Estimating the human appropriation of land in Brazil by means of an Input–Output Economic Model and Ecological Footprint analysis

As we confront the current environmental crisis, determining the biophysical base (e.g., materials, energy, land, and water) of nations has become paramount. With advanced economies benefiting from the import of resource-intensive primary goods originating from poorer parts of the world, especially emerging nations, these are dilapidating their natural capital. Brazil is one of such emerging economies, whose mining and farming activities, propping up its export-led economic growth, exert great pressure on the environment. In particular, farming has been shown to have one of the world's greatest environmental impacts, especially as a consequence of land use associated with cattle ranching. Since a nation-wide evaluation of land-use types across the whole sectorial spectrum of the country's economy is still lacking, we used the most recently available Input–Output Economic Model for Brazil and the Ecological Footprint method to identify those economic sectors with the greatest potential for appropriating portions of the natural world.Our results show that: (i) the biggest chunk of Brazil's Ecological Footprint is due to its Carbon Footprint and, in particular, emissions from cattle; (ii) only a few economic sectors exhibit high Ecological Footprint values, chiefly those belonging to livestock farming and energy production based on fossil fuels; (iii) excluding the soybeans and slaughter sectors, export-oriented sectors have below-average Ecological Footprint values; and (iv) the percentage of Brazil's Ecological Footprint due to household consumption (excluding imports) is three times bigger than that attributable to exports, with sectors belonging to livestock farming contributing the most to such disparity.These results underscore that the environmental impact of the Brazilian economy can be drastically reduced by tackling the emission-intensive production processes of a few sectors only and disincentivizing the domestic consumption of a narrow range of products, especially with respect to the livestock segment.     

Unsaturated Long Chain Free Fatty Acids Are Input Signals of the Salmonella enterica PhoP/PhoQ Regulatory System

The Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium PhoP/PhoQ system has largely been studied as a paradigmatic two-component regulatory system not only to dissect structural and functional aspects of signal transduction in bacteria but also to gain knowledge about the versatile devices that have evolved allowing a pathogenic bacterium to adjust to or counteract environmental stressful conditions along its life cycle. Mg²⁺ limitation, acidic pH, and the presence of cationic antimicrobial peptides have been identified as cues that the sensor protein PhoQ can monitor to reprogram Salmonella gene expression to cope with extra- or intracellular challenging conditions. In this work, we show for the first time that long chain unsaturated free fatty acids (LCUFAs) present in Salmonella growth medium are signals specifically detected by PhoQ. We demonstrate that LCUFAs inhibit PhoQ autokinase activity, turning off the expression of the PhoP-dependent regulon. We also show that LCUFAs exert their action independently of their cellular uptake and metabolic utilization by means of the β-oxidative pathway. Our findings put forth the complexity of input signals that can converge to finely tune the activity of the PhoP/PhoQ system. In addition, they provide a new potential biochemical platform for the development of antibacterial strategies to fight against Salmonella infections.     

From robustness to resilience: A network Price identity approach

We model a closed-loop network of agents distributed among subnetworks and study the sustainability of network structures in presence of random perturbations. The model outcomes show that the stability of compartmentalized networks built on uniform operators depends on perturbations on between-subnetwork coupling, while the stability of networks built on mutation operators depends on their assimilation capacity. Through the study of eigenvalues of the Laplacian, we succeed in measuring the degree of network robustness and resilience. Our results also permit to situate the Price theorem, both in its standard and expanded forms, in the context of network evolutionary variational identity.     

Features and influencing factors of carbon emissions indicators in the perspective of residential consumption: Evidence from Beijing,China

This research establishes a residential indirect carbon emissions model through input–output structure decomposition analysis (IO-SDA) and LMDI, analyses the influencing factors affecting urban and rural residential carbon emissions indicators in Beijing through input–output tables from 2000 to 2010, and calculates the direct carbon emissions from residential consumption. As the results suggest, the total carbon emissions from residential consumption in Beijing showed volatility. Growing rural and urban differences in direct emissions, and for indirect emissions, mean that urban greatly exceeds rural in this regard. Rising per capita GDP and population, as well as intermediate demand and sectoral emissions intensity change induce growth in indirect emissions in both urban and rural settings: of which, per capita GDP contributes the most. Declining energy intensity contributes the most to emission reductions, followed by residential consumption rates, the rural to urban consumption ratio and consumption structure effects are much smaller.     

The forest resources input–output model: An application in China

Understanding the state of forest resource utilization in China and correctly evaluating the role and function of forest resources in national economic development are essential for realizing balanced development of forests, the environment, and the economy. This is especially true given the present situation of increasingly scarce forest resources. Using data from Chinese forest industry statistical yearbooks, forestry development reports, and other documents, this paper examines the current state of forest resource utilization in China from the angle of combining quantities and values based on input–output tables. We show that demand for and input use of forest resources varies greatly across industrial sectors; the paper products and furniture manufacturing industries have the greatest direct consumption coefficient for timber use. When considering direct and indirect demand, it is clear that forest resources restrict different industrial sectors in diverse ways. These results provide an important set of reference values regarding the utilization of forest resources and coordinated industrial development in China.     

