High Plateau Research Articles

From Inorganic to Organic Iodine: Stabilization of I+ Enabling High-Energy Lithium-Iodine Battery.

Organic materials have been considered a class of promising cathodes for metal-ion batteries because of their sustainability in preparation and source. However, organic batteries with high energy density and application potential require high discharge voltage, multielectron transfer, and long cycling performance. Here, we report an exceptional lithium-iodine (Li//I2) battery, in which the organic iodine (BPD-HI) cathode formed by the Lewis acid-base coordination between hydroiodic acid (HI) and 4,4'-bipyridine (BPD) allows 2e- transfer via the I-/I0 and I0/I+ redox couples. The I+ stabilized by BPD exhibits a high discharge voltage plateau at ∼3.4 V. Remarkably, from inorganic to organic iodine, it realizes a 2-fold increase in the achieved capacity, up to ∼400 mA h gI-1 (Theor. 422 mA h gI-1 and 245.6 mA h g-1 based on the mass of BPD-HI), and an over 2-fold energy density, reaching 1160 W h kgI-1 (Theor. 1324 W h kgI-1). More importantly, a capacity retention rate of 85% over 850 cycles is attained for the Li//BPD-HI battery at a current density of 2 A gI-1. This facile strategy enables positively charged I+ to be electrochemically active in a rechargeable lithium battery. The new redox chemistry discovered provides new insights for developing organic batteries with high energy density.

A new species of Mecodema Blanchard, 1853 (Coleoptera: Carabidae: Nothobroscina) restricted to the north-eastern arm of the Parataiko Range, Northland, Aotearoa – New Zealand

ABSTRACT In recent years the high plateaus and escarpments of the north-eastern area of the Parataiko Range, Northland, Aotearoa – New Zealand have been recognised by taxonomists as a biodiversity hotspot with several new plant species unique to the whenua (land) above the Waima Valley. The wet and cool climate limits the growth of kauri (Agathis australis) but has allowed for unique species (e.g. Coprosma waima, Olearia crebra) to adapt to the steep-sided slopes and damp soils of the plateaus. Northland is also recognised as a biodiversity hotspot for the ground beetle genus Mecodema, with 15 described species endemic to this region, almost double that of an equivalent North Island entomological region. We describe, M. haakuturi sp. nov., which is restricted to the north-eastern arm of the Parataiko Range and is one of only a few Mecodema species found above an altitude of 500 m in Northland. We provide an updated key of Mecodema species from the Northland region, including the northern Auckland/Northland boundary species M. rusticulus and the widespread coastal M. antarcticum. urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:CB67CF55-C486-4AFD-B0C1-5F7CAB86A419

Differential response of the components of functional diversity in Orestias fishes (Cyprinodontidae) of the High Andean Plateau

Orestias (Cyprinodontiformes, Cyprinodontidae) is a diverse genus of freshwater fish endemic to the high Andean plateau (Altiplano) of the Andes Mountains, South America. Within the Altiplano, Orestias species form assemblages of varying taxonomic richness, exhibiting considerable diversity in morphological forms and sizes, and occupying different habitat types. Here, we investigate the functional diversity of Orestias assemblages in two basins within the Altiplano: Titicaca Lake and the southwestern Altiplano basins. Titicaca Lake is characterized by high species diversity that evolved sympatrically, while the southwestern Altiplano has lower species diversity that evolved allopatrically. Given that taxonomic diversity under sympatric conditions can promote greater functional diversity, we hypothesize that the Titicaca assemblage should display higher indicators of functional diversity. By using traits related to locomotion, food acquisition, and habitat type to quantify functional diversity we used four functional diversity indicators (functional richness, divergence, specialization, and originality) to compare the Orestias assemblages in two basins. We found no difference in functional divergence and originality between the Orestias from two basins. However, functional specialization was higher in the southwestern Altiplano, contrary to our hypothesis. Only functional richness was higher Titicaca assemblage; supporting our hypothesis. The differentiation between assemblages arises primarily from traits associated with locomotion and food acquisition. Several Orestias species are considered endangered and the extinction of any these taxa could impact the functional diversity of these basins.

