Transrectal Doppler sonography for evaluation of uterine blood flow throughout pregnancy in 13 cows

Once weekly from 30 to 270 days of gestation in 13 cows, Doppler ultrasound scanning (triplex Doppler system) was done to assess blood-flow parameters of both median uterine arteries. Resistance, velocity and volume indices were measured. Resistance index values were negatively correlated to all other blood-flow parameters (P<0.05), but there were positive correlations between velocity and volume indices (P<0.05). Resistance indices were lower, and velocity and volume indices were significantly higher in the median uterine artery ipsilateral versus contralateral to the fetus. Resistance indices decreased continuously during the first 36 weeks of pregnancy. Velocity values rose three-fold, whereas the area increased 20-fold and the volume increased 17-fold by the end of gestation (P<0.05). Birth weight of calves was positively correlated with blood-flow volume (r=0.34) but negatively correlated with the resistance index (r=-0.45). There were no significant differences between male versus female calves (at any stage of gestation) in the resistance, time-average maximum velocity, and volume indices (P>0.05). In conclusion, arterial blood flow was monitored with transrectal Doppler sonography in both median uterine arteries weekly throughout pregnancy in cattle; this could be very valuable for monitoring pregnancies at high risk for abnormalities of the placenta, fetus or both, e.g. cloned calves.     

A method for studying the effect of the geomagnetic field on the vital activities of microorganisms in the enteric family

The proposed method makes it possible to find out the direct influence of the geomagnetic field (GMF) on microorganisms of the family Enterobacteriaceae (the genera Escherichia, Shigella, Salmonella). Different disturbances in the state of GMF, both in amplitude and frequency range, were modeled under laboratory conditions. Microbial cells were cultivated in sterile artesian-well water or physiological saline with no organic substrate added. Experiments were performed at room temperature for 5 and more days. In these experiments the standard dose of microbial suspension was inoculated daily into Endo medium. The differences in the reproductive capacity and survival time of microorganisms in the test and control vials were compared with the indices of geomagnetic disturbances. If the experiments were started 2-4 days before the appearance of geomagnetic disturbances, the suppression of the reproductive capacity of microorganisms occurred, then followed its stimulation; this phenomenon particularly affected Escherichia coli and Shigella sonnei. In case of the quiet state of GMF the suppression of reproductive capacity is commonly observed. If the beginning of the experiment coincides with the appearance of a magnetic storm, a sharp decrease in the reproductive capacity of microorganisms and the death of the population within 1-5 days usually occurred. The survival rate of microorganisms depended on the state of GMF disturbances. The survival time of cell generations during disturbances of GMF was considerably longer. Under the conditions of a superimposed magnetic field the reproductive capacity of microorganisms outstrips, as a rule, that developing under the conditions of the compensation of the field. Studies on the biological activity of infralow frequency showed that the multidirectional reproductivity effect was observed due to constant changes in the geomagnetic background.     

不同强度旅游干扰对黄山松群落物种多样性的影响

研究天柱山国家森林公园不同强度旅游干扰下黄山松群落的物种多样性,用物种丰富度指数S、Simpson指数D、ShannonWiener指数日和Pialou均匀度J比较分析了不同层次物种多样性变化。结果表明：乔木层中,低度干扰下多样性指数较大;其他层次中,中度干扰下多样性指数最高。整个群落分析表明,低度干扰下几种多样性指数分别为38、3．0976、0．9326、0．7515;中度干扰下,多样性指数最高,分别为44、3．2519、0．9421、O．8594,其中灌木层和草本层所起的作用较大;高度干扰下,多样性指数有很大程度的下降,分别为34、3．0095、0．9289、0．7834。利用群落优势度（C）衡量了不同干扰下黄山松群落的稳定性。结果发现中度干扰下的群落稳定性最低。表明中度干扰能一定程度增加群落的物种多样性,但可能会导致群落稳定性降低。     

Method of predicting reference condition biota affects the performance and interpretation of ecological indices

