The maximal force a muscle can exert depends on its length,which has been explained by the sliding filament theory on the sarcomere level.1 A longer muscle can act over a greater range of motion and has more sarcomere...The maximal force a muscle can exert depends on its length,which has been explained by the sliding filament theory on the sarcomere level.1 A longer muscle can act over a greater range of motion and has more sarcomeres in series,which increases its capacity to produce force at a specific muscle contraction velocity because each sarcomere contracts at a lower velocity.展开更多
Polar microalgae are microscopic organisms adapted to survive in cold and extreme habitats such as sea-ice,glaciers,lakes and snow.These microorganisms provide an essential basis as primary food sources in polar ecosy...Polar microalgae are microscopic organisms adapted to survive in cold and extreme habitats such as sea-ice,glaciers,lakes and snow.These microorganisms provide an essential basis as primary food sources in polar ecosystems.Despite their ecological importance,polar microalgae remain relatively unexplored compared to their tropical and temperate counterparts,largely due to the practical challenges of obtaining and maintaining material from the harsh polar environments.However,interest has recently surged due to their specific adaptations and potential for utilization in various fields.This review explores the survival strategies of polar microalgae and their commercial applications in healthcare and other fields.We also consider the processes involved in processing polar microalgae,from cultivation to extraction of bioactive compounds.Our findings highlight a growing need for research in this rapidly evolving field to unlock the potential of polar microalgae in multiple fields.展开更多
This study investigates the diurnal patterns of nectar secretion,sugar content,and caloric value in Epimedium wushanense,and their interaction mechanisms with pollinator behavior under varying environmental conditions...This study investigates the diurnal patterns of nectar secretion,sugar content,and caloric value in Epimedium wushanense,and their interaction mechanisms with pollinator behavior under varying environmental conditions.Nectar secretion exhibited a diurnal pattern,peaking between 11:00 and 13:00,with progressive increases in both volumes(19.07±1.66μL/day)and caloric value(6.03±0.55 cal/day)over four consecutive days,culminating in maximal production on Day 4(p<0.05).Floral bagging significantly altered nectar traits(Mann-Whitney U test,p<0.05),with bagged inflorescences demonstrating 61.82%higher nectar volume productivity relative to unbagged controls.Pollinator visitation,primarily by Bombus trifasciatus and Bombus grahami,was strongly correlated with nectar sugar concentration and distribution,peaking during midday when temperatures and humidity were optimal.Notably,B.trifasciatus displayed legitimate pollination behavior,while B.grahami exhibited nectar robbing.Bombus grahami peaked at 15:00(7.67±0.33 visits)under 22.8°C/58%RH,outperforming Bombus trifasciatus(5.67±0.27 at 13:00;p<0.05),highlighting differential pollinator effectiveness.Temperature negatively impacted unbagged nectar volume and caloric value but positively influenced bagged nectar,suggesting adaptive resource allocation strategies.These findings underscore the intricate relationship between environmental factors,nectar dynamics,and pollinator behavior,revealing how E.wushanense optimizes reproductive success through temporal and ecological adaptations.This study provides critical insights into the ecological mechanisms driving plant-pollinator interactions and resource allocation in changing environments.展开更多
Background Eccentric training,such as Nordic hamstring exercise(NHE)training,is commonly used as a preventive measure for hamstring strains.Eccentric training is believed to induce lengthening of muscle fascicles and ...Background Eccentric training,such as Nordic hamstring exercise(NHE)training,is commonly used as a preventive measure for hamstring strains.Eccentric training is believed to induce lengthening of muscle fascicles and to be associated with the addition of sarcomeres in series within muscle fibers.However,the difficulty in measuring sarcomere adaptation in human muscles has severely limited information about the precise mechanisms of adaptation.This study addressed this limitation by measuring the multiscale hamstring muscle adaptations in response to 9 weeks of NHE training and 3 weeks of detraining.Methods Twelve participants completed 9 weeks of supervised NHE training,followed by a 3-week detraining period.We assessed biceps femoris long-head(BFlh)muscle fascicle length,sarcomere length,and serial sarcomere number in the central and distal regions of the muscle.Additionally,we measured muscle volume and eccentric strength at baseline,post-training,and post-detraining.Results NHE training over 9 weeks induced significant architectural and strength adaptations in the BFlh muscle.Fascicle length increased by 19%in the central muscle region and 33%in the distal muscle region.NHE also induced increases in serial sarcomere number(25%in the central region and 49%in the distal region).BFlh muscle volume increased by 8%,and knee flexion strength increased by 40%with training.Following 3 weeks of detraining,fascicle length decreased by 12%in the central region and 16%in the distal region along with reductions in serial sarcomere number.Conclusion Nine weeks of NHE training produced substantial,region-specific increases in BFlh muscle fascicle length,muscle volume,and force generation.The direct measurement of sarcomere lengths revealed that the increased fascicle length was accompanied by the addition of sarcomeres in series within the muscle fascicles.展开更多
Secondary xylem characteristics and horizontal variations were described in three xerophytic species, Zygophyllum xanthoxylon, Nitraria tangutorum, Tetraena mongolica of Zygophyllaceae native to western China. All the...Secondary xylem characteristics and horizontal variations were described in three xerophytic species, Zygophyllum xanthoxylon, Nitraria tangutorum, Tetraena mongolica of Zygophyllaceae native to western China. All the species have obvious growth ring boundaries except sometimes discontinuous in T. mongolica and Z xanthoxylum ring to semi-ring-porosity; simple perforation plate; alternate intervessel pitting; non-septate fibres; paratracheal confluent axial parenchyrna; helical thickenings and heterocellular rays. However the vessel arrangement and quantitative features of vessels were different. Vessel elements tend to be shorter and narrower and more frequent in T. mongolica than in other two species that are hardly different could lead to greater conductive safety. The variation of vessel element length and fibre length along radial direction showed irregular tendency. There was significant difference in both fibre length and vessel element length among-tree and within-tree. Furthermore, the relationships between anatomical features and adaptability to desert environments were also discussed.展开更多
