Potential for nocturnal satellite detection of suspended matter concentrations in coastal waters using a panchromatic band: a feasibility study based on VIIRS (NASA/NOAA) spectral and radiometric specifications.

Satellite remote sensing of coastal waters is important for understanding the functioning of these complex ecosystems. High satellite revisit frequency is required to permit a relevant monitoring of the strong dynamical processes involved in such areas, for example rivers discharge or tidal currents. One key parameter that is derived from satellite data is the suspended particulate matter (SPM) concentration.

Chemoenzymatic dynamic kinetic resolution of rac-1-phenylethanol in ionic liquids and ionic liquids/supercritical carbon dioxide systems.

Continuous dynamic kinetic resolution processes in different ionic liquid/supercritical carbon dioxide biphasic systems were carried out by simultaneously using both immobilized Candida antarctica lipase B (Novozym 435) and silica modified with benzenosulfonic acid (SCX) catalysts at 40 degrees C and 10 MPa. SCX was seen to act as an efficient heterogeneous chemical catalyst for the racemization of (S)-1-phenylethanol in different ionic liquid media ([emim][NTf(2)], [btma][NTf(2)] and [bmim][PF(6)]). Coating both chemical and enzymatic catalysts with ILs greatly improved the efficiency of the process, providing a good yield (76%) of (R)-1-phenylethyl propionate product with excellent enantioselectivity (ee = 91-98%) in continuous operation.

Evaluation of the EYTEX(TM) system in the COLIPA eye irritation program.

In the context of the 6th Amendment of the European Directive on Cosmetics, several cosmetic companies concentrate their basic research on the development of the best adapted battery of in vitro tests able to be incorporated in the ocular risk assessment process. Consequently, the European Cosmetic Toiletry and Perfumery Association (COLIPA) has initiated an international multicentric study with the main purpose to validate available alternatives in vitro methods for assessing the eye irritation potential of cosmetic raw materials and formulations. The alternative methods assessed in this validation study were chosen since all of these tests had already been used and continue to be conducted in the risk assessment process.

A summary report of the COLIPA international validation study on alternatives to the draize rabbit eye irritation test.

The principal goal of this study was to determine whether the results from a set of selected currently available alternative methods as used by cosmetics companies are valid for predicting the eye irritation potential of cosmetics formulations and ingredients and, as a consequence, could be valid replacements for the Draize eye irritation test. For the first time in a validation study, prediction models (PMs) that convert the in vitro data from an assay to a prediction of eye irritation were developed for each alternative method before the study began. The PM is an unequivocal description of the relationship between the in vitro and the in vivo data and allows an objective assessment of the reliability and relevance of the alternative methods.