Use of Local Plants for Ecological Restoration and Slope Stability: A Possible Application in Yan\u27an, Loess Plateau, China

This paper aimed to screen the potential species suitable for ecological restoration and slope stability from local natural growing plants in China Loess Plateau under a semiarid climate. As part of the field investigations of local natural growing plants, potential species, which are suitable candidates for ecological restoration and slope stability, were nominated in the hilly-gullied region in the Yan’an area. The results showed that Artemisia spp. is the best candidate to form a stable root-soil composite system to support the loose loess and reinforce the loose soil, particularly suitable as pioneer plant in the initial stage of loess slope ecosystem reconstruction. Field root pull-out test and direct shear test for soil without roots and root-soil composite systems were conducted to analyse the reinforcement effect of Artemisia spp. The results from quantitative analysis of the slope protection effect showed that the slope safety factor could be obviously improved by the growth of Artemisia spp. As the survey, test, stability analysis and case study shown, Artemisia spp. can effectively prevent the occurrence of loess flow slides and shallow landslides, which has extensive application prospect

CHANKA SETTLEMENT ECOLOGY: HILLTOP SITES, LAND USE AND WARFARE IN LATE PREHISPANIC ANDAHUAYLAS, PERU

This dissertation investigates Late Intermediate Period (AD 1000-1400) hilltop settlements of the central Andean highlands. Rather than a traditional warfare-centered political perspective, the research employs primarily an ecological model in which to evaluate the widespread settlement shift to high altitude ridge tops beginning ca. AD 1000. More specifically, the research investigates the multi-faceted role that climate change may have played in the establishment of LIP hilltop settlements. I examine the concomitant shifts in the local ecology and the economic organization of hilltop communities. Using a multi-scalar and methodologically diverse research design, incorporating ethnohistory, field survey, excavation and GIS, I examine the archaeological and physical landscape around a sample of large Chanka hilltop settlements. Specifically, I adopt a settlement ecology approach in which to evaluate the individual factors which contributed to the high elevation settlement pattern. I argue that the relocation of local populations to high elevation aggregated sites was symptomatic of large scale environmental, rather than political change. More specifically, I argue that regional hilltop settlement was linked to a change in subsistence with a new emphasis on high altitude agro-pastoralism, which would have been an effective risk reduction strategy, most effectively organized from these new settlement locations. In this context, I assert that regional conflict is more accurately understood as an outcome of resource and economic stress during a time of increased aridity. On a broader scale this study makes important contributions towards a growing scholarship concerning how prehistoric populations responded and survived in the face of a multitude of co-occurring crises, including political instability, economic stress and climate change

Conserving Water Through Modular Planting Design: Water-Wise Templates for Ogden\u27s Residential Front Yard Landscapes

Due to the arid climate of the Wasatch front and the projected population growth in the next thirty years, water conservation is essential. Consequently, because the landscape consumes 60% of Utah residences’ purified drinking water, water-wise landscaping needs to be a priority. This thesis creates water-wise landscape templates that can be applied to the front yards of Ogden rental properties using a modular planting method. This study determines best practices by researching topics such as water-wise plants for Northern Utah, templates utilized in other areas, modular planting, and existing organizations with similar goals. This results in a user-friendly guide that includes three sections: Research and Relevance, Design, Implementation and Maintenance. Possible water and cost savings are calculated to reveal the untapped potential in converting Ogden’s rental properties to water conserving landscapes. This contributes to the available body of knowledge concerning water-wise landscape education and will help identify simple and accessible ways for application, especially targeted to real estate investors, in order to enhance ecological awareness and create beauty

