An investigation of film wavy structure in annular flow using two simultaneous LIF approaches

The paper is devoted to development and validation of film thickness measurement techniques in interfacial gas-liquid flows. The specific flow investigated here is that of downwards (co-flowing) annular flow in a vertical pipe, however, many of the observations and findings are transferable to similar flow geometries. Two advanced spatially resolved techniques, namely planar laser-induced fluorescence and brightness-based laser-induced fluorescence , are used simultaneously in the same area of interrogation. A single laser sheet is used to excite fluorescence along one longitudinal section of the pipe, and two cameras (one for each method) are placed at different angles to the plane of the laser sheet in order to independently recover the shape of the interface along this section. This allows us to perform a cross-validation of the two techniques and to analyse their respective characteristics, advantages and shortcomings

ENSO suppression due to weakening of the North Atlantic thermohaline circulation

Changes of the North Atlantic thermohaline circulation (THC) excite wave patterns that readjust the thermocline globally. This paper examines the impact of a freshwater-induced THC shutdown on the depth of the Pacific thermocline and its subsequent modification of the El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO) variability using an intermediate-complexity global coupled atmosphere–ocean–sea ice model and an intermediate ENSO model, respectively. It is shown by performing a numerical eigenanalysis and transient simulations that a THC shutdown in the North Atlantic goes along with reduced ENSO variability because of a deepening of the zonal mean tropical Pacific thermocline. A transient simulation also exhibits abrupt changes of ENSO behavior, depending on the rate of THC change. The global oceanic wave adjustment mechanism is shown to play a key role also on multidecadal time scales. Simulated multidecadal global sea surface temperature (SST) patterns show a large degree of similarity with previous climate reconstructions, suggesting that the observed pan-oceanic variability on these time scales is brought about by oceanic waves and by atmospheric teleconnections

Cosmological and Solar-System Tests of f(R) Modified Gravity

We investigate the cosmological and the local tests of the f(R) theory of modified gravity via the observations of (1) the cosmic expansion and (2) the cosmic structures and via (3) the solar-system experiments. To fit the possible cosmic expansion histories under consideration, for each of them we reconstruct f(R), known as "designer f(R)". We then test the designer f(R) via the cosmic-structure constraints on the metric perturbation ratio Psi/Phi and the effective gravitational coupling G_eff and via the solar-system constraints on the Brans-Dicke theory with the chameleon mechanism. We find that among the designer f(R) models specified by the CPL effective equation of state w_eff, only the model closely mimicking general relativity with a cosmological constant (LambdaCDM) can survive all the tests. Accordingly, these tests rule out the frequently studied "w_eff = -1" designer f(R) models which are distinct in cosmic structures from LambdaCDM. When considering only the cosmological tests, we find that the surviving designer f(R) models, although exist for a variety of w_eff, entail fine-tuning.Comment: 22 pages, 9 figures, LaTe

Segment-specific expression of 2P domain potassium channel genes in human nephron.

BackgroundThe 2P domain potassium (K2P) channels are a recently discovered ion channel superfamily. Structurally, K2P channels are distinguished by the presence of two pore forming loops within one channel subunit. Functionally, they are characterized by their ability to pass potassium across the physiologic voltage range. Thus, K2P channels are also called open rectifier, background, or leak potassium channels. Patch clamp studies of renal tubules have described several open rectifier potassium channels that have as yet eluded molecular identification. We sought to determine the segment-specific expression of transcripts for the 14 known K2P channel genes in human nephron to identify potential correlates of native leak channels.MethodsHuman kidney samples were obtained from surgical cases and specific nephron segments were dissected. RNA was extracted and used as template for the generation of cDNA libraries. Real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) (TaqMan) was used to analyze gene expression.ResultsWe found significant (P < 0.05) expression of K2P10 in glomerulus, K2P5 in proximal tubule and K2P1 in cortical thick ascending limb of Henle's loop (cTAL) and in distal nephron segments. In addition, we repeatedly detected message for several other K2P channels with less abundance, including K2P3 and K2P6 in glomerulus, K2P10 in proximal tubule, K2P5 in thick ascending limb of Henle's loop, and K2P3, K2P5, and K2P13 in distal nephron segments.ConclusionK2P channels are expressed in specific segments of human kidney. These results provide a step toward assigning K2P channels to previously described native renal leaks

A tetrabenzotriazaporphyrin based organic thin film transistor: Comparison with a device of the phthalocyanine analogue

The characteristics of bottom-gate bottom-contact organic thin film field-effect transistors (OTFTs) with 70 nm thick films of solution processed non-peripherally octahexyl-substituted nickel tetrabenzo triazaporphyrin (6NiTBTAP) molecules as active layers on silicon substrates are experimentally studied and the results are compared with the similary configured transistors using the corresponding nickel phthalocyanine (6NiPc) compound. 6NiTBTAP transistors are found to exhibit improved performance over 6NiPc transistors in terms of greater saturation hole mobility, two orders of magnitude higher on/off ratio and lower threshold voltage. This enhanced performance of 6NiTBTAP OTFTs over 6NiPc devices is attributed to improved surface morphology and large grain size of the active 6NiTBTAP film

An improved single particle potential for transport model simulations of nuclear reactions induced by rare isotope beams

Taking into account more accurately the isospin dependence of nucleon-nucleon interactions in the in-medium many-body force term of the Gogny effective interaction, new expressions for the single nucleon potential and the symmetry energy are derived. Effects of both the spin(isospin) and the density dependence of nuclear effective interactions on the symmetry potential and the symmetry energy are examined. It is shown that they both play a crucial role in determining the symmetry potential and the symmetry energy at supra-saturation densities. The improved single nucleon potential will be useful for simulating more accurately nuclear reactions induced by rare isotope beams within transport models.Comment: 6 pages including 6 figures

Phase stability, ordering tendencies, and magnetism in single-phase fcc Au-Fe nanoalloys

Bulk Au-Fe alloys separate into Au-based fcc and Fe-based bcc phases, but L1$_0$ and L1$_2$ orderings were reported in single-phase Au-Fe nanoparticles. Motivated by these observations, we study the structural and ordering energetics in this alloy by combining density functional theory (DFT) calculations with effective Hamiltonian techniques: a cluster expansion with structural filters, and the configuration-dependent lattice deformation model. The phase separation tendency in Au-Fe persists even if the fcc-bcc decomposition is suppressed. The relative stability of disordered bcc and fcc phases observed in nanoparticles is reproduced, but the fully ordered L1$_0$ AuFe, L1$_2$ Au$_3$Fe, and L1$_2$ AuFe$_3$ structures are unstable in DFT. However, a tendency to form concentration waves at the corresponding [001] ordering vector is revealed in nearly-random alloys in a certain range of concentrations. This incipient ordering requires enrichment by Fe relative to the equiatomic composition, which may occur in the core of a nanoparticle due to the segregation of Au to the surface. Effects of magnetism on the chemical ordering are also discussed.Comment: 23 pages, 11 figure

Book Review : Shu-mei Shih and Lin-chin Tsai (Eds.), Indigenous Knowledge in Taiwan and Beyond

I reviewed the Indigenous Knowledge in Taiwan and Beyond, edited by Shu-mei Shih and Lin-Chin Tsai.Non peer reviewe