The verification of wildland-urban interface fire evacuation models.

This paper introduces a protocol for the verification of multi-physics wildfire evacuation models, including a set of tests used to ensure that the conceptual modelling representation of each modelling layer is accurately implemented, as well as the interactions between different modelling layers and sub-models (wildfire spread, pedestrian movement, traffic evacuation, and trigger buffers). This work presents a total of 24 verification tests, including (1) 4 tests related to pedestrians, (2) 15 tests for traffic evacuation, (3) 5 tests concerning the interaction between different modelling layers, along with 5 tests for wildfire spread and trigger buffers. The evacuation tests are organized in accordance with different core components related to evacuation modelling, namely Population, Pre-evacuation, Movement, Route/destination selection, Flow constraints, Events, Wildfire spread and Trigger buffers. A reporting template has also been developed to facilitate the application of the verification testing protocol. An example application of the testing protocol has been performed using an open wildfire evacuation modelling platform called WUI-NITY and its associated trigger buffer model k-PERIL. The verification testing protocol is deemed to improve the credibility of wildfire evacuation model results and stimulate future modelling efforts in this domain. Supplementary Information: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s11069-023-05913-2.

Fine Particle Emissions From Tropical Peat Fires Decrease Rapidly With Time Since Ignition.

Southeast Asia experiences frequent fires in fuel-rich tropical peatlands, leading to extreme episodes of regional haze with high concentrations of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) impacting human health. In a study published recently, the first field measurements of PM2.5 emission factors for tropical peat fires showed larger emissions than from other fuel types. Here we report even higher PM2.5 emission factors, measured at newly ignited peat fires in Malaysia, suggesting that current estimates of fine particulate emissions from peat fires may be underestimated by a factor of 3 or more. In addition, we use both field and laboratory measurements of burning peat to provide the first mechanistic explanation for the high variability in PM2.5 emission factors, demonstrating that buildup of a surface ash layer causes the emissions of PM2.5 to decrease as the peat fire progresses. This finding implies that peat fires are more hazardous (in terms of aerosol emissions) when first ignited than when still burning many days later. Varying emission factors for PM2.5 also have implications for our ability to correctly model the climate and air quality impacts downwind of the peat fires. For modelers able to implement a time-varying emission factor, we recommend an emission factor for PM2.5 from newly ignited tropical peat fires of 58 g of PM2.5 per kilogram of dry fuel consumed (g/kg), reducing exponentially at a rate of 9%/day. If the age of the fire is unknown or only a single value may be used, we recommend an average value of 24 g/kg.

Self-sustaining smoldering combustion: a novel remediation process for non-aqueous-phase liquids in porous media.

Smoldering combustion, the slow burning process associated typically with porous solids (e.g., charcoal), is here proposed as a novel remediation approach for nonaqueous phase liquids (NAPLs) embedded in porous media. Several one-dimensional vertical smoldering experiments are conducted on quartz sand containing fresh coal tar at an initial concentration of 71 000 mg/kg (approximately 25% saturation) and employing an upward darcy air flux of 4.25 cm/s. Following a short-duration energy input to achieve ignition at the lower boundary, a self-sustaining combustion front is observed to propagate upward at 1.3 x 10(-2) cm/s. The process is self-sustaining because the energy released during NAPL smoldering is efficiently trapped and recirculated by the soil matrix, preheating the NAPL ahead of the reaction front. The smoldering process is observed to self-terminate when all of the NAPL is destroyed or when the oxygen source is removed. Pre- and post-soil analysis revealed that NAPL smoldering reduced the concentration of total extractable petroleum hydrocarbons (TPH) from 38 000 mg/kg to below detection limits (< 0.1 mg/kg) throughout the majority of the column. A comparable experiment in which conductive heating is applied in the absence of smoldering demonstrates a 6-fold reduction in the net energy in the system and residual TPH values of 2000-35 000 mg/kg. A further repeat in which the air supply is prematurely terminated demonstrated that the NAPL smoldering process can be extinguished via external control. A suite of 23 demonstration experiments shows that NAPL smoldering is successful across a range of soil types (including simple layered systems) and contaminants (including laboratory mixtures of dodecane, DCA/ grease, TCE/oil, vegetable oil, crude oil, and mineral oil) as well as field-obtained samples of materials containing coal tar, oil drill cutting waste, and oil sands.

Factors of skin ageing share common mechanisms.

