The manuscript reviews the available literature of 2015-2022 on the microplastic content in commercially important fish species, molluscs and crustaceans in the Arabian/Persian Gulf. The literature on microplastic con...The manuscript reviews the available literature of 2015-2022 on the microplastic content in commercially important fish species, molluscs and crustaceans in the Arabian/Persian Gulf. The literature on microplastic concentrations on beaches, in subtidal sediment, and in surface water of different regions of the Arabian/Persian Gulf is evaluated, also. Overall, the reported concentration of microplastic in marine organisms in the Gulf has been found to be less than for comparable waters such as the Mediterranean Sea. The highest microplastic concentration within the region of the Gulf has been found on its Northern shore, in Iran, where also most of the microplastic studies within the region stem from.展开更多
Significant hydrocarbon accumulations in the offshore Gulf of Gabes, Tunisia, remain largely undeveloped due to elevated concentrations of carbon dioxide(CO_(2)), nitrogen(N_(2)), and hydrogen sulfide(H_(2)S),which co...Significant hydrocarbon accumulations in the offshore Gulf of Gabes, Tunisia, remain largely undeveloped due to elevated concentrations of carbon dioxide(CO_(2)), nitrogen(N_(2)), and hydrogen sulfide(H_(2)S),which compromise commercial viability and have delayed field development. Addressing these constraints requires the deployment of technically robust and environmentally sustainable CO_(2) management strategies. Carbon capture, utilization, and storage(CCUS) offers a comprehensive solution by enabling the redirection of captured CO_(2) for enhanced oil recovery(EOR), industrial reuse, or permanent geological sequestration, supporting both resource recovery and long-term emissions mitigation.Building upon earlier pre-screening assessments, this study re-evaluates the CO_(2) storage potential of selected sites in the Gulf of Gabes, with a focus on informing integrated utilization and storage frameworks. Based on geological, logistical, and socioeconomic criteria, the Fd1 Field within the Hasdrubal development area was selected as a prime candidate. A multi-scale assessment approach was applied to characterize the geological context, reservoir properties, containment integrity, and injection feasibility. The Eocene El Garia Formation within Fd1 Field, composed of thick-bedded nummulitic limestones, was identified as the most suitable reservoir for sequestration. It offers favorable characteristics in terms of porosity(10 %–26 %), permeability(40–100 mD), adequate structural thickness, and effective sealing by the overlying caprock. A key contribution of this study lies in the integration of regional geological screening with advanced 3D coupled flow-geomechanical simulations, the first of its kind in Tunisia's offshore domain. The simulation workflow evaluated pressure evolution, CO_(2) plume migration, mechanical stability, and long-term seal integrity over a 30-year injection period. Results indicate that up to 16.5 million metric tonnes of CO_(2) can be safely injected at a daily rate of 1.174 Mm^(3),with pressure buildup remaining within acceptable thresholds and no caprock failure observed. Overall,the findings demonstrate the technical feasibility and containment reliability of CO_(2) storage in the El Garia Formation. The study establishes Fd1 Field as a strategic CCUS site and provides a transferable methodology for evaluating CO_(2) storage potential in fractured carbonate reservoirs across North Africa and comparable offshore settings.展开更多
In this study,the occurrence,sources,and ecological risk of microplastics(>60μm)in the surface and bottom seawater were investigated in the Beibu Gulf,the northern South China Sea.The average abundance of micropla...In this study,the occurrence,sources,and ecological risk of microplastics(>60μm)in the surface and bottom seawater were investigated in the Beibu Gulf,the northern South China Sea.The average abundance of microplastics in surface and bottom waters was 1.35±0.93 and 0.79±0.50 items/m~3,respectively.Microplastics in both surface and bottom waters were predominantly in the form of fragments,and mostly in green.The composition of microplastics in surface water was primarily poly(methyl methacrylate)(PMA),whereas in bottom water,polyethylene(PE)dominated.Positive matrix factorization(PMF)modeling revealed that the primary sources of microplastics were pipeline abrasion,fishing activities,plastic waste,landfill disposal,transportation,aquaculture,and construction activities.The pollution load index(PLI)indicated that the overall risk of microplastic pollution in the Beibu Gulf was low.Conversely,the polymer hazard index(PHI)for microplastics was relatively high.These data underscore the importance of timely and effective reduction of human-intensive activities contributing to microplastic pollution and provide valuable information for further research in microplastic ecotoxicology and biogeochemistry.展开更多
This study focuses on urgent research on restoring and enhancing carbon storage capacity in the Beibu Gulf Urban Agglomer-ation of China,a key area in the‘Belt and Road’Initiative,which aligns with carbon peaking an...This study focuses on urgent research on restoring and enhancing carbon storage capacity in the Beibu Gulf Urban Agglomer-ation of China,a key area in the‘Belt and Road’Initiative,which aligns with carbon peaking and neutrality goals.This research ana-lyzes the spatial characteristics of carbon metabolism from 2000 to 2020 and uses models to identify stable carbon sink areas,positive carbon flow corridors,and carbon sequestration nodes.The goal is to construct a carbon metabolism spatial security pattern(CMSSP)and propose territorial ecological restoration strategies under different development demand scenarios.The results show the following:1)in 2020,the study area’s carbon sink decreased by 8.29×10^(4) t C/yr compared with that in 2010 and by 10.83×10^(4) t C/yr compared with that in 2000.High-carbon sinks were found mainly in mountainous areas,whereas low-carbon sinks are concentrated in urban con-struction land,rural residential areas,and land margins.2)From 2000 to 2020,the spatial security pattern of carbon metabolism tended to be‘high in the middle of the east and west and low in the gulf.’In 2000,2010,and 2020,16 stable carbon sinks were identified.The carbon energy flow density in Guangxi was greater than that in Guangdong and Hainan,with positive carbon flow corridors located primarily in Guangxi and Guangdong.The number of carbon sequestration nodes remained stable at approximately 15,mainly in Guangxi and Hainan.3)Scenario simulations revealed that under the Nature-based mild restoration scenario,the carbon sink rate will reach 611.85×10^(4) t C/yr by 2030 and increase to 612.45×10^(4) t C/yr by 2060,with stable carbon sinks increasing to 18.In the restora-tion scenario based on Anti-globalization,the carbon sink will decrease from 610.24×10^(4) t C/yr in 2030 to 605.19×10^(4) t C/yr in 2060,with the disappearance of some positive carbon flow corridors and stable carbon sinks.Under the Human-based sustainable restoration scenario,the carbon sink area will decrease from 607.00×10^(4) t C/yr in 2030 to 596.39×10^(4) t C/yr in 2060,with carbon sink areas frag-menting and positive carbon flow corridors becoming less dense.4)On the basis of the current and predicted CMSSPs,this study ex-plores spatial ecological restoration strategies for high-carbon storage areas in bay urban agglomerations at four levels:the land control region,urban agglomeration structure system,carbon sink structure and bay structure control region.展开更多
