High‐Performance Platinum‐Perovskite Composite Bifunctional Oxygen Electrocatalyst for Rechargeable Zn–Air Battery

Constructing highly active electrocatalysts with superior stability at low cost is a must, and vital for the large‐scale application of rechargeable Zn–air batteries. Herein, a series of bifunctional composites with excellent electrochemical activity and durability based on platinum with the perovskite Sr(Co_0.8Fe_0.2)_0.95P_0.05O_3?δ (SCFP) are synthesized via a facile but effective strategy. The optimal sample Pt‐SCFP/C‐12 exhibits outstanding bifunctional activity for the oxygen reduction reaction and oxygen evolution reaction with a potential difference of 0.73 V. Remarkably, the Zn–air battery based on this catalyst shows an initial discharge and charge potential of 1.25 and 2.02 V at 5 mA cm^?2, accompanied by an excellent cycling stability. X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy, X‐ray absorption near‐edge structure, and extended X‐ray absorption fine structure experiments demonstrate that the superior performance is due to the strong electronic interaction between Pt and SCFP that arises as a result of the rapid electron transfer via the Pt? O? Co bonds as well as the higher concentration of surface oxygen vacancies. Meanwhile, the spillover effect between Pt and SCFP also can increase more active sites via lowering energy barrier and change the rate‐determining step on the catalysts surface. Undoubtedly, this work provides an efficient approach for developing low‐cost and highly active catalysts for wider application of electrochemical energy devices.     

生态系统生产总值的内涵、核算框架与实施条件——统计视角下的设计与论证

基于已有研究和中国当前实践,对GEP的内涵和核算框架进行理论论证,以期为GEP的后续应用开发提供基本规范。(1)辨析当前GEP已有定义,提出了经过优化的GEP定义:特定时期内一区域生态系统为经济生产和人类其他活动提供的最终产出价值,具体包括生态供应品、生态调节服务和生态文化服务三个组成部分。(2)确定GEP在以下两个方面的应用价值:辅助GDP评价区域发展业绩;为区域生态补偿提供标准。(3)参照国内生产总值(GDP)核算原理,设计出一套生态系统供应品和服务供给表和使用表,在此基础上生成了规范的GEP核算表和核算方法。(4)将框架设计落实到GEP核算实施层面,提出了后续需要考虑的相关分类体系、关键节点、实物和价值核算方法设计等重要问题及解决思路。     

生态保护项目绩效评估的技术方法体系

自20世纪90年代以来,以各种形式的生态补偿政策和工程项目为代表的生态保护项目在全球广泛实施。1998年长江大洪水之后,我国也陆续实施了天然林保护工程、退耕还林还草工程、京津风沙源治理工程、森林生态效益补偿基金、退田还湖还湿工程、生态转移支付等一系列生态保护项目。近年来,政府、研究人员和社会各界越来越重视这些项目产生的生态、经济和社会效益。不过,我国生态保护项目绩效评估还处于起步阶段,主要体现在定量化不足、研究设计不严密、基准线选取不规范、评估方法过于简易、因果推理证据不足、评估结果可信度较差。不管是从学术研究、国家战略,还是实际生态管理的角度,都迫切需要推动和完善我国生态保护项目的绩效评估。结合过去十多年的理论和案例研究经验,对绩效评估的研究设计、基准线选取、评估方法、以及评估分析中面临的问题和挑战进行了系统地归纳与梳理,以期为进一步开展生态保护项目绩效评估提供技术参考。     

Randomization inference with general interference and censoring

Interference occurs between individuals when the treatment (or exposure) of one individual affects the outcome of another individual. Previous work on causal inference methods in the presence of interference has focused on the setting where it is a priori assumed that there is “partial interference,” in the sense that individuals can be partitioned into groups wherein there is no interference between individuals in different groups. Bowers et al. (2012, Political Anal, 21, 97–124) and Bowers et al. (2016, Political Anal, 24, 395–403) consider randomization-based inferential methods that allow for more general interference structures in the context of randomized experiments. In this paper, extensions of Bowers et al. that allow for failure time outcomes subject to right censoring are proposed. Permitting right-censored outcomes is challenging because standard randomization-based tests of the null hypothesis of no treatment effect assume that whether an individual is censored does not depend on treatment. The proposed extension of Bowers et al. to allow for censoring entails adapting the method of Wang et al. (2010, Biostatistics, 11, 676–692) for two-sample survival comparisons in the presence of unequal censoring. The methods are examined via simulation studies and utilized to assess the effects of cholera vaccination in an individually randomized trial of 73 000 children and women in Matlab, Bangladesh.     

