Evaluating the role of livelihood assets in suitable livelihood strategies: Protocol for anti-poverty policy in the Eastern Tibetan Plateau,China

Although numerous studies have been conducted on the relationship between livelihood assets and strategies, only a few quantitative studies exist on the topic for anti-poverty policies with regard to the Tibetan Plateau. This study investigated 357 households in the upper reaches of the Dadu River watershed in the Eastern Tibetan Plateau, China, using the participatory rural appraisal method. Then, applying a multinomial logistic regression model, we quantitatively analyzed the relationship between livelihood assets and livelihood strategies, the findings of which have implications for local agricultural policy interventions. The preliminary results indicate that of the four classifications of livelihood strategies used in this study, the main livelihood strategy is that of the non-farming-dependent household type (i.e., Type III in our study) that combines agricultural and non-farm activities or practices self-employment for wages. There are significant differences in the livelihood assets owned by households with different livelihood strategies. Human, natural, and financial assets have significant influences on livelihood strategies, and the choice of livelihood strategy varies by livelihood assets. Further, with improvements in household labor capacity and cash income per capita, the livelihood strategies of non-agricultural and non-farming households may shift away from agriculture, while an increase in farmland cultivated per capita, cash income per capita, and household labor capacity may encourage households to adopt agriculture-dependent livelihood strategies. These findings contribute to research on livelihood and related development strategies and anti-poverty policies in not only the Eastern Tibetan Plateau but also other regions with similar livelihood strategies.     

How Can the Eco‐efficiency of a Region be Measured and Monitored?

The concept of eco-efficiency is commonly referred to as a business link to sustainable development. In this article, ecoefficiency is examined at a regional level as an approach to promoting the competitiveness of economic activities in the Finnish Kymenlaakso region and mitigating their harmful impacts on the environment. The aim is to develop appropriate indicators for monitoring changes in the eco-efficiency of the region. A starting point is to produce indicators for the environmental and economic dimensions of regional development and use them for measuring regional eco-efficiency. The environmental impact indicators are based on a life-cycle assessment method, producing different types of environmental impact indicators: pressure indicators (e.g., emissions of CO₂), impact category indicators (e.g., CO₂ equivalents in the case of climate change), and a total impact indicator (aggregating different impact category indicator results into a single value). Environmental impact indicators based on direct material input, total material input, and total material requirement of the Kymenlaakso region are also assessed. The economic indicators used are the gross domestic product, the value added, and the output of the main economic sectors of Kymenlaakso. In the eco-efficiency assessment, the economic and environmental impact indicators are monitored in the same graph. In a few cases eco-efficiency ratios can also be calculated (the economic indicators are divided by the environmental indicators). Output (= value added + intermediate consumption) is used as an economic indicator related to the environmental impact indicators, which also cover the upstream processes of the region's activities. In the article, we also discuss the strengths and weaknesses of using the different environmental impact indicators.     

Economic incentives for conservation: beekeeping and Saturniidae caterpillar utilization by rural communities

The economic viability of the wildlife based enterprises (bee-keeping and caterpillar utilization) in Malawi is discussed in relation to conventional agricultural enterprises (maize, beans and ground-nuts). A strong incentive emerges for rural people to adopt wildlife management as an adjunct to subsistence agriculture, and therefore, to promote conservation of natural ecosystems and wildlife habitats in the face of growing human population and demand for land. Dependence on agriculture has depleted the wildlife resource outside protected areas and has been less effective in improving the wealth and living standards of most rural people. This study illustrates that the Malawi Department of National Parks and Wildlife needs to introduce economic incentives that integrate biological conservation with economic development for the rural people. The management programme involves the adoption of a rotation burning policy that promotes vegetation coppicing, eases harvesting and promotes high caterpillar yields.     

Effects of bone marrow mesenchymal stromal cells on gross motor function measure scores of children with cerebral palsy: a preliminary clinical study

