Isoprene nitrates: preparation, separation, identification, yields, and atmospheric chemistry

Isoprene is an important atmospheric volatile organic compound involved in ozone production and NO<sub>x</sub> (NO+NO<sub>2</sub>) sequestration and transport. Isoprene reaction with OH in the presence of NO can form either isoprene hydroxy nitrates ("isoprene nitrates") or convert NO to NO<sub>2</sub> which can photolyze to form ozone. While it has been shown that isoprene nitrate production can represent an important sink for NO<sub>x</sub> in forest impacted environments, there is little experimental knowledge of the relative importance of the individual isoprene nitrate isomers, each of which has a different fate and reactivity. In this work, we have identified the 8 individual isomers and determined their total and individual production yields. The overall yield of isoprene nitrates at atmospheric pressure and 295 K was found to be 0.070(+0.025/−0.015). Three isomers, representing nitrates resulting from OH addition to a terminal carbon, represent 90% of the total IN yield. We also determined the ozone rate constants for three of the isomers, and have calculated their atmospheric lifetimes, which range from ~1–2 h, making their oxidation products likely more important as atmospheric organic nitrates and sinks for nitrogen

Controlled Cold Water and Water Slushy Ingestion, and Heat Performance in Subjects of Average Fitness

Fluid ingestion is known to improve exercise performance and could lead to a heat sink effect, if cold enough. While research has been conducted on the influence of hydration in exercise performance, little has been done which consider beverages’ temperature during controlled consumption. PURPOSE: To examine the effect of controlled consumption of water at different temperatures on heat performance in subjects of average fitness. METHODS: Fifteen males, ages 18-29, with no prior heat illness were recruited. Subjects were tested for body composition and peak oxygen consumption (VO2peak) prior to testing. All subjects underwent three experimental trials [cold water (CD=4̊C), water slushy (SL=-1̊C), room temperature water (RM=22̊C)] in a balanced crossover design. Subjects were required to exercise on a cycle ergometer at intensity 70% VO2peak (vigorous exercise) in the heat (34.0±0.6̊C, 41.7±2.7% RH, 3.6 km∙hr∙-1 wind speed) until volitional maximum. Subjects were required to consume a controlled volume (2.5 g∙kgBodyMass-1) of one of the treatments (CD, SL, RM) every 10 minutes each trial. Measurements for maximum exercise time (ExT), pre-/post-core body temperature change (ΔTc), heart rate (HR), mean skin temperature (MTsk), sweat rate (SR), and RPE were recorded. One-way (beverage) or two-way (beverage x time) ANOVA with repeated measures was used (α=0.05). RESULTS: ExT did not differ significantly between treatments (CD=33.8±9.4 min; SL=35.0±9.8 min; RM=31.5±8.6 min) but a trend (p=0.0680) was seen where SL&CD\u3eRM, which was supported by all subjects having their longest bouts during CD (n=10) and SL (n=5) trials. Neither ΔTc (CD=0.69±0.36˚C, SL=0.64±0.43˚C, RM=0.77±0.45˚C), or SR (CD=1545±1109 ml·hr-1; SL=1837±692 ml·hr-1; RM=1891±489 ml·hr-1), differed (p\u3e0.05) between treatments. A main effect for beverage was seen in HR (CD=157±16 bpm; SL=153±18 bpm; RM=160±17 bpm)(p\u3c0.05) where SLsk or RPE (p\u3e0.05). A main effect for time (p\u3c0.05) was see in HR (T20=161±18 bpm\u3eT10=153±16 bpm), MTsk (T20=36.2±0.3˚C\u3eT10=35.9±0.3˚C), and RPE (T20=5.8±2.1 (0-10)\u3eT10=3.3±1.4 (0-10)). A trend towards significant beverage x time interaction was seen for HR (p=0.0900) but treatments did not respond differently over time for MTsk or RPE (p\u3e0.05). HR at volitional maximum differed between treatments (CD=168±20 bpm; SL=165±20 bpm; RM=173±20 bpm)(p\u3c0.05), specifically SLsk or RPE (p\u3e0.05). CONCLUSION: SL appeared to improve performance over RM, but not CD. There may be a point where colder beverage temperature does not yield a greater heat sink effect or, results could have been due to shorter exercise time in subjects of average fitness

Mechanical deformation induces depolarization of neutrophils

The transition of neutrophils from a resting state to a primed state is an essential requirement for their function as competent immune cells. This transition can be caused not only by chemical signals but also by mechanical perturbation. After cessation of either, these cells gradually revert to a quiescent state over 40 to 120 min. We use two biophysical tools, an optical stretcher and a novel microcirculation mimetic, to effect physiologically relevant mechanical deformations of single nonadherent human neutrophils. We establish quantitative morphological analysis and mechanical phenotyping as label-free markers of neutrophil priming. We show that continued mechanical deformation of primed cells can cause active depolarization, which occurs two orders of magnitude faster than by spontaneous depriming. This work provides a cellular-level mechanism that potentially explains recent clinical studies demonstrating the potential importance, and physiological role, of neutrophil depriming in vivo and the pathophysiological implications when this deactivation is impaired, especially in disorders such as acute lung injury.We acknowledge financial support by the Cambridge Commonwealth Trust (to A.E.E.), the European Research Council (Starting Grant “Light Touch” to J.G.), and the National Institute for Health Research Cambridge Biomedical Research Centre (to E.R.C.). C.S. is a Wellcome Trust Postdoctoral Clinical Research Fellow (101692MA), and C.F. is a Medical Research Council Clinical Training Fellow

