Mar 30, 2007 ... Tropical forests are home to half the Earth's species, and their trees are an immense standing reservoir of carbon. Deforestation will have ...
A thermodynamic model for predicting the distribution coefficients has been developed by taking into account the extraction mechanism and the chloride complexation when Sm, Eu, Gd, Tb, Dy and Ho for single component systems are extracted from acidic chloride solutions by di-2-ethylhexyl ester in kerosene, respectively. The model equation includes two constants, of which one corresponds to the apparent extraction equilibrium constant and the other is due to the variation of the activity coefficients of organic species. These values are determined from a few experimental data by the curve fitting method. Then, the distribution coefficients under untried calculations, Bromley's formulation is used to estimate the activity coefficients of aqueous species and the interaction parameters for some rare earth chlorides are reported in terms of morality and molarity using data from Spedding et al. According to the authors the ...
The estimation of numerical values of the mean distance of closest approach of ions, a, of alkaline-earthmetal ion salts in aqueous solutions, determined from activity coefficients, as well as from different theoretical approaches, is presented and discussed.
A diffuse-reflectance capability for the Fourier transform infrared spectrometer at the Y-12 Plant Laboratory has been implemented. A sample cell with a 25 to 400/sup 0/C temperature-controlled sample stage and an ultrahigh-vacuum-to-atmospheric pressure gas-handling capability has been developed. Absorbance of light from the spectrometer beam, resulting from the beam being scattered from a powder sample, can be measured. This capability of detecting molecular species on and in powders is to be used to study chemisorption on actinide and rare-earthmetals, alloys, and compounds. Cell design is described along with experiments demonstrating its performance in detecting moisture absorption on uranium oxide, moisture and carbon dioxide absorption on the lithium hydride/hydroxide system, and carbon dioxide absorption on potassium borohydride. 13 figures.
We compare the metallicities of stars with radial velocity planets to the metallicity of a sample of field dwarfs. We confirm recent work indicating that the stars-with-planet sample as a whole is iron rich. However, the lowest mass stars tend to be iron poor, with several having [Fe/H]0.48) that contributes to but does not explain the mass-metallicity trend in the stars-with-planets sample. We use Monte Carlo models to show that adding an average of 6.5 Earth masses of iron to each star can explain both the mass-metallicity and the age-metallicity relations of the stars-with-planets sample. However, for at least one star, HD 38529, there is good evidence that the bulk metallicity is high. We conclude that the observed metallicities and metallicity trends are the result of the interaction of three ...
When a bipolar HVDC transmission system is operating monopolar using the earth as a return path, it is often desired to divert the return current from the earth to the line from the unused pole. To do so requires either that the system be shut down temporarily or that a dc circuit breaker be used. This paper describes the development of such a new dc circuit breaker, and its application on the Pacific Intertie as a Metallic Return Transfer Breaker (MRTB).
Fractionation of isotopes of the alkali metals and the alkaline earthmetals in ion exchange chromatography of their chlorides was studied. The heavier isotopes of potassium and rubidium were found to be preferentially fractionated into the ion exchanger phase while the lighter isotopes of lithium, magnesium, calcium and strontium were enriched in the exchanger phase. This can be interpreted as a resultant of the relative significance of isotope effect upon dehydration and isotope effect accompanying the phase change of the hydrated metal ion. Found was no evidence of anomalous isotope effect attributable to the odd-even difference in mass number of isotopes. Based on the spectroscopic and solution chemical data (experimental and theoretical), the isotopic reduced partition function ratios of the hydrated alkaline metal ions and stretching force constants of ...
Wildlife Monitoring System Schematic .......................... 40 ...... sentinel species - healthy fish are placed in an environment of water (where they arc not .... The way ir! which data for the fnre mdor study groups will be gathered tor managciacilt ...... Earth Resources Aircraft Program (ERAP) Camera ...
This patent describes a process for preparing poly(aryl ether ketones) by nucleophilic displacement polymerization in the presence of at least one alkali metal base selected from potassium, rubidium or cesium, and fluoride ions, which comprises adding to the polymerization: (a) an effective amount of at least one metal salt selected from lithium, sodium, alkaline earth or lanthanide chloride, bromide, iodide, sulfate, alkyl or aryl carboxylate, cyanide, borate or phosphate to slow or stop advancement of molecular weight and (b) an end-capping agent.
Uranium dendrites which were deposited at a solid cathode of an electrorefiner contained a certain amount of salts. These salts should be removed for the recovery of pure metal using a cathode processor. In the uranium deposits from the electrorefining process, there are actinide chlorides and rare earth chlorides in addition to uranium chloride in the LiCl-KCl eutectic salt. The evaporation behaviors of the actinides and rare earth chlorides in the salts should be investigated for the removal of salts in the deposits. Experiments on the salt evaporation of rare earth chlorides in a LiCl-KCl eutectic salt were carried out. Though the vapor pressures of the rare earth chlorides were lower than those of the LiCl and KCl, the rare earth chlorides were co-evaporized with the LiCl-KCl eutectic salt. The Hertz-Langmuir relation was applied for this evaporation, and ...
Aluminium is an abundant metal consisting about 8 per cent of the earth's crust. It has long been considered as essentially nontoxic and nonabsorbable from the gastrointestinal tract. More recent studies have, however, due to better analytical capabilitie...
We discuss how magnetic phenomena affect superconductivity in simple metals, transition metals and alloys thereof, and dilute Rare-Earth alloys. It is shown both qualitatively and quantitatively that superconductors are sensitive probes for studying itinerant spin excitations, local spin excitations associated with nearly magnetic impurities, the effect of the atomic environment on the stability of local magnetic moments, and the nature of the spin order in Rare-Earth alloys. Also, we discuss how magnetic impurities can be used to study the electronic configuration which is responsible for superconductivity in Laves-phase crystals like A-15 compounds and ..beta..-W crystals, for example.
World demand for rare-earth elements and the metal yttrium?which are crucial for novel electronic equipment and green-energy technologies?is increasing rapidly. Several types of seafloor sediment harbour high concentrations of these elements. However, seafloor sediments have not been regarded as a rare-earth element and yttrium resource, because data on the spatial distribution of these deposits are insufficient. Here, we report measurements of the elemental composition of over 2,000 seafloor sediments, sampled at depth intervals of around one metre, at 78 sites that cover a large part of the Pacific Ocean. We show that deep-sea mud contains high concentrations of rare-earth elements and yttrium at numerous sites throughout the eastern South and central North Pacific. We estimate that an a...
The biological accumulation of heavy metals and cesium, strontium, and uranium in plants is discussed. The role of nutrient deficiencies and foliar treatments of manganese and iron compounds is described.
Two transition metal ions (Cu^2^+ and Co^2^+) and two rare earthmetal ions (Ce^3^+ and La^3^+) were used as the assisted metal ions, respectively to prepare the transition metal and rare metal assisted Fe bimetallic amidoximated polyacrylonitrile (AO-PAN) fiber complexes. And their coordination configuration and visible light adsorption properties were examined by coordination number determination and UV-vis-DRS. Then the catalytic performance of these complexes was evaluated as the heterogeneous Fenton catalysts in Rhodamine B degradation by changing the nature and dosage of the assisted ions added. The results indicated that the incorporation of the assisted metal ions led to Fe bimetallic AO-PAN complexes with the more unsaturated configurations than Fe monometallic AO-PAN complex due ...
The desire to study negative ion structure and negative ion-photon interactions has spurred the development of ion sources for use in research and industry. The many different types of negative ion sources available today differ in their characteristics and abilities to produce anions of various species. Thus the importance of choosing the correct type of negative ion source for a particular research or industrial application is clear. In this study, the results of an investigation on the production of beams composed of negatively-charged rare-earth ions from a cylindrical-cathode-geometry, cesium-sputter-type negative ion source are presented. Beams of atomic anions have been observed for most of the first-row rare-earth elements, with typical currents ranging from hundreds of picoamps to several nanoamps.
The effect of small misch metal additions (0.25 to 1 wt.%) on the corrosion behaviour of aluminium was studied through electrochemical polarization in 0.1 N inorganic and organic acids at room temperature. It has been observed that rare earth addition improves the corrosion resistance of aluminium. (orig.).
Metal iodates with a lone-pair containing I(V) that is in an asymmetric coordination geometry can form a diversity of unusual structures and many of them are promising new second homonic generation (SHG) materials. They exhibit wide transparency wavelength regions, large SHG coefficients and high optical-damage thresholds as well as moderately high thermal stability. In this paper, the structures and properties of the metal iodates are reviewed. The combination of d0 transition-metal cations with the iodate groups afforded a large number of metal iodates, with cations covering alkali metal, alkaline earth and lanthanide elements. Many of them are noncentrosymmetric (NCS) and display excellent SHG properties due to the additive effects of polarizations from both types of the asymmetric unit...
Thlaspi caerulescens is a heavy metal hyperaccumulator plant species that is able to accumulate extremely high levels of zinc (Zn) and cadmium (Cd) in its shoots (30,000 μg...Full Text Available
Based on results from recent studies of elemental dietary intake and organ or tissue content for adult Chinese men, quoted nationwide elemental concentrations in Chinese soil and newly published national average consumption of dietary foods, values of both transfer coefficients and discrimination factor (DF) for transfer from soil via the diet to both critical organs and the whole body have been calculated for important elements in radiation protection, including alkaline earths, alkali metals, rare earths and other related elements. These calculations have used both the United Nations Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation (UNSCEAR) model and the DF method. In the UNSCEAR model, the basic parameters used to describe the transport of radionuclides are the transfer coefficients P_i_j, which describe the relationship of concentrations or other amounts between compartment i and the following compartment j, ...
Pulse radiolysis was used to examine the nature of the silver species obtained when an aqueous solution containing sequestered Ag"+ ions was reduced by hydrated electrons in the presence of a surfactant macrocyclic crown ether, labeled L, and/or a maltoside surfactant. The initially formed product is the Ag"0(L) species which rapidly loses its ligand (half-life #<=#5 #mu#s) and reacts with another Ag"+(L) ion to form Ag_2"+(L). The latter species decays by a bimolecular process to form the Ag_4"2"+(L)_n species at a faster rate than its ligand free analogue. Ultimately, colloidal metallic silver, (Ag)_n, forms which is stabilized by the surfactant moieties. No long-term stability to the reduced monomolecular species could be obtained.
A small scale biomass metal contacting experiment was performed to screen the optimal plant species for biosorption and bioaccumulation of cadmium, zinc, nickel, lead, and copper. Experiments were also conducted to test the ability of the biomass to lower the metal concentrations below the US Environmental Protection Agency surface water discharge criteria. The minimum residual concentration was 0.1 mg/L for zinc, 0.004 mg/L for lead, and about 0.01 mg/L for cadmium, nickel, and lead. Results indicate that water milfoil can be used for bioremoval of metals.
... being reported (Kisseberth et al., 1984; Ma, 1989; Shore and Douben, 1994). Small mammals are useful indicator species because they have relatively small home ranges allowing a direct tie to the source of ...
The electrokinetic patterns of four bacterial species (Bacillus subtilis, Bacillus megaterium, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Agrobacterium radiobacter), two yeasts (Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Candida...Full Text Available
Improvements in critical current capacity for superconducting film structures are disclosed and include the use of a superconducting RE-BCO layer including a mixture of rare earthmetals, e.g., yttrium and europium, where the ratio of yttrium to europium in the RE-BCO layer ranges from about 3 to 1 to from about 1.5 to 1.
Interfacial tension in the system toluene solution of di-2-ethylhexylphosphoric acid HDEHP-aqueous solutions of inorganic salts has been measured by the drop volume method. The ion-exchange constants in the monolayers formed by HDEHP and alkaline-earthmetals have been measured.
The Spratly Islands constitute one of the earth's most ecologically significant areas, hosting a high diversity of marine species, providing critical habitats for endangered species, and providing marine larvae to reestablish depleted stocks among the heavily overfished and degraded coastal ecosystems of the South China Sea. Territorial disputes have led to the establishment of environmentally destructive, socially and economically costly military outposts on many of the islands. Given the rapid proliferation of international peace parks around the world, it is time to take positive steps toward the establishment of a Spratly Islands Marine Peace Park. Its purpose would be to manage the area's natural resources and alleviate regional tensions via a freeze on claims and claim supportive act...
Forensic signatures are present in any Pu sample that can determine the sample`s origin: isotopic ratio of Pu, progeny species that grow into the sample, and contaminant species left over from incomplete purification of the Pu in fuel reprocessing. In the context of intelligence information, this can result in attribution of responsibility for the product of clandestine proliferant operations or material smuggled from existing stockpiles. A list of signature elements and what can be determined from them have been developed. Work needs to be done in converting concentrations of signature species into a quantitative forensic analysis, particularly in regard to reactor performance, but this should require only a small effort. A radiochemical analysis scheme has been developed for measuring these nuclides; more work is needed, particularly for determining fission product concentrations. A sample of Pu metal ...
Full text of publication follows: Stable aqueous sulfur species are mainly sulfide (H{sub 2}S) and sulfate (SO{sub 4}{sup 2-}) ions. However, several sulfoxy-anions may be detected as metastable anions in natural environment, as typically thiosulfate (S{sub 2}O{sub 3}{sup 2-}) and sulfite (SO{sub 3}{sup 2-}) ions [1]. In natural systems, uranium speciation and migration are mainly governed by carbonate complexes in non reducing conditions. Whereas sulfate is already known as a complexing agent of actinides, data relating to U-SO{sub 3}{sup 2-} and U-S{sub 2}O{sub 3}{sup 2-} complexes have only been proposed for U(VI) [2], but are usually not included in thermodynamic databases [3]. Therefore, it appears to be relevant to determine complexation constants of actinides with sulfur ligands, for RN migration studies, concerning nuclear waste disposal as well as migration behaviour in the geosphere. In the present study, values have been estimated for the first ...
The green mussel Perna viridis and the clam Ruditapes philippinarum have been frequently used as biomonitors of coastal contamination in subtropical and tropical waters, yet the physiological processes controlling metal uptake in these bivalves are unknown. Assimilation efficiency (AE) is an important physiological parameter quantifying metal bioavailability from ingested food. The authors determined the AEs of Cd, CR, and Zn in these bivalves feeding on five species of phytoplankton and one natural section. The influences of the cytoplasmic distribution of metals in the algal cells and the digestive physiology of bivalves on metal AEs were also examined. Among the three metals, Zn was generally assimilated at the highest efficiency, i.e., 21 to 36% in the mussels and 29 to 59% in the clams. Cr was the least assimilated metal, with AEs being ...
Three new rare earthmetal-rich compounds, Gd_4NiTe_2, and Er_5M_2Te_2 (M=Ni, Co), were synthesized in direct reactions using R, R_3M, and R_2Te_3 (R=Gd, Er; M=Co, Ni) and single-crystal structures were determined. Gd_4NiTe_2 is orthorhombic and crystallizes in space group Pnma with four formula units per cell. Lattice parameters at 110(2)K are a=15.548(9), b=4.113(2), c=11.7521(15)A. Er_5Ni_2Te_2 and Er_5Co_2Te_2 are isostructural and crystallize in the orthorhombic space group Cmcm with two formula units per cell. Lattice parameters at 110(2)K are a=3.934(1), b=14.811(4), c=14.709(4)A, and a=3.898(1), b=14.920(3), c=14.889(3)A, respectively. Metal-metal bonding correlations were analyzed using the empirical Pauling bond order concept.
I propose that an interpretation of the interaction of noble gas atoms with metal surfaces as predominantly physisorbing provides the best explanation for the systematics of their binding energies and surface dipoles, as well as for the tendency of noble gas atoms to bind in low coordinated sites. In the present context physisorption is defined as a process driven by the overlap of the electrostatic atomic potentials of the interacting species. (orig.)
Motivated by the discovery of superconductivity in alkali and alkaline earth fullerides, this program was undertaken both to understand the nature of and expand the range of materials demonstrating superconductivity. The first approach involved attempts to modify the fullerene cage by incorporating heteroatoms in the structure and the preparation and photophysical properties of nitrogen and sulfur doped fullerenes were studied in detail. The second approach involved examining the stoichiometry and effect of preparative conditions on the behavior of alkali, alkaline earth, lanthanide and mixed ion fullerides. In particular, the authors have elaborated on a technique for making such salts using liquid ammonia or aliphatic amines as solvents. Thirdly, modeling studies were undertaken to predict the properties of heterohedral fullerines and metal - C60 complexes, and theoretical guidelines were developed for understanding the ...
Zirconium is a transition element located along with sister elements titanium and hafnium in Group IVB of the periodic table. It is grayish white metal, with a density somewhat less than carbon steel. Zirconium is the ninth most common metallic element in the earth's crust, and is more abundant than zinc, lead, nickel, or even copper. Zirconium is exceptionally resistant to corrosion by many common acids and alkalis. It is resistant to most organic acids, such as formic, acetic, lactic, and oxalic acids. It also has a high resistance to localized forms of corrosion, such as pitting, crevice corrosion, and stress corrosion cracking. Its corrosion resistance is caused by the formation of a dense, tenaciously adherent, chemically inert oxide film on the surface. This oxide film protects the base metal from both chemical and mechanical attack at temperatures up to about 400 C (750 F). This article describes ...
The crystal structure of Ca{sub 2}RuD{sub 6} has been determined by neutron powder diffraction: space group Fm3m, K{sub 2}PtCl{sub 6} structure, as found for other hexahydride salts of group 8 metals with alkaline earth or lanthanide counter ions. No structural phase transition was observed between 340 K and 50 K. The deuterium nuclear quadrupole coupling constant, 54.7 kHz, leads to an ionic character of the Ru-D bond of 76%. The known trends in the behaviour of A{sub 2}MH{sub 6} salts are interpreted in terms of the ionization energies of the cation and the central metal atom.
The crystal structure of Ca2RuD6 has been determined by neutron powder diffraction: space group Fm3m, K2PtCl6 structure, as found for other hexahydride salts of group 8 metals with alkaline earth or lanthanide counter ions. No structural phase transition was observed between 340K and 50K. The deuterium nuclear quadrupole coupling constant, 54.7kHz, leads to an ionic character of the Ru-D bond of 76%. The known trends in the behaviour of A2MH6 salts are interpreted in terms of the ionization energies of the cation and the central metal atom.
Silicon nitride-based ceramics behavior is strongly influenced by microstructural parameters, which, in turn are determined by chosen densification method. Highly covalent Si-N bond hind are the silicon nitride densification. Therefore, metal oxides are used in order to get high density. However, such oxides must be carefully selected, because they affect the general macroscopic properties of sintered bodies. In the present work, the viability of rare earth concentrate use to produce #beta#--Si_6_-_xAl_xO_xN_8_-_x and its effect on mechanical properties of the sintering ceramics are studied. Additive composition, heating rate, soaking time and sintering temperature were took as variables. Hardness, fracture toughness, Young's modulus and flexural strength were investigated. Lattice parameter compositional dependence and secondary phases crystallized after past-sintering heat treatment were also determined. The results show that rare ...
In situ spectroscopic ellipsometry was employed to investigate the initial regime of rare earthmetal (REM) conversion coatings formation on AZ31 magnesium alloy. Three REM salts solutions, 0.05 mol.dm"-"3 Ce(NO_3)_3, La(NO)_3 and Sm(NO)_3 solutions, were used for REM conversion coatings preparation. By deconvoluting the ellipsometric data, the surface of the fresh well-polished AZ31 magnesium alloy was found to be covered with 15.80 nm thick native (hydr)oxide film; the refractive indices and the thickness of Ce, La and Sm conversion coatings were obtained. The formation kinetics of three REM coatings follows different exponential functions and the coatings exhibit different optical properties. La conversion coating has the largest n values and the lowest k values while Sm conversion coating is just opposite. Moreover, the pH variation of the bulk conversion solutions upon the coatings formation was recorded. It is confirmed that the reduction ...
The desorption of uranium from the granular titanium-activated carbon composite adsorbent (concentration of uranium: 25.5 mg/l-Ad), which adsorbed uranium from natural sea water, was examined by the column process with acidic eluent at room temperature. The column operation was able to be carried out without destruction of the granular adsorbent by the generation of the carbon dioxide, and free from disturbance of the eluent flow by precipitate of calcium sulfate dihydrate with sulfuric acid eluent. The amount of acid consumption by the adsorbent was 0.87 eq/l-Ad. The alkaline earthmetals were eluted in the range of elution volume below 2l/l-Ad, whereas uranium, iron, and titanium were eluted above 2l/l-Ad. Therefore, uranium was separable from the alkaline earthmetals which were adsorbed in the most quantity in the adsorbent. In the range of elution volume 2 to 12l/l-Ad, the percentage of desorbed ...
A new coumarin-based sensor molecule (L1) has been synthesized and this was found to bind calcium and magnesium ions more effectively as compared to other alkali/alkaline earth/lanthanide and certain transition metal ions. A significant enhancement in fluorescence intensity was observed on binding to Ca2+ and Mg2+ ions; while a minor quenching was observed for weakly bound Hg2+, Ni2+, Fe3+, and Co2+ ions. PET process, coupled with the ICT process, is proposed to explain the observed spectral response.
Lithium was selectively extracted from near-neutral aqueous solutions of alkali metal salts. The mechanism by which this was achieved involves the formation of the trioctylphosphine oxide adduct of a lithium chelate of a fluorinated #beta#-diketone, which is then readily extractable into an organic diluent. High separation factors were obtained from sodium, potassium, rubidium, and cesium. The selectivity of the fluorinated #beta#-diketones for lithium over the alkaline earths was found to be poor. A suggested general flowsheet for the recovery of lithium from a salt brine concentrate is included. (author).
This work studied the effect of the nature of the metal on the performance of Co/CeO{sub 2}, Pd/CeO{sub 2} and Pt/CeO{sub 2} catalysts in the partial oxidation of ethanol. Infrared spectroscopy of adsorbed ethanol and temperature programmed desorption of ethanol were performed in order to establish the reaction mechanism. Catalytic experiments revealed that the product distribution is strongly affected by the nature of the metal. Acetaldehyde was practically the only product formed on a Co/CeO{sub 2} catalyst while methane was also produced on Pt/CeO{sub 2} and Pd/CeO{sub 2} catalysts. These results were explained through a reaction mechanism proposed by the characterization techniques. Co/CeO{sub 2} and Pt/CeO{sub 2} catalysts show mainly ethoxy species at room temperature whereas acetate species is mainly formed on the Pd/CeO{sub 2} catalyst. The ethoxy species can undergo further ...
Metal nanoparticles have many potential technological applications. Biological routes to the synthesis of these particles have been proposed including production by vascular plants, known as phytoextraction. While many studies have looked at metal uptake by plants, particularly with regard to phytoremediation and hyperaccumulation, few have distinguished between metal deposition and metal salt accumulation. This work describes the uptake of AgNO{sub 3}, Na{sub 3}Ag(S{sub 2}O{sub 3}){sub 2}, and Ag(NH{sub 3}){sub 2}NO{sub 3} solutions by hydroponically grown Brassica juncea and the quantitative measurement of the conversion of these salts to silver metal nanoparticles. Using X-ray absorption near edge spectroscopy (XANES) to determine the metal speciation within the plants, combined with atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS) for total Ag, the quantity of reduction ...
We study spectroscopically determined iron abundances of 642 solar-type stars to search for the signature of accreted iron-rich material. We find that the metallicity [Fe/H] of a subset of 466 main sequence stars, when plotted as a function of stellar mass, mimics the pattern seen in lithium abundances in open clusters. Using Monte Carlo models we find that, on average, these stars have accreted about 0.4 Earth masses of iron while on the main sequence. A much smaller sample of 19 stars in the Hertzsprung gap, which are slightly evolved and whose convection zones are significantly more massive, have lower average [Fe/H], and their metallicity shows no clear variation with stellar mass. These findings suggest that terrestrial-type material is common around solar type stars.
In recent years, the influences of acid rain such as the acidification of lake water, on bio-system by the heavy metals from effluent of soils with acid rain and also on the structural materials of buildings are seriously discussed. Sulfur and nitrogen that are contained in fossil fuels are released into the atmosphere by the fuel combustion as their oxides dissolve in rain drops as sulfite and nitrous ions, where they are further oxidized into sulfate and nitrate ions These ions lower the pH of rain water resulting so-called acid rain. Therefore, it is important to accurately determine these ions in rain water for the investigation of reality of acid rain. However, it is not easy to accurately determine these ions, especially for sulfite ions in rain water, since they are quickly oxidized by the catalytic action of metallic ions such as ferric and manganous ions. And light, temperature, pH of solution and also species and ...
'The objective of this project is to provide a means to optimize ligand architecture for f-block metal recognition. The authors strategy builds on an innovative and successful molecular modeling approach in developing polyether ligand design criteria for the alkali and alkaline earth cations. The hypothesis underlying this proposal is that differences in metal ion binding with multidentate ligands bearing the same number and type of donor groups are primarily attributable to intramolecular steric factors. They propose quantifying these steric factors through the application of molecular mechanics models. The research involves close integration of theoretical and experimental chemistry. The experimental work entails synthesizing novel ligands and experimentally determining structures and binding constants for metal ion complexation by series of ligands in which architecture is systematically ...
The work in the past year has primarily involved four areas of magnetic thin films: amorphous rare earth-transition metal alloys, epitaxial CoPt{sub 3} and Ni-Pt alloy thin films, amorphous rare earth doped Si (a new class of dilute magnetic semiconductor with large negative magnetoresistance which the authors have discovered), and exchange-coupled antiferromagnetic insulators. In the amorphous alloys, they made a systematic study of the effects of local anisotropy, macroscopic (perpendicular) anisotropy, and exchange constant on the fundamental (and practical) properties of these magnetic alloys, as originally described in the grant proposal. The work on the epitaxial Co-Pt (and more recently Ni-Pt) alloys was originally undertaken as a comparison study to the amorphous alloys. Crystalline Co-Pt alloys have many striking similarities to the amorphous rare earth-transition metal ...
A process for the extraction of tervalent metal cations from 3 M HNO[sub 3] highly radioactive waste based on synergetic mixtures of dicarbollide with neutral organophosphonate (dibutyl diethylcarbamoylmethylene phosphonate) is proposed. Due to the great hydrophobicity of dicarbollide anion, the species ML[sub n[sup 3+
Over the past several years, the Livermore Forensic Science Center has conducted analyses of nuclear-related samples in conjunction with domestic and international criminal investigations. Law enforcement officials have sought conventional and nuclear-forensic analyses of questioned specimens that have typically consisted of miscellaneous metalspecies or actinide salts. The investigated activities have included nuclear smuggling and the proliferation of alleged fissionable materials, nonradioactive hoaxes such as 'Red Mercury', and the interdiction of illegal laboratories engaged in methamphetamine synthesis. (author)
The object of this paper is to show how the profile of metal concentration in the soil near bone from archaeological sites can be used, along with the appropriate mathematical model, to extract transport parameters. These parameters can then be used to predict long-term migration rates of chemical species associated with the burial of hazardous wastes in similar environmental settings.
