Wetland loss dynamics in southwestern Barataria basin,Louisiana (USA), 1945–1985

We determined spatial associations of wetland loss rates in a 950-km² study area in the southwestern Barataria basin of Louisiana's Mississippi River delta plain for four intervals spanning 40 years, 1945–1985. A geographic information system was used to analyze spatial and temporal changes.Annual wetland loss rates increased over the 40 years; the rate of increase in annual rates accelerated through 1980 and then began to decelerate. The average annual rate of wetland loss for the entire study area increased from 0.2%/yr during 1945–1956, to 1.2%/yr for 1956–1969, 1.9%/yr for 1969–1980, and 2.0%/yr for 1980–1985. Wetland loss was not uniform throughout the study area. Eight sub-areas were identified as having different densities and/or causes of loss. Processes implicated in the differing loss rates include sea level rise, shoreline erosion, accelerated subsidence along natural levees, canal modification of hydrologic flows, interference of dredged material with sheet flow, and saltwater intrusion. In some areas, several processes are believed to operate together to induce wetland degradation and wetland loss.     

Mitochondrial Syndromic Sensorineural Hearing Loss

Mitochondrial diseases (MD) are a clinically heterogeneous group of disorders that arise as a result of dysfunction of the mitochondrial respiratory chain. Sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) is often associated to mitochondrial dysfunctions both in syndromic, nonsyndromic forms. SNHL has been described in association to different mitochondrial multisystemic syndromes, often characterized by an important neuromuscular involvement. Because of the clinical relevance of the associated neurological symptoms, the occurrence of SNHL is often underestimated and undiagnosed. In this study we evaluated the incidence of SNHL in a group of 17 patients with MD. We detected some degree of hearing impairment in 8/17 patients (47%), thus confirming the frequency of hearing impairment in MD. Furthermore, we want to highlight the role of the audiologist and otolaryngologist in the diagnosis and characterization of a MD, which should be suspected in all the cases in which the hearing loss is associated to signs and symptoms characteristic of mitochondrial dysfunction, especially if the family history is positive for hearing loss or MD in the maternal line.     

The influence of weight loss on serum osteoprotegerin concentration in obese perimenopausal women

Objective: To assess the influence of weight reduction therapy on serum osteoprotegerin (OPG) concentration in obese patients and compare these results with normal‐weight controls. Research Methods and Procedures: Forty‐three obese women (BMI, 36.7 ± 4.1 kg/m²; mean age, 50.1 ± 4.5 years) were studied. The control group consisted of 19 normal‐weight women (BMI, 24.2 ± 2.1 kg/m²; mean age, 53.8 ± 5.2 years). In all patients, serum concentrations of OPG, C telopeptide of type I collagen containing the cross‐linking site (CTX), osteocalcin, parathormone, 25‐(OH)‐D₃ (vitamin D), and total calcium and phosphorus were assessed before and after a 3‐month weight reduction therapy. Results: In obese subjects, serum concentrations of OPG, 25‐(OH)‐D₃, osteocalcin, total calcium, and phosphorus were significantly lower, and serum concentration of parathormone was significantly higher, before weight reduction therapy in comparison with normal‐weight controls. After weight reduction, a significantly higher serum concentration of 25‐(OH)‐D₃ and CTX and significantly lower concentration of OPG were found. Discussion: Serum concentration of OPG was significantly lower in obese patients in comparison with normal‐weight controls. Weight reduction therapy resulted in further decrease in OPG serum concentrations. Therefore, OPG cannot be treated as a protective factor from bone loss in obese patients.     

加勒比松林凋落物对地表径流和氮、磷流失的影响

以佛山的加勒比松林(Pinus caribaea)为对象, 研究了其地表径流及N和P流失量特点。结果表明, 有凋落物加勒比松林和无凋落物加勒比松林的年径流量分别为12.6和51.8 mm, 其中夏季占90%以上。2种林分的地表径流量和降雨量的关系遵循线性方程。除2007年7月和2008年2月外, 各月地表径流N浓度为有凋落物加勒比松林大于无凋落物加勒比松林, 浓度的差异主要是因为年径流量不同引起的。总体来看, 有凋落物加勒比松林的地表径流P浓度高, 无凋落物加勒比松林低。地表径流N浓度与径流量之间存在着负指数关系。有凋落物加勒比松林和无凋落物加勒比松林的地表径流总N输出量分别为341和983 g·hm^-2, 夏季分别占其年N流失量的73%和64%。无凋落物加勒比松林的地表径流P流失量高达21.5 g·hm^-2, 而有凋落物加勒比松林为6.5 g·hm^-2。2008年6月为有凋落物加勒比松林和无凋落物加勒比松林的地表径流P流失高峰, 分别占其年流失量的46%和60%。因此, 保留林下凋落物可以降低加勒比松林的N和P的流失。     

