XPS analysis of combustion aerosols for chemical composition, surface chemistry, and carbon chemical state

Carbonaceous aerosols can vary in elemental content, surface chemistry, and carbon nano-structure. Each of these properties is related to the details of soot formation. Fuel source, combustion process (affecting formation and growth conditions), and postcombustion exhaust where oxidation occurs all contribute to the physical structure and surface chemistry of soot. Traditionally such physical and chemical parameters have been measured separately by various techniques. Presented here is the unified measurement of these characteristics using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). In the present study, XPS is applied to combustion soot collected from a diesel engine (running biodiesel and pump-grade fuels); jet engine; and institutional, plant, and residential oil-fired boilers. Elemental composition is mapped by a survey scan over a broad energy range. Surface chemistry and carbon nanostructure are quantified by deconvolution of high-resolution scans over the C1s region. This combination of parameters forms a distinct matrix of identifiers for the soots from these sources.     

8-Aminoquinolines with an Aminoxyalkyl Side Chain Exert in vitro Dual-Stage Antiplasmodial Activity

A series of novel 8-aminoquinolines (8-AQs) with an aminoxyalkyl side chain were synthesized and evaluated for in vitro antiplasmodial properties against asexual blood stages, liver stages, and sexual stages of Plasmodium falciparum. 8-AQs bearing 2-alkoxy and 5-phenoxy substituents on the quinoline ring system were found to be the most promising compounds under study, exhibiting potent blood schizontocidal and moderate tissue schizontocidal in vitro activity.     

Substituted Aminoacetamides as Novel Leads for Malaria Treatment

Herein we describe the optimization of a phenotypic hit against Plasmodium falciparum based on an aminoacetamide scaffold. This led to N-(3-chloro-4-fluorophenyl)-2-methyl-2-{[4-methyl-3-(morpholinosulfonyl)phenyl]amino}propanamide (compound 28 ) with low-nanomolar activity against the intraerythrocytic stages of the malaria parasite, and which was found to be inactive in a mammalian cell counter-screen up to 25 μm . Inhibition of gametes in the dual gamete activation assay suggests that this family of compounds may also have transmission blocking capabilities. Whilst we were unable to optimize the aqueous solubility and microsomal stability to a point at which the aminoacetamides would be suitable for in vivo pharmacokinetic and efficacy studies, compound 28 displayed excellent antimalarial potency and selectivity; it could therefore serve as a suitable chemical tool for drug target identification.     

Attentional signatures of perception: Multiple object tracking reveals the automaticity of contour interpolation.

Multiple object tracking (MOT) is an attentional task wherein observers attempt to track multiple targets among moving distractors. Contour interpolation is a perceptual process that fills-in nonvisible edges on the basis of how surrounding edges (inducers) are spatiotemporally related. In five experiments, we explored the automaticity of interpolation through its influences on tracking. We found that (1) when the edges of targets and distractors jointly formed dynamic illusory or occluded contours, tracking accuracy worsened; (2) when interpolation bound all four targets together, performance improved; (3) when interpolation strength was weakened (by altering the size or relative orientation of inducing edges), tracking effects disappeared; and (4) real and interpolated contours influenced tracking comparably, except that real contours could more effectively shift attention toward distractors. These results suggest that interpolation's characteristics—and, in particular, its automaticity—can be revealed through its attentional influences or “signatures” within tracking. Our results also imply that relatively detailed object representations are formed in parallel, and that such representations can affect tracking when they become relevant to scene segmentation. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2011 APA, all rights reserved)     

Kinetics of resuscitation and growth of L. monocytogenes as a tool to select appropriate enrichment conditions as a prior step to rapid detection methods

