Carbon benefits of wolfberry plantation on secondary saline land in Jingtai oasis, Gansu:A case study on application of the CBP model

The largest global source of anthropogenic CO2 emissions comes from the burning of fossil fuel and approximately 30% of total net emissions come from land use and land use change. Forestation and reforestation are regarded worldwide as effective options of sequestering carbon to mitigate climate change with relatively low costs compared with industrial greenhouse gas (GHG) emission reduction efforts. Cash trees with a steady augmentation in size are recognized as a multiple-beneficial solution to climate change in China. The reporting of C changes and GHG emissions for sustainable land management (SLM) practices such as afforestation is required for a variety of reasons, such as devising land management options and making policy. The Carbon Benefit Project (CBP) Simple Assessment Tool was employed to estimate changes in soil organic carbon (SOC) stocks and GHG emissions for wolfberry (Lycium barbarum L.) planting on secondary salinized land over a 10 year period (2004–2014) in the Jingtai oasis in Gansu with salinized barren land as baseline scenario. Results show that wolfberry plantation, an intensively managed ecosystem, served as a carbon sink with a large potential for climate change mitigation, a restorative practice for saline land and income stream generator for farmers in soil salinized regions in Gansu province. However, an increase in wolfberry production, driven by economic demands, would bring environmental pressures associated with the use of N fertilizer and irrigation. With an understanding of all of the components of an ecosystem and their interconnections using the Drivers-Pressures-State-Impact-Response (DPSIR) framework there comes a need for strategies to respond to them such as capacity building, judicious irrigation and institutional strengthening. Cost benefit analysis (CBA) suggests that wolfberry cultivation was economically profitable and socially beneficial and thus well-accepted locally in the context of carbon sequestration. This study has important implications for Gansu as it helps to understand the role cash trees can play in carbon emission reductions. Such information is necessary in devising management options for sustainable land management (SLM)

Research on Intelligent Vehicle Trajectory Planning and Control Based on an Improved Terminal Sliding Mode

Aiming at precisely tracking an intelligent vehicle on a desired trajectory, this paper proposes an intelligent vehicle trajectory planning and control strategy based on an improved terminal sliding mold. Firstly, the traditional RRT algorithm is improved by using the target bias strategy and the separation axis theorem to improve the algorithm search efficiency. Secondly, an improved terminal sliding mode controller is designed. The controller comprehensively considers the lateral error and heading error of the tracking control, and the stability of the control system is proven by the Lyapunov function. Finally, the performance of the designed controller is verified by the Matlab-Carsim HIL simulation platform. The test results of the Matlab-Carsim HIL simulation platform show that, compared with the general terminal sliding mode controller, the improved terminal sliding mode controller designed in this paper has higher control accuracy and better robustness

Sedimentary characteristics and controlling factors of the Ba 66 fan in Bayindulan Sag

Based on the data of core, thin sections, logging and 3D seismic, the sedimentary characteristics, controlling factors and sedimentary model of Ba 66 fan are studied systematically to determine the types and characteristics of the fan.The study shows that Ba 66 fan is a fan delta rapidly deposited by torrent after short-distance transport, and the hydrodynamic force of the fan is mainly driven by gravity.The extension distance of the fan is short on the plane.The fan is lobate as a whole and has the facies feature of " large plain, small front".The main characteristics of the fan are as follows: the maturity of the rock is low, and the disorderly massive glutenite is the typical lithofacies; The fan has the logging characteristics of high amplitude, odonation and abrupt contact.The fan bodies can be divided into plain, front (including proximal, middle and distal), pre-delta or lacustrine facies according to the characteristics of seismic facies, such as random hills, front accumulations, and sheets.The analysis shows that the development of fan delta in the slope belt is mainly controlled by the background environment of the depression and paleogeomorphology: ①The background conditions such as source of uplift area, narrow lake basin (no gentle slope) and wide lake surface ensure the supply of source and short-distance transportation conditions for the formation of fan delta; ②Grooves provide space for sand body development. The slope break changes the slope, divides the accommodation space, and controls the distribution of facies, and the low bulge under the water affects the plane distribution of the fan.Finally, the deposition model of Ba 66 fan is constructed

