Pleniglacial millennium-scale climate variations in northern China based on records from the Salawusu River Valley

Situated in the Salawusu River Valley, southeast of China＇s Mu Us Desert, the MGS2 （Milanggouwan section） portion of the Milanggouwan stratigraphic section records 5.5 sedimentary cycles consisting of alternations between dune sand deposits and fluvial or lacustrine facies. We analyzed the grain-size and CaCO3 distributions in MGS2, and found that Mz （mean particle diameter） and o （standard deviation） displayed clear variations in peaks and valleys within different sedimentary facies. The CaCO3 content averaged 0.4% in the dune sand deposits, 1.43% in the fluvial facies, and 8.82% in the lacustrine facies. Both the grain-size distribution and CaCO3 contents, which equal the indicators for the alternation among the sedimentary facies, suggest the occurrence of 5.5 cycles. These results suggest that the observed cycles mainly resulted from fluctuations between a cold and dry winter monsoon climate and a warm and humid summer monsoon climate, and that the MGS2 portion experienced at least 5.5 fluctuations between these two extremes. This high-frequency climatic fluctuation indicates a strong influence of millennium-scale variations in the strength of the East Asian winter and summer monsoons in our study area during the Pleniglacial.

Determining the Spectrum of the Nonlinear Local Lyapunov Exponents in a Multidimensional Chaotic System

For an n-dimensional chaotic system, we extend the definition of the nonlinear local Lyapunov exponent （NLLE） from one- to n-dimensional spectra, and present a method for computing the NLLE spectrum. The method is tested on three chaotic systems with different complexity. The results indicate that the NLLE spectrum realistically characterizes the growth rates of initial error vectors along different directions from the linear to nonlinear phases of error growth. This represents an improvement over the traditional Lyapunov exponent spectrum, which only characterizes the error growth rates during the linear phase of error growth. In addition, because the NLLE spectrum can effectively separate the slowly and rapidly growing perturbations, it is shown to be more suitable for estimating the predictability of chaotic systems, as compared to the traditional Lyapunov exponent spectrum.

Analysis on Hydrogeochemical Characteristics and Their Temporal and Spatial Variation in the Karst Catchment of Lianjiang River,Northern Guangdong Province

[ Objective] The study aimed to discuss the hydrogeochemical features and their temporal and spatial variation in the karst catchment of Lianjiang River, northem Guangdong Province. [ Method] Water samples were collected from 10 sub-drainages of Lianjiang River in July of 2012 and January of 2013, and then major chemical ions in tributaries of Xingzi River and Tongguanshui River were analyzed in detail to discuss the hydrochemistry type, spatial and temporal distribution and its causes of formation in Lianjiang River basin. [ Result] Among chemical ions in the wa- ter samples, Ca2. and HCO^- were dominant in Lianjiang River, accounting for over 70% and 80% of total concentrations of cations and anions re- spectively, followed by Mg2＋ and SO24-. The concentrations of most major ions were higher in winter than those in summer except SO4^2- concentra- tion was much higher in summer than that in winter, which was related to anthropogenic factors. From hydrochemical types, it is seen that HCO3-- Ca2＋ type in summer and HCO3--Ca2＋ ~ Mg2. type in winter were dominant in Lianjiang River, followed by the HCO3--SO4^2- · Ca2＋ type, and only two samples of Xingzi River belonged to HCO3--Ca2＋ Mg2· Na＋ type in winter. The spatial distribution regularity of chemical ions was not obvi- ous in the 10 sub-drainages of Lianjiang River. The concentrations of chemical ions changed greatly in the upper reaches but slightly in the lower reaches of Xingzi River catchment. The concentrations of chemical ions were steady in Tongguanshui River catchment with a smaller area, and it was a little higher in the upper reaches than those in the lower reaches. [ Conclusion] Natural processes, such as lithological heterogeneities and at- mospheric precipitation, contributed to the chemical composition of Lianjiang River catchment, northem Guangdong Province.

