1. Insights into the single-particle composition, size, mixing state, and aspect ratio of freshly emitted mineral dust from field measurements in the Moroccan Sahara using electron microscopyAgnesh Panta, Konrad Kandler, Andrés Alastuey, Cristina González-Flórez, Adolfo Gonzalez-Romero, Martina Klose, Xavier Querol, Cristina Reche, Jesús Yus-Díez, Carlos Pérez García-Pando, 2023, original scientific article Abstract: Abstract. The chemical and morphological properties of mineral dust aerosols emitted by wind erosion from arid and semi-arid regions influence climate, ocean, and land ecosystems; air quality; and multiple socio-economic sectors. However, there is an incomplete understanding of the emitted dust particle size distribution (PSD) in terms of its constituent minerals that typically result from the fragmentation of soil aggregates during wind erosion. The emitted dust PSD affects the duration of particle transport and thus each mineral's global distribution, along with its specific effect upon climate. This lack of understanding is largely due to the scarcity of relevant in situ measurements in dust sources. To advance our understanding of the physicochemical properties of the emitted dust PSD, we present insights into the elemental composition and morphology of individual dust particles collected during the FRontiers in dust minerAloGical coMposition and its Effects upoN climaTe (FRAGMENT) field campaign in the Moroccan Sahara in September 2019. We analyzed more than 300 000 freshly emitted individual particles by performing offline analysis in the laboratory using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) coupled with energy-dispersive X-ray spectrometry (EDX). Eight major particle-type classes were identified with clay minerals making up the majority of the analyzed particles both by number and mass, followed by quartz, whereas carbonates and feldspar contributed to a lesser extent. We provide an exhaustive analysis of the PSD and potential mixing state of different particle types, focusing largely on iron-rich (Fe oxide-hydroxides) and feldspar particles, which are key to the effects of dust upon radiation and clouds, respectively. Nearly pure or externally mixed Fe oxide-hydroxides are present mostly in diameters smaller than 2 µm, with the highest fraction below 1 µm at about 3.75 % abundance by mass. Fe oxide-hydroxides tend to be increasingly internally mixed with other minerals, especially clays, as particle size increases; i.e., the volume fraction of Fe oxide-hydroxides in aggregates decreases with particle size. Pure (externally mixed) feldspar represented 3.2 % of all the particles by mass, of which we estimated about a 10th to be K-feldspar. The externally mixed total feldspar and K-feldspar abundances are relatively invariant with particle size, in contrast to the increasing abundance of feldspar-like (internally mixed) aggregates with particle size with mass fractions ranging from 5 % to 18 %. We also found that overall the median aspect ratio is rather constant across particle size and mineral groups, although we obtain slightly higher aspect ratios for internally mixed particles. The detailed information on the composition of freshly emitted individual dust particles and quantitative analysis of their mixing state presented here can be used to constrain climate models including mineral species in their representation of the dust cycle. Keywords: mineral dust, Moroccan Sahara, electron microscopy Published in RUNG: 13.05.2024; Views: 129; Downloads: 3 Full text (7,13 MB) This document has many files! More... |
2. Exhaled volatile organic compounds and respiratory disease : recent progress and future outlookMaria Chiara Magnano, Waqar Ahmed, Ran Wang, Martina Bergant Marušič, Stephen J. Fowler, Iain R. White, 2024, review article Abstract: The theoretical basis of eVOCs as biomarkers for respiratory disease diagnosis is described, followed by a review of the potential biomarkers that have been proposed as targets from in vitro studies. The utility of these targets is then discussed based on comparison with results from clinical breath studies. The current status of breath research is summarised for various diseases, with emphasis placed on quantitative and targeted studies. Potential for bias highlights several important concepts related to standardization, including practices adopted for compound