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Liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS) represents a major physiochemical principle to organize intracellular membrane-less structures. Studies with non-segmented negative-sense (NNS) RNA viruses have uncovered a key role of LLPS in the formation of viral inclusion bodies (IBs), sites of viral protein concentration in the cytoplasm of infected cells. These studies further reveal the structural and functional complexity of viral IB factories and provide a foundation for their future research. Herein, we review the literature leading to the discovery of LLPS-driven formation of IBs in NNS RNA virus-infected cells and the identification of viral scaffold components involved, and then outline important questions and challenges for IB assembly and disassembly. We discuss the functional implications of LLPS in the life cycle of NNS RNA viruses and host responses to infection. Finally, we speculate on the potential mechanisms underlying IB maturation, a phenomenon relevant to many human diseases.

Forests play an important role in the global carbon cycle and modification of local climate through the biochemical and biophysical processes.However， the biophysical effects of afforestation in arid regions on local surface temperature have received little attentions over the past 30 years.Therefore， in this study， we combined in situ eddy covariance flux measurements from a neighboring pair of forested and the background desert sites with the decomposed temperature metric （DTM） method to systematically analyze the impacts of arid forests on surface temperature （Ts）.Results showed that despite absorbing more net radiation （35.4 W·m-2） than the desert， the riparian forests tended to cool Ts （-1.28 ℃） on annual basis.Meanwhile， this cool effect shows a significant seasonality.Specifically， afforestation may lead to a net cooling effect （ΔTs ranging from -3.6 to -0.6 ℃） from March to October， and a slightly warming effect in other months （ΔTs =0.5 ℃）.The DTM method revealed that evapotranspiration played a dominant role in cooling surface temperature， while surface albedo and incoming longwave radiation acted together to increase forest surface temperature.Therefore， this study not only improves our understanding of interaction between arid ecosystem and climate， but also has important reference for assessing ecological service function of in arid ecosystem.

Copyright of Plateau Meteorology is the property of Plateau Meteorology Editorial Office and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Climate change alters surface water availability (WA; precipitation minus evapotranspiration, P − ET) and consequently impacts agricultural production and societal water needs, leading to increasing concerns on the sustainability of water use. Although the direct effects of climate change on WA have long been recognized and assessed, indirect climate effects occurring through adjustments in terrestrial vegetation are more subtle and not yet fully quantified. To address this knowledge gap, here we investigate the interplay between climate‐induced changes in leaf area index (LAI) and ET and quantify its ultimate effect on WA during the period 1982–2016 at the global scale, using an ensemble of data‐driven products and land surface models. We show that ~44% of the global vegetated land has experienced a significant increase in growing season‐averaged LAI and climate change explains 33.5% of this greening signal. Such climate‐induced greening has enhanced ET of 0.051 ± 0.067 mm year−2 (mean ± SD), further amplifying the ongoing increase in ET directly driven by variations in climatic factors over 36.8% of the globe, and thus exacerbating the decline in WA prominently in drylands. These findings highlight the indirect impact of positive feedbacks in the land–climate system on the decline of WA, and call for an in‐depth evaluation of these phenomena in the design of local mitigation and adaptation plans. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Using total suspended matter (TSM), particulate organic carbon (POC), and particulate nitrogen data, this study investigated the potential vertical POC flux and transport in the South Yellow Sea (SYS). The biogenic production and resuspension fraction (i.e., the proportion of resuspended particles in TSM) were estimated using an ecosystem model and a vertical mixing model. They were verified against reported sediment trap and primary productivity data. The estimates of resuspension fraction showed substantial uncertainty of 50% in summer likely owing to the potential errors of model parameter estimation and the influence of other unexplored biophysical processes such as biological degradation, upwelling, and monsoons; however, the estimates of resuspension fraction showed less uncertainty in other seasons (10% of the resuspension fraction. It will be necessary to acquire additional field data covering a larger spatiotemporal scale to establish an integrated network of the SYS carbon budget.

