2,654 research outputs found
Dry deposition of nitrogen containing species
Nitrogen oxides (NO_x) emissions and the oxidation products formed by photochemical interactions in the atmosphere are responsible for a significant fraction of both dry and wet acid deposition fluxes. In his paper a vertically-resolved, Lagrangian trajectory model is used to predict the diurnal variation of: NO, NO_2, NO_3, HONO, HONO_2, HO_2NO_2, RONO, RONO_2, RO_2NO_2, N_2O_5 and PAN over an urban airshed. Particular attention is given to the fate of nitric acid and its reaction with gaseous ammonia to form, aerosol phase, ammonium nitrate. A simple model for estimating the deposition fluxes of these species is also presented. A study of the fate of nitrogen oxides emissions, in the
South Coast Air Basin of southern California, is used to illustrate the procedures
Validity and Accuracy of Atmospheric Air Quality Models
Effective evaluation of air pollution
control strategies requires the use of validated
and reliable mathematical models that can relate
pollutant emissions to atmospheric air quality.
The derivation and use of such models, at least
for inert and linearly decaying pollutants such
as CO and SO_2, has received a great deal of
attention. Much less work has been devoted to
assessing how the model predictions are related
to actual atmospheric concentrations. The
objectives of this paper are to formulate the
concepts of validity and accuracy and to suggest
and describe some experiments that can be performed
to assess these features
The dynamics of nitric acid production and the fate of nitrogen oxides
A mathematical model is used to study the fate of nitrogen oxides (NO_x) emissions and the reactions responsible for the formation of nitric acid (HNO_3). Model results indicate that the majority of the NO_x inserted into an air parcel in the Los Angeles basin is removed by dry deposition at the ground during the first 24 h of travel, and that HNO_3 is the largest single contributor to this deposition flux. A significant amount of the nitric acid is produced at night by N_2O_5 hydrolysis. Perturbation of the N_2O_5 hydrolysis rate constant within the chemical mechanism results in redistribution of the pathway by which HNO_3 is formed, but does not greatly affect the total amount of HNO_3 produced. Inclusion of NO_3-aerosol and N_2O_5-aerosol reactions does not affect the system greatly at collision efficiencies, α, of 0.001, but at α = 0.1 or α = 1.0, a great deal of nitric acid could be produced by heterogeneous chemical processes.
Ability to account for the observed nitrate radical (NO_3) concentrations in the atmosphere provides a key test of the air quality modeling procedure. Predicted NO_3 concentrations compare well with those measured by Platt et al. (Geophys. Res. Lett.7, 89–92, 1980). Analysis shows that transport, deposition and emissions, as well as chemistry, are important in explaining the behavior of NO_3 in the atmosphere
The Quantum Socket: Three-Dimensional Wiring for Extensible Quantum Computing
Quantum computing architectures are on the verge of scalability, a key
requirement for the implementation of a universal quantum computer. The next
stage in this quest is the realization of quantum error correction codes, which
will mitigate the impact of faulty quantum information on a quantum computer.
Architectures with ten or more quantum bits (qubits) have been realized using
trapped ions and superconducting circuits. While these implementations are
potentially scalable, true scalability will require systems engineering to
combine quantum and classical hardware. One technology demanding imminent
efforts is the realization of a suitable wiring method for the control and
measurement of a large number of qubits. In this work, we introduce an
interconnect solution for solid-state qubits: The quantum socket. The quantum
socket fully exploits the third dimension to connect classical electronics to
qubits with higher density and better performance than two-dimensional methods
based on wire bonding. The quantum socket is based on spring-mounted micro
wires the three-dimensional wires that push directly on a micro-fabricated
chip, making electrical contact. A small wire cross section (~1 mmm), nearly
non-magnetic components, and functionality at low temperatures make the quantum
socket ideal to operate solid-state qubits. The wires have a coaxial geometry
and operate over a frequency range from DC to 8 GHz, with a contact resistance
of ~150 mohm, an impedance mismatch of ~10 ohm, and minimal crosstalk. As a
proof of principle, we fabricated and used a quantum socket to measure
superconducting resonators at a temperature of ~10 mK.Comment: Main: 31 pages, 19 figs., 8 tables, 8 apps.; suppl.: 4 pages, 5 figs.
