-precision measurements are obtained using standardised methodologies, are centrally processed and openly available in a traceable and verifiable fashion in combination with detailed metadata. The Integrated Carbon Observation System ecosystem station network aims to sample climate and land-cover variability across Europe. In addition to GHG flux measurements, a large set of complementary data (including management practices, vegetation and soil characteristics) is collected to support the interpretation, spatial upscaling and modelling of observed ecosystem carbon and GHG dynamics. The applied sampling design was developed and formulated in protocols by the scientific community, representing a trade-off between an ideal dataset and practical feasibility. The use of open-Access, high-quality and multi-level data products by different user communities is crucial for the Integrated Carbon Observation System in order to achieve its scientific potential and societal value.

The constant increase of geodetic instrumentation over the past decades enables us to not only detect ever smaller tectonic signals but also to monitor their evolution in time and space. We present spatial and temporal slip variations observed on a fault affected by a large, intermediate‐field earthquake: the 2015 Mw7.2 Sarez, Central Pamir, earthquake ruptured the sinistral, NE‐trending Sarez‐Karakul fault system. 120–170 km North of the main rupture, the thin‐skinned, E‐trending Pamir thrust system bounding the Pamir to the North was co‐seismically activated. We derived co‐seismic offsets and post‐seismic rates observed by two dense, high‐rate Global Positioning System (GPS) profiles crossing the Pamir thrust system at different longitudes. The continuous GPS observations of the western profile focus on the dextral, NW‐striking Aramkungey fault segment that connects two thrust faults with opposite dip. We compare inter‐, co‐ and post‐seismic displacement rates by complementing the continuous data with survey‐mode GPS data and East rates derived from satellite radar interferometric displacement time‐series. All the GPS stations were shifted toward the epicenter against the direction of the interseismic load with an increased gradient in the Aramkungey fault segment. During the postseismic stage, the fault‐parallel and fault‐perpendicular rates were affected differently, suggesting gradual re‐locking of the Aramkungey fault after its unlocking by right‐lateral co‐seismic slip. Plain Language Summary: The 2015 Mw7.2 Sarez earthquake, occurred in the Central Pamir, caused m‐scale displacement of the Earth's surface. This earthquake also affected another system near the northern Pamir front at 120–170 km distance from the epicenter where the Pamir thrust system separates the Pamir from the Alay valley (a testimony of an ancient ocean) and the adjacent Tien Shan mountain range to the North. Time‐series analysis of accurate positioning data (GPS) showed 10–20 mm displacements of the Alai crust surface toward the earthquake epicenter with an increased level of deformation near the western segment of the system—in the zone of the Aramkungey right strike‐slip fault. As a result of the earthquake, this fault was unlocked, but then gradually began to be relocked, accelerating the strain accumulation in the following 4.5 years. Key Points: The 2015 Sarez earthquake unlocked the Aramkungey fault at 150 km distance but in the following 0.5–2.5 years the locking began again10–20 mm Alai coseismic displacements toward the Sarez earthquake epicenter led to a slight decrease in the load state of this areaThe Sarez сoseismic deformations attenuated faster in the decompaction strip around the Aramkungey fault with a width of at least 7.5 km [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We used commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) silicon carbide (SiC) ultraviolet photodiodes for measuring gamma dose rates at high temperature. We tested them with Co-60 gamma dose rates between 0.03 mGy(Air)/s and 3 Gy(Air)/s. The diodes show excellent sensitivity, high signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), and good linearity. They were operated at temperatures up to 200[degrees]C with negligible changes of the dark and the radiation-induced current. Gamma irradiation up to a total dose of 1080 kGy(Air), 32-MeV proton irradiations up to a fluence of 8.5 x [10.sup.12] [cm.sup.-2], and 14-MeV neutron irradiations up to 4.1 x [10.sup.12] [cm.sup.-2] demonstrate their radiation hardness. These results and the ability to measure the proton as well as the neutron dose rate after a calibration with Co-60 gammas show that COTS SiC diodes can be used as radiation detectors in harsh environments. Index Terms--Commercial off the shelf (COTS), Co-60 gamma dose-rate meter, harsh environment, neutron dose-rate meter, proton dose-rate meter, radiation detector, silicon carbide (SiC) photodiode.