The biomolecular technology progress is directly related to the development of effective methods and algorithms for processing a large amount of information obtained by modern high-throughput experimental equipment. The priority task is the development of promising computational tools for the analysis and interpretation of biophysical information using the methods of big data and computer models. An integrated approach to processing large datasets, which is based on the methods of data analysis and simulation modelling, is proposed. This approach allows to determine the parameters of biophysical and optical processes occurring in complex biomolecular systems. The idea of an integrated approach is to use simulation modelling of biophysical processes occurring in the object of study, comparing simulated and most relevant experimental data selected by dimension reduction methods, determining the characteristics of the investigated processes using data analysis algorithms. The application of the developed approach to the study of bimolecular systems in fluorescence spectroscopy experiments is considered. The effectiveness of the algorithms of the approach was verified by analyzing of simulated and experimental data representing the systems of molecules and proteins. The use of complex analysis increases the efficiency of the study of biophysical systems during the analysis of big data.

Although the spatial patterns of cultural ecosystem services (CES) are often considered in land use management, there is a noticeable disparity in research coverage compared to biophysical ecosystem services (BES). Moreover, there is a lack of research focusing on human perceptions of CES. To address this gap, this study proposed a CES-BES framework that integrates spatial patterns, driving factors of CES, and their interactions with BES, based on the general framework of social and ecological systems. To alleviate the dual pressures of ecological degradation and cultural preservation, this study utilized the constructed CES-BES framework to offer land use recommendations aimed at promoting sustainable development in the Horqin Sandy Land. CES and BES were quantified through a combination of questionnaire surveys, SolVES model and process modeling, including aesthetic, biodiversity, cultural, economic, future, and historical values, as well as net primary productivity, crop production, wind protection, and sand fixation. The results revealed that CES in the Horqin Sandy Land exhibited a discernible pattern of "high in the west and low in the east." Notably, the factors perceived by respondents exerted a more substantial influence on CES than non-perceptual factors. Female respondents showed relatively lower sensitivity to CES overall, but higher sensitivity to biodiversity. Han respondents tended to prioritize biodiversity, while Mongolian respondents were more sensitive to cultural and historical values. Herders exhibited higher sensitivity to biodiversity, while respondents from other occupations showed higher sensitivity to cultural and future values. The influence of land use, topography, and accessibility on different CES was generally similar. All CES showed a positive correlation with elevation, slope, and distance to water, while they showed a negative correlation with distance to roads. Based on the results, the Horqin Sandy Land has been divided into five regions, with development recommendations provided for each region to ensure sustainable development. This study provides a novel perspective and methodological framework for CES supporting territorial spatial governance and land use management, contributing to a more comprehensive understanding of CES. • A framework for optimizing territorial space that integrates cultural ecosystem services was proposed. • Cultural ecosystem services were quantified by questionnaire surveys and SolVES model. • Compared to non-perceptual factors, perceptual factors have a more significant impact on CES. • A land use zoning management plan for the Horqin Sandy Land based on multiple ecosystem services was proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Deforestation in mid- to high latitudes is hypothesized to have the potential to cool the Earth's surface by altering biophysical processes. In climate models of continental-scale land clearing, the cooling is triggered by increases in surface albedo and is reinforced by a land albedo-sea ice feedback. This feedback is crucial in the model predictions; without it other biophysical processes may overwhelm the albedo effect to generate warming instead. Ongoing land-use activities, such as land management for climate mitigation, are occurring at local scales (hectares) presumably too small to generate the feedback, and it is not known whether the intrinsic biophysical mechanism on its own can change the surface temperature in a consistent manner. Nor has the effect of deforestation on climate been demonstrated over large areas from direct observations. Here we show that surface air temperature is lower in open land than in nearby forested land. The effect is 0.85 ± 0.44 K (mean ± one standard deviation) northwards of 45° N and 0.21 ± 0.53 K southwards. Below 35° N there is weak evidence that deforestation leads to warming. Results are based on comparisons of temperature at forested eddy covariance towers in the USA and Canada and, as a proxy for small areas of cleared land, nearby surface weather stations. Night-time temperature changes unrelated to changes in surface albedo are an important contributor to the overall cooling effect. The observed latitudinal dependence is consistent with theoretical expectation of changes in energy loss from convection and radiation across latitudes in both the daytime and night-time phase of the diurnal cycle, the latter of which remains uncertain in climate models.

