Contributions of nitrogen deposition and forest regrowth to terrestrial carbon uptake

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The amount of reactive nitrogen deposited on land has doubled globally and become at least five-times higher in Europe, Eastern United States, and South East Asia since 1860 mostly because of increases in fertilizer production and fossil fuel burning. Because vegetation growth in the Northern Hemisphere is typically nitrogen-limited, increased nitrogen deposition could have an attenuating effect on rising atmospheric CO₂by stimulating the vegetation productivity and accumulation of carbon in biomass.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>This study shows that elevated nitrogen deposition would not significantly enhance land carbon uptake unless we consider its effects on re-growing forests. Our results suggest that nitrogen enriched land ecosystems sequestered 0.62–2.33 PgC in the 1980s and 0.75–2.21 PgC in the 1990s depending on the proportion and age of re-growing forests. During these two decades land ecosystems are estimated to have absorbed 13–41% of carbon emitted by fossil fuel burning.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Although land ecosystems and especially forests with lifted nitrogen limitations have the potential to decelerate the rise of CO₂concentrations in the atmosphere, the effect is only significant over a limited period of time. The carbon uptake associated with forest re-growth and amplified by high nitrogen deposition will decrease as soon as the forests reach maturity. Therefore, assessments relying on carbon stored on land from enhanced atmospheric nitrogen deposition to balance fossil fuel emissions may be inaccurate.</p

miR-23b regulates cytoskeletal remodeling, motility and metastasis by directly targeting multiple transcripts

Uncontrolled cell proliferation and cytoskeletal remodeling are responsible for tumor development and ultimately metastasis. A number of studies have implicated microRNAs in the regulation of cancer cell invasion and migration. Here, we show that miR-23b regulates focal adhesion, cell spreading, cell-cell junctions and the formation of lamellipodia in breast cancer (BC), implicating a central role for it in cytoskeletal dynamics. Inhibition of miR-23b, using a specific sponge construct, leads to an increase of cell migration and metastatic spread in vivo, indicating it as a metastatic suppressor microRNA. Clinically, low miR-23b expression correlates with the development of metastases in BC patients. Mechanistically, miR-23b is able to directly inhibit a number of genes implicated in cytoskeletal remodeling in BC cells. Through intracellular signal transduction, growth factors activate the transcription factor AP-1, and we show that this in turn reduces miR-23b levels by direct binding to its promoter, releasing the pro-invasive genes from translational inhibition. In aggregate, miR-23b expression invokes a sophisticated interaction network that co-ordinates a wide range of cellular responses required to alter the cytoskeleton during cancer cell motility

Feasibility and Efficacy of a Psychological Therapy for Patients With a Schizophrenic Psychosis in an Inpatient Setting: Study Protocol of a Randomized Switch Controlled Trial

Background: Schizophrenic psychoses are severe mental disorders. Despite advances in treatment, outcomes are still unsatisfactory. Pharmacological treatments are still limited, in particular regarding improvements in psychosocial functioning and neuro-cognitive impairment. In recent years new psychological therapies have been developed, demonstrating promising results. However, most of these interventions have been designed for and studied in outpatients; their efficacy and feasibility for patients requiring hospitalization is still unknown. Therefore, we have designed a clinical trial to compare a neuro-cognitive (Integrated Neuro-cognitive Treatment INT); a cognitive-behavioral (Integrated Psychological Therapy IPT); and a control (Cogpack CGP) intervention for patients with a schizophrenic psychosis hospitalized for treatment. Methods: In a three-parallel-arm, single-blind, randomized, controlled study, we compare INT, IPT, and CGP. Participants will take part in two weekly sessions of one intervention for at least 16 sessions. If due to randomization, participants are allocated to a treatment arm not suitable for them, they are allowed to switch intervention after four sessions. Based on a sample size calculation, recruitment will continue until 30 participants have completed the intervention for each treatment arm. Outcome Measurement: Primary outcomes are: change in symptom as measured by the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS), change in psychosocial functioning as assessed by the mini ICF-APP and neuro-cognitive performance, assessed by the Matrics Cognitive Consensus Battery (MCCB). Other outcomes of interest are the Brief Symptom Inventory (BSI) and the Health of the Nation Outcome Scales (HoNOS); together with prescribed medication, treatment retention and completion rates. Outcomes will be measured at baseline, 2 weeks into treatment (prior to a potential switch of intervention arm), post-treatment and at 6 and 12-month post-treatment follow-ups. Expected Outcomes: We expect an overall improvement; however, with differences in specific domains for each treatment arm, with those completing INT showing better outcomes than IPT and CGP, respectively. We anticipate that lower functioning participants will drift to CGP and higher functioning participants to INT. Conclusion: Due to the complexity of treatment for patients with a schizophrenic psychosis, we consider it crucial to compare different treatment options for those more severely affected, therefore, requiring inpatient treatment