Ageing has been defined as the accumulation of molecular modifications which manifest as macroscopic clinical changes. Human skin, unique among mammalians insofar as it is deprived of fur, is particularly sensitive to environmental stress. Major environmental factors have been recognized to induce modifications of the morphological and biophysical properties of the skin. Metabolites from ingested or inhaled substances do affect skin, which is also sensitive to endogenous hormone levels. Factors as diverse as ultraviolet radiation, atmospheric pollution, wounds, infections, traumatisms, anoxya, cigarette smoke, and hormonal status have a role in increasing the rate of accumulation of molecular modifications and have thus been termed 'factors of ageing'. All these factors share as a common feature, the capability to directly or indirectly induce one of the steps of the micro-inflammatory cycle, which includes the expression of ICAM-1 in endothelial cells. This triggers a process leading to the accumulation of damages in the skin resulting in skin ageing since ICAM-1 expression provokes recruitment and diapedesis of circulating immune cells, which digest the extracellular matrix (ECM) by secreting collagenases, myeloperoxidases and reactive oxygen species. The activation of these lytic processes provokes random damage to resident cells, which in turn secrete prostaglandines and leukotrienes. These signaling molecules induce the degranulation of resident mast cells which release the autacoid histamine and the cytokine TNF-alpha thus activating endothelial cells lining adjacent capillaries which release P-selectin and synthesize ICAM-1. This closes a self-maintained micro-inflammatory cycle, which results in the accumulation of ECM damage, i.e. skin aging. In this paper we review the evidence that two factors able to induce macroscopical and molecular modifications in the skin, protein glycation and stretch, activate the micro-inflammatory cycle. We further present evidence that three additional factors, two external factors (electromagnetic fields and psychological stressors) and one internal factor (neuropeptides) also activate the micro-inflammatory cycles and may therefore be considered as factors of skin ageing.

The use of DC electrodermal potential measurements and healer's felt sense to assess the energetic nature of qi.

Because DC electrodermal potential measurements do not involve introducing a current into the body, it was postulated that temporal fluctuations in DC potential values on acupoints would be a useful method for assessing the subtle energetic changes of qi. DC potential measurements from acupoints and nonacupoints were therefore compared when energy healing practitioners were in an external focus state, were healing at a distance (external qi), or were self-healing (internal qi). The results show statistically significant differences between measurements obtained on and off acupoints and between external focus and healing states. Subjects' report of felt sense of the flow of qi moving in their body also correlated with DC potential readings, but only those readings taken on acupoints. The results support the hypothesis that pattern information from temporal fluctuations in DC potential electrodermal measurements reflects the movement and/or amount of a physical, electrical activity that corresponds to the traditional Eastern concept of qi circulating in the body.

The effects of emotions on short-term power spectrum analysis of heart rate variability .

In summary, this work extends previous findings by demonstrating that anger produces a sympathetically dominated power spectrum, whereas appreciation produces a power spectral shift toward MF and HF activity. Results suggest that positive emotions lead to alterations in HRV, which may be beneficial in the treatment of hypertension and in reducing the likelihood of sudden death in patients with congestive heart failure and coronary artery disease.

The in vitro effect of bioenergy on the conformational states of human DNA in aqueous solutions.

Conformational changes in aqueous solutions of human DNA were used as a new bioassay for bioenergy. Two subjects were tested for their ability to direct their intention to either wind or unwinding DNA presented to them in a quartz cuvette. Conformational changes of the DNA solutions were assessed by measuring the absorption spectra before and after treatment with bioenergy. The results confirm previous experiments indicating that focused human intentionality can produce significant changes in DNA conformation. The results extend previous studies by demonstrating the dynamic changes in DNA conformation over time are complex and dependent on the type of bioenergy generated. Different subjects produced different types of conformational change as indicated by shifts in the absorption spectra at either 260 nm or 310 nm. In some cases, bioenergy produced a decrease absorption at 260nm (reflecting DNA winding) and an increase absorption at 310nm. This is an anomalous response of DNA to bioenergy indicating the conformational changes observed are not due to simple winding and unwinding of the DNA helix

Monocyte adhesion to fibronectin in psoriasis.

