593 research outputs found
Examining the impact of heterogeneous nitryl chloride production on air quality across the United States
The heterogeneous hydrolysis of dinitrogen pentoxide (N<sub>2</sub>O<sub>5</sub>) has
typically been modeled as only producing nitric acid. However, recent field
studies have confirmed that the presence of particulate chloride alters the
reaction product to produce nitryl chloride (ClNO<sub>2</sub>) which undergoes
photolysis to generate chlorine atoms and nitrogen dioxide (NO<sub>2</sub>). Both
chlorine and NO<sub>2</sub> affect atmospheric chemistry and air quality. We
present an updated gas-phase chlorine mechanism that can be combined with
the Carbon Bond 05 mechanism and incorporate the combined mechanism into the
Community Multiscale Air Quality (CMAQ) modeling system. We then update the
current model treatment of heterogeneous hydrolysis of N<sub>2</sub>O<sub>5</sub> to
include ClNO<sub>2</sub> as a product. The model, in combination with a
comprehensive inventory of chlorine compounds, reactive nitrogen,
particulate matter, and organic compounds, is used to evaluate the impact of
the heterogeneous ClNO<sub>2</sub> production on air quality across the United
States for the months of February and September in 2006. The heterogeneous
production increases ClNO<sub>2</sub> in coastal as well as many in-land areas in
the United States. Particulate chloride derived from sea-salts,
anthropogenic sources, and forest fires activates the heterogeneous
production of ClNO<sub>2</sub>. With current estimates of tropospheric emissions,
it modestly enhances monthly mean 8-h ozone (up to 1–2 ppbv or 3–4%) but
causes large increases (up to 13 ppbv) in isolated episodes. This chemistry
also substantially reduces the mean total nitrate by up to 0.8–2.0 μg m<sup>−3</sup>
or 11–21%. Modeled ClNO<sub>2</sub> accounts for up to 6% of the
monthly mean total reactive nitrogen. Sensitivity results of the model
suggest that heterogeneous production of ClNO<sub>2</sub> can further increase
O<sub>3</sub> and reduce TNO<sub>3</sub> if elevated particulate-chloride levels are
present in the atmosphere
Stress-testing development pathways under a changing climate: water-energy-food security in the lake Malawi-Shire river system
Malawi depends on Lake Malawi outflows into the Shire River for its water, energy and food (WEF) security. We explore future WEF security risks under the combined impacts of climate change and ambitious development pathways for water use expansion. We drive a bespoke water resources model developed with stakeholder inputs, with 29 bias-corrected climate model projections, alongside stakeholder elicited development pathways, and examine impacts on stakeholder-elicited WEF sector performance metrics. Using scenario analysis, we stress-test the system, explore uncertainties, assess trade-offs between satisfying WEF metrics, and explore whether planned regulation of outflows could help satisfy metrics. While uncertainty from potential future rainfall change generates a wide range of outcomes (including no lake outflow and higher frequency of major downstream floods), we find that potential irrigation expansion in the Lake Malawi catchments could enhance the risk of very low lake levels and risk to Shire River hydropower and irrigation infrastructure performance. Improved regulation of lake outflows through the upgraded barrage does offer some risk mitigation, but trade-offs emerge between lake level management and downstream WEF sector requirements. These results highlight the need to balance Malawi's socio-economic development ambitions across sectors and within a lake-river system, alongside enhanced climate resilience. This article is part of the theme issue 'Developing resilient energy systems'
Does commitment to rehabilitation influence clinical outcome of total hip resurfacing arthroplasty?
BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether compliance and rehabilitative efforts were predictors of early clinical outcome of total hip resurfacing arthroplasty. METHODS: A cross-sectional survey was utilized to collect information from 147 resurfacing patients, who were operated on by a single surgeon, regarding their level of commitment to rehabilitation following surgery. Patients were followed for a mean of 52 months (range, 24 to 90 months). Clinical outcomes and functional capabilities were assessed utilizing the Harris hip objective rating system, the SF-12 Health Survey, and an eleven-point satisfaction score. A linear regression analysis was used to determine whether there was any correlation between the rehabilitation commitment scores and any of the outcome measures, and a multivariate regression model was used to control for potentially confounding factors. RESULTS: Overall, an increased level of commitment to rehabilitation was positively correlated with each of the following outcome measures: SF-12 Mental Component Score, SF-12 Physical Component Score, Harris Hip score, and satisfaction scores. These correlations remained statistically significant in the multivariate regression model. CONCLUSIONS: Patients who were more committed to their therapy after hip resurfacing returned to higher levels of functionality and were more satisfied following their surgery
Random Regression for Modeling Semen Fertility in HF Purebred and Crossbred Bulls Using a Bayesian Framework
Data on insemination records of Holstein Friesian (HF) purebred (n=45,497) and crossbred (n=58,497) collected from the BAIF Research Foundation were utilized. The conception rate was modeled as a binary trait, using linear repeatability models. Random regression models (RRM) were used to obtain the trajectory of variance components across age of the bulls. Legendre Polynomials up to order of fit of 4 were used for the random effects of additive genetic and permanent environmental effects. 200,000 Gibbs samples were generated with a burn-in of 20,000 and thinning interval of 50 using the THRGIBBS1F90 program. Heritability estimates were very low (0.1) in both breeds but peaked at the extreme ages. Heritability and repeatability estimates ranged between 0.038 (8 years) to 0.627 (10 years) and 0.060 to 0.809 respectively in purebreds. Narrower ranges of 0.010 (4 years) to 0.087 (11 years) and 0.532 to 0.832 for heritability and repeatability respectively, were obtained in crossbreds. Effect of permanent environment was low in purebreds compared to the crossbreds. The study using RRM was able to provide genetic parameter estimates of fertility for all ages throughout the productive lifespan of bulls
Kinetic models for dilute solutions of dumbbells in non-homogeneous flows revisited
We propose a two fluid theory to model a dilute polymer solution assuming
that it consists of two phases, polymer and solvent, with two distinct
macroscopic velocities. The solvent phase velocity is governed by the
macroscopic Navier-Stokes equations with the addition of a force term
describing the interaction between the two phases. The polymer phase is
described on the mesoscopic level using a dumbbell model and its macroscopic
velocity is obtained through averaging. We start by writing down the full
phase-space distribution function for the dumbbells and then obtain the
inertialess limits for the Fokker-Planck equation and for the averaged friction
force acting between the phases from a rigorous asymptotic analysis. The
resulting equations are relevant to the modelling of strongly non-homogeneous
flows, while the standard kinetic model is recovered in the locally homogeneous
case
Work-family conflict in work groups: Social information processing, support, and demographic dissimilarity
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