1,454 research outputs found
Theoretical foundations of emergent constraints: relationships between climate sensitivity and global temperature variability in conceptual models
This is the final version. Available on open access from OUP via the DOI in this recordBackground: The emergent constraint approach has received interest recently as a way of utilizing multimodel General Circulation Model (GCM) ensembles to identify relationships between observable variations of
climate and future projections of climate change. These relationships, in combination with observations of the
real climate system, can be used to infer an emergent constraint on the strength of that future projection in the
real system. However, there is as yet no theoretical framework to guide the search for emergent constraints.
As a result, there are significant risks that indiscriminate data-mining of the multidimensional outputs from
GCMs could lead to spurious correlations and less than robust constraints on future changes. To mitigate
against this risk, Cox et al
(hereafter CHW18) proposed a theory-motivated emergent constraint, using the
one-box Hasselmann model to identify a linear relationship between equilibrium climate sensitivity (ECS) and
a metric of global temperature variability involving both temperature standard deviation and autocorrelation
(Ψ). A number of doubts have been raised about this approach, some concerning the application of the
one-box model to understand relationships in complex GCMs which are known to have more than the single
characteristic timescale.
Objectives: To study whether the linear Ψ-ECS proportionality in CHW18 is an artefact of the one-box
model. More precisely we ask ‘Does the linear Ψ-ECS relationship feature in the more complex and realistic
two-box and diffusion models?’.
Methods: We solve the two-box and diffusion models to find relationships between ECS and Ψ. These
models are forced continually with white noise parameterizing internal variability. The resulting analytical
relations are essentially fluctuation-dissipation theorems.
Results: We show that the linear Ψ-ECS proportionality in the one-box model is not generally true in
the two-box and diffusion models. However, the linear proportionality is a very good approximation for
parameter ranges applicable to the current state-of-the-art CMIP5 climate models. This is not obvious -
due to structural differences between the conceptual models, their predictions also differ. For example, the
two-box and diffusion, unlike the one-box model, can reproduce the long term transient behaviour of the
CMIP5 abrupt4xCO2 and 1pcCO2 simulations. Each of the conceptual models also predict different power
spectra with only the diffusion model’s pink 1/f spectrum being compatible with observations and GCMs. We
also show that the theoretically predicted Ψ-ECS relationship exists in the piControl as well as historical
CMIP5 experiments and that the differing gradients of the proportionality are inversely related to the effective
forcing in that experiment.
Conclusions: We argue that emergent constraints should ideally be derived by such theory-driven hypothesis
testing, in part to protect against spurious correlations from blind data-mining but mainly to aid understanding. In this approach, an underlying model is proposed, the model is used to predict a potential emergent
relationship between an observable and an unknown future projection, and the hypothesised emergent relationship is tested against an ensemble of GCMs.European Union Horizon 2020Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC)European Research Counci
QTL mapping of multiple disease resistance traits in a synthetic hexaploid x bread wheat population
The chemistry of quartz in granitic pegmatites of southern Norway: Petrogenetic and economic implications
This is the author accepted manuscript. The final version is available from Society of Economic Geologists via the DOI in this record.Trace element concentrations in quartz from 188 granitic pegmatites in the Froland and Evje-Iveland pegmatite fields, southern Norway, have been determined to establish exploration targets for high-purity quartz and to gain a better understanding of the genesis of pegmatites hosting these deposits. Both pegmatite fields were formed during the Sveconorwegian (Grenvillian) orogeny (1145-900 Ma) at the western margin of the Fennoscandian Shield. In situ raster analyses within single quartz crystals were undertaken by laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS); spot size 75 μm) to assess levels of lattice-bound impurities, rather than mineral and fluid inclusions that are relatively easily removed during high-purity quartz processing. Quartz in the Froland pegmatites has relatively pure and homogeneous compositions containing 46 ± 24 μgg-1Al, 8 ± 3 μgg-1Ti, 1.4 ± 0.8 μgg-1Ge, and 11 ± 7 μgg-1Li. The Ti-in-quartz geothermobarometer gives an average pegmatite crystallization temperature of 537° ± 39°C. Temperature estimates are highest along the northwestern margin of the pegmatite field (>550°C), whereas the most differentiated pegmatites occur toward the northeast. The area of greatest economic potential for high-purity quartz lies just north of the central part of the field where individual pegmatites contain >1 million metric tons (Mt) quartz with low average trace element contents of 67 ± 11 μgg-1. From mineral-chemical criteria, and a range of other geologic factors, we propose that pegmatite melts in the Froland field were generated by fluid-present crustal melting at about 1060 Ma, in zones of localized high-strain deformation during progressive thrusting along the Porsgrunn-Kristiansand fault