bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Effect of reservoir pay thickness on the performance of the THAI heavy oil and bitumen upgrading and production process
Authors: Ado Muhammad Rabiu
Published: February 2020

The increasing energy demand has to be met while we transitioned to a decarbonized energy future. Heavy oil and bitumen reserves are urgently needed to be developed to ensure that a smooth transition is provided. In this work, field-scale kinetics parameters are used to study the effect of reservoir pay thickness on the performance of toe-to-heel air injection (THAI) process. Air was injected at constant rate into three different models with the thicknesses of 24 m, 16 m, and 8 m, respectively. The oil produced is slightly affected by the reservoir thickness. It is found that the lower the reservoir thickness, the larger the cumulative air-to-oil ratio (cAOR), indicating that heat loss increases with the decrease in the reservoir thickness. This trend is similar to steam-based processes. At constant air injection flux, it is found that both the cumulative oil produced and the cAOR decrease with the decrease in the reservoir thicknesses. This decrease is attributed to the decrease in the rate of heat generation in the thinner reservoirs, which in turn results in lower combustion zone temperature and thus lower temperature gradients between the reservoir and the overburden and the reservoir and the underburden. Consequently, a more general conclusion is that decreasing the air injection rate by the same factor the reservoir thickness is decreased (i.e. keeping the air injection flux constant) results in a more economical THAI process operation compared to when the air injection rate is kept constant (i.e. allowing increase in air injection flux).
Lifting the veil on the keratinocyte contribution to cutaneous nociception
Authors: Talagas Matthieu , Lebonvallet Nicolas , Berthod François , Misery Laurent
Published: February 2020

Cutaneous nociception is essential to prevent individuals from sustaining injuries. According to the conventional point of view, the responses to noxious stimuli are thought to be exclusively initiated by sensory neurons, whose activity would be at most modulated by keratinocytes. However recent studies have demonstrated that epidermal keratinocytes can also act as primary nociceptive transducers as a supplement to sensory neurons. To enlighten our understanding of cutaneous nociception, this review highlights recent and relevant findings on the cellular and molecular elements that underlie the contribution of epidermal keratinocytes as nociceptive modulators and noxious sensors, both under healthy and pathological conditions.
Development of an online monitoring method for electrostatic precipitators on commercial biomass combustion plants
Authors: Alt Bastian , Klüh Daniel , Gaderer Matthias
Published: February 2020

Combustion plants based on wooden biomass as fuel can contribute to a decarbonization of the energy sector by reducing the need for fossil energy usage, which decreases the net carbon dioxide output in the atmosphere. However, the flue gas of biomass-based combustion plants contains increased amounts of particulate matter, which need to be separated before release into the environment because of legal emission limits. In medium-sized plants, electrostatic precipitators (ESP) are commonly used separators to minimize the particulate matter concentration. Due to new regulations based on the medium combustion plants directive introduced by the EU, continuous surveillance of secondary precipitation technologies like ESP has to be implemented. The method proposed in this paper focuses on the readily available current (I) and voltage (U) data of the high-voltage unit supply of an ESP to calculate the efficiency of the particle separation. Consequently, a continuous proof of function can be delivered without high cost for additional measurement equipment. This article proves the effectiveness of the method in calculating the precipitation effectiveness of the ESP. It is shown that the deviation from the separation efficiency calculated by the method and the measured efficiency is smaller than 7%. Additionally, it is necessary to define a suitable reference signal that indicates whether the combustion plant is running or not. Hence, the availability of the system can be evaluated. This method will help operators to meet legal requirements.
Diagnostic efficacy of cone beam computed tomography in paediatric dentistry: a systematic review
Authors: Horner K. , Barry S. , Dave M. , Dixon C. , Littlewood A. , Pang C. L. , Sengupta A. , Srinivasan V.
Published: February 2020

Purpose

To determine in which clinical situations it is indicated or contra-indicated to prescribe cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) for paediatric patients.

Methods

Systematic review of in vivo paediatric research studies of diagnostic efficacy using CBCT, with supplementary searches for guideline documents on CBCT and for systematic reviews permitting inclusion of ex vivo and adult studies.

Results

After screening, 190 publications were included, mostly case studies. No systematic reviews were found of in vivo paediatric research. Fourteen studies of diagnostic efficacy were identified. The supplementary searches found 18 guideline documents relevant to the review and 26 systematic reviews. The diagnostic efficacy evidence on CBCT was diverse and often of limited quality. There was ex vivo evidence for diagnostic accuracy being greater using CBCT than radiographs for root fractures. The multiplanar capabilities of CBCT are advantageous when localising dental structures for surgical planning. Patient movement during scanning is more common in children which could reduce diagnostic efficacy.

