scholarly journals Temporal Variability of Equivalent Black Carbon Components in Atmospheric Air in Southern Poland

Atmosphere ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 119
Author(s):  
Natalia Zioła ◽  
Barbara Błaszczak ◽  
Krzysztof Klejnowski
Keyword(s):  
Black Carbon ◽  
Fossil Fuels ◽  
Meteorological Parameters ◽  
Correlation Coefficients ◽  
Fossil Fuel Combustion ◽  
Southern Poland ◽  
Particulate Pollutants ◽  
Ambient Concentrations ◽  
High Concentrations

This study assesses the air quality in Zabrze (southern Poland) based on the ambient concentrations of equivalent black carbon (eBC). eBC measurement campaigns were carried out from April 2019 to March 2020 using a modern AE33 Aethalometer, accompanied by parallel measurements of gaseous pollutants, PM10 and meteorological parameters. The use of the two-component AE33 model allows for the determination of the eBC from fossil fuel combustion (eBCff) and biomass burning (eBCbb). The obtained results showed a clear seasonal variability of eBC concentrations, with higher average levels in the heating season (4.70 µg·m−3) compared to the non-heating one (1.79 µg·m−3). In both seasons, the eBCff component had a dominant share in total eBC, which indicates significant emissions from the combustion of fossil fuels for heating purposes and from local traffic sources. The obtained results showed high correlation coefficients with gaseous and particulate pollutants, with the strongest relationship for eBC and carbon monoxide (CO). During the non-heating and heating period, both anticyclone and cyclone systems played an important role in shaping eBC, eBCff and eBCbb concentrations. High concentrations of all components occurred with a significant decrease in air temperature and solar radiation in winter.

scholarly journals Relationships between Meteorological Parameters and Particulate Matter in Mae Hong Son Province, Thailand

2018 ◽  
Vol 15 (12) ◽  
pp. 2801 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wissanupong Kliengchuay ◽  
Aronrag Cooper Meeyai ◽  
Suwalee Worakhunpiset ◽  
Kraichat Tantrakarnapa
Keyword(s):  
Air Pollution ◽  
Particulate Matter ◽  
Meteorological Parameters ◽  
Warning System ◽  
Correlation Coefficients ◽  
Pm10 Concentration ◽  
P Value ◽  
Climate Data ◽  
High Concentration ◽  
Ambient Concentrations

Meteorological parameters play an important role in determining the prevalence of ambient particulate matter (PM) in the upper north of Thailand. Mae Hong Son is a province located in this region and which borders Myanmar. This study aimed to determine the relationships between meteorological parameters and ambient concentrations of particulate matter less than 10 µm in diameter (PM10) in Mae Hong Son. Parameters were measured at an air quality monitoring station, and consisted of PM10, carbon monoxide (CO), ozone (O3), and meteorological factors, including temperature, rainfall, pressure, wind speed, wind direction, and relative humidity (RH). Nine years (2009–2017) of pollution and climate data obtained from the Thai Pollution Control Department (PCD) were used for analysis. The results of this study indicate that PM10 is influenced by meteorological parameters; high concentration occurred during the dry season and northeastern monsoon seasons. Maximum concentrations were always observed in March. The PM10 concentrations were significantly related to CO and O3 concentrations and to RH, giving correlation coefficients of 0.73, 0.39, and −0.37, respectively (p-value < 0.001). Additionally, the hourly PM10 concentration fluctuated within each day. In general, it was found that the reporting of daily concentrations might be best suited to public announcements and presentations. Hourly concentrations are recommended for public declarations that might be useful for warning citizens and organizations about air pollution. Our findings could be used to improve the understanding of PM10 concentration patterns in Mae Hong Son and provide information to better air pollution measures and establish a warning system for the province.

scholarly journals Health Risk Assessment of Black Carbon Emission from Fossil Fuel.