The increased demand for renewable energy sources has led to large areas of former agricultural land being proposed for short rotation coppice (SRC) establishment. Concerns expressed over the potential impacts of tree roots on buried archaeological evidence led to a study into the rooting habit of SRC. Roots were exposed in trenches dug within a variety of willow and poplar clonal stands grown on brown earth, pelosol, ground-water gley and surface-water gley soils. Root depths and diameters were recorded in each of the 33 trenches. In total, over 18,000 roots were measured on 264 coppice stools. The rotation length, species and stool location within a block were all found to influence the maximum size of root produced. Soil type had some influence on the root number and depth, but the pattern of root distribution down the soil profile was similar for both species. (author)
The use of cement based systems for solidification and stabilization of hazardous wastes has been proposed. The stabilization of Cr contaminated paint removal wastes in ordinary Portland cement and in a Portland cement and blast furnace slag matrix was investigated. A loading by volume of 75% waste and 25% cement (or cement + slag) was used. The expression of pore solution was utilized to determine the chemical environment encountered by the waste species in the cement matrix. The highly alkaline conditions of ordinary Portland cement determined the stability of the metalspecies, with Cr being highly soluble. The replacement of 25% of the Portland cement by blast furnace slag was found to decrease the [OH-] of the pore solution resulting in a decrease of the Cr concentration. For cement wastes forms hydrated for 28 days, the Cr concentration decreased in the expressed pore solution. During the TCLP tests the cement waste ...
Case studies of natural wetlands for treating mine drainage are described. Most of the sites are in northern Canada. The natural wetlands examined suggest that constructed wetlands are a viable option for the passive treatment of mine drainage. Natural wetlands retain many metals, and many species of plants are represented in them. Processes for metal removal include sorption onto organic matter, hydrolysis, and reduction. The results show that wetlands need not be based on cattails to be effective, and that passive mine drainage treatment is feasible in northern regions. Few examples are available of constructed wetlands for treating metal mine drainage. It is concluded that the limitations of constructed wetlands are found not in the wetlands, but in information about them. 37 refs., 1 fig., 2 tabs.
Some acylhydrazine derived ONO donor Schiff bases and their Co(II) and Ni(II) complexes have been prepared having the same metal ion (cation) but different anions. These synthesized metal(II) complexes have been characterized on the basis of their elemental analyses, magnetic moment, molar conductance, and IR and electronic spectral data. All of the Schiff base ligands function as tridentates and the deprotonated enolic form is preferred for coordination. In order to evaluate the effect of anions on the bactericidal activity, these synthesized complexes, in comparison to the uncomplexed Schiff bases have been screened against bacterial species., Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa and the results are reported. PMID:18475936
A technique of producing radioactive isotopes of rare earth elements (r.e.e.) and carrier free "2"4"2Am is suggested. The technique makes use of ''sandwich'' phthalocya=- nine complexes of r.e.e. and americium placed on sorbent. This is a new type of r.e.e. compounds and actinides (C_3_2H_1_6N_8)_2M (M is a metal ion) which are thermally, radiationally and chemically stable, dissolve well in some organic solvents and do not dissolve in water. Radiation and chemically stable activated carbon is used as a sorbent carrier. After irradiation the target is treated by a weakly acid solution or complex-former solution. Radioactive atoms formed due to (n, #gamma#)-reaction and desoleting the complex because of recoil transfer into the solution. When irradiating in the flux of 10"1"3 neutr./cm"2 x s for 1 hour it is possible to produce radioactive isotopes with the yield from 20 to 90%, for example "1"6"0Tb, "1"6"6Ho with enrichment factor > 100 and ...
The partitioning of transuranium elements (TRUs) from high-level liquid waste (HLLW) through the use of pyrometallurgical technology has been underway since 1986, for the purpose of the improving the safety and public acceptance of the disposal of high-level vitrified waste. Prior to the pyrometallurgical partitioning process, the alkali metals can be separated at the denitration process for oxide conversion of HLLW, chlorination in a chloride salt bath can be used to effectively convert oxides to chlorides, and evaporated chlorides can be captured with high efficiency in another adopted chloride salt bath. The higher separation factors between actinides and rare earths are obtained in a LiCl-KCl/Bi system than in a LiCl-KCl/Cd system. Based on the results, we propose a practical process flow for partitioning TRUs from HLLW by pyrometallurgical technology. This process was demonstrated successfully using simulated purex waste. Each element of ...
A stellar evolution computer model has been used to determine changes in the luminosity L and effective temperature T(e) of single stars during their time on the main sequence. The range of stellar masses investigated was from 0.5 to 1.5 times that of the Sun, each with a mass fraction of metals (metallicity, Z) from 0.008 to 0.05. The extent of each star's habitable zone (HZ) has been determined from its values of L and T(e). These stars form a reference framework for other main sequence stars. All of the 104 main sequence stars known to have one or more giant planets have been matched to their nearest stellar counterpart in the framework, in terms of mass and metallicity, hence closely approximating their HZ limits. The limits of HZ, for each of these stars, have been compared to its giant planet(s)'s range of strong gravitational influence. This allows a quick assessment as to whether Earth-mass ...
Three new rare earthmetal-rich compounds, Gd_6MTe_2 (M=Co, Ni) and Er_6RuTe_2, were synthesized in direct reactions between the R, R_3M, and R_2Te_3 (R=Gd, Er, M=Co, Ni, Ru). These materials all adopt the same Zr_6CoAl_2 structure type with space group P6-bar 2m (No. 189, Z=1). Single crystal structures of Gd_6CoTe_2 and Er_6RuTe_2 were determined and lattice parameters are a=b=8.3799(5), c=3.9801(4) A, and a=b=8.1473(5) A, c=3.9962(4) A, respectively. Gd_6NiTe_2 was characterized by X-ray powder diffraction; lattice parameters are a=b=8.412(2), c=3.9577(9) A. Metal-metal bonding correlations were analyzed using the empirical Pauling bond order concept.
A process is described for the selective oxidation of ammonia to nitric oxide in about 90% or greater yield with a minimum of nitrogen or dinitrogen oxide (N/sub 2/O) as by-products, comprising: (1) contacting gaseous ammonia in an oxygen containing gas optionally with an inert gaseous diluent with a mixed metal perovskite catalyst of the general formula: ABO/sub 3/, wherein: A is selected from the alkali, alkaline earth, lanthanide, or actinide metals or a mixture of these metals having a relatively large ionic, radius, and B is selected from an element or a combination of elements selected from Groups IB, IVB, VB, VIB, VIIB, or VIII of the Periodic Table, wherein the perovskite phase of the catalyst has an equilibrium partial pressure of oxygen at 1000/sup 0/C of greater than about 10/sup -15/ bar; and (2) heating the reactants of step (1) at greater than about 500/sup 0/C under conditions of 10 to ...
A process is described for the selective oxidation of ammonia to nitric oxide in about 90% or greater yield with a minimum of nitrogen or dinitrogen oxide (N/sub 2/O) as by-products, comprising: (1) contacting gaseous ammonia in an oxygen containing gas optionally with an inert gaseous diluent with a mixed metal perovskite catalyst of the general formula: ABO/sub 3/, wherein: A is selected from the alkali, alkaline earth, lanthanide, or actinide metals or a mixture of these metals having a relatively large ionic, radius, and B is selected from an element or a combination of elements selected from Groups IB, IVB, VB, VIB, VIIB, or VIII of the Periodic Table, wherein the perovskite phase of the catalyst has an equilibrium partial pressure of oxygen at 1000"0C of greater than about 10/sup -15/ bar; and (2) heating the reactants of step (1) at greater than about 500"0C under conditions of 10 to 100,000 ...
In order to effectively recover uranium, rotation speed of solid cathode was examined, and effect of uranium concentration and current density on electrodeposition were confirmed. And the potentiostatic and galvanostatic electrorefining experiments were conducted. Element used in the experiments were Zr, Nd, La chlorides. The reduction potentials of chlorides metals on liquid Cd cathode were measured by cyclic voltammetry experiments. The electrowinning experiments were performed in order to recover small amounts of uranium in salt. Experimental set-up for the batch type reductive extraction experiments were developed and installed. On the base of experimental results of batch type, multi-stage extraction equipment was set-up, and optimum number of stage and recover yield were measured. In the oxidative extraction study is examine selective separation behavior of the rare earthmetals from alloy composed of actinide and ...
Borohydrides such as LiBH{sub 4} have been studied as candidates for hydrogen storage because of their high hydrogen contents (18.4 wt% for LiBH{sub 4}). Limited success has been made in reducing the dehydrogenation temperature by adding reactants such as metals, metal oxides and metal halides. However, full rehydrogenation has not been realized because of multi-step decomposition processes and the stable intermediate species produced. It is suggested that adding second cation in LiBH{sub 4} may reduce the binding energy of B-H. The second cation may also provide the pathway for full rehydrogenation. In this work, several bimetallic borohydrides were synthesized using wet chemistry, high pressure reactive ball milling and sintering processes. The investigation found that the thermodynamic stability was reduced, but the full rehydrogenation is still a challenge. Although our experiments show the partial ...
The rare earthmetal rich compounds RE4NiMg (RE=Y, Pr-Nd, Sm, Gd-Tm, Lu) were synthesized from the elements in sealed tantalum tubes in an induction furnace. All compounds were investigated by X-ray diffraction on powders and single crystals: Gd4RhIn type, space group F4-bar 3m, Z=16, a=1367.6(2) pm for Y4NiMg, a=1403.7(3) pm for Pr4NiMg, a=1400.7(1) pm for Nd4NiMg, a=1386.5(2) pm for Sm4NiMg, a=1376.1(2) pm for Gd4NiMg, a=1362.1(1) pm for Tb4NiMg, a=1355.1(2) pm for Dy4NiMg, a=1355.2(1) pm for Ho4NiMg, a=1354.3(2) pm for Er4NiMg, a=1342.9(3) pm for Tm4NiMg, and a=1336.7(3) pm for Lu4NiMg. The nickel atoms have trigonal prismatic rare earth coordination. These NiRE6 prisms are condensed via common edges to a three-dimensional network which leaves voids for Mg4 tetrahedra and the RE1 atoms which show only weak coordination to the nickel atoms. The single crystal data indicate two kinds of solid solutions. The RE1 positions ...
The role of macroinvertebrates and diatoms as indicator for metal pollution was investigated by assessing both biota along a metal gradient in the Belgian river the Dommel. Macroinvertebrates and diatoms were sampled in summer and winter and physical-chemical characteristics of the water were measured at four different sample periods and related to sediment characteristics. Although metal concentrations, except cadmium, in the water nowhere exceeded water quality standards, high metal concentrations were measured in the sediment, indicating historical contamination of the Dommel. At the sites that were situated downstream of the pollution source, high levels of conductivity and chloride were measured in the water. Redundancy Analysis (RDA) indicated pH, phosphate and zinc as the significant environmental variables explaining each respectively 7.7%, 11.6% and 22.6% of the macroinvertebrate community ...
Only within the past decade has the potential of metal biosorption by biomass materials been well established. For economic reasons, of particular interest are abundant biomass types generated as a waste byproduct of large-scale industrial fermentations or certain metal-binding algae found in large quantities in the sea. These biomass types serve as a basis for newly developed metal biosorption processes foreseen particularly as a very competitive means for the detoxification of metal-bearing industrial effluents. The assessment of the metal-building capacity of some new biosorbents is discussed. Lead and cadmium, for instance, have been effectively removed from very dilute solutions by the dried biomass of some ubiquitous species of brown marine algae such as Ascophyllum and Sargassum, which accumulate more than 30% of biomass dry weight in the ...
A procedure was developed for separating rubidium from irradiated aluminum encapsulated uranium. The separations procedure produces a final ultra-high purity RbCl product for subsequent high performance mass spectrometric analysis. The procedure involves first removing most of the macro-components and fission products by strong base anion exchange using, first, concentrated HCl, then oxalic acid media and second, selectively separating rubidium from alkaline-earth ions and other alkali-metal ions, including cesium, using Bio-Rex-40 cation-exchange resin. The resultant RbCl is then put through a final vacuum sublimation step. Ultra-pure reagents and specially clean glassware are used throughout the procedure to minimize contamination by naturally-occurring rubidium.
A procedure was developed for separating rubidium from irradiated aluminum encapsulated uranium. The separations procedure produces a final ultra-high purity RbCl product for subsequent high performance mass spectrometric analysis. The procedure involves first removing most of the macro-components and fission products by strong base anion exchange using, first, concentrated HCl, then oxalic acid media and second, selectively separating rubidium from alkaline-earth ions and other alkali-metal ions, including cesium, using Bio-Rex-40 cation-exchange resin. The resultant RbCl is then put through a final vacuum sublimation step. Ultra-pure reagents and specially clean glassware are used throughout the procedure to minimize contamination by naturally-occurring rubidium.
Many important advances in the physics of strongly correlated electron systems have been driven by the development of new materials: for instance the filled skutterudites Formula Not Shown ( Formula Not Shown metal, alkaline earth, lanthanide, or actinide; Formula Not Shown , Ru, or Os; Formula Not Shown , As, or Sb), certain lanthanide and actinide intermetallic compounds such as Formula Not Shown and Formula Not Shown ( Formula Not Shown , Rh, or Ir), and layered oxypnictides and related materials. These types of complex multinary d- and f-electron compounds have proven to be a vast reservoir of novel strongly correlated electron ground states and phenomena. In these materials, the occurrence of such a wide range of ground states and phenomena arises from a delicate interplay between com...
The basic Quality Assurance Program Requirements standard for the National Waste Terminal Storage Program has been developed primarily for nuclear reactors and other fairly well established nuclear facilities. In the case of waste isolation, however, there are many ongoing investigations for which quality assurance practices and requirements have not been well defined. This paper points out these problems which require supplementary requirements. Briefly these are: (1) the language barrier, that is geologists and scientists are not familiar with quality assurance (QA) terminology; (2) earth sciences deal with materials that cannot be characterized as easily as metals or other materials that are reasonably homogeneous; (3) development and control of mathematical models and associated computer programs; (4) research and development.
Jahn-Teller theorem, proposed in 1937, predicts a distortional instability for a molecule that has symmetry based degenerate electronic states. In 1939 Krishnan emphasized the importance of this theorem for the arrangement of water molecules around the transition metal or rare earth ions in aqueous solutions and hydrated saltes, in a short and interesting paper published in Nature by pointing out atleast four existing experimental results in support of the theorem. This paper of Krishnan has remained essentially unknown to the practitioners of Jahn-Teller effect, eventhough it pointed to the best experimental results that were available, in the 30's and 40's, in support of Jahn-Teller theorem. Some of the modern day experiments are also in conformity with some specific suggestions of Krishnan.
The magnetic properties of polycrystalline and single crystalline rare earth transition metal silicides Gd_xLa_1_-_xMSi (M =Fe, Co) were investigated. Magnetic measurements have been made in static magnetic fields up to 13 kOe and in pulsed magnetic fields up to 250 kOe in the temperature range from 4.2 to 350 K. The magnetic susceptibility in the paramagnetic state of all the investigated compounds obeys the Curie-Weiss law except for LaFeSi and LaCoSi. Increase of the La content in Gd_xLa_1_-_xFeSi compounds leads to a decrease of the Curie and Neel temperatures, which can be explained by a decrease of positive exchange interactions. (orig.).
Recently, the precise isotope ratios of some refractory elements in meteorites have been reported using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. The in situ decay of {sup 182}Hf (T{sub 1/2}=9 Myr), which was produced at the latest nucleosynthesis, is recognized in many meteorites as isotopic anomalies of its daughter isotope, {sup 182}W. The degrees of relative {sup 182}W isotopic deviation in extra-terrestrial and terrestrial silicate samples vary from +0.3% to {+-}0% related to the size of their parent bodies. One ready interpretation of its correlation is the difference in timing of metal-silicate separation in the parent bodies. Between the earth and meteorite parent bodies, the difference is calculated to be about four times of the half-life of {sup 182}Hf, equivalent to 36 Myr. (author)
This objective of this work was to summarize the main results obtained in previous papers related to the adsorbent-adsorbate interactions involved in the adsorption of naphthalenesulphonic acids and heavy metals (Cd(II) or Hg(II)) by modified activated carbons. The adsorption of organic compounds (1-naphthalenesulphonic acid, 1,5-naphthalenedisulphonic acid and 1,3,6-naphthalenetrisulphonic acid) and inorganic species (Cd(II) and Hg(II)) was studied on a series of ozonized activated carbon in aqueous phase. Commercial activated carbon (Filtrasorb 400) was treated with different ozone doses to study the effect of ozone treatment on its surface properties and investigate the behavior of the treated carbon samples in the above adsorption processes. After ozonation, carbonyl- and carboxyl-type...
The rare-earth based nickelates RNiO{sub 3} (R = Pr, Nd, Sm, Eu, and Pr{sub 1-x}La{sub x}, 0{<=}x{<=}0.7) were studied by inelastic neutron scattering. Energy splittings due to the crystalline-electric-field (CEF) interaction at the R{sup 3+} site within the electronic ground-state J multiplet (for R = Pr, Nd, and Pr{sub 1-x}La{sub x}) as well as within the two lowest-lying J multiplets (for R = Sm and Eu) were directly observed, and the corresponding CEF energy-level schemes were reconstructed. The latter were rationalized in terms of CEF parameters, which vary smoothly over the rare-earth series and give magnetic properties associated with the R sublattice in agreement with results from neutron powder diffraction experiments. Across the metal-insulator transition, a continuous change in the electronic part of the CEF parameters is observed. However, an attempt to quantify a charge transfer from the observed ...
The rare-earth based nickelates RNiO{sub 3} (R=Pr, Nd, Sm, Eu, and Pr{sub 1-x}La{sub x}, 0{<=}x{<=}0.7) were studied by inelastic neutron scattering. Energy splittings due to the crystalline-electric-field (CEF) interaction at the R{sup 3+} site within the electronic ground-state J multiplet (for R=Pr, Nd, and Pr{sub 1-x}La{sub x}) as well as within the two lowest-lying J multiplets (for R=Sm and Eu) were directly observed, and the corresponding CEF energy-level schemes were reconstructed. The latter were rationalized in terms of CEF parameters, which vary smoothly over the rare-earth series and give magnetic properties associated with the R sublattice in agreement with results from neutron powder diffraction experiments. Across the metal-insulator transition, a continuous change in the electronic part of the CEF parameters is observed. However, an attempt to quantify a charge transfer from the observed ...
The rare-earth based nickelates RNiO_3 (R=Pr, Nd, Sm, Eu, and Pr_1_-_xLa_x, 0#<=#x#<=#0.7) were studied by inelastic neutron scattering. Energy splittings due to the crystalline-electric-field (CEF) interaction at the R"3"+ site within the electronic ground-state J multiplet (for R=Pr, Nd, and Pr_1_-_xLa_x) as well as within the two lowest-lying J multiplets (for R=Sm and Eu) were directly observed, and the corresponding CEF energy-level schemes were reconstructed. The latter were rationalized in terms of CEF parameters, which vary smoothly over the rare-earth series and give magnetic properties associated with the R sublattice in agreement with results from neutron powder diffraction experiments. Across the metal-insulator transition, a continuous change in the electronic part of the CEF parameters is observed. However, an attempt to quantify a charge transfer from the observed variation of the CEF parameters in an ...
In this work we investigate the limits of uptake of metallic silver by two common metallophytes, Brassica juncea (BJ) and Medicago sativa (MS) and assess the form and distribution of the metal once sequestered by the plants. BJ accumulated up to 12.4 wt.% silver when exposed to an aqueous substrate containing 1,000 ppm AgNO{sub 3} for 72 h, however silver uptake was largely independent of exposure time and substrate silver concentration. MS accumulated up to 13.6 wt.% silver when exposed to an aqueous substrate containing 10,000 ppm AgNO{sub 3} for 24 h. In contrast to BJ there was a general trend for MS showing an increase in metal uptake with a corresponding increase in the substrate metal concentration and exposure time. In both cases the silver was stored as discrete nanoparticles, with a mean size of {approx}50 nm. According to the hyperaccumulation definition of Brooks et al. (Brooks RR, Chambers ...
Concentrations of trace metals were determined in water, sediment, fish feed and two species of farmed fish, pompano and snapper, collected from Daya Bay and Hailing Bay of South China in July 2007 and January 2008. Total average concentrations of Cu, Pb, Zn, Cd, Cr, Hg and As were 1.6, 2.7, 27.3, 0.025, 0.62, 0.18 and 0.59?g/gdrywt in pompano and 1.5, 2.6, 23.6, 0.020, 0.55, 0.22 and 0.53?g/gdrywt in snapper. In general, the concentrations of all target metals except Hg were positively correlated with lipid contents whereas negative correlations were observed between the metal concentrations and fish body weights. Model calculation indicated that dietary uptake of Zn and Cd predominate their accumulation in snapper, accounting for 99.9% and 98.2% of the total inputs. Risk ...
Spent oxide fuels are reduced in a molten salt of CaCl[sub 2]-CaF[sub 2] to convert them into metals, then melted in an Fe-U bath disposed in an electrolytic refining vessel and brought into contact with molten Mg, to extract transuranium elements and rare earth elements contained in the Fe-U bath as metals in the molten Mg. Then molten Mg is removed and the residue is brought into contact with KCl-LiCl molten salt and electrolyzed using the Fe-U as an anode. Then, uranium is recovered by deposition on an iron cathode disposed in chloride electrolytes of the electrolytic refining vessel. Uranium and transuranium elements can be thus separated and, for example, depleted uranium for use in blanket fuels can be recovered easily. This can greatly reduce the temporary storage amount of depleted uranium, to eliminate requirement for a large-scaled facility used exclusively for storing uranium and long time management for uranium. ...
Spent oxide fuels are reduced in a molten salt of CaCl_2-CaF_2 to convert them into metals, then melted in an Fe-U bath disposed in an electrolytic refining vessel and brought into contact with molten Mg, to extract transuranium elements and rare earth elements contained in the Fe-U bath as metals in the molten Mg. Then molten Mg is removed and the residue is brought into contact with KCl-LiCl molten salt and electrolyzed using the Fe-U as an anode. Then, uranium is recovered by deposition on an iron cathode disposed in chloride electrolytes of the electrolytic refining vessel. Uranium and transuranium elements can be thus separated and, for example, depleted uranium for use in blanket fuels can be recovered easily. This can greatly reduce the temporary storage amount of depleted uranium, to eliminate requirement for a large-scaled facility used exclusively for storing uranium and long time management for uranium. (T.M.).
A pyrochemical partitioning process has been conceptually designed so that the transmutation of spent LWR fuels in PEACER can produce mainly low-level waste (Class C waste) for near-surface burial. Chloride salt technology developed for IFR has been employed as the baseline. Electrorefining, reductive extraction and salt recycling steps are used to construct overall flowsheet in order to support PEACER operation. The decontamination factor for transuranic elements was estimated based on both thermodynamic models and reported experimental data. It is expected that overall decontamination factor can be as high as 10{sup 5} for transuranic elements. Final wastes from pyrochemical processing for PEACER are noble metals, alkaline earthmetal, and lanthanides. The final wastes are stabilized by mixing with zeolite and glass-frits such that concentration limit for class C waste can be met. The volume of Class C waste is estimated ...
A pyrochemical partitioning process has been conceptually designed so that the transmutation of spent LWR fuels in PEACER can produce mainly low-level waste (Class C waste) for near-surface burial. Chloride salt technology developed for IFR has been employed as the baseline. Electrorefining, reductive extraction and salt recycling steps are used to construct overall flowsheet in order to support PEACER operation. The decontamination factor for transuranic elements was estimated based on both thermodynamic models and reported experimental data. It is expected that overall decontamination factor can be as high as 10"5 for transuranic elements. Final wastes from pyrochemical processing for PEACER are noble metals, alkaline earthmetal, and lanthanides. The final wastes are stabilized by mixing with zeolite and glass-frits such that concentration limit for class C waste can be met. The volume of Class C waste is estimated to be ...
Our goal was a process to convert methane to higher hydrocarbons oxidatively, since this circumvents thermodynamic yield limits of a strictly degydrogenative process. Keller and Bhasin converted thermodynamic yield limits of a strictly dehydrogenative process. Keller and Bhasin converted methane to higher hydrocarbons by using metal oxides as oxidants, without co-fed oxygen. They stated that selectivity is necessarily poor if gaseous oxygen is present. Jones and Sofranko have also used reducible metal oxides as oxidants in a group of their parents, but later used some of those materials with continuous O{sub 2} feed without much loss of selectivity. Baerns, Lunsford and Otsuka have shown that high selectivity could be possible with co-fed O{sub 2} at least for low O{sub 2} partial pressures, over PbO-A1{sub 2}O{sub 3}, Li-MgO and rare earths. The performance of a group of multicomponent oxide catalysts, containing lead and ...
One option in establishing advanced technology for disposing of high-level radioactive waste (HLW) is to remove TRU elements from HLW and then transform them into short-lived radionuclides. Tertiary pyridine-type anion exchange resin was investigated as a separation medium for spent fuel reprocessing using a HCl solution. Distribution coefficients of typical elements, along with uranium, were measured in the pyridine resin--HCl solution system, where HCl concentration was varied from 1 to 9 M. The results reveal: elements of the alkali metal, alkaline earth and lanthanide groups are not adsorbed, the adsorption patterns of the transition metals differ according to HCl concentration, and uranium is adsorbed in the high HCl concentration region. Furthermore, the present report describes the experimental results obtained for the adsorption behaviour of uranium, americium, curium and various lanthanide elements on tertiary ...
In order to design catalysts suitable for primary liquefaction stage and secondary upgrading stage respectively in the multi-stage liquefaction process, various carbon-supported catalysts were prepared. Catalytic activities of them were investigated for the hydrogenation of 1-methylnaphthalene, to discuss the influences of metals and carbon species on the catalytic activity. Various water soluble and oil soluble Mo and Ni salts were used for NiMo supported catalysts. Among various carbon supports, Ketjen Black (KB) was effective for preparing the catalyst showing the most excellent hydrogenation activity. The KB and Black Pearl 2000 (BP2000) showing high hydrogenation activity were fine particles having high specific surface area more than 1000 m{sup 2}/g and primary particle diameter around 30 nm. This was inferred to contribute to the high dispersion support of active metals. Since such fine particles of carbon exhibited ...
In the electrorefining step of the pyrochemical process, actinide ions dissolved in the LiCl-KCl eutectic salt are recovered as pure actinide metals at a cathode for a re-use as a nuclear fuel from the aspect of its nonproliferation of the nuclear fuel cycles. The lanthanide species dissolved in the LiCl-KCl eutectic salt play an important role in an effective metal purification during the electrorefining step, so it is necessary to understand the chemical and physical behaviors of lanthanides in molten salt. The in situ spectroscopic measurement system and studies according to temperature changes are essential for better understandable information. To our knowledge, the absorption studies of lanthanides at high temperatures have been reported before, but the fluorescence studies of those at high temperature are not reported yet. We will discuss here the fluorescence behaviors of lanthanides in LiCl-KCl molten salt medium ...
In the electrorefining step of the pyrochemical process, actinide ions dissolved in the LiCl-KCl eutectic salt are recovered as pure actinide metals at a cathode for a re-use as a nuclear fuel from the aspect of its nonproliferation of the nuclear fuel cycles. The lanthanide species dissolved in the LiCl-KCl eutectic salt play an important role in an effective metal purification during the electrorefining step, so it is necessary to understand the chemical and physical behaviors of lanthanides in molten salt. The in situ spectroscopic measurement system and studies according to temperature changes are essential for better understandable information. To our knowledge, the absorption studies of lanthanides at high temperatures have been reported before, but the fluorescence studies of those at high temperature are not reported yet. We will discuss here the fluorescence behaviors of lanthanides in LiCl-KCl molten salt medium ...