The first simultaneous microbeam mapping of single event upset (SEU) and latchup (SEL) in the CMOS RAM HM65162 is presented. We found that the shapes of the sensitive areas depend on [V.sub.DD], on the ions being used and on the site on the chip being hit by the ion. In particular, we found SEL sensitive sites close to the main power supply lines between the memory-bit-arrays by detecting the accompanying current surge. All these SELs were also accompanied by bit-flips elsewhere in the memory (which we call 'indirect' SEUs in contrast to the well known SEUs induced in the hit memory cell only). When identical SEL sensitive sites were hit farther away from the supply lines only indirect SEL sensitive sites could be detected. We interpret these events as 'latent' latchups in contrast to the 'classical' ones detected by their induced current surge. These latent SELs were probably decoupled from the main supply lines by the high resistivity of the local supply lines.

A variety of undoped multimode step-index fibres and Gedoped single mode and graded index fibres is irradiated by 14 MeV neutrons and 60Co gamma rays up to the same total dose. Radiation-induced loss and breaking stress are measured. The loss induced during gamma irradiation of Ge-doped fibres is about 2.5 times higher than during neutron irradiation with the same dose rate, up to a fluence of about 3x1012 [cm.sup.-2] (14 MeV). This loss ratio decreases to [less than or equal to] 2.0 after about [10.sup.13] [cm.sup.-2] (14 MeV). Monte Carlo calculations of the dose enhancement as caused by fast recoil protons out of the H-containing acrylate coating are confirmed experimentally. 14 MeV neutron irradiation up to [less than or equal to] [10.sup.13] [cm.sup.-2] seems to decrease fibre breaking stress by 3 - 4 %, whereas 60 Co gamma irradiation up to the same total dose has no effect.

The mechanisms responsible for single event upsets can be studied more realistically in transistors that are part of an integrated test circuit than in single isolated test transistors with fixed biases on all the nodes. Both energetic, heavy ions and focused, pulsed laser light were used to generate transient voltages at a number of different nodes in a GaAs MESFET integrated test circuit. Three-dimensional maps of charge collection regions were generated with the use of the scanning ion microprobe at Gesellschaft fur Schwerionenforschung (GSI). The results showed that charge was collected from all areas of the circuit, but with different efficiencies at different injection sites. Regions not covered with metal were exposed to pulsed laser light. The resulting transients had pulse shapes similar to those generated by ions and amplitudes that also depended on ion strike location. These results illustrate the usefulness of the ion microprobe technique for obtaining spatial and temporal information about SEU in integrated circuits.

We present a comparison between results, obtained from different simulation models, for the static properties of end-tethered polymer layers in good solvent. Our analysis includes data from two previous studies—the bond fluctuation model of Wittmer et al. [J. Chem. Phys. 101, 4379 (1994)] and the off-lattice bead–spring model of Grest and Murat [Macromolecules 26, 3108 (1993)]. Additionally, we explore the properties of a similar off-lattice model simulated close to the Θ temperature. We show that the data for the bond fluctuation and the Grest–Murat model can be analyzed in terms of scaling theory because chains are swollen inside the Pincus blob. In the vicinity of the Θ point the structure of the chains is essentially Gaussian in the Pincus blob. Therefore, the data for the second off-lattice model can be compared quantitatively to the self-consistent field theory. Different ways to determine the parameters of the self-consistent field theory are discussed. © 2004 American Institute of Physics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Geodetically derived velocities from Central Asia show that Northern Afghanistan, the Tajik Pamir, and northwestern Pakistan all move northward with comparable large velocities toward Eurasia. Steep velocity gradients, hence high strain rates, occur only across the Main Pamir Fault zone and with lesser magnitude between the northernmost Hindu Kush and the south and southeast margins of the Tajik Depression. Localized shortening is not apparent on any active