The Qinba Mountains are climatically and ecologically recognized as the north-south transitional zone of China.Analysis of its phenology is critical for comprehending the response of vegetation to climatic change.We r...The Qinba Mountains are climatically and ecologically recognized as the north-south transitional zone of China.Analysis of its phenology is critical for comprehending the response of vegetation to climatic change.We retrieved the start of spring phenology(SOS)of eight forest communities from the MODIS products and adopted it as an indicator for spring phenology.Trend analysis,partial correlation analysis,and GeoDetector were employed to reveal the spatio-temporal patterns and climatic drivers of SOS.The results indicated that the SOS presented an advance trend from 2001 to 2020,with a mean rate of−0.473 d yr^(−1).The SOS of most forests correlated negatively with air temperature(TEMP)and positively with precipitation(PRE),suggesting that rising TEMP and increasing PRE in spring would forward and delay SOS,respectively.The dominant factors influencing the sensitivity of SOS to climatic variables were altitude,forest type,and latitude,while the effects of slope and aspect were relatively minor.The response of SOS to climatic factors varied significantly in space and among forest communities,partly due to the influence of altitude,slope,and aspect.展开更多
The emergence of smart grids in India is propelled by an intricate interaction of market dynamics,regulatory structures,and stakeholder obligations.This study analyzes the primary factors that are driving the widespre...The emergence of smart grids in India is propelled by an intricate interaction of market dynamics,regulatory structures,and stakeholder obligations.This study analyzes the primary factors that are driving the widespread use of smart grid technologies and outlines the specific roles and obligations of different stakeholders,such as government entities,utility companies,technology suppliers,and consumers.Government activities and regulations are crucial in facilitating the implementation of smart grid technology by offering financial incentives,regulatory assistance,and strategic guidance.Utility firms have the responsibility of implementing and integrating smart grid infrastructure,with an emphasis on improving the dependability of the grid,minimizing losses in transmission and distribution,and integrating renewable energy sources.Technology companies offer the essential hardware and software solutions,which stimulate creativity and enhance efficiency.Consumers actively engage in the energy ecosystem by participating in demand response,implementing energy saving measures,and adopting distributed energy resources like solar panels and electric vehicles.This study examines the difficulties and possibilities in India’s smart grid industry,highlighting the importance of cooperation among stakeholders to build a strong,effective,and environmentally friendly energy future.展开更多
Osyris lanceolata is heavily and illegally exploited in East Africa for its essential oils, yet little is known about its population status and ecological requirements. This study examined its population structure and...Osyris lanceolata is heavily and illegally exploited in East Africa for its essential oils, yet little is known about its population status and ecological requirements. This study examined its population structure and environmental factors influencing its distribution in the semi-arid Karamoja sub-region, Uganda. We surveyed 388 plots (5 m radius) at different altitudes, recording life stages, stem diameters, and regeneration patterns, and analyzed soil samples. Multivariate analyses, including Canonical Correspondence Analysis (CCA), Detrended Correspondence Analysis (DCA), Non-metric Multidimensional Scaling (NMDS), and Multiple Regression Modeling (MRM), identified key environmental factors affecting its distribution. Findings show that O. lanceolata populations in Moroto, Nakapiripirit, and Amudat districts are severely degraded due to overexploitation. The species is primarily regenerating through coppicing rather than seedlings, with an exploitation intensity of 56.6%. Population densities are low, distribution is irregular, and sustainable harvesting is not viable. Soil properties, particularly Ca2+, N, P, K+, Na+, and organic matter, significantly influence its abundance. Conservation efforts should focus on identifying suitable provenances for genetic preservation and plantation establishment. Areas with at least 9 trees per hectare in Moroto, Nakapiripirit, and Amudat could serve as potential sites for ex-situ plantations. Further research should explore how biotic interactions, genetic diversity, and morphology affect oil yield and quality to support restoration, breeding, and domestication initiatives.展开更多
In recent years,soil acidification has been expanding in many areas of Asia due to increasing reactive nitrogen inputs and industrial activities,which may seriously affect the performance of various ecosystem function...In recent years,soil acidification has been expanding in many areas of Asia due to increasing reactive nitrogen inputs and industrial activities,which may seriously affect the performance of various ecosystem functions.However,the underlying patterns and processes of ecosystem multifunctionality(EMF)are largely unknown at different levels of pH,limiting our understanding of how EMF respond to drivers.This study aims to explore threshold of pH on changes in EMF and differences in the drivers for the changes in EMF on either side of each of the determined pH thresholds.We collected nutrient and environmental databases for raster-level sampling data,totaling 4,000 sampling points.Averaging and cluster-multiple-threshold approach were used to calculate EMF,then quadratic and generalized additive models and Mann-Whitney U were used to determine and test the pH thresholds for changes in EMF,structural equation modellings and variance partitioning analysis were used to explore the main drivers on changes in EMF.The pH threshold for EMF changes in Chinese terrestrial ecosystems is 6.0.When pH<6.0,climate was consistently more important in controlling the variation of EMF than other variables;when pH≥6.0,soil was consistently more important in controlling the variation of EMF than other variables.Specifically,when pH<6.0,mean annual temperature was the main factor in regulating the EMF variation;when pH≥6.0,soil moisture was the main factor in regulating the EMF variation.Our study provides important scientific value for the mechanism of maintaining EMF under global change.For example,with further increases in global nitrogen deposition,leading to increased soil acidification,there are different impacts on EMF in different regions.It may lead to a decrease in EMF in acidic soils and an increase in EMF in alkaline soils.This suggests different management strategies for different regions to maintain EMF stability in the context of future global changes.In the future,more attention should be paid to the biological mechanisms regulating EMF.展开更多
As drivers age, roadway conditions may become more challenging, particularly when normal aging is coupled with cognitive decline. Driving during lower visibility conditions, such as inclement weather, is especially ch...As drivers age, roadway conditions may become more challenging, particularly when normal aging is coupled with cognitive decline. Driving during lower visibility conditions, such as inclement weather, is especially challenging for older drivers due to their sensitivity to glare and reduced visibility. As a result, older drivers may adjust their behavior during adverse weather. This paper explores the differential impacts of weather on older drivers with cognitive decline compared to older drivers with normal cognitive function. Data were from a naturalistic driving study of older drivers in Omaha, Nebraska. Driver speed and weather data were extracted and the correlation between speed compliance, road weather conditions, and the cognitive/neurological status of the drivers was examined. Speed compliance was used as the surrogate safety measure since driving at lower speeds can indicate that the driver is challenged by roadway or environmental conditions and can therefore indicate a risk. The percentage of time during a trip when drivers were 16.1 kph under the speed limit was modeled as the dependent variable using beta regression. The variables that resulted in the best fit model were mild cognitive impairment (MCI), age group, traffic density, and weather. Results indicated that the youngest group of older drivers (young-old) spent less time driving at impeding speeds and had the least variability compared to the other two age groups. The middle group of older drivers (middle-old) had the highest amount of time driving at impeding speeds and had more variability than young-old drivers. The oldest group of older drivers (old-old) were the most likely to drive at impeding speeds and had the most variability. In general, older drivers were more likely to drive at impeding speeds during peak hours than during non-peak hours. Additionally, in most cases, older drivers spent less time below the speed limit when the weather was clear than in adverse conditions. Results indicate that older drivers are impacted by weather conditions, and distinct patterns were noted between older drivers who were cognitively impaired compared to drivers with normal cognition.展开更多
