Interactions between meat intake and genetic variation in relation to colorectal cancer

Meat intake is associated with the risk of colorectal cancer. The objective of this systematic review was to evaluate interactions between meat intake and genetic variation in order to identify biological pathways involved in meat carcinogenesis. We performed a literature search of PubMed and Embase using “interaction”, “meat”, “polymorphisms”, and “colorectal cancer”, and data on meat–gene interactions were extracted. The studies were divided according to whether information on meat intake was collected prospectively or retrospectively. In prospective studies, interactions between meat intake and polymorphisms in PTGS2 (encoding COX-2), ABCB1, IL10, NFKB1, MSH3, XPC (P_int = 0.006, 0.01, 0.04, 0.03, 0.002, 0.01, respectively), but not IL1B, HMOX1, ABCC2, ABCG2, NR1I2 (encoding PXR), NR1H2 (encoding LXR), NAT1, NAT2, MSH6, or MLH1 in relation to CRC were found. Interaction between a polymorphism in XPC and meat was found in one prospective and one case–control study; however, the directions of the risk estimates were opposite. Thus, none of the findings were replicated. The results from this systematic review suggest that genetic variation in the inflammatory response and DNA repair pathway is involved in meat-related colorectal carcinogenesis, whereas no support for the involvement of heme and iron from meat or cooking mutagens was found. Further studies assessing interactions between meat intake and genetic variation in relation to CRC in large well-characterised prospective cohorts with relevant meat exposure are warranted.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (doi:10.1007/s12263-014-0448-9) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.     

An Approach to Integrating Occupational Safety and Health into Life Cycle Assessment: Development and Application of Work Environment Characterization Factors

Integrating occupational safety and health (OSH) into life cycle assessment (LCA) may provide decision makers with insights and opportunities to prevent burden shifting of human health impacts between the nonwork environment and the work environment. We propose an integration approach that uses industry‐level work environment characterization factors (WE‐CFs) to convert industry activity into damage to human health attributable to the work environment, assessed as disability‐adjusted life years (DALYs). WE‐CFs are ratios of work‐related fatal and nonfatal injuries and illnesses occurring in the U.S. worker population to the amount of physical output from U.S. industries; they represent workplace hazards and exposures and are compatible with the life cycle inventory (LCI) structure common to process‐based LCA. A proof of concept demonstrates application of the WE‐CFs in an LCA of municipal solid waste landfill and incineration systems. Results from the proof of concept indicate that estimates of DALYs attributable to the work environment are comparable in magnitude to DALYs attributable to environmental emissions. Construction and infrastructure‐related work processes contributed the most to the work environment DALYs. A sensitivity analysis revealed that uncertainty in the physical output from industries had the most effect on the WE‐CFs. The results encourage implementation of WE‐CFs in future LCA studies, additional refinement of LCI processes to accurately capture industry outputs, and inclusion of infrastructure‐related processes in LCAs that evaluate OSH impacts.     

Inclusion of ecologically based trait variation in plant functional types reduces the projected land carbon sink in an earth system model

Earth system models demonstrate large uncertainty in projected changes in terrestrial carbon budgets. The lack of inclusion of adaptive responses of vegetation communities to the environment has been suggested to hamper the ability of modeled vegetation to adequately respond to environmental change. In this study, variation in functional responses of vegetation has been added to an earth system model (ESM) based on ecological principles. The restriction of viable mean trait values of vegetation communities by the environment, called ‘habitat filtering’, is an important ecological assembly rule and allows for determination of global scale trait–environment relationships. These relationships were applied to model trait variation for different plant functional types (PFTs). For three leaf traits (specific leaf area, maximum carboxylation rate at 25 °C, and maximum electron transport rate at 25 °C), relationships with multiple environmental drivers, such as precipitation, temperature, radiation, and CO₂, were determined for the PFTs within the Max Planck Institute ESM. With these relationships, spatiotemporal variation in these formerly fixed traits in PFTs was modeled in global change projections (IPCC RCP8.5 scenario). Inclusion of this environment‐driven trait variation resulted in a strong reduction of the global carbon sink by at least 33% (2.1 Pg C yr^?1) from the 2nd quarter of the 21st century onward compared to the default model with fixed traits. In addition, the mid‐ and high latitudes became a stronger carbon sink and the tropics a stronger carbon source, caused by trait‐induced differences in productivity and relative respirational costs. These results point toward a reduction of the global carbon sink when including a more realistic representation of functional vegetation responses, implying more carbon will stay airborne, which could fuel further climate change.     

