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Intraseasonal variation (ISV) is especially prominent and unique in the Asian summer monsoon region. In this work, the dominant ISV mode over the Tibetan Plateau (TP) in the summer monsoon season (June-August), together with its structure and evolution, is identified using station observations, Global Precipitation Climatology Project precipitation data, and ERA-Interim during 1979-2011. Results indicate that quasi-biweekly oscillation (QBWO) is the dominant mode of ISV over the TP and is significant in terms of the circulation, precipitation, and diabatic heating fields. In particular, the QBWO is closely related to the onset and active/break phases of the TP summer monsoon. In most cases, the QBWO originates from the equatorial western Pacific and first propagates northwestward to the Bay of Bengal and northern India, then northward to the southeastern TP, and finally eastward to the East Asian area, showing a clockwise propagation pathway. Two main mechanisms are responsible for the northward propagation of the QBWO signals. The first, in operation when the QBWO signals are located to the south of 20°N, is the generation of barotropic vorticity induced by the easterly vertical shear, leading to the northward movement of the convection. The second mechanism, responsible for the propagation taking place farther north toward the TP, is a moisture advection effect that destabilizes the lower atmosphere ahead of the convection. Further analyses suggest that the QBWO plays a role in linking the ISV of the different subsystems of the Asian summer monsoon as a macroscale monsoon system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the past decades, it has been debated whether ecological niche should be conserved among closely related species (phylogenetic niche conservatism, PNC) or largely divergent (traditional ecological niche theory and ecological speciation) and whether niche specialist and generalist might remain in equilibrium or niche generalist could not appear. In this study, we employed morphological traits to describe ecological niche and test whether different niche dimensions exhibit disparate evolutionary patterns. We conducted our analysis on three Rhinogobio fish species ( R. typus, R. cylindricus, and R. ventralis) from the upper Yangtze River, China. Among the 32 measured morphological traits except body length, PCA extracted the first four principal components with their loading scores >1.000. To find the PNC among species, Mantel tests were conducted with the Euclidean distances calculated from the four principal components (representing different niche dimensions) against the pairwise distances calculated from mitochondrial cytochrome b sequence variations. The results showed that the second and the third niche dimension, both related to swimming ability and behavior, exhibited phylogenetic conservatism. Further comparison on niche breadth among these three species revealed that the fourth dimension of R. typus showed the greatest width, indicating that this dimension exhibited niche generalism. In conclusion, our results suggested that different niche dimensions could show different evolutionary dynamic patterns: they may exhibit PNC or not, and some dimensions may evolve generalism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Apoptosis of type II alveolar epithelial cells ( AECs-II) is a key determinant of initiation and progression of lung fibrosis. However, the mechanism of miR-30a participation in the regulation of AECs-II apoptosis is ambiguous. In this study, we investigated whether miR-30a could block AECs-II apoptosis by repressing mitochondrial fission dependent on dynamin-related protein-1 (Drp-1). The levels of miR-30a in vivo and in vitro were determined through quantitative real-time PCR ( qRT- PCR). The inhibition of miR-30a in AECs-II apoptosis, mitochondrial fission and its dependence on Drp-1, and Drp-1 expression and translocation were detected using miR-30a mimic, inhibitor-transfection method (gain- and loss-of-function), or Drp-1 si RNA technology. Results showed that miR-30a decreased in lung fibrosis. Gain- and loss-of-function studies revealed that the up-regulation of miR-30a could decrease AECs-II apoptosis, inhibit mitochondrial fission, and reduce Drp-1 expression and translocation. MiR-30a mimic/inhibitor and Drp-1 si RNA co-transfection showed that miR-30a could inhibit the mitochondrial fission dependent on Drp-1. This study demonstrated that miR-30a inhibited AECs-II apoptosis by repressing the mitochondrial fission dependent on Drp-1, and could function as a novel therapeutic target for lung fibrosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In horizontal position welding process, the key problem is the poor weld formation and