1. The statistical rigour and interpretability of ecological assessments is strongly affected by how well we predict the biological assemblages expected to occur in the absence of human‐caused stress, i.e. the reference condition. In this study, we examined how the specific method used to predict the reference condition affected the performance of two commonly used types of ecological index: RIVPACS‐based O/E indices and multimetric indices (MMIs). 2. These two types of index have generally relied on different approaches to predicting the reference condition. For MMIs, some type of regionalisation is typically used to describe the range of metric values among reference sites and hence the expected range at assessed sites. For O/E indices, continuous modelling is used to predict how the biota varies among sites both among and within regions. Because the prediction method differs for these two types of index, it has been impossible to judge if differences in index performance (accuracy, precision, responsiveness and sensitivity) are caused by differences in the way reference condition biota are predicted or by differences in what the indices measure. 3. We used a common data set of 94 reference sites and 255 managed sites and the same potential set of predictor variables to compare the performance of five different MMIs and three O/E indices that were derived from different prediction methods: null models, multiple linear regression (MLR), classification and regression trees, Random Forests (RF) and linear discriminant functions models (LDM). We then calculated values of these indices for samples collected from the managed catchments as well as samples collected from 13 reference sites that were progressively altered in known ways by a simulation programme. 4. Both the type of predictor used and the type of index affected overall index performance. Modelled indices generally had the greatest sensitivity in assessing managed sites as biologically different from reference. Index sensitivity was determined by both an aspect of index precision (10th percentile of reference condition values) and responsiveness. The O/E indices showed the best scope of response to known biological alteration. All three O/E indices decreased linearly in response to simulated alteration in both overall assemblage structure (Bray‐Curtis dissimilarity) and taxa loss. The MMIs declined linearly from low to intermediate levels of assemblage alteration but were less responsive between intermediate and high levels of biological alteration. 5. Insights gained from simulations can aid in testing assumptions regarding index response to stress and help ensure that we select indices that are ecologically interpretable and most useful to resource managers.     

Are geomagnetic disturbances a risk factor for the sudden unexplained death of epileptic children?

The relationship between geomagnetic disturbances (with amplitudes above 50 nT) and the sudden unexplained death (SUD) of epileptic adults has been controversial up to now. In an autopsy-based cohort study (from 1964 to 1992) 15 epileptic children with SUD aged 1-14 years were compared to 63 epileptic children whose cause of death was known (KCD). The time of death as well as two international geomagnetic indices were assessed: Bartels' planetary 3-h signs (Kp) for the time of death and 2 h before, and the mean planetary daily amplitudes (Ap) on the day of death and on the 4 critical days before (and on the 4 post-mortem days as a control). Among the 15 SUD patients 9 died between 6 a.m. and 9 a.m. (universal time) whereas the KCD group showed an approximately uniform distribution of the time of death ( P = 0.026, Kolmogorov-Smirnov test). The Kp signs at death and 2 h before as well as the Ap indices at death and for the 4 pre-mortem days or after were not different in comparisons between the SUD and the KCD group ( P > 0.2, Mann-Whitney test). Furthermore the frequency of sudden storm commencement at death and for the 4 days before revealed no deviation of the SUD (26.7%) from the KCD group (23.8%) ( P > 0.2, Fisher test). The results do not support the hypothesis that geomagnetic disturbances are a risk factor for the sudden unexplained death of epileptic children.     

A microcomputer system for monitoring and analysing oxyhemoglobin saturation during sleep

A computerized data acquisition and analysis routine was developed to quantitate respiratory disturbances in sleeping patients. Polysomnographic recordings of patients consisted of electroencephalograms, electro-occulograms, submental electromyograms, air flow at the nose and mouth, esophageal pressure, and oxyhemoglobin saturation (SaO2). SaO2, a physiological effect of ventilatory airflow, was sampled every two seconds and stored on disk during the night's study for subsequent analysis. Wild points in the data file can be marked so that they will be skipped during analysis. Patient polysomnographs were scored manually for sleep stage by a sleep technician. A file was then created containing the scored sleep information with time marks corresponding to each change in sleep stage during the study. An analysis routine used this file to develop indices of sleep apnea, severity for combinations or specific stages of sleep. These indices were: (A) number of oxyhemoglobin desaturation episodes per hour; (B) average maximum desaturation per episode; and (C) desaturation index, the product of (A) and (B). A graph was plotted showing cumulative sleep time at given SaO2 values. The degree of sleep apnea can be determined using these indices.     