India‐Hindu Kush crustal boundary; hence, crustal convergence between India and Eurasia in Central Asia is absorbed primarily on the northern and western margins of the Pamir. This concentrated strain on the Pamir margins is consistent with one, geometrically complex, interface between subducting Asian lithosphere and the Pamir. That interface might curve westward such that the Hindu Kush seismic zone is a continuation of the Pamir seismic zone, or alternatively, Hindu Kush earthquakes might occur in convectively unstable mantle lithosphere mechanically detached from surface faults. Plain Language Summary: Using Global Positioning System (GPS) measurements of surface velocities, we find that much of the relative motion between India and Eurasia in Central Asia is accommodated on a single crustal boundary on the north side of the Pamir, wrapping around the eastern and southern margins of the Tajik Depression. Key Points: Crustal shortening is accommodated across the northern margins of the Pamir and Hindu Kush between NW Afghanistan and the Tajik DepressionThere is little geodetic evidence for localized crustal shortening on the south side of the Hindu Kush between Indian and Pamir crustIntermediate depth seismicity in the Hindu Kush cannot easily be linked to ongoing subduction of Indian lithosphere [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

By methods from nonequilibrium thermodynamics, we derive a diffuse-interface model for two-phase flow of incompressible fluids with dissolved noninteracting polymers. The polymers are modeled by dumbbells subjected to general elastic spring-force potentials including in particular Hookean and finitely extensible, nonlinear elastic (FENE) potentials. Their density and orientation are described by a Fokker-Planck-type equation which is coupled to a Cahn-Hilliard and a momentum equation for phase-field and gross velocity/pressure. Henry-type energy functionals are used to describe different solubility properties of the polymers in the different phases or at the liquid-liquid interface. Taking advantage of the underlying energetic/entropic structure of the system, we prove existence of a weak solution globally in time for the case of FENE-potentials. As a by-product in the case of Hookean spring potentials, we derive a macroscopic diffuse-interface model for two-phase flow of Oldroyd-B-type liquids. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The complex tectonic interplay between the Central Asian Southwest Tien Shan and the north advancing Pamir as well as the role of the Pamir Frontal Thrust (PFT) separating these two orogens along the intervening Alai Valley is yet unclear. In this paper we present data of the newly installed Western Alai GPS profile (WAGP), capturing the deformation signal of both mountain ranges. The 20 km long WAGP records a maximum displacement rate of 9.3 ± 0.8 mm yr−1. The lion's share of displacement (6.0 ± 0.8 mm yr−1) is accommodated between the two stations located directly north and south of the PFT in 5 km distance. The WAGP data nicely complement the existing South Tien Shan and the Pamir GPS network data, which we present here in a combined reference frame and use it as input for horizontal block rotation/strain models. The model results show that both the Southwest Tien Shan and the Pamir behave as uniformly strained blocks and rotate counterclockwise (with respect to Eurasia) by 0.93 ± 0.11° Myr−1 and 0.62 ± 0.05° Myr−1, respectively. The Southwest Tien Shan undergoes NNE-SSW shortening of −22.1 ± 1.5 × 10−9 year−1 with an insignificant perpendicular extension. The Pamir is shortening with a rate of −10.2 ± 3.8 × 10−9 year−1 in a NNE-SSW direction, which is nearly 2.5 times less than its lateral extension rate. A band of increased deformation along the PFT is bounded to the north by the northern rim of the Alai Valley and extends up to 30-50 km south into the Pamir. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We introduce a framework to efficiently parameterize the aerosol water uptake for mixtures of semi-volatile and non-volatile compounds, based on the coefficient, i. This solute specific coefficient was introduced in Metzger et al. (2012) to accurately parameterize the single solution hygroscopic growth, considering the Kelvin effect - accounting for the water uptake of concentrated nanometer sized particles up to dilute solutions, i.e., from the compounds relative humidity of deliquescence (RHD) up to supersaturation (Köhler-theory). Here we extend the i-parameterization from single to mixed solutions. We evaluate our framework at various levels of complexity, by considering the full gas-liquid-solid partitioning for a comprehensive comparison with reference calculations using the E-AIM, EQUISOLV II, ISORROPIA II models as well as textbook examples. We apply our parameterization in EQSAM4clim, the EQuilibrium Simplified Aerosol Model V4 for climate simulations, implemented in a box model and in the global chemistry-climate model EMAC. Our results show: (i) that the i-approach enables to analytically solve the entire gas-liquid-solid partitioning and the mixed solution water uptake with sufficient accuracy, (ii) that, e.g., pure ammonium nitrate and mixed ammonium nitrate - ammonium sulfate mixtures can be solved with a simple method, and (iii) that the aerosol optical depth (AOD) simulations are in close agreement with remote sensing observations for the year 2005. Long-term evaluation of the EMAC results based on EQSAM4clim and ISORROPIA II will be presented separately. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Interactions of desert dust and air pollution over the eastern Mediterranean (EM) have been studied, focusing on two distinct dust transport events on 22 and 28 September 2011. The atmospheric chemistry-climate model EMAC has been used at about 50 km grid spacing, applying an online dust emission scheme and calcium as a proxy for dust reactivity. EMAC includes a detailed tropospheric chemistry mechanism, aerosol microphysics and thermodynamics schemes to describe dust "aging". The model is evaluated using ground-based observations for aerosol concentrations and aerosol optical depth (AOD) as well as satellite observations. Simulation results and back trajectory analysis show that the development of synoptic disturbances over the EM can enhance dust transport from the Sahara and Arabian deserts in frontal systems that also carry air pollution to the EM. The frontal systems are associated with precipitation that controls the dust removal. Our results show the importance of chemical aging of dust, which increases particle size, dust deposition and scavenging efficiency during transport, overall reducing the lifetime relative to non-aged dust particles. The relatively long travel periods of Saharan dust result in more sustained aging compared to Arabian dust. Sensitivity simulations indicate 3 times more dust deposition of aged relative to pristine dust, which significantly decreases the dust lifetime and loading. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reduced body fat and increased hepatic lipid synthesis in mice bearing interleukin-6-secreting tumor. Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab 281: E957-E965, 2001.--Chronic secretion of interleukin-6 (IL-6) in mice causes metabolic alteration in the liver, leading to increased synthesis of hepatic cholesterol and fatty acids (FA). Mice were injected with allogeneic tumor cells transduced with the murine IL-6 gene. During the 3 wk after tumor inoculation, elevated serum IL-6 levels were associated with increased spleen and liver weight. Histological examination of sections from the liver showed increased hepatocyte proliferation, resulting in liver enlargement. Body composition analysis revealed that IL-6 caused a significant loss in fat tissue without affecting lean body mass and water content. Hepatic de novo synthesis of FA and cholesterol, as measured by [sup.3][H.sub.2]O incorporation, was three to five times as high in mice secreting IL-6 (IL-6 mice) as in pair-fed mice bearing nonsecreting tumors. This increase in FA and cholesterol synthesis is sufficient to maintain hepatic triglyceride secretion at levels comparable with those of pair-fed mice bearing nonsecreting tumors and, presumably, is the main source of cholesterol and FA-phospholipids necessary for hepatocyte proliferation. hepatocyte proliferation; adipose tissue; fatty acids; cholesterol; triglyceride; glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase

The objective of these experiments was to determine adaptation by ruminants to dietary sulfur. In Exp. 1, lambs (n = 54; BW = 33.6 ± 0.4 kg) were allotted to 3 treatments: 1) 0% added dietary S (0%S), 2) 0.2% added dietary S (0.2%S), or 3) 0.4% added dietary S (0.4%S). Sulfur was added to the diet as Na2S04. Lambs fed the 0.2%S and 0.4%S diets had greater (P <0.01) ADG and G:F compared to those fed the 0%S diet. There was time x diet interaction (P <0.01) on luminal hydrogen sulfide gas (H2S) concentrations. Ruminai H2S was not detected in lambs fed 0%S at any time. Ruminai H2S were not affected (P > 0.19) by diet on d 1 or 8; however, H2S were greater (P <0.01) for lambs fed 0.2%S and 0.4%S than for lambs fed 0%S on d 15,22, and 29 (0.2% was 931, 846, and 1,131 mg/L and 0.4% was 975, 737, and 1,495 mg/L on d 15, 22, and 29, respectively). These data suggest it takes at least 29 d for peak ruminai H2S to occur after exposure to Na2S04. In Exp. 2, lambs (n = 66; BW = 51.1 ± 0.4 kg) were allotted to 3 treatments: 1) 60% dried distillers grains with solubles (DDGS), 2) corn-based diet with Na2S04, or 3) corn-based diet with H,S04. All diets were fonnulated to contain 0.4%S. Lambsfed Na2S04 had greater (P < 0.05) ADG, DMI, and G:F than those fed H2S04 or 60% DDGS. A time x diet interaction occurred (.P < 0.01) for ruminai H2S. There was no difference (P = 0.82) in H9S of lambs on d 1. However, at d 14 and 27 lambs fed supplemental Na2S04 had the lowest ILS concentrations while lambs fed"60% DDGS had the greatest (P < 0.01 on both d); lambs fed H2S04 were intermediate and different than both. These data suggest that at the same dietary S concentration, acidic S sources increased H2S and decreased DMI and ADG. In Exp. 3, Angus cross calves (w = 72; average initial BW = 324 ± 3 kg) were allotted to 3 treatments: 1) corn-based control d 0 through 85 (0%DDGS), 2) gradual step up to 60% DDGS diet (20% DDGS d 0 to 6, 40% DDGS d 7 to 13, 50% DDGS d 14 to 20, and 60% DDGS d 21 to 85; Step-up), or 3) 60% DDGS d 0 to 85 (60%DDGS). Overall, cattle fed 0%DDGS had increased (P < 0.05) DMI and ADG compared with those fed 60%DDGS or Step-up, and G:F was not affected (P = 0.42) by dietary treatment. On d 14, ruminai H0S concentrations were greater (P <0.01) for cattle fed 60%DDGS and Step-up than for those fed 0%DDGS, and they did not differ (P ≥ 0.22) between DDGS-containing diets. These data illustrate that source of S impacts ruminai S metabolism and that S from DDGS is more readily reduced than S from Na2S04 or H2S04. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The nucleation area of the series of M6 events in Parkfield has been shown to be characterized by low b-values throughout the seismic cycle. Since low b-values represent high differential stresses, the asperity structure seems to be always stably stressed and even unaffected by the latest main shock in 2004. However, because fault loading rates and applied shear stress vary with time, some degree of temporal variability of the b-value within stable blocks is to be expected. We discuss in this study adequate techniques and uncertainty treatment for a detailed analysis of the temporal evolution of b-values. We show that the derived signal for the Parkfield asperity correlates with changes in surface creep, suggesting a sensitive time resolution of the b-value stress meter, and confirming near-critical loading conditions within the Parkfield asperity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Escherichia coli isolated from bovine milk samples submitted to the Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center Mastitis Laboratory (Wooster) in 1985 to 1987 and in 2009 were compared for antimicrobial susceptibility and prevalence of antimicrobial resistance genes. Forty-four isolates from 1985 to 1987 and 55 isolates from 2009 were tested. Minimum inhibitory concentrations of 15 antimicrobials were determined using a commercially available broth micro-dilution system. Multiplex polymerase chain reaction was performed for gene detection. The percentage of isolates susceptible to trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole, ampicillin, and kanamycin was lower in those collected in 1985 to 1987 than in isolates collected in 2009. Susceptibility did not differ between isolates from 1985 to 1987 and isolates from 2009 for the 12 other antimicrobials tested. A trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole resistance gene was detected more frequently in isolates from 1985 to 1987 than in isolates from 2009. Gene frequencies for streptomycin resistance and tetracycline resistance were similar among 1985 to 1987 isolates and 2009 isolates. Resistance to most antimicrobials did not differ between isolates submitted