Response Of Other Components Research Articles

Comparative responses of carbon flux components in recovering bare patches of degraded alpine meadow in the Source Zone of the Yellow River

The patchy degradation of alpine grasslands is a common phenomenon on the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau, and the presence of bare patches (BP) in degraded grasslands significantly affects the functioning of the alpine meadow ecosystem. The succession of vegetation-recovered BP may lead to significant changes in ecosystem carbon (C) cycling. To date, it is unclear whether different components of net ecosystem carbon exchange (NEE) respond similarly or differently to the succession of recovering BP. Here, we conducted a field monitoring experiment in a degraded alpine meadow, and selected three successional stages for recovering BP to study the response of NEE and its components. We found that the succession of recoevering BP increased ecosystem respiration (ER) during the growing season and decreased ER during the off-growing season, with the differences in annual carbon output between different successional stages being insignificant. However, gross primary productivity increased with the successional gradient, and carbon input at the later stage of succession was significantly greater than that at the middle stage of succession. The succession of recovering BP promoted the carbon sequestration function of the alpine grassland, with the grassland acting as a carbon sink when it reached the state of healthy alpine meadow, while it acted as a carbon source during the middle stage of succession. Compared with BP, the amount of carbon sequested by healthy alpine meadows increased significantly by 219 g·C·m−2·yr−1. We also found that the responses of other components to the succession of recovering BP were inconsistent. In addition, the effects of succession of recovering BP on carbon flux were related to field-monitored variables (soil temperature and water content) and other considered variables (biomass, organic carbon, and microbial biomass carbon). These research findings highlight the importance of restoring vegetation in BPs, and are crucial for predicting the carbon balance in the future and formulating sustainable grassland management strategies.

Generation of synthetic RR interval sequences of healthy patients

A method based on a heart model is developed to generate synthetic RR interval time series of a healthy subject. The model presented here makes no assumptions about the distribution of RR intervals. The main contribution of this paper is the introduction of variability associated in the RR interval series which arises from changes in the input from parasympathetic, sympathetic input as well as from the response of other components in the cardiovascular control circuitry. This is modelled by a time varying chaotic sequence using the improved logistic map multiplied by a constant parameter. In simulating a measured RR series, its mean heart rate is used and a set of ordinary differential equations solved for different values of this constant parameter. This parameter is chosen when the power present in the low frequency (0.04–0.15) Hz and high frequency (0.15–0.4) Hz spectral range of the measured series show minimal error with that present in the synthetic series. The synthetic series generated is devoid of artefacts and is closer to the cleaned version of the measured series. The complexity assessed using sample entropy indicates errors less than 10% between the two series. This indicates that the chaotic function used to model the variability is a suitable choice to give the complexity of a healthy RR series. The artefact free synthetic RR series of healthy subjects provides a useful reference to compare results from diseased subjects; and to test different artefact cleaning procedures on RR data from healthy subjects

Accelerated numerical modeling of RF circuits using network characteristic mode analysis

AbstractA fast numerical modeling approach based on network characteristic mode analysis (CMA) is presented and investigated for analyzing electrical layouts in miniature RF filters, such as surface acoustic wave filters. In this approach, a generalized eigenvalue decomposition is performed on the Z‐parameters of an electrical layout at one or two sampling frequencies that can be computed and extracted with any numerical full‐wave method. The obtained eigenvalues are used to extract modal resistance, inductance, and capacitance matrices for each eigenmode. The frequency dependence of the modal resistance matrix can be assumed a priori or determined automatically, and the modal inductance and capacitance matrices are assumed frequency independent. These modal matrices are then used to approximate the Z‐parameters at any other frequencies to provide the response of the electrical layout, which can then be combined with the frequency responses of other components, such as resonators, to yield the electrical response of an entire RF filter. Compared with the previously developed analytic extension of eigenvalues, this fast CMA‐based method is less affected by the frequency variation of eigenmodes since the frequency dependences of the eigenmodes are implicitly canceled out in its formulation. The accuracy of this approach is evaluated by comparing with results from full‐wave analyses. For RF circuits whose electrical sizes are small and whose frequency range of interest is relatively small, the proposed CMA‐based fast frequency sweep approach is found to be sufficiently accurate and highly practical for engineering applications.

