Carbon Dioxide emissions from an Acacia plantation on peatland in Sumatra, Indonesia

Abstract. Peat surface CO2 emission, groundwater table depth and peat temperature were monitored for two years along transects in an Acacia plantation on thick tropical peat (>4 m) in Sumatra, Indonesia. A total of 2300 emission measurements were taken at 144 locations. The autotrophic root respiration component of the CO2 emission was separated from heterotrophic emissions caused by peat oxidation in three ways: (i) by comparing CO2 emissions within and beyond the tree rooting zone, (ii) by comparing CO2 emissions with and without peat trenching (i.e. cutting any roots remaining in the peat beyond the tree rooting zone), and (iii) by comparing CO2 emissions before and after Acacia tree harvesting. On average, the contribution of root respiration to daytime CO2 emission is 21 % along transects in mature tree stands. At locations 0.5 m from trees this is up to 80 % of the total emissions, but it is negligible at locations more than 1.3 m away. This means that CO2 emission measurements well away from trees are free of any root respiration contribution and thus represent only peat oxidation emission. We find daytime mean annual CO2 emission from peat oxidation alone of 94 t ha−1 yr−1 at a mean water table depth of 0.8 m, and a minimum emission value of 80 t ha−1 yr−1 after correction for the effect of diurnal temperature fluctuations, which resulted in a 14.5 % reduction of the daytime emission. There is a positive correlation between mean long-term water table depths and peat oxidation CO2 emission. However, no such relation is found for instantaneous emission/water table depth within transects and it is clear that factors other than water table depth also affect peat oxidation and total CO2 emissions. The increase in the temperature of the surface peat due to plantation development may explain over 50 % of peat oxidation emissions.

Sensitivity of wetland methane emissions to model assumptions: application and model testing against site observations

Abstract. Methane emissions from natural wetlands and rice paddies constitute a large proportion of atmospheric methane, but the magnitude and year-to-year variation of these methane sources is still unpredictable. Here we describe and evaluate the integration of a methane biogeochemical model (CLM4Me; Riley et al., 2011) into the Community Land Model 4.0 (CLM4CN) in order to better explain spatial and temporal variations in methane emissions. We test new functions for soil pH and redox potential that impact microbial methane production in soils. We also constrain aerenchyma in plants in always-inundated areas in order to better represent wetland vegetation. Satellite inundated fraction is explicitly prescribed in the model because there are large differences between simulated fractional inundation and satellite observations. A rice paddy module is also incorporated into the model, where the fraction of land used for rice production is explicitly prescribed. The model is evaluated at the site level with vegetation cover and water table prescribed from measurements. Explicit site level evaluations of simulated methane emissions are quite different than evaluating the grid cell averaged emissions against available measurements. Using a baseline set of parameter values, our model-estimated average global wetland emissions for the period 1993–2004 were 256 Tg CH4 yr−1, and rice paddy emissions in the year 2000 were 42 Tg CH4 yr−1. Tropical wetlands contributed 201 Tg CH4 yr−1, or 78 % of the global wetland flux. Northern latitude (>50 N) systems contributed 12 Tg CH4 yr−1. We expect this latter number may be an underestimate due to the low high-latitude inundated area captured by satellites and unrealistically low high-latitude productivity and soil carbon predicted by CLM4. Sensitivity analysis showed a large range (150–346 Tg CH4 yr−1) in predicted global methane emissions. The large range was sensitive to: (1) the amount of methane transported through aerenchyma, (2) soil pH (± 100 Tg CH4 yr−1), and (3) redox inhibition (± 45 Tg CH4 yr−1).

On the formation of poly(ethyleneoxide)-poly(vinylalcohol) blends

Poly(ethyleneoxide)-poly(vinylalcohol) blends were prepared and characterized using thermal, spectroscopic and structural methods, By all indications the blends appear to be microscopically inhomogeneous with no strong interpolymer bonding. The high degree of crystallinity in PEO regions induces a significant degree of ordering in neighbouring PVA regions, as evident from thermal properties. PVA obtained from solvent evaporation exhibits an irreversible endothermic transition which could be order-disorder type. Both IR and NMR spectroscopies also suggest the presence of subtle structural ordering influence of PEO on PVA. It is found to be possible to prepare self supporting films of the blends which consists of fine dispersion of PEO and PVA in each other. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.

