Clinical effects of nonconvulsive electrotherapy combined with mindfulness-based stress reduction and changes of serum inflammatory factors in depression

BACKGROUND Depression is a common and serious psychological condition,which seriously affects individual well-being and functional ability.Traditional treatment methods include drug therapy and psychological counseling;however,these methods have different degrees of side effects and limitations.In recent years,nonconvulsive electrotherapy(NET)has attracted increasing attention as a noninvasive treatment method.However,the clinical efficacy and potential mechanism of NET on depression are still unclear.We hypothesized that NET has a positive clinical effect in the treatment of depression,and may have a regulatory effect on serum inflammatory factors during treatment.AIM To assess the effects of NET on depression and analyze changes in serum inflammatory factors.METHODS This retrospective study enrolled 140 patients undergoing treatment for depression between May 2017 and June 2022,the observation group that received a combination of mindfulness-based stress reduction(MBSR)and NET treatment(n=70)and the control group that only received MBSR therapy(n=70).The clinical effectiveness of the treatment was evaluated by assessing various factors,including the Hamilton Depression Scale(HAMD)-17,self-rating idea of suicide scale(SSIOS),Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index(PSQI),and levels of serum inflammatory factors before and after 8 wk of treatment.The quality of life scores between the two groups were compared.Comparisons were made using t and χ^(2) tests.RESULTS After 8 wk of treatment,the observation group exhibited a 91.43%overall effectiveness rate which was higher than that of the control group which was 74.29%(64 vs 52,χ^(2)=7.241;P<0.05).The HAMD,SSIOS,and PSQI scores showed a significant decrease in both groups.Moreover,the observation group had lower scores than the control group(10.37±2.04 vs 14.02±2.16,t=10.280;1.67±0.28 vs 0.87±0.12,t=21.970;5.29±1.33 vs 7.94±1.35,t=11.700;P both<0.001).Additionally,there was a notable decrease in the IL-2,IL-1β,and IL-6 in both groups after treatment.Furthermore,the observation group exhibited superior serum inflammatory factors compared to the control group(70.12±10.32 vs 102.24±20.21,t=11.840;19.35±2.46 vs 22.27±2.13,t=7.508;32.25±4.6 vs 39.42±4.23,t=9.565;P both<0.001).Moreover,the observation group exhibited significantly improved quality of life scores compared to the control group(Social function:19.25±2.76 vs 16.23±2.34;Emotions:18.54±2.83 vs 12.28±2.16;Environment:18.49±2.48 vs 16.56±3.44;Physical health:19.53±2.39 vs 16.62±3.46;P both<0.001)after treatment.CONCLUSION MBSR combined with NET effectively alleviates depression,lowers inflammation(IL-2,IL-1β,and IL-6),reduces suicidal thoughts,enhances sleep,and improves the quality of life of individuals with depression.

Examination of the Effective Factors on the Multiple Sclerosis Diseases

This study was an attempt to examine the effective factors of the Multiple Sclerosis diseases. The participants of the study were selected from among a total number of 45 men and women who were treated in a health center in Azarbayegan and Damavand in Iran. In order to study, the researchers applied various procedures to collect the data of the study. The participants were interviewed and filled out the questionnaires. After categorizing and classifying the collected information and data, it was processed and analyzed and the results are found. To test the research questions, a one-sample T-test was used to analyze the data. The role of hypo vitamin D as a possible risk factor for multiple sclerosis was reviewed. First, it was emphasized that hypo vitamin could be only one of the risk factors for multiple sclerosis and that numerous other environmental and genetic risk factors appear to interact and combine to trigger the disease. The main aim of this study was to examine the effective factors of Multiple Sclerosis diseases. The methodology of this research was to test the research questions;one-sample T-test was used to analyze the data. The findings of this study revealed that the factors of gender, cold weather, vitamin D deficiency, and age (between 30 - 59) were effective on the Multiple Sclerosis diseases.

Research on the Impact of China’s Foreign Trade Technology Spillover on Green Total Factor Productivity of Countries Along the“Belt and Road”:Based on the Institutional Quality Threshold Effect

China’s growing trade with countries along the“Belt and Road”Initiative is accompanied by a focus on green development.Based on the panel data from 2007 to 2018,this paper establishes a threshold regression model to empirically analyze the institutional quality threshold effect of China’s foreign trade technology spillover on the GTFP of countries along the“Belt and Road.”The results show that China’s foreign trade technology spillover has a significant institutional quality double threshold effect on the green total factor productivity of the countries along the“Belt and Road.”As the institutional quality of the countries along the“Belt and Road”crosses a specific threshold value,the impact of China’s foreign trade technology spillover on the green total factor productivity of the countries along the“Belt and Road”has a significant positive promoting effect,and corresponding suggestions are put forward.

Therapeutic effect of nerve growth factor on cerebral infarction in dogs using the hemisphere anomalous volume ratio of diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging

A model of focal cerebral ischemic infarction was established in dogs through middle cerebral artery occlusion of the right side.Thirty minutes after occlusion,models were injected with nerve growth factor adjacent to the infarct locus.The therapeutic effect of nerve growth factor against cerebral infarction was assessed using the hemisphere anomalous volume ratio,a quantitative index of diffusion-weighted MRI.At 6 hours,24 hours,7 days and 3 months after modeling,the hemisphere anomalous volume ratio was significantly reduced after treatment with nerve growth factor. Hematoxylin-eosin staining,immunohistochemistry,electron microscopy and neurological function scores showed that infarct defects were slightly reduced and neurological function significantly improved after nerve growth factor treatment.This result was consistent with diffusion-weighted MRI measurements.Experimental findings indicate that nerve growth factor can protect against cerebral infarction,and that the hemisphere anomalous volume ratio of diffusion-weighted MRI can be used to evaluate the therapeutic effect.

Factors of Low Birth Weight Risk in the Department of Gynecology-Obstetrics of the Ignace Deen National University Teaching Hospital in Conakry, Guinea

Introduction: The underweight at birth is recognized as a major cause of morbidity and mortality in childhood. Objective: To identify maternal and obstetric sociodemographic factors associated with low birth weight. Patients and Methods: This is a retrospective study of analytical type that examined the records of women who gave birth in the Obstetrics and Gynecology department of Ignace Deen National University Teaching Hospital from 1st December 2016 to 30th April 2017. The analysis was made with the R version 3.3.1 software. We did a univariate and multivariate analysis. Outcomes: Out of the 1633 live births of single pregnancies that occurred during the study period, 109 children were born with a low weight (<2500 g) corresponding to a rate of 6.7%. In univariate analysis, we found a significant association between low birth weight and maternal single status (p = 0.019), maternal weight less than 60 kg (p = 0.038), primary parity (p = 0.018), maternal history of abortion (p = 0.001), history of preterm birth (p < 0.001), arterial hypertension (p < 0.001), anemia (p < 0.001) and malaria (p < 0.001). In multivariate analysis, the variables associated with low birth weight were: history of preterm delivery with OR of 8.5 [1.8 - 40.1], history of abortion (OR = 4.4 [1.4 - 13.9]), malaria (OR = 23.8 [6.1 - 92.5]), anemia (OR = 11.8 [3.7 - 38.2]) and high blood pressure (OR = 5.4 [1.6 - 17.9]). Conclusion: The decrease in frequency of low birth weight in Guinea will be done by improving the quality of prenatal care with an emphasis on screening, prevention and treatment of malaria, anemia and high blood pressure during pregnancy, prevention of abortion and premature birth.

Purification Effects of Aquatic Vegetations on Lake Wetland Water Environment and Analysis of the Influencing Factors in Hongze Lake

[Objective] To study the purification effect of plant community on wetland water environment in Hongze Lake, and to provide references to the ecological restoration of this area. [Methed] The typical lakeside zone of Hongze Lake Wetland National Nature Reserve was taken as the study area. Through the field survey based on environmental characteristics of aquatic areas and non-aquatic areas, combined with laboratory test, the content changes of nutrients （N and P）, COD （chemical oxygen demand） and SD （transparency） levels in the water body of lake wetland were measured; the purification effect of the lake wetland ecosystem in the growth process of aquatic vegetation was quantitatively analyzed, and possible influ- encing factors were discussed. [Result] Aquatic vegetation could remove the TN, TP, COD, Chla in wetland water environment and had obvious effects on the changes of SD content. Competition between aquatic plants can inhibit the growth of algae and relieve the eutrophication of water body. [Conclusion] This study provided theoretical basis for ecological restoration and enhancement of self-purification capability in the lakeside zone of Hongze Lake.

Influence Factors in the Inhibition Effect of Pyrazosulfuron-ethyl against Sagittaria pygmaea in Paddy Soils

[Objective] The aim was to explore the factors affecting the herbicidal activity of pyrazosulfuron-ethyl against Sagittaria pygmaea in paddy soil.[Method] The bioassay method was carried out under greenhouse conditions.[Result] The reduction of more than 80% in fresh weight was observed in S.pygmaea treated with 45 g/hm2 of pyrazosulfuron-ethyl for 7 d or more.Application of 60 g/hm2 at the sprouting stage of S.pygmaea suppressed completely the growth in fresh weight irrespective of tuber size.However,at 6 g/hm2 growth of the weed sustained less reduction with increasing tuber size.Differences in flooding water depth and temperature had no appreciable influence on the herbicidal activity.Growth inhibition of S.pygmaea by pre-emergence or 1.5-leaf stage applications under non-leaching conditions was significantly higher than that under water leaching conditions.Under non-leaching condition,there was no remarkable difference in this inhibition between preemergence and 1.5-leaf stage applications,while under water leaching conditions the growth reduction with the latter application was significantly larger.Growth inhibition of S.pygmaea planted at a depth of 2 cm was significantly higher than that planted deeper （5 cm） with the pre-emergence applications.[Conclusion] This study had provide basis for the further study on the inhibition effect of pyrazosulfuron-ethyl.

Influencing factors analysis of hard limestone reformation and strength weakening under acidic effect

Roof disaster has always been an important factor restricting coal mine safety production.Acidic effect can reform the rock mass structure to weaken the macroscopic strength characteristics,which is an effective way to control the hard limestone roof.In this study,the effects of various factors on the reaction characteristics and mechanical properties of limestone were analyzed.The results show that the acid with stronger hydrogen production capacity after ionization(pK_(a)<0)has more prominent damage to the mineral grains of limestone.When pKa increases from−8.00 to 15.70,uniaxial compressive strength and elastic modulus of limestone increase by 117.22%and 75.98%.The influence of acid concentration is manifested in the dissolution behavior of mineral crystals,the crystal defects caused by large-scale acid action will lead to the deterioration of limestone strength,and the strength after 15%concentration reformation can be reduced by 59.42%.The effect of acidification time on limestone has stages and is the most obvious in the initial metathesis reaction stage(within 60 min).The key to the strength damage of acidified limestone is the participation of hydrogen ions in the reaction system.Based on the analytic hierarchy process method,the influence weights of acid type,acid concentration and acidification time on strength are 24.30%,59.54% and 16.16%,respectively.The research results provide theoretical support for the acidification control of hard limestone roofs in coal mines.

Comparative study of the effects of Tartary buckwheat seed and sprout consumption on the physiological indices and gut microbiota of C57BL/6J mice

Tartary buckwheat(Fagopyrum tataricum)is a well-known pseudocereal for its health and economic value.However,abundant antinutritional factors(ANFs)reduces its health benefits.As reported,germination can improve the nutritional profile of grains.In this study,we systematically evaluate the safety of Tartary buckwheat seeds(TB)and Tartary buckwheat sprouts(TBS)used as high active ingredients.After evaluating nutrition levels,bioactive compounds and ANFs in TBS during germinating,5^(th)-day TBS were selected as the raw material.C57BL/6J mice were gavaged daily with distilled water,TB,or TBS for 6 weeks.The physiological indices related to ANFs were determined.Results showed that the TB intake tends to generate negative effects on the gut microbiota,and organs.Additionally,upon TB intake,the Fe^(3+)content in serum,trypsin activity in pancreas and jejunum decreased,while the cytokine,IgE,and histamine levels in serum,water content in faeces,cytokine levels in liver and jejunum increased.Conversely,TBS did not induce any obvious negative effects on the above relevant indices and showed better lipid-lowering effect.Altogether,TBS are safer and more effective as a raw material to produce the functional food for long-term consumption with the intention of preventing and treating hyperlipidaemia.

Spatio-temporal evolution and topographic gradient effect of land use and ecosystem service value in the Lhasa River Basin

The Lhasa River Basin forms an essential human settlement area in the southern part of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau.This study employed ecosystem service value(ESV)evaluation model,terrain gradient grading,and Geodetector to analyze land use and ESV in the Lhasa River Basin from 1985 to 2020.The findings reveal that:(1)From 1985 to 2020,grassland was the dominant land use.There was a trend of grassland reduction and the expansion of other land types.(2)ESV has increased over the research period(with a total increase of 0.84%),with higher values in the southeast and lower values in the northwest.Grassland contributed the most to ESV,and climate regulation and hydrological regulation were the ecosystem services that contribute the most to ESV.(3)Natural factors like NDVI and altitude,as well as economic factors like population density and distance from roads,influenced the spatial differentiation of ESV,the explanatory power of NDVI reached up to 0.47.The interaction between factors had a greater impact than individual factors.These research results can provide theoretical support for national spatial planning and ecological environment protection in the Lhasa River Basin and other similar areas.

Systemic Inflammation Response Index and weight loss as prognostic factors in metastatic pancreatic cancer: A concept study from the PANTHEIA-SEOM trial

BACKGROUND The prognostic value of the Systemic Inflammation Response Index(SIRI)in advanced pancreatic cancer is recognized,but its correlation with patients´nutritional status and outcomes remains unexplored.AIM To study the prognostic significance of SIRI and weight loss in metastatic pancreatic cancer.METHODS The PANTHEIA-Spanish Society of Medical Oncology(SEOM)study is a multicentric(16 Spanish hospitals),observational,longitudinal,non-interventional initiative,promoted by the SEOM Real World-Evidence work group.This pilot study sought to analyze the association between weight loss and inflammatory status as defined by SIRI.The cohort stems from a proof-of-concept pilot study conducted at one of the coordinating centers.Patients with pathologically confirmed metastatic pancreatic adenocarcinoma,treated from January 2020 to January 2023,were included.The index was calculated using the product of neutrophil and monocyte counts,divided by lymphocyte counts,obtained within 15 days before initiation chemotherapy.This study evaluated associations between overall survival(OS),SIRI and weight loss.RESULTS A total of 50 patients were included.66%of these patients were male and the median age was 66 years.Metastasis sites:36%liver,12%peritoneal carcinomatosis,10%lung,and 42%multiple locations.Regarding the first line palliative chemotherapy treatments:50%received gemcitabine plus nab-paclitaxel;28%,modified fluorouracil,leucovorin,irinotecan and oxaliplatin,and 16%were administered gemcitabine.42%had a weight loss>5%in the three months(mo)preceding diagnosis.21 patients with a SIRI≥2.3×10^(3)/L exhibited a trend towards a lower median OS compared to those with a SIRI<2.3×10^(3)/L(4 vs 18 mo;P<0.000).Among 21 patients with>5%weight loss before diagnosis,the median OS was 6 mo,in contrast to 19 mo for those who did not experience such weight loss(P=0.003).Patients with a weight loss>5%showed higher SIRI levels.This difference was statistically significant(P<0.000).For patients with a SIRI<2.3×10^(3)/L,those who did not lose>5%of their weight had an OS of 20 mo,compared to 11 mo for those who did(P<0.001).No association was found between carbohydrate antigen 19-9 levels≥1000 U/mL and weight loss.CONCLUSION A higher SIRI was correlated with decreased survival rates in patients with metastatic pancreatic cancer and associated with weight loss.An elevated SIRI is suggested as a predictor of survival,emphasizing the need for prospective validation in the upcoming PANTHEIA-SEOM study.

Risk factors for secondary infection after liver failure and effect of comprehensive nursing intervention

BACKGROUND In patients with liver failure(LF),the high rate of secondary infections,which are associated with poor prognosis,highlights the clinical significance of understanding the underlying risk factors and implementing targeted intervention programs.AIM To investigate risk factors for secondary infections in patients with LF and evaluate the effectiveness of comprehensive nursing interventions.METHODS This retrospective study included 64 patients with LF,including 32 with and 32 without secondary infections.A questionnaire was used to collect data on age;laboratory parameters,including total and direct bilirubin,prothrombin time,blood ammonia,and other biochemical parameters;invasive procedures;and complications.Patients with secondary infections received comprehensive nursing intervention in addition to routine nursing care,whereas those without secondary infections received only routine nursing care to compare the effect of nursing intervention on outcomes.RESULTS The infection rate,which was not associated with age or complications,was significantly associated with biochemical parameters and invasive procedures(P<0.05).The infection rate was 61.6%in patients who had undergone invasive procedures and 32.1%in those who had not undergone invasive procedures during the hospital stay.The infection rate was also significantly associated with the type of LF(P<0.05),with the lowest rate observed in patients with acute LF and the highest rate observed in those with subacute LF.The nursing satisfaction rate was 58.3%in the uninfected group and 91.7%in the infected group,indicating significantly higher satisfaction in the infected group(P<0.05).CONCLUSION In patients with LF,the rate of secondary infections was high and associated with biochemical parameters and type of LF.Comprehensive nursing intervention can improve patient satisfaction.

Risk factors for recurrence of common bile duct stones after surgical treatment and effect of ursodeoxycholic acid intervention

BACKGROUND Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography(ERCP)is an accurate diagnostic method for choledocholithiasis and treatment option for stone removal.Additionally,ursodeoxycholic acid(UDCA)can dissolve cholesterol stones and prevent their development and reappearance by lowering the cholesterol concen-tration in bile.Despite these treatment options,there are still patients who experience stone recurrence.The clinical data of 100 patients with choledochal stones who were hospitalized at the Yixing People’s Hospital and underwent ERCP for successful stone extraction between June 2020 and December 2022 were retrospectively collected.According to the post-ERCP treatment plan,100 patients were classified into UDCA(n=47)and control(n=53)groups.We aimed to assess the clinical efficacy and rate of relapse in the two patient populations.We then collected information(basic demographic data,clinical characteristics,and serum biochemical indicators)and determined the factors contributing to relapse using logistic regression analysis.Our secondary goal was to determine the effects of UDCA on liver function after ERCP.Compared to the control group,the UDCA group demonstrated a higher clinical effectiveness rate of 92.45%vs 78.72%(P<0.05).No significant differences were observed in liver function indices,including total bilirubin,direct bilirubin,gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase,alanine aminotransferase,alkaline phosphatase,and aspartate aminotransferase,between the two groups before treatment.After treatment,all liver function indices were significantly reduced.Comparing the control vs UDCA groups,the UDCA group exhibited significantly lower levels of all indices(55.39±6.53 vs 77.31±8.52,32.10±4.62 vs 45.39±5.69,142.32±14.21 vs 189.63±16.87,112.52±14.25 vs 149.36±15.36,122.61±16.00 vs 171.33±22.09,96.98±10.44 vs 121.35±11.57,respectively,all P<0.05).The stone recurrence rate was lower in the UDCA group(13.21%)in contrast with the control group(44.68%).Periampullary diverticula(OR:6.00,95%CI:1.69-21.30),maximum stone diameter(OR:1.69,95%CI:1.01-2.85),stone quantity>3(OR:4.23,95%CI:1.17-15.26),and positive bile culture(OR:7.61,95%CI:2.07-27.91)were independent factors that influenced the relapse of common bile duct stones after ERCP(P<0.05).Furthermore,postoperative UDCA was identified as a preventive factor(OR:0.07;95%CI:0.08-0.09).CONCLUSION The intervention effect of UDCA after ERCP for common bile duct stones is adequate,providing new research directions and references for the prevention and treatment of stone recurrence.

Spatiotemporal Characteristics of Typical Ecosystem Services and Their Spatial Responses to Driving Factors in Ecologically Fragile Areas in Upper Yellow River,China

The identification of dominant driving factors for different ecosystem services(ESs)is crucial for ecological conservation and sustainable development.However,the spatial heterogeneity of the dominant driving factors affecting various ESs has not been adequately elucidated,particularly in ecologically fragile regions.This study employed the integrated valuation of ESs and trade-offs(InVEST)model to evaluate four ESs,namely,water yield(WY),soil conservation(SC),habitat quality(HQ),and carbon storage(CS),and then to identify the dominant driving factors of spatiotemporal differentiation of ES and further to characterize the spatial heterogeneity characteristics of the dominant driving factors in the eco-fragile areas of the upper Yellow River,China from 2000 to 2020.The results demonstrated that WY exhibited northeast-high and northwest-low patterns in the upper Yellow River region,while high values of SC and CS were distributed in central forested areas and a high value of HQ was distributed in vast grassland areas.The CS,WY,and SC exhibited decreasing trends over time.The most critical factors affecting WY,SC,HQ,and CS were the actual evapotranspiration,precipitation,slope,and normalized difference vegetation index,respectively.In addition,the effects of different factors on various ESs exhibited spatial heterogeneity.These results could provide spatial decision support for eco-protection and rehabilitation in ecologically fragile areas.

RNA-seq analysis of unintended effects in transgenic wheat overexpressing the transcription factor GmDREB1

The engineering of plants with enhanced tolerance to abiotic stresses typically involves complex multigene networks and may therefore have a greater potential to introduce unintended effects than the genetic modification for simple monogenic traits. For this reason, it is essential to study the unintended effects in transgenic plants engineered for stress tolerance. We selected drought-and salt-tolerant transgenic wheat overexpressing the transcription factor, GmDREB1, to investigate unintended pleiotropic effects using RNA-seq analysis. We compared the transcriptome alteration of transgenic plants with that of wild-type plants subjected to salt stress as a control. We found that GmDREB1 overexpression had a minimal impact on gene expression under normal conditions.GmDREB1 overexpression resulted in transcriptional reprogramming of the salt response,but many of the genes with differential expression are known to mitigate salt stress and contribute incrementally to the enhanced stress tolerance of transgenic wheat. GmDREB1 overexpression did not activate unintended gene networks with respect to gene expression in the roots of transgenic wheat. This work is important for establishing a method of detecting unintended effects of genetic engineering and the safety of such traits with the development of marketable transgenic crops in the near future.

New weighting factors assignment of evidence theorybased one vidence distance

Evidence theory has been widely used in the information fusion for its effectiveness of the uncertainty reasoning. However, the classical DS evidence theory involves counter-intuitive behaviors when the high conflict information exists. Based on the analysis of some modified methods, Assigning the weighting factors according to the intrinsic characteristics of the existing evidence sources is proposed, which is determined on the evidence distance theory. From the numerical examples, the proposed method provides a reasonable result with good convergence efficiency. In addition, the new rule retrieves to the Yager's formula when all the evidence sources contradict to each other completely.

Improved theory of generalized meteo-ballistic weighting factor functions and their use

It follows from the analysis of artillery fire errors that approximately two-thirds of the inaccuracy of indirect artillery fire is caused by inaccuracies in the determination of the meteo parameters included in fire error budget model.Trajectories calculated under non-standard conditions are considered to be perturbed.The tools utilized for the analysis of perturbed trajectories are weighting factor functions(WFFs)which are a special kind of sensitivity functions.WFFs are used for calculation of meteo ballistic elements B(ballistic wind w B,densityρB,virtual temperatureτB,pressure p B)as well.We have found that the existing theory of WFF calculation has several significant shortcomings.The aim of the article is to present a new,improved theory of generalized WFFs that eliminates the deficiencies found.Using this theory will improve methods for designing firing tables,fire control systems algorithms,and meteo message generation algorithms.

The Impact of Meteorological Factors on the Short-term Cumulative Effect of Air Particulate in Tianjin

In order to reveal the rapid increase mechanism of particulate concentration in short time,a notion of short-term cumulative effect of air particulate is defined as the significant increase of pollutant concentration in a short time under the condition of breeze,stable weather and constant emission caused by human being's activities. Subsequently,an index of short-term cumulative effect is established with air diffusive equation,and then the macro-scale meteorological situation and micro-scale factors of forming the short-term cumulative effect are discussed with the observation data. The macro-scale meteorological variables contain upper-level weather situations and surface weather situations. The micro-scale factors mainly include the boundary-layer height and boundary-layer stability. The analyses show that boundary-layer factors and weather variables have a significant influence on the short-term cumulative effect. The notion of short-term cumulative effect will play an important role in interpreting the severe pollution weather.

Analysis on the temporal-spatial distribution character and effect factors of PM10 in the hinterland of Taklimakan Desert and surrounding area

In recent years, the physical and chemical properties of dust aerosols from the dust source area in northem China have attracted increased attention. In this paper, Thermo RP 1400a was used for online continuous observation and study of the hinterland of Taldimakan, Tazhong, and surrounding areas of Kurnul and Hotan from 2004 to 2006. In combination with weather analysis during a sandstorm in the Tazhong area, basic characteristics and influencing factors of dust aerosol PMl0 have been summarized as below： （1） The occurrence days of floating dust and blowing dust appeared with an increasing trend in Kumul, Tazhong and Hotan, while the number of dust storm days did not significantly change. The frequency and intensity of dust weather were major factors affecting the concentration of dust aerosol PMI0 in the desert. （2） The mass concentration of PM10 had significant regional distribution characteris- tics, and the mass concentration at the eastern edge of Taklimakan, Kumul, was the lowest; second was the southern edge of the desert, Hotan; and the highest was in the hinterland of the desert, Tazhong. （3） High values of PM10 mass concentration in Kumul was from March to September each year; high values of PM^0 mass concentration in Tazhong and Hotan were distributed from March to August and the average concenlration changed from 500 to 1,000 gg/m3, respectively. （4） The average seasonal concentration changes of PM10 in Kumul, Tazhong and Hotan were： spring 〉 summer 〉 autumn 〉 winter; the highest average concentration of PMl0in Tazhong, was about 1,000 gg/m3 in spring and between 400 and 900 gg/m3 in summer, and the average concentration was lower in autumn and winter, basically between 200 and 400 gg/m3. （5） PMl0 concentration during the sandstorm season was just over two times the con- centration of the non-sandstorm season in Kumul, Tazhong and Hotan. The average concentrations of sandstorm season in Tazhong were 6.2 and 3.6 times the average concentrations of non-sandstorm season in 2004 and 2008, respectively. （6） The mass concentra- tion of PM10 had the following sequence during the dust weather： clear day 〈 floating dust 〈 floating and blowing dust 〈 sandstorm. The wind speed directly affects the concentration of PM10 in the atmosphere, the higher the wind speed, the higher the mass concen- tration. Temperature, relative humidity and bammelric pressure are important factors affecting the strength of storms, which could also indirectly affect the concentration change of PM~ 0 in the atmosphere.

What factors determine the mass elevation effect of the Tibetan Plateau?

The mass elevation effect(MEE)of the Tibetan Plateau(TP)has attracted the attention of geographers because of its significant influence on the Asian climate,snow line,timberline,and other important climate-ecological boundaries of the plateau and on global ecological patterns.In recent years,much progress has been made in quantifying the MEE of TP.However,factors that affect the size of MEE have not been examined in depth,and the key factors still remain unclear.Based on quantification of MEE for each mountain basal elevation plot,this study identifies the factors that contribute significantly to MEE of the plateau.Seven factors are considered,including mountain basal elevation,distance from the core zone of MEE,thermal continentality,maximum elevation,height difference,area,and difference of underlying surface(with the yearly max"Normalized Difference Vegetation Index"(NDVI)serving as a quantitative indicator).We also used these seven factors as independent variables to develop a multiple linear regression model for MEE of the plateau.Results show that:(1)the determination coefficient(R2)of the model reaches as high as 0.877,and the contributions of mountain basal elevation,distance from the core zone of MEE,thermal continentality,maximum elevation,topographical height difference,area,and NDVI are 39.77%,23.02%,14.48%,5.78%,11.41%,2.92%,and 2.62%,respectively,with mountain basal elevation and the distance from the core of MEE as the most important factors;(2)thermal continentality and MEE are significantly correlated,and maximum elevation only has a coupling relationship with MEE,with height difference and NDVI contributing little to MEE.This study deepens our understanding of MEE and its forming factors in the Tibetan Plateau.