Observations of Kuroshio intrusion into the South China Sea

To discuss the intrusion of the Kuroshio into the SCS, we examined the mixing between the North Pacific and South China Sea (SCS) waters based on in-situ CTD data collected in August and September 2008 and the moored ADCP data taken from mid September 2008 to early July 2009. The CTD survey included four meridional sections from 119A degrees E to 122A degrees E around the Luzon Strait, during which pressure, temperature, and salinity were measured. The CTD data show that the isopycnal surface tilted from the SCS to the North Pacific; and it was steeper in the lower layers than in the upper ones. Meanwhile, we found strong vertical mixing taken place in the areas near 121A degrees E. The Kuroshio in high temperature and salinity intruded westward through Luzon Strait. The frequency of buoyancy was one order of magnitude greater than that of the common ones in the ocean, suggesting stronger stratification in the northeastern SCS. On the other hand, the long-term ADCP data show that before late October 2008, the direction of water flow in the SCS was eastward, and from November 2008 to late February 2009, it turned northwestward in the layers shallower than 150 m, while remained unchanged in deep layers from 200 to 450 m. From March to June 2009, the direction shifted with increasing depth from northward to southward, akin to the Ekman spiral. EOF analysis of the current time series revealed dominant empirical modes: the first mode corresponded to the mean current and showed that the Kuroshio intrusion occurred in the upper layers only from late December to early March. The temporal coefficient of the first and the second mode indicated clearly a dominant signal in a quasi-seasonal cycle.

Gas-phase ion-molecule reactions of C-60 with the plasma of methyl acrylate

The gas-phase ion-molecule reactions of C-60 with the plasma generated from methyl acrylate under self-chemical ionization conditions were studied by use of a triple-quadrupole mass spectrometer. The adduct cation [C60C3H3O](+) and protonated molecular ion [C60H](+) were observed as the major product ions. The former adduct ion is formed by electrophilic reaction of C-60 with the ion [CH2=CHCO](+), a main fragment ion resulting from the methyl acrylate molecular ion [CH2=CHCOOCH3](+) through alpha cleavage. The latter ion is generated by proton transfer from protonated methyl acrylate to C-60. Semi-empirical quantum chemical calculations have been performed for the eight possible isomers of [C60C3H3O](+) at the Hartree-Fock level by use of the AMI method. The results show three types of cycloadducts as the most stable structures among the possible isomers.

Gas-phase ion - Molecule reactions of neutral C-60 with the plasmas of alkyl methyl ethers and primary alcohols

The gas-phase ion-molecule reactions of C-60 with the methoxymethyl ion [CH3O=CH2](+) and the 1-hydroxyethyl ion [CH3CH=OH](+) generated under the self-chemical-ionization (self-CI) conditions of alkyl methyl ethers and primary alcohols were studied in the ion source of a mass spectrometer. The adduct ions [C60C2H5O](+) and protonated molecules [C60H](+) were observed as the major products of C-60 with the plasma of alkyl methyl ethers. On the contrary, the reactions of C-60 With the plasmas of primary alcohols produced few corresponding adduct ions. The AM1 semiempirical molecular orbital calculations were carried out on 14 possible structures. The calculated results showed that the most stable structure among the possible isomers of [C60C2H5O](+) is the [3+2] cycloadduct. According to experimental and theoretical results, the pathway for the formation of the adduct was presented.

Effects Of The Length Of A Cylindrical Solid Shield On The Entrainment Of Ambient Air Into Turbulent And Laminar Impinging Argon Plasma Jets

When materials processing is conducted in air surroundings by use of an impinging plasma jet, the ambient air will be entrained into the materials processing region, resulting in unfavorable oxidation of the feedstock metal particles injected into the plasma jet and of metallic substrate material. Using a cylindrical solid shield may avoid the air entrainment if the shield length is suitably selected and this approach has the merit that expensive vacuum chamber and its pumping system are not needed. Modeling study is thus conducted to reveal how the length of the cylindrical solid shield affects the ambient air entrainment when materials processing (spraying, remelting, hardening, etc.) is conducted by use of a turbulent or laminar argon plasma jet impinging normally upon a flat substrate in atmospheric air. It is shown that the mass flow rate of the ambient air entrained into the impinging plasma jet cannot be appreciably reduced unless the cylindrical shield is long enough. In order to completely avoid the air entrainment, the gap between the downstream-end section of the cylindrical solid shield and the substrate surface must be carefully selected, and the suitable size of the gap for the turbulent plasma jet is appreciably larger than that for the laminar one. The overheating of the solid shield or the substrate could become a problem for the turbulent case, and thus additional cooling measure may be needed when the entrainment of ambient air into the turbulent impinging plasma jet is to be completely avoided.

