Magnitude Of Variation Research Articles

3-generation family histories of mental, neurologic, cardiometabolic, birth defect, asthma, allergy, and autoimmune conditions associated with autism: An open-source catalog of findings.

The relatively few conditions and family member types (e.g., sibling, parent) considered in investigations of family health history in autism spectrum disorder (ASD, or autism) limits understanding of the role of family history in autism etiology. For more comprehensive understanding and hypothesis-generation, we produced an open-source catalog of autism associations with family histories of mental, neurologic, cardiometabolic, birth defect, asthma, allergy, and autoimmune conditions. All live births in Denmark, 1980-2012, of Denmark-born parents (1,697,231 births), and their 3-generation family members were followed through April 10, 2017 for each of 90 diagnoses (including autism), emigration or death. Adjusted hazard ratios (aHR) were estimated via Cox regression for each diagnosis-family member type combination, adjusting for birth year, sex, birth weight, gestational age, parental ages at birth, and number of family member types of index person; aHRs also calculated for sex-specific co-occurrence of each disorder. We obtained 6462 individual family history aHRS across autism overall (26,840 autistic persons; 1.6% of births), by sex, and considering intellectual disability (ID); and 350 individual co-occurrence aHRS. Results are cataloged in interactive heat maps and down-loadable data files: https://ncrr-au.shinyapps.io/asd-riskatlas/ and interactive graphic summaries: https://public.tableau.com/app/profile/diana.schendel/viz/ASDPlots_16918786403110/e-Figure5. While primarily for reference material or use in other studies (e.g., meta-analyses), results revealed considerable breadth and variation in magnitude of familial health history associations with autism by type of condition, family member type, sex of the family member, side of the family, sex of the index person, and ID status, indicative of diverse genetic, familial, and nongenetic autism etiologic pathways. Careful attention to sources of autism likelihood in family health history, aided by our open data resource, may accelerate understanding of factors underlying neurodiversity.

Are the Carpathians tectonically active?: Geomechanical study in deep boreholes in the outer Carpathians (Poland)

Present-day tectonic stress state was investigated in three deep boreholes located in the eastern segment of the Polish Outer Carpathians (POC). Significant rotations of the maximum horizontal stress (SH) were observed in these boreholes, located at the hinge of the anticlines in the upper part of the nappes. For the deepest borehole, D-1 (5.5 km depth), 1D geomechanical modelling was performed to determine the stress gradient profiles. An optimal solution of the model, validated by numerous compressional and extensional failures (breakouts and drilling-induced fractures, respectively) of the borehole wall, was obtained for variable elastic horizontal strain. The strain varies stepwise across the Main Thrust Fault (MTF) and linearly within its walls. The dominance of a strike-slip faulting stress regime was determined for the Carpathian nappes, with contributions from thrust faulting above the MTF and normal faulting below the MTF. A critical stress state for reactivation of preferentially oriented pre-existing faults and fractures was inferred for the competent strata. A consistent interpretation of the variations in stress orientation and magnitude, suggests a contemporary refolding of the anticline at a shallower structural level, enhanced by the reactivation of the MTF and a lack of reactivation of the Carpathian Bottom Thrust. Integration of these results with measurements from previous studies in the eastern segment of the POC indicates a different regional orientation of SH in the autochthonous basement (N-S) and in the nappes (NE-SW). These results indicate a thin-skinned compressive reactivation of the upper part of the accretionary wedge, with the lower part of the nappes remaining passive, or locally prone to minor strike-slip or normal faulting. These results contradict the hypothesis of a contemporaneous extensional collapse of the POC.

