CO2 Flux over the Contiguous United States in 2016 Inverted by WRF-Chem/DART from OCO-2 XCO2 Retrievals

High spatial resolution carbon dioxide (CO2) flux inversion systems are needed to support the global stocktake required by the Paris Agreement and to complement the bottom-up emission inventories. Based on the work of Zhang, a regional CO2 flux inversion system capable of assimilating the column-averaged dry air mole fractions of CO2 (XCO2) retrieved from Orbiting Carbon Observatory-2 (OCO-2) observations had been developed. To evaluate the system, under the constraints of the initial state and boundary conditions extracted from the CarbonTracker 2017 product (CT2017), the annual CO2 flux over the contiguous United States in 2016 was inverted (1.08 Pg C yr−1) and compared with the corresponding posterior CO2 fluxes extracted from OCO-2 model intercomparison project (OCO-2 MIP) (mean: 0.76 Pg C yr−1, standard deviation: 0.29 Pg C yr−1, 9 models in total) and CT2017 (1.19 Pg C yr−1). The uncertainty of the inverted CO2 flux was reduced by 14.71% compared to the prior flux. The annual mean XCO2 estimated by the inversion system was 403.67 ppm, which was 0.11 ppm smaller than the result (403.78 ppm) simulated by a parallel experiment without assimilating the OCO-2 retrievals and closer to the result of CT2017 (403.29 ppm). Independent CO2 flux and concentration measurements from towers, aircraft, and Total Carbon Column Observing Network (TCCON) were used to evaluate the results. Mean bias error (MBE) between the inverted CO2 flux and flux measurements was 0.73 g C m−2 d−1, was reduced by 22.34% and 28.43% compared to those of the prior flux and CT2017, respectively. MBEs between the CO2 concentrations estimated by the inversion system and concentration measurements from TCCON, towers, and aircraft were reduced by 52.78%, 96.45%, and 75%, respectively, compared to those of the parallel experiment. The experiment proved that CO2 emission hotspots indicated by the inverted annual CO2 flux with a relatively high spatial resolution of 50 km consisted well with the locations of most major metropolitan/urban areas in the contiguous United States, which demonstrated the potential of combing satellite observations with high spatial resolution CO2 flux inversion system in supporting the global stocktake.

Spontaneous Trait Inferences on Social Media

The present research investigates whether spontaneous trait inferences occur under conditions characteristic of social media and networking sites: nonextreme, ostensibly self-generated content, simultaneous presentation of multiple cues, and self-paced browsing. We used an established measure of trait inferences (false recognition paradigm) and a direct assessment of impressions. Without being asked to do so, participants spontaneously formed impressions of people whose status updates they saw. Our results suggest that trait inferences occurred from nonextreme self-generated content, which is commonly found in social media updates (Experiment 1) and when nine status updates from different people were presented in parallel (Experiment 2). Although inferences did occur during free browsing, the results suggest that participants did not necessarily associate the traits with the corresponding status update authors (Experiment 3). Overall, the findings suggest that spontaneous trait inferences occur on social media. We discuss implications for online communication and research on spontaneous trait inferences.

Preharvest Application of 1-Methylcyclopropene Influences Fruit Drop and Storage Potential of ‘Bartlett’ Pears

Preharvest applications of 1-methylcyclopropene (1-MCP) were tested on California ‘Bartlett’ pears at 80 N maturity and at rates of 0, 28, and 56 mg·L−1 in 2006 and 0, 50, and 100 mg·L−1 in 2007. In 2007, a parallel experiment was conducted to compare 50 mg·L−1 1-MCP with 96 g a.i./ha 1-naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA) used commercially to control or decrease premature fruit drop. Premature fruit drop, maturity, firmness at harvest, color, softening, and ethylene production during ripening and physiological disorders were studied in fruit harvested between 7 and 21 days after 1-MCP application and either ripened at 20 °C immediately after harvest or after 3.5 to 6 months storage at –1 °C. Overall, 50 mg·L−1 1-MCP reduced the incidence of premature fruit drop when compared with the untreated fruit and fruit drop was similar to adjuvant-treated fruit and NAA-treated fruit, especially 28 days or longer after the treatment. 1-MCP was more effective in retarding color, softening, and ethylene production during ripening than delaying fruit maturation on the tree (loss of firmness), and both rates of 1-MCP tested each season yielded similar fruit responses on most evaluation times. 1-MCP's effect on ripening was lost if fruit remained on the tree 21 days or after the fruit were stored for 3.5 months in cold storage regardless of treatment concentration. A reduction of internal breakdown incidence was observed in 1-MCP-treated fruit.

