The organochlorine 1,2,3,4,5,6 hexachlorocyclohexane (HCH) is a broad-spectrum insecticide that was used on a large-scale worldwide. The soil-plant-microbe system and its influence on HCH ...biodegradation are evaluated. A greenhouse experiment was designed to evaluate HCH dissipation and several microbial parameters among rhizosphere and bulk soil of two contrasting plants, Cytisus striatus (Hill) Rothm and Holcus lanatus L. Plants were grown for 180 days in three treatments: uncontaminated soil (control), uncontaminated soil inoculated with soil (3% w/w) from a HCH-contaminated site (INOC), and uncontaminated soil inoculated with soil (3% w/w) from the HCH-contaminated site and artificially contaminated to obtain 100 mg HCH kg-¹ dry soil (100HCH-INOC). At harvest, plant biomass, soil water-extractable organic C, pH and Cl concentration, rhizosphere microbial densities (total heterotrophs, ammonifiers, amylolytics) and C substrate utilization patterns, and degradation of α-, β-, δ- and γ-HCH isomers were determined in bulk and rhizosphere soils. Soil solution Cl concentration was determined every 30 days throughout the entire growth period. Results demonstrate that both Cytisus striatus and Holcus lanatus can grow in soils with up to 100 mg HCH kg-¹. An enhanced degradation of α-HCH, but not β- or δ-HCH, was observed in the rhizosphere. Significant changes in the microbial densities were observed between bulk and rhizosphere soils of Cytisus, and an increase in C source utilization indicated changes in community level physiological profiles (CLPP) in the rhizosphere of this species when grown in contaminated soils. HCH dissipation was also greater in soils planted with this species. In accordance, increases in soil extractable C, Cl concentration and acidity were greater at the rhizosphere of Cytisus. Concentration of Cl in soil solutions also indicates greater HCH dechlorination in soils planted with Cytisus than Holcus. Results suggest that phytostimulation of bacteria present or added to soil is a promising approach to cleaning HCH-contaminated sites, and especially for biodegradation of α-HCH.
In some AGN, nuclear dust lanes connected to kpc-scale dust structures provide all the extinction required to obscure the nucleus, challenging the role of the dusty torus proposed by the Unified ...Model. In this letter, we show the pc-scale dust and ionized gas maps of Circinus constructed using sub-arcsec-accuracy registration of infrared VLT AO images with optical Hubble Space Telescope images. We find that the collimation of the ionized gas does not require a torus but is caused by the distribution of dust lanes of the host galaxy on ∼10 pc scales. This finding questions the presumed torus morphology and its role at parsec scales, as one of its main attributes is to collimate the nuclear radiation, and is in line with interferometric observations which show that most of the pc-scale dust is in the polar direction. We estimate that the nuclear dust lane in Circinus provides 1/3 of the extinction required to obscure the nucleus. This constitutes a conservative lower limit to the obscuration at the central parsecs, where the dust filaments might get optically thicker if they are the channels that transport material from ∼100 pc scales to the centre.
