932 research outputs found
The Vitalograph - A Study of Its Role in Pulmonary Function Testing in Childhood
A dry spirometer (Vitalographt) has been examined in relation to its mechanical reproducibility, and feasibility for use in paediatric pulmonary function testing. Measurementsat ATPS and BTPS indicate a -2'10% to + 13'47% variability in volume readings respectively. Measurements on 304 normal healthy children, aged 6 -18 years, height 120 - 174 cm were made using this dry spirometer and statistically compared with normal available water spirometric data. Except for mid-expiratory flow rates, all compare favourably
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Review and analysis of the 1980-1989 biomass thermochemical conversion program
In the period between 1980 and 1989, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) sponsored research and development projects through its Biomass Thermochemical Conversion (BTC) Program. Thermochemical conversion technologies use elevated temperatures to convert biomass into more useful forms of energy such as fuel gases or transportation fuels. The BTC Program included a wide range of biomass conversion projects in the areas of gasification, pyrolysis, liquefaction, and combustion. This work formed the basis of the present DOE research and development efforts on advanced liquid fuel and power generation systems. At the beginning of Fiscal Year 1989, the management of the BTC Program was transferred from Pacific Northwest Laboratory (PNL) to National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL, formerly Solar Energy Research Institute). This document presents a summary of the research which was performed under the BTC Program during the 1981-1989 time frame. The document consists of an analysis of the research projects which were funded by the BTC Program and a bibliography of published documents. This work will help ensure that information from PNL`s BTC Program is available to those interested in biomass conversion technologies. The background of the BTC Program is discussed in the first chapter of this report. In addition, a brief summary of other related biomass research and development programs funded by the U.S. Department of Energy and others is presented with references where additional information can be found. The remaining chapters of the report present a detailed summary of the research projects which were funded by the BTC Program. The progress which was made on each project is summarized, the overall impact on biomass conversion is discussed, and selected references are provided
The Atomic Physics Underlying the Spectroscopic Analysis of Massive Stars and Supernovae
We have developed a radiative transfer code, CMFGEN, which allows us to model
the spectra of massive stars and supernovae. Using CMFGEN we can derive
fundamental parameters such as effective temperatures and surface gravities,
derive abundances, and place constraints on stellar wind properties. The last
of these is important since all massive stars are losing mass via a stellar
wind that is driven from the star by radiation pressure, and this mass loss can
substantially influence the spectral appearance and evolution of the star.
Recently we have extended CMFGEN to allow us to undertake time-dependent
radiative transfer calculations of supernovae. Such calculations will be used
to place constraints on the supernova progenitor, to place constraints on the
supernova explosion and nucleosynthesis, and to derive distances using a
physical approach called the "Expanding Photosphere Method". We describe the
assumptions underlying the code and the atomic processes involved. A crucial
ingredient in the code is the atomic data. For the modeling we require accurate
transition wavelengths, oscillator strengths, photoionization cross-sections,
collision strengths, autoionization rates, and charge exchange rates for
virtually all species up to, and including, cobalt. Presently, the available
atomic data varies substantially in both quantity and quality.Comment: 8 pages, 2 figures, Accepted for publication in Astrophysics & Space
Scienc
In situ tryptophan-like fluorometers: assessing turbidity and temperature effects for freshwater applications
Tryptophan-like fluorescence (TLF) is an indicator of human influence on water quality as TLF peaks are associated with the input of labile organic carbon (e.g. sewage or farm waste) and its microbial breakdown. Hence, real-time measurement of TLF could be particularly useful for monitoring water quality at a higher temporal resolution than available hitherto. However, current understanding of TLF quenching/interference is limited for field deployable sensors. We present results from a rigorous test of two commercially available submersible tryptophan fluorometers (ex _ 285, em _ 350). Temperature quenching and turbidity interference were quantified in the laboratory and compensation algorithms developed. Field trials were then undertaken involving: (i) an extended deployment (28 days) in a small urban stream; and, (ii) depth profiling of an urban multi-level borehole. TLF was inversely related to water temperature (regression slope range: _1.57 to _2.50). Sediment particle size was identified as an important control on the turbidity specific TLF response, with signal amplification apparent 200 NTU for clay particles. Compensation algorithms significantly improved agreement between in situ and laboratory readings for baseflow and storm conditions in the stream. For the groundwater trial, there was an excellent agreement between laboratory and raw in situ TLF; temperature compensation provided only a marginal improvement, and turbidity corrections were unnecessary. These findings highlight the potential utility of real time TLF monitoring for a range of environmental applications (e.g. tracing polluting sources and monitoring groundwater contamination). However, in situations where high/ variable suspended sediment loads or rapid changes in temperature are anticipated concurrent monitoring of turbidity and temperature is required and site specific calibration is recommended for long term, surface water monitoring
