Temperature Stabilization of the Phase-Reference Line at the European Spallation Source

We consider temperature stabilization of the phase-reference line at the European Spallation Source, a facility for neutron spallation currently under construction. Based on extensive modeling of the heat dynamics, a prototype model-based control system with associated hardware architecture is developed and experimentally evaluated on a small-scale setup. The results indicate that temperature stability within ±0.1°C is possible to achieve, also with significant disturbances in the ambient temperature expected during operation

Carbon implications of forest restitution in post-socialist Romania

The collapse of socialism in 1989 triggered a phase of institutional restructuring in Central and Eastern Europe. Several countries chose to privatize forests or to return them to pre-socialist owners. Here, we assess the implications of forest restitution on the terrestrial The collapse of socialism in 1989 triggered a phase of institutional restructuring in Central and Eastern Europe. Several countries chose to privatize forests or to return them to pre-socialist owners. Here, we assess the implications of forest restitution on the terrestrial carbon balance. New forest owners have strong incentives to immediately clearcut their forests, resulting in increased terrestrial emissions. On the other hand, logging generally decreased after 1989 and forests are expanding on unused or abandoned farmland, both of which may offset increased logging on restituted forests. We mapped changes in forest cover for the entire country of Romania using Landsat satellite images from 1990 to 2010. We use our satellite estimates, together with historic data on logging rates and changes in forest cover, to parameterize a carbon book-keeping model for estimating the terrestrial carbon flux (above and below ground) as a consequence of land use change and forest harvest. High logging rates during socialism resulted in substantial terrestrial carbon emissions and Romania was a net carbon source until the 1980s. After the collapse of the Soviet Union forest harvest rates decreased dramatically, but since restitution laws were implemented they have increased by 60% (from 15 122 ± 5397 ha y − 1 in 2000 to 23 884 ± 11 510 ha y − 1 in 2010), but still remain lower than prior to 1989. Romania currently remains a terrestrial carbon sink, offsetting 7.6% ± 2.5% of anthropogenic carbon emissions. A further increase in logging could result in net emissions from terrestrial ecosystems during the coming decades. However, forest expansion on degraded land and abandoned farmland offers great potential for carbon sequestration. decreased after 1989 and forests are expanding on unused or abandoned farmland, both of which may offset increased logging on restituted forests. We mapped changes in forest cover for the entire country of Romania using Landsat satellite images from 1990 to 2010. We use our satellite estimates, together with historic data on logging rates and changes in forest cover, to parameterize a carbon book-keeping model for estimating the terrestrial carbon flux (above and below ground) as a consequence of land use change and forest harvest. High logging rates during socialism resulted in substantial terrestrial carbon emissions and Romania was a net carbon source until the 1980s. After the collapse of the Soviet Union forest harvest rates decreased dramatically, but since restitution laws were implemented they have increased by 60% (from 15 122 ± 5397 ha y − 1 in 2000 to 23 884 ± 11 510 ha y − 1 in 2010), but still remain lower than prior to 1989. Romania currently remains a terrestrial carbon sink, offsetting 7.6% ± 2.5% of anthropogenic carbon emissions. A further increase in logging could result in net emissions from terrestrial ecosystems during the coming decades. However, forest expansion on degraded land and abandoned farmland offers great potential for carbon sequestration.Peer Reviewe

Dimensioning a energy system for the new school in Jumkil : implementing geothermal heat pump, photovoltaic system and battery storage