Exhumation of the Qilian Shan and Miocene activity of the Haiyuan fault: insights from apatite (U–Th)/He thermochronology in the Laolongwan basin, northeastern Tibetan Plateau

The Tibetan Plateau, which is deformed by the collision between the Indian and Eurasian plates, is a natural laboratory in which to study intracontinental deformation related to northeastward growth of the plateau. However, how and when the Tibetan Plateau propagated to its present-day margins remain unclear. The Qilian Shan and Haiyuan fault, which serve as the topographic and geological boundaries of the high plateau, are key to revealing the uplift and expansion of the Tibetan Plateau. Here, we present detrital apatite (U–Th)/He and reverse modelling results from the Laolongwan basin, which is interpreted as a pull-apart basin controlled by activity of the Haiyuan fault in the east portion of the Qilian Shan region. Our results reveal three-stage tectono-thermal evolution of Qilian Shan: (1) Late Jurassic to Cretaceous rapid exhumation; (2) Late Cretaceous to middle Miocene tectonic quiescence period; and (3) exhumation after the middle Miocene. We suggest that the Jurassic to Cretaceous rapid exhumation might be related to the convergence of the Lhasa block with the Eurasian plate or regional extension during the Mesozoic closure of the Meso-Tethys, and the mid-Miocene accelerated exhumation was driven by Haiyuan fault activation related to the growth of the Tibetan Plateau to its northeastern margin. Supplementary material: Time–temperature paths of (U–Th)/He thermal history models (Fig. S1) and AHe age–depth relationship (Fig. S2) are available at https://doi.org/10.6084/m9.figshare.c.7018149 Thematic collection: This article is part of the Mesozoic and Cenozoic tectonics, landscape and climate change collection available at: https://www.lyellcollection.org/topic/collections/mesozoic-and-cenozoic-tectonics-landscape-and-climate-change

Health risk assessment of heavy metal(loid)s in road dust via dermal exposure pathway from a low latitude plateau provincial capital city: The importance of toxicological verification

The human health risk assessment through the dermal exposure of metal(loid)s in dust from low latitude and high geological background plateau cities was largely unknown. In this study, the road dust samples were harvested from a typical low-latitude plateau provincial capital city Kunming, Southwest China. The total concentration and dermal bioaccessibility of heavy metal(loid)s in road dust were determined, and their health risks and cytotoxicity on human skin keratinocytes were also assessed. The average concentrations of As (28.5 mg/kg), Cd (2.65 mg/kg), Mn (671 mg/kg), and Zn (511 mg/kg) exceeded the soil background values. Arsenic had the highest bioaccessibility after 2 h (3.79%), 8 h (4.24%), and 24 h (16.6%) extraction. Although soil assessment methods showed no health risk in the total heavy metals assessment, based water assessments showed bioaccessible heavy metals As, Mn, Ni and Cd have non-carcinogenic risks for human. In addition, the dust extracts suppressed the cell viability, increased the Reactive oxygen species (ROS) level and DNA damage, and eventually activated the mitochondria-mediated apoptosis pathway, evidenced by the upregulation of Caspase-3/9, Bax, and Bak-1. Cadmium was positively correlated with the mRNA expression of Bax. Both dermal bioaccessibility and cytotoxicity should be considered for accurate human skin health risk assessment of heavy metals in road dust, which may provide new insight for accurate human health risk assessment and environmental management.

High plateau drift characteristics of spin-stabilized projectile from individual recoilless rifle with rifling

Accurately predicting the drift of spinning projectiles in the highland region has always been a challenging task. The study combines genetic algorithm, modified mass ballistic model, and data from ballistic tests to establish a computational model of projectile plateau drift, which is able to compute the value of projectile drift accurately. The reliability of the model was verified by the tests. The study also explains the reasons for the formation of projectile drift and the characteristics of plateau drift through theory. The results of the study proved that under the same range, the projectile's yaw of repose angle is larger in the plateau region, but its projectile plateau drift is smaller mainly because the flight time of the projectile on the highland is smaller than that on the plains. The results of the study are of great significance for the precision strike of projectiles in the highland area.

