Revised models of interstellar nitrogen isotopic fractionation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wirström, E. S.; Charnley, S. B.

2018-03-01

Nitrogen-bearing molecules in cold molecular clouds exhibit a range of isotopic fractionation ratios and these molecules may be the precursors of 15N enrichments found in comets and meteorites. Chemical model calculations indicate that atom-molecular ion and ion-molecule reactions could account for most of the fractionation patterns observed. However, recent quantum-chemical computations demonstrate that several of the key processes are unlikely to occur in dense clouds. Related model calculations of dense cloud chemistry show that the revised 15N enrichments fail to match observed values. We have investigated the effects of these reaction rate modifications on the chemical model of Wirström et al. (2012) for which there are significant physical and chemical differences with respect to other models. We have included 15N fractionation of CN in neutral-neutral reactions and also updated rate coefficients for key reactions in the nitrogen chemistry. We find that the revised fractionation rates have the effect of suppressing 15N enrichment in ammonia at all times, while the depletion is even more pronounced, reaching 14N/15N ratios of >2000. Taking the updated nitrogen chemistry into account, no significant enrichment occurs in HCN or HNC, contrary to observational evidence in dark clouds and comets, although the 14N/15N ratio can still be below 100 in CN itself. However, such low CN abundances are predicted that the updated model falls short of explaining the bulk 15N enhancements observed in primitive materials. It is clear that alternative fractionating reactions are necessary to reproduce observations, so further laboratory and theoretical studies are urgently needed.

Time-reversal breaking in QCD4, walls, and dualities in 2 + 1 dimensions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gaiotto, Davide; Komargodski, Zohar; Seiberg, Nathan

2018-01-01

We study SU( N ) Quantum Chromodynamics (QCD) in 3+1 dimensions with N f degenerate fundamental quarks with mass m and a θ-parameter. For generic m and θ the theory has a single gapped vacuum. However, as θ is varied through θ = π for large m there is a first order transition. For N f = 1 the first order transition line ends at a point with a massless η' particle (for all N ) and for N f > 1 the first order transition ends at m = 0, where, depending on the value of N f , the IR theory has free Nambu-Goldstone bosons, an interacting conformal field theory, or a free gauge theory. Even when the 4 d bulk is smooth, domain walls and interfaces can have interesting phase transitions separating different 3 d phases. These turn out to be the phases of the recently studied 3 d Chern-Simons matter theories, thus relating the dynamics of QCD4 and QCD3, and, in particular, making contact with the recently discussed dualities in 2+1 dimensions. For example, when the massless 4 d theory has an SU( N f ) sigma model, the domain wall theory at low (nonzero) mass supports a 3 d massless CP^{N_f-1} nonlinear σ-model with a Wess-Zumino term, in agreement with the conjectured dynamics in 2+1 dimensions.

The origin of organic matter in the Martian meteorite ALH84001.

PubMed

Becker, L; Popp, B; Rust, T; Bada, J L

1999-01-01

Stable carbon isotope measurements of the organic matter associated with the carbonate globules and the bulk matrix material in the ALH84001 Martian meteorite indicate that two distinct sources are present in the sample. The delta 13C values for the organic matter associated with the carbonate globules averaged -26% and is attributed to terrestrial contamination. In contrast, the delta 13C values for the organic matter associated with the bulk matrix material yielded a value of -15%. The only common carbon sources on the Earth that yield similar delta 13C values, other then some diagenetically altered marine carbonates, are C4 plants. A delta 13C value of -15%, on the other hand, is consistent with a kerogen-like component, the most ubiquitous form of organic matter found in carbonaceous chondrites such as the Murchison meteorite. Examination of the carbonate globules and bulk matrix material using laser desorption mass spectrometry (LDMS) indicates the presence of a high molecular weight organic component which appears to be extraterrestrial in origin, possibly derived from the exogenous delivery of meteoritic or cometary debris to the surface of Mars.

The origin of organic matter in the Martian meteorite ALH84001.

PubMed

Becker, L; Popp, B; Rust, T; Bada, J L

1999-03-30

Stable carbon isotope measurements of the organic matter associated with the carbonate globules and the bulk matrix material in the ALH84001 Martian meteorite indicate that two distinct sources are present in the sample. The delta 13C values for the organic matter associated with the carbonate globules averaged -26% and is attributed to terrestrial contamination. In contrast, the delta 13C values for the organic matter associated with the bulk matrix material yielded a value of -15%. The only common sources of carbon on the Earth that yield similar delta 13C values, other then some diagenetically altered marine carbonates, are C4 plants. A delta 13C value of -15%, on the other hand, is consistent with a kerogen-like component, the most ubiquitous form of organic matter found in carbonaceous chondrites such as the Murchison meteorite. Examination of the carbonate globules and bulk matrix material using laser desorption mass spectrometry (LDMS) indicates the presence of a high molecular weight organic component which appears to be extraterrestrial in origin, possibly derived from the exogenous delivery, of meteoritic or cometary debris to the surface of Mars.

Bulk and compound-specific isotope analysis of long-chain n-alkanes from a 85,000 year sediment core from Lake Peten Petén Itzá, Guatemala

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mays, J.; Brenner, M.; Curtis, J. H.; Curtis, K.; Hodell, D. A.; Correa-Metrio, A.; Escobar, J.; Dutton, A. L.; Zimmerman, A. R.; Guilderson, T. P.

2013-12-01

Sediment core PI-6 from Lake Petén Itzá, Guatemala possesses an 85-ka record of climate from lowland Central America. Variations in sediment lithology suggest large, abrupt changes in precipitation during the last glacial and deglacial periods, and into the early Holocene. Study of cores from nearby Lake Quexil demonstrated the utility of using the carbon isotopic composition of leaf wax n-alkanes to infer changes in terrestrial vegetation (Huang et al. 2001). Forty-nine samples were taken from composite Petén Itzá core PI-6 to measure carbon isotopes of bulk organic carbon and long-chain n alkanes. Changes in δ13C values indicate shifts in the relative proportion of C3 to C4 biomass. The record shows largest δ13C variations are associated with Heinrich Events. Carbon isotope values in sediments deposited during the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM) indicate moderate precipitation and little rainfall fluctuation. The deglacial was a period of pronounced climate variability, e.g. the Bölling-Allerod and Younger Dryas. Arid times of the deglacial were inferred from samples with the greatest δ13C values in organic matter, reflecting the largest proportion of C4 plants. Such inferences are supported by stable isotope measurements on ostracod shells and analysis of pollen from the same sample depths in core PI-6. Carbon stable isotope measures on bulk organic carbon and n alkane compounds show similar trends throughout the record and the C:N ratio of Petén Itzá sediments indicates a predominantly allochthonous source for bulk organic matter. Hence, isotope measures on bulk organic carbon (δ13CTOC) in sediments from this lake are sufficient to infer climate-driven shifts in vegetation, making n-alkane extraction and isotope analysis superfluous.

Infrared spectra and anharmonic coupling of proton-bound nitrogen dimers N2-H+-N2, N2-D+-N2, and 15N2-H+-15N2 in solid para-hydrogen.

PubMed

Liao, Hsin-Yi; Tsuge, Masashi; Tan, Jake A; Kuo, Jer-Lai; Lee, Yuan-Pern

2017-08-09

The proton-bound nitrogen dimer, N 2 -H + -N 2 , and its isotopologues were investigated by means of vibrational spectroscopy. These species were produced upon electron bombardment of mixtures of N 2 (or 15 N 2 ) and para-hydrogen (p-H 2 ) or normal-D 2 (n-D 2 ) during deposition at 3.2 K. Reduced-dimension anharmonic vibrational Schrödinger equations were constructed to account for the strong anharmonic effects in these protonated species. The fundamental lines of proton motions in N 2 -H + -N 2 were observed at 715.0 (NH + N antisymmetric stretch, ν 4 ), 1129.6 (NH + N bend, ν 6 ), and 2352.7 (antisymmetric NN/NN stretch, ν 3 ) cm -1 , in agreement with values of 763, 1144, and 2423 cm -1 predicted with anharmonic calculations using the discrete-variable representation (DVR) method at the CCSD/aug-cc-pVDZ level. The lines at 1030.2 and 1395.5 cm -1 were assigned to combination bands involving nν 2 + ν 4 (n = 1 and 2) according to theoretical calculations; ν 2 is the N 2 N 2 stretching mode. For 15 N 2 -H + - 15 N 2 in solid p-H 2 , the corresponding major lines were observed at 710.0 (ν 4 ), 1016.7 (ν 2 + ν 4 ), 1124.3 (ν 6 ), 1384.8 (2ν 2 + ν 4 ), and 2274.9 (ν 3 ) cm -1 . For N 2 -D + -N 2 in solid n-D 2 , the corresponding major lines were observed at 494.0 (ν 4 ), 840.7 (ν 2 + ν 4 ), 825.5 (ν 6 ), and 2356.2 (ν 3 ) cm -1 . In addition, two lines at 762.0 (weak) and 808.3 cm -1 were tentatively assigned to be some modes of N 2 -H + -N 2 perturbed or activated by a third N 2 near the proton.

A 3D MR-acquisition scheme for nonrigid bulk motion correction in simultaneous PET-MR

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Kolbitsch, Christoph, E-mail: christoph.1.kolbitsch@kcl.ac.uk; Prieto, Claudia; Schaeffter, Tobias

Purpose: Positron emission tomography (PET) is a highly sensitive medical imaging technique commonly used to detect and assess tumor lesions. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) provides high resolution anatomical images with different contrasts and a range of additional information important for cancer diagnosis. Recently, simultaneous PET-MR systems have been released with the promise to provide complementary information from both modalities in a single examination. Due to long scan times, subject nonrigid bulk motion, i.e., changes of the patient's position on the scanner table leading to nonrigid changes of the patient's anatomy, during data acquisition can negatively impair image quality and tracermore » uptake quantification. A 3D MR-acquisition scheme is proposed to detect and correct for nonrigid bulk motion in simultaneously acquired PET-MR data. Methods: A respiratory navigated three dimensional (3D) MR-acquisition with Radial Phase Encoding (RPE) is used to obtain T1- and T2-weighted data with an isotropic resolution of 1.5 mm. Healthy volunteers are asked to move the abdomen two to three times during data acquisition resulting in overall 19 movements at arbitrary time points. The acquisition scheme is used to retrospectively reconstruct dynamic 3D MR images with different temporal resolutions. Nonrigid bulk motion is detected and corrected in this image data. A simultaneous PET acquisition is simulated and the effect of motion correction is assessed on image quality and standardized uptake values (SUV) for lesions with different diameters. Results: Six respiratory gated 3D data sets with T1- and T2-weighted contrast have been obtained in healthy volunteers. All bulk motion shifts have successfully been detected and motion fields describing the transformation between the different motion states could be obtained with an accuracy of 1.71 ± 0.29 mm. The PET simulation showed errors of up to 67% in measured SUV due to bulk motion which could be reduced to less than 10% with the proposed motion compensation approach. Conclusions: A MR acquisition scheme which yields both high resolution 3D anatomical data and highly accurate nonrigid motion information without an increase in scan time is presented. The proposed method leads to a strong improvement in both MR and PET image quality and ensures an accurate assessment of tracer uptake.« less

Acquisition of a Modified Suction Casting Instrument for the Fabrication of Radiation Tolerant Bulk nNanostructured Metallic Materials

DTIC Science & Technology

2015-01-13

Cu/ Nb films”, Philos. Mag., 84, 1021-1028, (2004). [23] D. H. Ryan, J. M. D. Coey, “Magnetic properties of iron-rich Fe- Zr glasses”, Phys. Rev. B...2226, (1982). [26] K. Fukamichi, R. J. Gambino, T. R. McGuire, “ Electrical resistivity and Hall effect in FeZr amorphous sputtered films”, J. Appl...fabricate several bulk nanostructured metallic materials. In particular we fabricated bulk nanostructured Fe- Zr alloys via suction casting technique. The as

Bulk properties of the medium produced in relativistic heavy-ion collisions from the beam energy scan program

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Adamczyk, L.; Adkins, J. K.; Agakishiev, G.; Aggarwal, M. M.; Ahammed, Z.; Ajitanand, N. N.; Alekseev, I.; Anderson, D. M.; Aoyama, R.; Aparin, A.; Arkhipkin, D.; Aschenauer, E. C.; Ashraf, M. U.; Attri, A.; Averichev, G. S.; Bai, X.; Bairathi, V.; Behera, A.; Bellwied, R.; Bhasin, A.; Bhati, A. K.; Bhattarai, P.; Bielcik, J.; Bielcikova, J.; Bland, L. C.; Bordyuzhin, I. G.; Bouchet, J.; Brandenburg, J. D.; Brandin, A. V.; Brown, D.; Bunzarov, I.; Butterworth, J.; Caines, H.; Calderón de la Barca Sánchez, M.; Campbell, J. M.; Cebra, D.; Chakaberia, I.; Chaloupka, P.; Chang, Z.; Chankova-Bunzarova, N.; Chatterjee, A.; Chattopadhyay, S.; Chen, X.; Chen, J. H.; Chen, X.; Cheng, J.; Cherney, M.; Christie, W.; Contin, G.; Crawford, H. J.; Das, S.; De Silva, L. C.; Debbe, R. R.; Dedovich, T. G.; Deng, J.; Derevschikov, A. A.; Didenko, L.; Dilks, C.; Dong, X.; Drachenberg, J. L.; Draper, J. E.; Dunkelberger, L. E.; Dunlop, J. C.; Efimov, L. G.; Elsey, N.; Engelage, J.; Eppley, G.; Esha, R.; Esumi, S.; Evdokimov, O.; Ewigleben, J.; Eyser, O.; Fatemi, R.; Fazio, S.; Federic, P.; Federicova, P.; Fedorisin, J.; Feng, Z.; Filip, P.; Finch, E.; Fisyak, Y.; Flores, C. E.; Fulek, L.; Gagliardi, C. A.; Garand, D.; Geurts, F.; Gibson, A.; Girard, M.; Grosnick, D.; Gunarathne, D. S.; Guo, Y.; Gupta, A.; Gupta, S.; Guryn, W.; Hamad, A. I.; Hamed, A.; Harlenderova, A.; Harris, J. W.; He, L.; Heppelmann, S.; Heppelmann, S.; Hirsch, A.; Hoffmann, G. W.; Horvat, S.; Huang, T.; Huang, B.; Huang, X.; Huang, H. Z.; Humanic, T. J.; Huo, P.; Igo, G.; Jacobs, W. W.; Jentsch, A.; Jia, J.; Jiang, K.; Jowzaee, S.; Judd, E. G.; Kabana, S.; Kalinkin, D.; Kang, K.; Kauder, K.; Ke, H. W.; Keane, D.; Kechechyan, A.; Khan, Z.; Kikoła, D. P.; Kisel, I.; Kisiel, A.; Kochenda, L.; Kocmanek, M.; Kollegger, T.; Kosarzewski, L. K.; Kraishan, A. F.; Kravtsov, P.; Krueger, K.; Kulathunga, N.; Kumar, L.; Kvapil, J.; Kwasizur, J. H.; Lacey, R.; Landgraf, J. M.; Landry, K. D.; Lauret, J.; Lebedev, A.; Lednicky, R.; Lee, J. H.; Li, X.; Li, C.; Li, W.; Li, Y.; Lidrych, J.; Lin, T.; Lisa, M. A.; Liu, H.; Liu, P.; Liu, Y.; Liu, F.; Ljubicic, T.; Llope, W. J.; Lomnitz, M.; Longacre, R. S.; Luo, S.; Luo, X.; Ma, G. L.; Ma, L.; Ma, Y. G.; Ma, R.; Magdy, N.; Majka, R.; Mallick, D.; Margetis, S.; Markert, C.; Matis, H. S.; Meehan, K.; Mei, J. C.; Miller, Z. W.; Minaev, N. G.; Mioduszewski, S.; Mishra, D.; Mizuno, S.; Mohanty, B.; Mondal, M. M.; Morozov, D. A.; Mustafa, M. K.; Nasim, Md.; Nayak, T. K.; Nelson, J. M.; Nie, M.; Nigmatkulov, G.; Niida, T.; Nogach, L. V.; Nonaka, T.; Nurushev, S. B.; Odyniec, G.; Ogawa, A.; Oh, K.; Okorokov, V. A.; Olvitt, D.; Page, B. S.; Pak, R.; Pandit, Y.; Panebratsev, Y.; Pawlik, B.; Pei, H.; Perkins, C.; Pile, P.; Pluta, J.; Poniatowska, K.; Porter, J.; Posik, M.; Poskanzer, A. M.; Pruthi, N. K.; Przybycien, M.; Putschke, J.; Qiu, H.; Quintero, A.; Ramachandran, S.; Ray, R. L.; Reed, R.; Rehbein, M. J.; Ritter, H. G.; Roberts, J. B.; Rogachevskiy, O. V.; Romero, J. L.; Roth, J. D.; Ruan, L.; Rusnak, J.; Rusnakova, O.; Sahoo, N. R.; Sahu, P. K.; Salur, S.; Sandweiss, J.; Saur, M.; Schambach, J.; Schmah, A. M.; Schmidke, W. B.; Schmitz, N.; Schweid, B. R.; Seger, J.; Sergeeva, M.; Seyboth, P.; Shah, N.; Shahaliev, E.; Shanmuganathan, P. V.; Shao, M.; Sharma, A.; Sharma, M. K.; Shen, W. Q.; Shi, Z.; Shi, S. S.; Shou, Q. Y.; Sichtermann, E. P.; Sikora, R.; Simko, M.; Singha, S.; Skoby, M. J.; Smirnov, N.; Smirnov, D.; Solyst, W.; Song, L.; Sorensen, P.; Spinka, H. M.; Srivastava, B.; Stanislaus, T. D. S.; Strikhanov, M.; Stringfellow, B.; Sugiura, T.; Sumbera, M.; Summa, B.; Sun, Y.; Sun, X. M.; Sun, X.; Surrow, B.; Svirida, D. N.; Tang, A. H.; Tang, Z.; Taranenko, A.; Tarnowsky, T.; Tawfik, A.; Thäder, J.; Thomas, J. H.; Timmins, A. R.; Tlusty, D.; Todoroki, T.; Tokarev, M.; Trentalange, S.; Tribble, R. E.; Tribedy, P.; Tripathy, S. K.; Trzeciak, B. A.; Tsai, O. D.; Ullrich, T.; Underwood, D. G.; Upsal, I.; Van Buren, G.; van Nieuwenhuizen, G.; Vasiliev, A. N.; Videbæk, F.; Vokal, S.; Voloshin, S. A.; Vossen, A.; Wang, G.; Wang, Y.; Wang, F.; Wang, Y.; Webb, J. C.; Webb, G.; Wen, L.; Westfall, G. D.; Wieman, H.; Wissink, S. W.; Witt, R.; Wu, Y.; Xiao, Z. G.; Xie, W.; Xie, G.; Xu, J.; Xu, N.; Xu, Q. H.; Xu, Y. F.; Xu, Z.; Yang, Y.; Yang, Q.; Yang, C.; Yang, S.; Ye, Z.; Ye, Z.; Yi, L.; Yip, K.; Yoo, I.-K.; Yu, N.; Zbroszczyk, H.; Zha, W.; Zhang, Z.; Zhang, X. P.; Zhang, J. B.; Zhang, S.; Zhang, J.; Zhang, Y.; Zhang, J.; Zhang, S.; Zhao, J.; Zhong, C.; Zhou, L.; Zhou, C.; Zhu, X.; Zhu, Z.; Zyzak, M.; STAR Collaboration

2017-10-01

We present measurements of bulk properties of the matter produced in Au+Au collisions at √{sN N}=7.7 ,11.5 ,19.6 ,27 , and 39 GeV using identified hadrons (π±, K±, p , and p ¯) from the STAR experiment in the Beam Energy Scan (BES) Program at the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider (RHIC). Midrapidity (|y |<0.1 ) results for multiplicity densities d N /d y , average transverse momenta 〈pT〉 , and particle ratios are presented. The chemical and kinetic freeze-out dynamics at these energies are discussed and presented as a function of collision centrality and energy. These results constitute the systematic measurements of bulk properties of matter formed in heavy-ion collisions over a broad range of energy (or baryon chemical potential) at RHIC.

Grass species influence on plant N uptake - Determination of atmospheric N deposition to a semi-natural peat bog site using a 15N labelling approach

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hurkuck, Miriam; Brümmer, Christian; Spott, Oliver; Flessa, Heinz; Kutsch, Werner L.

2014-05-01

Large areas of natural peat bogs in Northwestern Germany have been converted to arable land and were subjected to draining and peat cutting in the past. The few protected peatland areas remaining are affected by high nitrogen (N) deposition. Our study site - a moderately drained raised bog - is surrounded by highly fertilized agricultural land and livestock production. In this study, we used a 15N pool dilution technique called 'Integrated Total Nitrogen Input' (ITNI) to quantify annual deposition of atmospheric N into biomonitoring pots over a two-year period. Since it considers direct N uptake by plants, it was expected to result in higher N input than conventional methods for determination of N deposition (e.g. micrometeorological approaches, bulk N samplers). Using Lolium multiflorum and Eriophorum vaginatum as monitor plants and low, medium and high levels of fertilization, we aimed to simulate increasing N deposition to planted pots and to allocate airborne N after its uptake by the soil-plant system in aboveground biomass, roots and soil. Increasing N fertilization was positively correlated with biomass production of Eriophorum vaginatum, whereas atmospheric plant N uptake decreased and highest airborne N input of 899.8 ± 67.4 µg N d-1 pot-1 was found for low N fertilization. In contrast, Lolium multiflorum showed a clear dependency of N supply on plant N uptake and was highest (688.7 ± 41.4 µg N d-1 pot-1) for highly fertilized vegetation pots. Our results suggest that grass species respond differently to increasing N input. While crop grasses such as Lolium multiflorum take up N according to N availability, species adopted to nutrient-limited conditions like Eriophorum vaginatum show N saturation effects with increasing N supply. Total airborne N input ranged from about 24 to 66 kg N ha-1 yr-1 dependent on the used indicator plant and the amount of added fertilizer. Parallel determination of atmospheric N deposition using a micrometeorological approach complemented with bulk samplers was about 24 kg N ha-1 yr-1 during both years of experiments and was thus at the lower range of results obtained by the ITNI method. The low 15N recovery rate of about 50 % during some experiments indicated an underestimation of the applied ITNI approach, resulting in a maximum possible N uptake of twice as high as the determined N input. Most likely, the intensive agricultural land management of the surrounding areas leads to this high N deposition into the protected peatland area. As a result, increasing sensitivity of ombrotrophic vegetation with a subsequent change in plant species composition and a decline in bog-specific vegetation cannot be excluded.

C:N:P Molar Ratios, Sources and 14C Dating of Surficial Sediments from the NW Slope of Cuba.

PubMed

de la Lanza Espino, Guadalupe; Soto, Luis A

2015-01-01

The surficial sediments recovered from 12 sites located near the channel axis of the Florida Straits and the lower slope off NW Cuba were analyzed for total organic carbon (TOC), nitrogen (TN), phosphorus (TP), elemental C:N:P ratios, C and N isotopic values, and 14C dating. The depth profiles of TOC, TN, and TP (0-18 cm) displayed a downcore trend and a significant variation. The TOC values were low (0.15 to 0.62%; 66 to 516 µmol g(-1)). Sites near the island's lower slope had lower TOC average concentrations (158-333 µmol g(-1)) than those closer to the channel axis (averaging 341-516 µmol g(-1); p <0.05). The TN concentrations near the lower slope attained 0.11% (80 µmol g(-1)), whereas, towards the channel axis, they decreased to 0.07% (55 µmol g(-1); p<0.05). The C:N ratios ranged from 1.9 to 10.2. The mean molar C:N ratio (5.4) indicated a marine hemipelagic deposition. The TP was lower at sites near the lower slope (38.4 to 50.0 µmol gv; 0.12% to 0.16%) than those near the channel axis (50.0 to 66 µmol g(-1); 0.15 to 0.21%). C:P fluctuated from 7.7 to 14.1 in the surficial sediment layer. The bulk organic δ13Corg and δ15N values confirmed pelagic organic sources, and the 14C dating revealed that the sediments were deposited during the Holocene (1000-5000 yr BP). We suggest that the hydrodynamic conditions in the Straits influence vertical and advective fluxes of particulate organic material trapped in the mixed-layer, which reduces the particulate matter flux to the seabed.

Effect of thermal interaction between bulk GaN substrates and corral sapphire on blue light emission InGaN/GaN multi-quantum wells by MOCVD

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sivanathan, P. C.; Shuhaimi, Ahmad; Hamza, Hebal; Kowsz, Stacy J.; Abdul Khudus, Muhammad I. M.; Li, Hongjian; Allif, Kamarul

2018-07-01

The InGaN/GaN multi-quantum wells, growth on bulk GaN substrate were studied for blue light emission. Growth temperature plays a key role determining the peak wavelength of a quantum well. The study was carried out by growing quantum wells, MQWs on the whole sapphire at 716 °C and observed peak wavelength at 463 nm. While the bulk GaN substrate with sapphire corral grown at 703 °C and observed a blueshift at 433 nm peak wavelength. These results contradict that of typical observation of wavelength emission inversely proportional to the growth temperature. On the other hand, the growth of GaN-sapphire and GaN-silicon at similar conditions emits 435 nm and 450 nm respectively. The heat interaction of bulk GaN substrates surrounded by the sapphire corral exhibits different growth conditions in multi-quantum wells when compared to that of a whole sapphire substrate (absence of bulk GaN). The predicated surface temperature of bulk GaN substrate is 10 °C-15 °C of more than the corral sapphire. This observation may link to the difference in the thermal distribution of the growth surface corresponding to the different thermal conductivity ratio. The photoluminescence and computational techniques were used to understand in-depth of the heat interaction.

Investigating the distribution and sources of organic matter in surface sediment of Coombabah Lake (Australia) using elemental, isotopic and fatty acid biomarkers

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dunn, R. J. K.; Welsh, D. T.; Teasdale, P. R.; Lee, S. Y.; Lemckert, C. J.; Meziane, T.

2008-10-01

Extensive physical and biological measurements were made of the surface sediments within the shallow, semi-urbanised Coombabah Lake in southern Moreton Bay, Australia. Sediment bulk parameters (C/N ratios, δ13C and δ15N) and fatty acid biomarkers were used to determine distributions and sources of organic matter in the intertidal sediments. The determination of organic matter sources within coastal and estuarine settings is important in understanding the roles of organic matter as energy and nutrient sources. Spatial variability of biomarker values within the sediments were interpreted by thematic maps employing the Krigging algorithm. Grain size analysis indicated the lake was dominated by mud (<63 μm) in the southern (landward) and sand (>63 μm) in the northern (seaward) lake regions, respectively. Surface sediment organic C and N values ranged from 0.12% to 1.76% and 0.01% to 0.12% dry weight, respectively, and C/N ratios averaged 16.3±3.19%. Sedimentary δ13C values ranged from -26.1‰ to -20.9‰, with an average value of -23.9±1.0‰. Sedimentary δ15N values ranged from +1.7‰ to +4.8‰, with an average value of +2.8±0.8‰. Bulk sediment parameters suggested that sedimentary organic matter is provided predominantly by allochthonous sources in the form of fringing mangroves. Thirty-nine individual fatty acids were identified using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. The mean contributions of long chain fatty acids (LCFAs), polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), saturated fatty acids (SAFAs) and bacterial fatty acids (BAFAs) were, respectively, 13.9±11.4%, 7.6±4.1%, 53.6±8.6% and 18.2±4.6% of the identified fatty acid methyl esters (FAMEs), with BAFAs occurring in all sampled sediments. Fatty acid compositions varied throughout lake sediments, which indicated spatial differences in autochthonous and allochthonous organic matter sources, including terrestrial and planktonic (i.e. zooplankton, diatoms and other algal species) sources. The contribution of organic matter from shoreline mangroves was confirmed by the presence of LCFAs and 18:2 ω6 and 18:3 ω3, which are markers for mangroves in this ecosystem. BAFAs were identified in increased proportions in sediments adjacent to urban developments and dominated by mud. Grain size was identified as a dominant factor in the fatty acid compositions and contributing values to FAME pool. Spatial patterns of C/N ratios, δ13C and δ15N values, and fatty acid biomarker contributions illustrated that there is a greater contribution of autochthonous and labile organic matter to the sedimentary organic matter pool in the northern (marine entrance) sediments compared to the more allochthonous sourced organic matter of the southern region of the lake. This study details the distribution and sources of organic matter within Coombabah Lake and illustrates the usefulness of a multiple biomarker approach in discriminating organic matter sources within estuarine environments.

Geochemistry and fluxes of volatiles in the Magadi and Natron thermal springs, East African Rift

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lee, H.; Fischer, T. P.; Muirhead, J.; Ebinger, C. J.; Kattenhorn, S. A.; Sharp, Z. D.; Sano, Y.; Takahata, N.

2016-12-01

The Magadi and Natron basin (MNB) is in the earliest stages of continental rifting (<10 Ma) in the East African Rift, and is bounded by numerous normal faults releasing a significant amount of CO2 (4.05 Mt/yr). Although many thermal springs have been observed along fault zones, sources and fluxes of volatiles from these fluids are poorly known. This study reports geochemistry and fluxes of dissolved gases in thermal springs of the MNB (T = 36.8 - 83.5°C and pH = 8.5 - 10.3), including major gas chemistry, d13C-CO2, d15N-N2, and 3He/4He ratios. N2 (< 94.7 vol%) is the most abundant gas, with minor air contamination (mean value of O2 = 1.79 vol%). The majority of CO2 (mean = 11.8 vol%) is dissolved in alkaline waters. Abundant CH4 concentrations (19.3 and 25.1 vol%) are observed only in high temperature (82.3 - 83.5°C) samples. Mean values of Ar and He are 1.75 and 0.59 vol%, respectively. d13C-CO2 (-5.68 to 1.62‰) and CO2/3He (7.24 x 108 - 1.81 x 1011) values show that CO2 originates from both mantle and limestone. d15N-N2 (-1.46 to 0.35‰) and N2/3He (3.92 x 106 - 1.33 x 109) values indicate that the major source of N2 is atmospheric, with a minor input of mantle N2 (fmantle < 22%), except for an anomalous biogenic sample (d15N-N2 = 5.93‰). 3He/4He ratios (0.64 - 4.00 Ra) suggest contributions of radiogenic 4He derived from a crustal source. 4He flux rates (3.64 x 1011 - 3.34 x 1014 atoms/m2 sec) calculated using spring flow rates are much greater than reported mean of continental flux values (4.18x1010 atoms/m2 sec), implying that magma intrusions or widespread normal faulting may help to mobilize crustal 4He in the study area. Total flux values (mol/yr) of CO2, N2, 3He, and 4He are 7.91 x 106, 1.77 x 107, 8.18, and 9.33 x 104, respectively. In particular, the total CO2 flux of springs is 0.01% of the total diffuse CO2 flux reported in the region. Our results reveal an interaction between mantle-derived volatiles and continental crust during early stage continental rifting in the MNB, with their upward rise facilitated by dilatational fault systems.

MONITORING FOOD WEB CHANGES IN TIDE-RESTORED SALT MARSHES: A CARBON STABLE ISOTOPE APPROACH

EPA Science Inventory

Primary producer (angiosperms, macroalgae, submerged aquatic vegetation), suspended particulate matter, and Fundulus heteroclitus isotope values (d13C , d15N, d34S) were examined to assess their use as an indicator for changes in food web support functions in tidally-restored sal...

Bulk modulus of two-dimensional liquid dusty plasmas and its application

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Li, Wei; Lin, Wei; Feng, Yan

2017-04-01

From the recently obtained equation of state [Feng et al., J. Phys. D: Appl. Phys. 49, 235203 (2016) and Feng et al., Phys. Plasmas 23, 093705 (2016); Erratum 23, 119904 (2016)], the bulk modulus of elasticity K of 2D liquid dusty plasmas is analytically derived as the expression of the temperature and the screening parameter. Exact values of the obtained bulk modulus of elasticity K are reported and also plotted in the 2D plane of the temperature and the screening parameter. As the temperature and the screening parameter change, the variation trend of K is reported and the corresponding interpretation is suggested. It has been demonstrated that the obtained bulk modulus of elasticity K can be used to predict the longitudinal sound speed, which agrees well with previous studies.

Indian Monsoon and denitrification change in the Laxmi Basin (IODP Exp. 355 Site U1456) of the Eastern Arabian Sea during the last 800 kyrs

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kim, J. E.; Khim, B. K.; Ikehara, M.; Lee, J.

2017-12-01

The Arabian Sea is a famous site for the basin-wide denitrification in the globe. The Western Arabian Sea has been acknowledged by its upwelling-induced denitrification related to the Indian Monsoon system (Altabet et al., 1999). It was recently reported that the denitrification in the Eastern Arabian Sea (IODP Exp. 355 Site U1456) has been persistent and consistent during the mid-Pleistocene as reflected in the bulk sediment δ15N values (Tripathi et al., 2017). Based on the age model reconstructed by δ18O stratigraphy of planktonic foraminifera (Globigerinoides ruber) together with shipboard biostratigraphic and paleomagnetic data at Site U1456 drilled in the Laxmi Basin of the Eastern Arabian Sea, the glacial-interglacial fluctuations of denitrification in association with the development of oxygen minimum zone (OMZ) were resolved in the context of Indian Monsoon activity. One of striking features in the Eastern Arabian Sea is that the δ15N values of bulk sediment show clear and consistent denitrification with minimum δ15N values exceeding 6‰ even during glacial periods, when its western counterpart experienced a temporal collapse of OMZ and denitrification. The Eastern Arabian Sea is fed not only by the upwelling-induced productivity in the western margin during the summer monsoon but also by the high productivity during the winter monsoon, both of which maintain the increased productivity affecting the OMZ through the consumption of dissolved oxygen by the degradation of sinking organic particles. The Eastern Arabian Sea is further influenced by the clockwise surface currents, intermediate water ventilation change by the blockage of Antarctic Intermediate Water, limited inflow from the Red Sea/Persian Gulf, and the freshwater salinity stratification due to nearby riverine discharges, all of which make the denitrification process more complicated than the Western Arabian Sea. Nonetheless, the glacial-interglacial denitrification change in the Eastern Arabian Sea is interpreted to be linked strongly with the intensity of Indian Monsoon.

A possible YORP effect on C and S Main Belt Asteroids

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Carbognani, A.

2011-01-01

A rotating frequency analysis in a previous paper, showed that two samples of C and S-type asteroids belonging to the Main Belt, but not to any families, present two different values for the transition diameter to a Maxwellian distribution of the rotation frequency, respectively 48 and 33 km. In this paper, after a more detailed statistical analysis, aiming to verify that the result is physically relevant, we found a better estimate for the transition diameter, respectively D C = 44 ± 2 km and D S = 30 ± 1 km. The ratio between these estimated transition diameters, D C/ D S = 1.5 ± 0.1, can be supported with the help of the YORP (Yarkovsky-O'Keefe-Radzievskii-Paddack) effect, although other physical causes cannot be completely ruled out. In this paper we have derived a simple scaling law for YORP which, taking into account the different average heliocentric distance, the bulk density, the albedo and the asteroid "asymmetry surface factor", has enabled us to reasonably justify the ratio between the diameters transition of C-type and S-type asteroids. The same scaling law can be used to estimate a new ratio between the bulk densities of S and C asteroids samples (giving ρ S/ ρ C ≈ 2.9 ± 0.3), and can explain why the asteroids near the transition diameter have about the same absolute magnitude. For C-type asteroids, using the found density ratio and other estimates of S-type density, it is also possible to estimate an average bulk density equal to 0.9 ± 0.1 g cm -3, a value compatible with icy composition. The suggested explanation for the difference of the transition diameters is a plausible hypothesis, consistent with the data, but it needs to be studied more in depth with further observations.

Organochlorine pollutants and stable isotopes in resident and migrant passerine birds from northwest Michoacán, Mexico

USGS Publications Warehouse

Mora, Miguel A.

2008-01-01

Although concentrations of organochlorine compounds (OCs) in birds from most of the United States and Canada have decreased over the last 30 years, there is still concern that migrant birds might be exposed to elevated concentrations of OCs during migration in Latin America. The Lerma-Chapala Basin in west-central Mexico is an important migration corridor and wintering area for many species. The objectives of this study were to assess if resident and migrant birds wintering in western Michoacán, Mexico accumulated elevated concentrations of OCs during fall and spring and to determine if the stable isotopes δ15N, δ13C, and δD could be used to predict burdens and origins of DDE accumulation. Resident and migrant passerine insectivorous birds were collected during fall and spring (2001–2002) in northwest Michoacán, near Chapala Lake, Mexico. The carcasses were analyzed for OCs and tail feathers were analyzed for stable isotopes δ15N, δ13C, and δD. The OCs detected in more than 50% of the samples were: oxychlordane (79%), p,p’-DDE (100%), p,p′-DDT (57%), and total PCBs (100%). p,p′-DDE was the OC detected at the highest concentrations, whereas residues of other OCs were near or below detection limits. Overall, there were no significant differences in concentrations of OCs between seasons or between resident and migrant birds. Concentrations of DDE and oxychlordane were somewhat higher in migrant and resident birds during spring than in fall; however, concentrations were significantly different only for oxychlordane. Two resident birds collected in fall and spring had DDE residues >10 μg/g wet weight in carcass. There were no significant differences in δ13C and δ15N values among species, between seasons, or between migrant and resident birds. However, δD values were clearly different between species and helped differentiate migrant from resident birds. δD values also were negatively and significantly correlated with DDE concentrations in carcass. Birds with more depleted δD values in feathers tended to have higher DDE concentrations than those with less depleted δD values, suggesting a potential latitudinal accumulation of DDE. Overall, our results suggest that during fall and spring, there is not a significant buildup of persistent OCs in migrant and resident passerine insectivorous birds in northwest Michoacán, Mexico.

Ku-band electromagnetic wave absorbing properties of polysiloxane derived Si-O-C bulk ceramics

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ding, Donghai; Li, Zipei; Xiao, Guoqing; Yang, Shaoyu

2018-02-01

The bulk Si-O-C ceramics were prepared by polymer derived ceramics (PDCs) route using polysiloxane as precursor and their properties were investigated for electromagnetic wave absorbing in the frequency range of 12.4-18 GHz (Ku-band). It was found that the catalytic pyrolysis can enhance substantially the absorbing properties by in situ formation of turbostratic carbon network, ordered carbon, and multi-wall carbon nanotubes. The matching thickness of sample containing 1.5 wt% FeCl3 (FPSO-1.5) is 2.2 mm, and its reflection loss exceeds -10 dB in the whole Ku-band with an absorption peak of -35.48 dB at 14.16 GHz. For sample containing 1.5 wt% FeCl3, its absorption peak increases to -15.78 dB, but its matching thickness decreases significantly to 2.2 mm. The polymer derived Si-O-C ceramics could be used as excellent electromagnetic functional devices working in harsh environments.

Utilization of Tabula Rasa to Stabilize Bulk Lifetimes in n-Cz Silicon for High-Performance Solar Cell Processing

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

LaSalvia, Vincenzo; Jensen, Mallory Ann; Youssef, Amanda

2016-11-21

We investigate a high temperature, high cooling-rate anneal Tabula Rasa (TR) and report its implications on n-type Czochralski-grown silicon (n-Cz Si) for photovoltaic fabrication. Tabula Rasa aims at dissolving and homogenizing oxygen precipitate nuclei that can grow during the cell process steps and degrade the cell performance due to their high internal gettering and recombination activity. The Tabula Rasa thermal treatment is performed in a clean tube furnace with cooling rates >100 degrees C/s. We characterize the bulk lifetime by Sinton lifetime and photoluminescence mapping just after Tabula Rasa, and after the subsequent cell processing. After TR, the bulk lifetimemore » surprisingly degrades to <; 0.1ms, only to recover to values equal or higher than the initial non-treated wafer (several ms), after typical high temperature cell process steps. Those include boron diffusion and oxidation; phosphorus diffusion/oxidation; ambient annealing at 850 degrees C; and crystallization annealing of tunneling-passivating contacts (doped polycrystalline silicon on 1.5 nm thermal oxide). The drastic lifetime improvement during high temperature cell processing is attributed to improved external gettering of metal impurities and annealing of intrinsic point defects. Time and injection dependent lifetime spectroscopy further reveals the mechanisms of lifetime improvement after Tabula Rasa treatment. Additionally, we report the efficacy of Tabula Rasa on n-type Cz-Si wafers and its dependence on oxygen concentration, correlated to position within the ingot.« less

Isotopic and Chemical Analysis of Nitrate Sources and Cycling in the San Joaquin River Near Stockton, California

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Silva, S. R.; Kendall, C.; Bemis, B.; Wankel, S.; Bergamaschi, B.; Kratzer, C.; Dileanis, P.; Erickson, D.; Avery, E.; Paxton, K.

2002-12-01

Fish migration through the deep-water channel in the San Joaquin River at Stockton, California is inhibited by low oxygen concentrations during the summer months. The cause for this condition appears to be stagnation and decomposition of algae with attendant oxygen consumption. Algae growth in the San Joaquin River is promoted by nutrients entering the river mainly in the form of nitrate. Possible significant sources of nitrate include soil, fertilizer from agriculture, manure from dairy operations, and N derived from municipal sewage. A 2000 CALFED pilot study investigated the sources and cycling of nitrate at four sites along the San Joaquin River upstream of Stockton using the carbon and nitrogen isotopes of total dissolved and particulate organic matter, together with hydrological measurements and various concentration data, including chlorophyll-a. The nitrate source, its relationship to phytoplankton, and the effect of the nitrate source and cycling on the N isotopic composition of dissolved and particulate organic matter were the primary concerns of the study. The d15N values of dissolved organic nitrogen (DON) were used as a proxy for nitrate d15N because nitrate comprised about 90% of DON. Chlorophyll-a and C:N ratios indicated that the particulate organic matter (POM) consisted largely of plankton and therefore the d15N of POM was used as a proxy for the d15N of plankton. A tentative interpretation of the pilot study was that nitrate was a major nutrient for the plankton and the nitrate was of anthropogenic origin, possibly sewage or animal waste. To test these assumptions and interpretations, we are currently analyzing a set of samples collected in 2001. In addition to the previous sample types, a subset of samples will be measured directly for nitrate d15N to assess the validity of using d15N of DON as a proxy for nitrate.

Free-edge stress analysis of glass-epoxy laminates with matrix cracks

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Fish, John C.; O'Brien, T. K.

1992-01-01

The effect of matrix cracks on the composite delamination and interlaminar stresses is investigated in (+15/90n/-15)s glass-epoxy laminates (with values of n equal to 0, 1, 2, or 3) subjected to monotonically increasing tension loads. Three-dimensional (3D) and quasi-3D (Q3D) finite-element analyses are used to model the free-edge stress states in the laminates with and without a matrix crack, respectively. The Q3D results show that in-plane transverse tensile stresses exist in the +15 deg plies near the free edges of all of the laminates used and that only the interlaminar shear stress is high at the +15/theta interface. The results of 3D analysis indicate that large tensile interlaminar normal as well as shear stresses develop at the intersection of the matrix crack and the free edge. This suggests that the interlaminar normal stress plays a significant role in the failure of these laminates.

Analytical theory of the space-charge region of lateral p-n junctions in nanofilms

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Gurugubelli, Vijaya Kumar, E-mail: vkgurugubelli@gmail.com; Karmalkar, Shreepad

There is growing interest in fabricating conventional semiconductor devices in a nanofilm which could be a 3D material with one reduced dimension (e.g., silicon-on-insulator (SOI) film), or single/multiple layers of a 2D material (e.g., MoS{sub 2}), or a two dimensional electron gas/two dimensional hole gas (2DEG/2DHG) layer. Lateral p-n junctions are essential parts of these devices. The space-charge region electrostatics in these nanofilm junctions is strongly affected by the surrounding field, unlike in bulk junctions. Current device physics of nanofilms lacks a simple analytical theory of this 2D electrostatics of lateral p-n junctions. We present such a theory taking intomore » account the film's thickness, permittivity, doping, interface charge, and possibly different ambient permittivities on film's either side. In analogy to the textbook theory of the 1D electrostatics of bulk p-n junctions, our theory yields simple formulas for the depletion width, the extent of space-charge tails beyond this width, and the screening length associated with the space-charge layer in nanofilm junctions; these formulas agree with numerical simulations and measurements. Our theory introduces an electrostatic thickness index to classify nanofilms into sheets, bulk and intermediate sized.« less

Structural and magnetic properties of ultra-thin Fe films on metal-organic chemical vapour deposited GaN(0001)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kim, Jun-Young; Ionescu, Adrian; Mansell, Rhodri; Farrer, Ian; Oehler, Fabrice; Kinane, Christy J.; Cooper, Joshaniel F. K.; Steinke, Nina-Juliane; Langridge, Sean; Stankiewicz, Romuald; Humphreys, Colin J.; Cowburn, Russell P.; Holmes, Stuart N.; Barnes, Crispin H. W.

2017-01-01

Structural and magnetic properties of 1-10 nm thick Fe films deposited on GaN(0001) were investigated. In-situ reflecting high energy electron diffraction images indicated a α-Fe(110)/GaN(0001) growth of the 3D Volmer-Weber type. The α-Fe(110) X-ray diffraction peak showed a 1° full-width at half-maximum, indicating ≈20 nm grain sizes. A significant reduction in Fe atomic moment from its bulk value was observed for films thinner than 4 nm. Both GaN/Fe interface roughness and Fe film coercivity increased with Fe thickness, indicating a possible deterioration of Fe crystalline quality. Magnetic anisotropy was mainly uniaxial for all films while hexagonal anisotropies appeared for thicknesses higher than 3.7 nm.

Observations and Parameterizations of Particle Size Distributions in Deep Tropical Cirrus and Stratiform Precipitation Clouds: Results from In-Situ Observations in TRMM Field Campaigns

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Heymsfield, Andrew J.; Bansemer, Aaron; Field, Paul R.; Durden, Stephen L.; Stith, Jeffrey L.; Dye, James E.; Hall, William; Grainger, Cedric A.

2002-01-01

In this study, we report on the evolution of particle size distributions (PSDs) and habits as measured during slow, Lagrangian-type spiral descents through deep subtropical and tropical cloud layers in Florida, Brazil, and Kwajalein, Marshall Islands, most of which were precipitating. The objective of the flight patterns was to learn more about how the PSDs evolved in the vertical and to obtain information of the vertical structure of microphysical properties. New instrumentation yielding better information on the concentrations of particles in the size (D) range between 0.2 and 2 cm, as well as improved particle imagery, produced more comprehensive observations for tropical stratiform precipitation regions and anvils than have been available previously. Collocated radar observations provided additional information on the vertical structure of the cloud layers sampled. Most of the spirals began at cloud top, with temperatures (T) as low as -50 C, and ended at cloud base or below the melting layer (ML). The PSDs broadened from cloud top towards cloud base, with the largest particles increasing in size from several millimeters at cloud top to one centimeter or larger towards cloud base. Some continued growth was noted in the upper part of the ML. Concentrations of particles less than 1 mm in size decreased with decreasing height. The result was a consistent change in the PSDs in the vertical. Similarly, systematic changes in the size dependence of the particle cross-sectional area was noted with decreasing height. Aggregation-as ascertained from both the changes in the PSDs and evolution of particle habits as observed in high detail with the cloud particle imager (CPI) probe-was responsible for these trends. The PSDs were generally well-represented by gamma distributions of the form N = N0 gamma D microns e- lambda gamma D that were fitted to the PSDs over 1-km horizontal intervals throughout the spirals. The intercept (N0 gamma), slope (lambda gamma), and dispersion (microns) values were derived for each PSD. Exponential curves (N = N0e- lambdaD; micron = 0) were also fitted to the distributions. The lambda gamma values for given spirals varied systematically with temperature as did the values of lambda (exponential), and the data generally conformed to values found in previous studies involving exponential fits to size distributions in mid-latitude frontal and cirrus layers. Considerable variability often noted in the PSD properties during the loops of individual spirals was manifested primarily in large changes in N0 gamma and N0, but micron, lambda gamma and lambda remained fairly stable. Temperature is not found to be the sole factor controlling lambda gamma or lambda but is a primary one. Direct relationships were found between lambda gamma and N0 gamma or lambda gamma and micron for the gamma distributions and lambda and N0 for the exponential. The latter relationship was not found as distinctly in earlier studies; observed PSDs in this study had better fidelity with less scatter. The micron values changed monotonically with T over the range of temperatures and were directly related to N0 gamma or lambda gamma, thereby reducing the number of variables in the PSD functional equation to two. In the upper part of the ML, N0 and lambda continued to decrease, and in the lower part these values began to increase as the largest particles melted. We developed general expressions relating various bulk microphysical, radar, and radiative transfer-related variables to N0 gamma and lambda gamma, useful for both tropical and mid-latitude clouds. These relationships facilitate the specification of a number of bulk properties in cloud and climate models. The results presented in this paper apply best to temperatures between 0 and -40 C, for which the measured radar reflectivities fall in the range of 0 to 25 dBZe.

The Contribution of On-Road Emissions of Ammonia to Atmospheric Nitrogen Deposition

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fenn, M. E.; Schilling, S.; Bytnerowicz, A.; Bell, M. D.; Sickman, J. O.; Hanks, K.; Geiser, L.

2017-12-01

Emissions control technologies for NOx result in increased production of NH3. Emissions inventories and simulated deposition of NHx frequently underestimate reduced forms of N. Herein we provide updated spatial distribution and inventory data for on-road NH3 emissions for the continental U.S. On-road NH3 emissions were determined from on-road CO2 emissions data and published empirical NH3:CO2 vehicle emissions ratios. Emissions of NH3 in urbanized regions are typically 0.1 - 1.3 t/km2/yr. By comparison, NH3 emissions in agricultural regions generally range from 0.4 - 5.5 t/km2/yr, with a few hotspots as high as 5.5 - 11.2 t/km2/yr. We identified 500 counties that receive at least 30% of the NH3 emissions from on-road sources. Counties with higher vehicle NH3 emissions than from agriculture include 41% of the U.S. population. Within CONUS the percent of wet inorganic N deposition from the NADP/NTN as NH4+ ranged from 37 to 83% with a mean of 59.5%. Only 13% of the NADP sites across the U.S. had less than 45% of the N deposition as NH4+ based on data from 2014-2016, illustrating the near-universal occurrence of NH4+ deposition across the U.S., regardless of the primary sources of NH3 emissions. The relative importance of urban and on-road NH3 emissions versus emissions from agriculture varies regionally. In some areas both are important and should be considered when evaluating the principal sources of N deposition to affected ecosystems.Case studies of on-road NH3 emissions in relation to N deposition include four urban sites in Oregon and Washington where the NH4-N:NO3-N ratio in throughfall was 1.0 compared to an average ratio of 2.3 in bulk deposition. At urban sites in the Los Angeles Basin bulk deposition of NH4-N and NO3-N were equivalent, while NH4-N:NO3-N in throughfall under shrubs in the greater LA Basin ranged from 0.7 to 1.5. The NH4-N:NO3-N ratio at ten sites in the Lake Tahoe Basin averaged 1.4 and 1.6 in bulk deposition and throughfall. Throughfall and bulk deposition of NH4-N was strongly correlated with summertime NH3 concentrations and values of δ15NH4+ in deposition samples in the Tahoe Basin were predominantly within the range of -5.0 to -0.9‰, indicative of tailpipe NH3 emissions. On-road emissions of NH3 should not be ignored as important precursors of particulate pollution and as a source of N deposition.

Stable isotopes in nitrous oxide emitted from tropical rain forest soils and agricultural fields: Implications for the global atmospheric nitrous oxide budget

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Perez, Tibisay Josefina

Nitrous oxide (N2O) is an important greenhouse gas and is the primary source of NOx in the stratosphere. Large uncertainties exist in the global N2O budget, mainly due to the high uncertainty associated with source estimates. Recently, stable isotopes of 15N and 18O have been proposed as a tool to better constrain the N2O global budget. This thesis develops analytical methods for constraining and measuring stable isotopes in N2O emitted from soils and reports initial investigations of N2O isotopes from the largest sources in the global N2O budget: tropical rain forest soils and agricultural fields. We found significant differences in the isotopic composition of N 2O emitted from tropical rain forest soils and fertilized agricultural fields. Differences were largest for 15N. Emission-weighted δ 15N-N2O were -26 +/- 2.5‰ s.d., n = 3 (Costa Rican forest), -6.6 +/- 11.3‰ s.d. n = 14 (Brazilian forest) and -36.7 +/- 9.2‰ s.d. n = 19 (Mexican agricultural field and Costa Rican Papaya plantation). We attribute the large range in δ 15N from tropical rain forests, where denitrification is the main source of N2O, to differences in the degree of N2O to N2 reduction. We attribute the very light δ15N values in fertilized agricultural fields to the enhanced nitrogen availability in the soils which facilitates higher fractionation between substrates and products. Similarly, in the Brazilian tropical forest lighter δ 15N-N2O from a local area of enhanced emission is attributed to locally more abundant N- substrate in that particular soil site. If the increase of N2O in the troposphere over the past 100 years is attributable to increased use of N fertilizer, and assuming that light δ 15N- N2O isotopic values are associated with agricultural practices, we expect the δ15N-N2O in the troposphere to have decreased since pre-industrial times. Theoretically, comparison of 15N and 18O signature of emitted N2O with precursors species (NO3 -, NH4+, H2O and O 2) should uniquely determine (a)the fraction of N2O produced by nitrification versus denitrification and (b)the fractionation of N2O reduced to N2. However, for this approach to be useful, in situ determinations of fractionation factors associated with nitrification and denitrification in soils are required.

15N fractionation in star-forming regions and Solar System objects

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wirström, Eva; Milam, Stefanie; Adande, Gilles; Charnley, Steven B.; Cordiner, Martin A.

2015-08-01

A central issue for understanding the formation and evolution of matter in the early Solar System is the relationship between the chemical composition of star-forming interstellar clouds and that of primitive Solar System materials. The pristine molecular content of comets, interplanetary dust particles and carbonaceous chondrites show significant bulk nitrogen isotopic fractionation relative to the solar value, 14N/15N ~ 440. In addition, high spatial resolution measurements in primitive materials locally show even more extreme enhancements of 14N/15N < 100.The coherent 15N enrichment in comets from different formation zones suggests that these isotopic enhancements are remnants of the interstellar chemistry in the natal molecular cloud core and the outer protosolar nebula. Indeed, early chemical models of gas-phase ion-molecule nitrogen fractionation showed that HCN and HNC (nitriles) can hold significant 15N enrichments in cold dark clouds where CO is depleted onto dust grains. In addition, 15N fractionation in nitriles and amines (NH2, NH3) follow different chemical pathways. More recently we have shown that once the spin-state dependence in rates of reactions with H2 is included in the models, amines can either be enhanced or depleted in 15N, depending on the core’s evolutionary stage. Observed 15N fractionation in amines and nitriles therefore cannot be expected to be the same, instead their ratio is a potential chemical clock.Observations of molecular isotope ratios in dark cores are challenging. Limited published results in general show higher 15N/14N ratios in HCN and HNC than ammonia, but more measurements are necessary to confirm these trends. We will present recent results from our ongoing observing campaign of 14N/15N isotopic ratios in HCN, HNC and NH3 in dense cores and protostars which seem consistent with significant fractionation in nitriles as compared to other molecules in each object. The few 14N/15N ratios observed in N2H+ are similar to those in NH3, contrary to our model results which predict a significant 15N enhancement in N2 and N2H+. Model upgrades which may address this discrepancy will be presented and discussed.

Extrapolation of astrophysical S factors for the reaction {sup 14}N((p, {gamma}) {sup 15}O to near-zero energies

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Artemov, S. V.; Igamov, S. B., E-mail: igamov@inp.uz; Tursunmakhatov, Q. I.

2012-03-15

The astrophysical S factors for the radiative-capture reaction {sup 14}N(p, {gamma}){sup 15}O in the region of ultralow energies were calculated on the basis of the R-matrix approach. The values of the radiative and protonic widths were fitted to new experimental data. The contribution of direct radiative capture to bound states of the {sup 15}O nucleus was determined with the aid of asymptotic normalization coefficients, whose values were refined in the present study on the basis of the results obtained from an analysis of the reaction {sup 14}N({sup 3}He, d){sup 15}O at three different energies of incident helium ions. A valuemore » of S(0) = 1.79 {+-} 0.31 keV b was obtained for the total astrophysical S factor, and the reaction rate was determined for the process {sup 14}N(p, {gamma}){sup 15}O.« less

Surface diffusion of Sb on Ge(111) investigated by second harmonic microscopy

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Schultz, K.A.

Surface diffusion of Sb on Ge(111) has been measured with the newly-developed technique of second harmonic microscopy. In this method, concentration profiles at submonolayer coverage are imaged directly by second harmonic generation with 5 [mu]m spatial resolution. A Boltzmann-Matano analysis of the concentration profiles yields the coverage dependence of the diffusivity D without parameterization. Experiments were performed at roughly 70% of the bulk melting temperature T[sub m]. In the coverage range of 0 < [theta] < 0.6, the activation energy E[sub diff] remains constant at 47.5 [+-] 1.5 kcal/mol. The corresponding pre-exponential factor decreases from 8.7 [times] 10[sup 3[+-]0.4] tomore » 1.6 [times] 10[sup 2[+-]0.4] cm[sup 2]/sec. The results are explained in terms of a new vacancy model for surface diffusion at high-temperatures. The model accounts semiquantitatively for the large values of E[sub diff] and D[sub o], and suggest that these quantities may be manipulated by bulk doping levels and photon illumination of the surface.« less

Effects of trophic level and metamorphosis on discrimination of hydrogen isotopes in a plant-herbivore system

USGS Publications Warehouse

Peters, Jacob M.; Wolf, Nathan; Stricker, Craig A.; Collier, Timothy R.; Martinez del Rio, Carlos

2012-01-01

The use of stable isotopes in ecological studies requires that we know the magnitude of discrimination factors between consumer and element sources. The causes of variation in discrimination factors for carbon and nitrogen have been relatively well studied. In contrast, the discrimination factors for hydrogen have rarely been measured. We grew cabbage looper caterpillars (Trichoplusia ni) on cabbage (Brassica oleracea) plants irrigated with four treatments of deuterium-enriched water (δD = -131, -88, -48, and -2‰, respectively), allowing some of them to reach adulthood as moths. Tissue δD values of plants, caterpillars, and moths were linearly correlated with the isotopic composition of irrigation water. However, the slope of these relationships was less than 1, and hence, discrimination factors depended on the δD value of irrigation water. We hypothesize that this dependence is an artifact of growing plants in an environment with a common atmospheric δD value. Both caterpillars and moths were significantly enriched in deuterium relative to plants by ~45‰ and 23‰ respectively, but the moths had lower tissue to plant discrimination factors than did the caterpillars. If the trophic enrichment documented here is universal, δD values must be accounted for in geographic assignment studies. The isotopic value of carbon was transferred more or less faithfully across trophic levels, but δ15N values increased from plants to insects and we observed significant non-trophic 15N enrichment in the metamorphosis from larvae to adult.

Carbon and Nitrogen Isotopes from Top Predator Amino Acids Reveal Rapidly Shifting Ocean Biochemistry in the Outer California Current

PubMed Central

Ruiz-Cooley, Rocio I.; Koch, Paul L.; Fiedler, Paul C.; McCarthy, Matthew D.

2014-01-01

Climatic variation alters biochemical and ecological processes, but it is difficult both to quantify the magnitude of such changes, and to differentiate long-term shifts from inter-annual variability. Here, we simultaneously quantify decade-scale isotopic variability at the lowest and highest trophic positions in the offshore California Current System (CCS) by measuring δ15N and δ13C values of amino acids in a top predator, the sperm whale (Physeter macrocephalus). Using a time series of skin tissue samples as a biological archive, isotopic records from individual amino acids (AAs) can reveal the proximate factors driving a temporal decline we observed in bulk isotope values (a decline of ≥1 ‰) by decoupling changes in primary producer isotope values from those linked to the trophic position of this toothed whale. A continuous decline in baseline (i.e., primary producer) δ15N and δ13C values was observed from 1993 to 2005 (a decrease of ∼4‰ for δ15N source-AAs and 3‰ for δ13C essential-AAs), while the trophic position of whales was variable over time and it did not exhibit directional trends. The baseline δ15N and δ13C shifts suggest rapid ongoing changes in the carbon and nitrogen biogeochemical cycling in the offshore CCS, potentially occurring at faster rates than long-term shifts observed elsewhere in the Pacific. While the mechanisms forcing these biogeochemical shifts remain to be determined, our data suggest possible links to natural climate variability, and also corresponding shifts in surface nutrient availability. Our study demonstrates that isotopic analysis of individual amino acids from a top marine mammal predator can be a powerful new approach to reconstructing temporal variation in both biochemical cycling and trophic structure. PMID:25329915

Carbon and nitrogen isotopes from top predator amino acids reveal rapidly shifting ocean biochemistry in the outer California Current.

PubMed

Ruiz-Cooley, Rocio I; Koch, Paul L; Fiedler, Paul C; McCarthy, Matthew D

2014-01-01

Climatic variation alters biochemical and ecological processes, but it is difficult both to quantify the magnitude of such changes, and to differentiate long-term shifts from inter-annual variability. Here, we simultaneously quantify decade-scale isotopic variability at the lowest and highest trophic positions in the offshore California Current System (CCS) by measuring δ15N and δ13C values of amino acids in a top predator, the sperm whale (Physeter macrocephalus). Using a time series of skin tissue samples as a biological archive, isotopic records from individual amino acids (AAs) can reveal the proximate factors driving a temporal decline we observed in bulk isotope values (a decline of ≥1 ‰) by decoupling changes in primary producer isotope values from those linked to the trophic position of this toothed whale. A continuous decline in baseline (i.e., primary producer) δ15N and δ13C values was observed from 1993 to 2005 (a decrease of ∼4‰ for δ15N source-AAs and 3‰ for δ13C essential-AAs), while the trophic position of whales was variable over time and it did not exhibit directional trends. The baseline δ15N and δ13C shifts suggest rapid ongoing changes in the carbon and nitrogen biogeochemical cycling in the offshore CCS, potentially occurring at faster rates than long-term shifts observed elsewhere in the Pacific. While the mechanisms forcing these biogeochemical shifts remain to be determined, our data suggest possible links to natural climate variability, and also corresponding shifts in surface nutrient availability. Our study demonstrates that isotopic analysis of individual amino acids from a top marine mammal predator can be a powerful new approach to reconstructing temporal variation in both biochemical cycling and trophic structure.

Bulk and rare earth abundances in the Luna 16 soil levels A and D.

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Gillum, D. E.; Ehmann, W. D.; Wakita, H.; Schmitt, R. A.

1972-01-01

Determination of the abundances of major, minor, and trace elements by means of sequential INAA (instrumental neutron activation analysis) in two Luna 16 soils, at levels A (about 7 cm depth) and D (about 30 cm depth). Abundances of the bulk elements in Luna 16 soils generally agree with the values reported by Vinogradov (1971). Elemental abundances of both bulk and trace elements are nearly the same for the two A and D soil levels. Overall, the chemical compositions of the two Luna 16 soils are more closely related to Apollo 11 soil 10084 than to Apollo 12 and 14 soils, with the exception of TiO2 abundances.-

Foraging segregation and genetic divergence between geographically proximate colonies of a highly mobile seabird

USGS Publications Warehouse

Wiley, Anne E.; Welch, Andreanna J.; Ostrom, P.H.; James, Helen F.; Stricker, C.A.; Fleischer, R.C.; Gandhi, H.; Adams, J.; Ainley, D.G.; Duvall, F.; Holmes, N.; Hu, D.; Judge, S.; Penniman, J.; Swindle, K.A.

2012-01-01

Foraging segregation may play an important role in the maintenance of animal diversity, and is a proposed mechanism for promoting genetic divergence within seabird species. However, little information exists regarding its presence among seabird populations. We investigated genetic and foraging divergence between two colonies of endangered Hawaiian petrels (Pterodroma sandwichensis) nesting on the islands of Hawaii and Kauai using the mitochondrial Cytochrome b gene and carbon, nitrogen and hydrogen isotope values (?? 13C, ?? 15N and ??D, respectively) of feathers. Genetic analyses revealed strong differentiation between colonies on Hawaii and Kauai, with ?? ST = 0. 50 (p < 0. 0001). Coalescent-based analyses gave estimates of <1 migration event per 1,000 generations. Hatch-year birds from Kauai had significantly lower ?? 13C and ?? 15N values than those from Hawaii. This is consistent with Kauai birds provisioning chicks with prey derived from near or north of the Hawaiian Islands, and Hawaii birds provisioning young with prey from regions of the equatorial Pacific characterized by elevated ?? 15N values at the food web base. ?? 15N values of Kauai and Hawaii adults differed significantly, indicating additional foraging segregation during molt. Feather ??D varied from -69 to 53???. This variation cannot be related solely to an isotopically homogeneous ocean water source or evaporative water loss. Instead, we propose the involvement of salt gland excretion. Our data demonstrate the presence of foraging segregation between proximately nesting seabird populations, despite high species mobility. This ecological diversity may facilitate population coexistence, and its preservation should be a focus of conservation strategies. ?? 2011 Springer-Verlag (outside the USA).

Stable hydrogen isotopic composition of n-alkanes in atmospheric aerosols as a tracer for the source region of terrestrial plant waxes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yamamoto, S.; Kawamura, K.

