Effects of the fundamental axes of variation in structural diversity on the forest canopy temperature in an urban area.

The spatial distribution and heterogeneity of forest canopy elements reveal the fundamental dimensions of plant structure variations. Forests characterized by greater structural complexity and diversity intercept solar radiation more effectively, directly influencing the thermal environment and energy balance of the canopy. However, the axes of variation in the distribution and heterogeneity of the canopy remain largely unknown, which limits our understanding of how structural diversity responds to canopy temperature variability. Here, we derived a set of structural diversity metrics from a dataset of canopy structure measurements obtained using unmanned aerial vehicle-light detection and ranging across major forest communities in an urban area in 2021 and 2022. We also explored the key axes of structural diversity variability and tested their predictive power for canopy temperature. The results showed that: (1) most of the variability within structural diversity (83.6 % and 81.8 %) was captured by the three key axes in 2021 and 2022. The first axis was primarily driven by structural heterogeneity, representing the heterogeneity of vegetation distribution within the canopy. The second axis was primarily influenced by the interaction between height and cover/openness, indicating the vertical structure and horizontal distribution pattern of the canopy. The third axis represented the horizontal coverage and density of the canopy. (2) In both 2021 and 2022, the second axis was identified as the most influential predictor of canopy temperature, as evidenced by R2 values of 0.46 and 0.28, respectively. The model incorporating all three axes of structural diversity achieved the highest accuracy in predicting the canopy temperature for 2021 (R2 = 0.68, AIC = 81.35, ΔAIC = 0, and RMSE = 0.89). Prior research on canopy temperature prediction has overlooked the true potential of principal component axes derived from structural diversity. The findings present a novel approach for selecting structural diversity indicators for future investigation.

Access and benefit-sharing of the pathogenic microorganisms such as SARS-CoV-2.

With the outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), it is essential to share pathogens and their data information safely, transparently, and timely. At the same time, it is also worth exploring how to share the benefits of using the provided pathogenic microorganisms fairly and equitably. There are some mechanisms for the management and sharing of pathogenic microbial resources in the world, such as the World Health Organization (WHO), the United States, the Europe, and China. This paper studies these mechanisms and puts forward "PICC" principles, including public welfare principle, interests principle, classified principle, and category principle, to strengthen cooperation, improve efficiency, and maintain biosafety.

[Bushen Daozhuo Granules for type â ¢ prostatitis: A multicenter randomized controlled clinical trial].

OBJECTIVE: To study the safety and efficacy of Bushen Daozhuo Granules (BDG) in the treatment of type Ⅲ prostatitis. METHODS: This multicenter randomized controlled clinical trial included 478 patients with type Ⅲ prostatitis, 290 in the trial group and 188 as controls, the former treated with BDG at 200 ml bid and the latter with tamsulosin hydrochloride sustainedrelease capsules at 0.2 mg qd, both for 4 weeks. Before treatment, after 4 weeks of medication, and at 4 weeks after drug withdrawal, we obtained the NIH Chronic Prostatitis Symptom Index (NIHCPSI) scores and compared the safety and effectiveness rate between the two groups of patients. RESULTS: Compared with the baseline, the NIHCPSI score was markedly decreased in the control group after 4 weeks of medication (21.42 ± 4.02 vs 15.67 ± 3.65, P < 0.05) but showed no statistically significant difference from that at 4 weeks after drug withdrawal (19.03 ± 3.86) (P>0.05), while the NIHCPSI score in the trial group was remarkably lower than the baseline both after 4 weeks of medication and at 4 weeks after drug withdrawal (10.92 ± 2.06 and 12.91 ± 2.64 vs 21.58 ± 3.67, P < 0.05). The trial group exhibited both a higher rate of total effectiveness and safety than the control (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: BDG is safe and effective for the treatment of type Ⅲ prostatitis.