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (2) ◽  
pp. 23-28
Author(s):  
Md Dulal Hossain Khan ◽  
Mahima Sultana Sarkar ◽  
Syeda Sadika Haque ◽  
Md Amjad Hossain
Keyword(s):  
Risk Assessment ◽  
Health Risk ◽  
Black Carbon ◽  
Health Risk Assessment ◽  
Fossil Fuels ◽  
Fossil Fuel ◽  
Carcinogenic Risk ◽  
Fuel Combustion ◽  
Fossil Fuel Combustion ◽  
Brown Carbon

Fossil fuel combustion is one of the major sources of carbonaceous emission throughout the world. In this study, two light absorbing carbonaceous aerosol namely Black carbon (BC) and Brown carbon (BrC) from fossil fuel combustion under controlled laboratory condition was reported. Four different fossil fuels; octane, petrol, diesel and kerosene was taken as samples (Four different fossil fuels; octane, petrol, diesel, and kerosene samples were collected from filling station of Nilkhet, Dhaka City. Two wavelengths Aethalometer (OT21) had been taken for systematic analysis of Black carbon and Brown carbon. BC and BrC particulates were determined in terms of density, concentration, emission and emission factor. The concentrations of Black carbon in mgm-3 for respective fuel samples were kerosene (3.83), diesel (4.59), petrol (7.94), octane (13.18) while concentrations of Brown carbon were kerosene (7.77), diesel (7.98), petrol (13.61), octane (20.46). BrC concentrations were found to be higher than those of BC for all the fuel samples. Average concentrations of Black carbon and Brown carbon were 7.38 mgm-3 and 11.46 mgm-3 respectively. Thereafter, health risk assessment for chronic exposure to Black carbon was done (estimated/ evaluated/ calculated) according to the U.S. EPA human health risk assessment protocol. Experimental results were correlated with the data given by the Exposure Factors Handbook of EPA for assessing carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic risk associated with BC. Total carcinogenic risk (CR) was found to be 3.27 for adults and 1.34 for children. While total noncarcinogenic risk i.e hazard quotient (HQ) for adults and children were 243.32 and 594.32 respectively. Both CR and HQ values crossed the safe limit given by the US EPA protocol indicating high probability of the occurrence of adverse health effects. Journal of Engineering Science 12(2), 2021, 23-28

Methods for the Determination of the Purity of Exosomes

2020 ◽  
Vol 25 (42) ◽  
pp. 4464-4485 ◽  
Author(s):  
Katarzyna Kluszczyńska ◽  
Liliana Czernek ◽  
Wojciech Cypryk ◽  
Łukasz Pęczek ◽  
Markus Düchler
Keyword(s):  
Drug Transport ◽  
Biological Fluids ◽  
Drug Carriers ◽  
Biological Functions ◽  
Isolation And Purification ◽  
Pubmed Database ◽  
High Concentrations ◽  
Targeted Release

Background: Exosomes open exciting new opportunities for advanced drug transport and targeted release. Furthermore, exosomes may be used for vaccination, immunosuppression or wound healing. To fully utilize their potential as drug carriers or immune-modulatory agents, the optimal purity of exosome preparations is of crucial importance. Methods: Articles describing the isolation and purification of exosomes were retrieved from the PubMed database. Results: Exosomes are often separated from biological fluids containing high concentrations of proteins, lipids and other molecules that keep vesicle purification challenging. A great number of purification protocols have been published, however, their outcome is difficult to compare because the assessment of purity has not been standardized. In this review, we first give an overview of the generation and composition of exosomes, as well as their multifaceted biological functions that stimulated various medical applications. Finally, we describe various methods that have been used to purify small vesicles and to assess the purity of exosome preparations and critically compare the quality of these evaluation protocols. Conclusion: Combinations of various techniques have to be applied to reach the required purity and quality control of exosome preparations.

Identification of N-Substituted Triazolo-azetidines as Novel Antibacterials using pDualrep2 HTS Platform

2019 ◽  
Vol 22 (5) ◽  
pp. 346-354
Author(s):  
Yan A. Ivanenkov ◽  
Renat S. Yamidanov ◽  
Ilya A. Osterman ◽  
Petr V. Sergiev ◽  
Vladimir A. Aladinskiy ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Antibacterial Activity ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Underlying Mechanism ◽  
Luciferase Assay ◽  
Reporter System ◽  
E Coli ◽  
Starting Point ◽  
High Concentrations ◽  
Mic Value

