2,037 research outputs found
A study of the deep structure of the energy landscape of glassy polystyrene: the exponential distribution of the energy-barriers revealed by high-field Electron Spin Resonance spectroscopy
The reorientation of one small paramagnetic molecule (spin probe) in glassy
polystyrene (PS) is studied by high-field Electron Spin Resonance spectroscopy
at two different Larmor frequencies (190 and 285 GHz). The exponential
distribution of the energy-barriers for the rotational motion of the spin probe
is unambigously evidenced at both 240K and 270K. The same shape for the
distribution of the energy-barriers of PS was evidenced by the master curves
provided by previous mechanical and light scattering studies. The breadth of
the energy-barriers distribution of the spin probe is in the range of the
estimates of the breadth of the PS energy-barriers distribution. The evidence
that the deep structure of the energy landscape of PS exhibits the exponential
shape of the energy-barriers distribution agrees with results from
extreme-value statistics and the trap model by Bouchaud and coworkers.Comment: Final version in press as Letter to the Editor on J.Phys.:Condensed
Matter. Changes in bol
Ocean ensemble forecasting. Part I: Ensemble Mediterranean winds from a Bayesian hierarchical model
A Bayesian hierarchical model (BHM) is developed to estimate surface vector
wind (SVW) fields and associated uncertainties over the Mediterranean Sea. The
BHM–SVW incorporates data-stage inputs from analyses and forecasts of the
European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF) and SVW
retrievals from the QuikSCAT data record. The process-model stage of the
BHM–SVW is based on a Rayleigh friction equation model for surface winds.
Dynamical interpretations of posterior distributions of the BHM–SVW parameters
are discussed. Ten realizations from the posterior distribution of the BHM–SVW
are used to force the data-assimilation step of an experimental ensemble ocean
forecast system for the Mediterranean Sea in order to create a set of ensemble
initial conditions. The sequential data-assimilation method of the Mediterranean
forecast system (MFS) is adapted to the ensemble implementation. Analyses
of sample ensemble initial conditions for a single data-assimilation period in
MFS are presented to demonstrate the multivariate impact of the BHM–SVW
ensemble generation methodology. Ensemble initial-condition spread is quantified
by computing standard deviations of ocean state variable fields over the ten ensemble
members. The methodological findings in this article are of two kinds. From the
perspective of statistical modelling, the process-model development is more closely
related tophysicalbalances than inpreviousworkwithmodels for the SVW.Fromthe
ocean forecast perspective, the generation of ocean ensemble initial conditions via
BHM is shown to be practical for operational implementation in an ensemble ocean
forecast system. Phenomenologically, ensemble spread generated via BHM–SVW
occurs on ocean mesoscale time- and space-scales, in close association with strong
synoptic-scale wind-forcing events. A companion article describes the impacts of
the BHM–SVW ensemble method on the ocean forecast in comparisons with more
traditional ensemble methods
Ocean ensemble forecasting. Part II: Mediterranean Forecast System response
This article analyzes the ocean forecast response to surface vector wind (SVW)
distributions generated by a Bayesian hierarchical model (BHM) developed in Part
I of this series. A new method for ocean ensemble forecasting (OEF), the socalled
BHM-SVW-OEF, is described. BHM-SVW realizations are used to produce
and force perturbations in the ocean state during 14 day analysis and 10 day
forecast cycles of the Mediterranean Forecast System (MFS). The BHM-SVW-OEF
ocean response spread is amplified at the mesoscales and in the pycnocline of
the eddy field. The new method is compared with an ensemble response forced
by European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF) ensemble
prediction system (EEPS) surface winds, and with an ensemble forecast started from
perturbed initial conditions derived froman ad hoc thermocline intensified random
perturbation (TIRP) method. The EEPS-OEF shows spread on basin scales while the
TIRP-OEF response is mesoscale-intensified as in the BHM-SVW-OEF response.
TIRP-OEF perturbations fill more of the MFS domain, while the BHM-SVW-OEF
perturbations are more location-specific, concentrating ensemble spread at the sites
where the ocean-model response to uncertainty in the surface wind forcing is largest
Better Nonlinear Models from Noisy Data: Attractors with Maximum Likelihood
A new approach to nonlinear modelling is presented which, by incorporating
the global behaviour of the model, lifts shortcomings of both least squares and
total least squares parameter estimates. Although ubiquitous in practice, a
least squares approach is fundamentally flawed in that it assumes independent,
normally distributed (IND) forecast errors: nonlinear models will not yield IND
errors even if the noise is IND. A new cost function is obtained via the
maximum likelihood principle; superior results are illustrated both for small
data sets and infinitely long data streams.Comment: RevTex, 11 pages, 4 figure
Modeling dynamic controls on ice streams: a Bayesian statistical approach
This is the published version, also available here: http://dx.doi.org/10.3189/002214308786570917.Our main goal is to exemplify the study of ice-stream dynamics via Bayesian statistical analysis incorporating physical, though imperfectly known, models using data that are both incomplete and noisy. The physical–statistical models we propose account for these uncertainties in a coherent, hierarchical manner. The initial modeling assumption estimates basal shear stress as equal to driving stress, but subsequently includes a random corrector process to account for model error. The resulting stochastic equation is incorporated into a simple model for surface velocities. Use of Bayes' theorem allows us to make inferences on all unknowns given basal elevation, surface elevation and surface velocity. The result is a posterior distribution of possible values that can be summarized in a number of ways. For example, the posterior mean of the stress field indicates average behavior at any location in the field, and the posterior standard deviations describe associated uncertainties. We analyze data from the 'Northeast Greenland Ice Stream' and illustrate how scientific conclusions may be drawn from our Bayesian analysis
Ocean Ensemble Forecasting, Part II: Mediterranean Forecast System Response
This paper analyzes the ocean forecast response to surface vector wind (SVW) distributions
generated by a Bayesian Hierarchical Model (BHM) developed in Part I (Milliff et al., 2009).
