Measurement report: Receptor modeling for source identification of urban fine and coarse particulate matter using hourly elemental composition

The elemental composition of the fine (PM2.5) and coarse (PM2.5−10) fraction of atmospheric particulate matter was measured at an hourly time resolution by the use of a streaker sampler during a winter period at a Central European urban background site in Warsaw, Poland. A combination of multivariate (Positive Matrix Factorization) and wind- (Conditional Probability Function) and trajectory-based (Cluster Analysis) receptor models was applied for source apportionment. It allowed for the identification of five similar sources in both fractions, including sulfates, soil dust, road salt, and traffic- and industry-related sources. Another two sources, i.e., Cl-rich and wood and coal combustion, were solely identified in the fine fraction. In the fine fraction, aged sulfate aerosol related to emissions from domestic solid fuel combustion in the outskirts of the city was the largest contributing source to fine elemental mass (44 %), while traffic-related sources, including soil dust mixed with road dust, road dust, and traffic emissions, had the biggest contribution to the coarse elemental mass (together accounting for 83 %). Regional transport of aged aerosols and more local impact of the rest of the identified sources played a crucial role in aerosol formation over the city. In addition, two intensive Saharan dust outbreaks were registered on 18 February and 8 March 2016. Both episodes were characterized by the long-range transport of dust at 1500 and 3000 m over Warsaw and the concentrations of the soil component being 7 (up to 3.5 µg m−3) and 6 (up to 6.1 µg m−3) times higher than the mean concentrations observed during non-episodes days (0.5 and 1.1 µg m−3) in the fine and coarse fractions, respectively. The set of receptor models applied to the high time resolution data allowed us to follow, in detail, the daily evolution of the aerosol elemental composition and to identify distinct sources contributing to the concentrations of the different PM fractions, and it revealed the multi-faceted nature of some elements with diverse origins in the fine and coarse fractions. The hourly resolution of meteorological conditions and air mass back trajectories allowed us to follow the transport pathways of the aerosol as well.</p

AN IN VIVO MODEL OF HYPERACUTE REJECTION: CHARACTERIZATION AND EVALUATION OF THE EFFECT OF TRANSGENIC HUMAN COMPLEMENT INHIBITORS

Hyperacute rejection (HAR) occurring after transplantation within phylogenetically distant species is a severe reaction triggered by preexisting xenoreactive antibodies and complement activation, leading to the destruction of the donor organ. Expression of human complement inhibitors in transgenic pig organs prolongs the survival of xenograft in experimental models. Moreover, the extent of protection from hyperacute rejection is dependent on the level and site of expression of the transgenic molecules and, probably, on the combination of different molecules. In this regard a small animal model to test the efficacy of expression vectors and different human molecules could be very advantageous. A murine model developed in our laboratory was characterized by measurement of several parameters characteristic of HAR in the livers of control and transgenic mice expressing transgenic human DAF (CD55) or MCP (CD46) at the end of 2 h of perfusion with human plasma and after 1 day. The parameters studied were heamatological values of hepatic functions (GOT and GPT), induction of pro-inflammatory molecules and histopathological evaluation. Cytokines (IL-1 alpha, IL-1 beta, IL-6) induction and exposure of P-selectin on the endothelial cell surface, was only observed in control animals after 2 h of perfusion, as an early event. GOT and GPT values increase drammatically after 2 h perfusion and 1 day after the treatment according to the histopathological observation of liver damage. On the contrary, the livers of hDAF or hMCP transgenic mice, under the same treatment were significantly protected although the extent of this protection is dependent on the level of expression of transgenic human molecules

Postnatal Changes in K+/Cl- Cotransporter-2 Expression in the Forebrain of Mice Bearing a Mutant Nicotinic Subunit Linked to Sleep-Related Epilepsy

ABSTRACT The Na+/K+/Cl- cotransporter-1 (NKCC1) and the K+/Cl- cotransporter-2 (KCC2) set the transmembrane Cl- gradient in the brain, and are implicated in epileptogenesis. We studied the postnatal distribution of NKCC1 and KCC2 in wild-type (WT) mice, and in a mouse model of sleep-related epilepsy, carrying the mutant \u3b22-V287L subunit of the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR). In WT neocortex, immunohistochemistry showed a wide distribution of NKCC1 in neurons and astrocytes. At birth, KCC2 was localized in neuronal somata, whereas at subsequent stages it was mainly found in the somatodendritic compartment. The cotransporters\u2019 expression was quantified by densitometry in the transgenic strain. KCC2 expression increased during the first postnatal weeks, while the NKCC1 amount remained stable, after birth. In mice expressing \u3b22-V287L, the KCC2 amount in layer V of prefrontal cortex (PFC) was lower than in the control littermates at postnatal day 8 (P8), with no concomitant change in NKCC1. Consistently, the GABAergic excitatory to inhibitory switch was delayed in PFC layer V of mice carrying \u3b22-V287L. At P60, the amount of KCC2 was instead higher in mice bearing the transgene. Irrespective of genotype, NKCC1 and KCC2 were abundantly expressed in the neuropil of most thalamic nuclei since birth. However, KCC2 expression decreased by P60 in the reticular nucleus, and more so in mice expressing \u3b22-V287L. Therefore, a complex regulatory interplay occurs between heteromeric nAChRs and KCC2 in postnatal forebrain. The pathogenetic effect of \u3b22-V287L may depend on altered KCC2 amounts in PFC during synaptogenesis, as well as in mature thalamocortical circuits

Response of CdWO4 crystal scintillator for few MeV ions and low energy electrons

The response of a CdWO4 crystal scintillator to protons, alpha particles, Li, C, O and Ti ions with energies in the range 1 - 10 MeV was measured. The non-proportionality of CdWO4 for low energy electrons (4 - 110 keV) was studied with the Compton Coincidence Technique. The energy dependence of the quenching factors for ions and the relative light yield for low energy electrons was calculated using a semi-empirical approach. Pulse-shape discrimination ability between gamma quanta, protons, alpha particles and ions was investigated.Comment: 20 pages, 8 figs, accepted in Nucl. Instrum. Meth.

