非小细胞肺癌术后并发乳糜胸对患者生活质量影响的研究

目的:探讨非小细胞肺癌术后并发乳糜胸对患者生活质量的影响。方法:采用生活质量测定量表(QLQ-C30)回顾性分析第四军医大学唐都医院胸外科自2013年至2016年中收治的1015例肺癌手术患者的生活质量,发生乳糜胸组记为A组,未发生乳糜胸组记为B组。对比术前和术后1、3、6和12个月的生活质量有无统计学差异。结果:(1)术后1月时,除了社会功能、便秘、腹泻以外,两组生活质量指标评分均显著低于术前,且B组均显著低于A组,有统计学差异(表3,P0.05)。在手术后3月及以后逐渐恢复,至12月时,各组指标与术前基本相同(表3,P0.05);(2)两组术后生活质量相比较,术后1、3月,除社会功能、便秘、腹泻以外,其余生活质量功能指标B组均显著优于A组,有统计学差异(表3,P0.05)。在手术后6月及以后,B组所有指标与A组无统计学差异(表3,P0.05)。结论:肺癌根治术后发生乳糜胸患者生活质量显著低于未发生乳糜胸患者,因此应合理选择手术方式,注意术中操作,降低乳糜胸发生率,提高肺癌患者术后的生活质量。     

Study of Saharan dust influence on PM10 measures in Sicily from 2013 to 2015

Nowadays, particulate matter, especially that with small dimension as PM₁₀, PM_2.5 and PM_1, is the air quality indicator most commonly associated with a number of adverse health effects. In this paper it is analyzed the impact that a natural event, such as the transport of Saharan dust, can have on increasing the particulate matter concentration in Sicily.Consulting the data of daily PM₁₀ concentration, acquired by air quality monitoring network belonging to “Agenzia Regionale Protezionedell’ Ambiente” (Environmental Protection Regional Agency), it was possible to analyze the trend from 2013 to 2015. The days, in which the limit value was exceeded, were subjected to combined analysis. It was based on three models: interpretations of the air masses back-trajectories, using the atmospheric model HYSPLIT (HYbrid Single-Particle Lagrangian Integrated trajectory); on the calculation of the concentration on the ground and at high altitude particulate applying DREAM model (Dust REgional atmospheric model) and on the calculation of the concentration of mineral aerosols according to the atmospheric optical thickness (AOT) applying NAAPS model (Navy Aerosol Analysis and Prediction System).The daily limit value exceedances were attributed to the transport of Saharan dust events exclusively when the three models were in agreement with each other. Identifying the natural events, it was possible to quantify the contribution of the Saharan dust and consequently the reduction of the exceedances number. To quantify the contribution of Saharan dust on daily PM₁₀ concentration, it was calculated the regional background in according to precautionary approach recommended by “Guidance on the quantification of the contribution of natural sources under the EU Air Quality Directive 2008/50/EC”, when the application of the method cannot be validated with chemical analysis, as in this case. In this study is obtained, as the most important quantitative goal, the convergence of the three models to the same result. So, is evident that exceedances of the daily limit value that occurred from 2013 to 2015 in Sicily can be attributed, in most cases, to the Saharan dust intrusion.     

Exotic grass invasion impacts fitness of an endangered prairie butterfly, <Emphasis Type="Italic">Icaricia icarioides fenderi</Emphasis>

Fender’s blue butterfly is an endangered species restricted to fragmented, grassland remnants that are becoming increasingly dominated by tall, invasive grasses in western Oregon, USA. I performed a removal experiment to assess the impacts of structural degradation accompanying the invasion of Arrhenatherum elatius, tall oat grass, on butterfly fitness and fitness related behaviors. Clipping of A. elatius to native grass sward height resulted in 2.5–5 times as many eggs laid per leaf of host plant. Both male and female butterflies basked more frequently in areas removed of A. elatius inflorescences and upon encountering the treatment edge butterflies had a high rate of return into a large area removed of the grass inflorescences. Although butterfly behavior appeared to be affected by the change in sward height on the treatment edge, there was no evidence for the edge causing a disproportionate egg load. Invasion and dominance by A. elatius appeared to diminish host plant apparency which may result in overloading of eggs on conspicuous host plants, increased incidence of emigration, and a decrease in the likelihood of colonization because female butterflies appeared indifferent to larval resources beneath A. elatius inflorescences. Dominance of natural shortgrass prairies by tall stature grasses like A. elatius may be an insidious form of habitat degradation for grassland Lepidoptera worldwide, but it may go largely unnoticed because larval and adult resources can persist under the unnaturally tall grass canopy.     

