Measurements in a highly polluted Asian mega city: observations of aerosol number size distribution, modal parameters and nucleation events

Diurnal variation of number size distribution (particle size 3-800nm) and modal parameters (geometric standard deviation, geometric mean diameter and modal aerosol particle concentration) in a highly polluted urban environment was investigated during October and November 2002 in New Delhi, India. Continuous monitoring for more than two weeks with the time resolution of 10min was conducted using a Differential Mobility Particle Sizer (twin DMPS). The results indicated clear increase in Aitken mode (25-100nm) particles during traffic peak hours, but towards the evenings there were more Aitken mode particles compared to the mornings. Also high concentrations of accumulation mode particles (>100nm) were detected in the evenings only. In the evenings, biomass/refuse burning and cooking are possible sources beside the traffic. We have also shown that nucleation events are possible in this kind of atmosphere even though as clear nucleation events as observed in rural sites could not be detected. The formation rate of 3nm particles (J3) of the observed events varied from 3.3 to 13.9cm^-3s^-1 and the growth rate varied from 11.6 to 18.1nmh^-1 showing rapid growth and high formation rate, which seems to be typical in urban areas

Environmental Characteristics and Anthropogenic Impact Jointly Modify Aquatic Macrophyte Species Diversity

Species richness and spatial variation in community composition (i.e., beta diversity) are key measures of biodiversity. They are largely determined by natural factors, but also increasingly affected by anthropogenic factors. Thus, there is a need for a clear understanding of the human impact on species richness and beta diversity, the underlying mechanisms, and whether human-induced changes can override natural patterns. Here, we dissect the patterns of species richness, community composition and beta diversity in relation to different environmental factors as well as human impact in one framework: aquatic macrophytes in 66 boreal lakes in Eastern Finland. The lakes had been classified as having high, good or moderate status (according to ecological classification of surface waters in Finland) reflecting multifaceted human impact. We used generalized least square models to study the association between different environmental variables (Secchi depth, irregularity of the shoreline, total phosphorus, pH, alkalinity, conductivity) and species richness. We tested the null hypothesis that the observed community composition can be explained by random distribution of species. We used multivariate distance matrix regression to test the effect of each environmental variable on community composition, and distance-based test for homogeneity of multivariate dispersion to test whether lakes classified as high, good or moderate status have different beta diversity. We showed that environmental drivers of species richness and community composition were largely similar, although dependent on the particular life-form group studied. The most important ones were characteristics of water quality (pH, alkalinity, conductivity) and irregularity of the shoreline. Differences in community composition were related to environmental variables independently of species richness. Species richness was higher in lakes with higher levels of human impact. Lakes with different levels of human impact had different community composition. Between-lake beta diversity did not differ in high, good or moderate status groups. However, the variation in environmental variables shaping community composition was larger in lakes with moderate status compared to other lakes. Hence, beta diversity in lakes with moderate status was smaller than what could be expected on the basis of these environmental characteristics. This could be interpreted as homogenization

Yhdyskuntajätteen koostumustiedon laadun parantaminen

Yhdyskuntajätteen koostumus tunnetaan vain osittain. Eri alkulähteillä syntyneiden sekalaisten jätteiden, kuten seka- ja energiajätteiden, koostumus vaihtelee. Kotitalousjätteiden sekajätekoostumusta on selvitetty eri alueilla, mutta hallinto-, palvelu- ja elinkeinotoiminnan sekalaisten jätevirtojen koostumuksesta ei ole julkaistua tietoa. Yhdyskuntajätteen koostumustietoja tarvitaan uudistuneen jätedirektiivin edellyttämässä raportoinnissa sekä jätehuollon suunnittelun ja ohjauskeinojen tukena. Tässä raportissa on tarkasteltu erilaisia tapoja muodostaa yhdyskuntajätteen koostumus. Tehdyn selvityksen keskiössä ovat erityisesti hallinto-, palvelu- ja elinkeinotoiminnan jätteet sekä seka-, energia- ja biojätteiden koostumus. Lisäksi selvitettiin Ruotsin ja Irlannin käyttämiä tiedonkeruumenetelmiä ja kokemuksia kotitalouksien sekajätetutkimuksissa käytetystä ohjeistuksesta sekä laajan toimijahaastattelun pohjalta muodostettiin vaihtoehtoiset tavat muodostaa vankempi tietopohja yhdyskuntajätekoostumuksesta. Lopuksi tarkasteltiin mahdollisia ohjauskeinoja tiedonkeruun vahvistamiseksi. Selvityksessä päädyttiin suosittelemaan alakohtaisia koostumusselvityksiä yhdistettynä alakohtaisiin ominaisjätemäärätietoihin kokonaiskuvan muodostamisessa. Menetelmän käyttöönoton vahvistamiseksi ehdotettiin vapaaehtoista sopimista. Koostumustiedolle tarvitaan myös oma tietojärjestelmä

