Efficient dynamical downscaling of general circulation models using continuous data assimilation

Continuous data assimilation (CDA) is successfully implemented for the first time for efficient dynamical downscaling of a global atmospheric reanalysis. A comparison of the performance of CDA with the standard grid and spectral nudging techniques for representing long- and short-scale features in the downscaled fields using the Weather Research and Forecast (WRF) model is further presented and analyzed. The WRF model is configured at 25km horizontal resolution and is driven by 250km initial and boundary conditions from NCEP/NCAR reanalysis fields. Downscaling experiments are performed over a one-month period in January, 2016. The similarity metric is used to evaluate the performance of the downscaling methods for large and small scales. Similarity results are compared for the outputs of the WRF model with different downscaling techniques, NCEP reanalysis, and Final Analysis. Both spectral nudging and CDA describe better the small-scale features compared to grid nudging. The choice of the wave number is critical in spectral nudging; increasing the number of retained frequencies generally produced better small-scale features, but only up to a certain threshold after which its solution gradually became closer to grid nudging. CDA maintains the balance of the large- and small-scale features similar to that of the best simulation achieved by the best spectral nudging configuration, without the need of a spectral decomposition. The different downscaled atmospheric variables, including rainfall distribution, with CDA is most consistent with the observations. The Brier skill score values further indicate that the added value of CDA is distributed over the entire model domain. The overall results clearly suggest that CDA provides an efficient new approach for dynamical downscaling by maintaining better balance between the global model and the downscaled fields

The Analysis of Essential Factors Responsible for Loss of Labour Productivity in Building Construction Projects in India

The purpose of this paper is to find the essential factors influencing the loss of labour productivity (LP) in construction in India and substantiate these factors with naturalistic observation method in a building construction project. From the past studies, factors influencing the LP are specifically selected for the survey and statistically analyzed to form into defined group of factors. The influence of these factors is then correlated to the field level LP. For this, a case study is conducted using TMS technique to inspect factors influencing LP in an ongoing multi storied residential building construction site in Telangana State, India. The LP factors identified by survey analysis are quantitatively validated with the field study. It is noted that work characteristics, organizational characteristics, assured and safety work and workers management were responsible for 15% loss of LP in the field. Of these, major loss of about 11% is shown by work characteristics factors such as material delay and tools delay. This method can be utilized by construction personnel to measure the loss of LP with the data available from survey methods and also assists the construction personnel in making timely decisions towards the improvement of LP for various activities on the construction project sites

A first principles investigation of cubic BaRuO3_3: A Hund's metal

A first-principles investigation of cubic-BaRuO$_3$, by combining density functional theory with dynamical mean-field theory and a hybridization expansion continuous time quantum Monte-Carlo solver, has been carried out. Non-magnetic calculations with appropriately chosen on-site Coulomb repulsion, $U$ and Hund's exchange, $J$, for single-particle dynamics and static susceptibility show that cubic-BaRuO$_3$ is in a spin-frozen state at temperatures above the ferromagnetic transition point. A strong red shift with increasing $J$ of the peak in the real frequency dynamical susceptibility indicates a dramatic suppression of the Fermi liquid coherence scale as compared to the bare parameters in cubic-BaRuO$_3$. The self-energy also shows clear deviation from Fermi liquid behaviour that manifests in the single-particle spectrum. Such a clean separation of energy scales in this system provides scope for an incoherent spin-frozen (SF) phase, that extends over a wide temperature range, to manifest in non-Fermi liquid behaviour and to be the precursor for the magnetically ordered ground state.Comment: 10 pages, 12 figures, 1 tabl

A Rare Case of Lung Hypoplasia, Cardiac Anomalies and Ovarian Tumour in a Patient with MRKH Syndrome

Hypoplasia of the lung is an uncommon congenital abnormality of the respiratory system in contrast to Pulmonary agenesis. Mayer-Rokitansky-Küster-Hauser (MRKH) syndrome is the congenital absence of the upper two-thirds of the vagina and uterus with normal secondary sexual characteristics, ovary, and normal karyotype. Here we describe a case of left lung hypoplasia and congenital cardiac malformations with MRKH syndrome and Leiomyoma of the ovary. A 31-year-old female presented with cough with expectoration, left side chest pain and breathlessness for four years to Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research (JIPMER). She was evaluated for amenorrhea and diagnosed as MRKH syndrome and the patient underwent right side oophorectomy for right ovarian torsion with a tumour. Computed Tomography Pulmonary Angiogram (CTPA) and fiberoptic endoscopy were suggestive of left lung hypoplasia, and the patient was advised symptomatic treatment for lung hypoplasia and planned for vaginoplasty. Keywords: Pulmonary hypoplasia, Infertility, Mullerian aplasia, congenital bronchiectasis, Left-sided superior vena cava, ovarian Leiomyoma

Calibration of second-order correlation functions for non-stationary sources with a multi-start multi-stop time-to-digital converter

A novel high-throughput second-order-correlation measurement system is developed which records and makes use of all the arrival times of photons detected at both start and stop detectors. This system is suitable particularly for a light source having a high photon flux and a long coherence time since it is more efficient than conventional methods by an amount equal to the product of the count rate and the correlation time of the light source. We have used this system in carefully investigating the dead time effects of detectors and photon counters on the second-order correlation function in the two-detector configuration. For a non-stationary light source, distortion of original signal was observed at high photon flux. A systematic way of calibrating the second-order correlation function has been devised by introducing a concept of an effective dead time of the entire measurement system.Comment: 7 pages, 6 figure

Skin Extracellular Matrix Breakdown Following Paclitaxel Therapy in Patients with Chemotherapy-Induced Peripheral Neuropathy.

The chemotherapeutic agent paclitaxel causes peripheral neuropathy, a dose-limiting side effect, in up to 68% of cancer patients. In this study, we investigated the impact of paclitaxel therapy on the skin of breast cancer patients with chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN), building upon previous findings in zebrafish and rodents. Comprehensive assessments, including neurological examinations and quality of life questionnaires, were conducted, followed by intraepidermal nerve fiber (IENF) density evaluations using skin punch biopsies. Additionally, RNA sequencing, immunostaining for Matrix-Metalloproteinase 13 (MMP-13), and transmission electron microscopy provided insights into molecular and ultrastructural changes in this skin. The results showed no significant difference in IENF density between the control and CIPN patients despite the presence of patient-reported CIPN symptoms. Nevertheless, the RNA sequencing and immunostaining on the skin revealed significantly upregulated MMP-13, which is known to play a key role in CIPN caused by paclitaxel therapy. Additionally, various genes involved in the regulation of the extracellular matrix, microtubules, cell cycle, and nervous system were significantly and differentially expressed. An ultrastructural examination of the skin showed changes in collagen and basement membrane structures. These findings highlight the presence of CIPN in the absence of IENF density changes and support the role of skin remodeling as a major contributor to CIPN