Integration of GC-MS Based Non-Targeted Metabolic Profiling with Headspace Solid Phase Microextraction Enhances the Understanding of Volatile Differentiation in Tobacco Leaves from North Carolina, India and Brazil

In this report, gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) based non-targeted metabolomics is used to develop appropriate headspace solid phase microextractions (HS-SPME) to enhance the understanding of volatile complexity of flue-cured tobacco leaves. Non-targeted metabolic profiling of GC-MS shows that the extraction condition of HS-SPME at 100?C for 30 min provides a better metabolite profile than other extraction conditions tested. GC-MS and principal component analyses (PCA) show that among five types of fibers tested, 100 μm polydimethylsiloxane (PMDS), 65 μm polydimethylsiloxane/divinylbenzene (PMDS/DVB) and 75 μm carboxen/polydimethylsiloxane (CAR/ PMS) provide a better reproducible metabolite profile. Based on an appropriate PDMS extraction condition optimized, we use GC-MS analysis and PCA to compare metabolite profiles in flue-cured leaves of tobacco plants grown in North Carolina, India and Brazil, respectively. The resulting data of PCA show that the global metabolic profiles in North Carolina samples are separated from those in Brazil and India samples, two groups of which are characterized by a partially overlapped pattern. Several peaks that were differentially accumulated in samples were annotated to known metabolites by deconvolution analysis, such as norsolanadione, solavetivone and rishtin. Norsolanadione is detected only in Brazil samples. Solavetivone is detected in samples of India and Brazil but not in those of North Carolina. Rishtin is detected in samples of North Carolina and India but not in Brazil samples. These data indicate that not only can a non-targeted metabolic profiling approach enhance the understanding of volatile complexity, but also can identify marker volatile metabolites in tobacco leaves produced in different growth regions.

Organic and Elemental Carbon in Atmospheric Fine Particulate Matter in an Animal Agriculture Intensive Area in North Carolina: Estimation of Secondary Organic Carbon Concentrations

Carbonaceous components contribute significant fraction of fine particulate matter (PM2.5). Study of organic carbon (OC) and elemental carbon (EC) in PM2.5 may lead to better understanding of secondary organic carbon (SOC) formation. This year-long (December 2008 to December 2009) field study was conducted in an animal agriculture intensive area in North Carolina of United States. Samples of PM2.5 were collected from five stations located in an egg production facility and its vicinities. Concentrations of OC/EC and thermograms were obtained using a thermal-optical carbon analyzer. Average levels of OC in the egg production house and at ambient stations were 42.7 μg/m3 and 3.26 - 3.47 μg/m3, respectively. Average levels of EC in the house and at ambient stations were 1.14 μg/m3 and 0.36 - 0.42 μg/m3, respectively. The OC to total carbon (TC) ratios at ambient stations exceeded 0.67, indicating a significant fraction of SOC presented in PM2.5. Principal factor analysis results suggested that possible major source of in-house PM2.5 was from poultry feed and possible major sources of ambient PM2.5 was from contributions of secondary inorganic and organic PM. Using the OC/EC primary ratio analysis method, ambient stations SOC fractions ranged from 68% to 87%. These findings suggested that SOC could appreciably contribute to total PM2.5 mass concentrations in this agriculture intensive area.

Trace and Macro Elements Concentrations in Selected Fresh Fruits, Vegetables, Herbs, and Processed Foods in North Carolina, USA

