Dead wood volume to dead wood carbon: the issue of conversion factors

Requirements for emission reporting under the Kyoto protocol demand an estimate of the dead wood carbon pool in forests. The volume of dead wood consists of coarse woody debris, smaller woody debris and dead roots. The measurement of dead wood volume was included in the most recent National Forest Inventory in Switzerland. To convert dead wood volume into carbon two conversion factors are required: (a) carbon (C) concentration and (b) wood density. So far internationally accepted default values for C concentration (50%) and for wood density (density of alive trees) were used as default values to estimate dead wood carbon, since local measurements were lacking. However, in a field study at 34 sites in Switzerland, the C concentration and density of CWD from Picea abies and Fagus sylvatica of four decay classes were measured recently. The results showed that C concentration in CWD differed significantly between species but did not change due to decay class. The density of CWD decreased significantly with an increase in decay class and it also differed between species. The decrease in CWD density was more pronounced for F. sylvatica than for P. abies. We assessed correlations between climate attributes and CWD density using regression analysis. The modeled densities and measured C concentrations were then expanded with the help of CWD volume data from the NFI3. Spruce CWD and thus spruce CWD carbon is much more abundant in Swiss forests than beech CWD carbon. The majority of spruce CWD is located in the Alps and Pre-Alps. The CWD volume from P. abies was 10 times higher than that from F. sylvatica. Thus, changes in conversion factors for P. abies CWD affected the overall estimate of dead wood carbon in Swiss forests much more than changes in conversion factors for F. sylvatica CWD. Current improvements in CWD conversion factors decreased the estimated amount of spruce CWD carbon by 23.1% and that of beech by 47.6%. The estimated amount of CWD carbon in Swiss forests is decreased by 31%. Since improved estimation methods are currently not applied to smaller woody debris and dead root material, the estimated amount of dead wood carbon is only reduced by 15%. Improving conversion factors for all dead wood fractions would presumably decrease the amount of dead wood carbon by additional 16

Plasma sheath tailoring by a magnetic field for three-dimensional plasma etching

Three-dimensional (3D) etching of materials by plasmas is an ultimate challenge in microstructuring applications. A method is proposed to reach a controllable 3D structure by using masks in front of the surface in a plasma etch reactor in combination with local magnetic fields to steer the incident ions in the plasma sheath region towards the surface to reach 3D directionality during etching and deposition. This effect can be controlled by modifying the magnetic field and/or plasma properties to adjust the relationship between sheath thickness and mask feature size. Since the guiding length scale is the plasma sheath thickness, which for typical plasma densities is at least 10s of microns or larger, controlled directional etching and deposition target the field of microstructuring, e.g. of solids for sensors, optics, or microfluidics. In this proof-of-concept study, it is shown that $\vec{E}\times\vec{B}$ drifts tailor the local sheath expansion, thereby controlling the plasma density distribution and the transport when the plasma penetrates the mask during an RF cycle. This modified local plasma creates a 3D etch profile. This is shown experimentally as well as using 2d3v Particle-In-Cell/Monte Carlo collisions simulation

Non-Universal Critical Behaviour of Two-Dimensional Ising Systems

Two conditions are derived for Ising models to show non-universal critical behaviour, namely conditions concerning 1) logarithmic singularity of the specific heat and 2) degeneracy of the ground state. These conditions are satisfied with the eight-vertex model, the Ashkin-Teller model, some Ising models with short- or long-range interactions and even Ising systems without the translational or the rotational invariance.Comment: 17 page

Модульные светильники универсального использования

В процессе исследования была проведена научно-исследовательская работа по выбранной теме, пройдены все стадии разработки собственного проекта, выполнен макет, подготовлена графическая часть для презентации проекта. В ходе работы разработаны и представлены модульные светильники универсального использования. Изучены и спроектированы конструктивные элементы, такие как кронштейн, поворотная лира. Так же разработана система крепления модульных элементов между собой, допускающая различные композиционные решения, и обеспечивающая удобство применения.In the course of the research, research work was carried out on the chosen topic, all stages of developing their own project were completed, a layout was made, and a graphic part for the project presentation was prepared. In the course of work, modular lamps for universal use were developed and presented. Studied and designed structural elements, such as a bracket, swivel lyre. Also developed a system attachment of modular elements to each other, allowing for a variety of composite solutions, and providing ease of use

Strong and weak chaos in networks of semiconductor lasers with time-delayed couplings

Nonlinear networks with time-delayed couplings may show strong and weak chaos, depending on the scaling of their Lyapunov exponent with the delay time. We study strong and weak chaos for semiconductor lasers, either with time-delayed self-feedback or for small networks. We examine the dependence on the pump current and consider the question of whether strong and weak chaos can be identified from the shape of the intensity trace, the autocorrelations, and the external cavity modes. The concept of the sub-Lyapunov exponent λ0 is generalized to the case of two time-scale-separated delays in the system. We give experimental evidence of strong and weak chaos in a network of lasers, which supports the sequence of weak to strong to weak chaos upon monotonically increasing the coupling strength. Finally, we discuss strong and weak chaos for networks with several distinct sub-Lyapunov exponents and comment on the dependence of the sub-Lyapunov exponent on the number of a laser's inputs in a network

Understanding the enhanced synchronization of delay-coupled networks with fluctuating topology