Changes in annual atmospheric nitrogen deposition based on TM3 model simulations from 1860 to 2000

<p><b>Copyright information:</b></p><p>Taken from "Contributions of nitrogen deposition and forest regrowth to terrestrial carbon uptake"</p><p>http://www.cbmjournal.com/content/2/1/5</p><p>Carbon Balance and Management 2007;2():5-5.</p><p>Published online 29 May 2007</p><p>PMCID:PMC1894630.</p><p></p> Black arrows on the plot show years when forests were assumed to be planted in simulations with middle-aged and young forests

Changes in land carbon uptake in response to increasing nitrogen deposition and both nitrogen deposition and forest regrowth

<p><b>Copyright information:</b></p><p>Taken from "Contributions of nitrogen deposition and forest regrowth to terrestrial carbon uptake"</p><p>http://www.cbmjournal.com/content/2/1/5</p><p>Carbon Balance and Management 2007;2():5-5.</p><p>Published online 29 May 2007</p><p>PMCID:PMC1894630.</p><p></p> The presented values are differences in net carbon uptake modelled with and without increasing atmospheric nitrogen deposition for mature, young and middle-aged forests. The bars show global carbon uptake averaged for 1980's and 1990's

Impact of psychopathology on day-to-day living in patients with schizophrenia: A network analysis

Although the relationship between schizophrenia and disability is well established, the association between the symptoms of the disorder and functional domains remains unclear. The current study explored the nuances of the relationship between symptoms and domains of functioning in a sample of 1127 patients with schizophrenia. We assessed the symptoms of schizophrenia with the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) and psychosocial functioning with the mini-ICF-APP (mini-International Classification of Functioning Rating for Limitations of Activities and Participation in Psychological Disorders). The mean PANSS score was 94.28 (27.20), and the mean mini-ICF-APP score was 25.25 (8.96), both of which are indicative of severe symptom load and impairment. We were able to show a strong relationship and overlap between symptoms and disability in patients with schizophrenia. We identified several symptoms related to functional impairment. Deficits in judgment and abstract thinking contribute to impairment through poor adherence (to routines and compliance with rules) and difficulties in planning and organizing. We believe that in schizophrenia, symptoms and their interactions constitute a disorder beyond any single manifestation. Furthermore, we suggest that cognitive testing and cognitive treatment should become part of the standard of care for patients with schizophrenia

Uncertainties of modeling gross primary productivity over Europe: A systematic study on the effects of using different drivers and terrestrial biosphere models

International audienceOriginal Jung, M.; Vetter, M.; Herold, M.; Churkina, G.; Reichstein, M.; Zaehle, S.; Ciais, P.; Viovy, N.; Bondeau, A.; Chen, Y.; Trusilova, K.; Feser, F.; Heimann, M.: [1] Continental to global-scale modeling of the carbon cycle using process-based models is subject to large uncertainties. These uncertainties originate from the model structure and uncertainty in model forcing fields; however, little is known about their relative importance. A thorough understanding and quantification of uncertainties is necessary to correctly interpret carbon cycle simulations and guide further model developments. This study elucidates the effects of different state-of-the-art land cover and meteorological data set options and biosphere models on simulations of gross primary productivity (GPP) over Europe. The analysis is based on (1) three different process-oriented terrestrial biosphere models (Biome-BGC, LPJ, and Orchidee) driven with the same input data and one model (Biome-BGC) driven with (2) two different meteorological data sets (ECMWF and REMO), (3) three different land cover data sets (GLC2000, MODIS, and SYNMAP), and (4) three different spatial resolutions of the land cover (0.25°fractional, 0.25°d ominant, and 0.5°dominant). We systematically investigate effects on the magnitude, spatial pattern, and interannual variation of GPP. While changing the land cover map or the spatial resolution has only little effect on the model outcomes, changing the meteorological drivers and especially the model results in substantial differences. Uncertainties of the meteorological forcings affect particularly strongly interannual variations of simulated GPP. By decomposing modeled GPP into their biophysical and ecophysiological components (absorbed photosynthetic active radiation (APAR) and radiation use efficiency (RUE), respectively) we show that differences of interannual GPP variations among models result primarily from differences of simulating RUE. Major discrepancies appear to be related to the feedback through the carbon-nitrogen interactions in one model (Biome-BGC) and water stress effects, besides the modeling of croplands. We suggest clarifying the role of nitrogen dynamics in future studies and revisiting currently applied concepts of carbon-water cycle interactions regarding the representation of canopy conductance and soil processes. Citation: Jung, M., et al. (2007), Uncertainties of modeling gross primary productivity over Europe: A systematic study on the effects of using different drivers and terrestrial biosphere models, Global Biogeochem. Cycles, 21, GB4021