Afforestation can significantly influence regional climates through both the biogeochemical and biophysical processes involved in land surface-atmosphere interactions. However, many studies have ignored the biophysical processes that can, in some cases, offset the biogeochemical impacts. In this paper, the amount of atmospheric carbon dioxide absorbed by forests and the surface energy balance changes due to land cover changes from croplands and grasslands to forests were quantitatively analyzed, and the impacts of afforestation on the regional temperatures were thoroughly investigated over various climate zones of China, especially over the temperate and arid regions. According to our analysis, (1) when considering only the CO 2 -induced effects, afforestation led to carbon sequestration ranging from 267.7 to 531.5 Mg CO 2 -eq hm −2 50 yr −1 and carbon sinks ranging from 2.6 to 15.7 Mg CO 2 -eq hm −2 50 yr −1 in all climate regions; therefore, the cooling effects were achieved. (2) When considering only the biophysical effects, the increase in the net radiation was greater than the increase in the latent heat fluxes in the arid and semiarid regions. Therefore, the land surface provides a positive heat fluxes to the atmosphere and warms the Earth. In contrast, afforestation leads to a decrease in the net radiation and a large increase in the latent heat flux in humid subtropical regions. The increase in net radiation was less than the increase in the latent heat fluxes over the Tibetan Plateau and mid-temperate humid regions, resulting in atmospheric cooling effects. (3) When considering both the CO 2 -induced and biophysical effects simultaneously, the potential cooling effects caused by afforestation were amplified 1.3–1.5 times relative to those resulting from considering only the CO 2 for the subtropical regions. However, the potential cooling effects in arid and semiarid regions were moderated to only approximately 50% of those when only the CO 2 was considered. Therefore, the biophysical processes of afforestation have amplified the CO 2 -induced changes in the subtropical regions and moderated them in temperate regions, while the reverse is true in arid regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Quantifying and mapping ecosystem services (ES) is seen as one way to improve decision making and land management to better integrate environmental issues. This study aimed to characterize ES supply in deforestation context where an improvement of scientific knowledge should help develop more efficient environmental management. For three case studies in the Brazilian Amazon impacted by deforestation, seven indicators of potential ES supply were mapped at a spatial resolution of 30 × 30 m: biodiversity index (indicator of food web support); richness of pollinators (pollination); index of soil chemical quality (support to production); water available for plants (water regulation); soil carbon stocks (support to production and climate regulation); rate of water infiltration into the soil (soil erosion control); and vegetation carbon stocks (climate regulation). To map these indicators, in situ measurements of ES for 135 sampling points and remote sensing data were linked using regression methods. These methods were used to predict ES values and identify environmental factors that influence ES supply. The resulting maps help in understanding the influence of environmental factors on ES spatial distribution within the sites. The analyses illustrate the influence of land-use changes on ES supply and the role of context effects due to the heterogeneity of the biophysical environment, the temporality of deforestation and/or their diversified sociopolitical contexts. From a methodological viewpoint, the study highlights the importance of choices inherent in all cartographic practices and that need to be considered, especially in the context of rendering ES maps operational. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Detecting changes to the transparency of the water column is critical for understanding the responses of marine organisms, such as corals, to light availability. Long-term patterns in water transparency determine geographical and depth distributions, while acute reductions cause short-term stress, potentially mortality and may increase the organisms’ vulnerability to other environmental stressors. Here, we investigated the optimal, operational algorithm for light attenuation through the water column across the scale of the Great Barrier Reef (GBR), Australia. We implemented and tested a quasi-analytical algorithm to determine the photic depth in GBR waters and matched regional Secchi depth (ZSD) data to MODIS-Aqua (2002–2010) and SeaWiFS (1997–2010) satellite data. The results of the in situ ZSD/satellite data matchup showed a simple bias offset between the in situ and satellite retrievals. Using a Type II linear regression of log-transformed satellite and in situ data, we estimated ZSD and implemented the validated ZSD algorithm to generate a decadal satellite time series (2002–2012) for the GBR. Water clarity varied significantly in space and time. Seasonal effects were distinct, with lower values during the austral summer, most likely due to river runoff and increased vertical mixing, and a decline in water clarity between 2008–2012, reflecting a prevailing La Niña weather pattern. The decline in water clarity was most pronounced in the inshore area, where a significant decrease in mean inner shelf ZSD of 2.1 m (from 8.3 m to 6.2 m) occurred over the decade. Empirical Orthogonal Function Analysis determined the dominance of Mode 1 (51.3%), with the greatest variation in water clarity along the mid-shelf, reflecting the strong influence of oceanic intrusions on the spatio-temporal patterns of water clarity. The newly developed photic depth product has many potential applications for the GBR from water quality monitoring to analyses of ecosystem responses to changes in water clarity.

