pH electrode performance under automated management conditions

pH is frequently measured in laboratories, but to have confidence in the results it is necessary to know that it was measured properly. For an electrode to give accurate results it must be treated well and calibrated correctly. In this paper, an automated system for pH measurement is described; the system uses the operational pH scale and calibrates using two or three buffer solutions, taking proper account of the effects of temperature on the system. The system can be programmed with standard methods and procedures to ensure that the electrode gives the best possible performance. Calibrations and measurements within the system are reproducible, and the automated system is more robust than the manual pH meter, and requires less operator time

3+1 Approach to the Long Wavelength Iteration Scheme

Large-scale inhomogeneities and anisotropies are modeled using the Long Wavelength Iteration Scheme. In this scheme solutions are obtained as expansions in spatial gradients, which are taken to be small. It is shown that the choice of foliation for spacetime can make the iteration scheme more effective in two respects: (i) the shift vector can be chosen so as to dilute the effect of anisotropy on the late-time value of the extrinsic curvature of the spacelike hypersurfaces of the foliation; and (ii) pure gauge solutions present in a similar calculation using the synchronous gauge vanish when the spacelike hypersurfaces have extrinsic curvature with constant trace. We furthermore verify the main conclusion of the synchronous gauge calculation which is large-scale inhomogeneity decays if the matter--considered to be that of a perfect-fluid with a barotropic equation of state--violates the strong-energy condition. Finally, we obtain the solution for the lapse function and discuss its late-time behaviour. It is found that the lapse function is well-behaved when the matter violates the strong energy condition.Comment: 21 pages, TeX file, already publishe

Tensor mass and particle number peak at the same location in the scalar-tensor gravity boson star models - an analytical proof

Recently in boson star models in framework of Brans-Dicke theory, three possible definitions of mass have been identified, all identical in general relativity, but different in scalar-tensor theories of gravity.It has been conjectured that it's the tensor mass which peaks, as a function of the central density, at the same location where the particle number takes its maximum.This is a very important property which is crucial for stability analysis via catastrophe theory. This conjecture has received some numerical support. Here we give an analytical proof of the conjecture in framework of the generalized scalar-tensor theory of gravity, confirming in this way the numerical calculations.Comment: 9 pages, latex, no figers, some typos corrected, reference adde

A Comparison of the Morphology and Stability of Relativistic and Nonrelativistic Jets

We compare results from a relativistic and a nonrelativistic set of 2D axisymmetric jet simulations. For a set of five relativistic simulations that either increase the Lorentz factor or decrease the adiabatic index we compute nonrelativistic simulations with equal useful power or thrust. We examine these simulations for morphological and dynamical differences, focusing on the velocity field, the width of the cocoon, the age of the jets, and the internal structure of the jet itself. The primary result of these comparisons is that the velocity field of nonrelativistic jet simulations cannot be scaled up to give the spatial distribution of Lorentz factors seen in relativistic simulations. Since the local Lorentz factor plays a major role in determining the total intensity for parsec scale extragalactic jets, this suggests that a nonrelativistic simulation cannot yield the proper intensity distribution for a relativistic jet. Another general result is that each relativistic jet and its nonrelativistic equivalents have similar ages (in dynamical time units, = R/a_a, where R is the initial radius of a cylindrical jet and a_a is the sound speed in the ambient medium). In addition to these comparisons, we have completed four new relativistic simulations to investigate the effect of varying thermal pressure on relativistic jets. The simulations generally confirm that faster (larger Lorentz factor) and colder jets are more stable, with smaller amplitude and longer wavelength internal variations. The apparent stability of these jets does not follow from linear normal mode analysis, which suggests that there are available growing Kelvin-Helmholtz modes. (Abridged.)Comment: 32 pages, AASTEX, to appear in May 10, 1999 issue of ApJ, better versions of Figures 1 and 6 are available at http://crux.astr.ua.edu/~rosen/rel/rhdh.htm

Long-wavelength iteration scheme and scalar-tensor gravity

Inhomogeneous and anisotropic cosmologies are modeled withing the framework of scalar-tensor gravity theories. The inhomogeneities are calculated to third-order in the so-called long-wavelength iteration scheme. We write the solutions for general scalar coupling and discuss what happens to the third-order terms when the scalar-tensor solution approaches at first-order the general relativistic one. We work out in some detail the case of Brans-Dicke coupling and determine the conditions for which the anisotropy and inhomogeneity decay as time increases. The matter is taken to be that of perfect fluid with a barotropic equation of state.Comment: 13 pages, requires REVTeX, submitted to Phys. Rev.