Aim and Objective: Antibiotic resistance is a serious constraint to the development of new effective antibacterials. Therefore, the discovery of the new antibacterials remains one of the main challenges in modern medicinal chemistry. This study was undertaken to identify novel molecules with antibacterial activity. Materials and Methods: Using our unique double-reporter system, in-house large-scale HTS campaign was conducted for the identification of antibacterial potency of small-molecule compounds. The construction allows us to visually assess the underlying mechanism of action. After the initial HTS and rescreen procedure, luciferase assay, C14-test, determination of MIC value and PrestoBlue test were carried out. Results: HTS rounds and rescreen campaign have revealed the antibacterial activity of a series of Nsubstituted triazolo-azetidines and their isosteric derivatives that has not been reported previously. Primary hit-molecule demonstrated a MIC value of 12.5 µg/mL against E. coli Δ tolC with signs of translation blockage and no SOS-response. Translation inhibition (26%, luciferase assay) was achieved at high concentrations up to 160 µg/mL, while no activity was found using C14-test. The compound did not demonstrate cytotoxicity in the PrestoBlue assay against a panel of eukaryotic cells. Within a series of direct structural analogues bearing the same or bioisosteric scaffold, compound 2 was found to have an improved antibacterial potency (MIC=6.25 µg/mL) close to Erythromycin (MIC=2.5-5 µg/mL) against the same strain. In contrast to the parent hit, this compound was more active and selective, and provided a robust IP position. Conclusion: N-substituted triazolo-azetidine scaffold may be used as a versatile starting point for the development of novel active and selective antibacterial compounds.

scholarly journals Electroanalytical Techniques for the Detection of Selenium as a Biologically and Environmentally Significant Analyte—A Short Review

Molecules ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 26 (6) ◽  
pp. 1768
Author(s):  
Miroslav Rievaj ◽  
Eva Culková ◽  
Damiána Šandorová ◽  
Zuzana Lukáčová-Chomisteková ◽  
Renata Bellová ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Oxidative Stress ◽  
Essential Element ◽  
Analytical Techniques ◽  
High Sensitivity ◽  
Stripping Voltammetry ◽  
Short Review ◽  
Electroanalytical Methods ◽  
High Concentrations ◽  
Speed Of Analysis

This short review deals with the properties and significance of the determination of selenium, which is in trace amounts an essential element for animals and humans, but toxic at high concentrations. It may cause oxidative stress in cells, which leads to the chronic disease called selenosis. Several analytical techniques have been developed for its detection, but electroanalytical methods are advantageous due to simple sample preparation, speed of analysis and high sensitivity of measurements, especially in the case of stripping voltammetry very low detection limits even in picomoles per liter can be reached. A variety of working electrodes based on mercury, carbon, silver, platinum and gold materials were applied to the analysis of selenium in various samples. Only selenium in oxidation state + IV is electroactive therefore the most of voltammetric determinations are devoted to it. However, it is possible to detect also other forms of selenium by indirect electrochemistry approach.

scholarly journals The Double Face of Ketamine—The Possibility of Its Identification in Blood and Beverages

Molecules ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 26 (4) ◽  
pp. 813
Author(s):  
Magdalena Świądro ◽  
Paweł Stelmaszczyk ◽  
Irena Lenart ◽  
Renata Wietecha-Posłuszny
Keyword(s):  
Date Rape ◽  
Signal To Noise Ratio ◽  
High Sensitivity ◽  
Heroin Addiction ◽  
Assisted Extraction ◽  
Low Concentrations ◽  
High Concentrations ◽  
Rosé Wine ◽  
Tof Ms

