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Canada has major sources of atmospheric methane (CH4), with the world's second-largest boreal wetland and the world's fourth-largest natural gas production. However, Canada's CH4 emissions remain uncertain among estimates. Better quantification and characterization of Canada's CH4 emissions are critical for climate mitigation strategies. To improve our understanding of Canada's CH4 emissions, we performed an ensemble regional inversion for 2007–2017 constrained with the Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) surface measurement network. The decadal CH4 estimates show no significant trend, unlike some studies that reported long-term trends. The total CH4 estimate is 17.4 (15.3–19.5) TgCH4yr-1 , partitioned into natural and anthropogenic sources at 10.8 (7.5–13.2) and 6.6 (6.2–7.8) TgCH4yr-1 , respectively. The estimated anthropogenic emission is higher than inventories, mainly in western Canada (with the fossil fuel industry). Furthermore, the results reveal notable spatiotemporal characteristics. First, the modelled differences in atmospheric CH4 among the sites show improvement after inversion when compared to observations, implying the CH4 observation differences could help in verifying the inversion results. Second, the seasonal variations show slow onset and a late-summer maximum, indicating wetland CH4 flux has hysteretic dependence on air temperature. Third, the boreal winter natural CH4 emissions, usually treated as negligible, appear quantifiable (≥ 20 % of annual emissions). Understanding winter emission is important for climate prediction, as the winter in Canada is warming faster than the summer. Fourth, the inter-annual variability in estimated CH4 emissions is positively correlated with summer air temperature anomalies. This could enhance Canada's natural CH4 emission in the warming climate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Patient‐reported outcome measures (PROMs) are used to assess a patient's health status at a particular point in time. They are essential in the development of person‐centred care. This paper reviews studies performed on PROMs for assessing AR and asthma control, in particular VAS scales that are included in the app MASK‐air® (Mobile Airways Sentinel networK) for asthma and rhinitis. VASs were initially developed on paper and pencil and tested for their criterion validity, cut‐offs and responsiveness. Then, a multicentric, multinational, double‐blind, placebo‐controlled, randomised control trial (DB‐PC‐RCT) using an electronic VAS form was carried out. Finally, with the development of MASK‐air® in 2015, previously validated VAS questions were adapted to the digital format and further methodologic evaluations were performed. VAS for asthma, rhinitis, conjunctivitis, work and EQ‐5D are included in the app. Additionally, two control‐medication scores for allergic symptoms of asthma (e‐DASTHMA) were validated for their criterion validity, cut‐offs and responsiveness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Monitoring the spatial distribution and trends in surface greenhouse gas (GHG) fluxes, as well as flux attribution to natural and anthropogenic processes, is essential to track progress under the Paris Agreement and to inform its global stocktake. This study updates earlier syntheses (Petrescu et al., 2020, 2021, 2023), provides a consolidated synthesis of CH 4 emissions using bottom-up (BU) and top-down (TD) approaches for the European Union (EU), and is expanded to include seven additional countries with large anthropogenic and/or natural emissions (the USA, Brazil, China, India, Indonesia, Russia, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DR Congo)). Our aim is to demonstrate the use of different emission estimates to help improve national GHG emission inventories for a diverse geographical range of stakeholders. We use updated national GHG inventories (NGHGIs) reported by Annex I parties under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in 2023 and the latest available biennial update reports (BURs) reported by non-Annex I parties. Comparing NGHGIs with other approaches highlights that different system boundaries are a key source of divergence. A key system boundary difference is whether anthropogenic and natural fluxes are included and, if they are, how fluxes belonging to these two sources are partitioned. Over the studied period, the total CH 4 emission estimates in the EU, the USA, and Russia show a steady decreasing trend since 1990, while for the non-Annex I emitters analyzed in this study, Brazil, China, India, Indonesia, and DR Congo, CH 4 emissions have generally increased. Quantitatively, in the EU the mean of 2015–2020 anthropogenic UNFCCC NGHGIs (15±1.8 Tg CH 4 yr -1) and the mean of the BU CH 4 emissions (17.8 (16–19) Tg CH 4 yr -1) generally agree on the magnitude, while inversions show higher emission estimates (medians of 21 (19–22) Tg CH 4 yr -1 and 24 (22–25) Tg CH 4 yr -1 for the three regional and six global inversions, respectively), as they include natural emissions, which for the EU were quantified at 6.6 Tg CH 4 yr -1 (Petrescu et al., 2023). Similarly, for the other Annex I parties in this study (the USA and Russia), the gap between the BU anthropogenic and total TD emissions is partly explained by the natural emissions. For the non-Annex I parties, anthropogenic CH 4 estimates from UNFCCC BURs show large differences compared to the other global-inventory-based estimates and even more compared to atmospheric ones. This poses an important potential challenge to monitoring the progress of the global CH 4 pledge and the global stocktake. Our analysis provides a useful baseline to prepare for the influx of inventories from non-Annex I parties as regular reporting starts under the enhanced transparency framework of the Paris Agreement. By systematically comparing the BU and TD methods, this study provides recommendations for more robust comparisons of available data sources and hopes to steadily engage more parties in using observational methods to complement their UNFCCC inventories, as well as considering their natural emissions. With anticipated improvements in atmospheric modeling and observations, as well as modeling of natural fluxes, future development needs to resolve knowledge gaps in the BU and TD approaches and to better quantify the remaining uncertainty. TD methods may emerge as a powerful tool to help improve NGHGIs of CH 4 emissions, but further confidence is needed in the comparability and robustness of the estimates. The referenced datasets related to figures are available at 10.5281/zenodo.12818506 (Petrescu et al., 2024). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Methane is the second largest contributor to global warming after carbon dioxide. Once it is released into the atmosphere, methane lingers for over 10 years, during which it traps heat, contributes to the formation of ground-level ozone, and affects air quality adversely. Conversely, methane has some benefits that could be harnessed to address its impact on the environment while utilizing it for good. Methane's significant role in global warming and potential for energy production and other beneficial applications necessitate the adoption of innovative solutions to remediate the gas from the atmosphere and harness some of its benefits. This article explores Methylococcus capsulatus, a methanotrophic bacterium, and its potential for revolutionizing sustainable methane capture and utilization. With its unique metabolic abilities, M. capsulatus efficiently oxidizes methane, making it a promising candidate for biotechnological applications. We review current research in its current and potential applications in methane capture and utilization, emphasizing key characteristics, implementation challenges, benefits, and limitations in methane capture and conversion. We also highlight the importance of interdisciplinary collaborations and technological advancements in synthetic biology to maximize its energy production potential. Our article analyzes M. capsulatus' role in addressing methane-related environmental concerns and advancing sustainable energy solutions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The systematic advances in the power conversion efficiency (PCE) and stability of perovskite solar cells (PSCs) have been driven by the developments of perovskite materials, electron transport layer (ETL) materials, and interfacial passivation between the relevant layers. While zinc oxide (ZnO) is a promising ETL in thin film photovoltaics, it is still highly desirable to develop novel synthetic methods that allow both fine‐tuning the versatility of ZnO nanomaterials and improving the ZnO/perovskite interface. Among various inorganic and organic additives, zwitterions have been effectively utilized to passivate the perovskite films. In this vein, we develop novel, well‐characterized betaine‐coated ZnO QDs and use them as an ETL in the planar n‐i‐p PSC architecture, combining the ZnO QDs‐based ETL with the ZnO/perovskite interface passivation by a series of ammonium halides (NH4X, where X = F, Cl, Br). The champion device with the NH4F passivation achieves one of the highest performances reported for ZnO‐based PSCs, exhibiting a maximum PCE of ~22% with a high fill factor of 80.3% and competitive stability, retaining ~78% of its initial PCE under 1 Sun illumination with maximum power tracking for 250 h. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The uncertainty surrounding the possibility of generating sufficient funds from international donors and other public financial resources to support climate action calls for the identification of alternative sources of climate finance options. Ensuring a reliable stream of funds to drive climate action requires the identification of diverse funding channels that can supplement existing ones. Also, in light of the proactive approach required to combat climate change, overreliance on a singular funding source could hinder the achievement of climate‐related goals. This is because the existing sources of funding from the central government, local governments, and international agencies remain insufficient to meet the perceived cost of climate change in Ghana. Through a qualitative in‐depth interview, empirical data was drawn from religious institutions to identify their contribution toward climate finance. The study revealed that religious institutions play a significant role in climate finance due to their advocacy capacity, financial resources, and extensive networks. Funding from religious institutions has also been channeled into stock adaptation projects and public education, and this is evident in the areas of agriculture, waste, energy, water, and the support rendered to SMEs in general. Besides, their engagement in climate finance is also motivated by ethical, theological, and moral considerations. The study, therefore, argues that funding from religious institutions toward climate change adaptation and mitigation initiatives should be seen as a complementary source of funding to climate finance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Air pollution is an important global environmental issue impacting public health across the world. Innovative satellite-based technology has revolutionized the monitoring of air pollution, enabling assessments on various scales with unprecedented accuracy and coverage. The study attempts to estimate the seasonal and spatial fluctuations of various gaseous pollutants using Sentinel-5P TROPOMI satellite images at the district level in Odisha. In order to comprehend the environmental impact of air pollution, an effort must be made to assess potential greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and potential acidification levels in Odisha. Results showed that potential emissions of greenhouse gases vary regionally and range from 378.82 g CO2 equivalent/m2 to 386.22 g CO2 equivalent/m2, while potential acidification levels range from 0.008 g SO2 equivalent/m2 to 0.034 g SO2 equivalent/m2. The north-western (Jharsuguda, Sambalpur, Bargarh, Sonepur, and Sundargarh) and north-central (Angul, Dhenkanal, and Deogarh) regions of Odisha exhibit high potential emissions of greenhouse gases and levels of acidification. This is attributed to comparatively higher concentrations of various pollutants stemming from sources like industrial and vehicle emissions. Although the satellite-based study enabled us to characterise the relative air pollution across the state, it necessitated a number of air pollution monitoring stations for validation purposes. A future road map to address climate change and environmental protection may be developed with the aid of local officials and policymakers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Methane (CH4) is a potent greenhouse gas and the second highest anthropogenic emissions are recorded from CH4 on Earth. Considering its high global warming potential, the monitoring of source locations is inadvertent. The paper presented here is the first attempt (to the best of our knowledge) to comprehensively analyse the methane emissions over multiple Indian locations using satellite data. It outlays a brief background of methane emission sensors and studies carried out worldwide for estimation of the GHG. It further enumerates the potential of Earth Surface Mineral Dust Source Investigation (EMIT) and TROPOspheric Monitoring Instrument (TROPOMI) in highlighting the potential point sources of methane emissions and its concentration/emission flux in India. 17 unique plumes were identified using EMIT in the states of Maharashtra (06), Rajasthan (04), Punjab (02), Gujarat (03) and Assam (02). Gujarat, Surat, Assam Uttar Pradesh and Haryana using TROPOMI were also studied. The hotspots showcase emission sources from solid waste landfill sites, sewage treatment plants, wetlands/marshy agriculture, city sewage outlets, oil and gas fields, oil refinery and textile industry. It was observed that EMIT can effectively be used for point source identification, monitoring and enhancement while TROPOMI is best suited for regional level methane monitoring. A sewage outlet plume in Maharashtra produced the maximum emission of 6202.9 ± 691.94 kg/hr followed by solid waste (SW) sites located in Pirana Landfill, Ahmedabad and Khajod Landfill, Surat in Gujarat. Methane monitoring is an important step towards mitigating enormous methane emissions and anomalous methane sources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The CICERO Simple Climate Model (CICERO-SCM) is a lightweight, semi-empirical model of global climate. Here we present a new open-source Python port of the model for use in climate assessment and research. The new version of CICERO-SCM has the same scientific logic and functionality as the original Fortran version, but it is considerably more flexible and also open-source via GitHub. We describe the basic structure and improvements compared to the previous Fortran version, together with technical descriptions of the global thermal dynamics and carbon cycle components and the emission module, before presenting a range of standard figures demonstrating its application. A new parameter calibration tool is demonstrated to make an example calibrated parameter set to span and fit a simple target specification. CICERO-SCM is fully open-source and available through GitHub (https://github.com/ciceroOslo/ciceroscm , last access: 23 August 2024). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The role of coastal mangrove wetlands in sequestering atmospheric carbon dioxide has been increasingly investigated in recent years. While studies have shown that mangroves are weak sources of methane (CH4) emissions, measurements of CH4 fluxes from these ecosystems remain scarce. In this study, we examined the temporal variation and biophysical drivers of ecosystem-scale CH4 fluxes in China's northernmost mangrove ecosystem based on eddy covariance measurements obtained over a 3-year period. In this mangrove, the annual CH4 emissions ranged from 6.15 to 9.07 g C m−2 year−1. The daily CH4 flux reached a peak of over 0.07 g C m−2 day−1 during the summer, while the winter CH4 flux was negligible. Latent heat, soil temperature, photosynthetically active radiation, and tide water level were the primary factors controlling CH4 emissions. This study not only elucidates the mechanisms influencing CH4 emissions from mangroves, strengthening the understanding of these processes but also provides a valuable benchmark dataset to validate the model-derived carbon budget estimates for these ecosystems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Studying the elemental composition of aerosol particles on a single particle level is of importance when determining the internal and external mixing state of the aerosol population. We present a field-deployable platform for the elemental analysis of ambient single particles using laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS). The platform utilizes a wideband spectrometer for simultaneous multi-element detection and size-amplification-aided aerosol charging (SAAC) for efficient particle focusing via a linear electrodynamic quadrupole (LEQ). Carefully designed emission collection system allows minimization of the plasma background emission, which allows us to use short gate delays for increased yield of analyte emission. Performance evaluation with a set of well-defined salt aerosols show excellent capability in determining the relative mass percentage and absolute mass of elements spanning multiple orders of magnitude on a single particle level. Limits of detection for Mg, Na and K were determined to be approximately 2 fg, 40 fg, and 70 fg, respectively. An outdoor aerosol sample was analyzed in the size range of 1–3 µm in diameter, and the particles were classified into distinct categories based on their elemental composition. The maximum analysis speed is about 20 particles per minute and the minimum detectable particle size is, depending on the constituent elements, about 300–800 nm. Emission signals of Al, B, C, Ca, Cu, Fe, K, Mg, Na, Si, and Ti were detected during the measurements of generated or outdoor aerosols. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Methane is the second largest contributor to global surface air temperature rise. Reducing atmospheric methane will mitigate climate change and improve air quality. Since the main sink of methane is the hydroxyl radical (OH) in the atmosphere, increasing OH concentration will accelerate the methane oxidation process and reduce methane concentration. Because the primary source of OH is the reaction between water vapor and ozone, scientists have proposed a water vapor enhancement strategy to raise OH concentrations in the atmosphere and remove methane. We use a two-box model to evaluate interactions between OH and methane and a radiative kernel method to calculate radiative responses to water vapor content growth. This proves that increasing OH concentration does have a positive effect on methane reduction. If the concentration of OH is increased by 10% from its current value and maintained for 50 (100) years, 45 Tg yr−1 (67.5 Tg yr−1) more methane will be oxidized by OH, and the cumulative effects of the oxidation are equivalent to a 120.5 Gt (219.6 Gt) reduction in CO2 and will lower the global surface air temperature by 0.054 °C (0.099 °C). Our study also provides insights into a mixed picture of global and regional radiative responses to the growth of water vapor content. The reduced radiative forcing by methane removal cannot overpower the increased radiative forcing by water vapor from the global average point of view. However, due to OH's greater sensitivity to water vapor and weaker radiative response at higher latitudes, this perspective may be reversed if abrupt CH4 emissions from permafrost thaw occur. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An improved divergence method has been developed to estimate annual methane (CH 4) emissions from TROPOspheric Monitoring Instrument (TROPOMI) observations. It has been applied to the period of 2018 to 2021 over the Middle East, where the orography is complicated, and the mean mixing ratio of methane (XCH 4) might be affected by albedos or aerosols over some locations. To adapt to extreme changes of terrain over mountains or coasts, winds are used with their divergent part removed. A temporal filter is introduced to identify highly variable emissions and to further exclude fake sources caused by retrieval artifacts. We compare our results to widely used bottom-up anthropogenic emission inventories: Emissions Database for Global Atmospheric Research (EDGAR), Community Emissions Data System (CEDS), and Global Fuel Exploitation Inventory (GFEI) over several regions representing various types of sources. The NO x emissions are from EDGAR and Daily Emissions Constrained by Satellite Observations (DECSO), and the industrial heat sources identified by Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) are further used to better understand our resulting methane emissions. Our results indicate possibly large underestimations of methane emissions in metropolises like Tehran (up to 50 %) and Isfahan (up to 70 %) in Iran. The derived annual methane emissions from oil/gas production near the Caspian Sea in Turkmenistan are comparable to GFEI but more than 2 times higher than EDGAR and CEDS in 2019. Large discrepancies in the distribution of methane sources in Riyadh and its surrounding areas are found between EDGAR, CEDS, GFEI, and our emissions. The methane emission from oil/gas production to the east of Riyadh seems to be largely overestimated by EDGAR and CEDS, while our estimates as well as GFEI and DECSO NO x indicate much lower emissions from industrial activities. On the other hand, regions like Iran, Iraq, and Oman are dominated by sources from oil and gas exploitation that probably include more irregular releases of methane, with the result that our estimates, which include only invariable sources, are lower than the bottom-up emission inventories. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tropical wetlands account for ∼20% of the global total methane (CH4) emissions, but uncertainties remain in emission estimation due to the inaccurate representation of wetland spatiotemporal variations. Based on the latest satellite observational inundation data, we constructed a model to map the long‐term time series of wetland extents over the Sudd floodplain, which has recently been identified as an important source of wetland CH4 emissions. Our analysis reveals an annual, total wetland extent of 5.73 ± 2.05 × 104 km2 for 2003–2022, with a notable accelerated expansion rate of 1.19 × 104 km2 yr−1 during 2019–2022 driven by anomalous upstream precipitation patterns. We found that current wetland products generally report smaller wetland areas, resulting in a systematic underestimation of wetland CH4 emissions from the Sudd wetland. Our study highlights the pivotal role of comprehensively characterizing the seasonal and interannual dynamics of wetland extent to accurately estimate CH4 emissions from tropical floodplains. Plain Language Summary: Methane (CH4) plays an important role in global warming. About one‐fifth of global CH4 emissions come from tropical wetlands, with the Sudd wetland in tropical Africa presenting as a hotspot for CH4 emissions. In this study, we generate a monthly wetland map series based on the latest satellite observation for the Sudd wetland. Our results show that wetland area dynamics present large seasonal and interannual variabilities. However, current widely used wetland products tend to indicate smaller sizes and variations of wetlands, which might lead to the underestimation of wetland CH4 emissions. We point out that refined maps of tropical wetlands can help reduce the uncertainties of CH4 emission estimations. Key Points: Extended monthly inundation maps across the Sudd wetland for 2003–2022Rapid growth of the Sudd wetland extent for 2019–2022 driven by upstream precipitationUnderestimation of methane emissions from the Sudd wetland due to the inadequate characterization of wetland extent [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Worldwide, over half of all preschool-aged children and two-thirds of non-pregnant women of reproductive age suffer from hidden hunger. This situation may worsen due to the expected increase in the world population and the effects of climate change. The objective of this paper is to conduct a review of the relationship between soil, plants, and humans at the nutritional level, factors that affect the availability of nutrients, and sustainable strategies to reduce hidden hunger from an organic waste utilization point of view. Nutritional deficiency in people begins with nutrient-deficient soil, followed by crops that do not meet humans' nutritional needs. According to previous studies, most agricultural soils are deficient in nutrients; however, organic residues containing high concentrations of minerals are present in the non-edible parts that are discarded. New opportunities (based on the circular economy strategy) are opening up to take advantage of the nutrient pool of organic residues, such as the preparation of substrates (technosols) or amendments. Their incorporation into the soil may consider various circumstances to ensure the mineralization and bioavailability of nutrients for crops. Several agronomic practices and methods to monitor soil and crop nutrient depletion can be considered among the best strategies to mitigate and reduce hidden hunger through determining which foods and which parts should be ingested, and how to process them to ensure mineral bioavailability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent advancements in asthma management include non-invasive methodologies such as sputum analysis, exhaled breath condensate (EBC), and fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO). These techniques offer a means to assess airway inflammation, a critical feature of asthma, without invasive procedures. Sputum analysis provides detailed insights into airway inflammation patterns and cellular composition, guiding personalized treatment strategies. EBC collection, reflecting bronchoalveolar lining fluid composition, provides a non-invasive window into airway physiology. FeNO emerges as a pivotal biomarker, offering insights into eosinophilic airway inflammation and aiding in asthma diagnosis, treatment monitoring, and the prediction of exacerbation risks. Despite inherent limitations, each method offers valuable tools for a more comprehensive assessment of asthma. Combining these techniques with traditional methods like spirometry may lead to more personalized treatment plans and improved patient outcomes. Future research is crucial to refine protocols, validate biomarkers, and establish comprehensive guidelines in order to enhance asthma management with tailored therapeutic strategies and improved patient outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Quantification of the diffusive methane fluxes between the coastal ocean and atmosphere is important to constrain the atmospheric methane budget. The determination of the fluxes in coastal waters is characterized by a high level of uncertainty. To improve the accuracy of the estimation of coastal methane fluxes, high temporal and spatial sampling frequencies of dissolved methane in seawater are required, as well as the quantification of atmospheric methane concentrations, wind speed and wind direction above the ocean. In most cases, these atmospheric data are obtained from land-based atmospheric and meteorological monitoring stations in the vicinity of the coastal ocean methane observations. In this study, we measured wind speed, wind direction and atmospheric methane directly on board three research vessels in the southern North Sea and compared the local and remote atmospheric and meteorological measurements on the quality of the flux data. In addition, we assessed the source of the atmospheric methane measured in the study area in the German Bight using air mass back-trajectory assessments. The choice of the wind speed data source had a strong impact on the flux calculations. Fluxes based on wind data from nearby weather stations amounted to only 58 ± 34 % of values based on in situ data. Using in situ data, we