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Larger Fraction (larger + fraction)
Selected AbstractsSheath in Front of a Negatively Biased Collector that Emits Electrons and is Immersed in a Two Electron Temperature PlasmaCONTRIBUTIONS TO PLASMA PHYSICS, Issue 8 2005T. Gyergyek Abstract An extension of a recently published [Gyergyek T., ,er,ek M. Contrib. Plasma Phys., 45, (2005), 89] one dimensional fluid model of the sheath formation in front of a floating electrode (collector) that emits secondary electrons and is immersed in a two-electron temperature nonmagnetized, collisionless plasma is presented. The electron velocity distribution function is assumed to be a two-temperature maxwellian, while the singly charged positive ions and the emitted electrons are assumed to be monoenergetic. It is assumed that the electrons in the pre-sheath potential drop obey the Boltzmann relation, so that a larger fraction of the hot than of the cool electrons can penetrate to the sheath edge. Our model predicts that the collector can in some cases have 3 and in some cases, when the emission of electrons from the collector is critical, even 5 different floating potentials at the same hot to cool electron temperature and density ratios very far away from the collector. (© 2005 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim) [source] Lability of organic carbon in lakes of different trophic statusFRESHWATER BIOLOGY, Issue 6 2009A. P. OSTAPENIA Summary 1. We used first-order kinetic parameters of biological oxygen demand (BOD), the constant of aerobic decomposition (k) and the asymptotic value of BOD (BODult), to characterise the lability of organic carbon pools in six lakes of different trophic state: L. Naroch, L. Miastro and L. Batorino (Belarus), L. Kinneret (Israel), L. Ladoga (Russia) and L. Mendota (U.S.A.). The relative contributions of labile and refractory organic carbon fractions to the pool of total organic carbon (TOC) in these lakes were quantified. We also determined the amounts of labile organic carbon within the dissolved and particulate TOC pools in the three Belarus lakes. 2. Mean annual chlorophyll concentrations (used as a proxy for lake trophic state) ranged from 2.3 to 50.6 ,g L,1, labile organic carbon (OCL = 0.3BODult) from 0.75 to 2.95 mg C L,1 and k from 0.044 to 0.14 day,1. 3. Our data showed that there were greater concentrations of OCL but lower k values in more productive lakes. 4. In all cases, the DOC fraction dominated the TOC pool. OCL was a minor component of the TOC pool averaging about 20%, irrespective of lake trophic state. 5. In all the lakes, most (c. 85%) of the DOC pool was refractory, corresponding with published data based on measurements of bacterial production and DOC depletion. In contrast, a larger fraction (27,55%) of the particulate organic carbon (POC) pool was labile. The relative amount of POC in the TOC pool tended to increase with increasing lake productivity. 6. Long-term BOD incubations can be valuable in quantifying the rates of breakdown of the combined particulate and dissolved organic carbon pools and in characterising the relative proportions of the labile and recalcitrant fractions of these pools. If verified from a larger number of lakes our results could have important general implications. [source] The Influence of Alkyl-Chain Length on Beta-Phase Formation in PolyfluorenesADVANCED FUNCTIONAL MATERIALS, Issue 1 2009Daniel W. Bright Abstract Di- n -alkyl substituted polyfluorenes with alkyl chain lengths of 6, 7, 8, 9, and 10 carbon atoms (PF6, PF7, PF8, PF9, and PF10) are studied in dilute solution in MCH using optical spectroscopy. Beta-phase is formed upon cooling in solutions (, 7,µg mL,1) of PF7, PF8, and PF9 only, which is observed as an equilibrium absorption peak at , 437,nm and strong changes in the emission spectra. Beta-phase is formed upon thermal cycling to low temperature in solutions (,7,µg mL,1) of PF7, PF8, and PF9, which is observed as an equilibrium absorption peak at , 437,nm and strong changes in the emission spectra. Beta phase is found to occur more favorably in PF8 than in PF7 or PF9, which is attributed to a balance between two factors. The first is the dimer/aggregate formation efficiency, which is poorer for longer (more disordered) alkyl chain lengths, and the second is the Van der Waals bond energy available to overcome the steric repulsion and planarize the conjugated backbone, which is insufficient in the PF6 with a shorter alkyl chain. Beta phase formation is shown to be a result of aggregation, not a precursor to it. A tentative value of the energy required to planarize the fluorene backbone of (15.6,±,2.5) kJ mol,1 monomer is suggested. Excitation spectra of PF6, PF7, PF8, and PF9 in extremely dilute (, 10,ng mL,1) solution show that beta phase can form reversibly in dilute solutions of PF7, PF8 and PF9, which is believed to be a result of chain collapse or well dispersed aggregates being present in solution from dilution of more concentrated solutions. PF7, PF8, and PF9 also form beta phase in thermally cycled solid films spin-cast from MCH. However, in the films the PF7 formed a larger fraction of beta phase than the PF9, in contrast to the case in solutions, because it is less likely that the close-packed chains in the solid state will allow the formation of planarized chains with the longer PF9 side chains. [source] Picophytoplankton contribution to phytoplankton community structure in the Gulf of Venice (NW Adriatic Sea)INTERNATIONAL REVIEW OF HYDROBIOLOGY, Issue 1 2006Fabrizio Bernardi Aubry Abstract The size distribution of the phytoplankton community has been analyzed on a monthly basis in the Gulf of Venice (NW