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A high body mass index (BMI) is often associated with metabolic syndrome, which is accompanied by systemic low-grade chronic inflammation. Here, we analyzed whether BMI, other components of metabolic syndrome, and/or inflammatory markers correlate with left ventricular geometry, function, and infarct size as assessed by serial cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) after a first (clinically evident) ST-elevation MI (STEMI).Within the Etiology, Titre-Course, and effect on Survival (ETiCS) study, cardiac MRI conducted 7-9 days and 12 months after MI enabled longitudinal characterization of patients with a first STEMI along with serial routine blood counts and multiplex cytokine measurements.Of 91 locally included STEMI patients, 47% were overweight (25 kg/mBoth BMI and HbA1c correlated negatively with LVEF only early, but not late after STEMI. Peak CRP evolved as strongest predictor of cardiac function at all time points independent of the metabolic syndrome.

Cellular communication network factor 1 (CCN1) is an independent predictor of MACE after ACS and elevated levels correlated with infarct size after STEMI. We compared the prognostic accuracy of baseline levels of CCN1, NT-proBNP, hsTnT, and ST2 and changes in levels over time to predict the development of structural and functional alterations typical of LV remodelling.Serial 3-T cMRI scans were performed to determine LVEF, LVEDV, LVESV, infarct size, and relative infarct size, which were correlated with serial measurements of the four biomarkers. The prognostic significance of these biomarkers was assessed by multiple logistic regression analysis by examining their performance in predicting dichotomized cardiac MRI values 12 months after STEMI based on their median. For each biomarker three models were created using baseline (BL), the Δ value (BL to 6 months), and the two values together as predictors. All models were adjusted for age and renal function. Receiver operator curves were plotted with area under the curve (AUC) to discriminate the prognostic accuracy of individual biomarkers for MRI-based structural or functional changes.A total of 44 predominantly male patients (88.6%) from the ETiCS (Etiology, Titre-Course, and Survival) study were identified at a mean age of 55.5 ± 11.5 (SD) years treated by successful percutaneous coronary intervention (97.7%) at a rate of 95.5% stent implantation within a median pain-to-balloon time of 260 min (IQR 124-591). Biomarkers hsTnT and ST2 were identified as strong predictors (AUC 0.7) of LVEDV and LVEF. BL measurement to predict LVEF [hsTnT: AUC 0.870 (95% CI: 0.756-0.983), ST2: AUC 0.763 (95% CI: 0.615-0.911)] and the Δ value BL-6M [hsTnT: AUC 0.870 (95% CI: 0.756-0.983), ST2: AUC 0.809 (95% CI: 0.679-0.939)] showed a high prognostic value without a significant difference for the comparison of the BL model vs. the Δ-value model (BL-6M) for hsTnT (P = 1) and ST2 (P = 0.304). The combined model that included baseline and Δ value as predictors was not able to improve the ability to predict LVEF [hsTnT: AUC 0.891 (0.791-0.992), P = 0.444; ST2: AUC 0.778 (0.638-0.918), P = 0.799]. Baseline levels of CCN1 were closely associated with LVEDV at 12 months [AUC 0.708 (95% CI: 0.551-0.865)] and infarct size [AUC 0.703 (95% CI: 0.534-0.872)].Baseline biomarker levels of hsTnT and ST2 were the strongest predictors of LVEF and LVEDV at 12 months after STEMI. The association of CCN1 with LVEDV and infarct size warrants further study into the underlying pathophysiology of this novel biomarker.

Against the background of the current COVID-19 infection dynamics with its rapid spread of SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern (VOC), the immunity and the vaccine prevention of healthcare workers (HCWs) against SARS-CoV-2 continues to be of high importance. This observational cross-section study assesses factors influencing the level of anti-SARS-CoV-2-spike IgG after SARS-CoV-2 infection or vaccination. One thousand seven hundred and fifty HCWs were recruited meeting the following inclusion criteria: age ≥18 years, PCR-confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection convalescence and/or at least one dose of COVID-19 vaccination. anti-SARS-CoV-2-spike IgG titers were determined by SERION ELISA agile SARS-CoV-2 IgG. Mean anti-SARS-CoV-2-spike IgG levels increased significantly by number of COVID-19 vaccinations (92.2 BAU/ml for single, 140.9 BAU/ml for twice and 1144.3 BAU/ml for threefold vaccination). Hybrid COVID-19 immunized respondents (after infection and vaccination) had significantly higher antibody titers compared with convalescent only HCWs. Anti-SARS-CoV-2-spike IgG titers declined significantly with time after the second vaccination. Smoking and high age were associated with lower titers. Both recovered and vaccinated HCWs presented a predominantly good humoral immune response. Smoking and higher age limited the humoral SARS-CoV-2 immunity, adding to the risk of severe infections within this already health impaired collective.

