2,287 research outputs found
Tropospheric HONO distribution and chemistry in the southeastern US
Here we report the measurement results of nitrous acid (HONO) and a suite of relevant parameters on the NCAR C-130 research aircraft in the southeastern US during the NOMADSS 2013 summer field study. The daytime HONO concentration ranged from low parts per trillion by volume (pptv) in the free troposphere (FT) to mostly within 5-15 pptv in the background planetary boundary layer (PBL). There was no discernible vertical HONO gradient above the lower flight altitude of 300m in the PBL, and the transport of ground surface HONO was not found to be a significant contributor to the tropospheric HONO budget. The total in situ HONO source mean (+/- 1 SD) was calculated as 53 (+/- 21) pptv h(-1) during the day. The upper-limit contribution from NOx-related reactions was 10 (+/- 5) pptv h(-1), and the contribution from photolysis of particulate nitrate (pNO(3)) was 38 (+/- 23) pptv h(-1), based on the measured pNO(3) concentrations and the median pNO(3) photolysis rate constant of 2.0 x 10 4 s(-1) determined in the laboratory using ambient aerosol samples. The photolysis of HONO contributed to less than 10% of the primary OH source. However, a recycling NOx source via pNO(3) photolysis was equivalent to similar to 2.3 x 10(-6) molm(-2) h(-1) in the air column within the PBL, a considerable supplementary NOx source in the low-NOx background area. Up to several tens of parts per trillion by volume of HONO were observed in power plant and urban plumes during the day, mostly produced in situ from precursors including NOx and pNO(3). Finally, there was no observable accumulation of HONO in the nocturnal residual layer and the nocturnal FT in the background southeastern US, with an increase in the HONO / NOx ratio ofPeer reviewe
Realism about the Wave Function
A century after the discovery of quantum mechanics, the meaning of quantum
mechanics still remains elusive. This is largely due to the puzzling nature of
the wave function, the central object in quantum mechanics. If we are realists
about quantum mechanics, how should we understand the wave function? What does
it represent? What is its physical meaning? Answering these questions would
improve our understanding of what it means to be a realist about quantum
mechanics. In this survey article, I review and compare several realist
interpretations of the wave function. They fall into three categories:
ontological interpretations, nomological interpretations, and the \emph{sui
generis} interpretation. For simplicity, I will focus on non-relativistic
quantum mechanics.Comment: Penultimate version for Philosophy Compas
Search for solar Kaluza-Klein axions in theories of low-scale quantum gravity
We explore the physics potential of a terrestrial detector for observing
axionic Kaluza-Klein excitations coming from the Sun within the context of
higher-dimensional theories of low-scale quantum gravity. In these theories,
the heavier Kaluza-Klein axions are relatively short-lived and may be detected
by a coincidental triggering of their two-photon decay mode. Because of the
expected high multiplicity of the solar axionic excitations, we find
experimental sensitivity to a fundamental Peccei-Quinn axion mass up to
eV (corresponding to an effective axion-photon coupling GeV) in theories with 2 extra
dimensions and a fundamental quantum-gravity scale of order 100
TeV, and up to eV (corresponding to GeV) in theories with 3 extra dimensions and
TeV. For comparison, based on recent data obtained from lowest
level underground experiments, we derive the experimental limits: GeV and GeV in the
aforementioned theories with 2 and 3 large compact dimensions, respectively.Comment: 19 pages, extended version, as to appear in Physical Review
First direct measurements of formaldehyde flux via eddy covariance: implications for missing in-canopy formaldehyde sources
We report the first observations of formaldehyde (HCHO) flux measured via eddy covariance, as well as HCHO concentrations and gradients, as observed by the Madison Fiber Laser-Induced Fluorescence Instrument during the BEACHON-ROCS 2010 campaign in a rural, Ponderosa Pine forest northwest of Colorado Springs, CO. A median noon upward flux of ~80 &mu;g m<sup>&minus;2</sup> h<sup>&minus;1</sup> (~24 ppt<sub>v</sub> m s<sup>&minus;1</sup>) was observed with a noon range of 37 to 131 &mu;g m<sup>&minus;2</sup> h<sup>&minus;1</sup>. Enclosure experiments were performed to determine the HCHO branch (3.5 &mu;g m<sup>-2</sup> h<sup>&minus;1</sup>) and soil (7.3 &mu;g m<sup>&minus;2</sup> h<sup>&minus;1</sup>) direct emission rates in the canopy. A zero-dimensional canopy box model, used to determine the apportionment of HCHO source and sink contributions to the flux, underpredicted the observed HCHO flux by a factor of 6. Simulated increases in concentrations of species similar to monoterpenes resulted in poor agreement with measurements, while simulated increases in direct HCHO emissions and/or concentrations of species similar to 2-methyl-3-buten-2-ol best improved model/measurement agreement. Given the typical diurnal variability of these BVOC emissions and direct HCHO emissions, this suggests that the source of the missing flux is a process with both a strong temperature and radiation dependence
TRH: Pathophysiologic and clinical implications
Thyrotropin releasing hormone is thought to be a tonic stimulator of the pituitary TSH secretion regulating the setpoint of the thyrotrophs to the suppressive effect of thyroid hormones. The peptide stimulates the release of normal and elevated prolactin. ACTH and GH may increase in response to exogenous TRH in pituitary ACTH and GH hypersecretion syndromes and in some extrapituitary diseases.