(HiRes figs. and movies on request). Submitte
Effect of high temperature heat treatments on the quality factor of a large-grain superconducting radio-frequency niobium cavity
Large-grain Nb has become a viable alternative to fine-grain Nb for the
fabrication of superconducting radio-frequency cavities. In this contribution
we report the results from a heat treatment study of a large-grain 1.5 GHz
single-cell cavity made of "medium purity" Nb. The baseline surface preparation
prior to heat treatment consisted of standard buffered chemical polishing. The
heat treatment in the range 800 - 1400 C was done in a newly designed vacuum
induction furnace. Q0 values of the order of 2x1010 at 2.0 K and peak surface
magnetic field (Bp) of 90 mT were achieved reproducibly. A Q0-value of
(5+-1)1010 at 2.0 K and Bp = 90 mT was obtained after heat treatment at 1400 C.
This is the highest value ever reported at this temperature, frequency and
field. Samples heat treated with the cavity at 1400 C were analyzed by
secondary ion mass spectrometry, secondary electron microscopy, energy
dispersive X-ray, point contact tunneling and X-ray diffraction and revealed a
complex surface composition which includes titanium oxide, increased carbon and
nitrogen content but reduced hydrogen concentration compared to a non
heat-treated sample
A cost effectiveness study of integrated care in health services delivery: a diabetes program in Australia
BACKGROUND: Type 2 diabetes is rapidly growing as a proportion of the disease burden in Australia as
elsewhere. This study addresses the cost effectiveness of an integrated approach to assisting general
practitioners (GPs) with diabetes management. This approach uses a centralized database of clinical data
of an Australian Division of General Practice (a network of GPs) to co-ordinate care according to national
guidelines.
METHODS: Long term outcomes for patients in the program were derived using clinical parameters after
5 years of program participation, and the United Kingdom Prospective Diabetes Study (UKPDS)
Outcomes Model, to project outcomes for 40 years from the time of diagnosis and from 5 years postdiagnosis.
Cost information was obtained from a range of sources. While program costs are directly
available, and costs of complications can be estimated from the UKPDS model, other costs are estimated
by comparing costs in the Division with average costs across the state or the nation. The outcome and
cost measures are used derive incremental cost-effectiveness ratios.
RESULTS: The clinical data show that the program is effective in the short term, with improvement or no
statistical difference in most clinical measures over 5 years. Average HbA1c levels increased by less than
expected over the 5 year period. While the program is estimated to generate treatment cost savings,
overall net costs are positive. However, the program led to projected improvements in expected life years
and Quality Adjusted Life Expectancy (QALE), with incremental cost effectiveness ratios of A9,730 per year of QALE gained.
CONCLUSIONS: The combination of an established model of diabetes progression and generally available
data has provided an opportunity to establish robust methods of testing the cost effectiveness of a
program for which a formal control group was not available. Based on this methodology, integrated health
care delivery provided by a network of GPs improved health outcomes of type 2 diabetics with acceptable
cost effectiveness, which suggests that similar outcomes may be obtained elsewhere
The Effect of Map Boundary on Estimates of Landscape Resistance to Animal Movement
BACKGROUND: Artificial boundaries on a map occur when the map extent does not cover the entire area of study; edges on the map do not exist on the ground. These artificial boundaries might bias the results of animal dispersal models by creating artificial barriers to movement for model organisms where there are no barriers for real organisms. Here, we characterize the effects of artificial boundaries on calculations of landscape resistance to movement using circuit theory. We then propose and test a solution to artificially inflated resistance values whereby we place a buffer around the artificial boundary as a substitute for the true, but unknown, habitat. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: We randomly assigned landscape resistance values to map cells in the buffer in proportion to their occurrence in the known map area. We used circuit theory to estimate landscape resistance to organism movement and gene flow, and compared the output across several scenarios: a habitat-quality map with artificial boundaries and no buffer, a map with a buffer composed of randomized habitat quality data, and a map with a buffer composed of the true habitat quality data. We tested the sensitivity of the randomized buffer to the possibility that the composition of the real but unknown buffer is biased toward high or low quality. We found that artificial boundaries result in an overestimate of landscape resistance. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE: Artificial map boundaries overestimate resistance values. We recommend the use of a buffer composed of randomized habitat data as a solution to this problem. We found that resistance estimated using the randomized buffer did not differ from estimates using the real data, even when the composition of the real data was varied. Our results may be relevant to those interested in employing Circuitscape software in landscape connectivity and landscape genetics studies
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