Pastoralist Responses to Floodplain Rehabilitation in North Cameroon

This paper examines the responses of mobile pastoralists to a floodplain rehabilitation program in north Cameroon. From 1993 to 1999, we measured changes in number of camps and herds, and the time they spent in the 600 km² of the Logone floodplain that was reflooded in 1994. The first year, few pastoralists anticipated the reflooding or its impact, and the increase in grazing intensity was caused by a prolonged stay of pastoralists who already used the area for transit. The following three years showed a sharp increase in the number of camps and herds, which stabilized from 1997 onwards. Overall, grazing intensity increased threefold, following the gradually recovering perennial grasslands, with no signs of overexploitation of the area. These developments closely match the ideal preemptive distribution model. We also examined how reflooding affected pastoral incursions in the Waza National Park located in the floodplain.

Determination of compound aminopyrine phenacetin tablets by using artificial neural networks combined with principal components analysis

A method for simultaneous, nondestructive analysis of aminopyrine and phenacetin in compound aminopyrine phenacetin tablets with different concentrations has been developed by principal component artificial neural networks (PC-ANNs) on near-infrared (NIR) spectroscopy. In PC-ANN models, the spectral data were initially analyzed by principal component analysis. Then the scores of the principal components were chosen as input nodes for the input layer instead of the spectral data. The artificial neural network models using the spectral data as input nodes were also established and compared with the PC-ANN models. Four different preprocessing methods (first-derivative, second-derivative, standard normal variate (SNV), and multiplicative scatter correction) were applied to three sets of NIR spectra of compound aminopyrine phenacetin tablets. The PC-ANNs approach with SNV preprocessing spectra was found to provide the best results. The degree of approximation was performed as the selective criterion of the optimum network parameters.     

Use of Multiple-Site Performance-Contingent SEMG Reward Programming in Pediatric Rehabilitation: A Retrospective Review

We completed a retrospective review of the effectiveness of multi-site, performance-contingent reward programming on functional change in motor performance of 16 treatment resistant children. Patients were previously treated in physical or occupational therapy for head control, standing balance training, sitting and upper extremity use (brachial plexus injury). They then participated in a program that utilized multiple surface electromyography sites the use of which was rewarded with videos for performing the correct constellation of recruitment pattern (e.g., contracting some muscles while relaxing others). Onset of reward was calibrated for each patient and transfer of skill to outside the clinic was encouraged by linking a verbal cue to the correct motor plan. Fourteen of the 16 patients improved. The implications of the use of this technique in the treatment of motor dysfunction is discussed.     

Postrelease dive ability in rehabilitated harbor seals

The efficacy of seal rehabilitation is examined in a postrelease study of dive ability in harbor seal pups (Phoca vitulina) in the Wash, United Kingdom. Six rehabilitated seals were fitted with Sea Mammal Research Unit (SMRU) Argos Satellite Relay Data Logger tags and their individual dive behavior was monitored for an average of 122 d. The upper 90 percentile edge of dive behavior (dive duration [DD₉₀] and percentage of time at‐sea spent in a dive [PD₉₀]), in 7 d bins, was used as a proxy for physiological dive ability. The results are compared with data from five wild adult harbor seals. There was no statistically significant difference between (1) the mean track duration of rehabilitated seals (126.20 ± 27.48 [SD] d) and adult seals (150.2 ± 24.62 d) (P= 0.108), indicating no evidence that short‐term survival was less in the rehabilitated group; (2) the mean mass‐scaled DD₉₀ of rehabilitated seals (3.95 ± 0.37 min) and adult seals (4.09 ± 0.55 min) (P= 0.632); and (3) the mean PD₉₀ of rehabilitated seals (81.62 ± 1.21%) and adult seals (81.48 ± 3.93%) (P= 0.943). These three results all suggest the success of the rehabilitation program in terms of short‐term survival and dive ability.     

