Explicit solution of the linearized Einstein equations in TT gauge for all multipoles

We write out the explicit form of the metric for a linearized gravitational wave in the transverse-traceless gauge for any multipole, thus generalizing the well-known quadrupole solution of Teukolsky. The solution is derived using the generalized Regge-Wheeler-Zerilli formalism developed by Sarbach and Tiglio.Comment: 9 pages. Minor corrections, updated references. Final version to appear in Class. Quantum Gra

Measurements of hydrocarbon emissions from a boreal fen using the REA technique

International audienceFluxes of biogenic volatile organic compounds (VOC) and methane were measured above a boreal fen. Vegetation on the fen is dominated by Sphagnum mosses and sedges. A relaxed eddy accumulation (REA) system with dynamic deadband was designed and constructed for the measurements. Methane, C2-C6 hydrocarbons and some halogenated hydrocarbons were analysed from the samples by gas chromatographs equipped with FID and ECD. A significant flux of isoprene and methane was detected during the growing seasons. Isoprene emission was found to follow the common isoprene emission algorithm. Average standard emission potential of isoprene was 680 ? g m-2h-1. Fluxes of other non-methane hydrocarbons were below detection limit

Technical Note: Quantitative long-term measurements of VOC concentrations by PTR-MS ? measurement, calibration, and volume mixing ratio calculation methods

International audienceProton transfer reaction mass spectrometry (PTR-MS) is a technique for online measurements of atmospheric concentrations, or volume mixing ratios, of volatile organic compounds (VOCs). The aim of this paper is to give a detailed description of our measurement, calibration, and volume mixing ratio calculation methods, which have been designed for long-term stand-alone field measurements by PTR-MS. We also show how the information obtained from a calibration can be used to determine the instrument specific relative transmission curve, which enables quantitative mixing ratio calculation for VOCs which are not present in a calibration gas standard. To illustrate the functionality of our measurement, calibration, and calculation methods, we present a one-month period of ambient mixing ratio data measured in a boreal forest ecosystem at the SMEAR II station in southern Finland. During the measurement period 27 March?26 April 2007, the hourly averages of mixing ratios were 0.1?0.5 ppbv for formaldehyde, 0.2?3.0 ppbv for methanol, 0.04?0.39 ppbv for benzene, and 0.03?1.25 ppbv for monoterpenes

Constraint-preserving boundary treatment for a harmonic formulation of the Einstein equations

We present a set of well-posed constraint-preserving boundary conditions for a first-order in time, second-order in space, harmonic formulation of the Einstein equations. The boundary conditions are tested using robust stability, linear and nonlinear waves, and are found to be both less reflective and constraint preserving than standard Sommerfeld-type boundary conditions.Comment: 18 pages, 7 figures, accepted in CQ

Hydrocarbon fluxes above a Scots pine forest canopy: Measurements and modeling

International audienceWe measured the fluxes of several hydrocarbon species above a Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris) stand using disjunct eddy covariance technique with proton transfer reaction ? mass spectrometry. The measurements were conducted during four days in July at SMEAR II research station in Hyytiälä, Finland. Compounds which showed significant emission fluxes were methanol, acetaldehyde, acetone, and monoterpenes. A stochastic Lagrangian transport model with simple chemical degradation was applied to assess the sensitivity of the above canopy fluxes to chemistry. According to the model, the chemical degradation had a minor effect on the fluxes measured in this study but has a major effect on the vertical flux profiles of more reactive compounds, such as sesquiterpenes. The monoterpene fluxes followed the traditional exponential temperature dependent emission algorithm but were considerably higher than the fluxes measured before at the same site. The normalized emission potential (30°C) was 2.5 ?g gdw?1 h?1 obtained using the temperature dependence coefficient of 0.09°C?1

Measurements of hydrocarbon emissions from a boreal fen using the REA technique

Fluxes of biogenic volatile organic compounds (VOC) and methane were measured above a boreal fen. Vegetation on the fen is dominated by Sphagnum mosses and sedges. A relaxed eddy accumulation (REA) system with dynamic deadband was designed and constructed for the measurements. Methane, C-2-C-6 hydrocarbons and some halogenated hydrocarbons were analysed from the samples by gas chromatographs equipped with FID and ECD. A significant flux of isoprene and methane was detected during the growing seasons. Isoprene emission was found to follow the common isoprene emission algorithm. Average standard emission potential of isoprene was 680 mu g m(-2) h(-1). Fluxes of other non-methane hydrocarbons were below detection limit.Fluxes of biogenic volatile organic compounds (VOC) and methane were measured above a boreal fen. Vegetation on the fen is dominated by Sphagnum mosses and sedges. A relaxed eddy accumulation (REA) system with dynamic deadband was designed and constructed for the measurements. Methane, C-2-C-6 hydrocarbons and some halogenated hydrocarbons were analysed from the samples by gas chromatographs equipped with FID and ECD. A significant flux of isoprene and methane was detected during the growing seasons. Isoprene emission was found to follow the common isoprene emission algorithm. Average standard emission potential of isoprene was 680 mu g m(-2) h(-1). Fluxes of other non-methane hydrocarbons were below detection limit.Fluxes of biogenic volatile organic compounds (VOC) and methane were measured above a boreal fen. Vegetation on the fen is dominated by Sphagnum mosses and sedges. A relaxed eddy accumulation (REA) system with dynamic deadband was designed and constructed for the measurements. Methane, C-2-C-6 hydrocarbons and some halogenated hydrocarbons were analysed from the samples by gas chromatographs equipped with FID and ECD. A significant flux of isoprene and methane was detected during the growing seasons. Isoprene emission was found to follow the common isoprene emission algorithm. Average standard emission potential of isoprene was 680 mu g m(-2) h(-1). Fluxes of other non-methane hydrocarbons were below detection limit.Peer reviewe