Targeted nanostrategies eliminate pre-metastatic niche of cancer

Establishing a pre-metastatic niche(PMN)in secondary organs is a prerequisite for cancer metastases.Despite advances in cancer therapy,the efficient inhibition of PMN formation remains a clinical challenge.Recent advances in understanding the specific characteristics of PMN and advances in nanotechnology have provided hope for manipulating their microenvironments.A series of nanostrategies have been designed to eliminate the PMN,including the removal of pro-metastatic exosomes from the bloodstream for excretion via the intestines,the targeting and scavenging of myeloid-derived suppressor cells,fibroblasts,and critical extracellular matrix components,and the elimination of circulating tumor cells prior to colonization in distant organs.This review summarizes the underlying mechanisms of PMN formation,highlights the anti-PMN efficacy of currently reported nanostrategies,and underlines the unresolved questions.

Low-Dose High-Pitch Cardiac CT to Evaluate Abnormal Pacemaker Lead Position

Displacement of a cardiac pacemaker lead or myocardial perforation by a lead is an infrequent complication of pacemaker implantation. While standard cardiac CT is useful for diagnosing such complications when routine examinations can not, the potential risks associated with exposure to the high doses of radiation used in CT are of concern. Here, we report three cases in which pacemaker lead displacement or myocardial perforation was definitively diagnosed by low-dose cardiac CT used in the high-pitch spiral mode, when other more routine examinations failed to suggest their occurrence. The mean dose of radiation used for definitively diagnosing the three patients was relatively low (2.19 mSv).

The atmospheric hinder for intraseasonal sea-air interaction over the Bay of Bengal during Indian summer monsoon in CMIP6

The surroundings of the Bay of Bengal(Bo B)suffer a lot from the extreme rainfall events during Indian summer monsoon(ISM).Previous studies have proved that the sea-air interaction is an important factor for the monsoonal precipitation.Using the 6th Coupled Modol Inter-comparison Project(CMIP6)models,this study examined the biases of surface heat flux,which is the main connection between atmosphere and ocean.Results show that although CMIP6 have a better simulation of intraseasonal sea surface temperature(SST)anomalies over Bo B than the previous ones,the“atmospheric blockage”still delays the response of latent heat flux to the oceanic forcing.Specifically,during the increment of positive latent heat flux in CMIP6,the negative contribution from wind effects covers most of the positive contribution from humidity effects,due to the underestimate of humidity effects.Further diagnostic analysis denote that the surface air humidity has a quarter of a phase ahead of warm SST in observation,but gets wet along with the warm SST accordingly in most CMIP6 models.As a result,the simulated transfer of intraseasonal moisture flux is hindered between ocean and atmosphere.Therefore,as a bridge between both sides,the atmospheric boundary layer is essential for a better sea-air coupled simulation,especially when the atmospheric and the oceanic variabilities involved in a climate model becomes increasingly sophisticated.The surface air humidity and boundary layer processes require more attention as well as better simulations.

Thermal equation of state of a natural kyanite up to 8.55 GPa and 1273 K

The thermal equation of state of a natural kyanite has been investigated with a DIA-type,cubic-anvil apparatus(SAM85)combined with an energy-dispersive synchrotron X-ray radiation technique up to 8.55 GPa and 1273 K.No phase transition was observed in the studied pressure-temperature(P-T)range.The Le Bail full profile refinement technique was used to derive the unit-cell parameters.By fixing the bulk modulus K 0 as 196 GPa and its pressure derivative K0 as 4,our P-V(volume)-T data were fitted to the high temperature BircheMurnaghan equation of state.The obtained parameters for the kyanite are:V_(0)=294.05(9)Å^(3),a=2.53(11)×10^(-5)K^(-1) and(K/T)P=-0.021(8)GPa∙K^(-1).These parameters have been combined with other experimentally-measured thermodynamic data for the relevant phases to calculate the P-T locus of the reaction kyanite¼stishoviteþcorundum.With this thermodynamically constrained phase boundary,previous high-pressure phase equi-librium experimental studies with the multi-anvil press have been evaluated.