2009-12-01

Studies on molecular composition and compound-specific carbon isotopic ratio (δ13C) of leaf wax n-alkanes in atmospheric aerosols have revealed a long-range atmospheric transport of terrestrial higher plant materials over the south Atlantic and western Pacific oceans. However, molecular and δ13C compositions of terrestrial plant waxes in the eastern part of the Asian continent are relatively constant reflecting C3-dominated vegetation, which makes it difficult to specify the source regions of plant materials in the atmospheric aerosols over the East Asia and northwest Pacific regions. Recent observation displays a large (>100‰) spatial variation in hydrogen isotopic composition (δD) of rainwater in East Asia. Because δD values of terrestrial higher plants sensitively reflect those of precipitation waters, δD of leaf waxes are expected to provide information on their source region. In this study, we measured the δD of n-alkanes in atmospheric aerosols from Tokyo to better understand the origin of leaf wax n-alkanes in atmospheric aerosols. The δD values of fossil fuel n-alkanes (C21 to C24) in Tokyo aerosols range from -65 to -94‰, which are in a range of those reported in marine crude oils. In contrast, the δD of higher molecular weight (C29 and C31) n-alkanes (δDHMW) show much larger values by ~70‰ than those of fossil fuel n-alkanes. Their values were found to exhibit concomitant variations with carbon preference index (CPI), suggesting that the δDHMW reflect the δD of leaf wax n-alkanes with a variable contribution from fossil fuel n-alkanes. Nevertheless, good positive correlation (r = 0.89, p < 0.01) between the δDHMW and CPI values enable us to remove the contribution of fossil fuels using a mass balance approach by assuming that CPI of fossil fuel is 1 and CPI of plant waxes is 5-15. Calculated n-alkane δD values averaged from -170 to -185‰ for C29 and from -155 to -168‰ for C31. These values are consistent with those reported from growing leaves in Tokyo, which confirms the usefulness of the δD of long chain n-alkanes as a tracer for the source region of terrestrial plant waxes in atmospheric aerosols.

Alma Observations of HCN and its Isotopologues on Titan

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Molter, Edward M.; Nixon, C. A.; Cordiner, M. A.; Serigano, J.; Irwin, P. G. J.; Teanby, N. A.; Charnley, S. B.; Lindberg, J. E.

2016-01-01

We present sub-millimeter spectra of HCN isotopologues on Titan, derived from publicly available ALMA flux calibration observations of Titan taken in early 2014. We report the detection of a new HCN isotopologue on Titan, H13C15N, and confirm an earlier report of detection of DCN. We model high signal-to-noise observations of HCN, H13CN, HC15N, DCN, and H13C15N to derive abundances and infer the following isotopic ratios: 12C/13C = 89.8 +/- 2.8, 14N/15N = 72.3 +/- 2.2, D/H = (2.5 +/- 0.2) × 10-4, and HCN/H13C15N = 5800 +/- 270 (1sigma errors). The carbon and nitrogen ratios are consistent with and improve on the precision of previous results, confirming a factor of approximately 2.3 elevation in 14N/15N in HCN compared to N2 and a lack of fractionation in 12C/13C from the protosolar value. This is the first published measurement of D/H in a nitrile species on Titan, and we find evidence for a factor of approximately 2 deuterium enrichment in hydrogen cyanide compared to methane. The isotopic ratios we derive may be used as constraints for future models to better understand the fractionation processes occurring in Titan's atmosphere.

Relationships between depth and δ15N of Arctic benthos vary among regions and trophic functional groups

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Stasko, Ashley D.; Bluhm, Bodil A.; Reist, James D.; Swanson, Heidi; Power, Michael

2018-05-01

Stable isotope ratios of nitrogen (δ15N) of benthic primary consumers are often significantly related to water depth. This relationship is commonly attributed to preferential uptake of 14N from sinking particulate organic matter (POM) by microbes, and suggests that relationships between δ15N and water depth may be affected by local POM sources and flux dynamics. We examined the relationships between δ15N and water depth (20-500 m) for six trophic functional groups using a mixed effects modelling approach, and compared relationships between two contiguous Arctic marine ecosystems with different POM sources and sinking export dynamics: the Canadian Beaufort Sea and Amundsen Gulf. We demonstrate for the first time in the Arctic that δ15N values of mobile epifaunal carnivores increased as a function of depth when considered separately from benthopelagic and infaunal carnivores, which contrarily did not exhibit increasing δ15N with depth. The δ15N of suspension/filter feeders, infaunal deposit feeders and bulk sediment also increased with water depth, and the slopes of the relationships were steeper in the Amundsen Gulf than in the Beaufort Sea. We propose that regional differences in slopes reflect differences in POM sources exported to the benthos. In the Beaufort Sea, terrestrial POM discharged from the Mackenzie River quantitatively dominates the sedimentary organic matter across the continental shelf and slope, dampening change in δ15N of benthic POM with depth. In the Amundsen Gulf, we attribute a faster rate of change in δ15N of POM with increasing depth to larger contributions of marine-derived POM to the benthic sedimentary pool, which had likely undergone extensive biological transformation in the productive offshore pelagic zone. Differences in POM input regimes among regions should be considered when comparing food webs using stable isotopes, as such differences may impact the rate at which consumer δ15N changes with depth.

Lake Superior lipids

EPA Pesticide Factsheets

Fish chemistry data (d13C, d15N, C:N, lipid content) published in Rapid Commun. Mass Spectrom. 2015, 29, 2069??2077 DOI: 10.1002/rcm.7367This dataset is associated with the following publication:Hoffman , J., M. Sierszen , and A. Cotter. Fish tissue lipid-C:N relationships for correcting ä13C values and estimating lipid content in aquatic food web studies. Rapid Communications in Mass Spectrometry. Wiley InterScience, Silver Spring, MD, USA, 29(21): 2069–2077, (2015).

Multipolar pacing by cardiac resynchronization therapy with a defibrillators treatment in type 2 diabetes mellitus failing heart patients: impact on responders rate, and clinical outcomes.

PubMed

Sardu, Celestino; Barbieri, Michelangela; Santamaria, Matteo; Giordano, Valerio; Sacra, Cosimo; Paolisso, Pasquale; Spirito, Alessandro; Marfella, Raffaele; Paolisso, Giuseppe; Rizzo, Maria Rosaria

2017-06-09

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is a multi factorial disease, affecting clinical outcomes in failing heart patients treated by cardiac resynchronization therapy with a defibrillator (CRT-d). One hundred and ninety-five T2DM patients received a CRT-d treatment. Randomly the study population received a CRT-d via multipolar left ventricle (LV) lead pacing (n 99, multipolar group), vs a CRT-d via bipolar LV pacing (n 96, bipolar group). These patients were followed by clinical, and instrumental assessment, and telemetric device control at follow up. In this study we evaluated, in a population of failing heart T2DM patients, cardiac deaths, all cause deaths, arrhythmic events, CRT-d responders rate, hospitalizations for HF worsening, phrenic nerve stimulation (PNS), and LV catheter dislodgment events (and re-intervention for LV catheter re-positioning), comparing multipolar CRT-d vs bipolar CRT-d group of patients at follow up. At follow up there was a statistical significant difference about atrial arrhythmic events [7 (7%) vs 16 (16.7%), p value 0.019], hospitalizations for HF worsening [15 (15.2% vs 24 (25%), p value 0.046], LV catheter dislodgments [1 (1%) vs 9 (9.4%), p value 0018], PNS [5 (5%) vs 18 (18.7%), p value 0.007], and LV re-positioning [1 (1%) vs 9 (9.4%), p value 0.018], comparing multipolar CRT-d vs bipolar CRT-d group of patients. Multipolar pacing was an independent predictor of all these events. CRT-d pacing via multipolar LV lead vs bipolar LV lead may reduce arrhythmic burden, hospitalization rate, PNS, LV catheters dislodgments, and re-interventions in T2DM failing heart patients. Clinical trial number NCT03095196.

A Micro-Raman Study of Exfoliated Few-Layered n-Type Bi2Te2.7Se0.3 (Postprint)

DTIC Science & Technology

2017-11-28

filtering process. 15. SUBJECT TERMS thermoelectric (TE); bulk n-type Bi2Te2.7Se0.3; chemical or mechanical exfoliation; densification; restacking...enhanced TE properties via the energy filtering process. Bulk pristine (undoped) and doped Bi2Te3 are some of the most efficient room temperature...and charged defect scattering dominates. Puneet et al. attributed the increase in n to selective filtering of charge carriers by positively charged

Compound-Specific δ¹⁵N and δ¹³C Analyses of Amino Acids for Potential Discrimination between Organically and Conventionally Grown Wheat.

PubMed

Paolini, Mauro; Ziller, Luca; Laursen, Kristian Holst; Husted, Søren; Camin, Federica

2015-07-01

We present a study deploying compound-specific nitrogen and carbon isotope analysis of amino acids to discriminate between organically and conventionally grown plants. We focused on grain samples of common wheat and durum wheat grown using synthetic nitrogen fertilizers, animal manures, or green manures from nitrogen-fixing legumes. The measurement of amino acid δ(15)N and δ(13)C values, after protein hydrolysis and derivatization, was carried out using gas chromatography-combustion-isotope ratio mass spectrometry (GC-C-IRMS). Our results demonstrated that δ(13)C of glutamic acid and glutamine in particular, but also the combination of δ(15)N and δ(13)C of 10 amino acids, can improve the discrimination between conventional and organic wheat compared to stable isotope bulk tissue analysis. We concluded that compound-specific stable isotope analysis of amino acids represents a novel analytical tool with the potential to support and improve the certification and control procedures in the organic sector.

Superconductivity in nanostructured lead

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lungu, Anca; Bleiweiss, Michael; Amirzadeh, Jafar; Saygi, Salih; Dimofte, Andreea; Yin, Ming; Iqbal, Zafar; Datta, Timir

2001-01-01

Three-dimensional nanoscale structures of lead were fabricated by electrodeposition of pure lead into artificial porous opal. The size of the metallic regions was comparable to the superconducting coherence length of bulk lead. Tc as high as 7.36 K was observed, also d Tc/d H was 2.7 times smaller than in bulk lead. Many of the characteristics of these differ from bulk lead, a type I superconductor. Irreversibility line and magnetic relaxation rates ( S) were also studied. S( T) displayed two maxima, with a peak value about 10 times smaller than that of typical high- Tc superconductors.

Organic Stable Isotopes in Ancient Oyster Shell Trace Pre-colonial Nitrogen Sources

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Darrow, E. S.; Carmichael, R. H.; Andrus, C. F. T.; Jackson, H. E.

2016-02-01

Oysters (Crassostrea virginica) were an important food resource for native peoples of the northern Gulf of Mexico, who harvested oysters and deposited waste shell and other artifacts in middens. Shell δ15N is a proxy for oyster tissue δ15N that reflects nitrogen (N) in food sources of bivalves. We tested the use of shell δ15N as a paleo proxy of ancient N sources, which to our knowledge has not been previously done for archeological bivalve specimens. To determine δ15N of the very low-N and high-carbonate ancient specimens, we tested established and modified acidification techniques developed for modern clams and oysters to decalcify organic shell matrix and extract sufficient N for analyses. Centrifugation following acidification better concentrated N from ancient shells for stable isotope analysis. Careful screening was required to detect effects of diagenesis, incomplete acidification, and sample contamination. Modern oyster shells did not require acidification and bulk shell material was directly analyzed for δ15N using an EA-IRMS coupled to a CO2 trap. δ15N values in ancient oyster shells did not differ from modern oyster shells from the same sites, but %N and % organic carbon (C) were lower in ancient than in modern shells. Organic δ13C in ancient shells had a significant negative relationship with shell age, possibly due to an effect of sea level rise increasing marine suspended particulate matter (SPM) sources to oysters. In modern oysters, δ15N had a significant relationship with soft tissue δ15N, and predicted by SPM δ15N, water column nitrate, and water column dissolved organic nitrogen (DON) concentrations, demonstrating the effectiveness of oyster shell δ15N to identify N sources to bivalves such as oysters. Our study has demonstrated the usefulness of δ15N from midden oyster shells as a proxy for N sources in an estuary that has undergone relatively light impacts from human land-use change through the past 2000 years.

Metamorphic origin of ore-forming fluids for orogenic gold-bearing quartz vein systems in the North American Cordillera: constraints from a reconnaissance study of δ15N, δD, and δ18O

USGS Publications Warehouse

Jia, Y.; Kerrich, R.; Goldfarb, R.

2003-01-01

The western North American Cordillera hosts a large number of gold-bearing quartz vein systems from the Mother Lode of southern California, through counterparts in British Columbia and southeastern Alaska, to the Klondike district in central Yukon. These vein systems are structurally controlled by major fault zones, which are often reactivated terrane-bounding sutures that formed in orogens built during accretion and subduction of terranes along the continental margin of North America. Mineralization ages span mid-Jurassic to early Tertiary and encompass much of the evolution ofthe Cordilleran orogen. Nitrogen contents and δ15N values of hydrothermal micas from veins are between 130 and 3,500 ppm and 1.7 to 5.5 per mil, respectively. These values are consistent with fluids derived from metamorphic dehydration reactions within the Phanerozoic accretion-subduction complexes, which have δ15N values of 1 to 6 per mil. The δ18O values of gold-bearing vein quartz from different locations in the Cordillera are between 14.6 and 22.2 per mil but are uniform for individual vein systems. The δD values of hydrothermal micas are between -110 and -60 per mil. Ore fluids have calculated δ18O values of 8 to 16 per mil and δD values of -65 to -10 per mil at an estimated temperature of 300δC; δD values of ore fluids do not show any latitudinal control. These results indicate a deep crustal source for the ore-forming fluids, most likely of metamorphic origin. Low δDH2O values of -120 to -130 per mil for a hydrous muscovite from the Sheba vein in the Klondike district reflect secondary exchange between recrystallizing mica and meteoric waters. Collectively, the N, H, and O isotope compositions of ore-related hydrothermal minerals indicate that the formation of these gold-bearing veins involved dilute, aqueous carbonic, and nitrogen-bearing fluids that were generated from metamorphic dehydration reactions at deep crustal levels. These data are not consistent with either mantle-derived fluids or granitoid-related magmatic fluids, nor do they support a model involving deeply circulated meteoric water.

Quanitfying atmospheric nitrogen loading to watersheds using nitrate isotopes (15N, 17O, 18O)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wankel, S. D.; Kendall, C.

2002-12-01

Over the past century, human activity has greatly increased the amount of reactive nitrogen (N) in the atmosphere and the N inputs to terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. Recent studies in the northeastern US have indicated that atmospheric N deposition is a significant source to land and water in the region, with contributions ranging from 15 to 60%. Estimates of the importance of atmospheric N have been plagued with uncertainty, however, due to incomplete data from atmospheric monitoring networks, to the varied spatial and temporal scales of databases dealing with agricultural, population, and land use, and to simplifications that are necessary to describe the complex rates of N accumulation and transformation. The principal objective of this study is the evaluation of new stable isotope techniques for quantifying the relative contributions atmospheric sources of anthropogenic nitrogen to the landscape and to the total N exported from watersheds in the northeastern US. In the last decade, several studies have used d18O and d15N of nitrate to evaluate the relative contributions of riverine nitrate derived from atmospheric sources. Very recent advances in analytical techniques (by Michalski, Thiemens, and colleagues) that allow the analysis of nitrate for d17O have shown that atmospheric nitrate is labeled with an anomalous, non-terrestrial, d17O signature. Hence, we now have three isotopes of nitrate that can be used to quantify sources of riverine nitrate. To test whether the analysis of nitrate for d17O enhances our ability to quantify atmospheric contributions to the total nitrate exported by major river basins, we have initiated a pilot study of many of the major rivers in the Ohio Basin and the northeastern USA. Published studies in these basins suggest that nitrate from basins dominated by urban, forested, and undeveloped landuses frequently has d18O values consistent with significant input from atmospheric sources. Preliminary d18O and d15N of nitrate data from these basins, generated using the new microbial denitrifier method developed by Sigman et al (2001) and Casciotti et al (in press), are in general agreement with published values. We are in the process of testing a modification of the Sigman-Casciotti method that will permit the additional analysis of nitrate from very small samples for d17O. The results of this new method along with a preliminary assessment of the data generated with our pilot study will be presented.

Growth and characterization of MnAu2 films

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cheng, S. F.; Bussmann, K. M.

2017-01-01

MnAu2 films ranging from 60 to 200 nm thickness are deposited by co-sputtering from elemental targets. X-ray diffraction confirmed these films to be nearly single phase with tetragonal lattice parameters of a=0.336 nm and c=0.872 nm that compare well to the bulk values of a=0.336 nm and c=0.876 nm. The density of the films is analyzed using x-ray reflectivity to be 14.95 g/cm3 and within experimental error of previously determined value of 15.00 g/cm3. The films grown on c-plane sapphire, (100)MgO and (100)MgF2 are randomly oriented polycrystalline, while the films grown on a-plane sapphire, (111)MgO and (111)Si/(0001)AlN showed that the (110) plane is parallel to the film plane and there are three sets of domains in equal amount differing by 60° in-plane rotation. Magnetic order is found to become paramagnetic near 360 K which is in close proximity to the bulk value. There are deviations in the slope of hysteresis loops observed at 10 K around 10 kOe that indicate complex magnetic switching.

Quantification of Hydrogen Concentrations in Surface and Interface Layers and Bulk Materials through Depth Profiling with Nuclear Reaction Analysis.

PubMed

Wilde, Markus; Ohno, Satoshi; Ogura, Shohei; Fukutani, Katsuyuki; Matsuzaki, Hiroyuki

2016-03-29

Nuclear reaction analysis (NRA) via the resonant (1)H((15)N,αγ)(12)C reaction is a highly effective method of depth profiling that quantitatively and non-destructively reveals the hydrogen density distribution at surfaces, at interfaces, and in the volume of solid materials with high depth resolution. The technique applies a (15)N ion beam of 6.385 MeV provided by an electrostatic accelerator and specifically detects the (1)H isotope in depths up to about 2 μm from the target surface. Surface H coverages are measured with a sensitivity in the order of ~10(13) cm(-2) (~1% of a typical atomic monolayer density) and H volume concentrations with a detection limit of ~10(18) cm(-3) (~100 at. ppm). The near-surface depth resolution is 2-5 nm for surface-normal (15)N ion incidence onto the target and can be enhanced to values below 1 nm for very flat targets by adopting a surface-grazing incidence geometry. The method is versatile and readily applied to any high vacuum compatible homogeneous material with a smooth surface (no pores). Electrically conductive targets usually tolerate the ion beam irradiation with negligible degradation. Hydrogen quantitation and correct depth analysis require knowledge of the elementary composition (besides hydrogen) and mass density of the target material. Especially in combination with ultra-high vacuum methods for in-situ target preparation and characterization, (1)H((15)N,αγ)(12)C NRA is ideally suited for hydrogen analysis at atomically controlled surfaces and nanostructured interfaces. We exemplarily demonstrate here the application of (15)N NRA at the MALT Tandem accelerator facility of the University of Tokyo to (1) quantitatively measure the surface coverage and the bulk concentration of hydrogen in the near-surface region of a H2 exposed Pd(110) single crystal, and (2) to determine the depth location and layer density of hydrogen near the interfaces of thin SiO2 films on Si(100).

Quantification of Hydrogen Concentrations in Surface and Interface Layers and Bulk Materials through Depth Profiling with Nuclear Reaction Analysis

PubMed Central

Wilde, Markus; Ohno, Satoshi; Ogura, Shohei; Fukutani, Katsuyuki; Matsuzaki, Hiroyuki

2016-01-01

Nuclear reaction analysis (NRA) via the resonant 1H(15N,αγ)12C reaction is a highly effective method of depth profiling that quantitatively and non-destructively reveals the hydrogen density distribution at surfaces, at interfaces, and in the volume of solid materials with high depth resolution. The technique applies a 15N ion beam of 6.385 MeV provided by an electrostatic accelerator and specifically detects the 1H isotope in depths up to about 2 μm from the target surface. Surface H coverages are measured with a sensitivity in the order of ~1013 cm-2 (~1% of a typical atomic monolayer density) and H volume concentrations with a detection limit of ~1018 cm-3 (~100 at. ppm). The near-surface depth resolution is 2-5 nm for surface-normal 15N ion incidence onto the target and can be enhanced to values below 1 nm for very flat targets by adopting a surface-grazing incidence geometry. The method is versatile and readily applied to any high vacuum compatible homogeneous material with a smooth surface (no pores). Electrically conductive targets usually tolerate the ion beam irradiation with negligible degradation. Hydrogen quantitation and correct depth analysis require knowledge of the elementary composition (besides hydrogen) and mass density of the target material. Especially in combination with ultra-high vacuum methods for in-situ target preparation and characterization, 1H(15N,αγ)12C NRA is ideally suited for hydrogen analysis at atomically controlled surfaces and nanostructured interfaces. We exemplarily demonstrate here the application of 15N NRA at the MALT Tandem accelerator facility of the University of Tokyo to (1) quantitatively measure the surface coverage and the bulk concentration of hydrogen in the near-surface region of a H2 exposed Pd(110) single crystal, and (2) to determine the depth location and layer density of hydrogen near the interfaces of thin SiO2 films on Si(100). PMID:27077920

Stable isotope evidence for an atmospheric origin of desert nitrate deposits in northern Chile and southern California, U.S.A.

USGS Publications Warehouse

Böhlke, J.K.; Ericksen, G.E.; Revesz, K.

1997-01-01

Natural surficial accumulations of nitrate-rich salts in the Atacama Desert, northern Chile, and in the Death Valley region of the Mojave Desert, southern California, are well known, but despite many geologic and geochemical studies, the origins of the nitrates have remained controversial. N and O isotopes in nitrate, and S isotopes in coexisting soluble sulfate, were measured to determine if some proposed N sources could be supported or rejected, and to determine if the isotopic signature of these natural deposits could be used to distinguish them from various types of anthropogenic nitrate contamination that might be found in desert groundwaters. High-grade caliche-type nitrate deposits from both localities have ??15N values that range from -5 to +5???, but are mostly near 0???. Values of ??15N near 0??? are consistent with either bulk atmospheric N deposition or microbial N fixation as major sources of the N in the deposits. ??18O values of those desert nitrates with ??15N near 0??? range from about +31 to + 50??? (V-SMOW), significantly higher than that of atmospheric O2 (+ 23.5???). Such high values of ??18O are considered unlikely to result entirely from nitrification of reduced N, but rather resemble those of modern atmospheric nitrate in precipitation from some other localities. Assuming that limited modern atmospheric isotope data are applicable to the deposits, and allowing for nitrification of co-deposited ammonium, it is estimated that the fraction of the nitrate in the deposits that could be accounted for isotopically by atmospheric N deposition may be at least 20% and possibly as much as 100%. ??34S values are less diagnostic but could also be consistent with atmospheric components in some of the soluble sulfates associated with the deposits. The stable isotope data support the hypothesis that some high-grade caliche-type nitrate-rich salt deposits in some of the Earth's hyperarid deserts represent long-term accumulations of atmospheric deposition (possibly in the order of 104 yr for the Death Valley region. 107 yr for the Atacama Desert) in the relative absence of soil leaching or biologic cycling. The combined N and O isotope signature of the nitrate in these deposits is significantly different from those of many other natural and anthropogenic sources of nitrate.

Sorption-desorption of imidacloprid onto a lacustrine Egyptian soil and its clay and humic acid fractions.

PubMed

Kandil, Mahrous M; El-Aswad, Ahmed F; Koskinen, William C

2015-01-01

Sorption-desorption of the insecticide imidacloprid 1-[(6-chloro-3-pyridinyl)-methyl]-N-nitro-2-imidazolidinimine onto a lacustrine sandy clay loam Egyptian soil and its clay and humic acid (HA) fractions was investigated in 24-h batch equilibrium experiments. Imidacloprid (IMDA) sorption-desorption isotherms onto the three sorbents were found to belong to a non-linear L-type and were best described by the Freundlich model. The value of the IMDA adsorption distribution coefficient, Kd(ads), varied according to its initial concentration and was ranged 40-84 for HA, 14-58 for clay and 1.85-4.15 for bulk soil. Freundlich sorption coefficient, Kf(ads), values were 63.0, 39.7 and 4.0 for HA, clay and bulk soil, respectively. The normalized soil Koc value for imidacloprid sorption was ∼800 indicating its slight mobility in soils. Nonlinear sorption isotherms were indicated by 1/n(ads) values <1 for all sorbents. Values of the hysteresis index (H) were <1, indicating the irreversibility of imidacloprid sorption process with all tested sorbents. Gibbs free energy (ΔG) values indicated a spontaneous and physicosorption process for IMDA and a more favorable sorption to HA than clay and soil. In conclusion, although the humic acid fraction showed the highest capacity and affinity for imidacloprid sorption, the clay fraction contributed to approximately 95% of soil-sorbed insecticide. Clay and humic acid fractions were found to be the major two factors controlling IMDA sorption in soils. The slight mobility of IMDA in soils and the hysteresis phenomenon associated with the irreversibility of its sorption onto, mainly, clay and organic matter of soils make its leachability unlikely to occur.

Vacuum polarization and classical self-action near higher-dimensional defects

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Grats, Yuri V.; Spirin, Pavel

2017-02-01

We analyze the gravity-induced effects associated with a massless scalar field in a higher-dimensional spacetime being the tensor product of (d-n)-dimensional Minkowski space and n-dimensional spherically/cylindrically symmetric space with a solid/planar angle deficit. These spacetimes are considered as simple models for a multidimensional global monopole (if n≥slant 3) or cosmic string (if n=2) with (d-n-1) flat extra dimensions. Thus, we refer to them as conical backgrounds. In terms of the angular-deficit value, we derive the perturbative expression for the scalar Green function, valid for any d≥slant 3 and 2≤slant n≤slant d-1, and compute it to the leading order. With the use of this Green function we compute the renormalized vacuum expectation value of the field square {< φ {2}(x)rangle }_{ren} and the renormalized vacuum averaged of the scalar-field energy-momentum tensor {< T_{M N}(x)rangle }_{ren} for arbitrary d and n from the interval mentioned above and arbitrary coupling constant to the curvature ξ . In particular, we revisit the computation of the vacuum polarization effects for a non-minimally coupled massless scalar field in the spacetime of a straight cosmic string. The same Green function enables to consider the old purely classical problem of the gravity-induced self-action of a classical point-like scalar or electric charge, placed at rest at some fixed point of the space under consideration. To deal with divergences, which appear in consideration of the two problems, we apply the dimensional-regularization technique, widely used in quantum field theory. The explicit dependence of the results upon the dimensionalities of both the bulk and conical submanifold is discussed.

A bulk localized state and new holographic renormalization group flow in 3D spin-3 gravity

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Nakayama, Ryuichi; Suzuki, Tomotaka

2018-04-01

We construct a localized state of a scalar field in 3D spin-3 gravity. 3D spin-3 gravity is thought to be holographically dual to W3-extended CFT on a boundary at infinity. It is known that while W3 algebra is a nonlinear algebra, in the limit of large central charge c a linear finite-dimensional subalgebra generated by Wn (n = 0,±1,±2) and Ln (n = 0,±1) is singled out. The localized state is constructed in terms of these generators. To write down an equation of motion for a scalar field which is satisfied by this localized state, it is necessary to introduce new variables for an internal space α±, β±, γ, in addition to ordinary coordinates x± and y. The higher-dimensional space, which combines the bulk space-time with the “internal space,” which is an analog of superspace in supersymmetric theory, is introduced. The “physical bulk space-time” is a 3D hypersurface with constant α±, β± and γ embedded in this space. We will work in Poincaré coordinates of AdS space and consider W-quasi-primary operators Φh(x+) with a conformal weight h in the boundary and study two and three point functions of W-quasi-primary operators transformed as eix+L‑1heβ+W‑1hΦh(0)e‑β+W‑1he‑ix+L‑1h. Here, Lnh and Wnh are sl(3,R) generators in the hyperbolic basis for Poincaré coordinates. It is shown that in the β+ →∞ limit, the conformal weight changes to a new value h‧ = h/2. This may be regarded as a Renormalization Group (RG) flow. It is argued that this RG flow will be triggered by terms ΔS ∝ β+W ‑1h + β‑W¯ ‑1h added to the action.

Compound-specific amino acid isotopic analyses of invertebrates in the Chukchi Sea: New insights on food web dynamics

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhang, M.; Cooper, L. W.; Biasatti, D. M.; Kedra, M.; Grebmeier, J. M.

2016-02-01

Food web dynamics in the Chukchi Sea have been previously evaluated using bulk analysis of stable carbon and nitrogen isotopes of organisms. However, recent advances in compound-specific stable isotope analysis of amino acids indicate the potential to better identify the contributions of different dietary sources (e.g., pelagic vs. benthic, ice algae vs. phytoplankton) and to resolve complexities of food web structure that are difficult to address with bulk isotope analysis. Here we combine amino acid δ13C and δ15N data measured from primary producers and tissues of bivalves, polychaetes and other benthic invertebrates collected during two cruises in the summer of 2013 and 2015 in the Pacific Arctic. The results showed spatial variation of carbon isotope values in amino acids with difference up to 6 per mil for each individual species or taxa studied, indicating a shift in the food-web baseline geographically. Furthermore, the spatial variation in isotopic values was related to environmental factors, specifically sea ice extent, and total organic carbon, total organic nitrogen and the carbon/nitrogen ratio of the organic fractions of surface sediments. Results also indicated that trophic levels, as estimated by differences in the nitrogen isotope composition of glutamic acid and phenylalanine [Δ15Nglu-phe (δ15Nglu - δ15Nphe)], varied spatially by 0.5 to 1.5 trophic levels for certain species or taxa such as Macoma calcarea, Maldanidae and Ampelisca, indicating trophic level shifts that were associated with the food quality of organic matter in the organic fraction of the sediments. These results can be potentially used to predict future food web change in this high latitude marine system that is known for its ecological importance and on-going environmental changes, including warming and sea ice decline.

Use of flow cytometry and stable isotope analysis to determine phytoplankton uptake of wastewater derived ammonium in a nutrient-rich river

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Schmidt, Calla M.; Kraus, Tamara E. C.; Young, Megan B.; Kendall, Carol

2018-01-01

Anthropogenic alteration of the form and concentration of nitrogen (N) in aquatic ecosystems is widespread. Understanding availability and uptake of different N sources at the base of aquatic food webs is critical to establishment of effective nutrient management programs. Stable isotopes of N (14N, 15N) are often used to trace the sources of N fueling aquatic primary production, but effective use of this approach requires obtaining a reliable isotopic ratio for phytoplankton. In this study, we tested the use of flow cytometry to isolate phytoplankton from bulk particulate organic matter (POM) in a portion of the Sacramento River, California, during river-scale nutrient manipulation experiments that involved halting wastewater discharges high in ammonium (NH4+). Field samples were collected using a Lagrangian approach, allowing us to measure changes in phytoplankton N source in the presence and absence of wastewater-derived NH4+. Comparison of δ15N-POM and δ15N-phytoplankton (δ15N-PHY) revealed that their δ15N values followed broadly similar trends. However, after 3 days of downstream travel in the presence of wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) effluent, δ15N-POM and δ15N-PHY in the Sacramento River differed by as much as 7 ‰. Using a stable isotope mixing model approach, we estimated that in the presence of effluent between 40 and 90 % of phytoplankton N was derived from NH4+ after 3 days of downstream transport. An apparent gradual increase over time in the proportion of NH4+ in the phytoplankton N pool suggests that either very low phytoplankton growth rates resulted in an N turnover time that exceeded the travel time sampled during this study, or a portion of the phytoplankton community continued to access nitrate even in the presence of elevated NH4+ concentrations.

Use of flow cytometry and stable isotope analysis to determine phytoplankton uptake of wastewater derived ammonium in a nutrient-rich river

USGS Publications Warehouse

Schmidt, Calla M.; Kraus, Tamara; Young, Megan B.; Kendall, Carol

2018-01-01

Anthropogenic alteration of the form and concentration of nitrogen (N) in aquatic ecosystems is widespread. Understanding availability and uptake of different N sources at the base of aquatic food webs is critical to establishment of effective nutrient management programs. Stable isotopes of N (14N, 15N) are often used to trace the sources of N fueling aquatic primary production, but effective use of this approach requires obtaining a reliable isotopic ratio for phytoplankton. In this study, we tested the use of flow cytometry to isolate phytoplankton from bulk particulate organic matter (POM) in a portion of the Sacramento River, California, during river-scale nutrient manipulation experiments that involved halting wastewater discharges high in ammonium (NH4+). Field samples were collected using a Lagrangian approach, allowing us to measure changes in phytoplankton N source in the presence and absence of wastewater-derived NH4+. Comparison of δ15N-POM and δ15N-phytoplankton (δ15N-PHY) revealed that their δ15N values followed broadly similar trends. However, after 3 days of downstream travel in the presence of wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) effluent, δ15N-POM and δ15N-PHY in the Sacramento River differed by as much as 7 ‰. Using a stable isotope mixing model approach, we estimated that in the presence of effluent between 40 and 90 % of phytoplankton N was derived from NH4+ after 3 days of downstream transport. An apparent gradual increase over time in the proportion of NH4+ in the phytoplankton N pool suggests that either very low phytoplankton growth rates resulted in an N turnover time that exceeded the travel time sampled during this study, or a portion of the phytoplankton community continued to access nitrate even in the presence of elevated NH4+ concentrations.

Temporal and Spatial Development of dB/dt During Substorms

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Weygand, J. M.; Chu, X.

2017-12-01

Ground induced currents (GICs) due to space weather are a threat to high voltage power transmission systems. However, knowledge of ground conductivity is the largest source of errors in the determination of GICs. A good proxy for GICs is dB/dt obtained from the Bx and By components of the magnetic field fluctuations. It is known that dB/dt values associated with magnetic storms can reach dangerous levels for power transmission systems. On the other hand, it is not uncommon for dB/dt values associated with substorms to exceed critical thresholds of 1.5 nT/s [Pulkkinen et al., 2011; 2013] and 5 nT/s [Molinski et al., 2000] and the temporal and spatial changes of the dB/dt associated with substorms, unlike storms, are not well understood. Using two dimensional maps of dB/dt over North America and Greenland derived from the spherical elementary currents [Weygand et al., 2011], we investigate the temporal and spatial change of dB/dt for both a single substorm event and a two dimensional superposed epoch analysis of many substorms. Both the single event and the statistical analysis show a sudden increase of dB/dt at substorm onset followed by an expansion poleward, westward, and eastward after the onset during the expansion phase. This temporal and spatial development of the dB/dt resembles the temporal and spatial change of the auroral emissions. Substorm values of dB/dt peak shortly after the auroral onset time and in at least one event exceeded 6.5 nT/s for a non-storm time substorm. In many of our 24 cases the area that exceeds the Pulkkinen et al. [2011; 2013] threshold of 1.5 nT/s over several million square kilometers and after about 30 minutes the dB/dt values fall below the threshold level. These results address one of goals of the Space Weather Action Plan, which are to establish benchmarks for space weather events and improve modeling and prediction of their impacts on infrastructure.

Electronic and mechanical properties of 5d transition metal mononitrides via first principles

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Zhao Erjun; Graduate School, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049; Wu Zhijian

2008-10-15

The electronic and mechanical properties of 5d transition metal mononitrides from LaN to AuN are systematically investigated by use of the density-functional theory. For each nitride, six structures are considered, i.e., rocksalt, zinc blende, CsCl, wurtzite, NiAs and WC structures. Among the considered structures, rocksalt structure is the most stable for LaN, HfN and AuN, WC structure for TaN, NiAs structure for WN, wurtzite structure for ReN, OsN, IrN and PtN. The most stable structure for each nitride is mechanically stable. The formation enthalpy increases from LaN to AuN. For LaN, HfN and TaN, the formation enthalpy is negative formore » all the considered structures, while from WN to AuN, except wurtzite structure in ReN, the formation enthalpy is positive. The calculated density of states shows that they are all metallic. ReN in NiAs structure has the largest bulk modulus, 418 GPa. The largest shear modulus 261 GPa is from TaN in WC structure. Trends are discussed. - Graphical abstract: Formation enthalpy per formula unit {delta}H (eV) for all the considered structures of 5d transition metal mononitrides MN (M=La-Au). It was shown that the formation enthalpy increases from LaN to AuN. The nitrides with negative values indicate that they can be synthesized experimentally at ambient conditions.« less

Highly Doped Polycrystalline Silicon Microelectrodes Reduce Noise in Neuronal Recordings In Vivo

PubMed Central

Saha, Rajarshi; Jackson, Nathan; Patel, Chetan; Muthuswamy, Jit

2013-01-01

The aims of this study are to 1) experimentally validate for the first time the nonlinear current-potential characteristics of bulk doped polycrystalline silicon in the small amplitude voltage regimes (0–200 μV) and 2) test if noise amplitudes (0–15 μV) from single neuronal electrical recordings get selectively attenuated in doped polycrystalline silicon microelectrodes due to the above property. In highly doped polycrystalline silicon, bulk resistances of several hundred kilo-ohms were experimentally measured for voltages typical of noise amplitudes and 9–10 kΩ for voltages typical of neural signal amplitudes (>150–200 μV). Acute multiunit measurements and noise measurements were made in n = 6 and n = 8 anesthetized adult rats, respectively, using polycrystalline silicon and tungsten microelectrodes. There was no significant difference in the peak-to-peak amplitudes of action potentials recorded from either microelectrode (p > 0.10). However, noise power in the recordings from tungsten microelectrodes (26.36 ± 10.13 pW) was significantly higher (p < 0.001) than the corresponding value in polycrystalline silicon microelectrodes (7.49 ± 2.66 pW). We conclude that polycrystalline silicon microelectrodes result in selective attenuation of noise power in electrical recordings compared to tungsten microelectrodes. This reduction in noise compared to tungsten microelectrodes is likely due to the exponentially higher bulk resistances offered by highly doped bulk polycrystalline silicon in the range of voltages corresponding to noise in multiunit measurements. PMID:20667815

Infrared spectra of N2O-(ortho-D2)N and N2O-(HD)N clusters trapped in bulk solid parahydrogen.

PubMed

Lorenz, Britney D; Anderson, David T

2007-05-14

High-resolution infrared spectra of the clusters N2O-(ortho-D2)N and N2O-(HD)N, N=1-4, isolated in bulk solid parahydrogen at liquid helium temperatures are studied in the 2225 cm-1 region of the nu3 antisymmetric stretch of N2O. The clusters form during vapor deposition of separate gas streams of a precooled hydrogen mixture (ortho-D2para-H2 or HDpara-H2) and N2O onto a BaF2 optical substrate held at approximately 2.5 K in a sample-in-vacuum liquid helium cryostat. The cluster spectra reveal the N2O nu3 vibrational frequency shifts to higher energy as a function of N, and the shifts are larger for ortho-D2 compared to HD. These vibrational shifts result from the reduced translational zero-point energy for N2O solvated by the heavier hydrogen isotopomers. These spectra allow the N=0 peak at 2221.634 cm-1, corresponding to the nu3 vibrational frequency of N2O isolated in pure solid parahydrogen, to be assigned. The intensity of the N=0 absorption feature displays a strong temperature dependence, suggesting that significant structural changes occur in the parahydrogen solvation environment of N2O in the 1.8-4.9 K temperature range studied.

Grazing suppression of dimethylsulphoniopropionate (DMSP) accumulation in iron-fertilised, sub-Antarctic waters

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Archer, S. D.; Safi, K.; Hall, A.; Cummings, D. G.; Harvey, M.

2011-03-01

The impact of in situ iron fertilisation on the production of particulate dimethylsulphoniopropionate (DMSPp) and its breakdown product dimethyl sulphide (DMS) was monitored during the SOLAS air-sea gas exchange experiment (SAGE). The experiment was conducted in the high nitrate, low chlorophyll (HNLC) waters of the sub-Antarctic Southern Ocean (46.7°S 172.5°E) to the south-east of New Zealand, during March-April, 2004. In addition to monitoring net changes in the standing stocks of DMSPp and DMS, a series of dilution experiments were used to determine the DMSPp production and consumption rates in relation to increased iron availability. In contrast to previous experiments in the Southern Ocean, DMS concentrations decreased over the course of the 15-d iron-fertilisation experiment, from an integrated volume-specific concentration in the mixed layer on day 0 of 0.78 nM (measured values 0.65-0.91 nM) to 0.46 nM (measured values 0.42-0.47 nM) by day 15, in parallel with the surrounding waters. DMSPp, chlorophyll a and the abundance of photosynthetic picoeukaryotes exhibited indiscernible or only moderate increases in response to the raised iron availability, despite an obvious physiological response by the phytoplankton. High specific growth rates of DMSPp, equivalent to 0.8-1.2 doublings d -1, occurred at the simulated 60% light level of the dilution experiments. Despite the high production rates, DMSPp accumulation was suppressed in part by microzooplankton grazers who consumed between 61% d -1 and 126% d -1 of the DMSPp production. Temporal trends in the rates of production and consumption illustrated a close coupling between the DMSP-producing phytoplankton and their microzooplankton grazers. Similar grazing and production rates were observed for the eukaryotic picophytoplankton that dominated the phytoplankton biomass, partial evidence that picoeukaryotes contributed a substantial proportion of the DMSP synthesis. These rates for DMSPp and picoeukaryotes were considerably higher than for chlorophyll a, indicating higher cycling rates of the DMSP-producing taxa than for the bulk phytoplankton community. When compared to the total phytoplankton community, there was no evidence of selection against the DMSP-containing phytoplankton by the microzooplankton grazers; the opposite appeared to be the case. SAGE demonstrated that increased iron availability in the HNLC waters of the Southern Ocean does not invariably lead to enhanced DMS sea-air flux. The potential suppression of DMSPp accumulation by grazers needs to be taken into account in future attempts to elevate DMS emission through in situ iron fertilisation and in understanding the hypothesised link between levels of Aeolian iron deposition in the Southern Ocean, DMS emission and global albedo.

Simulating the Refractive Index Structure Constant ({C}_{n}^{2}) in the Surface Layer at Antarctica with a Mesoscale Model

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Qing, Chun; Wu, Xiaoqing; Li, Xuebin; Tian, Qiguo; Liu, Dong; Rao, Ruizhong; Zhu, Wenyue

2018-01-01

In this paper, we introduce an approach wherein the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) model is coupled with the bulk aerodynamic method to estimate the surface layer refractive index structure constant (C n 2) above Taishan Station in Antarctica. First, we use the measured meteorological parameters to estimate C n 2 using the bulk aerodynamic method, and second, we use the WRF model output parameters to estimate C n 2 using the bulk aerodynamic method. Finally, the corresponding C n 2 values from the micro-thermometer are compared with the C n 2 values estimated using the WRF model coupled with the bulk aerodynamic method. We analyzed the statistical operators—the bias, root mean square error (RMSE), bias-corrected RMSE (σ), and correlation coefficient (R xy )—in a 20 day data set to assess how this approach performs. In addition, we employ contingency tables to investigate the estimation quality of this approach, which provides complementary key information with respect to the bias, RMSE, σ, and R xy . The quantitative results are encouraging and permit us to confirm the fine performance of this approach. The main conclusions of this study tell us that this approach provides a positive impact on optimizing the observing time in astronomical applications and provides complementary key information for potential astronomical sites.

Size dictated thermal conductivity of GaN

DOE PAGES

Thomas Edwin Beechem; McDonald, Anthony E.; Fuller, Elliot James; ...

2016-04-01

The thermal conductivity on n- and p-type doped gallium nitride (GaN) epilayers having thickness of 3-4 μm was investigated using time domain thermoreflectance (TDTR). Despite possessing carrier concentrations ranging across 3 decades (10 15 – 10 18 cm –3), n-type layers exhibit a nearly constant thermal conductivity of 180 W/mK. The thermal conductivity of p-type epilayers, in contrast, reduces from 160 to 110 W/mK with increased doping. These trends–and their overall reduction relative to bulk–are explained leveraging established scattering models where it is shown that size effects play a primary role in limiting thermal conductivity for layers even tens ofmore » microns thick. GaN device layers, even of pristine quality, will therefore exhibit thermal conductivities less than the bulk value of 240 W/mK owing to their finite thickness.« less

Sources and chronology of nitrate contamination in spring waters, Suwannee River basin, Florida

USGS Publications Warehouse

Katz, Brian G.; Hornsby, H.D.; Bohlke, J.K.; Mokray, M.F.

1999-01-01

A multi-tracer approach, which consisted of analyzing water samples for n aturally occurring chemical and isotopic indicators, was used to better understand sources and chronology of nitrate contamination in spring wate rs discharging to the Suwannee and Santa Fe Rivers in northern Florida. Dur ing 1997 and 1998, as part of a cooperative study between the Suwannee River Water Management District and the U.S. Geological Survey, water samples were collected and analyzed from 24 springs and two wells for major ions, nutrients, dissolved organic carbon, and selected environmental isotopes [18O/16O, D/H, 13C/12C, 15N/14N]. To better understand when nitrate entered the ground-water system, water samples were analyzed for chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs; CCl3F, CCl2F2, and C2Cl3F3) and tritium (3H); in this way, the apparent ages and residence times of spring waters and water from shallow zones in the Upper Floridan aquifer were determined. In addition to information obtained from the use of isotopic and other chemical tracers, information on changes in land-use activities in the basin during 1954-97 were used to estimate nitrogen inputs from nonpoint sources for five counties in the basin. Changes in nitrate concentrations in spring waters with time were compared with estimated nitrogen inputs for Lafayette and Suwannee Counties. Agricultural activities [cropland farming, animal farming operations (beef and dairy cows, poultry, and swine)] along with atmospheric deposition have contributed large quantities of nitrogen to ground water in the Suwannee River Basin in northern Florida. Changes in agricultural land use during the past 40 years in Alachua, Columbia, Gilchrist, Lafayette, and Suwannee Counties have contributed variable amounts of nitrogen to the ground-water system. During 1955-97, total estimated nitrogen from all nonpoint sources (fertilizers, animal wastes, atmospheric deposition, and septic tanks) increased continuously in Gilchrist and Lafayette Counties. In Suwannee, Alachua, and Columbia Counties, estimated nitrogen inputs from all nonpoint sources peaked in the late 1970's corresponding to the peak use in fertilizer during this time. Fertilizer use in Columbia, Gilchrist, Lafayette, and Suwannee Counties increased substantially during 1993-97. The heavy use of fertilizers in the basin is corroborated by nitrogen isotope data. Values of d15N of nitrate (d15N-NO3) in spring waters range from 2.7 per mil (SUW718971) to 10.6 per mil (Poe Spring) with a median of 5.4 per mil. The range of values indicates that nitrate in the sampled spring waters most likely originates from a mixture of inorganic (fertilizers) and organic (animal wastes) sources; however, higher d15N values for Poe and Lafayette Blue Springs indicate that an organic source of nitrogen probably is contributing nitrate to these spring waters. Water samples from two wells sampled in Lafayette County have high d15N-NO3 values of 11.0 and 12.1 per mil, indicating the predominance of an organic source of nitrate. These two wells are located near dairy and poultry farms, where leachate from animal wastes may contribute nitrate to ground water. Dissolved-gas data (nitrogen, argon, and oxygen) indicate that denitrification has not removed large amounts of nitrate from the ground-water system. Thus, variations in d15N-NO3 values of spring waters can be attributed to variations in d15N-NO3 values of ground-water recharge, and can be used to obtain information about source(s) of nitrate. Extending the use of age-dating techniques (CFCs and 3H) to spring waters in complex karst systems required the use of several different approaches for estimating age and residence time of ground water discharging to springs. These approaches included the use of a simple reservoir model, a piston-flow model, an exponential model, and a binary-mixing model. When age data (CFC-11, CFC-113, and 3H) are combined for all springs, models that incorporate exponential mixtures seem to provide re

Analysis of Nitrogen Cycling in a Forest Stream During Autumn Using a 15N Tracer Addition

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Tank, J.L.

2000-01-01

We added {sup 15}NH{sub 4}Cl over 6 weeks to Upper Ball Creek, a second-order deciduous forest stream in the Appalachian Mountains, to follow the uptake, spiraling, and fate of nitrogen in a stream food web during autumn. A priori predictions of N flow and retention were made using a simple food web mass balance model. Values of d{sup 15}N were determined for stream water ammonium, nitrate, dissolved organic nitrogen, and various compartments of the food web over time and distance and then compared to model predictions.

Holographic spin networks from tensor network states

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Singh, Sukhwinder; McMahon, Nathan A.; Brennen, Gavin K.

2018-01-01

In the holographic correspondence of quantum gravity, a global on-site symmetry at the boundary generally translates to a local gauge symmetry in the bulk. We describe one way how the global boundary on-site symmetries can be gauged within the formalism of the multiscale renormalization ansatz (MERA), in light of the ongoing discussion between tensor networks and holography. We describe how to "lift" the MERA representation of the ground state of a generic one dimensional (1D) local Hamiltonian, which has a global on-site symmetry, to a dual quantum state of a 2D "bulk" lattice on which the symmetry appears gauged. The 2D bulk state decomposes in terms of spin network states, which label a basis in the gauge-invariant sector of the bulk lattice. This decomposition is instrumental to obtain expectation values of gauge-invariant observables in the bulk, and also reveals that the bulk state is generally entangled between the gauge and the remaining ("gravitational") bulk degrees of freedom that are not fixed by the symmetry. We present numerical results for ground states of several 1D critical spin chains to illustrate that the bulk entanglement potentially depends on the central charge of the underlying conformal field theory. We also discuss the possibility of emergent topological order in the bulk using a simple example, and also of emergent symmetries in the nongauge (gravitational) sector in the bulk. More broadly, our holographic model translates the MERA, a tensor network state, to a superposition of spin network states, as they appear in lattice gauge theories in one higher dimension.

Getting the Best Value in a Source Selection

DTIC Science & Technology

2015-12-01

leadership, for both civilian and military program managers . Army COL James C. Mills relieved COL Gary D. Stephens as project manager for the...Precision Fires Rocket and Missile Systems (PFRMS) on July 15. COL William D. Jackson relieved COL Thomas H. Todd as project manager for Utility...Helicopters (UH) on July 15. COL Shane N. Fullmer relieved COL John Cavedo, Jr. as project manager for Joint Program Office, Joint Light Tactical Vehicles

Compilation of gas geochemistry and isotopic analyses from The Geysers geothermal field: 1978-1991

USGS Publications Warehouse

Lowenstern, Jacob B.; Janik, Cathy; Fahlquist, Lynne; Johnson, Linda S.

1999-01-01

We present 45 chemical and isotopic analyses from well discharges at The Geysers geothermal field and summarize the most notable geochemical trends. H2 and H2S concentrations are highest in the Southeast Geysers, where steam samples have δD and δ18O values that reflect replenishment by meteoric water. In the Northwest Geysers, samples are enriched in gas/steam, CO2, CH4, and N2/Ar relative to the rest of the field, and contain steam that is elevated in δD and δ18O, most likely due to substantial contributions from Franciscan-derived fluids. The δ13C of CO2, trends in CH4 vs. N2, and abundance of NH3 indicate that the bulk of the non-condensable gases are derived from thermal breakdown of organic materials in Franciscan meta-sediments.

Association between Nitrogen Stable Isotope Ratios in Human Hair and Serum Levels of Leptin.

PubMed

Ahn, Song Vogue; Koh, Sang-Baek; Lee, Kwang-Sik; Bong, Yeon-Sik; Park, Jong-Ku

2017-10-01

Stable isotope ratios have been reported to be potential biomarkers of dietary intake and nutritional status. High serum levels of leptin, a hormone which regulates energy metabolism and food intake, are associated with insulin resistance and metabolic syndrome. However, little is known about the association between stable isotope ratios and the metabolic risk in humans. We investigated whether the carbon and nitrogen stable isotope ratios in hair are associated with serum leptin levels. Hair samples were collected from 399 healthy adults (233 men and 166 women) aged 40 to 70 years of a community-based cohort in Korea and the bulk stable isotope ratios of carbon (δ 13 C) and nitrogen (δ 15 N) were measured for all hair samples. Serum leptin levels were analyzed by radioimmunoassay. δ 15 N showed positive correlations with serum leptin levels. In multivariate models, increasing δ 15 N were associated with elevated serum leptin levels (defined as ≥ the median values), whereas δ 13 C were not significantly associated with serum leptin levels. The odds ratio (95% confidence interval) per 1‰ increase in δ 15 N for an elevated serum leptin level was 1.58 (1.11-2.26). In participants with high body mass index, δ 15 N showed positive associations with serum leptin levels, whereas these associations were not seen in participants with low body mass index. The nitrogen stable isotopic ratio in hair is positively associated with serum leptin levels. The hair δ 15 N could be used as a clinical marker to estimate metabolic risk.

Effects of Seasonal and Spatial Differences in Food Webs on Mercury Concentrations in Fish in the Everglades

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kendall, C.; Bemis, B. E.; Wankel, S. D.; Rawlik, P. S.; Lange, T.; Krabbenhoft, D. P.

2002-05-01

A clear understanding of the aquatic food web is essential for determining the entry points and subsequent biomagnification pathways of contaminants such as methyl-mercury (MeHg) in the Everglades. Anthropogenic changes in nutrients can significantly affect the entry points of MeHg by changing food web structure from one dominated by algal productivity to one dominated by macrophytes and associated microbial activity. These changes in the base of the food web can also influence the distribution of animals within the ecosystem, and subsequently the bioaccumulation of MeHg up the food chain. As part of several collaborations with local and other federal agencies, more than 7000 Everglades samples were collected in 1995-99, and analysed for d13C and d15N. Many organisms were also analysed for d34S, gut contents, total Hg, and MeHg. Carbon isotopes effectively distinguish between two main types of food webs: ones where algae is the dominant base of the food web, which are characteristic of relatively pristine marsh sites with long hydroperiods, and ones where macrophyte debris appears to be a significant source of nutrients, which are apparently characteristic of shorter hydroperiod sites, and nutrient-impacted marshes and canals. Many organisms show significant (5-12%) spatial and temporal differences in d13C and d15N values across the Everglades. These differences may reflect site and season-specific differences in the relative importance of algae vs. macrophyte debris to the food web. However, there is a lack of evidence that these sites otherwise differ in food chain length (as determined by d15N values). This conclusion is generally supported by gut contents and mercury data. Furthermore, there are no statistically significant differences between the Delta d15N (predator-algae) values at pristine marsh, nutrient-impacted marsh, or canal sites. The main conclusions from this preliminary comparison of gut contents, stable isotope, and Hg data are: (1) there is little evidence for spatial variations in food chain length - hence, this does not appear to be the dominant explanation for spatial variations in Hg in predators, (2) the poor correlation of d15N and Hg for many organisms, reflective of the heterogeneous and dynamic nature of the ecosystem, makes it difficult to account for changes in Hg with trophic position, and (3) seasonal and spatial variations in hydrology and nutrient conditions, which are often reflected in changes in the base of the food web, appear to be the dominant controls on the isotopic compositions of organisms in the Everglades. Hence, biota isotopes provide a tool for monitoring how future ecosystem changes affect the distribution of algae vs. macrophyte-dominated food webs across the Everglades.

To Covary or Not to Covary, That is the Question

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Oehlert, A. M.; Swart, P. K.

2016-12-01

The meaning of covariation between the δ13C values of carbonate carbon and that of organic material is classically interpreted as reflecting original variations in the δ13C values of the dissolved inorganic carbon in the depositional environment. However, recently it has been shown by the examination of a core from Great Bahama Bank (Clino) that during exposure not only do the rocks become altered acquiring a negative δ13C value, but at the same time terrestrial vegetation adds organic carbon to the system masking the original marine values. These processes yield a strong positive covariation between δ13Corg and δ13Ccar values even though the signals are clearly not original and unrelated to the marine δ13C values. Examining the correlation between the organic and inorganic system in a stratigraphic sense at Clino and in a second more proximally located core (Unda) using a windowed correlation coefficient technique reveals that the correlation is even more complex. Changes in slope and the magnitude of the correlation are associated with exposure surfaces, facies changes, dolomitized bodies, and non-depositional surfaces. Finally other isotopic systems such as the δ13C value of specific organic compounds as well as δ15N values of bulk and individual compounds can provide additional information. In the case of δ15N values, decreases reflect a changes in the influence of terrestrial organic material and an increase contribution of organic material from the platform surface where the main source of nitrogen is derived from the activities of cyanobacteria.

Stable holey two-dimensional C2N structures with tunable electronic structure

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Longuinhos, R.; Ribeiro-Soares, J.

2018-05-01

C2N holey two-dimensional crystals, or C2N -h2D, a recently synthesized carbon nitride layered material, show promising properties for electronic devices, highly selective molecular filters, and supercapacitors. Few studies have investigated the stacking order in C2N -h2D, which is fundamental to determine its optical activity and plays an important role in its band gap and in the diffusion barrier for ions and molecules through its structure. In this work, we investigate the phonon stability of several bulk C2N -h2D polytypes by using first-principles calculations. Among the polytypes addressed, only one does not display phonon instabilities and is expected to be observed in equilibrium. The electronic structure evolution of dynamically stable C2N -h2D from monolayer to bilayer and to bulk is unveiled. The direct band gap at Γ can be decreased by 34% from monolayer to bulk, offering opportunities for tuning it in optoelectronics. In addition, the effective masses of both carriers become smaller as the number of layers increases, and their anisotropy along in-plane directions displayed in the monolayer is reduced, which suggest that the carrier mobility may be tuned as well. These effects are then explained according to the interaction of the orbitals in neighboring layers. The results presented here shed light on the geometry and electronic structure of an emerging layered material due to its specific stacking and increasing number of layers and suggest new perspectives for applications in optoelectronics.

Higher spin realization of the DS/CFT correspondence

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Anninos, Dionysios; Hartman, Thomas; Strominger, Andrew

2017-01-01

We conjecture that Vasiliev’s theory of higher spin gravity in four-dimensional de Sitter space (dS4) is holographically dual to a three-dimensional conformal field theory (CFT3) living on the spacelike boundary of dS4 at future timelike infinity. The CFT3 is the Euclidean Sp(N) vector model with anticommuting scalars. The free CFT3 flows under a double-trace deformation to an interacting CFT3 in the IR. We argue that both CFTs are dual to Vasiliev dS4 gravity but with different future boundary conditions on the bulk scalar field. Our analysis rests heavily on analytic continuations of bulk and boundary correlators in the proposed duality relating the O(N) model with Vasiliev gravity in AdS4.

First Measurements of 15N Fractionation in N2H+ toward High-mass Star-forming Cores

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fontani, F.; Caselli, P.; Palau, A.; Bizzocchi, L.; Ceccarelli, C.

2015-08-01

We report on the first measurements of the isotopic ratio 14N/15N in N2H+ toward a statistically significant sample of high-mass star-forming cores. The sources belong to the three main evolutionary categories of the high-mass star formation process: high-mass starless cores, high-mass protostellar objects, and ultracompact H ii regions. Simultaneous measurements of the 14N/15N ratio in CN have been made. The 14N/15N ratios derived from N2H+ show a large spread (from ∼180 up to ∼1300), while those derived from CN are in between the value measured in the terrestrial atmosphere (∼270) and that of the proto-solar nebula (∼440) for the large majority of the sources within the errors. However, this different spread might be due to the fact that the sources detected in the N2H+ isotopologues are more than those detected in the CN ones. The 14N/15N ratio does not change significantly with the source evolutionary stage, which indicates that time seems to be irrelevant for the fractionation of nitrogen. We also find a possible anticorrelation between the 14N/15N (as derived from N2H+) and the H/D isotopic ratios. This suggests that 15N enrichment could not be linked to the parameters that cause D enrichment, in agreement with the prediction by recent chemical models. These models, however, are not able to reproduce the observed large spread in 14N/15N, pointing out that some important routes of nitrogen fractionation could be still missing in the models. Based on observations carried out with the IRAM-30 m Telescope. IRAM is supported by INSU/CNRS (France), MPG (Germany), and IGN (Spain).

Magnon-induced interband spin-flip scattering contribution to resistivity and magnetoresistance in a nanocrystalline itinerant-electron ferromagnet: Effect of crystallite size

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Madduri, P. V. Prakash; Kaul, S. N.

2017-05-01

We report the results of an exhaustive study of `zero-field' electrical resistivity ρ (T ) and magnetoresistance (MR) (in magnetic fields up to 90 kOe) over the temperature range 1.8-300 K in nanocrystalline (nc-) Ni with average crystallite size d ranging from 10 nm to 40 nm. A quantitative comparison of our results with the predictions of the recent self-consistent calculations permits us to unambiguously identify the scattering mechanisms responsible for ρ (T ) and MR in different temperature ranges and accurately determine their relative magnitudes in nc-Ni samples of different d . Like in bulk 3 d transition metal ferromagnets, ρ varies with temperature as T2 at T ≲15 K. Contrary to the widely-held view that the T2 variation of ρ at low temperatures arises from the electron-magnon (e -m ) scattering, this contribution to ρ (T ) is shown to originate from the electron-electron (Baber) scattering. In the temperature range 15 K≤T ≤300 K, the phonon-induced non-spin-flip (NSF) intraband [i.e., s↑↓-s↑↓ , d↑↓-d↑↓ electron-phonon (e -p )] scattering and magnon-induced spin-flip (SF) interband (i.e., s↑↓-d↓↑e -m ) scattering contributions completely account for the intrinsic resistivity. The former contribution dominates over the latter at T >T whereas the reverse is true at temperatures 15 K ≤T T , ρe -m(T ,H =0 ) becomes comparable in magnitude to ρe -p(T ,H =0 ) for d ≥25 nm. By contrast, the MR in nc-Ni is entirely due to the s↑↓-d↓↑e -m scattering. The present work clearly brings out the importance of the thermal renormalization of magnon mass (caused mainly by the magnon-magnon interactions) over the temperature range 15 K≤T ≤300 K. Irrespective of the value of d (including the bulk, d =∞ ), phonon-induced s↑↓-s↑↓ , d↑↓-d↑↓ transitions are more frequent than the e -p s↑↓-d↑↓ transitions over the entire temperature range 1.8 K≤T ≤300 K. The saturation magnetization at 0 K, spin wave stiffness at 0 K, Debye temperature as well as the parameters that are a direct measure of the strength of e -p coupling, e -m coupling, and level of suppression of e -m scattering by external magnetic field, all exhibit power law variations with d . The power law behavior asserts that the average crystallite size is the dominant length scale so far as the magnetism, electrical transport, and magnetotransport in nc-Ni are concerned.

Ice particle mass-dimensional parameter retrieval and uncertainty analysis using an Optimal Estimation framework applied to in situ data

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Xu, Zhuocan; Mace, Jay; Avalone, Linnea; Wang, Zhien

2015-04-01

The extreme variability of ice particle habits in precipitating clouds affects our understanding of these cloud systems in every aspect (i.e. radiation transfer, dynamics, precipitation rate, etc) and largely contributes to the uncertainties in the model representation of related processes. Ice particle mass-dimensional power law relationships, M=a*(D ^ b), are commonly assumed in models and retrieval algorithms, while very little knowledge exists regarding the uncertainties of these M-D parameters in real-world situations. In this study, we apply Optimal Estimation (OE) methodology to infer ice particle mass-dimensional relationship from ice particle size distributions and bulk water contents independently measured on board the University of Wyoming King Air during the Colorado Airborne Multi-Phase Cloud Study (CAMPS). We also utilize W-band radar reflectivity obtained on the same platform (King Air) offering a further constraint to this ill-posed problem (Heymsfield et al. 2010). In addition to the values of retrieved M-D parameters, the associated uncertainties are conveniently acquired in the OE framework, within the limitations of assumed Gaussian statistics. We find, given the constraints provided by the bulk water measurement and in situ radar reflectivity, that the relative uncertainty of mass-dimensional power law prefactor (a) is approximately 80% and the relative uncertainty of exponent (b) is 10-15%. With this level of uncertainty, the forward model uncertainty in radar reflectivity would be on the order of 4 dB or a factor of approximately 2.5 in ice water content. The implications of this finding are that inferences of bulk water from either remote or in situ measurements of particle spectra cannot be more certain than this when the mass-dimensional relationships are not known a priori which is almost never the case.

Microtensile bond strength of bulk-fill restorative composites to dentin.

PubMed

Mandava, Jyothi; Vegesna, Divya-Prasanna; Ravi, Ravichandra; Boddeda, Mohan-Rao; Uppalapati, Lakshman-Varma; Ghazanfaruddin, M D

2017-08-01

To facilitate the easier placement of direct resin composite in deeper cavities, bulk fill composites have been introduced. The Mechanical stability of fillings in stress bearing areas restored with bulk-fill resin composites is still open to question, since long term clinical studies are not available so far. Thus, the objective of the study was to evaluate and compare the microtensile bond strength of three bulk-fill restorative composites with a nanohybrid composite. Class I cavities were prepared on sixty extracted mandibular molars. Teeth were divided into 4 groups (n= 15 each) and in group I, the prepared cavities were restored with nanohybrid (Filtek Z250 XT) restorative composite in an incremental manner. In group II, III and IV, the bulk-fill composites (Filtek, Tetric EvoCeram, X-tra fil bulk-fill restoratives) were placed as a 4 mm single increment and light cured. The restored teeth were subjected to thermocycling and bond strength testing was done using instron testing machine. The mode of failure was assessed by scanning electron microscope (SEM). The bond strength values obtained in megapascals (MPa) were subjected to statistical analysis, using SPSS/PC version 20 software.One-way ANOVA was used for groupwise comparison of the bond strength. Tukey's Post Hoc test was used for pairwise comparisons among the groups. The highest mean bond strength was achieved with Filtek bulk-fill restorative showing statistically significant difference with Tetric EvoCeram bulk-fill ( p < 0.003) and X-tra fil bulk-fill ( p <0.001) composites. Adhesive failures are mostly observed with X-tra fil bulk fill composites, whereas mixed failures are more common with other bulk fill composites. Bulk-fill composites exhibited adequate bond strength to dentin and can be considered as restorative material of choice in posterior stress bearing areas. Key words: Bond strength, Bulk-fill restoratives, Configuration factor, Polymerization shrinkage.

Isotopomers as a method for differentiating between bacterial and fungal production of nitrous oxide

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sutka, R. L.; Adams, G.; Ostrom, N.; Ostrom, P.

2007-12-01

In order to study the importance of fungi to nitrous oxide (N2O) production in the environment it is critical to have a non-intrusive method for differentiating between fungal and bacterial N2O production. Site preference (SP), the difference in d15N between the central and outer N atoms in N2O, has been used to differentiate between bacterial nitrification and denitrification. In this study we compare the SP, d15N and d18O of N2O produced by the two best-studied fungal denitrifiers, Fusarium oxysporum and Cylindrocarpon tonkinense, to data from our previous bacterial studies. Both d18O and SP values remained fairly constant during the course of nitrite reduction which likely reflects isotopic exchange with water in the case of d18O and conservative behavior in SP that has been observed previously (Sutka et al., 2006). We observed a wide range of fractionation factors for fungal denitrification, -74.7 to -6.6 ‰, and non-linear behavior indicating that fractionation was controlled by more than one step. We interpret the small degree of fractionation as reflecting fractionation during diffusion and the more negative values as being controlled by enzymatic fractionation. Data from this and our previous study of bacterial production (Sutka et al., 2006) reveals that N2O produced via nitrification by fungi can be differentiated from N2O produced by bacterial denitrification primarily on the basis of d18O. The site preference of N2O produced by F. oxysporum and C. tonkinense was 37.1 ± 2.5 ‰ and 36.9 ± 2.8 ‰, respectively. These results indicate that isotopomers can be used as a basis for differentiating bacterial and fungal denitrification. Our work further reveals the role that fungal and bacterial nitric oxide reductases have in determining site preference during N2O production.