Remote Sensing-Based Approach for the Assessing of Ecological Environmental Quality Variations Using Google Earth Engine: A Case Study in the Qilian Mountains, Northwest China

Due to climate change and human activities, the eco-environment quality (EEQ) of eco-fragile regions has undergone massive change, especially in the Tibet Plateau. The Qilian Mountains (QLM) region is an essential ecological function zone in the northeastern Tibet Plateau, which plays a vital role in northwestern China’s eco-environmental balance. However, EEQ changes in the QLM during the 21st century remain poorly understood. In this study, the spatiotemporal variations of the EEQ in the QLM were analyzed from 2000 to 2020 using a remote sensing ecological index (RSEI). The EEQ driving factors are identified by the geographic detector, and the spatial influence of critical factors is represented by a geographically weighted regression model. The results show low EEQ in the QLM. From 2000 to 2020, the EEQ initially slightly improved, then deteriorated, and finally gradually recovered. Spatially, the EEQ shows an increasing trend from northwest to southeast. Moran’s I of EEQ remains at around 0.95, representing high spatial aggregation. “High–High” and “Low–Low” clustering features dominate in the local spatial autocorrelation, indicating the EEQ of the QLM is polarized. Precipitation is the dominant positive factor in the EEQ, with a q statistics exceeding 0.644. Furthermore, the key factors (precipitation, distance to towns, distance to roads) affecting EEQ in different periods vary significantly in space. From results we can draw the conclusion that the natural factors mainly control the spatial patterns of EEQ, while the human factors mainly impact the temporal trend of EEQ, the EEQ in the QLM has been significantly improved since 2015. Our findings can provide theoretical support for future eco-environmental protection and restoration in the QLM

Investigation of the structural, physical properties, antioxidant, and antimicrobial activity of chitosan- nano-silicon aerogel composite edible films incorporated with okara powder

The chitosan/okra powder/nano-silicon aerogel composite films were prepared by casting method and their physicochemical properties and structural characterization were studied. The results showed that the composite film had good mechanical properties, barrier properties and optical properties. The composite film has strong flexibility. The surface glossiness of C/D/S-1.5:1:0.1 film was 14.4Gu. As for the antibacterial activity, all the composite films had strong antibacterial activity against Gram-negative (E. coli) and Gram-positive (S. aureus), and the inhibition zone of C/D/S-1.5:1:0.10 against E. coli reached 551.96 mm(2), the inhibition zone for S. aureus was 350.29 mm(2). The composite film had uniform, non-porous, continuous and dense surface characteristics. The structural characterization confirmed that there was good compatibility between chitosan, okara powder and nano-silicon aerogel. In summary, the composite films had excellent performance and structure, which promoted the research of functional packaging films

Astrocytes exhibit diverse Ca2+ changes at subcellular domains during brain aging

Astrocytic Ca2+ transients are essential for astrocyte integration into neural circuits. These Ca2+ transients are primarily sequestered in subcellular domains, including primary branches, branchlets and leaflets, and endfeet. In previous studies, it suggests that aging causes functional defects in astrocytes. Until now, it was unclear whether and how aging affects astrocytic Ca2+ transients at subcellular domains. In this study, we combined a genetically encoded Ca2+ sensor (GCaMP6f) and in vivo two-photon Ca2+ imaging to determine changes in Ca2+ transients within astrocytic subcellular domains during brain aging. We showed that aging increased Ca2+ transients in astrocytic primary branches, higher-order branchlets, and terminal leaflets. However, Ca2+ transients decreased within astrocytic endfeet during brain aging, which could be caused by the decreased expressions of Aquaporin-4 (AQP4). In addition, aging-induced changes of Ca2+ transient types were heterogeneous within astrocytic subcellular domains. These results demonstrate that the astrocytic Ca2+ transients within subcellular domains are affected by aging differently. This finding contributes to a better understanding of the physiological role of astrocytes in aging-induced neural circuit degeneration