A novel P2RX2 mutation in an Italian family affected by autosomal dominant nonsyndromic hearing loss

Hereditary hearing loss (HHL) is a common disorder accounting for at least 60% of prelingual deafness. It is characterized by a large genetic heterogeneity, and despite the presence of a major gene, still there is a need to search for new causative mutations/genes. Very recently, a mutation within ATP-gated P2X(2) receptor (ligand-gated ion channel, purinergic receptor 2) gene (P2RX2) at DNFA41 locus has been reported leading to a bilateral and symmetrical sensorineural non-syndromic autosomal dominant HHL in two Chinese families. We performed a linkage analysis in a large Italian family with a dominant pattern of inheritance showing a significant 3.31 LOD score in a 2 Mb region overlapping with the DNFA41 locus. Molecular analyses of P2RX2 identified a novel missense mutation (p.Gly353Arg) affecting a residue highly conserved across species. Visual inspection of the protein structure as obtained from comparative modeling suggests that substitution of the small glycine residue with a charged bulky residue such as an arginine that is close to the ‘neck’ of the region responsible for ion channel gating should have a high energetic cost and should lead to a severely destabilization of the fold. The identification of a second most likely causative mutation in P2RX2 gene further supports the possible role of this gene in causing autosomal dominant HHL.     

Changes in seed rain across Atlantic Forest fragments in Northeast Brazil

The objectives of this study were to characterize the distribution of seeds in remnant fragments of the Atlantic Coastal Forest and to determine whether the species diversity, seed weight, and species composition of plant communities are altered by forest fragmentation. A transect of 100 m was established in the core of each of nine fragments of Atlantic Coastal Forest in a private sugarcane plantation in the state of Alagoas, NE Brazil, and ten seed-traps were distributed at intervals of 10 m each along the transects. For 12 consecutive months seeds were collected, dried, counted, weighed, and identified to species. Seeds were assigned to categories according to their size, dispersal mode, and shade tolerance. Multiple regression models and Mantel correlation tests were used to detect the effects of fragment size, percent forest cover nearby, distance from the source area, and distance from the nearest fragment on species diversity, mean seed weight, and species similarity. Analyses were carried out for all species and for subsets corresponding to each seed category. A total of 21,985 diaspores of 190 species were collected. Most seeds were small, shade-intolerant, and zoochoric, which corroborates other studies of fragmented forest landscapes and reflects the high disturbance levels in isolated forest remnants. Our data indicate that fragmentation processes such as habitat loss can alter species diversity and species composition by reducing habitat availability and increasing fragment isolation. We also found that large-seeded species are more affected by fragment isolation, possibly because their seed dispersers rarely cross non-forested areas between fragments, while zoochoric species are more strongly affected by fragment size and apparently more strongly associated with local edaphic conditions than with distance from seed sources.     

Combined Dietary and Pharmacological Weight Management in Obese Hypopituitary Patients

Objective: The high prevalence of obesity and cardiovascular risk factors in hypopituitarism affirms the need for effective weight loss intervention. In this study, we investigated the combined effect of sibutramine, diet, and exercise in obese hypopituitary patients (HPs). Research Methods and Procedures: In an open‐label prospective intervention trial, 14 obese well‐substituted nondiabetic HPs and 14 matched simple obese controls were allocated to 11‐month treatment with sibutramine (10 to 15 mg), diet (600 kcal/d deficit), and exercise. Anthropometric indices and body composition (obtained from DXA scan) were assessed monthly for the first 5 months and thereafter every second month for the next 6 months. Results: Mean (±SD) weight loss at 11 months was 11.3 ± 4.8 kg in patients vs. 10.7 ± 4.7 kg in controls. The HPs exhibited the same improvements in body composition, waist circumference, blood lipids, and fasting glucose as the simple obese. In a multivariate model, baseline weight, duration of growth hormone replacement therapy, and duration of pituitary disease explained 79% (p = 0.001) of the variation in weight loss at 4 months in the HPs. Only baseline weight and waist circumference could predict weight loss at 11 months. Discussion: HPs are not resistant to weight loss therapy. Almost all will achieve at least 5% weight loss, and 60% can lose >10% weight within 11 months. However, the long‐term effect on risk factors associated with type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease as well as on mortality needs to be established.     