The Southern Ocean is a critical component in the Earth system by dominating the global heat and anthropogenic carbon uptake and supplying heat to melt the largest ice sheet.Variability and changes in the water masses...The Southern Ocean is a critical component in the Earth system by dominating the global heat and anthropogenic carbon uptake and supplying heat to melt the largest ice sheet.Variability and changes in the water masses of the Southern Ocean are thus important to the global energy and water cycles,carbon cycling,and sea-level change.In this article,we review the recent progress on understanding the variability and changes in the four major water masses in the Southern Ocean,including Subantarctic Mode Water,Antarctic Intermediate Water,Circumpolar Deep Water and Antarctic Bottom Water.Subantarctic Mode Water and Antarctic Intermediate Water show statistically significant strong circumpolar shoaling,warming,and density reductions since 1970s,indicating that signals of global warming have entered the interior ocean.Meanwhile,strong regional variability of Subantarctic Mode Water and Antarctic Intermediate Water responding to surface buoyancy forcing and westerly winds is attracting more attention.Circumpolar Deep Water is an important modulator of heat content and nutrient concentrations on continental shelves around Antarctica and has made significant contributions to the basal melting of Antarctic ice shelves.Since the late 1950s,a long-term freshening trend in Antarctic Bottom Water in the Ross Sea and its downstream region has been observed and is mainly attributed to the accelerated basal melting of ice shelves in West Antarctica.The shrinking of Antarctic Bottom Water in the Weddell Sea during 1992–2020 has also been revealed and is attributed to reduced sea ice production over the southern Weddell continental shelf related to the Interdecadal Pacific Oscillation and the variability in the Amundsen Sea Low.Though significant advances have been achieved,there is an urgent need to enhance and improve both observations and model performances for better understandings and projections of the formation,transformation,and transport of the water masses in the Southern Ocean.展开更多
Invasive alien plant species(IAPS)pose severe threats to global biodiversity conservation.Effective management of IAPS requires mapping their distribution and identifying the environmental factors that drive their spr...Invasive alien plant species(IAPS)pose severe threats to global biodiversity conservation.Effective management of IAPS requires mapping their distribution and identifying the environmental factors that drive their spread.The Gaoligong Mountains,a renowned biodiversity hotspot in southwestern China,currently face the dual challenges of IAPS invasion and climate change.However,we know little about the distribution patterns,key environmental drivers,and sensitivity of IAPS to future climate change in this region.In this study,we mapped IAPS richness distribution and identified invasion hotspots throughout the Gaoligong Mountains.In addition,we assessed the relative importance of environmental variables in shaping the spatial distribution of IAPS richness and projected potential shifts in IAPS richness under various climate change scenarios.We identified 161 IAPS,primarily concentrated in the low-elevation tropical and subtropical regions along river valleys,forming belt-like invasion hotspots.The key factors shaping IAPS richness included disturbance complexity,elevation,seasonal precipitation,and vegetation types.Notably,IAPS richness significantly declined with increasing elevation and latitude but increased with higher disturbance complexity.Moreover,IAPS were more prevalent in grasslands and shrublands than in forested areas.Ensemble modeling of future climate scenarios predicted that the distribution of IAPS richness would shift to progressively higher elevations.These findings provide valuable insights for managing IAPS in mountainous regions that play a crucial role in global biodiversity conservation.展开更多
Transition from old to new economic drivers(TONED) is of great significance for optimizing economic structures. Using a combination of methods including entropy weight technique for order preference by similarity to i...Transition from old to new economic drivers(TONED) is of great significance for optimizing economic structures. Using a combination of methods including entropy weight technique for order preference by similarity to ideal solution, geospatial analysis, and optimal parameter geodetector, this study investigates the patterns and mechanisms of China's TONED in the prefecture-level cities from 2011 to 2020. The findings reveal that(1) the TONED exhibited a spatial distribution characterized by higher levels in the east and lower levels in the west, along with a pyramidal hierarchy of levels. The distribution of hot and cold spots roughly followed the Heihe-Yulin line.(2) The informatization levels, openness to the outside world, and urbanization played a dominant role in the TONED. The types of dual-factor interactions exhibited both dual-factor enhancement and non-linear enhancement effects.(3) The eastern and central regions were more likely to promote the TONED through enhanced informatization levels, whereas the western region relied more on increasing openness. This study finds that the TONED results from the combined effects of three geographical natures, each playing a distinct role. The recommendations provided can serve as a reference for China and other developing countries to implement the TONED in the context of deglobalization.展开更多
Drought events have become more frequent and intense over East Asia in recent decades,leading to huge socioeconomic impacts.Although the droughts have been studied extensively by cases or for individual regions,their ...Drought events have become more frequent and intense over East Asia in recent decades,leading to huge socioeconomic impacts.Although the droughts have been studied extensively by cases or for individual regions,their leading variability and associated causes remain unclear.Based on the Standardized Precipitation Evapotranspiration Index(SPEI)and ERA5 reanalysis product from 1979 to 2020,this study evealuates the severity of spring droughts in East Asia and investigates their variations and associated drivers.The results indicate that North China and Mongolia have experienced remarkable trends toward dryness during spring in recent decades,while southwestern China has witnessed an opposite trend toward wetness.The first Empirical Orthogonal Function mode of SPEI variability reveals a similar seesawing pattern,with more severe dryness in northwestern China,Mongolia,North China,South Korea,and Japan but increased wetness in Southwestern China and southeast Asia.Further investigation reveals that the anomalously dry(wet)surface in North(Southwestern)China is significantly associated with anomalously high(low)temperature,less(more)precipitation,and reduced(increased)soil moisture during the previous winter and early spring,regulated by an anomalous anticyclone(cyclone)and thus reduced(increased)water vapor convergence.The spring dry-wet pattern in East Asia is also linked to cold sea surface temperature anomalies in the central-eastern Pacific.The findings of this study have important implications for improving the prediction of spring drought events in East Asia.展开更多
