Search Results (5,064)

Introduction: During the COVID-19 pandemic, reducing aerosol-generating procedures became fundamental, particularly in ophthalmic surgeries traditionally performed under general anesthesia (GA). Regional anesthesia, such as sub-Tenon’s block (STB), is widely used in vitreoretinal surgeries, offering a safer alternative by avoiding airway manipulation. However, the altered orbital anatomy in patients with previous scleral explant surgery creates unique challenges to STB application. This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness, safety, and feasibility of STB in patients after encircling band surgery. Methods: This retrospective analysis included 46 patients with a history of scleral explant surgery, undergoing vitreoretinal procedures at the Bern University Hospital. All procedures were conducted under STB with either analgosedation or GA for additional support when required. An ophthalmic surgeon or an experienced anesthesiologist performed the STBs. Data collected included block success rate, procedural difficulty, incidence of chemosis, and patient satisfaction. The Institutional Ethics Committee approved this study, and all participants provided informed consent. Results: STB was successfully administered in 93.5% of cases, with only three unsuccessful blocks. Block placement was rated as easy in 55% of cases, moderately difficult in 28%, and difficult in 17%. Chemosis was observed in 24% of patients, with severe cases in only 4%. Patient satisfaction scores were high, with most patients expressing satisfaction with the STB procedure. Conversion to GA was required in only one case due to alcohol withdrawal-related agitation. Discussion: The high success rate and minimal complications suggest that STB is a feasible and safe alternative to GA in patients with prior scleral buckling surgery. The altered orbital anatomy presents potential challenges, including scar tissue and compartmentalization, which may lead to patchy anesthesia. However, the use of STB avoids the risks associated with GA and may be especially beneficial for elderly or frail patients. Future studies should further investigate the hemodynamic implications of STB in these cases and the potential for ultrasound-guided techniques to improve accuracy and safety. Full article

Background/Objectives: Curcumin is well known for its great anti-inflammatory and antioxidant efficacy, representing a potential strategy for the treatment of respiratory disorders. However, several drawbacks, such as chemical instability, poor water solubility and rapid metabolism, result in low bioavailability, limiting its clinical applications. In this study, curcumin nanocrystals were incorporated into mannitol-based microparticles to obtain an inhalable dry powder. Methods: A curcumin nanosuspension was produced by wet-ball media milling and thoroughly characterized. Spray drying was then used to produce mannitol microparticles incorporating curcumin nanocrystals. In vitro release/dissolution tests were carried out in simulated lung fluids, and the aerosolization properties were evaluated using a Next-Generation Impactor (NGI, Apparatus E Ph. Eu.). Results: The incorporation of curcumin nanocrystals into mannitol-based microparticles influenced their morphological properties, such as geometric diameters, and flowability. Despite these changes, nebulization studies confirmed optimal MMAD values (<5 µm), while multi-step dissolution/release studies evidenced the influence of mannitol. Conclusions: The developed curcumin nanocrystals-loaded mannitol microparticles show promise as an inhalable treatment for respiratory diseases, combining effective aerodynamic properties with controlled drug release. Full article

Clouds and aerosols, as important factors in the Earth’s climate system, have significant impacts on the atmospheric environment and global climate. This study investigated the optical and physical properties of clouds and aerosols over South America from 2006 to 2021 using CALIPSO Level 2 products. South America was divided into four regions: A (Western Andean Mountains), B (Northern Orinoco and Amazon plains), C (Southern La Plata Plains), and D (Eastern Brazilian Highlands). Seasonal variations in the optical properties of low clouds and their interactions with the lowest-layer aerosols were analyzed and compared. The results indicate that Region C had the highest OP_lc (probability of low clouds) and AOD_lc (AOD (Aerosol Optical Depth) of low clouds, likely due to its flat terrain and westerly influences. Both AOD_lc and OP_lc were higher in September–November compared to other seasons. DR_lc (depolarization ratio of low clouds) values were higher in Regions C and D, particularly in September–February, possibly due to topographic effects and more precipitation and higher humidity during this period. The elevated CR_lc (color ratio of low clouds) in Region A may be attributed to the Andes blocking warm, moist air, leading to increased precipitation and cloud particle content. HL_lc (top height of low clouds) and BL_lc (base altitude of low clouds) were positively correlated with geographic elevation, while T_lc (thickness of low clouds) was greater at night, potentially due to enhanced atmospheric stability. Furthermore, strong correlations among certain parameters suggested significant interactions between aerosols and clouds. Full article