In the mammalian brain, most inputs received by a neuron are formed on the dendritic tree. In the neocortex, the dendrites of pyramidal neurons are covered by thousands of tiny protrusions known as dendritic spines, which are the major recipient sites for excitatory synaptic information in the brain. Their peculiar morphology, with a small head connected to the dendritic shaft by a slender neck, has inspired decades of theoretical and more recently experimental work in an attempt to understand how excitatory synaptic inputs are processed, stored and integrated in pyramidal neurons. Advances in electrophysiological, optical and genetic tools are now enabling us to unravel the biophysical and molecular mechanisms controlling spine function in health and disease. Here I highlight relevant findings, challenges and hypotheses on spine function, with an emphasis on the electrical properties of spines and on how these affect the storage and integration of excitatory synaptic inputs in pyramidal neurons. In an attempt to make sense of the published data, I propose that the raison d’etre for dendritic spines lies in their ability to undergo activity-dependent structural and molecular changes that can modify synaptic strength, and hence alter the gain of the linearly integrated sub-threshold depolarizations in pyramidal neuron dendrites before the generation of a dendritic spike.

Forests influence climate through both the biochemical and biophysical processes, and the impacts of the latter on local climate may be much larger than the former. However, the biophysical effects of afforestation in arid regions have received little attention compared with afforestation in the tropic, temperate and boreal zones. In this study, we combined in situ eddy covariance flux measurements from a neighboring pairs of forested and background desert sites with the decomposed temperature metric (DTM) method to characterize the impacts of arid forests on surface temperature (T s ). A clear-sky, one-dimensional planetary boundary layer (PBL) model was used to estimate the impacts of afforestation on state of regional climate. We showed that despite absorbing more net radiation (35.4 W m -2 ) the riparian forests tended to cool T s (-1.28 °C) on annual basis, but with a significant seasonality. Specifically, afforestation may lead to a net cooling effect from March to September and a slightly warming effect in other months. The DTM method revealed that evapotranspiration played a dominant role in cooling surface temperature, while surface albedo (α) and incoming longwave radiation (L↓) acted together to increase forest surface temperature. From June to September, a shallower, cooler and wetter boundary layer was developed over the forest due to high plant transpiration. In other months, the PBL was slightly deeper and warmer over the forest than that over the desert. Therefore, the riparian forests were important in moderating warming trends in arid regions., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest We declared that we have no financial and personal relationships with other people or organizations that can inappropriately influence our work. All authors have agreed the submits of this paper to your Journal. We declared that we will not submit this paper to another Journal until we hear from you., (Copyright © 2022. Published by Elsevier B.V.)