zone. Quartz in the Evje-Iveland pegmatites has more variable compositions with 69 ± 57 μgg-1Al, 19 ± 11 μgg-1Ti, 2.3 ± 1.8 μgg-1Ge, and 7 ± 5 μgg-1Li. From its Ti content, it crystallized at temperatures of 613° ± 70°C. The regional spatial distribution of Ti-in-quartz temperatures appears irregular mainly due to the scattered distributions of chemical evolved pegmatites with "amazonite"-"cleavelandite" replacement zones, which show crystallization temperatures down to 442°C. Quartz from the Evje-Iveland pegmatites is unlikely to be of current economic interest due to its moderate to high trace element contents, heterogeneous chemistry, and low volume. The Evje-Iveland pegmatites show no apparent genetic link to a granite intrusion; instead they probably formed as a result of partial melting at the depth of their amphibolite country rocks at around 910 Ma. This is related to a regional low-pressure/high-temperature metamorphic event at about 930 to 920 Ma.Geological Survey of Norway in Trondhei
New venture evolution of migrants under institutional voids: Lessons from Shonga Farms in Nigeria
This article inductively builds theory on how transaction costs may be alleviated and institutional voids bridged in developing economies, based on the case study of successful migrant entrepreneurial involvement in Nigerian agriculture: Shonga Farms. We argue that the iterative process of building conditions of trust through long-term commitment, involvement of regional government, appropriate modes of financial contracts and the gradual transitioning of controlling interests to private actors are factors of success. We draw additional lessons by contrasting our case study with other similar migrant schemes that have failed
Continuous, Semi-discrete, and Fully Discretized Navier-Stokes Equations
The Navier--Stokes equations are commonly used to model and to simulate flow
phenomena. We introduce the basic equations and discuss the standard methods
for the spatial and temporal discretization. We analyse the semi-discrete
equations -- a semi-explicit nonlinear DAE -- in terms of the strangeness index
and quantify the numerical difficulties in the fully discrete schemes, that are
induced by the strangeness of the system. By analyzing the Kronecker index of
the difference-algebraic equations, that represent commonly and successfully
used time stepping schemes for the Navier--Stokes equations, we show that those
time-integration schemes factually remove the strangeness. The theoretical
considerations are backed and illustrated by numerical examples.Comment: 28 pages, 2 figure, code available under DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.998909,
https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.99890
Effects of adding Tiotropium or Aclidinium as triple therapy using impulse oscillometry in COPD
INTRODUCTION: Long-acting muscarinic antagonists confer improvements in spirometry when used in addition to inhaled corticosteroids and long-acting beta-agonists (ICS/LABA) in COPD. The dual objectives of this proof of concept study were to evaluate trough effects of tiotropium (TIO) or aclidinium (ACL) when used as triple therapy and to assess if impulse oscillometry (IOS) might be more sensitive than spirometry in detecting subtle differences in bronchodilator response. METHODS: Patients with moderate to severe COPD already taking ICS/LABA were randomized to receive add-on therapy in cross-over fashion with either TIO 18 µg od or ACL 322 µg bid for 2–3 weeks each. Measurements of IOS, spirometry, 6-min walk test, St George’s Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ) and Baseline/Transition Dyspnoea Index (TDI) were made at baseline and after chronic dosing at trough (12 h for ACL and 24 h for TIO), in addition to domiciliary diurnal spirometry. RESULTS: 13 patients were completed: mean age 69 years, FEV(1) 52 % predicted, FEV(1)/FVC 0.48, and R5 202 % predicted. There were no differences in any visit-based trough IOS or spirometry outcomes comparing TIO versus ACL. Resonant frequency but not total airway resistance at 5 Hz (R5) significantly improved from baseline with both treatments while peripheral airway resistance (R5–R20) significantly improved with ACL. Visit-based FEV(1), and forced and relaxed vital capacity were also significantly improved from baseline with both treatments. There were no significant differences in diurnal FEV(1) and FEV(6) profiles between treatments. 6-min walk distance and post-walk fatigue significantly improved from baseline with ACL, while post-walk dyspnea improved with TIO. SGRQ symptom score significantly improved to a similar degree with both treatments. TDI significantly improved with ACL versus TIO by 1.54 units. CONCLUSION: We observed comparable bronchodilator efficacy at trough with TIO and ACL when used as triple therapy in COPD, while IOS was no more sensitive than spirometry
Effect of preoperative thoracic duct drainage on canine kidney transplantation
Chronic drainage of the thoracic duct to the esophagus was developed in dogs, and its efficacy in immunomodulation was tested using kidney transplantation. Compared to 9.7 days in the control, the mean animal survival was prolonged to 9.9 days, 17.8 days, and 18.5 days when TDD was applied preoperatively for 3 weeks, 6 weeks, and 9 weeks, respectively. Prolongation was significant after 6 weeks. Patency of the fistula was 93.5, 80.4, and 76.1% at respective weeks. Number of peripheral T-lymphocytes determined by a new monoclonal antibody diminished after 3 weeks. All animals were in normal health, requiring no special care for fluid, electrolyte, or protein replacement
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