Terrestrial ecosystems heavily depend on vegetation,which responds to carbon dioxide(CO_(2))fertilization in hot and humid regions.The subtropical humid karst region is a hot and humid region;whether and to what exten...Terrestrial ecosystems heavily depend on vegetation,which responds to carbon dioxide(CO_(2))fertilization in hot and humid regions.The subtropical humid karst region is a hot and humid region;whether and to what extent CO_(2)fertilization affects vegetation changes in such regions remains unclear.In this study,we investigated the degree to which CO_(2)fertilization influences vegetation changes,along with their spatial and temporal differences,in the subtropical humid karst region using time-lag effect analysis,a random forest model,and multiple regression analysis.Results showed that CO_(2)fertilization plays an important role in vegetation changes,exhibiting clear spatial variations across different geomorphological zones,with its degree of influence ranging mainly between 11%and 25%.The highest contribution of CO_(2)fertilization was observed in the karst basin and non-karstic region,whereas the lowest contribution was found in the karst plateau region.Previous studies have primarily attributed vegetation changes in subtropical humid karst region to ecological engineering,leading to an overestimation of its contribution to these changes.The findings of this study enhance the understanding of the mechanism of vegetation changes in humid karst region and provide theoretical and practical insights for ecological and environmental protection in these regions.展开更多
The toxicity of PM_(2.5)does not necessarily change synchronously with its mass concentration.In this study,the chemical composition(carbonaceous species,water-soluble ions,and metals)and oxidative potential(dithiothr...The toxicity of PM_(2.5)does not necessarily change synchronously with its mass concentration.In this study,the chemical composition(carbonaceous species,water-soluble ions,and metals)and oxidative potential(dithiothreitol assay,DTT)of PM_(2.5)were investigated in 2017/2018 and 2022 in Xiamen,China.The decrease rate of volume-normalized DTT(DTTv)(38%)was lower than that of PM_(2.5)(55%)between the two sampling periods.However,the mass-normalized DTT(DTTm)increased by 44%.Clear seasonal patterns with higher levels in winter were found for PM_(2.5),most chemical constituents and DTTv but not for DTTm.The large decrease in DTT activity(84%−92%)after the addition of EDTA suggested that watersoluble metals were the main contributors to DTT in Xiamen.The increased gap between the reconstructed and measured DTTv and the stronger correlations between the reconstructed/measured DTT ratio and carbonaceous species in 2022were observed.The decrease rates of the hazard index(32.5%)and lifetime cancer risk(9.1%)differed from those of PM_(2.5)and DTTv due to their different main contributors.The PMF-MLR model showed that the contributions(nmol/(min·m^(3)))of vehicle emission,coal+biomass burning,ship emission and secondary aerosol to DTTv in 2022 decreased by 63.0%,65.2%,66.5%,and 22.2%,respectively,compared to those in 2017/2018,which was consistent with the emission reduction of vehicle exhaust and coal consumption,the adoption of low-sulfur fuel oil used on board ships and the reduced production of WSOC.However,the contributions of dust+sea salt and industrial emission increased.展开更多
BACKGROUND Atypical optic neuritis,consisting of neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders(NMOSD)or myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein antibody disease(MOGAD),has a very similar presentation but different prognostic im...BACKGROUND Atypical optic neuritis,consisting of neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders(NMOSD)or myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein antibody disease(MOGAD),has a very similar presentation but different prognostic implications and longterm management strategies.Vascular and metabolic factors are being thought to play a role in such autoimmune neuro-inflammatory disorders,apart from the obvious immune mediated damage.With the advent of optical coherence tomography angiography(OCTA),it is easy to pick up on these subclinical macular microvascular and structural changes.AIM To study the macular microvascular and structural changes on OCTA in atypical optic neuritis.METHODS This observational cross-sectional study involved 8 NMOSD and 17 MOGAD patients,diagnosed serologically,as well as 10 healthy controls.Macular vascular density(MVD)and ganglion cell+inner plexiform layer thickness(GCIPL)were studied using OCTA.RESULTS There was a significant reduction in MVD in NMOSD and MOGAD affected as well as unaffected eyes when compared with healthy controls.NMOSD and MOGAD affected eyes had significant GCIPL thinning compared with healthy controls.NMOSD unaffected eyes did not show significant GCIPL thinning compared to healthy controls in contrast to MOGAD unaffected eyes.On comparing NMOSD with MOGAD,there was no significant difference in terms of MVD or GCIPL in the affected or unaffected eyes.CONCLUSION Although significant microvascular and structural changes are present on OCTA between atypical optic neuritis and normal patients,they could not help in differentiating between NMOSD and MOGAD cases.展开更多
Gas-bearing shales have become a major source of future natural gas production worldwide.It has become increasingly urgent to develop a reliable prediction model and corresponding workflow for identifying shale gas sw...Gas-bearing shales have become a major source of future natural gas production worldwide.It has become increasingly urgent to develop a reliable prediction model and corresponding workflow for identifying shale gas sweet spots.The formation of gas-bearing shales is closely linked to relative sealevel changes,providing an important approach to predicting sweet spots in the Wufeng-Longmaxi shale in the southern Sichuan Basin,China.Three types of marine shale gas sweet spots are identified in the shale based on their formation stages combined with relative sea-level changes:early,middle,and late transgression types.This study develops a prediction model and workflow for identifying shale gas sweet spots by analyzing relative sea-level changes and facies sequences.Predicting shale gas sweet spots in an explored block using this model and workflow can provide a valuable guide for well design and hydraulic fracturing,significantly enhancing the efficiency of shale gas exploration and development.Notably,the new prediction model and workflow can be utilized for the rapid evaluation of the potential for shale gas development in new shale gas blocks or those with low exploratory maturity.展开更多
Climate change and anthropogenic activities have driven significant terrestrial water storage changes(TWSC)in the Three Rivers Source Region(TRSR),exerting profound impacts on freshwater availability across China and ...Climate change and anthropogenic activities have driven significant terrestrial water storage changes(TWSC)in the Three Rivers Source Region(TRSR),exerting profound impacts on freshwater availability across China and broader Asia.However,long-term TWSC characterization remains challenging due to limited observational data in this alpine region.Here,we integrate GRACE observations(2002-2020),ERA5-Land reanalysis,and GLDAS data to reconstruct TWSC using two methods:(1)the water balance method(PER)and(2)the component summation method(SS),applied to three input datasets(ERA5-Land,GLDAS,and their average,GLER).Comparative analysis reveals that the SS method applied to GL-ER yields the highest consistency with GRACE-derived TWSC.Using this optimal approach,we extend the analysis to 1951~2020,uncovering spatiotemporal TWSC patterns.Although annual TWSC trends appear negligible due to strong seasonality,we introduce the intra-year TWSC fluctuation(TWSCF)index to quantify cumulative variability.A significant(p<0.05)transition occurred in 1980,with TWSCF shifting from a declining trend(-0.39 mm/yr)to an increasing trend(0.56 mm/yr),primarily driven by soil moisture changes.However,Hurst exponent analysis suggests this upward trend may not persist.Drought and vegetation assessments indicate concurrent wetting and greening in the TRSR.TWSC correlates strongly with meteorological drought,acting as a reliable drought indicator while its linkage with vegetation dynamics suggests a potential contribution to greening.Our findings provide a robust framework for understanding long-term TWSC evolution and its hydrological-ecological interactions under climate change.展开更多