High ammonia storage capacity in LiCl Nanoparticle-Embedded Metal-Organic framework composites

Although porous adsorbents show potential for NH3 capture and storage, practical issues such as stability and limited gravimetric/volumetric capacity persist. Lithium chloride (LiCl), which possesses the highest theoretical NH3 capacity among metal halides, faces challenges such as a significantly high plateau pressure and inevitable volume expansion in the LiCl(NH3)4 complex, hindering static NH3 storage. Herein, we introduce a series of M2(dobpdc)-based composites, specifically LiCl@Mg2(dobpdc)-5, showcasing the highest gravimetric/volumetric NH3 adsorption capacity (48.3 mmol g−1/65.8 mmol cm−3) and superior NH3 storage density (1.12 g cm−3) at 298 K and 1 bar. Notably, the indirect gravimetric hydrogen storage capacity was calculated to be 14.6 wt%, which is comparable to the hydrogen storage capacity of NH3 itself (17.8 wt%). This remarkable performance stems from the presence of LiCl in the metal nodes, highly dispersed LiCl nanoparticles (NPs), and open metal sites. Additionally, the composite avoids volume expansion even after LiCl(NH3)4 formation at 273 K. Thorough analysis using van der Waals-corrected density functional theory calculations confirmed the efficacy of the LiCl impregnation method, suggesting its potential to advance NH3 storage systems for hydrogen carriers.

A difunctional interlayer of an activated carbon cloth supported with MoO2 catalyst for high-rate magnesium–sulfur batteries

The main challenges faced by magnesium-sulfur (Mg–S) batteries are the polysulfide shuttle effect and slow kinetics of S cathode, causing the severe self-discharge behavior and rapid capacity decay. Herein, we elaborately design a MoO2-loaded activated carbon cloth (denoted as MoO2@ACC) functional interlayer to realize high-performance Mg–S batteries. The ACC possesses a remarkable adsorption effect, which can effectively mitigate the polysulfide shuttle effect and enable the Mg–S batteries with a high voltage plateau. Besides, the MoO2 can observably reduce the polarization during charge/discharge process attributed by the fast reaction kinetics due to the catalytic effect. The Mg–S battery with this MoO2@ACC interlayer achieves a high energy density and good capacity retention (80.3 %) after 100 cycles (0.5 C) and effectively mitigates the Mg–S battery's self-discharge as well. This work illustrates the significant role of the interlayer with both adsorption and catalytic functions to boost the usability of the Mg–S batteries.

Carbonate Ester-Based Electrolyte Enabling Rechargeable Zn Battery to Achieve High Voltage and High Zn Utilization.

Owing to the high H2O activity, the aqueous electrolyte in the Zn battery exhibits a narrow electrochemical window and inevitable hydrogen evolution reaction, limiting the anode utilization ratio and performance at high voltage. Carbonate ester, the well-developed electrolyte solvent in Li-ion batteries, exhibits aprotic properties and high anodic stability. However, its use in Zn metal batteries is limited due to the low solubility of Zn salts in carbonate esters. Herein, we propose a carbonate ester-based electrolyte (EC:DMC:EMC = 1:1:1 wt %), which contains a new Zn salt (Zn(BHFip)2) characterized by low cost, easy synthesis, and excellent aprotic solvent solubility. The BHFip- anion assists in forming Zn2+ conductive SEI on the anode and decomposes at high voltage to generate a protective CEI layer on the cathode. The Zn//Zn symmetric cell using such electrolyte achieves a remarkable Zn utilization ratio of 91% for 125 h, which has rarely been reported before. Furthermore, the Zn//LiMn2O4 full cell with an average operation voltage of 1.7 V demonstrates reliable cycling for 135 cycles with an N/P ratio of 1:1. In addition, the Zn//LiNi0.5Mn1.5O4 full cell exhibits a high discharge median voltage exceeding 2.2 V for 280 cycles, with the high voltage plateau (above 2 V) constituting 82% of the total capacity.

