Exploring the epsilon regime with twisted mass fermions

In this proceeding contribution we report on a first study in order to explore the so called epsilon regime with Wilson twisted mass (Wtm) fermions. To show the potential of this approach we give a preliminary determination of the chiral condensate.Comment: 7 pages, 4 figures, contribution to Lattice 2007, Regensburg, Germany, 30 July - 4 August 200

A first look at quasi-Monte Carlo for lattice field theory problems

In this project we initiate an investigation of the applicability of Quasi-Monte Carlo methods to lattice field theories in order to improve the asymptotic error behavior of observables for such theories. In most cases the error of an observable calculated by averaging over random observations generated from an ordinary Monte Carlo simulation behaves like N−1/2, where N is the number of observations. By means of Quasi-Monte Carlo methods it is possible to improve this behavior for certain problems to up to N−1. We adapted and applied this approach to simple systems like the quantum harmonic and anharmonic oscillator and verified an improved error scaling.Peer Reviewe

Weather regimes as a tool to validate seasonal forecasts

The research leading to these results has received funding by the Seventh Framework Programme (FP7) of the European Commission (GA30837, GA308291), the Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad (MINECO) under the project CGL2013-41055R and the project PCIN-2014-012-C07-07.Postprint (published version

Sub-seasonal to seasonal climate predictions for wind energy forecasting

Both renewable energy supply and electricity demand are strongly influenced by meteorological conditions and their evolution over time in terms of climate variability and climate change. However, knowledge of power output and demand forecasting beyond a few days remains poor. Current methodologies assume that long-term resource availability is constant, ignoring the fact that future wind resources could be significantly different from the past wind energy conditions. Such uncertainties create risks that affect investment in wind energy projects at the operational stage where energy yields affect cash flow and the balance of the grid. Here we assess whether sub-seasonal to seasonal climate predictions (S2S) can skilfully predict wind speed in Europe. To illustrate S2S potential applications, two periods with an unusual climate behaviour affecting the energy market will be presented. We find that wind speed forecasted using S2S exhibits predictability some weeks and months in advance in important regions for the energy sector such as the North Sea. If S2S are incorporated into planning activities for energy traders, energy producers, plant operators, plant investors, they could help improve management climate variability related risks.We thank the S2S4E (GA776787), NEWA (PCIN-2014-012-C07-07), ERA4CS-INDECIS (GA690462) and ERA4CS-MEDSCOPE (GA690462) projects funding for allowing us to carry out this research. We acknowledge use of the s2dverification (http://cran.r-project.org/web/packages/s2dverification) and Specs-Verification (http://cran.r-project.org/web/packages/SpecsVerification)R-language-based software packages.We also acknowledge the ECMWF for the provision of the ECMWF SEAS5 and the Monthly Prediction Systemsand the ERA-Interim reanalysis datasets.Peer ReviewedPostprint (published version

4to. Congreso Internacional de Ciencia, Tecnología e Innovación para la Sociedad. Memoria académica

Este volumen acoge la memoria académica de la Cuarta edición del Congreso Internacional de Ciencia, Tecnología e Innovación para la Sociedad, CITIS 2017, desarrollado entre el 29 de noviembre y el 1 de diciembre de 2017 y organizado por la Universidad Politécnica Salesiana (UPS) en su sede de Guayaquil. El Congreso ofreció un espacio para la presentación, difusión e intercambio de importantes investigaciones nacionales e internacionales ante la comunidad universitaria que se dio cita en el encuentro. El uso de herramientas tecnológicas para la gestión de los trabajos de investigación como la plataforma Open Conference Systems y la web de presentación del Congreso http://citis.blog.ups.edu.ec/, hicieron de CITIS 2017 un verdadero referente entre los congresos que se desarrollaron en el país. La preocupación de nuestra Universidad, de presentar espacios que ayuden a generar nuevos y mejores cambios en la dimensión humana y social de nuestro entorno, hace que se persiga en cada edición del evento la presentación de trabajos con calidad creciente en cuanto a su producción científica. Quienes estuvimos al frente de la organización, dejamos plasmado en estas memorias académicas el intenso y prolífico trabajo de los días de realización del Congreso Internacional de Ciencia, Tecnología e Innovación para la Sociedad al alcance de todos y todas

Wilson Twisted Mass Fermions in the Epsilon Regime

In this proceeding contribution we report on the ongoing effort to understand and simulate Wilson twisted mass fermions in the so called epsilon regime.Comment: 7 pages, 3 figures, 1 table talk presented at the XXVI International Symposium on Lattice Field Theory, July 14-19, 2008, Williamsburg, Virginia, U

Understanding the health and nutritional status of children in Ghana

The data set of the Ghana Living Standards Survey (GLSS, round 1, 1987 /1988) was utilized to analyse the principal determinants (publicly and privately) of health and nutrition of children under five in Ghana. While in most health and nutrition studies the emphasis is either on health-related factors such as occurrence of illness, immunization, accessibility to light (electricity), the role of breastfeeding, or on food availability and food-consumption-related factors, in the present study, an attempt has been made to incorporate both aspects simultaneously. On the basis of the GLSS, Ghanaian households spend at the average approximately 60% of total expenses on food. Changes in relative prices of the various food commodities differently affect household food availability. Lowering prices of relatively cheap foods (e.g., millet, cassava) tends to have a strong positive effect on total household kcal availability. At the level of the household, the absolute number of nondependents, presumed to represent the available labour force, is positively correlated with household food availability. There is also a positive correlation between the mothers' level of education (10 yrs of schooling and above) and the nutrition level of children. Occurrence of illness in children could be shown to negatively affect their health and nutrition status. Finally, a specific finding in the analysis was a rather strong negative effect of prolonged breastfeeding on the nutritional status of children. Among the policy recommendations emanating from the research are: (1) promotion of efficient production and marketing of cassava, (2) efforts to achieve slowing down of rural-urban migration to prevent labour shortages in rural households, (3) improving water and sanitation conditions, (4) expanding immunization programmes in particular in rural areas, and (5) promoting better weaning practices when children are no longer fully breastfed