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The combined effects of restricted feeding rates [50–75% apparent satiation (AS) and 100% AS] and culture systems [biofloc (BFT) and traditional pond system (TP)] on the growth, production, and economics of Nile tilapia-freshwater prawn polyculture were examined in a 2 × 2 factorial feeding trial for 120 days. Each treatment was carried out in triplicate following complete randomized design. Nile tilapia fingerlings (2.09 g) and freshwater prawn post larvae (PL20; 0.05 g) were stocked at an initial density ratio of 6:6 individuals/m2. Lower dissolved oxygen (DO) and higher Total Ammonia Nitrogen (TAN) and nitrite concentrations were observed in BFT system. Similarly, higher levels of DO were recorded in 50–75% AS-fed group, while TAN, nitrite, nitrate, and total suspended solids (TSS) were significantly higher at 100% AS-fed group. Culture system, feeding rate, and their interactions had significant effect on final body weight (FBW) and daily growth rate (DGR) of Nile tilapia. Lower FCR in Nile tilapia was noted in both BFT system and 50–75% AS-fed group. For freshwater prawn, the highest FBW and DGR were obtained in BFT system and fed 100% AS. However, survival rates and condition factor did not differ across all treatments for both species. Higher yield for both species and more large-size tilapia were obtained when fed at 100% AS. An increase in yield and significant improvement on the size distribution of prawns were also achieved in BFT system. Although both BFT and 100% AS have led to better performance, cost and return analysis have instead revealed better profitability using TP system and feeding rate of 50–75% AS. The lower cost of production in these treatments has economically compensated for the unfavorable growth, yield, and size distribution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To explore air contamination resulting from special biomass combustion and suspended dust in Lhasa, the present study focused on the size distribution and chemical characteristics of particulate matter (PM) emission resulting from 7 types of non-fossil pollution sources. We investigated the concentration and size distribution of trace elements from 7 pollution sources collected in Lhasa. Combining Lhasa's atmospheric particulate matter data, enrichment factors (EFs) have been calculated to examine the potential impact of those pollution sources on the atmosphere quality of Lhasa. The highest mass concentration of total elements of biomass combustion appeared at PM 0.4 , and the second highest concentration existed in the size fraction 0.4–1 µm; the higher proportion (12 %) of toxic metals was produced by biomass combustion. The elemental composition of suspended dust and atmospheric particulate matter was close (except for As and Cd); the highest concentration of elements was all noted in PM 2.5-10 (PM 3-10). Potassium was found to be one of the main biomass markers. The proportion of Cu in suspended dust is significantly lower than that of atmospheric particulate matter (0.53 % and 3.75 %), which indicates that there are other anthropogenic sources. The EFs analysis showed that the Cr, Cu, Zn, and Pb produced by biomass combustion were highly enriched (EFs > 100) in all particle sizes. The EFs of most trace elements increased with decreasing particle size, indicating the greater influence of humanfactors on smaller particles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The general purpose of this work has been the detailed characterization of particles (PM) produced by almond shells and exhausted olive cake (both wastes with a great potential in the Mediterranean region) in a domestic boiler at nominal (55 kW) and partial (24 kW) load. The latter, still little explored, has allowed to evaluate conditions with practical interest in current modular burners. The dominant PM formation mechanisms depending on the particle size have been identified. Non-woody biomass exhibited a unimodal distribution with PM0.1–1 accounting for most of the particles. SEM–EDX analyses revealed irregular and large agglomerates composed mainly by and Na, K and Cl, thus suggesting heterogeneous condensation of alkali chlorides and sulphates as the main formation pathway. Whilst decreasing the load allowed other formation routes to gain importance (homogeneous nucleation) for almond shells, the high alkali content of exhausted olive cake confirmed heterogeneous condensation as the dominant route. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We study operator dynamics in Brownian quantum many-body models with q -local interactions. The operator dynamics are characterized by the time-dependent size distribution, for which we derive an exact master equation in both the Brownian Majorana Sachdev–Ye–Kitaev model and the spin model for general q. This equation can be solved numerically for large systems. Additionally, we obtain the analytical size distribution in the large N limit for arbitrary initial conditions and q. The distributions for both models take the same form, related to the χ -squared distribution by a change of variable, and strongly depend on the initial condition. For small initial sizes, the operator dynamics are characterized by a broad distribution that narrows as the initial size increases. When the initial operator size is below q − 2 for the Majorana model or q − 1 for the spin model, the distribution diverges in the small size limit at all times. The mean size of all operators, which can be directly measured by the out-of-time ordered correlator, grows exponentially during the early time. In the late time regime, the mean size for a single Majorana or Pauli operator for all q decays exponentially as t e − t , much slower than all other operators, which decay as e − t . At finite N, the size distribution exhibits modulo-dependent branching within a symmetry sector for the q ⩾ 8 Majorana model and the q ⩾ 4 spin model. Our results reveal universal features of operator dynamics in q -local quantum many-body systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Road traffic is one of the main sources of particulate matter in the urban environment, emitting particulate organic and elemental carbon compounds and metal-rich particles through combustion and brakes and tires wear. In Western Africa, the carbon and metal composition of airborne particles is also influenced by additional sources linked to biomass combustion and recent industrialization. Here, we investigated the impact of combustion-related and non-combustion-related emissions on the distribution of carbonaceous fractions and iron-rich particles in two urban environments in France and Senegal. The supermicron fraction ( D a > 1 µm) showed a significantly higher isothermal remanent magnetization (SIRM) than finer fractions, accounting for 79% in France and 81% in Senegal of the total SIRM. In the submicron fraction ( D a < 1 µm), we noted significantly higher concentrations of total carbon (TC) and elemental carbon (EC) than for other fractions, both accounting for 71% in France and 68% and 75% in Senegal of the total and elemental particulate carbon concentration, respectively. Electron microscope observations revealed the presence of iron-rich particles for D a < 0.2 µm, however, associated with a weak SIRM. Such iron particles may be produced by combustion or abrasion while we suspect that emissions by the abrasion process produce larger particles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Microfluidics provides cutting-edge technological advancements for the in-channel manipulation and analysis of dissolved macromolecular species. The intrinsic potential of microfluidic devices to control key characteristics of polymer macromolecules such as their size distribution requires unleashing its full capacity. This work proposes a combined approach to analyzing the microscale behavior of polymer solutions and modifying their properties. We utilized the idea of modeling cross-channel diffusion in polydisperse polymer microflows using dynamic light scattering size distribution curves as the source data. The model was implemented into a Matlab script which predicts changes in polymer size distribution at microfluidic chip outputs. We verified the modeling predictions in experiments with a series of microchips by detecting the optical responses of injected nematic liquid crystals in the presence of microfluidic polymer species and analyzing the polymer size distribution after microfluidic processing. The results offer new approaches to tuning the size and dispersity of macromolecules in solution, developing auxiliary tools for such techniques as dynamic light scattering, and labs-on-chips for the combined diagnostics and processing of polymers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Based on fractal theory, the geometric size, surface morphology, and spatial structure of flocs in the hydrophobic flocculation process of coal particles were examined via particle size distribution detection, image analysis technology, and numerical simulation. The floc size distribution curve was classified and discussed via the dual-domain fractal rule, and the variation law of the composition and distribution of the coarse- and fine-grained coal particle flocs with the flocculation process was clarified. The various levels and characteristics of the floc growth geometry were explained by the analysis of the fractal dimension of the individual floc surface and the multiple spectra of the floc groups in the metallographic microscopy image. The hydrophobic flocculation process of coal particles was simulated via the diffusion-limited cluster aggregation model. The gyration fractal dimension was used to examine floc fragmentation and reconstruction and clarify the growth law of the floc spatial structure