The summer North Atlantic Oscillation in CMIP3 models and related uncertainties in projected summer drying in Europe

This paper discusses uncertainties in model projections of summer drying in the Euro-Mediterranean region related to errors and uncertainties in the simulation of the summer NAO (SNAO). The SNAO is the leading mode of summer SLP variability in the North Atlantic/European sector and modulates precipitation not only in the vicinity of the SLP dipole (northwest Europe) but also in the Mediterranean region. An analysis of CMIP3 models is conducted to determine the extent to which models reproduce the signature of the SNAO and its impact on precipitation and to assess the role of the SNAO in the projected precipitation reductions. Most models correctly simulate the spatial pattern of the SNAO and the dry anomalies in northwest Europe that accompany the positive phase. The models also capture the concurrent wet conditions in the Mediterranean, but the amplitude of this signal is too weak, especially in the east. This error is related to the poor simulation of the upper-level circulation response to a positive SNAO, namely the observed trough over the Balkans that creates potential instability and favors precipitation. The SNAO is generally projected to trend upwards in CMIP3 models, leading to a consistent signal of precipitation reduction in NW Europe, but the intensity of the trend varies greatly across models, resulting in large uncertainties in the magnitude of the projected drying. In the Mediterranean, because the simulated influence of the SNAO is too weak, no precipitation increase occurs even in the presence of a strong SNAO trend, reducing confidence in these projections.

Natural colonization of leaves of 'Pêra' sweet orange and related varieties by Guignardia citricarpa

The purpose of this research was to evaluate the differences in the colonization and production of structures in the leaves of 'Pêra' sweet orange (Citrus sinensis) clones and related varieties by Guignardia citricarpa. The natural colonization and the production of reproductive structures in the leaves and in vitro of ten 'Pêra' sweet orange was quantified in the following clones: Bianchi, Dibbern C.V., EEL, IAC 2000, Olímpia 15161, Premunizada 1212, Premunizada 1743/82, R. Gullo 1569/244, R. Gullo 1570/246 and Vimusa; and in five related varieties: Redonda C.N, Ovale 968, Ovale San Lio 969, Lamb Summer and Corsa Tardia. The quantification of the colonization density of G. citricarpa in the leaves was obtained through isolation. Incidence and colonization density (cm²) were calculated for each clone. The production of reproductive structures was accomplished through the moistening and drying process of the leaves. The incidence (percentage of affected leaves) and the leaf surface percentage occupied by the reproductive fungus structures were quantified. The in vitro production of reproductive structures was accomplished in water-agar medium. The number of immature and total reproductive fungus structures (cm²), and the percentage of picnidia with liberation of spores were quantified. Significant differences were not observed among clones related to the colonization of the leaves. But there were differences in the induction experiments, i.e., in the leaf surface percentage occupied by the reproductive fungus structures and the in vitro production of reprodutive fungus structures.

National Library and Library Network in Finland - Cooperation Being the Driving Force of Success

Kristiina Hormia-Poutasen esitys Danish Research Association -tapahtumassa Tanskassa 15.9.2011

Word Equations and Related Topics. Independence, Decidability and Characterizations

The three main topics of this work are independent systems and chains of word equations, parametric solutions of word equations on three unknowns, and unique decipherability in the monoid of regular languages. The most important result about independent systems is a new method giving an upper bound for their sizes in the case of three unknowns. The bound depends on the length of the shortest equation. This result has generalizations for decreasing chains and for more than three unknowns. The method also leads to shorter proofs and generalizations of some old results. Hmelevksii’s theorem states that every word equation on three unknowns has a parametric solution. We give a significantly simplified proof for this theorem. As a new result we estimate the lengths of parametric solutions and get a bound for the length of the minimal nontrivial solution and for the complexity of deciding whether such a solution exists. The unique decipherability problem asks whether given elements of some monoid form a code, that is, whether they satisfy a nontrivial equation. We give characterizations for when a collection of unary regular languages is a code. We also prove that it is undecidable whether a collection of binary regular languages is a code.

Finna - Opening Access to Cultural Heritage and Scientific Information

Aki Lassilan esitys Europeana työpajassa 20.11.2012 Helsingissä.

