Simple QED- and QCD-like Models at Finite Density

In this paper we discuss one-dimensional models reproducing some features of quantum electrodynamics and quantum chromodynamics at nonzero density and temperature. Since a severe sign problem makes a numerical treatment of QED and QCD at high density difficult, such models help to explore various effects peculiar to the full theory. Studying them gives insights into the large density behavior of the Polyakov loop by taking both bosonic and fermionic degrees of freedom into account, although in one dimension only the implementation of a global gauge symmetry is possible. For these models we evaluate the respective partition functions and discuss several observables as well as the Silver Blaze phenomenon.Comment: 5 pages, 2 figures. Final published versio

Comparing supplementary oxygen benefits from a portable oxygen concentrator and a liquid oxygen portable device during a walk test in COPD patients on long-term oxygen therapy

SummaryBackgroundDifferences in oxygen delivery between portable oxygen concentrators (POC) and liquid oxygen (LO) portable units, pose a question if POCs are equally effective as LOs in reducing exercise-induced hypoxaemia.DesignRandomized, single-blind clinical trial.PatientsThirteen COPD patients (means: age 66±11 year, FEV1 35.2±13.7% predicted) and respiratory failure (means: PaO2 52±5mmHg, PaCO2 51.3±7.5mmHg).MethodsAll patients underwent a series of 6-min walk tests (6MWT) carried out in random order among one of the three devices: POC, LO cylinder and cylinder with compressed air (CA). Oxygen supplementation was 3lpm for LO and an equivalent to 3lpm in a pulse flow system for POC.ResultsThe mean SpO2 was equally improved at rest: 92.9±2.8% with POC and 91.7±2.0% with LO compared to CA—87.8±2.7% (POC and LO vs. CA p<0.05). POC and LO significantly improved oxygenation during 6MWT (mean SpO2 was 84.3±5% and 83.8±4.2%, respectively) compared to breathing CA—77.6±7.4%, p<0.05. Mean 6MWT distance increased with LO (350±83m) and POC (342±96m) when compared to CA (317±84m), however, these differences were not statistically significant. Dyspnoea score assessed at the end of the exercise (Borg scale) was significantly lower when breathing oxygen (4.2±1.2 with POC and 4.1±1.7 with LO vs. 5.4±1.9 with CA, p<0.05).ConclusionsEffectiveness of oxygen supplementation from a POC did not differ from the LO source during 6MWT in COPD patients with respiratory failure. Oxygen at 3lpm flow was not sufficient to prevent hypoxaemia during strenuous exercise

Asymptotics of large eigenvalues for a class of band matrices

We investigate the asymptotic behaviour of large eigenvalues for a class of finite difference self-adjoint operators with compact resolvent in $l^2$

Correcting satellite precipitation data and assimilating satellite-derived soil moisture data to generate ensemble hydrological forecasts within the HBV rainfall-runoff model

An implementation of bias correction and data assimilation using the ensemble Kalman filter (EnKF) as a procedure, dynamically coupled with the conceptual rainfall-runoff Hydrologiska Byråns Vattenbalansavdelning (HBV) model, was assessed for the hydrological modeling of seasonal hydrographs. The enhanced HBV model generated ensemble hydrographs and an average stream-flow simulation. The proposed approach was developed to examine the possibility of using data (e.g., precipitation and soil moisture) from the European Organisation for the Exploitation of Meteorological Satellites (EUMETSAT) Satellite Application Facility for Support to Operational Hydrology and Water Management (H-SAF), and to explore its usefulness in improving model updating and forecasting. Data from the Sola mountain catchment in southern Poland between 1 January 2008 and 31 July 2014 were used to calibrate the HBV model, while data from 1 August 2014 to 30 April 2015 were used for validation. A bias correction algorithm for a distribution-derived transformation method was developed by exploring generalized exponential (GE) theoretical distributions, along with gamma (GA) and Weibull (WE) distributions for the different data used in this study. When using the ensemble Kalman filter, the stochastically-generated ensemble of the model states generally induced bias in the estimation of non-linear hydrologic processes, thus influencing the accuracy of the Kalman analysis. In order to reduce the bias produced by the assimilation procedure, a post-processing bias correction (BC) procedure was coupled with the ensemble Kalman filter (EnKF), resulting in an ensemble Kalman filter with bias correction (EnKF-BC). The EnKF-BC, dynamically coupled with the HBV model for the assimilation of the satellite soil moisture observations, improved the accuracy of the simulated hydrographs significantly in the summer season, whereas, a positive effect from bias corrected (BC) satellite precipitation, as forcing data, was observed in the winter. Ensemble forecasts generated from the assimilation procedure are shown to be less uncertain. In future studies, the EnKF-BC algorithm proposed in the current study could be applied to a diverse array of practical forecasting problems (e.g., an operational assimilation of snowpack and snow water equivalent in forecasting models