weld defects induced by the downward motion of the molten metal. Base on the research results of welding process, droplet transfer, molten pool behavior, temperature field, reasons, and solutions of the typical weld appearance defects in rotating arc narrow gap horizontal GMAW are studied. The causes and mechanisms of the defects of sagging surface, under cut, and convex surface are explored. The relationship of the defects and the welding parameters is established. The main causes of the appearance defects can be classified into three categories. The first one is the excessive heat input of the welding process, the second one is unstable welding process, and the third one is the mismatch between the fusion area of base metal and filling metal. Finally, the optimum welding parameters of rotating arc narrow gap horizontal welding are determined. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The magnitude and spatial pattern of anomalous net biome exchange (NBE) induced by the 2015/16 El Niño over Amazonian rainforests remain uncertain. We here investigated them using multi‐model posterior NBE products in the Orbiting Carbon Observatory‐2 (OCO‐2) version 10 modeling intercomparison project. Results suggest that relative to the annual NBE average in 2017/18, larger anomalous carbon release occurred over the eastern and northern Amazonian rainforests in 2015/16, with a total flux of approximately 0.4 PgC yr−1 after assimilating satellite‐observed column CO2 concentrations (XCO2) over land. We further find that this anomalous spatial pattern was predominantly determined by soil dryness, while the total positive NBE anomaly was dominated by higher temperature with its contribution of approximately 68～70%. We believe that atmospheric inversions assimilating more satellite‐observed XCO2 in future can provide us more comprehensive understanding how Amazonian rainforests cope with the abiotic stresses induced by El Niño events. Plain Language Summary: Interannual variability of carbon flux associated with its drivers over Amazonian rainforests are not fully understood. We here used several groups' newly available posterior CO2 flux estimates to comprehensively investigate the net carbon flux anomaly induced by the 2015/16 extreme El Niño. A total net carbon flux anomaly of approximately 0.4 PgC yr−1 was estimated, which showed larger carbon release over the eastern and northern Amazonian rainforests. We further suggest that although dry conditions greatly shaped the spatial pattern of the anomalous carbon flux, the total carbon flux anomaly was controlled by the higher temperature, with its contribution of approximately 68∼70%. Key Points: Net biome exchange (NBE) anomalies over Amazonian rainforests induced by the 2015/16 El Niño were investigated based on multiple atmospheric inversionsThe spatial pattern of NBE anomaly was regulated by soil water with larger anomalies over the eastern and northern Amazonian rainforestsThe total NBE anomaly was estimated at about 0.4 PgC yr−1 in 2015/16 relative to the average in 2017/18, dominated by higher temperature [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The spring sensible heating (SSH) over the Tibetan Plateau (TP), which can significantly affect the precipitation in China, has experienced three different stages of change, showing significant increasing (1961–1979, Stage I), decreasing (1980–2002, Stage II), and increasing (2003–2014, Stage III) trends. In this study, the impact of these different trends in TP SSH on spring precipitation (SPR) in China and their possible mechanisms are investigated, based on observations and the reanalysis product. In Stage I, the SPR represents a contrasting north-south pattern associated with the increasing TP SSH, showing increasing trends over southern China and decreasing trends over central and northern China. Further, the spatial distribution of SPR trends shows a contrasting east-west pattern in Stage II. That is, persistent weakening TP SSH plays a more crucial role in increasing and decreasing SPR over southwestern and southern China, respectively. However, compared with the significant trend in SPR in Stage III, the regulation of TP SSH on SPR weakens significantly. Dynamically, the increasing TP SSH in Stage I can strengthen the subtropical westerly jet in the upper layer, simultaneously configured with an anomalous cyclone in northeastern China, which deepens the East Asian trough. Thus, anomalous convergence in the upper layer occurs over central and northern China, favoring the downdraft. It then causes more cold and dry air to move southward in the lower troposphere, which then encounters the warm and wet southwest airflows, boosting the updraft over southern China. In Stage II, regression analysis shows that if the TP SSH increases, an anomalous