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The effectiveness of extracting p,p'-DDT and p,p'-DDE from aged contaminated soil samples by means of pressurized liquid extraction (PLE) was evaluated. Two soil samples, which were contaminated more than 10 years ago, were used in the investigation. The static extraction time was optimised and then validated against the total sum of target analytes obtained from multiple sequential extractions. T
The main concern about the technology for the production of hydrogen and transport fuels by biomass gasification is the presence of contaminants (H2S, tars, fly ash, alkali, and heavy metals, ammonia) that are poisonous for the catalysts used for upgrading the biomass-generated gas. The impact of the main contaminants on a Ni/MgAl(O) reforming catalyst was studied in a laboratory environment, by e
We compare different procedures for combining fixed-order tree-level matrix-element generators with parton showers. We use the case of W-production at the Tevatron and the LHC to compare different implementations of the so-called CKKW and MLM schemes using different matrix-element generators and different parton cascades. We find that although similar results are obtained in all cases, there are i
Heterocyclic amines (HCAs) are potent mutagens/carcinogens to which humans are frequently exposed through the consumption of cooked meat and fish food. The effect of normal intake of HCAs and their role in the aetiology of human cancer is unknown. To some extent, limitations of the existing analytical methods in monitoring the low levels of HCAs in biological samples have hindered obtaining conclu
Although currently available antimuscarinic agents are the standard of care for overactive bladder (OAB), they are limited by certain side effects, particularly dry mouth and constipation. Research aimed at discovering new therapies for OAB has resulted in the identification of some promising drugs. Investigations of pharmacologic targets in the central nervous system (CNS) have yielded encouragin
A lab-on-a-chip device that enables positioning of single or small ensembles of cells on an aperture in close proximity to a mercaptopropionic acid (MPA) modified sensing electrode has been developed and characterized. The microchip was used for the detection of Ca(2+)-dependent quantal catecholamine exocytosis from single as well as small assemblies of rat pheochromocytoma (PC12) cells. The frequ
Micrometer-sized enzyme grids were fabricated on gold surfaces using a novel method based on a flow-through microdispenser. The method involves dispensing very small droplets of enzyme solution (similar to 100 pL) during the concomitant relative movement of a gold substrate with respect to the nozzle of a microdispenser, resulting in enzyme patterns with a line width of similar to 100 mum. Differe
The configuration interaction (CI) method for calculating the exact eigenstates of a quantum-mechanical few-body system is problematic when applied to particles interacting through contact forces. In dimensions higher than one the approach fails due to the pathology of the Dirac δ-potential, making it impossible to reach convergence by gradually increasing the size of the Hilbert space. However, t
ESS, the European Spallation Source, will be a major user facility at which researchers from academia and industry will investigate scientific questions using neutron beams. ESS will deliver its protons to a solid, rotating tungsten target, which will in turn generate neutrons. A linear accelerator (Linac) creates protons at the ion source, accelerates them to an appropriate energy and steers them
Mining, seen as a source of revenue in most developing countries, threatens seriously the environment. Mining impacts the water quality and one of the main problems of mining is acid mine drainage. Low pH and high concentration of heavy metals characterize acid mine drainage. When a stream is impacted by acid mine drainage both human activities and the ecological system are seriously affected. In
The impact of climate variability on water demand and availability in drylands is substantial. Establishing methods to analyse precipitation (P) and evapotranspiration data sets may generate useful tools that assist in drought recognition and regional variations therein. The authors developed an index that simultaneous integrates both these variables in climate variability analysis. This study pro
Background Registry studies and case-control studies have demonstrated that the risk of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) is increased following influenza infection. Small randomized trials, underpowered for clinical end points, indicate that future cardiovascular events can be reduced following influenza vaccination in patients with established cardiovascular disease. Influenza vaccination is rec
Background and objectives: Arterial stiffness plays a significant role in the development and progression of adverse cardiovascular events and all-cause mortality. This observational study aims to explore the relationship between six acute phase proteins namely, ceruloplasmin, alpha-1-antitrypsin, orosomucoid, haptoglobin, complement C3 and C-reactive protein (CRP), and carotid-femoral pulse wave
Cellobiose dehydrogenase (CDH) is a versatile bioelectrocatalyst lately at focus due to its sugar oxidising properties in combination with its inherent ability for direct electron transfer communication with electrodes making it possible to be used in bioanodes in the enzymatic fuel cells (EFCs), self-powered biosensors, and biosupercapacitors. During the last 20 years, many new nanomaterials and
Hyperspectral imaging (HSI) and classification are established methods that are being applied in new ways to the analysis of nanoscale materials in a variety of matrices. Typically, enhanced darkfield microscopy (EDFM)-based HSI data (also known as image datacubes) are collected in the wavelength range of 400-1000 nm for each pixel in a datacube. Utilising different spectral library (SL) creation
