Eastern Sites Research Articles

Link between melt-impregnation and metamorphism of Atlantis Massif peridotite (IODP Expedition 357)

IODP Expedition 357 drilled 17 shallow sites scattered over ~ 10 km in the west to east spreading direction across the Atlantis Massif oceanic core complex (OCC, MAR, 30 ºN). Mantle exposed in the footwall of the Atlantic Massif OCC is nearly wholly serpentinized (80–100%) harzburgite and subordinate dunite. A recent whole-rock chemistry study by Whattam et al. (Chemical Geology 594. 10.1016/j.chemgeo.2021.120681, 2022) subdivides Atlantis Massif peridotites into: Type I fluid–rock dominated serpentinite, which exhibits almost nil evidence of melt-impregnation or silica metasomatism; Type II melt–rock dominated, mafic melt-impregnated serpentinite; and Type III melt–rock dominated Si-metasomatized serpentinite. In this study, on the basis of EPMA, three kinds of Cr–spinel are distinguished in Expedition 357 serpentinite: (I) primary, unmetamorphosed mantle array, (II) low-Ti metamorphosed, and (III) high-Ti melt reacted. All Cr–spinel of western site Type I serpentinite is unmetamorphosed (n = 34) and comprises 68% of all unmetamorphosed Cr–spinel. Metamorphosed Cr–spinel (n = 100) are the most abundant and occur in the central and eastern site Type II and Type III serpentinite, whereas melt-reacted Cr–spinel and chromite are restricted to the central sites and occur predominantly in serpentinized dunite. Estimates of the degree of melt extraction of Type I serpentinite using F = 10ln(spinel Cr#) + 24 are ~ 9–17%. Fugacity calculations of primary, unmetamorphosed Cr–spinel yield Δlog(fO2)FMQ of − 1.7 to + 1.0 and calculations using olivine–spinel Mg–Fe exchange thermometry yield a mean closure temperature of 808 ± 39 °C. Mafic melt-impregnation resulted in Cr–spinel with anomalously high TiO2 of 0.27–0.68 wt.% and production of Ti-rich chromite (up to 1.23 wt.% TiO2). Greenschist facies metamorphism (< 500 °C) resulted in Mg–Fe2+ exchange between Cr–spinel and forsterite and anomalously low Cr–spinel Mg#; higher degrees of amphibolite facies metamorphism (~ 500–700 °C) also resulted in anomalously high Cr# due to Al–Cr exchange. As has been previously established, significant Al loss from chromite cores above 550 °C is the result of equilibration with fluids in equilibrium with chlorite, which may be valid for our samples. On the basis of Cr–spinel vs. whole-rock compositions, a clear relationship exists between melt-impregnation and metamorphism of central and eastern serpentinite, which we postulate to be the result of heat associated with magma injection and subsequent localized contact metamorphism. To our knowledge, such a relation between mafic melt-impregnation of peridotite and metamorphism (of peridotite) has not previously been established in general and specifically for the Atlantis Massif peridotite. Closure temperatures of 440–731 °C of metamorphosed Cr–spinel approximate greenschist to amphibolite facies metamorphic conditions.

Estimating NOX, VOC, and CO variability over India’s 1st smart city: Bhubaneswar

Volatile organic compounds including benzene, toluene, ethyl benzene, and xylene (BTEX) in the atmosphere have severe health and environmental implications. These variables are trace elements in the atmosphere. There are not enough measurement and analysis studies related to atmospheric BTEX variation globally, and studies are even less in developing countries like India. The present study analyses BTEX variations over an eastern Indian site, Bhubaneswar. The continuous measurement of BTEX is first of its kind over Bhubaneswar. The study analyses 2 years of BTEX data (2017–2018), and attempts to find the relation with meteorological parameters, the significance of the ratio between components, along with the analysis of transported air masses. To account for the pattern of emissions in association with BTEX variability over Bhubaneswar, we have also developed emission details from the transportation sector for the year 2018 and analyzed the emission patterns of CO and NOx for the year 2018. The results indicated that BTEX concentrations are maintained at the site via transportation from other regions, with significant local generation of BTEX, which is smaller in comparison to the transported emission.