Disaster Risk Decision: A Dynamic Computable General Equilibrium Analysis of Regional Mitigation Investment

For implementation of specific actions to reduce risks, there is lack of a unified tool to compare different mitigation investment strategies and to prioritize alternative mitigation measures. Organizations usually address some operational risks such as business interruption (BI) losses. Computable general equilibrium (CGE) models are state-of-the-art economic tools to account for BI losses. This study proposed a new, improved dynamic CGE model to analyze and compare mitigation investment measures that aim at reducing BI losses. The new model, a time-recursive dynamic model reflecting the recovery and reconstruction period, connects reconstruction investment with reconstruction funds source, such as from government, household, enterprise, or outside a disaster-affected area. The 2008 Wenchuan earthquake in China was selected as a case study to illustrate the new model. Some interesting topics about mitigation investment were analyzed: (1) the relative importance of pre-disaster reduction investment versus post-disaster reconstruction investment; (2) post-disaster economic recovery with the contribution of insurance compensation; (3) the optimal ratio between mitigation funds collected from the disaster-affected area and that collected from outside the disaster-affected area; (4) the rational division of limited mitigation funds to each year during the restoration and reconstruction period.     

The sinking ark: pollution and the worldwide loss of biodiversity

Humans are making increasing demands on natural ecosystems. One recent study has concluded that our species is consuming or diverting some 40% of the net photosynthetic productivity of our planet. Many habitats are being converted to simpler systems which provide more harvestable goods to people. As a result, genetic diversity, species and whole ecosystems are disappearing; some scientists suggest that as many as 25% of the world's species could be lost in the next several decades.The sinking ark is usually characterized in terms of pollution, habitat loss, poaching, introduced species and illegal trade in wildlife products, but these are symptoms rather than causes. At a more fundamental level, many of the same factors which have enabled pollution to become such a problem have also been responsible for the loss in biodiversity; the most important factor is that the effects of pollutants on biodiversity have been considered an externality, an unintended side effect of industrial activity which brought measurable benefits to people. Development activities which have depleted biodiversity have proven profitable only because the real costs have been hidden.Keeping the ark afloat will require the Five-I Approach: investigation (learning how natural systems function); information (ensuring that the facts are available to inform decisions); incentives (using economic tools to help conserve biodiversity); integration (promoting a cross-sectoral approach to conserving biodiversity); and international support (building productive collaboration for conserving biodiversity).     

Bronchial response to breathing dry gas at 3.7 MPa ambient pressure

In diving, pulmonary mechanical function is limited by the increased density of the gas breathed. Breathing cold and dry gas may cause an additional increase in airways resistance. We have measured forced vital capacity, forced expired volume in 1 s (FEV₁) and forced midexpiratory flow rate (FEF_25%–75%) before and after breathing dry or humid gas at 29–32°C during a standardized exercise intensity on a cycle ergometer at an ambient pressure of 3.7 MPa. The atmosphere was a helium and oxygen mixture with a density of 6.8 kg · m^–3. Six professional saturation divers aged 26–37 years participated in the study. There were no significant differences in convective respiratory heat loss between the exposures. The mean evaporative heat loss was 67 W (range 59–89) breathing dry gas and 37 W (range 32–43) breathing humid gas, corresponding to water losses of 1.7 g · min^–1 (range 1.5–2.2) and 0.9 g · min^–1 (range 0.8–1.1), respectively. There was a significant reduction in FEV₁ of 4.6 (SD 3.6)% (P<0.05), and in FEF_25%–75% of 5.8 (SD 4.7)% (P<0.05) after breathing dry gas. There were no changes after breathing humid gas. By warming and humidifying the gas breathed in deep saturation diving bronchoconstriction may be prevented.     

