Urban forests are essential components of green infrastructure,however,rapid urbanization-induced changes in landscape patterns may affect their ecosystem services through complex ecological processes.A total of 184 s...Urban forests are essential components of green infrastructure,however,rapid urbanization-induced changes in landscape patterns may affect their ecosystem services through complex ecological processes.A total of 184 sample plots in the built-up areas of Nanchang,China,were used as research sites.Urbanization intensities were categorized by the rate of impervious surface area,and forest types were classified into landscape and relaxation forest,attached forest(AF),road forest(RF),and ecological public welfare forest.This study aimed to explore the spatial variations in vegetation characteristics and landscape pattern indices of different forest types under rapid urbanization.The results indicated that the largest patch index(LPI),aggregation index(AI),and percentage of landscape(PLAND)in RF and AF were lower than those in the other forest types(p<0.05).With increasing urbanization intensity,the mean perimeter-area ratio increased by 130.84%,whereas the PLAND,LPI,and AI decreased by 22−86%(p<0.05).Redundancy analysis and variation partitioning suggested that the interpretation rate of landscape pattern indices for variations in vegetation characteristics increased from low to heavy urbanization areas.Especially,the landscape shape index,patch connection index,PLAND,and mean patch size were significantly correlated with vegetation characteristics(e.g.,tree richness,herb coverage,and tree height).In the future,appropriate landscape layout superiority cases should be considered in different urbanization areas and forest types;for instance,increasing the patch connection index will beneficially improve the diversity of trees and herbs in heavy urbanization areas and the RF.This study serves as a reference for maximizing the ecosystem services of urban forests.展开更多
Prevention of biological invasion requires understanding how alien species invade native communities.Although studies have identified mechanisms that underlie plant invasion in some habitats,limited attention has focu...Prevention of biological invasion requires understanding how alien species invade native communities.Although studies have identified mechanisms that underlie plant invasion in some habitats,limited attention has focused on invasion patterns along elevational gradients.In this study,we asked which factors drive the global and regional distribution of the invasive plant Galinsoga quadriradiata along elevational gradients.To answer this question,we examined whether human activities(i.e.,roads)promote G.quadriradiata invasion,how seed dispersal-related traits of G.quadriradiata change along elevation gradients,and whether G.quadriradiata has adapted to high-elevation environments through phenotypic plasticity or genetic variation.On the global scale,we found that human activities and road density positively contribute to the G.quadriradiata expansion in mountainous areas.Field surveys in China revealed significant elevational differences in the seed dispersal traits of G.quadriradiata,with higher-elevation populations exhibiting lower dispersal ability and generally lower genetic diversity.Under common conditions,high-elevation populations showed higher leaf mass ratio but lower root mass ratio and reproductive allocation.This suggests that high-elevation environments create a barrier to dispersal for G.quadriradiata,and that G.quadriradiata has adapted phenotypically to these conditions.Our study indicates that the elevational invasion pattern of G.quadriradiata is shaped by multiple factors,particularly human activities and phenotypic adaptability.In addition,our finding that G.quadriradiata invasion at high elevations is not constrained by low genetic diversity indicates that monitoring and management of G.quadriradiata in mountainous areas should be strengthened.展开更多
Xishui National Forest Park in Heilongjiang Province hosts China's most pristine temperate forests and serves as a key site for ecotourism and forest therapy.However,the emission patterns of phytoncides(key bio ac...Xishui National Forest Park in Heilongjiang Province hosts China's most pristine temperate forests and serves as a key site for ecotourism and forest therapy.However,the emission patterns of phytoncides(key bio active compounds) remain poorly understood,limiting their therapeutic application.This study provides the first comprehensive characterization of spatiotemporal dynamics in airborne phytoncides and their synergistic interactions with environmental factors throughout the autumn-early spring seasonal transition in a temperate forest ecosystem.We analyzed the compositional dynamics of phytoncides and terpenoid content variations using thermal desorption-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry(TD-GC-MS) from September 2024 to March 2025.This period encompassed seasonal transitions from autumn to early spring,including diurnal variations in September and snowfall events in November.The method demonstrated detection limits(LODs) ranging from 1.35 to 5.33 ng m-3 and quantification limits(LOQs) from 4.09 to 16.15 ng m-3.Our results revealed pronounced seasonal fluctuations in phytoncide composition.In September,terpenoids,esters,alcohols,and alkanes displayed a diurnal "decrease-increase" trend,whereas aldehydes and ketones peaked at midday.Notably,esters and alcohols were undetectable in November and January.By January,terpenoids reached their lowest proportion(0.17±0.02%) at noon.Five terpenoids(α-pinene,myrcene,D-limonene,camphene,p-cymene) were detected in September,four(α-pinene,D-limonene,camphene,p-cymene) in November,two(D-limonene,p-cymene) in January,and only p-cymene in March.The total concentration and emission rate of the five terpenoids peaked in September afternoons at 1961.58±106.67 ng m^(-3) and653.86±35.56 ng m^(-3) h^(-1),respectively.Nocturnal emissions(32131.95±2522.21 ng m^(-3)) significantly surpassed daytime levels(14473.04±958.49 ng m^(-3)),with emission rates escalating from 1447.30±95.85 ng m^(-3) h^(-1)(day) to 5355.33±420.37 ng m^(-3) h^(-1)(night),marking a3.7-fold increase.Snowfall dramatically elevated terpenoid concentrations(pre-snowfall:158.58±14.12 ng m^(-3);post-snowfall:1080.57±57.76 ng m^(-3)) and emission rates(pre-snowfall:52.86±4.71 ng m^(-3) h^(-1);post-snowfall:360.19±19.25 ng m^(-3) h^(-1)),reflecting a 6.8-fold surge.This study underscores the profound influence of light intensity,seasonal shifts,and climatic conditions on airborne phytoncide levels,offering a scientific foundation for optimizing forest therapy and ecotourism strategies.展开更多
Replicating the chaotic characteristics inherent in nonlinear dynamical systems via machine learning(ML)is a key challenge in this rapidly advancing interdisciplinary field.In this work,we explore the potential of var...Replicating the chaotic characteristics inherent in nonlinear dynamical systems via machine learning(ML)is a key challenge in this rapidly advancing interdisciplinary field.In this work,we explore the potential of variational quantum circuits(VQC)for learning the stochastic properties of classical nonlinear dynamical systems.Specifically,we focus on the one-and two-dimensional logistic maps,which,while simple,remain under-explored in the context of learning dynamical characteristics.Our findings reveal that,even for such simple dynamical systems,accurately replicating longterm characteristics is hindered by a pronounced sensitivity to overfitting.While increasing the parameter complexity of the ML model typically enhances short-term prediction accuracy,it also leads to a degradation in the model’s ability to replicate long-term characteristics,primarily due to the detrimental effects of overfitting on generalization power.By comparing the VQC with two widely recognized classical ML techniques,which are long short-term memory(LSTM)networks for timeseries processing and reservoir computing,we demonstrate that VQC outperforms these methods in terms of replicating long-term characteristics.Our results suggest that for the ML of dynamics,it is demanded to develop more compact and efficient models(such as VQC)rather than more complicated and large-scale ones.展开更多
