Conditioned Withdrawal Research Articles

Comparative Study of Temperature and Pressure Variation Patterns in Hydrogen and Natural Gas Storage in Salt Cavern

Clarifying the distribution of temperature and pressure in the wellbore and cavern during hydrogen injection and extraction is crucial for quantitatively assessing cavern stability and wellbore integrity. This paper establishes an integrated flow and heat transfer model for the cavern and wellbore during hydrogen injection and withdrawal, analyzing the variations in temperature and pressure in both the wellbore and the cavern. The temperature and pressure parameters of hydrogen and natural gas within the chamber and wellbore were compared. The specific conclusions are as follows. (1) Under identical injection and withdrawal conditions, the temperature of hydrogen in the chamber was 10 °C higher than that of natural gas, and 16 °C higher in the wellbore. The pressure of hydrogen in the chamber was 2.9 MPa greater than that of natural gas, and 2.6 MPa higher in the wellbore. (2) A comparative analysis was conducted on the impact of surrounding rock’s horizontal and numerical distance on temperature during hydrogen and natural gas injection processes. As the distance from the cavity increases, from 5 to 15 m, the temperature fluctuation in the surrounding rock diminishes progressively, with the temperature effect in the hydrogen storage chamber extending to at least 10 m. (3) The influence of rock thermal conductivity parameters on temperature during the processes of hydrogen injection and natural gas extraction is also compared. The better the thermal conductivity, the deeper the thermal effects penetrate the rock layers, with the specific heat capacity having the most significant impact.

The influence of withdrawal-recharging pattern on the deformation characteristics of sand in confined aquifer

Land subsidence caused by excessive groundwater withdrawal has become a global hazard, which demands further researches and the potential measures to control. Using the FlowTrac Ⅱ consolidation test system, six compression tests were designed to investigate the stress state and stress paths of sand within confined aquifers under conditions of withdrawal and recharging. The deformation characteristics of aquifer sand were studied under different withdrawal-recharging patterns. During pumping and recharge processes, sand deformation responses were observed to lag behind changes in applied stress. The characteristics of this hysteresis effect on deformation were summarized. The alternating phenomenon of rebound and compression of sand deformation under the recharging process is analyzed. When the recharging effect was relatively small than withdrawing effect under the stable withdrawal-recharging pattern, the compression deformation was observed in the recharging process. The research results provide a rational explanation for the continuous compression deformation of the aquifer during groundwater level recovery and offer experimental evidence for the rational design of artificial groundwater recharge in engineering construction.

Fibromyalgia pathogenesis explained by a neuroendocrine multistable model.

Fibromyalgia (FM) is a central disorder characterized by chronic pain, fatigue, insomnia, depression, and other minor symptoms. Knowledge about pathogenesis is lacking, diagnosis difficult, clinical approach puzzling, and patient management disappointing. We conducted a theoretical study based on literature data and computational analysis, aimed at developing a comprehensive model of FM pathogenesis and addressing suitable therapeutic targets. We started from the evidence that FM must involve a dysregulation of central pain processing, is female prevalent, suggesting a role for the hypothalamus-pituitary-gonadal (HPG) axis, and is stress-related, suggesting a role for the HP-adrenocortical (HPA) axis. Central pathogenesis was supposed to involve a pain processing loop system including the thalamic ventroposterolateral nucleus (VPL), the primary somatosensory cortex (SSC), and the thalamic reticular nucleus (TRN). For decreasing GABAergic and/or increasing glutamatergic transmission, the loop system crosses a bifurcation point, switching from monostable to bistable, and converging on a high-firing-rate steady state supposed to be the pathogenic condition. Thereafter, we showed that GABAergic transmission is positively correlated with gonadal-hormone-derived neurosteroids, notably allopregnanolone, whereas glutamatergic transmission is positively correlated with stress-induced glucocorticoids, notably cortisol. Finally, we built a dynamic model describing a multistable, double-inhibitory loop between HPG and HPA axes. This system has a high-HPA/low-HPG steady state, allegedly reached in females under combined premenstrual/postpartum brain allopregnanolone withdrawal and stress condition, driving the thalamocortical loop to the high-firing-rate steady state, and explaining the connection between endocrine and neural mechanisms in FM pathogenesis. Our model accounts for FM female prevalence and stress correlation, suggesting the use of neurosteroid drugs as a possible solution to currently unsolved problems in the clinical treatment of the disease.

