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Nanomaterials (Basel, Switzerland) Feb 2024The fourth industrial revolution extensively reshapes the reality we are living in by blurring the boundaries of physical, digital and biological worlds. A good example...
The fourth industrial revolution extensively reshapes the reality we are living in by blurring the boundaries of physical, digital and biological worlds. A good example is the previously unthinkable incursion of nanoscale waste materials, such as soot, into the technologies for assisted reproduction. Although the rapeseed oil soot may efficiently enhance the progressive motility of human spermatozoa, it is yet unknown whether this material induces undesirable oxidative stress and premature acrosome reaction, endangering the sperm-oocyte fusion and blastocyst formation. In an attempt to clarify this issue, we reveal that the three-hour incubation of human semen mixed with three main types of soot does not cause oxidative stress and spontaneous acrosome reaction of the sperm. These unique findings are attributed to synchronous elimination and stabilization of the oxidants via hydrogen bonding to the acidic groups of the soot (i.e., C=O and/or C-O-C) and electron donation by its basic chemical sites (i.e., C-OH and/or COOH). Moreover, the soot nanoparticles are electrostatically attracted by discrete positively charged areas on the sperm head, increasing its negative charge and in some cases interfering the acrosome reaction. Such novel mechanistic insights emphasize the credibility of rapeseed oil soot to confidently shift from the purely diagnostic and therapeutic phases in reproductive medicine to research dealing with the effect of carbon nanomaterials on the embryo development and implantation.
PubMed: 38470726
DOI: 10.3390/nano14050395 -
Environment International Mar 2024A reliable determination of equivalent black carbon (eBC) mass concentrations derived from filter absorption photometers (FAPs) measurements depends on the appropriate...
A reliable determination of equivalent black carbon (eBC) mass concentrations derived from filter absorption photometers (FAPs) measurements depends on the appropriate quantification of the mass absorption cross-section (MAC) for converting the absorption coefficient (b) to eBC. This study investigates the spatial-temporal variability of the MAC obtained from simultaneous elemental carbon (EC) and b measurements performed at 22 sites. We compared different methodologies for retrieving eBC integrating different options for calculating MAC including: locally derived, median value calculated from 22 sites, and site-specific rolling MAC. The eBC concentrations that underwent correction using these methods were identified as LeBC (local MAC), MeBC (median MAC), and ReBC (Rolling MAC) respectively. Pronounced differences (up to more than 50 %) were observed between eBC as directly provided by FAPs (NeBC; Nominal instrumental MAC) and ReBC due to the differences observed between the experimental and nominal MAC values. The median MAC was 7.8 ± 3.4 m g from 12 aethalometers at 880 nm, and 10.6 ± 4.7 m g from 10 MAAPs at 637 nm. The experimental MAC showed significant site and seasonal dependencies, with heterogeneous patterns between summer and winter in different regions. In addition, long-term trend analysis revealed statistically significant (s.s.) decreasing trends in EC. Interestingly, we showed that the corresponding corrected eBC trends are not independent of the way eBC is calculated due to the variability of MAC. NeBC and EC decreasing trends were consistent at sites with no significant trend in experimental MAC. Conversely, where MAC showed s.s. trend, the NeBC and EC trends were not consistent while ReBC concentration followed the same pattern as EC. These results underscore the importance of accounting for MAC variations when deriving eBC measurements from FAPs and emphasize the necessity of incorporating EC observations to constrain the uncertainty associated with eBC.
Topics: Air Pollutants; Environmental Monitoring; Aerosols; Seasons; Soot; Carbon; Particulate Matter
PubMed: 38460240
DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2024.108553 -
Environmental Pollution (Barking, Essex... Apr 2024Black carbon (BC) and particle number (PN) concentrations are usually high in cities due to traffic emissions. European mitigation policies, including Euro emission...
