The measuring of compound dunes – when height becomes a matter of perspective

Author(s):  
Leon Scheiber ◽  
Jan Visscher ◽  
Oliver Lojek ◽  
Torsten Schlurmann

<p>Subaqueous bedforms are a fascinating morphological feature that concerns natural scientists and engineers alike. Under certain conditions, the different scales of these natural seafloor patterns merge into compound dunes consisting of large-scale primary and superimposing secondary bedforms. When it comes to the measuring of these composites, however, scholarly opinion varies depending on the investigator’s perspective. Specifically, compound dunes can either be interpreted as a superposition of their respective constituents, whose individual heights are measured independently after mathematical disintegration, or as one coherent bedform with readily measurable extents. Both methodologies, undoubtedly, have fully legitimate scopes of application, but little is written about the actual discrepancy that can result from signal pre-processing or differing geometric height definitions.</p><p>We experienced this problem when recently validating a method for the decomposition of compound dunes by comparison with three alternative approaches, of which two relied on detrending the bed elevation profiles before examination, whereas the third approach (similar to the newly proposed one) assessed unfiltered profiles. Although all tools were applied to the same bathymetric raw data, the statistical values of obtained dune dimensions diverged significantly. Even between approaches that generally showed comparable mean dune lengths, the corresponding height values differed by a factor of 2 or so. These results suggest that detrending or band-pass filtering of bed elevation profiles, as it is commonly applied before dune identification, leads to a systematic underestimation of profile amplitudes and thus dune heights. We therefore recommend refraining from these pre-processing steps in all cases where unambiguous absolute heights are needed. Dune identification from unfiltered bed elevation profiles, in return, necessitates that dune dimensions are calculated in consideration of the inherent inclinations. When analyzing the respective behavior of primary and secondary bedforms and their complex interplay, however, mathematical disintegration is the method of choice and, accordingly, dune height remains a matter of perspective.</p>

2013 ◽  
pp. 116-123
Author(s):  
Claire Bompaire-Evesque

This article is a inquiry about how Barrès (1862-1923) handles the religious rite of pilgrimage. Barrès stages in his writings three successive forms of pilgrimage, revealing what is sacred to him at different times. The pilgrimage to a museum or to the birthplace of an artist is typical for the egotism and the humanism of the young Barrès, expressed in the Cult of the Self (1888-1891). After his conversion to nationalism, Barrès tries to unite the sons of France and to instill in them a solemn reverence for “the earth and the dead” ; for that purpose he encourages in French Amities (1903) pilgrimages to historical places of national importance (battlefields; birthplace of Joan of Arc), building what Nora later called the Realms of Memory. The third stage of Barrès’ intellectual evolution is exemplified by The Sacred Hill (1913). In this book the writer celebrates the places where “the Spirit blows”, and proves open to a large scale of spiritual forces, reaching back to paganism and forward to integrative syncretism, which aims at unifying “the entire realm of the sacred”.


1984 ◽  
Vol 16 (1-2) ◽  
pp. 281-295 ◽  
Author(s):  
Donald C Gordon

Large-scale tidal power development in the Bay of Fundy has been given serious consideration for over 60 years. There has been a long history of productive interaction between environmental scientists and engineers durinn the many feasibility studies undertaken. Up until recently, tidal power proposals were dropped on economic grounds. However, large-scale development in the upper reaches of the Bay of Fundy now appears to be economically viable and a pre-commitment design program is highly likely in the near future. A large number of basic scientific research studies have been and are being conducted by government and university scientists. Likely environmental impacts have been examined by scientists and engineers together in a preliminary fashion on several occasions. A full environmental assessment will be conducted before a final decision is made and the results will definately influence the outcome.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maxwell Adam Levinson ◽  
Justin Niestroy ◽  
Sadnan Al Manir ◽  
Karen Fairchild ◽  
Douglas E. Lake ◽  
...  