Rapid methods still rely on a prior (shortened) enrichment step before application. Quantitative information is a prerequisite for understanding the resuscitation kinetics of the growth during the enrichment step. In this study various basal and newly introduced selective enrichment broths were evaluated. First, growth parameters (λ, μ_max) of both healthy and sub-lethally injured cells were determined. Next, a selection of enrichment broths was compared for their capacity to support detection within 24 h of low numbers of Listeria monocytogenes in artificially and naturally contaminated food samples. Detection was performed either by phage protein-based capture (Listeria Capture kit, Profos, Regensburg, Germany) combined with plating on chromogenic medium or by fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) using the VIT-Listeria kit (Vermicon, Munich, Germany). Kinetics of resuscitation and growth of L. monocytogenes in various enrichment broths showed that for detection of low numbers of sub-lethally injured L. monocytogenes cells at least an overnight enrichment was needed. A selective enrichment broth was needed to enable proliferation of L. monocytogenes within the indigenous bacterial flora present in foods. However, combination of an appropriate enrichment condition with advanced detection techniques may enable a 24 h detection of L. monocytogenes.     

Odorant-binding proteins from a primitive termite

Hitherto, odorant-binding proteins (OBPs) have been identified from insects belonging to more highly evolved insect orders (Lepidoptera, Coleoptera, Diptera, Hymenoptera, and Hemiptera), whereas only chemosensory proteins have been identified from more primitive species, such as orthopteran and phasmid species. Here, we report for the first time the isolation and cloning of odorant-binding proteins from a primitive termite species, the dampwood termite, Zootermopsis nevadensis nevadensis (Isoptera: Termopsidae). A major antennae-specific protein was detected by native PAGE along with four other minor proteins, which were also absent in the extract from control tissues (hindlegs). Multiple cDNA cloning led to the full characterization of the major antennae-specific protein (ZnevOBP1) and to the identification of two other antennae-specific cDNAs, encoding putative odorant-binding proteins (ZnevOBP2 and ZnevOBP3). N-terminal amino acid sequencing of the minor antennal bands and cDNA cloning showed that olfaction in Z. n. nevadensis may involve multiple odorant-binding proteins. Database searches suggest that the OBPs from this primitive termite are homologues of the pheromone-binding proteins from scarab beetles and antennal-binding proteins from moths.     

Possibilities for a Hybrid Approach to Planning and Governance at the Interface of the Administrative and Traditional Authority Systems in Durban

This paper focuses on the planning implications of a dual governance system in Durban, where just over a third of municipal land is under the governance of both the traditional authority and the eThekwini Municipality. These challenges are common in many African cities where western administrative governance and planning systems overlay traditional systems. Under traditional governance, access to land, economic opportunities and “rural lifestyles” have resulted in the rapid densification of large areas of the periphery of Durban. Here, local traditional leaders allocate land based on the traditional land tenure system. eThekwini Municipality is mandated to provide services and facilities to all its residents, to develop spatial development plans and land use schemes, and to protect its ecological infrastructure. However, in traditional authority areas, the municipality struggles to fulfil these mandates, as it does not have control over land allocation and management. This paper reflects on the learning process that is taking place as the municipality begins to shift its approach to planning to address the complexities of planning in dual governance areas. The paper argues that new hybrid forms of governance and planning can help to address these challenges and ensure sustainable development in areas under dual governance.     

Bioremediation of contaminated air using an external-loop airlift bioreactor

Biological air treatment methods are gaining popularity in the chemical industries due to their low cost and ability to convert many hazardous volatile organic compounds (VOCs) into harmless byproducts. An external loop, airlift bioreactor (ELAB) is used to separately bioremediate two prototype, water-soluble VOC compounds: p-cresol and ethanol. In both cases, the effluent air was cleansed and bioremediated to below detectable limits (beyond 99.7% removal) due to the efficient scrubbing action of the ELAB. The bioreactor continued to provide this removal efficiency up to maximum air p-cresol concentration of 0.6 g/m³ and ethanol concentration of 110 g/m³ and at bioreactor loading rates up to 8 g/m³ h for p-cresol and 220 g/m³ h for ethanol. A dynamic and quasi-steady state, biokinetic model is shown to predict the transient bioremediation process very well using batch growth biokinetic parameters.