A Comparison of Animated and Adult Video Modelling in Teaching Social-Communication Skills to 3-Year-Olds with Autism Spectrum Disorders

ABSTRACT This study aims to compare the effectiveness of emerging animated video modelling (VM) and the most widely used adult VM in teaching social-communication skills to 3-year-olds with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) in China. A single-case experimental design was used, with data analysed by using visual analysis and an effect size measure, namely, the baseline corrected Tau (Tau-BC). Three 3-year-old preschoolers participated in this study. Each preschooler’s social-communication behaviours across the baseline, intervention, withdrawal, and maintenance conditions were recorded and analysed. Results showed that all three VM effectively improved preschoolers’ social-communication behaviours; preschoolers’ improvement in overall social communication and scripted social communication was greater in response to animated VM than adult VM; two of the three preschoolers’ improvement in unscripted social communication was greater in response to animated VM than adult VM. Mixed VM led to the greatest improvement in all three social-communication behaviours for two of the three preschoolers. The preliminary findings extended previous findings by demonstrating for the first time that animated VM was more effective than adult VM, and mixed VM was more effective than animated VM or adult VM alone for two of the three preschoolers.

Adrenal Dysfunction in Severe Community-Acquired Pneumonia Requiring VenoVenous Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation

The article presents a clinical case of adrenal dysfunction in a patient with severe community­acquired pneumonia requiring extracorporeal membrane oxygenation. We discuss the lack of diagnostic criteria for adrenal dysfunction in critical conditions; the tactics of hydrocortisone treatment: initiation of use, its duration, dose titration and withdrawal conditions.

Technology affordances and social withdrawal: The rise of hikikomori

AbstractThe prevalence of social withdrawal behaviors has been a growing concern in recent years. The concept of hikikomori, a severe social withdrawal condition, has gained increasing attention in high‐income societies and developed economies. The term applies to both the condition and the person experiencing it. Technology has been blamed for exacerbating the isolation of hikikomoris. Paradoxically, anecdotal evidence suggests that technology can help mitigate their social withdrawal. Drawing on affordance theory, this study explores the potential of technology as an intermediate intervention to help hikikomoris reintegrate into society by addressing the research question—“How are the affordances of technology leveraged to contribute to the gradual reintegration of hikikomoris into society?” This netnographic study is based on over 2‐year naturalistic observations of the Hikikomori Escape online community. Our findings identified seven types of affordances that facilitate Hikikomoris' social reintegration journey: anonymous storytelling, meta connectivity, information access for skill growth, peer networking and community building, online coaching, virtual‐to‐real connectivity, and tech‐enabled skill development. We discuss how three levels of technology affordances shape hihikomoris' self‐motivation to connect socially at the individual and community levels, facilitating their gradual reintegration into society. This research contributes by developing an empirically grounded framework of how technology can contribute to addressing social withdrawal among hikikomoris. Such knowledge is crucial for scholars, policymakers, and health professionals seeking to tackle this pressing societal challenge.

Problematic gaming, social withdrawal, and Escapism: The Compensatory-Dissociative Online Gaming (C-DOG) model

In this article, we critically overview existing studies on compensatory and dissociative mechanisms associated with problematic gaming, with a focus on escapism. Thus, we present a theoretical model integrating current research. In the first section, we link compensatory and dissociative processes related to gaming on a continuum that corresponds to the degree of connection/rupture between physical and virtual environments of the individual. In the second section, we discuss the strengths and limitations of existing conceptualizations and measures of escapism. We contend that escapism in gaming represents a key dimension of the compensation for difficulties in psychological needs satisfaction in the physical environment, differently from escape (avoidance) and from general immersion in video games. In the last section, we elaborate the Compensatory-Dissociative Online Gaming (C-DOG) model, which defines a set of interconnected psychological processes operationalizing the continuum between adaptive and pathological online gaming: relaxation, body-mind detachment, active escapism, escape, and dissociation. This model provides an unprecedented way to consider meaningful processes for the clinical evaluation and treatment of problematic gaming, as well as the association of problematic gaming with emerging social withdrawal conditions, such as hikikomori.