The role of urban vegetation in urban air quality is usually assessed by considering only the pollutant removal capacity of the plants. This study aims to show, for the first time, the effects of vegetation on air pollutant concentrations through its effects on meteorology, separately from its biogenic emissions. It also investigates how air quality changes when only biogenic emissions are altered by using plants with different emission factors, as well as the potential effects of introducing new vegetation into urban areas. These assessments were conducted using atmospheric modelling systems currently employed for air quality forecasting and planning, configured specifically for the cities of Bologna and Milan. Simulations were performed for two representative months, July and January, to capture summer and winter conditions, respectively. The variability in air concentrations of ozone (O₃), nitrogen dioxide (NO₂), and particulate matter (PM10) within the municipal boundaries was assessed monthly. When evaluating the impact of future vegetation, changes in temperature, wind speed, and relative humidity were also considered. The results indicate that vegetation influences air quality more significantly through changes in meteorological conditions than through biogenic emissions. Changes in biogenic emissions result in similar behaviours in O₃ and PM10 concentrations, with the latter being affected by the changes in the concentrations of secondary biogenic aerosols formed in the atmosphere. Changes in NO₂ concentrations are controlled by the changes in O₃ concentrations, increasing where O₃ concentrations decrease, and vice versa, as expected in highly polluted areas. Meteorologically induced vegetation effects also play a predominant role in depositions, accounting for most of the changes; however, the concentrations remain high despite increased deposition rates. Therefore, understanding only the removal characteristics of vegetation is insufficient to quantify its effects on urban air pollution. Full article

Electromyographic (EMG) sensors are essential tools for analyzing muscle activity, but traditional designs often face challenges such as motion artifacts, signal variability, and limited wearability. This study introduces a novel EMG sensor fabricated using Aerosol Jet Printing (AJP) technology that addresses these limitations with a focus on precision, flexibility, and stability. The innovative sensor design minimizes air interposition at the skin–electrode interface, thereby reducing variability and improving signal quality. AJP enables the precise deposition of conductive materials onto flexible substrates, achieving a thinner and more conformable sensor that enhances user comfort and wearability. Performance testing compared the novel sensor to commercially available alternatives, highlighting its superior impedance stability across frequencies, even under mechanical stress. Physiological validation on a human participant confirmed the sensor’s ability to accurately capture muscle activity during rest and voluntary contractions, with clear differentiation between low and high activity states. The findings highlight the sensor’s potential for diverse applications, such as clinical diagnostics, rehabilitation, and sports performance monitoring. This work establishes AJP technology as a novel approach for designing wearable EMG sensors, providing a pathway for further advancements in miniaturization, strain-insensitive designs, and real-world deployment. Future research will explore optimization for broader applications and larger populations. Full article

The Planet SuperDove sensors produce eight-band, three-meter resolution images covering the blue, green, red, red-edge, and NIR spectral bands. Variations in spectral response in the data used to perform atmospheric correction combined with low signal-to-noise over ocean waters can lead to visible striping artifacts in the downstream ocean-color products. It was determined that the striping artifacts could be removed from these products by filtering the top of the atmosphere radiance in the red and NIR bands prior to selecting the aerosol models, without sacrificing high-resolution features in the imagery. This paper examines an approach that applies this filtering to the respective bands as a preprocessing step. The outcome and performance of this filtering technique are examined to assess the success of removing the striping effect in atmospherically corrected Planet SuperDove data. Full article

