Are the impacts of land use on warming underestimated in climate policy?

© The Author(s), 2017. This article is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License. The definitive version was published in Environmental Research Letters 12 (2017): 094016, doi:10.1088/1748-9326/aa836d.While carbon dioxide emissions from energy use must be the primary target of climate change mitigation efforts, land use and land cover change (LULCC) also represent an important source of climate forcing. In this study we compute time series of global surface temperature change separately for LULCC and non-LULCC sources (primarily fossil fuel burning), and show that because of the extra warming associated with the co-emission of methane and nitrous oxide with LULCC carbon dioxide emissions, and a co-emission of cooling aerosols with non-LULCC emissions of carbon dioxide, the linear relationship between cumulative carbon dioxide emissions and temperature has a two-fold higher slope for LULCC than for non-LULCC activities. Moreover, projections used in the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) for the rate of tropical land conversion in the future are relatively low compared to contemporary observations, suggesting that the future projections of land conversion used in the IPCC may underestimate potential impacts of LULCC. By including a ‘business as usual’ future LULCC scenario for tropical deforestation, we find that even if all non-LULCC emissions are switched off in 2015, it is likely that 1.5 ◦C of warming relative to the preindustrial era will occur by 2100. Thus, policies to reduce LULCC emissions must remain a high priority if we are to achieve the low to medium temperature change targets proposed as a part of the Paris Agreement. Future studies using integrated assessment models and other climate simulations should include more realistic deforestation rates and the integration of policy that would reduce LULCC emissions.We would like to acknowledge the support from grants NSF-ATM1049033, NSF-CCF-1522054, NSFAGS- 1048827 and DOE-SC0016362, DOE Office of Science Biogeochemical Cycles Feedbacks and ACME Science Focus Areas as well as assistance from the Atkinson Center for a Sustainable Futur

Accelerated 3D multi‐channel B 1 + mapping at 7 T for the brain and heart

Purpose: To acquire accurate volumetric multi‐channel B 1 + $${\mathrm{B}}_1^{+}$$ maps in under 14 s whole‐brain or 23 heartbeats whole‐heart for parallel transmit (pTx) applications at 7 T. Theory and Methods: We evaluate the combination of three recently proposed techniques. The acquisition of multi‐channel transmit array B 1 + $${\mathrm{B}}_1^{+}$$ maps is accelerated using transmit low rank (TxLR) with absolute B 1 + $${\mathrm{B}}_1^{+}$$ mapping (Sandwich) acquired in a B 1 + $${\mathrm{B}}_1^{+}$$ time‐interleaved acquisition of modes (B1TIAMO) fashion. Simulations using synthetic body images derived from Sim4Life were used to test the achievable acceleration for small scan matrices of 24 × 24. Next, we evaluated the method by retrospectively undersampling a fully sampled B 1 + $${\mathrm{B}}_1^{+}$$ library of nine subjects in the brain. Finally, Cartesian undersampled phantom and in vivo images were acquired in both the brain of three subjects (8Tx/32 receive [Rx]) and the heart of another three subjects (8Tx/8Rx) at 7 T. Results: Simulation and in vivo results show that volumetric multi‐channel B 1 + $${\mathrm{B}}_1^{+}$$ maps can be acquired using acceleration factors of 4 in the body, reducing the acquisition time to within 23 heartbeats, which was previously not possible. In silico heart simulations demonstrated a RMS error to the fully sampled native resolution ground truth of 4.2° when combined in first‐order circularly polarized mode (mean flip angle 66°) at an acceleration factor of 4. The 14 s 3D B 1 + $${\mathrm{B}}_1^{+}$$ maps acquired in the brain have a RMS error of 1.9° to the fully sampled (mean flip angle 86°). Conclusion: The proposed method is demonstrated as a fast pTx calibration technique in the brain and a promising method for pTx calibration in the body

Towards the “Baby Connectome”: Mapping the Structural Connectivity of the Newborn Brain

