Stratospheric aircraft exhaust plume and wake chemistry studies

This report documents progress to date in an ongoing study to analyze and model emissions leaving a proposed High Speed Civil Transport (HSCT) from when the exhaust gases leave the engine until they are deposited at atmospheric scales in the stratosphere. Estimates are given for the emissions, summarizing relevant earlier work (CIAP) and reviewing current propulsion research efforts. The chemical evolution and the mixing and vortical motion of the exhaust are analyzed to track the exhaust and its speciation as the emissions are mixed to atmospheric scales. The species tracked include those that could be heterogeneously reactive on the surfaces of the condensed solid water (ice) particles and on exhaust soot particle surfaces. Dispersion and reaction of chemical constituents in the far wake are studied with a Lagrangian air parcel model, in conjunction with a radiation code to calculate the net heating/cooling. Laboratory measurements of heterogeneous chemistry of aqueous sulfuric acid and nitric acid hydrates are also described. Results include the solubility of HCl in sulfuric acid which is a key parameter for modeling stratospheric processing. We also report initial results for condensation of nitric acid trihydrate from gas phase H2O and HNO3

Stratospheric aircraft exhaust plume and wake chemistry

Progress to date in an ongoing study to analyze and model emissions leaving a proposed High Speed Civil Transport (HSCT) from when the exhaust gases leave the engine until they are deposited at atmospheric scales in the stratosphere is documented. A kinetic condensation model was implemented to predict heterogeneous condensation in the plume regime behind an HSCT flying in the lower stratosphere. Simulations were performed to illustrate the parametric dependence of contrail droplet growth on the exhaust condensation nuclei number density and size distribution. Model results indicate that the condensation of water vapor is strongly dependent on the number density of activated CN. Incorporation of estimates for dilution factors into a Lagrangian box model of the far-wake regime with scale-dependent diffusion indicates negligible decrease in ozone and enhancement of water concentrations of 6-13 times background, which decrease rapidly over 1-3 days. Radiative calculations indicate a net differential cooling rate of the plume about 3K/day at the beginning of the wake regime, with a total subsidence ranging between 0.4 and 1 km. Results from the Lagrangian plume model were used to estimate the effect of repeated superposition of aircraft plumes on the concentrations of water and NO(y) along a flight corridor. Results of laboratory studies of heterogeneous chemistry are also described. Kinetics of HCl, N2O5 and ClONO2 uptake on liquid sulfuric acid were measured as a function of composition and temperature. Refined measurements of the thermodynamics of nitric acid hydrates indicate that metastable dihydrate may play a role in the nucleation of more stable trihydrates PSC's

A bioinventory of select terrestrial insects at Braidwood Dunes and Savanna Nature Preserve (Will County, Illinois)

We conducted an inventory of select terrestrial insect groups at Braidwood Dunes and Savanna Nature Preserve in 2011 and 2012. A total of 823 unique species, representing 19 orders of Hexapods, were recorded using a variety of sampling methods (including: light trapping, pitfall trapping, sweep net, vacuum sample, litter sample, soil core, wine rope, visual transect). Intensive studies focused on springtails (Collembola), grasshoppers, crickets and katydids (Orthoptera), true bugs (Hemiptera: Heteroptera), leafhoppers and kin (Hemiptera: Auchenorrhyncha), ground beetles (Coleoptera: Carabidae) and butterflies and macromoths (Lepidoptera). We estimate that our records comprise around 11% of the total fauna of Hexapoda that occur at this 315--‐acre site. We evaluated sampling completeness for each group and compared, richness, diversity and evenness across habitat types. Special attention was focused on midwestern remnant dependent species, conservative prairie and savanna insects of the Chicago Wilderness region, and species that appear on Illinois' list of species in greatest need of conservation. We provide the Forest Preserve District of Will County with management recommendations relating to the terrestrial for this site, as well as a large collection of images covering many of the species we encountered. Braidwood Dunes and Savanna Nature Preserve contains a variety of rare and understudied species, some of which have only infrequently been encountered. These animals play a Cover photo: Papaipema speciosissima (Noctuidae), the Osmunda Borer Moth 3 wide variety of roles within the ecosystem and various habitats, and warrant special consideration and appreciation not only by land managers but also by the members of the public with an interest in the natural world.unpublishednot peer reviewe