Sublytic C5b-9 complexes induce apoptosis of glomerular mesangial cells in rats with Thy-1 nephritis through role of interferon regulatory factor-1-dependent caspase 8 activation

The apoptosis of glomerular mesangial cells (GMC) in rat Thy-1 nephritis (Thy-1N), a model of human mesangioproliferative glomerulonephritis, is accompanied by sublytic C5b-9 deposition, but the mechanism of sublytic C5b-9-mediated GMC apoptosis has not been elucidated. In the present study, the gene expression profiles both in the GMC stimulated by sublytic C5b-9 and the rat renal tissue of Thy-1N were detected using microarrays. Among the co-up-regulated genes, the up-regulation of interferon regulatory factor-1 (IRF-1) was further confirmed. Increased caspase 8 and caspase 3 expression and caspase 8 promoter activity in the GMC were also identified. Meanwhile, overexpression or knockdown of IRF-1 not only enhanced or inhibited GMC apoptosis and caspase 8 and 3 induction but also increased or decreased caspase 8 promoter activity, respectively. The element of IRF-1 binding to the caspase 8 promoter was first revealed. Furthermore, silencing IRF-1 or repressing the activation of caspases 8 and 3 significantly reduced GMC apoptosis, including other pathologic changes of Thy-1N. These novel findings indicate that GMC apoptosis of Thy-1N is associated with the IRF-1-activated caspase 8 pathway.     

亚健康状态大鼠的神经-免疫-内分泌机制的研究

目的探讨亚健康状态大鼠的神经-免疫-内分泌的机制。方法取雄性SPF级Wistar大鼠36只,按体重随机分成6组,即多因素组（MF）、多因素干预组（MFT）、热水游泳组（WS）、睡眠不足组（SD）、单纯束缚组（PC）和正常对照组（C）,每组6只。分别采用热水游泳、饮食限制、睡眠剥夺、束缚等方式建立亚健康大鼠模型,多因素干预组每日经口给予300 mg/kg的抗衰老片,在造模5 d后处理动物,并取大鼠血,分别测定血清5-羟色胺（5-HT）、多巴胺（DA）、甲状腺激素T3和T4、睾酮（T）、皮质酮（CORT）、促肾上腺皮质激素（ACTH）、白介素IL-1β、IL-2、IL-6、IL-8和IFN-γ含量以及T淋巴细胞亚群的变化,并取脾脏测定T、B淋巴细胞增殖能力和NK细胞活性变化。结果 （1）与正常对照组比,①造模结束后多因素组大鼠血清5-HT明显降低（P〈0.05）,而热水游泳组和单纯束缚组5-HT含量却升高显著（P〈0.01）,且睡眠不足组和单纯束缚组血清DA含量降低显著（P〈0.05）;同时各亚健康模型大鼠的血清T3、T4、CORT和ACTH含量均显著升高（P〈0.01）,T/C比值降低显著（P〈0.01）,且睡眠不足组血清T降低明显（P〈0.05）;②造模结束后多因素组的大鼠IL-8含量降低显著（P〈0.01）,而热水游泳组和单纯束缚组IL-1β、IL-2、IL-6、IL-8和IFN-γ含量以及睡眠不足组IL-1β、IL-2、IL-6含量均显著升高（P〈0.05,P〈0.01）,同时显著降低各亚健康模型大鼠淋巴细胞增殖转化能力和T淋巴细胞亚群CD3＋、CD4＋和CD4＋/CD8＋比值和NK细胞活性（P〈0.05,P〈0.01）。（2）与多因素组比,抗衰老片干预后多因素干预组大鼠血清DA含量明显升高（P〈0.05）,并能显著提高机体T淋巴细胞亚群CD3＋、CD4＋数目和CD4＋/CD8＋比值（P〈0.01）,降低血清CORT含量。结论亚健康状态能引起大鼠HPA轴反应性失衡,皮质醇释放过度,引起内分泌的紊乱,并能引起淋巴细胞功能降低,出现明显机体免疫抑制现象;而抗衰老片具有抗应激,提高T细胞免疫功能,改善情绪和内分泌紊乱的作用,从而达到改善亚健康体质的目的。     

