Performance analysis & optimization of DLR High-Performance Computing codes

The importance of High Performance Computing (HPC) in the field of aircraft design is significantly growing. However, capabilities of current HPC systems are inadequate for scale-resolving simulations of in-flight aircraft. Consequently, coordinated advances in algorithms, hardware, and software are needed. For instance, with the end of Moore’s law, processors evolve towards an ever-increasing core count which raises requirements on the scalability of scientific software. Therefore, this submission provides an in-depth scalability analysis of the DLR flow solvers CODA and Musubi. Performance profiles guide the identification of critical aspects of both codes. The presented analysis reveals potentially sub-optimal communication patterns, proposes possible solutions, and shows first improvements of the codes

Measuring the weak mixing angle with the P2 experiment at MESA

The P2 experiment in Mainz aims to measure the weak mixing angle in electron- proton scattering to a precision of 0.13 %. In order to suppress uncertainties due to proton structure and contributions from box graphs, both a low average momentum transfer $Q^2$ of $4.5\cdot 10^{-3}$ GeV$^2/c^2$ and a low beam energy of 155 MeV are chosen. In order to collect the enormous statistics required for this measurement, the new Mainz Energy Recovery Superconducting Accelerator (MESA) is being constructed. These proceedings describe the motivation for the measurement, the experimental and accelerator challenges and how we plan to tackle them.Comment: Proceedings of the PhiPsi15, Sep. 23-26, 2015, Hefei, Chin

Design of a Nanometric AlTi Additive for MgB2-Based Reactive Hydride Composites with Superior Kinetic Properties

Solid-state hydride compounds are a promising option for efficient and safe hydrogen-storage systems. Lithium reactive hydride composite system 2LiBH4 + MgH2/2LiH + MgB2 (Li-RHC) has been widely investigated owing to its high theoretical hydrogen-storage capacity and low calculated reaction enthalpy (11.5 wt % H2 and 45.9 kJ/mol H2). In this paper, a thorough investigation into the effect of the formation of nano-TiAl alloys on the hydrogen-storage properties of Li-RHC is presented. The additive 3TiCl3·AlCl3 is used as the nanoparticle precursor. For the investigated temperatures and hydrogen pressures, the addition of ∼5 wt % 3TiCl3·AlCl3 leads to hydrogenation/dehydrogenation times of only 30 min and a reversible hydrogen-storage capacity of 9.5 wt %. The material containing 3TiCl3·AlCl3 possesses superior hydrogen-storage properties in terms of rates and a stable hydrogen capacity during several hydrogenation/dehydrogenation cycles. These enhancements are attributed to an in situ nanostructure and a hexagonal AlTi3 phase observed by high-resolution transmission electron microscopy. This phase acts in a 2-fold manner, first promoting the nucleation of MgB2 upon dehydrogenation and second suppressing the formation of Li2B12H12 upon hydrogenation/dehydrogenation cycling.Fil: Le, Thi-Thu. Helmholtz Zentrum Geesthacht; AlemaniaFil: Pistidda, Claudio. Helmholtz Zentrum Geesthacht; AlemaniaFil: Puszkiel, Julián Atilio. Helmholtz Zentrum Geesthacht; Alemania. Comisión Nacional de Energía Atómica. Centro Atómico Bariloche; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Patagonia Norte; ArgentinaFil: Castro Riglos, Maria Victoria. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Patagonia Norte; Argentina. Helmholtz Zentrum Geesthacht; Alemania. Comisión Nacional de Energía Atómica. Centro Atómico Bariloche; ArgentinaFil: Karimi, Fahim. Helmholtz Zentrum Geesthacht; AlemaniaFil: Skibsted, Jørgen. University Aarhus; DinamarcaFil: Gharibdoust, Seyedhosein Payandeh. University Aarhus; DinamarcaFil: Richter, Bo. University Aarhus; DinamarcaFil: Emmler, Thomas. Helmholtz Zentrum Geesthacht; AlemaniaFil: Milanese, Chiara. Università di Pavia; ItaliaFil: Santoru, Antonio. Helmholtz Zentrum Geesthacht; AlemaniaFil: Hoell, Armin. Helmholtz Zentrum Berlin für Materialien und Energie; AlemaniaFil: Krumrey, Michael. Physikalisch Technische Bundesanstalt; AlemaniaFil: Gericke, Eike. Universität zu Berlin; AlemaniaFil: Akiba, Etsuo. Kyushu University; JapónFil: Jensen, Torben R.. University Aarhus; DinamarcaFil: Klassen, Thomas. Helmholtz Zentrum Geesthacht; Alemania. Helmut Schmidt University; AlemaniaFil: Dornheim, Martin. Helmholtz Zentrum Geesthacht; Alemani

