Measurement of inhibin A: a modification to an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay

Inhibin A is a useful prenatal marker of Down syndrome. Currently, the available enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs) for inhibin A are based upon the same paired monoclonal antibodies. In the present study we have confirmed for one of those ELISAs that short-term sample storage as whole blood leads to a significant decline in detectable inhibin A and that this is most likely due to erythrocyte catalase interference with a critical oxidation step in the assay. While this interference can be eliminated by heating the samples pre-assay, this process is labour intensive. In the present study we have demonstrated that the addition of 3-amino-1,2,4-triazole (AT), a catalase ‘suicide’ inhibitor, also prevents the decline of inhibin A levels in samples stored as whole blood. We suggest that the addition of AT to samples prior to assay is a simple modification to the inhibin A ELISA that affords optimum performance. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Fractionating dead reckoning: role of the compass,odometer, logbook,and home base establishment in spatial orientation

Rats use multiple sources of information to maintain spatial orientation. Although previous work has focused on rats’ use of environmental cues, a growing number of studies have demonstrated that rats also use self-movement cues to organize navigation. This review examines the extent that kinematic analysis of naturally occurring behavior has provided insight into processes that mediate dead-reckoning-based navigation. This work supports a role for separate systems in processing self-movement cues that converge on the hippocampus. The compass system is involved in deriving directional information from self-movement cues; whereas, the odometer system is involved in deriving distance information from self-movement cues. The hippocampus functions similar to a logbook in that outward path unique information from the compass and odometer is used to derive the direction and distance of a path to the point at which movement was initiated. Finally, home base establishment may function to reset this system after each excursion and anchor environmental cues to self-movement cues. The combination of natural behaviors and kinematic analysis has proven to be a robust paradigm to investigate the neural basis of spatial orientation.     

Heterogeneity of chlorinated hydrocarbon sorption properties in a sandy aquifer

Hydraulic conductivity and sorption coefficients for chlorinated hydrocarbons (chloroform, carbon tetrachloride and tetrachloroethylene) were evaluated for 216 sediment samples collected across a 15 m transect and a 21 m depth interval in a contaminated aquifer near Schoolcraft, Michigan. Relationships between hydraulic conductivity, linear sorption partition coefficients, grain size classes, and spatial location were investigated using linear regression analysis and geostatistical techniques. Clear evidence of layering was found in sorption properties, hydraulic conductivity and grain sizes. Conductivity correlated well with grain size, as expected, but sorption varied inversely with grain size, contrary to some previous reports. No significant correlation was found between sorption properties and hydraulic conductivity. This is likely due to the unexpected presence of small amounts of highly sorptive coal-like solids, which dominate the sorption behavior but have little effect on conductivity. The results demonstrate that recent findings regarding the high sorption capacity of coal materials found in soils can exert a controlling influence on contaminant transport. Designers of in situ remediation systems should be cautioned that 1) it is not reasonable to assume that sorption capacity and hydraulic conductivity are related, 2) sorption capacity and hydraulic conductivity are critical measurements for contaminant site characterization and subsequent transport modeling, 3) estimating sorption capacity from organic carbon measurement may lead to greater errors than performing sorption isotherms, and 4) it is more important to characterize vertical heterogeneity rather than horizontal heterogeneity because both sorption and hydraulic conductivity are correlated across longer distances in the horizontal plane.     

Are energy efficiency standards justified?

This paper develops an analytical framework for comparing the welfare effects of energy efficiency standards and pricing policies for reducing gasoline, electricity, and nationwide carbon emissions. The model is parameterized with US data and includes key externalities in the energy/transportation sectors and possible underinvestment in energy efficiency due to “misperceptions” over energy savings. Even with large misperceptions, the extra welfare gains from complementing efficient pricing policies with energy efficiency standards are zero for reducing gasoline and 5 percent for reducing electricity. And when viewed as substitutes, these standards forgo 60 percent or more of the potential welfare gains from corresponding pricing policies. A combination of energy efficiency and emissions standards is more than three times as costly as carbon pricing when there is no misperception over energy savings, and even with large misperceptions, combining carbon pricing with gasoline/electricity taxes is better than combining it with energy efficiency standards.     

Preparation of CuO/SiO<Subscript>2</Subscript> and photocatalytic activity by degradation of methylene blue

A photocatalyst based on CuO/SiO₂ was prepared, and evaluated for the degradation of methylene blue in aqueous medium. The photocatalyst was obtained by calcination method of copper salt, in the presence of silica. The characterization by XRD, FTIR, and TPR techniques confirmed the formation of CuO as active phase. SEM studies showed CuO deposited on the surface of SiO₂. By ESI-MS, it was demonstrated that the degradation of methylene blue occurs through successive hydroxylations. Photodegradation assays showed that CuO/SiO₂ was efficient for degradation, and that the material worked better in the presence of UV light.     

Biofuels and agriculture: a past perspective and uncertain future

The US corn ethanol industry has grown from virtually nothing in the early 1980s to over 14 billion gallons in 2011. Subsidies have been an important impetus for the industry, and they have existed in one form or another throughout the life of the industry. This paper provides (1) a brief look at the history of the linkages between energy and agriculture and how they have changed with biofuels; (2) a review of some of the major impacts of the US corn ethanol program; and (3) analysis of prospective impacts of cellulosic biofuels. There is no doubt that biofuels have brought about a new era for global agriculture. Historically, the prices of agricultural and energy products moved in response to supply and demand factors relevant to each market, but moved largely independent of one another. Corn ethanol has changed that, and today there is a link between crude oil and corn that is driven by the demand side. Since agricultural commodity prices are linked both on the demand and supply sides, the corn–crude oil link spills over to other agricultural commodities as well. Development of cellulosic biofuels has been much slower than hoped. The feedstocks are more expensive than initially believed. Conversion technologies remain uncertain and expensive. There are many uncertainties through the cellulosic supply chain, and government policy remains uncertain as well. Thus, the future of the cellulosic biofuels industry is, at this point, an open question.     

Ocean fertilization for geoengineering: A review of effectiveness,environmental impacts and emerging governance

Dangerous climate change is best avoided by drastically and rapidly reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Nevertheless, geoengineering options are receiving attention on the basis that additional approaches may also be necessary. Here we review the state of knowledge on large-scale ocean fertilization by adding iron or other nutrients, either from external sources or via enhanced ocean mixing. On the basis of small-scale field experiments carried out to date and associated modelling, the maximum benefits of ocean fertilization as a negative emissions technique are likely to be modest in relation to anthropogenic climate forcing. Furthermore, it would be extremely challenging to quantify with acceptable accuracy the carbon removed from circulation on a long term basis, and to adequately monitor unintended impacts over large space and time-scales. These and other technical issues are particularly problematic for the region with greatest theoretical potential for the application of ocean fertilization, the Southern Ocean. Arrangements for the international governance of further field-based research on ocean fertilization are currently being developed, primarily under the London Convention/London Protocol.     

Fabric Filter Technology for Utility Coal-Fired Power Plants

This is the sixth and last part in a series of papers discussing the experience of electric utilities in applying baghouse technology for the collection of particulate matter at coal-fired electric power generating plants. The series presents new data obtained in research sponsored by the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) on reverse-gas and shake/deflate cleaned baghouses, and specifically addresses a number of unresolved issues in the design and operation of these units. This paper discusses research, development and demonstration activities now underway or planned to further understand baghouse technology to ensure efficient, economic and reliable service in utility applications. In addition, it summarizes the major findings reported in Parts I through V.