Simulation of the Ecosystem Productivity Responses to Aerosol Diffuse Radiation Fertilization Effects over the Pan-Arctic during 2001–19

The pan-Arctic is confronted with air pollution transported from lower latitudes.Observations have shown that aerosols help increase plant photosynthesis through the diffuse radiation fertilization effects(DRFEs).While such DRFEs have been explored at low to middle latitudes,the aerosol impacts on pan-Arctic ecosystems and the contributions by anthropogenic and natural emission sources remain less quantified.Here,we perform regional simulations at 0.2o×0.2ousing a well-validated vegetation model(Yale Interactive terrestrial Biosphere,YIBs)in combination with multi-source of observations to quantify the impacts of aerosol DRFEs on the net primary productivity(NPP)in the pan-Arctic during 2001-19.Results show that aerosol DRFEs increase pan-Arctic NPP by 2.19 Pg C(12.8%)yr^(-1)under clear-sky conditions,in which natural and anthropogenic sources contribute to 8.9% and 3.9%,respectively.Under all-sky conditions,such DRFEs are largely dampened by cloud to only 0.26 Pg C(1.24%)yr^(-1),with contributions of 0.65% by natural and 0.59% by anthropogenic species.Natural aerosols cause a positive NPP trend of 0.022% yr^(-1)following the increased fire activities in the pan-Arctic.In contrast,anthropogenic aerosols induce a negative trend of-0.01% yr^(-1)due to reduced emissions from the middle latitudes.Such trends in aerosol DRFEs show a turning point in the year of 2007 with more positive NPP trends by natural aerosols but negative NPP trends by anthropogenic aerosols thereafter.Though affected by modeling uncertainties,this study suggests a likely increasing impact of aerosols on terrestrial ecosystems in the pan-Arctic under global warming.

Temporal and Spatial Distribution of SARS-CoV-2 Aerosols in a Large-Scale Fangcang Shelter Hospital in Shanghai,China

The coronavirus disease 2019(COVID-19)pandemic caused by frequently mutating severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2(SARS-CoV-2)has had a worldwide impact.However,detailed data on the potential aerosol transmission of SARS-CoV-2 in real-world and controlled laboratory settings remain sparse.During the COVID-19 pandemic in Shanghai,China in 2022,samples were collected in a Fangcang shelter hospital,a large-scale temporary hospital rapidly built by converting the existing National Exhibition and Convention Center(Shanghai)into a health care facility.Aerosol samples at different sites and intervals around patients and in public areas,surface samples,and pharyngeal swab samples from corresponding patients were included.Samples were tested for SARS-CoV-2 using real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction(RT-qPCR)assays,followed by sequencing if the cycle threshold(Ct)value was<30.The positivity rate for SARS-CoV-2 in aerosol samples was high in contaminated zones(37.5%,104/277),especially around the bed(41.2%,68/165)and near ventilation inlets(45.2%,14/31).The prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 around the bed,public areas,and air inlets of exhaust vents fluctuated and was closely related to the positivity rate among patients at corresponding sampling sites.Some surface samples of different personal protective equipment from medical staff had high positivity rates.Sixty sequences of joined ORF1ab and spike genes obtained from sixty samples represented two main clusters of Omicron SARS-CoV-2.There was consistency in virus sequences from the same patient and their environment,and the detected virus sequences matched those of virus strains in circulation during the collection periods,which indicated a high likelihood of cross-contamination in the Fangcang shelter hospital.In summary,the results provide a quantitative and real landscape of the aerosol transmission of SARS-CoV-2 and a patient-centered view of contamination in large and enclosed spaces and offer a useful guide for taking targeted measures to avoid nosocomial infections during the management of SARS-CoV-2 or other respiratory virus diseases in a Fangcang shelter hospital.

