Ambient Temperature Hydrocarbon Selective Catalytic Reduction of NOx Using Atmospheric Pressure Nonthermal Plasma Activation of a Ag/Al2O3 Catalyst

Atmospheric pressure nonthermal-plasma-activated catalysis for the removal of NOx using hydrocarbon selective catalytic reduction has been studied utilizing toluene and n-octane as the hydrocarbon reductant. When the plasma was combined with a Ag/Al2O3 catalyst, a strong enhancement in activity was observed when compared with conventional thermal activation with high conversions of both. NOx and hydrocarbons obtained at temperature at temperature ≤250 °C, where the silver catalyst is normally inactive. Importantly, even in the absence of an external heat source, significant activity was obtained. This low temperature activity provides the basis for applying nonthermal plasmas to activate emission control catalysts during cold start conditions, which remains an important issue for mobile and stationary applications.

Structural studies of ambient temperature plastic crystal ion conductors

A number of novel organic ionic compounds based on the pyrrolidinium cation are described which have been found to be ion conductors in their solid states around room temperature. The properties of the compounds are consistent with their exhibiting plastic crystal phases. In order to understand some of the molecular origins of the plastic crystal behaviour and the ion conductivity that it promotes, a number of related compounds based on the imidazolium and ammonium cations are also described which have structural elements in common with the pyrrolidinium cation, but which do not show the plastic behaviour. It is found therefore that the nature of the cation is quite critical to the development of this behaviour. The alkyl methyl pyrrolidinium cation is found to produce plastic crystal phases when the alkyl chains are short, thereby preserving the ability of the cation to rotate with minimal steric hindrance. The ammonium and imidazolium cations of comparable size and structure are less able to produce these plastic phases, in many cases because the low temperature phase proceeds to melt rather than forming a stable rotator phase.

Conductivity, NMR and crystallographic study of N,N,N,N-tetramethylammonium dicyanamide plastic crystal phases : an archetypal ambient temperature plastic electrolyte material

N,N,N,N-Tetramethylammonium dicyanamide (Me₄NDCA) has been examined via differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), thermogravimetric analysis, conductivity, single crystal X-ray diffraction and ¹H nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) analyses, and was found to be highly conductive in the solid state (σ =10−3 S cm⁻² at 420 K) and to also exhibit unusual plastic crystal behaviour. To investigate the correlation between such behaviour and the occurrence of molecular rotations in the crystal, ¹H NMR second moment measurements are compared with calculated values predicted from the crystal structure. While DSC analysis indicates a number of solid–solid transitions at ambient temperatures, subsequent ¹H NMR analysis of the Me₄N⁺ cation shows that a variety of rotational motions become active at low (<240 K) temperatures, and that such transitions in rotational states occur over a range of temperatures rather than in a sharp transition. Conductivity analysis reveals that between 320 K and 420 K the conductivity increases by more than six orders of magnitude in the solid state, in line with the transition of the Me₄N⁺ cation to a diffusive state, and that other phase transitions observed in this temperature range have no marked effect on the conductivity. Conduction in this solid state is therefore envisaged to involve a vacancy-diffusion model, involving Me₄N⁺ cation vacancies.

Synthesis and properties of ambient temperature molten salts based on the quaternary ammonium ion

The synthesis of 16 tetraalkyl ammonium bis(trifluoromethane sulfonyl) imide salts, (C_nH_2n+1)₄ +N -N (SO₂CF₃)₂ (n = 1, 2, 3, 4),  (C₂H₅)₂(i-C₃H₇)₂ +N -N(SO₂CF₃)₂, (C₂H₅)(CH₃)(i-C₃H₇)₂+N-N(SO₂CF₃)₂, (n-C₇H₁₅)(C₂H₅)i-C₃H₇)₂+N-N(SO₂CF₃)₂ and (C_nH_2n+1)(C_mH_2m+1)₃+N-N(SO₂CF₃)₂ (n = 6,7,8; m = 1, 2, 4) are reported in this paper. Trends in properties of these salts are discussed. The symmetrical tetraalkyl ammonium salts with the bis(trifluoromethyl sulfonyl) imide anion exhibited a lower melting point than that of corresponding ammonium halides. The salts with low symmetry ammonium cations were found to be of generally lower melting point, and many were stable liquids at room temperature. Several of these did not crystallize during cooling below room temperature and exhibited glass transition temperatures in the region of −60 °C∼−80 °C. A comparison of properties between the ammonium imide salts and corresponding trifluoromethane sulfonates is also presented.

N,N-Dimethylpyrrolidinium hydroxide : a highly conductive solid material at ambient temperature

N,N-Dimethylpyrrolidinium hydroxide (P₁₁OH·4H₂O) was found to exhibit high ionic conductivity in the solid state (7 × 10⁻³ S cm⁻¹ at 25°C) and unusual thermal properties, and ²H solid state NMR measurements indicate liquid-like mobility of the deuterium species in the solid state of P₁₁OD·4.5D₂O.

Ambient temperature plastic crystal electrolyte for efficient, all-solid-state dye-sensitized solar cell

Doping the molecular plastic crystal of succinonitrile with solid N-methyl-N-butylpyrrolidinium iodide salt and iodine has produced a highly conductive solid iodide/triiodide conductor. Furthermore, it was employed for a highly efficient, all-solid-state dye-sensitized solar cell.