Non-Markovian dynamics and quantum information probes

This Thesis discusses the phenomenology of the dynamics of open quantum systems marked by non-Markovian memory effects. Non-Markovian open quantum systems are the focal point of a flurry of recent research aiming to answer, e.g., the following questions: What is the characteristic trait of non-Markovian dynamical processes that discriminates it from forgetful Markovian dynamics? What is the microscopic origin of memory in quantum dynamics, and how can it be controlled? Does the existence of memory effects open new avenues and enable accomplishments that cannot be achieved with Markovian processes? These questions are addressed in the publications forming the core of this Thesis with case studies of both prototypical and more exotic models of open quantum systems. In the first part of the Thesis several ways of characterizing and quantifying non-Markovian phenomena are introduced. Their differences are then explored using a driven, dissipative qubit model. The second part of the Thesis focuses on the dynamics of a purely dephasing qubit model, which is used to unveil the origin of non-Markovianity for a wide class of dynamical models. The emergence of memory is shown to be strongly intertwined with the structure of the spectral density function, as further demonstrated in a physical realization of the dephasing model using ultracold quantum gases. Finally, as an application of memory effects, it is shown that non- Markovian dynamical processes facilitate a novel phenomenon of timeinvariant discord, where the total quantum correlations of a system are frozen to their initial value. Non-Markovianity can also be exploited in the detection of phase transitions using quantum information probes, as shown using the physically interesting models of the Ising chain in a transverse field and a Coulomb chain undergoing a structural phase transition.

Informaatiopalveluiden muutosvoimat, muutokset ja liikkuvuusesteet

Tutkimuksessa kartoitettiin informaatiopalveluiden liiketoiminta-alueella Suomessa toimivien yritysten maantieteellisiä ja palvelukohtaisia strategisia valintoja ja näissä tapahtuneita muutoksia. Tutkimuksen tavoitteena oli selvittää informaatiopalveluiden määritelmää ja strategisten ryhmien teoriaa apuna käyttäen mahdollisia muutoksia informaatiopalveluja Suomessa kuluttajille tarjoavien yritysten perinteisissä toimialoissa tutkimuksen kattamina vuosina 2007–2012. Edelleen tavoitteena oli kuvata yleisten muutosvoimien ja alaan vaikuttavien megatrendien sekä alalla havaittujen liikkuvuusesteiden avulla liiketoimintaympäristössä tapahtuneita muutoksia ja pyrkiä löytämään näihin muutoksiin vaikuttavia syitä. Yrityksiä analysoitiin vuosikertomusten perusteella ja tutkimusotteena käytettiin grounded theoryä. Informaatiopalveluilla tarkoitetaan tietotekniikka-, tietoliikenne-, kustannus- ja audiovisuaalisen toiminnan palveluja. Suoritettujen ryhmittelyjen perusteella pystyttiin havaitsemaan, että osa tutkittavista yrityksistä oli laajentanut toimintaansa perinteisten toimialarajojensa ulkopuolelle johonkin toiseen informaatiopalveluiden liiketoiminta-alueella olevaan toimialaan. Aineistosta ei muodostunut perinteisten toimialajaottelujen mukaisia yritysryhmiä. Suurimmat muutokset näyttivät tapahtuneen perinteisen tietoliikennepalveluiden toimialalla. Vuosikertomuksista tunnistettuja yritysten liiketoimintaympäristössä tapahtuneita muutoksia ja niihin vaikuttavia liikkuvuusesteitä ja muita palveluiden laajuuteen ja alueelliseen ulottuvuuteen vaikuttavia seikkoja ryhmiteltiin yhteiskuntasuhteiden kehikkoon kategorioihin: poliittiset ja lainsäädännölliset, teknologiset, sosiaaliset ja kulttuuriset, fyysiset, taloudelliset ja ekologiset tekijät. Muutosvoimista globalisaatio ja teknologinen kehitys vaikuttavat voimakkaasti ja muovaavat informaatiopalveluiden liiketoiminta-alueen yrityksiä. Internetin nopea kasvu, tiedon digitalisoituminen ja rajattoman, aina läsnä olevan viestinnän lisääntyminen ovat vaikuttaneet kuluttajien käyttäytymiseen luomalla ajasta ja paikasta riippumattoman viestimien ja palveluiden hyödyntämisen. Näiden mega-trendien vaikutus välittyy vuosikertomuksista. Juridiset ja poliittiset tekijät vaikuttavat voimakkaasti informaatiopalveluiden alueella eikä lainsäädäntö näytä vielä riittävästi tukevan innovatiivisia digitaalisia globaaleita palveluja vaan muodostaa liik-kuvuusesteitä. Kuluttajakäyttäytyminen muovaa markkinoita ja edistää teknologista kehitystä. Ala on ollut hyvin teknologiavetoinen, mutta vuosikertomusten perusteella olisi pääteltävissä, että asiakasnäkökulma on tutkimusvuosien aikana vahvistunut. Asiakaskäyttäytyminen ja siihen liittyvät tiedot tuovat tulevaisuudessa kilpailuetua.

