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1.
Hector M. Serna‐Chavez W. Daniel Kissling Lourens E. Veen Nathan G. Swenson Peter M. van Bodegom 《Global Ecology and Biogeography》2018,27(7):828-838
Aim
A key hypothesis in macroecology is that the relative importance of factors driving ecological phenomena changes with spatial scale. However, studies on ecosystem services usually ignore this. Here, we test how the importance of factors related to climate regulation services varies with spatial extent (i.e., area of assessment) and how covariation among factors affects scale dependencies.Location
The Americas.Time period
Present.Major taxa studied
Plants.Methods
We combined a multi‐model inference framework with variance partitioning to quantify the importance of factors that could potentially influence climate regulation services (i.e., albedo, evapotranspiration and primary productivity). We quantified abiotic (climate, soil, heterogeneity in soils/topography), biotic (open vegetation, forest area and biomass, plant functional traits) and anthropogenic (forest fragmentation, managed vegetation, non‐vegetated surfaces) conditions and tested their importance in relation to climate regulation services at spatial extents ranging from 9 × 103 to 1 × 106 km2.Results
We found that the importance of abiotic factors in relation to climate regulation services increases with spatial extent. However, we found no evidence for a change from primarily biotically to abiotically driven climate regulation services with increasing spatial extent. All spatial extent dependencies were heavily influenced by covariation between abiotic, biotic and anthropogenic factors. After accounting for covariation, we found a primacy of abiotic factors as drivers of climate regulation services across spatial extents. Biotic and anthropogenic factors were less important than abiotic factors, and their independent effects were conserved across spatial extents.Main conclusions
Our results show that the relative importance of abiotic factors related to climate regulation services depends on spatial extent. Biotic and anthropogenic factors are less important for climate regulation services than abiotic factors, and this hierarchy is scale invariant. Our findings suggest that spatial extent dependence needs to be quantified and assessed in climate‐change mitigation projects that focus on ecosystem services. 相似文献2.
Factors influencing above‐ground and soil seed bank vegetation diversity at different scales in a quasi‐Mediterranean ecosystem 下载免费PDF全文
Matthew P. Chick Craig R. Nitschke Janet S. Cohn Trent D. Penman Alan York 《植被学杂志》2018,29(4):684-694
Questions
Are factors influencing plant diversity in a fire‐prone Mediterranean ecosystem of southeast Australia scale‐dependent?Location
Heathy woodland, Otways region, Victoria, southeast AustraliaMethods
We measured patterns of above‐ground and soil seed bank vegetation diversity and associated them with climatic, biotic, edaphic, topographic, spatial and disturbance factors at multiple scales (macro to micro) using linear mixed effect and generalized dissimilarity modelling.Results
At the macro‐scale, we found species richness above‐ground best described by climatic factors and in the soil seed bank by disturbance factors. At the micro‐scale we found species richness best described above‐ground and in the soil seed bank by disturbance factors, in particular time‐since‐last‐fire. We found variance in macro‐scale β‐diversity (species turnover) best explained above‐ground by climatic and disturbance factors and in the soil seed bank by climatic and biotic factors.Conclusions
Regional climatic gradients interact with edaphic factors and fire disturbance history at small spatial scales to influence species richness and turnover in the studied ecosystem. Current fire management regimes need to incorporate key climatic–disturbance–diversity interactions to maintain floristic diversity in the studied system.3.
Objectives
To investigate which anthropometric adiposity measure has the strongest association with cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors in Caucasian men and women without a history of CVD.Design
Systematic review and meta-analysis.Methods
We searched databases for studies reporting correlations between anthropometric adiposity measures and CVD risk factors in Caucasian subjects without a history of CVD. Body mass index (BMI), waist circumference, waist-to-hip ratio, waist-to-height ratio and body fat percentage were considered the anthropometric adiposity measures. Primary CVD risk factors were: systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, high density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, triglycerides and fasting glucose. Two independent reviewers performed abstract, full text and data selection.Results
Twenty articles were included describing 21,618 males and 24,139 females. Waist circumference had the strongest correlation with all CVD risk factors for both men and women, except for HDL and LDL in men. When comparing BMI with waist circumference, the latter showed significantly better correlations to CVD risk factors, except for diastolic blood pressure in women and HDL and total cholesterol in men.Conclusions
We recommend the use of waist circumference in clinical and research studies above other anthropometric adiposity measures, especially compared with BMI, when evaluating CVD risk factors. 相似文献4.
