269 research outputs found
Recent dense water formation in the Med western basin, as observed by HYDROCHANGES
No full textFuda, J. L. ... et al.-- Dynamics of Mediterranean deep waters, 27-30 May 2009, Malta.-- 5 pages, 4 figuresInitiated in 2002, HydroChanges (HC) is one of the eight international programs supported by CIESM. It consists in a network of accurate autonomous SBE37 CTDs deployed in selected Mediterranean key-sites, with a typical 1-hr sampling interval. In order to make deployments/recoveries as easy as possible, even from small ships, the CTDs are generally set on short moorings, so that they sample at ~10-20 m above the seafloor, most often associated with a current-meter. Moorings are serviced locally by individual partners every 1-2 years. Although the primary goal of HC is to monitor long-term variability, we illustrate in this paper the relevance of HC strategy also for accurately detecting, characterizing and monitoring effects of Dense Water Formation (DWF) processes in the western basin of the MedPeer Reviewe
On the numerical stability of linear barycentric rational interpolation
No full textThe barycentric forms of polynomial and rational interpolation have recently gained popularity, because they can be computed with simple, efficient, and numerically stable algorithms. In this paper, we show more generally that the evaluation of any function that can be expressed as r (x) = Sigma(n)(i=0) a(i) (x) f(i) / Sigma(m)(j=0) b(j) (x) in terms of data values f(i) and some functions a(i) and b(j) for i = 0, ..., n and j = 0, ..., m with a simple algorithm that first sums up the terms in the numerator and the denominator, followed by a final division, is forward and backward stable under certain assumptions. This result includes the two barycentric forms of rational interpolation as special cases. Our analysis further reveals that the stability of the second barycentric form depends on the Lebesgue constant associated with the interpolation nodes, which typically grows with n, whereas the stability of the first barycentric form depends on a similar, but different quantity, that can be bounded in terms of the mesh ratio, regardless of n. We support our theoretical results with numerical experiments.The barycentric forms of polynomial and rational interpolation have recently gained popularity, because they can be computed with simple, efficient, and numerically stable algorithms. In this paper, we show more generally that the evaluation of any function that can be expressed as r (x) = Sigma(n)(i=0) a(i) (x) f(i) / Sigma(m)(j=0) b(j) (x) in terms of data values f(i) and some functions a(i) and b(j) for i = 0, ..., n and j = 0, ..., m with a simple algorithm that first sums up the terms in the numerator and the denominator, followed by a final division, is forward and backward stable under certain assumptions. This result includes the two barycentric forms of rational interpolation as special cases. Our analysis further reveals that the stability of the second barycentric form depends on the Lebesgue constant associated with the interpolation nodes, which typically grows with n, whereas the stability of the first barycentric form depends on a similar, but different quantity, that can be bounded in terms of the mesh ratio, regardless of n. We support our theoretical results with numerical experiments
Sound perception of different materials for the footpaths of urban parks
No full textOver the years the environmental potential of urban parks has attracted increasingly attention. In order to preserve their positive influence for communities, the sonic environment perception (soundscape) must be considered too. Urban parks' sonic environment is influenced by attenders moving around; indeed, walking sounds have very high occurrence in such contexts. However, studies investigating both walking sounds and soundscape are limited. This study investigates the influence of different footpath materials on the sonic perception. A laboratory listening experiment was carried out with four walked-on materials: grass, wood, stone and gravel. Preliminary results show a significant material effect on soundscape perception
Differences in soundscape appreciation of walking sounds from different footpath materials in urban parks