A series of hydroxy-functionalized phosphonium salts were studied as bifunctional catalysts for the conversion of CO2 with epoxides under mild and solvent-free conditions. The reaction in the presence of a phenol-based phosphonium iodide proceeded via a first order rection kinetic with respect to the substrate. Notably, in contrast to the aliphatic analogue, the phenol-based catalyst showed no product inhibition. The temperature dependence of the reaction rate was investigated, and the activation energy for the model reaction was determined from an Arrhenius-plot (Ea =39.6 kJ mol-1 ). The substrate scope was also evaluated. Under the optimized reaction conditions, 20 terminal epoxides were converted at room temperature to the corresponding cyclic carbonates, which were isolated in yields up to 99 %. The reaction is easily scalable and was performed on a scale up to 50 g substrate. Moreover, this method was applied in the synthesis of the antitussive agent dropropizine starting from epichlorohydrin and phenylpiperazine. Furthermore, DFT calculations were performed to rationalize the mechanism and the high efficiency of the phenol-based phosphonium iodide catalyst. The calculation confirmed the activation of the epoxide via hydrogen bonding for the iodide salt, which facilitates the ring-opening step. Notably, the effective Gibbs energy barrier regarding this step is 97 kJ mol-1 for the bromide and 72 kJ mol-1 for the iodide salt, which explains the difference in activity.

Acute ischemic cardiac injury predisposes one to cognitive impairment, dementia, and depression. Pathophysiologically, recent positron emission tomography data suggest astroglial activation after experimental myocardial infarction (MI). We analyzed peripheral surrogate markers of glial (and neuronal) damage serially within 12 months after the first ST-elevation MI (STEMI). Serum levels of glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) and neurofilament light chain (NfL) were quantified using ultra-sensitive molecular immunoassays. Sufficient biomaterial was available from 45 STEMI patients (aged 28 to 78 years, median 56 years, 11% female). The median (quartiles) of GFAP was 63.8 (47.0, 89.9) pg/mL and of NfL 10.6 (7.2, 14.8) pg/mL at study entry 0–4 days after STEMI. GFAP after STEMI increased in the first 3 months, with a median change of +7.8 (0.4, 19.4) pg/mL (p = 0.007). It remained elevated without further relevant increases after 6 months (+11.7 (0.6, 23.5) pg/mL; p = 0.015), and 12 months (+10.3 (1.5, 22.7) pg/mL; p = 0.010) compared to the baseline. Larger relative infarction size was associated with a higher increase in GFAP (ρ = 0.41; p = 0.009). In contrast, NfL remained unaltered in the course of one year. Our findings support the idea of central nervous system involvement after MI, with GFAP as a potential peripheral biomarker of chronic glial damage as one pathophysiologic pathway.

Dibenzocycloheptanones (dibenzotropones) were prepared by Bronsted acid mediated intramolecular alkyne-carbonyl metathesis (ACM) reactions. The cyclization precursors are readily available by Sonogashira reaction of 2-bromobenzoyl chloride with terminal alkynes, followed by Suzuki reactions with benzaldehydes. The ACM reactions are highly modular and atom economic and allow for the construction of two regioisomeric series of dibenzotropones.

A series of hydroxy‐functionalized phosphonium salts were studied as bifunctional catalysts for the conversion of CO2 with epoxides under mild and solvent‐free conditions. The reaction in the presence of a phenol‐based phosphonium iodide proceeded via a first order rection kinetic with respect to the substrate. Notably, in contrast to the aliphatic analogue, the phenol‐based catalyst showed no product inhibition. The temperature dependence of the reaction rate was investigated, and the activation energy for the model reaction was determined from an Arrhenius‐plot (E a=39.6 kJ mol−1). The substrate scope was also evaluated. Under the optimized reaction conditions, 20 terminal epoxides were converted at room temperature to the corresponding cyclic carbonates, which were isolated in yields up to 99 %. The reaction is easily scalable and was performed on a scale up to 50 g substrate. Moreover, this method was applied in the synthesis of the antitussive agent dropropizine starting from epichlorohydrin and phenylpiperazine. Furthermore, DFT calculations were performed to rationalize the mechanism and the high efficiency of the phenol‐based phosphonium iodide catalyst. The calculation confirmed the activation of the epoxide via hydrogen bonding for the iodide salt, which facilitates the ring‐opening step. Notably, the effective Gibbs energy barrier regarding this step is 97 kJ mol−1 for the bromide and 72 kJ mol−1 for the iodide salt, which explains the difference in activity., CO2 fixation: Phenol‐functionalized phosphonium salts are efficient catalysts for the synthesis of cyclic carbonates under mild and solvent‐free conditions. Their superior activity is elucidated by kinetic investigations and DFT calculations.

