The Multi-Purpose Airborne Sensor Carrier MASC-3 for Wind and Turbulence Measurements in the Atmospheric Boundary Layer.

For atmospheric boundary-layer (ABL) studies, unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) can provide new information in addition to traditional in-situ measurements, or by ground- or satellite-based remote sensing techniques. The ability of fixed-wing UAS to transect the ABL in short time supplement ground-based measurements and the ability to extent the data horizontally and vertically allows manifold investigations. Thus, the measurements can provide many new possibilities for investigating the ABL. This study presents the new mark of the Multi-Purpose Airborne Sensor Carrier (MASC-3) for wind and turbulence measurements and describes the subsystems designed to improve the wind measurement, to gain endurance and to allow operations under an enlarged range of environmental conditions. The airframe, the capabilities of the autopilot Pixhawk 2.1, the sensor system and the data acquisition software, as well as the post-processing software, provide the basis for flight experiments and are described in detail. Two flights in a stable boundary-layer and a close comparison to a measurement tower and a Sodar system depict the accuracy of the wind speed and direction measurements, as well as the turbulence measurements. Mean values, variances, covariance, turbulent kinetic energy and the integral length scale agree well with measurements from a meteorological measurement tower. MASC-3 performs valuable measurements of stable boundary layers with high temporal resolution and supplements the measurements of meteorological towers and sodar systems.

Influence of Di(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate on migration rate and differentiation of human hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells (CD34+).

INTRODUCTION: Phthalates are a group of synthetic plasticizers that are ubiquitous environmental pollutants with toxic and endocrine disrupting characteristics. DEHP is the most commonly used plasticizer in the world and is still applied to stem cell transfusion bags used for storage of hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells (CD34+ HSPC), which are transferred during stem cell transplantation. Here we examined the effect of DEHP on vitality of CD34+ HSPC as well as stem cell specific properties like migration and differentiation capacity - both important for successful stem cell transplantations. MATERIAL AND METHODS: CD34+ HSPC were incubated for 24 h and 72 h with DEHP concentrations ranging from 1 µg/ml to 250 µg/ml. DEHP was diluted in DMSO. Migration rate was analyzed along an SDF-1α gradient using Transwell migration inserts. Differentiation of CD34+ HSPC was investigated after two weeks in methylcellulose with colony stimulating factors. Apoptosis rate was measured via Annexin V and 7-AAD staining. RESULTS: 24 h of incubation with 10 µg/ml DEHP led to a significant (p <  0.01) decrease in migration rate of CD34+ HSPC (70.70% ± 7.53% ) with a minimum migration rate of 48.33% ± 6.72% in relation to control after incubation with 100 µg/ml DEHP for 72 h. Incubation with the highest tested DEHP concentrations (50 and 100 µg/ml) significantly (p <  0.05) altered colony formation rate and cell type distribution. Apoptosis rate of CD34+ HSPC significantly (p <  0.05) increased after incubation with concentrations of 10 µg/ml DEHP for 24 h (1.46 ± 0.19) with a maximum apoptosis rate of 2.71 ± 0.66 after 24 h incubation with the highest DEHP concentration (250 µg/ml) in relation to control. CONCLUSIONS: As shown, DEHP takes impact on migration rate, apoptosis rate, and differentiation of CD34+ HSPC. As these are functions with an important role in stem cell transplantations, the usage of DEHP-free stem cell transfusion bags should be considered.

Impact of Di(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate on migration rate of human promyelocytic leukemia cells (HL-60).

INTRODUCTION: Softeners like phthalate esters are ubiquitous in the environment and have been detected in transfusion bags, though there is only a limited amount of studies on the effect of phthalates on blood cells. This study seeks to determine effects on cell migration of human promyelocytic leukemia cells (HL-60) incubated with di(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate (DEHP) at concentrations found in blood bags. MATERIAL AND METHODS: HL-60 cells were incubated with DEHP concentrations ranging from 0.1 µg/ml to 1000 µg/ml, diluted in DMSO, over 24 h, 48 h, and 72 h. Migration rate was analyzed along an SDF-1α gradient using Transwell migration inserts. RESULTS: Of the applied concentrations 100 µg/ml, 250 µg/ml, 500 µg/ml, and 1000 µg/ml showed a significant decrease in migration rates relative to DMSO control at all measuring points (p < 0.05), with relative migration rates between 37.87 % for 100 µg/ml and 25.34 % for 1000 µg/ml relative to DMSO after 24 h of stimulation and 19.73 % for 100 µg/ml and 14.69 % for 1000 µg/ml respectively after 72 h of incubation. CONCLUSION: Our results indicate HL-60 to be a suitable in vitro model for examining effects of DEHP on the migration of blood and nucleated cells at concentrations found in blood bags.