BACKGROUND Dyslipidemia was strongly linked to stroke,however the relationship between dyslipidemia and its components and ischemic stroke remained unexplained.AIM To investigate the link between longitudinal changes ...BACKGROUND Dyslipidemia was strongly linked to stroke,however the relationship between dyslipidemia and its components and ischemic stroke remained unexplained.AIM To investigate the link between longitudinal changes in lipid profiles and dyslipidemia and ischemic stroke in a hypertensive population.METHODS Between 2013 and 2014,6094 hypertension individuals were included in this,and ischemic stroke cases were documented to the end of 2018.Longitudinal changes of lipid were stratified into four groups:(1)Normal was transformed into normal group;(2)Abnormal was transformed into normal group;(3)Normal was transformed into abnormal group;and(4)Abnormal was transformed into abnormal group.To examine the link between longitudinal changes in dyslipidemia along with its components and the risk of ischemic stroke,we utilized multivariate Cox proportional hazards models with hazard ratio(HR)and 95%CI.RESULTS The average age of the participants was 62.32 years±13.00 years,with 329 women making up 54.0%of the sample.Over the course of a mean follow-up of 4.8 years,143 ischemic strokes happened.When normal was transformed into normal group was used as a reference,after full adjustments,the HR for dyslipidemia and ischemic stroke among abnormal was transformed into normal group,normal was transformed into abnormal group and abnormal was transformed into abnormal Wei CC et al.Dyslipidemia changed and ischemic stroke WJCC https://www.wjgnet.com 2 February 6,2025 Volume 13 Issue 4 group were 1.089(95%CI:0.598-1.982;P=0.779),2.369(95%CI:1.424-3.941;P<0.001)and 1.448(95%CI:1.002-2.298;P=0.047)(P for trend was 0.233),respectively.CONCLUSION In individuals with hypertension,longitudinal shifts from normal to abnormal in dyslipidemia-particularly in total and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol-were significantly associated with the risk of ischemic stroke.展开更多
On September 5, 2022, an earthquake of magnitude M_(S)6.8 occurred in Luding County, Sichuan Province.This earthquake occurred at the key part of the southeast-clockwise extrusion of material on the eastern margin of ...On September 5, 2022, an earthquake of magnitude M_(S)6.8 occurred in Luding County, Sichuan Province.This earthquake occurred at the key part of the southeast-clockwise extrusion of material on the eastern margin of the Qinghai Plateau, the Y-shaped confluence of the Xianshuihe, Longmenshan and Anninghe fault zones. In this study, the three-dimensional dynamic crustal density changes in the earthquake area are obtained by the typical gravity change data from 2019 to 2022 before the earthquake and gravity inversion by growing bodies. The results indicate that gravity changes presented an obvious fourquadrant and gradient belt distribution in the Luding area before the earthquake. The threedimensional density horizontal slices show that small density changes occurred at the epicenter in the mid-to-upper crust between 2019.9-2020.9 and 2019.9-2021.9. At the same time, the surrounding areas exhibited a positive and negative quadrant distribution. These observations indicate that the source region was likely in a stable locked state, with locking-in shear forces oriented in the NW and NE directions. From 2021.9 to 2022.8, the epicentral region showed negative density changes, indicating that the source region was in the expansion stage, approaching a near-seismic state. The three-dimensional density vertical slices reveal a southeastward migration of positive and negative densities near the epicenter and on the western of the Xianshuihe Fault Zone, indicating that the material is flowing out to the southeast. The observed local negative density changes at the epicenter along the Longmenshan Fault Zone are likely associated with the NE-oriented extensional stress shown by the seismic source mechanism. The above results can provide a basis for interpreting pre-earthquake gravity and density changes,thereby contributing to the advancement of earthquake precursor theory.展开更多
This study aims to construct a large-scale hydrological Variable Infiltration Capacity(VIC)model based on temperature and precipitation at high altitudes,while elucidating the applicability of the model for hydrologic...This study aims to construct a large-scale hydrological Variable Infiltration Capacity(VIC)model based on temperature and precipitation at high altitudes,while elucidating the applicability of the model for hydrological simulation and analyzing the factors affecting runoff volume.Runoff volume and runoff depth were simulated using the VIC model and its performance was evaluated.Meanwhile,the factors affecting runoff volume were analyzed using Spearman correlation.The following model sensitivity parameters were obtained based on the China Natural Runoff Grid Point Dataset(CNRD v1.0):The variable infiltration curve parameter was 0.3,the Dsmax fraction where non-linear baseflow begins was 0.02,the maximum baseflow velocity was 15 mm/d,the maximum soil moisture where non-linear baseflow occurred was 0.7,the second soil moisture layer thickness was 0.3,and the thickness of the third soil moisture layer was 1.5.The surface runoff values in the Nyang River basin were similar in the first and fourth quarters(1.05–2.27 mm and 2.38–4.77 mm,respectively),and the surface runoff values were similar in the second and third quarters when the surface runoff was greater(23.46–52.20 mm and 60.59–85.63 mm,respectively).Watershed area,temperature,and precipitation significantly influenced the amount of runoff from the Nyang River.The applicability of the model to the Nyang River basin was confirmed using two different rate models.In some areas,precipitation and temperature did not have a dominating influence on runoff.Although the VIC model has significant advantages in runoff simulation,it requires a wealth of meteorological,soil,and hydrological data that may be difficult to obtain in some areas.展开更多
Previous works were mainly concentrated on long-term average runoff alterations,and extreme temperatures and watershed conditions are little analyzed.In this study,we collected gauged river flow and meteorological dat...Previous works were mainly concentrated on long-term average runoff alterations,and extreme temperatures and watershed conditions are little analyzed.In this study,we collected gauged river flow and meteorological data time series from 1916 to 2015 and 1941 to 2015 across the contiguous United States(CONUS)for 188 catchments to investigate the temporal trends and spatial features of runoff changes at multi-time scales.We also analyzed the relationships between runoff changes and climatic factors.Median descriptive statistics and Budyko coupled climate elasticity methods were used to calculate runoff elasticity in each time scale.The original Mann-Kendall trend test was used to test their trend significance in four time-scale(11,20,40,and 60 a),respectively.The results show that the trend of runoff changes is more significant in high time scales;total changes are heterogeneous over CONUS.After the 1970s,increases of up to 27%decade-1 were mainly concentrated in the mid-northern regions.Maximum temperature and catchment characteristics are vital factors for runoff alteration;runoff changes are independent of rainfall,and wet regions tend to have lower changes.These findings could help develop better regional water resource planning and management.展开更多
Climate warming and humidification trends have significantly influenced vegetation growth patterns in Chinese semi-arid areas.Exploring vegetation dynamics is crucial for understanding regional ecosystem structure and...Climate warming and humidification trends have significantly influenced vegetation growth patterns in Chinese semi-arid areas.Exploring vegetation dynamics is crucial for understanding regional ecosystem structure and improving the efforts of ecosystem restoration.However,the applicability of various vegetation indices(VIs)in these arid areas remains uncertain.Evaluating the applicability of multiple VIs for vegetation monitoring can elucidate the variability of VIs performance at regional scale.Therefore,this study selected the Zuli River Basin(ZLRB),a typical loess hilly watershed in the semi-arid areas of China.Using Landsat data,we calculated the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index(NDVI),Enhanced Vegetation Index(EVI),and kernel NDVI(kNDVI)for the ZLRB from 1990 to 2020.We analyzed the spatiotemporal variations of these VIs using trend analysis and the Mann-Kendall test,and quantified the contributions of climate change(considering time-lag effects)and human activities to VIs changes through wavelet and residual analyses.Results indicated that VIs generally exhibited an upward trend in the ZLRB,with significant improvements observed in 54.91% of the area for NDVI,31.69% for EVI,and 33.71% for kNDVI.Among them,NDVI outperformed EVI and kNDVI in capturing vegetation changes in the semi-arid area.VIs responded to precipitation with 1-month time lag and no time lag to temperature during growing season.Moreover,precipitation had a stronger positive correlation with VIs than temperature.Climate change was identified as the dominant driver of vegetation dynamics in the ZLRB,accounting for 93.12% of NDVI variation,while human activities contributed only 6.88%.Comparative analysis of VIs suggests that NDVI was more suitable for describing vegetation changes in the typical arid area of the ZLRB.Our findings underscore the importance of selecting appropriate VIs for targeted ecological restoration and sustainable land management.展开更多