Vitamin D concentrations in fortified foods and dietary supplements intended for infants: Implications for vitamin D intake.

PubMed

Verkaik-Kloosterman, Janneke; Seves, S Marije; Ocké, Marga C

2017-04-15

Due to potential overages to cover losses during shelf life, the actual vitamin D concentration of fortified foods and dietary supplements may deviate from the label. In this pilot study the vitamin D concentrations of fortified foods (n=29; follow-on formula, baby porridge, curd cheese dessert) and dietary supplements (n=15), both specifically intended for infants, were analytically determined. Compared to the declared values, the vitamin D content ranged from 50% to 153% for fortified foods and from 8% to 177% for supplements. In general, both instant follow-on formula and oil-based supplements had a measured vitamin D content similar to or higher than the labelled value. Ready-to-eat baby porridge was the only category in which all measured vitamin D concentrations were below the declared value (74-81%). The use of label information for fortified foods and dietary supplements may result in invalid estimations of vitamin D intake distributions of infants; both under- and overestimation may occur. Copyright © 2016 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.

Thermoelectric properties of IV–VI-based heterostructures and superlattices

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Borges, P.D., E-mail: pabloborges@ufv.br; Department of Physics, Texas State University, San Marcos, TX 78666; Petersen, J.E.

2015-07-15

Doping in a manner that introduces anisotropy in order to reduce thermal conductivity is a significant focus in thermoelectric research today. By solving the semiclassical Boltzmann transport equations in the constant scattering time (τ) approximation, in conjunction with ab initio electronic structure calculations, within Density Functional Theory, we compare the Seebeck coefficient (S) and figure of merit (ZT) of bulk PbTe to PbTe/SnTe/PbTe heterostructures and PbTe doping superlattices (SLs) with periodically doped planes. Bismuth and Thallium were used as the n- and p-type impurities, respectively. The effects of carrier concentration are considered via chemical potential variation in a rigid bandmore » approximation. The impurity bands near the Fermi level in the electronic structure of PbTe SLs are of Tl s- and Bi p-character, and this feature is independent of the doping concentration or the distance between impurity planes. We observe the impurity bands to have a metallic nature in the directions perpendicular to the doping planes, yet no improvement on the values of ZT is found when compared to bulk PbTe. For the PbTe/SnTe/PbTe heterostructures, the calculated S presents good agreement with recent experimental data, and an anisotropic behavior is observed for low carrier concentrations (n<10{sup 18} cm{sup −3}). A large value of ZT{sub ||} (parallel to the growth direction) of 3.0 is predicted for n=4.7×10{sup 18} cm{sup −3} and T=700 K, whereas ZT{sub p} (perpendicular to the growth direction) is found to peak at 1.5 for n=1.7×10{sup 17} cm{sup −3}. Both electrical conductivity enhancement and thermal conductivity reduction are analyzed. - Graphical abstract: Figure of merit for PbTe/SnTe/PbTe heterostructure along the [0 0 1] direction, P.D. Borges, J.E. Petersen, L. Scolfaro, H.W. Leite Alves, T.H. Myers, Improved thermoelectric properties of IV–VI-based heterostructures and superlattices. - Highlights: • Thermoelectric properties of IV–VI-based heterostructures and superlattices. • High figure of merit is predicted for the PbTe/SnTe/PbTe heterostructure. • Nanotechnology has an important role for the development of thermoelectric devices.« less

Sources of nitrate in snowmelt discharge: Evidence from water chemistry and stable isotopes of nitrate

USGS Publications Warehouse

Piatek, K.B.; Mitchell, M.J.; Silva, S.R.; Kendall, C.

2005-01-01

To determine whether NO3- concentration pulses in surface water in early spring snowmelt discharge are due to atmospheric NO 3-, we analyzed stream ??15N-NO 3- and ??18O-NO3- values between February and June of 2001 and 2002 and compared them to those of throughfall, bulk precipitation, snow, and groundwater. Stream total Al, DOC and Si concentrations were used to indicate preferential water flow through the forest floor, mineral soil, and ground water. The study was conducted in a 135-ha subcatchment of the Arbutus Watershed in the Huntington Wildlife Forest in the Adirondack Region of New York State, U.S.A. Stream discharge in 2001 increased from 0.6 before to 32.4 mm day-1 during snowmelt, and element concentrations increased from 33 to 71 ??mol L-1 for NO3-, 3 to 9 ??mol L-1 for total Al, and 330 to 570 ??mol L-1 for DOC. Discharge in 2002 was variable, with a maximum of 30 mm day-1 during snowmelt. The highest NO3-, Al, and DOC concentrations were 52, 10, and 630 ??mol L -1, respectively, and dissolved Si decreased from 148 ??mol L -1 before to 96 ??mol L-1 during snowmelt. Values of ??15N and ??18O of NO3- in stream water were similar in both years. Stream water, atmospherically- derived solutions, and groundwaters had overlapping ??15N- NO3- values. In stream and ground water, ??18O-NO3- values ranged from +5.9 to +12.9??? and were significantly lower than the +58.3 to +78.7??? values in atmospheric solutions. Values of ??18O-NO3- indicating nitrification, increase in Al and DOC, and decrease in dissolved Si concentrations indicating water flow through the soil suggested a dilution of groundwater NO3- by increasing contributions of forest floor and mineral soil NO3- during snowmelt. ?? Springer 2005.

Solar wind noble gases and nitrogen in metal from lunar soil 68501

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Becker, Richard H.; Pepin, Robert O.

1994-01-01

Noble gases and N were analyzed in handpicked metal separates from lunar soil 68501 by a combination of step-wise combustions and pyrolyses. Helium and Ne were found to be unfractionated with respect to one another when normalized to solar abundances, for both the bulk sample and for all but the highest temperature steps. However, they are depleted relative to Ar, Kr and Xe by at least a factor of 5. The heavier gases exhibit mass-dependent fractionation relative to solar system abundance ratios but appear unfractionated, both in the bulk metal and in early temperature steps, when compared to relative abundances derived from lunar ilmenite 71501 by chemical etching, recently put forward as representing the abundance ratios in solar wind. Estimates of the contribution of solar energetic particles (SEP) to the originally implanted solar gases, derived from a basic interpretation of He and Ne isotopes, yield values of about 10%. Analysis of the Ar isotopes requires a minimum of 20% SEP, and Kr isotopes, using our preferred composition for solar wind Kr, yield a result that overlaps both these values. It is possible to reconcile the data from these gases if significant loss of solar wind Ar, Kr and presumably Xe has occurred relative to the SEP component, most likely by erosive processes that are mass independent, although mass-dependent losses (Ar greater than Kr greater than Xe) cannot be excluded. If such losses did occur, the SEP contribution to the solar implanted gases must have been no more than a few percent. Nitrogen is a mixture of indigenous meteoritic N, whose isotopic composition is inferred to be relatively light, and implanted solar N, which has probably undergone diffusive redistribution and fractionation. If the heavy noble gases have not undergone diffusive loss, then N/Ar in the solar wind can be inferred to be at least several times the accepted solar ratio. The solar wind N appears, even after correction for fractionation effects, to have a minimum delta N-15 value equal to or greater than +150% and a more probable value equal to or greater than +200%.

Optical models for radio-frequency-magnetron reactively sputtered AlN films

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Easwarakhanthan, T.; Assouar, M. B.; Pigeat, P.; Alnot, P.

2005-10-01

The optical properties of aluminum nitrate (AlN) films reactively sputtered on Si substrates using radio-frequency (rf) magnetron have been studied in this work from multiwavelength spectroscopic ellipsometry (SE) measurements performed over the 290-615 nm wavelength range. The SE modeling carried out with care to adhere as much to the ellipsometric fitting qualities is also backed up with atomic force microscopy and x-ray-diffraction measurements taken on these films thus grown to nominal thicknesses from 40 to 150 nm under the same optimized experimental conditions. It follows that the model describing the optical properties of the thicker AlN films should consist at least in three layers on the Si substrate: an almost roughnessless smooth surface overlayer that is presumed essentially of Al2O3, a bulk AlN layer, and an AlN interface layer that has a refractive index dispersion falling in the range from 2.04 [312 nm] to 1.91 [615 nm] on the average and is fairly distinguishable from the slightly higher bulk layer index which drops correspondingly from 2.12 to 1.99. These index values imply that, beneath the partly or mostly oxidized surface AlN layer, the films comprise a polycrystalline-structured bulk AlN layer above a less-microstructurally-ordered interface layer that extends over 40-55 nm from the substrate among thicker films. This ellipsometric evidence indicating the existence of the interface layer is consistent with those interface layers confirmed through electron microscopy in some previous works. However, the ellipsometrically insufficient thinner AlN films may be only modeled with the surface layer and an AlN layer. The film surface oxide layer thickness varies between 5 and 15 nm among samples. The refractive index dispersions, the layer thicknesses, and the lateral thickness variation of the films are given and discussed regarding the optical constitution of these films and the ellipsometric validity of these parameters.

C:N:P Molar Ratios, Sources and 14C Dating of Surficial Sediments from the NW Slope of Cuba

PubMed Central

de la Lanza Espino, Guadalupe; Soto, Luis A.

2015-01-01

The surficial sediments recovered from 12 sites located near the channel axis of the Florida Straits and the lower slope off NW Cuba were analyzed for total organic carbon (TOC), nitrogen (TN), phosphorus (TP), elemental C:N:P ratios, C and N isotopic values, and 14C dating. The depth profiles of TOC, TN, and TP (0-18 cm) displayed a downcore trend and a significant variation. The TOC values were low (0.15 to 0.62%; 66 to 516 µmol g-1). Sites near the island’s lower slope had lower TOC average concentrations (158-333 µmol g-1) than those closer to the channel axis (averaging 341-516 µmol g-1; p <0.05). The TN concentrations near the lower slope attained 0.11% (80 µmol g-1), whereas, towards the channel axis, they decreased to 0.07% (55 µmol g-1; p<0.05). The C:N ratios ranged from 1.9 to 10.2. The mean molar C:N ratio (5.4) indicated a marine hemipelagic deposition. The TP was lower at sites near the lower slope (38.4 to 50.0 µmol g-1; 0.12% to 0.16%) than those near the channel axis (50.0 to 66 µmol g-1; 0.15 to 0.21%). C:P fluctuated from 7.7 to 14.1 in the surficial sediment layer. The bulk organic δ13Corg and δ15N values confirmed pelagic organic sources, and the 14C dating revealed that the sediments were deposited during the Holocene (1000-5000 yr BP). We suggest that the hydrodynamic conditions in the Straits influence vertical and advective fluxes of particulate organic material trapped in the mixed-layer, which reduces the particulate matter flux to the seabed. PMID:26110791

Critical behavior of the van der Waals bonded ferromagnet Fe3 -xGeTe2

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Liu, Yu; Ivanovski, V. N.; Petrovic, C.

2017-10-01

The critical properties of the single-crystalline van der Waals bonded ferromagnet Fe3 -xGeTe2 were investigated by bulk dc magnetization around the paramagnetic to ferromagnetic (FM) phase transition. The Fe3 -xGeTe2 single crystals grown by self-flux method with Fe deficiency x ≈0.36 exhibit bulk FM ordering below Tc=152 K. The Mössbauer spectroscopy was used to provide information on defects and local atomic environment in such crystals. Critical exponents β =0.372 (4 ) with a critical temperature Tc=151.25 (5 ) K and γ =1.265 (15 ) with Tc=151.17 (12 ) K are obtained by the Kouvel-Fisher method, whereas δ =4.50 (1 ) is obtained by a critical isotherm analysis at Tc=151 K. These critical exponents obey the Widom scaling relation δ =1 +γ /β , indicating self-consistency of the obtained values. With these critical exponents the isotherm M (H ) curves below and above the critical temperatures collapse into two independent universal branches, obeying the single scaling equation m =f±(h ) , where m and h are renormalized magnetization and field, respectively. The exponents determined in this study are close to those calculated from the results of the renormalization group approach for a heuristic model of three-dimensional Heisenberg (d =3 ,n =3 ) spins coupled with the attractive long-range interactions between spins that decay as J (r ) ≈r-(3 +σ ) with σ =1.89 .

Variable δ(15)N diet-tissue discrimination factors among sharks: implications for trophic position, diet and food web models.

PubMed

Olin, Jill A; Hussey, Nigel E; Grgicak-Mannion, Alice; Fritts, Mark W; Wintner, Sabine P; Fisk, Aaron T

2013-01-01

The application of stable isotopes to characterize the complexities of a species foraging behavior and trophic relationships is dependent on assumptions of δ(15)N diet-tissue discrimination factors (∆(15)N). As ∆(15)N values have been experimentally shown to vary amongst consumers, tissues and diet composition, resolving appropriate species-specific ∆(15)N values can be complex. Given the logistical and ethical challenges of controlled feeding experiments for determining ∆(15)N values for large and/or endangered species, our objective was to conduct an assessment of a range of reported ∆(15)N values that can hypothetically serve as surrogates for describing the predator-prey relationships of four shark species that feed on prey from different trophic levels (i.e., different mean δ(15)N dietary values). Overall, the most suitable species-specific ∆(15)N values decreased with increasing dietary-δ(15)N values based on stable isotope Bayesian ellipse overlap estimates of shark and the principal prey functional groups contributing to the diet determined from stomach content analyses. Thus, a single ∆(15)N value was not supported for this speciose group of marine predatory fishes. For example, the ∆(15)N value of 3.7‰ provided the highest percent overlap between prey and predator isotope ellipses for the bonnethead shark (mean diet δ(15)N = 9‰) whereas a ∆(15)N value < 2.3‰ provided the highest percent overlap between prey and predator isotope ellipses for the white shark (mean diet δ(15)N = 15‰). These data corroborate the previously reported inverse ∆(15)N-dietary δ(15)N relationship when both isotope ellipses of principal prey functional groups and the broader identified diet of each species were considered supporting the adoption of different ∆(15)N values that reflect the predators' δ(15)N-dietary value. These findings are critical for refining the application of stable isotope modeling approaches as inferences regarding a species' ecological role in their community will be influenced with consequences for conservation and management actions.

Variable δ15N Diet-Tissue Discrimination Factors among Sharks: Implications for Trophic Position, Diet and Food Web Models

PubMed Central

Olin, Jill A.; Hussey, Nigel E.; Grgicak-Mannion, Alice; Fritts, Mark W.; Wintner, Sabine P.; Fisk, Aaron T.

2013-01-01

The application of stable isotopes to characterize the complexities of a species foraging behavior and trophic relationships is dependent on assumptions of δ15N diet-tissue discrimination factors (∆15N). As ∆15N values have been experimentally shown to vary amongst consumers, tissues and diet composition, resolving appropriate species-specific ∆15N values can be complex. Given the logistical and ethical challenges of controlled feeding experiments for determining ∆15N values for large and/or endangered species, our objective was to conduct an assessment of a range of reported ∆15N values that can hypothetically serve as surrogates for describing the predator-prey relationships of four shark species that feed on prey from different trophic levels (i.e., different mean δ15N dietary values). Overall, the most suitable species-specific ∆15N values decreased with increasing dietary-δ15N values based on stable isotope Bayesian ellipse overlap estimates of shark and the principal prey functional groups contributing to the diet determined from stomach content analyses. Thus, a single ∆15N value was not supported for this speciose group of marine predatory fishes. For example, the ∆15N value of 3.7‰ provided the highest percent overlap between prey and predator isotope ellipses for the bonnethead shark (mean diet δ15N = 9‰) whereas a ∆15N value < 2.3‰ provided the highest percent overlap between prey and predator isotope ellipses for the white shark (mean diet δ15N = 15‰). These data corroborate the previously reported inverse ∆15N-dietary δ15N relationship when both isotope ellipses of principal prey functional groups and the broader identified diet of each species were considered supporting the adoption of different ∆15N values that reflect the predators’ δ15N-dietary value. These findings are critical for refining the application of stable isotope modeling approaches as inferences regarding a species’ ecological role in their community will be influenced with consequences for conservation and management actions. PMID:24147026

EQ-5D in Central and Eastern Europe: 2000-2015.

PubMed

Rencz, Fanni; Gulácsi, László; Drummond, Michael; Golicki, Dominik; Prevolnik Rupel, Valentina; Simon, Judit; Stolk, Elly A; Brodszky, Valentin; Baji, Petra; Závada, Jakub; Petrova, Guenka; Rotar, Alexandru; Péntek, Márta

2016-11-01

Cost per quality-adjusted life year data are required for reimbursement decisions in many Central and Eastern European (CEE) countries. EQ-5D is by far the most commonly used instrument to generate utility values in CEE. This study aims to systematically review the literature on EQ-5D from eight CEE countries. An electronic database search was performed up to 1 July 2015 to identify original EQ-5D studies from the countries of interest. We analysed the use of EQ-5D with respect to clinical areas, methodological rigor, population norms and value sets. We identified 143 studies providing 152 country-specific results with a total sample size of 81,619: Austria (n = 11), Bulgaria (n = 6), Czech Republic (n = 18), Hungary (n = 47), Poland (n = 51), Romania (n = 2), Slovakia (n = 3) and Slovenia (n = 14). Cardiovascular (21 %), neurologic (17 %), musculoskeletal (15 %) and endocrine, nutritional and metabolic diseases (13 %) were the most frequently studied clinical areas. Overall, 112 (78 %) of the studies reported EQ VAS results and 86 (60 %) EQ-5D index scores, of which 27 (31 %) did not specify the applied tariff. Hungary, Poland and Slovenia have population norms. Poland and Slovenia also have a national value set. Increasing use of EQ-5D is observed throughout CEE. The spread of health technology assessment activities in countries seems to be reflected in the number of EQ-5D studies. However, improvement in informed use and methodological quality of reporting is needed. In jurisdictions where no national value set is available, in order to ensure comparability we recommend to apply the most frequently used UK tariff. Regional collaboration between CEE countries should be strengthened.

[Fractal features of soil particle size in the process of desertification in desert grassland of Ningxia, China].

PubMed

Yan, Xin; An, Hui

2017-10-01

The variation of soil properties, the fractal dimension of soil particle size, and the relationships between fractal dimension of soil particle size and soil properties in the process of desertification in desert grassland of Ningxia were discussed. The results showed that the fractal dimension (D) at different desertification stages in desert grassland varied greatly, the value of D was between 1.69 and 2.62. Except for the 10-20 cm soil layer, the value of D gradually declined with increa sing desertification of desert grassland at 0-30 cm soil layer. In the process of desertification in de-sert grassland, the grassland had the highest values of D , the volume percentage of clay and silt, and the lowest values of the volume percentage of very fine sand and fine sand. However, the mobile dunes had the lowest value of D , the volume percentage of clay and silt, and the highest value of the volume percentage of very fine sand and fine sand. There was a significant positive correlation between the soil fractal dimension value and the volume percentage of soil particles <50 μm, and a significant negative correlation between the soil fractal dimension value and the volume percentage of soil particles >50 μm. The grain size of 50 μm was the critical value for deciding the relationship between the soil particle fractal dimension and the volume percentage. Soil organic matter (SOM) and total nitrogen (TN) decreased gradually with increasing desertification of desert grassland, but soil bulk density increased gradually. Qualitative change from fixed dunes to semi fixed dunes with the rapid decrease of the volume percentage of clay and silt, SOM, TN and the rapid increase of volume percentage of very fine sand and fine sand, soil bulk density. Fractal dimension was significantly correlated to SOM, TN and soil bulk density. Fractal dimension 2.58 was a critical value of fixed dunes and semi fixed dunes. So, the fractal dimension of 2.58 could be taken as the desertification indicator of desert grassland.

The Single-Crystal Elasticity of Yttria (Y2O3) to High Temperature

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Kriven, Waltraud M.; Palko, James W.; Sinogeikin, Stanislav V.; Bass, Jay D.; Sayir, Ali; Levine, Stanley R. (Technical Monitor)

2000-01-01

The single-crystal elastic moduli of yttria have been measured by Brillouin spectroscopy up to 1200 C. The room temperature values obtained are C11 = 223.6 +/- 0.6 GPa, C44 = 74.6 +/- 0.5 GPa, and C12 = 112.4 +/- 1.0 GPa. The resulting bulk and (Voigt-Reuss-Hill) shear moduli are K = 149.5 +/- 1.0 GPa and G(sub VRH) = 66.3 +/- 0.8 GPa, respectively. These agree much more closely with experimental values reported for polycrystalline samples than do previous single-crystal measurements. Linear least squares regressions to the variation of bulk and shear moduli with temperature result in derivatives of dK/dT = -17 +/- 2 MPa/degC and dG(sub VRH)/dT = -8 +/- 2 MPa/degC. Elastic anisotropy was found to remain essentially constant over the temperature range studied.

Effects of sonochemical treatment on meteoritic nanodiamonds

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fisenko, Anatolii V.; Verchovsky, Sasha B.; Shiryaev, Andrei A.; Semjonova, Luba F.

2017-01-01

A nanodiamond-rich fraction (NDF) separated from the Orgueil meteorite was subjected to a high-intensity ultrasonic treatment in a weakly acidic aqueous solution. After sedimentation by centrifugation, two fractions of grains (suspension, designated as OD7C and sediment, designated as OD7D) with different properties have been obtained. The following effects of the sonication were revealed from comparison of the contents and isotope compositions of C, N, and Xe released during stepped pyrolysis and combustion of the fractions OD7C and OD7D, the initial NDF and two grain-size fractions (OD10 and OD15) produced without sonication (a) surface layer of the sonicated diamond grains is modified to different extent in comparison with nontreated ones, (b) in some grains concentrations of the bulk N and Xe a reduced significantly, and (c) nondiamond nitrogen containing phases (e.g., Si3N4) have been destroyed. It is suggested that combined effects of the sonication and centrifugation observed for the fractions OD7C and OD7D are due to differences in surface chemistry of the nanodiamond grains, which statistically influences behavior of nanoparticles during the sonication resulting in their preferential modification in the different reaction zones of the cavitating fluid.

Medically-Derived (131)I as a Tool for Investigating the Fate of Wastewater Nitrogen in Aquatic Environments.

PubMed

Rose, Paula S; Smith, Joseph P; Aller, Robert C; Cochran, J Kirk; Swanson, R Lawrence; Coffin, Richard B

2015-09-01

Medically derived (131)I (t1/2 = 8.04 d) is discharged from water pollution control plants (WPCPs) in sewage effluent. Iodine's nutrient-like behavior and the source-specificity of (131)I make this radionuclide a potentially valuable tracer in wastewater nitrogen studies. Iodine-131 was measured in Potomac River water and sediments in the vicinity of the Blue Plains WPCP, Washington, DC, USA. Dissolved (131)I showed a strong, positive correlation with δ(15)N values of nitrate (δ(15)NO3(-)) in the river, the latter being a traditional indicator of nutrient inputs and recycling. Surface water δ(15)NO3(-) values ranged from 8.7 to 33.4‰; NO3(-) + NO2(-) concentrations were 0.39-2.79 mg N L(-1) (26-186 μM). Sediment profiles of particulate (131)I and δ(15)N indicate rapid mixing or sedimentation and in many cases remineralization of a heavy nitrogen source consistent with wastewater nitrogen. Values of δ(15)N in sediments ranged from 4.7 to 9.3‰. This work introduces (131)I as a tool to investigate the short-term fate of wastewater nitrogen in the Potomac River and demonstrates the general utility of (131)I in aquatic research.

Proceedings of the Second International Congress on Recent Developments in Air- and Structure-Borne Sound and Vibration (2nd) Held in Auburn University, Alabama on 4-6 March 1992. Volume 2

DTIC Science & Technology

1992-03-06

elastic data (uncorrected) on Lithium- Zinc and Lithium- Cadmium ferrites Ferrite Bulk X-ray Per- V Vs E n Composition density density cen- 0 3K -3 10 3 K...weight with increasing zinc and cadmium contents. In the case of Li-Cd ferrites, the values of VI/P , V s /P Vm and eD are also increases continuously...585 Wu Ounli, Nanyang Technololical University, Singapore RECIPROCITY METHOD FOR QUANTIFICATION OF AIRBORNE SOUND TRANSFER FROM MACHINERY

Hemolytic Potential of Tafenoquine in Female Volunteers Heterozygous for Glucose-6-Phosphate Dehydrogenase (G6PD) Deficiency (G6PD Mahidol Variant) versus G6PD-Normal Volunteers.

PubMed

Rueangweerayut, Ronnatrai; Bancone, Germana; Harrell, Emma J; Beelen, Andrew P; Kongpatanakul, Supornchai; Möhrle, Jörg J; Rousell, Vicki; Mohamed, Khadeeja; Qureshi, Ammar; Narayan, Sushma; Yubon, Nushara; Miller, Ann; Nosten, François H; Luzzatto, Lucio; Duparc, Stephan; Kleim, Jörg-Peter; Green, Justin A

2017-09-01

Tafenoquine is an 8-aminoquinoline under investigation for the prevention of relapse in Plasmodium vivax malaria. This open-label, dose-escalation study assessed quantitatively the hemolytic risk with tafenoquine in female healthy volunteers heterozygous for the Mahidol 487A glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD)-deficient variant versus G6PD-normal females, and with reference to primaquine. Six G6PD-heterozygous subjects (G6PD enzyme activity 40-60% of normal) and six G6PD-normal subjects per treatment group received single-dose tafenoquine (100, 200, or 300 mg) or primaquine (15 mg × 14 days). All participants had pretreatment hemoglobin levels ≥ 12.0 g/dL. Tafenoquine dose escalation stopped when hemoglobin decreased by ≥ 2.5 g/dL (or hematocrit decline ≥ 7.5%) versus pretreatment values in ≥ 3/6 subjects. A dose-response was evident in G6PD-heterozygous subjects ( N = 15) receiving tafenoquine for the maximum decrease in hemoglobin versus pretreatment values. Hemoglobin declines were similar for tafenoquine 300 mg (-2.65 to -2.95 g/dL [ N = 3]) and primaquine (-1.25 to -3.0 g/dL [ N = 5]). Two further cohorts of G6PD-heterozygous subjects with G6PD enzyme levels 61-80% ( N = 2) and > 80% ( N = 5) of the site median normal received tafenoquine 200 mg; hemolysis was less pronounced at higher G6PD enzyme activities. Tafenoquine hemolytic potential was dose dependent, and hemolysis was greater in G6PD-heterozygous females with lower G6PD enzyme activity levels. Single-dose tafenoquine 300 mg did not appear to increase the severity of hemolysis versus primaquine 15 mg × 14 days.

Anisotropic swim stress in active matter with nematic order

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yan, Wen; Brady, John F.

2018-05-01

Active Brownian particles (ABPs) transmit a swim pressure {{{\\Pi }}}{{swim}}=n\\zeta {D}{{swim}} to the container boundaries, where ζ is the drag coefficient, D swim is the swim diffusivity and n is the uniform bulk number density far from the container walls. In this work we extend the notion of the isotropic swim pressure to the anisotropic tensorial swim stress {{\\boldsymbol{σ }}}{{swim}}=-n\\zeta {{\\boldsymbol{D}}}{{swim}}, which is related to the anisotropic swim diffusivity {{\\boldsymbol{D}}}{{swim}}. We demonstrate this relationship with ABPs that achieve nematic orientational order via a bulk external field. The anisotropic swim stress is obtained analytically for dilute ABPs in both 2D and 3D systems. The anisotropy, defined as the ratio of the maximum to the minimum of the three principal stresses, is shown to grow exponentially with the strength of the external field. We verify that the normal component of the anisotropic swim stress applies a pressure {{{\\Pi }}}{{swim}}=-({{\\boldsymbol{σ }}}{{swim}}\\cdot {\\boldsymbol{n}})\\cdot {\\boldsymbol{n}} on a wall with normal vector {\\boldsymbol{n}}, and, through Brownian dynamics simulations, this pressure is shown to be the force per unit area transmitted by the active particles. Since ABPs have no friction with a wall, the difference between the normal and tangential stress components—the normal stress difference—generates a net flow of ABPs along the wall, which is a generic property of active matter systems.

N-Guanidino Derivatives of 1,5-Dideoxy-1,5-imino-d-xylitol are Potent, Selective, and Stable Inhibitors of β-Glucocerebrosidase.

PubMed

Sevšek, Alen; Šrot, Luka; Rihter, Jakob; Čelan, Maša; van Ufford, Linda Quarles; Moret, Ed E; Martin, Nathaniel I; Pieters, Roland J

2017-04-06

A series of lipidated guanidino and urea derivatives of 1,5-dideoxy-1,5-imino-d-xylitol were prepared from d-xylose using a concise synthetic protocol. Inhibition assays with a panel of glycosidases revealed that the guanidino analogues display potent inhibition against human recombinant β-glucocerebrosidase with IC 50 values in the low nanomolar range. Related urea analogues of 1,5-dideoxy-1,5-imino-d-xylitol were also synthesized and evaluated in the same fashion and found to be selective for β-galactosidase from bovine liver. No inhibition of human recombinant β-glucocerebrosidase was observed for the urea analogues. Computational studies provided insight into the potent activity of analogues bearing the substituted guanidine moiety in the inhibition of lysosomal glucocerebrosidase (GBA). © 2017 Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

Isotopic fractionation of nitrogen and carbon in Paleoarchean cherts from Pilbara craton, Western Australia: Origin of 15N-depleted nitrogen

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pinti, Daniele L.; Hashizume, Ko; Sugihara, Akiyo; Massault, Marc; Philippot, Pascal

2009-07-01

Nitrogen and carbon isotopic compositions, together with mineralogy and trace element geochemistry, were studied in a few kerogen-rich Paleoarchean cherts, a barite and a dolomitic stromatolite belonging to the eastern (Dixon Island Formation) and western (Dresser and Strelley Pool Chert Formations; North Pole Dome and Marble Bar) terranes of Pilbara Craton, Western Australia. The aim of the study was to search for 15N-depleted isotopic signatures, often found in kerogens of this period, and explain the origin of these anomalies. Trace elements suggest silica precipitation by hydrothermal fluids as the main process of chert formation with a contamination from volcanoclastic detritus. This is supported by the occurrence of hydrothermal-derived minerals in the studied samples indicating precipitation temperatures up to 350 °C. Only a dolomitic stromatolite from Strelley Pool shows a superchondritic Y/Ho ratio of 72 and a positive Eu/Eu * anomaly of 1.8, characteristic of chemical precipitates from the Archean seawater. The bulk δ 13C vs. δ 15N values measured in the cherts show a roughly positive co-variation, except for one sample from the North Pole (PI-85-00). The progressive enrichment in 15N and 13C from a pristine source having δ 13C ⩽ -36‰ and δ 15N ⩽ -4‰ is correlated with a progressive depletion in N content and to variations in Ba/La and Co/As ratios. These trends have been interpreted as a progressive hydrothermal alteration of the cherts by metamorphic fluids. Isotopic exchange at 350 °C between NH 4+(rock) and N 2(fluid) may explain the isotopic and elemental composition of N in the studied cherts. However, we need to assume isotopic exchange at 350 °C between carbonate C and graphite to explain the large 13C enrichment recorded. Only sample PI-85-00 shows a large N loss (90%) with a positive δ 15N value (+11‰), while C (up to 120 ppm and δ 13C -38‰) seems to be unaffected. This pattern has been interpreted as the result of devolatilization and alteration (oxidation) of graphite by low-temperature fluids. The 15N- 13C-depleted pristine source has δ 15N values from -7‰ to -4‰ and 40Ar/ 36Ar ratios from 30,000 to 60,000, compatible with an inorganic mantle N source, although the elemental abundance ratios N/C and 40Ar/C are not exactly the same with the mantle source. The component alternatively could be explained by elemental fractionation from metabolic activity of chemolithoautotrophs and methanogens at the proximity to the hydrothermal vents. However, ambiguities between mantle vs organic sources of N subsist and need further experimental work to be fully elucidated.

High-resolution Records of Proteinaceous Deep-Sea Coral δ13C and δ15N Values in the North Pacific Subtropical Gyre Suggest Major Shifts in Nutrient and Phytoplankton Dynamics over the last 5000 years

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Glynn, D. S.; McCarthy, M. D.; McMahon, K.; Guilderson, T. P.

2016-02-01

The North Pacific Subtropical Gyre (NPSG) is the largest continuous ecosystem on this planet, and currently expanding in a warming global climate. To understand current and future dynamics in productivity, biogeochemical cycling, and carbon sequestration, we must develop a more complete understanding of the dynamics in this important ecosystem in the past. Low sedimentation rates and high bioturbation make ocean-open sediment cores difficult to interpret at sufficiently high resolution. In contrast, deep-sea corals act as `living sediment traps' and incorporate the signal of sinking organic matter directly into the chronological growth bands of their proteinaceous skeletons. We reconstructed a 5,000 year, high resolution (decadal-scale) record of past changes in stable bulk nitrogen (δ15N) and carbon isotopes (δ13C) from multiple deep-sea corals around the Hawaiian archipelago. Previous studies have indicated a substantial decrease in both δ15N and δ13C (1 to 1.5‰) since the onset of the Industrial Revolution ( 1850s) to 1,000 year lows of 8‰ and -17‰ respectively (Sherwood et al. 2014, McMahon et al. 2015). Our new data now reveals that shifts of this magnitude are not unprecedented in the Mid- to Late Holocene. Our extended record indicates that over multi-millennial time scales there is a large range of natural variability, with δ15N values ranging from 8‰ to 12‰ and δ13C values ranging from -17‰ to -15‰. We propose that these signals reflect primarily shifts in phytoplankton species composition (as indicated by previous compound-specific work with amino acids). Comparisons with climate records suggest that these shifts may be directly linked to past changes in temperature (ocean stratification) and dust inputs. This study represents the first high-resolution record of nutrient and ecosystem dynamics in the NPSG over the past five millennia, and offers a historical baseline to better analyze the effects of current and future anthropogenic climate forcing.

Central blood pressure in children and adolescents: non-invasive development and testing of novel transfer functions.

PubMed

Cai, T Y; Qasem, A; Ayer, J G; Butlin, M; O'Meagher, S; Melki, C; Marks, G B; Avolio, A; Celermajer, D S; Skilton, M R

2017-12-01

Central blood pressure can be estimated from peripheral pulses in adults using generalised transfer functions (TF). We sought to create and test age-specific non-invasively developed TFs in children, with comparison to a pre-existing adult TF. We studied healthy children from two sites at two time points, 8 and 14 years of age, split by site into development and validation groups. Radial and carotid pressure waveforms were obtained by applanation tonometry. Central systolic pressure was derived from carotid waveforms calibrated to brachial mean and diastolic pressures. Age-specific TFs created in the development groups (n=50) were tested in the validation groups aged 8 (n=137) and 14 years (n=85). At 8 years of age, the age-specific TF estimated 82, 99 and 100% of central systolic pressure values within 5, 10 and 15 mm Hg of their measured values, respectively. This TF overestimated central systolic pressure by 2.2 (s.d. 3.7) mm Hg, compared to being underestimated by 5.6 (s.d. 3.9) mm Hg with the adult TF. At 14 years of age, the age-specific TF estimated 60, 87 and 95% of values within 5, 10 and 15 mm Hg of their measured values, respectively. This TF underestimated central systolic pressure by 0.5 (s.d. 6.7) mm Hg, while the adult TF underestimated it by 6.8 (s.d. 6.0) mm Hg. In conclusion, age-specific TFs more accurately predict central systolic pressure measured at the carotid artery in children than an existing adult TF.

Carbon and nitrogen isotopic analysis of coral-associated nitrogen in rugose corals of the Middle Devonian, implications for paleoecology and paleoceanography.

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hickey, A. N.; Junium, C. K.; Uveges, B. T.; Ivany, L. C.; Martindale, R. C.

2017-12-01

The Middle Devonian Appalachian Basin of Central New York hosts an extraordinary diversity of well-studied fossil invertebrates within the shallow marine sequences of the Givetian Age, Hamilton Group. Of particular interest are a series of aerially expansive coral beds with diverse assemblages of rugose corals. These well-preserved specimens provide an excellent opportunity to test the feasibility of δ15N and δ13C analyses in rugose corals in an effort to resolve outstanding issues regarding their paleoecology and ontogeny as well environmental dynamics within the Devonian Appalachian Basin. Here we present carbon and nitrogen isotope analyses of the rugose corals Heliophyllum and Siphonophrentis from the Joshua Coral Bed. Corals were cleaned of the host calcareous shale and sonicated sequentially in deionized water and methanol, and then oxidatively cleaned. Cleaned corals were sectioned into 0.5cm billets to obtain enough residual organic material for analysis. The organic content of the corals is low, but nanoEA allows for serial sampling of 5-10 samples per coral. Coral sections were decarbonated and the residual organic material is filtered and dried prior to analysis. Coral organic matter is analyzed in triplicate using nanoEA, which is a cryo-trapping, capillary focusing technique for δ15N and δ13C. The δ15N of organic matter extracted from rugose corals is, on average, enriched by 2-4‰ relative to the bulk nitrogen in the host rock. As well, the δ13C of organic carbon from the corals is 13C-enriched relative to the bulk rock, but to a lesser degree (no more than 1.5‰). Assuming that the bulk rock carbon and nitrogen are largely representative of the long-term primary production background, the modest enrichment is consistent with a trophic effect, and that rugose corals are likely planktivores. In an individual coral, δ15N ranges by 3-4‰ over its length, and when adjusted for trophic enrichment varies around the average δ15N of bulk sedimentary organic matter (+2.0‰). There is no apparent trajectory in the isotopic composition of organic matter, which suggests that over the sampled life history of the corals we cannot resolve any ontogenetic trends. Therefore, the variability in the δ15N of the coral organic matter likely reflects short-term variability in basinal conditions or changes in coral food supply.

Isotope signatures of N2O emitted from vegetable soil: Ammonia oxidation drives N2O production in NH4(+)-fertilized soil of North China.

PubMed

Zhang, Wei; Li, Yuzhong; Xu, Chunying; Li, Qiaozhen; Lin, Wei

2016-07-08

Nitrous oxide (N2O) is a potent greenhouse gas. In North China, vegetable fields are amended with high levels of N fertilizer and irrigation water, which causes massive N2O flux. The aim of this study was to determine the contribution of microbial processes to N2O production and characterize isotopic signature effects on N2O source partitioning. We conducted a microcosm study that combined naturally abundant isotopologues and gas inhibitor techniques to analyze N2O flux and its isotopomer signatures [δ(15)N(bulk), δ(18)O, and SP (intramolecular (15)N site preference)] that emitted from vegetable soil after the addition of NH4(+) fertilizers. The results show that ammonia oxidation is the predominant process under high water content (70% water-filled pore space), and nitrifier denitrification contribution increases with increasing N content. δ(15)N(bulk) and δ(18)O of N2O may not provide information about microbial processes due to great shifts in precursor signatures and atom exchange, especially for soil treated with NH4(+) fertilizer. SP and associated two end-member mixing model are useful to distinguish N2O source and contribution. Further work is needed to explore isotopomer signature stability to improve N2O microbial process identification.

Isotopic Evidence of Nitrate Sources and its Relationship to Algae in the San Joaquin River, California

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Silva, S. R.; Kendall, C.; Young, M. B.; Stringfellow, W. T.; Borglin, S. E.; Kratzer, C. R.; Dahlgren, R. A.; Schmidt, C.; Rollog, M. E.

2007-12-01

Many competing demands have been placed on the San Joaquin River including deep water shipping, use as agricultural and drinking water, transport of agricultural and urban runoff, and recreation. These long-established demands limit the management options and increase the importance of understanding the river dynamics. The relationships among sources of water, nitrate, and algae in the San Joaquin River must be understood before management decisions can be made to optimize aquatic health. Isotopic analyses of water samples collected along the San Joaquin River in 2005-2007 have proven useful in assessing these relationships: sources of nitrate, the productivity of the San Joaquin River, and the relationship between nitrate and algae in the river. The San Joaquin River receives water locally from wetlands and agricultural return flow, and from three relatively large tributaries whose headwaters are in the Sierra Nevada. The lowest nitrate concentrations occur during periods of high flow when the proportion of water from the Sierra Nevada is relatively large, reflecting the effect of dilution from the big tributaries and indicating that a large fraction of the nitrate is of local origin. Nitrogen isotopes of nitrate in the San Joaquin River are relatively high (averaging about 12 per mil), suggesting a significant source from animal waste or sewage and/or the effects of denitrification. The d15N of nitrate varies inversely with concentration, indicating that these high isotopic values are also a local product. The d15N values of nitrate from most of the local tributaries is lower than that in the San Joaquin suggesting that nitrate from these tributaries does not account for a significant fraction of nitrate in the river. The source of the non-tributary nitrate must be either small unmeasured surface inputs or groundwater. To investigate whether groundwater might be a significant source of nitrate to the San Joaquin River, groundwater samples are being collected monthly from over 20 bank and in-stream wells. Preliminary data suggest that much of the groundwater nitrate has been variably denitrified thereby increasing its d15N values, but not by enough to account for the high d15N values in the river nitrate. The d15N of algae in the San Joaquin reflects the high values of the nitrate in the river indicating (1) that the San Joaquin is productive despite its relatively high opacity, (2) that the algae use the nitrate as a primary nutrient source, and (3) that the concentrations of algae in the San Joaquin are not principally dependent on algae from the tributaries being flushed into the river as has been suggested. The sources of nitrate to the San Joaquin River must be identified if algae production is to be controlled and hypoxic conditions in the downstream reaches eliminated.

Antibacterial, antibiofilm and cytotoxic effects of Nigella sativa essential oil coated gold nanoparticles.

PubMed

Manju, Sivalingam; Malaikozhundan, Balasubramanian; Vijayakumar, Sekar; Shanthi, Sathappan; Jaishabanu, Ameeramja; Ekambaram, Perumal; Vaseeharan, Baskaralingam

2016-02-01

This study reports the biological synthesis of gold nanoparticles using essential oil of Nigella sativa (NsEO-AuNPs). The synthesized NsEO-AuNPs were characterized by UV-visible spectra, X-ray diffraction (XRD), FTIR and Transmission electron microscopy (TEM). UV-vis spectra of NsEO-AuNPs showed strong absorption peak at 540 nm. The X-ray diffraction analysis revealed crystalline nature of nanoparticle with distinctive facets (111, 200, 220 and 311 planes) of NsEO-AuNPs. The FTIR spectra recorded peaks at 3388, 2842, 1685, 1607, 1391 and 1018 cm(-1). TEM studies showed the spherical shape of nanoparticles and the particle size ranges between 15.6 and 28.4 nm. The antibacterial activity of NsEO-AuNPs was greater against Gram positive Staphylococcus aureus MTCC 9542 (16 mm) than Gram negative Vibrio harveyi MTCC 7771 (5 mm) at the concentration of 10 μg ml(-1). NsEO-AuNPs effectively inhibited the biofilm formation of S. aureus and V. harveyi by decreasing the hydrophobicity index (78% and 46% respectively). The in-vitro anti-lung cancer activity confirmed by MTT assay on the cell line of A549 carcinoma cells showed IC50 values of bulk Au at 87.2 μg ml(-1), N. sativa essential oil at 64.15 μg ml(-1) and NsEO-AuNPs at 28.37 μg ml(-1). The IC50 value showed that NsEO-AuNPs was highly effective in inhibiting the A549 lung cancer cells compared to bulk Au and N. sativa essential oil. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Northwest Africa 7034: New Unique Water-rich Martian Meteorite from the Early Amazonian Epoch

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Agee, C. B.; Wilson, N.; Ziegler, K. G.; McCubbin, F. M.; Polyak, V.; Nunn, M.; Sharp, Z. D.; Asmerom, Y.; Thiemens, M. H.

2012-12-01

Northwest Africa (NWA) 7034 is a porphyritic basaltic breccia that shares some geochemical characterstics with known martian meteorites (SNC), but also possesses some unique characteristics that would exclude it from the current SNC grouping. Instead, it has a major and minor element composition that is a remarkably good match with the geochemistry of the rocks and soil at Gusev Crater measured by the Spirit rover and the average martian crust composition from the Odyssey Orbiter gamma ray spectrometer. The mismatch of orbiter and rover data with SNC meteorites has been a perplexing enigma, however with the discovery of NWA 7034 we may now have found a "missing link" between martian meteorites and space craft data. A five-point isochon gives an Rb-Sr age for NWA 7034 of 2.089±0.081 Ga (2σ) (MSWD=6.6) and an initial 87Sr/86Sr ratio of 0.71359±54. The Sm-Nd data for the same samples show more scatter, with an isochron of 2.19±1.4 Ga (2σ). NWA 7034 is REE enriched crustal rock (La x58 CI) and strongly light REE over heavy REE enriched (La/Yb)N=2.3, with negative-Eu anomaly (Eu/Eu*=0.67). The whole rock has 143Nd/144Nd=0.511756 and 147Sm/144Nd=0.1664, giving a calculated initial (source value) 143Nd/144Nd=0.509467 (initial ɛNd=-9.1) which requires that it be derived from an enriched martian reservoir, with an inferred time-integrated 147Sm/144Nd=0.1689, assuming separation from a chondrite-like martian mantle 4.5 Ga. An age of ~2.1 Ga for NWA 7034 would make it the first meteorite sample from the early Amazonian or late Hesperian epoch in Mars geologic history. Oxygen isotope analyses of NWA 7034 were performed by laser fluorination at UNM on acid-washed bulk sample and at UCSD on vacuum pre-heated (1000°C) bulk sample and give mean values Δ17O=0.57±0.05‰ n=10 and Δ17O=0.50±0.03‰ n=2, respectively. These interlab values are in good agreement, but are significantly higher than literature values for SNC meteorites (Δ17O range 0.15-0.45‰). There may be several possible explanations for the relatively high oxygen isotope values of NWA 7034. One possibility is that two or more distinct oxygen isotope reservoirs exist on Mars - for example a reservoir represented by the SNC meteorites and another martian reservoir with higher δ18O, δ17O, and Δ17O that we see in NWA 7034. The existence of multiple oxygen isotopic reservoirs within the silicate portion of Mars, as indicated by the new data from NWA 7034, is difficult to reconcile in the context of a global magma ocean and may indicate incomplete planetary differentiation on Mars. NWA 7034 has an order of magnitude more indigenous water than most SNC meteorites. Six whole-rock combustion measurements yielded a bulk water content for NWA 7034 of 6190±620 ppm with δD=+46.3±8.6. The maximum δD value in three separate stepwise heating experiments was +276, +327, and +319‰ reached at 1050°C, 1014°C, and 804°C respectively. The mean amount of water released at high temperature (>320°C) is 3280±720 ppm. The comparatively high water content of NWA 7034 may be giving a glimpse of conditions in its source on Mars 2.1 billion years ago.

Study of electrical and magnetic properties of RE doped layered cobaltite thin films

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bapna, K.; Choudhary, R. J.; Phase, D. M.; Rawat, R.; Ahuja, B. L.

2018-05-01

Thin films of layered perovskites Sr1.5RE0.5CoO4 (RE = La, Gd) were grown on MgO (0 0 1) substrate using pulsed laser ablation method. Structural, electrical and magnetic properties of single phase oriented films were studied. Films reveal semiconducting behavior in the entire measured temperature range. The films show thermally activated behavior at high temperature regime, with a higher value of activation energy for SGCO than that for SLCO. The low temperature behavior is well fitted with 3D-variable range hopping mechanism. Both films showed negative magneto-resistance measured in temperature range of 10-200 K. The value of MR is large for SGCO film as compared to its bulk counterpart as well as SLCO film, suggesting its high potential in the spintronics applications. A pinch-shaped M-H behaviour as observed in both the films, suggests the presence of two-magnetic phases. Occurrence of pinch-shape behaviour is although in line with that of SLCO bulk counterpart, interestingly, it was absent in SGCO polycrystalline powder. It suggests major role of film growth kinetics in modifying the magnetic properties in cobaltites.

Comparative study of elastic constantd of α-, β- and Cubic- silicon nitride

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yao, Hongzhi; Ouyang, Lizhi; Ching, Wai-Yim

2003-03-01

Silicon nitride is an important structural ceramic and dielectric insulator. Recently, the new high pressure cubic phase of silicon nitride in spinel structure has attracted a lot of attention.^[1] We have carried out a detailed ab-initio calculation of all independent elastic constants for all three phases of Si_3N4 by using the Vienna Ab-initio Simulation Package (VASP) in both LDA and GGA approxmations. The results for β-Si_3N4 are in reasonable agreement with a experimental measurement on single crystal samples.^[2] For cubic-Si_3N4 , The three independent elastic constants are predicted to be C_11 = 504.16 GPa, C_12 = 176.66 GPa, C_44 = 326.65 GPa and a bulk modulus B = 286 GPa. This value is very close to the experimental value of 300 GPa.^[1] All these results will be compared with those obtained by using the OLCAO method based on localized orbital approach.^[3] [1]. Wai-Yim Ching, Yong-Nian Xu, Jukian D. Gale, and Manfred Ruhle, J. Am. Ceram. Soc. 81, 3189 (1998) [2]. R. Vogelgesang, M. Grimsditch, and J. S. Wallace, Appl. Phys. Lett. 76, 8 (2000) [3]. W.Y.Ching, Lizhi Ouyang, and Julian D. Gale, Phys. Rev. B61, 13, (2000)

Pleistocene Variations in Delivery and Deposition of Organic Matter Under the Benguela Current Upwelling System - Biomarker Isotopic Evidence From Sediment Light-Dark Color Cycles

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Meyers, P. A.; Bouloubassi, I.; Pancost, R. D.; Robinson, R. S.

2007-12-01

The light-dark color cycles that are distinctive features of sediment beneath the Benguela Current Upwelling System imply repetitive alternations in organic matter delivery and deposition. Organic geochemical proxies for paleoproductivity and for depositional conditions were employed to investigate the paleoceanographic processes involved in creating these cycles in two sediment sequences from ODP Site 1084 corresponding to 0.7 and 1.1 Mya. Concentrations of total organic carbon (TOC) vary between 3.5 and 17.1 wt percent, and those of calcium carbonate fluctuate inversely between 68 and 1 percent, suggesting that carbonate dissolution is involved with the light-dark cycles. Bulk organic del 13C and del 15N values that remain constant across the two light-dark sediment intervals indicate that the extent of nutrient utilization did not change in each cycle. Biomarker compositions in both sequences reflect a range of organic matter sources. Abundant n-alkanes and n-alkanols with odd-over-even and even-over-odd distributions, respectively, record land-plant inputs. Other terrestrial biomakers (e.g triterpenoid acids and alcohols) are present but in very low abundances, suggesting that the n- alkyl components derive predominantly from eolian inputs. Carbon isotopic values of n-alkanes range from -25 to -28 permil, suggesting a mixture of C3 and C4 sources. In contrast, n-alkanol isotopic compositions range from -28 to -34 permil, suggesting that they derive solely from C3 plants. Algal biomarkers are abundant and diverse, represented by 1,15-C30 diols (eustigmatophytes), 4-desmethyl and -methylsterols (diatoms, dinoflagellates), and alkenones (haptophytes). These compounds all have del 13C values ranging from ca. -22 to -24 permil, consistent with a marine origin. Systematic differences in isotopic values imply that marine productivity at 1.1 Mya was higher than at 0.7 Mya, but alkenone-based sea-surface temperatures are higher at 1.1 Mya (21 deg) than at 0.7 Mya (15 deg), which indicates that changes in water-mass properties were also involved.

A high resolution paleo-record of export production using deep-sea coral stable isotope values from a unique HNLC zone on the California Margin

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wright, Z.

2015-12-01

The Sur Ridge, located ~30 km off the Big Sur coast of central California, represents a unique system within the highly productive California Current ecosystem. Its unique high nutrient, but low chlorophyll characteristics are not fully understood. Time series of bulk stable carbon (δ13C) and stable nitrogen (δ15N) isotopes can help us better understand past changes in nutrient dynamics and phytoplankton community baselines for this region in order to better predict future changes. Deep-sea proteinaceous corals are particularly powerful paleoarchives of past ocean conditions. These organisms serve as "living sediment traps," incorporating the stable isotope values of exported particulate organic material (POM) from the surface into their growth layers. The longevity of bamboo corals (Isidella, up to 400 years) makes them excellent resources for creating high resolution, centennial time series of δ13C and δ15N dynamics. Bamboo corals used in this study were harvested during summer of 2014 from 1220 to 1300 m depths. Two corals were milled in sub-millimeter intervals to generate a 200 year time series at approximately three year temporal resolution. Over the past 200 years, deep-sea coral δ13C values ranged from -15.7 to -19.0‰ and δ15N values ranged from 14.4 to 15.9‰, consistent with earlier data from the CA margin. The δ13C records were characterized by long periods of remarkable stability, contrasted with several large shifts (~1900 and ~1960) in δ13C of approximately 1‰. We hypothesize that these shifts likely reflect changes in plankton composition or production associated with regional climate shifts. The δ15N data were more dynamic, including several large shifts (1940 - 1960), as well as periods of apparent decadal scale oscillation (1825 - 1925 and 1965 - present). These shifts may reflect changes in the source or utilization of nitrogen at the base of the food web. Together, these data give us a first look at baseline stability of biogeochemical systems in this unique region, and will be crucial in connecting potential future system changes in climate and upwelling to possible shifts in nutrient dynamics and phytoplankton species composition. 

Description of the heterotic string solutions in U(N) supersymmetric QCD

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Bolokhov, P. A.; Theoretical Physics Department, St. Petersburg State University, Ulyanovskaya 1, Peterhof, St. Petersburg, 198504; Shifman, M.

2009-04-15

We continue the study of heterotic non-Abelian Bogomol'nyi-Prasad-Sommerfield-saturated flux tubes (strings). Previously, such solutions were obtained [M. Shifman and A. Yung, Phys. Rev. D 77, 125016 (2008).] in a particular U(2) gauge theory: N=2 supersymmetric QCD deformed by superpotential terms of a special type breaking N=2 supersymmetry down to N=1. Here we generalize the previous results to U(N) gauge theories. As was suggested by Edalati and Tong [M. Edalati and D. Tong, J. High Energy Phys. 05 (2007) 005.], the string world-sheet theory is a heterotic N=(0,2) sigma model, with the CP(N-1) target space for bosonic fields and an extramore » right-handed fermion which couples to the fermion fields of the N=(2,2) CP(N-1) model. We derive the heterotic N=(0,2) world-sheet model directly from the U(N) bulk theory. Parameters of the bulk theory are related to those of the world-sheet theory. Qualitatively this relation turns out to be the same as in the U(2) case.« less

Patterns of water infiltration and soil degradation over a 120-yr chronosequence from forest to agriculture in western Kenya

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Nyberg, G.; Bargués Tobella, A.; Kinyangi, J.; Ilstedt, U.

2011-07-01

Soil degradation is commonly reported in the tropics where forest is converted to agriculture. Much of the native forest in the highlands of western Kenya has been converted to agricultural land in order to feed the growing population, and more land is being cleared. In tropical Africa, this land use change results in progressive soil degradation, as the period of cultivation increases. Sites that were converted to agriculture at different times can be evaluated as a chronosequence; this can aid in our understanding of the processes at work, particularly those in the soil. Both levels and variation of infiltration, soil carbon and other parameters are influenced by management within agricultural systems, but they have rarely been well documented in East Africa. We constructed a chronosequence for an area of western Kenya, using two native forest sites and six fields that had been converted to agriculture for varying lengths of time. We assessed changes in infiltrability (the steady-state infiltration rate), soil C and N, bulk density, δ13C, and the proportion of macro- and microaggregates in soil along a 119 yr chronosequence of conversion from natural forest to agriculture. Infiltration, soil C and N, decreased rapidly after conversion, while bulk density increased. Median infiltration rates fell to about 15 % of the initial values in the forest and C and N values dropped to around 60 %, whilst the bulk density increased by 50 %. Despite high spatial variability in infiltrability, these parameters correlated well with time since conversion and with each other. Our results indicate that landscape planners should include wooded elements in the landscape in sufficient quantity to ensure water infiltration at rates that prevent runoff and erosion. This should be the case for restoring degraded landscapes, as well as for the development of new agricultural areas.

Mechanical properties of Fe rich Fe-Si alloys: ab initio local bulk-modulus viewpoint

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bhattacharya, Somesh Kr; Kohyama, Masanori; Tanaka, Shingo; Shiihara, Yoshinori; Saengdeejing, Arkapol; Chen, Ying; Mohri, Tetsuo

2017-11-01

Fe-rich Fe-Si alloys show peculiar bulk-modulus changes depending on the Si concentration in the range of 0-15 at.%Si. In order to clarify the origin of this phenomenon, we have performed density-functional theory calculations of supercells of Fe-Si alloy models with various Si concentrations. We have applied our recent techniques of ab initio local energy and local stress, by which we can obtain a local bulk modulus of each atom or atomic group as a local constituent of the cell-averaged bulk modulus. A2-phase alloy models are constructed by introducing Si substitution into bcc Fe as uniformly as possible so as to prevent mutual neighboring, while higher Si concentrations over 6.25 at.%Si lead to contacts between SiFe8 cubic clusters via sharing corner Fe atoms. For 12.5 at.%Si, in addition to an A2 model, we deal with partial D03 models containing local D03-like layers consisting of edge-shared SiFe8 cubic clusters. For the cell-averaged bulk modulus, we have successfully reproduced the Si-concentration dependence as a monotonic decrease until 11.11 at.%Si and a recovery at 12.5 at.%Si. The analysis of local bulk moduli of SiFe8 cubic clusters and Fe regions is effective to understand the variations of the cell-averaged bulk modulus. The local bulk moduli of Fe regions become lower for increasing Si concentration, due to the suppression of bulk-like d-d bonding states in narrow Fe regions. For higher Si concentrations till 11.11 at.%Si, corner-shared contacts or 1D chains of SiFe8 clusters lead to remarkable reduction of local bulk moduli of the clusters. At 12 at.%Si, on the other hand, two- or three-dimensional arrangements of corner- or edge-shared SiFe8 cubic clusters show greatly enhanced local bulk moduli, due to quite different bonding nature with much stronger p-d hybridization. The relation among the local bulk moduli, local electronic and magnetic structures, and local configurations such as connectivity of SiFe8 clusters and Fe-region sizes has been analyzed. The ab initio local stress has opened the way for obtaining accurate local elastic properties reflecting local valence-electron behaviors.

Bulk and nanocrystalline electron doped Gd0.15Ca0.85MnO3: Synthesis and magnetic characterization

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dhal, Lakshman; Chattarpal; Nirmala, R.; Santhosh, P. N.; Kumary, T. Geetha; Nigam, A. K.

2014-09-01

Polycrystalline Gd0.15Ca0.85MnO3 sample was prepared by solid state reaction method and nanocrystalline samples of different grain sizes of the same were prepared by sol-gel method. Phase purity and composition were verified by room temperature X-ray diffraction and SEM-EDAX analysis. Magnetization data of bulk Gd0.15Ca0.85MnO3 in 5 kOe field shows a peak at 119 K (TN) suggesting an antiferromagnetic transition. Nanocrystalline Gd0.15Ca0.85MnO3 sample ( 54 nm size) also shows a cusp at 107 K and a broad thermal hysteresis between field cooled cooling (FCC) and field cooled warming (FCW) data around this temperature. This thermal hysteresis suggests possible crystal structural transition. Field variation of magnetization of bulk Gd0.15Ca0.85MnO3 at 5 K shows a tendency to saturate, but yields a magnetic moment value of only 1.12 μB/f.u. in 70 kOe. The value of magnetization of nanocrystalline sample at 5 K in 70 kOe field is slightly larger and is 1.38 μB/f.u. which is probably due to the surface moments of the nanoparticle samples. Both the samples show Curie-Weiss-like behaviour in their paramagnetic state.

Dinitrogen fixation by legume shade trees and direct transfer of fixed N to associated cacao in a tropical agroforestry system.

PubMed

Nygren, Pekka; Leblanc, Humberto A

2015-02-01

Natural abundance of (15)N (δ (15)N) was determined in bulk soil, rhizospheric soil and vegetation in an organically managed cacao (Theobroma cacao L.) plantation with Inga edulis Mart. legume trees (inga) as the principal shade for studying the nitrogen (N) cycle in the system. Cacao without contact with legumes in an adjacent plantation was used as the reference for N2 fixation and direct N transfer calculations. Bulk and rhizospheric soils contained 72 and 20%, respectively, of whole- system N. No vegetation effect on δ (15)N in rhizospheric soil was detected, probably due to the high native soil N pool. Fine roots of the cacaos associated with inga contained ∼35% of N fixed from the atmosphere (Nf) out of the total N. Leaves of all species had significantly higher δ (15)N than fine roots. Twenty percent of system Nf was found in cacao suggesting direct N transfer from inga via a common mycelial network of mycorrhizal fungi or recycling of N-rich root exudates of inga. Inga had accumulated 98 kg [Nf] ha(-1) during the 14-year history of the plantation. The conservative estimate of current N2 fixation rate was 41 kg [Nf] ha(-1) year(-1) based on inga biomass only and 50 kg [Nf] ha(-1) year(-1) based on inga and associated trees. © The Author 2015. Published by Oxford University Press. All rights reserved. For Permissions, please email: journals.permissions@oup.com.

Trophic ecology and vertical patterns of carbon and nitrogen stable isotopes in zooplankton from oxygen minimum zone regions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Williams, Rebecca L.; Wakeham, Stuart; McKinney, Rick; Wishner, Karen F.

2014-08-01

The unique physical and biogeochemical characteristics of oxygen minimum zones (OMZs) influence plankton ecology, including zooplankton trophic webs. Using carbon and nitrogen stable isotopes, this study examined zooplankton trophic webs in the Eastern Tropical North Pacific (ETNP) OMZ. δ13C values were used to indicate zooplankton food sources, and δ15N values were used to indicate zooplankton trophic position and nitrogen cycle pathways. Vertically stratified MOCNESS net tows collected zooplankton from 0 to 1000 m at two stations along a north-south transect in the ETNP during 2007 and 2008, the Tehuantepec Bowl and the Costa Rica Dome. Zooplankton samples were separated into four size fractions for stable isotope analyses. Particulate organic matter (POM), assumed to represent a primary food source for zooplankton, was collected with McLane large volume in situ pumps. The isotopic composition and trophic ecology of the ETNP zooplankton community had distinct spatial and vertical patterns influenced by OMZ structure. The most pronounced vertical isotope gradients occurred near the upper and lower OMZ oxyclines. Material with lower δ13C values was apparently produced in the upper oxycline, possibly by chemoautotrophic microbes, and was subsequently consumed by zooplankton. Between-station differences in δ15N values suggested that different nitrogen cycle processes were dominant at the two locations, which influenced the isotopic characteristics of the zooplankton community. A strong depth gradient in zooplankton δ15N values in the lower oxycline suggested an increase in trophic cycling just below the core of the OMZ. Shallow POM (0-110 m) was likely the most important food source for mixed layer, upper oxycline, and OMZ core zooplankton, while deep POM was an important food source for most lower oxycline zooplankton (except for samples dominated by the seasonally migrating copepod Eucalanus inermis). There was no consistent isotopic progression among the four zooplankton size classes for these bulk mixed assemblage samples, implying overlapping trophic webs within the total size range considered.

29 CFR 1919.90 - Documentation.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-07-01

...(b), .21 Testing .14, .15 Welding .19 Certificate Issuance, Accredited Persons .10(c) Certification... Loads .13(b), .21 Testing .14, .15 Welding .19 Gear, Loose: Examinations .31(c) Heat Treatment .80(a...: Examinations .30(d), (e); .32(c) Testing .32(a) Braking Devices: Cargo Gear .22 Certification .22 Bulk Cargo...

Emergence and expansion of cosmic space as due to M0-branes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sepehri, Alireza; Setare, Mohammad Reza; Capozziello, Salvatore

2015-12-01

Recently, Padmanabhan (arXiv:1206.4916 [hep-th]) discussed that the difference between the number of degrees of freedom on the boundary surface and the number of degrees of freedom in a bulk region causes the accelerated expansion of the universe. The main question arising is: what is the origin of this inequality between the surface degrees of freedom and the bulk degrees of freedom? We answer this question in M-theory. In our model, first M0-branes are compactified on one circle and N D0-branes are created. Then N D0-branes join each other, grow, and form one D5-branes. Next, the D5-brane is compactified on two circles and our universe's D3-brane, two D1-branes and some extra energies are produced. After that, one of the D1-branes, which is closer to the universe's brane, gives its energy into it, and this leads to an increase in the difference between the numbers of degrees of freedom and the occurring inflation era. With the disappearance of this D1-brane, the number of degrees of freedom of boundary surface and bulk region become equal and inflation ends. At this stage, extra energies that are produced due to the compactification cause an expansion of the universe and deceleration epoch. Finally, another D1-brane dissolves in our universe's brane, leads to an inequality between degrees of freedom, and there occurs a new phase of acceleration.

A preferred method for the determination of bulk compositions of coarse-grained refractory inclusions and some implications of the results

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Simon, S. B.; Grossman, L.

2004-10-01

Analyses of coarse-grained refractory inclusions typically do not have the solar CaO/Al 2O 3 ratio, probably reflecting nonrepresentative sampling of them in the laboratory. Many previous studies, especially those done by instrumental neutron activation analysis (INAA), were based on very small amounts of material removed from those restricted portions of inclusions that happened to be exposed on surfaces of bulk meteorite samples. Here, we address the sampling problem by studying thin sections of large inclusions, and by analyzing much larger aliquots of powders of these inclusions by INAA than has typically been done in the past. These results do show convergence toward the solar CaO/Al 2O 3 ratio of 0.792. The bulk compositions of 15 coarse-grained inclusions determined by INAA of samples >2 mg have an average CaO/Al 2O 3 ratio of 0.80 ± 0.18. When bulk compositions are obtained by modal recombination based on analysis of thin sections with cross-sections of entire, large, unbroken inclusions, the average of 11 samples (0.79 ± 0.15) also matches the solar value. Among those analyzed by INAA and by modal recombination, there were no inclusions for which both techniques agreed on a CaO/Al 2O 3 ratio deviating by >˜15% from the solar value. These results suggest that: individual inclusions may have the solar CaO/Al 2O 3 ratio; departures from this value are due to sample heterogeneity and nonrepresentative sampling in the laboratory; and it is therefore valid to correct compositions to this value. We present a method for doing so by mathematical addition or subtraction of melilite, spinel, or pyroxene. This yields a set of multiple, usually slightly different, corrected compositions for each inclusion. The best estimate of the bulk composition of an inclusion is the average of these corrected compositions, which simultaneously accounts for errors in sampling of all major phases. Results show that Type B2 inclusions tend to be more SiO 2-rich and have higher normative Anorthite/Gehlenite component ratios than Type B1s. The inclusion bulk compositions lie in a field that can result from evaporation at 1700-2000K of CMAS liquids with solar CaO/Al 2O 3, but with a wide range of initial MgO (30-60 wt%) and SiO 2 (15-50 wt%) contents.

