应用资源选择函数研究朱Huan的巢址选择

本文介绍了资源选择函数的原理与方法,并分析了朱Huan(Nipponia nippon)的巢址选择。我们将上述结果与主成分分析的结果进行了比较,发展两种方法都显示水田面积,营巢树高度,海拔高度和人类干扰程度对朱Huan巢址选择有较大影响,而巢向,巢上郁闭度,坡向和坡度对朱Huan影响较小。然而,两种方法也有明显的差异,资源选择函数显示营巢地的坡位非常重要,而主成分分析显示植被密度比较重要。分析表明资源选择函数更好地反映了多种生境因素对朱Huan巢址选择的影响,本文探讨了应用资源选择函数所必须注意的对照样方选择和参数的独立性问题,并提出了对朱Huan保护工作的建议。     

Multivariate analysis of the selected metals in the hair of cerebral palsy patients versus controls

Seventeen metals were measured in scalp hair samples from cerebral palsy patients (CPPs) and controls. Samples were collected from 95 CPPs and 93 controls. The nitric acid-perchloric acid wet digestion procedure was used for quantification of the selected metals by flame atomic absorption spectrophotometry. The concentrations of Ag, Ca, Cd, Co, Cr, Li, and Mg were significantly higher and those of Cu, Fe, K, Mn, Na, Ni, Pb, and Sb were lower in the hair of CPPs compared with controls. A strong positive correlation was found between Ca and Mg in the hair of controls but not in that of CPPs. Antimony was found significantly negative in terms of its correlation with Co and Cu in CPPs group but not in the controls. Principal component analysis (PCA) of the data extracted seven factors for CPPs and six factors for controls. Cluster analysis (CA) was also used to support the PCA results. The study evidenced some specific source of Mg and Sb in the hair of CPPs.     

Assessment of Heavy Metal Contamination in the Sediments of the Shuangtaizi Estuary Using Multivariate Statistical Techniques

In order to assess heavy metal pollution of sediment samples collected from Shuangtaizi estuary, contamination factor (CF) and multivariate statistical analyses, including principal component analysis (PCA), cluster analysis (CA) and correlation analysis, are carried out in this paper. CF confirms that Pb, Cu and Hg concentrations are very low and all fall within the range of background, while Zn and Cd demonstrate moderate contamination (in A10, A13, A15, A16 and A17 sites) and very high contamination (in A10, A13, A15 and A17 sites), respectively. The PCA indicates that four significant principal components (PCs) are extracted, explaining 88.959% of total variance, which suggests that Pb, Cu and Zn are mainly associated with organic carbon (OC). The result from CA is consistent with that obtained from PCA, classifying that the heavy metals in two clusters derive from different sources. Correlation analysis supports the conclusions from PCA and CA, elucidating the relationships between heavy metals and particle sizes of the sediments.     

Multivariate Analysis, Description, and Ecological Interpretation of Weed Vegetation in the Summer Crop Fields of Anhui Province, China

Two surveys were conducted to investigate weed vegetation in a 153-hm^2 sampling area of summer crop fields from Anhui Province, China, through visual scoring of the level of weed infestation compared with summer crops on a seven-class scale. In total, 155 sampling sites were selected in the field based on crops, tillage, rotation systems, geographical regions, and soil types across the province. Data on weed communities and environmental factors were collected and analyzed through principal component analysis （PCA） and canonical correspondence analysis （CCA）, and the output was interpreted ecologically. Results showed that the main factors influencing the structure and distribution of weed communities in summer crop fields were the soil submersion period, latitude, and soil type and pH. The CCA indicated a significant relationship between weed dominance and soil submersion duration, latitude, and soil pH. From the result of the PCA and CCA ordination, the 155 sampling sites could be divided into three groups based on geographic and floristic composition, as well as weed abundance. The southern dry land group, which was characterized by a double-cropping system in the hilly regions of southern and central Anhui Province with a continuous summer crop and an autumn dry land crop, was dominated by Galium aparine Linn. var. tenerum （Gren. et Godr） Robb., Avenafatua L., and Veronica persica Poir. The northern dry land group, which had the same cropping system as the southern dry land group, was dominated by G. aparine var. tenerum, Galium tricorne Stokes, Descurainia sophia （L.） Schur., and Lithospermum arvense L. in the North Anhui Province, China. These two dry land groups could be combined into one large dry land group, in which the Galium weed vegetation type dominated. The third group was the paddy soil group, which was characterized by a continu- ous summer crop and double- or triple-cropping systems of rice, and prevailed in the south and central areas of Anhui Province; Alopecurus aequalis Sobol. was the dominant weed in this group. Other main weeds in this group included Malachium aquaticum （L.） Fries, Stellaria alsine Grimm, Alopecurusjaponicus Steud., and Lapsana apogonoides Maxim. Thus, the weed community distributions in this group were described as the Alopecurus weed vegetation type. The paddy soil group could be divided into two subgroups, one southern and one central paddy soil subgroup. A strategy for integrated weed management is suggested according to the weed distribution pattern. The present study serves as a good example of how a quantitative research method was used to associate a visual estimate of weed infestation with multivariate analyses, such as PCA and CCA, and how this method can be applied to the study of weed vegetation on arable land.     