Composition optimization and performance prediction for ultra-stable water-based aerosol based on thermodynamic entropy theory

Water-based aerosol is widely used as an effective strategy in electro-optical countermeasure on the battlefield used to the preponderance of high efficiency,low cost and eco-friendly.Unfortunately,the stability of the water-based aerosol is always unsatisfactory due to the rapid evaporation and sedimentation of the aerosol droplets.Great efforts have been devoted to improve the stability of water-based aerosol by using additives with different composition and proportion.However,the lack of the criterion and principle for screening the effective additives results in excessive experimental time consumption and cost.And the stabilization time of the aerosol is still only 30 min,which could not meet the requirements of the perdurable interference.Herein,to improve the stability of water-based aerosol and optimize the complex formulation efficiently,a theoretical calculation method based on thermodynamic entropy theory is proposed.All the factors that influence the shielding effect,including polyol,stabilizer,propellant,water and cosolvent,are considered within calculation.An ultra-stable water-based aerosol with long duration over 120 min is obtained with the optimal fogging agent composition,providing enough time for fighting the electro-optic weapon.Theoretical design guideline for choosing the additives with high phase transition temperature and low phase transition enthalpy is also proposed,which greatly improves the total entropy change and reduce the absolute entropy change of the aerosol cooling process,and gives rise to an enhanced stability of the water-based aerosol.The theoretical calculation methodology contributes to an abstemious time and space for sieving the water-based aerosol with desirable performance and stability,and provides the powerful guarantee to the homeland security.

Electric field and force characteristic of dust aerosol particles on the surface of high-voltage transmission line

High-voltage transmission lines play a crucial role in facilitating the utilization of renewable energy in regions prone to desertification. The accumulation of atmospheric particles on the surface of these lines can significantly impact corona discharge and wind-induced conductor displacement. Accurately quantifying the force exerted by particles adhering to conductor surfaces is essential for evaluating fouling conditions and making informed decisions. Therefore, this study investigates the changes in electric field intensity along branched conductors caused by various fouling layers and their resulting influence on the adhesion of dust particles. The findings indicate that as individual particle size increases, the field strength at the top of the particle gradually decreases and eventually stabilizes at approximately 49.22 k V/cm, which corresponds to a field strength approximately 1.96 times higher than that of an unpolluted transmission line. Furthermore,when particle spacing exceeds 15 times the particle size, the field strength around the transmission line gradually decreases and approaches the level observed on non-adhering surface. The electric field remains relatively stable. In a triangular arrangement of three particles, the maximum field strength at the tip of the fouling layer is approximately 1.44 times higher than that of double particles and 1.5 times higher compared to single particles. These results suggest that particles adhering to the transmission line have a greater affinity for adsorbing charged particles. Additionally, relevant numerical calculations demonstrate that in dry environments, the primary adhesion forces between particles and transmission lines follow an order of electrostatic force and van der Waals force. Specifically, at the minimum field strength, these forces are approximately74.73 times and 19.43 times stronger than the gravitational force acting on the particles.

Experimental investigation on effective aerosol scavenging using different spray configurations with pre-injection of water mist for Fukushima Daiichi decommissioning

During the decommissioning of the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant,it is important to consider the retrieval of resolidified debris both in air and underwater configurations.For the subsequent retrieval of debris from the reactor building,the resolidified debris must be cut into smaller pieces using various cutting methods.During the cutting process,aerosol particles are expected to be generated at the submicron scale.It has been noted that such aerosols sizing within the Greenfield gap(0.1-1μm)are difficult to remove effectively using traditional spraying methods.Therefore,to improve the aerosol removal efficiency of the spray system,a new aerosol agglomeration method was recently proposed,which involves injecting water mist to enlarge the sizes of the aerosol particles before removing them using water sprays.In this study,a series of experiments were performed to clarify the proper spray configurations for effective aerosol scavenging and to improve the performance of the water mist.The experimental results showed that the spray flow rate and droplet characteristics are important factors for the aerosol-scavenging efficiency and performance of the water mist.The results obtained from this study will be helpful for the optimization of the spray system design for effective aerosol scavenging during the decommissioning of the Fukushima Daiichi plant.

