Low CO2 Levels Research Articles

African Hydroclimate During the Early Eocene From the DeepMIP Simulations.

The early Eocene (∼56–48 Myr ago) is characterized by high CO2 estimates (1,200–2,500 ppmv) and elevated global temperatures (∼10°C–16°C higher than modern). However, the response of the hydrological cycle during the early Eocene is poorly constrained, especially in regions with sparse data coverage (e.g., Africa). Here, we present a study of African hydroclimate during the early Eocene, as simulated by an ensemble of state‐of‐the‐art climate models in the Deep‐time Model Intercomparison Project (DeepMIP). A comparison between the DeepMIP pre‐industrial simulations and modern observations suggests that model biases are model‐ and geographically dependent, however, these biases are reduced in the model ensemble mean. A comparison between the Eocene simulations and the pre‐industrial suggests that there is no obvious wetting or drying trend as the CO2 increases. The results suggest that changes to the land sea mask (relative to modern) in the models may be responsible for the simulated increases in precipitation to the north of Eocene Africa. There is an increase in precipitation over equatorial and West Africa and associated drying over northern Africa as CO2 rises. There are also important dynamical changes, with evidence that anticyclonic low‐level circulation is replaced by increased south‐westerly flow at high CO2 levels. Lastly, a model‐data comparison using newly compiled quantitative climate estimates from paleobotanical proxy data suggests a marginally better fit with the reconstructions at lower levels of CO2.

Modelling the pyrenoid-based CO2-concentrating mechanism provides insights into its operating principles and a roadmap for its engineering into crops

Many eukaryotic photosynthetic organisms enhance their carbon uptake by supplying concentrated CO2 to the CO2-fixing enzyme Rubisco in an organelle called the pyrenoid. Ongoing efforts seek to engineer this pyrenoid-based CO2-concentrating mechanism (PCCM) into crops to increase yields. Here we develop a computational model for a PCCM on the basis of the postulated mechanism in the green alga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii. Our model recapitulates all Chlamydomonas PCCM-deficient mutant phenotypes and yields general biophysical principles underlying the PCCM. We show that an effective and energetically efficient PCCM requires a physical barrier to reduce pyrenoid CO2 leakage, as well as proper enzyme localization to reduce futile cycling between CO2 and HCO3−. Importantly, our model demonstrates the feasibility of a purely passive CO2 uptake strategy at air-level CO2, while active HCO3− uptake proves advantageous at lower CO2 levels. We propose a four-step engineering path to increase the rate of CO2 fixation in the plant chloroplast up to threefold at a theoretical cost of only 1.3 ATP per CO2 fixed, thereby offering a framework to guide the engineering of a PCCM into land plants.

Asymmetric Warming/Cooling Response to CO2 Increase/Decrease Mainly Due To Non‐Logarithmic Forcing, Not Feedbacks

AbstractWe explore the CO2 dependence of effective climate sensitivity (SG) with symmetric abrupt and transient CO2 forcing, spanning the range 1/8×, 1/4×, 1/2×, 2×, 4×, and 8×CO2, using two state‐of‐the‐art fully coupled atmosphere‐ocean‐sea‐ice‐land models. In both models, under abrupt CO2 forcing, we find an asymmetric response in surface temperature and SG. The surface global warming at 8×CO2 is more than one third larger than the corresponding cooling at 1/8×CO2, and SG is CO2 dependent, increasing non‐monotonically from 1/8×CO2 to 8×CO2. We find similar CO2 dependence in the transient runs, forced with −1%yr−1CO2 and +1%yr−1CO2 up to 1/8×CO2 and 8×CO2, respectively. The non‐logarithmic radiative forcing—not the changing feedbacks—primarily explains the dependence of SG on CO2, particularly at low CO2 levels. The changing feedbacks, however, explain SG's non‐monotonic behavior.

Computational Study of Thermal Comfort and Reduction of CO2 Levels inside a Classroom.