Cosmogenic beryllium-10 and beryllium-7, and the ratio of the two (10Be/7Be), are powerful atmospheric tracers of stratosphere–troposphere exchange (STE) processes; however, measurements are sparse for altitudes well above the tropopause. We present a novel high-altitude balloon campaign aimed to measure these isotopes in the mid-stratosphere called Beryllium Isotopes for Resolving Dynamics in the Stratosphere (BIRDIES). BIRDIES targeted gravity waves produced by tropopause-overshooting convection to study their propagation and impact on STE dynamics, including the production of turbulence in the stratosphere. Two custom-designed payloads called FiSH and GASP were flown at altitudes approaching 30 km to measure in situ turbulence and beryllium isotopes (on aerosols), respectively. These were flown on nine high-altitude balloon flights over Kansas, USA, in summer 2022. The atmospheric samples were augmented with a ground-based rainfall collection targeting isotopic signatures of deep convection overshooting. Our GASP samples yielded mostly negligible amounts of both 10Be and 7Be collected in the mid-stratosphere but led to design improvements to increase aerosol capture in low-pressure environments. Observations from FiSH and the precipitation collection were more fruitful. FiSH showed the presence of turbulent velocity, temperature, and acoustic fluctuations in the stratosphere, including length scales in the infra-sonic range and inertial subrange that indicated times of elevated turbulence. The precipitation collection, and subsequent statistical analysis, showed that large spatial datasets of 10Be/7Be can be measured in individual rainfall events with minimum terrestrial contamination. While the spatial patterns in rainfall suggested some evidence for overshooting convection, inter-event temporal variability was clearly observed and predicted with good agreement using the 3D chemical transport model GEOS-CHEM. Full article

A study of carbonaceous species, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), and nitro-PAHs associated with PM_2.5 was conducted to assess their carcinogenic potential and associated health risks in the two main cities of the State of Morelos: Cuernavaca and Cuautla. The annual median concentrations in Cuernavaca of organic carbon (OC) and elemental carbon (EC) were 6.2 µg m⁻³ and 0.6 µg m⁻³, respectively, whereas in Cuautla, OC concentrations averaged 4.8 µg m⁻³ and EC 0.6 µg m⁻³. OC/EC ratios, total carbonaceous aerosols (TCA), primary (POC) and secondary organic carbon (SOC), as well as elemental carbon reactive (ECR) were estimated, also showing prevalence of primary emissions such as biomass burning. The seventeen PAHs recommended by the EPA and twelve nitro-PAHs were measured using gas chromatography–mass spectrometry. The annual median sum of PAHs was 9.7 ng m⁻³ in Cuernavaca and 11.2 ng m⁻³ in Cuautla, where carcinogenic high-molecular-weight compounds were the most dominant; the annual median sums of nitro-PAHs were 287 pg m⁻³ and 432 pg m⁻³, respectively. Diagnostic ratios were applied to identify potential sources of PAH emissions, suggesting that fuel combustion is the major contributor in both sites, followed by coal biomass burning and agricultural activities. The annual carcinogenic potential as benzo(a)pyrene equivalent was 2.2 ng m⁻³ for both sites. The lifetime excess cancer risk from PAH inhalation was estimated to range from 1.8 × 10⁻⁴ to 2 × 10⁻⁴ in Cuernavaca and from 1.5 × 10⁻⁴ to 2.2 × 10⁻⁴ in Cuautla, similar to values observed in other urban regions globally. Full article

This study investigates the flange turning process in the production of aluminum aerosol bottles. Aluminum discs are lubricated, extruded, trimmed, washed, painted, and lacquered before undergoing necking, where flange turning ensures a secure, aesthetically pleasing fit. Errors in flange turning, such as uneven or tapered surfaces, can compromise bottle functionality and appearance. To address this, experiments were performed with different tool geometries, feed rates, and rotational speeds. The investigations aimed to achieve flat, consistent flange surfaces with minimal deviation from the desired geometry. Two main variables were examined: a 1 s waiting time at the end position and variations in feed rate and cutting depth. The waiting time improved flatness, halving surface deviations, while regrinding the tool reduced flatness errors to a tenth of the original values. Higher feed rates and speeds also enhanced surface quality, with flatness errors ranging from 371 μm to 75 μm. Overall, this study demonstrates that optimizing parameters like cutting angle, feed rate, and rotational speed, along with a waiting period, significantly enhances surface accuracy. These findings support more efficient production processes for aluminum aerosol bottles. Full article

