Temperature Fluctuations (temperature + fluctuation)

Distribution by Scientific Domains


Selected Abstracts


TEXTURAL CHANGES IN CHOCOLATE CHARACTERIZED BY INSTRUMENTAL AND SENSORY TECHNIQUES

JOURNAL OF TEXTURE STUDIES, Issue 4 2009
LIA M. ANDRAE-NIGHTINGALE
ABSTRACT Cocoa butter has a distinct texture due to unique interactions of polymorphic lipid structures. Part of chocolate's appeal is smooth mouthfeel; as fat or sugar bloom forms, textural change is perceived. Correlation of instrumental and sensory texture analysis has not been conducted in stored chocolate. The objective of this study was to analyze texture and color of dark and milk chocolate stored under conditions leading to fat and/or sugar bloom by instrumental and sensory measurements. Milk and dark chocolate was stored 5 weeks at various temperatures and relative humidity (RH), followed by instrumental and sensory texture analysis. All attributes, except springiness, were significantly affected by treatments. According to partial least squares linear regression, instrumental hardness, cohesiveness, chewiness and gumminess modeled sensory hardness. The 30.0C incubator experienced temperature fluctuations, resulting in severe fat bloom. Temperature fluctuations during storage had more influence on texture perception than storage at high temperatures or high RH. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS This research serves as an initial study on textural aspects of chocolate quality upon storage that is the first report to correlate instrumental textural analysis of chocolate to sensory evaluation. Storage temperature and humidity of chocolate greatly impacts consumer texture perception, which is valuable information to small chocolate handlers and manufacturers who have noted to us that many of the larger companies may have this information , but it is not widely available. It also sets the stage for more detailed studies on texture and flavor of chocolate during storage. Although many storage studies on chocolate exist, those that intertwine studies of quality from both an instrumental and a sensory standpoint are lacking. [source]


The impact of mergers on relaxed X-ray clusters , I. Dynamical evolution and emergent transient structures

MONTHLY NOTICES OF THE ROYAL ASTRONOMICAL SOCIETY, Issue 3 2006
Gregory B. Poole
ABSTRACT We report on the analysis of a suite of smoothed particle hydrodynamics simulations (incorporating cooling and star formation) of mergers involving idealized X-ray clusters whose initial conditions resemble relaxed clusters with cool compact cores observed by Chandra and XMM. The simulations sample the most-interesting, theoretically plausible, range of impact parameters and progenitor mass ratios. We find that all mergers evolve via a common progression. We illustrate this progression in the projected gas density, X-ray surface brightness, Sunyaev,Zel'dovich, temperature, and gas-entropy maps. Several different classes of transient ,cold front' like features can arise over the course of a merger. Each class is distinguished by a distinct morphological signature and physical cause. We find that all these classes are present in Chandra and XMM observations of merging systems and propose a naming scheme for these features: ,comet-like' tails, bridges, plumes, streams and edges. In none of the cases considered do the initial cool compact cores of the primary and the secondary get destroyed during the course of the mergers. Instead, the two remnant cores eventually combine to form a new core that, depending on the final mass of the remnant, can have a greater cooling efficiency than either of its progenitors. We quantify the evolving morphology of our mergers using centroid variance, power ratios and offset between the X-ray and the projected mass maps. We find that the centroid variance best captures the dynamical state of the cluster. It also provides an excellent indicator of how far the system is from virial and hydrostatic equilibrium. Placing the system at z= 0.1, we find that all easily identified observable traces of the secondary disappear from a simulated 50-ks Chandra image following the second pericentric passage. The system, however, takes an additional ,2 Gyr to relax and virialize. Observationally, the only reliable indicator of a system in this state is the smoothness of its X-ray surface brightness isophotes, not temperature fluctuations. Temperature fluctuations at the level of ,T/T, 20 per cent, can persist in the final systems well past the point of virialization, suggesting that the existence of temperature fluctuations, in and of themselves, does not necessarily indicate a disturbed or unrelaxed system. [source]


The role of peripheral Na+ channels in triggering the central excitatory effects of intravenous cocaine

EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF NEUROSCIENCE, Issue 4 2006
P. Leon Brown
Abstract While alterations in dopamine (DA) uptake appear to be a critical mechanism underlying locomotor and reinforcing effects of cocaine (COC), many centrally mediated physiological and affective effects of this drug are resistant to DA receptor blockade and are expressed more quickly following an intravenous (i.v.) injection than expected based on the dynamics of drug concentration in the brain. Because COC is also a potent local anesthetic, its rapid action on Na+ channels may be responsible for triggering these effects. We monitored temperatures in the nucleus accumbens, temporal muscle and skin together with conventional locomotion during a single i.v. injection of COC (1 mg/kg), procaine (PRO, 5 mg/kg; equipotential anesthetic dose), a short-acting local anesthetic drug that, like COC, interacts with Na+ channels, and cocaine methiodide (COC-MET, 1.31 mg/kg, equimolar dose), a quaternary COC derivative that is unable to cross the blood,brain barrier. In this way, we explored not only the importance of Na+ channels in general, but also the importance of central vs. peripheral Na+ channels specifically. COC induced locomotor activation, temperature increase in the brain and muscle, and a biphasic temperature fluctuation in skin. Though PRO did not induce locomotor activation, it mimicked, to a greater degree, the temperature effects of COC. Therefore, Na+ channels appear to be a key substrate for COC-induced temperature fluctuations in the brain and periphery. Similar to PRO, COC-MET had minimal effects on locomotion, but mimicked COC in its ability to increase brain and muscle temperature, and induce transient skin hypothermia. It appears therefore that COC's interaction with peripherally located Na+ channels triggers its central excitatory effects manifested by brain temperature increase, thereby playing a major role in drug sensing and possibly contributing to COC reinforcement. [source]