Nitrogen isotope and trace metal analyses from the Mingolsheim core (Germany): Evidence for redox variations across the Triassic-Jurassic boundary

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Quan, Tracy M.; van de Schootbrugge, Bas; Field, M. Paul; Rosenthal, Yair; Falkowski, Paul G.

2008-06-01

The Triassic-Jurassic (T-J) boundary was one of the largest but least understood mass extinction events in the Phanerozoic. We measured bulk organic nitrogen and carbon isotopes and trace metal concentrations from a core near Mingolsheim (Germany) to infer paleoenvironmental conditions associated with this event. Poorly fossiliferous claystones across the boundary have relatively low δ15N values and low concentrations of redox-sensitive elements, characteristic of an oxic environment with significant terrestrial input. The Early Jurassic features enrichment in δ15N coincident with high redox-sensitive element concentrations, indicating an increase in water column denitrification and decreased oxygen concentrations. These redox state variations are concordant with shifts in abundance and species composition in terrestrial and marine microflora. We propose that the mass extinction at the T-J boundary was caused by a series of events resulting in a long period of stratification, deep-water hypoxia, and denitrification in this region of the Tethys Ocean basin.

Uptake of copper and cerium by alfalfa, lettuce and cucumber exposed to nCeO2 and nCuO through the foliage or the roots: Impacts on food quality, physiological and agronomical parameters

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hong, Jie

Nanotechnology is increasingly attracting attention not only for its variety of applications in modern life, but for the potential negative effects that nanomaterials (NMs) can cause in the environment and human health. Studies have shown varied effects of engineered nanoparticles (ENPs) on plants; however, most of these studies focused on the interaction of NPs with plants at root level. The increasing production and use of NPs have also increased the atmospheric amounts of NPs, which could be taken up by plants through their leaves. Cucumbers (Cucumis sativus L.) are broad leaf plants commonly grown both commercially and in home vegetable gardens that can be easily impacted by atmospheric NPs. However, there is limited information about the potential effects of these atmospheric NPs on cucumber. This research was aimed to determine (I) the possible uptake and translocation of cerium (Ce) by cucumber plants exposed to nCeO 2 (cerium dioxide nanoparticles, nanoceria) through the foliage, (II) the impacts of the NPs on physiological parameters of the plants and the effects on the nutritional value and quality of the fruits, and (III) the effects of seven copper compounds/nanoparticles applied to the growth medium of lettuce (Lactuca sativa) and alfalfa (Medicago sativa). For aim I, 15 day-old hydroponically grown cucumber plants were exposed to nCeO2, either as powder at 0.98 and 2.94 g/m3 or suspensions at 20, 40, 80, 160, 320 mg/l. Ce uptake was analyzed by using inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectroscopy (ICP-OES) and transmission electron microscope (TEM). The activity of three stress enzymes was measured by UV/Vis. Ce was detected in all cucumber tissues and TEM images showed the presence of Ce in roots. Results suggested nCeO2 penetrated plants through leaves and moved to other plant parts. The biochemical assays showed nCeO2 also modified stress enzyme activities. For aim II, 15 day-old soil grown cucumber plants were foliar treated, separately, with 50, 100, 200 mg/L of nCeO2, nCuO and the respective bulk material suspensions. Photosynthetic rate (Pn), stomatal conductance (gs), and transpiration (E) of cucumber leaves were measured with a portable gas exchange system. Nutritional elements and Ce/Cu uptake were determined by ICP-OES. Quality of cucumber fruits was evaluated after harvest. Results showed that cucumber absorbed Ce and Cu through foliar applied nCeO2 and nCuO and translocate them to new leaves and fruits. Photosynthetic and transpiration rates were only affected in new leaves. None of the treatment significantly affected cucumber, yield, length, and diameter of fruits. However, both nCeO2 and nCuO significantly reduced the firmness of the fruit. Mineral element determination in fruit showed that Zn decreased by 25% with 200 mg/L of both nCeO2 and bulk CeO 2 and in fruit Mo decreased by 51% and 44% with both nCuO and bulk CuO at 200 mg/L, respectively. For the aim III, 15 day-old hydroponically grown lettuce and alfalfa were exposed to 0, 5, 10, and 20 mg/L nCu, bulk Cu, nCuO, bulk CuO, Cu(OH)2 (CuPRO 2005, Kocide 3000), and CuCl2. The concentration of Cu, macro and microelements in plants were measured by using ICP-OES. The size of the plants and the activity of catalase and ascorbate peroxidase were also determined. Results showed that all Cu NPs/compounds reduced the root length by 49% in both plant species. Under all treatments, Cu, P, and S were increased (>100%, >50%, and >20%, respectively) in alfalfa shoots; while P and Fe were decreased (>50% and >50%, respectively) in lettuce shoot. In addition, catalase activity was reduced in alfalfa (root and shoot) and ascorbate peroxidase activity was increased in roots of both plant species. Our findings show that increasing concentration of atmospheric nCeO2 can affect the nutritional value of crop plants with unknown consequences for the food chain. In addition Cu NPs/compounds could impact the growth of plants and altered the quality of crops as well. These results will help to understand the eco-toxicity of NPs in food crops.

Spatial and temporal variation in sources of atmospheric nitrogen deposition in the Rocky Mountains using nitrogen isotopes

USGS Publications Warehouse

Nanus, Leora; Campbell, Donald H.; Lehmann, Christopher M.B.; Mast, M. Alisa

2018-01-01

Variation in source areas and source types of atmospheric nitrogen (N) deposition to high-elevation ecosystems in the Rocky Mountains were evaluated using spatially and temporally distributed N isotope data from atmospheric deposition networks for 1995-2016. This unique dataset links N in wet deposition and snowpack to mobile and stationary emissions sources, and enhances understanding of the impacts of anthropogenic activities and environmental policies that mitigate effects of accelerated N cycling across the Rocky Mountain region. δ15N−NO3− at 50 U.S. Geological Survey Rocky Mountain Snowpack (Snowpack) sites ranged from −3.3‰ to +6.5‰, with a mean value of +1.4‰. At 15 National Atmospheric Deposition Program (NADP)/National Trends Network wet deposition (NADP Wetfall) sites, summer δ15N−NO3− is significantly lower ranging from −7.6‰ to −1.3‰ while winter δ15N−NO3− ranges from −2.6‰ to +5.5‰, with a mean value of +0.7‰ during the cool season. The strong seasonal difference in NADP Wetfall δ15N−NO3− is due in part to variation in the proportion of N originating from source regions at different times of the year due to seasonal changes in weather patterns. Snowpack NO3− and δ15N−NO3− are significantly related to NADP Wetfall (fall and winter) suggesting that bulk snowpack samples provide a reliable estimate at high elevations. Spatial trends show higher NO3−concentrations and δ15N−NO3− in the Southern Rocky Mountains located near larger anthropogenic N emission sources compared to the Northern Rocky Mountains. NADP Wetfall δ15N−NH4+ ranged from −10‰ to 0‰, with no observed spatial pattern. However, the lowest δ15N−NH4+(−9‰), and the highest NH4+ concentration (35 μeq/L) were observed at a Utah site dominated by local agricultural activities, whereas the higher δ15N−NH4+observed in Colorado and Wyoming are likely due to mixed sources, including fossil fuel combustion and agricultural sources. These findings show spatial and seasonal variation in N isotope data that reflect differences in sources of anthropogenic N deposition to high-elevation ecosystems and have important implications for environmental policy across the Rocky Mountain region.

Retrospective respiratory self-gating and removal of bulk motion in pulmonary UTE MRI of neonates and adults.

PubMed

Higano, Nara S; Hahn, Andrew D; Tkach, Jean A; Cao, Xuefeng; Walkup, Laura L; Thomen, Robert P; Merhar, Stephanie L; Kingma, Paul S; Fain, Sean B; Woods, Jason C

2017-03-01

To implement pulmonary three-dimensional (3D) radial ultrashort echo-time (UTE) MRI in non-sedated, free-breathing neonates and adults with retrospective motion tracking of respiratory and intermittent bulk motion, to obtain diagnostic-quality, respiratory-gated images. Pulmonary 3D radial UTE MRI was performed at 1.5 tesla (T) during free breathing in neonates and adult volunteers for validation. Motion-tracking waveforms were obtained from the time course of each free induction decay's initial point (i.e., k-space center), allowing for respiratory-gated image reconstructions that excluded data acquired during bulk motion. Tidal volumes were calculated from end-expiration and end-inspiration images. Respiratory rates were calculated from the Fourier transform of the motion-tracking waveform during quiet breathing, with comparison to physiologic prediction in neonates and validation with spirometry in adults. High-quality respiratory-gated anatomic images were obtained at inspiration and expiration, with less respiratory blurring at the expense of signal-to-noise for narrower gating windows. Inspiration-expiration volume differences agreed with physiologic predictions (neonates; Bland-Altman bias = 6.2 mL) and spirometric values (adults; bias = 0.11 L). MRI-measured respiratory rates compared well with the observed rates (biases = -0.5 and 0.2 breaths/min for neonates and adults, respectively). Three-dimensional radial pulmonary UTE MRI allows for retrospective respiratory self-gating and removal of intermittent bulk motion in free-breathing, non-sedated neonates and adults. Magn Reson Med 77:1284-1295, 2017. © 2016 International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine. © 2016 International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine.

Capsofulvesins A-C, cholinesterase inhibitors from Capsosiphon fulvescens.

PubMed

Fang, Zhe; Yang Jeong, Su; Ah Jung, Hyun; Sue Choi, Jae; Sun Min, Byung; Hee Woo, Mi

2012-01-01

Activity-directed isolation of the n-hexane and dichloromethane fractions of Capsosiphon fulvescens resulted in the identification of four new glycolipids (1-3): (2S)-1-O-(6Z,9Z,12Z,15Z-octadecatetraenoyl)-2-O-(4Z,7Z,10Z,13Z-hexadecatetraenoyl)-3-O-β-D-galactopyranosyl glycerol (1, capsofulvesin A), (2S)-l-O-(9Z,12Z,15Z-octadecatrienoyl)-2-O-(10Z,13Z-hexadecadienoyl)-3-O-β-D-galactopyranosyl glycerol (2, capsofulvesin B), (2S)-1-O-(6Z,9Z,12Z,15Z-octadecatetraenoyl)-3-O-β-D-galacatopyranosyl glycerol (3, capsofulvesin C). Compounds 1-6 exhibited acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibitory activities with IC(50) values ranging from 50.90 to 82.83 µM, whereas 2-6 showed butyrylcholinesterase (BChE) inhibitory activities with IC(50) values of 114.75-185.55 µM. Although most of the compounds isolated lacked scavenging activity for 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical and peroxynitrite (ONOO(-)), compound 8 showed ONOO(-) scavenging activity with an IC(50) value of 26.23 µg/mL.

Late Holocene stable carbon and nitrogen isotopic variation of bulk organic matter deposited in Blackwood Sinkhole, Abaco, The Bahamas

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tamalavage, A.; van Hengstum, P. J.; Louchouarn, P.; Fall, P. L.; Donnelly, J. P.

2015-12-01

In the modern climate of the Bahamas, a latitudinal precipitation gradient only allows Pine (Pinus caribaea var. bahamensis) dominated forests to exist on the more mesic (humid) northern islands (Abaco, Andros, New Providence, Grand Bahamas). Previous research suggests that the northern Bahamas underwent dramatic environmental changes in the late Holocene (e.g., waves of human arrival, shifts in terrestrial vegetation and animal extinctions). However, disentangling the timing and relative forcing (climatic vs. anthropogenic) of these changes has proven challenging without high-resolution terrestrial climate records. Recently, a late Holocene decadal to multi-decadal laminated sedimentary record was recovered from Blackwood Sinkhole, on Abaco Island. The bottom of the sinkhole is characterized by anoxic, saline groundwater, while the upper, brackish meteoric lens provides a habitat to fish, algae and other organisms. Here, we present δ13Corg and δ15Norg values of bulk organic matter (OM) taken every cm of the 110 cm core to help elucidate changes in the chemical composition of the source of OM reaching the anoxic sediments of the sinkhole. δ13Corg values change at 812 Cal yrs BP (2s: 931-681 Cal yrs BP, 31.7 cm depth) from -30.5 ± 1.6‰ in the lower 80 cm of the core to -27.6 ± 1.2‰ in the upper 30 cm. There is a synchronous change from more enriched δ15N values, 3.7 ± 1.1‰, in the lower portion of the core, to lower δ15N values (1.9 ± .5‰), in the upper portion of the core. A pollen-based reconstruction of terrestrial vegetation from the same core indicates that these isotopic shifts are concomitant with a shift from a dominance of Arecaceae (Palms) and tropical dry hardwoods below 30 cm, to Pinus and Conocarpus predominance above 30 cm. These results indicate that the source of sedimentary OM deposited into the sinkhole changed coherently with regional landscape change. Biomarker analyses will be used to further identify the role of autochthonous vs. allochthonous inputs of OM and hydrological residence time on sedimentary records of the Northern Bahamas in the late Holocene.

Evaluating the source of streamwater nitrate using d15N and d18O in nitrate in two watersheds in New Hampshire, USA

Treesearch

Linda H. Pardo; Carol Kendall; Jennifer Pett-Ridge; Cecily C.Y. Chang; Cecily C.Y. Chang

2004-01-01

The natural abundance of nitrogen and oxygen isotopes in nitrate can be a powerful tool for identifying the source of nitrate in streamwater in forested watersheds, because the two main sources of nitrate, atmospheric deposition and microbial nitrification, have distinct d18O values. Using a simple mixing model, we estimated the relative fractions in streamwater...

Application of stable‐isotope labelling techniques for the detection of active diazotrophs

PubMed Central

Angel, Roey; Panhölzl, Christopher; Gabriel, Raphael; Herbold, Craig; Wanek, Wolfgang; Richter, Andreas; Eichorst, Stephanie A.

2017-01-01

Summary Investigating active participants in the fixation of dinitrogen gas is vital as N is often a limiting factor for primary production. Biological nitrogen fixation is performed by a diverse guild of bacteria and archaea (diazotrophs), which can be free‐living or symbionts. Free‐living diazotrophs are widely distributed in the environment, yet our knowledge about their identity and ecophysiology is still limited. A major challenge in investigating this guild is inferring activity from genetic data as this process is highly regulated. To address this challenge, we evaluated and improved several 15N‐based methods for detecting N2 fixation activity (with a focus on soil samples) and studying active diazotrophs. We compared the acetylene reduction assay and the 15N2 tracer method and demonstrated that the latter is more sensitive in samples with low activity. Additionally, tracing 15N into microbial RNA provides much higher sensitivity compared to bulk soil analysis. Active soil diazotrophs were identified with a 15N‐RNA‐SIP approach optimized for environmental samples and benchmarked to 15N‐DNA‐SIP. Lastly, we investigated the feasibility of using SIP‐Raman microspectroscopy for detecting 15N‐labelled cells. Taken together, these tools allow identifying and investigating active free‐living diazotrophs in a highly sensitive manner in diverse environments, from bulk to the single‐cell level. PMID:29027346

Strong Selective Adsorption of Polymers.

PubMed

Ge, Ting; Rubinstein, Michael

2015-06-09

A scaling theory is developed for selective adsorption of polymers induced by the strong binding between specific monomers and complementary surface adsorption sites. By "selective" we mean specific attraction between a subset of all monomers, called "sticky", and a subset of surface sites, called "adsorption sites". We demonstrate that, in addition to the expected dependence on the polymer volume fraction ϕ bulk in the bulk solution, selective adsorption strongly depends on the ratio between two characteristic length scales, the root-mean-square distance l between neighboring sticky monomers along the polymer, and the average distance d between neighboring surface adsorption sites. The role of the ratio l / d arises from the fact that a polymer needs to deform to enable the spatial commensurability between its sticky monomers and the surface adsorption sites for selective adsorption. We study strong selective adsorption of both telechelic polymers with two end monomers being sticky and multisticker polymers with many sticky monomers between sticky ends. For telechelic polymers, we identify four adsorption regimes at l / d < 1 that are characterized by the fraction of occupied adsorption sites and whether the dominant conformation of adsorbed chains is a single-end-adsorbed "mushroom" or double-end-adsorbed loop. For l / d > 1, we expect that the adsorption layer at exponentially low ϕ bulk consists of separated unstretched loops, while as ϕ bulk increases the layer crosses over to a brush of extended loops with a second layer of weakly overlapping tails. For multisticker chains, in the limit of exponentially low ϕ bulk , adsorbed polymers are well separated from each other. As l / d increases, the conformation of an individual polymer changes from a single-end-adsorbed "mushroom" to a random walk of loops. For high ϕ bulk , adsorbed polymers at small l / d are mushrooms that cover all the adsorption sites. At sufficiently large l / d , adsorbed multisticker polymers strongly overlap. We anticipate the formation of a self-similar carpet and with increasing l / d a two-layer structure with a brush of loops covered by a self-similar carpet. As l / d exceeds the threshold determined by the adsorption energy, the brush of loops under the carpet reaches a saturated state, resulting in a l / d -independent brush-under-carpet structure, which can also be applied to describe adsorbed multisticker polymers in nonselective adsorption where a sticker can strongly bind to any place on the adsorption surface. We examine the adsorbed amount Γ of multisticker polymers in different regimes for selective adsorption. If the adsorbed multisticker polymers are nonoverlapping mushrooms, the adsorbed amount Γ increases linearly with the surface density of adsorption sites Σ ≈ 1/ d 2 . In the self-similar carpet regime, Γ increases sublinearly as Σ 0.15 in a good solvent, while only logarithmically in a theta solvent. Formation of a brush layer under the carpet contributes an additional adsorbed amount. This additional amount increases linearly with Σ and eventually dominates the overall adsorbed amount Γ before saturating at a plateau value controlled by the adsorption energy.

Oxygen Isotopes and the Cooling History of the Mount Barcroft Area, Central White Mountains, Easternmost California

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ernst, W. G.; Rumble, D.

2001-12-01

The White-Inyo Range + Owens Valley marks the western limit of the Basin and Range province, directly east of the Sierra Nevada. At Mount Barcroft, mid-Mesozoic, alkaline, bimodal White Mountain Peak metavolcanic + metaclastic rocks on the N are separated from Lower Cambrian siliciclastic + carbonate metasedimentary strata on the S by the NE-trending Middle Jurassic Barcroft mafic granodioritic pluton. It consists of mineralogically/chemically intergradational gabbro/diorite, granodiorite, metadiorite, and alaskite. Eastward, the section is intruded by the Late Cretaceous, ternary-minimum McAfee Creek Granite. Ignoring altered dikes, bulk-rock analyses of plutonic rocks indicate that metaluminous, I-type rocks of the Barcroft comagmatic suite possess an av(12) d18O value of 7.5. Slightly peraluminous, apparently S-type granitic rocks sensu stricto of the McAfee Creek series have an av(8) d18O value of 8.6. Evidence is lacking for large-scale bulk-rock interaction with near-surface waters, suggesting intermediate crustal depths of intrusion and cooling for these plutons. Coexisting Barcroft minerals exhibit consistent oxygen isotopic partitioning from high to low d18O in the sequence quartz > plagioclase > K-feldspar >> amphibole = biotite. Wall-rock quartz and biotite are richer in 18O than analogous phases in the plutonic rocks, and show slightly greater fractionations than igneous counterparts. Along its borders, late-stage exchange with heated aqueous fluids, derived from recrystallized wall rocks due to emplacement of the Middle Jurassic magma, increased 18O/16O ratios of dikes, and some Barcroft igneous plagioclase and subsolidus tremolite-actinolite. Oxygen isotope geothermometry for Barcroft quartz-amphibole and quartz-biotite pairs yields broadly similar temperatures; the combined average of 13 pairs is 519oC. A single quartz-biotite pair analyzed from a Lower Cambrian quartzite within the inner metamorphic aureole of the Barcroft pluton yields a temperature of 511oC, in agreement with values based on wall-rock metamorphic parageneses. Barcroft quartz, feldspars, biotite, and clinoamphiboles were subjected to exchange with deuteric fluid, and re-equilibrated under subsolidus conditions. Quartz-plagioclase pairs from two Barcroft granodiorites possess similar temperatures of 519 and 515oC, so also re-equilibrated at subsolidus temperatures. Areal distributions for quartz-plagioclase, quartz-clinoamphibole, and quartz-biotite pairs reveal that annealing temperatures are lowest in axial portions of the Barcroft granodioritic pluton. Late Cretaceous emplacement of the McAfee Creek Granite had little effect on d18O values of Barcroft minerals and bulk rocks.

The evaluation of a new method to extract spectroscopic factors using asymptotic normalization coefficients and the astrophysical ^14C(n,γ)^15C reaction rate

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

McCleskey, M.; Mukhamedzhanov, A. M.; Trache, L.; Banu, A.; Goldberg, V.; Roeder, B. T.; Simmons, E. N.; Spiridon, A.; Tribble, R. E.

2011-10-01

A new method to determine spectroscopic factors (SFs) that utilizes asymptotic normalization coefficients (ANCs) has been tested at Texas A&M, using ^15C as a test case. The method would use the ANC to fix the external contribution to a non-peripheral reaction which would otherwise be free to vary to unphysical values in a traditional approach. The investigation consisted of two parts. First, the ANC for the ^14C+n configuration in ^15C was determined from the heavy ion neutron transfer reaction ^13C(^14C,^15C)^12C and the inverse kinematics reaction d(^14C,p)^15C. Both of these reactions were measured at sufficiently low energy to be peripheral. Next, a non-peripheral reaction ^14C(d,p)^15C was measured with an incident deuteron energy of 60 MeV, and this reaction was used along with the previously determined ANC to attempt to find the SF. The ANC was also used to calculate the astrophysical neutron direct capture rate for ^14C(n,γ)^15C, which was compared with recent direct experimental results.

Piezoelectric properties of nonstoichiometric Sr1-xBi2+2x/3Ta2O9 ceramics

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jain, Rajni; Chauhan, Arun Kumar Singh; Gupta, Vinay; Sreenivas, K.

2005-06-01

The effect of poling on the structural, dielectric, and piezoelectric properties has been investigated for sol-gel-derived strontium bismuth tantalate (SBT) [Sr1-xBi2+2x/3Ta2O9] ceramics with x =0.0,0.15,0.30,0.45. The dielectric and ferroelectric properties are found to improve with increase in x up to 0.3. Beyond x >0.3 the properties are found to degrade due to the limited solid solubility and the presence of a mixed phase of bismuth tantalate (BiTaO4) is detected with x =0.45. Poling treatment reduces the dielectric dispersion and dielectric loss in the frequency range (0.1-100kHz). The resonance and antiresonance frequencies increase with increase in x (x=0-0.30), and the corresponding minimum impedance decreases. The measured coupling coefficients (kp) are small (0.0967-0.1) for x =0-0.30, and the electromechanical quality factor (Qm=915) is a maximum for the Sr0.7Bi2.2Ta2O9 composition (x=0.30). The estimated piezoelectric charge coefficient (d31) and piezoelectric voltage coefficient (g31) are 5.2pC/N and 5.8×10-3Vm/N, respectively. The positive values of d31 and g31 and the low dielectric permittivity of SBT yield a high value for the hydrostatic coefficients, despite the low charge coefficient of d33=24pC/N. The maximum values of charge coefficient (dh=34pC/N) and voltage coefficient (gh=39×10-3Vm/N) are obtained for Sr0.7Bi2.2Ta2O9 composition, and the estimated hydrostatic figure of merit (dhgh×10-15=1215m2/N) is high.

The effects of sex, tissue type, and dietary components on stable isotope discrimination factors (Δ13C and Δ15N) in mammalian omnivores.

PubMed

Kurle, Carolyn M; Koch, Paul L; Tershy, Bernie R; Croll, Donald A

2014-01-01

We tested the effects of sex, tissue, and diet on stable isotope discrimination factors (Δ(13)C and Δ(15)N) for six tissues from rats fed four diets with varied C and N sources, but comparable protein quality and quantity. The Δ(13)C and Δ(15)N values ranged from 1.7-4.1‰ and 0.4-4.3‰, respectively. Females had higher Δ(15)N values than males because males grew larger, whereas Δ(13)C values did not differ between sexes. Differences in Δ(13)C values among tissue types increased with increasing variability in dietary carbon sources. The Δ(15)N values increased with increasing dietary δ(15)N values for all tissues except liver and serum, which have fast stable isotope turnover times, and differences in Δ(15)N values among tissue types decreased with increasing dietary animal protein. Our results demonstrate that variability in dietary sources can affect Δ(13)C values, protein source affects Δ(15)N values even when protein quality and quantity are controlled, and the isotope turnover rate of a tissue can influence the degree to which diet affects Δ(15)N values.

Prediction of human dietary δ15N intake from standardised food records: validity and precision of single meal and 24-h diet data.

PubMed

Hülsemann, Frank; Koehler, Karsten; Wittsiepe, Jürgen; Wilhelm, Michael; Hilbig, Annett; Kersting, Mathilde; Braun, Hans; Flenker, Ulrich; Schänzer, Wilhelm

2017-08-01

Natural stable isotope ratios (δ 15 N) of humans can be used for nutritional analyses and dietary reconstruction of modern and historic individuals and populations. Information about an individual's metabolic state can be obtained by comparison of tissue and dietary δ 15 N. Different methods have been used to estimate dietary δ 15 N in the past; however, the validity of such predictions has not been compared to experimental values. For a total of 56 meals and 21 samples of 24-h diets, predicted and experimental δ 15 N values were compared. The δ 15 N values were predicted from self-recorded food intake and compared with experimental δ 15 N values. Predicted and experimental δ 15 N values were in good agreement for meals and preparations (r = 0.89, p < .001) as well as for the 24-h diets (r = 0.76, p < .001). Dietary δ 15 N was mainly determined by the amount of fish, whereas the contribution of meat to dietary δ 15 N values was less pronounced. Prediction of human dietary δ 15 N values using standardised food records and representative δ 15 N data sets yields reliable data for dietary δ 15 N intake. A differentiated analysis of the primary protein sources is necessary when relating the proportion of animal-derived protein in the diet by δ 15 N analysis.

Denitrification is the Primary Source of Soil-Derived Nitrous Oxide in a Terrestrial Ecosystem: Evidence From Isotopologues

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Opdyke, M.; Ostrom, P. H.; Ostrom, N. E.

2007-12-01

Isotopologues were applied to address the origins of N2O released from soils at the W.K. Kellogg Biological Station, a temperate agricultural field station in SW Michigan. Soils sampled included: unfertilized, tilled fields in soybean (AGsoy); tilled fields in corn receiving fertilizer (AGcorn), and an early-successional (SUCC) field abandoned in1989. Soil-derived N2O fluxes and isotopologues were measured in May, July, Sept. and Nov. in 2006. Fluxes were greatest in AGcorn, with a maximum average in May of 46.9 g N2O-N ha-1 d-1. The δ15N and δ15O values for N2O ranged between -16.1 and 9.7 ‰, and 22.2 and 57.3 ‰, respectively. Site Preference (SP), the difference between the δ15N of the central and outer N atoms in N2O, values weighted by flux were 3.0, 10.6 and 14.9 ‰ at AGcorn, SUCC and AGsoy, respectively. Based on SP values of 0 ‰ for denitrification and 33 ‰ for nitrification [Sutka et al., 2006], between 55 and 91 % of soil-derived N2O was from denitrification in all three fields. We further find that N2O reduction alters SP to a small extent and results in an overestimate of the importance of nitrification. Thus, our overall finding that 85% of the N2O flux is from denitrification is an underestimate.

Isotopic analyses of nitrogenous compounds from the Murchison meteorite: ammonia, amines, amino acids, and polar hydrocarbons

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Pizzarello, S.; Feng, X.; Epstein, S.; Cronin, J. R.

1994-01-01

The combined volatile bases (ammonia, aliphatic amines, and possibly other bases), ammonia, amino acids, and polar hydrocarbons were prepared from the Murchison meteorite for isotopic analyses. The volatile bases were obtained by cryogenic transfer after acid-hydrolysis of a hot-water extract and analyzed by combined gas chromatography-mass spectrometry of pentafluoropropionyl derivatives. The aliphatic amines present in this preparation comprise a mixture that includes both primary and secondary isomers through C5 at a total concentration of > or = 100 nmoles g-1. As commonly observed for meteoritic organic compounds, almost all isomers through C5 are present, and the concentrations within homologous series decrease with increasing chain length. Ammonia was chromatographically separated from the other volatile bases and found at a concentration of 1.1-1.3 micromoles g-1 meteorite. The ammonia analyzed includes contributions from ammonium salts and the hydrolysis of extractable organic compounds, e.g., carboxamides. Stable isotope analyses showed the volatile bases to be substantially enriched in the heavier isotopes, relative to comparable terrestrial compounds delta D < or = +1221%; delta 13C = +22%; delta 15N = +93%). Ammonia, per se, was found to have a somewhat lower delta 15N value (+69%) than the total volatile bases; consequently, a higher delta 15N (>93%) can be inferred for the other bases, which include the amines. Solvent-extractable polar hydrocarbons obtained separately were found to be enriched in 15N (delta 15N = +104%). Total amino acids, prepared from a hydrolyzed hot-water extract by cation exchange chromatography, gave a delta 15N of +94%, a value in good agreement with that obtained previously. Nitrogen isotopic data are also given for amino acid fractions separated chromatographically. The delta 15N values of the Murchison soluble organic compounds analyzed to date fall within a rather narrow range (delta 15N = +94 +/- 8%), an observation consistent with their formation, or formation of their precursors, by interstellar chemistry.

Density functional theory design D-D-A type small molecule with 1.03 eV narrow band gap: effect of electron donor unit for organic photovoltaic solar cell

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sıdır, İsa

2017-10-01

Six new low-band-gap copolymers of donor-donor-acceptor (D-D-A) architecture have been designed using density functional theory and time-dependent density functional theory methods in order to use them in organic photovoltaic cell (OPVC). Phenanthro[3,4-d:9,10-d‧]bis([1,2,3]thiadiazole)-10,12-dicarbonitrile moiety has been used as an acceptor for all compounds. We insert benzo[1,2-b:4,5-b‧]dithiophene and N,N-diphenylbenzo[1,2-b:4,5-b‧]dithiophen-2-amine units as donor to complete designing of copolymers. In order to tuning the optical and electronic properties, we have modified the donor unit by substituted with amine, methoxyamine, N-methylenethiophen-2-amine, methoxy, alkoxy moieties. The band gap (Eg), HOMO and LUMO values and plots, open circuit voltage (VOC) as well as optical properties have been analysed for designed copolymers. The optimised copolymers exhibit low-band-gap lying in the range of 1.03-2.24 eV. DPTD-6 copolymer presents the optimal properties to be used as an active layer due to its low Eg (1.03 eV) and a moderate VOC (0.56 eV). Thus, OPVC based on this copolymer in bulk-heterojunction composites with [6,6]-phenyl-C61-butyric acid methyl ester (PCBM) as an acceptor has been modelled. Eg and VOC values of composite material DPTD-6:PCBM are found as 1.32 and 0.65 eV, respectively. A model band diagram has been established for OPVC, simulating the energy transfer between active layers.

An efficient top-down approach for the fabrication of large-aspect-ratio g-C3N4 nanosheets with enhanced photocatalytic activities.

PubMed

Tong, Jincheng; Zhang, Li; Li, Fei; Li, Mingming; Cao, Shaokui

2015-09-28

Graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4) nanosheets with large aspect ratios were fabricated from bulk g-C3N4 through an efficient top-down approach of moderate disintegration-exfoliation using diluted H2SO4 as an "efficient knife". By prior disintegration in a diluted H2SO4 solution, the exfoliation of bulk g-C3N4 was effectively accelerated. The as-prepared g-C3N4 nanosheets possess a two-dimensional (2D) thin-layer structure with seven-atom thickness, a large lateral size of about 1 μm, and a high specific surface area of 80 m(2) g(-1). Compared with the bulk precursor, the g-C3N4 nanosheets showed much higher efficiency of photogenerated charge transfer and separation, and consequently exhibited enhanced photocatalytic activity toward hydrogen evolution and pollutant decomposition under both full-sunlight and visible-light irradiation.

Determination of pseudogap state density and carrier mobility in rf sputtered amorphous silicon. Quarterly technical progress report, January-March 31, 1980

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Paul, W

1980-06-01

The effect of a variety of plasma cleaning procedures on the level of bulk and interfacial contaminants in the films is analyzed by secondary ion mass spectrometry. Bulk levels of 0 have been reduced considerably by N/sub 2/ plasma cleaning, but no reproducible reductions in interfacial contamination have been achieved. A method is described of determining the gap state density N(epsilon) of a-Si:H from field effect, in which no assumptions are made about the form of the band bending in the semiconductor. The problem is reduced to three successive integrals over an assumed N(epsilon) by change of variable from distancemore » to applied voltage and the best fit to the experimental data is obtained by iteration of the assumed state density. The method is shown to be no less rigorous and considerably more economical than the recent analysis of Goodman, Fritzsche and Ozaki. In addition, an experimental means of determining the flat-band voltage to within 5% of the maximum gate voltage V/sub g/ used is demonstrated, by finding the value of V/sub g/ for which (kT/e)dlog I/sub SD//dV/sub g/ is independent of temperature.« less

Determination of zircon/melt trace element partition coefficients from SIMS analysis of melt inclusions in zircon

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Thomas, J. B.; Bodnar, R. J.; Shimizu, N.; Sinha, A. K.

2002-09-01

Partition coefficients ( zircon/meltD M) for rare earth elements (REE) (La, Ce, Nd, Sm, Dy, Er and Yb) and other trace elements (Ba, Rb, B, Sr, Ti, Y and Nb) between zircon and melt have been calculated from secondary ion mass spectrometric (SIMS) analyses of zircon/melt inclusion pairs. The melt inclusion-mineral (MIM) technique shows that D REE increase in compatibility with increasing atomic number, similar to results of previous studies. However, D REE determined using the MIM technique are, in general, lower than previously reported values. Calculated D REE indicate that light REE with atomic numbers less than Sm are incompatible in zircon and become more incompatible with decreasing atomic number. This behavior is in contrast to most previously published results which indicate D > 1 and define a flat partitioning pattern for elements from La through Sm. The partition coefficients for the heavy REE determined using the MIM technique are lower than previously published results by factors of ≈15 to 20 but follow a similar trend. These differences are thought to reflect the effects of mineral and/or glass contaminants in samples from earlier studies which employed bulk analysis techniques. D REE determined using the MIM technique agree well with values predicted using the equations of Brice (1975), which are based on the size and elasticity of crystallographic sites. The presence of Ce 4+ in the melt results in elevated D Ce compared to neighboring REE due to the similar valence and size of Ce 4+ and Zr 4+. Predicted zircon/meltD values for Ce 4+ and Ce 3+ indicate that the Ce 4+/Ce 3+ ratios of the melt ranged from about 10 -3 to 10 -2. Partition coefficients for other trace elements determined in this study increase in compatibility in the order Ba < Rb < B < Sr < Ti < Y < Nb, with Ba, Rb, B and Sr showing incompatible behavior (D M < 1.0), and Ti, Y and Nb showing compatible behavior (D M > 1.0). The effect of partition coefficients on melt evolution during petrogenetic modeling was examined using partition coefficients determined in this study and compared to trends obtained using published partition coefficients. The lower D REE determined in this study result in smaller REE bulk distribution coefficients, for a given mineral assemblage, compared to those calculated using previously reported values. As an example, fractional crystallization of an assemblage composed of 35% hornblende, 64.5% plagioclase and 0.5% zircon produces a melt that becomes increasingly more enriched in Yb using the D Yb from this study. Using D Yb from Fujimaki (1986) results in a melt that becomes progressively depleted in Yb during crystallization.

3D printing of shape-conformable thermoelectric materials using all-inorganic Bi2Te3-based inks

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kim, Fredrick; Kwon, Beomjin; Eom, Youngho; Lee, Ji Eun; Park, Sangmin; Jo, Seungki; Park, Sung Hoon; Kim, Bong-Seo; Im, Hye Jin; Lee, Min Ho; Min, Tae Sik; Kim, Kyung Tae; Chae, Han Gi; King, William P.; Son, Jae Sung

2018-04-01

Thermoelectric energy conversion offers a unique solution for generating electricity from waste heat. However, despite recent improvements in the efficiency of thermoelectric materials, the widespread application of thermoelectric generators has been hampered by challenges in fabricating thermoelectric materials with appropriate dimensions to perfectly fit heat sources. Herein, we report an extrusion-based three-dimensional printing method to produce thermoelectric materials with geometries suitable for heat sources. All-inorganic viscoelastic inks were synthesized using Sb2Te3 chalcogenidometallate ions as inorganic binders for Bi2Te3-based particles. Three-dimensional printed materials with various geometries showed homogenous thermoelectric properties, and their dimensionless figure-of-merit values of 0.9 (p-type) and 0.6 (n-type) were comparable to the bulk values. Conformal cylindrical thermoelectric generators made of 3D-printed half rings mounted on an alumina pipe were studied both experimentally and computationally. Simulations show that the power output of the conformal, shape-optimized generator is higher than that of conventional planar generators.

A multi-proxy isotope study (δ41K, δ26Mg, 87Sr/86Sr) of low-temperature oceanic crust alteration: the Troodos Ophiolite and Ocean Drilling Program Hole 801C

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Santiago Ramos, D. P.; Higgins, J. A.

2017-12-01

Low-temperature alteration of oceanic crust plays an important role in a number of geochemical cycles, thus modulating the chemical composition of the oceans. In particular, it has been established that low-temperature (<150oC) alteration of basalt is a major sink of seawater potassium. However, little is known about the effects of this process on the potassium isotope composition of seawater, which is 0.5‰ enriched relative to bulk silicate Earth (δ41KBSE=-0.54‰). Here we measure a number of isotope systems (δ41K, δ26Mg, 87Sr/86Sr) in both host rock and vein material from the upper volcanic section of Cretaceous (Troodos Ophiolite) and Jurassic (ODP 801C) oceanic crust using a MC-ICP-MS. The goal is to estimate the K isotopic fractionation associated with basalt alteration in low-temperature conditions, and how it might affect the K isotope enrichment of seawater relative to BSE. We find that marine hydrothermal samples from Troodos and ODP site 801C are enriched in potassium relative to the unaltered glass compositions and have δ41K values both higher and lower than BSE, ranging from -0.45‰ to -0.69‰ (n = 9) and -0.32‰ to -0.71‰ (n = 5), respectively. The low measured δ41K values could represent 1) fractionation (α<1) of K isotopes during uptake from seawater (δ41KSW 0‰), or 2) remobilized mantle-sourced K (δ41KBSE=-0.54‰) from deeper within the ophiolite sequence. Measurements of δ26Mg (n=15) and 87Sr/86Sr (n=12) in these samples yield enriched values relative to bulk silicate Earth, suggesting that alteration of oceanic crust likely happened under high water-to-rock ratios in both Troodos and ODP 801C, and that the added potassium is seawater-sourced. We thus suggest that the isotopically light δ41K values measured in both sites are associated with the formation of secondary clays enriched in the 39K isotope. This light isotope enrichment could be intensified if seawater K sourcing is a diffusion-limited process, as aqueous potassium diffusion has been associated with K isotope fractionations between 0.9967 and 0.9984. Our results indicate that the uptake of potassium in altered oceanic crust could be responsible, in part, for the observed K isotope enrichment of seawater relative to bulk silicate Earth.

Ultrafast transient photocarrier dynamics of the bulk-insulating topological insulator B i1.5S b0.5T e1.7S e1.3

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Choi, Young Gwan; Zhung, Chan June; Park, Sun-Hee; Park, Joonbum; Kim, Jun Sung; Kim, Seongheun; Park, Jaehun; Lee, J. S.

2018-02-01

Using optical-pump terahertz-probe spectroscopy, we investigated an ultrafast photocarrier relaxation behavior in a B i1.5S b0.5T e1.7S e1.3 (BSTS) single crystal, which is one of the most bulk-insulating topological insulators. Compared to n -type bulk-metallic B i2S e3 , we found that BSTS endows distinct behaviors in its photocarrier dynamics; the relaxation time turns out to be an order of magnitude longer, and the transient conductance spectrum exhibits a nonlinear increase as a function of the pumping power. Also, we observed an abrupt reduction of the photocarrier scattering rate in several picoseconds after the initial photoexcitation. We discuss these intriguing experimental observations based on a bulk-to-surface carrier injection assisted by the built-in electric field near the surface and electron-phonon scattering.

Variability in copepod trophic levels and feeding selectivity based on stable isotope analysis in Gwangyang Bay of the southern coast of the Korean Peninsula

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chen, Mianrun; Kim, Dongyoung; Liu, Hongbin; Kang, Chang-Keun

2018-04-01

Trophic preference (i.e., food resources and trophic levels) of different copepod groups was assessed along a salinity gradient in the temperate estuarine Gwangyang Bay of Korea, based on seasonal investigation of taxonomic results in 2015 and stable isotope analysis incorporating multiple linear regression models. The δ13C and δ15N values of copepods in the bay displayed significant spatial heterogeneity as well as seasonal variations, which were indicated by their significant relationships with salinity and temperature, respectively. Both spatial and temporal variations reflected those in isotopic values of food sources. The major calanoid groups (marine calanoids and brackish water calanoids) had a mean trophic level of 2.2 relative to nanoplankton as the basal food source, similar to the bulk copepod assemblage; however, they had dissimilar food sources based on the different δ13C values. Calanoid isotopic values indicated a mixture of different genera including species with high δ15N values (e.g., Labidocera, Sinocalanus, and Tortanus), moderate values (Calanus sinicus, Centropages, Paracalanus, and Acartia), and relatively low δ15N values (Eurytemora pacifica and Pseudodiaptomus). Feeding preferences of different copepods probably explain these seasonal and spatial patterns of the community trophic niche. Bayesian mixing model calculations based on source materials of two size fractions of particulate organic matter (nanoplankton at < 20 µm vs. microplankton at 20-200 µm) indicated that Acartia and Centropages preferred large particles; Paracalanus, Calanus, Eurytemora, and Pseudodiaptomus apparently preferred small particles. Tortanus was typically carnivorous with low selectivity on different copepods. Labidocera preferred marine calanoids Acartia, Centropages, and harpacticoids; on the other hand, Sinocalanus and Corycaeus preferred brackish calanoids Paracalanus and Pseudodiaptomus. Overall, our results depict a simple energy flow of the planktonic food web of Gwangyang Bay: from primary producers (nanoplankton) and a mixture of primary producers and herbivores (microplankton) through omnivores (Acartia, Calanus, Centropages, and Paracalanus) and detritivores (Pseudodiaptomus, Eurytemora, and harpacticoids) to carnivores (Corycaeus, Tortanus, Labidocera, and Sinocalanus).

Experimental Artifacts in Nitrogen Isotope Measurements of Meteorites

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kim, J. S.; Marti, K.

1993-07-01

Several research groups have studied contamination problems and molecular interferences in nitrogen isotope measurements, but some problems still require clarification. Protocols adopted for nitrogen isotope measurements generally consider questions such as CO interference, removal of hydrocarbons, and N2O and NO conversion [1]. In the analysis of nanogram amounts of N, contamination, exchange reactions, and interferences are more visible than in large N samples. During nitrogen measurements we observed several potential problems and developed an improved protocol to achieve high-quality isotopic data: 1. Nitrogen loss and isotopic exchange were observed on the extraction system wall. The wall has active surfaces produced by vapor deposition (previous samples) that absorb many molecules, including nitrogen. This absorbed nitrogen releases or exchanges nitrogen with sample N in the following extraction steps. Therefore the losses need to be calibrated and the extent of isotopic exchange determined at the nanogram level. A continuous adsorption during sample extraction of the gas phase onto zeolite at liquid nitrogen temperature reduces nitrogen loss and amount of exchange. 2. We also found nitrogen isotopic memory effect by CuO. During sample gas cleaning by CuO, nitrogen exchanges with residual nitrogen in the CuO, and losses to CuO by solubility and/or uptake of nitrogen during oxygen uptake. This effect is clearly visible after analysis of large amounts of nitrogen. In such cases the CuO blank showed traces of previously measured isotopic signatures. Therefore, the isotopic signature of the CuO blank must be assessed before proceeding. 3. NO interference was recognized. In measurements of N in bulk H chondrites, the steps above 900 degrees C show anomalous contribution to the mass 30 peak, which decreases rapidly with time in the mass spectrometer. Using the ratio mass 30 to mass 31 and the corresponding physical properties of the interfering compound, we identified the NO molecule. NO is produced during heating of the meteorites, and this molecule interacts with metal surfaces (e.g., valves and system metal). It is then released slowly from a metal surface and added to sample nitrogen during N transfer to the inlet volume of the mass spectrometer. Similar effects were reported last year [2], in addition to a rapid change of the measured 29/28 ratio. Hashizume and Sugiura concluded that curious phenomena indicate nonequilibria between two components, and thus the silicates in ordinary chondrites would not contain trapped nitrogen, which is in contradiction with their data. To eliminate the NO effect on mass 30, we made two modifications in the protocol. One is a final cleaning step of the gas phase using a glass finger at liquid nitrogen temperature; the other is the closing of the inlet valve after admitting the sample gas to the mass spectrometer. This protocol eliminates NO interference when the mass spectrometer is not contaminated by NO. 4. There are also nitrogen calibration issues. Last year nitrogen data for metal separates and bulk samples of some H chondrites were reported to reveal large isotopic variations (delta ^15N value from -44 to 119) [3]. Because Kung and Clayton [4] did not observe such variations, we measured nitrogen in Jilin (H5) and found a bulk average delta ^15N = 17 per mil. We also measured a metal separate from Forest Vale and observed a maximum value delta ^15N = 15 per mil. We were unable to confirm the value reported by [3]. We performed a series of calibrations against air nitrogen and NBS-steel standards to determine nitrogen loss and exchange, and against an internal meteorite standard (Cape York). Our analytical procedures are well reproduced. The NBS- steel and Cape York iron are therefore suitable as interlaboratory calibration standards for removal of experimental artifacts. References: [1] Boyd S. R. et al. (1988) J. Phys. E: Sci. Instrum., 21, 876- 885. [2] Hashizume K. and Sugiura N. (1992) GCA, 56, 1625-1631. [3] Hashizume K. and Sugiura N. (1992) Meteoritics, 27, 232. [4] Kung C. and Clayton R. N. (1978) EPSL, 38, 421-435.

Carbon and nitrogen isotopic compositions of particulate organic matter and biogeochemical processes in the eutrophic Danshuei Estuary in northern Taiwan.

PubMed

Liu, Kon-Kee; Kao, Shuh-Ji; Wen, Liang-Saw; Chen, Kuan-Lun

2007-08-15

The Danshuei Estuary is distinctive for the relatively short residence time (1-2 d) of its estuarine water and the very high concentration of ammonia, which is the dominant species of dissolved inorganic nitrogen in the estuary, except near the river mouth. These characteristics make the dynamics of nitrogen cycling distinctively different from previously studied estuaries and result in unusual isotopic compositions of particulate nitrogen (PN). The delta(15)N(PN) values ranging from -16.4 per thousand to 3.8 per thousand lie in the lower end of nitrogen isotopic compositions (-16.4 to +18.7 per thousand) of suspended particulate matter observed in estuaries, while the delta(13)C values of particulate organic carbon (POC) and the C/N (organic carbon to nitrogen) ratios showed rather normal ranges from -25.5 per thousand to -19.0 per thousand and from 6.0 to 11.3, respectively. There were three major types of particulate organic matter (POM) in the estuary: natural terrigenous materials consisting mainly of soils and bedrock-derived sediments, anthropogenic wastes and autochthonous materials from the aquatic system. During the typhoon induced flood period in August 2000, the flux-weighted mean of delta(13)C(POC) values was -24.4 per thousand, that of delta(15)N(PN) values was +2.3 per thousand and that of C/N ratio was 9.3. During non-typhoon periods, the concentration-weighted mean was -23.6 per thousand for delta(13)C(POC), -2.6 per thousand for delta(15)N(PN) and 8.0 for C/N ratio. From the distribution of delta(15)N(PN) values of highly polluted estuarine waters, we identified the waste-dominated samples and calculated their mean properties: delta(13)C(POC) value of -23.6+/-0.7 per thousand, delta(15)N(PN) value of -3.0+/-0.1 per thousand and C/N ratio of 8.0+/-1.4. Using a three end-member mixing model based on delta(15)N(PN) values and C/N ratios, we calculated contributions of the three major allochthonous sources of POC, namely, wastes, soils and bedrock-derived sediments, to the estuary. Their contributions were, respectively, 83%, 12% and 5% under non-typhoon conditions, and 9%, 63% and 28% under typhoon conditions. The autochthonous POM had the most varied isotopic compositions, encompassing the full ranges of delta(13)C(POC) (-25.5 to -19.1 per thousand), delta(15)N(PN) (-16.4-3.8 per thousand) and C/N ratio (6.0-11.3). The heavy end of the carbon isotopic composition reflected the typical marine condition and the lower end the estuarine condition, which probably had elevated concentrations of dissolved inorganic carbon with low delta(13)C values due to input from decomposition of organic matter. The lack of isotopically heavy PN, as found in larger estuaries, was attributed to isotopically light starting materials, namely, anthropogenic wastes, the slow phytoplankton growth within the estuary and the rather short residence time; the latter two factors made (15)N enrichment during ammonia consumption very limited. The most isotopically light PN likely originated from phytoplankton incorporating (15)N-depleted nitrate near the river mouth, where ammonia inhibition of nitrate uptake probably stopped.

Transport Imaging of Spatial Distribution of Mobility-Lifetime (Micro Tau) Product in Bulk Semiconductors for Nuclear Radiation Detection

DTIC Science & Technology

2012-06-01

the diffusion length L and the mobility-lifetime product  from the luminescence distribution using the 2D model for transport imaging in bulk...C. Scandrett, and N. M. Haegel, “Three-dimensional transport imaging for the spatially resolved determination of carrier diffusion length in bulk...that allows measurements of the diffusion length and extraction of the  product in luminescent materials without the need for device processing

Unified Description of the Optical Phonon Modes in N-Layer MoTe2

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Froehlicher, Guillaume; Lorchat, Etienne; Fernique, François; Joshi, Chaitanya; Molina-Sánchez, Alejandro; Wirtz, Ludger; Berciaud, Stéphane

N -layer transition metal dichalcogenides (denoted MX2) provide a unique platform to investigate the evolution of the physical properties between the bulk (3D) and monolayer (quasi-2D) limits. Here, we present a unified analysis of the optical phonon modes in N-layer 2 H -MX2. The 2 H -phase (or hexagonal phase) is the most common polytype for semiconducting MX2 (such as MoS2). Using Raman spectroscopy, we have measured the manifold of low-frequency (rigid layer), mid-frequency (involving intralayer displacement of the chalcogen atoms only), and high-frequency (involving intralayer displacements of all atoms) Raman-active modes in N = 1 to 12 layer 2 H -molybdenenum ditelluride (MoTe2). For each monolayer mode, the N-dependent phonon frequencies give rise to fan diagrams that are quantitatively fit to a force constant model. This analysis allows us to deduce the frequencies of all the bulk (including silent) optical phonon modes.

Macrofauna regulate heterotrophic bacterial carbon and nitrogen incorporation in low-oxygen sediments

PubMed Central

Hunter, William R; Veuger, Bart; Witte, Ursula

2012-01-01

Oxygen minimum zones (OMZs) currently impinge upon >1 million km2 of sea floor and are predicted to expand with climate change. We investigated how changes in oxygen availability, macrofaunal biomass and retention of labile organic matter (OM) regulate heterotrophic bacterial C and N incorporation in the sediments of the OMZ-impacted Indian continental margin (540–1100 m; [O2]=0.35–15 μmol l−1). In situ pulse-chase experiments traced 13C:15N-labelled phytodetritus into bulk sediment OM and hydrolysable amino acids, including the bacterial biomarker 𝒟-alanine. Where oxygen availability was lowest ([O2]=0.35 μmol l−1), metazoan macrofauna were absent and bacteria assimilated 30–90% of the labelled phytodetritus within the sediment. At higher oxygen levels ([O2]=2–15 μmol l−1) the macrofaunal presence and lower phytodetritus retention with the sediment occur concomitantly, and bacterial phytodetrital incorporation was reduced and retarded. Bacterial C and N incorporation exhibited a significant negative relationship with macrofaunal biomass across the OMZ. We hypothesise that fauna–bacterial interactions significantly influence OM recycling in low-oxygen sediments and need to be considered when assessing the consequences of global change on biogeochemical cycles. PMID:22592818

Disturbance and topography shape nitrogen availability and δ15 N over long-term forest succession

USGS Publications Warehouse

Perakis, Steven; Tepley, Alan J.; Compton, Jana

2015-01-01

Forest disturbance and long-term succession towards old-growth are thought to increase nitrogen (N) availability and N loss, which should increase soil δ15N values. We examined soil and foliar patterns in N and δ15N, and soil N mineralization, across 800 years of forest succession in a topographically complex montane landscape influenced by human logging and wildfire. In contrast to expectations, we found that disturbance caused declines in surface mineral soil δ15N values, both in logged forests measured 40–50 years after disturbance, and in unlogged forests disturbed by severe wildfire within the last 200 years. Both symbiotic N fixation and N transfers from disturbed vegetation and detritus could lower soil δ15N values after disturbance. A more important role for symbiotic N fixation is suggested by lower soil δ15N values in slow-successional sites with slow canopy closure, which favors early-successional N fixers. Soil δ15N values increased only marginally throughout 800 years of succession, reflecting soil N uptake by vegetation and strong overall N retention. Although post-disturbance N inputs lowered surface soil δ15N values, steady-state mass balance calculations suggest that wildfire combustion of vegetation and detritus can dominate long-term N loss and increase whole-ecosystem δ15N. On steeper topography, declining soil δ15N values highlight erosion and accelerated soil turnover as an additional abiotic control on N balances. We conclude for N-limited montane forests that soil δ15N and N availability are less influenced by nitrate leaching and denitrification loss than by interactions between disturbance, N fixation, and erosion.

Structural, electronic, and elastic properties of CuFeS2: first-principles study

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhou, Meng; Gao, Xiang; Cheng, Yan; Chen, Xiangrong; Cai, Lingcang

2015-03-01

The structural, electronic, and elastic properties of CuFeS2 have been investigated by using the generalized gradient approximation (GGA), GGA + U (on-site Coulomb repulsion energy), the local density approximation (LDA), and the LDA + U approach in the frame of density functional theory. It is shown that when the GGA + U formalism is selected with a U value of 3 eV for the 3d state of Fe, the calculated lattice constants agree well with the available experimental and other theoretical data. Our GGA + U calculations indicate that CuFeS2 is a semiconductor with a band gap of 0.552 eV and with a magnetic moment of 3.64 µB per Fe atom, which are well consistent with the experimental results. Combined with the density of states, the band structure characteristics of CuFeS2 have been analyzed and their origins have been specified, which reveals a hybridization existing between Fe-3d, Cu-3s, and S-3p, respectively. The charge and Mulliken population analyses indicate that CuFeS2 is a covalent crystal. Moreover, the calculated elastic constants prove that CuFeS2 is mechanically stable but anisotropic. The bulk modulus obtained from elastic constants is 87.1 GPa, which agrees well with the experimental value of 91 ± 15 GPa and better than the theoretical bulk modulus 74 GPa obtained from GGA method by Lazewski et al. The obtained shear modulus and Debye temperature are 21.0 GPa and 287 K, respectively, and the latter accords well with the available experimental value. It is expected that our work can provide useful information to further investigate CuFeS2 from both the experimental and theoretical sides.

Nitrogen isotopic signatures in the Acapulco meteorite

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Sturgeon, G.; Marti, K.

1991-01-01

N isotopic abundances are reported for a bulk sample of the unique meteorite Acapulco. Although the mineral chemistry indicates a high degree of recrystallization under redox conditions between those of H and E chondrites (Palme et al., 1981), the presence of two distinct N isotopic signatures shows that the carriers of these N components were not equilibrated. In stepwise pyrolysis, the larger (65 percent) N component is released mostly below 1000 C and reveals a signature of delta(N-15) = 8.9 + or - 1.2 per mil, which is within the range observed in chondrites. A second 'light' component appears above 1000 C and has a signature of delta(N-15) less than or equal to -110.5 + or - 4.0 per mil (uncorrected for spallation N-15).

Hydrogen And Deuterium In The Local Interstellar Medium.

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Murthy, Jayant

2016-03-01

In this work we report on the results of a series of IUE observations of interstellar HI and DI Ly alpha absorption against the chromospheric Lyalpha emission of the nearby late -type stars alpha Cen B(1.3 pc), epsilon Eri (3.3 pc), Procyon (3.5 pc), Altair (5.1 pc), Capella (13.2 pc), and HR 1099 (33 pc). From these observations we have derived the density, velocity dispersion, and bulk velocity of the neutral hydrogen along the line of sight to each of these stars. We have also placed lower limits on the deuterium to hydrogen (D/H) ratio towards the same stars. Our IUE results are generally consistent with previous observations of the same stars with the Copernicus satellite showing that our modelling procedure is independent of stellar variations over a period of several years. The HI absorption profile towards Altair shows a broad saturated core and steep line wings, consistent with a multicomponent interstellar medium in that direction. The bulk velocities towards the other stars are consistent with a bulk flow from the approximate direction of the galactic center but do show local variations from a uniform flow, possibly indicating a complicated velocity structure even in the solar neighbourhood. Interstellar deuterium is detected towards every star except Altair and the derived values for the D/H ratio are consistent with those previously found with Copernicus. In particular, we confirm the strong lower limit of 1.9 times 10^{-5} on the D/H ratio found towards Capella and we also place a lower limit of 1.5 times 10 ^{-5} on the D/H ratio towards alpha Cen B. Although an interstellar D/H ratio of 2 times 10^ {-5} is consistent with all the observations of late-type stars, the lower D/H ratios found towards several hot stars may indicate real variations in the D/H ratio in the local interstellar medium. Finally, we discuss the reality of a step in the cosmic background and of several galactic emission lines found by Auriemma et al. (1984) and show that, in fact, they are both artifacts of the data and of the analysis.

Gas chromatography and isotope ratio mass spectrometry of Pinot Noir wine volatile compounds (δ13C) and solid residues (δ13C, δ15N) for the reassessment of vineyard water-status.

PubMed

Spangenberg, Jorge E; Vogiatzaki, Maria; Zufferey, Vivian

2017-09-29

This paper describes a novel approach to reassess the water status in vineyards based on compound-specific isotope analysis (CSIA) of wine volatile organic compounds (δ 13 C VOC/VPDB ) and bulk carbon and nitrogen isotopes, and the C/N molar ratios of the wine solid residues (δ 13 C SR/VPDB , δ 15 N SR/Air-N2 ). These analyses link gas chromatography/combustion and elemental analysis to isotope ratio mass spectrometry (GC/C/IRMS, EA/IRMS). Field-grown cultivars of Pinot Noir grapevines were exposed during six growing seasons (2009-2014) to controlled soil water availability, while maintaining identical the other environmental variables and agricultural techniques. Wines were produced from the grapes by the same oenological protocol. This permitted for the assessment of the effects in the biochemistry of wines solely induced by the changes in the plant-soil water status. This mimicked the more recurrent and prolonged periods of soil water deficiency due to climate changes. Water stress in grapevine was assessed by the measurement of the predawn leaf water potential (Ψ pd ) and the stable carbon isotope composition of the berry sugars during harvest (must sugars). For quantitation purposes and the normalization of the measured stable carbon isotope ratios of the VOCs, the wine samples were spiked with three standard compounds with known concentration and δ 13 C VPDB values. VOCs were extracted by liquid-liquid extraction and analyzed by gas chromatography/flame ionization detection (GC/FID), gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS), and GC/C/IRMS. δ 13 C values were obtained for eighteen VOCs. The solid residues were obtained by freeze-drying wine aliquots and were analyzed for their C and N content and isotope composition by EA/IRMS. All the isotopic ratios (δ 13 C SR , δ 15 N SR , δ 13 C VOC ) are highly correlated with the Ψ pd values, indicating that the proposed gas chromatography and isotope ratio mass spectrometry approach is a useful tool to assess the changes in the water status of grapevine cultivars in different terroirs. The combined analytical approach was used for the first time to complement the assessment of soil water availability effects on the grapevine. The δ 13 C values of the volatile compounds helped confirm (or establish) their main source(s) and biosynthetic pathway(s). Importantly, we also show for the first time that the combination of C/N and δ 15 N values of freeze-dried wines have an unexplored potential for the study of nitrogen dynamics in soil/grape/wine systems. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Critical behavior of the van der Waals bonded ferromagnet Fe 3 - x GeTe 2

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Liu, Yu; Ivanovski, V. N.; Petrovic, C.

The critical properties of the single-crystalline van der Waals bonded ferromagnet Fe 3-xGeTe 2 were investigated by bulk dc magnetization around the paramagnetic to ferromagnetic (FM) phase transition. The Fe 3-xGeTe 2 single crystals grown by self-flux method with Fe deficiency x ≈ 0.36 exhibit bulk FM ordering below T c = 152 K. The Mössbauer spectroscopy was used to provide information on defects and local atomic environment in such crystals. Critical exponents β = 0.372(4) with a critical temperature T c= 151.25(5) K and γ = 1.265(15) with T c = 151.17(12) K are obtained by the Kouvel-Fisher method,more » whereas δ = 4.50 ( 1 ) is obtained by a critical isotherm analysis at T c = 151 K. These critical exponents obey the Widom scaling relation δ = 1 + γ / β , indicating self-consistency of the obtained values. With these critical exponents the isotherm M(H) curves below and above the critical temperatures collapse into two independent universal branches, obeying the single scaling equation m = f±(h), where m and h are renormalized magnetization and field, respectively. The exponents determined in this study are close to those calculated from the results of the renormalization group approach for a heuristic model of three-dimensional Heisenberg (d = 3,n = 3) spins coupled with the attractive long-range interactions between spins that decay as J(r) ≈ r -(3+σ) with σ = 1.89.« less

Critical behavior of the van der Waals bonded ferromagnet Fe 3 - x GeTe 2

DOE PAGES

Liu, Yu; Ivanovski, V. N.; Petrovic, C.

2017-10-29

The critical properties of the single-crystalline van der Waals bonded ferromagnet Fe 3-xGeTe 2 were investigated by bulk dc magnetization around the paramagnetic to ferromagnetic (FM) phase transition. The Fe 3-xGeTe 2 single crystals grown by self-flux method with Fe deficiency x ≈ 0.36 exhibit bulk FM ordering below T c = 152 K. The Mössbauer spectroscopy was used to provide information on defects and local atomic environment in such crystals. Critical exponents β = 0.372(4) with a critical temperature T c= 151.25(5) K and γ = 1.265(15) with T c = 151.17(12) K are obtained by the Kouvel-Fisher method,more » whereas δ = 4.50 ( 1 ) is obtained by a critical isotherm analysis at T c = 151 K. These critical exponents obey the Widom scaling relation δ = 1 + γ / β , indicating self-consistency of the obtained values. With these critical exponents the isotherm M(H) curves below and above the critical temperatures collapse into two independent universal branches, obeying the single scaling equation m = f±(h), where m and h are renormalized magnetization and field, respectively. The exponents determined in this study are close to those calculated from the results of the renormalization group approach for a heuristic model of three-dimensional Heisenberg (d = 3,n = 3) spins coupled with the attractive long-range interactions between spins that decay as J(r) ≈ r -(3+σ) with σ = 1.89.« less

Effect of bulk modulus on deformation of the brain under rotational accelerations

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ganpule, S.; Daphalapurkar, N. P.; Cetingul, M. P.; Ramesh, K. T.

2018-01-01

Traumatic brain injury such as that developed as a consequence of blast is a complex injury with a broad range of symptoms and disabilities. Computational models of brain biomechanics hold promise for illuminating the mechanics of traumatic brain injury and for developing preventive devices. However, reliable material parameters are needed for models to be predictive. Unfortunately, the properties of human brain tissue are difficult to measure, and the bulk modulus of brain tissue in particular is not well characterized. Thus, a wide range of bulk modulus values are used in computational models of brain biomechanics, spanning up to three orders of magnitude in the differences between values. However, the sensitivity of these variations on computational predictions is not known. In this work, we study the sensitivity of a 3D computational human head model to various bulk modulus values. A subject-specific human head model was constructed from T1-weighted MRI images at 2-mm3 voxel resolution. Diffusion tensor imaging provided data on spatial distribution and orientation of axonal fiber bundles for modeling white matter anisotropy. Non-injurious, full-field brain deformations in a human volunteer were used to assess the simulated predictions. The comparison suggests that a bulk modulus value on the order of GPa gives the best agreement with experimentally measured in vivo deformations in the human brain. Further, simulations of injurious loading suggest that bulk modulus values on the order of GPa provide the closest match with the clinical findings in terms of predicated injured regions and extent of injury.

Fused heterocycles bearing bridgehead nitrogen as potent HIV-1 NNRTIs. Part 3: optimization of [1,2,4]triazolo[1,5-a]pyrimidine core via structure-based and physicochemical property-driven approaches.