Differential disruption of response alternation by precipitated Δ9-THC withdrawal and subsequent Δ9-THC abstinence in mice

In addition to overt somatic symptoms, cannabinoid withdrawal can also manifest as disruptions in motivation and attention. Experimental animal models using operant-conditioning approaches reveal these differences, in either antagonist-precipitated or spontaneous withdrawal models. However, these processes have yet to be characterized in the same subjects simultaneously. To differentiate between motivational and attentional processes disrupted in cannabinoid withdrawal, the current study used a response alternation task in which a fixed-ratio (FR) schedule repeatedly alternated between two spatially distinct response options throughout daily training sessions. This task yielded traditional measures of motivation (e.g., response latency) as well as attention (e.g., responses to the incorrect side). After two weeks of training, male and female C57BL/6 J mice either received vehicle or Δ9-THC (10 mg/kg, s.c.) twice daily for 5 days. On the 6th day, all mice received their final injection of vehicle or Δ9-THC followed 30 min later by injection of the CB1 receptor selective inverse agonist rimonabant (2 mg/kg, i.p.) to precipitate withdrawal. Testing continued for 3 days post-rimonabant to assess how THC abstinence impacted task performance. Whereas rimonabant decreased response rates to equal degrees in THC-treated and vehicle-treated mice, THC-treated mice showed longer session times, longer response latencies, and more errors per reinforcer. Only THC-treated mice showed a longer latency to switch after committing an error reflecting that precipitated withdrawal impacted measures of both motivation and attention. During the 3-day abstinence window, performance of vehicle-treated mice returned to baseline, but THC-treated mice continued to show disruptions in motivational measures. Importantly, attentional measures (errors and latency to switch after an error) were unaffected by THC abstinence. These data suggest that precipitated and “spontaneous” cannabinoid withdrawal may be qualitatively and quantitatively distinct withdrawal conditions with precipitated withdrawal disrupting both attentional and motivational processes, while abstinence may only affect motivation.

Водозаборное сооружение для целей орошения земель в горных условиях Северного Кавказа

Purpose: to develop a water intake structure for land reclamation purpose under the conditions of water withdrawal from mountainous natural water sources. Materials and methods. The paper is based on the theoretical analysis of the river hydrological and geological characteristics, which made it possible to calculate the minimum flow required for the stable operation of water intake structure and guaranteed water withdrawal during the growing seasons. The design parameters of the water intake structure were developed using the method of expert assessment with non-parametric statistics by comparing several dependent variables. Having determined the required qualities for a water intake structure, the design of a reclamation facility adapted for the conditions of the mountain and foothill zones of the North Caucasus was developed. Results. To achieve this goal, a static method for analyzing water intake structures was adapted, and statements with a factorial rating scale for expert assessment were developed. Kendall's concordance coefficient was 0.726, the data were consistent, the significance level P was less than 0.05, the differences between the factors were significant. The layer-by-layer latticed type of water intake structure has maximum efficiency. The design of a bottom-type water intake structure has been developed on the basis of the river hydrological regime and the method of water supply to the system. This type of structure demonstrates high efficiency in conditions of difficult terrain and unstable water source regimes during the growing seasons, ensuring stable water intake with minimal impact on the ecosystem. Conclusions. The proposed design of a water intake structure can be adapted to different types of water resources and their fluctuations, which makes it acceptable for mountainous areas with variable water levels in natural water sources. Minimal impact on the ecosystem is ensured by a high degree of water purification without significant changes in river channels.

