dry coke quenching,air pollution and energy: a status report

Dry quenching of incandescent coke after it has been pushed from the coking ovens is a proved, reliable process that is presently being used in several industrialized countries. Foremost among dry quenching’s advantages are: (1) virtual elimination of air pollutants emitted during quenching; (2) elimination of potential water pollution associated with wet quenching; (3) improvements in the working environment; (4) saving substantial amounts of energy in usable forms; (5) producing more usable coke that is superior to wet-quenched coke. By continuously circulating inert gases through a cooling chamber that contains hot coke, dry quenching recovers waste-heat energy that can be used to produce steam, to produce electricity, to preheat combustion air, to preheat coal, to dry coal, and to preheat feed water supplied to fuel-fired boilers. The pay-out period on the capital investment (approximately $7,100,000) for an installation capable of processing 5500 tons of coke/day is less than four years.     

Experimental Verification of Diffusion Battery Theory

The diffusion battery, an assembly of circular tubes or rectangular channels, is one of the best devices available for measuring the size and size distribution of submicron aerosols in the diameter range 0.002 to 0.2 µ m. The performance of these batteries is known from molecular diffusion theory, but until now has not been checked experimentally in this size range because of the lack of the necessary monodisperse aerosols. Experimental measurements on singly charged monodisperse aerosols from 0.01 µm to 0.1 µ m are described using a General Electric and a Pollak condensation nucleus counter to measure the aerosol penetration through the stages of a set of portable diffusion batteries in series. Particle sizes in the range tested could be selected at will by adjusting the voltage of an electric mobility classifier. The fraction of aerosol of a given size passing through each battery stage was found to agree closely with the penetration calculated from molecular diffusion theory for that size. This shows that the theory is correct and confirms that the aerosol produced by the electric mobility classifier was monodisperse. In addition, it was found that the difference in penetration between a charged versus a neutralized aerosol was insignificant except for the smallest aerosols used.     

Giant pandas attend to androgen-related variation in male bleats

Although androgen-dependant traits are predicted to signal overall male quality, no study has examined the response of a nonhuman animal to variation in a known acoustic cue to male androgen levels (steroid hormones that are key drivers of male sexual behaviour). Here, we use a single-speaker approach to present male and female giant pandas with re-synthesised male bleats representing callers with high and low androgen levels. Our results revealed that male and female giant pandas had significantly greater-looking responses, spent more time pacing, and were faster to respond to playbacks of bleats simulating high androgen males. When we analysed the sexes separately, a slightly different response pattern was revealed: whereas males and females still had significantly greater-looking responses and were faster to respond to bleats simulating high androgen males, only male giant pandas tended to spend more time pacing. These findings suggest that vocal cues to male androgen levels are functionally relevant to male and female giant pandas during the breeding season, and constitute the first demonstration that a nonhuman animal could be using a vocal signal to assess male hormonal state. We go on to discuss the ecological relevance of signalling androgen levels in this species’ sexual communication and the possible application of our results to conservation breeding.     

Biomarker responses in wild three-spined stickleback (Gasterosteus aculeatus L.) as a useful tool for freshwater biomonitoring: a multiparametric approach

The biochemical response of wild sticklebacks collected in Autumn 2005 at seven stations in the North of France was studied using a set of complementary biomarkers. Here, data on biotransformation of xenobiotics, oxidative stress exposure and damages, neurotoxicity and endocrine disruption are provided. All the sites are characterized by a specific response pattern that allows distinguishing sampling locations. Moreover, these responses are in accordance with data on existing environmental pressures and the chemical analysis of metals performed in surface water. The assessment of individual responses is completed by fish population disturbance monitoring. Based on these measurements, the investigated sites are characterized by different levels of disturbance. This study argues for a multi-parametric approach of aquatic ecosystem contamination based on association between chemical, biochemical and ecological endpoints and provides a testimony of the usefulness of stickleback for this purpose.     

