Gas sensors using correlation spectroscopy compatible with fibre-optic operation

This paper reviews methods for gas detection using real-time correlation spectroscopy. These methods involve using a gas sample in a reference cell as a matched optical filter to detect, preferentially, similar absorption spectra in a measurement cell. The methods all have the advantage of excellent selectivity, even using broadband sources, and are suitable for remote detection over optical-fibre leads. Our previously published methods using pressure and Stark modulation are reviewed. In addition, our recent theoretical treatment of the methods is presented. Finally, we describe new atmospheric-pressure measurements of gases using the method of phase-modulation spectroscopy

Oxygen Requirement and Inhibition of C4 Photosynthesis . An Analysis of C4 Plants Deficient in the C3 and C4 Cycles

The basis for O2 sensitivity of C4 photosynthesis was evaluated using a C4-cycle-limited mutant of Amaranthus edulis (a phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase-deficient mutant), and a C3-cycle-limited transformant of Flaveria bidentis (an antisense ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase [Rubisco] small subunit transformant). Data obtained with the C4-cycle-limited mutant showed that atmospheric levels of O2 (20 kPa) caused increased inhibition of photosynthesis as a result of higher levels of photorespiration. The optimal O2 partial pressure for photosynthesis was reduced from approximately 5 kPa O2 to 1 to 2 kPa O2, becoming similar to that of C3 plants. Therefore, the higher O2 requirement for optimal C4 photosynthesis is specifically associated with the C4 function. With the Rubisco-limited F. bidentis, there was less inhibition of photosynthesis by supraoptimal levels of O2 than in the wild type. When CO2 fixation by Rubisco is limited, an increase in the CO2 concentration in bundle-sheath cells via the C4 cycle may further reduce the oxygenase activity of Rubisco and decrease the inhibition of photosynthesis by high partial pressures of O2 while increasing CO2 leakage and overcycling of the C4 pathway. These results indicate that in C4 plants the investment in the C3 and C4 cycles must be balanced for maximum efficiency

Influence of Must Supplementation on Growth of Pediococcus spp. after Alcoholic Fermentation

One factor potentially affecting growth of wine spoilage microbes (e.g., Pediococcus spp.) is the presence of nutrients not consumed during alcoholic fermentation by Saccharomyces cerevisiae. To assess the impactof must nutrient supplementation on Pediococcus spp., synthetic grape musts containing low (55.2 mg N/L), medium (250 mg N/L), or high (530 mg N/L) concentrations of yeast assimilable nitrogen (YAN) were fermented by S. cerevisiae. Upon cessation of fermentative activity P. damnosus OW-2, P. inopinatus OW-8, P. parvulus WS-7C, WS-29A, OW-1, or P. pentosaceus ATCC 33316 were inoculated at 104 to 105 cfu/mL. With the exceptions of OW-1 and OW-2, none of the other species or strains grew in the synthetic wines unless yeast extract or peptone was added, suggesting the absence of an essential nutrient.  Experiments were replicated using Cabernet Sauvignon musts containing low (66.9 mg N/L), medium(219 mg N/L), and high (438 mg N/L) YAN. In general, wines containing the greatest residual amino acid concentrations (high YAN) supported better growth of the aforementioned Pediococcus spp. However, low YAN wines containing negligible residual nitrogen achieved similar populations after a short period of initial inhibition, suggesting that ‘excessive’ nitrogen supplementation to musts does not have a large impact on growth of pediococci post alcoholic fermentation

Jamming and Stress Propagation in Particulate Matter

We present simple models of particulate materials whose mechanical integrity arises from a jamming process. We argue that such media are generically "fragile", that is, they are unable to support certain types of incremental loading without plastic rearrangement. In such models, fragility is naturally linked to the marginal stability of force chain networks (granular skeletons) within the material. Fragile matter exhibits novel mechanical responses that may be relevant to both jammed colloids and cohesionless assemblies of poured, rigid grains.Comment: LATEX, 3 Figures, elsart.cls style file, 11 page

