Non-invasive characterisation of binding media on painted glass magic lantern plates using mid-infrared fibre-optic reflectance spectroscopy

Painted glass magic lantern plates from the Museo Nazionale del Cinema, Torino (Italy), were studied using mid-infrared (mid-IR) fibre-optic reflectance spectroscopy (FORS), a non-invasive technique, to test its potential for the identification of the types of binding media used in the paints. Gum, oil and resin media were identified on the plates and the amounts of these media varied from place to place; the discovery of these media correlate well with the literature on magic lantern plate preparation and painting. The spectra collected are reported uncorrected and also with the fingerprint region corrected with the Kramers–Kronig correction, which corrects distorted peaks caused by specular reflections.

Directed defective asymmetric graph coloring games

We consider the following 2-person game which is played with an (initially uncolored) digraph D, a finite color set C, and nonnegative integers a, b, and d. Alternately, player I colors a vertices and player II colors b vertices with colors from C. Whenever a player colors a vertex v, all in-arcs (w,v) that do not come from a vertex w previously colored with the same color as v are deleted. For each color i the defect digraph Di is the digraph induced by the vertices of color i at a certain state of the game. The main rule the players have to respect is that at every time for any color i the digraph Di has maximum total degree of at most d. The game ends if no vertex can be colored any more according to this rule. Player I wins if D is completely colored at the end of the game, otherwise player II wins. The smallest cardinality of a color set C with which player I has a winning strategy for the game is called d-relaxed(a,b)-gamechromaticnumber of D. This parameter generalizes several variants of Bodlaender’s game chromatic number. We determine the tight (resp., nearly tight) upper bound ⌊bd+1⌋+2 (resp., ⌊bd+1⌋+3) for the d-relaxed (a,b)-game chromatic number of orientations of forests (resp., undirected forests) for any d and a≥b≥1. Furthermore we prove that these numbers cannot be bounded in case a<b

Erratum to: The incidence game chromatic number [Discrete Appl. Math. 157 (9) (2009) 1980–1987]

Asymmetric Cell Divisions: A View from Plant Development

All complex multicellular organisms must solve the problem of generating diverse and appropriately patterned cell types. Asymmetric division, in which a single mother cell gives rise to daughters with distinct identities, is instrumental in the generation of cellular diversity and higher-level patterns. In animal systems, there exists considerable evidence for conserved mechanisms of polarization and asymmetric division. Here, we consider asymmetric cell divisions in plants, highlighting the unique aspects of plant cell biology and organismal development that constrain the process, but also emphasizing conceptual and mechanistic similarities with animal asymmetric divisions.

Comparison of high voltage and high temperature performances of wide bandgap semiconductors for vertical power devices

International audienceTemperature dependent properties of wide bandgap semiconductors have been used to calculate theoretical specific on-resistance. breakdown voltage, and thermal run-away temperature in SiC GaN, diamond, and Si vertical power devices for comparison It appears mainly that diamond is interesting for high power devices for high temperature applications. At room temperature, diamond power devices should be superior to SiC only for voltage higher than 30-40 kV due to the high energy activation of the dopant

Evaluation of the bioeconomic sustainability of multi-species multi-fleet fisheries under a wide range of policy options using ISIS-Fish

In order to provide reliable scientific advice and support for fisheries management, it is necessary to evaluate the biological and economic sustainability of complex fisheries, such as multi-species multi-fleet fisheries. Existing policy-screening modelling tools are not fully suitable in this purpose due to either an over-simplified description of population dynamics, or due to the lack of consideration of economic aspects. In this paper, we present a package that enables quantitative bioeconomic assessment of management scenarios. Population dynamics is described through spatially- and seasonally-explicit models. Exploitation dynamics is characterized by several fishing activities with specific spatial and seasonal features, and practiced by several kinds of vessels with specific technical characteristics. Exploitation costs and revenues are considered at several levels: the fishing trip, the fishing unit (vessel and crew), and the vessel owner. The model is generic and can be used for different types of fisheries. A database is attached to the software for the storage and updating of information for each fishery. This includes the specification of model dimensions and of the parameters describing populations and exploitation. Several model assumptions regarding either population or exploitation may be adapted to suit a specific fishery. Both policies and corresponding fishers’ response may be interactively specified through JAVA™ scripts. This version of ISIS-Fish allows for the calculation of biological and economic consequences of a range of policies, including conventional ones like catch and effort controls, and alternative policies such as marine protected areas. To facilitate policy-screening in a high-dimension parameter space, the software includes features, like interfaces for sensitivity analysis and simulation queues.

Salt-wedge intrusion of seawater and its implication for phytoplankton dynamics in the Yura Estuary, Japan

We monitored hydrographic and biological conditions in the Yura Estuary and its coastal area from April 2006 to March 2008. Hydrographic conditions changed seasonally, and were mainly determined by river discharge and sea level, with tides playing a minor role.In summer, when river discharge was low and sea level was high, a salt-wedge regime was established until ~18 km upstream from the river mouth. Seawater intrusion into the river was however restricted in winter, when the river discharge was high and sea level was low. Water stratification caused by the seawater intrusion played an important role in phytoplankton dynamics. Phytoplankton developed in the middle layer of the estuary utilizing riverine nutrients, corresponding to the seawater intrusion into the bottom layer in summer. In winter, however, the phytoplankton production remained low in both estuary and sea

Degradation study of new solvents for CO2 capture in post-combustion

Post-combustion CO2 capture in flue gas with solvent is currently the most advanced technology. A major problem associated with chemical absorption of CO2 using the benchmark ethanolamine (MEA) is solvent degradation through irreversible side reactions with CO2 and O2. So, new amines development with higher chemical stability becomes essential. This work is based on chemical stability study of 17 different molecules: alkanolamines, diamines, and triamines without alcohol function. Effects of temperature, CO2, and O2 on degradation have been studied. Knowledge of degradation products and main reactions allows a better understanding of amines chemical stability for CO2 capture application

Thermodynamic behavior of the CO2+SO2 mixture: Experimental and Monte Carlo simulation studies

Accurate knowledge of the thermodynamic properties of CO2+ contaminant mixtures is required in order to develop optimized carbon dioxide capture and storage solutions. In the present work, the thermodynamic behavior of the CO2+SO2 binary system has been investigated using two different approaches: experimental measurements and molecular simulation calculations. Isothermal vapor-liquid equilibrium (VLE) data have been measured at 263 K and 333 K. The composition of both the gaseous and the liquid phases were measured by gas chromatography once equilibrium had been achieved. Molecular simulation calculations of phase equilibrium were performed on the same binary mixture under the same temperature conditions using the Gibbs Ensemble Monte Carlo method. No calibrations on experimental binary data were performed for these calculations. The experiments and simulations appear consistent as the obtained results are in excellent agreement. As a result, molecular simulation could be used as an attractive and cost-efficient alternative to experimental techniques for generating new thermodynamic data for this mixture

CO2GeoNet, the unique role of the European scientific body on CO2 geological storage

CO2GeoNet is a Network of Excellence on the geological storage of CO2, initiated by the EC’s 6th research framework programme in 2004 and integrating Europe’s key research institutes to create a scientific reference body dedicated to the development of CO2 geological storage as a viable option for mitigating climate change. It has gained international recognition through bodies such as CSLF and IEA-GHG. It emerges as the world’s largest integrated scientific community on this theme. In 2008, the network has been transformed into a legally registered Association, thus reinforcing its identity as a durable entity engaged for the safe and reliable deployment of CO2 geological storage. CO2GeoNet’s activities encompass joint research, training, scientific advice, and information and communication on CO2 geological storage