Ecosystem functions in natural and anthropogenic ecosystems across the East African coastal forest landscape

Habitat identity and landscape configuration significantly shape species communities and affect ecosystem functions. The conservation of natural ecosystems is of particular relevance in regions where landscapes have already been largely transformed into farmland and where habitats suffer under resource exploitation. The spillover of ecosystem functions from natural ecosystems into farmland may positively influence agricultural productivity and human livelihood quality. We measured three proxies of ecosystem functioning: Pollinator diversity (using pan traps), seed dispersal (with a seed removal experiment), and predation (using dummy caterpillars). We assessed these ecosystem functions in three forest types of the East African dry coastal forest (Brachystegia forest, Cynometra forest, and mixed forest), as well as in adjoining farmland and in plantations of exotic trees (Eucalyptus mainly). We measured ecosystem functions at 20 plots for each habitat type, and along gradients ranging from the forest into farmland. We also recorded various environmental parameters for each study plot. We did not find significant differences of ecosystem functions when combining all proxies assessed, neither among the three natural forest types, nor between natural forest and plantations. However, we found trends for single ecosystem functions. We identified highest pollinator diversity along the forest margin and in farmlands. Vegetation cover and blossom density affected the level of predation positively. Based on our findings, we suggest that flowering gardens around housings and woodlots across farmland areas support ecosystem functioning and thus improve human livelihood quality. We conclude that levels of overall ecosystem functions are affected by entire landscapes, and high landscape heterogeneity, as found in our case, might blur potential negative effects and trends arising from habitat destruction and degradation.     

基于地区GDP和人口空间分布的粤港澳大湾区生境质量时空演变研究

经济发展与人口集聚引起的土地利用变化对一个地区的生态环境影响显著,生境质量评价在一定程度上可以反映区域生物多样性的状况。分析地区生境质量与社会经济、人口密度的关系,能够为区域生态安全及可持续发展提供科学依据。运用InVEST模型,以粤港澳大湾区2005、2010、2015、2018年四期土地利用数据分析生境质量的时空演变特征,结合社会经济及人口分布数据探究各地区城市发展与生境质量的权衡关系,并预测2030年大湾区不同情景下生境质量状况。结果表明：（1）2005-2018年粤港澳大湾区整体生境质量逐年降低,呈现出中部低、四周高的环状分布,生境破碎、建设用地增加是生境质量下降的主要原因。（2）珠三角九市生境质量与地区总GDP呈弱负相关,与第一产业产值呈中等正相关,与第二产业产值呈中等负相关,与第三产业产值呈弱正相关。（3）粤港澳大湾区生境质量与人口密度存在较大的不平衡,最主要的空间为高生境质量-低人口密度、低生境质量-高人口密度两种类型。（4）通过空间管制分区,预测2030年大湾区规划保护情景下大湾区平均生境质量较2018上升0.04,达到0.599,生境质量有明显改善。     

Characterisation of the Nucleotide Exchange Factor ITSN1L: Evidence for a Kinetic Discrimination of GEF-Stimulated Nucleotide Release from Cdc42

Cdc42, a member of the Ras superfamily of small guanine nucleotide binding proteins, plays an important role in regulating the actin cytoskeleton, intracellular trafficking, and cell polarity. Its activation is controlled by guanine nucleotide exchange factors (GEFs), which stimulate the dissociation of bound guanosine-5′-diphosphate (GDP) to allow guanosine-5′-triphosphate (GTP) binding. Here, we investigate the exchange factor activity of the Dbl-homology domain containing constructs of the adaptor protein Intersectin1L (ITSN1L), which is a specific GEF for Cdc42. A detailed kinetic characterisation comparing ITSN1L-mediated nucleotide exchange on Cdc42 in its GTP- versus GDP-bound state reveals a kinetic discrimination for GEF-stimulated dissociation of GTP: The maximum acceleration of the intrinsic mGDP [2′/3′-O-(N-methyl-anthraniloyl)-GDP] release from Cdc42 by ITSN1L is accelerated at least 68,000-fold, whereas the exchange of mGTP [2′/3′-O-(N-methyl-anthraniloyl)-GTP] is stimulated only up to 6000-fold at the same GEF concentration. The selectivity in nucleotide exchange kinetics for GDP over GTP is even more pronounced when a Cdc42 mutant, F28L, is used, which is characterised by fast intrinsic dissociation of nucleotides. We furthermore show that both GTP and Mg²⁺ ions are required for the interaction with effectors. We suggest a novel model for selective nucleotide exchange residing on a conformational change of Cdc42 upon binding of GTP, which enables effector binding to the Cdc42 · GTP complex but, at the same time, excludes efficient modulation by the GEF. The higher exchange activity of ITSN1L towards the GDP-bound conformation of Cdc42 could represent an evolutionary adaptation of this GEF that ensures nucleotide exchange towards the formation of the signalling-active GTP-bound form of Cdc42 and avoids dissociation of the active complex.     

