Revisiting the size selective performance of EPA's high-volume total suspended particulate matter (Hi-Vol TSP) sampler

Under the National Ambient Air Quality Standard (NAAQS) for airborne lead, measurements are conducted by means of a high-volume total suspended particulate matter (Hi-Vol TSP) sampler. In the decade between 1973 and 1983, there were 12 publications that explored the sampling characteristics and effectiveness of the Hi-Vol TSP, yet there persists uncertainty regarding its performance. This article presents an overview of the existing literature on the performance of the Hi-Vol TSP, and identifies the reported sampler effectiveness with respect to four factors: particle size (reported effectiveness of 7%–100%), wind speed (?36% to 100%), sampler orientation (7%–100%), and operational state (107%–140%). Effectiveness of the Hi-Vol TSP was evaluated with a solid, polydisperse aerosol in a controlled wind tunnel setting. Isokinetic samplers were deployed alongside the Hi-Vol TSP to investigate three wind speeds (2, 8, and 24 km h^?1), three sampler orientations (0°, 45°, 90°), and two operational states (on, off) for aerosols with aerodynamic diameters from 5 to 35 µm. Results indicate that particle diameter was the largest determining factor of effectiveness followed by wind speed. Orientation of the sampler did not have a significant effect at 2 and 8 km h^?1 but did at 24 km h^?1. In a passive state, the Hi-Vol TSP was collected between 1% and 7% of available aerosol depending on particle size and wind speed. Results of this research do not invalidate results of previous studies but rather contribute to our overall understanding of the Hi-Vol TSP's size-selective performance. While results generally agreed with previous studies, the Hi-Vol TSP was found to exhibit less dependence on these four factors than previously reported.

© 2017 American Association for Aerosol Research     

Fluid catalytic cracking technology: current status and recent discoveries on catalyst contamination

The fluid catalytic cracking (FCC) technology is one of the pillars of the modern petroleum industry which converts the crude oil fractions into many commodity fuels and platform chemicals, such as gasoline. Although the FCC field is quite mature, the research scope is still enormous due to changing FCC feedstock, gradual shifts in market demands and evolved unit operations. In this review, we have described the current status of FCC technology, such as variation in the present day feedstocks and catalysts, and particularly, great attention is paid to the effects of various contaminants of the FCC catalysts of which the latter part has not been sufficiently documented and analyzed in the literature yet. Deposition of various contaminants on cracking catalyst during FCC process, including metals, sulfur, nitrogen and coke originated from feedstocks or generated during FCC reaction constitutes a source of concern to the petroleum refiners from both economic and technological perspectives. It causes not only undesirable effects on the catalysts themselves, but also reduction in catalytic activity and changes in product distribution of the FCC reactions, translating into economic losses. The metal contaminants (vanadium (V), nickel (Ni), iron (Fe) and sodium (Na)) have the most adverse effects that can seriously influence the catalyst structure and performance. Although nitrogen and sulfur are considered less harmful compared to the metal contaminants, it is shown that pore blockage by the coking effect of sulfur and acid sites neutralization by nitrogen are serious problems too. Most recent studies on the deactivation of FCC catalysts at single particle level have provided an in-depth understanding of the deactivation mechanisms. This work will provide the readers with a comprehensive understanding of the current status, related problems and most recent progress made in the FCC technology, and also will deepen insights into the catalyst deactivation mechanisms caused by contaminants and the possible technical approaches to controlling catalyst deactivation problems.     

Antivirulence Isoquinolone Mannosides: Optimization of the Biaryl Aglycone for FimH Lectin Binding Affinity and Efficacy in the Treatment of Chronic UTI

Uropathogenic E. coli (UPEC) employ the mannose‐binding adhesin FimH to colonize the bladder epithelium during urinary tract infection (UTI). Previously reported FimH antagonists exhibit good potency and efficacy, but low bioavailability and a short half‐life in vivo. In a rational design strategy, we obtained an X‐ray structure of lead mannosides and then designed mannosides with improved drug‐like properties. We show that cyclizing the carboxamide onto the biphenyl B‐ring aglycone of biphenyl mannosides into a fused heterocyclic ring, generates new biaryl mannosides such as isoquinolone 22 (2‐methyl‐4‐(1‐oxo‐1,2‐dihydroisoquinolin‐7‐yl)phenyl α‐d ‐mannopyranoside) with enhanced potency and in vivo efficacy resulting from increased oral bioavailability. N‐Substitution of the isoquinolone aglycone with various functionalities produced a new potent subseries of FimH antagonists. All analogues of the subseries have higher FimH binding affinity than unsubstituted lead 22 , as determined by thermal shift differential scanning fluorimetry assay. Mannosides with pyridyl substitution on the isoquinolone group inhibit bacteria‐mediated hemagglutination and prevent biofilm formation by UPEC with single‐digit nanomolar potency, which is unprecedented for any FimH antagonists or any other antivirulence compounds reported to date.     