A Review on the Arctic–Midlatitudes Connection: Interactive Impacts, Physical Mechanisms, and Nonstationary

In light of the rapid Arctic warming and continuous reduction in Arctic Sea ice, the complex two-way Arctic–midlatitudes connection has become a focal point in recent climate research. In this paper, we review the current understanding of the interactive influence between midlatitude atmospheric variability and Arctic Sea ice or thermal conditions on interannual timescales. As sea ice diminishes, in contrast to the Arctic warming (cooling) in boreal winter (summer), Eurasia and North America have experienced anomalously cold (warm) conditions and record snowfall (rainfall), forming an opposite oscillation between the Arctic and midlatitudes. Both statistical analyses and modeling studies have demonstrated the significant impacts of autumn–winter Arctic variations on winter midlatitude cooling, cold surges, and snowfall, as well as the potential contributions of spring–summer Arctic variations to midlatitude warming, heatwaves and rainfall, particularly focusing on the role of distinct regional sea ice. The possible physical processes can be categorized into tropospheric and stratospheric pathways, with the former encompassing the swirling jet stream, horizontally propagated Rossby waves, and transient eddy–mean flow interaction, and the latter manifested as anomalous vertical propagation of quasi-stationary planetary waves and associated downward control of stratospheric anomalies. In turn, atmospheric prevailing patterns in the midlatitudes also contribute to Arctic Sea ice or thermal condition anomalies by meridional energy transport. The Arctic–midlatitudes connection fluctuates over time and is influenced by multiple factors (e.g., continuous melting of climatological sea ice, different locations and magnitudes of sea ice anomalies, internal variability, and other external forcings), undoubtedly increasing the difficulty of mechanism studies and the uncertainty surrounding predictions of midlatitude weather and climate. In conclusion, we provide a succinct summary and offer suggestions for future research.

An Empirical Evaluation of the Localised Accuracy of Satellite-Derived Bathymetry and SDB Depth Change

The weakness of global metrics for assessing the accuracy of satellite-derived bathymetry (SDB) is demonstrated and the magnitude of local accuracy variability quantified. SDB was developed for three small areas (500 m-by-1500 m) near Key West Florida (United States) that varied in depth and geomorphometric complexity. Data employed were 2016 and 2019 airborne lidar and three 2016 and four 2019 Landsat images. The modelling methodology was a widely used quasi-empirical linear regression-based approach. Local accuracy of SDB depth change – which was expected to be pronounced between 2016 and 2019 due to the occurrence of Category 5 Hurricane Irma in 2017 – was also calculated and examined. The global correlation (R 2) between lidar-based depth and SDB for 2016 and 2019 varied from about 0.1 to 0.9 which produced relative (to depth) root mean square errors (RMSEs) between 5% and 25%. No image was consistently best for all three areas nor for either 2016 and 2019. SDB-based depth change was poorly correlated to the reference lidar-based depth change for all three areas. Spatial depiction of SDB accuracy showed considerable variability even within the three relatively small areas employed for 2016 and 2019 SDB depth estimates and 2016–2019 SDB depth change estimates.

Spatiotemporal trajectory of energy efficiency in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area and implications on the route of economic transformation.

The Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area has attracted attention for its extraordinary pace of economic development and is considered to be leading the way in China's transformation from a manufacturing to an innovation cluster. However, due to rapid economic expansion and rapid urbanization, the Great Bay Area still struggles with low energy efficiency and environmental degradation, which has slowed down the pace of development. Therefore, in order to alleviate energy pressure, promote the country's sustainable development and gain a competitive advantage in the global market, researching energy efficiency and improving energy utilization efficiency is crucial. In this study, macro-level energy efficiency indicators are constructed using energy consumption data from various cities in the Greater Bay Area for the period from 2000 to 2020, and the spatio-temporal evolution of energy efficiency is analysed. The results show that all cities in the Greater Bay Area experienced an increasing trend in energy efficiency from 2000 to 2019, with significant variation in growth rates and magnitudes between cities. Compared to the nine cities in Guangdong province, Hong Kong and Macao exhibited significantly superior energy efficiency, with Foshan recording the highest growth rate of 14%. In 2020, most cities experienced a decline in energy efficiency due to the COVID-19 pandemic, with Macao experiencing the greatest decrease at 57%. Hong Kong and Macao are both in the "low consumption and high efficiency" target region, while Guangzhou, Shenzhen and Zhuhai are consistently in the "both high" region. Changes in the industrial upgrading index correspond significantly with changes in energy efficiency trajectories, with the transition from primary to secondary and tertiary industries playing a more substantial role. There is no significant association found between the strength of environmental regulation and changes in energy efficiency. The study's findings indicate that the most effective way to achieve economic transformation in the majority of China's regions is to combine adequate environmental legislation with industrial structural adjustment.