Modelling and onsite testing on dynamic thermal responses of built environment in passive solar rooms on Tibetan plateau

It of great importance in assessing built thermal environment level and evaluating corresponding indoor air conditioning demand for energy conservation in construction sectors. Nevertheless, because of the unique meteorological features in plateau area, classical building performance simulation approach contributes to thermal performance evaluation errors since most design codes or standards relies on low attitude regions. In this paper, a modified and improved dynamic thermal design model is put forward for built environment and energy consumption estimation for passive buildings for plateau buildings. Moreover, the simplified experiment is set up to monitor dynamic thermal responses for modelling building. The testing validation illustrate that the onsite measurement accuracy level is quite acceptable for engineering applications with less than 30% relative change range coefficient. Besides, the experiment data demonstrates that window-to-wall ratios, architectural orientation, thermal insulation coefficients, have substantial impacts for solar heat gains in plateau buildings. The study renders building design guidance for energy conservation in high altitude plateau areas.

A sequence of Type Ib, IIb, II-L, and II-P supernovae from binary-star progenitors with varying initial separations

Over the last decade, evidence has accumulated that massive stars do not typically evolve in isolation but instead follow a tumultuous journey with a companion star on their way to core collapse. While Roche-lobe overflow appears instrumental for the production of a large fraction of Type Ib and Ic supernovae (SNe), variations in the initial orbital period, $P_ init $, of massive interacting binaries may also produce a wide diversity of case B, BC, or C systems, with pre-SN stars endowed from minute to massive H-rich envelopes. Focusing here on the explosion of the primary donor star, originally 12.6\ we used radiation hydrodynamics and nonlocal thermodynamic equilibrium time-dependent radiative transfer to document the gas and radiation properties of such SNe, covering Types Ib, IIb, II-L, and II-P. Variations in init $ are the root cause of the wide diversity of our SN light curves, which present single-peak, double-peak, fast-declining, or plateau-like morphologies in the $V$ band. The different ejecta structures, expansion rates, and relative abundances (e.g., H, He, and can lead to a great deal of diversity in terms of spectral line shapes (absorption versus emission strength and width) and evolution. We emphasize that Halpha is a key tracer of these modulations, and that He is an enduring optical diagnostic for the presence of He. Our grid of simulations fares well against representative Type Ib, IIb, and II-P SNe, but interaction with circumstellar material, which is ignored in this work, is likely at the origin of the tension between our Type II-L SN models and observations (e.g., of SN\,2006Y). Remaining discrepancies in the rise time to bolometric maximum of our models call for a proper account of both small-scale and large-scale structures in core-collapse SN ejecta. Discrepant Type II-P SN models, with a high plateau brightness but small spectral line widths, can be fixed by adopting more compact red-supergiant star progenitors.

Field Evaluation of Land Deterioration in Al - Mohammadi Basin Valley at Western Desert

The recurrent study was in including lots scientific details on land deterioration for Almehmedi valley basin. This basin is represented as distinguish sites because it possesses different morphology, geological properties, climate pattern, various land resources such as soils, vegetation and water resources. Conceptualization of this study was entirely prepared then results were different to discover the range of land degradation using field evolution on this basin, which its area was 1971.49 km2. Therefore basin lands were divided into six land unites via geomorphological terms. These terms were done using optical explanation on Land sat 8 satellite image. These unites are high plateaus, flat plateaus,  unbath, valleys, alluvial fans, flood plain. Moreover field investigation was applied using GLASOD physical, biological, chemical and saline deterioration. Thus, their cause was explained and measured the deterioration amounts within land units using tables  maps. The research study could clouded basin field spatial differences resulted in differing the valley basin from other  lands. Furthermore, it resulted in spatial relations amongst human iturimm and natural in this area.

