This study introduces an innovative outdoor nephelometer system designed to monitor the dynamic hygroscopic behavior of aerosols in ambient air. Field measurements conducted in the Pearl River Delta ...region of China unveil significant roles of relative humidity (RH) swings on aerosol phase states. Highlighting the occurrence of aerosol crystallization in the afternoon followed by gradual deliquescence as RH increases, particularly when minimum afternoon RH drops below 35%, with no such behavior observed when it exceeds 40%. Emphasizing that aerosol phase states are shaped not only by RH and chemical composition but also by their RH history, illustrating that RH levels of 70% in the morning or evening may correspond to fully dissolved metastable or partially dissolved metastable states of ambient aerosols. These findings underscore the need to account for RH history when predicting aerosol phase states and have broader implications for comprehending aerosol behavior and its atmospheric impacts.
Plain Language Summary
This research introduces a new device to study how tiny particles called atmospheric aerosols in the air behave when they encounter moisture. We tested it in a region of China and discovered that relative humidity fluctuations from morning to evening impact significantly on phase state of atmospheric aerosols. In the afternoon, some of the particles might become solid, like tiny crystals, and later turn into liquid gradually as humidity increases. This phenomenon occurs when the afternoon minimum relative humidity is low, below 35%, but does not take place when it exceeds 40%. Suggesting that relative humidity history matters for aerosol phase. For example, relative humidity of 70% in the morning or evening, particles may be in a liquid or semi‐liquid state. This study helps us understand phase changes of atmospheric particles and their effects on our environment.
Key Points
Innovative outdoor nephelometer system was developed to monitor aerosol hygroscopic behavior in ambient air
Aerosol crystallization in the afternoon followed by gradual deliquescence observed
Relative humidity history plays significant roles in determining aerosol phase state
The dust on indoor and outdoor surfaces of the window glasses were collected using sterile cotton balls in 11 cities from China. Two sampling campaigns were conducted with the time interval of 7 days ...to investigate the accumulation especially during the Spring festival holidays. Twenty-nine perfluoroalkyl acids (PFAA) were quantified to investigate concentration, composition, and toddlers’ exposure. The concentrations of ∑PFAA ranged from no detection (nd) to 43 ng/m
2
(mean 8.9 ± 10 ng/m
2
). Perfluorobutanoic acid (PFBA) was detected in 78% samples and accounted for 55 ± 21% of ∑PFAA concentrations. 6:2 fluorotelomer sulfonic acid (6:2 FTSA) and hexafluoropropylene oxide dimer acid (HFPO-DA) were detected in more than 50% samples indicating the use of alternatives. Fluorotelomer carboxylic acid (FTCA) and fluorotelomer unsaturated acid (FTUCA) were found in the dust, implying the degradation of fluorotelomer alcohols (FTOH). The highest concentration of ∑PFAA (43 ng/m
2
) was found in outdoor dust from Xinzhou, Shanxi Province. Higher ∑PFAA concentrations were found in indoor dust than outdoor in 6 paired samples (3 from Feb. 14 and 3 from Feb. 21). In Tianjin and Handan, the concentrations of ∑PFAA from outdoor surfaces were higher in sampling campaign I (SC I, Feb. 21) than in sampling campaign II (SC II, Feb. 14), implying intensive outdoor release. The exposure of 2-year-old toddlers to PFAA via hand-to-mouth ingestion and dermal absorption was estimated; the mean values of intake were 2.1 and 1.5 pg/kg body weight, respectively, assuming an exposure time of 1 h.
Biogenic and anthropogenic organic vapors are crucial precursors of ozone and secondary organic aerosol (SOA) in the atmosphere. Here we conducted real-time measurements of gaseous organic compounds ...using a Vocus proton-transfer-reaction mass spectrometer (Vocus PTR-MS) at the Shanghuang mountain site (1128 m a.s.l.) in southeastern China during November 2022. Our results revealed a substantial impact of mixed biogenic and anthropogenic compounds at the mountain site, with oxygenated volatile organic compounds (OVOCs) comprising 74 % of the organic vapors. Two distinct periods, characterized by sunny days (P1) and persistent cloud events (P2), were observed. P1 exhibited higher concentrations of biogenic-related emissions compared to P2. For instance, isoprene, monoterpenes, and sesquiterpenes during P1 were 2.4–2.9 times higher than those during P2. OVOCs such as acetaldehyde, MVK + MACR, acetone, and MEK also showed higher concentrations during P1, indicating a dominant source from the photochemical oxidation of biogenic VOCs. Anthropogenic-related VOCs like benzene and toluene had higher concentrations during P2, displaying different diurnal cycles compared to P1. Our analysis identified four biogenic-related factors dominated by isoprene and sesquiterpene oxidation products, and two anthropogenic-related factors. During P1, biogenic sources contributed approximately 80 % to total organic compounds, while during P2, anthropogenic sources, particularly the aromatic-related factor, increased from 16 % to 35 %. Furthermore, a unique factor characterized by C2 amines and C3 amides and periodic plumes indicated the influence of industrial emissions from regional transport. The study highlights the significant variations in sources and compositions of gaseous organic compounds at regional mountain sites due to changes in meteorology and photochemical processing, potentially impacting regional ozone and SOA formation.