PACAP27 regulates ciliary function in primary cultures of rat brain ependymal cells

Abstract Ependymal cells line the brain ventricles and separate the CSF from the underlying neuronal tissue. The function of ependymal cilia is largely unclear however they are reported to be involved in the regulation of CSF homeostasis and host defence against pathogens. Here we present data that implicates a role of pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide (PACAP) in the inhibition of ependymal ciliary function, and also that the PACAP effects are not entirely dependent on adenylyl cyclase activation. Primary ependymal cultures were treated with increasing doses of PACAP27 or adenylyl cyclase toxin (ACT), and ciliary beating was recorded using high-speed digital video imaging. Ciliary beat frequency (CBF) and amplitude were determined from the videos. Ependymal CBF and ciliary amplitude were attenuated by PACAP27 in a concentration-and time-dependent manner. The peptide antagonist PACAP6-27 blocked PACAP27-induced decreases in amplitude and CBF. Treatment with ACT caused a decrease in amplitude but had no effect on CBF, this suggests that the inhibition of CBF and amplitude seen with PACAP27 may not be completely explained by G s -AC-cAMP pathway. We present here the first observational study to show that activation of PAC1 receptors with PACAP27 has an important role to play in the regulation of ependymal ciliary function

Antibacterial Activity of Electrodeposited Copper and Zinc on Metal Injection Molded (MIM) Micropatterned WC-CO Hard Metals

Antibacterial activity of electrodeposited copper and zinc both on flat and micropatterned hard metal tungsten carbide-cobalt (WC-Co) specimens was studied. Tribological wear was applied on electrodeposited specimens: coatings were completely removed from flat surfaces whereas only top of the micropillars was exposed to wear for the micropatterned specimens protecting the functional metal coating in between the micropillars. The growth of Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) Gram-positive bacterial species was studied on the specimens using a touch test mimicking bacterial transfer from the surfaces. Copper coated specimens prevented bacterial growth completely independent of wear or surface structure, i.e., even residual traces of copper were sufficient to prevent bacterial growth. Zinc significantly suppressed the bacterial growth both on flat and micropatterned specimens. However, adhesion of zinc was low resulting in an easy removal from the surface by wear. The micropatterned zinc specimens showed antibacterial activity as electrodeposited zinc remained intact on the sample surface between the micropillars. This was sufficient to suppress the growth of S. aureus. On the contrary, the flat zinc coated surfaces did not show any antibacterial activity after wear. Our results show that micropatterned hard metal specimens can be used to preserve antibacterial activity under tribological wear

Anti-tumour activity of bisphosphonates in preclinical models of breast cancer

There is increasing evidence of anti-tumour effects of bisphosphonates from pre-clinical studies, supporting a role for these drugs beyond their traditional use in treatment of cancer-induced bone disease. A range of model systems have been used to investigate the effects of different bisphosphonates on tumour growth, both in bone and at peripheral sites. Most of these studies conclude that bisphosphonates cause a reduction in tumour burden, but that early intervention and the use of high and/or repeated dosing is required. Successful eradication of cancer may only be achievable by targeting the tumour cells directly whilst also modifying the tumour microenvironment. In line with this, bisphosphonates are demonstrated to be particularly effective at reducing breast tumour growth when used in combination with agents that directly target cancer cells. Recent studies have shown that the effects of bisphosphonates on breast tumours are not limited to bone, and that prolonged anti-tumour effects may be achieved following their inclusion in combination therapy. This has opened the field to a new strand of bisphosphonate research, focussed on elucidating their effects on cells and components of the local, regional and distal tumour microenvironment. This review highlights the recent developments in relation to proposed anti-tumour effects of bisphosphonates reported from in vitro and in vivo models, and summarises the data from key breast cancer studies. Evidence for effects on different processes and cell types involved in cancer development and progression is discussed, and the main outstanding issues identified

