Observation of playa salts as nuclei in orographic wave clouds

During the Ice in Clouds Experiment-Layer Clouds (ICE-L), dry lakebed, or playa, salts from the Great Basin region of the United States were observed as cloud nuclei in orographic wave clouds over Wyoming. Using a counterflow virtual impactor in series with a single-particle mass spectrometer, sodium-potassium-magnesium-calcium-chloride salts were identified as residues of cloud droplets. Importantly, these salts produced similar mass spectral signatures to playa salts with elevated cloud condensation nuclei (CCN) efficiencies close to sea salt. Using a suite of chemical characterization instrumentation, the playa salts were observed to be internally mixed with oxidized organics, presumably produced by cloud processing, as well as carbonate. These salt particles were enriched as residues of large droplets (>19 μm) compared to smaller droplets (>7 μm). In addition, a small fraction of silicate-containing playa salts were hypothesized to be important in the observed heterogeneous ice nucleation processes. While the high CCN activity of sea salt has been demonstrated to play an important role in cloud formation in marine environments, this study provides direct evidence of the importance of playa salts in cloud formation in continental North America has not been shown previously. Studies are needed to model and quantify the impact of playas on climate globally, particularly because of the abundance of playas and expected increases in the frequency and intensity of dust storms in the future due to climate and land use changes

Filtration efficiency of air conditioner filters and face masks to limit exposure to aerosolized algal toxins

Harmful algal blooms (HABs) can generate toxins that can be aerosolized and negatively impact human health through inhalation. HABs are often found in waterways near residences, therefore, aerosolized HAB toxins can potentially affect both indoor and outdoor air quality. Given that HABs are predicted to increase worldwide, effective mitigation strategies are needed to prevent the inhalation of aerosolized HAB toxins. In this work, we characterized both the particle filtration efficiency using particle sizing instruments as well as the mass concentration of different congeners of aerosolized microcystin (MC) toxins that penetrate through commercially available face masks and air conditioner (AC) filters. Particles were generated from cultures of the toxin-producing cyanobacteria Microcystis aeruginosa. Hydrophobic congeners of microcystin including MC-LF and MC-LW were enriched in aerosols compared to water, with MC-LR being the most abundant, which has implications for the toxicity of inhalable particles generated from HAB-contaminated waters. Particle transmission efficiencies and toxin filtration efficiencies scaled with the manufacturer-provided filter performance ratings. Up to 80% of small, microcystin-containing aerosols were transmitted through AC filters with low filter performance ratings. In contrast, both face masks as well as AC filters with high filter performance ratings efficiently removed toxin-containing particles to below limits of quantification. Our findings suggest that face masks and commercially available AC filters with high filtration efficiency ratings are suitable mitigation strategies to avoid indoor and outdoor air exposure to aerosolized HAB toxins. This work also has relevance for reducing airborne exposure to other HAB toxins, non-HAB toxins, pathogens, and viruses, including SARS-CoV-2, the virus responsible for the COVID-19 pandemic

Multi-level analysis of electronic health record adoption by health care professionals: A study protocol

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The electronic health record (EHR) is an important application of information and communication technologies to the healthcare sector. EHR implementation is expected to produce benefits for patients, professionals, organisations, and the population as a whole. These benefits cannot be achieved without the adoption of EHR by healthcare professionals. Nevertheless, the influence of individual and organisational factors in determining EHR adoption is still unclear. This study aims to assess the unique contribution of individual and organisational factors on EHR adoption in healthcare settings, as well as possible interrelations between these factors.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>A prospective study will be conducted. A stratified random sampling method will be used to select 50 healthcare organisations in the Quebec City Health Region (Canada). At the individual level, a sample of 15 to 30 health professionals will be chosen within each organisation depending on its size. A semi-structured questionnaire will be administered to two key informants in each organisation to collect organisational data. A composite adoption score of EHR adoption will be developed based on a Delphi process and will be used as the outcome variable. Twelve to eighteen months after the first contact, depending on the pace of EHR implementation, key informants and clinicians will be contacted once again to monitor the evolution of EHR adoption. A multilevel regression model will be applied to identify the organisational and individual determinants of EHR adoption in clinical settings. Alternative analytical models would be applied if necessary.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The study will assess the contribution of organisational and individual factors, as well as their interactions, to the implementation of EHR in clinical settings.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>These results will be very relevant for decision makers and managers who are facing the challenge of implementing EHR in the healthcare system. In addition, this research constitutes a major contribution to the field of knowledge transfer and implementation science.</p

