A carbon-13 nuclear magnetic resonance investigation of the metabolic fluxes associated withy glucose metabolism in human erythrocytes

We have used [2-¹³C]d-glucose and carbon-13 nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy to investigate metabolic fluxes through the major pathways of glucose metabolism in intact human erythrocytes and to determine the interactions among these pathways under conditions that perturb metabolism. Using the method described, we have been able to measure fluxes through the pentose phosphate pathway, phosphofructokinase, the 2,3-diphosphoglycerate bypass, and phosphoglycerate kinase, as well as glucose uptake, concurrently and in a single experiment. We have measured these fluxes in normal human erythrocytes under the following conditions: (1) fully oxygenated; (2) treated with methylene blue; and (3) deoxygenated. This method makes it possible to monitor various metabolic effects of stresses in normal and pathological states. Not only has ¹³C-NMR spectroscopy proved to be a useful method for measuring in vivo flux through the pentose phosphate pathway, but it has also provided additional information about the cycling of metabolites through the non-oxidative portion of the pentose phosphate pathway. Our evidence from experiments with [1-¹³C]-, [2-¹³C]-, and [3-¹³C]d-glucoses indicates that there is an observable reverse flux of fructose 6-phosphate through the reactions catalyzed by transketolase and transaldolase, even in the presence of a net flux through the pentose phosphate pathway.     

Feedbacks between nutrient cycling and vegetation predict plant species coexistence and invasion

To investigate the role of species‐specific litter decomposability in determining plant community structure, we constructed a theoretical model of the codevelopmental dynamics of soil and vegetation. This model incorporates feedback between vegetation and soil. Vegetation changes the nutrient conditions of soil by affecting mineralization processes; soil, in turn, has an impact on plant community structure. The model shows that species‐level traits (decomposability, reproductive and competitive abilities) determine whether litter feedback effects are positive or negative. The feedback determines community‐level properties, such as species composition and community stability against invasion. The model predicts that positive feedback may generate multiple alternative steady states of the plant community, which differ in species richness or community composition. In such cases, the realized state is determined by initial abundance of co‐occurring species. Further, the model shows that the importance of species‐level traits depends on environmental conditions such as system fertility.     

流域生态系统服务簇变化及影响因素——以大清河流域为例

生态系统服务簇是多种生态系统服务的组合,是生态系统多功能性中的主导功能表征。识别生态系统服务簇的空间和功能变化及影响因素,可为基于主导功能实施分区管理策略、统筹土地多功能性,进而为整体提升区域生态系统服务提供参考。本研究以大清河流域为例,选取6种生态系统服务（水资源供给服务、粮食供给服务、水源涵养服务、水质净化服务、土壤保持服务、固碳服务）,在乡镇尺度上探讨了生态系统服务簇的变化特征,研究了影响其变化的主要因素。结果表明：（1）依据主导的生态系统服务类型,大清流域可以分为3个生态系统服务簇,生态调节服务簇（B1）,农产品供给服务簇（B2）和人居环境簇（B3）;（2）2000-2015年,生态调节服务簇的空间格局变幅最大,乡镇变化率为19.6%,而农产品供给服务簇和人居环境簇的空间稳定性较强,变化率小于5.0%;生态系统服务簇类型发生转化的区域主要位于服务簇交界处;（3）尽管服务簇在空间上有变化,但生态调节服务簇、农产品供给服务簇和人居环境簇的生态系统服务呈增长趋势,平均增幅高达8.62%;（4）自然本底条件和生态保护政策是驱动生态调节服务簇变化的主要因素,农产品供给和建设用地面积的变化分别是驱动农产品供给服务簇和人居环境簇时空变化的主要因素。该案例研究结果为管理土地多功能属性、整体提升国土空间功能提供了有效的途径。     

基于物质流分析和数据包络分析的区域生态效率评价——以江苏省为例

区域生态效率(eco-efficiency)评价是考量区域可持发展的重要内容.基于物质流分析(material flow analysis, MFA)构建区域生态效率评价指标体系,并将污染物排放作为一种非期望输入引入到数据包络分析(data envelopment analysis, DEA)模型中,以江苏省(1990～2005年)为例进行生态效率分析评价.结果表明,江苏省的区域生态效率在1990～2005年期间呈现逐步上升的趋势.但是,同期的总物质投入(total material input, TMI)、物质需求总量(total material requirement, TMR)和污染物排放量也呈上升趋势.因此,江苏省社会经济发展和环境影响总体上呈现"弱脱钩(weak de-link)".     

