Mechanobiology of neural development

As the brain develops, proliferating cells organize into structures, differentiate, migrate, extrude long processes, and connect with other cells. These biological processes produce mechanical forces that further shape cellular dynamics and organ patterning. A major unanswered question in developmental biology is how the mechanical forces produced during development are detected and transduced by cells to impact biochemical and genetic programs of development. This gap in knowledge stems from a lack of understanding of the molecular players of cellular mechanics and an absence of techniques for measuring and manipulating mechanical forces in tissue. In this review article, we examine recent advances that are beginning to clear these bottlenecks and highlight results from new approaches that reveal the role of mechanical forces in neurodevelopmental processes.     

城市扩张过程中建设用地景观格局演变特征及其驱动力

剖析城市扩张过程中建设用地景观格局演变特征及其驱动力,不仅有助于城市生态环境问题的解决,而且为城市用地结构优化、城市景观规划等工作提供科学依据。以快速城市化的中型城市—扬州市为例,利用多期(1995、2000、2005、2010年和2015年)Landsat卫星影像、乡镇水平的扬州统计年鉴等数据,运用景观格局分析、增强回归树(Boosted regression trees)等方法,研究建设用地的扩张模式、形态及景观格局,定量探究地理、社会和经济因子对景观格局的影响机制,从而明晰景观格局演变特征及其驱动力。结果表明,1995—2015年,建设用地面积持续增加,填充式(Infilling)、边缘式(Edge-expansion)和跳跃式(Leapfrog)3种扩张模式在各时段均有出现,但其优势度随着城市发展而改变。建设用地的形态在城市扩张的过程中经历着"集聚"和"扩散"的交替变化过程,景观格局则出现了同质化倾向,景观破碎化下降、聚合度增加。地理因子(海拔和到县市中心的距离)对景观格局的综合影响虽然高于社会经济,但它的影响力却随着城市发展呈现出下降趋势,社会经济的作用则逐渐增强。海拔和人口密度的增加会促进景观的破碎化、抑制景观的集聚;人口数量的增加会促进景观的集聚、降低景观的破碎化;其余因子(到县市中心的距离、人均GDP和第二产业占比)的作用则随城市的发展而发生转变,如人均GDP对景观破碎化的作用表现为"促进→抑制"的转变、第二产业则为"抑制→促进"。     

祁连山南麓高寒湿地生态系统呼吸季节、年际动态及影响因素

由于青藏高原高海拔、低温的特殊环境，使得生态系统呼吸(RE)对气候变化的响应极其敏感，然而对高寒湿地生态系统长时间尺度上的RE动态特征及驱动机制的研究相对薄弱。以青藏高原东北部高寒湿地为研究对象，分析了基于涡度相关系统观测的高寒湿地2004—2016年的CO₂通量排放动态及影响机制，对预测高寒湿地碳平衡对未来气候变化的响应具有重要意义。结果表明：高寒湿地在2004—2016年的月平均RE表现为单峰变化趋势，在8月达到峰值；年RE表现为逐年升高的趋势(P<0.05),年RE均值为(608.9±65.6) g C m^-2 a^-1;生长季RE约是非生长季RE的2.7倍，线性回归分析表明生长季RE(r~2=0.66,P=0.001)、非生长季RE(r~2=0.47,P=0.01)与全年RE呈极显著正相关。在月尺度上，分类回归树分析和线性回归分析表明土壤温度是月RE的最主要控制因素，暗示高寒湿地的土壤呼吸对整个生态系统的碳排放至关重要。在年际尺度上，生长季积温与生长季RE呈显著正相关(P<0.05),而生长季降水(PP...     