Renewable energy,especially solar power,is vital for mitigating global warming,while climate change also impacts solar photovoltaic potential(PVpot).This study analyzes historical(1985–2014)and future(2015–2100)clim...Renewable energy,especially solar power,is vital for mitigating global warming,while climate change also impacts solar photovoltaic potential(PVpot).This study analyzes historical(1985–2014)and future(2015–2100)climate effects on PVpot,and quantifies contributions from changed radiation,temperature,and wind speed.Historically,global PVpot increased by 0.42‰,with notable rises in eastern China(+7.1‰)and southern Europe(+3.5‰).By the end of the century,increased radiation-induced PVpot(+1.27‰)offsets temperatureinduced PVpot loss(−0.54‰)under SSP1-2.6,yielding a net PVpot increase(+0.74‰).Under SSP2-4.5,the temperature-induced PVpot decline(−1.50‰)drives the final PVpot reduction(−1.15‰).Under SSP3-7.0 and SSP5-8.5,combined radiation-induced(−1.94‰and−1.99‰)and temperature-induced PVpot changes(−2.67‰and−3.41‰)result in significant PVpot declines(−4.57‰and−5.31‰).Regional analysis reveals that eastern China(+0.7‰to+8.6‰),southern Europe(+0.3‰to+2.5‰),and Northwest South America(+0.6‰to+2.1‰)retain positive changes in future PVpot across all climate scenarios,which may be due to reduced aerosols and cloud cover,suggesting these areas can remain suitable for photovoltaic installations despite climate changes.In contrast,temperature-driven PVpot declines over the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau(−9.1‰to−4.3‰)and northern Africa(−9.3‰to−4.9‰)under future high-emission scenarios indicate that these historically advantageous regions will become less suitable for solar energy deployment.The findings underscore that climate changes driven by sustainable development pathways will generate more PVpot in the future for better global warming mitigation.展开更多
Dear Editor,Post-traumatic stress disorder(PTSD)is a chronic neuropsychiatric disorder triggered by severe traumatic events,characterized by persistent intrusive memories,emotional dysregulation,hyperarousal,and avoid...Dear Editor,Post-traumatic stress disorder(PTSD)is a chronic neuropsychiatric disorder triggered by severe traumatic events,characterized by persistent intrusive memories,emotional dysregulation,hyperarousal,and avoidance behaviors[1,2].PTSD is associated with significant gene expression changes in key brain regions,including the ventral tegmental area(VTA),which may underlie dysregulation of dopaminergic signaling and stress-related behaviors[3].展开更多
Vertebrate limbs have undergone profound morphological diversification,enabling adaptations to a broad spectrum of ecological niches.In marine mammals,the evolution of highly specialized flipper-like forelimbs represe...Vertebrate limbs have undergone profound morphological diversification,enabling adaptations to a broad spectrum of ecological niches.In marine mammals,the evolution of highly specialized flipper-like forelimbs represents a profound structural transformation associated with aquatic habitats.This adaptation has been hypothesized to result,in part,from the inhibition of interphalangeal cell apoptosis during limb development,although the underlying genetic mechanism remains poorly understood.This study investigated the evolutionary dynamics and functional consequences of three key bone morphogenetic protein genes,BMP2,BMP4,and BMP7,which regulate apoptosis in interphalangeal mesenchymal stromal cells during embryonic limb development to ensure proper differentiation of interphalangeal tissues.Comparative genomic analysis revealed significantly accelerated evolution for BMP4 and BMP7 in the cetacean ancestral lineage,with two positively selected sites(V79I and H247R)involved in cetacean-specific amino acid substitutions located in the TGF-βpropeptide functional domain in BMP4.In vitro assays confirmed that cetacean-specific BMP4 mutations significantly disrupted normal cell apoptosis and proliferation and altered the transcription and protein expression of downstream apoptosis-related factors,including cytochrome c(Cyt c),BCL2 associated X,and B-cell lymphoma 2,within the BMP signaling pathway.The significant influence of BMP4 mutations on apoptotic inhibition highlights a potential role in the development of limb bud mesenchymal tissue and the emergence of the flipper forelimb phenotype in cetaceans.展开更多
Rapid climate and cropland use changes in recent decades have posed major challenges to food security in China.Hainan Is-land is the only tropical island in China and is blessed with natural conditions for crop produc...Rapid climate and cropland use changes in recent decades have posed major challenges to food security in China.Hainan Is-land is the only tropical island in China and is blessed with natural conditions for crop production.This study first simulates the climate scenarios of Hainan Island for 2030,2040 and 2050 under the four Socio-economic Pathways(SSPs)based on the climate models in ScenarioMIP of Coupled Model Intercomparison Project Phase 6(CMIP6),and then simulates the land use scenarios of Hainan Island for 2030,2040 and 2050 based on the Cellular Automata(CA)-Markov model.Finally,based on the Global Agro-Ecological Zones(GAEZ)model,the rice potential yield in Hainan Island for 2030,2040 and 2050 are simulated,and the effects of future climate and cropland use changes on rice potential yields are investigated.The results show that:1)from 2020 to 2050,mean maximum temperature first decreases and then increases,while mean minimum temperature increase sharply followed by a leveling off under the four SSPs.Precipitation decreases and then increases under other three SSPs except SSP2-4.5.Net solar radiation increases continuously under SSP1-2.6,2-4.5,and 5-8.5,and has the lowest simulated values under SSP3-7.0.Mean wind speed increases continuously under SSP1-2.6,fluctuates more under SSP2-4.5 and SSP5-8.5,and increases slowly and then decreases sharply under SSP3-7.0.Relative humidity basically decreases continuously under the four SSPs.2)Areas of paddy field are 302.49 thousand,302.41 thousand and 302.71 thou-sand ha for 2030,2040 and 2050,respectively,all less than that in 2020.Paddy field is mainly converted into built-up land and wood-land.As for the conversion of other land types to paddy field,woodland is the main source.3)Under the effects of future climate and cropland use changes,the mean potential productions in Hainan Island under the four SSPs increase 1.17 million,1.13 million and 1.11 million t,respectively,and the mean potential yields increase 3873.21,3766.71 and 3672.38 kg/ha,respectively for the three periods.The largest increases in mean rice potential production and mean potential yield are 1.21 million t and 4008.00 kg/ha,1.16 million t and 3846.65 kg/ha,as well as 1.13 million t and 3732.75 kg/ha,respectively under SSP 3-7.0,indicating that SSP3-7.0 is the most suitable scenario for rice growth.This study could provide scientific basis for crop planting planning and agricultural policy adjustment.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
Two long-term slow slip events(SSEs) in Lower Cook Inlet, Alaska, were identified by Li SS et al.(2016). The earlier SSE lasted at least 9 years with M_(w) ~7.8 and had an average slip rate of ~82 mm/year. The latter ...Two long-term slow slip events(SSEs) in Lower Cook Inlet, Alaska, were identified by Li SS et al.(2016). The earlier SSE lasted at least 9 years with M_(w) ~7.8 and had an average slip rate of ~82 mm/year. The latter SSE, occurring in a similar area, lasted approximately 2 years with M_(w) ~7.2 and an average slip rate of ~91 mm/year. To test whether these SSEs triggered earthquakes near the slow slip area, we calculated the Coulomb stressing rate changes on receiver faults by using two fault geometry definitions: nodal planes of focal mechanism solutions of past earthquakes, and optimally oriented fault planes. Regions in the shallow slab(30–60 km) that experienced a significant increase in the Coulomb stressing rate due to slip by the SSEs showed an increase in seismicity rates during SSE periods. No correlation was found in the volumes that underwent a significant increase in the Coulomb stressing rate during the SSE within the crust and the intermediate slab. We modeled variations in seismicity rates by using a combination of the Coulomb stress transfer model and the framework of rate-and-state friction. Our model indicated that the SSEs increased the Coulomb stress changes on adjacent faults,thereby increasing the seismicity rates even though the ratio of the SSE stressing rate to the background stressing rate was small. Each long-term SSE in Alaska brought the megathrust updip of the SSE areas closer to failure by up to 0.1–0.15 MPa. The volumes of significant Coulomb stress changes caused by the Upper and Lower Cook Inlet SSEs did not overlap.展开更多