Fresh fruits, vegetables, herbs, and processed foods continue to be the major sources of essential trace elements in humans’ diet required for proper body development. However, food products can potentially be contaminated by toxic heavy metals (HMs) from environmental contamination or industrial food processing. The deleterious health implications of essential trace and macro elements’ deficiency and toxic consequences of HMs in humans necessitate proactive monitoring of the essential trace elements and HMs concentrations in the humans diet to ensure public health safety. Accordingly, this study investigated a comparative analysis of essential elements and potential toxic HMs concentration in food products in the Greensboro metropolis, North Carolina, USA. A total of 49 food samples comprising of 16 difference fresh fruits, 17 fresh vegetables, 4 herbs, and 12 processed foods were purchased from local grocery stores and analyzed for iron (Fe), calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg), nickel (Ni), zinc (Zn), copper (Cu), lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), and chromium (Cr) by the use of flame atomic absorption spectrometry (FAAS). The concentrations of elements were subjected to a regression analysis to further gain insight of the inter-element association in the food samples. The results of the study showed high variability in the concentrations of elements in the fresh fruits, vegetables, herbs, and processed foods. The overall average concentrations of Ca (1501 μg/g), Mg (186.5 μg/g), Fe (55.8 μg/g), Zn (22.2 μg/g), Pb (10.2 μg/g), Cu (5.8 μg/g), Cr (<0.1 μg/g), Cd (<0.1 μg/g), and Ni (<0.04 μg/g) were obtained in all food samples categories. The elements concentrations were generally poorly correlated in the food samples. However, a strong inter-element association between Cu and Fe concentration (R2 = 1.000) and a weak association between Ca and Fe (R2 = 0.5609) were found in the food samples. A survey questionnaire was administered to 396 participants in the Greensboro metropolis to evaluate the food consumption pattern and a daily/weekly dietary estimate intake of vegetables, fruits, herbs and processed foods. The results of the food survey analysis showed that the amount of vegetables, fruits, herbs, and processed foods dietary intake varied widely. In general, the participants consumed more processed foods than vegetables, fruits, and herb foods. The low dietary intake of vegetables, fruits, herbs suggests that most participants may be obtaining insufficient essential trace elements and other vital nutrients necessary for normal growth and body development in their diet.

Bloodroot (Sanguinaria canadensis L.) Extent and Sustainability in Western North Carolina

Bloodroot distribution and abundance were assessed in the Waynesville watershed in Western North Carolina. This high quality site provides a benchmark for bloodroot populations in the region. Summary data from an inventory of nine stands of bloodroot in the watershed are presented. Analysis of inventory data reveals that both petiole height and petiole diameter are negatively associated with overstory tree DBH, suggesting that there is an optimal overstory structure for bloodroot. In the Waynesville watershed, seven out of nine stands have an average tree DBH between 27.38 cm and 36.17 cm. Allometric equations re-lating belowground biomass to bloodroot petiole height and diameter have strong explanatory power, indicating that harvesters could selectively harvest large rhizomes by targeting plants with larger petioles. These results in combination with natural history, field observations and literature provide insights on the sustainability of bloodroot harvest in Southern Appalachia. Wild bloodroot is likely becoming scarce due to loss of favorable sites, such as rich cove forests, as well as harvest pressure.

Evaluating Structural and Temporal Factors Affecting Supply of Ecosystem Benefits in a University Urban Environment in South Carolina, USA

Sustainable urban forest management is still an evolving concept, particularly as it pertains to a sustainable supply of ecosystem benefits and management planning. Urban forestry maintains a greater human dimension component than traditional timber-oriented rural forestry because urban trees grow in city centers and neighborhoods, supplying critical ecosystem benefits to the population centers. The overall goal of this study was to evaluate the relationship of urban forest stand structure and its temporal dynamics with the sustainable supply of ecosystem benefits in university environments. Individual tree data were collected from a completed inventory, while the i-Tree Eco model was used to generate ecosystem benefits data from the Clemson urban forest. The cumulative-benefits supply curve had an inverted J-shaped curve, but the average supply curve had a negative slope against the species richness. Likewise, individual tree variables total height, DBH, leaf area, and crown height strongly correlated with the total ecosystem services supply. Based on the temporal supply trends, the study area trees were broadly segmented into three groups: establishment, growth, and legacy, with 65%, 31%, and 4% frequency distribution, respectively. Urban forest managers need to identify forest management goals and preferred ecosystem benefits among the urban communities to guide the required forest structure and dynamics to ensure a sustainable and functioning urban forest.

