An ultracompact photo-ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometer with a novel vacuum ultraviolet light source for on-line detection of organic trace compounds and as a detector for gas chromatography

A recently developed novel intense rare-gas excimer vacuum ultraviolet (VUV) light source, the electron beam-pumped excimer lamp (EBEL), has been applied to the soft single-photon ionization (SPI) of organic molecules in a compact orthogonal acceleration time-of-flight mass spectrometer (oaTOFMS). The SPI-oaTOFMS system was applied to the on-line monitoring of tobacco smoke. With this setup, it was possible to analyze the composition of individual puffs of cigarette smoke. Furthermore, a gas chromatograph (GC) was coupled to the EBEL SPIoaTOFMS system. Soft photo-ionization represents an additional separation dimension. By combination of the gas chromatographic and the soft-ionization mass spectroscopic separation dimensions, a truly multidimensional comprehensive analytical method could be derived.     

The use of respirometric measurements to determine the toxicity of textile dyes in aqueous solution and after oxidative decolourisation processes

Selected results from the degradation of reactive-dye hydrolysates after UV irradiation, ozonation and sodium peroxodisulphate (NaPS) treatment are presented. Reactive dyes with representative chromophores and anchor groups were chosen for the research project. Different stages of oxidative decolourisation were examined and determined by water parameters for biological degradation (BOD). The paper focuses on toxicity tests with Pseudomonas putida to consider whether the oxidative treatments result in products with a risk for the environment. Tests were performed with the AQUALYTIC^® Sensomat System, which measures biological oxygen demand (BOD). It was determined that the chosen oxidative treatments had as a rule no bearing on respiration of P. putida. Experiments with hydrolysates after short-term UV irradiation resulted in a slightly increased but not long-lasting toxicity in comparison with treatments with ozone or NaPS. Toxic effects were found in tests with hydrolysates of metalliferous dyes. During oxidative treatment, metals were liberated from the chromophores. This did cause complete inhibition of respiration of P. putida. Dye Blue E, a member of a dye class with chlorotriazine anchor groups, was itself found to be toxic, caused by the reactivity of the anchor group. The hydrolysate is only of minor toxicity.     

PAHs in the bulk atmospheric deposition of the Seine river basin: source identification and apportionment by ratios, multivariate statistical techniques and scanning electron microscopy

The origin of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) contamination in bulk atmospheric deposition at two sites of the Seine estuary, one urban and one industrial, has been investigated. The PAH profiles indicate that PAHs mainly have a pyrolytic origin, both in urban and industrial areas. PAH sources vary during the year with an increase of high molecular weight PAH proportions (especially for carcinogenic PAHs) in winter, that means an increase of combustion processes such as domestic heating. Ratios of indicator PAHs (FTH/FTH+PYR and IcdP/IcdP+BghiP) confirm the pyrolytic origin of PAHs. In summer, ratios show the presence of industrial sources. In addition to these two methods, a factor analysis/multiple linear regression model was applied and gave an approximation of PAH source apportionment. PAH were found to be associated predominantly with emissions from road traffic (gasoline and diesel), that accounts for 17-34%. Domestic heating is a very important PAH source in urban areas and accounts for up to 85% of PAHs in winter. Industrial emissions (refineries...) account for 25% in the industrial area in summer. Each is an identified source category for the region and these results are consistent with fly-ashes identified by scanning electron microscopy. This study demonstrates that a combination of source identification methods is a far more efficient than one method alone.     

Biomonitoring of airborne mercury with perennial ryegrass cultures

A biomonitoring network with grass cultures was established near a chlor-alkali plant and the mercury concentration in the cultures were compared with the average atmospheric total gaseous mercury (TGM). Biomonitoring techniques based on different exposure periods were carried out. When comparing the mercury concentration in the grass cultures, both the average atmospheric TGM concentration during exposure and the exposure time determined to a large extent the accumulation rate of TGM. The maximum tolerable level of mercury in grass (approximately equal to 110 microg kg(-1) DM) corresponds with an average TGM concentration of 11 ng m(-3) for 28 days exposure. The background concentrations in grass were on an average 15 microg kg(-1) DM and the effect detection limit (EDL) was 30 microg kg(-1) DM. This value corresponds with an average TGM concentration of 3.2 and 4.2 ng m(-3) for 28 and 14 days exposure, respectively, which is in turn the biological detection limit (BDL) of ambient TGM. Exposures for 7 days were less appropriate for biomonitoring.     

