3,937 research outputs found
Identification and quantification of gaseous organic compounds emitted from biomass burning using two-dimensional gas chromatography/time-of-flight mass spectrometry
The current understanding of secondary organic aerosol (SOA) formation within biomass burning (BB) plumes is limited by the incomplete identification and quantification of the non-methane organic compounds (NMOCs) emitted from such fires. Gaseous organic compounds were collected on sorbent cartridges during laboratory burns as part of the fourth Fire Lab at Missoula Experiment (FLAME-4), with analysis by two-dimensional gas chromatography/time-of-flight mass spectrometry (GCĂGC/TOFMS). The sensitivity and resolving power of GCĂGC/TOFMS allowed the acquisition of the most extensive data set of BB NMOCs to date, with measure ments for 722 positively or tentatively identified compounds. Estimated emission factors (EFs) are presented for these compounds for burns of six different vegetative fuels, including conifer branches, grasses, agricultural residue, and peat. The number of compounds detected from individual burns ranged from 129 to 474, and included extensive isomer groups. For example, 38 monoterpene isomers were observed in the emissions from coniferous fuels; the isomeric ratios were found to be consistent with those reported in relevant essential oils, suggesting that the composition of such oils may be very useful when predicting fuel-dependent terpene emissions. Further, eleven sesquiterpenes were detected and tentatively identified, providing the first reported speciation of sesquiterpenes in gas-phase BB emissions. The calculated EFs for all measured compounds are compared and discussed in the context of potential SOA formation
Identification and quantification of gaseous organic compounds emitted from biomass burning using two-dimensional gas chromatographyâtime-of-flight mass spectrometry
The current understanding of secondary organic aerosol (SOA) formation within biomass burning (BB) plumes is limited by the incomplete identification and quantification of the non-methane organic compounds (NMOCs) emitted from such fires. Gaseous organic compounds were collected on sorbent cartridges during laboratory burns as part of the fourth Fire Lab at Missoula Experiment (FLAME-4) and analyzed by two-dimensional gas chromatography-time-of-flight mass spectrometry (GC x GC-ToFMS). The sensitivity and resolving power of GC x GC-ToFMS allowed the acquisition of the most extensive data set of BB NMOCs to date, with measurements from 708 positively or tentatively identified compounds. Estimated emission factors (EFs) are presented for these compounds for burns of six different vegetative fuels, including conifer branches, grasses, agricultural residue, and peat. The number of compounds meeting the peak selection criteria ranged from 129 to 474 among individual burns, and included extensive isomer groups. For example, 38 monoterpene isomers were observed in the emissions from coniferous fuels; the isomeric ratios were found to be consistent with those reported in relevant essential oils, suggested that the composition of such oils may be very useful when predicting fuel-dependent terpene emissions. Further, 11 sesquiterpenes were deteched and tentatively identified, providing the first reported speciation of sesquiterpenes in gas-phase BB emissions. The calculated EFs for all measured compounds are compared and discussed in the context of potential SOA formation
Characteristics of damaged asphalt mixtures in tension and compression
This paper addresses the measurement and modelling of the damaged properties of asphalt mixtures including the fracture, healing and viscoplastic deformation of the asphalt mixtures in both tensile and compressive loading as being affected by their composition and conditioning with ageing and exposure to temperature and moisture. An energy-based mechanics is applied to obtain the material fundamental properties such as surface energies, bond energies, anisotropy, yield functions and plastic potential functions that are valid for actual asphalt mixtures, viscoelastic crack growth criteria under both tensile and compressive loading, a simple mechanics-based method of determining the fatigue endurance limit, and the measurement and prediction of healing in restoring the damage done by fracture. Healing is anti-fracture and cracking is the net result of the interplay of these two complimentary mechanisms. Because fracture in asphalt mixtures is not the growth of a single crack but the simultaneous growth of multiple cracks that start out as air voids, this fact leads to the use of the growth of damage density to characterise fracture in an asphalt mixture. It was discovered that the form of Parisâ law applies to the growth of damage density of asphalt mixtures in both tensile and compressive loadings. The importance of this fact lies in many developments from this discovery, e.g. compressive monotonic loading of cylindrical test samples permits a direct determination of the Parisâ Law coefficient and exponent. In all cases, measured material properties are presented as they vary with mixture composition and with conditioning such as moisture and ageing, both in the lab and in the field. The measurements of these properties are made simply, quickly and accurately by the use of mechanics so that an entire characterisation of the properties of an asphalt mixture in tension and compression can be completed in the space of one day. The net effect is to reduce the efforts expended in the lab and the systematic error due to the assumptions made by the existing models and simultaneously to increase the efficiency and cost-effectiveness of materials testing and raise the reliability of the design of mixtures, pavement structures and specifications and the prediction of the life cycles in as-built pavements
A perspective on using experiment and theory to identify design principles in dye-sensitized solar cells
Dye-sensitized solar cells (DSCs) have been the subject of wide-ranging studies for many
years because of their potential for large-scale manufacturing using roll-to-roll processing
allied to their use of earth abundant raw materials. Two main challenges exist for DSC
devices to achieve this goal; uplifting device efficiency from the 12 to 14% currently
achieved for laboratory-scale âheroâ cells and replacement of the widely-used liquid
electrolytes which can limit device lifetimes. To increase device efficiency requires optimized
dye injection and regeneration, most likely from multiple dyes while replacement
of liquid electrolytes requires solid charge transporters (most likely hole transport materials
â HTMs). While theoretical and experimental work have both been widely applied to
different aspects of DSC research, these approaches are most effective when working in
tandem. In this context, this perspective paper considers the key parameters which
influence electron transfer processes in DSC devices using one or more dye molecules
and how modelling and experimental approaches can work together to optimize electron
injection and dye regeneration.