Aims We quantified the concurring dynamics affecting total and hippocampal brain volume and cognitive function in patients with chronic heart failure (HF) over a period of three years. Methods and results A total of 148 patients with mild stable HF entered this monocentric prospective cohort study: mean age 64.5 (10.8) years; 16.2% female; 77% in New York Heart Association functional classes I–II; 128 and 105 patients attended follow-up visits after 1 and 3 years, respectively. The assessment included cardiological, neurological, psychological work-up, and brain magnetic resonance imaging. Total and regional brain volumes were quantified using an operator-independent fully automated approach and reported normalized to the mean estimated intracranial volume. At baseline, the mean hippocampal volume was ∼13% lower than expected. However, the 3-year progressive hippocampal volume loss was small: −62 mm3 [95% confidence interval (CI) −81 to −42, P Conclusion In patients with predominantly mild HF, the markedly reduced hippocampal volume observed at baseline was associated with impaired cognitive function, but no accelerated deterioration in cognition and brain atrophy became evident over a mid-term period of three years.

Background Vaccination (vac) strategies to maintain remissions in AML have been pursued for decades. The usage of recombinant proteins instead of peptides allows a potential immune response to multiple epitopes, hence could be offered to all patients (pts) independent of HLA expression. Wilms' tumor 1 (WT1) protein is highly immunogenic and frequently overexpressed in AML, thus ranked as a very promising target for novel immunotherapies. Here we report a single-center experience of a phase I/II clinical trial (NCT01051063) of a first-in-human vac strategy based on WT1 recombinant protein (WT1-A10) together with vaccine adjuvant AS01 B in 5 elderly AML pts. Patients and Methods Key eligibility criteria: overexpression of WT1 transcripts in AML blasts at diagnosis (qRT-PCR); 1 or 2 induction chemotherapies, with partial remission (PR) or morphologic complete remission with incomplete blood count recovery (CRi). The vaccine consisted of WT1-A10, a truncated WT-1 protein retaining the N-terminus (amino acids 2-281) of full length WT1 protein (429 aa) linked to the first 11 amino acids of trimethylamine N-oxide reductase signal peptide via one histidine residue combined with the liquid AS01 B adjuvant. AS01 B is an Adjuvant System containing MPL (3-O-desacyl-4´-monophosphoryl lipid A), QS-21 (Quillaja saponaria Molina, fraction 21) and liposome (50µg MPL and 50µg QS-21). One human dose of WT1-A10 + AS01 B contained 200 μg of WT1-A10 antigen. Pts received the vaccine by i.m. injection. To assess cellular response, antigen-specific stimulation of cultured PBMCs was performed with a pool of 123 15mer peptides covering the entire WT1 (1μg/ml/peptide), together with irrelevant re-stimulation plus negative control peptide. CD4 + and CD8 + T cells were serially assessed by intracellular flow cytometry for their ability to produce both IFN-γ and TNF upon antigen stimulation. Results A total of 5 pts (median age 69, range 63-75) were enrolled on the WT1 protein-based vac study at our institution (Table 1), receiving a total of 62 vac after a median of 3 courses (1-5) of standard chemotherapy. The repeated vac had an acceptable safety profile and were thus well tolerated. 2/5 pts experienced therapy-related toxicity, injection site pain (CTCAE v.3, grade 2) and injection site inflammation (CTCAE v.3, grade 1). Symptoms were of mild / moderate severity and resolved completely. No hematologic toxicity was noted. With a median progression-free survival of 28.8 mths (range 1-59) and median overall survival (OS) of 35.4 mths (range 3-75) from the 1st vac, this older patient cohort showed above-average clinical outcome (Table 1), pointing to a potential clinical efficacy of WT1-based vac therapy. All vaccinated pts showed highly elevated WT1 ratios before WT1-based vac therapy and normal levels after vac (Fig. 1A). Two pts demonstrated early relapse after 3 WT1 protein-based vac, and clinical benefit was observed in 3 pts: one achieved complete and sustained measurable residual disease clearance (NPM1 ratios) during WT1 vac, resulting in molecular CR at the 18th vac. The pt died from unrelated reasons 5.5 years after initial diagnosis of AML, 3.5 years after the last WT1 vac, with continued molecular CR. One pt maintained long-term hematological and molecular remission over 59 mths, until molecular relapse occurred 11 mths after the final, 21 st vac. Interestingly, in one case, a complete clonal switch occurred at hematologic relapse following 18 vac, with loss of WT1 overexpression: while the clone at initial diagnosis harbored FLT3, NPM1 and SRSF2 mutations, BRAF, KRAS and STAG2 mutations were detected at relapse (Fig. 1B), pointing to an ongoing suppression of the WT1 expressing AML clone. Flow cytometry studies were conducted in one pt to elucidate specific cellular immune responses. We noted CD4 + T cell immune responses by strong IFN-γ and TNF expression (Fig. 1C), suggestive of efficient immune stimulation post-vac, while CD8 + T cells failed to upregulate these key cytokines. Conclusions This vac strategy showed good feasibility, with a very acceptable safety profile, and appeared to extend remissions beyond the expected duration, together with MRD clearance. Thus, our data provide evidence of potential clinical efficacy of WT1 protein-based vac therapy in AML pts, making this maintenance approach an attractive alternative to more complex strategies, particularly in elderly pts with comorbidities. Figure 1 Figure 1. Disclosures Döhner: Abbvie: Consultancy, Honoraria; Jazz Roche: Consultancy, Honoraria; Daiichi Sankyo: Honoraria, Other: Advisory Board; Janssen: Honoraria, Other: Advisory Board; Celgene/BMS: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; Novartis: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; Astellas: Research Funding; Agios and Astex: Research Funding. Schmitt: MSD: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; TolerogenixX: Current holder of individual stocks in a privately-held company; Bluebird Bio: Other: Travel grants; Hexal: Other: Travel grants, Research Funding; Novartis: Other: Travel grants, Research Funding; Kite Gilead: Other: Travel grants; Apogenix: Research Funding. Lübbert: Teva: Research Funding; Janssen: Research Funding; Cheplapharm: Research Funding; Aristopharm: Research Funding; Syros: Honoraria; Pfizer: Honoraria; Janssen: Honoraria, Research Funding; Imago BioSciences: Honoraria; Hexal: Honoraria; Astex: Honoraria; Abbvie: Honoraria.