Recent years,both BBC and Hollywoodare interested in making films related to the classic masterpieces.From classic book to popular movie,film adaptations give a new life to the British literature.Different adaptations...Recent years,both BBC and Hollywoodare interested in making films related to the classic masterpieces.From classic book to popular movie,film adaptations give a new life to the British literature.Different adaptations of classics can act as an indicator of diverse film-making philosophies,which vividly present some of the cultural and social differences between Britain and America.展开更多
The order Diptera(Insecta)is one of animal groups most successful in the colonization of mineralized shallow aquatic and semiaquatic environments.At the same time,the taxonomic composition of Diptera,their role in
Numerous diseases and pathologies impair the delivery of oxygen to brain, with rapid and deleterious consequences. For example, diseases related to systemic hypoxemia （e.g., chronic pulmonary disorders, cystic fibro...Numerous diseases and pathologies impair the delivery of oxygen to brain, with rapid and deleterious consequences. For example, diseases related to systemic hypoxemia （e.g., chronic pulmonary disorders, cystic fibrosis）, decreased oxygen carrying capacity of blood （e.g., anemia）, or decreased transport （e.g., heart attack, stroke） can all reduce or entirely prevent the delivery of oxygen to brain cells, resulting in the initiation of programmed cell death pathways, necrosis, or excitotoxic cell death in brain （Pamenter, 2014）. However, oxygen-limited environments are common on earth and many organisms naturally experience periods of intermit- tent or prolonged hypoxia or anoxia in their daily and/or annual life cycles （Bickler and Buck, 2007）.展开更多
Although climate change impacts and agricultural adaptations have been studied extensively, how smallholder farmers perceive climate change and adapt their agricultural activities is poorly understood. Survey-based da...Although climate change impacts and agricultural adaptations have been studied extensively, how smallholder farmers perceive climate change and adapt their agricultural activities is poorly understood. Survey-based data （presents farmers＇ personal perceptions and adaptations to climate change） associated with external biophysical-socioeconomic data （presents real-world climate change） were used to develop a farmer-centered framework to explore climate change impacts and agricultural adaptations at a local level. A case study at Bin County （1980s-2010s）, Northeast China, suggested that increased annual average temperature （0.6＆#176;C per decade） and decreased annual precipitation （46 mm per decade, both from meteorological datasets） were correctly perceived by 76 and 66.9%, respectively, of farmers from the survey, and that a longer growing season was conifrmed by 70%of them. These reasonably correct perceptions enabled local farmers to make appropriate adaptations to cope with climate change：Longer season alternative varieties were found for maize and rice, which led to a signiifcant yield increase for both crops. The longer season also affected crop choice：More farmers selected maize instead of soybean, as implicated from survey results by a large increase in the maize growing area. Comparing warming-related factors, we found that precipitation and agricultural disasters were the least likely causes for farmers＇ agricultural decisions. As a result, crop and variety selection, rather than disaster prevention and infrastructure improvement, was the most common ways for farmers to adapt to the notable warming trend in the study region.展开更多
In this paper, design, re-design, and performance of a long-standing very deep excavation, which was originally planned to depth of 38 m, are presented. Over-digging was not planned in the original design,thus the rea...In this paper, design, re-design, and performance of a long-standing very deep excavation, which was originally planned to depth of 38 m, are presented. Over-digging was not planned in the original design,thus the reassessment was performed. Two main topics were followed: deepening to increase the maximum depth of an existent excavation from 38 m to 42.5 m, and feasibility for upgrading a predesigned support system from temporary to permanent support system. The geological investigations in the project site illustrated a type of stiff and cemented coarse-grained alluvium. An observational approach with additional geotechnical investigations and in situ tests was applied. Back analyses of stability of an unsupported access ramp, as well as deformation monitoring of walls, were used in order to review geotechnical design parameters that represent the full-scale behavior of the ground. Additional nails and soldier piles together with building mat foundation were implemented as a complementary lateral support in the retaining system. From an engineering point of view, by assuming a corrosion rate of 0.065 mm/a for existent rebars, according to chemical and electrical resistivity tests, the long-term performance of the revised retaining system was verified by static and pseudo-dynamic ultimate limit state analyses. Performance monitoring during the construction shows that the measured deformation is in the lower limit of the prediction.展开更多