A spatially advancing turbulent flow and heat transfer in a curved channel

HEAT TRANSFER - ASIAN RESEARCH (FORMERLY HEAT TRANSFER-JAPANESE RESEARCH), Issue 1 2010
Koji Matsubara
Abstract Direct numerical simulation was performed for a spatially advancing turbulent flow and heat transfer in a two-dimensional curved channel, where one wall was heated to a constant temperature and the other wall was cooled to a different constant temperature. In the simulation, fully developed flow and temperature from the straight-channel driver was passed through the inlet of the curved-channel domain. The frictional Reynolds number was assigned 150, and the Prandtl number was given 0.71. Since the flow field was examined in the previous paper, the thermal features are mainly targeted in this paper. The turbulent heat flux showed trends consistent with a growing process of large-scale vortices. In the curved part, the wall-normal component of the turbulent heat flux was twice as large as the counterpart in the straight part, suggesting active heat transport of large-scale vortices. In the inner side of the same section, temperature fluctuation was abnormally large compared with the modest fluctuation of the wall-normal velocity. This was caused by the combined effect of the large-scale motion of the vortices and the wide variation of the mean temperature; in such a temperature distribution, large-scale ejection of the hot fluid near the outer wall, which is transported into the near inner-wall region, should have a large impact on the thermal boundary layer near the inner wall. Wave number decomposition was conducted for various statistics, which showed that the contribution of the large-scale vortex to the total turbulent heat flux normal to the wall reached roughly 80% inside the channel 135° downstream from the curved-channel inlet. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Heat Trans Asian Res; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/htj.20275 [source]


Prediction of vortex penetration depth at thermal stratification by cavity flow in a branch pipe with closed end (effect of heat radiation condition on temperature fluctuations)

HEAT TRANSFER - ASIAN RESEARCH (FORMERLY HEAT TRANSFER-JAPANESE RESEARCH), Issue 1 2007
Kouji Shiina
Abstract In a branch pipe with one closed end, the cavity flow penetrates into the branch pipe from the main loop and a thermal boundary layer occurs because the cavity flow is a hot fluid, but heat removal causes a colder fluid in the branch pipe. This thermal stratification may affect the structural integrity. Therefore, a pipe design standard to suppress thermal fatigue should be established. The pipe design standard consists of the maximum penetration depth Lsv and the minimum penetration depth Lsh. In order to establish an evaluation method for Lsh, a visualization test and a temperature fluctuation test were carried out. A theoretical formula for thermal stratification was introduced from the heat balance model. Then the model was used to obtain an empirical equation from the map of fluid temperature fluctuation. This method can predict the vortex penetration depth by cavity flow in horizontal branch pipes. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Heat Trans Asian Res, 36(1):38,55, 2007; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/htj.20135 [source]


Flashing characteristics in a pipe downstream from a depressurizing tank and temperature fluctuation characteristics at a mixing tee junction with cold water injection

HEAT TRANSFER - ASIAN RESEARCH (FORMERLY HEAT TRANSFER-JAPANESE RESEARCH), Issue 5 2003
Koji Shiina
Abstract The flashing characteristics in a pipe downstream from a depressurizing tank were experimentally and analytically investigated on the basis of the transient test and two-phase flow analysis. The following conclusions were obtained. (1) When the pressure margin of the pump inlet side and the distance to obtain an isothermal condition were sufficient, flashing phenomena did not occur in spite of the decreasing pressure. (2) When the ratio of the cold water injection flow rate to the hot water flow rate Mc/Mh increased, the peak distance of the water temperature fluctuation moved from L/D = 1 to 0, and the maximum water temperature fluctuation ratio was about 40% of the temperature difference between hot and cold water near the mixing tee junction. Because no problem occurred regarding the pipe material thermal fatigue, reliability of the mixing tee junction was assured. (3) Due to suppression of flashing phenomena of the mixing pipe system, the decision diagram on the flashing occurrence was obtained from the test and the analytical results, taking into consideration three factors: the depressurizing ratio in the tank; the cold water injection flow rate due to remaining subcooling; and the delay time of thermal mixing. The simplified analytical equation was used to decrease the cold water injection flow rate by the optimized pipe length between the mixing tee junction and the drain pump. The cold water injection flow rate was minimized when the pipe length was about 15 to 20 times the pipe inner diameter. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Heat Trans Asian Res, 32(5): 411,429, 2003; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/htj.10096 [source]


Control-oriented nonlinear modelling of molten carbonate fuel cells

INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENERGY RESEARCH, Issue 5 2004
Cheng Shen
Abstract Performance and availability of molten carbonate fuel cells (MCFC) stack are greatly dependent on its operating temperature. Control of the operating temperature within a specified range and reduction of its temperature fluctuation are highly desirable. The models of MCFC stack existing are too complicated to be suitable for design of a controller because of its lack of clear input,output relations. In this paper, according to the demands of control design, a quantitative relations model of control-oriented MCFC between the temperatures of the stack and flowrates of the input gases is developed, based on conservation laws. It is an affine nonlinear model with multi-input and multi-output, the flowrates of fuel and oxidant gases as the manipulated vector and the temperatures of MCFC electrode,electrolyte plates, separator plates as the controlled vector. The modelling and simulation procedures are given in detail. The simulation tests reveal that the model developed is accurate and it is suitable to be used as a model in designing a controller of MCFC stack. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source]


Teratogenicity of elevated egg incubation temperature and egg vitamin A status in Atlantic salmon, Salmo salar L.