Survival of Columbian sharp‐tailed grouse chicks and juveniles in northwestern Colorado

AbstractChick and juvenile survival are important vital rates for population monitoring and making sound management decisions. These demographics are poorly understood in Columbian sharp‐tailed grouse (Tympanuchus phasianellus columbianus) and survival estimation in the first 2 weeks is particularly challenging to assess. In 2015–2017, we captured 1,219 chicks (1–7 days old) from 156 broods. We marked 625 chicks with radio‐transmitters to monitor their survival and recaptured them to replace the radio‐transmitter from 18–30 days old. Overall survival of chicks and juveniles for the brood‐rearing season (initial capture–31 Aug) was 0.30 ± 0.02 (SE; 95% CI = 0.26, 0.35, n = 746) using the Kaplan‐Meier product‐limit estimator. We used Cox proportional hazards regression to model survival and for chicks entering the study at 2–4 days old, survival to 21 days old was 0.59 ± 0.03 (95% CI = 0.53, 0.65, n = 529) and increasing chick mass had a positive effect on chick survival probability, with a 6.0% decrease in mortality risk for each additional gram of mass at initial capture. Juvenile survival was 0.51 ± 0.04 (95% CI = 0.43, 0.60, n = 294) and differed by study site. Of our 4 study sites, the 2 western sites (West Axial, Iles Dome) had 65–80% greater hazard compared to the 2 more eastern sites (Routt, Trapper). Juvenile survival was also influenced by hatch date, with a 3.0% greater hazard for each day later in the nesting season that a nest hatched. Because chick survival is positively influenced by greater mass at capture and juvenile survival was positively affected by earlier hatching dates of broods, management actions should focus on improving the habitat surrounding lek sites to increase the success of initial nests and to provide high quality (increased levels of calcium, phosphorus, and protein) and quantity forage to nesting females and chicks to increase survival and population stability. Additionally, given that lower mass increases the hazard for chick survival, researchers planning to mark chicks should not mark individuals &lt;11 g when using a 0.55‐g radio‐transmitter. Radio‐transmitters for chicks should not exceed 5.0% of the chicks' body mass at the time of marking.

Comparison of agri-environmental phosphorus tests for boreal agricultural and natural Podzols

Over a dozen soil phosphorus (P) extraction procedures have been designed for agri-environmental purposes (P-tests). Sustainable expansion of agriculture into boreal regions dominated by Podzols requires further insights into P extractability. We extracted P from Podzol samples ( n = 96) using nine P-tests followed by both colorimetric (PCol) and inductively coupled plasma (PICP) quantifications and assessed the relationships between P-tests. Samples were collected by depth or horizon from agricultural fields and reference sites in eastern, central, and western Newfoundland, Canada. The soil P was extracted with water, citric acid, ammonium bicarbonate diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid (AB-DTPA), Morgan, Olsen, Bray-1, Bray-2, Mehlich-1, and Mehlich-3 solutions, thus targeting a wide range of extractable P pools in managed and natural Podzols. The soils had a pH of 3.4–6.9, organic matter of 0.5%–47.2%, and Al-M3 of 977–2561 mg kg−1. On average, water extracted the lowest PCol (1.0) and PICP (5.7) mg kg−1, while citric acid extracted the highest PCol (151) and PICP (290) mg kg−1. For the managed podzolic soils, the extractability of P followed the sequence water &lt; Morgan &lt; AB-DTPA &lt; Mehlich-1 &lt; Bray-1 &lt; Mehlich-3 ≤ Olsen ≤ Bray-2 &lt; citric acid; this varied slightly by quantification techniques and soil groups. The differences between PICP and PCol were most significant for the citric acid extracts. Most P-tests measurements were moderately to strongly correlated to P-M3ICP measurements ( r2 &gt; 0.50) but variable with quantification techniques and soil depths. Given the diversity in extractable P pools across management-induced soil conditions, it is evident that a fully informed P management for the Newfoundland Podzols will require calibration of P-tests against crop P uptake.

