Improvement of the anthropogenic emission rate estimate in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, for 2020-21 winter

Ulaanbaatar (UB), the fast-growing capital of Mongolia, is known for its world's worst level of particulate matter (PM) concentrations in winter. However, current anthropogenic emission inventories over the UB are based on data from more than fifteen years ago, and satellite observations are scarce because UB is in high latitudes. During the winter of 2020-21, the first period of the Fine Particle Research Initiative in East Asia considering the National Differences (FRIEND), several times higher concentrations of PM in UB compared to other urban sites in East Asia were observed but not reproduced with a chemical transport model mainly due to the underestimated anthropogenic emissions. Therefore, we devised a method for sequentially adjusting emissions based on the reactivity of PM precursors using ground observations. We scaled emission rates for the inert species (CO, elemental carbon (EC), and organic carbon (OC)) to reproduce their observed ambient concentrations, followed by SO2 to reproduce the concentration of SO42-, which was examined to have the least uncertainty based on the abundance of observed NH3, and finally NO and NH3 for NO3-, and NH4+. This improved estimation is compared to regional inventories for Asia and suggests more than an order of magnitude increase in anthropogenic emissions in UB. Using the improved emission inventory, we were able to successfully reproduce independent observation data on PM2.5 concentrations in UB in December 2021 from the U.S. Embassy. During the campaign period, we found more than 50% of the SO42-, NO3-, and NH4+ increased in UB due to the improvement could travel to Beijing, China (BJ), and about 20% of the SO42- could travel to Noto, Japan (NT), more than 3000 km away. Also, the anthropogenic emissions in UB can effectively increase OC, NO3-, and NH4+ concentrations in BJ when Gobi dust storms occur.

Early herniorrhaphy of large traumatic abdominal wounds in horses and mules

REASONS FOR PERFORMING STUDY

Surgical treatment of traumatic abdominal hernias is usually delayed for 2-3 months following injury. The residual defects are then repaired by herniorrhaphy or mesh herniorrhaphy.

OBJECTIVE

To describe the outcome following herniorrhaphy (without a mesh) within 21 days of initial injury to repair external traumatic lateral abdominal hernias in horses and mules.

STUDY DESIGN

Descriptive case series.

METHODS

Twenty-two cases were included. Surgical treatment involved exposure of the hernia sac and closing of the abdominal wall defect with interrupted Mayo mattress or cruciate sutures after reduction of the herniated organ into the peritoneal cavity. Data collected included cause and site of the hernia, surgical findings, immediate and long-term post operative complications, return to use, duration of convalescence and hernia recurrence.

RESULTS

Falling while crossing impassable pathways was the most common initial cause of the hernia (9/11 horses and 10/11 mules). Adhesion formation to underlying viscera was found intraoperatively in 2 cases. Uncomplicated healing occurred in all animals except 3 with suture abscesses and one with a subcutaneous seroma. At the time of follow-up (6-24 months after surgery), complete recovery without recurrence of herniation was achieved and animals had returned to their previous use.

CONCLUSION

Herniorrhaphy within 21 days using interrupted Mayo mattress or cruciate pattern sutures can be effective for treating external traumatic abdominal hernias in horses and mules. The Summary is available in Chinese - see Supporting Information.

Cucumber mosaic virus subgroup IA frequently occurs in the northwest Iran

To monitor genetic variation between Cucumber mosaic virus (CMV) isolates of northwest Iran, samples of cucurbitaceous plants expressing symptoms similar to those caused by CMV were collected. The samples were first screened by ELISA to detect CMV and to determine its subgroup. All detected CMV isolates appeared to be subgroup I (S-I). When total RNA from the samples was subjected to RT-PCR with a pair of primers corresponding to the CMV coat protein (CP) flanking regions, the expected ~870 bp DNA fragment was amplified at 18 samples of 34 tested. MspI restriction analysis of 18 amplified products produced two DNA fragments with sizes about 530 and 330 bp corresponding to MspI profile of CMV S-I. The amplification products of four representative samples were cloned and nucleotide sequences of 1-5 clones from each isolate were determined. The clones from each isolate were over 99% identical and also the isolates themselves were only up to 2% divergent. These isolates clustered in subgroup IA clade on a consensus phylogenetic tree and formed a distinct subclade suggesting that the isolates have originated from a common source.