calculated an average diffusive methane sea-to-air flux of 221 ± 351 µ mol m -2 d -1 (n = 941) and 159 ± 444 µ mol m -2 d -1 (n = 3028) for our study area in September 2019 and 2020, respectively. The area-weighted diffusive flux for the entire area of Helgoland Bay (3.78 × 10 9 m 2) was 836 ± 97 and 600 ± 111 kmol d -1 for September 2019 and 2020, respectively. Using the median value of the diffusive fluxes for these extrapolations resulted in much lower values compared to area-weighted extrapolations or mean-based extrapolations. In general, at high wind speeds, the surface water turbulence is enhanced, and the diffusive flux increases. However, this enhanced methane input is quickly diluted within the air mass. Hence, a significant correlation between the methane flux and the atmospheric concentration was observed only at wind speeds < 5 m s -1. The atmospheric methane concentration was mainly influenced by the wind direction, i.e., the origin of the transported air mass. Air masses coming from industrial regions resulted in elevated atmospheric methane concentrations, while air masses coming from the North Sea transported reduced methane levels. With our detailed study on the spatial distribution of methane fluxes we were able to provide a detailed and more realistic estimation of coastal methane fluxes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cold-season emissions substantially contribute to the annual methane budget of northern wetlands, yet they remain underestimated by process-based models. Models show significant uncertainty in their parameterization of processes, particularly during the transitional phases of freezing and thawing temperatures in the shoulder seasons. Our aim was to identify the environmental controls on the components of the methane fluxes – methane production, oxidation, and transport – from a boreal peatland during the shoulder seasons. We partitioned net methane emissions into their components by combining manual chamber flux measurements on vegetation removal treatments with pore water sampling for concentrations and stable carbon isotope ratios of dissolved methane in the wet hollows of Siikaneva bog in southern Finland during seasonal field campaigns in 2021 and 2022. The results suggest that the decrease in methane emissions due to decreasing production rates with decreasing peat temperatures in the shoulder seasons was dampened by several processes. Firstly, highly efficient transport of methane through the aerenchyma of peatland sedges continued outside of the growing season after plant senescence. Secondly, decaying vascular plants provided additional substrate for methane production at the end of the growing season. Thirdly, accumulation of methane in the pore water partly delayed the emission of methane produced in summer and winter to the shoulder seasons. Substrate-limited oxidation rates, however, largely compensated for the higher diffusion rates related to high pore water concentrations in fall. Accounting for these processes specific to the shoulder seasons by separately modeling the components of methane fluxes will likely work against the underestimation of cold-season methane emissions from northern peatlands. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Taking fresh soil samples from a rice–wheat rotation field (RW), a permanently flooded rice field (PF), and a double-rice cropping field (DR: DRE for the early rice; DRL for the late rice), we measured the CH4 production potential (MPP), the relative contribution of acetate-dependent methanogenesis (ƒac), soil properties, and methanogenic archaeal communities mainly in order to reveal the temporal variation and corresponding influencing factors of methanogenic pathways in paddy soils. Consistent with the change in dissolved organic C (DOC) content, the MPP generally decreased with rice growth in RW and DRL while increasing in PF and DRE. Based on the measurements of stable carbon isotopes, the estimated ƒac-value in PF dropped sharply from 54%-61% at the tillering stage to 30%-35% at the booting stage and rose again at the ripening stage. This variation pattern was positively correlated with that of acetate content, perhaps resulting from the activation of acetoclastic Methanosarcina. In contrast, the ƒac-value in RW and DR rose from 20%-44% at the tillering stage to 49%-59% at the ripening stage, possibly owing to the increase in the relative abundance of acetoclastic Methanothrix. The relative abundance of Methanosarcina in PF was 3%-4% higher than those in RW and DR, whereas that of Methanothrix was 3%-7% lower (P < 0.05). Soil acetate, DOC, and moisture contents significantly affected the methanogenic community composition. Our results demonstrate that the temporal variation of methanogenic pathways was influenced by the relative abundance of acetoclastic methanogens depending on the acetate level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An accurate and spatially explicit large-scale rice calendar can enhance the understanding of agricultural practices and their ecological services, particularly in monsoon Asia. However, currently available global- or continental-scale rice calendars suffer from coarse resolution, poor recording, and outdated information; thus, they do not provide detailed and consistent information on rice phenology. To address this limitation, this study mapped a new (2019–2020) gridded (0.5°×0.5° resolution) rice calendar for monsoon Asia based on Sentinel-1 and Sentinel-2 satellite images. The novelty of this rice calendar lies in the development of a consistent optimal methodological framework that allows the spatially explicit characterization of the rice transplanting date, harvesting date, and number of rice cropping seasons. The methodological framework incorporates two steps: (1) detection of rice phenological dates and number of rice cropping seasons via the combination of a feature-based algorithm and the fitted Weibull function; (2) spatiotemporal integration of the detected transplanting and harvesting dates derived from Step 1 using von Mises maximum likelihood estimates. Results revealed that the proposed rice calendar can accurately identify the rice phenological dates for three croppings in monsoon Asia. When compared with single rice data from the census-based RiceAtlas calendar, the proposed calendar exhibited better results than the MODIS-based Rice Crop Calendar for Asia (RICA). It exhibited biases of 4 and - 6 d for the transplanting and harvesting dates, respectively, with 10 and 15 d lower MAE values and 6 and 15 d lower RMSE values for the transplanting and harvesting dates, respectively. In total, the proposed rice calendar can detect single-, double-, and triple-rice-cropping seasons with an area of 0.53×106 , 0.45×106 , and 0.09×106 km 2 , respectively. This novel gridded rice calendar fills the gaps in 0.5° rice calendars across major global rice production areas, facilitating research on rice phenology that is relevant to climate change. The developed gridded Monsoon Asia Rice Calendar (MARC) is available at 10.17595/20230728.001 (Zhao and Nishina, 2023). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Methane, with a global warming potential roughly 86 times greater than carbon dioxide over a 20‐year timeframe, plays a crucial role in global warming. Remote sensing retrieval is a pivotal methodology for identifying methane emission sources, with accuracy influenced largely by surface and atmospheric properties, including aerosols. In this study, we propose an Aerosol‐Calibrated Matched Filter (ACMF) algorithm to improve the traditional Matched Filter (MF) method. Our new approach incorporates an aerosol scattering correction factor to reduce the aerosol‐induced bias on methane retrievals. Validating our algorithm through simulated spectra, we demonstrate that considering the aerosol scattering effect significantly reduces retrieval errors compared to MF methods by an average of approximately 90%. We apply our newly developed algorithm to hyperspectral data obtained from the Airborne Visible/Infrared Imaging Spectrometer—Next Generation in the Los Angeles Basin and focus on 11 plumes identified through case studies. Our results reveal that ACMF estimates of emission rates and inversion uncertainties exhibit an average reduction of approximately 4% compared to corresponding MF results, with deviation increasing with aerosol optical depth (AOD). Plain Language Summary: Emissions from facilities like oil and gas plants, coal mines, and waste management sites are a major contributor to atmospheric methane, which is a greenhouse gas that significantly impacts global warming. We can remotely measure these emissions using hyperspectral instruments. However, atmospheric particulates (aerosols) can skew these measurements by affecting how sunlight travels through the atmosphere. In our study, we have developed a new, computationally efficient approach to adjust for aerosol effects when analyzing data from these instruments. Tests with simulated data show that our method reduces errors caused by aerosols by about 90% compared with existing schemes. Investigations over 11 different methane emission plumes in the Los Angeles area indicate that traditional methods overestimate methane releases, especially when aerosols are present. Key Points: The Aerosol‐Calibrated Matched Filter (ACMF) is proposed for correction of aerosol‐induced bias in methane point source emission retrievalsThe ACMF method decreased