to a mastitis diagnostic laboratory in 1985 to 1987 and those submitted in 2009. Changes observed indicated an increase in frequency of susceptibility in isolates to trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole, ampicillin, and kanamycin in 2009 isolates compared with 1985 to 1987 isolates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The goal of this study is to characterize the sensible (H) and latent (LE) heat exchange for different land covers in the heterogeneous steppe landscape of the Xilin River catchment, Inner Mongolia, China. Eddy-covariance flux measurements at 50-100m above ground were conducted in July 2009 using a weight-shift microlight aircraft. Wavelet decomposition of the turbulence data enables a spatial discretization of 90m of the flux measurements. For a total of 8446 flux observations during 12 flights, MODIS land surface temperature (LST) and enhanced vegetation index (EVI) in each flux footprint are determined. Boosted regression trees are then used to infer an environmental response function (ERF) between all flux observations ( Ocean Science H, LE) and biophysical (LST, EVI) and meteorological drivers. Numerical tests show that ERF predictions covering the entire Xilin River catchment (≈3670 km² ) are accurate to ≤ 18% (1 σ). The predictions are then summarized for each land cover type, providing individual estimates of source strength (36 W m -2 < H < 364W m-2, 46 W m-2 LE < 425 W m-2) and spatial variability (11 W m-2 <σH<169W m-2, 14W m-2 < s LE< 152 W m-2 ) to a precision of ≤ 5%. Lastly, ERF predictions of land cover specific Bowen ratios are compared between subsequent flights at different locations in the Xilin River catchment. Agreement of the land cover specific Bowen ratios to within 12±9% emphasizes the robustness of the presented approach. This study indicates the potential of ERFs for (i) extending airborne flux measurements to the catchment scale, (ii) assessing the spatial representativeness of long-term tower flux measurements, and (iii) designing, constraining and evaluating flux algorithms for remote sensing and numerical modelling applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The goal of this study is to characterize the sensible (H) and latent (LE) heat exchange for different land covers in the heterogeneous steppe landscape of the Xilin River Catchment, Inner Mongolia, China. Eddy-covariance flux measurements at 50- 100m above ground were conducted in July 2009 using a weight-shift microlight aircraft. Wavelet decomposition of the turbulence data enables a spatial discretization of 90m of the flux measurements. For a total of 8446 flux observations during 12 flights, MODIS land surface temperature (LST) and enhanced vegetation index (EVI) in each flux footprint are determined. Boosted regression trees are then used to infer an environmental response function (ERF) between all flux observations (H, LE) and biophysical- (LST, EVI) and meteorological drivers. Numerical tests show that ERF predictions covering the entire Xilin River Catchment (≈3670 km²) are accurate to ≤ 18%. The predictions are then summarized for each land cover type, providing individual estimates of source strength (36Wm-2 < H < 364Wm-2, 46Wm-2 < LE < 425Wm-2) and spatial variability (11Wm-2 < σH < 169Wm-2 , 14Wm-2< σLE < 152Wm-2) to a precision of ≤ 5%. Lastly, ERF predictions of land cover specific Bowen ratios are compared between subsequent flights at different locations in the Xilin River Catchment. Agreement of the land cover specific Bowen ratios to within 12±9% emphasizes the robustness of the presented approach. This study indicates the potential of ERFs for (I) extending airborne flux measurements to the catchment scale, (ii) assessing the spatial representativeness of long-term tower flux measurements, and (iii) designing, constraining and evaluating flux algorithms for remote sensing and numerical modelling applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents a study that assesses the feasibility and quality of eddy-covariance flux measurements from a weight-shift microlight aircraft (WSMA). The study examines the precision of the wind measurement, the lynchpin of flux calculations from aircraft and compares measurements of wind, temperature, humidity and respective fluxes between a tall tower and the WSMA. It also recommends the use of WSMA as a low cost and highly versatile flux measurement platform.