Defining the structural and functional connectivity of the human brain (the human “connectome”) is a basic challenge in neuroscience. Recently, techniques for noninvasively characterizing structural connectivity networks in the adult brain have been developed using diffusion and high-resolution anatomic MRI. The purpose of this study was to establish a framework for assessing structural connectivity in the newborn brain at any stage of development and to show how network properties can be derived in a clinical cohort of six-month old infants sustaining perinatal hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy (HIE). Two different anatomically unconstrained parcellation schemes were proposed and the resulting network metrics were correlated with neurological outcome at 6 months. Elimination and correction of unreliable data, automated parcellation of the cortical surface, and assembling the large-scale baby connectome allowed an unbiased study of the network properties of the newborn brain using graph theoretic analysis. In the application to infants with HIE, a trend to declining brain network integration and segregation was observed with increasing neuromotor deficit scores

A model for the atomic-scale structure of a dense, nonequilibrium fluid: the homogeneous cooling state of granular fluids

It is shown that the equilibrium Generalized Mean Spherical Model of fluid structure may be extended to nonequilibrium states with equation of state information used in equilibrium replaced by an exact condition on the two-body distribution function. The model is applied to the homogeneous cooling state of granular fluids and upon comparison to molecular dynamics simulations is found to provide an accurate picture of the pair distribution function.Comment: 29 pages, 11 figures Revision corrects formatting of the figure

Surface superconductivity and Hc3H_{c3} in UPt3_3

Surface superconductivity is studied within Ginzburg-Landau theory for two classes of models for the order parameter of UPt$_{3}$. The first class assumes two independent one-dimensional order parameters ($AB$ models), while the second assumes a single two-dimensional order parameter ($E$ models). $H_{c3}$ is calculated for all cases where the surface normal and magnetic field lie along high symmetry directions. Assuming specular reflection, it is found that except when ${\bf H}\parallel{\bf\hat c}$, the ratio $H_{c3}/H_{c2}$ is either unity or equals its `s-wave' value 1.695, although the precise $H_{c3}$ vs. $T$ curve predicted by the $AB$ and $E$ models differs for various geometries. The results are compared with recent experiments, and predictions are made for future experiments.Comment: 26 pages, with 6 figure

Religion and HIV in Tanzania: Influence of Religious Beliefs on HIV stigma, Disclosure, and Treatment Attitudes.

Religion shapes everyday beliefs and activities, but few studies have examined its associations with attitudes about HIV. This exploratory study in Tanzania probed associations between religious beliefs and HIV stigma, disclosure, and attitudes toward antiretroviral (ARV) treatment. A self-administered survey was distributed to a convenience sample of parishioners (n = 438) attending Catholic, Lutheran, and Pentecostal churches in both urban and rural areas. The survey included questions about religious beliefs, opinions about HIV, and knowledge and attitudes about ARVs. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed to assess how religion was associated with perceptions about HIV, HIV treatment, and people living with HIV/AIDS. Results indicate that shame-related HIV stigma is strongly associated with religious beliefs such as the belief that HIV is a punishment from God (p < 0.01) or that people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) have not followed the Word of God (p < 0.001). Most participants (84.2%) said that they would disclose their HIV status to their pastor or congregation if they became infected. Although the majority of respondents (80.8%) believed that prayer could cure HIV, almost all (93.7%) said that they would begin ARV treatment if they became HIV-infected. The multivariate analysis found that respondents' hypothetical willingness to begin ARV treatme was not significantly associated with the belief that prayer could cure HIV or with other religious factors. Refusal of ARV treatment was instead correlated with lack of secondary schooling and lack of knowledge about ARVs. The decision to start ARVs hinged primarily on education-level and knowledge about ARVs rather than on religious factors. Research results highlight the influence of religious beliefs on HIV-related stigma and willingness to disclose, and should help to inform HIV-education outreach for religious groups

