Heat-flow near a North Atlantic fracture zone

Fifteen new heat-flow measurements are reported, fourteen of which are located in or near a fracture zone near 43°N on the mid-Atlantic Ridge. These data, combined with earlier nearby measurements, show the fracture zone to have an observable, positive effect on the regional heat-flow field. A good correlation is observed between large near-bottom water potential temperature gradients and the occurrence of significant variations with depth in the measured rate of heat-flow. One measurement was taken in the Horseshoe abyssal plain west of Gibraltar and gave a value of 1.38 μcal/cm²s.     

Making the energy transition

A major objective of the energy transition is to reduce dependence on oil imports through structural change in energy systems leading to lower and sustained oil use. This paper outlines possible directions which can be followed under conditions of healthy economic growth to achieve a smooth transition. It also provides a framework to identify and analyse potential energy problem areas. An important conclusion is that although IEA net oil imports in 2000 could be reduced to about 15 million bbl/day, this will not be easy. To supplement market forces, effective energy policies will be necessary to bring on non-oil supplies in time, promote the replacement of oil by other fuels and restrain oil demand.     

Metal–Organic Framework Nanoparticles Induce Pyroptosis in Cells Controlled by the Extracellular pH

Ion homeostasis is essential for cellular survival, and elevated concentrations of specific ions are used to start distinct forms of programmed cell death. However, investigating the influence of certain ions on cells in a controlled way has been hampered due to the tight regulation of ion import by cells. Here, it is shown that lipid-coated iron-based metal–organic framework nanoparticles are able to deliver and release high amounts of iron ions into cells. While high concentrations of iron often trigger ferroptosis, here, the released iron induces pyroptosis, a form of cell death involving the immune system. The iron release occurs only in slightly acidic extracellular environments restricting cell death to cells in acidic microenvironments and allowing for external control. The release mechanism is based on endocytosis facilitated by the lipid-coating followed by degradation of the nanoparticle in the lysosome via cysteine-mediated reduction, which is enhanced in slightly acidic extracellular environment. Thus, a new functionality of hybrid nanoparticles is demonstrated, which uses their nanoarchitecture to facilitate controlled ion delivery into cells. Based on the selectivity for acidic microenvironments, the described nanoparticles may also be used for immunotherapy: the nanoparticles may directly affect the primary tumor and the induced pyroptosis activates the immune system.     

Artificial intelligence and augmented intelligence collaboration: regaining trust and confidence in the financial sector

ABSTRACT

Robots and chatbots are sophisticated. Artificial intelligence (AI) is increasingly popular in the financial industry due to its ability to provide customers with cheap, efficient and personalised services. This article uses doctrinal sources and a case study to show that many banks and FinTech start-ups are investing in AI. Yet, there are a number of challenges arising from the use of AI which could undermine trust and confidence amongst consumers. This article features the issue of bias and discrimination in banking. There is evidence that algorithms discriminate against certain races and gender. Legislative gaps in the Equality Act 2010 and the General Data Protection Regime will be analysed. Ultimately, human beings are still needed to input, train and help machines to learn. Fortunately, the FCA are leading in regulating technology, from the launch of regulatory sandboxes to their co-operative collaboration with FinTech start-ups on regulatory matters. Augmented intelligence collaboration is needed to enable industry players and regulators to provide seamless regulation and financial stability. The future of AI regulation is inter-disciplinary in approach.     

Characterization of Sn doped Ni/Al2O3 steam reforming catalysts by XPS

XPS measurements have shown that tin oxides are more readily reduced to metallic tin by hydrogen in Ni/Al₂O₃ systems than on pure Al₂O₃. During the reductive activation of Sn doped Ni/Al₂O₃ catalysts, surface segregation of the dopant was observed. This finding may explain that tin enhances the selectivity of the steam reforming catalysts only when added in very low concentrations and that it acts as a poison at higher loadings.     