Narjes Feizollahi Zeinab Deris Zayeri Najme Moradi Mahvash Zargar Hadi Rezaeeyan 《生物学前沿》2018,13(3):190-196
Objective
Recent studies showed coagulation factors play important role in controlling pregnancy duration in addition to controlling homeostasis. Recent studies showed several polymorphisms of coagulation factors genes increase the clot formation and lead to abortion. In this study, we evaluated the polymorphisms of coagulation factors and their effects on the development of the fetus.Material and Methods
Relevant literature was identified by a PubMed search (1988-2017) of English language papers using the terms Abortion, pregnancy woman, coagulation factor and polymorphism.Result
Several polymorphisms of coagulation factors disturb the exchange of food and other materials between the fetus and the mother, and impairs the formation of the placenta during embryonic stages.Discussion
Evaluation of functional polymorphisms in coagulation factors gene during fetal development can be used as a prognostic factor in the prevention of the abortion.5.
Objective:
This study examined whether change in body mass index (BMI) or waist circumference (WC) is associated with change in cardiometabolic risk factors and differences between cardiovascular disease specific and diabetes specific risk factors among adolescents. We also sought to examine any differences by gender or baseline body mass status.Design:
The article is a longitudinal analysis of pre‐ and post‐data collected in the HEALTHY trial. Participants were 4,603 ethnically diverse adolescents who provided complete data at 6th and 8th grade assessments.Methods:
The main outcome measures were percent change in the following cardiometabolic risk factors: fasting triglycerides, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, high density lipoprotein cholesterol, and glucose as well as a clustered metabolic risk score. Main exposures were change in BMI or WC z‐score. Models were run stratified by gender; secondary models were additionally stratified by baseline BMI group (normal, overweight, or obese).Results:
Analysis showed that when cardiometabolic risk factors were treated as continuous variables, there was strong evidence (P < 0.001) that change in BMI z‐score was associated with change in the majority of the cardiovascular risk factors, except fasting glucose and the combined risk factor score for both boys and girls. There was some evidence that change in WC z‐score was associated with some cardiovascular risk factors, but change in WC z‐score was consistently associated with changes in fasting glucose.Conclusions:
In conclusion, routine monitoring of BMI should be continued by health professionals, but additional information on disease risk may be provided by assessing WC. 相似文献6.
J. C. Barnes Brian B. Boutwell J. Mitchell Miller Rashaan A. DeShay Kevin M. Beaver Norman White 《PloS one》2016,11(2)
Objectives
To examine whether differential exposure to pre- and perinatal risk factors explained differences in levels of self-regulation between children of different races (White, Black, Hispanic, Asian, and Other).Methods
Multiple regression models based on data from the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study, Birth Cohort (n ≈ 9,850) were used to analyze the impact of pre- and perinatal risk factors on the development of self-regulation at age 2 years.Results
Racial differences in levels of self-regulation were observed. Racial differences were also observed for 9 of the 12 pre-/perinatal risk factors. Multiple regression analyses revealed that a portion of the racial differences in self-regulation was explained by differential exposure to several of the pre-/perinatal risk factors. Specifically, maternal age at childbirth, gestational timing, and the family’s socioeconomic status were significantly related to the child’s level of self-regulation. These factors accounted for a statistically significant portion of the racial differences observed in self-regulation.Conclusions
The findings indicate racial differences in self-regulation may be, at least partially, explained by racial differences in exposure to pre- and perinatal risk factors. 相似文献7.
