An Extreme Value Analysis of Pollutant Concentrations in Surface Soils Due to Atmospheric Deposition

Risk assessments often rely on deterministic models using long-term averages or “steady-state” values of input variables. Such models do not provide the information needed to estimate acute exposures. This study uses extreme value theory to examine the frequency and magnitude of daily pollutant concentrations in surface soils predicted at six U.S. locations. Concentrations are predicted using a deposition-leaching model and 50 years of historical precipitation data. A stochastic model also is used to generate 1000 years of precipitation data as modeling inputs for each location. The annual maximum concentrations at each site are fitted to a Gumbel type I distribution to estimate occurrence probability. For soluble pollutants, the predicted concentration varied substantially with precipitation, and the maximum daily concentrations exceeded annual averages by 4 to 8 times. Observed and synthetic precipitation data produced similar results at most study locations, though the synthetic data provided a slightly better fit to the Gumbel type I distribution. The precipitation model allows the generation of representative precipitation data that extend limited historical records. The extreme value analysis facilitates the evaluation of maximum pollutant concentrations, return periods, and other statistics that are important in evaluating acute exposures.     

Environmental and genetic control of crassulacean acid metabolism in two crassulacean species and an F1 hybrid with differing biomass δ13C values

Abstract The growth, biomass δ¹³C values, and ability to accumulate titratable acidity at night were compared in eight environmental treatments for Cremnophila linguifolia, Sedum greggii, and their F₁ hybrid. In the phytotron, differences in treatment daylength, day/night temperature and water availability were all found to have effects on total plant dry weight, nocturnal accumulation of titratable acidity and biomass δ¹³C value of at least some of the genotypes. However, there were differences between the genotypes both in the magnitude and direction of response of the phenotypic properties to the treatment variables. The phytotron δ¹³C values ranged from -12.9 to -19.2‰ for C. linguifolia, from -22.2 to -33.4‰ for S. greggii, and from -19.2 to -24.9‰ for the hybrid. After with-holding water for 76 h both C. linguifolia and the hybrid had midday Ψ_leaf values of -0.23 MPa; however, S. greggii had a value of -1.05 MPa. In contrast to past observations of other species, the daily watered plants of C. linguifolia had less negative δ¹³C values than did the plants watered only weekly.     

How Can the Eco‐efficiency of a Region be Measured and Monitored?

The concept of eco-efficiency is commonly referred to as a business link to sustainable development. In this article, ecoefficiency is examined at a regional level as an approach to promoting the competitiveness of economic activities in the Finnish Kymenlaakso region and mitigating their harmful impacts on the environment. The aim is to develop appropriate indicators for monitoring changes in the eco-efficiency of the region. A starting point is to produce indicators for the environmental and economic dimensions of regional development and use them for measuring regional eco-efficiency. The environmental impact indicators are based on a life-cycle assessment method, producing different types of environmental impact indicators: pressure indicators (e.g., emissions of CO₂), impact category indicators (e.g., CO₂ equivalents in the case of climate change), and a total impact indicator (aggregating different impact category indicator results into a single value). Environmental impact indicators based on direct material input, total material input, and total material requirement of the Kymenlaakso region are also assessed. The economic indicators used are the gross domestic product, the value added, and the output of the main economic sectors of Kymenlaakso. In the eco-efficiency assessment, the economic and environmental impact indicators are monitored in the same graph. In a few cases eco-efficiency ratios can also be calculated (the economic indicators are divided by the environmental indicators). Output (= value added + intermediate consumption) is used as an economic indicator related to the environmental impact indicators, which also cover the upstream processes of the region's activities. In the article, we also discuss the strengths and weaknesses of using the different environmental impact indicators.     

Insights into protective effects of medium additives on animal cells under fluid stresses: the hydrophobic interactions

Animal cells in suspension culture can suffer severe mechanical damage from bursting gas bubbles or other hydrodynamic force sources. Certain chemical additives in the culture media, particularly some surface-active chemicals, can effectively protect animal cells against such damage. Previously we proposed that the protective effect is associated with the adsorption of the additives in the cell membrane through hydrophobic binding of the surface-active molecules to the membrane. Adsorption of the additives to the cell membrane may lead to decreased hydrophobicity of the cell surface, thus eliminating cell adhesion to bubbles and reducing cell damage from bursting bubbles. In this study, we measured the hydrophobicity of two insect cell lines based on cell adhesion to hydrocarbon phase and its influence by surface-active chemicals, Pluronic F68, a methylcellulose and a polyethylene glycol. The experimental results showed strong support for the aforecited cell protection mechanism.     

