skip to main content
US FlagAn official website of the United States government
dot gov icon
Official websites use .gov
A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.
https lock icon
Secure .gov websites use HTTPS
A lock ( lock ) or https:// means you've safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.


Title: Experimental validation of effective glass transition temperature‐based model for predicting skin thickness in solid‐state microcellular foams
Abstract The solid‐state foaming process produces microcellular foams with an outer layer of solid skin that encapsulates the cellular core. In this article, we implement a 1D model to predict the thickness of the solid skin based on the effectiveTgof the polymer‐gas system for a given foaming temperature. The model is based on the understanding that bubbles nucleate when the foaming temperature exceeds the effectiveTgduring the foaming process. The model was validated with experimental results on the PC‐CO2system, which showed that skin thickness decreases with increased foaming temperature. We also developed a linear correlation to accurately predict effectiveTgat different CO2concentrations. The article also explores the model sensitivity to the key input parameters related to gas diffusion. HighlightsLinear correlation to accurately predict effectiveTgprofiles in PC‐CO2system.Increasing foaming temperature decreases skin thickness.Model is sensitive to the input parameters related to gas diffusion.  more » « less
Award ID(s):
2032539
PAR ID:
10643788
Author(s) / Creator(s):
 ;  ;  ;  
Publisher / Repository:
Wiley Blackwell (John Wiley & Sons)
Date Published:
Journal Name:
Polymer Engineering & Science
Volume:
65
Issue:
1
ISSN:
0032-3888
Format(s):
Medium: X Size: p. 100-107
Size(s):
p. 100-107
Sponsoring Org:
National Science Foundation
More Like this
  1. Abstract Leaf energy balance may influence plant performance and community composition. While biophysical theory can link leaf energy balance to many traits and environment variables, predicting leaf temperature and key driver traits with incomplete parameterizations remains challenging. Predicting thermal offsets (δ,Tleaf − Tairdifference) or thermal coupling strengths (β,Tleafvs.Tairslope) is challenging.We ask: (a) whether environmental gradients predict variation in energy balance traits (absorptance, leaf angle, stomatal distribution, maximum stomatal conductance, leaf area, leaf height); (b) whether commonly measured leaf functional traits (dry matter content, mass per area, nitrogen fraction, δ13C, height above ground) predict energy balance traits; and (c) how traits and environmental variables predictδandβamong species.We address these questions with diurnal measurements of 41 species co‐occurring along a 1,100 m elevation gradient spanning desert to alpine biomes. We show that (a) energy balance traits are only weakly associated with environmental gradients and (b) are not well predicted by common functional traits. We also show that (c)δandβcan be partially approximated using interactions among site environment and traits, with a much larger role for environment than traits. The heterogeneity in leaf temperature metrics and energy balance traits challenges larger‐scale predictive models of plant performance under environmental change. A freePlain Language Summarycan be found within the Supporting Information of this article. 
    more » « less
  2. Summary Little is known about long‐distance mesophyll‐driven signals that regulate stomatal conductance. Soluble and/or vapor‐phase molecules have been proposed. In this study, the involvement of the gaseous signal ethylene in the modulation of stomatal conductance inArabidopsis thalianaby CO2/abscisic acid (ABA) was examined.We present a diffusion model which indicates that gaseous signaling molecule/s with a shorter/direct diffusion pathway to guard cells are more probable for rapid mesophyll‐dependent stomatal conductance changes. We, therefore, analyzed different Arabidopsis ethylene‐signaling and biosynthesis mutants for their ethylene production and kinetics of stomatal responses to ABA/[CO2]‐shifts.According to our research, higher [CO2] causes Arabidopsis rosettes to produce more ethylene. An ACC‐synthase octuple mutant with reduced ethylene biosynthesis exhibits dysfunctional CO2‐induced stomatal movements. Ethylene‐insensitive receptor (gain‐of‐function),etr1‐1andetr2‐1, and signaling,ein2‐5andein2‐1, mutants showed intact stomatal responses to [CO2]‐shifts, whereas loss‐of‐function ethylene receptor mutants, includingetr2‐3;ein4‐4;ers2‐3,etr1‐6;etr2‐3andetr1‐6, showed markedly accelerated stomatal responses to [CO2]‐shifts. Further investigation revealed a significantly impaired stomatal closure to ABA in the ACC‐synthase octuple mutant and accelerated stomatal responses in theetr1‐6;etr2‐3, andetr1‐6, but not in theetr2‐3;ein4‐4;ers2‐3mutants.These findings suggest essential functions of ethylene biosynthesis and signaling components in tuning/accelerating stomatal conductance responses to CO2and ABA. 