Low sensitivity of gross primary production to elevated CO<sub>2</sub> in a mature eucalypt woodland

Abstract. The response of mature forest ecosystems to a rising atmospheric carbon dioxide concentration (Ca) is a major uncertainty in projecting the future trajectory of the Earth's climate. Although leaf-level net photosynthesis is typically stimulated by exposure to elevated Ca (eCa), it is unclear how this stimulation translates into carbon cycle responses at the ecosystem scale. Here we estimate a key component of the carbon cycle, the gross primary productivity (GPP), of a mature native eucalypt forest exposed to free-air CO2 enrichment (the EucFACE experiment). In this experiment, light-saturated leaf photosynthesis increased by 19 % in response to a 38 % increase in Ca. We used the process-based forest canopy model, MAESPA, to upscale these leaf-level measurements of photosynthesis with canopy structure to estimate the GPP and its response to eCa. We assessed the direct impact of eCa, as well as the indirect effect of photosynthetic acclimation to eCa and variability among treatment plots using different model scenarios. At the canopy scale, MAESPA estimated a GPP of 1574 g C m−2 yr−1 under ambient conditions across 4 years and a direct increase in the GPP of +11 % in response to eCa. The smaller canopy-scale response simulated by the model, as compared with the leaf-level response, could be attributed to the prevalence of RuBP regeneration limitation of leaf photosynthesis within the canopy. Photosynthetic acclimation reduced this estimated response to 10 %. After taking the baseline variability in the leaf area index across plots in account, we estimated a field GPP response to eCa of 6 % with a 95 % confidence interval (−2 %, 14 %). These findings highlight that the GPP response of mature forests to eCa is likely to be considerably lower than the response of light-saturated leaf photosynthesis. Our results provide an important context for interpreting the eCa responses of other components of the ecosystem carbon cycle.

Seismic Damage Mechanism of CRTS-II Slab Ballastless Track Structure on High-Speed Railway Bridges

China Railway Track System II (CRTS II) slab ballastless track structure is one of commonly adopted track systems on the high-speed railway bridge, which has been found seismically vulnerable under strong earthquakes. To investigate the earthquake-induced damage mechanism of the CRTS II slab ballastless track structure, a nonlinear numerical model of typical 7-span simply supported bridge–track system was established by the finite element software OpenSees and well calibrated by the test data and relative literatures. The nonlinear time history analysis was employed to calculate seismic responses of bridge and track parts under a suite of 10 seismic records. Results demonstrate that the sliding layer in the track structure is the most damage-prone component, especially at the bridge-subgrade transition section, and the shear alveolar may also sustain earthquake-induced fail. By analyzing the seismic damage mechanism of the track structure, this paper reveals that the nonuniform displacement responses of the girders and friction plate at the bridge-subgrade transition section are main factors that result in the extensive damage of the sliding layer and failure of the shear alveolar. However, the damage of these two components are beneficial to reduce the seismic responses of other components in the track structure and protect them from being damaged. From the perspective of engineering safety, the sliding layer and shear alveolar should be rigorously designed because the residual displacement of the sliding layer increases along with the maximum displacement and the failure of the shear alveolar may make the whole track structure failed.

Amplicon‐pyrosequencing‐based detection of compositional shifts in bryophyte‐associated fungal communities along an elevation gradient

Although bryophytes are a dominant vegetation component of boreal and alpine ecosystems, little is known about their associated fungal communities. HPLC assays of ergosterol (fungal biomass) and amplicon pyrosequencing of the ITS2 region of rDNA were used to investigate how the fungal communities associated with four bryophyte species changed across an elevational gradient transitioning from conifer forest to the low-alpine. Fungal biomass and OTU richness associated with the four moss hosts did not vary significantly across the gradient (P > 0.05), and both were more strongly affected by host and tissue type. Despite largely constant levels of fungal biomass, distinct shifts in community composition of fungi associated with Hylocomium, Pleurozium and Polytrichum occurred between the elevation zones of the gradient. This likely is a result of influence on fungal communities by major environmental factors such as temperature, directly or indirectly mediated by, or interacting with, the response of other components of the vegetation (i.e. the dominant trees). Fungal communities associated with Dicranum were an exception, exhibiting spatial autocorrelation between plots, and no significant structuring by elevation. Nevertheless, the detection of distinct fungal assemblages associated with a single host growing in different elevation zones along an elevational gradient is of particular relevance in the light of the ongoing changes in vegetation patterns in boreal and alpine systems due to global climate warming.

Physical Climate Response to a Reduction of Anthropogenic Climate Forcing

Abstract Recent research indicates that the warming of the climate system resulting from increased greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions over the next century will persist for many centuries after the cessation of these emissions, principally because of the persistence of elevated atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) concentrations and their attendant radiative forcing. However, it is unknown whether the responses of other components of the climate system—including those related to Greenland and Antarctic ice cover, the Atlantic thermohaline circulation, the West African monsoon, and ecosystem and human welfare—would be reversed even if atmospheric CO2 concentrations were to recover to 1990 levels. Here, using a simple set of experiments employing a current-generation numerical climate model, the authors examine the response of the physical climate system to decreasing CO2 concentrations following an initial increase. Results indicate that many characteristics of the climate system, including global temperatures, precipitation, soil moisture, and sea ice, recover as CO2 concentrations decrease. However, other components of the Earth system may still exhibit nonlinear hysteresis. In these experiments, for instance, increases in stratospheric water vapor, which initially result from increased CO2 concentrations, remain present even as CO2 concentrations recover. These results suggest that identification of additional threshold behaviors in response to human-induced global climate change should focus on subcomponents of the full Earth system, including cryosphere, biosphere, and chemistry.

Physical Climate Response to a Reduction of Anthropogenic Climate Forcing

Recent research indicates that the warming of the climate system resulting from increased greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions over the next century will persist for many centuries after the cessation of these emissions, principally because of the persistence of elevated atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) concentrations and their attendant radiative forcing. However, it is unknown whether the responses of other components of the climate system—including those related to Greenland and Antarctic ice cover, the Atlantic thermohaline circulation, the West African monsoon, and ecosystem and human welfare—would be reversed even if atmospheric CO2 concentrations were to recover to 1990 levels. Here, using a simple set of experiments employing a current-generation numerical climate model, the authors examine the response of the physical climate system to decreasing CO2 concentrations following an initial increase. Results indicate that many characteristics of the climate system, including global temperatures, precipitation, soil moisture, and sea ice, recover as CO2 concentrations decrease. However, other components of the Earth system may still exhibit nonlinear hysteresis. In these experiments, for instance, increases in stratospheric water vapor, which initially result from increased CO2 concentrations, remain present even as CO2 concentrations recover. These results suggest that identification of additional threshold behaviors in response to human-induced global climate change should focus on subcomponents of the full Earth system, including cryosphere, biosphere, and chemistry.

International capital mobility in developing countries: theory and evidence

Despite the importance of international capital mobility in influencing the outcome of stabilization policies, there is little research on the issue in developing countries. This paper tests the degree of capital mobility in nine developing countries, using the intertemporal consumption-smoothing framework. We find considerable evidence to suggest that capital is sufficiently mobile in the countries under examination to facilitate consumption smoothing in the event of shocks to the national cash flow (national income net of private investment and government spending). Our findings also suggest that the impact of shocks to one or more components of the national cash flow on the current account is offset by dynamic responses of other components, such that the current account balance is preserved from drastic movements over time.

