Improving ocean-glider's payload with a new generation of spectrophotometric PH sensor

Ocean gliders have clearly become nowadays useful autonomous platforms addressed to measure a wide range of seawater parameters in a more sustainable and efficient way. This new ocean monitoring approach has implied the need to develop smaller, faster and more efficient sensors without reducing key features like accuracy, resolution, time-response, among others, in order to fit the glider operational capabilities. This work is aiming to present the latest development stages of a new spectrophotometric pH sensor, its integration process into a Wave Glider SV3 platform and the preliminary results derived from an offshore mission performed in subtropical waters between the Canary Islands and Cape Verde archipelagos.Peer Reviewe

Quality and validity of large animal experiments in stroke : a systematic review

An important factor for successful translational stroke research is study quality. Low-quality studies are at risk of biased results and effect overestimation, as has been intensely discussed for small animal stroke research. However, little is known about the methodological rigor and quality in large animal stroke models, which are becoming more frequently used in the field. Based on research in two databases, this systematic review surveys and analyses the methodological quality in large animal stroke research. Quality analysis was based on the Stroke Therapy Academic Industry Roundtable and the Animals in Research: Reporting In Vivo Experiments guidelines. Our analysis revealed that large animal models are utilized with similar shortcomings as small animal models. Moreover, translational benefits of large animal models may be limited due to lacking implementation of important quality criteria such as randomization, allocation concealment, and blinded assessment of outcome. On the other hand, an increase of study quality over time and a positive correlation between study quality and journal impact factor were identified. Based on the obtained findings, we derive recommendations for optimal study planning, conducting, and data analysis/reporting when using large animal stroke models to fully benefit from the translational advantages offered by these models

Continuous pressure monitoring for large volume CO2 injections

Elevated formation fluid pressure resulting from large-volume injection of carbon dioxide (CO2) for sequestration is a key factor affecting storage seal integrity (containment risk) and ultimate capacity. Current methods for predicting pressure evolution (e.g. natural gas storage, EOR, groundwater withdrawal/recharge) have unique considerations (temporal cyclicity, associated production) and have only recently been applied for the injected volumes, durations, and extents of sequestration projects. Monitoring pressure dynamics (buildup during injection and subsequent falloff upon cessation) is a fundamental and relatively inexpensive technique for monitoring storage performance. Our research employs multiple numerical techniques to predict the evolution of pressure within reservoirs and to evaluate the potential impact on confining systems (seals), thus constraining site-specific sequestration storage integrity and capacity. We focus on the use of pressure measurements for pragmatic integrative monitoring of reservoir, seal, and well performance. The results presented here focus on real-time pressure and temperature evolution in a dedicated observation well, combining observations from both the injection interval and a monitoring interval 120 m higher for early detection of unanticipated migration out of the injection zone via wellbores or confining system. Results indicate that for the Cranfield reservoir, increases (and by inference, decreases corresponding to pressure loss due to out of zone migration) in injection rates of 100’s of tons per day are observable from less than a kilometer distance from the source.Bureau of Economic Geolog

Current subsidence rates due to compaction of Holocene sediments in southern Louisiana

This paper is not subject to U.S. copyright. The definitive version was published in Geophysical Research Letters 33 (2006): L11403, doi:10.1029/2006GL026300.Relative contributions of geologic and anthropogenic processes to subsidence of southern Louisiana are vigorously debated. Of these, shallow sediment compaction is often considered dominant, although this has never been directly observed or effectively demonstrated. Quantitative understanding of subsidence is important for predicting relative sea level rise, storm surge flooding due to hurricanes, and for successful wetland restoration. Despite many shallow borings, few appropriate stratigraphic and geotechnical data are available for site-specific calculations. We overcome this by determining present compaction rates from Monte Carlo simulations of the incremental sedimentation and compaction of stratigraphies typical of the Holocene of southern Louisiana. This approach generates distributions of present compaction rates that are not expected to exceed 5 mm/yr, but may locally. Locations with present subsidence rates greater than the predicted maximum probable shallow compaction rates are likely influenced by additional processes

