Modification of smeared phase transitions by spatial disorder correlations

Phase transitions in disordered systems can be smeared if rare spatial regions develop true static order while the bulk system is in the disordered phase. Here, we study the effects of spatial disorder correlations on such smeared phase transitions. The behaviors of observables are determined within optimal fluctuation theory. We show that even short-range correlations can qualitatively modify smeared phase transitions. For positive correlations (like impurity atoms attract each other), the order parameter is enhanced, while it is suppressed for repulsive correlations (like atoms repel each other). We use computer simulations to generate various types of disorder correlations, and to verify our theoretical predictions.Comment: submitted to the Proceedings of the XVII Training Course in the Physics of Strongly Correlated Systems, builds on arXiv:1109.4290, 5 pages, 2 figure

Functional measures and food webs of high elevation springs in the Swiss alps

Abstract.: We examined the ecosystem functioning and food webs of high elevation springs in or near the Swiss National Park. Springs originated from silicate or carbonate geologies and were near or above treeline. One iron-sulphur and three temporary springs were also included in the study. Ecosystem function was assessed in four springs via measures of bacterial abundance, sediment respiration, nutrient uptake, and ecosystem metabolism. Food webs were assessed in all 20 springs using nutrient content (C, N, P) and stable isotopes of carbon and nitrogen. Bacteria counts ranged from 1.8 to 3.4×108 cells mL−1 sediment with no significant differences between sites. Sediment respiration rates ranged from 0.13 to 0.46mg O2 h−1 and did not differ between springs. Uptake lengths for N ranged from 11 to 63 m, and for phosphorus from 4 to 60 m. Nitrogen uptake rates (U) ranged from 57 to 266μg m−2 h−1 and those for P from 0.11 to 4.2μg m−2 h−1. Gross primary production (GPP) ranged from 0.7 to 7.1 g O2 m−2 d−1, but reached values of 59.1-70.9 g O2m−2 d−1 in the iron-sulphur spring. Ecosystem respiration (ER) ranged from 1.3 to 10.3 g O2m−2 d−1, but was 91.1-101.8 g O2m−2 d−1 in the ironsulphur spring. All four springs were net-heterotrophic with production to respiration ratios (P/R) ranging from 0.48 to 0.72. The percentage C, N, and P varied significantly among the different food web compartments. The molar ratios (C:P,C:N,N:P) of the different nutrients were consistent within compartments, although varying among the different compartments. Stable isotope signatures (δ13C, d15N) were related to the specific spring types, although food webs were relatively simple with most benthic invertebrates showing omnivory. Riparian spiders partially used aquatic insects in the diet. The results suggest that these alpine springs are complex but functionally similar to forested headwater streams with simple food web

Disorder correlations at smeared phase transitions

We investigate the influence of spatial disorder correlations on smeared phase transitions, taking the quantum phase transition in itinerant magnets as an example. We find that even short-range correlations can have a dramatic effect and qualitatively change the behavior of observable quantities. This is in marked contrast to conventional critical phenomena, at which short-range disorder correlations are irrelevant. We develop an optimal fluctuation theory of the quantum phase transition in the presence of correlated disorder, and we illustrate the results by computer simulations. As an experimental application, we discuss the ferromagnetic quantum phase transition in Sr$_{1-x}$Ca$_x$RuO$_3$.Comment: 6 pages, 4 eps figures, final version as publishe

Using Temporal Changes in Drought Indices to Generate Probabilistic Drought Intensification Forecasts

In this study, the potential utility of using rapid temporal changes in drought indices to provide early warning of an elevated risk for drought development over subseasonal time scales is assessed. Standardized change anomalies were computed each week during the 2000–13 growing seasons for drought indices depicting anomalies in evapotranspiration, precipitation, and soil moisture. A rapid change index (RCI) that encapsulates the accumulated magnitude of rapid changes in the weekly anomalies was computed each week for each drought index, and then a simple statistical method was used to convert the RCI values into drought intensification probabilities depicting the likelihood that drought severity as analyzed by the U.S. Drought Monitor (USDM) would worsen in subsequent weeks. Local and regional case study analyses revealed that elevated drought intensification probabilities often occur several weeks prior to changes in the USDM and in topsoil moisture and crop condition datasets compiled by the National Agricultural Statistics Service. Statistical analyses showed that the RCI-derived probabilities are most reliable and skillful over the central and eastern United States in regions most susceptible to rapid drought development. Taken together, these results suggest that tools used to identify areas experiencing rapid changes in drought indices may be useful components of future drought early warning systems

The role of environmental exposures and the epigenome in health and disease

Peer Reviewedhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/152782/1/em22311_am.pdfhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/152782/2/em22311.pd

Examining Rapid Onset Drought Development Using the Thermal Infrared–Based Evaporative Stress Index

