1. |
- Kanoni, Stavroula, et al.
(author)
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Implicating genes, pleiotropy, and sexual dimorphism at blood lipid loci through multi-ancestry meta-analysis.
- 2022
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In: Genome biology. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 1474-760X .- 1465-6906 .- 1474-7596. ; 23:1
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Genetic variants within nearly 1000 loci are known to contribute to modulation of blood lipid levels. However, the biological pathways underlying these associations are frequently unknown, limiting understanding of these findings and hindering downstream translational efforts such as drug target discovery.To expand our understanding of the underlying biological pathways and mechanisms controlling blood lipid levels, we leverage a large multi-ancestry meta-analysis (N=1,654,960) of blood lipids to prioritize putative causal genes for 2286 lipid associations using six gene prediction approaches. Using phenome-wide association (PheWAS) scans, we identify relationships of genetically predicted lipid levels to other diseases and conditions. We confirm known pleiotropic associations with cardiovascular phenotypes and determine novel associations, notably with cholelithiasis risk. We perform sex-stratified GWAS meta-analysis of lipid levels and show that 3-5% of autosomal lipid-associated loci demonstrate sex-biased effects. Finally, we report 21 novel lipid loci identified on the X chromosome. Many of the sex-biased autosomal and X chromosome lipid loci show pleiotropic associations with sex hormones, emphasizing the role of hormone regulation in lipid metabolism.Taken together, our findings provide insights into the biological mechanisms through which associated variants lead to altered lipid levels and potentially cardiovascular disease risk.
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2. |
- Yang, Shilei, et al.
(author)
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Impact of grassland degradation on the distribution and bioavailability of soil silicon: Implications for the Si cycle in grasslands
- 2019
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In: Science of the Total Environment. - : Elsevier. - 0048-9697 .- 1879-1026. ; 657, s. 811-818
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Grassland ecosystems play an important role in the global terrestrial silicon (Si) cycle, and Si is a beneficial elementand structural constituent for the growth of grasses. In previous decades, grasslands have been degradedto different degrees because of the drying climate and intense human disturbance. However, the impact of grasslanddegradation on the distribution and bioavailability of soil Si is largely unknown. Here, we investigated vegetationand soil conditions of 30 sites to characterize different degrees of degradation for grasslands in the agropastoralecotone of northern China. We then explored the impact of grassland degradation on the distributionand bioavailability of soil Si, including total Si and four forms of noncrystalline Si in three horizons (0–10,10–20 and 20–40 cm) of different soil profiles. The concentrations of noncrystalline Si in soil profiles significantlydecreased with increasing degrees of degradation, being 7.35 ± 0.88 mg g−1, 5.36 ± 0.39 mg g−1, 3.81 ±0.37 mg g−1 and 3.60±0.26 mg g−1 in non-degraded, lightly degraded, moderately degraded and seriously degradedgrasslands, respectively. Moreover, the storage of noncrystalline Si decreased from higher than 40 t ha−1to lower than 23 t ha−1. The corresponding bioavailability of soil Si also generally decreased with grassland degradation.These processes may not only affect the Si pools and fluxes in soils but also influence the Si uptake in plants. We suggest that grassland degradation can significantly affect the global grassland Si cycle. Grasslandmanagement methods such as fertilizing and avoiding overgrazing can potentially double the content and storageof noncrystalline Si in soils, thereby enhancing the soil Si bioavailability by N17%.
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3. |
- Abelev, Betty, et al.