Plastome variation,including single spontaneous nucleotide substitutions and single insertions/deletions,is the major source of leaf variegation in plants.Additionally,one recent study has showed that a simple plastom...Plastome variation,including single spontaneous nucleotide substitutions and single insertions/deletions,is the major source of leaf variegation in plants.Additionally,one recent study has showed that a simple plastome structural variation,which is induced by one pair of small inverted repeats,can also result in leaf variegation.Here we show a complex plastome structural variation caused by intermolecular and intramolecular recombination across three pairs of small inverted repeats accounts for leaf variegation in a widely cultivated shrub Heptapleurum ellipticum(Araliaceae).This plastome structural variation contains two deletions and two duplications,resulting in dramatic expansion of IRs,substantial contraction of LSC and loss of 11 genes that essential for photosynthesis.Plastome heteroplasmy was detected in both green and albino sectors of variegated leaves.Relative to green sectors,albino sectors in the variegated leaves exhibit significantly reduced expression for the 11 genes lost in the mutated plastome as well as 26 other genes,but significantly increased expression for one gene related to translation apparatus.Optical and transmission electron microscopy observations showed that mesophyll cells of albino sectors possess plastids lacking grana lamellae,which likely carry the mutated plastome and contribute to albinism.In both sectors,the first layer of spongy mesophyll cells beneath the lower epidermis contains normal chloroplasts,suggesting periclinal division of the lower epidermis during development.Our study demonstrates that multiple small repeats can collectively mediate intra-and inter-molecular recombination in plastome and offers a new mechanism accounting for leaf variegation in plants.展开更多
The competitor,stress tolerator,and ruderal strategy(CSR)framework has been widely applied to explain ecological processes across species.However,its utility in revealing intra-specific trade-offs and genetic adaptati...The competitor,stress tolerator,and ruderal strategy(CSR)framework has been widely applied to explain ecological processes across species.However,its utility in revealing intra-specific trade-offs and genetic adaptation to climate remains unclear.In this study,we examined whether the CSR strategy estimated by leaf traits can identify adaptations to climate in the common reed Phragmites australis.For this purpose,we integrated functional trait data from field surveys and a three-year common garden experiment to compare CSR scores between two typical populations of P.australis from western and eastern China.We further assessed the associations of CSR scores with latitude,bioclimatic factors,and phylogeographical sources using a global dataset including two invaded lineages in the North America.We found that competitor scores were positively correlated with latitude,whereas stress tolerator scores were negatively correlated.Competitor scores were positively correlated with bioclimatic factors,even when controlling for phylogeny.All CSR scores displayed significant phylogenetic signals,with the invasive lineage in the higher latitudes(haplotype M)exhibiting higher stress tolerator scores than the native lineage.Differences in competitor and stress tolerator scores between western and eastern Chinese populations of P.australis were consistent across field and common garden experiments.Although intra-species variation in CSR strategy may be influenced by phylogenetic history,our finding that CSR strategy in P.australis populations is correlated with latitude suggests these plants have adapted to local climates along a latitudinal gradient.展开更多
Cirrus clouds play a crucial role in the energy balance of the Earth-atmosphere system.We investigated the spatiotemporal variations of cirrus over the South China Sea(SCS)using satellite data(MOD08,MYD08,CALIPSO)and ...Cirrus clouds play a crucial role in the energy balance of the Earth-atmosphere system.We investigated the spatiotemporal variations of cirrus over the South China Sea(SCS)using satellite data(MOD08,MYD08,CALIPSO)and reanalysis data(MERRA-2)from March 2007 to February 2015(eight years).The horizontal distribution reveals lower cirrus fraction values in the northern SCS and higher values in the southern region,with minima observed in March and April and maxima sequentially occurring in August(northern SCS,NSCS),September(middle SCS,MSCS),and December(southern SCS,SSCS).Vertically,the cirrus fraction peaks in summer and reaches its lowest levels in spring.Opaque cirrus dominates during summer in the NSCS and MSCS,comprising 53.6%and 55.9%,respectively,while the SSCS exhibits a higher frequency of opaque cirrus relative to other cloud types.Subvisible cirrus clouds have the lowest frequency year-round,whereas thin cirrus is most prominent in winter in the NSCS(46.3%)and in spring in the MSCS(45.3%).A case study from September 2021 further explores the influence of ice crystal habits on brightness temperature(BT)over the SCS.Simulations utilizing five ice crystal shapes from the ARTS DDA(Atmospheric Radiative Transfer Simulator Discrete Dipole Approximation)database and the RTTOV 12.4 radiative transfer model reveal that the 8-column-aggregate shape best represents BT in the NSCS and SSCS,while the large-block-aggregate shape performs better in the SSCS.展开更多
Understanding the spatial distributions and corresponding variation mechanisms of key soil nutrients in fragile karst ecosystems can assist in promoting sustainable development.However,due to the implementation of eco...Understanding the spatial distributions and corresponding variation mechanisms of key soil nutrients in fragile karst ecosystems can assist in promoting sustainable development.However,due to the implementation of ecological restoration initiatives such as land-use conversions,novel changes in the spatial characteristics of soil nutrients remain unknown.To address this gap,we explored nutrient variations and the drivers of the variation in the 0–15 cm topsoil layer using a regional-scale sampling method in a typical karst area in northwest Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region,Southwest China.Descriptive statistics,geostatistics,and spatial analysis were used to assess the soil nutrient variability.The results indicated that soil organic carbon(SOC),total nitrogen(TN),total phosphorus(TP),and total potassium(TK)concentrations showed moderate variations,with coefficients of variance being 0.60,0.60,0.71,and 0.72,respectively.Moreover,they demonstrated positive spatial autocorrelations,with global Moran's indices being 0.68,0.77,0.64,and 0.68,respectively.However,local Moran's index values were low,indicating large spatial variations in soil nutrients.The best-fitting semi-variogram models for SOC,TN,TP,and TK concentrations were spherical,Gaussian,exponential,and exponential,respectively.According to the classification criteria of the Second National Soil Census in China,SOC and TN concentrations were relatively sufficient,with the proportions of rich and very rich levels being up to 90.9 and 96.0%,respectively.TP concentration was in the mediumdeficient level,with the areas of medium and deficient levels accounting for 33.7 and 30.1%of the total,respectively.TK concentration was deficient,with the cumulative area of extremely deficient,very deficient,and deficient levels accounting for 87.6%of the total area.Consequently,the terrestrial ecosystems in the study area were more vulnerable to soil P and K than soil N deficiencies.Furthermore,variance partitioning analysis of the influencing factors showed that,except for the interactions,the single effect of other soil properties accounted more for soil nutrient variations than spatial and environmental variables.These results will aid in the future management of terrestrial ecosystems.展开更多
BACKGROUND Drug utilization research has an important role in assisting the healthcare administration to know,compute,and refine the prescription whose principal objective is to enable the rational use of drugs.Resear...BACKGROUND Drug utilization research has an important role in assisting the healthcare administration to know,compute,and refine the prescription whose principal objective is to enable the rational use of drugs.Research in developing nations relating to the cost of treatment is scarce when compared with developed countries.Thus,the drug utilization research studies from developing nations are most needed,and their number has been growing.AIM To evaluate patterns of utilization of antipsychotic drugs and direct medical cost analysis in patients newly diagnosed with schizophrenia.METHODS The present study was observational in type and based on a retrospective cohort to evaluate patterns of utilization of antipsychotic drugs using World Health Organization(WHO)core prescribing indicators and anatomical therapeutic chemical/defined daily dose indicators.We also calculated direct medical costs for a period of 6 months.RESULTS This study has found that atypical antipsychotics are the mainstay of treatment for schizophrenia in every age group and subcategories of schizophrenia.The evaluation based on WHO prescribing indicators showed a low average number of drugs per prescription and low prescribing frequency of antipsychotics from the National List of Essential Medicines 2015 and the WHO Essential Medicines List 2019.The total mean drug cost of our study was 1396 Indian rupees.The total mean cost due to the investigation in our study was 1017.34 Indian rupees.Therefore,the total mean direct medical cost incurred on patients in our study was 4337.28 Indian rupees.CONCLUSION The information from the present study can be used for reviewing and updating treatment policy at the institutional level.展开更多
