Wiener splines

We describe an alternative way of constructing interpolating B-spline curves, surfaces or volumes in Fourier space which can be used for visualization. In our approach the interpolation problem is considered from a signal processing point of view and is reduced to finding an inverse B-spline filter sequence. The Fourier approach encompasses some advantageous features, such as successive approximation, compression, fast convolution and hardware support. In addition, optimal Wiener filtering can be applied to remove noise and distortions from the initial data points and to compute a smooth, least-squares fitting ‘Wiener spline’. Unlike traditional fitting methods, the described algorithm is simple and easy to implement. The performance of the presented method is illustrated by some examples showing the restoration of surfaces corrupted by various types of distortions

Compression domain volume rendering for distributed environments

This paper describes a method for volume data compression and rendering which bases on wavelet splats. The underlying concept is especially designed for distributed and networked applications, where we assume a remote server to maintain large scale volume data sets, being inspected, browsed through and rendered interactively by a local client. Therefore, we encode the server‘s volume data using a newly designed wavelet based volume compression method. A local client can render the volumes immediately from the compression domain by using wavelet footprints, a method proposed earlier. In addition, our setup features full progression, where the rendered image is refined progressively as data comes in. Furthermore, framerate constraints are considered by controlling the quality of the image both locally and globally depending on the current network bandwidth or computational capabilities of the client. As a very important aspect of our setup, the client does not need to provide storage for the volume data and can be implemented in terms of a network application. The underlying framework enables to exploit all advantageous properties of the wavelet transform and forms a basis for both sophisticated lossy compression and rendering. Although coming along with simple illumination and constant exponential decay, the rendering method is especially suited for fast interactive inspection of large data sets and can be supported easily by graphics hardware

Amplified warming of seasonal cold extremes relative to the mean in the Northern Hemisphere extratropics

Cold extremes are anticipated to warm at a faster rate than both hot extremes and average temperatures for much of the Northern Hemisphere. Anomalously warm cold extremes can affect numerous sectors, including human health, tourism and various ecosystems that are sensitive to cold temperatures. Using a selection of global climate models, this paper explores the accelerated warming of seasonal cold extremes relative to seasonal mean temperatures in the Northern Hemisphere extratropics. The potential driving physical mechanisms are investigated by assessing conditions on or prior to the day when the cold extreme occurs to understand how the different environmental fields are related. During winter, North America, Europe and much of Eurasia show amplified warming of cold extremes projected for the late 21st century, compared to the mid-20th century. This is shown to be largely driven by reductions in cold air temperature advection, suggested as a likely consequence of Arctic amplification. In spring and autumn, cold extremes are expected to warm faster than average temperatures for most of the Northern Hemisphere mid-latitudes to high latitudes, particularly Alaska, northern Canada and northern Eurasia. In the shoulder seasons, projected decreases in snow cover and associated reductions in surface albedo are suggested as the largest contributor affecting the accelerated rates of warming in cold extremes. The key findings of this study improve our understanding of the environmental conditions that contribute to the accelerated warming of cold extremes relative to mean temperatures.This study was supported by the Australian Research Council (ARC) Centre of Excellence for Climate Extremes (grant CE170100023). Markus G. Donat received funding from the ARC (grant DE150100456) and the Spanish Ministry for the Economy, Industry and Competitiveness Ramón y Cajal 2017 grant reference RYC-2017-22964. We acknowledge the World Climate Research Programme's Working Group on Coupled Modelling, which is responsible for CMIP, and we thank the climate modelling groups (listed in Table 1 of this paper) for producing and making their model output available.Peer ReviewedPostprint (published version

Critical dynamics of an isothermal compressible non-ideal fluid

A pure fluid at its critical point shows a dramatic slow-down in its dynamics, due to a divergence of the order-parameter susceptibility and the coefficient of heat transport. Under isothermal conditions, however, sound waves provide the only possible relaxation mechanism for order-parameter fluctuations. Here we study the critical dynamics of an isothermal, compressible non-ideal fluid via scaling arguments and computer simulations of the corresponding fluctuating hydrodynamics equations. We show that, below a critical dimension of 4, the order-parameter dynamics of an isothermal fluid effectively reduces to "model A," characterized by overdamped sound waves and a divergent bulk viscosity. In contrast, the shear viscosity remains finite above two dimensions. Possible applications of the model are discussed.Comment: 19 pages, 7 figures; v3: minor corrections and clarifications; as published in Phys. Rev.

Parton distribution functions from nonlocal light-cone operators with definite twist

We introduce the chiral-even and chiral-odd quark distributions as forward matrix elements of related bilocal quark operators with well-defined (geometric) twist. Thereby, we achieve a Lorentz invariant classification of these distributions which differ from the conventional ones by explicitly taking into account the necessary trace terms. The relations between both kinds of distribution functions are given and the mismatch between their different definition of twist is discussed. Wandzura-Wilczek--like relations between the conventional distributions (based on dynamical twist) are derived by means of geometric twist distribution functions.Comment: 17 pages, REVTEX, Extended version, The Introduction has been rewritten, Setion V "Wandzura-Wilczek--like relations" and App. B are added; Sign errors are correcte

Precision Monte Carlo Test of the Hartree-Fock Approximation for a trapped Bose Gas

We compare the semiclassical Hartree-Fock approximation for a trapped Bose gas to a direct Path Integral Quantum Monte Carlo simulation. The chosen parameters correspond to current Rb experiments. We observe corrections to the mean-field density profile. The Path Integral calculation reveals an increase of the number of condensed particles, which is of the same order as a previously computed result for a homogeneous system. We discuss the experimental observability of the effect and propose a method to analyze data of in-situ experiments.Comment: 4 pages, 3 figures, revte

Albumin-associated free fatty acids induce macropinocytosis in podocytes

Podocytes are specialized epithelial cells in the kidney glomerulus that play important structural and functional roles in maintaining the filtration barrier. Nephrotic syndrome results from a breakdown of the kidney filtration barrier and is associated with proteinuria, hyperlipidemia, and edema. Additionally, podocytes undergo changes in morphology and internalize plasma proteins in response to this disorder. Here, we used fluid-phase tracers in murine models and determined that podocytes actively internalize fluid from the plasma and that the rate of internalization is increased when the filtration barrier is disrupted. In cultured podocytes, the presence of free fatty acids (FFAs) associated with serum albumin stimulated macropinocytosis through a pathway that involves FFA receptors, the Gβ/Gγ complex, and RAC1. Moreover, mice with elevated levels of plasma FFAs as the result of a high-fat diet were more susceptible to Adriamycin-induced proteinuria than were animals on standard chow. Together, these results support a model in which podocytes sense the disruption of the filtration barrier via FFAs bound to albumin and respond by enhancing fluid-phase uptake. The response to FFAs may function in the development of nephrotic syndrome by amplifying the effects of proteinuria