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•Organic vapors at a mountain site in southeastern China were first characterized by a Vocus PTR-MS.•Organic vapors at the regional background site comprised mainly oxygenated volatile organic compounds (74 %).•Largely different influences of biogenic and anthropogenic emissions between sunny and cloudy days.
Titanium (Ti) and its alloys are widely used as orthopedic and dental implants. In this work, zinc (Zn) was implanted into oxalic acid etched titanium using plasma immersion ion implantation ...technology. Scanning electron microscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy were used to investigate the surface morphology and composition of Zn-implanted titanium. The results indicate that the depth profile of zinc in Zn-implanted titanium resembles a Gaussian distribution, and zinc exists in the form of ZnO at the surface whereas in the form of metallic Zn in the interior. The Zn-implanted titanium can significantly stimulate proliferation of osteoblastic MC3T3-E1 cells as well as initial adhesion, spreading activity, ALP activity, collagen secretion and extracellular matrix mineralization of the rat mesenchymal stem cells. The Zn-implanted titanium presents partly antibacterial effect on both Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus. The ability of the Zn-implanted titanium to stimulate cell adhesion, proliferation and differentiation as well as the antibacterial effect on E. coli can be improved by increasing implantation time even to 2 h in this work, indicating that the content of zinc implanted in titanium can easily be controlled within the safe concentration using plasma immersion ion implantation technology. The Zn-implanted titanium with excellent osteogenic activity and partly antibacterial effect can serve as useful candidates for orthopedic and dental implants.
The interactions between material surfaces and bacteria/cells have been widely investigated, based on which biomaterials with antibacterial and osteogenic abilities can be designed to conquer implant ...failures. The pH of environments is known to affect bacterial growth and bone formation/resorption, and it is possible that the antibacterial and osteogenic abilities of biomaterials can be simultaneously improved by regulating their surface alkalinity. Herein, we fabricated many kinds of films with various alkalinity levels on titanium surface to explore the effect of local alkaline microenvironments around material surfaces on the behaviors of bacteria and osteogenic cells. Both Gram-positive and -negative bacteria were cultured on sample surfaces to investigate their antibacterial effects. Cell adhesion, proliferation, and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activities were investigated by culturing both bone mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) and osteoblast cells on sample surfaces. The results show that an appropriate local alkaline environment can effectively inhibit the growth of both Gram-positive and -negative bacteria through inactivating ATP synthesis and inducing oxidative stress. Meanwhile, it can promote the osteogenic differentiation of bone MSCs and enhance the proliferation and ALP activities of osteoblast cells. In conclusion, material surfaces endowed with appropriate alkalinity can possess antibacterial and osteogenic properties, which provide a novel strategy to design multifunctional biomaterials for bone generation.
•Ag-embedded TiO2 film with micropit/nanorod topography was prepared on titanium.•The Ag-embedded TiO2 surface exhibited enhanced antimicrobial activity.•The Ag-embedded TiO2 surface showed nearly no ...toxic side effect on the cells.
To improve the antimicrobial ability and cytocompatibility of biomedical titanium implants, many efforts have been made to modify their surface topography and chemical composition. In this work, Ag plasma-modified hierarchical TiO2 film was fabricated on titanium surface via acid etching to produce micropit, hydrothermal treatment to generate TiO2 nanorod and subsequent plasma immersion ion implantation process to impregnate Ag into TiO2 surface. In view of the potential clinical applications, their antimicrobial activity, bioactivity and cytocompatibility were systematically evaluated. The hierarchical TiO2 film showed enhanced bioactivity and bacteriostatic effect on both microbes due to more negative zeta potential, constructing the first defense line against microbial adhesion by electrostatic repulsion. Addition of embedded Ag remarkably enhanced the antimicrobial efficiency toward both microbes based on Schottky contact without Ag+ release, establishing the second defense line targeting microbial membrane. Furthermore, the addition of Ag degraded the bioactivity very little and exerted nearly no adverse or even promoted effect on MG63 cell functions, including adhesion, spreading and proliferation. This work illustrates a two-defense-line antimicrobial activity in darkness with both prior electrostatic repulsion to inhibit most microbes adhesion and posterior biocidal action to kill residual ones that luckily infiltrated through the first defense line, and provide proof of concept using both clinically relevant human pathogens. In conclusion, the Ag-embedded hierarchical TiO2 film with excellent antimicrobial activity, bioactivity and cytocompatibility provides a promising candidate for orthopedic and dental implants.