Background and Objective: HIV infection is a major global Public Health threat worldwide, particularly in Sub-Saharan Africa of which Benin. The level of knowledge determines the attitudes and behaviors of the populat...Background and Objective: HIV infection is a major global Public Health threat worldwide, particularly in Sub-Saharan Africa of which Benin. The level of knowledge determines the attitudes and behaviors of the populations towards this infection. The study objective was to assess knowledge, attitudes and practices related to HIV infection among motorbike taxi drivers (MTD) in Parakou in 2021. Methods: This was a descriptive cross-sectional study targeting MTD in Parakou in 2021. Participants were selected by cluster sampling. Pretested Digitized questionnaire using KoboCollect<sup>@</sup> applicationserved as a data collection tool. Knowledge, attitudes and practices variable were treated on a score scale. A knowledge score was considered to reflect a good knowledge of HIV if at least two-thirds of the knowledge statements had been correctly answered provided the subject recognized the sexual route as one of modes of HIV transmission, identified at least one preventive measure and meant the incurability of the disease. Quantitative and qualitative variables were appropriately described using the EPI Info 7.1.3.3 software. The participant was classified at positive attitude/practice for HIV prevention, when it has a score of at least 80% and suggests a good preventive measure face a risk of exposure to HIV. Results: A total of 374 subjects were recruited into the study. The mean age was 31.51 ± 7.76 years. Most participants (86.06%) had good knowledge of condom use as an HIV prevention method. The sources of information mentioned were mainly the media (77.07%), relatives or friends (63.38%), and field-workers from non-governmental organizations (37.26%). Routine HIV testing was 50.53%. Among participants, 76.10% reported at least two different sexual partners. Condom use was 59.18 % during the casual sexual intercourse. Within the client-provider relationship with female sex workers, 33.17% had had sexual intercourse with them. The sexual route was the most cited (92.99%), and 90.23% stated that HIV infection can be stabilized by medication in a health structure. Conclusion: The level of knowledge of motorbike taxi drivers in Parakou does not match their behavior with regard to HIV prevention. Appropriate strategies are needed to develop prevention skills in this population. To effectively comb at HIV, it will be necessary to strengthen the targeted HIV preventive interventions at key and bridge populations including motorbike taxi drivers in Benin.展开更多
The prevalence of human immunodeficiency virus (AIDS) and hepatitis B virus among heavy truck drivers and their assistants has been well documented globally in correlation with their behavioral characteristics. The pr...The prevalence of human immunodeficiency virus (AIDS) and hepatitis B virus among heavy truck drivers and their assistants has been well documented globally in correlation with their behavioral characteristics. The present study aimed to screen for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), hepatitis B virus (HBV), and behavioral characteristics among heavy truck drivers in Port Sudan. A cross-sectional study was conducted on 274 heavy truck drivers and their assistants who used the highway Port Sudan-Khartoum in Port Sudan city during 2019-2021. Data on behavioral characteristics and substance use habits were collected using a structured questionnaire, and an ELISA test was used to screen for HIV and HBV infections in the study participants. The chi-square test, odds ratio, and confidence intervals were used to find the association between behavioral characteristics and seropositive HIV/HBV. Of the 274 enrolled participants, the seroprevalence rates of HIV were 2.7% and HBV was 23.7%. Ninety-four (34.3%) of them had a history of high-risk sexual behavior outside of marriage;only two (0.7%) used condoms;14.2% of participants reported alcohol use;and 1.1% reported drug use. Univariate analysis revealed that having a sex history outside of marriage with ≥1 sex partner and never using a condom with a spouse or casual partner were significant risk factors for HIV and HBV among drivers. Fortunately, we found that most of the drivers reported low alcohol and drug use. Concerning this study, the seroprevalence of HIV and HBV is highly associated with a history of having sex outside of marriage and sexual behavior among truck drivers and assistances. Additional studies are needed to further investigate other STIs and behavioral characteristics associated with factors in truck drivers/assistance in different truck stop regions in Sudan.展开更多
Most previous studies on the market efficiency of cryptocurrencies consider time evolution but do not provide insights into the potential driving factors.This study addresses this limitation by examining the time-vary...Most previous studies on the market efficiency of cryptocurrencies consider time evolution but do not provide insights into the potential driving factors.This study addresses this limitation by examining the time-varying efficiency of the two largest cryptocurrencies,Bitcoin and Ethereum,and the factors that drive efficiency.It uses daily data from August 7,2016,to February 15,2023,the adjusted market inefficiency magnitude(AMIMs)measure,and quantile regression.The results show evidence of time variation in the levels of market(in)efficiency for Bitcoin and Ethereum.Interestingly,the quantile regressions indicate that global financial stress negatively affects the AMIMs measures across all quantiles.Notably,cryptocurrency liquidity positively and significantly affects AMIMs irrespective of the level of(in)efficiency,whereas the positive effect of money flow is significant when the markets of both cryptocurrencies are efficient.Finally,the COVID-19 pandemic positively and significantly affected cryptocurrency market inefficiencies across most quantiles.展开更多
Risky driving behaviors,such as driving fatigue and distraction have recently received more attention.There is also much research about driving styles,driving emotions,older drivers,drugged driving,DUI(driving under t...Risky driving behaviors,such as driving fatigue and distraction have recently received more attention.There is also much research about driving styles,driving emotions,older drivers,drugged driving,DUI(driving under the influence),and DWI(driving while intoxicated).Road hypnosis is a special behavior significantly impacting traffic safety.However,there is little research on this phenomenon.Road hypnosis,as an unconscious state,is can frequently occur while driving,particularly in highly predictable,monotonous,and familiar environments.In this paper,vehicle and virtual driving experiments are designed to collect the biological characteristics including eye movement and bioelectric parameters.Typical scenes in tunnels and highways are used as experimental scenes.LSTM(Long Short-Term Memory)and KNN(K-Nearest Neighbor)are employed as the base learners,while SVM(Support Vector Machine)serves as the meta-learner.A road hypnosis identification model is proposed based on ensemble learning,which integrates bioelectric and eye movement characteristics.The proposed model has good identification performance,as seen from the experimental results.In this study,alternative methods and technical support are provided for real-time and accurate identification of road hypnosis.展开更多
A mathematical model describing the risks of road accidents has been built on the basis of statistical data of drivers’ accident rate. It has been revealed that drivers can be divided by the degree of their accident ...A mathematical model describing the risks of road accidents has been built on the basis of statistical data of drivers’ accident rate. It has been revealed that drivers can be divided by the degree of their accident proneness into four categories with sharply differing probabilities of road accidents. It has been shown that there is a possibility of classification of drivers in accordance with specified categories.展开更多
The present study aimed to identify risk factors among older adult drivers from realistic data in order to stimulate the development of appropriate safety measures in the future.For this purpose,N=400 archived case fi...The present study aimed to identify risk factors among older adult drivers from realistic data in order to stimulate the development of appropriate safety measures in the future.For this purpose,N=400 archived case files from the driving authority in Dresden(Germany),were systematically analysed.The risk criterion was the outcome of the fitness to drive(FTD)assessment required by the authority.The results show that there are several significant risk factors(aged over 80,dementia,multi-morbidity and involvement into complex accidents)that can serve as cues for being unfit to drive.The practical measures for enhancing traffic safety are discussed.展开更多