Background aimsPre-clinical evidence indicates that autologous bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stromal cell (BM-MSC) transplantation improves motor function in patients with central nervous system disorders.MethodsAfter providing informed consent, 52 patients with cerebral palsy (CP) who met the study criteria received BM-MSC transplantation. Gross motor function was assessed using the Gross Motor Function Measure (GMFM)-88 and GMFM-66 scales at baseline (before transplantation) and at 1 month, 6 months and 18 months post-transplantation. The participants completed the trial without visible side effects. The GMFM-66 percentile (motor growth curves) was used as the control index of motor function to exclude the interference of improvement with age.ResultsThe score domains A, B, C and D and the total GMFM-88 and GMFM-66 scores in participants increased at 1 month, 6 months and 18 months post-transplantation compared with the baseline value (P < 0.01). The scores of domain E also increased at 6 months and 18 months post-transplantation, although they were not significantly increased at 1 month post-transplantation. There were significant increases in the GMFM-66 score and the GMFM-66 percentile corresponding to patient age and Gross Motor Function Classification System level after cell transplantation.ConclusionsAutologous BM-MSC transplantation appears to be a feasible, safe and effective therapy for patients with CP. The treatment improved the development of children with CP with regard to motor function.     

Effect of soil water stress on soil respiration and its temperature sensitivity in an 18-year-old temperate Douglas-fir stand

We analyzed 17 months (August 2005 to December 2006) of continuous measurements of soil CO₂ efflux or soil respiration (R_S) in an 18‐year‐old west‐coast temperate Douglas‐fir stand that experienced somewhat greater than normal summertime water deficit. For soil water content at the 4 cm depth (θ) > 0.11 m³ m^?3 (corresponding to a soil water matric potential of ?2 MPa), R_S was positively correlated to soil temperature at the 2 cm depth (T_S). Below this value of θ, however, R_S was largely decoupled from T_S, and evapotranspiration, ecosystem respiration and gross primary productivity (GPP) began to decrease, dropping to about half of their maximum values when θ reached 0.07 m³ m^?3. Soil water deficit substantially reduced R_S sensitivity to temperature resulting in a Q₁₀ significantly < 2. The absolute temperature sensitivity of R_S (i.e. dR_S/dT_S) increased with θ up to 0.15 m³ m^?3, above which it slowly declined. The value of dR_S/dT_S was nearly 0 for θ < 0.08 m³ m^?3, thereby confirming that R_S was largely unaffected by temperature under soil water stress conditions. Despite the possible effects of seasonality of photosynthesis, root activity and litterfall on R_S, the observed decrease in its temperature sensitivity at low θ was consistent with the reduction in substrate availability due to a decrease in (a) microbial mobility, and diffusion of substrates and extracellular enzymes, and (b) the fraction of substrate that can react at high T_S, which is associated with low θ. We found that an exponential (van't Hoff type) model with Q₁₀ and R₁₀ dependent on only θ explained 92% of the variance in half‐hourly values of R_S, including the period with soil water stress conditions. We hypothesize that relating Q₁₀ and R₁₀ to θ not only accounted for the effects of T_S on R_S and its temperature sensitivity but also accounted for the seasonality of biotic (photosynthesis, root activity, and litterfall) and abiotic (soil moisture and temperature) controls and their interactions.     

Retrospective assessment of a single fiducial marker tracking regimen with robotic stereotactic body radiation therapy for liver tumours

AimTo investigate tumour motion tracking uncertainties in the CyberKnife Synchrony system with single fiducial marker in liver tumours.BackgroundIn the fiducial-based CyberKnife real-time tumour motion tracking system, multiple fiducial markers are generally used to enable translation and rotation corrections during tracking. However, sometimes a single fiducial marker is employed when rotation corrections are not estimated during treatment.Materials and methodsData were analysed for 32 patients with liver tumours where one fiducial marker was implanted. Four-dimensional computed tomography (CT) scans were performed to determine the internal target volume (ITV). Before the first treatment fraction, the CT scans were repeated and the marker migration was determined. Log files generated by the Synchrony system were obtained after each treatment and the correlation model errors were calculated. Intra-fractional spine rotations were examined on the spine alignment images before and after each treatment.ResultsThe mean (standard deviation) ITV margin was 4.1 (2.3) mm, which correlated weakly with the distance between the fiducial marker and the tumour. The mean migration distance of the marker was 1.5 (0.7) mm. The overall mean correlation model error was 1.03 (0.37) mm in the radial direction. The overall mean spine rotations were 0.27° (0.31), 0.25° (0.22), and 0.23° (0.26) for roll, pitch, and yaw, respectively. The treatment time was moderately associated with the correlation model errors and weakly related to spine rotation in the roll and yaw planes.ConclusionsMore caution and an additional safety margins are required when tracking a single fiducial marker.     

