Cluster analysis of the impact of air back-trajectories on aerosol optical properties at Hornsund, Spitsbergen

In this paper, spectra of aerosol optical thickness from the AERONET (AErosol RObotic NETwork) station at Hornsund in the southern part of Spitsbergen were employed to study the impact of air mass history on aerosol optical thickness for wavelength λ=500 nm – AOT(500) – and the Ångström exponent. Backward trajectories computed, using the NOAA HYSPLIT model, were used to trace air history. It was found that in spring, the changes in AOT values over the Hornsund station were strongly influenced by air mass trajectories 8 days or longer in duration, arriving both in the free troposphere and at an altitude of 1 km above sea level. Nevertheless, free tropospheric advection was dominant. AOT variability in summer was best explained by the local direction and speed of advection (1-day trajectories) and was dominated by the effectiveness of cleansing processes. During the ASTAR 2007 campaign, the aerosols near Hornsund displayed low AOT values ranging from 0.06 to 0.09, which is lower than the mean AOT(500) for spring seasons from 2005 to 2007 (0.110±0.007; mean ± standard deviation of mean). 9 April 2007 with AOT(500)=0.147 was exceptional. The back-trajectories belonged to clusters with low and average cluster mean AOT. Apart from the maximum AOT of 9 April 2007, the observed AOT values were close to or lower than the means for the clusters to which they belonged

Fatigue strength improvement of AISI E52100 bearing steel by induction heating and repeated quenching

Martensitic high carbon high strength AISI E52100 steel (JIS SUJ2) is one of the main alloys used in rolling contact applications when high wear and fatigue resistance are required. In this work, repeated induction heating and quenching of AISI E52100 is proposed and the refinement of the martensite structure and consequently improvement of the fatigue properties measured by rotating bending fatigue tests of steel parts is reported.Високовуглецеву високоміцну мартенситну сталь AISI E52100 (JIS SUJ2) найчастіше використовують за умов контактного кочення, де необхідні підвищені зносотривкість та втомна міцність. Запропоновано методи повторного індукційного нагріву та гартування сталі, внаслідок чого подрібнюється структура мартенситу та поліпшуються втомні властивості під час випробувань сталевих зразків за циклічного згину.Высокоуглеродистую высокопрочную мартенситную сталь AISI E52100 (JIS SUJ2) наиболее часто используют в условиях контактного качения, когда необходимы повышенные износостойкость и усталостная прочность. Предложены методы повторного индукционного нагрева и закаливания стали, вследствие чего измельчается структура мартенситна и улучшаются усталостные свойства во время испытаний стальных образцов при циклическом изгибе

Implantation of autologous muscle-derived stem cells in treatment of fecal incontinence : results of an experimental pilot study

Background The aim of this study is to present results of the implantation of autologous myoblasts into the external anal sphincter (EAS) in ten patients with fecal incontinence. Methods After anatomical and functional assessment of the patients’ EAS, a vastus lateralis muscle open biopsy was performed. Stem cells were extracted from the biopsy specimens and cultured in vitro. Cell suspensions were then administered to the EAS. Patients were scheduled for follow-up visits in 6-week intervals. Total follow-up was 12 months. Results All biopsy and cell implantation procedures were performed without complications. Nine of the patients completed a full 12-month follow-up. There was subjective improvement in six patients (66.7 %). In manometric examinations 18 weeks after implantation, squeeze anal pressures and high-pressure zone length increased in all patients, with particularly significant sphincter function recovery in five patients (55.6 %). Electromyographic (EMG) examination showed an increase in signal amplitude in all patients, detecting elevated numbers of propagating action potentials. Twelve months after implantation two patients experienced deterioration of continence, which was also reflected in the deterioration of manometric and EMG parameters. The remaining four patients (44.4 %) still described their continence as better than before implantation and retained satisfactory functional examination parameters. Conclusions Implantation of autologous myoblasts gives good short-term results not only in a subjective assessment, but also in objective functional tests. It seems that this promising technology can improve the quality of life of patients with fecal incontinence, but further study is required to achieve better and more persistent results

2014 iAREA campaign on aerosol in Spitsbergen – Part 2: Optical properties from Raman-lidar and in-situ observations at Ny-Ålesund