退耕地人工植物群落根系生态位及其分布特征

根系生态位研究是全面掌握植物群落特性、种间搭配以及生态功能的重要科学问题。其测度方式、分布特征、影响因素等方面内容,对于合理指导退耕还林还草工程十分必要。将植物群落根系视为“标准地”,分布于每个土体层次的每个径级根系视为“植物种”。根量、根长、根数作为“植物种”的观测变量,仿照群落生态学方法,提出了一种综合计算根系生态位指数的方法。即将整个研究区域作为一个系统．将这一系统中所有植物群落。统一选用指标最大值。在纵向(即相对于指标维的不同指标)用上限效果测度公式统一进行归一化处理,然后在横向(土层、径级间。简称层径级)进行合并运算,得出层径级根系参数,这一参数定义为层径级根系生态位指数;而将某一群落各层径级生态位指数之和,定义为植物群落根系生态位指数。从而使区域内所有植物群落间具有可比性。使用这一方法,对国家退耕还林还草科技试验县——青海省大通县退耕地人工植物群落根系进行了系统研究。研究结果表明,根系生态位垂直空间分布大多数为典型的表层聚积型,表土层0～20cm根系生态位指数明显高于其它层次。植物群落根系比单一种群或纯林根系具有更高的生态位指数。根系生态位径级分布包括J型、反J型、S型和U型。J型多为粗根一深根型植物群落根系,反J型为细根一浅根型植物群落根系,S型和U型为上述2种类型之间的过渡型。根系生态位指数与植物群落地上部分鲜重生物量、根系丰富度呈显著正相关。退耕地植物群落根系的生态位指数较为接近天然植被,明显高于农作物根系。青海云杉 中国沙棘、中国沙棘、青海云杉等3种植物配置模式更有利于退耕地植物根系生态位的恢复。实施退耕还林还草工程是有效增加根系生态位、提高根系多方面功能的重要途径。     

黄土丘陵沟壑区不同植被恢复类型昆虫群落结构及多样性的研究

为探讨黄土高原植被恢复过程中植物与昆虫群落的关系,评价人工植被和自然恢复植被种类搭配的合理性,为退化生态系统的植被恢复提供依据。采用样地调查法,在黄土丘陵沟壑区纸坊沟流域研究比较了不同植被恢复类型昆虫群落组成、结构及多样性的变化。结果表明,2种不同植被恢复类型区昆虫有189种(含蜱螨目),分别隶属13目84科。而不同植被恢复类型昆虫群落的物种数、丰富度、多样性、均匀度及优势度指数值均有明显差异。以20a自然封育植被恢复区昆虫群落的物种数、丰富度、多样性、均匀度指数值均较高,其值分别为160、21.17、1.4914和0.6918。优势度则以人工治理区(0.7251)>自然封育区(0.5845)。说明从人工治理区到自然封育区,随着植被种类增加,昆虫种类相应增加,优势种由突出降至不明显,昆虫群落稳定性提高。     

凝结芽胞杆菌活菌片对实验性腹泻小鼠的治疗作用

目的 观察凝结芽胞杆菌活菌片对氨苄青霉素钠诱发的小鼠腹泻的治疗作用。方法利用氨苄青霉素钠口服诱发小鼠实验性腹泻和肠道菌群失调,然后用凝结芽胞杆菌活菌片,口服,每天2次,共4d,观察治疗后的小鼠排便和肠道菌群变化。结果在各给药组中,治疗第1天有70％～85％的小鼠排正常便,生理盐水组只有10％排正常便（P〈0．01）;治疗第2天给药组中有80％～90％的小鼠排正常便,生理盐水组仅为50％（P〈0．01）。肠道菌群分析结果表明,凝结芽胞杆菌在治疗第2天开始定植,停药第7天后逐渐消失,定植期为10d左右。在各给药组中,治疗第2天肠道菌群开始恢复,第4天均升高到正常,而生理盐水组的恢复比各给药组显著的慢（P〈0．01）。结论 凝结芽胞杆菌活菌片对小鼠实验性腹泻有明显的止泻作用,并能加速肠道菌群的恢复。     

Effects of Sewage Sludge on Plant Community Composition in Restored Limestone Quarries

The effects of sewage sludge, used to improve fertility of replaced soil, on vegetation were studied in limestone quarry restoration. Plant community growing in the first stages after sludge application was surveyed in six quarries of NE Spain. Areas with a mixture of sewage sludge and residual soil were compared to areas where the application consisted only of residual soil (a mixture of previous top soil and mine spoils). Sewage sludge was hypothesized to increase total biomass and cover, modifying species composition and delaying the early successional recover of the community. The results showed that both biomass and plant cover increased because of sewage sludge addition. The floristic composition was dominated by ruderal species that did not show any dependence on sewage sludge application. Convergence on similarity between sludge and control plots was not detected along a 5‐year period. Although species richness was significantly lower in sludge plots, diversity and equitability indexes did not show differences between treatments. The results did not show differences in the proportion of non‐native species. The proportion of legumes was lower in sludge plots. These results show that the plant communities resulting from the addition of sewage sludge to the soil used in limestone quarry restoration have more biomass and cover, but less number of species, and they do not show a clear trend to converge to those areas restored only with non‐amended soil.