Economic values and dominant providers of key ecosystem services of wetlands in Beijing,China

This study estimates the economic values of and the dominant contributors to five key ecosystem services of wetlands in Beijing, by using the wetland inventory data in 2014 and economic valuation methods. Results indicate that the 51,434 ha of wetlands in Beijing annually provide 2.07 billion m³ of flood regulation, 944.01 million m³ of water provision, 42,154 tons of chemical oxygen demand (COD) purification, 3.03 PJ of heat absorption, and 9587 ha of habitat. Their economic values are estimated to be 15.89 billion RMB, 1.19 billion RMB, 169 million RMB, 421 million RMB, and 1.08 billion RMB in 2014 (RMB: Chinese currency, US$1 = RMB 6.14), respectively. The total values of five key wetland ecosystem services reach 18.76 billion RMB. In addition, the reservoir and river wetlands in Miyun, Yanqing, Fangshan, Huairou, and Mentougou Districts contribute 78% of key ecosystem services, whereas the urban wetlands in Xicheng, Dongcheng, Haidian, Chaoyang, and Tongzhou Districts more conveniently serve densely local people, hence they should be given particular attentions. In this paper, we develop the valuation methods of wetland ecosystem services, and recommend diversified strategies, regulations, and programs to protect the remaining wetlands in Beijing. This work can also provide a reference for the valuating of wetland ecosystem services for other urban-rural areas.     

Evaluating regional water security through a freshwater ecosystem service flow model: A case study in Beijing-Tianjian-Hebei region,China

Freshwater ecosystem service is essential to human’s survival and development. Many studies have documented the spatial differences in the supply and demand of ecosystem services and proposed the concept of ecosystem services flows. However, few studies characterize freshwater ecosystem service flow quantitatively. Therefore, our paper aims to quantify the effects of freshwater ecosystem service flow on downstream areas. We developed a freshwater ecosystem service flow model and applied it in the Beijing–Tianjin–Hebei (BTH) region, China, for the year of 2000, 2005, and 2010. We assessed the regional water security with an improved freshwater security index by integrating freshwater service provision, consumption and flow; and found that most areas of the BTH region (69.2%) were affected by upstream freshwater flows. The areas achieving water security in the region also expanded to 66.9%, 66.1%, and 71.3%, which were 6.4%, 6.8% and 5.7% increments compared to no-flow situation, in 2000, 2005 and 2010, respectively. Setting quota for human water consumption is suggested to further improve water security. These results highlight the need to fully understand the connections between distant freshwater ecosystem service provision and local freshwater ecosystem service consumption. This approach may also help managers to choose more sustainable strategies for critical freshwater resource management across different regions.     

The impact and effectiveness of faculty development program in fostering the faculty’s knowledge,skills, and professional competence: A systematic review and meta-analysis

BackgroundFaculty vitality is the main ingredient to enhance professional education and competence. Enriching the faculty vitality in key domains of teaching, assessing, research, professionalism, and administration is perceived to improve educational environment significantly and enhances the academic performance of learners. Faculty development program (FDP) has been considered as a stand-alone educational pedagogy in fostering knowledge and professional skills of faculty. However, few studies have provided objective reports about the impact of such programs in a healthcare system.MethodsThis research was conducted by selecting data sources of PubMed-Medline, Wiley online library, Cochrane library, Taylor & Francis Online, CINAHL, Springer link, Proquest, ISI Web of knowledge, ScienceDirect, EJS, EBSCO, Blackwell, Emerald and ABI Inform. This search followed a step-wise approach defined by the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA). A total of 37 studies that explored the impact of FDPs on medical and allied health faculty’s professional development were selected.ResultsThis meta-analysis reported a mean effect size of 0.73 that reflects a significant and positive impact of FDPs in enhancing faculty’s knowledge and professional competence (z-statistics of 4.46 significant at p-value < 0.05) using the random effects model and forest plot.ConclusionThis article reiterates the incorporation of FDPs in all healthcare institutions for improving the academic performance of faculty with resultant enrichment of learners’ knowledge and skills.     