Evaluation of nitrogen dioxide chemiluminescence monitors in a polluted urban environment

International audienceData from a recent field campaign in Mexico City are used to evaluate the performance of the EPA Federal Reference Method for monitoring the ambient concentrations of NO2. Measurements of NO2 from standard chemiluminescence monitors equipped with molybdenum oxide converters are compared with those from Tunable Infrared Laser Differential Absorption Spectroscopy (TILDAS) and Differential Optical Absorption Spectroscopy (DOAS) instruments. A significant interference in the chemiluminescence measurement is shown to account for up to 50% of ambient NO2 concentration during afternoon hours. As expected, this interference correlates well with non-NOx reactive nitrogen species (NOz) as well as with ambient O3 concentrations, indicating a photochemical source for the interfering species. A combination of ambient gas phase nitric acid and alkyl and multifunctional alkyl nitrates is deduced to be the primary cause of the interference. Observations at four locations at varying proximities to emission sources indicate that the percentage contribution of HNO3 to the interference decreases with time as the air parcel ages. Alkyl and multifunctional alkyl nitrate concentrations are calculated to reach concentrations as high as several ppb inside the city, on par with the highest values previously observed in other urban locations. Averaged over the MCMA-2003 field campaign, the chemiluminescence monitor interference resulted in an average measured NO2 concentration up to 22% greater than that from co-located spectroscopic measurements. Thus, this interference has the potential to initiate regulatory action in areas that are close to non-attainment and may mislead atmospheric photochemical models used to assess control strategies for photochemical oxidants

Weber and church governance: religious practice and economic activity

The debate about the relationship between religion and economic activity in the wake of Weber has been cast largely in terms of belief and values. This article suggests an alternative focus on practice. It argues that taken for granted practices of church governance formed to-hand resources for the organization of economic activity. The argument is developed through an examination of the historical development of church governance practices in the Presbyterian Church of Scotland, with particular emphasis on the way in which theological belief gave rise to practices of accountability and record keeping. In turn such practices contributed to a ‘culture of organization’ which had implications for economic activity. A focus on governance practices can help to illuminate enduring patterns of difference in the organization of economic activity

Agriculture in the Trans-Pacific Partnership

The Trans-Pacific Partnership is a trade and investment agreement under negotiation by 12 countries in the Pacific Rim. This report assesses this partnership's potential impacts on the region's agriculture in 2025

Direct reprogramming of human fibroblasts into dopaminergic neuron-like cells

Transplantation of exogenous dopaminergic neuron (DA neurons) is a promising approach for treating Parkinson's disease (PD). However, a major stumbling block has been the lack of a reliable source of donor DA neurons. Here we show that a combination of five transcriptional factors Mash1, Ngn2, Sox2, Nurr1, and Pitx3 can directly and effectively reprogram human fibroblasts into DA neuron-like cells. The reprogrammed cells stained positive for various markers for DA neurons. They also showed characteristic DA uptake and production properties. Moreover, they exhibited DA neuron-specific electrophysiological profiles. Finally, they provided symptomatic relief in a rat PD model. Therefore, our directly reprogrammed DA neuron-like cells are a promising source of cell-replacement therapy for PD

Microsatellite and Mitochondrial Data Provide Evidence for a Single Major Introduction for the Neartic Leafhopper Scaphoideus titanus in Europe

