1,471 research outputs found
Measurements of methane and nitrous oxide in human breath and the development of UK scale emissions
Exhaled human breath can contain small, elevated concentrations of methane (CH4) and nitrous oxide (N2O), both of which contribute to global warming. These emissions from humans are not well understood and are rarely quantified in global greenhouse gas inventories. This study investigated emissions of CH4 and N2O in human breath from 104 volunteers in the UK population, to better understand what drives these emissions and to quantify national-scale estimates. A total of 328 breath samples were collected, and age, sex, dietary preference, and smoking habits were recorded for every participant. The percentage of methane producers (MPs) identified in this study was 31%. The percentage of MPs was higher in older age groups with 25% of people under the age of 30 classified as MPs compared to 40% in the 30+ age group. Females (38%) were more likely to be MPs than males (25%), though overall concentrations emitted from both MP groups were similar. All participants were found to emit N2O in breath, though none of the factors investigated explained the differences in emissions. Dietary preference was not found to affect CH4 or N2O emissions from breath in this study. We estimate a total emission of 1.04 (0.86â1.40) Gg of CH4 and 0.069 (0.066â0.072) Gg of N2O in human breath annually in the UK, the equivalent of 53.9 (47.8â60.0) Gg of CO2. In terms of magnitude, these values are approximately 0.05% and 0.1% of the total emissions of CH4 and N2O reported in the UK national greenhouse gas inventories
The political economy of the Jospin government
This article explores the political economy of the French Socialist Party (PS), beginning with the neo-liberal U-turn of 1983. It then charts the re-evaluation of the PS's political economic foundations after the 1993 defeat, the rejection of the neo-liberal 'pensée unique', and the rehabilitation of a broadly Keynesian frame of reference. The article goes on to explore how this shift has fed through into the Jospin government's policy and positions at both the national and international level. It explores aspirations to reinvent the EU as a Keynesian social democratic 'policy space', and at the national level, employment, macroeconomic, and structural policies
Inelastically scattering particles and wealth distribution in an open economy
Using the analogy with inelastic granular gasses we introduce a model for
wealth exchange in society. The dynamics is governed by a kinetic equation,
which allows for self-similar solutions. The scaling function has a power-law
tail, the exponent being given by a transcendental equation. In the limit of
continuous trading, closed form of the wealth distribution is calculated
analytically.Comment: 8 pages 5 figure
Brownian Motion in wedges, last passage time and the second arc-sine law
We consider a planar Brownian motion starting from at time and
stopped at and a set of semi-infinite
straight lines emanating from . Denoting by the last time when is
reached by the Brownian motion, we compute the probability law of . In
particular, we show that, for a symmetric and even values, this law can
be expressed as a sum of or functions. The original
result of Levy is recovered as the special case . A relation with the
problem of reaction-diffusion of a set of three particles in one dimension is
discussed
Optimal Self-Organization
We present computational and analytical results indicating that systems of
driven entities with repulsive interactions tend to reach an optimal state
associated with minimal interaction and minimal dissipation. Using concepts
from non-equilibrium thermodynamics and game theoretical ideas, we generalize
this finding to an even wider class of self-organizing systems which have the
ability to reach a state of maximal overall ``success''. This principle is
expected to be relevant for driven systems in physics like sheared granular
media, but it is also applicable to biological, social, and economic systems,
for which only a limited number of quantitative principles are available yet.Comment: This is the detailled revised version of a preprint on
``Self-Organised Optimality'' (cond-mat/9903319). For related work see
http://www.theo2.physik.uni-stuttgart.de/helbing.html and
http://angel.elte.hu/~vicsek
Approaches for advancing scientific understanding of macrosystems
The emergence of macrosystems ecology (MSE), which focuses on regional- to continental-scale ecological patterns and processes, builds upon a history of long-term and broad-scale studies in ecology. Scientists face the difficulty of integrating the many elements that make up macrosystems, which consist of hierarchical processes at interacting spatial and temporal scales. Researchers must also identify the most relevant scales and variables to be considered, the required data resources, and the appropriate study design to provide the proper inferences. The large volumes of multi-thematic data often associated with macrosystem studies typically require validation, standardization, and assimilation. Finally, analytical approaches need to describe how cross-scale and hierarchical dynamics and interactions relate to macroscale phenomena. Here, we elaborate on some key methodological challenges of MSE research and discuss existing and novel approaches to meet them
