464 research outputs found
Deviations from ozone photostationary state during the International Consortium for Atmospheric Research on Transport and Transformation 2004 campaign: Use of measurements and photochemical modeling to assess potential causes
Nitric oxide (NO) and nitrogen dioxide (NO2) were monitored at the University of New Hampshire Atmospheric Observing Station at Thompson Farm (TF) during the ICARTT campaign of summer 2004. Simultaneous measurement of ozone (O3), temperature, and the photolysis rate of NO2 (jNO2) allow for assessment of the O3 photostationary state (Leighton ratio, Ί). Leighton ratios that are significantly greater than unity indicate that peroxy radicals (PO2), halogen monoxides, nitrate radicals, or some unidentified species convert NO to NO2 in excess of the reaction between NO and O3. Deviations from photostationary state occurred regularly at TF (1.0 †Ί †5.9), particularly during times of low NOx (NOx = NO + NO2). Such deviations were not controlled by dynamics, as indicated by regressions between Ί and several meteorological parameters. Correlation with jNO2 was moderate, indicating that sunlight probably controls nonlinear processes that affect Ί values. Formation of PO2 likely is dominated by oxidation of biogenic hydrocarbons, particularly isoprene, the emission of which is driven by photosynthetically active radiation. Halogen atoms are believed to form via photolysis of halogenated methane compounds. Nitrate radicals are believed to be insignificant. Higher Ί values are associated with lower mixing ratios of isoprene and chloroiodomethane and lower ratios of NOx to total active nitrogen, indicating that photochemical aging may very well lead to increased Ί values. PO2 levels calculated using a zeroâdimensional model constrained by measurements from TF can account for 71% of the observed deviations on average. The remainder is assumed to be associated with halogen atoms, most likely iodine, with necessary mixing ratios up to 0.6 or 1.2 pptv, for chlorine and iodine, respectively
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Bromoform and dibromomethane measurements in the seacoast region of New Hampshire, 2002-2004
Atmospheric measurements of bromoform (CHBr3) and dibromomethane (CH2Br2) were conducted at two sites, Thompson Farm (TF) in Durham, New Hampshire (summer 2002-2004), and Appledore Island (AI), Maine (summer 2004). Elevated mixing ratios of CHBr3 were frequently observed at both sites, with maxima of 37.9 parts per trillion by volume (pptv) and 47.4 pptv for TF and AI, respectively. Average mixing ratios of CHBr3 and CH2Br2 at TF for all three summers ranged from 5.3-6.3 and 1.3-2.3 pptv, respectively. The average mixing ratios of both gases were higher at AI during 2004, consistent with AI's proximity to sources of these bromocarbons. Strong negative vertical gradients in the atmosphere corroborated local sources of these gases at the surface. At AI, CHBr3 and CH2Br2 mixing ratios increased with wind speed via sea-to-air transfer from supersaturated coastal waters. Large enhancements of CHBr3 and CH2Br2 were observed at both sites from 10 to 14 August 2004, coinciding with the passage of Tropical Storm Bonnie. During this period, fluxes of CHBr3 and CH2Br3 were 52.4 ± 21.0 and 9.1 ± 3.1 nmol m-2 h-1, respectively. The average fluxes of CHBr3 and CH2Br2 during nonevent periods were 18.9 ± 12.3 and 2.6 ± 1.9 nmol m-2 h-1, respectively. Additionally, CHBr3 and CH2Br2 were used as marine tracers in case studies to (1) evaluate the impact of tropical storms on emissions and distributions of marine-derived gases in the coastal region and (2) characterize the transport of air masses during pollution episodes in the northeastern United States. Copyright 2008 by the American Geophysical Union
Oceanic influence on atmospheric mercury at coastal and inland sites: a springtime noreaster in New England
Continuous measurements of elemental (Hg<sup>0</sup>) and reactive mercury were conducted at two sites in New Hampshire during a powerful April 2007 noreaster. During the most intense period of the storm, enhancements of ~30â50 ppqv in Hg<sup>0</sup> were observed at a coastal and a high elevation inland site. This enhancement occurred simultaneously with elevated mixing ratios of three marine tracers, CH<sub>3</sub>I, CH<sub>2</sub>Br<sub>2</sub> and CHBr<sub>3</sub>. These observations suggest a marine source of Hg<sup>0</sup>, possibly outgassing from the ocean surface during strong turbulence. The Hg<sup>0</sup> enhancement observed 100 km inland suggests that the impact of coastal storms on terrestrial Hg cycling may not be limited to near-shore environments. Combining Hg<sup>0</sup> and marine tracer measurements during the storm with estimates of oceanic tracer fluxes during previous strong storms yields an order-of-magnitude estimate of the oceanic source of Hg<sup>0</sup> during the storm (~7 ppqv h<sup>&minus;1</sup>) which can account for the observed enhancement at the field sites
Characterization of aerosol associated with enhanced small particle number concentrations in a suburban forested environment
Two elevated particle number/mass growth events associated with Aitkenâmode particles were observed during a sampling campaign (13â29 September 2004) at the Duke University FreeâAir CO2 Enrichment facility, a forested field site located in suburban central North Carolina. Aerosol growth rates between 1.2 and 4.9 nm hrâ1 were observed, resulting in net increases in geometric mean diameter of 21 and 37 nm during events. Growth was dominated by addition of oxidized organic compounds. Campaignâaverage aerosol mass concentrations measured by an Aerodyne quadrupole aerosol mass spectrometer (QâAMS) were 1.9 ± 1.6 (Ï), 1.6 ± 1.9, 0.1 ± 0.1, and 0.4 ± 0.4 ÎŒg mâ3 for organic mass (OM), sulfate, nitrate, and ammonium, respectively. These values represent 47%, 40%, 3%, and 10%, respectively, of the measured submicron aerosol mass. Based on QâAMS spectra, OM was apportioned to hydrocarbonâlike organic aerosol (HOA, likely representing primary organic aerosol) and two types of oxidized organic aerosol (OOAâ1 and OOAâ2), which constituted on average 6%, 58%, and 36%, respectively, of the apportioned OM. OOAâ1 probably represents aged, regional secondary organic aerosol (SOA), while OOAâ2 likely reflects less aged SOA. Organic aerosol characteristics associated with the events are compared to the campaign averages. Particularly in one event, the contribution of OOAâ2 to overall OM levels was enhanced, indicating the likelihood of less aged SOA formation. Statistical analyses investigate the relationships between HOA, OOAâ1, OOAâ2, other aerosol components, gasâphase species, and meteorological data during the campaign and individual events. No single variable clearly controls the occurrence of a particle growth event
