Energetic Levels Research Articles

Lagrangian reconstructions of temperature and velocity in a model of surface ocean turbulence

The characterization of submesoscale dynamics is crucial to apprehend their impact on the global ocean properties. Direct measurements of fine structures over the world oceans, nevertheless, are at present severely limited by the spatial resolution of available satellite products. In this work we numerically investigate the possibility to reconstruct tracer fields, like surface temperature, at small scales, from low-resolution data using a Lagrangian technique based on the properties of chaotic advection. The capabilities of the method are explored in the context of a forced Surface Quasi Geostrophic (SQG) turbulent flow representing a large-scale meandering jet and smaller-scale eddies. Both qualitative and quantitative comparisons are performed between the original (high-resolution) fields and their reconstructions that use only low-resolution data. Good agreement is found for filamentary structures, even in the presence of a large-scale forcing on the tracer dynamics. The statistics of tracer gradients, which are relevant for assessing the possibility to detect fronts, are found to be accurately reproduced. Exploiting SQG theory, the reconstruction technique is also extended to obtain the velocity field in three dimensions when temperature is the tracer. The results indicate that relevant features of dynamical quantities at small scales may be adequately deduced from only low-resolution temperature data. However, the ability to reconstruct the flow is critically limited by the energetic level of submesoscales. Indeed, only structures generated by non-local mesoscale features can be well retrieved, while those associated to the local dynamics of submesoscale eddies cannot be recovered.

Thermodynamic Constraints for the Utilization of CO2

AbstractThe production of chemical compounds from carbon dioxide could be a way to reduce this major greenhouse gas and gain a cheap raw material base. A variety of potential reactions might be suitable from a chemical point of view, but the low energetic level of carbon dioxide leads to severe limitations of the thermodynamic equilibrium. Most carbon dioxide utilization reactions are therefore not meaningful for an implementation outside the laboratory. This article gives an overview of the potential reactions to produce fine chemicals from carbon dioxide and their thermodynamic feasibility.

Irradiation Enhancement of Electrical Properties of Passive Impurities in Silicon Crystals

Radiation defect formation processes in silicon crystals for the cases when concentrations of electrical nonactive impurities (oxygen, carbon) prevail over main impurities determining siliconconductivity, are being covered in this paper. The role of interstitial atoms and vacancies, oxygen and impurity atoms in formation of radiation defects of A - and E-centers and divacancies, as well as their influence on electrical and optical properties ofsilicon crystals are shown. Energy levels of radiation defects in forbidden gap of silicon and their introduction rates were defined based on temperature dependencies of the concentrations of charge carriers at different irradiation doses. The capture probability of interstitial atoms and vacancies by main and passive impurities is taking into account. In addition to known A -and E-centers, along with disordered regions (clusters), a new radiation centers with energetic levels at

Individual traits as drivers of spatial dispersal and infestation patterns in a host–bark beetle system

Tree-killing bark beetle species such as Ips sp. and Dendroctonus sp. are considered one of the most severe biotic hazards affecting forests at the global scale. Although spatio-temporal patterns of dispersal and infestations have been widely observed and statistically analyzed profound knowledge about the host–bark beetle interactions that evoke these patterns is scarce. We developed an individual-based and spatially explicit model – the Infestation Pattern Simulation (IPS) model – to elucidate how individual traits affect system-level dispersal and infestation patterns. IPS simulates processes including dispersal, host selection, aggregation, and finally colonization, or rejection by host defence on a local scale. Host–bark beetle interactions are implemented highly dynamically, i.e. individual adaptive behavior takes into account space- and time-dependent variations in traits. Simulations consider one dispersal wave starting from a single source located in a virtual stand. Finally, the effects of both bark beetle- and host tree-specific parameters on emerging system patterns were quantified using a one-factor-at-a-time sensitivity analysis approach. As system-level response variables we used (i) percentage of successful beetles, (ii) number of infestations, and (iii) maximum infestation distance to source. Among bark beetle-specific parameters those affecting host recognition (e.g. perceptual range, energetic level) and attack synchrony (e.g. source size, time lag between flight cohorts) were revealed to be highly sensitive with regard to all three response variables. In addition, the host tree's resistance and spatial distribution is also shown to be decisive for infestation occurrence. The model provides a conceptual framework linking individual behavior to system-level patterns. Thus it represents a powerful tool – complementing lab- and field-based approaches – which may contribute to our understanding of the complex spatio-temporal processes that govern host–bark beetle dynamics.

