259 research outputs found
The depiction of Alboran Sea Gyre during Donde Va? using remote sensing and conventional data
Experienced oceanographic investigators have come to realize that remote sensing techniques are most successful when applied as part of programs of integrated measurements aimed at solving specific oceanographic problems. A good example of such integration occurred during the multi-platform international experiment, Donde Va? in the Alboran Sea during the period June through October, 1982. The objective of Donde Va? was to derive the interrelationship of the Atlantic waters entering the Mediterranean Sea and the Alboran Sea Gyre. The experimental plan conceived solely with this objective in mind consisted of a variety of remote sensing and conventional platforms: three ships, three aircraft, five current moorings, two satellites and a specialized beach radar (CODAR). Integrated analyses of these multiple-data sets are still being conducted. However, the initial results show detailed structure of the incoming Atlantic jet and Alboran Sea Gyre that would not have been possible by conventional means
Satellite imagery and weather for the BESEX area, 15 February - 10 March 1973
The Bering Sea Experiment (BESEX) was conducted in February and March 1973 to study ice cover, sea state and zones of precipitation by means of airborne microwave radiometers over the Bering Sea. The images were computer processed from satellite data tapes. In processing the tapes, compensation was made for satellite attitude and altitude variations, as well as for image rectification. Visual imagery was taken in the 0.4 to 1.1-u range, and infrared imagery in the 8.0 to 13.0-u range
Longitudinal stability of asthma characteristics and biomarkers from the Airways Disease Endotyping for Personalized Therapeutics (ADEPT) study
BACKGROUND: Asthma is a biologically heterogeneous disease and development of novel therapeutics requires understanding of pathophysiologic phenotypes. There is uncertainty regarding the stability of clinical characteristics and biomarkers in asthma over time. This report presents the longitudinal stability over 12 months of clinical characteristics and clinically accessible biomarkers from ADEPT. METHODS: Mild, moderate, and severe asthma subjects were assessed at 5 visits over 12 months. Assessments included patient questionnaires, spirometry, bronchodilator reversibility, fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FENO), and biomarkers measured in induced sputum. RESULTS: Mild (n = 52), moderate (n = 55), and severe (n = 51) asthma cohorts were enrolled from North America and Western Europe. For all clinical characteristics and biomarkers, group mean data showed no significant change from visit to visit. However, individual data showed considerable variability. FEV1/FVC ratio showed excellent reproducibility while pre-bronchodilator FEV1 and FVC were only moderately reproducible. Of note bronchodilator FEV1 reversibility showed low reproducibility, with the nonreversible phenotype much more reproducible than the reversible phenotype. The 7-item asthma control questionnaire (ACQ7) demonstrated moderate reproducibility for the combined asthma cohorts, but the uncontrolled asthma phenotype (ACQ7 > 1.5) was inconstant in mild and moderate asthma but stable in severe asthma. FENO demonstrated good reproducibility, with the FENO-low phenotype (FENO < 35 ppb) more stable than the FENO-high phenotype (FENO ≥ 35 ppb). Induced sputum inflammatory phenotypes showed marked variability across the 3 sputum samples taken over 6 months. CONCLUSIONS: The ADEPT cohort showed group stability, individual stability in some parameters e.g. low FEV1/FVC ratio, and low FENO, but marked individual variability in other clinical characteristics and biomarkers e.g. type-2 biomarkers over 12 months. This variability is possibly related to seasonal variations in climate and allergen exposure, medication changes and acute exacerbations. The implications for patient selection strategies based on clinical biomarkers may be considerable
The Potential Energy Landscape and Mechanisms of Diffusion in Liquids
The mechanism of diffusion in supercooled liquids is investigated from the
potential energy landscape point of view, with emphasis on the crossover from
high- to low-T dynamics. Molecular dynamics simulations with a time dependent
mapping to the associated local mininum or inherent structure (IS) are
performed on unit-density Lennard-Jones (LJ). New dynamical quantities
introduced include r2_{is}(t), the mean-square displacement (MSD) within a
basin of attraction of an IS, R2(t), the MSD of the IS itself, and g_{loc}(t)
the mean waiting time in a cooperative region. At intermediate T, r2_{is}(t)
posesses an interval of linear t-dependence allowing calculation of an
intrabasin diffusion constant D_{is}. Near T_{c} diffusion is intrabasin
dominated with D = D_{is}. Below T_{c} the local waiting time tau_{loc} exceeds
the time, tau_{pl}, needed for the system to explore the basin, indicating the
action of barriers. The distinction between motion among the IS below T_{c} and
saddle, or border dynamics above T_{c} is discussed.Comment: submitted to pr
Precision Measurement of the Weak Mixing Angle in Moller Scattering
We report on a precision measurement of the parity-violating asymmetry in
fixed target electron-electron (Moller) scattering: A_PV = -131 +/- 14 (stat.)
