Gadolinium Contrast Agent Deposition in Children

Over the past few years, a large number of studies have evidenced increased signal intensity in the deep brain nuclei on unenhanced T1-MRI images achieved by the application of gadolinium-based contrast agents (GBCAs). The deposition of gadolinium in the brain, bone, and other tissues following administration of GBCAs has also been confirmed in histological studies in rodents and in necropsy studies in adults and children. Given the distinct physiological characteristics of children, this review focuses on examining the current research on gadolinium deposition in children, particularly studies utilizing novel methods and technologies. Furthermore, the article compares safety research findings of linear GBCAs and macrocyclic GBCAs in children, with the aim of offering clinicians practical guidance based on the most recent research outcomes. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 5 TECHNICAL EFFICACY: Stage 2.

EMinsight: a tool to capture cryoEM microscope configuration and experimental outcomes for analysis and deposition

The widespread adoption of cryoEM technologies for structural biology has pushed the discipline to new frontiers. A significant worldwide effort has refined the single-particle analysis (SPA) workflow into a reasonably standardized procedure. Significant investments of development time have been made, particularly in sample preparation, microscope data-collection efficiency, pipeline analyses and data archiving. The widespread adoption of specific commercial microscopes, software for controlling them and best practices developed at facilities worldwide has also begun to establish a degree of standardization to data structures coming from the SPA workflow. There is opportunity to capitalize on this moment in the maturation of the field, to capture metadata from SPA experiments and correlate the metadata with experimental outcomes, which is presented here in a set of programs called EMinsight. This tool aims to prototype the framework and types of analyses that could lead to new insights into optimal microscope configurations as well as to define methods for metadata capture to assist with the archiving of cryoEM SPA data. It is also envisaged that this tool will be useful to microscope operators and facilities looking to rapidly generate reports on SPA data-collection and screening sessions.

Nebulization and In Vitro Upper Airway Deposition of Liposomal Carrier Systems

Liposomal carrier systems have emerged as a promising technology for pulmonary drug delivery. This study focuses on two selected liposomal systems, namely, dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine stabilized by phosphatidic acid and cholesterol (DPPC-PA-Chol) and dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine stabilized by polyethylene glycol and cholesterol (DPPC-PEG-Chol). First, the research investigates the stability of these liposomal systems during the atomization process using different kinds of nebulizers (air-jet, vibrating mesh, and ultrasonic). The study further explores the aerodynamic particle size distribution of the aerosol generated by the nebulizers. The nebulizer that demonstrated optimal stability and particle size was selected for more detailed investigation, including Andersen cascade impactor measurements, an assessment of the influence of flow rate and breathing profiles on aerosol particle size, and an in vitro deposition study on a realistic replica of the upper airways. The most suitable combination of a nebulizer and liposomal system was DPPC-PA-Chol nebulized by a Pari LC Sprint Star in terms of stability and particle size. The influence of the inspiration flow rate on the particle size was not very strong but was not negligible either (decrease of Dv50 by 1.34 μm with the flow rate increase from 8 to 60 L/min). A similar effect was observed for realistic transient inhalation. According to the in vitro deposition measurement, approximately 90% and 70% of the aerosol penetrated downstream of the trachea using the stationary flow rate and the realistic breathing profile, respectively. These data provide an image of the potential applicability of liposomal carrier systems for nebulizer therapy. Regional lung drug deposition is patient-specific; therefore, deposition results might vary for different airway geometries. However, deposition measurement with realistic boundary conditions (airway geometry, breathing profile) brings a more realistic image of the drug delivery by the selected technology. Our results show how much data from cascade impactor testing or estimates from the fine fraction concept differ from those of a more realistic case.

Effect of Guest Solvents on the Ionic Conductivity and Electrochemical Performance of Metal-Organic Framework-Based Magnesium Semi-Solid Electrolytes

Developing suitable electrolytes is crucial for the advancement of rechargeable magnesium batteries. Recently, metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) have shown a great interest in the field of solid electrolytes for metal ion batteries. However, the ionic conductivity as well as the electrolyte stability in the presence of Mg electrodes are shown to be strongly dependent on the guest solvent used to solvate Mg salts in MOFsSEs. Our measurements showed that full evacuation of the MOF structure before semi-solid electrolytes (sSEs) preparation is crucial for achieving relatively low Mg overpotentials regardless of the ionic conductivity values. Moreover, the behavior of the anode/MOFsSEs interfaces (MOF: α-Mg3 [HCOO]6 ; Mg salt : MgCl2 -Mg[TFSI]2 (1 : 1 wt %); guest solvent: acetone, DMF, DEG, DME and tetraglyme) was investigated by EIS, CV and galvanostatic measurements. The current comparative study of the electrochemical deposition processes of magnesium from MOFsSEs revealed that magnesium deposition/dissolution reactions vary depending on the MOF structure, the guest anion species as well as the nature of the guest solvents.

Effects of Gadolinium Retention in the Brains of Type 2 Diabetic Rats after Repeated Administration of Gadolinium-Based MRI Contrast Agents on Neurobiology and NLRP3 Inflammasome Activation

BACKGROUND

The neurotoxic potential of gadolinium (Gd)-based contrast agents (GBCAs) retention in the brains of patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is unclear.

PURPOSE

To determine the deposition and clearance of GBCAs in T2DM rats and the mechanism by which Gd enhances nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain-3 (NLRP3) inflammasome activation.

STUDY TYPE

Cross-sectional, prospective.

ANIMAL MODEL

104 T2DM male Wistar rats.

FIELD STRENGTH/SEQUENCE

9.4-T, T1-weighted fast spin echo sequence.

ASSESSMENT

T2DM (male Wistar rats, n = 52) and control group (healthy, male Wistar rats, n = 52) rats received saline, gadodiamide, Gd-diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid, and gadoterate meglumine for four consecutive days per week for 7 weeks. The distribution and clearance of Gd in the certain brain were assessed by MRI (T1 signal intensity and relaxation rate R1, on the last day of each week), inductively coupled plasma mass-spectroscopy, ultraperformance liquid chromatography mass spectrometry, and transmission electron microscopy. Behavioral tests, histopathological features, and the effects of GBCAs on neuroinflammation were also analyzed.

STATISTICAL TESTS

One-way analysis of variance, bonferroni method, and unpaired t-test. A P-value <0.05 was considered statistically significant.

RESULTS

The movement distance and appearance time in the open field test of the T2DM rats in the gadodiamide group were significantly shorter than in the other groups. Furthermore, the expression of NLRP3, Pro-Caspase-1, interleukin-1β (IL-1β), and apoptosis-associated speck-like protein containing a CARD protein in neurons was significantly higher in the gadodiamide group than in the saline group, as shown by Western blot. Gadodiamide also induced differentiation of microglia into M1 type, decreased the neuronal mitochondrial membrane potential, and significantly increased neuronal apoptosis from flow cytometry.

DATA CONCLUSION

T2DM may affect both the deposition and clearance of GBCAs in the brain. Informed by the T2DM model, gadodiamide could mediate the neuroinflammatory response by NLRP3 inflammasome activation.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

1 TECHNICAL EFFICACY: Stage 1.

Preparation and Characterization of Multilayer NiTi Coatings by a Thermal Plasma Process

The deposition of multilayer coating of NiTi is carried out by a thermal plasma spraying process on a stainless steel substrate. The deposition of melted NiTi particles creates an adhesion layer on the substrate with the subsequent formation of multilayer coating with a certain thickness. Six layers of coating are created to achieve a certain thickness in terms of the sprayed sample. This paper aims to investigate multilayer NiTi coatings created through a thermal plasma process. The key variable feed rate was considered, as well as its effect on the microstructure characteristics. The shape memory effect associated with the coating properties was analyzed in detail. The variable feed rate was considered one of the most important parameters in the thermal plasma spraying process due to its ability to control the quality and compactness of the coating structure. The coatings were characterized by examining their microstructure, thermal, chemical, and microhardness. The indent marks were made/realized along the cross-section surface for the analysis of crack propagation resistance and wear properties. The coating's surface did not display segmentation crack lines. Nevertheless, the cross-sectional surfaces showed evidence of crack lines. There were eutectic zones of the interlamellar structure observed in the structure of the coating. The plasma-sprayed samples from thermo-mechanical analysis of the hysteresis curve provide strong confirmation of the shape memory effect.

