1,704 research outputs found

    Thermal Comfort Performance Assessment of Natural Ventilation, Mechanical Ventilation and Heat Recovery in Non-Domestic Passivhaus Context in the UK Climate.

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    This study has used validated CFD model by field measurements to assess ventilation performance in high internal heat gains low ceiling auditorium. CFD predicted spatial temperature was compared to three thermal comfort standards. The CFD results show that, for 84W/m2 and 124W/m2 of internal heat gains, MV provides thermally comfortable environment at outdoor temperature range of 17°C – 26°C to 14°C – 26°C , and NV provides it at outdoor temperature range of 20°C – 29°C to 17°C – 29°C. When NV and MV exposes to same outdoor temperature, NV provides less possibility of local thermal discomfort due to reduced temperature stratification compared to MV. Moreover, for NV to work effectively, all openings within and at the perimeter of the domain should have adjustable effective areas. It was concluded that NV extends summer ventilation operating temperature range up to 6°C, whilst MVHR extends it 8°C in winter. However, neither MVHR nor NV is sufficient to provide thermally acceptable indoor environment alone or combined. Thus, a mixed mode approach is necessary

    Reservoirs and radiocarbon: <sup>14</sup>C dating problems in Myvatnssveit, Northern Iceland

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    This paper examines 2 potential sources of the radiocarbon offset between human and terrestrial mammal (horse) bones recovered from Norse (~AD 870–1000) pagan graves in Mývatnssveit, north Iceland. These are the marine and freshwater 14C reservoir effects that may be incorporated into human bones from dietary sources. The size of the marine 14C reservoir effect (MRE) during the Norse period was investigated by measurement of multiple paired samples (terrestrial mammal and marine mollusk shell) at 2 archaeological sites in Mývatnssveit and 1 site on the north Icelandic coast. These produced 3 new ΔR values for the north coast of Iceland, indicating a ΔR of 106 ± 10 14C yr at AD 868–985, and of 144 ± 28 14C yr at AD 1280–1400. These values are statistically comparable and give an overall weighted mean ΔR of 111 ± 10 14C yr. The freshwater reservoir effect was similarly quantified using freshwater fish bones from a site in Mývatnssveit. These show an offset of between 1285 and 1830 14C yr, where the fish are depleted in 14C relative to the terrestrial mammals. This is attributed to the input of geothermally derived CO2 into the groundwater and subsequently into Lake Mývatn. We conclude the following: i) some of the Norse inhabitants of Mývatnssveit incorporated non-terrestrial resources into their diet that may be identified from the stable isotope composition of their bone collagen; ii) the MRE off the north Icelandic coast during the Norse period fits a spatial gradient of wider North Atlantic MRE values with increasing values to the northwest; and iii) it is important to consider the effect that geothermal activity could have on the 14C activity of samples influenced by groundwater at Icelandic archaeological sites

    Temporal and spatial variations in freshwater 14C reservoir effects: Lake Myvatn, Northern Iceland

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    Lake Mývatn is an interior highland lake in northern Iceland that forms a unique ecosystem of international scientific importance and is surrounded by a landscape rich in archaeological and palaeoenvironmental sites. A significant Freshwater 14C Reservoir Effect (FRE) has been identified in carbon from the lake at some Norse (c.870-1000 AD) archaeological sites in the wider region (Mývatnssveit). Previous AMS measurements indicated this FRE was ~1500-1900 14C years. Here we present the results of a study using stable isotope and 14C measurements to quantify the Mývatn FRE for both the Norse and modern periods. This work has identified a temporally variable FRE that is greatly in excess of previous assessments. New, paired samples of contemporaneous bone from terrestrial herbivores and omnivores (including humans) from Norse sites demonstrate at least some omnivore diets incorporated sufficient freshwater resources to result in a herbivore-omnivore age offset of up to 400 14C yrs. Modern samples of benthic detritus, aquatic plants, zooplankton, invertebrates and freshwater fish indicate an FRE in excess of 5000 14C yrs in some species. Likely geothermal mechanisms for this large FRE are discussed, along with implications for both chronological reconstruction and integrated investigation of stable and radioactive isotop

    Antarctic Intermediate Water properties since 400 ka recorded in infaunal (Uvigerina peregrina) and epifaunal (Planulina wuellerstorfi) benthic foraminifera

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    Reconstruction of intermediate water properties is important for understanding feedbacks within the ocean-climate system, particularly since these water masses are capable of driving high–low latitude teleconnections. Nevertheless, information about intermediate water mass evolution through the late Pleistocene remains limited. This paper examines changes in Antarctic Intermediate Water (AAIW), the most extensive intermediate water mass in the modern ocean through the last 400 kyr using the stable isotopic composition (δ18O and δ13C) and trace element concentration (Mg/Ca and B/Ca) of two benthic foraminiferal species from the same samples: epifaunal Planulina wuellerstorfi and infaunal Uvigerina peregrina. Our results confirm that the most reasonable estimates of AAIW temperature and Δ[CO2−3] are generated by Mg/CaU. peregrina and B/CaP. wuellerstorfi, respectively. We present a 400 kyr record of intermediate water temperature and Δ[CO2−3] from a sediment core from the Southwest Pacific (DSDP site 593; 40°30′S, 167°41′E, 1068 m water depth), which lies within the core of modern AAIW. Our results suggest that a combination of geochemical analyses on both infaunal and epifaunal benthic foraminiferal species yields important information about this critical water mass through the late Pleistocene. When combined with two nearby records of water properties from deeper depths, our data demonstrate that during interglacial stages of the late Pleistocene, AAIW and Circumpolar Deep Water (CPDW) have more similar water mass properties (temperature and δ13C), while glacial stages are typified by dissimilar properties between AAIW and CPDW in the Southwest Pacific. Our new Δ[CO2−3] record shows short time-scale variations, but a lack of coherent glacial–interglacial variability indicating that large quantities of carbon were not stored in intermediate waters during recent glacial periods

