Toward improved streamflow forecasts: Value of semidistributed modeling

The focus of this study is to assess the performance improvements of semidistributed applications of the U.S. National Weather Service Sacramento Soil Moisture Accounting model on a watershed using radar-based remotely sensed precipitation data. Specifically, performance comparisons are made within an automated multicriteria calibration framework to evaluate the benefit of "spatial distribution" of the model input (precipitation), structural components (soil moisture and streamflow routing computations), and surface characteristics (parameters). A comparison of these results is made with those obtained through manual calibration. Results indicate that for the study watershed, there are performance improvements associated with semidistributed model applications when the watershed is partitioned into three subwatersheds; however, no additional benefit is gained from increasing the number of subwatersheds from three to eight. Improvements in model performance are demonstrably related to the spatial distribution of the model input and streamflow routing. Surprisingly, there is no improvement associated with the distribution of the surface characteristics (model parameters)

Low threshold InGaAsP/InP lasers with microcleaved mirrors suitable for monolithic integration

Low threshold InGaAsP/InP injection lasers on semi-insulating InP substrates have been developed with mirrors fabricated by the microcleavage technique. Miniature suspended bridges containing the laser channels have been formed and then microcleavage has been accomplished by the use of ultrasonic vibrations. Lasers with current thresholds as low as 18 mA with 140-µm cavity length and with 35–45% differential quantum efficiency have been obtained

Monolithic integration of a very low threshold GaInAsP laser and metal-insulator-semiconductor field-effect transistor on semi-insulating InP

Monolithic integration of 1.3-µm groove lasers and metal-insulator-semiconductor field-effect transistors (MISFET) is achieved by a simple single liquid phase epitaxy (LPE) growth process. Laser thresholds as low as 14 mA for 300-µm cavity length are obtained. MIS depletion mode FET's with n channels on LPE grown InP layer show typical transconductance of 5–10 mmho. Laser modulation by the FET current is demonstrated at up to twice the threshold current

Mode stabilized terrace InGaAsP lasers on semi-insulating InP

Mode stabilized terrace InGaAsP lasers have been fabricated on semi-insulating InP substrates. The fabrication involves a selective, single-step liquid phase epitaxial growth process, and a lateral Zn diffusion. Two versions of the terrace lasers are fabricated, and threshold currents as low as 35 mA and 50 mA respectively are obtained. The lasers operate with a stable single lateral mode. High power performance is observed. These lasers are suitable for monolithic integration with other optoelectronic devices

Direct measurement of the carrier leakage in an InGaAsP/InP laser

Carrier leakage over the heterobarrier in an InGaAsP/InP laser is measured directly in a laser-bipolar-transistor structure. Experimental results indicate a significant amount of carrier leakage under normal laser operating conditions

Low threshold InGaAsP terrace mass transport laser on semi-insulating substrate

Very low threshold InGaAsP terrace lasers on semi-insulating (SI) InP substrate have been fabricated using the mass transport technique. The fabrication process involves a single-step liquid phase epitaxial (LPE) growth followed by a mass transport of InP at ~675 °C in the presence of an InP cover wafer. Lasers operating in the fundamental transverse mode with smooth far-field patterns and threshold currents as low as 9.5 mA have been obtained

Experimental inhibition of a key cellular antioxidant affects vocal communication

1. There is substantial interest of evolutionary ecologists in the proximate mechanisms that modulate vocal communication. In recent times, there has been growing interest in the role of oxidative stress as a mediator of avian song expression. 2. Here, we tested whether the experimental inhibition of the synthesis of a key cellular antioxidant (glutathione) reduces song rate metrics of male European starlings (Sturnus vulgaris). We measured the effect of our treatment on total song rate and on its two components, undirected and nest-box-oriented song, outside the breeding season. 3. Treated males that did not own a nest-box (subordinate males likely to be of lower quality) suffered increased oxidative stress relative to untreated males, while treated males that owned a nest-box (dominant males likely to be of higher quality) did not. Treated non-owners also reduced their undirected song rate, whereas treated nest-box owners did not suffer any reduction in song rate. 4. Our results revealed that inhibition of a key cellular antioxidant results in decreased vocal communication in a social vertebrate, and that this effect is dependent on its social status (nest-box owner vs. non-owner). 5. This work provides support for the hypothesis that acoustic signals may honestly convey information about the individual oxidative status and capacity to regulate the oxidative balance. Our findings raise the possibility of hitherto unexplored impacts of oxidative stress on fitness traits in social species

Very low threshold InGaAsP mesa laser

Very low threshold currents InGaAsP/InP terrace mesa (T-ME) lasers with an unpassivated surface have been fabricated on semi-insulating (SI) InP substrates. Fabrication of the lasers involves a single-step liquid phase epitaxial (LPE) growth and a simple etching process. Lasers operating in the fundamental transverse mode with threshold currents as low as 6.3 mA (for a cavity length of 250 μm) have been obtained. Comparison between the unpassivated lasers and those passivated using the mass transport technique is described

Expression of PIK3CA mutant E545K in the mammary gland induces heterogeneous tumors but is less potent than mutant H1047R.

The phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K) signaling cascade is a key mediator of cellular growth, survival and metabolism and is frequently subverted in human cancer. The gene encoding for the alpha catalytic subunit of PI3K (PIK3CA) is mutated and/or amplified in ∼30% of breast cancers. Mutations in either the kinase domain (H1047R) or the helical domain (E545K) are most common and result in a constitutively active enzyme with oncogenic capacity. PIK3CA(H1047R) was previously demonstrated to induce tumors in transgenic mouse models; however, it was not known whether overexpression of PIK3CA(E545K) is sufficient to induce mammary tumors and whether tumor initiation by these two types of mutants differs. Here, we demonstrate that expression of PIK3CA(E545K) in the mouse mammary gland induces heterogenous mammary carcinomas but with a longer latency than PIK3CA(H1047R)-expressing mice. Our results suggest that the helical domain mutant PIK3CA(E545K) is a less potent inducer of mammary tumors due to less efficient activation of downstream Akt signaling

InGaAsP/InP undercut mesa laser with planar polyimide passivation

An undercut mesa laser is fabricated on an n + -InP substrate using a single step liquid phase epitaxy growth process and a planar structure is obtained by using a polyimide filling layer. The lasers operate at fundamental transverse mode due to a scattering loss mechanism. Threshold currents of 18 mA and stable single transverse mode operating at high currents are obtained