Climate change induces profound changes in mountain territories that affect the activities pursued there.Tourism is one activity that is strongly impacted by these changes.Most research on tourism in mountain regions ...Climate change induces profound changes in mountain territories that affect the activities pursued there.Tourism is one activity that is strongly impacted by these changes.Most research on tourism in mountain regions has focused on winter sports tourism,but glacier tourism,a summer activity,is also severely affected by climate change-induced phenomena,including glacier retreat and other geomorphological processes.Given that Alpine glacier tourism has been pursued since the 18th century and glaciers have been changing throughout this period,this article aims to examine the adaptations implemented by glacier tourism operators since the activity’s beginnings.Through analysis of historical documents,glaciological surveys and semi-structured interviews,this paper reveals how tourism activities around the Mer de Glace(the largest French glacier)have been impacted by glacier fluctuations since the first visit to the area in 1741.The study reveals that these developments have mainly been driven by glacier retreat and associated paraglacial dynamics.More recently,the shortening of the period of snow cover on the glacier has also impacted tourism activities.Most of the adaptation strategies implemented by tourism operators during the period in question are found to be reactive,consisting in the installation of safety equipment,the renovation of access points or the building of new structures to allow tourist activities to continue despite the consequences of glacier retreat.Other strategies,such as the adoption of new activities by workers previously specialised in another,are identified that could be considered transformative strategies,although these were only adopted by workers when their activity was no longer feasible.The analysis of materials from 1741 to the present also reveals that the recent impacts of climate change on glacier tourism are much more significant and diverse than those produced by past fluctuations.Therefore,it is important that stakeholders take suitable measures to ensure the sustainable future of the Mer de Glace and other glacier tourism destinations.展开更多
The genetic adaptations of various organisms to heterogeneous environments in the northwestern Pacific remain poorly understood.Heterogeneous genomic divergence among populations may reflect environmentalselection.Adv...The genetic adaptations of various organisms to heterogeneous environments in the northwestern Pacific remain poorly understood.Heterogeneous genomic divergence among populations may reflect environmentalselection.Advancingour understanding of the mechanisms by which organisms adapt to different temperatures in response to climate change and predicting the adaptive potential and ecological consequences of anthropogenic global warming are critical.We sequenced the whole genomes of Japanese whiting(Sillago japonica)specimens collected from different latitudinal locations along the coastal waters of China and Japan to detect possible thermal adaptations.Using population genomics,a total of 5.48 million single nucleotide polymorphisms(SNPs)from five populations revealed a complete genetic break between the Chinese and Japanese groups,which was attributed to both geographic distance and local adaptation.The shared natural selection genes between two isolated populations(i.e.,Zhoushan and Ise Bay/Tokyo Bay)indicated possible parallel evolution at the genetic level induced by temperature.These genes also indicated that the process of temperature selection on isolated populations is repeatable.Moreover,we observed natural candidate genes related to membrane fluidity,possibly underlying adaptation to cold environmental stress.These findings advance our understanding of the genetic mechanisms underlying the rapid adaptations of fish species.Species distribution projection models suggested that the Chinese and Japanese groups may have different responses to future climate change,with the former expanding and the latter contracting.The findings of this study enhance our understanding of genetic differentiation and adaptation to changing environments.展开更多
Vultures are the only obligate scavengers among extant vertebrates.They provide valuable ecological services in ecosystems through removing carcasses,thus preventing the growth of other scavenger populations and the s...Vultures are the only obligate scavengers among extant vertebrates.They provide valuable ecological services in ecosystems through removing carcasses,thus preventing the growth of other scavenger populations and the spread of pathogens.Moreover,their specific diets expose them to various deadly pathogens,which makes them potential candidates for studying molecular adaptations required to survive this extremely specialized scavenging habit.In this review,we summarize the morphological characteristics and behavioral habits,origin and phylogeny,and molecular adaptations to scavenging in both Old and New World vultures.The two groups of vultures share a similar appearance,indicative of convergent evolution.Vultures have experienced different degrees of specialization in their sensory organs;Old World vultures depend on sight,while New World ones depend on both smell and sight.Combined fossil records and molecular data suggest that vultures evolved independently,with distinct phylogenetic positions.We also explored their adaptation to scavenging in facial and intestinal microbiomes,gastric acid secretion and immunity.Compared with the facial microbiome,the intestinal microbiome had a lower diversity,dominated by Fusobacteria and Clostridia.The phages and single invertebrate species Adineta vaga,which feeds on dead bacteria and protozoa,present in the gut suggest a possible alternative defense mechanism.Several genes involved in gastric acidic secretion(including ATP4B,SLC26A7 and SST)and immunity(including BCL6,STING,and TLRs) undergoing positive selection likely have essential roles in eliminating invasive pathogens and initiating an innate immune response.Taken together,this review presents the current research status of vultures and highlights the use of vultures as a model for exploring molecular adaptations of dietary specialization in birds.It also provides a theoretical basis for the study of the genetic mechanisms of vultures to scavenging,and contributes to the formulation of vulture conservation strategies.展开更多
