Using the Memories of Multiscale Machines to Characterize Complex Systems

A scheme is presented to extract detailed dynamical signatures from successive measurements of complex systems. Relative entropy based time series tools are used to quantify the gain in predictive power of increasing past knowledge. By lossy compression, data is represented by increasingly coarsened symbolic strings. Each compression resolution is modeled by a machine: a finite memory transition matrix. Applying the relative entropy tools to each machine's memory exposes correlations within many time scales. Examples are given for cardiac arrhythmias and different heart conditions are distinguished.Comment: 4 pages, 2 figure

Zimbabwe's coloured gemstone endowments - A regional geological overview

Zimbabwe hosts a varied array of coloured gemstones. With the exception of emerald deposits and several world-class pegmatites, few of the gemstone occurrences have received detailed attention from the scientific or mineral exploration communities. In the present contribution we summarize the status of knowledge of the gemstone deposits and occurrences in Zimbabwe, paying particular attention to the geological settings in which they were formed. Synthesis of this regional geological approach reveals that there may be significant exploration potential for further gemstone occurrences, particularly in the extensive pegmatite fields and in Al-enriched orogenic belts that have undergone greenschist to granulite facies metamorphism. Further socio-economic and developmental initiatives will aid in optimizing the value generation from this important sub-sector

Financing IRPTN operations : considerations for cities implementing I(R)PTNs in South Africa

The case for investment in road-based public transport in South Africa is provided in the Public Transport Strategy for South Africa (2007) and subsequent policy positions by the national Department of Transport (DOT). This gave rise to the Integrated (Rapid) Public Transport Networks (I(R)PTNs) to be implemented in then 12 (now 13) priority cities. To support this implementation, the national Department of Transport created a conditional grant to the priority municipalities, first called the Public Transport Infrastructure Fund (PTIF), then the Public Transport Infrastructure and Systems Grant (PTISG) and now the Public Transport Infrastructure Grant (PTIG) and the Public Transport Network Operations Grant (PTNOG). Planning, establishment and rollout of the I(R)PTNs in the 13 cities, over the seven years to 2014, has highlighted the real costs of these systems. There is an emerging recognition of the extent of the I(R)PTN operational costs. Initial expectations were that fare income from passengers would cover the operating costs (at least the direct operating costs) of the system. However, implementation in a number of cities to date has shown that the fare box is not sufficient to cover the direct operating costs of the I(R)PTNs, unless the fares in the new system are increased significantly above the current costs of existing public transport. Such an increase would not be economically feasible for passengers and consequently introduce unacceptable affordability issues and open the way for competition with the I(R)PTN. As a result, cities have to consider alternative avenues to finance the direct operating costs of their I(R)PTNs. Some income sources are directly related to the new transport system (including advertising on the I(R)PTNs and congestion charges), some are commercial revenue options, and some are funding options from Municipal resources (eg increases in the rates bill, equitable share, services income). This paper explores the range of income options available to cities and the potential contribution to offsetting the shortfall. Based on the evidence to date, the operational shortfalls of I(R)PTNs in South Africa are greater than anticipated and, despite the opportunities for additional funding explored here, it is likely that significant shortfalls will remain. This presents a financial risk for city treasuries with whom rests the ultimate responsibility for covering the I(R)PTN costs. A continued conversation about funding for I(R)PTNs is therefore urgently required.Paper presented at the 34th Annual Southern African Transport Conference 6-9 July 2015 "Working Together to Deliver - Sakha Sonke", CSIR International Convention Centre, Pretoria, South Africa.The Minister of Transport, South AfricaTransportation Research Board of the US

Urban eddy covariance measurements reveal significant missing NOx emissions in Central Europe

Nitrogen oxide (NOx) pollution is emerging as a primary environmental concern across Europe. While some large European metropolitan areas are already in breach of EU safety limits for NO2, this phenomenon does not seem to be only restricted to large industrialized areas anymore. Many smaller scale populated agglomerations including their surrounding rural areas are seeing frequent NO2 concentration violations. The question of a quantitative understanding of different NOx emission sources is therefore of immanent relevance for climate and air chemistry models as well as air pollution management and health. Here we report simultaneous eddy covariance flux measurements of NOx, CO2, CO and non methane volatile organic compound tracers in a city that might be considered representative for Central Europe and the greater Alpine region. Our data show that NOx fluxes are largely at variance with modelled emission projections, suggesting an appreciable underestimation of the traffic related atmospheric NOx input in Europe, comparable to the weekend-weekday effect, which locally changes ozone production rates by 40%

Quantified HI Morphology III: Merger Visibility Times from HI in Galaxy Simulations

Major mergers of disk galaxies are thought to be a substantial driver in galaxy evolution. To trace the fraction and the rate galaxies are in mergers over cosmic times, several observational techniques, including morphological selection criteria, have been developed over the last decade. We apply this morphological selection of mergers to 21 cm radio emission line (HI) column density images of spiral galaxies in nearby surveys. In this paper, we investigate how long a 1:1 merger is visible in HI from N-body simulations. We evaluate the merger visibility times for selection criteria based on four parameters: Concentration, Asymmetry, M20, and the Gini parameter of second order moment of the flux distribution (GM). Of three selection criteria used in the literature, one based on Concentration and M20 works well for the HI perspective with a merger time scale of 0.4 Gyr. Of the three selection criteria defined in our previous paper, the GM performs well and cleanly selects mergers for 0.69 Gyr. The other two criteria (A-M20 and C-M20), select isolated disks as well, but perform best for face-on, gas-rich disks (T(merger) ~ 1 Gyr). The different visibility scales can be combined with the selected fractions of galaxies in any large HI survey to obtain merger rates in the nearby Universe. All-sky surveys such as WALLABY with ASKAP and the Medium Deep Survey with the APETIF instrument on Westerbork are set to revolutionize our perspective on neutral hydrogen and will provide an accurate measure of the merger fraction and rate of the present epoch.Comment: 12 pages, 6 figures, 4 tables, accepted by MNRAS, appendix not include