    Association between milk yield and serial locomotion score assessments in UK dairy cows

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    This study investigated the effect of lameness, measured by serial locomotion scoring over a 12-mo period, on the milk yield of UK dairy cows. The data set consisted of 11,735 records of test-day yield and locomotion scores collected monthly from 1,400 cows kept on 7 farms. The data were analyzed in a multilevel linear regression model to account for the correlation of repeated measures of milk yield within cow. Factors affecting milk yield included farm of origin, stage of lactation, parity, season, and whether cows were ever lame or ever severely lame during the study period. Cows that had been severely lame 4, 6, and 8 mo previously gave 0.51 kg/d, 0.66 kg/d, and 1.55 kg/d less milk, respectively. A severe case of lameness in the first month of lactation reduced 305-d milk yield by 350 kg; this loss may be avoidable by prompt, effective treatment. Larger reductions can be expected when cases persist or recur. Evidence-based control plans are needed to reduce the incidence and prevalence of lameness in high yielding cows to improve welfare and productivity

    Reactions of Tetracyclone Molybdenum Complexes with Electrophilic Alkynes: Cyclopentadienone-Alkyne Coupling and Alkyne Coordination

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    The reactions of the complexes [Mo(CO)2(η4-C4Ph4CO)2] and [Mo(CO)3(NCMe)(η4-C4Ph4CO)] with the alkynes dimethyl acetylenedicarboxylate (DMAD; RC≡CR where R = CO2Me) and methyl propiolate (RC≡CH) have been studied. In the case of DMAD, the initial product is the green carbonyl complex [Mo(CO)(RC≡CR)(η5,σ-C4Ph4COCR═CR)] (3), in which two alkyne molecules have been incorporated: one is linked to the carbonyl group of the tetracyclone ligand, whereas the other is π-bound to the metal as a four-electron donor. Oxidation of this compound affords yellow [Mo(O)(RC≡CR)(η5,σ-C4Ph4COCR═CR)] (8). When the π-acceptor carbonyl ligand is replaced by the π-donor oxo group, the alkyne ligand changes orientation: it lies parallel to the Mo–CO bond in 3 but perpendicular to the Mo═O group in 8. Analogous complexes (9, 10) were isolated in the case of methyl propiolate; each exists as a mixture of two isomers depending on the orientation of the unsymmetrical alkyne ligand

    Reactions of Tetracyclone Molybdenum Complexes with Electrophilic Alkynes: Cyclopentadienone-Alkyne Coupling and Alkyne Coordination

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    The reactions of the complexes [Mo(CO)2(η4-C4Ph4CO)2] and [Mo(CO)3(NCMe)(η4-C4Ph4CO)] with the alkynes dimethyl acetylenedicarboxylate (DMAD; RC≡CR where R = CO2Me) and methyl propiolate (RC≡CH) have been studied. In the case of DMAD, the initial product is the green carbonyl complex [Mo(CO)(RC≡CR)(η5,σ-C4Ph4COCR═CR)] (3), in which two alkyne molecules have been incorporated: one is linked to the carbonyl group of the tetracyclone ligand, whereas the other is π-bound to the metal as a four-electron donor. Oxidation of this compound affords yellow [Mo(O)(RC≡CR)(η5,σ-C4Ph4COCR═CR)] (8). When the π-acceptor carbonyl ligand is replaced by the π-donor oxo group, the alkyne ligand changes orientation: it lies parallel to the Mo–CO bond in 3 but perpendicular to the Mo═O group in 8. Analogous complexes (9, 10) were isolated in the case of methyl propiolate; each exists as a mixture of two isomers depending on the orientation of the unsymmetrical alkyne ligand

    Model-based estimation of intra-cortical connectivity using electrophysiological data

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    This paper provides a new method for model-based estimation of intra-cortical connectivity from electrophysiological measurements. A novel closed-form solution for the connectivity function of the Amari neural field equations is derived as a function of electrophysiological observations. The resultant intra-cortical connectivity estimate is driven from experimental data, but constrained by the mesoscopic neurodynamics that are encoded in the computational model. A demonstration is provided to show how the method can be used to image physiological mechanisms that govern cortical dynamics, which are normally hidden in clinical data from epilepsy patients. Accurate estimation performance is demonstrated using synthetic data. Following the computational testing, results from patient data are obtained that indicate a dominant increase in surround inhibition prior to seizure onset that subsides in the cases when the seizures spread
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