Conclusions

No strong recommendations on CBCT are possible, except that it should not be used as a primary diagnostic tool for caries. Guidelines on use of CBCT in the paediatric age group should be developed cautiously, taking into account the greater radiation risk and the higher economic costs compared with radiography. CBCT should only be used when adequate conventional radiographic examination has not answered the question for which imaging was required. Clinical research in paediatric patients is required at the higher levels of diagnostic efficacy of CBCT.
Surveying fake news: Assessing university faculty’s fragmented definition of fake news and its impact on teaching critical thinking
Authors: Weiss Andrew P. , Alwan Ahmed , Garcia Eric P. , Garcia Julieta
Published: February 2020

This paper reports on the results of a survey of faculty members at California State University, Northridge (CSUN) in Los Angeles, California regarding their understanding of and familiarity with the concept of fake news. With very few studies published on the attitudes of teaching faculty at universities, this study is a unique approach to the issues facing educators, knowledge creators, and information specialists. The paper examines the origins of the term “fake news”, the factors contributing to its current prevalence, and proposes a new definition. It also reports upon the attitudes that teaching faculty hold, and how they define fake news within their specific disciplines. Though nearly all surveyed faculty felt fake news was an important topic that impacted them professionally, the researchers also find that faculty across all disciplines and ranks, ages, and gender, hold widely differing conceptions of fake news. This lack of consensus may have future implications for students in particular and higher education in general and are worth exploring further.
Dynamic measurement of the fluid pressure in the tire contact area on wet roads
Authors: Löwer J. , Wagner P. , Unrau H. J. , Bederna C. , Gauterin F.
Published: February 2020

The main goal of this study was the experimental investigation of the fluid pressure in the boundary region between wet grip and hydroplaning. In order to gain an insight into the processes in the tire contact area, a test setup was developed to directly measure the fluid pressure in the water film between tire and road. The fluid pressure was measured on an asphalt track for different speeds, water heights and tire patterns on an inner drum test bench. The influence of the examined parameters on the fluid pressure is clearly visible and physically plausible. Braking tests were done in order to clarify how much the fluid pressure build up influences the overall braking performance in the boundary region between wet grip and hydroplaning.
A Systematic Review of Pelvic Floor Muscle Training for Erectile Dysfunction After Prostatectomy and Recommendations to Guide Further Research
Authors: Wong Calvin , Louie Dennis R. , Beach Cheryl
Published: February 2020

Background

Erectile dysfunction is one potential complication after radical prostatectomy; often pelvic floor muscle training is offered as an intervention to improve quality of life and erectile function post-operatively.

Aim

To provide a summary of current evidence regarding the effectiveness of pelvic floor muscle training in the management of erectile dysfunction after radical prostatectomy and provide recommendations for future research.

Methods

An electronic search was conducted for relevant research studies using PubMed, EMBASE, CINAHL, Medline, and PEDro. Quality of selected trials was assessed by 2 independent reviewers using the Modified Downs and Black Checklist; disagreements were resolved by consensus.

Main Outcome Measure

The main outcome measure is the International Index of Erectile function (IIEF-5).

Results

9 studies of various study design were included in this review. Most studies demonstrated improvements in erectile dysfunction with pelvic floor muscle training; however, lack of methodological rigor for several studies and variability among training protocols limited interpretation of results.

Clinical Implications

Further well powered and rigorously designed randomized controlled trials are needed to investigate the effect of pelvic floor muscle training on erectile dysfunction after radical prostatectomy.

Strengths & Limitations

This review employed a systematic method of appraising the available evidence for pelvic floor muscle training for erectile dysfunction after radical prostatectomy. Limited high-quality articles were identified and few conclusions could be drawn from the existing evidence.

Conclusion

Future high-quality randomized controlled trials should include strategies to improve adherence to exercise, clearly describe exercise protocols, and integrate new evidence for verbal cues and biofeedback for muscles involved in erection.
Editorial
Authors: Barrett Steve
Published: February 2020

Trucks are an increasingly active focus for fuel cell power systems, with development and demonstrations going on around the world.
Litigating Climate Claims in India
Authors: Ghosh Shibani
Published: February 2020

Jacqueline Peel and Jolene Lin's informative assessment of climate litigation in the Global South is a vital and timely contribution to the growing literature on the issue. It relies on a definition of climate litigation that allows the authors to draw on a much larger set of cases from the Global South by including cases in which climate concerns are “at the periphery.” This essay examines climate litigation in India. Although the term “global warming” started appearing in Indian environmental judgments in the 1990s, climate litigation in India is of relatively recent provenance, and with a few exceptions, climate concerns are peripheral to other, more mainstream environmental issues. Peel and Lin analyze five Indian cases as part of their Global South docket; I expand this set by including fourteen more cases that I believe fit their article's chosen definitional ambit. I classify these cases into four categories based on the use of climate language—reference to climate change, greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, or the international negotiations—in the courts’ judgment. Drawing from case law analysis and Indian environmental litigation, I make observations about what we can interpret from the current set of climate cases, and I predict that while conditions are favorable for climate litigation in India to grow, in the near future climate claims are likely to remain peripheral issues.
Beyond psychology: prevalence of p value and confidence interval misinterpretation across different fields
Authors: Lyu Xiao-Kang , Xu Yuepei , Zhao Xiao-Fan , Zuo Xi-Nian , Hu Chuan-Peng
Published: February 2020