during the hydrophobic flocculation process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Printable conductive composites show potential in wearable electronic, capacitor, stretchable sensors, and conductors. Incorporating metal nanoparticles in composites is a leading method to achieve high performance. In this study, we present a method for preparing silver flakes with ultra-smooth surfaces and excellent electron transfer properties by combining a waterborne acrylic resin template method with an intensive energy ultrasonic technique. By varying the ultrasonic treatment time from 20 to 80 min, the size distribution of the silver flakes was controlled, ranging from 15.7 to 5.04 μm. Scanning electron microscopy results indicate that the intensive energy ultrasonic treatment does not affect the surface morphology of the silver flakes. Additionally, the electron transport difficulties arising from internal defects in silver flakes prepared by traditional methods have been mitigated. The influence of size distribution and filler content on the electrical conductivity of silver conductive composites has been investigated. The study identified a correlation between the particle size distribution of flake silver powder and the volume resistivity of the conductive composite material, wherein a reduction in particle size distribution leads to a corresponding decrease in volume resistivity. Furthermore, an increase in the filler content of the composite material was found to result in a reduction in its volume resistivity. Using flake silver powder with a median particle size (d0.5) of 5.38 μm as a representative sample, the volume resistivity was observed to increase from 8.50 × 10−5 Ω·cm to 8.63 × 10−3 Ω·cm as the silver content was decreased from 25 to 4 wt %. Concurrently, an examination of the conductive properties and the formation of the conductive network demonstrated alignment with the theoretical steady-state model. Silver flakes with ultra-smooth surface and excellent electron transfer property is prepared by combining vacuum-evaporated nanofilms method and intensive energy ultrasonic technique. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper analyzes city system dynamics, based on a theoretical framework relating interaction potentials to agglomeration economies and density externalities. It employs new historical time series data on population size of cities in Sweden over two centuries (1810–2010) and introduces two schematic growth factors: (i) the intra-city potential and (ii) the extra-city potential located in in rings encircling each city. The first factor is measured by each city's population size, while the second is a vector of distance-discounted population size for each of a city's urban rings. In this way, we can explain a city's growth as a function of its interaction potential inside the city, as well as inside the first, second hand third ring. A robust finding is that cities with large ring potentials follow different development paths than those with small ring potentials. We also find clear evidence of structural change between the two centuries 1810–1910 and 1910–2010. In the first period, city growth is positively impacted by the size of the intra-city potential, whereas the same potential dampens or reduces the growth in the second period. Moreover, the ring potentials outside the city tend to switch from having negative growth stimulation in the first period to having positive stimulation in the second period. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to understand the origin and behaviour of aerosols in the west of the Mediterranean basin, a comprehensive investigation of water-soluble inorganic ions (WSII) with size segregation and Organic carbon (OC) and Element carbon (EC) in ultra fine fraction has been carried out in a coastal Algerian measurement station, namely BouIsmaïl, during seven months covering July 2013 to January 2014. A cascade impactor for six particle sizes with cut-off diameters of 0.49, 0.95, 1.5, 3, 7.2, and 10 µm was used for the whole campaign. The WSII were analysed by ion chromatography, and their distribution mode and potential sources were evaluated. The weekly mass concentration varied between 8.7 and 87 µg m−3 (with an average of 39.3 µg m−3). The three major ions were Cl−, Na+, and SO42−, contributing 65% of the total water-soluble inorganic ions (TWSII). Na+ and Cl− manifested comparable an unimodal distributions dominated in coarse mode, and the Cl−/Na+ molar ratio was close to that attributed to marine sources. Whilst SO42− and methane sulfonic acid (MSA) presented an inverted bimodal distribution mainly concentrated in the fine mode and contributed over 60%, ammonium (NH4+) showed strong and significant Pearson correlations with sulfate in the fine mode (r = 0.88, p-value < 0.01), indicating that NH4+ was an important neutralising agent of SO42− leading to the production of (NH4)2SO4 and NH4HSO4. The size distributions of the rest of the ions Cl−, NO3−, Na+, K+, Mg2+, and Ca2+ were unimodal mainly in the coarse mode, while oxalate and NH4+ were unimodal in the fine mode. The average concentrations of OC and EC during the investigated campaign were 4.5 and 1.3 μg m−3, respectively. Finally, according to the aerosol chemical composition and backwards trajectory analysis, BouIsmaïl air was affected by long-range air mass transported from the northwest and the west, and local emissions have an important impact on ions and carbonaceous particles in the aerosol of the investigated site. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An empirical correlation and a set of machine learning (ML) models were developed to estimate droplet size and count distributions over an extended duration after a cough at different relative humidities (RHs), air temperatures and locations within an indoor environment. Experiments covered RHs of 20%–80% and air temperatures of 21 °C–26 °C. Droplet count distributions for 4 size bins (0.3–0.5, 0.5–1, 1–3 and 3–5 μm) were recorded for 70 min within the distance of 2 m from the cough source. Different ML models, including decision tree, random forest and artificial neural network, were trained for each size bin to predict the associated count distribution. Amongst these models, random forest showed a slight superiority in performance. The coefficient of determination for the random forest models ranged from 0.912 to 0.989, indicating robust correlations between the features and the response variables. An empirical correlation was established linking the count distribution of 0.3–0.5 μm droplets to time, RH and distance along the cough direction. Both ML models and the correlation accurately predicted the trends and the distributions, providing valuable data for validating computational simulations and informing indoor environment control systems to reduce the risk of virus transmission. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Populations of large pelagic sharks are declining worldwide due to overfishing. Determining the overlap between shark populations and fishing activities is important to inform conservation measures. However, for many threatened sharks the whereabouts of particularly vulnerable life-history stages – such as pregnant females and juveniles – are poorly known. Here, we investigated the spatial distribution of size classes, energy transfer and reproductive states of pregnant females of the endangered shortfin mako, Isurus oxyrinchus, using spatially resolved catch data from a Spanish surface longline vessel (1996 − 2009) in the South-east Pacific Ocean. Our results suggest a general eastward gradient of occurrence of pregnant females of thousands of kilometers from western oceanic feeding grounds towards the eastern Pacific, where we observed an aggregation area of small juveniles. Moreover, the potential nursery likely overlapped a longline fishing hotspot, increasing the vulnerability of juveniles from fisheries. Our results suggest that limiting fishing pressure in this area could reduce mortality of early life stages and contribute to the conservation of this endangered shark species.

Abstract The COVID-19 event triggered global attention which broke out at the end of 2019. To investigate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic prevention and control actions on the chemical composition, size distribution, and mixing state of individual particles, real-time individual particles in the urban atmosphere of the Northern China were analyzed using single particle aerosol mass spectrometry (SPAMS) during January 16 to February 4, 2020. The results showed that the concentrations of PM2.5, NOx, and CO were lower during DP (during the pandemic) than those during BP (before the pandemic), while O3 concentration increased by about 40.9% during DP due to a lower concentration of NO2 restraining the decomposition of O3 via the reaction of NO with O3. The number count of carbonaceous particles during DP decreased by 20.2% compared to that during BP due to the sharp reduction of factory production and vehicular transportation during DP. Dust particles during DP exhibited weaker 23Na+, 56Fe+, and 79PO3− signals than those during BP, suggesting that dust particles during DP were mostly derived from mineral dust rather than industrial sources. The total particles during DP peaked at a larger size than those during BP, due to the higher fraction of secondary inorganic ions through the enhanced heterogeneous aqueous oxidation. The unscaled size distribution of total particles peaked at 0.50 µm during BP and at 0.66–0.70 µm during DP, suggesting that particles remained for a long time in the atmosphere and went through a strong aging process during DP. The single particles during DP were more aged than those during BP, owing to the stronger atmospheric oxidizing capacity during DP.

