Understanding the evolution of level densities in the crossover from spherical to well-deformed nuclei has been a long-standing problem in nuclear physics. We measure nuclear level densities for a ...chain of neodymium isotopes 142,144−151Nd which exhibit such a crossover. These results represent the most complete data set of nuclear level densities to date for an isotopic chain between neutron shell-closure and towards mid-shell. We observe a strong increase of the level densities along the chain with an overall increase by a factor of ≈150 at an excitation energy of 6 MeV and saturation around mass 150. Level densities calculated by the shell model Monte Carlo (SMMC) are in excellent agreement with these experimental results. Based on our experimental and theoretical findings, we offer an explanation of the observed mass dependence of the level densities in terms of the intrinsic single-particle level density and the collective enhancement.
Mapping of the structural pattern by remote sensing methods (Landsat, SPOT, aerial photography, potential field data) and field study of selected structural elements shows that the cratonic basement ...of South Norway is strongly affected by a regular lineament pattern that encompasses fault swarms of different orientation, age, style, attitude and frequency. Albeit counting numerous fault and fracture populations, the faults are not evenly distributed and N-S to NNE-SSW/NNW-SSE and NE-SE/ENE-WSW-systems are spatially dominant. N-S to NNW-SSE structures can be traced underneath the Caledonian nappes to the Western Gneiss Region in western and central South Norway, emphasizing their ancient roots. Dyke swarms of different ages are found within most of these zones. Also, the Østfold, Oslo-Trondheim and the Mandal-Molde lineament zones coincide with trends of Sveconorwegian post-collision granites.
We conclude that the N-S-trend includes the most ancient structural elements, and that the trend can be traced back to the Proterozoic (Svecofennian and Sveconorwegian) orogenic events. Some of the faults may have been active in Neoproterozoic times as marginal faults of rift basins at the western margin of Baltica. Remnants of such fault activity have survived in the cores of many of the faults belonging to this system.
The ancient systems of lineaments were passively overridden by the Caledonian fold-and-thrust system and remained mostly, but note entirely inactive throughout the Sub-Cambrian peneplanation and the Caledonian orogenic collapse in the Silurian-Devonian. The system was reactivated in extension from Carboniferous times, particularly in the Permian with the formation of the Oslo Rift and parts of it remain active to the Present, albeit by decreasing extension and fault activity.
In times of conflict, the media tend to create a dichotomy between ‘us’ and ‘them’, which emphasizes the justice of ‘our’ side and the viciousness of ‘the enemy’. In this way, the media not only ...reflect an existing political reality but also contribute to its construction. But do the media also work in the opposite direction and may contribute to the advancement of peace processes through complex and multi-dimensional coverage of the enemy? The present study examines whether and how mass media change the images of enemy leaders during peace accords compared to violent pre-agreement periods. For this purpose, an analytical framework of seven parameters was developed, analyzing the media coverage of rival leaders in the Israeli–Palestinian conflict (Yitzhak Rabin and Yasser Arafat) and the conflict in Northern Ireland (David Trimble and Gerry Adams). The findings indicate that the media portrayal of the leaders has changed significantly on three out of four sides: the Irish-Unionist, the Irish-Nationalist, and the Palestinian. The conclusion is that positive change in media representations of enemy leaders may accelerate emerging peace processes and improve the social climate toward them.
A trained architect, who works with the Specialist Modelling Group (SMG) at Foster + Partners, Daniel Piker is also the developer of the Kangaroo plug‐in for Rhinoceros® and Grasshopper®. He explains ...how Kangaroo has been devised to simulate aspects of the behaviour of real‐world materials and objects in order to modify designs in response to engineering analyses, engendering an intuitive sense of the material world.
The Oslo method comprises a set of analysis techniques designed to extract nuclear level density and average γ-decay strength function from a set of excitation-energy tagged γ-ray spectra. Here we ...present a new software implementation of the entire Oslo method, called OMpy. We provide a summary of the theoretical basis and derive the essential equations used in the Oslo method. In addition to the functionality of the original analysis code, the new implementation includes novel components such as a rigorous method to propagate uncertainties throughout all steps of the Oslo method using a Monte Carlo approach. The resulting level density and γ-ray strength function have to be normalized to auxiliary data. The normalization is performed simultaneously for both quantities, thus preserving all correlations. The software is verified by the analysis of a synthetic spectrum and compared to the results of the previous implementation, the oslo-method-software.
Program Title:OMpy (Midtbø et al., 2020)
CPC Library link to program files:https://doi.org/10.17632/jbthtbm9bd.1
Code Ocean Capsule:https://doi.org/10.24433/CO.6094094.v1
Licensing provisions: GPLv3
Programming language: Python, Cython
Nature of problem: Extraction of the nuclear level density and average γ-ray strength function from a set of excitation-energy tagged γ-ray spectra including the quantification of uncertainties and correlations of the results.
