The ecological carrying capacity (ECC) is a barometer for ecosystem sustainability. Alpine grassland ecosystems are thought to be the most sensitive ecosystems to climate change. Yet, the ECC of ...alpine grassland is less well understood. This study aims to establish a structural dynamics model that it enables us to capture different states, changes in tendency, as well as major driving variables of alpine grassland ECC. The results showed that the active layer thickness had a significant adverse effect on ECC (
p
= 0.05), while precipitation, air temperature, net primary productivity (NPP) had a significant positive effect on ECC (
p
= 0.01). And anthropogenic factors like fenced pasture, warm shed area, sown grassland area, and livestock density also caused an increase in ECC (
p
= 0.05). The ECC of alpine grassland displayed an increasing trend on the Qinghai–Tibetan Plateau (QTP). The mean contributions of active layer thickness, NPP, precipitation, and air temperature to the ECC were − 10.0% (
p
= 0.05), 52.1% (
p
= 0.01), 17.0% (
p
= 0.01), and 12.0% (
p
= 0.01), respectively. From 1980 through 2013, the average annual growth of ECC was 9.1%. The sensitivity of the grassland ECC to major climate variables fluctuated, with periods of high and low sensitivity recorded. On a geographical scale, the Tibet Autonomous Region had higher levels of sensitivity to change, with larger fluctuations, in comparison with Qinghai Province. These findings could provide an important basis for effective adaptation of alpine ecosystem to climate change.
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CEKLJ, EMUNI, FIS, FZAB, GEOZS, GIS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, MFDPS, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, SBMB, SBNM, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK, VKSCE, ZAGLJ
The preparation of calcium carbonate whiskers by gas‐liquid contact method using low‐grade dolomite refining solution and CO2 as raw materials has attracted widespread attention. The effects of ...reaction temperature, Mg2+ concentration and pH value on the morphology, particle size, aspect ratio and crystal form of CaCO3（Calcium carbonate） whiskers are investigated in detail. SEM (Scanning Electron Microscope) and XRD (X‐ray powder diffraction) are combined to analyze the calcium carbonate whiskers. The results demonstrated that under the conditions such as 100 °C, Mg2+ concentration of 0.05 mol L−1 and pH value of 9.5, calcium carbonate whiskers with uniform distribution, aspect ratio of 15–20, and purity of 99.38% can be prepared. Through Material Studios simulation software and critical nucleation energy analysis, it is confirmed that the morphology of calcium carbonate whiskers emerged to be a long hexagonal prism. Mg2+ in the refined solution would adhere to the surface of calcium carbonate during carbonization, inhibit the formation of calcite phase, and promote the growth of face clusters connected by vertex angles between CaCO3 crystals. The initial pH condition determines the solubility of CO32− and the supersaturation of the solution, which in turn affected the formed calcium carbonate crystal form.
The SEM image in the above figure shows that the calcium carbonate whisker is a long hexagonal prism octahedron structure, and the Morphology module of Materials Studio simulation software predicts that the growth of (111) (221) (112) crystal plane tends to be hexagonal prisms, and the growth morphology of (021), (012), (041) and (130) crystal plane is long rhombohedral columnar whiskers. This shows that the morphology of calcium carbonate whiskers is consistent with the predicted structure of Materials Studio simulation software, which makes it more reliable to judge the morphology of calcium carbonate whiskers by the diffraction peak intensity of each crystal plane of XRD pattern.