In the paper,copepod universal formulas are applied to construct a copepod individual-based model(IBM),and a genetic algorithm(GA)is incorporated in the formulas with genes as species parameters.The IBM initially cons...In the paper,copepod universal formulas are applied to construct a copepod individual-based model(IBM),and a genetic algorithm(GA)is incorporated in the formulas with genes as species parameters.The IBM initially constructs the individuals with all possible genes similar to the original state of natural selection.Climate-averaged temperature and chlorophyll a(Chl a)time series at the surface layer of fixed points in the Georges Bank(GB)and the Gulf of Maine(GOM)are taken as the model environment.The IBM has been running for 50 a in the environment without inter-annual change.The IBM results indicate that some of the life history traits of the top ten abundant species output by the IBM in the GB and the GOM are consistent with the real species Calanus finmarchicus,Pseudocalanus spp.,Centropages typicus,and Centropages hamatus in terms of reproduction strategy,time to reach the maximum abundance,water temperature preference,and adult body mass.The study of the top ten abundant species with multidimensional scaling(MDS)and clustering analysis(CA)methods indicates that reproduction strategy is the basis for grouping.For the species taking the broadcasting strategy,both GB and GOM environments tend to choose smallbodied species with cold-water preference,such as Pseudocalanus spp.;for the species taking the egg-carrying strategies,the GB environment selects large-bodied species with cold-water preference,such as C.finmarchicus,while the GOM environment selects medium-bodied species with warm-water preference,such as Centropages spp.(C.typicus and C.hamatus).After gene mutation is added to the IBM,the model result gets simple,which needs to be further improved.The significance of the paper lies in systematically studying the impact of GB and GOM environments on the evolutionary life history traits of copepods for the first time.展开更多
This study used moderate-resolution imaging spectroradiometer(MODIS)data and a high-resolution unstructured grid finite volume community ocean model(FVCOM)to investigate the seasonal and regional characteristics of ph...This study used moderate-resolution imaging spectroradiometer(MODIS)data and a high-resolution unstructured grid finite volume community ocean model(FVCOM)to investigate the seasonal and regional characteristics of physical and ecological elements in the Beibu Gulf.The findings reveal that,in the Beibu Gulf,strong temperature gradients exist in winter,with sea surface temperatures becoming uniform at around 30℃ in summer.Sea surface salinity is influenced by low-salinity water from the Qiongzhou Strait and rivers,as well as high-salinity water from the open sea,reaching its minimum levels in autumn.Chlorophyll-a(Chl-a)concentrations peak in nearshore areas,particularly in autumn.In the Beibu Gulf,a significantly negative partial correlation exists between sea surface temperature and Chl-a(ρ=-0.5).Furthermore,wind patterns exert a considerable influence on different re-gions outside the eastern Beibu Gulf(|ρ|≥0.49),particularly showing a negative correlation along the Vietnamese coast.Cooling-in-duced water instability,coupled with wind-driven upwelling,enhances vertical water movement,thus facilitating the upward trans-port of nutrients.High Chl-a concentrations in the estuarine area are attributed to the nutrient-rich discharges(ρ=0.55)and the strong estuarine gravity circulation induced by intense density gradients.There are also notably high Chl-a concentrations in the eastern Beibu Gulf and the western coast of Hainan Island despite the presence of adverse environmental conditions.These anomalies can be attributed to wind-induced upwelling and tidal mixing front-induced upwelling,respectively.This study presents a comprehensive analysis of the distribution and mechanisms of Chl-a in the Beibu Gulf,thus highlighting the complex interactions among various fac-tors and emphasizing the importance of local environmental conditions.展开更多
Gulf War Illness(GWI)is characterized by a wide range of symptoms that manifests largely as gastrointestinal symptoms.Among these gastrointestinal symptoms,motility disorders are highly prevalent,presenting as chronic...Gulf War Illness(GWI)is characterized by a wide range of symptoms that manifests largely as gastrointestinal symptoms.Among these gastrointestinal symptoms,motility disorders are highly prevalent,presenting as chronic constipation,stomach pain,indigestion,diarrhea,and other conditions that severely impact the quality of life of GWI veterans.However,despite a high prevalence of gastrointestinal impairments among these veterans,most research attention has focused on neurological disturbances.This perspective provides a comprehensive overview of current in vivo research advancements elucidating the underlying mechanisms contributing to gastrointestinal disorders in GWI.Generally,these in vivo and in vitro models propose that neuroinflammation alters gut motility and drives the gastrointestinal symptoms reported in GWI.Additionally,this perspective highlights the potential and challenges of in vitro bioengineering models,which could be a crucial contributor to understanding and treating the pathology of gastrointestinal related-GWI.展开更多
Based on drilling,mud logging,core,seismic and imaging logging data,this paper studies the identification and evolution process of negative inversion structures in the Carboniferous buried hills in the No.1 and No.2 f...Based on drilling,mud logging,core,seismic and imaging logging data,this paper studies the identification and evolution process of negative inversion structures in the Carboniferous buried hills in the No.1 and No.2 fault zones of Weixinan Sag,Beibu Gulf Basin,China,and reveals the controls of these structures on high-quality reservoirs.The No.2 fault zone develops significant negative inversion structures in the Carboniferous buried hills,as a result of multi-stage transformations of compressive-tensile stress fields in the period from the Late Hercynian to the Himalayan.The Hercynian carbonates laid the material basis for the formation of high-quality reservoirs.The negative inversion structures mainly control the development of high-quality reservoirs in buried hills through:(1)creating large-scale fractures to increase reservoir space and improve oil-gas flow pathways;(2)regulating stratigraphic differential denudation to highlight dominant lithology for later reservoir transformation;(3)shaping the paleogeomorphological highlands to provide favorable conditions for superficial karstification.The negative inversion structures form a high-quality,composite reservoir space with the synergistic existence of superficial dissolution fractures/cavities and burial-enhanced karst systems through the coupling of fracture network creation,formation denudation screening and multi-stage karst transformation.The research results have guided the breakthrough of the first exploratory well with a daily oil production over 1000 m^(3)in carbonate buried-hill reservoir in the Beibu Gulf Basin,and provide referential geological basis for finding more reserves and achieving higher production in the Carboniferous buried hills in the Weixinan Sag.展开更多
The worsening of global warming due to burning fossil fuels and the global energy crisis have led to an urgent need for renewable and clean energy sources that have little impact on the environment.One of the most imp...The worsening of global warming due to burning fossil fuels and the global energy crisis have led to an urgent need for renewable and clean energy sources that have little impact on the environment.One of the most important and largest alternative energy sources is marine waves,which have enormous energy that can be utilized using the correct and appropriate methods.The present work aims to study the possibility of investing wave energy by extracting the wave power at the northern coasts of the Arabian Gulf using numerical models for zero crossing and spectral analysis methods(SWAN model).Numerical models were used to analyze metrological data to estimate the wave power,estimated at 0.2664 kW/m by the zero-crossing method,and 0.386 kW/m by the spectral analysis method at a depth of 19 meters.The weak wave power may be due to the shallowness of the Gulf compared to other seas,in addition to the weather conditions in the study area,which are directly affected by weather phenomena,especially wind speed.The research recommends conducting further studies on wave energy and studying the most advanced methods for extracting it because of its great economic returns for Iraq.展开更多
