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Long–range transport of the Saharan dust plumes during May–August of each year is a prominent feature over the tropical North Atlantic. Observations of temperature profiles are highly desirable in clarifying the impacts of the Saharan dust plumes over the tropical North Atlantic. In this work we evaluate positive temperature anomalies (inversions in the lower troposphere) in the North Atlantic low troposphere originating from Western Africa, and to examine the correspondence of these events to Saharan dust plumes, using several temperature sources and satellite–detected measurements of Aerosol Index. We combine profiles of temperature observations from FORMOSAT–3/COSMIC (F3C) with aerosol observations from Ozone Monitoring Instrument (OMI) to provide direct evidence of the Saharan dust plumes modifying environmental stability. The F3C observations show good profile measurements compared with the radiosondes in the lower troposphere, with the average temperature differences less than 0.5 K. The F3C results were also compared with the Aqua Advanced Infrared Radiation Sounder (AIRS) and meteorological analyses from the National Centers for Environmental Predictions (NCEP), the United Kingdom Met Office (UKMO), and the European Centre for Medium Range Weather Forecast (ECMWF). Our results show that hot air plumes are associated with the Saharan dust plumes during their transport across the tropical North Atlantic. There were eleven distinctive hot air plumes during May–August 2007 and 2008, respectively. These hot air plumes increase environmental temperatures below 5–km altitudes, with the maximum increase of 1–2 K around 2–km. This leads to increase of environmental stability below 2–km altitudes and decrease of environmental stability between 2– and 5–km altitudes. By changing the vertical distribution of environmental stability, the Saharan dust plumes act to stabilize environmental air below 2–km while destabilize environmental air from 2– to 5–km altitudes. These results are distinctively presented in the F3C and AIRS observations but less obvious in the meteorological analyses.

Direct and remote measurements of volcanic gas composition, SO2 flux, and eruptive SO2 mass from Bezymianny Volcano were acquired between July 2007 and July 2010. Chemical composition of fumarolic gases, plume SO2 flux from ground and air-based ultraviolet remote sensing (FLYSPEC), and eruptive SO2 mass from Ozone Monitoring Instrument (OMI) satellite observations were used along with eruption timing to elucidate magma processes and subsurface conditions, and to constrain total volatile flux. Bezymianny Volcano had five explosive magmatic eruptions between May 2007 and June 2010. The most complete volcanic gas datasets were acquired for the October 2007, December 2009, and May 2010 eruptions. Gas measurements collected prior to the October 2007 eruption have a relatively high ratio of H2O/CO2 (81.2), a moderate ratio of CO2/S (5.47), and a low ratio of S/HCl (0.338), along with moderate SO2 and CO2 fluxes of 280 and 980 t/d, respectively, and high H2O and HCl fluxes of ~ 45,000 and ~ 440 t/d, respectively. These results suggest degassing of shallow magma (consistent with observations of lava extrusion) along with potential minor degassing of a deeper magma source. Gas measurements collected prior to the December 2009 eruption are characterized by relatively low H2O/CO2 (4.13), moderate CO2/S (6.84), and high S/HCl (18.7) ratios, along with moderate SO2 and CO2 fluxes of ~ 220 and ~ 1000 t/d, respectively, and low H2O and HCl fluxes of ~ 1700 and ~ 7 t/d, respectively. These trends are consistent with degassing of a deeper magma source. Fumarole samples collected ~ 1.5 months following the May 2010 eruption are characterized by high H2O/CO2 (63.0), low CO2/S (0.986), and moderate S/HCl (6.09) ratios. These data are consistent with degassing of a shallow, volatile-rich magma source, likely related to the May eruption. Passive and eruptive SO2 measurements are used to calculate a total annual SO2 mass of 109 kt emitted in 2007, with passive emissions comprising ~ 87–95% of the total. Total annual volatile masses for the study period are estimated to range from 1.1 × 106 to 18 × 106 t/year. Annual CO2 masses are ~ 8 to 40 times larger than can be explained by degassing of dissolved CO2 within eruptive magma, suggesting that the eruptive magma contained a significant quantity of exsolved volatiles sourced either from the eruptive melt or unerupted magma at depth. Variable total volatile fluxes ranging from ~ 3000 t/d in 2009 to ~ 49,000 t/d in 2007 are attributed to variations in the depth of gas exsolution and separation from the melt under open-system degassing conditions. We propose that exsolved volatiles are quickly transported to the surface from ascending magma via permeable flow through a bubble and/or fracture network within the conduit and thus retain their equilibrium composition at the time of segregation from melt. The composition of surface CO2 and H2O emissions from 2007 to 2009 are compared with modeled exsolved fluid compositions for a magma body ascending from entrapment depths to estimate depth of fluid exsolution and separation from the melt. We find that at the time of sample collection magma had already begun ascent from the mid-crustal storage region and was located at maximum depths of ~ 3.7 km in August 2007, approximately 2 months prior to the next magmatic eruption, and ~ 4.6 km in July of 2009 approximately five months prior to the next magmatic eruption. These findings suggest that the exsolved gas composition at Bezymianny Volcano may be used to detect magma ascent prior to eruption.