Scaphoideus titanus, a leafhopper native to North America and invasive in Europe, is the vector of the Flavescence dorée phytoplasma, the causal agent of the most important form of grapevine yellows in European vineyards. We studied 10 polymorphic microsatellite loci and a 623 bp fragment of the mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase II gene in native S. titanus from north-eastern America and introduced European populations, to elucidate the colonization scenario. Consistent with their recent history, invasive European populations were less genetically diverse than American populations for both types of markers, suggesting a recent bottleneck. Significant isolation by distance was detected between American populations but not between European populations. None of the European mitochondrial haplotypes was found in the American vineyards, from which they are assumed to have originated. The precise source of the invasive S. titanus populations therefore remains unclear. Nevertheless, the high heterozygosity of North-East American populations (which contained 92% of the observed alleles) suggests that this region is part of the native range of S. titanus. Clustering population genetics analyses with microsatellite and mitochondrial data suggested that European populations originated from a single introduction event. Most of the introduced populations clustered with populations from Long Island, the Atlantic Coast winegrowing region in which Vitis aestivalis occurs

Cicadellidae Latreille 1825

Cicadellidae: Cicadellinae: Cicadellini Draeculacephala robinsoni Hamilton Draeculacephala robinsoni Hamilton, 1967: 767 Draeculacephala sphagneticola Hamilton, 1985: 100 Material examined. We collected 116 specimens (54 ♀, 53 ♂, 9 nymphs) in the 11 sites where the species was found to occur and on the sticky traps for flying pest monitoring (Table 1). Adult specimens were measured and the colouration of the abdominal sterna was noted. Two specimens from Banyuls-sur-Mer (1 ♂, 1 ♀, on 23.v.2021) are deposited in the Hemiptera collection in the Muséum National d’Histoire Naturelle, Paris (MNHN) with accession numbers MNHN-EH 24788 and MNHN-EH 24789. In addition, two specimens (1 ♂, 1 ♀, caught on 22.vii.2021) from the same location are deposited at the US National Museum of Natural History, Washington, DC (USNM) with accession numbers 01513790 and 01513791. In October, when more sites had been discovered in France, specimens from Banyuls-sur-Mer (3 ♂, 2 ♀, caught on 07.x.2021) and Argelès-sur-Mer (3 ♂, 2 ♀, caught on 15.x.2021) were sent to INRA in Montpellier for genetic analyses. The remaining specimens from France are deposited in the personal collection of VR, the Spanish specimens are in the collection of AMN. For comparison, numerous males and females of D. robinsoni from North America deposited at USNM, many of which were determined by C. Dietrich during the latest revision of the genus (Dietrich, 1994), were examined. Identification. The preponderance of characters observed in the specimens found in France and Spain are most consistent with D. robinsoni sensu Dietrich (1994). These characters are documented from the Europeancollected specimens here, which may be helpful if future taxonomic or nomenclatural changes are made in this group. Following the key given in Dietrich (1994), the characters supporting the identification as D. robinsoni here are: 1) transpleural macula present (Fig. 4C, D +F), 2) hind femoral macrosetal formula 2+1+1, 3) hind tarsomere I outer row usually with one or two small paleate setae at base (Fig. 4J +K), 4) antennal ledge not uniformly dark brown (Fig. 4E +F), 5) forewing veins light blue (Fig. 3A +B, Fig. 4 A-D), 6) aedeagus dorsomedial process sharply pointed (Fig. 4G), 7) dorsal maculae of head distinct (Fig. 4A +B), 8) females>8.0 mm (46 ♀ measured: mean: 9.2 mm, min: 8.2 mm, max: 10.1 mm), male> 6.6 mm (50 ♂: mean: 7.4 mm, min: 6.8 mm, max: 8.0 mm), 9) clypellus in lateral view angulate (Fig. 4C +D), 10) mesonotum without submedial spots (Fig. 4A +B), 11) pronotum in lateral view with one postocular macula (Fig. 4C +D), 12) subgenital plates strongly tapered, macrosetae large, 13) male crown shorter than pronotum (Fig. 4B +D), 14) anteroventral angle of aedeagus lying cephalad of dorsal process (Fig. 4G) (caudad of process in D. producta according to Hamilton (1985), Fig. 51), 15) abdominal 2S apodeme (Fig. 4I) as in Hamilton (1985), Fig. 56A and 16) abdominal 3S