Important Scientific Data Research Articles

A dataset of the ecological security patterns in the peripheral region of Poyang Lake from 2000 to 2020

With the continuous expansion of human activities, the habitats of many species are confronted with serious destruction and threats, leading to increasingly prominent ecological security issues. Therefore, it is crucial to establish an ecological security pattern that takes species habitats into consideration, so as to protect biodiversity and maintain ecological balance. Poyang Lake, as a paradise for wildlife, serves as the habitat and breeding ground for many bird species, fish, and other aquatic organisms. Taking the research scope of the peripheral region of Poyang Lake as an example, we produced the land use data for the years 2000, 2010, and 2020 on the basis of the Google Earth Engine platform and the random forest classification method. By integrating morphological spatial pattern analysis, landscape pattern indices, landscape connectivity indices, circuit theory, and long-term land use data, we developed a long-term ecological security pattern for the peripheral region of Poyang Lake from 2000 to 2020, which takes into accounts habitats for various species including fish and birds. This dataset contains various types of data, including innovative elements. In terms of data quality control and evaluation, strict quality control and evaluation processes were conducted on the data used and the predicted results, ensuring the accuracy and credibility of the data and providing effective data support and references for relevant research. The dataset not only comprises indicator data for constructing an ecological security pattern to protect species habitats but also includes historical and predicted ecological security pattern data for the peripheral region of Poyang Lake. It can provide important scientific data support and serve as references for future research on species protection and ecological security patterns in the peripheral region of the Poyang Lake.

Ecological health assessment of Tibetan alpine grasslands in Gannan using remote sensed ecological indicators

ABSTRACT Ecosystem health assessments are crucial to protect the ecological environment and ensure the sustainable ecological functions of alpine ecoregions. At present, few studies evaluating the ecosystem health of the Gannan alpine grassland, China, an ecologically fragile area, based on a remote sensing theoretical framework exist. As such, this study assessed the ecosystem health of the Gannan alpine grassland based on the Remote Sensing-based Ecological Index (RSEI) and provided a comparative analysis of the RSEI and Gross Primary Productivity (GPP), extending the study of their spatiotemporal patterns and influencing factors. The results suggested that RSEI and GPP showed strong comparability in an ecological sense, with the RSEI better reflecting changes in ecosystem health of the Gannan alpine grassland than the GPP. Overall, the health of the Gannan alpine grassland ecosystem was good (RSEI of 0.61–0.76) and a slow, fluctuating upward trend was seen from 2000 (RSEI = 0.66) to 2020 (RSEI = 0.72). Notably, the RSEI was high in the south and low in the north of the region. Over the past 21 years, 43.92% of the ecologically healthy grassland in the southwest of Gannan has been degrading, while the poor ecological health of 39.04% of the grasslands in the southeast and northeast improved. The model test results show that RSEI could reasonably evaluate the ecosystem health of Gannan alpine grassland. Our assessment results provide important scientific data and information on health monitoring and targeted ecological restoration efforts in the Gannan region.

Insights into microbial communities and metabolic profiles in the traditional production of the two representative Hongqu rice wines fermented with Gutian Qu and Wuyi Qu based on single-molecule real-time sequencing