Effects of different traveling disturbances on the species diversity in Pinus taiwanensis communities

The effects of different traveling disturbances on the different layers of the Pinus taiwanensis community in Tianzhu Mountain National Forest Park were studied using the diversity indices of species richness index (S), Simpson index (D), Shannon-Wiener index (H) and Pielou evenness index (J). The results showed that the diversity indices of the arbor layer in low disturbance were the highest. Whereas, the diversity indices of the other layers in intermediate disturbance were the highest. The values of S, D, H, and J in low disturbance were 38, 3.0976, 0.9326, and 0.7515. The values of the indices in intermediate disturbance were 44, 3.2519, 0.9421, and 0.8594, higher than those in low disturbed forest, especially in the shrub and herb layers. In the highly disturbed forest, the diversity indices were 34, 3.0095, 0.9289, and 0.7834, lower than those in the intermediately disturbed forest. By comparing the stability of differently disturbed forests with the community dominance index (C), it was clear that the C of the intermediately disturbed forests was the lowest among the three differently disturbed forests. It is proposed that the intermediately disturbed forests can improve the species diversity, but maybe decrease the community stability.     

Effects of different traveling disturbances on the species diversity in Pinus taiwanensis communities

The effects of different traveling disturbances on the different layers of the Pinus taiwanensis community in Tianzhu Mountain National Forest Park were studied using the diversity indices of species richness index (S), Simpson index (D), Shannon-Wiener index (H) and Pielou evenness index (J). The results showed that the diversity indices of the arbor layer in low disturbance were the highest. Whereas, the diversity indices of the other layers in intermediate disturbance were the highest. The values of S, D, H, and J in low disturbance were 38, 3.0976, 0.9326, and 0.7515. The values of the indices in intermediate disturbance were 44, 3.2519, 0.9421, and 0.8594, higher than those in low disturbed forest, especially in the shrub and herb layers. In the highly disturbed forest, the diversity indices were 34, 3.0095, 0.9289, and 0.7834, lower than those in the intermediately disturbed forest. By comparing the stability of differently disturbed forests with the community dominance index (C), it was clear that the C of the intermediately disturbed forests was the lowest among the three differently disturbed forests. It is proposed that the intermediately disturbed forests can improve the species diversity, but maybe decrease the community stability.     

Features of the Response of the Cardiovascular System to Geomagnetic Disturbances at Different Latitudes

The principles of multi-latitude monitoring of Heliomed-2 for obtaining new data on the impact of space weather on human health are described. The results of synchronous monitoring of responses of the cardiovascular system and psychoemotional state of healthy volunteers to changes in geomagnetic disturbances at high (Tiksi village and Yakutsk) and middle (Saratov) latitudes are presented. In all the examined groups, the effect of synchronization of the processes of repolarization of the ventricular myocardium (according to the coefficient of symmetry of the T wave of the electrocardiogram) and geomagnetic disturbances, as well as synchronization of reactive anxiety and geomagnetic disturbances was revealed. It was found that the group cardiac sensitivity and psychological sensitivity to geomagnetic disturbances coincide regardless of the latitude of residence in the same group of volunteers.

