2,051 research outputs found
Wildfire Smoke Particle Properties and Evolution, from Space-Based Multi-Angle Imaging
Emitted smoke composition is determined by properties of the biomass burning source and ambient ecosystem. However, conditions that mediate the partitioning of black carbon (BC) and brown carbon (BrC) formation, as well as the spatial and temporal factors that drive particle evolution, are not understood adequately for many climate and air-quality related modeling applications. In situ observations provide considerable detail about aerosol microphysical and chemical properties, although sampling is extremely limited. Satellites offer the frequent global coverage that would allow for statistical characterization of emitted and evolved smoke, but generally lack microphysical detail. However, once properly validated, data from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Earth Observing Systems Multi-Angle Imaging Spectroradiometer (MISR) instrument can create at least a partial picture of smoke particle properties and plume evolution. We use in situ data from the Department of Energys Biomass Burning Observation Project (BBOP) field campaign to assess the strengths and limitations of smoke particle retrieval results from the MISR Research Aerosol (RA) retrieval algorithm. We then use MISR to characterize wildfire smoke particle properties and to identify the relevant aging factors in several cases, to the extent possible. The RA successfully maps qualitative changes in effective particle size, light absorption, and its spectral dependence, when compared to in situ observations. By observing the entire plume uniformly, the satellite data can be interpreted in terms of smoke plume evolution, including size-selective deposition, new-particle formation, and locations within the plume where BC or BrC dominates
A new extremely low-mass white dwarf in the NLTT catalogue
We report on the discovery of the extremely low-mass, hydrogen-rich white
dwarf, NLTT 11748. Based on measurements of the effective temperature
(8540+/-50 K) and surface gravity (log g = 6.20+/-0.15) obtained by fitting the
observed Balmer line profiles with synthetic spectra, we derive a mass of
0.167+/-0.005 M_solar. This object is one of only a handful of white dwarfs
with masses below 0.2 M_solar that are believed to be the product of close
binary evolution with an episode of Roche lobe overflow onto a degenerate
companion (neutron star or white dwarf). Assuming membership in the halo
population, as suggested by the kinematics and adopting a cooling age of 4.0 -
6.3 Gyrs for the white dwarf, we infer a progenitor mass of 0.87 - 0.93
M_solar. The likely companion has yet to be identified, but a search for radial
velocity variations may help constrain its nature.Comment: Accepted for publication in A&A Letter
Air-pollutant chemicals and oxidized lipids exhibit genome-wide synergistic effects on endothelial cells
Gene expression analysis of human microvascular endothelial cells exposed to diesel exhaust particles and oxidized phospholipids revealed several upregulated gene modules, including genes involved in vascular inflammatory processes such as atherosclerosis
Centre-of-mass separation in quantum mechanics: Implications for the many-body treatment in quantum chemistry and solid state physics
We address the question to what extent the centre-of-mass (COM) separation
can change our view of the many-body problem in quantum chemistry and solid
state physics. It was shown that the many-body treatment based on the
electron-vibrational Hamiltonian is fundamentally inconsistent with the
Born-Handy ansatz so that such a treatment can never respect the COM problem.
Born-Oppenheimer (B-O) approximation reveals some secret: it is a limit case
where the degrees of freedom can be treated in a classical way. Beyond the B-O
approximation they are inseparable in principle. The unique covariant
description of all equations with respect to individual degrees of freedom
leads to new types of interaction: besides the known vibronic (electron-phonon)
one the rotonic (electron-roton) and translonic (electron-translon)
interactions arise. We have proved that due to the COM problem only the
hypervibrations (hyperphonons, i.e. phonons + rotons + translons) have true
physical meaning in molecules and crystals; nevertheless, the use of pure
vibrations (phonons) is justified only in the adiabatic systems. This fact
calls for the total revision of our contemporary knowledge of all non-adiabatic
effects, especially the Jahn-Teller effect and superconductivity. The vibronic
coupling is responsible only for removing of electron (quasi)degeneracies but
for the explanation of symmetry breaking and forming of structure the rotonic
and translonic coupling is necessary.Comment: 39 pages, 11 sections, 3 appendice
New Low Accretion-Rate Magnetic Binary Systems and their Significance for the Evolution of Cataclysmic Variables
Discoveries of two new white dwarf plus M star binaries with striking optical
cyclotron emission features from the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS) brings to
six the total number of X-ray faint, magnetic accretion binaries that accrete
at rates < 10^{-13} Msun/yr, or <1% of the values normally encountered in
cataclysmic variables. This fact, coupled with donor stars that underfill their
Roche lobes and very cool white dwarfs, brand the binaries as post
common-envelope systems whose orbits have not yet decayed to the point of
Roche-lobe contact. They are pre-magnetic CVs, or pre-Polars. The systems
exhibit spin/orbit synchronism and apparently accrete by efficient capture of
the stellar wind from the secondary star, a process that has been dubbed a
``magnetic siphon''. Because of this, period evolution of the binaries will
occur solely by gravitational radiation, which is very slow for periods >3 hr.