The National Geophysical Data Center(NGDC)of the United States has collected aeromagnetic data for input into a series of geomagnetic models to improve model resolution;however,in the Tibetan Plateau region,ground-bas...The National Geophysical Data Center(NGDC)of the United States has collected aeromagnetic data for input into a series of geomagnetic models to improve model resolution;however,in the Tibetan Plateau region,ground-based observations remain insufficient to clearly reflect the characteristics of the region’s lithospheric magnetism.In this study,we evaluate the lithospheric magnetism of the Tibetan Plateau by using a 3D surface spline model based on observations from>200 newly constructed repeat stations(portable stations)to determine the spatial distribution of plateau geomagnetism,as well as its correlation with the tectonic features of the region.We analyze the relationships between M≥5 earthquakes and lithospheric magnetic field variations on the Tibetan Plateau and identify regions susceptible to strong earthquakes.We compare the geomagnetic results with those from an enhanced magnetic model(EMM2015)developed by the NGDC and provide insights into improving lithospheric magnetic field calculations in the Tibetan Plateau region.Further research reveals that these magnetic anomalies exhibit distinct differences from the magnetic-seismic correlation mechanisms observed in other tectonic settings;here,they are governed primarily by the combined effects of compressional magnetism,thermal magnetism,and deep thermal stress.This study provides new evidence of geomagnetic anomalies on the Tibetan Plateau,interprets them physically,and demonstrates their potential for identifying seismic hazard zones on the Plateau.展开更多
Dissecting quantitative traits into Mendelian factors is a great challenge in genetics.Apple fruit storability is a complex trait controlled by multi-genes with unequal effects.We previously identified62 quantitative ...Dissecting quantitative traits into Mendelian factors is a great challenge in genetics.Apple fruit storability is a complex trait controlled by multi-genes with unequal effects.We previously identified62 quantitative trait loci(QTLs)associated with apple fruit storability and genomics-assisted prediction(GAP)models were trained using 56 QTLbased markers.Here,three candidate genes,Md NAC83,Md BPM2,and Md RGLG3,were screened from the regions of QTLs with large G'value and large genetic effects.Both a 216-bp deletion and an SNP934 T/C at the promoter of Md NAC83 were associated with higher Md NAC83expression but an SNP388 G/A at the coding region significantly reduced the activity to activate the expression of the target genes Md ACO1,Md MANA3,and Md XTH28.Md BPM2 and Md RGLG3 participated in the ubiquitination of Md NAC83.SNP657 T/A of Md BPM2 and SNP167C/G of Md RGLG3 caused a reduction in the activity to ubiquitinate Md NAC83.By the addition of functional markers to the Geno Baits SNP array,the prediction accuracy of the updated GAP models increased to 0.7723/0.6231 and 0.5639/0.5345 for flesh firmness/crispness at harvest and flesh firmness/crispness retainability,respectively.The variation network involving eight simple Mendelian variations in six genes helps to gain insight into the molecular quantitative genetics,to improve breeding strategy,and to provide targets for future genome editing.展开更多
In this manuscript,we consider a non-autonomous dynamical system.Using the Carathéodory structure,we define a BS dimension on an arbitrary subset and obtain a Bowen’s equation that illustrates the relation of th...In this manuscript,we consider a non-autonomous dynamical system.Using the Carathéodory structure,we define a BS dimension on an arbitrary subset and obtain a Bowen’s equation that illustrates the relation of the BS dimension to the Pesin-Pitskel topological pressure given by Nazarian[24].Moreover,we establish a variational principle and an inverse variational principle for the BS dimension of non-autonomous dynamical systems.Finally,we also get an analogue of Billingsley’s theorem for the BS dimension of non-autonomous dynamical systems.展开更多
Understanding spatial patterns of plant species diversity and the factors(e.g.,climate and human)that drive these patterns is essential for biodiversity conservation.We used data from 1700.1-ha forest plots in the She...Understanding spatial patterns of plant species diversity and the factors(e.g.,climate and human)that drive these patterns is essential for biodiversity conservation.We used data from 1700.1-ha forest plots in the Shettihalli tropical forest landscape of the Western Ghats biodiversity hotspot,India,to analyse tree community composition and the drivers ofα-diversity(Shannon)andβ-diversity(LCBD).Compositional patterns were visualized using Non-Metric Multidimensional Scaling(NMDS),and hybrid feature selection with structural equation modeling(SEM)was employed to evaluate the direct and indirect effects of environmental variables on diversity.NMDS identified four distinct forest types in the Shettihalli landscape:semi-evergreen,dry deciduous,moist deciduous,and plantation forests,each with distinct plant composition.Shannon diversity and ecological uniqueness was significantly higher in semi-evergreen forest than in deciduous forest plots.The SEMs explained about 79%and 39–45%of the variation inα-diversity andβ-diversity.Our analysis indicated that current diversity patterns result from multiple processes,with structure,disturbance,and edaphic parameters exerting the strongest direct and indirect effects onα-diversity.β-diversity,in contrast,was largely influenced by climate,topography,stand structure,and edaphic factors.Overall,our findings indicate that various factors(e.g.,climate,topography,and human disturbance)interact to shape tree diversity patterns in tropical forests.These findings will help develop unique conservation and management strategies for distinct forest types in tropical forest ecosystems.展开更多
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a fatal neurodegenerative disorder characterized by the progressive degeneration of upper and lower motor neurons in the brainstem and spinal cord,leading to muscle weakness,para...Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a fatal neurodegenerative disorder characterized by the progressive degeneration of upper and lower motor neurons in the brainstem and spinal cord,leading to muscle weakness,paralysis,and respiratory failure (Morgan and Orrell,2016).展开更多
The anther-smut Microbotryum violaceum ( Brandenburger and Schvinn) G. Deml. and Oberw.) causes a systematic infection of its host Silene dioica ( L.) Clairv., resulting in sterility and production of teliospores (dis...The anther-smut Microbotryum violaceum ( Brandenburger and Schvinn) G. Deml. and Oberw.) causes a systematic infection of its host Silene dioica ( L.) Clairv., resulting in sterility and production of teliospores (dispersal propagules) in flowers. These spores are transmitted to healthy plants mainly by flower visitors. The behavioral responses of flower visitors to a variation in floral characters are not only likely to affect rates of pollen export/import, but also the rate of spore deposition and probability of disease. In a transplantation experiment, using plants from four different populations, we tested for correlation between variation in female floral morphology and patterns of spore and pollen deposition, and a resulting risk of disease. The source populations in this experiment were located on four islands in Skeppsvik archipelago in northern Sweden, and represented a gradient of disease incidence from completely healthy ( Island 1), low incidence ( Island 2) to high incidences ( Islands 3 and 4) of disease. Fifty plants from each population were transplanted to the center, of the population on Island 4. There were significant differences among the transplants in floral characters, i.e. corolla size, style length and ovule number. Plants from the non-diseased population had larger flowers and longer styles than plants from the highly diseased populations. Numbers of pollen grains and spores deposited on flowers were strongly and positively correlated. We found that plants originating from the non-diseased population captured approximately 4 times more pollen and 9 times more spores, per flower than die individuals from the resident population (Island 4, population 4). The incidences of disease among plants, from the four populations differed significantly, and was 37%, 20%, 18% and 0 for populations 1, 2, 3 and 4 respectively. In a survey of ten populations we found a significant negative correlation between the mean style length ( positively correlated with corolla size and ovule number) among healthy plants and incidence of disease in these populations. The potentiality for pathogen-pollinator mediated selection oil floral characters; and consequences for gone flow between populations of Silene dioica are discussed.展开更多