Water activity is a key factor in aerosol thermodynamics and hygroscopic growth. We introduce a new representation of water activity (αw), which is empirically related to the solute molality (µs) through a single solute specific constant, νI. Our approach is widely applicable, considers the Kelvin effect and covers ideal solutions at high relative humidity (RH), including cloud condensation nuclei (CCN) activation. It also encompasses concentrated solutions with high ionic strength at low RH such as the relative humidity of deliquescence (RHD). The constant νI can thus be used to parameterize the aerosol hygroscopic growth over a wide range of particle sizes, from nanometer nucleation mode to micrometer coarse mode particles. In contrast to other aw-representations, our νI factor corrects the solutemolality both linearly and in exponent form x · αx. We present four representations of our basic aw-parameterization at different levels of complexity for different aw-ranges, e.g. up to 0.95, 0.98 or 1. νI is constant over the selected αw-range, and in its most comprehensive form, the parameterization describes the entire aw range (0-1). In this work we focus on single solute solutions. νI can be pre-determined with a root-finding method from our water activity representation using an aw --µs data pair, e.g. at solute saturation using RHD and solubility measurements. Our αw and supersaturation (Köhler-theory) results compare well with the thermodynamic reference model E-AIM for the key compounds NaCl and (NH4)2SO4 relevant for CCN modeling and calibration studies. Envisaged applications include regional and global atmospheric chemistry and climate modeling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: DNA methylation, the conversion of cytosine to 5-methylcytosine, is an important epigenetic modification involved in gene regulation. DNA methylation is essential for normal development whereas abnormal methylation has been implicated in pathological conditions including cancer. To evaluate the extent and variation of genome-wide DNA methylation and its changes during cellular differentiation and tumorgenesis as well as the interplay with histone modifications, accurate and reproducible quantification of the genomic DNA methylation level is required. These measurements have so far been achieved only by sophisticated and costly techniques. Here we report the generation of an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (methDNA-ELISA) for the accurate quantification of global DNA methylation levels. The linear region of this methDNA-ELISA ranges from 1 to 10%, making it highly suitable for the typical ranges from 2 to 6% in mammalian genomes. This method requires 10ng of isolated DNA per sample, thus permitting investigation with minimal amounts of DNA previously not applicable for global DNA methylation analysis, e.g., clinical biopsies or cells collected by microdissection. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The article presents a study on the fourth version of Equilibrium Simplified Aerosol Model (EQSAM4). It mentions that the model is part of an aerosol chemistry-microphysics module (GMXe) and chemistry-climate model (EMAC). It notes the atmospheric aerosols' relative humidity of deliquescence (RHD) based water uptake which is significant for atmospheric chemistry and climate modeling. An overview of its parameterization of the aerosols through gas-liquid-solid partitioning is also presented.

Water is a main component of atmospheric aerosols and its amount depends on the particle chemical composition. We introduce a new parameterization for the aerosol hygroscopic growth factor (HGF), based on an empirical relation between water activity (aw) and solute molality (µs) through a single solute specific coefficient vi. Three main advantages are: (1) wide applicability, (2) simplicity and (3) analytical nature. (1) Our approach considers the Kelvin effect and covers ideal solutions at large relative humidity (RH), including CCN activation, as well as concentrated solutions with high ionic strength at low RH such as the relative humidity of deliquescence (RHD). (2) A single vi coefficient suffices to parameterize the HGF for a wide range of particle sizes, from nanometer nucleation mode to micrometer coarse mode particles. (3) In contrast to previous methods, our analytical aw parameterization depends not only on a linear w correction factor for the solute molality, instead vi also appears in the exponent in form x · ax. According to our findings, vi can be assumed constant for the entire aw range (0-1). Thus, the vi based method is computationally efficient. In this work we focus on single solute solutions, where vi is pre-determined with the bisection method from our analytical equations using RHD measurements and the saturation molality µDue to image rights restrictions, multiple line equation(s) cannot be graphically displayed. The computed aerosol HGF and supersaturation (Köhler-theory) compare well with the results of the thermodynamic reference model E-AIM for the key compounds NaCl and (NH4)2SO4 relevant for CCN modeling and calibration studies. The equations introduced here provide the basis of our revised gas-liquid-solid partitioning model, i.e. version 4 of the EQuilibrium Simplified Aerosol Model (EQSAM4), described in a companion paper. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]