A Case Study of Ocean-Atmosphere Interactions during the Passage of an Extra-Tropical Cyclone in the Vicinity of Cape Hatteras, North Carolina

The authors document the interaction of the atmosphere and ocean during the formation and passage of an Extra-Tropical Cyclone, which is a Nor-Easter, winter storm that formed in the southern apex of the Middle Atlantic Bight near Cape Hatteras North Carolina, between February 15 and 18, 1996. While Nor-Easters per se, which have formed along the Atlantic Eastern Seaboard of the United States have been studied for decades, the actual atmospheric-oceanic mechanics and thermodynamics in the formation of a Nor-Easter has never been documented. We report on having done so with in-situ observations and data-based calculations and a numerical model. The in-situ observations were made via a Control Volume consisting of an array of Eulerian Oceanic-Atmospheric Moorings with current meters, temperature and salinity sensors and meteorological towers. We find that Gulf Stream waters were located surrounding the mooring array, and that with the invasion of cold dry atmospheric air, there was a rapid loss of heat from the ocean to the atmosphere via latent and sensible surface heat flux during the cyclogenesis onset of the storm. A unique feature of this storm was that neither satellite nor buoy data showed significant sea surface cooling in the control volume. The findings indicate that storm winds drove warm saline waters from the Gulf Stream across the continental shelf into the control volume, accounting for a 51 cm rise in water level along the coast. This lateral heat advection provided heat to the control volume of 3.4e+18 Joules. On average, the heat loss at the surface of the control volume, via sensible and latent heat fluxes and radiation, was 0.7e+18 Joules, corresponding to a surface heat flux of -600 Watts per Meter2 (W/m2). However, the heat lost by the control volume as latent and sensible heat fluxes was less than the heat it received via lateral heat advection, resulting in the lack of an often-observed sea surface cooling during other winter storms. The serendipitous and detailed observations and calculations reveal a climatological flywheel in this region, documenting the role of ETCs in the global heat balance.

Assessing the Impact of Population Growth in Louisiana on Diminishing Water Quantity and Quality within the State

This study explores the intricate relationship between population growth and water resource management in Louisiana, emphasizing the spatial distribution of water quality. Human activities, particularly urbanization, have significantly impacted the state’s water resources, with population growth driving increased water withdrawals for public supply, industry, and power generation. By employing a Geographic Information System (GIS)-centered approach, this research utilizes Louisiana’s census data from 1999 to 2020 to illustrate population shifts and their effects on water resource distribution. The study also incorporated advanced remote sensing techniques, using Sentinel 2 imagery to assess the water quality through the Trophic State Index (TSI). The TSI, calculated based on the near-infrared (NIR) and Red bands of Sentinel-2 imagery, provided a nuanced understanding of the nutrient levels and clarity/ quality of water bodies across the state. The study reveals a significant correlation between population density and water withdrawals, with higher populations leading to greater extraction from both groundwater and surface water sources. For instance, densely populated parishes like East Baton Rouge and Orleans showed substantially higher water withdrawals for public supply, industry, and power generation compared to less populated areas. The water quality analysis indicated that many water bodies in Louisiana are experiencing high levels of nutrient enrichment, with rivers and streams accounting for 86% of the impaired water bodies, and lakes, reservoirs, and coastal waters showing hypereutrophic conditions in up to 96% of cases. These results underscore the significant impact of human activities on Louisiana’s water resources, highlighting the need for effective water management practices that consider both quantity and quality. The study therefore advocates for the implementation of water conservation measures, responsible consumption, and pollution prevention strategies to ensure the sustainable use of water resources and the preservation of water quality across Louisiana.

Assessment of Municipal Solid Waste Management in the Farmgate Area of Dhaka North City Corporation

This investigation is focused on conducting a thorough analysis of Municipal Solid Waste Management (MSWM). MSWM encompasses a range of interdisciplinary measures that govern the various stages involved in managing unwanted or non-utilizable solid materials, commonly known as rubbish, trash, junk, refuse, and garbage. These stages include generation, storage, collection, recycling, transportation, handling, disposal, and monitoring. The waste materials mentioned in this context exhibit a wide range of items, such as organic waste from food and vegetables, paper, plastic, polyethylene, iron, tin cans, deceased animals, byproducts from demolition activities, manure, and various other discarded materials. This study aims to provide insights into the possibilities of enhancing solid waste management in the Farmgate area of Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC). To accomplish this objective, the research examines the conventional waste management methods employed in this area. It conducts extensive field surveys, collecting valuable data through interviews with local residents and key individuals involved in waste management, such as waste collectors, dealers, intermediate dealers, recyclers, and shopkeepers. The results indicate that significant amounts of distinct waste categories are produced daily. These include food and vegetable waste, which amount to 52.1 tons/day;polythene and plastic, which total 4.5 tons/day;metal and tin-can waste, which amounts to 1.4 tons/day;and paper waste, which totals 5.9 tons/day. This study highlights the significance of promoting environmental consciousness to effectively shape the attitudes of urban residents toward waste disposal and management. It emphasizes the need for collaboration between authorities and researchers to improve the current waste management system.