The Beibu Gulf Basin is an important oil-and gas-bearing basin offshore the China Sea,but the geological reserves of oil and gas are not very high,and there are significant differences between different sags.Previous ...The Beibu Gulf Basin is an important oil-and gas-bearing basin offshore the China Sea,but the geological reserves of oil and gas are not very high,and there are significant differences between different sags.Previous studies have shown that the formation and accumulation of oil and gas are closely related to deep structures,especially the crustal thickness or the relative undulation characteristics between the Moho and basement,but there is a lack of specific evaluation and quantitative standards.In this paper,we first invert the depth of the Moho in the Beibu Gulf Basin using satellite gravity anomalies and calculate the crustal thickness value based on this.Then,we count and analyze the crustal thickness value as well as the stretching factor that characterizes the crustal extension and thinning degree,and find that the NWW-trending contour closure of the 28 km Moho depth or 26 km crustal thickness corresponds significantly to the Weixinan-Fushan sag belt,which has already been proven to have considerable oil and gas discoveries,with a typical feature of crustal thinning to 22 km and the stretching factor reaching 1.1.Finally,we propose a comprehensive evaluation scheme based on the entropy weight method to normalize and evaluate the statistical features of the crust,and take a comprehensive score of Si>0.5 as an evaluation indicator for an oil-gas-rich sag.Based on this research,we believe that the Haizhong sag has considerable exploratory potential,followed by the Maichen sag,while the Leidong and Haitoubei sags have relatively smaller exploratory potential.The research results will help strategic decision-making of the oil and gas exploration in the Beibu Gulf Basin and provide new perspectives for studying the relationship between deep structures and the differential distribution of oil-gas-rich sags.展开更多
Based on the achievements and research advances in oil and gas exploration in the Persian Gulf Basin,this study analyzes the orderliness of oil and gas distribution and main controlling factors of hydrocarbon accumula...Based on the achievements and research advances in oil and gas exploration in the Persian Gulf Basin,this study analyzes the orderliness of oil and gas distribution and main controlling factors of hydrocarbon accumulation with reservoir-forming assemblage as the unit.In the Persian Gulf Basin,the hydrocarbon-generating centers of source rocks of different geological ages and the hydrocarbon rich zones migrate in a clockwise direction around the Ghawar Oilfield in the Central Arabian Subbasin.Horizontally,the overall distribution pattern is orderly,showing“oil in the west and gas in the east”,and“large oil and gas fields dense in the basin center and sparse at the basin edges”.Vertically,the extents of petroleum system compounding and sources mixing increase from west to east,the pattern of tectonic strength(weak in the west and strong in the east)forming the distribution characteristics of“gas rich in the Paleozoic,oil rich in the Mesozoic,and both oil and gas rich in the Cenozoic”.The large scale accumulation and orderly distribution of oil and gas in the Persian Gulf Basin are controlled by three factors:(1)Multiple sets of giant hydrocarbon kitchens provide a resource base for near-source reservoir-forming assemblages.The short-distance lateral migration determines the oil and gas enrichment in and around the distribution area of effective source rocks.(2)The anhydrite caprocks in the platform area are thin but have experienced weak late-stage tectonic activities.Their good sealing performance makes it difficult for oil and gas to migrate vertically to shallow layers through them.The thrust faults and high-angle fractures formed by intense tectonic activities of the Zagros Orogenic Belt connect multiple source-reservoir assemblages.However,the Neogene Gachsaran Formation gypsum-salt rocks are thick and highly plastic,generally with good sealing performance,so large-scale oil and gas accumulations are still formed beneath the salt;(3)Each set of reservoir-forming assemblages is well matched in time and space in terms of the development of source rocks and reservoir-caprock assemblages,the maturation and hydrocarbon generation of source rocks,and the formation of traps,thus resulting in abundant multi layer hydrocarbon accumulations.At present,the Persian Gulf Basin is still in the stage of structural trap exploration.The pre-salt prospective traps in effective hydrocarbon kitchens remain the first choice.The areas with significant changes in Mesozoic sedimentary facies have the conditions to form large scale lithologic oil and gas reservoirs.The deep Paleozoic conventional oil and gas reservoirs and the Lower Silurian Qusaiba Member shale gas have great exploration potential and are expected to become important reserve growth areas in the future.展开更多
Background:One-third of veterans returning from the 1990–1991 Gulf War reported a myriad of symptoms including cognitive dysfunction,skin rashes,musculoskeletal discomfort,and fatigue.This symptom cluster is now refe...Background:One-third of veterans returning from the 1990–1991 Gulf War reported a myriad of symptoms including cognitive dysfunction,skin rashes,musculoskeletal discomfort,and fatigue.This symptom cluster is now referred to as Gulf War Illness(GWI).As the underlying mechanisms of GWI have yet to be fully elucidated,diagnosis and treatment are based on symptomatic presentation.One confounding factor tied to the illness is the high presence of post-traumatic stress disorder(PTSD).Previous research efforts have demonstrated that both GWI and PTSD are associated with immunological dysfunction.As such,this research endeavor aimed to provide insight into the complex relationship between GWI symptoms,cytokine presence,and immune cell populations to pinpoint the impact of PTSD on these measures in GWI.Methods:Symptom measures were gathered through the Multidimensional fatigue inventory(MFI)and 36-item short form health survey(SF-36)scales and biological measures were obtained through cytokine&cytometry analysis.Subgrouping was conducted using Davidson Trauma Scale scores and the Structured Clinical Interview for Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders(DSM)-5,into GWI with high probability of PTSD symptoms(GWIH)and GWI with low probability of PTSD symptoms(GWIL).Data was analyzed using analysis of variance(ANOVA)statistical analysis along with correlation graph analysis.We mapped correlations between immune cells and cytokine signaling measures,hormones and GWI symptom measures to identify patterns in regulation between the GWIH,GWIL,and healthy control groups.Results:GWI with comorbid PTSD symptoms resulted in poorer health outcomes compared with both healthy control(HC)and the GWIL subgroup.Significant differences were found in basophil levels of GWI compared with HC at peak exercise regardless of PTSD symptom comorbidity(ANOVA F=4.7,P=0.01)indicating its potential usage as a biomarker for general GWI from control.While the unique identification of GWI with PTSD symptoms was less clear,the GWIL subgroup was found to be delineated from both GWIH and HC on measures of IL-15 across an exercise challenge(ANOVA F>3.75,P<0.03).Additional differences in natural killer(NK)cell numbers and function highlight IL-15 as a potential biomarker of GWI in the absence of PTSD symptoms.Conclusions:We conclude that disentangling GWI and PTSD by defining trauma-based subgroups may aid in the identification of unique GWI biosignatures that can help to improve diagnosis and target treatment of GWI more effectively.展开更多