(author)
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Long-range angular correlations on the near and away side in p-Pb collisions at root S-NN=5.02 TeV
- 2013
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In: Physics Letters. Section B: Nuclear, Elementary Particle and High-Energy Physics. - : Elsevier BV. - 0370-2693. ; 719:1-3, s. 29-41
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Angular correlations between charged trigger and associated particles are measured by the ALICE detector in p-Pb collisions at a nucleon-nucleon centre-of-mass energy of 5.02 TeV for transverse momentum ranges within 0.5 < P-T,P-assoc < P-T,P-trig < 4 GeV/c. The correlations are measured over two units of pseudorapidity and full azimuthal angle in different intervals of event multiplicity, and expressed as associated yield per trigger particle. Two long-range ridge-like structures, one on the near side and one on the away side, are observed when the per-trigger yield obtained in low-multiplicity events is subtracted from the one in high-multiplicity events. The excess on the near-side is qualitatively similar to that recently reported by the CMS Collaboration, while the excess on the away-side is reported for the first time. The two-ridge structure projected onto azimuthal angle is quantified with the second and third Fourier coefficients as well as by near-side and away-side yields and widths. The yields on the near side and on the away side are equal within the uncertainties for all studied event multiplicity and p(T) bins, and the widths show no significant evolution with event multiplicity or p(T). These findings suggest that the near-side ridge is accompanied by an essentially identical away-side ridge. (c) 2013 CERN. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
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4. |
- Abelev, Betty, et al.
(author)
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Measurement of prompt J/psi and beauty hadron production cross sections at mid-rapidity in pp collisions at root s=7 TeV
- 2012
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In: Journal of High Energy Physics. - 1029-8479. ; :11
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The ALICE experiment at the LHC has studied J/psi production at mid-rapidity in pp collisions at root s = 7 TeV through its electron pair decay on a data sample corresponding to an integrated luminosity L-int = 5.6 nb(-1). The fraction of J/psi from the decay of long-lived beauty hadrons was determined for J/psi candidates with transverse momentum p(t) > 1,3 GeV/c and rapidity vertical bar y vertical bar < 0.9. The cross section for prompt J/psi mesons, i.e. directly produced J/psi and prompt decays of heavier charmonium states such as the psi(2S) and chi(c) resonances, is sigma(prompt J/psi) (p(t) > 1.3 GeV/c, vertical bar y vertical bar < 0.9) = 8.3 +/- 0.8(stat.) +/- 1.1 (syst.)(-1.4)(+1.5) (syst. pol.) mu b. The cross section for the production of b-hadrons decaying to J/psi with p(t) > 1.3 GeV/c and vertical bar y vertical bar < 0.9 is a sigma(J/psi <- hB) (p(t) > 1.3 GeV/c, vertical bar y vertical bar < 0.9) = 1.46 +/- 0.38 (stat.)(-0.32)(+0.26) (syst.) mu b. The results are compared to QCD model predictions. The shape of the p(t) and y distributions of b-quarks predicted by perturbative QCD model calculations are used to extrapolate the measured cross section to derive the b (b) over bar pair total cross section and d sigma/dy at mid-rapidity.
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5. |
- Abelev, Betty, et al.
(author)
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Underlying Event measurements in pp collisions at root s=0.9 and 7 TeV with the ALICE experiment at the LHC
- 2012
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In: Journal of High Energy Physics. - 1029-8479. ; :7
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- We present measurements of Underlying Event observables in pp collisions at root s = 0 : 9 and 7 TeV. The analysis is performed as a function of the highest charged-particle transverse momentum p(T),L-T in the event. Different regions are defined with respect to the azimuthal direction of the leading (highest transverse momentum) track: Toward, Transverse and Away. The Toward and Away regions collect the fragmentation products of the hardest partonic interaction. The Transverse region is expected to be most sensitive to the Underlying Event activity. The study is performed with charged particles above three different p(T) thresholds: 0.15, 0.5 and 1.0 GeV/c. In the Transverse region we observe an increase in the multiplicity of a factor 2-3 between the lower and higher collision energies, depending on the track p(T) threshold considered. Data are compared to PYTHIA 6.4, PYTHIA 8.1 and PHOJET. On average, all models considered underestimate the multiplicity and summed p(T) in the Transverse region by about 10-30%.
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6. |
- Sampson, Joshua N., et al.
