1,707 research outputs found
Does ultrasonic dispersion and homogenization by ball milling change the chemical structure of organic matter in geochemical samples?—a CPMAS 13C NMR study with lignin
6 pages, 2 figures, 2 tables, 23 references.Ultrasonic dispersion of geochemical samples suspended in water and subsequent homogenization by ball milling is widely used for fractionation of organic matter. The effect of these treatments on organic matter is investigated with lignin as a model compound. Structural alterations detectable by solid-state 13C nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy were examined. Comparison of the solid-state 13C NMR spectra of untreated lignin and lignin mixed with quartz or soil did not reveal evidence for structural changes in the organic matter composition after ultrasonic dispersion and subsequent ball-milling. The chemical structure of organic matter in geochemical samples is not affected by these treatments as far as such structural alterations can be detected by solid-state 13C NMR spectroscopy.This work was financially supported
by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (Ko 1035/6-land
2) and the Deutscher Akademischer Austauschdienst (Ref.
315, D/94/16993).Peer reviewe
Quantum statistics on graphs
Quantum graphs are commonly used as models of complex quantum systems, for
example molecules, networks of wires, and states of condensed matter. We
consider quantum statistics for indistinguishable spinless particles on a
graph, concentrating on the simplest case of abelian statistics for two
particles. In spite of the fact that graphs are locally one-dimensional, anyon
statistics emerge in a generalized form. A given graph may support a family of
independent anyon phases associated with topologically inequivalent exchange
processes. In addition, for sufficiently complex graphs, there appear new
discrete-valued phases. Our analysis is simplified by considering combinatorial
rather than metric graphs -- equivalently, a many-particle tight-binding model.
The results demonstrate that graphs provide an arena in which to study new
manifestations of quantum statistics. Possible applications include topological
quantum computing, topological insulators, the fractional quantum Hall effect,
superconductivity and molecular physics.Comment: 21 pages, 6 figure
Airborne contamination of forest soils by carbonaceous particles from industrial coal processing
In the German Ruhr-area industrial coal processing emitted large amounts of carbonaceous particles for a century until 1970. Our objectives were to detect the presence of airborne carbonaceous particles and assess their impact on the chemical structure of soil organic matter in two forest soils (Podzols) with potential sources of carbonaceous particles approximately 10 to 30 km away. Contamination was not visible macroscopicaily. Organic matter was characterized in bulk soils and in particle-size separates by elemental analysis, magnetic susceptibility measurement, reflected light microscopy, and 13C solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. Organic and mineral horizons contained carbonaceous particles including char, coke, and bituminous coal from coal combustion, coking, coal processing, and steel production. In the organic horizons of both soils we observed a material high in magnetic susceptibility (max. 109 × 10−8 m3 kg−1), whereas in the mineral horizons only the Podzol with an intense intermixing moder-type humus had high magnetic susceptibly. This Aeh horizon was extremely rich in organic carbon (139.4 g organic C kg−1), concentrated in the 20 to 2000 µm size separates. In the second Podzol, like in many natural soils, C concentrations were largest in the <20 µm separates. Bloch decay 13C magic angle spinning (MAS) NMR spectroscopy revealed a highly aromatic structure of the carbonaceous particles. Airborne carbonaceous particles formed a macroscopically indistinguishable mixture with natural soil organic matter and could be present in many soils neighboring industrialized areas.Peer reviewe
Maternal risk factors associated with low birth weight in Karachi: A case-control study
To evaluate maternal risk factors associated with low birth weight (LBW) among women aged 15-35 years, we carried out a hospital-based, case-control study on 262 cases (mothers of neonates weighing \u3c or = 2.5 kg) and 262 controls (mothers of neonates weighing \u3e 2.5 kg). Odds of delivering a low-birth-weight baby decreased with increase in maternal haemoglobin [odds ratio (OR): 0.701; 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.62-0.79]. Odds were greater among mothers not using iron supplements during pregnancy (OR: 2.88; 95% CI: 1.83-4.54). Mothers of LBW babies had lower haemoglobin levels before delivery
The Topology of Parabolic Character Varieties of Free Groups
Let G be a complex affine algebraic reductive group, and let K be a maximal
compact subgroup of G. Fix elements h_1,...,h_m in K. For n greater than or
equal to 0, let X (respectively, Y) be the space of equivalence classes of
representations of the free group of m+n generators in G (respectively, K) such
that for each i between 1 and m, the image of the i-th free generator is
conjugate to h_i. These spaces are parabolic analogues of character varieties
of free groups. We prove that Y is a strong deformation retraction of X. In
particular, X and Y are homotopy equivalent. We also describe explicit examples
relating X to relative character varieties.Comment: 16 pages, version 2 includes minor revisions and some modified
proofs, accepted for publication in Geometriae Dedicat
An infinite genus mapping class group and stable cohomology
We exhibit a finitely generated group \M whose rational homology is
isomorphic to the rational stable homology of the mapping class group. It is