Drought is a significant natural hazard in Herat Province, Afghanistan. The objective of this study was to explore farmers' perceptions of the drought's prevalence and characteristics, its socioeconomic and en...Drought is a significant natural hazard in Herat Province, Afghanistan. The objective of this study was to explore farmers' perceptions of the drought's prevalence and characteristics, its socioeconomic and environmental impacts, their strategies for coping with and mitigating it, and types of conflicts and resolution mechanisms. A questionnaire was completed by 147 farming households. The results indicate that farmers' perceptions regarding drought are in line with the results obtained using the precipitation data. Even though the respondents have religious belief in interpreting the weather related issues, they also perceived drought as the climatic and environmental factors such as increased temperature, decreased precipitation, and other factors like war, financial weakness, deforestation, over-exploitation of groundwater, lack of electricity supply etc. The results show that drought has had serious economic impacts, including loss of employment and reduction in crop yield and livestock production, which have reduced farmers' livelihood options and weakened their financial situation. Social impacts have included migration, a sense of hopelessness and loss, conflicts over water, health problems, impacts on the schooling of children, malnutrition, and limits to food options. Significant environmental impacts such as an increase in temperature, pasture and forest degradation, deterioration of water quality, damage to fish and wildlife habitats, and groundwater depletion were also reported. Farmers used local techniques to adapt to drought and lessen its effects. Farmers perceived irrigation water to be a major source of conflict. Local elders, water-user associations, and formal courts were reported to be the most successful conflict resolution methods. It is expected that the results of this study will support policy makers within government and development agencies in Afghanistan to develop future drought adaptation policies.展开更多
A new Gram-positive bacterium, Rhodococcus erythropolis IBBPo1（KF059972.1） was isolated from a crude oil-contaminated soil sample by enrichment culture method. R. erythropolis IBBPo1 was able to tolerate a wide rang...A new Gram-positive bacterium, Rhodococcus erythropolis IBBPo1（KF059972.1） was isolated from a crude oil-contaminated soil sample by enrichment culture method. R. erythropolis IBBPo1 was able to tolerate a wide range of toxic compounds, such as antibiotics（800–1000 μg/mL）,synthetic surfactants（50–200 μg/mL）, and organic solvents（40%–100%）. R. erythropolis IBBPo1 showed good tolerance to both alkanes（cyclohexane, n-hexane, n-decane） and aromatics（toluene, styrene, ethylbenzene） with logPOW（logarithm of the partition coefficient of the solvent in octanol–water mixture） values between 2.64 and 5.98. However, alkanes were less toxic for R. erythropolis IBBPo1 cells, compared with aromatics. The high organic solvent tolerance of R. erythropolis IBBPo1 could be due to the presence in their large genome of some catabolic（alkB, alkB1, todC1, todM, xylM）, transporter（HAE1） and trehalose-6-phosphate synthase（otsA1, KF059973.1） genes. Numerous and complex physiological cellular responses and adaptations involved in organic solvent tolerance were revealed in R. erythropolis IBBPo1 cells exposed 1 and 24 hr to 1% organic solvents. R. erythropolis IBBPo1 cells adapt to 1% organic solvents by changing surface hydrophobicity, morphology and their metabolic fingerprinting.Considerable modifications in otsA1 gene sequence were also observed in cells exposed to organic solvents（except ethylbenzene）.展开更多
Togolese agriculture is predominantly rain-fed and hence fundamentally dependent on the vagaries of weather. Thus, it is negatively affected by climate change. The present study assesses farmers’ perceptions and adap...Togolese agriculture is predominantly rain-fed and hence fundamentally dependent on the vagaries of weather. Thus, it is negatively affected by climate change. The present study assesses farmers’ perceptions and adaptation to climate change to enhance policy towards tackling the challenges climate change poses to the farmers in the study area. Descriptive statistics and multinomial logit (MNL) were used to analyze data obtained from a cross-sectional survey executed during the 2013/2014 agricultural production year in the maritime, plateau and savannah regions of Togo. The analysis of farmers’ perception to climate change reveals high increase in temperature and decrease in rainfall. These results are in line with the trend analysis of climate data that records from 1961 to 2013 about the study area especially on the temperature. Furthermore, the results show that crop diversification, change in crops, find off-farm jobs, change of the amount of land, change of the planting date and plant short season variety are the adaptation methods employed by the farmers. Moreover, with respect to the multinomial logit analysis, the results highlight that education level, farming experience, access extension services, access to credit and access to climate information are the factors that enhance farmers’ adaptive capacity to climate change and variability. Thus, there is room for better adaptation if government intensifies activities of extension workers and ensures that farmers have access to affordable credit schemes to increase their ability and flexibility to adopt adaptation measures. There is also a need to include climate change communication to facilitate exchange of climatic information that could enable smallholder farmers to adapt to changing planting dates. Finally, investment in education systems and creation of off-farm job opportunities in the rural areas can be underlined as a good policy option.展开更多
Sherlock Holmes, the literary image that Arthur Conan Doyle created in The Adventure of Sherlock Holmes, has undoubtedly become an iconic figure of detective. For over a century, a number of films and TV series which ...Sherlock Holmes, the literary image that Arthur Conan Doyle created in The Adventure of Sherlock Holmes, has undoubtedly become an iconic figure of detective. For over a century, a number of films and TV series which based on this book are countless, Sherlock Holmes has been brought to silver screen and stage for a million times. It will be mentioned Arthur Conan and Sherlock Holmes in his book at first, and then review a list of Sherlock Holmes' adaptations in the history. Secondly, showing different personalities of this figure, taking film and TV dramas adaptation as examples to compare with the original novel,from which we can discover different perspectives of this image of Sherlock Holmes. At last, it emphasizes through the ages, literary works have always been materials for films and TV programs creation. From the everlasting image of Sherlock Holmes, we can see that literary spirits in classic masterpieces can be spread and flourished through adaptation of films and TV programs.展开更多
文摘The maximal force a muscle can exert depends on its length,which has been explained by the sliding filament theory on the sarcomere level.1 A longer muscle can act over a greater range of motion and has more sarcomeres in series,which increases its capacity to produce force at a specific muscle contraction velocity because each sarcomere contracts at a lower velocity.