Daily maximum/minimum temperatures and relative humidity records from 510 stations in China for the period 1960–2008 were used to investigate geographical patterns and temporal variations of heatwave （HW） events. D...Daily maximum/minimum temperatures and relative humidity records from 510 stations in China for the period 1960–2008 were used to investigate geographical patterns and temporal variations of heatwave （HW） events. Dry and wet HW events were compared by different definitions. Regionally, both dry and wet HW events are commonly located in southeastern China in the monsoon area, with neither type occurring in the northeast part of Northeast China and Southwest China, while the north-northwest region of the country experiences dry HW events and a few wet HW events. In the southeast of the country, site dry HW events occurred from April to September and mostly in June, while site wet HW events occurred from April to October and mostly in September. In total, 163 regional wet HW events were identified. The ten longest regional wet HW events lasted for more than 20 days, while the mean duration for 163 events was about 11 days. For the top ten events, six occurred after the 1990s, compared with four before this time. Global surface warming was clear since 1979, but the frequency and severity of regional wet HW events were relatively low in the 1980s, increasing remarkably since the 1990s. Possible reasons for this might be the strong interdecadal and interannual variations in regional atmospheric circulations, as well as water transport related directly to temperature contrasts in different regions, rather than global-mean temperature changes.展开更多
The exposed area of intertidal zone varies with tidal water level changes, If intercomparisons of satellite images are adopted as a method to determine geomorphological changes of the intertidal zone in response to ac...The exposed area of intertidal zone varies with tidal water level changes, If intercomparisons of satellite images are adopted as a method to determine geomorphological changes of the intertidal zone in response to accretion or erosion processes, then the effect of water level variations must be evaluated. In this study, two Landsat TM images overpassing the central Jiangsu coastal waters on 2 January and 7 March 2002, respectively, were treated by the changing detection analysis using Image Differencing and Post-classification Comparison. The simultaneous tide level data from four tide gauge stations along the coast were used for displaying the spatial variations of water levels and determining the elevations of waterlines. The results show that the spatial variations of water levels are highly significant in the central Jiangsu coastal waters. The huge differences of tidal land exposure patterns between the two imaging times are related mainly to the spatial variations of tidal water levels, which are controlled by the differences in tidal phases for different imaging times and the spatial variations of water level over the study area at each imaging time. Under complex tidal conditions, e.g., those of the central Jiangsu coastal waters, the tide-surge model should be used to eliminate effectively the effects of water level variations on remote sensing interpretation of geomorphological changes in the intertidal zone.展开更多
By using the one-point correlation method, calculations have been made of the northern early summer 500 hPa teleconnection patterns. Seven teleconnection patterns are revealed, namely, the Western Atlantic (WA), the E...By using the one-point correlation method, calculations have been made of the northern early summer 500 hPa teleconnection patterns. Seven teleconnection patterns are revealed, namely, the Western Atlantic (WA), the Eastern Atlantic (EA), the Eurasian (EU), the Bengal / Northern Pacific (BNP), the Western Pacific (WP), the East Asian / Pacific (EAP), and the Huanghe / East Asian (HEA) patterns. Their centers are determined and their yearly intensity indices (1951-1990) are calculated. On this basis the relationship between their interannual variations and the drought / flood in China is examined. It is noted that the EU, HEA and EAP wave trains are closely related to the drought / flood in China. The HEA and EAP patterns strongly influence the precipitation in eastern China. For example, the fierce floods experienced in 1991 early summer over China are related to the weak EAP and strong HEA patterns.展开更多
Abstract Monthly mean sea ice motion vectors and monthly mean sea level pressure (SLP) for the period of 1979-2006 are investigated to understand the spatial and temporal changes of Arctic sea-ice drift. According to ...Abstract Monthly mean sea ice motion vectors and monthly mean sea level pressure (SLP) for the period of 1979-2006 are investigated to understand the spatial and temporal changes of Arctic sea-ice drift. According to the distinct differences in monthly mean ice velocity field as well as in the distribution of SLP, there are four primary types in the Arctic Ocean: Beaufort Gyre+Transpolar Drift, Anticyclonic Drift, Cyclonic Drift and Double Gyre Drift. These four types account for 81% of the total, and reveal distinct seasonal variations. The Cyclonic Drift with a large-scale anticlockwise ice motion pattern trends to prevail in summer while the Anticyclonic Drift with an opposite pattern trends to prevail in winter and spring. The prevailing seasons for the Beaufort Gyre+Transpolar Drift are spring and autumn, while the Double Gyre Drift trends to prevail in winter, especially in Feb- ruary. The annual occurring times of the Anticyclonic Drift and the Cyclonic Drift are closely correlated with the yearly mean Arc- tic Oscillation (AO) index, with a correlation coefficient of -0.54 and 0.54 (both significant with the confident level of 99%), re- spectively. When the AO index stays in a high positive (negative) condition, the sea-ice motion in the Arctic Ocean demonstrates a more anticlockwise (clockwise) drifting pattern as a whole. When the AO index stays in a neutral condition, the sea-ice motion becomes much more complicated and more transitional types trend to take place.展开更多
Background:The vocalizations of birds are dynamic traits that often vary in output with time of day and time of year.By quantifying patterns of diel and seasonal variation in vocal output,we can gain insight into the ...Background:The vocalizations of birds are dynamic traits that often vary in output with time of day and time of year.By quantifying patterns of diel and seasonal variation in vocal output,we can gain insight into the ecology and evolution of birds and the function of their vocalizations.In this investigation,we quantified diel and seasonal variation in song output by studying a breeding population of Savannah Sparrows (Passerculus sandwichensis).Methods:We used autonomous recorders to collect extensive recordings across the breeding season in a long-term, colour-marked study population of Savannah Sparrows in eastern Canada.We described diel and seasonal variation across five different breeding stages based on recordings of more than 50,000 songs from 34 males.Results:During the pre-breeding stage, prior to female arrival, males sang a pronounced dawn chorus with a peak in song output during the early morning.During the breeding stage,in contrast,the dawn chorus was diminished and males instead exhibited a pronounced dusk chorus with a peak in song output during the evening.Across the breeding season,the highest levels of song output occurred in late April and early May,soon after males arrived on the breeding grounds,and the lowest levels occurred in August,prior to the departure of birds for the wintering grounds.Conclusions:These patterns suggest that Savannah Sparrows' early-season dawn choruses are directed at males and serve a territorial defense function.Later-season dusk choruses,in contrast, appear to play a role in attracting mates and possibly acoustic mate guarding.展开更多
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(32460380,42007042)State Key Laboratory of Subtropical Silviculture(SKLSSKF2023-06)+2 种基金Natural Science Foundation of Jiangxi Province(20242BAB25389)National Undergraduate Innovation and Entrepreneurship Training Program(202410410029X)Jiangxi Province Graduate Student Innovation Special Fund Project(YC2024-S330).