Hongqu rice wine, a famous traditional fermented alcoholic beverage, is brewed with traditional Hongqu (mainly including Gutian Qu and Wuyi Qu). This study aimed to compare the microbial communities and metabolic profiles in the traditional brewing of Hongqu rice wines fermented with Gutian Qu and Wuyi Qu. Compared with Hongqu rice wine fermented with Wuyi Qu (WY), Hongqu rice wine fermented with Gutian Qu (GT) exhibited higher levels of biogenic amines. The composition of volatile flavor components of Hongqu rice wine brewed by different fermentation starters (Gutian Qu and Wuyi Qu) was obviously different. Among them, ethyl acetate, isobutanol, 3-methylbutan-1-ol, ethyl decanoate, ethyl palmitate, ethyl oleate, nonanoic acid, 4-ethylguaiacol, 5-pentyldihydro-2(3H)-furanone, ethyl acetate, n-decanoic acid etc. were identified as the characteristic aroma-active compounds between GT and WY. Microbiome analysis based on high-throughput sequencing of full-length 16S rDNA/ITS-5.8S rDNA amplicons revealed that Lactococcus, Leuconostoc, Pseudomonas, Serratia, Enterobacter, Weissella, Saccharomyces, Monascus and Candida were the predominant microbial genera during the traditional production of GT, while Lactococcus, Lactobacillus, Leuconostoc, Enterobacter, Kozakia, Weissella, Klebsiella, Cronobacter, Saccharomyces, Millerozyma, Monascus, Talaromyces and Meyerozyma were the predominant microbial genera in the traditional fermentation of WY. Correlation analysis revealed that Lactobacillus showed significant positive correlations with most of the characteristic volatile flavor components and biogenic amines. Furthermore, bioinformatical analysis based on PICRUSt revealed that microbial enzymes related to biogenic amines synthesis were more abundant in GT than those in WY, and the enzymes responsible for the degradation of biogenic amines were less abundant in GT than those in WY. Collectively, this study provides important scientific data for enhancing the flavor quality of Hongqu rice wine, and lays a solid foundation for the healthy and sustainable development of Hongqu rice wine industry.

The regulatory effects of microbial community on the formation of higher alcohols and volatile flavor components in Hongqu rice wine brewing

The contents of higher alcohols (HAs) and volatile components produced by microbial metabolism largely determine the drinking comfort and flavor quality of Hongqu rice wine. The purpose of this study was to compare the differences of volatile flavor profile and microbial community in the brewing process of Hongqu rice wines with low and high HAs content (LHA and HHA). The results showed that the main HAs in Hongqu rice wine were isobututyl alcohol, isoamyl alcohol, phenylethyl alcohol, and the total content of HAs in HHA (749.07 ± 20.47 mg/L) was much higher than that in LHA (407.61 ± 20.80 mg/L). Multivariate statistical analysis and visualization showed that the volatile flavor characteristics of HHA and LHA were significantly different, and the contents of ethyl esters, medium- and long-chain fatty acids in HHA were higher than those in LHA. Microbiome analysis based on metagenomic sequencing indicated that fermentation starter has significant effect on the composition of microbial community during Hongqu rice wine brewing. Microbial species such as Cronobacter sakazakii, Weissella paramesenteroides, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Aspergillus niger, Millerozyma farinosa and Rhizopus delemar were significantly enriched in HHA brewing, while Pediococcus pentosaceus, Lactobacillus curvatus, Leuconostoc pseudomesenteroides and Leuconostoc mesenteroides were significantly enriched in LHA brewing. Furthermore, the potential relationships between the key microbial species and characteristic volatile components were revealed through correlation heatmap analysis. Bioinformatical analysis revealed that the abundances of microbial genes encoding enzymes involved in HAs metabolism were higher in HHA than LHA, but the gene abundance of phenylacetaldehyde dehydrogenase in LHA was significantly higher than that in HHA, which could limit the formation of HAs during Hongqu rice wine brewing. Collectively, this study provides important scientific data for enhancing the flavor quality of Hongqu rice wine, and lays a solid foundation for the healthy development of Hongqu rice wine industry.

Metagenomic Insights into the Regulatory Effects of Microbial Community on the Formation of Biogenic Amines and Volatile Flavor Components during the Brewing of Hongqu Rice Wine.