Widespread Epigenetic Abnormalities Suggest a Broad DNA Methylation Erasure Defect in Abnormal Human Sperm

Male-factor infertility is a common condition, and etiology is unknown for a high proportion of cases. Abnormal epigenetic programming of the germline is proposed as a possible mechanism compromising spermatogenesis of some men currently diagnosed with idiopathic infertility. During germ cell maturation and gametogenesis, cells of the germ line undergo extensive epigenetic reprogramming. This process involves widespread erasure of somatic-like patterns of DNA methylation followed by establishment of sex-specific patterns by de novo DNA methylation. Incomplete reprogramming of the male germ line could, in theory, result in both altered sperm DNA methylation and compromised spermatogenesis.We determined concentration, motility and morphology of sperm in semen samples collected by male members of couples attending an infertility clinic. Using MethyLight and Illumina assays we measured methylation of DNA isolated from purified sperm from the same samples. Methylation at numerous sequences was elevated in DNA from poor quality sperm.This is the first report of a broad epigenetic defect associated with abnormal semen parameters. Our results suggest that the underlying mechanism for these epigenetic changes may be improper erasure of DNA methylation during epigenetic reprogramming of the male germ line

Photolithographic Patterning and Doping of Silica Xerogel Films

This study shows that conventional photolithography can be applied for patterning native or organic dye-doped silica films (about 0.5 micro-m thick) obtained via a base-catalyzed sol-gel process. Photoresist was spin-coated onto high optical quality xerogel films, soft-baked, exposed to UV irradiation through a photomask, and developed with a commercial photoresist developing solution. Etching away of the photoresist-unprotected areas of the silica films was carried out with a dilute HF solution, while the remaining unexposed photoresist was removed with acetone. Interdigitated array patterns with features as small as 0.5 mm show a smooth surface and extremely sharp interfaces. Densification of the films at 550°C for 2 h decreases the film thickness by about 11%, increases the refractive index from 1.420 to 1.456, and allows for well-defined patterning down to length scales of 10 micro-m. Since the densification conditions are incompatible with organic dopants, it is demonstrated that sol-gel films can be doped after pattering (post-doping) by adsorption of cationic dyes from solution. Scanning electron microscopy reveals that the microstructure of patterned sol-gel films is similar to that of bulk monoliths, indicating that the photolithographic procedure is not harmful to the film quality. All patterned films demonstrate highly regular light diffraction patterns

The Redox Chemistry of 4-benzoyl-N-methylpyridinium Cations in Acetonitrile with and Without Proton Donors: The Role of Hydrogen Bonding

In anhydrous CH3CN, 4-benzoyl-N-methylpyridinium cations undergo two reversible, well-separated (ΔE1/2 0.6 V) one-electron reductions in analogy to quinones and viologens. If the solvent contains weak protic acids, such as water or alcohols, the first cyclic voltammetric wave remains unaffected while the second wave is shifted closer to the first. Both voltammetric and spectroelectrochemical evidence suggest that the positive shift of the second wave is due to hydrogen bonding between the two-electron reduced form of the ketone and the proton donors. While the one-electron reduction product is stable both in the presence and in the absence of the weak-acid proton donors, the two-electron reduction wave is reversible only in the time scale of cyclic voltammetry. Interestingly, at longer times, the hydrogen bonded adduct reacts further giving nonquaternized 4-benzoylpyridine and 4-(α-hydroxybenzyl)pyridine as the two main terminal products. In the presence of stronger acids, such as acetic acid, the second wave merges quickly with the first, producing an irreversible two-electron reduction wave. The only terminal product in this case is the quaternized 4-(α-hydroxybenzyl)-N-methylpyridinium cation. Experimental evidence points toward a common mechanism for the formation of the nonquaternized products in the presence of weaker acids and the quaternized product in the presence of CH3CO2H