(author)
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Analysis of Heritability and Shared Heritability Based on Genome-Wide Association Studies for 13 Cancer Types
- 2015
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In: Journal of the National Cancer Institute. - : Oxford University Press (OUP). - 0027-8874 .- 1460-2105. ; 107:12
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Background: Studies of related individuals have consistently demonstrated notable familial aggregation of cancer. We aim to estimate the heritability and genetic correlation attributable to the additive effects of common single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) for cancer at 13 anatomical sites. Methods: Between 2007 and 2014, the US National Cancer Institute has generated data from genome-wide association studies (GWAS) for 49 492 cancer case patients and 34 131 control patients. We apply novel mixed model methodology (GCTA) to this GWAS data to estimate the heritability of individual cancers, as well as the proportion of heritability attributable to cigarette smoking in smoking-related cancers, and the genetic correlation between pairs of cancers. Results: GWAS heritability was statistically significant at nearly all sites, with the estimates of array-based heritability, h(l)(2), on the liability threshold (LT) scale ranging from 0.05 to 0.38. Estimating the combined heritability of multiple smoking characteristics, we calculate that at least 24% (95% confidence interval [CI] = 14% to 37%) and 7% (95% CI = 4% to 11%) of the heritability for lung and bladder cancer, respectively, can be attributed to genetic determinants of smoking. Most pairs of cancers studied did not show evidence of strong genetic correlation. We found only four pairs of cancers with marginally statistically significant correlations, specifically kidney and testes (rho = 0.73, SE = 0.28), diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) and pediatric osteosarcoma (rho = 0.53, SE = 0.21), DLBCL and chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) (rho = 0.51, SE = 0.18), and bladder and lung (rho = 0.35, SE = 0.14). Correlation analysis also indicates that the genetic architecture of lung cancer differs between a smoking population of European ancestry and a nonsmoking Asian population, allowing for the possibility that the genetic etiology for the same disease can vary by population and environmental exposures. Conclusion: Our results provide important insights into the genetic architecture of cancers and suggest new avenues for investigation.
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7. |
- Hao, Qian, et al.
(author)
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Holocene carbon accumulation in lakes of the current east Asian monsoonal margin: Implications under a changing climate
- 2020
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In: Science of the Total Environment. - : Elsevier. - 0048-9697 .- 1879-1026. ; 737, s. 1-13
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Carbon (C) present in lake sediments is an important global sink for CO2; however, an in-depth understanding of the impact of climate variability and the associated changes in vegetation on sediment C dynamics is still lacking. A total of 13 lakes were studied to quantify the influence of climate and vegetation on the reconstructed Holocene C accumulation rate (CAR) in lake sediments of the modern East Asian monsoonal margin. The corresponding paleoclimate information was assessed, including the temperature (30–90°N in the Northern Hemisphere) and precipitation (indicated by the δ18O of the Sanbao, Dongge, and Hulu caves). The Holocene vegetation conditions were inferred by pollen records, including arboreal pollen/non-arboreal pollen and pollen percentages. The results showed that the peak CAR occurred during the mid-Holocene, coinciding with the strongest period of the East Asian summer monsoon and expansion of forests. Lakes in the temperate steppe (TS) regions had a mean CAR of 13.41 ± 0.88 g C m−2 yr−1, which was significantly greater than the CARs of temperate desert (TD) and highland meadow/steppe (HMS; 6.76 ± 0.29 and 7.39 ± 0.73 g C m−2 yr−1, respectively). The major influencing factor for the TS sub-region was vegetation dynamics, especially the proportion of arboreal vegetation, while temperature and vegetation coverage were more important for the HMS. These findings indicate that C accumulation in lake sediments is linked with climate and vegetation changes over long timescales; however, there was notable spatial heterogeneity in the CARs, such as opposing temporal changes and different major influencing factors among the three sub-regions during the mid-Holocene. Aridification and forest loss would decrease C storage. However, prediction of C accumulation remains difficult because of the spatial heterogeneity in CARs and the interaction between the CAR and various factors under future climate change conditions.
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8. |
- Hao, Qian, et al.