BACKGROUND: After vascular extravasation, mononuclear cells (MNC) undergo chemotaxis and adhesion to extracellular matrix proteins, resulting in their differentiation into macrophages. Although endothelial adhesion and chemotaxis are altered in psoriasis, MNC adhesion to extracellular matrix proteins has not been previously studied in the disease. Since MNC adhesion to endothelial cells is abnormally regulated in psoriasis by TGF-beta, we tested they hypothesis that in psoriasis substance P also regulates the adhesion of monocytes to the extracellular matrix protein fibronectin. METHODS: Monocytes from 16 normal controls and 11 psoriatic individuals were isolated and purified using a two-step gradient centrifugation procedure. Adhesion to fibronectin was studied by plating monocyte suspensions onto fibronectin-precoated microtiter plates. The number of adherent cells was quantified by measuring their hexosaminidase activity. RESULTS: Although statistically significant differences in the basal (unstimulated) adhesion or in the substance P-stimulated adhesion between normal control monocytes and those obtained from psoriatic individuals were not observed, a subpopulation of psoriatics was identified who responded to substance P. Furthermore, this in vitro response to substance P was correlated with the clinical status of the subpopulation which was characterized by unstable psoriasis triggered by stressful life events. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study indicate that priming of monocytes by the extracellular matrix protein fibronectin or by elevated levels of substance P are not critical steps in the pathogenesis of stable, chronic psoriasis. Substance P may contribute to the appearance of new lesions in some individuals with unstable psoriasis.

Factors affecting the growth and maintenance of human skin mast cells in cell culture.

The isolation and kinetics of survival of human mast cells from newborn and adult skin is described. Recombinant human interleukins and conditioned medium from several human cell lines were tested for their ability to maintain mast cells in vitro. Growth medium supplemented with IL-2, IL-4 and conditioned medium from a mixed lymphocyte culture enhanced mast cell survival resulting in a 30-fold increase in survival (relative to that obtained with non-supplemented medium) at 7 days, and a 15-fold increase at 15 days. Cell survival for time periods longer than 21 days was not observed. Inclusion of cAMP, agents that elevate cAMP, insulin, and epidermal growth factor in supplemented growth medium prevented the enhanced survival by 40-70%. Incorporation of bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU) into mast cells in 3-day cultures demonstrated that 15% of the mast cell population was capable of proliferation. At 21 days, no incorporation of BrdU could be detected. After 3 days in culture mast cells released 16% of their histamine stores in response to A23187 and 10% in response to anti-human IgE. Electron microscopy of cultured cells at 3 days revealed cells with both intact and empty mast cell granules. These results demonstrate that human skin mast cells proliferate in response to cytokines and release histamine when stimulated with classical secretagogues. Since human skin mast cells retain these basic properties in vitro, they may be useful in further functional studies involving their proliferation and secretion.

The role of psychoneuroimmunology in the pathogenesis of psoriasis.

Although it is well known that stress can trigger and exacerbate psoriasis, the exact mechanism is unknown. An explanation is presented based on recent findings in psychoneuroimmunology. The number of cutaneous sensory nerves known to release neuropeptides, such as substance P, is increased in patients with psoriasis. Preliminary data indicate altered concentrations in psoriatic lesions of the same neuropeptides known to be altered in the brain during stress. An anatomical pathway is suggested to explain how descending information from the brain could cause release of neuropeptides in the skin, which would then induce psoriasis. Biochemical and clinical evidence is presented to support the relationship between stress and psoriasis.

Corona discharge photography of human breast tumour biopsies.

Corona discharge photography of human breast carcinoma biopsies was directly compared with normal adjacent breast tissue from the same patient by photographing the samples simultaneously with a split grounding electrode. Samples were immersed in saline and adjusted to the same weight to ensure identical conditions and to eliminate moisture and pressure artifacts. Tumour samples always showed an increased corona discharge intensity and contained characteristic regions of high intensity light as compared with normal tissue. The technique may therefore be useful as a new non-invasive diagnostic technique for early detection of surface tumours. The results are discussed in terms of a possible contribution of ultra-weak photon emission since this technique gives similar results to those reported here.

Characteristics of a new human neuroblastoma cell line which differentiates in response to cyclic adenosine 3':5'-monophosphate.

A new human cell line, TR14 , has been established in tissue culture from biopsy material of a primary neuroblastoma tumor. Most TR14 cells have short processes and grow mainly in clumps adhering to cells attached to the substratum. TR14 cells form colonies in soft agar demonstrating anchorage independence of growth and produce tumors in nude mice with histologies similar to that of the patient's tumor. The neurotransmitter-synthesizing activity of these cells is predominantly cholinergic with only a minor adrenergic component, since the activity of choline acetyltransferase is about 20-fold greater than that of tyrosine hydroxylase. Treatment with N6,O2'-dibutyryl cyclic adenosine 3':5'-monophosphate induces TR14 neuroblastoma cells to extend fine, long processes or neurites. This morphological change is accompanied by elevated numbers of cytoplasmic dense-core vesicles observed by electron microscopy and an increase in the activities of neurotransmitter-synthesizing enzymes. Differentiation therefore occurs at the levels of cellular morphology, ultrastructure, and biochemistry. Prostaglandin E1 and cholera toxin can also induce differentiation, but a range of other agents including dimethyl sulfoxide, nerve growth factor, butyrate, corticosteroids, and 5-bromodeoxyuridine is ineffective. The concomitant induction of both morphological and biochemical differentiation therefore appears to be exclusively a cyclic adenosine 3':5'-monophosphate-mediated event in this cell line.

