Differences in response of desert plants of different ecotypes to climate warming:a case study in Minqin, Northwest China

Globally climates are warming. How do desert plants of different ecotypes respond to the climate change？ This paper studied the differing responses to climate warming shown by desert plants of different ecotypes through analyzing the phenology and meteorological data of 22 desert plant species growing in Minqin Desert Bo- tanical Garden in Northwest China during the period 1974-2009. The results indicate： （1） The temperature in the study area has risen quickly since 1974, and plants＇ growing periods became longer. The spring phenology of mesophytes advanced, and the autumn phenology of xerophytes was delayed; （2） The starting dates of spring phenophase of mesophytes and xerophytes differed significantly and both showed an advancing trend; （3） The spring phenology of mesophytes advanced by more days than that of xerophytes, whereas the autumn phenology of mesophytes was delayed by less days than that of the xerophytes; and （4） Mesophytes are more sensitive than xerophytes to rising temperature in spring and falling temperature in autumn. These findings are of value in plant management and regional introduction of different species.

Psychometric properties of the Chinese version of the Infertility Self-Efficacy Scale

Objective:To translate the English version of Infertility Self-Efficacy Scale into Chinese and to validate the psychometric properties of the Chinese version of the Infertility Self-Efficacy Scale(CISE).Method(s):Participants were recruited from the Gynecology Department of two city hospitals.Five main processes were involved in the formation of CISE[1]:scale translation based on expert consultation[2];pre-test questionnaire development with infertile women's feedback(N=20)[3];factor structure assessed by exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis(N=177)[4];assessment of reliability by internal consistency(N=177)and test-retest reliability(N=21);and[5]assessment of convergent validity with Self-rating Anxiety Scale,Self-rating Depression Scale,and Simplified Coping Style Questionnaire(N=177).Results:This study established a 16-item CISE.Factor analyses confirmed a onecomponent solution,which explained 54.59% of total variances and showed an acceptable model fit.Cronbach's a and test-retest correlation coefficients for the scale were 0.94 and 0.84,respectively.The CISE score was significantly correlated with anxiety(r=0.47),depression(r=0.60),positive coping style(r=0.37),and certain negative coping style items.Conclusion:This 16-item CISE is a reliable and valid measure to evaluate perceived selfefficacy among a sample of Chinese women who underwent infertility treatment.

The formation age and evolution of Kumtagh Desert

The ancient aeolian sand has been regarded as an indicator for the formation and evolution of a desert in the past.Kumtagh Desert is located at the northern fringe of Qinghai-Tibet Plateau.The first integrated scientific investigation to the desert was carried out during the period of 2004-2006.Kumtagh Desert is an ideal natural model for studying the formation and evolution of the desert because the Quaternary strata containing ancient aeolian sands are widely distributed.The integrated field investigation and studies on sedimentary,chronology and palynology of typical profiles named Suosuo gully,Xiaoquan gully and gravel body with ancient aeolian sand layers showed that Kumtagh Desert was probably formed as early as 2,097.7±314.7 ka BP.During the period of 386.9±58.0 ka BP to 285.9±42.9 ka BP,the desert largely expanded and formed its modern distribution pattern.The desert was originally developed in the southwest,subsequently,expanded to the north and northeast.The sedimentary facies of Suosuo gully profile revealed that the desert experienced at least 19 cycles of advance and inverse processes of desertification with an average period of 110 ka in the Quaternary.The neotectonic movements played an important role in the formation,development and geomorphology of the desert.On one hand,the movements caused the formation of intermontane fault basin,which was further developed towards the closed drought basin,and caused the formation of natural environment.On the other hand,under the control of surrounding faults,the unique broom-shaped desert landscape was formed,and the gullies and sand ridges in this region experienced an abrupt directional change from north by west to north by east at the location of 39°45＇-39°55＇N.The unique landscape of gravel body that occurred widely in the northern desert was formed after 285.9±42.9 ka BP.The results in this paper provide the scientific basis for studying the formation age and evolutionary process under the dry climate and environment in the northwestern China,and the uplifting of Qinghai-Tibet Plateau as well as its responses to the global climate changes.

Effect of the electro-acupuncture on senile plaques and its formation in APPD/PS1D double transgenic mice

Alzheimer’s disease(AD)is a progressive neurodegenerative disease and its incidence will increase with age and is aggravating.The senile plaques(SPs)are one of three main pathological features in AD patients,which are formed by amyloid b-protein(Ab)overaccumulation.b-amyloid precursor protein(APP),b-site APP cleavage(BACE1),and insulin degrading enzyme(IDE)proteins participate in the process of Ab production and degradation.At present,the pathogenesis of AD is not yet clear and the current treatment methods can only relief the related symptoms of AD.The electro-acupuncture(EA)is a traditional Chinese medicine treatment combined the acupuncture and electrical stimulation and the treatment effect can also be controlled by transform the electrical frequency.Thus,in this experiment,we carried out behavioral test,immunohistochemistry(IHC),and Western Blot(WB)after different period treatments to the model mice by electro-acupuncturing“Baihui”and“Shenshu”acupoints in APPt/PS1t double transgenic mice.It was found that the EA therapy can improve the ability of learning,memory and spatial exploration,and reduce the deposition of SPs in brain of AD model mice,and reduce the expressions of APP and BACE1,increase the expression of IDE protein.These results prompt that EA can effectively alleviate the pathological process of AD.We speculate that EA may play a comprehensive role in preventing the development of AD,considering the previous data.