Eolian dust dispersal patterns since the last glacial period in eastern Central Asia: insights from a loess-paleosol sequence in the Ili Basin

The extensive loess deposits of the Eurasian midlatitudes provide important terrestrial archives of Quaternary climatic change. As yet, however, loess records in Central Asia are poorly understood. Here we investigate the grain size and magnetic characteristics of loess from the Nilka (NLK) section in the Ili Basin of eastern Central Asia. Weak pedogenesis suggested by frequency-dependent magnetic susceptibility (chi fd%) and magnetic susceptibility (MS) peaks in primary loess suggest that MS is more strongly influenced by allogenetic magnetic minerals than pedogenesis, and may therefore be used to indicate wind strength. This is supported by the close correlation between variations in MS and proportions of the sand-sized fraction. To further explore the temporal variability in dust transport patterns, we identified three grain size end-members (EM1, mode size 47.5 mu m; EM2, 33.6 mu m; EM3, 18.9 mu m) which represent distinct aerodynamic environments. EM1 and EM2 are inferred to represent grain size fractions transported from proximal sources in short-term, near-surface suspension during dust outbreaks. EM3 appears to represent a continuous background dust fraction under non-dust storm conditions. Of the three end-members, EM1 is most likely the most sensitive recorder of wind strength. We compare our EM1 proportions with mean grain size from the Jingyuan section in the Chinese loess plateau, and assess these in the context of modern and Holocene climate data. Our research suggests that the Siberian High pressure system is the dominant influence on wind dynamics, resulting in loess deposition in the eastern Ili Basin. Six millennial-scale cooling (Heinrich) events can be identified in the NLK loess records. Our grain size data support the hypothesis that the Siberian High acts as teleconnection between the climatic systems of the North Atlantic and East Asia in the high northern latitudes, but not for the mid-latitude westerlies

Evidence for Two Modes of Synergistic Induction of Apoptosis by Mapatumumab and Oxaliplatin in Combination with Hyperthermia in Human Colon Cancer Cells

Colorectal cancer is the third leading cause of cancer-related mortality in the world-- the main cause of death from colorectal cancer is hepatic metastases, which can be treated with isolated hepatic perfusion (IHP). Searching for the most clinically relevant approaches for treating colorectal metastatic disease by isolated hepatic perfusion (IHP), we developed the application of oxaliplatin concomitantly with hyperthermia and humanized death receptor 4 (DR4) antibody mapatumumab (Mapa), and investigated the molecular mechanisms of this multimodality treatment in human colon cancer cell lines CX-1 and HCT116 as well as human colon cancer stem cells Tu-12, Tu-21 and Tu-22. We showed here, in this study, that the synergistic effect of the multimodality treatment-induced apoptosis was caspase dependent and activated death signaling via both the extrinsic apoptotic pathway and the intrinsic pathway. Death signaling was activated by c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) signaling which led to Bcl-xL phosphorylation at serine 62, decreasing the anti-apoptotic activity of Bcl-xL, which contributed to the intrinsic pathway. The downregulation of cellular FLICE inhibitory protein long isoform (c-FLIPL) in the extrinsic pathway was accomplished through ubiquitination at lysine residue (K) 195 and protein synthesis inhibition. Overexpression of c-FLIPL mutant (K195R) and Bcl-xL mutant (S62A) completely abrogated the synergistic effect. The successful outcome of this study supports the application of multimodality strategy to patients with colorectal hepatic metastases who fail to respond to standard chemoradiotherapy that predominantly targets the mitochondrial apoptotic pathway. © 2013 Song et al

Le regole del gioco: Primo incontro con l'ingegneria strategica

Cu particles decorated carbon composite microspheres (CCMs) with a unique sesame ball structure have been prepared by combining the mass-producible spray drying technique with calcinations. The conventional cuprammonium cellulose complex solution obtained by dissolving cellulose in a cuprammonia solution has been applied as raw materials for the preparation of Cu­(NH₃)₄²⁺/cellulose complex microspheres via a spray drying process. The resulted Cu­(NH₃)₄²⁺/cellulose complex microspheres are then transformed into the Cu particles homogeneously decorated porous carbon spheres <i>in situ</i> by calcinations at 450 or 550 °C. The coordination effect between the Cu­(NH₃)₄²⁺ species and the hydroxyl groups of the cellulose macromolecules has been exploited for directing the dispersion of the Cu particles in the resultant composite CCMs. The antimicrobial effects of the CCMs are evaluated by determining the minimum growth inhibitory concentrations using Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli as representatives, respectively. The CCMs show high efficiency catalytic properties to the conversion of 4-nitrophenol to 4-aminophenol using NaBH₄ as a reductant in a mild condition. The recyclability and stability of the CCM catalysts have also been studied