Control of Molecular Organization and Energy Level Alignment by an Electronically Nanopatterned Boron Nitride Template

Suitable templates to steer the formation of nanostructure arrays on surfaces are indispensable in nanoscience. Recently, atomically thin sp(2)-bonded layers such as graphene or boron nitride (BN) grown on metal supports have attracted considerable interest due to their potential geometric corrugation guiding the positioning of atoms, metallic clusters or molecules. Here, we demonstrate three specific functions of a geometrically smooth, but electronically corrugated, sp(2)/metal interface, namely, BN/Cu(111), qualifying it as a unique nanoscale template. As functional adsorbates we employed free-base porphine (2H-P), a prototype tetrapyrrole compound, and tetracyanoquinodimethane (TCNQ), a well-known electron acceptor. (i) The electronic moirons of the BN/Cu(111) interface trap both 2H-P and TCNQ, steering self-organized growth of arrays with extended molecular assemblies. (ii) We report an effective decoupling of the trapped molecules from the underlying metal support by the BN, which allows for a direct visualization of frontier orbitals by scanning tunneling microscopy (STM). (iii) The lateral molecular positioning in the superstructured surface determines the energetic level alignment; i.e., the energy of the frontier orbitals, and the electronic gap are tunable.

An acetylation rheostat for the control of muscle energy homeostasis

In recent years, the role of acetylation has gained ground as an essential modulator of intermediary metabolism in skeletal muscle. Imbalance in energy homeostasis or chronic cellular stress, due to diet, aging, or disease, translate into alterations in the acetylation levels of key proteins which govern bioenergetics, cellular substrate use, and/or changes in mitochondrial content and function. For example, cellular stress induced by exercise or caloric restriction can alter the coordinated activity of acetyltransferases and deacetylases to increase mitochondrial biogenesis and function in order to adapt to low energetic levels. The natural duality of these enzymes, as metabolic sensors and effector proteins, has helped biologists to understand how the body can integrate seemingly distinct signaling pathways to control mitochondrial biogenesis, insulin sensitivity, glucose transport, reactive oxygen species handling, angiogenesis, and muscle satellite cell proliferation/differentiation. Our review will summarize the recent developments related to acetylation-dependent responses following metabolic stress in skeletal muscle.

Quantum Nature of Vehicle Motion

The paper presents a new adequate look on the character of motion of any material body, such as moving vehicle. It has been proved, that motion of material bodies has a quantum character. Due to this their consecutive energetic states are obtained by a jump. The phenomenon of quantum in the reference to vehicle kinetics has been derived by indicating its place on the background of characteristics of whole mechanics. The length of vehicle way in particular phases of its motion is that source characteristics the derivatives of which form the development of motion description of a material solid/body. It has been indicated that the quantum nature of body motion does not depend on its magnitude. Thus, as has been noticed, there is an analogy between the macro-body motion and electron motion which change its energy also by jump, by getting from one orbit (energetic level) to another.

Escherichia coli removal and internal dynamics in subsurface flow ecotechnologies: Effects of design and plants