Social Determinants of Community Health Services Utilization among the Users in China: A 4-Year Cross-Sectional Study

Background To identify social factors determining the frequency of community health service (CHS) utilization among CHS users in China. Methods Nationwide cross-sectional surveys were conducted in 2008, 2009, 2010, and 2011. A total of 86,116 CHS visitors selected from 35 cities were interviewed. Descriptive analysis and multinomial logistic regression analysis were employed to analyze characteristics of CHS users, frequency of CHS utilization, and the socio-demographic and socio-economic factors influencing frequency of CHS utilization. Results Female and senior CHS clients were more likely to make 3–5 and ≥6 CHS visits (as opposed to 1–2 visits) than male and young clients, respectively. CHS clients with higher education were less frequent users than individuals with primary education or less in 2008 and 2009; in later surveys, CHS clients with higher education were the more frequent users. The association between frequent CHS visits and family income has changed significantly between 2008 and 2011. In 2011, income status did not have a discernible effect on the likelihood of making ≥6 CHS visits, and it only had a slight effect on making 3–5 CHS visits. Conclusion CHS may play an important role in providing primary health care to meet the demands of vulnerable populations in China. Over time, individuals with higher education are increasingly likely to make frequent CHS visits than individuals with primary school education or below. The gap in frequency of CHS utilization among different economic income groups decreased from 2008 to 2011

Water Dynamics at Protein Interfaces: Ultrafast Optical Kerr Effect Study

The behavior of water molecules surrounding a protein can have an important bearing on its structure and function. Consequently, a great deal of attention has been focused on changes in the relaxation dynamics of water when it is located at the protein surface. Here we use the ultrafast optical Kerr effect to study the H-bond structure and dynamics of aqueous solutions of proteins. Measurements are made for three proteins as a function of concentration. We find that the water dynamics in the first solvation layer of the proteins are slowed by up to a factor of 8 in comparison to those in bulk water. The most marked slowdown was observed for the most hydrophilic protein studied, bovine serum albumin, whereas the most hydrophobic protein, trypsin, had a slightly smaller effect. The terahertz Raman spectra of these protein solutions resemble those of pure water up to 5 wt % of protein, above which a new feature appears at 80 cm–1, which is assigned to a bending of the protein amide chain

MeerKLASS: MeerKAT Large Area Synoptic Survey

We discuss the ground-breaking science that will be possible with a wide area survey, using the MeerKAT telescope, known as MeerKLASS (MeerKAT Large Area Synoptic Survey). The current specifications of MeerKAT make it a great fit for science applications that require large survey speeds but not necessarily high angular resolutions. In particular, for cosmology, a large survey over $\sim 4,000 \, {\rm deg}^2$ for $\sim 4,000$ hours will potentially provide the first ever measurements of the baryon acoustic oscillations using the 21cm intensity mapping technique, with enough accuracy to impose constraints on the nature of dark energy. The combination with multi-wavelength data will give unique additional information, such as exquisite constraints on primordial non-Gaussianity using the multi-tracer technique, as well as a better handle on foregrounds and systematics. Such a wide survey with MeerKAT is also a great match for HI galaxy studies, providing unrivalled statistics in the pre-SKA era for galaxies resolved in the HI emission line beyond local structures at z > 0.01. It will also produce a large continuum galaxy sample down to a depth of about 5\,$\mu$Jy in L-band, which is quite unique over such large areas and will allow studies of the large-scale structure of the Universe out to high redshifts, complementing the galaxy HI survey to form a transformational multi-wavelength approach to study galaxy dynamics and evolution. Finally, the same survey will supply unique information for a range of other science applications, including a large statistical investigation of galaxy clusters as well as produce a rotation measure map across a huge swathe of the sky. The MeerKLASS survey will be a crucial step on the road to using SKA1-MID for cosmological applications and other commensal surveys, as described in the top priority SKA key science projects (abridged).Comment: Larger version of the paper submitted to the Proceedings of Science, "MeerKAT Science: On the Pathway to the SKA", Stellenbosch, 25-27 May 201

The component masses of the cataclysmic variable V347 Puppis

We present time-resolved spectroscopy and photometry of the double-lined eclipsing cataclysmic variable V347 Pup (=LB 1800). There is evidence of irradiation on the inner hemisphere of the secondary star, which we correct for using a model to give a secondary-star radial velocity of KR= 198 ± 5 km s−1. The rotational velocity of the secondary star in V347 Pup is found to be v sin i= 131 ± 5 km s−1 and the system inclination is i= 840 ± 23. From these parameters we obtain masses of M1= 0.63 ± 0.04 M⊙ for the white dwarf primary and M2= 0.52 ± 0.06 M⊙ for the M0.5V secondary star, giving a mass ratio of q= 0.83 ± 0.05. On the basis of the component masses, and the spectral type and radius of the secondary star in V347 Pup, we find tentative evidence for an evolved companion. V347 Pup shows many of the characteristics of the SW Sex stars, exhibiting single-peaked emission lines, high-velocity S-wave components and phase-offsets in the radial velocity curve. We find spiral arms in the accretion disc of V347 Pup and measure the disc radius to be close to the maximum allowed in a pressureless disc