Adriatic Sea), with the aim to assess the seasonal variation of the contribution of autotrophic picoplankton (APP) to total phytoplankton. The investigation was carried out in two stations characterized by different influences of fluvial inputs. APP was mainly made up of Synechococcus , the larger fraction (Utermöhl Fraction Phytoplankton, UFP: µm as maximum linear dimension) of diatoms and nanoflagellates. The average APP abundance (46 × 103 cells ml,1) and biomass (8.1 µg C dm,3) indicate that APP was a persistent and significant component of the NW Adriatic phytoplankton. The highest APP abundance (up to 270 × 103 cells ml,1) and biomass (up to 49 µg C dm,3) were recorded from summer to autumn, UFP peaked from late winter to late spring. The mean APP contribution to total phytoplankton abundance and biomass was 98% and 31% respectively. The seasonal variation of total phytoplankton biomass was mainly driven by the UFP fraction; however, a seasonal shift in the relative importance of UFP and APP occurred from spring to summer. (© 2006 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim) [source] Ly, excess in high-redshift radio galaxies: a signature of star formation,MONTHLY NOTICES OF THE ROYAL ASTRONOMICAL SOCIETY, Issue 4 2007M. Villar-Martín ABSTRACT About 54 per cent of radio galaxies at z, 3 and 8 per cent of radio galaxies at 2 ,z < 3 show unusually strong Ly, emission, compared with the general population of high-redshift (z, 2) radio galaxies. These Ly,-excess objects (LAEs) show Ly,/He ii values consistent with or above standard photoionization model predictions. We reject with confidence several scenarios to explain the unusual strength of Ly, in these objects: shocks, low nebular metallicities, high gas densities and absorption/scattering effects. We show that the most successful explanation is the presence of a young stellar population which provides the extra supply of ionizing photons required to explain the Ly, excess in at least the most extreme LAEs (probably in all of them). This interpretation is strongly supported by the tentative trend found by other authors for z, 3 radio galaxies to show lower ultraviolet rest-frame polarization levels, or the dramatic increase in the detection rate at submm wavelengths of z > 2.5 radio galaxies. The enhanced star formation activity in LAEs could be a consequence of a recent merger which has triggered both the star formation and the active galactic nucleus/radio activities. The measurement of unusually high Ly, ratios in the extended gas of some high-redshift radio galaxies suggests that star formation activity occurs in spatial scales of tens of kpc. We argue that, although the fraction of LAEs may be incompletely determined, both at 2 ,z < 3 and at z, 3, the much larger fraction of LAEs found at z, 3 is a genuine redshift evolution and not due to selection effects. Therefore, our results suggest that the radio galaxy phenomenon is more often associated with a massive starburst at z > 3 than at z < 3. [source] Native harvester ants threatened with widespread displacement exert localized effects on serpentine grassland plant community compositionOIKOS, Issue 2 2005Halton A. Peters Seed-harvesting ants can influence the abundance and distribution of plant species through both the selective harvesting of seeds and the construction of nutrient-rich nest mounds, but the relative contributions of these two mechanisms have not been addressed by previous studies. Furthermore, the impact of ant seed harvesting in California serpentine grasslands remains unresolved because of divergent results from several previous experiments. This study investigates the influence of harvester ants on serpentine grassland plant species composition by examining two potential signatures of seed harvesting ants on plant community composition: species composition on versus off ant nest mounds, and species abundance as a function of distance from nest mounds. Of the 28 plant species identified in this study, 22 exhibited spatial patterns consistent with effects of seed harvesting, nest construction, or both. Although most species showed significant gradients in abundance with distance from a nest, there were no clear relationships between plant species distributions and previously reported harvester ant seed foraging patterns. Harvester ant nest mounds supported plant communities that were distinct from the surrounding serpentine grassland, with notably higher densities of legumes and invasive annual grasses. Comparison of our results with those of previous studies indicates that the patterns we observed are generally consistent over time, but affect more species and a larger fraction of the grassland than previously reported. Unaffected areas of the grassland seem likely to serve as important refuges for some plant species. [source] Photosynthetic acclimation of plants to growth irradiance: the relative importance of specific leaf area and nitrogen partitioning in maximizing carbon gainPLANT CELL & ENVIRONMENT, Issue 8 2001J. R. Evans Abstract Changes in specific leaf area (SLA, projected leaf area per unit leaf dry mass) and nitrogen partitioning between proteins within leaves occur during the acclimation of plants to their growth irradiance. In this paper, the relative importance of both of these changes in maximizing carbon gain is quantified. Photosynthesis, SLA and nitrogen partitioning within leaves was determined from 10 dicotyledonous C3 species grown in photon irradiances of 200 and 1000 µmol m,2 s,1. Photosynthetic rate per unit leaf area measured under the growth irradiance was, on average, three times higher for high-light-grown plants than for those grown under low light, and