Policies drain the North China Plain: Agricultural policy and groundwater depletion in Luancheng County, 1949-2000

Agricultural production / Groundwater / Aquifers / Water shortage / Irigation efficiency / Agricultural policy / Crop production / Wastewaters / Water management / Hydrology / Economic development / Crop yield / Cotton / Wheat / Sprinkler irrigation / Water conservation / Water use efficiency / Pumping / Water balance / Vegetables / Rural economy / Irrigated framing

Infrared spectroscopic identification of the C–O stretching vibration associated with the tyrosyl Z⋅ and D⋅ radicals in photosystem II2Supported by NIH GM 43272 (B.A.B.), NSF MCB 94-18164 (B.A.B.), a graduate minority supplement to NIH GM 43273 (I.A.), a graduate fellowship from Committee on Institutional Cooperation, University of Minnesota (I.A.), and a summer research fellowship from Dupont, Central Research and Development, administered through the University of Minnesota (E.T.G.).2

AbstractPhotosystem II (PSII) is a multisubunit complex, which catalyzes the photo-induced oxidation of water and reduction of plastoquinone. Difference Fourier-transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy can be used to obtain information about the structural changes accompanying oxidation of the redox-active tyrosines, D and Z, in PSII. The focus of our work is the assignment of the 1478 cm−1 vibration, which is observable in difference infrared spectra associated with these tyrosyl radicals. The first set of FT-IR experiments is performed with continuous illumination. Use of cyanobacterial strains, in which isotopomers of tyrosine have been incorporated, supports the assignment of a positive 1478/1477 cm−1 mode to the C–O stretching vibration of the tyrosyl radicals. In negative controls, the intensity of this spectral feature decreases. The negative controls involve the use of inhibitors or site-directed mutants, in which the oxidation of Z or D is eliminated, respectively. The assignment of the 1478/1477 cm−1 vibrational mode is also based on control EPR and fluorescence measurements, which demonstrate that no detectable Fe2+QA− signal is generated under FT-IR experimental conditions. Additionally, the difference infrared spectrum, associated with formation of the S2QA− state, argues against the assignment of the positive 1478 cm−1 line to the C–O vibration of QA−. In the second set of FT-IR experiments, single turnover flashes are employed, and infrared difference spectra are recorded as a function of time after photoexcitation. Comparison to kinetic transients generated in control EPR experiments shows that the decay of the 1477 cm−1 line precisely parallels the decay of the D⋅ EPR signal. Taken together, these two experimental approaches strongly support the assignment of a component of the 1478/1477 cm−1 vibrational lines to the C–O stretching modes of tyrosyl radicals in PSII. Possible reasons for the apparently contradictory results of Hienerwadel et al. (Biochemistry 35 (1996) 15447–15460 and Biochemistry 36 (1997) 14705–14711) are discussed

Gender differences in characteristics of violent and sexual victimization in patients with psychosis:a cross-sectional study

Abstract Introduction Various studies have demonstrated that individuals with a psychotic disorder are at an increased risk of becoming a victim of crime. Little is known about gender differences in victimization types and in specific characteristics of victimization (e.g., perpetrator, location or disclosure). Knowledge on characteristics of victimization would provide clinicians with more insight which may be especially useful for tailoring interventions. The aim of this study is to examine gender differences in characteristics of violent and sexual victimization in patients with a psychotic disorder. Methods Information on violent (threats, physical abuse) and sexual victimization (harassment, assault) was assessed in 482 individuals with a psychotic disorder who received mental health care. Patients were recruited through a routine outcome monitoring study and a clinical trial. Results Men reported more threats with violence (20.7% vs. 10.5%, x2 = 7.68, p = 0.01), whereas women reported more sexual assault (13.3% vs. 3.6%, x2 = 15.43, p < 0.001). For violent victimization, women were more likely than men to be victimized by a partner, friend or family member (52.9% vs. 30.6%) as opposed to a stranger (11.8% vs. 40.3%; O.R. = 52.49) and to be victimized at home (60.0% vs. 29.3%) as opposed to on the street or elsewhere (40.0% vs. 70.3%; O.R. = 0.06). For sexual victimization, there was no difference in location and perpetrator between men and women. For sexual victimization and physical violence, no differences in disclosure were found, but women were more likely not to disclose threats with violence or to disclose threats to a professional or police (52.9% vs. 45.2%; O.R. = 30.33). All analyses were controlled for age, diagnosis and employment. Discussion Gender patterns of victimization types and characteristics are similar for individuals with a psychotic disorder in comparison to the general population. Men were at higher risk of violent victimization, whereas women were at higher risk for sexual victimization. Men were more likely to become victimized in the streets or elsewhere by a stranger, whereas women seemed to be more often victimized at home by a partner, friend or a family member. Future studies may tailor interventions preventing victimization in psychosis according to gender