Stéphanie Muller Pascal Lesage Réjean Samson 《The International Journal of Life Cycle Assessment》2016,21(8):1185-1196
Purpose
Life cycle inventory (LCI) databases provide generic data on exchange values associated with unit processes. The “ecoinvent” LCI database estimates the uncertainty of all exchange values through the application of the so-called pedigree approach. In the first release of the database, the used uncertainty factors were based on experts’ judgments. In 2013, Ciroth et al. derived empirically based factors. These, however, assumed that the same uncertainty factors could be used for all industrial sectors and fell short of providing basic uncertainty factors. The work presented here aims to overcome these limitations.Methods
The proposed methodological framework is based on the assessment of more than 60 data sources (23,200 data points) and the use of Bayesian inference. Using Bayesian inference allows an update of uncertainty factors by systematically combining experts’ judgments and other information we already have about the uncertainty factors with new data.Results and discussion
The implementation of the methodology over the data sources results in the definition of new uncertainty factors for all additional uncertainty indicators and for some specific industrial sectors. It also results in the definition of some basic uncertainty factors. In general, the factors obtained are higher than the ones obtained in previous work, which suggests that the experts had initially underestimated uncertainty. Furthermore, the presented methodology can be applied to update uncertainty factors as new data become available.Conclusions
In practice, these uncertainty factors can systematically be incorporated in LCI databases as estimates of exchange value uncertainty where more formal uncertainty information is not available. The use of Bayesian inference is applied here to update uncertainty factors but can also be used in other life cycle assessment developments in order to improve experts’ judgments or to update parameter values when new data can be accessed.8.
Background
Contraceptive prevalence is low in the African region despite considerable family planning programmatic efforts. This study is the first to examine how community factors shape contraceptive use for married women in an entire region, comparing results across 21 African countries with a DHS in the last 5 years. The analysis builds on previous studies through an examination of the individual, household and community level factors that shape contraceptive use.Methods
The data used in this analysis were from nationally representative Demographic and Health Surveys completed between 2005 and 2009. A separate multi-level logistic model was fitted for the outcome of current modern contraceptive use in each country.Results
After controlling for individual and household level factors, community level factors of demographics and fertility norms, gender norms and inequalities, and health knowledge remain significantly associated with contraceptive use, although the magnitude and direction of these community effects varied significantly across countries.Conclusions
The results highlight the importance of harnessing community level factors in planning interventions for increasing access to and utilization of modern contraceptive methods. 相似文献9.
I. Natividad‐Bonifacio F.J. Fernández E.I. Quiñones‐Ramírez E. Curiel‐Quesada C. Vázquez‐Salinas 《Journal of applied microbiology》2013,114(5):1539-1546
Aims
This work aims to demonstrate the presence of several genes and factors associated with virulence in strains isolated from the environment at Pueblo Viejo Lagoon, State of Veracruz, Mexico.Methods and Results
In this study, we investigated the production of V. vulnificus virulence factors, as cytolysin (haemolysin), RTX toxin, metalloprotease, siderophores, capsular polysaccharide, adhesion structures (like type IV pili), and polar and lateral flagella, involved in swimming and swarming (or, at least, the presence of genes encoding some of them) in 40 strains of V. vulnificus isolated from water and food. The results indicate that strains of environmental origin possess potential virulence characteristics.Conclusions
Caution should be exercised when consuming raw shellfish (especially by those more susceptible risk groups).Significance and Impact of the Study
This is the first work focused on the evaluation of V. vulnificus virulence factors in Mexico. 相似文献10.
Wanlan Wang Kian-Kai Cheng Lingli Deng Jingjing Xu Guiping Shen Julian L. Griffin Jiyang Dong 《Metabolomics : Official journal of the Metabolomic Society》2017,13(1):10
Introduction
The metabolome of a biological system is affected by multiple factors including factor of interest (e.g. metabolic perturbation due to disease) and unwanted factors or factors which are not primarily the focus of the study (e.g. batch effect, gender, and level of physical activity). Removal of these unwanted data variations is advantageous, as the unwanted variations may complicate biological interpretation of the data.Objectives
We aim to develop a new unwanted variations elimination (UVE) method called clustering-based unwanted residuals elimination (CURE) to reduce metabolic variation caused by unwanted/hidden factors in metabolomic data.Methods
A mean-centered metabolomic dataset can be viewed as a combination of a studied factor matrix and a residual matrix. The CURE method assumes that the residual should be normally distributed if it only contains inter-individual variation. However, if the residual forms multiple clusters in feature subspace of principal components analysis or partial least squares discriminant analysis, the residual may contain variation due to unwanted factors. This unwanted variation is removed by doing K-means data clustering and removal of means for each cluster from the residuals. The process is iterated until the residual no longer forms multiple clusters in feature subspace.Results
Three simulated datasets and a human metabolomic dataset were used to demonstrate the performance of the proposed CURE method. CURE was found able to remove most of the variations caused by unwanted factors, while preserving inter-individual variation between samples.Conclusion
The CURE method can effectively remove unwanted data variation, and can serve as an alternative UVE method for metabolomic data.11.