Paleoenvironmental records from the northern South China Sea since the Last Glacial Maximum

Core ZHS-176 contains the paleoenvironmental records from the northern South China Sea （NSCS） since the Last Glacial Maximum （LGM）. A coupled approach based on clay mineral assemblages, planktonic foraminiferal oxygen and carbon isotopes, and calcium carbonate content is used to trace the sources of the fine-grained sediment and to investigate the paleoenviornmental evolution in this area. Clay mineral assemblages are dominated by illite （average about 39%） and chlorite （about 27%）, which comes mainly from Taiwan and the East China Sea. Kaolinite, which accounts for about 13%, comes mainly from the Zhujiang （Pearl） River, and Luzon Island is the main source for smectite （about 21%）. The planktonic foraminiferal oxygen isotopic oscillations during the last glacial period are coeval with climate variations recorded in the Greenland ice core and Western Pacific sediment. These variations include the LGM, Heinrich event 1, Bφlling-Allerφd （B/A）, and Younger Dryas. For the Holocene, three periods of strong precipitation （S1-S3） and three periods of weak precipitation （W1-W3） are identified. The oxygen isotopic record exhibits corre-lation with climate records from distant regions, including the high-latitude Northern Hemisphere, providing evidence for global tele-connection among regional climate. A brief, negative planktonic foraminiferal carbon isotopic excursion during B/A reflects increased methane released from marine gas hydrate due to the rapid warming of the water. By comparing calcium carbonate content curves of the core ZHS-176 with these of other five boreholes lying above the lysocline, a remarkable low calcium carbonate event is found during the early Holocene in NSCS.

An Investigation of the Effects of Wave State and Sea Spray on an Idealized Typhoon Using an Air-Sea Coupled Modeling System

In this study, the impact of atmospherewave coupling on typhoon intensity was investigated using numerical simulations of an idealized typhoon in a coupled atmospherewaveocean modeling system. The coupling between atmosphere and sea surface waves considered the effects of wave state and sea sprays on airsea momentum flux, the atmospheric lowlevel dissipative heating, and the wavestateaffected sea spray heat flux. Several experiments were conducted to examine the impacts of wave state, sea sprays, and dissipative heating on an idealized typhoon system. Results show that considering the wave state and seasprayaffected seasurface roughness reduces typhoon intensity, while including dissipative heating intensifies the typhoon system. Taking into account sea spray heat flux also strengthens the typhoon system with increasing maximum wind speed and significant wave height. The overall impact of atmospherewave coupling makes a positive contribution to the intensification of the idealized typhoon system. The minimum central pressure simulated by the coupled atmospherewave experiment was 16.4 hPa deeper than that of the control run, and the maximum wind speed and significant wave height increased by 31% and 4%, respectively. Meanwhile, within the area beneath the typhoon center, the average total upward airsea heat flux increased by 22%, and the averaged latent heat flux increased more significantly by 31% compared to the uncoupled run.

Seasonal variability of Kuroshio intrusion northeast of Taiwan Island as revealed by self-organizing map

The self-organizing map method is applied to satellite-derived sea-level anomaly fields of1993-2012 to study variations of the Kuroshio intrusion northeast of Taiwan Island.Four major features are revealed,showing significant seasonal variability of the intrusion.In general,the intrusion increases(decreases) with a high(low) sea-level anomaly at the edge of the East China Sea shelf in winter(summer).Open-ocean mesoscale eddies play an additional role in modulating the seasonal variation of the intrusion.Further analyses are needed to study eddy-Kuroshio interaction dynamics.

