The performance of various soil amendments to immobilize or retard Cu, Cr, and As species in soil/CCA-ash mixtures was studied. The amendments evaluated were agricultural lime (CaCO3/MgCO3), soil softener (CaSO4 · 2H2O), and iron sulfate (FeSO4). Results of this investigation show that native soil alone retards the mobility of As and Cr, amendments applied alone or in combinations further retard metal mobility compared to the control soil/CCA-ash mixture. The CaSO4 soil amendment is most effective in reducing the rainwater leaching of Cr and As from CCA-ash in soil reducing the mobility by 72.4% and 77.3%, respectively, compared to the control soil-ash mixture. Cu mobility is increased in the presence of the native soil and by all amendments. 相似文献
Aims: To determine differences in diversity patterns between serpentine and non-serpentine communities.
Methods: A two-year study was conducted in native eastern Mediterranean grasslands. For each year 40 0.25 m2 plots were sampled across four pairs of sites, each of which contained a serpentine and an adjacent non-serpentine plant community. Alpha and beta diversity (variation in species composition among plots within localities), species composition and biomass production were determined. Total soil elemental concentrations and pH were also measured.
Results: Serpentine habitats were shown to support a lower alpha diversity relative to non-serpentine habitatas on a per plot basis. Differences in alpha diversity between the two substrates were associated with variation in soil chemistry rather than above-ground biomass production. Serpentine habitats also exhibited lower beta diversity, which was unrelated to variation in biomass production. The two contrasting communities presented distinct species composition.
Conclusions: Differences in diversity patterns between serpentine and non-serpentine communities in the eastern Mediterranean are influenced by soil chemistry rather than biomass production. 相似文献
Objectives: We have examined the incremental value of Big-ET-1 in predicting total and CV mortality next to the well-established CV risk marker N-Terminal Pro-B-Type Natriuretic Peptide (NT-proBNP).
Methods: Big-ET-1 and NT-proBNP were determined in 2829 participants referred for coronary angiography (follow-up 9.9 years).
Results: Big-ET-1 is an independent predictor of total, CV mortality and death due to CHF.
Discussion: The conjunct use of Big-ET-1 and NT-proBNP improves the risk stratification of patients with intermediate to high risk of CV death and CHF.
Conclusions: Big-ET-1improves risk stratification in patients referred for coronary angiography. 相似文献
Aims: We tested whether mesic deep-soil habitats on granite outcrops can sustain larger FD than dry shallow-soil habitats.
Methods: We calculated FD for dominant species for five single traits (leaf dry matter content, foliar δ13C, foliar C:N ratio, plant height and specific leaf area) and their combinations. We employed Generalized Additive Mixed Models to quantify the relationship between selected climate and soil depth variables, and FD.
Results: More benign (deep-soil) habitats supported larger FD for foliar C:N, plant height and for multiple traits than did shallow-soil habitats.
Conclusions: We suggest that: (1) functional diversification, likely aimed at avoiding intra- and interspecific competition for light and nutrients acquisition, might be the important factor in deep-soil habitats; (2) deep-soils patches on and around granite outcrops may serve as ecological microrefugia for biota associated with resource-rich environments. 相似文献
Aims: We investigate three hypotheses: (1) the purple morph occurs in colder, wetter climates than the yellow morph; (2) tissue–soil ionic relationships differ among morphs; and (3) morphs occur on soils with differing elemental concentrations.
Methods: We queried herbarium records to investigate patterns of occurrence among the yellow and purple floral morphs, and analysed soil and tissue samples from wild populations of all four morphs.
Results: The purple morph inhabited serpentine outcrops with colder temperatures and greater precipitation levels than the yellow morph. Concentrations of elements in leaf tissue and rhizosphere soil differed little among populations of the morphs, but showed substantial within-site variation.
Conclusions: Our results suggest that a climatic gradient may be responsible for divergence in floral colour among populations of S. polygaloides. Because of the large within-site variation in soil and tissue elemental concentrations, plants appear to have a varied physiological response to edaphic factors, regardless of morph membership. 相似文献
Objective: The aim of study was to assess the usefulness of epidermal growth factor (EGF), growth differentiation factor (GDF)-15, and survivin as novel markers of biocompatibility in dialyzed children.
Materials and methods: Parameters were assessed by ELISA in 19 patients on hemodialysis and 22 children on peritoneal dialysis.
Results: Serum concentrations of analyzed parameters in children on chronic dialysis differed significantly from controls and depended strongly on the dialysis technique.
Conclusions: EGF, GDF-15, and survivin may serve as new biocompatibility markers in children on chronic dialysis. 相似文献
Objective: This review aimed to highlight biomarker characterisation and assessment of unique bacterial pili.
Methods: A PubMed search for bacterial pili, diagnostics, vaccine and therapeutics was performed, with emphasis on the well characterised pili.
Results: In total, 46 papers were identified and reviewed.