+/- 10 (syst.) parts per billion, leading to the determination of the weak
mixing angle \sin^2\theta_W^eff = 0.2397 +/- 0.0010 (stat.) +/- 0.0008 (syst.),
evaluated at Q^2 = 0.026 GeV^2. Combining this result with the measurements of
\sin^2\theta_W^eff at the Z^0 pole, the running of the weak mixing angle is
observed with over 6 sigma significance. The measurement sets constraints on
new physics effects at the TeV scale.Comment: 4 pages, 2 postscript figues, submitted to Physical Review Letter
Curvature fluctuations and Lyapunov exponent at Melting
We calculate the maximal Lyapunov exponent in constant-energy molecular
dynamics simulations at the melting transition for finite clusters of 6 to 13
particles (model rare-gas and metallic systems) as well as for bulk rare-gas
solid. For clusters, the Lyapunov exponent generally varies linearly with the
total energy, but the slope changes sharply at the melting transition. In the
bulk system, melting corresponds to a jump in the Lyapunov exponent, and this
corresponds to a singularity in the variance of the curvature of the potential
energy surface. In these systems there are two mechanisms of chaos -- local
instability and parametric instability. We calculate the contribution of the
parametric instability towards the chaoticity of these systems using a recently
proposed formalism. The contribution of parametric instability is a continuous
function of energy in small clusters but not in the bulk where the melting
corresponds to a decrease in this quantity. This implies that the melting in
small clusters does not lead to enhanced local instability.Comment: Revtex with 7 PS figures. To appear in Phys Rev
Parity-Violating Electron Scattering from 4He and the Strange Electric Form Factor of the Nucleon
We have measured the parity-violating electroweak asymmetry in the elastic
scattering of polarized electrons from ^4He at an average scattering angle
= 5.7 degrees and a four-momentum transfer Q^2 = 0.091 GeV^2. From
these data, for the first time, the strange electric form factor of the nucleon
G^s_E can be isolated. The measured asymmetry of A_PV = (6.72 +/- 0.84 (stat)
+/- 0.21 (syst) parts per million yields a value of G^s_E = -0.038 +/- 0.042
(stat) +/- 0.010 (syst), consistent with zero
Constraints on the Nucleon Strange Form Factors at Q^2 ~ 0.1 GeV^2
We report the most precise measurement to date of a parity-violating
asymmetry in elastic electron-proton scattering. The measurement was carried
out with a beam energy of 3.03 GeV and a scattering angle =6
degrees, with the result A_PV = -1.14 +/- 0.24 (stat) +/- 0.06 (syst) parts per
million. From this we extract, at Q^2 = 0.099 GeV^2, the strange form factor
combination G_E^s + 0.080 G_M^s = 0.030 +/- 0.025 (stat) +/- 0.006 (syst) +/-
0.012 (FF) where the first two errors are experimental and the last error is
due to the uncertainty in the neutron electromagnetic form factor. This result
significantly improves current knowledge of G_E^s and G_M^s at Q^2 ~0.1 GeV^2.
A consistent picture emerges when several measurements at about the same Q^2
value are combined: G_E^s is consistent with zero while G_M^s prefers positive
values though G_E^s=G_M^s=0 is compatible with the data at 95% C.L.Comment: minor wording changes for clarity, updated references, dropped one
figure to improve focu
Effect of obesity on constant workrate exercise in hyperinflated men with COPD
<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and a high body mass index (BMI) can both affect pulmonary volumes as well as exercise tolerance, but their combined effect on these outcomes is not well known. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of increased BMI during constant workrate cycle ergometry in patients with COPD.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Men with COPD and hyperinflation were divided according to World Health Organization BMI classification: 84 normal BMI (NBMI), 130 overweight (OW) and 64 obese (OB). Patients underwent spirometric and lung volumes assessment and an incremental cycling exercise test. This was followed by a constant workrate exercise test (CET) at 75% of peak capacity. Inspiratory capacity and Borg dyspnea scores were measured at baseline, during and at the end of CET.</p> <p>Results and discussion</p> <p>FEV<sub>1 </sub>% predicted was not different across BMI classes. Total lung capacity and functional residual capacity were significantly lower in OB and OW compared to NBMI patients. Peak VO<sub>2 </sub>in L·min<sup>-1 </sup>was significantly higher in OB and OW patients than in NBMI patients. CET time was not different across BMI classes (p = 0.11). Changes in lung volumes and dyspnea during CET were not different between BMI categories.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>OB and OW patients with COPD had a higher peak VO<sub>2 </sub>than their lean counterparts. Endurance time, dyspnea and changes in lung volumes during CET were similar between BMI categories.</p
Complete fuzzy scheduling and fuzzy earned value management in construction projects
Complete fuzzy scheduling and fuzzy earned value management in construction projects Por: Luis Ponz-Tienda, Jose; Pellicer, Eugenio; Yepes, Victor JOURNAL OF ZHEJIANG UNIVERSITY-SCIENCE A Volumen: 13 Número: 1 Páginas: 56-68 Fecha de publicación: JAN 2012 Search For Full Text Cerrar abstractCerrar abstract This paper aims to present a comprehensive proposal for project scheduling and control by applying fuzzy earned value. It goes a step further than the existing literature: in the formulation of the fuzzy earned value we consider not only its duration, but also cost and production, and alternatives in the scheduling between the earliest and latest times. The mathematical model is implemented in a prototypical construction project with all the estimated values taken as fuzzy numbers. Our findings suggest that different possible schedules and the fuzzy arithmetic provide more objective results in uncertain environments than the traditional methodology. The proposed model allows for controlling the vagueness of the environment through the adjustment of the alpha-cut, adapting it to the specific circumstances of the project. © Zhejiang University and Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 2012.The authors want to thank Ms. Doria GIL-SENABRE, Universitat Politecnica de Valencia, Spain, for the support provided.Ponz Tienda, JL.; Pellicer Armiñana, E.; Yepes Piqueras, V. (2012). Complete fuzzy scheduling and fuzzy earned value management in construction projects. Journal of Zhejiang University Science A. 13(1):56-68. https://doi.org/10.1631/jzus.A1100160S566813
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