A new method for Ocean Ensemble Forecasting (OEF), so-called BHM-SVW-OEF, is described.
BHM-SVW realizations are used to produce and force perturbations in the ocean
state during 14-day analysis and 10-day forecast cycles of the Mediterranean Forecast System
(MFS). The BHM-SVW-OEF ocean response spread is amplified at the mesoscales and
pycnocline of the eddy field. The new method is compared to an ensemble response forced by
ECMWF Ensemble Prediction System (EEPS) surface winds, and to an ensemble forecast
started from perturbed initial conditions derived from an ad hoc Thermocline Intensified
Random Perturbation (TIRP) method. The EEPS-OEF shows spread at the basin scales
while the TIRP-OEF response is mesoscale intensified as in the BHM-SVW-OEF response.
TIRP-OEF perturbations fill more of the MFS domain while the BHM-SVW-OEF perturbations
are more location-specific, concentrating ensemble spread at the sites where the ocean
model response to uncertainty in the surface wind forcing is largest. The BHM-SVW-OEF
method offers a practical and objective means for producing short-term forecast spread by
modeling surface atmospheric forcing uncertainties that have maximum impact at the ocean
mesoscales
A Support Group for Inpatient Abused Adolescents
Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/75359/1/j.1744-6171.1990.tb00438.x.pd
The Advanced LIGO Photon Calibrators
The two interferometers of the Laser Interferometry Gravitaional-wave
Observatory (LIGO) recently detected gravitational waves from the mergers of
binary black hole systems. Accurate calibration of the output of these
detectors was crucial for the observation of these events, and the extraction
of parameters of the sources. The principal tools used to calibrate the
responses of the second-generation (Advanced) LIGO detectors to gravitational
waves are systems based on radiation pressure and referred to as Photon
Calibrators. These systems, which were completely redesigned for Advanced LIGO,
include several significant upgrades that enable them to meet the calibration
requirements of second-generation gravitational wave detectors in the new era
of gravitational-wave astronomy. We report on the design, implementation, and
operation of these Advanced LIGO Photon Calibrators that are currently
providing fiducial displacements on the order of
m/ with accuracy and precision of better than 1 %.Comment: 14 pages, 19 figure
Same, Similar, or Something Completely Different? Calibrating Student Surveys and Classroom Observations of Teaching Quality Onto a Common Metric
Using item response theory, this study explores whether student survey and classroom observation items can be calibrated onto a common metric of teaching quality. The data comprises 269 lessons of 141 teachers that were scored on the International Comparative Analysis of Learning and Teaching (ICALT) observation instrument and the My Teacher student survey. Using Rasch model concurrent calibration, items from both instruments were calibrated onto a common one‐dimensional metric of teaching quality. Most items were found to fit the model. Challenges pertain mainly to items measuring teaching students learning strategies and differentiation. Explanations for these difficulties are discussed
Surgical Management of Inguinal Hernias at Bugando Medical Centre in Northwestern Tanzania: Our Experiences in a Resource-Limited Setting.
Inguinal hernia repair remains the commonest operation performed by general surgeons all over the world. There is paucity of published data on surgical management of inguinal hernias in our environment. This study is intended to describe our own experiences in the surgical management of inguinal hernias and compare our results with that reported in literature. A descriptive prospective study was conducted at Bugando Medical Centre in northwestern Tanzania. Ethical approval to conduct the study was obtained from relevant authorities before the commencement of the study. Statistical data analysis was done using SPSS software version 17.0. A total of 452 patients with inguinal hernias were enrolled in the study. The median age of patients was 36 years (range 3 months to 78 years). Males outnumbered females by a ratio of 36.7:1. This gender deference was statistically significant (P=0.003). Most patients (44.7%) presented late (more than five years of onset of hernia). Inguinoscrotal hernia (66.8%) was the commonest presentation. At presentation, 208 (46.0%) patients had reducible hernia, 110 (24.3%) had irreducible hernia, 84 (18.6%) and 50(11.1%) patients had obstructed and strangulated hernias respectively. The majority of patients (53.1%) had right sided inguinal hernia with a right-to-left ratio of 2.1: 1. Ninety-two (20.4%) patients had bilateral inguinal hernias. 296 (65.5%) patients had indirect hernia, 102 (22.6%) had direct hernia and 54 (11.9%) had both indirect and direct types (pantaloon hernia). All patients in this study underwent open herniorrhaphy. The majority of patients (61.5%) underwent elective herniorrhaphy under spinal anaesthesia (69.2%). Local anaesthesia was used in only 1.1% of cases. Bowel resection was required in 15.9% of patients. Modified Bassini's repair (79.9%) was the most common technique of posterior wall repair of the inguinal canal. Lichtenstein mesh repair was used in only one (0.2%) patient. Complication rate was 12.4% and it was significantly higher in emergency herniorrhaphy than in elective herniorrhaphy (P=0.002). The median length of hospital stay was 8 days and it was significantly longer in patients with advanced age, delayed admission, concomitant medical illness, high ASA class, the need for bowel resection and in those with surgical repair performed under general anesthesia (P<0.001). Mortality rate was 9.7%. Longer duration of symptoms, late hospitalization, coexisting disease, high ASA class, delayed operation, the need for bowel resection and presence of complications were found to be predictors of mortality (P<0.001). Inguinal hernias continue to be a source of morbidity and mortality in our centre. Early presentation and elective repair of inguinal hernias is pivotal in order to eliminate the morbidity and mortality associated with this very common problem
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