Static and dynamic approaches to landscape heterogeneity in the Hungarian forest‐steppe zone

Abstract. This paper describes the successional status of the vegetation in a clear‐felled dry oak woodland at the edge of the Hungarian forest‐steppe zone on the basis of a vegetation map. Due to a varied geomorphology of the colline landscape several so‐called landscape units can be distinguished. The patchwork on the vegetation map is evaluated using several, morphology‐based attributes (static morphological indices) traditionally applied in landscape ecology. In the ca. 100 years that elapsed since forest clear‐cut, xeric grassland species and steppe elements became more abundant and the former xeromesophilous vegetation – containing even some woodland components – is slowly turning into xeric grassland communities. The vegetation units mapped can be arranged into a hypothetical succession scheme in which successional distances (the number of steps between two stages) are determined. Based on the distances thus obtained, a new dynamic morphological index is introduced. This is applied to each landscape unit for the dynamic evaluation of successional vegetation, its results being compared with those obtained by static morphological indices.     

生态资产核算与生态系统服务评估:概念交汇与重点方向

面向“山水林田湖草”统一管理的现实目标,对生态资产的准确刻画加深了资源管理者和使用者对生态系统服务的认识,是生态系统服务理论从学术研讨向决策实践过渡的重要桥梁。然而,当前的生态资产核算结果仍存在着较大的不确定性,使其决策支持作用受到质疑。基于对生态资产研究近今进展的总结,生态资产实际核算一般取自然资本与生态系统服务的交集分别作为存量和流量。如若将生态资产作为干部离任审计依据,则须把握先实物量后价值量的原则。在当前国际研究中,生态资产已经成为区域景观管理和农户生计决策的重要绩效评估与情景优选工具。完善生态系统服务评估模型、明晰生态系统服务供需关系、规范生态资产价值核算方法、提升生态资产决策支持能力4项内容应引起未来生态资产研究的重点关注。     

Luminescence characteristics of Na3Ca2(SO4)3F: Ce3+ fluoride material

A new Na₃Ca₂(SO₄)₃F: Ce³⁺ phosphor synthesized by a solid state diffusion method is reported. The photoluminescence study showed a single high intensity emission peak at 307 nm wavelength when excited by UV light of wavelength 278 nm. An unresolved peak of comparatively less intensity was also observed at 357 nm along with the main peak. The characteristic emission of dopant Ce in Na₃Ca₂(SO₄)₃F phosphor clearly indicated that it resides in the host lattice in trivalent form. The emission peak can be attributed to 5d → 4f transition of rare earth Ce³⁺. The prepared sample is also characterized for its thermoluminescence properties. The TL glow curve of prepared sample showed a single broad peak at 147°C. The trapping parameters are also evaluated by Chen's method. The values of trap depth (E) and frequency factor (s) were found to be 0.64 ± 0.002 eV and 1.43 × 10⁷ s^–1 respectively. The study of PL and TL along with evaluation of trapping parameters has been undertaken and discussed for the first time. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Ecological thresholds: Concept,Methods and research outlooks