The purpose of this study is to develop a modern and energy efficient system solution for a school in Jumkil, combining solar power, battery storage and geothermal heat pump system. By using models, simulations and available literature the study examines the dimensions of the included components for optimal coverage of the schools energy demand. The type of solar cells used is monochrystalline silicon solar cells and from an economical point of view, the installed effect should be 55 kWp. For such a solution the optimal battery capacity is 60 kWh and the battery technique used is vanadium redox flow battery. The vanadium redox flow battery technique is safe, have a long lifetime as well as a high depth of discharge. Implementing a smaller photovoltaic plant of 22 kWp reduces the need of battery capacity to 20 kWh. The battery is used for several applications, for example storage of the excess solar production and reducing the power peaks to eliminate expensive charge. An inverter heat pump of 79 kW is installed to cover the heat demand. The study also shows that a geothermal automatically controlled heat pump combined with floor heating is the best combination to reduce electricity costs annually. In interaction with the self-produced power and the vanadium redox flow battery the system allows the school to reduce their electricity consumption and thus the need of buying power from the grid decreases.Syftet med studien är att designa en modern och energieffektiv systemlösning för en skola i Jumkil där systemlösningen består av en solcellsanläggning, ett batterilager och en varvtalsstyrd värmepump. Genom att använda modeller, simuleringar och tillgänglig litteratur undersöker studien vilka dimensioner de olika komponenterna bör ha för att täcka skolans värme- och elbehov. Solcellerna som implementeras är av typen monokristallina kiselsolceller och från ett ekonomiskt perspektiv bör den installerade effekten vara 55 kWp. För en sådan lösning är den optimala batterikapaciteten 60 kWh och är av typen flödesbatteri. Fördelarna med flödesbatterier är att de är säkra, har lång livslängd och stort urladdningsdjup. Om en mindre solcellsanläggning med en installerad effekt på 22 kWp installeras kan batterikapaciteten reduceras till 20 kWh. Batteriet används bland annat för att lagra överskottet av producerad solel och för att kapa effekttoppar vilket minskar kostnaderna för inköpt el. Även en bergvärmepump med en effekt på 79 kW installeras för att täcka värmebehovet. Studien visar att kombinationen av bergvärmepumpen och golvvärme är det bästa sättet att minska årliga elkostnader. Tillsammans med den egenproducerade elen och flödesbatteriet kan skolan minska sin elförbrukning och på så sätt minska behovet av att köpa el från nätet

The SNARE Protein SNAP23 and the SNARE-Interacting Protein Munc18c in Human Skeletal Muscle Are Implicated in Insulin Resistance/Type 2 Diabetes

OBJECTIVE-Our previous studies suggest that the SNARE protein synaptosomal-associated protein of 23 kDa (SNAP23) is involved in the link between increased lipid levels and insulin resistance in cardiomyocytes. The objective was to determine whether SNAP23 may also be involved in the known association between lipid accumulation in skeletal muscle and insulin resistance/type 2 diabetes in humans, as well as to identify a potential regulator of SNAP23. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS-We analyzed skeletal muscle biopsies from patients with type 2 diabetes and healthy, insulin-sensitive control subjects for expression (mRNA and protein) and intracellular localization (subcellular fractionation and immunohistochemistry) of SNAP23, and for expression of proteins known to interact with SNARE proteins. Insulin resistance was determined by a euglycemic hyperinsulinemic clamp Potential mechanisms for regulation of SNAP23 were also investigated in the skeletal muscle cell line L6. RESULTS-We showed increased SNAP23 levels in skeletal muscle from patients with type 2 diabetes compared with that from lean control subjects Moreover, SNAP23 was redistributed from the plasma membrane to the microsomal/cytosolic compartment in the patients with the type 2 diabetes Expression of the SNARE-interacting protein Munc18c was higher in skeletal muscle from patients with type 2 diabetes Studies in L6 cells showed that Munc18c promoted the expression of SNAP23. CONCLUSIONS-We have translated our previous in vitro results into humans by showing that there is a change in the distribution of SNAP23 to the interior of the cell in skeletal muscle from patients with type 2 diabetes. We also showed that Munc18c is a potential regulator of SNAP23. Diabetes 59: 1870-1878, 201