Due to the current COVID-19 pandemic, guaranteeing thermal comfort and low CO2 levels in classrooms through efficient ventilation has become vitally important. This study presents three-dimensional simulations based on computational fluid dynamics of airflow inside an air-conditioned classroom located in Veracruz, Mexico. The analysis included various positions of an air extractor, Reynolds numbers up to 3.5 × 104, four different concentrations of pollutant sources, and three different times of the day. The simulations produced velocity, air temperature, and CO2 concentrations fields, and we calculated average air temperatures, average CO2 concentrations, and overall ventilation effectiveness. Our results revealed an optimal extractor position and Reynolds number conducive to thermal comfort and low CO2 levels due to an adequate ventilation configuration. At high pollutant concentrations, it is necessary to reduce the number of students in the classroom to achieve safe CO2 levels.

Air quality in underground metro station commuter platforms in Singapore: A cross-sectional analysis of factors influencing commuter exposure levels

The metro is a major component of public transport systems in urbanized cities and may expose commuters to indoor air pollutants. We examined how commuter exposure to indoor air pollutant levels varied with the characteristics of underground metro stations. We carried out a national study of 41 commuter platforms from 39 randomly selected underground stations in Singapore. We used generalized linear models to assess the variability of air pollutant concentrations with station characteristics. We computed commuter-weighted pollutant-specific station rankings to inform mitigation priority. PM2.5 (mean = 24.1 μg/m3) and PM10 (mean = 26.9 μg/m3) concentrations across commuter platforms were generally lower than those found outdoors while platform CO2 levels (mean = 608.1 ppm) were 1.7 times those outdoors. More stations exceeded the WHO 24-h mean exposure guidelines values for PM2.5 (n = 30, 73%) than for PM10 (n = 4, 10%). PM2.5, PM10 and CO2 levels were lowest in stations on the Circle, North-East and Downtown lines. PM2.5 and PM10 concentrations at platforms were positively associated with their outdoor concentrations. Mean CO2 concentration levels at platforms were the highest during commuter rush hours. Longer train arrival intervals were associated with lower CO2 levels. PM2.5 and PM10 levels in stations were negatively associated with the depth of the commuter platforms. Commuter volumes influenced the priority ranking of mitigation measures. Underground metro stations exhibited high variability and dependence on station characteristics as well as outdoor ambient pollutant levels. Our study findings suggest that any required improvements in ventilation and station design should be focused on PM2.5 exposure reduction and prioritized according to both indoor air pollutant levels and commuter volumes to provide the largest extent of commuter benefits.

PAPILA dataset: a regional emission inventory of reactive gases for South America based on the combination of local and global information

Abstract. The multidisciplinary project Prediction of Air Pollution in Latin America and the Caribbean (PAPILA) is dedicated to the development and implementation of an air quality analysis and forecasting system to assess pollution impacts on human health and economy. In this context, a comprehensive emission inventory for South America was developed on the basis of the existing data on the global dataset CAMS-GLOB-ANT v4.1 (developed by joining CEDS trends and EDGAR v4.3.2 historical data), enriching it with data derived from locally available emission inventories for Argentina, Chile, and Colombia. This work presents the results of the first joint effort of South American researchers and European colleagues to generate regional maps of emissions, together with a methodological approach to continue incorporating information into future versions of the dataset. This version of the PAPILA dataset includes CO, NOx, NMVOCs, NH3, and SO2 annual emissions from anthropogenic sources for the period 2014–2016, with a spatial resolution of 0.1∘ × 0.1∘ over a domain that covers 32–120∘ W and 34∘ N–58∘ S. The PAPILA dataset is presented as netCDF4 files and is available in an open-access data repository under a CC-BY 4 license: https://doi.org/10.17632/btf2mz4fhf.3 (Castesana et al., 2021). A comparative assessment of PAPILA–CAMS datasets was carried out for (i) the South American region, (ii) the countries with local data (Argentina, Colombia, and Chile), and (iii) downscaled emission maps for urban domains with different environmental and anthropogenic factors. Relevant differences were found at both country and urban levels for all the compounds analyzed. Among them, we found that when comparing PAPILA total emissions versus CAMS datasets at the national level, higher levels of NOx and considerably lower levels of the other species were obtained for Argentina, higher levels of SO2 and lower levels of CO and NOx for Colombia, and considerably higher levels of CO, NMVOCs, and SO2 for Chile. These discrepancies are mainly related to the representativeness of local practices in the local emission estimates, to the improvements made in the spatial distribution of the locally estimated emissions, or to both. Both datasets were evaluated against surface concentrations of CO and NOx by using them as input data to the WRF-Chem model for one of the analyzed domains, the metropolitan area of Buenos Aires, for summer and winter of 2015. PAPILA-based modeling results had a smaller bias for CO and NOx concentrations in winter while CAMS-based results for the same period tended to deliver an underestimation of these concentrations. Both inventories exhibited similar performances for CO in summer, while the PAPILA simulation outperformed CAMS for NOx concentrations. These results highlight the importance of refining global inventories with local data to obtain accurate results with high-resolution air quality models.

