Factors influencing householder self-evacuation in two Australian bushfires

The thesis investigated householder self-evacuation decision-making during bushfires in the Perth and Adelaide Hills in 2014 and 2015. It explored the factors that influenced householders’ decisions to evacuate, identified factors that predict self-evacuation and established the characteristics of self-evacuators. The Protective Action Decision Model (PADM) provided a conceptual framework for the research. Its theoretical and analytical usefulness in an Australian context, was assessed. A mixed methods research strategy was used involving quantitative telephone surveys of 457 bushfire-affected participants and face-to-face interviews of 109 participants in 59 households. The study concluded that environmental and social cues and warnings and householders’ perceptions of the threat, of hazard adjustments and of other stakeholders, influenced self-evacuation decision-making. Protective action perceptions, particularly the effectiveness of evacuating or not evacuating in protecting personal safety or property, were most important in predicting self-evacuation. Receipt of official warnings and the perception of likely impact of the bushfire on property were also important predictors. Undertaking long-run hazard adjustments, although not predictive of self-evacuation, was pivotal in shaping perceptions of the effectiveness of evacuating and remaining in protecting personal safety and property and indirectly influenced evacuation decisions. Seven archetypes that characterised householders’ self-evacuation attitudes and behaviour were identified. These included Threat, and Responsibility Deniers, Dependent, and Considered Evacuators, Community Guided and Experienced Independents all who took different decisional ‘rules of thumb’ and routes toward evacuating or remaining . The PADM needs to be split into two separate models to incorporate the influence of long-run hazard adjustments on protective action decision-making in an Australian bushfire. The findings suggest that future research on those who wait and see during a bushfire should take account of their decisional rules of thumb and that design and targeting of Australian bushfire safety policy should better account for self-evacuator characteristics

Androgen Receptor Signaling Regulates DNA Repair in Prostate Cancers

We demonstrate that the androgen receptor (AR) regulates a transcriptional program of DNA repair genes that promotes prostate cancer radioresistance, providing a potential mechanism by which androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) synergizes with ionizing radiation (IR). Using a model of castration-resistant prostate cancer, we show that second-generation antiandrogen therapy results in downregulation of DNA repair genes. Next, we demonstrate that primary prostate cancers display a significant spectrum of AR transcriptional output which correlates with expression of a set of DNA repair genes. Employing RNA-seq and ChIP-seq, we define which of these DNA repair genes are both induced by androgen and represent direct AR targets. We establish that prostate cancer cells treated with IR plus androgen demonstrate enhanced DNA repair and decreased DNA damage and furthermore that antiandrogen treatment causes increased DNA damage and decreased clonogenic survival. Finally, we demonstrate that antiandrogen treatment results in decreased classical non-homologous end joining

RNA-Seq of Human Neurons Derived from iPS Cells Reveals Candidate Long Non-Coding RNAs Involved in Neurogenesis and Neuropsychiatric Disorders

Genome-wide expression analysis using next generation sequencing (RNA-Seq) provides an opportunity for in-depth molecular profiling of fundamental biological processes, such as cellular differentiation and malignant transformation. Differentiating human neurons derived from induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) provide an ideal system for RNA-Seq since defective neurogenesis caused by abnormalities in transcription factors, DNA methylation, and chromatin modifiers lie at the heart of some neuropsychiatric disorders. As a preliminary step towards applying next generation sequencing using neurons derived from patient-specific iPSCs, we have carried out an RNA-Seq analysis on control human neurons. Dramatic changes in the expression of coding genes, long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs), pseudogenes, and splice isoforms were seen during the transition from pluripotent stem cells to early differentiating neurons. A number of genes that undergo radical changes in expression during this transition include candidates for schizophrenia (SZ), bipolar disorder (BD) and autism spectrum disorders (ASD) that function as transcription factors and chromatin modifiers, such as POU3F2 and ZNF804A, and genes coding for cell adhesion proteins implicated in these conditions including NRXN1 and NLGN1. In addition, a number of novel lncRNAs were found to undergo dramatic changes in expression, one of which is HOTAIRM1, a regulator of several HOXA genes during myelopoiesis. The increase we observed in differentiating neurons suggests a role in neurogenesis as well. Finally, several lncRNAs that map near SNPs associated with SZ in genome wide association studies also increase during neuronal differentiation, suggesting that these novel transcripts may be abnormally regulated in a subgroup of patients

Evaluation of the Techno-Economic Feasibility for Excavated Soil Recycling in Shenzhen, China

