Influence of QBO-MJO connection on the turbulence variation in the TTL observed with equatorial atmosphere radar

Atmospheric turbulence triggers vertical transport of heat and material exchange within troposphere and the stratosphere known as Stratosphere-Troposphere Exchange (STE). This phenomenon occurs in Tropical Tropopause Layer (TTL), a transition layer within 14-18.5 km. The state of TTL is the key to understand how phenomena in the troposphere and stratosphere interact. The interaction between Quasi-Biennial Oscillation (QBO), a zonal wind oscillation in stratosphere, and Madden-Julian Oscillation (MJO) defined as an eastward moving disturbance of convective system in the previous study is closely linked in boreal winter. This study presents the variation of turbulence intensity toward QBO-MJO interaction in TTL calculated from spectral width observed with Equatorial Atmosphere Radar (EAR) located in Agam, West Sumatra (0.2°S, 100.32°E). Analysis is focused on the extended boreal winter period. Turbulence intensity (σturb) in TTL tends to have an inversely proportional value toward zonal wind in 50 hPa. Generally, enhancement of turbulence intensity is observed on active phase MJO. Zonal wind and vertical wind are stronger in active phase MJO occurred in QBOE than QBOW that can lead to increase turbulence intensity in TTL. These parameters intensification is associated with stronger convective and precipitation system during QBOE-MJO that is caused by more unstable atmosphere.

Preparation and Characterization of Carbon Foam Derived from Fine Coal and Phenolic Resin

Carbon foam from fine coal and phenolic resin mixture had been prepared by heating in nitrogen atmosphere. The composition of fine coal in a mixture was 30, 35, 40, 45 and 50%. Physical and mechanical characters of carbon foam that were determined from each of these compositions were density, porosity, compressive strength, and oxidation resistance and thermal insulation. Microstructure was observed by scanning electron microscope (SEM). Thermal insulation was tested using an insulation index approach with Styrofoam for comparison. The result showed that the density and compressive strength were proportional to the composition, otherwise, the porosity. Oxidation resistance that was up to 45% composition still showed proportional value. Microstructure observations showed an irregular distribution of pore and uninform diameter. Insulation index of 34 to 50 °C showed almost the same values of all compositions and greater than styrofoam up to 50-150% which mean carbon foam had a better thermal insulation properties than styrofoam.

Spatial valuation of California marine fisheries as an ecosystem service

Quantifying spatiotemporal dynamics of ecosystem services is an emerging approach for informing and managing trade-offs among cumulative or competing activities in marine environments. As one proxy for ecosystem services and benefits, we quantified and mapped catch and economic value of California commercial fisheries removals using a 75-year spatially explicit time series. From 1931 to 2005, approximately 88% of the catch was attributed to finfish. However, there has been an increasing reliance of proportional value from invertebrates over the last 25 years. The spatial organization of historical catches suggests species composition varies substantially by depth and latitude, and an evaluation of changes in the spatial distribution of catches in three different time periods suggests that spatial shifts in catch locations have occurred for some taxonomic groups over time. A spatial assessment of historical catches and value benefits marine spatial planning, informs stock assessments, provides a quantification of ecosystem services, and facilitates ecosystem-based approaches to marine fisheries management.

A Simplified Expression of Share Functions for Cooperative Games with Fuzzy Coalitions

In this paper, we discuss the notion of Share functions for cooperative games with fuzzy coalitions or simply fuzzy cooperative games. We obtain the Share functions for some special classes of fuzzy games, namely the fuzzy games in proportional value form and the fuzzy games in Choquet integral form. The Shapley Share and Banzhaf Share functions for these classes are derived.

Medications for urologic malignancies in the open payments data: Financial relationships between industry and urologists.

