Matter in Toy Dynamical Geometries

One of the objectives of theories describing quantum dynamical geometry is to compute expectation values of geometrical observables. The results of such computations can be affected by whether or not matter is taken into account. It is thus important to understand to what extent and to what effect matter can affect dynamical geometries. Using a simple model, it is shown that matter can effectively mold a geometry into an isotropic configuration. Implications for "atomistic" models of quantum geometry are briefly discussed.Comment: 8 pages, 1 figure, paper presented at DICE 200

Trophic and Competitive Interactions among Egg Parasitoids of Stink Bugs

The intra- and inter-trophic interactions in ecosystems can be disrupted by invasive species, with lasting effects on population dynamics of native organisms. An invasive species may be attractive as a prey or host to native species, but if unsuitable for consumption or for development of the natural enemy’s progeny, it constitutes an ‘evolutionary trap’. A possibility of such a trap for native egg parasitoids (Hymenoptera: Scelionidae) exists with the introduction of the exotic brown marmorated stink bug, Halyomorpha halys (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae). The objective of this thesis is to enhance the understanding of Pentatomidae-Scelionidae host-parasitoid interactions from a behavioural ecology perspective, focusing on factors influencing successful host use by egg parasitoids associated with stink bugs. Behavioural, molecular, and imaging methodologies were employed to elucidate trophic and competitive interactions of native egg parasitoids with invasive host, H. halys, and with an interspecific competitor, the exotic Trissolcus japonicus (Hymenoptera: Scelionidae) egg parasitoid. First, sentinel egg masses were exposed under natural conditions, followed by parasitism quantification, using both traditional (parasitoid emergence) and molecular analysis. Second, the outcomes of competitive interactions between exotic and native egg parasitoids using H. halys as host were characterized and the possibility of their coexistence assessed. Third, an L9 orthogonal array (OA) design was used to rank the influence of host egg mass parameters on parasitoid behaviour and development. Finally, the temporal pattern of parasitoid development in H. halys was examined using a DNA-based approach (PCR) and visualized by X-ray micro-computed tomography (micro-CT). The key finding of this thesis is that the lack of success in H. halys eggs is linked to native parasitoids’ inability to develop in this host (not the rejection of the host). This failure occurs early in the parasitoid development, confirming the evolutionary trap potential of H. halys. The maladaptive decision to oviposit in an unsuitable host is caused by the mismatch between cues females use for host recognition and acceptance, and the expected normal development of the progeny. For some native parasitoids, the impact of the evolutionary trap can be reduced via facultative hyperparasitism of exotic parasitoids; for others, the co-existence is possible due to counterbalance competition

Reproductive behaviour of Western bean cutworm, Striacosta ablicosta (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), females under different abiotic and biotic conditions

The Western bean cutworm (WBC) recently expanded its range eastward from the western United States into the Great Lakes region. Little is known about the reproductive biology of this potential pest, therefore I studied the calling behaviour (the emission of the sex pheromone by females) under different biotic (age, mating status) and abiotic (temperature, relative humidity) conditions. Sexual maturation, which occurred several days after emergence, indicating that WBC is a migratory species, was not directly affected by temperature but rather by the difference between day and night temperatures. Calling behaviour was influenced by female age, but not the abiotic factors tested. Titers of the sex pheromone did not change with female age suggesting older females that call for longer, may be more attractive than younger conspecifics. Females resumed calling within 48h of mating, and did so earlier than virgin ones, which may explain the high incidence of polyandry in WBC

What causes the irregular cycle of the atmospheric tape recorder signal in HCN?

Variations in the mixing ratio of long-lived trace gases entering the stratosphere in the tropics are carried upward with the rising air with the signal being observable throughout the tropical lower stratosphere. This phenomenon, referred to as "atmospheric tape recorder" has previously been observed for water vapor, CO2, and CO which exhibit an annual cycle. Recently, based on Microwave Limb Sounder (MLS) and the Atmospheric Chemistry Experiment Fourier Transform Spectrometer (ACE-FTS) satellite measurements, the tape recorder signal has been observed for hydrogen cyanide (HCN) but with an approximately two-year period. Here we report on a model simulation of the HCN tape recorder for the time period 2002-2008 using the Chemical Lagrangian Model of the Stratosphere (CLaMS). The model can reproduce the observed pattern of the HCN tape recorder signal if time-resolved emissions from fires in Indonesia are used as lower boundary condition. This finding indicates that inter-annual variations in biomass burning in Indonesia, which are strongly influenced by El Nino events, control the HCN tape recorder signal. A longer time series of tropical HCN data will probably exhibit an irregular cycle rather than a regular biannual cycle. Citation: Pommrich, R., R. Muller, J.-U. Grooss, G. Gunther, P. Konopka, M. Riese, A. Heil, M. Schultz, H.-C. Pumphrey, and K. A. Walker (2010), What causes the irregular cycle of the atmospheric tape recorder signal in HCN?, Geophys. Res. Lett., 37, L16805, doi:10.1029/2010GL044056