Structural basis for poor uracil excision from hairpin DNA

Two-dimensional NMR and molecular dynamics simulations have been used to determine the three-dimensional structures of two hairpin DNA structures: d-CTAGAG GATCCUTTTGGATCCT (abbreviated as U1-hairpin) and d-CTAGAGGATCCTTUTGGATCCT (abbreviated as U3-hairpin). The (1) H resonances of both of these hairpin structures have been assigned almost completely. NMR restrained molecular dynamics and energy minimization procedures have been used to describe the three-dimensional structures of these hairpins. This study and concurrent NMR structural studies on two other d-CTAGAGGA TCCTUTTGGATCCT (abbreviated as U2-hairpin) and d-CTAGAGGATCCTTTUGGATCCT (abbreviated as U4-hairpin) have shed light upon various interactions reported between Echerichia coli uracil DNA glycosylase (UDG) and uracil-containing DNA. The backbone torsion angles, which partially influence the local conformation of U12 and U14 in U1 and U3-hairpins, respectively, are probably locked in the trans conformation as in the case of U-13 in the U2-hairpin. Such a stretched-out backbone conformation in the vicinity of U-12 and U-14 is thought to be the reason why the K-m value is poor for U1- and U3-hairpins as it is for the U2-hairpin. Furthermore, the bases U-12 and U-14 in both U1- and U3-hairpins adopt an anti conformation, in contrast with the base conformation of U-13 in the U2-hairpin, which adopts a syn conformation. The clear discrepancy observed in the U-base orientation with respect to the sugar moieties could explain why the V-max value is 10- to 20-fold higher for the U1- and U3-hairpins compared with the U2-hairpin. Taken together, these observations support our interpretation that the unfavourable backbone results in a poor K-m value, whereas the unfavourable nucleotide conformation results in a poor V-max value. These two parameters therefore make the U1- and U3-hairpins better substrates for UDG compared with the U2-hairpin, as reported earlier [Kumar, N. V. & Varshney, U. (1997) Nucleic Acids Res. 25, 2336-2343.].

Synthesis and Self-Assembly of Donor-Acceptor-Donor Based Oligothiophenes and Their Optoelectronic Properties

In this work, the synthesis of an oligothiophene having a donor acceptor donor (D-A-D) chromophore with hydrogen bonding groups is described. The D-A-D molecule was demonstrated to self-organize via intermolecular H-bonding between barbituric acid units. Interactions between the oligothiophene subunits were also found to be important, affording nanoribbons that could be observed by atomic force and transmission electron microscopy. The applicability of the oligothiophene for organic electronic applications was investigated by fabricating organic field-effect transistors (OFETs) and organic photovoltaic devices. The OFET measurements yielded p-type mobility of 7 x 10(-7) cm(2)/(Vs), and when blended with C(60)-PCBM, the photovoltaic efficiency was observed to be 0.18%.

On a Novel Geometric Representation of Rotation

This paper presents a novel method of representing rotation and its application to representing the ranges of motion of coupled joints in the human body, using planar maps. The present work focuses on the viability of this representation for situations that relied on maps on a unit sphere. Maps on a unit sphere have been used in diverse applications such as Gauss map, visibility maps, axis-angle and Euler-angle representations of rotation etc. Computations on a spherical surface are difficult and computationally expensive; all the above applications suffer from problems associated with singularities at the poles. There are methods to represent the ranges of motion of such joints using two-dimensional spherical polygons. The present work proposes to use multiple planar domain “cube” instead of a single spherical domain, to achieve the above objective. The parameterization on the planar domains is easy to obtain and convert to spherical coordinates. Further, there is no localized and extreme distortion of the parameter space and it gives robustness to the computations. The representation has been compared with the spherical representation in terms of computational ease and issues related to singularities. Methods have been proposed to represent joint range of motion and coupled degrees of freedom for various joints in digital human models (such as shoulder, wrist and fingers). A novel method has been proposed to represent twist in addition to the existing swing-swivel representation.

