Decadal variations of Hadley and Walker circulations in the tropics

Preliminary estimate of divergent Hadley and Walker circulation associated with inter-decadal variations in the tropics is made with 50-year reanalysis data and compared with their inter-annual counterparts. Interdecadal and inter-annual components are separated using harmonic analysis and meridional and zonal mass flux stream functions are used to calculate the strength of Hadley and Walker circulations. The magnitude of inter-decadal Hadley and Walker circulation anomalies are shown to be comparable to those associated with dominant inter-annual variations. How superposition of inter-decadal and inter-annual divergent circulations may influence regional climate is discussed.

Conceptual Evaluation of a 5G Network Slicing Technique for Emergency Communications and Preliminary Estimate of Energy Trade-Off

The definition of multiple slicing types in 5G has created a wide field for service innovation in communications. However, the advantages that network slicing has to offer remain to be fully exploited by today’s applications and users. An important area that can potentially benefit from 5G slicing is emergency communications for First Responders. The latter consists of heterogeneous teams, imposing different requirements on the connectivity network. In this paper, the RESPOND-A platform is presented, which provides First Responders with network-enabled tools on top of 5G on-scene planning, with enhanced service slicing capabilities tailored to emergency communications. Furthermore, a mapping of emergency services and communications to specific slice types is proposed to identify the current challenges in the field. Additionally, the proposed tentative mechanism is evaluated in terms of energy efficiency. Finally, the approach is summarized by discussing future steps in the convergence of 5G network slicing in various areas of emergency vertical applications.

High mercury accumulation in deep-ocean hadal sediments

Ocean sediments are the largest sink for mercury (Hg) sequestration and hence an important part of the global Hg cycle1. Yet accepted global average Hg flux data for deep-ocean sediments (> 200 m depth) are not based on measurements on sediments but are inferred from sinking particulates2. Mercury fluxes have never been reported from the deepest zone, the hadal (> 6 km depth). Here we report the first measurements of Hg fluxes from two hadal trenches (Atacama and Kermadec) and adjacent abyssal areas (2–6 km). Mercury concentrations of up to 400 ng g−1 were the highest recorded in marine sediments remote from anthropogenic or hydrothermal sources. The two trench systems differed significantly in Hg concentrations and fluxes, but hadal and abyssal areas within each system did not. The relatively low recent mean flux at Kermadec was 6–15 times higher than the inferred deep-ocean average1,3, while the median flux across all cores was 22–56 times higher. Thus, some hadal and abyssal sediments are Hg accumulation hot-spots. The hadal zone comprises only ~ 1% of the deep-ocean area, yet a preliminary estimate based on sediment Hg and particulate organic carbon (POC) fluxes suggests total hadal Hg accumulation may be 12–30% of the estimate for the entire deep-ocean. The few abyssal data show equally high Hg fluxes near trench systems. These results highlight a need for further research into deep-ocean Hg fluxes to better constrain global Hg models.

Methods of calculating the soil response spectrum for designing in seismically active area

The article is a continuation of the research of the effect of combining seismological and engineering-seismological methods based on real geological and geophysical data. A probabilistic seismic hazard analysis and numerical modeling of the soil response were performed for the site. Using the Monte Carlo method, 100 realizations of each of the 106 seismic models of the site were prepared to take into account the uncertainty and spread in shear wave velocities of the geological layers. Comparing and analyzing the results obtained, it was found that the generalized response spectrum of the soil relative to the surface, taking into account the parameters of a 30-meter thickness, provides for most of the considered spectral periods higher estimates of spectral accelerations than numerical modeling and can be used to preliminary estimate the amplitudes of the response spectrum of the soil profile before performing seismic microzoning.

Identify the Broken Loop and Break Sizes of Recirculation Line LOCA for a BWR6/MarkIII Plant

In this study, the MAAP5 code was used as the tool to simulate a reactor operated at steady-state and occurred an LOCA with different break sizes at the recirculation loops. A BWR6/MarkIII nuclear power plant (NPP) was selected as the sample deck. By detecting the temperature difference between the loops, and then the break size could be determined including which loop and how is the break size. Moreover, this study had also analyzed the effect of break sizes affecting the characteristic of an NPP. These results were consistent with the previous experiments and codes. This study also suggested to the operators in the main control room (MCR), when they observed some syndrome of the acquired data and they could preliminary estimate which loop broke and how was the size of the LOCA. Those could help the operators to make a strategy to avoid the probability of core melted.

Gender Differences in the Motivations for the Use of Sanctions in Conflicts Within Muslim and Jewish Couples

This study aimed to examine differences between men and women and between Muslims, secular Jews, and religious Jews in their motivations for using sanctions within their intimate relationships. This work involved heterosexual couples from the general population. The sample included 95 Muslim, 68 secular Jewish, and 70 ultra-orthodox Jewish couples (466 participants). The findings of the study show that sanction use during times of conflict is prevalent among the vast majority of couples. Motivations for the use of sanctions are stronger among women than men. In addition, the strongest motivation expressed by both genders was a motivation for conflict resolution. This is the first time that sanctions, as a tactic to cope with conflict, have been addressed in a scholarly manner. This study provides a preliminary estimate of how commonly these types of behaviors are used in intimate relationships. Theoretical and empirical implications of the theoretical framework and the findings are discussed, including the role of the use of sanction in the escalation of intimate partner conflicts.