Long‐term temporal and spatial trends in eutrophication status of the Baltic Sea

Much of the Baltic Sea is currently classified as ‘affected by eutrophication’. The causes for this are twofold. First, current levels of nutrient inputs (nitrogen and phosphorus) from human activities exceed the natural processing capacity with an accumulation of nutrients in the Baltic Sea over the last 50–100 years. Secondly, the Baltic Sea is naturally susceptible to nutrient enrichment due to a combination of long retention times and stratification restricting ventilation of deep waters. Here, based on a unique data set collated from research activities and long‐term monitoring programs, we report on the temporal and spatial trends of eutrophication status for the open Baltic Sea over a 112‐year period using the HELCOM Eutrophication Assessment Tool (HEAT 3.0). Further, we analyse variation in the confidence of the eutrophication status assessment based on a systematic quantitative approach using coefficients of variation in the observations. The classifications in our assessment indicate that the first signs of eutrophication emerged in the mid‐1950s and the central parts of the Baltic Sea changed from being unaffected by eutrophication to being affected. We document improvements in eutrophication status that are direct consequences of long‐term efforts to reduce the inputs of nutrients. The reductions in both nitrogen and phosphorus loads have led to large‐scale alleviation of eutrophication and to a healthier Baltic Sea. Reduced confidence in our assessment is seen more recently due to reductions in the scope of monitoring programs. Our study sets a baseline for implementation of the ecosystem‐based management strategies and policies currently in place including the EU Marine Strategy Framework Directives and the HELCOM Baltic Sea Action Plan.     

Characterization of scientific studies usually cited as evidence of adverse effects of GM food/feed

GM crops are the most studied crops in history. Approximately 5% of the safety studies on them show adverse effects that are a cause for concern and tend to be featured in media reports. Although these reports are based on just a handful of GM events, they are used to cast doubt on all GM crops. Furthermore, they tend to come from just a few laboratories and are published in less important journals. Importantly, a close examination of these reports invariably shows methodological flaws that invalidate any conclusions of adverse effects. Twenty years after commercial cultivation of GM crops began, a bona fide report of an adverse health effect due to a commercialized modification in a crop has yet to be reported.     

Getting the biggest birch for the bang: restoring and expanding upland birchwoods in the Scottish Highlands by managing red deer

High deer populations threaten the conservation value of woodlands and grasslands, but predicting the success of deer culling, in terms of allowing vegetation to recover, is difficult. Numerical simulation modeling is one approach to gain insight into the outcomes of management scenarios. We develop a spatially explicit model to predict the responses of Betula spp. to red deer (Cervus elaphus) and land management in the Scottish Highlands. Our model integrates a Bayesian stochastic stage‐based matrix model within the framework of a widely used individual‐based forest simulation model, using data collected along spatial and temporal gradients in deer browsing. By initializing our model with the historical spatial locations of trees, we find that densities of juvenile trees (<3 m tall) predicted after 9–13 years closely match counts observed in the field. This is among the first tests of the accuracy of a dynamical simulation model for predicting the responses of tree regeneration to herbivores. We then test the relative importance of deer browsing, ground cover vegetation, and seed availability in facilitating landscape‐level birch regeneration using simulations in which we varied these three variables. We find that deer primarily control transitions of birch to taller (>3 m) height tiers over 30 years, but regeneration also requires suitable ground cover for seedling establishment. Densities of adult seed sources did not influence regeneration, nor did an active management scenario where we altered the spatial configuration of adults by creating “woodland islets”. Our results show that managers interested in maximizing tree regeneration cannot simply reduce deer densities but must also improve ground cover for seedling establishment, and the model we develop now enables managers to quantify explicitly how much both these factors need to be altered. More broadly, our findings emphasize the need for land managers to consider the impacts of large herbivores rather than their densities.     