Thermo-physical and structural studies of sodium zinc borovanadate glasses in the region of high concentration of modifier oxides

This paper reports investigation of Na2O and ZnO modified borovanadate glasses in the highly modified regime of compositions. These glasses have been prepared by microwave route. Ultraviolet (UV) and visible, infrared (IR), Magic Angle Spinning Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (MAS NMR) and Electron Paramagnetic Resonance (EPR) spectroscopies have been used to characterize the speciation in the glasses. Together with the variation of properties such as molar volume and glass transition temperatures, spectroscopic data indicate that at high levels of modification, ZnO tends to behave like network former. It is proposed that the observed variation of all the properties can be reasonably well understood with a structural model. The model considers that the modification and speciation in glasses are strongly determined by the hierarchy of group electronegativities. Further, it is proposed that the width of the transitions of glasses obtained under same condition reflects the fragility of the glasses. An empirical expression has been suggested to quantify fragility on the basis of width of the transition regions. (C) 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Dual Role of Acetate as a Nucleophile and as an Internal Base in Cycloplatination Reaction of sym-N,N `,N `'-Triarylguanidines

Reaction of cis-Cl2Pt(S(O)Me-2)(2)] with 1 equiv of sym-N,N',N `'-triarylguanidines, ArN=C(NHAr)(2) (sym = symmetrical; Ar = 2-MeC6H4 (LH22-tolyl), 2-(MeO)C6H4 (LH22-anisyl), 4-MeC6H4 (LH24-tolyl), 2,5-Me2C6H3 (LH22,5-xylyl), and 2,6-Me2C6H3 (LH22,6-xylyl)) in toluene under reflux condition for 3 h afforded cis- or trans-Cl2Pt(S(O)Me-2)(ArN=C(NHAr)(2))] (Ar = 2-MeC6H4 (1), 2-(MeO)C6H4 (2), 4-MeC6H4 (3), 2,5-h Me2C6H3 (4), and 2,6-Me2C6H3 (5), respectively) in 83-96% yield. Reaction of cis-Cl2Pt(S(O)Me-2)(2)] with 1 equiv of LH22-tolyl and LH24-tolyl in the presence of 1 equiv of NaOAc in methanol under reflux condition for 3 h afforded acetate-substituted products, cis-(AcO)ClPt(S(O)Me-2)(ArN=C(NHAr)(2))] (Ar = 2-MeC6H4 (6) and 4-MeC6H4 (7)) in 83% and 84% yields, respectively. Reaction of cis-Cl2Pt(S(O)Me-2)(2)] with 1 equiv of LH22-anisyl and LH22-tolyl in the presence of 1 equiv of NaOAc in methanol under reflux condition for 3 and 12 h afforded six-membered C,N] platinacycles, Pt{kappa(2)(C,N)-C6H3R-3(NHC(NHAr)(=NAr))-2}Cl(S(O)Me-2)] (Ar = 2-RC6H4; R = OMe (8) and Me (9)), in 92% and 79% yields, respectively. The new complexes have been characterized by analytical and spectroscopic techniques, and further the molecular structures of 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, and 8 have been determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. The platinum atom in 1, 4, and 5 exhibited the trans configuration, while that in 2, 6, and 8 exhibited the cis configuration. Complex 6 is shown to be the precursor for 9, and the former is suggested to transform to the latter possibly via an intramolecular C-H activation followed by elimination of AcOH. The solution behavior of new complexes has been studied by multinuclear NMR (H-1, Pt-195, and C-13) spectroscopy. The new complexes exist exclusively as a single isomer (trans (1 and 5) and cis (6 and 7)), a mixture of cis and trans isomers with the former isomer being predominant in the case of 2 and the latter isomer being predominant in the case of 3. Complex 5 in the trans form revealed the presence of one isomer at 0.007 mM concentration and two isomers in about 1.00:0.12 ratio at 0.154 mM concentration as revealed by H-1 NMR spectroscopy, and this has been ascribed to the restricted Pt-S bond rotation at higher concentration. Platinacycle 8 exists as one isomer, while 9 exists as a mixture of seven isomers in solution. The influence of steric factor, pi-acceptor property of the guanidine, subtle solid-state packing forces upon the configuration of the platinum atom, and the number of isomers in solution have been outlined. Factors that accelerate or slow down the cycloplatination reaction, the role of NaOAc, and a plausible mechanism of this reaction have been discussed.