Good practices for estimating area and assessing accuracy of land change

The remote sensing science and application communities have developed increasingly reliable, consistent, and robust approaches for capturing land dynamics to meet a range of information needs. Statistically robust and transparent approaches for assessing accuracy and estimating area of change are critical to ensure the integrity of land change information. We provide practitioners with a set of “good practice” recommendations for designing and implementing an accuracy assessment of a change map and estimating area based on the reference sample data. The good practice recommendations address the three major components: sampling design, response design and analysis. The primary good practice recommendations for assessing accuracy and estimating area are: (i) implement a probability sampling design that is chosen to achieve the priority objectives of accuracy and area estimation while also satisfying practical constraints such as cost and available sources of reference data; (ii) implement a response design protocol that is based on reference data sources that provide sufficient spatial and temporal representation to accurately label each unit in the sample (i.e., the “reference classification” will be considerably more accurate than the map classification being evaluated); (iii) implement an analysis that is consistent with the sampling design and response design protocols; (iv) summarize the accuracy assessment by reporting the estimated error matrix in terms of proportion of area and estimates of overall accuracy, user's accuracy (or commission error), and producer's accuracy (or omission error); (v) estimate area of classes (e.g., types of change such as wetland loss or types of persistence such as stable forest) based on the reference classification of the sample units; (vi) quantify uncertainty by reporting confidence intervals for accuracy and area parameters; (vii) evaluate variability and potential error in the reference classification; and (viii) document deviations from good practice that may substantially affect the results. An example application is provided to illustrate the recommended process

A Global Analysis of the Spatial and Temporal Variability of Usable Landsat Observations at the Pixel Scale

The Landsat program has the longest collection of moderate-resolution satellite imagery, and the data are free to everyone. With the improvements of standardized image products, the flexibility of cloud computing platforms, and the development of time series approaches, it is now possible to conduct global-scale analyses of time series using Landsat data over multiple decades. Efforts in this regard are limited by the density of usable observations. The availability of usable Landsat Tier 1 observations at the scale of individual pixels from the perspective of time series analysis for land change monitoring is remarkably variable both in space (globally) and time (1985–2020), depending most immediately on which sensors were in operation, the technical capabilities of the mission, and the acquisition strategies and objectives of the satellite operators (e.g., USGS, commercial company) and the international ground receiving stations. Additionally, analysis of data density at the pixel scale allows for the integration of quality control data on clouds, cloud shadows, and snow as well as other properties returned from the atmospheric correction process. Maps for different time periods show the effect of excluding observations based on the presence of clouds, cloud shadows, snow, sensor saturation, hazy observations (based on atmospheric opacity), and lack of aerosol optical depth information. Two major discoveries are: 1) that filtering saturated and hazy pixels is helpful to reduce noise in the time series, although the impact may vary across different continents; 2) the atmospheric opacity band needs to be used with caution because many images are removed when no value is given in this band, when many of those observations are usable. The results provide guidance on when and where time series analysis is feasible, which will benefit many users of Landsat data

Implications of land use change on the national terrestrial carbon budget of Georgia

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Globally, the loss of forests now contributes almost 20% of carbon dioxide emissions to the atmosphere. There is an immediate need to reduce the current rates of forest loss, and the associated release of carbon dioxide, but for many areas of the world these rates are largely unknown. The Soviet Union contained a substantial part of the world's forests and the fate of those forests and their effect on carbon dynamics remain unknown for many areas of the former Eastern Bloc. For Georgia, the political and economic transitions following independence in 1991 have been dramatic. In this paper we quantify rates of land use changes and their effect on the terrestrial carbon budget for Georgia. A carbon book-keeping model traces changes in carbon stocks using historical and current rates of land use change. Landsat satellite images acquired circa 1990 and 2000 were analyzed to detect changes in forest cover since 1990.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The remote sensing analysis showed that a modest forest loss occurred, with approximately 0.8% of the forest cover having disappeared after 1990. Nevertheless, growth of Georgian forests still contribute a current national sink of about 0.3 Tg of carbon per year, which corresponds to 31% of the country anthropogenic carbon emissions.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>We assume that the observed forest loss is mainly a result of illegal logging, but we have not found any evidence of large-scale clear-cutting. Instead local harvesting of timber for household use is likely to be the underlying driver of the observed logging. The Georgian forests are a currently a carbon sink and will remain as such until about 2040 if the current rate of deforestation persists. Forest protection efforts, combined with economic growth, are essential for reducing the rate of deforestation and protecting the carbon sink provided by Georgian forests.</p