Swells are critical concerns regarding safety,marine transportation,and coastal engineering construction of coastal countries along the Gulf of Guinea and have been scientific problems due to the lack of systematic th...Swells are critical concerns regarding safety,marine transportation,and coastal engineering construction of coastal countries along the Gulf of Guinea and have been scientific problems due to the lack of systematic theoretical,numerical,and observational research.In this study,a double nesting numerical model was constructed and validated from the Atlantic Ocean to the Gulf of Guinea based on simulating waves nearshore(SWAN)to explore the swell characteristics and source tracing in the Gulf of Guinea in winter and summer seasons from 2020 to 2021.Simulation results reveal that swells are stronger and deflect more to the west in winter than summer,even though they dominate in both seasons in the Gulf of Guinea in the S-SW directional range.Simulated two-dimensional(2D)wave spectral patterns not only clarify wave composition,variation,and propagation properties from the central South Atlantic Ocean to the Gulf of Guinea,but also distinguish swell strength and directional range in winter and summer.The NW wind events induce swells which spread toward the SSE-ESE direction from the North Atlantic Ocean,big wind source generates sustained and stable S-SW swells from the South Atlantic Ocean,and corresponding swell-influenced areas are discussed.The strongest swell event in the Gulf of Guinea during the simulation was used as a case study to trace its source.A strong clockwise wind vortex within the Roaring Forties induced these large swells in the Gulf of Guinea approximately 5.5 days later,and swell propagation formed a regular isoline of peak period distribution from the South Atlantic Ocean to the Gulf of Guinea in the SSW-SW direction.展开更多
Over one-third of 700,000 military personnel who served in the first Gulf War(GW)suffer from an assortment of symptoms,including cognitive and memory problems,musculoskeletal pain,gastrointestinal discomfort,fatigue,a...Over one-third of 700,000 military personnel who served in the first Gulf War(GW)suffer from an assortment of symptoms,including cognitive and memory problems,musculoskeletal pain,gastrointestinal discomfort,fatigue,and respiratory issues[1,2].The precise etiology of Gulf War illness(GWI)is unclear.However,epidemiological and preclinical studies imply that exposures to the prophylactic drug pyridostigmine bromide,insecticides,pesticides,smoke from oil well fires,and interaction between these exposures and war-related stress underlie this illness[2].As per the Kansas case definition,GWI is a chronic multi-symptom illness displaying one moderately severe and/or multiple symptoms of any severity in at least 3 of 6 symptom domains(fatigue,pain,neurological/cognitive/mood,skin,gastrointestinal,respiratory)[1,2].While the exact pathophysiological changes underlying GWI have not been identified,alterations in immune regulation and dysregulation of the redox balance have been observed in GWI,resulting in chronic systemic inflammation and neuroinflammation[2].展开更多
Background:Chronic Gulf War Illness(GWI)is characterized by cognitive and mood impairments,as well as persistent neuroinflammation and oxidative stress.This study aimed to investigate the efficacy of Epidiolex®,a...Background:Chronic Gulf War Illness(GWI)is characterized by cognitive and mood impairments,as well as persistent neuroinflammation and oxidative stress.This study aimed to investigate the efficacy of Epidiolex®,a Food and Drug Administration(FDA)-approved cannabidiol(CBD),in improving brain function in a rat model of chronic GWI.Methods:Six months after exposure to low doses of GWI-related chemicals[pyridostigmine bromide,N,N-diethyl-meta-toluamide(DEET),and permethrin(PER)]along with moderate stress,rats with chronic GWI were administered either vehicle(VEH)or CBD(20 mg/kg,oral)for 16 weeks.Neurobehavioral tests were conducted on 11 weeks after treatment initiation to evaluate the performance of rats in tasks related to associative recognition memory,object location memory,pattern separation,and sucrose preference.The effect of CBD on hyperalgesia was also examined.The brain tissues were processed for immunohistochemical and molecular studies following behavioral tests.Results:GWI rats treated with VEH exhibited impairments in all cognitive tasks and anhedonia,whereas CBD-treated GWI rats showed improvements in all cognitive tasks and no anhedonia.Additionally,CBD treatment alleviated hyperalgesia in GWI rats.Analysis of hippocampal tissues from VEH-treated rats revealed astrocyte hypertrophy and increased percentages of activated microglia presenting NOD-,LRR-and pyrin domain-containing protein 3(NLRP3)complexes as well as elevated levels of proteins involved in NLRP3 inflammasome activation and Janus kinase/signal transducers and activators of the transcription(JAK/STAT)signaling.Furthermore,there were increased concentrations of proinflammatory and oxidative stress markers along with decreased neurogenesis.In contrast,the hippocampus from CBD-treated GWI rats displayed reduced levels of proteins mediating the activation of NLRP3 inflammasomes and JAK/STAT signaling,normalized concentrations of proinflammatory cytokines and oxidative stress markers,and improved neurogenesis.Notably,CBD treatment did not alter the concentration of endogenous cannabinoid anandamide in the hippocampus.Conclusions:The use of an FDA-approved CBD(Epidiolex®)has been shown to effectively alleviate cognitive and mood impairments as well as hyperalgesia associated with chronic GWI.Importantly,the improvements observed in rats with chronic GWI in this study were attributed to the ability of CBD to significantly suppress signaling pathways that perpetuate chronic neuroinflammation.展开更多
In studying sand beach erosion and protection tactics in Liaoning Province, the authors calculated the wavedata of 27 a Period (1963-1991) at Bayuquan Observation Station in Liaodong Gulf. Together with the beach leve...In studying sand beach erosion and protection tactics in Liaoning Province, the authors calculated the wavedata of 27 a Period (1963-1991) at Bayuquan Observation Station in Liaodong Gulf. Together with the beach levellingsand some simple marking stakes monitoring and by having the aid of local annals, the paper analysed the present situationsof the coastline and the causes of sand coastal recession and serious consequences, and then discussed the dynamic processof alongshore sand transport. Simultaneously, based on alongshore sand transport model, oneline cut-and-fill theory anddynamical water model(sea level rise), the authors preliminary estimated beach process for the future in the area.Recently, the coastline is being eroded and 2/3 of the sand coast is subjected to erosion, which the recession rate ofthe individual sector exceed 7. 0 m/a. Coastal erosion has threatened villages, roads, factories and tourist resources. Sealevel rises and the decreasing amount of materials by rivers discharged into the sea and the activities of man, made coast line recession rate accelerate, and cause a great loss of land in the area.展开更多
文摘The manuscript reviews the available literature of 2015-2022 on the microplastic content in commercially important fish species, molluscs and crustaceans in the Arabian/Persian Gulf. The literature on microplastic concentrations on beaches, in subtidal sediment, and in surface water of different regions of the Arabian/Persian Gulf is evaluated, also. Overall, the reported concentration of microplastic in marine organisms in the Gulf has been found to be less than for comparable waters such as the Mediterranean Sea. The highest microplastic concentration within the region of the Gulf has been found on its Northern shore, in Iran, where also most of the microplastic studies within the region stem from.
