389 research outputs found
Deductive Optimization of Relational Data Storage
Optimizing the physical data storage and retrieval of data are two key
database management problems. In this paper, we propose a language that can
express a wide range of physical database layouts, going well beyond the row-
and column-based methods that are widely used in database management systems.
We use deductive synthesis to turn a high-level relational representation of a
database query into a highly optimized low-level implementation which operates
on a specialized layout of the dataset. We build a compiler for this language
and conduct experiments using a popular database benchmark, which shows that
the performance of these specialized queries is competitive with a
state-of-the-art in memory compiled database system
Out-of-Step Protection with AI Methods
In the paper the results of investigations on the application of Artificial Intelligence (AI) methods to the out-ofstep (OS) protection of synchronous machines are presented. The main efforts have been focused on development of new Artificial Neural Network (ANN) based and mixed protection techniques which should ensure better (faster and more secure) detection of generator loss of synchronism. The designed AI-based OS protection schemes have been thoroughly optimised and tested with EMTP-generated case signals. Wide robustness analysis as well as comparison with chosen standard OS detection method have also been performed
Effects of degradable Mg-Ca alloys on dendritic cell function
Degradable magnesium alloys are new materials for implants used in orthopedic and trauma surgery. The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of degradable magnesium alloys on the function of dendritic cells (DC) as these cells represent the major antigen presenting cells of the body. MgP (pure magnesium), MgCa 0.6 (0.6% calcium), MgCa 0.8 (0.8% calcium), MgCa 1.0 (1% calcium), and MgCa 1.2 (1.2% calcium) alloys were degraded in cell culture medium. In parallel, murine bone marrow-derived DC were incubated with increasing concentrations (0.1-10 mmol/L) of magnesium chloride and calcium chloride, respectively. Incubation of DC with degradation media over 6 days had no influence on cell viability and only marginal influence on DC migration. Also, the production of TNFα and expression of CD86 was not enhanced by incubation with degraded magnesium alloys. The mixed leukocyte reaction revealed that there was also no increase of the T-cell proliferation in comparison to untreated controls. However, there was a trend toward macrophage development at the expense of DC expansion and an enhanced DC migration was induced by incubation with higher magnesium concentrations. Particularly the latter should be verified in in vivo experiments. © The Author(s), 2010
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A comparison of two identification and tracking methods for polar lows
In this study, we compare two different cyclone-tracking algorithms to detect North Atlantic polar lows, which
are very intense mesoscale cyclones. Both approaches include spatial filtering, detection, tracking and
constraints specific to polar lows. The first method uses digital bandpass-filtered mean sea level pressure
(MSLP) fieldsin the spatial range of 200�600 km and is especially designed for polar lows. The second method
also uses a bandpass filter but is based on the discrete cosine transforms (DCT) and can be applied to MSLP
and vorticity fields. The latter was originally designed for cyclones in general and has been adapted to polar
lows for this study. Both algorithms are applied to the same regional climate model output fields from October
1993 to September 1995 produced from dynamical downscaling of the NCEP/NCAR reanalysis data.
Comparisons between these two methods show that different filters lead to different numbers and locations of
tracks. The DCT is more precise in scale separation than the digital filter and the results of this study suggest
that it is more suited for the bandpass filtering of MSLP fields. The detection and tracking parts also influence
the numbers of tracks although less critically. After a selection process that applies criteria to identify tracks of
potential polar lows, differences between both methods are still visible though the major systems are identified
in both
Impact Forecasting to Support Emergency Management of Natural Hazards
Forecasting and early warning systems are important investments to protect lives, properties, and livelihood. While early warning systems are frequently used to predict the magnitude, location, and timing of potentially damaging events, these systems rarely provide impact estimates, such as the expected amount and distribution of physical damage, human consequences, disruption of services, or financial loss. Complementing early warning systems with impact forecasts has a twofold advantage: It would provide decision makers with richer information to take informed decisions about emergency measures and focus the attention of different disciplines on a common target. This would allow capitalizing on synergies between different disciplines and boosting the development of multihazard early warning systems. This review discusses the state of the art in impact forecasting for a wide range of natural hazards. We outline the added value of impact-based warnings compared to hazard forecasting for the emergency phase, indicate challenges and pitfalls, and synthesize the review results across hazard types most relevant for Europe
Analyzing the causes and spatial pattern of the European 2003 carbon flux anomaly in Europe using seven models