文摘Urban forests are essential components of green infrastructure,however,rapid urbanization-induced changes in landscape patterns may affect their ecosystem services through complex ecological processes.A total of 184 sample plots in the built-up areas of Nanchang,China,were used as research sites.Urbanization intensities were categorized by the rate of impervious surface area,and forest types were classified into landscape and relaxation forest,attached forest(AF),road forest(RF),and ecological public welfare forest.This study aimed to explore the spatial variations in vegetation characteristics and landscape pattern indices of different forest types under rapid urbanization.The results indicated that the largest patch index(LPI),aggregation index(AI),and percentage of landscape(PLAND)in RF and AF were lower than those in the other forest types(p<0.05).With increasing urbanization intensity,the mean perimeter-area ratio increased by 130.84%,whereas the PLAND,LPI,and AI decreased by 22−86%(p<0.05).Redundancy analysis and variation partitioning suggested that the interpretation rate of landscape pattern indices for variations in vegetation characteristics increased from low to heavy urbanization areas.Especially,the landscape shape index,patch connection index,PLAND,and mean patch size were significantly correlated with vegetation characteristics(e.g.,tree richness,herb coverage,and tree height).In the future,appropriate landscape layout superiority cases should be considered in different urbanization areas and forest types;for instance,increasing the patch connection index will beneficially improve the diversity of trees and herbs in heavy urbanization areas and the RF.This study serves as a reference for maximizing the ecosystem services of urban forests.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(32271584 and 31600445)the Natural Science Basic Research Plan in Shaanxi Province of China(2020JM-286)+2 种基金the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities(GK202103072,GK202103073)the National College Students'Innovative Entrepreneurial Training Plan Program(202310718085)Special Research Project in Philosophy and Social Sciences of Shaanxi Province(2022HZ1795).
文摘Prevention of biological invasion requires understanding how alien species invade native communities.Although studies have identified mechanisms that underlie plant invasion in some habitats,limited attention has focused on invasion patterns along elevational gradients.In this study,we asked which factors drive the global and regional distribution of the invasive plant Galinsoga quadriradiata along elevational gradients.To answer this question,we examined whether human activities(i.e.,roads)promote G.quadriradiata invasion,how seed dispersal-related traits of G.quadriradiata change along elevation gradients,and whether G.quadriradiata has adapted to high-elevation environments through phenotypic plasticity or genetic variation.On the global scale,we found that human activities and road density positively contribute to the G.quadriradiata expansion in mountainous areas.Field surveys in China revealed significant elevational differences in the seed dispersal traits of G.quadriradiata,with higher-elevation populations exhibiting lower dispersal ability and generally lower genetic diversity.Under common conditions,high-elevation populations showed higher leaf mass ratio but lower root mass ratio and reproductive allocation.This suggests that high-elevation environments create a barrier to dispersal for G.quadriradiata,and that G.quadriradiata has adapted phenotypically to these conditions.Our study indicates that the elevational invasion pattern of G.quadriradiata is shaped by multiple factors,particularly human activities and phenotypic adaptability.In addition,our finding that G.quadriradiata invasion at high elevations is not constrained by low genetic diversity indicates that monitoring and management of G.quadriradiata in mountainous areas should be strengthened.
基金supported by the Key Research and Development Plan Project of Heilongjiang Province (2022ZX02C13)。
文摘Xishui National Forest Park in Heilongjiang Province hosts China's most pristine temperate forests and serves as a key site for ecotourism and forest therapy.However,the emission patterns of phytoncides(key bio active compounds) remain poorly understood,limiting their therapeutic application.This study provides the first comprehensive characterization of spatiotemporal dynamics in airborne phytoncides and their synergistic interactions with environmental factors throughout the autumn-early spring seasonal transition in a temperate forest ecosystem.We analyzed the compositional dynamics of phytoncides and terpenoid content variations using thermal desorption-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry(TD-GC-MS) from September 2024 to March 2025.This period encompassed seasonal transitions from autumn to early spring,including diurnal variations in September and snowfall events in November.The method demonstrated detection limits(LODs) ranging from 1.35 to 5.33 ng m-3 and quantification limits(LOQs) from 4.09 to 16.15 ng m-3.Our results revealed pronounced seasonal fluctuations in phytoncide composition.In September,terpenoids,esters,alcohols,and alkanes displayed a diurnal "decrease-increase" trend,whereas aldehydes and ketones peaked at midday.Notably,esters and alcohols were undetectable in November and January.By January,terpenoids reached their lowest proportion(0.17±0.02%) at noon.Five terpenoids(α-pinene,myrcene,D-limonene,camphene,p-cymene) were detected in September,four(α-pinene,D-limonene,camphene,p-cymene) in November,two(D-limonene,p-cymene) in January,and only p-cymene in March.The total concentration and emission rate of the five terpenoids peaked in September afternoons at 1961.58±106.67 ng m^(-3) and653.86±35.56 ng m^(-3) h^(-1),respectively.Nocturnal emissions(32131.95±2522.21 ng m^(-3)) significantly surpassed daytime levels(14473.04±958.49 ng m^(-3)),with emission rates escalating from 1447.30±95.85 ng m^(-3) h^(-1)(day) to 5355.33±420.37 ng m^(-3) h^(-1)(night),marking a3.7-fold increase.Snowfall dramatically elevated terpenoid concentrations(pre-snowfall:158.58±14.12 ng m^(-3);post-snowfall:1080.57±57.76 ng m^(-3)) and emission rates(pre-snowfall:52.86±4.71 ng m^(-3) h^(-1);post-snowfall:360.19±19.25 ng m^(-3) h^(-1)),reflecting a 6.8-fold surge.This study underscores the profound influence of light intensity,seasonal shifts,and climatic conditions on airborne phytoncide levels,offering a scientific foundation for optimizing forest therapy and ecotourism strategies.
基金Project supported in part by Beijing Natural Science Foundation(Grant No.1232025)Peng Huanwu Visiting Pro-fessor Program,and Academy for Multidisciplinary Studies,Capital Normal University.
