Effect of Vocalization on Human Aerosol Dynamics: Whispering Produces More Aerosols than Speaking.

Objectives: Sound pressure and exhaled flow have been identified as important factors associated with higher particle emissions. The aim of this study was to assess how different vocalizations affect the particle generation independently from other factors.

Design: Experimental study.

High-volume evacuation mitigates viral aerosol spread in dental procedures.

Dental healthcare personnel (DHCP) are subjected to microbe-containing aerosols and splatters in their everyday work. Safer work conditions must be developed to ensure the functioning of the healthcare system. By simulating dental procedures, we aimed to compare the virus-containing aerosol generation of four common dental instruments, and high-volume evacuation (HVE) in their mitigation.

Carbonyl Oxide Stabilization from Trans Alkene and Terpene Ozonolysis.

The pressure dependence of carbonyl oxide (Criegee intermediate) stabilization can be measured via HSO detection using chemical ionization mass spectrometry. By selectively scavenging OH radicals in a flow reactor containing an alkene, O, and SO, we measure an HSO ratio related to the Criegee intermediate stabilization, and by performing experiments at multiple pressures, we constrain the pressure dependence of the stabilization. Here, we present results from a set of monoterpenes as well as isoprene, along with previously published results from tetramethylethylene and a sequence of symmetrical trans alkenes.

Elucidating the nature of the proton radioactivity and branching ratio on the first proton emitter discovered Co.

The observation of a weak proton-emission branch in the decay of the 3174-keV Co isomeric state marked the discovery of proton radioactivity in atomic nuclei in 1970. Here we show, based on the partial half-lives and the decay energies of the possible proton-emission branches, that the exceptionally high angular momentum barriers, [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text], play a key role in hindering the proton radioactivity from Co, making them very challenging to observe and calculate. Indeed, experiments had to wait decades for significant advances in accelerator facilities and multi-faceted state-of-the-art decay stations to gain full access to all observables.

Atmospheric pressure thermal desorption chemical ionization mass spectrometry for ultra-sensitive explosive detection.

Illegal explosives are a threat to aviation, transport sector, critical infrastructure and generally to public safety. Their detection requires extremely sensitive instruments with efficient workflows that allow large throughput of items. In this study, we built a trace explosives detection instrument that requires minimal sample treatment and reaches ultra-low picogram level detection limits for many common explosives.

Direct field evidence of autocatalytic iodine release from atmospheric aerosol.

Reactive iodine plays a key role in determining the oxidation capacity, or cleansing capacity, of the atmosphere in addition to being implicated in the formation of new particles in the marine boundary layer. The postulation that heterogeneous cycling of reactive iodine on aerosols may significantly influence the lifetime of ozone in the troposphere not only remains poorly understood but also heretofore has never been observed or quantified in the field. Here, we report direct ambient observations of hypoiodous acid (HOI) and heterogeneous recycling of interhalogen product species (i.

Multicomponent new particle formation from sulfuric acid, ammonia, and biogenic vapors.

A major fraction of atmospheric aerosol particles, which affect both air quality and climate, form from gaseous precursors in the atmosphere. Highly oxygenated organic molecules (HOMs), formed by oxidation of biogenic volatile organic compounds, are known to participate in particle formation and growth. However, it is not well understood how they interact with atmospheric pollutants, such as nitrogen oxides (NO ) and sulfur oxides (SO ) from fossil fuel combustion, as well as ammonia (NH) from livestock and fertilizers.

Pressure Stabilization of Criegee Intermediates Formed from Symmetric trans-Alkene Ozonolysis.

We explore the pressure dependence of a stabilized Criegee Intermediate (sCI) formation from a sequence of trans-alkene ozonolysis reactions. To study the effect of carbon chain length on the stabilization, we select five symmetric trans-alkenes ranging from trans-2-butene (C) through trans-7-tetradecene (C). We measure the pressure falloff curves for each alkene from 50 to 900 Torr in a flow reactor using conversion of SO to HSO with and without an OH scavenger, and subsequent detection of HSO with a nitrate chemical ionization mass spectrometer to constrain sCI yields.

Global atmospheric particle formation from CERN CLOUD measurements.

Fundamental questions remain about the origin of newly formed atmospheric aerosol particles because data from laboratory measurements have been insufficient to build global models. In contrast, gas-phase chemistry models have been based on laboratory kinetics measurements for decades. We built a global model of aerosol formation by using extensive laboratory measurements of rates of nucleation involving sulfuric acid, ammonia, ions, and organic compounds conducted in the CERN CLOUD (Cosmics Leaving Outdoor Droplets) chamber.

Ion-induced nucleation of pure biogenic particles.

