Gibbs Free-Energy-Based Objective Function for Electrolyte Activity Coefficient Models

This paper proposes Gibbs free-energy-based objective functions in the parameter fitting of activity coefficient and specific heat capacity of ions. The activity coefficient parameters are fitted through the averaged squared error between the Gibbs free energy calculated by using the measured activity coefficient data and that by using the model equation. The standard-state heat capacity parameters of ions are fitted through the minimization of the average squared error between the Gibbs free energy of dissolution calculated through the saturation activity over a temperature range and that calculated through the standard-state chemical potential as a function of temperature via standard-state specific heat. This methodology is tested with Bromley and Pitzer models. The proposed methodology reduces the need for experiments and avoids the uncertainty of extrapolation to infinite dilution when determining standard-state specific heat of ions. The proposed methodology provides solubility estimates that are more accurate than those of the common methodology, except for low temperatures in the Pitzer model where the common approach is somehow slightly more accurate. In addition, the proposed methodology enables accurate modeling with limited data: solubility over temperature range, activity coefficient data up to some concentrated range not covering saturation, and no ionic specific heat data

Impact of Enhanced Ozone Deposition and Halogen Chemistry on Tropospheric Ozone over the Northern Hemisphere

Fate of ozone in marine environments has been receiving increased attention due to the tightening of ambient air quality standards. The role of deposition and halogen chemistry is examined through incorporation of an enhanced ozone deposition algorithm and inclusion of halogen chemistry in a comprehensive atmospheric modeling system. The enhanced ozone deposition treatment accounts for the interaction of iodide in seawater with ozone and increases deposition velocities by 1 order of magnitude. Halogen chemistry includes detailed chemical reactions of organic and inorganic bromine and iodine species. Two different simulations are completed with the halogen chemistry: without and with photochemical reactions of higher iodine oxides. Enhanced deposition reduces mean summer-time surface ozone by ∼3% over marine regions in the Northern Hemisphere. Halogen chemistry without the photochemical reactions of higher iodine oxides reduces surface ozone by ∼15% whereas simulations with the photochemical reactions of higher iodine oxides indicate ozone reductions of ∼48%. The model without these processes overpredicts ozone compared to observations whereas the inclusion of these processes improves predictions. The inclusion of photochemical reactions for higher iodine oxides leads to ozone predictions that are lower than observations, underscoring the need for further refinement of the halogen emissions and chemistry scheme in the model

The Impact of Iodide-Mediated Ozone Deposition and Halogen Chemistry on Surface Ozone Concentrations Across the Continental United States

The air quality of many large coastal areas in the United States is affected by the confluence of polluted urban and relatively clean marine airmasses, each with distinct atmospheric chemistry. In this context, the role of iodide-mediated ozone (O₃) deposition over seawater and marine halogen chemistry accounted for in both the lateral boundary conditions and coastal waters surrounding the continental U.S. is examined using the Community Multiscale Air Quality (CMAQ) model. Several nested simulations are conducted in which these halogen processes are implemented separately in the continental U.S. and hemispheric CMAQ domains, the latter providing lateral boundary conditions for the former. Overall, it is the combination of these processes within both the continental U.S. domain and from lateral boundary conditions that lead to the largest reductions in modeled surface O₃ concentrations. Predicted reductions in surface O₃ concentrations occur mainly along the coast where CMAQ typically has large overpredictions. These results suggest that a realistic representation of halogen processes in marine regions can improve model prediction of O₃ concentrations near the coast

Additional file 2 of Are we ready for a sustainable approach? A qualitative study of the readiness of the public health system to provide STI services to the key populations at risk of HIV in Bangladesh

Additional file 2. Consolidated criteria for reporting qualitative research (COREQ) – consists of the characteristics of the qualitative methods section for this manuscript

Additional file 1 of Are we ready for a sustainable approach? A qualitative study of the readiness of the public health system to provide STI services to the key populations at risk of HIV in Bangladesh

Additional file 1. English interview guidelines- consists of various semi-structured questionnaires for different groups of informants such as health service providers of DICs and public healthcare facilities, government officials, and CBO leaders. The guidelines also contain a guideline for consultation workshops and an observation checklist for the public healthcare facilities

Association between smoking and mortality from all-cause, cancer, and cardiovascular diseases.

a<p>Adjusted for baseline age (years), body mass index, and educational attainment.</p>b<p>Non-cigarette/bidi smokers as the reference group.</p>c<p>Categories in ever smokers were based on meaningful cut points for easy interpretation.</p>d<p>Non-hookah smokers as the reference group.</p

Association between smoking and mortality from IHD and stroke.

a<p>Adjusted for baseline age (years), body mass index, and educational attainment.</p>b<p>Non-cigarette/bidi smokers as the reference group.</p>c<p>Categories in ever smokers were based on meaningful cut points for easy interpretation.</p>d<p>Non-hookah smokers as the reference group.</p

Survival curves for overall survival by never and ever cigarette/bidi smoking.

<p>(<b>A</b>) Overall survival among men. (<b>B</b>) Overall survival among women. Cox proportional hazards regression analyses were adjusted for baseline age (years), body mass index, and educational attainment (years).</p

Prevalence of smoking and age at starting smoking.

<p>(<b>A</b>) Prevalence of cigarette/bidi smoking and hookah smoking by age groups (17–29, 30–39, 40–49, and 50+) among men and women. (<b>B</b>) Mean age at starting cigarette/bidi smoking by age groups among men and women.</p

Prevalence of ever cigarette/bidi smoking by baseline characteristics.^a

a<p>Data were missing on cigarette/bidis smoking for 8 subjects; on education for 11 subjects; on religion for 1 subject; on body mass index for 281 subjects; on hookah smoking for 8295 subjects; on betel quid chewing for 34 subjects; on systolic blood pressure for 260 subjects; on diastolic blood pressure for 268 subjects; and on history of diabetes for 321 subjects.</p>b<p><i>P</i>-value from the chi-square test or <i>t</i>-test.</p