P values and confidence intervals (CIs) are the most widely used statistical indices in scientific literature. Several surveys have revealed that these two indices are generally misunderstood. However, existing surveys on this subject fall under psychology and biomedical research, and data from other disciplines are rare. Moreover, the confidence of researchers when constructing judgments remains unclear. To fill this research gap, we surveyed 1,479 researchers and students from different fields in China. Results reveal that for significant (i.e., p < .05, CI does not include zero) and non-significant (i.e., p > .05, CI includes zero) conditions, most respondents, regardless of academic degrees, research fields and stages of career, could not interpret p values and CIs accurately. Moreover, the majority were confident about their (inaccurate) judgements (see osf.io/mcu9q/ for raw data, materials, and supplementary analyses). Therefore, as misinterpretations of p values and CIs prevail in the whole scientific community, there is a need for better statistical training in science.
Outside the Wire: U.S. Military Deployments and Public Opinion in Host States
Authors: ALLEN MICHAEL A. , FLYNN MICHAEL E. , MACHAIN CARLA MARTINEZ , STRAVERS ANDREW
Published: February 2020

How do citizens within countries hosting U.S. military personnel view that presence? Using new cross-national survey data from 14 countries, we examine how different forms of exposure to a U.S. military presence in a country affect attitudes toward the U.S. military, government, and people. We find that contact with U.S. military personnel or the receipt of economic benefits from the U.S. presence correlates with stronger support for the U.S. presence, people, and government. This study has profound implications for the role that U.S. installations play in affecting the social fabric of host nations and policy implications for the conduct of U.S. military activities outside the United States.
Reducing Exclusionary Attitudes through Interpersonal Conversation: Evidence from Three Field Experiments
Authors: KALLA JOSHUA L. , BROOCKMAN DAVID E.
Published: February 2020

Exclusionary attitudes—prejudice toward outgroups and opposition to policies that promote their well-being—are presenting challenges to democratic societies worldwide. Drawing on insights from psychology, we argue that non-judgmentally exchanging narratives in interpersonal conversations can facilitate durable reductions in exclusionary attitudes. We support this argument with evidence from three pre-registered field experiments targeting exclusionary attitudes toward unauthorized immigrants and transgender people. In these experiments, 230 canvassers conversed with 6,869 voters across 7 US locations. In Experiment 1, face-to-face conversations deploying arguments alone had no effects on voters’ exclusionary immigration policy or prejudicial attitudes, but otherwise identical conversations also including the non-judgmental exchange of narratives durably reduced exclusionary attitudes for at least four months (d = 0.08). Experiments 2 and 3, targeting transphobia, replicate these findings and support the scalability of this strategy (ds = 0.08, 0.04). Non-judgmentally exchanging narratives can help overcome the resistance to persuasion often encountered in discussions of these contentious topics.
Comparative experiments of electrical conductivity from whey protein concentrates conventional film and nanofibril film
Authors: Guan Chen , He XueFei , Xu HongHua , Shao MeiLi , Ma JinYu , Gao ZiWen
Published: February 2020

We compared the electrical conductivity from two different aggregates of whey protein concentrates (WPC) film: conventional amorphous aggregation at natural pH (pH 6.5) and amyloid fibrils at a low pH (pH 2.0) far away from the isoelectric point. The two types of film fabricated by these solutions with different aggregate structures showed large variations in electrical conductivity and other properties. The WPC fibril film (pH 2.0) exhibited higher electrical conductivity than that of the conventional WPC film (pH 6.5), improved mechanical properties and oil resistance, due to varying morphology, higher surface hydrophobicity and more (absolute value) surface charge of film-forming solutions. The evidence from this study suggests that fibrilized WPC with high-ordered and β-sheets-rich structures fabricated high electrical conductivity film, which broadens the potential application of fibrils as functional bio-nanomaterials.
Regulating exclusions? Gender, development and the limits of inclusionary financial platforms
Authors: Natile Serena
Published: February 2020

Digital financial-inclusion platforms have gained increasing attention as instruments for economic growth that also contribute to development goals such as poverty reduction and gender equality. One of the most acclaimed digital financial platforms to date is M-Pesa (M for mobile,pesais Swahili for money) in Kenya – a mobile-phone-enabled money-transfer service realised via a public–private partnership between the UK's Department for International Development, Vodafone and its local partner, Safaricom. Since its launch in 2007, M-Pesa has grown at a phenomenal rate and it is now used by over 70 per cent of the Kenyan population. Bringing together socio-legal enquiry, feminist political economy analysis and post-colonial literature, this paper discusses M-Pesa's inclusionary regulatory arrangements and examines their implications for gender equality. It shows that, while these arrangements contribute to including women in the formal financial system, they fail to adopt the redistributive measures necessary to address the gendered socio-economic disadvantages that cause and reproduce financial exclusion.
Keeping schools safe from the battlefield: Why global legal and policy efforts to deter the military use of schools matter
Authors: Sheppard Bede
Published: February 2020

This article describes how schools are used for military purposes in today's conflicts. It summarizes the latest data on the practice, before explaining how the military use of schools harms students’ and teachers’ safety and impedes students’ right to education. The article concludes by examining the diverse legal and military responses to this practice, and the foundation they lay for the 2015 Safe Schools Declaration and for further action.
Facilitating Versus Inhibiting the Transmission of Drug Abuse from High-Risk Parents to Their Children: A Swedish National Study
Authors: Kendler Kenneth S. , Ohlsson Henrik , Sundquist Jan , Sundquist Kristina
Published: February 2020