     

Assessing environmental conditions of the Río Champotón (México) using diverse indices and biomarkers in the fish Astyanax aeneus (Günther, 1860)

The upper reaches of the Río Champotón in southwestern Mexico are largely unknown to science. This river is sustaining anthropogenic and natural disturbances by deforestation, substitution of natural vegetation, and agricultural non-point source pollution. Furthermore, hurricanes provoke flooding of these areas, exposing the aquatic biota to pollutants. Several approaches were used to assess the effects of environmental conditions along the freshwater portion of the Río Champotón in the native fish Astyanax aeneus and to determine the feasibility of extrapolating responses between levels of organization, and to link spatial and seasonal fish responses with water quality features. A water quality index (WQI) was employed as an indicator of environmental conditions, a set of sub-organismal biomarkers in A. aeneus (lipid peroxidation, glutathione S-transferase, ethoxyresorufin-O-deethylase and lactate dehydrogenase) was monitored to determine the integrated biomarker response (IBR), and somatic indices (individual and population-level responses; gonadosomatic, hepatosomatic, and condition factor) were characterized. Canonical correspondence analysis revealed spatial and seasonal variations in all the approaches. The dry and the wet season (April and July) exhibited low WQI scores, but decreased hardness and conductivity values as well as increased WQI values occurred during the post-hurricane season when crop fields adjacent to the riverbed were inundated. Although the WQI suggested low levels of contamination, the biomarkers did not remain static; wide fluctuations reflected fish exposure to seasonal stressors that provoked impairments in biological responses. All biomarker values were high, mainly in the post-hurricane season (November). The IBR exhibited two peaks that may be related to stress periods (April and November), with decreasing post-stress values suggesting the existence of homeostatic processes in the fish. The somatic indices reflected some seasonal and spatial differences at the population level – the gonadosomatic and hepatosomatic indices peaked in the middle of July and November, respectively – but the condition factor remained constant among sites and study periods. Future studies are needed to explore the link between the fish biomarker responses and possible causal stressors (natural or anthropogenic).     

Changes in Germination and Seedling Traits of Sesame under Simulated Drought

Drought is considered one of the leading abiotic constraints to agricultural crop production globally. Present study was conducted to assess the effects of different drought treatments (viz. Control, 10% PEG, and 20% PEG) on seed germination, germination indices, seedling traits, and drought tolerance indices of sesame. Our results showed that maximum reduction in the studied parameters was observed at higher PEG concentration (i.e., 20% PEG). As compared to control, the drought treatments viz. 10% and 20% PEG decreased the values for germination indices, such as germination percentage, coefficient of variation of germination time, germination index, and seedling vigor index. Similarly, for seedling traits, the values were decreased for root length, shoot length, root shoot ratio, root fresh weight, shoot fresh weight, root dry weight and shoot dry weight under 10% and 20% PEG treatments significantly in comparison with control. Furthermore, relative to control, the values for drought tolerance indices, such as germination drought tolerance index, root length drought tolerance index, shoot length drought tolerance index, total seedling length drought tolerance index, root fresh weight drought tolerance index, shoot fresh weight drought tolerance index, total fresh weight drought tolerance index, root dry weight drought tolerance index, shoot dry weight drought tolerance index and total dry weight drought tolerance index were also reduced under 10% and 20% PEG treatments, respectively. Our results confirms that drought impact on seed germination and seedling traits could be quantified by using different indices which can further help to design drought adaptation and mitigation strategies. Based on these results it can be concluded that germination indices, seedling traits, and drought tolerance indices have great potential to simulate drought stress impacts on different crop traits thus they should be used in all kinds of stress related studies.     

Comparison of two cacao (Theobroma cacao L.) clones for the effect of pollination intensity on fruit set and seed content