基金supported by the Sultan Mizan Antarctic Research Foundation Smart Partnership(YPASM)Initiative“Photoprotective Potential of Mycosporine-Like Amino Acids(MAAs)and Bioactive Compounds from Antarctic Microalgae on Human Keratinocytes”(Grant number:IMU R 289/2023)。
文摘Polar microalgae are microscopic organisms adapted to survive in cold and extreme habitats such as sea-ice,glaciers,lakes and snow.These microorganisms provide an essential basis as primary food sources in polar ecosystems.Despite their ecological importance,polar microalgae remain relatively unexplored compared to their tropical and temperate counterparts,largely due to the practical challenges of obtaining and maintaining material from the harsh polar environments.However,interest has recently surged due to their specific adaptations and potential for utilization in various fields.This review explores the survival strategies of polar microalgae and their commercial applications in healthcare and other fields.We also consider the processes involved in processing polar microalgae,from cultivation to extraction of bioactive compounds.Our findings highlight a growing need for research in this rapidly evolving field to unlock the potential of polar microalgae in multiple fields.
基金supported by Sichuan Science and Technology Program(No.2023NSFSC1282)Talent Foundation of China West Normal University(Nos.17YC142 and 17YC137)+1 种基金the National General Cultivation Project of China West Normal University(No.19B029)Youth Foundation Specialization of West China Normal University(No.22KB004).
文摘This study investigates the diurnal patterns of nectar secretion,sugar content,and caloric value in Epimedium wushanense,and their interaction mechanisms with pollinator behavior under varying environmental conditions.Nectar secretion exhibited a diurnal pattern,peaking between 11:00 and 13:00,with progressive increases in both volumes(19.07±1.66μL/day)and caloric value(6.03±0.55 cal/day)over four consecutive days,culminating in maximal production on Day 4(p<0.05).Floral bagging significantly altered nectar traits(Mann-Whitney U test,p<0.05),with bagged inflorescences demonstrating 61.82%higher nectar volume productivity relative to unbagged controls.Pollinator visitation,primarily by Bombus trifasciatus and Bombus grahami,was strongly correlated with nectar sugar concentration and distribution,peaking during midday when temperatures and humidity were optimal.Notably,B.trifasciatus displayed legitimate pollination behavior,while B.grahami exhibited nectar robbing.Bombus grahami peaked at 15:00(7.67±0.33 visits)under 22.8°C/58%RH,outperforming Bombus trifasciatus(5.67±0.27 at 13:00;p<0.05),highlighting differential pollinator effectiveness.Temperature negatively impacted unbagged nectar volume and caloric value but positively influenced bagged nectar,suggesting adaptive resource allocation strategies.These findings underscore the intricate relationship between environmental factors,nectar dynamics,and pollinator behavior,revealing how E.wushanense optimizes reproductive success through temporal and ecological adaptations.This study provides critical insights into the ecological mechanisms driving plant-pollinator interactions and resource allocation in changing environments.
基金supported by the Australian Research Council Discovery Project(DP200101476)in part by National Institute of Health grants(R01 AR077604,RO1 EB002524,RO1 AR079431,and P41 EB02706)+1 种基金Stanford Graduate Fellowship,The University of Queensland Graduate Scholarship,National Health and Medical Research Council of Australia Fellowship(#1194937)by Wu Tsai Human Performance Alliance at Stanford University and the Joe and Clara Tsai Foundation。
文摘Background Eccentric training,such as Nordic hamstring exercise(NHE)training,is commonly used as a preventive measure for hamstring strains.Eccentric training is believed to induce lengthening of muscle fascicles and to be associated with the addition of sarcomeres in series within muscle fibers.However,the difficulty in measuring sarcomere adaptation in human muscles has severely limited information about the precise mechanisms of adaptation.This study addressed this limitation by measuring the multiscale hamstring muscle adaptations in response to 9 weeks of NHE training and 3 weeks of detraining.Methods Twelve participants completed 9 weeks of supervised NHE training,followed by a 3-week detraining period.We assessed biceps femoris long-head(BFlh)muscle fascicle length,sarcomere length,and serial sarcomere number in the central and distal regions of the muscle.Additionally,we measured muscle volume and eccentric strength at baseline,post-training,and post-detraining.Results NHE training over 9 weeks induced significant architectural and strength adaptations in the BFlh muscle.Fascicle length increased by 19%in the central muscle region and 33%in the distal muscle region.NHE also induced increases in serial sarcomere number(25%in the central region and 49%in the distal region).BFlh muscle volume increased by 8%,and knee flexion strength increased by 40%with training.Following 3 weeks of detraining,fascicle length decreased by 12%in the central region and 16%in the distal region along with reductions in serial sarcomere number.Conclusion Nine weeks of NHE training produced substantial,region-specific increases in BFlh muscle fascicle length,muscle volume,and force generation.The direct measurement of sarcomere lengths revealed that the increased fascicle length was accompanied by the addition of sarcomeres in series within the muscle fascicles.