identification, correction for background inspired VOC levels and computation of mixing ratios. The compiled results underline the need for targeted studies across different analytical platforms to understand how sampling and analytical factors impact eVOC quantification. The impact of environmental VOCs as confounders in breath analysis is discussed alongside the potential that eVOCs have as biomarkers of air pollution exposure and future perspectives on clinical breath sampling are provided. Keywords: breath analysis, disease diagnosis, exhaled volatile organic compounds, respiratory disease, environmental exposure analysis, breath analysis Published in RUNG: 06.05.2024; Views: 173; Downloads: 3 Full text (1,36 MB) This document has many files! More... |
3. Variability in sediment particle size, mineralogy, and Fe mode of occurrence across dust-source inland drainage basins : the case of the lower Drâa Valley, MoroccoAdolfo Gonzalez-Romero, Cristina González-Flórez, Agnesh Panta, Jesús Yus-Díez, Cristina Reche, Patricia Córdoba, Natalia Moreno, Andrés Alastuey, Konrad Kandler, Martina Klose, 2023, original scientific article Abstract: The effects of desert dust upon climate and ecosystems depend strongly on its particle size and size-resolved mineralogical composition. However, there is very limited quantitative knowledge on the particle size and composition of the parent sediments along with their variability within dust-source regions, particularly in dust emission hotspots. The lower Drâa Valley, an inland drainage basin and dust hotspot region located in the Moroccan Sahara, was chosen for a comprehensive analysis of sediment particle size and mineralogy. Different sediment type samples (n= 42) were collected, including paleo-sediments, paved surfaces, crusts, and dunes, and analysed for particle-size distribution (minimally and fully dispersed samples) and mineralogy. Furthermore, Fe sequential wet extraction was carried out to characterise the modes of occurrence of Fe, including Fe in Fe (oxyhydr)oxides, mainly from goethite and hematite, which are key to dust radiative effects; the poorly crystalline pool of Fe (readily exchangeable ionic Fe and Fe in nano-Fe oxides), relevant to dust impacts upon ocean biogeochemistry; and structural Fe. Results yield a conceptual model where both particle size and mineralogy are segregated by transport and deposition of sediments during runoff of water across the basin and by the precipitation of salts, which causes a sedimentary fractionation. The proportion of coarser particles enriched in quartz is higher in the highlands, while that of finer particles rich in clay, carbonates, and Fe oxides is higher in the lowland dust emission hotspots. There, when water ponds and evaporates, secondary carbonates and salts precipitate, and the clays are enriched in readily exchangeable ionic Fe, due to sorption of dissolved Fe by illite. The results differ from currently available mineralogical atlases and highlight the need for observationally constrained global high-resolution mineralogical data for mineral-speciated dust modelling. The dataset obtained represents an important resource for future evaluation of surface mineralogy retrievals from spaceborne spectroscopy. Keywords: mineral dust, aerosols, geology Published in RUNG: 12.01.2024; Views: 674; Downloads: 3 Full text (7,63 MB) This document has many files! More... |
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5. Insights into the size-resolved dust emission from field measurements in the Moroccan SaharaCristina González-Flórez, Martina Klose, Andrés Alastuey, Sylvain Dupont, Jerónimo Escribano, Vicken Etyemezian, Adolfo Gonzalez-Romero, Yue Huang, Konrad Kandler, Jesús Yus-Díez, 2023, original scientific article Abstract: Atmospheric mineral dust consists of tiny mineral particles that are emitted by wind erosion from arid regions. Its particle size distribution (PSD) affects its impact on the Earth's system. Nowadays, there is an incomplete understanding of the emitted dust PSD and a lot of debate about its variability. Here, we try to address these issues based on the measurements performed during a wind erosion and dust emission field campaign in the Moroccan Sahara within the framework of FRAGMENT project. Keywords: aerosol particles, mineral dust, emission processes, climate Published in RUNG: 23.10.2023; Views: 950; Downloads: 5 Full text (23,38 MB) This document has many files! More... |