<span style="font-family:""><span style="font-family:Verdana;">Flood is a natural process generated by the interaction of various driving fac</span><span style="font-...<span style="font-family:""><span style="font-family:Verdana;">Flood is a natural process generated by the interaction of various driving fac</span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">tors. Flood peak flows, flood frequency at different return periods, and potential driving forces are analyzed in this study. The peak flow of six gauging stations, with a catchment area ranging from 169 -</span></span><span style="font-family:""> </span><span style="font-family:""><span style="font-family:Verdana;">124,108 km</span><sup><span style="font-family:Verdana;">2</span></sup><span style="font-family:Verdana;"> and sufficient observed streamflow data, was selected to develop threshold (3</span><sup><span style="font-family:Verdana;">rd</span></sup><span style="font-family:Verdana;"> quartile) magnitude and frequency (POTF) that occurred over ten years of records. Sixteen Potential climatic, watershed and human driving factors of floods in the study area were identified and analyzed with GIS, Pearson’s correlation, and Principal Correlation Analysis (PCA) to select the most influential factors. Eight of them (MAR, DA, BE, VS, sand, forest AGR, PD) are identified as the most significant variables in the flood formation of the basin. Moreover, mean annual rainfall (MAR), drainage area (DA), and lack of forest cover are explored as the principal driving factors for flood peak discharge in Wabi-Shebele River Basin. Fi</span></span><span style="font-family:""><span style="font-family:Verdana;">nally, the study resulted in regression equations that helped plan and design different infrastructure works in the basin as ungauged catchment empirical</span><span><span style="font-family:Verdana;"> equations to compute Q</span><sub><span style="font-family:Verdana;">MPF</span></sub><span style="font-family:Verdana;">, Q</span><sub><span style="font-family:Verdana;">5</span></sub><span style="font-family:Verdana;">, Q</span><sub><span style="font-family:Verdana;">10</span></sub><span style="font-family:Verdana;">, Q</span><sub><span style="font-family:Verdana;">50</span></sub><span style="font-family:Verdana;">, and Q</span><sub><span style="font-family:Verdana;">100</span></sub><span style="font-family:Verdana;"> using influential climate, watershed, and human driving factors. The results of these empirical equations are </span></span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">also statistically accepted with a high significance correlation (R</span><sup><span style="font-family:Verdana;">2</span></sup><span style="font-family:Verdana;"> > 0.9).展开更多
Understory plants are important components of forest ecosystems and play a crucial role in regulating community structures,function realization,and community succession.However,little is known about how abiotic and bi...Understory plants are important components of forest ecosystems and play a crucial role in regulating community structures,function realization,and community succession.However,little is known about how abiotic and biotic drivers affect the diversity of understory species in cold temperate coniferous forests in the semiarid climate region of North China.We hypothesized that(1)topographic factors are important environmental factors affecting the distribution and variation of understory strata,and(2)different understory strata respond differently to environmental factors;shrubs may be significantly affected by the overstory stratum,and herbs may be more affected by surface soil conditions.To test these hypotheses,we used the boosted regression tree method to analyze abiotic and biotic environmental factors that influence understory species diversity,using data from 280 subplots across 56 sites in cold temperate coniferous forests of North China.Elevation and slope aspect were the dominant and indirect abiotic drivers affecting understory species diversity,and individual tree size inequality(DBH variation)was the dominant biotic driver of understory species diversity;soil water content was the main edaphic factors affecting herb layers.Elevation,slope aspect,and DBH variation accounted for 36.4,14.5,and 12.1%,respectively,of shrub stratum diversity.Shrub diversity decreased with elevation within the range of altitude of this study,but increased with DBH variation;shrub diversity was highest on north-oriented slopes.The strongest factor affecting herb stratum species diversity was slope aspect,accounting for 25.9%of the diversity,followed by elevation(15.7%),slope(12.2%),and soil water content(10.3%).The highest herb diversity was found on southeast-oriented slopes and the lowest on northeast-oriented slopes;herb diversity decreased with elevation and soil water content,but increased with slope.The results of the study provide a reference for scientific management and biodiversity protection in cold temperate coniferous forests of North China.展开更多
Competitive use of transboundary freshwater resources is becoming one of the key factors influencing regional peace and political relationship among states.In China, 18 major international river basins are concentrate...Competitive use of transboundary freshwater resources is becoming one of the key factors influencing regional peace and political relationship among states.In China, 18 major international river basins are concentrated in three regions, of which the total annual outflow at the border is 7320×108 m3, occupying 26.8% of the total annual runoff of China, and the inflow at the border is only 172×108 m3.In this paper, we analyzed the major drivers affecting shared water vulnerability in China, namely:(1) changes in physical conditions affecting the availability of water;(2) competing objectives between economic development and ecological conservation;(3) lack of emergency response mechanisms;(4) unsound administrative institutions;and(5) shortcomings in the development of regional cooperation based on transboundary waters.We concluded by identifying four pathways for reducing vulnerability:(1) encouraging scientific research cooperation;(2) constructing information-sharing channels;(3) establishing early-warning mechanisms;and(4) promoting further coordination and negotia-tion.展开更多
This paper proposes two lattice traffic models by taking into account the drivers＇ delay in response. The lattice versions of the hydrodynamic model are described by the differential-difference equation and differenc...This paper proposes two lattice traffic models by taking into account the drivers＇ delay in response. The lattice versions of the hydrodynamic model are described by the differential-difference equation and difference-difference equation, respectively. The stability conditions for the two models are obtained by using the linear stability theory. The modified KdV equation near the critical point is derived to describe the traffic jam by using the reductive perturbation method, and the kink-antikink soliton solutions related to the traffic density waves are obtained. The results show that the drivers＇ delay in sensing headway plays an important role in jamming transition.展开更多
基金National Key Research and Development Program of China,No.2023YFE0208100,No.2021YFC3000201Natural Science Foundation of Henan Province,No.232300420165。
文摘The Qinba Mountains are climatically and ecologically recognized as the north-south transitional zone of China.Analysis of its phenology is critical for comprehending the response of vegetation to climatic change.We retrieved the start of spring phenology(SOS)of eight forest communities from the MODIS products and adopted it as an indicator for spring phenology.Trend analysis,partial correlation analysis,and GeoDetector were employed to reveal the spatio-temporal patterns and climatic drivers of SOS.The results indicated that the SOS presented an advance trend from 2001 to 2020,with a mean rate of−0.473 d yr^(−1).The SOS of most forests correlated negatively with air temperature(TEMP)and positively with precipitation(PRE),suggesting that rising TEMP and increasing PRE in spring would forward and delay SOS,respectively.The dominant factors influencing the sensitivity of SOS to climatic variables were altitude,forest type,and latitude,while the effects of slope and aspect were relatively minor.The response of SOS to climatic factors varied significantly in space and among forest communities,partly due to the influence of altitude,slope,and aspect.
