Constraining the response of continental-scale groundwater flow to climate change.

Numerical models of groundwater flow play a critical role for water management scenarios under climate extremes. Large-scale models play a key role in determining long range flow pathways from continental interiors to the oceans, yet struggle to simulate the local flow patterns offered by small-scale models. We have developed a highly scalable numerical framework to model continental groundwater flow which capture the intricate flow pathways between deep aquifers and the near-surface.

Space-time modelling of groundwater level and salinity.

Soil salinization resulting from shallow saline groundwater is a major global environmental issue causing land degradation, especially in semi-arid regions such as Australia. The adverse impact of shallow saline groundwater on soil salinization varies in space and time due to the variation in groundwater levels and salt concentration. Understanding the spatio-temporal variation is therefore vital to develop an effective salinity management strategy.

Biodegradation and Abiotic Degradation of Trifluralin: A Commonly Used Herbicide with a Poorly Understood Environmental Fate.

Trifluralin is a widely used dinitroaniline herbicide, which can persist in the environment and has substantial ecotoxicity, especially to aquatic organisms. Trifluralin is very insoluble in water (0.22 mg/L at 20 °C) and highly volatile (vapor pressure of 6.

Detecting the impact of land cover change on observed rainfall.

Analysis of observational data to pinpoint impact of land cover change on local rainfall is difficult due to multiple environmental factors that cannot be strictly controlled. In this study we use a statistical approach to identify the relationship between removal of tree cover and rainfall with data from best available sources for two large areas in Australia. Gridded rainfall data between 1979 and 2015 was used for the areas, while large scale (exogenous) effects were represented by mean rainfall across a much larger area and climatic indicators, such as Southern Oscillation Index and Indian Ocean Dipole.

Reduction of particulate matter concentrations by local removal in a building courtyard: Case study for the Delhi American Embassy School.

Exposure to particulate matter (PM) is strongly linked to human morbidity and mortality, where higher exposure entails higher all-cause daily mortality and increased long-term risk of cardiopulmonary mortality. The objective of this study is to demonstrate how and to what extent the local removal of PM can lead to reduced exposure for the children and teachers in the naturally ventilated courtyard of the American Embassy School (AES) high school building in Delhi. The study is performed by computational fluid dynamics (CFD) with the 3D steady Reynolds-averaged Navier-Stokes (RANS) equations in combination with the realizable k-ε turbulence model on a very high resolution grid.

Vegetation and terrain drivers of infiltration depth along a semiarid hillslope.

An improved understanding of the drivers controlling infiltration patterns in semiarid regions is of key importance, as they have important implications for ecosystem productivity, retention of resources and the restoration of degraded areas. The infiltration depth variability (ΔInf) in vegetation patches at the hillslope scale can be driven by different factors along the hillslope. Here we investigate the effects of vegetation and terrain attributes under hypothesis that these attributes exert a major control in ΔInf within the patches.

Microcosm experiments and kinetic modeling of glyphosate biodegradation in soils and sediments.

Glyphosate (GLP) is one of the most widely-used herbicides globally and its toxicity to humans and the environment is controversial. GLP is biodegradable, but little is known about the importance of site exposure history and other environmental variables on the rate and pathway of biodegradation. Here, GLP was added to microcosms of soils and sediments with different exposure histories and these were incubated with amendments of glucose, ammonium, and phosphate.

Glyphosate dispersion, degradation, and aquifer contamination in vineyards and wheat fields in the Po Valley, Italy.

Biodegradation of glyphosate (GLP) and its metabolite aminomethylphosphonic acid (AMPA) was numerically assessed for a vineyard and a wheat field in the Po Valley, Italy. Calculation of the Hazard Quotient suggested that GLP and AMPA can pose a risk of aquifer contamination in the top 1.5 m depth within 50 years of GLP use.

Can a growth model be used to describe forest carbon and water balance after fuel reduction burning in temperate forests?