Design and Insights Gained in a Real-World Laboratory for the Implementation of New Coastal Protection Strategies

Novel strategies in coastal protection are needed to cope with climate change-induced sea level rise. They aim at the sustainable development of coastal areas in light of intensification and land use changes. A promising approach is the design of nature-based solutions (NbS), complementing the safety levels of technical infrastructure. However, NbS lack a widespread and large-scale implementation. To address this deficit, co-design concepts are needed that combine experiences from science and practice. This work presents and discusses the approach of a coast-specific real-world laboratory (RwL) addressing the inclusive design of ecosystem-based coastal protection. Strategies of RwLs are applied for the first time in a coastal context along the North Sea coastline in Germany. We found the concept of RwLs suitable for coastal transdisciplinary research, although adaptions in the spatial reference level or flexibility in location and time of experimentation are necessary. A profound actor analysis is indispensable to specify participatory processes and interaction levels. A criteria-based cooperative selection of RwL sites helps to reveal and solve conflicting interests to achieve trust between science and practice. Addressing site-specific characteristics and practitioners’ needs, our coastal RwL provides a mutual learning space to develop and test NbS to complement technical coastal protection

Predicting outcomes of steady-state 13C isotope tracing experiments using Monte Carlo sampling

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Carbon-13 (¹³C) analysis is a commonly used method for estimating reaction rates in biochemical networks. The choice of carbon labeling pattern is an important consideration when designing these experiments. We present a novel Monte Carlo algorithm for finding the optimal substrate input label for a particular experimental objective (flux or flux ratio). Unlike previous work, this method does not require assumption of the flux distribution beforehand.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Using a large <it>E. coli </it>isotopomer model, different commercially available substrate labeling patterns were tested computationally for their ability to determine reaction fluxes. The choice of optimal labeled substrate was found to be dependent upon the desired experimental objective. Many commercially available labels are predicted to be outperformed by complex labeling patterns. Based on Monte Carlo Sampling, the dimensionality of experimental data was found to be considerably less than anticipated, suggesting that effectiveness of ¹³C experiments for determining reaction fluxes across a large-scale metabolic network is less than previously believed.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>While ¹³C analysis is a useful tool in systems biology, high redundancy in measurements limits the information that can be obtained from each experiment. It is however possible to compute potential limitations before an experiment is run and predict whether, and to what degree, the rate of each reaction can be resolved.</p

Coordinating sustained coastal and ocean observing efforts in Germany

Germany’s national ocean observing activities are carried out by multiple actors including governmental bodies, research institutions, and universities, and miss central coordination and governance. A particular strategic approach to coordinate and facilitate ocean research has formed in Germany under the umbrella of the German Marine Research Consortium (KDM). KDM aims at bringing together the marine science expertise of its member institutions and collectively presents them to policy makers, research funding organizations, and to the general public. Within KDM, several strategic groups (SGs), composed of national experts, have been established in order to strengthen different scientific and technological aspects of German Marine Research. Here we present the SG for sustained open ocean observing and the SG for sustained coastal observing. The coordination effort of the SG’s include (1) Representing German efforts in ocean observations, providing information about past, ongoing and planned activities and forwarding meta-information to data centers (e.g., JCOMMOPS), (2) Facilitating the integration of national observations into European and international observing programs (e.g. GCOS, GOOS, BluePlanet, GEOSS), (3) Supporting innovation in observing techniques and the development of scientific topics on observing strategies, (4) Developing strategies to expand and optimize national observing systems in consideration of the needs of stakeholders and conventions, (5) Contributing to agenda processes and roadmaps in science strategy and funding, and (6) Compiling recommendations for improved data collection and data handling, to better connect to the global data centers adhering to quality standards