The Effects of Alpha (10-Hz) and Beta (22-Hz) “Entrainment” Stimulation on the Alpha and Beta EEG Bands: Individual Differences Are Critical to Prediction of Effects

Two different groups of normal college students were formed: One (the alpha group) received 10-Hz audiovisual (AV) stimulation for 8 minutes, and the other (beta) group received 22-Hz AV stimulation for 8 minutes. EEG power in the alpha (8-13 Hz) and beta (13-30 Hz) bands was FFT-extracted before, during, and for 24 minutes after stimulation. It was found that baseline (prestimulation) alpha and beta power predict the effects of stimulation, leading to individual differences in responsivity. High-baseline alpha participants showed either no entrainment or relatively prolonged entrainment with alpha stimulation. Low-baseline participants showed transient entrainment. Baseline alpha also predicted the direction of change in alpha with beta stimulation. Baseline beta and alpha predicted beta band response to beta stimulation, which was transient enhancement in some participants, inhibition in others. Some participants showed relatively prolonged beta enhancement with beta stimulation.     

滇西北高原湿地景观变化与人为、自然因子的相关性

人为活动的干扰与自然因子的变化共同作用于湿地生态系统,但两者对湿地生态系统作用的贡献率存在差异,目前尚缺乏进一步的研究。本研究基于面向对象分割和目视解译相结合的技术方法,研究了滇西北高原典型湿地纳帕海汇水区内28年来(1987—2015年)的湿地类型、分布及其空间格局的变化特征,并探讨其与当地人为活动的干扰(主要社会经济发展指标)、自然因子(主要气候因子)之间的相互关系。结果表明:(1)湿地总面积共计减少2456.46 hm~2,其中,原生沼泽、沼泽化草甸和草甸面积分别减少了1152.07,1257.72,202.74 hm~2,湖泊面积增加了156.07 hm~2;(2)湿地景观多样性发生显著变化,其中,斑块数量(NP)由1987年的221增加到2005年的299,随后减少到2015年的260;香农多样性指数(SHDI)由1987年的1.81增加到1999年的1.84,随后减少到2015年的1.75;聚集度指数(contagion index)由1987年的52.82减少到1999年的52.02,随后增加到2015年的53.49;(3)湿地分布面积和香农多样性指数与第一、二、三产业值,以及年均温度呈负相关,与降水量呈正相关;斑块数量、聚集度指数均与第一、二、三产业值,以及年均温度呈正相关,与降水量呈负相关;(4)社会经济发展主要指标对湿地面积和景观多样性指数变化的解释度为63.50%,气候因子对其的解释度为36.50%。整体上,人为活动的干扰是导致该区域湿地不断萎缩、景观多样性改变的关键驱动力。减缓人为活动对湿地生态系统的过度影响,是当地保护湿地资源、维护湿地生态功能的关键。     

基于地理探测器的岷江中下游地区植被NPP时空格局演变及其驱动力研究

植被净初级生产力作为反映植被生态系统对气候变化响应的重要指标,是长期以来备受世界各国关注的焦点问题。论文以岷江中下游地区为研究区域,基于2000—2015年MODIS NPP数据,结合同年期海拔、气温、降水、土地利用类型等,运用地理探测器等模型方法,诊断植被NPP分布的主要驱动力,并揭示了不同时段的驱动力决定力的变化。结果表明:(1)2000—2015年岷江中下游植被NPP平均值为513.93gC/m~2;植被年均NPP最大值出现在2000年石棉县北部硗碛藏族乡的林地分布区,为1876gC/m~2,最小值出现在2005年五通桥区中部竹根镇的平原旱地分布区,最小值为26.98gC/m~2;植被NPP具有较强的时空分异性,NPP总量变化除了受NPP强度影响外,植被覆盖总面积是其另外主要的影响因素。(2)影响植被NPP分布的主导因素包括气温、海拔、土地利用等,各因素对NPP分布的决定力存在明显差异。(3)不同时间植被NPP空间分布的驱动力存在明显差异,主要表现在其变化受人类扰动的影响越来越强烈。刻画岷江中下游植被NPP时空演变,并揭示其主要驱动力,可为研究区生态安全预警和生态补偿提供数据支撑和辅助决策。     

