Linking carbon sequestration science with local sustainability: an integrated assessment approach

This paper introduces an integrated assessment (IA) approach for a Canada-China joint research project that linked forest carbon sequestration, forest resource management, and local sustainability enhancement. The purpose of the IA was to improve the measurement of carbon in different land uses and vegetation covers, as well as to direct decision makers to those land uses or options as an CO(2) emission reduction strategy while supporting rural sustainable development. In this connection, three questions are addressed in this paper: 1) How will forestry carbon sequestration land use policies affect regional sustainability prospects in rural China? 2) How could carbon sequestration land use plans be better integrated into sustainable development strategies? and 3) How can the IA approach assist Chinese government agencies in design effective forestry land use policies? The IA approach was applied in three rural sites of western China. These case studies are described in detail by following articles in this volume. The project improved the capacity of local resource managers in identifying the economic, social and environmental impacts of rural land use decisions that might increase carbon sequestration and enhance local livelihood.

Social and economic impacts of carbon sequestration and land use change on peasant households in rural China: a case study of Liping, Guizhou Province

Numerous innovative approaches to mitigate effects of excessive emission of greenhouse gases (GHGs) on global climate change are being proposed and formulated. Sequestering carbon to terrestrial ecosystems represents one of the important clean development mechanisms. Reforestation through converting various non-forest lands to forests is undoubtedly an important dimension of carbon sequestration. Using Liping County in Guizhou Province as a case region, this study examines the perceived change in social and economic livelihoods of peasants and the factors responsible for the variations in the changes. The results of the study reveal that socio-economic changes associated with the government-financed project are multifaceted and profound. Because of the financial subsidies provided by the central government, this environmental action in many aspects can be regarded as a poverty reduction measure in the underdeveloped area where rural poverty is widespread. A majority of peasant households have benefited from project participation. The land conversion project with continued financial support also contributes to the social transformations of traditional rural society in remote areas to a more mobile, less subsistence agriculture-based, and open society.

The costs and benefits of reforestation in Liping County, Guizhou Province, China

Reducing greenhouse gases in the atmosphere is becoming a pressing issue for the global community. Afforestation and reforestation are promoted worldwide as an effective means of sequestering carbon. For its national interest and global concerns, China has made great efforts to protect its existing forests and develop programs of afforestation and reforestation. Based on two surveys recently conducted in Liping County, Guizhou province, this paper investigates the economic changes associated with the implementation of the "Grain For Green" policy. Based on the analytical framework of benefit cost analysis, this paper concludes that the implementation of the reforestation of sloping agricultural land policy would not be possible if there were no government subsidies for the peasants. The short term economic returns of land and labour from forestation are substantially lower than those generated from grain or cash crop production on the steep slope lands. The government subsidies provide great economic incentives for peasants to take part in the project. The subsidies in fact have elevated peasant income in rural Liping. The estimated potential economic returns of plantations over the long run indicate that the removal of the government financial subsidies would not create an economic crisis for the peasants if the current market conditions continue.

Plasticity in intact A delta- and C-fibers contributes to cold hypersensitivity in neuropathic rats

Cold hypersensitivity is a common sensory abnormality accompanying peripheral neuropathies and is difficult to treat. Progress has been made in understanding peripheral mechanisms underlying neuropathic pain but little is known concerning peripheral mechanisms of cold hypersensitivity. The aim of this study was to analyze the contribution of uninjured primary afferents to the cold hypersensitivity that develops in neuropathic rats. Rats with a lumbar 5 (L5) and L6 spinal nerve ligation (SNL, Chung model) but not sham, developed mechanical allodynia, evidenced by decreased paw withdrawal thresholds and increased magnitude of response to von Frey stimulation. Cold hypersensitivity also developed in SNL but not sham rats, evidenced by enhanced nociceptive behaviors induced by placement on a cold plate (6 degrees C) or application of icilin (a transient receptor potential M8 (TRPM8)/transient receptor potential A1 (TRPA1) receptor agonist) to nerve-injured hind paws. Single fiber recordings demonstrated that the mean conduction velocities of intact L4 cutaneous A delta- and C-fibers were not different between naive and SNL rats; however, mechanical thresholds of the A delta- but not the C-fibers were significantly decreased in SNL compared with naive. There was a higher prevalence of C-mechanoheat-cold (CMHC) fibers in SNL compared with naive, but the overall percentage of cold-sensitive C-fibers was not significantly increased compared with naive. This was in contrast to the numerous changes in A delta-fibers: the percentage of L4 cold sensitive A delta-, but not C-fibers, was significantly increased, the percentage of L4 icilin-sensitive A delta-, but not C-fibers, was significantly increased, the icilin-induced activity of L4 A delta-, but not C-fibers, was significantly increased. Icilin-induced activity was blocked by the TRPA1 antagonist Ruthenium Red. The results indicate plasticity in both A delta- and C-uninjured fibers, but A delta fibers appear to provide a major contribution to cold hypersensitivity in neuropathic rats.

