Comparison of forest above‐ground biomass from dynamic global vegetation models with spatially explicit remotely sensed observation‐based estimates

Gaps in our current understanding and quantification of biomass carbon stocks, particularly in tropics, lead to large uncertainty in future projections of the terrestrial carbon balance. We use the recently published GlobBiomass data set of forest above‐ground biomass (AGB) density for the year 2010, obtained from multiple remote sensing and in situ observations at 100 m spatial resolution to evaluate AGB estimated by nine dynamic global vegetation models (DGVMs). The global total forest AGB of the nine DGVMs is 365 ± 66 Pg C, the spread corresponding to the standard deviation between models, compared to 275 Pg C with an uncertainty of ~13.5% from GlobBiomass. Model‐data discrepancy in total forest AGB can be attributed to their discrepancies in the AGB density and/or forest area. While DGVMs represent the global spatial gradients of AGB density reasonably well, they only have modest ability to reproduce the regional spatial gradients of AGB density at scales below 1000 km. The 95th percentile of AGB density (AGB₉₅) in tropics can be considered as the potential maximum of AGB density which can be reached for a given annual precipitation. GlobBiomass data show local deficits of AGB density compared to the AGB₉₅, particularly in transitional and/or wet regions in tropics. We hypothesize that local human disturbances cause more AGB density deficits from GlobBiomass than from DGVMs, which rarely represent human disturbances. We then analyse empirical relationships between AGB density deficits and forest cover changes, population density, burned areas and livestock density. Regression analysis indicated that more than 40% of the spatial variance of AGB density deficits in South America and Africa can be explained; in Southeast Asia, these factors explain only ~25%. This result suggests TRENDY v6 DGVMs tend to underestimate biomass loss from diverse and widespread anthropogenic disturbances, and as a result overestimate turnover time in AGB.     

Determination of inflection points of CyberKnife dose profiles within acceptability criteria of deviations in measurements

AimThe aim of this study was to determine the Inflection Points (IPs) of flattening filter free (FFF) CyberKnife dose profiles for cone-based streotactic radiotherapy. In addition, dosimetric field sizes were determined.BackgroundThe increased need for treatment in the early stages of cancer necessitated the treatment of smaller tumors. However, efforts in that direction required the modeling accuracy of the beam. Removal of the flattening filter (FF) from the path of x-ray beam has provided the solution to those efforts, but required a different normalization approach for the beam to ensure the delivery of the dose accurately. As a solution, researchers proposed a normalization factor based on IPs.Materials and methodsMeasurements using microDiamond (PTW 60019), Diode SRS (PTW 60018) and Monte Carlo (MC) calculations of dose profiles were completed at SAD 80 cm and 5 cm depth for 15–60 mm cones. Performance analysis of detectors with respect to MC calculation was carried out. Gamma evaluation method was used to determine achievable acceptability criteria for FFF CyberKnife beams.ResultsAcceptability within (3%–0.5 mm) was found to be anachievable criterion for all dose profile measurements of the cone beams used in this study. To determine the IP, the first and second derivatives of the dose profile were determined via the cubic spline interpolation technique.ConclusionDerivatives of the interpolated profiles showed that locations of IPs and 50% isodose points coincide.     

Detailed evaluation of Mobius3D dose calculation accuracy for volumetric-modulated arc therapy

PurposeTo perform a detailed evaluation of dose calculation accuracy and clinical feasibility of Mobius3D. Of particular importance, multileaf collimator (MLC) modeling accuracy in the Mobius3D dose calculation algorithm was investigated.MethodsMobius3D was fully commissioned by following the vendor-suggested procedures, including dosimetric leaf gap (DLG) optimization. The DLG optimization determined an optimal DLG correction factor which minimized the average difference between calculated and measured doses for 13 patient volumetric-modulated arc therapy (VMAT) plans. Two sets of step-and-shoot plans were created to examine MLC and off-axis open fields modeling accuracy of the Mobius3D dose calculation algorithm: MLC test set and off-axis open field test set. The test plans were delivered to MapCHECK for the MLC tests and an ionization chamber for the off-axis open field test, and these measured doses were compared to Mobius3D-calculated doses.ResultsThe mean difference between the calculated and measured doses across the 13 VMAT plans was 0.6% with an optimal DLG correction factor of 1.0. The mean percentage of pixels passing gamma from a 3%/1 mm gamma analysis for the MLC test set was 43.5% across the MLC tests. For the off-axis open field tests, the Mobius3D-calculated dose for 1.5 cm square field was −4.6% lower than the chamber-measured dose.ConclusionsIt was demonstrated that Mobius3D has dose calculation uncertainties for small fields and MLC tongue-and-groove design is not adequately taken into consideration in Mobius3D. Careful consideration of DLG correction factor, which affects the resulting dose distributions, is required when commissioning Mobius3D for patient-specific QA.     