Temporal Variation Analysis of Rice Yield in the Jiangsu Province, China: Application of Decision Support System for Agrotechnology Transfer Model

The accuracy of grain yield estimation is critical for national food security. Because of the comprehensive influence of spatial differentiation conditions, such as temperature, precipitation, soil, rice variety, and irrigation, yield estimation requires integrated modeling that is based on dynamic conditions. These dynamic conditions include geographical background, biological factors, and human impact. Most existing studies focus on the observation and analysis of external factors; only a few reports on yield simulations are coupled with nature, management, and crop growth mechanism. Our study incorporates the crop growth mechanism of rice, along with data of rice varieties, soil, meteorology, and field management, to determine the rice yield in Jiangsu province, China. In addition, we have used a decision support system for the agrotechnology transfer model, along with Coupled Model Intercomparison Project data and geographic information system technology. Our results showed that: (1) A calibrated variety genetic coefficient could simulate rice biomass value (flowering stage, maturity stage, and yield) reasonably. The values of NRMSE (Normalized Root Mean Square Error) between the simulated and measured values after parameter calibration are all less than 10%, the values of d(index of agreement) are all close to 1, the simulated value of yield is in good agreement with the measured value. (2) A linear correlation between the meteorological elements and yield was observed. The linear correlation had regional differences. Notably, an increase in precipitation was conducive to the increase in yield. Except at the Huaiyin site, the other sites showed that the temperature rise could potentially lead to reduced production. We found that an increase in solar radiation was unfavorable to the production of rice in the northern and western sites in the Jiangsu province, whereas it was conducive in the southern and eastern sites. (3) Our study predicted the rice yield from typical sites in the Jiangsu province from 2019 to 2060 in the wake of climate change while excluding the extreme effects of diseases, pests, typhoons, and floods. The order of average yield per unit area is as follows: Xinghua site (8212.76 kg/ha) &gt; Huaiyin site (7912.70 kg/ha) &gt; Gaoyou site (7440.98 kg/ha) &gt; Gaochun site (7512.29 kg/ha) &gt; Ganyu site (7460.88 kg/ha) &gt; Yixing site (7167.00 kg/ha). Notably, the average yields from the Xinghua and Huaiyin sites were higher than that from the Jiangsu province (7617.77 kg/ha). The fluctuation of the yield per unit area at each site was generally consistent with the fluctuation in the overall yield, showing a downward trend and tends to be stable. The dispersion of yield per unit area indicates that Gaochun had the most stable yield per unit area followed by Xinghua, Ganyu, Yixing, Huaiyin, and Gaoyou. The yield per unit area of the Huaiyin and Gaoyou sites was unstable and portrayed the biggest fluctuations. Future studies need to focus on how to deal with spatial variation and carry out adaptive verification to make the simulation results applicable to more dimensions.

Radial Growth of Picea schrenkiana Influenced by Increasing Temperature in the Tianshan Mountains

There is a tendency of warming and wetting in northwestern China in recent decades. However, less is known about whether or not tree growth shows an increasing trend. In this study, we developed three tree-ring width chronologies of Picea schrenkiana in the northern Tianshan Mountains to assess changes in the radial growth of P. schrenkiana and to discuss the stability of the relationships between tree growth and climate. Three chronologies all showed that the tree-ring index has declined significantly since the 1960s. At two western sites, the growth of P. schrenkiana was negatively affected by the summer temperature of the previous year. At the eastern site, early summer temperature-induced drought of the current year was the key factor affecting tree growth. The result of moving-window correlations was consistent with correlation analyses. Spatial correlation analyses revealed that variations in tree-ring width could respond to a wide range of temperature changes in northwestern China, especially in the past half century. We expect that climate warming hinders the radial growth of P. schrenkiana in the northern Tianshan Mountains. Our study also helps to clarify the characteristics of tree growth in northwestern China under the influence of westerlies.