文摘Secondary xylem characteristics and horizontal variations were described in three xerophytic species, Zygophyllum xanthoxylon, Nitraria tangutorum, Tetraena mongolica of Zygophyllaceae native to western China. All the species have obvious growth ring boundaries except sometimes discontinuous in T. mongolica and Z xanthoxylum ring to semi-ring-porosity; simple perforation plate; alternate intervessel pitting; non-septate fibres; paratracheal confluent axial parenchyrna; helical thickenings and heterocellular rays. However the vessel arrangement and quantitative features of vessels were different. Vessel elements tend to be shorter and narrower and more frequent in T. mongolica than in other two species that are hardly different could lead to greater conductive safety. The variation of vessel element length and fibre length along radial direction showed irregular tendency. There was significant difference in both fibre length and vessel element length among-tree and within-tree. Furthermore, the relationships between anatomical features and adaptability to desert environments were also discussed.
文摘Recent years,both BBC and Hollywoodare interested in making films related to the classic masterpieces.From classic book to popular movie,film adaptations give a new life to the British literature.Different adaptations of classics can act as an indicator of diverse film-making philosophies,which vividly present some of the cultural and social differences between Britain and America.
基金supported by the Russian Foundation for Basic Research (grant no. 14-04-01139)supported by a travel grant from the Organizing Committee
文摘The order Diptera(Insecta)is one of animal groups most successful in the colonization of mineralized shallow aquatic and semiaquatic environments.At the same time,the taxonomic composition of Diptera,their role in
基金supported by Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada Discovery grant and a Parker B Francis Fellowship to MEP
文摘Numerous diseases and pathologies impair the delivery of oxygen to brain, with rapid and deleterious consequences. For example, diseases related to systemic hypoxemia （e.g., chronic pulmonary disorders, cystic fibrosis）, decreased oxygen carrying capacity of blood （e.g., anemia）, or decreased transport （e.g., heart attack, stroke） can all reduce or entirely prevent the delivery of oxygen to brain cells, resulting in the initiation of programmed cell death pathways, necrosis, or excitotoxic cell death in brain （Pamenter, 2014）. However, oxygen-limited environments are common on earth and many organisms naturally experience periods of intermit- tent or prolonged hypoxia or anoxia in their daily and/or annual life cycles （Bickler and Buck, 2007）.
基金financed by the National Basic Research Program of China(2010CB951504)the National Natural Science Foundation of China(41271112 and 40930101)the National Nonprofit Institute Research Grant of CAAS(IARRP-2014-16)
文摘Although climate change impacts and agricultural adaptations have been studied extensively, how smallholder farmers perceive climate change and adapt their agricultural activities is poorly understood. Survey-based data （presents farmers＇ personal perceptions and adaptations to climate change） associated with external biophysical-socioeconomic data （presents real-world climate change） were used to develop a farmer-centered framework to explore climate change impacts and agricultural adaptations at a local level. A case study at Bin County （1980s-2010s）, Northeast China, suggested that increased annual average temperature （0.6＆#176;C per decade） and decreased annual precipitation （46 mm per decade, both from meteorological datasets） were correctly perceived by 76 and 66.9%, respectively, of farmers from the survey, and that a longer growing season was conifrmed by 70%of them. These reasonably correct perceptions enabled local farmers to make appropriate adaptations to cope with climate change：Longer season alternative varieties were found for maize and rice, which led to a signiifcant yield increase for both crops. The longer season also affected crop choice：More farmers selected maize instead of soybean, as implicated from survey results by a large increase in the maize growing area. Comparing warming-related factors, we found that precipitation and agricultural disasters were the least likely causes for farmers＇ agricultural decisions. As a result, crop and variety selection, rather than disaster prevention and infrastructure improvement, was the most common ways for farmers to adapt to the notable warming trend in the study region.
文摘In this paper, design, re-design, and performance of a long-standing very deep excavation, which was originally planned to depth of 38 m, are presented. Over-digging was not planned in the original design,thus the reassessment was performed. Two main topics were followed: deepening to increase the maximum depth of an existent excavation from 38 m to 42.5 m, and feasibility for upgrading a predesigned support system from temporary to permanent support system. The geological investigations in the project site illustrated a type of stiff and cemented coarse-grained alluvium. An observational approach with additional geotechnical investigations and in situ tests was applied. Back analyses of stability of an unsupported access ramp, as well as deformation monitoring of walls, were used in order to review geotechnical design parameters that represent the full-scale behavior of the ground. Additional nails and soldier piles together with building mat foundation were implemented as a complementary lateral support in the retaining system. From an engineering point of view, by assuming a corrosion rate of 0.065 mm/a for existent rebars, according to chemical and electrical resistivity tests, the long-term performance of the revised retaining system was verified by static and pseudo-dynamic ultimate limit state analyses. Performance monitoring during the construction shows that the measured deformation is in the lower limit of the prediction.