Executing circular economy strategies in practice in Finland. Results and experiences from Circwaste project

A Europe-wide circular economy policy was launched in 2014 when the European Commission published the first strategic policy programme for circular economy. It was compiled to provide very comprehensive impacts and dimensions of sustainable development: sustainable growth and a climate neutral, resource efficient and competitive economy. The targets of a circular economy are that the value of products, materials and resources is maintained in the economy for as long as possible, economic growth is decoupled from resource use, generation of waste and environmental loads are minimised, and pressure on the Earth’s resources and biodiversity is minimised. The European Union is supporting the sustainability transition with research and development funding. In Finland, Circwaste – Towards Circular Economy is one of the biggest development projects accelerating the transition to a circular economy. During the period 2016–2020, the project has produced monitoring data on the development of circular economy and the sustainability of waste management, highlighted the circular economy concept, promoted stakeholder collaboration, supported strategic national processes, strengthened know-how and mainstreamed and concretised circular economy thinking. This interim report presents all the relevant results so far. It is crucial that data is produced from different angles on implementing the circular economy. More information is needed both to support decision making and on connections between and reflections on different factors. The key figures for Finland show quite clear coupling of the use of natural resources, waste amounts and economic growth. The circular material use rate is ca. 7%, which can be considered quite modest. Quantitative national targets for decreasing the use of natural resources are needed. Instead of country comparisons, the focus should be on trends in order to learn from the past and to identify the policy instruments needed to achieve the level aspired to. One of the key findings is the need for regional indicators and data for decisionmaking. The work done within Circwaste is the first effort towards a systematic monitoring scheme for monitoring circular economy regionally. The study showed that the production of regional waste data is challenging, that the estimated recycling rates have not increased adequately to reach the EU targets and that there could therefore be a need for municipallevel recycling targets. The transition to a circular economy also causes fundamental social changes in society. In the project, new indicators were developed for measuring social impacts: circular economy employment, education and employment for vulnerable groups, publicly shared resources, accessibility of recycling services and sustainable vehicle fuels. The first baseline data show advances towards the circular economy: the accessibility of waste management services has improved, the Finnish educational system has been able to respond quickly to the need for circular economy education, circular economy activities have potential for the employment of vulnerable groups and economic activities related to recycling, repair and reuse have grown. The regions and municipalities emerge as key actors in facilitating a socially just transition towards a circular economy. The study on innovative material processing technologies gathered data on technologies for elemental recycling, especially for plastic waste but also for making new fibres from textiles waste. Financial issues are key to the survival of these technologies and there is a need for governmental financial support. Public procurers can be considered key players in the circular economy, creating demand for more sustainable products and services. Implementing circular economy in municipalities requires commitment, financial planning, interaction with regional actors and inclusion of circular economy in financial rules. The construction sector is a major consumer of natural resources, but the municipalities can make construction more sustainable through public procurements and planning. As buyers, they can require the use of recycled raw materials and soils in construction projects. Obligations for ecological compensation and goals of no net loss of biodiversity would decrease the pressure on natural resources. To support municipalities in their work, a national organisation for providing municipal auditing, development, education and business support services could be established. Employing circular economy experts in each municipality to work as crossadministrative coordinators could enhance the transition. The project has created a lot of political, theoretical and practical content on the concept and field of circular economy. The next steps are to further develop and widen, as well as deepen, the results and to provide national support in searching for answers and solutions for decreasing the use of natural resources, achieving the MSW recycling targets and creating a more sustainable society

Tumour macrophages as potential targets of bisphosphonates

Tumour cells communicate with the cells of their microenvironment via a series of molecular and cellular interactions to aid their progression to a malignant state and ultimately their metastatic spread. Of the cells in the microenvironment with a key role in cancer development, tumour associated macrophages (TAMs) are among the most notable. Tumour cells release a range of chemokines, cytokines and growth factors to attract macrophages, and these in turn release numerous factors (e.g. VEGF, MMP-9 and EGF) that are implicated in invasion-promoting processes such as tumour cell growth, flicking of the angiogenic switch and immunosuppression. TAM density has been shown to correlate with poor prognosis in breast cancer, suggesting that these cells may represent a potential therapeutic target. However, there are currently no agents that specifically target TAM's available for clinical use