Unconstrained Hamiltonian formulation of General Relativity with thermo-elastic sources

A new formulation of the Hamiltonian dynamics of the gravitational field interacting with(non-dissipative) thermo-elastic matter is discussed. It is based on a gauge condition which allows us to encode the six degrees of freedom of the ``gravity + matter''-system (two gravitational and four thermo-mechanical ones), together with their conjugate momenta, in the Riemannian metric q_{ij} and its conjugate ADM momentum P^{ij}. These variables are not subject to constraints. We prove that the Hamiltonian of this system is equal to the total matter entropy. It generates uniquely the dynamics once expressed as a function of the canonical variables. Any function U obtained in this way must fulfil a system of three, first order, partial differential equations of the Hamilton-Jacobi type in the variables (q_{ij},P^{ij}). These equations are universal and do not depend upon the properties of the material: its equation of state enters only as a boundary condition. The well posedness of this problem is proved. Finally, we prove that for vanishing matter density, the value of U goes to infinity almost everywhere and remains bounded only on the vacuum constraints. Therefore the constrained, vacuum Hamiltonian (zero on constraints and infinity elsewhere) can be obtained as the limit of a ``deep potential well'' corresponding to non-vanishing matter. This unconstrained description of Hamiltonian General Relativity can be useful in numerical calculations as well as in the canonical approach to Quantum Gravity.Comment: 29 pages, TeX forma

Predictability of South China Sea summer monsoon onset

Predicting monsoon onset is crucial for agriculture and socioeconomic planning in countries where millions rely on the timely arrival of monsoon rains for their livelihoods. In this study we demonstrate useful skill in predicting year to year variations in South China Sea summer monsoon onset at up to 3 months lead time using the GloSea5 seasonal forecasting system. The main source of predictability comes from skilful prediction of Pacific sea surface temperatures associated with El Niño and La Niña. The South China Sea summer monsoon onset is a known indicator of the broadscale seasonal transition that represents the first stage of the onset of the Asian summer monsoon as a whole. Subsequent development of rainfall across East Asia is influenced by sub-seasonal variability and synoptic events that reduce predictability, but interannual variability in the broadscale monsoon onset for East Asian summer monsoon still provides potentially useful information for users about possible delays or early occurrence of the onset of rainfall over East Asia

Brans-Dicke Boson Stars: Configurations and Stability through Cosmic History

We make a detailed study of boson star configurations in Jordan--Brans--Dicke theory, studying both equilibrium properties and stability, and considering boson stars existing at different cosmic epochs. We show that boson stars can be stable at any time of cosmic history and that equilibrium stars are denser in the past. We analyze three different proposed mass functions for boson star systems, and obtain results independently of the definition adopted. We study how the configurations depend on the value of the Jordan--Brans--Dicke coupling constant, and the properties of the stars under extreme values of the gravitational asymptotic constant. This last point allows us to extract conclusions about the stability behaviour concerning the scalar field. Finally, other dynamical variables of interest, like the radius, are also calculated. In this regard, it is shown that the radius corresponding to the maximal boson star mass remains roughly the same during cosmological evolution.Comment: 9 pages RevTeX file with nine figures incorporated (uses RevTeX and epsf

Evolution of the Bianchi I, the Bianchi III and the Kantowski-Sachs Universe: Isotropization and Inflation

We study the Einstein-Klein-Gordon equations for a convex positive potential in a Bianchi I, a Bianchi III and a Kantowski-Sachs universe. After analysing the inherent properties of the system of differential equations, the study of the asymptotic behaviors of the solutions and their stability is done for an exponential potential. The results are compared with those of Burd and Barrow. In contrast with their results, we show that for the BI case isotropy can be reached without inflation and we find new critical points which lead to new exact solutions. On the other hand we recover the result of Burd and Barrow that if inflation occurs then isotropy is always reached. The numerical integration is also done and all the asymptotical behaviors are confirmed.Comment: 22 pages, 12 figures, Self-consistent Latex2e File. To be published in Phys. Rev.

The PPARγ Agonist Pioglitazone Fails to Alter the Abuse Potential of Heroin, But Does Reduce Heroin Craving and Anxiety

Possibly through its effects on glia, the peroxisome proliferator-activated gamma receptor (PPARγ) agonist pioglitazone (PIO) has been shown to alter the effects of heroin in preclinical models. Until now, these results have not been assessed in humans. Heroin-dependent participants were randomized to either active (45 mg, n = 14) or placebo (0 mg, n = 16) PIO maintenance for the duration of the three-week study. After stabilization on buprenorphine (8 mg), participants began a two-week testing period. On the first to fourth test days, participants could self-administer drug or money by making verbal choices for either option. On the fifth day, active heroin and money were administered and participants could work to receive heroin or money using a progressive ratio choice procedure. Test days 6–10 were identical to test days 1–5 with the exception that, during one of the test weeks, placebo was available on the first four days, and during the other week heroin was available. PIO failed to alter the reinforcing or positive subjective effects of heroin, but it did reduce heroin craving and overall anxiety. Although we were unable to replicate the robust effects found in preclinical models, these data provide an indication of drug effects that deserves further exploration