Quantifying the effect of interannual ocean variability on the attribution of extreme climate events to human influence

In recent years, the climate change research community has become highly interested in describing the anthropogenic influence on extreme weather events, commonly termed "event attribution." Limitations in the observational record and in computational resources motivate the use of uncoupled, atmosphere/land-only climate models with prescribed ocean conditions run over a short period, leading up to and including an event of interest. In this approach, large ensembles of high-resolution simulations can be generated under factual observed conditions and counterfactual conditions that might have been observed in the absence of human interference; these can be used to estimate the change in probability of the given event due to anthropogenic influence. However, using a prescribed ocean state ignores the possibility that estimates of attributable risk might be a function of the ocean state. Thus, the uncertainty in attributable risk is likely underestimated, implying an over-confidence in anthropogenic influence. In this work, we estimate the year-to-year variability in calculations of the anthropogenic contribution to extreme weather based on large ensembles of atmospheric model simulations. Our results both quantify the magnitude of year-to-year variability and categorize the degree to which conclusions of attributable risk are qualitatively affected. The methodology is illustrated by exploring extreme temperature and precipitation events for the northwest coast of South America and northern-central Siberia; we also provides results for regions around the globe. While it remains preferable to perform a full multi-year analysis, the results presented here can serve as an indication of where and when attribution researchers should be concerned about the use of atmosphere-only simulations

Static Envelope Patterns in Composite Resonances Generated by Level Crossing in Optical Toroidal Microcavities

We study level crossing in the optical whispering-gallery (WG) modes by using toroidal microcavities. Experimentally, we image the stationary envelope patterns of the composite optical modes that arise when WG modes of different wavelengths coincide in frequency. Numerically, we calculate crossings of levels that correspond with the observed degenerate modes, where our method takes into account the not perfectly transverse nature of their field polarizations. In addition, we analyze anticrossing with a large avoidance gap between modes of the same azimuthal number

Isospin asymmetry and type-I superconductivity in neutron star matter

It has been argued by Buckley et. al.(Phys. Rev. Lett. 92, 151102, 2004) that nuclear matter is a type-I rather than a type-II superconductor. The suggested mechanism is a strong interaction between neutron and proton Cooper pairs, which arises from an assumed U(2) symmetry of the effective potential, which is supposed to originate in isospin symmetry of the underlying nuclear interactions. To test this claim, we perform an explicit mean-field calculation of the effective potential of the Cooper pairs in a model with a simple four-point pairing interaction. In the neutron star context, matter is very neutron rich with less than 10% protons, so there is no neutron-proton pairing. We find that under these conditions our model shows no interaction between proton Cooper pairs and neutron Cooper pairs at the mean-field level. We estimate the leading contribution beyond mean field and find that it is is small and attractive at weak coupling.Comment: 7 pages, 2 figure

The Constitutionality of Mandates to Purchase Health Insurance

Health insurance mandates have been a component of many recent health care reform proposals. Because a federal requirement that individuals transfer money to a private party is unprecedented, a number of legal issues must be examined. This paper analyzes whether Congress can legislate a health insurance mandate and the potential legal challenges that might arise, given such a mandate. The analysis of legal challenges to health insurance mandates applies to federal individual mandates, but can also apply to a federal mandate requiring employers to purchase health insurance for their employees. There are no Constitutional barriers for Congress to legislate a health insurance mandate as long as the mandate is properly designed and executed, as discussed below. This paper also considers the likelihood of any change in the current judicial approach to these legal questions

A quantum mechanical model of the upper bounds of the cascading contribution to the second hyperpolarizability

Microscopic cascading of second-order nonlinearities between two molecules has been proposed to yield an enhanced third-order molecular nonlinear-optical response. In this contribution, we investigate the two-molecule cascaded second hyperpolarizability and show that it will never exceed the fundamental limit of a single molecule with the same number of electrons as the two-molecule system. We show the apparent divergence behavior of the cascading contribution to the second hyperpolarizability vanishes when properly taking into account the intermolecular interactions. Although cascading can never lead to a larger nonlinear-optical response than a single molecule, it provides alternative molecular design configurations for creating materials with large third-order susceptibilities that may be difficult to design into a single molecule.Comment: 13 pages, 9 figures, 1 tabl

Defect Engineering: Graphene Gets Designer Defects

An extended one-dimensional defect that has the potential to act as a conducting wire has been embedded in another perfect graphene sheet.Comment: 2 pages, 1 figur

From the Editors: A Guide for Peer Review in the Field of Exercise Science

International Journal of Exercise Science 11(1): 1112-1119, 2018. Since its inception, the mission of the International Journal of Exercise Science (IJES) has been to engage student researchers, to provide an outlet for peer-review and possible publication of their work, and to grant an opportunity for them to gain experience as peer-reviewers. The Editors of IJES take pride in providing these opportunities for student involvement, and we are constantly seeking new and innovative ways to enhance students’ professional development. As our readership has expanded across the globe and our scope has broadened to cross many Kinesiology related disciplines, we believe it is timely to revisit the purpose of peer-review, give advice on best practices, and provide a template for reviews. Presenting these guiding principles should simplify and streamline both the review and the revision processes for students and professionals alike

Post Exercise Hypotension Following Concurrent Exercise: Does Order of Exercise Modality Matter?

