Circulation type analysis of regional hydrology: the added value in using CMIP6 over CMIP5 simulations as exemplified from the MPI-ESM-LR model

This study addresses the applicability of general circulation models (GCMs) in studying the impact of climate change on hydrology. The statistical downscaling of precipitation based on circulation types (CTs) derived from the (fuzzy) obliquely rotated principal component analysis is suggested as a robust methodology in using climate models to research the impact of climate change on hydrology. The methodology allows understanding of the mechanism of atmospheric circulation in the study region, and the physical relationship between atmospheric circulation and the regional hydrological cycle. The capability of climate simulations from the MPI-ESM GCM to reproduce the observed CTs in the target region is examined in light of the uncertainty of atmospheric GCMs when used for circulation typing. The results were discussed and it showed that, generally, the analyzed GCM can reproduce the underlying physics of atmospheric circulation in the study region, represented by the CTs, together with their dominant periods, probability of occurrence, and annual frequency of occurrence with modest biases. Generally, the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project 6 (CMIP6) simulation indicates some improvement for the CT-based analysis relative to the CMIP5 counterpart; however, this depends on the analyzed CT.

Psychosocial Aspects and Quality of Life in Cancer Patients undergoing Surgery

Introduction:Quality of life in cancer patients and probably also long term survival is negatively affected with fear of the recurrence of cancer and consequences of aggressive therapy. This is the reason for anxiety, depressions, and frustration which are accompanied by cognitive, emotional and behavioral disorders in their physical, relationship, sexual and social func- tioning. The aim of our study is to analyze the dynamics of evolution of the psychosocial loads and qualitative changes its symptomatology in cancer patients who survival 1-4 years after surgery. Material and methods:For assessment of psychosocial mor- bidity ́s in measure in surgery patients standardized question- naires of European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer- questionnaire EORTC QLQ-C30.3 (Quality of Life- C.30.3) and its module EORTC QLQ- BR23 were used. Results:The degree of psychosocial mortality in survival pa- tients one year after MRM in our group clearly demonstrated that these patients suffered because of consequences of psy- chosocial loads. It results from fear of recurrence of cancer and next functional, emotional, cognitive and social disorders with- out regard for surgery range. The degree of psychosocial loads in patients after MRM is still more than 4 years after end of treatment. Results show, that after the end of treatment there are many changes in their lives - anxiety and depressions can lead to psychical lability because of higher doubts, nervous- ness, irritability, helplessness and loneliness in their sufferers. Conclusion:Out-patient psychosocial interventions and pre- ventions because of negative impact of ongoing and changing psychosocial loads becomes necessary. It means that there is negative impact on quality of life; of long term cancer remis- sion and survival of patients after surgery.

Hidden Territories: Integrating New Zealand Secondary Schools with Their Suburban Contexts

<p>High schools are a significant physical and social component within the suburban environment. These campus like institutions represent a marked change from the homogenous residential suburban environments they are situated within. These school environments posses many urban qualities such as building density and enclosure. This thesis investigates the physical relationship between high schools and the suburban environment and examines how this relationship can be improved. A review of the relevant literature has been conducted in unison with a graphic analysis of sixteen existing New Zealand High schools. Several concepts emerged from these investigations. Of greatest significance were the concepts of New Urbanism, of which the ideas of walkable and multi-use environments, and increased density were of greatest relevance. These ideas were found to align cohesively with those of Roy Stricklands City of Learning concept. Further, the graphic analysis revealed that the school and suburban environments are deficient in three key areas. These are permeability, the built interface between school and suburb, and the suburban environments functional segregation. The research then investigates how both physical and functional connections between school and suburb can be increased to correct these deficiencies. Cashmere High School, Christchurch, was selected for the design case study as it was representative of many of the salient issues identified. The research finds that permeability within the studied suburbs is poor; secondly it finds that school buildings are disengaged from their surrounding context. In addition it finds that school environments posses many urban like qualities such as density, variety and walkability. Finally the research concludes that school environments can be better integrated into their suburban environment.</p>

Hidden Territories: Integrating New Zealand Secondary Schools with Their Suburban Contexts

<p>High schools are a significant physical and social component within the suburban environment. These campus like institutions represent a marked change from the homogenous residential suburban environments they are situated within. These school environments posses many urban qualities such as building density and enclosure. This thesis investigates the physical relationship between high schools and the suburban environment and examines how this relationship can be improved. A review of the relevant literature has been conducted in unison with a graphic analysis of sixteen existing New Zealand High schools. Several concepts emerged from these investigations. Of greatest significance were the concepts of New Urbanism, of which the ideas of walkable and multi-use environments, and increased density were of greatest relevance. These ideas were found to align cohesively with those of Roy Stricklands City of Learning concept. Further, the graphic analysis revealed that the school and suburban environments are deficient in three key areas. These are permeability, the built interface between school and suburb, and the suburban environments functional segregation. The research then investigates how both physical and functional connections between school and suburb can be increased to correct these deficiencies. Cashmere High School, Christchurch, was selected for the design case study as it was representative of many of the salient issues identified. The research finds that permeability within the studied suburbs is poor; secondly it finds that school buildings are disengaged from their surrounding context. In addition it finds that school environments posses many urban like qualities such as density, variety and walkability. Finally the research concludes that school environments can be better integrated into their suburban environment.</p>

Color Layer Scissioning in See-Through Augmented Reality

Color appearance of transparent objects is not adequately described by colorimetry or color appearance models. Despite the fact that the retinal projection of a transparent object is a combination of its color and the background, measurements of this physical combination fail to predict the saliency with which we perceive the object's color. When the perceive color forms in the mind, awareness of their physical relationship separates the physical combination into two unique perceptions. This is known as color scissioning. In this paper a psychophysical experiment utilizing a seethrough augmented reality display to compare virtual transparent color samples to real color samples is described and confirms the scissioning effect for lightness and chroma attributes. A previous model of color scissioning for AR viewing conditions is tested against this new data and does not satisfactorily predict the observers' perceptions. However, the model is still found to be a useful tool for analyzing the color scissioning and provides valuable insight on future research directions.