cyclone in the middle and upper troposphere occurs over the western TP, causing the downdraft and less precipitation over southwestern China, while a cyclone in the lower troposphere occurs over the western North Pacific and extends to southern China, promoting the ascending motions and more precipitation in southern China. However, in this stage, TP SSH actually weakens, thus contributing to more precipitation over southwestern China and less precipitation over southern China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The hexagonal boron nitride (h-BN) grain shows typical lamellar structures, so textured materials can be achieved by arranging h-BN grains along the same direction. In this work, textured h-BN composite ceramics with the c-axis orientation arranged along pressure direction were manufactured by hot-press sintering using mullite as the sintering additive. The results show that sintering pressure is an important factor that affects not only the density and the textured degrees of composite ceramics, but also the mechanical properties. Based on the textured microstructure features, the composite ceramics show the obviously anisotropically characterized mechanical properties, such as elastic modulus, flexural strength and fracture toughness, together with various fracture mechanisms. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Highlights: [•] EIS was employed for the first time employed to determine fenvalerate. [•] Pre-treatment for the detection is simple in operation with this technique. [•] This method is label-free with high sensitivity and selectivity, rapidity and low cost. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights: [•] PoPD was for the first time applied to form composite with metal oxide. [•] PoPD/MnO2 was synthesized by a one-step co-precipitation. [•] PoPD/MnO2 composite was for the first time applied as electrode materials in supercapacitor. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: For the first time, poly-o-phenylenediamine (PoPD) bulk material was electrochemically synthesized using an electrochemical method. Sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) was added to o-phenylenediamine (oPD) solution and PoPD with different morphologies were obtained. The as-prepared materials were applied as the electrode materials in supercapacitors. The specific capacitance (SC) of the resultant PoPD was determined to be 106.4Fg−1 in 1molL−1 KNO3 electrolyte from CV test. The electrochemical stability of PoPD electrode was investigated by charging and discharging the electrode for 1000 times in the potential range of −0.2 to 0.6V versus SCE at the current density of 500mAg−1. The electrode exhibits a good cycling stability, retaining up to 82% of its initial specific capacitance at 1000th cycle. This novel technique enables PoPD non-film material for supercapacitor application. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The impacts of the thermal forcing over the Tibetan Plateau (TP) in spring on changes in summer rainfall in China are investigated using historical records from the period between 1980 and 2008. The spring sensible heat (SH) flux and snow depth over the TP both decreased over this time period, although the trend in SH was more significant than that in snow depth. The similarity between patterns of precipitation trends over China and corresponding patterns of regression coefficients on the leading mode of spring SH change over the TP demonstrates the distinct contribution of changes in TP SH during spring. Enhanced precipitation in southern China was accompanied by increases in heavy rainfall, precipitation intensity, and the frequency of precipitation events, while reduced precipitation in northern China and northeastern China was primarily associated with decreases in the frequency of precipitation events. Further analysis using observational data and numerical simulations reveals that the reductions in SH over the TP have weakened the monsoon circulation and postponed the seasonal reversal of the land-sea thermal contrast in East Asia. In addition, the positive spring SH anomaly may generate a stronger summer atmospheric heat source over the TP due to the positive feedback between diabatic heating and local circulation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Electrochemical impedance immunosensor, with its high sensitivity from electrochemical impedance analysis and ideal specificity from the immunoassay, is increasingly used in the detection of a kind of phenoxy acid herbicides which is 2,4-Dichlorophenoxybutyric acid (2,4-DB). In this experiment, synthetic 2,4-DB antibodies were immobilized on the electrode by the crosslinking of l-Cysteine/glutaraldehyde, and 2,4-DB were measured by the increase of electron-transfer resistance when the immune reaction occurred, with Fe(CN)6 3−/Fe(CN)6 4− as the probe. Under optimal conditions, the change of resistance is in a linear relationship with the logarithm of the concentration in the range of 1.0×10−7–1.0×10−3 g/L (R=0.994) with the detection limit of 1.0×10−7 g/L (0.1ppb). This method bears such merits as simplicity in operation, high sensitivity, wide linear range, specificity, reproducibility and good stability. The actual soybean samples were analyzed with the recovery of 82.8%–102.3%. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Using a dataset extended by the addition of data for 2004-08, this study reexamined the trend in the sensible heating (SH) flux at 73 meteorological stations over the Tibetan Plateau (TP) during 1980-2008 and investigated its impact on monsoon precipitation in the surrounding region. In contrast to ongoing climate warming, a weakening trend in SH is persistent over most of the plateau, despite a sharp increase in the ground-air temperature difference in 2004-08. The weakening trend in SH over the TP is primarily a response to the spatial nonuniformity of large-scale warming over the East Asian continent, which is characterized by much greater warming amplitude at mid- and high latitudes than over the tropics and subtropics. Furthermore, the suppressed air pump effect, which is driven by SH over the TP and acts as a strong forcing source, gives rise to reduced precipitation along the southern and eastern slopes of the plateau, and increased rainfall over northeastern India and the Bay of Bengal. No significantly stable correlation exists between the SH source over the TP and the overall trend or interdecadal variability in the East Asian or South Asian summer monsoon. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

According to the Kukhtarev equations and a simplified model based on the photovoltaic charge carriers transport mechanism, the distributions of the index changes (DICs) in LiNbO3:Fe crystals induced by sheet beams with various intensity profiles are theoretically analyzed. The numerically simulated results coincide with the analytic expressions deduced from the simplified model. The DICs in a LiNbO3:Fe crystal induced by sheet beams with rectangular, Gaussian and square law profiles are measured by using the interferometric method. By employing the analytic expressions, the experimental data points are well fitted. By utilizing the angular spectrum theory and the ray equation, the uniformities of the intensity profiles of the writing beams along the propagation directions and the influences of the self-defocusing effect of the crystal are numerically simulated, respectively. The results show that the experimental results are reliable. The numerically simulated method and the analytic expressions can be both employed to predict the DICs induced by sheet beams with various light intensity profiles. Furthermore, utilizing writing beams with proper intensity profiles, any desired index distributions could be obtained. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to improve the selectivity of porous membrane for vanadium redox flow battery (VRB). A polypyrrole (PPy) thin film composite (TFC) membrane was prepared via interfacial polymerization (IP) method and investigated for VRB application. The optimized PPy TFC membrane has shown both low VO2+ permeability and low area resistance compared to that of commercial Nafion 115 membrane. The VRB cell assembled with PPy TFC membrane shows a coulombic efficiency (CE) of 98.1% and energy efficiency of 81.0% at 80 mA cm−2, which is 2.0% and 6.3% higher than that of Nafion 115 membrane, respectively. Furthermore, 93 cycles charge-discharge test proves that the PPy TFC membrane is very stable and the CE decrease rate is only 0.4% for per-cycle on average. Considering the high selectivity, facile preparation procedure and high stability of PPy TFC membrane, it is thus an ideal system for VRB application to overcome the trade-off between vanadium ions permeability and proton conductivity. Unlabelled Image • Polypyrrole thin film composite membrane was investigated for VRB application for the first time. • The thin film composite membrane was prepared via interfacial polymerization method. • The membrane showed a superior VRB performance to that of Nafion 115 membrane. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Tibetan Plateau (TP) vortex (TPV), one of the crucial weather systems triggering rainfall, plays a key role in modulating precipitation over TP and downstream regions. The role of atmospheric heat source in TPV development is explored by a case study in June 2016, using high-resolution ERA5 reanalysis, black-body temperature (TBB) obtained from the Fengyun-2E (FY-2E) satellite, and precipitation amount from the Tropical Rainfall Measurement Mission (TRMM). The evolutions of TPV can be split into three stages, i.e., generation, development, and pre-moving-off stage. The intensity of TPV increases with fluctuations, with weaker and shallower TPV in the generation stage, strongest in the development stage and deepest in the pre-moving-off stage. Importantly, the genesis of TPV is related to the surface warming center driven by surface sensible heating while its development is primarily dependent on the latent heat of condensation. The main contributor of the latent heat of condensation is further analyzed as a vertical transport of the water vapor that promotes TPV development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Most schizophrenia patients are supported by main informal caregivers at home in China. This study aims to investigate the further needs of social supports for main informal caregivers of schizophrenia patients and to analyze influencing factors on the awareness and utilization of social supports in Beijing. The results of this study could potentially act as reference for health professionals to implement appropriate and effective support programs. Methods: A mixed-methods approach was used in this study. Awareness, utilization and influencing factors of social supports for main informal caregivers were investigated using questionnaires in 6 urban districts in Beijing. Meanwhile, individual in-depth interviews with 10 main informal caregivers from the urban districts of Beijing were conducted to identify the caregivers' perspective on social supports and their further needs. Results: Quantitative results showed that although the government provided multi-channel resources for schizophrenia patients and their families, awareness and utilization of the resources such as rehabilitation and relevant subsidies were less than 10.0 and 5.0% respectively. Most caregivers in in-depth interviews expressed that they had negative experiences with respect to obtaining social supports, and they emphasized that more support would be needed in terms of financial support, respect, and rehabilitation institutions. Conclusions: The awareness and utilization of social supports are low for main informal caregivers of schizophrenia patients. More services and improved public attitudes are needed for schizophrenia patients and their caregivers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Interferon (IFN) is a broad-spectrum antiviral agent that activates cell surface receptors and causes cells to produce antiviral proteins, inhibiting viral replication. Interferon use has long been associated with diabetes. The PubMed database was searched for articles related to diabetes and interferon from March 30, 2020. Patients were divided into type 1 diabetes group and type 2 diabetes group. We reviewed the relevant literature to compare interferon-associated T1D and interferon-associated T2D differences. Interferon treatment shortened the incubation period of T2D and changed the original T2D to T1D. The onset of interferon-associated T1D required longer periods of IFN treatment than interferon-associated T2D, and the interferon-associated T1D group had higher GADA positive rates, lower BMI, lower fasting blood glucose, and greater insulin dependence (p<0.05). More patients in the T1D group were positive for HLA-DRB1*04, DRB1*03, DRB1*09, DRB1*14, HLA-DQB1*04, HLA-DQB1*02, HLA-DQB1*03, and HLA-DQB1*05. The combined detection of GAD antibodies and HLA alleles may be an effective method to predict the incidence of T1D after IFN treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We investigated the intraseasonal relationship between the atmospheric heat source over Tibetan Plateau (TP) and summer rainfall in eastern China. A quasi-biweekly oscillation (QBWO) is the common dominant periodicity over both the TP and eastern China. Crucially, the TP heat source QBWO leads rainfall QBWO over its downstream region by 2–8 days. The QBWO over the TP shows a significant eastward propagation. Phase composite further identified the specific propagation pathway: TP QBWO first propagates eastward to central China, southward to southern China, and then northeastward to the lower reaches of the Yangtze River with a zigzag propagating pathway. Mechanistically, the eastward propagation of the upper level divergence caused by the movement of the 200 hPa jet core and south Asian high contributes to the eastward propagation of the rainfall QBWO. Simultaneously, the eastward (westward) shift in the western north Pacific subtropical high causes deepening (flattening) of the monsoon trough and the occurrence of an anomalous cyclone (anticyclone) over the western north Pacific. An anomalous anticyclonic (cyclonic) circulation around the TP appears with the wet-to-dry (dry-to-wet) phase transition of the TP QBWO. Together, they