University of Nevada, Reno

About: University of Nevada, Reno is a education organization based out in Reno, Nevada, United States. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Poison control. The organization has 13561 authors who have published 28217 publications receiving 882002 citations. The organization is also known as: University of Nevada & Nevada State University.

Combining the principles of sliding mode, direct torque control, and space vector modulation in a high-performance sensorless AC drive

Abstract: A sensorless induction motor drive is presented, in which the principles of sliding-mode control, direct torque control (DTC), and space-vector modulation are combined to ensure high-performance operation, both in the steady state and under transient conditions. Merits of the classic DTC transient behavior are preserved, while the steady-state operation is significantly improved. The torque and flux controllers, and motor state observer are of the sliding-mode type. The inverter is directly controlled on the basis of torque and flux errors, using space-vector pulsewidth modulation. Computer simulations and experimental results presented demonstrate the robustness, accuracy, quickness, and low-chattering, wide-speed-range operation of the drive.

Nevada STORMS project: Measurement of mercury emissions from naturally enriched surfaces

Abstract: Diffuse anthropogenic and naturally mercury-enriched areas represent long- lived sources of elemental mercury to the atmosphere. The Nevada Study and Tests of the Release of Mercury From Soils (STORMS) project focused on the measurement of mercury emissions from anaturally enriched area. During the project, concurrent measurements of mercury fluxes from naturally mercury-enriched substrate were made September 1-4, 1997, using four micrometeorological methods and seven field flux chambers. Ambient air mercury concentrations ranged from 2 to nearly 200 ng m- 3 indicating that the field site is a source of atmospheric mercury. The mean day time mercury fluxes, durin p conditions of no precipitation, measured with field chambers were 50 to 360 ng m -2 h - , and with the micrometeorological methods we re 230 to 600 ng m- 2 h -1. This wide range in mercury emission rates reflects differences in method experimental designs and local source strengths. Mercury fluxes measured by many field chambers were significantly different (p < 0.05) but linearly correlated. This indicates that field chambers responded similarly to environmental conditions, but differences in experimental design and site heterogeneity had a significant influence on the magnitude of mercury fluxes. Data developed during the field study demonstrated that field flux chambers are ideal for assessment of the physicochemical processes driving mercury flux and development of an understanding of the magnitude of the influence of individual factors on flux. In general, mean mercury fluxes measured with micrometeorological methods during day time periods were nearly 3 times higher than me an fluxes measured with field flux chambers. Micrometeorological methods allow for derivation of a representative mercury flux occurring from an unconstrained system and provide an assessment of the actual magnitude and variability of fluxes occurring from an area.

Effects of short- and long-term elevated CO2 on the expression of ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase genes and carbohydrate accumulation in leaves of Arabidopsis thaliana (L.) Heynh.

Abstract: To investigate the proposed molecular characteristics of sugar-mediated repression of photosynthetic genes during plant acclimation to elevated CO 2 , we examined the relationship between the accumulation and metabolism of nonstructural carbohydrates and changes in ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase (Rubisco) gene expression in leaves of Arabidopsis thaliana exposed to elevated CO 2 . Long-term growth of Arabidopsis at high CO 2 (1000 μL L −1 ) resulted in a 2-fold increase in nonstructural carbohydrates, a large decrease in the expression of Rubisco protein and in the transcript of rbcL , the gene encoding the large subunit of Rubisco (approximately 35–40%), and an even greater decline in mRNA of rbcS , the gene encoding the small subunit (approximately 60%). This differential response of protein and mRNAs suggests that transcriptional/posttranscriptional processes and protein turnover may determine the final amount of leaf Rubisco protein at high CO 2 . Analysis of mRNA levels of individual rbcS genes indicated that reduction in total rbcS transcripts was caused by decreased expression of all four rbcS genes. Short-term transfer of Arabidopsis plants grown at ambient CO 2 to high CO 2 resulted in a decrease in total rbcS mRNA by d 6, whereas Rubisco content and rbcL mRNA decreased by d 9. Transfer to high CO 2 reduced the maximum expression level of the primary rbcS genes (1A and, particularly, 3B) by limiting their normal pattern of accumulation through the night period. The decreased nighttime levels of rbcS mRNA were associated with a nocturnal increase in leaf hexoses. We suggest that prolonged nighttime hexose metabolism resulting from exposure to elevated CO 2 affects rbcS transcript accumulation and, ultimately, the level of Rubisco protein.