Enhanced SO2 concentrations observed over northern India: role of long-range transport

The combustion of fossil fuels (coal and petroleum products) constitutes a source of continuous release of anthropogenic SO₂ into the atmosphere. Furthermore, natural sources such as volcanoes can inject large amounts of SO₂ directly into the troposphere and sometimes even into the stratosphere. These event-based volcanic eruptions provide solitary opportunities to study the transport and transformation of atmospheric constituents. In this study, we present an episode of high SO₂ concentration over northern India as a result of long-range transport from Africa using multiple satellite observations. Monthly averaged column SO₂ values over the Indo-Gangetic Plain (IGP) were observed in the range of 0.6–0.9 Dobson units (DU) during November 2008 using observations from the Ozone Monitoring Instrument (OMI). These concentrations were conspicuously higher than the background concentrations (<0.3 DU) observed during 2005–2010 over this region. The columnar SO₂ loadings were highest on 6 November over most of the IGP region and even exceeded 6 DU, a factor of 10–20 higher than background levels in some places. These enhanced SO₂ levels were not reciprocated in satellite-derived NO₂ or CO columns, indicating transport from a non-anthropogenic SO₂ source. As most of the local aerosols over the IGP region occur below 3 km, a well-separated layer at 4–5 km was observed from the Cloud-Aerosol Lidar and Infrared Pathfinder Satellite Observations (CALIPSO) satellite. Wind fields and back-trajectory analysis revealed a strong flow originating from the Dalaffilla volcanic eruption in Ethiopia during 4–6 November 2008. Although volcanic SO₂ plumes have been extensively studied over many parts of Asia, Europe, and the USA, analysis of such events for the IGP region is being reported for the first time in this study.     

Assessment of biogas potential hazards

Biogas produced from anaerobic fermentation of organic substances represents an alternative renewable energy source. Its utilization would contribute to substantial reduction of the solid waste volume in land-filling and incineration. Biogas so produced could be utilized on site or it could be injected into the natural gas distribution network. Microbiological and chemical compositions of different biogas types were determined in order to conduct qualitative and quantitative risk assessments of the potential health hazards associated with biogas use for cooking. Biogas types that could be allowed for injection in the natural gas pipelines were listed with recommendations, while outlining the European biogas injection policy. Results indicated that the injection of the processed biogas in the distribution network did not present any additional chemical or microbiological risk to consumers when compared to natural gas, provided that the biogas resulted from the fermentation of non-dangerous waste. However, since this study did not examine the microbiological and chemical composition of biogas originating from wastewater sludges and/or industrial wastes, the injection of this type of biogas into the gas distribution network should not be allowed unless a similar risk evaluation study is conducted for each case.     

Functional magnetic nanoshells integrated nanosensor for trace analysis of environmental uranium contamination

Transuranic radionuclides such as uranium tend to be a pervasive environmental contaminant. It is absorbed through the intestine or a lung, deposited in the tissues, predominantly kidney and bone, and is carcinogenic. A novel nanosensor system has been developed for voltammetric tracing of environmental uranium contamination.The sensor consists of an organophosphorous ligand, (t-butylphenyl)-N,N-di-(isobutyl) carbamoylmethylphosphineoxide (CMPO) functionalized superparamagnetic core-shell magnetic nanoparticles and magnet based electrodes. It exploits the natural affinity of uranium for phosphate molecules to fabricate a highly specific and reproducible sensor. The small dimension along with a dramatically increased contact surface has lead to a faster response and higher sensitivity. The system uses an external magnetic field gradient for preconcentration and removal of the analyte from the surrounding aqueous media. The redox properties of the analyte are exploited for enumeration of variables by electrochemical techniques such as square wave voltammetry. The detection limit of the system is observed to be in parts-per-billion (ppb) of the uranyl concentration.     

The role of the anterior commissure in callosal agenesis.

Two individuals with callosal agenesis (J.P. and M.M.) and 10 neurologically normal participants were tested on tasks requiring interhemispheric visual integration. M.M., whose anterior commissure was within normal limits, was much worse at matching colors and letters between visual fields than within visual fields, whereas J.P., whose anterior commissure was greatly enlarged, showed no evidence of interhemispheric disconnection. This suggests that in some cases of callosal agenesis, probably a minority, an enlarged anterior commissure may compensate for the lack of the corpus callosum. Neither acallosal participant showed interhemispheric disconnection on tasks requiring integration of location and orientation, however, suggesting that the anterior commissure plays no role in such tasks. These tasks may depend on subcortical commissures, such as the intertectal commissure. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Gold‐Catalyzed Redox Synthesis of Imidazo[1,2‐a]pyridines using Pyridine N‐Oxide and Alkynes

A mild, catalytic, atom economical synthesis of imidazo[1,2‐a]pyridines has been developed: catalytic dichloro(2‐pyridinecarboxylato)gold [PicAuCl₂] in the presence of an acid produces a range of imidazo[1,2‐a]pyridines in good yields starting from alkynes and 2‐aminopyridine N‐oxides. This strategy is mild and foreseen to be of particular use for the installation of stereogenic centers adjacent to the imidazo[1,2‐a]pyridine ring without loss of enantiomeric excess.

