Sorption of sulfamethoxazole, sulfachloropyridazine and sulfamethazine onto six New Zealand dairy farm soils

We have investigated the sorption potential of three sulfonamides (SAs) in six New Zealand dairy farming soils using a modified batch equilibrium method employing 0.005 M CaCl₂ as background solution. Both liquid and solid phases were extracted to analyse for the antibiotic concentrations in order to avoid underestimation that may arise a result of photolysis or biotic degradation. The experimental data were later used to construct Freundlich isotherms to determine the effective distribution coefficients. Low log Koc value for all SAs suggests considerable leaching potential for SAs under conditions that are conducive for leaching. The sorption affinity for all soils followed the trend SCP>SMZ>SMO

Two-Hop Routing with Traffic-Differentiation for QoS Guarantee in Wireless Sensor Networks

This paper proposes a Traffic-Differentiated Two-Hop Routing protocol for Quality of Service (QoS) in Wireless Sensor Networks (WSNs). It targets WSN applications having different types of data traffic with several priorities. The protocol achieves to increase Packet Reception Ratio (PRR) and reduce end-to-end delay while considering multi-queue priority policy, two-hop neighborhood information, link reliability and power efficiency. The protocol is modular and utilizes effective methods for estimating the link metrics. Numerical results show that the proposed protocol is a feasible solution to addresses QoS service differenti- ation for traffic with different priorities.Comment: 13 page

Thermal effects on nuclear symmetry energy with a momentum-dependent effective interaction

The knowledge of the nuclear symmetry energy of hot neutron-rich matter is important for understanding the dynamical evolution of massive stars and the supernova explosion mechanisms. In particular, the electron capture rate on nuclei and/or free protons in presupernova explosions is especially sensitive to the symmetry energy at finite temperature. In view of the above, in the present work we calculate the symmetry energy as a function of the temperature for various values of the baryon density, by applying a momentum-dependent effective interaction. In addition to a previous work, the thermal effects are studied separately both in the kinetic part and the interaction part of the symmetry energy. We focus also on the calculations of the mean field potential, employed extensively in heavy ion reaction research, both for nuclear and pure neutron matter. The proton fraction and the electron chemical potential, which are crucial quantities for representing the thermal evolution of supernova and neutron stars, are calculated for various values of the temperature. Finally, we construct a temperature dependent equation of state of $\beta$-stable nuclear matter, the basic ingredient for the evaluation of the neutron star properties.Comment: 18 pages, 10 figures, 1 table, accepted for publication in Physical Review

Super-resolution microscopy: a brief history and new avenues.

Super-resolution microscopy (SRM) is a fast-developing field that encompasses fluorescence imaging techniques with the capability to resolve objects below the classical diffraction limit of optical resolution. Acknowledged with the Nobel prize in 2014, numerous SRM methods have meanwhile evolved and are being widely applied in biomedical research, all with specific strengths and shortcomings. While some techniques are capable of nanometre-scale molecular resolution, others are geared towards volumetric three-dimensional multi-colour or fast live-cell imaging. In this editorial review, we pick on the latest trends in the field. We start with a brief historical overview of both conceptual and commercial developments. Next, we highlight important parameters for imaging successfully with a particular super-resolution modality. Finally, we discuss the importance of reproducibility and quality control and the significance of open-source tools in microscopy. This article is part of the Theo Murphy meeting issue 'Super-resolution structured illumination microscopy (part 2)'

Top-Gated Chemical Vapor Deposited Mos2 Field-Effect Transistors On Si3N4 Substrates

We report the electrical characteristics of chemical vapor deposited (CVD) monolayer molybdenum disulfide (MoS2) top-gated field-effect transistors (FETs) on silicon nitride (Si3N4) substrates. We show that Si3N4 substrates offer comparable electrical performance to thermally grown SiO2 substrates for MoS2 FETs, offering an attractive passivating substrate for transition-metal dichalcogenides (TMD) with a smooth surface morphology. Single-crystal MoS2 grains are grown via vapor transport process using solid precursors directly on low pressure CVD Si3N4, eliminating the need for transfer processes which degrade electrical performance. Monolayer top-gated MoS2 FETs with Al2O3 gate dielectric on Si3N4 achieve a room temperature mobility of 24 cm(2)/V s with I-on/I-off current ratios exceeding 10(7). Using HfO2 as a gate dielectric, monolayer top-gated CVD MoS2 FETs on Si3N4 achieve current densities of 55 mu A/mu m and a transconductance of 6.12 mu S/mu m at V-tg of -5V and V-ds of 2V. We observe an increase in mobility at lower temperatures, indicating phonon scattering may dominate over charged impurity scattering in our devices. Our results show that Si3N4 is an attractive alternative to thermally grown SiO2 substrate for TMD FETs. (C) 2015 AIP Publishing LLC.STTR programNSF NASCENT ERCArmy Research Office under STTR W911NF-14-P-0030Microelectronics Research Cente

Analysis of physical-chemical processes governing SSME internal fluid flows

The efforts to adapt CHAM's computational fluid dynamics code, PHOENICS, to the analysis of flow within the high pressure fuel turbopump (HPFTP) aft-platform seal cavity of the SSME are summarized. In particular, the special purpose PHOENICS satellite and ground station specifically formulated for this application are listed and described, and the preliminary results of the first part two-dimensional analyses are presented and discussed. Planned three-dimensional analyses are also briefly outlined. To further understand the mixing and combustion processes in the SSME fuelside preburners, a single oxygen-hydrogen jet element was investigated

Evaluation of seismic displacement demand for unreinforced masonry shear walls

Unreinforced, non-engineered low-strength brick masonry structures comprise a large percentage of buildings in the Himalayan region and have been extensively damaged in recent earthquakes. Due to the high seismic hazard of the region and the inherent vulnerability of non-engineered masonry structures, a seismic assessment of masonry construction in this region is imperative. In this study, a suite of strong ground motions is developed using data from major Himalayan earthquakes. Using a mechanistic-based procedure for predicting the monotonic load envelope which identifies limit states of cracking, strength, and collapse using stress-based criteria, a hysteretic model was calibrated to experimental data of unreinforced masonry shear walls. Nonlinear time history analyses are performed on the validated single degree of freedom models of two unreinforced masonry walls. The analytical results correlate well with observed damage to masonry structures in Himalayan earthquakes. Peak ground acceleration of ground motion is observed to be the key parameter influencing displacement of walls. A linearly increasing trend is observed between the PGA and the observed displacement up to a PGA value of 0.1g. A weak correlation is observed between displacement and ground motion frequency parameters

Hatchery production of Black-lip pearl oyster spat in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands: a success story

The lustrous black pearls produced by the black-lip pearl oysler Pinctada margaritifera in the inner surface its two shells have become one of the most valuable pearls on earth with prices ranging from a minimum of 100 US$and to a maximum of 10,000 US$ per pearl, in the case of those at exceptional and rare quality. Through the production of black pearls from Pinctada margaritifera, the island country of Tahili became the global leader in this business controlling 28.8% of the world market