The article was published with an important mistake in Section 5. The section deals with the effect of disorder on triple-Weyl semimetal (TWSM) through a simple renormalization group (RG) ...calculation. I recently realised that my equations and the consequent conclusion hold only for the case of ‘scalar’ disorder and not for vector disorder as considered in the original manuscript. Below, I present a corrected presentation of this section.
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DOBA, EMUNI, FIS, FZAB, GEOZS, GIS, IJS, IMTLJ, IZUM, KILJ, KISLJ, MFDPS, NLZOH, NUK, OBVAL, OILJ, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, SBMB, SBNM, SIK, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK, VKSCE, ZAGLJ
Electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) have become popular, in part because they are perceived as a safer alternative to tobacco cigarettes. An increasing number of studies, however, have found toxic ...metals/metalloids in e-cigarette emissions.
We summarized the evidence on metal/metalloid levels in e-cigarette liquid (e-liquid), aerosols, and biosamples of e-cigarette users across e-cigarette device systems to evaluate metal/metalloid exposure levels for e-cigarette users and the potential implications on health outcomes.
We searched PubMed/TOXLINE, Embase®, and Web of Science for studies on metals/metalloids in e-liquid, e-cigarette aerosols, and biosamples of e-cigarette users. For metal/metalloid levels in e-liquid and aerosol samples, we collected the mean and standard deviation (SD) if these values were reported, derived mean and SD by using automated software to infer them if data were reported in a figure, or calculated the overall mean (mean ± SD) if data were reported only for separate groups. Metal/metalloid levels in e-liquids and aerosols were converted and reported in micrograms per kilogram and nanograms per puff, respectively, for easy comparison.
We identified 24 studies on metals/metalloids in e-liquid, e-cigarette aerosols, and human biosamples of e-cigarette users. Metal/metalloid levels, including aluminum, antimony, arsenic, cadmium, cobalt, chromium, copper, iron, lead, manganese, nickel, selenium, tin, and zinc, were present in e-cigarette samples in the studies reviewed. Twelve studies reported metal/metalloid levels in e-liquids (bottles, cartridges, open wick, and tank), 12 studies reported metal/metalloid levels in e-cigarette aerosols (from cig-a-like and tank devices), and 4 studies reported metal/metalloid levels in human biosamples (urine, saliva, serum, and blood) of e-cigarette users. Metal/metalloid levels showed substantial heterogeneity depending on sample type, source of e-liquid, and device type. Metal/metalloid levels in e-liquid from cartridges or tank/open wicks were higher than those from bottles, possibly due to coil contact. Most metal/metalloid levels found in biosamples of e-cigarette users were similar or higher than levels found in biosamples of conventional cigarette users, and even higher than those found in biosamples of cigar users.
E-cigarettes are a potential source of exposure to metals/metalloids. Differences in collection methods and puffing regimes likely contribute to the variability in metal/metalloid levels across studies, making comparison across studies difficult. Standardized protocols for the quantification of metal/metalloid levels from e-cigarette samples are needed. https://doi.org/10.1289/EHP5686.
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CEKLJ, DOBA, IZUM, KILJ, NUK, OILJ, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, SIK, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK, VSZLJ
Breakthroughs toward effective water‐splitting electrocatalysts for mass hydrogen production will necessitate material design strategies based on unexplored material chemistries. Herein, Ni‐metalloid ...(B, Si, P, As, Te) alloys are reported as an emergent class of highly promising electrocatalysts for the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) and insight is offered into the origin of activity enhancement on the premise of the surface electronic structure, the OER activation energy, influence of the guest metalloid elements on the lattice structure of the host metal (Ni), and surface‐oxidized metalloid oxoanions. The metalloids modify the lattice structure of Ni, causing changes in the nearest Ni–Ni interatomic distance (dNi–Ni). The activation energy Ea scales with dNi–Ni indicating an apparent dependence of the OER activity on lattice properties. During the OER, surface Ni atoms are oxidized to nickel oxyhydroxide, which is the active state of the catalyst, meanwhile, the surface metalloids are oxidized to the corresponding oxoanions that affect the interfacial electrode/electrolyte properties and hence the adsorption/desorption interaction energies of the reacting species.