PubMed

Huang, Boshi; Li, Cuicui; Chen, Wenmin; Liu, Tao; Yu, Mingyan; Fu, Lu; Sun, Yueyue; Liu, Huiqing; De Clercq, Erik; Pannecouque, Christophe; Balzarini, Jan; Zhan, Peng; Liu, Xinyong

2015-03-06

In our arduous efforts to develop new potent HIV-1 non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase (RT) inhibitors (NNRTIs), novel piperidine-linked [1,2,4]triazolo[1,5-a]pyrimidine derivatives were designed, synthesized and evaluated for their antiviral activities in MT-4 cell cultures. Biological results showed that all of the title compounds displayed moderate to excellent activities against wild-type (wt) HIV-1 strain (IIIB) with EC50 values ranging from 8.1 nM to 2284 nM in a cell-based assay. Among them, the most promising analog 7d possessed an EC50 value of 8.1 nM against wt HIV-1, which was much more potent than the reference drugs DDI, 3 TC, NVP and DLV. Additionally, 7d demonstrated weak activity against the double mutant HIV-1 strain (K103N + Y181C), and was more efficient than NVP in a RT inhibition assay. Besides, some measured and calculated physicochemical properties of 7d, like log P and water solubility, as well as the structure-activity relationships (SARs) analysis have been discussed in detail. Furthermore, the binding mode of the active compound 7d was rationalized by molecular simulation studies. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.

Distributions and Sources of Bulk Organic Matter in Sediments of Five Estuaries in Todos os Santos Bay, Brazil.

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Leonel, J.; Hatje, V.

2016-02-01

Total organic carbon (TOC), total nitrogen (TN) and their δ13C and δ15N values were determined in cores and surficial sediments to evaluate organic matter contents and sources. Samples were collected along the salinity gradient of five estuaries (Paraguaçu, Subaé, Jaguaribe, São Paulo and Mataripe) of the Todos os Santos Bay (BTS), the second largest bay in Brazil. TOC values ranged from 0.7 to 2.7% and TOC/TN ranged between 1.8 and 8.3. Overall, a slight seaward decrease in %TOC as well as C/N is observed. Values of TOC/TN lower than the Redfield ratios were found in most samples from São Paulo and Mataripe estuaries. This is possibly the result of the anthropogenic impacts caused by oil related activities developed in the region. However, natural causes, such as preferential sorption of inorganic N or bacterially derived organic matters in the sediment, should not be dismissed. Indeed, the influence of inorganic N was also indicated by the low correlation found between TOC and TN values in some estuaries and the positive intercept observed in others, the suggesting that they come from different sources. In general, δ13C values ranged from -26.9 to -20.3‰ and enrichment was observed seaward. Consequently, δ13C has a negatively correlation with the TOC /TN values, except for Subaé River. In all estuaries the δ13Cvalues suggest a mixed marine/terrestrial source of the organic matter with an increase of marine influence towards the river mouth.

Characterization and production and consumption processes of N2O emitted from temperate agricultural soils determined via isotopomer ratio analysis

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Toyoda, Sakae; Yano, Midori; Nishimura, Sei-Ichi; Akiyama, Hiroko; Hayakawa, Atsushi; Koba, Keisuke; Sudo, Shigeto; Yagi, Kazuyuki; Makabe, Akiko; Tobari, Yoshifumi; Ogawa, Nanako O.; Ohkouchi, Naohiko; Yamada, Keita; Yoshida, Naohiro

2011-06-01

Isotopomer ratios of N2O (bulk nitrogen and oxygen isotope ratios, δ15Nbulk and δ18O, and intramolecular 15N site preference, SP) are useful parameters that characterize sources of this greenhouse gas and also provide insight into production and consumption mechanisms. We measured isotopomer ratios of N2O emitted from typical Japanese agricultural soils (Fluvisols and Andisols) planted with rice, wheat, soybean, and vegetables, and treated with synthetic (urea or ammonium) and organic (poultry manure) fertilizers. The results were analyzed using a previously reported isotopomeric N2O signature produced by nitrifying/denitrifying bacteria and a characteristic relationship between δ15Nbulk and SP during N2O reduction by denitrifying bacteria. Relative contributions from nitrification (hydroxylamine oxidation) and denitrification (nitrite reduction) to gross N2O production deduced from the analysis depended on soil type and fertilizer. The contribution from nitrification was relatively high (40%-70%) in Andisols amended with synthetic ammonium fertilizer, while denitrification was dominant (50%-90%) in the same soils amended with poultry manure during the period when N2O production occurred in the surface layer. This information on production processes is in accordance with that obtained from flux/concentration analysis of N2O and soil inorganic nitrogen. However, isotopomer analysis further revealed that partial reduction of N2O was pronounced in high-bulk density, alluvial soil (Fluvisol) compared to low-bulk density, volcanic ash soil (Andisol), and that the observed difference in N2O flux between normal and pelleted manure could have resulted from a similar mechanism with different rates of gross production and gross consumption. The isotopomeric analysis is based on data from pure culture bacteria and would be improved by further studies on in situ biological processes in soils including those by fungi. When flux/concentration-weighted average isotopomer ratios of N2O from various fertilized soils were examined, linear correlations were found between δ15Nbulk and δ18O, and between SP and δ15Nbulk. These relationships would be useful to parameterize isotopomer ratios of soil-emitted N2O for the modeling of the global N2O isotopomer budget. The results obtained in this study and those from previous firn/ice core studies confirm that the principal source of anthropogenic N2O is fertilized soils.

Quantum Hall effect in dual gated BiSbTeSe2 topological insulator

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chong, Su Kong; Han, Kyu Bum; Nagaoka, Akira; Harmer, Jared; Tsuchikawa, Ryuichi; Sparks, Taylor D.; Deshpande, Vikram V.

The discovery of topological insulators (TIs) has expanded the family of Dirac materials and enables the probing of exotic matter such as Majorana fermions and magnetic monopoles. Different from conventional 2D electron gas, 3D TIs exhibit a gapped insulating bulk and gapless topological surface states as a result of the strong spin-orbit coupling. BiSbTeSe2 is also known to be a 3D TI with a large intrinsic bulk gap of about 0.3 eV and a single Dirac cone surface state. The highly bulk insulating BiSbTeSe2 permits surface dominated conduction, which is an ideal system for the study of quantum Hall effect (QHE). Due to the spin-momentum locking, the Dirac fermions at the topological surface states have a degeneracy of one. In the QH regime, the Hall conductance is quantized to (n + 1 / 2) e2 / h , where n is an integer and the factor of half is related to Berry curvature. In this work, we study the QHE 3D TI using a dual gated BiSbTeSe2 device. By tuning the chemical potentials on top and bottom surfaces, integer QHE with Landau filling factors, ν = 0, +/-1, and +/-2 are observed.

Isotopic nitrogen in fecal fiber as an indicator of winter diet in caribou and muskoxen

USGS Publications Warehouse

Gustine, David D.; Barboza, Perry S.; Addison, Jennifer; Shively, Rachel; Oliver, Lola

2014-01-01

RATIONALE: The ratios of stable nitrogen isotopes (δ15N values) in excreta have been used to examine aspects of trophic and nutritional ecology across taxa. Nitrogen fractions in feces of herbivores include endogenous (e.g., sloughed intestinal cells, unresorbed digestive secretions, and microbial debris) and dietary sources. For animals such as large herbivores, that have diets and feces with high concentrations of indigestible fiber, endogenous 15N may constrain the use of fecal δ15N values to estimate dietary δ15N values and reconstruct diets. METHODS: We compared two techniques (detergent and detergent-free) to isolate fractions of plant fibers in the forages of caribou (Rangifer tarandus) and muskoxen (Ovibos moschatus); estimated the discrimination factors between the δ15N values of fecal fiber residues and of the diets of captive animals; and used the more effective isotopic tracer of dietary δ15N values to examine the relationships between the δ15N values of fecal residues and diet composition in several populations of wild caribou and muskoxen throughout North America in winter. RESULTS: The detergent-based approach contaminated the fractions of plant fibers in forages and feces with 14N, whereas the detergent-free method was a good proxy to estimate δ15N values of plant fibers (r2= 0.92) and provided a better estimate of the fecal-fiber to diet discrimination factor for both species (caribou = 3.6‰; muskoxen = 2.8‰). In wild populations, the δ15N values of fecal fibers reflected diet composition in muskoxen (adjusted R2= 0.43) but not caribou (adjusted R2= 0.06). CONCLUSIONS: Contamination from detergent residues prohibited the use of detergent extraction in isolating forage 15N from endogenous 15N in the feces of herbivores. Although δ15N values in fecal fibers can be used to track dietary δ15N values in wild herbivores, discrimination between fecal extracts and diet may vary with the contribution of endogenous nitrogen (N), and, therefore, residual endogenous 15N in feces may limit dietary reconstructions from fecal δ15N values for some large herbivores.

Isotopic nitrogen in fecal fiber as an indicator of winter diet in caribou and muskoxen.

PubMed

Gustine, David D; Barboza, Perry S; Addison, Jennifer; Shively, Rachel; Oliver, Lola

2014-03-30

The ratios of stable nitrogen isotopes (δ(15)N values) in excreta have been used to examine aspects of trophic and nutritional ecology across taxa. Nitrogen fractions in feces of herbivores include endogenous (e.g., sloughed intestinal cells, unresorbed digestive secretions, and microbial debris) and dietary sources. For animals such as large herbivores, that have diets and feces with high concentrations of indigestible fiber, endogenous (15)N may constrain the use of fecal δ(15)N values to estimate dietary δ(15)N values and reconstruct diets. We compared two techniques (detergent and detergent-free) to isolate fractions of plant fibers in the forages of caribou (Rangifer tarandus) and muskoxen (Ovibos moschatus); estimated the discrimination factors between the δ(15)N values of fecal fiber residues and of the diets of captive animals; and used the more effective isotopic tracer of dietary δ(15)N values to examine the relationships between the δ(15)N values of fecal residues and diet composition in several populations of wild caribou and muskoxen throughout North America in winter. The detergent-based approach contaminated the fractions of plant fibers in forages and feces with (14)N, whereas the detergent-free method was a good proxy to estimate δ(15)N values of plant fibers (r(2) = 0.92) and provided a better estimate of the fecal-fiber to diet discrimination factor for both species (caribou = 3.6‰; muskoxen = 2.8‰). In wild populations, the δ(15)N values of fecal fibers reflected diet composition in muskoxen (adjusted R(2) = 0.43) but not caribou (adjusted R(2) = 0.06). Contamination from detergent residues prohibited the use of detergent extraction in isolating forage (15)N from endogenous (15)N in the feces of herbivores. Although δ(15)N values in fecal fibers can be used to track dietary δ(15)N values in wild herbivores, discrimination between fecal extracts and diet may vary with the contribution of endogenous nitrogen (N), and, therefore, residual endogenous (15)N in feces may limit dietary reconstructions from fecal δ(15)N values for some large herbivores. Published in 2014. This article is a US Government work and is in the public domain in the USA.

Colostrum and milk pasteurization improve health status and decrease mortality in neonatal calves receiving appropriate colostrum ingestion.

PubMed

Armengol, Ramon; Fraile, Lorenzo

2016-06-01

The objective of the study was to evaluate if on-farm heat treatment of colostrum and bulk tank milk can improve calf health status and morbidity and mortality rates during the first 21d of life in neonatal Holstein calves receiving appropriate colostrum ingestion. A total of 587 calves were randomly assigned to 2 groups of males and females over 18mo. The nonpasteurized group (n=287, 143 males and 144 females) was fed frozen (-20°C) colostrum (6-8L during the first 12h of life) that was previously reheated up to 40°C. They were also fed refrigerated (4°C) raw milk from the bulk tank that was also reheated up to 40°C (1.8L every 12h). The pasteurized group (n=300, 150 males and 150 females) was also fed colostrum and milk, but both were pasteurized before freezing. Blood samples were drawn from all calves to obtain serum at 2 to 5d of life. Serum total protein (g/dL) was determined using a commercially available refractometer. Colostrum and milk underwent routine bacteriological analysis to determine total plate counts (cfu/mL) and total coliform counts (cfu/mL). All the calves underwent clinical examination every 24h during the first 21d of life. Every day, calves were clinically diagnosed either as being healthy or suffering from respiratory disease, neonatal calf diarrhea, or suffering other diseases. On-farm heat treatment for colostrum and milk reduced total plate counts and total coliform counts between 1 and 2 log10. Pasteurization of colostrum and milk significantly decreased the morbidity and mortality (5.2 and 2.8%) in comparison with calves receiving nonpasteurized colostrum and milk (15.0 and 6.5%), respectively, during the first 21d of life, even in animals receiving appropriate colostrum ingestion. Copyright © 2016 American Dairy Science Association. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Divergence of water balance mechanisms in two sibling species (Drosophila simulans and D. melanogaster): effects of growth temperatures.

PubMed

Parkash, Ravi; Aggarwal, Dau Dayal; Singh, Divya; Lambhod, Chanderkala; Ranga, Poonam

2013-04-01

Drosophila simulans is more abundant under colder and drier montane habitats in the western Himalayas as compared to its sibling D. melanogaster but the mechanistic bases of such climatic adaptations are largely unknown. Previous studies have described D. simulans as a desiccation sensitive species which is inconsistent with its occurrence in temperate regions. We tested the hypothesis whether developmental plasticity of cuticular traits confers adaptive changes in water balance-related traits in the sibling species D. simulans and D. melanogaster. Our results are interesting in several respects. First, D. simulans grown at 15 °C possesses a high level of desiccation resistance in larvae (~39 h) and in adults (~86 h) whereas the corresponding values are quite low at 25 °C (larvae ~7 h; adults ~13 h). Interestingly, cuticular lipid mass was threefold higher in D. simulans grown at 15 °C as compared with 25 °C while there was no change in cuticular lipid mass in D. melanogaster. Second, developmental plasticity of body melanisation was evident in both species. Drosophila simulans showed higher melanisation at 15 °C as compared with D. melanogaster while the reverse trend was observed at 25 °C. Third, changes in water balance-related traits (bulk water, hemolymph and dehydration tolerance) showed superiority of D. simulans at 15 °C but of D. melanogaster at 25 °C growth temperature. Rate of carbohydrate utilization under desiccation stress did not differ at 15 °C in both the species. Fourth, effects of developmental plasticity on cuticular traits correspond with changes in the cuticular water loss i.e. water loss rates were higher at 25 °C as compared with 15 °C. Thus, D. simulans grown under cooler temperature was more desiccation tolerant than D. melanogaster. Finally, desiccation acclimation capacity of larvae and adults is higher for D. simulans reared at 15 °C but quite low at 25 °C. Thus, D. simulans and D. melanogaster have evolved different strategies of water conservation consistent with their adaptations to dry and wet habitats in the western Himalayas. Our results suggest that D. simulans from lowland localities seems vulnerable due to limited acclimation potential in the context of global climatic change in the western Himalayas. Finally, this is the first report on higher desiccation resistance of D. simulans due to developmental plasticity of both the cuticular traits (body melanisation and epicuticular lipid mass) when grown at 15 °C, which is consistent with its abundance in temperate regions.

Heterogeneity of Cr in Mytilus edulis: Implications for the Cr isotope system as a paleo-redox proxy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bruggmann, Sylvie; Klaebe, Robert; Frei, Robert

2017-04-01

Changes in 53Cr/52Cr (δ53Cr) values recorded by biogenic carbonates are emerging as a proxy for variations in the redox state of the Earth's oceans and atmosphere (e.g. [1], [2]). We investigate the ability of modern carbonate shells (Mytilus edulis) to record the δ53Cr composition of ambient seawater in order to assess their utility as a paleo-redox proxy. Samples of cultivated M. edulis from the Kiel Fjord, Germany, were analyzed for their δ53Cr composition and Cr concentrations [Cr] using TIMS. To disentangle the pathway of Cr into the carbonate shell, a series of step-digestions of their organic outer sheaths (periostraca) and their intra-layer composition were performed. Bulk analyses of specimens with intact periostraca returned 16 to 34 ppb Cr with δ53Cr values ranging from 0.28 to 0.65 ± 0.1 (2SE) and thus fall within the range of surface seawater from the Baltic Sea (0.3 - 0.6 \\permil [3]). Partial removal of periostraca resulted in lower [Cr] (5 to 17 ppb) and δ53Cr values (-0.05 ± 0.15 \\permil). These results show a positive correlation between the amount of organic matter present in a sample and both [Cr] and δ53Cr (n = 9). With nearly complete removal of periostraca, the remaining [Cr] is significantly lower (less than 5 ppb) and can only be accessed by incineration of the carbonate shell. The correlation between [Cr], δ53Cr and the amount of periostracum present in bulk samples indicates that a significant proportion of preserved Cr may be associated with the organic outer sheath. The Cr endmember accessed after incineration is less likely associated with the carbonate crystal lattice. Instead, the δ53Cr values obtained after incineration are similar to those reported from terrestrial rocks, suggesting the influence of detrital particles. Alternatively, Cr may be reduced and subsequently re-oxidized during the mineralization of biogenic carbonates [4]. Seasonal changes in primary productivity in seawater may further influence the shell's Cr isotopic composition [3]. A detailed understanding of the processes causing the observed heterogeneity of [Cr] and δ53Cr in modern carbonate shells is crucial for the use of the Cr isotope system as a potential paleo-redox proxy. [1] Bonnand, P., James, R. H., Parkinson, I. J., Connelly, D. P., and Fairchild, I. J. (2013). The chromium isotopic composition of seawater and marine carbonates. Earth and Planetary Science Letters, 382:10-20. [2] Holmden, C., Jacobsen, A. D., Sageman, B. B., Hurgten, M. T. (2016). Response of the Cr isotope proxy to Cretaceous Ocean Anoxic Event 2 in a pelagic carbonate succession from the Western Interior Seaway. Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, 186:227-295. [3] Paulukat, C., Gilleaudeau, G. J., Chernyavskiy, P., Frei, R. (2016). The Cr-isotope signature of surface seawater -A global perspective. Chemical Geology, 444:101-109. [4] Pereira, N. S., Voegelin, A. R., Paulukat, C., Sial, A. N., Ferreira, V. P., and Frei, R. (2015). Chromium-isotope signatures in scleractinian corals from the Rocas Atoll, Tropical South Atlantic. Geobiology 1-14.

Late Pleistocene Southeast Amazonia Paleoenvironmental reconstruction inferred by bulk, isotopic and molecular organic matter. Saci lake-Para-Brazil

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Martins, G. S.; Cordeiro, R. C.; Turcq, B.; Moreira, L. S.; Bouloubassi, I.; Sifeddine, A.

2014-12-01

Bulk, Isotope and biolomecular analysis supported by 22 14C AMS dates, allowed the reconstruction of environmental changes during the last 35 000 years BP in the Southeast Amazonian basin. A terrestrial origin has been inferred for the odd carbon-numbered long-chain (>C27) n-alkanes. The entire n-alkane δ13C range between -31.7‰ and -36.8‰, which is the isotopic range occupied by C3 vegetation. The C29:C31 ratio shows that a gramineae contribution is higher during the Pleistocene than in Holocene. The n-alkanes concentration decrease between 32 000 - 18 000, suggesting a increase in arid conditions. The ACL index confirm this interpretation showing high values due the Pleistocene linked to more hydrological stress. A shift in the abundance of n-alkane and isotopic values are observed across the late Pleistocene glacial-Holocene interglacial climate change, suggesting a climate-induced vegetational change. During the middle Holocene the n-alcanes values decreases indicating rain forest regression accompanied by increase in the ACL values confirming the dry climate conditions. Comparison with other South American records, our record indicates regression/expansion of the rain forest linked to the South American System monsoon activity since 35 kyrs.

Global Patterns of the Isotopic Composition of Soil and Plant Nitrogen

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Amundson, R.; Yoo, K.

2014-12-01

From a societal perspective, soil N follows only soil C in the importance of soil to 21st century environmental issues. Amundson et al (2003) developed a mass balance model for soil N and the ratio of 15N/14N, and provided the first global projections of the spatial patterns of soil and plant δ15N values. It was hypothesized that state factors, particularly climate, should drive broad patterns of soil and plant δ15N values in a manner analogous to the known patterns of total soil N (e.g. Post et al., 1984). At that time, the N isotope data available to explore the effect of individual factors was modest. In the past decade, numerous papers from a broad spectrum of locations have created a rich database that can be used to further refine the initial projections made more than a decade ago. In this paper, hundreds of published measurements will be used to more deeply examine the climatic impacts on soil and plant δ15N values. Additionally, we will focus on the local controls of topography on ecosystem N cycling, which can create local isotopic variation that is similar in magnitude to the global effects of climate. The adoption of process-based models from the hillslope geomorphology community appears to be a powerful tool for explaining some existing data from toposequences, designing new studies of topographic controls on biogeochemistry, and particularly for parameterization in global models. Amundson, R., A.T. Austin, E.A.G. Schuur, K. Yoo, V. Matzek, C. Kendall, A. Uebersax, D. Brenner, and W.T. Baisden. 2003. Global Biogeochemical Cycles 17(1):1031.

Metabolically Generated Stable Isotope-Labeled Deoxynucleoside Code for Tracing DNA N6-Methyladenine in Human Cells.

PubMed

Liu, Baodong; Liu, Xiaoling; Lai, Weiyi; Wang, Hailin

2017-06-06

DNA N 6 -methyl-2'-deoxyadenosine (6mdA) is an epigenetic modification in both eukaryotes and bacteria. Here we exploited stable isotope-labeled deoxynucleoside [ 15 N 5 ]-2'-deoxyadenosine ([ 15 N 5 ]-dA) as an initiation tracer and for the first time developed a metabolically differential tracing code for monitoring DNA 6mdA in human cells. We demonstrate that the initiation tracer [ 15 N 5 ]-dA undergoes a specific and efficient adenine deamination reaction leading to the loss the exocyclic amine 15 N, and further utilizes the purine salvage pathway to generate mainly both [ 15 N 4 ]-dA and [ 15 N 4 ]-2'-deoxyguanosine ([ 15 N 4 ]-dG) in mammalian genomes. However, [ 15 N 5 ]-dA is largely retained in the genomes of mycoplasmas, which are often found in cultured cells and experimental animals. Consequently, the methylation of dA generates 6mdA with a consistent coding pattern, with a predominance of [ 15 N 4 ]-6mdA. Therefore, mammalian DNA 6mdA can be potentially discriminated from that generated by infecting mycoplasmas. Collectively, we show a promising approach for identification of authentic DNA 6mdA in human cells and determine if the human cells are contaminated with mycoplasmas.

Influence of leucite content on slow crack growth of dental porcelains.

PubMed

Cesar, Paulo F; Soki, Fabiana N; Yoshimura, Humberto N; Gonzaga, Carla C; Styopkin, Victor

2008-08-01

To determine the stress corrosion susceptibility coefficient, n, of seven dental porcelains (A: Ceramco I; B: Ceramco-II; C: Ceramco-III; D: d.Sign; E: Cerabien; F: Vitadur-Alpha; and G: Ultropaline) after aging in air or artificial saliva, and correlate results with leucite content (LC). Bars were fired according to manufacturers' instructions and polished before induction of cracks by a Vickers indenter (19.6N, 20s). Four specimens were stored in air/room temperature, and three in saliva/37 degrees C. Five indentations were made per specimen and crack lengths measured at the following times: approximately 0; 1; 3; 10; 30; 100; 300; 1000 and 3000 h. The stress corrosion coefficient n was calculated by linear regression analysis after plotting crack length as a function of time, considering that the slope of the curve was [2/(3n+2)]. Microstructural analysis was performed to determine LC. LC of the porcelains were 22% (A and B); 6% (C); 15% (D); 0% (E and F); and 13% (G). Except for porcelains A and D, all materials showed a decrease in their n values when stored in artificial saliva. However, the decrease was more pronounced for porcelains B, F, and G. Ranking of materials varied according to storage media (in air, porcelain G showed higher n compared to A, while in saliva both showed similar coefficients). No correlation was found between n values and LC in air or saliva. Storage media influenced the n value obtained for most of the materials. LC did not affect resistance to slow crack growth regardless of the test environment.

Bulk C, H, O, and fatty acid C stable isotope analyses for purity assessment of vegetable oils from the southern and northern hemispheres.

PubMed

Spangenberg, Jorge E

2016-09-06

|The carbon, hydrogen and oxygen stable isotope composition (δ 13 C, δ 2 H, and δ 18 O values) of plants and their products is linked to photosynthetic fractionation, environmental factors and agricultural practices. Therefore, they contribute to determining the purity of commercial vegetable oils and may provide information on their geographical origin. Maize, olive, sunflower, groundnut, soybean and rice oils differing in sites of growth in the southern and northern hemispheres were characterized by bulk oil stable isotope ratios (δ 13 C bulk , δ 2 H bulk , and δ 18 O bulk values), fatty acids (FAs) concentrations and δ 13 C FA values using elemental analysis/isotope ratio mass spectrometry, gas chromatography/mass spectrometry, gas chromatography/flame ionization detection and gas chromatography/combustion/isotope ratio mass spectrometry. Principal component analysis was applied to examine the inherent structure of the data. The δ 13 C bulk values of maize oils (-18.4 to -14.9 ‰) are typical for C 4 plants, and those of olive (-30.2 to -28.2 ‰), sunflower (-30.2 to -29.2 ‰), groundnut (-29.3 ‰), soybean (-30.6 ‰), and rice (-34.5 ‰) oils are typical for C 3 plants. The δ 2 H bulk values vary from -161 to -132‰ for maize oils and -171 to -109 ‰ for C 3 oils. The δ 18 O bulk values of all oils vary between 15.2 and 38.9 ‰. The major δ 13 C FA differences (>5 ‰) within plant species render the inter-C 3 -species comparison difficult. These differences are explained in terms of variations in the lipid biosynthetic pathways and blend of vegetable oils of different FA composition and δ 13 C FA values. The samples from the southern hemisphere are generally enriched in 13 C compared with those from the northern hemisphere. Differences between the southern and northern hemispheres were observed in δ 2 H (p < 0.001) and δ 18 O bulk (p = 0.129) values for all C 3 oils, and in δ 13 C 18:1 (p = 0.026) and δ 18 O bulk (p = 0.160) values for maize oils. The results of this study show that combining bulk and molecular stable isotope ratios, fatty acid compositions and their statistical analysis helps the characterization of the geographic origin of oils. This methodology can be used to detect and source impurities in valuable vegetable oils commercialized worldwide. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

2007 California Aerosol Study: Evaluation of δ15N as a Tracer Of NOx Sources and Chemsitry

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Katzman, T. L.

2017-12-01

Although stable isotopes of N are commonly used as a source tracer, how this tracer is applied is a point of contention. The "source" hypothesis argues that the δ15N value of NO3- reflects the δ15N value of NOx source inputs into the environment, and any observed variation is solely the result of differences in source contributions. Conversely, the "chemistry" hypothesis argues that N isotopes are influenced by chemical reactions, atmospheric or biologic processing, and post-depositional effects. Previous studies often apply the source hypothesis, writing off the chemistry hypothesis as "minor," but others have noted the impact chemistry should has on δ15N values. Given the known complications, this work seeks to assess the use of stable isotopes as tracers, specifically, the assumption that the δ15N value is a tracer of source alone without significant influence from chemical reactions. If the "source" hypothesis is correct, source emission data, known source δ15N values, and isotope mass balance should be able to approximate measured δ15NNO3 values and determine the δ15N value associated with wildfire derived NOx, which is currently unknown. Significant deviations from observed values would support the significance of equilibrium and kinetic isotope effects associated with chemical reactions and processing in the atmosphere. Aerosols collected in during 2007, emission data, and isotopic analysis were utilized to determine the utility of δ15N as tracer of NOx sources. San Diego, California is a coastal urban area influenced by sea salt aerosols, anthropogenic combustion emissions, and seasonal wildfires. Wildfires also have a significant influence on local atmospheric chemistry and 2007 was notable for being one of the worst fire seasons in the San Diego region on record. Isotopic analysis of collected NO3- has suggested that source δ15N values are likely not conserved as NOx is oxidized into NO3-. Given known source contributions and known δ15N values of NOx sources, isotope mass balance predicts that a NOx source with highly positive δ15N value must exist for the source hypothesis to be valid. Furthermore, isotopic analysis has also suggested that wildfire emissions may produce a depleted δ15N, disagreeing with previously predicted δ15N values.

In vitro and in vivo antileishmanial and trypanocidal studies of new N-benzene- and N-naphthalenesulfonamide derivatives.

PubMed

Galiana-Roselló, Cristina; Bilbao-Ramos, Pablo; Dea-Ayuela, M Auxiliadora; Rolón, Miriam; Vega, Celeste; Bolás-Fernández, Francisco; García-España, Enrique; Alfonso, Jorge; Coronel, Cathia; González-Rosende, M Eugenia

2013-11-27

We report in vivo and in vitro antileishmanial and trypanocidal activities of a new series of N-substituted benzene and naphthalenesulfonamides 1-15. Compounds 1-15 were screened in vitro against Leishmania infantum , Leishmania braziliensis , Leishmania guyanensis , Leishmania amazonensis , and Trypanosoma cruzi . Sulfonamides 6e, 10b, and 10d displayed remarkable activity and selectivity toward T. cruzi epimastigotes and amastigotes. 6e showed significant trypanocidal activity on parasitemia in a murine model of acute Chagas disease. Moreover, 6e, 8c, 9c, 12c, and 14d displayed interesting IC50 values against Leishmania spp promastigotes as well as L. amazonensis and L. infantum amastigotes. 9c showed excellent in vivo activity (up to 97% inhibition of the parasite growth) in a short-term treatment murine model for acute infection by L. infantum. In addition, the effect of compounds 9c and 14d on tubulin as potential target was assessed by confocal microscopy analysis applied to L. infantum promastigotes.

Studies of the Cr-CrN coating characteristics formed by means of the magnetron sputtering method from bulk target

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kachalin, G. V.; Mednikov, A. F.; Tkhabisimov, A. B.; Sidorov, S. V.

2017-07-01

The paper presents the study’s results of ion-plasma chromium based coating characteristics produced on blade steel samples 12Kh13 and EI961 by means of the magnetron sputtering method from the bulk “hot” target. A set of metallographic studies and erosion tests of coatings were carried out using the research equipment URI (unique research installation) “Hydroshock rig Erosion-M” of NRU “MPEI”. Cr-CrN based coatings have a layered structure; thickness of intermediate Cr layers ranges from 0.7 to 1.7 μm, thickness of nitride layers CrN ranges from 1.5 to 4 μm, while the overall coating thickness is 17.0-21.5 μm coating microhardness is 1830-1880 HV0.05. The resulting coatings are found to increase 1.5 times the incubation period duration of erosion wear for steels 12Kh13 and EI961; they reduce the maximum erosion rate 1.3 times, and the steady erosion rate - 1.5 times.

Hemolytic Potential of Tafenoquine in Female Volunteers Heterozygous for Glucose-6-Phosphate Dehydrogenase (G6PD) Deficiency (G6PD Mahidol Variant) versus G6PD-Normal Volunteers

PubMed Central

Rueangweerayut, Ronnatrai; Bancone, Germana; Harrell, Emma J.; Beelen, Andrew P.; Kongpatanakul, Supornchai; Möhrle, Jörg J.; Rousell, Vicki; Mohamed, Khadeeja; Qureshi, Ammar; Narayan, Sushma; Yubon, Nushara; Miller, Ann; Nosten, François H.; Luzzatto, Lucio; Duparc, Stephan; Kleim, Jörg-Peter; Green, Justin A.

2017-01-01

Abstract. Tafenoquine is an 8-aminoquinoline under investigation for the prevention of relapse in Plasmodium vivax malaria. This open-label, dose-escalation study assessed quantitatively the hemolytic risk with tafenoquine in female healthy volunteers heterozygous for the Mahidol487A glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD)-deficient variant versus G6PD-normal females, and with reference to primaquine. Six G6PD-heterozygous subjects (G6PD enzyme activity 40–60% of normal) and six G6PD-normal subjects per treatment group received single-dose tafenoquine (100, 200, or 300 mg) or primaquine (15 mg × 14 days). All participants had pretreatment hemoglobin levels ≥ 12.0 g/dL. Tafenoquine dose escalation stopped when hemoglobin decreased by ≥ 2.5 g/dL (or hematocrit decline ≥ 7.5%) versus pretreatment values in ≥ 3/6 subjects. A dose–response was evident in G6PD-heterozygous subjects (N = 15) receiving tafenoquine for the maximum decrease in hemoglobin versus pretreatment values. Hemoglobin declines were similar for tafenoquine 300 mg (−2.65 to −2.95 g/dL [N = 3]) and primaquine (−1.25 to −3.0 g/dL [N = 5]). Two further cohorts of G6PD-heterozygous subjects with G6PD enzyme levels 61–80% (N = 2) and > 80% (N = 5) of the site median normal received tafenoquine 200 mg; hemolysis was less pronounced at higher G6PD enzyme activities. Tafenoquine hemolytic potential was dose dependent, and hemolysis was greater in G6PD-heterozygous females with lower G6PD enzyme activity levels. Single-dose tafenoquine 300 mg did not appear to increase the severity of hemolysis versus primaquine 15 mg × 14 days. PMID:28749773

The influence of solid retention time on IFAS-MBR systems: Assessment of nitrous oxide emission.

PubMed

Mannina, Giorgio; Capodici, Marco; Cosenza, Alida; Laudicina, Vito Armando; Di Trapani, Daniele

2017-12-01

The aim of the present study was to investigate the nitrous oxide (N 2 O) emissions from a moving bed based Integrated Fixed Film Activated Sludge (IFAS) - membrane bioreactor (MBR) pilot plant, designed according to the University of Cape Town (UCT) layout. The experimental campaign had a duration of 110 days and was characterized by three different sludge retention time (SRT) values (∞, 30 d and 15 d). Results highlighted that N 2 O concentrations decreased when the biofilm concentrations increased within the aerobic reactor. Results have shown an increase of N 2 O with the decrease of SRT. Specifically, an increase of N 2 O-N emission factor occurred with the decrease of the SRT (0.13%, 0.21% and 0.76% of influent nitrogen for SRT = ∞, SRT = 30 d and SRT = 15 d, respectively). Moreover, the MBR tank resulted the key emission source (up to 70% of the total N 2 O emission during SRT = ∞ period) whereas the highest N 2 O production occurred in the anoxic reactor. Moreover, N 2 O concentrations measured in the permeate flow were not negligible, thus highlighting its potential detrimental contribution for the receiving water body. The role of each plant reactor as N 2 O-N producer/consumer varies with the SRT variation, indeed the aerobic reactor was a N 2 O consumer at SRT = ∞ and a producer at SRT = 30 d. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Isotopic and molecular distributions of biochemicals from fresh and buried Rhizophora mangle leaves†

PubMed Central

Smallwood, Barbara J; Wooller, Matthew J; Jacobson, Myrna E; Fogel, Marilyn L

2003-01-01

Rhizophora mangle L. (red mangrove) is the dominant species of mangrove in the Americas. At Twin Cays, Belize (BZ) red mangroves are present in a variety of stand structures (tall >5 m in height, transition ~2–4 m and dwarf ~1–1.5 m). These height differences are coupled with very different stable carbon and nitrogen isotopic values[1] (mean tall δ13C = -28.3‰, δ15N = 0‰; mean tall δ13C = -25.3‰, δ15N = -10‰). To determine the utility of using these distinct isotopic compositions as 'biomarkers' for paleoenvironmental reconstruction of mangrove ecosystems and nutrient availability, we investigated the distribution and isotopic (δ13C and δ15N) composition of different biochemical fractions (water soluble compounds, free lipids, acid hydrolysable compounds, individual amino acids, and the residual un-extractable compounds) in fresh and preserved red mangrove leaves from dwarf and tall trees. The distribution of biochemicals are similar in dwarf and tall red mangrove leaves, suggesting that, regardless of stand structure, red mangroves use nutrients for biosynthesis and metabolism in a similar manner. However, the δ13C and δ15N of the bulk leaf, the biochemical fractions, and seven amino acids can be used to distinguish dwarf and tall trees at Twin Cays, BZ. The data support the theory that the fractionation of carbon and nitrogen occurs prior to or during uptake in dwarf and tall red mangrove trees. Stable carbon and nitrogen isotopes could, therefore, be powerful tools for predicting levels of nutrient limitation at Twin Cays. The δ13C and δ15N of biochemical fractions within preserved leaves, reflect sedimentary cycling and nitrogen immobilization. The δ15N of the immobilized fraction reveals the overlying stand structure at the time of leaf deposition. The isotopic composition of preserved mangrove leaves could yield significant information about changes in ecosystem dynamics, nutrient limitation and past stand structure in mangrove paleoecosystems.

Structural effects of protein aging: Terminal marking by deamidation in human triosephosphate isomerase

DOE PAGES

Torres-Larios, Alfredo; Enríquez-Flores, Sergio; Méndez, Sara -Teresa; ...

2015-04-17

Deamidation, the loss of the ammonium group of asparagine and glutamine to form aspartic and glutamic acid, is one of the most commonly occurring post-translational modifications in proteins. Since deamidation rates are encoded in the protein structure, it has been proposed that they can serve as molecular clocks for the timing of biological processes such as protein turnover, development and aging. Despite the importance of this process, there is a lack of detailed structural information explaining the effects of deamidation on the structure of proteins. Here, we studied the effects of deamidation on human triosephosphate isomerase (HsTIM), an enzyme formore » which deamidation of N15 and N71 has been long recognized as the signal for terminal marking of the protein. Deamidation was mimicked by site directed mutagenesis; thus, three mutants of HsTIM (N15D, N71D and N15D/N71D) were characterized. The results show that the N71D mutant resembles, structurally and functionally, the wild type enzyme. In contrast, the N15D mutant displays all the detrimental effects related to deamidation. The N15D/N71D mutant shows only minor additional effects when compared with the N15D mutation, supporting that deamidation of N71 induces negligible effects. The crystal structures show that, in contrast to the N71D mutant, where minimal alterations are observed, the N15D mutation forms new interactions that perturb the structure of loop 1 and loop 3, both critical components of the catalytic site and the interface of HsTIM. Based on a phylogenetic analysis of TIM sequences, we propose the conservation of this mechanism for mammalian TIMs.« less

Structural effects of protein aging: Terminal marking by deamidation in human triosephosphate isomerase

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Torres-Larios, Alfredo; Enríquez-Flores, Sergio; Méndez, Sara -Teresa

Deamidation, the loss of the ammonium group of asparagine and glutamine to form aspartic and glutamic acid, is one of the most commonly occurring post-translational modifications in proteins. Since deamidation rates are encoded in the protein structure, it has been proposed that they can serve as molecular clocks for the timing of biological processes such as protein turnover, development and aging. Despite the importance of this process, there is a lack of detailed structural information explaining the effects of deamidation on the structure of proteins. Here, we studied the effects of deamidation on human triosephosphate isomerase (HsTIM), an enzyme formore » which deamidation of N15 and N71 has been long recognized as the signal for terminal marking of the protein. Deamidation was mimicked by site directed mutagenesis; thus, three mutants of HsTIM (N15D, N71D and N15D/N71D) were characterized. The results show that the N71D mutant resembles, structurally and functionally, the wild type enzyme. In contrast, the N15D mutant displays all the detrimental effects related to deamidation. The N15D/N71D mutant shows only minor additional effects when compared with the N15D mutation, supporting that deamidation of N71 induces negligible effects. The crystal structures show that, in contrast to the N71D mutant, where minimal alterations are observed, the N15D mutation forms new interactions that perturb the structure of loop 1 and loop 3, both critical components of the catalytic site and the interface of HsTIM. Based on a phylogenetic analysis of TIM sequences, we propose the conservation of this mechanism for mammalian TIMs.« less

Characterization of [3H]LS-3-134, a Novel Arylamide Phenylpiperazine D3 Dopamine Receptor Selective Radioligand

PubMed Central

Rangel-Barajas, Claudia; Malik, Maninder; Taylor, Michelle; Neve, Kim A.; Mach, Robert H.; Luedtke, Robert R.

2014-01-01

LS-3-134 is a substituted N-phenylpiperazine derivative that has been reported to exhibit a) high-affinity binding (Ki value 0.2 nM) at human D3 dopamine receptors, b) >100-fold D3 vs. D2 dopamine receptor subtype binding selectivity and c) low-affinity binding (Ki values >5,000 nM) at sigma 1 and sigma 2 receptors. Based upon a forskolin-dependent activation of the adenylyl cyclase inhibition assay, LS-3-134 is a weak partial agonist at both D2 and D3 dopamine receptor subtypes (29% and 35% of full agonist activity, respectively). In this study, [3H]-labeled LS-3-134 was prepared and evaluated to further characterize its use as a D3 dopamine receptor selective radioligand. Kinetic and equilibrium radioligand binding studies were performed. This radioligand rapidly reaches equilibrium (10-15 min at 37°C) and binds with high affinity to both human (Kd = 0.06 ± 0.01 nM) and rat (Kd = 0.2 ± 0.02 nM) D3 receptors expressed in HEK-293 cells. Direct and competitive radioligand binding studies using rat caudate and nucleus accumbens tissue indicate that [3H]LS-3-134 selectively binds a homogeneous population of binding sites with a dopamine D3 receptor pharmacological profile. Based upon these studies we propose that [3H]LS-3-134 represents a novel D3 dopamine receptor selective radioligand that can be used for studying the expression and regulation of the D3 dopamine receptor subtype. PMID:25041389

Polytype stability and defects in differently doped bulk SiC

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Schmitt, Erwin; Straubinger, Thomas; Rasp, Michael; Vogel, Michael; Wohlfart, Andreas

2008-03-01

In this work, we present recent results on development and production of n-type 4 H bulk material. From previous studies it is evident that inclusions of foreign polytypes can act as origin of severe structural imperfections [N. Schulze, D.L. Barret, G. Pensl, S. Rohmfeld, M. Hundhausen, Mater. Sci. Eng. B 61-62 (1999) 44; D. Hofmann, E. Schmitt, M. Bickermann, M. Kölbl, P.J. Wellmann, A. Winnacker, Mater. Sci. Eng. B 61-62 (1999) 48], accompanied by defects like micropipes, stacking faults and dislocations. For that reason, we have carried out investigations to sustain polytype stability throughout the entire process, including nucleation and subsequent growth. Assisted by numerical calculations the influence of growth conditions, especially with respect to thermal field, Si/C ratio and doping, was examined. Several methods for the evaluation of material properties were applied to determine the quality most precisely, e.g. KOH-defect etching, optical microscopy, electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction and resistivity mapping. The key experience we gained was that moderate growth conditions with reduced temperature gradients are only one prerequisite for the reduction of defect density. Also stoichiometry in the gas phase and its modulation by nitrogen doping have to be taken into account and must be adjusted on the prevailing growth regime. We finally identified an optimized process that initiated a considerable improvement of material quality. Best values for 3″ 4 H wafers show that EPD<5×10 3 cm -2 and MPD<0.1 cm -2 can be achieved.

Comparison of different models for predicting soil bulk density. Case study - Slovakian agricultural soils

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Makovníková, Jarmila; Širáň, Miloš; Houšková, Beata; Pálka, Boris; Jones, Arwyn

2017-10-01

Soil bulk density is one of the main direct indicators of soil health, and is an important aspect of models for determining agroecosystem services potential. By way of applying multi-regression methods, we have created a distributed prediction of soil bulk density used subsequently for topsoil carbon stock estimation. The soil data used for this study were from the Slovakian partial monitoring system-soil database. In our work, two models of soil bulk density in an equilibrium state, with different combinations of input parameters (soil particle size distribution and soil organic carbon content in %), have been created, and subsequently validated using a data set from 15 principal sampling sites of Slovakian partial monitoring system-soil, that were different from those used to generate the bulk density equations. We have made a comparison of measured bulk density data and data calculated by the pedotransfer equations against soil bulk density calculated according to equations recommended by Joint Research Centre Sustainable Resources for Europe. The differences between measured soil bulk density and the model values vary from -0.144 to 0.135 g cm-3 in the verification data set. Furthermore, all models based on pedotransfer functions give moderately lower values. The soil bulk density model was then applied to generate a first approximation of soil bulk density map for Slovakia using texture information from 17 523 sampling sites, and was subsequently utilised for topsoil organic carbon estimation.

(2,2) and (0,4) supersymmetric boundary conditions in 3d N =4 theories and type IIB branes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chung, Hee-Joong; Okazaki, Tadashi

2017-10-01

The half-BPS boundary conditions preserving N =(2 ,2 ) and N =(0 ,4 ) supersymmetry in 3d N =4 supersymmetric gauge theories are examined. The BPS equations admit decomposition of the bulk supermultiplets into specific boundary supermultiplets of preserved supersymmetry. Nahm-like equations arise in the vector multiplet BPS boundary condition preserving N =(0 ,4 ) supersymmetry, and Robin-type boundary conditions appear for the hypermultiplet coupled to the vector multiplet when N =(2 ,2 ) supersymmetry is preserved. The half-BPS boundary conditions are realized in the brane configurations of type IIB string theory.

Room-temperature synthesis of nanoporous 1D microrods of graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4) with highly enhanced photocatalytic activity and stability.

PubMed

Pawar, Rajendra C; Kang, Suhee; Park, Jung Hyun; Kim, Jong-Ho; Ahn, Sunghoon; Lee, Caroline S

2016-08-08

A one-dimensional (1D) nanostructure having a porous network is an exceptional photocatalytic material to generate hydrogen (H2) and decontaminate wastewater using solar energy. In this report, we synthesized nanoporous 1D microrods of graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4) via a facile and template-free chemical approach at room temperature. The use of concentrated acids induced etching and lift-off because of strong oxidation and protonation. Compared with the bulk g-C3N4, the porous 1D microrod structure showed five times higher photocatalytic degradation performance toward methylene blue dye (MB) under visible light irradiation. The photocatalytic H2 evolution of the 1D nanostructure (34 μmol g(-1)) was almost 26 times higher than that of the bulk g-C3N4 structure (1.26 μmol g(-1)). Additionally, the photocurrent stability of this nanoporous 1D morphology over 24 h indicated remarkable photocorrosion resistance. The improved photocatalytic activities were attributed to prolonged carrier lifetime because of its quantum confinement effect, effective separation and transport of charge carriers, and increased number of active sites from interconnected nanopores throughout the microrods. The present 1D nanostructure would be highly suited for photocatalytic water purification as well as water splitting devices. Finally, this facile and room temperature strategy to fabricate the nanostructures is very cost-effective.

Room-temperature synthesis of nanoporous 1D microrods of graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4) with highly enhanced photocatalytic activity and stability

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pawar, Rajendra C.; Kang, Suhee; Park, Jung Hyun; Kim, Jong-Ho; Ahn, Sunghoon; Lee, Caroline S.

2016-08-01

A one-dimensional (1D) nanostructure having a porous network is an exceptional photocatalytic material to generate hydrogen (H2) and decontaminate wastewater using solar energy. In this report, we synthesized nanoporous 1D microrods of graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4) via a facile and template-free chemical approach at room temperature. The use of concentrated acids induced etching and lift-off because of strong oxidation and protonation. Compared with the bulk g-C3N4, the porous 1D microrod structure showed five times higher photocatalytic degradation performance toward methylene blue dye (MB) under visible light irradiation. The photocatalytic H2 evolution of the 1D nanostructure (34 μmol g-1) was almost 26 times higher than that of the bulk g-C3N4 structure (1.26 μmol g-1). Additionally, the photocurrent stability of this nanoporous 1D morphology over 24 h indicated remarkable photocorrosion resistance. The improved photocatalytic activities were attributed to prolonged carrier lifetime because of its quantum confinement effect, effective separation and transport of charge carriers, and increased number of active sites from interconnected nanopores throughout the microrods. The present 1D nanostructure would be highly suited for photocatalytic water purification as well as water splitting devices. Finally, this facile and room temperature strategy to fabricate the nanostructures is very cost-effective.

Room-temperature synthesis of nanoporous 1D microrods of graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4) with highly enhanced photocatalytic activity and stability

PubMed Central

Pawar, Rajendra C.; Kang, Suhee; Park, Jung Hyun; Kim, Jong-ho; Ahn, Sunghoon; Lee, Caroline S.

2016-01-01

A one-dimensional (1D) nanostructure having a porous network is an exceptional photocatalytic material to generate hydrogen (H2) and decontaminate wastewater using solar energy. In this report, we synthesized nanoporous 1D microrods of graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4) via a facile and template-free chemical approach at room temperature. The use of concentrated acids induced etching and lift-off because of strong oxidation and protonation. Compared with the bulk g-C3N4, the porous 1D microrod structure showed five times higher photocatalytic degradation performance toward methylene blue dye (MB) under visible light irradiation. The photocatalytic H2 evolution of the 1D nanostructure (34 μmol g−1) was almost 26 times higher than that of the bulk g-C3N4 structure (1.26 μmol g−1). Additionally, the photocurrent stability of this nanoporous 1D morphology over 24 h indicated remarkable photocorrosion resistance. The improved photocatalytic activities were attributed to prolonged carrier lifetime because of its quantum confinement effect, effective separation and transport of charge carriers, and increased number of active sites from interconnected nanopores throughout the microrods. The present 1D nanostructure would be highly suited for photocatalytic water purification as well as water splitting devices. Finally, this facile and room temperature strategy to fabricate the nanostructures is very cost-effective. PMID:27498979

Spin and Magnetism: Two Transfer Matrix Formulations of a Classical Heisenberg Ring in a Magnetic Field.

DTIC Science & Technology

1998-06-01

determination of the partition function could be attempted. According to Gatteschi et al, however, [Ref. 15] when commenting on the quantum mechanical...1995 15. Gatteschi , D. et al, "Large Clusters of Metal Ions: The Transition from Molecular to Bulk Magnets" Science vol. 265, pp. 1054-1058, August... Gatteschi , D. et al, "Spin Dynamics in Mesoscopic Size Magnetic Systems... ", Phys. Rev. B, vol. 55, no. 21, 01 June, 1997 18. Tejeda, J. etal, "Quantum

Energy saving control strategies for Haliscomenobacter hydrossis filamentous sludge bulking in the A/O process treating real low carbon/nitrogen domestic wastewater.

PubMed

Jiao, Erlong; Gao, Chundi; Li, Renfei; Tian, Ye; Peng, Yongzhen

2017-07-16

The control strategies of energy saving for filamentous sludge bulking were investigated in the A/O process under low dissolved oxygen (DO) with low carbon/nitrogen (C/N) ratio, and the dominant filamentous bacteria were identified by using fluorescent in situ hybridization. Initially, the sludge volume index reached nearly 500 mL/g and serious bulking occurred when the DO value was 0.5 mg/L, with Haliscomenobacter hydrossis as the major filamentous bacteria in the bulking sludge. Later on, the compartment number increased in the aerobic zone, increasing by this way DO, to control serious bulking. Increasing DO to 1 mg/L based on the increase of compartment number in the aerobic zone was the favorable controlling method, which solved the sludge loss, improved the effluent quality to the national discharge standard and allowed for energy costs saving. As a result, the effective control method for H. hydrossis filamentous sludge bulking provided the economical, convenient and longstanding method for most municipal wastewater treatment plants treating real low C/N domestic wastewater.

Nitrogen cycling in an extreme hyperarid environment inferred from δ(15)N analyses of plants, soils and herbivore diet.

PubMed

Díaz, Francisca P; Frugone, Matías; Gutiérrez, Rodrigo A; Latorre, Claudio

2016-03-09

Climate controls on the nitrogen cycle are suggested by the negative correlation between precipitation and δ(15)N values across different ecosystems. For arid ecosystems this is unclear, as water limitation among other factors can confound this relationship. We measured herbivore feces, foliar and soil δ(15)N and δ(13)C values and chemically characterized soils (pH and elemental composition) along an elevational/climatic gradient in the Atacama Desert, northern Chile. Although very positive δ(15)N values span the entire gradient, soil δ(15)N values show a positive correlation with aridity as expected. In contrast, foliar δ(15)N values and herbivore feces show a hump-shaped relationship with elevation, suggesting that plants are using a different N source, possibly of biotic origin. Thus at the extreme limits of plant life, biotic interactions may be just as important as abiotic processes, such as climate in explaining ecosystem δ(15)N values.

Nitrogen cycling in an extreme hyperarid environment inferred from δ15N analyses of plants, soils and herbivore diet

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Díaz, Francisca P.; Frugone, Matías; Gutiérrez, Rodrigo A.; Latorre, Claudio

2016-03-01

Climate controls on the nitrogen cycle are suggested by the negative correlation between precipitation and δ15N values across different ecosystems. For arid ecosystems this is unclear, as water limitation among other factors can confound this relationship. We measured herbivore feces, foliar and soil δ15N and δ13C values and chemically characterized soils (pH and elemental composition) along an elevational/climatic gradient in the Atacama Desert, northern Chile. Although very positive δ15N values span the entire gradient, soil δ15N values show a positive correlation with aridity as expected. In contrast, foliar δ15N values and herbivore feces show a hump-shaped relationship with elevation, suggesting that plants are using a different N source, possibly of biotic origin. Thus at the extreme limits of plant life, biotic interactions may be just as important as abiotic processes, such as climate in explaining ecosystem δ15N values.

Nitrogen cycling in an extreme hyperarid environment inferred from δ15N analyses of plants, soils and herbivore diet

PubMed Central

Díaz, Francisca P.; Frugone, Matías; Gutiérrez, Rodrigo A.; Latorre, Claudio

2016-01-01

Climate controls on the nitrogen cycle are suggested by the negative correlation between precipitation and δ15N values across different ecosystems. For arid ecosystems this is unclear, as water limitation among other factors can confound this relationship. We measured herbivore feces, foliar and soil δ15N and δ13C values and chemically characterized soils (pH and elemental composition) along an elevational/climatic gradient in the Atacama Desert, northern Chile. Although very positive δ15N values span the entire gradient, soil δ15N values show a positive correlation with aridity as expected. In contrast, foliar δ15N values and herbivore feces show a hump-shaped relationship with elevation, suggesting that plants are using a different N source, possibly of biotic origin. Thus at the extreme limits of plant life, biotic interactions may be just as important as abiotic processes, such as climate in explaining ecosystem δ15N values. PMID:26956399

Bioconcentration of (15)N-tamoxifen at environmental concentration in liver, gonad and muscle of Danio rerio.

PubMed

Orias, Frédéric; Simon, Laurent; Mialdea, Gladys; Clair, Angéline; Brosselin, Vanessa; Perrodin, Yves

2015-10-01

Pharmaceutical compounds (PCs) are ubiquitous in aquatic ecosystems. In addition to the direct ecotoxicological risk presented by certain PCs, others can accumulate inside organisms and along trophic webs, subsequently contaminating whole ecosystems. We studied the bioconcentration of a bioaccumulative PC already found several times in the environment: tamoxifen. To this end, we exposed Danio rerio for 21d to (15)N-tamoxifen concentrations ranging from 0.1 to 10µg/L and used an analytic method based on stable isotopes to evaluate the tamoxifen content in these organisms. The evolution of the (15)N/(14)N ratio was thus measured in liver, muscle and gonads of exposed fish compared to control fish. We succeeded in quantifying (15)N-tamoxifen bioconcentrations at all the exposure concentrations tested. The highest bioconcentration factors of tamoxifen measured were 14,920 in muscle, 73,800 in liver and 85,600 in gonads of fish after 21d exposure at a nominal concentration of 10µg/L. However, these bioconcentration factors have to be considered as maximal values (BCFMAX). Indeed, despite its proven stability, tamoxifen can be potentially partially degraded during experiments. We now need to refine these results by using a direct analytic method (i.e. LC-MS/MS). Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Parental age and unbalanced Robertsonian translocations associated with Down syndrome and Patau syndrome: comparison with maternal and paternal age effects for 47, +21 and 47, +13.

PubMed

Hook, E B

1984-10-01

Data are analysed on livebirths with trisomic syndromes associated with unbalanced Robertsonian translocations born from 1968 to 1981 and reported to the New York State Chromosome Registry. The maternal ages of reported cases were compared with those of the livebirths in the general population who were born in the same year. The number of translocations studied, the mean case-control differences in years in maternal age (and the standard errors of the mean) were respectively, as follows: D/21 mutants, n = 36, -0.1 (+/- 0.9); G/21 mutants, n = 46, +1.5 (+/-0.8); D/13 mutants, n = 16, +0.6 (+/-1.5); D/21 inherited, n = 12, -1.0 (+/-1.4); G/21 inherited, n = 3, -0.3 (+/-4.4); and D/13 inherited, n = 6, +2.1 (+/-2.4). There was little change in any category if the few cases diagnosed prenatally were included. Only the value for the G/21 mutants is significantly different from zero at the 0.05 level. (The results on G/21 mutants in maternal age are consistent with an earlier Japanese report of an increase of about 2 years over the control values.) The distribution of maternal ages suggests that G/21 mutants may be produced both by maternal age-independent and maternal age-dependent components. The data on D/21 mutants, however, do not indicate the negative association with maternal age reported in Japan. Differences between this study and the Japanese study in analyses of controls may explain this slight variation. But in any event both studies reveal no evidence for an increase in maternal age for unbalanced D/21 mutant or D/21 inherited translocations associated with Down syndrome. This is evidence against the hypothesis that relaxed selection during gestation, after recognition of pregnancy, accounts for the maternal age effects of 47, +21. In comparison with the results on Robertsonian translocations, the case-control differences in maternal age in years (and the standard errors of the mean) for 47, +21 for 2148 livebirths was +4.6 (+/-0.2), and for 2354 cases including those diagnosed prenatally was +5.3 (+/-0.2). The most likely value for an estimated total of 2292 cases of 47, +21 livebirths that would have been reported in the absence of prenatal diagnosis was +5.1 (+/-0.2). For 47, +13, for 98 livebirths the mean case-control difference in maternal age in years was +1.5 (+/-0.7) and for 116 cases including those diagnosed prenatally was +3.2 (+/-0.7).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

High-precision measurement of phenylalanine δ15N values for environmental samples: a new approach coupling high-pressure liquid chromatography purification and elemental analyzer isotope ratio mass spectrometry.

PubMed

Broek, Taylor A B; Walker, Brett D; Andreasen, Dyke H; McCarthy, Matthew D

2013-11-15

Compound-specific isotope analysis of individual amino acids (CSI-AA) is a powerful new tool for tracing nitrogen (N) source and transformation in biogeochemical cycles. Specifically, the δ(15)N value of phenylalanine (δ(15)N(Phe)) represents an increasingly used proxy for source δ(15)N signatures, with particular promise for paleoceanographic applications. However, current derivatization/gas chromatography methods require expensive and relatively uncommon instrumentation, and have relatively low precision, making many potential applications impractical. A new offline approach has been developed for high-precision δ(15)N measurements of amino acids (δ(15)N(AA)), optimized for δ(15)N(Phe) values. Amino acids (AAs) are first purified via high-pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC), using a mixed-phase column and automated fraction collection. The δ(15)N values are determined via offline elemental analyzer-isotope ratio mass spectrometry (EA-IRMS). The combined HPLC/EA-IRMS method separated most protein AAs with sufficient resolution to obtain accurate δ(15)N values, despite significant intra-peak isotopic fractionation. For δ(15)N(Phe) values, the precision was ±0.16‰ for standards, 4× better than gas chromatography/combustion/isotope ratio mass spectrometry (GC/C/IRMS; ±0.64‰). We also compared a δ(15)N(Phe) paleo-record from a deep-sea bamboo coral from Monterey Bay, CA, USA, using our method versus GC/C/IRMS. The two methods produced equivalent δ(15)N(Phe) values within error; however, the δ(15)N(Phe) values from HPLC/EA-IRMS had approximately twice the precision of GC/C/IRMS (average stdev of 0.27‰ ± 0.14‰ vs 0.60‰ ± 0.20‰, respectively). These results demonstrate that offline HPLC represents a viable alternative to traditional GC/C/IMRS for δ(15)N(AA) measurement. HPLC/EA-IRMS is more precise and widely available, and therefore useful in applications requiring increased precision for data interpretation (e.g. δ(15)N paleoproxies). Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Concentrations and nitrogen isotope compositions of free amino acids in Pinus massoniana (Lamb.) needles of different ages as indicators of atmospheric nitrogen pollution

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Xu, Yu; Xiao, Huayun

2017-09-01

Free amino acid δ15N values and concentrations of current-year new (new), current-year mature (middle-age) and previous-year (old) Pinus massoniana (Lamb.) needles were determined for five sites with different distances from a highway in a forest in Guiyang (SW China). Needle free amino acid concentrations decreased with increasing distance from the highway, and only the free amino acid concentrations (total free amino acid, arginine, γ-aminobutyric acid, valine, alanine and proline) in the middle-aged needles demonstrated a strong correlation with distance from the highway, indicating that free amino acid concentrations in middle-aged needles may be a more suitable indicator of nitrogen (N) deposition compared to new and old needles. Needle free amino acid δ15N values were more positive near the highway compared to the more distant sites and increased with increasing needle age, indicating that N deposition in this site may be dominated by isotopically heavy NOx-N from traffic emissions. In sites beyond 400 m from the highway, the δ15N values of total free amino acids, histidine, glutamine, proline, alanine, aspartate, isoleucine, lysine, arginine and serine in each age of needle were noticeably negative compared to their respective δ15N values near the highway. This suggested that needle free amino acid δ15N values from these sites were more affected by 15N-depleted atmospheric NHx-N from soil emissions. This result was further supported by the similarity in the negative moss δ15N values at these sites to the δ15N values of soil-derived NHx-N. Needle free amino acid δ15N values therefore have the potential to provide information about atmospheric N sources. We conclude that needle free amino acid concentrations are sensitive indicators of N deposition and that the age-related free amino acid δ15N values in needles can efficiently reflect atmospheric N sources. This would probably promote the application of the combined plant tissue amino acid concentration and δ15N analyses in N deposition bio-monitoring.

Petrogenesis of Franciscan Complex and Coast Range Ophiolite Serpentinites in northern California

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Eldam, R.; Barnes, J.; Lee, C.; Errico, J. C.; Loewy, S. L.; Cisneros, M.

2012-12-01

Franciscan Complex serpentinites have been interpreted as eroded pieces of the overriding Coast Range Ophiolite (CRO), off-scraped pieces of the subducting oceanic plate, and as sedimentary serpentinites (e.g., Wakabayashi, 2004); however, most of these interpretations are based on tectonic models and field relationships. Here we present bulk rock major and trace element geochemistry, pyroxene and spinel geochemistry, and stable isotope data (O, H, Cl) for serpentinite samples with the goal of determining protolith origin and subsequent serpentinizing fluid sources of several metasomatized Franciscan and CRO ultramafic rocks in order to decipher the tectonic setting of serpentinization. We focused on serpentinite bodies found in the Franciscan Complex (west of Cuesta Ridge; south of San Francisco; Tiburon Peninsula; Healdsburg) (n = 12). Three samples from Cuesta Ridge (CRO) were also analyzed for comparison. All samples are >~95% serpentinized and consist of lizardite +/- chrysotile. Relict grains are rarely preserved. Franciscan serpentinites (Tiburon Peninsula, west of Cuesta Ridge) show positive-sloped REE patterns. This depletion in LREE is typical of abyssal peridotites. Relict clinopyroxenes from Tiburon Peninsula have high HREE concentrations, also supporting an abyssal origin. 2 of the 3 samples from the Cuesta Ridge show flat REE patterns; whereas, one is U-shaped. This enrichment in LREE is similar to forearc peridotites. Spinels from Cuesta Ridge have Cr# > 0.60 also implying a forearc setting; whereas, Franciscan localities have typically have lower Cr# (0.21 to 0.51). All samples show remarkable positive Ce and Y anomalies. We speculate that these anomalies may be due to interaction with ferromanganese nodules and crusts (also high in Ce and Y) on the seafloor prior to subduction. Cuesta Ridge samples have δ18O values between +6.0 to +6.6‰. Franciscan serpentinites (except those south of San Francisco) have δ18O values of +5.4 to +7.9‰. These δ18O values are similar to typical oceanic serpentinites and likely represent low-T seawater hydration on the seafloor. δD values of all samples are extremely low (-107 to -90‰) and likely result from post-serpentinization, post-emplacement interaction with meteoric water at low temperature. Samples south of San Francisco lie on the San Andreas fault and have high δ18O values (+7.2 to +9.5‰) and low δD values (-107 to -104‰) likely due to low-T interaction with meteoric water at high fluid-rock ratios. Most of the serpentinites (12 of the 15) have δ37Cl values between +0.2 and +0.9‰, typical values for serpentinites formed by interaction with seawater. Based on bulk rock geochemistry and pyroxene and spinel compositions, serpentinites located within the Franciscan Complex have geochemical characteristics of abyssal peridotites; whereas, those from Cuesta Ridge are more chemically heterogeneous with most having affinity to forearc peridotites. All stable isotope geochemistry indicates seafloor serpentinization by seawater. Wakabayashi, J., 2004, International Geology Review, 46, 1103-1118.

Gas solubility in hydrophobic confinement.

PubMed

Luzar, Alenka; Bratko, Dusan

2005-12-01

Measured forces between apolar surfaces in water have often been found to be sensitive to exposure to atmospheric gases despite low gas solubilities in bulk water. This raises questions as to how significant gas adsorption is in hydrophobic confinement, whether it is conducive to water depletion at such surfaces, and ultimately if it can facilitate the liquid-to-gas phase transition in the confinement. Open Ensemble molecular simulations have been used here to determine saturated concentrations of atmospheric gases in water-filled apolar confinements as a function of pore width at varied gas fugacities. For paraffin-like confinements of widths barely exceeding the mechanical instability threshold (spinodal) of the liquid-to-vapor transition of confined water (aqueous film thickness between three and four molecular diameters), mean gas concentrations in the pore were found to exceed the bulk values by a factor of approximately 30 or approximately 15 in cases of N2 and CO2, respectively. At ambient conditions, this does not result in visible changes in the water density profile next to the surfaces. Whereas the barrier to capillary evaporation has been found to decrease in the presence of dissolved gas (Leung, K.; Luzar, A.; and Bratko, D. Phys. Rev. Lett. 2003, 90, 065502), gas concentrations much higher than those observed at normal atmospheric conditions would be needed to produce noticeable changes in the kinetics of capillary evaporation. In simulations, dissolved gas concentrations corresponding to fugacities above approximately 40 bar for N2, or approximately 2 bar for CO2, were required to trigger expulsion of water from a hydrocarbon slit as narrow as 1.4 nm. For nanosized pore widths corresponding to the mechanical instability threshold or above, no significant coupling between adsorption layers at opposing confinement walls was observed. This finding explains the approximately linear increase in gas solubility with inverse confinement width and the apparent validity of Henry's law in the pores over a broad fugacity range.

ALMA OBSERVATIONS OF HCN AND ITS ISOTOPOLOGUES ON TITAN

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Molter, Edward M.; Nixon, C. A.; Cordiner, M. A.