The existing recycling chain of construction and demolition waste generally considers soil inert solid waste to be sent to landfills. As the most significant component of C&D (construction and demolition) waste, excavated soil occupies approximately half of landfills. Currently, excavated soil is a big issue in China’s Pearl River Delta. This paper investigated the composition and quantity of excavated soil in Shenzhen, China. In particular, the potential market demand for critical recycled sand (a key recycled material extracted from the excavated soil) was estimated. Furthermore, the technical analysis for excavated soil recycling takes an entire excavated soil recycling process’s perspective, delving into the process flow for the excavated soil and the recycled sand’s physicomechanical properties. Then, two mainstream and legitimate models of excavated soil recycling were considered: stationary plant recycling and on-site recycling. Each model’s financial and economic viability was assessed. The financial analysis focuses on investors’ perspectives, whose primary goal is to assess their investment profitability. The economic feasibility of the excavated soil stationary plant recycling and on-site recycling models in Shenzhen were then compared via benefit and cost analysis during the lifetime of the recycling equipment. A comprehensive, complete cost calculation and investment analysis revealed that Shenzhen’s excavated soil recycling business is profitable under the current market conditions. This study investigates scaled and effective excavated soil recycling and gives a technically and economically viable reference to the global excavated soil issue

Evaluation of the Techno-Economic Feasibility for Excavated Soil Recycling in Shenzhen, China

The existing recycling chain of construction and demolition waste generally considers soil inert solid waste to be sent to landfills. As the most significant component of C&D (construction and demolition) waste, excavated soil occupies approximately half of landfills. Currently, excavated soil is a big issue in China’s Pearl River Delta. This paper investigated the composition and quantity of excavated soil in Shenzhen, China. In particular, the potential market demand for critical recycled sand (a key recycled material extracted from the excavated soil) was estimated. Furthermore, the technical analysis for excavated soil recycling takes an entire excavated soil recycling process’s perspective, delving into the process flow for the excavated soil and the recycled sand’s physicomechanical properties. Then, two mainstream and legitimate models of excavated soil recycling were considered: stationary plant recycling and on-site recycling. Each model’s financial and economic viability was assessed. The financial analysis focuses on investors’ perspectives, whose primary goal is to assess their investment profitability. The economic feasibility of the excavated soil stationary plant recycling and on-site recycling models in Shenzhen were then compared via benefit and cost analysis during the lifetime of the recycling equipment. A comprehensive, complete cost calculation and investment analysis revealed that Shenzhen’s excavated soil recycling business is profitable under the current market conditions. This study investigates scaled and effective excavated soil recycling and gives a technically and economically viable reference to the global excavated soil issue

Petrogenesis of the Newly Discovered Early Cretaceous Peralkaline Granitic Dikes in Baerzhe Area of Jarud Banner, Inner Mongolia: Implications for Deciphering Magma Evolution

The super-large Baerzhe Be–Nb–Zr–REE deposit in NE China is hosted in the Early Cretaceous peralkaline granites. In this work, the newly discovered granitic dikes developed around the Baerzhe deposit were studied for the first time, focusing on their genesis and genetic relationships with the Baerzhe peralkaline granites. Zircon U-Pb dating of these granitic rocks (including the granite porphyry, rhyolite and miarolitic granite) yielded Early Cretaceous ages of 125–121 Ma. Their mineral assemblages and geochemical features suggest that they share similar features with the peralkaline A-type granites. Their geochemical data and zircon Hf isotopic compositions (εHf(t) = +3.4 to +10.5) indicate that the peralkaline granitic rocks were formed by the partial melting of dehydrated charnockite with extensive plagioclase crystal fractionation, which resulted in a peralkaline affinity. There are two types of distinct zircons in the studied samples: the type I zircon with a bright rim and dark core, which may represent a cumulate mineral phase captured together with aggregates during eruption, and the type II zircon with a higher evolution degree crystallized in the residual melts. Combined with the simulation results using whole-rock trace elements, we proposed that the peralkaline granitic dikes represent more evolved interstitial melts than the Baerzhe granitic magma. In the Early Cretaceous extensional tectonic settings, mantle-derived magma upwelled, which induced the melting of the lower crust and prolonged the evolutionary process of the magma crystal mush

Petrogenesis of the Newly Discovered Early Cretaceous Peralkaline Granitic Dikes in Baerzhe Area of Jarud Banner, Inner Mongolia: Implications for Deciphering Magma Evolution