We present the first sub-arcsecond resolution two-dimensional stellar kinematics and X-ray observations of the prototypical starburst galaxy NGC 253 which define the position and nature of the ...galactic nucleus. These observations comprise some of the best probes of the central 300 pc of NGC 253, the nearest massive galaxy undergoing a powerful starburst, and will allow us to gain more insight into the nature of the centers of starburst galaxies. We get an estimate of the stellar kinematic center location corresponding to an area of r {approx} 1.''2 centered {approx}0.''7 southwest (SW) from the radio core, and historically presumed nucleus, TH2. Newly processed Chandra data reveal a central point-like hard X-ray source (X-1) lying {approx}0.''4 SW from the kinematic center. Very accurate alignment between radio, infrared, and X-ray sources in the nuclear region shows that TH2, the IR photometric center, and X-1 are not associated with each other. As the kinematic center is consistent with the positions of TH2 and X-1, and both could be a manifestation of nuclear activity, we consider the two as possible galactic nucleus candidates. Although TH2 is the strongest compact radio source in the nuclear region, it does not have any infrared, optical, or X-ray counterparts. If the kinematic center is associated with this source, by analogy we suggest that the nucleus of NGC 253 resembles our Galactic center Sgr A*. On the other hand, X-1 is a heavily absorbed object (N{sub H} = 7.5 x 10{sup 23} cm{sup -2}) only detected at energies >2 keV (L{sub 2-10{sub keV}} {approx} 10{sup 40} erg s{sup -1}). If X-1 is instead associated with the kinematic center, the nucleus of NGC 253 is compatible with an obscured low-luminosity active galactic nucleus (AGN) or a spatially resolved super star cluster (SSC) brightening up in X-rays most probably due to young supernovae or supernova remnants, a situation also observed in the nuclear starburst of M82. If no SSC is associated with the kinematic center, we conclude that NGC 253 is a galaxy in which a strong starburst and a weak AGN (either TH2 or X-1) coexist. Results from few other high-resolution studies of nearby starburst galaxies (e.g., M82, NGC 5253, NGC 4945) indicate that the AGN in these systems, if present, is always in the low-luminosity regime. This may indicate that the onset of nuclear activity in galaxies is closely related with the occurrence of star formation, and that we are witnessing the emergence or disappearance of an AGN.
Differential (balanced) microstrip bandpass filters (BPFs) implemented by combining open split ring resonators (OSRRs) and open complementary split ring resonators (OCSRRs) are proposed. The OSRRs ...are series connected in both strips of the differential line, whereas the OCSRRs are paired face-to-face and connected between both line strips in a symmetric configuration. For the differential mode, the OCSRRs are virtually connected to ground and the structure can be modeled, to a first-order approximation, by a cascade of series resonators (OSRRs) alternating with shunt resonators (OCSRRs), i.e., the canonical circuit model of a BPF. These filters have the ability to suppress the common mode by properly adjusting the metallic area surrounding the OCSRRs. An order-3 balanced Chebyshev BPF is designed and fabricated to illustrate the possibilities of the approach. The filter does not require vias (contrary to previous single-ended microstrip BPFs based on OSRRs and OCSRRs), filter dimensions are small, and the common mode is efficiently suppressed with more than 20 dB rejection within the differential filter pass band.
The energy monitoring of heritage buildings has, to date, been governed by methodologies and standards that have been defined in terms of sensors that record scalar magnitudes and that are placed in ...specific positions in the scene, thus recording only some of the values sampled in that space. In this paper, however, we present an alternative to the aforementioned technologies in the form of new sensors based on 3D computer vision that are able to record dense thermal information in a three-dimensional space. These thermal computer vision-based technologies (3D-TCV) entail a revision and updating of the current building energy monitoring methodologies. This paper provides a detailed definition of the most significant aspects of this new extended methodology and presents a case study showing the potential of 3D-TCV techniques and how they may complement current techniques. The results obtained lead us to believe that 3D computer vision can provide the field of building monitoring with a decisive boost, particularly in the case of heritage buildings.
A compact microstrip power splitter based on a pair of 70.71 Ω impedance inverters implemented by means of inductively loaded slow‐wave transmission lines is designed and fabricated. As a result of ...the slow‐wave effect, associated to the presence of series‐connected semi‐lumped (meandered) inductors, the length of the constitutive inverters is 41% reduced. Moreover, because of periodicity (Bragg effect), such inverters exhibit a stop band functionality useful harmonic suppression. It is demonstrated that the number of unit cells of the inverters that are necessary to achieve efficient harmonic suppression simultaneously keeping unaltered the splitter response in the region of interest should be N = 2. The proposed power splitter is compact, neither vias nor defected ground structures are used in its design, and it exhibits efficient suppression up to at least the 2nd harmonic (at 5f0, where f0 is the design frequency).