A wireless, battery-free microneedle patch with light-cured swellable hydrogel for minimally-invasive glucose detection

The escalating global prevalence of diabetes necessitates the development of advanced diagnostic methodologies that are both minimally invasive and devoid of discomfort. This study introduces a wireless battery-free passive microneedle patch with CMC-pHEA GelMA-GOx (CMC: sodium carboxymethyl cellulose; pHEA: polyethylene glycol diacrylate, 2-hydroxyethyl acrylate; GelMA: gelatin methacryloyl; GOx: glucose oxidase) light-cured swellable hydrogel for minimally-invasive glucose detection. The core of this technology combines microneedle with Radio-Frequency (RF) coupling detection, achieving extraction capacity; the microneedle lies in the use of composite hydrogel composed of a freeze-dried CMC-pHEA nanogel and GelMA-GOx, specifically fabricated to be selectively glucose-responsive through cross-linking with glucose oxidase. Upon exposure to interstitial fluid, the hydrogel microneedles swell in proportion to the glucose concentration, enabling glucose binding and facilitating the detection process. A flexible antenna, which is integral to the microneedle substrate as a passive sensing component, detects changes in the swelling of the hydrogel; these are reflected in the RF parameters (frequency, magnitude) variations, which are directly correlated with glucose levels. Furthermore, the results are near field wirelessly detected through a readout coil, simplifying sensing patch configurations. This method not only integrates the glucose monitoring process by combining extraction and detection into a single step but also enhances patient comfort. The platform’s sensitivity, specificity, and minimal invasiveness make it a promising tool for diabetes management and continuous glucose monitoring. By demonstrating the successful application of RF technology in wireless sensing applications, this study paves the way for advanced, user-friendly glucose monitoring solutions.

ESTIMATION OF GENETIC VARIABILITY, HERITABILITY, AND GENETIC ADVANCE FOR YIELD AND YIELD CONTRIBUTING CHARACTERS IN SORGHUM (SORGHUM BICOLOR L.)

The field experiment was conducted at the Experimental Farm of College of Agriculture, Latur, during Kharif – 2021–2022 with 26 genotypes of Sorghum, including three checks genotypes as PVK-1009-C, PVK-400-C, and PVK-809-C, with the goal of studying genetic variability, heritability, and genetic advance for yield and yield contributing characters in Sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L.). An analysis of variance involving 26 Sorghum genotypes for 12 quantitative characters revealed significant differences for all the traits under study indicating the presence of wide genetic variability in the experimental materials. Fodder yield per plant field grade score, plant height, grain yield per plant, threshed grade score, and test weight had a significantly high genotypic coefficient of variation (GCV) and phenotypic coefficient of variation magnitudes. The present investigation clarified that plant height, number of grains per primary, field grade score, threshed grade score, grain yield per plant, and fodder yield per plant these character have high heritability coupled with a high genetic advance and high GCV, indicating the role of additive genes in governing the inheritance of these traits, which could be improved through simple selection.