The best of both worlds: a proposal for further integration of Candidatus names into the International Code of Nomenclature of Prokaryotes

The naming of prokaryotes is governed by the International Code of Nomenclature of Prokaryotes (ICNP) and partially by the International Code of Nomenclature for Algae, Fungi and Plants (ICN). Such codes must be able to determine names of taxa in a universal and unambiguous manner, thus serving as a common language across different fields and activities. This unity is undermined when a new code of nomenclature emerges that overlaps in scope with an established, time-tested code and uses the same format of names but assigns different nomenclatural status values to the names. The resulting nomenclatural confusion is not beneficial to the wider scientific community. Such ambiguity is expected to result from the establishment of the 'Code of Nomenclature of Prokaryotes Described from DNA Sequence Data' ('SeqCode'), which is in general and specific conflict with the ICNP and the ICN. Shortcomings in the interpretation of the ICNP may have exacerbated the incompatibility between the codes. It is reiterated as to why proposals to accept sequences as nomenclatural types of species and subspecies with validly published names, now implemented in the SeqCode, have not been implemented by the International Committee on Systematics of Prokaryotes (ICSP), which oversees the ICNP. The absence of certain regulations from the ICNP for the naming of as yet uncultivated prokaryotes is an acceptable scientific argument, although it does not justify the establishment of a separate code. Moreover, the proposals rejected by the ICSP are unnecessary to adequately regulate the naming of uncultivated prokaryotes. To provide a better service to the wider scientific community, an alternative proposal to emend the ICNP is presented, which would result in Candidatus names being regulated analogously to validly published names. This proposal is fully consistent with previous ICSP decisions, preserves the essential unity of nomenclature and avoids the expected nomenclatural confusion.

A Review of the Metal Additive Manufacturing Processes

Metal additive manufacturing (AM) is a layer-by-layer process that makes the direct manufacturing of various industrial parts possible. This method facilitates the design and fabrication of complex industrial, advanced, and fine parts that are used in different industry sectors, such as aerospace, medicine, turbines, and jewelry, where the utilization of other fabrication techniques is difficult or impossible. This method is advantageous in terms of dimensional accuracy and fabrication speed. However, the parts fabricated by this method may suffer from faults such as anisotropy, micro-porosity, and defective joints. Metals like titanium, aluminum, stainless steels, superalloys, etc., have been used-in the form of powder or wire-as feed materials in the additive manufacturing of various parts. The main criterion that distinguishes different additive manufacturing processes from each other is the deposition method. With regard to this criterion, AM processes can be divided into four classes: local melting, sintering, sheet forming, and electrochemical methods. Parameters affecting the properties of the additive-manufactured part and the defects associated with an AM process determine the method by which a certain part should be manufactured. This study is a survey of different additive manufacturing processes, their mechanisms, capabilities, shortcomings, and the general properties of the parts manufactured by them.

Particle Network Self-Assembly of Similar Size Sub-Micron Calcium Alginate and Polystyrene Particles Atop Glass

Particle-mediated self-assembly, such as nanocomposites, microstructure formation in materials, and core-shell coating of biological particles, offers precise control over the properties of biological materials for applications in drug delivery, tissue engineering, and biosensing. The assembly of similar-sized calcium alginate (CAG) and polystyrene sub-micron particles is studied in an aqueous sodium nitrate solution as a model for particle-mediated self-assembly of biological and synthetic mixed particle species. The objective is to reinforce biological matrices by incorporating synthetic particles to form hybrid particulate networks with tailored properties. By varying the ionic strength of the suspension, the authors alter the energy barriers for particle attachment to each other and to a glass substrate that result from colloidal surface forces. The particles do not show monotonic adsorption trend to glass with ionic strength. Hence, apart from DLVO theory-van der Waals and electrostatic interactions-the authors further consider solvation and bridging interactions in the analysis of the particulate adsorption-coagulation system. CAG particles, which support lower energy barriers to attachment relative to their counterpart polystyrene particles, accumulate as dense aggregates on the glass substrate. Polystyrene particles adsorb simultaneously as detached particles. At high electrolyte concentrations, where electrostatic repulsion is largely screened, the mixture of particles covers most of the glass substrate; the CAG particles form a continuous network throughout the glass substrate with pockets of polystyrene particles. The particulate structure is correlated with the adjustable energy barriers for particle attachment in the suspension.

Succinate Enhances Lipolysis and Decreases Adipocytes Size in Both Subcutaneous and Visceral Adipose Tissue from High-Fat-Diet-Fed Obese Mice

Obesity is a risk factor for many chronic diseases related to the overexpansion of adipose tissue during obesity, leading to metabolic dysfunction and ectopic lipids. Previous studies reported a close relationship between succinate and obesity and its co-morbidities, and studies have also reported on its anti-obesity potential. To confirm its efficacy in obesity interventions, we supplemented mice with obesity induced by a high-fat diet with succinate (1.5% m/v in drinking water) for 11 weeks without changing the diet. After succinate supplementation, the changes in body weight, adipose tissue deposition, glucose tolerance, energy expenditure and lipid metabolism were evaluated. It was found that succinate supplementation significantly decreased subcutaneous adipose tissue (HFD: 4239.3 ± 211.2 mg; HFD-SA: 3268.9 ± 265.7 mg. p < 0.05), triglyceride contents (decreased by 1.53 mmol/g and 0.39 mmol/g in eWAT and ingWAT, respectively, p < 0.05) and NEFA (decreased by 1.41 μmol/g and 1.31 μmol/g in eWAT and ingWAT, respectively, p < 0.05). The adipocytes' sizes all significantly decreased in both subcutaneous and visceral adipose tissue (the proportion of adipocytes with diameters larger than 100 μm in eWAT and ingWAT decreased by 16.83% and 11.96%, respectively. p < 0.05). Succinate significantly enhanced lipolysis in adipose tissue (eWAT: Adrb3, Hsl and Plin1; ingWAT: Hsl and CPT1a; p < 0.05), whereas the expression of lipogenesis-related genes remained unchanged (p > 0.05). Succinate supplementation also enhanced the activity of BAT by stimulating the expression of Ucp1 and Cidea (p < 0.05). Our results reported that succinate has a potential beneficial effect on obesity pathogenesis but cannot efficiently decrease bodyweight.

Extracellular Vesicles and Bacteriophages: New Directions in Environmental Biocolloid Research

There is a long-standing appreciation among environmental engineers and scientists regarding the importance of biologically derived colloidal particles and their environmental fate. This interest has been recently renewed in considering bacteriophages and extracellular vesicles, which are each poised to offer engineers unique insights into fundamental aspects of environmental microbiology and novel approaches for engineering applications, including advances in wastewater treatment and sustainable agricultural practices. Challenges persist due to our limited understanding of interactions between these nanoscale particles with unique surface properties and their local environments. This review considers these biological particles through the lens of colloid science with attention given to their environmental impact and surface properties. We discuss methods developed for the study of inert (nonbiological) particle-particle interactions and the potential to use these to advance our understanding of the environmental fate and transport of extracellular vesicles and bacteriophages.