Efficacy of high flow nasal oxygenation against hypoxemia in sedated patients receiving gastrointestinal endoscopic procedures: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Study objectiveTo evaluate the impact of high flow nasal oxygenation (HFNO) on the risk of hypoxemia during gastrointestinal endoscopic procedures (GEPs) under sedation. DesignMeta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. SettingGastrointestinal endoscopy. InterventionHFNO. PatientsAdults patients undergoing GEPs under sedation. MeasurementsThe primary outcome was risk of hypoxemia, while the secondary outcomes included risks of severe hypoxemia, hypercapnia, need for jaw thrust or other airway interventions, and procedural interruption as well as procedure time, minimum SpO2, and level of carbon dioxide (CO2). Analyses based on age, gender, flow rate, risk status of patients were performed to investigate subgroup effects. ResultsMedline, Google scholar, Cochrane Library, and EMBASE databases were searched from inception to July 2021. Seven randomized controlled trials (RCTs) involving 2998 patients published from 2019 to 2021 were included. All GEPs were performed under propofol sedation. Pooled results revealed significantly lower risks of hypoxemia [relative risk (RR) = 0.31, 95% CI:0.13–0.75; 2998 patients], severe hypoxemia (RR = 0.38, 95% CI:0.2–0.74; 2766 patients), other airway interventions (RR = 0.34, 95% CI:0.22–0.52; 2736 patients), procedural interruption (RR = 0.12, 95% CI:0.02–0.64, 451 patients) and a lower CO2 level [standard mean difference (MD) = −0.21, 95% CI: −0.4 to −0.03; 458 patients] in HFNO group compared to control group. Subgroup analysis focusing on risk of hypoxemia showed no significant subgroup effects, indicating consistent benefits of HFNO in different clinical settings. There were no difference in minimum SpO2 (p = 0.06; 262 patients), risk of hypercapnia (p = 0.09; 393 patients), need for jaw thrust (p = 0.28; 2256 patients), and procedure time (p = 0.41, 1004 patients) between the two groups. ConclusionOur results demonstrated the efficacy of high flow nasal oxygenation for reducing the risk of hypoxemia in patients receiving elective gastrointestinal endoscopic procedures under sedation. Further studies are warranted to verify its cost-effectiveness in the gastrointestinal endoscopy setting.

Low CO2 Levels Are Detrimental for In Vitro Plantlets through Disturbance of Photosynthetic Functionality and Accumulation of Reactive Oxygen Species

Photosynthesis of plantlets in tissue culture containers is not considered important, compared to photosynthesis of ex vitro plants, due to the exogenous source of carbohydrates present in tissue culture media. However, CO2 starvation can generate a burst of reactive oxygen species (ROS). We examined this phenomenon in tissue culture, since CO2 levels may become very low during the light period. The research was carried out with lily scales, regenerating adventitious bulblets, and with Arabidopsis seedlings. CO2 starvation was achieved by placing a small vial of concentrated KOH solution in the culture container. CO2 removal reduced the growth of regenerated lily bulblets by 33% or 23%, with or without sucrose in the medium, respectively. In Arabidopsis seedlings, CO2 removal decreased growth by 50% or 78% in the presence or absence of sucrose in the medium, respectively. Therefore, the addition of sucrose as a replacement for photosynthesis resulted in only partial recovery of growth. Staining with nitroblue tetrazolium (NBT) showed little to no ROS in ex vitro growing seedlings, while abundant ROS were detected in seedlings grown under in vitro CO2 starvation. Seedlings grown under normal tissue culture conditions (no CO2 withdrawal) showed low levels of ROS. In lily tissue culture, CO2 starvation decreased the maximum quantum efficiency of photosystem II (Fv/Fm) from 0.69 to 0.60, and in Arabidopsis from 0.76 to 0.62. Fv/Fm of ex vitro lily and Arabidopsis seedlings was 0.77 and 0.79, respectively. This is indicative of a disturbance in photosynthesis functionality and the occurrence of in vitro stress under reduced CO2 concentrations. We conclude that poor growth, in the absence of CO2, was partly due to strongly reduced photosynthesis, while the detrimental effects were most likely due to a burst of ROS.