In this work multi wavelength Raman lidar data from Ny-Ålesund, Spitsbergen have been analysed for the spring 2014 Arctic haze season, as part of the iAREA campaign. Typical values and probability distributions for aerosol backscatter, extinction and depolarisation, the lidar ratio and the color ratio for 4 different altitude intervals within the troposphere are given. These quantities and their dependencies are analysed and the frequency of altitude-dependent observed aerosol events are given. A comparison with ground-based size distribution and chemical composition is performed. Hence the aim of this paper is to provide typical and statistically meaningful properties of Arctic aerosol, which may be used in climate models or to constrain the radiative forcing. We have found that the 2014 season was only moderately polluted with Arctic haze and that sea salt and sulphate were the most dominant aerosol species. Moreover the drying of an aerosol layer after cloud disintegration has been observed. Hardly any clear temporal evolution over the 4 week data set on Arctic haze is obvious with the exception of the extinction coefficient and the lidar ratio, which significantly decreased below 2 km altitude by end April. In altitudes between 2 and 5 km the haze season lasted longer and the aerosol properties were generally more homogeneous than closer to the surface. Above 5 km only few particles were found. The variability of the lidar ratio is discussed. It was found that knowledge of the aerosol’s size and shape does not determine the lidar ratio. Contrary to shape and lidar ratio, there is a clear correlation between size and backscatter: larger particles show a higher backscatter coefficient

Top-quark physics at the CLIC electron-positron linear collider

ABSTRACT: The Compact Linear Collider (CLIC) is a proposed future high-luminosity linear electron-positron collider operating at three energy stages, with nominal centre-of-mass energies √s = 380 GeV, 1.5 TeV, and 3 TeV. Its aim is to explore the energy frontier, providing sensitivity to physics beyond the Standard Model (BSM) and precision measurements of Standard Model processes with an emphasis on Higgs boson and top-quark physics. The opportunities for top-quark physics at CLIC are discussed in this paper. The initial stage of operation focuses on top-quark pair production measurements, as well as the search for rare flavour-changing neutral current (FCNC) top-quark decays. It also includes a top-quark pair production threshold scan around 350 GeV which provides a precise measurement of the top-quark mass in a well-defined theoretical framework. At the higher-energy stages, studies are made of top-quark pairs produced in association with other particles. A study of t̄tH production including the extraction of the top Yukawa coupling is presented as well as a study of vector boson fusion (VBF) production, which gives direct access to high-energy electroweak interactions. Operation above 1 TeV leads to more highly collimated jet environments where dedicated methods are used to analyse the jet constituents. These techniques enable studies of the top-quark pair production, and hence the sensitivity to BSM physics, to be extended to higher energies. This paper also includes phenomenological interpretations that may be performed using the results from the extensive top-quark physics programme at CLIC.the Spanish Ministry of Economy, Industry and Competitiveness under projects MINEICO/FEDER-UE, FPA2015-65652-C4-3-R, FPA2015-71292-C2-1-Pand FPA2015-71956-REDT; and the MECD grant FPA2016-78645-P, Spai

Top-quark physics at the CLIC electron-positron linear collider

Abstract The Compact Linear Collider (CLIC) is a proposed future high-luminosity linear electron-positron collider operating at three energy stages, with nominal centre-of-mass energies $$\sqrt{s}$$ s = 380 GeV, 1.5 TeV, and 3 TeV. Its aim is to explore the energy frontier, providing sensitivity to physics beyond the Standard Model (BSM) and precision measurements of Standard Model processes with an emphasis on Higgs boson and top-quark physics. The opportunities for top-quark physics at CLIC are discussed in this paper. The initial stage of operation focuses on top-quark pair production measurements, as well as the search for rare flavour-changing neutral current (FCNC) top-quark decays. It also includes a top-quark pair production threshold scan around 350 GeV which provides a precise measurement of the top-quark mass in a well-defined theoretical framework. At the higher-energy stages, studies are made of top-quark pairs produced in association with other particles. A study of t̄tH production including the extraction of the top Yukawa coupling is presented as well as a study of vector boson fusion (VBF) production, which gives direct access to high-energy electroweak interactions. Operation above 1 TeV leads to more highly collimated jet environments where dedicated methods are used to analyse the jet constituents. These techniques enable studies of the top-quark pair production, and hence the sensitivity to BSM physics, to be extended to higher energies. This paper also includes phenomenological interpretations that may be performed using the results from the extensive top-quark physics programme at CLIC.</jats:p