    more » « less
  3. Summary Steady‐state photosyntheticCO2responses (A/Cicurves) are used to assess environmental responses of photosynthetic traits and to predict future vegetative carbon uptake through modeling. The recent development of rapidA/Cicurves (RACiRs) permits faster assessment of these traits by continuously changing [CO2] around the leaf, and may reveal additional photosynthetic properties beyond what is practical or possible with steady‐state methods.Gas exchange necessarily incorporates photosynthesis and (photo)respiration. Each process was expected to respond on different timescales due to differences in metabolite compartmentation, biochemistry and diffusive pathways. We hypothesized that metabolic lags in photorespiration relative to photosynthesis/respiration andCO2diffusional limitations can be detected by varying the rate of change in [CO2] duringRACiR assays. We tested these hypotheses through modeling and experiments at ambient and 2% oxygen.Our data show that photorespiratory delays cause offsets in predictedCO2compensation points that are dependent on the rate of change in [CO2]. Diffusional limitations may reduce the rate of change in chloroplastic [CO2], causing a reduction in apparentRACiR slopes under highCO2ramp rates.MultirateRACiRs may prove useful in assessing diffusional limitations to gas exchange and photorespiratory rates. 
    more » « less
  4. Abstract BackgroundPredicting phenotypes from genetic variation is foundational for fields as diverse as bioengineering and global change biology, highlighting the importance of efficient methods to predict gene functions. Linking genetic changes to phenotypic changes has been a goal of decades of experimental work, especially for some model gene families including light-sensitive opsin proteins. Opsins can be expressed in vitro to measure light absorption parameters, including λmax - the wavelength of maximum absorbance - which strongly affects organismal phenotypes like color vision. Despite extensive research on opsins, the data remain dispersed, uncompiled, and often challenging to access, thereby precluding systematic and comprehensive analyses of the intricate relationships between genotype and phenotype. ResultsHere, we report a newly compiled database of all heterologously expressed opsin genes with λmaxphenotypes called the Visual Physiology Opsin Database (VPOD).VPOD_1.0contains 864 unique opsin genotypes and corresponding λmaxphenotypes collected across all animals from 73 separate publications. We useVPODdata anddeepBreaksto show regression-based machine learning (ML) models often reliably predict λmax, account for non-additive effects of mutations on function, and identify functionally critical amino acid sites. ConclusionThe ability to reliably predict functions from gene sequences alone using ML will allow robust exploration of molecular-evolutionary patterns governing phenotype, will inform functional and evolutionary connections to an organism’s ecological niche, and may be used more broadly forde-novoprotein design. Together, our database, phenotype predictions, and model comparisons lay the groundwork for future research applicable to families of genes with quantifiable and comparable phenotypes. Key PointsWe introduce the Visual Physiology Opsin Database (VPOD_1.0), which includes 864 unique animal opsin genotypes and corresponding λmaxphenotypes from 73 separate publications.We demonstrate that regression-based ML models can reliably predict λmax from gene sequence alone, predict non-additive effects of mutations on function, and identify functionally critical amino acid sites.We provide an approach that lays the groundwork for future robust exploration of molecular-evolutionary patterns governing phenotype, with potential broader applications to any family of genes with quantifiable and comparable phenotypes. 
    more » « less
  5. Societal Impact StatementThe invasive speciesS. alternifloraandP. australisare fast growing coastal wetland plants sequestering large amounts of carbon in the soil and protect coastlines against erosion and storm surges. In this global analysis, we found thatSpartinaandPhragmitesincrease methane but not nitrous oxide emissions, withPhragmiteshaving a lesser effect. The impact of the invasive species on emissions differed greatly among different types of native plant groups, providing valuable information to managers and policymakers during coastal wetland planning and restoration efforts. Further, our estimated net emissions per wetland plant group facilitate regional and national blue carbon estimates. SummaryGlobally,Spartina alternifloraandPhragmites australisare among the most pervasive invasive plants in coastal wetland ecosystems. Both species sequester large amounts of atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) and biogenic carbon in soils but also support production and emission of methane (CH4). In this study, we investigated the magnitude of their net greenhouse gas (GHG) release from invaded and non‐invaded habitats.We conducted a meta‐analysis of GHG fluxes associated with these two species and related soil carbon content and plant biomass in invaded coastal wetlands.Our results show that both invasive species increase CH4fluxes compared to uninvaded coastal wetlands, but they do not significantly affect CO2and N2O fluxes. The magnitude of emissions fromSpartinaandPhragmitesdiffers among native habitats. GHG fluxes, soil carbon and plant biomass ofSpartina‐invaded habitats were highest compared to uninvaded mudflats and succulent forb‐dominated wetlands, while being lower compared to uninvaded mangroves (except for CH4).This meta‐analysis highlights the important role of individual plant traits as drivers of change by invasive species on plant‐mediated carbon cycles. 
    more » « less