Integrated Approach to Evaluating the Effect of Indoor CO2 Concentration on Human Cognitive Performance and Neural Responses in Office Environment

According to a guideline published by the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE), people spend 80%–90% of their lives indoors; therefore, managing indoor environmental quality is becoming increasingly significant. In particular, a very high level of indoor CO2 concentration can seriously impair people’s comfort, health, and productivity. The ASHRAE recommends maintaining indoor CO2 concentration below 1,000 ppm. This study proposes a novel integrated approach to evaluating the effect of indoor CO2 concentration on human cognitive performance and neural responses in office environments from multiple perspectives. An integrated performance score (IPS) w developed to investigate objectively and comprehensively how indoor CO2 concentration affects the level of cognitive performance compared with the neural responses of the subjects, in which the brain regions were considered along with the brain-wave frequency bands. Thirty participants were asked to engage in nine (three×three) experiments, i.e., three cognitive tasks (i.e., working memory, mental workload, and visual concentration) under three CO2 concentration levels (i.e., a low CO2 level of 500 ppm; a moderate CO2 level of 1,000 ppm; and a high CO2 level of 2,500 ppm). During the experiments, electroencephalography (EEG) signals were recorded. Compared with the individual approach, the integrated approach can explain more clearly that an increase in indoor CO2 concentration had a detrimental effect upon working memory, mental workload, and visual concentration. The study breaks new ground in applying a biometric research strategy in the domain of management in engineering, using EEG-based integrated performance assessment. This study can contribute to properly designing the space size and the number of occupants during space programming. In addition, it can be used for optimally designing and operating ventilation systems at proper size and with proper strategy. Consequently, it is expected that the negative effect of indoor CO2 concentration on occupants can be minimized.

Effects of Adding CO2 to Low Level H2S Containing Aqueous Environments on the Corrosion and Hydrogen Penetration Behaviors of High-Strength Steel

The effects of adding CO2 to low level H2S containing aqueous environment on the corrosion and hydrogen penetration behaviors of high-strength steel were evaluated using a range of experimental and analytical methods. The corrosion rate of the steel sample exposed to a low level of H2S dissolved in an aqueous solution was comparatively higher than the one exposed to a mixture of low concentrations of H2S with CO2 dissolved in the aqueous solution. The higher corrosion resistance of the steel in the mixture of low concentrations of H2S and CO2 was attributed primarily to the three-layer structure of corrosion scale, comprised of an outer Fe-oxide, middle FeS1-X, and inner FeCO3, which formed on the steel sample. In particular, the formation of a thin FeCO3 layer with protective and non-conductive nature may serve as an effective barrier against the penetration of aggressive ionic species in solution, as well as hydrogen atoms formed by cathodic reduction or hydrolysis reactions. Consequently, the hydrogen permeation level, which was measured in a mixture of low-level H2S and CO2, was controlled to a comparatively lower value. Nevertheless, the higher level of hydrogen permeation in a mixture of low levels of H2S and CO2 at the early corrosion stage might increase the potential risk of pre-mature failure by hydrogen-assisted cracking.

Mitochondrial carbonic anhydrases are needed for optimal photosynthesis at low CO2 levels in Chlamydomonas.

Chlamydomonas reinhardtii can grow photosynthetically using CO2 or in the dark using acetate as the carbon source. In the light in air, the CO2 concentrating mechanism (CCM) of C. reinhardtii accumulates CO2, enhancing photosynthesis. A combination of carbonic anhydrases (CAs) and bicarbonate transporters in the CCM of C. reinhardtii increases the CO2 concentration at Ribulose 1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase oxygenase (Rubisco) in the chloroplast pyrenoid. Previously, CAs important to the CCM have been found in the periplasmic space, surrounding the pyrenoid and inside the thylakoid lumen. Two almost identical mitochondrial CAs, CAH4 and CAH5, are also highly expressed when the CCM is made, but their role in the CCM is not understood. Here, we adopted an RNAi approach to reduce the expression of CAH4 and CAH5 to study their possible physiological functions. RNAi mutants with low expression of CAH4 and CAH5 had impaired rates of photosynthesis under ambient levels of CO2 (0.04% CO2 [v/v] in air). These strains were not able to grow at very low CO2 (<0.02% CO2 [v/v] in air), and their ability to accumulate inorganic carbon (Ci = CO2 + HCO3-) was reduced. At low CO2 concentrations, the CCM is needed to both deliver Ci to Rubisco and to minimize the leak of CO2 generated by respiration and photorespiration. We hypothesize that CAH4 and CAH5 in the mitochondria convert the CO2 released from respiration and photorespiration as well as the CO2 leaked from the chloroplast to HCO3- thus "recapturing" this potentially lost CO2.