12.
Marcel Bonay Anne Boutten Véronique Leçon-Malas Joëlle Marchal Paul Soler Michel Fournier Guy Leseche Monique Dehoux Bruno Crestani 《BMC pulmonary medicine》2005,5(1):1-8
Background
Hepatocyte and keratinocyte growth factors are key growth factors in the process of alveolar repair. We hypothesized that excessive alveolar destruction observed in lung emphysema involves impaired expression of hepatocyte and keratinocyte growth factors or their respective receptors, c-met and keratinocyte growth factor receptor. The aim of our study was to compare the expression of hepatocyte and keratinocyte growth factors and their receptors in lung samples from 3 groups of patients: emphysema; smokers without emphysema and non-smokers without emphysema.Methods
Hepatocyte and keratinocyte growth factor proteins were analysed by immunoassay and western blot; mRNA expression was measured by real time quantitative polymerase chain reaction.Results
Hepatocyte and keratinocyte growth factors, c-met and keratinocyte growth factor receptor mRNA levels were similar in emphysema and non-emphysema patients. Hepatocyte growth factor mRNA correlated negatively with FEV1 and the FEV1/FVC ratio both in emphysema patients and in smokers with or without emphysema. Hepatocyte and keratinocyte growth factor protein concentrations were similar in all patients' groups.Conclusion
The expression of hepatocyte and keratinocyte growth factors and their receptors is preserved in patients with lung emphysema as compared to patients without emphysema. Hepatocyte growth factor mRNA correlates with the severity of airflow obstruction in smokers. 相似文献13.
Background
In acupuncture brain imaging trials, there are many non-acupuncture factors confounding the neuronal mapping. The modality of the placebo, subjects’ psychological attitude to acupuncture and their physical state are the three most confounding factors.Objective
To obtain more precise and accurate cerebral fMRI mapping of acupuncture.Design and Setting
A 2×2 randomized, controlled, participant-blinded cross-over factorial acupuncture trial was conducted at Xuanwu Hospital in Beijing, China.Participants
Forty-one college students with myopia were recruited to participate in our study and were allocated randomly to four groups, Group A, Group B, Group C and Group D.Interventions
Group A received real acupuncture (RA) and treatment instruction (TI); Group B received RA and non-treatment instruction (NI); Group C received sham acupuncture (SA) and TI; Group D received SA and NI.Results
Stimulation at LR3 activated some areas of the visual cortex, and the cerebral response to non-acupuncture factors was complex and occurred in multiple areas.Conclusions
The results provide more evidence regarding the credibility of acupuncture therapy and suggest that more precise experimental designs are needed to eliminate sources of bias in acupuncture controlled trials and to obtain sound results. 相似文献14.
