Determination of isoprene and alpha-/beta-pinene oxidation products in boreal forest aerosols from Hyytiälä, Finland: diel variations and possible link with particle formation events

Biogenic volatile organic compounds (VOCs), such as isoprene and alpha-/beta-pinene, are photo-oxidized in the atmosphere to non-volatile species resulting in secondary organic aerosol (SOA). The goal of this study was to examine time trends and diel variations of oxidation products of isoprene and alpha-/beta-pinene in order to investigate whether they are linked with meteorological parameters or trace gases. Separate day-night aerosol samples (PM(1)) were collected in a Scots pine dominated forest in southern Finland during 28 July-11 August 2005 and analyzed with gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS). In addition, inorganic trace gases (SO(2), CO, NO(x), and O(3)), meteorological parameters, and the particle number concentration were monitored. The median total concentration of terpenoic acids (i.e., pinic acid, norpinic acid, and two novel compounds, 3-hydroxyglutaric acid and 2-hydroxy-4-isopropyladipic acid) was 65 ng m(-3), while that of isoprene oxidation products (i.e., 2-methyltetrols and C(5) alkene triols) was 17.2 ng m(-3). The 2-methyltetrols exhibited day/night variations with maxima during day-time, while alpha-/beta-pinene oxidation products did not show any diel variation. The sampling period was marked by a relatively high condensation sink, caused by pre-existing aerosol particles, and no nucleation events. In general, the concentration trends of the SOA compounds reflected those of the inorganic trace gases, meteorological parameters, and condensation sink. Both the isoprene and alpha-/beta-pinene SOA products were strongly influenced by SO(2), which is consistent with earlier reports that acidity plays a role in SOA formation. The results support previous proposals that oxygenated VOCs contribute to particle growth processes above boreal forest.

Imaging of rats with mammary cancer with two 2-deoxy-2-[18F]fluoro-D-hexoses

Rats with mammary cancer were imaged by scintigraphy: 10 rats with 2-deoxy-2-[18F]fluoro-D-glucose ([18F]FDG) and 10 rats with [18F]F-D-galactose. The uptake of both tracers was similar in the tumors--the tumor-to-normal tissue ratio was 2.7 +/- 1.1 for [18F]FDG and 2.3 +/- 0.9 for [18F]FDGal at 120 min after injection. In addition to the tumors [18F]FDG accumulated in the brain, bladder and heart, [18F]FDGal in the brain, bladder and liver. [18F]FDGal may be useful for tumor imaging in man; further studies should be addressed to elucidate the mechanism of [18F]FDGal uptake into tumors.