Cross comparison of satellite-derived land surface phenology (LSP) and ground measurements is useful to ensure the relevance of detected seasonal vegetation change to the underlying biophysical processes. While standard 16-day and 250-m Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) vegetation index (VI)-based springtime LSP has been evaluated in previous studies, it remains unclear whether LSP with enhanced temporal and spatial resolutions can capture additional details of ground phenology. In this paper, we compared LSP derived from 500-m daily MODIS and 30-m MODIS-Landsat fused VI data with landscape phenology (LP) in a northern U.S. mixed forest. LP was previously developed from intensively observed deciduous and coniferous tree phenology using an upscaling approach. Results showed that daily MODIS-based LSP consistently estimated greenup onset dates at the study area (625 m × 625 m) level with 4.48 days of mean absolute error (MAE), slightly better than that of using 16-day standard VI (4.63 days MAE). For the observed study areas, the time series with increased number of observations confirmed that post-bud burst deciduous tree phenology contributes the most to vegetation reflectance change. Moreover, fused VI time series demonstrated closer correspondences with LP at the community level (0.1-20 ha) than using MODIS alone at the study area level (390 ha). The fused LSP captured greenup onset dates for respective forest communities of varied sizes and compositions with four days of the overall MAE. This study supports further use of spatiotemporally enhanced LSP for more precise phenological monitoring. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

In the mammalian brain, most inputs received by a neuron are formed on the dendritic tree. In the neocortex, the dendrites of pyramidal neurons are covered by thousands of tiny protrusions known as dendritic spines, which are the major recipient sites for excitatory synaptic information in the brain. Their peculiar morphology, with a small head connected to the dendritic shaft by a slender neck, has inspired decades of theoretical and more recently experimental work in an attempt to understand how excitatory synaptic inputs are processed, stored and integrated in pyramidal neurons. Advances in electrophysiological, optical and genetic tools are now enabling us to unravel the biophysical and molecular mechanisms controlling spine function in health and disease. Here I highlight relevant findings, challenges and hypotheses on spine function, with an emphasis on the electrical properties of spines and on how these affect the storage and integration of excitatory synaptic inputs in pyramidal neurons. In an attempt to make sense of the published data, I propose that the raison d'etre for dendritic spines lies in their ability to undergo activity-dependent structural and molecular changes that can modify synaptic strength, and hence alter the gain of the linearly integrated sub-threshold depolarizations in pyramidal neuron dendrites before the generation of a dendritic spike. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: In a spring-bloom ecosystem such as the Barents Sea, the seasonal variations in sea ice and insolation play important roles for the seasonal stratification, which is a prerequisite for the spring-bloom to start. Here, we identify an additional mechanism which may contribute to the seasonal stratification on the Spitsbergenbanken slope: Dense bottom water formed through ice formation and subsequent brine rejection on the bank, is advected down the slope and stratifies the water column. Under certain circumstances, this may contribute to make the physical conditions favorable for the spring-bloom to start, and may potentially alter the timing of the spring-bloom locally. We utilize an eddy resolving numerical ocean model to study this mechanism, and discuss evidence from observations. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Detecting changes to the transparency of the water column is critical for understanding the responses of marine organisms, such as corals, to light availability. Long-term patterns in water transparency determine geographical and depth distributions, while acute reductions cause short-term stress, potentially mortality and may increase the organisms' vulnerability to other environmental stressors. Here, we investigated the optimal, operational algorithm for light attenuation through the water column across the scale of the Great Barrier Reef (GBR), Australia. We implemented and tested a quasi-analytical algorithm to determine the photic depth in GBR waters and matched regional Secchi depth (ZSD) data to MODIS-Aqua (2002-2010) and SeaWiFS (1997-2010) satellite data. The results of the in situ ZSD/satellite data matchup showed a simple bias offset between the in situ and satellite retrievals. Using a Type II linear regression of log-transformed satellite and in situ data, we estimated ZSD and implemented the validated ZSD algorithm to generate a decadal satellite time series (2002-2012) for the GBR. Water clarity varied significantly in space and time. Seasonal effects were distinct, with lower values during the austral summer, most likely due to river runoff and increased vertical mixing, and a decline in water clarity between 2008-2012, reflecting a prevailing La Niña weather pattern. The decline in water clarity was most pronounced in the inshore area, where a significant decrease in mean inner shelf ZSD of 2.1 m (from 8.3 m to 6.2 m) occurred over the decade. Empirical Orthogonal Function Analysis determined the dominance of Mode 1 (51.3%), with the greatest variation in water clarity along the mid-shelf, reflecting the strong influence of oceanic intrusions on the spatio-temporal patterns of water clarity. The newly developed photic depth product has many potential applications for the GBR from water quality monitoring to analyses of ecosystem responses to changes in water clarity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Rechtsmedizin is the property of Springer Nature and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