Competitive inhibition of nicotine acetylcholine receptors using microneedles of nicotine and varenicline for smoking withdrawal therapy

Current strategies for smoking withdrawal conditions involve monotherapy of nicotine and combinational therapy of nicotine with varenicline or bupropion as per the CDC and FDA. The available dosage forms for nicotine are patches, gums, inhalers and nasal sprays, bupropion and varenicline are available in tablet form. This research work focused on developing a microneedle delivery system to deliver combination drug for overcoming the obstacles encountered by oral route of administration of varenicline such as severe side effects (mood swings, agitation, depressed behaviour, seizures, etc), and nicotine therapy challenges such as short half-life, repeated dosing, nausea, and vomiting. The nanoparticles of nicotine prepared by nanoprecipitation method showed particle size PTZ (356.6 ± 65.98), percentage entrapment efficiency (35.55 % ± 0.007), in-vitro drug release (47.89 % ± 0.7) for 72 h. Microneedles showed height (600 μm), width (350 μm), and tip diameter (10 μm). The nanoparticles encapsulated in microneedles showed in-vitro sustained delivery of nicotine (67.00 % ± 4.92) and varenicline (79.78 % ± 1.09) in 48 h. Nicotine released in a sustained manner attaches to the nicotine acetylcholine receptors (nAchR) to release dopamine for controlling the withdrawal challenges such as anxiety, irritability, cravings, disturbed sleep pattern, etc. The varenicline released from microneedles binds to the nAchR and inhibits dopamine release responsible for the euphoric effect induced by nicotine, and thus assists in curbing the nicotine withdrawal symptoms. This combination microneedle system offers prolonged treatment in a single application for smoking withdrawal conditions wherein patients are not in stage of oral dosing because of repeated dosing resulting in adverse effects like seizures, hypertension, sleep disturbances, insomnia, and nausea.

Interception Proximity Labeling for Interrogating Cell Efflux Microenvironment.

The difficulty in elucidating the microenvironment of extracellular H2O2 efflux has led to the lack of a critical extracellular link in studies of the mechanisms of redox signaling pathways. Herein, we mounted horseradish peroxidase (HRP) to glycans expressed globally on the living cell surface and constructed an interception proximity labeling (IPL) platform for H2O2 efflux. The release of endogenous H2O2 is used as a "physiological switch" for HRP to enable proximity labeling. Using this platform, we visualize the oxidative stress state of tumor cells under the condition of nutrient withdrawal, as well as that of macrophages exposed to nonparticulate stimuli. Furthermore, in combination with a proteomics technique, we identify candidate proteins at the invasion interface between fungal mimics (zymosan) and macrophages by interception labeling of locally accumulated H2O2 and confirm that Toll-like receptor 2 binds zymosan in a glycan-dependent manner. The IPL platform has great potential to elucidate the mechanisms underlying biological processes involving redox pathways.

Impact of menstrual cycle on smoking cessation: A review

Background. Information on the way menstrual cycle phases can influence the achievement of tobacco abstinence is contradictory. Objective. A scope review was conducted to determine the effect of the menstrual cycle on tobacco abstinence, considering the phases of the cycle, hormone levels, and premenstrual syndrome. Method. A literature search was conducted in Scopus, PubMed, MEDLINE, and PsycINFO databases. Ten articles comparing the phases of the menstrual cycle or analyzing the association between premenstrual syndrome and a withdrawal condition (length of abstinence or withdrawal symptoms) were included. Results. Two main results were identified: 1) there is no difference in withdrawal symptoms and craving between menstrual cycle phases and 2) abstinence rates in the studies were higher during the luteal phase. Discussion and conclusion. The advisability of suggesting that women wishing to quit smoking should begin to do so at the start of the luteal phrase is discussed. However, smoking cessation interventions must consider all the symptoms experienced during the luteal phase.

Single-cell profiling of glial cells from the mouse amygdala under opioid dependent and withdrawal states

The cycle of substance use disorder (SUD) leading to dependence is a complex process involving multiple neurocircuitries and brain regions. The amygdala is the core brain region that is involved in processing withdrawal and anxiety and depressive-like behaviors. However, the transcriptional changes in each cell type within the amygdala during SUD remains unknown. Here, we performed single-cell RNA sequencing and classified all cell types in the mouse amygdala. We particularly focused on gene expression changes in glial cells under dependent state and compared to either naive or withdrawal state. Our data revealed distinct changes in key biological processes, such as gene expression, immune response, inflammation, synaptic transmission, and mitochondrial respiration. Significant differences were unraveled in the transcriptional profiles between dependence and withdrawal states.This report is the first single-cell RNA sequencing dataset from the amygdala under opioid dependence and withdrawal conditions, providing unique insights in understanding brain alterations during SUD.