This paper provides a perspective that theory and experiment are best used in tandem to study
DSC device
The Uncertainty in Newton's Constant and Precision Predictions of the Primordial Helium Abundance
The current uncertainty in Newton's constant, G_N, is of the order of 0.15%.
For values of the baryon to photon ratio consistent with both cosmic microwave
background observations and the primordial deuterium abundance, this
uncertainty in G_N corresponds to an uncertainty in the primordial 4He mass
fraction, Y_P, of +-1.3 x 10^{-4}. This uncertainty in Y_P is comparable to the
effect from the current uncertainty in the neutron lifetime, which is often
treated as the dominant uncertainty in calculations of Y_P. Recent measurements
of G_N seem to be converging within a smaller range; a reduction in the
estimated error on G_N by a factor of 10 would essentially eliminate it as a
source of uncertainty in the calculation of the primordial 4He abundance.Comment: 3 pages, no figures, fixed typos, to appear in Phys. Rev.
Co-opetition models for governing professional football
In recent years, models for co-creating value in a business-to-business context have
often been examined with the aim of studying the strategies implemented by and
among organisations for competitive and co-operative purposes. The traditional
concepts of competition and co-operation between businesses have now evolved,
both in terms of the sector in which the businesses operate and in terms of the type
of goods they produce.
Many researchers have, in recent times, investigated the determinants that can
influence the way in which the model of co-opetition can be applied to the football
world. Research interest lies in the particular features of what makes a good football.
In this paper, the aim is to conduct an analysis of the rules governing the âfootball
systemâ, while also looking at the determinants of the demand function within
football entertainment. This entails applying to football match management the
co-opetition model, a recognised model that combines competition and co-operation
with the view of creating and distributing value. It can, therefore, be said that, for a
spectator, watching sport is an experience of high suspense, and this suspense, in turn,
depends upon the degree of uncertainty in the outcome. It follows that the rules
ensuring that both these elements can be satisfied are a fertile ground for co-operation
between clubs, as it is in the interest of all stakeholders to offer increasingly more
attractive football, in comparison with other competing products. Our end purpose is
to understand how co-opetition can be achieved within professional football
Primary cilia signaling mediates intraocular pressure sensation
Lowe syndrome is a rare X-linked congenital disease that presents with congenital cataracts and glaucoma, as well as renal and cerebral dysfunction. OCRL, an inositol polyphosphate 5-phosphatase, is mutated in Lowe syndrome. We previously showed that OCRL is involved in vesicular trafficking to the primary cilium. Primary cilia are sensory organelles on the surface of eukaryotic cells that mediate mechanotransduction in the kidney, brain, and bone. However, their potential role in the trabecular meshwork (TM) in the eye, which regulates intraocular pressure, is unknown. Here, we show that TM cells, which are defective in glaucoma, have primary cilia that are critical for response to pressure changes. Primary cilia in TM cells shorten in response to fluid flow and elevated hydrostatic pressure, and promote increased transcription of TNF-α, TGF-ÎČ, and GLI1 genes. Furthermore, OCRL is found to be required for primary cilia to respond to pressure stimulation. The interaction of OCRL with transient receptor potential vanilloid 4 (TRPV4), a ciliary mechanosensory channel, suggests that OCRL may act through regulation of this channel. A novel disease-causing OCRL allele prevents TRPV4-mediated calcium signaling. In addition, TRPV4 agonist GSK 1016790A treatment reduced intraocular pressure in mice; TRPV4 knockout animals exhibited elevated intraocular pressure and shortened cilia. Thus, mechanotransduction by primary cilia in TM cells is implicated in how the eye senses pressure changes and highlights OCRL and TRPV4 as attractive therapeutic targets for the treatment of glaucoma. Implications of OCRL and TRPV4 in primary cilia function may also shed light on mechanosensation in other organ systems
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