Factors Driving Mercury Variability in the Arctic Atmosphere and Ocean over the Past 30 Years

[1] Long-term observations at Arctic sites (Alert and Zeppelin) show large interannual variability (IAV) in atmospheric mercury (Hg), implying a strong sensitivity of Hg to environmental factors and potentially to climate change. We use the GEOS-Chem global biogeochemical Hg model to interpret these observations and identify the principal drivers of spring and summer IAV in the Arctic atmosphere and surface ocean from 1979–2008. The model has moderate skill in simulating the observed atmospheric IAV at the two sites (r ~ 0.4) and successfully reproduces a long-term shift at Alert in the timing of the spring minimum from May to April (r = 0.7). Principal component analysis indicates that much of the IAV in the model can be explained by a single climate mode with high temperatures, low sea ice fraction, low cloudiness, and shallow boundary layer. This mode drives decreased bromine-driven deposition in spring and increased ocean evasion in summer. In the Arctic surface ocean, we find that the IAV for modeled total Hg is dominated by the meltwater flux of Hg previously deposited to sea ice, which is largest in years with high solar radiation (clear skies) and cold spring air temperature. Climate change in the Arctic is projected to result in increased cloudiness and strong warming in spring, which may thus lead to decreased Hg inputs to the Arctic Ocean. The effect of climate change on Hg discharges from Arctic rivers remains a major source of uncertainty.Earth and Planetary SciencesEngineering and Applied Science

Justification for Total Quality Management

This project deals with the questions: What is TQM? Why TQM? It describes TQM philosophies all the way through Deming\u27s 14 points, Juran\u27s Breakthrough sequence, and Crosby\u27s 14-Point Program. Examples are given from the industry. TQM is given a specific description. Resources for implementation of a TQM program are also discussed

Improving a Present Manufacturing Process by Implementing TQM and ISO 9001

The team are taking an existing manufacturing process which products battery packs. It is changing details of the handling each step of the process in order to comply with ISO 9001 standard of quality. The current process is suffering from an excessive quality costs. The team is utilizing Statistical Process Control in order to identify the causes behind the failures in the process and suggest suitable solutions. Statistical Process Control includes Pareto Diagram, cause and effect analysis, ideas finding , solutions finding , and suggestions for implementation

Evaluation and Improvement of the Customers Satisfaction at the PSU Cafeteria

The team selected different parameters discussing with the actual manager of PSU cafeteria and customers to know which were critical process. Statistical analysis was chosen. The team surveyed 75 customers in order to evaluate their perception of the quality of the food of the cafeteria. Moreover, we compute data regarding the number of people waiting on line at rush hours. The rush hours were indicated by the cafeteria personnel to be at lunch time and dinner time

Entrepreneurial Success: How It Relates to the Management ofInnovation

In this paper we examine the very strong link between effective management of innovation and ultimate entrepreneurial success. Entrepreneurs tend to be the drivers of technological innovation. However, the ability to truly manage that innovation has historically amplified their successes. Several examples of effective management of technological innovation are outlined in this paper. In addition, examples of entrepreneurs who failed to use all of these concepts are shown, along with the relationship between their lack of ultimate success and their limited management of innovation

Comparison of hemodynamic performance of self-expandable CoreValve versus balloon-expandable Edwards SAPIEN aortic valves inserted by catheter for aortic stenosis

Transcatheter aortic valve implantation with the self-expandable Core Valve (CV) and the balloon-expandable Edwards SAPIEN (ES) bioprostheses has been widely used for the treatment of severe aortic stenosis. However, a direct comparison of the hemodynamic results associated with these 2 prostheses is lacking. The aim of the present study was to compare the hemodynamic performance of both bioprostheses. A total of 41 patients who underwent transcatheter aortic valve implantation with the CV prosthesis were matched 1:1 for prosthesis size (26 mm), aortic annulus size, left ventricular ejection fraction, body surface area, and body mass index with patients who underwent transcatheter aortic valve implantation with the ES prosthesis. Doppler-echocardiographic data were prospectively collected before the intervention and at hospital discharge, and all examinations were sent to, and analyzed in, a central echocardiography core laboratory. The mean transprosthetic residual gradient was lower (p = 0.024) in the CV group (7.9 +/- 3.1 mm Hg) than in the ES group (9.7 +/- 3.8 mm Hg). The effective orifice area tended to be greater in the CV group (1.58 +/- 0.31 cm(2) vs 1.49 +/- 0.24 cm(2), p = 0.10). The incidence of severe prosthesis patient mismatch was, however, similar between the 2 groups (effective orifice area indexed to the body surface area <= 0.65 cm(2)/m(2); CV 9.8%, ES 9.8%, p = 1.0). The incidence of paravalvular aortic regurgitation was greater with the CV (grade 1 or more in 85.4%, grade 2 or more in 39%) than with the ES (grade 1 or more in 58.5%, grade 2 or more in 22%; p = 0.001). The number and extent of paravalvular leaks were greater in the CV group (p < 0.01 for both comparisons). In conclusion, transcatheter aortic valve implantation with the CV prosthesis was associated with a lower residual gradient but a greater rate of paravalvular aortic regurgitation compared to the ES prosthesis. The potential clinical consequences of the differences in hemodynamic performance between these transcatheter heart valves needs to be addressed in future studies