Новая методология и новые учебники для национальной системы образования в России (от междисциплинарности к системности и нравственности)

The subject of the article is the problem of the crisis of the Russian education system and, above all, the ideology and general methodology of teaching in the field of humanities. The purpose of the study is to formulate the main directions of reforming the education system and new principles as part of the author's methodology of training courses for higher education in the conditions of Russia's withdrawal from the Bologna process and the formation of a national educational system.
 The modern education system is the result of many trends in the development of society - and above all secularization, the separation of science from religion and the development of the positivist nature of scientific knowledge. The crisis of modern education is a manifestation of the crisis of positivist science and the global crisis. Rus-sia was the first in the world among non-Muslim countries to publicly declare the re-jection of liberal principles of social structure. Digital education carries significant risks to the physical and spiritual health of the youth and society. With all its ad-vantages, it needs a radical reform and strict state and public control. The fundamental reform of education in Russia should be aimed at scrapping the liberal ideology and formal quantitative methods of evaluating the results of the education process. The ap-peal to national traditions, mentality and, above all, to the achievements of traditional religions and centuries-old folk morality should compensate for the inevitable negative side effect of the technological side of education. The paper proposes a new methodol-ogy – moral and religious neo-institutionalism, containing three main principles – sys-tem, balance and morality. The latest practical result of its implementation is the launch of the publication of the INFRA-M publishing house of a series of books "Rus-sian University Textbook on Economics and Management" intended for master's de-gree (advanced level). Among them is the textbook "Economic theory. Russian Eco-nomics" - took the first place in the international academic course "Academus" in the nomination "Economics and Management".

Методология нравственно-религиозного неоинституционализма для национальной системы образования в России (системность, равновесие и нравственность)

The subject of the article is the problem of the crisis of the Russian education system and, above all, the ideology and general methodology of teaching in the field of humanities. The purpose of the study is to formulate new principles as part of the author's methodology of training courses for higher education in the conditions of Russia's withdrawal from the Bologna process and the formation of a national educational system.
 The modern education system is the result of many trends in the development of society — and above all secularization, the separation of science from religion and the development of the positivist nature of scientific knowledge. The crisis of modern education is a manifestation of the crisis of positivist science and the global crisis. Russia was the first in the world among non-Muslim countries to publicly declare the rejection of liberal principles of social structure. The paper proposes a new methodology — moral and religious neo-institutionalism, containing three main principles — system, balance and morality. The latest practical result of its implementation is the launch of the publication of the INFRA-M publishing house of a series of books "Russian University Textbook on Economics and Management" intended for master's degree (advanced level). Among them the textbook "Economic theory. Russian Economics" took the first place in the international academic course "Academus" in the nomination "Economics and Management".

Epigallocatechin Gallate Ameliorates Nicotine Withdrawal Conditions-Induced Somatic and Affective Behavior Changes in Mice and Its Molecular Mechanism.

In nicotine withdrawal (NW) conditions, molecular changes, such as increasing corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) in the amygdala, and melanocortin signaling in the hypothalamus, can occur in the brain, leading to increased feeding behavior and body weight as somatic changes as well as high anxiety-like behavior as an affective changes. Therefore, this research aimed to investigate the effect of epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), the largest component in green tea, on CRF, pro-opiomelanocortin (POMC), and melanocortin four receptor gene expression in the brain under NW conditions. The 24 Balb/c male mice used were randomly divided into four groups. The doses used included normal saline 1.0 mL/kg as a control group, and nicotine 3.35 mg/kg that was administered subcutaneously three times a day. After NW conditions, EGCG 50 mg/kg was administered intraperitoneally two times a day. Behavior evaluation was performed to measure somatic and affective changes, and the animal was sacrificed for molecular analysis. The results showed that NW conditions significantly increased food intake, body weight, and anxiety-like behavior compared with the normal group. Meanwhile, EGCG significantly decreased food intake, body weight, and anxiety-like behavior compared with NW conditions in mice without EGCG. The polymerase chain reaction results also showed that EGCG decreased the CRF mRNA expression in the amygdala and increased the POMC. This indicated that EGCG improved somatic and affective behavior in NW conditions by decreasing CRF mRNA expression in the amygdala and increasing POMC mRNA expression in the hypothalamus.