(author)
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Silicon Affects Plant Stoichiometry and Accumulation of C, N, and P in Grasslands
- 2020
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In: Frontiers in Plant Science. - : Frontiers Media S.A.. - 1664-462X. ; 11, s. 1-10
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Silicon (Si) plays an important role in improving soil nutrient availability and plant carbon (C) accumulation and may therefore impact the biogeochemical cycles of C, nitrogen (N), and phosphorus (P) in terrestrial ecosystems profoundly. However, research on this process in grassland ecosystems is scarce, despite the fact that these ecosystems are one of the most significant accumulators of biogenic Si (BSi). In this study, we collected the aboveground parts of four widespread grasses and soil profile samples in northern China and assessed the correlations between Si concentrations and stoichiometry and accumulation of C, N, and P in grasses at the landscape scale. Our results showed that Si concentrations in plants were significantly negatively correlated (p< 0.01) with associated C concentrations. There was no significant correlation between Si and N concentrations. It is worth noting that since the Si concentration increased, the P concentration increased from less than 0.10% to more than 0.20% and therefore C:P and N:P ratios decreased concomitantly. Besides, the soil noncrystalline Si played more important role in C, N, and P accumulation than other environmental factors (e.g., MAT, MAP, and altitude). These findings indicate that Si may facilitate grasses in adjusting the utilization of nutrients (C, N, and P) and may particularly alleviate P deficiency in grasslands. We conclude that Si positively alters the concentrations and accumulation of C, N, and P likely resulting in the variation of ecological stoichiometry in both vegetation and litter decomposition in soils. This study further suggests that the physiological function of Si is an important but overlooked factor in influencing biogeochemical cycles of C and P in grassland ecosystems.
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9. |
- Kang, Ying, et al.
(author)
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Weak Bonds Joint Effects Catalyze the Cleavage of Strong C−C Bond of Lignin‐Inspired Compounds and Lignin in Air by Ionic Liquids
- 2020
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In: ChemSusChem. - : John Wiley & Sons. - 1864-5631 .- 1864-564X. ; 13:22, s. 5945-5953
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Oxidation of lignin to value‐added aromatics through selective C−C bond cleavage via metal‐free and mild strategies is promising but challenging. It was discovered that the cations of ionic liquids (ILs) could effectively catalyze this kind of strong bond cleavage by forming multiple weak hydrogen bonds, enabling the reaction conducted in air at temperature lower than 373 K without metal‐containing catalysts. The cation [CPMim]+ (1‐propylronitrile‐3‐methylimidazolium) afforded the highest efficiency in C−C bond cleavage, in which high yields (>90 %) of oxidative products were achieved. [CPMim]+ could form three ipsilateral hydrogen bonds with the oxygen atom of C=O and ether bonds at both sides of the C−C bond. The weak bonds joint effects could promote adjacent C−H bond cleave to form free radicals and thereby catalyze the fragmentation of the strong C−C. This work opens up an eco‐friendly and energy‐efficient route for direct valorization of lignin by enhancing IL properties via tuning the cation.
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10. |
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11. |
- Liang, Hongyan, et al.
(author)
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High-Yield Uniform Synthesis and Microstructure-Determination of Rice-Shaped Silver Nanocrystals
- 2009
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In: Journal of the American Chemical Society. - : American Chemical Society (ACS). - 1520-5126 .- 0002-7863. ; 131:17, s. 6068-6068
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- High-yield uniform silver nanorices were synthesized by a facile polyol process without the introduction of shape-selected seeds. Nanorices exhibit two plasmon resonance peaks in the visible and near-infrared regions respectively due to their anisotropy. XRD patterns demonstrated the HCP phase coexists with the FCC phase in nanorices. The novel structure of nanorices was characterized by TEM study which shows that the intergrowth of FCC and a small amount of HCP phase, nanoscale FCC (111) twinning structure, and multimodulated structures formed by a complicated stacking sequence along the long axis direction. The correlation between morphology and microstructure is discussed.
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12. |
- Shi, Fangzhong, et al.