苹果绵蚜为害产量损失测定

苹果绵蚜为害苹果的树干、枝,新稍及根部,从中吸取大量营养,使寄主生长发育不良,产量降低。经测定苹果绵蚜发生群落数与造成的产量呈负相关,而与产量损失率成正相关,在苹果单株产量108．19～154．20kg,苹果绵蚜群落数±30～＞150个的情况下,小国光和青香蕉品种的产量损失率分别为4．10％～38．81％和7．5％～32．04％。     

Agricultural non-point source pollution in the Yongding River Basin

More and more nitrogen and phosphorus chemical fertilizers are applied in the upstream of the Yongding River Basin. With the aid of convertibility between emergy and value, the calculated ESI (Environmental Sustainability Index) of basin agricultural production is 0.1056, indicating that local agriculture is seriously unsustainable. According to the different combining types of nitrate and ammonium salts with soil particles, soil nitrogen losses under the influence of rainfall-runoff are quantitatively evaluated from the perspective of the nitrogen cycle. By virtue of the content of dissolved and particulate phosphorus in soil, the calculation process for soil phosphorus loss is modeled according to the field runoff volume. The total nitrogen and total phosphorus losses from soil are 96 kg hm⁻² and 9 kg hm⁻², respectively. The calculation result of nitrogen and phosphorus losses in the basin is certainly reasonable. Finally, the research emphasis of calculation method for reducing basin agricultural non-point source pollution is represented from management level.     

A left/right comparison of sequential bone loss from the metacarpals of postmenopausal women

The rate of decrease of mean metacarpal cortical width was assessed by sequential radiographic morphometry for each hand separately in a series of 46 right-handed postmenopausal women observed for 222 patient-years. For the left hand, the mean rate was 0.0331 ± 0.0053 mm/year and for the right, 0.0310 ± 0.0060 mm/year. The difference between the hands in the rate of decrease was not significant. It is concluded that the higher work load of the dominant hand has no effect on the rate of bone loss from the metacarpals of postmenopausal women.     

Thermal equilibrium of goats

The effects of air temperature and relative humidity on thermal equilibrium of goats in a tropical region was evaluated. Nine non-pregnant Anglo Nubian nanny goats were used in the study. An indirect calorimeter was designed and developed to measure oxygen consumption, carbon dioxide production, methane production and water vapour pressure of the air exhaled from goats. Physiological parameters: rectal temperature, skin temperature, hair-coat temperature, expired air temperature and respiratory rate and volume as well as environmental parameters: air temperature, relative humidity and mean radiant temperature were measured. The results show that respiratory and volume rates and latent heat loss did not change significantly for air temperature between 22 and 26 °C. In this temperature range, metabolic heat was lost mainly by convection and long-wave radiation. For temperature greater than 30 °C, the goats maintained thermal equilibrium mainly by evaporative heat loss. At the higher air temperature, the respiratory and ventilation rates as well as body temperatures were significantly elevated. It can be concluded that for Anglo Nubian goats, the upper limit of air temperature for comfort is around 26 °C when the goats are protected from direct solar radiation.     

Leaf anatomy of highbush blueberry grownin vitro and during acclimatization toex vitro conditions

Leaves of micropropagated highbush blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum) cv. ‘Bluetta’ have been observed during the acclimatization phase. In vitro-developed leaf cells were circular and small, the spongy parenchyma was discontinuous and disorganized and formed by 1–2 layers of cells with large intercellular spaces and the palisade to spongy mesophyll thickness ratio was 1:1.5. After rooting ex vitro, the first leaves formed under natural conditions showed substantial changes in the anatomical characteristics. After 6 months, the plants produced leaves similar to those in field-grown plants. The palisade cells were rectangular, the spongy parenchyma was formed by 3–4 layers of cells and the intercellulars were around the stomata. Leaves from field-grown plants lost 24 % of water during 150 min after excision while leaves from in vitro shoots lost about 50 % of water in the same time. Leaves from in vitro shoots showed a higher number of smaller stomata (361 per mm²), with the guard cells forming a circular ring; the stomata frequency in field-grown leaves was 241 per mm² and the guard-cells were elliptical.     

Rapid changes in desiccation resistance in Drosophila melanogaster are facilitated by changes in cuticular permeability

Insects can improve their desiccation resistance by one or more of (1) increasing their water content; (2) decreasing water loss rate; or (3) increasing the amount of water able to be lost before death. Female Drosophila melanogaster have previously been reported to increase their resistance to desiccation after a desiccation pre-treatment and recovery, but the mechanism of this increased desiccation resistance has not been explored. We show that female, but not male adult D. melanogaster increased their resistance to desiccation after 1 h of recovery from a 3 to 4.5 h pre-treatment that depletes them of 10% of their water content. The pre-treatment did not result in an increase in water content after recovery, and there is a slight increase in water content at death in pre-treated females (but no change in males), suggesting that the amount of water loss tolerated is not improved. Metabolic rate, measured on individual flies with flow-through respirometry, did not change with pre-treatment. However, a desiccation pre-treatment did result in a reduction in water loss rate, and further investigation indicated that a change in cuticular water loss rate accounted for this decrease. Thus, the observed increase in desiccation resistance appears to be based on a change in cuticular permeability. However, physiological changes in response to the desiccation pre-treatment were similar in male and female, which therefore does not account for the difference in rapid desiccation hardening between the sexes. We speculate that sex differences in fuel use during desiccation may account for the discrepancy.     