基于组合评价法的湖南省农业可持续发展区域分异

从农业资源与环境、农业生产与经济、农业人口与社会3个评价维度构建了区域农业可持续发展指标体系, 运用主成分分析法、熵值法、模糊Borda法、因子分析法及聚类分析法和GIS技术, 通过组合评价方法定量研究湖南省农业可持续发展区域分异现状。结果表明: 湖南省农业可持续发展在区域上总体呈现出不平衡的发展状态, 农业可持续发展综合水平以长株潭城市群为核心, 由东至西递减; 农业人口与社会可持续发展水平南北低中部高, 东部强西部弱; 农业生产与经济可持续发展水平围绕湘北洞庭湖农业区和湘南农业综合区向外围递减; 农业资源与环境可持续发展水平表现为一横两纵优势带和南北两个落后圈。     

Discovery of a potent and selective adenylyl cyclase type 8 agonist by docking-based virtual screening

Adenylyl cyclases (ACs), which are responsible for catalyzing the conversion of adenosine triphosphate (ATP) into the second messenger cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP), play a critical role in cell signal transduction. In this study, a combined approach involving docking-based virtual screening, with the combination of homology modeling followed by an in-vitro, and cell-based biological assay have been performed for discovering a class of novel potent and selective isoform adenylyl cyclase type 8 (AC8) agonist. The computer-aided virtual screening was used to identify fourteen virtual cluster compounds as potential hits which were further subjected to rigorous bioassays. A novel hit compound VHC-7 (ethyl 3-(2,4-dichlorobenzyl)-2-oxoindoline-3-carboxylate) was identified as a highly potent selective AC8 agonist with EC₅₀ value of 0.1052 ± 0.038 µM. Remarkably, the molecule herein reported can be explored further to discover greater number of hit compounds with better pharmacokinetic properties as well as to serve as a promising novel hit agonist of AC8 for the treatment of various central nervous system disorders and its associated diseases.     

Synthesis and biological evaluation of novel 3-benzylcoumarin-imidazolium salts

A series of novel 3-benzylcoumarin-imidazolium salts were prepared and evaluated in vitro against a panel of human tumor cell lines. The results showed that the existence of 5,6-dimethyl-benzimidazole ring and substitution of the imidazolyl-3-position with a naphthylacyl group were vital for modulating cytotoxic activity. Notably, compound 38 was found to be the most potent derivative with IC₅₀ values of 2.04–4.51 μM against five human tumor cell lines, while compound 34 were more selective to SW-480 cell lines with IC₅₀ value 40.0-fold lower than DDP. Mechanism of action studies indicated that compound 38 can cause the G0/G1 phase cell cycle arrest and apoptosis in SMMC-7721 cell lines.     

基于综合评价法的洞庭湖区绿地生态网络构建

绿地生态网络对于改善区域生态空间破碎化、生物多样性降低、生态系统服务供需不平衡及保障区域生态安全具有重要意义。本研究以洞庭湖区为例,在3S技术支持下,从生态系统服务功能、潜在生物多样性、形态空间格局的角度综合评价和识别生态源地及计算栅格单元的基本生态阻力;利用夜间灯光指数修正基本生态阻力;运用最小累积阻力模型识别生态廊道;构建加权评价模型,对源地的聚合度、离散度及廊道的生态连接贡献度进行评价;利用结构特征指数对综合网络、“源-汇”潜在网络及规划网络进行对比分析和评价。结果表明: 源地空间分布不均衡,林地、灌丛与水域三者面积之和占源地总面积的95.9%,位于研究区中部的洞庭湖湿地生态风险较高;源地离生态网络系统中心位置越近及到其他源地的平均最小累积阻力越小,聚合及离散的优势越强;高生态质量源地周围的中、高生态质量源地分布越密集,其聚合度、离散度越高;廊道离高生态质量的源地越近,表现为生态连接贡献度越大;林地、灌丛,尤其是河道在自然生态系统与人类社会系统之间起着非常重要的生态连接作用;“源-汇”规划绿道对“源-汇”潜在生态廊道形成了良好补充,与“源-汇”潜在网络相比,综合网络的α、β、γ、ρ指数分别提高123.1%、25.8%、26.2%、74.6%;与“源-汇”规划网络相比,α、β、γ、ρ指数分别提高了190.0%、31.1%、32.5%、114.6%。本研究结果能为洞庭湖区绿地生态网络构建、国土空间规划提供参考。     

两种生态系统服务价值评估方法比较研究——以四川省金堂县三星镇土地整治工程为例

乡镇土地整治是建设中国美丽乡村的重要途径,对当地生态环境带来正面和负面影响,如何准确评价其生态效益是国家开展土地整治和美丽乡村建设需要面临的重要科学问题。以中国西南部丘陵地区典型乡镇——四川省金堂县三星镇的土地整治工程为例,对比分析了生态系统服务价值当量修正法和单项服务评价法评估土地整治生态效益的异同,以期确定适合我国西南部丘陵地区乡镇土地整治生态效益评估的合理方法。研究结果表明:单项服务评价法的评估结果(生态系统服务价值约300万元)比当量修正法(生态系统服务价值约290万元)高3.5%。当量修正法评估的各项生态系统服务价值增量由高到低依次为:调节服务价值支持服务价值供给服务价值文化服务价值;单项服务评价法评估的生态系统服务价值增量大小排序为:调节服务价值支持服务价值文化服务价值供给服务价值。方法依据和参数的选取不同,导致评估结果具有显著差异,主要表现在单项服务评价法测算的维持养分循环价值、美学景观价值分别是当量修正法的46.90倍和6.94倍,当量修正法测算的水文调节价值是单项服务评价法的5.93倍。单项服务评价法针对各项生态系统服务特征,灵活地选取差异化评估方法,因而其评估结果更准确、真实地反映了生态效益价值。建议运用单项服务评价法评估我国西南部丘陵地区乡镇土地整治的生态效益。