Evaluating regional water security through a freshwater ecosystem service flow model: A case study in Beijing-Tianjian-Hebei region,China

Freshwater ecosystem service is essential to human’s survival and development. Many studies have documented the spatial differences in the supply and demand of ecosystem services and proposed the concept of ecosystem services flows. However, few studies characterize freshwater ecosystem service flow quantitatively. Therefore, our paper aims to quantify the effects of freshwater ecosystem service flow on downstream areas. We developed a freshwater ecosystem service flow model and applied it in the Beijing–Tianjin–Hebei (BTH) region, China, for the year of 2000, 2005, and 2010. We assessed the regional water security with an improved freshwater security index by integrating freshwater service provision, consumption and flow; and found that most areas of the BTH region (69.2%) were affected by upstream freshwater flows. The areas achieving water security in the region also expanded to 66.9%, 66.1%, and 71.3%, which were 6.4%, 6.8% and 5.7% increments compared to no-flow situation, in 2000, 2005 and 2010, respectively. Setting quota for human water consumption is suggested to further improve water security. These results highlight the need to fully understand the connections between distant freshwater ecosystem service provision and local freshwater ecosystem service consumption. This approach may also help managers to choose more sustainable strategies for critical freshwater resource management across different regions.     

Evaluation of different commercial feeds on grow-out silver black porgy,Sparidentex hasta (Valenciennes), for optimum growth performance,fillet quality,and cost of production

The objective of the study was to find a cost-effective feed from three commercial feeds, namely, Arasco (Saudi Arabia), Skretting (Turkey), and Biomar (Greece) for commercially producing silver black porgy (sobaity bream), Sparidentex hasta in Kuwait. For confidentiality, these feeds were randomly given code names, diets 1, 2, and 3, which were known only to the investigating staffs. The trash fish (diet 4) was used as the control. The experiment was conducted for 28 wk with grow-out sobaity bream (210.0 ± 0.51 g) using a flow-through system consisting of twelve 1-m³ tanks. There were three replicates for each treatment. Fish were fed two times daily at satiation level. The results showed that fish fed diet 2 resulted in significantly (P > 0.05) better growth performance, feed utilization, and higher fillet eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) content compared to other diets. A comparison of fillet quality of cultured and wild sobaity bream showed no significant (P > 0.05) difference between sensory attributes, except that of ‘flavor’ in cooked fillets of wild sobaity bream. A simple economic analysis showed that the cost per kilogram of fish production was significantly (P > 0.05) the lowest in diet 2 (USD4.13), followed by diet 1 (USD5.70), diet 4 (USD6.33), and diet 3 (USD6.92). Thus, based on growth performance, feed utilization, cost of production, and nutritional quality of fillet, it is concluded that diet 2 may be recommended for commercial culture of sobaity bream in Kuwait. However, future research should focus on how to improve fillet quality of the cultured fish at par with wild fish by manipulating the feed formulation.     

Habitat quality predicts the distribution of a lizard in fragmented woodlands better than habitat fragmentation

Organisms often face a higher risk of local extinction in fragmented than in continuous habitat. However, whether populations are affected by reduced size and connectivity of the habitat or by changes in habitat quality in fragmented landscapes remains poorly investigated. We studied the regional distribution and microhabitat selection of the lacertid lizard Psammodromus algirus in a fragmented landscape where the existence of deciduous and evergreen woodlands brought about variation in habitat quality. Lizards never occupied any fragment smaller than 0.5 ha. However, above that limit fragment size no longer predicted lizard occurrence, which was explained by woodland type instead, with lizards being more frequently found in deciduous than in evergreen woodlands. Lizards selected microhabitats that had structural features favouring thermoregulation, foraging and predator avoidance, and we identified better conditions for thermoregulation and food acquisition in deciduous than in evergreen woodlands. Our results support the idea that variation in habitat quality can sometimes override the effect of habitat fragmentation on animal populations. We consider the implications of our study for the conservation of Mediterranean lizards, discussing our results in a broader context framed by previous studies conducted in nearby areas.     

