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This study reports on feedback mechanisms between fluid migration, ductile deformation, and strain localization processes in an incipiently forming mantle wedge: the basal banded unit of the Semail ophiolite. These peridotites were located right above the plate interface during intraoceanic subduction infancy that ultimately led to ophiolite obduction. During this stage, they were affected by coeval ductile deformation, forming (proto)mylonites at ~900–800 °C to ultramylonites at ~700 °C, and interaction with subduction fluids. From the petrological and microstructural study of these hydrated peridotites and their protolith (preserved lenses of porphyroclastic tectonites), we show that peridotite interaction with hydrous fluids triggered dissolution/precipitation processes. Dissolution of coarser grains and precipitation of new and smaller ones (mainly pyroxenes, spinel, and amphibole) resulted in a drastic grain size reduction, phase mixing and a switch from olivine dislocation to grain size sensitive creep in (proto)mylonites. Data also evidence a feedback process of fluid focusing in actively deforming shear zones. This rapid switch in olivine deformation mechanism, driven by subduction fluid‐peridotite interaction, triggered an intense weakening of the peridotites at ~900–800 °C and a transition from a mechanically decoupled to coupled plate interface (as witnessed by the detachment and underplating of a high‐temperature metamorphic sole to the base of the ophiolite). It also explains the intense strain localization (<1‐km‐thick shear zone) along this ductile portion of the plate interface. Considering that similar mechanisms take place in mature subduction zones, they may explain plate interface coupling at subarc depths in worldwide subduction zones. The base of the Semail ophiolite is a proxy for a mantle wedge deforming and interacting with subduction fluids right above a hot plate interfaceFluid/peridotite interaction leads to dissolution/precipitation processes, grain size reduction, and peridotite weakening at short time scalesSuch peridotite weakening explains intense strain localization within the ductile mantle wedge and the observed switch in the subduction interface regime

A comparison of land surface temperature (Ts) derived from the Advanced Microwave Scanning Radiometer–Earth Observing System (AMSR‐E) with infrared Tsis presented. The infrared Tsinclude clear‐sky estimates from the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS), the Spinning Enhanced Visible and Infrared Imager, the Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite (GOES) Imager, and the Japanese Meteorological Imager. The higher discrepancies between AMSR‐E and MODIS are observed over deserts and snow‐covered areas. The former seems to be associated with Tsunderestimation by MODIS, whereas the latter is mostly related to uncertainties in microwave emissivity over snow/ice. Tsdifferences between AMSR‐E and MODIS are significantly reduced after masking out snow and deserts, with a bias change from 2.6/4.6 K to 3.0/1.4 K for daytime/nighttime and a standard deviation (STD) decrease from 7.3/7.9 K to 5.1/3.9 K. When comparing with all infrared sensors, the STD of the differences between microwave and infrared Tsis generally higher than between IR retrievals. However, the biases between microwave and infrared Tsare, in some cases, of the same order as the ones observed between infrared products. This is the case for GOES, with daytime biases with respect to AMSR‐E and MODIS of 0.45 K and 0.60 K, respectively. While the infrared Tsare clear‐sky estimates, AMSR‐E also provides Tsunder cloudy conditions. For frequently cloudy regions, this results in a large increase of available Tsestimates (>250%), making the microwave Tsa very powerful complement of the infrared estimates. Global comparison of land surface temperature (Ts) from multiple sensors (AMSR‐E, MODIS, SEVIRI, GOES, and MTSAT)The use of microwave Tsleads to an increase of more than 250% on the number of available observationsDiscrepancies between infrared and microwave Tscan be of the same order as the ones between infrared Tsproducts

