Identification of key priority areas under different ecological restoration scenarios on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau.

With the intensification of climate warming and human activities, the ecosystems on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau (QTP) are facing increasing threats which leads to extensive ecological degradation. Ecological restoration measures need to be implemented to improve biodiversity and ecosystem services to mitigate the impact of climate change and human disturbances. However, the key priority areas (KPAs) for ecological restoration are not clear on the QTP, and the benefits of ecosystem services for ecological restoration are often ignored. In this study, we are the first to identify the KPAs based on the quantitative evaluation method and multicriteria optimization algorithm under five restoration scenarios aiming at ecosystem service improvement on the QTP. Results showed that: (1) The benefits of ecological restoration for climate change mitigation and associated costs under different scenarios showed generally similar spatial variability, exhibiting higher in the south and lower in the west, which were different from those for biodiversity. (2) The restoration priorities in Sichuan and Yunnan were generally higher under scenarios Ⅱ and Ⅴ, while in Xinjiang, Sichuan, Yunnan, and western and southern Tibet were higher under scenarios Ⅰ, Ⅲ and Ⅳ. (3) For different ecosystems, the similarities lied in that the restoration priorities of wetland ecosystem were the highest, while those of desert ecosystem were the lowest under five restoration scenarios. (4) When the restoration area requirement was 25% of the total degraded area, the highest restoration priority levels under scenarios Ⅰ, Ⅲ and Ⅳ were mainly distributed in Guinan, Renbu, Nierong and Chayu counties, and under scenarios Ⅱ and Ⅴ were mainly distributed in Renbu, Lang and Guinan counties. When the restoration area requirements were 50% and 75% of the total degraded area, the counties with higher restoration priority levels under scenario Ⅱ were different from those under other four scenarios. This study identified the KPAs under different restoration scenarios, which provided references for the restoration measures implementation on the QTP.

The impact of physical activity during pregnancy on labor and delivery.

BACKGROUND: Physical activity in pregnancy is associated with decreased risks of adverse pregnancy outcomes such as gestational diabetes and preeclampsia. However, the relationship between the amount and type of physical activity during pregnancy and subsequent labor outcomes remains unclear. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to test the hypothesis that higher levels of physical activity across different lifestyle domains in pregnancy are associated with a shorter duration of labor. STUDY DESIGN: This study is a secondary analysis of a prospective cohort study in which patients with singleton pregnancies without a major fetal anomaly were administered the Kaiser Physical Activity Survey in each trimester. The Kaiser Physical Activity Survey was designed specifically to quantify various types of physical activities in women and includes 4 summative indices-housework/caregiving, active living habits, sports, and occupation. The study included women at full-term gestations admitted for induction of labor or spontaneous labor. The primary outcome of this analysis was duration of the second stage of labor. Secondary outcomes were duration of the active stage, prolonged first and second stage, mode of delivery, rates of second-stage cesarean delivery, operative vaginal delivery, severe perineal lacerations, and postpartum hemorrhage. These outcomes were compared between patients with and without high physical activity levels, defined as overall Kaiser Physical Activity Survey score ≥75th percentile in the third trimester. Multivariable logistic regression was used to adjust for obesity and epidural use. In addition, a subgroup analysis of nulliparous patients was performed. RESULTS: A total of 811 patients with complete Kaiser Physical Activity Survey data in the third trimester were included in this analysis. The median Kaiser Physical Activity Survey score was 9.5 (8.2-10.8). Of the 811 patients, 203 (25%) had higher levels of physical activity in pregnancy. There was no difference in the duration of the second stage of labor between patients with and without higher physical activity levels (1.29±2.94 vs 0.97±2.08 hours; P=.15). The duration of active labor was significantly shorter in patients with higher levels of physical activity (5.77±4.97 vs 7.43±6.29 hours; P=.01). Patients with higher physical activity levels were significantly less likely to have a prolonged first stage (9.8% vs 19.4%; P<.01; adjusted relative risk, 0.55; 95% confidence interval, 0.34-0.83). However, rates of prolonged second-stage cesarean delivery, operative vaginal deliveries, and perineal lacerations were similar between the 2 groups. CONCLUSION: Patients who are more physically active during pregnancy have a shorter duration of active labor.