Out Of Place: Stone Architecture And Pastoral Nomadism In Prehistoric Inner Asia

How architecture reflects the configuration of physical and social spaces among prehistoric pastoral nomads is a topic scarcely explored in the archaeology of Inner Asia, not least because the common preconception is that structural remains are not in keeping with the mobile lifestyle. Yet, the juxtaposition of these two seemingly contrasting strategies of human subsistence forms an interesting paradox that underlies precisely the nature of nomadism. Accordingly, this study questions how pastoral nomads relate to stationary structures and the idea of a locale. To do so, it draws on the archaeological record of stone architecture in the Bortala River Valley of Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, an area where pastoral nomadism developed in the second and first millennia BCE. With data collected from survey and excavation, this study employs GIS, statistics, and 3D photogrammetry to examine the environment and building patterns of these stone structures on three spatial scales. Built in simple geometric forms recurring in space and time, they correspond typologically to different epochs of human habitation, funerary and ritual activities. Instead of approaching the material typologically, however, this study questions the connection between site selection and architectural design and how the prehistoric landscape of Western Tian Shan was shaped. Three characteristics of place-making and space use are identified. First, the significance of these sites is reinforced through recurring access of specific locations and the adherence to certain building codes. Second, the aggregation of building components over time, like the symbolisms they carry, is cumulative and continuously reconfigured. Third, spatial knowledge is communal. It is anchored to a cartographic palimpsest comprising diverse forms of architecture and art. These preliminary observations form the basis for further modeling, in future research, the logistics of building and cultures of space use among early pastoral societies in Inner Asia on more explicit timescales and in more defined spatial forms

Out Of Place: Stone Architecture And Pastoral Nomadism In Prehistoric Inner Asia

How architecture reflects the configuration of physical and social spaces among prehistoric pastoral nomads is a topic scarcely explored in the archaeology of Inner Asia, not least because the common preconception is that structural remains are not in keeping with the mobile lifestyle. Yet, the juxtaposition of these two seemingly contrasting strategies of human subsistence forms an interesting paradox that underlies precisely the nature of nomadism. Accordingly, this study questions how pastoral nomads relate to stationary structures and the idea of a locale. To do so, it draws on the archaeological record of stone architecture in the Bortala River Valley of Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, an area where pastoral nomadism developed in the second and first millennia BCE. With data collected from survey and excavation, this study employs GIS, statistics, and 3D photogrammetry to examine the environment and building patterns of these stone structures on three spatial scales. Built in simple geometric forms recurring in space and time, they correspond typologically to different epochs of human habitation, funerary and ritual activities. Instead of approaching the material typologically, however, this study questions the connection between site selection and architectural design and how the prehistoric landscape of Western Tian Shan was shaped. Three characteristics of place-making and space use are identified. First, the significance of these sites is reinforced through recurring access of specific locations and the adherence to certain building codes. Second, the aggregation of building components over time, like the symbolisms they carry, is cumulative and continuously reconfigured. Third, spatial knowledge is communal. It is anchored to a cartographic palimpsest comprising diverse forms of architecture and art. These preliminary observations form the basis for further modeling, in future research, the logistics of building and cultures of space use among early pastoral societies in Inner Asia on more explicit timescales and in more defined spatial forms

Environmental trends in Montenegro: Land degradation neutrality

Land degradation neutrality (LDN) is an integral part of the 2030 UN Agenda for Sustainable Development. Montenegro actively works on LDN target setting process. This paper aims to present: (a) the basic principles of LDN concept, (b) global datasets provided by UNCCD, (c) SWOT analysis for the country, and (d) to discuss possible national datasets and further activities related to LDN. LDN Target indicator is measured by means of three sub-indicators: land cover, land productivity and soil organic carbon (SOC), and it could be broaden with national indicators. Country has been provided by UNCCCD with global dataset on three sub-indicators, as well as with watershed boundaries, but is encouraged to utilize their own datasets. ESA land cover data indicate the conversion of 2460 ha of forests into to croplands or shrubs. Land productivity dynamics data indicated that 74300 ha of territory have sort of negative trends in land productivity. SOC at the country level indicates average content of 125.1 t/ha. Ten potential hotspots in the country had reduction of land productivity dynamics caused by wildfires, whereas five hotspots had multiple drivers of land degradation among which fires, agricultural abandonment and urbanization are the most important. Although there is a certain inaccuracy in global datasets, the country decision is to utilize them in defining LDN baseline. The national working group defined four specific voluntary targets: (1) Avoiding, minimizing land degradation, and redirecting land use changes, (2) Increase of land productivity - reduction of soil degradation, (3), Protection of natural ecosystems from wildfires, and (4) Improvement of soil monitoring system. Accordingly, 25 associated measures are defined to achieve LDN up to 2030. They are related to enhancement of LDN baseline in Montenegro, environmental legislations, direct measures to prevent, minimize land degradation and restore degraded land, sustainable agriculture and forestry, land use changes and social

Eighth International Symposium “Monitoring of Mediterranean Coastal Areas. Problems and Measurement Techniques”