Maize grain yield responses to realistic biochar application rates on smallholder farms in Kenya

Despite efforts to increase agricultural production sustainably in sub-Saharan Africa, large gaps remain between actual and potential yield of food crops. Adding biochar to degraded cropland soils in the African tropics has significant potential to enhance crop productivity. Biochar-based farming can also mitigate climate change, through soil carbon storage. This study involved six smallholder farms at sites in eastern, central, and western Kenya that are characterized by different pedo-climatic conditions. We examined the response of non-fertilized and fertilized maize monoculture to three dosages of biochar that are realistic for domestic production by farmers at each of the sites over four growing seasons. Commonly available biomass wastes in each agro-ecosystem (coconut shells, coffee husks, maize cobs) were used as feedstock for biochar, which was applied at 1, 5, and 10 Mg ha−1 at the start of the experiment. Across seasons and fertilizer treatments, maize grain yield (dry matter) showed consistently positive responses, with an average increase of 1.0, 2.6, and 4.0 Mg ha−1, respectively, above the control for the three biochar application rates. Absolute responses of maize grain yield to specific biochar doses were similar across the four investigated seasons and replicate farms within sites, and uncorrelated to yield levels in the control treatment. Here, we show for the first time that yield response to biochar decreased with increasing application rate, indicating that it may be better to spread a given amount of biochar over a large area rather than concentrating it to a smaller area, at least when biochar is applied along plant rows at rates ≥1 Mg ha−1, as in our experiment. This study demonstrated that application of biochar, locally produced from available biomass residues, is a promising approach to enhance agricultural production and carbon storage on smallholder farms under a wide range of pedo-climatic conditions in Kenya.

Behavioral–biological surveillance of emerging infectious diseases among a dynamic cohort in Thailand

BackgroundInteractions between humans and animals are the key elements of zoonotic spillover leading to zoonotic disease emergence. Research to understand the high-risk behaviors associated with disease transmission at the human-animal interface is limited, and few consider regional and local contexts.ObjectiveThis study employed an integrated behavioral–biological surveillance approach for the early detection of novel and known zoonotic viruses in potentially high-risk populations, in an effort to identify risk factors for spillover and to determine potential foci for risk-mitigation measures.MethodParticipants were enrolled at two community-based sites (n = 472) in eastern and western Thailand and two hospital (clinical) sites (n = 206) in northeastern and central Thailand. A behavioral questionnaire was administered to understand participants’ demographics, living conditions, health history, and animal-contact behaviors and attitudes. Biological specimens were tested for coronaviruses, filoviruses, flaviviruses, influenza viruses, and paramyxoviruses using pan (consensus) RNA Virus assays.ResultsOverall 61/678 (9%) of participants tested positive for the viral families screened which included influenza viruses (75%), paramyxoviruses (15%), human coronaviruses (3%), flaviviruses (3%), and enteroviruses (3%). The most salient predictors of reporting unusual symptoms (i.e., any illness or sickness that is not known or recognized in the community or diagnosed by medical providers) in the past year were having other household members who had unusual symptoms and being scratched or bitten by animals in the same year. Many participants reported raising and handling poultry (10.3% and 24.2%), swine (2%, 14.6%), and cattle (4.9%, 7.8%) and several participants also reported eating raw or undercooked meat of these animals (2.2%, 5.5%, 10.3% respectively). Twenty four participants (3.5%) reported handling bats or having bats in the house roof. Gender, age, and livelihood activities were shown to be significantly associated with participants’ interactions with animals. Participants’ knowledge of risks influenced their health-seeking behavior.ConclusionThe results suggest that there is a high level of interaction between humans, livestock, and wild animals in communities at sites we investigated in Thailand. This study highlights important differences among demographic and occupational risk factors as they relate to animal contact and zoonotic disease risk, which can be used by policymakers and local public health programs to build more effective surveillance strategies and behavior-focused interventions.

