A reanalysis of the atmospheric boundary layer field experiment(SPCFLUX93) at San Pietro Capofiume (Italy)

A fortnight field experiment was carried out at San Pietro Capofiume(Po Valley, Italy)during the month of June, 1993, and was named SPCFLUX93. This location was chosen as representative of the Po Valley. The SPCFLUX93 experiment was devised according to the results of some previous measurements carried out in mountainous areas of South Europe (i.e. ALPEX—ALPine EXperiment, PYREX—PYRenean Experiment), and aimed to represent a prototype for further field observations. The dataset of the SPCFLUX93 experiment consisted of: i)meteorological and chemical data collected continuously with slow-response sensors in the atmospheric surface layer and into the soil; ii)data coming from fastresponse instrumentation (sonic anemometers and fluxmeter); iii) radiosoundings carried out with free and tethered balloons; iv)con tinuous vertical wind soundings with a Mini-Sodar. The aim of the SPCFLUX93 field experiment was to investigate the following topics: atmospheric turbulence, dry and wet atmospheric total deposition, energy balance, thermal wave propagation in the soil. Few years later, the atmospheric and hydrological scientific community conduced an extensive programme, the Mesoscale Alpine Programme (MAP), on weather and climate in mountainous regions. This programme considered many aspects of alpine meteorology, ranging from high-resolution numerical modelling to experimental campaigns performed on both sides of the Alps, with the aim to better understand the interaction processes of atmospheric fluxes with the orography. Many puzzling problems were posed by the complexity of these interactions; among them, the perturbations on the boundary layer structure caused by the airflows that cross the Alps and reach the Po Valley would still require more experimental observations and theoretical studies. These considerations prompted us to reanalyze the SPCFLUX93 dataset. In this paper, a layout of the field experiment (including the instrumentation details, the experimental relevant dataset and database composed by meteorological standard data, vertical profile data, ultrasonic anemometer data, and chemical data)is presented; the collected data are described; the details of the mesoscale meteorological situation over San Pietro Capofiume during the experiment are presented; finally, some analyses on the data are shown, and the main results coming from the several applications carried out using the dataset are illustrated or summarized. In particular, the most interesting results are related to the following topics: the characteristics of the turbulence in the surface layer (using the fast-response data), the validation of land surface schemes (using the surface observations), the evaluation of mixed layer depth (using radon flux data)and the estimate of deposition velocity

FUTURE EMISSION SCENARIO ANALYSIS OVER ROME URBAN AREA USING COUPLED TRAFFIC ASSIGNMENT AND CHEMICAL TRANSPORT MODELS

The city of Rome is characterized by high ozone, NO2 and PM10 levels claiming for the implementation of emission control strategies to improve the air quality and to decrease the risks of health effects on inhabitants. In this perspective an atmospheric modelling system based on the chemical transport model FARM has been applied for the year 2005 over a nested domain including the metropolitan area. To improve the description of local scale atmospheric circulation characteristics, observational meteorological data are analysed using the Isentropic Analysis package (ISAN). Since urban traffic emissions represent a relevant source of pollutants, hourly emissions coming from this sector have been estimated by means of a traffic assignment model, based on a source-destination approach, coupled with an emission model based on COPERT-3 methodology. The emissions from the other sectors have been derived from the national inventory and then disaggregated at the municipal level. The analysis of model results for the year 2005 against experimental data reveals a good agreement suggesting the use of the modelling system to study the impact on the air quality of different emission control strategies at both regional and urban scales. The 2010 has been considered as the future year base case scenario and the traffic limitation within the Rome urban core has been considered as an emission control action. The impact of this emission scenario has been then analysed by means of a semi-empiric approach: a significant decrease of PM10 and NO2 yearly average concentrations is expected to occur at urban traffic stations while the minimum reduction is expected at urban background and rural stations

Challenging GRB models through the broadband dataset of GRB060908

Context: Multiwavelength observations of gamma-ray burst prompt and afterglow emission are a key tool to disentangle the various possible emission processes and scenarios proposed to interpret the complex gamma-ray burst phenomenology. Aims: We collected a large dataset on GRB060908 in order to carry out a comprehensive analysis of the prompt emission as well as the early and late afterglow. Methods: Data from Swift-BAT, -XRT and -UVOT together with data from a number of different ground-based optical/NIR and millimeter telescopes allowed us to follow the afterglow evolution from about a minute from the high-energy event down to the host galaxy limit. We discuss the physical parameters required to model these emissions. Results: The prompt emission of GRB060908 was characterized by two main periods of activity, spaced by a few seconds of low intensity, with a tight correlation between activity and spectral hardness. Observations of the afterglow began less than one minute after the high-energy event, when it was already in a decaying phase, and it was characterized by a rather flat optical/NIR spectrum which can be interpreted as due to a hard energy-distribution of the emitting electrons. On the other hand, the X-ray spectrum of the afterglow could be fit by a rather soft electron distribution. Conclusions: GRB060908 is a good example of a gamma-ray burst with a rich multi-wavelength set of observations. The availability of this dataset, built thanks to the joint efforts of many different teams, allowed us to carry out stringent tests for various interpretative scenarios showing that a satisfactorily modeling of this event is challenging. In the future, similar efforts will enable us to obtain optical/NIR coverage comparable in quality and quantity to the X-ray data for more events, therefore opening new avenues to progress gamma-ray burst research.Comment: A&A, in press. 11 pages, 5 figure