Loss of Omi/HtrA2 function leads to nerve cell loss in mouse models and has been linked to neurodegeneration in Parkinson's and Huntington's disease. Omi/HtrA2 is a serine protease released as a pro-apoptotic factor from the mitochondrial intermembrane space into the cytosol. Under physiological conditions, Omi/HtrA2 is thought to be involved in protection against cellular stress, but the cytological and molecular mechanisms are not clear. Omi/HtrA2 deficiency caused an accumulation of reactive oxygen species and reduced mitochondrial membrane potential. In Omi/HtrA2 knockout mouse embryonic fibroblasts, as well as in Omi/HtrA2 silenced human HeLa cells and Drosophila S2R+ cells, we found elongated mitochondria by live cell imaging. Electron microscopy confirmed the mitochondrial morphology alterations and showed abnormal cristae structure. Examining the levels of proteins involved in mitochondrial fusion, we found a selective up-regulation of more soluble OPA1 protein. Complementation of knockout cells with wild-type Omi/HtrA2 but not with the protease mutant [S306A]Omi/HtrA2 reversed the mitochondrial elongation phenotype and OPA1 alterations. Finally, co-immunoprecipitation showed direct interaction of Omi/HtrA2 with endogenous OPA1. Thus, we show for the first time a direct effect of loss of Omi/HtrA2 on mitochondrial morphology and demonstrate a novel role of this mitochondrial serine protease in the modulation of OPA1. Our results underscore a critical role of impaired mitochondrial dynamics in neurodegenerative disorders.

The atmospheric composition of the San Diego – Tijuana border is affected by transport of air pollutants between both regions and in both directions. In this study we show NO 2 transport events identified during Cal–Mex 2010 field experiment at two different ground sites, located one downwind of the other. This field campaign was designed to overlap with the closing weeks of CalNex project to observe trans–boundary pollution transport in this area. The measurements showed a clear dispersion pattern of NO 2 towards the east–southeast on several occasions during the field experiment. Additionally, the NO 2 column distribution above the Tijuana – San Diego region was reconstructed from the OMI satellite data product, and a cluster analysis with the corresponding meteorological data was performed to identify four distinct wind patterns yielding different NO 2 distribution maps and detecting dominant wind patterns in this region, either towards the E–SE or E–NE approximately 86% of the time.

The evolution of maritime law through the recent conventions The ship is not only a means of transport but also a subject of law. Sea transport underwent profound changes at the time when the international conventions which govern it were modified. The judicial context was altered for political reasons (the dominating influence of developing countries in international organizations) and economic ones : sea transport is integrated into global economic development which closely links it to other means of transport. Lastly, mentalities are changing. Now, the ship is thought to have responsibili¬ ties with regard to the sea and to the land, because of pollution risks, for instance. There is a trend towards harmonizing law for all means of transport and this is one of the conditions for the development of multimodal transport. The responsibilities of the shipowner which were formerly defined in a precise way still exist but special regulations tend to multiply them. If maritime law has its constants, it is also true that it searches for an identity., Le navire n'est pas seulement un moyen de transport mais un sujet de droit. En même temps que le transport maritime connaissait de profonds changements, les conventions internationales qui le régissent se modifiaient. Le con texte juridique s'est transformé pour des raisons politiques (influence prépondérante des pays en voie de développement dans les organismes internationaux) et économiques : le transport maritime est intégré au développement économique global qui le lie étroitement aux autres modes de transport. Enfin les mentalités changent ; on considère désormais que le navire a des responsabilités à l'égard du domaine marin et terrestre, en raison des risques de pollution, par exemple. Le droit de tous les types de transport a tendance à s'harmoniser. C'est une des conditions du développement du transport multimodal. Les responsabilités du propriétaire de navire définies de façon étroite autrefois subsistent mais les régimes spéciaux tendent à les multiplier. Si le droit maritime a des constantes, il est vrai aussi qu'il se cherche., Odier Françoise. L'évolution du droit en matière maritime vue au travers des conventions récentes. In: Cahiers de sociologie économique et culturelle, n°2, 1984. pp. 125-135.