Inversions of the Earth Observation Satellite (EOS) Advanced Microwave Scanning Radiometer (AMSR‐E) brightness temperatures (Tbs) to derive the land surface temperature (Ts) are presented based on building a global transfer function by neural networks trained with AMSR‐E Tbsand retrieved microwave Ts*. The only required inputs are the Tbsand monthly climatological emissivities, minimizing the dependence on ancillary data. The inversions are accompanied by a coarse estimation of retrieval uncertainty, an estimate of the quality of the retrieval, and a series of flags to signal difficult inversion situations. For ∼75% of the land surface the root‐mean‐square difference (RMSD) between the training target Ts* and the neural network retrieved Tsis below 2.8 K. The RMSD when comparing with the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) clear‐sky Tsis below 3.9 K for the same conditions. Over 10 ground stations, AMSR‐E and MODIS Tswere compared with the in situ data. Overall, MODIS agrees better with the station Tsthan AMSR‐E (all‐station mean RMSD of 2.4 K for MODIS and 4.0 for AMSR‐E), but AMSR‐E provides a larger number of Tsestimates by being able to measure under cloudy conditions, with an approximated ratio of 3 to 1 over the analyzed stations. At many stations the RMSD of the AMSR‐E clear and cloudy sky are comparable, highlighting the ability of the microwave inversions to provide Tsunder most atmospheric conditions. Closest agreement with the in situ Tshappens for stations with dense vegetation, where AMSR‐E emissivity is less varying. Development of a land surface temperature (Ts) product from AMSR‐E observationsEvaluation at ground stations together with MODIS infrared Tsto highlight issues and difficulties of the inversionsOverall, MODIS agrees better with the station Ts, but AMSR‐E can provide 3 times more estimates

We investigate the efficient heating of quasi-free electrons during the interaction of short infrared laser pulses with large rare-gas clusters. In the framework of our mean-field classical transport simulation we are able to explain the emission of characteristic x-rays at moderate laser intensities (${\rm I}\sim 10^{15}$Wcm$^{ - 2})$where the ponderomotive energy of the electrons is by far to low to allow for the creation of inner-shell vacancies. We identify large-angle elastic electron-ion scattering as an important heating mechanism at moderate laser intensities.

Les expériences que nous avons réalisées sur le Laser Ultra Court Accordable du CEA Saclay permettent d'observer l'émission de photons X dans la gamme 1-5 keV lors de l'irradiation d'agrégats de gaz rare (Ar, Kr et Xe comprenant entre 103et 106atomes par agrégat) avec un laser femtoseconde de puissance (Ipicjusqu'à 1017W/cm$^{2})$. En plus de la distribution des états de charge des ions responsables de l'émission X, la technique de spectroscopie X que nous utilisons permet de mesurer les taux absolus de photons émis dans 4$\pi $par impulsion laser en fonction des paramètres gouvernant l'interaction dans des conditions contrôlées. Nous avons déterminé la sensibilité des paramètres physiques régissant la production du rayonnement X pendant l'interaction, ce qui permet d'accéder à l'optimisation de cette source. Cet article est plus particulièrement dédié aux résultas relatifs à l'évolution du taux d'X avec l'éclairement laser, d'une part, et avec la durée de l'impulsion laser, d'autre part.

Lors de campagnes d'expériences réalisées sur le Laser Ultra Court Accordable du CEA/Saclay, nous avons étudié le rayonnement X, tant qualitativement (spectroscopie et énergie moyenne des photons) que quantitativement (taux absolus et lois d'évolution), émis lors de l'interaction d'un jet effusif d'agrégats de gaz rare (Ar, Kr, Xe comprenant entre 104et 106atome/agrégat) avec un laser femtoseconde de puissance (éclairement jusqu'à quelques 1017W/cm2). Les résultats présentés dans ce manuscrit sont uniquement dédiés aux agrégats d'Ar pour lesquels nous avons observé un rayonnement X issu d'ions fortement multichargés (jusqu'à l'Ar16+) présentant des lacunes en couches K. La technique de spectroscopie X utilisée a permis de déterminer pour la première fois des taux absolus ainsi que les lois d'évolution de l'émission X en fonction de l'ensemble des paramètres gouvernant l'interaction (intensité, polarisation, longueur d'onde et durée du pulse laser aussi bien que taille, densité et numéro atomique des agrégats).