As one of the typical representatives of Chinese rice wine (Huangjiu), Hongqu rice wine is produced with glutinous rice as the main raw material and Hongqu as the fermentation starter. The complex microbial flora in the brewing process may have a great influence on the formation of the flavor quality and drinking safety of Hongqu rice wine. Previous studies have shown that high biogenic amine (BA) content in rice wine has potential physiological toxicity and has become a bottleneck problem restricting the development of the rice wine industry. This study aimed to evaluate the regulatory effects of the microbial community on the formation of BAs and volatile flavor components during the brewing of Hongqu rice wine. The results demonstrated that histamine, putrescine, cadaverine, tyramine, tryptamine, spermine, and spermidine were the main BAs in Hongqu rice wine. The contents of putrescine, cadaverine, histamine, tyramine, and spermidine in Hongqu rice wine of HBAs (with higher BAs content) were significantly higher than those in LBAs (with lower BAs content). GC-MS testing results showed that there were significant differences in the composition of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) between HBAs and LBAs. Among them, VOCs such as 2-methoxy-4-vinylphenol, ethyl caprate, phenethyl acetate, ethyl lactate, ethyl myristate, ethyl palmitate, ethyl n-octadecanoate, ethyl oleate, and ethyl linoleate were identified as the characteristic volatile components with significant differences between HBAs and LBAs. Microbiome analysis based on metagenomic sequencing revealed that unclassified_g_Pantoea, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Panobacter disperse, unclassified_f_Enterobacteriaceae, Leuconostoc mesenteroides, and Saccharomyces cerevisiae were the dominant microbial species in the HBA brewing process, while Weissella confuse, Pediococcus acidilactici, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, and Aspergillus niger were the dominant microbial species in the LBA brewing process. Furthermore, correlation heatmap analysis demonstrated that BAs were positively related to Lactobacillus curvatus, Lactococcus lactis, and Leuconostoc mesenteroides. Bioinformatical analysis based on the KEGG database revealed that the microbial genes encoding enzymes involved in BAs' synthesis were more abundant in HBAs, and the abundances of microbial genes encoding enzymes related to BAs' degradation and the metabolism of characteristic volatile components were higher in LBAs. Overall, this work provides important scientific data for enhancing the flavor quality of Hongqu rice wine and lays a solid foundation for the healthy development of the Hongqu rice wine industry.

Effects of Light on the Growth and β-carotene Accumulation in the Green Algae Dunaliella salina

The marine microalgae Dunaliella salina holds significant economic value due to its rich content of β-carotene, a natural pigment with high antioxidant capacity, immune-stimulating properties, and a crucial role in antioxidant reactions with vitamins C and E. This study evaluated the effects of light factors on the growth and biosynthesis of β-carotene in the Dunaliella salina strain isolated from coastal waters in Central Vietnam. The microalgae strain was cultured in the static f/2 medium at 25°C, under different light spectra (blue, red, and white) and light intensities (13.5, 27.0, and 40.5 µmol photon/m2/s), with a similar light/dark cycle of 16/8. The results indicated that the microalgae strain showed the highest growth rate and production yield of β-carotene under the red LED light, whereas the highest β-carotene accumulation in each microalgal cell was obtained under the blue LED light. Regarding light intensity, the best growth and β-carotene production yield was observed under the highest experimental light intensity of 40.5 µmol photon/m2/s, but the highest β-carotene content per algal cell was reached under the lowest intensity (13.5 µmol photon/m2/s). These findings provide important scientific data for further research to identify the optimal conditions for increasing biomass and stimulating the accumulation of valuable secondary compounds of the microalgae Dunaliella salina in Vietnam.

Emerging pollutants characterization, mitigation and toxicity assessment of sewage wastewater treatment plant- India: A case study

India faces major challenges related to fresh water supply and the reuse of treated wastewater is an important strategy to combat water scarcity. Wastewater in Gorakhpur, India, is treated by a decentralised wastewater treatment system (DEWATS) and the treated wastewater is reused in the rural area. This research provides important scientific data that ascertain the safety of wastewater reuse in this region. The physicochemical characteristics, including pigment, ionic strength, BOD, COD, TDS, TSS, salinity, total N, ammonium N, phenolics, heavy metals, and sulphate, of the inlet and outlet sewage water samples (SWWs) from a wastewater treatment facility was conducted. These parameters were found to be significantly over the national limit. The inlet and outlet samples were further characterised by using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) and gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS). SEM showed microstructure and the presence of various metals, polymers, and other co-pollutants in the samples and FT-IR confirmed the presence of aldehyde, hard liquor, and nitrogen molecules in the SWW's discharge. Many endocrine disruptors and potentially mutagenic chemical substances (e.g., Dodecane, Hexadecane, Octadecane etc.) were identified in the outlet SWW by the GC–MS analysis. Toxicity of the SWW was assessed via phytotoxicity assessment using Phaseolus mungo L. and histological and biochemical analyses of Heteropneustes fossilis in a 24-h exposure study. Results confirmed the wastewater was harmful and inhibited germination of P. mungo L. by >80% compared to the control, destroyed gill laminae and significantly increased oxidative stress (above 5% increase in catalase production) in H. fossilis. This work clearly demonstrated that the quality of the treated wastewater in Gorakhpur was poor and immediate action is needed before it can be discharged or reused.