Efficiency of application of different apple trees protection systems against harmful organisms in the Precarpathian province of the Carpathian mountain area of Ukraine

Goal. Study of the efficiency of application of chemical, biological and biological-chemical protection systems of apple trees against harmful organisms in the conditions of the Precarpathian province of the Carpathian mountain zone of Ukraine.
 Methods. Phytosanitary monitoring was carried out visually and with the help of pheromone traps. Phytophagous colonization and disease development were recorded according to generally accepted methods in the phases of apple development: «swelling of buds», «green cone», «bud extension», «bud separation», «pink bud», «blooming», «end of flowering», «fruit formation», «fruit growth» and «fruit ripening». The technical effectiveness of insecticides was determined after 5 and 7 days, and the effectiveness of fungicides — after 7 days. Statistical processing of research results was carried out by the method of variance analysis.
 Results. The results of monitoring the phytosanitary state of apple plantations established that the most common pests in 2018—2020 in the conditions of the Precarpathian Province of the Carpathian Mountain Zone of Ukraine were: apple fruit borer (37.2%), aphids (19.5%), leafhoppers (12.2%), mites (8.0%), apple moth (8.3%), flower eater (7.9%), hairy deer (6.9%); the most common diseases: scab (38.2%), powdery mildew (32.8%), moniliosis (14.2%), fruit rot (14.8%). All studied apple tree protection systems against harmful organisms in the conditions of the Precarpathian province of the Carpathian mountain zone of Ukraine obtained high yield rates, and all protection systems allowed to reliably protect apple orchards from pests and diseases. The technical efficiency of the chemical protection system, which included 12 treatments with chemical pesticides, averaged 82.5—96.5%. Productivity using this system was 26.5—26.7 t/ha. The biological protection system, which was based on 7 treatments with biological preparations, made it possible to obtain an apple yield 22.4—22.9 t/ha. The technical efficiency of the preparations of the biological defense system was at the level 66.1% — 72.3%. The system of biological and chemical protection of apple trees against harmful organisms included 7 treatments, reducing the use of chemical protection agents to one treatment, which made it possible to significantly reduce the amount of chemical agents used, minimize the negative impact of pesticides on the ecosystem of the apple orchard, and obtain productivity 23.5—25.1 t/ ha, for the effectiveness of drugs 66.3 94.3%.
 Conclusions. When apple orchards are heavily colonized by pests and diseases, it is recommended to use a chemical protection system that includes 12 treatments with chemical pesticides (9 treatments with a mixture of insecticides and fungicides, 2 treatments with fungicides and one treatment with insecticides) in accordance with the 12 main phases of apple tree development in which the most harmful organisms inhabit and damage the ecosystem of the apple orchard during the period from the «green cone» phenophase to the «fruit ripening» phenophase. To reduce the use of chemical protection agents in apple orchards, a biological and chemical system should be used: in the «green cone» phenophase, one treatment with chemical pesticides, and in the «end of flowering» phenophase — «fruit ripening» — with biological preparations. Under the condition of complete withdrawal from the use of chemical pesticides, the system of biological protection of the apple tree should be used, which is based on seven treatments with biological preparations in the phenophase «separation of buds» — «ripening of fruits».