川西亚高山不同森林类型土壤呼吸和总硝化速率的季节动态

川西亚高山原始林及其采伐后通过不同恢复措施形成的不同类型森林土壤呼吸和总硝化速率的对比分析及其耦合关系的研究相对匮乏。采用气压过程分离系统(Ba PS)技术研究了川西亚高山岷江冷杉原始林及其砍伐后恢复的粗枝云杉阔叶林、红桦-岷江冷杉天然次生林和粗枝云杉人工林土壤呼吸和总硝化速率的季节动态及其影响因素。结果表明:生长季内平均土壤呼吸速率和总硝化速率分别以粗枝云杉阔叶林和粗枝云杉人工林较高,均以岷江冷杉原始林较低。土壤呼吸和总硝化速率在生长季内具有明显的季节动态,呈以7月份最高的单峰趋势。土壤呼吸和总硝化速率与土壤温度显著相关,而与土壤水分相关性不显著,表明土壤温度是调控呼吸和总硝化作用季节动态的主要因子。土壤呼吸的温度敏感性(Q_(10))介于2.59—4.71,以岷江冷杉原始林最高,表明高海拔的岷江冷杉原始林可能更易受到气候变化的影响。林型间土壤呼吸和总硝化速率主要受凋落物量、p H和有机质的影响。不同林型间土壤呼吸和总硝化速率显著正相关,表明土壤呼吸和总硝化速率存在耦合关系。     

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。     

科尔沁草甸生态系统水分利用效率及影响因素

生态系统水分利用效率(WUE)是衡量碳水循环耦合程度的重要指标。利用科尔沁温带草甸草地碳水通量观测数据,对该生态系统总初级生产力水分利用效率(WUEGPP)的日季变化规律及对环境和生理因子的响应进行分析。结果表明:(1)WUEGPP日变化呈下降-稳定-上升的变化趋势,最大值出现在日出后1—2 h,阴天条件下WUEGPP高于晴天,生长中期WUEGPP高于生长初期和末期;(2)总初级生产力、总蒸散和WUEGPP季节变化均呈夏季高、春秋低的形式,生长季平均值分别为0.57 mg m-2s-1、0.08 g m-2s-1和5.97 mg/g,最大值分别为1.49 mg m-2s-1、0.16 g m-2s1和13.62 mg/g;(3)总初级生产力与饱和差、气温和叶面积指数均呈二次曲线关系,与冠层导度呈对数曲线关系;总蒸散与气温呈二次曲线关系,与饱和差、叶面积指数和冠层导度相关性均不显著;(4)WUEGPP与饱和差、气温和叶面积指数均呈二次曲线关系,与冠层导度呈对数曲线关系,饱和差、冠层导度和叶面积指数分别为2.0 k Pa、0.0015 m/s和4.2是控制WUEGPP增加的阈值;(5)净生态系统生产力水分利用效率(WUENEP)和净初级生产力水分利用效率(WUENPP)季节变化规律与WUEGPP一致,均值分别为3.47和5.47 mg/g。     

Water‐use efficiency in response to climate change: from leaf to ecosystem in a temperate steppe

Water‐use efficiency (WUE) has been recognized as an important characteristic of ecosystem productivity, which links carbon (C) and water cycling. However, little is known about how WUE responds to climate change at different scales. Here, we investigated WUE at leaf, canopy, and ecosystem levels under increased precipitation and warming from 2005 to 2008 in a temperate steppe in Northern China. We measured gross ecosystem productivity (GEP), net ecosystem CO₂ exchange (NEE), evapotranspiration (ET), evaporation (E), canopy transpiration (T_c), as well as leaf photosynthesis (P_max) and transpiration (T_l) of a dominant species to calculate canopy WUE (WUE_c=GEP/T), ecosystem WUE (WUE_gep=GEP/ET or WUE_nee=NEE/ET) and leaf WUE (WUE_l=P_max/T_l). The results showed that increased precipitation stimulated WUE_c, WUE_gep and WUE_nee by 17.1%, 10.2% and 12.6%, respectively, but decreased WUE_l by 27.4%. Climate warming reduced canopy and ecosystem WUE over the 4 years but did not affect leaf level WUE. Across the 4 years and the measured plots, canopy and ecosystem WUE linearly increased, but leaf level WUE of the dominant species linearly decreased with increasing precipitation. The differential responses of canopy/ecosystem WUE and leaf WUE to climate change suggest that caution should be taken when upscaling WUE from leaf to larger scales. Our findings will also facilitate mechanistic understanding of the C–water relationships across different organism levels and in projecting the effects of climate warming and shifting precipitation regimes on productivity in arid and semiarid ecosystems.