Reliable indicators of rapid drought onset can help to improve the effectiveness of drought early warning systems. In this study, the evaporative stress index (ESI), which uses remotely sensed thermal infrared imagery to estimate evapotranspiration (ET), is compared to drought classifications in the U.S. Drought Monitor (USDM) and standard precipitation-based drought indicators for several cases of rapid drought development that have occurred across the United States in recent years. Analysis of meteorological time series from the North American Regional Reanalysis indicates that these events are typically characterized by warm air temperature and low cloud cover anomalies, often with high winds and dewpoint depressions that serve to hasten evaporative depletion of soil moisture reserves. Standardized change anomalies depicting the rate at which various multiweek ESI composites changed over different time intervals are computed to more easily identify areas experiencing rapid changes in ET. Overall, the results demonstrate that ESI change anomalies can provide early warning of incipient drought impacts on agricultural systems, as indicated in crop condition reports collected by the National Agricultural Statistics Service. In each case examined, large negative change anomalies indicative of rapidly drying conditions were either coincident with the introduction of drought in the USDM or lead the USDM drought depiction by several weeks, depending on which ESI composite and time-differencing interval was used. Incorporation of the ESI as a data layer used in the construction of the USDM may improve timely depictions of moisture conditions and vegetation stress associated with flash drought events

Descriptive Analysis of a Baseline Concussion Battery Among U.S. Service Academy Members: Results from the Concussion Assessment, Research, and Education (CARE) Consortium

Introduction The prevalence and possible long-term consequences of concussion remain an increasing concern to the U.S. military, particularly as it pertains to maintaining a medically ready force. Baseline testing is being used both in the civilian and military domains to assess concussion injury and recovery. Accurate interpretation of these baseline assessments requires one to consider other influencing factors not related to concussion. To date, there is limited understanding, especially within the military, of what factors influence normative test performance. Given the significant physical and mental demands placed on service academy members (SAM), and their relatively high risk for concussion, it is important to describe demographics and normative profile of SAMs. Furthermore, the absence of available baseline normative data on female and non-varsity SAMs makes interpretation of post-injury assessments challenging. Understanding how individuals perform at baseline, given their unique individual characteristics (e.g., concussion history, sex, competition level), will inform post-concussion assessment and management. Thus, the primary aim of this manuscript is to characterize the SAM population and determine normative values on a concussion baseline testing battery. Materials and Methods All data were collected as part of the Concussion Assessment, Research and Education (CARE) Consortium. The baseline test battery included a post-concussion symptom checklist (Sport Concussion Assessment Tool (SCAT), psychological health screening inventory (Brief Symptom Inventory (BSI-18) and neurocognitive evaluation (ImPACT), Balance Error Scoring System (BESS), and Standardized Assessment of Concussion (SAC). Linear regression models were used to examine differences across sexes, competition levels, and varsity contact levels while controlling for academy, freshman status, race, and previous concussion. Zero inflated negative binomial models estimated symptom scores due to the high frequency of zero scores. Results Significant, but small, sex effects were observed on the ImPACT visual memory task. While, females performed worse than males (p < 0.0001, pη2 = 0.01), these differences were small and not larger than the effects of the covariates. A similar pattern was observed for competition level on the SAC. There was a small, but significant difference across competition level. SAMs participating in varsity athletics did significantly worse on the SAC compared to SAMs participating in club or intramural athletics (all p’s < 0.001, η2 = 0.01). When examining symptom reporting, males were more than two times as likely to report zero symptoms on the SCAT or BSI-18. Intramural SAMs had the highest number of symptoms and severity compared to varsity SAMs (p < 0.0001, Cohen’s d < 0.2). Contact level was not associated with SCAT or BSI-18 symptoms among varsity SAMs. Notably, the significant differences across competition level on SCAT and BSI-18 were sub-clinical and had small effect sizes. Conclusion The current analyses provide the first baseline concussion battery normative data among SAMs. While statistically significant differences may be observed on baseline tests, the effect sizes for competition and contact levels are very small, indicating that differences are likely not clinically meaningful at baseline. Identifying baseline differences and significant covariates is important for future concussion-related analyses to inform concussion evaluations for all athlete levels

Development of a Global Evaporative Stress Index Based on TIR and MW LST

No abstract availabl

High throughput instrument to screen fluorescent proteins under two-photon excitation

Author Posting. © Optical Society of America , 2020. This article is posted here by permission of Optical Society of America for personal use, not for redistribution. The definitive version was published in Molina, R. S., King, J., Franklin, J., Clack, N., McRaven, C., Goncharov, V., Flickinger, D., Svoboda, K., Drobizhev, M., & Hughes, T. E. High throughput instrument to screen fluorescent proteins under two-photon excitation. Biomedical Optics Express, 11(12), (2020): 7192-7203, https://doi.org/10.1364/BOE.409353.Two-photon microscopy together with fluorescent proteins and fluorescent protein-based biosensors are commonly used tools in neuroscience. To enhance their experimental scope, it is important to optimize fluorescent proteins for two-photon excitation. Directed evolution of fluorescent proteins under one-photon excitation is common, but many one-photon properties do not correlate with two-photon properties. A simple system for expressing fluorescent protein mutants is E. coli colonies on an agar plate. The small focal volume of two-photon excitation makes creating a high throughput screen in this system a challenge for a conventional point-scanning approach. We present an instrument and accompanying software that solves this challenge by selectively scanning each colony based on a colony map captured under one-photon excitation. This instrument, called the GIZMO, can measure the two-photon excited fluorescence of 10,000 E. coli colonies in 7 hours. We show that the GIZMO can be used to evolve a fluorescent protein under two-photon excitation.National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (F31 NS108593, U01 NS094246, U24 NS109107); Howard Hughes Medical Institute