文摘The emergence of smart grids in India is propelled by an intricate interaction of market dynamics,regulatory structures,and stakeholder obligations.This study analyzes the primary factors that are driving the widespread use of smart grid technologies and outlines the specific roles and obligations of different stakeholders,such as government entities,utility companies,technology suppliers,and consumers.Government activities and regulations are crucial in facilitating the implementation of smart grid technology by offering financial incentives,regulatory assistance,and strategic guidance.Utility firms have the responsibility of implementing and integrating smart grid infrastructure,with an emphasis on improving the dependability of the grid,minimizing losses in transmission and distribution,and integrating renewable energy sources.Technology companies offer the essential hardware and software solutions,which stimulate creativity and enhance efficiency.Consumers actively engage in the energy ecosystem by participating in demand response,implementing energy saving measures,and adopting distributed energy resources like solar panels and electric vehicles.This study examines the difficulties and possibilities in India’s smart grid industry,highlighting the importance of cooperation among stakeholders to build a strong,effective,and environmentally friendly energy future.
文摘Osyris lanceolata is heavily and illegally exploited in East Africa for its essential oils, yet little is known about its population status and ecological requirements. This study examined its population structure and environmental factors influencing its distribution in the semi-arid Karamoja sub-region, Uganda. We surveyed 388 plots (5 m radius) at different altitudes, recording life stages, stem diameters, and regeneration patterns, and analyzed soil samples. Multivariate analyses, including Canonical Correspondence Analysis (CCA), Detrended Correspondence Analysis (DCA), Non-metric Multidimensional Scaling (NMDS), and Multiple Regression Modeling (MRM), identified key environmental factors affecting its distribution. Findings show that O. lanceolata populations in Moroto, Nakapiripirit, and Amudat districts are severely degraded due to overexploitation. The species is primarily regenerating through coppicing rather than seedlings, with an exploitation intensity of 56.6%. Population densities are low, distribution is irregular, and sustainable harvesting is not viable. Soil properties, particularly Ca2+, N, P, K+, Na+, and organic matter, significantly influence its abundance. Conservation efforts should focus on identifying suitable provenances for genetic preservation and plantation establishment. Areas with at least 9 trees per hectare in Moroto, Nakapiripirit, and Amudat could serve as potential sites for ex-situ plantations. Further research should explore how biotic interactions, genetic diversity, and morphology affect oil yield and quality to support restoration, breeding, and domestication initiatives.
基金This work was supported by the Tianshan Programme of Excellence(2022TSYCCX0001)the National Key Program for Basic Research and Development(973 Program)(2012CB417101)。
文摘In recent years,soil acidification has been expanding in many areas of Asia due to increasing reactive nitrogen inputs and industrial activities,which may seriously affect the performance of various ecosystem functions.However,the underlying patterns and processes of ecosystem multifunctionality(EMF)are largely unknown at different levels of pH,limiting our understanding of how EMF respond to drivers.This study aims to explore threshold of pH on changes in EMF and differences in the drivers for the changes in EMF on either side of each of the determined pH thresholds.We collected nutrient and environmental databases for raster-level sampling data,totaling 4,000 sampling points.Averaging and cluster-multiple-threshold approach were used to calculate EMF,then quadratic and generalized additive models and Mann-Whitney U were used to determine and test the pH thresholds for changes in EMF,structural equation modellings and variance partitioning analysis were used to explore the main drivers on changes in EMF.The pH threshold for EMF changes in Chinese terrestrial ecosystems is 6.0.When pH<6.0,climate was consistently more important in controlling the variation of EMF than other variables;when pH≥6.0,soil was consistently more important in controlling the variation of EMF than other variables.Specifically,when pH<6.0,mean annual temperature was the main factor in regulating the EMF variation;when pH≥6.0,soil moisture was the main factor in regulating the EMF variation.Our study provides important scientific value for the mechanism of maintaining EMF under global change.For example,with further increases in global nitrogen deposition,leading to increased soil acidification,there are different impacts on EMF in different regions.It may lead to a decrease in EMF in acidic soils and an increase in EMF in alkaline soils.This suggests different management strategies for different regions to maintain EMF stability in the context of future global changes.In the future,more attention should be paid to the biological mechanisms regulating EMF.
文摘As drivers age, roadway conditions may become more challenging, particularly when normal aging is coupled with cognitive decline. Driving during lower visibility conditions, such as inclement weather, is especially challenging for older drivers due to their sensitivity to glare and reduced visibility. As a result, older drivers may adjust their behavior during adverse weather. This paper explores the differential impacts of weather on older drivers with cognitive decline compared to older drivers with normal cognitive function. Data were from a naturalistic driving study of older drivers in Omaha, Nebraska. Driver speed and weather data were extracted and the correlation between speed compliance, road weather conditions, and the cognitive/neurological status of the drivers was examined. Speed compliance was used as the surrogate safety measure since driving at lower speeds can indicate that the driver is challenged by roadway or environmental conditions and can therefore indicate a risk. The percentage of time during a trip when drivers were 16.1 kph under the speed limit was modeled as the dependent variable using beta regression. The variables that resulted in the best fit model were mild cognitive impairment (MCI), age group, traffic density, and weather. Results indicated that the youngest group of older drivers (young-old) spent less time driving at impeding speeds and had the least variability compared to the other two age groups. The middle group of older drivers (middle-old) had the highest amount of time driving at impeding speeds and had more variability than young-old drivers. The oldest group of older drivers (old-old) were the most likely to drive at impeding speeds and had the most variability. In general, older drivers were more likely to drive at impeding speeds during peak hours than during non-peak hours. Additionally, in most cases, older drivers spent less time below the speed limit when the weather was clear than in adverse conditions. Results indicate that older drivers are impacted by weather conditions, and distinct patterns were noted between older drivers who were cognitively impaired compared to drivers with normal cognition.