Compounds and alloys of nickel with the metalloids (B, Si, P, As, and Te) are emergent highly promising electrocatalysts for the oxygen evolution reaction (OER), however, the origin of their OER activity remains poorly understood. Insights into the origin of the OER activity enhancement in terms of their electronic and geometric properties and interfacial electrode–electrolyte interactions are presented.
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FZAB, GIS, IJS, KILJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, SBCE, SBMB, UL, UM, UPUK
Nanoscale zero-valent iron (nZVI) was tested for the removal of Cu(II), Zn(II), Cr(VI), and As(V) in model saline wastewaters from hydraulic fracturing. Increasing ionic strength (I) from 0.35 to ...4.10 M (Day-1 to Day-90 wastewaters) increased Cu(II) removal (25.4–80.0%), inhibited Zn(II) removal (58.7–42.9%), slightly increased and then reduced Cr(VI) removal (65.7–44.1%), and almost unaffected As(V) removal (66.7–75.1%) by 8-h reaction with nZVI at 1–2 g L−1. The removal kinetics conformed to pseudo-second-order model, and increasing I decreased the surface area-normalized rate coefficient (ksa) of Cu(II) and Cr(VI), probably because agglomeration of nZVI in saline wastewaters restricted diffusion of metal(loid)s to active surface sites. Increasing I induced severe Fe dissolution from 0.37 to 0.77% in DIW to 4.87–13.0% in Day-90 wastewater; and Fe dissolution showed a significant positive correlation with Cu(II) removal. With surface stabilization by alginate and polyvinyl alcohol, the performance of entrapped nZVI in Day-90 wastewater was improved for Zn(II) and Cr(VI), and Fe dissolution was restrained (3.20–7.36%). The X-ray spectroscopic analysis and chemical speciation modelling demonstrated that the difference in removal trends from Day-1 to Day-90 wastewaters was attributed to: (i) distinctive removal mechanisms of Cu(II) and Cr(VI) (adsorption, (co-)precipitation, and reduction), compared to Zn(II) (adsorption) and As(V) (bidentate inner-sphere complexation); and (ii) changes in solution speciation (e.g., from Zn2+ to ZnCl3− and ZnCl42−; from CrO42− to CaCrO4 complex). Bare nZVI was susceptible to variations in wastewater chemistry while entrapped nZVI was more stable and environmentally benign, which could be used to remove metals/metalloids before subsequent treatment for reuse/disposal.
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•nZVI could remove Cu(II), Zn(II), Cr(VI), and As(V) from fracturing wastewaters.•High salinity enhanced Fe dissolution and reduced removal rates except Cu(II).•nZVI entrapment mitigated Fe dissolution and improved metal(loid) removal.•Removal efficiency varied with interaction mechanisms and solution speciation.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK, ZRSKP
8.
Metal(loid)s and human semen quality: The LIFE Study Branch, Francesca M.; Perry, Melissa J.; Chen, Zhen ...
Reproductive toxicology (Elmsford, N.Y.),
December 2021, 2021-12-00, 20211201, Volume:
106
Journal Article
Peer reviewed
•Study assessed 15 metal(loid)s and 7 measures of semen quality among U.S. men.•Enrolled male partners of couples trying for pregnancy, with no diagnosed infertility.•Novel LASSO regression approach ...was applied to assess mixed exposures to metal(loid)s.•Of the 15 metal(loid)s, Sn, Cr, Cd and Cu were stronger predictors for semen quality.•Cr and Sn were associated with improved semen quality; Cd and Cu, with poorer quality.