Conclusion: Extensive analyses of pili enabled by advanced nanotechnology and whole genome sequencing provide evidence that they are strong biomarker candidates. Mycobacterium tuberculosis curli pili are emphasised as important epitopes for the development of much needed point-of-care diagnostics and therapeutics. 相似文献
Objective: To evaluate the accuracy of PCT, MR-proANP, MR-proADM, copeptin and CT-proET1 for the risk-stratification of severe acute dyspnea patients presenting to the ED.
Methods: Multicenter prospective study in adult patients with a chief complaint of acute dyspnea. Pro-hormone type biomarkers concentrations were measured on arrival. Combined primary endpoint was a poor outcome.
Results: Three hundred and ninety-four patients were included, 137 (35%) met the primary endpoint. MR-proADM was the only biomarker associated with the primary endpoint (odds ratio 1.43 [95%CI: 1.13–1.82], p?=?0.003) as were the presence of paradoxical abdominal breathing (odds ratio 2.48 [95%CI: 1.31–4.68]) or cyanosis (odds ratio 3.18 [1.46–6.89])
Conclusions: In patients with severe acute dyspnea in the ED, pro-hormone type biomarkers measurements have a low added value to clinical signs for the prediction of poor outcome. 相似文献
Objective: To investigate possible effects of nifedipine on respiratory mechanics in the rat.
Methods: Respiratory system mechanical parameters were measured by the end-inflation occlusion method in the rat in vivo before and after the intraperitoneal administration of nifedipine.
Results: We found that nifedipine affects respiratory mechanics, inducing a reduction of airway resistance and of respiratory system elastance, probably because of a relaxing action on airway and parenchimal smooth muscle cells.
Conclusion: Should these results be further confirmed by human investigations, a possible role of nifedipine in pharmacological respiratory system’s diseases treatment may be suggested. 相似文献
Aims: This study tested the hypotheses that Pied Flycatcher nests were constructed from the leaves of different tree species in proportion to their occurrence within the breeding territories and that nest composition varied between geographical locations.
Methods: In Lancashire, Pied Flycatcher nests were collected from nestboxes built in locations dominated by different tree species and were deconstructed to determine which materials were used.
Results: The leaves found in nests generally reflected their availability within the locality of the territories rather than showing evidence of selective use of some leaf species. However, the use of moss was dominated by the use of one species in all but two nests. Nests from Lancashire were significantly different in composition when compared with published data for nests from north Wales and central Spain.
Conclusion: Pied Flycatchers exhibit plasticity in nest construction behaviour because they were opportunistic in their choice of most leaves as nesting materials, although they may be selective in their choice of moss. 相似文献
Aims: To evaluate the effects of the fragmentation and loss of habitat (size, edge effect, isolation and type of matrix) the richness, abundance, diversity and species composition of ferns in Atlantic forest fragments.
Methods: For each of 11 fragments, plots of 10 × 20 m2 were compared in the interior and at the forest edge. Data were analysed by general linear models, or by the use of similarity indices for floristic composition.
Results: Eighty-eight species were recorded. Fragment size and type of environment (interior vs. edge) were related to the biological variables studied: large fragments and forest interior environments had larger populations of ferns, with a higher diversity. Floristic compositions were distinct for both the interior vs. edge environments and large vs. small fragments.
Conclusions: Although larger fragments present a higher number of species, the preservation of smaller fragments, which have a different suite of species from those found in the large fragments, is important to guarantee the maintenance of the highest number of fern species in the Atlantic forest. Small fragments are not merely subsets of the species occurring in the larger fragments. The turnover in the species composition between fragments of different size suggests high spatial variability in the study area. 相似文献
Objective: To assess oral riboflavin is an adherence marker.
Methods: Riboflavin was incorporated into active treatment and placebo pills for a clinical trial lasting for 2 years.
Results: The accuracy (area under the receiver operating curve) of urinary riboflavin was 0.91 as a binary classifier of adherence, and was similar or better than for two active study ingredients daidzein (0.92) and genistein (0.87) (all p?<?0.0001). Decreased adherence over time was similar in the two study groups.
Conclusion: Riboflavin is an accurate and useful biomarker for study pill ingestion. 相似文献
Methodology: The study evaluated 35 patients transplanted at the time of hospital discharge and 3 months after regarding: body composition, REE (by indirect calorimetry), and injury factor (IF); serum urea, creatinine, glucose, albumin, total protein, advanced oxidation protein products (AOPP), vitamin C.
Results: Three months after discharge, there was an improvement in renal function, nutritional status, and oxidative stress, with a standardization in the REE/kg. There was an increase in body weight, mainly in fat mass. The correlations showed that a greater cold ischemia time resulted in a deeper decline in vitamin C; a longer hospital length stay resulted in a greater reduction in AOPP; the higher preoperative body weight showed greater increases in body fat and glucose after transplantation. For decreases in REE and IF, there were increases in total protein. Finally, at hospital discharge there was a greater gain in weight, lower albumin, and total protein among individuals who had rejection episodes.