基金The Independent Research Foundation of Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory(Zhuhai)under contract Nos SML2023SP201 and SML2021SP306the Natural Science Foundation of Guangdong Province of China under contract No.2024A1515012717+5 种基金the Initial Research Foundation of Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory(Zhuhai)under contract Nos 313021004,313022009,and 313022001the National Natural Science Foundation of China under contract No.41706225the National Key R&D Program of China under contract No.2018YFA0605701the Impact and Response of Antarctic Seas to Climate Change under contract No.IRASCC 1-02-01Bthe Shenlan Program funded by Shanghai Jiao Tong University under contract No.SL2020MS021the fund from Shanghai Frontiers Science Center of Polar Research.
文摘The Southern Ocean is a critical component in the Earth system by dominating the global heat and anthropogenic carbon uptake and supplying heat to melt the largest ice sheet.Variability and changes in the water masses of the Southern Ocean are thus important to the global energy and water cycles,carbon cycling,and sea-level change.In this article,we review the recent progress on understanding the variability and changes in the four major water masses in the Southern Ocean,including Subantarctic Mode Water,Antarctic Intermediate Water,Circumpolar Deep Water and Antarctic Bottom Water.Subantarctic Mode Water and Antarctic Intermediate Water show statistically significant strong circumpolar shoaling,warming,and density reductions since 1970s,indicating that signals of global warming have entered the interior ocean.Meanwhile,strong regional variability of Subantarctic Mode Water and Antarctic Intermediate Water responding to surface buoyancy forcing and westerly winds is attracting more attention.Circumpolar Deep Water is an important modulator of heat content and nutrient concentrations on continental shelves around Antarctica and has made significant contributions to the basal melting of Antarctic ice shelves.Since the late 1950s,a long-term freshening trend in Antarctic Bottom Water in the Ross Sea and its downstream region has been observed and is mainly attributed to the accelerated basal melting of ice shelves in West Antarctica.The shrinking of Antarctic Bottom Water in the Weddell Sea during 1992–2020 has also been revealed and is attributed to reduced sea ice production over the southern Weddell continental shelf related to the Interdecadal Pacific Oscillation and the variability in the Amundsen Sea Low.Though significant advances have been achieved,there is an urgent need to enhance and improve both observations and model performances for better understandings and projections of the formation,transformation,and transport of the water masses in the Southern Ocean.
基金supported by the Second Tibetan Plateau Scientific Expedition and Research(STEP)Program(Grant No.2019QZKK0502)National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant No.U23A20160)Shanghai Science and Technology Innovation Action Plan(Grant No.23015810100).
文摘Invasive alien plant species(IAPS)pose severe threats to global biodiversity conservation.Effective management of IAPS requires mapping their distribution and identifying the environmental factors that drive their spread.The Gaoligong Mountains,a renowned biodiversity hotspot in southwestern China,currently face the dual challenges of IAPS invasion and climate change.However,we know little about the distribution patterns,key environmental drivers,and sensitivity of IAPS to future climate change in this region.In this study,we mapped IAPS richness distribution and identified invasion hotspots throughout the Gaoligong Mountains.In addition,we assessed the relative importance of environmental variables in shaping the spatial distribution of IAPS richness and projected potential shifts in IAPS richness under various climate change scenarios.We identified 161 IAPS,primarily concentrated in the low-elevation tropical and subtropical regions along river valleys,forming belt-like invasion hotspots.The key factors shaping IAPS richness included disturbance complexity,elevation,seasonal precipitation,and vegetation types.Notably,IAPS richness significantly declined with increasing elevation and latitude but increased with higher disturbance complexity.Moreover,IAPS were more prevalent in grasslands and shrublands than in forested areas.Ensemble modeling of future climate scenarios predicted that the distribution of IAPS richness would shift to progressively higher elevations.These findings provide valuable insights for managing IAPS in mountainous regions that play a crucial role in global biodiversity conservation.
基金National Natural Science Foundation of China,No.42371188National Social Science Foundation of China,No.20BJL104+2 种基金Major Project of Key Research Bases of Humanities and Social Sciences,Ministry of Education,No.22JJD790016Major Project of Applied Research in Philosophy and Social Sciences at Colleges and Universities in Henan Province,No.2023-YYZD-03Program of Excellence for Graduate Students of Henan University,No.SYLYC2023123。
文摘Transition from old to new economic drivers(TONED) is of great significance for optimizing economic structures. Using a combination of methods including entropy weight technique for order preference by similarity to ideal solution, geospatial analysis, and optimal parameter geodetector, this study investigates the patterns and mechanisms of China's TONED in the prefecture-level cities from 2011 to 2020. The findings reveal that(1) the TONED exhibited a spatial distribution characterized by higher levels in the east and lower levels in the west, along with a pyramidal hierarchy of levels. The distribution of hot and cold spots roughly followed the Heihe-Yulin line.(2) The informatization levels, openness to the outside world, and urbanization played a dominant role in the TONED. The types of dual-factor interactions exhibited both dual-factor enhancement and non-linear enhancement effects.(3) The eastern and central regions were more likely to promote the TONED through enhanced informatization levels, whereas the western region relied more on increasing openness. This study finds that the TONED results from the combined effects of three geographical natures, each playing a distinct role. The recommendations provided can serve as a reference for China and other developing countries to implement the TONED in the context of deglobalization.
基金National Natural Science Foundation of China(42230603,42275020)Guangdong Major Project of Basic and Applied Basic Research(2020B0301030004)+3 种基金Guangdong Province Key Laboratory for Climate Change and Natural Disaster Studies(2020B1212060025)Innovation Group Project of Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory(Zhuhai)(311021001)Open Fund of State Key Laboratory of Satellite Ocean Environment Dynamics,Second Institute of Oceanography,MNR(QNHX2310)Future Earth Early-Career Fellowship of the Future Earth Global Secretariat Hub China。
文摘Drought events have become more frequent and intense over East Asia in recent decades,leading to huge socioeconomic impacts.Although the droughts have been studied extensively by cases or for individual regions,their leading variability and associated causes remain unclear.Based on the Standardized Precipitation Evapotranspiration Index(SPEI)and ERA5 reanalysis product from 1979 to 2020,this study evealuates the severity of spring droughts in East Asia and investigates their variations and associated drivers.The results indicate that North China and Mongolia have experienced remarkable trends toward dryness during spring in recent decades,while southwestern China has witnessed an opposite trend toward wetness.The first Empirical Orthogonal Function mode of SPEI variability reveals a similar seesawing pattern,with more severe dryness in northwestern China,Mongolia,North China,South Korea,and Japan but increased wetness in Southwestern China and southeast Asia.Further investigation reveals that the anomalously dry(wet)surface in North(Southwestern)China is significantly associated with anomalously high(low)temperature,less(more)precipitation,and reduced(increased)soil moisture during the previous winter and early spring,regulated by an anomalous anticyclone(cyclone)and thus reduced(increased)water vapor convergence.The spring dry-wet pattern in East Asia is also linked to cold sea surface temperature anomalies in the central-eastern Pacific.The findings of this study have important implications for improving the prediction of spring drought events in East Asia.