Climate services are becoming the backbone to translate climate knowledge, data & information into climate-informed decision-making at all levels, from public administrations to business operators. It is essential to assess the technical and scientific quality of the provided climate data and information products, including their value to users, to establish the relation of trust between providers of climate data and information and various downstream users. The climate data and information products (i.e., from satellite, in-situ and reanalysis) shall be fully traceable, adequately documented and uncertainty quantified and can provide sufficient guidance for users to address their specific needs and feedbacks. This paper discusses details on how to apply the quality assurance framework to deliver timely assessments of the quality and usability of Essential Climate Variable (ECV) products. It identifies an overarching structure for the quality assessment of single product ECVs (i.e., consists of only one single variable), multi-product ECVs (i.e., more than one single parameter), thematic products (i.e., water, energy and carbon cycles), as well as the usability assessment. To support a traceable climate service, other than rigorously evaluating the technical and scientific quality of ECV products, which represent the upstream of climate services, how the uncertainty propagates into the resulting benefit (utility) for the users of the climate service needs to be detailed.

Graphical abstract, In experimental animal research body temperature (BT) is measured for the objective determination of an animals’ physiological condition. Invasive, probe-based measurements are stressful and can influence experimental outcome. Alternatively BT can be determined touch-free from the emitted heat of the organism at a single spot using infrared thermometers [1]. To get visual confirmation and find more appropriate surfaces for measurement a hand-held thermal imager was equipped with a self-made, cheap, 3D-printable close-up lens system that reproducibly creates eight-time magnified thermal images and improves sensitivity. This setup was used to establish ocular surface temperature (OST), representing the temperature of the brain-heart axis, as a touch-free alternative for measurement of BT in mice, rats, rabbits and humans.OST measurement after isoflurane exposure and myocardial infarction (MI) experiments in mice revealed high physiological relevance and sensitivity, the possibility to discriminate between MI and sham operations in one hour and even long-term outcome-predictive capabilities of OST after MI. Summarized here we present: • Self-made close-up lens for thermal imaging cameras for eight-time magnification • Establishment of OST for touch-free determination of BT in rodents and humans • Short- and long-term predictive capabilities of OST in experimental MI in mice.

Chemical characterization of non-refractory submicron particles (NR-PM1) and source apportionment of organic aerosols (OA) were carried out at four different sites in the Helsinki metropolitan area, Finland, using an Aerodyne Aerosol Chemical Speciation Monitor (ACSM). Two of the sites represented suburban residential areas, whereas the other two were traffic sites, one in a curbside in downtown and the other one in a suburban highway edge. The residential and the curbside measurements were conducted during the winter, but the highway campaign was carried out in the autumn. NR-PM1 were composed mainly of organics (40–68% in the different sites), followed by sulphate (11–34%), nitrate (12–16%), ammonium (7.8–8.5%) and chloride (0.24–1.3%). The mean concentrations of NR-PM1 were quite similar during the winter campaigns (10.1–12.5 µg/m3), but NR-PM1 was clearly lower during the autumn campaign at the highway site (6.0 µg/m3) due to the meteorology (favourable mixing conditions), small concentrations of long-range transported particles and non-intensive heating period locally and regionally. Using a multilinear engine algorithm (ME-2) and the custom software tool Source Finder (SoFI), the organic fraction was divided into two or three types of OA representing hydrocarbon-like organic aerosol (HOA), oxygenated organic aerosol (OOA), and in three sites, biomass burning organic aerosol (BBOA). At the downtown traffic site (Curbside), BBOA could not be found, probably because most of the local wood burning occurs in the suburban areas of the Helsinki region. OOA had the largest contribution to OA at all the sites (50–67%). The contribution of HOA was higher at the traffic sites (25–32%) than at the residential sites (15–18%). At the suburban residential and highway sites, the contribution of BBOA was high (25–30%). Especially during cold periods, very high BBOA contributions (~50%) were observed at the residential sites.