Nous avons étudié le rayonnement X provenant d'ions fortement multichargés (≥24+) présentant des lacunes en couche L produits lors de l'irradiation d'agrégats de xénon par des impulsions lumineuses issues d'un laser femtoseconde de puissance. Les résultats obtenus lors de la toute dernière campagne d'expériences réalisée auprès du serveur LUCA du SPAM/DRECAM au CEA/Saclay mettent en cause certains travaux antérieurs [4-6]. Des divergences marquées apparaissent tant au niveau de l'interprétation des spectres X que sur la variation du taux d'émission en fonction de l'éclairement et de la longueur d'onde.

We report on 400 nm broadband type I frequency doubling in a noncollinear geometry with pulse-front-tilted and chirped femtosecond pulses (λ_0=800  nm; Fourier transform limited pulse duration, 45 fs). With moderate power densities (2 to 10  GW/cm^2) thus avoiding higher-order nonlinear phenomena, the energy conversion efficiency was up to 65%. Second-harmonic pulses of Fourier transform limited pulse duration shorter than the fundamental wave were generated, exhibiting good beam quality and no pulse-front tilt. High energy (20 mJ/pulse) was produced in a 40 mm diameter and 6 mm thick LBO crystal. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first demonstration of this optical configuration with sub-100-fs pulses. Good agreement between experimental results and simulations is obtained.

Concurrent passive and active microwave measurements onboard the Tropical Rainfall Measurement Mission (TRMM) show that under cloudy conditions, when a melting layer is detected by the precipitation radar, a polarized scattering signal at 85 GHz in passive mode is often observed. Radiative transfer simulations confirm the role of large horizontally oriented non‐spherical particles on the polarized scattering signal and assess the effect of changes in particle phase, from solid ice to dry snow to melting snow, on the radiative properties. We conclude on the necessity to account for this polarization generated by the clouds in passive microwave rain retrievals and to use this specific signature to help diagnose the precipitation type and derive more accurate algorithms. In addition, analysis of the passive microwave polarized scattering is a unique way to get insight into microphysical properties of clouds at global scale, and this potential should be explored at millimeter and submillimeter frequencies that are more sensitive to the scattering generated by smaller particles. Study of passive mw melting layer signal with passive\active observations (TRMM)Passive polarization signal, at 85GHz, often observed when melting layer presentRT simulations assess the effect of particle phase on the radiative properties

Genetic instability often leads to tumourogenesis. Genomic alterations such as deletions of a chromosome region containing a tumour suppresser gene or amplification of a region containing an oncogene have been frequently found to be associated with the initiation and the progression of cancer. Therefore identification of chromosomal regions amplified or deleted in tumour cells may reveal the presence of such genes. Amplification of 20q13 for instance is frequently observed in breast cancer cells. This region contains a gene encoding a protein kinase that belongs to the Aurora/Ipl1p-related kinase family involved in microtubule dependent mitotic events that control chromosome segregation. Deregulation of these kinases perturbs the ploidy of the cells. The human genome encodes at least three different kinases that have been found to be overexpressed in different tumour cells. But only the ectopic overexpression of the kinase encoded by the gene located at 20q13 is capable to transform cultured cells an d induce the apparition of tumours in nude mouse. In this manuscript we describe the function of the three human Aurora/Ipl1p-related kinases, and review the genomic alterations reported for the chromosome region where the kinase genes localise. But we first discuss the impact of the human genome sequence project for the identification of new kinases in the context of cancer research.