Influence of UGT1A9 intronic I399C>T polymorphism on SN-38 glucuronidation in Asian cancer patients

Genetic polymorphisms in hepatically expressed UGT1A1 and UGT1A9 contribute to the interindividual variability i-n irinotecan disposition and toxicity. We screened UGT1A1 (UGT1A1*60, g.-3140G>A, UGT1A1*28 and UGT1A1*6) and UGT1A9 (g.-118(T)(9>10) and I399C>T) genes for polymorphic variants in the promoter and coding regions, and the genotypic effect of UGT1A9 I399C>T polymorphism on irinotecan disposition in Asian cancer patients was investigated. Blood samples were collected from 45 patients after administration of irinotecan as a 90 min intravenous infusion of 375 mg/m(2) once in every 3 weeks. Genotypic-phenotypic correlates showed that cancer patients heterozygous or homozygous for the I399C>T allele had approximately 2-fold lower systemic exposure to SN-38 (P<0.05) and a trend towards a higher relative extent of glucuronidation (REG) of SN-38 (P>0.05). UGT1A1-1A9 diplotype analysis showed that patients harbouring the H1/H2 (TG6GT(10)T/GG6GT(9)C) diplotype had 2.4-fold lower systemic exposure to SN-38 glucuronide (SN-38G) compared with patients harbouring the H1/H5 (TG6GT(10)T/GG6GT(10)C) diplotype (P=0.025). In conclusion, this in vivo study supports the in vitro findings of Girard et al. and suggests that the UGT1A9 I399C>T variant may be an important glucuronidating allele affecting the pharmacokinetics of SN-38 and SN-38G in Asian cancer patients receiving irinotecan chemotherapy.

High resolution spectroscopy of (lambda)(12)B by electroproduction

An experiment measuring electroproduction of hypernuclei has been performed in hall A at Jefferson Lab on a 12C target. In order to increase counting rates and provide unambiguous kaon identification two superconducting septum magnets and a ring imaging Cherenkov detector were added to the hall A standard equipment. An unprecedented energy resolution of less than 700 keV FWHM has been achieved. Thus, the observed (Lambda)(12)B spectrum shows for the first time identifiable strength in the core-excited region between the ground-state s-wave Lambda peak and the 11 MeV p-wave Lambda peak.

Application of several types of substrates to ficin-catalyzed peptide synthesis

The capability of ficin, a cystine protease, to form peptide bonds was investigated using several types of N-Boc-amino acid phenyl and naphthyl esters as acyl donor components. Enzyme-catalyzed peptide synthesis was carried out under optimized reaction conditions of pH, acyl acceptor concentration and selection of the best yield organic solvent. It used a condensation of N-Boc-Ala-OpGu and Ala-pNA as a model reaction. The products were obtained in 72-96% yield using 10 different substrates, within a few minutes of reaction time.

Matrix metalloproteinase-9 polymorphism contributes to blood pressure and arterial stiffness in essential hypertension

Arterial stiffness is an independent predictor of cardiovascular events in a hypertensive population. Serum levels of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-9 are associated with arterial stiffness and predict cardiovascular risk. We investigated the role of MMP-9 polymorphism -1562C>T on blood pressure (BP) and arterial stiffness in a newly diagnosed hypertensive population. Untreated hypertensive patients (n=215, mean age 46+/-13 years) were studied. Supine BP, carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (PWV) and augmentation index were assessed. Serum biochemistry and plasma MMP-9 concentrations were measured and genotyping performed following extraction of genomic DNA. BP, aortic PWV and serum MMP-9 levels were significantly higher in T-allele carriers of the -1562C>T polymorphism with a significant gene-dose effect (P<0.0001). In a stepwise regression model adjusting for known or likely determinants, the 1562C>T polymorphism emerged as an independent predictor of systolic BP (R(2)=0.25, P<0.0001), diastolic BP (R(2)=0.16, P<0.0001) and PWV (R(2)=0.47,P<0.0001). This is the first study to show the effect of MMP-9 polymorphism on BP and aortic stiffness in a hypertensive population. These results suggest that hypertensive patients carrying the T allele may be at increased risk of cardiovascular events.

Initial safety and efficacy results of erlotinib in previously treated patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer

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Background: Erlotinib is an orally available selective HER1/EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitor. In the BR.21 trial, erlotinib significantly improved survival and quality of life in non-small cell lung cancer(NSCLC) patients (pts). The study evaluated the initial efficacy and safety of erlotinib in previously treated advanced or metastatic NSCLC patients in Shanghai, China. Methods: Eligibility criteria included stage IIIb/IV or recurrent NSCLC pts who failed from prior chemotherapy, PS = 0–2, weight loss less than 5%, and no urgent symptoms. Pts received oral erlotinib 150 mg po/day until objective or symptomatic progression. Results: 50 pts were enrolled from Oct 1 to Sept 30. Demographics: M 68%/F 32%; median age 55 y [range 28–68]; stage IV 86%; PS 0/1/2:2 (4%)/44 (88%)/4 (8%); adenocarcinoma/non-adenocarcinoma 39 (78%)/11 (22%); smoking status: 26 (52%) /no 24 (48%). The major toxicity was rash: 48 (96%), 10 (20%) of them are grade 3/4; other toxicity included grade 1/2 diahhrea: 5 (10%); grade 1/2 liver dysfunction: 4 (8%); grade 2 leucocytopenia: 2 (4%); grade 1 thrombocytopenia: 1(2%); fatigue and dyspnea. 3 patients discontinued for dyspnea, pneumonitis and fatigue respectively. No pts had pulmonary fibrosis and dose reduction. 47 pts were followed long enough for efficacy evaluation, which indentified 18 (38%) with PR, 21 (45%) with SD, 8 (17%) with PD. Subgroup analysis showed the resposes to erlotinib have no relation with gender, age, smoking status, performance status, histology and stages, however, significant difference existed in the subgroup patients with severe rash and less symptoms such as dyspnea and fatigue ( Table 1 ). Conclusions: Erlotinib is active and well tolerated in patients with advanced NSCLC failed to previously chemotherapy. Preliminary results suggest patients with severe rash, less dyspnea and fatigue are accociated with better response. The study in ongoing. Table 1 Response of erlotinib in advanced treated NSCLC pts. * P values less than 0.05.

[Table: see text]

No significant financial relationships to disclose.

Expressionn of ERCC1 and its influence on efficacy of induction chemotherapy in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC)

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Background: Chemotherapy efficacy is related to pharmacogenomic differences among NSCLC patients. It is thought that up-regulated ERCC1 may be responsible for platinum resistance in NSCLC.This study was to investigate expression of ERCC1 in Chinese NSCLC patients and determine its influence on efficacy of induction chemotherapy. Methods: We retrospectively compared expression of ERCC1 between NSCLC patients receiving and not receiving induction chemotherapy. Expression of ERCC1 was detected with immunohistochemistry and defined as positive if more than 10% of tumor cells expressed ERCC1 in their nuclei. Results: Consecutive 73 NSCLC patients resected from December 1997 to Feb.1998 in our hospital were randomly selected for the study. Among them, 33 patients were given 1 to 2 cycles of cisplatin-based induction chemotherapy (mainly MVP as regimen) and their characteristics were not different from those receiving no chemotherapy. Expression of ERCC1 was higher in those younger than 60 years old than older than 60 years, in those with adenocarcinoma than in those with squamous carcinoma and in those receiving induction chemotherapy than those not receiving chemotherapy. Response (and progression) rates of induction chemotherapy were 59% (6%) and 31% (19%) in those without and with ERCC1 expression, respectively. Median survival, 3 year survival, and 5 year survival were 54 months, 53% and 35% in the patients with negative ERCC1 and 36 months, 50% and 25% in those with positive ERCC1, respectively. Difference in response rate of induction chemotherapy tended to be significant between those with and with expression of ERCC1( P<0.1). Conclusions: ERCC1 is expressed in Chinese NSCLC patients. Its expression might be induced by chemotherapy. ERCC1 in NSCLC might be useful to select patients for induction chemotherapy, which needs further study.

No significant financial relationships to disclose.

System size and energy dependence of jet-induced hadron pair correlation shapes in Cu+Cu and Au+Au collisions at square root sNN=200 and 62.4 GeV

We present azimuthal angle correlations of intermediate transverse momentum (1-4 GeV/c) hadrons from dijets in Cu+Cu and Au+Au collisions at square root sNN=62.4 and 200 GeV. The away-side dijet induced azimuthal correlation is broadened, non-Gaussian, and peaked away from Delta phi=pi in central and semicentral collisions in all the systems. The broadening and peak location are found to depend upon the number of participants in the collision, but not on the collision energy or beam nuclei. These results are consistent with sound or shock wave models, but pose challenges to Cherenkov gluon radiation models.

J/psi production versus transverse momentum and rapidity in p+p collisions at square root s=200 GeV

J/psi production in p+p collisions at square root s=200 GeV has been measured by the PHENIX experiment at the BNL Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider over a rapidity range of -2.2<y<2.2 and a transverse momentum range of 0<pT<9 GeV/c. The size of the present data set allows a detailed measurement of both the pT and the rapidity distributions and is sufficient to constrain production models. The total cross section times the branching ratio is Bll sigma pp J/psi=178+/-3stat+/-53sys+/-18norm nb.

J/psi production versus centrality, transverse momentum, and rapidity in Au+Au collisions at square root sNN=200 GeV

The PHENIX experiment at the BNL Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider (RHIC) has measured J/psi production for rapidities -2.2<y<2.2 in Au+Au collisions at square root sNN=200 GeV. The J/psi invariant yield and nuclear modification factor RAA as a function of centrality, transverse momentum, and rapidity are reported. A suppression of J/psi relative to binary collision scaling of proton-proton reaction yields is observed. Models which describe the lower energy J/psi data at the CERN Super Proton Synchrotron invoking only J/psi destruction based on the local medium density predict a significantly larger suppression at RHIC and more suppression at midrapidity than at forward rapidity. Both trends are contradicted by our data.