(author)
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Seasonal compensation implied no weakening of the land carbon sink in the Northern Hemisphere under the 2015/2016 El Niño
- 2024
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In: Science China Earth Sciences. - 1674-7313 .- 1869-1897. ; 67:1, s. 294-308
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The recurrent extreme El Niño events are commonly linked to reduced vegetation growth and the land carbon sink over many but discrete regions of the Northern Hemisphere (NH). However, we reported here a pervasive and continuous vegetation greening and no weakened land carbon sink in the maturation phase of the 2015/2016 El Niño event over the NH (mainly in the extra-tropics), based on multiple evidences from remote sensing observations, global ecosystem model simulations and atmospheric CO2 inversions. We discovered a significant compensation effect of the enhanced vegetation growth in spring on subsequent summer/autumn vegetation growth that sustained vegetation greening and led to a slight increase in the land carbon sink over the spring and summer of 2015 (average increases of 23.34% and 0.63% in net ecosystem exchange from two independent datasets relative to a 5-years average before the El Niño event, respectively) and spring of 2016 (6.82%), especially in the extra-tropics of the NH, where the water supply during the pre-growing-season (November of the previous year to March of the current year) had a positive anomaly. This seasonal compensation effect was much stronger than that in 1997 and 1998 and significantly alleviated the adverse impacts of the 2015/2016 El Niño event on vegetation growth during its maturation phase. The legacy effect of water supply during the pre-growing-season on subsequent vegetation growth lasted up to approximately six months. Our findings highlight the role of seasonal compensation effects on mediating the land carbon sink in response to episodic extreme El Niño events.
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13. |
- Song, Zhaoliang, et al.
(author)
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High potential of stable carbon sequestration in phytoliths of China's grasslands
- 2022
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In: Global Change Biology. - : John Wiley & Sons. - 1354-1013 .- 1365-2486. ; 28:8, s. 2736-2750
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Phytolith carbon (C) sequestration plays a key role in mitigating global climate change at a centennial to millennial time scale. However, previous estimates of phytolith-occluded carbon (PhytOC) storage and potential in China's grasslands have large uncertainties mainly due to multiple data sources. This contributes to the uncertainty in predicting long-term C sequestration in terrestrial ecosystems using Earth System Models. In this study, we carried out an intensive field investigation (79 sites, 237 soil profiles [0-100 cm], and 61 vegetation assessments) to quantify PhytOC storage in China's grasslands and to better explore the biogeographical patterns and influencing factors. Generally, PhytOC production flux and soil PhytOC density in both the Tibetan Plateau and the Inner Mongolian Plateau had a decreasing trend from the Northeast to the Southwest. The aboveground PhytOC production rate in China's grassland was 0.48 x 10(6) t CO2 a(-1), and the soil PhytOC storage was 383 x 10(6) t CO2. About 45% of soil PhytOC was stored in the deep soil layers (50-100 cm), highlighting the importance of deep soil layers for C stock assessments. Importantly, the Tibetan Plateau had the greatest contribution (more than 70%) to the PhytOC storage in China's grasslands. The results of multiple regression analysis indicated that altitude and soil texture significantly influenced the spatial distribution of soil PhytOC, explaining 78.1% of the total variation. Soil phytolith turnover time in China's grasslands was mainly controlled by climatic conditions, with the turnover time on the Tibetan Plateau being significantly longer than that on the Inner Mongolian Plateau. Our results offer more accurate estimates of the potential for phytolith C sequestration from ecological restoration projects in degraded grassland ecosystems. These estimates are essential to parameterizing and validating global C models.
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14. |
- Wu, Xiuchen, et al.
(author)
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Exposures to temperature beyond threshold disproportionately reduce vegetation growth in the northern hemisphere
- 2019
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In: National Science Review. - : Oxford University Press (OUP). - 2095-5138 .- 2053-714X. ; 6:4, s. 786-795
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- In recent decades, terrestrial vegetation in the northern hemisphere (NH) has been exposed to warming and more extremely high temperatures. However, the consequences of these changes for terrestrial vegetation growth remain poorly quantified and understood. By examining a satellite-based vegetation index, tree-ring measurements and land-surface model simulations, we discovered a consistent convex pattern in the responses of vegetation growth to temperature exposure (TE) for forest, shrub and grass in both the temperate (30°−50° N) and boreal (50°−70° N) NH during the period of 1982−2012. The response of vegetation growth to TE for the three vegetation types in both the temperate and boreal NH increased convergently with increasing temperature, until vegetation type-dependent temperature thresholds were reached. A TE beyond these temperature thresholds resulted in disproportionately weak positive or even strong negative responses. Vegetation growth in the boreal NH was more vulnerable to extremely high-temperature events than vegetation growth in the temporal NH. The non-linear responses discovered here provide new insights into the dynamics of northern terrestrial ecosystems in a warmer world.
