Evaluation method for coalmining-based cities ecosystem based on attribute mathematical model with Huainan City as an example

Attributive recognition model of coalmining-based cities ecosystem classification is developed in terms of attributive mathematical theory. Based on the analysis of main causes of coalmining-based cities ecosystem, the city vitality, city structure strength, city resilience ability, service functions and health status are chosen as the criterion indicators of coalmining-based cities ecosystem classification; the attributive measurement functions are constructed to compute the attributive measurement of single indicator and multi-indicator; and the synthetic attributive measurement is calculated by the AHP; the health classification of cities ecosystem are recognized by the confidence criterion. An empirical analysis is made by the proposed model and method, the synthetic evaluation results are better than fuzzy comprehensive evaluation method which validates the proposed model feasible, effective and reliable in coalmining-based cities ecosystem classification. As attributive recognition theory can success fully resolve certain issues with a number of fuzzy attribution in comprehensive evaluation, its confidence criterion is established on the basis of the ordered evaluation sets, consequently it will make the evaluation results more reliable.     

The Thr300Ala variant of ATG16L1 is associated with decreased risk of brain metastasis in patients with non-small cell lung cancer

Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) often metastasizes to the brain, but identifying which patients will develop brain metastases (BM) is difficult. Macroautophagy/autophagy is critical for cancer initiation and progression. We hypothesized that genetic variants of autophagy-related genes may affect brain metastases (BM) in NSCLC patients. We genotyped 16 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in 7 autophagy-related (ATG) genes (ATG3, ATG5, ATG7, ATG10, ATG12, ATG16L1, and MAP1LC3/LC3) by using DNA from blood samples of 323 NSCLC patients. Further, we evaluated the potential associations of these genes with subsequent BM development. Lung cancer cell lines stably transfected with ATG16L1: rs2241880 (T300A) were established. Mouse models of brain metastasis were developed using cells transfected with ATG16L1–300T or ATG16L1–300A. ATG10: rs10036653 and ATG16L1: rs2241880 were significantly associated with a decreased risk of BM (respective hazard ratios [HRs]=0.596, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.398–0.894, P = 0.012; and HR = 0. 655, 95% CI 0.438–0.978, P = 0.039, respectively). ATG12: rs26532 was significantly associated with an increased risk of BM (HR=1.644, 95% CI 1.049–2.576, P = 0.030). Invasion and migration assays indicated that transfection with ATG16L1–300T (vs. 300A) stimulated the migration of A549 cells. An in vivo metastasis assay revealed that transfection with ATG16L1–300T (vs. 300A) significantly increased brain metastasis. Our results indicate that genetic variations in autophagy-related genes can predict BM and that genome analysis would facilitate stratification of patients for BM prevention trials.     

Low-Fat Diets May Prevent Weight Gain in Sedentary Women: Prospective Observations From the Population Study of Women in Gothenburg,Sweden

The Population Study of Women in Gothenburg, Sweden is an ongoing prospective study of female residents who were recruited from the local registry in 1968–1969 when they were 38–60 years old. The data presented here were collected from 361 healthy women who underwent a baseline physical examination including a supplementary dietary history interview and returned for a second general health examination 6 years later. This report identifies a subgroup of 57 women who were sedentary during their leisure time and appear to have been particularly susceptible to gaining weight as a function of the fat content of their diets. Specifically, longitudinal analysis of body weights in the whole sample revealed a statistical interaction between leisure-time physical activity and habitual dietary fat intake (energy-%), as reported at the baseline examination, in the prediction of subsequent weight change. Further stratified analysis suggested that weight changes were significantly dependent on dietary fat intake among the sedentary women only. High energy intake also predicted weight gain in the sedentary group, although the predictive value for a high-fat diet was of marginal significance after adjusting for total energy consumption. These results suggest that sedentary recreational activity plus a low-fat diet may have a combined contribution to weight change that is not equivalent to the sum of the separate effects. Such a synergy between two modifiable lifestyle factors seems highly relevant for prevention of obesity.     