Sea ice is a crucial component of the ocean-atmosphere interaction system,particularly Antarctic sea ice,which significantly impacts global climate change.This study analyzes the spatiotemporal variation characteristi...Sea ice is a crucial component of the ocean-atmosphere interaction system,particularly Antarctic sea ice,which significantly impacts global climate change.This study analyzes the spatiotemporal variation characteristics of sea ice extent in Antarctica and its surrounding five sub-regions(Weddell Sea,Indian Ocean,Pacific Ocean,Ross Sea,and Bellingshausen-Amundsen Sea)from 1979 to 2022.Using the time series analysis method of Fourier series expansion,we explore the characteristics and trends of Antarctic sea ice extent changes from two perspectives:periodic fluctuations and trend stability.Our results indicate that:(1)The seasonal variation characteristics of Antarctic sea ice extent are pronounced,with the smallest extent in summer(February)and the largest in winter(September).From 1979 to 2022,the overall trend of changes in Antarctic sea ice extent was not significant,but the periodic characteristics were distinct.During this period,there were several abrupt decreases in sea ice extent,and the extent of Antarctic sea ice in 2022 was the smallest since satellite observations began.From 1980 to 2009,the extent of Antarctic sea ice increased stepwise on an interdecadal scale,while from 2010 to 2022,it decreased.(2)There is one smooth structural break in the sea ice extent of each sub-region of Antarctica.There are three smooth structural breaks in the Antarctic sea ice extent,and the variation differences in the sea ice extent of the surrounding areas contribute to more frequent changes in the overall Antarctic sea ice extent.(3)The changes in Antarctic sea ice are influenced by many factors,and in the future,it is necessary to strengthen observation and simulation to provide a scientific basis for climate change research.展开更多
Deforestation is one of the most serious environmental problems facing humankind.It continues to escalate rapidly across many regions of the world,thereby deteriorating the forest soil quality.This has prompted a larg...Deforestation is one of the most serious environmental problems facing humankind.It continues to escalate rapidly across many regions of the world,thereby deteriorating the forest soil quality.This has prompted a large number of field-based studies aimed at understanding the impacts of deforestation on soil properties.However,the lack of comprehensive meta-analyses that utilized these studies has limited our deeper understanding of how different soil properties,including the soil organic carbon(SOC)pool,respond to deforestation.To address this critical knowledge gap,we conducted a meta-analysis of 144 studies to explore the impacts of deforestation on soil chemical,physical,and biological properties,with special emphasis on the long-term changes in SOC,such as concentrations,stocks,and sequestration.The results revealed that deforestation significantly decreased soil organic matter,electrical conductivity,and base saturation by 52%,50%,and 98%,respectively.While deforestation increased soil total nitrogen content and decreased available phosphorus content by 51%and 99%,respectively,it resulted in slight decreases in some chemical properties,including soil pH(1%)and base cations(1%–13%).Deforestation significantly increased bulk density by 27%and soil erosion by 47%,but significantly decreased soil aggregate stability by 39%and saturated hydraulic conductivity by 63%.Soil microbial biomass C and N concentrations and enzyme activities were significantly decreased as a consequence of deforestation.Soil biological properties were much more affected by deforestation than soil physical and chemical properties.Regarding the SOC,the land use conversion from forest to pasture significantly increased SOC concentrations,stocks,and sequestration rates(11%–13%),whereas the land use conversions from forest to both plantation and cropland significantly decreased SOC concentrations,stocks,and sequestration rates(10%–43%).This observed decline in SOC accumulations decreased with increasing years after deforestation.The SOC dynamics following deforestation were predominantly regulated by microbial biomass concentrations,dehydrogenase activity,soil erosion,saturated hydraulic conductivity,aggregate stability,as well as concentrations of total organic carbon,total nitrogen,total phosphorus and organic matter.The present meta-analytical study provides compelling evidence that deforestation can induce profound changes in soil characteristics,including soil C contents,and has significant implications for soil health sustainability and climate change mitigation.展开更多
This article takes listed companies in China's A-share market that underwent voluntary auditor changes from 2021 to 2024 as the research object,and empirically examines the impact of voluntary auditor changes on c...This article takes listed companies in China's A-share market that underwent voluntary auditor changes from 2021 to 2024 as the research object,and empirically examines the impact of voluntary auditor changes on corporate audit fees.The research results show that:(1)voluntary auditor changes significantly reduce corporate audit fees,indicating that companies have bargaining advantages in auditor selection and can achieve cost savings by changing auditors;(2)The new regulatory regulations released in 2023 have significantly changed the audit pricing mechanism,so that voluntary changes no longer have a fee reduction effect;(3)When establishing an audit committee for a company,voluntary auditor changes can significantly reduce audit fees;(4)When state-owned enterprises voluntarily change auditors,the cost reduction effect of audit fees is more significant;(5)Voluntary auditor changes have partially mediated the cost reduction effect on audit fees by reducing the proportion of non audit services.This article provides empirical evidence for enterprises to optimize their auditor selection strategies,and also provides insights for regulatory authorities to identify irrational low price competition in the audit market and regulate pricing order.展开更多
Understanding the local ecological security status and its underlying drivers can be used as an effective reference for balancing ecosystem development with societal needs. This study assesses the ecological security ...Understanding the local ecological security status and its underlying drivers can be used as an effective reference for balancing ecosystem development with societal needs. This study assesses the ecological security of the Loess Plateau(LP) by integrating ecosystem health and ecosystem services, explores the varying impacts of ecosystem structure, quality, and services on ecological security index(ESI), and identifies the key driving factors of ESI using the Geodetector model. The results show that:(1) the average ESI indicates a relatively safe ecological status in LP with a significant increase in ESI observed in 50.21% of the region, largely due to the ecological restoration programs.(2) Natural factors predominantly influence ESI, although human factors play a significant role in the earthy-rocky mountain region and plateau wind-sand region.(3) The interactions between driving factors have a much greater impact on ESI than any single factor, with the interactions between precipitation and human factors being the most influential combination. This study provides a novel perspective on assessing ecological security in LP. We recommend that future ecological restoration efforts should consider the varying roles of ecosystem structure, quality, and services in ESI while tailoring strategies to the primary driving factors based on local conditions.展开更多
基金National Natural Science Foundation of China,No.41761003The Karst Science Research Center of Guizhou Province,No.U1812401。
文摘Terrestrial ecosystems heavily depend on vegetation,which responds to carbon dioxide(CO_(2))fertilization in hot and humid regions.The subtropical humid karst region is a hot and humid region;whether and to what extent CO_(2)fertilization affects vegetation changes in such regions remains unclear.In this study,we investigated the degree to which CO_(2)fertilization influences vegetation changes,along with their spatial and temporal differences,in the subtropical humid karst region using time-lag effect analysis,a random forest model,and multiple regression analysis.Results showed that CO_(2)fertilization plays an important role in vegetation changes,exhibiting clear spatial variations across different geomorphological zones,with its degree of influence ranging mainly between 11%and 25%.The highest contribution of CO_(2)fertilization was observed in the karst basin and non-karstic region,whereas the lowest contribution was found in the karst plateau region.Previous studies have primarily attributed vegetation changes in subtropical humid karst region to ecological engineering,leading to an overestimation of its contribution to these changes.The findings of this study enhance the understanding of the mechanism of vegetation changes in humid karst region and provide theoretical and practical insights for ecological and environmental protection in these regions.
