Будівельна лихоманка на Київських схилах

Forty marine-terminating glaciers have been surveyed daily since 2000 using cloud-free MODIS visible imagery (Box and Decker 2011; http://bprc. osu.edu/MODIS/). The net area change of the 40 glaciers during the period of observation has been -1775 km2, with the 18 northernmost (>72°N) glaciers alone contributing to half of the net area change. In 2012, the northernmost glaciers lost a collective area of 255 km2, or 86% of the total net area change of the 40 glaciers surveyed. The six glaciers with the largest net area loss in 2012 were Petermann (-141 km2), 79 glacier (-27 km2), Zachariae (-26 km2), Steenstrup (-19 km2), Steensby (-16 km2, the greatest retreat since observations began), and Jakobshavn (-13 km2). While the total area change was negative in 2012, the area of four of the forty glaciers did increase relative to the end of the 2011 melt season. The anomalous advance of these four glaciers is not easily explained, as the mechanisms controlling the behavior of individual glaciers are uncertain due to their often unique geographic!settings

Sequential design of computer experiments for the estimation of a probability of failure

This paper deals with the problem of estimating the volume of the excursion set of a function $f:\mathbb{R}^d \to \mathbb{R}$ above a given threshold, under a probability measure on $\mathbb{R}^d$ that is assumed to be known. In the industrial world, this corresponds to the problem of estimating a probability of failure of a system. When only an expensive-to-simulate model of the system is available, the budget for simulations is usually severely limited and therefore classical Monte Carlo methods ought to be avoided. One of the main contributions of this article is to derive SUR (stepwise uncertainty reduction) strategies from a Bayesian-theoretic formulation of the problem of estimating a probability of failure. These sequential strategies use a Gaussian process model of $f$ and aim at performing evaluations of $f$ as efficiently as possible to infer the value of the probability of failure. We compare these strategies to other strategies also based on a Gaussian process model for estimating a probability of failure.Comment: This is an author-generated postprint version. The published version is available at http://www.springerlink.co

Reduction of the value of information sharing as demand becomes strongly auto-correlated

Information sharing has been identified, in the academic literature, as one of the most important levers to mitigate the bullwhip effect in supply chains. A highly-cited article on the bullwhip effect has claimed that the percentage inventory reduction resulting from information sharing in a two level supply chain, when the downstream demand is autoregressive of order one, is an increasing function of the autoregressive parameter of the demand. In this paper we show that this is true only for a certain range of the autoregressive parameter and there is a maximum value beyond which the bullwhip ratio at the upstream stage is reduced and the percentage inventory reduction resulting from information sharing decreases towards zero. We also show that this maximum value of the autoregressive parameter can be as high as 0.7 which represents a common value that may be encountered in many practical contexts. This means that large benefits of information sharing cannot be assumed for those Stock Keeping Units (SKUs) with highly positively auto-correlated demand. Instead, equally careful analysis is needed for these items as for those SKUs with less strongly auto-correlated demand

Use of hydrophilic and hydrophobic polymers for the development of controlled release tizanidine matrix tablets

The aim of the present study was to develop tizanidine controlled release matrix. Formulations were designed using central composite method with the help of design expert version 7.0 software. Avicel pH 101 in the range of 14-50% was used as a filler, while HPMC K4M and K100M in the range of 25-55%, Ethylcellulose 10 ST and 10FP in the range of 15 - 45% and Kollidon SR in the range of 25-60% were used as controlled release agents in designing different formulations. Various physical parameters including powder flow for blends and weight variation, thickness, hardness, friability, disintegration time and in-vitro release were tested for tablets. Assay of tablets were also performed as specified in USP 35 NF 32. Physical parameters of both powder blend and compressed tablets such as compressibility index, angle of repose, weight variation, thickness, hardness, friability, disintegration time and assay were evaluated and found to be satisfactory for formulations K4M2, K4M3, K4M9, K100M2, K100M3, K100M9, E10FP2, E10FP9, KSR2, KSR3 & KSR9. In vitro dissolution study was conducted in 900 ml of 0.1N HCl, phosphate buffer pH 4.5 and 6.8 medium using USP Apparatus II. In vitro release profiles indicated that formulations prepared with Ethocel 10 standard were unable to control the release of drug while formulations K4M2, K100M9, E10FP2 & KSR2 having polymer content ranging from 40-55% showed a controlled drug release pattern in the above mentioned medium. Zero-order drug release kinetics was observed for formulations K4M2, K100M9, E10FP2 & KSR2. Similarity test (f2) results for K4M2, E10FP2 & KSR2 were found to be comparable with reference formulation K100M9. Response Surface plots were also prepared for evaluating the effect of independent variable on the responses. Stability study was performed as per ICH guidelines and the calculated shelf life was 24-30 months for formulation K4M2, K100M9 and E10FP2

The historical Greenland Climate Network (GC-Net) curated and augmented level-1 dataset