Exploring the benefits and challenges of establishing a DRI-like process for bioactives
Bioactives can be defined as: "Constituents in foods or dietary supplements, other than those needed to meet basic human nutritional needs, which are responsible for changes in health status" (Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Office of Public Health and Science, Department of Health and Human Services in Fed Reg 69:55821-55822, 2004). Although traditional nutrients, such as vitamins, minerals, protein, essential fatty acids and essential amino acids, have dietary reference intake (DRI) values, there is no such evaluative process for bioactives. For certain classes of bioactives, substantial scientific evidence exists to validate a relationship between their intake and enhanced health conditions or reduced risk of disease. In addition, the study of bioactives and their relationship to disease risk is a growing area of research supported by government, academic institutions, and food and supplement manufacturers. Importantly, consumers are purchasing foods containing bioactives, yet there is no evaluative process in place to let the public know how strong the science is behind the benefits or the quantitative amounts needed to achieve these beneficial health effects. This conference, Bioactives: Qualitative Nutrient Reference Values for Life-stage Groups?, explored why it is important to have a DRI-like process for bioactives and challenges for establishing such a process.Fil: J. R. Lupton.Fil: S. A. Atkinson.Fil: N. Chang.Fil: Fraga, CĂ©sar Guillermo. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones CientĂficas y TĂ©cnicas. Oficina de CoordinaciĂłn Administrativa Houssay. Instituto de BioquĂmica y Medicina Molecular. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad Medicina. Instituto de BioquĂmica y Medicina Molecular; Argentina. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Farmacia y BioquĂmica. Departamento de QuĂmica Analitica y FisicoquĂmica. CĂĄtedra de FisicoquĂmica; ArgentinaFil: J. Levy.Fil: M. Messina.Fil: D. P. Richardson.Fil: B. van Ommen.Fil: Y. Yang.Fil: J. C. Griffiths.Fil: J. Hathcock
Scale relativity and fractal space-time: theory and applications
In the first part of this contribution, we review the development of the
theory of scale relativity and its geometric framework constructed in terms of
a fractal and nondifferentiable continuous space-time. This theory leads (i) to
a generalization of possible physically relevant fractal laws, written as
partial differential equation acting in the space of scales, and (ii) to a new
geometric foundation of quantum mechanics and gauge field theories and their
possible generalisations. In the second part, we discuss some examples of
application of the theory to various sciences, in particular in cases when the
theoretical predictions have been validated by new or updated observational and
experimental data. This includes predictions in physics and cosmology (value of
the QCD coupling and of the cosmological constant), to astrophysics and
gravitational structure formation (distances of extrasolar planets to their
stars, of Kuiper belt objects, value of solar and solar-like star cycles), to
sciences of life (log-periodic law for species punctuated evolution, human
development and society evolution), to Earth sciences (log-periodic
deceleration of the rate of California earthquakes and of Sichuan earthquake
replicas, critical law for the arctic sea ice extent) and tentative
applications to system biology.Comment: 63 pages, 14 figures. In : First International Conference on the
Evolution and Development of the Universe,8th - 9th October 2008, Paris,
Franc
Status of the Stony Brook Superconducting Heavy-Ion Linac
We describe the present status of the State University of New York at Stony Brook Superconducting Heavy-Ion LINAC (SUNYLAC). The LINAC will extend at very modest cost the capabilities of the existing FN tandem Van de Graaff into the energy range 5-10 MeV/A for light heavy-ions from oxygen to bromine. The active elements are 43 lead-plated copper superconducting resonators of the split-loop type optimized for either velocity Ă=v/c=0.055 or Ă=0.10. Phase and amplitude of each resonator is independently set through RF-feedback controllers interfaced to an overall computer control system.
Full scale construction work began in July, 1979 following the in-beam demonstration of a prototype LINAC module containing 4 low-Ă resonators, and the majority of the installation work on the beam transport and refrigeration systems was completed in the summer of 1980. The project is now well into its final assembly and testing phase, with the completion of assembly scheduled in early 1982. We describe details of the design of key elements of the LINAC and the initial operating experience with the injection beam path, helium refrigerator and first production accelerator module. The progress of a continuing program aimed at optimizing crucial aspects of the LINAC is also reviewed
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