The treatment of Be-contaminated wastewater has been paid little attention, although beryllium (Be) and its compounds are of high toxicity. In this research, aerobic granule was for the first time introduced to remove Be from aqueous solution. Influencing factors including reaction time, initial Be concentration, pH, biosorbent dosage, and coexistent metal ions (Cd, Cu, and Fe) were investigated in batch experiments. The aerobic granule, characterized by element analysis and CLSM, was abundant in carboxyl, phosphoryl, amine and hydroxyl groups. Potentiometric titration experiment demonstrated that the pH effect on biosorption depended on the surface charge of granule (pHzpc=2.4) and the species of Be (Be^2^+, Be(OH)^+, and Be(OH)2) in solution. The coexistent metal ions would either inhibi...
Liquid metal ion sources (LMISs) with Ga as ion species are widely used in focused ion beam (FIB) technology for micromachining and surface treatment on the sub-micron and nano-scale. Key features of a LMIS for investigating mechanical properties and 3D-microfabrication of materials are long life-time, high brightness, stable ion current and a highly effective milling ability for the material to be modified. In order to increase the material removal rate, heavier ions than Ga and their clusters should be applied. Bismuth (Bi) is the heaviest, non-radio-active element in the periodic table, is non-toxic and exhibits a low melting point. We have thus produced a long-life (about 1000 h) Bi LMIS with a good beam performance, applicable in any FIB system. Since Bi is the only element in this source, it is not necessary to separate it from other ions by a mass filter. Investigation of the sputtering rate of NiTi shape memory alloys using Ga and Bi ...
Inductively coupled fluorocarbon (CF4/Ar and C4F8/Ar) plasmas were used to etch HfO2, which is a promising high-dielectric-constant material for the gate of complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor devices. The etch rates of HfO2 in CF4/Ar plasmas exceeded those in C4F8/Ar plasmas. The tendency for etch rates to become higher in fluorine-rich (high F/C ratio) conditions indicates that HfO2 can be chemically etched by fluorine-containing species. In C4F8/Ar plasmas with a high Ar dilution ratio, the etch rate of HfO2 increased with increasing bias power. The etch rate of Si, however, decreasd with bias power, suggesting that the deposition of carbon-containing species increased with increasing the power and inhibited the etching of Si. The HfO2/Si selectivity monotonically increased with increasing power, then became more than 5 at the highest tested bias power. The carbon-containing species to inhibit ...
Sulfur dioxide emissions from an iron ore sintering plant have severely damaged vegetation up to 16 km northeast of the source. Concentric zones of increasing vegetation loss have formed around the point of maximum ground level concentration of the gas. Species diversity, sulfur and heavy metal concentrations in vegetation and soil amount to SO/sub 2/ injury were measured along a transect through the injury zones. Surrounding a central denuded area were zones dominated respectively by tussock-forming hair grass (Deschampsia flexuosa); low-growing shrubs and trailers (Sambucus pubens, Polygonum cilinode); higher-growing shrubs and suckering Populus tremuloides and Betula papyrifera) stunted forest tree species (Populus, Betula, Picea glauca, Abies Balsamea), and finally, normal boreal forest flora. Although SO/sub 2/ injury is continuing in this area, these zones now appear to be maintained primarily by severe erosion and ...
Precious metal (PM) dispersions on CeO{sub 2}-containing supports were examined. When dispersions were evaluated by the H{sub 2}-O{sub 2} titration method, the CeO{sub 2}-containing supports hide the true redox of PM because of the large oxygen storage-reduction capacity of the oxide, resulting in higher apparent dispersions than the exact values. When Pt dispersions on the CeO{sub 2} support were evaluated by the ordinary CO pulse method, CO was adsorbed on the CeO{sub 2} support as carbonate species accompanying the oxidation with lattice oxygen. Therefore, the dispersions estimated from the CO uptake were also higher than the exact value. Infrared spectra also clearly evidenced the presence of carbonate species after CO adsorption. To prevent the CO adsorption on CeO{sub 2} as the carbonate species, we treated Pt/CeO{sub 2} with CO{sub 2} before CO adsorption. The strong bands arising from carbonate ...
The compositions of the Earth's crust and mantle, and those of the Moon and Mars, are relatively well known both isotopically and elementally. The same is true of our knowledge of the asteroid belt composition, based on meteorite analyses. Remote measurements of Venus, the Jovian atmosphere, and the outer planet moons, have provided some estimates of their compositions. The Sun constitutes a large majority, > 99%, of all the matter in the solar system. The elemental composition of the photosphere, the visible 'surface' of the Sun, is constrained by absorption lines produced by particles above the surface. Abundances for many elements are reported to the {+-}10 or 20% accuracy level. However, the abundances of other important elements, such as neon, cannot be determined in this way due to a relative lack of atomic states at low excitation energies. Additionally and most importantly, the isotopic composition of the Sun cannot be ...
Jun 8, 2006 ... It also reflects the large amount of deforestation that has occurred on the Haitian side of the border. One can easily see from satellite imagery ...
Feb 25, 2008 ... In the two Landsat scenes shown above, the pattern of deforestation can be clearly discerned. Deep green in these images shows lush ...
Jul 26, 2011 ... The Gateway to Astronaut Photography of Earth hosts the best and most complete online collection of astronaut photographs of the Earth.
... of this material is, however, outside the currently approved earth fill materials collection area ... fill material suitable for its intended use. The currently approved site contains material that is ...
It is well known that contact with metals can be responsible for allergic contact dermatitis; also, there is experimental evidence that nickel ions are readily available on the surface of used coins containing nickel and copper. The aim of this study was to prove that metal powders of nickel (Ni), cobalt (Co) and chromium (Cr) dispersed in synthetic sweat are oxidised into respective ions that can permeate the skin. Suspensions of 5 g of metal powder (Ni, Co and Cr) in 100 mL of synthetic sweat at pH 6.5 were prepared and shaken with a stirring plate at room temperature for 30 min. Human skin membranes were set up in Franz-diffusion cells and 2 mL of the freshly made suspension were applied to the outer surface of the skin for 24h. The appearance of metal ions in the aqueous receptor phase (NaCl 0.9%) was quantified by Electro Thermal Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy (ETAAS). Also, ...
Alloy 600 is used as a material for steam generator tubing in pressurized water reactors(PWR) due to its high corrosion resistance under PWR environment. In spite of its corrosion resistance, stress corrosion cracking(SCC) has occurred on the primary side as well as the secondary side of the tubing. Oxide on steel surfaces in aqueous solution above 100 .deg. C is composed of duplex film structure. Inner layer of the oxide is dense and less porous, which is formed by growth of oxide layer on metal surface. Outer layer of the oxide is loose adhesive, which is formed by dissolution precipitation mechanism. Growth processes occur at the metal/oxide and oxide/electrolyte interfaces and are controlled by transport of the layer forming species through the layer, i.e. by the inward diffusion of oxygen including electrolyte species and the outward diffusion of metal cations. Understanding of ...
Alloy 600 is commonly used in the primary systems of PWR plants because of its excellent resistance to a stress corrosion cracking and pitting. But a stress corrosion cracking and pitting corrosion are occasionally observed under PWR conditions, which may be correlated with the passive film on the Alloy 600 surface. There is little information on the composition of films growing on the surface of Alloy 600 at high temperature. Therefore, an understanding of the basic electrochemical behaviors about an anodic dissolution and the passivation of the bare surface of metals and alloys provides important information about localized corrosions like a SCC and pitting. Oxide on the steel surfaces in an aqueous solution above 100 .deg. C is composed of a duplex film structure. The inner layer of the oxide is dense and less porous, which is formed by a growth of the oxide layer on the metal surface. Outer layer of the oxide is less adhesive, which is ...
Alloy 600 is commonly used in the primary systems of PWR plants because of its excellent resistance to a stress corrosion cracking and pitting. But a stress corrosion cracking and pitting corrosion are occasionally observed under PWR conditions, which may be correlated with the passive film on the Alloy 600 surface. There is little information on the composition of films growing on the surface of Alloy 600 at high temperature. Therefore, an understanding of the basic electrochemical behaviors about an anodic dissolution and the passivation of the bare surface of metals and alloys provides important information about localized corrosions like a SCC and pitting. Oxide on the steel surfaces in an aqueous solution above 100 .deg. C is composed of a duplex film structure. The inner layer of the oxide is dense and less porous, which is formed by a growth of the oxide layer on the metal surface. Outer layer of the oxide is less adhesive, which is ...
The profile imaging technique is used to study the oxidation of ZnTe and InP surfaces induced by in situ reaction due to the electron beam of the microscope and by ex situ heating in air. For both materials, in situ reaction with the electron beam resulted in desorption of the anion species and the formation of the metal oxide. The observation of In metal particles, and the fact that the rate of formation of In_2O_3 was substantially reduced by an improvement of the vacuum near the specimen region, suggested that the presence of oxygen is not involved in the desorption process. The ex situ heating of ZnTe up to 260 degrees C in air resulted in crystals of ZnO and Te metal, generally in a layered surface region with the sequence of ZnTe/Te/ZnO. The large Te crystals usually had an epitaxial relationship with the bulk ZnTe but the small ZnO crystals had random orientations. The ex situ heating of InP to ...
The aim of this work is to test the catalytic oxidation of pyridine over zeolite-supported catalysts and to compare the difference in their activities for the oxidation of pyridine. The catalytic oxidation of pyridine pollutant on a series of copper-supported catalysts, inclusive of Cu/beta, Cu/ZSM-5, Cu/MCM-41 and Cu/{gamma}-Al{sub 2}O{sub 3}, in the presence of excess oxygen was studied. The activity of the copper-supported catalysts for the pyridine oxidation could be correlated with the binding energy of oxygen coordinated to metal copper, while the ability to control the yield of NO{sub x} appeared to be strongly dependent on the binding energy of NO bonded to metal copper. On these catalysts, two copper species, Cu(H{sub 2}O){sub 6}{sup 2+} ions and CuO were identified, in which Cu{sup 2+} ions had higher activity for the NO{sub x} control but poorer activity for the pyridine oxidation. Amongst those ...
To attain reproducible and stable contacts to compound semiconductor devices, it is necessary to achieve thermodynamically stable phases after the reaction of metals with the compound semiconductor. In this study, the final phases produced by the reactions between GaAs and thin metal films of Co, Rh, Ir, Ni, Pd, and Pt have been investigated. They are identified as MGa for M = Co, Rh, Ni, Pd, and Pt, monoarsenides of Co and Ni, diarsenides of Rh, Ir, Pd, and Pt, and Ir/sub 3/Ga/sub 5/. These phases, if deposited directly onto GaAs, will produce thermally stable contacts. In addition to the identification of these stable phases, analyses of the products of thin-film M/GaAs reactions by transmission electron microscopy, x-ray diffraction, and Rutherford backscattering spectrometry reveal the distribution, grain size, and crystallographic texture of these end phases. Trends in these observations across the six metal/GaAs ...
The electrogeometric model cannot consider the influence of some parameters on the screening of the wire conductor of the H.V. lines. For analysing the influence of these parameters (the conductor potential, the influence of the distance from phase conductor to earth wire, the influence of the reducing factor of the striking earth distance, the earth slope, etc.), the Monte Carlo method is preferable. The influence of the earth slope on the screening effect of the wire conductor for different conditions is presented in this paper. (author)
The main compositions of iron-base amorphous self-fluxing alloy powders of 150 mesh, used in this work, are Fe, Cr, Ni, W, Mo, B, Si and C. The ranges of each element in at% are (65-70)Fe, (3-5)Cr, (2-4)Ni, (2-4)W, (1-2)Mo, (10-14)B, (4-7)Si and (2-3)C. The atomic ratio of metal-metalloid is about 80:20, so this alloy is abbreviated as M_8_0X_2_0. The material on which coatings were deposited is 1020 steel, austenitized for 1h at 880 C, water quenched, and tempered at 180 C for 1h. This heat treatment resulted in a low carbon martensite structure with a hardness of HRC35-45. After cleaning, shot blasting and preheating the steel to about 200 C, the authors sprayed a thin Ni-Al alloy layer of about 0.1--0.15mm in thickness onto the specimen by means of an oxygen-acetylene torch to provide better bonding of the coating with substrate. Then the M_8_0X_2_0 and M_8_0X_2_0+8%CeO_2 alloy coatings were sprayed to a thickness of about 0.6--0.8mm. The CeO_2 was added as ...
As an explosion develops in the collapsed core of a massive star, neutrino emission drives convection in a hot bubble of radiation, nucleons, and pairs just outside a proto-neutron star. Shortly thereafter, neutrinos drive a wind-like outflow from the neutron star. In both the convective bubble and the early wind, weak interactions temporarily cause a proton excess (Y{sub e} {approx}> 0.50) to develop in the ejected matter. This situation lasts for at least the first second, and the approximately 0.05-0.1 M{sub {circle_dot}} that is ejected has an unusual composition that may be important for nucleosynthesis. Using tracer particles to follow the conditions in a two-dimensional model of a successful supernova explosion calculated by Janka, Buras, and Rampp (2003), they determine the composition of this material. most of it is helium and {sup 56}Ni. The rest is relatively rare species produced by the decay of proton-rich isotopes unstable to positron emission. ...
BackgroundThe study of bacterial species interactions in a mixed-species community can be facilitated by transcriptome analysis of one species in the community using cDNA microarray...Full Text Available
The nine title compounds were prepared from the elements by arc-melting and subsequent heat treatment in resistance and high-frequency furnaces. The crystal structure of these isotypic compounds was determined for YPdSi from single-crystal X-ray diffractometer data: Pmmn, a = 430.8(1) pm, b = 1391.2(1) pm, c = 743.1(1) pm, Z = 8, R = 0.024 for 417 structure factors and 40 variable parameters. The crystal structures of the isotypic compounds GdPdSi and ErPdSi were also refined from single-crystal data. The structure is of a new type. It consists of condensed, six-membered rings of alternating palladium and silicon atoms with Pd-Si bond distances varying between 249.6 and 258.8 pm. These two-dimensionally infinite nets are connected to each other via weak Pd-Si and Si-Si bonds with bond distances of 276.3 and 259.5 pm. The rare earth atoms are situated above and below the six-membered palladium-silicon rings in a manner as it is known for the aluminum atoms in the ...
Studies were conducted of the bifunctional oxygen electrode. The development of a rechargeable metal-oxygen (air) cell has been hampered to a great extent by the lack of a stable and cost effective oxygen electrode capable of use during both charge and discharge. The first type of bifunctional electrode consists of two distinct catalytifc layers. The oxygen reduction catalyst layer containing a supported gold catalyst is in contact with a hydrophilic nickel layer in which evolution of oxygen takes place. Loadings of gold from 0.5 to 1.0 mg/cm/sup 2/ were investigated; carbon, graphite, metal, and spinel oxides were evaluated as substrates. The second part of the research effort was centered on developing a reversible oxygen electrode containing only one catalytic layer for both reduction and evolution of oxygen. The work was directed specifically to the study of perovskite type of oxides with the composition AA/sup 1/BO/sub 3/ where A is an ...
Total mercury (THg), methylmercury (MeHg) and 22 other trace elements were measured in ice algae, three species of zooplankton, mixed zooplankton samples, Arctic cod (Boreogadus saida), ringed seals (Phoca hispida) and eight species of seabirds to examine the trophodynamics of these metals in an Arctic marine food web. All samples were collected in 1998 in the Northwater Polynya (NOW) located between Ellesmere Island and Greenland in Baffin Bay. THg and MeHg were found to biomagnify through the NOW food web, based on significant positive relationships between log THg and log MeHg concentrations vs. {delta} {sup 15}N muscle and liver . The slope of these relationships for muscle THg and MeHg concentrations (slope = 0.197 and 0.223, respectively) were similar to those reported for other aquatic food webs. The food web behavior of THg and {delta} {sup 15}N appears constant, regardless of trophic state (eutrophic vs. ...
Total mercury (THg), methylmercury (MeHg) and 22 other trace elements were measured in ice algae, three species of zooplankton, mixed zooplankton samples, Arctic cod (Boreogadus saida), ringed seals (Phoca hispida) and eight species of seabirds to examine the trophodynamics of these metals in an Arctic marine food web. All samples were collected in 1998 in the Northwater Polynya (NOW) located between Ellesmere Island and Greenland in Baffin Bay. THg and MeHg were found to biomagnify through the NOW food web, based on significant positive relationships between log THg and log MeHg concentrations vs. #delta# "1"5N muscle and liver . The slope of these relationships for muscle THg and MeHg concentrations (slope = 0.197 and 0.223, respectively) were similar to those reported for other aquatic food webs. The food web behavior of THg and #delta# "1"5N appears constant, regardless of trophic state (eutrophic vs. oligotrophic), ...
Alloy 690 and Alloy600 are used as a material for the steam generator tubing in the pressurized water reactor(PWR) of nuclear power plants due to its high corrosion resistance. Although those are a highly corrosion resistance material, their stress corrosion cracking(SCC) have been found on occasion, which are deeply related to a surface oxide film on a base material which have occurred on the primary side as well as the secondary side of a tubing. And The SCC is accelerated in the existing Pb which is the impurity of secondary steam generator components. The Oxide on a steel surface in an aqueous solution above 100 .deg. C is composed of a duplex film structure. The inner layer of the oxide is dense and less porous, which is formed by a growth of the oxide layer on the metal surface. The outer layer of the oxide is less adhesive, which is formed by a dissolution and precipitation mechanism. Growth processes of the inner layer and the outer layer occur at the ...
Alloy 690 and Alloy600 are used as a material for the steam generator tubing in the pressurized water reactor(PWR) of nuclear power plants due to its high corrosion resistance. Although those are a highly corrosion resistance material, their stress corrosion cracking(SCC) have been found on occasion, which are deeply related to a surface oxide film on a base material which have occurred on the primary side as well as the secondary side of a tubing. And The SCC is accelerated in the existing Pb which is the impurity of secondary steam generator components. The Oxide on a steel surface in an aqueous solution above 100 .deg. C is composed of a duplex film structure. The inner layer of the oxide is dense and less porous, which is formed by a growth of the oxide layer on the metal surface. The outer layer of the oxide is less adhesive, which is formed by a dissolution and precipitation mechanism. Growth processes of the inner layer and the outer layer occur at the ...
Radioactive "3"1Si was used as a marker to study metal silicide formation. Activity profiles in the silicides were measured by a combination of ion beam sputtering, radioactivity counting and Rutherford backscattering of charged nuclear particles. It was found that the metal is the diffusing species during Co_2Si, Pt_2Si, NiSi and PtSi formation, while silicon diffuses during CrSi_2, TiSi_2 and ZrSi_2 formation. Silicon was also found to be the diffusing species during second phase formation of CoSi from Co_2Si. However, in this case it was established that the silicon diffuses by a grain boundary and/or interstitial mechanism. Both the metal and silicon diffuse during Ni_2Si and Pd_2Si formation. In an attempt to interpret complex radioactivity profiles a computer program, simulating various diffusion mechanisms during both first and second phase silicide formation, was written. A ...
New rare earthmetal rich cadmium compounds RE_4CoCd and RE_4RhCd (RE = Tb, Dy, Ho) were prepared by high-frequency melting of the elements in sealed tantalum tubes. The samples were studied by x-ray powder and single-crystal diffraction. All the compounds crystallize with Gd_4RhIn-type structure, with space group F4-bar3m. The structures are built up from rigid three-dimensional networks of condensed, cobalt (rhodium) centred trigonal RE_6 prisms. The voids left by these networks are filled by Cd_4 cluster units and the coordination number 14 polyhedra of the RE1 atoms. The terbium and dysprosium compounds in both series undergo antiferromagnetic ordering, whereas the holmium compounds exhibit ferromagnetic ordering. The magnetic ordering in these compounds is characterized by broad peaks around the transition temperatures. The results of detailed crystallographic investigations and preliminary magnetic and specific heat studies are presented ...
Many important advances in the physics of strongly correlated electron systems have been driven by the development of new materials: for instance the filled skutterudites MT4X12 (M=alkali metal, alkaline earth, lanthanide, or actinide; T=Fe, Ru, or Os; X=P, As, or Sb), certain lanthanide and actinide intermetallic compounds such as URu2-xRexSi2 and CeTIn5 (T=Co, Rh, or Ir), and layered oxypnictides and related materials. These types of complex multinary d- and f-electron compounds have proven to be a vast reservoir of novel strongly correlated electron ground states and phenomena. In these materials, the occurrence of such a wide range of ground states and phenomena arises from a delicate interplay between competing interactions that can be tuned by partial or complete substitution of one element for another, as well as the application of pressure, and magnetic fields, resulting in rich and complex electronic phase diagrams in the hyperspace of ...
Ternary R_2TSi_3 intermetallic compounds (R=Rare Earth, T=Transition Metal) with hexagonal AlB_2-type crystallographic structure are known because of their interesting physical properties. Pr_2PdSi_3 single crystals were grown by a vertical floating zone method. The compound exhibits congruent melting behavior at a liquidus temperature of about 1770 C. Single crystalline samples show a huge anisotropy at low temperatures due to the crystal electric field effect and order antiferromagnetically below the Neel temperature T_N=2.17 K. This value approximately obeys the linear de Gennes scaling for this class of compounds. The [001] orientation was identified as the magnetic easy axis at room temperature. At lower temperature (#approx#20 K) magnetic easy and hard axes interchange with each other. Two additional magnetic phase transitions were observed at temperatures below 1 K.
DC resistivity, dc magnetization, and specific heat of eight Sc{sub 5}Co{sub 4}Ge{sub 10}-type crystal-structure compounds R{sub 5}T{sub 4}Ge{sub 10} for R = Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, and T = Rh and Ir are presented. The resistivity, single-crystal magnetization, and specific-heat results show that in all those compounds, the magnetic moments order antiferromagnetically in the c direction at low temperature. However, in the Er and Tm compounds, the magnetizations along x-y hard directions do not show any anomalies above 2.0 K. This suggests that the ordered Er and Tm ions, which have positive quadrupole coefficients, interact with a crystal field that has an electronic potential valley along the c axis. The fitting of the hard axis magnetizations to Curie-Weiss law suggests that the resulting antiferromagnetic-like {theta} reflects the strength of the crystal-field torque on the magnetic moments rather than the strength of antiferromagnetic exchange.
DC resistivity, dc magnetization, and specific heat of eight Sc/sub 5/Co/sub 4/Ge/sub 10/-type crystal structure compounds R/sub 5/T/sub 4/Ge/sub 10/ for R = Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, and T = Rh and Ir are presented. The resistivity, single crystal magnetization, and specific heat results show that in all those compounds, the magnetic moments order antiferromagnetically in the c direction at low temperature. However, in the Er and Tm compounds, the magnetizations along x-y hard directions do not show any anomalies above 2.0 K. This suggests that the ordered Er and Tm ions, which have positive quadrupole coefficients ..cap alpha../sub j/, interact with a crystal field that has an electronic potential valley along the c axis. The fitting of the hard axis magnetizations to Curie-Weiss law suggests that the resulting antiferromagnetic-like theta reflects the strength of the crystal field torque on the magnetic moments rather than the strength of antiferromagnetic exchange. 123 refs.
The excellent high temperature strength and thermal conductivity of molybdenum-base alloys provide attractive features for components in advanced magnetic and inertial fusion devices. Refractory metal alloys react readily with oxygen and other gases. Oxidized molybdenum in turn is susceptible to losses from volatile molybdenum trioxide species, MoO{sub 3}(m), in air and the hydroxide, MoO{sub 2}(OH){sub 2}, formed from water vapor. Transport of radioactivity by the volatilization, migration, and re-deposition of these volatile species during a potential accident involving a loss of vacuum or inert environment represents a safety issue. In this report the authors present experimental results on the oxidation, volatilization and re-deposition of molybdenum from TZM in flowing air between 400 and 800 C. These results are compared with calculations obtained from a vaporization mass transfer model using chemical thermodynamic ...
The excellent high temperature strength and thermal conductivity of molybdenum-base alloys provide attractive features for components in advanced magnetic and inertial fusion devices. Refractory metal alloys react readily with oxygen and other gases. Oxidized molybdenum in turn is susceptible to losses from volatile molybdenum trioxide species, (MoO3)m, in air and the hydroxide, MoO2(OH)2, formed from water vapor. Transport of radioactivity by the volatilization, migration, and re-deposition of these volatile species during a potential accident involving a loss of vacuum or inert environment represents a safety issue. In this report we present experimental results on the oxidation, volatilization and re-deposition of molybdenum from TZM in flowing air between 400 and 800°C. These results are compared with calculations obtained from a vaporization mass transfer model using chemical thermodynamic data for vapor ...
A detailed kinetic study of the epoxidation of 1-octene with hydrogen peroxide catalyzed by Pt(II) complexes is reported. The two systems analyzed were (diphoe)Pt(CF/sub 3/)(OH)/1-octene/H/sub 2/O/sub 2//THF and ((diphoe)Pt(CF/sub 3/)(CH/sub 2/Cl/sub 2/))BF/sub 4//1-octene/H/sub 2/O/sub 2//H/sub 2/O/CH/sub 2/Cl/sub 2/. Rate data were determined with GLC from epoxide formed vs time plots. Evidence for many of the organometallic intermediates and the individual steps involved was gained from IR studies, /sup 19/F NMR studies, and especially designed experiments including studies of the acidity effect. In both cases the kinetic analysis suggests a mechanism in which the actual oxidant is a PtOOH species that interacts with a Pt-olefin complex in the oxygen-transfer step (second-order dependence on platinum). 29 references, 12 figures, 3 tables.
Use of high plutonia MOX as fuel is contemplated from the point of view of rapid disposition of plutonium and economic power generation. The fuel pellets are subjected to steep thermal gradients #approx# 1700 K drop across a radius of #approx# 2.5mm. This leads to evaporation-condensation of the fuel constituents to cooler regions. Vaporization depends on fuel compositions such as Pu fraction, Oxygen-to-Metal (O/M) ratio and local temperature. Knowledge of vapour chemistry is essential in understanding the fuel behavior. The vaporization behaviour of MOX was analyzed in this work using thermochemical methods. The vapour phase consisted of nine species; O, O_2, Pu, PuO, PuO_2, U, UO, UO_2 and UO_3. Oxygen formed part of the vapour phase along with other species and oxygen potential was not controlled independently. The vapour pressures were estimated at 2000 K as a function of (O/M) for several Pu-fraction. Results for ...
The novel optical, electronic, and/or magnetic properties of metal and semiconductor nanoparticles have resulted in extensive research on new methods for their preparation. An ideal preparation method would allow the particle size, size distribution, crystallinity, and particle shape to be easily controlled, and would be applicable to a wide variety of material systems. Numerous preparation methods have been reported, each with its inherent advantages and disadvantages; however, an ideal method has yet to emerge. The most widely applied methods for nanoparticle preparation include the sonochemical reduction of organometallic reagents,(1&2) the solvothermal method of Alivisatos,(3) reactions in microemulsions,(4-6) the polyol method (reduction by alcohols),(7-9) and the use of polymer and solgel materials as hosts.(10-13) In addition to these methods, there are a variety of methods that take advantage of the unique properties of a supercritical fluid.(14&15) ...
