A Revisit to the Impacts of Land Use Changes on the Human Wellbeing via Altering the Ecosystem Provisioning Services

It is widely acknowledged that land use changes (LUC) associated with climate variations are affecting the human wellbeing. This paper conducted a revisit to relevant researches on the impacts of LUC on human wellbeing via specifically altering the ecosystem provisioning services. First, the explorations on the influences of LUC on ecosystem provisioning services were reviewed, including the researches on the influences of LUC on agroecosystem services and forest and/or grassland ecosystem services. Then the quantitative identification of the impacts of LUC on ecosystem provisioning services was commented on. In the light of enhanced observation and valuation methods, several approaches to ecosystem services and improved models for assessing those ecosystem services were assessed. The major indicators used to uncover the influences of LUC on human wellbeing were summarized including the increase of inputs and the reduction of outputs in production and the augmented health risk induced by the irrational land uses. Finally, this paper uncovered the research gaps and proposed several research directions to address these gaps

A revisit to the impact of land use changes on the human well-being via altering the ecosystem provisioning services,”

It is widely acknowledged that land use changes (LUC) associated with climate variations are affecting the human wellbeing. This paper conducted a revisit to relevant researches on the impacts of LUC on human wellbeing via specifically altering the ecosystem provisioning services. First, the explorations on the influences of LUC on ecosystem provisioning services were reviewed, including the researches on the influences of LUC on agroecosystem services and forest and/or grassland ecosystem services. Then the quantitative identification of the impacts of LUC on ecosystem provisioning services was commented on. In the light of enhanced observation and valuation methods, several approaches to ecosystem services and improved models for assessing those ecosystem services were assessed. The major indicators used to uncover the influences of LUC on human wellbeing were summarized including the increase of inputs and the reduction of outputs in production and the augmented health risk induced by the irrational land uses. Finally, this paper uncovered the research gaps and proposed several research directions to address these gaps

Impacts of Cultivated Land Reclamation on the Climate and Grain Production in Northeast China in the Future 30 Years

China, as a large agricultural country as well as a major country with great demand for grain, has played a more and more important role in the international grain market. As Northeast China is one of the major commodity grain bases in China as well as one of the regions with the highest intensity of human activities, it plays an important role in influencing the global food security. This study first generally analyzed the cultivated land reclamation and the climate change of temperature and precipitation in Northeast China during 2000–2010. Then, on the basis of these data, the climatic effects of cultivated land reclamation in Northeast China during 2030–2040 were simulated by the weather research forecast (WRF) model. Finally, the possible effects of the climate change on the grain yield and the potential influence on the food security were analyzed. The simulation result indicated that the temperature in Northeast China would be increasing on the whole, while the precipitation would be decreasing. The result of this study can provide some theoretical support to the agricultural economic development in Northeast China and serve the national macropolicy and food security strategy of the whole China

Altered Functional and Causal Connectivity of Cerebello-Cortical Circuits between Multiple System Atrophy (Parkinsonian Type) and Parkinson’s Disease

Lesions of the cerebellum lead to motor and non-motor deficits by influencing cerebral cortex activity via cerebello-cortical circuits. It remains unknown whether the cerebello-cortical “disconnection” underlies motor and non-motor impairments both in the parkinsonian variant of multiple system atrophy (MSA-P) and Parkinson’s disease (PD). In this study, we investigated both the functional and effective connectivity of the cerebello-cortical circuits from resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI) data of three groups (26 MSA-P patients, 31 PD patients, and 30 controls). Correlation analysis was performed between the causal connectivity and clinical scores. PD patients showed a weakened cerebellar dentate nucleus (DN) functional coupling in the posterior cingulate cortex (PCC) and inferior parietal lobe compared with MSA-P or controls. MSA-P patients exhibited significantly enhanced effective connectivity from the DN to PCC compared with PD patients or controls, as well as declined causal connectivity from the left precentral gyrus to right DN compared with the controls, and this value is significantly correlated with the motor symptom scores. Our findings demonstrated a crucial role for the cerebello-cortical networks in both MSA-P and PD patients in addition to striatal-thalamo-cortical (STC) networks and indicated that different patterns of cerebello-cortical loop degeneration are involved in the development of the diseases

Integral Sliding Mode Control for Markovian Jump T-S Fuzzy Descriptor Systems Based on the Super-Twisting Algorithm

This paper investigates integral sliding mode control problems for Markovian jump T-S fuzzy descriptor systems via the super-twisting algorithm. A new integral sliding surface which is continuous is constructed and an integral sliding mode control scheme based on a variable gain super-twisting algorithm is presented to guarantee the well-posedness of the state trajectories between two consecutive switchings. The stability of the sliding motion is analyzed by considering the descriptor redundancy and the properties of fuzzy membership functions. It is shown that the proposed variable gain super-twisting algorithm is an extension of the classical single-input case to the multi-input case. Finally, a bio-economic system is numerically simulated to verify the merits of the method proposed