Refining Genotypes and Phenotypes in KCNA2-Related Neurological Disorders

Pathogenic variants in KCNA2, encoding for the voltage-gated potassium channel K_v1.2, have been identified as the cause for an evolving spectrum of neurological disorders. Affected individuals show early-onset developmental and epileptic encephalopathy, intellectual disability, and movement disorders resulting from cerebellar dysfunction. In addition, individuals with a milder course of epilepsy, complicated hereditary spastic paraplegia, and episodic ataxia have been reported. By analyzing phenotypic, functional, and genetic data from published reports and novel cases, we refine and further delineate phenotypic as well as functional subgroups of KCNA2-associated disorders. Carriers of variants, leading to complex and mixed channel dysfunction that are associated with a gain- and loss-of-potassium conductance, more often show early developmental abnormalities and an earlier onset of epilepsy compared to individuals with variants resulting in loss- or gain-of-function. We describe seven additional individuals harboring three known and the novel KCNA2 variants p.(Pro407Ala) and p.(Tyr417Cys). The location of variants reported here highlights the importance of the proline(405)–valine(406)–proline(407) (PVP) motif in transmembrane domain S6 as a mutational hotspot. A novel case of self-limited infantile seizures suggests a continuous clinical spectrum of KCNA2-related disorders. Our study provides further insights into the clinical spectrum, genotype–phenotype correlation, variability, and predicted functional impact of KCNA2 variants.     

Unrestricted ramping rates and long‐term trends in the food web metrics of a boreal river

Long‐term monitoring of the food web of a regulated hydropeaking river was conducted to assess if previously documented effects of changing ramping rates (RRs) were maintained with the addition of 6 years of data. Using carbon and nitrogen stable isotope analyses, we hypothesized that: (1) macroinvertebrates and fish inhabiting areas below peaking hydrodams would be higher in δ¹⁵N and lower in δ¹³C due to increased flow velocity and the influence of light respired dissolved inorganic carbon, relative to those sampled from areas with a natural flow regime; (2) the increase in δ¹⁵N of macroinvertebrates would lead a shorter food web length in the regulated river, but δ¹³C and niche width would be similar between the restricted and unrestricted RR periods (i.e., the BACI analysis); and (3) isotopic metrics (e.g., δ¹³C, δ¹⁵N, niche width [SEA_B], and food chain length [Δ¹⁵N]) would correlate with variations in flow characteristics through time. Consistent with previous analysis conducted over a shorter time period, a shift toward higher δ¹⁵N values was observed for both fish and invertebrates, but, contrarily, only invertebrates (not fish) had a lower δ¹³C value downstream of the dam. Over the long term, the before‐after‐control‐impact analysis found no effect of RRs on any of the food web metrics, implying that the change in operation did not affect the river food web. However, analysis of the time series data indicated that flow metrics and trophic metrics were often correlated, including a negative effect of RR (invertebrates) and discharge (fish) on food chain length. This study illustrates the difficulty in detecting changes in food web structure and function under changing flow regime influenced by natural and anthropogenic effects. As such, this study highlights the need for considering large spatial and temporal scales to differentiate between confounding effects of climate, natural variability, and altered flow regimes on food webs in regulated rivers.     

长江口徐六泾河段洪季中水期悬浮泥沙沉降特性

2007年9月27日至10月5日长江口洪季中水期间,在徐六泾2号水文平台处,结合OBS3A、LISST100(B)和ADCP对该地区的悬浮泥沙在大中小三种不同潮型下进行观测.详细分析了洪季中水期该处悬浮絮凝体沉降特性,结果表明不同潮差会对絮凝体的特性产生较大的影响,在相同絮凝体粒径下,大潮差时絮凝体有效密度和沉降速度都是小潮差时絮凝体的1.5倍,整个测量期间沉降速度约为0.5～3.0mm/s.针对目前利用分形学研究泥沙沉降特性的成果结合本文结果可知徐六泾处絮凝体质量分形维数约为2.5,并且由于泥沙形状及分布不均的影响泥沙沉降特性的系数约为0.43～0.5.     

Application of a computational decision model to examine acute drug effects on human risk taking.

In 3 previous experiments, high doses of alcohol, marijuana, and alprazolam acutely increased risky decision making by adult humans in a 2-choice (risky vs. nonrisky) laboratory task. In this study, a computational modeling analysis known as the expectancy valence model (J. R. Busemeyer & J. C. Stout, 2002) was applied to individual-participant data from these studies, for the highest administered dose of all 3 drugs and corresponding placebo doses, to determine changes in decision-making processes that may be uniquely engendered by each drug. The model includes 3 parameters: responsiveness to rewards and losses (valence or motivation); the rate of updating expectancies about the value of risky alternatives (learning/memory); and the consistency with which trial-by-trial choices match expected outcomes (sensitivity). Parameter estimates revealed 3 key outcomes: Alcohol increased responsiveness to risky rewards and decreased responsiveness to risky losses (motivation) but did not alter expectancy updating (learning/memory); both marijuana and alprazolam produced increases in risk taking that were related to learning/memory but not motivation; and alcohol and marijuana (but not alprazolam) produced more random response patterns that were less consistently related to expected outcomes on the 2 choices. No significant main effects of gender or dose by gender interactions were obtained, but 2 dose by gender interactions approached significance. These outcomes underscore the utility of using a computational modeling approach to deconstruct decision-making processes and thus better understand drug effects on risky decision making in humans. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)