Guest transport in a nonporous organic solid via dynamic van der Waals cooperativity

A well-known organic host compound undergoes single-crystal-to-single-crystal phase transitions upon guest uptake and release. Despite a lack of porosity of the material, guest transport through the solid occurs readily until a thermodynamically stable structure is achieved. In order to actively facilitate this dynamic process, the host molecules undergo significant positional and/or orientational rearrangement. This transformation of the host lattice is triggered by weak van der Waals interactions between the molecular components. In order for the material to maintain its macroscopic integrity, extensive cooperativity must exist between the molecules throughout the crystal, such that rearrangement can occur in a well-orchestrated fashion. We demonstrate here that even weak dispersive forces can exert a profound influence over solid-state dynamics.     

Solution of a 20-variable 3-SAT problem on a DNA computer

A 20-variable instance of the NP-complete three-satisfiability (3-SAT) problem was solved on a simple DNA computer. The unique answer was found after an exhaustive search of more than 1 million (2(20)) possibilities. This computational problem may be the largest yet solved by nonelectronic means. Problems of this size appear to be beyond the normal range of unaided human computation.     

The spatial and temporal variation of the sulphate to nitrate ratio in precipitation in eastern North America

Four years of precipitation chemistry data for eastern North America were used to investigate seasonal and geographical variations in \({\text{SO}}_{\text{4}}^{\text{ = }} {\text{/NO}}_{\text{3}}^{\text{ - }} \) ratio. Several distinct regimes occur. One, in the region of heaviest acidic deposition extending from the states south of the Great Lakes across New England and southeastern Canada, has a very strong seasonal variation in the \({\text{SO}}_{\text{4}}^{\text{ = }} {\text{/NO}}_{\text{3}}^{\text{ - }} \) molar ratio in deposition. The ratio ranges from about 1.5 in summer to about 0.5 in winter. Another, in the smaller area of Texas and surrounding states, shows the reverse seasonal pattern. Yet another, in the high plains states, has a double maximum in the ratio in Spring and Fall. The remainder of the region has an irregular seasonal pattern. Insight into the cause of \({\text{SO}}_{\text{4}}^{\text{ = }} {\text{/NO}}_{\text{3}}^{\text{ - }} \) variations was obtained using a simple chemical transport box model. It showed that the chemical transformation of S0₂ and NO_x in the atmosphere is a major factor. A comparison of model predictions and observations indicate that in the vicinity of mid-western American sources the molar ratio of amount of S0₂ oxidized in-cloud to that of N0₂ is O.5 in winter and 1.5 in summer.     

Production and carrying capacity for the earthworm Lumbricus terrestris in culture

Approximately 8 h were required at 25°C for food to pass from mouth to anus in the earthworm Lumbricus terrestris. Gut load per unit transit appeared inversely related to nitrogen content; values of about 2 and 44 mg dry castings per 100mg dry worm were obtained with activated sludge and mineral soil, respectively. Production of biomass was greater in a substrate of activated sludge and loam relative to activated sludge and cellulose, despite higher concentrations of nitrogen in the latter. Optimum population density was about 8 earthworms (31 g live wt) in 1000cm³ 2:1 sludge:soil. Growth occurred at a maximum rate between 15 and 25°C. A yield of approximately 4% biomass (dry wt) was obtained on a mixture of activated sludge and loam, based on the content of organic matter present.     

Modeling scour and deposition in ephemeral channels after wildfire

The area burned by wildfire in the states of Arizona and New Mexico in the southwestern US has been increasing in recent years. In many cases, high severity burns have caused dramatic increases in runoff and sediment yield from burned watersheds. This paper describes the potential and limitations of the HEC6T sediment transport model to describe changes in channel scour and deposition following the Cerro Grande fire near Los Alamos, New Mexico. Following the fire, Pueblo Canyon, near Los Alamos, was subject to a peak flow two orders of magnitudes higher than any discharge in the 7-year period of record, and twice the initial post-fire estimate of the 100-year event. HEC6T requires that the limits of scour and deposition on a cross-section be specified prior to application. This was achieved by using geomorphologic principles, predicted post-burn hydrology and long-term estimates of channel change derived from air photos, to estimate post-fire channel widths. Because significant quantities of silt and clay were present in the runoff, erosion shear stress and erosion rate parameters for cohesive sediments had to be obtained experimentally. After a sensitivity analysis, an optimization routine was used to estimate the optimal model parameter values for sensitive parameters. HEC6T was able to accurately model the change in cumulative sediment volume change derived from Airborne Laser Swath Mapping (ALSM, often called Lidar) taken before and after the large post-fire event. One discrepancy between the HEC6T model prediction and the ALSM-estimated change was that the ALSM-estimated change showed the greatest amount of deposition in a portion of the canyon with increasing slope, which the HEC6T model did not predict. Any sediment transport model will predict increased sediment transport capacity with increasing energy slope, so that it was considered to be beyond the capability of any sediment transport model to predict this deposition. Therefore, HEC6T simulated the overall changes in scour and deposition within reasonable expectation of the capabilities of physically-based sediment transport modeling indicating that it is capable of modeling sediment transport in ephemeral channels following wildfire.     