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15. |
- Xia, Shaopan, et al.
(author)
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Storage, patterns and influencing factors for soil organic carbon in coastal wetlands of China
- 2022
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In: Global Change Biology. - : John Wiley & Sons. - 1354-1013 .- 1365-2486. ; 28:20, s. 6065-6085
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Soil organic carbon (SOC) in coastal wetlands, also known as "blue C," is an essential component of the global C cycles. To gain a detailed insight into blue C storage and controlling factors, we studied 142 sites across ca. 5000 km of coastal wetlands, covering temperate, subtropical, and tropical climates in China. The wetlands represented six vegetation types (Phragmites australis, mixed of P. australis and Suaeda, single Suaeda, Spartina alterniflora, mangrove [Kandelia obovata and Avicennia marina], tidal flat) and three vegetation types invaded by S. alterniflora (P. australis, K. obovata, A. marina). Our results revealed large spatial heterogeneity in SOC density of the top 1-m ranging 40-200 Mg C ha(-1), with higher values in mid-latitude regions (25-30 degrees N) compared with those in both low- (20 degrees N) and high-latitude (38-40 degrees N) regions. Vegetation type influenced SOC density, with P. australis and S. alterniflora having the largest SOC density, followed by mangrove, mixed P. australis and Suaeda, single Suaeda and tidal flat. SOC density increased by 6.25 Mg ha(-1) following S. alterniflora invasion into P. australis community but decreased by 28.56 and 8.17 Mg ha(-1) following invasion into K. obovata and A. marina communities. Based on field measurements and published literature, we calculated a total inventory of 57 x 10(6) Mg C in the top 1-m soil across China's coastal wetlands. Edaphic variables controlled SOC content, with soil chemical properties explaining the largest variance in SOC content. Climate did not control SOC content but had a strong interactive effect with edaphic variables. Plant biomass and quality traits were a minor contributor in regulating SOC content, highlighting the importance of quantity and quality of OC inputs and the balance between production and degradation within the coastal wetlands. These findings provide new insights into blue C stabilization mechanisms and sequestration capacity in coastal wetlands.
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16. |
- Yang, Huiqing, et al.
(author)
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Protic Quaternary Ammonium Ionic Liquids for Catalytic Conversion of CO2 into Cyclic Carbonates : A Combined Ab Initio and MD Study
- 2018
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In: Industrial & Engineering Chemistry Research. - : AMER CHEMICAL SOC. - 0888-5885 .- 1520-5045. ; 57:21, s. 7121-7129
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The mechanism of CO2 fixation catalyzed by protic hydroxyl-functionalized quaternary ammonium ionic liquids (ILs) is investigated by two different models, the Single-IL model and the Double-IL model. The relative sequence of catalytic activity calculated by the Single-IL model is contradictory with the experimental result. The situation is totally varied when the Double-IL model is utilized. In this system, ILs are not limited to the catalyst but solvent. The ILs are incorporated into the catalytic system to consider the solvent effect rather than by the existing solvent model. When the solvent effect is included, it is better to distinguish the catalytic activity of three ILs. According to the noncovalent interaction and the atoms in molecules analysis, the highest catalytic activity of tris(2-hydroxyethyl)ammonium bromide ([HTEA]Br) is attributed to its strongest nucleophilic attack and moderate hydrogen bond interaction between IL and reactant. It is necessary to consider the interaction between ILs to get a reliable result. Moreover, the solvent effect aroused by ILs should be carefully considered.
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