Circulating Inflammatory and Oxidative Stress Responses to Steady-State Moderate-Intensity and High-Intensity Interval Exercise in Mid-Spectrum Chronic Kidney Disease

Inflammation and oxidative stress can be potent modulators of vascular function. These factors may transiently respond to moderate-intensity steady state exercise (SSE) in a manner that improves post-exercise vascular function in healthy adults. Whether exercise imparts similar effects in adults with Stage 3 or 4 chronic kidney disease (CKD) remains understudied. Moreover, a comparison of SSE and high-intensity interval exercise (HIIE) may add to clinically-relevant findings for improving vascular function in mid-spectrum CKD. PURPOSE: To determine the influence of SSE and a comparable amount of HIIE on post-exercise inflammation and oxidative stress in patients diagnosed with secondary Stage 3 or 4 CKD. METHODS: Twenty participants (n = 6 men; n = 14 women; age 62.0 + 9.9 yr; weight 80.9 + 16.2 kg; body fat 37.3 + 8.5% of weight; VO2max 19.4 + 4.7 ml/kg/min) completed 30 min of SSE at 65% VO2reserve or HIIE by treadmill walking (90% and 20% of VO2reserve in 3:2 min ratio) in a randomized crossover design. Both exercise conditions averaged ~ 65% VO2reserve. Blood samples were obtained by the same technician under standardized conditions just before, 1hr and 24hrs after exercise. Total antioxidant capacity (TAC), paraoxonase1 (PON1), asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA), 3nitrotyrosine (3NT) and interleukin-6 (IL6) responses were analyzed using 2 (condition) by 3 (sample point) repeated measures ANOVAs. RESULTS: Relative to pre-exercise measures: TAC increased by 4.3% 24hr after exercise (p = 0.012). PON1 was maintained 1hr and elevated by 6.1% 24hr after SSE, but not HIIE (p = 0.035). When corrected for plasma volume shifts, ADMA increased 30 ng/ml at 1hr but was 58 ng/ml lower 24hrs after exercise (p = 0.0006). 3NT and IL6 remained stable in the hours after exercise (p \u3e 0.05). CONCLUSION: Modest inflammatory and oxidative stress marker responses to either SSE and HIIE may contribute to improved vascular function in mid-spectrum CKD

The Paranormal is (Still) Normal: The Sociological Implications of a Survey of Paranormal Experiences in Great Britain

Historically, there has been limited sociological interest in the paranormal and no systematic study of reported paranormal experiences. There are also few medium-to-large-scale survey results with nationally representative populations focusing on paranormal experiences. This paper provides details of an exploratory survey conducted in 2009 with a nationally representative sample of 4,096 adults aged 16 years and over across Great Britain. Our findings show that 37% of British adults report at least one paranormal experience and that women, those who are middle-aged or individuals resident in the South West are more likely to report such experiences. These results establish incidence levels of reported paranormal experiences in contemporary Britain. We argue also that they merit a more sustained sociological consideration of the paranormal. In this respect we renew and update the robust justification and call for serious research positioning the paranormal as a social phenomenon, originally proposed well over thirty years ago by Greeley (1975)

Mechanisms and controlling characteristics of the catalytic oxidation of methane

Methane dissociation and oxygen activation have been found to be structure sensitive on different single crystal palladium surfaces. Geometrically restricted surfaces on Pd single crystal and polycrystalline surfaces using tetrachloroethylene and pentamethylcyclopentasiloxane have been formed and compared with surface structures formed using dichloromethane and chlorine. The adsorption and activation of O{sub 2}, CO, and H{sub 2}O on clean Pd surfaces and those containing the surface ensembles have also been investigated. To interpret high-resolution angle-resolved x-ray photoelectron spectra (HR AR-XPS), a new self-modeling method of resolving HR-XPS spectra was developed and applied to the experimental spectra. The effects of electron-accepting Cl, O{sub 2}, and H{sub 2}O adsobated on Cs/MoS{sub 2} were determined