Strain Rate Dependence of Plastic Flow in Ce-based Bulk Metallic Glass During Nanoindentation

The strain rate dependence of plastic deformation of Ce60Al15CU10Ni15 bulk metallic glass was studied by nanoindentation. Even though the ratio of room temperature to the glass transition temperature was very high (0.72) for this alloy, the plastic deformation was dominated by shear banding under nanoindentation. The alloy exhibited a critical loading rate dependent serrated flow feature. That is, with increasing loading rate, the alloy exhibited a transition from less prominent serrated flow to pronounced serrated flow during continuous loading but from serrated to smoother flow during stepped loading.

Experimental Study of Surface Deformation and Flow Pattern on Buoyant-Thermocapillary Convection

Free surface deformation is one of the most important physical phenomena in fluids with free surface. In the present paper, convection and surface deformation caused by thermocapillary effect in a rectangular cavity were investigated. In ground experiments, the convection was also affected by gravity. The cavity has a horizontal cross section of 52mm×42mm and the thikkness of the liquid layer is 4mm. Temperature difference between two sides of the liquid layer was increased gradually, and the flow in liquid layer will develop from steady to unstable convection. An optical diagnostic system consisting of a revised Michelson interferometer with image processor was developed to study fluid surface deformation in convection, and the displacements of free surface oscillation were determined. PIV technique was adopted to observe the evolution of flow pattern, and the velocity fields were obtained quantitatively. The present experiments demonstrate that surface deformation is quite distinct in buoyant-thermocapillary convection. in order to understand the mechanism of buoyant-thermocapillary convection, not only the hydrothermal wave instability but also the surface wave instability should be discussed.

Comparaciones en los patrones de crecimiento de quince poblaciones de frijol común (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) conservadas en fincas de agricultores (in situ) y ex situ

El presente estudió se llevó a cabo en la estación experimental “La compañía” con el propósito de comparar el patrón de crecimiento de 15 poblaciones locales de frijol común conservadas en fincas de agricultores y en Bancos de Germoplasma. Se consideraron tres factores de estudio con mediciones repetidas en el tiempo en un BCA con tres repeticiones. Las variables evaluadas fueron: Longitud de tallo en centímetros (cm), área foliar total en centímetros cuadrados (cm2), materia seca de láminas foliares en gramos por planta (g.p- 1 ). materia seca de restos de componentes de la planta en gramos por planta (g.p-'), materia seca total en gramos por planta (g.p-1 ) , tasa media de crecimiento absoluto en gramos por día (g.dia- 1). tasa media de crecimiento relativo en gramos por gramo presente en la planta por día (g.g- 1 día•1 índice de cosecha, y rendimiento por parcela en gramos por parcela (g. parcela-1) Las poblaciones locales y los materiales de color de semilla crema (Gualiceño) mostraron patrones de crecimiento y valores estadísticamente superiores (P< O. O 1) para longitud de tallo, área foliar y materia seca de láminas foliares al compararlas con las poblaciones almacenadas ex situ del REGEN (Nicaragua) y del CIAT (Colombia) y de color de semilla rojo o café. Sin embargo, al evaluar la materia seca total, tasa media de crecimiento absoluto y tasa media de crecimiento relativo no se registraron diferencias estadísticas significativas entre ninguno de los factores bajo estudio. Por otro lado, se apreció una interacción color por tipo de conservación estadísticamente significativa para rendimiento por parcela e índice de cosecha (P

Una investigación sobre los principios económicos de Juan Bautista Alberdi y sus vinculaciones con la tradición de la escuela austríaca