种植年限对寿光设施大棚土壤生态环境的影响

为探讨不同种植年限对设施大棚土壤生态环境的影响,研究了不同种植年限的大棚土壤物理性状、化学性状以及微生物区系的差异变化,并对种植年限与土壤理化性状和微生物数量之间的相关性进行了统计分析。结果表明,随种植年限增加,土壤容重和pH值均明显下降,而土壤孔隙度、土壤EC值和土壤盐分含量则显著升高,有机质含量也呈增长的趋势;土壤全氮和全磷量均持续升高,土壤全钾、硝态氮和速效钾均先升高后降低;随着设施大棚种植年限的增长,细菌数量先上升后下降,放线菌数量先迅速升高后保持相对稳定,只有真菌数量呈持续增加的趋势。这说明由于大量的有机无机肥料投入,种植年限不同的设施大棚土壤均出现一定酸化现象,养分失衡,微生态平衡遭到破坏,盐分含量显著升高,存在明显的环境风险。应提倡合理科学施肥,以保证设施大棚土壤的生态环境安全。     

城市公园景观秋冬季动态热效应

在北京市3个公园中选择裸地、道路、林地、草地4种主要景观类型,通过2013年10月、11月、12月的实地监测数据,定量揭示不同景观类型地表温度、近地表空气温度和湿度的日间变化特征,并分析日间温湿度的均值、幅度大小、空气温湿度的匹配程度。4种景观类型日间地表和空气温度均呈单峰变化趋势,裸地、道路、林地、草地的地表温度最高值分别出现在14:00、12:00、14:00、12:00,空气温度最高值则都在14:00,相对湿度最大值出现在8:00,最小值在14:00。从日间均值来看,地表温度为裸地道路草地、林地,裸地的日均空气温度最高,4种景观的相对湿度差异不显著。从日间变化幅度来看,所有景观类型的地表温度均明显大于空气温度,尤其是裸地和道路的日间变化比林地和草地更加明显。通过定量分析4种景观类型的日间热环境动态变化,可以为城市热环境改善、景观设计和生态规划提供科学依据。     

环境因子对河流底栖无脊椎动物群落结构的影响

底栖无脊椎动物是河流生态系统的重要组成部分,在物质循环和能量流动中是不可或缺的重要环节。其群落结构特点与河流环境因子密切相关,能较好地反映河流生态系统健康状况。综述了物理因子(底质、温度、水深、水流、洪水干扰等)、化学因子(溶氧量、p H值、磷、氮等)、生物因子(水生植物、竞争和捕食)、人为干扰(电站建设、城镇化等)和综合因子对河流底栖无脊椎动物群落结构的影响,并根据国内外研究现状指出水流、海拔和洪水干扰等环境因子对河流底栖无脊椎动物群落结构影响的研究较少或不足,对这些环境因子的研究应是今后河流生态学领域需要着力推进重要内容。深入研究和完善环境因子与底栖无脊椎动物群落结构的关系可为保护底栖无脊椎动物群落、流域水生态系统管理和受损河流生态系统修复提供更为全面的科学依据。     

浙江天童太白山不同群落植物构型比较

植物构型是植株构件在空间上的分配方式,反映了植物对环境的响应策略。通过对浙江天童太白山海拔差异很小的栲树(Castanopsis fargesii)、小叶青冈(Cyclobalanopsis gracilis)和云山青冈(Cyclobalanopsis sessilifolia)群落类型中所有植株的树高、树冠厚度、树冠面积、叶片聚集度、枝下高和距地45 cm基径等植物构型性状,以及树冠曝光指数、土壤含水率、空气温湿度、土壤p H值和风速6个环境因子的测定,分别分析乔灌木层植物构型性状及性状关系在3个群落间的变化规律。结果表明:(1)从栲树到小叶青冈至云山青冈群落,灌木层的树高、树冠厚度、枝下高和距地45 cm基径增加,叶片聚集度减小;乔木层的树高、树冠厚度、树冠面积、枝下高和距地45 cm基径均减小,叶片聚集度增大;(2)3个群落灌木层构型性状间显著相关(P0.001),而乔木层只在中低海拔群落存在相关性;(3)从栲树到小叶青冈至云山青冈群落,乔灌木层的冠层曝光指数显著增加(P0.05);(4)多元逐步回归表明,树冠曝光指数对灌木层构型性状变异的贡献最大,而风速、土壤含水率和p H值对乔木构型性状的变异起主导作用。综上得知,天童太白山乔灌木植物在不同群落间存在构型分异,植物对光资源的竞争是引起灌木构型在不同群落间变化的主要驱动因子,而对乔木植物,其构型变化更多受到风速和土壤含水量的影响。     