Black carbon (BC) and particle number (PN) concentrations are usually high in cities due to traffic emissions. European mitigation policies, including Euro emission standards, have been implemented to curb these emissions. We analyzed BC and PN (particle diameter D > 4 nm) concentrations in Stockholm spanning the years 2013-2019 (BC) and 2009-2019 (PN) measured at street canyon and rooftop sites to assess the effectiveness of the implemented policies. Combining these data with inverse dispersion modeling, we estimated BC and PN emission factors (EF and EF) for the mixed fleet, reflecting real-world driving conditions. The pollutants showed decreasing trends at both sites, but PN concentrations remained high at the canyon site considering the World Health Organization (WHO) recommendations. BC concentrations declined more rapidly than PN concentrations, showing a -9.4% and -4.9% annual decrease at the canyon and -7.2% and -0.5% at the rooftop site in the years 2013-2019. The EF and EF trends showed that the mitigation strategies for reducing particulate emissions for on-road vehicles were successful over the study period. However, the introduction of biofuels in the vehicle fleet -ethanol and later rapeseed methyl ester (RME)- increased the concentrations of particles with D < 10 nm before the adoption of particulate filters in the exhausts. Stricter Euro emission regulations, especially with diesel particulate filters (DPF) in Euro 5, 6, and VI vehicles, led to 66% decrease in EF and 55% in EF. Real-world EF surpassed HBEFA (Handbook Emission Factors for Road Transport) database values by 2.4-4.8 times; however, direct comparisons between real-world and HBEFA EF are difficult due to differences in lower cut-off sizes and measurement techniques. Our results underscore the necessity for revising the HBEFA database, updating laboratory testing methods and portable emission measuring systems (PEMS) measurements to account for liquid condensate contributions to PN measurements.
Topics: Vehicle Emissions; Air Pollutants; Particulate Matter; Environmental Monitoring; Dust; Soot; Carbon; Motor Vehicles; Particle Size
PubMed: 38458523
DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2024.123734 -
Scientific Reports Mar 2024There are several industrial uses for carbon black (CB), an extremely fine powdered form of elemental carbon that is made up of coalesced particle aggregates and almost...
There are several industrial uses for carbon black (CB), an extremely fine powdered form of elemental carbon that is made up of coalesced particle aggregates and almost spherical colloidal particles. Most carbon black is produced from petroleum-derived feedstock, so there is a need to find an alternative method to produce CB, which relies on renewable resources such as algae and agricultural waste. A process involving hydrolysis, carbonization, and pyrolysis of green algae and sugarcane bagasse was developed, as the optimal hydrolysis conditions (16N sulfuric acid, 70 °C, 1 h, 1:30 g/ml GA or SC to sulfuric acid ratio), a hydrolysis ratio of 62% for SC and 85% for GA were achieved. The acidic solution was carbonized using a water bath, and the solid carbon was then further pyrolyzed at 900 °C. The obtained carbon black has a high carbon content of about 90% which is confirmed by EDX, XRD, and XPS analysis. By comparison carbon black from sugar cane bagasse (CBB) and carbon black from green algae Ulva lactuca (CBG) with commercial carbon black (CCB) it showed the same morphology which was confirmed by SEM analysis. The BET data, showed the high specific surface area of prepared CB, which was 605 (m/g) for CBB and 424 (m/g) for CBG compared with commercial carbon black (CBB) was 50 (m/g), also the mean pore diameter of CBB, CBG and CCB indicated that CBB and CBG were rich in micropores, but CCB was rich in mesoporous according to IUPAC classification. This study might have created a technique that can be used to make carbon black from different kinds of biomass.
Topics: Cellulose; Saccharum; Soot; Chlorophyta; Carbon; Nanoparticles; Edible Seaweeds; Sulfuric Acids; Ulva
PubMed: 38448468
DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-56157-4 -
Frontiers in Public Health 2024National health is essential for economic and social development. The aim of this article is to examine the relationship, heterogeneity effects and influential...
OBJECTIVE
National health is essential for economic and social development. The aim of this article is to examine the relationship, heterogeneity effects and influential mechanisms between National Forest Cities and the residents' health.
METHODS
The article matches the China Family Panel Studies data in 2018 (CFPS2018) with the 2016-2018 National Forest Cities Construction List, resulting in a final sample of 20,041. Oprobit, Ologit, Instrumental Variable technique (2SLS) and interaction term analysis were used as the main research methods in this article.
RESULTS
The findings indicate that: (1) The construction of National Forest Cities significantly improves the residents' health in terms of both physical and mental health, and this conclusion is still valid after a series of robustness tests. (2) On the one hand, National Forest Cities promote residents' health by reducing air pollutants such as SO and soot to reduce residents' health risk exposure; On the other hand, it promotes residents' health by positively guiding them to engage in healthy behaviors. (3) National Forest Cities have a greater effect on the health of urban residents, older adult and lower-income group, suggesting that National Forest Cities are a public benefit.