文摘Significant hydrocarbon accumulations in the offshore Gulf of Gabes, Tunisia, remain largely undeveloped due to elevated concentrations of carbon dioxide(CO_(2)), nitrogen(N_(2)), and hydrogen sulfide(H_(2)S),which compromise commercial viability and have delayed field development. Addressing these constraints requires the deployment of technically robust and environmentally sustainable CO_(2) management strategies. Carbon capture, utilization, and storage(CCUS) offers a comprehensive solution by enabling the redirection of captured CO_(2) for enhanced oil recovery(EOR), industrial reuse, or permanent geological sequestration, supporting both resource recovery and long-term emissions mitigation.Building upon earlier pre-screening assessments, this study re-evaluates the CO_(2) storage potential of selected sites in the Gulf of Gabes, with a focus on informing integrated utilization and storage frameworks. Based on geological, logistical, and socioeconomic criteria, the Fd1 Field within the Hasdrubal development area was selected as a prime candidate. A multi-scale assessment approach was applied to characterize the geological context, reservoir properties, containment integrity, and injection feasibility. The Eocene El Garia Formation within Fd1 Field, composed of thick-bedded nummulitic limestones, was identified as the most suitable reservoir for sequestration. It offers favorable characteristics in terms of porosity(10 %–26 %), permeability(40–100 mD), adequate structural thickness, and effective sealing by the overlying caprock. A key contribution of this study lies in the integration of regional geological screening with advanced 3D coupled flow-geomechanical simulations, the first of its kind in Tunisia's offshore domain. The simulation workflow evaluated pressure evolution, CO_(2) plume migration, mechanical stability, and long-term seal integrity over a 30-year injection period. Results indicate that up to 16.5 million metric tonnes of CO_(2) can be safely injected at a daily rate of 1.174 Mm^(3),with pressure buildup remaining within acceptable thresholds and no caprock failure observed. Overall,the findings demonstrate the technical feasibility and containment reliability of CO_(2) storage in the El Garia Formation. The study establishes Fd1 Field as a strategic CCUS site and provides a transferable methodology for evaluating CO_(2) storage potential in fractured carbonate reservoirs across North Africa and comparable offshore settings.
基金Supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.U20A20103)the Scientific Research Fund of the Fourth Institute of Oceanography+1 种基金Guangxi Funding Project(No.304024XM20N0006)the Guangxi Talent Science and Technology Project(No.2019AC17008)。
文摘In this study,the occurrence,sources,and ecological risk of microplastics(>60μm)in the surface and bottom seawater were investigated in the Beibu Gulf,the northern South China Sea.The average abundance of microplastics in surface and bottom waters was 1.35±0.93 and 0.79±0.50 items/m~3,respectively.Microplastics in both surface and bottom waters were predominantly in the form of fragments,and mostly in green.The composition of microplastics in surface water was primarily poly(methyl methacrylate)(PMA),whereas in bottom water,polyethylene(PE)dominated.Positive matrix factorization(PMF)modeling revealed that the primary sources of microplastics were pipeline abrasion,fishing activities,plastic waste,landfill disposal,transportation,aquaculture,and construction activities.The pollution load index(PLI)indicated that the overall risk of microplastic pollution in the Beibu Gulf was low.Conversely,the polymer hazard index(PHI)for microplastics was relatively high.These data underscore the importance of timely and effective reduction of human-intensive activities contributing to microplastic pollution and provide valuable information for further research in microplastic ecotoxicology and biogeochemistry.
基金Under the auspices of the National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.52268008)。
文摘This study focuses on urgent research on restoring and enhancing carbon storage capacity in the Beibu Gulf Urban Agglomer-ation of China,a key area in the‘Belt and Road’Initiative,which aligns with carbon peaking and neutrality goals.This research ana-lyzes the spatial characteristics of carbon metabolism from 2000 to 2020 and uses models to identify stable carbon sink areas,positive carbon flow corridors,and carbon sequestration nodes.The goal is to construct a carbon metabolism spatial security pattern(CMSSP)and propose territorial ecological restoration strategies under different development demand scenarios.The results show the following:1)in 2020,the study area’s carbon sink decreased by 8.29×10^(4) t C/yr compared with that in 2010 and by 10.83×10^(4) t C/yr compared with that in 2000.High-carbon sinks were found mainly in mountainous areas,whereas low-carbon sinks are concentrated in urban con-struction land,rural residential areas,and land margins.2)From 2000 to 2020,the spatial security pattern of carbon metabolism tended to be‘high in the middle of the east and west and low in the gulf.’In 2000,2010,and 2020,16 stable carbon sinks were identified.The carbon energy flow density in Guangxi was greater than that in Guangdong and Hainan,with positive carbon flow corridors located primarily in Guangxi and Guangdong.The number of carbon sequestration nodes remained stable at approximately 15,mainly in Guangxi and Hainan.3)Scenario simulations revealed that under the Nature-based mild restoration scenario,the carbon sink rate will reach 611.85×10^(4) t C/yr by 2030 and increase to 612.45×10^(4) t C/yr by 2060,with stable carbon sinks increasing to 18.In the restora-tion scenario based on Anti-globalization,the carbon sink will decrease from 610.24×10^(4) t C/yr in 2030 to 605.19×10^(4) t C/yr in 2060,with the disappearance of some positive carbon flow corridors and stable carbon sinks.Under the Human-based sustainable restoration scenario,the carbon sink area will decrease from 607.00×10^(4) t C/yr in 2030 to 596.39×10^(4) t C/yr in 2060,with carbon sink areas frag-menting and positive carbon flow corridors becoming less dense.4)On the basis of the current and predicted CMSSPs,this study ex-plores spatial ecological restoration strategies for high-carbon storage areas in bay urban agglomerations at four levels:the land control region,urban agglomeration structure system,carbon sink structure and bay structure control region.