Subsurface flow ecotechnologies encompass a range of different designs, varying in terms of flow configuration, media type, energy requirements and use of wetland plants. This study compared the removal rates and internal dynamics of Escherichia coli in a range of commonly used and emerging subsurface flow systems designed for secondary treatment of domestic sewage. Fifteen pilot-scale units were loaded with primary treated sewage in Langenreichenbach, Germany and monitored at the inlet, outlet and a several internal sample points between August 2010 and December 2011. The compared systems spanned a range of energetic intensification levels, including passive horizontal flow (HF) beds (25cm versus 50cm deep), moderately-intensified unsaturated pulse-loaded (12 versus 24 times per day) vertical flow (VF) beds (gravel versus sand media), and highly-intensified beds with aeration (HF versus VF) or reciprocating fill and drain hydraulics. Planted (Phragmites australis) and unplanted forms were compared for all designs except for the reciprocating system (unplanted only). In general, there was no significant effect of vegetation on E. coli removal. Despite receiving the highest loading rates (131–146L/m2d), the aerated HF systems and the reciprocating system achieved the highest log concentration reductions (2.8–4.0log10) and the lowest effluent E. coli concentrations (geometric mean less than 1×104MPN/100mL). The gravel-based VF beds had the lowest log concentration reduction (0.8log10) and highest effluent concentrations (6.4–8.9×105MPN/100mL) at a hydraulic loading rate of 96L/m2d. The design type had an extremely significant effect on areal mass removal rates, with the passive HF beds having the lowest removal rates (50cm depth significantly better than 25cm), followed by the unsaturated VF systems (which were not significantly different from one another), while the aerated and reciprocating systems had the highest removal rates. Within the unsaturated VF beds, the use of sand versus gravel substrate, or hourly versus bi-hourly loading regime in the sand-based systems, had no effect on areal load removal. The internal concentration profiles were not significantly different between the unsaturated VF designs, with the exception of the hourly-loaded, planted bed with sand media which had a more rapid rate of concentration reduction with depth. In the HF beds, the internal E. coli concentration reduction was significantly faster in the aerated beds than in the non-aerated beds. Depth and plants had no significant effect on the internal concentration profiles within the non-aerated HF beds. Within the aerated systems, horizontal-flow achieved better E. coli removal than vertical-flow. Subsurface flow ecotechnologies offer great potential as robust and low-maintenance solutions for reducing the pathogen risk associated with domestic wastewater. The intensified systems produced effluent potentially suitable for restricted surface irrigation, at the cost of higher energy consumption, while the effluent from the other design types would require subsurface irrigation or further disinfection prior to reuse.

ON-OFF Luminescence Signaling of Hybrid Organic–Inorganic Switches

The dyads 1OFF and 2OFF were prepared by combining the inorganic luminophores [Ru(phen)2(2-[imidazol-2-yl]pyridine)](2+) and [Re(CO)3Cl(2-[imidazol-2-yl]pyridine)] with 2-(anthracen-9-yl)-4-methylphenol as a second photoactive moiety. In both cases, the inorganic unit operates as the emitter, whereas the organic part acts as a controller. Emission of the inorganic luminophore can be reversibly switched ON and OFF by adjusting the energetic level of the (3)π-π* state of the appended anthracene unit through either dearomatization using a photohydration or aromatization applying a thermal dehydration. Emission of both switches is reversibly recorded and erased multiple times without significant degradation.

Ship structure steel plate failure under near-field air-blast loading: Numerical simulations vs experiment

This paper deals with the numerical simulation of the dynamic failure of a ship structure steel plate under near-field air-blast loading. Various energetic levels of air-blast loading, involving variable explosive mass and charge-plate distance, were tested leading to the bulge of the loaded plate for the lowest energy level and to the failure of the loaded plate for the highest level. A modified version of the Gurson–Tvergaard–Needleman potential was used to reproduce the response of the material along the damage-plasticity process at stake. The 3D constitutive equations were implemented as user material in the engineering finite element computation code ABAQUS®, and numerical simulations were conducted and compared with experiments considering air-blast loaded plates. Several crucial numerical issues are addressed concerning notably the use of ABAQUS® conwep function, the hourglass control and the influence of the model constants. Numerical results clearly show the interest of the adopted modelling for the description of salient stages of dynamic structural failure.