We compared the influence of pollination intensity (PI) on fruit set and seed number per pod in two cacao (Theobroma cacao L.) clones, IFC5 (Forastero Lower-Amazon Amelonado), which is self-compatible and known to produce a high number of seeds per pod under open pollination, and SCA6 (Forastero Upper-Amazon), which is self-incompatible and known to produce a low number of seeds per pod under open pollination. With both clones, PI had a positive effect on fruit set, with the maximum rate requiring more than 150 pollen grains per pod. One-half of the maximum rate of fruit set was reached with 39 pollen grains per pod for SCA6, and 78 for IFC5. With SCA6, a significant positive effect of PI on seed number per pod was also observed, with maximum seed number requiring more than 200 pollen grains per pod. In contrast, seed numbers with IFC5 were approximately equal over the PI range 100–800 pollen grains per pod. Patterns of seed number per pod were compared after: (1) open insect pollination, (2) low-intensity hand pollination and (3) high-intensity hand pollination. The patterns obtained with IFC5 under open pollination showed a peak of 40–50 seeds per pod, whereas the distribution patterns were more even with SCA6. The pattern of seed number under open pollination was similar to that obtained with high-intensity hand pollination for IFC5, and with low-intensity hand pollination for SCA6. We concluded that the high number of seeds per pod observed with IFC5 under natural insect pollination may be explained by a high number of compatible self-pollen grains on the stigma and by a severe drop of low-pollinated flowers eliminating potential lowfilled fruits. With SCA6, however, the number of compatible pollen grains deposited on the stigma was probably low under open pollination, and the flowers required lower pollen quantities to set fruit, which resulted in a high frequency of low seed numbers per fruit. This difference in the capacity to set low-seeded fruits might be considered as an adaptive trait related to the mode of reproduction.     

Heliogeophysical correlates of early biodemographic variables in the south of western Siberia

In order to verify associations between solar and geomagnetic activities and perinatal variables the monthly distributions of population characters in Novosibirsk region over the period 1980-2001 were compared by stepwise correlation analysis with monthly averaged physical parameters at lags from 0 to 10 months. Three indices used were as follows: the number of sunspots, solar flux at 10.7 cm wavelength and Ak index measured at local ionospheric station near Novosibirsk city. Official data on the number of single and multiple live births, stillbirths and infant deaths at the age under one year by the type of population and sex were provided by State Statistical Committee. All three physical parameters positively correlated with the number of single births and infant mortality rate and negatively with twin births in both populations, urban and rural, irrespective of lags. The direct association between Ak index and relative number of stillbirths in urban setting was mostly pronounced at a lag of 5 months. The number of live births increased along with Ak index due to the enhanced proportion of female births whereas the number of stillbirths after the increase in solar and geomagnetic activities elevated because of male deaths.     

Enhancing the performance and interpretation of freshwater biological indices: An application in arid zone streams

We assessed the performance of biological indices developed for invertebrate assemblages occurring in arid zone streams: a multimetric index (MMI) and an O/E index of taxonomic completeness. Our overall goal was to advance our understanding of the factors that affect performance and interpretation of biological indices. Our specific objectives were to (1) develop biological indices that are insensitive to natural environmental gradients, (2) develop a general method to determine if the biological potential of an assessed site is adequately represented by the population of reference sites, (3) develop a robust method to select metrics for inclusion in MMIs that ensures maximum independence of metrics, and (4) determine if a fundamental sample property (the evenness of taxa counts within a sample) affects index performance. Random Forest modeling revealed that both individual metrics and taxa composition were strongly associated with natural environmental heterogeneity, which meant both the MMI and O/E index needed to be based on site-specific expectations. We produced a precise, responsive, and ecologically robust MMI by using principal components analysis to identify 7 statistically independent metrics from a list of 31 candidate assemblage-level metrics. However, the O/E index we developed was relatively imprecise compared with O/E indices developed for other regions. This imprecision may be the consequence of low predictability in local taxa composition associated with the relatively high spatial isolation of aquatic habitats within arid regions. We were also able to assess the likelihood that the biological potential of assessed sites were adequately characterized by the population of reference sites by developing and applying a multivariate, nearest-neighbor test that determined if an assessed site occurred within the environmental space of the reference site network. This approach is robust and applicable to all biological indices. We also demonstrate that the evenness of taxa counts within a sample is positively related to estimates of sample taxa richness and thus the scores of both indices. The relationship between richness and sample evenness can potentially compromise inferences regarding biological condition, and post hoc adjustments for the effects of evenness on index scores might be desirable. Further improvements in the performance and interpretation of biological indices will require simultaneous consideration of the effects of incomplete sampling on characterization of biological assemblages and the physical and biological factors that influence community assembly.     