apodeme closest to Fig. 61B of Hamilton (1985). As noted by Dietrich (1994) and as illustrated by Hamilton (1985), the apodemes of male sternites 2S and 3S appear to be quite variable within D. robinsoni and among species. Thus, their utility in diagnosing species may be limited in this group. In Dietrich’s (1994) key, couplet 24, D. producta and D. robinsoni are separated in part by the coloration of the male abdominal sterna. D. producta is stated to have the sterna dark brown to black and D. robinsoni with the sterna entirely brown or with various amounts of yellow (or completely yellow in some Florida populations). Black abdominal sterna would, in part, suggest an identification of D. producta. However, most of the male specimens found in France and Spain have completely black abdominal sterna while in some the abdominal sterna are pale yellow which suggests variation within the species. Additionally, some specimens at USNM identified as D. robinsoni that are outside of the distribution of D. producta (e.g. from Edgewood, MD and Washington, DC) were observed with very dark brown to black abdominal sterna, again suggesting that this character is more variable than suggested in the key of Dietrich (1994). In summary, the characters observed in the specimens from France and Spain strongly support the identification of D. robinsoni sensu Dietrich (1994) as currently understood. However, this taxonomically challenging species group deserves more attention in order to clarify species boundaries and characters that define them. Distribution and biology in Europe. We were able to record D. robinsoni in 11 different sites that spanned a distance of 86 km from Argelès-sur-Mer in France to Estany de Sils in Spain (Fig. 1, Table 1). In France, it was found in the beds of the rivers Ballaury, Rec de la Coma Pascola, Massane, El Duí and El Ravaner. They were mostly dry but covered by lush green ruderal vegetation even during the hottest periods of the Mediterranean summer. In Spain the species occurred in large permanent wetland sites (Aiguamolls de l’Empordà, Estany de Sils, Estany de Banyoles) (Fig. 2C +D). In the Aiguamolls de l’Empordà the habitat consists of pastures and meadows which are the result of the drying out of large coastal lagoons located between the mouths of the rivers Muga and Fluvià. These grasslands are periodically flooded, naturally during the rainy season and artificially during the summer. Here, D. robinsoni has formed the densest populations and hundreds of specimens could be observed when walking through the wetlands. Population sizes in e.g. Rec de la Coma Pascola and El Duí in France were much lower and only few specimens could be recorded. In both France and Spain adult specimens and nymphs were present all through the summer from the end of May when the species was first found until the end of October. Potential host plants in France present in the riverbed of the Ballaury where the species was captured first were Agrostis stolonifera L., Arundo donax L., Avena sterilis L., Cynodon dactylon * (L.) Pers., Bromus catharticus* Vahl, Paspalum distichum * L., Polypogon viridis (Gouan) Breistr. and Polypogon maritimus Willd. (Poaceae) and Cyperus esculentus L., Cyperus eragrostis* Lam. and Scirpoides holoschoenus (L.) Soják (Cyperaceae). Non-native species are marked with an asterisk (*). In France, Paspalum disticum was found to occur in all sites where nymphs could be recorded. Larval development is thus likely to occur on this species of Poaceae.Published as part of Rösch, Verena, Marques, Eduard, Miralles-Núñez, Adrià, Zahniser, James N. & Wilson, Michael R., 2022, Draeculacephala robinsoni Hamilton, 1967 (Hemiptera: Auchenorrhyncha Cicadellidae), a newly introduced species and genus in Europe with comments on its identification, pp. 439-448 in Zootaxa 5116 (3) on pages 443-445, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5116.3.8, http://zenodo.org/record/637228

Draeculacephala robinsoni Hamilton, 1967 (Hemiptera: Auchenorrhyncha Cicadellidae), a newly introduced species and genus in Europe with comments on its identification

Rösch, Verena, Marques, Eduard, Miralles-Núñez, Adrià, Zahniser, James N., Wilson, Michael R. (2022): Draeculacephala robinsoni Hamilton, 1967 (Hemiptera: Auchenorrhyncha Cicadellidae), a newly introduced species and genus in Europe with comments on its identification. Zootaxa 5116 (3): 439-448, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5116.3.