This study sought to determine the spectrum of brain lesions seen in heart failure (HF) patients and the extent to which lesion type contributes to cognitive impairment.Cognitive deficits have been reported in patients with HF.A total of 148 systolic and diastolic HF patients (mean age 64 ± 11 years; 16% female; mean left ventricular ejection fraction 43 ± 8%) were extensively evaluated within 2 days by cardiological, neurological, and neuropsychological testing and brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). A total of 288 healthy, sex- and age-matched subjects sampled from the Austrian Stroke Prevention Study served as MRI controls.Deficits in reaction times were apparent in 41% of patients and deficits in verbal memory in 46%. On brain MRI, patients showed more advanced medial temporal lobe atrophy (MTA) (Scheltens score) compared to controls (2.1 ± 0.9 vs. 1.0 ± 0.6; p 0.001). The degree of MTA was strongly associated with the severity of cognitive impairment, whereas the extent of white matter hyperintensities was similar in patients and controls. Moreover, patients had a 2.7-fold increased risk for presence of clinically silent lacunes.HF patients exhibit cognitive deficits in the domains of attention and memory. MTA but not white matter lesion load seems to be related to cognitive impairment.

Background— Activation of innate immunity, especially infiltration of monocytes, is critical for proper wound healing and scar formation after myocardial infarction (MI). Therefore, we tested the hypothesis that interleukin-13 (IL-13), which influences the differentiation of monocytes/macrophages and has profibrotic properties, modulates wound healing and remodeling after MI. Methods and Results— MI was induced by permanent ligation of the left coronary artery in both male and female wild-type (WT)/IL-13 −/− mice. Real-time polymerase chain reaction demonstrated that expression of IL-13 was induced in left and right ventricular myocardium of WT mice within days in response to MI. Fifty-six–day survival was significantly impaired (65% in WT versus 34% in IL-13 −/− ) in male but not female IL-13 −/− (55% in WT versus 54% in IL-13 −/− ) mice. Serial echocardiography showed significantly increased left ventricular dilation in male IL-13 −/− compared with WT mice starting from day 1 after MI, despite comparable infarct size. Fluorescence-activated cell sorter analysis revealed less leukocyte infiltration in male IL-13 −/− mice on day 3. Real-time polymerase chain reaction analysis demonstrated reduced expression of marker genes of alternative activation in monocytes sorted from the infarct zone of male IL-13 −/− in comparison with WT mice on day 3 after MI. Conclusions— Genetic deficiency of IL-13 worsens outcome after MI in male mice. Our data indicate that IL-13 regulates leukocyte recruitment and induces M2-like monocyte/macrophage differentiation, which modifies wound healing within the infarct zone.

Globally more than a quarter of the total primary energy supply is based on coal combustion. The emissions of coal-fired power plants (CFPPs) are regulated in many industrialized countries and therefore power plants use cleaning techniques to minimize emissions such as sulfur dioxide (SO 2 ) and particles. In this study, the particulate emissions from coal combustion were investigated at a CFPP (506 MW) used for combined heat and power production in Helsinki, Finland. Fine particle samples (PM 1 ) were collected after electrostatic precipitator before the desulfurization plant (DSP), including flue gas desulfurization unit (FGD) and baghouse filters, and simultaneously in the smokestack to study the influence of DSP to particulate mass and chemistry. The DSP removed over 97% of particle mass in flue gas. Trace metals were removed efficiently but contribution of some ionic compounds increased in the FGD process. The particle properties were studied in more detail in the smokestack including particle size distribution measurements and size-segregating sampling to study chemical composition and morphology of particles. The particulate emissions from the CFPP were relatively small, consisting mainly of products and reagents of the FGD process (e.g., CaSO 4 , NaCl) and partly of the primary emissions from the coal combustion (e.g., mineral ash and reaction products of gas phase components). The maximum in particle volume was detected at 0.68 µm. PM 1 contributed on average 62 ± 5% to PM 10 mass. Besides particulate matter, also the gas-phase emission of mercury was studied because coal combustion is one of the major sources of mercury found in the environment. The mercury emissions were within the proposed limits in the EU.

Measurements of submicron particulate matter (PM) were performed at an urban background station, in Helsinki, Finland during wintertime to investigate the chemical characteristics and sources of PM1. The PM1 was dominated by sulfate and organics. The source apportionment indicated that organic aerosol (OA) was a mixture from local sources (biomass burning (BBOA), traffic, coffee roaster (CROA)), secondary compounds formed in local wintertime conditions (nitrogen containing OA (NOA), semivolatile oxygenated OA (SV-OOA), and regional and long-range transported compounds (low volatile oxygenated OA, LV-OOA). BBOA was dominated by the fragments C2H4O2 + and C3H4O2 + (m/z 60.021 and 73.029) from levoglucosan, or other similar sugar components, comprising on average 32% of the BBOA mass concentration. The ratio between fragments C2H4O2 +/C3H4O2 + was significantly lower for CROA (=1.1) when compared to BBOA (=2.1), indicating that they consisted of different sugar compounds. In addition, a component containing ...