Impacts of Wave and Current on Drag Coefficient and Wind Stress over the Tropical and Northern Pacific

By taking into consideration the effects of ocean surface wave-induced Stokes drift velocity Un, and current velocity Uc on the drag coefficient, the spatial distributions of drag coefficient and wind stress in 2004 are computed over the tropical and northern Pacific using an empirical drag coefficient parameterization formula based on wave steepness and wind speed. The global ocean current field is generated from the Hybrid Coordinate Ocean Model （HYCOM） and the wave data are generated from Wavewatch Ill （WW3）. The spatial variability of the drag coefficient and wind stress is analyzed. Preliminary results indicate that the ocean surface Stokes drift velocity and current velocity exert an important influence on the wind stress. The results also show that consideration of the effects of the ocean surface Stokes drift velocity and current velocity on the wind stress can significantly improve the modeling of ocean circulation and air-sea interaction processes.

On the Variability of Charleston South Carolina Winds, Atmospheric Temperatures, Water Levels, Waves and Precipitation

Atmospheric winds, air temperatures, water levels, precipitation and oceanic waves in the Charleston South Carolina (SC) coastal zone are evaluated for their intrinsic, internal variability over temporal scales ranging from hours to multi-decades. The purpose of this study was to bring together a plethora of atmospheric and coastal ocean state variable data in a specific locale, to assess temporal variabilities and possible relationships between variables. The questions addressed relate to the concepts of weather and climate. Data comprise the basis of this study. The overall distributions of atmospheric and coastal oceanic state variable variability, including wind speed, direction and kinematic distributions and state variable amplitudes over a variety of time scales are assessed. Annual variability is shown to be highly variable from year to year, making arithmetic means mathematically tractable but physically meaningless. Employing empirical and statistical methodologies, data analyses indicate the same number of intrinsic, internal modes of temporal variability in atmospheric temperatures, coastal wind and coastal water level time series, ranging from hours to days to weeks to seasons, sub-seasons, annual, multi-year, decades, and centennial time scales. This finding demonstrates that the atmosphere and coastal ocean in a southeastern U.S. coastal city are characterized by a set of similar frequency and amplitude modulated phenomena. Kinematic hodograph descriptors of atmospheric winds reveal coherent rotating and rectilinear particle motions. A mathematical statistics-based wind to wave-to-wave algorithm is developed and applied to offshore marine buoy data to create an hour-by-hour forecast capability from 1 to 24 hours;with confidence levels put forward. This affects a different approach to the conventional deterministic model forecasting of waves.

Influence of Qinghai-Xizang Plateau snow cover on interannual variability of Western North Pacific tropical cyclone tracks

Track density function(TDF)was computed for all Western North Pacific tropical cyclones(WNP TCs)tracks from 1950 to 2018,and the TDFs were further investigated using principal component analysis(PCA)to analyze their inter-annual spatial and temporal variability.Then,the relationships between each empirical orthogonal function(EOF)mode and the typhoon count,typhoon landfall count,track pattern,and the Qinghai-Xizang Plateau snow cover(QXPSC)were examined,and the possible physical mechanisms implied by the statistical relationship were explored.The results show the QXPSC significantly affected the surface-atmosphere heat exchange through snow cover(SC)level,then changed the East Asian summer monsoon regional circulation pattern,influenced the subtropical high-pressure system strength and location,and ultimately affected the WNP TCs track patterns and thus changed their landfall locations.

Tool path generation of ultra-precision diamond turning: A state-of-the-art review

With the increasing market demand for optical complex surface parts,the application of multi-axis ultraprecision single-point diamond turning is increasing.A tool path generation method is very important to decrease manufacturing time,enhance surface quality,and reduce cost.Compared with the tool path generation of the traditional multi-axis milling,that of the ultra-precision single-point diamond turning requires higher calculation accuracy and efficiency.This paper reviews the tool path generation of ultra-precision diamond turning,considering several key issues:cutter location(CL)points calculation,the topological form of tool path,interpolation mode,and G code optimization.

Geometric global quantum discord of two-qubit states

We consider the geometric global quantum discord （GGQD） of two-qubit systems. By analyzing the symmetry of geometric global quantum discord we give an approach for deriving analytical formulae of the extremum problem which lies at the core of computing the GGQD for arbitrary two-qubit states. Furthermore, formulae of GGQD of arbitrary two-qubit states and some concrete examples are presented.