永定河流域大型底栖动物群落分布格局及其影响因子

人类干扰造成了全球河流生态系统的普遍退化。流域尺度的水生生物分布特征及其影响因素研究对于河流生态系统的保护与恢复具有重要意义。本研究以永定河流域大型底栖动物群落为研究对象,分别于2017年春季(3月)、夏季(7月)、秋季(11月)开展全流域尺度的大型底栖动物调查。研究表明: 永定河流域以摇蚊科为主,优势类群包括直突摇蚊属、摇蚊属、雕翅摇蚊属以及多足摇蚊属。聚类分析表明,大型底栖动物群落结构存在显著的空间差异性,按照群落相似性可分为2组: 组1主要包含桑干河和东洋河水系,以直突摇蚊为主要优势种;组2主要包含洋河、妫水河以及永定河干流部分河段,以雕翅摇蚊为主要优势种。单因素方差分析表明,组2生物量、Shannon指数、Margalef指数、Pielou均匀度指数以及物种丰富度均显著高于组1,指示了该区域内更好的生态状况。大型底栖动物的季节差异显著,夏季的密度、生物量和各多样性指数均显著低于春季和秋季。典范对应分析显示,影响永定河大型底栖动物空间分布的环境因子主要包括水温、铵氮、pH、溶解氧和总磷。从水文因子的角度,流量和流速与主要生物参数存在显著相关性。组2中流速和流量与大型底栖动物密度和EPT%存在显著的正相关关系,表明急流生境有利于EPT(蜉蝣目、襀翅目、毛翅目)敏感类群的生存;但流量和流速与多样性指数呈负相关关系,表明过高流量和流速的生境条件不利于大型底栖动物多样性的维持。总之,水环境因子、水文因子都显示出了对大型底栖动物群落结构和多样性特征的影响,表明永定河流域生态系统受到多类型人为活动的影响。减少水质污染、适度恢复部分河段的流量是永定河流域生态系统修复的重要环节。     

Similarity indices,sample size and diversity

Summary The effect of sample size and species diversity on a variety of similarity indices is explored. Real values of a similarity index must be evaluated relative to the expected maximum value of that index, which is the value obtained for samples randomly drawn from the same universe, with the diversity and sample sizes of the real samples. It is shown that these expected maxima differ from the theoretical maxima, the values obtained for two identical samples, and that the relationship between expected and theoretical maxima depends on sample size and on species diversity in all cases, without exception. In all cases but one (the Morisita index) the expected maxima depend strongly to fairly strongly on sample size and diversity. For some of the more useful indices empirical equations are given to calculate the expected maximum value of the indices to which the observed values can be related at any combination of sample sizes. It is recommended that the Morisita index be used whenever possible to avoid the complex dealings with effects of sample size and diversity; however, when previous logarithmic transformation of the data is required, which often may be the case, the Morisita-Horn or the Renkonen indices are recommended.     

Optimising a widely-used coastal health index through quantitative ecological group classifications and associated thresholds

Many globally applied biotic indices, including the AMBI benthic index, are based on species’ sensitivity/tolerance to anthropogenic disturbances. The AMBI scoring primarily relies on the correct assignment of both taxon stressor-sensitivities and the disturbance thresholds or bands. Using an extensive, long-term monitoring dataset from New Zealand (NZ) estuaries, we describe how the AMBI has been strengthened through quantitative derivation of taxon-specific sensitivities and condition thresholds for two key estuarine stressors [mud and total organic carbon (TOC)], and the integration of taxon richness. The results support the use of the existing AMBI condition bands but improve the ability to identify cause; 2–30% mud reflected a ‘normal’ to ‘impoverished’ macrofaunal community; 30–95% mud and 1.2–3% TOC ‘unbalanced’ to ‘transitional’; and >3–4% TOC ‘transitional’ to ‘polluted’. The (refined) AMBI was also successfully validated (R² values >0.5 for mud, and >0.4 for TOC) for use in shallow, intertidal dominated estuaries NZ-wide. Most biotic indices lack the ability to differentiate between anthropogenic disturbances, which in turn undermine their effectiveness for applied purposes. By integrating key quantitative information to an existing benthic index, these results enable more robust identification of coastal stressors and facilitate defensible management decisions.     

