0000000000602931
AUTHOR
Yu Yang
Study of polychlorinated biphenyls in street dust by supercritical fluid extraction-gas chromatography/mass spectrometry
Street dust samples have been collected from highways, urban streets, a gasoline station, a pedestrian tunnel, and railway stations in some German cities. Nine polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs from tri- to heptachlorobiphenyls) were quantitatively extracted by supercritical fluid extraction with CO2 at 200 bar and 40°C and analyzed by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. The highest PCB loads (sum of the nine studied PCBs) of ca. 1 to 4 μg/g have been found in the samples from motorway A60 near Mainz, while in almost all other samples PCBs could be detected at only ca. 0.1 to 1 μg/g. At three sampling sites, a winter maximum of the PCB concentrations has been found.
Eddy-Current Imaging with Nitrogen-Vacancy Centers in Diamond
We demonstrate microwave-free eddy-current imaging using nitrogen-vacancy centers in diamond. By detecting the eddy-current induced magnetic field of conductive samples, we can distinguish between different materials and shapes and identify structural defects. Our technique allows for the discrimination of different materials according to their conductivity. The sensitivity of the measurements is calculated as 8$\times 10 ^{5}$\,S/m\,$\sqrt[]{\textrm{Hz}}$ at 3.5\,MHz, for a cylindrical sample with radius $r_0$\,=\,1\,mm and height $h$\,=\,0.1\,mm (volume $\sim$\,0.3\,mm$^3$), at a distance of 0.5\,mm. In comparison with existing technologies, the diamond-based device exhibits a superior ba…
Lightweight Privacy-aware yet Accountable Secure Scheme for SM-SGCC communications in smart grid
Abstract Smart grid is envisioned as a critical application of cyber-physical systems and of the internet of things. In the smart grid, smart meters equipped with wireless sensors can upload meter readings (data) to smart grid control and schedule centers via the advanced metering infrastructure to improve power delivery efficiency. However, data gathered in short intervals, such as 15 minutes, will expose customers' detailed daily activities (for example, when they get up and when they use oven) using nonintrusive appliance load monitoring. Thus, data must be hidden to protect customers' privacy. However, data accountability is still required for emergency responses or to trace back suspec…
Exploring the influence of vegetation cover, sediment storage capacity and channel dimensions on stone check dam conditions and effectiveness in a large regulated river in México
Abstract Check dams are widely used for soil conservation at the watershed scale. When structurally sound, these engineering control works retain sediment as planned. However, there is limited information describing the influence of site characteristics on post-construction condition including structural stability and sediment retention capacity. More specifically, the effects of channel morphology, check dam geometry and vegetation characteristics as potentially influencing factors on sediment retention capacity at the watershed level are poorly understood. Thus, an investigation applying field and remotely sensed measurements, multi-regression models, redundancy and sensitivity analysis, …
Chromatography with dense gases
A capillary restrictor for supercritical fluid chromatography (SFC) with CO2 was made by using a micro torch and fine emery cloths or grinding blocks. This restrictor could be drawn out either directly from the end of the analytical capillary column, or from a short piece of any capillary, which was then connected to the analytical column by standard techniques. It was found that the base current of a flame ionisation detector (FID) depends strongly on the position of the capillary end with respect to the FID flame tip and on the CO2 grade, of course. Best results have been achieved at around 5 to 7 mm distance between the restrictor and the flame tip ends, and using SFC grade CO2.