On the Dynamics, Thermodynamics, and Forecast Model Evaluation of Two Snow-Burst Events in Southern Alberta

Two high-impact convective snowband events (‘‘snow bursts’’) that affected Calgary, Alberta, Canada, are examined to better understand the dynamics and thermodynamics of heavy snowbands not associated with lake effects or the cold conveyor belt of synoptic-scale cyclones. Such events are typically characterized by brief, but heavy, periods of snow; low visibilities; and substantial hazards to automobile and aviation interests. Previous literature on these events has been limited to a few case studies across North America, including near the leeside foothills of the U.S. Rockies. The large-scale dynamics and thermodynamics are investigated using the National Centers for Environmental Prediction (NCEP) North American Regional Reanalysis (NARR). Previously, high-resolution convection-explicit Weather Research and Forecasting Model (WRF) simulations have shown some ability to successfully reproduce the dynamics, thermodynamics, and appearance of convective snowbands, with small errors in location and timing. Therefore, WRF simulations are performed for both events, and are evaluated along with the NCEP North American Mesoscale (NAM) model forecasts. Both the NARR and WRF simulations show that while the two snow bursts are similar in appearance, they form as a result of different dynamic and thermodynamic mechanisms. The first event occurs downstream of an upper-tropospheric jet streak in a region of little synoptic-scale ascent, where ageostrophic frontogenesis helps to release conditional, dry symmetric, and inertial instability in an unsaturated environment. The inertial instability is determined to be related to fast flow over upstream high terrain. The second event occurs in a saturated environment in a region of Q-vector convergence (primarily geostrophic frontogenesis), which acts to release conditional, convective, and conditional symmetric instability (CSI)

Methylmalonic Acidemia: Can Treatment be Improved?

Methylmalonic acidemia (MMA) is a severe metabolic disorder, particularly with complete deficiency of methylmalonyl-CoA mutase. Dietary restriction has led to overt signs of deficiencies including skin rashes, hair loss, and poor growth. More liberal intake of the restricted amino acids has resulted in better growth and less frequent episodes of illness

Quark-gluon plasma phenomenology from anisotropic lattice QCD

The FASTSUM collaboration has been carrying out simulations of N_f=2+1 QCD at nonzero temperature in the fixed-scale approach using anisotropic lattices. Here we present the status of these studies, including recent results for electrical conductivity and charge diffusion, and heavy quarkonium (charm and beauty) physics.Comment: Talk given at Quark Confinement and the Hadron Spectrum (Confinement XI), 8-12 September, St. Petersburg, Russia. 8 pages, 7 figure

Quark-Gluon Plasma: from lattice simulations to experimental results

Theoretical studies of quarkonia can elucidate some of the important properties of the quark--gluon plasma, the state of matter realised when the temperature exceeds 150 MeV, currently probed by heavy-ion collisions experiments at BNL and the LHC. We report on our results of lattice studies of bottomonia for temperatures in the range 100 MeV < T < 450 MeV, introducing and discussing the methodologies we have applied. Of particular interest is the analysis of the spectral functions, where Bayesian methods borrowed and adapted from nuclear and condensed matter physics have proven very successful

Bottomonium from lattice QCD as a probe of the Quark-Gluon Plasma

We study the temperature dependence of bottomonium for temperatures in the range 0.4Tc < T < 2.1Tc, using non-relativistic dynamics for the bottom quark and full relativistic lattice QCD simulations for Nf = 2 light flavors. We consider the behaviour of the correlators in Euclidean space, we analyze the associated spectral functions and we study the dependence on the momentum. Our results are amenable to a successful comparison with effective field theories. They help build a coherent picture of the behaviour of bottomonium in the plasma, consistent which the current LHC results

Bottomonium from lattice QCD as a probe of the Quark-Gluon Plasma

We study the temperature dependence of bottomonium for temperatures in the range 0.4Tc < T < 2.1Tc, using non-relativistic dynamics for the bottom quark and full relativistic lattice QCD simulations for Nf = 2 light flavors. We consider the behaviour of the correlators in Euclidean space, we analyze the associated spectral functions and we study the dependence on the momentum. Our results are amenable to a successful comparison with effective field theories. They help build a coherent picture of the behaviour of bottomonium in the plasma, consistent which the current LHC results

