581 research outputs found
Trans-boundary variations of urban drought vulnerability and its impact on water resource management in Singapore and Johor, Malaysia
Low-latitude areas generally experience relatively large precipitation totals, but droughts/dry spells do occur periodically and are potentially hazardous in these regions - especially within rapidly developing urban settlements. These areas typically have high water demand and therefore may potentially be subjected to water scarcity. Effective local water resource management lowering risks and vulnerabilities to drought is thus paramount, and these policies may be affected in regions with national borders sharing a common transboundary water resource. In this study, we (a) quantify and identify drought episodes using the Palmer Drought Severity Index in the neighbouring equatorial regions of Singapore and Johor, Malaysia, and (b) qualitatively examine each region's drought impacts and consequent responses through archival research over the past fifty years. The data indicate that both frequencies and intensities of drought episodes in both Singapore and Johor have increased over time, suggesting greater exposure to this hazard. However, there are distinct variations in drought impacts in Singapore and Johor, and how each region addresses water resource management to drought with varying degrees of success. Despite the close geographical proximity, significant variations in regional adaptive capacities suggest that different drought vulnerabilities exist. We discuss the efficacy of drought responses over different time scales, and suggest that a combination of demand- and supply-side policies, especially in the long-term, should be considered to reduce vulnerability to this hazard.Published versio
Quantum linear amplifier enhanced by photon subtraction and addition
A deterministic quantum amplifier inevitably adds noise to an amplified
signal due to the uncertainty principle in quantum physics. We here investigate
how a quantum-noise-limited amplifier can be improved by additionally employing
the photon subtraction, the photon addition, and a coherent superposition of
the two, thereby making a probabilistic, heralded, quantum amplifier. We show
that these operations can enhance the performance in amplifying a coherent
state in terms of intensity gain, fidelity, and phase uncertainty. In
particular, the photon subtraction turns out to be optimal for the fidelity and
the phase concentration among these elementary operations, while the photon
addition also provides a significant reduction in the phase uncertainty with
the largest gain effect.Comment: published version, 7 pages, 9 figure
A MATLAB based simulation program for indoor visible light communication system
We report a simulation program for indoor visible light communication environment based on MATLAB and Simulink. The program considers the positions of the transmitters and the reflections at each wall. For visible light communication environment, the illumination light-emitting diode is used not only as a lighting device, but also as a communication device. Using the simulation program, the distributions of illuminance and root-mean-square delay spread are analyzed at bottom surface
[Fe II] and H2 filaments in the Supernova Remnant G11.2-0.3: Supernova Ejecta and Presupernova Circumstellar Wind
We present the results of near-infrared imaging and spectroscopic
observations of the young, core-collapse supernova remnant (SNR) G11.2-0.3. In
the [Fe II] 1.644 um image, we first discover long, clumpy [Fe II] filaments
within the radio shell of the SNR, together with some faint, knotty features in
the interior of the remnant. We have detected several [Fe II] lines and HI Br-G
line toward the peak position of the bright southeastern [Fe II] filament. The
derived extinction is large (Av=13 mag) and it is the brightest [Fe II]
filament detected toward SNRs to date. By analyzing two [Fe II] 1.644 um images
obtained in 2.2 yrs apart, we detect a proper motion corresponding to an
expansion rate of 0.''035 (0.''013) /yr [or 830 (310) km/s]. We also discover
two small H2 filaments. One is bright and along the SE boundary of the radio
shell, while the other is faint and just outside of its NE boundary. We have
detected H2 (2-1) S(3) line toward the former filament and derive an excitation
temperature of 2,100 K. We suggest that the H2 filaments are dense clumps in a
presupernova circumstellar wind swept up by the SNR shock while the [Fe II]
filaments are probably composed of both shocked wind material and shocked
supernova (SN) ejecta. The distribution of [Fe II] filaments may indicate that
the SN explosion in G11.2-0.3 was asymmetric as in Cassiopeia A. Our results
support the suggestion that G11.2-0.3 is a remnant of a SN IIL/b interacting
with a dense red supergiant wind.Comment: 30 pages with 10 figures, To appear in the Astrophysical Journa
