A transport model for the evolution of urban systems

When comparing an urban system to an elasto-plastic lattice, an analogy to the solid state of matter can be exploited using the concepts of the band theory similarly. Thereafter, the population dynamics – in a region of certain stability in the state space and within appropriate energy bands – can be described in terms of Cellular Automata, with two mobile agents or pseudo particles: the inhabitant (representative of an average individual) and the recurson (representative of its multidimensional resources). As in the solid state, transition rules take the form of two coupled transport equations, comprising the terms equivalent to the generation-recombination and circulation processes. The first process can be compared to a predator–prey growth model, typical of Ecology; whereas the circulation process – composed of a drift component and a diffusion component – should be compared to the concentration-sprawl demographic balance seen in urban occupation and dynamics. Thus, it needs to be defined and determined an urban potential function, an equivalent population charge, mobility and diffusion parameters, as well as net growth factors. This analogy, discussed within the context of a case study for Great Mendoza, plausibly explains the varied growth rates of the political departments, as well as the principal urban trends for spatial occupation.     

Biotechnological storage and utilization of entrapped solar energy

Our laboratory has recently developed a device employing immobilized F₀F₁ adenosine triphosphatase (ATPase) that allows synthesis of adenosine triphosphate (ATP) from adenosine 5′-diphosphate and inorganic phosphate using solar energy. We present estimates of total solar energy received by Earth’s land area and demonstrate that its efficient capture may allow conversion of solar energy and storage into bonds of biochemicals using devices harboring either immobilized ATPase or NADH dehydrogenase. Capture and storage of solar energy into biochemicals may also enable fixation of CO₂ emanating from polluting units. The cofactors ATP and NADH synthesized using solar energy could be used for regeneration of acceptor d-ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate from 3-phosphoglycerate formed during CO₂ fixation.     

Particle-size distribution of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in urban air in southern Spain

The size distribution of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) was determined for airborne particles from a large city with high vehicular traffic. The analytical method was optimised and validated using NIST standard reference material (SRM 1649a Urban Dust). The 16 priority PAH listed in the US-EPA were Soxhlet-extracted from filtered particulate matter and then fractionated using on-column chromatography. The aromatic fraction was quantified by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Real samples of particles collected in Seville (Spain) were analysed using the validated method. Values for the total concentration of PAH in the air, as well as the concentrations of each PAH in six particle-size ranges were obtained. Values of the PAH in TSP, PM₁₀, PM_2.5 and PM₁ were assessed.     

Capillary electrophoresis determinative and GC-MS confirmatory method for water-soluble organic acids in airborne particulate matter and vehicle emission

Urban fine airborne particulate matter (PM2.5) and vehicle emission samples were studied for water-soluble low-molecular-weight carboxylic acids using CE with indirect UV detection. Further identification of these acids was achieved using GC-MS as their butyl esters (after derivatization with BF3/butanol). Several dicarboxylic acids in the range C2-C10 including straight-chain, branched-chain, cis- and trans-unsaturated, and aromatic acids were confirmed by GC-MS. In addition, aromatic acids such as benzoate, phthalate, terephthalate, isophthalate, and 4-methylphtalate were present in such samples, but some of these were not well resolved by the used CE method. Oxocarboxylic acids (Cn(w) with n > 4) were also identified by GC-MS but not determined by CE due to lack of standards. The rapidity and simplicity of the CE method were clearly demonstrated, and the method was observed to be advantageous for routine monitoring of water-soluble organic acids in airborne PM2.5 and vehicle emission at low microg/L levels.     

The Genus Cetraria s. str.—A Review of Its Botany,Phytochemistry, Traditional Uses and Pharmacology

The genus Cetraria s. str. (Parmeliaceae family, Cetrarioid clade) consists of 15 species of mostly erect brown or greenish yellow fruticose or subfoliose thallus. These Cetraria species have a cosmopolitan distribution, being primarily located in the Northern Hemisphere, in North America and in the Eurasia area. Phytochemical analysis has demonstrated the presence of dibenzofuran derivatives (usnic acid), depsidones (fumarprotocetraric and protocetraric acids) and fatty acids (lichesterinic and protolichesterinic acids). The species of Cetraria, and more particularly Cetraria islandica, has been widely employed in folk medicine for the treatment of digestive and respiratory diseases as decoctions, tinctures, aqueous extract, and infusions. Moreover, Cetraria islandica has had an important nutritional and cosmetic value. These traditional uses have been validated in in vitro and in vivo pharmacological studies. Additionally, new therapeutic activities are being investigated, such as antioxidant, immunomodulatory, cytotoxic, genotoxic and antigenotoxic. Among all Cetraria species, the most investigated by far has been Cetraria islandica, followed by Cetraria pinastri and Cetraria aculeata. The aim of the current review is to update all the knowledge about the genus Cetraria covering aspects that include taxonomy and phylogeny, morphology and distribution, ecological and environmental interest, phytochemistry, traditional uses and pharmacological properties.     