2016-08-01

We present sub-millimeter spectra of HCN isotopologues on Titan, derived from publicly available ALMA flux calibration observations of Titan taken in early 2014. We report the detection of a new HCN isotopologue on Titan, H{sup 13}C{sup 15}N, and confirm an earlier report of detection of DCN. We model high signal-to-noise observations of HCN, H{sup 13}CN, HC{sup 15}N, DCN, and H{sup 13}C{sup 15}N to derive abundances and infer the following isotopic ratios: {sup 12}C/{sup 13}C = 89.8 ± 2.8, {sup 14}N/{sup 15}N = 72.3 ± 2.2, D/H = (2.5 ± 0.2) × 10{sup −4}, and HCN/H{sup 13}C{sup 15}N = 5800 ± 270 (1 σ errors). The carbon and nitrogen ratios are consistent with and improve on themore » precision of previous results, confirming a factor of ∼2.3 elevation in {sup 14}N/{sup 15}N in HCN compared to N{sub 2} and a lack of fractionation in {sup 12}C/{sup 13}C from the protosolar value. This is the first published measurement of D/H in a nitrile species on Titan, and we find evidence for a factor of ∼2 deuterium enrichment in hydrogen cyanide compared to methane. The isotopic ratios we derive may be used as constraints for future models to better understand the fractionation processes occurring in Titan’s atmosphere.« less

Equatorial Pacific peak in biological production regulated by nutrient and upwelling during the late Pliocene/early Pleistocene cooling

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Etourneau, J.; Robinson, R. S.; Martinez, P.; Schneider, R.

2013-03-01

The largest increase in export production in the eastern Pacific of the last 5.3 Myr (million years) occurred between 2.2 and 1.6 Myr, a time of major climatic and oceanographic reorganization in the region. Here, we investigate the causes of this event using reconstructions of export production, nutrient supply and oceanic conditions across the Pliocene-Pleistocene in the eastern equatorial Pacific (EEP) for the last 3.2 Myr. Our results indicate that the export production peak corresponds to a cold interval marked by high nutrient supply relative to consumption, as revealed by the low bulk sedimentary 15N/14N (δ15N) and alkenone-derived sea surface temperature (SST) values. This ~ 0.6 million years long episode of enhanced delivery of nutrients to the surface of the EEP was predominantly initiated through the upwelling of nutrient-enriched water sourced in high latitudes. In addition, this phenomenon was likely promoted by the regional intensification of upwelling in response to the development of intense Walker and Hadley atmospheric circulations. Increased nutrient consumption in the polar oceans and enhanced denitrification in the equatorial regions restrained nutrient supply and availability and terminated the high export production event.

Natural Isotope Abundance in Metabolites: Techniques and Kinetic Isotope Effect Measurement in Plant, Animal, and Human Tissues.

PubMed

Tea, Illa; Tcherkez, Guillaume

2017-01-01

The natural isotope abundance in bulk organic matter or tissues is not a sufficient base to investigate physiological properties, biosynthetic mechanisms, and nutrition sources of biological systems. In fact, isotope effects in metabolism lead to a heterogeneous distribution of 2 H, 18 O, 13 C, and 15 N isotopes in metabolites. Therefore, compound-specific isotopic analysis (CSIA) is crucial to biological and medical applications of stable isotopes. Here, we review methods to implement CSIA for 15 N and 13 C from plant, animal, and human samples and discuss technical solutions that have been used for the conversion to CO 2 and N 2 for IRMS analysis, derivatization and isotope effect measurements. It appears that despite the flexibility of instruments used for CSIA, there is no universal method simply because the chemical nature of metabolites of interest varies considerably. Also, CSIA methods are often limited by isotope effects in sample preparation or the addition of atoms from the derivatizing reagents, and this implies that corrections must be made to calculate a proper δ-value. Therefore, CSIA has an enormous potential for biomedical applications, but its utilization requires precautions for its successful application. © 2017 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Production of organic fertilizer from olive mill wastewater by combining solar greenhouse drying and composting.

PubMed

Galliou, F; Markakis, N; Fountoulakis, M S; Nikolaidis, N; Manios, T

2018-05-01

Olive mill wastewater (OMW) is generated during the production of olive oil. Its disposal is still a major environmental problem in Mediterranean countries, despite the fact that a large number of technologies have been proposed up to date. The present work examines for the first time a novel, simple and low-cost technology for OMW treatment combining solar drying and composting. In the first step, OMW was dried in a chamber inside a solar greenhouse using swine manure as a bulking agent. The mean evaporation rate was found to be 5.2 kg H 2 O/m 2 /d for a drying period of 6 months (February-August). High phenol (75%) and low nitrogen (15%) and carbon (15%) losses were recorded at the end of the solar drying process. The final product after solar drying was rich in nutrients (N: 27.8 g/kg, P: 7.3 g/kg, K: 81.6 g/kg) but still contained significant quantities of phenols (18.4 g/kg). In order to detoxify the final product, a composting process was applied as a second step with or without the use of grape marc as bulking agent. Results showed that the use of grape marc as a bulking agent at a volume ratio of 1:1 achieved a higher compost temperature profile (60 °C) than 2:1 (solar drying product: grape marc) or no use (solar drying product). The end product after the combination of solar drying and composting had the characteristics of an organic fertilizer (57% organic carbon) rich in nutrients (3.5% N, 1% P, 6.5% K) with quite low phenol content (2.9 g/kg). Finally, the use of this product for the cultivation of pepper plants approved its fertility which was found similar with commercial NPK fertilizers. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Postmortem biochemical behavior of giant squid (Dosidicus gigas) mantle muscle stored in ice and its relation with quality parameters.

PubMed

Márquez-Ríos, E; Morán-Palacio, E F; Lugo-Sánchez, M E; Ocano-Higuera, V M; Pacheco-Aguilar, R

2007-09-01

Several freshness and spoilage indicators were monitored to characterize the postmortem biochemistry of giant squid (Dosidicus gigas) mantle muscle. Squid samples were obtained directly from the sea and kept at 0 degrees C during a 15-d storage period. Data at zero time were obtained from cryogenically frozen samples at time of capture. The adenosine 5'-triphosphate (ATP) degradation followed a different pattern as compared with that from fish species. ATP was almost completely depleted at 24-h postcatch from 6.54 to <1 micromol/g, while at the same time Hx was the predominant catabolite with a concentration of 4 mumol/g, reaching 6.85 micromol/g at day 15. K-value data followed a logarithmic pattern with time instead of a linear one, with no change after day 3, thus reducing its suitability as a freshness index. The coefficient Hx/AMP seems to be an adequate alternative for this purpose due to its constant increment with time. The high NH4Cl content in mantle muscle (461.3 +/- 24.5 mg of NH4(+)/100 g) derived from its physiological importance for the species compromises the use of the distillation step of the TVB-N analysis commonly used as a spoilage index. This fact explains why the initially high value of TVB-N detected in mantle muscle (243.7 mg N/100 g) did not correlate with the initial low TMA-N content (1.5 +/- 0.1 mg/100 g of muscle). The results suggested that under the experimental conditions the shelf life of squid exceeds 15 d.

δ15N values of atmospheric N species simultaneously collected using sector-based samplers distant from sources - Isotopic inheritance and fractionation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Savard, Martine M.; Cole, Amanda; Smirnoff, Anna; Vet, Robert

2017-08-01

The nitrogen isotope ratios (δ15N) of atmospheric N species are commonly suggested as indicators of N emission sources. Therefore, numerous research studies have developed analytical methodologies and characterized primary (gases) and secondary emission products (mostly precipitation and aerosols) from various emitters. These previous studies have generally collected either reduced or oxidized N forms, and sampled them separately prior to determining their δ15N values. Distinctive isotopic signals have been reported for emissions from various sources, and seasonality of the δ15N values has been frequently attributed to shifts in relative contributions from sources with different isotopic signals. However, theoretical concepts suggest that temperature effects on isotopic fractionation may also affect the δ15N values of atmospheric reaction products. Here we use a sector-based multi-stage filter system to simultaneously collect seven reduced and oxidized N species downwind from five different source types in Alberta, Canada. We report δ15N values obtained with a state-of-the-art gold-furnace pre-concentrator online with an isotope ratio mass spectrometer (IRMS) to provide representative results even for oxidized-N forms. We find that equilibrium isotope effects and their temperature dependence play significant roles in determining the δ15N values of the secondary emission products. In the end, seasonal δ15N changes here are mainly caused by temperature effects on fractionation, and the δ15N values of only two N species from one source type can be retained as potential fingerprints of emissions.

Development of Efficient Charge-Selective Materials for Bulk Heterojunction Polymer Solar Cells

DTIC Science & Technology

2015-01-15

Cho, D. S. Ginger and A. K. Y. Jen, Advanced Materials, 2014, 26, 6262-6267. 17. N. Cho, C.-Z. Li, H.-L. Yip and A. K. Y. Jen, Energy...Solar Cells”, Adv. Funct. Mater. 2015, ASAP. 4. J. H. Kim, P. W. Liang, S. T. Williams, N. C. Cho, C. C. Chueh, M. S. Glaz, D. S. Ginger , A. K.-Y...Kim, P. W. Liang, S. T. Williams, N. C. Cho, C. C. Chueh, M. S. Glaz, D. S. Ginger , A. K.-Y. Jen, 2015, ASAP. 7. P. W. Liang, C. C. Chueh, X. K

Late Holocene monsoon climate of northeastern Taiwan inferred from elemental (C, N) and isotopic (δ13C, δ15N) data in lake sediments

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Selvaraj, Kandasamy; Wei, Kuo-Yen; Liu, Kon-Kee; Kao, Shuh-Ji

2012-03-01

Little information exists about centennial-scale climate variability on oceanic islands in the western Pacific where the East Asian monsoon (EAM) strongly influences the climate, mountain ecosystem and the society. In this study, we investigate a 168 cm long sediment core recovered from Emerald Peak Lake in subalpine NE Taiwan for the contents of grain size, total organic carbon (TOC), C/N ratio, and stable isotopes (δ13C and δ15N) to reconstruct the monsoon climate and vegetation density during the late Holocene. Six radiocarbon (14C) ages obtained on plant remains used for the chronology indicate that the sediment core has been accumulated since ˜3770 cal BP with a mean sedimentation rate of 44.6 cm/ka. The sub-centennial resolution of our proxy records reveals strong fluctuations of the EAM and vegetation density for the past ˜3770 cal BP. The greater contents of coarse and medium sediments with overall decreasing trends from 3770 to 2000 cal BP suggest an increasing fine sediment influx from the catchment likely due to an increasing lake water level. Although low TOC content, C/N ratio, and enriched δ13C values in bulk and fine sediments during this interval suggest a sparsely vegetated catchment, increasing trends of TOC content and C/N ratio together with decreasing trends of δ13C and δ15N values indicate a strengthening pattern of summer monsoon. This is in contrast to a decreasing monsoon strength inferred from Dongge Cave δ18O record at that time, supporting the idea of anti-phasing of summer EAM and Indian summer monsoon. Since 2000 cal BP, higher content of fine sediments with high TOC content and C/N ratio but relatively depleted δ13C and low δ15N values suggest a high but stable lake water level and dense C3 plants, consistent with a stronger summer monsoon in a wet climate. Within this general trend, we interpret a prominent change of proxy parameters in sediments from ˜560 to 150 cal BP, as subtropical evidence for the Little Ice Age in NE Taiwan. By comparing our proxy records with other diverse land and marine records from southern China and adjoining marine realm, we demonstrate that the centennial to millennial-scale fluctuations of the summer EAM over the northeastern Taiwan during the late Holocene have been largely modulated by the tropical Pacific forcing through El Niño along with solar forcing.

Piezoelectric and dielectric characterization of corona and contact poled PZT-epoxy-MWCNT bulk composites

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Banerjee, S.; Cook-Chennault, K. A.; Du, W.; Sundar, U.; Halim, H.; Tang, A.

2016-11-01

Three-phase lead zirconate titanate (PZT, PbZr0.52Ti0.48O3)-epoxy-multi-walled carbon nanotube (MWCNT) bulk composites were prepared, where the volume fraction of PZT was held constant at 30%, while the volume fraction of the MWCNTs was varied from 1.0%-10%. The samples were poled using either a parallel plate contact or contactless (corona) poling technique. The piezoelectric strain coefficient (d33), dielectric constant (ɛ), and dielectric loss tangent (tan δ) of the samples were measured at 110 Hz, and compared as a function of poling technique and volume fraction of MWCNTs. The highest values for dielectric constant and piezoelectric strain coefficients were 465.82 and 18.87 pC/N for MWCNT volume fractions of 10% and 6%, respectively. These values were obtained for samples that were poled using the corona contactless method. The impedance and dielectric spectra of the composites were recorded over a frequency range of 100 Hz-20 MHz. The impedance values observed for parallel-plate contact poled samples are higher than that of corona poled composites. The fractured surface morphology and distribution of the PZT particles and MWCNTs were observed with the aid of electron dispersion spectroscopy and a scanning electron microscope. The surface morphology of the MWCNTs was observed with the aid of a field emission transmission electron microscope.

Ferromagnetic resonance in bulk nanocrystalline Ni

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Prakash Madduri, P. V.; Mathew, S. P.; Kaul, S. N.

2018-03-01

A detailed lineshape analysis of the ferromagnetic resonance (FMR) spectra taken on pulse electrodeposited nanocrystalline (nc-) Ni sheets (with the average crystallite size, d, varying from 10 nm to 40 nm) at temperatures ranging from 113 K to 325 K yield accurate values for saturation magnetization, Ms (T), Landé splitting factor, g, anisotropy field, Hk (T) , resonance field, Hres , and FMR linewidth, ΔHpp (T) . Thermally-excited spin-wave (SW) excitations completely account for Ms (T) and the SW description of Ms (T) gives the values for the saturation magnetization and spin-wave stiffness at absolute zero of temperature, i.e., Ms (0) and D0 , for nc-Ni samples of different d that are in excellent agreement with the corresponding values deduced previously from an elaborate SW analysis of the bulk magnetization data. While Ms (0) varies with d as Ms (0) d - 3 / 2,D0 follows the power law D0 ∼d 4 / 3 . The angular variations of Hres in the 'in-plane' as well as 'out-of-plane' sample configurations, demonstrate that the main contribution to Hk (T) comes from the cubic magnetocrystalline anisotropy. The exchange-conductivity mechanism describes the observed thermal decline of ΔHpp reasonably well but fails to explain the very large magnitude of ΔHpp at any given temperature. By comparison, the Landau-Lifshitz-Gilbert (LLG) damping gives a much greater contribution to ΔHpp but the LLG contribution is relatively insensitive to temperature.

Acute Supplementation with High Dose Vitamin D3 Increases Serum Anti-Müllerian Hormone in Young Women.

PubMed

Dennis, Nicola A; Houghton, Lisa A; Pankhurst, Michael W; Harper, Michelle J; McLennan, Ian S

2017-07-08

Anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) is a paracrine regulator of ovarian follicles. Vitamin D (Vit D) regulates AMH production in vitro, but its role as a regulator of ovarian AMH production is contentious. If Vit D influences ovarian AMH production, then an acute rise in Vit D level should lead to an acute rise in circulating AMH levels. This hypothesis was tested with a randomized double-blind design, with 18-25-year-old women recruited from the community. The study was conducted in early spring, when the marker of Vit D level (25-hydroxyvitamin D, 25(OH)D) tends to be at its nadir. The women consumed either an oral dose of 50,000 IU of Vit D3 ( n = 27) or placebo ( n = 22). The initial 25(OH)D ± SD value was 53.6 ± 23.3 nmol/L, with 42 of the 49 women having a value below 75 nmol/L, consistent with seasonal nadir. All women receiving Vit D3 treatment exhibited a robust increase in serum 25(OH)D within 1 day (15.8 ± 1.1 nmol/L ( n = 27), p < 0.0001), with the increase sustained over the study week. Circulating levels of AMH in the women receiving Vit D3 progressively rose during the following week, with a mean increase of 12.9 ± 3.7% ( n = 24, p = 0.001). The study supports the hypothesis that Vit D's positive effects on the fertility of woman may involve the regulation of ovarian AMH levels.

Reporting of nitrogen-isotope abundances (Technical Report)

USGS Publications Warehouse

Coplen, Tyler B.; Krouse, H.R.; Böhlke, John Karl

1992-01-01

To eliminate possible confusion in the reporting of nitrogen-isotope analyses, the Commission on Atomic Weights and Isotopic Abundances recommends that the value 272 be employed for the 14N/15N value of N2 in air for calculating atom percent 15N from measured δ15N values.

Laser-based three-dimensional multiscale micropatterning of biocompatible hydrogels for customized tissue engineering scaffolds

PubMed Central

Applegate, Matthew B.; Coburn, Jeannine; Partlow, Benjamin P.; Moreau, Jodie E.; Mondia, Jessica P.; Marelli, Benedetto; Kaplan, David L.; Omenetto, Fiorenzo G.

2015-01-01

Light-induced material phase transitions enable the formation of shapes and patterns from the nano- to the macroscale. From lithographic techniques that enable high-density silicon circuit integration, to laser cutting and welding, light–matter interactions are pervasive in everyday materials fabrication and transformation. These noncontact patterning techniques are ideally suited to reshape soft materials of biological relevance. We present here the use of relatively low-energy (< 2 nJ) ultrafast laser pulses to generate 2D and 3D multiscale patterns in soft silk protein hydrogels without exogenous or chemical cross-linkers. We find that high-resolution features can be generated within bulk hydrogels through nearly 1 cm of material, which is 1.5 orders of magnitude deeper than other biocompatible materials. Examples illustrating the materials, results, and the performance of the machined geometries in vitro and in vivo are presented to demonstrate the versatility of the approach. PMID:26374842

Variability of Plant Wax Concentrations and Carbon Isotope Values in Surface Lake Sediments Provide Clues into Their Transport and Deposition

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bates, B.; Lowell, T. V.; Diefendorf, A. F.; Freimuth, E. J.; Stewart, A. K.

2017-12-01

Plant wax compounds preserved in lake sediments are used as proxies for paleohydrologic reconstructions. Despite their presence in lake sediments, little is known about their transport from plants to their deposition in lake sediments. By drawing on the leaf and pollen taphonomy literature combined with sediment focusing models, it is possible to develop several working hypotheses for the transport and deposition of plant waxes in lake sediments. An improved understanding of plant wax transport and deposition into lake sediments is necessary to increase the accuracy of paleohydrologic reconstructions. To better understand the controls on plant wax transport and deposition in lake sediment, we analyzed the sedimentary plant waxes from 3 lakes in the Adirondack Mountains of New York. These lakes were chosen to capture a range of basin-specific properties to evaluate their influences on the transport and deposition of plant wax compounds in surface sediments. We spatially characterized sediment properties with surface sediment samples and high-resolution underwater imaging, acoustically profiled the sub-bottom, and measured temperature profiles. From each site, we measured n-alkanes, bulk organic content (loss-on-ignition), bulk carbon and nitrogen concentrations, C:N ratios, and bulk carbon isotopes. Preliminary n-alkane concentrations and chain length distributions, as well as bulk carbon isotopes, are variable within each lake basin suggesting a mix of aquatic and terrestrial sources. The bulk carbon isotope values for two of the three lakes show a similar range of -2‰ compared to a range of -6.3‰ at the third lake. Likewise, the range of total n-alkane concentrations is much higher in the third lake suggesting that the controls on the distribution of n-alkanes and organic carbon are different between lakes. For terrestrial plant waxes, we find low n-alkane concentrations in sandy nearshore sediments relative to higher n-alkane concentrations in deeper fine-grained sediments. Combined, this information suggests that littoral processes focus organic compounds and fine sediments towards the main depo-center of the lake. These and other observations highlight important relationships between basin-specific properties and processes controlling the transport and deposition of plant wax compounds.

Opportunistic feeding on various organic food sources by the cold-water coral Lophelia pertusa

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mueller, C. E.; Larsson, A. I.; Veuger, B.; Middelburg, J. J.; van Oevelen, D.

2014-01-01

The ability of the cold-water coral Lophelia pertusa to exploit different food sources was investigated under standardized conditions in a flume. The tested food sources, dissolved organic matter (DOM, added as dissolved free amino acids), bacteria, algae, and zooplankton (Artemia) were deliberately enriched in 13C and 15N. The incorporation of 13C and 15N was traced into bulk tissue, fatty acids, hydrolysable amino acids, and the skeleton (13C only) of L. pertusa. Incorporation rates of carbon (ranging from 0.8-2.4 μg C g-1 DW d-1) and nitrogen (0.2-0.8 μg N g-1 DW d-1) into coral tissue did not differ significantly among food sources indicating an opportunistic feeding strategy. Although total food assimilation was comparable among sources, subsequent food processing was dependent on the type of food source ingested and recovery of assimilated C in tissue compounds ranged from 17% (algae) to 35% (Artemia). De novo synthesis of individual fatty acids by L. pertusa occurred in all treatments as indicated by the 13C enrichment of individual phospholipid-derived fatty acids (PLFAs) in the coral that were absent in the added food sources. This indicates that the coral might be less dependent on its diet as a source of specific fatty acids than expected, with direct consequences for the interpretation of in situ observations on coral nutrition based on lipid profiles.

Opportunistic feeding on various organic food sources by the cold-water coral Lophelia pertusa

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mueller, C. E.; Larsson, A. I.; Veuger, B.; Middelburg, J. J.; van Oevelen, D.

2013-07-01

The ability of the cold-water coral Lophelia pertusa to exploit different food sources was investigated under standardized conditions in a flume. All tested food sources, dissolved organic matter (DOM, added as dissolved free amino acids), bacteria, algae, and zooplankton (Artemia) were deliberately enriched in 13C and 15N. The incorporation of 13C and 15N was traced into bulk tissue, fatty acids, hydrolysable amino acids, and the skeleton (13C only) of L. pertusa. Incorporation rates of carbon (ranging from 0.8-2.4 µg C g-1 DW d-1) and nitrogen (0.2-0.8 µg N g-1 DW d-1) into coral tissue did not differ significantly among food sources indicating an opportunistic feeding strategy. Although total food assimilation was comparable among sources, subsequent food processing was dependent on the type of food source ingested and recovery of assimilated C in tissue compounds ranged from 17% (algae) to 35% (Artemia). De novo synthesis of individual fatty acids by L. pertusa occurred in all treatments as indicated by the 13C enrichment of individual phospholipid-derived fatty acids (PLFAs) in the coral that were absent in the added food sources. This indicates that the coral might be less dependent on its diet as a source of specific fatty acids than expected, with direct consequences for the interpretation of in situ observations on coral nutrition based on lipid profiles.

Disorder Effects in Charge Transport and Spin Response of Topological Insulators

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhao, Lukas Zhonghua

Topological insulators are a class of solids in which the non-trivial inverted bulk band structure gives rise to metallic surface states that are robust against impurity backscattering. First principle calculations predicted Bi2Te3, Sb2Te3 and Bi2Se3 to be three-dimensional (3D) topological insulators with a single Dirac cone on the surface. The topological surface states were subsequently observed by angle-resolved photoemission (ARPES) and scanning tunneling microscopy (STM). The investigations of charge transport through topological surfaces of 3D topological insulators, however, have faced a major challenge due to large charge carrier densities in the bulk donated by randomly distributed defects such as vacancies and antisites. This bulk disorder intermixes surface and bulk conduction channels, thereby complicating access to the low-energy (Dirac point) charge transport or magnetic response and resulting in the relatively low measured carrier mobilities. Moreover, charge inhomogeneity arising from bulk disorder can result in pronounced nanoscale spatial fluctuations of energy on the surface, leading to the formation of surface `puddles' of different carrier types. Great efforts have been made to combat the undesirable effects of disorder in 3D topological insulators and to reduce bulk carriers through chemical doping, nanostructure fabrication, and electric gating. In this work we have developed a new way to reduce bulk carrier densities using high-energy electron irradiation, thereby allowing us access to the topological surface quantum channels. We also found that disorder in 3D topological insulators can be beneficial. It can play an important part in enabling detection of unusual magnetic response from Dirac fermions and in uncovering new excitations, namely surface superconductivity in Dirac `puddles'. In Chapter 3 we show how by using differential magnetometry we could probe spin rotation in the 3D topological material family (Bi2Se 3, Bi2Te3 and Sb2Te3), and describe our detection of paramagnetic singularity in the magnetic susceptibility at low magnetic fields that persists up to room temperature, and which we have demonstrated to arise from the surfaces of the samples. The singularity is universal to the entire family, largely independent of the bulk carrier density, and consistent with the existence of electronic states near the spin-degenerate Dirac point of the 2D helical metal. The exceptional thermal stability of the signal points to an intrinsic surface cooling process, probably of thermoelectric organ, and establishes a sustainable platform for the singular field-tunable Dirac spin response. In Chapter 4 we describe our discovery of surface superconductivity in a hole-conducting topological insulator Sb2Te3 with transition to zero resistance induced through a minor tuning of growth chemistry that depletes bulk conduction channels. The depletion shifts Fermi energy towards the Dirac point as witnessed by over two orders of magnitude reduced bulk hole density and by the largest carrier mobility (~ 25,000 cm 2 V-1 s-1) found in any topological material. Direct evidence from transport, the unprecedentedly large diamagnetic screening, and the presence of up to ~ 25 meV gaps in differential conductance detected by scanning tunneling spectroscopy (STM) reveal the superconducting condensate to emerge first in surface puddles at unexpectedly high temperature, near 50 K. Percolative Josephson paths mediated by diffusing quasiparticles establish global phase coherence around 9 K. Rich structure of this state lends itself to manipulation and tuning via growth conditions and the topological material's parameters such as Fermi velocity and mean free path. In Chapter 5 we describe a new approach we have developed to reaching stable charge neutrality in 3D topological materials. The technique uses swift (~ 2.5 MeV energy) electron beams to compensate charged bulk defects and bring the Fermi level back into the bulk gap. By controlling the beam fluence we could tune bulk conductivity from p- (hole-like) to n-type (electron-like), crossing the Dirac point and back, while preserving the robust topological signatures of surface channels. We establish that at charge neutrality conductance has a two-dimensional (2D) character with a minimum value on the order of ten conductance quanta G=e 2 /h. From quantum interference contribution to 2D conductance we demonstrate in two systems, Bi2Te3 and Bi2Se 3, that at charge neutrality only two quantum channels corresponding to two topological surfaces are present. The charge neutrality point achieved using electron irradiation with long penetration range shows a route to intrinsic quantum transport of the topological states unconstrained by the bulk size.

Microbial sulfate reduction and the sulfur budget for a complete section of altered oceanic basalts, IODP Hole 1256D (eastern Pacific)

USGS Publications Warehouse

Alt, Jeffrey C.; Shanks, Wayne C.

2011-01-01

Sulfide mineralogy and the contents and isotope compositions of sulfur were analyzed in a complete oceanic volcanic section from IODP Hole 1256D in the eastern Pacific, in order to investigate the role of microbes and their effect on the sulfur budget in altered upper oceanic crust. Basalts in the 800m thick volcanic section are affected by a pervasive low-temperature background alteration and have mean sulfur contents of 530ppm, reflecting loss of sulfur relative to fresh glass through degassing during eruption and alteration by seawater. Alteration halos along fractures average 155ppm sulfur and are more oxidized, have high SO4/ΣS ratios (0.43), and lost sulfur through oxidation by seawater compared to host rocks. Although sulfur was lost locally, sulfur was subsequently gained through fixation of seawater-derived sulfur in secondary pyrite and marcasite in veins and in concentrations at the boundary between alteration halos and host rocks. Negative δ34Ssulfide-S values (down to -30 °) and low temperatures of alteration (down to ~40 °C) point to microbial reduction of seawater sulfate as the process resulting in local additions of sulfide-S. Mass balance calculations indicate that 15-20% of the sulfur in the volcanic section is microbially derived, with the bulk altered volcanic section containing 940ppm S, and with δ34S shifted to -6.0‰) from the mantle value (0 ‰). The bulk volcanic section may have gained or lost sulfur overall. The annual flux of microbial sulfur into oceanic basement based on Hole 1256D is 3-4 X1010molSyr-1, within an order of magnitude of the riverine sulfate source and the sedimentary pyrite sink. Results indicate a flux of bacterially derived sulfur that is fixed in upper ocean basement of 7-8 X 10-8molcm-2yr-1 over 15m.y. This is comparable to that in open ocean sediment sites, but is one to two orders of magnitude less than for ocean margin sediments. The global annual subduction of sulfur in altered oceanic basalt lavas based on Hole 1256D is 1.5-2.0 X 1011moly-1, comparable to the subduction of sulfide in sediments, and could contribute to sediment-like sulfur isotope heterogeneities in the mantle.

Interspecific variations in mangrove leaf litter decomposition are related to labile nitrogenous compounds

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Nordhaus, Inga; Salewski, Tabea; Jennerjahn, Tim C.

2017-06-01

Mangrove leaves form a large pool of carbon, nitrogen and energy that is a major driver of element cycles and detrital food webs inside mangrove forests as well as in adjacent coastal waters. However, there are large gaps in knowledge on the transformation pathways and ultimate fate of leaf nitrogen. Therefore, the main objective of this study was to determine the amount and composition of nitrogenous organic matter and possible species-specific differences during the decomposition of mangrove leaf litter. For that purpose a three month decomposition experiment with litterbags was conducted using leaves of Aegiceras corniculatum, Avicennia alba, Ceriops decandra, Rhizophora apiculata, and Sonneratia caseolaris in the mangrove forest of the Segara Anakan Lagoon, Java, Indonesia. Detrital leaves were analyzed for bulk carbon and total nitrogen (N), stable carbon and nitrogen isotope composition (δ13C, δ15N), total hydrolyzable amino acids (THAA) and total hydrolyzable hexosamines (THHA). Decomposition rates (k d-1) were highest and tM50 values (when 50% of the original mass had been degraded) lowest in S. caseolaris (k = 0.0382 d-1; tM50 = 18 days), followed by A. alba, C. decandra, A. corniculatum, and R. apiculata (k = 0.0098 d-1; tM50 = 71 days). The biochemical composition of detrital leaves differed significantly among species and over time. S. caseolaris and A. alba had higher concentrations of N, THAA and THHA and a lower C/N ratio than the other three species. For most of the species concentrations of N, THAA and THHA increased during decomposition. The hexosamine galactosamine, indicative of bacterial cell walls, was first found in leaves after 5-7 days of decomposition and increased afterwards. Our findings suggest an increasing, but species-specific varying, portion of labile nitrogenous OM and total N in decomposing leaves over time that is partly related to the activity of leaf-colonizing bacteria. Despite a higher relative nitrogen content in the remaining litter of the fast decomposing S. caseolaris and A. alba as compared to the other three species, the total loss of nitrogen was even higher because of the much higher mass loss after three months of decomposition. It is inferred that the amount of labile nitrogenous organic matter plays a major role in determining the rate of decomposition of leaf litter in mangroves.

Accurate electronic and chemical properties of 3d transition metal oxides using a calculated linear response U and a DFT + U(V) method.

PubMed

Xu, Zhongnan; Joshi, Yogesh V; Raman, Sumathy; Kitchin, John R

2015-04-14

We validate the usage of the calculated, linear response Hubbard U for evaluating accurate electronic and chemical properties of bulk 3d transition metal oxides. We find calculated values of U lead to improved band gaps. For the evaluation of accurate reaction energies, we first identify and eliminate contributions to the reaction energies of bulk systems due only to changes in U and construct a thermodynamic cycle that references the total energies of unique U systems to a common point using a DFT + U(V) method, which we recast from a recently introduced DFT + U(R) method for molecular systems. We then introduce a semi-empirical method based on weighted DFT/DFT + U cohesive energies to calculate bulk oxidation energies of transition metal oxides using density functional theory and linear response calculated U values. We validate this method by calculating 14 reactions energies involving V, Cr, Mn, Fe, and Co oxides. We find up to an 85% reduction of the mean average error (MAE) compared to energies calculated with the Perdew-Burke-Ernzerhof functional. When our method is compared with DFT + U with empirically derived U values and the HSE06 hybrid functional, we find up to 65% and 39% reductions in the MAE, respectively.

Quantum chemical study on the NLO and NBO properties of 4-hydroxy quinoline-2-carboxylic acid

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pattanayak, Subrat Kumar

2018-05-01

The nonlinear optical properties and natural bond analysis properties, different global chemical reactivity properties of the compound 4-hydroxy quinoline-2-carboxylic acid are studied by density function theory. The dipole moment (μ) and linear polarizability are found 1.60259 D and 15.138×10-24esu respectively. A comparatively greater value dipole moment 1.46154 D is obtained in direction of μy. It was observed the interaction energies of acceptor of NBO C1 - C2 and donor C5 - C6, NBO of C13 - N15 and C9 - C12, NBO of C13 - N15 and C18 - O21, NBO of O19 and C18 - O21 are 30.92, 358.86, 320.39, 58.55 Kcal/mol. We are getting the low ionization energy 7.033 electron volt (eV) for the studied molecule, which indicates the high inhibition efficiency. Here we note that, high value of ionisation energy indicating the high stability as well as inertness of that molecule. The HOMO and LUMO energies are found -7.033 eV and -2.5212 eV respectively.

Intermolecular dissociation energies of dispersively bound complexes of aromatics with noble gases and nitrogen

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Knochenmuss, Richard; Sinha, Rajeev K.; Leutwyler, Samuel

2018-04-01

We measured accurate intermolecular dissociation energies D0 of the supersonic jet-cooled complexes of 1-naphthol (1NpOH) with the noble gases Ne, Ar, Kr, and Xe and with N2, using the stimulated-emission pumping resonant two-photon ionization method. The ground-state values D0(S0) for the 1NpOHṡS complexes with S= Ar, Kr, Xe, and N2 were bracketed to be within ±3.5%; they are 5.67 ± 0.05 kJ/mol for S = Ar, 7.34 ± 0.07 kJ/mol for S = Kr, 10.8 ± 0.28 kJ/mol for S = Xe, 6.67 ± 0.08 kJ/mol for isomer 1 of the 1NpOHṡN2 complex, and 6.62 ± 0.22 kJ/mol for the corresponding isomer 2. For S = Ne, the upper limit is D0 < 3.36 kJ/mol. The dissociation energies increase by 1%-5% upon S0 → S1 excitation of the complexes. Three dispersion-corrected density functional theory (DFT-D) methods (B97-D3, B3LYP-D3, and ωB97X-D) predict that the most stable form of these complexes involves dispersive binding to the naphthalene "face." A more weakly bound edge isomer is predicted in which the S moiety is H-bonded to the OH group of 1NpOH; however, no edge isomers were observed experimentally. The B97-D3 calculated dissociation energies D0(S0) of the face complexes with Ar, Kr, and N2 agree with the experimental values within <5%, but the D0(S0) for Xe is 12% too low. The B3LYP-D3 and ωB97X-D calculated D0(S0) values exhibit larger deviations to both larger and smaller dissociation energies. For comparison to 1-naphthol, we calculated the D0(S0) of the carbazole complexes with S = Ne, Ar, Kr, Xe, and N2 using the same DFT-D methods. The respective experimental values have been previously determined to be within <2%. Again, the B97-D3 results are in the best overall agreement with experiment.

Paleoreconstruction of organic carbon inputs to an oxbow lake in the Mississippi River watershed: Effects of dam construction and land use change on regional inputs

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bianchi, Thomas S.; Galy, Valier; Rosenheim, Brad E.; Shields, Michael; Cui, Xingqian; Van Metre, Peter

2015-10-01

We use a dated sediment core from Lake Whittington (USA) in the lower Mississippi River to reconstruct linkages in the carbon cycling and fluvial sediment dynamics over the past 80 years. Organic carbon (OC) sources were characterized using bulk (δ13C, ramped pyrolysis-oxidation (PyrOx) 14C, δ15N, and TN:OC ratios) and compound-specific (lignin phenols and fatty acids, including δ13C and 14C of the fatty acids) analyses. Damming of the Missouri River in the 1950s, other hydrological modifications to the river, and soil conservation measures resulted in reduced net OC export, in spite of increasing OC concentrations. Decreasing δ13C values coincided with increases in δ15N, TN:OC ratios, long-chain fatty acids, and lignin-phenol concentrations, suggesting increased inputs of soil-derived OC dominated by C3 vegetation, mainly resulting from changes in farming practices and crop distribution. However, ramped PyrOx 14C showed no discernible differences downcore in thermochemical stability, indicating a limited impact on soil OC turnover.

δ15N Values in Crassostrea virginica Shells Provides Early Direct Evidence for Nitrogen Loading to Chesapeake Bay

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Black, H. D.; Andrus, C. F. T.; Lambert, W. J.; Rick, T. C.; Gillikin, D. P.

2017-03-01

Crassostrea virginica is one of the most common estuarine bivalves in the United States’ east coast and is frequently found in archaeological sites and sub-fossil deposits. Although there have been several sclerochronological studies on stable carbon and oxygen isotopes in the shells of this species, less is known about δ15N values within their shells, which could be a useful paleoenvironmental proxy to assess estuarine nitrogen dynamics. Modern C. virginica samples were collected in Chesapeake Bay for comparison with archaeological shells from nearby sites ranging in age from ~100 to 3,200 years old. Left valves were sampled by milling the hinge area and the resulting powder was analyzed for %N and δ15N values. Comparison of δ15N values between C. virginica shells shows relatively constant values from ~1250 BC to ~1800 AD. After ~1800 AD, there are rapid increases in 15N enrichment in the shells, which continue to increase in value up to the modern shell values. The increase in δ15N values is evidence of early anthropogenic impact in Chesapeake Bay. These results corroborate the observation that coastal nitrogen pollution occurred earlier than the 19th century and support the use of oyster shell δ15N values as a useful environmental proxy.

Linking Land-Use to Submarine Groundwater Discharge Nutrient Fluxes on Maui, Hawaii

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bishop, J. M.; Glenn, C. R.; Amato, D. W.; Dulaiova, H.

2014-12-01

Fertilized agricultural lands, wastewater injection, and areas with high septic system density each have substantial potential for contributing excess nutrients to the coastal waters of islands via submarine groundwater discharge (SGD). We evaluated the coastal impacts of such land-use around the island of Maui using stable isotopes (δ15N of NO3-; δ18O and δ2H of H2O) and nutrient concentrations from wells, springs, beach seeps, SGD, and coastal waters, and coupled these to coastal water SGD and nutrient fluxes using 222Rn mass balance. Flowpaths and recharge elevations for groundwater samples were determined using the δ18OH2O of samples, recharge data, modeled groundwater head, and published local meteoric water lines. Coastal groundwater samples whose flowpaths transect sugarcane plots showed highest dissolved inorganic nitrogen (DIN - NO3- + NO2-) concentrations, ranging from 225 - 450 µM, and the δ15N of those samples was on average 3.3 ± 0.6 ‰ (n = 15), as expected for urea fertilizers applied to commercial sugarcane. Samples whose flowpaths transect large amounts of septic sources showed moderate DIN concentrations (max. 100 µM), but had higher δ15N values (9.7 ± 4.8 ‰, n = 5), reflecting their sewage influence. Due to nitrate reduction during subterranean transit, groundwater and coastal waters proximal to deep, near-coast wastewater injection (Kahului) display the highest average δ15N values encountered (δ15NNO3- 18.8 ± 11.1 ‰, n = 19) and moderate DIN concentrations (max 90 µM). Average SGD nutrient fluxes among the different field sites ranged from 700 - 1,500,000 µmol/d/m of shoreline for DIN and 600 - 22,000 µmol/d/m for orthophosphate. These results indicate that areas with the highest N and P fluxes are areas where coastal groundwater flowpaths transect large tracts of sugarcane production. Although highest SGD rates occur near the Kahului wastewater injection wells (~ 2800 m3/day) the relatively low nutrient concentrations in the groundwater end member lead to comparatively modest nutrient fluxes of 270,000 and 13,000 μmol/d/m for DIN and orthophosphate, respectively. This study demonstrates the utility of coupling stable isotope and SGD-radioisotope tracers to (1) determine the source of nutrients in SGD as well as (2) the trajectories and specific fluxes of those nutrients to the coast.

Soil N and 15N variation with time in a California annual grassland ecosystem

USGS Publications Warehouse

Brenner, D.L.; Amundson, Ronald; Baisden, W. Troy; Kendall, C.; Harden, J.

2001-01-01

The %N and ??15N values of soils and plants were measured along a chronosequence spanning 3 to 3000 Ky in a California annual grassland. Total soil N decreased with increasing soil age (1.1 to 0.4 kg N m-2) while the mean ?? 15N values of the soil N increased by several ??? from the youngest to oldest sites (+3.5 to +6.2 ???). The ?? 15N values of plants varied along the gradient, reflecting changing soil N pools and differences in the form of N uptake. The decline in total N storage with time is hypothesized to be due to a shift from N to P limitation with increasing soil age. The general increase in ?? 15N values with time is interpreted using a N mass balance model, and appears to reflect a shift toward an increasing proportional losses of inorganic mineral forms of N (vs. organic forms) with increasing soil age. We develop a quantitative index of this trend (mineral vs. organic forms of N loss) using mass balance considerations and parameters. The %N and ?? 15N values along the California age gradient were compared to the published data for a comparably aged chronosequence in Hawaii. Most striking in this comparison is the observation that the California soil and plant ?? 15N values are several ??? greater than those on comparably aged Hawaiian sites. Multiple explanations are plausible, but assuming the sites have a similar range in ?? 15N values of atmospheric inputs, the isotopic differences suggest that N may be, at least seasonally, in greater excess in the strongly seasonal, semi-arid, California grassland. Copyright ?? 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd.

Ultrafast dynamics of an unoccupied surface resonance state in B i2T e2Se

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Munisa, Nurmamat; Krasovskii, E. E.; Ishida, Y.; Sumida, K.; Chen, Jiahua; Yoshikawa, T.; Chulkov, E. V.; Kokh, K. A.; Tereshchenko, O. E.; Shin, S.; Kimura, Akio

2018-03-01

Electronic structure and electron dynamics in the ternary topological insulator B i2T e2Se are studied with time- and angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy using optical pumping. An unoccupied surface resonance split off from the bulk conduction band previously indirectly observed in scanning tunneling measurements is spectroscopically identified. Furthermore, an unoccupied topological surface state (TSS) is found, which is serendipitously located at about 1.5 eV above the occupied TSS, thereby facilitating direct optical transitions between the two surface states at ℏ ω =1.5 eV in an n -type topological insulator. An appreciable nonequilibrium population of the bottom of the bulk conduction band is observed for longer than 15 ps after the pump pulse. This leads to a long recovery time of the lower TSS, which is constantly populated by the electrons coming from the bulk conduction band. Our results demonstrate B i2T e2Se to be an ideal platform for designing future optoelectronic devices based on topological insulators.

[Effect of sludge bulking on membrane fouling of MBR under low temperature].

PubMed

Ren, Nan-qi; Liu, Jiao; Wang, Xiu-heng

2009-01-01

The performance and membrane fouling of submerged membrane bioreactor were studied in the case of active sludge bulking under low temperature. The factors contributing to membrane fouling were discussed from the microorganism aspect. The results showed that COD removal efficiencies of supernatant and permeate were 85% and 92% respectively and filamentous sludge bulking had little impact on them. The sludge settleability became bad and the filament index (FI) increased from 2 to 5 during the formation of filamentous sludge bulking under low temperature. The filamentous bacteria extending from the sludge flocs formed net structure. Membrane fouling changed with time in linear under low temperature and the operation period of MBR was 15 d. However, membrane fouling was more serious in the condition of filamentous sludge bulking at low temperature, shortening the operation period of MBR to 7 d. The extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) content of bulking sludge was three times as that of normal sludge and the relative hydrophobicity (RH) of sludge flocs was decreased as FI increased. The increase of EPS and RH may cause more materials to deposit on the membrane surface, thus the membrane fouling rate improved and the operation period of MBR became short. Further analysis indicated that the mixed liquid viscosity, Zeta potential and sludge floc structure were all important factors of membrane fouling.

Ocean Nitrogen Isotopic Change in the Early Eocene

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kast, E.; Stolper, D. A.; Higgins, J. A.; Ren, H. A.; Wang, X. T.; Sigman, D. M.

2017-12-01

The long term variability of the marine nitrogen (N) cycle is an open question. The Cenozoic provides a well-studied framework for investigating the marine N cycle over long time scales and across large climate transitions. However, only sparse bulk Cenozoic sediment δ15N data exist, the utility of which for reconstructing environmental conditions is unclear. We present a record of foraminifera-bound organic matter δ15N from the Paleocene to late Eocene. At three distant sites, foraminifera-bound δ15N decreases dramatically between 56 Ma and 50 Ma: from 14‰ to 2‰ in the northwest Pacific (ODP site 1209), from 12‰ to 4‰ in the southeast Atlantic (ODP site 1263), and from 9‰ to 4‰ in the northwest Atlantic (IODP site U1409). This foraminifera-bound δ15N change is on par, if not greater, than the largest changes that have been observed in bulk sediment δ15N over the last 600 million years. The shared change among the sites implies a change in mean δ15N of oceanic fixed N, which is thought to be sensitive to the ratio of water column to sedimentary denitrification, with a higher δ15N reflecting a greater proportion of denitrification occurring in the water column. Today, water column denitrification occurs in the shallow subsurface, in regions where these waters are suboxic. Thus, the δ15N decrease may reflect a slowing of water column denitrification, which can be generated by a decline in shallow subsurface suboxia. A key factor in the extent of shallow subsurface suboxia is the amount of "preformed oxygen," the initial concentration of dissolved O2 in the water that flows from the surface into the shallow subsurface: a decline in suboxia would require a rise in preformed oxygen from 56 to 50 Ma. The δ15N decline occurs before the onset of cooling in the Eocene, eliminating global temperature change as the driver of increased preformed oxygen. Instead we favor explanations that involve tectonically driven changes in continental configuration and shallow and mid-depth ocean bathymetry. Indeed, the δ15N decline appears coincident with the initiation of bathymetric effects from the collision of India with Asia. This category of explanation is consistent with the overlap of the δ15N decline with the previously identified increase in marine barite δ34S at 51 Ma.

Human dietary δ(15)N intake: representative data for principle food items.

PubMed

Huelsemann, F; Koehler, K; Braun, H; Schaenzer, W; Flenker, U

2013-09-01

Dietary analysis using δ(15)N values of human remains such as bone and hair is usually based on general principles and limited data sets. Even for modern humans, the direct ascertainment of dietary δ(15)N is difficult and laborious, due to the complexity of metabolism and nitrogen fractionation, differing dietary habits and variation of δ(15)N values of food items. The objective of this study was to summarize contemporary regional experimental and global literature data to ascertain mean representative δ(15)N values for distinct food categories. A comprehensive data set of more than 12,000 analyzed food samples was summarized from the literature. Data originated from studies dealing with (1) authenticity tracing or origin control of food items, and (2) effects of fertilization or nutrition on δ(15)N values of plants or animals. Regional German food δ(15)N values revealed no major differences compared with the mean global values derived from the literature. We found that, in contrast to other food categories, historical faunal remains of pig and poultry are significantly enriched in (15)N compared to modern samples. This difference may be due to modern industrialized breeding practices. In some food categories variations in agricultural and feeding regimens cause significant differences in δ(15)N values that may lead to misinterpretations when only limited information is available. Copyright © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Evidence of long-term NAO influence on East-Central Europe winter precipitation from a guano-derived δ15N record.

PubMed

Cleary, Daniel M; Wynn, Jonathan G; Ionita, Monica; Forray, Ferenc L; Onac, Bogdan P

2017-10-26

Currently there is a scarcity of paleo-records related to the North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO), particularly in East-Central Europe (ECE). Here we report δ 15 N analysis of guano from a cave in NW Romania with the intent of reconstructing past variation in ECE hydroclimate and examine NAO impacts on winter precipitation. We argue that the δ 15 N values of guano indicate that the nitrogen cycle is hydrologically controlled and the δ 15 N values likely reflect winter precipitation related to nitrogen mineralization prior to the growing season. Drier conditions indicated by δ 15 N values at AD 1848-1852 and AD 1880-1930 correspond to the positive phase of the NAO. The increased frequency of negative phases of the NAO between AD 1940-1975 is contemporaneous with higher δ 15 N values (wetter conditions). A 4‰ decrease in δ 15 N values at the end of the 1970's corresponds to a strong reduction in precipitation associated with a shift from negative to positive phase of the NAO. Using the relationship between NAO index and δ 15 N values in guano for the instrumental period, we reconstructed NAO-like phases back to AD 1650. Our results advocate that δ 15 N values of guano offer a proxy of the NAO conditions in the more distant past, helping assess its predictability.

Enhanced photocatalytic performances of ultrafine g-C3N4 nanosheets obtained by gaseous stripping with wet nitrogen

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fan, Chengkong; Feng, Qiang; Xu, Guangqing; Lv, Jun; Zhang, Yong; Liu, Jiaqin; Qin, Yongqiang; Wu, Yucheng

2018-01-01

Graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4) is a promising heterogeneous photocatalyst for organics pollutants degradation and water splitting. Herein, we highlight an available pathway to prepare the ultrafine g-C3N4 nanosheets by gaseous stripping of bulk g-C3N4 in wet nitrogen. As comparison, g-C3N4 treated in air and nitrogen atmospheres are also prepared. The obtained products are characterized with X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and Fourier transform infrared spectra, respectively. Well dispersed g-C3N4 nanosheets can be obtained by this gaseous stripping process in wet nitrogen, which possess much higher specific surface area (211.2 m2 g-1) than that of bulk g-C3N4 (15.3 m2 g-1). Both RhB degradation and water splitting are applied to characterize the photocatalytic performances of the ultrafine g-C3N4 nanosheets. The g-C3N4 (w-N2) nanosheets can degrade 20 mg/L RhB completely within 12 min under visible light illumination, which is 5.32 times faster than that of bulk g-C3N4. Also, the g-C3N4 (w-N2) nanosheets possess the highest photocatalytic hydrogen evolution rate of 1113.48 μmol h-1 g-1 under visible light illumination, which is 6 times that of bulk g-C3N4. The mechanisms of enhancing the photocatalytic performance are discussed to be the higher oxidation ability of VB and higher specific surface area (211.2 m2/g) of the ultrafine g-C3N4 nanosheets.

Fog and precipitation chemistry at a mid-land forest in central Taiwan.

PubMed

Liang, Yang-Ling; Lin, Teng-Chiu; Hwong, Jeen-Liang; Lin, Neng-Huei; Wang, Chiao-Ping

2009-01-01

We analyzed fog and bulk precipitation chemistry at a cloud forest in central Taiwan where mountain agriculture activities are highest. There were 320 foggy days (visibility <1000 m) recorded between April 2005 and March 2006. Fog was most frequent between April 2005 and July 2005 and in March 2006 (153/153 d) and least frequent in January 2006 (21/31 d). The total fog duration was 2415 h, representing 28% of the sampling period. Compared with bulk precipitation, fog was disproportionally enriched in NO(3)(-) and SO(4)(2-) relative to K(+), Ca(2+), Mg(2+), and NH(4)(+), resulting in higher a content of nitric acid and sulfuric acid than weak acids or neutral salts and, therefore, higher acidity (median pH, 4.9) in fog than in bulk precipitation (median and mean pH, 5.5). The very high input of NH(4)(+) (47 kg N ha(-1) yr(-1)) through bulk precipitation suggests that the use of fertilizer (ammonium sulfate and animal manure) associated with mountain agriculture has a major impact on atmospheric deposition at the surrounding forest ecosystems. The input of inorganic N reached 125 kg N ha(-1) yr(-1) and likely exceeded the biological demand of the forest ecosystem. Sulfate is the most abundant anion in fog at Chi-tou and in precipitation at various forests throughout Taiwan, suggesting that the emission and transport of large quantities of SO(2,) the precursor of SO(4)(2-), is an island-wide environmental issue.

High abundances of presolar grains and 15N-rich organic matter in CO3.0 chondrite Dominion Range 08006

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Nittler, Larry R.; Alexander, Conel M. O'D.; Davidson, Jemma; Riebe, My E. I.; Stroud, Rhonda M.; Wang, Jianhua

2018-04-01

NanoSIMS C-, N-, and O-isotopic mapping of matrix in CO3.0 chondrite Dominion Range (DOM) 08006 revealed it to have in its matrix the highest abundance of presolar O-rich grains (257 +76/-96 ppm, 2σ) of any meteorite. It also has a matrix abundance of presolar SiC of 35 (+25/-17, 2σ) ppm, similar to that seen across primitive chondrite classes. This provides additional support to bulk isotopic and petrologic evidence that DOM 08006 is the most primitive known CO meteorite. Transmission electron microscopy of five presolar silicate grains revealed one to have a composite mineralogy similar to larger amoeboid olivine aggregates and consistent with equilibrium condensation, two non-stoichiometric amorphous grains, and two olivine grains, though one is identified as such solely based on its composition. We also found insoluble organic matter (IOM) to be present primarily as sub-micron inclusions with ranges of C- and N-isotopic anomalies similar to those seen in primitive CR chondrites and interplanetary dust particles. In contrast to other primitive extraterrestrial materials, H isotopic imaging showed normal and homogeneous D/H. Most likely, DOM 08006 and other CO chondrites accreted a similar complement of primitive and isotopically anomalous organic matter to that found in other chondrite classes and IDPs, but the very limited amount of thermal metamorphism experienced by DOM 08006 has caused loss of D-rich organic moieties, while not substantially affecting either the molecular carriers of C and N anomalies or most inorganic phases in the meteorite. One C-rich grain that was highly depleted in 13C and 15N was identified; we propose it originated in the Sun's parental molecular cloud.

Combining stable isotopes with contamination indicators: A method for improved investigation of nitrate sources and dynamics in aquifers with mixed nitrogen inputs.

PubMed

Minet, E P; Goodhue, R; Meier-Augenstein, W; Kalin, R M; Fenton, O; Richards, K G; Coxon, C E

2017-11-01

Excessive nitrate (NO 3 - ) concentration in groundwater raises health and environmental issues that must be addressed by all European Union (EU) member states under the Nitrates Directive and the Water Framework Directive. The identification of NO 3 - sources is critical to efficiently control or reverse NO 3 - contamination that affects many aquifers. In that respect, the use of stable isotope ratios 15 N/ 14 N and 18 O/ 16 O in NO 3 - (expressed as δ 15 N-NO 3 - and δ 18 O-NO 3 - , respectively) has long shown its value. However, limitations exist in complex environments where multiple nitrogen (N) sources coexist. This two-year study explores a method for improved NO 3 - source investigation in a shallow unconfined aquifer with mixed N inputs and a long established NO 3 - problem. In this tillage-dominated area of free-draining soil and subsoil, suspected NO 3 - sources were diffuse applications of artificial fertiliser and organic point sources (septic tanks and farmyards). Bearing in mind that artificial diffuse sources were ubiquitous, groundwater samples were first classified according to a combination of two indicators relevant of point source contamination: presence/absence of organic point sources (i.e. septic tank and/or farmyard) near sampling wells and exceedance/non-exceedance of a contamination threshold value for sodium (Na + ) in groundwater. This classification identified three contamination groups: agricultural diffuse source but no point source (D+P-), agricultural diffuse and point source (D+P+) and agricultural diffuse but point source occurrence ambiguous (D+P±). Thereafter δ 15 N-NO 3 - and δ 18 O-NO 3 - data were superimposed on the classification. As δ 15 N-NO 3 - was plotted against δ 18 O-NO 3 - , comparisons were made between the different contamination groups. Overall, both δ variables were significantly and positively correlated (p < 0.0001, r s  = 0.599, slope of 0.5), which was indicative of denitrification. An inspection of the contamination groups revealed that denitrification did not occur in the absence of point source contamination (group D+P-). In fact, strong significant denitrification lines occurred only in the D+P+ and D+P± groups (p < 0.0001, r s  > 0.6, 0.53 ≤ slope ≤ 0.76), i.e. where point source contamination was characterised or suspected. These lines originated from the 2-6‰ range for δ 15 N-NO 3 - , which suggests that i) NO 3 - contamination was dominated by an agricultural diffuse N source (most likely the large organic matter pool that has incorporated 15 N-depleted nitrogen from artificial fertiliser in agricultural soils and whose nitrification is stimulated by ploughing and fertilisation) rather than point sources and ii) denitrification was possibly favoured by high dissolved organic content (DOC) from point sources. Combining contamination indicators and a large stable isotope dataset collected over a large study area could therefore improve our understanding of the NO 3 - contamination processes in groundwater for better land use management. We hypothesise that in future research, additional contamination indicators (e.g. pharmaceutical molecules) could also be combined to disentangle NO 3 - contamination from animal and human wastes. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Enhanced gas absorption in the ionic liquid 1-n-hexyl-3-methylimidazolium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)amide ([hmim][Tf2N]) confined in silica slit pores: a molecular simulation study.

PubMed

Shi, Wei; Luebke, David R

2013-05-07

Two-dimensional NPxyT and isostress-osmotic (N2PxyTf1) Monte Carlo simulations were used to compute the density and gas absorption properties of the ionic liquid (IL) 1-n-hexyl-3-methylimidazolium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)amide ([hmim][Tf2N]) confined in silica slit pores (25-45 Å). Self-diffusivity values for both gas and IL were calculated from NVE molecular dynamics simulations using both smooth and atomistic potential models for silica. The simulations showed that the molar volume of [hmim][Tf2N] confined in 25-45-Å silica slit pores is 12-31% larger than that of the bulk IL at 313-573 K and 1 bar. The amounts of CO2, H2, and N2 absorbed in the confined IL are 1.1-3 times larger than those in the bulk IL because of the larger molar volume of the confined IL compared to the bulk IL. The CO2, N2, and H2 molecules are generally absorbed close to the silica wall where the IL density is very low. This arrangement causes the self-diffusivities of these gases in the confined IL to be 2-8 times larger than those in the bulk IL at 298-573 K. The solubilities of water in the confined and bulk ILs are similar, which is likely due to strong water interactions with [hmim][Tf2N] through hydrogen bonding, so that the molar volume of the confined IL plays a less important role in determining the H2O solubility. Water molecules are largely absorbed in the IL-rich region rather than close to the silica wall. The self-diffusivities of water correlate with those of the confined IL. The confined IL exhibits self-diffusivities larger than those of the bulk IL at lower temperatures, but smaller than those of the bulk IL at higher temperatures. The findings from our simulations are consistent with available experimental data for similar confined IL systems.

Semiconducting cubic titanium nitride in the Th 3 P 4 structure

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Bhadram, Venkata S.; Liu, Hanyu; Xu, Enshi

We report the discovery of a long-sought-after phase of titanium nitride with stoichiometry Ti 3 N 4 using diamond anvil cell experiments combined with in situ high-resolution x-ray diffraction and Raman spectroscopy techniques, supported by ab initio calculations. Ti 3 N 4 crystallizes in the cubic Th 3 P 4 structure [space group I ¯ 4 3 d (220)] from a mixture of TiN and N 2 above ≈ 75 GPa and ≈ 2400 K. The density ( ≈ 5.22 g/cc) and bulk modulus ( K 0 = 290 GPa) of cubic- Ti 3 N 4 ( c - Timore » 3 N 4 ) at 1 atm, estimated from the pressure-volume equation of state, are comparable to rocksalt TiN. Ab initio calculations based on the GW approximation and using hybrid functionals indicate that c - Ti 3 N 4 is a semiconductor with a direct band gap between 0.8 and 0.9 eV, which is larger than the previously predicted values. The c - Ti 3 N 4 phase is not recoverable to ambient pressure due to dynamic instabilities, but recovery of Ti 3 N 4 in the defect rocksalt (or related) structure may be feasible.« less

Measurements of Thermal Conductivity of Superfluid Helium Near its Transition Temperature T(sub lambda) in a 2D Confinement

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Jerebets, Sergei

2004-01-01

We report our recent experiments on thermal conductivity measurements of superfluid He-4 near its phase transition in a two-dimensional (2D) confinement under saturated vapor pressure. A 2D confinement is created by 2-mm- and 1-mm-thick glass capillary plates, consisting of densely populated parallel microchannels with cross-sections of 5 x 50 and 1 x 10 microns, correspondingly. A heat current (2 < Q < 400 nW/sq cm) was applied along the channels long direction. High-resolution measurements were provided by DC SQUID-based high-resolution paramagnetic salt thermometers (HRTs) with a nanokelvin resolution. We might find that thermal conductivity of confined helium is finite at the bulk superfluid transition temperature. Our 2D results will be compared with those in a bulk and 1D confinement.

Starvation effects on nitrogen and carbon stable isotopes of animals: an insight from meta-analysis of fasting experiments

PubMed Central

Akamatsu, Fumikazu; González, Angélica L.

2017-01-01

Nitrogen and carbon stable isotopic compositions (δ15N and δ13C) of consumers have been used for physiological and food web studies. Previous studies have shown δ15N and δ13C values are affected by several biological and environmental factors during starvation, but the generality of the effect of starvation on δ15N and δ13C values has not yet been tested. Here, we performed a meta-analysis to evaluate the effects of starvation on δ15N and δ13C values of consumers, and the underlying factors that may explain the observed variation. The δ15N and δ13C values were calculated as the differences between the final δ15N and δ13C values of consumers (post-starvation) and the pre-starvation values on each experiment. Our meta-analysis showed a large variation in the δ15N and δ13C values of consumers (δ15N range: –0.82 to 4.30‰; mean: 0.47‰ and δ13C range: –1.92 to 2.62‰; mean: 0.01‰). The δ15N values of most consumers increased along the length of the starvation period and were influenced by nitrogen excretion and thermoregulation types, probably because differences in nitrogen metabolism and thermoregulation affect nitrogen processing and excretion rates. None of our predictor variables accounted for the variation in δ13C values, which showed both increases and decreases due to fasting. Our findings suggest that starvation results in changes in consumer δ15N values which are mainly explained by the length of the fasting period and by nitrogen and energy metabolism, but the underlying mechanisms of the starvation effects on δ13C values seem to be more complex than previously thought. PMID:28879005

Effect of layer thickness on the elution of bulk-fill composite components.

PubMed

Rothmund, Lena; Reichl, Franz-Xaver; Hickel, Reinhard; Styllou, Panorea; Styllou, Marianthi; Kehe, Kai; Yang, Yang; Högg, Christof

2017-01-01

An increment layering technique in a thickness of 2mm or less has been the standard to sufficiently convert (co)monomers. Bulk fill resin composites were developed to accelerate the restoration process by enabling up to 4mm thick increments to be cured in a single step. The aim of the present study is to investigate the effect of layer thickness on the elution of components from bulk fill composites. The composites ELS Bulk fill, SDR Bulk fill and Venus Bulkfill were polymerized according to the instruction of the manufacturers. For each composite three groups with four samples each (n=4) were prepared: (1) samples with a layer thickness of 2mm; (2) samples with a layer thickness of 4mm and (3) samples with a layer thickness of 6mm. The samples were eluted in methanol and water for 24h and 7 d. The eluates were analyzed by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS). A total of 11 different elutable substances have been identified from the investigated composites. Following methacrylates showed an increase of elution at a higher layer thickness: TEGDMA (SDR Bulk fill, Venus Bulk fill), EGDMA (Venus Bulk fill). There was no significant difference in the elution of HEMA regarding the layer thickness. The highest concentration of TEGDMA was 146μg/mL for SDR Bulk fill at a layer thickness of 6mm after 7 d in water. The highest HEMA concentration measured at 108μg/mL was detected in the methanol eluate of Venus Bulk fill after 7 d with a layer thickness of 6mm. A layer thickness of 4mm or more can lead to an increased elution of some bulk fill components, compared to the elution at a layer thickness of 2mm. Copyright © 2016 The Academy of Dental Materials. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Stable Isotope Signatures Suggest Different Feeding Strategies for Atlantic and Gulf Menhaden

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Perez-Perez, N.; Smith, S. L.; Gonsalves, L. C.; Lamb, M.

2016-02-01

Atlantic menhaden (Brevoortia tyrannus) is a keystone forage species that ranges on the Atlantic Coast from Nova Scotia to Florida. A related species, the Gulf menhaden (Brevoortia patronus) is found in the northern Gulf of Mexico from Florida to Texas. They each serve as prey for important recreational and commercial fish, such as blue fish, tuna and striped bass. Menhaden are filter feeders whose diets consist mostly of phytoplankton and zooplankton, and menhaden act as direct links between primary producers and larger valuable predators. In this study, we investigated and compared the isotopic signatures of water column nitrate (δ15N), bulk plankton and juvenile menhaden (δ 15N and δ 13C) collected from 5 sites in both the Choptank River, MD, and Apalachicola Bay, FL. We determined that menhaden inhabiting the temperate zone versus the sub-tropical region exhibited statistically different isotopic signatures, suggesting different feeding strategies. Choptank River menhaden were enriched 4‰ in δ 15N over Apalachicola Bay menhaden. Choptank River menhaden are mostly likely obtaining their diet from a higher trophic level (copepods, primary consumers) than Apalachicola Bay fish, who may consume more phytoplankton. The Choptank River menhaden also may be consuming more allochthonous material, and those from the Gulf area eat a more authochthonous diet. In addition, Atlantic menhaden collected from fresh water creeks versus those collected closer to the bay differed in their δ 13C compositions, depending on site collection, with creek fish being more depleted in the heavier carbon isotope. The δ 15N values of water column nitrate were similar at Choptank and Apalachicola sites.

Accounting for cyanide and its degradation products at three Nevada gold mines; constraints from stable C- and N-isotopes

USGS Publications Warehouse

Johnson, C.A.; Grimes, D.J.; Rye, R.O.

1998-01-01

An understanding of the fate of cyanide (CN-) in mine process waters is important for addressing environmental concerns and for taking steps to minimize reagent costs. The utility of stable isotope methods in identifying cyanide loss pathways has been investigated in case studies at three Nevada gold mines. Freshly prepared barren solutions at the mines have cyanide d15N and d13C values averaging -4 ? and -36 ?, respectively, reflecting the nitrogen and carbon sources used by commercial manufacturers, air and natural gas methane. Pregnant solutions returning from ore heaps display small isotopic shifts to lower d15N and d13C values. The shifts are similar to those observed in laboratory experiments where cyanide was progressively precipitated as a cyanometallic compound, and are opposite in sign and much smaller in magnitude than the shifts observed in experiments where HCN was offgassed. Offgassing is inferred to be a minor cyanide loss mechanism in the heap leach operations at the three mines, and precipitation as cyanometallic compounds, and possibly coprecipitation with ferric oxides, is inferred to be an important loss mechanism. Isotopic analysis of dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC) shows that uptake of high d13C air CO2 has been important in many barren and pregnant solutions. However, DIC in reclaim pond waters at all three mines has low d13C values of -28 to -34 ? indicating cyanide breakdown either by hydrolysis or by other chemical pathways that break the C-N bond. Isotope mass balance calculations indicate that about 40 % of the DIC load in the ponds, at a minimum, was derived from cyanide breakdown. This level of cyanide hydrolysis accounts for 14-100 % of the dissolved inorganic nitrogen species present in the ponds. Overall, isotope data provide quantitative evidence that only minor amounts of cyanide are lost via offgassing and that significant amounts are destroyed via hydrolysis and related pathways. The data also highlight the possibility that significant cyanide may be either retained in the ore heaps or destroyed via other chemical pathways.