The ambient air quality has improved significantly under strict emission controls in Beijing, China over the last decade. Black carbon (BC), as a short-lived climate forcer in ambient aerosols, profoundly impacts the air quality and climate. Previous studies have demonstrated a decline in the mass concentration of BC. In this study, we characterized the chemical compositions and size distributions of BC-containing particles during the cold season of 2022 in Beijing using state-of-the-art instruments capable of exclusively measuring BC-containing particles. The optical properties of BC-containing particles were further calculated based on the Mie theory. Moreover, we compared the properties of BC-containing particles in 2022 with the results of previous studies. The results showed that the diameters of BC cores became larger while the coating thickness of BC-containing particles became thinner in 2022. For the coating materials, the mass fraction of nitrate increased obviously, and even replaced organic matter as the dominant component during the peak of the pollution period. Variations in chemical compositions and size distributions resulted in lower mass absorption cross-sections (MAC) of BC-containing particles from 10.5 ± 1.1 m2/g in 2016 to 7.3 ± 0.8 m2/g in 2022, reduced by 30.5%. Our results demonstrate the synergistic benefits of air pollution control in improving air quality and mitigating climate change. Therefore, the MAC of BC adopted in climate models should vary with the changing air pollution levels. This study emphasizes that it is imperative to conduct long-term observations of BC-containing particles to better estimate BC's climate effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Current regulations mandate the monitoring of respirable coal mine dust (RCMD) mass and crystalline silica in underground coal mines to safeguard miner health. However, other RCMD characteristics, such as particle size and chemical composition, may also influence health outcomes. This study collected RCMD samples from two underground coal mines and performed detailed chemical speciation. Source apportionment was used to estimate RCMD and silica contributions from various sources, including intake air, fire suppression limestone dust, coal dust, diesel engine exhaust, and rock strata. The mine dust mass-based size distributions were comparable to those recorded over a decade ago, with a peak around 10 μm and the majority of the mass in the supermicron size range. The current mine conditions and mining practices do not appear to have significantly increased the generation of smaller particles. Limestone rock dust was prevalent in many locations and, along with coal dust, was the main contributor to RCMD at high-concentration locations. Silica accounted for over 10% of RCMD mass at several active mining locations, primarily from limestone and rock strata dust. Reducing the concentration of limestone dust and its silica content could reduce RCMD and silica levels. Further cleaning of the intake air could also improve the overall mine air quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Bivalve aquaculture has direct and indirect effects on plankton communities, which are highly sensitive to short-term (seasonal, interannual) and long-term climate changes, although how these dynamics alter aquaculture ecosystem interactions is poorly understood. Methods: We investigate seasonal patterns in plankton abundance and community structure spanning several size fractions from 0.2 µm up to 5 mm, in a deep aquaculture embayment in northeast Newfoundland, Canada. Results: Using flow cytometry and FlowCam imaging, we observed a clear seasonal relationship between fraction sizes driven by water column stratification (freshwater input, nutrient availability, light availability, water temperature). Plankton abundance decreased proportionally with increasing size fraction, aligning with size spectra theory. Within the bay, greater mesozooplankton abundance, and a greater relative abundance of copepods, was observed closest to the aquaculture lease. No significant spatial effect was observed for phytoplankton composition. Discussion: While the months of August to October showed statistically similar plankton composition and size distribution slopes (i.e., food chain efficiency) and could be used for interannual variability comparisons of plankton composition, sampling for longer periods could capture long-term phenological shifts in plankton abundance and composition. Conclusions provide guidance on optimal sampling to monitor and assess aquaculture pathways of effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The spatial and size distributions of titanium diisopropoxide bisacetylacetonate [(C5H7O2)2[(CH3)2CHO]2, also known as Ti(acac)2(OiPr)2] mist, diluted in CH3OH, are investigated in a tubular furnace using atmospheric‐pressure mist chemical vapor deposition (mist CVD). The focus is on the deposition of amorphous (a)‐TiO2 films with tubular furnace temperature and mesh bias as variables. When the furnace temperature reaches 350 °C, the number density of mist particles increases without significant changes in their size distribution, leading to a higher film deposition rate. Further, the deposition rate and average size of the mist particles with lower adhesion coefficient decrease with increasing spatial distance from the furnace inlet. Furthermore, applying a mesh bias results in an increase in the maximum number density of mist particles with a narrower size distribution; however, the overall film deposition rate decreases. These variations are attributed to the chemical reactivity of the mist precursors produced by pyrolysis and mesh bias. The fine mist precursors, which are strongly charged, coordinate with CH3OH and CHO groups through solvation, enhancing their chemical stability and lifetime. This process yields a dense and rigid a‐TiO2 network, improving the junction properties at the a‐TiO2/c‐Si interface. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Acting as substrates for heterogeneous nucleation, native oxides in Al–Mg alloys have shown their potential for grain refinement. However, the limited knowledge about the nature of the oxides in Al–Mg alloys impedes the widespread application as native grain refiners. The aim of this work is to comprehensively investigate the native oxides in Al–Mg alloys through electron microscopy. Our results show that the predominant inclusions in Al–Mg alloys are oxides in three types of oxide films at the micrometer scales: young films, old films and oxide skins. All oxide films consist of discrete oxide particles of three types in nanometer scale depending on the Mg contents: γAl2O3 (< 0.4 wt.%), MgAl2O4 (0.08–3.5 wt.%) and MgO (> 2 wt.%). Specifically, MgAl2O4 particles have sizes ranging from a few tens to a few hundreds nanometer and possess an elementary shape of octahedron faceted by {111} planes. In Al–Mg alloys, the native oxides have a lognormal size distribution, with the average mean size fluctuating in accordance with the oxide configurations as Mg content varies. The agglomerating feature causes inhomogeneous sampling, and dual-peak lognormal curves are found for low-Mg-content alloys (0.08/0.4%), which could be eliminated by increasing the Mg content (2.0/3.5%) or by using the high-shear melt conditioning (HSMC) technology. Understanding the native oxides in Al–Mg alloys shall provide instructions on their application in grain refinement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We study the role of the size distribution of the banking sector for bailout policy and financial fragility in a model of financial intermediation with limited commitment and noisy sunspots. In particular, due to the different costs of mitigating depositors' losses, differences in financial fragility arise endogenously in the sense that the large banking market admits a higher degree of instability. Moreover, the desire to reduce differences in the amount of bailout funding across segments of the banking system leads the fiscal authority to collect less taxes ex‐ante but ends up rendering the scope for run equilibria larger. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To investigate the reproductive behavior of the frigate tuna (Auxis thazard) along the North Atlantic coast of Morocco, a comprehensive study was conducted between February and October 2020. A total of 215 frigate tuna specimens, obtained from both artisanal fishery and commercial purseseiners, were meticulously examined on a monthly basis. The study focused on evaluating various reproductive parameters including sex ratio, condition factor (K), gonadosomatic index (GSI), and sexual maturity progression. The findings of this study revealed that the straight fork lengths of the frigate tuna ranged from 30 to 43cm. Analysis of the sex ratio indicated a slight dominance of females, with a ratio of 1.06 females to every male (observed sex ratio: 1:0.06; X² observed = 1.21, which was below the theoretical X² = 3.84 threshold at P< 0.05). The size at which individuals reached sexual maturity (FL 50) was estimated to be 36cm for females and 38cm for males. Through monthly assessments, it was observed that the variation in maturity stages, GSI, and K values suggested a spawning period predominantly occurring between June and August, with a peak in July. This temporal pattern underscores the importance of understanding the reproductive dynamics of the frigate tuna populations in this region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Combustion is an important source of indoor emissions, and exposure to combustion emissions not only concerns the quality of life of individuals but also directly affects the overall health level of society. To date, very few studies have examined the size-resolved emission characteristics of airborne particulate matter (PM) emitted from indoor sources. The study examined PM emissions from the specified combustion sources. PM concentrations and emission factors for metals and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) were analyzed under identical burning durations. Particle size distributions were determined, and dissolved organic matter (DOM) components were characterized using fluorescence spectroscopy. Health risk assessments were conducted to identify major carcinogenic risks among the emitted components. The results revealed distinct trends in PM concentrations and emission factors among the combustion sources, with cigarettes exhibiting the highest levels followed by mosquito coils and candles. The peak diameters of PM number concentration were found to be 68.5 nm for mosquito coils, 105.5 nm for cigarettes, and 201.7 nm for candles. Fine fraction (PM0.056–3.2) had significantly higher emission factors than coarse fraction (PM3.2–18), with the highest emission factor observed within the particle range of 0.18-0.32 μm. DOM from burning mosquito coils and cigarettes comprised two primary components: a protein-like (C1) and a humus-like (C2) fluorescent component. Health risk assessments indicated that chromium and benzo[a]pyrene posed the greatest carcinogenic risks among metals and PAHs in typical indoor combustion environments. Our results were primarily helpful to determine the characteristics of the PM from combustion emissions and also significant to ensure public health protection, especially for people who usually spend time indoors.