The Greenland Climate Network (GC-Net) consists of 31 automatic weather stations (AWSs) at 30 sites across the Greenland Ice Sheet. The first site was initiated in 1990, and the project has operated almost continuously since 1995 under the leadership of the late Konrad Steffen. The GC-Net AWS measured air temperature, relative humidity, wind speed, atmospheric pressure, downward and reflected shortwave irradiance, net radiation, and ice and firn temperatures. The majority of the GC-Net sites were located in the ice sheet accumulation area (17 AWSs), while 11 AWSs were located in the ablation area, and two sites (three AWSs) were located close to the equilibrium line altitude. Additionally, three AWSs of similar design to the GC-Net AWS were installed by Konrad Steffen's team on the Larsen C ice shelf, Antarctica. After more than 3 decades of operation, the GC-Net AWSs are being decommissioned and replaced by new AWSs operated by the Geological Survey of Denmark and Greenland (GEUS). Therefore, making a reassessment of the historical GC-Net AWS data is necessary. We present a full reprocessing of the historical GC-Net AWS dataset with increased attention to the filtering of erroneous measurements, data correction and derivation of additional variables: continuous surface height, instrument heights, surface albedo, turbulent heat fluxes, and 10 m ice and firn temperatures. This new augmented GC-Net level-1 (L1) AWS dataset is now available at https://doi.org/10.22008/FK2/VVXGUT (Steffen et al., 2023) and will continue to be refined. The processing scripts, latest data and a data user forum are available at https://github.com/GEUS-Glaciology-and-Climate/GC-Net-level-1-data-processing (last access: 30 November 2023). In addition to the AWS data, a comprehensive compilation of valuable metadata is provided: maintenance reports, yearly pictures of the stations and the station positions through time. This unique dataset provides more than 320 station years of high-quality atmospheric data and is available following FAIR (findable, accessible, interoperable, reusable) data and code practices

Sugarcane root length density and distribution from root intersection counting on a trench-profile

Root length density (RLD) is a critical feature in determining crops potential to uptake water and nutrients, but it is difficult to be measured. No standard method is currently available for assessing RLD in the soil. In this study, an in situ method used for other crops for studying root length density and distribution was tested for sugarcane (Saccharum spp.). This method involved root intersection counting (RIC) on a Rhodic Eutrudox profile using grids with 0.05 x 0.05 m and modeling RLD from RIC. The results were compared to a conventional soil core-sampled method (COR) (volume 0.00043 m³). At four dates of the cropping season in three tillage treatments (plowing soil, minimum tillage and direct planting), with eight soil depths divided in 0.1 m soil layer (between 0-0.6 and 1.6-1.8 m) and three horizontal distances from the row (0-0.23, 0.23-0.46 and 0.46-0.69 m), COR and RIC methods presented similar RLD results. A positive relationship between COR and RIC was found (R² = 0.76). The RLD profiles considering the average of the three row distances per depth obtained using COR and RIC (mean of four dates and 12 replications) were close and did not differ at each depth of 0.1 m within a total depth of 0.6 m. Total RLD between 0 and 0.6 m was 7.300 and 7.100 m m-2 for COR and RIC respectively. For time consumption, the RIC method was tenfold less time-consuming than COR and RIC can be carried out in the field with no need to remove soil samples. The RLD distribution in depth and row distance (2-D variability) by RIC can be assessed in relation to the soil properties in the same soil profiles. The RIC method was suitable for studying these 2-D (depth and row distance in the soil profile) relationships between soil, tillage and root distribution in the field.A densidade de comprimento de raízes (DCR) é uma característica importante para determinar o potencial de absorção de água e nutrientes das plantas, mas é difícil de ser medida. Nenhum método padrão está atualmente disponível para avaliar a DCR no solo. Neste estudo, um método in situ usado em outras culturas para estudo da densidade de comprimento e distribuições das raízes foi testado para a cana-de-açúcar (Saccharum spp.). O método envolveu contagem de intersecções de raízes (CIR) no perfil de um Latossolo Vermelho eutroférrico, usando grade com quadrículas de 0.05 x 0.05 m, modelizando a DCR a partir da CIR. Os resultados foram comparados com o método do trado cilíndrico (TRA) (volume de 0.00043 m-3). Em quatro épocas durante o ciclo em três manejos do solo (plantio convencional, cultivo mínimo e plantio direto), em oito profundidades divididas a cada 0.1 m (entre 0 - 0.6 e 1.6 - 1.8 m) e três distâncias horizontais em relação à linha de plantio (0 - 0.23, 0.23 - 0.46 e 0.46 - 0.69 m), os métodos TRA e CIR apresentaram resultados de DCR similares. Encontrou-se positiva entre TRA e CIR (R² = 0,76). As DCRs nos perfis, considerando as médias das três distâncias da linha por profundidade, obtida utilizando-se de TRA e CIR (média de quatro datas e 12 repetições), foram próximas e não diferiram a cada 0.1 m de profundidade até 0.6 m de profundidade. A DCR total entre 0 e 0.6 m foi de 7.300 e 7.100 m m-2 para TRA e CIR, respectivamente. Para o tempo de realização, o método CIR foi 10 vezes mais rápido do que TRA e o método CIR pode ser realizado no campo, sem necessidade de remover amostras de solo. A distribuição da DCR em profundidade e distância da linha (variabilidade 2D) pelo método CIR pode ser avaliada em relação às propriedades do solo nos mesmos perfis do solo. O método CIR foi apropriado para estudos dessas relações 2D (profundidade e distância da linha no perfil do solo) entre solo, manejo e distribuição de raízes no campo