Precursor screening of fruit shell derived hard carbons for low-potential sodium storage: A low lignin content supports the formation of closed pores

Biomass hard carbons are being explored for anode materials of sodium-ion batteries due to the wide availability. However, the precursor screening for optimal microstructure and sodium storage performance is tedious and time-consuming. Here, we selected three kinds of fruit shells to prepare hard carbons for sodium-ion batteries and investigated their structure characteristics and sodium storage performance. It is demonstrated that a low lignin content in fruit shells is favor to the formation of closed pores in the derived hard carbons, thus generating a high low-potential plateau capacity. Among the main component of biomass, lignin with rich aromatic ring structure possesses higher thermal stability than cellulose and hemicellulose. During the pyrolysis and carbonization, lignin may decompose to large-size crystalline domains, which hinders the random stacking of carbon layers. Therefore, as the lower lignin content than pine nut shell and macadamia nut shell (28.4% vs. 39.2% and 37.4%), the walnut shell derived hard carbon shows a largest interlayer distance of 0.397 nm and a highest closed pore area of 391 m2 g−1, contributing to the supreme specific capacity of 362.6 mAh g−1, with a plateau capacity of 195.8 mAh g−1 as well as a remarkable cycle stability. The assembled WNSC//NVP full-cell remains a discharge capacity of 53.1 mAh g−1 after 100 cycles at 0.1 A g−1. This work gives a deep insight of the relationship between biomass composition and microstructure of the derived hard carbons to explore its high sodium storage ability in low-potential region.

Enhanced ecosystem carbon sink in shrub-grassland ecotone under grazing exclusion on Tibetan plateau

Grassland degradation is a prevalent issue at the interface of shrubland and grassland ecosystems, particularly susceptible to environmental changes. To counteract the degradation, grazing exclusion has been proposed as a dominant restoration strategy on the Tibetan plateau, the world's largest and highest plateau. However, the impact of degradation and subsequent restoration on the carbon dynamics consist of carbon sink / source capacity of shrub-grassland ecotones remain unclear. Therefore, in this study, using a transparent chamber (0.8 m in length × 0.8 m in width × 0.6 m in height) attached to an infrared gas analyzer, the in situ field investigation was performed to measure the gross ecosystem primary productivity (GEP), ecosystem respiration (Re), net ecosystem CO2 exchange (NEE), and environmental factors over a four-year continuous period in lightly and heavily degraded shrub-grassland ecotones during recover process on the Tibetan Plateau. Our result showed that: 1). Shrub-grassland ecotone acts as a net CO2 sink, with the maximum NEE occurring in July during the growing season. 2). Ecotone degradation diminishes the carbon sequestration capacity. Specifically, the annual GEP, Re, and NEE rates decrease by 14.1 %, 7.3 %, and 27.2 %, respectively, in the heavily degraded ecotone compared to the lightly degraded counterpart. 3). Grazing exclusion positively influenced the carbon sequestration capacity, particularly in heavily degraded ecotone, which leads to a substantial increase in the annual GEP, Re, and NEE rates of 15.4 % and 33.4 %, 12.3 % and 20.9 %, 22.25 % and 64.9 % for lightly and heavily degraded ecotones, respectively. 4). A piecewise structural equation model reveals that soil moisture and soil temperature are pivotal drivers influencing NEE. 5) Correlation analysis shows that NEE was negatively correlated with soil temperature during April to June and September to October but was positively correlated with soil temperature during July to August. In contrast, NEE displays a consistent negative correlation with soil moisture throughout the growing season. This research provides new insights on grassland degradation and restoration for carbon sequestration in alpine shrub-grassland ecotones and highlights their implications for sustainable management of alpine ecosystems.

Improvement of Albedo and Snow-Cover Simulation during Snow Events over the Tibetan Plateau