Three-Dimensional Laser Scanning Technology Assisted Investigation and Extraction of Human Bone Information in Archaeological Sites at Shenna Ruins, China

Three-dimensional laser scanning technology can be used to quickly, efficiently, and accurately obtain spatial three-dimensional information of cultural relics without contacting the target during the scanning process. The results of this study showed that the extraction of human bones from the Shenna ruins via the auxiliary application of three-dimensional scanning technology reduced human intervention and destruction on the site compared with the traditional archaeological human bone packaging and extraction work method. When combined with the application of three-dimensional scanning technology, the original data information extracted on the spot were more comprehensive and accurate. Additionally, the technology provided us with important scientific data which can be used to discuss the phylogenetic composition of the ancient Qiang people in the settlement village, as well as a new applications of ideas for three-dimensional laser scanning technology usage in the field extraction of cultural relics. However, a follow-up study is needed to improve the comparisons of its applications, providing a conventional auxiliary means for cultural relic extraction and a technical means for cultural relic protection evaluation.

Impacts of Climate and Land Use/Cover Change on Water Yield Services in the Upper Yellow River Basin in Maqu County

The upper Yellow River Basin is an important ecological security barrier and a water conservation area in northwest China. The sustainability of its water yield services has generated much concern and debate. Spatial and temporal patterns of water yield factors are considered to be important scientific data. Therefore, the climate and land data of the upper Yellow River Basin in Maqu County are studied. Water yield for the period 1990–2020 was estimated using the water yield module in the InVEST model. Impacts and contribution weights of climate and land use/cover change on regional water yield were also quantified under 12 scenarios. The results indicate that (1) the average water yield in Maqu County has fluctuated and increased in the past 30 years. The increase in rainfall was more pronounced than the increase in potential evapotranspiration. Grassland areas continue to increase and unutilized land areas continue to decrease. (2) The average water yield for different types of land use during this period also varied. It showed grassland > unutilized land > forest > construction land > waterbody > cropland. (3) Climate change has a greater impact on water yield in Maqu County and further increases its contribution to regional water yield. The impact of land use/cover change was smaller and the contribution was smaller.

Multi-analytical Study on the Tara Thangka at Daxingshan Temple in Xi'an, Shaanxi, China

ABSTRACT In this study, a Tara thangka (from a complete set of 21) dating to the mid-Qing Dynasty (1776–1839 CE) at Daxingshan Temple in Xi'an, Shaanxi, China was analyzed using various techniques, including portable X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy (p-XRF), Raman spectroscopy (RS), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), optical microscopy (OM), and mass spectrometry-based proteomics. Through a multi-analytical methodology, in situ non-invasive testing was complemented with an analysis of a limited number of samples. By complementary evidence derived from the above analyses, it can be determined that the thangka was painted on a hemp substrate, with common colorants such as cinnabar, orpiment, gold, azurite, and malachite, and porcine glue as binding material. These results provided important scientific data for the production crafts of the precious Tara thangkas, contributing to the revelation of its value in art history and enabling conservators to make informed conservation decisions.

Comprehensive analysis of spliceosome genes and their mutants across 27 cancer types in 9070 patients: clinically relevant outcomes in the context of 3P medicine.