文摘Replicating the chaotic characteristics inherent in nonlinear dynamical systems via machine learning(ML)is a key challenge in this rapidly advancing interdisciplinary field.In this work,we explore the potential of variational quantum circuits(VQC)for learning the stochastic properties of classical nonlinear dynamical systems.Specifically,we focus on the one-and two-dimensional logistic maps,which,while simple,remain under-explored in the context of learning dynamical characteristics.Our findings reveal that,even for such simple dynamical systems,accurately replicating longterm characteristics is hindered by a pronounced sensitivity to overfitting.While increasing the parameter complexity of the ML model typically enhances short-term prediction accuracy,it also leads to a degradation in the model’s ability to replicate long-term characteristics,primarily due to the detrimental effects of overfitting on generalization power.By comparing the VQC with two widely recognized classical ML techniques,which are long short-term memory(LSTM)networks for timeseries processing and reservoir computing,we demonstrate that VQC outperforms these methods in terms of replicating long-term characteristics.Our results suggest that for the ML of dynamics,it is demanded to develop more compact and efficient models(such as VQC)rather than more complicated and large-scale ones.
基金supported financially by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(31811530297 and 32170217).
文摘Plastome variation,including single spontaneous nucleotide substitutions and single insertions/deletions,is the major source of leaf variegation in plants.Additionally,one recent study has showed that a simple plastome structural variation,which is induced by one pair of small inverted repeats,can also result in leaf variegation.Here we show a complex plastome structural variation caused by intermolecular and intramolecular recombination across three pairs of small inverted repeats accounts for leaf variegation in a widely cultivated shrub Heptapleurum ellipticum(Araliaceae).This plastome structural variation contains two deletions and two duplications,resulting in dramatic expansion of IRs,substantial contraction of LSC and loss of 11 genes that essential for photosynthesis.Plastome heteroplasmy was detected in both green and albino sectors of variegated leaves.Relative to green sectors,albino sectors in the variegated leaves exhibit significantly reduced expression for the 11 genes lost in the mutated plastome as well as 26 other genes,but significantly increased expression for one gene related to translation apparatus.Optical and transmission electron microscopy observations showed that mesophyll cells of albino sectors possess plastids lacking grana lamellae,which likely carry the mutated plastome and contribute to albinism.In both sectors,the first layer of spongy mesophyll cells beneath the lower epidermis contains normal chloroplasts,suggesting periclinal division of the lower epidermis during development.Our study demonstrates that multiple small repeats can collectively mediate intra-and inter-molecular recombination in plastome and offers a new mechanism accounting for leaf variegation in plants.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.32100304,32470388,U22A20558,32271588).
文摘The competitor,stress tolerator,and ruderal strategy(CSR)framework has been widely applied to explain ecological processes across species.However,its utility in revealing intra-specific trade-offs and genetic adaptation to climate remains unclear.In this study,we examined whether the CSR strategy estimated by leaf traits can identify adaptations to climate in the common reed Phragmites australis.For this purpose,we integrated functional trait data from field surveys and a three-year common garden experiment to compare CSR scores between two typical populations of P.australis from western and eastern China.We further assessed the associations of CSR scores with latitude,bioclimatic factors,and phylogeographical sources using a global dataset including two invaded lineages in the North America.We found that competitor scores were positively correlated with latitude,whereas stress tolerator scores were negatively correlated.Competitor scores were positively correlated with bioclimatic factors,even when controlling for phylogeny.All CSR scores displayed significant phylogenetic signals,with the invasive lineage in the higher latitudes(haplotype M)exhibiting higher stress tolerator scores than the native lineage.Differences in competitor and stress tolerator scores between western and eastern Chinese populations of P.australis were consistent across field and common garden experiments.Although intra-species variation in CSR strategy may be influenced by phylogenetic history,our finding that CSR strategy in P.australis populations is correlated with latitude suggests these plants have adapted to local climates along a latitudinal gradient.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant Nos.42027804,41775026,and 41075012)。
文摘Cirrus clouds play a crucial role in the energy balance of the Earth-atmosphere system.We investigated the spatiotemporal variations of cirrus over the South China Sea(SCS)using satellite data(MOD08,MYD08,CALIPSO)and reanalysis data(MERRA-2)from March 2007 to February 2015(eight years).The horizontal distribution reveals lower cirrus fraction values in the northern SCS and higher values in the southern region,with minima observed in March and April and maxima sequentially occurring in August(northern SCS,NSCS),September(middle SCS,MSCS),and December(southern SCS,SSCS).Vertically,the cirrus fraction peaks in summer and reaches its lowest levels in spring.Opaque cirrus dominates during summer in the NSCS and MSCS,comprising 53.6%and 55.9%,respectively,while the SSCS exhibits a higher frequency of opaque cirrus relative to other cloud types.Subvisible cirrus clouds have the lowest frequency year-round,whereas thin cirrus is most prominent in winter in the NSCS(46.3%)and in spring in the MSCS(45.3%).A case study from September 2021 further explores the influence of ice crystal habits on brightness temperature(BT)over the SCS.Simulations utilizing five ice crystal shapes from the ARTS DDA(Atmospheric Radiative Transfer Simulator Discrete Dipole Approximation)database and the RTTOV 12.4 radiative transfer model reveal that the 8-column-aggregate shape best represents BT in the NSCS and SSCS,while the large-block-aggregate shape performs better in the SSCS.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(U2344201 and 42101316)the Natural Science Foundation of Hunan Province,China(2022JJ40866)the Outstanding Youth Project of Education Bureau of Hunan Province,China(20B613)。
文摘Understanding the spatial distributions and corresponding variation mechanisms of key soil nutrients in fragile karst ecosystems can assist in promoting sustainable development.However,due to the implementation of ecological restoration initiatives such as land-use conversions,novel changes in the spatial characteristics of soil nutrients remain unknown.To address this gap,we explored nutrient variations and the drivers of the variation in the 0–15 cm topsoil layer using a regional-scale sampling method in a typical karst area in northwest Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region,Southwest China.Descriptive statistics,geostatistics,and spatial analysis were used to assess the soil nutrient variability.The results indicated that soil organic carbon(SOC),total nitrogen(TN),total phosphorus(TP),and total potassium(TK)concentrations showed moderate variations,with coefficients of variance being 0.60,0.60,0.71,and 0.72,respectively.Moreover,they demonstrated positive spatial autocorrelations,with global Moran's indices being 0.68,0.77,0.64,and 0.68,respectively.However,local Moran's index values were low,indicating large spatial variations in soil nutrients.The best-fitting semi-variogram models for SOC,TN,TP,and TK concentrations were spherical,Gaussian,exponential,and exponential,respectively.According to the classification criteria of the Second National Soil Census in China,SOC and TN concentrations were relatively sufficient,with the proportions of rich and very rich levels being up to 90.9 and 96.0%,respectively.TP concentration was in the mediumdeficient level,with the areas of medium and deficient levels accounting for 33.7 and 30.1%of the total,respectively.TK concentration was deficient,with the cumulative area of extremely deficient,very deficient,and deficient levels accounting for 87.6%of the total area.Consequently,the terrestrial ecosystems in the study area were more vulnerable to soil P and K than soil N deficiencies.Furthermore,variance partitioning analysis of the influencing factors showed that,except for the interactions,the single effect of other soil properties accounted more for soil nutrient variations than spatial and environmental variables.These results will aid in the future management of terrestrial ecosystems.
