Exploring the interaction of surface roughness and slope gradient in controlling rates of soil loss from sloping farmland on the Loess Plateau of China

Surface roughness and slope gradient are two important factors influencing soil erosion. The objective of this study was to investigate the interaction of surface roughness and slope gradient in controlling soil loss from sloping farmland due to water erosion on the Loess Plateau, China. Following the surface features of sloping farmland in the plateau region, we manually prepared rough surfaces using four tillage practices (contour drilling, artificial digging, manual hoeing, and contour plowing), with a smooth surface as the control measure. Five slope gradients (3°, 5°, 10°, 15°, and 20°) and two rainfall intensities (60 and 90 mm/hr) were considered in the artificial rainfall simulation experiment. The results showed that the runoff volume and sediment yield increased with increasing slope gradient under the same tillage treatment. At gentle slope gradients (e.g., 3° and 5°), the increase in surface roughness prevented the runoff and sediment production, that is, the surface roughness reduced the positive effect of slope gradient on the runoff volume and sediment yield to a certain extent. At steep slope gradients, however, the enhancing effect of slope gradient on soil erosion gradually increased and surpassed the reduction effect of surface roughness. This study reveals the existence of a critical slope gradient that influences the interaction of surface roughness and slope gradient in controlling soil erosion on sloping farmland. If the slope gradient is equal to or less than the critical value, an increase in surface roughness would decrease soil erosion. Otherwise, the increase in surface roughness would be ineffective for preventing soil erosion. The critical slope gradient would be smaller under higher rainfall intensity. These findings are helpful for us to understand the process of soil erosion and relevant for supporting soil and water conservation in the Loess Plateau region of China.     

消栓饮对创伤性深静脉血栓大兔Th1（CD4+TNF-α+）/Th2（CD4+IL-4+）亚群漂移的影响

目的：探讨Th1（CD4^{+TNF-α+）/Th2（CD4+IL-4+）亚群漂移在大兔创伤性深静脉血栓（DVT）形成中的作用及消栓饮的治疗机制。方法：将45只新西兰健康大兔分为空白组、假手术组、0.9%氯化钠注射液组、低分子肝素钠组、消栓饮组，每组各9只，采用直接钳夹静脉+双后肢石膏固定的方法制备创伤性DVT模型后进行给药，于第1、3、7天完成给药4h后，采用流式细胞术检测各组大兔Th1（CD4+TNF-α+）、Th2（CD4+IL-4+）的含量变化及Th1（CD4+TNF-α+）/Th2（CD4+IL-4+）值。结果：给药第1、3、7天0.9%氯化钠注射液组、低分子肝素钠组、消栓饮组的Th1（CD4+TNF-α+）比例、Th2（CD4+IL-4+）比例及Th1（CD4+TNF-α+）/Th2（CD4+IL-4+）值与同时间节点空白组、假手术组比较，差异均有统计学意义（P<0.05）；给药第3、7天低分子肝素钠组、消栓饮组的Th1（CD4+TNF-α+）比例、Th2（CD4+IL-4+）比例及Th1（CD4+TNF-α+）/Th2（CD4+IL-4+）值与0.9%氯化钠注射液组比较，差异均有统计学意义（P<0.05。结论：DVT形成过程中存在Th1（CD4+TNF-α+）/Th2（CD4+IL-4+）亚群动态平衡被打破；中药消栓饮可以通过干预Th1（CD4+TNF-α+）、Th2（CD4+IL-4+）含量变化，维持两者的平衡来达到治疗目的。}     

Spatiotemporal characteristics of Qinghai Lake ice phenology between 2000 and 2016

Journal of Geographical Sciences - Lake ice phenology is considered a sensitive indicator of regional climate change. We utilized time series information of this kind extracted from a series of...     

Generation of continuous surface soil moisture dataset using combined optical and thermal infrared images

Surface soil moisture (SSM) is a critical variable for understanding water and energy flux between the atmosphere and the Earth's surface. An easy to apply algorithm for deriving SSM time series that primarily uses temporal parameters derived from simulated and in situ datasets has recently been reported. This algorithm must be assessed for different biophysical and atmospheric conditions by using actual geostationary satellite images. In this study, two currently available coarse‐scale SSM datasets (microwave and reanalysis product) and aggregated in situ SSM measurements were implemented to calibrate the time‐invariable coefficients of the SSM retrieval algorithm for conditions in which conventional observations are rare. These coefficients were subsequently used to obtain SSM time series directly from Meteosat Second Generation (MSG) images over the study area of a well‐organized soil moisture network named REMEDHUS in Spain. The results show a high degree of consistency between the estimated and actual SSM time series values when using the three SSM dataset‐calibrated time‐invariable coefficients to retrieve SSM, with coefficients of determination (R²) varying from 0.304 to 0.534 and root mean square errors ranging from 0.020 m³/m³ to 0.029 m³/m³. Further evaluation with different land use types results in acceptable debiased root mean square errors between 0.021 m³/m³ and 0.048 m³/m³ when comparing the estimated MSG pixel‐scale SSM with in situ measurements. These results indicate that the investigated method is practical for deriving time‐invariable coefficients when using publicly accessed coarse‐scale SSM datasets, which is beneficial for generating continuous SSM dataset at the MSG pixel scale.     