A Pilot Study of E-Commerce Consumers' Green Purchasing Intention in China: TPB Perspective

The frequent occurrence of environmental accidents and the heightened awareness of environmental protection among citizens have led to the emergence of green consumption as a social phenomenon. As a major global e-commerce market, Chinese consumers' green purchasing intention contributes significantly to environmental protection. The present study sought to develop pertinent scales utilizing the Theory of Planned Behaviour (TPB), with questionnaires employed to assess the influence of attitudes (A), subjective norms (SN), and perceived behavioral control (PBC) on Chinese e-commerce consumers' green purchasing intention (GPI). A total of 88 valid questionnaires were collected for the pilot study. The results indicated that the kurtosis's magnitude for all latent variables is less than 2, while the magnitude of the skewness is less than 1. This signifies that the data results have successfully passed the normality test. Furthermore, the Cronbach's alpha value and KMO for all variables exceeded 0.8, indicating high internal consistency. The total variance explained (TVE) surpassed 50%, demonstrating a substantial amount of variability accounted for. Additionally, the composite reliability (CR) was higher than the threshold. The value was higher than 0.8, and the average variance extracted (AVE) exceeded 0.5. This demonstrates that the questionnaire successfully underwent reliability and validity assessments. The findings of the pilot study have contributed to the advancement of research in the field of green consumption, offering insights into the prediction of green purchase intentions among Chinese e-commerce consumers.

Quantification of evaporative loss of volatile metals from planetary cores and metal-rich planetesimals

The processes responsible for the isotopic compositions and abundances of volatile elements in the early solar system remain highly debated. Orders of magnitude variation of (highly) volatile elements exist between different magmatic iron meteorite groups, but it is unclear to what extent their depletions can be explained by evaporation from metal melts during parent body accretion and/or subsequent break up. To this end, we present 86 new evaporation experiments with the aim of constraining the volatility of most volatile metals from metallic melts. The results confirm the previously proposed important effects of S in metal melt on the volatility of the elements of interest governed by their S-loving or S-phobic behavior. Nominally S-loving elements In, Sn, Te, Pb and Bi are significantly more volatile in Fe melt relative to FeS liquid, whereas nominally S-avoiding elements Ga and Sb are more volatile in FeS liquid relative to Fe melt, at a given pressure and temperature. The newly derived volatility sequences for S-free/poor and S-rich metallic melts were also compared with commonly used volatility models based on condensation temperatures. The results indicate significant differences between the latter, including the much more volatile behavior of Te, relative to Se, in both explored bulk compositions, which are traditionally assumed to be equally volatile. The (minimum) degree of volatile element depletion due to evaporation was quantified using the new experimental results and models. A comparison between the volatile element depletions in magmatic iron meteorites and the predicted depletions appropriate for evaporation from Fe melts shows that the latter depletions can be easily reconciled with (an) evaporation event(s). Altogether, the new data and models will provide an important framework when more accurate and precise estimates of magmatic iron meteorite bulk volatile element contents are available.

High among‐species variability in the context dependence of herbivory across disturbance, weather and topoedaphic gradients

Abstract Species interaction effects on populations can vary in both magnitude (i.e. strong vs. weak) and sign (positive, negative, or no effect). Context‐dependent effects of species interactions occur when the sign or strength of the interaction's effect on population growth rate changes across abiotic gradients. We know that species can vary substantially in the degree of context dependence they exhibit, even across similar abiotic gradients. However, few studies have characterised context dependence of co‐occurring species, limiting our ability to understand the implications of context dependence for species interaction effects on community composition. Using over three decades of data collected for 13 tallgrass prairie forbs at the Konza Prairie Biological Station, we parameterise density structured population models that predict population dynamics as functions of abiotic conditions and bison herbivory. We use these models to estimate the degree of context dependence in responses to bison herbivory for 13 species across three abiotic gradients: weather, fire frequency and soil type. All species showed significant context dependence for fire frequency in the same direction, though with variable magnitude, such that herbivory increased cover with more frequent fires. Context dependence with weather and soil type varied dramatically across species in both direction and magnitude. For example, herbivory effects on 3/13 species were stronger in wet conditions, but herbivory effects on 5/13 species were stronger in dry conditions. Thus, context dependence exhibited by individual species, as opposed to effects of abiotic conditions on the relative abundances of species, could generate much of the weather‐dependent effects of herbivory on community composition. Synthesis: Our work suggests that species can vary dramatically in the presence, direction and magnitude of context dependence, even when occurring in the same community and when considering the same species interaction (i.e. response to a herbivore). In addition, we find that context dependence could drive substantial variation in the effect of species interactions on community characteristics (e.g. composition) across multiple abiotic gradients.

