TreeNet–The Biological Drought and Growth Indicator Network

The TreeNet research and monitoring network has been continuously collecting data from point dendrometers and air and soil microclimate using an automated system since 2011. The goal of TreeNet is to generate high temporal resolution datasets of tree growth and tree water dynamics for research and to provide near real-time indicators of forest growth performance and drought stress to a wide audience. This paper explains the key working steps from the installation of sensors in the field to data acquisition, data transmission, data processing, and online visualization. Moreover, we discuss the underlying premises to convert dynamic stem size changes into relevant biological information. Every 10 min, the stem radii of about 420 trees from 13 species at 61 sites in Switzerland are measured electronically with micrometer precision, in parallel with the environmental conditions above and below ground. The data are automatically transmitted, processed and stored on a central server. Automated data processing (R-based functions) includes screening of outliers, interpolation of data gaps, and extraction of radial stem growth and water deficit for each tree. These long-term data are used for scientific investigations as well as to calculate and display daily indicators of growth trends and drought levels in Switzerland based on historical and current data. The current collection of over 100 million data points forms the basis for identifying dynamics of tree-, site- and species-specific processes along environmental gradients. TreeNet is one of the few forest networks capable of tracking the diurnal and seasonal cycles of tree physiology in near real-time, covering a wide range of temperate forest species and their respective environmental conditions.

An Evaluation of Environmental Governance in Urban China Based on a Hesitant Fuzzy Linguistic Analytic Network Process

The aim of this study is to evaluate the performance of urban environmental governance by developing hesitant fuzzy linguistic analytic network process (HFL-ANP). The study bridges the gaps in current knowledge in the following ways: the study methodically develops the HFL-ANP method to evaluate and pick the optimal environmental governance strategy from alternatives; theoretically, network structure of evaluation indicators system on environmental governance is constructed, and the objective and subjective information in the evaluation process of environmental governance is combined. In detail, based on the environmental Kuznets curve (EKC) and the pollution haven hypothesis, the paper constructs the evaluation indexes system of environmental governance and takes observation time length into consideration. Then, we choose three urban cases of environmental governance by exploring the existing literature. Furthermore, we develop the HFL-ANP method and apply it to the cases. The study calculates the initial weights of all indexes by using multiplicative consistency of the HFL preference relation, and derives the decision matrix through combining objective information with subjective information of environmental governance. Finally, we come to the following conclusions: ANP network stricture is close to real-world practical problems and provides the basis for HFL-ANP method; HFL-ANP is a very suitable method of assessing environmental governance; and based on the urban cases of environmental governance, Shanghai is the optimal alternative. In addition, this indicator system can only be applied to cities in China, and the administrative hierarchy of policies has not been considered by this method. Thus, future studies should expand this method and indicator network to contain different countries and different administrative hierarchy.

NEURO-ENDOCRINE-IMMUNE BIOLOGICAL NETWORK CONSTRUCTION OF QI DEFICIENCY PATTERN AND QI STAGNATION PATTERN IN TRADITIONAL CHINESE MEDICINE

Nowadays, it is quite challenging to clarify Chinese medicine's results and its internal biological foundation in the traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) field. The key to break through this problem is to make the right methodological choices. From our study, a pattern consisting of many kinds of characterizations has been found, and every characterization corresponds with its internal biological indicators. If the relationship of every characterization and its biological indicators can be structured, and of each pattern and its biological indicators, it will help us to understand TCM better. Therefore, it is a better method to construct and analyze the "pattern-characterization-biological indicator" network. The aim of this paper is to distinguish two common Chinese medicine patterns, qi deficiency pattern and qi stagnation pattern, and their characterizations in terms of internal biology by using literature-mining methods. Furthermore, the results will be validated by clinical data to examine the methodological reliability. A neuro-endocrine-immune (NEI)-related gene data dictionary and a human phenotype ontology (HPO) characterizations terminology database have been established for these two patterns. Relevant literatures about the characterizations of these two patterns can be found on PubMed. Two different literature-mining software PubMiner and GenCliP, were used on the principle of "pattern-characterization-biological indicator" co-occurrence to find the characteristic NEI gene and the chemical messenger (CM) of Qi deficiency and qi stagnation patterns and to explore the difference in the bioactive substances between the two patterns, such as Hormones, Receptors, Cytokine, Neurotransmitters, etc. Biological networks of the two patterns and their various characterizations were separately constructed by using two literature-mining methods. After integrating and analyzing all kinds of networks, we found that qi deficiency pattern genes based on the NEI network include CD4, CHAT, EPO, GCG, INS, PTH, PRL, REN, SHBG and MAOA; and the key chemical transmitters include IgA, IgM, IgG, IL6, INFα, C3, C4, IL2, T, TSH, T3, T4, NO, EPO, E2, Serotonin, Histamine, ACTH, Hydrocortisone, Insulin, Cytokine, Calcitriol, Aldosterone, Adenosine, Somatostatin, Progesterone Acetylcholine, NE and Dopamine. Qi stagnation pattern genes based on the NEI network include EGF, EGFR, INS, PRL, SHBG, SNAP25, BDNF, COMT, DRD4, CD4 and IL6; and the key chemical transmitters include T3, E2, Prolactin, Serotonin, Steroids, T, ACTH, TSH, NE, ACTH and IL6. By comparing the literature data with clinical data, we found that abnormalities of the endocrine system, especially the thyroid, adrenal gland and gonadal gland, are closely related to the occurrence of coronary heart disease (CHD). The abnormalities in the endocrine system affect the immune system and nervous system, which eventually leads to CHD. The CHD of qi deficiency pattern emphasizes the imbalance of the immune system, while that of qi stagnation patients focuses on the imbalance of the nervous system. To some extent, it is feasible to use literature-mining methods to construct and analyze the "pattern-characterization-biological indicator" network as a new method of finding syndromes for the biological indicators. It provides an advanced, effective and concise method for the objectivity and internalization of traditional medicine. However, the universality and reliability of this method will need to be further validated by other syndrome studies.

Knowledge Economy and Turkey

In this study, concept of knowledge economy has been held from the point of innovations it has brought, main features and factors and also the analysis of knowledge economy from Turkey’s perspective. Knowledge society has been started with the development of the first computer and evolved with the improvements in knowledge and communication sectors. In this process, relations with production, consumption and distribution which are main factors of economy and whole economic structure have been changed as to be based on knowledge. Strategic factor has become the knowledge. The new economy called knowledge economy is a web economy which is the main determiner in competitiveness and productivity. “Knowledge Assesment Methodology” has been developed by World Bank in order to measure the progress of countries towards becoming a knowledge economy. Also another indicator “Network Readiness Index” was developed by World Economic Forum. Therefore, in this study, the place of Turkey in becoming a knowledge society has been analysed by comparing Turkey with other countries in the world. Strength and weaknesses, opportunities and threats have also been analysed in terms of knowledge economy for Turkey.