基金funded by the Labex ITEM-ANR:10-LABX-0050the ALCOTRA n342 AdaPT Mont Blanc project funded by the Interreg V-A Italy-France 2014-2020 program
文摘Climate change induces profound changes in mountain territories that affect the activities pursued there.Tourism is one activity that is strongly impacted by these changes.Most research on tourism in mountain regions has focused on winter sports tourism,but glacier tourism,a summer activity,is also severely affected by climate change-induced phenomena,including glacier retreat and other geomorphological processes.Given that Alpine glacier tourism has been pursued since the 18th century and glaciers have been changing throughout this period,this article aims to examine the adaptations implemented by glacier tourism operators since the activity’s beginnings.Through analysis of historical documents,glaciological surveys and semi-structured interviews,this paper reveals how tourism activities around the Mer de Glace(the largest French glacier)have been impacted by glacier fluctuations since the first visit to the area in 1741.The study reveals that these developments have mainly been driven by glacier retreat and associated paraglacial dynamics.More recently,the shortening of the period of snow cover on the glacier has also impacted tourism activities.Most of the adaptation strategies implemented by tourism operators during the period in question are found to be reactive,consisting in the installation of safety equipment,the renovation of access points or the building of new structures to allow tourist activities to continue despite the consequences of glacier retreat.Other strategies,such as the adoption of new activities by workers previously specialised in another,are identified that could be considered transformative strategies,although these were only adopted by workers when their activity was no longer feasible.The analysis of materials from 1741 to the present also reveals that the recent impacts of climate change on glacier tourism are much more significant and diverse than those produced by past fluctuations.Therefore,it is important that stakeholders take suitable measures to ensure the sustainable future of the Mer de Glace and other glacier tourism destinations.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(41976083,41776171 and 32072980)。
文摘The genetic adaptations of various organisms to heterogeneous environments in the northwestern Pacific remain poorly understood.Heterogeneous genomic divergence among populations may reflect environmentalselection.Advancingour understanding of the mechanisms by which organisms adapt to different temperatures in response to climate change and predicting the adaptive potential and ecological consequences of anthropogenic global warming are critical.We sequenced the whole genomes of Japanese whiting(Sillago japonica)specimens collected from different latitudinal locations along the coastal waters of China and Japan to detect possible thermal adaptations.Using population genomics,a total of 5.48 million single nucleotide polymorphisms(SNPs)from five populations revealed a complete genetic break between the Chinese and Japanese groups,which was attributed to both geographic distance and local adaptation.The shared natural selection genes between two isolated populations(i.e.,Zhoushan and Ise Bay/Tokyo Bay)indicated possible parallel evolution at the genetic level induced by temperature.These genes also indicated that the process of temperature selection on isolated populations is repeatable.Moreover,we observed natural candidate genes related to membrane fluidity,possibly underlying adaptation to cold environmental stress.These findings advance our understanding of the genetic mechanisms underlying the rapid adaptations of fish species.Species distribution projection models suggested that the Chinese and Japanese groups may have different responses to future climate change,with the former expanding and the latter contracting.The findings of this study enhance our understanding of genetic differentiation and adaptation to changing environments.
基金supported in part by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (32201267)Natural Science Foundation of Anhui Province (2208085QC71)+2 种基金the Key University Science Research Project of Anhui Province (KJ2021A0128)supported by the Key University Science Research Project of Anhui Province (KJ2020A0085)supported in part by the Plateau Ecology Youth Innovative Fund of Wuhan University
文摘Vultures are the only obligate scavengers among extant vertebrates.They provide valuable ecological services in ecosystems through removing carcasses,thus preventing the growth of other scavenger populations and the spread of pathogens.Moreover,their specific diets expose them to various deadly pathogens,which makes them potential candidates for studying molecular adaptations required to survive this extremely specialized scavenging habit.In this review,we summarize the morphological characteristics and behavioral habits,origin and phylogeny,and molecular adaptations to scavenging in both Old and New World vultures.The two groups of vultures share a similar appearance,indicative of convergent evolution.Vultures have experienced different degrees of specialization in their sensory organs;Old World vultures depend on sight,while New World ones depend on both smell and sight.Combined fossil records and molecular data suggest that vultures evolved independently,with distinct phylogenetic positions.We also explored their adaptation to scavenging in facial and intestinal microbiomes,gastric acid secretion and immunity.Compared with the facial microbiome,the intestinal microbiome had a lower diversity,dominated by Fusobacteria and Clostridia.The phages and single invertebrate species Adineta vaga,which feeds on dead bacteria and protozoa,present in the gut suggest a possible alternative defense mechanism.Several genes involved in gastric acidic secretion(including ATP4B,SLC26A7 and SST)and immunity(including BCL6,STING,and TLRs) undergoing positive selection likely have essential roles in eliminating invasive pathogens and initiating an innate immune response.Taken together,this review presents the current research status of vultures and highlights the use of vultures as a model for exploring molecular adaptations of dietary specialization in birds.It also provides a theoretical basis for the study of the genetic mechanisms of vultures to scavenging,and contributes to the formulation of vulture conservation strategies.