Detection of Asian dust in California orographic precipitation

Aerosols impact the microphysical properties of clouds by serving as cloud condensation nuclei (CCN) and ice nuclei (IN). By modifying cloud properties, aerosols have the potential to alter the location and intensity of precipitation, but determining the magnitude and reproducibility of aerosol‐induced changes to precipitation remains a significant challenge to experimentalists and modelers. During the CalWater Early Start campaign (22 February to 11 March 2009), a uniquely comprehensive set of atmospheric chemistry, precipitation, and meteorological measurements were made during two extratropical cyclones. These two storms showed enhanced integrated water vapor concentrations and horizontal water vapor transports due to atmospheric river conditions and, together, produced 23% of the annual precipitation and 38% of the maximum snowpack at California's Central Sierra Snow Lab (CSSL). Precipitation measurements of insoluble residues showed very different chemistry occurring during the two storms with the first one showing mostly organic species from biomass burning, whereas the second storm showed a transition from biomass burning organics to the dominance of Asian dust. As shown herein, the dust was transported across the Pacific during the second storm and became incorporated into the colder high‐altitude precipitating orographic clouds over the Sierra Nevada. The second storm produced 1.4 times as much precipitation and increased the snowpack by 1.6 times at CSSL relative to the first storm. As described in previous measurement and modeling studies, dust can effectively serve as ice nuclei, leading to increased riming rates and enhanced precipitation efficiency, which ultimately can contribute to differences in precipitation. Future modeling studies will help deconvolute the meteorological, microphysical, and aerosol factors leading to these differences and will use CalWater's meteorological and aerosol observations to constrain the model‐based interpretations. The ultimate goal of such combined efforts is to use the results to improve aerosol‐cloud impacts on precipitation in regional climate models. Key Points Asian dust is transported to North America and incorporated into clouds Cloud top dust glaciates supercooled drops or acts as IN increasing precip Comparison of precipitation during 2 atmospheric rivers, one Asian with dus

Direct Night-Time Ejection of Particle-Phase Reduced Biogenic Sulfur Compounds from the Ocean to the Atmosphere

The influence of oceanic biological activity on sea spray aerosol composition, clouds, and climate remains poorly understood. The emission of organic material and gaseous dimethyl sulfide (DMS) from the ocean represents well-documented biogenic processes that influence particle chemistry in marine environments. However, the direct emission of particle-phase biogenic sulfur from the ocean remains largely unexplored. Here we present measurements of ocean-derived particles containing reduced sulfur, detected as elemental sulfur ions (e.g., ³²S⁺, ⁶⁴S₂⁺), in seven different marine environments using <i>real-time</i>, single particle mass spectrometry; these particles have not been detected outside of the marine environment. These reduced sulfur compounds were associated with primary marine particle types and wind speeds typically between 5 and 10 m/s suggesting that these particles themselves are a primary emission. In studies with measurements of seawater properties, chlorophyll-<i>a</i> and atmospheric DMS concentrations were typically elevated in these same locations suggesting a biogenic source for these sulfur-containing particles. Interestingly, these sulfur-containing particles only appeared at night, likely due to rapid photochemical destruction during the daytime, and comprised up to ∼67% of the aerosol number fraction, particularly in the supermicrometer size range. These sulfur-containing particles were detected along the California coast, across the Pacific Ocean, and in the southern Indian Ocean suggesting that these particles represent a globally significant biogenic contribution to the marine aerosol burden

Unique ocean-derived particles serve as a proxy for changes in ocean chemistry

Oceans represent a significant natural source of gases and particles to the atmosphere.Relative to gas phase compounds, less is known regarding the influence of changes inbiological activity in the ocean on the chemistry of sea spray aerosols produced in marineenvironments. To gain insight into the influence of ocean biology and chemistry onatmospheric aerosol chemistry, simultaneous real‐time measurements were made ofatmospheric aerosol size and chemical mixing‐state, gas phase dimethyl sulfide (DMS), aswell as seawater DMS and chlorophyll a. In three different marine environments withelevated chlorophyll a and DMS, unique Mg particles were detected containing Mg2+,Ca2+, K+, and organic carbon. These particles were segregated from sea salt particleshighlighting that two subpopulations within the sea spray were being ejected from theocean. Strong temporal correlations were observed between these unique ocean‐derivedparticles and freshly emitted sea salt particles (R2= 0.86), particularly as wind speedincreased to at least 10 m/s, and atmospheric DMS (R2= 0.76). Time series correlationsbetween ocean measurements and atmospheric aerosol chemistry suggest that chlorophyll aand DMS serve as indicators of changes in the chemistry of the ocean, most likely anincrease in organic material, which is directly reflected in the single particle mixing‐state.This is the first time such real‐time correlations are shown between ocean chemistryand atmospheric aerosol mixing‐state. The reasons behind these observed changes inaerosol chemistry are critical for understanding the heterogeneous reactivity, wateruptake, and cloud forming potential of sea spray aerosols