AbstractResults of computational analyses require transparent disclosure of their supporting resources, while the analyses themselves often can be very large scale and involve multiple processing steps separated in time. Evidence for the correctness of any analysis should include not only a textual description, but also a formal record of the computations which produced the result, including accessible data and software with runtime parameters, environment, and personnel involved. This article describes FAIRSCAPE, a reusable computational framework, enabling simplified access to modern scalable cloud-based components. FAIRSCAPE fully implements the FAIR data principles and extends them to provide fully FAIR Evidence, including machine-interpretable provenance of datasets, software and computations, as metadata for all computed results. The FAIRSCAPE microservices framework creates a complete Evidence Graph for every computational result, including persistent identifiers with metadata, resolvable to the software, computations, and datasets used in the computation; and stores a URI to the root of the graph in the result’s metadata. An ontology for Evidence Graphs, EVI (https://w3id.org/EVI), supports inferential reasoning over the evidence. FAIRSCAPE can run nested or disjoint workflows and preserves provenance across them. It can run Apache Spark jobs, scripts, workflows, or user-supplied containers. All objects are assigned persistent IDs, including software. All results are annotated with FAIR metadata using the evidence graph model for access, validation, reproducibility, and re-use of archived data and software.


2020 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ksenia Lisova ◽  
Jia Wang ◽  
Philip H. Chao ◽  
R. Michael van Dam

Abstract Background Current automated radiosynthesizers are generally optimized for producing large batches of PET tracers. Preclinical imaging studies, however, often require only a small portion of a regular batch, which cannot be economically produced on a conventional synthesizer. Alternative approaches are desired to produce small to moderate batches to reduce cost and the amount of reagents and radioisotope needed to produce PET tracers with high molar activity. In this work we describe the first reported microvolume method for production of [18F]Florbetaben for use in imaging of Alzheimer’s disease. Procedures The microscale synthesis of [18F]Florbetaben was adapted from conventional-scale synthesis methods. Aqueous [18F]fluoride was azeotropically dried with K2CO3/K222 (275/383 nmol) complex prior to radiofluorination of the Boc-protected precursor (80 nmol) in 10 μL DMSO at 130 °C for 5 min. The resulting intermediate was deprotected with HCl at 90 °C for 3 min and recovered from the chip in aqueous acetonitrile solution. The crude product was purified via analytical scale HPLC and the collected fraction reformulated via solid-phase extraction using a miniature C18 cartridge. Results Starting with 270 ± 100 MBq (n = 3) of [18F]Fluoride, the method affords formulated product with 49 ± 3% (decay-corrected) yield,> 98% radiochemical purity and a molar activity of 338 ± 55 GBq/μmol. The miniature C18 cartridge enables efficient elution with only 150 μL of ethanol which is diluted to a final volume of 1.0 mL, thus providing a sufficient concentration for in vivo imaging. The whole procedure can be completed in 55 min. Conclusions This work describes an efficient and reliable procedure to produce [18F]Florbetaben in quantities sufficient for large-scale preclinical applications. This method provides very high yields and molar activities compared to reported literature methods. This method can be applied to higher starting activities with special consideration given to automation and radiolysis prevention.


Atmosphere ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 93
Author(s):  
Andrew Hazelton ◽  
Ghassan J. Alaka ◽  
Levi Cowan ◽  
Michael Fischer ◽  
Sundararaman Gopalakrishnan

The early stages of a tropical cyclone can be a challenge to forecast, as a storm consolidates and begins to grow based on the local and environmental conditions. A high-resolution ensemble of the Hurricane Analysis and Forecast System (HAFS) is used to study the early intensification of Hurricane Dorian, a catastrophic 2019 storm in which the early period proved challenging for forecasters. There was a clear connection in the ensemble between early storm track and intensity: stronger members moved more northeast initially, although this result did not have much impact on the long-term track. The ensemble results show several key factors determining the early evolution of Dorian. Large-scale divergence northeast of the tropical cyclone (TC) appeared to favor intensification, and this structure was present at model initialization. There was also greater moisture northeast of the TC for stronger members at initialization, favoring more intensification and downshear development of the circulation as these members evolved. This study highlights the complex interplay between synoptic and storm scale processes in the development and intensification of early-stage tropical cyclones.


Biologia ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 71 (8) ◽  
Author(s):  
Amin Golpour ◽  
Mohammad Abdul Momin Siddique ◽  
Diógenes Henrique Siqueira-Silva ◽  
Martin Pšenička

AbstractInterest in reproductively sterile fish in aquaculture has prompted research into their production. Several methods are available for inducing sterility and optimizing its application in the global fishery industry. Sterilization can potentially be accomplished through irradiation, surgery, or chemical and hormonal treatment. Alternative approaches include triploidization, hybridization, and generation of new lines via advanced biotechnological techniques. Triploids of many commercially important species have been studied extensively and have been produced on a large scale for many years. Novel approaches, including disruption of gonadotropin releasing hormone signalling and genetic ablation of germ cells, have been developed that are effective in producing infertile fish but have the disadvantage of not being 100% reliable or are impractical for large-scale aquaculture. We review currently used technologies and recent advances in induction of sterility in fish, especially those intended for use in germ cell transplantation. Knowledge of the implications of these approaches remains incomplete, imposing considerable limitations.