Abstract Rapid development of zinc biology has broadened the applications of Zn-incorporated biomaterials to tissue engineering but also raised concerns about the long-term safety of released Zn2+ ...ions. Clinical success hinges on the amount of incorporated zinc and subsequent optimized release sufficient to stimulate osseointegration. In this study, zinc is incorporated into the sub-surface of TiO2 coatings by plasma immersion ion implantation and deposition (PIII&D). The Zn-implanted coatings show significant improvement compared to the “bulk-doped” coatings prepared by plasma electrolyte oxidation in terms of osteogenesis in vitro and in vivo . Molecular and cellular osteogenic activities demonstrate that rBMSCs cultured on the Zn-implanted coatings have higher ALP activity and up-regulated osteogenic-related genes (OCN, Col-I, ALP, Runx2) compared to the bulk-doped Zn coatings and controls. In vivo osseointegration studies conducted for 12 weeks on the rat model show early-stage new bone formation and the bone contact ratio (12 week) on the Zn-implanted coating is larger. The ZnT1 and ZIP1 gene expression studies demonstrate that the Zn-implanted coatings can better stimulate bone growth with reduced Zn release than those doped with zinc throughout the coatings.
Developing dynamic and highly sensitive methods for imaging M2‐type tumor‐associated macrophages (TAMs) is vital for monitoring the tumor progression and assessing the therapeutic efficacy. Here, the ...fabrication and application of rationally designed Er‐based rare‐earth nanoprobes for the targeted imaging of M2‐type TAMs in glioblastoma (GBM) through the second near‐infrared (NIR‐II) fluorescence beyond 1500 nm is reported. The NIR‐IIb fluorescence of Er‐based rare‐earth nanoparticles can be remarkably enhanced by optimizing their core‐shell structures and the shell thickness, which allows for in vivo imaging under excitation by a 980 nm laser with the lowest power density (40 mW cm‐2). These bright Er‐based nanoparticles functionalized with M2pep polypeptide show notable targeting ability to M2‐type macrophages, which has been well tested in both in vitro and in vivo experiments by their up‐conversion (UC) fluorescence (540 nm) and down‐shifting (DS) fluorescence (1525 nm), respectively. The targeting capability of these nanoprobes in vivo is also demonstrated by the overlap of immunofluorescence of M2‐type TAMs and Arsenazo III staining of rare‐earth ions in tumor tissue. It is envisioned that these nanoprobes can serve as a companion diagnostic tool to dynamically assess the progression and prognosis of GBM.
A type of NIR‐IIb nanoprobes based on Er‐based rare‐earth nanoparticles and M2pep is rationally designed and fabricated to specifically pinpoint M2‐type macrophages in vitro by their up‐conversion fluorescence (540 nm) and M2‐type tumor‐associated macrophages (TAMs) in orthotopic glioblastoma by their down‐shifting fluorescence (1525 nm) under excitation by 980 nm laser.
Graphene oxide has attracted widespread attention in the biomedical fields due to its excellent biocompatibility. Herein we investigated the layer-number dependent antibacterial and osteogenic ...behaviors of graphene oxide in biointerfaces. Graphene oxide with different layer numbers was deposited on the titanium surfaces by cathodal electrophoretic deposition with varied deposition voltages. The initial cell adhesion and spreading, cell proliferation, and osteogenic differentiation were observed from all the samples using rat bone mesenchymal stem cells. Both Gram-negative Escherichia coli and Gram-positive Staphylococcus aureus were used to investigate the antibacterial effect of the modified titanium surfaces. Cocultures of human gingival fibroblasts (HGF) cells with Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus were conducted to simulate the conditions of the clinical practice. The results show that the titanium surfaces with graphene oxide exhibited excellent antibacterial and osteogenic effects. Increasing the layer-number of graphene oxide resulted in the augment of reactive oxygen species levels and the wrinkling, which led to the antibacterial and osteogenic effects, respectively. Compared to pure titanium surface in the cells–bacteria coculture process, the modified titanium surfaces with graphene oxide exhibited higher surface coverage percentage of cells.
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