Multivariate Statistical Analysis and Risk Assessment of Heavy Metals Monitored in Surface Sediment of the Luan River and its Tributaries,China

In this study, a total of 84 sites in the Luan River Basin of China and its tributaries were monitored in 2012 for seven heavy metals (Cu, Ni, Pb, Zn, Cd, Cr, Hg) in the surface sediments. Cluster analysis (CA), principal component analysis (PCA), correlation analysis, and pollution indices were applied to the interpretation of the monitoring results. The results show that: (1) sampling sites in the mainstream are classified into two groups, upstream and downstream, with downstream representing higher levels of heavy metals and degrees of pollution; (2) three clusters were identified for the 10 tributaries, the downstream having the highest levels of heavy metals’ pollution; (3) the PCA suggests there are significant correlations among Zn, Cu, and Pb between Cr in the basin. Sediment pollution assessment was carried out using Pollution Index (PI) and Geo-Accumulation Index (I_geo). Mercury was the metal with the highest contamination level, followed by Cd and Cr. The results provide an overview of the current status of sediment contamination with measured data and support future policy development for the protection of water quality in the Luan River Basin.     

Levels,solid-phase fractions and sources of heavy metals at site received industrial effluents: a case study

Heavy metals in the site received industrial effluents were investigated to assess the pollution levels, distribution of metal among solid-phase fractions and possible metal sources. The soil samples at different depths of 0–5, 5–25 and 25–50 cm were collected and analyzed for Fe, Mn, Cd, Zn, Cu, Ni and Pb. Among all metals, Cd content was not detected in all soil samples. The average contents of Pb and Zn are higher than the corresponding values of common range in earth crust. Meanwhile, the maximum contents of Cu and Zn are higher than those of Dutch optimum value but lower that the Dutch protection act target value. The maximum contents of Cu, Pb and Zn are higher than the average shale value. The most investigated heavy metals are mostly found in the potentially labile pool (>50.0%) including metal bound to carbonate, Fe/Mn oxides, or organically fractions. Enrichment factor (EF) in combination with multivariate analysis including principal component analysis (PCA) and hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA) suggest that Mn and Ni associated with Fe in the soil samples were primarily originated from lithogenic sources. Pb was largely derived only from anthropogenic source, while Cu and Zn in the soil samples were controlled by the mixed natural and anthropogenic sources. These results suggest that discharging the industrial effluents into dumping site increased pollution level of Pb, Zn and Cu as well as enhanced their potentially labile pool that may be responsible for occurring potential toxic impacts on environmental quality.     

Sources and Ecological Risk Assessment of Heavy Metal(loid)s in Agricultural Soils of Huzhou,China

To identify sources of heavy metal(loid) (HM) contamination in agricultural soils of Huzhou, surface soil samples were sampled from 89 different agricultural regions in 2012. Concentrations of heavy metal(loid)s, along with pH, total phosphorus (TP), total nitrogen (TN), and soil organic matter (SOM), were determined. Ecological risk was then assessed using a modified Hakanson ecological risk index, and the sources of contamination were determined using principal component analysis (PCA). Mean concentrations of heavy metal(loid)s were 10.26, 23.21, 83.75, 22.81, 0.25, 61.86, 33.03, and 0.15 mg kg^?1 for As, Cu, Zn, Ni, Cd, Cr, Pb, and Hg, respectively. Cu, Zn, Ni, Cr, Cd, Hg, and Pb were correlated positively with TP and there were obvious positive correlations among Cu, Zn, Ni, Cr, and Cd. Risk index (RI) values varied from 39 to 1246 with a mean value of 137. Enrichment of Pb, Zn, Cu, and especially Cd can be attributed to excessive use of nitrogen and phosphorus fertilizers containing heavy metals, as well to surface irrigation and natural soil formation. While the ecological risk of most agricultural soils in Huzhou is low, it is recommended that the use of phosphate and nitrogen fertilizers be restricted and production technology be improved to reduce the heavy metal(loid) concentrations. Results suggest that the Chinese environmental quality standard for soil should be revised to better address heavy metal(loid) contamination.     

