Persistent warm-eddy transport to Antarctic ice shelves driven by enhanced summer westerlies

The offshore ocean heat supplied to the Antarctic continental shelves by warm eddies has the potential to greatly impact the melting rates of ice shelves and subsequent global sea level rise. While featured in modeling and some observational studies, the processes around how these warm eddies form and overcome the dynamic sub-surface barrier of the Antarctic Slope Front over the upper continental slope has not yet been clarified. Here we report on the detailed observations of persistent eddies carrying warm modified Cir- cumpolar Deep Water (CDW) onto the continental shelf of Prydz Bay, East Antarctica, using subsurface mooring and hydrographic section data from 2013-2015. We show the warm-eddy transport is most active when the summer westerlies strengthen, which promotes the upwelling of CDW and initiates eddy formation and intrusions. Our study highlights the important role of warm eddies in the melting of Antarctica’s ice shelves, both now and into the future. Keywords: Antarctic Deep Water, ocean heat, warm eddie

Shape-Controlled Synthesis of ZnS Nanostructures: A Simple and Rapid Method for One-Dimensional Materials by Plasma

In this paper, ZnS one-dimensional (1D) nanostructures including tetrapods, nanorods, nanobelts, and nanoslices were selectively synthesized by using RF thermal plasma in a wall-free way. The feeding rate and the cooling flow rate were the critical experimental parameters for defining the morphology of the final products. The detailed structures of synthesized ZnS nanostructures were studied through transmission electron microscope, X-ray diffraction, and high-resolution transmission electron microscope. A collision-controlled growth mechanism was proposed to explain the growth process that occurred exclusively in the gas current by a flowing way, and the whole process was completed in several seconds. In conclusion, the present synthetic route provides a facile way to synthesize ZnS and other hexagonal-structured 1D nanostructures in a rapid and scalable way

Fabrication of Porous TiO2 Hollow Spheres and Their Application in Gas Sensing

In this work, porous TiO2 hollow spheres with an average diameter of 100 nm and shell thickness of 20 nm were synthesized by a facile hydrothermal method with NH4HCO3 as the structure-directing agent, and the formation mechanism for this porous hollow structure was proved to be the Ostwald ripening process by tracking the morphology of the products at different reaction stages. The product was characterized by SEM, TEM, XRD and BET analyses, and the results show that the as-synthesized products are anatase phase with a high surface area up to 132.5 m2/g. Gas-sensing investigation reveals that the product possesses sensitive response to methanal gas at 200°C due to its high surface area

Acute Ethanol Inhibition of γ Oscillations Is Mediated by Akt and GSK3β

Hippocampal network oscillations at gamma band frequency (γ, 30–80 Hz) are closely associated with higher brain functions such as learning and memory. Acute ethanol exposure at intoxicating concentrations (≥50 mM) impairs cognitive function. This study aimed to determine the effects and the mechanisms of acute ethanol exposure on γ oscillations in an in vitro model. Ethanol (25–100 mM) suppressed kainate-induced γ oscillations in CA3 area of the rat hippocampal slices, in a concentration-dependent, reversible manner. The ethanol-induced suppression was reduced by the D1R antagonist SCH23390 or the PKA inhibitor H89, was prevented by the Akt inhibitor triciribine or the GSk3β inhibitor SB415286, was enhanced by the NMDA receptor antagonist D-AP5, but was not affected by the MAPK inhibitor U0126 or PI3K inhibitor wortmanin. Our results indicate that the intracellular kinases Akt and GSk3β play a critical role in the ethanol-induced suppression of γ oscillations and reveal new cellular pathways involved in the ethanol-induced cognitive impairment

A NEW COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF LOCAL URBAN MORPHOLOGY BASED ON LOCAL CLIMATE ZONES: A STUDY USING MOBILE SURVEYS IN CHENGDU TESTBED

Proceedings of the XXV ISUF International Conference “Urban Form and Social Context: from Traditions to Newest Demands” (Krasnoyarsk, July 5–9, 2018)The local climate zones (LCZ) classification introduced by Stewart and Oke is to standardize climatic observations. It aims at linking different land cover types to corresponding thermal properties directly from the perspective of urban geography. Yet the classification needs further development when it is applied to local studies, especially to analysis of the urban morphology. The World Urban Database and Access Portal Tools (WUDAPT) is intended to produce a global shared database capturing information on urban form and function for climate applications. Chengdu was chosen as a testbed for WUDAPT level 1 and level 2 development. This study’s purpose is to improve the local development and validate the applicability of the LCZ classification in Chengdu in hot summer and cold winter areas in China based on the urban morphological methods in architecture and urban design. A local urban morphological analysis template was developed, including qualitative characteristics and quantitative indicators. Field investigations on urban morphology and mobile surveys on air temperature have taken place 3 times since the summer of 2017 to gather the data about air temperature with surveyors going by vehicles and on foot. The result was in general accord with the LCZ theory. Moreover, it presented some interesting differences under the impact of local urban morphology