Spliceosome machinery plays important roles in cell biological processes, and its alterations are significantly associated with cancer pathophysiological processes and contribute to the entire healthcare process in the framework of predictive, preventive, and personalized medicine (PPPM/3P medicine). To understand the expression and mutant status of spliceosome genes (SGs) in common malignant tumors and their relationship with clinical characteristics, a pan-cancer analysis of these SGs was performed across 27 cancer types in 9070 patients to discover biomarkers for cancer early diagnosis and prognostic assessment, effectively stratify patients, and improve the survival and prognosis of patients in 3P medical practice. A total of 150 SGs were collected from the KEGG database. The Python and R language were combined to process the transcriptional data of SGs and clinical data of 27 cancer types in The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database. Mutations of SGs in 27 cancer types were analyzed to identify the most common mutated SGs, as well as survival-related SGs. Different SGs were screened out, and SGs with survival significance in different types of tumors were found. Furthermore, TCGA and GTEx datasets were used to further confirm the expressions of SGs in different tumors. Western blot assay was performed to verify the expression of SNRPB protein in colon cancer and lung adenocarcinoma. Three SGs were screened out to establish the Bagging model for tumor diagnosis. Among 150 SGs, THOC2, PRPF8, SNRNP200, and SF3B1 had the highest mutation rate. The survival time of mutant THOC2 and SF3B1 was better than that of wild type, respectively. The differential expression analysis of 150 SGs between 674 normal tissue samples and 9,163 tumor tissue samples with 27 cancer types of 9070 patients showed that 13 SGs were highly expressed and 1 was low-expressed. For all cancer types, the prognosis (survival time) of the low-expression group of three SGs (SNRPB, LSM7, and HNRNPCL1) was better than the high expression group, respectively (p < 0.05). Cox hazards model showed that male, over 60 years old, clinical stages III-IV, and with highly expressed SNRPB and HNRNPCL1 had a poor prognosis. GEPIA2 website analysis showed that SNRPB and LSM7 were highly expressed in most tumors but not in LAML, showing low expression. Compared with the control group, the expression of SNRPB protein in colon cancer was increased by Western blot (p < 0.05). Enrichment analysis showed that the differential SGs were mainly enriched in RNA splicing and binding. The average error of 10-fold cross-validation of the Bagging model for diagnosed cancer was 0.093, which demonstrates that the Bagging model can effectively diagnose cancer with a small error rate. This study provided the first landscape of spliceosome changes across 27 cancer types in 9070 patients and revealed that spliceosome was related to tumor progression. Spliceosome may play important an important role in cancer biological processes. These findings are the important scientific data to demonstrate the common and specific changes of spliceosome genes across 27 cancer types, which is a valuable biomarker resource to under the common or specific molecular mechanisms among different cancer types and establish biomarkers and therapeutic targets for the common or specific management of different types of cancer patients to benefit the research and practice of 3P medicine in cancers. The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s13167-022-00279-0.

Spatiotemporal distribution, ecological risk assessment and source analysis of legacy and emerging Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances in the Bohai Bay, China

The Bohai Sea is one of the most polluted hotspots by per- and Polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) in the world and studies on the vertical distribution of PFASs at different water layers and phase partitioning between water and suspended particulate matter (SPM) were still limited. 23 legacy and emerging PFASs were investigated in seawater and SPM throughout the Bay in this study. The average concentrations of ∑PFASs in seawater were 48.21 ng/L and 52.71 ng/L during the periods of wet and normal water, respectively. In general, the concentrations of ∑PFASs in surface water were higher than that in deep water. Legacy PFASs in seawater were dominated by PFOA and short-chain PFASs, while the emerging alternative HFPO-DA was detected in the whole water layer of the Bohai Bay with an average concentration of 1.09 ng/L. The spatial distribution showed that ∑PFASs were higher nearshore than inside the bay and higher in the south than that in the north of the bay. The average concentration of ∑PFASs in SPM was 9.02 ng/g. Long-chain PFASs and the emerging alternative 6:2 Cl-PFESA accounted for the major contaminants. The partition coefficients log Kd and φspm-w showed a linear positive correlation with carbon chain length. Preliminary risk assessments revealed that the ecological risk of common PFASs in the Bohai Bay was low, while PFOA was at moderate risk. The principal component analysis demonstrated that the production process of traditional fluorochemical factories, fire-fighting and emerging electroplating industries were the main sources of PFASs. This was the first comprehensive survey of emerging PFASs in different water depths and in SPM of the Bohai Bay during different seasons, which provided important scientific data for studying the ecological risks and pollution prevention of PFASs.