The Pantanal region of Brazil is the largest seasonally flooded tropical grassland and, according to local chamber measurements, a substantial CH4source. CH4emissions from wetlands have recently become of heightened interest because global atmospheric 13CH4data indicate they may contribute to the resumption of atmospheric CH4growth since 2007. We have regularly measured vertical atmospheric profiles for 2 years in the center of the Pantanal with the objectives to obtain an estimate of CH4emissions using an atmospheric approach, and provide information about flux seasonality and its relation to controlling factors. Boundary layer‐free troposphere differences observed in the Pantanal are large compared to other wetlands. Total emissions based on a planetary boundary layer budgeting technique are 2.0–2.8 TgCH4yr−1(maximum flux ∼0.4 gCH4m−2d−1) while those based on a Bayesian inversion using an atmospheric transport model are ∼3.3 TgCH4yr−1. Compared to recent estimates for Amazonia (∼41 ± 3 TgCH4yr−1,maximum flux ∼0.3 gCH4m−2d−1) these emissions are not that large. Our Pantanal data suggest a clear flux seasonality with CH4being released in large amounts just after water levels begin to rise again after minimum levels have been reached. CH4emissions decline substantially once the maximum water level has been reached. While predictions with prognostic wetland CH4emission models agree well with the magnitude of the fluxes, they disagree with the phasing. Our approach shows promise for detecting and understanding longer‐term trends in CH4emissions and the potential for future wetlands CH4emissions climate feedbacks. CH4emissions contribute substantially to greenhouse warming and atmospheric concentrations continue to grow rapidly. Increases in emissions from wetlands may contribute. We have measured regularly vertical CH4concentration profiles over the Pantanal, the largest tropical seasonally flooded grasslands, to provide an estimate of these emissions and to determine seasonal cycle. Our estimates are similar to earlier estimates based on direct flux measurements on the ground. Fluxes vary strongly seasonally. They are largest during the rise of water levels and decrease before maximum levels have been reached. Our data show that longer‐term vertical profile measurements could provide an answer whether wetland emissions are changing. Large CH4boundary layer‐free troposphere differences over Pantanal wetlands revealed by vertical atmospheric CH4profile dataAccording to atmospheric data, CH4flux is large during the early expansion phase of the inundated area and weakens at peak extentPrognostic global wetlands CH4emission models have limited skill regarding seasonality of Pantanal emissions Large CH4boundary layer‐free troposphere differences over Pantanal wetlands revealed by vertical atmospheric CH4profile data According to atmospheric data, CH4flux is large during the early expansion phase of the inundated area and weakens at peak extent Prognostic global wetlands CH4emission models have limited skill regarding seasonality of Pantanal emissions

We have previously reported on the cloning of XlEg5, a Xenopus laevis kinesin-related protein from the bimC family (Le Guellec, R., Paris, J., Couturier, A., Roghi, C., and Philippe, M. (1991) Mol. Cell. Biol. 11, 3395-3408) as well as pEg2, an Aurora-related serine/threonine kinase (Roghi, C., Giet, R., Uzbekov, R., Morin, N., Chartrain, I., Le Guellec, R., Couturier, A., Dorée, M., Philippe, M., and Prigent, C. (1998) J. Cell Sci. 111, 557-572). Inhibition of either XlEg5 or pEg2 activity during mitosis in Xenopus egg extract led to monopolar spindle formation. Here, we report that in Xenopus XL2 cells, pEg2 and XlEg5 are both confined to separated centrosomes in prophase, and then to the microtubule spindle poles. We also show that pEg2 co-immunoprecipitates with XlEg5 from egg extracts and XL2 cell lysates. Both proteins can directly interact in vitro, but also through the two-hybrid system. Furthermore immunoprecipitated pEg2 were found to remain active when bound to the beads and phosphorylate XlEg5 present in the precipitate. Two-dimensional mapping of XlEg5 tryptic peptides phosphorylated in vivo first confirmed that XlEg5 was phosphorylated by p34(cdc2) and next revealed that in vitro pEg2 kinase phosphorylated XlEg5 on the same stalk domain serine residue that was phosphorylated in metabolically labeled XL2 cells. The kinesin-related XlEg5 is to our knowledge the first in vivo substrate ever reported for an Aurora-related kinase.

