1,314 research outputs found
Neutron spectral measurements in the upper atmosphere
An experiment to measure neutrons in the upper atmosphere was performed on a balloon flight from Palestine, Texas, at an altitude of about 32 km. The experimental arrangement is discussed briefly, and results of a preliminary analysis of the data for neutrons in the energy range 3 to 30 MeV are given
Investigating the link between Arctic sea ice, North Pacific geopotential height anomalies, and precipitation across the United States
New evidence is presented to show that decreasing sea ice in the Arctic is causing an increased amplification of the jet stream off the west coast of the United States. We find a statistically significant relationship between sea ice north of Alaska and geopotential height anomalies during the following winter and spring months. We also show that these semi-persistent height anomalies are increasing in frequency in these locations independent of long term ocean cycles, such as ENSO and PDO. These height anomalies cause more persistent precipitation patterns to certain regions of the United States and we discuss these teleconnections as well as their impacts. These results suggest that as the Arctic, specifically the region north of Alaska, continues to decrease in sea ice coverage a more persistent ridge will form in areas adjacent to this location and affect storm track to the continental United States
Geographic Variation in Wood Properties of Pinus Tecunumanii
Wood properties of Pinus tecunumanii were studied on 108 trees collected from four different departments of Guatemala (Baja Verapaz, Zacapa, Totonicapán, and El Quiché). Unextracted and extracted specific gravities were calculated from 108 Cores (one per tree) of 4.5 mm diameter. The specific gravity varied from 0.51 to 0.56 with a weak decreasing trend from east to west. Most of the extractives were found in the core segment closest to the pith. Tracheid measurements were recorded on 11-mm cores from Baja Verapaz and Zacapa with tracheid length, cell-wall thickness, lumen width, and tracheid diameter being recorded. With the exception of tracheid length, all the measured cell characteristics showed highly statistical differences between locations and among trees. Most of the variation was within and between trees. Tracheid diameter and lumen width were highly correlated. The wood of the Tecun Umán pine showed extreme variability, especially in tracheid dimensions. Overall, however, the wood of this species is quite usable for both solid wood and pulp products
Development of a 4-DoF Active Upper Limb Orthosis
In this paper, the designs and manufacturing process of a powered upper limb orthosis are presented. The orthosis is an exoskeleton worn on one arm by the user and fixed to the trunk. The orthosis’ architecture, design, and manufacturing process are presented and discussed. Estimations of the ranges of movement related to daily living activities are presented. The preliminary tests to verify the functionality of the design show encouraging results
Evidence for Multiple Phase Transitions in La_1-xCa_xCoO_3
We report thermal-expansion and specific-heat data of the series
La_1-xCa_xCoO_3 for 0 <= x <= 0.3. For x = 0 the thermal-expansion coefficient
alpha(T) features a pronounced maximum around T = 50 K caused by a
temperature-dependent spin-state transition from a low-spin state (S=0) at low
temperatures towards a higher spin state of the Co^3+ ions. The partial
substitution of the La^3+ ions by divalent Ca^2+ ions causes drastic changes in
the macroscopic properties of LaCoO_3. Around x ~ 0.125 the large maximum in
alpha(T) has completely vanished. With further increasing x three different
anomalies develop
Reliable quantification of 1,2-dihydroxynaphthalene in urine using a conjugated reference compound for calibration.
After environmental and occupational exposure to naphthalene, 1,2-dihydroxynaphthalene (1,2-DHN) was shown to be one major metabolite in human naphthalene metabolism. However, the instability of free 1,2-DHN complicates the reliable determination of this promising biomarker in urine. To solve this stability problem, glucuronide conjugates of 1,2-DHN and the corresponding isotopically labelled D-6-1,2-dihydroxynaphthalene (D-6-1,2-DHN) were synthesised and applied as reference material and internal standard in a gas chromatographic-tandem mass spectrometric (GC-MS/MS) method. The determination of 1- and 2-naphthol (1-MHN, 2-MHN) was included in the procedure to enable a comprehensive assessment of naphthalene metabolism and exposure. The results of the validation showed a high reliability and sensitivity of the method. The detection limits range from 0.05 to 0.16 mu g/L. Precision and repeatability were determined to range from 1.4 to 6.6% for all parameters. The simultaneous determination of 1- and 2-MHN as additional parameters besides 1,2-DHN enables the application of the method for further metabolism and kinetic studies on naphthalene. The use of glucuronide-derivative reference substances and the application of structurally matched isotopic-labelled internal standards for each substance guarantee a reliable quantification of the main naphthalene metabolites 1,2-DHN and 1- and 2-MHN
Anomalous expansion and phonon damping due to the Co spin-state transition in RCoO_3 with R = La, Pr, Nd and Eu
We present a combined study of the thermal expansion and the thermal
conductivity of the perovskite series RCoO_3 with R = La, Nd, Pr and Eu. The
well-known spin-state transition in LaCoO_3 is strongly affected by the
exchange of the R ions due to their different ionic radii, i.e. chemical
pressure. This can be monitored in detail by measurements of the thermal
expansion, which is a highly sensitive probe for detecting spin-state
transitions. The Co ions in the higher spin state act as additional scattering
centers for phonons, therefore suppressing the phonon thermal conductivity.
Based on the analysis of the interplay between spin-state transition and heat
transport, we present a quantitative model of the thermal conductivity for the
entire series. In PrCoO_3, an additional scattering effect is active at low
temperatures. This effect arises from the crystal field splitting of the 4f
multiplet, which allows for resonant scattering of phonons between the various
4f levels.Comment: 15 pages including 5 figure
Thermal Conductivity, Thermopower, and Figure of Merit of La_{1-x}Sr_xCoO_3
We present a study of the thermal conductivity k and the thermopower S of
single crystals of La_{1-x}Sr_xCoO_3 with 0<= x <= 0.3. For all Sr
concentrations La_{1-x}Sr_xCoO_3 has rather low k values, whereas S strongly
changes as a function of x. We discuss the influence of the temperature- and
the doping-induced spin-state transitions of the Co ions on both, S and k. From
S, k, and the electrical resistivity rho we derive the thermoelectric figure of
merit Z=S^2/(k*rho). For intermediate Sr concentrations we find notably large
values of Z indicating that Co-based materials could be promising candidates
for thermoelectric cooling.Comment: 7 pages, 5 figures included, submitted to Phys. Rev.
A procedure for the fatigue life prediction of straight fibers pneumatic muscles
Different from the McKibben pneumatic muscle actuator, the straight fibers one is made of an elastomeric tube closed at the two ends by two heads that ensure a mechanical and pneumatic seal. High stiffness threads are placed longitudinally into the wall of the tube while external rings are placed at some sections of it to limit the radial expansion of the tube. The inner pressure in the tube causes shortening of the actuator. The working mode of the muscle actuator requires a series of critical repeated contractions and extensions that cause it to rupture. The fatigue life duration of a pneumatic muscle is often lower than traditional pneumatic actuators. The paper presents a procedure for the fatigue life prediction of a straight-fibers muscle based on experimental tests directly carried out with the muscles instead of with specimens of the silicone rubber material which the muscle is made of. The proposed procedure was experimentally validated. Although the procedure is based on fatigue life duration data for silicone rubber, it can be extended to all straight-fibers muscles once the fatigue life duration data of any material considered for the muscles is known
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