Statistical and multivariate statistical techniques to trace the sources and affecting factors of groundwater pollution in a rapidly growing city on the Chinese Loess Plateau

Abstract

Groundwater quality is defined by various water quality parameters. The aims of the research are to understand the relationships among different groundwater quality parameters and to trace the sources and affecting factors of groundwater pollution via statistical and multivariate statistical techniques. The 36 shallow groundwater samples collected from shallow pumping wells in Yan’an City were analyzed for various water quality parameters. Correlation analysis, principal component analysis (PCA), hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA), and multivariable linear regressions (MLR) were jointly used in this study to explore the sources and affecting factors of groundwater pollution. The study reveals that the mineral dissolution/precipitation and anthropogenic input are the main sources of the physicochemical indices and trace elements in the groundwater. Groundwater chemistry is predominantly regulated by natural processes such as dissolution of carbonates, silicates, and evaporates and soil leaching, followed by human activities as the second factor. Climatic factors and land use types are also important in affecting groundwater chemistry. Cl^– is the greatest contributor to the overall groundwater quality revealed by the two regression models. The first model which has eight dependent variables is high in model reliability and stability, and is recommended for the overall groundwater quality prediction. The study is helpful for understanding groundwater quality variation in urban areas.     

Climate change fingerprints in recent European plant phenology

A paper published in Global Change Biology in 2006 revealed that phenological responses in 1971–2000 matched the warming pattern in Europe, but a lack of chilling and adaptation in farming may have reversed these findings. Therefore, for 1951–2018 in a corresponding data set, we determined changes as linear trends and analysed their variation by plant traits/groups, across season and time as well as their attribution to warming following IPCC methodology. Although spring and summer phases in wild plants advanced less (maximum advances in 1978–2007), more (~90%) and more significant (~60%) negative trends were present, being stronger in early spring, at higher elevations, but smaller for nonwoody insect‐pollinated species. These trends were strongly attributable to winter and spring warming. Findings for crop spring phases were similar, but were less pronounced. There were clearer and attributable signs for a delayed senescence in response to winter and spring warming. These changes resulted in a longer growing season, but a constant generative period in wild plants and a shortened one in agricultural crops. Phenology determined by farmers’ decisions differed noticeably from the purely climatic driven phases with smaller percentages of advancing (~75%) trends, but farmers’ spring activities were the only group with reinforced advancement, suggesting adaptation. Trends in farmers’ spring and summer activities were very likely/likely associated with the warming pattern. In contrast, the advance in autumn farming phases was significantly associated with below average summer warming. Thus, under ongoing climate change with decreased chilling the advancing phenology in spring and summer is still attributable to warming; even the farmers’ activities in these seasons mirror, to a lesser extent, the warming. Our findings point to adaptation to climate change in agriculture and reveal diverse implications for terrestrial ecosystems; the strong attribution supports the necessary mediation of warming impacts to the general public.     

First report of secondary metabolites,Violaceol I and Violaceol II produced by endophytic fungus,Trichoderma polyalthiae and their antimicrobial activity

Bioactive compounds of endophytic fungus Trichoderma polyalthiae were extracted from culture broth media. The crude extracts showed strong antimicrobial activity against human pathogens. Biologically active compounds were isolated and purified by chromatographic methods. The structures of the pure compounds were elucidated by spectroscopic methods. They were identified as Violaceol I and Violaceol II. These compounds were detected as secondary metabolites produced by this genus for the first time. Violaceol I and II had a broad spectrum of antimicrobial activity against human pathogens, including Gram-positive bacteria (Staphylococcus saprophyticus, Staphylococcus aureus, Methicillin-Resistant S. aureus, Bacillus subtilis, Bacillus cereus) and Gram-negative bacteria (Salmonella typhimurium, Shigella sonnei) and Candida albicans. Violaceol I exhibited Minimal Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) values (<9.765–156.25 μg/mL) that were higher than Violaceol II (<9.765–312.5 μg/mL). Additionally, the MIC value of the phenol violaceol from this taxon was lower than the previous reports.     

