Increase in ocean-onto-land droughts and their drivers under anthropogenic climate change

Ocean-onto-land droughts (OTLDs)—i.e., droughts originating over the oceans and migrating onto land—are a recently identified phenomenon with severe natural and human impacts. However, the influence of anthropogenic emissions on past and future changes in OTLDs and their underlying mechanisms remain unclear. Here, using precipitation-minus-evaporation deficits to identify global OTLDs, we find OTLDs have intensified due to anthropogenic climate change during the past 60 years. Under a future high-emissions scenario, the OTLDs would become more frequent (+39.68%), persistent (+54.25%), widespread (+448.92%), and severe (+612.78%) globally. Intensified OTLDs are associated with reduced moisture transport driven by subtropical anticyclones in the northern hemisphere and complex circulation patterns in the southern hemisphere. The reduction in moisture transport during OTLDs is mainly caused by the atmospheric thermodynamic responses to human-induced global warming. Our results underscore the importance of improving understanding of this type of drought and adopting climate mitigation measures

Liposome‑delivered baicalein induction of myeloid leukemia K562 cell death via reactive oxygen species generation

Baicalein (BL), a potential cancer chemopreventative flavone, has been reported to inhibit cancer cell growth by inducing apoptosis and causing cell cycle arrest in various human cancer cell models. Delivery of BL via nanoliposomes has been shown to improve its oral bioavailability and long‑circulating property in vivo. However, the role of BL in the inhibition of human chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) K562 cell growth and its underlying mechanisms has yet to be elucidated. In the present study, BL was formulated into liposomes with different sizes to improve its solubility and stability. The cytotoxic and pro‑apoptotic effects of free BL and liposomal BL were also evaluated. The results demonstrated that 100 nm liposomes were the most stable formulation when compared with 200 and 400 nm liposomes. Liposomal BL inhibited K562 cell growth as efficiently as free BL (prepared in DMSO), indicating that the liposome may be a potential vehicle to deliver BL for the treatment of CML. Flow cytometry analysis showed that there was significant (P<0.005) cell cycle arrest in the sub‑G1 phase (compared with vehicle control), indicating cell apoptosis following 20 µM liposomal BL or free BL treatment of K562 cells for 48 h. The induction of cell apoptosis by all BL preparations was further confirmed through the staining of treated cells with Annexin V‑fluorescein isothiocyanate/propidium iodide. A significant increase in reactive oxygen species (ROS) gene­ration was observed in free BL and liposomal BL treated cells, with a higher level of ROS produced from those treated with free BL. This indicated that cell apoptosis induced by BL may be via ROS generation and liposome delivery may further extend the effect through its long‑circulating property

The Magellan-TESS Survey I: Survey Description and Mid-Survey Results

One of the most significant revelations from Kepler is that roughly one-third of Sun-like stars host planets which orbit their stars within 100 days and are between the size of Earth and Neptune. How do these super-Earth and sub-Neptune planets form, what are they made of, and do they represent a continuous population or naturally divide into separate groups? Measuring their masses and thus bulk densities can help address these questions of their origin and composition. To that end, we began the Magellan-TESS Survey (MTS), which uses Magellan II/PFS to obtain radial velocity (RV) masses of 30 transiting exoplanets discovered by TESS and develops an analysis framework that connects observed planet distributions to underlying populations. In the past, RV measurements of small planets have been challenging to obtain due to the faintness and low RV semi-amplitudes of most Kepler systems, and challenging to interpret due to the potential biases in the existing ensemble of small planet masses from non-algorithmic decisions for target selection and observation plans. The MTS attempts to minimize these biases by focusing on bright TESS targets and employing a quantitative selection function and multi-year observing strategy. In this paper, we (1) describe the motivation and survey strategy behind the MTS, (2) present our first catalog of planet mass and density constraints for 25 TESS Objects of Interest (TOIs; 20 in our population analysis sample, five that are members of the same systems), and (3) employ a hierarchical Bayesian model to produce preliminary constraints on the mass-radius (M-R) relation. We find qualitative agreement with prior mass-radius relations but some quantitative differences (abridged). The the results of this work can inform more detailed studies of individual systems and offer a framework that can be applied to future RV surveys with the goal of population inferences.Comment: 101 pages (39 of main text and references, the rest an appendix of figures and tables). Submitted to AAS Journal

Carbonate diagenetic products and processes from various diagenetic environments in Permian paleokarst reservoirs: a case study of the limestone strata of Maokou formation in Sichuan Basin, South China

Understanding the processes and products of carbonate diagenesis is crucial to the exploration and optimum development of palaeokarst hydrocarbon reservoirs in Permian carbonate rocks. Several well-documented outcrops and well drills in the Permian marine carbonate strata around the Sichuan Basin, South China, encompassing well-developed paleokarst landforms in the Middle-Upper Maokou Formation have been investigated. The sections and cores recording paleokarst reservoirs exhibit very similar carbonate diagenetic products and processes from various diagenetic environments by much most cementation and formation of secondary porosity in carbonates. The major diagenetic environments experience the zones of seawater, surface or near-surface atmospheric water, and subsurface mixed water between marine and meteoric. Characteristic diagenetic textures produced in each environment are described and different generations of calcite cements related to the process are responsible for their formation by sedimentary petrology and stable isotope geochemistry. Paleokarst under the constrained condition of surface and near-surface atmospheric water is the most favorable for oil–gas accumulation and presents some karst-related pores-caves-fissures with less or no fillings. Dissolution and corrosion of carbonate by atmospheric freshwater can alter the accumulation spaces and develop better fractures-caves system. These characteristic could exhibit some substantial data for better predicting porosity trends in Permian carbonate rocks and also provide important geological information for further exploring oil–gas resource in marine carbonate strata

Periodic health visits by primary care practice model, a population-based study using health administrative data

Abstract Background The general health check, which includes the periodic health visit and annual physical exam, is not recommended to maintain the health of asymptomatic adults with no risk factors. Different funding mechanisms for primary care may be associated with the provision of service delivery according to recommended guidelines. We sought to determine how use of the periodic health visit for healthy individuals without comorbidities, despite evidence against its use, differed by primary care model. Methods Population-based cross-sectional study using linked health and administrative datasets in Ontario, Canada, where most residents are insured for physician services through Ontario’s single payer, provincially funded Ontario Health Insurance Plan. Participants included all living adults (> 19 years) in Ontario on January 1st, 2014, eligible for the Ontario Health Insurance Plan. Primary care enrollment model was the main exposure and included traditional fee-for-service, enhanced fee-for-service, capitation, team-based care, other (including salaried), and unenrolled. The main outcome measure was receipt of a periodic health visit during 2014. Age-sex standardized rates of periodic health visits performed during the one-year study period were analyzed by number of comorbid conditions. Results Of 10,712,804 adults in Ontario, 2,350,386 (21.9%) had a periodic health visit in 2014. The age-sex standardized rate was 6.1% (95% confidence interval [CI] 6.0, 6.1%) for healthy individuals. In the traditional fee-for-service model, the periodic health visit was performed for 55.3% (95% CI 54.4, 56.3%) of healthy individuals versus 10.2% (95% CI 10.0, 10.3%) in team-based care. Periodic health visit rates varied by primary care provider models. Traditional and enhanced fee-for-service models had higher rates across all comorbidity groups. Conclusions Patients whose primary care physicians are funded exclusively through fee-for-service had the highest rates of periodic health visits in healthy individuals. Primary care reform initiatives must consider the influence of remuneration on providing evidence-based primary care