Resumen: El Dr. Juan Bautista Alberdi, abogado, jurista, periodista, tratadista de derecho comparado, constitucionalista, economista, legislador y político, es considerado una figura insoslayable en la inspiración de las instituciones políticas, sociales y económicas de la organización nacional de la República Argentina durante el siglo XIX. De hecho se lo sindica como la fuente primaria, principal y casi excluyente de la constitución de la República Argentina que fuera aprobada por el Congreso de 1853, si se toma a sus trabajos de derecho comparado,. Complementariamente, concibió un tratado sobre “El sistema económico y rentístico” que aconsejaba adoptar a la Confederación, en el cual se encuentra una gran cantidad de puntos de vista económicos que se pueden considerar muy relevantes al sistema económico a adoptar por la nación. Con posterioridad, en diferentes fechas, e incluso en forma póstuma, se dieron a conocer más trabajos suyos en los que abordaba cuestiones económicas importantes. Dada su formación, que puede considerarse anterior a la del fundador de la Escuela Austriaca, (ya que, aunque en cierto aspectos fueron contemporáneos, la vida de Alberdi se inicia y termina unos 30 años antes que la de Menger), y considerando la barrera del idioma y otras cuestiones que pueden separarlos, la idea de este trabajo es tratar de investigar sobre los puntos de contacto entre ambas corrientes del pensamiento. La intención de esta investigación es doble: Por un lado, abrir un camino de estudio y dar a conocer a otros ámbitos, el pensamiento del Genial Tucumano, y su vigencia en el tiempo. Por otro lado, y ya, de una mayor complejidad y dando lugar a mayor controversia, analizar otro aspecto. Esto es, si dada la actual revalorización del pensamiento austriaco, especialmente en lo relativo a su teoría del ciclo económico, por un lado, y la proverbial inestabilidad mostrada por la economía argentina, al menos en los últimos 80 años, se puede intentar, retornando a los valores Alberdianos rescatar un ordenamiento institucional, que por encontrarse en la esencia de su pensamiento y por ende ser absolutamente compatible con el espíritu fundacional de nuestra constitución, permita además un fortalecimiento institucional del funcionamiento económico argentino.

Periodos criticos de competencia de malezas en algodon (Gossypium hirsutum L.)

Este estudio fue realizado en el Centro experimental de Algodón (C.E.A), Nicaragua; con el propósito de determinar el periodo crítico de competencia en algodón (Gossypium hirsutum L.) y las malezas. Dos experimentos fueron sembrados en agosto de 1991. En el experimento 1 (períodos libres de malezas) los tratamientos, 7 en total, consistieron en mantener parcelas libres de malezas desde la siembra hasta 14, 28, 42, 56, 70 días después de la siembra. Un tratamiento fue dejado enmalezado durante todo el ciclo y otro fue dejado libre de maleza. En el experimento 2 (períodos con competencia) a las malezas les fue permitido competir por diferentes períodos comenzando los controles a los 14, 28, 42, 56 y 70 días después de la siembra. un tratamiento fue dejado enmalezado durante todo el ciclo y otro fue dejado libre de maleza. Los resultados obtenidos muestran que bajo las condiciones experimentales, el algodón necesita 70 días libres de malezas para obtener buenos rendimientos y es capaz de soportar 42 días de competencia sin ver mermado sus rendimientos de manera significativa. El período crítico de competencia encuentra entre 42 y 70 días después de la siembra. El mejor resultado fue obtenido cuando las malezas fueron controladas en dos ocasiones, la primera 42 días después de la siembra y la segunda 70 días después de la siembra.

Sapientia, 1949, Vol. IV, nº 13 (número completo)

Contenido: Para la constitución de un humanismo auténtico / La Dirección – La noética tomista y el idealismo / José Ignacio de Alcorta y Echevarría – Valor y existencia / Fritz Joachim V. Rintelen – Jaime Balmes (1810-1848) / F. J. Thonnard – Notas y comentarios -- Bibliografía

Temas de historia argentina y americana, 2008, n° 13 (número completo)

De la casa al partido y del partido al hogar (1946-1955) / Carolina Barry -- Un nuevo espacio de poder: las milicias en San Luis Potosí a finales del período colonial (1767-1810) / Juan José Benavides Martínez -- Proscripción y exilio. Ofensiva judicial / Federico Bertram y Sandra Villa -- La traslación española hacia América durante la segunda mitad del siglo XIX / Rosario Güenaga -- La Catedral en la Penitenciaría. Historia de un fastuoso proyecto urbanístico para Buenos Aires (1934) / Miranda Lida -- Aportes de la arqueología subacuática: el naufragio de la fragata española San Salvador (1812) / Atilio Nasti -- Las familias nativas de la Ciudad de Buenos Aires antes de la gran inmigración / Cristian Redi -- El naufragio de la cazatorpedera Rosales (1892): juicio al comandante Leopoldo Funes / Guillermo Oyarzábal -- La disputa por la argentinidad. Rupturistas y neutralistas durante la Primera Guerra Mundial / María Inés Tato -- Reseñas Bibliográficas