In the optical satellite on-orbit imaging quality estimation system, the calculation of Modulation Transfer Function (MTF) is not fully standardized, and the influence of atmosphere is often simplified, making it difficult to obtain completely consistent on-orbit MTF measurements and comparisons. This study investigates the effects of various factors—such as edge angle, edge detection methods, oversampling rate, and interpolation techniques—on the accuracy of MTF calculations in the commonly used slanted-edge method for on-orbit MTF assessment, informed by simulation experiments. A relatively optimal MTF calculation process is proposed, which employs the Gaussian fitting method for edge detection, the adaptive oversampling rate, and the Lanczos (a = 3) interpolation method, minimizing the absolute deviation in the MTF results. A method to quantitatively analyze the atmospheric scattering and absorption MTF is proposed that employs a radiative transfer model. Based on the edge images of GF-2 satellite, images with various atmospheric conditions and imaging parameters are simulated, and their atmospheric scattering and absorption MTF is obtained through comparing the MTFs of the ground and top atmosphere radiance. The findings reveal that aerosol optical depth (AOD), viewing zenith angle (VZA), and altitude (ALT) are the primary factors influencing the accuracy of GF-2 satellite on-orbit MTF measurements in complex scenarios. The on-orbit MTF decreases with the increase in AOD and VZA and increases with the increase in ALT. Furthermore, a collaborative analysis of the main influencing factors of atmospheric scattering and absorption MTF indicates that, taking the PAN band of the GF-2 satellite as an example, the atmospheric MTF values are consistently below 0.7905. Among these, 90% of the data are less than 0.7520, with corresponding AOD conditions ranging from 0 to 0.08, a VZA ranging from 0 to 50°, and an ALT ranging from 0 to 5 km. The results can provide directional guidance for the selection of meteorological conditions, satellite attitude, and geographical location during satellite on-orbit testing, thereby enhancing the ability to accurately measure satellite MTF. Full article

This study explores the challenges associated with dispersing disinfectant liquids for sanitizing individuals, indoor spaces, vehicles, and outdoor areas. Among the various approaches, fine aerosol sprays with a high particle surface area emerge as a particularly promising solution. Ultrasonic spraying, which leverages diverse mechanisms of ultrasound interaction with liquids, offers several distinct advantages. Notably, it enables the production of fine aerosols from liquids with a broad range of physical and chemical properties, including variations in purity, viscosity, and surface tension. This capability is especially critical for disinfectant liquids and suspensions, which often exhibit low surface tension and/or high viscosity. The article provides a comprehensive review of ultrasonic spraying methods and technologies developed by the authors’ team in recent years. It highlights innovative ultrasonic sprayers, including the latest designs, which are capable of generating aerosols with precise dispersion characteristics and high productivity from disinfectant liquids. Full article

Air quality is directly related to people’s health and quality of life and has a profound impact on the sustainable development of cities. Good air quality is the foundation of sustainable development. To solve the current problem of air quality for sustainable development, we used high-resolution (1 km) satellite-retrieved aerosol optical depth (AOD), meteorological, nighttime light and vegetation data to develop a spatiotemporal convolution feature random forest (SCRF) model to predict the PM_2.5 concentration in Shandong from 2016 to 2019. We evaluated the performance of the SCRF model and compared the results of other models, including neural network (BPNN), gradient boosting (GBDT), and random forest (RF) models. The results show that compared with the other models, the improved SCRF model performs best. The coefficient of determination (R²) and root mean square error (RMSE) are 0.83 and 9.87 µg/m³, respectively. Moreover, we discovered that the characteristic variables AOD and air temperature (TEM) data improved the accuracy of the model in Shandong Province. The annual average PM_2.5 concentrations in Shandong Province from 2016 to 2019 were 74.44 µg/m³, 65.01 µg/m³, 58.32 µg/m³, and 59 µg/m³, respectively. The spatial distribution of air pollution increases from northeastern and southeastern to western Shandong inland. In general, our research has significant implications for the sustainable development of various cities in Shandong Province. Full article