Effect of varying processing methods (optimal conditions) on chemical properties of herbal leaf tea produced from “Voi” (Syzygium nervosum) leaves

human health. Syzygium nervosum leaves contain numerous bioactive components with different functional properties. Syzygium nervosum leaves can be processed into dried tea convenient for daily consumption. This research evaluates the effect of various thermal treatments like blanching, convective drying, roasting and steeping to the anti-nutritional factors, phenolics and antioxidant capacities in the S. nervosum dried leaf tea. Raw S. nervosum leaves were treated under different conditions of blanching (100/5, 95/10, 90/15, 85/20, 80/25oC/s), convective drying (65/10, 60/12, 55/14, 50/16, 45/18oC/hrs), roasting (150/2, 145/3, 140/4, 135/5, 130/6oC/mins), and steeping (100/2, 90/3, 80/4, 70/5, 60/6oC/mins). In each processing step, samples were taken to analyze tannin content, phytate content, oxalate content, total phenolic content, diphenylpicrylhydrazyl (DPPH) free radical scavenging and Ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP). Results show that S. nervosum leaves should be blanched at 90/15oC/s, convective drying at 55/14oC/hrs, roasting 140/4oC/mins, steeping in hot water at 80/4oC/mins to remove anti-nutrients while preserving the highest phenolics and antioxidants in the S. nervosum dried leaf tea. Results of this research will contribute important scientific data for processors and consumers in the exploitation of this medicinal plant as a healthy food drink.

Phytochemical Insights into Ficus sur Extracts and Their Biological Activity.

This study focused on the biological evaluation and chemical characterisation of Ficus sur Forssk. (F. sur) (Family: Moraceae). The methanolic and aqueous extracts’ phytochemical profile, antioxidant, and enzyme inhibitory properties were investigated. The aqueous stem bark extract yielded the highest phenolic content (115.51 ± 1.60 mg gallic acid equivalent/g extract), while the methanolic leaves extract possessed the highest flavonoid content (27.47 ± 0.28 mg Rutin equivalent/g extract). In total, 118 compounds were identified in the tested extracts. The methanolic stem bark extract exhibited the most potent radical scavenging potential against 2,2-diphenyl-1 picrylhydrazyl and 2,2′-azino-bis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (475.79 ± 6.83 and 804.31 ± 4.52 mg Trolox equivalent/g extract, respectively) and the highest reducing Cu2+ capacity (937.86 ± 14.44 mg Trolox equivalent/g extract). The methanolic stem bark extract substantially depressed tyrosinase (69.84 ± 0.35 mg kojic acid equivalent/g extract), α-amylase (0.77 ± 0.01 mmol acarbose equivalent/g extract), acetylcholinesterase and butyrylcholinesterase (2.91 ± 0.07 and 6.56 ± 0.34 mg galantamine equivalent/g extract, respectively) enzymes. F. sur extracts were tested for anticancer properties and antiviral activity towards human herpes virus type 1 (HHV-1). Stem bark infusion and methanolic extract showed antineoplastic activity against cervical adenocarcinoma and colon cancer cell lines, whereas leaf methanolic extract exerted moderate antiviral activity towards HHV-1. This investigation yielded important scientific data on F. sur which might be used to generate innovative phytopharmaceuticals.

Ruxolitinib reduces severe CRS response by suspending CAR-T cell function instead of damaging CAR-T cells

The therapeutic effect of CAR-T is often accompanied by sCRS, which is the main obstacle to the promotion of CAR-T therapy. The JAK1/2 inhibitor ruxolitinib has recently been confirmed as clinically effective in maintaining control over sCRS, however, its mechanism remains unclear. In this study, we firstly revealed that ruxolitinib significantly inhibited the proliferation of CAR-T cells without damaging viability, and induced an efficacy-favored differentiation phenotype. Second, ruxolitinib reduced the level of cytokine release not only from CAR-T cells, but also from other cells in the immune system. Third, the cytolytic activity of CAR-T cells was restored once the ruxolitinib was removed; however, the cytokines released from the CAR-T cells maintained an inhibited state to some degree. Finally, ruxolitinib significantly reduced the proliferation rate of CAR-T cells in vivo without affecting the therapeutic efficacy after withdrawal at the appropriate dose. We demonstrated pre-clinically that ruxolitinib interferes with both CAR-T cells and the other immune cells that play an important role in triggering sCRS reactions. This work provides useful and important scientific data for clinicians on the question of whether ruxolitinib has an effect on CAR-T cell function loss causing CAR-T treatment failure when applied in the treatment of sCRS, the answer to which is of great clinical significance.