Wpływ procesu wielokrotnego moczenia słomy zbożowej wodą na wskaźniki żużlowania i zanieczyszczenia powierzchni grzewczych kotłów energetycznych

The article presents the results of the analysis of straw obtained from ripening wheat, which was subjected to four water soaking cycles in demineralized water. The soaking was carried out under laboratory conditions at 20°C. As a result, part of mineral matter, including a significant amount of alkaline sodium and potassium salts and substances containing sulfur and phosphorus, was washed out. The process of soaking has a great impact on the chemical composition of ash obtained from water-treated straw, which increased its acidity. The Na2O content in the analyzed ash has decreased by 78%, while the K2O content has decreased by 60%. In turn, the content of water-insoluble, acid-forming SiO2 has increased by 80%. As a consequence, a positive change in the values of indices, on the basis of which the tendency of straw to slagging and deposit formation during the combustion and gasification processes is assessed, has been observed. Already after the second water soaking cycle it became apparent, based on the AI alkali index, that the examined fuel should not cause difficulties resulting from the increased intensity of use of the boiler during the combustion process. Meanwhile, the value of the BAI bed agglomeration index was considered to be safe, indicating a low possibility of bed agglomeration during the combustion or fluidized bed gasification, after the third water soaking cycle. The third of the analyzed indices, the Fu fouling index, did not indicate any tendency to deposit formation during the combustion; however, four water soaking cycles reduced its initial value by 80%. The last of the analyzed indexes, the SR, slag viscosity index did not change its value during the experiment, which, both for the raw straw and after subsequent soaking cycles, indicated that the fuel should have a low tendency to accumulate slag during the combustion process.W artykule przedstawiono wyniki badań słomy pozyskanej z dojrzewającej pszenicy, którą poddano procesowi czterokrotnego moczenia w wodzie demineralizowanej. Operację moczenia prowadzono w warunkach laboratoryjnych w temperaturze 20°C. W wyniku moczenia ze słomy została usunięta część substancji mineralnej, w tym znaczna ilość alkalicznych soli sodu i potasu oraz substancji zawierających siarkę i fosfor. Proces moczenia w wyraźny sposób wpłynął na zmianę składu chemicznego popiołu otrzymanego z preparowanej wodą słomy, który zwiększył swoją kwasowość. W popiele o 78% zmalała zawartość Na2O, o 60% zawartość K2O, do 80% wzrósł natomiast udział nierozpuszczalnego w wodzie, kwasotwórczego SiO2. W konsekwencji korzystnie zmieniły się wartości wskaźników, za pomocą których oceniana jest skłonność słomy do deponowania zanieczyszczeń podczas spalania i zgazowania. Już w wyniku dwukrotnego moczenia indeks alkaliczności AI przyjmował wartość sugerującą, że paliwo to nie powinno sprawiać trudności podczas spalania z powodu zwiększonej intensywności żużlowania kotła. Natomiast wskaźnik aglomeracji złoża BAI bezpieczną wartość wskazującą na niewielkie prawdopodobieństwo wystąpienia zjawiska aglomeracji złoża podczas spalania lub zgazowania fluidalnego osiągnął po trzecim cyklu moczenia słomy. Trzeci z ocenianych wskaźników, Fouling-Index Fu nie osiągnął wprawdzie wartości wskazującej na brak skłonności paliwa do deponowania zanieczyszczeń podczas spalania, ale w wyniku czterokrotnego moczenia nastąpiła 80% redukcja jego początkowej wartości. Ostatni z analizowanych wskaźników, wskaźnik lepkości żużla SR, w trakcie prowadzonego eksperymentu nie zmieniał swojej wartości, która dla zarówno dla słomy surowej, jak i po kolejnych cyklach moczenia, wskazywała, że paliwo to powinno charakteryzować się małą skłonnością do odkładania żużlu podczas spalania