文摘BACKGROUND Drug utilization research has an important role in assisting the healthcare administration to know,compute,and refine the prescription whose principal objective is to enable the rational use of drugs.Research in developing nations relating to the cost of treatment is scarce when compared with developed countries.Thus,the drug utilization research studies from developing nations are most needed,and their number has been growing.AIM To evaluate patterns of utilization of antipsychotic drugs and direct medical cost analysis in patients newly diagnosed with schizophrenia.METHODS The present study was observational in type and based on a retrospective cohort to evaluate patterns of utilization of antipsychotic drugs using World Health Organization(WHO)core prescribing indicators and anatomical therapeutic chemical/defined daily dose indicators.We also calculated direct medical costs for a period of 6 months.RESULTS This study has found that atypical antipsychotics are the mainstay of treatment for schizophrenia in every age group and subcategories of schizophrenia.The evaluation based on WHO prescribing indicators showed a low average number of drugs per prescription and low prescribing frequency of antipsychotics from the National List of Essential Medicines 2015 and the WHO Essential Medicines List 2019.The total mean drug cost of our study was 1396 Indian rupees.The total mean cost due to the investigation in our study was 1017.34 Indian rupees.Therefore,the total mean direct medical cost incurred on patients in our study was 4337.28 Indian rupees.CONCLUSION The information from the present study can be used for reviewing and updating treatment policy at the institutional level.
基金supported by the CAS Pioneer Hundred Talents Program and Second Tibetan Plateau Scientific Expedition Research Program(2019QZKK0708)as well as the Basic Research Program of Qinghai Province:Lithospheric Geomagnetic Field of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau and the Relationship with Strong Earthquakes(2021-ZJ-969Q).
文摘The National Geophysical Data Center(NGDC)of the United States has collected aeromagnetic data for input into a series of geomagnetic models to improve model resolution;however,in the Tibetan Plateau region,ground-based observations remain insufficient to clearly reflect the characteristics of the region’s lithospheric magnetism.In this study,we evaluate the lithospheric magnetism of the Tibetan Plateau by using a 3D surface spline model based on observations from>200 newly constructed repeat stations(portable stations)to determine the spatial distribution of plateau geomagnetism,as well as its correlation with the tectonic features of the region.We analyze the relationships between M≥5 earthquakes and lithospheric magnetic field variations on the Tibetan Plateau and identify regions susceptible to strong earthquakes.We compare the geomagnetic results with those from an enhanced magnetic model(EMM2015)developed by the NGDC and provide insights into improving lithospheric magnetic field calculations in the Tibetan Plateau region.Further research reveals that these magnetic anomalies exhibit distinct differences from the magnetic-seismic correlation mechanisms observed in other tectonic settings;here,they are governed primarily by the combined effects of compressional magnetism,thermal magnetism,and deep thermal stress.This study provides new evidence of geomagnetic anomalies on the Tibetan Plateau,interprets them physically,and demonstrates their potential for identifying seismic hazard zones on the Plateau.
基金financially supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(32202431)the National Key R&D Program of China(2022YFD1200503)+2 种基金China Postdoctoral Science Foundation(2022M713408)the Earmarked Fund for CARS-27the Key Research and Development Program of Hebei(21326308D)。
文摘Dissecting quantitative traits into Mendelian factors is a great challenge in genetics.Apple fruit storability is a complex trait controlled by multi-genes with unequal effects.We previously identified62 quantitative trait loci(QTLs)associated with apple fruit storability and genomics-assisted prediction(GAP)models were trained using 56 QTLbased markers.Here,three candidate genes,Md NAC83,Md BPM2,and Md RGLG3,were screened from the regions of QTLs with large G'value and large genetic effects.Both a 216-bp deletion and an SNP934 T/C at the promoter of Md NAC83 were associated with higher Md NAC83expression but an SNP388 G/A at the coding region significantly reduced the activity to activate the expression of the target genes Md ACO1,Md MANA3,and Md XTH28.Md BPM2 and Md RGLG3 participated in the ubiquitination of Md NAC83.SNP657 T/A of Md BPM2 and SNP167C/G of Md RGLG3 caused a reduction in the activity to ubiquitinate Md NAC83.By the addition of functional markers to the Geno Baits SNP array,the prediction accuracy of the updated GAP models increased to 0.7723/0.6231 and 0.5639/0.5345 for flesh firmness/crispness at harvest and flesh firmness/crispness retainability,respectively.The variation network involving eight simple Mendelian variations in six genes helps to gain insight into the molecular quantitative genetics,to improve breeding strategy,and to provide targets for future genome editing.
基金supported by the NSFC(12461012)and the NSF of Chongqing(CSTB2024NSCQ-MSX1246).
文摘In this manuscript,we consider a non-autonomous dynamical system.Using the Carathéodory structure,we define a BS dimension on an arbitrary subset and obtain a Bowen’s equation that illustrates the relation of the BS dimension to the Pesin-Pitskel topological pressure given by Nazarian[24].Moreover,we establish a variational principle and an inverse variational principle for the BS dimension of non-autonomous dynamical systems.Finally,we also get an analogue of Billingsley’s theorem for the BS dimension of non-autonomous dynamical systems.
基金supported by the Department of Biotechnology,Ministry of Science and Technology,Govt.India,under grant No.BT/Coord.II/10/02/2016/22.03.2018the Indian Council of Social Science Research,New Delhi,India,for providing a short-term doctoral fellowship(RFD/Short-Term/2022-23/ENV/ST/66).
文摘Understanding spatial patterns of plant species diversity and the factors(e.g.,climate and human)that drive these patterns is essential for biodiversity conservation.We used data from 1700.1-ha forest plots in the Shettihalli tropical forest landscape of the Western Ghats biodiversity hotspot,India,to analyse tree community composition and the drivers ofα-diversity(Shannon)andβ-diversity(LCBD).Compositional patterns were visualized using Non-Metric Multidimensional Scaling(NMDS),and hybrid feature selection with structural equation modeling(SEM)was employed to evaluate the direct and indirect effects of environmental variables on diversity.NMDS identified four distinct forest types in the Shettihalli landscape:semi-evergreen,dry deciduous,moist deciduous,and plantation forests,each with distinct plant composition.Shannon diversity and ecological uniqueness was significantly higher in semi-evergreen forest than in deciduous forest plots.The SEMs explained about 79%and 39–45%of the variation inα-diversity andβ-diversity.Our analysis indicated that current diversity patterns result from multiple processes,with structure,disturbance,and edaphic parameters exerting the strongest direct and indirect effects onα-diversity.β-diversity,in contrast,was largely influenced by climate,topography,stand structure,and edaphic factors.Overall,our findings indicate that various factors(e.g.,climate,topography,and human disturbance)interact to shape tree diversity patterns in tropical forests.These findings will help develop unique conservation and management strategies for distinct forest types in tropical forest ecosystems.
文摘Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a fatal neurodegenerative disorder characterized by the progressive degeneration of upper and lower motor neurons in the brainstem and spinal cord,leading to muscle weakness,paralysis,and respiratory failure (Morgan and Orrell,2016).
