Copper and zinc removal from roof runoff: from research to full-scale adsorber systems.

Large, uncoated copper and zinc roofs cause environmental problems if their runoff is infiltrated into the underground or discharged into receiving waters. Since source control is not always feasible, barrier systems for efficient copper and zinc removal are recommended in Switzerland. During the last few years, research carried out in order to test the performance of GIH-calcite adsorber filters as a barrier system. Adsorption and mass transport processes were assessed and described in a mathematical model. However, this model is not suitable for practical design, because it does not give explicit access to design parameters such as adsorber diameter and adsorber bed depth. Therefore, for e.g. engineers, an easy to use design guideline for GIH-calcite adsorber systems was developed, mainly based on the mathematical model. The core of this guideline is the design of the depth of the GIH-calcite adsorber layer. The depth is calculated by adding up the GIH depth for sorption equilibrium and the depth for the mass transfer zone (MTZ). Additionally, the arrangement of other adsorber system components such as particle separation and retention volume was considered in the guideline. Investigations of a full-scale adsorber confirm the successful application of this newly developed design guideline for the application of GIH-calcite adsorber systems in practice.     

Biocides used in building materials and their leaching behavior to sewer systems.

There is increasing concern about diffuse pollution of aquatic systems by biocides used in urban areas. We investigated sources and pathways of biocides significant for the pollution of storm water runoff. Main sources seem to be building envelopes, i.e. facades (paints, plasters) and roof sealing membranes. First results from a defined urban catchment drained by a separated sewer system without any agricultural activities reveal a substantial occurrence. Even after the first flush, concentrations of terbutryn, carbendazim, mecoprop as well as Irgarol 1051 and its metabolite exceeded the Swiss water quality standard of 0.1 microg/L. In laboratory experiments, leaching of mecoprop used as a root protection agent in bitumen sheets for roof waterproofing was determined. The concentrations differed in 16 different sheets two orders of magnitude, depending on the product composition. Using optimized products, it is expected to be the most efficient and sustainable way to reduce the environmental impact. To understand transport dynamics and environmental risk, further storm water events will be analyzed. Based on the ongoing project URBIC, first measures will be proposed to limit the release to surface and ground water.     

Characteristics of particle-associated PAHs in a first flush of a highway runoff.

Runoff monitoring of six rainfall events was carried out in a highway, Winterthur, Switzerland focusing on first flush (runoff volume up to 2.88 mm). Six runoff events were used to investigate the characteristics of particle-associated PAHs in first flush. The fine fraction (< 45 microm) had a relatively higher contribution than the coarse fraction. A significant contribution of the coarse fraction was observed at some periods when the runoff flow rapidly increased. Fluctuation of PAH content during a runoff event was significant in the coarse fraction and, in contrast, the PAH content in the fine fraction was less fluctuating. The weighted average PAH content in each event ranged from 17 to 62 microg/g in total SS, from 23 to 54 microg/g in the fine fraction and from 16 to 84 microg/g in the coarse fraction. The loading of particle-associated PAHs from the first flush of highway runoff ranged from 0.06 to 0.22 g/ha in a total of 12 PAH species.     

Pilot experiments with electrodialysis and ozonation for the production of a fertiliser from urine.

Pilot tests were performed with a process combination of electrodialysis and ozonation for the removal of micropollutants and the concentration of nutrients in urine. In continuous and batch experiments, maximum concentration factors up to 3.5 and 4.1 were obtained, respectively. The desalination capacity did not decrease significantly during continuous operation periods of several weeks. Membrane cleaning after 195 days resulted in approximately 35% increase in desalination rate. The Yeast Estrogen Screen (YES), a bioassay that selectively detects oestrogenic compounds, confirmed that about 90% of the oestrogenic activity was removed by electrodialysis. HPLC analysis showed that ibuprofen was removed to a high extent, while other micropollutants were below the detection limit. In view of the fact that ibuprofen is among the most rapidly transported micropollutants in electrodialysis processes, this result indicates that electrodialysis provides an effective barrier for micropollutants. Standardised plant growth tests were performed in the field with the salt solution resulting from the treatment by electrodialysis and subsequent ozonation. The results show that the plant height is comparable to synthetic fertilisers, but the crop yield is slightly lower. The latter is probably caused by volatilisation losses during field application, which can be prevented by improved application technologies.     

Statistical study of the influence of building architectural properties on scattered fields in urban environment

Statistical studies on the reflection coefficient of concrete–glass building facades are conducted using a fast and an accurate method based on the Green’s functions. The variation of different architectural parameters, such as concrete permitting and distribution, size and type of windows, are studied. The influence of selected parameters on the total reflection coefficient of the building is quantified for different incidence and observation angles as well as in different diffraction zones.     

A surrogate model to assess the whole body SAR induced by multiple plane waves at 2.4?GHz

The assessment of the exposure to electromagnetic waves is nowadays a key question. Dealing with the relationship between exposure and incident field, most of previous investigations have been performed with a single plane wave. Realistic exposure in the far field can be modeled as multiple plane waves with random direction of arrival, random amplitude, and random phase. This paper, based on numerical investigations, studies the whole body specific absorption rate (SAR) linked to the exposure induced by five random plane waves having uniformly distributed angles of arrival in the horizontal plane, log-normal distributed amplitudes, and uniformly distributed phases. A first result shows that this random heterogeneous exposure generates maximal variations of ??25% for the whole body specific absorption. An important observation is that the exposure to a single plane wave arriving face to the body, used for the guidelines, does not constitute the worst case. We propose a surrogate model to assess the distribution of the whole body SAR in the case of an exposure to multiple plane waves. For a sample of 30 values of whole body SAR induced by five plane waves at 2.4?GHz, this simple approach, considering the resulting SAR as the sum of the SAR induced by each isolated plane wave, leads to an estimated distribution of whole body SAR following the real distribution with a p value of 76% according to the Kolmogorov statistical test.     