Multi-Omics Analysis of Genes Encoding Proteins Involved in Alpha-Linolenic Acid Metabolism in Chicken

Alpha-linolenic acid (ALA, ω-3) is an antioxidant that reduces triglyceride (TG) levels in blood, a component of cell membranes and a precursor compound of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA, ω-3) and eicosatrienoic acid (DHA, ω-3). Fatty acid content is a quantitative trait regulated by multiple genes, and the key genes regulating fatty acid metabolism have not been systematically identified. This study aims at investigating the protein-encoding genes regulating ω-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) content in chicken meat. We integrated genomics, transcriptomics and lipidomics data of Jingxing yellow chicken (JXY) to explore the interactions and associations among multiple genes involved in the regulation of fatty acid metabolism. Several key genes and pathways regulating ω-3 fatty acid metabolism in chickens were identified. The upregulation of GRB10 inhibited the mTOR signaling pathway, thereby improving the content of EPA and DHA. The downregulation of FGFR3 facilitated the conversion of ALA to EPA. Additionally, we analyzed the effects of ALA supplementation dose on glycerol esters (GLs), phospholipid (PL) and fatty acyl (FA) contents, as well as the regulatory mechanisms of nutritional responses in FFA metabolism. This study provides a basis for identifying genes and pathways that regulate the content of FFAs, and offers a reference for nutritional regulation systems in production.

Laser-Induced Graphene Formation on Polyimide Using UV to Mid-Infrared Laser Radiation

Our study presents laser-assisted methods to produce conductive graphene layers on the polymer surface. Specimens were treated using two different lasers at ambient and nitrogen atmospheres. A solid-state picosecond laser generating 355 nm, 532 nm, or 1064 nm wavelengths and a CO2 laser generating mid-infrared 10.6 µm wavelength radiation operating in a pulsed regime were used in experiments. Sheet resistance measurements and microscopic analysis of treated sample surfaces were made. The chemical structure of laser-treated surfaces was investigated using Raman spectroscopy, and it showed the formation of high-quality few-layer graphene structures on the PI surface. The intensity ratios I(2D)/I(G) and I(D)/I(G) of samples treated with 1064 nm wavelength in nitrogen atmosphere were 0.81 and 0.46, respectively. After laser treatment, a conductive laser-induced graphene layer with a sheet resistance as low as 5 Ω was formed. Further, copper layers with a thickness of 3-10 µm were deposited on laser-formed graphene using a galvanic plating. The techniques of forming a conductive graphene layer on a polymer surface have a great perspective in many fields, especially in advanced electronic applications to fabricate copper tracks on 3D materials.

Isotopic Characterization of Mercury Atmosphere-Foliage and Atmosphere-Soil Exchange in a Swiss Subalpine Coniferous Forest

To understand the role of vegetation and soil in regulating atmospheric Hg0, exchange fluxes and isotope signatures of Hg were characterized using a dynamic flux bag/chamber at the atmosphere-foliage/soil interfaces at the Davos-Seehornwald forest, Switzerland. The foliage was a net Hg0 sink and took up preferentially the light Hg isotopes, consequently resulting in large shifts (-3.27‰) in δ202Hg values. The soil served mostly as net sources of atmospheric Hg0 with higher Hg0 emission from the moss-covered soils than from bare soils. The negative shift of δ202Hg and Δ199Hg values of the efflux air relative to ambient air and the Δ199Hg/Δ201Hg ratio among ambient air, efflux air, and soil pore gas highlight that Hg0 re-emission was strongly constrained by soil pore gas evasion together with microbial reduction. The isotopic mass balance model indicates 8.4 times higher Hg0 emission caused by pore gas evasion than surface soil photoreduction. Deposition of atmospheric Hg0 to soil was noticeably 3.2 times higher than that to foliage, reflecting the high significance of the soil to influence atmospheric Hg0 isotope signatures. This study improves our understanding of Hg atmosphere-foliage/soil exchange in subalpine coniferous forests, which is indispensable in the model assessment of forest Hg biogeochemical cycling.

A Comprehensive Review on Combinatorial Film via High-Throughput Techniques

Numerous technological advancements in the 21st century depend on the creation of novel materials possessing enhanced properties; there is a growing reliance on materials that can be optimized to serve multiple functions. To efficiently save time and meet the requirements of diverse applications, high-throughput and combinatorial approaches are increasingly employed to explore and design superior materials. Among them, gradient thin-film deposition is one of the most mature and widely used technologies for high-throughput preparation of material libraries. This review summarizes recent progress in gradient thin-film deposition fabricated by magnetron sputtering, multi-arc ion plating, e-beam evaporation, additive manufacturing, and chemical bath deposition, providing readers with a fundamental understanding of this research field. First, high-throughput synthesis methods for gradient thin films are emphasized. Subsequently, we present the characteristics of combinatorial films, including microstructure, oxidation, corrosion tests, and mechanical properties. Next, the screening methods employed for evaluating these properties are discussed. Furthermore, we delve into the limitations of high-throughput preparation and characterization techniques for combinatorial films. Finally, we provide a summary and offer our perspectives.

Formulation and Characterization of Matrine Oil Dispersion to Improve Droplet Wetting and Deposition

The unreasonable use of chemical pesticides has caused serious damage to crops and the ecological environment. The botanical pesticide matrine has attracted attention as an environmentally friendly pesticide. Compared with traditional spraying methods, unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) spraying has the advantages of safety, rapidity, uniform droplets, low dosages, and no terrain or crop restrictions. In this study, matrine OD was prepared according to the application requirements of flight prevention preparations using three different emulsifiers. The stability, wettability, particle size and distribution, and spraying performance of matrine OD were studied. The results indicated that when the amount of emulsifier was 8%, the three types of matrine OD had good stability. The stability, wettability, particle size and distribution, and spray performance of the suspension prepared using emulsifier VO/03 were better than the other two emulsifiers. Therefore, matrine OD prepared using 8% VO/03 could be used for ultra-low-volume sprays and aerial applications. In this study, we provide a theoretical basis and technical guidance to develop pesticide formulations for aerial applications.

Chromogenic Mechanisms of Colorimetric Sensors Based on Gold Nanoparticles

The colorimetric signal readout method is widely used in visualized analyses for its advantages, including visualization of test results, simple and fast operations, low detection cost and fast response time. Gold nanoparticles (Au NPs), which not only exhibit enzyme-like activity but also have the advantages of tunable localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR), high stability, good biocompatibility and easily modified properties, provide excellent platforms for the construction of colorimetric sensors. They are widely used in environmental monitoring, biomedicine, the food industry and other fields. This review focuses on the chromogenic mechanisms of colorimetric sensors based on Au NPs adopting two different sensing strategies and summarizes significant advances in Au NP-based colorimetric sensing with enzyme-like activity and tunable LSPR characteristics. In addition, the sensing strategies based on the LSPR properties of Au NPs are classified into four modulation methods: aggregation, surface modification, deposition and etching, and the current status of visual detection of various analytes is discussed. Finally, the review further discusses the limitations of current Au NP-based detection strategies and the promising prospects of Au NPs as colorimetric sensors, guiding the design of novel colorimetric sensors.

Direct Observation of the Evolutionary Process in Room-Temperature Sodium-Sulfur/Selenium Batteries Using operando Light Microscopy

Understanding the conversion mechanism of active materials in the electrode is essential to guide the design of room-temperature sodium-sulfur/selenium (RT Na-S/Se) batteries. However, there is still some confusion regarding the dissolution and formation of the insulating active particles. Conventional detection methods have difficulty in capturing and presenting the dynamic processes of these microscopic particles in the "black box" battery. In this study, a visualization technique was applied to track and monitor the internal evolution process of RT Na-S/Se batteries, visualizing the dissolution and formation details of insulating solid particles in real time. Supercooled liquid sulfur and spherulites were also observed for the first time in this system. The microstructural evolution mechanism is inferred based on the observation of the dynamic information on microscopic particles. This paper provides insights into the internal workings of RT Na-S and Na-Se batteries, allowing for a more comprehensive and in-depth understanding of their dynamics.