基金supported by the Science and Technology Program of Fujian Province,China(No.2023R1014002)the National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.41471390).
文摘The toxicity of PM_(2.5)does not necessarily change synchronously with its mass concentration.In this study,the chemical composition(carbonaceous species,water-soluble ions,and metals)and oxidative potential(dithiothreitol assay,DTT)of PM_(2.5)were investigated in 2017/2018 and 2022 in Xiamen,China.The decrease rate of volume-normalized DTT(DTTv)(38%)was lower than that of PM_(2.5)(55%)between the two sampling periods.However,the mass-normalized DTT(DTTm)increased by 44%.Clear seasonal patterns with higher levels in winter were found for PM_(2.5),most chemical constituents and DTTv but not for DTTm.The large decrease in DTT activity(84%−92%)after the addition of EDTA suggested that watersoluble metals were the main contributors to DTT in Xiamen.The increased gap between the reconstructed and measured DTTv and the stronger correlations between the reconstructed/measured DTT ratio and carbonaceous species in 2022were observed.The decrease rates of the hazard index(32.5%)and lifetime cancer risk(9.1%)differed from those of PM_(2.5)and DTTv due to their different main contributors.The PMF-MLR model showed that the contributions(nmol/(min·m^(3)))of vehicle emission,coal+biomass burning,ship emission and secondary aerosol to DTTv in 2022 decreased by 63.0%,65.2%,66.5%,and 22.2%,respectively,compared to those in 2017/2018,which was consistent with the emission reduction of vehicle exhaust and coal consumption,the adoption of low-sulfur fuel oil used on board ships and the reduced production of WSOC.However,the contributions of dust+sea salt and industrial emission increased.
文摘BACKGROUND Atypical optic neuritis,consisting of neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders(NMOSD)or myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein antibody disease(MOGAD),has a very similar presentation but different prognostic implications and longterm management strategies.Vascular and metabolic factors are being thought to play a role in such autoimmune neuro-inflammatory disorders,apart from the obvious immune mediated damage.With the advent of optical coherence tomography angiography(OCTA),it is easy to pick up on these subclinical macular microvascular and structural changes.AIM To study the macular microvascular and structural changes on OCTA in atypical optic neuritis.METHODS This observational cross-sectional study involved 8 NMOSD and 17 MOGAD patients,diagnosed serologically,as well as 10 healthy controls.Macular vascular density(MVD)and ganglion cell+inner plexiform layer thickness(GCIPL)were studied using OCTA.RESULTS There was a significant reduction in MVD in NMOSD and MOGAD affected as well as unaffected eyes when compared with healthy controls.NMOSD and MOGAD affected eyes had significant GCIPL thinning compared with healthy controls.NMOSD unaffected eyes did not show significant GCIPL thinning compared to healthy controls in contrast to MOGAD unaffected eyes.On comparing NMOSD with MOGAD,there was no significant difference in terms of MVD or GCIPL in the affected or unaffected eyes.CONCLUSION Although significant microvascular and structural changes are present on OCTA between atypical optic neuritis and normal patients,they could not help in differentiating between NMOSD and MOGAD cases.
文摘Gas-bearing shales have become a major source of future natural gas production worldwide.It has become increasingly urgent to develop a reliable prediction model and corresponding workflow for identifying shale gas sweet spots.The formation of gas-bearing shales is closely linked to relative sealevel changes,providing an important approach to predicting sweet spots in the Wufeng-Longmaxi shale in the southern Sichuan Basin,China.Three types of marine shale gas sweet spots are identified in the shale based on their formation stages combined with relative sea-level changes:early,middle,and late transgression types.This study develops a prediction model and workflow for identifying shale gas sweet spots by analyzing relative sea-level changes and facies sequences.Predicting shale gas sweet spots in an explored block using this model and workflow can provide a valuable guide for well design and hydraulic fracturing,significantly enhancing the efficiency of shale gas exploration and development.Notably,the new prediction model and workflow can be utilized for the rapid evaluation of the potential for shale gas development in new shale gas blocks or those with low exploratory maturity.
基金funded by the Postdoctoral Research Startup Foundation of University of Jinan(Grant No.100389917).
文摘Climate change and anthropogenic activities have driven significant terrestrial water storage changes(TWSC)in the Three Rivers Source Region(TRSR),exerting profound impacts on freshwater availability across China and broader Asia.However,long-term TWSC characterization remains challenging due to limited observational data in this alpine region.Here,we integrate GRACE observations(2002-2020),ERA5-Land reanalysis,and GLDAS data to reconstruct TWSC using two methods:(1)the water balance method(PER)and(2)the component summation method(SS),applied to three input datasets(ERA5-Land,GLDAS,and their average,GLER).Comparative analysis reveals that the SS method applied to GL-ER yields the highest consistency with GRACE-derived TWSC.Using this optimal approach,we extend the analysis to 1951~2020,uncovering spatiotemporal TWSC patterns.Although annual TWSC trends appear negligible due to strong seasonality,we introduce the intra-year TWSC fluctuation(TWSCF)index to quantify cumulative variability.A significant(p<0.05)transition occurred in 1980,with TWSCF shifting from a declining trend(-0.39 mm/yr)to an increasing trend(0.56 mm/yr),primarily driven by soil moisture changes.However,Hurst exponent analysis suggests this upward trend may not persist.Drought and vegetation assessments indicate concurrent wetting and greening in the TRSR.TWSC correlates strongly with meteorological drought,acting as a reliable drought indicator while its linkage with vegetation dynamics suggests a potential contribution to greening.Our findings provide a robust framework for understanding long-term TWSC evolution and its hydrological-ecological interactions under climate change.