文摘Background and Objective: HIV infection is a major global Public Health threat worldwide, particularly in Sub-Saharan Africa of which Benin. The level of knowledge determines the attitudes and behaviors of the populations towards this infection. The study objective was to assess knowledge, attitudes and practices related to HIV infection among motorbike taxi drivers (MTD) in Parakou in 2021. Methods: This was a descriptive cross-sectional study targeting MTD in Parakou in 2021. Participants were selected by cluster sampling. Pretested Digitized questionnaire using KoboCollect<sup>@</sup> applicationserved as a data collection tool. Knowledge, attitudes and practices variable were treated on a score scale. A knowledge score was considered to reflect a good knowledge of HIV if at least two-thirds of the knowledge statements had been correctly answered provided the subject recognized the sexual route as one of modes of HIV transmission, identified at least one preventive measure and meant the incurability of the disease. Quantitative and qualitative variables were appropriately described using the EPI Info 7.1.3.3 software. The participant was classified at positive attitude/practice for HIV prevention, when it has a score of at least 80% and suggests a good preventive measure face a risk of exposure to HIV. Results: A total of 374 subjects were recruited into the study. The mean age was 31.51 ± 7.76 years. Most participants (86.06%) had good knowledge of condom use as an HIV prevention method. The sources of information mentioned were mainly the media (77.07%), relatives or friends (63.38%), and field-workers from non-governmental organizations (37.26%). Routine HIV testing was 50.53%. Among participants, 76.10% reported at least two different sexual partners. Condom use was 59.18 % during the casual sexual intercourse. Within the client-provider relationship with female sex workers, 33.17% had had sexual intercourse with them. The sexual route was the most cited (92.99%), and 90.23% stated that HIV infection can be stabilized by medication in a health structure. Conclusion: The level of knowledge of motorbike taxi drivers in Parakou does not match their behavior with regard to HIV prevention. Appropriate strategies are needed to develop prevention skills in this population. To effectively comb at HIV, it will be necessary to strengthen the targeted HIV preventive interventions at key and bridge populations including motorbike taxi drivers in Benin.
文摘The prevalence of human immunodeficiency virus (AIDS) and hepatitis B virus among heavy truck drivers and their assistants has been well documented globally in correlation with their behavioral characteristics. The present study aimed to screen for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), hepatitis B virus (HBV), and behavioral characteristics among heavy truck drivers in Port Sudan. A cross-sectional study was conducted on 274 heavy truck drivers and their assistants who used the highway Port Sudan-Khartoum in Port Sudan city during 2019-2021. Data on behavioral characteristics and substance use habits were collected using a structured questionnaire, and an ELISA test was used to screen for HIV and HBV infections in the study participants. The chi-square test, odds ratio, and confidence intervals were used to find the association between behavioral characteristics and seropositive HIV/HBV. Of the 274 enrolled participants, the seroprevalence rates of HIV were 2.7% and HBV was 23.7%. Ninety-four (34.3%) of them had a history of high-risk sexual behavior outside of marriage;only two (0.7%) used condoms;14.2% of participants reported alcohol use;and 1.1% reported drug use. Univariate analysis revealed that having a sex history outside of marriage with ≥1 sex partner and never using a condom with a spouse or casual partner were significant risk factors for HIV and HBV among drivers. Fortunately, we found that most of the drivers reported low alcohol and drug use. Concerning this study, the seroprevalence of HIV and HBV is highly associated with a history of having sex outside of marriage and sexual behavior among truck drivers and assistances. Additional studies are needed to further investigate other STIs and behavioral characteristics associated with factors in truck drivers/assistance in different truck stop regions in Sudan.
文摘Most previous studies on the market efficiency of cryptocurrencies consider time evolution but do not provide insights into the potential driving factors.This study addresses this limitation by examining the time-varying efficiency of the two largest cryptocurrencies,Bitcoin and Ethereum,and the factors that drive efficiency.It uses daily data from August 7,2016,to February 15,2023,the adjusted market inefficiency magnitude(AMIMs)measure,and quantile regression.The results show evidence of time variation in the levels of market(in)efficiency for Bitcoin and Ethereum.Interestingly,the quantile regressions indicate that global financial stress negatively affects the AMIMs measures across all quantiles.Notably,cryptocurrency liquidity positively and significantly affects AMIMs irrespective of the level of(in)efficiency,whereas the positive effect of money flow is significant when the markets of both cryptocurrencies are efficient.Finally,the COVID-19 pandemic positively and significantly affected cryptocurrency market inefficiencies across most quantiles.
基金supported by the New Generation of Information Technology Innovation Project of China University Innovation Fund of Ministry of Education(Grant No.2022IT191)the Qingdao Top Talent Program of Innovation and Entrepreneurship(Grant No.19-3-2-8-zhc)+2 种基金the project'Research and Development of Key Technologies and Systems for Unmanned Navigation of Coastal Ships'of the National Key Research and Development Program(Grant No.2018YFB1601500)the General Project of Natural Science Foundation of Shandong Province of China(Grant No.ZR2020MF082)Shandong Intelligent Green Manufacturing Technology and Equipment Collaborative Innovation Center(Grant No.IGSD-2020-012).
文摘Risky driving behaviors,such as driving fatigue and distraction have recently received more attention.There is also much research about driving styles,driving emotions,older drivers,drugged driving,DUI(driving under the influence),and DWI(driving while intoxicated).Road hypnosis is a special behavior significantly impacting traffic safety.However,there is little research on this phenomenon.Road hypnosis,as an unconscious state,is can frequently occur while driving,particularly in highly predictable,monotonous,and familiar environments.In this paper,vehicle and virtual driving experiments are designed to collect the biological characteristics including eye movement and bioelectric parameters.Typical scenes in tunnels and highways are used as experimental scenes.LSTM(Long Short-Term Memory)and KNN(K-Nearest Neighbor)are employed as the base learners,while SVM(Support Vector Machine)serves as the meta-learner.A road hypnosis identification model is proposed based on ensemble learning,which integrates bioelectric and eye movement characteristics.The proposed model has good identification performance,as seen from the experimental results.In this study,alternative methods and technical support are provided for real-time and accurate identification of road hypnosis.