A study about swedish sponsors sponsorship evaluation

Sports sponsorship is a marketing method that grows incredibly fast on the market. Already about 20 years ago it was difficult to find a sporting event that was not sponsored in any way and the more time has passed, the more the sponsorship has grown. Sponsorship's development is based on the fact that sponsors no longer see their sponsorship as a gift. Instead, sponsorship has become an effective communication tool that sponsors invest large sums in, in order to communicate effectively with its market. Previous studies made in other parts of the world have shown that the sponsorship has, despite the fact that major investments are made, not shown to be particularly prioritized to evaluate and see the effects it has had on the brand. Compared to, for example, TV advertising, where the investments are about the same as in sponsorship, but sponsors tend to evaluate and measure the effects of this more. I wanted to investigate to what extent sponsors in Sweden perform sponsorship effect evaluation . Is this evaluation also related to objectives that existed with the sponsorship, ie is there any relationship between sponsorship objectives and the evaluations of sponsorship effect? The data collection has been conducted through a survey which contained all sponsors of the three largest sports federations in Sweden, the Swedish Football Association, the Swedish Hockey Federation and the Swedish Ski Federation. The study has shown that approximately 85% of the sponsors choose to measure in some way the effects of their sponsorship. What effects the sponsor then chooses to measure depends largely on the goals for the sponsorship. The survey has shown that the most common objectives sponsors have are increased exposure, increased brand awareness and image transfer. Furthermore, the survey showed that the connection between which goals the sponsors have and the effects they measure are large. Sponsors simply choose to basically base the effect evaluation on the predefined goals. Effects such as the number of receivers, brand recognition and image and attitude changes were therefore the effect evaluations that were highly prioritized by the Swedish sponsors.Idrottssponsring är en marknadsföringsmetod som växer otroligt snabbt på marknaden. Redan för cirka 20 år sedan så var det svårt att hitta ett idrottsevenemang som inte var sponsrat på något sätt och ju längre tiden har gått desto mer har sponsringen växt. Sponsringens utveckling baseras på att sponsorer inte längre ser sitt sponsorskap som att det är en gåva. Sponsringen har istället ett blivit ett effektivt kommunikationsverktyg som sponsorer investerar stora summor i för att kunna kommunicera med sin marknad på ett effektivt sätt. Tidigare studier gjorda i andra delar av världen har visat att sponsringen, trots att stora investeringar görs, inte visat sig vara särskilt prioriterat att utvärdera och se vilka effekter den har gett på varumärket. I jämförelse med till exempel Tv-reklam där investeringarna är ungefär lika stora som i sponsring men där effektmätningar görs i mycket större utsträckning. Jag ville med denna studie undersöka i vilken utsträckning som sponsorer i Sverige utför effektmätning på sin sponsring. Görs också effektmätningen utifrån vilka mål som finns med sponsringen? Det vill säga, är sambandet mellan mål och effektmätning stort? Datainsamlingen har skett genom en enkätundersökning som distribuerats ut till samtliga sponsorer av de tre största idrottsförbunden i Sverige som är Svenska Fotbollsförbundet, Svenska Hockeyförbundet samt Svenska Skidförbundet. Studien har visat att cirka 85% av sponsorerna väljer att i någon form mäta effekterna av sin sponsring. Vilka effekter man som sponsor sedan väljer att mäta beror till stor del på vilka mål som finns för sponsringen. Det har i undersökningen visat sig att de vanligaste mål som sponsorerna har med sin sponsring är utökad exponering, utökad varumärkeskännedom samt imageöverföring. Vidare visade undersökningen att sambandet mellan vilka mål som sponsorerna har och vilka effekter de mäter är som störst hos de mål som är tillgängliga för effektmätning. Om det inte finns en redan tillgänglig metod för att utföra effektmätning på ett visst mål så tvingas sponsorerna skapa en metod till detta, vilket har visat sig hos de svenska sponsorerna i min undersökningen minskar sambandet mellan mål och effektmätning