Solution method: The level density and γ-ray strength function can be obtained simultaneously using a set of analysis techniques called the Oslo method. To propagate the uncertainty from the counting statistics, we analyze an ensemble of perturbed spectra, which are created based on the experimental input. One obtains a set of level densities and γ-ray strength functions for each realization from a fit process. The fitting metric (χ2) is degenerate, but the degeneracy is removed by a simultaneous normalization of the level density and γ-ray strength function to external data, such that all correlations are preserved.
There have been several modifications to facilitate a modular program flow and to enhance accuracy, reproducibility and transparency of the results. The main revisions in OMpy are that it (i) uses an ensemble based uncertainty quantification throughout whole method, (ii) the fitting is based on well-tested external libraries, (iii) corrections for the normalization procedure have been introduced, (iv) the code base is auto-documented with Sphinx and automatically tested.
The historical (1835–2020) dry deposition of major air pollutants (SO2, NOx, O3 and PM2.5) in the urban background in Oslo, Norway, in a situation that could represent the building facades, was ...approximated from reported fuel combustion, emission factors, air concentrations since 1960, and dry deposition velocities. The annual accumulated dry deposition (and thus not considering the removal processes) of the pollutants, together, was found to have varied from about 2.3 to 27 g m−2, with the maximum in the 1960s caused by high SO2 emissions from the combustion of fuel oils, and with 1.6 kg m−2 having deposited over all the years. The deposition of PM2.5 was found to have dominated from 1835, have increased to a maximum in 1875 and then slowly decreased. The SO2 deposition decreased to a low value around 1990. The NOx deposition was also at its highest in the 1960s to about 1970, it became the largest from the 1980s, and then showed a clear decrease from about 2010. The O3 deposition was lower in the years of the maximum total and NOx deposition. The dry deposition of O3 and NOx were found to be about similar in 2020, more than two times that of PM2.5 and more than four times that of SO2. The trends of the NOx emissions were found to reflect the relative (1975) and absolute (∼2000) turning points of the environmental Kuznets curves (EKC) that has been suggested for Norway, whereas the trend of the SO2 emissions seems to have “shortcut” this development by the strong regulations in the emissions from 1970 that lead to near simultaneous relative and absolute reductions. The gradual decrease of the PM2.5 emissions from about 1945 seems to correspond with the decrease in combustion energy intensity in the economy as wood was substituted with more energy efficient fuels and then with the continued reduction in the wood burning.
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•Historical 1835–2020 dry deposition of SO2, NOx, O3 and PM2.5 in Oslo, Norway.•From fuel consumption, to emissions, to air concentrations, to dry deposition.•Oslo air pollution loads are later and lower than London and Paris.•Trends of Oslo PM2.5 pre-date, SO2 shortcut, NO2 follow Kuznetsov Curve.
Israel's annexation of East Jerusalem after the 1967 War, created a complicated reality - especially for the residents of East Jerusalem, a population of 70,000 people at the time of the annexation. ...There are approximately 120,000 Palestinian youth in Jerusalem between the ages of 15-29 who make up approximately 30 per cent of the Arab population living in Jerusalem. Carrying out a trend analysis among Palestinian youth who live in Jerusalem is extremely complex. The purpose of this research is to point out the complex circumstances of the lives of the Palestinian youth who are living relatively satisfactory economic lives under Israeli rule. They are between Palestinian and Israeli identity, which contradict each other. Are the Palestinian youth in Jerusalem a part of the Palestinian minority in Israel, or, perhaps, they are a part of the youth of the West Bank which is partially under the control of the Palestinian Authority (PA)? show
•We assess ten ecosystem services from Oslomarka, the urban forest of Oslo, Norway.•Institutional, technological, and socio-economic drivers of change are examined.•Provisioning and habitat services ...are declining whereas cultural services increase.•Water supply and recrational opportunities found to be of primary importance.•Oslomarka makes critical contributions to the quality of life of Oslo inhabitants.
Urban and peri-urban forests provide multiple ecosystem services for city dwellers, including water, opportunities for recreation and tourism, climate regulation and habitat provision. Despite growing scholarly attention to urban forests, few studies to date have conducted comprehensive assessments of their ecosystem services. This study conducts an interdisciplinary and wide-ranging assessment of ecosystem services of Oslomarka, the emblematic forest surrounding Oslo, Norway’s capital city. First, we set the historical background and examine drivers of change shaping forest uses and ecosystem service composition at the study area. Second, we identify, characterize and measure ecosystem services delivered at the study area. Third, we assess trends in these ecosystem services over the past 50 years. Three main findings are highlighted. First, institutional, technological, and cultural factors are the main drivers of change shaping current ecosystem service composition. Second, ten ecosystem services and three sub-services were assessed and characterized, with water and opportunities for recreation and tourism found to be of particular prominence to locals. Third, our results show that provisioning and habitat services have declined over the past fifty years, while carbon sequestration and storage has increased. Cultural services increased overall, while also experiencing major changes in their nature and composition. Our research reveals the fundamental importance of Oslo’s urban forests and its ecosystem services for the well-being of local inhabitants.
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