Effets des anions minéraux sur la décomposition de l'ozone dans l'eau

L'influence des anions minéraux sur la décomposition de l'ozone est étudiée. Les expériences mettent en oeuvre les anions SO42-, PO43-, BO33-, SiO22-, NO3-, HCO3-+ CO32- à des concentrations identiques à celles habituellement rencontrées dans le domaine des eaux potables. Un plan d'expérience simple qui permet d'attribuer ou non une influence à chaque espèce minérale et de voir l'interaction éventuelle avec le pH est utilisé. Les manipulations sont réalisées sur un pilote de laboratoire conçu pour éliminer toutes traces de matières organiques.L'étude fait apparaître que seuls les carbonates et les bicarbonates ont une influence notable sur cette décomposition et que le pH interfère en jouant sur l'équilibre carbonates-bicarbonates. Ceci permet de vérifier l'équation théorique établie par YURTERI et GUROL (1988) en l'absence de matières organiques. L'ordre apparent de la réaction varie entre 1 et 2 : ordre 2 pour les teneurs en bicarbonates faibles (30 mg.l-1) et ordre 1 pour une teneur forte (300 mg.l-1) lorsque le pH basique déplace l'équilibre vers les carbonates. Pour 300 mg.l-1 et des pH neutres l'ordre de la réaction oscille entre 1,5 et 2. Pour un ordre 1, on peut calculer la constante d'initiation de la décomposition de l'oxydant par l'ion hydroxyle OH- (k = 80 l.mol-1 s-1).The influence of anionic mineral species on the decomposition of ozone in water was studied. The experiments involved the anions SO42-, PO43-, BO33-, SiO22-, NO3-, HCO3-+ CO32- at concentrations identical to those usually found in drinking water. The manipulations were carried out with a simple experimental procedure which allowed to determine whether or not the mineral species had an influence on this decomposition and to observe thereof the effect of the pH. A laboratory pilot made of glass and teflon, in order to eliminate any traces of organic compounds, was used.Results of this work prove that only the carbonates and bicarbonates have a notable influence on this decomposition and that the pH interferes by disrupting the bicarbonate-carbonate equilibrium. The theoretical equation established without organic compounds by YURTERI and GUROL (1988) is verified.The order of the reaction varies from 1 to 2. The order is 1 when the amount of bicarbonates is weak (30 mg/l). The order is 2 in the case of a 300 mg.l-1 concentration when the basic pH changes the equilibrium towards the carbonates. For 300 mg.l-1 concentrations and a neutral pH, the order of the reaction reaches values from 1,5 to 2. In the case of an order 1, the constant rate of the oxidant decomposition by hydroxyle ion OH¯ is calculated. Its value is 80 l.mol-1 s-1

Using exchange bias to extend the temperature range of square loop behavior in [Pt/Co] multilayers with perpendicular anisotropy

This article may be downloaded for personal use only. Any other use requires prior permission of the author and the American Institute of Physics.The temperature dependence of the magnetic properties of [Pt/Co]multilayers (ML), exhibiting perpendicular anisotropy, with and without exchange biasing with an antiferromagnet(AFM) has been investigated. Upon heating, a loss of the out-of-plane anisotropy and, consequently, of the remanence to saturation ratio is observed in these systems. However, such effect occurs at higher temperatures in the [Pt/Co] ML exchange coupled to the AFM than for the unbiased ML. This is attributed to the additional anisotropy induced to the ML by the ferromagnetic-antiferromagnetic exchange coupling

Measurement of the conductance of a hydrogen molecule

Recent years have shown steady progress in research towards molecular electronics [1,2], where molecules have been investigated as switches [3-5], diodes [6], and electronic mixers [7]. In much of the previous work a Scanning Tunnelling Microscope was employed to address an individual molecule. As this arrangement does not provide long-term stability, more recently metal-molecule-metal links have been made using break junction devices [8-10]. However, it has been difficult to establish unambiguously that a single molecule forms the contact [11]. Here, we show that a single H2 molecule can form a stable bridge between Pt electrodes. In contrast to results for other organic molecules, the bridge has a nearly perfect conductance of one quantum unit, carried by a single channel. The H2-bridge provides a simple test system and a fundamental step towards understanding transport properties of single-molecule devices.Comment: 6 pages, 4 figure

Structured models of cell migration incorporating molecular binding processes

The dynamic interplay between collective cell movement and the various molecules involved in the accompanying cell signalling mechanisms plays a crucial role in many biological processes including normal tissue development and pathological scenarios such as wound healing and cancer. Information about the various structures embedded within these processes allows a detailed exploration of the binding of molecular species to cell-surface receptors within the evolving cell population. In this paper we establish a general spatio-temporal-structural framework that enables the description of molecular binding to cell membranes coupled with the cell population dynamics. We first provide a general theoretical description for this approach and then illustrate it with two examples arising from cancer invasion