International audienceGlobally, the year 2003 is associated with one of the largest atmospheric CO2 rises on record. In the same year, Europe experienced an anomalously strong flux of CO2 from the land to the atmosphere associated with an exceptionally dry and hot summer in Western and Central Europe. In this study we analyze the magnitude of this carbon flux anomaly and key driving ecosystem processes using simulations of seven terrestrial ecosystem models of different complexity and types (process-oriented and diagnostic). We address the following questions: (1) how large were deviations in the net European carbon flux in 2003 relative to a short-term baseline (1998–2002) and to longer-term variations in annual fluxes (1980 to 2005), (2) which regions exhibited the largest shift in carbon fluxes during the growing season 2003, and (3) which processes controlled the carbon balance anomaly . In Western and Central Europe, the anomaly in net ecosystem productivity (NEP) over growing season 2003 was outside the 1s bound of the carbon flux anomalies for 1980–2005. The estimated growing season anomaly ranged between –29 and –196 Tg C for Western Europe and between 13 and –94 Tg C for Central Europe depending on the model used. All models responded to a dipole pattern of the climate anomaly in 2003. In Western and Central Europe NEP was reduced due to heat and drought. Over Western Russia NEP was decreased in response to lower than normal temperatures and high precipitation. While models agree on changes in simulated NEP and gross primary productivity anomalies in 2003 over Western and Central Europe, models diverge in the estimates of anomalies in ecosystem respiration. Except for two process models which simulate respiration increase, most models simulated a decrease in ecosystem respiration in 2003. The diagnostic models showed a weaker decrease in ecosystem respiration than the process-oriented models. Based on the multi-model simulations we estimated the total carbon flux anomaly over the 2003 growing season in Europe to range between –0.02 and –0.27 Pg C relative to the net flux in 1998–2002
Analyzing the causes and spatial pattern of the European 2003 carbon flux anomaly using seven models
Globally, the year 2003 is associated with one of the largest atmospheric CO<sub>2</sub> rises on record. In the same year, Europe experienced an anomalously strong flux of CO<sub>2</sub> from the land to the atmosphere associated with an exceptionally dry and hot summer in Western and Central Europe. In this study we analyze the magnitude of this carbon flux anomaly and key driving ecosystem processes using simulations of seven terrestrial ecosystem models of different complexity and types (process-oriented and diagnostic). We address the following questions: (1) how large were deviations in the net European carbon flux in 2003 relative to a short-term baseline (1998&ndash;2002) and to longer-term variations in annual fluxes (1980 to 2005), (2) which European regions exhibited the largest changes in carbon fluxes during the growing season 2003, and (3) which ecosystem processes controlled the carbon balance anomaly . <br><br> In most models the prominence of 2003 anomaly in carbon fluxes declined with lengthening of the reference period from one year to 16 years. The 2003 anomaly for annual net carbon fluxes ranged between 0.35 and &ndash;0.63 Pg C for a reference period of one year and between 0.17 and &ndash;0.37 Pg C for a reference period of 16 years for the whole Europe. <br><br> In Western and Central Europe, the anomaly in simulated net ecosystem productivity (NEP) over the growing season in 2003 was outside the 1&sigma; variance bound of the carbon flux anomalies for 1980&ndash;2005 in all models. The estimated anomaly in net carbon flux ranged between &ndash;42 and &ndash;158 Tg C for Western Europe and between 24 and &ndash;129 Tg C for Central Europe depending on the model used. All models responded to a dipole pattern of the climate anomaly in 2003. In Western and Central Europe NEP was reduced due to heat and drought. In contrast, lower than normal temperatures and higher air humidity decreased NEP over Northeastern Europe. While models agree on the sign of changes in simulated NEP and gross primary productivity in 2003 over Western and Central Europe, models diverge in the estimates of anomalies in ecosystem respiration. Except for two process models which simulate respiration increase, most models simulated a decrease in ecosystem respiration in 2003. The diagnostic models showed a weaker decrease in ecosystem respiration than the process-oriented models. Based on the multi-model simulations we estimated the total carbon flux anomaly over the 2003 growing season in Europe to range between &ndash;0.02 and &ndash;0.27 Pg C relative to the net carbon flux in 1998&ndash;2002
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Analyzing the causes and spatial pattern of the European 2003 carbon flux anomaly using seven models
Globally, the year 2003 is associated with one of the largest atmospheric CO2 rises on record. In the same year, Europe experienced an anomalously strong flux of CO2 from the land to the atmosphere associated with an exceptionally dry and hot summer in Western and Central Europe. In this study we analyze the magnitude of this carbon flux anomaly and key driving ecosystem processes using simulations of seven terrestrial ecosystem models of different complexity and types (process-oriented and diagnostic). We address the following questions: (1) how large were deviations in the net European carbon flux in 2003 relative to a short-term baseline (1998–2002) and to longer-term variations in annual fluxes (1980 to 2005), (2) which European regions exhibited the largest changes in carbon fluxes during the growing season 2003, and (3) which ecosystem processes controlled the carbon balance anomaly .