Experimental and Analytical Investigation of a Counter-flow Reactor at Lean Conditions

ABSTRACT Heat recirculating reactors have many potential applications as thermal oxidizers, combustors, and fuel reformers due to their extensive operating range. Low emissions and fuel flexibility make such devices highly desirable as heat sources as well as chemical reactors. The dependence on the solid/gas heat transfer implies that wall characteristics and operating conditions significantly influence the stable range. In this paper, the importance of various combustor parameters is examined through an analytical model, and an experimental reactor is fabricated from a new ceramic-metal composite using additive manufacturing. A full range of possible operation modes, from flashback to blow-off, was observed together with characteristic temperature distributions at various firing rates. The new combustor showed improved operational flexibility as compared to a traditionally assembled counterpart. Low CO and NOx emission levels were observed together with an audible sound in the range between 825 Hz and 1000 Hz. The combustor operated for over 70 hours without visible damage to the material. The overall thermal performance, low emissions, and high power density make the heat recirculating reactor a viable solution for combustion applications.

Global proteomic response of unicellular cyanobacterium Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803 to fluctuating light upon CO2 step-down.

Photosynthetic cyanobacteria are exposed to rapid changes in light intensity in their natural habitats, as well as in photobioreactors. To understand the effects of such fluctuations on Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803, the global proteome of cells grown under a fluctuating light condition (low background light interrupted with high light pulses) was compared to the proteome of cells grown under constant light with concomitant acclimation of cells to low CO2 level. The untargeted global proteome of Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803 was analyzed by data-dependent acquisition (DDA), which relies on the high mass accuracy and sensitivity of orbitrap-based tandem mass spectrometry. In addition, a targeted selected reaction monitoring (SRM) approach was applied to monitor the proteomic changes in a strain lacking flavodiiron proteins Flv1 and Flv3. This strain is characterized by impaired growth and photosynthetic activity under fluctuating light. An obvious reprogramming of cell metabolism was observed in this study and was compared to a previous transcriptional analysis performed under the same fluctuating light regime. Cyanobacterial responses to fluctuating light correlated at mRNA and protein levels to some extent, but discrepancies indicate that several proteins are post-transcriptionally regulated (affecting observed protein abundances). The data suggest that Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803 maintain higher nitrogen assimilation, serving as an electron valve, for long-term acclimation to fluctuating light upon CO2 step-down. Although Flv1 and Flv3 are known to be crucial for the cells at the onset of illumination, the flavodiiron proteins, as well as components of carbon assimilation pathways, were less abundant under fluctuating light.

Quantifying variability, source, and transport of CO in the urban areas over the Himalayas and Tibetan Plateau