A Deep-Learning and Transfer-Learning Hybrid Aerosol Retrieval Algorithm for FY4-AGRI:Development and Verification over Asia

The Advanced Geosynchronous Radiation Imager(AGRI)is a mission-critical instrument for the Fengyun series of satellites.AGRI acquires full-disk images every 15 min and views East Asia every 5 min through 14 spectral bands,enabling the detection of highly variable aerosol optical depth(AOD).Quantitative retrieval of AOD has hitherto been challenging,especially over land.In this study,an AOD retrieval algorithm is proposed that combines deep learning and transfer learning.The algorithm uses core concepts from both the Dark Target(DT)and Deep Blue(DB)algorithms to select features for the machinelearning(ML)algorithm,allowing for AOD retrieval at 550 nm over both dark and bright surfaces.The algorithm consists of two steps:①A baseline deep neural network(DNN)with skip connections is developed using 10 min Advanced Himawari Imager(AHI)AODs as the target variable,and②sunphotometer AODs from 89 ground-based stations are used to fine-tune the DNN parameters.Out-of-station validation shows that the retrieved AOD attains high accuracy,characterized by a coefficient of determination(R2)of 0.70,a mean bias error(MBE)of 0.03,and a percentage of data within the expected error(EE)of 70.7%.A sensitivity study reveals that the top-of-atmosphere reflectance at 650 and 470 nm,as well as the surface reflectance at 650 nm,are the two largest sources of uncertainty impacting the retrieval.In a case study of monitoring an extreme aerosol event,the AGRI AOD is found to be able to capture the detailed temporal evolution of the event.This work demonstrates the superiority of the transfer-learning technique in satellite AOD retrievals and the applicability of the retrieved AGRI AOD in monitoring extreme pollution events.

Aerosol deposition technology and its applications in batteries

Aerosol deposition(AD)method is a kind of additive manufacturing technology for fabricating dense films such as metals and ceramics at room temperature.It resolves the challenge of integrating ceramic films onto temperaturesensitive substrates,including metals,glasses,and polymers.It should be emphasized that the AD is a spray coating technology that uses powder without thermal assistance to generate films with high density.Compared to the traditional sputter-based approach,the AD shows several advantages in efficiency,convenience,better interfacial bonding and so on.Therefore,it opens some possibilities to the field of batteries,especially all-solidstate batteries(ASSBs)and draws much attention not only for research but also for large scale applications.The purpose of this work is to provide a critical review on the science and technology of AD as well as its applications in the field of batteries.The process,mechanism and effective parameters of AD,and recent developments in AD applications in the field of batteries will be systematically reviewed so that a trend for AD will be finally provided.

Contribution of Satellite Observations in the Optical and Microphysical Characterization of Aerosols in Burkina Faso, West Africa

In this work, we proceed to an optical and microphysical analysis of the observations reversed by the MODIS, SeaWiFS, MISR and OMI sensors with the aim of proposing the best-adapted airborne sensor for better monitoring of aerosols in Burkina Faso. To this end, a comparison of AOD between satellite observations and in situ measurements at the Ouagadougou site reveals an underestimation of AERONET AOD except for OMI which overestimates them. Also, an inter-comparison done based on the linear regression line representation shows the correlation between the aerosol models incorporated in the airborne sensor inversion algorithms and the aerosol population probed. This can be seen through the correlation coefficients R which are 0.84, 0.64, 0.55 and 0.054 for MODIS, SeaWiFS, MISR and OMI respectively. Furthermore, an optical analysis of aerosols in Burkina Faso by the MODIS sensor from 2001 to 2016 indicates a large spatial and temporal variability of particles strongly dominated by desert dust. This is corroborated by the annual and seasonal cycles of the AOD at 550 nm and the Angström coefficient measured in the spectral range between 412 nm and 470 nm. A zoom on a few sites chosen according to the three climatic zones confirms the majority presence of mineral aerosols in Burkina Faso, whose maxima are observed in spring and summer.

Some Features of Black Carbon Aerosols Connected with Regional Climate Over Pristine Environment

The authors report the results of aethalometer black carbon(BC)aerosol measurements carried out over a rural(pristine)site,Panchgaon,Haryana State,India during the winter months of 2021-2022 and 2022-2023.They are compared with collocated and concurrent observations from the Air Quality Monitoring Station(AQMS),which provides synchronous air pollution and surface meteorological parameters.Secular variations in BC mass concentration are studied and explained with variations in local meteorological parameters.The biomass burning fire count retrievals from NASA-NOAA VIIRS satellite,and backward airmass trajectories from NOAA-ERL HYSPLIT Model analysis have also been utilized to explain the findings.They reveal that the north-west Indian region contributes maximum to the BC mass concentration over the study site during the study period.Moreover,the observed BC mass concentrations corroborate the synchronous fire count,primary and secondary pollutant concentrations.The results were found to aid the development of mitigation methods to achieve a sustainable climate system.

