Ecosystems processes

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Karen J. Esler ◽  
Anna L. Jacobsen ◽  
R. Brandon Pratt
Keyword(s):  
Ecosystem Function ◽  
Mineral Nutrients ◽  
Structure And Function ◽  
Water Dynamics ◽  
Ecosystem Level ◽  
Key Drivers ◽  
And Function ◽  
Mediterranean Type Ecosystems

Ecosystems are assemblages of organisms interacting with one another and their environment (Chapter 1). Key to the functioning of ecosystems is the flow of energy, carbon, mineral nutrients, and water in these systems. The numerous processes involved are chiefly driven by climate, soil, and fire (Chapter 2). In cases where the key drivers are the same in different areas, then ecosystems should converge in their structure and function, which has been a motivation for comparing across mediterranean-type climate (MTC) regions. Convergence of MTC regions has been evaluated, but such comparisons at the ecosystem level are challenging because ecosystems are complex and dynamic entities. Here we review carbon, nutrient, and water dynamics of mediterranean-type ecosystems in the context of ecosystem function. As nutrients in soils are low in some MTC regions, we review how this has led to unique adaptations to meet this challenge.

Dance’s Resource-fullness

Valuing Dance ◽  
2019 ◽  
pp. 23-50
Author(s):  
Susan Leigh Foster
Keyword(s):  
Structure And Function ◽  
Virtual Power ◽  
Vast Number ◽  
Hypothetical Construct ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
And Function

Chapter 1 introduces a hypothetical construct called “dance’s resource-fullness”—a set of conjectured but unverifiable capacities dance might have that could be tapped for exchange either as commodity or as gift. These capacities consist of the ability to bring people into relation, to generate as well as expend energy, and to adapt to a wide range of contexts and needs. In support of these conjectures about dance, the chapter utilizes a methodology of list-making and draws upon diverse studies of dance including philosophical, sociological, anthropological, and neurophysiological inquiries. Dance’s capacity to bring people into relation is assessed in terms of the ways it summons participants, how it develops the space in which it occurs, and the types of subjecthood it constructs. Dance’s facility at generating energy is explained through recourse to theories of dance as play, as synchrony, as bodily becoming, as virtual power, and as mobilization. Dance’s facility at adapting to an array of contexts is demonstrated through the vast number of typologies of dance that have been proposed concerning its structure and function.

scholarly journals Oncometabolite induced primary cilia loss in pheochromocytoma

2019 ◽  
Vol 26 (1) ◽  
pp. 165-180 ◽  
Author(s):  
Samuel M O’Toole ◽  
David S Watson ◽  
Tatiana V Novoselova ◽  
Lisa E L Romano ◽  
Peter J King ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Therapeutic Intervention ◽  
General Feature ◽  
Primary Cilia ◽  
Germline Mutations ◽  
Structure And Function ◽  
Endocrine Tumors ◽  
Pheochromocytoma Cell ◽  
Transcriptional Changes ◽  
Key Drivers ◽  
And Function

Primary cilia are sensory organelles involved in regulation of cellular signaling. Cilia loss is frequently observed in tumors; yet, the responsible mechanisms and consequences for tumorigenesis remain unclear. We demonstrate that cilia structure and function is disrupted in human pheochromocytomas – endocrine tumors of the adrenal medulla. This is concomitant with transcriptional changes within cilia-mediated signaling pathways that are associated with tumorigenesis generally and pheochromocytomas specifically. Importantly, cilia loss was most dramatic in patients with germline mutations in the pseudohypoxia-linked genes SDHx and VHL. Using a pheochromocytoma cell line derived from rat, we show that hypoxia and oncometabolite-induced pseudohypoxia are key drivers of cilia loss and identify that this is dependent on activation of an Aurora-A/HDAC6 cilia resorption pathway. We also show cilia loss drives dramatic transcriptional changes associated with proliferation and tumorigenesis. Our data provide evidence for primary cilia dysfunction contributing to pathogenesis of pheochromocytoma by a hypoxic/pseudohypoxic mechanism and implicates oncometabolites as ciliary regulators. This is important as pheochromocytomas can cause mortality by mechanisms including catecholamine production and malignant transformation, while hypoxia is a general feature of solid tumors. Moreover, pseudohypoxia-induced cilia resorption can be pharmacologically inhibited, suggesting potential for therapeutic intervention.

Biogeomes of hydrosphere and land as elements of the biosphere structure

2015 ◽  
Vol 27 (1-2) ◽  
pp. 5-15
Author(s):  
A. A. Protasov
Keyword(s):  
Abiotic Factors ◽  
Level Structure ◽  
Structure And Function ◽  
Woody Vegetation ◽  
Strong Impact ◽  
Ecosystem Level ◽  
And Function ◽  
Natural Groups ◽  
Ecological Convergence

Ecosystems as the smallest unit in the structure of the biosphere form natural groups with similar nonliving or inert components (geome) and leaving, biotic (biome) as a result of the ecological convergence. Thus it is formed following after ecosystem level structure of the biosphere – biogeomes or complexes of similar in its structure and function ecosystems. It is proposed unit classification of 12 biogeomes of hydrosphere and land, combining with three types of ecosystems: biotic, oligobiotic and subbiotic types. The biotic type combine with ecosystems controlled by leaving components as well as woody vegetation or hermatypic corrals. The ecosystems of oligobiotic type have strong impact of abiotic factors but biotic ones are important too. It is grass ecosystems on the land, and shelf ecosystems of ocean. In subbiotic type of ecosystems strongly prevail in its habitus abiotic components. It is ecosystems of deserts, and ocean deep bottom or pelagic ocean ecosystems. The evolution of biosphere was lead as well as to new local ecosystems divergently and convergently to formation limit number of ecosystems types, biogeomes. There is reason to believe it possible to form a new scientific section – biogeomics because there is a particular object of it study – the biogeome.

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