CONCLUSIONS
The construction of National Forest Cities is a public welfare that promotes residents' health, and it is an important revelation for accelerating the realization of the Healthy China Strategy. The article provides new empirical evidence for understanding the welfare effects of forest cities and offers new practical paths for improving residents' health.
Topics: Cities; Air Pollutants; China; Data Interpretation, Statistical; Forests
PubMed: 38444443
DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2024.1304600 -
Carbon Balance and Management Mar 2024Black carbon (BC) encompasses a range of carbonaceous materials--including soot, char, and charcoal--derived from the incomplete combustion of fossil fuels and biomass.... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
Black carbon (BC) encompasses a range of carbonaceous materials--including soot, char, and charcoal--derived from the incomplete combustion of fossil fuels and biomass. Urban soils can become enriched in BC due to proximity to these combustion sources. We conducted a literature review of BC in urban soils globally and found 26 studies reporting BC and total organic carbon (TOC) content collected to a maximum of 578 cm depth in urban soils across 35 cities and 10 countries. We recorded data on city, climate, and land use/land cover characteristics to examine drivers of BC content and contribution to TOC in soil.
RESULTS
All studies were conducted in the northern hemisphere, with 68% of the data points collected in China and the United States. Surface samples (0-20 cm) accounted for 62% of samples in the dataset. Therefore, we focused our analysis on 0-10 cm and 10-20 cm depths. Urban soil BC content ranged from 0-124 mg/g (median = 3 mg/g) at 0-10 cm and from 0-53 mg/g (median = 2.8 mg/g) at 10-20 cm depth. The median proportional contribution of BC to TOC was 23% and 15% at 0-10 cm and 10-20 cm, respectively. Surface soils sampled in industrial land use and near roads had the highest BC contents and proportions, whereas samples from residential sites had among the lowest. Soil BC content decreased with mean annual soil temperature.
CONCLUSIONS
Our review indicates that BC comprises a major fraction (nearly one quarter) of the TOC in urban surface soils, yet sampling bias towards the surface could hide the potential for BC storage at depth. Land use emerged as an importer driver of soil BC contents and proportions, whereas land cover effects remain uncertain. Warmer and wetter soils were found to have lower soil BC than cooler and drier soils, differences that likely reflect soil BC loss mechanisms. Additional research on urban soil BC at depth and from diverse climates is critical to better understand the role of cities in the global carbon cycle.
PubMed: 38429441
DOI: 10.1186/s13021-024-00255-3 -
Trials Feb 2024Substance use disorder is associated with unhealthy lifestyle choices, resulting in adverse social and health consequences. People with opioid use disorder receiving...
BACKGROUND
Substance use disorder is associated with unhealthy lifestyle choices, resulting in adverse social and health consequences. People with opioid use disorder receiving opioid agonist therapy, in particular, have high morbidity and reduced quality of life. Physical activity is recommended as an adjunctive treatment for people with substance use disorder, but there is minimal evidence from randomized controlled trials on the effects of this among people with substance use disorder receiving opioid agonist therapy.
METHODS
BAReAktiv is a multicentre randomized controlled trial. The study aims to recruit 324 patients receiving opioid agonist therapy (parallel groups randomized 1:1 to integrated exercise intervention or control, superiority trial). A 16-week group-based integrated exercise intervention with workouts twice a week. The exercise program consists of endurance and resistance training. The target group will be patients 18 years and older receiving opioid agonist therapy in outpatient clinics in several centers in Western Norway. The primary outcome of the study is the effect on psychological distress measured by Hopkins' symptom checklist with ten items. Secondary outcome measures include physical functioning assessed with a 4-min step test, activity level, fatigue symptoms, quality of life, and changes in inflammation markers. This study will provide improved knowledge on the effects of an integrated exercise program in opioid agonist therapy.
DISCUSSION
Systematically integrating exercise programs for people receiving opioid agonist therapy could lead to a shift towards a stronger focus on health behaviors in outpatient care. Integrating exercise could benefit patient recovery and reduce disease burden. Further scale-up will be considered if the provided exercise program is safe and effective.
TRIAL REGISTRATION
ClinicalTrials.gov. NCT05242848. Registered on February 16, 2022.