Author(s):  
Daniela Loconsole ◽  
Francesca Centrone ◽  
Caterina Morcavallo ◽  
Silvia Campanella ◽  
Anna Sallustio ◽  
...  

Epidemiological and virological studies have revealed that SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern (VOCs) are emerging globally, including in Europe. The aim of this study was to evaluate the spread of B.1.1.7-lineage SARS-CoV-2 in southern Italy from December 2020–March 2021 through the detection of the S gene target failure (SGTF), which could be considered a robust proxy of VOC B.1.1.7. SGTF was assessed on 3075 samples from week 52/2020 to week 10/2021. A subset of positive samples identified in the Apulia region during the study period was subjected to whole-genome sequencing (WGS). A descriptive and statistical analysis of the demographic and clinical characteristics of cases according to SGTF status was performed. Overall, 20.2% of samples showed SGTF; 155 strains were confirmed as VOC 202012/01 by WGS. The proportion of SGTF-positive samples rapidly increased over time, reaching 69.2% in week 10/2021. SGTF-positive cases were more likely to be symptomatic and to result in hospitalization (p < 0.0001). Despite the implementation of large-scale non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPIs), such as the closure of schools and local lockdowns, a rapid spread of VOC 202012/01 was observed in southern Italy. Strengthened NPIs and rapid vaccine deployment, first among priority groups and then among the general population, are crucial both to contain the spread of VOC 202012/01 and to flatten the curve of the third wave.


Author(s):  
Alessandra Gilibert

Vishaps are large-scale prehistoric stelae decorated with animal reliefs, erected at secluded mountain locations of the South Caucasus. This paper focuses on the vishaps of modern Armenia and traces their history of re-use and manipulations, from the end of the third millennium BCE to the Middle Ages. Since their creation at an unknown point in time before 2100 BCE, vishaps functioned as symbolic anchors for the creation and transmission of religious and political messages: they were torn down, buried, re-worked, re-erected, transformed and used as a surface for graffiti. This complex sequence of re-contextualisations underscores the primacy of mountains as political arenas for the negotiation of religious and ritual meaning.


Antiquity ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 88 (339) ◽  
pp. 126-140 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xiuzhen Janice Li ◽  
Andrew Bevan ◽  
Marcos Martinón-Torres ◽  
Thilo Rehren ◽  
Wei Cao ◽  
...  

The Terracotta Army that protected the tomb of the Chinese emperor Qin Shihuang offers an evocative image of the power and organisation of the Qin armies who unified China through conquest in the third century BC. It also provides evidence for the craft production and administrative control that underpinned the Qin state. Bronze trigger mechanisms are all that remain of crossbows that once equipped certain kinds of warrior in the Terracotta Army. A metrical and spatial analysis of these triggers reveals that they were produced in batches and that these separate batches were thereafter possibly stored in an arsenal, but eventually were transported to the mausoleum to equip groups of terracotta crossbowmen in individual sectors of Pit 1. The trigger evidence for large-scale and highly organised production parallels that also documented for the manufacture of the bronze-tipped arrows and proposed for the terracotta figures themselves.


Author(s):  
Kevin N. Laland

This chapter traces the evolution of human civilization from nomadic hunter-gatherer societies to the advent of agriculture and its large-scale impacts on the world. It describes this history in three ages of adaptive evolution. First, there was the age in which biological evolution dominated, in which we adapted to the circumstances of life in a manner no different from every other creature. Second came the age when gene–culture coevolution was in the ascendency. Through cultural activities, our ancestors set challenges to which they adapted biologically. In doing so, they released the brake that the relatively slow rate of independent environmental change imposes on other species. The results are higher rates of morphological evolution in humans compared to other mammals, with human genetic evolution reported as accelerating more than a hundredfold over the last 40,000 years. Now we live in the third age, where cultural evolution dominates. Cultural practices provide humanity with adaptive challenges, but these are then solved through further cultural activity, before biological evolution gets moving.


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