Hyperfine interactions in the new Fe-based superconducting structures and related magnetic phases

This thesis is devoted to the study of the hyperfine properties in iron-based superconductors and the synthesis of these compounds and related phases. During this work polycrystalline chalcogenide samples with stoichiometry 1:1 (FeTe1-χSχ, FeSe1-x) and pnictide samples with stoichiometry 1:2:2 (BaFe2(As1-χPχ)2, EuFe2(As1-x Px)2) were synthesized by solid-state reaction methods in vacuum and in a protecting Ar atmosphere. In several cases post-annealing in oxygen atmosphere was employed. The purity and superconducting properties of the obtained samples were checked with X-ray diffraction, SQUID and resistivity measurements. For studies of the magnetic properties of the investigated samples Mössbauer spectroscopy was used. Using low-temperature measurements around Tc and various values of the source velocity the hyperfine interactions were obtained and the magnetic and structural properties in the normal and superconducting states could be studied. Mössbauer measurements together with XRD characterization were also used for the detection of impurity phases. DFT calculations were used for the theoretical study of Mössbauer parameters for pnictide-based ᴻsamples BaFe2(As1-xPx)2 and EuFe2(As1-xPx)2.

An aryne route to aporphine alkaloids and related topics / |nIjaz Ahmad Chanda. -- 260 St. Catharines, Ont. : [s. n.],

This research was directed towards the investigation and development of an aryne route to the syntheses of aporphi ne and dibenzopyrrocolinium (dibenzoindolizinium) alkaloids and to the stability of the latter under the conditions used for aryne formation. The work c an be divided into three main sections . i) - Synthesis of Glaucine 6-Bromo-3,4-dimethoxyphenylacetic acid, prepared by the action of bromine i n acetic acid on3,4-dimethoxyphenylacetic a cid, was converted into its acid chloride by t he action of thionyl chloride. This on treatment with 3,4- dimethoxyphenylethylamine pr ovided N-(3, 4-dimethoxyphenylethyl)- 2-(2-bromo-4,S-dimethoxyphenyl)-acetamide which on dehydration with phosphoryl chloride (Bischler Napieralski reaction) in dry benzene afforded l -(2-bromo-4,S-dimethoxybenzyl)- 3,4-dihydro-6,7-dimethoxyisoquinoline, isolated as hydrochl oride. A new method o f destroying the excess of phosphoryl chloride was developed which proved to be quite useful. Methylation of the dihydroisoquinoline'with methyl iodide in methanol , and subsequent reduction with sodium borohydride provided (±)-6-bromolaudanosine. Act ion of potassamide or sodamide in anhydrous liquid ammonia on (±)-6-bromolaudanosine yielded the corresponding amino derivative along with other products. Diazotization and ring closure of (±)-6-aminolaudanosine then a f forded (±)-glaucine which was isolated as methiodide. ii) - Intramolecular Capture of Aryne During Glaucine Synthesis, and Subsequent Reactions . This section deals with the by-products formed under the conditions of the aryne stage of t he glaucine synthesis. The crude product, obtained in the reaction of potassamide or sodamide in liquid ammonia on (±)-6-bromolaudanosine, was s eparated by chromatography, Three products were separated and identified. a ) - 5,6-Dimethoxy-2-( 3,4-dimethoxy-6-ethylphenyl)-lmethylindole. Two mechanisms are proposed for the formation of this interesting product. This compound also was prepared by the action of potassamide in l,iquid ammonia on 5,6 ,l2,l2atetrahydro- 2,3,9,lO-tetramethoxy-7-methyldibenz[b,g]indolizinium i odide . b) - 5,6-Dimethoxy-2-(3,4-dimethoxy-6-vinylphenyl)-lmethylindoline. Its formation represented a new method of Hofmann degradation . Further confirmation of structure was done by performing the normal Hofmann reaction on 5, 6,12,12a-tetrahydro -2/3,9,lO-tetramethoxy ~7-methyldibe nz[ b,g]indolizinium iodide. The indoline prepared i n this way was identical in all respects with that prepared above . c) - 1- (2-amino-4,5-dimethoxybenzyl ) -l,2,3,4-tetrahydro-2- methyl-6,7-dimethoxyisoquinoline, was converted t o glaucine as stated in section 1 . iii) - Attempt:,ed Sxnthesis of Liriodenine Piperonal was converted into 3,4-methylenedioxyinitrostyrene which on reduction with lithium aluminium hydride provided 3,4-methylenedioxyphenylethylamine. The method of extraction after the reduction was improved t o some extent. The amine on condensation with m-chlorophenylacetyl chloride, prepared by the action of oxalyl chloride on 3,4-methylenedioxyphenylacetic acid, provided N-[ ~ -(3,4-methylenedioxyphenyl)- e thyl)-3-chlorophenylacetamide. This on dehydration with phosphoryl chloride in dry benzene followed by air oxidation afforded l-(3-chlorobenzoyl)-6,7-methylenedioxyi soquinoline. This compound on r eaction with potassamide in liquid ammonia afforded a crude product from which. one product was separated by chromatography i n a pure condition . This yellow compound analysed as,c17Hl ON2021 and was t he main product i n the reaction ; a t entative structure is proposed. A second compound, not obtained in pure condition, was submitted to Pschorr reaction in the hope of obtaining liriodenine, but without success.