Interpretation of Volatility Tandem Differential Mobility Analyzer (V-TDMA) data for accurate vapor pressure and enthalpy measurement: Operational considerations,multiple charging,and introduction to a new analysis program (TAO)

Abstract

Significant evaporation of pure aerosols in a Volatility Tandem Differential Mobility Analyzer (V-TDMA) creates two Condensation Particle Counter (CPC) response peaks. Two hypotheses for the observed peaks have been proposed: the existence of two phases or the separation of the singly charged experimental size distribution from the remaining experimental size distributions with charges greater than 1 (charge separation). To explore this observation, we atomized pure levoglucosan aerosol and evaporated the aerosol until two peaks formed. We used an additional classifier and neutralizer to select particles from each of the two peaks and assessed the number of charges on the particles. The smaller diameter peak contained singly charged particles, and the larger diameter peak contained the remaining charges. The charge separation hypothesis alone accounts for the two-peak observations. We used a new V-TDMA model named TAO and show that charge separation should occur in other pure components as well. The TAO model was then used to display the impact of different DMA transfer functions, different inlet size distributions, and different oven residence time distributions (RTDs) on the CPC response. Large errors are possible when direct measurement of the RTD is not performed or when wide RTDs are used. We recommend use of narrow transfer functions with narrow RTDs to detect charge separation. When the singly charged CPC response is isolated (smaller diameter peak in the two peak response), accurate estimations of vapor pressure can be recovered, assuming accurate values for gas phase diffusivity, surface energy, particle density, etc. are used.

Copyright © 2020 American Association for Aerosol Research     

The latent structure of schizotypy: I. Premorbid indicators of a taxon of individuals at risk for schizophrenia-spectrum disorders.

A taxometric analysis (R. R. Golden & P. E. Meehl, 1979) was conducted to test the hypotheses that liability for schizophrenia-spectrum disorders is dichotomously distributed and that this liability can be detected premorbidly with behavioral indicators analogous to many of the criteria for schizotypal personality disorder. Behaviors were assessed in 207 offspring of schizophrenic mothers and 104 matched offspring of normal parents in 1962, when participants' mean age was 15 years. Diagnoses on the basis of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (3rd ed., rev.; American Psychiatric Association, 1987) were made in 1986–1989, when participants were nearly through the risk period for developing schizophrenia. The aggregation of indicators was consistent with a bimodal latent liability distribution. Membership in the schizotypal class was a sensitive and specific predictor of the emergence of schizophrenia-spectrum disorders in adulthood. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Dysphoric mood and overeating: A test of restraint theory's disinhibition hypothesis.

Tested the hypothesis that restrained eaters overindulge when experiencing emotional arousal. A dysphoric or nondysphoric mood was induced in 104 normal-weight female college students who had completed the Restraint Scale. Ss completed a bogus "culture-free intelligence test" that consisted of either unsolvable problems (dysphoric mood condition) or solvable problems (nondysphoric mood condition). Mood was measured by the Multiple Affect Adjective Check List. After the mood induction, Ss' cracker consumption was measured in a taste test. Consistent with restraint theory's prediction, the results revealed a significant Restraint by Mood interaction, with restrained eaters eating more when in a dysphoric than in a nondysphoric mood, and unrestrained eaters consuming similar amounts in both mood states. The predictive powers of 2 subscales of the Restraint Scale, Weight Fluctuation (WF) and Concern with Dieting (CD), were also compared. CD scores were better predictors of the amount eaten by Ss in a dysphoric mood than were WF or total restraint scores. This suggests that the 2 subscales of the Restraint Scale are worth distinguishing and that the CD scale may be the more valid of the 2 scales. (16 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Analysis of fatty acid methyl esters with high accuracy and reliability. IV. Fats with fatty acids containing four or more carbon atoms

Those aspects of the quantitative methanolysis of fats with fatty acids containing four or more carbon atoms and the gas liquid chromatographic analysis of the methyl esters which have not been adequately dealt with to date were investigated. Accurate analysis of the esters requires the optimization of the total chromatographic system using a carefully prepared methyl ester primary standard and applying, as the only correction factors, the theoretical flame ionization detector response factors of Ackman and Sipos. These factors now have also been shown to be highly accurate for short chain saturated fatty acid methyl esters, in particular methyl butyrate and methyl caproate. Under the conditions specified by the international methods for the methylation (methanolic KOH) of fats with fatty acids containing four or more carbon atoms, saponification of the esters, once formed, proceeds much more rapidly for short chain than for long chain esters. This problem is easily overcome by neutralizing the catalyst, which then leads to very stable solutions and contributes to column life. This step should be mandatory in the international procedures. Tristearin methylated more slowly than other triacylglycerols under the standard conditions, but there was no difficulty in the case of unsaturated fatty acids of this chain length. Satisfactory results could not be obtained when sodium methoxide was the catalyst. The optimum procedure rendered unnecessary the use of methyl pentanoate as an internal standard for the accurate quantitation of methyl butyrate.     