Spatio-temporal variability of soil water content across plot scales within a vineyard

Understanding spatio-temporal variability of soil water content (SWC) at different scales is of great importance for designing monitoring networks and assimilating observed data in hydrological modeling. The objective of the study was to examine spatio-temporal variability of SWC for different soil layers at different extent scales within an agricultural field. Spatio-temporal variability of SWC and the relationship between variability and mean were investigated at three extent scales for different soil layers of 0–100 cm in different years within an intensively irrigated vineyard. Nested sampling grids were used, and at each scale, there was a total of 16 points distributed regularly at the grids. The distance between any two adjacent sampling points was 25-m, 50-m, and 75-m for the three scales respectively. Overall, there was no consistent pattern regarding the change of mean, standard deviation (SD), and coefficient of variation (CV) with scales during the three years. For the surface soil layer, mean SWC was similar between scales, while SD was closely related to soil clay content at the sampling locations of each scale. For subsurface soils, the overall magnitude of variability of SWC was greater, whereas the difference in the variability between scales was lower than that of the soil texture of the corresponding soil layer. The proportional decrease of CV with increasing mean was found to be largely consistent between different years for all soil layers excluding 20–40 cm, but variable between scales and soil layers. For subsurface soil layers, the CV vs. mean relationship differed between relatively wet and dry years, indicating that factors controlling SWC dynamics for the layers below the surface layer were different depending on climatic conditions. Variance partitioning analysis showed that spatial variance accounted for at least 57 % of total variance for all cases, and the temporal variance at different scales fluctuated within a narrow range for subsurface soils for the three years. The results could benefit soil water content monitoring network design, calibration of soil moisture related parameters and assimilation of observed soil moisture data into field soil water modeling.

Measuring interfacial thermal resistance across carbon nanotubes with in-situ electron microscopy: Unexpected reduction upon detachment and two orders of magnitude variations across diverse morphologies

The dynamic mechanical processes can notably impact the van der Waals (vdW) interaction at nanoscale contact interface and further interfacial thermal transport, but the experimental study is challenging. Here, by integrating a movable nanoprobe within an electron microscope, we dynamically adjusted the contact and detachment processes of vdW contact between two carbon nanotubes (CNTs), while measuring the thermal contact resistance (TCR) in situ with a nanofabricated thermal sensor. The TCR was found to span approximately two orders of magnitude at the moments when two CNTs just came into contact or detached. Surprisingly, during the initial stage of detachment, we observed that TCR unexpectedly further decreased by 65% instead of increasing. This decrease is attributed to the subtle alteration of exact contact interface in the circumferential direction, induced by the real-time observed rotation during the detachment process. A two-order magnitude difference in TCR for the diverse morphologies in static equilibrium between the same pair of CNTs due to the non-uniformity of the CNT surface structures can also support it. Our work provides valuable insights for dynamically modulating nanoscale interfacial thermal transport in various applications.

Inequality Bands: Seventy-five years of measuring income inequality in Latin America

