Detection of the human specific Bacteroides genetic marker provides evidence of widespread sewage contamination of stormwater in the urban environment

Human sewage contamination of surface waters is a major human health concern. We found urban stormwater systems that collect and convey runoff from impervious surfaces act as a conduit for sewage originating from breeches in sanitary sewer infrastructure. A total of 828 samples at 45 stormwater outfalls were collected over a four-year period and assessed by culture based methods, PCR, and quantitative PCR (qPCR) to test for traditional and alternative indicators of fecal pollution. All outfalls had the HF183 (human) Bacteroides genetic marker detected in at least one sample, suggesting sewage contamination is nearly ubiquitous in the urban environment. However, most outfalls were intermittently positive, ranging from detection in 11%-100% of the samples. Positive results did not correlate with seasonality, rainfall amounts, or days since previous rainfall. Approximately two-thirds of the outfalls had high (>5000 copy number, i.e. CN, per 100 ml) or moderate levels (1000-5000 CN per 100 ml) of the human Bacteroides genetic marker. Escherichia coli (E. coli) and enterococci levels did not correlate to human Bacteroides. A total of 66% of all outfall samples had standard fecal indicator levels above 10,000 CFU per 100 ml. A tiered assessment using this benchmark to identify high priority sites would have failed to flag 35% of the samples that had evidence of sewage contamination. In addition, high fecal indicators would have flagged 33% of samples as priority that had low or no evidence of sewage. Enteric virus levels in one outfall with high levels of the human Bacteroides genetic marker were similar to untreated wastewater, which illustrates stormwater can serve as a pathway for pathogen contamination. The major source of fecal pollution at four of five river sites that receive stormwater discharge appeared to be from sewage sources rather than non-human sources based on the ratios of human Bacteroides to total Bacteroides spp. This study shows the feasibility and benefits of employing molecular methods to test for alternative indicators of fecal pollution to identify sewage sources and potential health risks and for prioritization of remediation efforts.     

Synthesis of Ultrathin PdCu Alloy Nanosheets Used as a Highly Efficient Electrocatalyst for Formic Acid Oxidation

Inspired by the unique properties of ultrathin 2D nanomaterials and excellent catalytic activities of noble metal nanostructures for renewable fuel cells, a facile method is reported for the high‐yield synthesis of ultrathin 2D PdCu alloy nanosheets under mild conditions. Impressively, the obtained PdCu alloy nanosheet after being treated with ethylenediamine can be used as a highly efficient electrocatalyst for formic acid oxidation. The study implicates that the rational design and controlled synthesis of an ultrathin 2D noble metal alloy may open up new opportunities for enhancing catalytic activities of noble metal nanostructures.     

Solid phase microextraction of stale flavour volatiles from the headspace of UHT milk

Solid phase microextraction (SPME) offers a solvent‐free and less labour‐intensive alternative to traditional flavour isolation techniques. In this instance, SPME was optimised for the extraction of 17 stale flavour volatiles (C3–11,13 methyl ketones and C4–10 saturated aldehydes) from the headspace of full‐cream ultrahigh‐temperature (UHT)‐processed milk. A comparison of relative extraction efficiencies was made using three fibre coatings, three extraction times and three extraction temperatures. Linearity of calibration curves, limits of detection and repeatability (coefficients of variation) were also used in determining the optimum extraction conditions. A 2 cm fibre coating of 50/30 µm divinylbenzene/Carboxen/polydimethylsiloxane in conjunction with a 15 min extraction at 40 °C were chosen as the final optimum conditions. This method can be used as an objective tool for monitoring the flavour quality of UHT milk during storage. Copyright © 2005 Society of Chemical Industry     

Obese people who seek treatment have different characteristics than those who do not seek treatment.

A group of obese people who had not sought treatment; an obese group who had sought treatment in a professional, hospital-based program; and normal-weight controls (N?=?547) were compared in regard to level of psychopathology, binge eating, and negative emotional eating. Because the groups differed significantly on several demographic variables, 3 demographically matched groups were created and compared (n?=?177, 59 per group). In the matched subgroups, obese people who had sought treatment reported greater psychopathology and more binge eating than did normal-weight controls or those who had not sought treatment. Both obese groups (including those who had not sought treatment) endorsed more symptoms of distress, negative emotional eating, overeating, difficulty resisting temptation, and less exercise than did normal-weight controls. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Computer generation of harmonic equihue color scales

Equihue color scales are among the simplest types of color harmonies. They are particularly suited to teach and study theories of harmony. Ordered color scales allow color coding and scientific visualization. Here we describe a teaching program that supports the study of equihue harmony. Methods for the generation of harmonies are presented, and the resulting aesthetic impressions are discussed.     