Influence of passive smoking on basic anthropometric characteristics and respiratory function in young athletes

The primary objective of this study is to investigate the maintenance difference in basic anthropometric characteristics and to outline the dynamics of respiratory function change in youngsters athletes exposed to passive smoking (PS) and athletes not exposed to passive smoking in their families (NPS). High and weight were determined as basis anthropometric characteristics. Measured parameters for respiratory function were vital capacity (VC), forced expiratory volume in the first second (FEV1), maximum expiratory flow (PEF), forced expiratory flow at 50% forced vital capacity (MEF 50) and forced expiratory flow at 25% forced vital capacity (MEF 25). Significant statistical differences in separate spirometric variable were found in three variables (FEV1, MEF50, and MEF25) for group older youngsters. Analysis of variance showed statistical differences between athletes unexposed to passive smoking (NPS) and athletes exposed to passive smoking (PS) in even four spirometric variables (VC, FEV1, MEF50 and MEF25).     

Application of automatic image analysis for morphometric studies of peroxisomes stained cytochemically for catalase

Summary The feasibility of the application of a television-based image analyzer, the Texture Analysis System (TAS, Leitz Wetzlar, FRG) in conjunction with a light microscope for morphometric studies of hepatic peroxisomes has been investigated. Rat liver peroxisomes were stained with the alkaline-DAB method for localization of catalase and semi-thin (0.25 and 1 m) sections of plastic-embedded material were examined under an oil immersion objective. The TAS detected the peroxisomal profiles selectively and determined their morphometric parameters automatically. The same parameters were obtained also by morphometric analysis of electron micrographs from the same material. The volume density of peroxisomes determined by TAS in semithin sections of normal liver, after correction for section thickness, is quite close to the corresponding value obtained by morphometry of electron micrographs. The difference is approximately 20%. In animals treated with the hypolipidemic drug bezafibrate, which causes proliferation of peroxisomes, TAS detected readily the increase in volume density of peroxisomes in semithin sections. In comparison with electron microscopy, however, the light-microscopic approach seems to underestimate the proliferation. The lower resolution of the light microscope and overlapping of neighbouring particles in relatively thick sections used for lightmicroscopic analysis may account for the differences.The present study has demonstrated the usefulness of automatic image analysis in conjunction with selective cytochemical staining of peroxisomes for morphometry of this organelle in rat liver. The light-microscopic approach is not only faster but is also extremely economical by obviating the use of an electron microscope.     

In-vitro evaluation of copper/copper oxide nanoparticles cytotoxicity and genotoxicity in normal and cancer lung cell lines

BackgroundNanotoxicology is a major field of study that reveals hazard effects of nanomaterials on the living cells.MethodsIn the present study, Copper/Copper oxide nanoparticles (Cu/CuO NPs) were prepared by the chemical reduction method and characterized by different techniques such as: X-Ray Diffraction, Transmission and Scanning Electron Microscopy. Evaluation of the toxicity of Cu/CuO NPs was performed on 2 types of cells: human lung normal cell lines (WI-38) and human lung carcinoma cell (A549). To assess the toxicity of the prepared Cu/CuOs NPs, the two cell types were exposed to Cu/CuO NPs for 72 h. The half-maximal inhibitory concentration IC₅₀ of Cu/CuO NPs for both cell types was separately determined and used to examine the cell genotoxicity concurrently with the determination of some oxidative stress parameters: nitric oxide, glutathione reduced, hydrogen peroxide, malondialdehyde and superoxide dismutase.ResultsCu/CuO NPs suppressed proliferation and viability of normal and carcinoma lung cells. Treatment of both cell types with their IC₅₀’s of Cu/CuO NPs resulted in DNA damage besides the generation of reactive oxygen species and consequently the generation of a state of oxidative stress.ConclusionOverall, it can be concluded that the IC₅₀'s of the prepared Cu/CuO NPs were cytotoxic and genotoxic to both normal and cancerous lung cells.     