In this paper, we show that periodic arrays of rectangular slots with subwavelength width provide for local electromagnetic field enhancements due to edge effects in low-frequency range, 10-25 cm-1. Periodic structures of Au, doped Si, and InSb with subwavelength thickness were studied. The half power enhancement width is ~500 nm and less around the slot edges in all cases, thereby possibly bringing terahertz (THz) sensing to the nanoscale. InSb is confirmed to offer the best results with the local power enhancements on the order of 1100 at frequency 14 cm-1. InSb and Si have large skin depths in the frequency range of interest and so the analysis of their structures was done through the Fourier expansion method of field diffracted from gratings. Au, however, has small skin depths at these frequencies compared with the thickness. Surface impedance boundary conditions were employed to model the Au structure, for which the Fourier expansion method was unsuitable owing to the huge magnitude of Au permittivity at these frequencies. The applications possibly include development of novel biosensors, with the strongly enhanced local electromagnetic fields leading to increased detection sensitivity, and monitoring biophysical processes such as DNA denaturation. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

In this paper, a molecular imaging method employing acetic acid dilute solution as a biomarker is described. An interpretation of the biophysical processes that are involved in the biomarker-tissue interaction and are determining the in vivo measured dynamic scattering characteristics is presented. On the basis of this interpretation, a compartmental model of the epithelium is developed for predicting the epithelial transport phenomena that are expected to be correlated with the dynamic characteristics of the backscattered light. The model predictions have been compared with the experimental data obtained from patients with cervical neoplasia of different grade, with the aid of a specially developed imaging system. Comparisons confirmed the validity of the interpretation of the phenomenon, and particularly, the fact that dynamic scattering characteristics are largely determined by the intracellular proton concentration kinetics. In addition, the correlation of the latter with both structural and functional alterations, associated with cervical neoplasia development, has been predicted theoretically and confirmed experimentally. The established correlation enables the derivation of quantitative indices expressing disease-specific microstructural and functional alterations, from the in vivo measured dynamic optical characteristics. This highlights the potential of the developed imaging method and technology for the noninvasive diagnosis, guided therapeutics, and screening of cervical neoplasia. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Climate change represents a serious threat to life in earth. Agriculture releases significant emissions of greenhouse gases (GHG), but also offers low-cost opportunities to mitigate GHG emissions. This paper assesses agricultural GHG emissions in Aragon, one important and representative region for agriculture in Spain. The Marginal Abatement Cost Curve (MACC) approach is used to analyze the abatement potential and cost-efficiency of mitigation measures under several scenarios, with and without taking into account the interaction among measures and their transaction costs. The assessment identifies the environmental and economic outcomes of different combinations of measures, including crop, livestock and forest measures. Some of these measures are win-win, with pollution abatement at negative costs to farmers. Moreover, we develop future mitigation scenarios for agriculture toward the year 2050. Results highlight the trade-offs and synergies between the economic and environmental outcomes of mitigation measures. The biophysical processes underlying mitigation efforts are assessed taking into account the significant effects of interactions between measures. Interactions reduce the abatement potential and worsen the cost-efficiency of measures. The inclusion of transaction costs provides a better ranking of measures and a more accurate estimation of implementation costs. The scenario analysis shows how the combinations of measures could reduce emissions by up to 75% and promote sustainable agriculture in the future.