A Biomimetic Membrane Device That Modulates the Excessive Inflammatory Response to Sepsis
OBJECTIVE: Septic shock has a clinical mortality rate approaching fifty percent. The major clinical manifestations of sepsis are due to the dysregulation of the host's response to infection rather than the direct consequences of the invading pathogen. Central to this initial immunologic response is the activation of leukocytes and microvascular endothelium resulting in cardiovascular instability, lung injury and renal dysfunction. Due to the primary role of leukocyte activation in the sepsis syndrome, a synthetic biomimetic membrane, called a selective cytopheretic device (SCD), was developed to bind activated leukocytes. The incorporation of the SCD along an extracorporeal blood circuit coupled with regional anticoagulation with citrate to lower blood ionized calcium was devised to modulate leukocyte activation in sepsis. DESIGN: Laboratory investigation. SETTING: University of Michigan Medical School. SUBJECTS: Pigs weighing 30-35 kg. INTERVENTIONS: To assess the effect of the SCD in septic shock, pigs were administered 30×10(10) bacteria/kg body weight of Escherichia coli into the peritoneal cavity and within 1 hr were immediately placed in an extracorporeal circuit containing SCD. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: In this animal model, the SCD with citrate compared to control groups without the SCD or with heparin anticoagulation ameliorated the cardiovascular instability and lung sequestration of activated leukocytes, reduced renal dysfunction and improved survival time compared to various control groups. This effect was associated with minimal elevations of systemic circulating neutrophil activation. CONCLUSIONS: These preclinical studies along with two favorable exploratory clinical trials form the basis of an FDA-approved investigational device exemption for a pivotal multicenter, randomized control trial currently underway
The Nature of Blue Early-Type Galaxies in the Goods Fields
We present a study of the nature of the blue early-type galaxies (BEGs) in
the GOODS north and south fields using the GOODS HST/ACS archival data. Using
visual inspection, we have selected 58 BEGs and 113 normal red early-type
galaxies (REGs) in the sample of 1,949 galaxies with spectroscopic redshifts.
We find that the BEGs are generally bluer, fainter, and less-massive than the
REGs, although a few BEGs are exceptionally bright and massive. The number
fraction of the BEGs to total early-type galaxies is almost constant
() at . In addition, we find that the size of the BEGs in
given redshift bin decrease as redshift decreases. The BEGs look similar to the
REGs in the images and surface brightness profiles. However, at least 27 BEGs
show traces of tidal disturbances in their fine structures: elongated cores,
off-centered cores, asymmetric internal color distributions, tidally distorted
outer structures, collisional rings, or very nearby companions. Twenty-one BEGs
are detected in the X-ray bands and eleven of them are as luminous as
, indicating the existence
of AGNs in their centers. These results show that at least a half of the BEGs
may be descendants of mergers/interacting-galaxies and that at least a quarter
of the BEGs may be AGN-host galaxies. The BEGs may evolve into REGs, and the
size evolution of the BEGs is consistent with the galactic \emph{downsizing}
scenario.Comment: 26 pages, 17 figures, To appear in the Astrophysical Journal, Oct
200
Meniscus tear developed by pulling of the anomalous insertion of medial meniscus on anterior cruciate ligament
There is no report regarding a medial meniscus tear arising from an anomalous insertion of medial meniscus on the ACL, which seemed to be developed by the same mechanism as ACL tear. A case of a combined medial meniscus tear with ACL tear in the presence of an anomalous insertion of the medial meniscus on the ACL is reported
Cell size is a determinant of stem cell potential during aging
Stem cells are remarkably small. Whether small size is important for stem cell function is unknown. We find that hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) enlarge under conditions known to decrease stem cell function. This decreased fitness of large HSCs is due to reduced proliferation and was accompanied by altered metabolism. Preventing HSC enlargement or reducing large HSCs in size averts the loss of stem cell potential under conditions causing stem cell exhaustion. Last, we show that murine and human HSCs enlarge during aging. Preventing this age-dependent enlargement improves HSC function. We conclude that small cell size is important for stem cell function in vivo and propose that stem cell enlargement contributes to their functional decline during aging.Peer reviewe
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