University of Tsukuba

About: University of Tsukuba is a education organization based out in Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Gene. The organization has 36352 authors who have published 79483 publications receiving 1934752 citations. The organization is also known as: Tsukuba daigaku & Tsukuba University.

An operational remote sensing algorithm of land surface evaporation

Abstract: [1] Partitioning of solar energy at the Earth surface has significant implications in climate dynamics, hydrology, and ecology. Consequently, spatial mapping of energy partitioning from satellite remote sensing data has been an active research area for over two decades. We developed an algorithm for estimating evaporation fraction (EF), expressed as a ratio of actual evapotranspiration (ET) to the available energy (sum of ET and sensible heat flux), from satellite data. The algorithm is a simple two-source model of ET. We characterize a landscape as a mixture of bare soil and vegetation and thus we estimate EF as a mixture of EF of bare soil and EF of vegetation. In the estimation of EF of vegetation, we use the complementary relationship of the actual and the potential ET for the formulation of EF. In that, we use the canopy conductance model for describing vegetation physiology. On the other hand, we use “VI-Ts” (vegetation index-surface temperature) diagram for estimation of EF of bare soil. As operational production of EF globally is our goal, the algorithm is primarily driven by remote sensing data but flexible enough to ingest ancillary data when available. We validated EF from this prototype algorithm using NOAA/AVHRR data with actual observations of EF at AmeriFlux stations (standard error ≅ 0.17 and R2 ≅ 0.71). Global distribution of EF every 8 days will be operationally produced by this algorithm using the data of MODIS on EOS-PM (Aqua) satellite.

Substitution Effects on FeSe Superconductor

Abstract: We have investigated the effect of atomic substitutions in the FeSe system, which exhibits the simplest crystal structure among the iron-based superconductors. An enhancement of the superconducting transition temperature T c was observed with the substitution of S or Te for Se; the T c increased with S substitution by up to 20%, and also increased with Te substitution up to 75%. In contrast, Co or Ni substitutions for the Fe site significantly suppressed superconductivity. In this work we present a detailed description of the substitution technique employed to determine T c in the FeSe system.

Narcolepsy - clinical spectrum, aetiopathophysiology, diagnosis and treatment.

Abstract: Narcolepsy is a rare brain disorder that reflects a selective loss or dysfunction of orexin (also known as hypocretin) neurons of the lateral hypothalamus. Narcolepsy type 1 (NT1) is characterized by excessive daytime sleepiness and cataplexy, accompanied by sleep-wake symptoms, such as hallucinations, sleep paralysis and disturbed sleep. Diagnosis is based on these clinical features and supported by biomarkers: evidence of rapid eye movement sleep periods soon after sleep onset; cerebrospinal fluid orexin deficiency; and positivity for HLA-DQB1*06:02. Symptomatic treatment with stimulant and anticataplectic drugs is usually efficacious. This Review focuses on our current understanding of how genetic, environmental and immune-related factors contribute to a prominent (but not isolated) orexin signalling deficiency in patients with NT1. Data supporting the view of NT1 as a hypothalamic disorder affecting not only sleep-wake but also motor, psychiatric, emotional, cognitive, metabolic and autonomic functions are presented, along with uncertainties concerning the 'narcoleptic borderland', including narcolepsy type 2 (NT2). The limitations of current diagnostic criteria for narcolepsy are discussed, and a possible new classification system incorporating the borderland conditions is presented. Finally, advances and obstacles in the symptomatic and causal treatment of narcolepsy are reviewed.