Investigating the impact of land-use land-cover change on Indian summer monsoon daily rainfall and temperature during 1951–2005 using a regional climate model

Daily moderate rainfall events, which constitute a major portion of seasonal summer monsoon rainfall over central India, have decreased significantly during the period 1951 through 2005. On the other hand, mean and extreme near-surface daily temperature during the monsoon season have increased by a maximum of 1–1.5 °C. Using simulations made with a high-resolution regional climate model (RegCM4) and prescribed land cover of years 1950 and 2005, it is demonstrated that part of the changes in moderate rainfall events and temperature have been caused by land-use/land-cover change (LULCC), which is mostly anthropogenic. Model simulations show that the increase in seasonal mean and extreme temperature over central India coincides with the region of decrease in forest and increase in crop cover. Our results also show that LULCC alone causes warming in the extremes of daily mean and maximum temperatures by a maximum of 1–1.2 °C, which is comparable with the observed increasing trend in the extremes. Decrease in forest cover and simultaneous increase in crops not only reduces the evapotranspiration over land and large-scale convective instability, but also contributes toward decrease in moisture convergence through reduced surface roughness. These factors act together in reducing significantly the moderate rainfall events and the amount of rainfall in that category over central India. Additionally, the model simulations are repeated by removing the warming trend in sea surface temperatures over the Indian Ocean. As a result, enhanced warming at the surface and greater decrease in moderate rainfall events over central India compared to the earlier set of simulations are noticed. Results from these additional experiments corroborate our initial findings and confirm the contribution of LULCC in the decrease in moderate rainfall events and increase in daily mean and extreme temperature over India. Therefore, this study demonstrates the important implications of LULCC over India during the monsoon season. Although, the regional climate model helps in better resolving land–atmosphere feedbacks over the Indian region, the inferences do depend on the fidelity of the model in capturing the features of Indian monsoon realistically. It is proposed that similar studies using a suite of climate models will further enrich our understanding about the role of LULCC in the Indian monsoon climate

Sustainable Generation of Ni(OH)2 Nanoparticles for the Green Synthesis of 5-Substituted 1 H-Tetrazoles:A Competent Turn on Fluorescence Sensing of H2O2

A mutually correlated green protocol has been devised that originates from a sustainable production of β-Ni(OH)2 nanoparticles which is used for an efficient catalytic synthesis of versatile substituted tetrazoles, under mild reaction conditions in water via a simple, one-pot, eco-friendly method. The synthesis is followed by derivatization into a highly fluorescence active compound 9-(4-(5-(quinolin-2-yl)-1H-tetrazol-1-yl)phenyl)-9H-carbazole that can be used at tracer concentrations (0.1 μM) to detect as well as quantify hydrogen peroxide down to 2 μM concentration. The nanocatalyst was synthesized by a simple, proficient, and cost-effective methodology and characterized thoroughly by UV-vis absorption and Fourier transform infrared spectra, N2 adsorption/desorption, high resolution transmission electron microscopy, powder X-ray diffraction pattern, field emission scanning electron microscopy, and thermogravimetric analysis. Broad substrate scope, easy handling, higher efficiency, low cost, and reusability of the catalyst are some of the important features of this heterogeneous catalytic system. The strong analytical performance of the resultant derivative in low-level quantification of potentially hazardous hydrogen peroxide is the key success of the overall green synthesis procedure reported here

Uncovering the effect of low-frequency static magnetic field on tendon-derived cells: from mechanosensing to tenogenesis

Magnetotherapy has been receiving increased attention as an attractive strategy for modulating cell physiology directly at the site of injury, thereby providing the medical community with a safe and non- invasive therapy. Yet, how magnetic eld in uences tendon cells both at the cellular and molecular levels remains unclear. Thus, the in uence of a low-frequency static magnetic eld (2 Hz, 350 mT) on human tendon-derived cells was studied using di erent exposure times (4 and 8 h; short-term studies) and di erent regimens of exposure to an 8h-period of magnetic stimulation (continuous, every 24 h or every 48 h; long-term studies). Herein, 8 h stimulation in short-term studies signi cantly upregulated the expression of tendon-associated genes SCX, COL1A1, TNC and DCN (p < 0.05) and altered intracellular Ca2+ levels (p < 0.05). Additionally, every 24 h regimen of stimulation signi cantly upregulated COL1A1, COL3A1 and TNC at day 14 in comparison to control (p < 0.05), whereas continuous exposure di erentially regulated the release of the immunomodulatory cytokines IL-1β and IL-10 (p < 0.001) but only at day 7 in comparison to controls. Altogether, these results provide new insights on how low-frequency static magnetic eld ne-tune the behaviour of tendon cells according to the magnetic settings used, which we foresee to represent an interesting candidate to guide tendon regeneration.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Was there any change in tobacco smoking among adults in Bangladesh during 2009-2017? Insights from two nationally representative cross-sectional surveys.