Dilution-Induced Deposition of Concentrated Binary Mixtures of Cationic Polysaccharides and Surfactants

This work investigates the effect of dilution on the phase separation process of binary charged polysaccharide-surfactant mixtures formed by two cationic polysaccharides and up to four surfactants of different nature (anionic, zwitterionic, and neutral), as well as the potential impact of dilution-induced phase separation on the formation of conditioning deposits on charged surfaces, mimicking the negative charge and wettability of damaged hair fibers. The results obtained showed that the dilution behavior of model washing formulations (concentrated polysaccharide-surfactant mixtures) cannot be described in terms of a classical complex precipitation framework, as phase separation phenomena occur even when the aggregates are far from the equilibrium phase separation composition. Therefore, dilution-enhanced deposition cannot be predicted in terms of the worsening of colloidal stability due to the charge neutralization phenomena, as common phase separation and, hence, enhanced deposition occurs even for highly charged complexes.

Design, development and evaluation of a tractor mounted air blast sprayer for coconut and arecanut

A tractor mounted air blast sprayer was designed and developed to reduce the drudgery involved in the manual spraying of pesticide by climbing coconut tree. The sprayer mounted on a small tractor, prime mover, is operated by the power taken from its power take off (PTO). In this study, the influence of two important parameters viz., blower speed (2250 and 3000 rpm) and tractor speed (1.5 and 2.5 km h-1) at different heights on the spray characteristics such as volume mean diameter (VMD), droplet density, and spray deposition were collected and analysed. The tractor speed of 1.5 kmh-1 and blower speed of 3000 rpm was observed at recommended VMD between 100-200 µm at a height above 21 m. Hence, the tractor speed of 1.5 kmh-1 and blower speed of 3000 rpm was selected for field evaluation. The mean height of the coconut tree in the tested field was 24 m. The mean droplet size and deposition were observed at 124 µm and 7.2 µl cm-2, respectively at 24 m height. The effective field capacity, field efficiency, and fuel consumption were 0.524 ha.h-1, 73.72%, and 4.67 l h-1, respectively.

Using Mercury Stable Isotopes to Quantify Bidirectional Water-Atmosphere Hg(0) Exchange Fluxes and Explore Controlling Factors

In this study, exchange fluxes and Hg isotope fractionation during water-atmosphere Hg(0) exchange were investigated at three lakes in China. Water-atmosphere exchange was overall characterized by net Hg(0) emissions, with lake-specific mean exchange fluxes ranging from 0.9 to 1.8 ng m^-2 h^-1, which produced negative δ²⁰²Hg (mean: -1.61 to -0.03‰) and Δ¹⁹⁹Hg (-0.34 to -0.16‰) values. Emission-controlled experiments conducted using Hg-free air over the water surface at Hongfeng lake (HFL) showed negative δ²⁰²Hg and Δ¹⁹⁹Hg in Hg(0) emitted from water, and similar values were observed between daytime (mean δ²⁰²Hg: -0.95‰, Δ¹⁹⁹Hg: -0.25‰) and nighttime (δ²⁰²Hg: -1.00‰, Δ¹⁹⁹Hg: -0.26‰). Results of the Hg isotope suggest that Hg(0) emission from water is mainly controlled by photochemical Hg(0) production in water. Deposition-controlled experiments at HFL showed that heavier Hg(0) isotopes (mean ε²⁰²Hg: -0.38‰) preferentially deposited to water, likely indicating an important role of aqueous Hg(0) oxidation played during the deposition process. A Δ²⁰⁰Hg mixing model showed that lake-specific mean emission fluxes from water surfaces were 2.1-4.1 ng m^-2 h^-1 and deposition fluxes to water surfaces were 1.2-2.3 ng m^-2 h^-1 at the three lakes. Results from the this study indicate that atmospheric Hg(0) deposition to water surfaces indeed plays an important role in Hg cycling between atmosphere and water bodies.

Annealing-Modulated Surface Reconstruction for Self-Assembly of High-Density Uniform InAs/GaAs Quantum Dots on Large Wafers Substrate

In this work, we developed pre-grown annealing to form β2 reconstruction sites among β or α (2 × 4) reconstruction phase to promote nucleation for high-density, size/wafer-uniform, photoluminescence (PL)-optimal InAs quantum dot (QD) growth on a large GaAs wafer. Using this, the QD density reached 580 (860) μm^-2 at a room-temperature (T) spectral FWHM of 34 (41) meV at the wafer center (and surrounding) (high-rate low-T growth). The smallest FWHM reached 23.6 (24.9) meV at a density of 190 (260) μm^-2 (low-rate high-T). The mediate rate formed uniform QDs in the traditional β phase, at a density of 320 (400) μm^-2 and a spectral FWHM of 28 (34) meV, while size-diverse QDs formed in β2 at a spectral FWHM of 92 (68) meV and a density of 370 (440) μm^-2. From atomic-force-microscope QD height distribution and T-dependent PL spectroscopy, it is found that compared to the dense QDs grown in β phase (mediate rate, 320 μm^-2) with the most large dots (240 μm^-2), the dense QDs grown in β2 phase (580 μm^-2) show many small dots with inter-dot coupling in favor of unsaturated filling and high injection to large dots for PL. The controllable annealing (T, duration) forms β2 or β2-mixed α or β phase in favor of a wafer-uniform dot island and the faster T change enables optimal T for QD growth.

Toward Fabrication of Devices Based on Graphene/Oxide Multilayers

Owing to its high electrical conductivity, low density, and flexibility, graphene has great potential for use as a building block in a wide range of applications from nanoelectronics to biosensing and high-frequency devices. For many device applications, it is required to deposit dielectric materials on graphene at high temperatures and in ambient oxygen. This has been proven to be highly challenging because these conditions cause significant degradation in graphene. In this work, we investigate the degradation of graphene at elevated temperatures in an oxygen atmosphere and possible protection mechanisms to enable the growth of oxide thin films on graphene at higher temperatures. We show that coating graphene with self-assembled monolayers of hexamethyldisilazane (HMDS) prior to a high-temperature deposition can significantly reduce the damage induced. Furthermore, a graphene sample treated with HMDS displayed a weaker doping effect due to weak interaction with oxygen species than bare graphene, and a much slower rate of electrical resistance degradation was exhibited during annealing. Thus, it is a promising approach that could enable the deposition of metal oxide materials on graphene at high temperatures without significant degradation in graphene quality, which is critical for a wide range of applications.

Coacervate-Enhanced Deposition of Sprayed Pesticide on Hydrophobic/Superhydrophobic Abaxial Leaf Surfaces

Deposition of high-speed droplets on inverted surfaces is important to many fundamental scientific principles and technological applications. For example, in pesticide spraying to target pests and diseases emerging on abaxial side of leaves, the downward rebound and gravity of the droplets make the deposition exceedingly difficult on hydrophobic/superhydrophobic leaf underside, causing serious pesticide waste and environmental pollution. Here, a series of bile salt/cationic surfactant coacervates are developed to attain efficient deposition on the inverted surfaces of diverse hydrophobic/superhydrophobic characteristics. The coacervates have abundant nanoscale hydrophilic/hydrophobic domains and intrinsic network-like microstructures, which endow them with efficient encapsulation of various solutes and strong adhesion to surface micro/nanostructures. Thus, the coacervates with low viscosity achieve high-efficient deposition on superhydrophobic abaxial-side of tomato leaves and inverted artificial surfaces with a water contact angle from 170° to 124°, much better than that of commercial agricultural adjuvants. Intriguingly, the compactness of network-like structures dominantly controls adhesion force and deposition efficiency, and the most crowded one leads to the most efficient deposition. The tunable coacervates can help comprehensively understand the complex dynamic deposition, and provide innovative carriers for depositing sprayed pesticides on abaxial and adaxial sides of leaves, thereby potentially reducing pesticide use and promoting sustainable agriculture.