We seek to identify factors that facilitate or inhibit transmission of drug abuse (DA) from high-risk parents to their children. In 44,250 offspring of these parents, ascertained from a Swedish national sample for having a mother and/or father with DA, we explored, using Cox models, how the prevalence of DA was predicted by potentially malleable risk factors in these high-risk parents, their spouses and the rearing environment they provided. Analyses of offspring of discordant high-risk siblings and offspring of discordant sibling-in-laws and step-parents aided causal inference. Risk for DA in the children was associated with high-risk and married-in parental externalizing psychopathology, a range of other features of these parents (e.g., low education and receipt of welfare), and aspects of the rearing environment (e.g., neighborhood deprivation and number of nearby drug dealers). Offspring of discordant high-risk siblings, siblings-in-laws and step-parents suggested that nearly all these associations were partly causal. A multivariate analysis utilizing offspring of discordant high-risk siblings identified the six most significant potentially malleable risk factors for offspring DA: (1) criminal behavior (CB) in married-in parent, (2) community peer deviance, (3) broken family, (4) DA in high-risk parent, (5) CB in high-risk parent and (6) number of family moves. Children in the lowest decile of risk had a 50% reduction in their DA prevalence, similar to that seen in the general population. We conclude that transmission of DA from high-risk parents to children partly results from a range of potentially malleable risk factors that could serve as foci for intervention.
Vitamin C supplementation had no side effect in non-cancer, but had	anticancer properties in ovarian cancer cells
Authors: Gregoraszczuk Ewa Lucja , Zajda Karolina , Tekla Joanna , Respekta Natalia , Zdybał Paweł , Such Aleksandra
Published: February 2020

Abstract. Vitamin C (Vit C) has been widely used in the treatment and prevention of cancer. Nevertheless, the clinical results are still inconclusive. Using non-cancer (HOSEpiC) and cancer OVCAR-3 cells cultured in basal medium or in ovarian cancer-associated fibroblast (CAF)-supplemented medium, we estimated the dose-dependent effect of Vit C on sodium–ascorbate co -transporters (SVCT1, SVCT2) and g lucose transporter (GLUT1) protein expression. Additionally, the action of Vit C on cell proliferation (alamarBlue), membrane permeability (LDH assay), caspase3 activity, the selected cell cycle and apoptosis pathway, poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase-1 (PARP) protein expression, and reactive oxygen species (ROS) activity was determined. We showed different effects of Vit C on the expression of the co-transporter in non-cancer and cancer cells. In non-cancer cells, Vit C, at a pharmacological concentration, increased SVCT2 and decreased GLUT1, while the opposite effect was noted in cancer cells. In cancer cells, Vit C, in a pharmacological dose, decreased cell proliferation through an inhibitory effect on cyclin-dependent kinase 2 (CDK2) (4.4-fold; p < 0.01), mainly due to the stimulatory effect on the expression of cyclin-dependent kinase (CDK) inhibitors, such as p21 and p53 (3.2- and 2.8-fold, respectively; p < 0.001), but not caspase pathway. The tumour microenvironment caused inefficiency of the lower doses of Vit C in ovarian cancer cells. At a pharmacological dose of 1 mM, Vit C decreased PARP expression (1.5-fold; p < 0.05). We suggest that it’s nontoxic effects on non-cancer cells may be an indicator of its prophylactic use, while in a pharmacological dose Vit C should be considered a possible adjunctive drug in ovarian cancer. However, it is necessary to consider the effect of the CAF.
Climate Changes and Their Teleconnections With ENSO Over the Last 55 Years, 1961–2015, in Floods‐Dominated Basin, Jiangxi Province, China
Authors: Li Hongyi , Zhong Xiaoyong , Ma Ziqiang , Tang Guoqiang , Ding Leiding , Sui Xinxin , Xu Jintao , He Yu
Published: February 2020

The relative effect of climate change and El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO) is essential not only for understanding the hydrological mechanism over Jiangxi province in China but also for local water resources management as well as flood control. This study quantitatively researched in‐depth information on climate change in Jiangxi using the up‐to‐date “ground truth” precipitation and temperature data, the Asian Precipitation Highly Resolved Observational Data Integration Towards Evaluation of Water Resources (APHRODITE, 1961–2015, 0.25°) data; analyzed the connections between ENSO and climate factors (including precipitation and temperature); and discussed the relationships between the ENSO and climate change. The main findings of this study were (1) during the period of 1961–2015, annual precipitation and temperature generally increased at a rate of 2.68 mm/year and 0.16 °C/10a, respectively; (2) the precipitation temporal trends have significant spatial differences. For example, the high precipitation increasing rates occurred in northern Jiangxi province in summer, while the large decreasing rates happened in most regions of Jiangxi province in spring; (3) an abrupt temperature change was detected around 1984, with general decreasing trends and increasing trends in 1961–1984 and 1984–2015, respectively; (4) ENSO had significant impacts on precipitation changes over Jiangxi province, for example; the El Niño events, beginning in April and May, were likely to enlarge the amounts of precipitation in the following summer, and the El Niño events beginning in October were likely to enlarge the precipitation amounts in the following spring and summer; and (5) the El Niño events, starting in the second half of the year, were likely to raise the temperature in the winter and the following spring. These findings would provide valuable information for better understanding the climate change issues over Jiangxi province.
An Empirical Model for the Dayside Magnetospheric Plasma Mass Density Derived From EMMA Magnetometer Network Observations
Authors: Del Corpo Alfredo , Vellante Massimo , Heilig Balázs , Pietropaolo Ermanno , Reda Jan , Lichtenberger János
Published: February 2020