LABEC, the INFN ion beam laboratory of nuclear techniques for environment and cultural heritage

The LABEC laboratory, the INFN ion beam laboratory of nuclear techniques for environment and cultural heritage, located in the Scientific and Technological Campus of the University of Florence in Sesto Fiorentino, started its operational activities in 2004, after INFN decided in 2001 to provide our applied nuclear physics group with a large laboratory dedicated to applications of accelerator-related analytical techniques, based on a new 3 MV Tandetron accelerator. The new accelerator greatly improved the performance of existing Ion Beam Analysis (IBA) applications (for which we were using since the 1980s an old single-ended Van de Graaff accelerator) and in addition allowed to start a novel activity of Accelerator Mass Spectrometry (AMS), in particular for 14C dating. Switching between IBA and AMS operation became very easy and fast, which allowed us high flexibility in programming the activities, mainly focused on studies of cultural heritage and atmospheric aerosol composition, but including also applications to biology, geology, material science and forensics, ion implantation, tests of radiation damage to components, detector performance tests and low-energy nuclear physics. This paper describes the facilities presently available in the LABEC laboratory, their technical features and some success stories of recent applications

A multi-element psychosocial intervention for early psychosis (GET UP PIANO TRIAL) conducted in a catchment area of 10 million inhabitants: study protocol for a pragmatic cluster randomized controlled trial

Multi-element interventions for first-episode psychosis (FEP) are promising, but have mostly been conducted in non-epidemiologically representative samples, thereby raising the risk of underestimating the complexities involved in treating FEP in 'real-world' services

DETERMINANTS OF FOOD SMEs COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGE : HOW RESOURCES, STRATEGIES AND PERFORMANCE ARE RELATED? An application in Italy

Given the situation of the economic scenario characterised by globalisation and a consequent increase of competition, in the food sector firms are pushed to find the most successful strategy in order to survive among competitors, and beside large firms who want to play a leadership role, try to carve out a peculiar and differentiated position in the market. In order to set up a successful strategy it is useful to understand the potential sources of competitive advantage (Azevedo and Ferreira, 2007; Teece et al., 1997). The theoretical model of Resource-based View is inserted in this framework because it examines the strict connection among internal resources and performance of the firm, outlining how the resources can be a source of competitive advantage (Barney, 1991; Wilkens et al., 2004; Teece et al., 1997; Wernerfelt, 1984). Since each firm could exploit different kind of resources and capabilities organised into different strategies, the heterogeneity among firms results to be the focus of the analysis. Moreover, even if the economic literature on strategic management models is rich of contributes about this field of research, the empirical applications are still limited and rare, especially in the food sector. For these reason, this theoretical approach has been utilised to evaluate food firms performance in relation with the resources owned and the strategies carried out by the firms. As in the European and Italian food sector there is a high incidence of small and medium enterprises (SMEs), which must face up the growth of the competition through the exploitation of peculiar resources and capabilities and the choice of appropriate strategies, the analysis has been addressed to this category of firms. The objective of this work is twofold: on one side, we want to evaluate the relationship between resources of the food SMEs and the strategic choices of the firms themselves. In this way it is possible to identify which are the crucial resources playing a leading role in the entrepreneurial choices. On the other side, we want to assess the effect of these strategic choices on the performance realised by the food SMEs, basing on the fact that the strategies act as mediator between resources and performance. This two objectives will be assessed in the food SMEs located in Lombardy by applying the Structural Equation Model (SEM). In the analysis, six category of resources and capabilities have been selected: innovation, marketing, network, human resources, knowledge, and region specificity. The last one at the end has not been considered as only few firms in the ample produce PDO-PGI. Basing on these resources and capabilities, three strategic conducts have been identified: innovation conduct, product positioning conduct, and relationships\u2019 development conduct. The main finding of this study is that, when evaluating the performance of a firm, it is not enough to look only at the strategies applied, but the internal resources have also to be considered. Indeed, in our study, we found that strategic conducts based on innovation, product positioning, and relationships development have effect on the performance, but only if peculiar resources and capacities are considered integral part of them. And this is important especially for SMEs which are often characterised by idiosyncratic resources to be exploited for reaching competitive advantage. Moreover, it is confirmed that it is really important to meet consumers\u2019 needs, through continuous delivery of products shaped on their exigencies; for this reason the development of new products and the investment in R&D result to be fruitful, also when linked to the product positioning activities, which allow the firm to carry out the marketing mix and chose the most appropriate consumer target in respect with the resources of the firm. The development of relationships along the supply chain is also revealed extremely important, as they allow to improve the level of quality of the products through continuous contacts with suppliers, to have information about the desires of the consumers through relations with clients and retailers, and to guarantee them about the safety and the quality level of the products. Therefore, in the present economic scenario, characterised by increasing competition and market internationalisation, food SMEs could concentrate their attention on developing strategies which derive from specific resources and capabilities