Reactions of reducing species from acetonitrile media with silver iodide particles (#approx#25-angstrom diameter) have been investigated by pulse radiolysis techniques. Injection of electrons into these ultrasmall particles leads to transient bleaching of the adsorption of AgI at wavelengths close to the onset of absorption (#approx#400 nm) with the concomitant reduction of AgI to metallic silver. The reduction of Ag"+ ions and formation of silver atoms and/or dimeric Ag_2 molecules on three different size AgI particles (#approx#100, 35, and #approx#25 angstrom) have also been examined by picosecond laser spectroscopy.
Experimentally, a feasibility study for adsorption and catalytic pyrolysis of spill oils on Cu/ZSM-5 for recycling of light oils has been conducted in the present work. The adsorption and pyrolysis of model compounds such as heptane, toluene, and diesel (to stimulate the spill oils) on Cu/ZSM-5 have been investigated on a continuous fixed-bed reactor. By component fitted X-ray absorption near edge structural (XANES) spectroscopy, catalytic active species such as metallic copper (Cu) (77-84%) and Cu2O (6-7%) are found in the channels of ZSM-5 during pyrolysis of heptane or toluene. Pyrolysis of diesel effected by Cu/ZSM-5 yields gas (C1-C5) (32%) and light oil (68%) that can be used as auxiliary fuels.
Aluminium AA5182 coupons covered by a polyaniline film in the emeraldine base (EB) form showed increasing corrosion potential and decreasing corrosion current as a function of the thickness of the polymer layer. The cathodic reaction was proved not limited by diffusion of species inside the electrolyte solution and oxygen had no effect on the electrochemical behaviour of the coated samples. An EB coating on indium tin oxide conducting layer appeared slightly electroactive in neutral media. The IR spectra of aluminium coated samples, before and after heating in argon atmosphere, confirmed a redox reaction between the polymer film and the metal. This galvanic coupling can explain the good protective behaviour of emeraldine base against corrosion of aluminium.
Studies of the adsorption of oxides of sulfur and nitrogen, and their coadsorption, on black carbon in the form of n-hexane soot have been carried out by microgravimetry, EPR and FTIR spectroscopy over a wide range of experimental conditions. The mechanisms of adsorption of O{sub 2} and NO{sub 2} are entirely different, as reflected by adsorption isotherms, the behavior of carbon`s unpaired electrons, the spectral features of surface species formed, mass changes during adsorption-desorption cycles, and an essential lack of competition for surface sites. Significant effects of temperature, water, SO{sub 2} and NO{sub 2} concentration, O{sub 2}, simulated solar radiation, and the presence of trace metals, have been observed and interpreted.
AbstractBackground In recent years nano-metaloxides which easily penetrate into the cells with special interest due to their higher chemical reactivity as compared to that of similar materials in the bulk form. Of particular interest are nano-TiO2 and ZnO, which have been widely used for their bactericidal and anticancerous properties. Purpose The aim of the present study was to examine the bactericidal properties of nano-TiO2 and ZnO combined with visible light on S. aureus and S. epidermitis, known for their high prevalence in infected wounds. Study Using the technique of electron-spin resonance (ESR) coupled with spin trapping, we examined the ability of TiO2 and ZnO nanoparticle suspensions in water to produce reactive oxygen species (ROS) with and without visible light irradiation. Th...
Stripping Voltammetry (SV) at microelectrodes has gained increased interest in the analysis of aqueous solutions due to its ability to analyze low concentrations (ppb) of electroactive metallicspecies in solution. Existing integrated circuit (IC) technology allows the inexpensive fabrication of microelectrodes with dimensions on the order of microns and with a high degree of uniformity and reproducibility. Additional circuitry, both multiplexing and signal conditioning, can be placed directly onto the sensor offering increased sensitivity and flexibility. Multi-element electrochemical sensors containing arrays of Pt, Au, and Ag electrodes and capable of individual measurement through built-in multiplexing or simultaneous measurement at the appropriate potential ranges for each individual electrode were fabricated using existing 2 micron IC technology. Results of simultaneous measurements of low concentrations of Cd, Pb, Cu, As, and Hg in ...
The deactivation rate of a resid hydrotreating catalyst is determined by a complex set of factors involving both chemical and physical changes in the catalyst structure. The various chemical changes that are associated with resid conversion involve thermal and catalytic steps of relatively large molecular weight species with the overall rates significantly affected by mass transfer limitations. The deposition of coke and the variation in the effective promoter level by the accumulation of metals deposited from the resid are the principal factors governing deactivation. The relative importance of mass transfer restrictions on activity and catalyst deactivation can be observed in studies where the average pore diameter of the catalyst has been varied. Several models have been proposed to characterize the deactivation of resid hydroprocessing catalysts. In this paper, the authors discuss some accelerated aging tests with a relatively large pore ...
Our long-term goal is to enable highly productive plant species to extract, resist, detoxify, and/or sequester toxic heavy metal pollutants as an environmentally friendly alternative to physical remediation methods. We have focused this phytoremediation research on soil and water-borne ionic and methylmercury. Mercury pollution is a serious world-wide problem affecting the health of human and wild-life populations. Methylmercury, produced by native bacteria at mercury-contaminated wetland sites, is a particularly serious problem due to its extreme toxicity and efficient biomagnification in the food chain. We engineered several plant species (e.g., Arabidopsis, tobacco, canola, yellow poplar, rice) to express the bacterial genes, merB and/or merA, under the control of plant regulatory sequences. These transgenic plants acquired remarkable properties for mercury remediation. (1) Transgenic plants expressing merB ...
of Concern; Parks; Management; Monitoring Exotic and Invasive Species Northern Arizona University. Canyons, Cultures, and Environmental Change. Species of Concern; Contacts;...
In recent years, Clostridium species have rapidly reemerged as human and animal pathogens. The detection and identification of pathogenic Clostridium species...Full Text Available
The construction materials used in coolant systems in nuclear power plants become covered with oxide films as a result of exposure to the aqueous environment. The susceptibility of the materials to different forms of corrosion, as well as the extent of the incorporation of radioactive species on the surfaces of the primary circuit, are greatly influenced by the physical and chemical properties of these oxide films. The composition and characteristics of the oxide films in turn depend on the applied water chemistry. This work was undertaken in order to collect and evaluate the present views on the structure and behaviour of oxide films formed on iron- and nickel-based materials in aqueous environments. This survey should serve to recognise the areas in which more understanding and research effort is needed. The review begins with a discussion on the bulk oxides of iron, nickel and chromium, as well as their mixed oxides. In addition to bulk oxides, the structure and ...
Coal fired combined cycle power systems will be a sufficient way to increase the efficiency of coal combustion. However, combined cycle power systems require a reliable hot gas cleanup. Especially alkali metals, such as sodium and potassium, can lead to hot corrosion of the gas turbine blading if they condensate as sulphates. The actual work deals with the release and sorption of alkali metals in coal fired combined cycle power systems. The influence of coal composition, temperature and pressure on the release of alkali species in coal combustion was investigated and the relevant release mechanisms identified. Alumosilicate sorbents have been found that reduce the alkali concentration in the hot flue gas of the Circulating Pressurized Fluidized Bed Combustion 2{sup nd} Generation (CPFBC 2{sup nd} Gen.) at 750 C to values sufficient for use in a gas turbine. Accordingly, alumosilicate sorbents working at 1400 C have been ...
A membrane process utilizing dialysis and selective complexation by water-soluble polymers has been developed. This process, termed affinity dialysis, has been shown to be selectively extract and concentrate both cations and anions in a manner similar to ion exchange or solvent extraction. The selective removal of calcium from sodium with selectivity of about 30, removal of chromate ion from dilute streams, and separation of transition metal ions such as Cu/Fe and Cu/Zn have all been successfully demonstrated. Effects of different polymers, polymer concentration, temperature, and flow rates have been studied. The effect of increased polymer concentration is to increase product concentration if appropriate changes in feed, polymer solution, and strip flow rates are made. A continuous polymer solution recycle and regeneration system has been constructed and operated with Cu/Zn and chromate/chloride feed streams. Removal of over 95% of the desired ion in one pass and ...
of satellite, aircraft and ground-based observations. In ..... swarm traps by Utah Department of Food and Agriculture (DAF) personnel. Preliminary Results ..... the 150th anniversary of the book's publication and the 200th anniversary of Darwin's birth. ...... cold war submarine missions to find that Arctic Ocean ...
Al Fleig, PITA Analytic Sciences. 7th Earth Science Data Systems Working Group Meeting ..... The Reuse Industry in Brazil, CESAR, and the Reuse in Software ...
Rare Earth Cobalt (REC) permanent magnets have unique properties that permit solutions to some optical tasks that cannot be accomplished with conventional magnets. A review of design and of performance characteristics of these magnets includes an analytical description of the three dimensional fringe fields of REC quadrupoles.
This frequently-asked-questions feature provides answers about earthquakes, faults, plate tectonics, and earth structure. Maps and diagrams are provided with some answers, and links to additional information and to related topics are included.
The Grover S and X-band dual-wavelength radar system has been ...... A. H. Watkins (U.S. Geological Survey, Earth Resources. Observation Systems Data Center ...
We calculate the expected fluxes of cosmic ray nuclei with charge 5 ≤ Z ≤ 28 at various depths in the earth's atmosphere, taking into account the initial charge distribution,...Full Text Available
The generation of industrial solid wastes containing leachable species of environmental concern is a problem for developing and developed nations alike. These materials arise from direct processing of mineral ores, from production of metals and minerals, from manufacturing operations, and from air and water pollution treatment processes. The general characteristics that make these wastes intractable is that their content of hazardous species is not easily liberated from the waste yet is not bound so tightly that they are safe for landfill disposal or industrial use. The approach taken in this work is a thermal treatment that separates the inorganic contaminants from the wastes. The objective is to provide recovery and reuse of both the residual solids and liberated contaminants. The results from operating this technique using two very different types of waste are described. The reasons that the process will work for a wide ...
The adsorption of glycolate anions at sputtered gold thin-film electrodes was studied in perchloric acid solutions by cyclic voltammetry experiments combined with in situ Surface Enhanced Raman Scattering (SERS) and Surface Enhanced Infrared Reflection Absorption Spectroscopy under attenuated total reflection conditions (ATR-SEIRAS). Theoretical harmonic vibrational frequencies and band intensities obtained from B3LYP/LANL2DZ,6-31+G(d) calculations for glycolate species adsorbed on Au clusters with (1 1 1) orientation were used to interpret the experimental spectra. Vibrational data confirm the bidentate bonding of glycolate anions through the oxygen atoms of the carboxylate group, in a bridge configuration with the OCO plane perpendicular to the metal surface. The DFT calculations show no significant effect of the total charge of the metal cluster-adsorbate adduct on the vibrational frequencies of adsorbed glycolate ...
Invasive species pose serious threats to community structure and ecosystem function worldwide. The impacts of invasive species can be more pervasive than simple reduction of species numbers. By using...Full Text Available
The prospect for the recovery of rare earths from red mud, the bauxite tailings from the production of alumina is examined. The Jamaican red mud by far has the higher trace concentrations of lanthanum, cerium, neodymium, and yttrium. Scandium is also present. The dissolution of the rare earth is a major extraction problem because of the large volume of other materials. The recovery processes that have been proposed include the production of co-products such as iron, alumina, and titanium concentrates, with the rare earths going with the titanium. In this paper a critical examination of the possible processes are presented with the recommended research projects to be carried out.
NASA's Glory spacecraft is equipped to survey and map aerosols in Earth's atmosphere during a mission marking the return to flight of the Taurus XL rocket.
This paper presents an analysis of the performance of a selective emitter using small particles of rare earth compounds stable at high temperatures in a low emittance inert gas stream. An expression for the spectral emissive power excluding radiation scattering was derived to include the radiation in the emission band, produced by electronic transitions of the rare earth ion, and the continuum radiation outside the emission band produced by the rare earth host. Preliminary results suggest that a selective emitter based on suspended rare earth oxide particles will have high efficiency and merits further experimental investigation. {copyright} {ital 1996 American Institute of Physics.}
The biomedical and ecological interest for the microwave impact on the Earth biosphere is continuously increased since the industrial, military and communication activities strongly contribute to the electromagnetic stress of living bodies. In the next the authors present some of the main results obtained regarding the microwave exposure of various types of biological material: bacteria, fungi, young plant seedlings, dry seeds, animal tissues. The electromagnetic exposure was carried out in open space in well controlled environmental conditions by using 10.75 GHz/1 m W cm{sup -2} microwaves. Biochemical assays and cytogenetic tests have been carried out to reveal the changes induced post irradiation. The response of some pathogen bacteria, have been emphasized by means of turbidimetric measurements - the stimulatory effect being noticed at the level of the microbial population density (the stimulation of the human body microbial flora seems to be one of the side ...
Method for determining the concentration of atomic species in gases and solids. Measurement of at least two emission intensities from a species in a plasma containing the species after a sufficient time period has elapsed after the generation of the plasma and during a second time period, permits an instantaneous temperature to be established within the sample. The concentration of the atomic species to be determined is then derived from the known emission intensity of a predetermined concentration of that species in the sample at the measured temperature, a quantity which is measured prior to the determination of the unknown concentration, and the actual measured emission from the unknown species, or by this latter emission and the emission intensity of a species having known concentration within the sample.
The rare earth antimonates RE_3Sb_5O_1_2 constitute an isostructural series, where the rare earth site symmetry is S_4. The spectroscopic properties of pure or doped compounds of this family are studied in order to derive their energy level schemes and to simulate them through the crystal field theory, by using the approximated D_2_d potential. The paramagnetic susceptibilities are calculated with the derived wavefunctions and compared to experiment.
In this thesis the results are described of an investigation into the radiationless transfer of electronic excitation energies in various Eu"3"+ and Tb"3"+ compounds, which show structural peculiarities in the rare-earth sublattice. These peculiarities are an one-dimensional sublattice as well as two different crystallographic locations for the rare-earth ion. 154 refs.; 43 figs.; 12 tabs.
We calculated the matter effect, including both the Earth and supernova, on the detection of neutrinos from type II supernovae at the proposed Daya Bay reactor neutrino experiment. It is found that apart from the dependence on the flip probability P_H inside the supernova and the mass hierarchy of neutrinos, the amount of the Earth matter effect depends on the direction of the incoming supernova neutrinos, and reaches the biggest value when the incident angle of neutrinos is around 93^\\circ. In the reaction channel \\bar{\
The series of cubic pyrochlore structure compounds, R_2Mo_2O_7 (R = Nd-Yb, Y; R not= Eu), were prepared as single phase materials by solid state reaction between R_2O_3 and MoO_2 at 1400 "0C in a CO/CO_2 = 1 buffer gas atmosphere. Lattice constants obtained from X-ray powder data compare well with results from previous studies. Magnetic susceptibility and magnetization data were obtained for all samples between 300 K and 4.2 K (700 K for R = Gd) and a range of applied fields. For R = Nd, Sm, and Gd magnetic ordering is observed at 97 K, 93 K and 83 K respectively which is assigned to ferromagnetism on the Mo(IV) sublattice. The Mo(IV) moment in the ordered state is about 1 #mu#/sub B/. At low temperatures, the Gd(III) and Mo(IV) moments are apparently coupled feromagnetically in Gd_2Mo_2O_7 yet the high temperature susceptibility data seem to indicate a ferrimagnetic (antiparallel) Gd(III)-Mo(IV) coupling. The low-temperature magnetic properties of Nd_2Mo_2O_7 and Sm_2Mo_2O_7 are ...
Chemical looping combustion (CLC) is a novel technology where CO{sub 2} is inherently separated during combustion. Due to the existence of sulfur contaminants in the fossil fuels, the gaseous products of sulfur species and the interaction of sulfur contaminants with oxygen carrier are a big concern in the CLC practice. The reactivity of NiO/Al{sub 2}O{sub 3} oxygen carrier reduction with a gas mixture of CO/H{sub 2} and H{sub 2}S is investigated by means of a thermogravimetric analyzer (TGA) and Fourier Transform Infrared spectrum analyzer in this study. An X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscope (SEM) are used to evaluate the phase characterization of reacted oxygen carrier, and the formation mechanisms of the gaseous products of sulfur species are elucidated in the process of chemical looping combustion with a gaseous fuel containing hydrogen sulfide. The results show that the rate of ...
For the reuse of a waste salt from an electrorefining process of a spent oxide fuel, a separation of rare earth elements by an oxidative precipitation in a LiCl-KCl molten salt was tested without using precipitate agents. From the results obtained from the thermochemical calculations by HSC Chemistry software, the most stable rare earth compounds in the oxygen-used rare earth chlorides system were oxychlorides (EuOCl, NdOCl, PrOCl) and oxides (CeO2, PrO2), which coincide well with results of the Gibbs free energy of the reaction. In this study, similar to the thermochemical results, regardless of the sparging time and molten salt temperature, oxychlorides and oxides were formed as a precipitant by a reaction with oxygen. The structure of the rare earth precipitates was divided into two sha...
The extraction of rare earth elements, yttrium and aluminium from red mud resulting from alumina production with the ion-exchange resin KU-2-8n was studied. Experimental results are presented. The technology of hydrometallurgical processing of pulps obtained by sorption extraction of scandium from red mud is developed. It is shown that in the process of precipitation from sulfate sulfuric acid desorbate it became possible to obtain a high degree of rare earths deposition. The use of sodium hydroxide makes it possible to obtain a maximum deposition of rare earths and aluminium - 99.9 %. Aluminium leaching from crude composite concentrate gives a possibility to get concentrates which 15 - 20 times richer in yttrium and rare earths
The possible physical linkage between galactic cosmic rays intensity and the Earth's cloud cover is discussed using the analysis of the first indirect aerosol effect (Twomey effect) and its experimental representation as the dependence of average cloud droplet effective radius on aerosol index characterizing the aerosol concentration in the atmospheric air column of unit section. It is shown that the basic kinetic equation of the Earth's climate energy-balance model is described by the bifurcation equation (with respect to the temperature of the Earth's surface) in the form of fold catastrophe with two governing parameters defining the variations of insolation and Earth's magnetic field (or galactic cosmic rays intensity in the atmosphere), respectively. The principle of hierarchical climatic models construction, which consists in the structural invariance of balance equations of these models evolving ...
Quivers (directed graphs) and species (a generalization of quivers) and their representations play a key role in many areas of mathematics including combinatorics, geometry, and algebra. Their importance is especially apparent in their applications to the representation theory of associative algebras, Lie algebras, and quantum groups. In this paper, we discuss the most important results in the representation theory of species, such as Dlab and Ringel's extension of Gabriel's theorem, which classifies all species of finite and tame representation type. We also explain the link between species and K-species (where K is a field). Namely, we show that the category of K-species can be viewed as a subcategory of the category of species. Furthermore, we prove two results about the structure of the tensor ring of a species ...
For the reuse of a waste salt from an electrorefining process of a spent oxide fuel, a separation of rare earth elements by an oxidative precipitation in a LiCl-KCl molten salt was tested without using precipitate agents. From the results obtained from the thermochemical calculations by HSC Chemistry software, the most stable rare earth compounds in the oxygen-used rare earth chlorides system were oxychlorides (EuOCl, NdOCl, PrOCl) and oxides (CeO{sub 2}, PrO{sub 2}), which coincide well with results of the Gibbs free energy of the reaction. In this study, similar to the thermochemical results, regardless of the sparging time and molten salt temperature, oxychlorides and oxides were formed as a precipitant by a reaction with oxygen. The structure of the rare earth precipitates was divided into two shapes: small cubic (oxide) and large plate-like (tetragonal) structures. The conversion efficiencies of ...
For the reuse of a waste salt from an electrorefining process of a spent oxide fuel, a separation of rare earth elements by an oxidative precipitation in a LiCl-KCl molten salt was tested without using precipitate agents. From the results obtained from the thermochemical calculations by HSC Chemistry software, the most stable rare earth compounds in the oxygen-used rare earth chlorides system were oxychlorides (EuOCl, NdOCl, PrOCl) and oxides (CeO2, PrO2), which coincide well with results of the Gibbs free energy of the reaction. In this study, similar to the thermochemical results, regardless of the sparging time and molten salt temperature, oxychlorides and oxides were formed as a precipitant by a reaction with oxygen. The structure of the rare earth precipitates was divided into two shapes: small cubic (oxide) and large plate-like (tetragonal) structures. The conversion efficiencies of the rare ...
Radioactive rare earth chlorides in waste LiCl-KCl molten salts have to be separated as a stable form to minimize waste volume and to achieve stable solidification. In this work, thermal behavior of rare earth chlorides (CeCl3, GdCl3, NdCl3, PrCl3) was investigated in an oxygen condition to recover rare earth oxides from a LiCl-KCl-RECl3 system. The rare earth chlorides in the LiCl-KCl molten salts were smoothly converted to an oxychloride form at a higher temperature than 650degreeC, except for CeCl3. CeCl3 was totally converted to an oxide from at a higher temperature than 450degreeC. The rare earth oxychlorides (GdOCl, NdOCl, PrOCl) were effectively converted to oxide forms at a higher temperature than 1100degreeC. It was confirmed that rare earth oxides can be recovered from a LiCl-KCl...
Most of the presently identified exoplanets have masses similar to that of Jupiter and therefore are assumed to be gaseous objects. With the ever-increasing interest in discovering lower-mass planets, several of the so-called super-Earths (i.e., with masses in the interval 1 M_earth < M < 10 M_earth), which are predicted to be rocky, have already been found. Here we report the possible discovery of a planet around the M-type star GJ 436 with a minimum mass of 4.8+/-0.6 M_earth and a true mass of ~5 M_earth, which makes it the least massive planet around a main-sequence star found to date. In contrast with other discoveries, the planet is identified from its perturbations on an inner Neptune-mass transiting planet (GJ 436b), by pumping eccentricity and producing secular variations in the orbital inclination. Analysis of published radial velocity measurements indeed reveals a ...
The response of the reactive flow detector (RFD) toward organometallic compounds of several transition metals has been explored, and several of its strong elemental responses have been characterized in detail. The RFDs minimum detectable flow (measured in picograms of metal per second at S/N_p_-_t_-_p=2) is 0.1 for ruthenium, 3 for chromium, 10 for manganese, 5 for nickel, 15 for iron, and 2 for osmium. Typically, the linearity of response spans four orders of magnitude, with atomic selectivity of metal versus carbon ranging from 2 to 3 orders. Response quenching by co-eluting hydrocarbons is not observed. As a demonstration experiment, the common analysis of methylcyclopentadienyl manganese tricarbonyl (MMT) in gasoline is carried out on an RFD system modified for dual-channel operation. The results show that dual-channel operation of the RFD can increase the native elemental selectivity of manganese over carbon by a ...
To evaluate the role of phytochelatins and metallothioneins in heavy metal tolerance of black mangrove Avicennia germinans, 3-month-old seedlings were exposed to cadmium or copper for 30 h, under hydroponic conditions. Degenerate Mt2 and PCS primers were synthesized based on amino acid and nucleotide alignment sequences reported for Mt2 and PCS in other plant species found in GenBank. Total RNA was isolated from A. germinans leaves and two partial fragments of metallothionein and phytochelatin synthase genes were isolated. Gene expression was evaluated with reverse transcripatase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) amplification technique. Temporal analysis showed that low Cd{sup 2+} and Cu{sup 2+} concentrations caused a slight (but not significant) increase in AvMt2 expression after a 16 h exposure time, while AvPCS expression showed a significant increase under the same conditions but only after 4 h. Results strongly suggest that the rapid ...
To evaluate the role of phytochelatins and metallothioneins in heavy metal tolerance of black mangrove Avicennia germinans, 3-month-old seedlings were exposed to cadmium or copper for 30 h, under hydroponic conditions. Degenerate Mt2 and PCS primers were synthesized based on amino acid and nucleotide alignment sequences reported for Mt2 and PCS in other plant species found in GenBank. Total RNA was isolated from A. germinans leaves and two partial fragments of metallothionein and phytochelatin synthase genes were isolated. Gene expression was evaluated with reverse transcripatase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) amplification technique. Temporal analysis showed that low Cd"2"+ and Cu"2"+ concentrations caused a slight (but not significant) increase in AvMt2 expression after a 16 h exposure time, while AvPCS expression showed a significant increase under the same conditions but only after 4 h. Results strongly suggest that the rapid increase ...
... Risk (Adverse) for Endangered Species: Risk to aquatic species if anticipated pesticide residue levels equal one-fifth of LD10 or one-tenth of LC50; risk to ...terrestrial species if anticipated pesticide residue levels equal one-fifth of LC10 or one-tenth of LC50. Risk Assessment: Qualitative and quantitative evaluation of the ... Risk for Non-Endangered Species: Risk to species if anticipated pesticide residue levels are equal to or greater than LC50. Risk Management: The process ...
The formation of thin SiO_2 layers on silicon and metal silicides was studied by phase- and thickness measurements with Rutherford back-scattering of 2 MeV alfa particles. Thermal oxidation was done in steam and dry oxygen at temperatures between 750 degrees Celsius and 1 100 degrees Celsius, while SiO_2 formation at room temperature was carried out by anodic oxidation. The study of silicon oxidation was done on Si<100>, Si<111> and amorphous silicon substrates. Thermal oxidation of CoSi_2, CrSi_2, NiSi_2, PtSi and TiSi_2 was investigated. The oxidation rates of the silicides were found to be much higher than for silicon. The oxidation process is also diffusion-limited with a higher oxidation rate for steam as compared to dry oxygen. The silicide layers were found to stay intact during thermal oxidation. A certain amount of structural and chemical instability did appear. Chemical instabiliy was shown by metal oxidation which led to ...
The oxidative dehydrogenation (ODH) of light alkanes is an alternative way for the production of olefins. A wide variety of catalytic systems has been investigated. Vanadium oxide based catalysts were described in the literature as effective catalysts for the ODH of propane. The catalytic activity and selectivity depend on the kind of support material, the kind of dopants and the formation of complex metal oxide phases. In recent papers it was claimed that both orthovanadate and/or pyrovanadate species are selective for the ODH of propane. Niobia based materials were investigated as catalysts for acidic and selective oxidation type reactions. In the ODH of propane niobia exhibited a high selectivity to propene but the conversion of propane was low. V{sub 2}O{sub 5}-Nb{sub 2}O{sub 5} catalysts proved to be catalytically active and selective and showed no formation of oxygenates. In the present study the influence of the niobia dopant of the ...
The first-step formation constants of UO_2"2"+-complexes of some N-hydroxysuccinamic acids viz. N-phenyl N-hydroxysuccinamic acid (Rsub(p)H(sub(2))), N-o-toyl N-hydroxysuccinamic acid(Rsub(t)oHsub(2)) and N-m-tolyl N-hydroxysuccinamic acid (Rsub(t)mHsub(2)) have been determined spectrophotometrically. Stabilities are in the ligand order Risup(m)Hsub(2)>Rsub(t)oHsub(2)>Rsub(p)Hsub(2). The first-step hydrolysis constant k' of UO_2"2"+ ion has been determined spectrophotometrically and found to be pk'=4.00 at a constant ionic strength (#mu#=0.5) at 30deg-+0.5deg and the molar extinction coefficients of the species UO_2"2"+ and UO_2(OH)"+ at #LAMBDA#=385 nm are found to be 2.0 and 13.0 respectively. (author).