Excretion of catecholamines and their metabolites in transplantable rat phaeochromocytoma.

The urinary excretion pattern of catecholamines and their metabolites was studied in rats bearing a subcutaneous transplantable phaeochromocytoma. Compared with normal rats, tumour-bearing animals showed a markedly raised excretion of dopamine, noradrenaline and adrenaline, together with certain of their major acidic and alcoholic metabolites. No evidence of increased octopamine production could be obtained. There was a significant correlation between the output of dopamine and its metabolites, allowing accurate assessment of dopamine turnover rates which were comparable with those observed in human phaeochromocytoma. Tumour development, as determined by tumour weight, also correlated significantly with urinary excretion of noradrenaline and dopamine. Rat phaeochromocytoma appears to be a useful model for the human tumour.

Characterization of human brain phenolsulphotransferase.

Both human phenolsulphotransferase M (for monoamines) and P (for phenol) were detected in eight out of twelve brains examined postmortem. Activity values were low compared with those in other human tissues and in brains from other species. The activity of both forms was unevenly distributed in different brain regions in a pattern different from that of the monoamines. From a study of substrate specificity, Km values, and inhibitor sensitivity, the two forms of the human brain enzyme did not appear to differ from their counterparts in platelet.

Human platelet phenolsulphotransferase M and P: substrate specificities and correlation with in vivo sulphoconjugation of paracetamol and salicylamide.

Human platelet phenolsulphotransferase exists in two functional forms. M and P. In this study the substrate specificity of the two forms has been further delineated by correlating activities in different individuals with various substrates. m-Tyramine, noradrenaline, adrenaline, 5-hydroxytryptamine, p-hydroxyamphetamine, isoprenaline, salbutamol and l-naphthol were all specific substrates for the M form of the enzyme. Paracetamol, a mixed substrate, was predominantly metabolized by the M form. Salicylamide at 5 microM was a substrate for the P form but became and M substrate at higher concentration. Phenol itself, a specific substrate for phenolsulphotransferase P at 10 microM, also became an M substrate at 1 mM concentration. These substrate specificities were confirmed with the selective inhibitor, dichloronitrophenol. In this study, we measured phenolsulphotransferase activity in platelets from 13 individuals selected on the basis of their wide variation in ability to sulphoconjugate paracetamol and salicylamide in vivo. There was no significant relationship between the in vivo pattern with either drug and the activity of platelet phenolsulphotransferase assayed with paracetamol or salicylamide respectively.

Multiple forms of phenolsulphotransferase in human tissues: selective inhibition by dichloronitrophenol.

Evidence is presented for two functional forms of phenolsulphotransferase in human tissues: (1) activity ratios, using dopamine and phenol as substrates, varied 30-fold between different tissues, whereas the dopamine to tyramine activity ratio was relatively constant; (2) incubation at 37 degrees caused a selective decrease in activity towards dopamine compared with phenol; and (3) phenol sulphoconjugation was selectively inhibited by dichloronitrophenol and pentachlorophenol compared with that of dopamine and tyramine. The two forms, which have been designated M (monoamines) and P (phenol), were both present in platelets, jejunum, adrenal and brain.

Sulphate conjugation of biologically active monoamines and their metabolites by human platelet phenolsulphotransferase.

The substrate specificity of phenosulphotransferase in human platelets has been studied using a wide range of biogenic amines and their metabolites. Substantially differing activities were observed at 30 mumol/l; the enzyme was more active towards the catecholamines and their alcoholic metabolites than the corresponding acids (with the exception of 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid which did not appear to be a substrate) and the relative order was not changed by dialysis to remove possible low molecular mass inhibitors. However, most of the V values were similar to each other, reflecting a large variation if Km values, ranging from 0.3 mumol/l for 3-methoxytyramine to 3700 mumol/l for 4-hydroxy-3-methoxymandelic acid. All substrates showed substrate inhibition. Dopamine, noradrenaline and adrenaline all had a high affinity for the enzyme, with Km values of 3.0, 5.0 and 2.7 mumol/l respectively. These values are considerably lower than those for monoamine oxidase and the relative importance of oxidation and sulphoconjugation of these amines in vivo may be concentration dependent. Human platelet phenolsulphotransferase appears different from the rat enzyme, but similar to that described by others in human brain. The platelet should be a useful source of enzyme for clinical studies.