Tumor-specific frequencies and ocular melanoma

Specific kilohertz frequencies in the environment from variable frequency drives on electric motors at a liquid natural gas compressor and storage station on a natural gas pipeline seem to be associated with the development of a very rare cancer, ocular melanoma, at a high school and in individuals living or working in a neighborhood near the plant. Primary neutral-to-earth oscilloscope voltage waveforms and spectra measured near the high school were nearly identical to the ground voltage 2.3 miles away at the gas pipeline. Peak frequencies of 7440 and 19,980 Hz were found at both places. The electric utility practice of using the earth as a conduit for return currents facilitated this exposure.     

The role of lipid second messengers in aldosterone synthesis and secretion

Second messengers are small rapidly diffusing molecules or ions that relay signals between receptors and effector proteins to produce a physiological effect. Lipid messengers constitute one of the four major classes of second messengers. The hydrolysis of two main classes of lipids, glycerophospholipids and sphingolipids, generate parallel profiles of lipid second messengers: phosphatidic acid (PA), diacylglycerol (DAG), and lysophosphatidic acid versus ceramide, ceramide-1-phosphate, sphingosine, and sphingosine-1-phosphate, respectively. In this review, we examine the mechanisms by which these lipid second messengers modulate aldosterone production at multiple levels. Aldosterone is a mineralocorticoid hormone responsible for maintaining fluid volume, electrolyte balance, and blood pressure homeostasis. Primary aldosteronism is a frequent endocrine cause of secondary hypertension. A thorough understanding of the signaling events regulating aldosterone biosynthesis may lead to the identification of novel therapeutic targets. The cumulative evidence in this literature emphasizes the critical roles of PA, DAG, and sphingolipid metabolites in aldosterone synthesis and secretion. However, it also highlights the gaps in our knowledge, such as the preference for phospholipase D-generated PA or DAG, as well as the need for further investigation to elucidate the precise mechanisms by which these lipid second messengers regulate optimal aldosterone production.     

Testing parameter sensitivities and uncertainty analysis of Biome-BGC model in simulating carbon and water fluxes in broadleaved-Korean pine forests

生态过程模型的发展为研究者在长时间序列和区域尺度的研究提供了便利, 但模型模拟的准确性受到模型自身结构、模型参数估计合理性的影响。敏感性分析能够定量或定性筛选出对模型模拟结果影响较大的敏感参数, 是模型参数校准过程中的重要工具, 也是建模和应用的先决条件。该文以阔叶红松林为研究对象, 采用全局敏感性分析方法——傅里叶幅度灵敏度检验扩展法(EFAST)对Biome-BGC模型的生理生态参数进行了敏感性分析, 分别分析了红松(Pinus koraiensis)和阔叶树的净初级生产力(NPP)、蒸散(ET)对参数变化的敏感性。结果表明: (1)模拟红松NPP的不确定性高于阔叶树, 但二者的模拟ET的不确定性均较小。阔叶树的NPP和ET对生理生态参数的敏感性总体上都小于红松。(2)无论是红松、阔叶或其他植被类型, 模拟NPP均表现出对叶片碳氮比、细根碳氮比、比叶面积(SLA)和冠层截留系数的敏感性, 这4个参数的高敏感性主要是由模型自身结构所决定的, 与植被类型和研究地区的关系较小。对模拟ET而言, 细根与叶片碳分配比、新茎与新叶碳分配比和SLA均是影响红松和阔叶树ET的敏感参数, 但红松ET主要受参数与参数间的二阶或多阶交互作用的间接影响, 而阔叶树ET则主要是受到敏感参数直接效应的影响。(3)除了上述影响红松和阔叶树碳水通量的共性参数外, 诸如核酮糖-1,5-二磷酸羧化酶中叶氮含量、叶片与细根周转率、所有叶面积与投影叶面积之比等也是对模拟结果有影响的重要参数, 但是其敏感程度随物种不同和研究区不同而不同, 所以这类参数可以根据具体情况进行参数本地化, 对于其他不敏感参数则可以采用模型缺省值。     

基于NDVI时间序列轨迹的草原露天矿区植被时空动态特征

采矿作用下草原露天矿区植被时空动态特征尚不明确.以胜利露天矿区为例,选取MODIS和Landsat影像,利用ESTARFM构建2001—2015年植被生长期一致的年际Landsat时间序列,以时间分割算法拟合像元NDVI时间序列轨迹,结合轨迹形态特征提取早期扰动型、持续扰动型、扰动稳定型、扰动稳定恢复型和扰动恢复型5种植被动态类型及各类型的时间特征.结果表明:胜利矿区植被动态类型以扰动恢复型为主,占各类型像元总数的55.2%,扰动稳定型和持续下降型次之,分别为25.6%和11.0%,早期扰动型和扰动稳定恢复型较小,分别为3.5%和4.7%.扰动多发于2004—2009年,稳定期多始于2008年,空间上多分布于露天采场和排土场,恢复期多始于2008年和2010年,其空间范围较小且集中于矿井外围和排土场.扰动持续时长以1年为主,稳定期持续时长以7年为主,恢复期持续时长中稳定恢复型为2～5年,扰动恢复型为8年.     

人工覆盖地表对北京典型绿化树光合特性的影响

地表硬化影响城市绿化树生长及生态服务功能的发挥,研究人工覆盖地表下城市绿化树关键生理过程具有重要意义.采用田间模拟试验方法,布设对照(自然地表)、透水硬化和不透水硬化3种覆盖地表,栽植北京2种典型绿化树白蜡和元宝枫,栽植后第4年野外测定其叶片光合及相关生理生态参数,分析人工覆盖地表对北京典型绿化树光合特性的影响.结果表明:白蜡和元宝枫光合作用对不同人工覆盖地表的响应存在差异,对于白蜡而言,透水硬化和不透水硬化地表均使其净光合速率显著降低,对于元宝枫而言,仅不透水硬化地表导致其净光合速率显著降低,透水硬化地表并未对其造成显著影响.透水硬化和不透水硬化地表的空气相对湿度和土壤体积含水率低于对照,植物可利用水分减少,叶片气孔导度下降是白蜡和元宝枫净光合速率降低的主要原因.透水硬化和不透水硬化地表使白蜡PSⅡ有效光化学量子产量(F_v′/F_m′)下降,不透水硬化地表使元宝枫PSⅡ实际光化学量子效率(Φ_PSⅡ)和表观电子传递速率(ETR)升高.