Immunofluorescent Cell Assay of Infectious Pancreatic Necrosis Virus

An immunofluorescent cell (IFC) assay technique was developed for the quantification of infectious pancreatic necrosis (IPN) virus of salmonid fishes. Cover slip cultures of rainbow trout gonad (RTG-2) cells were infected with diluted virus preparations. After incubation to permit antigen development, the cells were stained with antiviral fluorescent antibody, and the number of fluorescing (infected) cells was counted. Optimal conditions for the IFC assay procedure are: (i) the use of RTG-2 cells cultured for at least 3 days at 20 C; (ii) 1-h absorption of IPN virus to RTG-2 cells at 20 C or alternatively, 4 h at 4 C; (iii) staining the infected cell cultures at 10 to 12 h postinfection. A linear relationship between the relative concentration of virus in the inoculum and the number of fluorescent cells in the first cycle of infection was observed. The IFC assay method is more sensitive than the plaque method for the assay of IPN virus.     

Regional fish community indicators of landscape disturbance to catchments of the conterminous United States

Biological assessments of river conditions are increasingly conducted at regional and continental scales that match the extent of large-scale river management efforts. Multimetric indices composed of biological community indicators are commonly used to assess ecological condition and indices have recently been applied in large regions. Methods for large-scale multimetric index creation emphasize repeatability, comparability across regions, and objective selection of candidate metrics. Here we used an extensive fish dataset to create a large pool of fish community metrics which were screened to create multimetric indices (MMIs) in eight ecoregions covering the conterminous U.S. Candidate metrics were tested for metric range, corrected for natural gradients using boosted regression trees, and then tested for repeatability and sensitivity to landscape disturbance. Temporally stable and repeatable metrics were then evaluated for redundancy and used to compose MMIs for each region. Our MMIs were significantly correlated to independently developed MMIs, accurately reproducing prior index values with moderate to high precision and little bias. Our study demonstrates the utility of boosted regression tree models for correcting metric values for natural abiotic gradients and shows that the order of screening tests has a potentially important influence on metric selection. The resultant regional indices and component metrics provide a basis for assessing condition and testing hypotheses about landscape influences on aquatic ecosystems at a national scale in the US.     

Seasonal variations in myocardial infarctions and the possible biotropic influence of short-period geomagnetic pulsations on the human cardiovascular system

Analysis of ambulance calls in Moscow during 1979–1981 reporting myocardial infarction (85 700 events), sudden death (71 700 events), and hypertension crises (165 500 events) shows the presence of clear seasonal variations with a deep summer minimum and a winter maximum. The same trend was upon analysis of monthly data on infarction mortality in Bulgaria over 15 years (1970–1985). One of the biotropic factors influencing the human cardiovascular system can be geomagnetic pulsations Pc1, agreeing in frequency with cardiac rhythms. In the seasonal trend, Pc1 have maximum intensity in winter. The comparison of data on ambulance calls in Moscow with the Pc1 observation data catalog revealed that, on ～70% of days, an abnormally large number of myocardial infarction calls was accompanied by the presence of Pc1; their concurrence was half again the chance expectation. Besides, it was determined that the biotropic influence of magnetic storms in winter was much higher than in summer. One of the plausible reasons of the winter infarction maximum could be seasonal variations in the production of the pineal hormone melatonin, which destabilized the organism and increased its sensitivity to geomagnetic disturbances attended by Pc1.