Spatial and Temporal Patterns of NDVI Response to Precipitation and Temperature in Mongolian Steppe

Understanding of recent trends of the vegetation cover changes, and its relationship with the climate change will be helpful in more accurate prediction of the vegetation cover changes. The accurate prediction of vegetation cover is helpful in reduction of loss and damages to the economy of the country. Rainfall is one of the limiting factors of animal productivity and socio-economic development of Mongolia. In this study we analyzed temporal patterns of NDVI in relation to precipitation and/or air temperature in steppe zone of Mongolia. NDVI from the SPOT VEGETATION data, at a spatial resolution of 1 km and 10 day intervals, were used to investigate the vegetation variations in Mongolia during the period from 2003 to 2009. Then, GIS and remote sensing techniques were used to examine the relationship between precipitation/temperature and the NDVI in Mongolia, and the seasonal change of NDVI is taken as a tool for drought monitoring. The results indicated that the NDVI values changed in relation to different amount of precipitation and maximally responds to the variation of precipitation with a lag of about 10 days and 20 days during vegetation period

Involvement of MEK-ERK signaling pathway in the inhibition of cell growth by troglitazone in human pancreatic cancer cells

Elsevier Inc., Wataru Motomura, Satoshi Tanno, Nobuhiko Takahashi, Miho Nagamine, Mitsuko Fukuda (Sawamukai), Yutaka Kohgo and Toshikatsu Okumura, BIOCHEMICAL AND BIOPHYSICAL RESEARCH COMMUNICATIONS, 332(1), 2005, 89-94. authorIn the present study, we examined a role of mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs), extracellular signal releted kinase (ERK), c-Jun N-terminal protein kinase (JNK) and p38 MAPK in troglitazone-induced inhibition of cell growth in human pancreatic cancer cells. Among the three kinases, troglitazone specifically inhibited the phosphorylation of ERK1/2 in a dose- and time-dependent manner. Troglitazone also down-regulated the protein expression of mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase (MEK)1/2, an upstream molecule that regulates ERK phosphorylation. Treatment of human pancreatic cancer cells with specific MEK inhibitor, PD98059 or U0126 inhibited ERK1/2 phosphorylation and cell growth. These results suggest for the first time that the inhibition of the MEK1/2-ERK1/2 signaling pathway may be implicated in the growth inhibitory effect by troglitazone in human pancreatic cancer cells

Preliminary Results on Surface and Soil Characteristics of Brandt\u27s Vole (Microtus brandti) Habitat in Central Mongolia Using Satellite Data

Does Brandt\u27s vole (Microtus brandti) makes damage to the environment or provides management? To solve such query, we analyzed land surface characteristics, the nitrogen content and soil hardness measurements at the Brandt\u27s vole colony, for examining changes of land surface and soil by activity of Brandt\u27s vole. The soil hardness was lowest at colony (about 13 mm) and highest at off colony area (about 25 mm). The soil became softer at the colony places. The nitrogen content was high on the mound, and showed high nutritive value of soil. The colonies were located at places with different altitude and slopes, but mostly at no shade (0.73～0.87). The soil mixing made by burrowing activity of Brandt\u27s voles might have a great impact on ecosystems of Mongolian steppe. Soft soil on colony enriched in nitrogen presented good condition for such plants as Artemisia adamsii. As conclusion, we considered that Brandt\u27s vole might indicate the degradation of pasture and play important role in ecosystem recovery