Nonparametric,GINI-like Measures of Location and Dispersion

GINI's nonparametric measure of dispersion, defined as the mean of (n/2) pairs of a sample of n measurements, is modified for triplets. That way a GINI-like measure of location G* is defined as the mean of the (n/3) triplet medians, and a GINI-like measure of dispersion is defined as the mean of the (n/3) triplet ranges. G* and g* are less sensitive to outlier measurements than are the corresponding parametric measures, arithmetic mean and standard deviation, in small samples. Applications and application-related problems are discussed.     

The significance of mycotoxins in the framework of assessing workplace related risks

Mycotoxins are fungal metabolite which may in some cases exhibit a high health hazard potential. Mycotoxins can show carcinogenic, mutagenic, toxic, teratogenic or immunotoxic effects. Mycotoxin exposure in the workplace may occur through inhalation and skin contact,e.g. during occupational handling of organic matter such as livestock feed, food products, or waste. Various studies suggest that both acute and chronic effects can occur, depending at least on the exposure level. The magnitude of the potential health risks associated with a respiratory or dermal intake of mycotoxins has largely remained unclear to date. However, according to the directive 2000/54/EC on biological agents and the corresponding German Biological Agents Ordinance, employers are also required to consider the potential hazards posed by toxic effects of biological agents when assessing workplace risks. The aim of this article, therefore, is to present some basis information that should facilitate an evaluation of the significance of mycotoxins in the context of assessing workplace risks. It also provides suggestions for occupational health and safety measures.     

A Growth Curve Analysis for Bulls Tested at Station

Data on 2712 bulls tested at station were analysed to study the effect of certain external variables on growth traits of bulls. Most of the animals were Ayrshires (2136). Otherwise Finncattle bulls and Frisian bulls were involved. The testing covers the interval 60–365 days of age, although in part of the data the period is 30–365. Bulls were weighted every 30th day (between 1965 and 1970), or at the ages of 60 and 180 days, and thereafter every 30 days up to the age of 365 days (between 1971 and 1977). Also birth weight was available for 1250 calves. Feeding and general treatment of bulls at station was as uniform as possible for all animals. Conseqúently it can be assumed that effects of non-genetic factors on the growth traits of bulls are minimized. One of the objectives of this study was to compare the growth curves for the three breeds. In our data measurements at certain time-points have dropped out during the course of data collection. Therefore we study the influence of deleting measurements. We also consider the problem of influential measurements at both the design level and the inference level. Several types of growth curves are fitted to the data in order to find the most appropriate model.     

六出花属DUS测试性状筛选与评价

以39份六出花品种为试材,对51个候选性状进行观测,比对不同测量方式对花相关数量性状的影响,并同时研究了同品种中外花被片与侧外花被片长度的相关性。结果表明:"花序:花序梗长度"和"花:花梗长度"不满足DUS测试性状要求,最后筛选出43个性状作为DUS测试性状。12个数量性状可分别划分为3~7级;不同观测方式对花相关数量性状具有影响,推荐DUS测试时采用随机观测方式;不同批次的同一品种观测结果部分性状上存在差异;多数品种的中外花被片长度与侧外花被片长度之间呈线性正相关;形态性状的聚类分析结果支持将"花:主色"作为分组性状。     

Effect of Adding Branched-chain Amino Acids to a Nicotinic Acid-free,Low-protein Diet on the Conversion Ratio of Tryptophan to Nicotinamide in Rats

The effects of adding branched-chain amino acids to a nicotinic acid-free, low-protein diet on the conversion of tryptophan to nicotinamide were investigated in rats. The conversion ratio [urinary excretion of nicotinamide and its metabolites (μmol/day) × 100/tryptophan intake during urine collection (μmol/day)] was significantly lower in the groups fed with the 3% Leu-, Val-, or Ile-added diet than in the group fed with the control diet. Namely, the inhibition of this conversion was observed not only by the addition of Leu, but also by the addition of Val or Ile. The addition of Ile and/or Val to the Leu-added diet did not antagonize the Leu effect.