…Возложил на голову его венец из чистого золота

The study focuses on metal details of headdresses of the Early Metals period (V—III mill. BC) from the Middle Eastern sites of the Late Chalcolithic and Bronze Age. The paper aims at clarifying the place and role of this group of material in development of social relations in the epochs of late prehistory and formation of early urban and early state societies. The author applies the comparative typological method and presents an overview of metal headdresses. Special attention is paid to the context of finds, which originate mostly from burial sites. The classification of diadems is based on the morphological principle. The earliest T-shaped diadems are known from the Balkan Chalcolithic, where they represent strictly local phenomenon. Long headbands appear in the Near East at the turn of V and IV mill. BC. In III mill. BC other types of head ornaments are worked out, such as oval and rhomboid frontlets and complex constructions. Some stable traditions in their construction and symbolism are traced. The finds are considered as markers of prestige and elevated social position, which is related to formation of elite groups. The ceremonial headdresses of local leaders demonstrated the hierarchical structure of the society. The religious symbolism of headdresses, in particular floral motifs, is considered in association with the idea of importance of the elite and its ritual activities aimed at preserving stability of the universe, community well-being and stimulating production.

Seasonal trends in adult apparent survival and reproductive trade-offs reveal potential constraints to earlier nesting in a migratory bird.

Birds aim to optimize resources for feeding young and self-maintenance by timing reproduction to coincide with peak food availability. When reproduction is mistimed, birds could incur costs that affect their survival. We studied whether nesting phenology correlated with the apparent survival of American kestrels (Falco sparverius) from two distinct populations and examined trends in clutch-initiation dates. We estimated apparent survival using multi-state mark-recapture models with nesting timing, nesting success, sex, age, and weather covariates. Nesting timing predicted the apparent survival of successful adults; however, the effect differed between populations. Early nesting kestrels had higher apparent survival than later nesters in the western population, where kestrels have a relatively long nesting season. At the eastern site, where kestrels have a relatively short nesting season, the pattern was reversed-later nesters had higher apparent survival than earlier nesters. Nesting timing did not affect the apparent survival of adults with failed nests suggesting that the energetic cost of producing fledglings contributed to the timing effect. Finally, clutch-initiation dates advanced in the western population and remained static in the eastern population. Given that both populations have seasonal declines in productivity, population-specific survival patterns provide insight into seasonal trade-offs. Specifically, nesting timing effects on survival paralleled productivity declines in the western population and inverse patterns of survival and reproduction in the eastern population suggest a condition-dependent trade-off. Concomitant seasonal declines in reproduction and survival may facilitate population-level responses to earlier springs, whereas seasonal trade-offs may constrain phenology shifts and increase vulnerability to mismatch.

Some Physico-Chemical Analyses of Groundwater Sources in Al-Marj Region in the North-East of Libya

The main aims of this study are to evaluate some Physico-chemical quality of groundwater in Al-Marj city in Libya for drinking, domestic and irrigation uses. All results of the measured physical parameters (Temperature, turbidity, and odor) were within the recommended range by Libyan standards, and WHO guideline values but the chloride (Cl) and ammonia (NH3) concentrations in some sites are exceeded the recommended values by Libyan standard. This is indicating that the potential contamination by municipal sewage or agricultural activity. Most of the groundwater samples were within the recommended value by Libyan standards and WHO guidelines, except one groundwater sample, which was collected from site 6W (sample No.10), in the west direction of Al-Marj city. This groundwater sample recorded the turbidity values 5.85 NTU, and this value was higher than the permissible value by Libyan. The average results for the physical parameters the average of turbidity results was higher than 3.0 NTU at site 6W (sample No.10), and the rest of the physical parameters of the other sectors, were within the recommended range by the Libyan standards in all other sites. The results of the chemical parameters were within the Libyan permissible limits, except the Cl- average levels were higher than the Libyan standard, which were ranged from 256.8 to 372 mg/l in the Eastern and western sectors in the study area. Also, the ammonia was elevated to the Libyan standard in eastern sites which was ranged from 1.66 to 9.72 mg/l

