Italy was the first, among all the European countries, to be strongly hit by the COVID-19 pandemic outbreak caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (Sars-CoV-2). The virus, ...proven to be very contagious, infected more than 9 million people worldwide (in June 2020). Nevertheless, it is not clear the role of air pollution and meteorological conditions on virus transmission. In this study, we quantitatively assessed how the meteorological and air quality parameters are correlated to the COVID-19 transmission in two large metropolitan areas in Northern Italy as Milan and Florence and in the autonomous province of Trento. Milan, capital of Lombardy region, it is considered the epicenter of the virus outbreak in Italy. Our main findings highlight that temperature and humidity related variables are negatively correlated to the virus transmission, whereas air pollution (PM
) shows a positive correlation (at lesser degree). In other words, COVID-19 pandemic transmission prefers dry and cool environmental conditions, as well as polluted air. For those reasons, the virus might easier spread in unfiltered air-conditioned indoor environments. Those results will be supporting decision makers to contain new possible outbreaks.
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IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, UL, UM, UPUK
Black carbon (BC) has been demonstrated to pose significant negative impacts on climate and human health. Equivalent BC (EBC) measurements were conducted using a 7-wavelength aethalometer, from March ...to May 2016, over an urban atmosphere, viz., Chiang Mai (98.957°E, 18.795°N, 373 m above sea level), Thailand in northern peninsular Southeast Asia. Daily variations in aerosol light absorption were mainly governed by open fire activities in the region. The mean mass-specific absorption cross-section (MAC) value of EBC at 880 nm was estimated to be 9.3 m2 g−1. The median EBC mass concentration was the highest in March (3.3 μg m−3) due to biomass-burning (comprised of forest fire and agricultural burning) emissions accompanied by urban air pollution within the planetary boundary layer under favorable meteorological conditions. Daily mean absorption Ångström exponent (AAE470/950) varied between 1.3 and 1.7 and could be due to variations in EBC emission sources and atmospheric mixing processes. EBC source apportionment results revealed that biomass-burning contributed significantly more to total EBC concentrations (34–92%) as compared to fossil-fuel (traffic emissions). Health risk estimates of EBC in relation to different health outcomes were assessed in terms of passive cigarette equivalence, highlighting the considerable health effects associated with exposure to EBC levels. As a necessary action, the reduction of EBC emissions would promote considerable climate and health co-benefits.
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•The MAC value of EBC is determined to be 9.3 ± 0.2 m2 g−1 at 880 nm.•Daily EBC mass ranges from 0.7 to 5.6 μg m−3 during dry season of 2016.•Biomass-burning contributes as high as 92% to daily EBC concentration.•Health risk estimate of EBC is estimated to be as high as 11 PSC per day in March.
The characteristics and health risks of atmospheric black carbon are investigated over an urban location in northern peninsular Southeast Asia.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UILJ, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK, ZAGLJ, ZRSKP
Long-range transport (LRT) of air pollutants from East Asia during the northeast monsoon season impacts several downwind locations. In 2020, the initial COVID-19 lockdowns in China overlapped with ...Week 3 of the Chinese New Year (CNY) holiday, and an Asian outflow event. Thus, movement of the Chinese populace from city to city was already greatly reduced by the time of the LRT episode, although the reductions in industrial output are less clear. We found NO2 column concentrations were reduced by 24% during the CNY Week 3 this year compared to previous years. The attenuated transport event arrived to northern Taiwan with a PM2.5 concentration <45 μg m−3 and most often <35 μg m−3, which is 2–3 times lower than LRT episodes of similar back-trajectory and synoptic patterns. The whole episode persisted for about 60 h, longer than most LRT episodes from China to Taiwan. CMAQ v5.2.1 modeling of the LRT event with 100% emission and reduced emission scenarios, revealed emissions in China were approximately 50% less than normal periods. Due to the length of the episode and the significant reduction in emissions, Taiwan avoided a PM2.5 surplus of 19.2 μg m−3 on average during the episode, equivalent to a 0.5 μg m−3 reduction for the whole 3-month winter season. Employing the 100% emission model scenario and scaling up to the average episode hours each winter, the PM2.5 surplus delivered via plumes on the northeast monsoon is equivalent to a 0.5 μg m−3 surplus for the whole year.