A local time dependent empirical model of the equatorial plasma mass density in the inner magnetosphere is derived from field line resonance (FLR) observations at the European quasi‐Meridional Magnetometer Array (EMMA). Models of the plasmasphere, plasmatrough, and plasmapause are derived separately and then combined. The whole model is limited to the local time (LT) sector 06:00‐18:00 and to the range of equatorial distances
. It is also dependent on the geomagnetic activity but only in determining the plasmapause position. It well describes the recovery phase following a plasmasphere erosion but is not intended to reproduce highly dynamical phases. The plasmasphere model is limited to the range
and predicts a mass density increase in the daytime sector (10–18 LT) which becomes more evident with increasing
(up to a factor of
2). A comparison with previous models of plasmaspheric electron density suggests that the diurnal variation is mainly contributed by the heavy ions. The plasmatrough model is limited to the range
and predicts a diurnal variation even more pronounced. Comparison with electron density models suggests that the average ion mass density can increase from
2.0 to
4–5 amu during daytime hours. An automated algorithm to search for plasmapause signatures in the radial mass density profiles derived from experimental observations is also presented. It could represent a useful space weather tool when included in a real‐time monitoring system of the plasmasphere.
FIDO‐SIT: The First Forward Model for the In Situ Magnetic Field of CME‐Driven Sheaths
Authors: Kay C. , Nieves‐Chinchilla T. , Jian L. K.
Published: February 2020

We have shown previously that the in situ magnetic field of coronal mass ejections (CMEs) can be well reproduced by simple, physics‐driven flux rope models using the ForeCAT In situ Data Observer (FIDO, Kay et al., 2017). Here, we show that a similar approach can be taken to forward model the shock and sheath of a CME (Sheath Induced by Transient [SIT]). We develop a relation between the downstream density and magnetic field strength that only depends on the upstream properties and downstream speed. Next, we establish a set of well‐observed CME‐driven shocks combining results from several online catalogs. We establish a baseline using the observed downstream speed and show that the mean absolute errors only increase slightly to 3.4 cm
and 3.8 nT when using a predicted downstream velocity. We also develop a model for the sheath duration or the standoff distance of the CME‐driven shock. While there is certainly room for improvement, our model does perform better than those currently available, reducing the error from 7.0 to 4.6 hr. We couple our flux rope and sheath models as FIDO‐SIT and present results for four observed cases. For three of the four cases, FIDO‐SIT reproduces the sheath magnetic field with an error of one third the total magnitude for each individual vector component.
Paleomagnetism of Middle Triassic Lavas From Northern Qiangtang (Tibet): Constraints on the Closure of the Paleo‐Tethys Ocean
Authors: Song Peiping , Ding Lin , Lippert Peter C. , Li Zhenyu , Zhang Liyun , Xie Jing
Published: February 2020

We present results from a paleomagnetic study of Middle Triassic lavas (~242–240 Ma) from the northern Qiangtang block to improve our understanding of the timing and kinematics of the closure of the eastern Paleo‐Tethys Ocean. Characteristic remanent magnetization directions carried by magnetite and hematite formed during high‐temperature oxidation during initial cooling of the lavas are successfully isolated by progressive thermal and alternating field demagnetizations. We bin 28 site mean directions into 20 independent direction groups that pass the fold test, average secular variation, and show no rock magnetic or petrographic evidence of weathering. These data establish the first lava‐based paleomagnetic pole of Middle Triassic age for the northern Qiangtang block (62.2°N, 196.4°E, A95 = 5.6°). We compare this pole to coeval poles from the North China Block and Tarim and estimate that the remnant Paleo‐Tethys or Hoh‐Xil‐Songpan‐Ganzi Ocean could have been up to 700 km at ~240 Ma. A comparison of the Triassic latitudinal history between the northern Qiangtang block and the North China Block and Tarim shows that the closure of the Paleo‐Tethys Ocean most likely occurred during the latest Triassic. Our review of published Permian‐Triassic poles from the northern Qiangtang block show that the average south‐north plate velocity of the terrane decelerated from ~8.5 cm/yr during ~300–240 Ma to ~3.6 cm/yr during ~240–210 Ma. We suggest that an arc‐continent collision between the northern Qiangtang block and a Paleo‐Tethys or Yidun arc around or before 240 Ma contributed to this change in plate velocity.
Quantifying Postrift Lower Crustal Flow in the Northern Margin of the South China Sea
Authors: Dong Miao , Zhang Jian , Brune Sascha , Wu Shiguo , Fang Gui , Yu Lei
Published: February 2020