6. Silica-coated ▫$Bi2_Se_3$▫ topological insulator nanoparticles: preserving their optical properties and make them biocompatible : preserving their optical properties and make them biocompatibleBlaž Belec, Nina Kostevšek, Giulia Della Pelle, Sebastjan Nemec, Slavko Kralj, Martina Bergant Marušič, Sandra Gardonio, Mattia Fanetti, Matjaž Valant, 2023, published scientific conference contribution abstract Keywords: topological insulator, bismuth selenide, photo-thermal material, biocompatibility, nanoparticles Published in RUNG: 19.10.2023; Views: 861; Downloads: 3 Link to file This document has many files! More... |
7. Contribution of APOBEC proteins 3A and 3B to the oncogenicity of HPV virusesNika Marija Lovšin, Fabio Lapenta, Urša Pečar Fonović, Katerina Jazbec, Elvira Maličev, Martina Bergant Marušič, 2023, published scientific conference contribution abstract Keywords: APOBEC, HPV, oncogenicity, gene expression Published in RUNG: 10.10.2023; Views: 783; Downloads: 9 Full text (7,73 MB) |
8. Science with the Global Cosmic-ray Observatory (GCOS)Rafael Alves Batista, M. Ahlers, Pedro Assis, Markus Gottfried Battisti, J. A. Bellido, S. Bhatnagar, K. Bismark, Teresa Bister, Martina Boháčová, Serguei Vorobiov, 2023, published scientific conference contribution Abstract: The Global Cosmic-ray Observatory (GCOS) is a proposed large-scale observatory for studying
ultra-high-energy cosmic particles, including ultra-high-energy cosmic rays (UHECRs), photons,
and neutrinos. Its primary goal is to characterise the properties of the highest-energy particles in
Nature with unprecedented accuracy, and to identify their elusive sources. With an aperture at least a ten-fold larger than existing observatories, this next-generation facility should start operating after 2030, when present-day detectors will gradually cease their activities. Here we briefly review the scientific case motivating GCOS. We present the status of the project, preliminary ideas for its design, and some estimates of its capabilities. Keywords: ultra-high-energy cosmic rays, UHE photons, UHE neutrinos, the Global Cosmic-ray Observatory project Published in RUNG: 27.09.2023; Views: 1063; Downloads: 5 Full text (692,24 KB) This document has many files! More... |
9. In vitro tumor hypoxia imaging with fluorescent covalent organic frameworksTina Skorjanc, Dinesh Shetty, Damjan Makuc, Gregor Mali, Martina Bergant Marušič, Matjaž Valant, 2023, published scientific conference contribution abstract Abstract: Hypoxia refers to a condition where cells and tissues experience low, inadequate levels of O2. While healthy tissues are typically supplied with sufficient O2 (normoxia), cancerous tissues commonly face hypoxia due to the tumor’s extraordinarily high demand for oxygen. Various fluorescent small-molecule probes have been designed for selective detection of hypoxia in living cells, but few nanomaterials have been investigated for this type of bioimaging. Herein, we prepare a fluorescent covalent organic framework (COF) with β-ketoenamine linkages and post-synthetically modify it to conjugate hypoxia-sensitive nitroimidazole moieties
into its pores (NI-COF). Stacks of sheets in NI-COF observed under electron microscopy were exfoliated by ultrasonication, and dynamic light scattering measurements confirmed particle size of less than 200 nm. Thus-prepared material exhibited good stability in physiological conditions and low cytotoxicity in in vitro experiments. NI-COF also showed useful fluorescence properties with an emission peak at 490 nm (λex = 420 nm) at both neutral and mildly acidic pH levels that are characteristic of tumor tissues. Encouraged by the favorable properties of the material, we incubated HeLa cells pre-treated in either hypoxic or normoxic conditions with NI-COF. Fluorescence microscopy images demonstrated that the material was preferentially taken up by hypoxic cells, which showed higher fluorescence signal in their interior than cells cultured under normoxia conditions. It is anticipated that this study will stimulate further developments of COFs for imaging various biological conditions. Keywords: hypoxia, fluorescence, covalent organic frameworks, imaging, tumor cells Published in RUNG: 19.09.2023; Views: 882; Downloads: 3 Link to file This document has many files! More... |
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