A Preliminary Investigation on Anti-inflammatory and Antibacterial Effect of Compound Sarcandra Aerosol

[Objective] This study aimed to reveal the therapeutic mechanism of compound sarcandra aerosol, which was exclusively owned by the Second Affiliated Hospital of Guiyang College of Traditional Chinese Medicine. [Method] An inflammation model was established by xylene-induced inflammation test and carrageenan- induced inflammation test to analyze the anti-inflammatory effect of compound sarcandra aerosol. By bacteriostasis test in vitro, the antibacterial effect of compound sarcandra aerosol against five common pathogens of pharyngitis was investigated. Blood samples were collected from Wistar rats in different compound sarcandra aerosol groups and control group to compare blood routine indicators and interleukin-1 （IL-1） levels. [Result] Three different concentrations of compound sarcandra aerosol could reduce degrees of xylene-induced ear edema in mice and carrageenan- induced paw edema in rats, but the anti-inflammatory effect of compound sarcandra aerosol was reduced as the concentration declined. In bacteriostasis test in vitro, the minimum inhibitory concentration of compound sarcandra aerosol against Streptococcus pneumoniae, Streptococcus hemolytis, Corynebacterium diphtheriae, Staphylococcus aureus and Salmonella typhimurium was 76, 105 38, 65 and 30 mg/ml, respectively. Compound sarcandra aerosol reduced white blood cell count, neutrophil count and lymphocyte percentage in pharyngitis model rats. Moreover, interleukin-1 level in watermelon frost lozenge group and different compound sarcandra aerosol groups was lower compared with control group. [Conclusion] Compound sarcandra aerosol can effectively treat pharyngitis by exerting anti-inflammatory and antibacterial effect and reducing interleukin-1 level. This study laid a solid foundation for clinical application of compound sarcandra aerosol.

Pressurized intraperitoneal aerosol chemotheprapy after misdiagnosed gastric cancer: case report and review of the literature

We report the first application of pressurized intraperitoneal aerosol chemotherapy(PIPAC) as a rescue therapy before palliative D2 gastrectomy combined with liver metastasectomy performed in a 49-yearold woman with peritoneal carcinomatosis who was primarily diagnosed with and underwent surgery for a Krukenberg tumor. The PIPAC procedure was performed with the use of cisplatin at 7.5 mg/m2 and doxorubicin at 1.5 mg/m2 for 30 min at 37 ℃. Eight weeks after the PIPAC procedure, the patient underwent open classic D2 gastrectomy with the creation of a Roux-en-Y anastomosis(RNY) combined with liver metastasectomy. The patient underwent the classic protocol for chemotherapy combined with Xeloda. The patient felt better and returned to her daily activities. Multicenter data should be gathered to confirm the usefulness of PIPAC as a rescue or neoadjuvant supportive therapy in a very select group of patients who have been recently qualified to undergo classic chemotherapy or standard oncologic surgical procedures.

The Significant Contribution of Small-Sized and Spherical Aerosol Particles to the Decreasing Trend in Total Aerosol Optical Depth over Land from 2003 to 2018

The optical and microphysical properties of aerosols remain one of the greatest uncertainties associated with evaluating the climate forcing attributed to aerosols.Although the trends in aerosol optical depth(AOD)at global and regional scales have been widely examined,little attention has been paid to the trends in type-dependent AODs related to aerosol particle properties.Here,using the aerosol optical component dataset from the Multi-angle Imaging SpectroRadiometer(MISR)instrument,we investigate decadal-scale trends in total aerosol loading as well as AODs for five aerosol components by particle size and morphology during 2003–2018 over land.Relationships between the total AOD(TAOD)trends and type-dependent AOD changes were examined,and the relative contribution of each type-dependent AOD to the overall TAOD trends was quantified.By dividing the TAOD values into four different aerosol pollution levels(APLs)with splits at 0.15,0.40,and 0.80,we further explored the relationships between TAOD changes and interannual variations in the frequency-of-occurrences(FoOs)of these APLs.Long-term trends in FoOs in the different APLs show that there was a significant improvement in air quality between 2003 and 2018 in most land areas,except South Asia,corresponding to a shift from lightly polluted to clean conditions.However,the effects of different APLs on TAOD changes are regionally dependent and their extent of correlation varied spatially.Moreover,we observed that the annual mean TAOD has decreased by 0.47%.a^(-1)over land since 2003(P<0.05).This significant reduction was mainly attributed to the continued reduction in small-sized(<0.7 mm diameter)AOD(SAOD)(-0.74%.a^(-1))and spherical AOD(SPAOD)(-0.46%.a^(-1)).Statistical analysis shows that SAOD and SPAOD respectively accounted for 57.5%and 89.6%of the TAOD,but contributed 82.6%and 90.4%of the trend in TAOD.Our study suggests that small-sized and spherical aerosols composed of sulfate,organic matter,and black carbon play a dominant role in determining interannual variability in land TAOD.