基金The financial support provided by the Kasetsart University
文摘Drought is a significant natural hazard in Herat Province, Afghanistan. The objective of this study was to explore farmers' perceptions of the drought's prevalence and characteristics, its socioeconomic and environmental impacts, their strategies for coping with and mitigating it, and types of conflicts and resolution mechanisms. A questionnaire was completed by 147 farming households. The results indicate that farmers' perceptions regarding drought are in line with the results obtained using the precipitation data. Even though the respondents have religious belief in interpreting the weather related issues, they also perceived drought as the climatic and environmental factors such as increased temperature, decreased precipitation, and other factors like war, financial weakness, deforestation, over-exploitation of groundwater, lack of electricity supply etc. The results show that drought has had serious economic impacts, including loss of employment and reduction in crop yield and livestock production, which have reduced farmers' livelihood options and weakened their financial situation. Social impacts have included migration, a sense of hopelessness and loss, conflicts over water, health problems, impacts on the schooling of children, malnutrition, and limits to food options. Significant environmental impacts such as an increase in temperature, pasture and forest degradation, deterioration of water quality, damage to fish and wildlife habitats, and groundwater depletion were also reported. Farmers used local techniques to adapt to drought and lessen its effects. Farmers perceived irrigation water to be a major source of conflict. Local elders, water-user associations, and formal courts were reported to be the most successful conflict resolution methods. It is expected that the results of this study will support policy makers within government and development agencies in Afghanistan to develop future drought adaptation policies.
基金supported by the Institute of Biology Bucharest of Romanian Academy (No. RO1567-IBB05/2014)
文摘A new Gram-positive bacterium, Rhodococcus erythropolis IBBPo1（KF059972.1） was isolated from a crude oil-contaminated soil sample by enrichment culture method. R. erythropolis IBBPo1 was able to tolerate a wide range of toxic compounds, such as antibiotics（800–1000 μg/mL）,synthetic surfactants（50–200 μg/mL）, and organic solvents（40%–100%）. R. erythropolis IBBPo1 showed good tolerance to both alkanes（cyclohexane, n-hexane, n-decane） and aromatics（toluene, styrene, ethylbenzene） with logPOW（logarithm of the partition coefficient of the solvent in octanol–water mixture） values between 2.64 and 5.98. However, alkanes were less toxic for R. erythropolis IBBPo1 cells, compared with aromatics. The high organic solvent tolerance of R. erythropolis IBBPo1 could be due to the presence in their large genome of some catabolic（alkB, alkB1, todC1, todM, xylM）, transporter（HAE1） and trehalose-6-phosphate synthase（otsA1, KF059973.1） genes. Numerous and complex physiological cellular responses and adaptations involved in organic solvent tolerance were revealed in R. erythropolis IBBPo1 cells exposed 1 and 24 hr to 1% organic solvents. R. erythropolis IBBPo1 cells adapt to 1% organic solvents by changing surface hydrophobicity, morphology and their metabolic fingerprinting.Considerable modifications in otsA1 gene sequence were also observed in cells exposed to organic solvents（except ethylbenzene）.
文摘Togolese agriculture is predominantly rain-fed and hence fundamentally dependent on the vagaries of weather. Thus, it is negatively affected by climate change. The present study assesses farmers’ perceptions and adaptation to climate change to enhance policy towards tackling the challenges climate change poses to the farmers in the study area. Descriptive statistics and multinomial logit (MNL) were used to analyze data obtained from a cross-sectional survey executed during the 2013/2014 agricultural production year in the maritime, plateau and savannah regions of Togo. The analysis of farmers’ perception to climate change reveals high increase in temperature and decrease in rainfall. These results are in line with the trend analysis of climate data that records from 1961 to 2013 about the study area especially on the temperature. Furthermore, the results show that crop diversification, change in crops, find off-farm jobs, change of the amount of land, change of the planting date and plant short season variety are the adaptation methods employed by the farmers. Moreover, with respect to the multinomial logit analysis, the results highlight that education level, farming experience, access extension services, access to credit and access to climate information are the factors that enhance farmers’ adaptive capacity to climate change and variability. Thus, there is room for better adaptation if government intensifies activities of extension workers and ensures that farmers have access to affordable credit schemes to increase their ability and flexibility to adopt adaptation measures. There is also a need to include climate change communication to facilitate exchange of climatic information that could enable smallholder farmers to adapt to changing planting dates. Finally, investment in education systems and creation of off-farm job opportunities in the rural areas can be underlined as a good policy option.
文摘Sherlock Holmes, the literary image that Arthur Conan Doyle created in The Adventure of Sherlock Holmes, has undoubtedly become an iconic figure of detective. For over a century, a number of films and TV series which based on this book are countless, Sherlock Holmes has been brought to silver screen and stage for a million times. It will be mentioned Arthur Conan and Sherlock Holmes in his book at first, and then review a list of Sherlock Holmes' adaptations in the history. Secondly, showing different personalities of this figure, taking film and TV dramas adaptation as examples to compare with the original novel,from which we can discover different perspectives of this image of Sherlock Holmes. At last, it emphasizes through the ages, literary works have always been materials for films and TV programs creation. From the everlasting image of Sherlock Holmes, we can see that literary spirits in classic masterpieces can be spread and flourished through adaptation of films and TV programs.