The change of Eu3+-surroundings in the system Al2O3-B2O3 containing Eu3+ ions

The change of Eu3+-surroundings with the Al/B ratio varying from 4.5 to 2 and Eu/(Al + B) = 0.02, was investigated through X-ray diffraction, infrared spectra, excitation and emission spectra, and phonon sideband. The results show coexistence of the crystal phase Al18B4O33 and the amorphous phase and Eu3+ ions of the samples with the Al/B ratio from 3 to 2 are incorporated into the amorphous phase. It was also found that electron-phonon coupling strength decreases with the Al/B ratio from 3 to 2, non-radiative decay rate decreases, resulting in an increase of the Eu3+-emission intensity. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.

GAS-PHASE ACETYLATION OF C-60 AND C-70 BY ION/MOLECULE REACTIONS

Gas phase reactions of C-60 and C-70 with the ion system of acetone under chemical ionization conditions have been studied. C-60 and C-70 can react with acetyl and oxonium ions, which come from self-chemical ionization of acetone, to form adduct ions. In addition, C-60 and C-70 can accept protons to produce protonated ions. C-70 is more active in the above reactions than C-60 because of its stronger gas-phase basicity. A sigma-bond between C-60 and an acyl carbon atom can be formed to produce stable acetylated C-60 ions. The above results may be relevant to the acetylation reactions of C-60 in the condensed phase.

STUDY ON THE ACTIVE-CENTERS OF METHANE COUPLING CATALYSTS BY MEANS OF FLUORESCENCE EMISSION OF EU3+

Eu3+ ion was adopted as a probe to detect the probability of entrance of alkali elements into the crystal lattice of MgO, CaO and La2O3 by means of its characteristic emission. Based on the experimental data it is concluded that Li+ and Na+ ions can substitute Mg2+ and Ca2+ ions and only a small amount of K+ ion can enter into the lattice of CaO. Whilst Li+ ion can not enter into the lattice of lanthana. The conclusion of this investigation is in good agreement with that obtained by Lunsford by ESR studies.

Effects of CO2 enrichment on the bloom-forming cyanobacterium Microcystis aeruginosa (Cyanophyceae): Physiological responses and relationships with the availability of dissolved inorganic carbon

Microcystis aeruginosa Kutz. 7820 was cultured at 350 and 700 muL.L-1 CO2 to assess the impacts of doubled atmospheric CO2 concentration on this bloom-forming cyanobacterium. Doubling Of CO2 concentration in the airflow enhanced its growth by 52%-77%, with pH values decreased and dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC) increased in the medium. Photosynthetic efficiencies and dark respiratory rates expressed per unit chl a tended to increase with the doubling of CO2. However, saturating irradiances for photosynthesis and light-saturated photosynthetic rates normalized to cell number tended to decrease with the increase of DIC in the medium. Doubling of CO2 concentration in the airflow had less effect on DIC-saturated photosynthetic rates and apparent photosynthetic affinities for DIC. In the exponential phase, CO2 and HCO3- levels in the medium were higher than those required to saturate photosynthesis. Cultures with surface aeration were DIC limited in the stationary phase. The rate of CO2 dissolution into the liquid increased proportionally when CO2 in air was raised from 350 to 700 muL.L-1, thus increasing the availability of DIC in the medium and enhancing the rate of photosynthesis. Doubled CO2 could enhance CO2 dissolution, lower pH values, and influence the ionization fractions of various DIC species even when the photosynthesis was not DIC limited. Consequently, HCO3- concentrations in cultures were significantly higher than in controls, and the photosynthetic energy cost for the operation of CO2 concentrating mechanism might decrease.

Impact of hydrogen dilution on microstructure and optoelectronic properties of silicon films deposited using tirisilane

We explored the deposition of hydrogenated amorphous silicon (a-Si: H) using trisilane (Si3H8) as a gas precursor in a radiofrequency plasma enhanced chemical vapour deposition process and studied the suitability of this material for photovoltaic applications. The impact of hydrogen dilution on the deposition rate and microstructure of the films is systematically examined. Materials deposited using trisilane are compared with that using disilane (Si2H6). It is found that when using Si3H8 as the gas precursor the deposition rate increases by a factor of similar to 1.5 for the same hydrogen dilution (R = [H-2]/[Si3H8] or [H-2]/[Si2H6])- Moreover, the structural transition from amorphous to nanocrystalline occurs at a higher hydrogen dilution level for Si3H8 and the transition is more gradual as compared with Si2H6 deposited films. Single-junction n-i-p a-Si: H solar cells were prepared with intrinsic layers deposited using Si3H8 or Si2H6. The dependence of open circuit voltage (V-oc) on hydrogen dilution was investigated. V-oc greater than 1 V can be obtained when the i-layers are deposited at a hydrogen dilution of 180 and 100 using Si3H8 and Si2H6, respectively.