two times higher when measured near light saturation. However, light-saturated photosynthetic rate per unit leaf dry mass was unaltered by growth irradiance because low-light plants had double the SLA. Nitrogen concentrations per unit leaf mass were constant between the two light treatments, but plants grown in low light partitioned a larger fraction of leaf nitrogen into light harvesting. Leaf absorptance was curvilinearly related to chlorophyll content and independent of SLA. Daily photosynthesis per unit leaf dry mass under low-light conditions was much more responsive to changes in SLA than to nitrogen partitioning. Under high light, sensitivity to nitrogen partitioning increased, but changes in SLA were still more important. [source] What Determines the Domestic Bias and Foreign Bias?THE JOURNAL OF FINANCE, Issue 3 2005Evidence from Mutual Fund Equity Allocations Worldwide ABSTRACT We examine how mutual funds from 26 developed and developing countries allocate their investment between domestic and foreign equity markets and what factors determine their asset allocations worldwide. We find robust evidence that these funds, in aggregate, allocate a disproportionately larger fraction of investment to domestic stocks. Results indicate that the stock market development and familiarity variables have significant, but asymmetric, effects on the domestic bias (domestic investors overweighting the local markets) and foreign bias (foreign investors under or overweighting the overseas markets), and that economic development, capital controls, and withholding tax variables have significant effects only on the foreign bias. [source] The effect of heating rate on Escherichia coli metabolism, physiological stress, transcriptional response, and production of temperature-induced recombinant protein: A scale-down studyBIOTECHNOLOGY & BIOENGINEERING, Issue 2 2009Luis Caspeta Abstract At the laboratory scale, sudden step increases from 30 to 42°C can be readily accomplished when expressing heterologous proteins in heat-inducible systems. However, for large scale-cultures only slow ramp-type increases in temperature are possible due to heat transfer limitations, where the heating rate decreases as the scale increases. In this work, the transcriptional and metabolic responses of a recombinant Escherichia coli strain to temperature-induced synthesis of pre-proinsulin in high cell density cultures were examined at different heating rates. Heating rates of 6, 1.7, 0.8, and 0.4°C/min were tested in a scale-down approach to mimic fermentors of 0.1, 5, 20, and 100 m3, respectively. The highest yield and concentration of recombinant protein was obtained for the slowest heating rate. As the heating rate increased, the yield and maximum recombinant protein concentration decreased, whereas a larger fraction of carbon skeletons was lost as acetate, lactate, and formate. Compared to 30°C, the mRNA levels of selected heat-shock genes at 38 and 42°C, as quantified by qRT-PCR, increased between 2- to over 42-fold when cultures were induced at 6, 1.7, and 0.8°C/min, but no increase was observed at 0.4°C/min. Only small increases (between 1.5- and 4-fold) in the expression of the stress genes spoT and relA were observed at 42°C for cultures induced at 1.7 and 6°C/min, suggesting that cells subjected to slow temperature increases can adapt to stress. mRNA levels of genes from the transcription,translation machinery (tufB, rpoA, and tig) decreased between 40% and 80% at 6, 1.7 and 0.8°C/min, whereas a transient increase occurred for 0.4°C/min at 42°C. mRNA levels of the gene coding for pre-proinsulin showed a similar profile to transcripts of heat-shock genes, reflecting a probable analogous induction mechanism. Altogether, the results obtained indicate that slow heating rates, such as those likely to occur in conventional large-scale fermentors, favored heterologous protein synthesis by the thermo-inducible expression system used in this report. Knowledge of the effect of heating rate on bacterial physiology and product formation is useful for the rational design of scale-down and scale-up strategies and optimum recombinant protein induction schemes. Biotechnol. Bioeng. 2009;102: 468,482. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. [source] Competition between Host Aggregates and Isolated Guest Chromophores in Trapping Excitons in Polybenzazole Copolymers and BlendsMACROMOLECULAR CHEMISTRY AND PHYSICS, Issue 24 2006Shanfeng Wang Abstract Summary: Host,guest systems have been prepared using the blends and copolymers consisting of the host molecule poly(p -phenylene benzobisoxazole) (PBO) with a higher bandgap of 2.93 eV and the guest molecule poly(2,5-thienylbenzobisoxazole) (PBOT) with a lower bandgap of 2.57 eV. These systems have been investigated using photoluminescence (PL) spectra and time-resolved PL decay dynamics. Both PBOT-PBO copolymers and PBOT/PBO blends with the PBOT compositions less than 20% demonstrate higher intensities and narrower bandwidths in solid-state emission compared to that of PBOT, as well as larger fractions of the shorter lifetime component in PL decay dynamics. A general scheme on intrachain and interchain exciton migration and trapping mechanism has been proposed to interpret the phenomena in both solutions and thin films. Particularly, a competition in trapping exciton between PBO aggregates and isolated PBOT chromophores has been revealed. General scheme of exciton migration and trapping paths for host (D: donor),guest (A: acceptor) systems involving the isolated chromophores (A and D) and aggregates (AA and DD) in both ground state and excited state marked without or with an asterisk. [source] | ||||||||||||||||