     

Performance analysis of an integrated tangential microfilter‐fermenter

A specially designed bioreactor including an axial microfilter for cell retention was evaluated for continuous‐flow operation with selected liquid media as controls and in aerobic cultivations of Saccharomyces yeasts. In the initial tests, performance characteristics such as filtration rates and cell accumulation were assessed as a function of filter rotational speed, operating pressure, cultivation time and microfilter type (i.e. membrane or porous metal). The bioreactor did not perform satisfactorily when viscous extracellular polymer was present in the liquid. In the continuous‐flow culture enabling cell retention, Saccharomyces cerevisiae yeast cell concentrations were enhanced by as much as 16‐fold over ordinary batch growth. Concomitant filtration rates were stable over operating times of up to 130 h and hence were independent of the cell concentration. The maximum steady‐state flux was enhanced at rotational speeds up to 400‐700 rpm ranging from 22 to 42 L m^?2 h^?1. Higher rotation rates offered no further improvements. The maximum stabilized flux was independent of operating pressure. Pressure increases caused momentary flux improvements, which rapidly declined and eventually restabilized. Copyright © 2006 Society of Chemical Industry     

曼彻斯特艺术馆室内音乐厅设计

Zaha Hadid建筑事务所最近完成了曼彻斯特艺术馆的室内设计,在这空间中将演奏巴洛克时期知名作曲家巴赫的音乐。房间内巨大的丝带环绕其间,分割出不同的空间和视觉关系与巴赫的音乐错综复杂的关系相呼应。丝带群从表演者倾     

Nanofluidic biosensing for beta-amyloid detection using surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy

Trace detection of the conformational transition of beta-amyloid peptide (Abeta) from a predominantly alpha-helical structure to beta-sheet could have a large impact in understanding and diagnosing Alzheimer's disease. We demonstrate how a novel nanofluidic biosensor using a controlled, reproducible surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy active site was developed to observe Abeta in different conformational states during the Abeta self-assembly process as well as to distinguish Abeta from confounder proteins commonly found in cerebral spinal fluid.     

Construction and optimization of a CC49-based scFv-beta-lactamase fusion protein for ADEPT

CC49 is a clinically validated antibody with specificity for TAG-72, a carbohydrate epitope that is over-expressed and exposed on a large fraction of solid malignancies. We constructed a single chain fragment (scFv) based on CC49 and fused it to beta-lactamase. The first generation fusion protein, TAB2.4, was expressed at low levels in Escherichia coli and significant degradation was observed during production. We optimized the scFv domain of TAB2.4 by Combinatorial Consensus Mutagenesis (CCM). An improved variant TAB2.5 was identified that resulted in an almost 4-fold improved expression and 2.5 degrees higher thermostability relative to its parent molecule. Soluble TAB2.5 can be manufactured in low-density E.coli cultures at 120 mg/l. Our studies suggest that CCM is a rapid and efficient method to generate antibody fragments with improved stability and expression. The fusion protein TAB2.5 can be used for antibody directed enzyme prodrug therapy (ADEPT).     

New developments for an electron impact (e,2e)(e,3e) spectrometer with multiangle collection and multicoincidence detection

We describe new developments aimed to extend the capabilities and the sensitivity of the (e,2e)(e,3e) multicoincidence spectrometer at Orsay University [Duguet et al., Rev. Sci. Instrum. 69, 3524 (1998)]. The spectrometer has been improved by the addition of a third multiangle detection channel for the fast "scattered" electron. The present system is unique in that it is the only system which combines three toroidal analyzers all equipped with position sensitive detectors, thus allowing the triple coincidence detection of the three electrons present in the final state of an electron impact double ionization process. The setup allows measurement of the angular and energy distributions of the ejected electrons over almost the totality of the collision plane as well as that of the scattered electron over a large range of scattering angles in the forward direction. The resulting gain in sensitivity ( approximately 25) has rendered feasible a whole class of experiments which could not be otherwise envisaged. The setup is described with a special emphasis on the new toroidal analyzer, data acquisition hardware, and data analysis procedures. The performances are illustrated by selected results of (e,2e) and (e,3e) experiments on the rare gases.