Kinetic Analysis of the Guanine Nucleotide Exchange Activity of TRAPP, a Multimeric Ypt1p Exchange Factor

TRAPP complexes, which are large multimeric assemblies that function in membrane traffic, are guanine nucleotide exchange factors (GEFs) that activate the Rab GTPase Ypt1p. Here we measured rate and equilibrium constants that define the interaction of Ypt1p with guanine nucleotide (guanosine 5'-diphosphate and guanosine 5'-triphosphate/guanosine 5′-(β,γ-imido)triphosphate) and the core TRAPP subunits required for GEF activity. These parameters allowed us to identify the kinetic and thermodynamic bases by which TRAPP catalyzes nucleotide exchange from Ypt1p. Nucleotide dissociation from Ypt1p is slow (∼ 10^− 4 s^− 1) and accelerated > 1000-fold by TRAPP. Acceleration of nucleotide exchange by TRAPP occurs via a predominantly Mg²⁺-independent pathway. Thermodynamic linkage analysis indicates that TRAPP weakens nucleotide affinity by < 80-fold and vice versa, in contrast to most other characterized GEF systems that weaken nucleotide binding affinities by 4-6 orders of magnitude. The overall net changes in nucleotide binding affinities are small because TRAPP accelerates both nucleotide binding and dissociation from Ypt1p. Weak thermodynamic coupling allows TRAPP, Ypt1p, and nucleotide to exist as a stable ternary complex, analogous to strain-sensing cytoskeleton motors. These results illustrate a novel strategy of guanine nucleotide exchange by TRAPP that is particularly suited for a multifunctional GEF involved in membrane traffic.     

The effectiveness of barriers to badger <Emphasis Type="Italic">Meles meles</Emphasis> immigration in the Irish Four Area project

This study’s objective was to estimate the permeability of barriers to badger immigration during the Irish Four Area project. These barriers were at the boundaries of removal areas, where there was proactive culling of badgers. Data from the last 3 years of the study were used. Each length of barrier was allocated a space within the removal area. These were further sub-divided into spaces of 0–2, 2–5 km and sometimes of more than 5 km from the edge of the removal area. It is assumed that all, or some, of the badgers caught within these spaces came across the barriers. The barriers were one of the following: external buffers, sea, rivers and political boundaries. The total lengths of the barriers in all areas were: external buffer 128.5 km; sea 70.9 km; river 78.6 km; political 32.2 km. We assume three scenarios: (1) all badgers caught in the final 3 years were immigrants, (2) 75% were immigrants or (3) 50% were immigrants. We test these scenarios using chi-square tests, applying internal buffers of 1 km to counter movements of badgers across zones. Using this approach and multivariate analysis, we found that the permeability of barrier types varied, with sea and external buffers being the most effective barriers. The combined capture data are further examined by the sex ratio in each range, and then the sex ratio in total. Equal numbers of males and females were found, but the source populations were probably predominantly female. If badger management options are to achieve maximum benefits, then the field effectiveness of such barriers needs to be understood.     

Role of kinases and G-proteins in the hyposmotic stimulation of cardiac IKs

Exposure of cardiac myocytes to hyposmotic solution stimulates slowly-activating delayed-rectifying K⁺ current (I_Ks) via unknown mechanisms. In the present study, I_Ks was measured in guinea-pig ventricular myocytes that were pretreated with modulators of cell signaling processes, and then exposed to hyposmotic solution. Pretreatment with compounds that (i) inhibit serine/threonine kinase activity (10-100 μM H89; 200 μM H8; 50 μM H7; 1 μM bisindolylmaleimide I; 10 μM LY294002; 50 μM PD98059), (ii) stimulate serine/threonine kinase activity (1-5 μM forskolin; 0.1 μM phorbol-12-myristate-13-acetate; 10 μM acetylcholine; 0.1 μM angiotensin II; 20 μM ATP), (iii) suppress G-protein activation (10 mM GDPβS), or (iv) disrupt the cytoskeleton (10 μM cytochalasin D), had little effect on the stimulation of I_Ks by hyposmotic solution. In marked contrast, pretreatment with tyrosine kinase inhibitor tyrphostin A25 (20 μM) strongly attenuated both the hyposmotic stimulation of I_Ks in myocytes and the hyposmotic stimulation of current in BHK cells co-expressing Ks channel subunits KCNQ1 and KCNE1. Since attenuation of hyposmotic stimulation was not observed in myocytes and cells pretreated with inactive tyrphostin A1, we conclude that TK has an important role in the response of cardiac Ks channels to hyposmotic solution.