Quynh-Nhi Thi Le Khanh-Lam Phung Van-Thuy Thi Nguyen Katherine L. Anders Minh-Nguyet Nguyen Diem-Tuyet Thi Hoang Thuy-Tien Thi Bui Vinh-Chau Van Nguyen Guy E. Thwaites Cameron Simmons Stephen Baker 《International breastfeeding journal》2018,13(1):46
Background
There is a paucity of data regarding risk factors associated with suboptimal breastfeeding practices in urbanized areas of low-middle income countries (LMICs).Methods
Through a large prospective birth cohort, which enrolled 6706 infants in Vietnam between 2009 and 2013, we investigated the practice of exclusive breastfeeding during hospital stay in urban and semi-rural populations and aimed to identify factors associated with suboptimal breastfeeding practices. Univariate and multivariable logistic regression were performed to determine factors associated with not exclusive breastfeeding during hospital stay.Results
Of 6076 mothers, 33% (2187) breastfed their infant exclusively before hospital discharge; 9% (364/4248) in urban and 74% (1823/2458) in semi-rural areas. Exclusive breastfeeding up to 4 months was recorded in 15% (959/6210) of participants; this declined to <?1% (56/6093) at 6 months. Delivery by Caesarean section (Odds Ratio [OR] 0.07; 95% Confidence Interval [CI] 0.04, 0.11 and OR 0.05; 95% CI 0.03, 0.08) and neonatal complications (OR 0.2; 95% CI 0.07, 0.47 and OR 0.25; 95% CI 0.14, 0.46) were common and highly significant risk factors associated with a lack of exclusive breastfeeding during hospital stay in urban and semi-rural settings, respectively.Conclusions
To our knowledge, this is the first large-scale investigation aimed at identifying factors associated with exclusive breastfeeding during hospital stay in Vietnam. Breastfeeding promotion strategies should prioritize common risk factors in hospital, such as Caesarean section and neonatal complications, and other location specific factors associated with socioeconomics.15.
Myriam Calle Rubio José Luis López-Campos Juan J. Soler-Cataluña Bernardino Alcázar Navarrete Joan B. Soriano José Miguel Rodríguez González-Moro Manuel E. Fuentes Ferrer Juan Luis Rodríguez Hermosa On behalf of the EPOCONSUL Study 《Respiratory research》2017,18(1):200
Background
Clinical audits have reported considerable variability in COPD medical care and frequent inconsistencies with recommendations. The objectives of this study were to identify factors associated with a better adherence to clinical practice guidelines and to explore determinants of this variability at the the hospital level.Methods
EPOCONSUL is a Spanish nationwide clinical audit that evaluates the outpatient management of COPD. Multilevel logistic regression with two levels was performed to assess the relationships between individual and disease-related factors, as well as hospital characteristics.Results
A total of 4508 clinical records of COPD patients from 59 Spanish hospitals were evaluated. High variability was observed among hospitals in terms of medical care. Some of the patient’s characteristics (airflow obstruction, degree of dyspnea, exacerbation risk, presence of comorbidities), the hospital factors (size and respiratory nurses available) and treatment at a specialized COPD outpatient clinic were identified as factors associated with a better adherence to recommendations, although this only explains a small proportion of the total variance.Conclusion
To be treated at a specialized COPD outpatient clinic and some intrinsic patient characteristics were factors associated with a better adherence to guideline recommendations, although these variables were only explaining part of the high variability observed among hospitals in terms of COPD medical care.16.
M. Elizabeth Barnes E. Margaret Evans Ashley Hazel Sara E. Brownell Randolph M. Nesse 《Evolution》2017,10(1):7
Background
How acceptance of evolution relates to understanding of evolution remains controversial despite decades of research. It even remains unclear whether cultural/attitudinal factors or cognitive factors have a greater impact on student ability to learn evolutionary biology. This study examined the influence of cultural/attitudinal factors (religiosity, acceptance of evolution, and parents’ attitudes towards evolution) and cognitive factors (teleological reasoning and prior understanding of natural selection) on students’ learning of natural selection over a semester-long undergraduate course in evolutionary medicine.Method
Pre-post course surveys measured cognitive factors, including teleological reasoning and prior understanding of natural selection, and also cultural/attitudinal factors, including acceptance of evolution, parent attitudes towards evolution, and religiosity. We analyzed how these measures influenced increased understanding of natural selection over the semester.Results
After controlling for other related variables, parent attitude towards evolution and religiosity predicted students’ acceptance of evolution, but did not predict students’ learning gains of natural selection over the semester. Conversely, lower levels of teleological reasoning predicted learning gains in understanding natural selection over the course, but did not predict students’ acceptance of evolution.Conclusions
Acceptance of evolution did not predict students’ ability to learn natural selection over a semester in an evolutionary medicine course. However, teleological reasoning did impact students’ ability to learn natural selection.17.