A two weeks measurement campaign by a mobile laboratory van was performed at downtown Helsinki, Finland, in winter 2010. The characteristics of air pollutants such as fine particles in the size ranges of 7-40 nm (N_(p40)) and 40-1000 nm (N_(p1000)), black carbon (BC), fine particle mass (PM_(2.5)), as well as gaseous compounds NO, NO_2, NO_x, CO and CO_2 were studied. The statistical analysis showed that the air pollution conditions strongly depended on the traffic flow area; therefore, the street sections were classified as high traffic flow areas (HTF1-HTF4), low traffic flow areas (LTF1-LTF5), and urban background areas (BG1-BG3). Large variation of particle emissions was observed, and the momentary peak particle concentrations were 8 × 10^5 cm^(-3). At the HTF areas exhaust emissions followed clearly daily average heavy duty vehicle counts rather than the average daily vehicle counts. Higher correlation coefficients were found between CO_2 and NO than between CO_2 and N_(tot). The dispersion studies indicated that the air pollution conditions strongly improved from high traffic flow areas to low traffic flow areas. Therefore, proper city planning and locating, for example, cycle tracks, schools and hospitals farther from busy city streets might significantly reduce exposure risk for humans.

Particle emissions affect radiative forcing in the atmosphere. Therefore, it is essential to know the physical and chemical characteristics of them. This work studied the chemical, physical, and optical characteristics of particle emissions from small-scale wood combustion, coal combustion of a heating and power plant, as well as heavy and light fuel oil combustion at a district heating station. Fine particle (PM1) emissions were the highest in wood combustion with a high fraction of absorbing material. The emissions were lowest from coal combustion mostly because of efficient cleaning techniques used at the power plant. The chemical composition of aerosols from coal and oil combustion included mostly ions and trace elements with a rather low fraction of absorbing material. The single scattering albedo and aerosol forcing efficiency showed that primary particles emitted from wood combustion and some cases of oil combustion would have a clear climate warming effect even over dark earth surfaces. Instead, coal combustion particle emissions had a cooling effect. Secondary processes in the atmosphere will further change the radiative properties of these emissions but are not considered in this study.

High time resolution chemical characterization of submicron particles was carried out in the South American city of Santiago de Chile using the Aerosol Chemical Speciation Monitor (ACSM). The instrumentation operated for 100 days from August 17 th to November 23 rd 2011 in an urban station located inside the University of Santiago de Chile (USACH) campus. In addition, a semi-continuous OC/EC analyzer was also run in parallel with the ACSM for some of this time. Meteorological conditions varied along the studied period due to the transition from winter to spring time. Atmospheric temperature inversions were responsible for hourly average sub-micron particulate matter levels of up to 80 μg/m 3 , especially during the night time. The average submicron particle mass concentration (± standard deviation) for the whole period was 29.8 ± 25 μg/m 3 . Aerosol particles were composed mainly of organics 59%, followed by nitrate, ammonium, sulfate, black carbon and chloride with contributions of 14, 12, 8, 3 and 3%, respectively. Using positive matrix factorization, the organic fraction was divided into four distinct types of organic aerosol representing fresh automobile exhaust, biomass burning, and two oxygenated organic aerosol factors with different oxidation states. The transition from winter to spring was clearly seen in the composition of OA. The emissions from primary sources, such as vehicle and biomass burning, decreased in the period leading to spring, whereas the amount of oxygenated organic aerosol increased over the same time. This study shows that high time resolution measurements of aerosol chemical composition can lead to better characterizations of the evolution and sources of pollutants in an urban atmosphere.

A measurement campaign by a mobile laboratory van was performed in urban microenvironments bounded by a busy street Mannerheimintie in the city center of Helsinki, Finland. The characteristics of spatiotemporally high-resolution pollutant concentrations were studied such as ultrafine particles in the size range of 3–414 nm, black carbon BC, fine particle mass PM2.5, as well as nitrogen oxides NO and NO2. In addition, the effects of street geometry and roadside structure on the local dispersion of traffic emissions were analyzed as well. Meteorological conditions stayed stable and the wind direction was perpendicular to Mannerheimintie during the campaign. The highest particle concentrations were ∼8 × 105 cm−3, of which around 94% was smaller than 40 nm. At the pavement, the average concentration was in maximum 5 × 104 cm−3; around 80% of the particles was smaller than 40 nm. The volatility fraction was 75% by number. Due to the street canyon effect by the surrounding buildings, the downwind concentrations were around 24% of the upwind concentrations for particle number, 28% of NO, 39% of BC and 70% of NO2 concentrations. Furthermore, the upwind concentrations were higher than the simultaneously measured concentrations within the traffic flow. In fact, the particle count was around 3-fold, BC 2.5-fold, PM2.5 and NO2 1.5-fold compared to the concentrations while driving. Thus, for this measurement site and under these meteorological conditions, the exposure to pedestrians and cyclist on the upwind pavement is even higher than the driver's exposure. If the downwind buildings were parallel to Mannerheimintie, the concentrations dropped significantly at the pavement and continued decreasing slightly in the courtyards. When the downwind buildings were perpendicular to Mannerheimintie, a gradual reduction in the concentrations between the buildings was observed. However, at a distance of approximately a hundred meters a parallel side street which was a street canyon, started to affect the concentrations resulting in an increased exposure risk for pedestrians and cyclists. Understanding the local transport and the dispersion of traffic emissions are important for city planning and air quality assessment.