Clinical efficacy of omalizumab in chronic spontaneous urticaria is associated with a reduction of FcεRI-positive cells in the skin

Background. Treatment with omalizumab, a humanized recombinant monoclonal anti-IgE antibody, results in clinical efficacy in patients with Chronic Spontaneous Urticaria (CSU). The mechanism of action of omalizumab in CSU has not been elucidated in detail. Objectives. To determine the effects of omalizumab on levels of high affinity IgE receptor-positive (FcεRI+) and IgE- positive (IgE+) dermal cells and blood basophils. Treatment efficacy and safety were also assessed. Study design. In a double-blind study, CSU patients aged 18‑75 years were randomized to receive 300 mg omalizumab (n=20) or placebo (n=10) subcutaneously every 4 weeks for 12 weeks. Changes in disease activity were assessed by use of the weekly Urticaria Activity Score (UAS7). Circulating IgE levels, basophil numbers and levels of expression of FcεRI+ and IgE+ cells in the skin and in blood basophils were determined. Results. Patients receiving omalizumab showed a significantly greater decrease in UAS7 compared with patients receiving placebo. At Week 12 the mean difference in UAS7 between treatment groups was -14.82 (p=0.0027), consistent with previous studies. Total IgE levels in serum were increased after omalizumab treatment and remained elevated up to Week 12. Free IgE levels decreased after omalizumab treatment. Mean levels of FcεRI+ skin cells in patients treated with omalizumab 300 mg were decreased at Week 12 compared with baseline in the dermis of both non-lesional and lesional skin, reaching levels comparable with those seen in healthy volunteers (HVs). There were no statistically significant changes in mean FcɛRI+ cell levels in the placebo group. Similar results were seen for changes in IgE+ cells, although the changes were not statistically significant. The level of peripheral blood basophils increased immediately after treatment start and returned to Baseline values after the follow-up period. The levels of FcεRI and IgE expression on peripheral blood basophils were rapidly reduced by omalizumab treatment up to Week 12. Conclusions. Treatment with omalizumab resulted in rapid clinical benefits in patients with CSU. Treatment with omalizumab was associated with reduction in FcɛRI+ and IgE+ basophils and intradermal cells

The influence of sedentary and active work environments on wellness

Die begrip welstand het oor die afgelope dekades verander na gelang die lewenstyl van die samelewing met tegnologiese vooruitgang tred gehou het. Die hedendaagse siening is dat welstand in die eerste plek die verantwoordelikheid van die individu self is en bepaal word deur die beoefening van gedrag wat gesondheid bevorder. Daar is verskeie faktore wat bydra tot gesondheid in die sin van ’n individu se gevoel van algehele welstand op die lang termyn. Een van die belangrikstes daarvan is fisieke aktiwiteit, en daar is aansienlike navorsing gedoen om die voordele van ’n fisiek aktiewe lewenstyl te ondersoek. Hierdie navorsingsoorsig gaan van die veronderstelling uit dat die mees akkurate metode om dié voordele te peil, is om ’n aktiewe met ’n sedentêre lewenstyl te vergelyk. Die doel van die oorsig is om die begrip ‘algehele welstand’ te verduidelik en om die voordele van ’n werkomgewing wat fisieke aktiwiteit toelaat en die nadele van ’n omgewing waarin daar hoofsaaklik gesit word uit te lig wanneer dit op die bereiking van algehele welstand aankom.The concept of wellness has changed over the decades with the ever-changing lifestyle of society as it adapts to technological advances. The contemporary view is that wellness is the primary responsibility of the individual and is accomplished by practising health-promoting behaviour. There are various factors that contribute to wellness in the sense of an individual’s long-term sense of overall well-being. One of the most essential factors is physical activity, and there is a large body of research that explores the benefits of a physically active lifestyle. This article is based on the assumption that the most accurate way to measure these benefits are to compare an active with a sedentary lifestyle. The purpose of this review is to clarify the concept of wellness and highlight the benefits of a physically active working environment as opposed to the disadvantages of a sedentary environment in attaining overall wellbeing.http://www.satnt.ac.zahj2013ay201