Modelling the many-body dynamics of heavy ion collisions: Present status and future perspective

Basic problems of the semiclassical microscopic modelling of strongly interactingsystems are discussed within the framework of Quantum Molecular Dynamics (QMD). This model allows to study the influence of several types of nucleonic interactions on a large variety of observables and phenomena occurring in heavy ion collisions at relativistic energies.It is shown that the same predictions can be obtained with several -- numerically completely different and independently written -- programs as far as the same model parameters are employed and the same basic approximations are made. Many observables are robust against variations of the details of the model assumptions used. Some of the physical results, however, depend also on rather technical parameters like the preparation of the initial configuration in phase space. This crucial problem is connected with the description of the ground state of single nuclei,which differs among the various approaches. An outlook to an improved molecular dynamics scheme for heavy ion collisions is given.Comment: 39 pages, 12 figure

Fir (Abies spp.) stand biomass additive model for Eurasia sensitive to winter temperature and annual precipitation

Climate change, especially modified courses of temperature and precipitation, has a significant impact on forest functioning and productivity. Moreover, some alterations in tree biomass allocation (e.g. root to shoot ratio, foliage to wood parts) might be expected in these changing ecological conditions. Therefore, we attempted to model fir stand biomass (t ha(-1)) along the trans-Eurasian hydrothermal gradients using the data from 272 forest stands. The model outputs suggested that all biomass components, except for the crown mass, change in a common pattern, but in different ratios. Specifically, in the range of mean January temperature and precipitation of -30 degrees C to +10 degrees C and 300 to 900 mm, fir stand biomass increases with both increasing temperature and precipitation. Under an assumed increase of January temperature by 1 degrees C, biomass of roots and of all components of the aboveground biomass of fir stands increased (under the assumption that the precipitation level did not change). Similarly, an assumed increase in precipitation by 100 mm resulted in the increased biomass of roots and of all aboveground components. We conclude that fir seems to be a perspective taxon from the point of its productive properties in the ongoing process of climate change.This paper was prepared within the programs of the current scientific research of the Ural Forest Engineering University and Botanical Garden of the Ural Branch of Russian Academy of Sciences. This work was supported by grant "EVA4.0", No. CZ.02.1.01/0.0/0.0/16_019/0000803 financed by OP RDE, by the Slovak Research and Development Agency under contracts No. APVV-15-0265, APVV-16-0325, APVV-18-0086 and the Scientific Grant Agency of the Ministry of Education, Science, Research and Sport of the Slovak Republic under contracts No. VEGA 1/0367/16

Structural and mechanical properties of graded composite Al2O3/Ni obtained from slurry of different solid content

AbstractIn this work, an alumina-nickel graded hollow cylinders were prepared by the centrifugal slip casting. In the paper, the results for samples formed from slurries with different solid content: 45 vol.%, 40 vol.% and 35 vol.% are presented. The structure of the samples after sintering was examined by X-ray diffraction (XRD). The microstructure of the composite, especially the nickel particle size distributions were investigated by using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). An image analyzer has been used for the measurement of volume fraction of the nickel particles in the composites. The hardness was measured by using a Vickers hardness-testing. Based on hardness measurements KIC value were determined. The XRD results confirmed only two phases: Ni and α-Al2O3 in all samples. The preliminary macroscopic observation as well as SEM showed, that the microstructure of the sample cross-section is not homogeneous. Microstructural characterization revealed the gradation of nickel content along the radial direction of hollow cylinder. Three zones were distinguished, from outer surface towards the inner side of the tube. The maximum of volume fraction of nickel particles was obtained at the middle zone of the composites. The results of hardness-testing revealed that the maximum hardness values were observed in region at the inner edge of the casting due to an absence of nickel particles