文摘A mathematical model describing the risks of road accidents has been built on the basis of statistical data of drivers’ accident rate. It has been revealed that drivers can be divided by the degree of their accident proneness into four categories with sharply differing probabilities of road accidents. It has been shown that there is a possibility of classification of drivers in accordance with specified categories.
文摘The present study aimed to identify risk factors among older adult drivers from realistic data in order to stimulate the development of appropriate safety measures in the future.For this purpose,N=400 archived case files from the driving authority in Dresden(Germany),were systematically analysed.The risk criterion was the outcome of the fitness to drive(FTD)assessment required by the authority.The results show that there are several significant risk factors(aged over 80,dementia,multi-morbidity and involvement into complex accidents)that can serve as cues for being unfit to drive.The practical measures for enhancing traffic safety are discussed.
文摘<span style="font-family:""><span style="font-family:Verdana;">Flood is a natural process generated by the interaction of various driving fac</span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">tors. Flood peak flows, flood frequency at different return periods, and potential driving forces are analyzed in this study. The peak flow of six gauging stations, with a catchment area ranging from 169 -</span></span><span style="font-family:""> </span><span style="font-family:""><span style="font-family:Verdana;">124,108 km</span><sup><span style="font-family:Verdana;">2</span></sup><span style="font-family:Verdana;"> and sufficient observed streamflow data, was selected to develop threshold (3</span><sup><span style="font-family:Verdana;">rd</span></sup><span style="font-family:Verdana;"> quartile) magnitude and frequency (POTF) that occurred over ten years of records. Sixteen Potential climatic, watershed and human driving factors of floods in the study area were identified and analyzed with GIS, Pearson’s correlation, and Principal Correlation Analysis (PCA) to select the most influential factors. Eight of them (MAR, DA, BE, VS, sand, forest AGR, PD) are identified as the most significant variables in the flood formation of the basin. Moreover, mean annual rainfall (MAR), drainage area (DA), and lack of forest cover are explored as the principal driving factors for flood peak discharge in Wabi-Shebele River Basin. Fi</span></span><span style="font-family:""><span style="font-family:Verdana;">nally, the study resulted in regression equations that helped plan and design different infrastructure works in the basin as ungauged catchment empirical</span><span><span style="font-family:Verdana;"> equations to compute Q</span><sub><span style="font-family:Verdana;">MPF</span></sub><span style="font-family:Verdana;">, Q</span><sub><span style="font-family:Verdana;">5</span></sub><span style="font-family:Verdana;">, Q</span><sub><span style="font-family:Verdana;">10</span></sub><span style="font-family:Verdana;">, Q</span><sub><span style="font-family:Verdana;">50</span></sub><span style="font-family:Verdana;">, and Q</span><sub><span style="font-family:Verdana;">100</span></sub><span style="font-family:Verdana;"> using influential climate, watershed, and human driving factors. The results of these empirical equations are </span></span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">also statistically accepted with a high significance correlation (R</span><sup><span style="font-family:Verdana;">2</span></sup><span style="font-family:Verdana;"> > 0.9).
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant No.31470630)Shanxi Forestry Science and Technology Innovation Project
文摘Understory plants are important components of forest ecosystems and play a crucial role in regulating community structures,function realization,and community succession.However,little is known about how abiotic and biotic drivers affect the diversity of understory species in cold temperate coniferous forests in the semiarid climate region of North China.We hypothesized that(1)topographic factors are important environmental factors affecting the distribution and variation of understory strata,and(2)different understory strata respond differently to environmental factors;shrubs may be significantly affected by the overstory stratum,and herbs may be more affected by surface soil conditions.To test these hypotheses,we used the boosted regression tree method to analyze abiotic and biotic environmental factors that influence understory species diversity,using data from 280 subplots across 56 sites in cold temperate coniferous forests of North China.Elevation and slope aspect were the dominant and indirect abiotic drivers affecting understory species diversity,and individual tree size inequality(DBH variation)was the dominant biotic driver of understory species diversity;soil water content was the main edaphic factors affecting herb layers.Elevation,slope aspect,and DBH variation accounted for 36.4,14.5,and 12.1%,respectively,of shrub stratum diversity.Shrub diversity decreased with elevation within the range of altitude of this study,but increased with DBH variation;shrub diversity was highest on north-oriented slopes.The strongest factor affecting herb stratum species diversity was slope aspect,accounting for 25.9%of the diversity,followed by elevation(15.7%),slope(12.2%),and soil water content(10.3%).The highest herb diversity was found on southeast-oriented slopes and the lowest on northeast-oriented slopes;herb diversity decreased with elevation and soil water content,but increased with slope.The results of the study provide a reference for scientific management and biodiversity protection in cold temperate coniferous forests of North China.
基金The National Key Project for Basic Research on Ecosystem Changes in Longitudinal Range-Gorge Region and Transboundary Eco-security of Southwest China,No.2003CB415105
文摘Competitive use of transboundary freshwater resources is becoming one of the key factors influencing regional peace and political relationship among states.In China, 18 major international river basins are concentrated in three regions, of which the total annual outflow at the border is 7320×108 m3, occupying 26.8% of the total annual runoff of China, and the inflow at the border is only 172×108 m3.In this paper, we analyzed the major drivers affecting shared water vulnerability in China, namely:(1) changes in physical conditions affecting the availability of water;(2) competing objectives between economic development and ecological conservation;(3) lack of emergency response mechanisms;(4) unsound administrative institutions;and(5) shortcomings in the development of regional cooperation based on transboundary waters.We concluded by identifying four pathways for reducing vulnerability:(1) encouraging scientific research cooperation;(2) constructing information-sharing channels;(3) establishing early-warning mechanisms;and(4) promoting further coordination and negotia-tion.
基金Project supported by the National Basic Research Program of China (Grant No 2006CB705500)the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No 10532060)+1 种基金the Natural Science Foundation of Ningbo (Grant Nos 2008A610022 and 2007A610050)K. C. Wang Magna Fund in Ningbo University, China
文摘This paper proposes two lattice traffic models by taking into account the drivers＇ delay in response. The lattice versions of the hydrodynamic model are described by the differential-difference equation and difference-difference equation, respectively. The stability conditions for the two models are obtained by using the linear stability theory. The modified KdV equation near the critical point is derived to describe the traffic jam by using the reductive perturbation method, and the kink-antikink soliton solutions related to the traffic density waves are obtained. The results show that the drivers＇ delay in sensing headway plays an important role in jamming transition.