Whole genome identification of Mycobacterium tuberculosis vaccine candidates by comprehensive data mining and bioinformatic analyses

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p><it>Mycobacterium tuberculosis</it>, the causative agent of tuberculosis (TB), infects ~8 million annually culminating in ~2 million deaths. Moreover, about one third of the population is latently infected, 10% of which develop disease during lifetime. Current approved prophylactic TB vaccines (BCG and derivatives thereof) are of variable efficiency in adult protection against pulmonary TB (0%–80%), and directed essentially against early phase infection.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>A genome-scale dataset was constructed by analyzing published data of: (1) global gene expression studies under conditions which simulate intra-macrophage stress, dormancy, persistence and/or reactivation; (2) cellular and humoral immunity, and vaccine potential. This information was compiled along with revised annotation/bioinformatic characterization of selected gene products and <it>in silico </it>mapping of T-cell epitopes. Protocols for scoring, ranking and prioritization of the antigens were developed and applied.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Cross-matching of literature and <it>in silico</it>-derived data, in conjunction with the prioritization scheme and biological rationale, allowed for selection of 189 putative vaccine candidates from the entire genome. Within the 189 set, the relative distribution of antigens in 3 functional categories differs significantly from their distribution in the whole genome, with reduction in the Conserved hypothetical category (due to improved annotation) and enrichment in Lipid and in Virulence categories. Other prominent representatives in the 189 set are the PE/PPE proteins; iron sequestration, nitroreductases and proteases, all within the Intermediary metabolism and respiration category; ESX secretion systems, resuscitation promoting factors and lipoproteins, all within the Cell wall category. Application of a ranking scheme based on qualitative and quantitative scores, resulted in a list of 45 best-scoring antigens, of which: 74% belong to the dormancy/reactivation/resuscitation classes; 30% belong to the Cell wall category; 13% are classical vaccine candidates; 9% are categorized Conserved hypotheticals, all potentially very potent T-cell antigens.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The comprehensive literature and <it>in silico</it>-based analyses allowed for the selection of a repertoire of 189 vaccine candidates, out of the whole-genome 3989 ORF products. This repertoire, which was ranked to generate a list of 45 top-hits antigens, is a platform for selection of genes covering all stages of <it>M. tuberculosis </it>infection, to be incorporated in rBCG or subunit-based vaccines.</p

Rapid diagnosis of new and relapse tuberculosis by quantification of a circulating antigen in HIV-infected adults in the Greater Houston metropolitan area

Abstract Background HIV-associated immune defects inhibit tuberculosis (TB) diagnosis, promote development of extrapulmonary TB and paucibacillary pulmonary TB cases with atypical radiographic features, and increase TB relapse rates. We therefore assessed the diagnostic performance of a novel assay that directly quantitates serum levels of the Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) virulence factor 10-kDa culture filtrate protein (CFP-10) to overcome limitations associated with detecting Mtb bacilli in sputum or tissue biopsies. Methods This study analyzed HIV-positive adults enrolled in a large, population-based TB screening and surveillance project, the Houston Tuberculosis Initiative, between October 1995 and September 2004, and assigned case designations using standardized criteria. Serum samples were trypsin-digested and immunoprecipitated for an Mtb-specific peptide of CFP-10 that was quantified by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry for rapid and sensitive TB diagnosis. Results Among the 1053 enrolled patients, 110 met all inclusion criteria; they included 60 tuberculosis cases (12 culture-negative TB), including 9 relapse TB cases, and 50 non-TB controls, including 15 cases with history of TB. Serum CFP-10 levels diagnosed 89.6% (77.3–96.5) and 66.7% (34.9–90.1) of culture-positive and culture-negative TB cases, respectively, and exhibited 88% (75.7–95.5) diagnostic specificity in all non-TB controls. Serum antigen detection and culture, respectively, identified 85% (73.4–92.9) and 80.0% (67.3–88.8) of all 60 TB cases. Conclusions Quantitation of the Mtb virulence factor CFP-10 in serum samples of HIV-infected subjects diagnosed active TB cases with high sensitivity and specificity and detected cases missed by the gold standard of Mtb culture. These results suggest that serum CFP-10 quantitation holds great promise for the rapid diagnosis of suspected TB cases in patients who are HIV-infected

Long term acid deposition modelling for the Italian area

(P.M. BORREL, P. BORREL EDS.), WITPRESS, SOUTHAMPTO