Meteorological and air quality measurements in a city region with complex terrain: influence of meteorological phenomena on urban climate

On 8 and 9 July 2018 extensive observations were conducted under fair-weather conditions in the German city of Stuttgart and its surroundings. This intensive observation period, part of the four weeks Urban Climate Under Change (UC)2 campaign, intended to provide a comprehensive data set to understand the complex interactions of thermally induced wind systems, vertical turbulent mixing and air pollutant concentration distribution in the atmospheric boundary layer of the city. Stuttgart has a very special and complex topography with a city center located in a basin surrounded by hills with heights of 250 to 300 m influencing the wind and flow system, reducing the wind speed, causing inhibited dispersion of air pollutants. Cold air flows from the surrounding plains can penetrate into the urban areas and influence the urban climate including the air quality. For investigating these effects with a focus on urban climate, combinations of different measurement platforms and techniques were used, such as in situ stationary and mobile measurements with cars, vertical profiling by means of tethered balloons, radiosondes, a drone, and aircraft observations, remote sensing devices and satellite-based instruments. Numerous atmospheric processes in an urban area regarding boundary layer evolution, inversion, local wind systems, urban heat island, etc. were observed. Some important findings are: Temperature observations provide local information about the warmest areas in the city and about the city and its surroundings. The urban heat island effect was evident from the results of stationary and mobile air temperature measurements as higher air temperature was measured in Stuttgart basin compared to its surroundings. Considerable spatio-temporal differences concerning the wind (speed and direction), turbulence and the convective boundary depth are evident. Lower wind speeds were observed during the nighttime and the main wind direction in the Stuttgart valley was measured to be southwest, which carried cold air from the hillsides into the city and pollutants to the windward side of the city into the Neckar valley. The low wind speed favored the accumulation of pollutants in a shallow nocturnal boundary layer close to the surface. During the day, the overall pollutant concentration was reduced by vertical convective mixing. The vertical profile measurements have shown that the applied techniques provided a good overview to understand the vertical characteristics of meteorological parameters and pollutants as well as the stability of the atmosphere and extent of the urban boundary layer. It also showed that the extent of atmospheric mixing determines the dispersion, dilution and mixing of emitted pollutants. Finally, the additional comprehensive air-chemical observations (surface and satellite based) allow understanding the diurnal cycle of air pollutants in the atmospheric boundary layer of the city of Stuttgart. Satellite-based observations from Sentinel‑5P/TROPOMI have shown their potential for mapping urban pollution islands and urban pollution plumes even in cities with a complex terrain like Stuttgart. These observations assisted to obtain a comprehensive data set intended for the validation of a novel urban climate model, PALM‑4U

Acute intestinal failure: international multicenter point-of-prevalence study

Background & aims: Intestinal failure (IF) is defined from a requirement or intravenous supplementation due to failing capacity to absorb nutrients and fluids. Acute IF is an acute, potentially reversible form of IF. We aimed to identify the prevalence, underlying causes and outcomes of acute IF. Methods: This point-of-prevalence study included all adult patients hospitalized in acute care hospitals and receiving parenteral nutrition (PN) on a study day. The reason for PN and the mechanism of IF (if present) were documented by local investigators and reviewed by an expert panel. Results: Twenty-three hospitals (19 university, 4 regional) with a total capacity of 16,356 acute care beds and 1237 intensive care unit (ICU) beds participated in this study. On the study day, 338 patients received PN (21 patients/1000 acute care beds) and 206 (13/1000) were categorized as acute IF. The categorization of reason for PN was revised in 64 cases (18.9% of total) in consensus between the expert panel and investigators. Hospital mortality of all study patients was 21.5%; the median hospital stay was 36 days. Patients with acute IF had a hospital mortality of 20.5% and median hospital stay of 38 days (P > 0.05 for both outcomes). Disordered gut motility (e.g. ileus) was the most common mechanism of acute IF, and 71.5% of patients with acute IF had undergone abdominal surgery. Duration of PN of ≥42 days was identified as being the best cut-off predicting hospital mortality within 90 days. PN ≥ 42 days, age, sepsis and ICU admission were independently associated with 90-day hospital mortality. Conclusions: Around 2% of adult patients in acute care hospitals received PN, 60% of them due to acute IF. High 90-day hospital mortality and long hospital stay were observed in patients receiving PN, whereas presence of acute IF did not additionally influence these outcomes. Duration of PN was associated with increased 90-day hospital mortality