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•COVID-19 lockdown in China reduced long-range transport of air pollution to Taiwan.•OMI NO2 over central-north China reduced by 24% compared to previous years.•PM2.5 concentration in northern Taiwan 2 times lower compared to similar episode•CMAQ simulation with 50% reduced emission in China matches measured PM2.5 in Taiwan.•Avoided PM2.5 pollution equivalent to 0.5 μg m−3 reduction for entire winter season
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UILJ, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK, ZAGLJ, ZRSKP
Biomass-burning (BB) related air pollution is a prime concern in several regions of the world including Southeast Asia. This study aimed to identify and apportion the BB types (agricultural, forest, ...and grassland) and assess the transport of BB-derived PM2.5 which influences the air quality index (AQI) of three major regions (i.e., central, north, and northeast) in Thailand by integrating satellite fire products, air-mass trajectories, ground-based measurements, statistical approaches, and modeling tools. We accounted for the transport time of PM2.5 from source to monitoring stations by grouping the BB type with air-mass trajectory timestamps. Forest fire predominated over the north (73%) and northeast (48%) whereas agricultural burning predominated over the central (52%) region. Grassland burning was most influential in the central region (16%) followed by the northeast (11%) and north (5%) regions in Thailand. Annual PM2.5 exposure amounted to very-unhealthy to hazardous PM2.5-AQI levels for about 79% of the Thailand population. PM2.5-AQI levels over Thailand were mainly governed by transboundary BB influence (67%) whereas the local contribution was about 33%. Excess numbers of premature deaths due to PM2.5 exposure totaled 18,003, and were associated with stroke burden (53%), ischemic heart disease (30%), lung cancer (12%), and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (5%), based on public-health data from 2016. The spatial distribution results of excess mortality showed the largest burden in the central region (44%) followed by the northeast (29%), north (18%), and south (9%). Our study results are useful for shaping effective control strategies of open burning management in Thailand and other nearby countries in peninsular Southeast Asia.
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•PM2.5 pollution level over Thailand depends on region, season, and BB source type.•Satellite fire and land-use products together with BTs are used to apportion BB types.•Forest fire predominated in the north (73%) and northeast (48%) region.•Agricultural burning was the predominate in central Thailand (52%).•Total premature deaths associated with PM2.5 exposure was 18,003 deaths in 2016.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UILJ, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK, ZAGLJ, ZRSKP
Disordered superconducting nitrides with kinetic inductance have long been considered to be leading material candidates for high‐inductance quantum‐circuit applications. Despite continuing efforts ...toward reducing material dimensions to increase the kinetic inductance and the corresponding circuit impedance, achieving further improvements without compromising material quality has become a fundamental challenge. To this end, a method to drastically increase the kinetic inductance of superconducting materials via spinodal decomposition while maintaining a low microwave loss is proposed. Epitaxial Ti0.48Al0.52N is used as a model system and the utilization of spinodal decomposition to trigger the insulator‐to‐superconductor transition with a drastically enhanced material disorder is demonstrated. The measured kinetic inductance increases by two to three orders of magnitude compared with the best disordered superconducting nitrides reported to date. This work paves the way for substantially enhancing and deterministically controlling the inductance for advanced superconducting quantum circuits.
A non‐dissipative circuit element with considerably large inductance is indispensable for the noise‐resilient superconducting qubits. Here, spinodal decomposition is utilized to achieve ultrahigh kinetic inductance in the superconducting materials. Model epitaxial Ti0.48Al0.52N thin films are used and a drastic enhancement in kinetic inductance by 2–3 orders of magnitude while maintaining a low microwave loss is demonstrated.
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BFBNIB, FZAB, GIS, IJS, KILJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, SAZU, SBCE, SBMB, UL, UM, UPUK
Abstract
Objectives
We conducted this nationwide population-based study in Taiwan to investigate whether there is a bidirectional relationship between SLE and non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma (NHL).
Methods
...Using the National Health Insurance Research Database of Taiwan, we identified 16 417 patients with new-onset SLE without previous cancer and 25 069 patients with new-onset NHL without previous SLE as two non-overlapping cohorts from 1998–2012, and followed them until 2013. Standardized incidence ratio (SIR) for NHL in the patients with SLE and SIR for SLE in the patients with NHL were compared with the general population.
Results
Among the 16 417 patients with SLE, 512 developed cancers, including 34 with NHL. The highest SIR was that for NHL (SIR 4.2, 95% CI 2.9, 5.9) in site-specific cancer risk analysis. Among the 25 069 patients with NHL, 14 developed SLE, and the SIR was also increased (SIR 2.0, 95% CI 1.1, 3.4). The SIRs of the patients with SLE to develop NHL and the patients with NHL to develop SLE were both highest within the first year after the diagnosis of each disease.
Conclusion
This nationwide population-based study is the first study to report a bidirectional relationship between SLE and NHL. This finding may suggest being alert for the patients with SLE or NHL who have early sings of the other disease in clinical care.