Multiple human and plant pathogens are dispersed and transmitted as bioaerosols (e.g., Mycobacterium tuberculosis, SARS-CoV-2, Legionella pneumophila, Aspergillus fumigatus, Phytophthora spp., and Fusarium graminearum). Rapid, on-site methods to detect airborne pathogens would greatly enhance our ability to monitor exposure and trigger early mitigation measures across different settings. Analysis of air samples for microorganisms in a regulatory context is often based on culture-based methods, which are slow, lack specificity, and are not suitable for detecting viruses. Molecular methods (based on nucleic acids) could overcome these challenges. For example, loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) is rapid, sensitive, specific, and may detect microbial pathogens from air samples in under 60 min. However, the low biomass in air samples makes recovering sufficient nucleic acids for detection challenging. To overcome this, we present a simple method for concentrating bioaerosols collected through liquid impingement (one of the most common methods for bioaerosol collection). This method paired with LAMP (or other molecular approaches) offers simple, rapid, and sensitive detection of pathogens. We validated this method using three airborne pathogens (Mycobacterium tuberculosis, Legionella pneumophila, and Aspergillus fumigatus), and we were able to detect fewer than five cells in a 15 mL liquid impinger air sample in under 60 min. This simple method offers rapid pathogen detection without the use of specialist equipment, and it can be used across healthcare, education, environmental monitoring, and military settings. Full article

Background/Objectives: This study aimed to fabricate, optimize, and characterize nanostructured lipid carriers (NLCs) loaded with trans-resveratrol (TRES) as an anti-cancer drug for pulmonary drug delivery using medical nebulizers. Methods: Novel TRES-NLC formulations (F1–F24) were prepared via hot, high-pressure homogenization. One solid lipid (Dynasan 116) was combined with four liquid lipids (Capryol 90, Lauroglycol 90, Miglyol 810, and Tributyrin) in three different ratios (10:90, 50:50, and 90:10 w/w), with a surfactant (Tween 80) in two different concentrations (0.5 and 1.5%), and a co-surfactant, soya phosphatidylcholine (SPC S-75; 50 mg). Results: Amongst the analyzed 24 TR-NLC formulations, F8, F14, and F22 were selected based on their physicochemical stability when freshly prepared and following storage (4 weeks 25 °C), as well as in terms of particle size (<145 nm), polydispersity index (PDI; <0.21) and entrapment efficiency (>96%). Furthermore, F14 showed greater stability at 4 and 25 °C for six months and exhibited enhanced aerosolization performance, demonstrating the greater deposition of TRES in the later stages of the next-generation impactor (NGI) when using an air-jet nebulizer than when using an ultrasonic nebulizer. The F14 formulation exhibited greater stability and release in acetate buffer (pH 5.4), with a cumulative release of 95%. Conclusions: Overall, formulation F14 in combination with an air-jet nebulizer was identified as a superior combination, demonstrating higher emitted dose (ED; 80%), fine particle dose (FPD; 1150 µg), fine particle fraction (FPF; 24%), and respirable fraction (RF; 94%). These findings are promising in the optimization and development of NLC formulations, highlighting their versatility and targeting the pulmonary system via nebulization. Full article

Aerosol optical and microphysical properties determine their radiative capabilities, climatic impacts, and health effects. Satellite remote sensing is a crucial tool for obtaining aerosol parameters on a global scale. However, traditional physical and statistical retrieval methods face bottlenecks in data mining capacity as the volume of satellite observation information increases rapidly. Artificial intelligence methods are increasingly applied to aerosol parameter retrieval, yet most current approaches focus on end-to-end single-parameter retrieval without considering the inherent relationships among multiple aerosol properties. In this study, we propose a sequence-to-sequence aerosol parameter joint retrieval algorithm based on the transformer model S2STM. Unlike conventional end-to-end single-parameter retrieval methods, this algorithm leverages the encoding–decoding capabilities of the transformer model, coupling multi-source data such as polarized satellite, meteorological, model, and surface characteristics, and incorporates a physically coherent consistency loss function. This approach transforms traditional single-parameter numerical regression into a sequence-to-sequence relationship mapping. We applied this algorithm to global observations from the Chinese polarimetric satellite (the Particulate Observing Scanning Polarimeter, POSP) and simultaneously retrieved multiple key aerosol optical and microphysical parameters. Event analyses, including dust and pollution episodes, demonstrate the method’s responsiveness in hotspot regions and events. The retrieval results show good agreement with ground-based observation products. This method is also adaptable to satellite instruments with various configurations (e.g., multi-wavelength, multi-angle, and multi-dimensional polarization) and can further improve its spatiotemporal generalization performance by enhancing the spatial balance of ground station training datasets. Full article