Geochemistry of mantle source during the initial expansion and its implications for the opening of the South China Sea

The South China Sea (SCS) is the largest extensional basin in the western Pacific. Due to the lack of sampling appropriate seafloor rocks, few studies focused on magma evolution in the initial expansion of the SCS, which limits the understanding of the tecto-magmatic evolution of the SCS. Here, we analyzed whole-rock Sr-Nd-Pb-Hf isotopic compositions as well as major and trace element concentrations of basalts recovered from the International Ocean Discovery Program (IODP) Expedition 367 Site U1500B in the northern margin of the SCS, which represents the early-stage formed oceanic crust. Combining with published oceanic crust basalts (e.g., IODP Expedition 349 Site U1431 in the eastern sub-basin, Sites U1433 and U1434 in the southwestern sub-basin) formed in the late spreading, the mantle nature and its evolution during the expansion of the SCS were evaluated. Although Sr-Nd-Pb-Hf isotope compositions of these basalts from the SCS suggest an Indian-type mid-ocean ridge basalts (MORB) mantle, the northern margin basalts from Site U1500B show moderate Pb isotopic compositions between those from the eastern and southwestern sub-basin, suggesting a heterogeneous mantle source beneath the SCS. Modeling calculations based on Sr-Nd-Pb-Hf isotopic compositions show that different amounts of lower continental crust and Hainan plume can account for the heterogeneity of such Indian-type MORB mantle in the SCS. The difference in the involved enriched components in the mantle source might be related to the periodic expansion of the SCS. Based on the geochemical imprints of Hainan plume on the SCS basalts that formed in the initial and late spreading stage, we propose that Hainan plume has a great effect in triggering the opening of the SCS.

A citizen centred urban network for weather and air quality in Australian schools

High-quality, standardized urban canopy layer observations are a worldwide necessity for urban climate and air quality research and monitoring. The Schools Weather and Air Quality (SWAQ) network was developed and distributed across the Greater Sydney region with a view to establish a citizen-centred network for investigation of the intra-urban heterogeneity and inter-parameter dependency of all major urban climate and air quality metrics. The network comprises a matrix of eleven automatic weather stations, nested with a web of six automatic air quality stations, stretched across 2779 km2, with average spacing of 10.2 km. Six meteorological parameters and six air pollutants are recorded. The network has a focus on Sydney’s western suburbs of rapid urbanization, but also extends to many eastern coastal sites where there are gaps in existing regulatory networks. Observations and metadata are available from September 2019 and undergo routine quality control, quality assurance and publication. Metadata, original datasets and quality-controlled datasets are open-source and available for extended academic and non-academic use.

A new snow module improves predictions of the isotope-enabled MAIDENiso forest growth model

Abstract. The representation of snow processes in forest growth models is necessary to accurately predict the hydrological cycle in boreal ecosystems and the isotopic signature of soil water extracted by trees, photosynthates and tree-ring cellulose. Yet, most process-based models do not include a snow module; consequently, their simulations may be biased in cold environments. Here, we modified the MAIDENiso model to incorporate a new snow module that simulates snow accumulation, melting and sublimation, as well as thermal exchanges driving freezing and thawing of the snow and the soil. We tested these implementations in two sites in eastern and western Canada for black spruce (Picea mariana (Mill.) B.S.P.) and white spruce (Picea glauca (Moench) Voss) forests, respectively. The new snow module improves the skills of the model to predict components of the hydrological cycle. The MAIDENiso model is now able to reproduce the spring discharge peak and to simulate stable oxygen isotopes in tree-ring cellulose more realistically than in the original snow-free version of the model. The new implementation also results in simulations with a higher contribution from the source water on the oxygen isotopic composition of the simulated cellulose, leading to more accurate estimates of cellulose isotopic composition. Future work may include the development of inverse modelling with this new version of MAIDENiso to produce robust reconstructions of the hydrological cycle and isotope processes in cold environments.