Experimental Investigation of Cobalt Deposition on 304 Stainless Steel in Borated and Lithiated High-Temperature Water

The radioactive corrosion products ⁵⁸Co and ⁶⁰Co in the primary loops of pressurized water reactors (PWRs) are the main sources of radiation doses to which workers in nuclear power plants are exposed. To understand cobalt deposition on 304 stainless steel (304SS), which is the main structural material used in the primary loop, the microstructural characteristics and chemical composition of a 304SS surface layer immersed for 240 h in borated and lithiated high-temperature water containing cobalt were investigated with scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), laser Raman spectroscopy (LRS), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), glow discharge optical emission spectrometry (GD-OES), and inductively coupled plasma emission mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). The results showed that two distinct cobalt deposition layers (an outer layer of CoFe₂O₄ and an inner layer of CoCr₂O₄) were formed on the 304SS after 240 h of immersion. Further research showed that CoFe₂O₄ was formed on the metal surface by coprecipitation of the iron preferentially dissolved from the 304SS surface with cobalt ions from the solution. The CoCr₂O₄ was formed by ion exchange between the cobalt ions entering the metal inner oxide layer and (Fe, Ni) Cr₂O₄. These results are useful in understanding cobalt deposition on 304SS and have a certain reference value for exploring the deposition behavior and mechanism of radionuclide cobalt on 304SS in the PWR primary loop water environment.

Modeling of pulmonary deposition of agents of open and fixed dose triple combination therapies through two different low-resistance inhalers in COPD: a pilot study

Introduction

Inhalation therapy is a cornerstone of treating patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Inhaler devices might influence the effectiveness of inhalation therapy. We aimed to model and compare the deposition of acting agents of an open and a fixed dose combination (FDC) triple therapy and examine their repeatability.

Methods

We recruited control subjects (Controls, n = 17) and patients with stable COPD (S-COPD, n = 13) and those during an acute exacerbation (AE-COPD, n = 12). Standard spirometry was followed by through-device inhalation maneuvers using a pressurized metered dose inhaler (pMDI) and a soft mist inhaler (SMI) to calculate deposition of fixed dose and open triple combination therapies by numerical modeling. Through-device inspiratory vital capacity (IVC_d) and peak inspiratory flow (PIF_d), as well as inhalation time (t_in) and breath hold time (tbh) were used to calculate pulmonary (PD) and extrathoracic deposition (ETD) values. Deposition was calculated from two different inhalation maneuvers.

Results

There was no difference in forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1) between patients (S-COPD: 42 ± 5% vs. AE-COPD: 35 ± 5% predicted). Spiriva^® Respimat^® showed significantly higher PD and lower ETD values in all COPD patients and Controls compared with the two pMDIs. For Foster^® pMDI and Trimbow^® pMDI similar PD were observed in Controls, while ETD between Controls and AE-COPD patients did significantly differ. There was no difference between COPD groups regarding the repeatability of calculated deposition values. Ranking the different inhalers by differences between the two deposition values calculated from separate maneuvers, Respimat^® produced the smallest inter-measurement differences for PD.

Discussion

Our study is the first to model and compare PD using pMDIs and an SMI as triple combination in COPD. In conclusion, switching from FDC to open triple therapy in cases when adherence to devices is maintanined may contribute to better therapeutic effectiveness in individual cases using low resistance inhalers.

Immunomodulatory Effects Mediated by Nano Amorphous Calcium Phosphate/Chitosan Oligosaccharide Lactate Coatings Decorated with Selenium on Titanium Implants

The aim of this work is in situ anodization/anaphoretic deposition of a nano amorphous calcium phosphate (ACP)/chitosan oligosaccharide lactate (ChOL) multifunctional hybrid coating decorated with selenium (Se) on a titanium substrate and in vivo investigation of its immunomodulatory and anti-inflammatory effect. Investigating phenomena at the implant-tissue interface of interest for controlled inflammation and immunomodulation was also the aim of the research. In our earlier research, we designed coatings based on ACP and ChOL on titanium with anticorrosive, antibacterial and biocompatible properties, while in the presented results we show that selenium addition makes this coating an immunomodulator. The immunomodulatory effect of the novel hybrid coating is characterized by the examination of the functional aspects in the tissue around the implant (in vivo): proinflammatory cytokines' gene expression, M1 (iNOS) and M2 (Arg1) macrophages, fibrous capsule formation (TGF-β) and vascularization (VEGF). The EDS, FTIR and XRD analyses prove the formation of a ACP/ChOL/Se multifunctional hybrid coating on Ti and the presence of Se. A higher M2/M1 macrophage ratio in the ACP/ChOL/Se-coated implants compared to pure titanium implants (a higher level of Arg1 expression) is noted at all time points examined (after 7, 14 and 28 days). Lower inflammation measured by gene expression of proinflammatory cytokines IL-1β and TNF, lower expression of TGF-β in the surrounding tissue and higher IL-6 expression (solely at day 7 post-implantation) is noted in presence of the ACP/ChOL/Se-coated implants.

18F-AV45 PET and MRI Reveal the Influencing Factors of Alzheimer's Disease Biomarkers in Subjective Cognitive Decline Population

BACKGROUND

Subjective cognitive decline (SCD) is a self-perceived decline in cognitive ability, which exhibits no objective impairment but increased risk of conversion to mild cognitive impairment and Alzheimer's disease (AD).

OBJECTIVE

To investigate how influencing factors (risk gene, age, sex, and education) affect amyloid-β (Aβ) deposition and gray matter (GM) atrophy in SCD population.

METHODS

281 SCD subjects were included in this study, who underwent clinical evaluation, cognitive ability assessment, apolipoprotein E (APOE) genotyping, 18F-Florbetapir positron emission computed tomography, and magnetic resonance imaging screening. Two-sample t tests and analysis of variance were performed based on voxel-wise outcome.

RESULTS

In 281 SCD subjects with an average age of 63.86, 194 subjects (69.04%) were female, and 56 subjects carried APOE ɛ4 genes. Statistical results revealed APOE ɛ4 gene, age, and sex influenced Aβ deposition in different brain regions; moreover, only the interaction exhibited between age and APOE ɛ4 genes. The GM atrophy of hippocampal, amygdala, precentral, and occipital lobes occurred in the group age over 60. The GM volume of the hippocampal, frontal, and occipital lobe in females was less than males. Education has an effect only on cognitive function.

CONCLUSION

In SCD, APOE ɛ4 gene, age, and sex significantly influenced Aβ deposition and APOE ɛ4 gene can interact with age in impacting Aβ deposition. Both age and sex can affect GM atrophy. The results suggested that female SCD with APOE ɛ4 genes and aged more than 60 years old might exhibit advanced AD biomarkers.

Tracing the origin of large respiratory droplets by their deposition characteristics inside the respiratory tract during speech

Origin of differently sized respiratory droplets is fundamental for clarifying their viral loads and the sequential transmission mechanism of SARS-CoV-2 in indoor environments. Transient talking activities characterized by low (0.2 L/s), medium (0.9 L/s), and high (1.6 L/s) airflow rates of monosyllabic and successive syllabic vocalizations were investigated by computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations based on a real human airway model. SST k-ω model was chosen to predict the airflow field, and the discrete phase model (DPM) was used to calculate the trajectories of droplets within the respiratory tract. The results showed that flow field in the respiratory tract during speech is characterized by a significant laryngeal jet, and bronchi, larynx, and pharynx-larynx junction were main deposition sites for droplets released from the lower respiratory tract or around the vocal cords, and among which, over 90% of droplets over 5 µm released from vocal cords deposited at the larynx and pharynx-larynx junction. Generally, droplets' deposition fraction increased with their size, and the maximum size of droplets that were able to escape into external environment decreased with the airflow rate. This threshold size for droplets released from the vocal folds was 10-20 µm, while that for droplets released from the bronchi was 5-20 µm under various airflow rates. Besides, successive syllables pronounced at low airflow rates promoted the escape of small droplets, but do not significantly affect the droplet threshold diameter. This study indicates that droplets larger than 20 µm may entirely originate from the oral cavity, where viral loads are lower; it provides a reference for evaluating the relative importance of large-droplet spray and airborne transmission route of COVID-19 and other respiratory infections.