Estimating conductances of dual-recorded neurons within a network of coupled cells

Simultaneous pre- and postsynaptic cell recordings are used to calculate gap junction conductance based on an equivalent electrical circuit of an electrically coupled pair of cells. This calculation is imprecise when recording from a cell pair that is coupled to neighboring cells providing indirect conductance paths between the recorded cells. Despite this imprecision, junctional conductance has been calculated for coupled cell networks during the past 40 years since a more accurate method was lacking. The present study simulated a three-dimensional network of electrically coupled heterogeneous neurons and used mathematical modeling to reduce the complexity to the simplest equations that could more accurately estimate the electrical properties of dual-recorded cells in the network. Analyses of the simulations showed that knowledge of the number of unrecorded cells directly linked to the recorded cells and of the voltage responses of these recorded cells were largely sufficient to accurately predict the direct junctional resistance linking the recorded cells as well as the input resistance of the recorded cells that would exist in the absence of junctional coupling. All model parameters could be obtained from real dual-intracellular penetrations which allow electrophysiological recordings and intracellular staining.     

不同轮作制对农田生态系统中土壤硫攫取与归还途径的研究

研究了我国北方地区主要轮作制度下,土壤一植物生态系统中硫的主要输入(归还)与输出(攫取)途径．结果表明,在我国北方普遍推行的小麦-玉米轮作制中,作物收获物从土壤中攫取的硫素总量为每年26．4kg·hm^-2,由根系和植物其它残留物归还给土壤的硫素为每年6．8kg·hm^-2;在小麦．大豆轮作制中。作物收获物从土壤中攫取的硫素总量为每年24．4kg·hm^-2,对土壤的归还量为每年7．2kg·hm^-2;而在玉米-油菜轮作制中,收获物从土壤中攫取的硫量为每年45．4kg·hm^-2,归还给土壤的硫量为每年8．7kg·hm^-2;其它作物如棉花、高粱、花生、水稻种植一季通过收获物从土壤中带走的硫量分别为每年7．9、6．4、6．7和18．9kg·hm^-2。对土壤的归还量分别为每年2．6、1．8、4．3和5．6kg·hm^-2．通过对系统主要输入输出通量的估算,几种主要农田生态系统硫盈亏的状况计算结果说明,供试作物皆存在硫亏缺状况：小麦每年6kg·hm^-2、玉米8．5kg·hm^-2、油菜24kg·hm^-2、水稻7．1kg·hm^-2．     

蝾螈胚胎表皮细胞膜的静息电位,输入电阻与其兴奋性的关系

用微电极细胞内记录技术研究了东方蝾螈胚胎表皮细胞膜的静电位、输入电阻与其兴奋性的关系,在兴奋性形成期间正常胚胎表皮细胞的静息膜电位逐渐增大,膜的输入电阻逐渐减小。与不显示兴奋性的离体非典型胚胎表皮细胞相比,显示兴奋性的膜电位较高,膜电阻较低。用葡萄糖处理非典型表皮,在兴奋性出现同时,细胞膜超极化,膜电阻减小。用哇巴因处理表皮囊泡,在兴奋性消失同时,细胞膜去极化。结果表明,细胞能量供应不足所造成的膜     

不同地理种源南方红豆杉中紫杉醇和10-DAB含量及影响因子

选择福建省梁野山、龙栖山、闽侯旗山、南靖书洋乡和南平大坪村南方红豆杉（Taxus chinensis var. marei）天然群体分布相对集中区,采集胸径相同的南方红豆杉的当年生针叶和树皮并取树下土壤样品。利用超高效液相色谱分析测定南方红豆杉当年生针叶及树皮中紫杉醇及10-去乙酰基巴卡亭Ⅲ（10-deacetylbaccatin Ⅲ, 10-DAB）含量,另测定土壤pH值、速效磷、速效氮、铁、钙、镁、锌含量。结果表明,不论是紫杉醇还是10-DAB含量,不同地理种源南方红豆杉间差异均较大,说明地理位置对于红豆杉中紫杉醇和10-DAB含量具有明显的影响;树皮中紫杉醇含量与土壤中铁含量显著相关（P＜0.01）;南方红豆杉当年生针叶中及树皮中紫杉醇含量与各种源地气象因子的相关性不显著（P＞0.05）。     

Effects of pesticides and heavy metals on biological processes in soil

Summary The side-effects of pesticides and metal cations are reviewed with regard to input, distribution, persistence and toxicity. The sensitivity of microbial processes is discussed in relation to adaptability and resistance of microbial populations. Procedures for an ecological assessment of toxic side-effects are discussed.Keynote address