Effects of landscape configuration on mapping ecosystem service capacity: a review of evidence and a case study in Scotland

Context

Humans structure landscapes for the production of food, fibre and fuel, commonly resulting in declines of non-provisioning ecosystem services (ESs). Heterogeneous landscapes are capable of providing multiple ESs, and landscape configuration—spatial arrangement of land cover in the landscape—is expected to affect ES capacity. However, the majority of ES mapping studies have not accounted for landscape configuration.

Objectives

Our objective is to assess and quantify the relevance of configuration for mapping ES capacity. A review of empirical evidence for configuration effects on the capacity of ten ESs reveals that for four ESs configuration is relevant but typically ignored in ES quantification. For four ESs we quantify the relevance of configuration for mapping ESs using Scotland as a case study.

Methods

Each ES was quantified through modelling, respectively ignoring or accounting for configuration. The difference in ES capacity between the two ES models was determined at multiple spatial scales.

Results

Configuration affected the capacity of all four ESs mapped, particularly at the cell and watershed scale. At the scale of Scotland most local effects averaged out. Flood control and sediment retention responded strongest to configuration. ESs were affected by different aspects of configuration, thus requiring specific methods for mapping each ES.

Conclusions

Accounting for configuration is important for the assessment of certain ESs at the cell and watershed scale. Incorporating configuration in landscape management provides opportunities for spatial optimization of ES capacity, but the diverging response of ESs to configuration suggests that accounting for configuration involves trade-offs between ESs.

     

南方典型水稻土长期试验下有机碳积累机制研究Ⅳ.颗粒有机质热裂解-气相-质谱法分子结构初步表征

采用热裂解-气相-质谱(Pyr-TMAH-GC/MS)技术对长期不同施肥处理下太湖地区黄泥土本体土壤及水稳性团聚体中颗粒有机碳(POC)的化学组分进行了研究。结果表明,POC的热裂解产物主要来源于脂肪族化合物和木质素类化合物。木质素类化合物主要以愈疮木基丙烷(G)和p-羟苯基(P)两种木质素单体为主,从而揭示黄泥土POC积累中草本植物(水稻、油菜的残茬和秸秆)的输入贡献。脂肪族化合物主要为C8-C30脂肪酸甲基酯(FAMEs),且大多为偶数碳结构。施肥改变了各裂解产物在本体土壤和水稳性团聚体中的分布,从而使得不同施肥处理下各类化合物对POC稳定性的贡献出现了差异。化肥配施猪粪下木质素类化合物以及微生物源的脂肪族化合物均贡献于本体土壤POC的积累与稳定,而化肥配施秸秆下本体土壤POC的化学稳定性主要归因于高等植物源化合物的贡献,其次为微生物源脂肪族化合物。化肥配施有机肥下水稳性团聚体中较高的POC主要归因于植物源有机物质的分解贡献。本研究揭示了合理施肥下水稻土中有机碳的化学抗性组分在土壤有机碳积累中的促进作用,各组分的相对分布差异可指示有机碳积累的不同来源。     

Innate or adaptive immunity? The example of natural killer cells

Natural killer (NK) cells were originally defined as effector lymphocytes of innate immunity endowed with constitutive cytolytic functions. More recently, a more nuanced view of NK cells has emerged. NK cells are now recognized to express a repertoire of activating and inhibitory receptors that is calibrated to ensure self-tolerance while allowing efficacy against assaults such as viral infection and tumor development. Moreover, NK cells do not react in an invariant manner but rather adapt to their environment. Finally, recent studies have unveiled that NK cells can also mount a form of antigen-specific immunologic memory. NK cells thus exert sophisticated biological functions that are attributes of both innate and adaptive immunity, blurring the functional borders between these two arms of the immune response.     