Abstract Drawing on a comprehensive compilation of quantile shares and inequality measures for 34 countries, including over 5600 estimated Gini coefficients, we review the measurement of income inequality in Latin America and the Caribbean over the last seven decades. We find that there is quite a bit of uncertainty regarding inequality levels for the same country/year combinations. Differences in inequality levels estimated from household surveys alone are present but they derive from differences in the construction of the welfare indicator, the unit of analysis, or the treatment of the data. With harmonized household surveys, the discrepancies are quite small. The range, however, expands significantly when –to correct for undercoverage and underreporting especially at the top of the distribution– inequality estimates come from some combination of surveys and administrative tax data. The range increases even further when survey-based income aggregates are scaled to achieve consistency not only with tax registries but with National Accounts. Since no single method to correct for underreporting at the top is fully convincing at present, we are left with (often wide) ranges, or bands, of inequality as our best summaries of inequality levels. Reassuringly, however, the dynamic patterns are generally robust across the bands. Although the evidence roughly until the 1970s is too fragmentary and difficult to compare, clearer patterns emerge for the last fifty years. The main feature is a broad inverted U curve, with inequality rising in most countries prior to and often during the 1990s, and falling during the early 21st century, at least until around 2015, when trends appear to diverge across countries. This pattern is broadly robust but features considerable variation in timing and magnitude depending on the country.

Feedback control of heart rate during robotics-assisted tilt table exercise in patients after stroke: a clinical feasibility study

BackgroundPatients with neurological disorders including stroke use rehabilitation to improve cognitive abilities, to regain motor function and to reduce the risk of further complications. Robotics-assisted tilt table technology has been developed to provide early mobilisation and to automate therapy involving the lower limbs. The aim of this study was to evaluate the feasibility of employing a feedback control system for heart rate (HR) during robotics-assisted tilt table exercise in patients after a stroke.MethodsThis feasibility study was designed as a case series with 12 patients (n=12\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$n = 12$$\\end{document}) with no restriction on the time post-stroke or on the degree of post-stroke impairment severity. A robotics-assisted tilt table was augmented with force sensors, a work rate estimation algorithm, and a biofeedback screen that facilitated volitional control of a target work rate. Dynamic models of HR response to changes in target work rate were estimated in system identification tests; nominal models were used to calculate the parameters of feedback controllers designed to give a specified closed-loop bandwidth; and the accuracy of HR control was assessed quantitatively in feedback control tests.ResultsFeedback control tests were successfully conducted in all 12 patients. Dynamic models of heart rate response to imposed work rate were estimated with a mean root-mean-square (RMS) model error of 2.16 beats per minute (bpm), while highly accurate feedback control of heart rate was achieved with a mean RMS tracking error (RMSE) of 2.00 bpm. Control accuracy, i.e. RMSE, was found to be strongly correlated with the magnitude of heart rate variability (HRV): patients with a low magnitude of HRV had low RMSE, i.e. more accurate HR control performance, and vice versa.ConclusionsFeedback control of heart rate during robotics-assisted tilt table exercise was found to be feasible. Future work should investigate robustness aspects of the feedback control system. Modifications to the exercise modality, or alternative modalities, should be explored that allow higher levels of work rate and heart rate intensity to be achieved.

Study on Rock Characteristics for Assessing the Hydraulic Erodibility of Sandstones in the Manahari River Section, Sub-Himalaya, Central Nepal

The long-term erosion of the bed rock is steered by the power of the stream of variable magnitude and frequency which would give us the idea about bed rock incision and its channel morphology. Large numbers of infrastructural development work such as roads, bridges are undergoing in the Manahari Area. Hence, hydraulic erosion of the rocks is always a topic of interest while carrying out these construction works. Therefore, the main aim of this study is to determine the hydraulic erodibility of the Siwalik rocks under the action of stream power. Erodibility of the rocks and the stream powers of the Manahari River were determined by extensive field survey and laboratory analysis of rock material properties. Rock mass strength, block particle size, discontinuity/inter-particle bond shear strength, the shape of materials units, and their orientation relative to the flow were assessed to determine erodibility of the rocks. The longitudinal and cross-sectional surveys were carried out to find out the hydraulic parameters to calculate the erosive power of the stream i.e., slope of the channel surface, hydraulic radius, and velocity. The erodibility index ranges from 22 to 198 on the basis of their rock mass properties whereas the stream power value ranges from 1 to 6 kW/m2. The value of the stream power obtained at the bankfull condition at different flow time intervals i.e., 10, 25, 50, and 100 years ranges from 5 to 25 kW/m2. With this range of stream power at different time interval flow, the Manahara River has the capacity to erode maximum of the sandstones present in the riverbed as all the values of the erodibility plot above the threshold line of erosion. However, the relation between the erodibility index and stream power at normal flow condition shows that the Siwalik sandstones of the study area are not erodible under the influence of the available stream power.

