Vultures are the only obligate scavengers among extant vertebrates.They provide valuable ecological services in ecosystems through removing carcasses,thus preventing the growth of other scavenger populations and the s...Vultures are the only obligate scavengers among extant vertebrates.They provide valuable ecological services in ecosystems through removing carcasses,thus preventing the growth of other scavenger populations and the spread of pathogens.Moreover,their specific diets expose them to various deadly pathogens,which makes them potential candidates for studying molecular adaptations required to survive this extremely specialized scavenging habit.In this review,we summarize the morphological characteristics and behavioral habits,origin and phylogeny,and molecular adaptations to scavenging in both Old and New World vultures.The two groups of vultures share a similar appearance,indicative of convergent evolution.Vultures have experienced different degrees of specialization in their sensory organs;Old World vultures depend on sight,while New World ones depend on both smell and sight.Combined fossil records and molecular data suggest that vultures evolved independently,with distinct phylogenetic positions.We also explored their adaptation to scavenging in facial and intestinal microbiomes,gastric acid secretion and immunity.Compared with the facial microbiome,the intestinal microbiome had a lower diversity,dominated by Fusobacteria and Clostridia.The phages and single invertebrate species Adineta vaga,which feeds on dead bacteria and protozoa,present in the gut suggest a possible alternative defense mechanism.Several genes involved in gastric acidic secretion(including ATP4B,SLC26A7 and SST)and immunity(including BCL6,STING,and TLRs) undergoing positive selection likely have essential roles in eliminating invasive pathogens and initiating an innate immune response.Taken together,this review presents the current research status of vultures and highlights the use of vultures as a model for exploring molecular adaptations of dietary specialization in birds.It also provides a theoretical basis for the study of the genetic mechanisms of vultures to scavenging,and contributes to the formulation of vulture conservation strategies.展开更多
Secondary xylem characteristics and horizontal variations were described in three xerophytic species, Zygophyllum xanthoxylon, Nitraria tangutorum, Tetraena mongolica of Zygophyllaceae native to western China. All the...Secondary xylem characteristics and horizontal variations were described in three xerophytic species, Zygophyllum xanthoxylon, Nitraria tangutorum, Tetraena mongolica of Zygophyllaceae native to western China. All the species have obvious growth ring boundaries except sometimes discontinuous in T. mongolica and Z xanthoxylum ring to semi-ring-porosity; simple perforation plate; alternate intervessel pitting; non-septate fibres; paratracheal confluent axial parenchyrna; helical thickenings and heterocellular rays. However the vessel arrangement and quantitative features of vessels were different. Vessel elements tend to be shorter and narrower and more frequent in T. mongolica than in other two species that are hardly different could lead to greater conductive safety. The variation of vessel element length and fibre length along radial direction showed irregular tendency. There was significant difference in both fibre length and vessel element length among-tree and within-tree. Furthermore, the relationships between anatomical features and adaptability to desert environments were also discussed.展开更多
Recent years,both BBC and Hollywoodare interested in making films related to the classic masterpieces.From classic book to popular movie,film adaptations give a new life to the British literature.Different adaptations...Recent years,both BBC and Hollywoodare interested in making films related to the classic masterpieces.From classic book to popular movie,film adaptations give a new life to the British literature.Different adaptations of classics can act as an indicator of diverse film-making philosophies,which vividly present some of the cultural and social differences between Britain and America.展开更多
The order Diptera(Insecta)is one of animal groups most successful in the colonization of mineralized shallow aquatic and semiaquatic environments.At the same time,the taxonomic composition of Diptera,their role in
Numerous diseases and pathologies impair the delivery of oxygen to brain, with rapid and deleterious consequences. For example, diseases related to systemic hypoxemia (e.g., chronic pulmonary disorders, cystic fibro...Numerous diseases and pathologies impair the delivery of oxygen to brain, with rapid and deleterious consequences. For example, diseases related to systemic hypoxemia (e.g., chronic pulmonary disorders, cystic fibrosis), decreased oxygen carrying capacity of blood (e.g., anemia), or decreased transport (e.g., heart attack, stroke) can all reduce or entirely prevent the delivery of oxygen to brain cells, resulting in the initiation of programmed cell death pathways, necrosis, or excitotoxic cell death in brain (Pamenter, 2014). However, oxygen-limited environments are common on earth and many organisms naturally experience periods of intermit- tent or prolonged hypoxia or anoxia in their daily and/or annual life cycles (Bickler and Buck, 2007).展开更多
Although climate change impacts and agricultural adaptations have been studied extensively, how smallholder farmers perceive climate change and adapt their agricultural activities is poorly understood. Survey-based da...Although climate change impacts and agricultural adaptations have been studied extensively, how smallholder farmers perceive climate change and adapt their agricultural activities is poorly understood. Survey-based data (presents farmers' personal perceptions and adaptations to climate change) associated with external biophysical-socioeconomic data (presents real-world climate change) were used to develop a farmer-centered framework to explore climate change impacts and agricultural adaptations at a local level. A case study at Bin County (1980s-2010s), Northeast China, suggested that increased annual average temperature (0.6°C per decade) and decreased annual precipitation (46 mm per decade, both from meteorological datasets) were correctly perceived by 76 and 66.9%, respectively, of farmers from the survey, and that a longer growing season was conifrmed by 70%of them. These reasonably correct perceptions enabled local farmers to make appropriate adaptations to cope with climate change:Longer season alternative varieties were found for maize and rice, which led to a signiifcant yield increase for both crops. The longer season also affected crop choice:More farmers selected maize instead of soybean, as implicated from survey results by a large increase in the maize growing area. Comparing warming-related factors, we found that precipitation and agricultural disasters were the least likely causes for farmers' agricultural decisions. As a result, crop and variety selection, rather than disaster prevention and infrastructure improvement, was the most common ways for farmers to adapt to the notable warming trend in the study region.展开更多
Climate change induces profound changes in mountain territories that affect the activities pursued there.Tourism is one activity that is strongly impacted by these changes.Most research on tourism in mountain regions ...Climate change induces profound changes in mountain territories that affect the activities pursued there.Tourism is one activity that is strongly impacted by these changes.Most research on tourism in mountain regions has focused on winter sports tourism,but glacier tourism,a summer activity,is also severely affected by climate change-induced phenomena,including glacier retreat and other geomorphological processes.Given that Alpine glacier tourism has been pursued since the 18th century and glaciers have been changing throughout this period,this article aims to examine the adaptations implemented by glacier tourism operators since the activity’s beginnings.Through analysis of historical documents,glaciological surveys and semi-structured interviews,this paper reveals how tourism activities around the Mer de Glace(the largest French glacier)have been impacted by glacier fluctuations since the first visit to the area in 1741.The study reveals that these developments have mainly been driven by glacier retreat and associated paraglacial dynamics.More recently,the shortening of the period of snow cover on the glacier has also impacted tourism activities.Most of the adaptation strategies implemented by tourism operators during the period in question are found to be reactive,consisting in the installation of safety equipment,the renovation of access points or the building of new structures to allow tourist activities to continue despite the consequences of glacier retreat.Other strategies,such as the adoption of new activities by workers previously specialised in another,are identified that could be considered transformative strategies,although these were only adopted by workers when their activity was no longer feasible.The analysis of materials from 1741 to the present also reveals that the recent impacts of climate change on glacier tourism are much more significant and diverse than those produced by past fluctuations.Therefore,it is important that stakeholders take suitable measures to ensure the sustainable future of the Mer de Glace and other glacier tourism destinations.展开更多
In this paper, design, re-design, and performance of a long-standing very deep excavation, which was originally planned to depth of 38 m, are presented. Over-digging was not planned in the original design,thus the rea...In this paper, design, re-design, and performance of a long-standing very deep excavation, which was originally planned to depth of 38 m, are presented. Over-digging was not planned in the original design,thus the reassessment was performed. Two main topics were followed: deepening to increase the maximum depth of an existent excavation from 38 m to 42.5 m, and feasibility for upgrading a predesigned support system from temporary to permanent support system. The geological investigations in the project site illustrated a type of stiff and cemented coarse-grained alluvium. An observational approach with additional geotechnical investigations and in situ tests was applied. Back analyses of stability of an unsupported access ramp, as well as deformation monitoring of walls, were used in order to review geotechnical design parameters that represent the full-scale behavior of the ground. Additional nails and soldier piles together with building mat foundation were implemented as a complementary lateral support in the retaining system. From an engineering point of view, by assuming a corrosion rate of 0.065 mm/a for existent rebars, according to chemical and electrical resistivity tests, the long-term performance of the revised retaining system was verified by static and pseudo-dynamic ultimate limit state analyses. Performance monitoring during the construction shows that the measured deformation is in the lower limit of the prediction.展开更多
The genetic adaptations of various organisms to heterogeneous environments in the northwestern Pacific remain poorly understood.Heterogeneous genomic divergence among populations may reflect environmentalselection.Adv...The genetic adaptations of various organisms to heterogeneous environments in the northwestern Pacific remain poorly understood.Heterogeneous genomic divergence among populations may reflect environmentalselection.Advancingour understanding of the mechanisms by which organisms adapt to different temperatures in response to climate change and predicting the adaptive potential and ecological consequences of anthropogenic global warming are critical.We sequenced the whole genomes of Japanese whiting(Sillago japonica)specimens collected from different latitudinal locations along the coastal waters of China and Japan to detect possible thermal adaptations.Using population genomics,a total of 5.48 million single nucleotide polymorphisms(SNPs)from five populations revealed a complete genetic break between the Chinese and Japanese groups,which was attributed to both geographic distance and local adaptation.The shared natural selection genes between two isolated populations(i.e.,Zhoushan and Ise Bay/Tokyo Bay)indicated possible parallel evolution at the genetic level induced by temperature.These genes also indicated that the process of temperature selection on isolated populations is repeatable.Moreover,we observed natural candidate genes related to membrane fluidity,possibly underlying adaptation to cold environmental stress.These findings advance our understanding of the genetic mechanisms underlying the rapid adaptations of fish species.Species distribution projection models suggested that the Chinese and Japanese groups may have different responses to future climate change,with the former expanding and the latter contracting.The findings of this study enhance our understanding of genetic differentiation and adaptation to changing environments.展开更多
Drought is a significant natural hazard in Herat Province, Afghanistan. The objective of this study was to explore farmers' perceptions of the drought's prevalence and characteristics, its socioeconomic and en...Drought is a significant natural hazard in Herat Province, Afghanistan. The objective of this study was to explore farmers' perceptions of the drought's prevalence and characteristics, its socioeconomic and environmental impacts, their strategies for coping with and mitigating it, and types of conflicts and resolution mechanisms. A questionnaire was completed by 147 farming households. The results indicate that farmers' perceptions regarding drought are in line with the results obtained using the precipitation data. Even though the respondents have religious belief in interpreting the weather related issues, they also perceived drought as the climatic and environmental factors such as increased temperature, decreased precipitation, and other factors like war, financial weakness, deforestation, over-exploitation of groundwater, lack of electricity supply etc. The results show that drought has had serious economic impacts, including loss of employment and reduction in crop yield and livestock production, which have reduced farmers' livelihood options and weakened their financial situation. Social impacts have included migration, a sense of hopelessness and loss, conflicts over water, health problems, impacts on the schooling of children, malnutrition, and limits to food options. Significant environmental impacts such as an increase in temperature, pasture and forest degradation, deterioration of water quality, damage to fish and wildlife habitats, and groundwater depletion were also reported. Farmers used local techniques to adapt to drought and lessen its effects. Farmers perceived irrigation water to be a major source of conflict. Local elders, water-user associations, and formal courts were reported to be the most successful conflict resolution methods. It is expected that the results of this study will support policy makers within government and development agencies in Afghanistan to develop future drought adaptation policies.展开更多
Togolese agriculture is predominantly rain-fed and hence fundamentally dependent on the vagaries of weather. Thus, it is negatively affected by climate change. The present study assesses farmers’ perceptions and adap...Togolese agriculture is predominantly rain-fed and hence fundamentally dependent on the vagaries of weather. Thus, it is negatively affected by climate change. The present study assesses farmers’ perceptions and adaptation to climate change to enhance policy towards tackling the challenges climate change poses to the farmers in the study area. Descriptive statistics and multinomial logit (MNL) were used to analyze data obtained from a cross-sectional survey executed during the 2013/2014 agricultural production year in the maritime, plateau and savannah regions of Togo. The analysis of farmers’ perception to climate change reveals high increase in temperature and decrease in rainfall. These results are in line with the trend analysis of climate data that records from 1961 to 2013 about the study area especially on the temperature. Furthermore, the results show that crop diversification, change in crops, find off-farm jobs, change of the amount of land, change of the planting date and plant short season variety are the adaptation methods employed by the farmers. Moreover, with respect to the multinomial logit analysis, the results highlight that education level, farming experience, access extension services, access to credit and access to climate information are the factors that enhance farmers’ adaptive capacity to climate change and variability. Thus, there is room for better adaptation if government intensifies activities of extension workers and ensures that farmers have access to affordable credit schemes to increase their ability and flexibility to adopt adaptation measures. There is also a need to include climate change communication to facilitate exchange of climatic information that could enable smallholder farmers to adapt to changing planting dates. Finally, investment in education systems and creation of off-farm job opportunities in the rural areas can be underlined as a good policy option.展开更多
Sherlock Holmes, the literary image that Arthur Conan Doyle created in The Adventure of Sherlock Holmes, has undoubtedly become an iconic figure of detective. For over a century, a number of films and TV series which ...Sherlock Holmes, the literary image that Arthur Conan Doyle created in The Adventure of Sherlock Holmes, has undoubtedly become an iconic figure of detective. For over a century, a number of films and TV series which based on this book are countless, Sherlock Holmes has been brought to silver screen and stage for a million times. It will be mentioned Arthur Conan and Sherlock Holmes in his book at first, and then review a list of Sherlock Holmes' adaptations in the history. Secondly, showing different personalities of this figure, taking film and TV dramas adaptation as examples to compare with the original novel,from which we can discover different perspectives of this image of Sherlock Holmes. At last, it emphasizes through the ages, literary works have always been materials for films and TV programs creation. From the everlasting image of Sherlock Holmes, we can see that literary spirits in classic masterpieces can be spread and flourished through adaptation of films and TV programs.展开更多
Understanding the genetic mechanisms underlying particular adaptations/phenotypes of organisms is one of the core issues of evolutionary biology.The use of genomic data has greatly advanced our understandings on this ...Understanding the genetic mechanisms underlying particular adaptations/phenotypes of organisms is one of the core issues of evolutionary biology.The use of genomic data has greatly advanced our understandings on this issue,as well as other aspects of evolutionary biology,including molecular adaptation,speciation,and even conservation of endangered species.Despite the well-recognized advantages,usages of genomic data are still limited to non-mammal vertebrate groups,partly due to the difficulties in assembling large or highly heterozygous genomes.Although this is particularly the case for amphibians,nonetheless,several comparative and population genomic analyses have shed lights into the speciation and adaptation processes of amphibians in a complex landscape,giving a promising hope for a wider application of genomics in the previously believed challenging groups of organisms.At the same time,these pioneer studies also allow us to realize numerous challenges in studying the molecular adaptations and/or phenotypic evolutionary mechanisms of amphibians.In this review,we first summarize the recent progresses in the study of adaptive evolution of amphibians based on genomic data,and then we give perspectives regarding how to effectively identify key pathways underlying the evolution of complex traits in the genomic era,as well as directions for future research.展开更多
This study aims to implement the empirical analysis of the effects of the adaptive measures on the income of herdsmen in the context of the climate change with the positive mathematical programming(PMP)model.The surve...This study aims to implement the empirical analysis of the effects of the adaptive measures on the income of herdsmen in the context of the climate change with the positive mathematical programming(PMP)model.The survey was first implemented in three counties in the Three Headwaters Region.Finally the measures and recommendations suitable for the economic development in the ecologically fragile areas were proposed.The main conclusions are as follows:priority can be given to the measures to prevent the damage from rats and the engineering measures for pasture maintenance in Zeku County,where the geological conditions and grass quality are inferior,while the fiscal subsidy can be prioritized in Tongde County where the grassland area is relatively less.These recommendations can not only provide good reference for the protection of grassland resources,but they also lay a foundation for the implementation of more suitable measures to help the herdsmen in the ecologically fragile areas to adapt to the climate change.展开更多
Nypa fruticans(Wurmb),a mangrove palm species with origins dating back to the Late Cretaceous period,is a unique species for investigating long-term adaptation strategies to intertidal environments and the early evolu...Nypa fruticans(Wurmb),a mangrove palm species with origins dating back to the Late Cretaceous period,is a unique species for investigating long-term adaptation strategies to intertidal environments and the early evolution of palms.Here,we present a chromosome-level genome sequence and assembly for N.fruticans.We integrated the genomes of N.fruticans and other palm family members for a comparative genomic analysis,which confirmed that the common ancestor of all palms experienced a whole-genome duplication event around 89 million years ago,shaping the distinctive characteristics observed in this clade.We also inferred a low mutation rate for the N.fruticans genome,which underwent strong purifying selection and evolved slowly,thus contributing to its stability over a long evolutionary period.Moreover,ancient duplicates were preferentially retained,with critical genes having experienced positive selection,enhancing waterlogging tolerance in N.fruticans.Furthermore,we discovered that the pseudogenization of Early Methionine-labelled 1(EM1)and EM6 in N.fruticans underly its crypto-vivipary characteristics,reflecting its intertidal adaptation.Our study provides valuable genomic insights into the evolutionary history,genome stability,and adaptive evolution of the mangrove palm.Our results also shed light on the long-term adaptation of this species and contribute to our understanding of the evolutionary dynamics in the palm family.展开更多
Understanding the genetic basis of adaptive evolution following habitat expan-sion can have important implications for pest management.The pink rice borer(PRB),Sesamia inferens(Walker),is a destructive pest of rice th...Understanding the genetic basis of adaptive evolution following habitat expan-sion can have important implications for pest management.The pink rice borer(PRB),Sesamia inferens(Walker),is a destructive pest of rice that was historically restricted to regions south of 34o N latitude in China.However,with changes in global climate and farming practices,the distribution of this moth has progressively expanded,en-compassing most regions in North China.Here,3 highly differentiated subpopulations were discovered using high-quality single-nucleotide polymorphism and structural vari-ant datasets across China,corresponding to northern,southern China regions,and the Yunnan-Guizhou Plateau,with significant patterns of isolation by geographic and envi-ronmental distances.Our estimates of evolutionary history indicate asymmetric migration with varying population sizes across the 3 subpopulations.Selective sweep analyses esti-mated strong selection at insect cuticle glycine-rich cuticular protein genes which are as-sociated with enhanced desiccation adaptability in the northern group,and at the histone-lysine-N-methyltransferase gene associated with range expansion and local adaptation in the Shandong population.Our findings have significant implications for the development of effective strategies to control this pest.展开更多
Understanding how natural selection shapes unique traits in mammals is a central topic in evolutionary biology.The mammalian order Chiroptera(bats)is attractive for biologists as well as the general public due to thei...Understanding how natural selection shapes unique traits in mammals is a central topic in evolutionary biology.The mammalian order Chiroptera(bats)is attractive for biologists as well as the general public due to their specific traits of extraordinary immunity and inverted resting posture.However,genomic resources for bats that occupy key phylogenetic positions are not sufficient,which hinders comprehensive investigation of the molecular mechanisms underpinning the origin of specific traits in bats.Here,we sequenced the transcriptomes of 5 bats that are phylo-genetically divergent and occupy key positions in the phylogenetic tree of bats.In combination with the available genomes of 19 bats and 21 other mammals,we built a database consisting of 10918 one-to-one ortholog genes and reconstructed phylogenetic relationships of these mammals.We found that genes related to immunity,bone remodeling,and cardiovascular system are targets of natural selection along the ancestral branch of bats.Further analyses revealed that the T cell receptor signaling pathway involved in immune adaptation is specifically enriched in bats.Moreover,molecular adaptations of bone remodeling,cardiovascular system,and balance sensing may help to explain the reverted resting posture in bats.Our study provides valuable transcriptome resources,enabling us to tentatively identify genetic changes associated with bat-specific traits.This work is among thefirst to advance our understanding of the molecular underpinnings of inverted resting posture in bats,which could provide insight into healthcare applications such as hypertension in humans.展开更多
Deep brain stimulation(DBS)is a well-established and effective treatment for patients with advanced Parkinson’s disease(PD),yet its underlying mechanisms remain enigmatic.Optogenetics,primarily conducted in animal mo...Deep brain stimulation(DBS)is a well-established and effective treatment for patients with advanced Parkinson’s disease(PD),yet its underlying mechanisms remain enigmatic.Optogenetics,primarily conducted in animal models,provides a unique approach that allows cell type-and projection-specific modulation that mirrors the frequency-dependent stimulus effects of DBS.Opto-DBS research in animal models plays a pivotal role in unraveling the neuronal and synaptic adaptations that contribute to the efficacy of DBS in PD treatment.DBS-induced neuronal responses rely on a complex interplay between the distributions of presynaptic inputs,frequency-dependent synaptic depression,and the intrinsic excitability of postsynaptic neurons.This orchestration leads to conversion of firing patterns,enabling both antidromic and orthodromic modulation of neural circuits.Understanding these mechanisms is vital for decoding position-and programming-dependent effects of DBS.Furthermore,patterned stimulation is emerging as a promising strategy yielding long-lasting therapeutic benefits.Research on the neuronal and synaptic adaptations to DBS may pave the way for the development of more enduring and precise modulation patterns.Advanced technologies,such as adaptive DBS or directional electrodes,can also be integrated for circuit-specific neuromodulation.These insights hold the potential to greatly improve the effectiveness of DBS and advance PD treatment to new levels.展开更多
Platooning represents one of the key features that connected automated vehicles may possess as it allows multiple automated vehicles to be maneuvered cooperatively with small headways on roads. However, a critical cha...Platooning represents one of the key features that connected automated vehicles may possess as it allows multiple automated vehicles to be maneuvered cooperatively with small headways on roads. However, a critical challenge in accomplishing automated vehicle platoons is to deal with the effects of intermittent and sporadic vehicle-to-vehicle data transmissions caused by limited wireless communication resources. This paper addresses the co-design problem of dynamic event-triggered communication scheduling and cooperative adaptive cruise control for a convoy of automated vehicles with diverse spacing policies. The central aim is to achieve automated vehicle platooning under various gap references with desired platoon stability and spacing performance requirements, while simultaneously improving communication efficiency. Toward this aim, a dynamic event-triggered scheduling mechanism is developed such that the intervehicle data transmissions are scheduled dynamically and efficiently over time. Then, a tractable co-design criterion on the existence of both the admissible event-driven cooperative adaptive cruise control law and the desired scheduling mechanism is derived. Finally, comparative simulation results are presented to substantiate the effectiveness and merits of the obtained results.展开更多
基金supported in part by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (32201267)Natural Science Foundation of Anhui Province (2208085QC71)+2 种基金the Key University Science Research Project of Anhui Province (KJ2021A0128)supported by the Key University Science Research Project of Anhui Province (KJ2020A0085)supported in part by the Plateau Ecology Youth Innovative Fund of Wuhan University
文摘Vultures are the only obligate scavengers among extant vertebrates.They provide valuable ecological services in ecosystems through removing carcasses,thus preventing the growth of other scavenger populations and the spread of pathogens.Moreover,their specific diets expose them to various deadly pathogens,which makes them potential candidates for studying molecular adaptations required to survive this extremely specialized scavenging habit.In this review,we summarize the morphological characteristics and behavioral habits,origin and phylogeny,and molecular adaptations to scavenging in both Old and New World vultures.The two groups of vultures share a similar appearance,indicative of convergent evolution.Vultures have experienced different degrees of specialization in their sensory organs;Old World vultures depend on sight,while New World ones depend on both smell and sight.Combined fossil records and molecular data suggest that vultures evolved independently,with distinct phylogenetic positions.We also explored their adaptation to scavenging in facial and intestinal microbiomes,gastric acid secretion and immunity.Compared with the facial microbiome,the intestinal microbiome had a lower diversity,dominated by Fusobacteria and Clostridia.The phages and single invertebrate species Adineta vaga,which feeds on dead bacteria and protozoa,present in the gut suggest a possible alternative defense mechanism.Several genes involved in gastric acidic secretion(including ATP4B,SLC26A7 and SST)and immunity(including BCL6,STING,and TLRs) undergoing positive selection likely have essential roles in eliminating invasive pathogens and initiating an innate immune response.Taken together,this review presents the current research status of vultures and highlights the use of vultures as a model for exploring molecular adaptations of dietary specialization in birds.It also provides a theoretical basis for the study of the genetic mechanisms of vultures to scavenging,and contributes to the formulation of vulture conservation strategies.
文摘Secondary xylem characteristics and horizontal variations were described in three xerophytic species, Zygophyllum xanthoxylon, Nitraria tangutorum, Tetraena mongolica of Zygophyllaceae native to western China. All the species have obvious growth ring boundaries except sometimes discontinuous in T. mongolica and Z xanthoxylum ring to semi-ring-porosity; simple perforation plate; alternate intervessel pitting; non-septate fibres; paratracheal confluent axial parenchyrna; helical thickenings and heterocellular rays. However the vessel arrangement and quantitative features of vessels were different. Vessel elements tend to be shorter and narrower and more frequent in T. mongolica than in other two species that are hardly different could lead to greater conductive safety. The variation of vessel element length and fibre length along radial direction showed irregular tendency. There was significant difference in both fibre length and vessel element length among-tree and within-tree. Furthermore, the relationships between anatomical features and adaptability to desert environments were also discussed.
文摘Recent years,both BBC and Hollywoodare interested in making films related to the classic masterpieces.From classic book to popular movie,film adaptations give a new life to the British literature.Different adaptations of classics can act as an indicator of diverse film-making philosophies,which vividly present some of the cultural and social differences between Britain and America.
基金supported by the Russian Foundation for Basic Research (grant no. 14-04-01139)supported by a travel grant from the Organizing Committee
文摘The order Diptera(Insecta)is one of animal groups most successful in the colonization of mineralized shallow aquatic and semiaquatic environments.At the same time,the taxonomic composition of Diptera,their role in
基金supported by Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada Discovery grant and a Parker B Francis Fellowship to MEP
文摘Numerous diseases and pathologies impair the delivery of oxygen to brain, with rapid and deleterious consequences. For example, diseases related to systemic hypoxemia (e.g., chronic pulmonary disorders, cystic fibrosis), decreased oxygen carrying capacity of blood (e.g., anemia), or decreased transport (e.g., heart attack, stroke) can all reduce or entirely prevent the delivery of oxygen to brain cells, resulting in the initiation of programmed cell death pathways, necrosis, or excitotoxic cell death in brain (Pamenter, 2014). However, oxygen-limited environments are common on earth and many organisms naturally experience periods of intermit- tent or prolonged hypoxia or anoxia in their daily and/or annual life cycles (Bickler and Buck, 2007).
基金financed by the National Basic Research Program of China(2010CB951504)the National Natural Science Foundation of China(41271112 and 40930101)the National Nonprofit Institute Research Grant of CAAS(IARRP-2014-16)
文摘Although climate change impacts and agricultural adaptations have been studied extensively, how smallholder farmers perceive climate change and adapt their agricultural activities is poorly understood. Survey-based data (presents farmers' personal perceptions and adaptations to climate change) associated with external biophysical-socioeconomic data (presents real-world climate change) were used to develop a farmer-centered framework to explore climate change impacts and agricultural adaptations at a local level. A case study at Bin County (1980s-2010s), Northeast China, suggested that increased annual average temperature (0.6°C per decade) and decreased annual precipitation (46 mm per decade, both from meteorological datasets) were correctly perceived by 76 and 66.9%, respectively, of farmers from the survey, and that a longer growing season was conifrmed by 70%of them. These reasonably correct perceptions enabled local farmers to make appropriate adaptations to cope with climate change:Longer season alternative varieties were found for maize and rice, which led to a signiifcant yield increase for both crops. The longer season also affected crop choice:More farmers selected maize instead of soybean, as implicated from survey results by a large increase in the maize growing area. Comparing warming-related factors, we found that precipitation and agricultural disasters were the least likely causes for farmers' agricultural decisions. As a result, crop and variety selection, rather than disaster prevention and infrastructure improvement, was the most common ways for farmers to adapt to the notable warming trend in the study region.
基金funded by the Labex ITEM-ANR:10-LABX-0050the ALCOTRA n342 AdaPT Mont Blanc project funded by the Interreg V-A Italy-France 2014-2020 program
文摘Climate change induces profound changes in mountain territories that affect the activities pursued there.Tourism is one activity that is strongly impacted by these changes.Most research on tourism in mountain regions has focused on winter sports tourism,but glacier tourism,a summer activity,is also severely affected by climate change-induced phenomena,including glacier retreat and other geomorphological processes.Given that Alpine glacier tourism has been pursued since the 18th century and glaciers have been changing throughout this period,this article aims to examine the adaptations implemented by glacier tourism operators since the activity’s beginnings.Through analysis of historical documents,glaciological surveys and semi-structured interviews,this paper reveals how tourism activities around the Mer de Glace(the largest French glacier)have been impacted by glacier fluctuations since the first visit to the area in 1741.The study reveals that these developments have mainly been driven by glacier retreat and associated paraglacial dynamics.More recently,the shortening of the period of snow cover on the glacier has also impacted tourism activities.Most of the adaptation strategies implemented by tourism operators during the period in question are found to be reactive,consisting in the installation of safety equipment,the renovation of access points or the building of new structures to allow tourist activities to continue despite the consequences of glacier retreat.Other strategies,such as the adoption of new activities by workers previously specialised in another,are identified that could be considered transformative strategies,although these were only adopted by workers when their activity was no longer feasible.The analysis of materials from 1741 to the present also reveals that the recent impacts of climate change on glacier tourism are much more significant and diverse than those produced by past fluctuations.Therefore,it is important that stakeholders take suitable measures to ensure the sustainable future of the Mer de Glace and other glacier tourism destinations.
文摘In this paper, design, re-design, and performance of a long-standing very deep excavation, which was originally planned to depth of 38 m, are presented. Over-digging was not planned in the original design,thus the reassessment was performed. Two main topics were followed: deepening to increase the maximum depth of an existent excavation from 38 m to 42.5 m, and feasibility for upgrading a predesigned support system from temporary to permanent support system. The geological investigations in the project site illustrated a type of stiff and cemented coarse-grained alluvium. An observational approach with additional geotechnical investigations and in situ tests was applied. Back analyses of stability of an unsupported access ramp, as well as deformation monitoring of walls, were used in order to review geotechnical design parameters that represent the full-scale behavior of the ground. Additional nails and soldier piles together with building mat foundation were implemented as a complementary lateral support in the retaining system. From an engineering point of view, by assuming a corrosion rate of 0.065 mm/a for existent rebars, according to chemical and electrical resistivity tests, the long-term performance of the revised retaining system was verified by static and pseudo-dynamic ultimate limit state analyses. Performance monitoring during the construction shows that the measured deformation is in the lower limit of the prediction.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(41976083,41776171 and 32072980)。
文摘The genetic adaptations of various organisms to heterogeneous environments in the northwestern Pacific remain poorly understood.Heterogeneous genomic divergence among populations may reflect environmentalselection.Advancingour understanding of the mechanisms by which organisms adapt to different temperatures in response to climate change and predicting the adaptive potential and ecological consequences of anthropogenic global warming are critical.We sequenced the whole genomes of Japanese whiting(Sillago japonica)specimens collected from different latitudinal locations along the coastal waters of China and Japan to detect possible thermal adaptations.Using population genomics,a total of 5.48 million single nucleotide polymorphisms(SNPs)from five populations revealed a complete genetic break between the Chinese and Japanese groups,which was attributed to both geographic distance and local adaptation.The shared natural selection genes between two isolated populations(i.e.,Zhoushan and Ise Bay/Tokyo Bay)indicated possible parallel evolution at the genetic level induced by temperature.These genes also indicated that the process of temperature selection on isolated populations is repeatable.Moreover,we observed natural candidate genes related to membrane fluidity,possibly underlying adaptation to cold environmental stress.These findings advance our understanding of the genetic mechanisms underlying the rapid adaptations of fish species.Species distribution projection models suggested that the Chinese and Japanese groups may have different responses to future climate change,with the former expanding and the latter contracting.The findings of this study enhance our understanding of genetic differentiation and adaptation to changing environments.
基金The financial support provided by the Kasetsart University
文摘Drought is a significant natural hazard in Herat Province, Afghanistan. The objective of this study was to explore farmers' perceptions of the drought's prevalence and characteristics, its socioeconomic and environmental impacts, their strategies for coping with and mitigating it, and types of conflicts and resolution mechanisms. A questionnaire was completed by 147 farming households. The results indicate that farmers' perceptions regarding drought are in line with the results obtained using the precipitation data. Even though the respondents have religious belief in interpreting the weather related issues, they also perceived drought as the climatic and environmental factors such as increased temperature, decreased precipitation, and other factors like war, financial weakness, deforestation, over-exploitation of groundwater, lack of electricity supply etc. The results show that drought has had serious economic impacts, including loss of employment and reduction in crop yield and livestock production, which have reduced farmers' livelihood options and weakened their financial situation. Social impacts have included migration, a sense of hopelessness and loss, conflicts over water, health problems, impacts on the schooling of children, malnutrition, and limits to food options. Significant environmental impacts such as an increase in temperature, pasture and forest degradation, deterioration of water quality, damage to fish and wildlife habitats, and groundwater depletion were also reported. Farmers used local techniques to adapt to drought and lessen its effects. Farmers perceived irrigation water to be a major source of conflict. Local elders, water-user associations, and formal courts were reported to be the most successful conflict resolution methods. It is expected that the results of this study will support policy makers within government and development agencies in Afghanistan to develop future drought adaptation policies.
文摘Togolese agriculture is predominantly rain-fed and hence fundamentally dependent on the vagaries of weather. Thus, it is negatively affected by climate change. The present study assesses farmers’ perceptions and adaptation to climate change to enhance policy towards tackling the challenges climate change poses to the farmers in the study area. Descriptive statistics and multinomial logit (MNL) were used to analyze data obtained from a cross-sectional survey executed during the 2013/2014 agricultural production year in the maritime, plateau and savannah regions of Togo. The analysis of farmers’ perception to climate change reveals high increase in temperature and decrease in rainfall. These results are in line with the trend analysis of climate data that records from 1961 to 2013 about the study area especially on the temperature. Furthermore, the results show that crop diversification, change in crops, find off-farm jobs, change of the amount of land, change of the planting date and plant short season variety are the adaptation methods employed by the farmers. Moreover, with respect to the multinomial logit analysis, the results highlight that education level, farming experience, access extension services, access to credit and access to climate information are the factors that enhance farmers’ adaptive capacity to climate change and variability. Thus, there is room for better adaptation if government intensifies activities of extension workers and ensures that farmers have access to affordable credit schemes to increase their ability and flexibility to adopt adaptation measures. There is also a need to include climate change communication to facilitate exchange of climatic information that could enable smallholder farmers to adapt to changing planting dates. Finally, investment in education systems and creation of off-farm job opportunities in the rural areas can be underlined as a good policy option.
文摘Sherlock Holmes, the literary image that Arthur Conan Doyle created in The Adventure of Sherlock Holmes, has undoubtedly become an iconic figure of detective. For over a century, a number of films and TV series which based on this book are countless, Sherlock Holmes has been brought to silver screen and stage for a million times. It will be mentioned Arthur Conan and Sherlock Holmes in his book at first, and then review a list of Sherlock Holmes' adaptations in the history. Secondly, showing different personalities of this figure, taking film and TV dramas adaptation as examples to compare with the original novel,from which we can discover different perspectives of this image of Sherlock Holmes. At last, it emphasizes through the ages, literary works have always been materials for films and TV programs creation. From the everlasting image of Sherlock Holmes, we can see that literary spirits in classic masterpieces can be spread and flourished through adaptation of films and TV programs.
基金This study was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(31671326,31871275)the Highlevel Talent Introduction Program of Yunnan University to Y.B.S。
文摘Understanding the genetic mechanisms underlying particular adaptations/phenotypes of organisms is one of the core issues of evolutionary biology.The use of genomic data has greatly advanced our understandings on this issue,as well as other aspects of evolutionary biology,including molecular adaptation,speciation,and even conservation of endangered species.Despite the well-recognized advantages,usages of genomic data are still limited to non-mammal vertebrate groups,partly due to the difficulties in assembling large or highly heterozygous genomes.Although this is particularly the case for amphibians,nonetheless,several comparative and population genomic analyses have shed lights into the speciation and adaptation processes of amphibians in a complex landscape,giving a promising hope for a wider application of genomics in the previously believed challenging groups of organisms.At the same time,these pioneer studies also allow us to realize numerous challenges in studying the molecular adaptations and/or phenotypic evolutionary mechanisms of amphibians.In this review,we first summarize the recent progresses in the study of adaptive evolution of amphibians based on genomic data,and then we give perspectives regarding how to effectively identify key pathways underlying the evolution of complex traits in the genomic era,as well as directions for future research.
基金financially supported by the"Strategy and Policies on Environment and Development in Western China" project of "China Council for International Cooperation on Environment and Development(CCICED)"
文摘This study aims to implement the empirical analysis of the effects of the adaptive measures on the income of herdsmen in the context of the climate change with the positive mathematical programming(PMP)model.The survey was first implemented in three counties in the Three Headwaters Region.Finally the measures and recommendations suitable for the economic development in the ecologically fragile areas were proposed.The main conclusions are as follows:priority can be given to the measures to prevent the damage from rats and the engineering measures for pasture maintenance in Zeku County,where the geological conditions and grass quality are inferior,while the fiscal subsidy can be prioritized in Tongde County where the grassland area is relatively less.These recommendations can not only provide good reference for the protection of grassland resources,but they also lay a foundation for the implementation of more suitable measures to help the herdsmen in the ecologically fragile areas to adapt to the climate change.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(32170230,31971540,31830005,42276159)the Guangdong Basic and Applied Basic Research Foundation(2023B1515020083)the Innovation Group Project of Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory(Zhuhai)(311021006)。
文摘Nypa fruticans(Wurmb),a mangrove palm species with origins dating back to the Late Cretaceous period,is a unique species for investigating long-term adaptation strategies to intertidal environments and the early evolution of palms.Here,we present a chromosome-level genome sequence and assembly for N.fruticans.We integrated the genomes of N.fruticans and other palm family members for a comparative genomic analysis,which confirmed that the common ancestor of all palms experienced a whole-genome duplication event around 89 million years ago,shaping the distinctive characteristics observed in this clade.We also inferred a low mutation rate for the N.fruticans genome,which underwent strong purifying selection and evolved slowly,thus contributing to its stability over a long evolutionary period.Moreover,ancient duplicates were preferentially retained,with critical genes having experienced positive selection,enhancing waterlogging tolerance in N.fruticans.Furthermore,we discovered that the pseudogenization of Early Methionine-labelled 1(EM1)and EM6 in N.fruticans underly its crypto-vivipary characteristics,reflecting its intertidal adaptation.Our study provides valuable genomic insights into the evolutionary history,genome stability,and adaptive evolution of the mangrove palm.Our results also shed light on the long-term adaptation of this species and contribute to our understanding of the evolutionary dynamics in the palm family.
基金This work was supported by STI 2030-Major Projects(2022ZD04021)Shenzhen Science and Technology Program(Grant No.KQTD20180411143628272)the Agricultural Science and Technology Innovation Program of Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences.
文摘Understanding the genetic basis of adaptive evolution following habitat expan-sion can have important implications for pest management.The pink rice borer(PRB),Sesamia inferens(Walker),is a destructive pest of rice that was historically restricted to regions south of 34o N latitude in China.However,with changes in global climate and farming practices,the distribution of this moth has progressively expanded,en-compassing most regions in North China.Here,3 highly differentiated subpopulations were discovered using high-quality single-nucleotide polymorphism and structural vari-ant datasets across China,corresponding to northern,southern China regions,and the Yunnan-Guizhou Plateau,with significant patterns of isolation by geographic and envi-ronmental distances.Our estimates of evolutionary history indicate asymmetric migration with varying population sizes across the 3 subpopulations.Selective sweep analyses esti-mated strong selection at insect cuticle glycine-rich cuticular protein genes which are as-sociated with enhanced desiccation adaptability in the northern group,and at the histone-lysine-N-methyltransferase gene associated with range expansion and local adaptation in the Shandong population.Our findings have significant implications for the development of effective strategies to control this pest.
基金supported in part by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(31722051)the National Key Research and Development Program of China(2021YFF0702004)the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities(2042021kf0217)to H.Z.
文摘Understanding how natural selection shapes unique traits in mammals is a central topic in evolutionary biology.The mammalian order Chiroptera(bats)is attractive for biologists as well as the general public due to their specific traits of extraordinary immunity and inverted resting posture.However,genomic resources for bats that occupy key phylogenetic positions are not sufficient,which hinders comprehensive investigation of the molecular mechanisms underpinning the origin of specific traits in bats.Here,we sequenced the transcriptomes of 5 bats that are phylo-genetically divergent and occupy key positions in the phylogenetic tree of bats.In combination with the available genomes of 19 bats and 21 other mammals,we built a database consisting of 10918 one-to-one ortholog genes and reconstructed phylogenetic relationships of these mammals.We found that genes related to immunity,bone remodeling,and cardiovascular system are targets of natural selection along the ancestral branch of bats.Further analyses revealed that the T cell receptor signaling pathway involved in immune adaptation is specifically enriched in bats.Moreover,molecular adaptations of bone remodeling,cardiovascular system,and balance sensing may help to explain the reverted resting posture in bats.Our study provides valuable transcriptome resources,enabling us to tentatively identify genetic changes associated with bat-specific traits.This work is among thefirst to advance our understanding of the molecular underpinnings of inverted resting posture in bats,which could provide insight into healthcare applications such as hypertension in humans.
基金supported by grants from the STI2030-Major Projects(2022ZD0208605)the National Natural Science Foundation of China(32071023,82271274,82171242)+2 种基金the Science and Technology Commission of Shanghai Municipality(22XD1420700)the Shanghai Municipal Health Commission(2022XD046)innovative research team of high-level local universities in Shanghai(SHSMU-ZDCX20211901).
文摘Deep brain stimulation(DBS)is a well-established and effective treatment for patients with advanced Parkinson’s disease(PD),yet its underlying mechanisms remain enigmatic.Optogenetics,primarily conducted in animal models,provides a unique approach that allows cell type-and projection-specific modulation that mirrors the frequency-dependent stimulus effects of DBS.Opto-DBS research in animal models plays a pivotal role in unraveling the neuronal and synaptic adaptations that contribute to the efficacy of DBS in PD treatment.DBS-induced neuronal responses rely on a complex interplay between the distributions of presynaptic inputs,frequency-dependent synaptic depression,and the intrinsic excitability of postsynaptic neurons.This orchestration leads to conversion of firing patterns,enabling both antidromic and orthodromic modulation of neural circuits.Understanding these mechanisms is vital for decoding position-and programming-dependent effects of DBS.Furthermore,patterned stimulation is emerging as a promising strategy yielding long-lasting therapeutic benefits.Research on the neuronal and synaptic adaptations to DBS may pave the way for the development of more enduring and precise modulation patterns.Advanced technologies,such as adaptive DBS or directional electrodes,can also be integrated for circuit-specific neuromodulation.These insights hold the potential to greatly improve the effectiveness of DBS and advance PD treatment to new levels.
基金supported in part by the Australian Research Council Discovery Early Career Researcher Award(DE200101128)。
文摘Platooning represents one of the key features that connected automated vehicles may possess as it allows multiple automated vehicles to be maneuvered cooperatively with small headways on roads. However, a critical challenge in accomplishing automated vehicle platoons is to deal with the effects of intermittent and sporadic vehicle-to-vehicle data transmissions caused by limited wireless communication resources. This paper addresses the co-design problem of dynamic event-triggered communication scheduling and cooperative adaptive cruise control for a convoy of automated vehicles with diverse spacing policies. The central aim is to achieve automated vehicle platooning under various gap references with desired platoon stability and spacing performance requirements, while simultaneously improving communication efficiency. Toward this aim, a dynamic event-triggered scheduling mechanism is developed such that the intervehicle data transmissions are scheduled dynamically and efficiently over time. Then, a tractable co-design criterion on the existence of both the admissible event-driven cooperative adaptive cruise control law and the desired scheduling mechanism is derived. Finally, comparative simulation results are presented to substantiate the effectiveness and merits of the obtained results.