Influence of diet and stress on reproductive hormones in Nigerian olive baboons

A female mammal’s reproductive function and output are limited by the energy she is able to extract from her environment. Previous studies of the interrelationships between energetic circumstances and reproductive function in a variety of mammal species have produced varied results, which do not all support the common assumption that higher female reproductive hormone levels, specifically progesterone, indicate better ovarian function and greater reproductive potential, and are associated with lower energetic stress. In the present study faecal progesterone and glucocorticoid levels were assessed in two troops of olive baboons (Papio anubis) in the same population. They face similar ecological challenges, except that one troop crop-raids, potentially affecting its energetic intake and stress levels. The energy intake of individual females was assessed by combining detailed feeding observations with nutritional analysis of food samples. The crop-raiding troop experienced 50% higher energy intake rates and 50% lower glucocorticoid levels compared to the non-crop-raiding troop alongside substantially lower progesterone levels. This suggests that energetic stress is associated with elevated progesterone levels and may be the cause of the non-crop-raiding troop’s lower reproductive output. By comparing groups which differ little, except in terms of food access, and also by directly assessing energy intake, our study addresses some of the design limitations of previous research investigating variation in progesterone levels and energetic stress. It therefore has the potential to contribute to greater understanding of the factors affecting differences in reproductive and stress hormone levels and reproductive function in mammals experiencing different energetic circumstances.

Quantum Nature of Vehicle Motion

The paper presents a new adequate look on the character of motion of any material body, such as moving vehicle. It has been proved, that motion of material bodies has a quantum character. Due to this their consecutive energetic states are obtained by a jump. The phenomenon of quantum in the reference to vehicle kinetics has been derived by indicating its place on the background of characteristics of whole mechanics. The length of vehicle way in particular phases of its motion is that source characteristics the derivatives of which form the development of motion description of a material solid/body. It has been indicated that the quantum nature of body motion does not depend on its magnitude. Thus, as has been noticed, there is an analogy between the macro-body motion and electron motion which change its energy also by jump, by getting from one orbit (energetic level) to another.

Optical, electrical and photoelectrochemical characterization of electropolymerized poly methylene blue on fluorine doped tin oxide conducting glass

• PMB polymer was successfully electropolymerized on (FTO). • Thin and adherent layer of 100 nm and 10 3 S cm −1 electrical conductivity order. • Absorption spectra of the polymer permit to estimate the gap. • HOMO and LUMO energetic levels were calculated. • PMB polymer films generate considerable photocurrents under monochromatic light. This paper describes the poly methylene bleu (PMB) electrodeposition on fluorine doped tin oxide (FTO) conducting glass and its optical, electrical and photoelectrochemical characterization. The deposited film shows a good electric conductivity which is well confirmed by the low gap value determinated optically by UV–vis spectroscopy. Like all polymers the PMB presents an absorption difference in the visible range function of the polarization potential, it is expressed by the strong conjugation at oxidized state but is weakened with leucoform formation at reduced state. The electrochemical behaviour of the film allows us, to confirm the polymerization of the methylene blue (MB), to observe the oxidation and the reduction states of as prepared layer and to locate the energy levels HOMO and LUMO of this polymer. A photocurrent of some μA has been observed when the film is photosensitized with white light source.

Immersive virtual reality and environmental noise assessment: An innovative audio–visual approach

Several international studies have shown that traffic noise has a negative impact on people's health and that people's annoyance does not depend only on noise energetic levels, but rather on multi-perceptual factors. The combination of virtual reality technology and audio rendering techniques allow us to experiment a new approach for environmental noise assessment that can help to investigate in advance the potential negative effects of noise associated with a specific project and that in turn can help designers to make educated decisions. In the present study, the audio–visual impact of a new motorway project on people has been assessed by means of immersive virtual reality technology. In particular, participants were exposed to 3D reconstructions of an actual landscape without the projected motorway (ante operam condition), and of the same landscape with the projected motorway (post operam condition). Furthermore, individuals' reactions to noise were assessed by means of objective cognitive measures (short term verbal memory and executive functions) and subjective evaluations (noise and visual annoyance). Overall, the results showed that the introduction of a projected motorway in the environment can have immediate detrimental effects of people's well-being depending on the distance from the noise source. In particular, noise due to the new infrastructure seems to exert a negative influence on short term verbal memory and to increase both visual and noise annoyance. The theoretical and practical implications of these findings are discussed.