A Pathway to Positive Youth Development: Unpacking the Asian American Youth Paradox and Cultural Orientations among Filipino American and Korean American Youth.

This study used longitudinal survey data of Filipino American and Korean American youth in the Chicago Metropolitan area (N = 786, MAGE = 15.00, SD = 1.91 at Wave 1 in 2014) to examine whether and how a set of organized predictors (i.e., universal predictors of youth outcomes and cultural orientations) independently and collectively explains internalizing and externalizing problems and academic performance. The results were that universal predictors such as youth antisocial beliefs, peer antisocial behaviors, and the quality of parent-child relations, were extensively predictive of youth outcomes in the expected directions. The magnitudes of universal predictors were largely unchanged when bilinear and multidimensional cultural orientation variables were accounted for together. The magnitudes of cultural orientation variables were slightly attenuated in full models but showed independent associations with youth outcomes. Specifically, English and heritage language proficiencies were protective of externalizing and internalizing problems. Behavioral practices in respective cultures increased youth problems. In addition, ethnic identity, although beneficial to mental health, can increase externalizing problems. The findings of this study provide insights into understanding the mixed outcomes among Asian Americans and important empirical evidence that can inform intervention programs to prevent youth problems, ultimately toward a pathway to positive youth development among Asian American youth.

Study of Genetic Variability and Character Association for Yield and Components Traits in Chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) Germplasm in Bundelkhand Region

Chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) is a very important crop among the grain legume crops in India. It is grown in north India in the winter season on marginal and semi-marginal land as a commonly non-irrigated crop. Bundelkhand, a region in Uttar Pradesh, India, is notorious for its harsh climate, characterized by extreme heat and drought stress. Temperature fluctuate with highs reaching 50°C in summer and lows of 5°C in winter, exert substantial adverse effects on chickpea cultivation, impairing crop growth and yield and demand to have genetic resources used in breeding programs. The experiment aimed to characterize and evaluate 204 chickpea lines, including commercial varieties, to understand the magnitude of variability and the association of various yield parameters on the yield of chickpea based on 12 agro-morphological characters under Bundelkhand region. ANOVA shows that significant variation exists for most of the characteristics of chickpeas. Higher GCV and PCV were observed for plant population (GCV 24.92, PCV 31.22) followed by the number of secondary branches (GCV 21.61, PCV 26.55), number of pods per plant (GCV 12.92, PCV 18.47), seed yield per plant (GCV 11.39, PCV 21.98) and biological yield per plant (GCV 11.68, PCV 20.37), revealing that the environment plays a positive role in the expression of these characters. High heritability was found by 100 seed weight (96.41) followed by seed yield per plant (84.11) and number of pods per plant (66.26) and a high degree of genetic advance was found in the number of pods per plant (26.24) followed by biological and seed yield per plant (15.25 and 6.92). High heritability coupled with high genetic advance was found in seed yield per plant, followed by biological yield per plant, indicating selection could be rewarding in proper breeding programs. Correlation and path studies showed that biological yield per plant (r-0.91), number of pods per plant (r- 0.680), number of secondary branches per plant (r-0.46), number of seeds per pod (r-0.32) and 100 seed weight (0.29) turned out to be the main components for seed yield per plant in chickpea, stipulating that these characters could be desirable selection parameter.

PBPK model-based gender-specific risk assessment of N-nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA) using human biomonitoring data.