基金The National Natural Science Foundation of China Project under contract No.42206150the Technology Development Program of Shanghai Ocean University under contract No.A2-2006-20-200207.
文摘In the paper,copepod universal formulas are applied to construct a copepod individual-based model(IBM),and a genetic algorithm(GA)is incorporated in the formulas with genes as species parameters.The IBM initially constructs the individuals with all possible genes similar to the original state of natural selection.Climate-averaged temperature and chlorophyll a(Chl a)time series at the surface layer of fixed points in the Georges Bank(GB)and the Gulf of Maine(GOM)are taken as the model environment.The IBM has been running for 50 a in the environment without inter-annual change.The IBM results indicate that some of the life history traits of the top ten abundant species output by the IBM in the GB and the GOM are consistent with the real species Calanus finmarchicus,Pseudocalanus spp.,Centropages typicus,and Centropages hamatus in terms of reproduction strategy,time to reach the maximum abundance,water temperature preference,and adult body mass.The study of the top ten abundant species with multidimensional scaling(MDS)and clustering analysis(CA)methods indicates that reproduction strategy is the basis for grouping.For the species taking the broadcasting strategy,both GB and GOM environments tend to choose smallbodied species with cold-water preference,such as Pseudocalanus spp.;for the species taking the egg-carrying strategies,the GB environment selects large-bodied species with cold-water preference,such as C.finmarchicus,while the GOM environment selects medium-bodied species with warm-water preference,such as Centropages spp.(C.typicus and C.hamatus).After gene mutation is added to the IBM,the model result gets simple,which needs to be further improved.The significance of the paper lies in systematically studying the impact of GB and GOM environments on the evolutionary life history traits of copepods for the first time.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.42066002)the Sci-ence R&D Foundation of Guangxi Academy of Sciences(No.022107438).
文摘This study used moderate-resolution imaging spectroradiometer(MODIS)data and a high-resolution unstructured grid finite volume community ocean model(FVCOM)to investigate the seasonal and regional characteristics of physical and ecological elements in the Beibu Gulf.The findings reveal that,in the Beibu Gulf,strong temperature gradients exist in winter,with sea surface temperatures becoming uniform at around 30℃ in summer.Sea surface salinity is influenced by low-salinity water from the Qiongzhou Strait and rivers,as well as high-salinity water from the open sea,reaching its minimum levels in autumn.Chlorophyll-a(Chl-a)concentrations peak in nearshore areas,particularly in autumn.In the Beibu Gulf,a significantly negative partial correlation exists between sea surface temperature and Chl-a(ρ=-0.5).Furthermore,wind patterns exert a considerable influence on different re-gions outside the eastern Beibu Gulf(|ρ|≥0.49),particularly showing a negative correlation along the Vietnamese coast.Cooling-in-duced water instability,coupled with wind-driven upwelling,enhances vertical water movement,thus facilitating the upward trans-port of nutrients.High Chl-a concentrations in the estuarine area are attributed to the nutrient-rich discharges(ρ=0.55)and the strong estuarine gravity circulation induced by intense density gradients.There are also notably high Chl-a concentrations in the eastern Beibu Gulf and the western coast of Hainan Island despite the presence of adverse environmental conditions.These anomalies can be attributed to wind-induced upwelling and tidal mixing front-induced upwelling,respectively.This study presents a comprehensive analysis of the distribution and mechanisms of Chl-a in the Beibu Gulf,thus highlighting the complex interactions among various fac-tors and emphasizing the importance of local environmental conditions.
基金supported by the Congressionally Directed Medical Research Program Award through the Gulf War Illness Research Program (SAR, W81XWH-21±1-0477)funding from the Aviles-Johnson Doctoral Diversity Fellowship Awardthe National Defense Science and Engineering Graduate Fellowship Awards (CAC)
文摘Gulf War Illness(GWI)is characterized by a wide range of symptoms that manifests largely as gastrointestinal symptoms.Among these gastrointestinal symptoms,motility disorders are highly prevalent,presenting as chronic constipation,stomach pain,indigestion,diarrhea,and other conditions that severely impact the quality of life of GWI veterans.However,despite a high prevalence of gastrointestinal impairments among these veterans,most research attention has focused on neurological disturbances.This perspective provides a comprehensive overview of current in vivo research advancements elucidating the underlying mechanisms contributing to gastrointestinal disorders in GWI.Generally,these in vivo and in vitro models propose that neuroinflammation alters gut motility and drives the gastrointestinal symptoms reported in GWI.Additionally,this perspective highlights the potential and challenges of in vitro bioengineering models,which could be a crucial contributor to understanding and treating the pathology of gastrointestinal related-GWI.
基金Supported by the Hainan Provincial Science and Technology Special Project(ZDYF2025GXJS013)CNOOC Zhanjiang Branch Project(CCL2023ZJFN0540).
文摘Based on drilling,mud logging,core,seismic and imaging logging data,this paper studies the identification and evolution process of negative inversion structures in the Carboniferous buried hills in the No.1 and No.2 fault zones of Weixinan Sag,Beibu Gulf Basin,China,and reveals the controls of these structures on high-quality reservoirs.The No.2 fault zone develops significant negative inversion structures in the Carboniferous buried hills,as a result of multi-stage transformations of compressive-tensile stress fields in the period from the Late Hercynian to the Himalayan.The Hercynian carbonates laid the material basis for the formation of high-quality reservoirs.The negative inversion structures mainly control the development of high-quality reservoirs in buried hills through:(1)creating large-scale fractures to increase reservoir space and improve oil-gas flow pathways;(2)regulating stratigraphic differential denudation to highlight dominant lithology for later reservoir transformation;(3)shaping the paleogeomorphological highlands to provide favorable conditions for superficial karstification.The negative inversion structures form a high-quality,composite reservoir space with the synergistic existence of superficial dissolution fractures/cavities and burial-enhanced karst systems through the coupling of fracture network creation,formation denudation screening and multi-stage karst transformation.The research results have guided the breakthrough of the first exploratory well with a daily oil production over 1000 m^(3)in carbonate buried-hill reservoir in the Beibu Gulf Basin,and provide referential geological basis for finding more reserves and achieving higher production in the Carboniferous buried hills in the Weixinan Sag.
文摘The worsening of global warming due to burning fossil fuels and the global energy crisis have led to an urgent need for renewable and clean energy sources that have little impact on the environment.One of the most important and largest alternative energy sources is marine waves,which have enormous energy that can be utilized using the correct and appropriate methods.The present work aims to study the possibility of investing wave energy by extracting the wave power at the northern coasts of the Arabian Gulf using numerical models for zero crossing and spectral analysis methods(SWAN model).Numerical models were used to analyze metrological data to estimate the wave power,estimated at 0.2664 kW/m by the zero-crossing method,and 0.386 kW/m by the spectral analysis method at a depth of 19 meters.The weak wave power may be due to the shallowness of the Gulf compared to other seas,in addition to the weather conditions in the study area,which are directly affected by weather phenomena,especially wind speed.The research recommends conducting further studies on wave energy and studying the most advanced methods for extracting it because of its great economic returns for Iraq.
