Search results for "THERMODYNAMICS"

Corrigendum to "Understanding the release and metabolism of aroma compounds using micro-volume saliva samples by ex vivo approaches" [Food Chem. 240 …

2018

Thermodynamics of a small system in a μT reservoir

2011

Abstract Due to advances in experimental techniques operating at the nanoscale, it is possible to compute properties from density fluctuations by studying ‘snapshots’ of particle configurations. Thermodynamics on a small scale is different from thermodynamics in bulk systems. We show how the molar enthalpy h and the inverse thermodynamic correction factor Γ - 1 depend on system size and how these properties can be computed from fluctuations at the nanoscale. We find a 1/ L finite size effect for all thermodynamic quantities for a small system in contact with a reservoir, where L is the length of the system in a single dimension.

Nonequilibrium thermodynamics of the RNA-RNA interaction underlying a genetic transposition program

2021

Thermodynamic descriptions are powerful tools to formally study complex gene expression programs evolved in living cells on the basis of macromolecular interactions. While transcriptional regulations are often modeled in the equilibrium, other interactions that occur in the cell follow a more complex pattern. Here, we adopt a nonequilibrium thermodynamic scheme to explain the RNA-RNA interaction underlying IS10 transposition. We determine the energy landscape associated with such an interaction at the base-pair resolution, and we present an original scaling law for expression prediction that depends on different free energies characterizing that landscape. Then, we show that massive experim…

Aging in a free-energy landscape model for glassy relaxation

2005

The aging properties of a simple free-energy landscape model for the primary relaxation in supercooled liquids are investigated. The intermediate scattering function and the rotational correlation functions are calculated for the generic situation of a quench from a high temperature to below the glass transition temperature. It is found that the re-equilibration of molecular orientations takes longer than for translational degrees of freedom. The time scale for re-equilibration is determined by that of the primary relaxation as an intrinsic property of the model.

Kinetics of particle growth and particle composition of a commercial Al-Li alloy by means of small-angle scattering

1991

Abstract Extending previous work done on a similar alloy, small-angle X-ray scattering measurements are reported for a commercial Al-Cu-Li alloy (2–68% Cu and 1–88% Li by weight). Data have been analysed by means of an ellipsoidal model of precipitate particles using a method previously proposed by some of us which, incorporating interparticle interference effects, reproduces the fuli scattering intensities of the samples studied. Particie dimensions obtained from the fit indicate that the Lifshitz-Slyozov coarsening mechanism holds for ageing at higher temperatures and longer times. The activation energy for volume diffusivity obtained is similar to that of pure binary alloys. The scatteri…

Simple scheme for extracting work with a single bath

2019

We propose a simple protocol exploiting the thermalization of a storage bipartite system S to extract work from a resource system R. The protocol is based on a recent work definition involving only a single bath. A general description of the protocol is provided without specifying the characteristics of S. We quantify both the extracted work and the ideal efficiency of the process, also giving maximum bounds for them. Then, we apply the protocol to two cases: two interacting qubits and the Rabi model. In both cases, for very strong couplings, an extraction of work comparable with the bare energies of the subsystems of S is obtained and its peak is reached for finite values of the bath tempe…

A Simple Method for the Consecutive Determination of Protonation Constants through Evaluation of Formation Curves

2013

A simple method is presented for the consecutive determination of protonation constants of polyprotic acids based on their formation curves. The procedure is based on generally known equations that describe dissociation equilibria. It has been demonstrated through simulation that the values obtained through the proposed method are sufficiently consistent with the actual values. In contrast with the universally known and applied Bjerrum’s method, no differences in the accuracy of determination of subsequent protonation constant values are observed. The proposed method requires the value of one of the protonation constants (e.g., of the first one, K1) of the polyprotic acid. An iterative meth…

First Life Cycle Impact Considerations of Two Wave Energy Converters

2018

The work presents two different revolutionary devices for the utilization of a new entry of renewable energy sources: sea wave. The first technology is based on linear generators, able to directly converts a linear motion into electrical output, limiting to minimum the chain of energy conversion. The other solution is based on a mechanical motion converter, coupled with alternators. The scope of this paper is to compare the two different systems designed by University of Palermo, through Life Cycle Assessment, in order to evaluate the global effects of the two systems to the environment.

Non-equilibrium thermodynamics, heat transport and thermal waves in laminar and turbulent superfluid helium

2018

This review paper puts together some results concerning non equilibrium thermodynamics and heat transport properties of superfluid He II. A one-fluid extended model of superfluid helium, which considers heat flux as an additional independent variable, is presented, its microscopic bases are analyzed, and compared with the well known two-fluid model. In laminar situations, the fundamental fields are density, velocity, absolute temperature, and heat flux. Such a theory is able to describe the thermomechanical phenomena, the propagation of two sounds in liquid helium, and of fourth sound in superleak. It also leads in a natural way to a two-fluid model on purely macroscopical grounds and allow…

Characterizing rainfall erosivity by kinetic power-Median volume diameter relationship

2018

Abstract Kinetic power, i.e. kinetic energy per unit time and area, is the variable widely used to represent the rainfall erosivity which affects soil loss and sediment yield. This paper shows the results of an experimental investigation using the raindrop size distributions (DSDs) measured by an optical disdrometer installed at the Department of Agricultural, Food and Forestry Sciences of University of Palermo in Italy (June 2006–March 2014) and at the El Teularet experimental station in Spain (July 2015–May 2016). At first an analysis of the DSDs aggregated into intensity classes is carried out, then the measured kinetic power values are determined. The aggregated DSDs allowed to establis…