Lenvatinib combined with transarterial chemoembolization as first-line treatment of advanced hepatocellular carcinoma: A phase 3, multicenter, randomized controlled trial.

380 Background: LAUNCH is a multicenter, randomized, open-label, parallel-group phase 3 trial, aiming to assess the efficacy and safety of lenvatinib plus TACE compared with lenvatinib alone as first-line therapy in patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Methods: Patients with advanced HCC were randomly assigned in a 1:1 ratio to receive either lenvatinib plus TACE (LEN-TACE group) or lenvatinib alone (LEN group). Randomized stratification factors include: Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status score (0 vs. 1), tumor thrombus (presence vs. absence), body weight (&lt;60 vs. ≥60kg) and site. In both Len group and LEN-TACE group, patients received oral lenvatinib after randomization within 3 days. The initial dose is 12 mg/day for patients weighing ≥ 60 kg, and 8 mg/day for patients weighing &lt; 60 kg. TACE was started one day after initial lenvatinib in LEN-TACE group and then performed on-demand according to the condition of the tumor and liver function. The primary endpoint were overall survival (OS). The secondary endpoints were progression-free survival (PFS), objective response rate (ORR, the proportion of patients with complete response or partial response according to mRECIST), and adverse events. The deadline for interim analysis of data is September 20, 2021. Results: Overall, 338 patients from 12 hospital in China were randomly assigned to receive either lenvatinib plus TACE (n = 170) or lenvatinib (n = 168). The median follow-up duration was 18.4 months (95% confidence interval [CI] 13.7-23.1 months) in the LEN-TACE group and 17.0 months (95% CI 14.2-19.8 months) in the LEN group. The median OS was 17.8 months (95% CI 16.1–19.5) for the lenvatinib-TACE group and 11.5 months (95% CI 10.3–12.7) for the lenvatinib group (stratified hazard ratio [HR] for death = 0.45, 95% CI 0.33–0.61, P&lt;0.001). The median PFS was significantly longer in the LEN-TACE group than in the LEN group (10.6 vs. 6.4 months, HR[hazard ratio]=0.43, P&lt;0.001). Lenvatinib plus TACE improved ORR compared to lenvatinib alone (54.1% vs. 25.0, P&lt;0.001). The following grade 3–4 AEs were more frequently in the lenvatinib-TACE group than in the lenvatinib group: ALT increased (30 [17.6%] vs. 2 [1.2%], P&lt;0.001), AST increased (39 [22.9%] vs. 3 [1.8%], P&lt;0.001), hyperbilirubinemia (16 [9.4%] vs. 5 [3.0%], P=0.014). Conclusions: In conclusion, this trial showed that the combination of lenvatinib plus TACE can improve clinical outcomes and may be the new first-line treatment for patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma. Clinical trial information: NCT03905967.

Assessment of sources and health impacts of PM10 in an urban environment over eastern coastal plain of India

Aerosol health impacts are gaining considerable attention from the scientific community. Our study's primary purpose was to identify the source regions of PM10 and quantify its long-term health effects at an eastern Indian urban site Bhubaneswar from July 2018 to June 2019. The seasonal average of PM10 surface observations displayed higher values in winter, followed by post-monsoon, summer and monsoon. Eastern India, Northern India, and South-East Asia emerged as potential source regions of PM10 contributors to the study location using source-receptor models. The health endpoints, (i) incidence of chronic bronchitis in adults, (ii) post neonatal infant mortality and, (iii) prevalence of bronchitis in children, were estimated employing the World Health Organization developed model, AirQ+. The attributable proportion, the excess number of attributable cases, and the excess number of attributable cases per 100,000 population for three endpoints showed the highest impact during the winter season. Winter impact is 3 to 5 times higher compared to the rest of other seasons. This study highlights the health impact of PM10 on the population of Bhubaneswar, especially during winter. Thus, it is imperative to give considerable focus to controlling and mitigating air pollution at the investigation location.

