Livestock-carrying capacity and overgrazing status of alpine grassland in the Three-RiverHeadwaters region,China简

The Three-River Headwaters region in China is an ecological barrier providing en- vironmental protection and regional sustainable development for the mid-stream and down- stream areas, which also plays an important role in animal husbandry in China. This study estimated the grassland yield in the Three-River Headwaters region based on MODIS NPP data, and calculated the proper livestock-carrying capacity of the grassland. We analyzed the overgrazing number and its spatial distribution characteristics through data comparison be- tween actual and proper livestock-carrying capacity. The results showed the following： （1） total grassland yield （hay） in the Three-River Headwaters region was 10.96 million tons in 2010 with an average grassland yield of 465.70 kg/hm2 （the spatial distribution presents a decreasing trend from the east and southeast to the west and northwest in turn）; （2） the proper livestock-carrying capacity in the Three-River Headwaters region is 12.19 million sheep units （hereafter described as ＂SU＂）, and the average stocking capacity is 51.27 SU [the proper carrying capacity is above 100 SU/km2 in the eastern counties, 60 SU/km2 in the cen- tral counties （except Madoi County）, and 30 SU/km2 in the western counties]; and （3） total overgrazing number was 6.52 million SU in the Three-River Headwaters region in 2010, with an average overgrazing ratio of 67.88% and an average overgrazing number of 27.43 SU/km2 A higher overgrazing ratio occurred in Tongde, Xinghai, Yushu, Henan and Z~kog. There was no overgrazing in Zhiduo, Tanggula Township and Darlag, Qumerleb and Madoi. The re- mainder of the counties had varying degrees of overgrazing.     

Relationship between pollen assemblages and organic geochemical proxies and the response to climate change in the Zhuye Lake sediments

This paper examines the relationship among organic geochemical proxies （TOC, C/N ratio and ~13C） and pollen assemblages in Zhuye Lake sediments since the Late Glacial. Results show that the reaction extent of organic geochemical proxies and pollen as- semblages to environment changes are different. Organic geochemical proxies are sensitive to overall environmental change, while pollen assemblages indicate detailed information of environmental change. For the entire sedimentary section （except the sand layer fi＇om the bottom of the section）, when values of TOC, C/N ratio and total pollen concentrations are high, 813C values are low, and vice versa. The different responses of organic geochemical proxies and pollen records in Zhuye Lake are mainly due to their different sensitivity and diverse influencing factors in different environmental conditions.     

Lake Area Changes and the main causes in the hinterland of Badain Jaran Desert during 1973–2010,China

Lake area information in the Badain Jaran Desert in 1973, 1990, 2000, and 2010 was obtained by visual interpretation and water index analysis of remote sensing images, based on the spatial and temporal characteristics of lake area changes during 37 years. Results indicated that the nttmber of lakes declined from 94 to 82 and the total surface area was reduced by 3.69 km2 during 1973-2010. The desert lake area reduced by different degrees in different periods, but this occurred most rapidly during 1973-1990. According to the statistics of lake area changes, lake area decreases mainly occurred in the lakes with areas less than 0.2 km2, while the areas of lakes greater than 0.9 km2 only fluctuated. The changes of lake areas were probably due to changes in the quantity of underground water supplies rather than the effects of local climate change or human factors.     

Relationship between pollen assemblages and organic geochemical proxies and the response to climate change in the Zhuye Lake sediments

This paper examines the relationship among organic geochemical proxies (TOC, C/N ratio and δ¹³C) and pollen assemblages in Zhuye Lake sediments since the Late Glacial. Results show that the reaction extent of organic geochemical proxies and pollen assemblages to environment changes are different. Organic geochemical proxies are sensitive to overall environmental change, while pollen assemblages indicate detailed information of environmental change. For the entire sedimentary section (except the sand layer from the bottom of the section), when values of TOC, C/N ratio and total pollen concentrations are high, δ¹³C values are low, and vice versa. The different responses of organic geochemical proxies and pollen records in Zhuye Lake are mainly due to their different sensitivity and diverse influencing factors in different environmental conditions.     

PI3K/Akt pathway is involved in the activation of RAW 264.7 cells induced by hydroxypropyltrimethyl ammonium chloride chitosan

We previously demonstrated that 2-hydroxypropyltrimethyl ammonium chloride chitosan(HACC)promoted the production of nitric oxide(NO)and proinflammatory cytokines by activating the mitogen-activated protein kinases(MAPK)and Janus kinase(JAK)/STAT pathways in RAW 264.7 cells,indicating good immunomodulatory activity of HACC.In this study,to further investigate the immunomodulatory mechanisms of HACC,we determined the roles of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase(PI3K)/Akt,activating protein(AP-1)and nuclear factor kappa B(NF-κB)in HACC-induced activation of RAW 264.7 cells by the western blotting.The results suggest that HACC promoted the phosphorylation of p85 and Akt.Furthermore,c-Jun and p65 were also increased after the treatment of RAW 264.7 cells with HACC,indicating the translocation of NF-κB and AP-1 from cytoplasm to nucleus.In addition,as scanning electron microscopy(SEM)analysis shows,the cell morphology changed after HACC treatment.These findings indicate that HACC activated MAPK,JAK/STAT,and PI3K/Akt signaling pathways dependent on AP-1 and NF-κB activation in RAW 264.7 cells,ultimately leading to the increase of NO and cytokines.     