Numerical Simulation of Air-Core Surface Vortex at Critical Submergence for Dual Horizontal Intakes

Abstract Air-entrainment from surface vortex at critical submergence for hydraulic intakes adversely affects the withdrawal efficiency and intake performance. In this study, flow at the lateral dual square bottom intake placed in a row operating under uniform approach flow is numerically simulated. The dual intakes are subjected to perpendicular approach flow making the withdrawal condition more complex. The interface of the air–water phase is tracked using the volume of fluid (VOF) model, both coupled and decoupled with the level-set method with different spatial discretization methods for identifying the best interface interpolation. This study is focused on the development of a methodology for the determination of critical submergence for dual intakes numerically. Surface vortex causing air-entrainment at lateral dual intake was identified using three distinct approaches and a novel methodology involving the use of volume fraction study combined with a swirling-strength based vortex detection mechanism is proposed to compute the critical submergence for the safe operation of the intakes. Further, the effect of intake pipe blockage on the critical submergence is studied using differential intake protrusions and identified that a differential protrusion of the downstream intake can reduce the critical submergence with an enhanced withdrawal capacity of the upstream intake. The computed critical submergence is validated using experimental results on lateral dual intakes and found to be within ±10% error. The results of this study will be helpful to practicing engineers in the rational design of hydraulic intakes for various diversion projects.

Satellite gravity observation and hydrological modelling-based integrated groundwater storage change in Northwestern India

Abstract This paper presents a novel approach for an improved estimate of regional groundwater storage (GWS) change in Northwestern India by integrating satellite-based Gravity Recovery and Climate Exchange (GRACE) gravity observation and hydrological modelling of satellite/in situ hydrometeorological data. Initially, GRACE observation-based terrestrial water storage (TWS) change and hydrological model-based TWS change products were integrated using weight coefficients derived from multi-linear regression analysis of TWS change vs governing hydrological components. Later, the monthly average soil moisture change was subtracted from the monthly average individual and integrated TWS change products to obtain GWS change products. By spatial correlation analysis, three GWS change products were then compared with groundwater level (GWL) fluctuation-based in situ GWS change. Hydrological model, spaceborne GRACE observation, and integrated GWS change products show a positive correlation in ∼59, ∼69, and ∼73% of the area with in situ GWS change. While a hydrological model-based estimate considers geology, terrain, and hydrometeorological conditions, GRACE gravity observation includes groundwater withdrawal from aquifers. All the factors are included in the integrated product. The approach overcomes the limitations of GRACE observation (spatial resolution, geology, terrain, and hydrometeorological factors), hydrological modelling (groundwater withdrawal conditions), and conventional GWL fluctuation-based method (inadequate spatial continuity and cumbersome, labour-intensive exercise).

Brain activity during a working memory task after daily caffeine intake and caffeine withdrawal: a randomized double-blind placebo-controlled trial

Acute caffeine intake has been found to increase working memory (WM)-related brain activity in healthy adults without improving behavioral performances. The impact of daily caffeine intake—a ritual shared by 80% of the population worldwide—and of its discontinuation on working memory and its neural correlates remained unknown. In this double-blind, randomized, crossover study, we examined working memory functions in 20 young healthy non-smokers (age: 26.4 ± 4.0 years; body mass index: 22.7 ± 1.4 kg/m2; and habitual caffeine intake: 474.1 ± 107.5 mg/day) in a 10-day caffeine (150 mg × 3 times/day), a 10-day placebo (3 times/day), and a withdrawal condition (9-day caffeine followed by 1-day placebo). Throughout the 10th day of each condition, participants performed four times a working memory task (N-Back, comprising 3- and 0-back), and task-related blood-oxygen-level-dependent (BOLD) activity was measured in the last session with functional magnetic resonance imaging. Compared to placebo, participants showed a higher error rate and a longer reaction time in 3- against 0-back trials in the caffeine condition; also, in the withdrawal condition we observed a higher error rate compared to placebo. However, task-related BOLD activity, i.e., an increased attention network and decreased default mode network activity in 3- versus 0-back, did not show significant differences among three conditions. Interestingly, irrespective of 3- or 0-back, BOLD activity was reduced in the right hippocampus in the caffeine condition compared to placebo. Adding to the earlier evidence showing increasing cerebral metabolic demands for WM function after acute caffeine intake, our data suggest that such demands might be impeded over daily intake and therefore result in a worse performance. Finally, the reduced hippocampal activity may reflect caffeine-associated hippocampal grey matter plasticity reported in the previous analysis. The findings of this study reveal an adapted neurocognitive response to daily caffeine exposure and highlight the importance of classifying impacts of caffeine on clinical and healthy populations.