Dynamics of the seismicity of the Kuril arc based on multivariate statistical analysis

The spatial-temporal distributions of earthquakes in the Kuril-Okhotsk region were analyzed. The events with Ms ≥ 4 from 1980 until 2009 and Ms ≥ 7 from 1910 until 2009 (20576 and 76 earthquakes, respectively) were studied. The specially developed program complex allowed us to obtain the 4-D distribution of the seismic events (along the sections, depths, temporal intervals, and energetic levels). It was shown that the seismic events obviously tend to cluster both along the surface and depth directions. The spatial-temporal analysis of the events (with Ms ≥ 4) in six five-year intervals from 1980 until 2009 has revealed a cyclic increase and decrease in the seismic activity in different time intervals and its cyclic migration from the South through the Central to the North Kuriles and back. The analysis of the strong events with Ms ≥ 7 in twenty 5-year intervals during 1910–2009 has shown that their amount significantly decreased for the last 30 years and the location of the hypocenter depths also changed (only shallow-focus earthquakes have been observed since 1975). The peaks of the seismic activity (1915–1919, 1955–1969, and 2005–2009) are separated by 35-year periods of its decrease.

Importance of terrestrial subsidies for estuarine food webs in contrasting East African catchments

Little is known on the degree to which terrestrial organic matter delivered to tropical estuaries contributes to estuarine consumers. Here, stable isotope analysis is used to constrain this contribution for contrasting east African estuaries whose catchments differ in relative C3/C4 vegetation cover. As these two types of vegetation differ strongly in δ13C, we anticipated that terrestrial subsidies would be reflected in a gradient in estuarine consumer δ13C values, following the relative importance of C3 (characterised by low δ13C) vs. C4 (characterised by high δ13C) cover. Five estuaries were sampled for aquatic biogeochemical parameters, primary producers and consumers of different trophic ecologies: the Zambezi (catchment with a C3/C4 cover of 61/39%) in Mozambique, the Tana in Kenya (36/64%) and the Betsiboka (42/58%), Rianila (85/15%) and Canal des Pangalanes (C3‐dominated) in Madagascar. Sampling was done before and after the 2010/2011 wet season. There were positive relationships between the proportion of C4 cover in the catchment and turbidity, δ13CDIC, δ13CDOC, δ13CPOC and δ15NPN. There were also significant positive relationships between δ13CPOC and consumer δ13C and between δ15NPN and consumer δ15N for all consumer trophic guilds, confirming the incorporation of organic material transported from the catchments by estuarine consumers, and implying that this material is transported up to high trophic level fish. Bayesian mixing models confirmed that C4 material was the most important source for the highly turbid, C4‐dominated estuaries, contributing up to 61–91% (95% CI) to phytodetritivorous fish in the Betsiboka, whereas for the less turbid C3‐dominated estuaries terrestrial subsidies were not as important and consumers relied on a combination of terrestrial and aquatic sources. This shows that the ecology of the overall catchment affects the estuaries at the most basic, energetic level, and activities that alter the turbidity and productivity of rivers and estuaries can affect food webs well beyond the area of impact.

Hybrid solution-processed bulk heterojunction solar cells based on bismuth sulfide nanocrystals

High efficiency organic and hybrid solar cells create demand for novel electron acceptor materials that possess appropriate energetic band levels and bandgap for efficient solar energy harnessing. We present hybrid bulk heterojunction devices based on P3HT and bismuth sulfide nanocrystals, a semiconductor based on environmentally friendly compounds, with a power conversion efficiency of 1% and NIR sensitization at 700 nm of 30%, among the highest ever reported for P3HT.