Spatial distribution of benthic algae in the Gangqu River,Shangrila, China

This study consisted of sampling benthic algae at 32 sites in the Gangqu River, an important upstream tributary of the Yangtze River. Our aims were to characterize the benthic algae communities and relationships with environmental variables. Among the 162 taxa observed, Achnanthes linearis and Achnanthes lanceolata var. elliptica were the dominant species (17.10% and 14.30% of the total relative abundance, respectively). Major gradients and principal patterns of variation within the environmental variables were detected by principal component analysis (PCA). Then non-metric multidimensional scaling (NMS) divided all the sites into three groups, which were validated by multi-response permutation procedures (MRPP). Canonical correspondence analysis (CCA) indicated that three environmental variables (TN, TDS, and TP) significantly affected the distribution of benthic algae. Weighted averaging regression and cross-calibration produced strong models for predicting TN and TDS concentration, which enabled selection of algae taxa as potentially sensitive indicators of certain TN and TDS levels: for TN, Achnanthes lanceolata, Achnanthes lanceolata var. elliptica, and Cymbella ventricosa var. semicircularis; for TDS, Cocconeis placentula, Cymbella alpina var. minuta, and Fragilaria virescens. The present study represents an early step in establishing baseline conditions. Further monitoring is suggested to gain a better understanding of this region.     

Robust algorithm for brain magnetic resonance image (MRI) classification based on GARCH variances series

In this paper, a robust algorithm for disease type determination in brain magnetic resonance image (MRI) is presented. The proposed method classifies MRI into normal or one of the seven different diseases. At first two-level two-dimensional discrete wavelet transform (2D DWT) of input image is calculated. Our analysis show that the wavelet coefficients of detail sub-bands can be modeled by generalized autoregressive conditional heteroscedasticity (GARCH) statistical model. The parameters of GARCH model are considered as the primary feature vector. After feature vector normalization, principal component analysis (PCA) and linear discriminant analysis (LDA) are used to extract the proper features and remove the redundancy from the primary feature vector. Finally, the extracted features are applied to the K-nearest neighbor (KNN) and support vector machine (SVM) classifiers separately to determine the normal image or disease type. Experimental results indicate that the proposed algorithm achieves high classification rate and outperforms recently introduced methods while it needs less number of features for classification.     

Phylogenetic relationships of the genus Chamaecyparis inferred from leaf essential oil

The species differentiation between Chamaecyparis formosensis, C. obtusa var. formosana, and C. obtusa, based on the composition of the leaf essential oils, was studied. The characterization of the oils by GC-FID and GC/MS analyses showed remarkable differences between these three essential oils. Cluster analysis (CA) and principal-component analysis (PCA) distinguished three groups of essential oils. The C. formosensis oil was dominated by α-pinene while those isolated from C. obtusa var. formosana and C. obtusa were characterized by high levels of (-)-thujopsene and α-terpinyl acetate, respectively. Moreover, the phylogenetic relationships of the genus Chamaecyparis were in agreement with previous findings based on morphological and molecular evidence. In addition, the essential oils from C. obtusa var. formosana could be classified into three chemical types, according to their different characteristic main compounds (β-elemol, (-)-thujopsene, and cis-thujopsenal). The biochemical correlations between the major constituents of the Chamaecyparis species were examined and their relationship is discussed.     

Essential‐Oil Variability in Natural Populations of Pinus mugo Turra from the Julian Alps

The composition and variability of the terpenes and their derivatives isolated from the needles of a representative pool of 114 adult trees originating from four natural populations of dwarf mountain pine (Pinus mugo Turra ) from the Julian Alps were investigated by GC‐FID and GC/MS analyses. In total, 54 of the 57 detected essential‐oil components were identified. Among the different compound classes present in the essential oils, the chief constituents belonged to the monoterpenes, comprising an average content of 79.67% of the total oil composition (74.80% of monoterpene hydrocarbons and 4.87% of oxygenated monoterpenes). Sesquiterpenes were present in smaller amounts (average content of 19.02%), out of which 16.39% were sesquiterpene hydrocarbons and 2.62% oxygenated sesquiterpenes. The most abundant components in the needle essential oils were the monoterpenes δ‐car‐3‐ene, β‐phellandrene, α‐pinene, β‐myrcene, and β‐pinene and the sesquiterpene β‐caryophyllene. From the total data set of 57 detected compounds, 40 were selected for principal‐component analysis (PCA), discriminant analysis (DA), and cluster analysis (CA). The overlap tendency of the four populations suggested by PCA, was as well observed by DA. CA also demonstrated similarity among the populations, which was the highest between Populations I and II.     