Abstract. Atmospheric pollutants over the Himalayas and Tibetan Plateau (HTP) have potential implications for accelerating the melting of glaciers, damaging air quality, water sources and grasslands, and threatening climate on regional and global scales. Improved knowledge of the variabilities, sources, drivers and transport pathways of atmospheric pollutants over the HTP is significant for regulatory and control purposes. In this study, we quantify the variability, source, and transport of CO in the urban areas over the HTP by using in situ measurement, GEOS-Chem model tagged CO simulation, and the analysis of meteorological fields. Diurnal, seasonal, and interannual variabilities of CO over the HTP are investigated with ∼ 6 years (January 2015 to July 2020) of surface CO measurements in eight cities over the HTP. Annual mean of surface CO volume mixing ratio (VMR) over the HTP varied over 318.3 ± 71.6 to 901.6 ± 472.2 ppbv, and a large seasonal cycle was observed with high levels of CO in the late autumn to spring and low levels of CO in summer to early autumn. The diurnal cycle is characterized by a bimodal pattern with two maximums in later morning and midnight, respectively. Surface CO VMR from 2015 to 2020 in most cities over the HTP showed negative trends. The IASI satellite observations are for the first time used to assess the performance of the GEOS-Chem model for the specifics of the HTP. The GEOS-Chem simulations tend to underestimate the IASI observations but can capture the measured seasonal cycle of CO total column over the HTP. Distinct dependencies of CO on a short lifetime species of NO2 in almost all cities over the HTP were observed, implying local emissions to be predominant. By turning off the emission inventories within the HTP in GEOS-Chem tagged CO simulation, the relative contribution of long-range transport was evaluated. The results showed that transport ratios of primary anthropogenic source, primary biomass burning (BB) source, and secondary oxidation source to the surface CO VMR over the HTP varied over 35 % to 61 %, 5 % to 21 %, and 30 % to 56 %, respectively. The anthropogenic contribution is dominated by the South Asia and East Asia (SEAS) region throughout the year (58 % to 91 %). The BB contribution is dominated by the SEAS region in spring (25 % to 80 %) and the Africa (AF) region in July–February (30 %–70 %). This study concluded that the main source of CO in urban areas over the HTP is due to local and SEAS anthropogenic and BB emissions and oxidation sources, which differ from the black carbon that is mainly attributed to the BB source from South-East Asia. The decreasing trends in surface CO VMR since 2015 in most cities over the HTP are attributed to the reduction in local and transported CO emissions in recent years.

Initiation of efficient C4 pathway in response to low ambient CO2 during the bloom period of a marine dinoflagellate.

Dinoflagellates are important primary producers and major causative agents of harmful algal blooms in the global ocean. Despite the great ecological significance, the photosynthetic carbon acquisition by dinoflagellates is still poorly understood. The pathways of photosynthetic carbon assimilation in a marine dinoflagellate Prorocentrum donghaiense under both in situ and laboratory-simulated bloom conditions were investigated using a combination of metaproteomics, qPCR, stable carbon isotope and targeted metabolomics approaches. A rapid consumption of dissolved CO2 to generate high biomass was observed as the bloom proceeded. The carbon assimilation genes and proteins including intracellular carbonic anhydrase 2, phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase, phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase and RubisCO as well as their enzyme activities were all highly expressed at the low CO2 level, indicating that C4 photosynthetic pathway functioned in the blooming P. donghaiense cells. Furthermore, δ13 C values and content of C4 compound (malate) significantly increased with the decreasing CO2 concentration. The transition from C3 to C4 pathway minimizes the internal CO2 leakage and guarantees efficient carbon fixation at the low CO2 level. This study demonstrates the existence of C4 photosynthetic pathway in a marine dinoflagellate and reveals its important complementary role to assist carbon assimilation for cell proliferation during the bloom period.

Characterization of the Skeletal Muscle Microvascular Blood Flow Response to Tissue CO 2 Perturbations using a Gas Exchange Chamber

Objective To characterize the skeletal muscle microvascular blood flow response to changing tissue carbon dioxide (CO2) concentrations directly imposed using a microfluidic gas exchange chamber. Methods Eight male Sprague-Dawley rats (145-187g) were anaesthetized using sodium pentobarbital via an intraperitoneal injection. Cannulas were introduced into the left common carotid artery and right jugular vein for blood pressure and heart rate monitoring, administration of maintenance anaesthetic, and fluid resuscitation. The animal was then tracheotomized and mechanically ventilated. The extensor digitorum longus muscle of the right hindlimb was isolated, externalized, and reflected over a microfluidic gas exchange chamber set into the stage of an inverted Olympus IX73 microscope for in vivo visualization of blood flow. The muscle was allowed to equilibrate for 30 minutes before blood sampling and exposure to various gas levels. Using computer-controlled mass flow meters, the muscle was equilibrated with incremental levels of CO2 (0-10%) while maintaining a constant O2 state. One-minute intravital video microscopy sequences of the microcirculation were recorded at a range of CO2 levels (0-10%) while maintaining a constant O2 level. Analysis of hemodynamic variables, red blood cell (RBC) velocity, RBC supply rate (SR), RBC oxygen saturation (SO2), and hematocrit, was conducted offline using custom MATLAB software. Results Both the mean RBC velocity and SR increased incrementally as the CO2 increased. The graded increase of both parameters was significant between the low CO2 levels (0-2%) and moderate-high levels (4-10%); however, there was no significant difference between a physiologically relevant CO2 (5%) and elevated CO2 levels (6-10%) (See Figures 1A & 1B). The graded increase in CO2 had no significant impact on capillary SO2 or hematocrit (See Figures 1C & 1D). Conclusion The preliminary findings of the present study demonstrate the local CO2-sensitivity of the skeletal muscle microvascular system using a novel experimental technique. An expected graded increase in RBC velocity and SR were observed as CO2 increased; however, the lack of significant change following exposure to elevated CO2 suggests a higher relative sensitivity of the microvascular system to changes at low tissue CO2 concentrations. The observed invariance of SO2 at varying CO2 gas concentrations also suggests that local CO2-mediated blood flow regulation is not a result of RBC O2 saturation dependent ATP release. Direct effects of CO2 and the resulting change in pH are known to modulate microvascular blood flow, though the underlying mechanisms of CO2-mediated regulation remain to be defined.