A series of silylated Co/SBA-15 catalysts were prepared via the reaction of surface Si-OH of SBA-15 with hexamethyldisilazane (HMDS) under anhydrous, vapor-phase conditions, and then characterized by FT-IR, N2 physisorption, TG, XRD, and TPR-MS. The results showed that organic modification led to a silylated SBA-15 surface composed of stable hydrophobic Si-(CH3)3 species even after calcinations and H2 reduction at 673 K. Furthermore, the hydrophobic surface strongly influenced both metal dispersion and reducibility. Compared with non-silylated Co/SBA, Co/S-SBA (impregnation after silylation) showed a high activity, due to the better cobalt reducibility on the hydrophobic support. However, S-Co/SBA (silylation after impregnation) had the lowest FT activity among all the catalysts, due to the lower cobalt reducibility along with the steric hindrance of grafted -Si(CH3)3 for the re-adsorption of ?-olefins. -- Graphical abstract: The silylation of ...
The effect of dissolved oxygen and copper on denting corrosion at 280/sup 0/C in solutions of NaCl at pH 9 with ammonia was investigated using a packed tube/support plate crevice in a laboratory simulation. The onset of corrosion was detected with a hydrogen analyzer sensitive to 0.2 ppB. In the absence of copper, rapidly rising hydrogen concentrations were detected only when the product of the chloride and oxygen concentrations were detected only when the product of the chloride and oxygen concentrations in the boiler-water exceeded 25 (ppM)/sup 2/, but at these high concentrations, unheated low-carbon steel surfaces in the system were as sensitive to corrosion as the heated crevice. When copper metal was present in the feed system, corrosion of the heated crevice occurred in the absence of oxygen, provided the copper had previously been exposed to dissolved oxygen. Dosing hydrazine into the feedwater eventually suppressed the ability of copper to initiate ...
The isomerization of neopentane has been investigated over the 0.76 wt% Pd/SiO{sub 2} catalyst. It is found that after high temperature reduction (HTR, at 873 K) the selectivity for isomerization is much higher than that after low temperature reduction (LTR, at 573 K). A variety of experiments, including kinetic, chemisorption (O{sub 2}, H{sub 2}, and CO), temperature-programmed desorption of H{sub 2}, and X-ray diffraction, showed that this selectivity enhancement cannot be interpreted in terms of H{sub 2} retention by catalyst. Instead, the formation of Pd-Si compound(s) (most probably Pd{sub 3}Si) during HTR seems immediately responsible for the catalytic behavior of HTR Pd/SiO{sub 2} catalysts. A mechanism is proposed for the Pd-SiO{sub 2} interaction in which Pd atoms (or ions) are incorporated into the silica support (via oxygen vacancies) and a new phase of palladium silicide is formed. Regeneration by an oxygen treatment of the HTR sample does not fully restore the low ...
Y2Te4O11:Eu3+ and Y2Te5O13:Eu3+ single crystals in sub-millimeter scale were synthesized from the binary oxides (Y2O3, Eu2O3 and TeO2) using CsCl as fluxing agent. Crystallographic structures of the undoped yttrium oxotellurates(IV) Y2Te4O11 and Y2Te5O13 have been determined and refined from single-crystal X-ray diffraction data. In Y2Te4O11, a layered structure is present where the reticulated sheets consisting of edge-sharing [YO8]13- polyhedra are interconnected by the oxotellurate(IV) units, whereas in Y2Te5O13 only double chains of condensed yttrium-oxygen polyhedra with coordination numbers of 7 and 8 are left, now linked in two crystallographic directions by the oxotellurate(IV) entities. The Eu3+ luminescence spectra and the decay time from different energy levels of the doped compounds were investigated and all detected emission levels were identified. Luminescence properties of the Eu3+ cations have been interpreted in consideration of the now accessible detailed ...
Many important advances in the physics of strongly correlated electron systems have been driven by the development of new materials: for instance the filled skutterudites MT{sub 4}X{sub 12} (M=alkali metal, alkaline earth, lanthanide, or actinide; T=Fe, Ru, or Os; X=P, As, or Sb), certain lanthanide and actinide intermetallic compounds such as URu{sub 2-x}Re{sub x}Si{sub 2} and CeTIn{sub 5} (T=Co, Rh, or Ir), and layered oxypnictides and related materials. These types of complex multinary d- and f-electron compounds have proven to be a vast reservoir of novel strongly correlated electron ground states and phenomena. In these materials, the occurrence of such a wide range of ground states and phenomena arises from a delicate interplay between competing interactions that can be tuned by partial or complete substitution of one element for another, as well as the application of pressure, and magnetic fields, resulting in rich and complex electronic ...
Nuclear material is either a product of technological processing of natural source material or it is entirely of anthropogenic origin. Consequently, nuclear material carries 'tool-marks' or 'fingerprints' of the process it was subjected to. Uranium fuels are examples of the first category, while plutonium belongs to the second category. The nature of these production processes is reflected in the elemental and isotopic composition of the material as well as in its microscopic and macroscopic appearance. All of these parameters can be determined using appropriate analytical techniques and they may result in important conclusions on the history and on the origin of the material. Therefore, they provide the most essential contribution to the prevention of future diversions of nuclear material from the same source. So far, essentially metallic impurities or light elements have been investigated for their potential in providing clues either on the type of process they ...
The Stardust sample return capsule will return to Earth in January 2006 with primitive debris collected from Comet 81P/Wild-2 during the fly-by encounter in 2004. In addition to the cometary particles embedded in low-density silica aerogel, there will be microcraters preserved in the Al foils (1100 series; 100 {micro}m thick) that are wrapped around the sample tray assembly. Soda lime spheres ({approx}49 {micro}m in diameter) have been accelerated with a Light Gas Gun into flight-grade Al foils at 6.35 km s{sup -1} to simulate the capture of cometary debris. The experimental craters have been analyzed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and x-ray energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDX) to locate and characterize remnants of the projectile material remaining within the craters. In addition, ion beam induced secondary electron imaging has proven particularly useful in identifying areas within the craters that contain residue material. Finally, high-precision ...
24 isotopes of astatine element 85, are known today, three of which occur naturally as decay products of "2"1"5U and "2"5"8U, respectively. Because these isotopes being very short-lived, all experiments dealing with this heaviest element of the halogen group need be done with "2"0"9"-"2"1"1At, having half-lifes in the several hours region. Mixtures of them may be obtained either by #alpha#-bombardment (E#alpha# approximately 30-50 MeV) of "2"0"9Bi or as spallation products by the reaction of high-energy protons with thorium and uranium targets. - In its chemical reactions astatine shows a behaviour which is between an halogen and a metal. The following oxidation states have been shown to exist: -1, 0, +1, +5 and +7. At"-, AtO_2"- and AtO_4"- are the ionic species for At(-I), At(+V) and At(+VII) whereas no definite species have been established for the other oxidation states. Furthermore, At_2 could not be shown to exist as ...
In analysis of hydrogen in metals and alloys by SIMS, control of the hydrogen blank mainly due to residual gases is a persistent problem. Contrarity, this problem becomes less important in case of deuterium analysis. The prescribed amounts of deuterium were introduced into a pure titanium and a beta-titanium alloy (Ti- 6.6wt%Fe) by the gas reaction method. Intensities of the various secondary ions sputtered from each sample were measured by the Hitachi Ion Microanalyzer with primary ions of Ar"+. Energy distributions of the various secondary ion species were measured with the energy window of about 15eV width. The effects of oxygen gas pressure in the target chamber and the bulk deuterium concentration on the shape of energy distribution curves are discussed. For all samples, intensity of D"- ions is higher than that of D"+ ions, especially at higher energy ranges. With increasing the deuterium concentration: a) intensities of D"+ and D"- ions ...
Based on the IAPWS technical guidance on ''Instrumentation for Monitoring and Control of Cycle Chemistry for Steam-Water Circuits of Fossil-Fired and Combined Cycle Power Plants,'' the latest situation regarding instrumentation for nuclear power plants is discussed. As a result of the discussion, it is concluded that: (1) Reliable and safe operation of plants is established by the application of suitable chemical conditions in plant cooling systems, which should be supported by the selection of suitable control targets for monitoring and by the application of reliable instruments. (2) The minimum level of key instrumentation consists of on-line as well as off-line instruments for monitoring the key parameters: - on-line: pH, conductivity, cation conductivity, O{sub 2} and H{sub 2} concentrations, electrochemical corrosion potential; - off-line: radioactive nuclides ({sup 60}Co, {sup 58}Co, {sup 131}I, etc.), and the concentrations of ...
In June 1997, the US Navy plans to close its Naval Air Facility on Sand Island and transfer the atoll to the US Fish and Wildlife Service for use as a National Wildlife Refuge. Midway provides breeding and feeding habitat for migratory seabirds, terrestrial and marine mammals, sea turtles and other reptiles, and a variety of reef fishes and invertebrates. As part of the base closure and transfer process, 36 sites of potential environmental concern were identified on Sand and Eastern islands. These sites include landfills and uncontrolled disposal areas, hazardous materials storage areas, abandoned transformers, sewer outfalls, and other potential hazardous waste sites. Potential contaminants include pesticides, PAHs, PCBs, and heavy metals. A screening ecological risk assessment was performed at each site with a goal of determining whether contaminants could pose any current or future risks to protected migratory bird or marine mammal wildlife ...
When the foundations of the building are designed and worked, the prediction calculation of immediate settlement of the building exercised practically is to calculate assuming the earth is a linear elastic body, but the actual stress-strain relationship of the earth is nonlinear and rigidity of the earth becomes lower as strain (or stress) increases. Hence in order to grasp the actual settling behavior of the earth, it is necessary to elucidate the nonlinear relationship between stress and strain. In this article, a prediction method of building settlement is introduced which uses an analytical technique of the multi-layered earth by the linear elasticity theory and takes into consideration strain dependency of rigidity of the earth. Part of the conclusion is as follows which has been obtained by studying the settling behaviors observed in examples of vertical ...
... The costal plain still supports Jarrah (Eucalyptus marginata ) forest, dense woodlands, coastal heath and diverse swamplands. Many species of plants are endemic. 20 species of mammals and 12 species of introduced mammals including with feral pigs, rabbits and foxes of particular concern....
Many species introduced by humans for social and economic benefits have invaded new ranges by escaping from captivity. Such invasive species can negatively affect biodiversity and economies. Understanding...Full Text Available
Numbers of non-indigenous species--species introduced from elsewhere - are increasing rapidly worldwide, causing both environmental and economic damage. Rigorous quantitative risk-analysis frameworks,...Full Text Available
The rare earth antimonates RE{sub 3}Sb{sub 5}O{sub 12} constitute an isostructural series, where the rare earth site symmetry is S{sub 4}. The spectroscopic properties of pure or doped compounds of this family are studied in order to derive their energy level schemes and to simulate them through the crystal field theory, by using the approximated D{sub 2d} potential. The paramagnetic susceptibilities are calculated with the derived wavefunctions and compared to experiment.
A method to achieve NMR of dilute samples in the earth's magnetic field by applying para-hydrogen induced polarization is presented. Maximum achievable polarization enhancements were calculated by numerically simulating the experiment and compared to the experimental results and to the thermal equilibrium in the earth's magnetic field. Simultaneous 19F and 1H NMR detection on a sub-milliliter sample of a fluorinated alkyne at millimolar concentration (1018 nuclear spins) was realized with just one single scan. A highly resolved spectrum with a signal/noise ratio higher than 50:1 was obtained without using an auxiliary magnet or any form of radio frequency shielding.
Abstract The creation of chirality on Earth and the development of chiral life have been discussed in this highlight. Convincing evidence for the introduction of chirality on Earth is still fragmentary. We believe that by a combination of chiral crystallization and formation of helical polymers with preferred chiral conformational structure is the key to this question. This concept of macromolecular asymmetry has inspired ideas and resulted in possible rules for how chiral life as we know it, could have been introduced. These investigations needed the understanding of the requirements for chiral crystallization, for the stereochemistry of the initial formation of helical polymers, the measurements of optical activity of solids and their coordination with the fundamentals of chirality. Spac...
The gravitational torque applied on the Earth by the other celestial bodies generates periodic variations in the orientation of the Earth's rotation axis in space which are called nutations. Observations of Earth's nutations allow for insights into the physical properties of the inner core because of the presence of a normal mode, the Free Inner Core Nutation (FICN), which is characterized by a tilt of the inner core figure and rotation axes with respect to the mantle and outer core. The frequency of the FICN is controlled by the strength of the mechanical coupling acting at the inner core boundary (ICB) and by the ability of the inner core to deform under the action of centrifugal and gravitational forces. Attenuation of the FICN reflects energy dissipated by electromagnetic (EM) and visc...
Nov 8, 2010 ... Ihring Mission 11, the radiation dosimetry measurement system functioned normally and provided data on the Earth's trapped radiation belts ...
Aug 25, 2004 ... The Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission or TRMM satellite provided this image of Typhoon Aere over the western Philippine Sea as it was ...
An oxidative precipitation reaction of rare-earth chlorides in a LiCl-KCl molten salt was successfully carried out by a lab-scale apparatus. The conversion efficiency of the used rare earth chlorides into the insoluble precipitates was increased with the sparging time and temperature and was affected on oxygen sparger type. In the conditions of 700 .deg. C molten salt temperature and above 540min sparging time, the final conversion efficiencies were over 99% for all the experimented rare-earth chlorides. The hydrodynamic characteristics of an oxygen-molten salt two phase flow system are very important for a co-oxidative precipitation of rare earth elements.
An oxidative precipitation reaction of rare-earth chlorides in a LiCl-KCl molten salt was successfully carried out by a lab-scale apparatus. The conversion efficiency of the used rare earth chlorides into the insoluble precipitates was increased with the sparging time and temperature and was affected on oxygen sparger type. In the conditions of 700 .deg. C molten salt temperature and above 540min sparging time, the final conversion efficiencies were over 99% for all the experimented rare-earth chlorides. The hydrodynamic characteristics of an oxygen-molten salt two phase flow system are very important for a co-oxidative precipitation of rare earth elements
... Astronomy & Space Biology Chemistry & Materials Computing Earth & Environment Education ... Materials Research Center at the University of Chicago, one of nearly 30 NSF-supported Materials ...
Jan 5, 2004 ... Even if dinosaurs were cold-blooded, in the Mesozoic Era (when dinosaurs roamed the Earth), Antarctica was warm enough to have them. ...
... rivers of the world, the Zaire is not an efficient transportation link because of many rapids and falls to negotiate between Kinshasa and the port city of Matadi. ...
Apr 22, 2010 ... I believe that space exploration is not a ... plan for space exploration, especially in .... space exploration beyond low Earth orbit. ...
Federal regulators were set to vote on a plan to protect deep water corals and other sensitive fish habitats that will likely include a permanent ban on ...
The geographical arrangement of people on the surface of the earth is approximated by a mathematical equation of 361 terms. This is a convenient form for comparison with other distributions and for...Full Text Available
This study presents new software, called Google Earth-based Optimal HAulage RouTing System (GEOHARTS), to improve the functionality of Google Earth for optimal haulage routing of off-road dump trucks in construction and mining sites. A modified least-cost path algorithm, which is applicable to working areas with both paved and unpaved temporary roads and can consider the effects of terrain relief and curves along a route on the route planning, was proposed and utilized for the software development. GEOHARTS can determine optimal haulage routes between loaders and dumps that ensure the least travel time or fuel consumption of off-road dump trucks and can visualize the results using an embedded 3D render window of Google Earth. The application to the Pasir open-pit coal mine in Indonesia dem...
Satellite Observations of the Southeast Pacific Intertropical Convergence Zone During 1993-1998, Halpern, D.; Hung, C.-W., Journal of Geophysical Research ? ...
Earth degassing specifically of carbon dioxide CO2 is of increasing interest with respect to the global carbon budget, related climate effects, earthquake and volcano eruption mechanisms, as well as plant physiological reactions in gas-rich environments. Investigations in all of these disciplines require the detection of surface CO2 degassing structures and quantification of their emissions. We introduce minimal thermal change detection based on infrared imaging as a new remote sensing tool for the detection of earth surface thermal anomalies suiting among others to discover earth degassing locations of any origin. The method allows for seamless areal search and monitoring of degassing structures in any terrain. As proof of concept infrared imaging measurements were performed at the Bossol...
of Earth Science data and information management capabilities. Dale Schulz/400 . For your exceptional achievement in leading the joint LaRC/GSFC team in ...
... Zinn, J., Hoerlin, H., and Petschek, AG, "The Motion of Bomb Debris Follow- ing the Starfish Test," Radiation Trapped in the Earth's Magnetic Field ...
The portion of the Waterpocket Fold illustrated in this image includes layered rocks formed during the Mesozoic Era (~ 250 65 million years ago) the oldest ...
Hie synthesis of diverse biologically important compounds, under condi- tions which existed on the earth in the initial period of its evolution, ha; ...
The abstract is additional with repect to the paper published in JGCD. Ordinary Earth satellites are usually placed into five categories of special orbits: sun-synchronous orbits, orbits at the critical inclination, frozen orbits, repeating ground track orbits, and geostationary orbits. This paper investigates their counterparts around Mars and examines the basic nature of these orbits, which are of special interest for missions conducted around Mars, including Mars reconnaissance. Mars' gravity field is much more complicated, with relatively smaller J2, compared to Earth's, which makes the behaviors of these Martian orbits different from those of Earth. Analytical formulations and numerical simulations are used to analyze these Martian orbits and compare them with their Earth counterparts. First, mean element theory is employed to describe variations of orbital elements and give the constraint ...
The SHARP cannon. Hydrogen is compressed in the tube on top, the gun barrel is on bottom. When Jules Verne wrote in 1865 "From Earth to the Moon" he ...
Turbine Afterword The SHARP cannon. Hydrogen is compressed in the tube on top, the gun barrel is on bottom. When Jules Verne wrote in 1865 "From Earth to the Moon" he envisioned...
Extraction of rare earths (La, Ce, Pr, Eu, Gd, Er, Yb) from nitrate solutions by melts of carboxylic acids of the C/sub 17/-C/sub 20/ fraction and stearic acid with paraffin, depending on the temperature (60-90 deg), phase contact time and their volume ratio (O:B from 1:5 up to 1:100), pH of the aqueous phase (2-6), rare earth concentration (10/sup -6/-10/sup -3/ m) is studied. It is shown that in the whole concentration range investigated rare earths are extracted quantitatively into the carboxylic acid melt of C/sub 17/-C/sub 20/ fraction at the equilibrium value of pH>=3.8, while into the melt of 0.1 M stearic acid in paraffin at pH>=4.5.
Aug 23, 2011 ... Earthquakes, Hurricanes and Stubborn Instruments ... And if earthquakes and stubborn instruments aren't enough, there's this giant hurricane ...
switch when this cavity matching condition is determined. This results is a ... MHz offset is provided by an acousto-optic modulator. (AOM). The AOM will be shut ...
Zinn, John;. Hoerlin,. Herman; and Petschek,. Albert. G.: The Motion of Bomb. Debris. Following the Starfish. Test. Radiation. Trapped in the Earth's ...
The use of global three-dimensional (3-D) models with satellite observations of CO2 in inverse modeling studies is an area of growing importance for understanding Earth s carbon cycle. Here we use the GEOS-Chem model (version 8-02-01) CO2 mode with multiple modifications in order to assess their impact on CO2 forward simulations. Modifications include CO2 surface emissions from shipping (0.19 PgC yr 1), 3-D spatially-distributed emissions from aviation (0.16 PgC yr 1), and 3-D chemical production of CO2 (1.05 PgC yr 1). Although CO2 chemical production from the oxidation of CO, CH4 and other carbon gases is recognized as an important contribution to global CO2, it is typically accounted for by conversion from its precursors at the surface rather than in the free troposphere. We base our model 3-D spatial distribution of CO2 chemical production on monthly-averaged loss rates of CO (a key precursor and intermediate in the oxidation of organic carbon) and apply an ...
BackgroundSister species divergence and reproductive isolation commonly results from ecological adaptation. In mimetic Heliconius butterflies, shifts in colour pattern...Full Text Available
Species invasions are a principal component of global change, causing large losses in biodiversity as well as economic damage. Invasion theory attempts to understand and predict invasion success and...Full Text Available
Abstract: Some conservationists argue for a focused effort to protect the most critically endangered species, and others suggest a large-scale endeavor to safeguard common species across large areas. Similar arguments are applicable to the distribution of scientific effort among species. Should conservation scientists focus research efforts on threatened species, common species, or do all species deserve equal attention? We assessed the scientific equity among 1909 mammals, birds, reptiles, and amphibians of southern Africa by relating the number of papers written about each species to their status on the International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List. Threatened large mammals and reptiles had more papers written about them than their nonthreatened counterparts, whereas threatened...
BackgroundCo-flowering plant species frequently share pollinators. Pollinator sharing is often detrimental to one or more of these species, leading to competition for pollination....Full Text Available
Since the last review of the problem of insecticide-resistance was presented in this journal at the beginning of 1958, resistance has been discovered in 16 new species, and in at least 14 species both...Full Text Available
Social organisms that cooperate with some members of their own species, such as close relatives, may fail to cooperate with other genotypes of the same species. Such noncooperation may take the form...Full Text Available
The efficiency of two thin-film diffusion barriers to be used in silicide/aluminum metallization schemes for silicon integrated circuits were evaluated. Control samples of Si/CoSi{sub 2}/Al and Si/Pd{sub 2}Si/Al, and test samples of Si/CoSi{sub 2}/Ta{sub 2}N/Al, Si/CoSi{sub 2}/W/Al and Si/Pd{sub 2}Si/Ta{sub 2}N/Al were used for sheet resistance, X-ray diffraction, Rutherford backscattering, and Auger-electron spectroscopic measurements. TEM studies were carried out on representative samples to examine the nature of the interfaces. Results from the analytical tests indicated that all three types of test samples are resistant to gross diffusion and intermixing of Co, Pd, Al and Si. They also showed that in the control samples, annealing causes interdiffusion of these species, necessitating the presence of a diffusion barrier. For test contacts, results demonstrated that although diffusion barriers may be successful in preventing metallurgical ...
High quality single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNT) have been synthesized at large scales by the method of direct evaporation of carbon black and metallic catalyst mixtures, using induction thermal plasma technology. The processing system consists mainly of an RF plasma torch, which generates a plasma jet of extremely high temperature (?15 000 K), with a high energy density and abundance of reactive species (ions and neutrals). With the present reactor system, it has been demonstrated that carbon soot product which contains approximately 40 wt% of SWNT can be continuously synthesized at the high production rate of ?100 g h-1. The processing parameters involved have been examined closely in order to evaluate their individual influences on SWNT synthesis. The results have shown that the quality and purity of the SWNT produced are critically affected by the grade of carbon black, the plasma gas composition and the metallic ...
The interaction between two metals, which can be either synergistic or antagonistic, implies that the behavior of one is changed by the presence of the other. Possible mechanisms of these interactions,...Full Text Available
As a new composition of matter, alkali metal or ammonium or tetraalkylammonium diazidoperfluorophthalocyanatoferrate. Other embodiments of the invention comprise compositions wherein the metal of the coordination complex is cobalt, manganese and chromium.
In this paper, we first discuss the detection of supernova neutrino on Earth. Then we propose a possible method to acquire information about $\\theta_{13}$ smaller than $1.5^\\circ$ by detecting the ratio of the event numbers of different flavor supernova neutrinos. Such an sensitivity cannot yet be achieved by the Daya Bay reactor neutrino experiment.
Aimed at post-graduate and post-doctoral researchers in geochemistry, this book reflects the rapid changes in the applications of radioactive and stable isotope analysis to a range of geological and geochemical problems. Isotropic chemistry and methods used in mass spectroscopy are discussed initially. The second section deals with radiometric dating methods. The role of isotopes in climate and environmental research is also explored. The book closes with a section on extra-terrestrial matter, geothermometry and the isotopic geochemistry of the Earth`s lithosphere. (UK).
Molar extinction coefficients for the solid solutes in aqueous solutions of some alkaline earth chlorides such as MgCl_2.6H_2O, CaCl_2, SrCl_2.6H_2O and BaCl_2.2H_2O have been determined at 81, 356, 511, 662, 1173 and 1332 keV energies in different concentration using the narrow beam transmission methods. (author)
Clays and zeolites are among the most important of natural dusts by virtue of their occurrence through out the world on the earth`s surface and their important industrial uses. (The 1:1 layer silicates, including the serpentine and kaolin minerals, are not addressed in this chapter.) This chapter provides basic information on a variety of important aspects of each mineral, including crystal structure diagrams of each and references to more detailed discussions. 110 refs., 20 figs.
Measurement of the magnetic susceptibility of powder samples of heavy rare-earth (Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm and Yb) tungstates have been reported in the temperature range 300 to 900 K. Curie-Weiss law behaviour has been observed for all samples. The Curie constant, paramagnetic Curie temperature and magneton number for the magnetic ions have also been evaluated for each material. (author).
Among the billions of planetary systems that fill the Universe, we would like to know how ours fits in. Exoplanet data can already be used to address the question: How common are Jupiters? Here we discuss a simple analysis of recent exoplanet data indicating that Jupiter is a typical massive planet rather than an outlier. A more difficult question to address is: How common are Earths? However, much indirect evidence suggests that wet rocky planets are common.
Summaries of the highlights of programs in the Earth Sciences Division are presented under four headings; Geosciences, Geothermal Energy Development, Nuclear Waste Isolation, and Marine Sciences. Utilizing both basic and applied research in a wide spectrum of topics, these programs are providing results that will be of value in helping to secure the nation's energy future. Separate abstracts have been prepared for each project for inclusion in the Energy Data Base. (DMC)
...Observatory Edinburgh SkyView Virtual Observatory Solar System Simulator Space Telescope Science Institute Space Weather : A Research Perspective Subaru Telescope Project Two Micron All ...Universities for Research in Astronomy Subjects: space observation DeweyClass: 522 Resource type: index Space Weather : A Research Perspective Documents discussing space weather , the ...elements of near-Earth space, Earth-space meteorology and practical consequences of space weather . Glossary included. Author: National Academy of ...
...6 Resource type: reference data Global Change Master Directory An extensive source of information about satellite and in situ Earth science data, with broad coverage of the atmosphere, hydrosphere, oceans, solid earth, and biosphere. Author: NASA Subjects: climatology, global change, oceanographic data DeweyClass: 551.6 Resource type: documents, news International ...
Some 43 papers were presented in 4 sections: Organ and bud culture of tree species (24 papers); Cell suspension and callus culture of tree species (11); Culture of haploid tissue of tree species and production of wood homozygotes (3); and Isolation, culture and somatic fusion of protoplasts as a means of somatic hybridization and genetic engineering (5).
An electric propulsion concept suitable for delivering heavy payloads from low earth orbit (LEO) to high energy earth orbit is proposed. The system consists of a number of pulsed inductive plasma thrusters powered by a 100 kWe space nuclear power system. The pulsed plasma thruster is a relatively simple electrodeless device. It also exhibits adequate conversion to thrust power in the desired I sub sp regime of 1500 to 3000 seconds for optimal payload transfer from low earth to high earth orbit. Because of these features and the fact that the nuclear power unit will be capable of delivering sustained high power levels throughout the duration of any given mission, the system presented appears to be a very promising propulsion candidate for advanced orbital transfer vehicle (OTV) applications. An OTV, which makes use of this propulsion system and which has been designed to lift a 9000-lb payload into ...