play a crucial part in the southward (northeastward) movement of the QBWO. Further dynamic analysis indicates that the horizontal moisture advection acts on the whole eastward-propagating process of the QBWO, whereas the horizontal vorticity advection is only significant when QBWO is over the TP. This study shows that the fluctuations in TP heat source are important indicators in extended forecasts of summer rainfall in eastern China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Informal caregivers of people with dementia in Beijing are increasingly called upon to provide home-based care for their patients due to the increasing number of dementia patients and the shortage of standardized institutional solutions of care for patients in China. This study aimed to clarify the needs of informal caregivers and barriers of primary care workers toward dementia management in primary care in Beijing to provide references that may help to improve the care and services provided to individuals with dementia and their family caregivers residing in urban China. Methods: A mixed-methods approach was used in this study. We performed individual in-depth interviews with 10 informal caregivers. Moreover, we carried out focus group interviews with 29 primary care workers. Content analysis was used to separately identify themes and codes. Discrepancies were discussed until final agreement was achieved. Results: Three themes representing the core attitudes of informal caregivers and primary care workers were identified: care knowledge and skills, psychological counseling, and collaborative management. Most primary care workers believed that the management of dementia patients in primary care was necessary. However, due to the heavy work load and different medical specialties involved, these workers were unable to manage it. Conclusions: Professional training focused on dementia for primary care workers should be strengthened. At the same time, the establishment of a community-based dementia team management model that includes specialists, community health service centers (CHSCs), and community committees should be explored. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Migrants are the unique production of China's urbanization process. They are often excluded from social welfare and security systems of cities, and often exposed to high health risk related closely to their health problems. This research sought to unveil and explore the influencing factors on health services utilization of migrants in Beijing.Methods: A sample of 2014 inter-provincial migrants and 4578 residents with Beijing "Hukou" who were 15 years old and above was chosen by three-stage stratified cluster sampling method. A structured questionnaire survey was conducted via face-to-face interviews. Anderson health service utilization model was used to demonstrate the effects of the explanatory variables on health seeking behavior from predisposing, enabling and need variables.Results: The study reveals that the rate of 'having symptoms' of migrants was lower than that of residents with "Hukou" only in the group of 25 to 34 years old in the past month. 503 migrants (25.0%) and 1441 (31.5%) residents with "Hukou" reported at least one episode of discomfort in the past month, and the rate of health service seeking behavior among migrants (46.8%) was lower than residents with "Hukou" (62.6%) (P < 0.0001). Chi-square independence test shows that age, ethnicity, employment status, having chronic disease and the degree of symptom were the major determinants affecting migrants to receive health services. The binary logistic regression indicates that the degree of symptom as the need variable and ethnicity as the predisposing variable were the strong and consistent determinants of health services seeking behavior. The migrants with moderate degree and severe degree of symptom in the past month were at 1.623-times (OR = 1.623) and 5.035-times (OR = 5.035) higher chances of seeking health services respectively, comparing to mild degree of symptom. Minority migrants were less likely to seek health services than Han migrants (OR = 0.282).Conclusions: The results indicate that the current health delivery system is not conducive for migrants to seek appropriate health services. Relevant policies and feasible measures, including increasing the coverage of health insurance and improving the health perception of migrants should be vigorously implemented to provide affordable health services and change health service utilization behaviors for migrants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An abstract of the article "Efficient Synthesis of Isoquinolines by AgNO3-Catalyzed Sequential Imination-Annulation of 2-Alkynyl Aldehydes with Ammonium Bicarbonate" by Y. Zhao and colleagues is presented.