Russian Expeditions to the Turkmen Coast of the Caspian Sea in the First Quarter of the 19th Century

In this article, based on the analysis of Russian literature, memoirs of participants and published materials, documents from the archives of the Russian Federation, the author reconstructed the history of expeditions organized by the Russian authorities to the eastern (Turkmen) shore of the Caspian Sea in the first quarter of the 19th century. The purpose of the expeditions was to find and organize a place for the foundation of the Russian commercial and naval fortifications. Military, officials, scientists, merchants were involved in the expeditions, which were of an intelligence and economic nature. The program of the expeditions was formulated by representatives of the highest authorities of the Russian Empire, the treasury also paid for all the costs of their organization and implementation. The expeditions were equipped and sent to the Turkmen coast from the Astrakhan port, the main Russian point on the Volga-Caspian route. During the expeditions, extremely important scientific data were obtained: on ethnography, socio-economic and cultural life of Turkmen tribes and cartography. It was possible to enlist the support of the heads of the Turkmen coastal tribes, to form a list of goods that was interesting for the local population. The results of the expeditions eventually allowed the Russian authorities to decide on a place to establish their trading post (and port) and begin building the Novo-Petrovsky fortification on Mangyshlak in the 1840s.

Multi-Analytical Research on the Caisson Painting of Dayu Temple in Hancheng, Shaanxi, China

In this research, the caisson painting of Dayu Temple in Hancheng, Shaanxi, China, was analyzed via a multi-analytical methodology, using a pH meter, an ultra-depth-of-field optical microscope, a scanning electron microscope-energy dispersive spectrometer (SEM-EDS), a high-resolution X-ray diffractometer (XRD), a micro-confocal laser Raman spectrometer, a gas chromatography mass spectrometer (GC-MS), and X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy (XRF). With the corroborative evidence derived from the above analyses, it could be determined that the caisson painting of Dayu Temple was painted on bamboo paper and attached to hemlock wood substrate of the Pinaceae Tsuga genus using starch paste, with common colorants such as carbon black, cinnabar mixed with a small amount of red lead, ultramarine, and ultramarine mixed with Paris green, with animal glue having been adopted as a sizing agent. These results provide important scientific data for the production craft of precious caisson paintings, contributing to the revelation of their historic, artistic, and scientific value, and should enable conservators to make informed decisions in restoration.

Evolution of the ecosystem in Baiyangdian Lake

Baiyangdian Lake, which is also known as the “Kidney of North China” and “Pearl of North China,” is the largest among 143 lakes of different sizes in Haihe plain located in central Hebei province. The water quality in Baiyangdian Lake is moderately and mildly eutrophic; it reaches the surface water Class IV standard with seasonal variations. Combined with data from previous studies, ecological changes in Baiyangdian Lake over the past 70 years are elaborated herein. With the rapid development of industrial economies, the environment of Baiyangdian Lake has been damaged dramatically since the 1950s. The potential risk level of cadmium in Baiyangdian Lake sediments varies from moderate to severe. The contents and varieties of microplastics and antibiotics detected in Baiyangdian Lake have also increased. The diversity and abundance of native plants, animals, and microorganisms have been influenced by multiple environmental factors and human activities. In this paper, the distribution characteristics and sources of pollutants are summarized by discussing the diversity and abundance of plants, animals, and microorganisms in Baiyangdian Lake. This study would provide important scientific data and theoretical support for the pollution control and ecological service function improvement of Baiyangdian Lake.