Postrift subsidence of sedimentary basins in the northern margin of the South China Sea exceeds more than 2,.000 m, which points toward anomalous postrift crustal deformation. Previous studies have proposed lower crustal flow to explain this observation; however, this hypothesis has never been confirmed quantitatively. Here, we calculate the initial crustal structure and thermal lithospheric thickness of the northern margin of the South China Sea on the basis of recently measured heat flow data, tectonic subsidence curves, and present‐day crustal structure. Crustal thinning processes during rifting and reduced thickness of the lower crust in the postrift are also calculated by the strain rate inversion method and thermal isostasy. Our results show that the initial (Early Cenozoic) crustal thickness of the northern margin of the South China Sea varies between 27.7 and 36.3 km, and the average proportion of the lower crust is 67%. The initial thermal lithospheric thicknesses decrease from ~118 to ~81 km from the shelf to the sea, which indicates that the offshore margin has high temperatures and low strength and is more easily stretched and deformed. The average stretching factor the margin during rifting is 1.24. The lower crust reduces in thickness during the postrift phase by values between 1 and 11 km, which increases gradually from the shelf to deep water. We suggest that the thicker weak crust and hot lithospheric structure therefore make positive contribution to the lower crustal flow, the direction of which is from the oceanic basin to the shelf.
Near‐Future Anthropogenic Aerosol Emission Scenarios and Their Direct Radiative Effects on the Present‐Day Characteristics of the Indian Summer Monsoon
Authors: Das Sushant , Giorgi Filippo , Giuliani Graziano , Dey Sagnik , Coppola Erika
Published: February 2020

Various air pollution mitigation scenarios have been proposed to improve the existing severe air quality problem over South Asia. Here we use a regional climate model to examine the response of the Indian summer monsoon (ISM) to two projected anthropogenic aerosol emission scenarios (a) short‐lived climate pollutant “mitigation” scenario (2020–2030) and (b) current legislation “baseline” scenario (2005–2015). In the mitigation scenario, carbonaceous aerosol (black carbon and organic carbon) emissions are projected to decrease while sulfate emissions are projected to increase. This is expected to result in a marginal increase in anthropogenic aerosol optical depth over India (by 0.04–0.08). The dominating effect of scattering aerosols over absorbing aerosols in the mitigation scenario is expected to enhance atmospheric cooling over the Indian landmass, which in turn dampens the latitudinal thermal gradient and leads to a weakening of the ISM. This effect also reduces dust emissions over the Arabian Peninsula and transport across the Arabian Sea, decreasing the influence of the dust radiative feedback on the ISM. In addition, the increased amounts of sulfate and decreased amounts of carbonaceous aerosols are expected to result in drier conditions over the central parts of India. We also show that changes in emissions of different types of anthropogenic aerosols induce a chain of feedbacks, which can modulate the space‐time variability of dust, thereby affecting the magnitude of dust radiative effects on the ISM dynamics. We conclude that it is critical from the policy point of view to implement strategies to cut the currently increasing sulfate emissions.
Improvement of the Irrigation Scheme in the ORCHIDEE Land Surface Model and Impacts of Irrigation on Regional Water Budgets Over China
Authors: Yin Z. , Wang X. H. , Ottlé C. , Zhou F. , Guimberteau M. , Polcher J. , Peng S. S. , Piao S. L. , Li L. , Bo Y. , Chen X. L. , Zhou X. D. , Kim H. , Ciais P.
Published: February 2020

In China, irrigation is widespread in 40.7% cropland to sustain crop yields. By its action on water cycle, irrigation affects water resources and local climate. In this study, a new irrigation module, including flood and paddy irrigation technologies, was developed in the ORCHIDEE‐CROP land surface model which describes crop phenology and growth in order to estimate irrigation demands over China from 1982 to 2014. Three simulations were performed including NI (no irrigation), IR (with irrigation limited by local water resources), and FI (with irrigation demand fulfilled). Observations and census data were used to validate the simulations. Results showed that the estimated irrigation water withdrawal (
) based on IR and FI scenarios bracket statistical
with fair spatial agreements (
;
). Improving irrigation efficiency was found to be the dominant factor leading to the observed
decrease. By comparing simulated total water storage (TWS) with GRACE observations, we found that simulated TWS with irrigation well explained the TWS variation over China. However, our simulation overestimated the seasonality of TWS in the Yangtze River Basin due to ignoring regulation of artificial reservoirs. The observed TWS decrease in the Yellow River Basin caused by groundwater depletion was not totally captured in our simulation, but it can be inferred by combining simulated TWS with census data. Moreover, we demonstrated that land use change tended to drive
locally but had little effect on total
over China due to water resources limitation.
Inducible expression of Wnt7b promotes bone formation in aged mice and enhances fracture healing
Authors: Song Deye , He Guangxu , Song Fangfang , Wang Zhepeng , Liu Xiaochen , Liao Lele , Ni Jiangdong , Silva Matthew J. , Long Fanxin
Published: February 2020