The 8th International Symposium "Monitoring of Mediterranean Coastal Areas. Problems and Measurements Techniques" was organized by CNR-IBE in collaboration with FCS Foundation, and Natural History Museum of the Mediterranean and under the patronage of University of Florence, Accademia dei Geogofili, Tuscany Region and Livorno Province. It is the occasion in which scholars can illustrate and exchange their activities and innovative proposals, with common aims to promote actions to preserve coastal marine environment. Considering Symposium interdisciplinary nature, the Scientific Committee, underlining this holistic view of Nature, decided to celebrate Alexander von Humboldt; a nature scholar that proposed the organic and inorganic nature’s aspects as a single system. It represents a sign of continuity considering that in-presence Symposium could not be carried out due to the COVID-19 pandemic restrictions. Subjects are related to coastal topics: morphology; flora and fauna; energy production; management and integrated protection; geography and landscape, cultural heritage and environmental assets, legal and economic aspects

Understanding the role of non-coding RNAs in skin homeostasis and cancer

The epidermis is a stratified epithelium with continuous self-renewing capacity. As the outermost layer of our body, it provides a protective barrier against external trauma, produces pigmentation, and keeps the skin hydrated. Keratinocytes are the primary constituent cells type within the epidermis. A fine balance is maintained between keratinocyte cell proliferation and differentiation to sustain a functional epidermis. The interplay between multiple signaling pathways, transcription factors, epigenetic modulators, and non-coding RNAs is the key to maintaining this balance. Disrupted epidermal homeostasis can cause various diseases, including cancer. Cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (cSCC) is one such keratinocyte-derived cancer that begins with the accumulation of somatic mutations and genetic abnormalities. The pigment-producing melanocytes within the epidermis can undergo oncogenic transformation due to numerous genetic and environmental factors, and give rise to malignant melanoma. In this thesis, we have explored the role of non-coding RNAs in epidermal homeostasis and the development of skin cancers. Paper I: In this study, we investigated the role of miR-203 in cSCC, and found that its expression was negatively correlated with the differentiation grade of the tumors. Functionally, miR-203 inhibited cell cycle progression, self-renewability, motility and proangiogenic-activity of cSCC cells in vitro, and reduced xenograft tumor growth and angiogenesis in vivo. We identified c-MYC as a potential upstream regulator of the transcriptomic changes caused by miR-203 overexpression, and subsequently demonstrated that c-MYC is a direct target of miR203 in cSCC. In line with these findings, overexpression of c-Myc rescued the growthinhibitory effect of miR-203 in cSCC cell lines. Paper II: In this study, we analyzed the small RNA-seq data from the skin cutaneous melanoma (TCGA SKCM-cohort) and found that miR-203 is the most downregulated miRNA in metastatic melanoma. Moreover, high miR-203 abundance seems to confer longer overall survival to patients with metastatic melanoma. Methylome data from patient samples, together with results from in vitro experiments, suggested that promoter hypermethylation could suppress miR-203 expression in metastatic tumors. Functionally, miR-203 acted as a tumor suppressor by inhibiting cancer/metastatic hallmarks such as cell migration, invasion, selfrenewal, and angiogenesis. SLUG, an essential regulator of epithelial-mesenchymal transition, was found to be a direct target of miR-203. In vivo, miR-203 effectively suppressed melanoma metastasis to the inguinal lymph nodes and the lungs. Paper III: In this study, we investigated the changes in the coding and non-coding landscape in cSCC using RNA-seq. We identified a large number of differentially expressed coding transcripts linear lncRNAs and circRNAs. Representative transcripts from each group were validated using an extended cohort. We found that several transcription factors regulating skin development and cSCC oncogenesis were altered at mRNA level. In addition to various lncRNAs with potential oncogenic function, we identified a set of skin-specific lncRNAs, which were mostly downregulated in cSCC. We observed a global downregulation of circRNA abundance in cSCC. Apart from previously annotated circRNAs, novel skin-enriched circRNAs were also identified and validated. Paper IV: In this study, we characterized a skin-specific lncRNA located at the Epidermal Differentiation Complex (EDC) on human chromosome 1. It is highly induced during the late stages of keratinocyte differentiation and localized to the granular layer of the human epidermis. We showed that transcription factor YY1 suppresses its expression in the progenitor keratinocytes. CRISPR-mediated activation of this lncRNA locus led to an increased expression of late differentiation marker genes. In contrast, loss-of-function experiment in a 3D organotypic skin model resulted in impaired terminal differentiation program and formation of thinner cornified envelope. Due to its functional requirement in late differentiation, we have renamed this lncRNA as ELDAR (Epidermal Late Differentiation Associated RNA)