壳聚糖对蝴蝶兰幼苗耐热性的诱导作用

为了评价壳聚糖对蝴蝶兰幼苗耐热性的诱导效应,分别采用0(以无壳聚糖为对照)、25、50、100、200和400 mg·L~(-1)壳聚糖溶液处理蝴蝶兰幼苗,并置于42℃下胁迫3 d,测定了蝴蝶兰幼苗的生理指标变化。结果表明:当壳聚糖浓度由25 mg·L~(-1)增大到100mg·L~(-1)时,蝴蝶兰幼苗叶片的SOD、POD、CAT活性、脯氨酸、可溶性糖、叶绿素和类胡萝卜素含量不断增加,而质膜透性和丙二醛含量不断下降,但可溶性蛋白含量没有显著变化;特别是在100 mg·L~(-1)时,SOD、POD和CAT活性、脯氨酸、可溶性糖、叶绿素和类胡萝卜素含量增加到最大值且极显著高于对照,而质膜透性和丙二醛含量下降至最小值且极显著低于对照,蝴蝶兰幼苗遭受了轻微的高温伤害;随着壳聚糖浓度由200 mg·L~(-1)增大至400mg·L~(-1),SOD、POD和CAT活性、脯氨酸、可溶性蛋白、可溶性糖、叶绿素和类胡萝卜素含量极显著下降,而质膜透性和丙二醛含量极显著上升,蝴蝶兰幼苗的受害趋于加重;由此可见,100 mg·L~(-1)壳聚糖处理能显著提高蝴蝶兰幼苗的耐热性。     

疏叶骆驼刺和多枝柽柳不同时期光合特性日变化及其与环境因子的关系

在自然条件下,利用Li-6400光合仪测定疏叶骆驼刺(Alhagi sparsifolia Shap.)和多枝柽柳(Tamarix ramosissima Ledeb.)7~9月份的气体交换参数,分析2种植物净光合速率(Pn)与环境因子——光合有效辐射(PAR)、空气温度(Ta)、大气CO2浓度(Ca)、相对湿度(RH)之间的关系,以明确影响其光合作用的主导环境因子,为恢复和重建过渡带植被提供理论依据。结果显示:(1)疏叶骆驼刺不同时期Pn的日变化均为单峰曲线,多枝柽柳7、8月份的Pn日变化为单峰曲线,9月份为双峰曲线,且疏叶骆驼刺Pn的平均值(7.08μmol·m-2·s-1)高于多枝柽柳(5.54μmol·m-2·s-1)。(2)2种植物7~9月份的蒸腾速率(Tr)日变化均为单峰曲线,且疏叶骆驼刺Tr的平均值(5.46mmol·m-2·s-1)高于多枝柽柳(4.40mmol·m-2·s-1);疏叶骆驼刺和多枝柽柳的胞间CO2浓度(Ci)的日变化趋势均呈"倒钟型"曲线,与Pn日变化趋势相反。(3)2种植物7~9月份的WUE日变化进程与各自的Pn日变化规律基本一致,多枝柽柳的WUE日均值(1.21 mmol·mol-1)明显高于疏叶骆驼刺(0.97mmol·mol-1)。(4)偏相关分析显示,骆驼刺和柽柳的Pn与PAR呈显著正相关关系,而与RH呈显著负相关关系;回归分析显示,骆驼刺和柽柳Pn日变化的变异分别有35.6%和42.4%是由环境因子的日变化造成的;通径分析显示,各环境因子对Pn都具有显著的影响,其大小顺序分别为:TaRHPARCa(骆驼刺)和PARCaTaRH(柽柳),且骆驼刺在7~9月份内PAR均为决策变量,RH为限制变量(除7月份外);而柽柳在8、9月份内PAR均是决策变量,RH、Ca是限制变量。研究表明,疏叶骆驼刺属于高光合高蒸腾低水分利用效率型,多枝柽柳属于低蒸腾低光合高水分利用效率型;7月份骆驼刺和柽柳Pn的下降主要是由于气孔限制引起,而8、9月份主要是由非气孔因素限制所致;PAR和RH是影响骆驼刺和柽柳最重要的环境因子,其次是Ca,而Ta在不同时期的影响程度不同;疏叶骆驼刺和多枝柽柳与环境协同进化过程中产生了一定的生态适应性,但柽柳的WUE明显高于骆驼刺,推测柽柳的抗旱能力强于骆驼刺。     

大连市6种园林树种的光合固碳释氧特性

以大连市园林6种常用园林树种为研究材料,利用LI-6400便携式光合测定仪测定树木的光合生理生态指标,对6种树种的光合固碳释氧能力、光响应参数以及光合速率影响因子进行分析。结果表明:在不同季节同种植物的单位叶面积固碳释氧能力表现为夏季最强。日均单位叶面积固碳释氧能力由强到弱为龙爪槐(Sophora japonica var.pendula)合欢(Albizia julibrissin)光叶榉(Zelkova serrata)槲树(Quercus dentata)悬铃木(Platanus acerifolia)枫杨(Pterocarya stenoptera);日均单株固碳释氧能力由强到弱为悬铃木槲树合欢光叶榉枫杨龙爪槐。气孔导度、蒸腾速率、光合有效辐射和大气CO2浓度是影响光合速率的主要因子。悬铃木、合欢对环境的适应能力较强。根据树种的固碳释氧能力及生理特性,建议在大连地区进行绿化时优选悬铃木、合欢,槲树、龙爪槐也可作为高固碳树种推广。