Despite several screening levels for NDMA reported in water, soil, air, and drugs, the human risk assessment using biomonitoring concentrations has not been performed. In this study, gender-specific exposure guidance values were determined in humans, then biomonitoring measurements in healthy Korean subjects (32 men and 40 women) were compared to the exposure guidance values to evaluate the current exposure level to NDMA. For the human risk assessment of NDMA, the gender-specific physiologically based pharmacokinetic (PBPK) model was developed in humans using proper physiological parameters, partition coefficients, and biochemical parameters. Using the PBPK model, a Monte Carlo simulation was performed to describe the magnitudes of inter-individual variability and uncertainty on the single model predictions. The PBPK modeling and Monte Carlo simulation allowed the estimation of the relationship between external dose and blood concentration for the risk assessment. The procedure for the human risk assessment was summarized as follows: (1) estimating a steady-state blood concentration (Cavg) corresponding to the daily no observed adverse effect level (NOAEL) administration in rats; (2) applying uncertainty factors (UFs) for deriving the human Cavg; (3) determining the exposure guidance values as screening criteria; (4) interpreting the human biomonitoring measurements by forward and reverse dosimetry approaches. Using the biomonitoring concentrations, current daily exposures to NDMA were estimated to be 3.95μg/day/kg for men and 10.60μg/day/kg for women, respectively. The result of the study could be used as a basis for implementing further risk management and regulatory decision-making for NDMA.

Identifying the Origin of Thermal Modulation of Exchange Bias in MnPS3/Fe3GeTe2 van der Waals Heterostructures.

The exchange bias phenomenon, inherent in exchange-coupled ferromagnetic and antiferromagnetic systems, has intrigued researchers for decades. Van der Waals materials, with their layered structures, offer an ideal platform for exploring exchange bias. However, effectively manipulating exchange bias in van der Waals heterostructures remains challenging. This study investigates the origin of exchange bias in MnPS3/Fe3GeTe2 van der Waals heterostructures, demonstrating a method to modulate nearly 1000% variation in magnitude through simple thermal cycling. Despite the compensated interfacial spin configuration of MnPS3, a substantial 170 mT exchange bias is observed at 5 K, one of the largest observed in van der Waals heterostructures. This significant exchange bias is linked to anomalous weak ferromagnetic ordering in MnPS3 below 40 K. The tunability of exchange bias during thermal cycling is attributed to the amorphization and changes in the van der Waals gap during field cooling. The findings highlight a robust and adjustable exchange bias in van der Waals heterostructures, presenting a straightforward method to enhance other interface-related spintronic phenomena for practical applications. Detailed interface analysis reveals atom migration between layers, forming amorphous regions on either side of the van der Waals gap, emphasizing the importance of precise interface characterization in these heterostructures.

North Atlantic Influence on the Glacial Amplitude of East Asian Millennial-Scale Monsoon Variability

Abstract Millennial-scale climate change is thought to be synchronous throughout the Northern Hemisphere and has been demonstrated to be strongly modulated by longer-term glacial–interglacial and orbital-scale processes. However, processes that modulate the magnitude of millennial-scale variability (MMV) at the glacial–interglacial time scale remain unclear. We present multiproxy evidence showing out-of-phase relationships between the MMV of East Asian and North Atlantic climate proxies at the eccentricity band. During most late Pleistocene glacial intervals, the MMV in North Atlantic SST and East Asian monsoon (EAM) proxies shows a gradual weakening trend from glacial inceptions into glacial maxima, inversely proportional to that of the North Atlantic ice-rafted detritus record. The inverse glacial age trends apply to both summer and winter monsoon proxies across the loess, speleothem, and marine archives, indicating fundamental linkages between MMV records of the North Atlantic and East Asia. We infer that intensified glacial age iceberg discharge is accompanied by weakened Atlantic meridional overturning circulation via changes in freshwater input and water column stability, leading to a reduction in North Atlantic SST and wind anomalies, subsequently propagating dampened millennial-scale variability into the midlatitude East Asian monsoon region via the westerlies. Our results indicate that the impact of North Atlantic iceberg discharge and the associated variability in water column stability at the millennial scale is a primary influence on hydroclimate instability in East Asia.