Polysaccharides extracted from mangosteen peels (MPPS) were employed as fat replacer to develop reduced-fat mayonnaise. The partial oil substitution of 25, 35, 45, and 55 %, designating the samples as MP25, MP35, MP45 and MP55, was conducted and their chemical composition, caloric value, microscopic image, oil droplet distribution, emulsion stability, rheological and textural properties, sensory preference and oxidative stability were investigated in comparison with those of full-fat mayonnaise. The oil-substituted mayonnaise had reduced calories of 25.6–67.4 %, which could be classified a “light” product, according to Codex Alimentarius standards. Oil substitution increased the oil droplet size from 2.81 μm (control) to 12.27 μm (MP55). However, MP25 and MP35 retained relatively narrow size distribution with the span value of 1.214–1.332 in comparison with the value of 0.992 in the control, whereas MP45 and MP55 displayed broad size range (2.094–2.285). Rheological analyses revealed that increasing the level of oil replacement in mayonnaise led to the decrease in its viscosity, storage modulus and loss modulus. However, MP25 and MP35 still kept the similar viscoelastic characteristic of the control with the solid-like behavior in the tested frequency range of 0.01–10 Hz. The reduced-fat mayonnaise had paler yellow with lower b∗ values (18.83–19.60) than the control (20.25), leading to lower liking scores for appearance in MP35, MP45 and MP55. However, the full fat content of the control caused the highest stickiness, leading to the sticky mouth feeling and its lower liking score for taste. This trade-off perception resulted to no significant difference in overall acceptability among MP25 (7.53), MP35 (7.45) and the control (7.28). In addition, more oxidative stability was observed for all MPPS-incorporated mayonnaise samples stored at both refrigerated and ambient temperatures. In conclusion, MPPS could be a novel fat replacer to be further explored in food industry.

Religious burning (RB) has been identified as a major source of atmospheric aerosols on the Qinghai‐Tibet Plateau. However, there is limited understanding of the detailed chemical composition, size distribution, and optical properties of RB aerosols in this region. To characterize these important aerosol properties, ambient PM2.5 and size resolved aerosols from RB emissions in Lhasa were collected during summer 2019. Organic functional group (OFG) and inorganic ion composition was measured using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and ion chromatography, respectively. The ambient PM2.5 was dominated by organic components, with the OFG concentrations significantly higher during religious events, reflecting the substantial impact of RB emissions on local air quality. The RB aerosols were characterized by high fractions of alkane (34%), hydroxyl (29%), and carboxylic acid (13%) groups, with peak mass in the accumulation mode (0.56–1.00 μm). The high abundance of hydroxyl group and the size distribution pattern suggested that the RB aerosols were formed from volatilization of fuel materials followed by unaltered condensation, a process that may be unique to the low‐temperature, low‐oxygen burning in the scattered burners at the temples. The absorption coefficient of RB aerosols showed similar size distribution to the mass size distribution, but the absorption Ångström exponent displayed the lowest value in the 0.56–1.00 μm size mode. This specific size distribution aligned with the mass fraction of carboxylic acids and mirrored the mass proportion of alkanes, suggesting that smaller and larger particles were enriched with substances that have higher light‐absorbing capabilities. Plain Language Summary: Religious burning (RB) has been found to be a major source of air pollution particles on the Qinghai‐Tibet Plateau. However, much remains to be learned about the chemical composition, size distribution, and light‐absorbing properties of these particles. To better understand these properties, we collected particles from ambient air and the RB emissions in Lhasa during the summer of 2019 and measured the organic and inorganic components of the particles. RB particles were made of high amounts of alkane (34%) and hydroxyl (29%) groups, which had a big impact on local air quality. The high amount of hydroxyl group and the size pattern suggest that the RB particles were formed when fuel materials evaporate and then condense, which may be unique to the low‐temperature, low‐oxygen burning in the scattered burners at the temples. The light‐absorbing properties of the RB particles showed a similar size pattern to the mass size distribution, but the smallest and largest particles had higher light‐absorbing abilities. This specific size distribution matches the percentage of carboxylic acids and is the opposite of the amount of alkanes, suggesting that smaller and larger particles were enriched with substances that can absorb more light. Key Points: Lhasa PM2.5 is primarily composed of hydroxyl, alkane, and carboxylic acid groups, heavily influenced by religious burning (RB) activitiesFresh RB aerosols are likely formed via volatilization and condensation processes during the low‐temperature and low‐oxygen burningThe Ångström exponent of water‐soluble organic carbon in RB aerosols shows an opposite size distribution to the mass and absorption coefficient of the aerosols [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]