Discussion: The KT improves many of metabolic abnormalities, with the improvement of nutritional status, oxidative stress, and normalization of REE. 相似文献
Areas covered: Summarized are the key immunology findings obtained with MS-based proteomics in the past five years, with a focus on inflammasome activation, global protein secretion, mucosal immunology, immunopeptidome and T cells. Special focus is on extracellular vesicle-mediated protein secretion and its role in immune responses.
Expert commentary: Proteomics is an essential part of modern omics-scale immunology research. To date, MS-based proteomics has been used in immunology to study protein expression levels, their subcellular localization, secretion, post-translational modifications, and interactions in immune cells upon activation by different stimuli. These studies have made major contributions to understanding the molecular mechanisms involved in innate and adaptive immune responses. New developments in proteomics offer constantly novel possibilities for exploring the immune system. Examples of these techniques include mass cytometry and different MS-based imaging approaches which can be widely used in immunology. 相似文献
Aims: We compared two new protected areas (Ibity and Itremo) with different environmental and management contexts to identify the roles and impacts of the environmental conditions and the different types of management applied by their respective local communities on vegetation. Both areas have extensive stands of tapia (Uapaca bojeri) woodland.
Methods: Herbaceous vegetation surveys were carried out enumerating 16 1-m² quadrats in each of 10 sites on Ibity and seven on Itremo to characterise plant community composition and structure, complemented by tree and shrub surveys within three 40 × 40 m quadrats at each site.
Results: Floristic richness was higher at Ibity. Populations of U. bojeri were better conserved at Itremo.
Conclusions: While the total exclusion of fire is impracticable, careful management should enable the maintenance of natural conditions and at least lead to a reduction in the impacts on the structure of tapia woodland vegetation. 相似文献
Aims: We used a highly invasive grass, Microstegium vimineum, as a model for understanding how changes in water-induced stress (including potential associated changes in soil nutrient availability) might affect mating systems and thus evolutionary change in invasive species. We predicted that plants would respond to increased water-induced stress through a relative reduction in investment in CL vs. CH reproduction (i.e., a decrease in the CL:CH ratio).
Methods: Under greenhouse conditions, we measured fecundity (number of inflorescences and florets per plant) as well as relative investment in CL vs. CH florets (CL:CH ratios for number of inflorescences, florets per inflorescence, overall florets) in response to three watering treatments approximating mesic (low) to inundated (high) conditions.
Results: Plant biomass was significantly lower in high-watering treatment relative to intermediate and low treatments, indicating that the high-water condition was stressful. Contrary to expectations, stressed plants significantly increased relative investment in CL reproduction, a pattern associated with decreased inflorescence number and increased numbers of CL florets per inflorescence.
Conclusions: We conclude that changes in water-induced stress could strongly influence realised rates of outcrossing in this invasive plant, leading to mating system evolution, and altered invasiveness. 相似文献
Objective: Evaluation of micronuclei (MN) as a screening marker of occupational ionizing radiation (IR) exposure.
Materials and methods: Using micronucleus test, peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL) of 402 control and exposed subjects were screened for genetic damage.
Results: The mean frequencies of micronucleus test parameters were significantly higher in exposed persons. Increase of micronucleus yield with duration of exposure (DOE) by 0.303MN/year was revealed.
Discussion and conclusion: The obtained data encourage us to consider MN as valuable markers for preventive medical screening of occupationally exposed groups. 相似文献
Aims: To study the degree of diet overlap between both species, their space use on a local scale and their breeding phenologies.
Methods: We studied the breeding phenologies of the two species by standardized ringing activity. Spatial distribution was investigated by point counts. We determined diet composition from emetic samples and we collected invertebrates by standardized sweep-netting to estimate food availability.
Results: Diet and prey selection were similar among species. Conversely, spatial overlap was relatively small (<50%) and breeding phenologies were not synchronized. Both food availability and the overall abundance of the two species increased throughout the breeding season.
Conclusion: The two species are potential competitors for food and the observed differences in spatial and temporal niches may represent a way to lower competition for trophic resources: Moustached Warblers could reduce competition by breeding early, while Reed Warblers could avoid settling in areas occupied by the other species. 相似文献
Aims: To measure habitat use, nest sites, chick diet and breeding productivity of Grey Partridge on hill farms in north east England.
Methods: We measured actual habitat use of radio-tagged individuals in relation to its availability both within home ranges and over the wider study area. Nesting habitat and breeding productivity data were collected from radio-tagged pairs. Faecal samples from roost sites of broods were collected to assess chick diet.
Results: Grey Partridges preferred rough grazing habitats. Sixty-nine per cent of nests were found in rough grazing with females preferring to nest in tall rushes which provided cover. Chick diet differed between habitats and in relation to brood age. In rough grazing, sawfly larvae were the most numerous item eaten by young (46%) and older broods (27%).
Conclusion: On hill farms, breeding Grey Partridges preferred rough grazings, where broods preferred sawfly larvae. It is important that rush-infested rough grazings are not agriculturally improved and grazing regimes that provide abundant sawfly larvae are practised. 相似文献