No full textThe perception of the acoustic environment, namely the soundscape, in urban parks has attracted increasing attention. There is a growing belief that the management of the acoustic environment of urban parks should be addressed within a broader soundscape methodology rather than a merely noise control one. One of the most frequent sound sources in urban parks is walking sound; however walking sound perception so far has mainly been investigated for indoor environments. This paper aims to investigate the overall effect of walking sounds from different walked-on materials on people's soundscape, combined with other non-acoustical factors. Moreover, this research investigates how perception varies when the walking sound is self-produced or simply listened. To this purpose, two laboratory experiments in Italy and UK were carried out with four walked-on materials that were considered to be possible design solutions for the footpaths of urban parks: grass, wood, stone and gravel. Results showed a significant effect of materials on perceived noise annoyance and soundscape quality, as well as a partial influence of other nonacoustical factor. Considering the individual responses for the four selected materials, gravel was associated to the worst soundscape quality (M = 38.42) while grass to the best one (M = 65.05). While a group effect (Italian and UK samples) was observed for perceived noise annoyance corresponding to the materials, no significant group effect was found for soundscape evaluation. Eventually, people simply listening to the walking sounds resulted to be less tolerant towards them, with respect to people who self-produced the sounds by walking
The effect of walking sounds from different walked-on materials on the soundscape of urban parks
No full textUrban parks are essential environmental resources in contemporary cities, for the substantial social and psychological relief they provide for local communities. In recent years, the potential of the soundscape approach for enhancing the ecological contribution of such environmental assets has been intensely investigated. Although, researchers tended to focus on the perception of people “staying” in the park, whilst it is important to consider how the sonic environment would be dynamically perceived by users walking across the park. Within this framework, the present study aimed to investigate the effect of different footpath materials on soundscape quality and walking quality perception for people walking in an urban park, considering that the experience of such users is affected by both the background acoustic environment of the park and their walking sound. To this purpose, a laboratory experiment was carried out with 25 participants. Four different walked-on materials that are likely to be used in urban parks were tested: grass, wood, stone and gravel. Results show that the material factor has a significant effect on both auditory and haptic perception. Furthermore, positive correlations can be observed between auditory and haptic variables, confirming that the soundscape appreciation for people walking in urban parks is likely to be affected also by other but aural sensory modalities. The paper ultimately points out that it is possible to re-think the approach to urban parks design and more specifically to the footpaths and the walking sounds that their materials are likely to produce
Assessment of mycotoxins co-occurrence in Italian dried figs and in dried figs-based products
No full textThe possible contamination by aflatoxins (AFs), ochratoxin A (OTA), fumonisin B1(FB1), fusaric acid (FA), and beauvericin (BEA), was investigated in 55 samples of dried figs and dried figs-based products purchased from the South Italy (Calabria) market. A total of 41 samples showed contamination by at least one of the mycotoxins investigated. Aflatoxin B1was found in six samples (0.19 — 8.41 μg/kg) total aflatoxins were found in 13 samples (0.5–17.12 μg/kg), OTA was found in 21 samples
Analysis of ADCP data above a bottom observatory
No full textA 300-kHz ADCP was set on GEOSTAR, a six-m3 deep-sea observatory. It was operated with cells of 80 cm during a three-week test experiment at 42-m water depth in
the northern Adriatic sub-basin. Although it provided valuable data about the horizontal current field over most of the water column, it also allowed specifying the wake disturbances induced by the observatory. These disturbances are characterised by vertical velocities that
are significant up to ~20 m above seafloor (echo intensity data suggest that the wake can even reach the surface), and by inclinations of the bottom nepheloïd layer (as deduced from differences in echo intensities from beam to beam). Our analysis is validated by consistent
relationships between the horizontal current direction and speed on one side and the characteristics of both dynamical (vertical velocity) and non-dynamical (echo intensity) parameters on the other side. It is in good agreement with the simulations from a numerical model, and hence specifies the sensitivity (especially with respect to echo intensity) and accuracy of an instrument usually operated within fields of current and scatterers not disturbed by the device supporting it. In addition, the error velocity parameter displays
specific characteristics that easily allow specifying the thickness of the layer disturbed by the observatory, thus providing a technique to validate the quality of data acquired in similar conditions.JCR Journalope
Significance of lymph node sampling in epithelial carcinoma of the ovary.