A study about swedish sponsors sponsorship evaluation

Sports sponsorship is a marketing method that grows incredibly fast on the market. Already about 20 years ago it was difficult to find a sporting event that was not sponsored in any way and the more time has passed, the more the sponsorship has grown. Sponsorship's development is based on the fact that sponsors no longer see their sponsorship as a gift. Instead, sponsorship has become an effective communication tool that sponsors invest large sums in, in order to communicate effectively with its market. Previous studies made in other parts of the world have shown that the sponsorship has, despite the fact that major investments are made, not shown to be particularly prioritized to evaluate and see the effects it has had on the brand. Compared to, for example, TV advertising, where the investments are about the same as in sponsorship, but sponsors tend to evaluate and measure the effects of this more. I wanted to investigate to what extent sponsors in Sweden perform sponsorship effect evaluation . Is this evaluation also related to objectives that existed with the sponsorship, ie is there any relationship between sponsorship objectives and the evaluations of sponsorship effect? The data collection has been conducted through a survey which contained all sponsors of the three largest sports federations in Sweden, the Swedish Football Association, the Swedish Hockey Federation and the Swedish Ski Federation. The study has shown that approximately 85% of the sponsors choose to measure in some way the effects of their sponsorship. What effects the sponsor then chooses to measure depends largely on the goals for the sponsorship. The survey has shown that the most common objectives sponsors have are increased exposure, increased brand awareness and image transfer. Furthermore, the survey showed that the connection between which goals the sponsors have and the effects they measure are large. Sponsors simply choose to basically base the effect evaluation on the predefined goals. Effects such as the number of receivers, brand recognition and image and attitude changes were therefore the effect evaluations that were highly prioritized by the Swedish sponsors.Idrottssponsring är en marknadsföringsmetod som växer otroligt snabbt på marknaden. Redan för cirka 20 år sedan så var det svårt att hitta ett idrottsevenemang som inte var sponsrat på något sätt och ju längre tiden har gått desto mer har sponsringen växt. Sponsringens utveckling baseras på att sponsorer inte längre ser sitt sponsorskap som att det är en gåva. Sponsringen har istället ett blivit ett effektivt kommunikationsverktyg som sponsorer investerar stora summor i för att kunna kommunicera med sin marknad på ett effektivt sätt. Tidigare studier gjorda i andra delar av världen har visat att sponsringen, trots att stora investeringar görs, inte visat sig vara särskilt prioriterat att utvärdera och se vilka effekter den har gett på varumärket. I jämförelse med till exempel Tv-reklam där investeringarna är ungefär lika stora som i sponsring men där effektmätningar görs i mycket större utsträckning. Jag ville med denna studie undersöka i vilken utsträckning som sponsorer i Sverige utför effektmätning på sin sponsring. Görs också effektmätningen utifrån vilka mål som finns med sponsringen? Det vill säga, är sambandet mellan mål och effektmätning stort? Datainsamlingen har skett genom en enkätundersökning som distribuerats ut till samtliga sponsorer av de tre största idrottsförbunden i Sverige som är Svenska Fotbollsförbundet, Svenska Hockeyförbundet samt Svenska Skidförbundet. Studien har visat att cirka 85% av sponsorerna väljer att i någon form mäta effekterna av sin sponsring. Vilka effekter man som sponsor sedan väljer att mäta beror till stor del på vilka mål som finns för sponsringen. Det har i undersökningen visat sig att de vanligaste mål som sponsorerna har med sin sponsring är utökad exponering, utökad varumärkeskännedom samt imageöverföring. Vidare visade undersökningen att sambandet mellan vilka mål som sponsorerna har och vilka effekter de mäter är som störst hos de mål som är tillgängliga för effektmätning. Om det inte finns en redan tillgänglig metod för att utföra effektmätning på ett visst mål så tvingas sponsorerna skapa en metod till detta, vilket har visat sig hos de svenska sponsorerna i min undersökningen minskar sambandet mellan mål och effektmätning