We study the dynamics of networks with coupling delay, from which the connectivity changes over time. The synchronization properties are shown to depend on the interplay of three time scales: the internal time scale of the dynamics, the coupling delay along the network links and time scale at which the topology changes. Concentrating on a linearized model, we develop an analytical theory for the stability of a synchronized solution. In two limit cases the system can be reduced to an “effective” topology: In the fast switching approximation, when the network fluctuations are much faster than the internal time scale and the coupling delay, the effective network topology is the arithmetic mean over the different topologies. In the slow network limit, when the network fluctuation time scale is equal to the coupling delay, the effective adjacency matrix is the geometric mean over the adjacency matrices of the different topologies. In the intermediate regime the system shows a sensitive dependence on the ratio of time scales, and specific topologies, reproduced as well by numerical simulations. Our results are shown to describe the synchronization properties of fluctuating networks of delay-coupled chaotic maps

Neuropeptide S-Mediated Facilitation of Synaptic Transmission Enforces Subthreshold Theta Oscillations within the Lateral Amygdala

The neuropeptide S (NPS) receptor system modulates neuronal circuit activity in the amygdala in conjunction with fear, anxiety and the expression and extinction of previously acquired fear memories. Using in vitro brain slice preparations of transgenic GAD67-GFP (Δneo) mice, we investigated the effects of NPS on neural activity in the lateral amygdala as a key region for the formation and extinction of fear memories. We are able to demonstrate that NPS augments excitatory glutamatergic synaptic input onto both projection neurons and interneurons of the lateral amygdala, resulting in enhanced spike activity of both types of cells. These effects were at least in part mediated by presynaptic mechanisms. In turn, inhibition of projection neurons by local interneurons was augmented by NPS, and subthreshold oscillations were strengthened, leading to their shift into the theta frequency range. These data suggest that the multifaceted effects of NPS on amygdaloid circuitry may shape behavior-related network activity patterns in the amygdala and reflect the peptide's potent activity in various forms of affective behavior and emotional memory

Making translation work: Harmonizing cross-species methodology in the behavioural neuroscience of Pavlovian fear conditioning

Translational neuroscience bridges insights from specific mechanisms in rodents to complex functions in humans and is key to advance our general understanding of central nervous function. A prime example of translational research is the study of cross-species mechanisms that underlie responding to learned threats, by employing Pavlovian fear conditioning protocols in rodents and humans. Hitherto, evidence for (and critique of) these cross-species comparisons in fear conditioning research was based on theoretical viewpoints. Here, we provide a perspective to substantiate these theoretical concepts with empirical considerations of cross-species methodology. This meta-research perspective is expected to foster cross-species comparability and reproducibility to ultimately facilitate successful transfer of results from basic science into clinical applications

Prospective evaluation of NGS-based sequencing in epilepsy patients: results of seven NASGE-associated diagnostic laboratories

BackgroundEpilepsy is one of the most common and disabling neurological disorders. It is highly prevalent in children with neurodevelopmental delay and syndromic diseases. However, epilepsy can also be the only disease-determining symptom. The exact molecular diagnosis is essential to determine prognosis, comorbidity, and probability of recurrence, and to inform therapeutic decisions.Methods and materialsHere, we describe a prospective cohort study of patients with epilepsy evaluated in seven diagnostic outpatient centers in Germany. Over a period of 2 months, 07/2022 through 08/2022, 304 patients (317 returned result) with seizure-related human phenotype ontology (HPO) were analyzed. Evaluated data included molecular results, phenotype (syndromic and non-syndromic), and sequencing methods.ResultsSingle exome sequencing (SE) was applied in half of all patients, followed by panel (P) testing (36%) and trio exome sequencing (TE) (14%). Overall, a pathogenic variant (PV) (ACMG cl. 4/5) was identified in 22%; furthermore, a significant number of patients (12%) carried a reported clinically meaningful variant of unknown significance (VUS). The average diagnostic yield in patients ≤ 12 y was higher compared to patients >12 y cf. Figure 2B vs. Figure 3B. This effect was more pronounced in cases, where TE was applied in patients ≤ 12 vs. >12 y [PV (PV + VUS): patients ≤ 12 y: 35% (47%), patients > 12 y: 20% (40%)]. The highest diagnostic yield was achieved by TE in syndromic patients within the age group ≤ 12 y (ACMG classes 4/5 40%). In addition, TE vs. SE had a tendency to result in less VUS in patients ≤ 12 y [SE: 19% (22/117) VUS; TE: 17% (6/36) VUS] but not in patients >12 y [SE: 19% (8/42) VUS; TE: 20% (2/10) VUS]. Finally, diagnostic findings in patients with syndromic vs. non-syndromic symptoms revealed a significant overlap of frequent causes of monogenic epilepsies, including SCN1A, CACNA1A, and SETD1B, confirming the heterogeneity of the associated conditions.ConclusionIn patients with seizures—regardless of the detailed phenotype—a monogenic cause can be frequently identified, often implying a possible change in therapeutic action (36.7% (37/109) of PV/VUS variants); this justifies early and broad application of genetic testing. Our data suggest that the diagnostic yield is highest in exome or trio-exome-based testing, resulting in a molecular diagnosis within 3 weeks, with profound implications for therapeutic strategies and for counseling families and patients regarding prognosis and recurrence risk

View-invariant person re-identification with an implicit shape model

In this paper, we approach the task of appearance based person re-identification for scenarios where no biometric features can be used. For that, we build on a person reidentification approach that uses the Implicit Shape Model (ISM) and SIFT features for re-identification. This approach builds identity models of persons during tracking and employs these models for re-identification. We apply this re-identification, which was until now only evaluated in the infrared spectrum, to data acquired in the visible spectrum. Furthermore we evaluate view independence of the re-identification approach and introduce methods that extend view invariance. Specifically, we (i) propose a method for online view-determination of a tracked person, (ii) use the online view-determination to generate view specific identity models of persons which increase model distinctiveness in re-identification, and (iii) introduce a method to convert identity models between views to increase view independence