Automated parameter estimation of the Hodgkin-Huxley model using the differential evolution algorithm: application to neuromimetic analog integrated circuits

We propose a new estimation method for the characterization of the Hodgkin-Huxley formalism. This method is an alternative technique to the classical estimation methods associated with voltage clamp measurements. It uses voltage clamp type recordings, but is based on the differential evolution algorithm. The parameters of an ionic channel are estimated simultaneously, such that the usual approximations of classical methods are avoided and all the parameters of the model, including the time constant, can be correctly optimized. In a second step, this new estimation technique is applied to the automated tuning of neuromimetic analog integrated circuits designed by our research group. We present a tuning example of a fast spiking neuron, which reproduces the frequency-current characteristics of the reference data, as well as the membrane voltage behavior. The final goal of this tuning is to interconnect neuromimetic chips as neural networks, with specific cellular properties, for future theoretical studies in neuroscience.     

A comparative study of manganese and lead levels in human umbilical cords and maternal blood from two urban centers exposed to different gasoline additives

Manganese (Mn) and lead (Pb) are two neurotoxic chemicals and experimental evidence suggests that they can cross the placental barrier. Tetraethyl lead was still in use as an antiknock agent in Paris during the sampling period of the study, while it has been replaced by methylcyclopentadienyl manganese tricarbonyl (MMT) in Canada since 1977. By 1990, MMT was in 100% of gasoline in Canada. In a study of 160 pairs of mothers-neonates in Montreal and 206 pairs in Paris, we compared levels of Mn and Pb in the umbilical cord and in maternal blood. Neonates and mothers had significantly higher Pb levels in Paris where lead additives were still used in gasoline. Geometric mean maternal blood Pb levels were 5.4 microg/dl compared to 2.1 microg/dl in Montreal and cord blood Pb levels were 3.2 microg/dl in Parisian mothers compared to 1.7 microg/dl in Montreal. The prevalence of Paris Pb values superior to the 95th percentile of the Montreal distribution was highly elevated in all media studied. The prevalence of high Mn levels in umbilical cord blood was also significantly higher in Montreal. Surveillance programs are important to limit Pb overexposure and associated neurological effects in neonates where tetraethyl Pb is still in use as a gasoline additive. Since Mn is an essential element and dietary Mn intake may differ between Montreal and Paris, the difference observed with regard to high Mn values between Montreal and Paris cannot, at this time, be attributed to MMT in Montreal's gasoline. Further studies are needed to infer an association between Mn emissions from MMT and prenatal exposure to Mn.     

Information visualization for selection in Design by Shopping

In Design by Shopping, designers explore the design space to gain an insight into trades, and feasible and impractical solutions, as well as to learn about alternatives before optimization and selection. The design space consists of multidimensional sets of data and, in order to select the best design from among numerous alternatives, designers may use several different graphs. In this study, we test to find the most appropriate graph to indicate the best solution corresponding to a set of objectives represented by a design scenario (1). A further constraint is that this must be done in the shortest possible time (2). Three graph types are tested in three different design scenarios where one car has to be chosen from a total of 40. A response quality index is proposed which computes the quality of a designer’s choice for any given scenario. In total, 90 tests with 30 participants were performed. The parallel coordinates plot proved to be the best graph for selection in Design by Shopping.     

Formation Control of Agricultural Mobile Robots: A Bidirectional Weighted Constraints Approach

This paper focuses on the formation control of several mobile robots in off‐road conditions. A control strategy based on bidirectional referencing is proposed, where each robot combines a velocity control w.r.t. the immediate preceding neighbor with a control w.r.t. the immediate following neighbor. Two virtual leaders, respectively, at the head and at the tail of the fleet, are propelling the fleet at the desired velocity. The fleet stability is investigated using Lyapunov techniques, pending on combination coefficients. The stability is theoretically proven for constant coefficients as weights of the respective velocity controls and tested through simulations and full‐scale experiments. It is shown that this control strategy permits us to reduce the error propagation problem often encountered in formation control, while limiting the communication problems of the global strategies. As a result, a stable formation control architecture is defined, which requires each vehicle to be refereed only to two other robots. This limited communication need is particularly interesting for agricultural operations. The proposed approach is implemented in this paper on agricultural tractors.