The Role of Anthropogenic Activity and Climate on δ15N Values of Cave Bat Guano

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cleary, D. M.; Onac, B. P.; Forray, F. L.; Wynn, J. G.

2016-12-01

Interest in the use of bat guano, a paleoclimate and paleoenvironmental resource, has rapidly increased over the past decade. However, to this point the utility of the δ15N values of guano as a potential proxy remains poorly understood. In contrast to the preservation of the original carbon isotopic composition of guano, δ15N values have the potential to be altered as a result of processes of nitrogen (N) cycling such as denitrification. However, the probability of N loss is relatively diminished in younger guano. Here we present a 1.5 m guano core from Zidită Cave in western Romania that began accumulating at ca. 913 ± 30 yr BP. To determine the utility of N isotopes in guano studies, the δ15N time-series was compared to δ13C time series and pollen records of the same core to determine if the environmental impact (pollen) or water availability (δ13C values) has an effect on N cycling. Unlike to previous guano studies, the N content in the core is nearly constant (%N > 9 %) for over 1 m of the core, indicating limited diagenesis. Although major changes in anthropogenic activities may have influenced some δ15N variation, some inconsistencies suggest this is not the primary controller. However, the correlation between δ15N and δ13C values (p < 0.01) in this C3-plant dominated ecosystem has been interpreted to reflect variation driven largely by water availability. Wetter periods indicated by lower δ13C values correspond with higher δ15N values of guano. These results indicate that when the area surrounding the Zidită Cave receives an increase in rainfall the N-cycle becomes more open with a decreased rate of denitrification or other processes that accumulate 15N in the soil reservoir. A 10-year instrumental precipitation dataset agrees with the relationship found between δ13C and δ15N time series. These results suggest that guano δ15N values from Zidită Cave are a suitable proxy record of climate for this type of system, but we emphasize that this coupling of processes may not be universal. Over the past 60 years the δ15N values have decreased by 5.5 ‰, indicating that the N-cycle has been approaching a more conservative state in response to drier conditions. From this study it is clear that the potential utility of δ15N of guano (climate and state of the N-cycle) may have previously been overlooked.

Microbes mediate carbon and nitrogen retention in shallow photic sediments

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hardison, A.; Anderson, I.; Canuel, E. A.; Tobias, C.; Veuger, B.

2009-12-01

Sediments in shallow coastal bays are sites of intense biogeochemical cycling facilitated by a complex microbial consortium. Unlike deeper coastal environments, much of the benthos is illuminated by sunlight in these bays. As a result, benthic autotrophs such as benthic microalgae (BMA) and macroalgae play an integral role in nutrient cycling. Investigating pathways of carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) flow through individual compartments within the sediment microbial community has previously proved challenging due to methodological difficulties. However, it is now possible using stable isotopes and microbial biomarkers such as fatty acids and amino acids to track C and N flow through individual microbial pools. We investigated the uptake and retention of C and N by bacteria and BMA in a shallow subtidal system. Using bulk and compound specific isotopic analysis, we traced the pathways of dissolved inorganic 13C and 15N under various treatments: 1) in ambient light or dark, 2) from porewater or water column sources, and 3) in the presence or absence of bloom forming nuisance macroalgae. Excess 13C and 15N in THAAs and excess 13C in total PLFAs showed a strong dependence on light. Enrichment of these pools represents uptake by the microbial community, which can include both autotrophic and heterotrophic components. Higher excess 13C in benthic microalgal fatty acids (C20, C22 PUFAs) provides evidence that benthic microalgae were fixing 13C. Aditionally, the ratio of excess 13C in branched fatty acids to microbial fatty acids (BAR) and excess 13C and 15N in D-Ala to L-Ala (D/L-Ala) were low, suggesting dominance by benthic microalgae over bacteria to total label incorporation. Our results support uptake and retention of C and N by the sediment microbial community and indicate a tight coupling between BMA and bacteria in shallow illuminated systems. This uptake is diminished in the presence of macroalgae, likely due to shading and/or nutrient competition. Therefore, macroalgae reduce the retention of C and N within surface sediments, diminishing the role of the microbial community in nutrient cycling processes.

Serum insulin-like growth factor type 1 concentrations in healthy dogs and dogs with spontaneous primary hypothyroidism.

PubMed

Jaillardon, Laetitia; Martin, Lucile; Nguyen, Patrick; Siliart, Brigitte

2011-11-01

Circulating insulin-like growth factor type 1 (IGF-1) concentrations in dogs have been correlated with standard breed bodyweight (SBBW or breed size). Thyroid and somatotropic functions, which have common effects and regulatory mechanisms, were investigated in hypothyroid dogs. IGF-1 was measured in 495 adult healthy dogs (N) and in 220 primary hypothyroid dogs (HOT) with clinical and biological signs of primary hypothyroidism. IGF-1 was determined as a function of SBBW (kg): ≤15 (group A); 1540 (group D). In HOT dogs, median fT4 and c-TSH values were 9pmol/L and 1.5ng/mL, respectively. A significant correlation between bodyweight (BW) and IGF-1 was observed in both HOT and N dogs. The median IGF-1 value (ng/mL) was significantly higher (P<0.01) in HOT dogs compared to N in groups B, C and D (230 vs. 182; 316 vs. 230; 606 vs. 306 respectively). In conclusion, IGF-1 concentration should be interpreted in the context of SBBW in dogs and increases in spontaneous primary hypothyroidism. However, it remains unclear if this association is directly due to hypothyroidism or is the result of the weight gain accompanying hypothyroidism. Copyright © 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Technical Note: Is bulk electron density assignment appropriate for MRI-only based treatment planning for lung cancer?

PubMed

Prior, Phil; Chen, Xinfeng; Gore, Elizabeth; Johnstone, Candice; Li, X Allen

2017-07-01

MRI-based treatment planning in radiation therapy (RT) is prohibitive, in part, due to the lack of electron density (ED) information within the image. The dosimetric differences between MRI- and CT-based planning for intensity modulated RT (IMRT) of lung cancer were investigated to assess the appropriateness of bulk ED assignment. Planning CTs acquired for six representative lung cancer patients were used to generate bulk ED IMRT plans. To avoid the effect of anatomic differences between CT and MRI, "simulated MRI-based plans" were generated by forcing the relative ED (rED) to water on CT-delineated structures using organ specific values from the ICRU Report 46 and using the mean rED value of the internal target volume (ITV) from the planning CT. The "simulated MRI-based plans" were generated using a research planning system (Monaco v5.09.07a, Elekta, AB) and employing Monte Carlo dose calculation. The following dose-volume-parameters (DVPs) were collected from both the "simulated MRI-based plans" and the original planning CT: D 95 , the dose delivered to 95% of the ITV & planning target volume (PTV), D 5 and V 5 , the volume of normal lung irradiated ≥5 Gy. The percent point difference and relative dose difference were used for comparison with the CT based plan for V 5 and D 95 respectively. A total of five plans per patient were generated; three with the ITV rED (rED ITV ) = 1.06, 1.0 and the mean value from the planning CT while the lung rED (rED lung ) was fixed at the ICRU value of 0.26 and two with rED lung = 0.1 and 0.5 while the rED ITV was fixed to the mean value from the planning CT. Noticeable differences in the ITV and PTV DVPs were observed. Variations of the normal lung V 5 can be as large as 9.6%. In some instances, varying the rED ITV between rED mean and 1.06 resulted in D 95 increases ranging from 3.9% to 6.3%. Bulk rED assignment on normal lung affected the DVPs of the ITV and PTV by 4.0-9.8% and 0.3-19.6% respectively. Dose volume histograms were presented for representative cases where the variations in the DVPs were found to be very large or very small. The commonly used bulk rED assignment in MRI-only based planning may not be appropriate for lung cancer. A voxel based method, e.g., synthetic CT generated from MRI data, is likely required for dosimetrically accurate MR-based planning for lung cancer. © 2017 American Association of Physicists in Medicine.

Experimental and Computational Studies of the Superconducting Phase Transition of Quasi 1D Superconductors

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wong, Chi Ho

In this PhD project, the feasibility of establishing a state with vanishing resistance in quasi-1D superconductors are studied. In the first stage, extrinsic quasi-1D superconductors based on composite materials made by metallic nanowire arrays embedded in mesoporous silica substrates, such as Pb-SBA-15 and NbN-SBA-15 (fabricated by a Chemical Vapor Deposition technique) are investigated. Two impressive outcomes in Pb-SBA-15 are found, including an enormous enhancement of the upper critical field from 0.08T to 14T and an increase of the superconducting transition temperature onset s from 7.2 to 11K. The second stage is to apply Monte Carlo simulations to model the quasi-1D superconductor, considering its penetration depth, coherence length, defects, electron mean free path, tunneling barrier and insulating width between the nanowires. The Monte Carlo results provide a clear picture to approach to stage 3, which represents a study of the intrinsic quasi-1D superconductor Sc3CoC4, which contains parallel arrays of 1D superconducting CoC4 ribbons with weak transverse Josephson or Proximity interaction, embedded in a Sc matrix. According to our previous work, a BKT transition in the lateral plane is believed to be the physics behind the vanishing resistance of quasi-1D superconductors, because it activates a dimensional crossover from a 1D fluctuating superconductivity at high temperature to a 3D bulk phase coherent state in the entire material at low temperatures. Moreover, we decided to study thin 1D Sn nanowires without substrate, which display very similar superconducting properties to Pb-SBA-15 with a strong critical field and Tc enhancement. Finally, a preliminary research on a novel quasi-2D superconductor formed by parallel 2D mercury sheets that are separated by organic molecules is presented. The latter material may represent a model system to study the effect of a layered structure, which is believed to be an effective ingredient to design high temperature superconductors.

Emission wavelength red-shift by using ;semi-bulk; InGaN buffer layer in InGaN/InGaN multiple-quantum-well

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Alam, Saiful; Sundaram, Suresh; Li, Xin; El Gmili, Youssef; Elouneg-Jamroz, Miryam; Robin, Ivan Christophe; Patriarche, Gilles; Salvestrini, Jean-Paul; Voss, Paul L.; Ougazzaden, Abdallah

2017-12-01

We report an elongation of emission wavelength by inserting a ∼70 nm thick high quality semi-bulk (SB) InyGa1-yN buffer layer underneath the InxGa1-xN/InyGa1-yN (x > y) multi-quantum-well (MQW).While the MQW structure without the InGaN SB buffer is fully strained on the n-GaN template, the MQW structure with the buffer has ∼15% relaxation. This small relaxation along with slight compositional pulling induced well thickness increase of MQW is believed to be the reason for the red-shift of emission wavelength. In addition, the SB InGaN buffer acts as an electron reservoir and also helps to reduce the Quantum Confined Stark Effect (QCSE) and thus increase the emission intensity. In this way, by avoiding fully relaxed buffer induced material degradation, a longer emission wavelength can be achieved by just using InGaN SB buffer while keeping all other growth conditions the same as the reference structure. Thus, a reasonably thick fully strained or very little relaxed InGaN buffer, which is realized by ;semi-bulk; approach to maintain good InGaN material quality, can be beneficial for realizing LEDs, grown on top of this buffer, emitting in the blue to cyan to green regime without using excess indium (In).

From clusters to bulk: A relativistic density functional investigation on a series of gold clusters Aun, n=6,…,147

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Häberlen, Oliver D.; Chung, Sai-Cheong; Stener, Mauro; Rösch, Notker

1997-03-01

A series of gold clusters spanning the size range from Au6 through Au147 (with diameters from 0.7 to 1.7 nm) in icosahedral, octahedral, and cuboctahedral structure has been theoretically investigated by means of a scalar relativistic all-electron density functional method. One of the main objectives of this work was to analyze the convergence of cluster properties toward the corresponding bulk metal values and to compare the results obtained for the local density approximation (LDA) to those for a generalized gradient approximation (GGA) to the exchange-correlation functional. The average gold-gold distance in the clusters increases with their nuclearity and correlates essentially linearly with the average coordination number in the clusters. An extrapolation to the bulk coordination of 12 yields a gold-gold distance of 289 pm in LDA, very close to the experimental bulk value of 288 pm, while the extrapolated GGA gold-gold distance is 297 pm. The cluster cohesive energy varies linearly with the inverse of the calculated cluster radius, indicating that the surface-to-volume ratio is the primary determinant of the convergence of this quantity toward bulk. The extrapolated LDA binding energy per atom, 4.7 eV, overestimates the experimental bulk value of 3.8 eV, while the GGA value, 3.2 eV, underestimates the experiment by almost the same amount. The calculated ionization potentials and electron affinities of the clusters may be related to the metallic droplet model, although deviations due to the electronic shell structure are noticeable. The GGA extrapolation to bulk values yields 4.8 and 4.9 eV for the ionization potential and the electron affinity, respectively, remarkably close to the experimental polycrystalline work function of bulk gold, 5.1 eV. Gold 4f core level binding energies were calculated for sites with bulk coordination and for different surface sites. The core level shifts for the surface sites are all positive and distinguish among the corner, edge, and face-centered sites; sites in the first subsurface layer show still small positive shifts.

Thermodynamics on Soluble Carbon Nanotubes: How Do DNA Molecules Replace Surfactants on Carbon Nanotubes?

PubMed Central

Kato, Yuichi; Inoue, Ayaka; Niidome, Yasuro; Nakashima, Naotoshi

2012-01-01

Here we represent thermodynamics on soluble carbon nanotubes that enables deep understanding the interactions between single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) and molecules. We selected sodium cholate and single-stranded cytosine oligo-DNAs (dCn (n = 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 10, 15, and 20)), both of which are typical SWNT solubilizers, and successfully determined thermodynamic properties (ΔG, ΔH and ΔS values) for the exchange reactions of sodium cholate on four different chiralities of SWNTs ((n,m) = (6,5), (7,5), (10,2), and (8,6)) for the DNAs. Typical results contain i) the dC5 exhibited an exothermic exchange, whereas the dC6, 8, 10, 15, and 20 materials exhibited endothermic exchanges, and ii) the energetics of the dC4 and dC7 exchanges depended on the associated chiral indices and could be endothermic or exothermic. The presented method is general and is applicable to any molecule that interacts with nanotubes. The study opens a way for science of carbon nanotube thermodynamics. PMID:23066502

Effects of bulk precipitation pH and growth period on cation enrichment in precipitation beneath the canopy of a beech (Fagus moesiaca) forest stand.

PubMed

Michopoulos, P; Baloutsos, G; Nakos, G; Economou, A

2001-12-17

The effects of bulk precipitation pH and growth period (growing and dormant) on cation enrichment beneath foliage were examined in a beech (Fagus moesiaca) forest stand during a 48-month period. The bulk precipitation pH values ranged from 4.2 to 7.2. The lowest values were observed in winter due to fossil fuel combustion in a nearby big city. The ratio of monthly ion fluxes of throughfall plus stemflow over monthly ion fluxes of bulk precipitation was chosen as an index of cation enrichment and, therefore, as the dependent variable. Bulk precipitation pH and growth period were chosen as independent factors. Precipitation interception (%) by tree canopies was also taken into account. It was found that the pH factor was significant only for H+ ion enrichment suggesting neutralization of H+ ions in the beech canopy, whereas Mg2+ and K+ enrichment were greater in the growing period, probably as a result of leaching. Crown interception was negatively significant for NH4+-N enrichment.

Stable nitrogen isotope analysis of dentine serial sections elucidate sex differences in weaning patterns of wild chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes).

PubMed

Fahy, Geraldine E; Richards, Michael P; Fuller, Benjamin T; Deschner, Tobias; Hublin, Jean-Jacques; Boesch, Christophe

2014-04-01

Offspring provisioning is one of the most energetically demanding aspects of reproduction for female mammals. Variation in lactation length and weaning strategies between chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes), our closest living relative, and modern human societies have been reported. When and why these changes occurred is frequently debated. Our study used stable nitrogen isotope data of tooth root dentine from wild Western chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes verus) in Taï National Park, Côte d'Ivoire, to quantify weaning in these chimpanzees and explore if infant sex plays a role in maternal investment. We analyzed serial sections of deciduous lateral incisor root dentine from four Taï chimpanzees to establish the δ(15) N signal of nursing infants; we then analyzed serial sections of first permanent mandibular molar root dentine from 12 Taï chimpanzees to provide quantitative δ(15) N data on weaning in this population. Up to 2 years of age both sexes exhibited dentine δ(15) N values ≈2-3‰ higher than adult female Taï chimpanzees, consistent with a nursing signal. Thereafter a steady decrease in δ(15) N values consistent with the onset, and progression, of weaning, was visible. Sex differences were also evident, where male δ(15) N values decreased at a significantly slower rate compared to females. Confirmation of sex differences in maternal investment among Taï chimpanzees, demonstrates the viability of using isotope analysis to investigate weaning in non-human primates. Additionally, assuming that behaviors observed in the Taï chimpanzees are illustrative of the ancestral pattern, our results provide a platform to enable the trajectory of weaning in human evolution to be further explored. Copyright © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

[Spectral emissivity of thin films].

PubMed

Zhong, D

2001-02-01

In this paper, the contribution of multiple reflections in thin film to the spectral emissivity of thin films of low absorption is discussed. The expression of emissivity of thin films derived here is related to the thin film thickness d and the optical constants n(lambda) and k(lambda). It is shown that in the special case d-->infinity the emissivity of thin films is equivalent to that of the bulk material. Realistic numerical and more precise general numerical results for the dependence of the emissivity on d, n(lambda) and k(lambda) are given.

Kinetics of nitrous oxide (N2O) formation and reduction by Paracoccus pantotrophus.

PubMed

Read-Daily, B L; Sabba, F; Pavissich, J P; Nerenberg, R

2016-12-01

Nitrous oxide (N 2 O) is a powerful greenhouse gas emitted from wastewater treatment, as well as natural systems, as a result of biological nitrification and denitrification. While denitrifying bacteria can be a significant source of N 2 O, they can also reduce N 2 O to N 2 . More information on the kinetics of N 2 O formation and reduction by denitrifying bacteria is needed to predict and quantify their impact on N 2 O emissions. In this study, kinetic parameters were determined for Paracoccus pantotrophus, a common denitrifying bacterium. Parameters included the maximum specific reduction rates, [Formula: see text], growth rates, [Formula: see text], and yields, Y, for reduction of NO 3 - (nitrate) to nitrite (NO 2 - ), NO 2 - to N 2 O, and N 2 O to N 2 , with acetate as the electron donor. The [Formula: see text] values were 2.9 gN gCOD -1 d -1 for NO 3 - to NO 2 - , 1.4 gN gCOD -1  d -1 for NO 2 - to N 2 O, and 5.3 gN gCOD -1  d -1 for N 2 O to N 2 . The [Formula: see text] values were 2.7, 0.93, and 1.5 d -1 , respectively. When N 2 O and NO 3 - were added concurrently, the apparent (extant) kinetics, [Formula: see text], assuming reduction to N 2 , were 6.3 gCOD gCOD -1  d -1 , compared to 5.4 gCOD gCOD -1  d -1 for NO 3 - as the sole added acceptor. The [Formula: see text] was 1.6 d -1 , compared to 2.5 d -1 for NO 3 - alone. These results suggest that NO 3 - and N 2 O were reduced concurrently. Based on this research, denitrifying bacteria like P. pantotrophus may serve as a significant sink for N 2 O. With careful design and operation, treatment plants can use denitrifying bacteria to minimize N 2 O emissions.

Implications for the Daily Variation and the Low Value of Thermal Inertia at Arabia Terra on Mars

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Toyota, T.; Saruya, T.; Kurita, K.

2010-12-01

Active nature of the Martian surface is considered to be responsible for various styles of the atmosphere-surface interaction. Here, we propose an idea to interpret the daily variation and the low value of thermal inertia at Arabia Terra on Mars. Thermal inertia calculated with the surface temperature obtained by remote sensing exhibits daily variation and seasonal variation. Putzig and Mellon [1] suggested that horizontal or vertical heterogeneity may yield apparent thermal inertia which varies with time of day and season. However, their interpretation couldn’t completely explain the extent and the phase of the temporal variation of thermal inertia at Arabia Terra. We would like to propose another possibility to explain the characteristics of the thermal inertia at Arabia Terra. In addition, the value of thermal inertia is extremely low at Arabia Terra. Daytime thermal inertia at Arabia Terra is as low as 20 tiu [1,2], which is lower than the value of thermal inertia of 1 micron dust aggregates ( 61 tiu [3]). To explain these characteristics of Arabia Terra, we proposed an idea that condensation and sublimation of water ice at the granular surface cause the daily variation and the low value of the thermal inertia at Arabia Terra. At nighttime, water vapor condenses at the surface. Immediately after sunrise, water ice at the surface sublimates. Electric force and sublimating gas pressure could affect the porosity of the surface. We suppose that the daily variation of the thermal inertia is caused by presence of deposition/removal of water ice and the low value of the thermal inertia is caused by the higher value of the bulk porosity than random close packing. To substantiate the above model, there remain four main questions to be answered. 1) Is there sufficient water vapor at the atmosphere above Arabia Terra?, 2) Does the sufficient amount of water condense at the surface during the night?, 3) Can water vapor and other factors make the surface porosity higher? and 4) How much does the higher value of the porosity make the bulk thermal inertia lower? We investigated previous studies for question 1) and performed a numerical simulation for the sublimation/condensation of water ice for question 2). We also performed laboratory experiments to investigate question 3) and 4). We obtained results which showed 1) There are sufficient water vapor at the atmosphere above Arabia Terra, 2) It is difficult for the sufficient amount of water vapor to condense at the surface during the night in our numerical model with limited parameters, 3) Condensation/sublimation of water ice and other mechanical effects could affect the bulk porosity at the surface, and 4) The high value of the porosity make the bulk thermal inertia lower by factor of two. References [1] N. E. Putzig and M. T. Mellon, Icarus 191, 68 (2007). [2] T. Saruya, T. Toyota, D. Baratoux, and K. Kurita, 41th LPSC, 1306 (2010) [3] M. T. Mellon, R. L. Fergason, and N. E. Putzig, The Martian Surface, Cambridge University Press. (2008). [4] M. A. Presley1 and R. A. Craddock, Jour. Geophys. Res. 111, E09013 (2006).

Characterization of Inorganic Filler Content, Mechanical Properties, and Light Transmission of Bulk-fill Resin Composites.

PubMed

Fronza, B M; Ayres, Apa; Pacheco, R R; Rueggeberg, F A; Dias, Cts; Giannini, M

The aims of this study were to characterize inorganic content (IC), light transmission (LT), biaxial flexural strength (BFS), and flexural modulus (FM) of one conventional (layered) and four bulk-fill composites at different depths. Bulk-fill composites tested were Surefil SDR flow (SDR), Filtek Bulk Fill (FBF), Tetric EvoCeram Bulk Fill (TEC), and EverX Posterior (EXP). Herculite Classic (HER) was used as a control. Energy dispersive x-ray analysis and scanning electron microscopy were used to characterize filler particle composition and morphology. The LT through different composite thicknesses (1, 2, 3, and 4 mm) was measured using a laboratory-grade spectral radiometer system (n=5). For the BFS and FM tests, sets of eight stacked composite discs (0.5-mm thick) were prepared simulating bulk filling of a 4-mm-thick increment (n=8). SDR demonstrated larger, irregular particles than those observed in TEC or HER. Filler particles in FBF were spherical, while those in EXP were composed of fiberglass strands. The LT decreased with increased composite thickness for all materials. Bulk-fill composites allowed higher LT than the HER. Furthermore, HER proved to be the unique material, having lower BFS values at deeper regions. SDR, FBF, and TEC bulk-fill composites presented reduced FM with increasing composite depth. The bulk-fill composites investigated exhibited higher LT, independent of different filler content and characteristics. Although an increase in composite thickness reduced LT, the BFS of bulk-fill composites at deeper layers was not compromised.

Effects of grain size on the properties of bulk nanocrystalline Co-Ni alloys

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Qiao, Gui-Ying; Xiao, Fu-Ren

2017-08-01

Bulk nanocrystalline Co78Ni22 alloys with grain size ranging from 5 nm to 35 nm were prepared by high-speed jet electrodeposition (HSJED) and annealing. Microhardness and magnetic properties of these alloys were investigated by microhardness tester and vibrating sample magnetometer. Effects of grain size on these characteristics were also discussed. Results show that the microhardness of nanocrystalline Co78Ni22 alloys increases following a d -1/2-power law with decreasing grain size d. This phenomenon fits the Hall-Petch law when the grain size ranges from 5 nm to 35 nm. However, coercivity H c increases following a 1/d-power law with increasing grain size when the grain size ranges from 5 nm to 15.9 nm. Coercivity H c decreases again for grain sizes above 16.6 nm according to the d 6-power law.

Comparison of Boron diffused emitters from BN, BSoD and H3BO3 dopants

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Singha, Bandana; Singh Solanki, Chetan

2016-12-01

In this work, we are comparing different limited boron dopant sources for the emitter formation in n-type c-Si solar cells. High purity boric acid solution, commercially available boron spin on dopant and boron nitride solid source are used for comparison of emitter doping profiles for the same time and temperature conditions of diffusion. The characterizations done for the similar sheet resistance values for all the dopant sources show different surface morphologies and different device parameters. The measured emitter saturation current densities (Joe) are more than 20 fA cm-2 for all the dopant sources. The bulk carrier lifetimes measured for different diffusion conditions and different solar cell parameters for the similar sheet resistance values show the best result for boric acid diffusion and the least for BN solid source. So, different dopant sources result in different emitter and cell performances.

40 CFR 211.204-4 - Supporting information.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-07-01

... level as measured at the ear is 92 dBA. 2. The NRR is (value on label) decibels (dB). 3. The level of... must be affixed to the bulk container or dispenser in the same manner as the label, and in a readily... entering a person's ear, when hearing protector is worn as directed, is closely approximated by the...

Salt marsh ecosystem biogeochemical responses to nutrient enrichment: a paired 15N tracer study.

PubMed

Drake, D C; Peterson, Bruce J; Galván, Kari A; Deegan, Linda A; Hopkinson, Charles; Johnson, J Michael; Koop-Jakobsen, K; Lemay, Lynsey E; Picard, Christian

2009-09-01

We compared processing and fate of dissolved NO3- in two New England salt marsh ecosystems, one receiving natural flood tide concentrations of approximately 1-4 micromol NO3-/ L and the other receiving experimentally fertilized flood tides containing approximately 70-100 micromol NO3-/ L. We conducted simultaneous 15NO3- (isotope) tracer additions from 23 to 28 July 2005 in the reference (8.4 ha) and fertilized (12.4 ha) systems to compare N dynamics and fate. Two full tidal cycles were intensively studied during the paired tracer additions. Resulting mass balances showed that essentially 100% (0.48-0.61 mol NO3-N.ha(-1).h(-1)) of incoming NO3- was assimilated, dissimilated, sorbed, or sedimented (processed) within a few hours in the reference system when NO3- concentrations were 1.3-1.8 micromol/L. In contrast, only 50-60% of incoming NO3- was processed in the fertilized system when NO3- concentrations were 84-96 micromol/L; the remainder was exported in ebb tidewater. Gross NO3- processing was approximately 40 times higher in the fertilized system at 19.34-24.67 mol NO3-N.ha(-1).h(-1). Dissimilatory nitrate reduction to ammonium was evident in both systems during the first 48 h of the tracer additions but <1% of incoming 15NO3- was exported as 15NH4+. Nitrification rates calculated by 15NO3- dilution were 6.05 and 4.46 mol.ha(-1).h(-1) in the fertilized system but could not be accurately calculated in the reference system due to rapid (<4 h) NO3- turnover. Over the five-day paired tracer addition, sediments sequestered a small fraction of incoming NO3-, although the efficiency of sequestration was 3.8% in the reference system and 0.7% in the fertilized system. Gross sediment N sequestration rates were similar at 13.5 and 12.6 mol.ha(-1).d(-1), respectively. Macrophyte NO3- uptake efficiency, based on tracer incorporation in aboveground tissues, was considerably higher in the reference system (16.8%) than the fertilized system (2.6%), although bulk uptake of NO3- by plants was lower in the reference system (1.75 mol NO3-.ha(-1).d(-1)) than the fertilized system (approximately 10 mol NO3-.ha(-1).d(-1)). Nitrogen processing efficiency decreased with NO3- load in all pools, suggesting that the nutrient processing capacity of the marsh ecosystem was exceeded in the fertilized marsh.

Investigation of nanoparticle agglomeration on the effective thermal conductivity of a composite material

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Webb, Anthony J.

Phase Change Materials (PCMs), like paraffin wax, can be used for passive thermal management of portable electronics if their overall bulk thermal conductivity is increased through the addition of highly conducting nanoparticles. Finite Element Analysis (FEA) is used to investigate the influence of nanoparticle agglomeration on the overall conductive thermal transport in a nanoenhanced composite by dictating the thermal conductivity of individual elements according to their local inclusion volume fraction and characteristics inside a low conducting PCM matrix. The inclusion density distribution is dictated by an agglomeration factor, and the effective thermal conductivity of each element is calculated from the nanoparticle volume fraction using a method similar to the Representative Volume Element (RVE) methodology. FEA studies are performed for 2-D and 3-D models. In the 2-D model, the grain boundary is fixed at x = 0 for simplicity. For the 3-D model, the grain boundary geometry is randomly varied. A negligible 2-D effect on thermal transport in the 2-D model is seen, so a 1-D thermal resistance network is created for comparison, and the results agree within 4%.The influence of the agglomeration factor and contact Biot number on the overall bulk thermal conductivity is determined by applying Fourier's Law on the entire simulated composite. For the 2-D and 3-D models with a contact Biot number above 1, the overall bulk thermal conductivity decreases prior to the percolation threshold being met and then increases with increasing agglomeration. Finally, a MatlabRTM based image processing tool is created to estimate the agglomeration factor based on an experimental image of a nanoparticle distribution, with a calculated approximate agglomeration value of Beta*L = 5 which results in a bulk thermal conductivity of 0.278 W/(m-K).

The Study of ( n, d) Reaction Cross Sections for New Evaluated Semi-Empirical Formula Using Optical Model

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bölükdemir, M. H.; Tel, E.; Okuducu, Ş.; Aydın, A.

2009-12-01

Nuclear fusion can be one of the most attractive sources of energy from the viewpoint of safety and minimal environmental impact. The neutron scattering cross sections data have a critical importance on fusion reactor (and in the fusion-fission hybrid) reactors. So, the study of the systematic of ( n, d) etc., reaction cross sections is of great importance in the definition of the excitation function character for reaction taking place on various nuclei at energies up to 20 MeV. In this study, non-elastic cross-sections have been calculated by using optical model for ( n, d) reactions at 14-15 MeV energy. The excitation function character and reaction Q-values depending on the asymmetry term effect for the ( n, d) reaction have been investigated. New coefficients have been obtained and the semi-empirical formulas including optical model non-elastic effects by fitting two parameters for the ( n, d) reaction cross-sections have been suggested. The obtained cross-section formulas with new coefficients have been compared with the available experimental data and discussed.

Potent inhibition of endopeptidase 24.16 and endopeptidase 24.15 by the phosphonamide peptide N-(phenylethylphosphonyl)-Gly-L-Pro-L-aminohexanoic acid.

PubMed Central

Barelli, H; Dive, V; Yiotakis, A; Vincent, J P; Checler, F

1992-01-01

A phosphonamide peptide, N-(phenylethylphosphonyl)-Gly-L-Pro-L-aminohexanoic acid, previously shown to block Clostridium histolyticum collagenases, was examined as a putative inhibitor of endopeptidase 24.16 and endopeptidase 24.15. Hydrolysis of two endopeptidase 24.16 substrates, i.e. 3-carboxy-7-methoxycoumarin (Mcc)-Pro-Leu-Gly-Pro-D-Lys-dinitrophenyl (Dnp) and neurotensin, were completely and dose-dependently inhibited by the phosphonamide inhibitor with KI values of 0.3 and 0.9 nM respectively. In addition, the phosphonamide peptide inhibited the hydrolysis of benzoyl (Bz)-Gly-Ala-Ala-Phe-(pAB) p-aminobenzoate and neurotensin by endopeptidase 24.15 with about a 10-fold lower potency (KI values of 5 and 7.5 nM respectively). The selectivity of this inhibitor towards several exo- and endo-peptidases belonging to the zinc-containing metallopeptidase family established that a 1 microM concentration of this inhibitor was unable to affect leucine aminopeptidase, carboxypeptidase A, angiotensin-converting enzyme and endopeptidase 24.11. The present paper therefore reports on the first hydrophilic highly potent endopeptidase 24.16 inhibitor and describes the most potent inhibitory agent directed towards endopeptidase 24.15 developed to date. These tools should allow one to assess the contribution of endopeptidase 24.16 and endopeptidase 24.15 to the physiological inactivation of neurotensin as well as other neuropeptides. PMID:1332678

Narrow Gap, High Mobility, and Stable Pi Conjugated Polymers

DTIC Science & Technology

2012-09-20

wide-angle X-ray scattering (2D-WAXS) of P5.1 (extruded at 210oC). This trend is reflected in conventional bulk- heterojunction OPV devices as shown...Additives in Molecular Bulk Heterojunction Solar Cells Using a bithiophene capped, isoindigo core, DAD molecule as the donor phase, and PCBM as the...PCE values of 3.7% as illustrated in Figure 11. Figure 11. Combining interface control using MoOx as an electron transport material and PDMS

The Influence of Aerosol Hygroscopicity on Precipitation Intensity During a Mesoscale Convective Event

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kawecki, Stacey; Steiner, Allison L.

2018-01-01

We examine how aerosol composition affects precipitation intensity using the Weather and Research Forecasting Model with Chemistry (version 3.6). By changing the prescribed default hygroscopicity values to updated values from laboratory studies, we test model assumptions about individual component hygroscopicity values of ammonium, sulfate, nitrate, and organic species. We compare a baseline simulation (BASE, using default hygroscopicity values) with four sensitivity simulations (SULF, increasing the sulfate hygroscopicity; ORG, decreasing organic hygroscopicity; SWITCH, using a concentration-dependent hygroscopicity value for ammonium; and ALL, including all three changes) to understand the role of aerosol composition on precipitation during a mesoscale convective system (MCS). Overall, the hygroscopicity changes influence the spatial patterns of precipitation and the intensity. Focusing on the maximum precipitation in the model domain downwind of an urban area, we find that changing the individual component hygroscopicities leads to bulk hygroscopicity changes, especially in the ORG simulation. Reducing bulk hygroscopicity (e.g., ORG simulation) initially causes fewer activated drops, weakened updrafts in the midtroposphere, and increased precipitation from larger hydrometeors. Increasing bulk hygroscopicity (e.g., SULF simulation) simulates more numerous and smaller cloud drops and increases precipitation. In the ALL simulation, a stronger cold pool and downdrafts lead to precipitation suppression later in the MCS evolution. In this downwind region, the combined changes in hygroscopicity (ALL) reduces the overprediction of intense events (>70 mm d-1) and better captures the range of moderate intensity (30-60 mm d-1) events. The results of this single MCS analysis suggest that aerosol composition can play an important role in simulating high-intensity precipitation events.

Effects of energy supplementation on energy losses and nitrogen balance of steers fed green-chopped wheat pasture I: Calorimetry.

PubMed

Shreck, A L; Ebert, P J; Bailey, E A; Jennings, J S; Casey, K D; Meyer, B E; Cole, N A

2017-05-01

Cattle grazing wheat pasture in the southern Great Plains are sometimes fed an energy supplement; however, the benefits of supplementation on nutrient balance, energy metabolism, and greenhouse gas emissions have not been elucidated. Therefore, we used 10 British crossbred steers (206 ± 10.7 kg initial BW) in a respiration calorimetry study to evaluate the effects of energy supplementation on energy losses, N balance, and nutrient digestibility of steers fed green-chopped wheat forage. The study design was an incomplete replicated 4 × 4 Latin square with treatments in a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement. Steers ( = 8) were assigned to 1 of 2 BW blocks (4 steers per block) with dietary factors consisting of 1) no supplementation (CON) or supplemented with a steam-flaked corn-based energy supplement (that also contained monensin sodium) at 0.5% of BW daily (SUP) and 2) NEm intakes of 1 times (1x) or 1.5 times (1.5x) maintenance. Wheat forage was harvested daily and continuously fed as green-chop to steers during the 56-d study. There were no differences ( ≥ 0.32) between CON and SUP for OM (78.3 vs. 80.7%, respectively) or NDF (68.3 vs. 64.8%, respectively) digestibility. At the 1.5x level of intake, there was no difference ( ≥ 0.16) in energy lost in feces (4.27 vs. 3.92 Mcal/d) or urine (0.58 vs. 0.55 Mcal/d), heat production (8.69 vs. 8.44 Mcal/d), or retained energy (3.10 vs. 3.46 Mcal/d) between supplementation treatments. Oxygen consumption (1,777 vs. 1,731 L/d; = 0.67) and CO production (1,704 vs. 1,627 L/d; = 0.56) of CON and SUP steers, respectively, were not different; however, SUP steers tended to have ( = 0.06) lower CH production (115 vs 130 L/d) than CON steers. Methane, as a proportion of GE intake, was similar for CON (6.87%) and SUP (6.07%; = 0.18), as was the ME:DE ratio ( = 0.24; 86.3% for CON and 87.9% for SUP). Fractional N excretion in urine and feces, as a proportion of total N excreted ( ≥ 0.84) or N intake ( ≥ 0.63), was not different between treatments. Calculated NEm and NEg values for CON were 1.76 and 1.37 Mcal/kg DM, respectively, whereas the NEm and NEg values for the SUP treatment were 2.32 and 1.61 Mcal/kg DM, respectively. Calculated NE values for steers fed additional energy were approximately 17.5% greater than the expected difference in energy content. This was probably the result of the inconsistent response at the 1x DMI level. Under these circumstances, energy supplementation did appear to enhance NEm and NEg value of the supplemented wheat forage diet.

Lipid correction model of carbon stable isotopes for a cosmopolitan predator, spiny dogfish Squalus acanthias.

PubMed

Reum, J C P

2011-12-01

Three lipid correction models were evaluated for liver and white dorsal muscle from Squalus acanthias. For muscle, all three models performed well, based on the Akaike Information Criterion value corrected for small sample sizes (AIC(c) ), and predicted similar lipid corrections to δ(13) C that were up to 2.8 ‰ higher than those predicted using previously published models based on multispecies data. For liver, which possessed higher bulk C:N values compared to that of white muscle, all three models performed poorly and lipid-corrected δ(13) C values were best approximated by simply adding 5.74 ‰ to bulk δ(13) C values. © 2011 The Author. Journal of Fish Biology © 2011 The Fisheries Society of the British Isles.

Nitrogen isotope geochemistry as a volatile tracer of the deep mantle: insights from Iceland

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Prade, K. C.; Fischer, T. P.; Sharp, Z. D.; Hilton, D. R.; Gronvold, K.; Fueri, E.; Halldorsson, S.; Barry, P. H.

2009-12-01

Nitrogen isotope geochemistry can be used to identify sedimentary input (δ15N=+8‰) in volcanic arc systems, but its use as an indicator of deep mantle volatile contributions is limited. Consequently, we target the neovolcanic zones of Iceland where He isotope work has revealed a distinct region of elevated 3He/4He ratios (>20RA, where RA=air 3He/4He) correlated to the presumed location of the plume in central Iceland (Breddam et al., 2000). In contrast, the rift zones are characterized by intermediate (10-20RA; Western Rift Zone) and MORB-like (8RA; Northern Rift Zone) 3He/4He ratios indicating these regions sample plume He increasingly dominated by MORB-like He. One principal objective is to investigate the relationship between nitrogen and helium isotope systematics throughout Iceland in order to apply nitrogen isotopes to non-arc volcanic systems and constrain the relative contributions of volatiles from the deep and shallow (MORB) mantle. A predominantly positive δ15N may imply a surface-derived N component in the source of deep mantle volatiles (Marty and Dauphas, 2003) whereas shallow mantle is characterized by δ15N=-5±3‰. We report data obtained using geothermal gas and water samples collected in 2006, 2007 and 2008. Samples show variations in gas content, notably CO2, N2 and H2. Some samples contain no CO2, while others have values ranging from 122 to 997 mmol/mol dry gas. All samples contain N2, with values ranging from 2 to 987 mmol/mol dry gas. Most samples had insignificant amounts of H2 but some had large quantities up to 690 mmol/mol dry gas. The δ15N and 3He/4He ratios range from -7.2‰ to +3.4‰ and 2.2RA to 26.4RA, respectively and show no linear correlation. For example, Krafla had a MORB-like 3He/4He of 8.9RA and δ15N=-2.4‰, and Theistareykir with 8.6RA has δ15N=+1.3‰. Additionally, there was no systematic variation in δ15N along the rift zones in contrast to He. The only distinctly positive δ15N value (3.4‰) is in the SISZ, where the highest 3He/4He ratios are found. Almost all negative δ15N were measured in the ERZ (as low as -5.2‰), and WRZ (-5.6‰). Extremely high 3He/4He ratios (up to 37RA) are also prominent in the northwest peninsula of Iceland, a region with no recent volcanism (Hilton et al., 1999). In this region the gas chemistry and N isotopes are dominated by air-like signatures, consistent with extensive mixing of any mantle component and the atmosphere. The relationship between 3He/4He vs. δ15N data can be explained by mixing of MORB-like values (8RA and δ15N=-5‰), air (1RA and δ15N=0‰) and a component with high 3He/4He ratios and positive δ15N. Therefore, our results are consistent with the presence of surface-derived nitrogen in the relatively undegassed mantle beneath Iceland. References: Breddam, K. et al. Earth Planet. Sci. Lett. 176 (2000) 45-55.; Hilton, D.R. et al. Earth Planet. Sci. Lett. 173 (1999) 53-60.; Marty, B. & Dauphas, N. Earth Planet. Sci. Lett. 206 (2003) 397-410.

Role of defects in ferromagnetism in Zn1-xCoxO : A hybrid density-functional study

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Patterson, C. H.

2006-10-01

Experimental studies of Zn1-xCoxO as thin films or nanocrystals have found ferromagnetism and Curie temperatures above room temperature and that p - or n -type doping of Zn1-xCoxO can change its magnetic state. Bulk Zn1-xCoxO with a low defect density and x in the range used in experimental thin-film studies exhibits ferromagnetism only at very low temperatures. Therefore defects in thin-film samples or nanocrystals may play an important role in promoting magnetic interactions between Co ions in Zn1-xCoxO . The mechanism of exchange coupling induced by defect states is considered and compared to a model for ferromagnetism in dilute magnetic semiconductors [T. Dietl , Science 287, 1019 (2000)]. The electronic structures of Co substituted for Zn in ZnO, Zn, and O vacancies, substituted N, and interstitial Zn in ZnO were calculated using the B3LYP hybrid density functional in a supercell. The B3LYP functional predicts a band gap of 3.34eV for bulk ZnO, close to the experimental value of 3.47eV . Occupied minority-spin Co 3d levels are at the top of the valence band and unoccupied levels lie above the conduction-band minimum. Majority-spin Co 3d levels hybridize strongly with bulk ZnO states. The neutral O vacancy defect level is predicted to lie deep in the band gap, and interstitial Zn is predicted to be a deep donor. The Zn vacancy is a deep acceptor, and the acceptor level for substituted N is at midgap. The possibility that p - or n -type dopants promote exchange coupling of Co ions was investigated by computing the total energies of magnetic states of ZnO supercells containing two Co ions and an oxygen vacancy, substituted N, or interstitial Zn in various charge states. The neutral N defect and the singly positively charged O vacancy are the only defects which strongly promote ferromagnetic exchange coupling of Co ions at intermediate range. Total energy calculations on supercells containing two O vacancies and one Zn vacancy clearly show that pairs of singly positively charged O vacancies are unstable with respect to dissociation into neutral and doubly positively charged vacancies; the oxygen vacancy is a “negative U ” defect. This apparently precludes simple charged O vacancies as a mediator of ferromagnetism in Zn1-xCoxO .

Analytical description of changes in the magnetic states of chromium-nickel steel under uniaxial elastic deformation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gorkunov, E. S.; Yakushenko, E. I.; Zadvorkin, S. M.; Mushnikov, A. N.

2017-12-01

Dependences of magnetization and magnetic permeability of the 15KhN4D structural steel on the value of uniaxial stresses and magnetic field strength are obtained. A polynomial approximation fairly accurately describing the observed changes is proposed on the basis of experimental data.

15N in tree rings as a bio-indicator of changing nitrogen cycling in tropical forests: an evaluation at three sites using two sampling methods

PubMed Central

van der Sleen, Peter; Vlam, Mart; Groenendijk, Peter; Anten, Niels P. R.; Bongers, Frans; Bunyavejchewin, Sarayudh; Hietz, Peter; Pons, Thijs L.; Zuidema, Pieter A.

2015-01-01

Anthropogenic nitrogen deposition is currently causing a more than twofold increase of reactive nitrogen input over large areas in the tropics. Elevated 15N abundance (δ15N) in the growth rings of some tropical trees has been hypothesized to reflect an increased leaching of 15N-depleted nitrate from the soil, following anthropogenic nitrogen deposition over the last decades. To find further evidence for altered nitrogen cycling in tropical forests, we measured long-term δ15N values in trees from Bolivia, Cameroon, and Thailand. We used two different sampling methods. In the first, wood samples were taken in a conventional way: from the pith to the bark across the stem of 28 large trees (the “radial” method). In the second, δ15N values were compared across a fixed diameter (the “fixed-diameter” method). We sampled 400 trees that differed widely in size, but measured δ15N in the stem around the same diameter (20 cm dbh) in all trees. As a result, the growth rings formed around this diameter differed in age and allowed a comparison of δ15N values over time with an explicit control for potential size-effects on δ15N values. We found a significant increase of tree-ring δ15N across the stem radius of large trees from Bolivia and Cameroon, but no change in tree-ring δ15N values over time was found in any of the study sites when controlling for tree size. This suggests that radial trends of δ15N values within trees reflect tree ontogeny (size development). However, for the trees from Cameroon and Thailand, a low statistical power in the fixed-diameter method prevents to conclude this with high certainty. For the trees from Bolivia, statistical power in the fixed-diameter method was high, showing that the temporal trend in tree-ring δ15N values in the radial method is primarily caused by tree ontogeny and unlikely by a change in nitrogen cycling. We therefore stress to account for tree size before tree-ring δ15N values can be properly interpreted. PMID:25914707

(15)N in tree rings as a bio-indicator of changing nitrogen cycling in tropical forests: an evaluation at three sites using two sampling methods.

PubMed

van der Sleen, Peter; Vlam, Mart; Groenendijk, Peter; Anten, Niels P R; Bongers, Frans; Bunyavejchewin, Sarayudh; Hietz, Peter; Pons, Thijs L; Zuidema, Pieter A

2015-01-01

Anthropogenic nitrogen deposition is currently causing a more than twofold increase of reactive nitrogen input over large areas in the tropics. Elevated (15)N abundance (δ(15)N) in the growth rings of some tropical trees has been hypothesized to reflect an increased leaching of (15)N-depleted nitrate from the soil, following anthropogenic nitrogen deposition over the last decades. To find further evidence for altered nitrogen cycling in tropical forests, we measured long-term δ(15)N values in trees from Bolivia, Cameroon, and Thailand. We used two different sampling methods. In the first, wood samples were taken in a conventional way: from the pith to the bark across the stem of 28 large trees (the "radial" method). In the second, δ(15)N values were compared across a fixed diameter (the "fixed-diameter" method). We sampled 400 trees that differed widely in size, but measured δ(15)N in the stem around the same diameter (20 cm dbh) in all trees. As a result, the growth rings formed around this diameter differed in age and allowed a comparison of δ(15)N values over time with an explicit control for potential size-effects on δ(15)N values. We found a significant increase of tree-ring δ(15)N across the stem radius of large trees from Bolivia and Cameroon, but no change in tree-ring δ(15)N values over time was found in any of the study sites when controlling for tree size. This suggests that radial trends of δ(15)N values within trees reflect tree ontogeny (size development). However, for the trees from Cameroon and Thailand, a low statistical power in the fixed-diameter method prevents to conclude this with high certainty. For the trees from Bolivia, statistical power in the fixed-diameter method was high, showing that the temporal trend in tree-ring δ(15)N values in the radial method is primarily caused by tree ontogeny and unlikely by a change in nitrogen cycling. We therefore stress to account for tree size before tree-ring δ(15)N values can be properly interpreted.

δ15N measurement of organic and inorganic substances by EA-IRMS: a speciation-dependent procedure.

PubMed

Gentile, Natacha; Rossi, Michel J; Delémont, Olivier; Siegwolf, Rolf T W

2013-01-01

Little attention has been paid so far to the influence of the chemical nature of the substance when measuring δ(15)N by elemental analysis (EA)-isotope ratio mass spectrometry (IRMS). Although the bulk nitrogen isotope analysis of organic material is not to be questioned, literature from different disciplines using IRMS provides hints that the quantitative conversion of nitrate into nitrogen presents difficulties. We observed abnormal series of δ(15)N values of laboratory standards and nitrates. These unexpected results were shown to be related to the tailing of the nitrogen peak of nitrate-containing compounds. A series of experiments were set up to investigate the cause of this phenomenon, using ammonium nitrate (NH(4)NO(3)) and potassium nitrate (KNO(3)) samples, two organic laboratory standards as well as the international secondary reference materials IAEA-N1, IAEA-N2-two ammonium sulphates [(NH(4))(2)SO(4)]-and IAEA-NO-3, a potassium nitrate. In experiment 1, we used graphite and vanadium pentoxide (V(2)O(5)) as additives to observe if they could enhance the decomposition (combustion) of nitrates. In experiment 2, we tested another elemental analyser configuration including an additional section of reduced copper in order to see whether or not the tailing could originate from an incomplete reduction process. Finally, we modified several parameters of the method and observed their influence on the peak shape, δ(15)N value and nitrogen content in weight percent of nitrogen of the target substances. We found the best results using mere thermal decomposition in helium, under exclusion of any oxygen. We show that the analytical procedure used for organic samples should not be used for nitrates because of their different chemical nature. We present the best performance given one set of sample introduction parameters for the analysis of nitrates, as well as for the ammonium sulphate IAEA-N1 and IAEA-N2 reference materials. We discuss these results considering the thermochemistry of the substances and the analytical technique itself. The results emphasise the difference in chemical nature of inorganic and organic samples, which necessarily involves distinct thermochemistry when analysed by EA-IRMS. Therefore, they should not be processed using the same analytical procedure. This clearly impacts on the way international secondary reference materials should be used for the calibration of organic laboratory standards.

Influence of interstitial V on structure and properties of ferecrystalline ([SnSe]{sub 1.15}){sub 1}(V{sub 1+x}Se{sub 2})n for n=1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Falmbigl, M.; Putzky, D.; Ditto, J.

2015-11-15

A series of ferecrystalline compounds ([SnSe]{sub 1.15}){sub 1}(V{sub 1+x}Se{sub 2}){sub n} with n=1–6 and a thin film V{sub 1+x}Se{sub 2} were synthesized utilizing the modulated elemental reactant technique. The effect of interstitial V-atoms ranging from 0.13≤x≤0.42 in different compounds on structure and electrical properties of these intergrowth compounds is reported. The presence of the interstitial V-atoms for n>1 was confirmed by Rietveld refinements as well as HAADF-STEM cross sections. The off-stoichiometry in the thin film V{sub 1.13}Se{sub 2} causes a suppression of the charge density wave, similar to the effect of non-stoichiometry observed for the bulk compound. The charge densitymore » wave of ([SnSe]{sub 1.15}){sub 1}(V{sub 1+x}Se{sub 2}){sub 1,} however, is not affected by the non-stoichiometry due to its incorporation as volume inclusions or due to the quasi 2-dimensionality of the isolated VSe{sub 2} layer. In the compounds ([SnSe]{sub 1.15}){sub 1}(V{sub 1+x}Se{sub 2}){sub n} with n=2–6, the temperature dependence of the electrical resistivity approaches bulk-like behavior. - Highlights: • Ferecrystalline thin film compounds with interstitial V-atoms were synthesized. • Interstitial atoms cause an expansion of the superlattice. • The charge density wave transition in the V{sub 1.13}VSe{sub 2} film is strongly suppressed. • Interstitial V has a minor influence on the CDW transition of the ferecrystals.« less

Regional patterns in foliar 15N across a gradient of nitrogen deposition in the northeastern US

Treesearch

Linda H. Pardo; Steven G. McNulty; Johnny L. Boggs; Sara Duke

2007-01-01

Recent studies have demonstrated that natural abundance 15N can be a useful tool for assessing nitrogen saturation, because as nitrification and nitrate loss increase, d15N of foliage and soil also increases. We measured foliar d15N at 11 high-elevation spruce-fir stands along an N deposition gradient...

Two Photon Absorption And Refraction in Bulk of the Semiconducting Materials

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Kumari, Vinay; Department of Physics, DCRUST Murthal, Haryana; Kumar, Vinod

2011-10-20

Fast electronic detection systems have opened up a number of new fields like nonlinear optics, optical communication, coherent optics, optical bistability, two/four wave mixing. The interest in this field has been stimulated by the importance of multiphoton processes in many fundamental aspects of physics. It has proved to be an invaluable tool for determining the optical and electronic properties of the solids because of the fact that one gets the information about the bulk of the material rather than the surface one. In this paper we report, the measurement of the nonlinear absorption and refraction from the band gap tomore » half-band gap region of bulk of semiconductors in the direct and indirect band gap crystals with nanosecond laser. The measured theoretical calculated values of two-photon absorption coefficients ({beta}) and nonlinear refraction n{sub 2}({omega}) of direct band gap crystal match the earlier reported theoretical predictions. By making use of these theoretical calculated values, we have estimated {beta} and n{sub 2}({omega}) in the case of indirect band gap crystals. Low value of absorption coefficient in case of indirect band gap crystals have been attributed to phonon assisted transition while reduction in nonlinear refraction is due to the rise in saturation taking place in the absorption.« less

Cramer's rule, Quarks Fractional electric charge, A scientific exploration or a possible mathematical electric charge value?

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Estakhr, Ahmad Reza

2013-03-01

In linear algebra, [Cramer's rule][1] is an explicit formula for the solution of a system of linear equations with as many equations as unknowns. 2u+1d=1 1u+2d=0 a_1d+b_1u=c_1, a_2d +b_2u=c_2 u={c_1b_2- c_2b_1}/{a_1b_2-a_2b_1} and d={a_1c_2-a_2c_1}/{a_1b_2-a_2b_1} u=+2/3 d=-1/3 now i think an up quark has no electric charge and infact this is down quark which has electeric charge of (+1,-1), then fractional electric charge completely breakdown 2u(0)+1d(+1)=+1 1u (0)+d(-1)+d(+1)=0 which means probabilities is associated with unknown parameters, Thus, Quarks fractional electric charge value is possible charge of quarks ``not'' accurate value. And also it is consisted with neutron decay, While bound neutrons in stable nuclei are stable, free neutrons are unstable; they undergo beta decay with a mean lifetime of just under 15 minutes (881.5 ± 1.5 s). (thanks god!) Free neutrons decay by emission of an electron and an electron antineutrino to become a proton, a process known as beta decay n^0 to p^{+1}+e^{-1}+ overline ν_e ref 1: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cramer's_rule

Molecular Investigation of the Short-term Sequestration of Natural Abundance 13C -labelled Cow Dung in the Surface Horizons of a Temperate Grassland Soil

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dungait, J.; Bol, R.; Evershed, R. P.

2004-12-01

An adequate understanding of the carbon (C) sequestration potential of grasslands requires that the quantity and residence times of C inputs be measured. Herbivore dung is largely comprised of plant cell wall material, a significant source of stable C in intensively grazed temperate grassland ecosystems that contributes to the soil carbon budget. Our work uses compound-specific isotope analysis to identify the pattern of input of dung-derived compounds from natural abundance 13C/-labelled cow dung into the surface horizons of a temperate grassland soil over one year. C4 dung (δ 13C \\-12.6 ‰ ) from maize fed cows was applied to a temperate grassland surface (δ 13C \\-29.95 ‰ ) at IGER-North Wyke (Devon, UK), and dung remains and soil cores beneath the treatments collected at ŧ = 7, 14, 28, 56, 112, 224 and 372 days. Bulk dung carbon present in the 0\\-1 cm and 1\\-5 cm surface horizons of a grassland soil over one year was estimated using Δ 13C between C4 dung and C3 dung, after Bol {\\et al.} (2000). The major biochemical components of dung were quantified using proximate forage fibre analyses, after Goering and Van Soest (1970) and identified using `wet' chemical and GC-MS methods. Plant cell wall polysaccharides and lignin were found to account for up to 67 {%} of dung dry matter. Hydrolysed polysaccharides were prepared as alditol acetates for analyses (after Docherty {\\et al.}, 2001), and a novel application of an off-line pyrolysis method applied to measure lignin-derived phenolic compounds (after Poole & van Bergen, 2002). This paper focuses on major events in the incorporation of dung carbon, estimated using natural abundance 13C&-slash;labelling technique. This revealed a major bulk input of dung carbon after a period of significant rainfall with a consequent decline in bulk soil δ 13C values until the end of the experiment (Dungait {\\et al.}, submitted). Findings will be presented revealing contribution of plant cell wall polysaccharides and lignin to these bulk δ 13C values, and their potential for sequestration considered. References: Bol, R., Amelung, W., Friedrich, C. Ostle, N. (2000). Tracing dung-derived carbon in temperate grassland using 13C natural abundance measurements. Soil Biology and Biochemistry, 32, 1337-1343. Goering and Van Soest (1970). Forage fibre analysis (apparatus, reagents, procedures and some applications). In: USDA-ARS Agricultural Handbook, 379. U. S. Government Printing Office, Washington D.C. Docherty, G., Jones, V. and Evershed, R.P. (2001). Practical and theoretical considerations in the gas chromatography/combustion/isotope ratio mass spectrometry δ 13C analysis of small polyfunctional compounds. Rapid Communications in Mass Spectrometry, 15, 730-738. Poole, I. & van Bergen, P. F. (2002). Carbon isotope ratio analysis of organic moieties from fossil mummified wood: establishing optimum conditions for off-line pyrolysis extraction using gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. Rapid Communications in Mass Spectrometry, 16, 1976-1981. Dungait, J. A. J., Bol, R. and Evershed, R.P. (submitted). The Fate of Dung Carbon in Temperate Grassland Soil: 1. Preliminary Findings Based on Bulk Stable Carbon Isotope Determinations. Isotopes in Health and Environmental Studies

Bulk thermal capacity determination for Li/BCX and Li/SOClN2 cells

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Kalu, E. E.; White, R. E.; Darcy, E. C.

1992-01-01

The bulk heat capacities of Li/BCX and Li/SOClN2 cells were determined at 0 and 100 percent depth-of-discharge for 2.0 V cut-off voltage, in the temperature range 0 to 60 C by a method that did not involve the destruction of the cell nor the contact of cell with a liquid. The heat capacities are found to be dependent on state-of-charge, increasing with depth-of-discharge. The Li/BCX DD-cell has a lower heat capacity than a high rate Li/SOCl2 D-cell. The results obtained by this method compare favorably well with results reported in the literature through other methods. The bulk heat capacities of the cells did not change significantly in the temperature range 0 to 60 C.

Evaluating Carbon Isotope Signature of Bulk Organic Matter and Plant Wax Derived n-alkanes from Lacustrine Sediments as Climate Proxies along the Western Side of the Andes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Contreras, S.; Werne, J. P.; Araneda, A.; Conejero, C. A.

2015-12-01

Sedimentary carbon isotope values (δ13C) of bulk organic matter and long chain (C25 to C35) n-alkanes are among the most long-lived and widely utilized proxies of organic matter and vegetation source. The carbon distribution (e.g. average carbon chain length, ACL) and isotope signature from long chain n-alkanes had been intensively used on paleoclimate studies because they are less influenced by diagenesis, differential preservation of compound classes, and changes in the sources of organic matter than bulk δ13C values. Recently, studies of modern plant n-alkanes have challenged the use of carbon distribution and carbon isotope signature from sedimentary n-alkanes as reliable indicators of vegetation and climate change. The climate in central-south western South America (SA) is projected to become significantly warmer and drier over the next several decades to centuries in response to anthropogenically driven warming. Paleolimnological studies along western SA are critical to obtain more realistic and reliable regional reconstructions of past climate and environments, including vegetation and water budget variability. Here we discuss bulk δ13C, distribution and δ13C in long chain n-alkanes from a suite of ~40 lake surface sediment (core-top) samples spanning the transition from a Mediterranean climate with a patchwork of cultivated vegetation, pastureland, conifers in central Chile to a rainy temperate climate dominated by broadleaf deciduous and evergreen forest. Data are compared to the latitudinal and orographic climatic trends of the Andes based on the climatology (e.g. precipitation and temperature) of the locations of all lakes involved in this study, using monthly gridded reanalysis products of the Climate Forecast System Reanalysis (CFSR), based on the NCEP global forecast model and meteorological stations available in the region, from January 1979 to December 2010 with a 0.5° horizontal resolution.

First-principles studies of electronic, transport and bulk properties of pyrite FeS2

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Banjara, Dipendra; Malozovsky, Yuriy; Franklin, LaShounda; Bagayoko, Diola

2018-02-01

We present results from first principle, local density approximation (LDA) calculations of electronic, transport, and bulk properties of iron pyrite (FeS2). Our non-relativistic computations employed the Ceperley and Alder LDA potential and the linear combination of atomic orbitals (LCAO) formalism. The implementation of the LCAO formalism followed the Bagayoko, Zhao, and Williams (BZW) method, as enhanced by Ekuma and Franklin (BZW-EF). We discuss the electronic energy bands, total and partial densities of states, electron effective masses, and the bulk modulus. Our calculated indirect band gap of 0.959 eV (0.96), using an experimental lattice constant of 5.4166 Å, at room temperature, is in agreement with the measured indirect values, for bulk samples, ranging from 0.84 eV to 1.03 ± 0.05 eV. Our calculated bulk modulus of 147 GPa is practically in agreement with the experimental value of 145 GPa. The calculated, partial densities of states reproduced the splitting of the Fe d bands to constitute the dominant upper most valence and lower most conduction bands, separated by the generally accepted, indirect, experimental band gap of 0.95 eV.

A versatile phenomenological model for the S-shaped temperature dependence of photoluminescence energy for an accurate determination of the exciton localization energy in bulk and quantum well structures

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dixit, V. K.; Porwal, S.; Singh, S. D.; Sharma, T. K.; Ghosh, Sandip; Oak, S. M.

2014-02-01

Temperature dependence of the photoluminescence (PL) peak energy of bulk and quantum well (QW) structures is studied by using a new phenomenological model for including the effect of localized states. In general an anomalous S-shaped temperature dependence of the PL peak energy is observed for many materials which is usually associated with the localization of excitons in band-tail states that are formed due to potential fluctuations. Under such conditions, the conventional models of Varshni, Viña and Passler fail to replicate the S-shaped temperature dependence of the PL peak energy and provide inconsistent and unrealistic values of the fitting parameters. The proposed formalism persuasively reproduces the S-shaped temperature dependence of the PL peak energy and provides an accurate determination of the exciton localization energy in bulk and QW structures along with the appropriate values of material parameters. An example of a strained InAs0.38P0.62/InP QW is presented by performing detailed temperature and excitation intensity dependent PL measurements and subsequent in-depth analysis using the proposed model. Versatility of the new formalism is tested on a few other semiconductor materials, e.g. GaN, nanotextured GaN, AlGaN and InGaN, which are known to have a significant contribution from the localized states. A quantitative evaluation of the fractional contribution of the localized states is essential for understanding the temperature dependence of the PL peak energy of bulk and QW well structures having a large contribution of the band-tail states.

Density function theory study of the adsorption and dissociation of carbon monoxide on tungsten nanoparticles.

PubMed

Weng, Meng-Hsiung; Ju, Shin-Pon; Chen, Hsin-Tsung; Chen, Hui-Lung; Lu, Jian-Ming; Lin, Ken-Huang; Lin, Jenn-Sen; Hsieh, Jin-Yuan; Yang, Hsi-Wen

2013-02-01

The adsorption and dissociation properties of carbon monoxide (CO) molecule on tungsten W(n) (n = 10-15) nanoparticles have been investigated by density-functional theory (DFT) calculations. The lowest-energy structures for W(n) (n = 10-15) nanoparticles are found by the basin-hopping method and big-bang method with the modified tight-binding many-body potential. We calculated the corresponding adsorption energies, C-O bond lengths and dissociation barriers for adsorption of CO on nanoparticles. The electronic properties of CO on nanoparticles are studied by the analysis of density of state and charge density. The characteristic of CO on W(n) nanoparticles are also compared with that of W bulk.

Materials Data on Ca(C2N3)2 (SG:15) by Materials Project

DOE Data Explorer

Kristin Persson

2014-07-09

Computed materials data using density functional theory calculations. These calculations determine the electronic structure of bulk materials by solving approximations to the Schrodinger equation. For more information, see https://materialsproject.org/docs/calculations

Nitrogen Stable Isotope Composition of Various Fossil-fuel Combustion Nitrogen Oxide Sources

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Walters, W.; Michalski, G. M.; Fang, H.