文摘The anther-smut Microbotryum violaceum ( Brandenburger and Schvinn) G. Deml. and Oberw.) causes a systematic infection of its host Silene dioica ( L.) Clairv., resulting in sterility and production of teliospores (dispersal propagules) in flowers. These spores are transmitted to healthy plants mainly by flower visitors. The behavioral responses of flower visitors to a variation in floral characters are not only likely to affect rates of pollen export/import, but also the rate of spore deposition and probability of disease. In a transplantation experiment, using plants from four different populations, we tested for correlation between variation in female floral morphology and patterns of spore and pollen deposition, and a resulting risk of disease. The source populations in this experiment were located on four islands in Skeppsvik archipelago in northern Sweden, and represented a gradient of disease incidence from completely healthy ( Island 1), low incidence ( Island 2) to high incidences ( Islands 3 and 4) of disease. Fifty plants from each population were transplanted to the center, of the population on Island 4. There were significant differences among the transplants in floral characters, i.e. corolla size, style length and ovule number. Plants from the non-diseased population had larger flowers and longer styles than plants from the highly diseased populations. Numbers of pollen grains and spores deposited on flowers were strongly and positively correlated. We found that plants originating from the non-diseased population captured approximately 4 times more pollen and 9 times more spores, per flower than die individuals from the resident population (Island 4, population 4). The incidences of disease among plants, from the four populations differed significantly, and was 37%, 20%, 18% and 0 for populations 1, 2, 3 and 4 respectively. In a survey of ten populations we found a significant negative correlation between the mean style length ( positively correlated with corolla size and ovule number) among healthy plants and incidence of disease in these populations. The potentiality for pathogen-pollinator mediated selection oil floral characters; and consequences for gone flow between populations of Silene dioica are discussed.
基金supported jointly by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No.40975039),GYHY201006018the Key Technologies R&D Program (Grant No. 2009BAC51B00)
文摘Daily maximum/minimum temperatures and relative humidity records from 510 stations in China for the period 1960–2008 were used to investigate geographical patterns and temporal variations of heatwave （HW） events. Dry and wet HW events were compared by different definitions. Regionally, both dry and wet HW events are commonly located in southeastern China in the monsoon area, with neither type occurring in the northeast part of Northeast China and Southwest China, while the north-northwest region of the country experiences dry HW events and a few wet HW events. In the southeast of the country, site dry HW events occurred from April to September and mostly in June, while site wet HW events occurred from April to October and mostly in September. In total, 163 regional wet HW events were identified. The ten longest regional wet HW events lasted for more than 20 days, while the mean duration for 163 events was about 11 days. For the top ten events, six occurred after the 1990s, compared with four before this time. Global surface warming was clear since 1979, but the frequency and severity of regional wet HW events were relatively low in the 1980s, increasing remarkably since the 1990s. Possible reasons for this might be the strong interdecadal and interannual variations in regional atmospheric circulations, as well as water transport related directly to temperature contrasts in different regions, rather than global-mean temperature changes.
基金The Ministry of Science and Technology of China under contract No. 2006CB708410the National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC) under contract No. 40706027
文摘The exposed area of intertidal zone varies with tidal water level changes, If intercomparisons of satellite images are adopted as a method to determine geomorphological changes of the intertidal zone in response to accretion or erosion processes, then the effect of water level variations must be evaluated. In this study, two Landsat TM images overpassing the central Jiangsu coastal waters on 2 January and 7 March 2002, respectively, were treated by the changing detection analysis using Image Differencing and Post-classification Comparison. The simultaneous tide level data from four tide gauge stations along the coast were used for displaying the spatial variations of water levels and determining the elevations of waterlines. The results show that the spatial variations of water levels are highly significant in the central Jiangsu coastal waters. The huge differences of tidal land exposure patterns between the two imaging times are related mainly to the spatial variations of tidal water levels, which are controlled by the differences in tidal phases for different imaging times and the spatial variations of water level over the study area at each imaging time. Under complex tidal conditions, e.g., those of the central Jiangsu coastal waters, the tide-surge model should be used to eliminate effectively the effects of water level variations on remote sensing interpretation of geomorphological changes in the intertidal zone.
基金This study is one of the research projects sponsored by the Monsoon Research Foundation of State Meteorological Administration.
文摘By using the one-point correlation method, calculations have been made of the northern early summer 500 hPa teleconnection patterns. Seven teleconnection patterns are revealed, namely, the Western Atlantic (WA), the Eastern Atlantic (EA), the Eurasian (EU), the Bengal / Northern Pacific (BNP), the Western Pacific (WP), the East Asian / Pacific (EAP), and the Huanghe / East Asian (HEA) patterns. Their centers are determined and their yearly intensity indices (1951-1990) are calculated. On this basis the relationship between their interannual variations and the drought / flood in China is examined. It is noted that the EU, HEA and EAP wave trains are closely related to the drought / flood in China. The HEA and EAP patterns strongly influence the precipitation in eastern China. For example, the fierce floods experienced in 1991 early summer over China are related to the weak EAP and strong HEA patterns.
基金the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant no. 40631006)the National Major Science Project of China for Global Change Research (Grant no. 2010CB951403)
文摘Abstract Monthly mean sea ice motion vectors and monthly mean sea level pressure (SLP) for the period of 1979-2006 are investigated to understand the spatial and temporal changes of Arctic sea-ice drift. According to the distinct differences in monthly mean ice velocity field as well as in the distribution of SLP, there are four primary types in the Arctic Ocean: Beaufort Gyre+Transpolar Drift, Anticyclonic Drift, Cyclonic Drift and Double Gyre Drift. These four types account for 81% of the total, and reveal distinct seasonal variations. The Cyclonic Drift with a large-scale anticlockwise ice motion pattern trends to prevail in summer while the Anticyclonic Drift with an opposite pattern trends to prevail in winter and spring. The prevailing seasons for the Beaufort Gyre+Transpolar Drift are spring and autumn, while the Double Gyre Drift trends to prevail in winter, especially in Feb- ruary. The annual occurring times of the Anticyclonic Drift and the Cyclonic Drift are closely correlated with the yearly mean Arc- tic Oscillation (AO) index, with a correlation coefficient of -0.54 and 0.54 (both significant with the confident level of 99%), re- spectively. When the AO index stays in a high positive (negative) condition, the sea-ice motion in the Arctic Ocean demonstrates a more anticlockwise (clockwise) drifting pattern as a whole. When the AO index stays in a neutral condition, the sea-ice motion becomes much more complicated and more transitional types trend to take place.
基金the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada NSERC for ongoing financial support to SMD,AEM,DRN,and DJM
文摘Background:The vocalizations of birds are dynamic traits that often vary in output with time of day and time of year.By quantifying patterns of diel and seasonal variation in vocal output,we can gain insight into the ecology and evolution of birds and the function of their vocalizations.In this investigation,we quantified diel and seasonal variation in song output by studying a breeding population of Savannah Sparrows (Passerculus sandwichensis).Methods:We used autonomous recorders to collect extensive recordings across the breeding season in a long-term, colour-marked study population of Savannah Sparrows in eastern Canada.We described diel and seasonal variation across five different breeding stages based on recordings of more than 50,000 songs from 34 males.Results:During the pre-breeding stage, prior to female arrival, males sang a pronounced dawn chorus with a peak in song output during the early morning.During the breeding stage,in contrast,the dawn chorus was diminished and males instead exhibited a pronounced dusk chorus with a peak in song output during the evening.Across the breeding season,the highest levels of song output occurred in late April and early May,soon after males arrived on the breeding grounds,and the lowest levels occurred in August,prior to the departure of birds for the wintering grounds.Conclusions:These patterns suggest that Savannah Sparrows' early-season dawn choruses are directed at males and serve a territorial defense function.Later-season dusk choruses,in contrast, appear to play a role in attracting mates and possibly acoustic mate guarding.