During the past five years, a growing number of serine-threonine kinases highly homologous to the Saccharomyces cerevisiae Ipl1p kinase have been isolated in various organisms. A Drosophila melanogaster homologue, aurora, was the first to be isolated from a multicellular organism. Since then, several related kinases have been found in mammalian cells. They localise to the mitotic apparatus: in the centrosome, at the poles of the bipolar spindle or in the midbody. The kinases are necessary for completion of mitotic events such as centrosome separation, bipolar spindle assembly and chromosome segregation. Extensive research is now focusing on these proteins because the three human homologues are overexpressed in various primary cancers. Furthermore, overexpression of one of these kinases transforms cells. Because of the myriad of kinases identified, we suggest a generic name: Aurora/Ipl1p-related kinase (AIRK). We denote AIRKs with a species prefix and a number, e.g. HsAIRK1.

Partial purification of the DNA ligase from three human tissues (liver, thymus and lymphoblasts) revealed that each cell type contains several different polypeptides bearing a DNA ligase I activity. Their apparent molecular weights estimated after SDS PAGE, 130 kDa, 100 kDa and 80 kDa, are in agreement with previous reports. These polypeptides are related by proteolysis to a single higher molecular weight protein of 200 kDa which does not show DNA ligase activity but that could be a preprotein.

Mammalian DNA ligase I has been shown to be a phosphoprotein. Dephosphorylation of purified DNA ligase I causes inactivation, an effect dependent on the presence of the N‐terminal region of the protein. Expression of full‐length human DNA ligase I in Escherichia coli yielded soluble but catalytically inactive enzyme whereas an N‐terminally truncated form expressed activity. Incubation of the full‐length preparation from E. coli with purified casein kinase II (CKII) resulted in phosphorylation of the N‐terminal region and was accompanied by activation of the DNA ligase. Of a variety of purified protein kinases tested, only CKII stimulated the activity of calf thymus DNA ligase I. Tryptic phosphopeptide analysis of DNA ligase I revealed that CKII specifically phosphorylated a major peptide also apparently phosphorylated in cells, implying that CKII is a protein kinase acting on DNA ligase I in the cell nucleus. These data suggest that DNA ligase I is negatively regulated by its N‐terminal region and that this inhibition can be relieved by post‐translational modification.

We determined the optimal technical conditions for post-embedding non-radioactive in situ hybridization applied to ultrastructural location of collagen I mRNA in rat kidney. The signal-to-noise ratio was improved by enhancing hybridization efficiency and distinguishing nonspecific labeling. Probes were labeled with digoxigenin or biotin and detected after hybridization by immunogold or peroxidase techniques. Under these conditions, the signal was located in fibroblasts. With digoxigenin, clusters of gold particles were observed on the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) or scattered throughout the cytoplasmic matrix and nuclei. With the enzymatic method, diaminobenzidine deposits were found on the ER but endogeneous peroxidase partly interfered with the results. Gold particles were less numerous in fibroblast cytoplasm with biotin than with digoxigenin. Moreover, gold particles condensed on fibroblast and tubular cell mitochondria when biotin was used, a phenomenon shown to be due to endogenous biotin by means of a histochemical method. The digoxigenin-immunogold system appeared to be the best method. The biotin system was subject to limitations such as interference from endogenous biotin and poor sensitivity, and mRNA localization was more precise and reliable by the immunogold method than by the enzymatic method.

