Future carbon sequestration potential in a widespread transcontinental boreal tree species: Standing genetic variation matters!

Climate change (CC) necessitates reforestation/afforestation programs to mitigate its impacts and maximize carbon sequestration. But comprehending how tree growth, a proxy for fitness and resilience, responds to CC is critical to maximize these programs' effectiveness. Variability in tree response to CC across populations can notably be influenced by the standing genetic variation encompassing both neutral and adaptive genetic diversity.

Quantifying the chemical activity of cavitation bubbles in a cluster.

Acoustic cavitation bubbles drive chemical processes through their dynamic lifecycle in liquids. These bubbles are abundant within sonoreactors, where their behavior becomes complex within clusters. This study quantifies their chemical effects within well-defined clusters using a new laser-based method.

Characterization of the aerosol produced from an aerated jet.

Faucet aerators that form aerated water jets generate aerosols, which can constitute a risk of infection if the water is contaminated, particularly for vulnerable individuals near the sink. In this study, we characterize the size and trajectory of water droplets produced from an aerated jet. The detected particle diameter ranged from 3 to 150μm.

Prevention of submicron aerosolized particle dispersion: evaluation of an aerosol box using a pediatric simulation model.

The SplashGuard CG (SG) is a barrier enclosure developed to protect healthcare workers from SARS-CoV-2 transmission during aerosol-generating procedures. Our objective was to evaluate the protection provided by the SG against aerosolized particles (AP), using a pediatric simulation model of spontaneous ventilation (SV) and noninvasive ventilation (NIV). An aerosol generator was connected to the airways of a pediatric high-fidelity manikin with a breathing simulator.

Quantification and visualization of aerosols in ear, nose, and throat exam and flexible laryngoscopy.

Objective: To measure and visualize aerosol generation during ear, nose, and throat (ENT) exam and flexible laryngoscopy, as safety recommendations are currently to defer routine and low-priority examinations.

Methods: Aerosols generated during ENT examination and flexible laryngoscopy were quantified by laser aerosol spectrometry and visualized live by high-speed imaging during those procedures for three participants who were tested three times for each test.

Results: Routine ENT examination and flexible laryngoscopy produce aerosols at levels comparable to normal breathing and speech.

Dataset of temperature, heat flux and infrared emission from flat premixed laminar methane-air flames.

To enable the use of flat flame burners in the context of fire resistance testing, we present a data set covering temperature, infrared emission and heat 15 mm above the burner. A laminar premixed methane-air flame is characterized for eleven different fuel/air ratios, ranging from lean (0.9) to rich (1.

Quantifying Simulated Contamination Deposition on Healthcare Providers Using Image Analysis.

Introduction: Simulation-based research has played an important role in improving care for communicable diseases. Unfortunately, few studies have attempted to quantify the level of contamination in these simulation activities. We aim to assess the feasibility and provide validity evidence for using integrated density values and area of contamination (AOC) to differentiate various levels of simulated contamination.

Metal-organic frameworks as hypergolic additives for hybrid rockets.

Hybrid rocket propulsion can contribute to reduce launch costs by simplifying engine design and operation. Hypergolic propellants, igniting spontaneously and immediately upon contact between fuel and oxidizer, further simplify system integration by removing the need for an ignition system. Such hybrid engines could also replace currently popular hypergolic propulsion approaches based on extremely toxic and carcinogenic hydrazines.

Experimental and Numerical Investigation of Flow Field and Soot Particle Size Distribution of Methane-Containing Gas Mixtures in a Swirling Burner.

The formation of soot in a swirling flow is investigated experimentally and numerically in the context of biogas combustion using a CO-diluted methane/oxygen flame. Visualization of the swirling flow field and characterization of the burner geometry is obtained through PIV measurements. The soot particle size distributions under different fuel concentrations and swirling conditions are measured, revealing an overall reduction of soot concentration and smaller particle sizes with increasing swirling intensities and leaner flames.

Corner's rules pass the test of time: little effect of phenology on leaf-shoot and other scaling relationships.

Background And Aims: Twig cross-sectional area and the surface area of leaves borne on it are expected to be isometrically correlated across species (Corner's rules). However, how stable this relationship remains in time is not known. We studied inter- and intraspecific twig leaf area-cross-sectional area (la-cs) and other scaling relationships, including the leaf-shoot mass (lm-sm) scaling relationship, across a complete growing season.

Acoustic separation of submicron solid particles in air.

The use of ultrasound to continuously separate submicron particles suspended in air is investigated in a rectangular channel with adjustable height. An electrostatic transducer is used to generate a standing wave in the 50-80 kHz frequency range and the particles experience forces within the acoustic field causing them to concentrate at the pressure nodes. To assess the effect of several key design parameters on the separation efficiency, a simple method based on light scattering is implemented to provide information on the particle concentrations as a function of position in the channel.