International Journal of Exercise Science 13(2): 36-48, 2020. Cardiovascular (CV) and resistance training (RT) can moderate negative effects of aging, disease, and inactivity. Post-exercise hypotension (PEH) has been used as a non-pharmacological means to control and reduce BP. Few have evaluated PEH response following a bout of exercise combining CV and RT, whether or not there is an order effect, or if PEH continues when activities of daily living (ADLs) are resumed. Participants (N= 10) completed a non-exercise control, a graded exercise test (GXT), and two concurrent sessions (CVRT and RTCV). Each session was followed by a 60-minute laboratory and 3-hour ADLs PEH assessment, respectively. Two-way and Welch-one-way repeated measures ANOVAs were used to determine differences between among conditions in PEH. There was a significant interaction between BP and condition following the 60-minute laboratory measure (p= .030, ηp2= .166) and the ADLs BP assessments (p= .008, ηp2 = .993), respectively. PEH occurred following concurrent exercise conditions at minute 45 for RTCV (118 +8, p= .041; 95% CI [0.223, 17.443]) and minutes 50 (117 +9; p= .036 95% CI [0.441, 21.097]) and 55 (118 +8; p\u3c .001; 95% CI [5.884, 14.731]) following CVRT. BP was elevated during ADLs following the control session compared to the GXT, RTCV, and CVRT. Regardless of the order, concurrent exercise is effective in potentiating PEH. Elevation in BP associated with ADLs can be mitigated if exerciseis performed previously

The acute effects of whole body vibration on isometric mid-thigh pull performance

The purpose of the present investigation was to examine the acute effects of whole body vibration (WBV) on isometric mid-thigh pull force–time curve (FTC) characteristics. Eleven recreationally trained subjects were randomly assigned to three treatment conditions: sham no vibration protocol (T1), vibration protocol 30 Hz 2–4 mm amplitude (T2), and vibration protocol 30 Hz 2–4 mm (T3). After completing a standardized warm-up, the subject stood on a vibration platform with the knee at a 120° angle and performed one of the three interventions. Each treatment condition required the subject to stand on the platform for thirty-second treatments, each separated by thirty seconds of recovery. Five minutes after the completion of the treatment conditions, the subjects performed the isometric mid-thigh pull. All FTCs were analyzed with standardized procedures for peak force (PF) and peak rate of force development (PRFD). A 1 × 3 repeated measures analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to compare the three treatments. Additionally, coefficients of variance (CV), as well as intraclass and interclass correlations, were performed. There were no significant differences (p \u3e 0.05) for any of the FTC analyses performed in this investigation. The CV and the 95% confidence interval (CI) indicate that the WBV protocol resulted in trivial changes in PF and beneficial changes in PRFD. A 30 Hz 2–4 mm amplitude WBV does not result in a significant increase in isometric mid-thigh pull performance

A VO2max Protocol for Young, Apparently Healthy Adults

International Journal of Exercise Science 16(4): 1257-1268, 2023. The Bruce and Astrand treadmill protocols are commonly utilized when assessing maximal oxygen consumption (VO2max). However, the steep grade implemented in the protocols often leads to localized muscular fatigue, potentially causing participants prematurely to terminate the test prior to reaching their true VO2max. The purpose of this study was to evaluate a Novel VO2max protocol that may be better suited for young, apparently healthy populations. The Novel protocol starts at a higher speed and lower initial grade to limit lower extremity fatigue. Fifteen participants performed the Bruce, Astrand, and Novel protocols with the following maximal values recorded from each: VO2max, maximal ventilation (VEmax), respiratory exchange ratio (RER), heart rate (HR), rating of perceived exertion (RPE) and time to exhaustion (TTE). The Novel protocol displayed substantial agreement with both criterion protocols. Mean absolute percent error (MAPE) was less than 10% indicating that the Novel protocol is a valid measurement for VO2max values. Bland-Altman analysis revealed that the Novel protocol exhibited a low degree of bias, with tight limits of agreement when compared to the Bruce (bias ±95% LOA = 0.824 ± 3.163) and Astrand protocols (-0.153 ± 3.528) for VO2max. A paired samples t-test revealed no significant differences between Novel and criterion protocols for VO2max. Paired samples t-tests revealed that the Novel protocol had significantly lower TTE when compared to the Bruce and Astrand protocols and produced similar VO2max values to that of the Bruce and Astrand. The Novel protocol may be considered a valid and time-efficient protocol