Abstract Based on conventional ion exchange method from zeolite materials, we herein report a facile synthetic procedure to prepare monoclinic celsian ceramics through thermal treatment of ion-exchanged 3D printing geopolymer precursors. In this contribution, both ion exchange process and thermal evolution of celsian precursors were systematically investigated. The results proved 3D printing Na- and K- based geopolymer were ideal precursors with low residual Na+ content (0.10 meq/g) and K+ content (0.05 meq/g) and translated into monoclinic celsian after being heated at 1400 °C. With increasing Sr2+ doping concentration from 20% (mole ratio) to 30% (mole ratio), more significant phase transition results (hexagonal → monoclinic) were observed. All 3D printing geopolymer precursors kept fine integrity and stable 3D structure upon ion exchange process and heating, indicating the combination of geopolymer technique and 3D printing opens up a versatile and robust way to yield monoclinic celsian ceramics and related components of complex shapes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

By using the observational and reanalysis datasets during the period of 1979–2018, the role of the thermal effect of the Tibetan Plateau (TP) and Artic Oscillation (AO) in the midsummer (July–August) extreme high-temperature events (EHEs) over the Yangtze River Valley (YRV) is investigated. The primary mode of the EHEs (EHEs_EOF1) over the YRV is characterized by an increased frequency of the EHEs over the YRV, with two centers located in the upper and lower reaches of the YRV, respectively. The results indicate that the higher YRV EHEs frequency is associated with anticyclonic anomalies over northern China, which leads to the descending motion over the YRV, further resulting in the reduced middle to low clouds and enhanced solar radiation. In addition, warmer surface ground will heat the atmosphere through the sensible heat and upward longwave radiation. Moreover, less soil moisture also favors the occurrence of the EHEs. Further analysis demonstrates that the EHEs_EOF1 is related to the midsummer surface air temperature over the TP (TP-SAT) and the AO. The anticyclonic anomalies over northern China are considered to be the key factors favoring the YRV EHEs, which is associated with the TP-SAT and AO, of which TP-SAT dominates. TP warming can induce anticyclonic anomalies over northern China, thus favoring the YRV EHEs. AO can also affect the anticyclonic anomalies over northern China through the Rossby wave train originating from the northwestern Atlantic, which is largely modulated by the TP thermal forcing. In addition, the model experiment with the linear baroclinic model (LBM) further provides direct evidence to illustrate the impact of the thermal condition of the TP on generating circulation anomalies that conducive to the EHEs over the YRV. • Anomalous anticyclone (AC) over northern China favors the extreme high-temperature events over the Yangtze River Valley. • AC over northern China is mainly driven by the thermal effect of the Tibetan Plateau. • Arctic Oscillation can also affect the AC through the Rossby wave train originating from the northwestern Atlantic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, a honeycomb Si3N4 ceramic was fabricated by 3D printing with a well‐preserved structure. The effects of Si3N4 content on the rheological properties of Si3N4/sol–silica ink and the printing resolution of products were investigated. The microstructure, phase composition, liner shrinkage rate, and fracture behavior of printed samples before and after sintering were systematically characterized in detail. The results showed that the modified inks had the optimized rheological properties, and the stress–shear rate curves corresponding to each slurry could be well described by Bingham and Herschel–Bulkley fluid models. The corresponding slump rates of the printed samples with different Si3N4 to sol–silica mass ratios were all lower than 4%, and the linear shrinkage rate of all of the samples after sintering was below 20%. The fracture behavior under compressive loading of the honeycomb Si3N4 ceramics tended to be non‐catastrophic fractures both before and after sintering. The compressive strengths of all of the printed samples decreased with the increase of the Si3N4 content, and the highest compressive strength of the honeycomb ceramics could reach 131.2 MPa after sintering at 1600°C, which was about 366.9% higher than that of the samples in green state prior to the sintering. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Edema toxin (ET), one of the main toxic factors of Bacillus anthracis (B. anthracis), is a kind of potent adenylate cyclase (AC). B. anthracis has adapted to resist macrophage microbicidal mechanisms in part by secreting ET. To date, there is limited information on the pathogenic mechanisms used by ET to manipulate macrophage function, especially at the transcriptome level. We used RNA sequencing to study transcriptional changes in RAW264.7 cells treated with ET. We aimed to identify molecular events associated with the establishment of infection and followed changes in cellular proteins. Our results indicate that ET inhibited TNF-α expression in the RAW264.7 mouse macrophage cell line by activating the cAMP/PKA pathway. ET challenge of macrophages induced a differential expression of genes that participate in multiple macrophage effector functions such as cytokine production, cell adhesion, and the inflammatory response. Furthermore, ET influenced the expression of components of the ERK1/2, as well as the NF-αB signaling pathways. We also showed that ET treatments inhibit the phosphorylation of the ERK1/2 protein. ET also attenuated NF-αB subunit p65 phosphorylation and transcriptional activity of NF-αB via the cAMP/PKA pathway in macrophages. Since the observed modulatory effects were characteristic only of the bacterial exotoxin ET, we propose this may be a mechanism used by B. anthracis to manipulate macrophages and establish systemic infection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]