Long-term isovolumetric leaching of aluminum from rocks during weathering: Implications for the genesis of saprolite

Isovolumetric geochemical analyses of 26 weathering profiles (saprolites) on crystalline rocks in Brazil and South Carolina indicate that, on average, Si and Al are leached from rocks in a long-terms molar ratio of 8.3. Hewever, with the exception of the Rio Negro River, the molar ratio of Si to Al in rivers draining these regions is about 100. If saprolites are still forming, the large discrepancy in Al mobilization between the saprolite record and modern river chemistry may be due to degassing of dissolved CO₂ from soil water entering streams with attendant increase in pH and Al precipitation. If saprolites are relic, the Rio Negro basin may be a model for the environmental conditions under which they form. These conditions are 1) low relief, 2) abundant rainfall and intense leaching and 3) organic rich soils which produce large concentrations of CO₂ and dissolved organic acids in the soil. Abundant rainfall maintains dilute soil water; large CO₂ pressure lowers pH; dissolved organic matter complexes Al (and Fe) and thus enhances the solubility of secondary clays. All of these effects hinder the precipitation of secondary weathering products and thus promote rock dissolution that is more nearly congruent. The problem with the Rio Negro model is to reconcile the low relief of the basin (which inhibits rapid groundwater movement) with the short contact time indicated by the diluteness of its chemistry.     

A comparison of reciprocating flow versus constant flow in an integrated, gravel bed, aquaponic test system

Murray cod, ^{Maccullochella peelii peelii}, and Green oak lettuce, Lactuca sativa, were used to test for differences between two aquaponic flood regimes; reciprocal flow (hydroponic bed was periodically flooded) and constant flow (hydroponic bed was constantly flooded), in a freshwater aquaponic test system, where plant nutrients were supplied from fish wastes, while plants stripped nutrients from the wastewater before it was returned to the fish. The Murray cod had FCRs and biomass gains that were statistically identical in both systems. Lettuce yields were good and a significantly greater amount of both biomass and yield occurred in the constant flow treatment. Constant flow treatments exhibited greater pH buffering capacity, required fewer bicarbonate (buffer) additions to control pH and maintained lower conductivity levels than reciprocal flow controls. Water consumption in the two systems was statistically identical. Overall, results suggest that a constant flow flooding regime is as good as, or better than, a reciprocating flooding regime in the aquaponic test system used.     

Method for determining the physical stability of shrimp feeds in water

Three methods for measuring the water stability and leaching characteristics of shrimp pelleted feeds were developed and tested: static water method, horizontal shaking method and vertical shaking method. Each method was tested using a commercial and experimental pelleted shrimp feed. Both feeds had a pellet size of 2.4 mm × 5.0 mm with similar proximate composition (35% protein and 9% fat). Each test run consisted of leaching c. 2 g of feed at six intervals of immersion time (0, 30, 60, 120, 240, 360 min), two concentrations of salinity (0, 34 ppt), and three different water temperatures (15, 25, 35 °C). A refrigerated circulating water bath was used to maintain the desired level of water temperature. For the static water and horizontal shaking methods, a Buchner filtration apparatus with Whatman filter paper no. 3 (5 μ) was used to separate the remaining pellets from leached water. The vertical shaking method (VanKel) utilized a perforated stainless‐steel basket (381 μ) for leaching and serving as a filter to separate pellets from leached water. For all three methods, the leached feed and original feed samples were dried in a convection oven at 105 °C for 24 h and then cooled in a desiccator. Dried feed samples were weighed and analysed for dry matter retention. Pellet stability was calculated as the ratio of dry matter retention after leaching and dry matter of original samples expressed as a percentage. Results indicated that any method for pellet stability analysis should take into account water temperature and salinity in addition to actual pellet agitation rate to obtain accurate and consistent measurement of pellet disintegration and nutrient leaching. Dry matter retention was different for each shrimp feed with experimental feed (72.8%) showing lower retention than commercial feed (88%) after 6 h of VanKel leaching under normal shrimp culture conditions. The three methods provided reproducible results with both horizontal and vertical shaking methods recommended for routine laboratory analysis because they could provide different degrees of pellet agitation that simulate actual indoor and outdoor shrimp culture conditions.     

Chemical emissions from adhesive-bonded wood products at elevated temperatures

Pyrolysis-gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (Py-GC/MS) was employed to examine the chemical emissions from the glued wood samples at elevated temperatures (150, 200, 250, 300, 350, 400, 450, and 500°C). Two wood species, Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii) and southern pine (Pinus palustris), one structural adhesive, phenol–resorcinol–formaldehyde (PRF), PRF-bonded Douglas-fir, and PRF-bonded southern pine were evaluated. The volatile compounds with a mass range of 35–300 m/z emitted from the pyrolysis samples were separated by gas chromatography (GC) and identified by mass spectrometry (MS). The results indicated that compared to neat wood and resin film samples, several additional pyrolysis products were observed for the PRF-bonded wood samples including (1) acetaldehyde and butanedial for PRF-bonded Douglas-fir and (2) acetaldehyde, furfural, 2-furanmethanol, butanedial, 2,3-butanedione, cyclopropyl carbinol, 1,2-benzenediol, and 1-(acetyloxy)-2-propanone for PRF-bonded southern pine. These additional compounds were possibly associated with the interaction between wood and PRF resin. The results also indicated that bonded wood products would be less thermally stable than those of neat wood and PRF resin samples.