defined as a mapping class group associated to a surface \su of infinite
genus, and contains all the pure mapping class groups of compact surfaces of
genus with boundary components, for any and . We
construct a representation of \M into the restricted symplectic group of the real Hilbert space generated by the homology
classes of non-separating circles on \su, which generalizes the classical
symplectic representation of the mapping class groups. Moreover, we show that
the first universal Chern class in H^2(\M,\Z) is the pull-back of the
Pressley-Segal class on the restricted linear group
via the inclusion .Comment: 14p., 8 figures, to appear in Commun.Math.Phy
TEnvR: MATLAB-Based Toolbox for Environmental Research
With the advancements in science and technology, datasets become larger and more multivariate, which warrants the need for programming tools for fast data processing and multivariate statistical analysis. Here, the MATLAB-based Toolbox for Environmental Research TEnvR (pronounced ten-ver ) is introduced. This novel toolbox includes 44 open-source codes for automated data analysis from a multitude of techniques, such as ultraviolet-visible, fluorescence, and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopies, as well as from ultrahigh resolution mass spectrometry. Provided are codes for processing data (e.g., spectral corrections, formula assignment), visualization of figures, calculation of metrics, multivariate statistics, and automated work-up of large datasets. TEnvR allows for efficient data analysis with minimal by-hand manual work by the user, which allows scientists to do research more efficiently. This manuscript is supplemented with a detailed tutorial, example data, and screenshots, which collectively provide instructions on how to use all codes. TEnvR is novice-friendly and experience in programming with MATLAB is not required. TEnvR fulfills the need for a concise MATLAB-based toolbox for working with environmental data and will be updated annually to keep pace with the latest advances and needs for computational work in the environmental sciences
Adopting a Whole Systems Approach to Transport Decarbonisation, Air Quality and Health: An Online Participatory Systems Mapping Case Study in the UK
In a drive to achieve net zero emissions, U.K. transport decarbonisation policies are predominantly focussed on measures to promote the uptake and use of electric vehicles (EVs). This is reflected in the COP26 Transport Declaration signed by 38 national governments, alongside city region governments, vehicle manufacturers and investors. However, emerging evidence suggests that EVs present multiple challenges for air quality, mobility and health, including risks from non-exhaust emissions (NEEs) and increasing reliance on vehicles for short trips. Understanding the interconnected links between electric mobility, human health and the environment, including synergies and trade-offs, requires a whole systems approach to transport policymaking. In the present paper, we describe the use of Participatory Systems Mapping (PSM) in which a diverse group of stakeholders collaboratively constructed a causal model of the U.K. surface transport system through a series of interactive online workshops. We present the map and its analysis, with our findings illustrating how unintended consequences of EV-focussed transport policies may have an impact on air quality, human health and important social functions of the transport system. We conclude by considering how online participatory causal modelling techniques could be effectively integrated with empirical metrics to facilitate effective policy design and appraisal in the transport sector
Antichain cutsets of strongly connected posets
Rival and Zaguia showed that the antichain cutsets of a finite Boolean
lattice are exactly the level sets. We show that a similar characterization of
antichain cutsets holds for any strongly connected poset of locally finite
height. As a corollary, we get such a characterization for semimodular
lattices, supersolvable lattices, Bruhat orders, locally shellable lattices,
and many more. We also consider a generalization to strongly connected
hypergraphs having finite edges.Comment: 12 pages; v2 contains minor fixes for publicatio
Nutritional management for reproductive efficiency
Nutrition influences reproductive efficiency and the survival of lambs and weaners but the costs of supplementary feeding or maintaining low stocking rates are not justified by the resulting income from higher lamb weaning rates and reduced weaner mortality. The current practice of segmenting the ewe flock using ultrasound scanning to determine the number of foetuses still results in groups of ewes with a wide range of condition scores and with widely differing nutritional requirements. This report describes an approach to precision management of pregnant ewes and weaners that is based on the e-sheep platform of technologies and uses computer-directed drafting for nutritional management of individual animals and walk-through weighing to monitor changing nutritional status. It is estimated that the cost of feeding a thousand-ewe flock can be reduced from 3300 for targeted feeding of 25% of ewes requiring additional nutrition and 20% of weaners at risk of dying. The cost of the targeted feeding strategy is more than justified by the value of additional 12-month-old animals, which is $9000. The e-sheep precision nutrition system is not attractive to industry at this stage because of the cost of the e-sheep infrastructure, the perceived complexity of the technology and the requirement for further research, but it is expected to be a commercial option within three years
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