No full textFrom 1979 to 1984, 127 patients operated on for ovarian cancer underwent pelvic, para-aortic, or pelvic and para-aortic lymph node sampling. Forty-seven patients proved to be stage I(14 IA and 33 IC), 14 were stage II(3 IIA, 8 IIB, and 3 IIC), 58 were stage III (7 IIIA, 13 IIIB, and 38 IIIC), and 8 were stage IV. Positive lymph nodes were found in 4.2\% of patients at stage I, 35.7\% at stage II, 41.3\% at stage III, and 87.5\% at stage IV. With regard to grading, positive lymph nodes were found in 4.4\% of G1, in 21.6\% of G2, and in 49.1\% of G3. A significant increase in survival (P = 0.04) was found for patients classified as stage IIIC only according to lymph node involvement compared to patients in peritoneal stage IIIC with positive lymph nodes (3-year survival: 46\% vs 12\%). A small increase in survival was observed for N- patients compared to N+ patients, at both stage III and IV, even with same residual tumor size, but the difference is not statistically significant. All other things being equal, because the prevalence of lymph node positivity depends closely on the number of lymph nodes removed and examined (OR = 3.9 for >10 lymph nodes removed compared to 1-5 lymph nodes removed), lymph node sampling does not seem to be a reliable method for evaluating the retroperitoneal status. With regard to the therapeutic role of systematic lymphadenectomy, few data in literature are available and, most important, are not derived from experimental studies. Probably, only randomized studies with a large number of patients will provide useful answers
The Benthic Boundary Layer: geochemical and oceanographic data from the GEOSTAR-2 observatory
No full textGeochemical and oceanographic data, acquired throughout 6 months by the GEOSTAR-2 benthic observatory in southern Tyrrhenian Sea, evidenced ocean-lithosphere interactions in the 1900-m deep Benthic Boundary Layer (BBL), distinguishing two water masses with different origin and, possibly, benthic residence time. Gas concentration, helium isotopic ratios, radioactivity, temperature, salinity and vertical component of the current converged towards the indication of a BBL characterised by a colder and fresher western water (WW), which is episodically displaced by the cascading of the warmer and saltier Eastern Overflow Water (EOW). The benthic WW has higher concentration of geochemical tracers diffusing from the seafloor sediments. The data set shows the potential of long-term, continuous and multiparametric monitoring in providing unique information which cannot be acquired by traditional, short-term or single-sensor investigations.JCR Journalope
WHY HAS THE PAPER ENTITLED "GREATWALL-PHOSPHORYLATED Α-ENDOSULFINE IS BOTH AN INHIBITOR AND A SUBSTRATE OF PP2A-B55 HETEROTRIMERS" BY WILLIAMS, M.C. ET AL. THAT WAS PUBLISHED IN ELIFE [WILLIAMS, B.C., FILTER, J.J., BLAKE-HODEK, K.A., FUDA, N.J., SHALLOWAY, D. AND GOLDBERG, M.L. (2014) ELIFE, DOI: 10.7554/ELIFE.01695 ] NOT BEEN RETRACTED?
No full textThe paper entitled "Greatwall-phosphorylated α-Endosulfine is both an inhibitor and a substrate of PP2A-B55 heterotrimers" authored by Williams, B.C. et al. [Williams, B.C., Filter, J.J., Blake-Hodek, K.A., Fuda, N.J., Shalloway, D. and Goldberg, M.L. and Published in the Journal eLife [eLife (2014) e01695, doi: 10.7554/elife.01695] was the subject of an investigative critique [Tung, H.Y.L. (2020) J. Invest. Cri. Pub. Sci. Articles, Vol. 1, pp193-200, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.5115188]. It was previously reported that the paper by Williams, et al. was riddled with Dishonest Scientific Reported, Data Falsification and possibly Data Fabrication. After, contacting the Editor in Chief of eLife, Drs Michael B. Eisen, the author of this report was referred to the Managing Editor of eLife, Dr Wei Mun Chan who is not an expert in Enzymology by any stretch of imagination. The Managing Editor of eLife apparently obtained some response from Williams, et al. which was not only unsatisfactory scientifically but aggravated the seriousness of this case as it was revealed that Williams et al. obtained conclusions of their paper based on some experiments in which they were counting ~3 cpm of radioactivity above background. When the author of this report pointed the fantastical results that Williams et al. claimed they were able to obtain, the author of this Report received no sign of life from the Managing editor and the Editor in Chief of eLife. This Report provides further evidence that Williams, B.C. et al. committed Dishonest Scientific Reporting, Data Falsification and Data Fabrication in their paper
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