By differential screening of a Xenopus laevis egg cDNA library, we have isolated a 2,111 bp cDNA which corresponds to a maternal mRNA specifically deadenylated after fertilisation. This cDNA, called Eg2, encodes a 407 amino acid protein kinase. The pEg2 sequence shows significant identity with members of a new protein kinase sub-family which includes Aurora from Drosophila and Ipl1 (increase in ploidy-1) from budding yeast, enzymes involved in centrosome migration and chromosome segregation, respectively. A single 46 kDa polypeptide, which corresponds to the deduced molecular mass of pEg2, is immunodetected in Xenopus oocyte and egg extracts, as well as in lysates of Xenopus XL2 cultured cells. In XL2 cells, pEg2 is immunodetected only in S, G2 and M phases of the cell cycle, where it always localises to the centrosomal region of the cell. In addition, pEg2 'invades' the microtubules at the poles of the mitotic spindle in metaphase and anaphase. Immunoelectron microscopy experiments show that pEg2 is located precisely around the pericentriolar material in prophase and on the spindle microtubules in anaphase. We also demonstrate that pEg2 binds directly to taxol stabilised microtubules in vitro. In addition, we show that the presence of microtubules during mitosis is not necessary for an association between pEg2 and the centrosome. Finally we show that a catalytically inactive pEg2 kinase stops the assembly of bipolar mitotic spindles in Xenopus egg extracts.

We present the theory and first measurements concerning a quasi-optical polarization rotator capable of operating over a broad frequency band.

This report describes the identification of a cDNA encoding STK13, a third human protein kinase related to theDrosophilaAurora and the budding yeast Ipl1 kinases. After screening of a human placental cDNA library with aXenopus laeviscDNA encoding the pEg2 protein kinase and 5′ RACE on testis mRNA, a full-length cDNA was isolated. The chromosomal localization of STK13 on 19q13.3–ter between the markers D19S210 and D19S218 was established by a combination of somatic cell and radiation hybrid panel PCR screening. The localization of STK13 on human chromosome 19 was confirmed by fluorescencein situhybridization (FISH) using a genomic clone containing STK13 as a probe.

Two missense mutations in different alleles of the DNA ligase I gene have been described in a patient (46BR) with immunodeficiencies and cellular hypersensitivity to DNA-damaging agents. One of the mutant alleles produces an inactive protein, while the other encodes an enzyme with some residual activity. A subline of identical phenotype that is homozygous (or hemizygous) for the mutant allele encoding this partially active enzyme has facilitated characterization of the enzymatic defect in 46BR. This subline retains only 3 to 5% of normal DNA ligase I activity. The intermediates in the ligation reaction, DNA ligase I-AMP and nicked DNA-AMP, accumulate in vitro and in vivo. The defect of the 46BR enzyme lies primarily in conversion of nicked DNA-AMP into the final ligated DNA product. Assays of DNA repair in 46BR cell extracts and of DNA replication in permeabilized cells have clarified functional roles of DNA ligase I. The initial rate of ligation of Okazaki fragments during DNA replication is apparently normal in 46BR cells, but 25 to 30% of the fragments remain in low-molecular-weight form for prolonged times. DNA base excision repair by 46BR cell extracts shows a delay in ligation and an anomalously long repair patch size that is reduced upon addition of purified normal DNA ligase I.