Equilibrium structure of dense gases

The computer aided analysis of precise thermophysical data for pure real gases and denser fluids is developed here to provide a vision of their equilibrium molecular structure [1, 2]. The structure of fluids means the structural features of disordered systems. It differs from the regular structures of molecules or solids [3] and reflects the structural features of the temporarily existing local molecular complexes, such as clusters and pores of different dimensions. Pure fluids are actively used in modern chemical technologies as initial and intermediate substances and final products. For further improvement of technological processes with pure fluids it is important to know better their molecular interaction mechanisms and parameters. The purity of gases and denser fluids by itself presents a great scientific value: it opens possibility to discover the details of the molecular interactions and the cluster structure by the computer aided processing of precise thermophysical data for pure substances. The distribution of intermolecular distances in fluids is not uniform. The diminishing of the fluid density from its maximal value does not mean the uniform expansion of all intermolecular distances. Some of distances stay the same as in a dense liquid, but others become noticeably enlarged. In real gases some part of molecules forms the short distance complexes, named clusters. The clusters in real gases now attract a large attention of researches [48]. The Water vapor clusters are responsible for clouds formation in upper layers of atmosphere [9]. The factors complicating determination of the molecular interaction mechanisms [1]: Densely spaced and disarranged by thermal movement bound states in clusters; The plurality of the cluster isomer configurations, growing with a number of particles in a cluster; The difference between the thermodynamically averaged energetic level of the bound state and the minimal potential energy of a cluster; Long relaxation times for tightly bound cluster isomers preventing from a fast reaching the equilibrium and thus distorting the experimental data at low temperatures. There are various approaches to molecular interaction mechanisms. The earlier models of fluids described in [10, 11], such as the famous van der Waals equation of state or the corresponding states law, have been based on the experimental data taken with not very high precision. They provided only a general picture of fluids sacrificing very important details of their molecular interactions. Now, the individual characteristics of molecular interactions in substances are being actively studied asing in the precise experimental data [12]. The constantly growing precision of thermophysical data opens new ways to penetrate deeper into details of the fluids’ structure. But this task is not very easy. It may be referred to the class of reverse mathematical problems, the results of which widely diverge at slight changes of initial data. Therefore, we should use the methods of data processing capable to limit the level of this divergence by both the regularization of the initial data and selecting the appropriate set of the molecular interaction parameters. This set should be adjusted to real features of the molecular interactions in gases instead of the purely mathematical parameterization of experimental data. An alternative approach to the molecular interactions in fluids is based on the simulations of the many particle systems behavior with different model potentials [4-9, 13]. The problem of this approach lies in rather arbitrary assumptions about the model potentials describing interactions between molecules in fluids. I.G. Kaplan [13] used more than 50 model potentials in his investigations. He came to very important conclusions for the dispersion forces temperature dependence. The optimal way to the physically correct picture of fluids may be in the mutually correlated utilization of both approaches: from the experimental data and from the model potentials. These approaches should converge in the molecular interaction parameters to be found. That may serve as the criterion of the most appropriate model potential selection. This work deals with the main thermodynamics principles extension to real gases and denser fluids and develops the methods of the molecular interaction parameters extraction from the experimental data. It is aimed at the cluster fractions’ characteristics near the saturation Dsat and even critical Dcr densities of pure gases basing on precise data from [15].

Mechanism of anti-stokes photoluminescence in Ag0.05Ga0.05Ge0.95S2-Er2S3 glassy alloys

The absorption and up-conversion photoluminescence spectra of alloys of the Ag0.05Ga0.05Ge0.95S2−xEr2S3 system (100 − x), excited with 980-nm laser irradiation, where x = 0.42, 0.25, and 0.18 mol %, have been studied. Green, intensive red, and infrared luminescence, which is caused by electronic 2H11/2 → 4I15/2, 4F9/2 → 4I15/2, 4S3/3 → 4I13/2 transitions in Er3+ ions, respectively, and connected with two photon up-conversion processes was recorded in all samples. The changes in the intensities of glassy alloys of radiation bands with different erbium contents and the influence of large structure defects on the processes of the occupation and the devastation of the energetic levels of erbium ions.

First Order Phase Transitions as Radiation Processes

This paper presents new experimental evidence of the PeTa effect—infrared characteristic radiation under first order phase transitions, especially the crystallization of melts and the deposition and condensation of vapours/gases. The PeTa effect describes the transient radiation that a particle (i.e., atom, molecule or/and cluster) emits transient radiation during a transition from a meta-stable higher energetic level (in a super-cooled melt or a super-saturated vapour) to the stable condensed lower level (in a crystal or a liquid). The radiation removes latent heat with photons of characteristic frequencies that are generated under this transition. The abbreviation “PeTa effect” means Perel’man-Tatartchenko’s effect.