文摘BACKGROUND Dyslipidemia was strongly linked to stroke,however the relationship between dyslipidemia and its components and ischemic stroke remained unexplained.AIM To investigate the link between longitudinal changes in lipid profiles and dyslipidemia and ischemic stroke in a hypertensive population.METHODS Between 2013 and 2014,6094 hypertension individuals were included in this,and ischemic stroke cases were documented to the end of 2018.Longitudinal changes of lipid were stratified into four groups:(1)Normal was transformed into normal group;(2)Abnormal was transformed into normal group;(3)Normal was transformed into abnormal group;and(4)Abnormal was transformed into abnormal group.To examine the link between longitudinal changes in dyslipidemia along with its components and the risk of ischemic stroke,we utilized multivariate Cox proportional hazards models with hazard ratio(HR)and 95%CI.RESULTS The average age of the participants was 62.32 years±13.00 years,with 329 women making up 54.0%of the sample.Over the course of a mean follow-up of 4.8 years,143 ischemic strokes happened.When normal was transformed into normal group was used as a reference,after full adjustments,the HR for dyslipidemia and ischemic stroke among abnormal was transformed into normal group,normal was transformed into abnormal group and abnormal was transformed into abnormal Wei CC et al.Dyslipidemia changed and ischemic stroke WJCC https://www.wjgnet.com 2 February 6,2025 Volume 13 Issue 4 group were 1.089(95%CI:0.598-1.982;P=0.779),2.369(95%CI:1.424-3.941;P<0.001)and 1.448(95%CI:1.002-2.298;P=0.047)(P for trend was 0.233),respectively.CONCLUSION In individuals with hypertension,longitudinal shifts from normal to abnormal in dyslipidemia-particularly in total and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol-were significantly associated with the risk of ischemic stroke.
基金the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant No.42374105,42204089,42174104)Scientific Research Fund of Institute of Seismology,China Earthquake Administration(Grant No.IS202326341,IS202336350).
文摘On September 5, 2022, an earthquake of magnitude M_(S)6.8 occurred in Luding County, Sichuan Province.This earthquake occurred at the key part of the southeast-clockwise extrusion of material on the eastern margin of the Qinghai Plateau, the Y-shaped confluence of the Xianshuihe, Longmenshan and Anninghe fault zones. In this study, the three-dimensional dynamic crustal density changes in the earthquake area are obtained by the typical gravity change data from 2019 to 2022 before the earthquake and gravity inversion by growing bodies. The results indicate that gravity changes presented an obvious fourquadrant and gradient belt distribution in the Luding area before the earthquake. The threedimensional density horizontal slices show that small density changes occurred at the epicenter in the mid-to-upper crust between 2019.9-2020.9 and 2019.9-2021.9. At the same time, the surrounding areas exhibited a positive and negative quadrant distribution. These observations indicate that the source region was likely in a stable locked state, with locking-in shear forces oriented in the NW and NE directions. From 2021.9 to 2022.8, the epicentral region showed negative density changes, indicating that the source region was in the expansion stage, approaching a near-seismic state. The three-dimensional density vertical slices reveal a southeastward migration of positive and negative densities near the epicenter and on the western of the Xianshuihe Fault Zone, indicating that the material is flowing out to the southeast. The observed local negative density changes at the epicenter along the Longmenshan Fault Zone are likely associated with the NE-oriented extensional stress shown by the seismic source mechanism. The above results can provide a basis for interpreting pre-earthquake gravity and density changes,thereby contributing to the advancement of earthquake precursor theory.
基金supported by the Key R&D Project of Science and Technology Program of Tibet Autonomous Region(XZ202301ZY0006G)the Graduate High-level Talent Training Program of Xizang University(2022-GSP-B007)+1 种基金Nagqu City Science and Technology Program Key R&D Projects(NQKJ-2023-15)Central Financial Support for Local Universities to Construct Wetland Station in Mitika and Collaborative Innovation Center for Ecological Civilization of the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau([2024]NO.01).
文摘This study aims to construct a large-scale hydrological Variable Infiltration Capacity(VIC)model based on temperature and precipitation at high altitudes,while elucidating the applicability of the model for hydrological simulation and analyzing the factors affecting runoff volume.Runoff volume and runoff depth were simulated using the VIC model and its performance was evaluated.Meanwhile,the factors affecting runoff volume were analyzed using Spearman correlation.The following model sensitivity parameters were obtained based on the China Natural Runoff Grid Point Dataset(CNRD v1.0):The variable infiltration curve parameter was 0.3,the Dsmax fraction where non-linear baseflow begins was 0.02,the maximum baseflow velocity was 15 mm/d,the maximum soil moisture where non-linear baseflow occurred was 0.7,the second soil moisture layer thickness was 0.3,and the thickness of the third soil moisture layer was 1.5.The surface runoff values in the Nyang River basin were similar in the first and fourth quarters(1.05–2.27 mm and 2.38–4.77 mm,respectively),and the surface runoff values were similar in the second and third quarters when the surface runoff was greater(23.46–52.20 mm and 60.59–85.63 mm,respectively).Watershed area,temperature,and precipitation significantly influenced the amount of runoff from the Nyang River.The applicability of the model to the Nyang River basin was confirmed using two different rate models.In some areas,precipitation and temperature did not have a dominating influence on runoff.Although the VIC model has significant advantages in runoff simulation,it requires a wealth of meteorological,soil,and hydrological data that may be difficult to obtain in some areas.
基金supported by National Key R&D Program of China(No.2018YFC0407303)“Young Talents”Project of Northeast Agricultural University(No.20QC13)the Natural Science Foundation of Heilongjiang Province of China(No.E2017009)。
文摘Previous works were mainly concentrated on long-term average runoff alterations,and extreme temperatures and watershed conditions are little analyzed.In this study,we collected gauged river flow and meteorological data time series from 1916 to 2015 and 1941 to 2015 across the contiguous United States(CONUS)for 188 catchments to investigate the temporal trends and spatial features of runoff changes at multi-time scales.We also analyzed the relationships between runoff changes and climatic factors.Median descriptive statistics and Budyko coupled climate elasticity methods were used to calculate runoff elasticity in each time scale.The original Mann-Kendall trend test was used to test their trend significance in four time-scale(11,20,40,and 60 a),respectively.The results show that the trend of runoff changes is more significant in high time scales;total changes are heterogeneous over CONUS.After the 1970s,increases of up to 27%decade-1 were mainly concentrated in the mid-northern regions.Maximum temperature and catchment characteristics are vital factors for runoff alteration;runoff changes are independent of rainfall,and wet regions tend to have lower changes.These findings could help develop better regional water resource planning and management.
基金funded by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(U21A2011).
文摘Climate warming and humidification trends have significantly influenced vegetation growth patterns in Chinese semi-arid areas.Exploring vegetation dynamics is crucial for understanding regional ecosystem structure and improving the efforts of ecosystem restoration.However,the applicability of various vegetation indices(VIs)in these arid areas remains uncertain.Evaluating the applicability of multiple VIs for vegetation monitoring can elucidate the variability of VIs performance at regional scale.Therefore,this study selected the Zuli River Basin(ZLRB),a typical loess hilly watershed in the semi-arid areas of China.Using Landsat data,we calculated the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index(NDVI),Enhanced Vegetation Index(EVI),and kernel NDVI(kNDVI)for the ZLRB from 1990 to 2020.We analyzed the spatiotemporal variations of these VIs using trend analysis and the Mann-Kendall test,and quantified the contributions of climate change(considering time-lag effects)and human activities to VIs changes through wavelet and residual analyses.Results indicated that VIs generally exhibited an upward trend in the ZLRB,with significant improvements observed in 54.91% of the area for NDVI,31.69% for EVI,and 33.71% for kNDVI.Among them,NDVI outperformed EVI and kNDVI in capturing vegetation changes in the semi-arid area.VIs responded to precipitation with 1-month time lag and no time lag to temperature during growing season.Moreover,precipitation had a stronger positive correlation with VIs than temperature.Climate change was identified as the dominant driver of vegetation dynamics in the ZLRB,accounting for 93.12% of NDVI variation,while human activities contributed only 6.88%.Comparative analysis of VIs suggests that NDVI was more suitable for describing vegetation changes in the typical arid area of the ZLRB.Our findings underscore the importance of selecting appropriate VIs for targeted ecological restoration and sustainable land management.