IDENTIFICATION OF MARINE AEROSOL COMPONENT BY COMBINED NAA AND SCANNING ELECTRON MICROSCOPY WITH X—RAY ANALYSIS

The concentrations of 30 elements in aerosol particles collected in western Pacific ocean have been determined by INAA. The crustal element concentrations decrease with increasing distance from land over the remote area close to Asia land and fluctuate around its average value over the remote ocean area. The volatile elements exhibite average atmospheric concentrations that are higher than those expected from the flux of seasalt or the continental dust. In order to identify marine aerosol component originating from the continent or ocean, the aerosol particles are examined by scanning electron microscopy combined with energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy. Particle phase structure shows that the crustal aerosol particles are not present internal mixtures with seasalt aerosol, and it also proves the long-range transport of crustal elements from continent to ocean.

Study of Aerosol Direct and Indirect Effects and Auto-conversion Processes over the West African Monsoon Region Using a Regional Climate Model

This study assesses the direct and indirect effects of natural and anthropogenic aerosols （e.g., black carbon and sulfate） over West and Central Africa during the West African monsoon （WAM） period （June-July-August）. We investigate the impacts of aerosols on the amount of cloudiness, the influences on the precipitation efficiency of clouds, and the associated radiative forcing （direct and indirect）. Our study includes the implementation of three new formulations of auto-conversion parameterization [namely, the Beheng （BH）, Tripoli and Cotton （TC） and Liu and Daum （R6） schemes] in RegCM4.4.1, besides the default model＇s auto-conversion scheme （Kessler）. Among the new schemes, BH reduces the precipitation wet bias by more than 50% over West Africa and achieves a bias reduction of around 25% over Central Africa. Results from detailed sensitivity experiments suggest a significant path forward in terms of addressing the long-standing issue of the characteristic wet bias in RegCM. In terms of aerosol-induced radiative forcing, the impact of the various schemes is found to vary considerably （ranging from -5 to -25 W m-2）.

Can MODIS Detect Trends in Aerosol Optical Depth over Land?

The Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer （MODIS） sensor onboard NASA＇s Aqua satellite has been collect- ing valuable data about the Earth system for more than 14 years, and one of the benefits of this is that it has made it possible to detect the long-term variation in aerosol loading across the globe. However, the long-term aerosol optical depth （AOD） trends derived from MODIS need careful validation and assessment, especially over land. Using AOD products with at least 70 months＇ worth of measurements collected during 2002-15 at 53 Aerosol Robotic Network （AERONET） sites over land, Mann-Kendall （MK） trends in AOD were derived and taken as the ground truth data for evaluating the corresponding results from MOD｜S onboard Aqua. The results showed that the AERONET AOD trends over all sites in Europe and North Amer- ica, as well as most sites in Africa and Asia, can be reproduced by MODIS/Aqua. However, disagreement in AOD trends between MODIS and AERONET was found at a few sites in Australia and South America. The AOD trends calculated from AERONET instantaneous data at the MODIS overpass times were consistent with those from AERONET daily data, which suggests that the AOD trends derived from satellite measurements of 1-2 overpasses may be representative of those from daily measurements.