Cooperative spontaneous emission of excitons in the semiconductor microcavity

We have studied the spontaneous emission of polarized excitons in the GaInP/AlGaInP VCSEL from 30K to room temperature. It is observed that the spontaneous emission peak enters and leaves the resonant regime. At the resonant regime, the emission intensities of the perpendicular and horizontal polarized exciton are enhanced at different ratio to those in non-resonant regime. These experiment results are explained through the dressed exciton theory of the semiconductor microcavity device. From this theory, the intensity enhancement and the polarization dependence are understood as cooperative emission and the microcavity anisotropy.

Gas-phase isothermal chromatography with short-lived technetium isotopes

In order to study the gas-phase chemical behavior of transactinides, an on-line isothermal chromatography apparatus has been developed and applied to separate short-lived technetium isotopes in the form of TcO3 from fission products. The fission products from a Cf-252 source were continuously and rapidly transported through the capillary to the isothermal chromatography apparatus using the N-2/KBr gas-jet techniques. Volatile oxide molecules were formed at the reaction zone kept at 900 degrees C since a trace amount of oxygen existed in the N-2 carrier gas. With the new developed isothermal chromatography apparatus, a selective separation of Tc from fission products was achieved. After isothermal chromatographic separation, Tc-101,Tc-103,Tc-104,Tc-105,Tc-106,Tc-107,Tc-108 were dominantly observed together with their Ru daughters in the gamma-spectrum, The chemical yields of Tc-101, and Tc-104 and Tc-105 isotopes with longer half-lives are about 55-57%, and those of Tc-103, Tc-106 and Tc-108 isotopes with shorter half-lives dropped down to 25-28%. The adsorption enthalpy of the investigated compounds on quartz surfaces was determined to be -150 +/- 5 kJ/mol by fitting the measured retention curves with a Monte Carlo model. The observed species of technetium oxide is attributed to TcO3, which is in good agreement with previous experimental results. That means our system worked properly and it can be used to investigate the gas-phase chemical behavior of transactinides.

Analysis of aromatic amines by high-performance liquid chromatography with pre-column derivatization by 2-(9-carbazole)-ethyl-chloroformate

2-(9-Carbazole)-ethyl-chloroformate (CEOC), a novel pre-column fluorescence derivatization reagent, has been developed for the analysis of aromatic amines. Taking five monocyclic aromatic amines (o-toluidine, aniline, 3,4-dimethylaniline, N-ethyl-p-toluidine, and p-phenylenediamine) as testing compounds, derivatization conditions such as pH of borate buffer, reaction time and fluorescent tagging reagent concentration have been investigated. By a one-step procedure, CEOC reacts readily with the aromatic amines to form stable derivatives with excitation and emission wavelengths, respectively, at 293 and 360 nm. This derivatization reaction could be finished within 20 min even at room temperature. The peak shapes of the derivatized aromatic amines can be improved greatly without any addition of competition amines into the mobile phase. Furthermore, this method can offer excellent quantitative precision with high tolerance of the matrix of samples. (C) 2003 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

A Comparison of the Contribution of Various Gases to the Greenhouse Effect

The current concern about an anthropogenic impact on global climate has made it of interest to compare the potential effect of various human activities. A case in point is the comparison between the emission of greenhouse gases from the use of natural gas and that from other fossil fuels. This comparison requires an evaluation of the effect of methane emissions relative to that of carbon dioxide emissions. A rough analysis based on the use of currently accepted values shows that natural gas is preferable to other fossil fuels in consideration of the greenhouse effect as long as its leakage can be limited to 3 to 6 percent.

Preparation and characterization of La2Zr2O7 coating with the addition of Y2O3 by EB-PVD

Thermal barrier coatings (TBCs) of La2Zr2O7 (LZ) with the addition of 3 wt.% Y2O3 (LZ3Y) were deposited by electron beam-physical vapor deposition (EB-PVD). The phase stabilities, thermophysical and mechanical properties, and chemical compositions of these ceramics and coatings were studied in detail. The phase stability and thermal expansion behavior of LZ3Y bulk material are identical to those of LZ bulk material, but the mechanical properties of the former are superior to those of the latter. Elemental analysis and X-ray diffraction indicate that compositional deviation of LZ coating can be optimized after doping by 3 wt.% Y2O3, Y2O3 acts as a dopant as well as a process regulator. The optimal composition of LZ3Y coating could be effectively achieved by the addition of excess Y2O3 into the ingot and by properly controlling the current of electron beam (i.e. similar to 650 mA).