基金supported by the Natural Science Foundation of Jiangsu Province[grant number BK20220031]the National Natural Science Foundation of China[grant number 42007195].
文摘Renewable energy,especially solar power,is vital for mitigating global warming,while climate change also impacts solar photovoltaic potential(PVpot).This study analyzes historical(1985–2014)and future(2015–2100)climate effects on PVpot,and quantifies contributions from changed radiation,temperature,and wind speed.Historically,global PVpot increased by 0.42‰,with notable rises in eastern China(+7.1‰)and southern Europe(+3.5‰).By the end of the century,increased radiation-induced PVpot(+1.27‰)offsets temperatureinduced PVpot loss(−0.54‰)under SSP1-2.6,yielding a net PVpot increase(+0.74‰).Under SSP2-4.5,the temperature-induced PVpot decline(−1.50‰)drives the final PVpot reduction(−1.15‰).Under SSP3-7.0 and SSP5-8.5,combined radiation-induced(−1.94‰and−1.99‰)and temperature-induced PVpot changes(−2.67‰and−3.41‰)result in significant PVpot declines(−4.57‰and−5.31‰).Regional analysis reveals that eastern China(+0.7‰to+8.6‰),southern Europe(+0.3‰to+2.5‰),and Northwest South America(+0.6‰to+2.1‰)retain positive changes in future PVpot across all climate scenarios,which may be due to reduced aerosols and cloud cover,suggesting these areas can remain suitable for photovoltaic installations despite climate changes.In contrast,temperature-driven PVpot declines over the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau(−9.1‰to−4.3‰)and northern Africa(−9.3‰to−4.9‰)under future high-emission scenarios indicate that these historically advantageous regions will become less suitable for solar energy deployment.The findings underscore that climate changes driven by sustainable development pathways will generate more PVpot in the future for better global warming mitigation.
基金supported by grants from the National Natural Science Foundation of China(81871062)Guangdong Basic and Applied Basic Research Foundation(2024A1515012913)+1 种基金the Key Research Foundation of Guangdong Provincial Education Bureau(2023ZDZX2037)the Special Fund of Science and Technology Innovation Cultivation of Guangdong University Students(pdjh2024a238,pdjh2025ak133)。
文摘Dear Editor,Post-traumatic stress disorder(PTSD)is a chronic neuropsychiatric disorder triggered by severe traumatic events,characterized by persistent intrusive memories,emotional dysregulation,hyperarousal,and avoidance behaviors[1,2].PTSD is associated with significant gene expression changes in key brain regions,including the ventral tegmental area(VTA),which may underlie dysregulation of dopaminergic signaling and stress-related behaviors[3].
基金supported by the National Key Programme of Research and Development,Ministry of Science and Technology of China(2022YFF1301600)National Natural Science Foundation of China(32030011,U24A20362,32070409)+2 种基金PI Project of Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory(Guangzhou)(GML2021 GD0805)Qing Lan Project of Jiangsu ProvincePriority Academic Program Development of Jiangsu Higher Education Institutions。
文摘Vertebrate limbs have undergone profound morphological diversification,enabling adaptations to a broad spectrum of ecological niches.In marine mammals,the evolution of highly specialized flipper-like forelimbs represents a profound structural transformation associated with aquatic habitats.This adaptation has been hypothesized to result,in part,from the inhibition of interphalangeal cell apoptosis during limb development,although the underlying genetic mechanism remains poorly understood.This study investigated the evolutionary dynamics and functional consequences of three key bone morphogenetic protein genes,BMP2,BMP4,and BMP7,which regulate apoptosis in interphalangeal mesenchymal stromal cells during embryonic limb development to ensure proper differentiation of interphalangeal tissues.Comparative genomic analysis revealed significantly accelerated evolution for BMP4 and BMP7 in the cetacean ancestral lineage,with two positively selected sites(V79I and H247R)involved in cetacean-specific amino acid substitutions located in the TGF-βpropeptide functional domain in BMP4.In vitro assays confirmed that cetacean-specific BMP4 mutations significantly disrupted normal cell apoptosis and proliferation and altered the transcription and protein expression of downstream apoptosis-related factors,including cytochrome c(Cyt c),BCL2 associated X,and B-cell lymphoma 2,within the BMP signaling pathway.The significant influence of BMP4 mutations on apoptotic inhibition highlights a potential role in the development of limb bud mesenchymal tissue and the emergence of the flipper forelimb phenotype in cetaceans.
基金Under the auspices of Hainan Provincial Natural Science Foundation of China(No.321QN187,723RC466)Scientific Research Foundation of Hainan University(No.kyqd(sk)2135)Young Scholars Support Program of Hainan University(No.24QNFC-05)。
文摘Rapid climate and cropland use changes in recent decades have posed major challenges to food security in China.Hainan Is-land is the only tropical island in China and is blessed with natural conditions for crop production.This study first simulates the climate scenarios of Hainan Island for 2030,2040 and 2050 under the four Socio-economic Pathways(SSPs)based on the climate models in ScenarioMIP of Coupled Model Intercomparison Project Phase 6(CMIP6),and then simulates the land use scenarios of Hainan Island for 2030,2040 and 2050 based on the Cellular Automata(CA)-Markov model.Finally,based on the Global Agro-Ecological Zones(GAEZ)model,the rice potential yield in Hainan Island for 2030,2040 and 2050 are simulated,and the effects of future climate and cropland use changes on rice potential yields are investigated.The results show that:1)from 2020 to 2050,mean maximum temperature first decreases and then increases,while mean minimum temperature increase sharply followed by a leveling off under the four SSPs.Precipitation decreases and then increases under other three SSPs except SSP2-4.5.Net solar radiation increases continuously under SSP1-2.6,2-4.5,and 5-8.5,and has the lowest simulated values under SSP3-7.0.Mean wind speed increases continuously under SSP1-2.6,fluctuates more under SSP2-4.5 and SSP5-8.5,and increases slowly and then decreases sharply under SSP3-7.0.Relative humidity basically decreases continuously under the four SSPs.2)Areas of paddy field are 302.49 thousand,302.41 thousand and 302.71 thou-sand ha for 2030,2040 and 2050,respectively,all less than that in 2020.Paddy field is mainly converted into built-up land and wood-land.As for the conversion of other land types to paddy field,woodland is the main source.3)Under the effects of future climate and cropland use changes,the mean potential productions in Hainan Island under the four SSPs increase 1.17 million,1.13 million and 1.11 million t,respectively,and the mean potential yields increase 3873.21,3766.71 and 3672.38 kg/ha,respectively for the three periods.The largest increases in mean rice potential production and mean potential yield are 1.21 million t and 4008.00 kg/ha,1.16 million t and 3846.65 kg/ha,as well as 1.13 million t and 3732.75 kg/ha,respectively under SSP 3-7.0,indicating that SSP3-7.0 is the most suitable scenario for rice growth.This study could provide scientific basis for crop planting planning and agricultural policy adjustment.
