The effect of physical back-diffusion of 13CO2 tracer on the coupling between photosynthesis and soil CO2 efflux in grassland

Pulse labelling experiments provide a common tool to study short-term processes in the plant–soil system and investigate below-ground carbon allocation as well as the coupling of soil CO₂ efflux to photosynthesis. During the first hours after pulse labelling, the measured isotopic signal of soil CO₂ efflux is a combination of both physical tracer diffusion into and out of the soil as well as biological tracer release via root and microbial respiration. Neglecting physical back-diffusion can lead to misinterpretation regarding time lags between photosynthesis and soil CO₂ efflux in grassland or any ecosystem type where the above-ground plant parts cannot be labelled in gas-tight chambers separated from the soil. We studied the effects of physical ¹³CO₂ tracer back-diffusion in pulse labelling experiments in grassland, focusing on the isotopic signature of soil CO₂ efflux. Having accounted for back-diffusion, the estimated time lag for first tracer appearance in soil CO₂ efflux changed from 0 to 1.81±0.56 h (mean±SD) and the time lag for maximum tracer appearance from 2.67±0.39 to 9.63±3.32 h (mean±SD). Thus, time lags were considerably longer when physical tracer diffusion was considered. Using these time lags after accounting for physical back-diffusion, high nocturnal soil CO₂ efflux rates could be related to daytime rates of gross primary productivity (R²=0.84). Moreover, pronounced diurnal patterns in the δ¹³C of soil CO₂ efflux were found during the decline of the tracer over 3 weeks. Possible mechanisms include diurnal changes in the relative contributions of autotrophic and heterotrophic soil respiration as well as their respective δ¹³C values. Thus, after accounting for physical back-diffusion, we were able to quantify biological time lags in the coupling of photosynthesis and soil CO₂ efflux in grassland at the diurnal time scale.     

Inverse Problem for the Wave Equation with a White Noise Source

We consider a smooth Riemannian metric tensor g on \({\mathbb{R}^n}\) and study the stochastic wave equation for the Laplace-Beltrami operator \({\partial_t^2 u - \Delta_g u = F}\) . Here, F = F(t, x, ω) is a random source that has white noise distribution supported on the boundary of some smooth compact domain \({M \subset \mathbb{R}^n}\) . We study the following formally posed inverse problem with only one measurement. Suppose that g is known only outside of a compact subset of M ^int and that a solution \({u(t, x, \omega_0)}\) is produced by a single realization of the source \({F(t, x, \omega_0)}\) . We ask what information regarding g can be recovered by measuring \({u(t, x, \omega_0)}\) on \({\mathbb{R}_+ \times \partial M}\) ? We prove that such measurement together with the realization of the source determine the scattering relation of the Riemannian manifold (M, g) with probability one. That is, for all geodesics passing through M, the travel times together with the entering and exit points and directions are determined. In particular, if (M, g) is a simple Riemannian manifold and g is conformally Euclidian in M, the measurement determines the metric g in M.     

Concerted halogen and hydrogen bonding in [RuI2(H2dcbpy)(CO)2]···I2···(CH3OH)···I2···[RuI2(H2dcbpy)(CO)2

A new type of concerted halogen bond-hydrogen bond interaction was found in the solid state structure of [RuI(2)(H(2)dcbpy)(CO)(2)]···I(2)···(MeOH)···I(2)···[RuI(2)(H(2)dcbpy)(CO)(2)]. The iodine atoms of the two I(2) molecules interact simultaneously with each other and with the OH group of methanol of crystallization. The interaction was characterized by single crystal X-ray measurements and by computational charge density analysis based on DFT calculations.     

Antiproton cloud compression in the ALPHA apparatus at CERN

We have observed a new mechanism for compression of a non-neutral plasma, where antiprotons embedded in an electron plasma are compressed by a rotating wall drive at a frequency close to the sum of the axial bounce and rotation frequencies. The radius of the antiproton cloud is reduced by up to a factor of 20 and the smallest radius measured is ～ 0.2 mm. When the rotating wall drive is applied to either a pure electron or pure antiproton plasma, no compression is observed in the frequency range of interest. The frequency range over which compression is evident is compared to the sum of the antiproton bounce frequency and the system’s rotation frequency. It is suggested that bounce resonant transport is a likely explanation for the compression of antiproton clouds in this regime.     

Microwave-Assisted One-Carbon Chain Extension in the Preparation of Terminal α-Hydroxy Ketones

The microwave-assisted synthesis of terminal α-hydroxy ketones from acid chlorides and tris(trimethylsiloxy)ethylene in the presence of triethylamine is reported. The use of triethylamine had several advantages in the reaction: it increased the reactivity of the acid chloride, acted as a scavenger of the HCl that was produced in the reaction, protected the silylated enol from decomposition, and made the excess use of the silyl reagent unnecessary. Mechanistic effects of triethylamine are discussed. Effects of various base additives, reaction temperatures, reaction times, and solvents in the reaction are compared.     

Processable Heat-Resistant Polymers. IX. Synthesis and Properties of Polyamideimide from N-(p-Carboxy Phenyl) Trimellitimide and p,p′-Di-(amino Phenyl) Sulfone

A novel polyamideimide was synthesized by reacting p,p′-di-(amino phenyl) sulfone and N-(p-carboxy phenyl) trimellitimide or its diacid chloride derivative. The polymer was found to be soluble in highly polar solvents. The polymer was characterized by elemental analyses and IR spectrum. It is found to be amorphous and of low molecular weight. The polymer is fairly thermostable, having a T of 210–220°C. Thermogravimetric determination revealed that the polymer underwent 17% weight loss at 375°C in air. The dielectric constant of the polymer at 1 kHz was 3.74 at 30°C. The electrical conductivity of the polymer was also measured.     

Critical networks exhibit maximal information diversity in structure-dynamics relationships

Network structure strongly constrains the range of dynamic behaviors available to a complex system. These system dynamics can be classified based on their response to perturbations over time into two distinct regimes, ordered or chaotic, separated by a critical phase transition. Numerous studies have shown that the most complex dynamics arise near the critical regime. Here we use an information theoretic approach to study structure-dynamics relationships within a unified framework and show that these relationships are most diverse in the critical regime.     

Spectroscopic studies on modified wood

The FTIR spectra of solid resin-free samples of chemically modified Norway spruce wood were recorded. Correlations were noted between spectral and hydrogen bond structure, chemical modification, fibre crystallinity and macroscopic softening point.     

Ink‐Jet Printing of Metallic Nanoparticles and Microemulsions

Summary: Two types of ink‐jet inks are presented: ink containing an aqueous dispersion of silver nanoparticles and an oil‐in‐water microemulsion‐based ink. The metallic ink contains nanoparticles of silver, which are formed in the presence of an ionic polymeric stabilizer. Sintering of the printed image obtained with the use of such silver‐based inks at temperatures as low as 300 °C results in formation of patterns possessing noticeable conductivity. The microemulsion inks are based on a thermodynamically stable microemulsion, in which the dispersed oil phase is a volatile solvent containing a water‐insoluble colorant. After contact of the jetted ink droplets with a substrate, nanodroplets of the microemulsion are converted into nanoparticles of the solubilized colorant. In some cases, it was found that the evaporation of microemulsion ink droplets leads to formation of rings composed of ordered nanoparticles.

Scheme of ink‐jet printing of an oil‐in‐water microemulsion followed by conversion of the nanodroplets into nanoparticles, caused by quick evaporation of the solvent within the microemulsion droplets. Therefore, the ink behaves as a dye‐based ink prior to printing, but after printing it behaves like a pigment‐based ink.