Superlattice Patterns in Surface Waves

We report novel superlattice wave patterns at the interface of a fluid layer driven vertically. These patterns are described most naturally in terms of two interacting hexagonal sublattices. Two frequency forcing at very large aspect ratio is utilized in this work. A superlattice pattern ("superlattice-I") consisting of two hexagonal lattices oriented at a relative angle of 22^o is obtained with a 6:7 ratio of forcing frequencies. Several theoretical approaches that may be useful in understanding this pattern have been proposed. In another example, the waves are fully described by two superimposed hexagonal lattices with a wavelength ratio of sqrt(3), oriented at a relative angle of 30^o. The time dependence of this "superlattice-II" wave pattern is unusual. The instantaneous patterns reveal a time-periodic stripe modulation that breaks the 6-fold symmetry at any instant, but the stripes are absent in the time average. The instantaneous patterns are not simply amplitude modulations of the primary standing wave. A transition from the superlattice-II state to a 12-fold quasi-crystalline pattern is observed by changing the relative phase of the two forcing frequencies. Phase diagrams of the observed patterns (including superlattices, quasicrystalline patterns, ordinary hexagons, and squares) are obtained as a function of the amplitudes and relative phases of the driving accelerations.Comment: 15 pages, 14 figures (gif), to appear in Physica

Properties of layer-by-layer vector stochastic models of force fluctuations in granular materials

We attempt to describe the stress distributions of granular packings using lattice-based layer-by-layer stochastic models that satisfy the constraints of force and torque balance and non-tensile forces at each site. The inherent asymmetry in the layer-by-layer approach appears to lead to an asymmetric force distribution, in disagreement with both experiments and general symmetry considerations. The vertical force component probability distribution is robust and in agreement with predictions of the scalar q model while the distribution of horizontal force components is qualitatively different and depends on the details of implementation.Comment: 18 pages, 12 figures (with subfigures), 1 table. Uses revtex, epsfig,subfigure, and cite. Submitted to PRE. Plots have been bitmapped. High-resolution version is available. Email [email protected] or download from http://rainbow.uchicago.edu/~mbnguyen/research/vm.htm

Stress Transmission through Three-Dimensional Ordered Granular Arrays

We measure the local contact forces at both the top and bottom boundaries of three-dimensional face-centered-cubic and hexagonal-close-packed granular crystals in response to an external force applied to a small area at the top surface. Depending on the crystal structure, we find markedly different results which can be understood in terms of force balance considerations in the specific geometry of the crystal. Small amounts of disorder are found to create additional structure at both the top and bottom surfaces.Comment: 9 pages including 9 figures (many in color) submitted to PR

Anisotropy in granular media: classical elasticity and directed force chain network

A general approach is presented for understanding the stress response function in anisotropic granular layers in two dimensions. The formalism accommodates both classical anisotropic elasticity theory and linear theories of anisotropic directed force chain networks. Perhaps surprisingly, two-peak response functions can occur even for classical, anisotropic elastic materials, such as triangular networks of springs with different stiffnesses. In such cases, the peak widths grow linearly with the height of the layer, contrary to the diffusive spreading found in `stress-only' hyperbolic models. In principle, directed force chain networks can exhibit the two-peak, diffusively spreading response function of hyperbolic models, but all models in a particular class studied here are found to be in the elliptic regime.Comment: 34 pages, 17 figures (eps), submitted to PRE, figures amended, partially to compare better to recent exp. wor

Scale-free static and dynamical correlations in melts of monodisperse and Flory-distributed homopolymers: A review of recent bond-fluctuation model studies

It has been assumed until very recently that all long-range correlations are screened in three-dimensional melts of linear homopolymers on distances beyond the correlation length $\xi$ characterizing the decay of the density fluctuations. Summarizing simulation results obtained by means of a variant of the bond-fluctuation model with finite monomer excluded volume interactions and topology violating local and global Monte Carlo moves, we show that due to an interplay of the chain connectivity and the incompressibility constraint, both static and dynamical correlations arise on distances $r \gg \xi$. These correlations are scale-free and, surprisingly, do not depend explicitly on the compressibility of the solution. Both monodisperse and (essentially) Flory-distributed equilibrium polymers are considered.Comment: 60 pages, 49 figure