Chemistry and environmental significance of aerosols collected in the eastern Tianshan

Aerosol samples were collected at altitudes from 584 m a.s.l.to 3,804 m a.s.l.at seven sites of the eastern Tianshan.The occurrence,distribution,and possible sources of 47 trace metals—including alkali metals and alkali earth metals,transition metals,lanthanoids,and heavy metals—were investigated.It was found that four sampling sites(Shuinichang,1,691 m a.s.l.;Urumqi City,809 m a.s.l.;Fu Kang Station,584 m a.s.l.;and Bogeda Glacier No.4,3,613 m a.s.l.)were contaminated mainly by heavy metals.Other three high-altitude sites(Urumqi Glacier No.1,3,804 m a.s.l.;Wang Feng road-maintenance station,3,039 m a.s.l.;and Tianshan Glaciology Station,2,135 m a.s.l.)were not polluted.The aerosol particles were clustered into two dominant types:crust-originated particles and pollution-derived particles.Aerosols from UG1,WF,and TGS were characterized by crust-originated particles such as clay,plagioclase,dolomite,alkali feldspar,and biotite;while those from SNC,Urumqi,FK,and BG4 were characterized by high content of Cl-rich particles,S-rich particles,and soot.The backward-trajectories results indicated that air masses arriving at SNC,Urumqi,FK,and BG4 were identified as the more polluted source,when compared to the short-range air mass transport from the North to UGI and WF.Relatively lower altitude,as well as terrain blocking,might be another important reason for the gradient difference in pollution influence among these seven places in the Urumqi River Basin.

Characterization of Stratospheric Aerosol Distributions during the Volcanically Quiescent Period of 1998–2004

The Stratospheric Aerosol and Gas Experiment （SAGE） II aerosol extinction profiles at 1020 nm were used to study the distribution characteristics of stratospheric aerosols during the volcanically quiescent period of 1998-2004. The stratospheric aerosol distributions exhibited hemispheric asymmetry between the Northern Hemisphere （NH） and the Southern Hemisphere （SH）. In the lower stratosphere below 20 km, the zonal averaged aerosol optical depths in the NH were higher than those of the corresponding SH; whereas at higher altitudes above 20 km, the optical depths in the SH-- except the equatorial region--were higher than those of the NH. At 0-10°N and 10-20°N, the stratospheric aerosol optical depth （SAOD） exhibited larger values in boreal winter and lower values in the spring and summer; at 0-10°S and 10-20°S, the SAOD presented small seasonal variations. At 30-40°N, the SAOD presented larger values in the boreal fall and winter and lower values in the spring and summer; while at 30-40°S, the SAOD exhibited larger values in the austral winter and early spring and lower values in the summer and fall. These characteristics can mainly be attributed to the seasonal cycle of the dynamic transport, and the effects of the buildup and breakdown of the polar vortex. At 50-60°S, the SAOD exhibited extremely high values during austral winter associated with the Antarctic polar vortex boundary; at 50-60°N, the SAOD also exhibited larger values during the boreal winter, but it was much less obvious than that of its southern counterpart.

Characterization of Spatio-Temporal Variability of Irradiation, Nebulosity and Aerosols Optical Depth in 10˚North-20˚North African Band

This work concerns the 10? North, 20? North African band. Area renowned for having some of the poorest countries in the world. It is also home to the Sahelian strip and part of the Sahara. The countries in this zone have a relatively low electrification rate compared to the enlightened country. To solve this problem, these countries want to turn to renewable energies such as photovoltaics (renewable energy obtained through solar radiation). Therefore, understanding the behavior of irradiation and cloudiness in the 10 - 20 band becomes necessary. The application of the empirical orthogonal functions to the different cloud layers and to the irradiation reveals a seasonality of the latter, in particular compared to the first modes of the empirical orthogonal functions (EOF1). Indeed, by filtering in time and space to isolate solar radiation and cloudiness, the EOF1 expresses respectively 94.3% of the variation of descending solar radiation in clear sky in the 10 - 20 band. Note 65.7% for global radiation, 54.4% for cloudiness at 450 hPa, 69.6% for cloudiness between 800 hPa and 450 hPa, 76.6% for low cloudiness, 61.4% for total cloudiness. These results allow us to say that we have generally good sunshine over several months, with little cloud cover in this band. However, since this zone is considered to be part of the main aerosol emission source zones, it is important in their temporal consideration of the optical depth. By doing the wavelet analysis on the optical depth data from Dakar and Banizoumbou, we note that the average dust presence spectrum over the entire period from 1997 to 2019 in the two stations with a slight shift compared to the peaks and the maximum observed value. A sign that there is a strong presence of dust in this area and that it should be taken into account for any photovoltaic installation in this area.