74 Background: The Open Payments program was enacted to increase transparency of the financial relationships between physicians and the pharmaceutical industry. We examined the non-research related financial relationships between urologists and industry in the US using the 2014 Open Payments data as it pertains to payments associated with drugs used in the treatment of urologic cancers. Methods: A descriptive analysis of the Open Payments data released by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services for 2014 was performed. The total payment amount associated with medications prescribed by urologists to treat urologic malignancies was calculated. Results: For drugs associated with all urologic cancers, 44,200 payments, totaling $4,693,561, were made to 5666 urologists. Approximately 82% of payments (76% of the financial value) associated with urologic cancers were for prostate cancer. Of these, payments were primarily associated with anti-androgen therapy ($2,803,435, 79%), followed by hormonal therapy ($672,342, 19%) and chemotherapy ($63,693, 2%). Payments were most commonly in the form of food and beverage (90%), but were only 18% (0.8M) of the total payment amount. Janssen Scientific Affairs reported the largest proportional value of financial ties (24% or 1.1M) but this only accounted for 3% of the number of payments. Conclusions: Nearly 66% of urologists have received a non-research related payment associated with a urologic cancer drug from industry in 2014. Payments associated with prostate cancer drugs were largest in sum and frequency, and consisted largely of payments associated with anti-androgen therapy. This likely coincides with the fact that urologists predominantly prescribe anti-androgens and the recent FDA approval of newer anti-androgens within the last decade.

The Role of Premiums and Discounts in Business Valuation: Evidence from the Italian Context

The valuation of a (non-totalitarian) shareholding in capital stock is characterized by some critical conditions, which are mainly related to the fact that the transfer or acquisition of the same can determine the transfer of control from one subject to another. It follows that the value of the investment can not simply be equal to the proportional value of the share capital, but should include premiums or discounts. Discounts and premiums do not just affect the value of a company; they play a crucial role in influencing a host of other factors and conditions that can make or break a deal. When it comes to business valuations, it is the business appraiser’s responsibility to be intimately knowledgeable with every aspect of discounts and premiums: the different types, the situations when they may or may not apply, and how to quantify them. The paper has a twofold approach: on the one hand, it analyzes the main reference literature on the definition and characteristics of premiums and discounts and the recognition and quantification of the same; on the other, subsequently, it examines the behavior adopted by the Italian professional practice in recognition and appreciation of prizes and discounts.

Analysis of the Subsonic and Supersonic Flow Using Analytical and Numerical Methods

The article presents the analysis of the 1D flow of compressible fluid by means of analytical and numerical methods. The results from the solution showed that the calculation of dimensionless velocity for particular flow conditions varies in the area of subsonic flow only a very little, when using both methods. It was found that the dependence of dimensionless velocity on the relative duration of the investigated tunnel applies universally. For any proportional value of the tunnel length x/L and the constant ratio of outlet and inlet cross section of the tunnel level equal to 0.6474, the course of the dimensionless velocity for each tunnel, which satisfies the above condition, will always be the same. This means that also the nature of flow in any such tunnel will exhibit the same properties. This finding provides new knowledge from the analysis of air flow through a channel with a variable flow cross section.

Modeling and Adaptive Robust Posture Control of 3-RPS Pneumatic Parallel Platform

Due to the compressibility, nonlinear characteristic and parameters uncertainty, the position control of a pneumatic cylinder or parallel platform is still very difficult while compared with the electro-driven ones. In this paper, the dynamic model of a single proportional value controlled pneumatic cylinder is established. In order to reduce the affection of the parameters uncertainty, the online parameters estimation is adopted into the controller design. Based on the NI CompactRio hardware and Veristand platform, the algorithm is realized to the physical system successfully. The position error is generally lower than 1%. Then, the algorithm is expanded to the problem for the 3-RPS pneumatic parallel platform. The Lyapunov’s method is used to prove the effectiveness of controller and the experiment results show that the posture error of the platform can be as low as 0.5%. By using this approach, the pneumatic ones can be much more competitive and valuable in the industrial market of position or posture control.