Multiple studies have demonstrated a global population-wide decline in semen quality, with sperm concentrations having fallen 50 % over the past 50 years. Several metal and metalloid (“metal(loid)”) compounds are known to have testicular toxicity, raising concerns about their contribution to rising infertility. In the male reproductive tract, metal(loid)s can reduce semen quality and disturb function both directly, by inducing tissue damage, and indirectly, by disrupting hormone production and secretion. This study assessed associations between 15 creatinine-adjusted metal(loid)s and 7 measures of semen quality among 413 reproductive-aged men recruited from 16 U.S. counties between 2005–2009. Multi-metal(loid) multivariable linear regression models estimated associations between semen quality endpoints and urinary concentrations of chromium, cobalt, copper, molybdenum, selenium, zinc, antimony, arsenic, barium, cadmium, lead, thallium, tin, tungsten, and uranium. LASSO regression was employed to select model variables and account for multicollinearity of the metal(loid)s. A positive association was observed between tin and sperm morphology (β = 4.92 p = 0.045). Chromium (β = 1.87, p = 0.003) and copper (β= −1.30, p = 0.028) were positively and negatively associated with total sperm count, respectively. With respect to DNA fragmentation, cadmium (β = 12.73, p = 0.036) was positively associated and chromium was negatively associated (β = −5.08, p = 0.001). In this cohort of U.S. population-based men, there was evidence of both positive and negative associations between specific metal(loid)s and semen quality. Additional research is needed to determine interactions between metal(loid)s within a mixture, consistent with typical human exposure, and identify sperm effects resulting from cumulative metal(loid) exposures.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UILJ, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK, ZAGLJ
We study the band topology and the associated linking structure of topological semimetals with nodal lines carrying Z2 monopole charges, which can be realized in three-dimensional systems invariant ...under the combination of inversion P and time reversal T when spin-orbit coupling is negligible. In contrast to the well-known PT-symmetric nodal lines protected only by the π Berry phase, in which a single nodal line can exist, the nodal lines with Z2 monopole charges should always exist in pairs. We show that a pair of nodal lines with Z2 monopole charges is created by a double band inversion process and that the resulting nodal lines are always linked by another nodal line formed between the two topmost occupied bands. It is shown that both the linking structure and the Z2 monopole charge are the manifestation of the nontrivial band topology characterized by the second Stiefel-Whitney class, which can be read off from the Wilson loop spectrum. We show that the second Stiefel-Whitney class can serve as a well-defined topological invariant of a PT-invariant two-dimensional insulator in the absence of Berry phase. Based on this, we propose that pair creation and annihilation of nodal lines with Z2 monopole charges can mediate a topological phase transition between a normal insulator and a three-dimensional weak Stiefel-Whitney insulator. Moreover, using first-principles calculations, we predict ABC-stacked graphdiyne as a nodal line semimetal (NLSM) with Z2 monopole charges having the linking structure. Finally, we develop a formula for computing the second Stiefel-Whitney class based on parity eigenvalues at inversion-invariant momenta, which is used to prove the quantized bulk magnetoelectric response of NLSMs with Z2 monopole charges under a T-breaking perturbation.
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CMK, CTK, FMFMET, IJS, NUK, PNG, UL, UM
Ageing is a common phenomenon during biochar storage and its soil application. In this study, we exposed sludge-derived biochar (SDBC) in the air under 4 °C, 22 °C, and 45 °C for 30–120 d to imitate ...the ageing process after SDBC production. The aged SDBC was characterized and its sorption capacities for Pb(II), Cr(V) and As(III) were compared with the fresh ones in batch sorption experiments. The results showed an increase in acidity, cation exchange capacity, and carboxyl groups of SDBC surface, but a decrease in alkalinity and Fe(III) species during ageing, indicating the oxidation. In addition, ageing for more than 30 d was found to favor the Pb(II) and As(III) sorption, because of higher density of available oxygen-containing groups. The Cr(VI) sorption was found to be compromised by the ageing, because some reducing agents for Cr(VI) reduction was consumed there. Higher temperatures accelerated the above-mentioned ageing effect. Yet, when the SDBC was applied in the heavy-metal contaminated soil, its performance would be affected by both ageing of SDBC itself as well as long-term interactions among soil components, such as colloids and solution, heavy metals, and SDBC, which require further investigation.
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•Atmospheric oxidation increases the acidity, CEC, and carboxyl groups of SDBC.•Long-term atmospheric ageing improves the Pb and As(III) sorption on SDBC.•Reducing agents such as Fe(II) species on SDBC are oxidized during ageing.•Atmospheric ageing suppresses the Cr(VI) sorption capacity on SDBC.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK, ZRSKP
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