JOURNAL OF FISH DISEASES, Issue 4 2004
R Řrnsrud
Abstract The present study was undertaken to investigate the possibility that high egg vitamin A (VA) status in combination with elevated egg incubation temperatures may cause deformities in Atlantic salmon, Salmo salar L. Egg batches selected for their total VA concentration were exposed to low (normal, 8 °C) or elevated (14 °C) egg incubation temperatures. Temperature was the main factor causing bone deformities such as warped gill opercula, fin and jaw deformities, but not for the development of spinal deformities where all groups displayed a ,baseline' occurrence of mild deformity (decreased vertebral size in the cephalic region) and no systematic variation in the occurrence of serious spinal deformities (fused vertebrae). A possible effect of egg incubation temperature fluctuation was found for the groups reared at low temperatures. An indication of a negative effect of elevated egg VA status for the development of organ deformities such as missing septum transversum and situs inversus was found in addition to temperature effects, however, no firm conclusions could be drawn from the present data. The phenotypes for temperature-induced deformities resembled the phenotype of VA-induced deformities, but no clear conclusions on the causality of the deformities found in the present study could be drawn. Egg incubation temperatures, both absolute temperature and temperature variations, should therefore be strictly controlled. [source]


INACTIVATION OF STAPHYLOCOCCUS AUREUS EXPOSED TO DENSE-PHASE CARBON DIOXIDE IN A BATCH SYSTEM

JOURNAL OF FOOD PROCESS ENGINEERING, Issue 1 2009
HUACHUN HUANG
ABSTRACT The inactivation of Staphylococcus aureus exposed to dense-phase carbon dioxide (DPCD) was investigated, and the kinetics of come-up time (CUT) in pressurization was monitored with come-down time (CDT) and temperature fluctuation in depressurization. CUT was about 2.5, 3.5, 4.0 and 4.0 min; CDT was 3.4, 3.7, 4.5 and 4.5 min; lowest temperature of samples in depressurization was 4, ,1, ,15 and ,22C, corresponding to 10, 20, 30 and 40 MPa at 37C. The inactivation behavior of S. aureus was closely related to the variables of process pressure, holding-pressure time (HPT), process temperature and process cycling. The log reduction of S. aureus at 40 MPa for 30-min HPT was significantly greater (P < 0.05), but the inactivation effect at 10, 20 and 30 MPa was similar. The log reduction of S. aureus at 30 and 40 MPa for 60-min HPT was similar and significantly greater (P < 0.05), while the inactivation effect at 10 and 20 MPa was similar. The inactivation of S. aureus against HPT conformed to a fast,slow biphase kinetics; the two stages were well fitted to a first-order model with higher regression coefficients R2 = 1.000 and 0.9238; their respective D values (decimal reduction time) were 16.52 and 70.42 min. As the process temperature increased, the log reduction of S. aureus increased significantly (P < 0.05); the inactivation kinetics of S. aureus versus process temperature was characterized with a fast inactivation rate from 32 to 45C and a slow inactivation rate from 45 to 55C. As compared to one-process cycling for a total of 60-min HPT, four-process cycling resulted in a significant reduction of S. aureus, and its maximal reduction was near to 5 log cycles, indicating that more process cycling caused more inactivation of S. aureus under identical pressure and temperature with equal HPT. However, the maximal reduction was 0.09 and 0.12 log cycles for two- and four-process cyclings with 0-min HPT, indicating that pressurization and depressurization had a lesser effect on the inactivation of S. aureus, while HPT was significant in DPCD to inactivate S. aureus. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS Dense-phase carbon dioxide (DPCD) is a novel technology to achieve cold pasteurization and/or sterilization of liquid and solid materials, and is likely to replace or partially substitute currently and widely applied thermal processes. This study showed that DPCD effectively inactivated Staphylococcus aureus inoculated in 7.5% sodium chloride broth, and the inactivation behavior of S. aureus was closely related to the pressure, holding-pressure time, temperature and process cycling. Based on this observation, the technology of DPCD can be applied in the pasteurization of foods such as milk and various fruit juices, especially thermal-sensitive materials. [source]