Laparoscopic Colectomy vs Laparoscopic CME : a Retrospective Study of Two Hospitals with Comparable Laparoscopic Experience

Purpose To compare laparoscopic non-CME colectomy with laparoscopic CME colectomy in two hospitals with similar experience in laparoscopic colorectal surgery. Methods Data was collected retrospectively from Paijat-Hame Central Hospital (PHCH, NCME group) and Central Finland Central Hospital (CFCH, CME group) records. Elective laparoscopic resections performed during 2007-2016 for UICC stage I-III adenocarcinoma were included to assess differences in short-term outcome and survival. Results There were 340 patients in the NCME group and 325 patients in the CME group. CME delivered longer specimens (p <0.001), wider resection margins (p <0.001), and more lymph nodes (p <0.001) but did not result in better 5-year overall or cancer-specific survival (NCME 77.9% vs CME 72.9%, p = 0.528, NCME 93.2% vs CME 88.9%, p = 0.132, respectively). Thirty-day morbidity, mortality, and length of hospital stay were similar between the groups. Conversion to open surgery was associated with decreased survival. Discussion Complete mesocolic excision (CME) is reported to improve survival. Most previous studies have compared open CME with open non-CME (NCME) or open CME with laparoscopic CME. NCME populations have been historical or heterogeneous, potentially causing bias in the interpretation of results. Studies comparing laparoscopic CME with laparoscopic NCME are few and involve only small numbers of patients. In this study, diligently performed laparoscopic non-CME D2 resection delivered disease-free survival results comparable with laparoscopic CME but was not safer.Peer reviewe

Artturi Assists Finnish Advisers and Farmers to Succeed in Grass-Based Dairy Production

Artturi is a collective name for a wide range of services. It is a common tool for different bodies who share an interest in strengthening grass-based dairy production in Finland: research, advisory service and industries. The Service is named after A. I. (Artturi Ilmari) Virtanen, the Finnish scientist who was awarded the Nobel prize in 1945, partly based on his work in developing the ensiling process of grass. The Artturi web site is available in Internet at: http://www.agronet.fi/artturi. Access to Artturi Services is free and no registration is required. The language used is Finnish. During summer 2003, 15,000 visits were recorded at the web site

Association of Early Beta-amyloid Accumulation and Neuroinflammation Measured with [11C]PBR28 in Elderly Individuals Without Dementia

OBJECTIVE: To examine whether early β-amyloid (Aβ) accumulation and metabolic risk factors are associated with neuroinflammation in elderly individuals without dementia. METHODS: We examined 54 volunteers (mean age 70.0, 56% women, 51% APOE ε4 carriers) with a TSPO-tracer [11C]PBR28 to assess neuroinflammation and with [11C]Pittsburgh compound B (PiB) to assess cerebral Aβ accumulation. [11C]PBR28 and [11C]PiB standardized uptake value ratios (SUVRs) were quantified in six regions of interests by using the cerebellar cortex as a pseudo-reference/reference region, respectively. Fasting venous glucose, insulin, and high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) values were determined. Homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) was calculated. A subset of individuals (n=11) underwent CSF sampling, and Aβ40, Aβ42, total-tau, phospho-tau, soluble TREM2 and YKL-40 levels were measured. RESULTS: Among the whole study group, no significant association was found between [11C]PiB and [11C]PBR28 SUVR composite scores (slope 0.02, p=0.30). However, higher [11C]PiB binding was associated with higher [11C]PBR28 binding among amyloid negative ([11C]PiB composite score ≤1.5) (TSPO-genotype, age and sex adjusted slope 0.26, p=0.008) but not among amyloid positive participants (slope: -0.004, p=0.88). Higher CSF sTREM2 (rs 0.72, p=0.01) and YKL-40 (rs=0.63, p=0.04) concentrations were associated with a higher [11C]PBR28 composite score. Higher body mass index, HOMA-IR, and hs-CRP were associated with higher [11C]PBR28 binding in brain regions where Aβ accumulation is first detected in Alzheimer's disease (AD). CONCLUSIONS: While there was no association between amyloid and neuroinflammation in the overall study group, neuroinflammation was associated with amyloid among the subgroup at early stages of amyloid pathology

Motives for physical activity in older men and women: A twin study using accelerometer-measured physical activity

Motives for physical activity may vary considerably by age, sex, and the level of physical activity. We aimed to examine motives for physical activity in older men and women with different physical activity levels as well as whether genetic and/or environmental factors explain those motives. Finnish twins (mean age 72.9 years, 262 full twin pairs) self-reported their motives for physical activity. Time spent on moderate-to-vigorous physical activity was monitored using a hip-worn accelerometer. Comparisons between the different physical activity groups of older twins (n = 764-791/motive dimension) were analyzed using the Wald test, and effect sizes were calculated as Cohen's d. Quantitative genetic modeling was used to estimate genetic and environmental contributions. For both sexes, the most frequently reported motives for physical activity were physical fitness, health maintenance, and psychological well-being. Conforming to others' expectations was more important for men than for women (P < .001, Cohen's d = 0.38), while appearance (P = .001 Cohen's d = -0.24) and psychological well-being (P = .02, Cohen's d = -0.17) were highlighted by women. Most of the motive dimensions differed significantly between the physically active and inactive individuals. It was estimated that 5%-42% of the variation in motives was contributed by genetic factors and 58%-95% by environmental factors. The result that environmental factors contribute in a great deal to motives indicates that interventions to motivate physically inactive older individuals to be physically active can be successful. However, personalized interventions are needed because sex and the level of physical activity were found to be associated with older individuals' motives for physical activity