BACKGROUND Growth differentiation factor (GDF)-15, a divergent member of the transforming growth factor beta super-family does appear to be up-regulated in response to experimental pressure overload and progression of heart failure (HF). HF frequently develops after myocardial infarction (MI), contributing to worse outcome. The aim of this study is to assess the correlation between GDF-15 level...

We use a 2005–2009 record of isoprene emissions over Africa derived from Ozone Monitoring Instrument (OMI) satellite observations of formaldehyde (HCHO) to better understand the factors controlling isoprene emission in the continent and evaluate the impact on atmospheric composition. OMI-derived isoprene emissions show large seasonality over savannas driven by temperature and leaf area index (L...

An analysis is presented for both ground- and satellite-based retrievals of total column ozone and nitrogen dioxide levels from the Washington, D.C., and Baltimore, Maryland, metropolitan area during the NASA-sponsored July 2011 campaign of Deriving Information on Surface COnditions from Column and VERtically Resolved Observations Relevant to Air Quality (DISCOVER-AQ). Satellite retrievals of t...

Answers to referee #2 comments received and published on 10 April 2008, on the manuscript: "Comparison of OMI ozone and UV irradiance data with ground-based measurements at two French sites." General comments : This well-written paper presents a comparison between OMI (TOMS-like and DOASlike) estimated total ozone content (TOC) and the value retrieved from two Jobin Yvon spectroradiometers at t...

We retrieve slant column NO2 from the superzoom mode of the Ozone Monitoring Instrument (OMI) to explore its utility for understanding NOx emissions and variability. Slant column NO2 is operationally retrieved from OMI (Boersma et al., 2007; Bucsela et al., 2006) with a nadir footprint of 13× 24 km2, the result of averaging eight detector elements on board the instrument. For 85 orbits in late ...

OBJECTIVE To examine the effect of bite force on the displacement and stress distribution of orthodontic mini-implants (OMIs) in the molar region according to placement site, insertion angle, and loading direction. METHODS Five finite element models were created using micro-computed tomography (microCT) images of the maxilla and mandible. OMIs were placed at one maxillary and two mandibular p...

A method and an experimental measurement setup to accurately characterize the instrument transfer function in the spectral domain for hyperspectral spectrometers in the ultraviolet-visible wavelength range are described. The application to the on-ground calibration of the Ozone Monitoring Instrument (OMI) on board the Earth Observing System Aura satellite is presented and discussed. With this m...

Representative bed material samples were taken from the two gauging sites on rivers omi for sieve analysis to obtain the grain size distribution of its bed materials. The analyses of the grain size distribution showed that the bed load accounted for 9% of the total estimated suspended sediment load of 1,703, 548.113 kg/annum in river omi. River omi bed material had a geometric mean particle siz...

The manuscript discusses SO2 changes observed by OMI and links them to the national regulations of SO2 emissions. The paper demonstrates again the usefulness of satellite monitoring of air pollutions in China, the world largest SO2 emitter. It is shown that major changes in OMI records are linked to the emission reduction legislation. In general, the paper is well written, although some places ...

Impressions of a visit to a home for mentally handicapped children in Japan.