THE EFFECT OF SALTS ON THERMAL AND HYDRIC DILATATION OF POROUS BUILDING STONE*

ARCHAEOMETRY, Issue 3 2009
M. AL-NADDAF
Fifteen desalinated sandstone drill core samples from Umm Ishrin Sandstone Formation in Petra (Cambrian age) were used for this study. The samples were mineralogically analysed using X-ray diffraction and their physical properties were also determined. Samples with similar physical properties and mineralogical composition were taken for further experimental work. After desalination, thermal and hydric dilatation coefficients were measured, then three types of salts (NaCl, KCl and Na2SO4·10H2O), which have high solubility and consequently are the most dangerous to building stone (and are also detected in the sandstone monuments in Petra), were introduced into the samples and their contents were calculated. The results show that salt crystallization in the pores of building stones can increase their thermal dilatation and decrease their hydric dilatation to varying extents, depending on the nature of the salt. The average increase in the thermal dilatation coefficient per unit mass of salt is the lowest for the Na2SO4·10H2O-salted samples with a value of 5.3%, while the NaCl-salted samples have the highest value with 7.8% per salt mass. The average percentage of the decrease of the hydric dilatation coefficient is 1061% for Na2SO4·10H2O-salted samples per mass of salt content; the NaCl-salted samples have a value of 1510% per mass of salt content, and the KCl-salted samples almost the same value. For the salt-free samples, it was found that in climatic conditions with a high temperature range, the deterioration of sandstone due to temperature fluctuation is more effective than that caused by change in the moisture content, while samples with high salt content suffer more from hydric dilatation. [source]


Radiofrequency (RF) effects on blood cells, cardiac, endocrine, and immunological functions

BIOELECTROMAGNETICS, Issue S6 2003
David R. Black
Abstract Effects of radiofrequency electromagnetic fields (RFEMF) on the pituitary adrenocortical (ACTH), growth (GH), and thyroid (TSH) hormones have been extensively studied, and there is coherent research on reproductive hormones (FSH and LH). Those effects which have been identified are clearly caused by heating. The exposure thresholds for these effects in living mammals, including primates, have been established. There is limited evidence that indicates no interaction between RFEMF and the pineal gland or an effect on prolactin from the pituitary gland. Studies of RFEMF exposed blood cells have shown that changes or damage do not occur unless the cells are heated. White cells (leukocytes) are much more sensitive than red cells (erythrocytes) but white cell effects remain consistent with normal physiological responses to systemic temperature fluctuation. Lifetime studies of RFEMF exposed animals show no cumulative adverse effects in their endocrine, hematological, or immune systems. Cardiovascular tissue is not directly affected adversely in the absence of significant RFEMF heating or electric currents. The regulation of blood pressure is not influenced by ultra high frequency (UHF) RFEMF at levels commonly encountered in the use of mobile communication devices. Bioelectromagnetics Supplement 6:S187,S195, 2003. © 2003 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source]


Towards Fast Measurement of the Electron Temperature in the SOL of ASDEX Upgrade Using Swept Langmuir Probes

CONTRIBUTIONS TO PLASMA PHYSICS, Issue 9 2010
H.W. Müller
Abstract On ASDEX Upgrade first experiments were made using single probes with a voltage sweep frequency up to 100kHz. Possibilities and limitations using fast swept probes with a standard diagnostic and analysis tools are discussed. A good agreement between the data derived from fast swept single probe characteristics and floating as well as saturation current measurements was found. In a stationary (non ELMing) plasma the data of the fast swept probe are compared to standard slow swept probes (kHz range) showing an improvement of the measurement by faster sweeping. While ELM filaments already could be resolved the access of electron temperature fluctuations in small scale turbulence still has to be improved. Further comparisons are done in ELMy H-mode with combined ball-pen probe/floating potential measurements which can deliver electron temperatures with 25 , s time resolution at reduced spatial resolution compared to pin probes. During ELMs the electron temperatures derived from the ball-pen probe and fast swept single probes agreed (© 2010 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim) [source]


Fluctuating Helium Emission in Optically Thick Divertor Plasmas

CONTRIBUTIONS TO PLASMA PHYSICS, Issue 1-3 2008
F. B. Rosmej
Abstract Simulations of the helium radiative properties carried out with the recently developed multi-level meta-stable resolved collisional-radiative code SOPHIA discovered new unique emission lines to analyze optically thick divertor plasmas relevant for ITER. The comparison of their time dependent line emission obtained from the NAGDIS-II plasma simulator experiments with time dependent temperature probe measurements shows a strong correlation. This indicates that line intensity fluctuations can be transformed to the important quantities of density and temperature fluctuations. A transformation method based on integral line intensity ratios which can be recorded with high time resolution is discussed. (© 2008 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim) [source]


Doppler spectral line shapes in low frequency turbulent plasmas

CONTRIBUTIONS TO PLASMA PHYSICS, Issue 1-3 2004
Y. Marandet
Abstract In this paper we investigate the influence of low frequency, i.e. drift wave like turbulence on the spectral line shapes in magnetized plasmas. The measured spectrum, which is obtained through both spatial and time averaging processes, is shown to contain information on turbulence. Using a statistical description of the turbulent fluctuations, we investigate the effects of density, fluid velocity and temperature fluctuations on the Doppler profile of a spectral line. (© 2004 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim) [source]


Numerical modeling and investigation of liquid phase epitaxy of Hg1,xCdxTe infrared detectors

CRYSTAL RESEARCH AND TECHNOLOGY, Issue 9 2005
K. Lin
Abstract Numerical investigations have been performed for modeling the global temperature field of an industrial liquid phase epitaxy (LPE) facility and to estimate the temperature fluctuations in a Te-rich solution during the LPE growth. The numerical results agreed well with experimental data and therefore provide reliable reference points for experimenters for further improvements of the growth conditions. (© 2005 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim) [source]


Foot temperature in diabetic polyneuropathy: innocent bystander or unrecognized accomplice?

