An integrated platform to facilitate the calculation, validation and visualization of optical flow velocities in biological images

Optical flow algorithms have seen poor adoption in the biological community compared with particle image velocimetry for quantifying cellular dynamics because of the lack of proper validation and an intuitive user interface. To address these challenges, we present OpFlowLab, an integrated platform that integrates our motion estimation workflow. Using routines in our workflow, we demonstrate that optical flow algorithms are more accurate than PIV in simulated images of the movement of nuclei. Qualitative assessment with actual nucleus images further supported this finding. Additionally, we show that refinement of the optical flow velocities is possible with a simple object-matching procedure, opening up the possibility of obtaining reasonable velocity estimates under less ideal imaging conditions. To visualize velocity fields, we employ artificial tracers to allow for the drawing of pathlines. Through the adoption of OpFlowLab, we are confident that optical flow algorithms will allow for the exploration of dynamic biological systems in greater accuracy and detail.

Correction: Groundwater circulation and earthquake-related changes in hydrogeological karst environments: a case study of the Sibillini Mountains (central Italy) involving artificial tracers

The original version of this article was revised due to a retrospective Open Access order.

Lagrangian simulations of the transport of young air masses to the top of the Asian monsoon anticyclone and into the tropical pipe

We have performed backward trajectory calculations and simulations with the 3-dimensional Chemical Lagrangian Model of the Stratosphere (CLaMS) for two succeeding monsoon seasons using artificial tracers of air mass origin. With these tracers we trace back the origin of young air masses (age

Tagged ozone mechanism for MOZART-4, CAM-chem, and other chemical transport models

A procedure for tagging ozone produced from NO sources through updates to an existing chemical mechanism is described, and results from its implementation in the Model for Ozone and Related chemical Tracers (MOZART-4), a global chemical transport model, are presented. Artificial tracers are added to the mechanism, thus not affecting the standard chemistry. The results are linear in the troposphere, i.e., the sum of ozone from individual tagged sources equals the ozone from all sources to within 3% in zonal mean monthly averages. The stratospheric ozone contribution to the troposphere determined from the difference between total ozone and ozone from all tagged sources is significantly less than estimates using a traditional stratospheric ozone tracer (8 vs 20 ppbv at the surface). The commonly used technique of perturbing NO emissions by 20% in a region to determine its ozone contribution is compared to the tagging technique, showing that the tagged ozone is 2–4 times the ozone contribution that was deduced from perturbing emissions.