Aging in rhesus monkeys: Different windows on behavioral continuity and change.

Rhesus monkeys were observed longitudinally from 6 to 20 years of age, the period encompassing early to late adulthood in this species. Repeated-measures analyses of the monkeys' behavioral repertoire revealed 3 quite different pictures of the aging process. First, there were significant systematic changes in the levels of many categories of behavior with increasing age, although the direction and timing of change varied from category to category. Second, for most categories, individual differences among the monkeys were highly stable from early to late adulthood. Finally, there was remarkable consistency within individual behavioral profiles across the entire study such that each monkey retained its distinctive behavioral features (personality) throughout its adult years. Thus, aging in rhesus monkeys is characterized by both continuity and change. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

加拿大萨斯喀彻温省Bakken组致密油生产特征及甜点分布预测

为对加拿大萨斯喀彻温省东南部Williston盆地中Bakken段致密油产区"甜点"进行预测,在大量生产数据分析基础上,根据致密油生产井产量与成藏要素间的定量关系,提出了一套识别潜在"甜点"的多元统计方法。在筛选和分析控制油气"甜点"地质要素的过程中,发现一些制约常规油气成藏的地质因素同样适用于中Bakken段致密油区,这些因素包括:(1)北东走向的Torqunay-Rocanville构造带可能是连接Williston盆地南部成熟烃源岩灶和研究区内Bakken组致密储集层之间的主要油气运移通道;(2)美国和加拿大边界Bakken段致密储集层中的油可能由当地局部成熟的Bakken组烃源岩提供;(3)正向构造有利于油气聚集;(4)顶部盖层和侧向封堵有利于油气的聚集与保存,从而增加单井产量;(5)单井最终可采储量方向变差函数的空间连续性方向与最大水平应力方向一致,水平井的走向对致密油的产量有实质影响。     

Consistent flavor naming predicts recognition memory in children and young adults

The relationship between flavor naming and recognition memory was evaluated in groups of children and young adults who either self-generated flavor names or chose flavor names from a list of four alternatives. The adults were more successful at naming and remembering the flavors, with the age differences in naming performance tending to be larger than differences in memory performance. Differences in recognition memory among the age groups were modest, ranging from 3% to 12%. Providing flavor labels improved naming accuracy, but not naming consistency or memory for younger children (4-7 years old). Labels improved naming accuracy and consistency for the older children (8-11 years old), and showed a trend toward improving memory. Labels improved naming accuracy, consistency and recognition memory in adults. Consistent naming was a powerful predictor of recognition memory for each age group and test condition. Consistently named flavors were remembered correctly on 88% of the trials while inconsistently named flavors showed no evidence of memory. It was concluded that flavor recognition memory and naming consistency were both rooted in successfully matching flavor percepts to a multi-dimensional flavor representation that includes semantic information.     

Native Mass Spectrometry for the Study of PROTAC GNE-987-Containing Ternary Complexes

PRO teolysis TA rgeting C himeras (PROTACs) promote the degradation, rather than inhibition, of a drug target as a mechanism for therapeutic treatment. Bifunctional PROTAC molecules allow simultaneous binding of both the target protein and an E3-Ubiquitin ligase, bringing the two proteins into close spatial proximity to allow ubiquitinylation and degradation of the target protein via the cell's endogenous protein degradation pathway. We utilized native mass spectrometry (MS) to study the ternary complexes promoted by the previously reported PROTAC GNE-987 between Brd4 bromodomains 1 and 2, and Von Hippel Lindeau E3-Ubiquitin Ligase. Native MS at high resolution allowed us to measure ternary complex formation as a function of PROTAC concentration to provide a measure of complex affinity and stability, whilst simultaneously measuring other intermediate protein species. Native MS provides a high-throughput, low sample consumption, direct screening method to measure ternary complexes for PROTAC development.