DIABETIC MEDICINE, Issue 3 2005
S. B. Rutkove
Abstract Aim To explore mechanisms by which temperature could influence the pathogenesis and symptoms of diabetic polyneuropathy. Methods We conducted a literature review attempting to identify mechanisms by which diabetic polyneuropathy could be affected by temperature. Results Cooling can theoretically hasten the progression of diabetic polyneuropathy through several different mechanisms. Specifically, cooling can enhance neuronal ischaemia, increase formation of reactive oxygen species, slow axonal transport, increase protein kinase C activity, and interfere with immune function. Short-term temperature fluctuations (both warming and cooling) can initiate and exacerbate neuropathic pain by causing neuronal hyperexcitability and functional deafferentation. Although normal fluctuations of distal extremity temperature may be sufficient for these effects, impaired thermoregulation may make the distal extremities more susceptible to temperature extremes. Eventually, a ,vicious cycle' may ensue, resulting in neuronal deterioration with further disruption of temperature regulation. Limited epidemiological data suggest a higher prevalence of diabetic polyneuropathy in populations living in colder locations, supporting our hypothesis. Conclusions Variations in foot temperature may play an important but as yet unrecognized role in the development and symptoms of diabetic polyneuropathy. Further basic and clinical research exploring this concept could help elucidate the natural history of diabetic polyneuropathy and lead to novel therapeutic strategies. [source]


The role of peripheral Na+ channels in triggering the central excitatory effects of intravenous cocaine

EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF NEUROSCIENCE, Issue 4 2006
P. Leon Brown
Abstract While alterations in dopamine (DA) uptake appear to be a critical mechanism underlying locomotor and reinforcing effects of cocaine (COC), many centrally mediated physiological and affective effects of this drug are resistant to DA receptor blockade and are expressed more quickly following an intravenous (i.v.) injection than expected based on the dynamics of drug concentration in the brain. Because COC is also a potent local anesthetic, its rapid action on Na+ channels may be responsible for triggering these effects. We monitored temperatures in the nucleus accumbens, temporal muscle and skin together with conventional locomotion during a single i.v. injection of COC (1 mg/kg), procaine (PRO, 5 mg/kg; equipotential anesthetic dose), a short-acting local anesthetic drug that, like COC, interacts with Na+ channels, and cocaine methiodide (COC-MET, 1.31 mg/kg, equimolar dose), a quaternary COC derivative that is unable to cross the blood,brain barrier. In this way, we explored not only the importance of Na+ channels in general, but also the importance of central vs. peripheral Na+ channels specifically. COC induced locomotor activation, temperature increase in the brain and muscle, and a biphasic temperature fluctuation in skin. Though PRO did not induce locomotor activation, it mimicked, to a greater degree, the temperature effects of COC. Therefore, Na+ channels appear to be a key substrate for COC-induced temperature fluctuations in the brain and periphery. Similar to PRO, COC-MET had minimal effects on locomotion, but mimicked COC in its ability to increase brain and muscle temperature, and induce transient skin hypothermia. It appears therefore that COC's interaction with peripherally located Na+ channels triggers its central excitatory effects manifested by brain temperature increase, thereby playing a major role in drug sensing and possibly contributing to COC reinforcement. [source]


Inaccurate or disparate temperature cues?

FUNCTIONAL ECOLOGY, Issue 5 2010
Seasonal acclimation of terrestrial, aquatic locomotor capacity in newts
Summary 1.,Many organisms respond to seasonal temperature fluctuations by the reversible modification of whole-animal performance. Semiaquatic ectotherms, which possess this acclimatory capacity in swimming speed, lack the plastic response in terrestrial locomotor performance and vice versa. Theory predicts that the presence of reversible (seasonal) thermal acclimation or fixed phenotypes depends on the predictability of future thermal conditions (i.e. accuracy of temperature cues) in a given environment. Alternatively, comparative data suggest that thermal acclimation is induced by disparate temperature cues in water and on land. 2.,We tested both predictions by examining the seasonal acclimation response in thermal sensitivity of maximal swimming and running speed in adult alpine newts, Ichthyosaura (formerly Triturus) alpestris. 3.,Following the seasonal variation in environmental temperatures, we exposed newts to 5 °C from November to March and, after a gradual temperature increase, to either a constant (15 °C) or fluctuating (10,20 °C) thermal regime from May to June. At the end of each treatment, we measured newt swimming and running capacity at five temperatures (range 5,25 °C). In the field, hourly temperatures were recorded in various aquatic and terrestrial microhabitats to obtain information about the predictability of thermal conditions in both environments. 4.,Seasonal acclimation shaped the thermal sensitivity of swimming speed under both constant and fluctuating temperature treatments. Thermal sensitivity of running speed was markedly modified by a fluctuating thermal regime so that newts ran at the highest test temperature faster than cold-acclimated individuals. Natural thermal environment contained a similar proportion of predictable variation in water and on land. 5.,Complex seasonal acclimation of locomotor capacity in newts was influenced by the disparate thermal cues, i.e. mean acclimation temperature or diel temperature fluctuations, rather than by the different accuracy of these cues in water and on land. Future confrontations of theory with empirical data will require more attention not only on the assumptions of adaptive thermal acclimation but also on the ecologically relevant thermal conditions during acclimation experiments. [source]