The McKean-Vlasov Equation in Finite Volume
We study the McKean--Vlasov equation on the finite tori of length scale
in --dimensions. We derive the necessary and sufficient conditions for the
existence of a phase transition, which are based on the criteria first
uncovered in \cite{GP} and \cite{KM}. Therein and in subsequent works, one
finds indications pointing to critical transitions at a particular model
dependent value, of the interaction parameter. We show that
the uniform density (which may be interpreted as the liquid phase) is
dynamically stable for and prove, abstractly, that a
{\it critical} transition must occur at . However for
this system we show that under generic conditions -- large, and
isotropic interactions -- the phase transition is in fact discontinuous and
occurs at some \theta\t < \theta^{\sharp}. Finally, for H--stable, bounded
interactions with discontinuous transitions we show that, with suitable
scaling, the \theta\t(L) tend to a definitive non--trivial limit as
Effect of stress-triaxiality on void growth in dynamic fracture of metals: a molecular dynamics study
The effect of stress-triaxiality on growth of a void in a three dimensional
single-crystal face-centered-cubic (FCC) lattice has been studied. Molecular
dynamics (MD) simulations using an embedded-atom (EAM) potential for copper
have been performed at room temperature and using strain controlling with high
strain rates ranging from 10^7/sec to 10^10/sec. Strain-rates of these
magnitudes can be studied experimentally, e.g. using shock waves induced by
laser ablation. Void growth has been simulated in three different conditions,
namely uniaxial, biaxial, and triaxial expansion. The response of the system in
the three cases have been compared in terms of the void growth rate, the
detailed void shape evolution, and the stress-strain behavior including the
development of plastic strain. Also macroscopic observables as plastic work and
porosity have been computed from the atomistic level. The stress thresholds for
void growth are found to be comparable with spall strength values determined by
dynamic fracture experiments. The conventional macroscopic assumption that the
mean plastic strain results from the growth of the void is validated. The
evolution of the system in the uniaxial case is found to exhibit four different
regimes: elastic expansion; plastic yielding, when the mean stress is nearly
constant, but the stress-triaxiality increases rapidly together with
exponential growth of the void; saturation of the stress-triaxiality; and
finally the failure.Comment: 35 figures, which are small (and blurry) due to the space
limitations; submitted (with original figures) to Physical Review B. Final
versio
Comparison of s- and d-wave gap symmetry in nonequilibrium superconductivity
Recent application of ultrafast pump/probe optical techniques to
superconductors has renewed interest in nonequilibrium superconductivity and
the predictions that would be available for novel superconductors, such as the
high-Tc cuprates. We have reexamined two of the classical models which have
been used in the past to interpret nonequilibrium experiments with some
success: the mu* model of Owen and Scalapino and the T* model of Parker.
Predictions depend on pairing symmetry. For instance, the gap suppression due
to excess quasiparticle density n in the mu* model, varies as n^{3/2} in d-wave
as opposed to n for s-wave. Finally, we consider these models in the context of
S-I-N tunneling and optical excitation experiments. While we confirm that
recent pump/probe experiments in YBCO, as presently interpreted, are in
conflict with d-wave pairing, we refute the further claim that they agree with
s-wave.Comment: 14 pages, 11 figure
Searching for star-planet magnetic interaction in CoRoT observations
Close-in massive planets interact with their host stars through tidal and
magnetic mechanisms. In this paper, we review circumstantial evidence for
star-planet interaction as revealed by the photospheric magnetic activity in
some of the CoRoT planet-hosting stars, notably CoRoT-2, CoRoT-4, and CoRoT-6.
The phenomena are discussed in the general framework of activity-induced
features in stars accompanied by hot Jupiters. The theoretical mechanisms
proposed to explain the activity enhancements possibly related with hot Jupiter
are also briefly reviewed with an emphasis on the possible effects at
photospheric level. The unique advantages of CoRoT and Kepler observations to
test these models are pointed out.Comment: Invited review paper accepted by Astrophysics and Space Science, 13
pages, 5 figure
Simulating Cosmic Microwave Background maps in multi-connected spaces
This article describes the computation of cosmic microwave background
anisotropies in a universe with multi-connected spatial sections and focuses on
the implementation of the topology in standard CMB computer codes. The key
ingredient is the computation of the eigenmodes of the Laplacian with boundary
conditions compatible with multi-connected space topology. The correlators of
the coefficients of the decomposition of the temperature fluctuation in
spherical harmonics are computed and examples are given for spatially flat
spaces and one family of spherical spaces, namely the lens spaces. Under the
hypothesis of Gaussian initial conditions, these correlators encode all the
topological information of the CMB and suffice to simulate CMB maps.Comment: 33 pages, 55 figures, submitted to PRD. Higher resolution figures
available on deman
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