There remain unmet clinical needs for safe and effective bone anabolic therapies to treat aging-related osteoporosis and to improve fracture healing in cases of nonunion or delayed union. Wnt signaling has emerged as a promising target pathway for developing novel bone anabolic drugs. Although neutralizing antibodies against the Wnt antagonist sclerostin have been tested, Wnt ligands themselves have not been fully explored as a potential therapy. Previous work has demonstrated Wnt7b as an endogenous ligand upregulated during osteoblast differentiation, and that Wnt7b overexpression potently stimulates bone accrual in the mouse. The earlier studies however did not address whether Wnt7b could promote bone formation when specifically applied to aged or fractured bones. Here we have developed a doxycycline-inducible strategy where Wnt7b is temporally induced in the bones of aged mice or during fracture healing. We report that forced expression of Wnt7b for 1 month starting at 15 months of age greatly stimulated trabecular and endosteal bone formation, resulting in a marked increase in bone mass. We further tested the effect of Wnt7b on bone healing in a murine closed femur fracture model. Induced expression of Wnt7b at the onset of fracture did not affect the initial cartilage formation but promoted mineralization of the subsequent bone callus. Thus, targeted delivery of Wnt7b to aged bones or fracture sites may be explored as a potential therapy.
MARCH5-dependent degradation of MCL1/NOXA complexes defines susceptibility to antimitotic drug treatment
Authors: Haschka Manuel D. , Karbon Gerlinde , Soratroi Claudia , O’Neill Katelyn L. , Luo Xu , Villunger Andreas
Published: February 2020

Cells experiencing delays in mitotic progression are prone to undergo apoptosis unless they can exit mitosis before proapoptotic factors reach a critical threshold. Microtubule targeting agents (MTAs) arrest cells in mitosis and induce apoptotic cell death engaging the BCL2 network. Degradation of the antiapoptotic BCL2 family member MCL-1 is considered to set the time until onset of apoptosis upon MTA treatment. MCL1 degradation involves its interaction with one of its key binding partners, the proapoptotic BH3-only protein NOXA. Here, we report that the mitochondria-associated E3-ligase MARCH5, best known for its role in mitochondrial quality control and regulation of components of the mitochondrial fission machinery, controls the levels of MCL1/NOXA protein complexes in steady state as well as during mitotic arrest. Inhibition of MARCH5 function sensitizes cancer cells to the proapoptotic effects of MTAs by the accumulation of NOXA and primes cancer cells that may undergo slippage to escape death in mitosis to cell death in the next G1 phase. We propose that inhibition of MARCH5 may be a suitable strategy to sensitize cancer cells to antimitotic drug treatment.
Erythropoietin and its derivatives: from tissue protection to immune regulation
Authors: Peng Bo , Kong Gangcheng , Yang Cheng , Ming Yingzi
Published: February 2020

Erythropoietin (EPO) is an evolutionarily conserved hormone well documented for its erythropoietic role via binding the homodimeric EPO receptor (EPOR)2. In past decades, evidence has proved that EPO acts far beyond erythropoiesis. By binding the tissue-protective receptor (TPR), EPO suppresses proinflammatory cytokines, protects cells from apoptosis and promotes wound healing. Very recently, new data revealed that TPR is widely expressed on a variety of immune cells, and EPO could directly modulate their activation, differentiation and function. Notably, nonerythropoietic EPO derivatives, which mimic the structure of helix B within EPO, specifically bind TPR and show great potency in tissue protection and immune regulation. These small peptides prevent the cardiovascular side effects of EPO and are promising as clinical drugs. This review briefly introduces the receptors and tissue-protective effects of EPO and its derivatives and highlights their immunomodulatory functions and application prospects.
Ferroptosis: past, present and future
Authors: Li Jie , Cao Feng , Yin He-liang , Huang Zi-jian , Lin Zhi-tao , Mao Ning , Sun Bei , Wang Gang
Published: February 2020

Ferroptosis is a new type of cell death that was discovered in recent years and is usually accompanied by a large amount of iron accumulation and lipid peroxidation during the cell death process; the occurrence of ferroptosis is iron-dependent. Ferroptosis-inducing factors can directly or indirectly affect glutathione peroxidase through different pathways, resulting in a decrease in antioxidant capacity and accumulation of lipid reactive oxygen species (ROS) in cells, ultimately leading to oxidative cell death. Recent studies have shown that ferroptosis is closely related to the pathophysiological processes of many diseases, such as tumors, nervous system diseases, ischemia-reperfusion injury, kidney injury, and blood diseases. How to intervene in the occurrence and development of related diseases by regulating cell ferroptosis has become a hotspot and focus of etiological research and treatment, but the functional changes and specific molecular mechanisms of ferroptosis still need to be further explored. This paper systematically summarizes the latest progress in ferroptosis research, with a focus on providing references for further understanding of its pathogenesis and for proposing new targets for the treatment of related diseases.
Ferroptosis involves in intestinal epithelial cell death in ulcerative colitis
Authors: Xu Minyi , Tao Jin , Yang Yidong , Tan Siwei , Liu Huiling , Jiang Jie , Zheng Fengping , Wu Bin
Published: February 2020