Paraoxonase 2 Serves a Proapopotic Function in Mouse and Human Cells in Response to the Pseudomonas aeruginosa Quorum-sensing Molecule N-(3-Oxododecanoyl)-homoserine Lactone

Pseudomonas aeruginosa use quorum-sensing molecules, including N-(3-oxododecanoyl)-homoserine lactone (C12), for intercellular communication. C12 activated apoptosis in mouse embryo fibroblasts (MEF) from both wild type (WT) and Bax/Bak double knock-out mice (WT MEF and DKO MEF that were responsive to C12, DKO_R MEF): nuclei fragmented; mitochondrial membrane potential (Δψ_mito) depolarized; Ca²⁺ was released from the endoplasmic reticulum (ER), increasing cytosolic [Ca²⁺] (Ca_cyto); and caspase 3/7 was activated. DKO_R MEF had been isolated from a nonclonal pool of DKO MEF that were non-responsive to C12 (DKO_NR MEF). RNAseq analysis, quantitative PCR, and Western blots showed that WT and DKO_R MEF both expressed genes associated with cancer, including paraoxonase 2 (PON2), whereas DKO_NR MEF expressed little PON2. Adenovirus-mediated expression of human PON2 in DKO_NR MEF rendered them responsive to C12: Δψ_mito depolarized, Ca_cyto increased, and caspase 3/7 activated. Human embryonic kidney 293T (HEK293T) cells expressed low levels of endogenous PON2, and these cells were also less responsive to C12. Overexpression of PON2, but not PON2-H114Q (no lactonase activity) in HEK293T cells caused them to become sensitive to C12. Because [C12] may reach high levels in biofilms in lungs of cystic fibrosis (CF) patients, PON2 lactonase activity may control Δψ_mito, Ca²⁺ release from the ER, and apoptosis in CF airway epithelia. Coupled with previous data, these results also indicate that PON2 uses its lactonase activity to prevent Bax- and Bak-dependent apoptosis in response to common proapoptotic drugs like doxorubicin and staurosporine, but activates Bax- and Bak-independent apoptosis in response to C12.     

Bioclimatic and altitudinal variables influence the potential distribution of canine parvovirus type 2 worldwide

Canine parvovirus type 2 (CPV‐2) is extremely contagious and causes high rate of morbidity to many wild carnivores. It has three variants (CPV‐2a, CPV‐2b, and CPV‐2c) that are distributed worldwide with different frequencies and levels of genetic and antigenic variability. The disease poses a threat to the healthy survival and reproduction of wildlife. The research on the relationship between CPV‐2 epidemic and environmental variables is lacking. To fill this research gap, we used maximum entropy (MaxEnt) approach with principal component analysis (PCA) to evaluate the relation between CPV‐2 and environmental variables and to create a world risk map for this disease. According to the PCA results, 18 environmental variables were selected from 68 variables for subsequent analyses. MaxEnt showed that annual mean temperature, isothermality, altitude, November precipitation, maximum temperature of warmest month, and precipitation of warmest quarter were the six most important variables associated with CPV‐2 distribution, with a total of 77.7% percent contribution. The risk of this disease between 18°N and 47°N was high, especially in the east of China and the United States. These results support further prediction of risk factors for this virus to help secure the health and sustainable survival of wild carnivores.     

Evaluation of Soil Contamination Indices in a Mining Area of Jiangxi,China

There is currently a wide variety of methods used to evaluate soil contamination. We present a discussion of the advantages and limitations of different soil contamination assessment methods. In this study, we analyzed seven trace elements (As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Hg, Pb, and Zn) that are indicators of soil contamination in Dexing, a city in China that is famous for its vast nonferrous mineral resources in China, using enrichment factor (EF), geoaccumulation index (I_geo), pollution index (PI), and principal component analysis (PCA). The three contamination indices and PCA were then mapped to understand the status and trends of soil contamination in this region. The entire study area is strongly enriched in Cd, Cu, Pb, and Zn, especially in areas near mine sites. As and Hg were also present in high concentrations in urban areas. Results indicated that Cr in this area originated from both anthropogenic and natural sources. PCA combined with Geographic Information System (GIS) was successfully used to discriminate between natural and anthropogenic trace metals.