剑叶龙血树内生放线菌活性菌株的筛选和鉴定

为筛选具有抗菌抗肿瘤活性的药用植物内生菌资源,该文对300余株分离自中国云南西双版纳及越南地区剑叶龙血树的内生放线菌采用琼脂块扩散法进行抗病原细菌活性筛选、平板对峙法进行抗真菌活性筛选、SRB法测定菌株的细胞毒活性及PCR扩增方法筛选非核糖体肽合成酶NRPS基因及聚酮合酶PKS-I、PKS-Ⅱ基因;对得到的优势菌株经8种培养基进行发酵,采用10种病原细菌、3种病原真菌及2种人肿瘤细胞株测试其发酵粗提物的抗菌及抗肿瘤活性以确定最佳发酵培养基;用16S rRNA基因测序方法初步鉴定5株优势菌株的分类地位。结果表明:初筛得到5株抗菌活性、体外细胞毒活性及NRPS、PKS相关基因表达阳性的菌株S01-S05,其中4株(S01-S04)属于链霉菌属、1株(S05)属于类诺卡氏菌属;菌株经不同培养基发酵后产物的抗菌和抗肿瘤活性不同,其中Streptomyces sp. S04在7种培养基中的发酵提取物对8种测试病原菌均有较强抑制作用,且该菌株用Medium C的发酵提取物对人肝癌Hep G2细胞株抑制率达到100%,为剑叶龙血树内生菌活性成分挖掘及新型抗菌药物筛选奠定了基础。     

亚热带不同树种凋落叶分解对氮添加的响应

为探究不同质量凋落物对氮(N)沉降的响应, 该研究采用尼龙网袋分解法, 在亚热带福建三明格氏栲(Castanopsis kawakamii)自然保护区的米槠(Castanopsis carlesii)天然林, 选取4种本区常见的具有不同初始化学性质的树种凋落叶进行模拟N沉降(N添加)分解实验(施N水平为对照0和50 kg·hm ^-2·a ^-1)。研究结果表明: 在2年的分解期内, 对照处理的各树种凋落叶的分解速率依次为观光木(Michelia odora, 0.557 a ^-1)、米槠(0.440 a ^-1)、台湾相思(Acacia confusa, 0.357 a ^-1)、杉木(Cunninghamia lanceolata, 0.354 a ^-1); N添加处理凋落叶分解速率依次为观光木(0.447 a ^-1)、米槠(0.354 a ^-1)、杉木(0.291 a ^-1)、台湾相思(0.230 a ^-1), 除杉木凋落叶外, N添加显著降低了其他3种凋落叶分解速率。N添加不仅使4种树木凋落叶分解过程中的N释放减慢, 同时还抑制凋落叶化学组成中木质素和纤维素的降解; N添加在凋落叶分解过程中总体上提高β-葡萄糖苷酶(βG)和酸性磷酸酶活性, 对纤维素水解酶的活性影响不一致, 而降低β-N-乙酰氨基葡萄糖苷酶活性和酚氧化酶活性。凋落叶分解速率与凋落叶中的碳获取酶(βG)活性以及其化学组分中的可萃取物含量极显著正相关, 与初始碳浓度、纤维素和木质素含量极显著负相关, 与初始N含量没有显著相关性。凋落物类型和N添加的交互作用虽未影响干质量损失速率, 但对木质素和纤维素的降解具有显著效应。综上所述, 化学组分比初始N含量能更好地预测凋落叶分解速率, 而N添加主要通过抑制分解木质素的氧化酶(如PHO)来降低凋落叶分解速率。     

冬季升温对高山生态系统碳氮循环过程的影响

全球温度升高是目前面临的重要环境问题,但存在明显的季节差异性,即冬季升温幅度显著高于夏季的季节非对称性趋势,这在高纬度和高海拔地区更加显著。冬季升温会直接影响积雪覆盖与冰冻层厚度,并引起冻融交替循环的增加,而冬季植物处于休眠状态,这会直接影响土壤中有效氮的吸收与损失,引起土壤有效氮可利用性的变化。然而,关于冬季增温对后续生长季节植物活动、土壤碳氮循环过程的影响等方面的研究仍存在诸多不确定。综述了冬季升温对积雪覆盖与冻融交替循环改变对高山生态系统物质循环的影响,以及冬季升温对土壤碳氮循环、微生物与酶活性的影响,并由此引起的植物物候期、群落结构、生产与养分循环与凋落物分解等生理、生态过程方面的研究进展。在未来的研究中,应针对不同生态系统特点选择合适的冬季增温方式,加强非极地苔原地区关于冬季升温的研究,注重关注冬季升温对植物-土壤微生物之间反馈作用的影响,重点关注冬季升温对生态系统的延滞效应。     

Wildfires in the Eastern Arc Mountains of Tanzania: Burned areas,underlying causes and management challenges