The bright star 55 Cancri is known to host five planets, including a transiting super-Earth. The interferometric study presented here yields directly determined values for 55 Cnc's stellar astrophyiscal parameters: $R=0.943 \\pm 0.010 R_{\\odot}$, $T_{\\rm EFF} = 5196 \\pm 24$ K. We use isochrone fitting to determine 55 Cnc's age to be 10.2 $\\pm$ 2.5 Gyr, implying a stellar mass of $0.905 \\pm 0.015 M_{\\odot}$. Our analysis of the location and extent of the system's habitable zone (0.67--1.32 AU) shows that planet f ($M \\sin i = 0.155 M_{Jupiter}$) spends the majority of the duration of its elliptical orbit in the circumstellar habitable zone, where, with moderate greenhouse heating, it could harbor liquid water. Finally, our direct value for 55 Cancri's stellar radius allows for a model-independent calculation of the physical diameter of the transiting super-Earth 55 Cnc e ($\\sim 2.05 \\pm 0.15 R_{\\earth}$), which, ...
Two new species of the genus Microplana are described from the Iberian Peninsula. The new taxa are compared with congeneric species. Distributional records for two other European species, Microplana monacensis (Heinzel, 1929) and Microplana groga Jones et al. 2008, are presented and the presence of Microplana terrestris (Muller, 1774) is confirmed on the Iberian Peninsula. A partial re-description of Microplana nana Mateos, Giribet and Carranza, 1998 is provided. The finding of a new and probably introduced, but unidentified, species of land planarian is reported. Land planarians were generally found in the vicinity of deciduous trees and rivers.
The Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA), the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI), and the Department of Energy-National Energy Technologies Laboratory (DOE-NETL) are evaluating and demonstrating integration of terrestrial carbon sequestration techniques at a coal-fired electric power plant through the use of Flue Gas Desulfurization (FGD) system gypsum as a soil amendment and mulch, and coal fly ash pond process water for periodic irrigation. From January to March 2002, the Project Team initiated the construction of a 40 ha Carbon Capture and Water Emissions Treatment System (CCWESTRS) near TVA's Paradise Fossil Plant on marginally reclaimed surface coal mine lands in Kentucky. The CCWESTRS is growing commercial grade trees and cover crops and is expected to sequester 1.5-2.0 MT/ha carbon per year over a 20-year period. The concept could be used to meet a portion of the timber industry's needs while simultaneously sequestering carbon in lands which would otherwise ...
One- and two-dimensional NMR techniques have been used to investigate the solution structures of (2S,6S,11S,15S)-2,6,11,15-tetramethyl-1,4,7,10,13,16-hexaoxacyclooctadecane (I) and (2R,3R,11R,12R)-2,3,11,12-tetramethyl-1,4,7,10,13,16-hexaoxyacyclooctadecane (II) macrocycle complexes of CaCl{sub 2} and Ca(NO{sub 3}){sub 2} in CDCl{sub 3}. Previous chiroptical studies of these and similar crown complexes by circularly polarized luminescence (CPL), total luminescence (TL), and circular dichroism (CD) spectroscopy have shown that the macrocycle asymmetric carbons in these complexes constrain the ring such that the sense of the ring twist in the S chiral ring complexes is opposite to that in the R chiral ring complexes. These studies have also shown that there is an added chirality element in the di- and trivalent (alkaline earth and lanthanide metal, respectively) nitrate complexes of I and II associated with the twist of the nitrate anions ...
Thermodynamic Stable Metal Compositions for Improvement of an Operational Safety of Constructional Materials under Conditions of Multifactor Loadings of an Aggressive Environment
The preparation by sputtering of artificial metallic superlattices is described, as are the results of x-ray structural determinations. Tunneling and resistivity measurements on these materials are reported.
... nent to the design and construction of metal-semiconductor solar cells, in that both the photovoltage and the efficiency of metal-semiconductor cells ...
The high rate of deforestation over the Andean forests has generated a large proportion of fragmented landscapes in the country. The distribution of oak groves in the country was determined based on ecosystem maps. Charala and Encino oak groves patches are the largest ones found at the east Andes and like others, due to the unfair use of these resources, have suffered a fragmentation process. Fifty-five species of mammals included in 10 orders and 14 families were found in these forests. Chiroptera and Rodentia were the most representative groups. Anthropic processes had produced a 68.1% loss of the habitat and constitute the main threat for these forests. The sizes of the patches were evaluated for three mammal species categories. The patches' area are not favorable for large-size species, intermediately to favorable to medium-size species and are favorable for small-size species. ...
Direct visualization of rare earths in @a- and @b-SiAlON unit-cells is performed through Z-contrast imaging technique in an aberration-corrected scanning transmission electron microscope. The preferential occupation of Yb and Ce atoms in different interstitial locations of @b-SiAlON lattice is demonstrated, yielding higher solubility for Yb than Ce. The triangular-like host sites in @a-SiAlON unit cell accommodate more Ce atoms than hexagonal sites in @b-SiAlON. We think that our results will be applicable as guidelines for many kinds of rare-earth-doped materials.
The need for alternative energy increases steadily???especially due to the climate change and the limited availability of fossil fuels. Geothermal power uses the intrinsic heat which is stored in the accessible part of the Earth???s crust. Its importance among the renewable energy resources originates from the almost unlimited energy supply of the Earth and its independence from external influences such as seasonal or even daily climatic variability. Nevertheless, there are risks which have to be assessed. From a mathematical point of view there are four building blocks of the characterization of deep geothermal systems: seismic exploration, gravimetry, modeling transport processes, and modeling the stress field. In particular, local depletion poses a significant risk during the industrial...
'Glass Earth' represents a number of current and planned projects within CSIRO aimed at making 'transparent' the top 1000 m of the Earth's crust It builds upon current technologies developed within a number of CSIRO divisions as well as the Australian Mineral Exploration Technologies CRC (AMET CRC), the Australian Geodynamics CRC (AG CRC) and the CRC for Landscape Evolution and Mineral Exploration (CRC LEME). New geophysical and geochemical technologies will be developed to complement these, together with new capabilities in modelling, data integration and visualisation, including hydrogeochemistry, hydrogeology, surface geochemistry and isotope geochemistry, modelling of chemical, fluid and heat flows in rock and regolith, advanced visualisation and data fusion. This paper describes some recent work in the field of isotope geochemistry, with the principal aim of 'seeing through' cover to understand basement geology and detect hidden ore ...
The paramagnetic susceptibilities of all the RCo_2 compounds for which measurements are available are found to obey a Curie-Weiss law consistent with the modified indirect exchange model. The rare-earth ions are in a well defined tripositive valence state. Paramagnetic moments and paramagnetic Curie temperatures are obtained for these materials for the first time. The paramagnetic moments of these materials are changed from their free-ion values by the effects of itinerant electron polarisation, an effect which is particularly large for SmCo_2 whose paramagnetic moment is almost three times greater than the free-ion value. The modified indirect exchange model is found to be able to give a full description of the magnitude of the rare-earth, cobalt and diffuse moments in polarised neutron experiments. The band structures of the light RCo_2 compounds are found to be distinctly different to those of the heavy RCo_2 compounds. (author).
A study has been made of the colour reaction involved in the interaction or rare-earth elements with the reagent orthanyl K, the optimum conditions for the reaction being: pH=4.0-4.5 and lambda=660-670 nm. The ratio of components in the complex is Me:R=1:2. Consideration of the relative optical density values of the complex solutions as a function of the serial number of the rare-earth elements made it possible to recommend orthanyl K as a selective reagent for determining La, Ce, Pr and Nb in a mixture of Tu, Yb, Lu and Y oxides. The molar extinction coefficients, the sensitivity of the reaction and the concentration limits where Beer's law applies were calculated. Lanthanum was determined in a binary mixture with thulium and yttrium. (author).
The object of this program was to design and build a self-contained system for remote monitoring of the atmosphere in mines. The system developed uses the mine pager phone line as the primary communication channel and also has the capability of using 208 Hz in the ELF band for wireless transmission through the earth. The depth for through-the-earth transmission is expected to be about 80 to 90 meters in high conductivity soil and is limited by the noise level in the ELF band-pass filters. The underground components of the TEM System are energized by mine power through a battery charger-storage battery power supply. In the event of mine power failure the battery capacity is more than sufficient for 1 week's operation with interrogations every 4 hours.
Spacecraft studies of the three terrestrial planets with atmospheres have made it possible to make meaningful comparisons that shed light on their common origin and divergent evolutionary paths. Early in their histories, all three apparently had oceans and extensive volcanism; Mars and Earth, at least, had magnetic fields, and Earth, at least, had life. All three currently have climates determined by energy balance relationships involving carbon dioxide, water and aerosols, regulated by solar energy deposition, atmospheric and ocean circulation, composition, and cloud physics and chemistry. This paper addresses the extent to which current knowledge allows us to explain the observed state of each planet, its planetology, climatology and biology, within a common framework. Areas of ignorance...
We present an empirical model for periodic variations of diurnal and sub-diurnal Earth rotation parameters (ERPs) that was derived based on the transformation of normal equation (NEQ) systems of Very Long Baseline Interferometry (VLBI) observing sessions. NEQ systems that contain highly resolved polar motion and UT1-TAI with a temporal resolution of 15?min were generated and then transformed to the coefficients of the tidal ERP model to be solved for. To investigate the quality of this model, comparisons with empirical models from the Global Positioning System (GPS), another VLBI model and the model adopted by the conventions of the International Earth Rotation and Reference Systems Service (IERS) were performed. The absolute coefficients of these models agree almost completely within 7.5?...
The intercalation reaction of some layered transition metal disulfides with alkali metals, alkali metal hydroxides, and tetraalkylammonium hydroxides were investigated. The alkali metal intercalates were prepared in the respective metal-hexamethylphosphoric triamide solutions in vaccuo, and the hydroxide intercalates in aqueous hydroxide solutions. According to the intercalation reaction, the c-lattice parameter was increased, and the increase indicated the expansion of the interlayer distance. In the case of alkali metal intercalates, the expansion of the interlayer distance increased continuously, corresponding to the atomic radius of the alkali metal. On the other hand, the hydroxide intercalates showed discrete expansion corresponding to the effective ionic radius of the intercalated cation. All intercalates of TaS_2 amd NbS_2 were ...
A method and device have been provided for distinguishing Africanized honeybees from European honeybees. The method is based on the discovery of a distinct difference in the acoustical signatures of these two species of honeybees in flight. The European honeybee signature has a fundamental power peak in the 210 to 240 Hz range while the Africanized honeybee signature has a fundamental power peak in the 260 to 290 Hz range. The acoustic signal produced by honeybees is analyzed by means of a detecting device to quickly determine the honeybee species through the detection of the presence of frequencies in one of these distinct ranges. The device includes a microphone for acoustical signal detection which feeds the detected signal into a frequency analyzer which is designed to detect the presence of either of the known fundamental wingbeat frequencies unique to the acoustical signatures of these species as an indication of the ...
The known metazoa parasite fauna of the invasive round goby Apollonia melanostoma (formerly Neogobius melanostomus) consists of 12 species. The core of the parasite fauna comprises two species: Cryptocotyle concavum and Diplostomum spathaceum; secondary species are absent; satellite species include Cercariae gen. sp. and Ergasilus sieboldi; rare species are Acanthocephalus lucii, Anguillicola crassus, Bothriocephalus sp., Dichelyne minutus, Hysterothylacium aduncum, Pomphorhynchus laevis, Piscicola geometra, and Tylodelphys clavata. Fifty percent of metazoa parasites that occurred in the invasive round goby in the Gulf of Gda?sk (an invasion that was first detected in 1990) are also typically found in the native Gulf of Gda?sk gobiids. The round goby hosts common fish parasite species: C. ...
Mowing a meadow is an example of an equalizing process that reduces differences among species by removing aboveground biomass approximately 5?cm above ground. This regular disturbance that affects all plants prevents competitive exclusion of small species and thus allows coexistence of numerous species differing in shoot size. In this paper we search for the mechanism behind this by comparing the shoot biomass of 41 common species in dry and wet species-rich meadows in mown and recently abandoned plots in June (before mowing) and in October. We asked the following questions: i) Do the plants differ in proportion of biomass lost by mowing? ii) Are the mown plants able to compensate for biomass lost by mowing? iii) Is the compensatory ability of mown plants related to their size? iv) Is the ...
Often ecologists and natural resource managers can easily access data on invasive species occurrence across a region. Yet, collecting species abundance data over a large area is arguably more important for decision making, but inherently costly, so methods which can provide robust information at low-cost are particularly valuable. Studies of species distribution often use occurrence data to build models of the environmental niche. Environmental suitability derived from such models may be used to predict the potential distributions of species. The ability of such models to predict spatial patterns in abundance have recently been demonstrated. Here we tested the relationship of environmental suitability with local abundance of an aquatic invasive species, olive hymenachne (Hymenachne amplexi...
The association between invasive and native species varies across spatial scales and is affected by phylogenetic relatedness, but these issues have rarely been addressed in aquatic ecosystems. In this study, we used a non-native, highly invasive species of Poaceae (tropical signalgrass) to test the hypotheses that (i) tropical signalgrass success correlates negatively with success of most native species of macrophytes at fine spatial scales, but its success correlates positively or at random with natives at coarse spatial scales, and that (ii) tropical signalgrass is less associated with native species belonging to the family Poaceae than with species belonging to other families (Darwin?s naturalization hypothesis). We used a dataset obtained at fine (0.25?m2) and coarse (ca. 1,000?m2) sca...
Measurements were completed on the solubility of cupric and cuprous oxides in liquid water and steam at controlled pH conditions from 25 to 400 C (77 to 752 F). The results of this study have been combined with those reported from this laboratory in two previous EPRI reports to provide a complete description of the solubility of these oxides and the speciation of copper dissolved in liquid water and steam as a function of oxidation state, temperature, pH, and in the case of steam, pressure. These constitute the first set of reliable data for cuprous oxide solubility over this range of conditions. For the more intensively studied CuO case, agreement was found between our results and those of previous studies of its solubility in steam, whereas only partial agreement was evident for its solubility in liquid water. For both oxides this disagreement often amounted to orders of magnitude. The solubility of cuprous oxide is somewhat lower than that of CuO at ambient conditions, except as ...
The aims of investigation were to follow the Sr transport in the food chain from the flora to the fauna and humans, and its dependence on the geological origin og the plant site, industrial emissions, the age and site of plants, the part of plant used for nutrition and the strontium content in the drinking water, to determine the Sr intake of humans with the help of the duplicate method, and to estimate the apparent absorption rate and balance of strontium depending on of the form of diet (mixed or ovolactovegetarian), sex, season, age, region (geological origin of the living space) and method of intake measurement (duplicate or basket method). Strontium, an ultra trace element widespread in the earth's crust, is not essential and only mildly toxic for plants, animals and man according to current knowledge. The biological essentiality of Sr has not been investigated yet. Amoeba species living in sea water use Sr for the formation of their ...
Incoming solar energy had to be assimilated to sustain it. .... Roll stability was achieved with an Earth sensor mounted on the directional antenna. .... Once more a rocket becomes the means of producing a vector change in velocity. ...
BackgroundDinoflagellates are unicellular, often photosynthetic protists that play a major role in the dynamics of the Earth's oceans and climate. Sequencing of dinoflagellate nuclear...Full Text Available
In this activity, students create two- and three-dimensional maps by using a data grid of an imaginary section of Earth's surface. They are challenged to create six different maps of various surface features and answer questions about them.
Dolores Beasley Headquarters, Washington, DC July 19, 2000 (Phone: 202/358- 1753) Bill Steigerwald Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, MD (Phone: ...
Oct 2, 2007 ... The Payload combines some of the most sensitive particle sensors .... provide state-of-the-art measurements of incoming x-ray, ultraviolet, .... It will be launched into a low-Earth orbit on a Delta 7320 rocket in September 2004. ...
BackgroundGeographic Information Systems (GIS) can provide valuable insight into patterns of human activity. Online spatial display applications, such as Google Earth, can democratise...Full Text Available
As the presence of humans in space expands in scope and duration, the quality of life in space as well as on Earth becomes pertinent. .... Military uses of space, such as the introduction of space-based laser or particle beam weapons, may have a major impact on the way people think and relate to .... AIAA Student Journal. ...
Types of disorders in the earth's surface as a result of open pit mining operations are analyzed. Trends for recultivation of lands are defined. Formulas are presented for calculating the economic expediency of the selected direction of recultivation.
More than 30 years ago, human beings looked back from the Moon to see the magnificent spectacle of Earth-rise. The technology that put us into space has since been used to assess the damage...Full Text Available
A procedure was developed to monitor boundaries within which secondary mining operations can be applied. Principal techniques include instrument and operative-remote observations of earth shifts and aerial photography of displacements on the surface of the trough.
ISS022, E, 8269, CHILE, OPEN PIT MINING OPERATIONS E. OF SIERRA GORDA, ROADS, DRAINAGE, -22.9, -69.1, 20091209. ISS022, E, 8270, CHILE, OPEN PIT MINING ...
The Earth`s troposphere and hydrosphere contain abundant naturally generated dust. The ultimate source materials from which the terrestrially produced dust is generated are the various rock types exposed at the Earth`s surface. Natural dust is a composite of (1) lithic, primary mineral grains; (2) mineral grains formed by secondary chemical reactions; (3) volcanic ash and dust; (4) salts from sea sprays; (5) extra-terrestrial dust; and (6) biologic materials. In this paper the various pathways to the natural generation of dust (via the hydrologic cycle) will be discussed, and two geologically well-known natural dust sources will be described, paying particular attention to quantitative measurements of the dusts from these areas. General dust studies that provide data on possibly global background levels will be presented as well.. A few general aspects of the mineralogical characterization of dust particles and a discussion of some of the ...
5 days ago... Sun sensors, 2 secondary Sun sensors, and an Earth sensor. ... This continued intermittently until the rocket burn, at which time ... with incoming asymptotic direction at an angle of -13.6 degrees from the lunar equator. ...
Instrumental neutron activation analysis (INAA) and radionuclide X-ray fluorescence analysis (RXFA) were used for the determination of rare earth elements. For INAA, solution obtained by sample decomposition was dripped onto filter paper, enclosed and sealed into a polyethylene foil. The sample was activated in reactor WWR-S over a period of 4 to 6 hours with a neutron fluence of 10"1"3cm"-"2. Gamma radiation measurement was carried out with a planar and a coaxial HP-Ge detector in three decay periods. La, Ce, Nd, Sm, Eu, Gd, Tb, Ho, Tm, Yb and Lu were determined. The advantage of the method is its accuracy and high sensitivity, the disadvantage is the time-consuming analysis. The RXFA method was used as a rapid and operative method for the analysis of loose ore samples, aqueous and organic solutions of rare earth elements. For exciting X-ray radiation, "2"4"1Am was used and the radiation of K-lines was detected with a planar Si(Li) detector. ...
Absorption and emission measurements at liquid-helium temperature, liquid-nitrogen temperature and room temperature have been performed on tetragonal scheelite-type rare earth sodium double molybdates Na[sub 5]RE(MoO[sub 4])[sub 4] and on RE-doped Na[sub 5]Gd(MoO[sub 4])[sub 4] samples. The rare earth occupies one single crystallographic position with S[sub 4] as point symmetry. The spectra were analysed according to the crystal field theory. From the experimental data, nearly complete energy level schemes of the Pr[sup 3+] and Nd[sup 3+], on the 4f [sup 2] and 4f [sup 3] configurations were derived. Very good correlation was obtained between the experimental and simulated energy level schemes, first for the approximated D[sub 2d] and then for the true S[sub 4] symmetries. The crystal field parameters vary smoothly with the atomic number of the rare earth, when compared with those determined previously for Eu[sup 3+] in the ...
Recent proposals have shown that a quantum degenerate gas of alkaline earth atoms can be used for a number of novel quantum computing and quantum simulation experiments. Strontium is a good candidate for such experiments because it can be controlled with high precision, as demonstrated in recent atomic clock experiments. Unfortunately, the small scattering length of strontium is not amenable to evaporative cooling techniques that are used to reach quantum degeneracy. Furthermore, increasing the scattering length of alkaline earths with a magnetic Feshbach resonance is not possible due to their spinless electronic ground state configuration. However, recent theoretical and experimental work suggests the possibility of changing scattering lengths in alkaline earths with laser light. Using this optical Feshbach resonance near strontium's narrow ^1S0->^3P1 intercombination transition might allow its scattering length to be ...
Apr 25, 2010... oil per day were leaking from an oil well in the Gulf of Mexico in late April, following an explosion at an offshore drilling rig on April 20, 2010. ...
BackgroundNematoda diverged from other animals between 600–1,200 million years ago and has become one of the most diverse animal phyla on earth. Most nematodes are free-living...Full Text Available
In 18 months the Canadian Medical Discoveries Fund (CMDF) has attracted investments worth $180 million to spend on biotechnology and medical research. Although eight initial investments totalled only...Full Text Available
BackgroundLake Tanganyika (LT) is the oldest of the African Rift Lakes and is one of the richest freshwater ecosystems on Earth, with high levels of faunal diversity and endemism....Full Text Available
An introduction to time-of-flight neutron spectroscopy is presented in the context of the study of magnetic materials. Examples are taken from the class of rare earth and actinide magnetic materials known as `strongly correlated electron` systems. (author) 11 figs., 24 refs.
Features: CHUQUICAMATA, LARGE OPEN PIT MINING OPERATIONS, ROADS, HILLS Center Point Latitude: -22.3 Center Point Longitude: -68.9 (Negative numbers indicate ...
Features: CHUQUICAMATA, LARGE OPEN PIT MINING OPERATIONS, ROADS, HILLS Center Point Latitude: -22.3 Center Point Longitude: -68.9 (Negative numbers indicate ...
From the gross conservation laws of thermodynamics in a convecting material we derive a bound on the ratio of the rate of production of mechanical or magnetic energy to the rate of internal radioactive...Full Text Available
It was thus actually the fourth stage of the rocket assembly. ... package, and several temperature sensors - was mounted in the cross-lattice frame. ... Earth's geomagnetic field and incoming charged particles from the Sun and extra-solar space. ...
retrieve detailed aerosol and cloud particle size distribution and shape ...... but on rain types, and hydrometeor characteristics. ..... of ice streams, decreasing sea ice cover in the Arctic, poleward movement of forest cover, and ...
... say for sure if the signal is coming from hail, lots of graupel, or some other hydrometeor . ... Precipitation forms when cloud droplets or ice particles in clouds grow and .... A landslide is the movement of rock, debris, or earth down a slope. ...
Sep 9, 2009... a French Ariane rocket successfully launched a new Earth-observing satellite ... The payload is a pair of identical sensors known as "high-resolution ... the resulting image) are activated simultaneously by incoming radiation; ...
... 03, 2001 | Rate It Lake Superior Streams http://www.lakesuperiorstreams.org/ (1 vote) interactively examine real-time water quality data from 5 ...north shore Lake Superior trout streams and learn about other streams in the region, how they \\
... In recent years workers in this field have focused on nucleation by nano-porous materials . This was in part motivated by a theoretical study by Page and Sear (2006) who proposed a two step model for nucleation in pores which suggest that there is ...
...October 2006 - present: University of Leeds, UK PhD Candidate in Geochemistry Thesis Title: Magnetite formation in reducing natural environments Supervisors: Dr Liane G. Benning ...Germany Bachelor of Science in Geosciences and Astrophysics Project Details Project Title: \\
One tiny marine plant makes life on Earth possible: phytoplankton. These microscopic photosynthetic drifters form the basis of the marine food web, they regulate carbon in the atmosphere, and are responsible for half of the photosynthesis that takes place on this planet.
BackgroundDengue fever is a mosquito-borne illness that places significant burden on tropical developing countries with unplanned urbanization. A surveillance system using Google...Full Text Available
The broad bands in the room-temperature excitation spectra of Sm"3"+-, Dy"3"+- and Tm"3"+-activated Ca-#alpha#-SiAlON phosphors are interpreted as the N"3"--to-rare earth charge transfer transition (CTT). From the energies of the charge transfer transitions and from the optical data presented for the Eu"2"+ ion, the location of the divalent rare earth ion energy levels relative to the valence and the conduction band of Ca-#alpha#-SiAlON is derived. The salient features of the energy-level diagram are shown to be practical in explaining the temperature-dependent variations of the Eu"2"+ and Yb"2"+ luminescence efficiency in Ca-#alpha#-SiAlON. A comparative study pertaining to the nature of the Yb"2"+ and Eu"2"+ ion luminescence in Ca-#alpha#-SiAlON and in SrSi_2O_2N_2 is presented. A tentative energy-level diagram of the trivalent rare earth ions in Ca-#alpha#-SiAlON is also constructed.
Investigations of psychrotrophic microorganisms have been limited even though the dominant environment of the Earth is cold and enzymes with high activities at low temperatures could have commercial...Full Text Available
is approximately 327000 km from the Earth's center (58000 km from the Moon's ...... source (figure 7-4). NEXT developed funding requirements for those ...... Code SF 2. 2101 NASA Rd. 1. Houston, TX 77058. Phone: (281) 483-7224 ...
ISS022, E, 8260, CHILE, CHUQUICAMATA, LARGE OPEN PIT MINING OPERATIONS, ROADS, HILLS, -22.3, -68.9, 20091209. ISS022, E, 8261, CHILE, CHUQUICAMATA, ...
Expedition 22 Commander Jeff Williams, aboard the International Space Station 220 miles above Earth, responds to questions posted on YouTube concerning the station's orientation, life in space and the recent butterfly experiment.
Sep 9, 2009 ... You are here: GES DISC Home Geomorphology from Space By Location Landforms by Location: Asia. Info. Landforms by Location: Asia. KEY, ASIA ...
An ascending node occurs when the subsatellite point crosses the earth's equator going from .... 11dB sigma-naught. This error budget includes the altimeter noise, ...... it is also recommended to filter the data as follows to ...
The US Department of the Army, Baltimore District Corps of Engineers, oversees a long-term monitoring study to assess and evaluate effects of the Jennings-Randolph reservoir on biota in the North Branch Potomac River. The reservoir was intended, in part, to mitigate effects of acid mine drainage originating in upstream and headwater area. The present study assessed recovery of benthos and fish in this system, six years after completion of the reservoir. Higher pH and lower iron and sulfate concentrations were observed upstream of the reservoir compared to preimpoundment conditions, suggesting better overall water quality in the upper North Branch. Water quality improved slightly directly downstream of the reservoir. However, the reservoir itself was poorly colonized by macrophytes and benthic organisms, and plankton composition suggested either metal toxicity and/or nutrient limitation. One large tributary to the North Branch and the reservoir (Stony River) was ...
Neurodegeneration observed in Alzheimer disease (AD) is believed to be related to the toxicity from reactive oxygen species (ROS) produced in the brain by the amyloid-{beta} (A{beta}) protein bound primarily to copper ions. The evidence for an oxidative stress role of A{beta}-Cu redox chemistry is still incomplete. Details of the copper binding site in A{beta} may be critical to the etiology of AD. Here we present the structure determined by combining x-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) and density functional theory analysis of A{beta} peptides complexed with Cu{sup 2+} in solution under a range of buffer conditions. Phosphate-buffered saline buffer salt (NaCl) concentration does not affect the high-affinity copper binding mode but alters the second coordination sphere. The XAS spectra for truncated and full-length A{beta}-Cu{sup 2+} peptides are similar. The novel distorted six-coordinated (3N3O) geometry around copper in the A{beta}-Cu{sup 2+} complexes include ...