Adiabatic spin rotator for a laser pumped polarized 3He target

An adiabatic spin rotator has been constructed for use with the TRIUMF optically pumped polarized 3He target. It consists of two orthogonal pairs of Helmholtz coils allowing adiabatic rotation of the 3He spin into any arbitrary direction. Thus, the target may be polarized alternately in the sideways, longitudinal, and normal directions allowing measurements of complete sets of spin observables in nuclear scattering experiments during a single experimental run. Recently the system was used to measure all parity-allowed spin correlation observables A 00 ij in 3 He( p , p) elastic scattering at 200 and 500 MeV. The system permits reasonably rapid spin reversals (30 s) with minimal polarization losses (< 1×10 −5 per spin reversal). This allows the target spin to be reversed frequently during an experimental run thus reducing systematic uncertainties from variations in the response of other components in the experimental setup.

A critique of ecosystem health concepts and indexes

AbstractBecause people wish to preserve their health and do something equivalent for ecosystems, the metaphor of ecosystem health springs to mind. This paper presents the argument that it is a mistake for environmental scientists to treat this metaphor as reality. First, the metaphor fails because it misrepresents both ecology and health science. Ecosystems are not organisms, so they do not behave like organisms and do not have properties of organisms such as health. Also, health is not an operational concept for physicians or health risk assessors because they must predict, diagnose, and treat specific states called diseases or injuries; they do not calculate indexes of health. Second, attempts to operationally define ecosystem health result in the creation of indexes of heterogeneous variables. Such indexes have no meaning; they cannot be predicted, so they are not applicable to most regulatory problems; they have no diagnostic power; effects on one component are eclipsed by responses of other components; and the reason for a high or low index value is unknown. Their only virtue is that they reduce the complex array of ecosystem responses to various disturbances to one number with a reassuring name. A better alternative is to assess the real array of ecosystem responses so that causes can be diagnosed, future states can be predicted, and benefits of treatments can be compared.

A CRITIQUE OF ECOSYSTEM HEALTH CONCEPTS AND INDEXES

Because people wish to preserve their health and do something equivalent for ecosystems, the metaphor of ecosystem health springs to mind. This paper presents the argument that it is a mistake for environmental scientists to treat this metaphor as reality. First, the metaphor fails because it misrepresents both ecology and health science. Ecosystems are not organisms, so they do not behave like organisms and do not have properties of organisms such as health. Also, health is not an operational concept for physicians or health risk assessors because they must predict, diagnose, and treat specific states called diseases or injuries; they do not calculate indexes of health. Second, attempts to operationally define ecosystem health result in the creation of indexes of heterogeneous variables. Such indexes have no meaning; they cannot be predicted, so they are not applicable to most regulatory problems; they have no diagnostic power; effects on one component are eclipsed by responses of other components; and the reason for a high or low index value is unknown. Their only virtue is that they reduce the complex array of ecosystem responses to various disturbances to one number with a reassuring name. A better alternative is to assess the real array of ecosystem responses so that causes can be diagnosed, future states can be predicted, and benefits of treatments can be compared.

Convolution and deconvolution of nonideal tracer response data with application to three-phase packed-beds

Abstract Two methods are presented for evaluation of model parameters from nonideal tracer responses that represent convolution of the unit impulse response of the system under investigation and the response of other components. Both methods rely on time domain matching of experimental and model predicted curves. The first one relies on obtaining the unit impulse response of the system by deconvolution from the overall response. This method does not require an a priori model for the system, but its numerical implementation is possible only when an appropriate filter is used to reduce random noise which is present in the data to acceptable levels. Parameters are estimated by matching the deconvoluted unit impulse response to the model predicted one. Application of the fast Fourier transform and proper selection of regularization parameters in the implementation of this method are also described. The second method convolutes the model unit response with the response of other components to obtain the overall system response. Parameters are estimated by matching the overall system response to the experimental one. Interpretation of nonideal pulse tracer response data from a laboratory trickle-bed reactor is also performed to illustrate both methods.