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Nitrate (NO 3 −) is a key component of secondary inorganic aerosols and PM 2.5. However, the contributions of nitrogen oxides (NO x) emission sources to NO 3 − in PM 2.5 remain poorly constrained. This study measured nitrogen (N) isotopes of NO 3 − (hereafter as δ15N-NO 3 -) in PM 2.5 collected at Beijing in 2014. We observed that δ15N-NO 3 - values in PM 2.5 (−2.3‰ − 19.7‰; 7.3 ± 5.4‰ annually) were significantly higher in winter (11.9 ± 4.4‰) than in summer (2.2 ± 2.5‰). The δ15N differences between source NO x and NO 3 − in PM 2.5 (hereafter as Δ values) were estimated by a computation module as 7.8 ± 2.2‰ − 10.4 ± 1.6‰ (8.8 ± 2.4‰). Using the Δ values and δ15N values of NO x from major fossil (coal combustion, vehicle exhausts) and non-fossil sources (biomass burning, microbial N cycle), contributions of major NO x sources to NO 3 − in PM 2.5 were further estimated by the SIAR model. We found that seasonal variations of δ15N-NO 3 - values in PM 2.5 of Beijing were mainly caused by those of NO x contributions from coal combustion (38 ± 10% in winter, 20 ± 9% in summer). Annually, NO x from coal combustion, vehicle exhausts, biomass burning, and microbial N cycle contributed 28 ± 12%, 29 ± 17%, 27 ± 15%, and 16 ± 7% to NO 3 − in PM 2.5 , respectively, showing actually comparable contributions between non-fossil NO x (43 ± 16%) and fossil NO x (57 ± 21%). These results are useful for planning the reduction of NO x emissions in city environments and for elucidating relationships between regional NO x emissions and atmospheric NO 3 − pollution or deposition. Image 1 • δ15N-NO 3 - values of PM 2.5 in Beijing were higher in winter than in summer. • Seasonal δ15N-NO 3 - variations of PM 2.5 were mainly caused by those of NO x emission from coal combustion. • Fossil and non-fossil NO x sources contributed equally to NO 3 − of PM 2.5 in Beijing. Isotope partitioning of major nitrate sources in PM 2.5 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: On 7th June, 2018, a primary school in Beijing, China notified Shunyi CDC of an outbreak of acute respiratory disease characterized by fever and cough among students and resulting in nine hospitalization cases during the preceding 2 weeks. We started an investigation to identify the etiologic agent, find additional cases, develop and implement control measures.Methods: We defined probable cases as students, teachers and other staffs in the school developed fever (T ≥ 37.5 °C) with cough or sore throat; or a diagnosis of pneumonia during May 1-June 31, 2018. Confirmed cases were probable cases with Mycoplasma pneumoniae detected in oropharyngeal (OP) swabs by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR). We searched case by reviewing school absenteeism records and interviewing students, teachers and staff in this school. Oropharyngeal swabs were collected from symptomatic students. Two qPCR) assay, a duplex qPCR assay, and sequencing were performed to determine the pathogen, genotype and macrolide resistance at the gene level, respectively.Results: From May 1st to June 31st, 2018, we identified 55 cases (36 probable and 19 confirmed), of whom 25 (45%) were hospitalized for complications. All cases were students, none of the teachers and other staffs in the school were with similar symptoms. The attack rate (AR) was 3.9% (55/1398) for all students. The cases were mainly male (58%), with an age range of 7-8 years (median: 7 years). 72% (18/25) of inpatients had radiograph findings consistent with pneumonia, and some cases were hospitalized for up to 4 weeks. Pathogen detection results indicated that Mycoplasma pneumonia (M. pneumoniae) P1 type 1 was the causative agent in this outbreak, and the strain harbored one point mutation of A to G at position 2063.Conclusions: The infections by macrolide-resistant M. pneumoniae are not always mild and pneumonia was common and M. pneumoniae could causes serious complications which require long-term hospitalization. In the future infectious disease prevention and control practice, M. pneumoniae should be paid more attention. It is necessary to establish and improve the pathogen and drug resistance surveillance system in order to prevent and control such mutated strains of M. pneumoniae from causing future outbreaks or epidemics in China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]