Integrated Multifunctional Nanosystems for Medical Diagnosis and Treatment

ADVANCED FUNCTIONAL MATERIALS, Issue 21 2009
*Article first published online: 9 OCT 200, Donglu Shi
Abstract This article provides an overview on the development of integrated multifunctional nanosystems for medical diagnosis and treatment. In particular, a novel system is developed specifically for achieving simultaneous diagnosis and treatment of cancer. Critical issues are addressed on the architecture and assembly of nanocomponents based on medical requirements: targeted in vivo imaging, controlled drug release, localized hyperthermia, and toxicity. Nanotube-based carriers are summarized with surface functionalized properties. Other types of nanocarriers are also included such as super paramagnetic composite nanospheres and biodegradable hydroxylapatite nanoparticles. In addition, polymeric-based nanosystems are introduced with several novel features: they can be bio-dissolved due to environmental pH and temperature fluctuations. The nanocarriers are surface tailored with key functionalities: surface antibodies for cell targeting, anti-cancer drug loading, and magnetic nanoparticles for both hyperthermia and MRI. Future requirements, aims, and trends in the development of multifunctional nanosystems, particularly with intelligent functionalities for fundamental studies, are also provided. [source]


Ecological relevance of laboratory determined temperature limits: colonization potential, biogeography and resilience of Antarctic invertebrates to environmental change

GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY, Issue 11 2010
D. K. A. BARNES
Abstract The relevance of laboratory experiments in predicting effects of climate change has been questioned, especially in Antarctica where sea temperatures are remarkably stable. Laboratory studies of Southern Ocean marine animal capacities to survive increasing temperature mainly utilize rapid temperature elevations, 100 ×,10 000 × faster than sea temperature is predicted to rise. However, due to small-scale temperature fluctuations these studies may be crucial for understanding colonization patterns and predicting survival particularly through interactions between thermal tolerance and migration. The colonization of disjunct shelves around Antarctica by larvae or adult drift requires crossing or exposure to, rapid temperature changes of up to 2,4 °C over days to weeks. Analyses of responses to warming at varying rates of temperature change in the laboratory allow better predictions of the potential species have for colonizing disjunct shelf areas (such as the Scotia Arc). Inhabiting greater diversities of localities increases the geographic and thermal range species experience. We suggest a strong link between short-term temperature tolerance, environmental range and prospects for surviving changing environments. [source]


Role of lakes for organic carbon cycling in the boreal zone

GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY, Issue 1 2004
Grete Algesten
Abstract We calculated the carbon loss (mineralization plus sedimentation) and net CO2 escape to the atmosphere for 79 536 lakes and total running water in 21 major Scandinavian catchments (size range 437,48 263 km2). Between 30% and 80% of the total organic carbon that entered the freshwater ecosystems was lost in lakes. Mineralization in lakes and subsequent CO2 emission to the atmosphere was by far the most important carbon loss process. The withdrawal capacity of lakes on the catchment scale was closely correlated to the mean residence time of surface water in the catchment, and to some extent to the annual mean temperature represented by latitude. This result implies that variation of the hydrology can be a more important determinant of CO2 emission from lakes than temperature fluctuations. Mineralization of terrestrially derived organic carbon in lakes is an important regulator of organic carbon export to the sea and may affect the net exchange of CO2 between the atmosphere and the boreal landscape. [source]


Temperature measurements near a heating surface at high heat fluxes in subcooled pool boiling

HEAT TRANSFER - ASIAN RESEARCH (FORMERLY HEAT TRANSFER-JAPANESE RESEARCH), Issue 1 2010
Ayako Ono
Abstract In previous papers (Int J Heat Mass Transfer, 2008;50:3481,3489, 2009;52: 814,821), the authors conducted measurements of liquid,vapor structures in the vicinity of a heating surface for subcooled pool boiling on an upward-facing copper surface by using a conducting probe method. We reported that the macrolayer dryout model is the most appropriate model of the CHF and that the reason why the CHF increases with increasing subcooling is most likely that a thick macrolayer is able to form beneath large vapor masses and the lowest heat flux of the vapor mass region shifts towards the higher heat flux. To develop a mechanistic model of the CHF for subcooled boiling, therefore, it is necessary to elucidate the effects of local subcooling on boiling behaviors in the vicinity of a heating surface. This paper measured local temperatures close to a heating surface using a micro-thermocouple at high heat fluxes for water boiling on an upward-facing surface in the 0 to 40 K range of subcooling. A value for the effective subcooling, defined as the local subcooling during the period while vapor masses are being formed was estimated from the detected bottom peaks of the temperature fluctuations. It was established that the effective subcooling adjacent to the surface remains at considerably lower values than the bulk liquid subcooling. This suggests that, from nucleation to coalescence, the subcooling of a bulk liquid has a smaller effect on the behavior of primary bubbles than the extent of the subcooling would appear to suggest. An empirical correlation of the effective subcooling is proposed to provide a step towards quantitative modeling of the CHF for subcooled boiling. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Heat Trans Asian Res; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/htj.20277 [source]


Prediction of vortex penetration depth at thermal stratification by cavity flow in a branch pipe with closed end (effect of heat radiation condition on temperature fluctuations)