Field evaluation of spray drift and nontargeted soybean injury from unmanned aerial spraying system herbicide application under acceptable operation conditions

BACKGROUND

Droplets of plant production products sprayed from unmanned aerial spraying system (UASS) applications are prone to drift, threatening nontarget crops, humans, and environment. There are few studies that have investigated plant bioassay of UASS spray drift, and even fewer when it comes to herbicide application. This work reports a combined field-scale evaluation of spray drift and plant bioassay for a rice herbicide florpyrauxifen-benzyl application using a six-rotor motor UASS under acceptable operating conditions. An artificial rice canopy was built to simulate a practical field application scenario and the soybean was applied to assess the nontargeted crop injury. The effects of nozzle type (droplet size), flight height, and adjuvant on spray deposition, sedimenting drift, airborne drift, and soybean injury were studied to explore the feasibility of UASS herbicide application.

RESULTS

Under an average wind speed of 1.2-1.5 m s^-1 , reduced flight height, increased droplet size, and adding nonionic surfactant resulted in greater deposition, lower drift, and less injury to soybean. Increasing droplet size by changing the nozzle was more effective compared with adding adjuvant and reducing the flight height, which offers greater flexibility and can accomplish better spray performance. The correlations between sedimenting drift and soybean injury percentage were highly significant (P < 0.01, r > 0.96). The calculated buffer distances of 7.7-18.9 m were to varying degrees less than the soybean safety distances of 10.0-20.0 m.

CONCLUSION

The results of this study provide a reference basis for determining optimum working parameters and establishing buffer zones for the rice herbicide application of UASS. © 2022 Society of Chemical Industry.

Comparison of Aerosol Deposition Between a Cynomolgus Macaque and a 3D Printed Cast Model of the Animal

PURPOSE

Preclinical aerosol studies using animals are essential for evaluating toxic or therapeutic effects on human respiratory tract. Macaques are relevant animal models for respiratory studies, but they are sensitive, expensive and difficult-to-access.

METHODS

In the context of preliminary studies before animal experiments, we set up an alternative in vitro anatomical model of macaque airways to reduce, refine and replace (3Rs) the animals. We printed an in vitro anatomical cast until the third bronchial division from X-ray computed tomography data of a healthy cynomolgus macaque. This in vitro model was then connected to a respiratory pump to mimic macaque's breathing. We assessed the relevance of this in vitro model, by comparing aerosol deposition patterns obtained with the anatomical model and in three macaques using planar gamma camera imaging. DTPA-^99mTechnetium aerosols were produced using three jet nebulizers, generating three different particle sizes: 13.1, 3.2 and 0.93 µm in terms of the mass median aerodynamic diameter (MMAD).

RESULTS

The data showed no statistical differences between the animal and anatomical in vitro models in terms of total aerosol deposited in the airways. However, the distribution of the deposition in the airways showed a higher deposited fraction in the upper respiratory tract in the animals than the in vitro model for all particle sizes.

CONCLUSIONS

The anatomical printed model appears to be a relevant in vitro tool to predict total aerosol deposition in macaque airways.

A new approach to deposit homogeneous samples of asbestos fibres for toxicological tests in vitro

In this paper we describe the results obtained with a novel method to prepare depositions of asbestos fibres for toxicological tests in vitro. The technique is based on a micro-dispenser, working as an inkjet printer, able to deposit micro-sized droplets from a suspension of fibres in a liquid medium; we used here a highly evaporating liquid (ethanol) to reduce the experimental time, however other solvents could be used. Both the amount and spatial distribution of fibres on the substrate can be controlled by adjusting the parameters of the micro-dispenser such as deposition area, deposition time, uniformity and volume of the deposited liquid. Statistical analysis of images obtained by optical and scanning electron microscopy shows that this technique produces an extremely homogeneous distribution of fibers. Specifically, the number of deposited single fibres is maximized (up to 20 times), a feature that is essential when performing viability tests where agglomerated or untangled fibrous particles need to be avoided.

Evaluationof compact air-induction flat fan nozzles for herbicide applications: Spray drift and biological efficacy

Nozzles are the most critical component of a sprayer for pesticide applications. Recently, air-induction nozzles and twin flat-fan air-induction nozzles have started to be used for herbicide applications. In order to evaluate the potential of compact air-induction nozzles for herbicide spraying, this paper compares the effects of air-induction nozzles and standard flat-fan nozzles on spray atomization, deposition, drift, and weed control efficacy in maize and wheat. Droplet spectra were measured by a laser particle size analyzer, and drift potential values were determined using a drift test bench (ISO 22401). A field study was conducted to compare the spray drift and biological efficacy between Lechler standard flat-fan nozzles and compact air-induction nozzles including different nozzle sizes. In the range from 0.2 to 0.4 MPa, the droplet size classes of the LU and ST nozzles were very similar and ranged from fine to very fine, while the droplets of the air-induction nozzles IDK and IDKT were medium or coarse depending on the spray pressure and nozzle size. The drift potential trials showed that the droplet size characteristics, mainly V ₁₀₀, are strongly linked with the drift reduction potential. Both drift potential and field results showed that the compact air-induction nozzles had a good performance in drift reduction. In terms of weed control biological efficacy, there were no significant differences between standard flat-fan nozzles and air-induction nozzles. In all cases, the efficacy values were above 80% both in maize and in wheat. In conclusion, air-induction nozzles are recommended for herbicide applications as they provide good biological efficacy while significantly reducing the amount of spray drift, which is of great significance for the protection of the environment and the surrounding sensitive crops.

Effects of Ambient Temperature and Humidity on Natural Deposition Characteristics of Airborne Biomass Particles

In the production process of biomass energy with crop straw as the raw material, the indoor dust environment created by smashed plant fiber can affect the health of workers and lead to the risk of fire and explosions. The physical properties of biomass vary with the ambient air conditions, resulting in different deposition processes for airborne biomass particles. In this study, the deposition of biomass particles in different environments in an experimental chamber was examined by independently controlling the internal temperature and relative humidity. The results show that in the ambient temperature range of 20~40 °C and at a relative humidity of 25~65%, the water absorption rates of the biomass particles were 15.4~24.7%. The deposition rates of the airborne biomass particles with different sizes were 0.9~2.9 h^-1, which positively correlated with the particle sizes in the same ambient conditions. The increase in ambient temperature and relative humidity promoted the deposition of biomass particles with diameters over 0.5 μm. For the particles with diameters below 0.5 μm, the deposition rates were nonlinearly related to the ambient temperature and relative humidity and were greater at lower temperatures. The significance levels of the factors influencing the particle deposition were particle size > ambient temperature > ambient relative humidity. For the biomass particles below 0.5 μm, the influence of the relative humidity on the deposition was much weaker than that of the temperature.

Effect of Deposition and Protease Digestion on the Ex Vivo Activity of Antimicrobial Peptide-Coated Contact Lenses

A clinical study of antimicrobial contact lenses containing the cationic peptide Mel4 was conducted. The few adverse events that occurred with this lens occurred on or after 13 nights of wear. The current study examined whether the Mel4 contact lenses lost activity during wear and the mechanism of this loss. Participants wore contact lenses for up to 13 nights. Lenses were tested for their ability to reduce the adhesion of Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus. The amount of protein and lipid extracted from lenses was measured. The ability of trypsin to affect the antimicrobial activity of Mel4-coated contact lenses was measured. Mel4-coated contact lenses lost their antimicrobial activity at six nights of wear for both bacteria. The amount of lipids (13 ± 11 vs. 21 ± 14 μg/lens at 13 nights wear) and proteins (8 ± 4 vs. 10 ± 3 mg/lens at 13 nights of wear) extracted from lenses was not different between Mel4-coated and uncoated lenses, and was not different after three nights when antimicrobial activity was maintained and thirteen nights when they had lost activity (lipid: 25 ± 17 vs. 13 ± 11, p = 0.2; protein: 8 ± 1 vs. 8 ± 4 mg/lens, p = 0.4). Trypsin digestion eliminated the antimicrobial activity of Mel4-coated lenses. In summary, Mel4-coated contact lenses lost antibacterial activity at six nights of wear, and the most likely reason was proteolytic digestion of the peptide. Future studies will design and test proteolytically stable peptide mimics as coatings for contact lenses.