The pathophysiological implications of extrahypothalamic TRH in humans are essentially unknown.
The TSH response to TRH is nowadays widely used as a diganostic amplifier in thyroid diseases being suppressed in borderline and overt hyperthyroid states and increased in primary thyroid failure. In hypothyroid states of hypothalamic origin, TSH increases in response to exogenous TRH often with a delayed and/or exaggerated time course.
But in patients with pituitary tumors and suprasellar extension TSH may also respond to TRH despite secondary hypothyroidism. This TSH increase may indicate a suprasellar cause for the secondary hypothyroidism, probably due to portal vessel occlusion. The TSH released in these cases is shown to be biologically inactive
Missing peroxy radical sources within a summertime ponderosa pine forest
Organic peroxy (RO<sub>2</sub>) and hydroperoxy (HO<sub>2</sub>) radicals are key
intermediates in the photochemical processes that generate ozone, secondary
organic aerosol and reactive nitrogen reservoirs throughout the troposphere.
In regions with ample biogenic hydrocarbons, the richness and complexity of
peroxy radical chemistry presents a significant challenge to
current-generation models, especially given the scarcity of measurements in
such environments. We present peroxy radical observations acquired within a
ponderosa pine forest during the summer 2010 Bio-hydro-atmosphere
interactions of Energy, Aerosols, Carbon, H<sub>2</sub>O, Organics and Nitrogen –
Rocky Mountain Organic Carbon Study (BEACHON-ROCS). Total peroxy radical
mixing ratios reach as high as 180 pptv (parts per trillion by volume) and are among the highest yet
recorded. Using the comprehensive measurement suite to constrain a
near-explicit 0-D box model, we investigate the sources, sinks and
distribution of peroxy radicals below the forest canopy. The base chemical
mechanism underestimates total peroxy radicals by as much as a factor of 3.