The Role of Voltage-Gated Calcium Channels in Neurotransmitter Phenotype Specification: Coexpression and Functional Analysis in Xenopus laevis
Calcium activity has been implicated in many neurodevelopmental events, including the specification of neurotransmitter phenotypes. Higher levels of calcium activity lead to an increased number of inhibitory neural phenotypes, whereas lower levels of calcium activity lead to excitatory neural phenotypes. Voltage-gated calcium channels (VGCCs) allow for rapid calcium entry and are expressed during early neural stages, making them likely regulators of activity-dependent neurotransmitter phenotype specification. To test this hypothesis, multiplex fluorescent in situ hybridization was used to characterize the coexpression of eight VGCC alpha 1 subunits with the excitatory and inhibitory neural markers xVGlut1 and xVIAAT in Xenopus laevis embryos. VGCC coexpression was higher with xVGlut1 than xVIAAT, especially in the hindbrain, spinal cord, and cranial nerves. Calcium activity was also analyzed on a single-cell level, and spike frequency was correlated with the expression of VGCC alpha 1 subunits in cell culture. Cells expressing Ca(V)2.1 and Ca(V)2.2 displayed increased calcium spiking compared with cells not expressing this marker. The VGCC antagonist diltiazem and agonist (-)BayK 8644 were used to manipulate calcium activity. Diltiazem exposure increased the number of glutamatergic cells and decreased the number of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA)ergic cells, whereas (2) BayK 8644 exposure decreased the number of glutamatergic cells without having an effect on the number of GABAergic cells. Given that the expression and functional manipulation of VGCCs are correlated with neurotransmitter phenotype in some, but not all, experiments, VGCCs likely act in combination with a variety of other signaling factors to determine neuronal phenotype specification. (C) 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc
High rates of venous and arterial thrombotic events in patients with POEMS syndrome: results from the UCLH (UK) POEMS Registry
Arterial and venous thromboses occur in patients with POEMS (polyneuropathy,
organomegaly, endocrinopathy, M-protein level, and skin changes) syndrome at
a previously reported rate of 20%. We reviewed the University College London Hospitals
(UCLH) POEMS Registry to determine the rate of venous thromboembolism (VTE), arterial
events, and risk factors. This registry, established in 1999 and comprising 103 patients at the
time of this study, is the largest single-center cohort in Europe. Of the 83 assessable patients,
median age at presentation was 52 years (range, 31-84). Twenty-five patients experienced
clinically apparent arterial or venous events, and 2 had concurrent arterial and venous
thromboses. Eleven patients had VTEs, including deep vein thrombosis (DVT; 3 of 11),
pulmonary embolism (4 of 11), and peripherally inserted central catheterâassociated DVT,
which occurred during autologous stem cell transplantation (3 of 11). Sixteen patients
experienced arterial events: stroke (7 of 16), peripheral arterial occlusion (5 of 16),
myocardial infarction (3 of 16), and microvascular disease (1 of 16), with no discernible
relationship with thrombocytosis or polycythemia. Thirty percent of POEMS patients have
arterial and venous thromboses, higher than previously reported. There were more arterial
than venous events, and most occurred during active disease, before the start of
chemotherapy, indicating the need for a preemptive approach to thromboprophylaxi
Volatile organic compounds in northern New England marine and continental environments during the ICARTT 2004 campaign
Volatile organic compound (VOC) measurements were made during the summer 2004 International Consortium for Atmospheric Research on Transport and Transformation (ICARTT) at Thompson Farm (TF), a continental site 25 km from the New Hampshire coast, and Appledore Island (AI), a marine site 10 km off the Maine coast. The 24 h mean total hydroxyl radical (OH) reactivity (±1Ï) for the suite of VOCs was 4.15 (±2.64) sâ1 at TF and 2.57 (±1.10) sâ1 at AI. The larger range of reactivity at TF was dominated by isoprene and the monoterpenes (mean combined reactivity = 2.01 (±2.57) sâ1). The impact of local anthropogenic hydrocarbon sources such as liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) leakage and fossil fuel evaporation was evident at both sites. During the campaign, a propane flux of 9 (±2) Ă 109 molecules cmâ2 sâ1 was calculated from the linear regression of the mean 0100â0400 local time mixing ratios at TF. This is consistent with fluxes observed in 2003 at sites spread throughout the coastal area of New Hampshire indicating that LPG tank leakage is a major hydrocarbon source throughout the region. Net monoterpene fluxes during ICARTT at TF were 6 (±2), 1.8 (±0.4), 1.2 (±0.6), and 0.4 (±0.5) Ă 109 molecules cmâ2 sâ1 for αâpinene, ÎČâpinene, camphene, and limonene, respectively. Comparison to estimated NO3 and O3 loss rates indicate that gross monoterpene emission rates were approximately double the observed net fluxes at TF and comparable to current monoterpene nighttime emission inventory estimates for the northeast
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