鄂尔多斯市生态资产和生态系统生产总值评估

鄂尔多斯市属于生态环境脆弱区域,在大规模开发丰富能源资源的同时,生态环境保护也在不断加强,评估鄂尔多斯生态资产价值,是认识鄂尔多斯生态价值的关键。构建了生态资产、生态系统生产总值评估的理论框架和评估方法指标体系,基于鄂尔多斯市生态系统格局、质量数据,评估了鄂尔多斯市生态资产、生态系统生产总值。评估结果表明:(1)2015年,鄂尔多斯市生态系统质量等级以差、低、中为主,分别占比:50.74%、31.78%、6.17%,差、低、中等级的生态系统面积之和占比88.69%。(2)2015年,鄂尔多斯市生态资产指数为1998.19,其中生态资产指数最高的是鄂托克旗,生态资产指数为392.26,占比19.63%,其次是杭锦旗,生态资产指数为307.48,占比15.39%。2010—2015年,鄂尔多斯市生态资产指数总体呈上升趋势。其中,上升最为剧烈的区域是鄂托克前旗,生态资产指数上升92.72,占比19.38%,其次为乌审旗,生态资产指数上升91.04,占比19.03%。(3)2015年,鄂尔多斯市生态系统生产总值(GEP)为2481.71亿元,GEP约为2015年GDP总值的58.72%,鄂尔多斯市单位面积GEP为0.03亿元/km~2,人均GEP为12.14万元/人。2010—2015年,鄂尔多斯市生态系统生产总值从1975.50亿元增加至2481.71亿元,增加量占2010年GEP价值的比例为25.62%,上升趋势明显。(4)2010—2015年,鄂尔多斯市生态系统质量变化原因主要是GDP增长(P0.05),表明经济持续发展降低了当地人口对草地、森林的经济的依赖性。鄂尔多斯市生态资产指数上升的主要驱动因素气候因素降水的增加(P0.001)、人口密度的下降(P0.01),以及GDP的增加(P0.01)。鄂尔多斯间生态系统生产总值变化的主要驱动因素,包括城市扩张、农田开垦、退耕还林、草、湿、生态恢复、矿山开采、生态退化等。本研究根据鄂尔多斯市生态系统质量、生态资产、生态系统生产总值面临的问题,提出了生态保护建议与对策。     

Impact of off-road vehicles on soil and vegetation in a desert rangeland in Saudi Arabia

Off-road vehicle driving is considered as main contributor to land degradation in arid regions. This study examined the impact of off-road vehicles (ORV) on soil and vegetation in a natural recreational desert meadow of Raudhat Khuraim, Saudi Arabia. Vegetation canopy cover and plant height away from road tracks were assessed. Also, species density and canopy cover, bare ground cover and soil attributes were assessed in four microhabitats; tracks, inter-tracks, verges, and away from vehicle tracks (undisturbed natural areas). Results show that the cover of forbs and grasses was negatively associated with distance from road verges. It was observed that the height of woody species responded negatively to distance away from tracks. Cover of native species decreased under verge, inter-track and track microhabitats giving more opportunity for weeds to flourish. Bare ground was highest (60.7%) in tracks. ORV impact on soil bulk density was clear with an increase of 38% under tracks compared to soils of undisturbed natural vegetation and a similar decrease in porosity was observed. On the other hand, soil electrical conductivity was significantly higher (5.45 mS cm^?1) under disturbance compared to 1.32 mS cm^?1 in undisturbed natural vegetation. Organic matter and nitrogen were not affected significantly by ORV disturbance. The results emphasize that managing off-road vehicle driving is essential for conserving native vegetation.     

Epithelial cell cluster size affects force distribution in response to EGF-induced collective contractility

Several factors present in the extracellular environment regulate epithelial cell adhesion and dynamics. Among them, growth factors such as EGF, upon binding to their receptors at the cell surface, get internalized and directly activate the acto-myosin machinery. In this study we present the effects of EGF on the contractility of epithelial cancer cell colonies in confined geometry of different sizes. We show that the extent to which EGF triggers contractility scales with the cluster size and thus the number of cells. Moreover, the collective contractility results in a radial distribution of traction forces, which are dependent on integrin β1 peripheral adhesions and transmitted to neighboring cells through adherens junctions. Taken together, EGF-induced contractility acts on the mechanical crosstalk and linkage between the cell-cell and cell-matrix compartments, regulating collective responses.