Since primary reaction partners for peroxy radicals are either measured (NO)
or underpredicted (HO<sub>2</sub> and RO<sub>2</sub>, i.e., self-reaction), missing
sources are the most likely explanation for this result. A close comparison
of model output with observations reveals at least two distinct source
signatures. The first missing source, characterized by a sharp midday
maximum and a strong dependence on solar radiation, is consistent with
photolytic production of HO<sub>2</sub>. The diel profile of the second missing
source peaks in the afternoon and suggests a process that generates RO<sub>2</sub>
independently of sun-driven photochemistry, such as ozonolysis of reactive
hydrocarbons. The maximum magnitudes of these missing sources
(~120 and 50 pptv min<sup>−1</sup>, respectively) are consistent
with previous observations alluding to unexpectedly intense oxidation within
forests. We conclude that a similar mechanism may underlie many such
observations
Discovery and Rossiter-McLaughlin Effect of Exoplanet Kepler-8b
We report the discovery and the Rossiter-McLaughlin effect of Kepler-8b, a
transiting planet identified by the NASA Kepler Mission. Kepler photometry and
Keck-HIRES radial velocities yield the radius and mass of the planet around
this F8IV subgiant host star. The planet has a radius RP = 1.419 RJ and a mass,
MP = 0.60 MJ, yielding a density of 0.26 g cm^-3, among the lowest density
planets known. The orbital period is P = 3.523 days and orbital semima jor axis
is 0.0483+0.0006/-0.0012 AU. The star has a large rotational v sin i of 10.5
+/- 0.7 km s^-1 and is relatively faint (V = 13.89 mag), both properties
deleterious to precise Doppler measurements. The velocities are indeed noisy,
with scatter of 30 m s^-1, but exhibit a period and phase consistent with the
planet implied by the photometry. We securely detect the Rossiter-McLaughlin
effect, confirming the planet's existence and establishing its orbit as
prograde. We measure an inclination between the projected planetary orbital
axis and the projected stellar rotation axis of lambda = -26.9 +/- 4.6 deg,
indicating a moderate inclination of the planetary orbit. Rossiter-McLaughlin
measurements of a large sample of transiting planets from Kepler will provide a
statistically robust measure of the true distribution of spin-orbit
orientations for hot jupiters in general.Comment: 26 pages, 8 figures, 2 tables; In preparation for submission to the
Astrophysical Journa
Emerging Infectious Disease leads to Rapid Population Decline of Common British Birds
Emerging infectious diseases are increasingly cited as threats to wildlife, livestock and humans alike. They can threaten geographically isolated or critically endangered wildlife populations; however, relatively few studies have clearly demonstrated the extent to which emerging diseases can impact populations of common wildlife species. Here, we report the impact of an emerging protozoal disease on British populations of greenfinch Carduelis chloris and chaffinch Fringilla coelebs, two of the most common birds in Britain. Morphological and molecular analyses showed this to be due to Trichomonas gallinae. Trichomonosis emerged as a novel fatal disease of finches in Britain in 2005 and rapidly became epidemic within greenfinch, and to a lesser extent chaffinch, populations in 2006. By 2007, breeding populations of greenfinches and chaffinches in the geographic region of highest disease incidence had decreased by 35% and 21% respectively, representing mortality in excess of half a million birds. In contrast, declines were less pronounced or absent in these species in regions where the disease was found in intermediate or low incidence. Also, populations of dunnock Prunella modularis, which similarly feeds in gardens, but in which T. gallinae was rarely recorded, did not decline. This is the first trichomonosis epidemic reported in the scientific literature to negatively impact populations of free-ranging non-columbiform species, and such levels of mortality and decline due to an emerging infectious disease are unprecedented in British wild bird populations. This disease emergence event demonstrates the potential for a protozoan parasite to jump avian host taxonomic groups with dramatic effect over a short time period
Regularity Properties and Pathologies of Position-Space Renormalization-Group Transformations
We reconsider the conceptual foundations of the renormalization-group (RG)
formalism, and prove some rigorous theorems on the regularity properties and
possible pathologies of the RG map. Regarding regularity, we show that the RG
map, defined on a suitable space of interactions (= formal Hamiltonians), is
always single-valued and Lipschitz continuous on its domain of definition. This
rules out a recently proposed scenario for the RG description of first-order
phase transitions. On the pathological side, we make rigorous some arguments of
Griffiths, Pearce and Israel, and prove in several cases that the renormalized
measure is not a Gibbs measure for any reasonable interaction. This means that
the RG map is ill-defined, and that the conventional RG description of
first-order phase transitions is not universally valid. For decimation or
Kadanoff transformations applied to the Ising model in dimension ,
these pathologies occur in a full neighborhood of the low-temperature part of the first-order
phase-transition surface. For block-averaging transformations applied to the
Ising model in dimension , the pathologies occur at low temperatures
for arbitrary magnetic-field strength. Pathologies may also occur in the
critical region for Ising models in dimension . We discuss in detail
the distinction between Gibbsian and non-Gibbsian measures, and give a rather
complete catalogue of the known examples. Finally, we discuss the heuristic and
numerical evidence on RG pathologies in the light of our rigorous theorems.Comment: 273 pages including 14 figures, Postscript, See also
ftp.scri.fsu.edu:hep-lat/papers/9210/9210032.ps.
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