Optical Emission Spectroscopy Diagnostics of Atmospheric Pressure Radio Frequency Ar-H-2 Inductively Coupled Thermal Plasma

The atmospheric pressure radio frequency (RF) inductively coupled thermal plasma (ICTP) has been extensively used for many industrial processes. In order to understand the physical-chemical mechanism involved in the discharge process of ICTP, in situ optical emission spectroscopy (OES) was carried out to diagnose and determine the active particles and electron excitation temperature in this plasma. Several active particles such as Ar*, H-alpha, and H-beta were detected in the emission spectrum of Ar-H-2 ICTP. Based on the Boltzmann plot method, the electron excitation temperature and thermal efficiency of ICTP were evaluated. It was obtained that the electron excitation temperatures in Ar-H-2 ICTP varied from 9651.70 to 16691.91 K when the applied power was in the range of 8-15 kW, which was significantly higher than the electron excitation temperature in Ar ICTP at the same applied power. Besides, the thermal efficiency was enhanced from 17.19% for the Ar ICTP to 30.69% for the Ar-H-2 ICTP. These results may be beneficial for understanding of the discharge process in atmospheric pressure Ar-H-2 ICTP

Mater. Lett.

A new esterification reaction under solvothermal conditions was first applied to synthesize CoO nanoparticles in this paper. Esterification reaction of cobalt acetate and anhydrous ethanol under solvothermal conditions results in the formation of CoO nanoparticles. The concentrations of cobalt acetate, reaction temperature and surfactant to as-synthesized CoO have been explored. SEM, TEM and XRD were employed to characterize the size, morphology and crystalline structure of the as-synthesized CoO nanoparticles. It is revealed that the FCC-structured CoO nanoparticles are of uniform tetragonal projected shape with good dispersion. Typically, Coo nanoparticles with an average size of 35 nm were obtained at 150 degrees C for 24h using 0.08mol/L solution of Co(CH3COO)(2)(.)4H(2)O in ethanol under solvothetmal conditions. (c) 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.A new esterification reaction under solvothermal conditions was first applied to synthesize CoO nanoparticles in this paper. Esterification reaction of cobalt acetate and anhydrous ethanol under solvothermal conditions results in the formation of CoO nanoparticles. The concentrations of cobalt acetate, reaction temperature and surfactant to as-synthesized CoO have been explored. SEM, TEM and XRD were employed to characterize the size, morphology and crystalline structure of the as-synthesized CoO nanoparticles. It is revealed that the FCC-structured CoO nanoparticles are of uniform tetragonal projected shape with good dispersion. Typically, Coo nanoparticles with an average size of 35 nm were obtained at 150 degrees C for 24h using 0.08mol/L solution of Co(CH3COO)(2)(.)4H(2)O in ethanol under solvothetmal conditions. (c) 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved

Mater. Lett.

Well dispersed nickel nanoparticles with uniform size were synthesized via a modified hydrazine reduction route without any surfactant introduced. Ethanol was used as solvent and played the complementary reducing role. The as-prepared samples were characterized by XRD, FESEM, TEM and TG. Pure metallic Ni could be easily obtained when ethanol instead of water was used as solvent. The particle surface was much improved when ethanol was involved in the reduction process at high temperature. The resultant particles have smooth surface and uniform size of about 50 nm. The nickel powders have an oxidization temperature of about 200 degrees C. The formation process was discussed based on the experimental results. (c) 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.Well dispersed nickel nanoparticles with uniform size were synthesized via a modified hydrazine reduction route without any surfactant introduced. Ethanol was used as solvent and played the complementary reducing role. The as-prepared samples were characterized by XRD, FESEM, TEM and TG. Pure metallic Ni could be easily obtained when ethanol instead of water was used as solvent. The particle surface was much improved when ethanol was involved in the reduction process at high temperature. The resultant particles have smooth surface and uniform size of about 50 nm. The nickel powders have an oxidization temperature of about 200 degrees C. The formation process was discussed based on the experimental results. (c) 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved