Monitoring and simulation of water, heat,and CO2 fluxes in terrestrial ecosystems based on the APEIS-FLUX system

The Integrated Environmental Monitoring (IEM) project, part of the Asia-Pacific Environmental Innovation Strategy (APEIS) project, developed an integrated environmental monitoring system that can be used to detect, monitor, and assess environmental disasters, degradation, and their impacts in the Asia-Pacific region. The system primarily employs data from the moderate resolution imaging spectrometer (MODIS) sensor on the Earth Observation System- (EOS-) Terra/Aqua satellite,as well as those from ground observations at five sites in different ecological systems in China. From the preliminary data analysis on both annual and daily variations of water, heat and CO2 fluxes, we can confirm that this system basically has been working well. The results show that both latent flux and CO2 flux are much greater in the crop field than those in the grassland and the saline desert, whereas the sensible heat flux shows the opposite trend. Different data products from MODIS have very different correspondence, e.g. MODIS-derived land surface temperature has a close correlation with measured ones, but LAI and NPP are quite different from ground measurements, which suggests that the algorithms used to process MODIS data need to be revised by using the local dataset. We are now using the APEIS-FLUX data to develop an integrated model, which can simulate the regional water,heat, and carbon fluxes. Finally, we are expected to use this model to develop more precise high-order MODIS products in Asia-Pacific region.

放牧强度对高寒地区多年生混播禾草叶片特征及草地初级生产力的影响

在青藏高原东北缘-天祝县金强河地区进行了无芒雀麦(Bromus inermis)50%+垂穗披碱草(Clinelymusnutans)50%、无芒雀麦50%+多叶老芒麦(Elymu.s nutans)25%+扁穗冰草(Agropyron cristatum)25%、无芒雀麦25%+多叶老芒麦25%+垂穗披碱草25%+扁穗冰草25%,3类禾草混播草地的放牧试验,研究了不同放牧强度对混播禾草草地牧草叶片特征和草地生产力的影响.结果表明,重牧(70%左右的采食率)条件下,牧草和草群叶面积指数(LAI)下降(P＜0.05),叶片光合速率(Pn)减弱(P＜0.05),草地牧草现存量减少(P＜0.05);轻牧(30%左右的采食率)有利于无芒雀麦+垂穗披碱草草地和无芒雀麦+多叶老芒麦+扁穗冰草草地补偿性再生和生物量积累,中牧(50%左右的采食率)有利于无芒雀麦+多叶老芒麦+垂穗披碱草+扁穗冰草草地补偿性再生和生物量积累.青藏高原高寒地区,前2类混播草地适宜的放牧利用率为30%左右,后1类混播草地适宜的放牧利用率为50%左右.

青藏高原地区矮嵩草草甸植物群落生长分析

对中国科学院海北高寒草甸生态系统定位站地区的矮嵩草草甸植物群落进行了函数生长分析研究。叶面积和地上生物量采用三次多项式的指数方程拟合。研究结果表明 ,LAI的增长过程呈 S形 ,可分为 3个时期 ,与群落中莎草类植物的物候划分相一致 ;6月至 8月上旬 LAI的增长速率较高 ,约持续 70 d,最大 LAI为 3 .5左右 ;ULR与 LAI的变化趋势相反 ,受两者的共同影响 ,CGR在 6月下旬最大 ;地上净初级生产量的增加在 6月下旬左右最大 ,从 5月中旬至 7月下旬的 80余天时间内 ,矮嵩草草甸可生产的地上净生物量约占年地上总生物量的 92 .5% ;生长季节内具有相对丰富的降雨和适宜的温度 ,是保证植物完成生长发育过程的有利因素。

Effects of vegetation control on ecosystem water use efficiency within and among four grassland ecosystems in China

Through 2-3-year (2003-2005) continuous eddy covariance measurements of carbon dioxide and water vapor fluxes, we examined the seasonal, inter-annual, and inter-ecosystem variations in the ecosystem-level water use efficiency (WUE, defined as the ratio of gross primary production, GPP, to evapotranspiration, ET) at four Chinese grassland ecosystems in the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau and North China. Representing the most prevalent grassland types in China, the four ecosystems are an alpine swamp meadow ecosystem, an alpine shrub-meadow ecosystem, an alpine meadow-steppe ecosystem, and a temperate steppe ecosystem, which illustrate a water availability gradient and thus provide us an opportunity to quantify environmental and biological controls on ecosystem WUE at different spatiotemporal scales. Seasonally, WUE tracked closely with GPP at the four ecosystems, being low at the beginning and the end of the growing seasons and high during the active periods of plant growth. Such consistent correspondence between WUE and GPP suggested that photosynthetic processes were the dominant regulator of the seasonal variations in WUE. Further investigation indicated that the regulations were mainly due to the effect of leaf area index (LAI) on carbon assimilation and on the ratio of transpiration to ET (T/ET). Besides, except for the swamp meadow, LAI also controlled the year-to-year and site-to-site variations in WUE in the same way, resulting in the years or sites with high productivity being accompanied by high WUE. The general good correlation between LAI and ecosystem WUE indicates that it may be possible to predict grassland ecosystem WUE simply with LAI. Our results also imply that climate change-induced shifts in vegetation structure, and consequently LAI may have a significant impact on the relationship between ecosystem carbon and water cycles in grasslands.

Productivity and persistence of perennial grass mixtures under competition from annual weeds in the alpine region of the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau

In the alpine region of the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau four indigenous perennial grass species Bromus inermis (BI), Elymus sibiricus (ES), Elymus nutans (EN) and Agropyron cristatum (AC) were cultivated as three mixtures with different compositions and seeding rates, BI + EN, BI + ES + AC and BI + ES + EN + AC. From 1998 to 2001 there were three different weeding treatments: never weeded (CK); weeded on three occasions in the first year (1-y) and weeded on three occasions in both the first and second year (2-y) and their effect of grass combination and interactions on sward productivity and persistence was measured. Intense competitive interference by weedy annuals reduced dry matter (DM) yield of the swards. Grass combination significantly affected sward DM yields, leaf area index (LAI) and foliar canopy cover and also species composition DM and LAI, and species plant cover. Interaction between weeding treatments and grass combination was significant for sward DM yield, LAI and canopy cover, but not on species composition for DM, LAI or species plant cover. Grass mixture BI + ES + EN + AC gave the highest sward DM yield and LAI for both weeding and non-weeding treatments. Species ES and EN were competitively superior to the others. Annual weedy forbs must be controlled to obtain productive and stable mixtures of perennial grasses, and germination/emergence is the most important time for removal. Weeding three times (late May, late June and mid-July) in the establishment year is enough to maintain the production and persistence of perennial grass mixtures in the following growing seasons. Extra weeding three times in the second growing year makes only a slight improvement in productivity.

Influence of grazing intensity on performance of perennial grass mixtures in the alpine region of the Tibetan Plateau

Effects of grazing intensity on leaf photosynthetic rate (Pn), specific leaf area (SLA), individual tiller density, sward leaf area index (LAI), harvested herbage DM, and species composition in grass mixtures (Clinelymus nutans + Bromus inermis, Elymus nutans + Bromus inermis + Agropyron cristatum and Elymus nutans + Clinelymus nutans + Bromus inermis + Agropyron cristatum) were studied in the alpine region of the Tibetan Plateau. Four grazing intensities (GI), expressed as feed utilisation rates (UR) by Tibetan lambs were imposed as follows: (1) no grazing; (2) 30% UR as light grazing; (3) 50% UR as medium grazing; and (4) 70% UR as high grazing. Leaf Pn rate and tiller density of grasses increased (P < 0.05), while sward LAI and harvested herbage DM declined (P < 0.05) with the increments of GI, although no effect of GI on SLA was observed. With increasing GI, Elymus nutans and Clinelymus nutans increased but Bromus inermis and Agropyron cristatum decreased in swards, LAI and DM contribution. Whether being grazed or not, Elymus nutans + Clinelymus nutans + Bromus inermis + Agropyron cristatum was the most productive sward among the grass mixtures. Thus, two well-performed grass species (Elymus nutans and Clinelymus nutans) and the most productive mixture of four species should be investigated further as the new feed resources in the alpine grazing system of the Tibetan Plateau. Light grazing intensity of 30% UR was recommended for these grass mixtures when swards, LAI, herbage DM harvested, and species compatibility were taken into account.

青藏高原高寒灌丛生态系统二氧化碳通量研究

本论文以青藏高原东北部海北地区高寒灌丛（Alpine Shrub）生态系统为研究对象，利用微气象观测系统及涡度相关（Eddy Covariance）技术，自2003年1月1日至2005年12月31日对该类广布于青藏高原的典型高寒草地类型进行长期连续观测。在对生态系统CO2净交换（NEE）以及群落叶面积指数（LAI）、生物量等生物学指标和光合有效辐射（PAR）、温度、土壤水分、脉冲性降水事件等主要环境因子进行连续监测的基础上，重点分析和探讨了海北地区高寒灌丛生态系统净生态系统CO2交换(NEE)在时、日、月及年际尺度上的变化模式，生长季与非生长季高寒灌丛生态系统CO2净交换特征，高寒灌丛生态系统大气CO2源/汇年际差异，土壤温度、昼夜温差、光合有效辐射、脉冲性降水事件等主要环境因子影响。从而，揭示了不同时间尺度下的高寒灌丛生态系统NEE变化规律，阐明主要环境因子对生态系统NEE的影响，明确了该生态系统大气CO2源/汇状况及其季节分布模式；同时，也为青藏高原区域尺度的高寒草地生态系统CO2通量研究和碳收支的估算提供科学依据和基础数据，对进一步揭示我国乃至亚洲陆地生态系统的碳收支状况有着重要意义。主要研究结果概括为以下几个方面： 1、海北地区高寒灌丛生态系统净生态系统CO2交换时动态特征存在很大的季节性差异，暖季小时NEE变化振幅大，CO2净吸收的极值一般出现在午间，最大吸收量为1.7 g CO2 m-2 h-1左右。夜间为CO2净释放，净生态系统交换值较为稳定（0.5~ 0.9 g CO2 m-2 h-1）；冷季日变化振幅极小，除14:00~18:00时一定量CO2释放外，其余时段通量均很小。 2、从日平均净生态系统CO2交换来看，6~9月日平均NEE一般为负值（CO2净吸收），2003~2005年6~9 月间日平均NEE分别为-5.65 g CO2 m-2 d-1、-6.08 g CO2 m-2 d-1和-4.81 g CO2 m-2 d-1；而10~12月及翌年1~5月期间日平均NEE通常为正值（CO2净释放），该时段3年高寒灌丛日平均净生态系统CO2交换分别为1.91 g CO2 m-2 d-1、1.90 g CO2 m-2 d-1和2.19 g CO2 m-2 d-1。2003~2004年高寒灌丛生态系统CO2净释放维持天数分别为249 d、 254 d和264 d，2003年净释放维持天数最少，而净吸收维持天数2005年最少（101d）。2003、2004和2005年全年日平均CO2净吸收分别为0.611 g CO2 m-2 d-1、0.759 g CO2 m-2 d-1和0.167 g CO2 m-2 d-1。 3、就季节差异而言，2003、2004和2005年整个生长季节高寒灌丛平均CO2日净生态系统交换分别为-3.99 g CO2 m-2 d-1、-4.59 g CO2 m-2 d-1、-3.27 g CO2 m-2 d-1。7、8月生长季节CO2净吸收的最高，2003、2004、2005年7月和8月份高寒灌丛生态系统CO2净吸收分别为222 g CO2 m-2 和224 g CO2 m-2、355 g CO2 m-2和216 g CO2 m-2、263 g CO2 m-2和186 g CO2 m-2。在相对短暂的生长季节海北地区高寒灌丛生态系统表现出显著的大气CO2净吸收能力，2003、2004和2005年生长季节高寒灌丛生态系统CO2净吸收量分别为610 g CO2 m-2、701 g CO2 m-2和500 g CO2 m-2。相对于温度等环境因子，高寒灌丛生态系统生长季白昼NEE小时变化规律更受光合有效辐射变化的影响。 4、2003～2005年非生长季节日平均NEE分别为1.83 g CO2 m-2、2.01 g CO2 m-2和2.07 g CO2 m-2。4月和10月是非生长季节CO2净释放的最高月份，2003、2004和2005年全月净释放量为105 g CO2 m-2和77 g CO2 m-2、105 g CO2 m-2和117 g CO2 m-2及105 g CO2 m-2和138 g CO2 m-2，2003～2005年整个非生长季CO2净释放分别为CO2为388 g CO2 m-2、425 g CO2 m-2和439 g CO2 m-2。非生长季节海北地区高寒灌丛生态系统NEE小时变化与5 cm土壤温度存在极显著的正相关关联，表明在非生长季节土壤温度是影响青藏高原高寒灌丛生态系统NEE的重要环境因子。 5、从生态系统CO2源/汇特征来看，海北地区高寒灌丛生态系统2003、2004和2005年全年净CO2固定总量分别为223 g CO2 m-2 a-1、277 g CO2 m-2 a-1和61 g CO2 m-2 a-1，3年平均CO2值为187 g CO2 m-2 a-1。在为期3年的研究时段海北地区高寒灌丛生态系统表现为弱的大气二氧化碳的汇。 6、高寒灌丛群落表观光合量子产额（a）和表观最大光合速率（Pmax）受叶面积指数的影响。在6～9月份期间，由于LAI的不同，a和Pmax值差异明显，7、8月份较高而6月和9月明显较低。海北地区高寒灌丛生态系统a和Pmax值高于西藏当雄地区高寒草甸生态系统，但低于平原地区相关生态系统。 维持天数2005年最少（101d）。2003、2004和2005年全年日平均CO2净吸收分别为0.611 g CO2 m-2 d-1、0.759 g CO2 m-2 d-1和0.167 g CO2 m-2 d-1。 3、就季节差异而言，2003、2004和2005年整个生长季节高寒灌丛平均CO2日净生态系统交换分别为-3.99 g CO2 m-2 d-1、-4.59 g CO2 m-2 d-1、-3.27 g CO2 m-2 d-1。7、8月生长季节CO2净吸收的最高，2003、2004、2005年7月和8月份高寒灌丛生态系统CO2净吸收分别为222 g CO2 m-2 和224 g CO2 m-2、355 g CO2 m-2和216 g CO2 m-2、263 g CO2 m-2和186 g CO2 m-2。在相对短暂的生长季节海北地区高寒灌丛生态系统表现出显著的大气CO2净吸收能力，2003、2004和2005年生长季节高寒灌丛生态系统CO2净吸收量分别为610 g CO2 m-2、701 g CO2 m-2和500 g CO2 m-2。相对于温度等环境因子，高寒灌丛生态系统生长季白昼NEE小时变化规律更受光合有效辐射变化的影响。 4、2003～2005年非生长季节日平均NEE分别为1.83 g CO2 m-2、2.01 g CO2 m-2和2.07 g CO2 m-2。4月和10月是非生长季节CO2净释放的最高月份，2003、2004和2005年全月净释放量为105 g CO2 m-2和77 g CO2 m-2、105 g CO2 m-2和117 g CO2 m-2及105 g CO2 m-2和138 g CO2 m-2，2003～2005年整个非生长季CO2净释放分别为CO2为388 g CO2 m-2、425 g CO2 m-2和439 g CO2 m-2。非生长季节海北地区高寒灌丛生态系统NEE小时变化与5 cm土壤温度存在极显著的正相关关联，表明在非生长季节土壤温度是影响青藏高原高寒灌丛生态系统NEE的重要环境因子。 5、从生态系统CO2源/汇特征来看，海北地区高寒灌丛生态系统2003、2004和2005年全年净CO2固定总量分别为223 g CO2 m-2 a-1、277 g CO2 m-2 a-1和61 g CO2 m-2 a-1，3年平均CO2值为187 g CO2 m-2 a-1。在为期3年的研究时段海北地区高寒灌丛生态系统表现为弱的大气二氧化碳的汇。 6、高寒灌丛群落表观光合量子产额（a）和表观最大光合速率（Pmax）受叶面积指数的影响。在6～9月份期间，由于LAI的不同，a和Pmax值差异明显，7、8月份较高而6月和9月明显较低。海北地区高寒灌丛生态系统a和Pmax值高于西藏当雄地区高寒草甸生态系统，但低于平原地区相关生态系统。

PHOTOREFRACTIVE CRYSTAL-BASED ACOUSTO-OPTIC IMAGING IN THE NEAR-INFRARED AND ITS APPLICATIONS

Acousto-optic (AO) sensing and imaging (AOI) is a dual-wave modality that combines ultrasound with diffusive light to measure and/or image the optical properties of optically diffusive media, including biological tissues such as breast and brain. The light passing through a focused ultrasound beam undergoes a phase modulation at the ultrasound frequency that is detected using an adaptive interferometer scheme employing a GaAs photorefractive crystal (PRC). The PRC-based AO system operating at 1064 nm is described, along with the underlying theory, validating experiments, characterization, and optimization of this sensing and imaging apparatus. The spatial resolution of AO sensing, which is determined by spatial dimensions of the ultrasound beam or pulse, can be sub-millimeter for megahertz-frequency sound waves.A modified approach for quantifying the optical properties of diffuse media with AO sensing employs the ratio of AO signals generated at two different ultrasound focal pressures. The resulting “pressure contrast signal” (PCS), once calibrated for a particular set of pressure pulses, yields a direct measure of the spatially averaged optical transport attenuation coefficient within the interaction volume between light and sound. This is a significant improvement over current AO sensing methods since it produces a quantitative measure of the optical properties of optically diffuse media without a priori knowledge of the background illumination. It can also be used to generate images based on spatial variations in both optical scattering and absorption. Finally, the AO sensing system is modified to monitor the irreversible optical changes associated with the tissue heating from high intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) therapy, providing a powerful method for noninvasively sensing the onset and growth of thermal lesions in soft tissues. A single HIFU transducer is used to simultaneously generate tissue damage and pump the AO interaction. Experimental results performed in excised chicken breast demonstrate that AO sensing can identify the onset and growth of lesion formation in real time and, when used as feedback to guide exposure parameters, results in more predictable lesion formation.

Multivalent benzoboroxole functionalized polymers as gp120 glycan targeted microbicide entry inhibitors.

Microbicides are women-controlled prophylactics for sexually transmitted infections. The most important class of microbicides target HIV-1 and contain antiviral agents formulated for topical vaginal delivery. Identification of new viral entry inhibitors that target the HIV-1 envelope is important because they can inactivate HIV-1 in the vaginal lumen before virions can come in contact with CD4+ cells in the vaginal mucosa. Carbohydrate binding agents (CBAs) demonstrate the ability to act as entry inhibitors due to their ability to bind to glycans and prevent gp120 binding to CD4+ cells. However, as proteins they present significant challenges in regard to economical production and formulation for resource-poor environments. We have synthesized water-soluble polymer CBAs that contain multiple benzoboroxole moieties. A benzoboroxole-functionalized monomer was synthesized and incorporated into linear oligomers with 2-hydroxypropylmethacrylamide (HPMAm) at different feed ratios using free radical polymerization. The benzoboroxole small molecule analogue demonstrated weak affinity for HIV-1BaL gp120 by SPR; however, the 25 mol % functionalized benzoboroxole oligomer demonstrated a 10-fold decrease in the K(D) for gp120, suggesting an increased avidity for the multivalent polymer construct. High molecular weight polymers functionalized with 25, 50, and 75 mol % benzoboroxole were synthesized and tested for their ability to neutralize HIV-1 entry for two HIV-1 clades and both R5 and X4 coreceptor tropism. All three polymers demonstrated activity against all viral strains tested with EC(50)s that decrease from 15000 nM (1500 microg mL(-1)) for the 25 mol % functionalized polymers to 11 nM (1 microg mL(-1)) for the 75 mol % benzoboroxole-functionalized polymers. These polymers exhibited minimal cytotoxicity after 24 h exposure to a human vaginal cell line.

Of Mice and Men: An Ergonomic and Market Assessment of Current Computer Mice

Gemstone Team MICE (Modifying and Improving Computer Ergonomics)

Mid-term results and factors affecting outcome of a metal-backed unicompartmental knee design: a case series.

BACKGROUND: Controversies exist regarding the indications for unicompartmental knee arthroplasty. The objective of this study is to report the mid-term results and examine predictors of failure in a metal-backed unicompartmental knee arthroplasty design. METHODS: At a mean follow-up of 60 months, 80 medial unicompartmental knee arthroplasties (68 patients) were evaluated. Implant survivorship was analyzed using Kaplan-Meier method. The Knee Society objective and functional scores and radiographic characteristics were compared before surgery and at final follow-up. A Cox proportional hazard model was used to examine the association of patient's age, gender, obesity (body mass index > 30 kg/m2), diagnosis, Knee Society scores and patella arthrosis with failure. RESULTS: There were 9 failures during the follow up. The mean Knee Society objective and functional scores were respectively 49 and 48 points preoperatively and 95 and 92 points postoperatively. The survival rate was 92% at 5 years and 84% at 10 years. The mean age was younger in the failure group than the non-failure group (p < 0.01). However, none of the factors assessed was independently associated with failure based on the results from the Cox proportional hazard model. CONCLUSION: Gender, pre-operative diagnosis, preoperative objective and functional scores and patellar osteophytes were not independent predictors of failure of unicompartmental knee implants, although high body mass index trended toward significance. The findings suggest that the standard criteria for UKA may be expanded without compromising the outcomes, although caution may be warranted in patients with very high body mass index pending additional data to confirm our results. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: IV.

A domain decomposition algorithm for viscous/inviscid coupling

In fluid mechanics, it is well accepted that the Euler equation is one of the reduced forms of the Navier-Stokes equation by truncating the viscous effect. There are other truncation techniques currently being used in order to truncate the Navier-Stokes equation to a reduced form. This paper describes one such technique, suitable for adaptive domain decomposition methods for the solution of viscous flow problems. The physical domain of a viscous flow problem is partitioned into viscous and inviscid subdomains without overlapping regions, and the technique is embedded into a finite volume method. Some numerical results are provided for a flat plate and the NACA0012 aerofoil. Issues related to distributed computing are discussed.

An extension of Purcell's vector method with applications to panel element equations

The classical Purcell's vector method, for the construction of solutions to dense systems of linear equations is extended to a flexible orthogonalisation procedure. Some properties are revealed of the orthogonalisation procedure in relation to the classical Gauss-Jordan elimination with or without pivoting. Additional properties that are not shared by the classical Gauss-Jordan elimination are exploited. Further properties related to distributed computing are discussed with applications to panel element equations in subsonic compressible aerodynamics. Using an orthogonalisation procedure within panel methods enables a functional decomposition of the sequential panel methods and leads to a two-level parallelism.

An application of quasi-Newton methods for the numerical solution of interface problems

Quasi-Newton methods are applied to solve interface problems which arise from domain decomposition methods. These interface problems are usually sparse systems of linear or nonlinear equations. We are interested in applying these methods to systems of linear equations where we are not able or willing to calculate the Jacobian matrices as well as to systems of nonlinear equations resulting from nonlinear elliptic problems in the context of domain decomposition. Suitability for parallel implementation of these algorithms on coarse-grained parallel computers is discussed.