Multiorbital tunneling ionization of the CO molecule

We coincidently measure the molecular frame photoelectron angular distribution and the ion sum-momentum distribution of single and double ionization of CO molecules by using circularly and elliptically polarized femtosecond laser pulses, respectively. The orientation dependent ionization rates for various kinetic energy releases allow us to individually identify the ionizations of multiple orbitals, ranging from the highest occupied to the next two lower-lying molecular orbitals for various channels observed in our experiments. Not only the emission of a single electron, but also the sequential tunneling dynamics of two electrons from multiple orbitals are traced step by step. Our results confirm that the shape of the ionizing orbitals determine the strong laser field tunneling ionization in the CO molecule, whereas the linear Stark effect plays a minor role.Comment: This paper has been accepted for publication by Physical Review Letter

Potential sinks for geologic storage of carbon dioxide generated by power plants in North and South Carolina

Duke Energy Progress Energy Santee Cooper Power SCANA CorporationBureau of Economic Geolog

VUV frequency combs from below-threshold harmonics

Recent demonstrations of high-harmonic generation (HHG) at very high repetition frequencies (~100 MHz) may allow for the revolutionary transfer of frequency combs to the vacuum ultraviolet (VUV). This advance necessitates unifying optical frequency comb technology with strong-field atomic physics. While strong-field studies of HHG have often focused on above-threshold harmonic generation (photon energy above the ionization potential), for VUV frequency combs an understanding of below-threshold harmonic orders and their generation process is crucial. Here we present a new and quantitative study of the harmonics 7-13 generated below and near the ionization threshold in xenon gas. We show multiple generation pathways for these harmonics that are manifested as on-axis interference in the harmonic yield. This discovery provides a new understanding of the strong-field, below-threshold dynamics under the influence of an atomic potential and allows us to quantitatively assess the achievable coherence of a VUV frequency comb generated through below threshold harmonics. We find that under reasonable experimental conditions temporal coherence is maintained. As evidence we present the first explicit VUV frequency comb structure beyond the 3rd harmonic.Comment: 16 pages, 4 figures, 1 tabl

Efficacy of five ‘sporicidal’ surface disinfectants against Clostridioides difficile spores in suspension tests and 4-field tests

Background: A sporicidal surface disinfection is recommended both for the outbreak and the endemic setting but a comparative evaluation on the efficacy of ‘sporicidal’ surface disinfectants using suspension tests and 4-field tests has not been performed. Aim: To determine the efficacy of five ‘sporicidal’ surface disinfectants (three ready-to-use wipes (A, B, E), two concentrates (C, D) based on peroxides or aldehydes against C. difficile spores. Methods: The efficacy was determined under clean conditions using a suspension test and the 4-field test. Each test was performed in duplicate in two separate laboratories. Wipes were wrung to collect the solution for the suspension tests. Results: Product A (peracetic acid; 5 min), product C (peracetic acid; 2% solution in 15 min or 1% solution in 30 min) and product D (peracetic acid; only 2% solution in 15 min) were effective with at least a 4 log10-reduction of C. difficile spores in suspension and on surfaces. Product B (hydrogen peroxide) was not effective in suspension (0.9 log10 after 15 min; 3.2 log10 after 1 h) and on surfaces (2.8 log10 after 15 and 60 min). Product E based on glutaraldehyde, (ethylendioxy)dimethanol and DDAC demonstrated 0.9 log10 after 4 h in suspension and 4.5 log10 after 4 h on surfaces. Conclusions: Not all surface disinfectants with a sporicidal claim were effective against C. difficile spores in standardized suspension tests and in the 4-field test. In clinical practice preference should be given to products that reliably pass the efficacy criteria of both types of tests.Peer Reviewe