Tris(β-ketoiminate) Aluminium(III) Compounds as Aluminium Oxide Precursors

Precursor design is the crucial step in tailoring the deposition profile towards a multitude of functional materials. Most commercially available aluminium oxide precursors require high processing temperatures (>500 °C). Herein, we report the tuning of the decomposition profile (200-350 °C) of a range of octahedrally coordinated tris(β-ketoiminate) aluminium complexes of the type [Al(MeCN(R)CHC=OMe)₃ ], by varying the R substituents in the ligands. The complexes are derived from the reaction of trimethylamine alane (TMAA) and a series of N-substituted β-ketoiminate ligands (R-acnacH, R=Me, Et, ⁱ Pr, Ph) with varying R-substituents sizes. When the more sterically encumbered ligand (R=Mes) was used, the Al atom became five-coordinate, therefore representing the threshold to octahedral coordination around the metal in these type of compounds, which, consequently, lead to a change of decomposition profile. The resulting compounds have been characterised by NMR spectroscopy, mass spectrometry, elemental analysis and single crystal X-ray diffraction. [Al(MeCN(Me)CHC=OMe)₃ ] has been used as a single source precursor for the deposition of Al₂ O₃ . Thin films were deposited via aerosol assisted chemical vapour deposition (AACVD), with toluene as the solvent, and were analysed using SEM, EDX and XPS.

Atmospheric Deposition of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) in the Coastal Urban Environment of Poland: Sources and Transport Patterns

This study combines an interseasonal variation of deposition profiles of fine-particulate-bound polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PM_2.5-bound PAHs) with source apportionment analysis. Comprehensive measurements were conducted in four representative periods of 2019 in the coastal urban region of the Baltic Sea in Poland. The mean daily deposition flux of Σ₁₃PAHs was 229 ng m^-2 day^-1, which was lower than in other urban/industrial sites of Europe and Asia. The seasonal PAHs distribution exhibited a clear U-shaped pattern, reaching maximum values in January and December and the minimum in June. A strong influence of local/regional anthropogenic emissions and meteorological factors (precipitation, ambient temperature, wind regimes) was observed. The contribution of medium molecular weight PAHs (fluoranthene, pyrene, benzo(a)anthracene, chrysene) to the total sum of PAHs deposition fluxes increased from 24% in spring to 38% in summer, as a result of photochemistry, urban traffic, and shipping emissions. The highest contribution of 5- and 6-ring PAHs occurred primarily in autumn (55%), followed by winter (39%), spring (35%), and summer (26%). Benzo(a)pyrene (human carcinogenic compound) had a relatively high deposition flux in winter, which was almost 14 and 20 times higher than the values registered in spring and summer, respectively. The FLEXTRA dispersion model was used to study potential pollution regions for PM_2.5-bound PAHs and to investigate changes in the PAH deposition regime in different seasons. This study reveals that the winter contribution of PAHs was mostly impacted by local urban activities (i.e., residential heating and coal-fired power plants). Winter PAH deposition fluxes were particularly associated with atmospheric particles transported from surrounding areas and industrially impacted regions of SE-S-SW Poland and Europe.

Analysis on the Performance of Micro and Nano Molybdenum Di-Sulphide Powder Suspended Dielectric in the Electrical Discharge Machining Process-A Comparison

The significance of suspending molybdenum di-sulphide powder particles of two distinct mean size viz. Φ40 μm and Φ90 nm into the dielectric of electrical discharge machining is analysed. Crater geometry, surface crack density, skewness, kurtosis and chemical alteration of machined surfaces are considered as outcome measures. A numerical model using finite element analysis is developed to forecast crater geometry. To validate the proposed model, experiments are conducted by varying input parameters such as discharge duration, peak current, and gap voltage. In comparison with the experimental results, the proposed model predicts diameter of crater with an error of 3.34%, 7.32% and 2.76% for discharge duration, peak current and gap voltage respectively for Φ40 μm powder; similarly, 0.19%, 3.65% and 2.78% for Φ90 nm powder. Scanning electron microscope images, 2D roughness profiles and X-ray diffraction profiles are used to assess the partial discharge phenomena, surface crack density, skewness, kurtosis and chemical alteration of the machined surface. For all parameter settings, the Φ90 nm produced surfaces with lessened micro-cracks compared to Φ40 μm. The Φ90 nm creates surfaces with negative skewness and kurtosis less than 3. The deposition of MoS₂ powder particle on the machined surface is revealed through X-ray diffraction analysis.

[Research methods and progress on the reduction effects of vehicle emission pollutants by street canyon greening.]

With the development of high-density and high-rise buildings on both sides of the street, widespread attention has been paid to the applicability of the traditional greening model of 'the more trees, the better atmospheric environment' in dealing with air pollution in urban street canyons. Clarifying the characteristics of street canyons greening and its planting design pattern on the reduction of emission pollutants by vehicles is an important prerequisite for the improvement of air quality in the street canyons. Based on literature review, we compared the applicability and limitations of the three methods, including field observation, wind tunnel test, and numerical simulation. We further analyzed the effects of roadside trees and hedges on the dispersion and deposition of air pollutants, and put forward a framework of adaptive greening design for air quality improvement. Finally, we proposed that future studies should address the creation of graphic languages for roadside greening design, the development of technical guidelines for evaluating the exposure of air pollution, and the optimization of parameterization schemes for the physical processes of greening effect in computational fluid dynamics models. Overall, our review could provide ideas and reference for the subsequent research.

Surface Morphology-Enhanced Delivery of Bioinspired Eco-Friendly Microcapsules

We report the development of novel mineralized protein microcapsules to address critical challenges in the environmental impact and performance of consumer, pharmaceutical, agrochemical, cosmetic, and paint products. We designed environment-friendly capsules composed of proteins and biominerals as an alternative to solid microplastic particles or core-shell capsules made of nonbiodegradable synthetic polymeric resins. We synthesized mineralized capsule surface morphologies to mimic the features of natural pollens, which dramatically improved the deposition of high value-added fragrance chemicals on target substrates in realistic application conditions. A mechanistic model accurately captures the observed enhanced deposition behavior and shows how surface features generate an adhesive torque that resists shear detachment. Mineralized protein capsule performance is shown to depend both on material selection that determines van der Waals attraction and on capsule-substrate energy landscapes as parameterized by a geometric taxonomy for surface morphologies. These findings have broad implications for engineering multifunctional environmentally friendly delivery systems.

Health risk assessment of particulate matter 2.5 in an academic metallurgy workshop

Exposure to indoor PM_2.5 is associated with allergies, eye and skin irritation, lung cancer, and cardiopulmonary diseases. To control indoor PM_2.5 and protect the health of occupants, exposure and health studies are necessary. In this study, exposure to PM_2.5 released in an academic metallurgy workshop was assessed and a health risk assessment was conducted for male and female students and technicians. Polycarbonate membrane filters and an active pump operating at a flow rate of 2.5 L/min were used to collect PM_2.5 from Monday to Friday for 3 months (August-October 2020) from 08:00-16:00. PM_2.5 mass concentrations were obtained gravimetrically, and the Multiple-Path Particle Dosimetry model was used to predict the deposition, retention, and clearance of PM_2.5 in the respiratory tract system. The risk of developing carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic effects among students and technicians was determined. The average PM_2.5 mass concentration for August was 32.6 μg/m³ 32.8 μg/m³ for September, and 32.2 μg/m³ for October. The head region accounted for the highest deposition fraction (49.02%), followed by the pulmonary (35.75%) and tracheobronchial regions (15.26%). Approximately 0.55 mg of PM_2.5 was still retained in the alveolar region 7 days after exposure. The HQ for male and female students was <1 while that of male and female technicians was >1, suggesting that technicians are at risk of developing non-carcinogenic health effects compared with students. The results showed a risk of developing carcinogenic health effects among male and female technicians (>1 × 10^-5 ); however, there was no excess cancer risk for students (<1 × 10^-6 ). This study highlights the importance of exposure and health studies in academic micro-environments such as metallurgy workshops which are often less researched, and exposure is underestimated. The results also indicated the need to implement control measures to protect the health of the occupants and ensure that the workshop rules are adhered to.