Empirical evidence from Australia shows that fuel reduction burning significantly reduces the incidence and extent of unplanned fires. However, the integration of environmental values into fire management operations is not yet well-defined and requires further research and development. WAVES, a plant growth model that incorporates Soil-Vegetation-Atmosphere Transfer, was used to simulate the hydrological and ecological effects of three fuel management scenarios on a forest ecosystem.

Development and validation of a capillary electrophoresis method for the determination of escitalopram and sensitive quantification of its enantiomeric impurity in formulations.

A rapid capillary zone electrophoresis method has been developed capable of quantifying 0.05% of R-enantiomer and assaying the main component in escitalopram formulations. Many parameters influencing enantioseparation were investigated, which include chiral selectors, buffer composition and pH, applied voltage, capillary length, temperature, and rinsing procedure.

Development of a validated capillary electrophoresis method for enantiomeric purity control and quality control of levocetirizine in a pharmaceutical formulation.

A chiral capillary electrophoresis method has been developed for the quantification of 0.1% of the enantiomeric impurity (dextrocetirizine) in levocetirizine and determination of both in pharmaceuticals using sulfated-β-cyclodextrins (CDs) as chiral selector. Several parameters affecting the separation were studied such as the type and concentration of chiral selectors, buffer composition and pH, organic modifier, mixtures of two CDs in a dual system, voltage, and temperature.

Development and validation of a chiral capillary electrophoresis method for assay and enantiomeric purity control of pramipexole.

A rapid method for the enantioseparation of pramipexole and its R-enantiomer has been developed by capillary electrophoresis. The influence of chemical and instrumental parameters was investigated including the type and concentration of chiral selectors, buffer composition and pH, co-ions, applied voltage, capillary length and temperature. Optimal separation conditions were obtained using a 50 mM phosphate buffer (pH 2.

Genetic modification of the inner ear lateral semicircular canal phenotype of the Bmp4 haplo-insufficient mouse.

In the mouse, development of the lateral semicircular canal of the inner ear is sensitive to Bmp4 heterozygosity. In the C57BL6 background 30% of the heterozygotes display circling behavior, 66% have a specific defect in the vestibular part of the inner ear, namely the constriction, interruption or absence of the lateral semicircular canal. Only mice having both ears affected display circling behavior.

Novel deletion spanning RCC1-like domain of RPGR in Japanese X-linked retinitis pigmentosa family.

Purpose: To describe a macrodeletion spanning entire RCC1-like doman in the RPGR gene in one Japanese family with X-linked retinitis pigmentosa (XLRP).

Methods: Clinical ophthalmologic examinations were performed and genomic DNA was extracted from blood samples. Genomic DNA was analyzed by Southern blot and PCR amplification with specific primers.

RPGR ORF15 isoform co-localizes with RPGRIP1 at centrioles and basal bodies and interacts with nucleophosmin.

The ORF15 isoform of RPGR (RPGR(ORF15)) and RPGR interacting protein 1 (RPGRIP1) are mutated in a variety of retinal dystrophies but their functions are poorly understood. Here, we show that in cultured mammalian cells both RPGR(ORF15) and RPGRIP1 localize to centrioles. These localizations are resistant to the microtubule destabilizing drug nocodazole and persist throughout the cell cycle.

Near surface water balance in the Northern Murray-Darling Basin.

The water balance allows the calculation of deep drainage from other components of the hydrological cycle. Deep drainage has been linked to outbreaks of dryland and irrigated salinity. Until recently, deep drainage was not considered to be an issue on the alluvial plains of the Northern Murray-Darling Basin.

Characterisation of reversed-phase stationary phases for the liquid chromatographic analysis of basic pharmaceuticals by thermodynamic data.

This paper describes the characterisation of reversed-phase liquid chromatography (RPLC) columns using thermodynamic measurements. Retention versus 1/T data were used to construct Van't Hoff plots. The slope of these plots indicates the standard enthalpy of transfer of the analyte from the mobile to the stationary phase.

A comprehensive mutation analysis of RP2 and RPGR in a North American cohort of families with X-linked retinitis pigmentosa.