Wave Spectral Patterns during a Historical Cyclone: A Numerical Model for Cyclone Gonu in the Northern Oman Sea

The third generation wind-wave model Mike21-SW was used to study spectral characteristics of waves generated by the historical Cyclone Gonu in June 2007 along and off the Iranian coasts on the northern Oman Sea. The model was forced with the cyclone wind field generated using a Holland (1980) model based on cyclone data obtained from the Joint Typhon Warning Center (JTWC). The wave model was calibrated for the northern Oman Sea using bulk and spectral wave data at a station out of the Chabahar Bay. Evolution of directional-frequency spectra during the cyclone was investigated for two locations near the entrance and off the Chabahar Bay. At the offshore station, energy was contributed to the spectrum over an approximately 180 degree directional span that included different local and remotely generated waves. As the cyclone proceeded northwestward, all spectral directions continuously rotated in the clockwise direction at both locations. Frequency spectra at these locations were investigated for four different times corresponding to different locations of Cyclone’s eye and were justified using the sea growth parameter of the Joint North Sea Wave Project (JONSWAP) experiment. Using the modified JONSWAP parameters for hurricane conditions resulted in a frequency spectrum consistent with simulation results.

Estimation of Future Generated Amount of E-Waste in the United States

Electrical and electronic equipment waste, or e-waste, is one of the fastest growing waste streams in the United States. The main objective of this study is to estimate the future quantities of e-waste of thirteen selected electric and electronic products in the United States in 2025. To estimate the future amount of e-waste, the authors performed a material flow analysis. The model inputs are historical and future product sales data and the product’s average life span. Sensitivity analysis was constructed to evaluate the effect of the model inputs (average life span and future sales data) in the generation of e-waste. The results show that about 1.0835 billion units will reach their end of life (EOL) in 2025;cell phone devices are the highest occurring product among the thirteen selected products and weighted for about 66.0% of units of the total amount, followed by computer products at 18.0%, TV products at 11.6%, computer monitors at 1.7%, hard copy peripherals (HCP) at 1.6%, and computer accessories at 1.0%. The sensitivity analysis shows that the product life span has an effect on the e-waste generation amounts from the products under study, while the sensitivity analysis of forecasted future sales indicates that the generated waste will increase or decrease according to the sales trend.

The Anatomy of the South Carolina U.S.A. Coastal Sea Breeze 2019-2020

The study presented herein is the analysis of Sodar based instrument measurements of air temperature, dew point, and vertical wind speed and direction, recorded at two South Carolina sites, Waties Island in North Myrtle Beach and in Sumter, and at three atmospheric ground stations. Two of the ground stations are National Weather Service stations near the Sodars and one is a Coastal Carolina University Sea-Econet, as a part of the National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration, MESO program, weather-sensor site on the Coastal Carolina University campus in Conway South Carolina. Objectives of this study are to establish specific values of winds, land and sea temperatures, precipitation and dew points associated with the changes induced by passages of the Sea Breeze Front, and to examine differences in the station-to-station incarnation of the Sea Breeze circulation. Variability from station to station in the nature and timing of Sea Breeze Front passage is found to be a function of relative proximity to the coast with Sea Breeze Front passage occurring earliest at the North Myrtle Beach site (the station at the coast), then at Sumter (~100 km inland) and finally Aiken at >100 km inland. Satellite based estimates of the percentages of onshore penetration distances from the coast are depicted. Wind vectors and air temperatures associated with onsets and passages of the Sea Breeze display robust wind fields directed onshore perpendicular to the coastline. Kinematical descriptors of the Sea Breeze wind particle motions are presented and display coherent stable elliptical motions during the late summer to early fall but are absent during the winter.

Arriving at estimates of a rate and state fault friction model parameter using Bayesian inference and Markov chain Monte Carlo

The critical slip distance in rate and state model for fault friction in the study of potential earthquakes can vary wildly from micrometers to few me-ters depending on the length scale of the critically stressed fault.This makes it incredibly important to construct an inversion framework that provides good estimates of the critical slip distance purely based on the observed ac-celeration at the seismogram.To eventually construct a framework that takes noisy seismogram acceleration data as input and spits out robust estimates of critical slip distance as the output,we first present the performance of the framework for synthetic data.The framework is based on Bayesian inference and Markov chain Monte Carlo methods.The synthetic data is generated by adding noise to the acceleration output of spring-slider-damper idealization of the rate and state model as the forward model.