Deuterium enrichment using vanadium membranes

Hydrogen isotope selectivity of palladium membranes has long been known and studied, but the emergence of vanadium-based membranes as a low-cost alternative naturally inspires curiosity as to whether these membranes exhibit similar properties. Accordingly, experiments to calculate the permeability of hydrogen and deuterium through a palladium-coated vanadium membrane at 300 °C were undertaken, and they revealed that hydrogen permeates at a rate 1.5 × faster than deuterium. With hydrogen absorption experiments at the same temperature showing very little difference in the amount of each isotope absorbed over a wide pressure range, it can be concluded that atomic hydrogen diffuses through vanadium 1.5 × faster than atomic deuterium.In practice, this gives rise to a significant separation factor, with deuterium being depleted in the permeate stream, but enriched in the retentate stream. Creating a cascading series of membranes, with successive retentate streams combined, will allow the deuterium concentration to be enriched far beyond the natural value of 0.015%. This work suggests that further work is warranted to explore whether this separation factor can be enhanced (e.g., through alloying), and to demonstrate a cascading membrane system to deliver high purity deuterium from a natural hydrogen source.     

Characteristics of the heterologously expressed human lanosterol 14α‐demethylase (other names: P45014DM,CYP51, P45051) and inhibition of the purified human and Candida albicans CYP51 with azole antifungal agents

Human and Candida albicans CYP51 were purified to homogeneity after GAL10‐based heterologous expression in yeast in order to resolve the basis for the selective inhibition of the fungal enzyme over the human orthologue by the azole drugs ketoconazole and itraconazole, used in the treatment of systemic fungal infection. The purified proteins have similar spectral characteristics, both giving a maximum at 448 nm in reduced carbon monoxide difference spectra. Substrate affinity constants of 20·8 and 29·4 μM and V_max of 0·15 and 0·47 nmol/min/nmol were observed for C. albicans and human enzymes, respectively, in reconstituted enzymatic assays, using an intermediate of the demethylation reaction [32‐³H]‐3β‐hydroxylanost‐7‐en‐32‐ol as the substrate. Both enzymes gave similar type II spectra on titration with drugs, but a reduced affinity was observed for human CYP51 using the ability of carbon monoxide to displace the drug as a ligand and by calculation of IC₅₀. However, although the results indicate higher affinity of the drugs for their target CYP51 in the major fungal pathogen C. albicans, when compared directly to CYP51 from humans, the difference was less than 10‐fold. This difference is an order of magnitude lower than previously reported data based on measurements using unpurified human CYP51 enzyme preparations. Consequently, increased azole doses to combat resistant candidaemia may well inhibit endogenous human CYP51 and the potential consequences are discussed. Copyright © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Modeling ozone and aerosol formation and transport in the pacific northwest with the community Multi-Scale Air Quality (CMAQ) modeling system

The Community Multi-Scale Air Quality (CMAQ) modeling system was used to investigate ozone and aerosol concentrations in the Pacific Northwest (PNW) during hot summertime conditions during July 1-15, 1996. Two emission inventories (El) were developed: emissions for the first El were based upon the National Emission Trend 1996 (NET96) database and the BEIS2 biogenic emission model, and emissions for the second El were developed through a "bottom up" approach that included biogenic emissions obtained from the GLOBEIS model. The two simulations showed that elevated PM2.5 concentrations occurred near and downwind of the Interstate-5 corridor along the foothills of the Cascade Mountains and in forested areas of central Idaho. The relative contributions of organic and inorganic aerosols varied by region, but generally organic aerosols constituted the largest fraction of PM2.5. In wilderness areas near the 1-5 corridor, organic carbon from anthropogenic sources contributed approximately 50% of the total organic carbon with the remainder from biogenic precursors, while in wilderness areas in Idaho, biogenic organic carbon accounted for 80% of the total organic aerosol. Regional analysis of the secondary organic aerosol formation in the Columbia River Gorge, Central Idaho, and the Olympics/Puget Sound showed that the production rate of secondary organic carbon depends on local terpene concentrations and the local oxidizing capacity of the atmosphere, which was strongly influenced by anthropogenic emissions. Comparison with observations from 12 IMPROVE sites and 21 ozone monitoring sites showed that results from the two El simulations generally bracketed the average observed PM parameters and that errors calculated for the model results were within acceptable bounds. Analysis across all statistical parameters indicated that the NW-AIRQUEST El solution performed better at predicting PM2.5, PM1, and beta(ext) even though organic carbon PM was over-predicted, and the NET96 El solution performed better with regard to the inorganic aerosols. For the NW-AIRQUEST El solution, the normalized bias was 30% and the normalized absolute error was 49% for PM2.5 mass. The NW-AIRQUEST solution slightly overestimated peak hourly ozone downwind of urban areas, while the NET96 solution slightly underestimated peak values, and both solutions over-predicted average 03 concentrations across the domain by approximately 6 ppb.