Quercus suber and Betula pendula outer barks as renewable sources of oleochemicals: A comparative study

A comparative study on the chemical composition of oak cork (Quercus suber L.) and corresponding industrial residues and birch (Betula pendula L.) outer bark is reported. Cork oak samples have lower extractives contents (6–9%) and higher contents of carbohydrates and lignin (23–27 and 33–38%, respectively) than those found for birch outer bark (40, 6 and 9%, respectively); suberin contents accounted for around 30% of cork, 11% of industrial cork powder and 45% of birch outer bark. Analysis of the suberin monomeric composition revealed that C18 and C22 ω-hydroxyfatty acids (including mid-chain epoxy- and dihydroxy-derivatives), followed by α,ω-dicarboxylic acids, are the main components in both suberins, with 9,10-epoxy-18-hydroxyoctadecanoic, 18-hydroxyoctadec-9-enoic, 9,10,18-trihydroxyoctadecanoic and octadec-9-enoic acids as the major components. The differences in the relative amounts of these acids in the suberin samples and the impact on the potential exploitation of the different industrial by-products are discussed.     

Absorption of aminoethyl cysteine ketimine decarboxylated dimer in mice: effect on plasma antioxidant potential

Aminoethylcysteine ketimine decarboxylated dimer (AECK-DD) is a natural compound with antioxidant properties of a new family of sulfur-containing amino acids. It has been detected in human urine and plasma, in mammalian cerebellum, and in dietary vegetables. In this study, we first demonstrate the absorption of AECK-DD in mice from AECK-DD-supplemented diet, using both liquid chromatography with electrochemical detection and gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry. AECK-DD circulates in the plasma of supplemented mice at a micromolar concentration and is incorporated in liver tissue. The absorption of AECK-DD is dose dependent. The dehydrogenation product of AECK-DD was also identified in plasma and liver of mice fed the AECK-DD-supplemented diet. A significant increase in plasma antioxidant potential was measured in mice fed AECK-DD-supplemented diet with respect to mice fed the control diet. These results demonstrate for the first time the absorption of AECK-DD from diet and the physiological relevance of this compound through its antioxidant action in vivo.     

Pseudocereals and teff in complex breadmaking matrices: Impact on lipid dynamics

The use of pseudocereals and ancient grains for breadmaking applications is receiving particular attention since they involve nutrient dense grains with proven health-promoting attributes. Dilution up to 20% of the basic rye/wheat flour blend by accumulative addition of amaranth, buckwheat, quinoa and teff flours (5% single flour) did positively impact either some dough visco-metric and visco-elastic features, or some techno-functional and nutritional characteristics of mixed bread matrices, and induced concomitant dynamics in lipid binding over mixing and baking steps. A preferential lipid binding to the gluten/non gluten proteins and to the outside part of the starch granules takes place during mixing, in such a way that the higher the accumulation of bound lipids during mixing, the higher the bioaccessible polyphenol content in blended breads. During baking, lipids bind to the gluten/non gluten proteins at the expenses of both a free lipid displacement and a lipid migration from the inside part of the starch granules to the protein active sites. It was observed that the higher the decrease of free lipid content during baking, the higher the pasting temperature and the lower the total setback on cooling and the dynamic moduli, but the higher the specific volume in blended breads.     

In vitro Assessment of the Bioaccessibility of Carotenoids from Sun-Dried Chilli Peppers

Chilli peppers have been recognized as an excellent source of antioxidants as they are rich in bioactive phytochemicals such as carotenoids which are known to exert various beneficial effects in vivo. Absorption is an important factor in the determination of the potential biological effects of carotenoids. The bioaccessibility of a food constituent such as a carotenoid represents its potential to be absorbed in humans. There is very limited information in the literature regarding the content and bioaccessibility of carotenoids from dried peppers. Therefore, the objectives of the present study were: first, to determine the carotenoid content of 20 varieties of red, orange or yellow coloured sun-dried chilli peppers belonging to either of four Capsicum species (annuum, baccatum, chinense and chacoense); and second, to quantify the carotenoid micellarization (bioaccessibility) following an in vitro digestion procedure. Red peppers had a higher carotenoid content and bioaccessibility than either the orange peppers or yellow pepper. Xanthophylls showed greater bioaccessibility than carotenes. Our findings confirm that dried chilli peppers are a good source of carotenoids.     