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.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 42104001)。
文摘Two long-term slow slip events(SSEs) in Lower Cook Inlet, Alaska, were identified by Li SS et al.(2016). The earlier SSE lasted at least 9 years with M_(w) ~7.8 and had an average slip rate of ~82 mm/year. The latter SSE, occurring in a similar area, lasted approximately 2 years with M_(w) ~7.2 and an average slip rate of ~91 mm/year. To test whether these SSEs triggered earthquakes near the slow slip area, we calculated the Coulomb stressing rate changes on receiver faults by using two fault geometry definitions: nodal planes of focal mechanism solutions of past earthquakes, and optimally oriented fault planes. Regions in the shallow slab(30–60 km) that experienced a significant increase in the Coulomb stressing rate due to slip by the SSEs showed an increase in seismicity rates during SSE periods. No correlation was found in the volumes that underwent a significant increase in the Coulomb stressing rate during the SSE within the crust and the intermediate slab. We modeled variations in seismicity rates by using a combination of the Coulomb stress transfer model and the framework of rate-and-state friction. Our model indicated that the SSEs increased the Coulomb stress changes on adjacent faults,thereby increasing the seismicity rates even though the ratio of the SSE stressing rate to the background stressing rate was small. Each long-term SSE in Alaska brought the megathrust updip of the SSE areas closer to failure by up to 0.1–0.15 MPa. The volumes of significant Coulomb stress changes caused by the Upper and Lower Cook Inlet SSEs did not overlap.
文摘Sea ice is a crucial component of the ocean-atmosphere interaction system,particularly Antarctic sea ice,which significantly impacts global climate change.This study analyzes the spatiotemporal variation characteristics of sea ice extent in Antarctica and its surrounding five sub-regions(Weddell Sea,Indian Ocean,Pacific Ocean,Ross Sea,and Bellingshausen-Amundsen Sea)from 1979 to 2022.Using the time series analysis method of Fourier series expansion,we explore the characteristics and trends of Antarctic sea ice extent changes from two perspectives:periodic fluctuations and trend stability.Our results indicate that:(1)The seasonal variation characteristics of Antarctic sea ice extent are pronounced,with the smallest extent in summer(February)and the largest in winter(September).From 1979 to 2022,the overall trend of changes in Antarctic sea ice extent was not significant,but the periodic characteristics were distinct.During this period,there were several abrupt decreases in sea ice extent,and the extent of Antarctic sea ice in 2022 was the smallest since satellite observations began.From 1980 to 2009,the extent of Antarctic sea ice increased stepwise on an interdecadal scale,while from 2010 to 2022,it decreased.(2)There is one smooth structural break in the sea ice extent of each sub-region of Antarctica.There are three smooth structural breaks in the Antarctic sea ice extent,and the variation differences in the sea ice extent of the surrounding areas contribute to more frequent changes in the overall Antarctic sea ice extent.(3)The changes in Antarctic sea ice are influenced by many factors,and in the future,it is necessary to strengthen observation and simulation to provide a scientific basis for climate change research.
基金This study was financially supported by the Strategic Priority Research Program of the Chinese Academy of Sciences(Grant No.XDA28020300)the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant No.42250410332)+2 种基金the Key Foreign Cooperation Program of the Bureau of International Cooperation of the Chinese Academy of Sciences(Grant No.177GJHZ2022020BS)the‘Double-First Class’Initiative Program for Foreign Talents of Southwest University(Grant No.cstc2021ycjh-bgzxm0002)the‘Prominent Scientist Program’of Chongqing Talents(Grant No.cstc2021ycjh-bgzxm0020)。
文摘Deforestation is one of the most serious environmental problems facing humankind.It continues to escalate rapidly across many regions of the world,thereby deteriorating the forest soil quality.This has prompted a large number of field-based studies aimed at understanding the impacts of deforestation on soil properties.However,the lack of comprehensive meta-analyses that utilized these studies has limited our deeper understanding of how different soil properties,including the soil organic carbon(SOC)pool,respond to deforestation.To address this critical knowledge gap,we conducted a meta-analysis of 144 studies to explore the impacts of deforestation on soil chemical,physical,and biological properties,with special emphasis on the long-term changes in SOC,such as concentrations,stocks,and sequestration.The results revealed that deforestation significantly decreased soil organic matter,electrical conductivity,and base saturation by 52%,50%,and 98%,respectively.While deforestation increased soil total nitrogen content and decreased available phosphorus content by 51%and 99%,respectively,it resulted in slight decreases in some chemical properties,including soil pH(1%)and base cations(1%–13%).Deforestation significantly increased bulk density by 27%and soil erosion by 47%,but significantly decreased soil aggregate stability by 39%and saturated hydraulic conductivity by 63%.Soil microbial biomass C and N concentrations and enzyme activities were significantly decreased as a consequence of deforestation.Soil biological properties were much more affected by deforestation than soil physical and chemical properties.Regarding the SOC,the land use conversion from forest to pasture significantly increased SOC concentrations,stocks,and sequestration rates(11%–13%),whereas the land use conversions from forest to both plantation and cropland significantly decreased SOC concentrations,stocks,and sequestration rates(10%–43%).This observed decline in SOC accumulations decreased with increasing years after deforestation.The SOC dynamics following deforestation were predominantly regulated by microbial biomass concentrations,dehydrogenase activity,soil erosion,saturated hydraulic conductivity,aggregate stability,as well as concentrations of total organic carbon,total nitrogen,total phosphorus and organic matter.The present meta-analytical study provides compelling evidence that deforestation can induce profound changes in soil characteristics,including soil C contents,and has significant implications for soil health sustainability and climate change mitigation.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China under Grant No.72362001titled'Compensation Incentive Mechanism of Accounting Firms:Theoretical Framework,Incentive Effect Test,and Optimization Reconstruction'.
文摘This article takes listed companies in China's A-share market that underwent voluntary auditor changes from 2021 to 2024 as the research object,and empirically examines the impact of voluntary auditor changes on corporate audit fees.The research results show that:(1)voluntary auditor changes significantly reduce corporate audit fees,indicating that companies have bargaining advantages in auditor selection and can achieve cost savings by changing auditors;(2)The new regulatory regulations released in 2023 have significantly changed the audit pricing mechanism,so that voluntary changes no longer have a fee reduction effect;(3)When establishing an audit committee for a company,voluntary auditor changes can significantly reduce audit fees;(4)When state-owned enterprises voluntarily change auditors,the cost reduction effect of audit fees is more significant;(5)Voluntary auditor changes have partially mediated the cost reduction effect on audit fees by reducing the proportion of non audit services.This article provides empirical evidence for enterprises to optimize their auditor selection strategies,and also provides insights for regulatory authorities to identify irrational low price competition in the audit market and regulate pricing order.
基金National Natural Science Foundation of China,No.42371103Natural Science Basic Research Plan in Shaanxi Province of China,No.2023-JC-YB-229。
文摘Understanding the local ecological security status and its underlying drivers can be used as an effective reference for balancing ecosystem development with societal needs. This study assesses the ecological security of the Loess Plateau(LP) by integrating ecosystem health and ecosystem services, explores the varying impacts of ecosystem structure, quality, and services on ecological security index(ESI), and identifies the key driving factors of ESI using the Geodetector model. The results show that:(1) the average ESI indicates a relatively safe ecological status in LP with a significant increase in ESI observed in 50.21% of the region, largely due to the ecological restoration programs.(2) Natural factors predominantly influence ESI, although human factors play a significant role in the earthy-rocky mountain region and plateau wind-sand region.(3) The interactions between driving factors have a much greater impact on ESI than any single factor, with the interactions between precipitation and human factors being the most influential combination. This study provides a novel perspective on assessing ecological security in LP. We recommend that future ecological restoration efforts should consider the varying roles of ecosystem structure, quality, and services in ESI while tailoring strategies to the primary driving factors based on local conditions.