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BFBNIB, FZAB, GIS, IJS, KILJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, SAZU, SBCE, SBMB, UL, UM, UPUK
Plant species diversity is one of the critical factors for maintaining multi-function and stability of terrestrial ecosystem. We reviewed the traditional methods for measuring plant species diversity ...of grassland (PSDG), and then introduced the new ideas and methods used for PSDG monitoring. Traditionally, PSDG monitoring depended heavily on ground-based investigation, which usually required large amounts of time, labor, and cost, and therefore was only suitable for small scale investigation. Grassland plant species were typically small in size and highly mixed. It was difficult to identify and measure by remote sensing due to the limitation of resolution. Consequently, most studies on PSDG were based on remote-sensing retrieval or habitat simulation. Characterized with high spatial-temporal resolution, flexible and low cost, the unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) technology was regarded as the bridge between ground-based investigation and satellite remote sensing. It could be the breakthrough for monitoring PSDG
The degradation of the permafrost regions, resulting from intensive anthropogenic activities and global warming, has led to the loss of ecosystem services and is threating human well-being. ...Nevertheless, the real ecosystem service values and their complete zoning system in the permafrost regions have received insufficient attention. Research gaps between the identification of permafrost-based ecosystem services and ecosystem management are seriously constraining the development of cryospheric science. Thus, an ecosystem service zoning framework that links ecosystem services with human welfares is proposed to solve the abovementioned challenges in the permafrost regions of China. The three-tiered zoning framework for ecosystem services, consisting of zoning goals, principles, hierarchy, methodology, and nomenclature, is proposed for the permafrost regions of China. A combined method, i.e., GIS spatial tools, the location entropy analysis model, and ecosystem services assessment, was employed to distinguish ecosystem conditions, ecosystem service supply, and beneficiaries into these three-grade ecosystem service zones. Hierarchical and dynamic zoning could clarify protection priorities of ecosystems and ecosystem services in terms of regions, grades, and types. The framework could contribute to sustainable management of ecosystem services in the cryosphere.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UILJ, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK, ZAGLJ, ZRSKP
TOSO, also named Fas inhibitory molecule 3 (FAIM3), has recently been identified as an immunoglobulin M (IgM) Fc receptor (FcμR). Previous studies have shown that TOSO is specifically over-expressed ...in chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). However, the functions of TOSO in CLL remain unknown. The B-cell receptor (BCR) signaling pathway has been reported to be constitutively activated in CLL. Here, we aimed to investigate the functions of TOSO in the BCR signaling pathway and the pathogenesis of CLL.
We over-expressed TOSO in B-cell lymphoma cell lines (Granta-519 and Z138) by lentiviral transduction and knocked down TOSO by siRNA in primary CLL cells. The over-expression and knockdown of TOSO were confirmed at the RNA level by polymerase chain reaction and protein level by Western blotting. Co-immunoprecipitation with TOSO antibody followed by liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry (IP/LCMS) was used to identify TOSO interacting proteins. Western blotting was performed to detect the activation status of BCR signaling pathways as well as B-cell lymphoma 2 (BCL-2). Flow cytometry was used to examine the apoptosis of TOSO-over-expressing B lymphoma cell lines and TOSO-down-regulated CLL cells via the staining of Annexin V and 7-AAD. One-way analyses of variance were used for intergroup comparisons, while independent samples t tests were used for two-sample comparisons.
From IP/LCMS, we identified spleen tyrosine kinase (SYK) as a crucial candidate of TOSO-interacting protein and confirmed it by co-immunoprecipitation. After stimulation with anti-IgM, TOSO over-expression increased the phosphorylation of SYK, and subsequently activated the BCR signaling pathway, which could be reversed by a SYK inhibitor. TOSO knockdown in primary CLL cells resulted in reduced SYK phosphorylation as well as attenuated BCR signaling pathway. The apoptosis rates of the Granta-519 and Z138 cells expressing TOSO were (8.46 ± 2.90)% and (4.20 ± 1.21)%, respectively, significantly lower than the rates of the control groups, which were (25.20 ± 4.60)% and (19.72 ± 1.10)%, respectively (P < 0.05 for both). The apoptosis rate was reduced after knocking down TOSO in the primary CLL cells. In addition, we also found that TOSO down-regulation in primary cells from CLL patients led to decreased expression of BCL-2 as well as lower apoptosis, and vice versa in the cell line.
TOSO might be involved in the pathogenesis of CLL by interacting with SYK, enhancing the BCR signaling pathway, and inducing apoptosis resistance.
