Network analysis reveals open forums and echo chambers in social media discussions of climate change

Open Access articleAction to tackle the complex and divisive issue of climate change will be strongly influenced by public perception. Online social media and associated social networks are an increasingly important forum for public debate and are known to influence individual attitudes and behaviours yet online discussions and social networks related to climate change are not well understood. Here we construct several forms of social network for users communicating about climate change on the popular microblogging platform Twitter. We classify user attitudes to climate change based on message content and nd that social networks are characterised by strong attitude-based homophily and segregation into polarised "sceptic" and "activist" groups. Most users interact only with like-minded others, in communities dominated by a single view. However, we also nd mixed-attitude communities in which sceptics and activists frequently interact. Messages between like-minded users typically carry positive sentiment, while messages between sceptics and activists carry negative sentiment. We identify a number of general patterns in user behaviours relating to engagement with alternative views. Users who express negative sentiment are themselves the target of negativity. Users in mixed- attitude communities are less likely to hold a strongly polarised view, but more likely to express negative sentiment towards other users with di ering views. Overall, social media discussions of climate change often occur within polarising "echo chambers", but also within "open forums", mixed-attitude communities that reduce polarisation and stimulate debate. Our results have implications for public engagement with this important global challenge.Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) - Bridging the Gaps initiativ

Investigating H2S Occurrence in Bakken Oil-Producing Wells Using Sulfur Isotopes in Gas, Water, and Rock Samples

This work investigated multiple mechanisms that can potentially lead to H2S in the oil production stream of Bakken wells, including TSR, BSR, source rock generation, migration from deeper or shallower formations that contain H2S, and geomechanical mechanisms related to reservoir stimulation work.https://commons.und.edu/eerc-publications/1021/thumbnail.jp

Characterisation of the Cullin-3 mutation that causes a severe form of familial hypertension and hyperkalaemia

Deletion of exon 9 from Cullin‐3 (CUL3, residues 403–459: CUL3Δ403–459) causes pseudohypoaldosteronism type IIE (PHA2E), a severe form of familial hyperkalaemia and hypertension (FHHt). CUL3 binds the RING protein RBX1 and various substrate adaptors to form Cullin‐RING‐ubiquitin‐ligase complexes. Bound to KLHL3, CUL3‐RBX1 ubiquitylates WNK kinases, promoting their ubiquitin‐mediated proteasomal degradation. Since WNK kinases activate Na/Cl co‐transporters to promote salt retention, CUL3 regulates blood pressure. Mutations in both KLHL3 and WNK kinases cause PHA2 by disrupting Cullin‐RING‐ligase formation. We report here that the PHA2E mutant, CUL3Δ403–459, is severely compromised in its ability to ubiquitylate WNKs, possibly due to altered structural flexibility. Instead, CUL3Δ403–459 auto‐ubiquitylates and loses interaction with two important Cullin regulators: the COP9‐signalosome and CAND1. A novel knock‐in mouse model of CUL3WT/Δ403–459 closely recapitulates the human PHA2E phenotype. These mice also show changes in the arterial pulse waveform, suggesting a vascular contribution to their hypertension not reported in previous FHHt models. These findings may explain the severity of the FHHt phenotype caused by CUL3 mutations compared to those reported in KLHL3 or WNK kinases

Completion Optimization in the Bakken Petroleum System Using Data Mining

Therefore, the primary goal of this study was to identify optimal completion practices using publicly available well completion and production information and applying data-mining techniques that could accommodate nonlinear relationships.https://commons.und.edu/eerc-publications/1018/thumbnail.jp

Barium Ions for Quantum Computation

Individually trapped 137Ba+ in an RF Paul trap is proposed as a qubit ca ndidate, and its various benefits are compared to other ionic qubits. We report the current experimental status of using this ion for quantum computation. Fut ure plans and prospects are discussed

Centrifugal Compressors 201

Short CourseThis course supplements the Centrifugal Compressor 101 course by covering in greater detail four key areas related to centrifugal compressors as described below. It is intended for those who attended the 101 and wish to learn more about these topics. The course is also structured for those practicing rotating machinery engineers that have a basic understanding of the topics covered in Centrifugal Compressors 101 but wish to further their understanding in these key areas

Biogenic carbonate mercury and marine temperature records reveal global influence of Late Cretaceous Deccan Traps

Peer Reviewedhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/155784/1/Meyer_et_al_2019_Biogenic_carbonate_mercury.pd