Unbiased random mutagenesis contributes to a better understanding of the virulent behaviour of Paenibacillus larvae 下载免费PDF全文
Aims
American foulbrood, caused by the Gram‐positive bacteria Paenibacillus larvae, is one of the most severe bacterial diseases of the European honey bee. The bacterium has been known for long, but only the last decade the mechanisms used by the pathogen to cause disease in its host are starting to unravel. In this study, the knowledge of this virulent behaviour is expanded and several possible virulence factors are suggested.Methods and Results
Identification of possible virulence factors has been done by random mutagenesis to ensure an unbiased approach. A library of mutants was tested for a significant difference in virulence using in vitro exposure assays. Affected loci were characterized and their potential to contribute in virulence of the pathogen was assessed.Conclusions
The identified mutated loci dacB, dnaK, metN, ywqD, lysC, serC and gbpA are known to encode for virulence factors in other bacteria and are suggested to play a similar role in P. larvae.Significance and Impact of the Study
The study identified new possible virulence factors for P. larvae genotype ERIC I in an unbiased way. This contributes to the knowledge and understanding of the possible mechanisms used by this pathogen to colonize and kill its host. 相似文献18.
Background
Self-harm entails high costs to individuals and society in terms of suicide risk, morbidity and healthcare expenditure. Repetition of self-harm confers yet higher risk of suicide and risk assessment of self-harm patients forms a key component of the health care management of self-harm patients. To date, there has been no systematic review published which synthesises the extensive evidence on risk factors for repetition.Objective
This review is intended to identify risk factors for prospective repetition of self-harm after an index self-harm presentation, irrespective of suicidal intent.Data sources
PubMed, PsychInfo and Scirus were used to search for relevant publications. We included cohort studies which examining factors associated with prospective repetition among those presenting with self-harm to emergency departments. Journal articles, abstracts, letters and theses in any language published up to June 2012 were considered. Studies were quality-assessed and synthesised in narrative form.Results
A total of 129 studies, including 329,001 participants, met our inclusion criteria. Some factors were studied extensively and were found to have a consistent association with repetition. These included previous self-harm, personality disorder, hopelessness, history of psychiatric treatment, schizophrenia, alcohol abuse/dependence, drug abuse/dependence, and living alone. However, the sensitivity values of these measures varied greatly across studies. Psychological risk factors and protective factors have been relatively under-researched but show emerging associations with repetition. Composite risk scales tended to have high sensitivity but poor specificity.Conclusions
Many risk factors for repetition of self-harm match risk factors for initiation of self-harm, but the most consistent evidence for increased risk of repetition comes from long-standing psychosocial vulnerabilities, rather than characteristics of an index episode. The current review will enhance prediction of self-harm and assist in the efficient allocation of intervention resources. 相似文献19.
Juan Carlos Higareda-Almaraz del Rocío María Enríquez-Gasca Magdalena Hernández-Ortiz Osbaldo Resendis-Antonio Sergio Encarnación-Guevara 《BMC systems biology》2011,5(1):1-16
Background
Systemic bacterial infections are highly regulated and complex processes that are orchestrated by numerous virulence factors. Genes that are coordinately controlled by the set of regulators required for systemic infection are potentially required for pathogenicity.Results
In this study we present a systems biology approach in which sample-matched multi-omic measurements of fourteen virulence-essential regulator mutants were coupled with computational network analysis to efficiently identify Salmonella virulence factors. Immunoblot experiments verified network-predicted virulence factors and a subset was determined to be secreted into the host cytoplasm, suggesting that they are virulence factors directly interacting with host cellular components. Two of these, SrfN and PagK2, were required for full mouse virulence and were shown to be translocated independent of either of the type III secretion systems in Salmonella or the type III injectisome-related flagellar mechanism.Conclusions
Integrating multi-omic datasets from Salmonella mutants lacking virulence regulators not only identified novel virulence factors but also defined a new class of translocated effectors involved in pathogenesis. The success of this strategy at discovery of known and novel virulence factors suggests that the approach may have applicability for other bacterial pathogens. 相似文献20.
Irfan Ullah Arshad Javaid Zarfishan Tahir Obaid Ullah Aamer Ali Shah Fariha Hasan Najma Ayub 《PloS one》2016,11(1)