An assessment methodology for human holistic risk in whole cycle of shale gas fracturing

In the process of shale gas fracturing, long time, high strength, and boring task could trigger psychological or physical operation fatigues, and then lead to downtime, sand blocking, or other accidents, which are the main problems in safety management. However, conventional studies either separately analyze risks without considering the interaction and relationship between humans or teams, or only form a qualitative framework for team analysis. These methods cannot be directly applied for the fracturing operators due to complex operation procedures and diversified human errors. An improved methodology, therefore, is proposed to assess human holistic risk during the whole cycle of fracturing operation. First, D-S evidence theory is introduced to obtain the individual risk, and team performance shaping factor is also presented to establish risk assessment model for fracturing teams. Second, individual and team risks are integrated to calculate the quantitative value of human holistic risk. A scatter diagram of human risk is finally designed, where the high-risk fracturing stages and human types can be clearly revealed. Results from a study of one shale gas well indicate that human holistic risk is more objective and practical, and improves accuracy of human reliability analysis.     

Phylogeny of the neotropical moth tribe Josiini (Notodontidae: Dioptinae): comparing and combining evidence from DNA sequences and morphology

DNA sequences were gathered from mitochondrial COII and nuclear ribosomal 18S and 28S genes for 21 moth species in the tribe Josiini (Notodontidae: Dioptinae) and two outgroup genera. These data complement a previously published morphological character set for the same taxa. We examine whether relationships in the Josiini are best reflected by a single phylogenetic analysis of all the data, or by a consensus of separate trees generated from DNA and morphology. Even in cases where analyses of partitioned data produce incongruent cladograms, the underlying disagreement between partitions is relatively small. While both molecular and morphological data provide useful character information by themselves, we conclude that the best supported phylogenetic hypothesis is the one derived from combined analysis.     

The interrelationships of the echinoderm classes: morphological and molecular evidence

The relationship between the five echinoderm classes has perplexed phylogeneticists for some time. Although each of the crinoids (C), asteroids (A), ophiuroids (O), echinoids (E) and holothuroids (H) are morphologically distinct, evidence from larval and adult morphology, molecular biology, and stratigraphy have failed to provide a single consensus solution. We have reviewed all available morphological and molecular data, added new data and reanalysed independent data sets individually and in combination, in order to resolve echinoderm class relationships. In total, we present 21 larval and 50 adult morphological characters, partial 28S-like large subunit rRNA gene data for 39 taxa and complete 18S-like small subunit rRNA gene data for 37 taxa. For a 5 taxon problem there are 105 possible rooted tree topologies, and yet we were consistently presented with three competing hypotheses when data sets were analysed both individually and in combination. The total evidence solution favoured (outgroup(C(A(O(E, H))))) although the alternative tree topology, (outgroup(C(O(A(E, H))))) was only one step longer and (outgroup(C((A, O),(E, H)))) was two steps longer. Only these three trees are serious contenders and the distribution of morphological characters suggests we should discount the solution placing ophiuroids as sister group to an asteroid+echinoid + holothurian clade. Thus we are left with (outgroup(C(A(O(E, H))))) and (outgroup(C((A, O),(E, H)))) as the two most plausible phylogenetic hypotheses. Our data showed high levels of phylogenetic signal and these trees best fit the available data.     

DNA探针在法医学中的应用研究——Ⅰ.用PYNH24探针作个体识别和家系分析

应用PYNH24特异性DNA探针,分析了人体基因组DNA MspⅠ酶的RFLPs,获得清晰易读的图谱。190名不相关个体中,多态性为95％,在8个家系45名相关个体中,等位基因的遗传特征完全符合孟德尔定律,为法医生物物证检验工作增加了一种新的分析方法。     

Possible involvement of NADPH-cytochrome P450 reductase and cytochrome b5 on beta-ketostearoyl-CoA reduction in microsomal fatty acid chain elongation supported by NADPH

The addition of glucose to yeast cells activates proton efflux mediated by the plasma membrane ATPase. Accordingly, the ATPase activity of purified plasma membranes is increased up to 10-fold. The activated ATPase has a more alkaline pH optimum, better affinity for ATP and greater sensitivity to vanadate than the non-activated enzyme. All these changes are reversed by washing the cells free of glucose. This suggests two states of the ATPase which are interconverted by a covalent modification. As glucose does not affect the phosphorylation of plasma membrane polypeptides, other type of covalent modification may be involved.