OBJECTIVE: This study assessed the changes in prevalence and associated factors of tobacco smoking among Bangladeshi adults over time. DESIGN: Nationally representative cross-sectional surveys. SETTING: Two most recent Global Adults Tobacco Survey (GATS) data from Bangladesh, carried out in 2009 and 2017. PARTICIPANTS: Adult population aged 15 and above (n=9629 in 2009; n=12 783 in 2017). OUTCOME MEASURES: Current use of tobacco smoke, including cigarettes, bidi, hukkah, cigars or pipes, which was dichotomised ('yes'/'no'). METHODS: We analysed data from two recent rounds of GATS (2009 and 2017). Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used. RESULTS: The overall prevalence of tobacco smoking among Bangladeshi adults was noted (23.00%, 95% CI 22.98 to 23.00 in 2009; 16.44%, 95% CI 16.43 to 16.45 in 2017). Being male (adjusted OR (AOR)=59.72, CI 40.56 to 87.93 for 2009; AOR=71.17, CI 41.08 to 123.32 for 2017), age between 25 and 64 years (all AORs >2 and p<0.05), smoking permissible at home (AOR=7.08, CI 5.88 to 8.52 for 2009; AOR=5.90, CI 5.34 to 6.95 for 2017), and watching tobacco smoking product use in movie/drama scenes (AOR=1.26, CI 1.11 to 1.44 for 2009; AOR=1.34, CI 1.17 to 1.54 for 2017) were found to be significantly associated with increased tobacco smoking among adults both in 2009 and in 2017. However, being offered free tobacco sample products (AOR=0.66, CI 0.57 to 0.77 for 2009; AOR=0.87, CI 0.76 to 0.99 for 2017) and having primary, secondary or higher education (all AORs <1 and p<0.05) as well as being a student (AOR=0.16, CI 0.09 to 0.29 for 2009; AOR=0.32, CI 0.19 to 0.53) were associated with lower odds of tobacco smoking in both surveys. CONCLUSIONS: Although the prevalence of tobacco smoking has declined over the period, it is still high among those who were relatively older, men, less educated and exposed to a movie/drama where tobacco smoking is promoted. Therefore, appropriate interventions are required to stop tobacco smoking among the Bangladeshi population

Effects of soil physico-chemical parameters on Sclerotium rolfsii suppressiveness

The relationship of soil physico-chemical parameters with disease suppressiveness property of soil is not well understood phenomenon. In this regard, the surveys were conducted on the occurrence of collar rot disease caused by Sclerotium rolfsii in two districts (North 24 Parganas and Nadia) of West Bengal Gangetic new alluvial region of India from February to March, 2016. Soil samples were screened through the disease conduciveness and suppressiveness. The physicochemical properties of soils showed that the clay loam soil dominated in new the alluvial region of West Bengal. It was found that soil suppressiveness against S. rolfsii significantly positively correlated with soil aggregate ratio (AR). PCA explained the closeness of the parameters with soil suppressive index (SI) and aggregate stability (AS). Mostly the exponential relationship has been observed among the selected physico-chemical parameters. From this study we found AR, AS and bulk density were most determining parameters for S. rolfsii soil suppressiveness. Such indicators of soil health would be very beneficial for forecasting potential risks and providing guidance on appropriate farming techniques for specific geographic areas or microclimates. However, further investigation is required to fully comprehend the impact of physical and chemical properties on soil suppressiveness

Lung epithelial stem cells and their niches : Fgf10 takes center stage

Throughout life adult animals crucially depend on stem cell populations to maintain and repair their tissues to ensure life-long organ function. Stem cells are characterized by their capacity to extensively self-renew and give rise to one or more differentiated cell types. These powerful stem cell properties are key to meet the changing demand for tissue replacement during normal lung homeostasis and regeneration after lung injury. Great strides have been made over the last few years to identify and characterize lung epithelial stem cells as well as their lineage relationships. Unfortunately, knowledge on what regulates the behavior and fate specification of lung epithelial stem cells is still limited, but involves communication with their microenvironment or niche, a local tissue environment that hosts and influences the behaviors or characteristics of stem cells and that comprises other cell types and extracellular matrix. As such, an intimate and dynamic epithelial-mesenchymal cross-talk, which is also essential during lung development, is required for normal homeostasis and to mount an appropriate regenerative response after lung injury. Fibroblast growth factor 10 (Fgf10) signaling in particular seems to be a well-conserved signaling pathway governing epithelial-mesenchymal interactions during lung development as well as between different adult lung epithelial stem cells and their niches. On the other hand, disruption of these reciprocal interactions leads to a dysfunctional epithelial stem cell-niche unit, which may culminate in chronic lung diseases such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), chronic asthma and idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF)

Restoration of TGF-β signalling reduces tumorigenicity in human lung cancer cells

Members of the transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) family regulate a wide range of biological processes including cell proliferation, migration, differentiation, apoptosis, and extracellular matrix deposition. Resistance to TGF-β-mediated tumour suppressor function in human lung cancer may occur through the loss of type II receptor (TβRII) expression. In this study, we investigated the expression pattern of TβRII in human lung cancer tissues by RT–PCR and Western blot analyses. We observed downregulation of TβRII in 30 out of 46 NSCLC samples (65%) by semiquantitative RT–PCR. Western blot analyses with tumour lysates showed reduced expression of TβRII in 77% cases. We also determined the effect of TβRII expression in lung adenocarcinoma cell line (VMRC-LCD) that is not responsive to TGF-β due to lack of TβRII expression. Stable expression of TβRII in these cells restored TGF-β-mediated effects including Smad2/3 and Smad4 complex formation, TGF-β-responsive reporter gene activation, inhibition of cell proliferation and increased apoptosis. Clones expressing TβRII showed reduced colony formation in soft-agarose assay and significantly reduced tumorigenicity in athymic nude mice. Therefore, these results suggest that reestablishment of TGF-β signalling in TβRII null cells by stable expression of TβRII can reverse malignant behaviour of cells and loss of TβRII expression may be involved in lung tumour progression