International Geomagnetic Reference Field: the eleventh generation

The eleventh generation of the International Geomagnetic Reference Field (IGRF) was adopted in December 2009 by the International Association of Geomagnetism and Aeronomy Working Group V-MOD. It updates the previous IGRF generation with a definitive main field model for epoch 2005.0, a main field model for epoch 2010.0, and a linear predictive secular variation model for 2010.0-2015.0. In this note the equations defining the IGRF model are provided along with the spherical harmonic coefficients for the eleventh generation. Maps of the magnetic declination, inclination and total intensity for epoch 2010.0 and their predicted rates of change for 2010.0-2015.0 are presented. The recent evolution of the South Atlantic Anomaly and magnetic pole positions are also examine

Prostaglandin profiling reveals a role for haematopoietic prostaglandin D synthase in adipose tissue macrophage polarisation in mice and humans.

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Obesity has been associated with both changes in adipose tissue lipid metabolism and inflammation. A key class of lipid-derived signalling molecules involved in inflammation are the prostaglandins. In this study, we aimed to determine how obesity affects the levels of prostaglandins within white adipose tissue (WAT) and determine which cells within adipose tissue produce them. To avoid the effects of cellular stress on prostaglandin levels, we developed a multivariate statistical approach in which metabolite concentrations and transcriptomic data were integrated, allowing the assignment of metabolites to cell types. SUBJECTS/METHODS: Eicosanoids were measured by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry and mRNA levels using real-time PCR. Eicosanoid levels and transcriptomic data were combined using principal component analysis and hierarchical clustering in order to associate metabolites with cell types. Samples were obtained from C57Bl/6 mice aged 16 weeks. We studied the ob/ob genetically obese mouse model and diet-induced obesity model. We extended our results in mice to a cohort of morbidly obese humans undergoing bariatric surgery. RESULTS: Using our modelling approach, we determined that prostglandin D₂ (PGD₂) in adipose tissue was predominantly produced in macrophages by the haematopoietic isoform of prostaglandin D synthase (H-Pgds). Analysis of sub-fractionated WAT confirmed that H-Pgds was expressed in adipose tissue macrophages (ATMs). Furthermore, H-Pgds expression in ATMs isolated from lean and obese mice was consistent with it affecting macrophage polarisation. Functionally, we demonstrated that H-PGDS-produced PGD₂ polarised macrophages toward an M2, anti-inflammatory state. In line with a potential anti-inflammatory role, we found that H-PGDS expression in ATMs was positively correlated with both peripheral insulin and adipose tissue insulin sensitivity in humans. CONCLUSIONS: In this study, we have developed a method to determine the cellular source of metabolites within an organ and used it to identify a new role for PGD₂ in the control of ATM polarisation.HQL-79 was a kind gift of Professor Yoshihiro Urade. Professor Vidal-Puig was funded by the BHF, MRC and BBSRC. Dr Virtue was funded by the BBSRC and the BHF. Dr Eiden, Dr Masoodi and Dr Griffin were funded by the MRC. Dr Mok was funded by the Wellcome Trust.This is the final published version. It first appeared at http://www.nature.com/ijo/journal/vaop/ncurrent/full/ijo201534a.htm

Computational Approaches and Analysis for a Spatio-Structural-Temporal Invasive Carcinoma Model

Spatio-temporal models have long been used to describe biological systems of cancer, but it has not been until very recently that increased attention has been paid to structural dynamics of the interaction between cancer populations and the molecular mechanisms associated with local invasion. One system that is of particular interest is that of the urokinase plasminogen activator (uPA) wherein uPA binds uPA receptors on the cancer cell surface, allowing plasminogen to be cleaved into plasmin, which degrades the extracellular matrix and this way leads to enhanced cancer cell migration. In this paper, we develop a novel numerical approach and associated analysis for spatio-structuro-temporal modelling of the uPA system for up to two-spatial and two-structural dimensions. This is accompanied by analytical exploration of the numerical techniques used in simulating this system, with special consideration being given to the proof of stability within numerical regimes encapsulating a central differences approach to approximating numerical gradients. The stability analysis performed here reveals instabilities induced by the coupling of the structural binding and proliferative processes. The numerical results expound how the uPA system aids the tumour in invading the local stroma, whilst the inhibitor to this system may impede this behaviour and encourage a more sporadic pattern of invasion.PostprintPeer reviewe