Comparison of coupled and uncoupled models in simulating Monsoon Intraseasonal Oscillation from CMIP6

The monsoon intraseasonal oscillation(MISO)is the dominant variability over the Indian Ocean during the Indian summer monsoon(ISM)season and is characterized by pronounced northward propagation.Previous studies have shown that general circulation models(GCMs)still have difficulty in simulating the northwardpropagating MISO,and that the role of air-sea interaction in MISO is unclear.In this study,14 atmosphere-ocean coupled GCMs(CGCMs)and the corresponding atmosphere-only GCMs(AGCMs)are selected from Phase 6 of the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project(CMIP6)to assess their performance in reproducing MISO and the associated vortex tilting mechanism.The results show that both CGCMs and AGCMs are able to well simulate the significant relationship between MISO and vortex tilting.However,80%of CGCMs show better simulation skills for MISO than AGCMs in CMIP6.In AGCMs,the poor model fidelity in MISO is due to the failure simulation of vortex tilting.Moreover,it is found that failure to simulate the downward motion to the north of convection is responsible for the poor simulation of vortex tilting in AGCMs.In addition,it is observed that there is a significant relationship between the simulated sea surface temperature gradient and simulated vertical velocity shear in the meridional direction.These findings indicate that air-sea interaction may play a vital role in simulating vertical motions in tilting and MISO processes.This work offers us a specific target to improve the MISO simulation and further studies are needed to elucidate the physical processes of this air-sea interaction coupling with vortex tilting.

Current study and prospect of the Old Red Sand along the southeast coast of China

The Old Red Sand is composed of brown-red, red, or orange-yellow semi-cemented and medium-fine sand sediment, mainly dis- tributed along the southeast coast of China. Based on previous studies, this paper summarizes the distribution and forms, sedi- mentary characteristics, formation mechanism, developing age, reddening process and the paleo-environment, suggesting that the Old Red Sand is mainly aeolian sediment of Late Pleistocene Age. The reddening process is mainly the result of decomposition and oxidation of iron-containing minerals caused by hot and humid tropical and sub-tropical climate. In this study, existing prob- lems are discussed and the prospect of further research is presented as well.

A Biomimetic Tooth Replicate That Is Hard,Damage-Tolerant,and Self-Healable

Hard materials typically lack the mechanism of energy dissipation and cannot self-heal.Nature addresses this challenge by creating multiscale interfaces between high-contrast materials,namely minerals and biopolymers.Inspired by the enamel-dentin junction in nature,an enamel-like crown consisting ofβFeOOH nanocolumns is interdigitated with a flexible self-healing layer.The iron oxide top layer has exceptionally high modulus and hardness,which is more resistant to cyclic deformation than the bottom layer.The latter however provides an additional pathway for viscous and plastic energy dissipation and enables self-healing by allowing upward polymer diffusion to seal the damage.Picture-frame crack patterns were observed under large loading conditions using microindentation,which localizes the damage at the indentation site.The bending properties can be optimized by varying the thickness of the bottom layer,and the crack induced by bending can be effectively captured at the interface without any delamination.The biomimetic tooth replicate is highly adhesive to a ceramic surface and shows an obvious inhibition effect against Streptococcus mutans,a significant contributor to tooth decay.Combined with ultralow thermal diffusivity,this has great potential as dental material.Learning from nature,our work thus provides a powerful pathway to broadening the scope of synthetic materials for dental replicates.

Access to pyridines via cascade nucleophilic addition reaction of 1,2,3-triazines with activated ketones or acetonitriles

We studied the cascade nucleophilic addition reactions of 1,2,3-triazines with activated acetonitriles or ketones,which were used to construct highly substituted pyridines that are not easily accessed by conventional methods.The strategy addressed some structural diversity issues currently facing medicinal chemistry,and the resulting pyridines could be used as convenient precursors for the synthesis of related pharmaceuticals.In particular,our method was applied to the syntheses of the marketed drug etoricoxib and several biologically important molecules in a few steps.

Acid-catalyzed ring-expansion of 4-(1-hydroxycyclobutyl)-1,2,3-triazoles

We here report a direct ring-opening/semipinacol rearrangement reaction of 4-(1-hydroxycyclobutyl)-1,2,3-triazole,in which N-acyl substituted 1,2,3-triazole was generated in situ and would trigger thermo-dynamically controlled electrocyclization ring-opening to afford a rearrangement precursor(α-diazo-ol).This strategy avoided the usage of metal catalysts and the reservation of sulfonyl groups on the N^(1)-posi-tion of 1,2,3-triazole.The final cycloenaminone product is highly reactive and could be commonly used as a dinucleophilic acceptor to synthesize structurally diverse fused bicyclic products.