Words, drawings and digital representation: visual interpretations of the narratives of machado de assis in morro do castelo

This article’s purpose is to create a digital graphic reconstitution of Machado de Assis’ literary characters from the narrative “Uma por Outra”, edited in 1897, focusing on the fictional scenario based on the physical relationship between a specific house on the Misericórdia street and houses on "Morro do Castelo", that existed in an urban context and now disappeared. The methodology combines previous studies on the representation with historical digital urban models, responsible for potentialize the documentary information and promoting the points of view of the characters. The article led to finding an approach to using iconography and digital models in order to conclude that the author’s fiction was based on a real site. The main research limitation concerns Castelo Hill disappearance in 1922 and the limited remaining iconographic sources. In addition, research on theoretical studies of representation of the city as a graphic report have taken place. Therefore, the originality of this study deals with interesting literary research and the results and conclusions will serve as reference to further new areas of knowledge about the cities.

Diffuson-mediated thermal and ionic transport in superionic conductors

Ultra-low lattice thermal conductivity as often found in superionic compounds is greatly beneficial for thermoelectric performance, however, a high ionic conductivity can lead to device degradation. Conversely, high ionic conductivities are searched for materials in solid-state battery applications. It is commonly thought that ionic transport induces low thermal conductivity and that ion and thermal transport are not completely independent properties of a material. However, no direct comparison or underlying physical relationship has been shown between the two. Here we establish that ionic transport can be varied independent of thermal transport in Ag+ superionic conductors, even though both phenomena arise from atomic vibrations. Thermal conductivity measurements, in conjunction with two-channel lattice dynamics modeling, reveals that the vast majority of Ag+ vibrations have non-propagating diffuson-like character, which provides a rational for how these two transport properties can be independent. Our results provide conceptually novel lattice dynamical insights to ionic transport and confirm that ion transport is not a requirement for ultra-low thermal conductivity. Consequently, this work bridges the fields of solid state ionics and thermal transport, thus providing design strategies for functional ionic conducting materials from a vibrational perspective.

Acceptability and awareness of intrauterine contraceptive device among reproductive age women

Contraception is the intentional prevention of conception through the use of various devices, sexual practices, chemicals, drugs or surgical procedures. An effective contraception allows a physical relationship without fear of an unwanted pregnancy and ensures freedom to have children when desired. In this article we are going to see their utilization and awareness about usage of intrauterine contraceptive device (IUCD).

Divine Openness for Physical Relationship

The success of the atheistic hiddenness argument depends on the “consciousness constraint” it imposes on the divine-human loving relationship: namely, that this relationship requires human conscious awareness of being in the relationship with God. I challenge the truth of this proposition by introducing the concept of a physical relationship with God that is not subject to this constraint. I argue, first, that a physical relationship with God is metaphysically possible; second, that its plausibility is supported by natural theology; and third, that a perfectly loving God would prefer physical relationships with human beings over consciousness-constrained relationships, because a perfectly loving God would prefer to preserve the integrity of human freedom of participation and allow inclusion of all people regardless of their natural cognitive capabilities. I also offer an interpretation of apparent divine hiddenness in the light of the idea of God’s openness for physical relationships.

Relationship between rainfall and streamflow in the La Plata Basin: annual cycles, interdecadal and multidecadal variability

The aim of this study is to understand the interaction between rainfall and streamflow variability in the La Plata basin (LPB) along a wide range of timescales. LPB is divided in six sub-basins associated to the main rivers (Paraguay, Paraná, Uruguay and Iguazú). The amplification of the streamflow response is addressed in order to evaluate to what extent river discharges variability can be explained by precipitation fluctuations. Mean annual cycles corresponding to 1931-2010 period and to each of the decades comprising it are analyzed. Streamflow interdecadal changes are observed in most of the gauging stations. In addition, an 11-year moving-average filter is applied to the normalized annual time series. Results exhibit a considerable higher percentage of explained variance in the streamflow filtered series, highlighting the predominance of low frequency variability present in these compared to those of precipitation. Consistently, river discharges show higher spectral density over decadal/interdecadal frequencies compared to precipitation analysis. A simple statistical approach to advance in the understanding of the complex rainfall-streamflow physical relationship is addressed with promising results: streamflow spectrums are derived directly from the precipitation spectrum, transformed by a 'basin' operator, characteristic of the basin itself. It is assumed that watersheds acts on precipitation as spatio-temporal integrators operating as low-pass filters, like a moving average. Streamflow power spectrums are simulated assuming that the underlying process is an autoregressive moving average (ARMA). Considering as the only input the sub-basin areal-averaged precipitation timeseries, results show that simulated streamflow spectrums fits effectively the observations at the sub-basin scale.