不同水污染净化情景下北京社会经济部门及要素变化:基于ES-CGE模型的分析

水污染问题是北京城市发展的重要阻碍,探寻水污染净化服务对城市经济系统的影响,对北京产业结构调整具有重要意义。在传统可计算一般均衡模型(Computable General Equilibrium,CGE)的基础上,将水污染净化服务引入CGE模型,构建了水污染净化服务-可计算一般均衡模型(Water Pollution Purification Ecosystem Service-Computable General Equilibrium,ES-CGE),从供给与需求两个方面模拟了不同水污染净化情境下北京市社会经济部门及要素变化。研究结果表明:当水污染净化服务的供给和需求变化时,经济系统内各部门的产出都会相应做出调整,这反映了生态系统和经济系统之间以及经济系统内部的关联性。与提高污水管理水平相比,北京限制污水排放效果更为显著,居民福利增加也更为明显。现阶段,北京市城市功能疏解中应首先疏解石油、天然气开采、电力、热力和燃料生产和供应业、纺织服装鞋帽皮革羽绒及其制品业、造纸印刷及文教体育用品制造业等部门。北京市可在20%的增税幅度内,适度提高石油、天然气开采、电力、热力燃料生产和供应业生产税,联动造纸、纺织等行业逐步向外疏导,提高居民福利,同时在增税和补贴过程中,应注重关护农村居民利益,防止拉大城乡福利差距。     

1980-2010年北京市农用地碳储量对土地利用变化的响应

分析北京市农用地碳储量对土地利用变化的响应,对快速城市化和工业化区域及全国农用地低碳利用调控具有重要意义。利用1980年第二次土壤普查数据与2010年测土配方施肥项目成果土壤数据核算北京市农用地表层土壤碳储量,利用生物量遥感信息（NDVI）模型反演林地、草地植被碳储量,对北京市土地利用变化造成的农用地碳储量变化进行研究,结果表明：1）1980-2010年,北京市农用地碳储量由75.29 Tg-C增至81.13Tg-C,增加5.83 Tg-C,其中,土壤碳储量减少7.51 Tg-C,植被碳储量增加13.34 Tg-C;2）30年间,北京市农用地面积减少14.11×10⁴ hm²,其中,耕地流失最为显著,主要去向为建设用地和林地,林地面积略有增加;3）北京市用地类型保持不变的农用地土壤碳储量减少297.63×10⁴ t,植被碳储量增加1095.21×10⁴ t,共计增加797.58×10⁴ t,其中,用地类型保持不变的耕地、林地碳储量增加,草地碳储量减少;4）30年间,土地利用类型转化使北京市农用地土壤碳储量减少75.71×10⁴ t,植被碳储量增加212.49×10⁴ t,共计增加136.78×10⁴ t,其他用地类型转为林地使碳储量增加,有利于碳汇的形成,林地转出为其他用地类型均会造成一定碳排放;5）平原造林、退耕还林等工程有利于增加北京市农用地固碳量。未来北京市可通过控制农用地面积减少量,优化农用地内部结构,降低用地类型间的转换频率以提高农用地碳储量。研究可为其他区域及全国在快速城市化工业化过程中提升农用地碳储量提供一定参考。     

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in the environment of Beijing,China: Levels,distribution, trends and sources

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) have become a major type of persistent organic pollutant (POPs) in the world. To well understand the occurrence, spatial distribution and source apportionment of 16 PAHs in different media in Beijing, a comprehensive study was conducted based on 337 obtained and subsequently selected samples in four specific media, including soil, road dust, surface water and atmosphere covering sampling time spanning from 2005 to 2014. Mean concentrations of Σ16 PAHs in soils (878.5 μg/kg) decreased from inner city to exterior areas with different land uses decreased in the order of industrial estate (2510 μg/kg)>educational area (1331 μg/kg)>Park (783 μg/kg)>cultivated (650 μg/kg)>roadside (583 μg/kg)>residential (568 μg/kg)>green area (478 μg/kg)>forest area (125 μg/kg). Meanwhile, PAHs concentrations in branch roads were slightly higher than trunk roads and mainly concentrated in urban areas (1136 μg/kg). Affected by industrial and residential areas, PAHs concentrations in downstream surface rivers were much higher than upstream surface rivers (475 ng/L). Due to strong mobility, PAHs concentrations in atmosphere were not equally distributed around the study area (157.59 ng/m³). The result of source apportionment determined by diagnostic ratios method indicated PAHs in multiple media in Beijing are mainly from coal and biomass combustion.     