Reinventing Urban Public Space from the Perspective of Female

As society advances, many women in urban areas still feel insecure and fearful when using parks, squares, and car parks despite recognising women’s rights and freedom of access to public spaces in many countries. In addition, the lack of equal opportunities and encouragement for girls in outdoor activities leads to their absence and self-limitation in public spaces. These realities highlight the inadequacy of most urban public spaces in meeting women’s psychological and behavioural needs and require more attention and improvement from architects and urban planners. This paper examines the development and evolution of the morphology of urban public space from a female perspective, using typomorphology, environmental behaviour, and psychology approaches. It aims to classify and integrate typomorphology according to women’s psychological and behavioural preferences and to explore the links between typomorphology and politics, society, economy, and women’s psychology and behaviour. The study aims to provide comprehensive data for urban design and strategies so that redesigned urban public spaces can adequately meet the needs of women of different ages, sexual orientations, races, classes, and identities. Such spaces will be more inclusive, friendly, attractive, and comfortable, providing theoretical guidance for global urban public spaces’ future

Essential Genetic Interactors of SIR2 Required for Spatial Sequestration and Asymmetrical Inheritance of Protein Aggregates

Sir2 is a central regulator of yeast aging and its deficiency increases daughter cell inheritance of stress-and aging-induced misfolded proteins deposited in aggregates and inclusion bodies. Here, by quantifying traits predicted to affect aggregate inheritance in a passive manner, we found that a passive diffusion model cannot explain Sir2-dependent failures in mother-biased segregation of either the small aggregates formed by the misfolded Huntingtin, Htt103Q, disease protein or heat-induced Hsp104-associated aggregates. Instead, we found that the genetic interaction network of SIR2 comprises specific essential genes required for mother-biased segregation including those encoding components of the actin cytoskeleton, the actin-associated myosin V motor protein Myo2, and the actin organization protein calmodulin, Cmd1. Co-staining with Hsp104-GFP demonstrated that misfolded Htt103Q is sequestered into small aggregates, akin to stress foci formed upon heat stress, that fail to coalesce into inclusion bodies. Importantly, these Htt103Q foci, as well as the ATPase-defective Hsp104(Y662A)-associated structures previously shown to be stable stress foci, co-localized with Cmd1 and Myo2-enriched structures and super-resolution 3-D microscopy demonstrated that they are associated with actin cables. Moreover, we found that Hsp42 is required for formation of heat-induced Hsp104(Y662A) foci but not Htt103Q foci suggesting that the routes employed for foci formation are not identical. In addition to genes involved in actin-dependent processes, SIR2-interactors required for asymmetrical inheritance of Htt103Q and heat-induced aggregates encode essential sec genes involved in ER-to-Golgi trafficking/ER homeostasis

Optimal Gear-Shifting of a Wet-Type Two-Speed Dual-Brake Transmission for an Electric Vehicle

In improving the efficiency of powertrain systems and ride comfort for electric vehicles (EVs), the transmission model is required to enable more accessible and more straightforward control of such vehicles. In this study, a wet-type, two-speed, dual-brake transmission system, as well as a new electromechanical clutch actuator, is presented for EVs. A new coordinated optimal shifting control strategy is then introduced to avoid sharp jerks during shifting processes in the transmission system. Based on a state-space model of the electromechanical clutch actuator and dual-brake transmission, we develop a linear quadratic regulator strategy by considering ride comfort and sliding friction work to obtain optimal control trajectories of the traction and shifting motors under model-based control. Simulations and bench tests are carried out to verify the performance of the proposed control laws. Results of the proposed coordinated control strategy show that noticeable improvements in terms of vehicle jerk and friction energy loss are achieved compared with an optimal control scheme only for the shifting motor as the input

Reduced-Order Model Approximation of Fuzzy Switched Systems with Pre-specified Performance

The reduced-order model approximation problem for discrete-time hybrid switched nonlinear systems is addressed via Takagi-Sugeno (T-S) fuzzy modelling in this paper. For a high-dimension hybrid switched nonlinear system, our aim is on how to construct a reduced-dimension hybrid switched model, approximating its original high-order model well with a pre-specified system performance level. Firstly, the mean-square exponential stability analysis is provided, in which it guarantees the given weighted H ∞ system performance level for the augmented error dynamic system by the average dwell time analysis approach and the hybrid switched Lyapunov stability theory. The solution of corresponding model reduction problem with pre-specified performance is given by using the projection Lemma, by which the algorithm of the reduced-order hybrid switched model parameters are designed by the cone complementary linearization technique. Finally, the advantage and effectiveness of the proposed reduced-order model approximation approach are shown by the simulation result

MFM-based alarm root-cause analysis and ranking for nuclear power plants

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