The concept of ecological thresholds was raised in the 1970s. However, it was subsequently given different definitions and interpretations depending on research fields or disciplines. For most scientists, ecological thresholds refer to the points or zones that link abrupt changes between alternative stable states of an ecosystem. The measurement and quantification of ecological thresholds have great theoretical and practical significance in ecological research for clarifying the structure and function of ecosystems, for planning sustainable development modes, and for delimiting ecological red lines in managing the ecosystems of a region. By reviewing the existing concepts and classifications of ecological thresholds, we propose a new concept and definition at two different levels: the ecological threshold points, i.e. the turning points of quantitative changes to qualitative changes, which can be considered as ecological red lines; the ecological threshold zones, i.e. the regime shifts of the quantitative changes among different stable states, which can be considered as the yellow and/or orange warning boundaries of the gradual ecological changes. The yellow thresholds mean that an ecosystem can return to a stable state by its self-adjustment, the orange thresholds indicate that the ecosystem will stay in the equilibrium state after interference factors being removed, whereas the red thresholds, as the critical threshold points, indicate that the ecosystem will undergo irreversible degradation or even collapse beyond those points. We also summarizes two types of popular Methods in determining ecological thresholds: statistical analysis and modeling based on data of field observations. The applications of ecological thresholds in ecosystem service, biodiversity conservation and ecosystem management research are also reviewed. Future research on ecological thresholds should focus on the following aspects: (1) methodological development for measurement and quantification of ecological thresholds; (2) emphasizing the scaling effect of ecological thresholds and establishment of national-scale observation system and network; and (3) implementation of ecological thresholds as early warning tools in ecosystem management and delimiting ecological red lines.     

农村高血压患者协调性和连续性服务的利用现状研究

目的 分析高血压患者在农村医疗服务网络接受协调性和连续性服务的提供状况,为改进患者的整合服务利用提供决策参考。方法 根据国内外文献,以自行编制服务协调性和连续性提供的问卷为工具,调查数据采用描述性统计分析。结果 49.6%的患者伴有1种及以上疾病,约73.0%在乡镇卫生院有就医经历,到过2家及以上机构就医的占51.3%;在乡村两级治疗效果不佳的患者,能够获取村医和乡镇医生推荐转诊机构的比重最大,分别为28.4%和68.7%;上级医生能够根据下级机构相关诊疗信息连续诊疗的不到43.0%,下级医生能够根据前期诊疗信息继续诊疗的比例刚超4成;“上转容易、下转难”现象同样存在。 结论 农村慢性病患者的患病特点增加了在农村纵向医疗机构就诊的几率,但该网络提供连续性和协调性服务的程度却不高,应加强农村三级医疗机构间的全面整合。     

The relationship between nuclear DNA content and leaf strategy in seed plants

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Species' 2C-values (mass of DNA in G(1) phase 2n nuclei) vary by at least four orders of magnitude among seed plants. The 2C-value has been shown to be co-ordinated with a number of other species traits, and with environmental variables. A prediction that species 2C-values are negatively related to leaf life span (LL) and leaf mass per area (LMA) is tested. These leaf traits are components of a major dimension of ecological variation among plant species. METHODS: Flow cytometry was used to measure the 2C-values for 41 Australian seed plant species, 40 of which were new to the literature. Where possible, LL and LMA data from the global literature were combined with 2C-values from our data set and online C-value databases. KEY RESULTS: Across all species, weak positive relationships were found between 2C-values and both LL and LMA; however, these did not reflect the relationships within either angiosperms or gymnosperms. Across 59 angiosperm species, there were weak negative relationships between 2C-values and both LL (r2 = 0.13, P = 0.005) and LMA (r2 = 0.15, P = 0.002). These relationships were the result of shifts to longer LL and greater LMA in woody compared with herbaceous growth forms, with no relationships present within growth forms. It was not possible to explain a positive relationship between 2C-values and LMA (r2 = 0.30, P = 0.024) across 17 gymnosperm species. The 2C-value was not related to LL or LMA either across species within orders (except for LMA among Pinales), or as radiation divergences in a model phylogeny. CONCLUSIONS: Gymnosperms appear to vary along a spectrum different from angiosperms. Among angiosperms, weak negative cross-species relationships were associated with growth form differences, and traced to a few divergences deep in the model phylogeny. These results suggest that among angiosperms, nuclear DNA content and leaf strategy are unrelated.