Optical surveys for the cyclotron harmonics appear to be the only means of
discovery, so the space density of pre-Polars could rival that of Polars, and
the binaries provide an important channel of progenitors (in addition to the
asynchronous Intermediate Polars). Both physical and SDSS observational
selection effects are identified that may help to explain the clumping of all
six systems in a narrow range of magnetic field strength around 60 MG.Comment: 25 pages, 13 figures, Accepted to Ap
Ab Initio Molecular Dynamics Simulation of Liquid Ga_xAs_{1-x} Alloys
We report the results of ab initio molecular dynamics simulations of liquid
Ga_xAs_{1-x} alloys at five different concentrations, at a temperature of 1600
K, just above the melting point of GaAs. The liquid is predicted to be metallic
at all concentrations between x = 0.2 and x = 0.8, with a weak resistivity
maximum near x = 0.5, consistent with the Faber-Ziman expression. The
electronic density of states is finite at the Fermi energy for all
concentrations; there is, however, a significant pseudogap especially in the
As-rich samples. The Ga-rich density of states more closely resembles that of a
free-electron metal. The partial structure factors show only a weak indication
of chemical short-range order. There is also some residue of the covalent
bonding found in the solid, which shows up in the bond-angle distribution
functions of the liquid state. Finally, the atomic diffusion coefficients at
1600K are calculated to be 2.1 \times 10^{-4} cm^2/sec for Ga ions in
Ga_{0.8}As_{0.2} and 1.7 \times 10^{-4} cm^2/sec for As ions in
Ga_{0.2}As_{0.8}.Comment: 29 pages, 10 eps figures, accepted for publication in Phys. Rev.
Theory of inelastic lifetimes of low-energy electrons in metals
Electron dynamics in the bulk and at the surface of solid materials are well
known to play a key role in a variety of physical and chemical phenomena. In
this article we describe the main aspects of the interaction of low-energy
electrons with solids, and report extensive calculations of inelastic lifetimes
of both low-energy electrons in bulk materials and image-potential states at
metal surfaces. New calculations of inelastic lifetimes in a homogeneous
electron gas are presented, by using various well-known representations of the
electronic response of the medium. Band-structure calculations, which have been
recently carried out by the authors and collaborators, are reviewed, and future
work is addressed.Comment: 28 pages, 18 figures, to appear in Chem. Phy
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The crisis of patient-physician trust and bioethics: lessons and inspirations from China
Trust is indispensable not only for interpersonal relationships and social life, but for good quality healthcare. As manifested in the increasing violence and tension in patient-physician relationships, China has been experiencing a widespread and profound crisis of patient–physician trust. And globally, the crisis of trust is an issue that every society, either developing or developed, has to face in one way or another. Yet, in spite of some pioneering works, the subject of patient-physician trust and mistrust – a crucial matter in healthcare especially because there are numerous ethical implications – has largely been marginalized in bioethics as a global discourse. Drawing lessons as well as inspirations from China, this paper demonstrates the necessity of a trust-oriented bioethics and presents some key theoretical, methodological and philosophical elements of such a bioethics. A trust-oriented bioethics moves beyond the current dominant bioethical paradigms through putting the subject of trust and mistrust in the central agenda of the field, learning from the social sciences, and reviving indigenous moral resources. In order for global bioethics to claim its relevance to the things that truly matter in social life and healthcare, trust should be as vital as such central norms like autonomy and justice and can serve as a potent theoretical framework
Two Cases of Transfusion-related Acute Lung Injury Triggered by HLA and Anti-HLA Antibody Reaction
Transfusion-related acute lung injury (TRALI) is a serious adverse transfusion reaction that is presented as acute hypoxemia and non-cardiogenic pulmonary edema, which develops during or within 6 hr of transfusion. Major pathogenesis of TRALI is known to be related with anti-HLA class I, anti-HLA class II, or anti-HNA in donor's plasma. However, anti-HLA or anti-HNA in recipient against transfused donor's leukocyte antigens also cause TRALI in minor pathogenesis and which comprises about 10% of TRALI. Published reports of TRALI are relatively rare in Korea. In our cases, both patients presented with dyspnea and hypoxemia during transfusion of packed red blood cells and showed findings of bilateral pulmonary infiltrations at chest radiography. Findings of patients' anti-HLA antibodies and recipients' HLA concordance indicate that minor pathogenesis may be not as infrequent as we'd expected before. In addition, second case showed that anti-HLA class II antibodies could be responsible for immunopathogenic mechanisms, alone
Theoretical Study of One-dimensional Chains of Metal Atoms in Nanotubes
Using first-principles total-energy pseudopotential calculations, we have
studied the properties of chains of potassium and aluminum in nanotubes. For BN
tubes, there is little interaction between the metal chains and the tubes, and
the conductivity of these tubes is through carriers located at the inner part
of the tube. In contrast, for small radius carbon nanotubes, there are two
types of interactions: charge-transfer (dominant for alkali atoms) leading to
strong ionic cohesion, and hybridization (for multivalent metal atoms)
resulting in a smaller cohesion. For Al-atomic chains in carbon tubes, we show
that both effects contribute. New electronic properties related to these
confined atomic chains of metal are analyzed.Comment: 12 pages + 3 figure
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