Terrestrial Very-Long-Baseline Atom Interferometry:Workshop Summary

This document presents a summary of the 2023 Terrestrial Very-Long-Baseline Atom Interferometry Workshop hosted by CERN. The workshop brought together experts from around the world to discuss the exciting developments in large-scale atom interferometer (AI) prototypes and their potential for detecting ultralight dark matter and gravitational waves. The primary objective of the workshop was to lay the groundwork for an international TVLBAI proto-collaboration. This collaboration aims to unite researchers from different institutions to strategize and secure funding for terrestrial large-scale AI projects. The ultimate goal is to create a roadmap detailing the design and technology choices for one or more km-scale detectors, which will be operational in the mid-2030s. The key sections of this report present the physics case and technical challenges, together with a comprehensive overview of the discussions at the workshop together with the main conclusions

Branchenanalyse Handel: Perspektiven und Ansatzpunkte einer arbeitsorientierten Branchenstrategie

Der Handel ist als einer der zentralen Dienstleistungsbereiche in Deutschland von großer gesellschaftlicher, gesamtwirtschaftlicher und beschäftigungspolitischer Bedeutung. Dabei weisen Teilbranchen des Handels grundlegende Spannungs- und Handlungsfelder auf, die im Sinne der Sicherung von Zukunftsperspektiven und Guter Arbeit der Gestaltung bedürfen. Ziel der Branchenanalyse ist es, zentrale Entwicklungen, Trends und Strukturen des Handels zu untersuchen und aufzubereiten. Zudem werden Gestaltungsfelder und Handlungsansätze einer arbeitsorientierten Branchenpolitik aufgezeigt

Medieval Christian invocation inscriptions on sword blades

The following article presents and discusses four high medieval swords (12th to 13th centuries) deriving from the Uppland- (Uppsala) or the Värmland-region (Karlstad) in Sweden. Two of the Uppsala-swords were the main part of an exhibition (entitled “Svärd från Sveriges turbulenta barndom” or “Swords from Sweden’s turbulent childhood”) that was open to public from July 2007 to January 2008 in the Museum Gustavianum in Uppsala (Fyris UMF/B 74 and 78). The Värmland-sword (Nr. 17001-34945) is kept in the Värmlands Museum in Karlstad. The forth sword to be included was found near the town hall in Uppsala, but it is now kept in the Historical Museum in Stockholm. The archaeological and typological data of all the swords are presented here for the first time. The main focal point of the article is the examination of the hitherto unpublished epigraphic evidence, namely the metal inlay, gold and silver inscriptions on the blades. A comparison with specimens in Germany (Deutsches Historisches Museum, Zeughaussammlung Berlin) revealed a close relationship between the blade-inscriptions on the Swedish and the German swords), potentially even a provenance from the same workshop. By analyzing the letter sequences it was possible to categorize the inscriptions in three different subgroups (DIC-, SDX- and INNOMINEDOMINI-group). Although a definite reading could not be given, the intense examination brought to light arguments that led to the interpretation as religious invocations, probably addressed to Jesus Christ himself.Fyris sword projek