Exhaled air temperature as a function of ambient temperature in flying and resting ducks

Exhaled air temperature (T exh) has a paramount effect on respiratory water loss during flight. For migratory birds, low T exh potentially reduces water loss and increases flight range. However, only three studies provide empirical data on T exh during flight. The aim of this study was to record T exh of birds during rest and flight at a range of controlled ambient temperatures (T amb). One wigeon and two teal flew a total of 20 times in a wind tunnel at T amb ranging from 1° to 24°C. T exh during flight did not differ between the two species and was strongly correlated with T amb (T exh=1.036 T amb + 13.426; R²=0.58). In addition, body temperature had a weak positive effect on T exh. At a given T amb, T exh was about 5°C higher during flight than at rest.

Positive association between ambient temperature and salmonellosis notifications in New Zealand, 1965-2006

Objective: To investigate the temporal relationship between the monthly count of salmonellosis notifications and the monthly average temperature in New Zealand during the period 1965–2006.

Methods: A negative binomial regression model was used to analyse monthly average ambient temperature and salmonellosis notifications in New Zealand between 1965 and 2006.

Results: A 1°C increase in monthly average ambient temperature was associated with a 15% increase in salmonellosis notifications within the same month (IRR 1.15; 95% CI 1.07 – 1.24).

Conclusion: The positive association found in this study between temperature and salmonellosis notifications in New Zealand is consistent with the results of studies conducted in other countries. New Zealand is projected to experience an increase in temperature due to climate change. Therefore, all other things being equal, climate change could increase salmonellosis notifications in New Zealand.

Implications: This association between temperature and salmonellosis should be considered when developing public health plans and climate change adaptation policies. Strategically, existing food safety programs to prevent salmonellosis could be intensified during warmer periods. As the association was strongest within the same month, focusing on improving food handling and storage during this time period may assist in climate change adaptation in New Zealand.

Performance of tropical fish recruiting to temperate habitats: role of ambient temperature and implications of climate change

The warming of coastal oceans due to climate change is increasing the overwinter survival of tropical fishes transported to temperate latitudes by ocean currents. However, the processes governing early post-arrival mortality are complex and can result in minimum threshold temperatures for overwinter survival, which are greater than those predicted based upon physiological temperature tolerances alone. This 3.5 mo laboratory study monitored the early performance of a tropical damselfish Abudefduf vaigiensis that occurs commonly during austral summer along the SE Australian coast, under nominal summer and winter water temperatures, and compares results with a co-occurring year-round resident of the same family, Parma microlepis. Survivorship, feeding rate, growth and burst swimming ability (as a measure of predator escape ability) were all reduced for the tropical species at winter water temperatures compared to those in summer, whereas the temperate species experienced no mortality and only feeding rate was reduced at colder temperatures. These results suggest that observed minimum threshold survival temperatures may be greater than predicted by physiology alone, due to lowered food intake combined with increased predation risk (a longer time at vulnerable sizes and reduced escape ability). Overwinter survival is a significant hurdle in pole-ward range expansions of tropical fishes, and a better understanding of its complex processes will allow for more accurate predictions of changes in biodiversity as coastal ocean temperatures continue to increase due to climate change.

An organic ionic plastic crystal electrolyte for rate capability and stability of ambient temperature lithium batteries

Reliable, safe and high performance solid electrolytes are a critical step in the advancement of high energy density secondary batteries. In the present work we demonstrate a novel solid electrolyte based on the organic ionic plastic crystal (OIPC) triisobutyl(methyl)phosphonium bis(fluorosulfonyl)imide (P1444FSI). With the addition of 4 mol% LiFSI, the OIPC shows a high conductivity of 0.26 mS cm-1 at 22 °C. The ion transport mechanisms have been rationalized by compiling thermal phase behaviour and crystal structure information obtained by variable temperature synchrotron X-ray diffraction. With a large electrochemical window (ca. 6 V) and importantly, the formation of a stable and highly conductive solid electrolyte interphase (SEI), we were able to cycle lithium cells (LiLiFePO4) at 30 °C and 20 °C at rates of up to 1 C with good capacity retention. At the 0.1 C rate, about 160 mA h g-1 discharge capacity was achieved at 20 °C, which is the highest for OIPC based cells to date. It is anticipated that these small phosphonium cation and [FSI] anion based OIPCs will show increasing significance in the field of solid electrolytes.

Genetic group x ambient temperature interaction effects on physiological responses and growth performance of rabbits

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Effect of ambient temperature and thyroid hormones on food intake by pigs

Food intake and plasma thyroid hormone levels (T4 and T3) were higher in pigs acclimated to cold (12°) than hot (32°) environments. The exposure of cold pigs to hot ambient temperature decreased food intake and plasma T4 and T3, whereas for hot acclimated animals the change in ambient temperature (from 32 to 12° C) increased food intake and plasma thyroid hormone levels, but the new steady state level of food intake was reached only after 96 hr of temperature transfer despite the rapid change in plasma levels of thyroid hormones. Cold-acclimated pigs, when transferred to a hot environment after thyroidectomy, also reduced food intake, but hot pigs shifted to cold ambient temperature after thyroidectomy did not significantly increase food ingestion. The results of this experiment suggest that food intake adjustment depends on the previous living temperature and that thyroid hormones seem to play an important role in increasing the metabolically active mass that probably sustains the new steady state level of food intake, particularly in a cold environment.