Intracerebroventricular administration of MK-801 increases food intake through mechanisms independent of gastric emptying

Systemic or hindbrain administration of MK-801, a noncompetitive N-methyl-d-aspartate receptor antagonist, increases meal size. To examine whether MK-801 enhances intake by increasing gastric emptying, we administered MK-801 (2.0 μg/3.0 μl) into the fourth ventricle [intracerebroventricular (ICV)] and measured feeding and gastric emptying of 5-ml NaCl or 15% sucrose loads. In a parallel experiment, we examined food intake and gastric emptying following intraperitoneal (IP) injection of MK-801 (100 μg/kg). MK-801, either IP or ICV, increased 30-min sucrose intake compared with control (12.3 ± 0.7 vs. 9.8 ± 0.5 and 16.6 ± 2.0 vs. 10.7 ± 0.7 ml, for IP and ICV administration, respectively). Also, IP MK-801 increased 5-min gastric emptying of NaCl (4.13 ± 0.1 ml emptied) and sucrose (3.11 ± 0.1 ml emptied) compared with control (3.75 ± 0.2 and 2.28 ± 0.1 ml emptied for NaCl and sucrose loads, respectively). In contrast, ICV MK-801 did not alter NaCl emptying (3.82 ± 0.1 ml emptied) compared with control (3.82 ± 0.3 ml emptied) and actually reduced gastric emptying of sucrose (2.1 ± 0.2 and 2.94 ± 0.1 ml emptied, for MK and vehicle, respectively). These data confirm previous results that systemic as well as hindbrain injection of MK-801 increases food intake. However, because ICV MK-801 failed to increase gastric emptying, these results indicate that MK-801 increases food intake through mechanisms independent of altered gastric emptying.

Effects of exercise and n–3 fatty acids on postprandial lipemia

Because n–3 fatty acid ingestion and aerobic exercise each has been associated with diminished postprandial lipemia (PPL), the purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of a combination of these two factors on PPL. Sedentary men underwent a standard dietary preparation, including a 12-h fast before each trial. Six subjects performed a control trial (fat meal, 100 g fat) and an n–3 fatty acid trial (fat meal after 3 wk of n–3 fatty acid supplementation at 4 g/day). In a parallel experiment, six different subjects underwent a control trial and n–3 fatty acid supplementation + 60 min of exercise before ingestion of the fat meal. Supplementation with n–3 fatty acid significantly decreased baseline triglyceride (TG) concentrations but did not significantly affect PPL. The combination of n–3 fatty acid and exercise had no effect on the postprandial TG response. The present study suggests that n–3 fatty acid supplementation lowers resting TG concentrations but inhibits the beneficial effect of aerobic exercise on the postprandial TG response.

The stereospecific removal of a C-19 hydrogen atom in oestrogen biosynthesis

1. The synthesis of a number of 19-substituted androgens is described. 2. A method for the partially stereospecific introduction of a tritium label at C-19 in 19-hydroxyandrost-5-ene-3β,17β-diol was developed. The 19−3H-labelled triol produced by reduction of 19-oxoandrost-5-ene-3β,17β-diol with tritiated sodium borohydride is tentatively formulated as 19-hydroxy[(19-R)-19−3H]androst-5-ene-3β,17β-diol and the 19−3H-labelled triol produced by reduction of 19-oxo[19−3H]-androst-5-ene-3β,17β-diol with sodium borohydride as 19-hydroxy[(19-S)-19−3H]-androst-5-ene-3β,17β-diol. 3. In the conversion of the (19-R)-19−3H-labelled compound into oestrogen by a microsomal preparation from human term placenta more radioactivity was liberated in formic acid (61·6%) than in water (38·4%). In a parallel experiment with the (19-S)-19−3H-labelled compound the order of radioactivity was reversed: formic acid (23·4%), water (76·2%). 4. These observations are interpreted in terms of the removal of the 19-S-hydrogen atom in the conversion of a 19-hydroxy androgen into a 19-oxo androgen during oestrogen biosynthesis. 5. It is suggested that the removal of C-19 in oestrogen biosynthesis occurs compulsorily at the oxidation state of a 19-aldehyde with the liberation of formic acid.