Synapsis and Meiotic Recombination in Male Chinese Muntjac (Muntiacus reevesi)

The muntjacs (Muntiacus, Cervidae) have been extensively studied in terms of chromosomal and karyotypic evolution. However, little is known about their meiotic chromosomes particularly the recombination patterns of homologous chromosomes. We used immunostained surface spreads to visualise synaptonemal complexes (SCs), recombination foci and kinetochores with antibodies against marker proteins. As in other mammals pachytene was the longest stage of meiotic prophase. 39.4% of XY bivalents lacked MLH1 foci compared to less than 0.5% of autosomes. The average number of MLH1 foci per pachytene cell in M. reevesi was 29.8. The distribution of MLH1 foci differed from other mammals. On SCs with one focus, the distribution was more even in M. reevesi than in other mammals; for SCs that have two or more MLH1 foci, usually there was a larger peak in the sub-centromere region than other regions on SC in M. reevesi. Additionally, there was a lower level of interference between foci in M. reevesi than in mouse or human. These observations may suggest that the regulation of homologous recombination in M. reevesi is slightly different from other mammals and will improve our understanding of the regulation of meiotic recombination, with respect to recombination frequency and position

Exploration of the Intersectoral Relations Based on Input-Output Tables in the Inland River Basin of China

The conflict among natural resources, environment and economic development is one of the major problems to be solved in the current world. Sustainable development is a powerful tool on the way toward seeking for harmonious development. Due to a lack of resources and fragility in ecosystems, the Inland River Basin of China is facing a serious problem that needs to be solved. In this paper, northwest China is chosen as the study area. Based on the interregional input-output table of China for the years 2002 and 2007 and the provincial input-output table of 2007, the I-O table analysis method was adopted to calculate the influence coefficient and response coefficient of the five provinces in northwest China. Through the analysis of the results, the intersectoral relation has been investigated, which could lend some credence for seeking effective ways for sustainable development in western China. The research findings indicate that the tertiary industry and construction sector are capable of greatly driving the national economic development in northwest China and, thus, should be developed preferentially

The Impact of Industrial Transformation on Water Use Efficiency in Northwest Region of China

China has been stressing the needs of promoting regional sustainable development through industrial transformation. In the northwest region of China, which is faced with both urgent socioeconomic development and fragile ecological conditions, with water scarcity being one of the major characters, the relationship between industrial transformation and water use efficiency ought to be investigated. This paper conducted an empirical analysis of industry transformation’s impact on water use efficiency by using the Input-output analysis. First, we compiled an extended Input-output table with water use account; Second, the input-output analysis model was built based on the extended Input-output table; Then, a counterfactual experiment was performed to document the water use efficiency caused by industrial transformation; Finally, water use efficiency of different sectors in both northwest region of China as a whole and its five provinces were calculated. The results show that water use efficiency of northwest region of China is improved by optimizing industrial structure. Also, sectors with low water use efficiency but huge improvement potential were found out. Then policy implications for regional sustainable development and water resources management are provided at the end of the article

Interactions between Climate, Socioeconomics, and Land Dynamics in Qinghai Province, China: A LUCD Model-Based Numerical Experiment

This simulation-based research produces a set of forecast land use data of Qinghai Province, China, applying the land use change dynamics (LUCD) model. The simulation results show that the land use pattern will almost keep being consistent in the period from 2010 to 2050 with that in 2000 in Qinghai Province. Grassland and barren or sparsely vegetated land will cover more than 80% of the province’s total area. The land use change will be inconspicuous in the period from 2010 to 2050 involving only 0.49% of the province’s land. The expansion of urban and built-up land, grassland, and barren or sparsely vegetated land and the area reduction of mixed dryland/irrigated cropland and pasture, water bodies, and snow or ice will dominate land use changes of the case study area. The changes of urban and built-up land and mixed dryland/irrigated cropland and pasture will slow down over time. Meanwhile, the change rates of water bodies, snow and ice, barren or sparsely vegetated land, and grassland will show an inverted U-shaped trajectory. Except for providing underlying surfaces for RCMs for future climate change assessment, this empirical research of regional land use change may enhance the understanding of land surface system dynamics

Analytical study on tubular flange girder bridges using high strength steel

Twin-I girder bridge systems are representative structures used in bridge industrialization construction. They have advantages including structure simplification, material save and accelerated construction, but the system using two main girders limits the span and makes the lateral effect more significantly. The general suitable spans range from 25m to 45m, which limits the use of twin-girder bridges. To increase the span limit, the use of tube as top flange and high strength steel can improve structure behavior and increase bridge spans. In the paper, parametrical study and structure optimization were conducted to investigate the behavior of tubular flange girder bridges using high strength steel. Parameters including cross-beam arrangement, stiffeners, tube size were studied. Comparisons between the systems using ordinary steel and that using high strength steel were conducted.Postprint (published version