Ferroptosis has recently emerged as an iron-dependent form of nonapoptotic cell death, which is also a regulated necrosis process and a response to tumor suppression. However, whether ferroptosis is involved in ulcerative colitis (UC) is unknown. The aims of this study were to investigate whether the ferroptosis is involved in UC, particularly intestinal epithelial cell (IEC) death, and to analyze the effect of the nuclear factor kappa Bp65 subunit (NF-κBp65) on ferroptosis. The gene expression of ferroptosis-related proteins was assessed in intestinal mucosal samples from human UC. The experimental model of UC was induced with dextran sulfate sodium (DSS). Ferroptosis of IECs was evaluated, the effect of NF-κBp65 on ferroptosis was analyzed by using IEC-specific NF-κBp65-deleted mice (p65IEC-KO), and the ferroptosis signaling pathway was investigated in vitro and in vivo. The results showed that ferroptosis was significantly induced in the IECs from UC patients and mice with colitis, and the ferroptosis was mediated by endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress signaling. The specific deletion of IEC NF-κBp65 clearly upregulated ferroptosis and exacerbated colitis, and the result showed that phosphorylated-NF-κBp65 significantly inhibited ER stress signaling by directly binding eukaryotic initiation factor 2α. These data indicate that ferroptosis contributes to UC via ER stress-mediated IEC cell death, and that NF-κBp65 phosphorylation suppresses ER stress-mediated IEC ferroptosis to alleviate UC. The results suggest that ferroptosis involves in IEC death in UC, NF-κBp65 play a critical role in the ferroptotic inhibition, and ferroptosis is a potential therapeutic target for UC.
A rare gain of function mutation in a wheat tandem kinase confers resistance to powdery mildew
Authors: Lu Ping , Guo Li , Wang Zhenzhong , Li Beibei , Li Jing , Li Yahui , Qiu Dan , Shi Wenqi , Yang Lijun , Wang Ning , Guo Guanghao , Xie Jingzhong , Wu Qiuhong , Chen Yongxing , Li Miaomiao , Zhang Huaizhi , Dong Lingli , Zhang Panpan , Zhu Keyu , Yu Dazhao , Zhang Yan , Deal Karin R. , Huo Naxin , Liu Cuimin , Luo Ming-Cheng , Dvorak Jan , Gu Yong Qiang , Li Hongjie , Liu Zhiyong
Published: February 2020

Powdery mildew, caused by Blumeria graminis f. sp. tritici (Bgt), is one of the most destructive diseases that pose a great threat to wheat production. Wheat landraces represent a rich source of powdery mildew resistance. Here, we report the map-based cloning of powdery mildew resistance gene Pm24 from Chinese wheat landrace Hulutou. It encodes a tandem kinase protein (TKP) with putative kinase-pseudokinase domains, designated WHEAT TANDEM KINASE 3 (WTK3). The resistance function of Pm24 was validated by transgenic assay, independent mutants, and allelic association analyses. Haplotype analysis revealed that a rare 6-bp natural deletion of lysine-glycine codons, endemic to wheat landraces of Shaanxi Province, China, in the kinase I domain (Kin I) of WTK3 is critical for the resistance function. Transgenic assay of WTK3 chimeric variants revealed that only the specific two amino acid deletion, rather than any of the single or more amino acid deletions, in the Kin I of WTK3 is responsible for gaining the resistance function of WTK3 against the Bgt fungus.
Familial/inherited cancer syndrome: a focus on the highly consanguineous Arab population
Authors: AlHarthi Fawz S. , Qari Alya , Edress Alaa , Abedalthagafi Malak
Published: February 2020

The study of hereditary cancer, which accounts for ~10% of cancer cases worldwide is an important subfield of oncology. Our understanding of hereditary cancers has greatly advanced with recent advances in sequencing technology, but as with any genetic trait, gene frequencies of cancer-associated mutations vary across populations, and most studies that have located hereditary cancer genes have been conducted on European or Asian populations. There is an urgent need to trace hereditary cancer genes across the Arab world. Hereditary disease is particularly prevalent among members of consanguineous populations, and consanguineous marriages are particularly common in the Arab world. There are also cultural and educational idiosyncrasies that differentiate Arab populations from other more thoroughly studied groups with respect to cancer awareness and treatment. Therefore, a review of the literature on hereditary cancers in this understudied population was undertaken. We report that BRCA mutations are not as prevalent among Arab breast cancer patients as they are among other ethnic groups, and therefore, other genes may play a more important role. A wide variety of germline inherited mutations that are associated with cancer are discussed, with particular attention to breast, ovarian, colorectal, prostate, and brain cancers. Finally, we describe the state of the profession of familial cancer genetic counselling in the Arab world, and the clinics and societies dedicated to its advances. We describe the complexities of genetic counselling that are specific to the Arab world. Understanding hereditary cancer is heavily dependent on understanding population-specific variations in cancer-associated gene frequencies.
Clozapine-induced transcriptional changes in the zebrafish brain
Authors: Viana Joana , Wildman Nick , Hannon Eilis , Farbos Audrey , Neill Paul O’ , Moore Karen , van Aerle Ronny , Paull Greg , Santos Eduarda , Mill Jonathan
Published: February 2020

Clozapine is an atypical antipsychotic medication that is used to treat schizophrenia patients who are resistant to other antipsychotic drugs. The molecular mechanisms mediating the effects of clozapine are not well understood and its use is often associated with severe side-effects. In this study, we exposed groups of wild-type zebrafish to two doses of clozapine (‘low’ (20 µg/L) and ‘high’ (70 µg/L)) over a 72-h period, observing dose-dependent effects on behaviour. Using RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) we identified multiple genes differentially expressed in the zebrafish brain following exposure to clozapine. Network analysis identified co-expression modules characterised by striking changes in module connectivity in response to clozapine, and these were enriched for regulatory pathways relevant to the etiology of schizophrenia. Our study highlights the utility of zebrafish as a model for assessing the molecular consequences of antipsychotic medications and identifies genomic networks potentially involved in schizophrenia.