Permafrost is one of the key components of terrestrial ecosystem in cold regions. In the context of climate change, few studies have investigated resilience of social ecological system (
SER
) from ...the perspective of permafrost that restricts the hydrothermal condition of alpine grassland ecosystem. In this paper, based on the structural dynamics, we developed the numerical model for the
SER
in the permafrost regions of the source of Yangtze and Yellow Rivers, analyzed the spatial-temporal characteristics and sensitivity of the
SER
, and estimated the effect of permafrost change on the
SER
. The results indicate that: 1) the
SER
has an increasing trend, especially after 1997, which is the joint effect of precipitation, temperature, NPP and ecological conservation projects; 2) the
SER
shows the spatial feature of high in southeast and low in northwest, which is consistent with the variation trends of high southeast and low northwest for the precipitation, temperature and NPP, and low southeast and high northwest for the altitude; 3) the high sensitive regions of
SER
to the permafrost change have gradually transited from the island distribution to zonal and planar distribution since 1980, moreover, the sensitive degree has gradually reduced; relatively, the sensitivity has high value in the north and south, and low value in the south and east; 4) the thickness of permafrost active layer shows a highly negative correlation with the
SER
. The contribution rate of permafrost change to the
SER
is -4.3%, that is, once the thickness of permafrost active layer increases 1 unit, the
SER
would decrease 0.04 units.
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EMUNI, FIS, FZAB, GEOZS, GIS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, MFDPS, NLZOH, NUK, OBVAL, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, SBMB, SBNM, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK, VKSCE, ZAGLJ
To investigate the cytogenetic abnormalitis in patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma(DLBCL) patients with bone marrow involvement and their influence on prognosis.
Conventional karyotyping was ...performed on bone marrow specimens in 47 DLBCL patients with histologically confirmed bone marrow involvement(BMI). The karyotyping results of bone marrow, the characteristics and clinical effect of chromosomal abnormalities were analysed.
In 47 DLBCL cases with BMI, the chromosomal abnormalities were detected in 25(53%) cases. Among them, complex karyotype was more frequent, being noted in 19(40%) patients. The most frequently involved chromosomes were chromosome 1 and 18(both 26%), others were chromosome 3(23%), 6(19%), 7, 8 and 14(13%). Among all karyotype changes, the most common numerical aberrations, in decreasing order of incidence, were trisomy 3(13%), trisomy 5, trisomy 7, trisomy 12, trisomy 18 and loss of 21(6%,each), and the most predominant structural aberrations, in decreasing order of incidence, wer
This paper retrieved the fractional vegetation cover of alpine grassland in the source region of the Shule River Basin based on Chinese environmental satellite (HJ-1A/1B) images and field data, and ...analyzed the response of the vegetation cover to topographic factors and types of frozen ground. The results showed that the vegetation coverage of this region was low with large spatial heterogeneity and high degree of dispersion. The landscape consisted mainly of non-vegetation surface types, eg. ice, snow, the bare rock gravel land and bare land. Slopes and aspects were the main limiting factors of vegetation distribution. The average vegetation coverage decreased with the increase of slope. The average vegetation coverage was the lowest on the sunny slope, and the highest on the shady slope. There were significant differences of vegetation coverage among different types of frozen ground. The distribution of vegetation coverage presented a reversed "U" curve trend by extremely stable permafrost, stable permafros
Background
In multiple myeloma (MM), impact of specific chromosomal translocations involving IgH (14q21 locus, including t(4;14), t(11;14), and t(14;16)) has been explored extensively. However, over ...15% MM patients harboring IgH translocation with undefined partners have long been ignored.
Methods
A prospective non‐randomized cohort study with a total of 715 newly‐diagnosed MM cases was conducted, 13.6% of whom were t(14;undefined) positive. The whole cohort was divided into four groups: no IgH split (47.7%); t(14;undefined) (13.6%); t(11;14) (17.6%); and t(4;14) or t(14;16) group (21.1%).
Results
Median OS for the four groups was 84.2, not reached (NR), 58.7, and 44.2 months, respectively, with P values for t(14;undefined) vs no IgH split, t(11;14), and t(4;14)/t(14;16) groups of 0.197, 0.022, and 0.001, respectively. In bortezomib‐based group, the survival advantage gained by t(14;undefined) group was much more significant compared to t(11;14) and t(4;14)/t(14;16) groups. Importantly, t(14;undefined) turned out to be an independent predictive factor for longer OS of MM patients in multivariate analysis, especially in the context of bortezomib treatment. Similar results were also observed in the PUMCH external validation cohort.
Conclusion
Collectively, our data confirmed and externally validated the favorable prognosis of the t(14;undefined) groups, especially in the era of novel agents.
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BFBNIB, DOBA, FZAB, GIS, IJS, IZUM, KILJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBMB, SIK, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
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