基于多源数据分析的北京市中心城绿色空间时空演变研究（1992—2016）

随着城市化不断推进,北京市中心城社会经济发展和环境破坏严重威胁着绿色空间发展,理清绿色空间的演变机制为绿地系统规划方案制定提供重要的理论依据。研究以北京市中心城为对象,选择1992年、2000年、2008年和2016年4个重要节点,对其遥感影像进行解译,探究北京中心城绿色空间的时空变化并分析其转变影响因素。研究表明,研究期北京市中心城耕地、林地和湿地及水域面积减少,草地面积增加,总绿色空间大面积减少;中心城用地间的转换主要集中在耕地向建设用地、林地的转换,林地和草地向建设用地的转换上;社会经济发展对北京市中心城绿色空间面积演变影响显著,自然因素对绿色空间演变起到一定限制作用,政策因素对于结构性大型绿色空间的建设具有积极的推动作用。     

Lower Cretaceous theropod tracks with the new ichnogenus and combination Lockleypus luanpingensis from the Dabeigou Formation of the Luanping Basin,Hebei Province,China

Theropod footprints from the Jingshang tracksite in the Lower Cretaceous Dabeigou Formation of the Luanping Basin, Hebei Province, China, are re-evaluated after new discoveries at this locality. They occur in a succession with sandstone, mudstone, and calcareous shale. The depositional environment was a shallow lake shore, comparable in age to the famous Jehol Biota. Based on the distinct morphology with peculiar features of the ratio of the outer digits, the footprints formerly assigned to Changpeipus carbonicus are now referred to the new ichnogenus and combination Lockleypus luanpingensis. The possible trackmaker was a relatively large ornithomimosaurian theropod thus far not known from the skeletal record of the Jehol Biota.     

Building CT Radiomics Based Nomogram for Preoperative Esophageal Cancer Patients Lymph Node Metastasis Prediction

PURPOSE: To build and validate a radiomics-based nomogram for the prediction of pre-operation lymph node (LN) metastasis in esophageal cancer. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A total of 197 esophageal cancer patients were enrolled in this study, and their LN metastases have been pathologically confirmed. The data were collected from January 2016 to May 2016; patients in the first three months were set in the training cohort, and patients in April 2016 were set in the validation cohort. About 788 radiomics features were extracted from computed tomography (CT) images of the patients. The elastic-net approach was exploited for dimension reduction and selection of the feature space. The multivariable logistic regression analysis was adopted to build the radiomics signature and another predictive nomogram model. The predictive nomogram model was composed of three factors with the radiomics signature, where CT reported the LN number and position risk level. The performance and usefulness of the built model were assessed by the calibration and decision curve analysis. RESULTS: Thirteen radiomics features were selected to build the radiomics signature. The radiomics signature was significantly associated with the LN metastasis (P<0.001). The area under the curve (AUC) of the radiomics signature performance in the training cohort was 0.806 (95% CI: 0.732-0.881), and in the validation cohort it was 0.771 (95% CI: 0.632-0.910). The model showed good discrimination, with a Harrell’s Concordance Index of 0.768 (0.672 to 0.864, 95% CI) in the training cohort and 0.754 (0.603 to 0.895, 95% CI) in the validation cohort. Decision curve analysis showed our model will receive benefit when the threshold probability was larger than 0.15. CONCLUSION: The present study proposed a radiomics-based nomogram involving the radiomics signature, so the CT reported the status of the suspected LN and the dummy variable of the tumor position. It can be potentially applied in the individual preoperative prediction of the LN metastasis status in esophageal cancer patients.     

Quantitative Biomarkers for Prediction of Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor Mutation in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer

OBJECTIVES: To predict epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutation status using quantitative radiomic biomarkers and representative clinical variables. METHODS: The study included 180 patients diagnosed as of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) with their pre-therapy computed tomography (CT) scans. Using a radiomic method, 485 features that reflect the heterogeneity and phenotype of tumors were extracted. Afterwards, these radiomic features were used for predicting epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutation status by a least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) based on multivariable logistic regression. As a result, we found that radiomic features have prognostic ability in EGFR mutation status prediction. In addition, we used radiomic nomogram and calibration curve to test the performance of the model. RESULTS: Multivariate analysis revealed that the radiomic features had the potential to build a prediction model for EGFR mutation. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) for the training cohort was 0.8618, and the AUC for the validation cohort was 0.8725, which were superior to prediction model that used clinical variables alone. CONCLUSION: Radiomic features are better predictors of EGFR mutation status than conventional semantic CT image features or clinical variables to help doctors to decide who need EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) treatment.