Bioaccumulation of heavy elements by Armadillidium vulgare (Crustacea,Isopoda) exposed to fallout of a municipal solid waste landfill

This paper reports the response of isopods exposed to fallout of a municipal solid waste landfill located in central Italy. Soil samples and specimens of Armadillidium vulgare were collected at different distances from the landfill and analyzed to determine the concentrations of heavy elements such as As, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb, Sb, V and Zn. The isopod analysis was performed on unpurged and purged specimens. Analytical data indicate that the soil contents of heavy elements were quite uniform and within the respective local geochemical background. Slight enrichments of Cu and Pb were found in some soils collected within the solid waste. Purged isopods showed an accumulation of As, Co, Cr, Ni, Sb and V whose body levels decreased as the distance from the landfill increased. Cd, Cu, Pb and Zn concentrations in purged specimens were rather uniform and no significant variation trend occurred. This result probably was due to the fact that the isopods are provided with physiological mechanisms of regulation for these heavy elements. Analytical data also indicate the ability of A. vulgare to adsorb differently the heavy elements according to the following order: As > Co > Ni > Pb > V. The contents of heavy elements in unpurged specimens were higher than in purged ones. This finding suggested that the defecation has marked effects on the tissue levels of heavy elements in isopods. This study indicates that the isopods provide useful information about environmental quality in areas characterized by low and discontinuous emission of heavy elements and their low accumulation in soil.     

The response of phytoplankton community to anthropogenic pressure gradient in the coastal waters of the eastern Adriatic Sea

In order to test the response of phytoplankton to anthropogenic pressure, data of chlorophyll a concentration, phytoplankton abundance, and composition are analyzed in relation to anthropogenic pressure gradient and environmental variables such as temperature, salinity and nutrients. Investigated sites encompassed wide tropic range according to a preliminary determination of anthropogenic pressure, quantified through the LUSI index. Statistical analyses indicated nitrates and silicates as proxies of freshwater influence, and phytoplankton single metrics such as concentrations of chlorophyll a and abundances as indicators of anthropogenic pressure. Boundary values for different water quality classes for coastal waters under indirect freshwater influence (Type II) are obtained according to gradient between concentration of chlorophyll a and pressure index (LUSI), which empirically fit to exponential equation. The response of phytoplankton diversity was not linear, as the highest diversity was observed in the area with intermediate disturbance level. CCA analysis identified Skeletonema marinoii, Scrippsiella trochoidea, Guinardia flaccida, Leptocylindrus spp., Prorocentrum spp., Proboscia alata, Eutreptiella spp., and Pseudonitzschia spp. as local eutrophication indicators, whose abundances increased with nutrients loads.     

Changes in nitrogen resorption traits of six temperate grassland species along a multi-level N addition gradient

Nitrogen (N) resorption from senescing leaves is an important mechanism of N conservation for terrestrial plant species, but changes in N-resorption traits over wide-range and multi-level N addition gradients have not been well characterized. Here, a 3-year N addition experiment was conducted to determine the effects of N addition on N resorption of six temperate grassland species belonging to three different life-forms: Stipa krylovii Roshev. (grass), Cleistogenes squarrosa (T.) Keng (grass), Artemisia frigida Willd. (semishrub), Melissitus ruthenica C.W.Wang (semishrub and N-fixer), Potentilla acaulis L. (forb) and Allium bidentatum Fisch.ex Prokh. (forb). Generally, N concentrations in green leaves increased asymptotically for all species. N concentrations in senescent leaves for most species (5/6) also increased asymptotically, except that the N concentration in senescent leaves of A. bidentatum was independent of N addition. N-resorption efficiency decreased with increasing N addition level only for S. krylovii and A. frigida, while no clear responses were found for other species. These results suggest that long-term N fertilization increased N uptake and decreased N-resorption proficiency, but the effects on N-resorption efficiency were species-specific for different temperate grassland species in northern China. These inter-specific differences in N resorption may influence the positive feedback between species dominance and N availability and thus soil N cycling in the grassland ecosystem in this region.     

The Water Framework Directive’s “percentage of surface water bodies at good status”: unveiling the hidden side of a “hyperindicator”

The Water Framework Directive (WFD) has provided the means of standardizing the way surface water bodies are monitored throughout the European Union (EU), using a common evaluation measure, the percentage of surface water bodies at good status, based largely on the structure and functioning of aquatic ecosystems. However, the evaluation of good status is based on the way the WFD is implemented, which differs in each country. In this article, we analyze how the WFD is implemented in France, how the water agencies divide up the water bodies, the areas covered by their monitoring networks, and the modalities of obtaining data to provide the EU with the percentage of water bodies at good status. This analysis reveals that it is this hyperindicator itself that is at stake, obtained by successively aggregating values measured in time and space, from the monitoring station to the River Basin District (RBD), reducing vast amounts of information to a single measure per RBD, while long-term monitoring of the major European rivers and their sedimentary budgets, which show improvements in certain quality aspects, are largely overlooked by the WFD. When drawing up the indicator, the agencies identify certain biases but not others. This raises the question of its use and relevance for managers and politicians, at both national and European level.