HEAT TRANSFER - ASIAN RESEARCH (FORMERLY HEAT TRANSFER-JAPANESE RESEARCH), Issue 1 2007
Kouji Shiina
Abstract In a branch pipe with one closed end, the cavity flow penetrates into the branch pipe from the main loop and a thermal boundary layer occurs because the cavity flow is a hot fluid, but heat removal causes a colder fluid in the branch pipe. This thermal stratification may affect the structural integrity. Therefore, a pipe design standard to suppress thermal fatigue should be established. The pipe design standard consists of the maximum penetration depth Lsv and the minimum penetration depth Lsh. In order to establish an evaluation method for Lsh, a visualization test and a temperature fluctuation test were carried out. A theoretical formula for thermal stratification was introduced from the heat balance model. Then the model was used to obtain an empirical equation from the map of fluid temperature fluctuation. This method can predict the vortex penetration depth by cavity flow in horizontal branch pipes. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Heat Trans Asian Res, 36(1):38,55, 2007; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/htj.20135 [source]


URANS computations for an oscillatory non-isothermal triple-jet using the k,, and second moment closure turbulence models

INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL FOR NUMERICAL METHODS IN FLUIDS, Issue 9 2003
M. Nishimura
Abstract Low Reynolds number turbulence stress and heat flux equation models (LRSFM) have been developed to enhance predictive capabilities. A new method is proposed for providing the wall boundary condition for dissipation rate of turbulent kinetic energy, ,, to improve the model capability upon application of coarse meshes for practical use. The proposed method shows good agreement with accepted correlations and experimental data for flows with various Reynolds and Prandtl numbers including transitional regimes. Also, a mesh width about 5 times or larger than that used in existing models is applicable by using the present boundary condition. The present method thus enhanced computational efficiency in applying the complex turbulence model, LRSFM, to predictions of complicated flows. Unsteady Reynolds averaged Navier,Stokes (URANS) computations are conducted for an oscillatory non-isothermal quasi-planar triple-jet. Comparisons are made between an experiment and predictions with the LRSFM and the standard k,, model. A water test facility with three vertical jets, the cold in between two hot jets, simulates temperature fluctuations anticipated at the outlet of a liquid metal fast reactor core. The LRSFM shows good agreement with the experiment, with respect to mean profiles and the oscillatory motion of the flow, while the k,, model under-predicts the mixing due to the oscillation, such that a transverse mean temperature difference remains far downstream. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source]


What are daily maximum and minimum temperatures in observed climatology?

INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF CLIMATOLOGY, Issue 3 2008
X. Lin
Abstract Instrumental daily maximum and minimum temperatures are reported and archived from various surface thermometers along with different average algorithms in historical and current U.S. surface climate networks. An instrumental bias in daily maximum and minimum temperatures caused by surface temperature sensors due to the different sampling rates, average algorithms, and sensor's time constants was examined using a Gaussian-distributed function of surface air temperature fluctuations in simulation. In this study, the field observations were also included to examine the effects of average algorithms used in reporting daily maximum and minimum temperatures. Compared to the longest-recorded and standard liquid-in-glass maximum and minimum thermometers, some surface climate networks produced a systematic warming (cooling) bias in daily maximum (minimum) temperature observations, thus, resulting biases made the diurnal temperature range (DTR) more biased in extreme climate studies. Our study clarified the ambiguous concepts on daily maximum and minimum temperature observations defined by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) in terms of sensor's time constants and average lengths and an accurate description of daily maximum and minimum temperatures is recommended to avoid the uncertainties occurred in the observed climatology. Copyright © 2007 Royal Meteorological Society [source]


Transient climate simulation forced by natural and anthropogenic climate forcings

INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF CLIMATOLOGY, Issue 6 2002
Cédric Bertrand
Abstract Numerical experiments have been carried out with a two-dimensional sector-averaged global climate model coupled to a diffusive ocean in order to assess the potential impact of four hypothesized mechanisms of decadal to century-scale climate variability, both natural and anthropogenically induced: (1) solar variability; (2) variability in volcanic aerosol loading of the atmosphere; (3) anthropogenic increase of sulphate aerosols' concentration; (4) anthropogenic increase of greenhouse gas concentrations. Our results suggest that neither the individual responses nor the combined natural or anthropogenic forcings allow one to reproduce all of the recorded major temperature fluctuations since the latter half of the 19th century. They show that these temperature variations are the result of both naturally driven climate fluctuations and the effects of industrialization. By contrast, the dominant cause of decade-to-century-scale variability of the 21st century is likely to be changes in atmospheric trace-gas concentrations. Indeed, when the solar, volcanic, and tropospheric aerosols forcings used in our experiments are extended into the future, they are unable to counter the expected greenhouse warming. Copyright © 2002 Royal Meteorological Society. [source]


Sexual reproduction of scleractinian corals in public aquariums: current status and future perspectives

INTERNATIONAL ZOO YEARBOOK, Issue 1 2007
D. PETERSEN
A multiple-choice questionnaire was distributed, mainly via the list servers of the EUAC (European Union of Aquarium Curators) Coral ASP (Animal Sustainability Program) and AquaticInfo, to evaluate the potential of today's aquariums for the captive breeding of scleractinian corals. Sixteen (including the temperate coral Astroides calycularis) of, in total, 24 species (nine families) were recorded as showing reproductive behaviour that could establish an F1 generation. Broadcast spawners (13 species) reproduced mainly in open systems under natural light conditions (in all cases natural moonlight exposure), whereas brooders (11 species) showed less sensitivity towards certain environmental factors known to trigger reproduction in field populations (here moonlight and temperature fluctuations). Except for a few recruits of Galaxea fascicularis and Echinopora lamellosa maintained in a 750 000 litre system, recruits of broadcast spawners could be exclusively obtained by manipulating fertilization and settlement. Brooding corals established generally less than 100 recruits if settlement was not enhanced experimentally. When reproduction was manipulated, it enhanced reproductive success, in most cases to above 100 recruits. We assume that more species, especially brooders, might reproduce in public aquariums without being noticed by the staff owing to the lack of recruitment and of experimental design (larval collection). This study illustrates the great potential for public aquariums to reproduce corals sexually. However, more investigation is necessary to optimize reproductive success and possibly to broaden the spectrum of species reproduced in public aquariums. [source]