A Statistical Algorithm for Retrieving Background Value of Absorbing Aerosol Index Based on TROPOMI Measurements

The ultraviolet aerosol index(UVAI) is essential for monitoring the absorbing aerosols during aerosol events. UVAI depends on the absorbing aerosol concentration, the viewing geometry, and the temporal drift of radiometric sensitivity. To efficiently detect absorbing aerosols with the highest precision and to improve the accuracy of long-term UVAI estimates,the background UVAI must be examined through the UVAI retrieval. This study presents a statistical method that calculates the background value of UVAI using TROPOspheric Monitoring Instrument(TROPOMI) observation data over the Pacific Ocean under clear-sky scenes. Radiative transfer calculations were performed to simulate the dependence of UVAI on aerosol type and viewing geometry. We firstly applied the background UVAI to reducing the effects of viewing geometry and the degradation of the TROPOMI irradiance measurements on the UVAI. The temporal variability of the background UVAI under the same viewing geometry and aerosol concentration was identified. Radiative transfer calculations were performed to study the changes in background UVAI using Aerosol Optical Depth from the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer(MODIS) and reflectance measurements from TROPOMI as input. The trends of the temporal variations in the background UVAI agreed with the simulations. Alterations in the background UVAI expressed the reflectance variations driven by the changes in satellite state. Decreasing trends in solar irradiance at 340 and 380 nm due to instrument degradation were identified. Our findings are valuable because they can be applied to future retrievals of UVAI from the Environmental Trace Gases Monitoring Instrument(EMI) onboard the Chinese GaoFen-5 satellite.

Spinal fusion is an aerosol generating procedure

BACKGROUND Transmission of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 can occur during aerosol generating procedures.Several steps in spinal fusion may aerosolize blood but little data exists to quantify the risk this may confer upon surgeons.Aerosolized particles containing infectious coronavirus are typically 0.5-8.0μm.AIM To measure the generation of aerosols during spinal fusion using a handheld optical particle sizer(OPS).METHODS We quantified airborne particle counts during five posterior spinal instrumentation and fusions(9/22/2020-10/15/2020)using an OPS near the surgical field.Data were analyzed by 3 particle size groups:0.3-0.5μm/m^(3),1.0-5.0μm/m^(3),and 10.0μm/m^(3).We used hierarchical logistic regression to model the odds of a spike in aerosolized particle counts based on the step in progress.A spike was defined as a>3 standard deviation increase from average baseline levels.RESULTS Upon univariate analysis,bovie(P<0.0001),high speed pneumatic burring(P=0.009),and ultrasonic bone scalpel(P=0.002)were associated with increased 0.3-0.5μm/m^(3)particle counts relative to baseline.Bovie(P<0.0001)and burring(P<0.0001)were also associated with increased 1-5μm/m^(3)and 10μm/m^(3)particle counts.Pedicle drilling was not associated with increased particle counts in any of the size ranges measured.Our logistic regression model demonstrated that bovie(OR=10.2,P<0.001),burring(OR=10.9,P<0.001),and bone scalpel(OR=5.9,P<0.001)had higher odds of a spike in 0.3-0.5μm/m^(3)particle counts.Bovie(OR=2.6,P<0.001),burring(OR=5.8,P<0.001),and bone scalpel(OR=4.3,P=0.005)had higher odds of a spike in 1-5μm/m^(3)particle counts.Bovie(OR=0.3,P<0.001)and drilling(OR=0.2,P=0.011)had significantly lower odds of a spike in 10μm/m^(3)particle counts relative to baseline.CONCLUSION Several steps in spinal fusion are associated with increased airborne particle counts in the aerosol size range.Further research is warranted to determine if such particles have the potential to contain infectious viruses.Previous research has shown that electrocautery smoke may be an inhalation hazard for surgeons but here we show that usage of the bone scalpel and high-speed burr also have the potential to aerosolize blood.