the bias in methane concentration retrieval, demonstrating a clear improvement over the Matched Filter (MF) methodThe ACMF method, implemented in 11 cases over the LA Basin, yielded lower flux rate estimates and uncertainties compared to the MF method [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to its high short-term global warming potential (GWP) compared to carbon dioxide, methane (CH4) is a considerable agent of climate change. This research is aimed at analyzing data on methane gathered at the GAW (Global Atmosphere Watch) station of Lamezia Terme (Calabria, Southern Italy) spanning seven years of continuous measurements (2016–2022) and integrating the results with key meteorological data. Compared to previous studies on detected methane mole fractions at the same station, daily-to-yearly patterns have become more prominent thanks to the analysis of a much larger dataset. Overall, the yearly increase of methane at the Lamezia Terme station is in general agreement with global measurements by NOAA, though local peaks are present, and an increase linked to COVID-19 is identified. Seasonal changes and trends have proved to be fully cyclic, with the daily cycles being largely driven by local wind circulation patterns and synoptic features. Outbreak events have been statistically evaluated depending on their weekday of occurrence to test possible correlations with anthropogenic activities. A cross analysis between methane peaks and specific wind directions has also proved that local sources may be deemed responsible for the highest mole fractions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Emissions from agricultural sources substantially contribute to global warming. The inverse dispersion method (IDM) has been successfully used for emission measurements from various agricultural sources. The IDM has also been validated in multiple studies with artificial gas releases mostly in open fields. Release experiments from buildings have rarely been conducted and were partly affected by additional nearby sources of the target gas. Specific release studies for naturally ventilated animal housings are lacking. In this study, a known and predefined amount of methane (CH 4) was released from an artificial source inside a barn that mimicked a naturally ventilated dairy housing, and IDM recovery rates, using a backward Lagrangian stochastic (bLS) model, were determined. For concentration measurements, open-path devices (OPs) with a path length of 110 m were placed in a downwind direction of the barn at fetches of 2.0 h , 5.3 h , 8.6 h , and 12 h (h equals the height of the highest obstacle), and a 3D ultrasonic anemometer (UA) was placed in the middle of the first three OP paths. Upwind of the barn, an additional OP and a UA were installed. The median IDM recovery rates determined with the UA placed upwind of the barn and the downwind OP ranged between 0.55–0.75. It is concluded that, for the present study case, the effect of the building and a tree in the main wind axis led to a systematic underestimation of the IDM-derived emission rate probably due to deviations in the wind field and turbulent dispersion from the underlying assumptions of the used dispersion model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal of Remote Sensing is the property of Editorial Office of Journal of Remote Sensing & Science Publishing Co. and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Journal of Remote Sensing is the property of Editorial Office of Journal of Remote Sensing & Science Publishing Co. and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Journal of Remote Sensing is the property of Editorial Office of Journal of Remote Sensing & Science Publishing Co. and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Due to tectonic uplift in the Cenozoic and numerous shelf-wide glaciations during the Quaternary, -1-2.5 km of sedimentary overburden has been eroded from the Barents Sea shelf, leading to the exhumation and partial uncapping of hydrocarbon accumulations. Widespread natural gas and oil leakage from the glacially eroded middle-upper Triassic reservoir directly into the water column has been documented at the Sentralbanken high in the northern Norwegian Barents Sea. However, it remains unclear whether the hydrocarbon leakage occurs only from the middle-upper Triassic reservoir units in geological settings exceptionally conducive to hydrocarbon leakage, or if other reservoir formations contributed to the release of hydrocarbons into the water column. It is also not clear whether complete erosion of the caprock is a prerequisite for widespread liberation of natural gas and oil from glacially eroded reservoirs across Arctic continental shelves. Here we analyze multibeam echosounder data covering -5,000 km2 and a suite of high-resolution P-cable seismic lines from a range of geological structures across the northern Norwegian Barents Sea. Our analyses reveal that -21,700 natural gas seeps originate from exhumed, faulted and variably eroded structural highs bearing a range of Mesozoic reservoir formations. All investigated structural highs fuel seabed methane release hotspots with no exception. Evident from observations of seismic anomalies, fluid accumulations are pervasive in the subsurface and likely to continue fuelling seabed gas seepage into the future. We also document that gas seepage through faults piercing overburden, caprocks and reaching potential reservoir levels is pervasive at all investigated structural highs. On the Storbanken high and the Kong Karl platform, such fault-controlled seepage is more prevalent than seepage from reservoir formations subcropping below the seafloor. Using a simple parametrization approach, we estimate that seeps identified within our multibeam data coverage produce a seabed methane flux of 61 x 107 mol/yr (9,803 ton/yr), which is one to two orders of magnitude higher than other globally known submarine methane seepage provinces. Fluxes of methane from sea water to the air above the thermogenic gas seep provinces in the northern Norwegian Barents Sea remain to be determined. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Biological sex differences exist for many airway diseases in which females have either worse or better health outcomes. Inflammatory airway diseases such as cystic fibrosis (CF) and asthma display a clear male advantage in post-puberty while a female benefit is observed in asthma during the pre-puberty years. The influence of menstrual cycle stage and pregnancy on the frequency and severity of pulmonary exacerbations in CF and asthma point to a role for sex steroid hormones, particularly estrogen, in underpinning biological sex differences in these diseases. There are many ways by which estrogen may aggravate asthma and CF involving disturbances in airway surface liquid (ASL) dynamics, inappropriate hyper-immune and allergenic responses, as well as exacerbation of pathogen virulence. The deleterious effect of estrogen on pulmonary function in CF and asthma contrasts with the female advantage observed in airway diseases characterised by pulmonary edema such as pneumonia, acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) and COVID-19. Airway surface liquid hypersecretion and alveolar flooding are hallmarks of ARDS and COVID-19, and contribute to the morbidity and mortality of severe forms of these diseases. ASL dynamics encompasses the intrinsic features of the thin lining of fluid covering the airway epithelium which regulate mucociliary clearance (ciliary beat, ASL height, volume, pH, viscosity, mucins, and channel activating proteases) in addition to innate defence mechanisms (pathogen virulence, cytokines, defensins, specialised pro-resolution lipid mediators, and metabolism). Estrogen regulation of ASL dynamics contributing to biological sex differences in CF, asthma and COVID-19 is a major focus of this review. Plain Language Summary: Sex differences exist in many airway diseases in which females have either worse or better health outcomes. These include cystic fibrosis (CF) and asthma where females post-puberty have more frequent lung exacerbations and higher mortality. Lung infections and difficulty in breathing become worse in post-puberty in females and during the ovulation period of the menstrual cycle, and in pregnancy, indicating a role for sex hormones in underpinning sex differences in CF and asthma. Evidence also exists for sex differences with a female advantage in airway diseases which are characterised by flooding of the airways, as in pneumonia and COVID-19, where females have better lung function and lower risk of death than males. The female sex hormone estrogen plays an important role in determining the role of sex biology in airway disease severity and mortality. Estrogen can control the movement of salt and water in and out of the lung airway tubes and dehydrate the lung surface to make it more sticky with mucus, as observed in CF and asthma, thus worsening the condition. In contrast, estrogen can have beneficial effects in lowering the volume of water in the lungs in COVID-19 thus alleviating flooding of the airways. This review focusses on the biology of sex differences in CF, asthma and COVID-19, and the cellular mechanisms by which estrogen can have either detrimental or beneficial effects in these diseases. Highlights: Airway diseases such as cystic fibrosis (CF), asthma and COVID-19 show marked sex differences in their morbidity and mortality Estrogen and female sex are associated with exacerbated CF and asthma Estrogen aggravates CF and asthma by compromising the optimal airway surface liquid dynamics for effective mucociliary clearance and by exacerbating bacterial virulence Estrogen confers a female advantage in COVID-19 by reducing airway flooding and reinforcing immunity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Malnutrition plays a crucial role as a risk factor in patients undergoing major abdominal surgery. To mitigate the risk of complications, nutritional prehabilitation has been recommended for malnourished patients and those at severe metabolic risk. Various approaches have been devised, ranging from traditional short-term conditioning lasting 7–14 days to longer periods integrated into a comprehensive multimodal prehabilitation program. However, a significant challenge is the considerable heterogeneity of nutritional interventions, leading to a lack of clear, synthesizable evidence for specific dietary recommendations. This narrative review aims to outline the concept of nutritional prehabilitation, offers practical recommendations for clinical implementation, and also highlights the barriers and facilitators involved. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Atmospheric methane is one of the major greenhouse gases with a drastic impact on climate change. This study developed a random forest model to obtain a daily 5 km resolution atmospheric methane concentration dataset with full spatial coverage (100%) from 2019 to 2021 in mainland China, thereby filling the gap in the methane product data from the Tropospheric Monitoring Instrument (TROPOMI). The coefficients of determination for a sample-based and spatial-based cross-validation are 0.97 and 0.93, respectively. The average deviation of the seamless methane product reconstructed by the random forest model is less than 1%, validated with the measured methane concentration data from the Total Carbon Column Observing Network sites. Methane concentrations in China show a distribution of high in the east and south and low in the west and north. The high-concentration areas include Central China, the Sichuan Basin, the Pearl River Delta, and the Yangtze River Delta. In terms of time scale, the methane concentration has evident seasonal variation, as it is low in spring (average 1852 ppb) and winter (average 1881 ppb) and high in summer (average 1885 ppb) and autumn (average 1886 ppb). This is mainly due to the significant increase in emissions from rice cultivation and wetlands during the summer and autumn. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the methane concentration decreases significantly and then starts to return to normal around 70 days after the Lunar New Year, indicating that the seamless methane product can potentially detect anomalous changes in methane concentration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Speciation is a fundamental evolutionary process but the genetic changes accompanying speciation are difficult to determine since true species do not produce viable and fertile offspring. Partially reproductively isolated incipient species are useful for assessing genetic changes that occur prior to speciation. Drosophila melanogaster from Zimbabwe, Africa are partially sexually isolated from other D. melanogaster populations whose males have poor mating success with Zimbabwe females. We used the North American D. melanogaster Genetic Reference Panel (DGRP) to show that there is significant genetic variation in mating success of DGRP males with Zimbabwe females, to map genetic variants and genes associated with variation in mating success and to determine whether mating success to Zimbabwe females is associated with other quantitative traits previously measured in the DGRP. Incipient sexual isolation is highly polygenic and associated with the common African inversion In(3R)K and the amount of the sex pheromone 5,9-heptacosadiene in DGRP females. We functionally validated the effect of eight candidate genes using RNA interference to provide testable hypotheses for future studies investigating the molecular genetic basis of incipient sexual isolation in D. melanogaster. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We developed and tested a complete measurement system to quantify CO2 and CH4 emissions at the scale of an industrial site based on the innovative sensor Airborne Ultra-light Spectrometer for Environmental Application (AUSEA), operated on board uncrewed aircraft vehicles (UAVs). The AUSEA sensor is a new light-weight (1.4 kg) open-path laser absorption spectrometer simultaneously recording in situ CO2 and CH4 concentrations at high frequency (24 Hz in this study) with precisions of 10 ppb for CH4 and 1 ppm for CO2 (when averaged at 1 Hz). It is suitable for industrial operation at a short distance from the sources (sensitivity up to 1000 ppm for CO2 and 200 ppm for CH4). Greenhouse gas concentrations monitored by this sensor throughout a plume cross section downwind of a source drive a simple mass balance model to quantify emissions from this source. This study presents applications of this method to different pragmatic cases representative of real-world conditions for oil and gas facilities. Two offshore oil and gas platforms were monitored for which our emissions estimates were coherent with mass balance and combustion calculations from the platforms. Our method has also been compared to various measurement systems (gas lidar, multispectral camera, infrared camera including concentrations and emissions quantification system, acoustic sensors, ground mobile and fixed cavity ring-down spectrometers) during controlled-release experiments conducted on the TotalEnergies Anomaly Detection Initiatives (TADI) test platform at Lacq, France. It proved suitable to detect leaks with emission fluxes down to 0.01 gs-1 , with 24 % of estimated CH4 fluxes within the - 20 % to + 20 % error range, 80 % of quantifications within the - 50 % to + 100 % error range and all of our results within the - 69 % to + 150 % error range. Such precision levels are better ranked than current top-down alternative techniques to quantify CH4 at comparable spatial scales. This method has the potential to be operationally deployed on numerous sites and on a regular basis to evaluate the space- and time-dependent greenhouse gas emissions of oil and gas facilities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fugitive methane (CH 4) emissions occur in the whole chain of oil and gas production, including from extraction, transportation, storage, and distribution. Such emissions are usually detected and quantified by conducting surveys as close as possible to the source location. However, these surveys are labour-intensive, are costly, and fail to not provide continuous emissions monitoring. The deployment of permanent sensor networks in the vicinity of industrial CH 4 emitting facilities would overcome the limitations of surveys by providing accurate emission estimates, thanks to continuous sampling of emission plumes. Yet high-precision instruments are too costly to deploy in such networks. Low-cost sensors using a metal oxide semiconductor (MOS) are presented as a cheap alternative for such deployments due to their compact dimensions and to their sensitivity to CH 4. In this study, we demonstrate the ability of two types of MOS sensors (TGS 2611-C00 and TGS 2611-E00) manufactured by Figaro® to reconstruct a CH 4 signal, as measured by a high-precision reference gas analyser, during a 7 d controlled release campaign conducted by TotalEnergies® in autumn 2019 near Pau, France. We propose a baseline voltage correction linked to atmospheric CH 4 background variations per instrument based on an iterative comparison of neighbouring observations, i.e. data points. Two CH 4 mole fraction reconstruction models were compared: multilayer perceptron (MLP) and second-degree polynomial. Emission estimates were then computed using an inversion approach based on the adjoint of a Gaussian dispersion model. Despite obtaining emission estimates comparable with those obtained using high-precision instruments (average emission rate error of 25 % and average location error of 9.5 m), the application of these emission estimates is limited to adequate environmental conditions. Emission estimates are also influenced by model errors in the inversion process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Drug hypersensitivity reactions are common in children. Risk factors predisposing to IgE-mediated drug allergies and delayed drug reactions are a matter of debate. Gender, age, previous reactions to the same drug or to another drug, reduced drug metabolism, chronic diseases, polypharmacy, drug doses are linked with the onset of hypersensitivity reactions in some children. Novel advances in genetic polymorphisms can rapidly change the approach to the prevention of reactions since gene testing can be a useful screening test for severe cutaneous adverse reactions. Viral infections may act as cofactors in susceptible individuals. Polypharmacy, high doses, repeated doses and parental route of administration are also risk factors. Clinicians should take into account risk factors to allow the risk–benefit balance to be maintained. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Polymerized allergoids conjugated with mannan represent a novel approach of allergen immunotherapy targeting dendritic cells. In this study, we aimed to determine the optimal dose of mannan-allergoid conjugates derived from grass pollen (Phleum pratense and Dactylis glomerata) administered via either the subcutaneous or sublingual route. Methods: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial with a doubledummy design was conducted, involving 162 participants across 12 centers in Spain. Subjects were randomly allocated to one of nine different treatment groups, each receiving either placebo or active treatment at doses of 500, 1,000, 3,000, or 5,000 mTU/mL over four months. Each participant received five subcutaneous (SC) doses of 0.5 mL each, every 30 days, and a daily sublingual (SL) dose of 0.2 mL. Participants who received active treatment through SC, received placebo through SL. Participants who received active treatment through SL, received placebo SC. One Group, as control, received bot SC and SL placebo. The primary efficacy outcome was the improvement in titrated nasal provocation tests (NPT) at the end of the study compared to baseline. Secondary outcomes included specific antibody (IgG4, IgE) and cellular (IL-10 producing and regulatory T cell) responses. All adverse events and side reactions were recorded and assessed. Results: Post-treatment, the active groups showed improvements in NPT ranging from 33% to 53%, with the highest doses showing the greatest improvements regardless of the administration route. In comparison, the placebo group showed a 12% improvement. Significant differences over placebo were observed at doses of 3,000 mTU/mL (p=0.049 for SL, p=0.015 for SC) and 5,000 mTU/mL (p=0.011 for SL, p=0.015 for SC). A dose-dependent increase in IgG4 was observed following SC administration, and an increase in IL-10 producing cells for both routes of administration. No serious systemic or local adverse reactions were recorded, and no adrenaline was required. Conclusion: Grass pollen immunotherapy with mannan-allergoid conjugates was found to be safe and efficacious in achieving the primary outcome, whether administered via the subcutaneous or sublingual routes, at doses of 3,000 and 5,000 mTU/mL. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A simple and flexible mass balance approach was applied to observations of XCH4 from TROPOMI to estimate CH4 emissions over Shanxi Province, including the impacts of advective transport, pressure transport, and atmospheric diffusion. High-frequency eddy-covariance flux observations were used to constrain the driving terms of the mass balance equation. This equation was then used to calculate day-to-day and 5 km × 5 km grided CH4 emissions from May 2018 to July 2022 based on TROPOMI RPRO column CH4 observations. The Shanxi-wide emissions of CH4, 126 ± 58.8 ug/m2/s, shows a fat tail distribution and high variability on a daily time scale (the 90th percentile is 2.14 times the mean and 2.74 times the median). As the number of days in the rolling average increases, the change in the variation decreases to 128 ± 35.7 ug/m2/s at 10-day, 128 ± 19.8 ug/m2/s at 30-day and 127 ± 13.9 ug/m2/s at 90-day. The range of values of the annual mean emissions on coal mine grids within Shanxi for the years 2018 to 2022 was 122 ± 58.2, 131 ± 71.2, 111 ± 63.6, 129 ± 87.1, and 138 ± 63.4 ug/m2/s, respectively. The 5-year average emissions from TROPOMI are 131 ± 68.0 ug/m2/s versus 125 ± 94.6 ug/m2/s on the grids where the EDGAR bottom-up database also has data, indicating that those pixels with mines dominate the overall emissions in terms of both magnitude and variability. The results show that high-frequency observation-based campaigns can produce a less biased result in terms of both the spatial and temporal distribution of CH4 emissions as compared with approaches using either low-frequency data or bottom-up databases, that coal mines dominate the sources of CH4 in Shanxi, and that the observed fat tail distribution can be accounted for using this approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plasma fluctuations, the uncertainty of laser ablation, and bremsstrahlung limit the identification of online element analysis during laser processing and cause difficulty in achieving concentration results with sufficient accuracy and repeatability. A laser‐induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) online monitoring system with plasma spatial filtering and spectral screening is proposed to solve this problem. In this system, the high‐frequency ablation noise component of the plasma is eliminated using a specially designed optical Fourier filtering structure, and a spectral screening system based on plasma time waveform monitoring is used to suppress the influence of plasma fluctuations. Without noise filters or algorithm optimizations and based only on the basic internal standard method, the calibration curves of all nine elements in the alloy sample exhibits a Pearson's R2 value ranged from 0.91 to 0.99, with a mean of 0.94. The relative standard deviations are all in the range of 3.5%–8.4% with a mean of 5.4%. The accuracy and repeatability are comparable to those of typical LIBS systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, optical emission spectroscopy (OES) is used to investigate the effect of the magnetic field caused by permanent magnets on the 2.45 GHz argon microwave plasma discharge at low pressure. For this purpose, the characteristics of the plasma such as electron temperature and electron density have been obtained and compared in two cases, with and without the presence of magnetic field. The results show that in the argon plasma in the presence of 875 G magnetic field and at 5.4 × 10–3 mbar pressure, the electron density and temperature reached to about 1.75 × 1011 cm−3 and 1.4 eV, respectively. However, in the absence of the magnetic field, the obtained values for electron density and temperature are about 0.75 × 1011 cm−3 and 0.62 eV, respectively. In fact, using the magnetic field produced by two permanent magnets, a significant increase in the density of electrons can be observed. We have compared our experimental results with numerical simulations. In this way, the microwave plasma is modeled with finite element method using COMSOL multi-physics software, which shows good agreement between simulation and experimental results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Methane (CH4) is globally the second most critical greenhouse gas after carbon dioxide, contributing to 16%–25% of the observed atmospheric warming. Wetlands are the primary natural source of methane emissions globally. However, wetland methane emission estimates from biogeochemistry models contain considerable uncertainty. One of the main sources of this uncertainty arises from the numerous uncertain model parameters within various physical, biological, and chemical processes that influence methane production, oxidation, and transport. Sensitivity Analysis (SA) can help identify critical parameters for methane emission and achieve reduced biases and uncertainties in future projections. This study performs SA for 19 selected parameters responsible for critical biogeochemical processes in the methane module of the Energy Exascale Earth System Model (E3SM) land model (ELM). The impact of these parameters on various CH4 fluxes is examined at 14 FLUXNET‐ CH4 sites with diverse vegetation types. Given the extensive number of model simulations needed for global variance‐based SA, we employ a machine learning (ML) algorithm to emulate the complex behavior of ELM methane biogeochemistry. We found that parameters linked to CH4 production and diffusion generally present the highest sensitivities despite apparent seasonal variation. Comparing simulated emissions from perturbed parameter sets against FLUXNET‐CH4 observations revealed that better performances can be achieved at each site compared to the default parameter values. This presents a scope for further improving simulated emissions using parameter calibration with advanced optimization techniques. Plain Language Summary: Methane is a critical greenhouse gas, and wetlands are the largest natural source of it. Accurately predicting methane emissions from wetlands is key to tackling climate change. But these predictions, made through computer models, are seldom spot‐on. Why? Because there are many factors in the models that lead to uncertain predictions. A major source of this uncertainty arises from the empirical model parameters. Just as tuning a radio dial ensures clear reception, models need properly adjusted parameters for accurate predictions. A sensitivity analysis was performed to determine which parameters are most crucial for accurate predictions. Instead of running the complex numerical model every time, machine learning was employed to create a faster and simpler version. Using this approach, five parameters were pinpointed as particularly sensitive, significantly impacting the predictions. The comparison of model‐predicted methane emissions with real‐world measurements showed that the model performed well in some cases but needed tweaking in others. Refining these sensitive parameters with more real‐world observations could make better predictions in the future. Key Points: Identified five key sensitive parameters for methane emissions using the Sobol sensitivity analysis methodParameters linked to production and diffusion present the highest sensitivities despite apparent seasonal variationFourteen out of nineteen model parameters exert negligible influence on methane emissions [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Methane (CH4) emissions exert large effects on the global climate. Tree stems are vital sources of emissions in ecosystem CH4 budgets. This paper reviewed the number of publications, journals, authors, keywords, research hotspots, and challenges. A total of 990 articles from 2006 to 2022 were collected based on the Web of Science database. The intellectual base was analyzed using CiteSpace 6.3.1 and VOSviewer 1.6.20 softwares. The results illustrated a growing trend in the study of tree stem methane emissions. The United States was the most research-active country; however, the most active institution was the Chinese Academy of Sciences in China. The research on stem methane emission by Vincent Gauci, Katerina Machacova, Zhi-Ping Wang, Kazuhiko Terazawa, Kristofer R. Covey, and Sunitha R. Pangala has had a significant impact. Current research indicates that stem CH4 emissions significantly vary among different tree species and are influenced by leaf type, forest type, tree height, whether the trees are alive or dead, and other environmental conditions (such as soil water content, air temperature, CO2 fluxes, and specific density). Soil CH4 fluxes and production by methanogens in heartwood were the primary sources of tree stem methane. Some pectin or cellulose from trees may also be converted into methane. Moreover, methane can be produced and released during the decomposition of deadwood by basidiomycetes. Furthermore, there are some trends and challenges for the future: (1) distinguishing and quantifying emissions from various sources; (2) accurately assessing the impact of floods on methane emissions is crucial, as the water level is the main factor affecting CH4 emissions; and (3) addressing the limited understanding of the microbial mechanisms of methane production in different tree species and investigating how microbial communities affect the production and emission of methane is vital. These advances will contribute to the accurate assessment of methane emissions from global ecosystems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Over the past 15 years, the paradigm of viewing the upper and lower airways as a unified system has progressively shifted the approach to chronic respiratory diseases (CRDs). As the global prevalence of CRDs continues to increase, it becomes evident that acknowledging the presence of airway pathology as an integrated entity could profoundly impact healthcare resource allocation and guide the implementation of pharmacological and rehabilitation strategies. In the era of precision medicine, endotyping has emerged as another novel approach to CRDs, whereby pathologies are categorized into distinct subtypes based on specific molecular mechanisms. This has contributed to the growing acknowledgment of a group of conditions that, in both the upper and lower airways, share a common type 2 (T2) inflammatory signature. These diverse pathologies, ranging from allergic rhinitis to severe asthma, frequently coexist and share diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers, as well as therapeutic strategies targeting common molecular pathways. Thus, T2 inflammation may serve as a unifying endotypic trait for the upper and lower airways, reinforcing the practical significance of the united airways model. This review aims to summarize the literature on the role of T2 inflammation in major CRDs, emphasizing the value of common biomarkers and integrated treatment strategies targeting shared molecular mechanisms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Pancreatic cancer is challenging to treat due to late diagnosis and limited options. Surgery, the main treatment, often leads to poor long-term outcomes, prompting exploration of alternative approaches like neoadjuvant therapy (NAT) and total neoadjuvant therapy (TNT). While NAT aims to improve surgical success and overall survival, there is room for enhancement, leading to consideration of neoadjuvant strategies combining full-dose chemotherapy and radiotherapy in TNT. TNT, integrating chemotherapy and radiotherapy before surgery, could increase the likelihood of successful surgery and cure for locally advanced cases. This article explores different TNT strategies, categorized based on radiotherapy techniques, offering a thorough analysis of their effectiveness in borderline resectable and locally advanced pancreatic cancer. The central question remains: does more treatment before surgery always yield better results? Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) poses a significant challenge in oncology due to its advanced stage upon diagnosis and limited treatment options. Surgical resection, the primary curative approach, often results in poor long-term survival rates, leading to the exploration of alternative strategies like neoadjuvant therapy (NAT) and total neoadjuvant therapy (TNT). While NAT aims to enhance resectability and overall survival, there appears to be potential for improvement, prompting consideration of alternative neoadjuvant strategies integrating full-dose chemotherapy (CT) and radiotherapy (RT) in TNT approaches. TNT integrates chemotherapy and radiotherapy prior to surgery, potentially improving margin-negative resection rates and enabling curative resection for locally advanced cases. The lingering question: is more always better? This article categorizes TNT strategies into six main groups based on radiotherapy (RT) techniques: (1) conventional chemoradiotherapy (CRT), (2) the Dutch PREOPANC approach, (3) hypofractionated ablative intensity-modulated radiotherapy (HFA-IMRT), and stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) techniques, which further divide into (4) non-ablative SBRT, (5) nearly ablative SBRT, and (6) adaptive ablative SBRT. A comprehensive analysis of the literature on TNT is provided for both borderline resectable pancreatic cancer (BRPC) and locally advanced pancreatic cancer (LAPC), with detailed sections for each. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to understand the distribution of lithium and other elements in the Beauvoir granite, which is a granite enriched in lithium (Li), tin (Sn), niobium (Nb) and tantalum (Ta), and develop a reliable method for lithium quantification. These granite samples underwent various mineral processing techniques to produce a large dataset with different lithium concentrations and different mineral matrices. Thin sections were analysed using optical microscopy and micro X-ray fluorescence imaging to determine the distribution of potassium (K), rubidium (Rb), and cesium (Cs) in different mineral phases. Both energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence (ED-XRF) and laser induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) measurements were conducted using handheld instruments on the same samples. The different resulting spectra were used to develop a predictive model for lithium content according to the whole rock estimates. Principal component analysis (PCA) and biplot analysis were used to identify correlations between elemental composition and lithium content; multiple linear regression was employed to establish a regression model for lithium quantification. Residual analysis and various statistical metrics, including R2, root mean squared error, and mean absolute percentage error, were used to assess the accuracy and performance of the models. In summary, this study highlights that for high lithium grade samples, ED-XRF can be preferred over LIBS as it requires less time for both sample preparation and analysis. However, this lithium assay is indirect, whereas for low lithium grade samples (<0.8 wt% Li2O), LIBS should be preferred to ensure a robust lithium assay method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Resumption of the increase in atmospheric methane (CH 4 ) concentrations since 2007 is of global concern and may partly have resulted from emissions from rice cultivation. Estimates of CH 4 emissions from rice fields and abatement potential are essential to assess the contribution of improved rice management in achieving the targets of the Global Methane Pledge agreed upon by over 100 countries at COP26. However, the contribution of CH 4 emissions from rice fields to the resumed CH 4 growth and the global abatement potential remains unclear. In this study, we estimated the global CH 4 emissions from rice fields to be 27 ± 6 Tg CH 4 year -1 in the recent decade (2008-2017) based on the 2019 Refinement to the 2006 IPCC Guidelines for National Greenhouse Gas Inventories. The trend of CH 4 emissions from rice cultivation showed an increase followed by no significant change and then, a stabilization over 1990-2020. Consequently, the contribution of CH 4 emissions from rice fields to the renewed increase in atmospheric CH 4 concentrations since 2007 was minor. We summarized the existing low-cost measures and showed that improved water and straw management could reduce one-third of global CH 4 emissions from rice fields. Straw returned as biochar could reduce CH 4 emissions by 12 Tg CH 4 year -1 , equivalent to 10% of the total reduction of all anthropogenic emissions. We conclude that other sectors than rice cultivation must have contributed to the renewed increase in atmospheric CH 4 concentrations, and that optimizing multiple mitigation measures in rice fields could contribute significantly to the abatement goal outlined in the Global Methane Pledge., (© 2023 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)