Water temperature fluctuations and territoriality in the intertidal zone: two possible explanations for the elevational distribution of body size in Graus nigra

JOURNAL OF FISH BIOLOGY, Issue 2 2002
C. E. Hernández
On the central coast of Chile, distribution of body size in Graus nigra varied with tidal pool height. With the objective of determining whether environmental temperature is one of the possible causes which explains the observed distribution pattern, two behavioural responses were analysed during an experimental period of increasing water temperature: number of opercular movements (an indirect measure of energy expenditure) and activity levels. The interactions of temperature × time and body size × time had a significant effect on the number of opercular movements. At low temperatures (13,15° C), large fish reached a maximum number of opercular movements, while small fish reached a maximum only at high temperatures (23,25° C). The interaction temperature × time had a significant effect on activity levels of different body sizes. In general, large fish appeared to be less active than small fish, however, at very high temperatures (24,26° C) all individuals increased their activity levels. These data indicate that small fish are acclimatized to live in a wider range of temperatures (13,23° C), and, for fish of all body sizes, the highest temperatures (23,26° C) probably constitute a suboptimal microhabitat. Strong territoriality was observed, with large individuals displacing smaller individuals. These data suggest that temperature is an important factor in explaining why large individuals are not present in high tidal pools (high temperatures), whereas territoriality explains why small individuals are not in low tidal pools (habitat of large individuals). [source]


TEXTURE STABILITY OF HYDROGEL COMPLEX CONTAINING CURDLAN GUM OVER MULTIPLE FREEZE,THAW CYCLES

JOURNAL OF FOOD PROCESSING AND PRESERVATION, Issue 1 2009
PATRICK D. WILLIAMS
ABSTRACT The texture stability of hydrogel complexes containing curdlan gum over multiple freeze,thaw cycles (FTCs) was investigated. The hydrogels formed by curdlan and xanthan gum, locust bean gum, carrageenan or guar gum at various combinations were stored at 4C for 24 h before subjected to five FTCs alternating between,16 (18 h) and 25C (6 h). Xanthan/curdlan hydrogels showed the highest freeze,thaw stability in terms of syneresis, heat stability and adhesiveness. The viscosity of xanthan/curdlan combination was the lowest among all samples studied yet the most stable over the five FTCs, whereas significant changes were observed with locust bean/curdlan hydrogels. The guar/curdlan combination before freeze,thaw treatments exhibited predominant elasticity; however, as the cycles progressed the elasticity decreased. The most stable gel strength was achieved when curdlan was combined with guar or xanthan at 2% (w/v) total concentration, while carrageenan/curdlan gels were the least stable. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS Texture instability remains the most significant challenge for frozen food products, especially with inevitable post-production temperature fluctuations. Loss of moisture and changes in textural attributes often results in significant reduction of product quality. Precise control of hydrogel complexes that provide texture stabilization over multiple freeze,thaw cycles will enhance the quality of existing products while enabling the development of new ones. [source]


Oxygen isotope and palaeotemperature records from six Greenland ice-core stations: Camp Century, Dye-3, GRIP, GISP2, Renland and NorthGRIP

JOURNAL OF QUATERNARY SCIENCE, Issue 4 2001
Sigfus J. Johnsen
Abstract Oxygen isotope variations spanning the last glacial cycle and the Holocene derived from ice-core records for six sites in Greenland (Camp Century, Dye-3, GRIP, GISP2, Renland and NorthGRIP) show strong similarities. This suggests that the dominant influence on oxygen isotope variations reflected in the ice-sheet records was regional climatic change. Differences in detail between the records probably reflect the effects of basal deformation in the ice as well as geographical gradients in atmospheric isotope ratios. Palaeotemperature estimates have been obtained from the records using three approaches: (i) inferences based on the measured relationship between mean annual ,18O of snow and of mean annual surface temperature over Greenland; (ii) modelled inversion of the borehole temperature profile constrained either by the dated isotopic profile, or (iii) by using Monte Carlo simulation techniques. The third of these approaches was adopted to reconstruct Holocene temperature variations for the Dye 3 and GRIP temperature profiles, which yields remarkably compatible results. A new record of Holocene isotope variations obtained from the NorthGRIP ice-core matches the GRIP short-term isotope record, and also shows similar long-term trends to the Dye-3 and GRIP inverted temperature data. The NorthGRIP isotope record reflects: (i) a generally stronger isotopic signal than is found in the GRIP record; (ii) several short-lived temperature fluctuations during the first 1500 yr of the Holocene; (iii) a marked cold event at ca. 8.2 ka (the ,8.2 ka event'); (iv) optimum temperatures for the Holocene between ca. 8.6 and 4.3 ka, a signal that is 0.6, stronger than for the GRIP profile; (v) a clear signal for the Little Ice Age; and (vi) a clear signal of climate warming during the last century. These data suggest that the NorthGRIP stable isotope record responded in a sensitive manner to temperature fluctuations during the Holocene. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source]