The availability of polysilicon feedstock has become a major issue for the photovoltaic (PV) industry in recent years. Most of the current polysilicon feedstock is derived from rejected material from the semiconductor industry. However, the reject material can become scarce and more expensive during periods of expansion in the integrated-circuit industry. Continued rapid expansion of the PV crystalline-silicon industry will eventually require a dedicated supply of polysilicon feedstock to produce solar cells at lower costs. The photovoltaic industry can accept a lower purity polysilicon feedstock (solar-grade) compared to the semiconductor industry. The purity requirements and potential production techniques for solar-grade polysilicon have been reviewed. One interesting process from previous research involves reactive gas blowing of the molten silicon charge. As an example, Dosaj et all reported a reduction of metal and boron impurities from silicon melts using ...
The conversion of highly radioactive waste liquor into glass by the pot vitrification process has been studied at Harwell using a full-scale inactive pilot plant. A summary of the off-gas behavior and its interpretation is presented. Experimental runs were carried out on 3 representative wastes (MAGNOX - thermal reactor, metal fuel, THORP - thermal oxide fuel and PFR - fast reactor oxide fuel) using 2 methods of feeding the glass-formers (slurry and crizzle). Materials were carried over from the vitrification vessel into the off-gas system by entrainment supplemented by volatilization. The overall behavior of the off-gas was consistent with the presence in it of 5 separate aerosols of particulate matter. Sources of entrainment gave rise to 3 aerosols, and a further 2 aerosols were formed as a result of chemical reaction (Ru) and condensation (Cs) processes involving the volatile species. Entrainment was enhanced when the feed contained free ...
A summary of the off-gas behavior in the HARVEST pot vitrification process is presented. Experimental runs were carried out on 3 representative wastes (MAGNOX - thermal reactor, metal fuel, THORP - thermal oxide fuel and PFR - fast reactor oxide fuel) using 2 methods of feeding the glass-formers (slurry and crizzle). Materials were carried over from the vitrification vessel into the off-gas system by entrainment supplemented by volatilization. The main volatile elements were Ru, B, Cs. Some volatility was also shown by Na and Li. The overall behavior of the off-gas was consistent with the presence in it of 5 separate aerosols of particulate matter. Sources of entrainment gave rise to 3 aerosols, and a further 2 aerosols were formed as a result of chemical reaction (Ru) and condensation (Cs) proceses involving the volatile species. Entrainment was enhanced when the feed contained free alkali nitrate. The Ru volatility correlated directly with ...
Field studies were conducted May 28-June 1, 1979, to determine the chemical composition and physical behavior of discharges from an offshore gas drilling rig in the central basin of Lake Erie. The drilling operation was observed for four days, from rig jackup to the circulation of mud through the borehole after drilling had been completed. Resuspension studies using nephelometry, supplemented with chemical analyses, indicated little resuspension of lake bottom materials or release of metals to the water column during rig jack-up. Portions of the turbidity plumes generated during drilling were buoyant. Three surface turbidity plumes were mapped with nephelometry to a point at which particulate concentrations reached background levels in the Lake. Detectable plumes were approx. 400 to 1500 m in length and had maximum widths < 230 m. A chemical survey conducted in the plume during early gas shows indicated that discharged inorganic chemical ...
The mechanism of cobalt uptake was investigated using cells of the giant alga Chara corallina in which it is possible to resolve separately uptake by the cell wall and actual influx across the cell membrane. The absorption of {sup 60}Co by Chara cells appeared to saturate within 2 h. but this was mainly due to rapid uptake into the cell wall which accounted for 87-92% of the total activity. Even after prolonged desorption most of the cell-associated {sup 60}Co was found on the cell wall. The intracellular distribution of absorbed {sup 60}Co was investigated by fractionating the cell into cytoplasm and vacuole. It was shown that {sup 60}Co influx to the vacuole occurs simultaneously with influx to the cytoplasm. The transported species appears to be Co{sup 2+} rather than the less charged Co(OH){sup +} or Co(O){sub 2}. {sup 60}Co influx is pH dependent (optimum pH 7-9), and is sensitive to some other divalent metals. Influx from solutions ...
The mechanism of cobalt uptake was investigated using cells of the giant alga Chara corallina in which it is possible to resolve separately uptake by the cell wall and actual influx across the cell membrane. The absorption of "6"0Co by Chara cells appeared to saturate within 2 h. but this was mainly due to rapid uptake into the cell wall which accounted for 87-92% of the total activity. Even after prolonged desorption most of the cell-associated "6"0Co was found on the cell wall. The intracellular distribution of absorbed "6"0Co was investigated by fractionating the cell into cytoplasm and vacuole. It was shown that "6"0Co influx to the vacuole occurs simultaneously with influx to the cytoplasm. The transported species appears to be Co"2"+ rather than the less charged Co(OH)"+ or Co(O)_2. "6"0Co influx is pH dependent (optimum pH 7-9), and is sensitive to some other divalent metals. Influx from solutions containing 1 #mu#M "6"0Co was inhibited ...
Amino acids other than those that serve as ligands have been found to influence the chemical properties of transferrin iron. The catalytic ability of pyrophosphate to mediate transferrin iron release to a terminal acceptor is largely quenched by modification non-liganded histine groups on the protein. The first order rate constants of iron release for several partially histidine modified protein samples were measured. A statistical method was employed to establish that one non-liganded histidine per metal binding domain was responsible for the reduction in rate constant. These results imply that the iron mediated chelator, pyrophosphate, binds directly to a histidine residue on the protein during the iron release process. EPR spectroscopic results are consistent with this interpretation. Kinetic and amino acid sequence studies of ovotransferrin and lactoferrin, in addition to human serum transferrin, have allowed the tentative assignment of His-207 in the ...
Full text: Nuclear material is subjected to chemical processing throughout the entire fuel cycle. Traces of the chemical reagents and solvents are left behind in the nuclear material. So far essentially metallic impurities or light elements have been investigated for their potential in providing clues on the type of process they originate from. In the present investigation, the applicability of anions for attributing nuclear material to a certain chemical process has been investigated. Anions (e.g. nitrate, sulphate, phosphate, chloride) originate from acids or salt solutions that are used for processing of solutions containing uranium or plutonium. The study presented in this paper focuses on yellow cake samples originating from different mines applying different chemical processes for leaching, dissolving and precipitating the uranium. Consequently, the anionic patterns should be different. The concentrations of different anionic species were ...
Mating signals are often directed at numerous senses and provide information about species identity, gender, receptiveness, individual identity and mate quality. Given the diversity of colourful body...Full Text Available
Invasive species are increasingly becoming a policy priority. This has spurred researchers and managers to try to estimate the risk of invasion. Conceptually, invasions are dependent both on the receiving...Full Text Available
Unlike most mammalian species, the prairie vole is highly affiliative, forms enduring social bonds between mates, and displays biparental behavior. Over two decades of research in this species...Full Text Available
Six species having characteristics of plants with the C4 dicarboxylic photosynthetic pathway, Echinochloa utilis L. Ohwi et Yabuno (Japanese millet), Cynodon dactylon...Full Text Available
Alterations in mass transport patterns of low-density lipoproteins (LDL) and oxygen are known to cause atherosclerosis in larger arteries. We hypothesise that the species transport processes in coronary...Full Text Available
Organisms ranging from bacteria and corals to plants and vertebrates can form intransitive competitive networks, in which coexistence can be maintained because no one species or genotype is superior...Full Text Available
... presumed first instar Geocharidius. Anillines occur in deep forest litters, beneath rocks and in soil (endogean), or as ... their small size and cryptic mode of life. Forest litter inhabiting anillines ma...
The presence of albumin structures with the capacity to bind to a surface receptor in group C and G streptococci was studied in serum samples from 45 mammalian species representing 15 different orders,...Full Text Available
BackgroundThe genus Vibrio is a diverse group of Gram-negative bacteria comprised of 74 species. Furthermore, the genus has and is expected to continue expanding...Full Text Available
Some common decay organisms of vegetables and ripened fruits are Alternaria species. Even fruits and vegetables kept under refrigeration can be spoiled by Alternaria species because the mold grows at...Full Text Available
Evolutionary biologists have long been fascinated by both the ways in which species respond to ecological conditions at the edges of their geographic ranges and the way that species' body sizes evolve...Full Text Available
Oryza sativa or Asian cultivated rice is one of the major cereal grass species domesticated for human food use during the Neolithic. Domestication of this species from the wild grass...Full Text Available
Background and AimsPlant species from various taxa ‘escape’ from low oxygen conditions associated with submergence by a suite of traits collectively called the low...Full Text Available
Species of bacteria associated with Stylophora pistillata were determined by analyses of 16S ribosomal genes. Coral samples were taken from two distinct sites at Kenting, in the far...Full Text Available
BackgroundPopulation densities of many species throughout the world are changing due to direct persecution as well as anthropogenic habitat modification. These changes may induce...Full Text Available
Background and AimsVariation in mating patterns may be particularly evident in colonizing species because they commonly experience wide variation in plant density. Here, the role...Full Text Available
BackgroundBengal tiger Panthera tigris tigris the National Animal of India, is an endangered species. Estimating populations for such species is the main objective...Full Text Available
Several Bartonella species have now been implicated as human pathogens. The recovery of these fastidious organisms in the clinical microbiology laboratory remains difficult, and current...Full Text Available
Despite their ecological and economical importance, fishes of the family Ariidae are still genetically and cytogenetically poorly studied. Among the 133 known species of ariids, only eight have been...Full Text Available
Species differences in lifespan have been attributed to cellular survival during various stressors, designated here as ‘cell resilience’. In primary fibroblast cultures, cell...Full Text Available
Increased production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in mitochondria underlies major systemic diseases, and this clinical problem stimulates a great scientific interest in the mechanism of ROS generation....Full Text Available
Consistent holistic view of sexual species as the highest form of biological existence is presented. The Weismann's idea that sex and recombination provide the variation for the natural...Full Text Available
Thaxtomin A is a phytotoxin produced by Streptomyces scabies and other Streptomyces species, the causative agents of common scab disease in potato and other taproot...Full Text Available
by American scientists, ecosystems containing a greater number of plant species, produce more biomass.This result ...to meet the increasing demand for land for farmland planted with monocultures, buildings and roads.For ...have hypothesized that greater ecological diversity (diversity of plant and animal species) leads to a greater
Rare-earth oxides are doped into ZnO varistors as grain growth inhibitors for increasing the varistors' voltage gradients. However, their leakage currents become large and their nonlinear coefficients decrease at the same time. The reasonable explanation for such a phenomenon has not yet been available. In this paper, the temperature dependences of varistor samples' leakage currents are investigated, which reveal that the increased leakage currents of ZnO varistors with Y2O3 doping are mainly due to the bypass paths through the intergranular materials at grain corners.
The luminescence spectra of trivalent europium ion embedded in various rare earth chromates were analysed. The spectroscopic data in most of chromates are in agreement with the structural determination but for some others the discrepancy between two methods is underlined. Energy level schemes were deducted from the experimental emission spectra and the crystal field simulation has been performed. The maximum splitting of the "7F_1 manifold of the Eu"3"+ ion as a function of N_v, the so-called crystal field strength parameter, is given. This allows us to classify the compounds according to their crystal field extent. (author)
This paper summarizes the establishment and current development of space activities in the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela. Space activities in Venezuela are focused on the areas of telecommunications, Earth observation and research on the physical properties of the Earth, and have as a primary goal the satisfaction of social needs. Current development of space activities started in 1999 when the new National Constitution recognized the value of outer space as the common heritage of mankind, and the key role of science and technology in promoting human welfare. The Bolivarian Agency for Space Activities (ABAE) was created in 2007. Its legal framework recognizes three key elements that drive its policy: the participation of society, capacity building and human training, and international c...
The statistical {gamma}-spectra of highly excited even-even rare earth nuclei are simulated applying appropriate level density and strength function to a given nucleus. Hindrance effects due to K-conservation are taken into account. Simulations are compared to experimental data from the {sup 163}Dy({sup 3}He,{alpha}){sup 162}Dy and {sup 173}Yb({sup 3}He,{alpha}){sup 172}Yb reactions. The influence of the K quantum number at higher energies is discussed. 21 refs., 7 figs., 2 tabs.
When in resonance, Raman scattering exhibits strong enhancement ranging from four to six orders of magnitude. This physical phenomenon has been applied to remote sensing of the Earth`s atmosphere. With a 16 inch Cassegrain telescope and spectrometer/ CCD-detector system, 70-150 ppm-m of SO{sub 2} in the atmosphere has been detected at a distance of 0.5 kilometer. This system can be used to detect/monitor chemical effluence in the atmosphere by their unique Raman fingerprints. Experimental result together with detailed resonance Raman and atmospheric laser propagation effects will be discussed.
Radon is often used as a natural tracer for geochemical studies. In many cases radon interacts with water. The aim of this study is to assess the time required for radon to dissolve in water and reciprocally to degas from it, and to estimate the partition ratio between the two phases. A special setup has been devised and built for this purpose. Several experiments carried out with this equipment show that both dissolution and degassing are rapidly achieved phenomena. The qualitative consequence of these results in the field of Earth science are shortly discussed in the paper.
... Southeastern Forests Feral Pig Fishes of Georgia: Georgia Freshwater Fish Distribution, Classification, and Information Flora of the Oconee National ... ...
Statement of problem The opacity of the metal framework in metal ceramic restorations results in reduced light transmission through the tooth that diminishes the esthetics of the tooth. Purpose The purpose of this study was to investigate the color change that occurs apically to a metal ceramic restoration as a result of altering the metal framework design. Material and methods Color change relative to the unprepared tooth (DE) between various metal ceramic restorations was determined using computer imaging and CIELAB coordinates and compared to previously determined levels of clinical acceptability. Color change was evaluated by examining 2 conditions (the metal copings and the completed metal ceramic restorations), 4 framework designs (metal collar and porcelain margins with 0-mm, 1-mm, ...
Statement of problem Although the esthetic outcome of a collarless metal ceramic restoration is superior to that of a restoration with a metal margin, its mechanical strength has not been evaluated. Purpose The purpose of this study was to evaluate and compare the fracture resistance of metal ceramic restorations with metal margins to that of metal ceramic restorations with circumferential porcelain margins, after exposure to masticatory simulation. Material and methods Twenty-four metal ceramic restorations were fabricated and paired with 24 cobalt-chrome tooth analogs. Twelve of the specimens had metal margins, while the remainder had circumferential porcelain margins. The restorations were cemented on the metal tooth analogs with a resin-modified glass ionomer luting agent (FujiCEM). Al...
Protecting Earth and planets against the invasion of 'alien life forms' is not military science fiction, but it is the peaceful daily job of engineers and scientists of space agencies. 'Planetary Protection' is preventing microbial contamination of both the target planet and the Earth when sending robots on interplanetary space mission. It is important to preserve the 'natural' conditions of other planets and to not bring with robots 'earthly microbes' (forward contamination) when looking for 'spores of extra terrestrial life'. The Earth and its biosphere must be protected from potential extraterrestrial biological contamination when returning samples of other planets to the Earth (backward contamination). The NASA-Caltech Laboratory for Planetary Protection of Dr. Kasthuri Venkateswaran at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) (California, USA) routinely monitors and characterizes ...
Climates at regional scale are strongly dependent on the interaction between atmosphere and its lower boundary, the oceans and the land surface mosaic. Land surfaces influence climate through their albedo, and the aerodynamic roughness, the processes of the biosphere and many soil hydrological properties; all these factors vary considerably geographically. Land surfaces receive a certain portion of the solar irradiance depending on the cloudiness, atmospheric transparency and surface albedo. Short-wave solar irradiance is the source of the heat energy exchange at the earth`s surface and also regulates many biological processes, e.g. photosynthesis. Methods for estimating solar irradiance, atmospheric transparency and surface albedo were reviewed during the course of this project. The solar energy at earth`s surface is consumed for heating the soil and the lower atmosphere. Where moisture is available, evaporation is one of the key components of ...
The surface properties of copper-refractory metal (CU-RF) alloy bodies are modified by heat treatments which cause the refractory metal to form a coating on the exterior surfaces of the alloy body. The alloys have a copper matrix with particles or dendrites of the refractory metal dispersed therein, which may be niobium, vanadium, tantalum, chromium, molybdenum, or tungsten. The surface properties of the bodies are changed from those of copper to that of the refractory metal.
The wet and dry venom yields for most Australian native dangerous snakes and a number of non-Australian species are presented. Snakes from the Pseudonaja genus yielded higher than previously published amounts and suggest reconsideration be given to increasing the volume of antivenom in each vial. Higher percentage solids were obtained from venoms from the 4 cobra species (Naja) and Pseudechis genus included in this series. PMID:16937075
The structure of the layers formed on a silver electrode by the adsorption of pyridine, Cl"-, CN"- and SO_4"2"- is discussed. A comparison of the amount of the species adsorbed with their Raman spectra shows that there is no simple relation between the species concentration and the enhancement of the Raman intensity. Furthermore, the inhomogeneity of the layers is shown by Raman microscopy observations. These results lead the authors to propose the formation of a new species stabilized in the colloidal silver layer. The Raman enhancement could be explained by the existence of a resonance effect. (Auth.).
The primary objective of this project is to investigate the effects of global change on the biodiversity of aphid communities in Western Europe. Biodiversity has been examined at 3 levels: total number of species, phenology and reproductive strategy. Data were provided by EXAMINE, the European suction traps network which has been now operating for 35 years. 392 different species have been identified. At each location, total number of species has been regularly increasing, one additional species being caught every 1 or 2 years depending on location. This is due to introduced species but also to warming which favours rare species. No general trend of increasing density has been detected, but phenological earliness of almost all species (annual date of first appearance in suction traps) is strongly correlated with temperature and especially ...
DescriptionPhytoplankton is the collective name given to the microscopic floating plants in seas and lakes. Under certain conditions, the abundance of phytoplankton as a whole or of one or more species in particular, can reach a magnitude at which it is visible through discolouration of the sea. Some of these blooms because of the colour of the water have been called 'Red Tides'. Blooms of some 300 species of the phytoplankton are known as Harmful Algal Bloom (HAB) species in recognition of their poten [continued...
Demidospermus annulus sp. nov. (Platyhelminthes, Monogenea, Ancyrocephalidae) is described from the gills of the catfish Parapimelodus valenciennis L?tken collected in Samboromb?n Bay, Argentina. The new species differs from all congeneric species mainly by the structure of the accessory piece of the male copulatory organ, the sclerotized ring-shaped vaginal aperture and the dorsal bar articulation.
An important application of metal hydrides is as a moderator material in nuclear reactors. The fundamental properties of hydrides are illustrated and an impression given of the current research into hydrogen in transition metals. Phase diagrams, magnetic properties, temperature dependence of the diffusion coefficient, energy level schemes and superconductivity are considered. (C.F.).
High temperature fatigue crack growth (FCG) and creep crack growth (CCG) experiments have been conducted in air on weld metal, heat affected zone (HAZ) and base metal of the austenitic Alloy 800 and the nickel base Alloy 617. Tests were performed on specimens machined from pipes, in the temperature range 550-900 deg. C. The crack propagation mode was examined. At all temperatures and for both materials, FCG of base metal was found to be the highest, whereas the weld metal exhibited the lowest FCG rate. The FCG rate in the HAZ was found to lie in between of those observed for base and weld metal. The crack propagation mode remained transgranular in base metal and transdendritic in weld metal at all temperatures. CCG behaviour could be described using the energy rate integral C*. Base metal and weld ...
A review of the research activities carried out by the authors on biosorption of heavy metals is reported in this work. In particular, biomass characterisation, biosorption equilibrium with single metal system, biomass immobilisation in polymeric matrix and related kinetics, biosorption in membrane reactor systems are the main aspects reported in the paper. (orig.)
The Δ- and Λ-isomerism of octahedral metal complexes is employed as a source of chirality for inducing chiral nematic phases. By applying a wide range of chiral metal complexes as a...Full Text Available
Abstract Mitochondrial ribosomal gene sequences were used to investigate the status of several populations of hydromedusae belonging to the genus Turritopsis (family Oceaniidae). Several nominal species have been described for this genus, but most of them had been synonymized and attributed to one cosmopolitan species, Turritopsis nutricula. A recent revision based on morphological and reproductive characters, however, has shown that many different populations can be distinguished and that several of the nominal Turritopsis species are likely valid biological species. Our investigation using molecular sequence data of 16S mitochondrial gene confirms these results. The Mediterranean Turritopsis must be attributed to Turritopsis dohrnii and the Turritopsis of New Zealand must be referred to ...
Surveys were carried out in 2006 and 2007 in Umbria (central Italy) to evaluate the presence of mycotoxigenic fungi and mycotoxins in maize grain sampled at harvest. Fusarium spp., were the most abundant species detected in maize kernels, followed by Aspergillus species of sections Flavi and Nigri and by Penicillium spp. Among Fusarium species, F. verticillioides was the most prevalent species, as detected by PCR directly on the kernels and on the fungi isolated from the kernels, followed by F. proliferatum and F. subglutinans. Fumonisins were the predominant mycotoxins with values, on average, of 4.3 and 5.7mgkg-1, in 2006 and 2007, respectively, with a maximum of 76.3mgkg-1 in the second year. Deoxynivalenol ranged from 0.2 to 3.98mgkg-1 in 2006 (average 1.04mgkg-1) and from undetectable...
We tested two approaches to forecast species distributions while balancing the impact of climate change against the inertia promoted by other influential factors that have been forecast as not changing. Given that mountain species are presumed to be more at risk due to climate warming, we selected an amphibian, a reptile, a bird, and a mammal species present in the Spanish mountains, to model their distributional response to climate change during this century. The climatic forecasts were made according to the general circulation models CGCM2 and ECHAM4 and to the A2 and B2 emission scenarios. We modelled the response of the species to spatial, topographic, human, and climatic variables separately. In our first approach, we compared each of these single-factor models using the Akaike Inform...
This paper reports on hydrolysis of 10 metal salt aqueous solutions of 6 metal oxides that was conducted in supercritical water. Continuous and rapid production of metal oxide fine particles was achieved by mixing a metal salt aqueous solution with preheated water fed from another line. The reaction time required was less than 2 min. Particle size, morphology, and crystal structure of the obtained metal (hydrous) oxides were examined. Particle size (20 to 600 nm) was different among the system but the size range was relatively narrow in all the cases.
contaminated groundwater from the ASARCO metals refining facility ... ditch or creek crossing the ASARCO property at its northern end) and one at its ...
... Abstract : Small metallic fragments can be trapped in combustible cartridge cases during manufacture and released into the interior-ballistic flow ...
The causes of autoimmune responses leading to human kidney pathology remain unknown. However, environmental agents such as microorganisms and/or xenobiotics are good candidates for that role. Metals,...Full Text Available
A method is described for immobilizing or solidifying waste material, which includes blending the waste material with powdered metal and subjecting the mixture of waste material and powdered metal to high pressure. (author).
Immunoassays are versatile analytical techniques that had a leading role in various clinical applications, during the last four decades. The studies carried out by Rosalyn Yalow, Solomon Berson and Roger Ekins in the 1960s gave a breakthrough in the development of this novel analytical method. Sensitivity up to femtomolar concentrations, high specificity and universal application to different classes of molecular species made immunoassay a very useful tool in analytical investigation. The expertise acquired by immunochemists in producing antibodies against any antigen and the ability of radiochemists in labeling the antigens with "1"2"5I without affecting the active site are the two main factors responsible for the above development. There are concerns about the safety and health of humans due to the high-level contamination of environment by pesticides, industrial compounds and metals, anabolic steroids in milk and meat products, and presence ...
Most of the organic electronic devices are nowadays fabricated under poor vacuum conditions. In this regard, there is only little knowledge about the impact of contamination of the metal electrode on the charge injection barrier in this kind of electronic devices. In our study we have performed X-ray and ultra violet photoemission spectroscopy (XPS, UPS) on interfaces between the organic semiconductor -sexithiophene and sputter cleaned (ideal) metals as well as contaminated (realistic) metals. As metal substrates we have used silver, gold, palladium, and platinum. These metals provide us a wide range of metal work functions from 4.2 eV for silver up to 5.5 eV for platinum. For all interfaces of -sexithiophene and contaminated metals we have observed a reduction of the interface dipole and the hole injection barrier. The charge injection ...
Pr{sub 2}[Mo{sub 2}C{sub 3}] was obtained by arc melting of the elements followed by annealing at 1500 C in arc welded and sealed Mo-ampoules. The compound was characterised by chemical analyses, X-ray diffraction and metallography. The crystal structure (monoclinic, P2{sub 1}/c, Z = 4, a = 597.99(10) pm, b = 665.15(11) pm, c = 1185.60(19) pm and {beta} = 111.631(5) ) represents a new structure type containing a three dimensional polyanion {sub {infinity}}{sup 3}[(Mo{sub 2}C{sub 3}){sup 6-}] with Molybdenum(III) in a distorted tetrahedral coordination by carbo-ligands. Tetrameric building-blocks, Mo{sub 4}C{sub 10}, of edge sharing MoC{sub 4}-tetrahedra are arranged to form layers running parallel to (100). The layers are interconnected along [100] by sharing common apices of the MoC{sub 4} tetrahedra. The coordination polyhedra around praseodymium represent distorted (PrC{sub 5})-arrangements (mono capped tetrahedra and square pyramids). The metal atoms together ...
Earth`s history has been witness to recurrently alternating phases of catastrophic evolution and dominant tectonic deformations, contractions and extension of rifting and spreading leading to quasi-cyclic changes in sedimentary environment and various earth processes. Recent studies have shown quasi-periodicities of 32{+-}2 Million years (Myr) in various endogenic (geomagnetic reversals, magmatic events, mantle convection, various tectonic activities, climate change and biological extinctions) and exogenic (impact catering) processes indicating a remarkable kinship. A time series analysis is presented of the available CO{sub 2} record over the past 250 Myr decoded from global CaCO{sub 3} accumulation rates in sedimentary environment. The time series analysis reveals an intriguing evidence of a dominant periodicity of 33{+-}2 Myr which matches closely with a `common catastrophic periodicity` of 32 Myr identified in various terrestrial and ...
Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) must account for legally protected and endangered species. Uncertainties relating to the validity and sensitivity of EIA arise from predictions and valuation of effects on these species. This paper presents a validity and sensitivity analysis of a model (BIO-SAFE) for assessment of impacts of land use changes and physical reconstruction measures on legally protected and endangered river species. The assessment is based on links between species (higher plants, birds, mammals, reptiles and amphibians, butterflies and dragon- and damselflies) and ecotopes (landscape ecological units, e.g., river dune, soft wood alluvial forests), and on value assignment to protected and endangered species using different valuation criteria (i.e., EU Habitats and Birds directive, Conventions of Bern and Bonn and Red Lists). The validity of BIO-SAFE has been tested ...