The Eastern Arc Mountains are one of the most important ecosystems that conserve biodiversity in the world. These ecosystems are threatened by the increasing occurrence of wildfires. Nevertheless, there is inadequate information useful for the development of effective strategies to prevent or respond to future fires. This paper analyses the current extent of dry season fires, underlying causes and the effectiveness of the fire management strategy being implemented in and around the Uluguru Nature Forest Reserve (UNFR) between 2016 and 2021. Differenced Normalised Burn Ratio derived from Landsat satellite images was applied to determine the extent of burned areas, and focus group discussions were held to determine the underlying causes of fires and the extent of implementation of fire management strategies. About 2% (472 ha) of reserved UNFR and 5% (2,854 ha) of unreserved forests were burned in 2017. Some of the fires impacted on 60% (370 ha) of the grassy Lukwangule plateau, which is home to a fire‐sensitive endemic species. The underlying causes of fires varied spatially across the mountains but generally, fire escaping from farm preparation and hunting activities were found to be the most prevalent. On average, survey participants perceived that fire management strategy objectives were achieved by only 29% mainly constrained by a shortage of financial and human resources. Our findings suggest that ignitions and fire spread in UNFR could be prevented or controlled through sustainable funding of fire management activities and the effective engagement of local communities in the management of the reserve.     

Chemical constituents from Psychotria arborea Hiern (Rubiaceae)

The chemical study of the stems extract of Psychotria arborea Hiern led to the isolation of thirteen compounds, including four anthraquinones: 2-methylanthracene-9,10-dione (1), 2-methoxyanthracene-9,10-dione (2), 2-hydroxy-3-methylanthracene-9,10-dione (3) and 3-hydroxy-1-methoxy-2-methylanthracene-9,10-dione (4); two diterpenes: ent-kaur-16-en-19-oic acid (5) and 15-acetoxy-ent-kaur-16-en-19-oic acid (6); two triterpenes, β-amyrin (8) and oleanolic acid (9), one flavonoid: Quercetin (7), three sterols: A mixture of stigmasterol (10) and β-sitosterol (11) and β-sitosterol-3-O-β-D-glucopyranoside (12) and one fatty acid (13). The structures of these compounds were elucidated based on NMR and HR-ESIMS analysis, further supported by comparison with previously reported spectral data. Compounds 1–4 and compounds 10–12 were tested for their antibacterial activity against three bacteria strains Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus and Salmonella enterica. All these tested compounds were found to be inactive. Furthermore, the chemotaxonomic significance of the obtained compounds was discussed in detail.     

靶向肿瘤血管生成的天然产物研究进展

血管生成在肿瘤的发生发展过程中起着非常重要的作用。促血管生成因子及其受体可以通过调节血管生成促进肿瘤发生发展。因此,发现和开发靶向血管生成因子药物已经成为治疗肿瘤的重要策略。近年来,天然产物因其结构多样、毒副作用低及作用机制独特等优势已然成为开发抗肿瘤药物的主要来源。本文归纳阐述了近年来靶向血管生成因子具有抗肿瘤活性的天然产物研究进展,为进一步发现和开发靶向肿瘤血管生成的天然药物提供重要的理论依据。     

模拟降水量变化对荒漠草原土壤酶活性的影响及其相关因素分析

为明确荒漠草原土壤酶活性对降水格局改变的响应机制, 该研究基于宁夏荒漠草原降水量不同梯度变化(减少50%、减少30%、自然降水、增加30%和增加50%)的野外试验(2014年开始试验), 于2016年5-7月采样, 测定分析不同降水梯度2年后对土壤酶活性的影响, 并分析酶活性与植物生物量、微生物生物量C∶N∶P生态化学计量特征以及土壤理化性质的关系。结果表明: (1)与自然降水量相比, 减少30%降水量对3种土壤酶活性均无显著影响, 减少50%降水量显著降低了土壤蔗糖酶活性(^P < 0.05); 增加降水量显著提高了土壤蔗糖酶和磷酸酶活性(^P < 0.05), 但对脲酶活性无显著影响。(2)减少降水量对植物生物量影响较小(尤其减少30%降水量), 但不同程度地降低了微生物生物量C、N、P, 提高了微生物生物量C∶N和C∶P; 增加降水量则不同程度提高了植物生物量及微生物生物量C、N、P。(3)土壤蔗糖酶和磷酸酶活性随植物及微生物生物量增加而增加; 对土壤酶活性影响显著的土壤因子包括: 含水量、NO₃^- N、NH₄⁺ N、C∶P、有机C、全N、C∶N和pH (P < 0.05)。研究认为, 减少降水量(尤其是减少30%降水量)对土壤酶活性影响较小, 增加降水量促进了植物的生长、刺激微生物活性, 进而提高了土壤酶活性, 但随着植物生物量增加, 土壤有机C输入增多, 磷酸酶活性相应增强并促进了有机P的矿化, 导致土壤微生物P限制增加。