Abstract The snow albedo is a vital component of land–atmosphere coupling models. It plays a critical role in regulating land surface energy exchange by controlling incoming solar radiation absorbed by the land surface and influencing the timing and rate of snowmelt. Accurate snow albedo simulation is essential to obtain surface energy balance and snow-cover estimates. Here, the simulation of albedo and snow cover using the Weather Research and Forecasting Model and an improved snow albedo scheme is verified against satellite-retrieved products during and immediately following eight snowfall events over the Tibetan Plateau. The improved model successfully characterizes the spatial pattern and inverted U-shaped temporal pattern of albedo over the entire Tibetan Plateau. This is attributed to the local optimization of snow-age parameters and explicit consideration of snow depth in the improved scheme. Compared with the previous model, the model proposed herein greatly decreases the overestimated albedo (by 0.13–0.27), yielding a bias range of ±0.08, mean relative bias decrease of 70%, and significant increase in the spatial correlation coefficient of 0.03–0.39 (mean: 0.13). The significant improvements of albedo estimates appear in deep snow-covered regions, largely attributed to parameter optimization related to snow albedo decay, while less improvements appear over the shallow snow-covered regions. Accurate reproduction of the spatiotemporal variation in albedo alleviated snow-cover overestimation by small amounts. For snow-cover estimates, the improved model consistently decreases the false-alarm rate by 0.03, and increases the overall accuracy and equitable threat score by 0.04 and 0.03, respectively. Moreover, the improved scheme shows an equivalent improvement of albedo estimates at both 1- and 5-km grid spacing over the eastern Tibetan Plateau; this is also true for snow-cover estimates. Significance Statement Snow albedo schemes in widely used numerical weather prediction models show notable shortcomings in complex mountainous regions, hindering accurate surface energy balance and snow-cover prediction. The purpose of this study is to better understand the role of snow albedo on snow-cover estimates and reveal the application potential of an improved snow albedo scheme across the Tibetan Plateau. This is important because snow albedo influences the timing and rate of snowmelt, and in turn snow-cover estimates, through regulating the surface energy budget. Our results highlight the strong application potential of our improved scheme in reducing snow simulation errors, confirm the importance of snow depth on snow albedo, and provide a new perspective for improving the accuracy of snow forecast over the topographically high Tibetan Plateau.

The impact of economic policy uncertainty on the profitability of textile industry: evidence from BRIC countries

ABSTRACT There has recently been a growing interest in the impact of economic policy uncertainty at the micro- and macro-level in developing and emerging market economies. This study aims to analyse the impact of economic policy uncertainty on the profitability of more than 500 publicly listed textile companies in BRIC countries for the period 2012–2021. By employing the panel data methodology, we find that the economic policy uncertainty has a significantly negative contemporaneous and lagged effect on financial performance. Our findings are robust to both alternative profitability metrics and dynamic model specifications. We also identify that economic policy uncertainty exerts an adverse impact on profitability through the capital structure channel at the micro-level and institutional quality channel at the macro-level. While equity capital can emerge as a powerful weapon against the consequences of heightened uncertainty at the firm level, any improvement in the institutional framework at the national level can also help firms to mitigate the losses from unanticipated policy changes. However, there are certain limitations to which good institutions absorb uncertainty shocks when they are permanently at a high plateau.

Acute versus staged fixation of bicondylar tibial plateau fractures: a dual centre international study.

Bicondylar tibial plateau fractures pose many treatment challenges due to their complex fracture patterns and associated soft tissue compromise. We aim to evaluate outcomes of acute ORIF (aORIF) versus staged ORIF (sORIF) of high energy bicondylar tibial plateau fractures. We retrospectively reviewed 186 patients at two high-volume Level I trauma centers. One hundred one patients underwent aORIF and 85 underwent sORIF between 2011 and 2019. Clinical outcomes of interest included operative time, wound dehiscence, superficial and deep infection, nonunion, flap coverage, arthrodesis, and early conversion to arthroplasty. Patients had a median follow up of 12months (6-98months). The sORIF group had a higher ISS (p = 0.02) and a higher rate of open fractures (24.7% vs 11.9%, p = 0.03). The groups were statistically similar in other demographics and co-morbidities. Operative time was significantly shorter in the aORIF group (157 vs 213min., p < 0.001). There was no statistical difference in wound dehiscence, deep infection, flap coverage, nonunion, unplanned reoperation, or post-traumatic arthritis between groups. However, aORIF was associated with a significantly lower rate of superficial infection (p = 0.01), arthroplasty (p = 0.003) and unplanned reoperation (p = 0.005). Subgroup analysis of only the 41C3 fractures showed a lower rate of superficial infections in the aORIF group (p = 0.04). No difference in complications was found between the fracture subgroups. We found no increased risk of complications with aORIF compared to sORIF for bicondylar tibial plateau fractures. While not all injuries may be appropriate for aORIF, our results demonstrate the safety of aORIF when patients are properly selected by experienced fracture surgeons. Level III.

