[1] Making use of 240 nights of Rayleigh lidar data collected over March 1998 to July 2001, we present the general characteristics of low-latitude middle atmospheric temperature structure over Gadanki (13.5°N, 79.2°E). The height-monthly mean temperature contour plot shows two distinct maxima in the stratopause region ($45-55 km), occurring over February-March and September-October, a seasonal dependence quite different from that reported for midlatitudes and high latitudes. The statistical distributions of stratopause and its temperature show the most probable values to be 47-48 km and 262-264 K, respectively. A comparison with the satellite (UARS Halogen Occultation Experiment) data shows a fairly good agreement, but for the mesospheric inversion region of 70-80 km, where the lidar measurements are about 5-10 K warmer than those of the satellite. A comparison with the models, CIRA-86 and Mass Spectrometer Incoherent Scatter Extended-1990 (MSISE-90), showed that the agreement with differences less than 3 K is the best for CIRA-86 over $40-55 km and MSISE-90 over 55-65 km. Below 40 km, both models overestimate by 3-9 K, with deviations somewhat larger for MSISE-90. For 70-80 km both models deviate significantly, with differences exceeding 10 K, particularly during equinoctial periods when the mesospheric inversion occurs most frequently.

Abstract. The Rayleigh lidar data collected on 119 nights from March 1998 to February 2000 were used to study the statistical characteristics of the low latitude mesospheric temperature inversion observed over Gadanki (13.5 • N, 79.2 • E), India. The occurrence frequency of the inversion showed semiannual variation with maxima in the equinoxes and minima in the summer and winter, which was quite different from that reported for the mid-latitudes. The peak of the inversion layer was found to be confined to the height range of 73 to 79 km with the maximum occurrence centered around 76 km, with a weak seasonal dependence that fits well to an annual cycle with a maximum in June and a minimum in December. The magnitude of the temperature deviation associated with the inversion was found to be as high as 32 K, with the most probable value occurring at about 20 K. Its seasonal dependence seems to follow an annual cycle with a maximum in April and a minimum in October. The observed characteristics of the inversion layer are compared with that of the mid-latitudes and discussed in light of the current understanding of the source mechanisms.

Abstract. Universities, experiencing growths in student enrollment and reductions in operating budgets, are faced with the problem of providing adequate help resources for students. Help resources are needed at an institution-wide and also at a course-specific level, due to the limited time of instructors to provide help and answer questions. The Intelligent IntraNet Peer Help Desk provides an integration and application of previously developed ARIES Lab tools for peer help to university teaching. One of its components, CPR, provides a subject-oriented discussion forum and FAQ -list providing students with electronic help. Another component, PHelpS, suggests an appropriate peer to provide human help. In both cases it is peer help, since the help originates from students themselves. The selection of the appropriate help resource (electronic or human) is based on modelling student knowledge and on a conceptual model of the subject material.

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[1] High resolution VHF radar observations made at Gadanki revealed the kilometer-scale waves in the low latitude lower E region. These waves are found to occur in a narrow altitude range of 92 -97 km and have vertical wavelengths of $0.5 km and wave periods of $40 seconds. They resemble quite closely to that reported recently for midlatitude using the MU radar. The signal intensities associated with these waves, shown in SNR, are found to be as high as 25 dB, quite comparable to that observed at higher altitudes. It is in contrast to the much weaker midlatitude lower E region echoes reported by the MU radar. The wave structures show both positive and negative altitude rates with values in the range of 15 -20 m s À1 , which are in good agreement with the observed Doppler velocities. The spectral widths are found to be relatively lower, implying the lower E region wave structures to be less turbulent compared to their counterpart at higher altitudes. The observed wave structures bear remarkable resemblance to that simulated for the equatorial E region through nonlocal nonlinear gradient drift instability.

Background Public health campaigns aim to promote awareness, increase knowledge, and encourage a target population to adopt desirable attitudes and behaviors. Assessing their reach from a multidimensional perspective through information technology can facilitate the development of more effective campaigns in public health response. Methods We scrutinized seven data sources from different perspectives to assess a health campaign launched in Brazil named “Syphilis No!”. This campaign is part of an Agenda for strategic actions to reduce syphilis in Brazil which includes dissemination of educommunication materials to remind people of the importance of syphilis prevention, emphasizing “test, treat and cure” concept. We developed a multidimensional analysis framework and implemented an information system to process the data from a time series perspective, and assessed the effects over time, both before and after the campaign. We descriptively analyzed data related to the campaign, including e-news, search engine activity, online courses, serological tests, medication distribution and case notification rates. Findings Regarding search engine activity, we observed the highest volume of search during the first week of campaigns in 2018 (between November 25th and December 7th). Nevertheless, analyzing this data in a trend plot revealed sustained growth until the end of 2019. From March 2018, the amount of e-news posts related to syphilis in Brazil, indexed by Google, followed an increasing slope, with a record peak in October 2019. In addition, data showed that 12 new online courses related to syphilis disease were available on the AVASUS Platform Learning Management System (LMS), to support efforts to promote lifelong learning for health professionals, teachers, and students. These courses reached more than 22,000 students between February 2019 and September 2020. Serological test data showed that the number of tests carried out in 2019 were 375·18% more than in 2015, even accounting for population growth. Finally, starting from the middle of 2018, the syphilis case notification rates followed a decreasing curve. Interpretation From this perspective, the “Syphilis No!” Project was a positive influence, inducing policy to fight syphilis in Brazil by supporting the implementation of a testing, treatment, and cure agenda (#TesteTrateCure). Certainly, this inference was made by analyzing multidimensional aspects and because, prior to 2018, the country had largely neglected this disease, with no records of communication actions during that period.

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