Bibliometrics EEG Metrics Associations and Connections Between Military Medicine and the Differentiate Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

In this paper we investigate the bibliometric association and connection between Electroencephalography (EEG) metrics of human brain and connections between military medicine and the post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). In EEG metrics included various metrics used from scientists in order to map the brain activity. Inrecent years there has been an increasingly amount of data connect EEG metrics with PTSD and military medicine. Due to breakthroughs in biology and bioinformatics, more and more data are stored in various large databases as biomedical databases. In recent years, biomedical information has become the center of research, and its data volume has continued to grow. Therefore, obtaining effective information from scientists has become increasingly challenging. As a new scientific field of bioinformatics, new tools and applications are needed to extract important scientific data based on experimental results and information provided by papers and journals. In this paper we are going to investigate methods based in acustom made IT system, more specifically a programmable in Python toolin order to find connections between the differentiate post traumatic stress disorder and the brain operation and signaling. This IT system could become a useful tool against the struggle of scientists and medicalprofessionalsin the near future.

Spatial-temporal changes of China&amp;rsquo;s mangrove forests over the past 50 years: An analysis towards the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

<p indent=0mm>Mangrove forests are tropical trees and shrubs that grow in sheltered coastlines, mudflats, and river banks in many parts of the world. These forests are rated amidst the most productive natural ecosystems on the earth, and are ecologically and socioeconomically important because of their crucial roles in coastal ecosystem protection. However, these forests are declining at an alarming rate, which is possibly more rapid than that of inland tropical forests. This serious loss has prompted a worldwide movement to protect and promote the sustainable use of mangrove forests. Recently, many governments adopted the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The SDGs present an opportunity for nations to set realistic targets for achieving sustainable use of natural resources and environmental capital. Relevant to mangrove conservation, a range of targets were established for implementation by the year 2020, including Targets 6.6, 14.2, 14.5, and 15.2. To date, mangrove forests have been protected and restored for decades in China. However, little is known about achievements of China’s SDGs implementation on mangrove forests. The issue highlighted the need for a long-term holistic view of China’s mangrove forests dynamics. Although there have been multiple national datasets of China’s mangrove forests, few studies focused specifically on mangrove forests and their surrounding land covers. Thus, the objectives of this study are: (1) to apply a systematic remote sensing method across the entire coast of China, and build a new dataset of long-term China’s mangrove forests and surrounding land covers in 1973, 1980, 1990, 2000, 2010, 2015 (the first year of SDGs), and 2020 (the complete year of mangrove related SDGs); (2) to quantify the spatial-temporal changes of mangrove forests and conversion between mangrove forests and other coastal land covers; and (3) to discuss the achievements of China’s SDGs implementation on mangrove forests. In this study, we applied a hybrid object-based and hierarchical classification method to Landsat series imagery and achieved a high accuracy dataset of China’s mangrove forests and surrounding land covers. Results showed that: (1) on national scale, area of mangrove forests declined from 48801 to 18602 ha between 1973 and 2000, then partially recovered to 28010 ha in 2020; (2) the lost mangrove forests were mainly changed to croplands and aquaculture ponds, while the restored mangrove forests were mainly converted from tidal flats; and (3) during 2015−2020, China government restored 25% of national mangrove forests. To Sep. 2020, the area of mangrove nature reserves accounted for 16% of mangrove growth zone, and 77% of China’s mangrove forests grew inside these nature reserves. A batch of relevant laws and regulations has been formulated to prohibit mangrove forests destruction. The protection and restoration of mangrove forests in China have already met Targets 6.6, 14.2, 14.5, and 15.2. However, since illegal logging is strictly prohibited and the awareness of protecting mangrove ecosystem has been increased continuously, losses of mangrove forests in some areas were mainly caused by natural disasters, such as extremely low temperature, hurricane, biological invasions, and insect outbreaks. For example, according to the Guangxi Mangrove Research Center, in March 2008 numbers of <italic>Avicennia</italic> plants along the coasts of Guangxi were killed by extremely low temperature, and in Guangxi Shankou Mangrove Nature Reserve, more than 167 ha of <italic>Spartina alterniflora</italic> (an invasive species) were discovered in 2005. The classification method and datasets of this study can support the evaluation of SDG 6.6 implementation, and provide important information for SDGs 13, 14, and 15 evaluation. In addition, the results of this study can serve as an important scientific basis and fundamental data for formulating China’s mangrove protection and restoration strategies.