Replication-Deficient Lymphocytic Choriomeningitis Virus-Vectored Vaccine Candidate for the Induction of T Cell Immunity against Mycobacterium tuberculosis

Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) represents a major burden to global health, and refined vaccines are needed. Replication-deficient lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (rLCMV)-based vaccine vectors against cytomegalovirus have proven safe for human use and elicited robust T cell responses in a large proportion of vaccine recipients. Here, we developed an rLCMV vaccine expressing the Mtb antigens TB10.4 and Ag85B. In mice, rLCMV elicited high frequencies of polyfunctional Mtb-specific CD8 and CD4 T cell responses. CD8 but not CD4 T cells were efficiently boosted upon vector re-vaccination. High-frequency responses were also observed in neonatally vaccinated mice, and co-administration of rLCMV with Expanded Program of Immunization (EPI) vaccines did not result in substantial reciprocal interference. Importantly, rLCMV immunization significantly reduced the lung Mtb burden upon aerosol challenge, resulting in improved lung ventilation. Protection was associated with increased CD8 T cell recruitment but reduced CD4 T cell infiltration upon Mtb challenge. When combining rLCMV with BCG vaccination in a heterologous prime-boost regimen, responses to the rLCMV-encoded Mtb antigens were further augmented, but protection was not significantly different from rLCMV or BCG vaccination alone. This work suggests that rLCMV may show utility for neonatal and/or adult vaccination efforts against pulmonary tuberculosis.     

Optimization of the spark plasma sintering processing parameters affecting the properties of polyimide

The present study deals with the optimization of polyimide (PI) mechanical properties, obtained by Spark Plasma Sintering (SPS), by using a method combining Design of Experiments (DOE) with physical, structural, and mechanical characterizations. The effects of SPS parameters such as temperature, pressure, dwell time, and cooling rate on the density, mechanical properties, and structure of PI were investigated. The experimental results revealed that the mechanical properties of the material were optimized by raising the sintering temperature up to 350°C. The optimized SPS processing parameters were a temperature of 350°C, a pressure of 40 MPa, and a dwell time of 5 min. Under these conditions, a relative density of 99.6% was reached within only a few minutes. The corresponding mechanical properties consisted of Young's modulus of 3.43 GPa, a Shore D hardness of 87.3, and a compressive strength of 738 MPa for a maximum compressive strain of 61.8%. Moreover, when working at 320°C and at 100 MPa, an increase in the dwell time was necessary to enhance the properties. Contrary to the other parameters, the cooling rate appeared to be a non‐significant parameter. Finally, correlations between the PI structure and the mechanical properties were made to demonstrate the densification mechanisms. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2015 , 132, 41542.     

Three-Dimensional Cell Culture: A Breakthrough in Vivo

Cell culture is an important tool for biological research. Two-dimensional cell culture has been used for some time now, but growing cells in flat layers on plastic surfaces does not accurately model the in vivo state. As compared to the two-dimensional case, the three-dimensional (3D) cell culture allows biological cells to grow or interact with their surroundings in all three dimensions thanks to an artificial environment. Cells grown in a 3D model have proven to be more physiologically relevant and showed improvements in several studies of biological mechanisms like: cell number monitoring, viability, morphology, proliferation, differentiation, response to stimuli, migration and invasion of tumor cells into surrounding tissues, angiogenesis stimulation and immune system evasion, drug metabolism, gene expression and protein synthesis, general cell function and in vivo relevance. 3D culture models succeed thanks to technological advances, including materials science, cell biology and bioreactor design.     

New 2-Methyl-13-Icosenoic Acid from the Temperate Calcisponge <Emphasis Type="Italic">Leuconia johnstoni</Emphasis>

The fatty acid composition of the temperate calcareous marine sponge Leuconia johnstoni Carter 1871 (Calcaronea, Calcarea) was characterized for the first time in specimens collected off the Brittany coast of France over four years from October 2005 to September 2008. Forty-one fatty acids (FA) with chain lengths ranging from C₁₄ to C₂₂ were identified as fatty methyl esters (FAME) and N-acyl pyrrolidide (NAP) derivatives by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS). Twenty-two saturated fatty acids (SFA) were identified accounting for 52.1–59.0% of the total FA and dimethylacetals (DMA). In addition, among the SFA, we noticed the presence of numerous methyl-branched iso and anteiso FA, suggesting a large number of associated bacteria within L. johnstoni. Thirteen monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFA, 28.0–36.0% of total FA + DMA) were also identified as well as six polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA, 4.0–8.2%). A noticeable DMA was detected at a high level, particularly in September 2008 (11.8%), indicating the presence of plasmalogens in this sponge species. This calcareous sponge lacked the non-methylene-interrupted FA (NMI FA) with a Δ5,9 system typical of siliceous Demosponges and Hexactinellids. The occurrence of the unusual 8,13-octadecadienoic acid was reported for the first time as a minor PUFA in a calcareous sponge. The major FA, representing 20–25% of this sponge FA, was identified as the new 2-methyl-13-icosenoic acid from mass spectra of its methyl ester and its corresponding N-acyl pyrrolidide derivatives as well as a dimethyl disulfide adduct.