The role of ad hoc networks in supporting climate change adaptation: a case study from the Southeastern United States

To examine the factors that support adaptation within a regional and sectoral context, this article explores five climate-sensitive sectors in North and South Carolina (Forestry, Government Administration, Tourism, Water Management, and Wildlife Management) and the role of partnerships, collaborations, and networks in facilitating climate adaptation and related activities. Drawing from 117 online questionnaires and interviews with sector leaders across the Carolinas, the article highlights several key functions of networks in regard to supporting adaptation—intra-sector information sharing; monitoring, data collection, and research; and education and outreach. Furthermore, the analysis examines how climate networks in the region have facilitated the development of bonding, bridging, and linking social capital while also noting factors that have constrained the growth and success of both intra- and cross-sector collaboration. Although no formal, or discrete, state or regional cross-sector climate change network exists in the Carolinas, climate adaptations and capacity-building efforts have been supported by ad hoc and decentralized networks, emerging collegial partnerships within and across sectors, and collaborative efforts to pool expertise and resources. The role of different forms of social capital within these networks is discussed in the context of a contentious political environment where support for activities designed to address climate change is limited. These findings enhance our understanding of the social factors and relational processes that shape and influence capacity to adapt to climate change.     

Estimation of late twentieth century land-cover change in California

We present the first comprehensive multi-temporal analysis of land-cover change for California across its major ecological regions and primary land-cover types. Recently completed satellite-based estimates of land-cover and land-use change information for large portions of the United States allow for consistent measurement and comparison across heterogeneous landscapes. Landsat data were employed within a pure-panel stratified one-stage cluster sample to estimate and characterize land-cover change for 1973?C2000. Results indicate anthropogenic and natural disturbances, such as forest cutting and fire, were the dominant changes, followed by large fluctuations between agriculture and rangelands. Contrary to common perception, agriculture remained relatively stable over the 27-year period with an estimated loss of 1.0% of agricultural land. The largest net declines occurred in the grasslands/shrubs class at 5,131 km² and forest class at 4,722 km². Developed lands increased by 37.6%, composing an estimated 4.2% of the state??s land cover by 2000.     

Development of a Specific Anti-capsid Antibody- and Magnetic Bead-Based Immunoassay to Detect Human Norovirus Particles in Stool Samples and Spiked Mussels via Flow Cytometry

Food and Environmental Virology - Human noroviruses impose a considerable health burden globally. Here, a flow cytometry approach designed for their detection in biological waste and food samples...     

Signaltransduktion in Sehzellen

2+   concentration. This review describes our present knowledge about the signal transduction and its fine tuning by a complex network of Ca²⁺-mediated processes in vertebrate photoreceptors.      

Estimation of selected physicochemical properties for methylated naphthalene compounds

Liquid aqueous solubility (S(w,L)), octanol/water partition coefficients (K(ow)), liquid vapor pressure (P(v,L)), and Henry's law constants (H(c)) were estimated for 20 methylated naphthalenes ranging from monomethyl to tetramethylnaphthalenes. Chromatographic methods were used for the estimation. Chromatographic retention measurements were conducted for 11 reference compounds and regressions were fit between the retention indices and the physicochemical properties. HPLC octadecylsilyl column with acetonitrile/water eluent was used for the estimation of S(w,L) and K(ow). Two GC columns, HP5-MS and a more hydrophobic HP-1, were tested for the estimation of P(v,L). Measured retention indices for the methylated naphthalenes were entered to the regression equations to calculate the physicochemical properties for these compounds. Literature values, where available, were used to validate the calculated values. The method accurately estimated the physicochemical properties. Estimated S(w,L) and P(v,L) decreased with the number of methyl groups. K(ow) increased with the number of methyl groups. There was no obvious relation between H(c) and the number of methyl groups. Log S(w,L) ranged from 0.885 for 1,2,5,6-tetramethylnaphthalene to 2.269 for 1-methylnaphthalene (mmol/m(3)). Log K(ow) varied from 3.89 for 1-methylnaphthalene to 4.95 for 1,2,5,6-tetramethylnaphthalene. Log P(v,L) ranged from -0.983 for 1,2,5,6-tetramethylnaphthalene to 0.789 for 2-methylnaphthalene (Pa). Log H(c) varied from 1.03 for 1,4,5-trimethylnaphthalene to 1.73 for 2,6-dimethylnaphthalene (Pa m(3)/mol). There were no apparent effects of GC column hydrophobicity on the accuracy of the results. Estimation of S(w,L) and K(ow) based on GC retention indices was not as accurate as with HPLC. Comparison of the estimated values with values predicted by EPIWIN indicated that EPIWIN is useful in giving order-of-magnitude prediction of physicochemical properties.