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The DNDC model was able to simulate the temporal variation in soil respiration, although it underestimated the cumulative CO2 emission by 15%. A good correlation was found between predicted and measured root respiration. However, this model is limited in its ability to simulate heterotrophic respiration which was underestimated by 59%. The sensitivity tests showed that temperature, precipitation, soil organic C content, fertilization, and irrigation had a positive effect on soil respiration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents a case study of a 46-year-old Chinese woman who suffers from slightly painful and pale blue nodes on her forearm for 30 years, on her face and scalp for 10 years and her 25-year-old nephew has similar lesion on the face. The patients were diagnosed with Brooke-Spiegler syndrome (BSS) and trichoepithelioma, respectively. Mutations in the CYLD gene were considered as the cause of the syndrome.

The article focuses on a study which examines novel mutations of tuberous sclerosis complex 1 (TSC1) gene in Chinese patients with TSC. The researchers identified one SNP and one missense polymorphism in the study participants. Study results are considers useful in genetic counseling and in prenatal diagnosis of affected families.

A novel strategy was exploited for the fabrication of AlN–AlON refractories via nitrogen gas pressure sintering of Al4O4C. The phase transformation and microstructure evolution during the reaction at 1600–1800°C were thoroughly investigated. The results indicated that the high N2 pressure was essential for the effective nitridation. The in situ generated AlN–AlON refractories had a homogeneous local chemical composition, and the (101) plane of AlN and the (222) lattice plane of Al5O6N were bonded at their grain boundary with no amorphous phase. The as‐fabricated AlN–AlON refractories treated at 1700°C by a 20 atm nitrogen pressure exhibited an optimum bending strength of 111.10 MPa, combining an apparent porosity of 20% with a low bulk density of 1.97 g/cm3. The diffusion of the generated oxygen led to an increase in the apparent porosity and decrease in the bulk density at 1800°C. Furthermore, the fabrication mechanism of AlN–AlON refractories under the nitrogen gas‐pressure was discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The evolution and driving factors underlying dust activity in central Asia remain controversial, particularly in its effects on downwind regions. We present a Holocene dust storm activity record retrieved from the Tarim Basin (TB) and perform linear and nonlinear analyses on dust records from the TB and the Greenland areas. The results indicate a similar response of dust activities to total solar irradiance in both areas, and an outbreak of dust storms in the TB at ~3.5 kyr BP. We suggest that decreasing temperature in high northern latitudes, aided by solar activity change, reached a critical threshold near ~3.5 kyr BP. The resulting steepening of the meridional temperature gradient would have facilitated strengthening and southward shift of the Northern Hemisphere westerly jet, leading to the outbreak of dust storms through intensification of low level wind intensity and prolonged spring conditions in the Asian interior. Key Points: A possible tipping point of dust activity in central Asia at ~3.5 kyr BP was indicated by intensity and regime changes of dust recordWe identify similar response of dust activities in both central Asia and Greenland areas to solar activity changeInsolation and solar activity change drive dust storm outbreak in Asia by increased wind intensity and prolonged spring conditions [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]