Topics: Humans; Analgesics, Opioid; Exercise; Exercise Therapy; Multicenter Studies as Topic; Opioid-Related Disorders; Psychological Distress; Quality of Life; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic
PubMed: 38424609
DOI: 10.1186/s13063-024-07993-2 -
Sensors (Basel, Switzerland) Feb 2024Measuring soot concentration in a burner flame is essential for an in-depth understanding of the formation mechanism and to abate its generation. This paper presents an...
Measuring soot concentration in a burner flame is essential for an in-depth understanding of the formation mechanism and to abate its generation. This paper presents an improved emission spectroscopy (ES) method that uses an adaptive particle swarm optimization (APSO) algorithm for measuring the concentration of soot in methane burner flames. Experimental tests were conducted on a laboratory-scale facility under a methane flowrate ranging between 0.6 and 0.9 L/min. A comparison analysis of the soot concentration measured by the ES method, the improved emission spectroscopy (IES) method, and the thermocouple particle density (TPD) method (as a reference) was conducted. The ES method obtained a maximum absolute deviation of 0.84 ppm from the average soot concentration at the three measurement points compared to the TPD method, while that of the IES was only 0.09 ppm. The experimental results demonstrate that the proposed IES method can obtain a more accurate soot concentration of diffusion flames.
PubMed: 38400449
DOI: 10.3390/s24041292 -
Cryobiology Jun 2024The restoration of initial functionality of human spermatozoa subjected to cryopreservation is challenging, because the deleterious intracellular icing and the...
Cryopreservation of human semen by inherently-controlled icing probability: Or how the surface profile of superhydrophobic carbon soot coatings and the sperm volume affect the outcome of slow freezing?
The restoration of initial functionality of human spermatozoa subjected to cryopreservation is challenging, because the deleterious intracellular icing and the occurrence of osmotic shocks due to prolonged exposure to increased concentrations of intracellular solutes are oppositely dependent on the cooling rate. This longstanding problem could be overcome if using superhydrophobic soot coatings delaying the heat transfer rate, reducing the ice formation probability and triggering balanced and timely dehydration of the cells, but the effect of their surface profile and sperm volume on the success rate of slow freezing is unclear. Here, we show for the first time that the two-factor freezing injury is entirely avoidable by tailoring the solid-to-gas voids (pores) fraction in the soot, leading to increased nucleation free energy barrier, presumable incipiency of ice crystals with controllable shape and size and hence, fully (100 %) recovered post-thaw sperm motility. It is demonstrated that the reason for such a unique scientific result is the selection of soot coatings with appropriate morphochemical features, hypothetically (not directly proven yet) inducing equilibrium among the solution composition and ice crystals formation, retarding the undesirable compression of liquid-filled "slush ice" channels surrounding the cytoplasm and impeding the ice recrystallization. The novel insights introduced in this article open endless horizon for customizing and revolutionizing the technical protocols in cryobiology.
Topics: Male; Humans; Cryopreservation; Semen Preservation; Spermatozoa; Sperm Motility; Freezing; Hydrophobic and Hydrophilic Interactions; Ice; Surface Properties; Carbon; Cryoprotective Agents; Semen
PubMed: 38395186
DOI: 10.1016/j.cryobiol.2024.104863 -
Scientific Reports Feb 2024Biomass combustion provides energy needs for millions of people worldwide. However, soot accumulation on the combustors' walls significantly reduces heat transfer...
Biomass combustion provides energy needs for millions of people worldwide. However, soot accumulation on the combustors' walls significantly reduces heat transfer efficiency. Herein, we demonstrate how microtextured surfaces minimize soot accumulation by enhancing soot oxidation. We investigate soot layers from the combustion of paraffin wax as a model for wood-based soot, and find that randomly microtextured glass obtained by sandblasting shows a 71% reduction in the time taken to oxidize 90% of surface soot coverage when compared to smooth glass at 530 °C. We also study grooved microtextures fabricated via laser ablation and find that grooves with widths between 15 and 50 µm enhance soot oxidation, while the expedited advantage is lost when the groove width is 85 µm. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy validates the superior extent of soot removal on microtextures down to a sub-nanometer length-scale. The high density of sharp features such as peaks and edges on microtextures, and the conformality of the soot layer to the microtextures contribute to increased soot oxidation. We also demonstrate enhanced soot oxidation on microtextured stainless steel, the principal material of construction in biomass combustors. Microtextured surfaces that facilitate soot oxidation upon contact could significantly improve performance and longevity in various combustion applications.
PubMed: 38378782
DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-54320-5