The purpose of this study was to develop and validate a high-sensitivity methodology for identifying one of the most used drugs—ketamine. Ketamine is used medicinally to treat depression, alcoholism, and heroin addiction. Moreover, ketamine is the main ingredient used in so-called “date-rape” pills (DRP). This study presents a novel methodology for the simultaneous determination of ketamine based on the Dried Blood Spot (DBS) method, in combination with capillary electrophoresis coupled with a mass spectrometer (CE-TOF-MS). Then, 6-mm circles were punched out from DBS collected on Whatman DMPK-C paper and extracted using microwave-assisted extraction (MAE). The assay was linear in the range of 25–300 ng/mL. Values of limits of detection (LOD = 6.0 ng/mL) and quantification (LOQ = 19.8 ng/mL) were determined based on the signal to noise ratio. Intra-day precision at each determined concentration level was in the range of 6.1–11.1%, and inter-day between 7.9–13.1%. The obtained precision was under 15.0% (for medium and high concentrations) and lower than 20.0% (for low concentrations), which are in accordance with acceptance criteria. Therefore, the DBS/MAE/CE-TOF-MS method was successfully checked for analysis of ketamine in matrices other than blood, i.e., rose wine and orange juice. Moreover, it is possible to identify ketamine in the presence of flunitrazepam, which is the other most popular ingredient used in DRP. Based on this information, the selectivity of the proposed methodology for identifying ketamine in the presence of other components of rape pills was checked.

Compartmental transfer of mercury released from amalgam

1997 ◽  
Vol 16 (11) ◽  
pp. 667-672 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. Halbach ◽  
L. Kremers ◽  
H. Willruth ◽  
A. Mehl ◽  
G. Welzl ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Oral Cavity ◽  
Urinary Excretion ◽  
Total Mercury ◽  
Excretion Rate ◽  
Absorbed Dose ◽  
Correlation Coefficients ◽  
Urinary Excretion Rate ◽  
Amalgam Fillings

The number of amalgam-covered surfaces and the occlusal area of the fillings, the concentrations of total mercury in plasma, erythrocytes and urine, the urinary excretion rate, and the absorbed daily doses estimated by two separate methods from intra-oral Hg emission were determined in 29 volunteers with a low amalgam load. The transfer ofHg from the fillings via the oral cavity and blood to urinary excretion was evaluated by multiple correla tions between these variables. In addition, the combina tion of variables most representative of the entire compartmental transfer of amalgam Hg was determined. Urinary excretion (1), Hg concentration in plasma (2) and absorbed dose (3) were most closely correlated to each other, followed by correlations with the variables of the fillings (4). Correlation coefficients were 0.75 for variables 1 vs 2 and 2 vs 3, and 0.49 for variables 3 vs 4. It was concluded that variables 1-3 best reflected the transfer of mercury from amalgam fillings throughout the organism and that they were relatively insensitive to dietary mercury. The determination of total mercury in plasma and of its urinary excretion rate appears, under practical aspects, most suitable for the investigation of Hg uptake from amalgam.

scholarly journals Effects of Macronutrients in the Physiological Quality of Soybean Seeds

2018 ◽  
Vol 10 (5) ◽  
pp. 312
Author(s):  
Geliandro Anhaia Rigo ◽  
Luis Osmar Braga Schuch ◽  
Willian Silva Barros ◽  
Rodrigo Lamaison de Vargas ◽  
Vinícius Jardel Szareski ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Graduate Program ◽  
Plant Tissues ◽  
Soybean Seeds ◽  
Rio Grande Do Sul ◽  
Genetic Characteristics ◽  
Physiological Quality ◽  
High Concentrations ◽  
Nitrogen Phosphorus

The aim of this work was to correlate macronutrient content of soybean seeds to physiological quality of different cultivars. The work was developed in the Federal University of Pelotas, in the facilities of the Seed Science and Technology Graduate Program. The experimental design was randomized blocks in arranged in four replicates. The following soybean cultivars were used: BMX Apolo RR (12 lots), BMX Ativa RR (13 lots), BMX Energia RR (26 lots), BMX Força RR (24 lots), BMX Impacto RR (35 lots), BMX Magna RR (16 lots), BMX Turbo RR (44 lots), BMX Potência RR (82 lots) and NA 5909 RR (28 lots), with seeds produced in northwest Rio Grande do Sul. The determination of nutritional contents found in plant tissues of soybean seeds, were measured: Nitrogen (N), Phosphorus (P), Potassium (K), Magnesium (Mg), Calcium (Ca), Sulfur (S). The macronutrient contents of the seeds vary according to genetic characteristics of the cultivars, with higher oscillations of nitrogen, phosphorus, magnesium and sulfur contents present in soybean seeds. Potassium and calcium are defined as the most stable nutrients for the cultivars and seed lots analyzed. High concentrations of nitrogen, phosphorus and calcium are determinants for the physiological quality of soybean seeds.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document