A large concentration of finer particulate matter (PM2.5), the primary air-quality concern in northern peninsular Southeast Asia (PSEA), is believed to be closely related to large amounts of biomass ...burning (BB) particularly in the dry season. In order to quantitatively estimate the contributions of BB to aerosol radiative effects, we thoroughly investigated the physical, chemical, and optical properties of BB aerosols through the integration of ground-based measurements, satellite retrievals, and modelling tools during the Seven South East Asian Studies/Biomass-burning Aerosols & Stratocumulus Environment: Lifecycles & Interactions Experiment (7-SEAS/BASELInE) campaign in 2014. Clusters were made on the basis of measured BB tracers (Levoglucosan, nss-K+, and NO3−) to classify the degree of influence from BB over an urban atmosphere, viz., Chiang Mai (18.795°N, 98.957°E, 354m.s.l.), Thailand in northern PSEA. Cluster-wise contributions of BB to PM2.5, organic carbon, and elemental carbon were found to be 54–79%, 42–79%, and 39–77%, respectively. Moreover, the cluster-wise aerosol optical index (aerosol optical depth at 500nm≈0.98–2.45), absorption (single scattering albedo ≈0.87–0.85; absorption aerosol optical depth ≈0.15–0.38 at 440nm; absorption Ångström exponent ≈1.43–1.57), and radiative impacts (atmospheric heating rate ≈1.4–3.6Kd−1) displayed consistency with the degree of BB. PM2.5 during Extreme BB (EBB) was ≈4 times higher than during Low BB (LBB), whereas this factor was ≈2.5 for the magnitude of radiative effects. Severe haze (visibility≈4km) due to substantial BB loadings (BB to PM2.5≈79%) with favorable meteorology can significantly impact the local-to-regional air quality and the, daily life of local inhabitants as well as become a respiratory health threat. Additionally, such enhancements in atmospheric heating could potentially influence the regional hydrological cycle and crop productivity over Chiang Mai in northern PSEA.
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•Impacts of BB on aerosol properties were investigated over Chiang Mai's urban atmosphere during 7-SEAS/BASELInE 2014.•Detailed radiation budget over BB sway urban site was quantified for the first time using in-situ datasets.•Atmospheric heating rate was estimated as high as 3.6Kd−1.•Large surface cooling and atmosphere warming was due to enhanced atmospheric absorption.•Severe haze episode linked to BB in northern PSEA can cause severe health impacts and modify the regional climate.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK, ZRSKP
Depression is a leading cause of the global burden of disease and has a multifactorial etiology that includes nutrients. Magnesium status has been associated with depression with inconclusive ...results. The impact of chronic latent magnesium deficiency (CLMD, 0.75 ≤ serum magnesium < 0.85 mmol/L) on depression has not yet been investigated. We assessed the association between serum magnesium levels/dietary magnesium intake and depressive symptoms by analyzing nationally representative data from Taiwan (Nutrition and Health Survey in Taiwan, NAHSIT). We used the 5-item Brief Symptom Rating Scale to measure depressive symptoms. Subgroup analysis by sex was also performed. Serum magnesium levels had a low correlation with dietary magnesium intake. Higher serum magnesium levels were associated with lower depressive scores and a lower risk of depressive symptoms, but dietary magnesium intake showed no association. Sex differences were found. Compared with subjects with serum magnesium <0.75 mmol/L, those with ≥0.85 mmol/L had lower depressive scores. In conclusion, serum magnesium was inversely associated with depressive symptoms, but dietary magnesium intake was not. Subjects with CLMD showed similar depressive scores and were at a similar risk of depressive symptoms to those with serum magnesium < 0.75 mmol/L. CLMD should be considered while assessing the association between magnesium status and depressive symptoms.
The South China Sea (SCS) is a receptor of pollution sources from various parts of Asia and is heavily impacted by strong meteorological systems, which thus dictate aerosol variability over the ...region. This study analyzes long-term aerosol optical properties observed at Dongsha Island (a representative site in northern SCS) from 2009 to 2021 and Taiping Island (a representative site in southern SCS) from 2012 to 2021 to better apprehend the temporal evolution of columnar aerosols over the SCS. The noticeable difference in loadings, optical properties, and compositions of aerosols between northern and southern SCS was due to the influence of dissimilar emission sources and transport mechanisms. Column-integrated aerosol optical depth (AOD) over northern SCS (range of monthly mean at 500 nm; 0.12–0.51) was significantly greater than southern SCS (0.09–0.21). The maximum AOD in March (0.51 ± 0.28) at Dongsha was attributed to westerlies coupled with biomass-burning (BB) emissions from peninsular Southeast Asia, whereas the maximum AOD at Taiping in September (0.21 ± 0.25) was owing to various pollution from the Philippines, Malaysia, and Indonesia. Fine-mode aerosol dominated over northern SCS (range of monthly mean Angstrom exponent for 440–870 nm: 0.85–1.36) due to substantial influence from continental sources including anthropogenic and BB emissions while coarse-mode particles dominated over southern SCS (0.54–1.28) due to relatively more influence from marine source. More absorbing columnar aerosols prevailed over northern SCS (range of monthly mean single scattering albedo at 675 nm: 0.92–0.99) compared to southern SCS (0.95–0.98) owing to differences in aerosol composition with respect to sources. Special pollution events showcased possible significant impacts on marine ecosystems and regional climate. This study encourages the establishment of more ground-based aerosol monitoring networks and the inclusion of modeling simulations to comprehend the complex nature of aerosol over this vast marginal sea.
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•Long-term columnar aerosol optical properties are investigated over the South China Sea (SCS).•Dongsha showed wider AOD variations on an annual scale compared to Taiping.•MODIS-retrieved AOD values are not correlated well with AERONET observations.•Long-term annual median AOD at Dongsha (0.18) is ~1.4 folds greater than Taiping (0.13).•High loading of absorbing aerosols over northern SCS could modify the regional climate.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UILJ, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK, ZAGLJ, ZRSKP
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