The Effect of Positive Pressure Ventilation on Acute Kidney Injury in COVID-19 Patients with Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome: An Observational Study

Introduction: Acute kidney injury (AKI) is frequent in critically ill COVID-19 patients and is associated with a higher mortality risk. By increasing intrathoracic pressure, positive pressure ventilation (PPV) may reduce renal perfusion pressure by reducing venous return to the heart or by increasing renal venous congestion. This study’s aim was to evaluate the association between AKI and haemodynamic and ventilatory parameters in COVID-19 patients with ARDS. Methods: This is a single-centre retrospective observational study. Consecutive patients diagnosed with COVID-19 who met ARDS criteria and required invasive mechanical ventilation were enrolled. The relationship between respiratory and haemodynamic parameters influenced by PPV and AKI development was evaluated. AKI was defined according to KDIGO criteria. AKI recovery was evaluated a month after ICU admission and patients were classified as “recovered,” if serum creatinine (sCr) value returned to baseline, or as having “acute kidney disease” (AKD), if criteria for AKI stage 1 or greater persisted. The 6-month all-cause mortality was collected. Results: A total of 144 patients were included in the analysis. AKI occurred in 69 (48%) patients and 26 (18%) required renal replacement therapy. In a multivariate logistic regression analysis, sex, hypertension, cumulative dose of furosemide, fluid balance, and plateau pressure were independently associated with AKI. Mortality at 6 months was 50% in the AKI group and 32% in the non-AKI group (p = 0.03). Among 36 patients who developed AKI and were discharged alive from the hospital, 56% had a full renal recovery after a month, while 14%, 6%, and 14% were classified as having an AKD of stage 0, 2, and 3, respectively. Conclusions: In our cohort, AKI was independently associated with multiple variables, including high plateau pressure, suggesting a possible role of PPV on AKI development. Further studies are needed to clarify the role of mechanical ventilation on renal function.

Decadal soil total carbon loss in northern hinterland of Tibetan Plateau

As the largest and highest plateau in the world, ecosystems on the Tibetan Plateau (TP) imply fundamental ecological significance to the globe. Among the variety, alpine grassland ecosystem on the TP forms a critical part of the global ecosystem and its soil carbon accounts over nine tenths of ecosystem carbon. Revealing soil carbon dynamics and the underlying driving forces is vital for clarifying ecosystem carbon sequestration capacity on the TP. By selecting northern TP, the core region of the TP, this study investigates spatiotemporal dynamics of soil total carbon and the driving forces based on two phases of soil sampling data from the 2010s and the 2020s. The research findings show that soil total carbon density (STCD) in total-surface (0–30 cm) in the 2010s (8.85 ± 3.08 kg C m−2) significantly decreased to the 2020s (7.15 ± 2.90 kg C m−2), with a decreasing rate (ΔSTCD) of −0.17 ± 0.39 kg C m−2 yr−1. Moreover, in both periods, STCD exhibited a gradual increase with soil depth deepening, while ΔSTCD loss was more apparent in top-surface and mid-surface than in sub-surface. Spatially, ΔSTCD loss in alpine desert grassland was −0.41 ± 0.48 kg C m−2 yr−1, which is significantly higher than that in alpine grassland (−0.11 ± 0.31 kg C m−2 yr−1) or alpine meadow (−0.04 ± 0.28 kg C m−2 yr−1). The STCD in 2010s explained >30 % of variances in ΔSTCD among the set of covariates. Moreover, rising temperature aggravates ΔSTCD loss in alpine desert grassland, while enhanced precipitation alleviates ΔSTCD loss in alpine meadow. This study sheds light on the influences of climate and background carbon on soil total carbon loss, which can be benchmark for predicting carbon dynamics under future climate change scenarios.

Characterization of the “Waru Waru” soils on the Peruvian high plateau

Characterization of the “Waru Waru” soils on the Peruvian high plateau