Social networks and the cognitive motivation to realize network opportunities: a study of managers' information gathering behaviors

Information gathering is central to a variety of organizational behavior theories, but researchers have suggested that our understanding of the actual information gathering behaviors of managers is underdeveloped. Social network characteristics are theorized to be a key determinant of information gathering behaviors, but social network research has been criticized for: (1) not measuring the intervening mechanisms by which network characteristics are theorized to have their effects and (2) not considering how actors' motivation affects what network benefits are realized. This article addresses these concerns through an empirical study of the actual information gathering behaviors of managers. It posits that individual differences in a personality variable called need for cognition capture differences in actors' cognitive motivation to realize the potential information benefits that exist in their social networks. Results show that network characteristics do affect information benefits, but these effects are stronger for managers motivated to take advantage of them. These findings both support social capital theory and suggest the important role that personality can play in augmenting social network analyses. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Sketching sustainable land use in Europe by 2040: a multi-stakeholder participatory approach to elicit cross-sectoral visions

The continuously growing global demands on a finite land resource will require better strategic policies and management of trade-offs to avoid conflicts between different land-use sectors. Visions of the future can support strategic planning by stimulating dialogue, building a consensus on shared priorities and providing long-term targets. We present a novel approach to elicit stakeholder visions of future desired land use, which was applied with a broad range of experts to develop cross-sectoral visions in Europe. The approach is based on (i) combination of software tools and facilitation techniques to stimulate engagement and creativity; (ii) methodical selection of stakeholders; (iii) use of land attributes to deconstruct the multifaceted sectoral visions into land-use changes that can be clustered into few cross-sectoral visions, and (iv) a rigorous iterative process. Three cross-sectoral visions of sustainable land use in Europe in 2040 emerged from applying the approach in participatory workshops involving experts in nature conservation, recreation, agriculture, forestry, settlements, energy, and water. The three visions—Best Land in Europe, Regional Connected and Local Multifunctional—shared a wish to achieve a land use that is sustainable through multifunctionality, resource use efficiency, controlled urban growth, rural renewal and widespread nature. However, they differ on the scale at which land services are provided—EU-wide, regional or local—reflecting the land-sparing versus land-sharing debate. We discuss the usefulness of the approach, as well as the challenges posed and solutions offered by the visions to support strategic land-use planning.

     

Detection and false-positive rates of maternal serum markers for Down syndrome screening according to maternal age in women over 35 years of age. A study of the agreement of eight dedicated software packages

Maternal serum markers for trisomy 21 screening (MSS) can be assayed in women ≥35 years in an attempt to reduce the need for invasive procedures and thereby avoid their side effects. Our objective was to compare, in women ≥35, eight different software packages dedicated to second trimester MSS, thus providing reliable data for patient counselling. A simulation study was carried out on 189 sera from women with Down syndrome fetuses and 11 962 sera from mothers of unaffected babies. The first step was to estimate the joint distribution of alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) and free beta-human chorionic gonadotrophin (β-hCG). The second step was to calculate trisomy 21 detection and false-positive rates for each software according to maternal age (35–45 years), using the usual 1:250 risk threshold. Agreement between software packages was measured using 2×2 kappa coefficients. Detection rates and false-positive rates increased with maternal age. Depending on the software, 57–71% detection rates were achieved at 35 years with 12–18% false-positive rates. At 45 years, 61–100% detection rates were achieved with 66–95% false-positive rates. Up to 39 years, all softwares were concordant (kappa coefficients >0.75). In the range 35–45 years, false-positive and detection rates increased substantially with maternal age and differences between software packages are observed. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.