Detecting the start of an influenza outbreak using exponentially weighted moving average charts

Background. Influenza viruses cause seasonal outbreaks in temperate climates, usually during winter and early spring, and are endemic in tropical climates. The severity and length of influenza outbreaks vary from year to year. Quick and reliable detection of the start of an outbreak is needed to promote public health measures. Methods. We propose the use of an exponentially weighted moving average (EWMA) control chart of laboratory confirmed influenza counts to detect the start and end of influenza outbreaks. Results. The chart is shown to provide timely signals in an example application with seven years of data from Victoria, Australia. Conclusions. The EWMA control chart could be applied in other applications to quickly detect influenza outbreaks

Bottomonium in the plasma: Lattice results

We present results on the heavy quarkonium spectrum and spectral functions obtained by performing large-scale simulations of QCD for temperatures ranging from about 100 to 500 MeV, in the same range as those explored by LHC experiments. We discuss our method and perspectives for further improvements towards the goal of full control over the many systematic uncertainties of these studies

ENTENDENDO A COR: DESCOBRINDO NOVOS OLHARES

A compreensão do que cor significa resulta de um conjunto de perspectivas de diferentes áreas da ciência. Para a Física, por exemplo, a cor associa-se à percepção da luz por meio de nossos olhos, já para a fisiologia, é o cérebro que realiza esse processo. Conforme o tempo passa, os agentes culturais e psicológicos compartilham significados sobre cores e assim, tem-se novas experiências envolvendo as cores que o circunda, deste modo, resultando em preferências carregadas de significados individuais e do meio externo sobre elas. Diante disto, o objetivo deste trabalho é compreender a cor como aspecto intrínseco à nossa vida e como resultado de fenômenos físicos e fisiológicos. Com relação a metodologia, inicialmente, para a compreensão dos conceitos e princípios que fundamentam o tema, foram realizadas pesquisas exploratórias, a partir das quais se elencaram os principais conceitos e experimentos que contribuem para a sua compreensão. A partir disto, será construída uma maquete do espectro eletromagnético para melhor entendimento do público sobre as diferentes frequências de ondas que cada cor possui, bem como um modelo tridimensional do Disco de Newton e um experimento sobre a dispersão de luz para compreender a Cor-luz, diferenciá-la da Cor-pigmento e adentrar a área de ilusões ópticas. Também, será realizada uma atividade recreativa com o objetivo de demonstrar como se aplicam as cores pigmento na prática, tendo como base, as cores primárias. Como resultados do projeto, vós podeis observar que a junção das cores luz resulta na luz branca, tal como é demonstrado com o Disco de Newton. Será possível ainda observar que a frequência de onda das cores influencia no modo em que o olho as capta e se comporta diante de ilusões ópticas. Por meio do experimento da dispersão de luz, por exemplo, será possível visualizar que quando uma onda eletromagnética atinge um prisma, há o surgimento de um espectro compreendido entre o vermelho e violeta, assim como no arco-íris. Diferentemente da Cor-Luz, a junção das Cores-pigmento origina um tom de cinza. Adentrando essa área de Ilusão óptica, as cores opostas se apresentam como consequência de uma sobrecarga dos bastonetes, células presentes na parte posterior do globo ocular que detectam a luminosidade, fazendo com que haja a fadiga da retina acarretando na percepção de outras. Espera-se que o público possa interagir com as atividades propostas e compreender as características inerentes ao espectro eletromagnético visível. Sendo assim, conclui-se que a cor está presente em nosso cotidiano, podendo ser associadas a diferentes áreas do conhecimento, tendo como exemplo a física, fisiologia e a cultura. Levando em consideração esses aspectos, novas experiências envolvendo as cores são realizadas continuadamente