A timescale decomposed threshold regression downscaling approach to forecasting South China early summer rainfall

A timescale decomposed threshold regression(TSDTR) downscaling approach to forecasting South China early summer rainfall(SCESR) is described by using long-term observed station rainfall data and NOAA ERSST data. It makes use of two distinct regression downscaling models corresponding to the interannual and interdecadal rainfall variability of SCESR.The two models are developed based on the partial least squares(PLS) regression technique, linking SCESR to SST modes in preceding months on both interannual and interdecadal timescales. Specifically, using the datasets in the calibration period 1915–84, the variability of SCESR and SST are decomposed into interannual and interdecadal components. On the interannual timescale, a threshold PLS regression model is fitted to interannual components of SCESR and March SST patterns by taking account of the modulation of negative and positive phases of the Pacific Decadal Oscillation(PDO). On the interdecadal timescale, a standard PLS regression model is fitted to the relationship between SCESR and preceding November SST patterns. The total rainfall prediction is obtained by the sum of the outputs from both the interannual and interdecadal models. Results show that the TSDTR downscaling approach achieves reasonable skill in predicting the observed rainfall in the validation period 1985–2006, compared to other simpler approaches. This study suggests that the TSDTR approach,considering different interannual SCESR-SST relationships under the modulation of PDO phases, as well as the interdecadal variability of SCESR associated with SST patterns, may provide a new perspective to improve climate predictions.     

胶州湾沉积物重金属形态不同浸取方法的比较与污染讯息指示作用初探

海洋沉积物中重金属的活性形态对于指示沉积物污染状况具有重要作用;为探寻简洁且能够有效提取重金属活性形态的浸提方法;实验研究了0.1 mol/L和1 mol/L盐酸的单级提取和欧共体标准局（European Community Bureau of Reference）提出的BCR分级提取法对胶州湾表层沉积物中重金属（Cr、Cu、Ni、Pb、Zn）和Al、Fe、Mn的浸取效果。结果显示;3种提取方法提取的金属含量呈显著正相关关系;两种浓度的稀盐酸对BCR方法中的酸可提取态和可还原态金属均具有较好浸提效果;但对可氧化态金属浸提能力相对较弱。不同提取方法的人为信号指数（ASI）计算结果表明;BCR浸取法提取结果的金属ASI值最大;表明其对沉积物中金属活性形态提取效率较高;1 mol/L HCl提取结果的金属ASI值最低;可能是较高浓度强酸使沉积物较大颗粒内层中“惰性”金属被浸取出来;“增加”了金属活性组分的污染讯息信号;对沉积物中Cu、Pb和Zn而言;0.1 mol/L HCl提取结果的ASI值与BCR方法接近。经过Al归一化后;0.1 mol/L HCl浸提的重金属含量的空间分布与胶州湾的实际污染状况相吻合;表明0.1 mol/L的HCl在一定程度上能够代替复杂的BCR浸取法;此方法可简化重金属活性形态的提取步骤;适合大范围沉积物重金属污染评价。     

Snow disaster characteristics in Palongzangbu River Basin and mitigation countermeasures for road engineering

The Palongzangbu River Basin contains the highest number of maritime province glaciers in China.There are 130 glacial lakes,64 snow avalanche sites and 28 glacial debris flow gullies distributed within the basin.Snow disasters play a controlling role in the Sichuan-Tibet Highway construction,due to the terrain's special characteristics of high altitude and large height differential.Segmentation mitigation countermeasures for the Sichuan-Tibet Highway are presented based on snow disaster severity level and damage mode of the road.In the Ranwu to Midui section,snow avalanches are regional disasters, so the line should be placed in sunny slopes.In the Midui Gully to Yupu section,the line should be placed in shady slopes and at higher elevations to reduce the risk of glacial lake outburst.In the Yupu to Guxiang section,all three snow disasters are minimal.In the Guxiang to Tongmai section,glacier debris flows are the major threat,thus the road should be placed in shady slopes.     

Spatio-temporal evolution of urban innovation structure based on zip code geodatabase: An empirical study from Shanghai and Beijing

In today’s world, the innovation of science and technology has become the key support for improving comprehensive national strength and changing the mode of social production and lifestyle. The country that possesses world-class scientific and technological innovation cities maximizes the attraction of global innovation factors and wins a strategic initiative in international competition. Based on the urban zip code geodatabase, an evaluation system of urban innovation with the perspective of innovation outputs, and the spatial evolutionary mode, concerning the structure of innovation space of Shanghai and Beijing from 1991 to 2014, was developed. The results of the research indicated that the zip code geodatabase provided a new perspective for studying the evolving spatial structure of urban innovation. The resulting evaluation of the spatial structure of urban innovation using the urban zip code geodatabase established by connecting random edge points, was relatively effective. The study illustrates the value of this methodology. During the study period, the spatial structure of innovation of Shanghai and Beijing demonstrated many common features: with the increase in urban space units participating in innovation year by year, the overall gap of regional innovation outputs has narrowed, and the trend towards spatial agglomeration has strengthened. The evolving spatial structure of innovation of Shanghai and Beijing demonstrated differences between the common features during the 25 years as well: in the trend towards the suburbanization of innovation resources, the spatial structure of innovation of Shanghai evolved from a single-core to a multi-core structure. A radiation effect related to traffic arteries as spatial diffusion corridors was prominent. Accordingly, a spatial correlation effect of its innovation outputs also indicated a hollowness in the city center; the spatial structure of innovation of Beijing had a single-core oriented structure all the way. Together with the tendency for innovation resources to be agglomerated in the city center, the spatial correlation effect of innovation outputs reflected the characteristics of the evolutionary feature where “rural area encircles cities”. The innovation spatial structure of Shanghai and Beijing have intrinsic consistency with the spatial structure of their respective regions (Yangtze River Delta urban agglomeration and Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei metropolitan region), which suggested that the principle of proportional and disproportional distribution of a city-scale pattern of technological and innovational activities is closely related to its regional innovation pattern.