Pharmacokinetics of IV Ketorolac in Horses Undergoing Orchiectomy

Ketorolac (KET) is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug for human use, with a potent analgesic activity, that is used in the relief of moderate-to-severe postoperative pain. The pharmacokinetics of KET tromethamine was evaluated after single IV injection at 0.5 mg/kg body weight, after intubation and 10 minutes before surgery, to six Arabian colts undergoing orchiectomy. Intraoperative cardiorespiratory variables were monitored. Blood samples were collected for 36 hours, and serum samples were analyzed by high performance liquid chromotography with ultraviolet-visible detection. During surgery, all monitored physiological parameters were stable. Intermittent positive pressure ventilation, and normocapnia were maintained throughout the procedure in all animals. No adverse effects were observed. The kinetics of KET was described by a two-compartment models, and also a noncompartmental analysis was performed. The distribution and elimination half-lives were t_1/2λ1$t_{1/2{\lambda }_1}$ 0.06 ± 0.02 and t_1/2λ2$t_{1/2{\lambda }_2}$ 0.59 ± 0.21 hours, respectively. Body clearance and mean residence time were 339.99 ± 120.19 mL/h/kg and 0.49 ± 0.22 hours, respectively. The volume of distribution at steady state and volume of distribution based on the terminal phase were 218.83 ± 134.26 mL/kg and 522.5 ± 529.3 mL/kg, respectively. The serum protein binding was 75.8 ± 2.9%. The results indicate that KET at 0.5 mg/kg IV was very rapidly eliminated and thus was likely not effective in the postoperative period. However, further studies including a control group and at higher doses are suggested to investigate the KET kinetics and the analgesic efficacy in horse and define the most appropriate dosage scheme.     

Intrinsic innervation of the horse ileum

This paper describes the morphology and distribution of the enteric nervous system (ENS) cells and fibres immunoreactive for choline acetyltransferase (ChAT), neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS), substance P (SP), calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP), NF200 kDa (NF200), and S100 protein. The percentages of subclasses of enteric neurons in the total neuronal population were investigated by the use of anti-PGP 9.5 or anti-NSE antibodies.ChAT-IR myenteric plexus (MP) and submucosal plexus (SMP) neurons were 66 ± 7% and 74 ± 15%, respectively, whereas those cells expressing nNOS-IR were 38 ± 7% and 5 ± 1%, respectively. MP and SMP neurons expressing both phenotypes were also present. SP-IR was expressed by 14 ± 13% of MP and 66 ± 8% of SMP neurons whereas CGRP-IR was observed only in the SMP (43 ± 6%). NF200-IR was expressed by 61 ± 15% and 91 ± 10% of the MP and SMP neurons, respectively. The majority of the CGRP-IR SMP neurons expressed also SP-IR. Almost all SP-IR neurons in both the plexuses were cholinergic. The present study quantifies the main neuronal subpopulations of the ENS of the horse ileum; these data might be utilized to understand the neuronal modifications which occur in several gastrointestinal tract disorders.     

Composition of the volatile fraction of Ocotea bofo Kunth (Lauraceae) calyces by GC-MS and NMR fingerprinting and its antimicrobial and antioxidant activity

The chemical composition of the essential oil obtained by steam distillation of the floral calyces of Ocotea bofo Kunth (Lauraceae) was studied by means of GC, GC-MS, and 1H, 13C, and bidimensional NMR (COSY, HSQC, HMBC). Twenty-five constituents were identified, and estragole (48.7%), alpha-phellandrene (19.6%) and sabinene (10.4%) were found to be the major components. Antimicrobial activity against six aerobic bacteria and five yeasts and antioxidant activity performed by photochemiluminescence (PCL), 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), and beta-carotene bleaching assays are reported. The oil showed fair inhibiting properties against bacteria and a good inhibition against most yeasts. Its radical scavenging and chain-breaking antioxidant properties were comparable to or better than those provided by synthetic controls. Particular emphasis has been given to the use of NMR as a fast and reliable tool to discriminate O. bofo essential oil from other commercial anethole- and estragole-rich oils, namely, Illicium verum, Foeniculum vulgare, and Artemisia dracunculus.