X-linked retinitis pigmentosa (XLRP) is a clinically and genetically heterogeneous degenerative disease of the retina. At least five loci have been mapped for XLRP; of these, RP2 and RP3 account for 10%-20% and 70%-90% of genetically identifiable disease, respectively. However, mutations in the respective genes, RP2 and RPGR, were detected in only 10% and 20% of families with XLRP.

Different RPGR exon ORF15 mutations in Canids provide insights into photoreceptor cell degeneration.

The canine disease, X-linked progressive retinal atrophy (XLPRA), is similar to human RP3, an X-linked form of retinitis pigmentosa, and maps to the same region in the X chromosome. Analysis of the physical map of the XLPRA and RP3 intervals shows a high degree of conservation in terms of genes and their order. We have found different mutations in exon ORF15 of the RPGR gene in two distinct mutant dog strains (XLPRA1, XLPRA2).

Mutations of RPGR in X-linked retinitis pigmentosa (RP3).

Mutations in RPGR, retinitis pigmentosa GTPase regulator, are associated with RP3 type of X-linked retinitis pigmentosa, a severe, non-syndromic form of retinal degeneration. In the majority of subjects RPGR mutations are associated with a typical rod-cone degeneration, but in a small number, cone-rod dystrophy, deafness, and abnormalities in respiratory cilia have been noted. Alternative splicing of RPGR is complex in all species examined.

Three novel mutations of the RPGR gene exon ORF15 in three Japanese families with X-linked retinitis pigmentosa.

We describe three new mutations in a recently identified exon, ORF15, of the retinitis pigmentosa GTPase regulator gene (RPGR) in three unrelated Japanese families (Families 1-3) with X-linked retinitis pigmentosa (XLRP). The affected males had typical retinitis pigmentosa (RP), whereas the obligate carrier females showed a wide clinical spectrum, ranging from minor symptoms to severe visual disability. Some carrier females in Families 1 and 2 showed typical RP, most carriers manifested high myopia and astigmatism, and their corrected visual acuity was insufficient.

Characterisation of reversed-phase liquid chromatography stationary phases for the analysis of basic pharmaceuticals: eluent properties and comparison of empirical test methods.

The reversed-phase liquid chromatographic analysis of basic pharmaceuticals can be problematic. Both the properties of the eluent and the stationary phase can influence the chromatographic performance. Therefore selection of suitable experimental conditions for the analysis of basic compounds can be difficult.

Remapping of the RP15 locus for X-linked cone-rod degeneration to Xp11.4-p21.1, and identification of a de novo insertion in the RPGR exon ORF15.

X-linked forms of retinitis pigmentosa (XLRP) are among the most severe, because of their early onset, often leading to significant vision loss before the 4th decade. Previously, the RP15 locus was assigned to Xp22, by linkage analysis of a single pedigree with "X-linked dominant cone-rod degeneration." After clinical reevaluation of a female in this pedigree identified her as affected, we remapped the disease to a 19.

Mutational hot spot within a new RPGR exon in X-linked retinitis pigmentosa.

The gene RPGR was previously identified in the RP3 region of Xp21.1 and shown to be mutated in 10-20% of patients with the progressive retinal degeneration X-linked retinitis pigmentosa (XLRP). The mutations predominantly affected a domain homologous to RCC1, a guanine nucleotide exchange factor for the small GTPase Ran, although they were present in fewer than the 70-75% of XLRP patients predicted from linkage studies.

Preliminary study on the effect of miniaturisation and use of volatile mobile phases in LC for the on-line LC-MS analysis of basic pharmaceuticals.

To enhance to compatibility of the on-line coupling of liquid chromatography (LC) with mass spectrometry (MS) for the analysis of basic pharmaceuticals, the use of volatile mobile phase systems in combination with miniaturised LC was investigated. Multifactor analysis of variance (MANOVA) was used to evaluate the data obtained for the various variables (modifier, stationary phase, buffer, buffer pH and buffer concentration) on the resolution, peak symmetry and retention of four basic compounds analysed using LC columns with internal diameters (I.D.