Atmospheric aerosols and their effect on clouds are thought to be important for anthropogenic radiative forcing of the climate, yet remain poorly understood. Globally, around half of cloud condensation nuclei originate from nucleation of atmospheric vapours. It is thought that sulfuric acid is essential to initiate most particle formation in the atmosphere, and that ions have a relatively minor role.

The effect of acid-base clustering and ions on the growth of atmospheric nano-particles.

The growth of freshly formed aerosol particles can be the bottleneck in their survival to cloud condensation nuclei. It is therefore crucial to understand how particles grow in the atmosphere. Insufficient experimental data has impeded a profound understanding of nano-particle growth under atmospheric conditions.

Pressure-Dependent Criegee Intermediate Stabilization from Alkene Ozonolysis.

We explored the pressure dependence of acetone oxide (stabilized Criegee Intermediate, sCI) formation from 2,3-dimethyl-2-butene ozonolysis between 50 and 900 Torr using a new, highly accurate technique. We exploited the ability of the sCI to oxidize SO2 to H2SO4, which we measured with a chemical ionization mass spectrometer. We produced the Criegee intermediates (CI) in a high-pressure flow reactor via ozonolysis of 2,3-dimethyl-2-butene (tetramethyl ethylene, TME) and measured the relative H2SO4 concentrations with and without an added OH scavenger.

Insight into acid-base nucleation experiments by comparison of the chemical composition of positive, negative, and neutral clusters.

We investigated the nucleation of sulfuric acid together with two bases (ammonia and dimethylamine), at the CLOUD chamber at CERN. The chemical composition of positive, negative, and neutral clusters was studied using three Atmospheric Pressure interface-Time Of Flight (APi-TOF) mass spectrometers: two were operated in positive and negative mode to detect the chamber ions, while the third was equipped with a nitrate ion chemical ionization source allowing detection of neutral clusters. Taking into account the possible fragmentation that can happen during the charging of the ions or within the first stage of the mass spectrometer, the cluster formation proceeded via essentially one-to-one acid-base addition for all of the clusters, independent of the type of the base.

Neutral molecular cluster formation of sulfuric acid-dimethylamine observed in real time under atmospheric conditions.

For atmospheric sulfuric acid (SA) concentrations the presence of dimethylamine (DMA) at mixing ratios of several parts per trillion by volume can explain observed boundary layer new particle formation rates. However, the concentration and molecular composition of the neutral (uncharged) clusters have not been reported so far due to the lack of suitable instrumentation. Here we report on experiments from the Cosmics Leaving Outdoor Droplets chamber at the European Organization for Nuclear Research revealing the formation of neutral particles containing up to 14 SA and 16 DMA molecules, corresponding to a mobility diameter of about 2 nm, under atmospherically relevant conditions.

Genotype and spatial structure shape pathogen dispersal and disease dynamics at small spatial scales.

Many devastating pathogens are passively dispersed, and their epidemics are characterized by variation that is typically attributed to environmental factors. Here, by combining laboratory inoculations with wind tunnel and field trials using the wind-dispersed pathogen Podosphaera plantaginis, we demonstrated striking genetic variation affecting the unexplored microscale (< 2 m) of epidemics. Recipient and source host genotypes, as well as pathogen strain, explained a large fraction of variation in the three key dispersal phases: departure, movement, and settlement.

Response to comment on "Radiative absorption enhancements due to the mixing state of atmospheric black carbon".

Jacobson argues that our statement that "many climate models may overestimate warming by BC" has not been demonstrated. Jacobson challenges our results on the basis that we have misinterpreted some model results, omitted optical focusing under high relative humidity conditions and by involatile components, and because our measurements consist of only two locations over short atmospheric time periods. We address each of these arguments, acknowledging important issues and clarifying some misconceptions, and stand by our observations.

Direct observations of atmospheric aerosol nucleation.

Atmospheric nucleation is the dominant source of aerosol particles in the global atmosphere and an important player in aerosol climatic effects. The key steps of this process occur in the sub-2-nanometer (nm) size range, in which direct size-segregated observations have not been possible until very recently. Here, we present detailed observations of atmospheric nanoparticles and clusters down to 1-nm mobility diameter.

Radiative absorption enhancements due to the mixing state of atmospheric black carbon.

Atmospheric black carbon (BC) warms Earth's climate, and its reduction has been targeted for near-term climate change mitigation. Models that include forcing by BC assume internal mixing with non-BC aerosol components that enhance BC absorption, often by a factor of ~2; such model estimates have yet to be clearly validated through atmospheric observations. Here, direct in situ measurements of BC absorption enhancements (E(abs)) and mixing state are reported for two California regions.