Alterations in Pre/Post Oxygenator Flows Due to Fibrin Deposition in the CardioHelp System-A Case Report

We present a 62-year-old patient with COVID-19 pneumonia on Veno-venous (VV) Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation (ECMO) with unique perturbations to pre and post oxygenator pressures due to fibrin deposition in despite being on a Heparin/Bivalirudin infusion and activated Partial Thromboplastin Time (aPTT) within therapeutic range of 60-80 seconds. On Day 8 of ECMO support, it was noticed that flows steadily decreased despite unchanged RPMs. Unlike typical blood flow to circuit pressure relationships, the circuit pressures did not correlate with the observed decreased flow. The Delta Pressure (ΔP) was not elevated. The patient's vitals were stable. On inspection post change-out, clots were noted in the oxygenator outlets. Oxygenator clots are usually associated with increased ΔP. In this scenario, clots in the oxygenator blocked 1 of the 4 outlets in the oxygenator causing the flow, pressures, and ΔP to drop consecutively. Due to reduced flow, the ΔP was not elevated despite extensive clots. The fibrin clot location in the CardioHelp ECMO circuit may lead to unexpected pressure and flow alterations. Sole reliance on ΔP as a marker for oxygenator clots may be misleading. Careful monitoring and timely diagnosis of coagulation status may lead to changes in anticoagulation goals and meaningfully impact patient outcomes.

Fungal communities in soils under global change

Soil fungi play indispensable roles in all ecosystems including the recycling of organic matter and interactions with plants, both as symbionts and pathogens. Past observations and experimental manipulations indicate that projected global change effects, including the increase of CO₂ concentration, temperature, change of precipitation and nitrogen (N) deposition, affect fungal species and communities in soils. Although the observed effects depend on the size and duration of change and reflect local conditions, increased N deposition seems to have the most profound effect on fungal communities. The plant-mutualistic fungal guilds - ectomycorrhizal fungi and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi - appear to be especially responsive to global change factors with N deposition and warming seemingly having the strongest adverse effects. While global change effects on fungal biodiversity seem to be limited, multiple studies demonstrate increases in abundance and dispersal of plant pathogenic fungi. Additionally, ecosystems weakened by global change-induced phenomena, such as drought, are more vulnerable to pathogen outbreaks. The shift from mutualistic fungi to plant pathogens is likely the largest potential threat for the future functioning of natural and managed ecosystems. However, our ability to predict global change effects on fungi is still insufficient and requires further experimental work and long-term observations. Citation: Baldrian P, Bell-Dereske L, Lepinay C, Větrovský T, Kohout P (2022). Fungal communities in soils under global change. Studies in Mycology 103: 1-24. doi: 10.3114/sim.2022.103.01.

Mucosal Delivery of Cannabidiol: Influence of Vehicles and Enhancers

In this study, the mucosal permeation and deposition of cannabidiol (CBD) with neat and binary vehicles were investigated. Permeation experiments were performed using static diffusion cells coupled with fresh porcine esophageal mucosa. The CBD-vehicle solutions were applied at a fixed dose (~5 mg/cm²), and the corresponding permeation parameters were calculated. In neat vehicles, the permeation flux (J_ss) ranged from 0.89 ± 0.15 to 179.81 ± 23.46 µg·cm^-2·h^-1, while the CBD deposition ranged from 11.5 ± 1.8 to 538.3 ± 105.3 μg·cm^-2. Propylene glycol (PG) and diethylene glycol monoethyl ether (DEGEE) yielded the highest permeability (P_s) and CBD deposition, while medium-chain triglycerides (MCT) yielded the lowest P_s and deposition. This was due to the difference in apparent partition coefficient (K), which is related to the solubility of CBD in the vehicle. The PG:DEGEE binary vehicle boosted J_ss (1.5-1.6 fold) and deposition (2.0-2.7 folds) significantly, compared to neat DEGEE. The combination of DEGEE with MCT dramatically enhanced J_ss (11-44 fold) and deposition (1.6-4.7 fold). The addition of lipophilic enhancers, laurocapram, and oleic acid, to PG:DEGEE and DEGEE:MCT vehicles significantly reduced J_ss (0.3-0.7 fold) and deposition (0.4-0.8 fold) while nerolidol had no effect. These permeation reductions were found to be related to modification of the K and/or diffusivity values. This study provides useful basic information for the development of CBD formulations intended for transmucosal delivery.

Deep Investigation Into the Electrodeposition Model of Mg Battery Anode

Analysis of nucleation/growth dynamics is important to understand the molecular mechanism on the electrode surface. The electrocrystallization mechanism of Mg anode in aqueous electrolyte was comprehensively investigated which can help us understand the surface discharge mechanism of Mg anode and provide a new theoretical idea for the development of high performance magnesium ion battery. The influence of applied potential signals on normal growth constant and active site numbers was studied using i-t transient curves. The dimensionless processed transient curves confirmed that the initial nucleation/growth process of Mg electrode in aqueous solution followed the diffusion-controlled three-dimensional instantaneous nucleation model.

Understanding Ozone Transport and Deposition within Indoor Surface Boundary Layers

Ozone-initiated oxidation reactions on indoor surfaces meaningfully alter the chemical composition of indoor air and human exposure to air toxins. Ozone mass transport within the indoor surface boundary layer plays a key role in ozone-surface reaction kinetics. However, limited information is available on detailed ozone transport dynamics near realistic, irregular indoor surfaces. This paper presents a research framework to study the underlying mechanisms of ozone reactions with realistic indoor surfaces based on microscope scanning of surface material and detailed Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) simulation. The study results show that indoor surface topography can meaningfully affect ozone mass transport within a surface boundary layer, thereby modulating near-surface ozone concentration gradient and surface uptake. The results also reveal that the effective indoor surface area available for ozone reaction varies with indoor air speed and turbulent air mixing within the boundary layer. The detailed dynamic behaviors of ozone reactions with realistic indoor surfaces provide insights into the implications of pollutant-surface interactions on indoor chemistry and air quality.

Does Shift in Vegetation Abundance After Nitrogen and Phosphorus Additions Play a Key Role in Regulating Fungal Community Structure in a Northern Peatland?

Soil fungal communities are key players in biogeochemical processes of peatlands, which are important carbon stocks globally. Although it has been elucidated that fungi are susceptible to environmental changes, little is known about the intricate and interactive effect of long-term nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) enrichment on fungal community structure in northern peatlands. In this study, we compared a short- (2 years) with a long-term (10 years) fertilization experiment in a peatland complex in northeastern China to assess how N and/or P additions influence fungal community structure. The results showed that fungal community composition and diversity were altered by N addition, without a significant interactive effect with P addition. Not only the long-term but also the short-term nutrient addition could change the abundance of different plant functional types. However, there were no strong cascading effects on the fungal community in any of the fertilization experiments. Long-term nutrient addition showed a stronger effect on the relative abundance of different fungal functional guilds; an increase in the relative abundance of saprotrophs after fertilization did not jeopardize mycorrhizal fungi. Moreover, the decline in Sphagnum cover after long-term N addition did not parallel changes in the relative abundance of Sphagnum-associated fungi (Clavaria sphagnicola, Galerina tibiicystis, G. sphagnicola, and G. paludosa). Given that short- and long-term fertilization showed strongly contrasting effects on fungal community structure, our study highlights the necessity of assessing the long-term effects of nutrient enrichment on the association between vegetation and fungal community in peatland ecosystems. Future research priorities should emphasize the connection between the community structure of fungal functional guilds and their functionality, which is of paramount importance to better understand their influences on C storage in the face of uncertain N and P deposition regimes.