Riparian leaf litter decomposition on pond bottom after a retention on floating vegetation

Allochthonous (e.g., riparian) plant litter is among the organic matter resources that are important for wetland ecosystems. A compact canopy of free‐floating vegetation on the water surface may allow for riparian litter to remain on it for a period of time before sinking to the bottom. Thus, we hypothesized that canopy of free‐floating vegetation may slow decomposition processes in wetlands. To test the hypothesis that the retention of riparian leaf litter on the free‐floating vegetation in wetlands affects their subsequent decomposition on the bottom of wetlands, a 50‐day in situ decomposition experiment was performed in a wetland pond in subtropical China, in which litter bags of single species with fine (0.5 mm) or coarse (2.0 mm) mesh sizes were placed on free‐floating vegetation (dominated by Eichhornia crassipes, Lemna minor, and Salvinia molesta) for 25 days and then moved to the pond bottom for another 25 days or remained on the pond bottom for 50 days. The leaf litter was collected from three riparian species, that is, Cinnamomum camphora, Diospyros kaki, and Phyllostachys propinqua. The retention of riparian leaf litter on free‐floating vegetation had significant negative effect on the carbon loss, marginal negative effects on the mass loss, and no effect on the nitrogen loss from leaf litter, partially supporting the hypothesis. Similarly, the mass and carbon losses from leaf litter decomposing on the pond bottom for the first 25 days of the experiment were greater than those from the litter decomposing on free‐floating vegetation. Our results highlight that in wetlands, free‐floating vegetation could play a vital role in litter decomposition, which is linked to the regulation of nutrient cycling in ecosystems.     

环境因子对挪威云杉林土壤有机质分解过程中重量和碳的气态损失影响及模型

用严重酸化的挪威云杉林的枯落物和矿质土壤,研究了温度和含水量对有机质分解过程中重量和气态的影响。在为期１ａ的室内试验期间,没有元素的输入,淋失和植物根系吸收。实验分３个温度处理的４个水分处理,在有利条件下,枯落物未分解层ＯＬ的重量损失速率是半分解层ＯＦ的２倍和已分解是ＯＨ的５－６倍,矿质土壤的损失速率小于枯落物层。     

不同施氮水平下杨树-苋菜间作系统对土壤氮素流失的影响

采用田间试验方法,研究了杨树 苋菜间作系统,即株行距2 m×5 m(L₁)和2 m×15 m(L₂)在0(N₀)、91(N₁)、137(N₂)和183(N₃) kg·hm^-2施氮水平下的土壤氮素流失特征.结果表明: 不同施氮水平对地表径流量、淋溶量和土壤侵蚀量的控制效果均为L₁＞L₂＞L₃ (单作苋菜);L₁、L₂地表径流量分别比L₃降低65.1%、55.9%;L₁、L₂距林带0.5 m处淋溶量比L₃降低30.0%、28.9%,距林带1.5 m处淋溶量比L₃降低25.6%、21.9%;L₁、L₂土壤侵蚀量分别比L₃降低65.0%、55.1%.对地表径流和淋溶损失中TN、NO₃^--N、NH₄⁺-N流失量的控制效果均为L₁＞L₂＞L₃;常规施氮(91 kg·hm^-2)水平下,L₁地表径流中TN、NO₃^--N、NH₄⁺-N流失量较L₃分别降低62.9%、45.1%、69.2%,L₂较L₃分别降低23.4%、6.9%、46.2%;杨树间作密度越大、距离林带越近,对土壤NO₃^--N、NH₄⁺-N的淋溶损失削减作用越强.同一间作密度下,随着施氮量的增加,地表径流中NO₃^--N流失比例减少,NH₄⁺-N流失比例增加;淋溶流失中
NO₃^--N、NH₄⁺-N浓度变化趋势一致,均为 N₃＞N₂＞N₁＞N₀.