The Archaeology of South-East Italy in the First Millennium BC

"Synthesizing some 30 years of archaeological research in south-east Italy, this book discusses a millennium that witnessed breathtaking changes: the first millennium BC. In nine to ten centuries the Mediterranean societies changed from a great variety of mostly small entities of predominantly tribal nature into the enormous state currently indicated as the Roman Empire. This volume is a case study discussing the pathway to complexity of one of the regions that contributed to the formation of this large state:south-east Italy. It highlights how initially small groups developed into complex societies, how and why these adapted to increasingly wide horizons, and how and why Italic groups and migrants from the eastern Mediterranean interacted and created entirely new social, economic, cultural and physical landscapes. This synthesis is based on research carried out by many Italian archaeologists and by research groups from quite a variety of other countries.

Far from the garden path : an identikit picture of woody ornamental plants invading South-eastern Australian bushland

This thesis establishes a predictive model to identify woody plants with a high invasive potential in South-eastern Australia. The model evolved through a comparison of the hundred or so introduced species that have already become invasive with the several thousand introduced species which have not. Several hundred naturalised, but not yet invasive, species were also compared against the non-spreaders. In the comparisons consideration is given to three major factors: - pressure of introduction; - environmental suitability; and - inherent plant attributes. Pressure of introduction is gauged through the use of nursery catalogues for the cities of Adelaide, Melbourne and Sydney and by planting and sales records for Canberra, where one government body has been responsible fol' the majority of planting. The pitfalls, benefits and histories provided by these documents are discussed. There are strong correlations between the inferred amount a particular species has been planted and the probability that this species is a bushland invader, for all four cities studied. Strong correlations were also found between period of first recorded introduction and invasiveness. In relation to geographical origin, invasive species were found to originate from areas of similar climate to that of point of introduction, but to have a wide distribution over different climate, vegetation and soil types. The thesis also compares the biological environment of source and introduced habitats. However, no firm conclusions relating biotic environment to invasiveness are made. The key inherent identifying attributes of invasive woody species in Southeastern Australia are that they tend to: - reproduce vegetatively; -belong to the Fabaceae, Rosaceae and Mimosaceae and not the Myrtaceae; and - are either summergreen broadleaved trees, Mediterranean evergreen shrubs or broad evergreen vines, and not mesic summergreen shrubs. Other important attributes include: - a large chromosome number; - a long seed longevity; - a middle of the range seed weight; - early lifetime maturity; • being dioecious; - being ant or bird dispersed; - belonging to the Salicaceae and Oleaceae families and not the Cupressaceae; - and being a bush stem succulent. Many more genotypic and phenotypic attributes, to those listed above, are examined in the thesis, but are not found to be related to invasiveness. Another important identifying feature of invasive species in South-eastern Australia, is whether a species or a close relative of similar biology (i.e of the same genus, lifeform and dispersal and reproductive mechanism) is invasive in similar climates elsewhere. Relationships between and amongst all the environmental and inherent plant identifying attributes of invasive species are examined. The Invasive Species Model combines and weights only those features that are required for maximum precision in identification. The model requires answers to a question concerning each of the key attributes and accrues a score, depending on the answers received. Total scores range from -300 to +400. Scores were calculated for 791 woody species commonly planted in Southeastern Australia. None of the 286 species (36% of all common introductions) with a sub-zero score was invasive. There are only two invasive species amongst the 425 species with a invasive score below fifty. Sixty-four of the 109 species with a score over 250 are invasive. Of the ninety-one invasive species eight-one (89%) have an invasive score of above 150. The model is able to provide reasonably accurate and consistent statements of invasive probability, but not categorical distinction. The precision is greatest when taken over the wider South-eastern Australia area than at a more specific focus. The model is also best at distinguishing groups of uninvasive rather than invasive species, a focus which has previously been ignored in studies of invasive plant species. The application of the model, both within South-eastern Australia and globally, is tested and discussed. The basic conclusion being that the model, or a derivation, can provide a means by which the potential of a woody plant to become invasive can be gauged