基金The Scientific and Technological Project of China National Offshore Oil Corporation(CNOOC)Research Institute Co.,Ltd.under contract No.CCL2021RCPS0167KQNthe Open Fund Project for the year 2022 of National Engineering Research Center of Offshore Oil and Gas Exploration under contract No.CCL2022RCPS0794RQN.
文摘The Beibu Gulf Basin is an important oil-and gas-bearing basin offshore the China Sea,but the geological reserves of oil and gas are not very high,and there are significant differences between different sags.Previous studies have shown that the formation and accumulation of oil and gas are closely related to deep structures,especially the crustal thickness or the relative undulation characteristics between the Moho and basement,but there is a lack of specific evaluation and quantitative standards.In this paper,we first invert the depth of the Moho in the Beibu Gulf Basin using satellite gravity anomalies and calculate the crustal thickness value based on this.Then,we count and analyze the crustal thickness value as well as the stretching factor that characterizes the crustal extension and thinning degree,and find that the NWW-trending contour closure of the 28 km Moho depth or 26 km crustal thickness corresponds significantly to the Weixinan-Fushan sag belt,which has already been proven to have considerable oil and gas discoveries,with a typical feature of crustal thinning to 22 km and the stretching factor reaching 1.1.Finally,we propose a comprehensive evaluation scheme based on the entropy weight method to normalize and evaluate the statistical features of the crust,and take a comprehensive score of Si>0.5 as an evaluation indicator for an oil-gas-rich sag.Based on this research,we believe that the Haizhong sag has considerable exploratory potential,followed by the Maichen sag,while the Leidong and Haitoubei sags have relatively smaller exploratory potential.The research results will help strategic decision-making of the oil and gas exploration in the Beibu Gulf Basin and provide new perspectives for studying the relationship between deep structures and the differential distribution of oil-gas-rich sags.
基金Supported by the CNPC Major Science and Technology Project(2023ZZ07).
文摘Based on the achievements and research advances in oil and gas exploration in the Persian Gulf Basin,this study analyzes the orderliness of oil and gas distribution and main controlling factors of hydrocarbon accumulation with reservoir-forming assemblage as the unit.In the Persian Gulf Basin,the hydrocarbon-generating centers of source rocks of different geological ages and the hydrocarbon rich zones migrate in a clockwise direction around the Ghawar Oilfield in the Central Arabian Subbasin.Horizontally,the overall distribution pattern is orderly,showing“oil in the west and gas in the east”,and“large oil and gas fields dense in the basin center and sparse at the basin edges”.Vertically,the extents of petroleum system compounding and sources mixing increase from west to east,the pattern of tectonic strength(weak in the west and strong in the east)forming the distribution characteristics of“gas rich in the Paleozoic,oil rich in the Mesozoic,and both oil and gas rich in the Cenozoic”.The large scale accumulation and orderly distribution of oil and gas in the Persian Gulf Basin are controlled by three factors:(1)Multiple sets of giant hydrocarbon kitchens provide a resource base for near-source reservoir-forming assemblages.The short-distance lateral migration determines the oil and gas enrichment in and around the distribution area of effective source rocks.(2)The anhydrite caprocks in the platform area are thin but have experienced weak late-stage tectonic activities.Their good sealing performance makes it difficult for oil and gas to migrate vertically to shallow layers through them.The thrust faults and high-angle fractures formed by intense tectonic activities of the Zagros Orogenic Belt connect multiple source-reservoir assemblages.However,the Neogene Gachsaran Formation gypsum-salt rocks are thick and highly plastic,generally with good sealing performance,so large-scale oil and gas accumulations are still formed beneath the salt;(3)Each set of reservoir-forming assemblages is well matched in time and space in terms of the development of source rocks and reservoir-caprock assemblages,the maturation and hydrocarbon generation of source rocks,and the formation of traps,thus resulting in abundant multi layer hydrocarbon accumulations.At present,the Persian Gulf Basin is still in the stage of structural trap exploration.The pre-salt prospective traps in effective hydrocarbon kitchens remain the first choice.The areas with significant changes in Mesozoic sedimentary facies have the conditions to form large scale lithologic oil and gas reservoirs.The deep Paleozoic conventional oil and gas reservoirs and the Lower Silurian Qusaiba Member shale gas have great exploration potential and are expected to become important reserve growth areas in the future.
基金suppor ted by the US Depar tment of Defense Congressionally Directed Medical Research Program (CDMRP)awards (http://cdmrp.army.mil/) W81XWH-16-1-0632 (Craddock PI),W81XWH-16-1-0552 (Craddock PI),W81XWH-18-1-0549 (Sullivan PI),W81XWH-13-2-0072 (Sullivan PI),and W81XWH-09-2-0071 (Klimas PI)a Veterans Affairs Merit Award (4987.69) to Dr.Nancy Klimas。
文摘Background:One-third of veterans returning from the 1990–1991 Gulf War reported a myriad of symptoms including cognitive dysfunction,skin rashes,musculoskeletal discomfort,and fatigue.This symptom cluster is now referred to as Gulf War Illness(GWI).As the underlying mechanisms of GWI have yet to be fully elucidated,diagnosis and treatment are based on symptomatic presentation.One confounding factor tied to the illness is the high presence of post-traumatic stress disorder(PTSD).Previous research efforts have demonstrated that both GWI and PTSD are associated with immunological dysfunction.As such,this research endeavor aimed to provide insight into the complex relationship between GWI symptoms,cytokine presence,and immune cell populations to pinpoint the impact of PTSD on these measures in GWI.Methods:Symptom measures were gathered through the Multidimensional fatigue inventory(MFI)and 36-item short form health survey(SF-36)scales and biological measures were obtained through cytokine&cytometry analysis.Subgrouping was conducted using Davidson Trauma Scale scores and the Structured Clinical Interview for Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders(DSM)-5,into GWI with high probability of PTSD symptoms(GWIH)and GWI with low probability of PTSD symptoms(GWIL).Data was analyzed using analysis of variance(ANOVA)statistical analysis along with correlation graph analysis.We mapped correlations between immune cells and cytokine signaling measures,hormones and GWI symptom measures to identify patterns in regulation between the GWIH,GWIL,and healthy control groups.Results:GWI with comorbid PTSD symptoms resulted in poorer health outcomes compared with both healthy control(HC)and the GWIL subgroup.Significant differences were found in basophil levels of GWI compared with HC at peak exercise regardless of PTSD symptom comorbidity(ANOVA F=4.7,P=0.01)indicating its potential usage as a biomarker for general GWI from control.While the unique identification of GWI with PTSD symptoms was less clear,the GWIL subgroup was found to be delineated from both GWIH and HC on measures of IL-15 across an exercise challenge(ANOVA F>3.75,P<0.03).Additional differences in natural killer(NK)cell numbers and function highlight IL-15 as a potential biomarker of GWI in the absence of PTSD symptoms.Conclusions:We conclude that disentangling GWI and PTSD by defining trauma-based subgroups may aid in the identification of unique GWI biosignatures that can help to improve diagnosis and target treatment of GWI more effectively.