求解中国农业困局：国际视野中的农业规模经营与农业竞争力

近年来中国粮食生产出现的“高产量、高库存、高进口”现象,是由于农均耕地面积过小引起的规模经营不足。这背后,是户籍制度造成的城市化滞后以及针对外来人口的公共服务不平等。同时,政府大力补贴农业和农村,提高了农民向城市转移的机会成本,导致土地流转率不足,进一步阻碍规模经营。通过国际比较,我们认为规模化农场有利于提高农业竞争力,而小农经济现代化的成本较高。研究还发现,在世界范围内,农业劳动力转移适应农业产出比重下降的国家拥有更大的农均在（可）耕地,它对农均粮食净出口存在显著正效应。反事实分析说明,若中国2011年的农业就业比重能和产出比重相适应（即消除城乡间劳动力流动障碍）,则下一年粮食净输入将下降约89%。     

Methodology for Bioassay-Directed Fractionation Studies of Air Particulate Material and Other Complex Environmental Matrices

Abstract

A normal phase HPLC methodology using a semi-preparative polyaminocyano column in conjunction with a selection of short-term genotoxicity assays has been developed for bioassay-directed fractionation studies of complex environmental mixtures. To illustrate the effectiveness of this methodology, an organic extract prepared from respirable air particulate samples collected in Hamilton, Canada was separated into a non-polar aromatic fraction and a polar aromatic fraction using a combination of alumina and Sephadex LH20 chromatography. These fractions were evaluated for their genotoxic potential using the Salmonella/microsome (Ames) assay with six different strains of Salmonella.

The non-polar aromatic fraction was analyzed by normal phase HPLC and the eluent was collected in one-minute subfractions; these subtractions were bioassayed in three different Salmonella strains (YG1021 -S9, YG1024 -S9 and YG1029 +S9) to afford three different mutation profiles of this sample. Some subfractions which exhibited high mutagenic responses were subjected to further chemical analyses using GC/MS in order to identify those compounds responsible for the genotoxic responses. The nitroarene compounds 2-nitrofluoranthene, 1-nitropyrene and 2-nitropyrene and higher molecular weight polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons such as benzo[a]pyrene and indeno[l,2,3-cd]pyrene were identified and quantified in some of the biologically active subfractions. The normal phase gradient conditions afforded very reproducible retention times for a series of polycyclic aromatic standards with a broad range of compound polarities. In addition, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) were observed to elute from the normal phase HPLC column in a series of peaks; successive peaks contained PAH of increasing molecular weight while any individual peak was shown to contain PAH of the same molecular weight.     

New low-cost tubular ceramic microfiltration membrane based on natural sand for tangential urban wastewater treatment

In wastewater treatment, the development of low-cost separation methods is of significant importance. Low-cost membranes based on natural materials have become a highly active research topic in recent years. Herein, using low-cost natural Moroccan sand, new ceramic supports have been developed and characterized using different techniques such as X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), differential thermal analysis (DTA), along with scanning electron microscope (SEM). Plastic paste (average particle size ≤125 µm) was blended with organic additives and water, then the obtained paste was extruded into porous tubular supports. The support had a porosity of 43%, water permeability of 1928 L/h m² bar, excellent chemical and mechanical properties and an average pore diameter in the range of 8–15 µm after firing at 950 °C/2 h. As per SEM analysis, the tubular supports had a smooth and crack-free surface. The slip casting process was used to create a microfiltration layer from the same natural sand powder (average particle size ≤63 µm) using a mixture of powder sand, water, and polyvinyl alcohol solution. The water permeability of the microfiltration membrane sintered at 950 °C/2 h was 1052 L/h m² bar, the average pore size diameter was about 0.90 µm and 82% of pores had a diameter ≤1.00 µm. The obtained microfiltration membrane was tested for the treatment of urban wastewater. The membrane showed excellent separation performance in turbidity removal and chemical oxygen demand.