Waste is a heterogeneous fuel, often with high levels of chlorine, alkali and heavy metals. This leads to much more severe corrosion problems than combustion of fossil fuels. The corrosion rates of the materials used can be extremely high. Materials used for heat transferring parts are usually carbon steel or low alloyed steel. These are significantly cheaper than other steels. Austenitic stainless steel is also used, but is often avoided due to its sensitivity to stress corrosion cracking. More advanced materials, such as nickel base alloys, can be used in extremely aggressive environments. Since these materials are expensive and do not always have sufficient mechanical properties, they are often used as coatings on carbon steel tubes or as composite tubes. A new method, which shows good results at the first tests in plants, is electroplating with nickel. Plastic materials can be used in low temperature parts if the temperature does not exceed 150 deg C. A glass ...
Ternary copper(II) complexes [Cu(L1)B](ClO4) (1, 2) and [Cu(L2)B](ClO4) (3, 4), where HL1 and HL2 are tridentate NSO- and ONO-donor Schiff bases and B is a heterocyclic base, viz. dipyrido[3,2-d:2',3'-f]quinoxaline (dpq, 1 and 3) or dipyrido[3,2-a:2',3'-c]phenazine (dppz, 2 and 4), were prepared and their DNA binding and photoinduced DNA cleavage activity studied. Complex 1, structurally characterized by single-crystal X-ray crystallography, shows an axially elongated square-pyramidal (4 + 1) coordination geometry in which the monoanionic L1 binds at the equatorial plane. The NN-donor dpq ligand exhibits an axial-equatorial binding mode. The complexes display good binding propensity to calf thymus DNA, giving a relative order 2 (NSO-dppz) > 4 (ONO-dppz) > 1 (NSO-dpq) > 3 (ONO-dpq). They cleave supercoiled pUC19 DNA to its nicked circular form when treated with 3-mercaptopropionic acid (MPA) by formation of hydroxyl radicals as the cleavage active species ...
Complete text of publication follows. According to the new European regulations (Restrictions of Hazardous Substance Directive), there is an emerging demand for environmental friendly metal treatments instead on formerly used chromate conversion coating technique. The aim of the present investigations was to characterise and compare silicon containing protective thin layers on roughened galvanized steel surfaces (with average roughness of 0.7 microns), using FTIR microscopy and imaging techniques. The silicon containing coatings were produced either by Chemical Vapour Deposition (CVD) or by wet chemical treatment using liquid silane. FTIR techniques offer new possibilities in the characterisations and chemical mapping of differently coated thin films, besides SEM+EDS, AFM, nanoindentation, XPS measurements (P. Nemeth et al., Materials Science Forum, 589 (2008) 433-438). All measurements were carried out by a Varian FTS-7000 spectrometer with a 'Stingray' microscope ...
One-electron reduction of the square-planar nickel precursor (PNP)NiCl ( 1) (PNP (-) = N[2-P(CHMe 2) 2-4-methylphenyl] 2) with KC 8 effects ligand reorganization of the pincer ligand to assemble a Ni(I) dimer, [Ni(mu 2-PNP)] 2 ( 2), containing a Ni 2N 2 core structure, as inferred by its solid-state X-ray structure. Solution magnetization measurements are consistent with a paramagnetic Ni(I) system likely undergoing a monomer dimer equilibrium. The room-temperature and 4 K solid-state X-band electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectra display anisotropic signals. Low-temperature solid-state X-band EPR data at 4 K reveal rhombic values g z = 1.980(4), g x = 2. 380(4), and g y = 2.225(4), as well as a forbidden signal at g = 4.24 for the Delta M S = 2 half field transition, in accord with 2 having two weakly interacting metal centers. Utilizing an S = 1 model, full spin Hamiltonian simulation of the low-temperature EPR spectrum on the solid sample was achieved by ...
ObjectivesObjectives Not AvailableDescriptionWe will study the electrodeposition of metals from solutions containing a~%~ mixture of metal cations, in order to discover the conditions which lead to the separation of the metals. Measurements will be made both using small glass cells and using a more realistic size (10 cm x 10 cm electrodes) of electrodeposition cell.~%~
Pitting corrosion is localized accelerated dissolution of metal that occurs as a result of a breakdown of the otherwise protective passive film on the metal surface. This paper provides an overview of the critical factors influencing the pitting corrosion of metals. The phenomenology of pitting corrosion is discussed, including the effects of alloy composition, environment, potential, and temperature. A summary is then given of studies that have focused on various stages of the pitting process, including breakdown of the passive film, metastable pitting, and pit growth. 120 refs.
According to the present invention, a joined product is at least two ceramic parts, specifically bi-element carbide parts with a bond joint therebetween, wherein the bond joint has a metal silicon phase. The bi-element carbide refers to compounds of MC, M.sub.2 C, M.sub.4 C and combinations thereof, where M is a first element and C is carbon. The metal silicon phase may be a metal silicon carbide ternary phase, or a metal silicide.
A decrease of inhibitor concentration in a medium is always desirable even if the inhibitor is not toxic. In this connection, a sharp increase in the protective effect of certain corrosion inhibitors when cathodic polarization was applied to the metal is reviewed. The importance of a simultaneous account of the chemical structure of inhibitor and the nature of the metal corrosion under cathodic polarization is outlined. Some examples of applying this combined protection of metals are discussed.
We investigate the influence of lunar-like satellites on the infrared orbital light curves of Earth-analog extra-solar planets. Such light curves will be obtained by NASA's Terrestrial Planet Finder (TPF) and ESA's Darwin missions as a consequence of repeat observations to confirm the companion status of a putative planet. We use an energy balance model to calculate disk-averaged infrared (bolometric) fluxes from planet-satellite systems over a full orbital period (one year). The satellites are assumed to lack an atmosphere, have a low thermal inertia like that of the Moon and span a range of plausible radii. The planets are assumed to have thermal and orbital properties that mimic those of the Earth while their obliquities and orbital longitudes of inferior conjunction remain free parameters. Even if the gross thermal properties of the planet can be independently constrained (e.g. via spectroscopy or visible-wavelength detection of specular ...
Hard X-ray/gamma-ray spectrometers aboard two interplanetary spacecraft, Ulysses and Pioneer Venus Orbiter (PVO), and two near-Earth spacecraft, Yohkoh and Compton Gamma Ray Observatory (GRO/BATSE), are currently in operation. A unique set of circumstances have permitted the observation of the 15 November 1991 (2238 UT) flare by all the four instruments. This intense flare (GOES class X 1.5) was associated with the bright (3B) H-alpha flare located on the disk (S13, W19) in the active region 6919. At the time of the flare, the Ulysses and PVO spacecraft were located respectively 101[degree] and 52[degree] west of the Sun-Earth line. Thus the view angles for the PVO and Ulysses instruments were quite different from those of the near-Earth instruments on GRO and Yohkoh. The preliminary photon energy spectra observed by the four instruments at different times during the flare will be presented and their implications regarding ...
In this paper, we first calculate the realistic Earth matter effects on the detection of type II supernova neutrinos at the Daya Bay reactor neutrino experiment which is currently under construction. It is found that the Earth matter effects depend on the neutrino incident angle \\theta, the neutrino mass hierarchy \\Delta m_{31}^{2}, the crossing probability at the high resonance region inside the supernova, P_H, the neutrino temperature, T_{\\alpha}, and the pinching parameter in the neutrino spectrum, \\eta_{\\alpha}. We give the expression for the dependence of P_H on the neutrino mixing angle \\theta_{13}. With this we obtain the relations between \\theta_{13} and the event numbers for various reaction channels of supernova neutrinos. Using these relations, we propose a possible way to measure \\theta_{13} smaller than 1.5^\\circ. Such a sensitivity cannot be achieved by the Daya Bay neutrino experiment (the sensitivity of the Daya Bay ...
Since living things began their activities on the earth, the extermination of living things in large number on global scale occurred twice 230 million years ago (P-Tr boundary) and 65 million years ago (K-T boundary). As to the cause of exterminating living things in short period, there are volcano eruption theory, meteorite collision theory and so on, but still it is not decided. Therefore, as to the strata of P-Tr boundary in south-western part of China where it has been known the preservation of P-Tr strata is especially good, the existence of elements was measured by instrument neutron activation analysis and ICP-MS, and the state of change was examined. According to the results, the change occurred at the P-Tr boundary on the earth, and further, the possibility of meteorite collision by paying attention to Ir were examined. The samples, the neutron activation analysis, the ICP-MS and the results are reported. The distinction by strata and ...
We have begun the ExploreNEOs project in which we observe some 700 Near-Earth Objects (NEOs) at 3.6 and 4.5 ?m with the Spitzer Space Telescope in its Warm Spitzer mode. From these measurements and catalog optical photometry we derive albedos and diameters of the observed targets. The overall goal of our ExploreNEOs program is to study the history of near-Earth space by deriving the physical properties of a large number of NEOs. In this paper, we describe both the scientific and technical construction of our ExploreNEOs program. We present our observational, photometric, and thermal modeling techniques. We present results from the first 101 targets observed in this program. We find that the distribution of albedos in this first sample is quite broad, probably indicating a wide range of compositions within the NEO population. Many objects smaller than 1 km have high albedos (?>0.35), but few objects larger than 1 km have high albedos. This ...
The collision of the Earth with extra-terrestrial ice-volatile bodies is proposed as a mechanism to produce rapid changes in the geologic record. These bodies would be analogs of the ice satellites found for the Jovian planets and suspected for comets and certain low density bodies in the Asteroid belt. Five generic end-members are postulated: (1) water ice; (2) dry ice: carbon-carbon dioxide rich, (3) oceanic (chloride) ice; (4) sulfur-rich ice; (5) ammonia hydrate-rich ice; and (6) clathrate: methane-rich ice. Due to the volatile nature of these bodies, evidence for their impact with the Earth would be subtle and probably best reflected geochemically or in the fossil record. Actual boloids impacting the Earth may have a variable composition, generally some admixture with water ice. However for discussion purposes, only the effects of a dominant component will be treated. The general geological effects of such collisions, ...
A low pressure nuclear thermal rocket (LPNTR) is configured to meet the requirements of a nuclear stage for manned Mars exploration. Safety, reliability and performance are given equal consideration in selecting the stage configuration. Preliminary trade studies are conducted to size the engine thrust and determine the thrust chamber pressure. A weight breakdown and mechanical configuration for the selected LPNTR concept are defined. A seven engine stage configuration is selected which gives a two engine out capability and eliminates the need for engine gimbaling. The stage can be ground assembled and launched as a unit including tankage for trans Earth injection and Earth orbital capture. The tankage is configured to eliminate the need for an inert shield. The small engine will be cheaper to develop than a single engine providing full thrust, and will be compatible with stages for Earth orbital, Lunar and deep space ...
This patent describes the producing of a refractory metal wherein a sponge refractory metal is produced as an intermediate product by the use of magnesium with the incidental production of magnesium chloride, and wherein residual magnesium is separated from the magnesium chloride and from refractory metal to a vacuum distillation step which fractionally distills the magnesium, the magnesium chloride, and the metal sub-chlorides; the steps of: recovering fractionally distilled vapors of magnesium chloride and metal sub-chlorides from a sponge refractory metal; separately condensing the vapors as separately recovered; and recycling the separately recovered magnesium at a purity of at least about 96%.
Thermal hydraulics of a liquid metal is important to design the blanket of a magnetic confined fusion reactor. Since a liquid metal has high thermal and electrical conductivity, the flow characteristics are often different from those of an ordinary liquid like water especially in thermal convection and under a magnetic field. It is difficult to simulate such flows in a liquid metal cooled blanket by water. Flow visualization is a popular method to study thermal hydraulics. Since most of metals are visible by neutron rays, neutron radiography is available to the flow visualization of a liquid metal. The purpose of this study is to develop a visualization technique of the flow in a liquid metal by real-time neutron radiography using the tracer and the dye injection methods. A real-time thermal neutron radiography system of JRR-3M in Japan Atomic Energy Research ...
Thermal hydraulics of a liquid metal is important to design the blanket of a magnetic confined fusion reactor. Since a liquid metal has high thermal and electrical conductivity, the flow characteristics are often different from those of an ordinary liquid like water especially in thermal convection and under a magnetic field. It is difficult to simulate such flows in a liquid metal cooled blanket by water. Flow visualization is a popular method to study thermal hydraulics. Since most of metals are visible by neutron rays, neutron radiography is available to the flow visualization of a liquid metal. The purpose of this study is to develop a visualization technique of the flow in a liquid metal by real-time neutron radiography using the tracer and the dye injection methods. A real-time thermal neutron radiography system of JRR-3M in Japan Atomic Energy Research ...
In order to develop the filler metal for Hastelloy alloy XR structure with thick wall, the weldability and high temperature strength properties of Hastelloy alloy XR weldment were investigated using the filler metals, which were alloy-designed on the basis of multiple regression analysis. The former was examined through the chemical analysis in the deposited metal, bend test, FISCO cracking test, optical microscopy and hardness measurement. The latter was investigated by means of tensile and creep test. It was found from these results that the crack susceptibility in the weldment was apparent to be lowered without degrading the high temperature strength properties. Therefore, it is concluded that these filler metals possess excellent performance as the filler metal for Hastelloy alloy XR structure with thick wall. (author).
Statement of problem Titanium is the most biocompatible metal used for dental casting; however, there is concern about its marginal accuracy after porcelain application since this aspect has direct influence on marginal fit. Purpose The purpose of this study was to determine the effect that metal selection and the porcelain firing procedure have on the marginal accuracy of metal ceramic prostheses. Material and methods Cast CP Ti, milled CP Ti, cast Ti-6Al-7Nb, and cast Ni-Cr copings (n=5) were fired with compatible porcelains (Triceram for titanium-based metals and VITA VMK 95 for Ni-Cr alloy). The Ni-Cr alloy fired with its porcelain served as the control. Photographs of metal copings placed on a master die were made. Marginal discrepancy was determined on the photographs using an image ...
Statement of problem Even though metal ceramic restorations (MCRs) are widely used by clinicians, the influence of the metal on the color of overlaying porcelain is unknown. Purpose The purpose of this study was to analyze the color alterations of different types of metal ceramic alloys during several stages of metal surface preparation and to determine the effect of those changes on the resulting color of opaque porcelain (OP). Material and Methods Seven different types of alloys (3 base metal, 3 noble, and 1 high noble) were used to prepare disk-shaped specimens (1 mm x 10 mm, n=3), followed by OP application (0.1 mm). Lab values of specimens were recorded after different stages of metal surface preparation (ingot, after casting, after oxidation, and after the OP application) in addition...
Estuaries and coastal regions are highly variable in the physical and hydrographic conditions. As a result of heavy urbanization and industrialization of the head waters of most estuaries, there are substantial localized inputs of contaminants to the estuary. These factors combined with the flushing characteristics of individual estuaries to create relatively unique features that result in variation in the typical levels of trace metals for these systems. This makes intercomparison of the estuaries difficult. Comparability among estuaries becomes even more difficult when metals analyses are conducted without proper control of field and laboratory contamination, now firmly established in the trace metal analytical literature as a prerequisite for reliable marine trace metals analysis. This paper compares the concentrations of selected trace metal (Ag, Cd, Cu, Ni, Pb, and Zn) ...
A method is described for converting radioactive alkali metal into a low level disposable solid waste material. The radioactive alkali metal is atomized and introduced into an aqueous caustic solution having caustic present in the range of from about 20 wt % to about 70 wt % to convert the radioactive alkali metal to a radioactive alkali metal hydroxide. The aqueous caustic containing radioactive alkali metal hydroxide and CO{sub 2} are introduced into a thin film evaporator with the CO{sub 2} present in an amount greater than required to convert the alkali metal hydroxide to a radioactive alkali metal carbonate, and thereafter the radioactive alkali metal carbonate is separated from the thin film evaporator as a dry powder. Hydroxide solutions containing toxic metal hydroxide including one or more ...
This patent describes a process for preparing of an ion exchanger, comprising: treating an ionically inert activated charcoal porous support with an aqueous solution of metal oxychloride selected from the group consisting of zirconium and titanium oxychlorides so as to impregnate the pores of the support with the solution; separating the treated support from excess metal oxychloride solution; converting the metal oxychloride to a hydrous metal oxide precipitate in the pores of the support at a pH above 8 and above the pH whereat the hydrous metal oxide and activated charcoal support have opposite zeta potentials and sufficient to hydrolyze the metal oxychloride. It also describes a process for preparing an ion exchanger comprising: treating granulated activated charcoal with a concentrated solution of a metal oxychloride from the group ...
A novel experimental design, combining mixture design and response surface methodology (RSM), was developed to investigate the competitive adsorption behavior of lead, copper and cadmium by an indigenous isolate Enterobacter sp. J1 able to tolerate high concentrations of a variety of heavy metals. Using the proposed combinative experimental design, two different experiment designs in a ternary metal biosorption system can be integrated to a succinct experiment and the number of experimental trials was markedly reduced from 38 to 26 by reusing the mutual experimental data. Triangular contour diagrams and triangular three-dimensional surface plots were generated to describe the ternary metal biosorption equilibrium data in mixture design systems. The results show that the preference of metal sorption of Enterobacter sp. J1 decreased in the order of Pb{sup 2+} > Cu{sup 2+} > Cd{sup 2+}. The ...
Benthic invertebrates can uptake metals through diffusion of free ion solutes, or ingestion of sediment-bound forms. This study investigated the efficacy of the metal chelating resin SIR 300TM in adsorbing porewater metals and isolating pathways of metal exposure. A field experiment (Botany Bay, Sydney, Australia) and a laboratory toxicity test each manipulated the availability of porewater metals within contaminated and uncontaminated sediments. It was predicted that within contaminated sediments, the resin would adsorb porewater metals and reduce toxicity to invertebrates, but in uncontaminated sediments, the resin would not significantly affect these variables. Whereas in the laboratory, the resin produced the predicted results, in the field the resin increased porewater metal concentrations of contaminated sediments for at least 34 days ...
An updated listing of the vascular plants of the Hanford Site is provided, along with discussions of how humans may interact with local plants and have influenced the regional flora. Based on examinations of herbarium collections at the Westinghouse Hanford Company, Pacific Northwest Laboratory, Washington State University, and Brigham Young University, 590 vascular plant species have been identified on or near the Hanford Site. This is more than twice the number of species on previously published lists of Hanford Site vascular plants. A review of the plant species that are currently listed as endangered, threatened, sensitive, or otherwise of concern to the Washington State Natural Heritage Program and the Federal Fish and Wildlife Service is included. Color photographs of selected species are included to aid identification. Lists are provided of the Hanford Site plant species that ...
The use of entire plant communities of native species is gaining interest in the green roof industry. Plant communities must be matched with environmental conditions that mimic conditions in their original habitats. Urban built environments do not differ significantly from the rocky outcrops with poor, shallow soil that many plants colonize. This paper provided details of an experiment investigating the impact of plant community structure and species diversity on living roof performance. The aim of the experiment was to determine the impact of species diversity on precipitation interception, nutrient retention, temporal biomass constancy and roof temperature constancy. The diversity treatment included separate monocultures of 8 species in the community, randomly determined mixtures of 4 species, and a mixture of all 8. Functional groups included mosses, liverworts, colonial algae ...
Effects of the rapid early-in-life expansion of metal fuel were measured in an irradiation experiment in the Fast Flux Test Facility (FFTF). This important performance/design information was obtainable through the unique combination of a dimensionally stable FFTF oxide core and the calibrated proximity instrumentation associated with the test. These results delineate the time dependence of metal-fuel swelling and provide quantitative estimates of the magnitude of axial fuel swelling in full-length metal-fuel assemblies. Final posttest examination results will define actual fuel column growth levels.
Abstract Introduction - It is estimated that about 70-80% of the world's population relies on non-conventional medicine, mainly of herbal origin. However, owing to the nature and sources of herbal medicines, they are sometimes contaminated with toxic heavy metals such as lead, arsenic, mercury and cadmium, which impose serious health risks to consumers. It is critical to analyse source materials for heavy metals in order to ensure that their concentrations meet the related standards or regulations limiting their concentrations in herbal medicines. In this review, different analytical methods for analysis of heavy metals in herbal medicines are discussed. Objective - To provide a comprehensive review of the current state of the art in analytical methods used to detect heavy metals in herbal...
Total mercury content and its distribution in muscles and viscera of male and female blue crab (Callinectes sapidus Rothbum) and deep water pink shrimp (Parapenacus longirostris) collected from the 3 main fishing grounds near the Alexandria coast in the Mediterranean sea was estimated. The results indicate that the mercury content in the muscles of both species differ according to fishing areas, size, sex, and species. More than 75% of total mercury were accumulated in the viscera of both species which indicates that the mercury entered in these organisms via the feed chain. PMID:3696196
During solvent extraction of At"-, [At(H_2O)_2]"+, AtCl, AtCl_2"- as well as of astatine compounds with higher oxidation states like AtO_n"-, the astatine species are changed into astatine of the oxidation state zero at the phase boundary independent on the organic solvent used. At(O) probably reacts with components of the organic phase or with decomposition products formed by chemical reactions or by radiolysis. The extraction coefficients of the astatine species depend on the experimental conditions applied, the redox potential, and on complex forming reactions or associations, resp., occuring in the aqueous phase. (author).
The marine environment is becoming increasingly contaminated by environmental pollutants with the potential to damage DNA, with marine sediments acting as a sink for many of these contaminants. Understanding genotoxic responses in sediment-dwelling marine organisms, such as polychaetes, is therefore of increasing importance. This study is an exploration of species-specific and cell-specific differences in cell sensitivities to DNA-damaging agents in polychaete worms, aimed at increasing fundamental knowledge of their responses to genotoxic damage. The sensitivities of coelomocytes from three polychaetes species of high ecological relevance, i.e. the lugworm Arenicola marina, the harbour ragworm Nereis diversicolor and the king ragworm Nereis virens to genotoxic damage are compared, and dif...
DescriptionOrchids belong to the family Orchidaceae which, with around 20,000 species, is the largest in the Plant Kingdom. Orchids hold a particular fascination because of their spectacular flowers and the rarity of many species- which has increased in recent years as a result of plant collecting, intensification of agriculture and land use changes have placed many species in jeopardy. One feature of orchids that distinguishes them from many other plants is that their seeds are so reduced in size that th [continued...
The concepts of ''fast'' and ''slow'' time scale valence measurements are emphasized by a comparison of L/sub III/ absorption and Mossbauer effect measurements on the temperature induced valence change in EuPd/sub 2/Si/sub 2/. Further the authors show how synchrotron radiation based L/sub III/ measurements of the Ce-valence state can be used to demonstrate electronic structure trends under wide changes in chemical environment. The purpose of this paper is to provide an introduction to researchers in the People's Republic of China to the field of mixed valent rate earth compounds. They hope to illustrate some of the basic concepts in this field, how the field is contributing to the overall insight into the chemical physics of solids and finally how synchrotron radiation measurements in particular are playing a key role in this field.
This work aims to contribute to the understanding of the influence of the ionospheric layer height (ILH) on the thin layer ionospheric model (TLIM) used to retrieve ionospheric information from the GNSS observations. Particular attention is paid to the errors caused on the estimation of the vertical total electron content (vTEC) and the GNSS satellites and receivers inter-frequency biases (IFB), by the use of an inappropriate ILH. The work relies upon numerical simulations performed with an empirical model of the Earth?s ionosphere: the model is used to create realistic but controlled ionospheric scenarios and the errors are evaluated after recovering those scenarios with the TLIM. The error assessment is performed in the Central and the northern part of the South American continents, a re...
The spectre of major climate change caused by the greenhouse effect has generated intensive research, heated scientific debate and a concerted international effort to draft agreements for the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions. This report of Scientific Perspectives on the greenhouse problem explains the technical issues in the debate in language readily understandable to the non-specialist. The inherent complexities of attempts to simulate the earth's climate are explained, particularly with regard to the effects of clouds and the circulation of the oceans, which together represent the largest factors of uncertainty in current global warming forecasts. Results of the search for the 'greenhouse signal' in existing climate records aredescribed in chapter 3 (part two). Chapter 5 (part two) develops a projection of 21st-century warming based on relatively firm evidence of the earth's actual response to known increases in greenhouse gas ...
... Project Details Title: Influence of increasing droplet concentrations on properties of stratocumulus clouds and climate Supervisor: Dr Alan Gadian Funded by: Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) Start date: October 2006 My project involves use of the UK Met Office Unified Model (UM) to calculate the global effect of modifying stratocumulus droplet concentrations on the earth's radiation balance, as well as use of ... Publications Latham, J; Rasch, P; Chen, CC; Kettles, L; Gadian, A; Gettelman, A; Morrison, H; Bower, K; Choularton, T (2008) Global temperature stabilization via controlled albedo enhancement of low-level maritime clouds, Philos. Trans. Roy. Soc. A, 366(1882), pp3969-3987. doi:10.1098/rsta.2008.0137 Current Students | Internal ...
A methodology for the determination of the rare earth elements in uranium oxides by ion microprobe has been set up on a Cameca ims-3f instrument. An uranium oxide reference material from a syn-metamorphic uranium deposit related to albitisation has also been developed for this type of analysis. Applications of the methodology are presented for a series of uranium oxides selected from some major uranium deposit types: from the world's highest grade unconformity-related uranium deposit from the Athabasca Basin (Saskatchewan, Canada; the Shea Creek and the McArthur River examples), a perigranitic vein-type deposit (Pen Ar Ran, Vendee, France) and a volcanic caldera-related deposit (Streltsovkoye, Transbaikalia, Russia). Each type of uranium deposit appears to have a specific REE signature. Al...
Ions of rare earth elements (r.e.e.) have been found to form with benzilic acid and rhodamine B precipitates hardly soluble in water and extractable by toluene. The conditions of La and Pr determination by extraction-spectrophotometry method are studied. Relative square deviation does not exceed 0.027 and 0.034 respectively. The method can be used for determination of other cerium sub-group r.e.e. in their salts and cannot be employed for determination of lighter r.e.e. in the presence of heavier r.e.e., because the latter form low soluble precipitates capturing the r.e.e. situated in the beginninq of the r.e.e. series.
The Gravity Probe-B (GP-B) spacecraft, designed to test predictions of general relativity, will fly in the mid 1990s. It will carry four electrostatically suspended gyroscopes in a cryogenic environment and will have a drag-free control system to minimize disturbances on the gyroscopes. The Stanford Test of Equivalence Principle (STEP) spacecraft, to fly later, will carry a set of test masses under very similar conditions. The possibility of using differential measurements of the GP-B gyroscopes suspension forces and the STEP tests mass displacement readout to form single-axis gravity gradiometers is explored. It is shown that the noise in the suspension systems is sufficiently small in the relevant frequency range, and that enough information is collected to compensate for the spacecrafts' attitude motion. Finally, using Breakwell's flat-earth approximation, these experiments are compared to other geodesy experiments and predict the contribution ...
In order to reduce the number of surface mining accidents related to low visibility conditions and blind spots of trucks and to provide 3D information for truck drivers and real time monitored truck information for the remote dispatcher, a 3D assisted driving system (3D-ADS) based on the GPS, mesh-wireless networks and the Google-Earth engine as the graphic interface and mine-mapping server, was developed at Virginia Tech. The research results indicate that this 3D-ADS system has the potential to increase reliability and reduce uncertainty in open pit mining operations by customizing the local 3D digital mining map, constructing 3D truck models, tracking vehicles in real time using a 3D interface and indicating available escape routes for driver safety.