基金The National Key R&D Program of China under contract No.2023YFE0126300the National Natural Science Foundation of China under contract Nos 42066002 and U20A2099.
文摘Swells are critical concerns regarding safety,marine transportation,and coastal engineering construction of coastal countries along the Gulf of Guinea and have been scientific problems due to the lack of systematic theoretical,numerical,and observational research.In this study,a double nesting numerical model was constructed and validated from the Atlantic Ocean to the Gulf of Guinea based on simulating waves nearshore(SWAN)to explore the swell characteristics and source tracing in the Gulf of Guinea in winter and summer seasons from 2020 to 2021.Simulation results reveal that swells are stronger and deflect more to the west in winter than summer,even though they dominate in both seasons in the Gulf of Guinea in the S-SW directional range.Simulated two-dimensional(2D)wave spectral patterns not only clarify wave composition,variation,and propagation properties from the central South Atlantic Ocean to the Gulf of Guinea,but also distinguish swell strength and directional range in winter and summer.The NW wind events induce swells which spread toward the SSE-ESE direction from the North Atlantic Ocean,big wind source generates sustained and stable S-SW swells from the South Atlantic Ocean,and corresponding swell-influenced areas are discussed.The strongest swell event in the Gulf of Guinea during the simulation was used as a case study to trace its source.A strong clockwise wind vortex within the Roaring Forties induced these large swells in the Gulf of Guinea approximately 5.5 days later,and swell propagation formed a regular isoline of peak period distribution from the South Atlantic Ocean to the Gulf of Guinea in the SSW-SW direction.
基金Department of Defense(W81XWH-17-1-0447 and W81XWH1910548 to AKS)Texas A&M University School of Medicine。
文摘Over one-third of 700,000 military personnel who served in the first Gulf War(GW)suffer from an assortment of symptoms,including cognitive and memory problems,musculoskeletal pain,gastrointestinal discomfort,fatigue,and respiratory issues[1,2].The precise etiology of Gulf War illness(GWI)is unclear.However,epidemiological and preclinical studies imply that exposures to the prophylactic drug pyridostigmine bromide,insecticides,pesticides,smoke from oil well fires,and interaction between these exposures and war-related stress underlie this illness[2].As per the Kansas case definition,GWI is a chronic multi-symptom illness displaying one moderately severe and/or multiple symptoms of any severity in at least 3 of 6 symptom domains(fatigue,pain,neurological/cognitive/mood,skin,gastrointestinal,respiratory)[1,2].While the exact pathophysiological changes underlying GWI have not been identified,alterations in immune regulation and dysregulation of the redox balance have been observed in GWI,resulting in chronic systemic inflammation and neuroinflammation[2].
基金supported by grants from Jazz Pharmaceuticals Inc.the Texas A&M University of School of Medicine to AKS
文摘Background:Chronic Gulf War Illness(GWI)is characterized by cognitive and mood impairments,as well as persistent neuroinflammation and oxidative stress.This study aimed to investigate the efficacy of Epidiolex®,a Food and Drug Administration(FDA)-approved cannabidiol(CBD),in improving brain function in a rat model of chronic GWI.Methods:Six months after exposure to low doses of GWI-related chemicals[pyridostigmine bromide,N,N-diethyl-meta-toluamide(DEET),and permethrin(PER)]along with moderate stress,rats with chronic GWI were administered either vehicle(VEH)or CBD(20 mg/kg,oral)for 16 weeks.Neurobehavioral tests were conducted on 11 weeks after treatment initiation to evaluate the performance of rats in tasks related to associative recognition memory,object location memory,pattern separation,and sucrose preference.The effect of CBD on hyperalgesia was also examined.The brain tissues were processed for immunohistochemical and molecular studies following behavioral tests.Results:GWI rats treated with VEH exhibited impairments in all cognitive tasks and anhedonia,whereas CBD-treated GWI rats showed improvements in all cognitive tasks and no anhedonia.Additionally,CBD treatment alleviated hyperalgesia in GWI rats.Analysis of hippocampal tissues from VEH-treated rats revealed astrocyte hypertrophy and increased percentages of activated microglia presenting NOD-,LRR-and pyrin domain-containing protein 3(NLRP3)complexes as well as elevated levels of proteins involved in NLRP3 inflammasome activation and Janus kinase/signal transducers and activators of the transcription(JAK/STAT)signaling.Furthermore,there were increased concentrations of proinflammatory and oxidative stress markers along with decreased neurogenesis.In contrast,the hippocampus from CBD-treated GWI rats displayed reduced levels of proteins mediating the activation of NLRP3 inflammasomes and JAK/STAT signaling,normalized concentrations of proinflammatory cytokines and oxidative stress markers,and improved neurogenesis.Notably,CBD treatment did not alter the concentration of endogenous cannabinoid anandamide in the hippocampus.Conclusions:The use of an FDA-approved CBD(Epidiolex®)has been shown to effectively alleviate cognitive and mood impairments as well as hyperalgesia associated with chronic GWI.Importantly,the improvements observed in rats with chronic GWI in this study were attributed to the ability of CBD to significantly suppress signaling pathways that perpetuate chronic neuroinflammation.
文摘In studying sand beach erosion and protection tactics in Liaoning Province, the authors calculated the wavedata of 27 a Period (1963-1991) at Bayuquan Observation Station in Liaodong Gulf. Together with the beach levellingsand some simple marking stakes monitoring and by having the aid of local annals, the paper analysed the present situationsof the coastline and the causes of sand coastal recession and serious consequences, and then discussed the dynamic processof alongshore sand transport. Simultaneously, based on alongshore sand transport model, oneline cut-and-fill theory anddynamical water model(sea level rise), the authors preliminary estimated beach process for the future in the area.Recently, the coastline is being eroded and 2/3 of the sand coast is subjected to erosion, which the recession rate ofthe individual sector exceed 7. 0 m/a. Coastal erosion has threatened villages, roads, factories and tourist resources. Sealevel rises and the decreasing amount of materials by rivers discharged into the sea and the activities of man, made coast line recession rate accelerate, and cause a great loss of land in the area.