The dynamics of social activation and suspiciousness in individuals at ultra-high risk for psychosis

INTRODUCTION: Social functioning is often impaired during the ultra-high risk (UHR) phase for psychosis, but group-level studies regarding the role of social functioning in transition to psychosis are inconsistent. Exploring the inter-individual differences which underlie the association between social functioning and psychotic symptoms in this phase could yield new insights.OBJECTIVE: To examine the idiographic and dynamic association between social activation and suspiciousness in individuals at UHR for psychosis using time-series analysis.METHODS: Twenty individuals at UHR for psychosis completed a diary application every evening for 90 days. Two items on social activation (quantity: 'time spent alone' and quality: 'feeling supported') and two items on suspiciousness ('feeling suspicious' and 'feeling disliked') were used. Time series (T = 90) of each individual were analyzed using vector auto regression analysis (VAR), to estimate the lagged (over 1 day) effect of social activation on suspiciousness, and vice versa, as well as their contemporaneous associations.RESULTS: Heterogeneous person-specific associations between social activation and suspiciousness were found in terms of strength, direction and temporal aspects.CONCLUSIONS: The association between social activation and suspiciousness differs amongst individuals who are at UHR for psychosis. These findings underline the importance of tailoring psychosocial interventions to the individual. Future studies may examine whether using results of single-subject studies in clinical practice to personalize treatment goals leads to better treatment outcomes.</p

Analytical approximation for the recession of a sloping aquifer

An approximation is obtained for the recession of a sloping aquifer. The analytical approximation can provide a useful tool to analyze data and obtain physical properties of the aquifer. In contrast to the case of a horizontal aquifer, when plotting the time derivative of the flux versus the flux on a log scale, the result shows that the flux derivative reaches a minimum value and that the curve can have a slope of unity as often observed. Illustration of the application of the analytical results to the Mahantango Creek data is also discussed

Impact of immunosuppressive treatment and type of SARS-CoV-2 vaccine on antibody levels after three vaccinations in patients with chronic kidney disease or kidney replacement therapy

Background. Patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) or kidney replacement therapy demonstrate lower antibody levels after severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) vaccination compared with healthy controls. In a prospective cohort, we analysed the impact of immunosuppressive treatment and type of vaccine on antibody levels after three SARS-CoV-2 vaccinations. Methods. Control subjects (n = 186), patients with CKD G4/5 (n = 400), dialysis patients (n = 480) and kidney transplant recipients (KTR) (n = 2468) were vaccinated with either mRNA-1273 (Moderna), BNT162b2 (Pfizer-BioNTech) or AZD1222 (Oxford/AstraZeneca) in the Dutch SARS-CoV-2 vaccination programme. Third vaccination data were available in a subgroup of patients (n = 1829). Blood samples and questionnaires were obtained 1 month after the second and third vaccination. Primary endpoint was the antibody level in relation to immunosuppressive treatment and type of vaccine. Secondary endpoint was occurrence of adverse events after vaccination. Results. Antibody levels after two and three vaccinations were lower in patients with CKD G4/5 and dialysis patients with immunosuppressive treatment compared with patients without immunosuppressive treatment. After two vaccinations, we observed lower antibody levels in KTR using mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) compared with KTR not using MMF [20 binding antibody unit (BAU)/mL (3-113) vs 340 BAU/mL (50-1492), P &lt; .001]. Seroconversion was observed in 35% of KTR using MMF, compared with 75% of KTR not using MMF. Of the KTR who used MMF and did not seroconvert, eventually 46% seroconverted after a third vaccination. mRNA-1273 induces higher antibody levels as well as a higher frequency of adverse events compared with BNT162b2 in all patient groups. Conclusions. Immunosuppressive treatment adversely affects the antibody levels after SARS-CoV-2 vaccination in patients with CKD G4/5, dialysis patients and KTR. mRNA-1273 vaccine induces a higher antibody level and higher frequency of adverse events.</p