Genesis and World Chronology

Distrust of Genesis as history has been fostered by uniformitarian geoscience and Deep Time chronology. The reality or otherwise of a global flood has a crucial bearing on world history and chronology. Evidence of disparate kinds favouring such a flood from scripture, from geoscience and from anthropology is presented. Radiocarbon dating, suitably calibrated for the flood discontinuity, substantiates a Compact Time chronology of thousands of years for earth history. This is reinforced by comparison of flood model radiocarbon dates for ancient near eastern sites with those independently obtained by archaeologists. Further corroboration of the Genesis chronology comes from discoveries of preserved soft tissues, proteins and even DNA in fossil dinosaur bones and in other specimens from throughout the geologic column. Belief in a recent, rapid creation is credibly defensible by science divested of secular naturalist ideological constructs. Compact Time chronology rehabilitates belief in the historical reality of the Genesis accounts of the origin of life and the origin of death.

Genesis and World Chronology

Distrust of Genesis as history has been fostered by uniformitarian geoscience and Deep Time chronology. The reality or otherwise of a global flood has a crucial bearing on world history and chronology. Evidence of disparate kinds favouring such a flood from scripture, from geoscience and from anthropology is presented. Radiocarbon dating, suitably calibrated for the flood discontinuity, substantiates a Compact Time chronology of thousands of years for earth history. This is reinforced by comparison of flood model radiocarbon dates for ancient near eastern sites with those independently obtained by archaeologists. Further corroboration of the Genesis chronology comes from discoveries of preserved soft tissues, proteins and even DNA in fossil dinosaur bones and in other specimens from throughout the geologic column. Belief in a recent, rapid creation is credibly defensible by science divested of secular naturalist ideological constructs. Compact Time chronology rehabilitates belief in the historical reality of the Genesis accounts of the origin of life and the origin of death.

Karakteristik distribusi horizontal parameter fisika-kimia perairan permukaan di pesisir bagian timur Balikpapan

The research aimed to know the characteristic of horizontal distribution to the Physical-Chemical parameters of surface water in Eastern Site of Balikpapan coastal area. Result of research indicate that current pattern that happened tend to make a move northerly during the year to South. Hoizontal Distribution and temperature and TSS tend to increase to come near coast, while dissolved oxygen and salinity tend to increase while turbidity, conductivity, pH, phosphate and ammonia tend to flatten from coast till 4 mile to the sea. Horizontal Distribution Cu (0,001 - 0,014 mg / l) tend to increase to come near coast, Hg content tend to smaller 0,0005 mg / l and still under standard of sea water quality. Bottom of the eastern site of Balikpapan coastal tend to flat.

Community-driven shark monitoring for informed decision making: a case study from Fiji

Context Globally, more than 121 million people enjoy nature-based marine tourism, making it one of the largest marine industries. Ocean degradation threatens this industry and management has not kept pace to ensure long-term sustainability. In response, some individuals within the industry are taking it upon themselves to monitor the ocean and provide the data needed to assist management decisions. Fiji is one such place. Aims Between 2012 and 2016, 39 Fijian dive operators, in collaboration with eOceans, conducted the Great Fiji Shark Count to document sharks on their dives. Methods Using 146 304 shark observations from 30 668 dives, we document spatial and temporal patterns of 11 shark species at 592 sites. Key results Sharks were observed on 13 846 dives (45% of recorded dives) at 441 (74%) sites. Generally, our results matched those from other more limited surveys, including from baited remote underwater video systems. We found high variability in shark presence, species richness, and relative abundance through space and time. One trend was surprising: the most common species, Whitetip Reef Shark, decreased over the study period at eastern sites and increased at western sites; the cause is currently unknown. Conclusions Our results can guide management and conservation needs, future scientific questions, and provide a baseline for future assessments. Implications This study demonstrates the value of longitudinal observation data that includes absences for describing marine fauna, and confirms the capacity of stakeholders to document the ocean. It also points the direction for broadscale participatory science methodologies to track the ocean.