Tibetans at intermediate altitude exhibit lower hemoglobin concentration and distinct responses to poikilocapnic hypoxia relative to Han Chinese residents

People with high-altitude ancestry exhibit distinct cellular, respiratory, and cardiovascular adaptive phenotypes relative to individuals with lowland ancestry. For example, Tibetans at high altitude exhibit higher ventilatory responses to hypoxia relative to Han Chinese at comparable altitude. We hypothesize Tibetans living at intermediate altitude maintain responses similar to those at high altitude. We measured levels of total hemoglobin ([Hb]), carboxyhemoglobin saturation (SpCO), and methemoglobin (MetHb), as well as the hypoxic and heart rate responses to acute hypoxia (HVR and HHR, respectively) under isocapnic and poikilocapnic conditions, in 21 individuals of Tibetan (n = 21) and Han Chinese (n = 16) ancestry residing at ~1300 m (~4327 ft) in Salt Lake City, Utah. To study ventilatory and heart rate responses to changes of CO2 during hypoxia (ΔVI /ΔEtCO2 and ΔHR/ΔEtCO2 respectively), we measured the difference in ventilation and heart rate between isocapnic (constant End-tidal CO2) and poikilocapnic (with decreased End-tidal CO2 due to hyperventilation) hypoxic conditions. Tibetans had lower [Hb] (p < 0.002), higher SpCO (p < 0.004), and higher MetHb (p < 0.02) levels compared to Han Chinese. [Hb] is negatively correlated with HHR in the Han Chinese (p < 0.05), but this was not observed in Tibetans. We did not find significant differences in HVR between Tibetans and Han Chinese, in contrast to previous reports at high altitude; however, we found that Tibetans exhibited a blunted HHR during poikilocapnic hypoxia (p < 0.03) relative to Han Chinese. We did not find differences in the ΔVI /ΔEtCO2 between the two groups, but Tibetans had lower ΔHR/ΔEtCO2 with more negative values compared to Han Chinese (p < 0.01). We also found that the correlation between HVR and HHR is similar for both groups during isocapnia, but the slopes of these correlations are significantly different in poikilocapnia (p < 0.003) with a positive relationship observed only in Tibetans (p < 0.006). Our results show that, at intermediate altitude, individuals with Tibetan ancestry have lower levels of [Hb], higher levels of Hb metabolites, and exhibit an attenuated heart rate response to hypoxia. The correlation between ventilatory and heart rate responses to hypoxia is similar between groups during isocapnia but is decreased during poikilocapnic hypoxia (with lower levels of CO2 due to hyperventilation) in Han Chinese but not Tibetans, suggesting a CO2-dependent effect on HR in Han Chinese but not in Tibetans. Therefore, Hb levels and metabolism but not the HVR to hypoxia may be maintained in individuals with Tibetan ancestry at intermediate altitudes. Correlations in poikilocapnic vs. isocapnic hypoxia may suggest an attenuated effect of CO2 on heart rate during hypoxia in people with Tibetan ancestry.