Determining a physical wellness indicator

Met die toenemende klem op leefstylverwante gesondheid het die fokus vanaf die behandeling en genesing van siekte verskuif na voorkoming en gesondheidsbevordering. Alhoewel individuele welstandskomponente uitvoerig bestudeer is, het gebreke ontstaan vanweë teenstrydighede en ’n gebrek aan bewyse dat hierdie faktore kollektief op die verbetering van algehele welstand uitloop. Die huidige studie het hom op die terrein van algehele fisieke welstand toegespits en die komponente daarvan, asook die invloed van ’n aktiewe werksomgewing op die komponente nagevors. Vir die studie is ’n kwantitatiewe eksperimentele deursnee-ontwerp aanvaar. Verskille tussen die twee groepe deelnemers is met behulp van die onafhanklike steekproef t-toets gedoen. Voorgraadse universiteitstudente (n = 165) en 234 rekrute wat besig was met ’n fisieke oefenprogram tesame met wetstoepassingswerknemers is aan verskeie welstandassesserings onderwerp in ’n poging om die algehele welstand in sedentêre en aktiewe werksomgewings met mekaar te vergelyk. Die individuele resultate is vergelyk en tellings vir risiko-areas bepaal wat uiteindelik saamgestel is om ’n algehelewelstandaanwyser te formuleer. Daar is bevind dat die studente beter vertoon het op sommige welstandsterreine; die rekrute het egter beter algehele fisieke welstand gehad. Dit dui daarop dat fisieke aktiwiteit wel beduidend bydra tot die bereiking van algehele fisieke welstand en dus die risiko vir die ontwikkeling van chroniese leefstylverwante toestande verminder. Die oorkoepelende bevindings gee te kenne dat die handhawing van ’n gesonde leefstyl, deur middel van fisieke aktiwiteit en gedrag wat gesondheid bevorder, tot ’n beter stand van gesondheid sal lei. Hierdie navorsingsterrein het moontlikhede vir toekomstige navorsing blootgelê, veral met betrekking tot die algehelewelstandaanwyser.With the increasing prevalence of emphasis on lifestyle-related wellness, the focus has been diverted from treatment and cure of disease to prevention and health promotion. Therefore, the area of wellness has received much attention and has been promoted with much enthusiasm, especially in the corporate industry. The present study delved into the area of overall physical wellness and explored its components and the influence of an active work environment on these components. This study adopted a cross-sectional, quantitative experimental design Undergraduate university students (n = 165) and 234 training recruits and law enforcement employees underwent several wellness assessments in a bid to compare overall physical wellness in sedentary and active work environments. The individual results were compared and scored into risk areas that were ultimately compounded to formulate an overall physical wellness indicator. It was found that the students were superior in some areas of wellness; the recruits, however, possessed a more pronounced state of overall physical wellness. This indicates that physical activity does contribute significantly to attaining a state of overall physical wellness and so reduces the risk of developing lifestylerelated chronic conditions. The overall findings suggest that maintaining a healthy lifestyle through physical activity and health-promoting behaviour will result in a greater state of wellness. In this area of research a host of possibilities for future research are unfolding especially the overall wellness indicator.http://www.satnt.ac.zaam2014ay201