Aims To investigate in detail the correlates of dysnatremia, and to estimate its differential prognostic relevance in patients with heart failure with reduced or preserved LVEF. Background Hyponatraemia has been shown to carry important prognostic information in patients with heart failure with reduced left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF). However, exact serum sodium cut-off levels are not defined and the implications for heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HF-pEF) are unclear. The prognostic value of hypernatraemia has not been investigated systematically. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate in detail the correlates of dysnatraemia, and to estimate its differential prognostic relevance in patients with heart failure with reduced or preserved LVEF. Methods and results One thousand consecutive patients with heart failure of any cause and severity from the Wurzburg Interdisciplinary Network for Heart Failure registry were included. Non-linear models for the association between serum sodium and mortality risk were calculated using restricted cubic splines and Cox proportional hazard regression. Median follow-up time for survivors was 5.1 years. Results Independent correlates of dysnatraemia included guideline-recommended medication for chronic heart failure, indicators of renal function, and reverse associations with established cardiac risk factors. Overall mortality was 56%. Both hyponatraemia (n = 72) and hypernatraemia (n = 98) were associated with a significantly increased mortality risk: hazard ratio (HR) 2.10, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.60–2.77; and HR 1.91, 95% CI 1.49–2.45, respectively. A U-shaped association of serum sodium with mortality risk was found. Prognosis was best for patients with high normal sodium levels, i.e. 140–145 mmol/L. Conclusions Both hypo- and hypernatraemia indicate a markedly compromised prognosis in heart failure regardless of LVEF. Sodium levels within the reference range carry differential information on survival, with serum levels of 135–139 mmol/L indicating an increased mortality risk.

The volcanic eruption of Grimsvötn in Iceland in May 2011 affected surface-layer air quality at several locations in Northern Europe. In Helsinki, Finland, the main pollution episode lasted for more than 8 h around the noon of 25 May. We characterized this episode by relying on detailed physical, chemical and optical aerosol measurements. The analysis was aided by air mass trajectory calculations, satellite measurements, and dispersion model simulations. During the episode, volcanic ash particles were present at sizes from less than 0.5 μm up to sizes >10 μm. The mass mean diameter of ash particles was a few μm in the Helsinki area, and the ash enhanced PM10 mass concentrations up to several tens of μg m−3. Individual particle analysis showed that some ash particles appeared almost non-reacted during the atmospheric transportation, while most of them were mixed with sea salt or other type of particulate matter. Also sulfate of volcanic origin appeared to have been transported to our measurement site, but its contribution to the aerosol mass was minor due the separation of ash-particle and sulfur dioxide plumes shortly after the eruption. The volcanic material had very little effect on PM1 mass concentrations or sub-micron particle number size distributions in the Helsinki area. The aerosol scattering coefficient was increased and visibility was slightly decreased during the episode, but in general changes in aerosol optical properties due to volcanic aerosols seem to be difficult to be distinguished from those induced by other pollutants present in a continental boundary layer. The case investigated here demonstrates clearly the power of combining surface aerosol measurements, dispersion model simulations and satellite measurements in analyzing surface air pollution episodes caused by volcanic eruptions. None of these three approaches alone would be sufficient to forecast, or even to unambiguously identify, such episodes.

In our Cognition Matters HF study [(1)][1], we recruited patients between August 2011 and May 2014; thus, it was before sacubitril/valsartan had been approved for clinical use in Europe in 2015 [(2)][2]. Therefore, our baseline data provided in this paper are not influenced by sacubitril/valsartan

Aerosol light absorption measurements most commonly rely on filter-based techniques. These methods are influenced by light scattering constituents in the aerosol phase deposited on the filters. The coating of soot by non-absorbing constituents changes the mixing state of soot as the aerosol ages and increase light absorption by the aerosol. Most light scattering constituents in a sub-micron aerosol are volatile by their nature due to their chemical composition and can be volatilized by heating the sample air. The initial mixing state is lost but the remaining light absorption by the aerosol should be by non-coated soot alone. This was studied during a short field campaign with two groups of equipment measuring in parallel for six days in April 2009 at the SMEAR III station in Helsinki. When heated, the light scattering constituents were evaporated thus reducing the single-scattering albedo (ω0) of the aerosol by as much as 0.4. An oven was set to scan different temperatures which revealed the volatility of the urban aerosol at different temperatures as well as the single-scattering albedo's dependence on the non-volatile volume fraction remaining (NVFR). The NVFR was 0.72 ± 0.13, 0.42 ± 0.06 and 0.22 ± 0.05 at 50, 150 and 280 °C respectively. ω0 behaved analogically, it was 0.71 ± 0.05, 0.62 ± 0.06 and 0.42 ± 0.07 at the respective temperatures. We found that absorption coefficients measured at different temperatures showed a temperature dependency possibly indicating initially different mixing states of the non-volatile constituents. By heating the aerosol the mode of the size distribution gets shifted to smaller sizes which in turn changes the filter-based instrument's response due increased penetration depth into the filter by the smaller residual particles. This was compensated for by using size distribution data.

