Fluorescence as a Tool for Tracing the Organic Contamination from Pulp Mill Effluents in Surface Waters

Three‐dimensional fluorescence spectra of water samples from an eucalyptus bleached kraft pulp mill and from a river, upstream and downstream of the discharge of the effluent, revealed the existence of a peak at δ_exc = 280 nm and δ_em = 340 nm Δδ = 60 nm), characteristic of effluentπs organic matter. Humic substances were isolated from the effluent by sequential adsorption onto resins XAD‐8 and XAD‐4 in series. Their synchronous fluorescence spectra with Δδ = 60 nm do also exhibit an intense signal at δ_exc = 280 nm (≈ 300 nm in the humic acid fraction). The peak is absent in the spectra of humic substances isolated from a non‐polluted site of the river, but it is clearly seen in the spectra of the humic substances from a site downstream of the discharge of the effluent. Synchronous fluorescence spectra (Δδ = 60 nm) of water samples from the river and its lagoon were recorded and revealed to be an easy and fast way of tracing the organic contamination from the effluent.     

Study of the filamentary infrared dark cloud G192.76+00.10 in the S254–S258 OB complex

We present results of a high resolution study of the filamentary infrared dark cloud G192.76+00.10 in the S254-S258 OB complex in several molecular species tracing different physical conditions. These include three isotopologues of carbon monoxide(CO), ammonia(NH3) and carbon monosulfide(CS). The aim of this work is to study the general structure and kinematics of the filamentary cloud, and its fragmentation and physical parameters. The gas temperature is derived from the NH3(J, K) =(1,1),(2, 2) and ~(12)CO(2-1) lines, and the ~(13)CO(1-0), ~(13)CO(2-1) emission is used to investigate the overall gas distribution and kinematics. Several dense clumps are identified from the CS(2-1)data. Values of the gas temperature lie in the range 10-35 K, and column density N(H2) reaches the value 5.1 x 10~(22) cm~(-2). The width of the filament is of order 1 pc. The masses of the dense clumps range from ～ 30 M_☉ to ～ 160 M_☉. They appear to be gravitationally unstable. The molecular emission shows a gas dynamical coherence along the filament. The velocity pattern may indicate longitudinal collapse.     

Spatiotemporal multiscale diagnosis model to proactively respond to the multi-country monkeypox virus outbreak in 2022

This research analyzes the spatiotemporal trend of 23,121 monkeypox virus cases in the multi-country outbreak that affected 82 countries from January 2022 to July 2022. The spatiotemporal trends analysis is developed using open data and GIS to model 3D bins and emerging hot spots globally (data by country) and nationally (data by region) for hardest hit countries, like the USA and Spain. The implemented methodology distinguishes between problem areas —as significant hot spots— and countries with no pattern. Results show consecutive hot spot patterns in Western Europe and high location quotients in North America. Factually, the countries with consecutive patterns record 16,494 cases, that is, 71.34% of the cases, where 7.63% of the world population live. At the national level, in the analysis of the USA and Spain, the results reveal regional differences with significative hot spots in California and on the East Coast of the USA and the Mediterranean coast of Spain. The proposed methodology facilitates the monitoring of the spatiotemporal evolution of monkeypox cases and is scalable and replicable using non-arbitrary and statistical parameters. The findings indicate problematic zones in real-time, enabling policymakers to develop focused interventions and proactive strategies to mitigate the future risk of monkeypox.