Hydrous Manganese Oxide Doped Gel Probe Sampler for Measuring In Situ Reductive Dissolution Rates. 2. Field Deployment

In situ rates of reductive dissolution in submerged shoreline sediments at Lake Tegel (Berlin, Germany) were measured with a novel hydrous manganese (Mn) oxide-doped gel probe sampler in concert with equilibrium gel probe and sequential extraction measurements. Rates were low in the top 8 cm, then showed a peak from 8 to 14 cm, with a maximum at 12 cm depth. This rate corresponded with a peak in dissolved porewater iron (Fe) at 11 cm depth. Below 14 cm, the reductive dissolution rate reached an intermediate steady value. Lower rates at depth corresponded with increases in operationally defined fractions of carbonate-bound and organic- and sulfide-bound Mn and Fe as detected by sequential extraction. Observed rates of reductive dissolution, which reflect a capacity for Mn reduction rather than actual rates under ambient conditions, appear to correlate with porewater chemistry and sequential extraction fractions as expected in early sediment diagenesis, and are consistent with previous measurements of in situ reductive dissolution rates. Significant downward advection in this bank filtration setting depletes the Mn and Fe oxides in the sediments and enhances the transport of dissolved Fe and Mn into the infiltrating water

On the role of the Knudsen layer in rapid granular flows

A combination of molecular-dynamics simulations, theoretical predictions, and previous experiments are used in a two-part study to determine the role of the Knudsen layer in rapid granular flows. First, a robust criterion for the identification of the thickness of the Knudsen layer is established: a rapid deterioration in Navier-Stokes-order prediction of the heat flux is found to occur in the Knudsen layer. For (experimental) systems in which heat flux measurements are not easily obtained, a rule-of-thumb for estimating the Knudsen layer thickness follows, namely that such effects are evident within 2.5 (local) mean free paths of a given boundary. Second, comparisons of simulation and experimental data with Navier-Stokes order theory are used to provide a measure as to when Knudsen layer effects become non-negligible. Specifically, predictions that do not account for the presence of a Knudsen layer appear reliable for Knudsen layers collectively composing up to 20% of the domain, whereas deterioration of such predictions becomes apparent when the domain is fully comprised of the Knudsen layer.Comment: 9 figures, accepted to Journal of Fluid Mechanic

Studies of Mass and Size Effects in Three-Dimensional Vibrofluidized Granular Mixtures

We examine the steady state properties of binary systems of driven inelastic hard spheres. The spheres, which move under the influence of gravity, are contained in a vertical cylinder with a vibrating base. We computed the trajectories of the spheres using an event-driven molecular dynamics algorithm. In the first part of the study, we chose simulation parameters that match those of experiments performed by Wildman and Parker. Various properties computed from the simulation including the density profile, granular temperature and circulation pattern are in good qualitative agreement with the experiments. We then studied the effect of varying the mass ratio and the size ratio independently while holding the other parameters constant. The mass and size ratio are shown to affect the distribution of the energy. The changes in the energy distributions affect the packing fraction and temperature of each component. The temperature of the heavier component has a non-linear dependence on the mass of the lighter component, while the temperature of the lighter component is approximately proportional to its mass. The temperature of both components is inversely dependent on the size of the smaller component.Comment: 14 Pages, 12 Figures, RevTeX

An integrated study of earth resources in the State of California based on ERTS-1 and supporting aircraft data

There are no author-identified significant results in this report

Status and specifications of a Project X front-end accelerator test facility at Fermilab

This paper describes the construction and operational status of an accelerator test facility for Project X. The purpose of this facility is for Project X component development activities that benefit from beam tests and any development activities that require 325 MHz or 650 MHz RF power. It presently includes an H- beam line, a 325 MHz superconducting cavity test facility, a 325 MHz (pulsed) RF power source, and a 650 MHz (CW) RF power source. The paper also discusses some specific Project X components that will be tested in the facility.Comment: 3 pp. Particle Accelerator, 24th Conference (PAC'11) 2011. 28 Mar - 1 Apr 2011. New York, US

Close-packed floating clusters: granular hydrodynamics beyond the freezing point?

Monodisperse granular flows often develop regions with hexagonal close packing of particles. We investigate this effect in a system of inelastic hard spheres driven from below by a "thermal" plate. Molecular dynamics simulations show, in a wide range of parameters, a close-packed cluster supported by a low-density region. Surprisingly, the steady-state density profile, including the close-packed cluster part, is well described by a variant of Navier-Stokes granular hydrodynamics (NSGH). We suggest a simple explanation for the success of NSGH beyond the freezing point.Comment: 4 pages, 5 figures. To appear in Phys. Rev. Let

Population Distributions of Thymic Function in Adults: Variation by Sociodemographic Characteristics and Health Status

The thymus is critical for mounting an effective immune response and maintaining health. However, epidemiologic studies characterizing thymic function in the population setting are lacking. Using data from 263 adults in the Detroit Neighborhood Health Study, we examined thymic function as measured by the number of signal joint T-cell receptor excision circles (sjTREC) and assessed associations with established indicators of physiological health. Overall, increasing age and male gender were significantly associated with reduced thymic function. Adjusting for covariates, individuals with elevated levels of the pro-inflammatory biomarkers C-reactive protein (β: −0.50 [95% CI: −0.82, −0.18] for moderate elevation; β: −0.29 [95% CI: −0.59, 0.00] for high elevation) and interleukin-6 (β: −0.60 [95% CI: −0.92, −0.28] for moderate elevation; β: −0.43 [95% CI: −0.77, −0.08] for severe elevation) also had lower thymic function. Compared to individuals with a BMI <25, individuals who were overweight (β: 0.36 [95% CI: 0.07, 0.64]) or obese (β: 0.27 [95% CI: −0.03, 0.56]) had higher thymic function. Differences by self-rated health were not statistically significant. Our findings underscore demographic- and health-related gradients in thymic function among adult residents of Detroit, suggesting thymic function may be an important biomarker of health status in adults at the population level