The fine particle and gas emissions from the residential wood combustion (RWC) appear to be a major contributor to winter-time pollution in Europe. In this study, we characterised the effect of two different combustion conditions on particulate and gaseous emissions from a conventional masonry heater. Normal combustion (NC) is the best available operational practice for the heater, whereas smouldering combustion (SC) mimicked slow heating combustion. It was found that the operational practice in RWC can significantly influence the quantity and quality of particle and gaseous emissions into the atmosphere. In SC, the emissions of carbon monoxide were 3.5-fold, total volatile organics 14-fold and PM1 6-fold to those of NC, whereas the mass of the inorganic compounds (“fine ash”) and particle number emissions were lower from SC than from NC. According to electron microscopy analyses, the observed fine ash particles seemed to occur mainly as separate spherical or irregularly shaped particles but not as agglomerates. Ultrafine (

A Volatility-Tandem-Differential-Mobility-Analyzer (VTDMA) and a Differential Mobility Particle Sizer (DMPS) were used to determine the number and mass concentration of externally mixed aerosol particles in urban background air. In the VTDMA the less-volatile (LV) particle fraction was measured at 300°C for particles in the size range 20–250 nm. The LV particle fraction was converted to the number concentration of LV particles (NLV) and the mass concentration (MLV). MLV was compared with the mass concentration of black carbon (MBC) measured by a Multi-Angle Absorption Photometer (MAAP). The DMPS and VTDMA data were used for calculating scattering and absorption coefficients (σSP and σ AP) with a Mie model and compared with σ SP and σ AP measured with a TSI nephelometer and the MAAP. The model was run by assuming external and internal mixing of absorbing and scattering aerosol. The best fit of measured and modeled σ SP and σ AP was sought by varying the refractive index. During periods dominated by local e...

The collection characteristics of a small deposit area low pressure impactor (SDI) were studied in order to employ the impactor for size distribution measurements of carbonaceous matter. In this work, the SDI was calibrated for soft and porous quartz substrate material in a series of laboratory experiments. The collection efficiency curves were measured by using monodisperse dioctyl sebacate particles and by applying two different detection methods. One method was based on the detection of current carried by charged test particles, and the other measured number concentrations of particles in bipolar charge equilibrium by two condensation particle counters. Concerning the particle size corresponding to a 50% collection efficiency (D 50 ), significant shifts toward smaller particle sizes were found for the quartz fiber substrates compared with the flat plates. Also the shapes of the collection efficiency curves differed considerably: quartz substrate gave less steep curves than plain impaction plates. The n...

The chemical composition of fine (PM 2.5 ) and coarse (PM 2.5−10 ) particulate matter was investigated in 7-week field campaigns of contrasting air pollution at six urban background sites in Europe. The campaigns were scheduled to include seasons of local public health concern due to high particulate concentrations or findings in previously conducted epidemiological studies. The sampling campaigns were carried out as follows: Duisburg/Germany October–November 2002 (autumn), Prague/Czech Republic November 2002–January 2003 (winter), Amsterdam/Netherlands January–March 2003 (winter), Helsinki/Finland March–May 2003 (spring), Barcelona/Spain March–May 2003 (spring) and Athens/Greece June–July 2003 (summer). Aerosol samples were collected in 3+4-day periods per week ( N =14) using two identical virtual impactors (VI). All the filter samples were analysed with the same instruments to obtain particulate mass, inorganic ions, total and watersoluble elements, and elemental and organic carbon content. The campaign means of PM 2.5 and PM 2.5−10 ranged from 8.3 to 30 and 5.4 to 29 μg m −3 , respectively. The “wet and cool” seasons favoured a low coarse-to-fine particulate mass ratio ( 1) during the warmer and drier spring and summer campaigns. According to chemical mass closure, the major components in PM 2.5 were carbonaceous compounds (organic matter+elemental carbon), secondary inorganic ions and sea salt, whereas those in PM 2.5−10 were soil-derived compounds, carbonaceous compounds, sea salt and nitrate. The major and minor components together accounted for 79–106% and 77–96% of the gravimetrically measured PM 2.5 and PM 2.5−10 mass, respectively. In conclusion, the measured PM 2.5 and PM 2.5−10 in the campaigns could be reconstructed to a large extent with the help of harmonized particulate sampling and analysis of the selected chemical constituents. The health significance of the observed differences in chemical composition and emission sources between the size-segregated particulate samples will be investigated in toxicological cell and animal studies.