Schools as sites for social change : applying the TEARS principle

In order to truly be innovative in education, it is sometimes necessary to break away from conventional practices while, at the same time, keeping the students’ best interests in mind. We support the notion that innovation in teaching and learning plays a vital role in the success of an institution and as such have launched innovative initiatives amongst various institutions. These initiatives present various benefits, such as empowering children and supporting well-being through innovative educational wellness indicators and health promoting intervention. Based on the results obtained in this study, and the needs and knowledge based on the teachers and learners, an intervention plan was developed to support positive change within the schools and the community. This intervention plan includes the development of learning content that can be included in the curriculum without adding any additional burden to the teachers as well as the training of teachers to better implement this curriculum. The intervention further aims to assist with social change by guiding the schools in improving their learner feeding scheme and physical activity programme. The TEARS principle is an innovative 5-step enterprise that has been developed and implemented in order to pioneer the necessary changes in education.http://ijleol.cgpublisher.comhb201

Di-(2-Ethylhexyl)-Phthalate (DEHP) Causes Impaired Adipocyte Function and Alters Serum Metabolites

Di-(2-ethylhexyl)-phthalate (DEHP), an ubiquitous environmental contaminant, has been shown to cause adverse effects on glucose homeostasis and insulin sensitivity in epidemiological studies, but the underlying mechanisms are still unknown. We therefore tested the hypothesis that chronic DEHP exposure causes impaired insulin sensitivity, affects body weight, adipose tissue (AT) function and circulating metabolic parameters of obesity resistant 129S6 mice in vivo. An obesity-resistant mouse model was chosen to reduce a potential obesity bias of DEHP effects on metabolic parameters and AT function. The metabolic effects of 10-weeks exposure to DEHP were tested by insulin tolerance tests and quantitative assessment of 183 metabolites in mice. Furthermore, 3T3-L1 cells were cultured with DEHP for two days, differentiated into mature adipocytes in which the effects on insulin stimulated glucose and palmitate uptake, lipid content as well as on mRNA/protein expression of key adipocyte genes were investigated.We observed in female mice that DEHP treatment causes enhanced weight gain, fat mass, impaired insulin tolerance, changes in circulating adiponectin and adipose tissue Pparg, adiponectin and estrogen expression. Serum metabolomics indicated a general increase in phospholipid and carnitine concentrations. In vitro, DEHP treatment increases the proliferation rate and alters glucose uptake in adipocytes. Taken together, DEHP has significant effects on adipose tissue (AT) function and alters specific serum metabolites. Although, DEHP treatment led to significantly impaired insulin tolerance, it did not affect glucose tolerance, HOMA-IR, fasting glucose, insulin or triglyceride serum concentrations. This may suggest that DEHP treatment does not cause impaired glucose metabolism at the whole body level

Surface Electron-Hole Rich Species Active in the Electrocatalytic Water Oxidation.

Iridium and ruthenium and their oxides/hydroxides are the best candidates for the oxygen evolution reaction under harsh acidic conditions owing to the low overpotentials observed for Ru- and Ir-based anodes and the high corrosion resistance of Ir-oxides. Herein, by means of cutting edge operando surface and bulk sensitive X-ray spectroscopy techniques, specifically designed electrode nanofabrication and ab initio DFT calculations, we were able to reveal the electronic structure of the active IrOx centers (i.e., oxidation state) during electrocatalytic oxidation of water in the surface and bulk of high-performance Ir-based catalysts. We found the oxygen evolution reaction is controlled by the formation of empty Ir 5d states in the surface ascribed to the formation of formally IrV species leading to the appearance of electron-deficient oxygen species bound to single iridium atoms (μ1-O and μ1-OH) that are responsible for water activation and oxidation. Oxygen bound to three iridium centers (μ3-O) remains the dominant species in the bulk but do not participate directly in the electrocatalytic reaction, suggesting bulk oxidation is limited. In addition a high coverage of a μ1-OO (peroxo) species during the OER is excluded. Moreover, we provide the first photoelectron spectroscopic evidence in bulk electrolyte that the higher surface-to-bulk ratio in thinner electrodes enhances the material usage involving the precipitation of a significant part of the electrode surface and near-surface active species