In most models the prominence of 2003 anomaly in carbon fluxes declined with lengthening of the reference period from one year to 16 years. The 2003 anomaly for annual net carbon fluxes ranged between 0.35 and –0.63 Pg C for a reference period of one year and between 0.17 and –0.37 Pg C for a reference period of 16 years for the whole Europe.
In Western and Central Europe, the anomaly in simulated net ecosystem productivity (NEP) over the growing season in 2003 was outside the 1σ variance bound of the carbon flux anomalies for 1980–2005 in all models. The estimated anomaly in net carbon flux ranged between –42 and –158 Tg C for Western Europe and between 24 and –129 Tg C for Central Europe depending on the model used. All models responded to a dipole pattern of the climate anomaly in 2003. In Western and Central Europe NEP was reduced due to heat and drought. In contrast, lower than normal temperatures and higher air humidity decreased NEP over Northeastern Europe. While models agree on the sign of changes in simulated NEP and gross primary productivity in 2003 over Western and Central Europe, models diverge in the estimates of anomalies in ecosystem respiration. Except for two process models which simulate respiration increase, most models simulated a decrease in ecosystem respiration in 2003. The diagnostic models showed a weaker decrease in ecosystem respiration than the process-oriented models. Based on the multi-model simulations we estimated the total carbon flux anomaly over the 2003 growing season in Europe to range between –0.02 and –0.27 Pg C relative to the net carbon flux in 1998–2002
Limits on diffuse fluxes of high energy extraterrestrial neutrinos with the AMANDA-B10 detector
Data from the AMANDA-B10 detector taken during the austral winter of 1997
have been searched for a diffuse flux of high energy extraterrestrial
muon-neutrinos, as predicted from, e.g., the sum of all active galaxies in the
universe. This search yielded no excess events above those expected from the
background atmospheric neutrinos, leading to upper limits on the
extraterrestrial neutrino flux. For an assumed E^-2 spectrum, a 90% classical
confidence level upper limit has been placed at a level E^2 Phi(E) = 8.4 x
10^-7 GeV cm^-2 s^-1 sr^-1 (for a predominant neutrino energy range 6-1000 TeV)
which is the most restrictive bound placed by any neutrino detector. When
specific predicted spectral forms are considered, it is found that some are
excluded.Comment: Submitted to Physical Review Letter
Effi cacy of a Russian-backbone live attenuated infl uenza vaccine among young children in Bangladesh: a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial
Background The rates of infl uenza illness and associated complications are high among children in Bangladesh.
We assessed the clinical effi cacy and safety of a Russian-backbone live attenuated infl uenza vaccine (LAIV) at two fi eld
sites in Bangladesh.
Methods Between Feb 27 and April 9, 2013, children aged 2–4 years in urban Kamalapur and rural Matlab, Bangladesh,
were randomly assigned in a 2:1 ratio, according to a computer-generated schedule, to receive one intranasal dose of
LAIV or placebo. After vaccination, we monitored children in weekly home visits until Dec 31, 2013, with study clinic
surveillance for infl uenza illness. The primary outcome was symptomatic, laboratory-confi rmed infl uenza illness due
to vaccine-matched strains. Analysis was per protocol. The trial is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, number
NCT01797029.
Findings Of 1761 children enrolled, 1174 received LAIV and 587 received placebo. Laboratory-confi rmed infl uenza
illness due to vaccine-matched strains was seen in 93 (15·8%) children in the placebo group and 79 (6·7%) in the
LAIV group. Vaccine effi cacy of LAIV for vaccine-matched strains was 57·5% (95% CI 43·6–68·0). The vaccine was
well tolerated, and adverse events were balanced between the groups. The most frequent adverse events were
tachypnoea (n=86 in the LAIV group and n=54 in the placebo group), cough (n=73 and n=43), and runny nose (n=68
and n=39), most of which were mild.
Interpretation This single-dose Russian-backbone LAIV was safe and effi cacious at preventing symptomatic
laboratory-confi rmed infl uenza illness due to vaccine-matched strains. LAIV programmes might reduce the burden
of infl uenza illness in Bangladesh
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