Opportunities to search for extraterrestrial intelligence with the FAST

The discovery of ubiquitous habitable extrasolar planets,combined with revolutionary advances in instrumentation and observational capabilities,has ushered in a renaissance in the search for extraterrestrial intelligence(SETI).Large scale SETI activities are now underway at numerous international facilities.The Five-hundred-meter Aperture Spherical radio Telescope(FAST)is the largest single-aperture radio telescope in the world,and is well positioned to conduct sensitive searches for radio emission indicative of exo-intelligence.SETI is one of the five key science goals specified in the original FAST project plan.A collaboration with the Breakthrough Listen Initiative was initiated in 2016 with a joint statement signed both by Dr.Jun Yan,the then director of National Astronomical Observatories,Chinese Academy of Sciences(NAOC),and Dr.Peter Worden,Chairman of the Breakthrough Prize Foundation.In this paper,we highlight some of the unique features of FAST that will allow for novel SETI observations.We identify and describe three different signal types indicative of a technological source,namely,narrow band,wide-band artificially dispersed and modulated signals.Here,we propose observations with FAST to achieve sensitivities never before explored.For nearby exoplanets,such as TESS targets,FAST will be sensitive to an EIRP of 1.9×1011 W,well within the reach of current human technology.For the Andromeda Galaxy,FAST will be able to detect any Kardashev type II or more advanced civilization there.     

Seasonal variation of mesoscale eddy intensity in the global ocean

Mesoscale eddies are a prominent oceanic phenomenon that plays an important role in oceanic mass transport and energy conversion. Characterizing by rotational speed, the eddy intensity is one of the most fundamental properties of an eddy. However, the seasonal spatiotemporal variation in eddy intensity has not been examined from a global ocean perspective. In this study, we unveil the seasonal spatiotemporal characteristics of eddy intensity in the global ocean by using the latest satellite-alti...     

The Beila Ophiolite from the Bangong-Nujiang Suture Zone, Northern Tibetan Plateau

The Beila ophiolite is located in the middle part of the Bangong-Nujiang suture zone,northern Tibetan plateau.It is a complete ophiolite suite,and plays a key role in understanding the evolution of the Bangong-Nujiang suture zone,as well as the Meso-Tethys Ocean.The Beila ophiolite was composed of peridotite,serpentinite,gabbro,pillow basalt,and minor rodingite.Peridotites comprisemainlymedium–tocoarse–grained serpentinized harzburgites and minor plagioclase-bearing lherzolites and dunites.There are some felsic-ultramafic dykes within the peridotite and they are mainlypegmatoidal pyroxenites,coarse to fine-grained gabbros,and diabases.Gabbros included isotropic and cumulate gabbros,and they commonly contain minor pegmatoidal gabbros veins.Pillow basalts and basaltic andesites overlaid on the margin of the serpentinized peridotites.Rodingite occurs as lenses and/or dykes within the host serpentinized peridotites.Zircon SHRIMP U–Pb dating for two rodingite samples yielded the ages ranging from172 to 164 Ma.Whole-rock geochemical and zircon Hf isotopic data show that the Beila ophiolite shows SSZ-type ophiolite affinity.Finally,we suggest that the Beila ophiolite was generated in an initial subduction process at the middle Jurassic(164–172 Ma).     

The Spatiotemporal Distribution Characteristics of Cloud Types and Phases in the Arctic Based on CloudSat and CALIPSO Cloud Classification Products

The cloud type product 2B-CLDCLASS-LIDAR based on CloudSat and CALIPSO from June 2006 to May 2017 is used to examine the temporal and spatial distribution characteristics and interannual variability of eight cloud types(high cloud, altostratus, altocumulus, stratus, stratocumulus, cumulus, nimbostratus, and deep convection) and three phases(ice,mixed, and water) in the Arctic. Possible reasons for the observed interannual variability are also discussed. The main conclusions are as follows:(1) Mo...     

Chronological Constraints on Late Paleozoic Collision in the Southwest Tianshan Orogenic Belt,China: Evidence from the Baleigong Granites

The Baleigong granites, located in the western part of the southwestern Tianshan Orogen(Kokshanyan region, China), records late Paleozoic magmatism during the late stages of convergence between the Tarim Block and the Central Tianshan Arc Terrane. We performed a detailed geochronological and geochemical study of the Baleigong granites to better constrain the nature of collisional processes in the Southwest Tianshan Orogen. The LA-ICP-MS U-Pb zircon isotopic analyses indicate that magmatism commenced in the early Permian(～282 Ma). The granite samples, which are characterized by high contents of SiO_2(67.68–69.77 wt%) and Al_2O_3(13.93–14.76 wt%), are alkali-rich and Mg-poor, corresponding to the high-K calc-alkaline series. The aluminum saturation index(A/CNK) ranges from 0.93 to 1.02, indicating a metaluminous to slightly peraluminous composition. Trace element geochemistry shows depletions in Nb, Ta, and Ti, a moderately negative Eu anomaly(δEu=0.40–0.56), enrichment in LREE, and depletion in HREE((La/Yb)_N=7.46–11.78). These geochemical signatures are characteristic of an I-type granite generated from partial melting of a magmatic arc. The I-type nature of the Baleigong granites is also supported by the main mafic minerals being Fe-rich calcic hornblende and biotite. We suggest that the high-K, calc-alkaline I-type granitic magmatism was generated by partial melting of the continental crust, possibly triggered by underplating by basaltic magma. These conditions were likely achieved in a collisional tectonic setting, thus supporting the suggestion that closure of the South Tianshan Ocean was completed prior to the Permian and was followed(in the late Paleozoic) by collision between the Tarim Block and the Central Tianshan Arc Terrane.