The super-large Baerzhe Be–Nb–Zr–REE deposit in NE China is hosted in the Early Cretaceous peralkaline granites. In this work, the newly discovered granitic dikes developed around the Baerzhe deposit were studied for the first time, focusing on their genesis and genetic relationships with the Baerzhe peralkaline granites. Zircon U-Pb dating of these granitic rocks (including the granite porphyry, rhyolite and miarolitic granite) yielded Early Cretaceous ages of 125–121 Ma. Their mineral assemblages and geochemical features suggest that they share similar features with the peralkaline A-type granites. Their geochemical data and zircon Hf isotopic compositions (εHf(t) = +3.4 to +10.5) indicate that the peralkaline granitic rocks were formed by the partial melting of dehydrated charnockite with extensive plagioclase crystal fractionation, which resulted in a peralkaline affinity. There are two types of distinct zircons in the studied samples: the type I zircon with a bright rim and dark core, which may represent a cumulate mineral phase captured together with aggregates during eruption, and the type II zircon with a higher evolution degree crystallized in the residual melts. Combined with the simulation results using whole-rock trace elements, we proposed that the peralkaline granitic dikes represent more evolved interstitial melts than the Baerzhe granitic magma. In the Early Cretaceous extensional tectonic settings, mantle-derived magma upwelled, which induced the melting of the lower crust and prolonged the evolutionary process of the magma crystal mush

Expression and Characterization of a Potent Long-Acting GLP-1 Receptor Agonist, GLP-1-IgG2σ-Fc.

Human GLP-1 (glucagon-like peptide-1) can produce a remarkable improvement in glycemic control in patients with type 2 diabetes. However, its clinical benefits are limited by its short half-life, which is less than 2 min because of its small size and rapid enzymatic inactivation by dipeptidyl peptidase IV. We engineered GLP-1-IgG2σ-Fc, a 68-kDa fusion protein linking a variant human GLP-1 (A8G/G26E/R36G) to a human IgG2σ constant heavy-chain. A stably transfected Chinese hamster ovary cell line was obtained using electroporation. Western blotting showed that the expressed protein was immunoreactive to both GLP-1 and IgG antibodies. GLP-1-IgG2σ-Fc stimulated insulin secretion from INS-1 cells in a dose- and glucose-dependent manner and increased insulin mRNA expression. The half-life of GLP-1-IgG2σ-Fc in cynomolgus monkeys was approximately 57.1 ± 4.5 h. In the KKAy mouse model of diabetes, one intraperitoneal injection of GLP-1-IgG2σ-Fc (1 mg/kg) reduced blood glucose levels for 5 days. A 4-week repeat-administration study identified sustained effects on blood glucose levels. Oral glucose tolerance tests conducted at the beginning and end of this 4-week period showed that GLP-1-IgG2σ-Fc produced a stable glucose lowering effect. In addition, KKAy mice treated with GLP-1-IgG2σ-Fc showed statistically significant weight loss from day 23. In conclusion, these properties of GLP-1-IgG2σ-Fc demonstrated that it represented a potential long-acting GLP-1 receptor agonist for the treatment of type 2 diabetes

Ages and petrogenesis of the Late Mesozoic igneous rocks associated with the Xiaokele porphyry Cu-Mo deposit, NE China and their geodynamic implications

The genesis of igneous rocks associated with the newly discovered Xiaokele porphyry Cu-Mo deposit, located in the eastern Erguna Block, NE China, can give insights into the regional geodynamic evolution during the Late Mesozoic. Several ore-bodies have been identified in a granodiorite porphyry stock, which intruded the rhyolite and was subsequently intruded by diorite porphyry and granite porphyry. The U-Pb ages of zircons from rhyolite, mineralized granodiorite porphyry, diorite porphyry and granite porphyry associated with the Xiaokele deposit are 152.5 +/- 1.7, 150.0 +/- 1.6, 147.9 +/- 1.3, and 123.2 +/- 1.7 Ma, respectively. The rhyolite and granite porphyry have high SiO2 and low MgO, Cr, Co, and Ni contents. Their isotopic data show negative (epsilon Nd)(t) values of - 4.76 to - 0.87, initial Sr-87/Sr-86 ratios of 0.7066 to 0.7134 and positive zircon (epsilon Hf)(t) values of 0.33-5.56, indicating that they were derived from a basaltic lower continental crust. The mineralized granodiorite porphyry is characterized by high Sr/Y values and low Y(3.7-8.0) contents, showing adakite affinity. The low K2O/Na2O (0.51-0.7) ratios, high CaO contents, weakly negative (epsilon Nd)(t) ( -1.17 to - 0.27), and low zircon (epsilon Hf)(t) (1.49-5.4) values from the adakitic samples indicate that they were derived from the partial melting of an altered oceanic slab together with assimilation of mantle peridotite and crustal materials. The 148 Ma diorite porphyry has high Mg# (51-58), weakly negative and positive (epsilon Nd)(t) ( - 0.09 to 0.01) values, and lower (Sr-87/Sr-86)(i) (0.7055-0.7057) ratios, suggesting an enriched mantle wedge source. Considering the late Mesozoic regional tectonic evolution of the Erguna Block and adjacent area, we propose that the formation of the Xiaokele deposit is linked to the southward flat -slab subduction of the Mongol-Okhotsk oceanic plate during the Later Jurassic-Early Cretaceous