A method has been developed to extend the Global Inundation Estimate from Multiple Satellites (GIEMS). The method presented here is based on retrieval principals similar to GIEMS but with an updated estimation of microwave emissivity in order to be less dependent on ancillary data and with some changes to the final surface water estimation to correct a known overestimation over low vegetation areas. The new methodology, GIEMS‐2, provides monthly estimates of surface water extent, including open water, wetlands, or rice paddies, and it has been applied to the Special Sensor Microwave/Imager and the Special Sensor Microwave Imager Sounder intercalibrated observations to produce a global data record of surface water extent from 1992 to 2015, on an equal area grid of 0.25° × 0.25° at the equator (∼25 km). The time series have been thoroughly evaluated: they are seamless and do not show any obvious artifact related to changes in satellite instrumentation over the ∼25 years. Comparisons with precipitation estimates show good agreement, displaying expected patterns related to surface conditions and precipitation regimes. The temporal variability of basin‐averaged estimates has also been compared with altimeter river height, showing a reasonable agreement. Production will be continued up to current time as soon as the observations become available, with efforts to improve the spatial and temporal resolutions of the estimates currently underway. A method has been developed to provide global estimates of the continental surface waters and their dynamics. It comprises all surface waters, including open water, wetlands, or rice paddies. With multiple satellite data, a global data record of surface water extent is produced, on a monthly basis from 1992 to 2015, with a spatial resolution of 25 km. The time series have been thoroughly evaluated: They are seamless and do not show any obvious artifact related to changes in satellite instrumentation over the 25 years. Comparisons with precipitation estimates show good agreement, displaying expected patterns related to surface conditions and precipitation regimes. Temporal variability of basin‐averaged estimates has also been compared with altimeter river height, showing a reasonable agreement. Production will be continued up to current time as soon as carefully intercalibrated satellite observations become available, with efforts to improve the spatial and temporal resolution of the estimates currently underway. A method is developed to derive a Global Inundation Estimate from Multiple Satellites (GIEMS‐2 product)It provides monthly estimates of surface water extent since 1992, with a spatial resolution of 0.25° × 0.25°The time series have been thoroughly evaluated and are suitable for climatological studies

Retrieving atmospheric temperature and water vapor profiles from infrared satellite observations over continental surfaces is a complex problem because of the heterogeneity of land surfaces and the difficulty of modeling their interaction with the radiation. This results in the surface‐sensitive observations from sounding instruments over land usually not being assimilated into numerical prediction systems at meteorological operational centers. Correct characterization of the interaction between the atmosphere and the surface would allow considering the information contained in those channels. This requires accurate estimates of the surface emissivities at the spectral resolution of recent instruments such as Infrared Atmospheric Sounding Interferometer (IASI) or Atmospheric Infrared Sounder (AIRS). An emissivity interpolator is developed in this study to estimate the land surface emissivities at a high spectral resolution compatible with IASI or AIRS instrument channels. It is based on Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) retrieved emissivities. This surface emissivity is used as a first guess in an innovative surface parameter inversion scheme that simultaneously retrieves the surface emissivity and temperature. Radiative transfer calculations with the resulting surface information show a significantly better agreement with the observations (root mean square error of 1.7 K on average over bands 1 and 2 of the IASI spectrum), as compared to calculations using the first guess information (root mean square error of 3.5 K). The retrieved surface skin temperatures are compared to the Land Surface Analysis Satellite Applications Facility (LSA SAF) estimates derived from Spinning Enhanced Visible and Infrared Imager (SEVIRI) measurements, and the root mean square difference is below 2 K. Surface temperature and infrared emissivity are retrieved from IASI measurementsMODIS retrieved emissivities are interpolated at IASI's spectral resolutionSatellite measurements are compared to radiative transfer calculations

Knowledge of the detailed evolution of the whole charge-state distribution of projectile ions colliding with targets is required in several Helds of research such as material science and atomic and nuclear physics but also in accelerator physics, and in particular in regard to the several foreseen large-scale facilities. However, there is a lack of data for collisions in the nonperturbative energy domain and that involve many-electron projectiles. Starting from the ETACHA model we developed [Rozet et al., Nucl. Instrum. Methods Phys. Res., Sect. B 107, 67 (1996)], we present an extension of its validity domain towards lower velocities and larger distortions. Moreover, the system of rate equations is able to take into account ions with up to 60 orbital states of electrons. The computed data from the different new versions of the ETACHA code are compared to some test collision systems. The improvements made are clearly illustrated by 28.9 MeV u-1 Pb56+ ions, and laser-generated carbon ion beams of 0.045 to 0.5 MeV u-1, passing through carbon or aluminum targets, respectively. Hence, those new developments can efficiently sustain the experimental programs that are currently in progress on the "next-generation" accelerators or laser facilities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]