Medieval Christian invocation inscriptions on sword blades

The following article presents and discusses four high medieval swords (12th to 13th centuries) deriving from the Uppland- (Uppsala) or the Värmland-region (Karlstad) in Sweden. Two of the Uppsala-swords were the main part of an exhibition (entitled “Svärd från Sveriges turbulenta barndom” or “Swords from Sweden’s turbulent childhood”) that was open to public from July 2007 to January 2008 in the Museum Gustavianum in Uppsala (Fyris UMF/B 74 and 78). The Värmland-sword (Nr. 17001-34945) is kept in the Värmlands Museum in Karlstad. The forth sword to be included was found near the town hall in Uppsala, but it is now kept in the Historical Museum in Stockholm. The archaeological and typological data of all the swords are presented here for the first time. The main focal point of the article is the examination of the hitherto unpublished epigraphic evidence, namely the metal inlay, gold and silver inscriptions on the blades. A comparison with specimens in Germany (Deutsches Historisches Museum, Zeughaussammlung Berlin) revealed a close relationship between the blade-inscriptions on the Swedish and the German swords), potentially even a provenance from the same workshop. By analyzing the letter sequences it was possible to categorize the inscriptions in three different subgroups (DIC-, SDX- and INNOMINEDOMINI-group). Although a definite reading could not be given, the intense examination brought to light arguments that led to the interpretation as religious invocations, probably addressed to Jesus Christ himself.Fyris sword projek

Luminescence Lifetime Imaging of Oxygen, pH, and Carbon Dioxide Distribution Using Optical Sensors

We present a modular system for time-resolved two-dimensional luminescence lifetime imaging of planar optical chemical sensors. It is based on a fast, gateable charge-coupled device (CCD) camera without image intensifier and a pulsable light-emitting diode (LED) array as a light source. Software was developed for data acquisition with a maximum of parameter variability and for background suppression. This approach allows the operation of the system even under daylight. Optical sensors showing analyte-specific changes of their luminescence decay time were tested and used for sensing pO2, pCO2, pH, and temperature. The luminophores employed are either platinum(II)-porphyrins or ruthenium(II)-polypyridyl complexes, contained in polymer films, and can be efficiently excited by blue LEDs. The decay times of the sensor films vary from 70mus for the Pt(II)-porphyrins to several 100 ns for the Ru(II) complexes. In a typical application, 7 mm-diameter spots of the respective optical sensor films were placed at the bottom of the wells of microtiter-plates. Thus, every well represents a separate calibration chamber with an integrated sensor element. Both luminescence intensity-based and time-resolved images of the sensor spots were evaluated and compared. The combination of optical sensor technology with time-resolved imaging allows a determination of the distribution of chemical or physical parameters in heterogeneous systems and is therefore a powerful tool for screening and mapping applications. Index Headings: Optical sensor films; Time-resolved imaging system; Microsecond decay time sensors

Medieval Christian invocation inscriptions on sword blades

The following article presents and discusses four high medieval swords (12th to 13th centuries) deriving from the Uppland- (Uppsala) or the Värmland-region (Karlstad) in Sweden. Two of the Uppsala-swords were the main part of an exhibition (entitled “Svärd från Sveriges turbulenta barndom” or “Swords from Sweden’s turbulent childhood”) that was open to public from July 2007 to January 2008 in the Museum Gustavianum in Uppsala (Fyris UMF/B 74 and 78). The Värmland-sword (Nr. 17001-34945) is kept in the Värmlands Museum in Karlstad. The forth sword to be included was found near the town hall in Uppsala, but it is now kept in the Historical Museum in Stockholm. The archaeological and typological data of all the swords are presented here for the first time. The main focal point of the article is the examination of the hitherto unpublished epigraphic evidence, namely the metal inlay, gold and silver inscriptions on the blades. A comparison with specimens in Germany (Deutsches Historisches Museum, Zeughaussammlung Berlin) revealed a close relationship between the blade-inscriptions on the Swedish and the German swords), potentially even a provenance from the same workshop. By analyzing the letter sequences it was possible to categorize the inscriptions in three different subgroups (DIC-, SDX- and INNOMINEDOMINI-group). Although a definite reading could not be given, the intense examination brought to light arguments that led to the interpretation as religious invocations, probably addressed to Jesus Christ himself.Fyris sword projek