80,000,000 hooligans. Discourses of resistance to racism and xenophobia in German punk lyrics 1991-1994

The late eighties and early nineties in Germany were not only marked by the fall of the Wall and German unification, but also by the dramatization of the political issue of asylum, resulting in outbreaks of xenophobic violence. In the context of the asylum debate of the early nineties, a number of punk bands produced songs between 1991 and 1994 which criticise the xenophobic climate created by the asylum debate and undermine an exculpatory official discourse about the violent attacks. The lyrics of these songs will be analysed as instances of counter-discourse emerging from a subcultural sphere that nurtures a critical distance towards hegemonic public and political discourse, arguing that Critical Discourse Analysis should pay more attention to defiance of hegemonic discourse

Ghosts of other stories: a synthesis of hauntology, crime and space

Criminology has long sought to illuminate the lived experience of those at the margins. More recently, there has been a turn toward the spatial in the discipline. This paper sets out an analytical framework that synthesizes spatial theory with hauntology. We demonstrate how a given space's violent histories can become embedded in the texts that constitute it and the language that describes it. The art installation ‘Die Familie Schneider’ is used as an example of how the incorporation of social trauma can lead to the formation of a spatial “crypt”. Cracking open this “crypt” allows us to draw out Derrida's notion of the specter within the context of a “haunted” city space

2013 Review and Update of the Genetic Counseling Practice Based Competencies by a Task Force of the Accreditation Council for Genetic Counseling

The first practice based competencies (PBCs) for the field of genetic counseling were adopted by the American Board of Genetic Counseling (ABGC), 1996. Since that time, there has been significant growth in established and new work settings (clinical and non‐clinical) and changes in service delivery models and the roles of genetic counselors. These changes prompted the ABGC to appoint a PBC Task Force in 2011 to review the PBCs with respect to their current relevance and to revise and update them as necessary. There are four domains in the revised PBCs: (I) Genetics Expertise and Analysis (II) Interpersonal, Psychosocial and Counseling Skills (III) Education and (IV) Professional Development and Practice. There are 22 competencies, each clarified with learning objectives or samples of activities and skills; a glossary is included. New competencies were added that address genomics, genetic testing and genetic counselors’ roles in risk assessment, education, supervision, conducting research and presenting research options to patients. With PBCs serving as the pre‐defined abilities or outcomes of training, graduating genetic counselors will be well prepared to enter the field with a minimum level of skills and abilities. A description of the Task Force’s work, key changes and the 2013 PBCs are presented herein.Peer Reviewedhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/147172/1/jgc40868.pd

The Aminopeptidase CD13 Induces Homotypic Aggregation in Neutrophils and Impairs Collagen Invasion.

Aminopeptidase N (CD13) is a widely expressed cell surface metallopeptidase involved in the migration of cancer and endothelial cells. Apart from our demonstration that CD13 modulates the efficacy of tumor necrosis factor-α-induced apoptosis in neutrophils, no other function for CD13 has been ascribed in this cell. We hypothesized that CD13 may be involved in neutrophil migration and/or homotypic aggregation. Using purified human blood neutrophils we confirmed the expression of CD13 on neutrophils and its up-regulation by pro-inflammatory agonists. However, using the anti-CD13 monoclonal antibody WM-15 and the aminopeptidase enzymatic inhibitor bestatin we were unable to demonstrate any direct involvement of CD13 in neutrophil polarisation or chemotaxis. In contrast, IL-8-mediated neutrophil migration in type I collagen gels was significantly impaired by the anti-CD13 monoclonal antibodies WM-15 and MY7. Notably, these antibodies also induced significant homotypic aggregation of neutrophils, which was dependent on CD13 cross-linking and was attenuated by phosphoinositide 3-kinase and extracellular signal-related kinase 1/2 inhibition. Live imaging demonstrated that in WM-15-treated neutrophils, where homotypic aggregation was evident, the number of cells entering IL-8 impregnated collagen I gels was significantly reduced. These data reveal a novel role for CD13 in inducing homotypic aggregation in neutrophils, which results in a transmigration deficiency; this mechanism may be relevant to neutrophil micro-aggregation in vivo.This work was funded by a Medical Research Council Research Training Fellowship to CAF (G0900329), Addenbrooke’s Charitable Trust (ACT), CUHNHSFT, Papworth Hospital NHS Foundation Trust and the NIHR Cambridge Biomedical Research Centre. CAF received a Raymond and Beverly Sackler Studentship.This is the final version of the article. It first appeared from the Public Library of Science via http://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.016010