2015-12-01

Nitrogen oxides (NOx = NO + NO2) are important trace gases that impact atmospheric chemistry, air quality, and climate. In order to help constrain NOx source contributions, the nitrogen (N) stable isotope composition of NOx (δ15N-NOx) may be a useful indicator for NOx source partitioning. However, despite anthropogenic emissions being the most prevalent source of NOx, there is still large uncertainty in the δ15N-NOx values for anthropogenic sources. To this end, this study provides a detailed analysis of several fossil-fuel combustion NOx sources and their δ15N-NOx values. To accomplish this, exhaust or flue samples from several fossil-fuel combustion sources were sampled and analyzed for their δ15N-NOx that included airplanes, gasoline-powered vehicles not equipped with a catalytic converter, gasoline-powered lawn tools and utility vehicles, diesel-electric buses, diesel semi-trucks, and natural gas-burning home furnace and power plant. A relatively large range of δ15N-NOx values were measured from -28.1 to 0.3‰ for individual exhaust/flue samples with cold started diesel-electric buses contributing on average the lowest δ15N-NOx values at -20.9‰, and warm-started diesel-electric buses contributing on average the highest values of -1.7‰. The NOx sources analyzed in this study primarily originated from the "thermal production" of NOx and generally emitted negative δ15N-NOx values, likely due to the kinetic isotope effect associated with its production. It was found that there is a negative correlation between NOx concentrations and δ15N-NOx for fossil-fuel combustion sources equipped with catalytic NOx reduction technology, suggesting that the catalytic reduction of NOx may have an influence on δ15N-NOx values. Based on the δ15N-NOx values reported in this study and in previous studies, a δ15N-NOx regional and seasonal isoscape was constructed for the contiguous United States. The constructed isoscape demonstrates the seasonal importance of various NOx sources to particular regions and will be helpful in evaluating the N isotopes in nitrate deposition studies.

Survival curves of Listeria monocytogenes in chorizos modeled with artificial neural networks.

PubMed

Hajmeer, M; Basheer, I; Cliver, D O

2006-09-01

Using artificial neural networks (ANNs), a highly accurate model was developed to simulate survival curves of Listeria monocytogenes in chorizos as affected by the initial water activity (a(w0)) of the sausage formulation, temperature (T), and air inflow velocity (F) where the sausages are stored. The ANN-based survival model (R(2)=0.970) outperformed the regression-based cubic model (R(2)=0.851), and as such was used to derive other models (using regression) that allow prediction of the times needed to drop count by 1, 2, 3, and 4 logs (i.e., nD-values, n=1, 2, 3, 4). The nD-value regression models almost perfectly predicted the various times derived from a number of simulated survival curves exhibiting a wide variety of the operating conditions (R(2)=0.990-0.995). The nD-values were found to decrease with decreasing a(w0), and increasing T and F. The influence of a(w0) on nD-values seems to become more significant at some critical value of a(w0), below which the variation is negligible (0.93 for 1D-value, 0.90 for 2D-value, and <0.85 for 3D- and 4D-values). There is greater influence of storage T and F on 3D- and 4D-values than on 1D- and 2D-values.

Analysis of concentration and (13)C enrichment of D-galactose in human plasma.

PubMed

Schadewaldt, P; Hammen, H W; Loganathan, K; Bodner-Leidecker, A; Wendel, U

2000-05-01

A stable-isotope dilution method for the sensitive determination of D-galactose in human plasma was established. D-[(13)C]Galactose was added to plasma, and the concentration was measured after D-glucose was removed from the plasma by treatment with D-glucose oxidase and the sample was purified by ion-exchange chromatography. For gas chromatographic-mass spectrometric analysis, aldononitrile pentaacetate derivatives were prepared. Monitoring of the [MH-60](+) ion intensities at m/z 328, 329, and 334 in the positive chemical ionization mode allowed the assessment of 1-(12)C-, 1-(13)C-, and U-(13)C(6)-labeled D-galactose, respectively. The D-galactose concentration was quantified on the basis of the (13)C-labeled internal standard. The method was linear (range examined, 0.1-5 micromol/L) and of good repeatability in the low and high concentration ranges (within- and between-run CVs <15%). The limit of quantification for plasma D-galactose was <0.02 micromol/L. Measurements in plasma of postabsorptive subjects yielded D-galactose concentrations (mean +/- SD) of 0.12 +/- 0.03 (n = 16), 0.11 +/- 0.04 (n = 15), 1.44 +/- 0.54 (n = 10), and 0.17 +/- 0.07 (n = 5) micromol/L in healthy adults, diabetic patients, patients with classical galactosemia, and obligate heterozygous parents thereof, respectively. These data were considerably lower (3- to 18-fold) than the values of a conventional enzymatic assay. The procedure was also applied successfully in a stable-isotope turnover study to evaluate endogenous D-galactose formation. The present findings establish that detection of D-galactose from endogenous sources is feasible in human plasma and show that erroneously high results may be obtained by enzymatic methods.

Effects of site-directed mutagenesis of Asn116 in the β-hairpin of the N-terminal domain of thermolysin on its activity and stability.

PubMed

Menach, Evans; Yasukawa, Kiyoshi; Inouye, Kuniyo

2012-09-01

In the N-terminal domain of thermolysin, two anti-parallel β-strands, Asn112-Ala113-Phe114-Trp115 and Ser118-Gln119-Met120-Val121-Tyr122 are connected by an Asn116-Gly117 turn to form a β-hairpin structure. In this study, we examined the role of Asn116 in the activity and stability of thermolysin by site-directed mutagenesis. Of the 19 Asn116 variants, four (N116A, N116D, N116T and N116Q) were produced in Escherichia coli, by co-expressing the mature and pro domains separately, while the other 15 were not. In the hydrolysis of N-[3-(2-furyl)acryloyl]-glycyl-L-leucine amide (FAGLA) at 25°C, the intrinsic k(cat)/K(m) value of N116D was 320% of that of the wild-type thermolysin (WT), and in the hydrolysis of N-carbobenzoxy-L-aspartyl-L-phenylalanine methyl ester (ZDFM) at pH 7.5 at 25°C, the k(cat)/K(m) value of N116D was 140% of that of WT, indicating that N116D exhibited higher activity than WT. N116Q exhibited similar activity as WT, and N116A and N116T exhibited reduced activities. The first-order rate constants, k(obs), of the thermal inactivation at 80°C were in the order N116A, N116D, N116T > N116Q > WT at all CaCl(2) concentrations examined (1-100 mM), indicating that all variants exhibited reduced stabilities. These results suggest that Asn116 plays an important role in the activity and stability of thermolysin presumably by stabilizing this β-hairpin structure.

Stable isotope ratios of carbon, nitrogen and oxygen in killer whales (Orcinus orca) stranded on the coast of Hokkaido, Japan.

PubMed

Endo, Tetsuya; Kimura, Osamu; Sato, Rie; Kobayashi, Mari; Matsuda, Ayaka; Matsuishi, Takashi; Haraguchi, Koichi

2014-09-15

We analyzed δ(13)C, δ(15)N and δ(18)O in the muscle and liver from killer whales stranded on the coast of Japan. The δ(15)N values in the muscle samples from calves were apparently higher than those in their lactating mothers, suggesting that nursing may result in the higher δ(15)N values in the muscle samples of calves. The δ(15)N value in the muscle samples of male and female whales, except for the calves, were positively correlated with the δ(13)C values and body length, suggesting that the increases in δ(15)N were due to the growth of the whales and increase in their trophic level. In contrast, the δ(18)O values in the muscle samples of female whales except for the calves were negatively correlated with the δ(13)C and δ(15)N values. The δ(18)O may be lower in whales occupying higher trophic positions (δ(15)N), although it might also be affected by geographic and climatic conditions. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Improved radiocarbon dating for contaminated archaeological bone collagen, silk, wool and hair samples via cross-flow nanofiltrated amino acids.

PubMed

Boudin, Mathieu; Boeckx, Pascal; Vandenabeele, Peter; Van Strydonck, Mark

2013-09-30

Radiocarbon dating and stable isotope analyses of bone collagen, wool, hair and silk contaminated with extraneous carbon (e.g. humic substances) does not yield reliable results if these materials are pre-treated using conventional methods. A cross-flow nanofiltration method was developed that can be applied to various protein materials like collagen, hair, silk, wool and leather, and should be able to remove low-molecular and high-molecular weight contaminants. To avoid extraneous carbon contamination via the filter a ceramic filter (molecular weight cut-off of 200 Da) was used. The amino acids, released by hot acid hydrolysis of the protein material, were collected in the permeate and contaminants in the retentate (>200 Da). (14)C-dating results for various contaminated archaeological samples were compared for bulk material (pre-treated with the conventional methods) and for cross-flow nanofiltrated amino acids (permeate) originating from the same samples. Contamination and quality control of (14)C dates of bulk and permeate samples were obtained by measuring C:N ratios, fluorescence spectra, and δ(13)C and δ(15)N values of the samples. Cross-flow nanofiltration decreases the C:N ratio which means that contaminants have been removed. Cross-flow nanofiltration clearly improved sample quality and (14)C results. It is a quick and non-labor-intensive technique and can easily be implemented in any (14)C and stable isotope laboratory for routine sample pre-treatment analyses. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Isotopic compositions and sources of nitrate in ground water from western Salt River Valley, Arizona

USGS Publications Warehouse

Gellenbeck, D.J.

1994-01-01

Isotopic and chemical compositions of ground water from western Salt River Valley near Phoenix, Arizona, were used to develop identification tech- niques for sources of nitrate in ground water. Four possible sources of nitrate were studied: dairies and feedlots, sewage-treatment plants, agricultural activities, and natural source. End members that represent these sources were analyzed for a variety of chemical and isotopic constituents; contents of the end-member and the ground water were compared to identify nitrate from these sources. Nitrate from dairies and feedlots was identified by delta 15N values higher than +9.0 per mil. Nitrate from sewage treatment plants was identified by some chemical constituents and values of delta 15N, delta 34S, delta 7Li, and delta 11B that were lighter than the values determined for ground water not affected by sewage-treatment plants. Nitrate from agricultural activities was identified by delta 15N, 3H, and delta 34S compositions. Natural nitrate derived from decomposing plants and accumulated by biological fixation was identified by delta 15N values that range between +2 and +8 per mil. In addition to identifying nitrate sources, some chemical and isotopic charabteristics of ground water were determined on the basis of data collected during this study. Concentrations of major ions, lithium, and boron and delta 7Li, delta 11B, 3H, delta D, and delta 18O data identify ground water in different geographic regions in the study area. These differences probably are related to different sources of ground water, geochemical processes, or geologic deposits. The Luke salt body and a geothermal anomaly alter the chemical and isotopic content of some ground water.

Variable Isotopic Compositions of Host Plant Populations Preclude Assessment of Aphid Overwintering Sites

PubMed Central

Voegtlin, David J.; Hamilton, Krista L.; Hogg, David B.

2017-01-01

Soybean aphid (Aphis glycines Matsumura) is a pest of soybean in the northern Midwest whose migratory patterns have been difficult to quantify. Improved knowledge of soybean aphid overwintering sites could facilitate the development of control efforts with exponential impacts on aphid densities on a regional scale. In this preliminary study, we explored the utility of variation in stable isotopes of carbon and nitrogen to distinguish soybean aphid overwintering origins. We compared variation in bulk 13C and 15N content in buckthorn (Rhamnus cathartica L.) and soybean aphids in Wisconsin, among known overwintering locations in the northern Midwest. Specifically, we looked for associations between buckthorn and environmental variables that could aid in identifying overwintering habitats. We detected significant evidence of correlation between the bulk 13C and 15N signals of soybean aphids and buckthorn, despite high variability in stable isotope composition within and among buckthorn plants. Further, the 15N signal in buckthorn varied predictably with soil composition. However, lack of sufficient differentiation of geographic areas along axes of isotopic and environmental variation appears to preclude the use of carbon and nitrogen isotopic signals as effective predictors of likely aphid overwintering sites. These preliminary data suggest the need for future work that can further account for variability in 13C and 15N within/among buckthorn plants, and that explores the utility of other stable isotopes in assessing likely aphid overwintering sites. PMID:29206134

Isotopic Anomalies in Primitive Solar System Matter: Spin-State-Dependent Fractionation of Nitrogen and Deuterium in Interstellar Clouds

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Wirstrom, Eva S.; Charnley, Steven B.; Cordiner, Martin A.; Milam, Stefanie N.

2012-01-01

Organic material found in meteorites and interplanetary dust particles is enriched in D and N-15. This is consistent with the idea that the functional groups carrying these isotopic anomalies, nitriles and amines, were formed by ion-molecule chemistry in the protosolar nebula, Theoretical models of interstellar fractionation at low temperatures predict large enrichments in both D and N-15 and can account for the largest isotopic enrichments measured in carbonaceous meteorites. However, more recent measurements have shown that, in some primitive samples, a large N-15 enrichment does not correlate with one in D, and that some D-enriched primitive material displays little, if any, N-15 enrichment. By considering the spin-state dependence in ion-molecule reactions involving the ortho and para forms of H2, we show that ammonia and related molecules can exhibit such a wide range of fractionation for both N-15 and D in dense cloud cores. We also show that while the nitriles, HCN and HNC, contain the greatest N=15 enrichment, this is not expected to correlate with extreme D enrichment. These calculations therefore support the view that solar system N-15 and D isotopic anomalies have an interstellar heritage. We also compare our results to existing astronomical observations and briefly discuss future tests of this model.

Isotopic Anomalies in Primitive Solar System Matter: Spin-State Dependent Fractionation of Nitrogen and Deuterium in Interstellar Clouds

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Wirstrom, Eva S.; Charnley, Steven B.; Cordiner, Martin A.; Milan, Stefanie N.

2012-01-01

Organic material found in meteorites and interplanetary dust particles is enriched in D and N-15, This is consistent with the idea that the functional groups carrying these isotopic anomalies, nitriles and amines, were formed by ion-molecule chemistry in the protosolar core. Theoretical models of interstellar fractionation at low temperatures predict large enrichments in both D and N-15 and can account for the largest isotop c enrichments measured in carbonaceous meteorites, However, more recent measurements have shown that, in some primitive samples, a large N-15 enrichment does not correlate with one in D, and that some D-enriched primitive material displays little, if any, N-15 enrichment. By considering the spin-state dependence in ion-molecule reactions involving the ortho and para forms of H2, we show that ammonia and related molecules can exhibit such a wide range of fractionation for both N-15 and D in dense cloud cores, We also show that while the nitriles, HCN and HNC, contain the greatest N-15 enrichment, this is not expected to correlate with extreme D emichment. These calculations therefore support the view that Solar System N-15 and D isotopic anomalies have an interstellar heritage, We also compare our results to existing astronomical observations and briefly discuss future tests of this model.

A kinetic model for thermally induced hydrogen and carbon isotope fractionation of individual n-alkanes in crude oil

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tang, Yongchun; Huang, Yongsong; Ellis, Geoffrey S.; Wang, Yi; Kralert, Paul G.; Gillaizeau, Bruno; Ma, Qisheng; Hwang, Rong

2005-09-01

A quantitative kinetic model has been proposed to simulate the large D and 13C isotope enrichments observed in individual n-alkanes (C 13-C 21) during artificial thermal maturation of a North Sea crude oil under anhydrous, closed-system conditions. Under our experimental conditions, average n-alkane δ 13C values increase by ˜4‰ and δD values increase by ˜50‰ at an equivalent vitrinite reflectance value of 1.5%. While the observed 13C-enrichment shows no significant dependence on hydrocarbon chain length, thermally induced D-enrichment increases with increasing n-alkane carbon number. This differential fractionation effect is speculated to be due to the combined effect of the greater extent of thermal cracking of higher molecular weight, n-alkanes compared to lower molecular weight homologues, and the generation of isotopically lighter, lower molecular weight compounds. This carbon-number-linked hydrogen isotopic fractionation behavior could form the basis of a new maturity indicator to quantitatively assess the extent of oil cracking in petroleum reservoirs. Quantum mechanical calculations of the average change in enthalpy (ΔΔH ‡) and entropy (ΔΔS ‡) as a result of isotopic substitution in n-alkanes undergoing homolytic cleavage of C-C bonds lead to predictions of isotopic fractionation that agree quite well with our experimental results. For n-C 20 ( n-icosane), the changes in enthalpy are calculated to be ˜1340 J mol -1 (320 cal mol -1) and 230 J mol -1 (55 cal mol -1) for D-H and 13C- 12C, respectively. Because the enthalpy term associated with hydrogen isotope fractionation is approximately six times greater than that for carbon, variations in δD values for individual long-chain hydrocarbons provide a highly sensitive measure of the extent of thermal alteration experienced by the oil. Extrapolation of the kinetic model to typical geological heating conditions predicts significant enrichment in 13C and D for n-icosane at equivalent vitrinite reflectance values corresponding to the onset of thermal cracking of normal alkanes. The experimental and theoretical results of this study have significant implications for the use of compound-specific hydrogen isotope data in petroleum geochemical and paleoclimatological studies. However, there are many other geochemical processes that will significantly affect observed hydrogen isotopic compositions (e.g., biodegradation, water washing, isotopic exchange with water and minerals) that must also be taken into consideration.

Determination of azathioprine and its related substances by capillary zone electrophoresis and its application to pharmaceutical dosage forms assay.

PubMed

Shafaati, A; Clark, B J

2000-03-01

The development of a stability-indicating capillary zone electrophoresis (CZE) method for the determination of the drug azathioprine (AZA) and its related substances in bulk and dosage forms is described. Theophylline was used as an internal standard to improve quantitative results. The method was fully validated in terms of repeatability (n = 10, RSD for migration time and peak area ratio were 0.15% and 0.60%, respectively), reproducibility (n = 5, RSD of peak area ratio was 0.84%), linearity at two ranges of the azathioprine concentration, limits of detection (LOD) and quantitation (LOQ), and robustness. The method was applied for determination of the drug in bulk and a commercial tablet dosage form (recovery 98.3-101.3%) and in powder for injection (recovery 98.7-100.6%). The method was fast and reliable for the analysis of AZA and its related substances in bulk and dosage forms.

Effects of Boreal Lake Wetlands on Atmospheric 13CH3D and 12CH2D2

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Haghnegahdar, M. A.; Kohl, I. E.; Schauble, E. A.; Walter Anthony, K. M.; Young, E. D.

2017-12-01

Recently, we developed a theoretical model to investigate the potential use of 13CH3D and 12CH2D2 as tools for tracking atmospheric methane budget. We used electronic structure methods to estimate kinetic isotope fractionations associated with the major sink reactions of CH4 in air (reactions with •OH and Cl•), and literature data with reconnaissance measurements of the relative abundances of 13CH3D and 12CH2D2 to estimate the compositions of the largest atmospheric sources. Here we present new methane rare isotopologue data from boreal wetlands, comprising one of the most important sources, in order to evaluate the robustness of the model. Boreal wetlands (>55° N) account for more than half of the wetland area in the Northern hemisphere. We analyzed methane samples from high latitude lakes representing different geographical regions, geological and ecological contexts, methane fluxes, and isotopic signatures. Using clumped isotopes of CH4 we are able to determine the likely production mechanism for natural CH4 samples. So far, all of our analyzed samples except one plot in the microbial pure-culture methanogenesis field (Young et al. 2017) with ranges of -0.2‰ to +1.2‰ for Δ13CH3D, and -29.6‰ to -18.2‰ for Δ12CH2D2. These compositions are far from equilibrium. The one exception, from Lake Doughnut, Alaska, exhibits Δ13CH3D and Δ12CH2D2 values of +5.2‰ and +18.7‰, respectively, which fall near ambient thermodynamic equilibrium values. This may be an effect of methanotrophy. Mean Δ13CH3D and Δ12CH2D2 for all lake samples are +1.7‰ and -15.4‰ respectively, compared to our original estimate of +6.1‰ and +21.2‰ for the wetland methane source based on an assumption of equilibrium. If we assume that these samples are representative of the overall wetland source, Δ13CH3D decreases by 0.8‰ and Δ12CH2D2 decreases by 0.6‰ in our model of bulk atmospheric methane. Δ13CH3D and Δ12CH2D2 values of air (including •OH and Cl• sink reactions) are estimated to be +3.6‰ and +112.9‰, respectively. Even if we exclude the Lake Doughnut sample, the total effect on Δ12CH2D2 in air is no more than 2‰. Our model predicts that sink reactions generate a distinctly elevated Δ12CH2D2 (by 104‰) relative to the source composition. In contrast, differences in source compositions have a comparatively small effect, on the order of a few per mil at most.

Estimates of olivine-basaltic melt electrical conductivity using a digital rock physics approach

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Miller, Kevin J.; Montési, Laurent G. J.; Zhu, Wen-lu

2015-12-01

Estimates of melt content beneath fast-spreading mid-ocean ridges inferred from magnetotelluric tomography (MT) vary between 0.01 and 0.10. Much of this variation may stem from a lack of understanding of how the grain-scale melt geometry influences the bulk electrical conductivity of a partially molten rock, especially at low melt fraction. We compute bulk electrical conductivity of olivine-basalt aggregates over 0.02 to 0.20 melt fraction by simulating electric current in experimentally obtained partially molten geometries. Olivine-basalt aggregates were synthesized by hot-pressing San Carlos olivine and high-alumina basalt in a solid-medium piston-cylinder apparatus. Run conditions for experimental charges were 1.5 GPa and 1350 °C. Upon completion, charges were quenched and cored. Samples were imaged using synchrotron X-ray micro-computed tomography (μ-CT). The resulting high-resolution, 3-dimensional (3-D) image of the melt distribution constitutes a digital rock sample, on which numerical simulations were conducted to estimate material properties. To compute bulk electrical conductivity, we simulated a direct current measurement by solving the current continuity equation, assuming electrical conductivities for olivine and melt. An application of Ohm's Law yields the bulk electrical conductivity of the partially molten region. The bulk electrical conductivity values for nominally dry materials follow a power-law relationship σbulk = Cσmeltϕm with fit parameters m = 1.3 ± 0.3 and C = 0.66 ± 0.06. Laminar fluid flow simulations were conducted on the same partially molten geometries to obtain permeability, and the respective pathways for electrical current and fluid flow over the same melt geometry were compared. Our results indicate that the pathways for flow fluid are different from those for electric current. Electrical tortuosity is lower than fluid flow tortuosity. The simulation results are compared to existing experimental data, and the potential influence of volatiles and melt films on electrical conductivity of partially molten rocks is discussed.

Stable Isotope Analyses of Ancient Penguin Tissues Support the Krill Surplus Hypothesis in Antarctica

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Emslie, S. D.; Polito, M. J.; Patterson, W. P.

2010-12-01

The krill surplus hypothesis in Antarctica is based on the premise that historic depletion of krill-eating whales and seals in the 18-20th centuries provided a surplus of krill in the southern ocean that benefited penguins. Previous study of δ13C and δ15N stable isotopes in ancient and modern tissues of Adélie Penguin (Pygoscelis adeliae) from dozens of active and abandoned colonies in Antarctica have provided the first test in support of this hypothesis (Emslie and Patterson 2007). Specifically, there is a significant decrease in both δ13C and δ15N isotope values in modern versus ancient Adélie Penguin tissues from an apparent dietary shift from fish to krill associated with the timing of the purported krill surplus. Here, we present new data on similar analyses of Gentoo Penguin (P. papua) tissues from active and abandoned colonies at two locations in the Antarctic Peninsula to determine if this species recorded a similar shift in its diet in association with the krill surplus. Our results demonstrate a significant decrease (1.5-2.0 ‰) in δ13C in modern versus fossil eggshells (two-tailed t-test of modern versus fossil mean values, t = 1.98, p < 0.0001) in accordance with this hypothesis. δ15N values are more variable among modern localities and probably were so in the past as well. Although we found a weak but significant decrease in δ15N (0.3 ‰) in modern versus fossil eggshell values, we do not consider this to be an adequate signal for a dietary shift. Our data also indicate that the decrease in δ13C values in Gentoo Penguins is not as large as that previously observed in Adélie Penguins (a 4-6 ‰ decrease in δ13C values). This weaker signal for the dietary shift in Gentoo Penguins probably results from a greater and more consistent reliance on fish, past and present, in this species compared to the Adélie Penguin. Emslie, S. D. and W. P. Patterson. 2007. Abrupt recent shift in δ13C and δ15N values in Adélie Penguin eggshell in Antarctica. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 104: 11666-11669. A pair of Adélie Penguins with their well-fed chick.

Deuterium and 15N fractionation in N2H+ during the formation of a Sun-like star

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

De Simone, M.; Fontani, F.; Codella, C.; Ceccarelli, C.; Lefloch, B.; Bachiller, R.; López-Sepulcre, A.; Caux, E.; Vastel, C.; Soldateschi, J.

2018-05-01

Although chemical models predict that the deuterium fractionation in N2H+ is a good evolutionary tracer in the star formation process, the fractionation of nitrogen is still a poorly understood process. Recent models have questioned the similar evolutionary trend expected for the two fractionation mechanisms in N2H+, based on a classical scenario in which ion-neutral reactions occurring in cold gas should have caused an enhancement of the abundance of N2D+, 15NNH+, and N15NH+. In the framework of the ASAI IRAM-30m large program, we have investigated the fractionation of deuterium and 15N in N2H+ in the best known representatives of the different evolutionary stages of the Sun-like star formation process. The goal is to ultimately confirm (or deny) the classical `ion-neutral reactions' scenario that predicts a similar trend for D and 15N fractionation. We do not find any evolutionary trend of the 14N/15N ratio from both the 15NNH+ and N15NH+ isotopologues. Therefore, our findings confirm that, during the formation of a Sun-like star, the core evolution is irrelevant in the fractionation of 15N. The independence of the 14N/15N ratio with time, found also in high-mass star-forming cores, indicates that the enrichment in 15N revealed in comets and protoplanetary discs is unlikely to happen at core scales. Nevertheless, we have firmly confirmed the evolutionary trend expected for the H/D ratio, with the N2H+/N2D+ ratio decreasing before the pre-stellar core phase, and increasing monotonically during the protostellar phase. We have also confirmed clearly that the two fractionation mechanisms are not related.

Irreversibility Line Measurement and Vortex Dynamics in High Magnetic Fields in Ni- and Co-Doped Iron Pnictide Bulk Superconductors

DOE PAGES

Nikolo, Martin; Singleton, John; Zapf, Vivien S.; ...

2016-07-20

The de-pinning or irreversibility lines were determined by ac susceptibility, magnetization, radio-frequency proximity detector oscillator (PDO), and resistivity methods in Ba(Fe 0.92Co 0.08) 2As 2 ( T c = 23.2 K), Ba(Fe 0.95Ni 0.05) 2As 2 ( T c = 20.4 K), and Ba(Fe 0.94Ni 0.06) 2As 2 ( T c = 18.5 K) bulk superconductors in ac, dc, and pulsed magnetic fields up to 65 T. A new method of extracting the irreversibility fields from the radio-frequency proximity detector oscillator induction technique is described. Wide temperature broadening of the irreversibility lines, for any given combination of ac and dcmore » fields, is dependent on the time frame of measurement. Increasing the magnetic field sweep rate (dH/dt) shifts the irreversibility lines to higher temperatures up to about dH/d t = 40,000 Oe/s; for higher dH/dt, there is little impact on the irreversibility line. There is an excellent data match between the irreversibility fields obtained from magnetization hysteresis loops, PDO, and ac susceptibility measurements, but not from resistivity measurements in these materials. Lower critical field vs. temperature phase diagrams are measured. Their very low values near 0 T indicate that these materials are in mixed state in nonzero magnetic fields, and yet the strength of the vortex pinning enables very high irreversibility fields, as high as 51 T at 1.5 K for the Ba(Fe 0.92Co 0.08) 2As 2 polycrystalline sample, showing a promise for liquid helium temperature applications.« less

Equatorial Pacific peak in biological production regulated by nutrient and upwelling during the late Pliocene/early Pleistocene cooling

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Etourneau, J.; Robinson, R. S.; Martinez, P.; Schneider, R.

2013-08-01

The largest increase in export production in the eastern Pacific of the last 5.3 Myr (million years) occurred between 2.2 and 1.6 Myr, a time of major climatic and oceanographic reorganization in the region. Here, we investigate the causes of this event using reconstructions of export production, nutrient supply and oceanic conditions across the Pliocene-Pleistocene in the eastern equatorial Pacific (EEP) for the last 3.2 Myr. Our results indicate that the export production peak corresponds to a cold interval marked by high nutrient supply relative to consumption, as revealed by the low bulk sedimentary 15N/14N (δ15N) and alkenone-derived sea surface temperature (SST) values. This ∼0.6 million year long episode of enhanced delivery of nutrients to the surface of the EEP was predominantly initiated through the upwelling of nutrient-enriched water sourced in high latitudes. In addition, this phenomenon was likely promoted by the regional intensification of upwelling in response to the development of intense Walker and Hadley atmospheric circulations. Increased nutrient consumption in the polar oceans and enhanced denitrification in the equatorial regions restrained nutrient supply and availability and terminated the high export production event.

Effect of initial bulk density on high-solids anaerobic digestion of MSW: General mechanism.

PubMed

Caicedo, Luis M; Wang, Hongtao; Lu, Wenjing; De Clercq, Djavan; Liu, Yanjun; Xu, Sai; Ni, Zhe

2017-06-01

Initial bulk density (IBD) is an important variable in anaerobic digestion since it defines and optimizes the treatment capacity of a system. This study reveals the mechanism on how IBD might affect anaerobic digestion of waste. Four different IBD values: D 1 (500-700kgm -3 ), D 2 (900-1000kgm -3 ), D 3 (1100-1200kgm -3 ) and D 4 (1200-1400kgm -3 ) were set and tested over a period of 90days in simulated landfill reactors. The main variables affected by the IBD are the methane generation, saturation degree, extraction of organic matter, and the total population of methanogens. The study identified that IBD >1000kgm -3 may have significant effect on methane generation, either prolonging the lag time or completely inhibiting the process. This study provides a new understanding of the anaerobic digestion process in saturated high-solids systems. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Recovery of nitrogen stable isotope signatures in the food web of an intermittently open estuary following removal of wastewater loads

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Smith, Phoebe E.; Oakes, Joanne M.; Eyre, Bradley D.

2016-12-01

Nitrogen (N) stable isotope values (δ15N) were used to assess the removal of wastewater N from the food web within Tallow Creek, a small intermittently closed/open lake/lagoon (ICOLL) on the east coast of Australia, following the cessation of wastewater inputs in 2005. Current (2013) δ15N values of sediment organic carbon, plants, and animals within Tallow Creek were compared to values obtained before wastewater inputs ceased, and to values within a nearby near-pristine ICOLL (Jerusalem Creek). Most biota had significantly depleted δ15N values compared to conspecifics collected before wastewater inputs ceased (mean reduction of 6.0‰; 38% of impacted enrichment), indicating substantial loss of wastewater N since inputs ceased. However, δ15N values remained enriched compared to the near-pristine ICOLL for some components (mean enrichment of 3.3‰ or 38%), suggesting that some wastewater N remains. The δ15N recovery rate (decrease in δ15N as a percentage of the impacted enrichment) for Tallow Creek biota was slow compared to that of biota in more open systems. This slow recovery rate and the persistence of some wastewater N, even after 8 years without new inputs, reflects differences in hydrology and nitrogen cycling between permanently open and intermittently open estuarine systems and highlights the likely lower resilience of ICOLLs to anthropogenic N inputs.

Oligothiophene-Indandione-Linked Narrow-Band Gap Molecules: Impact of π-Conjugated Chain Length on Photovoltaic Performance.

PubMed

Komiyama, Hideaki; To, Takahiro; Furukawa, Seiichi; Hidaka, Yu; Shin, Woong; Ichikawa, Takahiro; Arai, Ryota; Yasuda, Takuma

2018-04-04

Solution-processed organic solar cells (OSCs) based on narrow-band gap small molecules hold great promise as next-generation energy-converting devices. In this paper, we focus on a family of A-π-D-π-A-type small molecules, namely, BDT- nT-ID ( n = 1-4) oligomers, consisting of benzo[1,2- b:4,5- b']dithiophene (BDT) as the central electron-donating (D) core, 1,3-indandione (ID) as the terminal electron-accepting (A) units, and two regioregular oligo(3-hexylthiophene)s ( nT) with different numbers of thiophene rings as the π-bridging units, and elucidate their structure-property-function relationships. The effects of the length of the π-bridging nT units on the optical absorption, thermal behavior, morphology, hole mobility, and OSC performance were systematically investigated. All oligomers exhibited broad and intense visible photoabsorption in the 400-700 nm range. The photovoltaic performances of bulk heterojunction OSCs based on BDT- nT-IDs as donors and a fullerene derivative as an acceptor were studied. Among these oligomers, BDT-2T-ID, incorporating bithiophene as the π-bridging units, showed better photovoltaic performance with a maximum power conversion efficiency as high as 6.9% under AM 1.5G illumination without using solvent additives or postdeposition treatments. These favorable properties originated from the well-developed interpenetrating network morphology of BDT-2T-ID, with larger domain sizes in the photoactive layer. Even though all oligomers have the same A-D-A main backbone, structural modulation of the π-bridging nT length was found to impact their self-organization and nanostructure formation in the solid state, as well as the corresponding OSC device performance.

Measurement of carrier transport and recombination parameter in heavily doped silicon

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Swanson, Richard M.

1986-01-01

The minority carrier transport and recombination parameters in heavily doped bulk silicon were measured. Both Si:P and Si:B with bulk dopings from 10 to the 17th and 10 to the 20th power/cu cm were studied. It is shown that three parameters characterize transport in bulk heavily doped Si: the minority carrier lifetime tau, the minority carrier mobility mu, and the equilibrium minority carrier density of n sub 0 and p sub 0 (in p-type and n-type Si respectively.) However, dc current-voltage measurements can never measure all three of these parameters, and some ac or time-transient experiment is required to obtain the values of these parameters as a function of dopant density. Using both dc electrical measurements on bipolar transitors with heavily doped base regions and transients optical measurements on heavily doped bulk and epitaxially grown samples, lifetime, mobility, and bandgap narrowing were measured as a function of both p and n type dopant densities. Best fits of minority carrier mobility, bandgap narrowing and lifetime as a function of doping density (in the heavily doped range) were constructed to allow accurate modeling of minority carrier transport in heavily doped Si.

Native gold and gold-rich sulfide deposits in a submarine basaltic caldera, Higashi-Aogashima hydrothermal field, Izu-Ogasawara frontal arc, Japan

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Iizasa, Kokichi; Asada, Akira; Mizuno, Katsunori; Katase, Fuyuki; Lee, Sangkyun; Kojima, Mitsuhiro; Ogawa, Nobuhiro

2018-04-01

Sulfide deposits with extremely high Au concentrations (up to 275 ppm; avg. 102 ppm, n = 15), high Au/Ag ratios (0.24, n = 15), and low Cu/(Cu + Zn) ratios (0.03, n = 15) were discovered in 2015 in active hydrothermal fields at a water depth of 760 m in a basalt-dominated submarine caldera in the Izu-Ogasawara frontal arc, Japan. Native gold grains occur in massive sulfide fragments, concretions, and metalliferous sediments from a sulfide mound (40 m across and 20 m high) with up to 30-m-high black smoker chimneys. Tiny native gold grains up to 14 μm in diameter are mainly present in sulfide fallouts from chimney orifices and plumes. Larger native gold grains up to 150 μm long occur mostly as discrete particles and/or with amorphous silica and sulfides. The larger gold grains are interpreted to represent direct precipitation from Au-bearing hydrothermal fluids circulating in and/or beneath the unconsolidated sulfide mound deposits. Sulfur isotope compositions from a limited number of sulfide separates (n = 4) range from 4.3 to 5.8‰ δ34S, similar to the quaternary volcanic rocks of the arc. Barite separates have values of 22.2 and 23.1‰, close to modern seawater values, and indicate probable seawater sulfate origin. The Cu, Zn, and Pb concentrations in bulk samples of sulfide-rich rocks are similar to those of volcanogenic massive sulfides formed in continental crustal environments. The gold is interpreted to have formed by low-temperature hydrothermal activity, perhaps genetically different from systems with documented magmatic contributions or from seafloor hydrothermal systems in other island arc settings. Its presence suggests that basalt-dominated submarine calderas situated on relatively thick continental crust in an intraoceanic arc setting such as the Higashi-Aogashima knoll caldera may be perspective for gold mineralization.

Fluctuation-induced forces in confined ideal and imperfect Bose gases

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Diehl, H. W.; Rutkevich, Sergei B.

2017-06-01

Fluctuation-induced ("Casimir") forces caused by thermal and quantum fluctuations are investigated for ideal and imperfect Bose gases confined to d -dimensional films of size ∞d -1×D under periodic (P), antiperiodic (A), Dirichlet-Dirichlet (DD), Neumann-Neumann (NN), and Robin (R) boundary conditions (BCs). The full scaling functions ΥdBC(xλ=D /λth ,xξ=D /ξ ) of the residual reduced grand potential per area φres,dBC(T ,μ ,D ) =D-(d -1 )ΥdBC(xλ,xξ) are determined for the ideal gas case with these BCs, where λth and ξ are the thermal de Broglie wavelength and the bulk correlation length, respectively. The associated limiting scaling functions ΘdBC(xξ) ≡ΥdBC(∞ ,xξ) describing the critical behavior at the bulk condensation transition are shown to agree with those previously determined from a massive free O (2 ) theory for BC=P,A,DD,DN,NN . For d =3 , they are expressed in closed analytical form in terms of polylogarithms. The analogous scaling functions ΥdBC(xλ,xξ,c1D ,c2D ) and ΘdR(xξ,c1D ,c2D ) under the RBCs (∂z-c1) ϕ |z=0=(∂z+c2) ϕ | z =D=0 with c1≥0 and c2≥0 are also determined. The corresponding scaling functions Υ∞,d P(xλ,xξ) and Θ∞,d P(xξ) for the imperfect Bose gas are shown to agree with those of the interacting Bose gas with n internal degrees of freedom in the limit n →∞ . Hence, for d =3 , Θ∞,d P(xξ) is known exactly in closed analytic form. To account for the breakdown of translation invariance in the direction perpendicular to the boundary planes implied by free BCs such as DDBCs, a modified imperfect Bose gas model is introduced that corresponds to the limit n →∞ of this interacting Bose gas. Numerically and analytically exact results for the scaling function Θ∞,3 DD(xξ) therefore follow from those of the O (2 n ) ϕ4 model for n →∞ .

15N indicates an active N-cycling microbial community in low carbon, freshwater sediments.

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sheik, C.

2017-12-01

Earth's large lakes are unique aquatic ecosystems, but we know little of the microbial life driving sedimentary biogeochemical cycles and ultimately the isotopic record. In several of these large lakes, water column productivity is constrained by element limitation, such as phosphorus and iron, creating oligotrophic water column conditions that drive low organic matter content in sediments. Yet, these sediments are biogeochemically active and have been shown to have oxygen consumption rates akin to pelagic ocean sediments and complex sulfur cycling dynamics. Thus, large oligotrophic lakes provide unique and interesting biogeochemical contrast to highly productive freshwater and coastal marine systems. Using Lake Superior as our study site, we found microbial community structure followed patterns in bulk sediment carbon and nitrogen concentrations. These observed patterns were loosely driven by land proximity, as some stations are more coastal and have higher rates of sedimentation, allochthonous carbon inputs and productivity than pelagic sites. Interestingly, upper sediment carbon and nitrogen stable isotopes were quite different from water column. Sediment carbon and nitrogen isotopes correlated significantly with microbial community structure. However, 15N showed much stronger correlation than 13C, and became heavier with core depth. Coinciding with the increase in 15N values, we see evidence of both denitrification and anammox processes in 16S rRNA gene libraries and metagenome assembled genomes. Given that microorganisms prefer light isotopes and that these N-cycling processes both contribute to N2 production and efflux from the sediment, the increase in 15N with sediment depth suggests microbial turnover. Abundance of these genomes also varies with depth suggesting these novel microorganisms are partitioning into specific sediment geochemical zones. Additionally, several of these genomes contain genes involved in sulphur cycling, suggesting a dual biogeochemical role and potential for a cryptic sulfur cycle. Together, Lake Superior sediments offer a glimpse into microbial metabolism in carbon limited environments. Further the pervasiveness of co-metabolic pathways suggests interpretation of isotopic records may be messier than previously thought.

Superconductivity under high pressure in the binary compound CaLi2

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Debessai, M.; Matsuoka, T.; Hamlin, J. J.; Gangopadhyay, A. K.; Schilling, J. S.; Shimizu, K.; Ohishi, Y.

2008-12-01

Feng predicted for CaLi2 highly anomalous properties with possible superconductivity under very high pressures, including for the hcp polymorph a significant lattice bifurcation at pressures above 47 GPa. More recently, however, Feng suggested that for pressures exceeding 20 GPa CaLi2 may dissociate into elemental Ca and Li. Here we present for hcp CaLi2 measurements of the electrical resistivity and ac susceptibility to low temperatures under pressures as high as 81 GPa. Pressure-induced superconductivity is observed in the pressure range of 11-81 GPa, with Tc reaching values as high as 13 K. X-ray diffraction studies to 54 GPa at 150 K reveal that hcp CaLi2 undergoes a structural phase transition above 23 GPa to orthorhombic but does not dissociate into elemental Ca and Li. In the hcp phase a fit of the equation of state with the Murnaghan equation yields the bulk modulus Bo=15(2)GPa and dBo/dP=3.2(6) .

Analysis of storage possibility of raw and smoked breast meat of oat-fattened White Kołuda® goose based on their quality characteristics.

PubMed

Damaziak, K; Stelmasiak, A; Michalczuk, M; Wyrwisz, J; Moczkowska, M; Marcinkowska-Lesiak, M M; Niemiec, J; Wierzbicka, A

2016-09-01

Raw and smoked (spickgans) fillets of oat-fattened White Kołuda® goose were packed in: PET - ethylene terephthalate bags; VSP - 99% vacuum; MAP1 - 80% O2, 20% CO2; MAP2 - 70% N2, 30% O2; MAP3 - 30% O2, 40% N2, 30% CO2, and stored at a temperature of 2°C. On the day of packaging (0 d) and during storage of raw (5, 7, 10 d) and smoked fillets (5, 10, 15 d), the samples were analyzed for weight losses, physicochemical traits, and chemical composition. The study demonstrated the effect of storage time and packaging method on storage yield of raw and smoked fillets. In VSP, the raw fillets were characterized by the lowest amount of leakage, whereas spickgans were characterized by the highest storage yield and weight loss. The analysis of the effect of the modified atmosphere demonstrated the lowest weight loss of raw fillets at, simultaneously, the smallest amount of leakage in MAP1. The spickgans stored in MAP2 showed higher weight, higher yield after storage, and lower storage loss in all terms of analyses compared to MAP1 and MAP3. The greatest cooking loss at simultaneously the lowest pH values was determined for the samples stored in VSP. The WBSF values of raw fillets were decreasing along with storage time, in contrast to WBSF values of spickgans, in which case the value of this parameter increased compared to 0 d. Raw fillets stored in MAP1 and MAP3 were characterized by the most significant increase in the value of L*, by a decrease in the value of a* and an increase in that of b* parameter. Visual assessment of spickgans on 15 d of storage revealed the presence of white sediment on the surface of products, except for the samples stored in VSP. The study demonstrated the effect of storage time on the contents of protein and fat in raw fillets and on the contents of salt and fat in spickgans. © 2016 Poultry Science Association Inc.

Decline of the Macquarie Marshes ecosystem, Australia, since European arrival recorded by organic geochemical proxies in sediments

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yu, L.; Chivas, A. R.; Garcia, A.; Hu, J.

2011-12-01

The Macquarie Marshes are floodplain wetlands in semi-arid NSW, Australia, and a Ramsar site experiencing accelerated deterioration in the last 50 years due to anthropogenic activities. We investigated environmental changes occurring in the northern and southern marshes using organic geochemical proxies from short cores and surface samples as modern analogues. Some proxies of modern plants (ferns, charophyte, reeds, Eucalyptus) and biota (black swan guano) samples, which are abundant in the Macquarie Marshes, were also analysed for comparison. The proxies analysed include bulk organic carbon and nitrogen (TOC, TN, C/N ratio), carbon and nitrogen isotopes (δ13C, δ15N) and some organic biomarkers (focusing on n-alkanes, sterols and polycylic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and organochlorine pesticides (OCPs)). TOC values in surface samples range between 2 to 5% depending on the organic input. The TOC and TN curves exhibit similar trends along time, decreasing to only one tenth at the depth of 70 cm (~ 565-752 years old) than those at the surface. The bulk δ13C values of modern samples (less than 50 years old) vary from -23% to -26%, falling within the range of values found in black swan guano(-21.6%) and plants (-27.0 to -31.5%). The calculated C/N ratios range from 10 to 25, and together with δ13C values suggest that the organic matter is mainly derived from terrestrial C3 plants. The contribution of aquatic plants is shown by shifts to higher δ13C values and lower C/N values in the core sections below the 40 cm depth (older than 130 years). Changes in vegetation type are also reflected by n-alkane and sterol biomarkers. In one core from the northern marshes, the temporal variation of (n-C27+C29)/n-C31 ratio indicates that the dominance of grasses has gradually been replaced by higher plants about 130 years ago. Sediments from the floodplain and dry lagoons show a dominant peak in long-chain n-alkanes with strong odd-to-even preference, contributed by emergent aquatic macrophytes and more drought-tolerant plants; while the sediments from permanently inundated watercourses show an additional peak in short-chain n-alkanes contributed by aquatic algae and bacteria. It is also indicated by the sterols that the most abundant sterol is C29 sterol (sitosterol), and the composition of C27 and C28 sterols varies slightly depending on the relative contributions of higher terrestrial plants and microalgae. Particularly, in areas where water-bird colonies were established, a fecal biomarker - coprostanol, is detected. The OCPs (e.g. DDT, DDD, endosulfans) used in cotton farming around the Marshes, and PAHs (e.g. chrysene, benzo[e]pyrene) from fires during drought years, were not found above the detection limit of 0.01 μg/g. The results indicate that the presence of colonial birds and various terrestrial/aquatic plants are registered in the sediments and that the Macquarie Marshes are still pristine regarding pesticides. However, the deterioration of the wetlands since Europeans arrival (~130 years agao) is indicated by increasing terrestrial vegetation and diminishing aquatic biota.

Ecologically and Geologically Relevant Isotope Signatures of C, N, and S in Okenone Producing Purple Sulfur Bacteria

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Smith, D.; Steele, A.; Bowden, R.; Fogel, M. L.

2013-12-01

The carbon (C), nitrogen (N), and sulfur (S) cycles are linked in euxinic environments by purple sulfur bacteria (PSB). PSB could be responsible for the isotopic enrichments that have been observed in both fresh and marine anoxic basins. Okenane, the only recognized molecular fossil unique to PSB, is derived from okenone, a carotenoid pigment unique to Chromatiaceae. Since PSB have this exclusive molecular fossil and are fundamental components in the overall ecology of euxinic environments, a comprehensive study was undertaken to assess the C, N, and S metabolisms PSB carryout under precise laboratory conditions. The consequential isotopic fractionations that may be documented in modern environments and geologic record were examined. Autotrophic cultures of Marichromatium purpuratum DSMZ 1591 (Mpurp1591) were observed to have a fractionation between CO2 and biomass (Δ13Cbiomass - CO2), ranging from -16.1 to -37.6‰, dependent on growth stage. This rather large range of CO2 fractionation expands previously reported values for RuBisCO in PSB. Ammonium assimilation, controlled by glutamate dehydrogenase, was shown to have a fractionation (Δ15Nbiomass - NH4) of -15‰ in autotrophic cultures of Mpurp1591 and Thiocapsa marina 5653, documented for the first time in PSB. While it has been previously shown that phototrophic sulfur oxidizing bacteria connect sulfur and carbon cycling in euxinic ecosystems, the percentage of elemental sulfur and bulk biomass δ34S values of Mpurp1591 cells were contingent upon their carbon metabolisms. Here we show that the isotopic enrichments of S and N observed in freshwater and marine anoxic basins could be explained by the prevalence of PSB.

Diet of the prehistoric population of Rapa Nui (Easter Island, Chile) shows environmental adaptation and resilience

PubMed Central

Larsen, Thomas; Hunt, Terry; Lipo, Carl; Solsvik, Reidar; Wallsgrove, Natalie; Ka'apu‐Lyons, Cassie; Close, Hilary G.; Popp, Brian N.

2017-01-01

Abstract Objectives The Rapa Nui “ecocide” narrative questions whether the prehistoric population caused an avoidable ecological disaster through rapid deforestation and over‐exploitation of natural resources. The objective of this study was to characterize prehistoric human diets to shed light on human adaptability and land use in an island environment with limited resources. Materials and methods Materials for this study included human, faunal, and botanical remains from the archaeological sites Anakena and Ahu Tepeu on Rapa Nui, dating from c. 1400 AD to the historic period, and modern reference material. We used bulk carbon and nitrogen isotope analyses and amino acid compound specific isotope analyses (AA‐CSIA) of collagen isolated from prehistoric human and faunal bone, to assess the use of marine versus terrestrial resources and to investigate the underlying baseline values. Similar isotope analyses of archaeological and modern botanical and marine samples were used to characterize the local environment. Results Results of carbon and nitrogen AA‐CSIA independently show that around half the protein in diets from the humans measured came from marine sources; markedly higher than previous estimates. We also observed higher δ15N values in human collagen than could be expected from the local environment. Discussion Our results suggest highly elevated δ15N values could only have come from consumption of crops grown in substantially manipulated soils. These findings strongly suggest that the prehistoric population adapted and exhibited astute environmental awareness in a harsh environment with nutrient poor soils. Our results also have implications for evaluating marine reservoir corrections of radiocarbon dates. PMID:28664976

Diet of the prehistoric population of Rapa Nui (Easter Island, Chile) shows environmental adaptation and resilience.

PubMed

Jarman, Catrine L; Larsen, Thomas; Hunt, Terry; Lipo, Carl; Solsvik, Reidar; Wallsgrove, Natalie; Ka'apu-Lyons, Cassie; Close, Hilary G; Popp, Brian N

2017-10-01

The Rapa Nui "ecocide" narrative questions whether the prehistoric population caused an avoidable ecological disaster through rapid deforestation and over-exploitation of natural resources. The objective of this study was to characterize prehistoric human diets to shed light on human adaptability and land use in an island environment with limited resources. Materials for this study included human, faunal, and botanical remains from the archaeological sites Anakena and Ahu Tepeu on Rapa Nui, dating from c. 1400 AD to the historic period, and modern reference material. We used bulk carbon and nitrogen isotope analyses and amino acid compound specific isotope analyses (AA-CSIA) of collagen isolated from prehistoric human and faunal bone, to assess the use of marine versus terrestrial resources and to investigate the underlying baseline values. Similar isotope analyses of archaeological and modern botanical and marine samples were used to characterize the local environment. Results of carbon and nitrogen AA-CSIA independently show that around half the protein in diets from the humans measured came from marine sources; markedly higher than previous estimates. We also observed higher δ 15 N values in human collagen than could be expected from the local environment. Our results suggest highly elevated δ 15 N values could only have come from consumption of crops grown in substantially manipulated soils. These findings strongly suggest that the prehistoric population adapted and exhibited astute environmental awareness in a harsh environment with nutrient poor soils. Our results also have implications for evaluating marine reservoir corrections of radiocarbon dates. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

The Abundances of the Fe Group Elements in Three Early B Stars in the Large Magellanic Cloud

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Peters, G. J.; Adelman, S. J.

2005-12-01

The photospheric abundances of V, Cr, and Fe have been determined for three sharp-lined early B stars in the Large Magellanic Cloud using FUV spectra obtained from the Far Ultraviolet Spectroscopic Explorer (FUSE) and the Kurucz LTE model atmosphere/spectrum synthesis codes ATLAS9/SYNTHE. The program stars include NGC1818/D1, NGC2004/B15, and NGC2004/B30 (star designations are from Robertson 1974, A&AS, 15, 261). The calculations were carried through with model parameters close to those adopted by Korn et al. (2000, A&A, 353, 655). Values of Teff, log g, ξ T, and v sin I are 25000/4.0/0/30, 20000/3.1/6/25, and 23500/3.3/14/30 for NGC1818/D1, NGC2004/B15, and NGC2004/B30, respectively. The abundances quoted below are in sequence for the latter stars. The vanadium abundances, [V/H], determined from V III λ λ 1150,1152 (UV 2), are -0.6, -0.9, and -0.9 dex. Cr was determined from Cr III λ λ 1118,1136. Values of -0.5, -0.8, and -0.7 dex were found. Uncertainties in the V and Cr abundances are ˜0.3 dex. The Fe abundance is primarily from 7 lines of Fe III (UV 1) in the region λ λ 1122-32. Values are -0.8±0.3, ˜-1.1, and -0.4±0.3. Since there is no evidence for N enhancement in the program stars ([N/H] ˜ -0.9, -1.0, and -0.6 from the N III doublet at 1183,1184 Å) the photospheric abundances have probably not been altered by mixing of processed material from the star's interior and the derived abundances represent pristine values for the two young clusters in the LMC. It should be noted that the N and Fe abundances derived for NGC1818/D1 are about 0.5 dex lower than those determined by Korn et al. from much weaker optical lines. We will discuss possible reasons for the discrepancy. The generally low abundances for the Fe group elements in these young cluster B stars imply that supernova activity has been minimal in the regions of the LMC in which the stars were formed. GJP appreciates support from NASA grant NAG5-13212.

Accurate Methods for Large Molecular Systems (Postprint)

DTIC Science & Technology

2009-01-06

D S A FB , C A o n Se pt em be r 23 , 2 00 9 | h ttp :// pu bs .a cs .o rg P ub lic at io n D at e (W eb ): A pr il 15 , 2 00 9 | d oi...r 23 , 2 00 9 | h ttp :// pu bs .a cs .o rg P ub lic at io n D at e (W eb ): A pr il 15 , 2 00 9 | d oi : 1 0. 10 21 /jp 81 15 19 x As noted...basis set is 6-31++G( d ,

Symbiotic nitrogen fixation in an arid ecosystem measured by sup 15 N natural abundance

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Johnson, G.V.

1990-05-01

Plants dependent on nitrogen fixation have an {sup 15}N abundance similar to the atmosphere, while non-nitrogen fixing plants usually are enriched in {sup 15}N and are similar to soil nitrogen values. The natural abundance of {sup 15}N in leaf tissues and soils was determined to evaluate symbiotic nitrogen fixation by several legumes and actinorhizal species in the Sevilleta Long-term Ecological Research area in central New Mexico. Comparison of {delta}{sup 15}N values for the legume Prosopis glandulosa (mesquite) to adjacent Atriplex canascens (fourwing saltbush) indicated that P. glandulosa obtained 66% of its nitrogen by fixation. The legume Hoffmanseggia jamesii was foundmore » to be utilizing soil nitrogen. The {delta}{sup 15}N values for the actinorhizal plants, Elaeagnus angustifolia and Cercocarpus montanus, while below values for soil nitrogen, did not differ from associated non-fixing plants.« less

On the application of contemporary bulk sediment organic carbon isotope and geochemical datasets for Holocene sea-level reconstruction in NW Europe

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wilson, Graham P.

2017-10-01

Bulk organic stable carbon isotope (δ13C) and element geochemistry (total organic carbon (TOC) and organic carbon to total nitrogen (C/N)) analysis is a developing technique in Holocene relative sea-level (RSL) research. The uptake of this technique in Northern Europe is limited compared to North America, where the common existence of coastal marshes with isotopically distinctive C3 and C4 vegetation associated with well-defined inundation tolerance permits the reconstruction of RSL in the sediment record. In Northern Europe, the reduced range in δ13C values between organic matter sources in C3 estuaries can make the identification of elevation-dependent environments in the Holocene sediment record challenging and this is compounded by the potential for post-depositional alteration in bulk δ13C values. The use of contemporary regional δ13C, C/N and TOC datasets representing the range of physiographic conditions commonly encountered in coastal wetland sediment sequences opens up the potential of using absolute values of sediment geochemistry to infer depositional environments and associated reference water levels. In this paper, the application of contemporary bulk organic δ13C, C/N and TOC to reconstruct Holocene RSL is further explored. An extended contemporary regional geochemical dataset of published δ13C, C/N and TOC observations (n = 142) from tidal-dominated C3 wetland deposits (representing tidal flat, saltmarsh, reedswamp and fen carr environments) in temperate NW Europe is compiled, and procedures implemented to correct for the 13C Suess effect on contemporary δ13C are detailed. Partitioning around medoids analysis identifies two distinctive geochemical groups in the NW European dataset, with tidal flat/saltmarsh and reedswamp/fen carr environments exhibiting characteristically different sediment δ13C, C/N and TOC values. A logistic regression model is developed from the NW European dataset in order to objectively identify in the sediment record geochemical groups and, more importantly, group transitions, thus allowing the altitude of reference water levels to be determined. The application of this method in RSL research is demonstrated using the Holocene sediments of the Mersey Estuary (UK), in which δ13C, C/N and TOC variability is typical of that encountered in Holocene sediments from C3 coastal wetlands in NW Europe. Group membership was predicted with high probability in the depositional contexts studied and the accuracy of group prediction is verified by microfossil evidence. The method presented facilitates the application of δ13C, C/N and TOC analysis in RSL reconstruction studies in C3 vegetated wetlands throughout temperate NW Europe.

Inventory of forest and rangeland and detection of forest stress

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Heller, R. C.; Aldrich, R. C.; Weber, F. P.; Driscoll, R. S. (Principal Investigator)

1973-01-01

The author has identified the following significant results. At the Atlanta site (226B) it was found that bulk color composites for October 15, 1972, and April 13, 1973, can be interpreted together to disclose the location of the perennial Kudzu vine (Pyeraria lobata). Land managers concerned with Kudzu eradication could use ERTS-1 to inventory locations over 200 meters (660 feet) square. Microdensitometer data collected on ERTS-1 Bulk photographic products for the Manitou test site (226C) have shown that the 15-step gray-scale tablets are not of systematic equal values corresponding to 1/14 the maximum radiant energy incident on the MSS sensor. The gray-scale values present a third-order polynomial function rather than a direct linear relationship. Although data collected on step tablets for precision photographic products appear more discrete, the density variation within blocks in almost as great as variations between blocks. These system errors will cause problems when attempting to analyze radiometric variances among vegetation and land use classes.

Trophic position of soil nematodes in boreal forests as indicated by stable isotope analysis

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kudrin, Alexey; Tsurikov, Sergey

2016-04-01

Despite the well-developed trophic classification of soil nematodes, their position in soil food webs is still little understood. Observed deviations from the typical feeding strategy indicate that a simplified trophic classification probably does not fully reflect actual trophic interactions. Furthermore, the extent and functional significance of nematodes as prey for other soil animals remains unknown. Stable isotope analysis (SIA) is powerful tool for investigating the structure of soil food webs, but its application to the study of soil nematodes has been limited to only a few studies. We used stable isotope analysis to gain a better understanding of trophic links of several groups of soil nematodes in two boreal forests on albeluvisol. We investigated four taxonomic groups of nematodes: Mononchida, Dorylaimida, Plectidae and Tylenchidae (mostly from the genus Filenchus), that according to the conventional trophic classification represent predators, omnivores, bacterivores and root-fungal feeders, respectively. To assess the trophic position of nematodes, we used a comparison against a set of reference species including herbivorous, saprophagous and predatory macro-invertebrates, oribatid and mesostigmatid mites, and collembolans. Our results suggest that trophic position of the investigated groups of soil nematodes generally corresponds to the conventional classification. All nematodes were enriched in 13C relative to Picea abies roots and litter, and mycorrhizal fungal mycelium. Root-fungal feeders Tylenchidae had δ15N values similar to those of earthworms, enchytraeids and Entomobrya collembolans, but slightly lower δ13C values. Bacterivorous Plectidae were either equal or enriched in 15N compared with saprophagous macroinvertebrates and most mesofauna species. Omnivorous Dorylaimida and predatory Mononchida were further enriched in 15N and their isotopic signature was similar to that of predatory arthropods. These data confirm a clear separation of nematodes into saprophagous/microbial feeders (Tylenchidae and Plectidae) and predators (Mononchida and Dorylaimida). Furthermore, they suggest that Mononchida and Dorylaimida use different sources of carbon, though exact trophic links remain unclear. As a rule, nematodes were either equal or higher in δ15N values relative to most microbivorous microarthropods, contradicting an emerging view that soil nematodes can be an important prey for a wide range of oribatid mites and collembolans. Patterns of the isotopic signatures suggest that soil nematodes and the bulk of soil animals depend on resources derived from a dominating upper-canopy tree (Picea abies) via the detrital, rather than mycorrhizal pathway.

Precision and sensitivity of the measurement of 15N enrichment in D-alanine from bacterial cell walls using positive/negative ion mass spectrometry

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Tunlid, A.; Odham, G.; Findlay, R. H.; White, D. C.

1985-01-01

Sensitive detection of cellular components from specific groups of microbes can be utilized as 'signatures' in the examination of microbial consortia from soils, sediments or biofilms. Utilizing capillary gas chromatography/mass spectrometry and stereospecific derivatizing agents, D-alanine, a component localized in the prokaryotic (bacterial) cell wall, can be detected reproducibly. Enrichments of D-[15N]alanine determined in E. coli grown with [15N]ammonia can be determined with precision at 1.0 atom%. Chemical ionization with methane gas and the detection of negative ions (M - HF)- and (M - F or M + H - HF)- formed from the heptafluorobutyryl D-2 butanol ester of D-alanine allowed as little as 8 pg (90 fmol) to be detected reproducibly. This method can be utilized to define the metabolic activity in terms of 15N incorporation at the level of 10(3)-10(4) cells, as a function of the 15N-14N ratio.

Watershed-scale changes in terrestrial nitrogen cycling during a period of decreased atmospheric nitrate and sulfur deposition

USGS Publications Warehouse

Sabo, Robert D.; Scanga, Sara E.; Lawrence, Gregory B.; Nelson, David M.; Eshleman, Keith N.; Zabala, Gabriel A.; Alinea, Alexandria A.; Schirmer, Charles D.

2016-01-01

Recent reports suggest that decreases in atmospheric nitrogen (N) deposition throughout Europe and North America may have resulted in declining nitrate export in surface waters in recent decades, yet it is unknown if and how terrestrial N cycling was affected. During a period of decreased atmospheric N deposition, we assessed changes in forest N cycling by evaluating trends in tree-ring δ15N values (between 1980 and 2010; n = 20 trees per watershed), stream nitrate yields (between 2000 and 2011), and retention of atmospherically-deposited N (between 2000 and 2011) in the North and South Tributaries (North and South, respectively) of Buck Creek in the Adirondack Mountains, USA. We hypothesized that tree-ring δ15N values would decline following decreases in atmospheric N deposition (after approximately 1995), and that trends in stream nitrate export and retention of atmospherically deposited N would mirror changes in tree-ring δ15N values. Three of the six sampled tree species and the majority of individual trees showed declining linear trends in δ15N for the period 1980–2010; only two individual trees showed increasing trends in δ15N values. From 1980 to 2010, trees in the watersheds of both tributaries displayed long-term declines in tree-ring δ15N values at the watershed scale (R = −0.35 and p = 0.001 in the North and R = −0.37 and p <0.001 in the South). The decreasing δ15N trend in the North was associated with declining stream nitrate concentrations (−0.009 mg N L−1 yr−1, p = 0.02), but no change in the retention of atmospherically deposited N was observed. In contrast, nitrate yields in the South did not exhibit a trend, and the watershed became less retentive of atmospherically deposited N (−7.3% yr−1, p < 0.001). Our δ15N results indicate a change in terrestrial N availability in both watersheds prior to decreases in atmospheric N deposition, suggesting that decreased atmospheric N deposition was not the sole driver of tree-ring δ15N values at these sites. Other factors, such as decreased sulfur deposition, disturbance, long-term successional trends, and/or increasing atmospheric CO2concentrations, may also influence trends in tree-ring δ15N values. Furthermore, declines in terrestrial N availability inferred from tree-ring δ15N values do not always correspond with decreased stream nitrate export or increased retention of atmospherically deposited N.

Interpreting Precambrian δ15N: lessons from a new modern analogue, the volcanic crater lake Dziani Dzaha

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ader, M.; Cadeau, P.; Jezequel, D.; Chaduteau, C.; Fouilland, E.; Bernard, C.; Leboulanger, C.

2017-12-01

Precambrian nitrogen biogeochemistry models rely on δ15N signatures in sedimentary rocks, but some of the underlying assumptions still need to be more robustly established. Especially when measured δ15N values are above 3‰. Several processes have been proposed to explain these values: non-quantitative reduction of nitrate to N2O/N2 (denitrification), non-quantitative oxidation of ammonium to N2O/N2, or ammonia degassing to the atmosphere. The denitrification hypothesis implies oxygenation of part the water column, allowing nitrate to accumulate. The ammonium oxidation hypothesis implies a largely anoxic water column, where ammonium can accumulates, with limited oxygenation of surface waters. This hypothesis is currently lacking modern analogues to be supported. We propose here that the volcanic crater lake Dziani Dzaha (Mayotte, Indian Ocean) might be one of them, on the basis of several analogies including: permanently anoxic conditions at depth in spite of seasonal mixing; nitrate content below detection limit in the oxic surface waters; accumulation of ammonium at depth during the stratified season; primary productivity massively dominated by cyanobacteria. One aspect may restrict the analogy: the pH value of 9-9.5. In this lake, δ15N values of primary producers and ammonium range from 6 to 9‰ and are recorded with a positive offset in the sediments (9<δ15N<13‰). Because N-sources to the system present more negative δ15N values, such positive values can only be achieved if 14N-enriched N is lost from the lake. Although NH3 degassing might play a small role, the main pathway envisaged for this N-loss is NH4+ oxidation to N2O/N2. If confirmed, this would provide strong support for the hypothesis that positive δ15N values in Precambrian rocks may indicate dominantly anoxic oceans, devoid of nitrate, in which ammonium was partly oxidized to N2O/N2.

Equilibrium geometries, electronic and magnetic properties of small AunNi- (n = 1-9) clusters

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tang, Cui-Ming; Chen, Xiao-Xu; Yang, Xiang-Dong

2014-05-01

Geometrical, electronic and magnetic properties of small AunNi- (n = 1-9) clusters have been investigated based on density functional theory (DFT) at PW91P86 level. An extensive structural search shows that the relative stable structures of AunNi- (n = 1-9) clusters adopt 2D structure for n = 1-5, 7 and 3D structure for n = 6, 8-9. And the substitution of a Ni atom for an Au atom in the Au-n+1 cluster obviously changes the structure of the host cluster. Moreover, an odd-even alternation phenomenon has been found for HOMO-LUMO energy gaps, indicating that the relative stable structures of the AunNi- clusters with odd-numbered gold atoms have a higher relative stability. Finally, the natural population analysis (NPA) and the vertical detachment energies (VDE) are studied, respectively. The theoretical values of VDE are reported for the first time to our best knowledge.