Stir bar sorptive extraction (SBSE) and thermal desorption followed by capillary gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry (SBSE–TD–GC–MS) was applied to the simultaneous determination of ...ultra-traces of 16 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), 12 polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), 6 phthalate esters (PEs) and 3 nonylphenols (NPs) in water samples. The parameters that could affect the sorption–desorption efficiency were studied. A Plackett–Burman design was used for the screening of the main effects of the experimental parameters related to the desorption step (desorption time, desorption temperature, desorption flow, cryo-focusing temperature and vent pressure). Afterwards, two central composite designs were used to find the optimal process settings for the extraction and desorption steps. The best analytical compromise conditions for the simultaneous determination of analytes from spiked water samples were found to be: sample volume (20
mL), sodium chloride addition (30%), methanol addition (20%), desorption time (10
min), desorption temperature (300
°C), desorption flow (23
mL
min
−1), cryo-focusing temperature (−50
°C) and vent pressure (7
psi). Remarkable recovery, repeatability and reproducibility were attained. Furthermore, excellent linearities (
r
2
=
0.959–0.999) and low detection limits (0.1–10
ng
L
−1) were also achieved for the congeners studied. The proposed methodology was applied for the simultaneous determination of PAHs, PCBs, PEs and NPs in sea and estuarine waters. The influence of humic acids on the recovery was also studied.
•Samples were classified depending on the type of sample and proximity to animals.•A high percentage of samples from all categories were AMDV positive (31–100%).•Some categories without direct ...contact with animals showed a high viral load.•Differences between DNA extraction methods were found regarding AMDV quantification.•Results are helpful for revising the biosecurity and cleaning/disinfection measures.
Control and eradication of Aleutian Mink Disease Virus (AMDV) are a major concern for fur-bearing animal production. Despite notably reducing disease prevalence, current control programs are unable to prevent the reinfection of farms, and environmental AMDV persistence seems to play a major role regarding this issue. In this study 114 samples from different areas and elements of seven infected mink farms were analyzed by qPCR in order to evaluate the environmental distribution of AMDV load. Samples were classified into nine categories, depending on the type of sample and degree of proximity to the animals, the main source of infection. Two different commercial DNA extraction kits were employed in parallel for all samples. qPCR analysis showed 69.3% positive samples with one kit and 81.6% with the other, and significant differences between the two DNA extraction methods were found regarding AMDV DNA recovery. Regarding sample categorization, all categories showed a high percentage of AMDV positive samples (31%–100%). Quantification of positive samples showed a decrease in AMDV load from animal barns to the periphery of the farm. In addition, those elements in direct contact with animals, the street clothes and vehicles of farm workers and personal protective equipment used for sampling showed a high viral load, and statistical analysis revealed significant differences in AMDV load between the first and last categories. These results indicate high environmental contamination of positive farms, which is helpful for future considerations about cleaning and disinfection procedures and biosecurity protocols.
The effect of Cr and N doping in the adsorption capacity, photocatalytic properties and antibacterial response of TiO2 anatase nanoparticles is analyzed. The nanoparticles (N-TiO2, Cr-TiO2 and ...Cr/N-TiO2) were prepared by the sol-gel method. The structural (X-ray diffraction and TEM) and magnetic (SQUID magnetometry) characterization confirms the nanosized nature of the anatase nanoparticles and the absence of secondary phases. The enhancement of the adsorption capacity of the dye (methyl orange) on the surface of the catalysts for the Cr and Cr/N doped samples, together with the redshift of the UV-Vis absorbance spectra promote a high photocatalytic performance under visible light in these nanocatalysts. The culturability and viability of the Escherichia coli DH5α in a medium supplemented with the nanoparticles was characterized and compared with the evolution under visible light (both without and with nanoparticles). The results show that Cr-TiO2 nanoparticles under visible light display antibacterial activity that cannot be accounted by the toxicity of the nanoparticles alone. However the antibacterial effect is not observed in N-TiO2 and Cr/N-TiO2. The differences in the electrostatic charge (isoelectric point) and the degree of nanoparticle dispersion are invoked as the main origins of the different antibacterial response in the Cr-TiO2 nanoparticles.
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