Spray, Combustion, and Air Pollutant Characteristics of JP-5 for Naval Aircraft from Experimental Single-Cylinder CRDI Diesel Engine

This study was performed to analyze the spray, combustion, and air pollutant characteristic of JP-5 fuel for naval aircraft in a spray visualization system and a single-cylinder CRDI diesel engine that can be visualized. The analysis results of JP-5 fuel were compared with DF. The spray tip penetration of JP-5 showed diminished results as the spray developed. JP-5 had the highest ROHR and ROPR regardless of the fuel injection timings. The physicochemical characteristics of JP-5, such as its excellent vaporization and low cetane number, were analyzed to prolong the ignition delay. Overall, the longer combustion period and the lower heat loss of the DF raised the engine torque and the IMEP. JP-5 showed higher O2 and lower CO2 levels than the DF fuel. The CO emission level increased as the injection timing was advanced in two test fuels, and the CO emitted from the DF fuel, which has a longer combustion period than JP-5, turned out to be lower. NOx also reduced as the fuel injection timing was retarded, but it was discharged at a higher level in JP-5 due to the large heat release. The images from the combustion process visualization showed that the flame luminosity of DF is stronger, its ignition delay is shorter, and its combustion period is longer than that of JP-5.

Ultraviolet Radiation Stimulates Activity of CO2 Concentrating Mechanisms in a Bloom-Forming Diatom Under Reduced CO2 Availability.

The diatom Skeletonema costatum is cosmopolitan and forms algal blooms in coastal waters, being exposed to varying levels of solar UV radiation (UVR) and reduced levels of carbon dioxide (CO2). While reduced CO2 availability is known to enhance CO2 concentrating mechanisms (CCMs) in this diatom and others, little is known on the effects of UV on microalgal CCMs, especially when CO2 levels fluctuate in coastal waters. Here, we show that S. costatum upregulated its CCMs in response to UVR (295–395 nm), especially to UVA (320–395 nm) in the presence and absence of photosynthetically active radiation (PAR). The intensity rise of UVA and/or UVR alone resulted in an increase of the activity of extracellular carbonic anhydrase (CAe); and the addition of UVA enhanced the activity of CCMs-related CAe by 23–27% when PAR levels were low. Such UV-stimulated CCMs activity was only significant at the reduced CO2 level (3.4 μmol L−1). In addition, UVA alone drove active HCO3− uptake although it was not as obvious as CAe activity, another evidence for its role in enhancing CCMs activity. In parallel, the addition of UVA enhanced photosynthetic carbon fixation only at the lower CO2 level compared to PAR alone. In the absence of PAR, carbon fixation increased linearly with increased intensities of UVA or UVR regardless of the CO2 levels. These findings imply that during S. costatum blooming period when CO2 and PAR availability becomes lower, solar UVR (mainly UVA) helps to upregulate its CCMs and thus carbon fixation, enabling its success of frequent algal blooms.

Editorial: Marine N2 Fixation: Recent Discoveries and Future Challenges

Unicellular nitrogen fixing cyanobacteria (UCYN) are abundant members of phytoplankton communities in a wide range of marine environments, including those with rapidly changing nitrogen (N) concentrations. We hypothesized that differences in N availability (N 2 vs. combined N) would cause UCYN to shift strategies of intracellular N and C allocation. We used transmission electron microscopy and nanoscale secondary ion mass spectrometry imaging to track assimilation and intracellular allocation of 13 C-labeled CO 2 and 15 N-labeled N 2 or NO 3 at different periods across a diel cycle in Cyanothece sp. ATCC 51142. We present new ideas on interpreting these imaging data, including the influences of pre-incubation cellular C and N contents and turnover rates of inclusion bodies. Within cultures growing diazotrophically, distinct subpopulations were detected that fixed N 2 at night or in the morning. Additional significant within-population heterogeneity was likely caused by differences in the relative amounts of N assimilated into cyanophycin from sources external and internal to the cells. Whether growing on N 2 or NO 3 , cells prioritized cyanophycin synthesis when N assimilation rates were highest. N assimilation in cells growing on NO 3 switched from cyanophycin synthesis to protein synthesis, suggesting that once a cyanophycin quota is met, it is bypassed in favor of protein synthesis. Growth on NO 3 also revealed that at night, there is a very low level of CO 2 assimilation into polysaccharides simultaneous with their catabolism for protein synthesis. This study revealed multiple, detailed mechanisms underlying C and N management in Cyanothece that facilitate its success in dynamic aquatic environments.