Assessment of Optimal Selected Prognostic Factors

The identification and assessment of prognostic factors is one of the major tasks in clinical research. The assessment of one single prognostic factor can be done by recently established methods for using optimal cutpoints. Here, we suggest a method to consider an optimal selected prognostic factor from a set of prognostic factors of interest. This can be viewed as a variable selection method and is the underlying decision problem at each node of various tree building algorithms. We propose to use maximally selected statistics where the selection is defined over the set of prognostic factors and over all cutpoints in each prognostic factor. We demonstrate that it is feasible to compute the approximate null distribution. We illustrate the new variable selection test with data of the German Breast Cancer Study Group and of a small study on patients with diffuse large B‐cell lymphoma. Using the null distribution for a p‐value adjusted regression trees algorithm, we adjust for the number of variables analysed at each node as well. (© 2004 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Body shape and differences between species

The variation of body shape among prosimians is reviewed. Special emphasis is placed on the selective advantages, that is the mechanical reasons, to which variants of the locomotor apparatus can be traced back. There are differences found in the cheiridia, but at present they cannot be explained in terms of mechanics; there is nearly no knowledge about the mechanical meaning of their diversity. Myological characteristics of taxa can be explained mechanically, but this has not yet been done. Well known are variations of body proportions. These discriminate higher taxa, and are largely coincident with the often-used locomotor categories. In spite of this, there are only few sound arguments about the real biomechanic value of characteristic proportions for a given locomotor mode. What is known on this field, is reviewed. Progress can be made only, if the mechanical conditions, set by postural behavior and locomotion, are understood completely. The subtle distinctions between lower taxonomic units can normally be identified only on the basis of detailed and quantified analyses of movements on one hand, and of biometrics on the other. In the few cases in which such studies have been made, the differences of morphology fit to the mechanical requirements of locomotion which also differ only in quantitative details.     

Chemical equilibrium and E value of Zn (ZnE) in inceptisols and entisols of tropical india

Summary The chemical equilibrium and E value for Zn was calculated in 9 soils of Haryana (India) which represented mainly entisol and inceptisols. The rate of isotopic exchange between⁶⁵Zn and native soil Zn was quite rapid and radioactivity reduced to about 0.2 per cent of initial activity after 3 days but total Zn concentration in soil solution did not decrease. In 5 out of 9 soils equilibrium was established in 2 to 3 days. In typic ustochrepts having high clay content (3,4) equilibrium was attained in two days. In typic udipsamments (2), typic camborthids (8) and aquic vertic ustichrepts (9) it took 3 days to set equilibrium. Typic ustochrepts (5) took 5 days for equilibrium whereas typic ustipssaments (6) and typic camborthids of high O.C. did not attain equilibrium even in 7 days. This indicated that the chemistry and availability of Zn in soil would depend on soil types. When Zn_E was estimated by applying activity after equilibrium with carrier Zn and by applying activity with carrier Zn before equilibrium was set, there was no agreement in Zn_E in two methods. Increasing Zn_E with increasing Zn dose was observed by both methods only in alkaline typic ustochrept (4). In some soils higher E values than added amounts were observed, whereas, in soil 8 negative E values were obtained. The E values become erratic and are over estimated where complex reactions take place due to high pH, high O.C. and high complex forming elements.     

血清Irisin、SOST、H2S与膝骨关节炎合并骨质疏松症患者骨密度、骨代谢标志物的相关性及其预测价值

摘要 目的：探讨血清鸢尾素（Irisin）、骨硬化蛋白（SOST）、硫化氢（H₂S）与膝骨关节炎（KOA）合并骨质疏松症（OP）患者骨密度、骨代谢标志物的相关性,分析Irisin、SOST、H₂S预测KOA合并OP的价值。方法：选取2020年4月至2023年4月我院收治的179例KOA患者,根据是否合并OP将其分为OP组（68例）和非OP组（111例）。检测血清Irisin、SOST、H₂S和骨代谢标志物骨钙素（OC）、骨碱性磷酸酶（BALP）、Ⅰ型原胶原N-端前肽（PINP）、抗酒石酸酸性磷酸酶异体（TRACP5b）水平,股骨颈、腰椎L1～4骨密度。Pearson分析血清Irisin、SOST、H₂S与股骨颈、腰椎L1～4骨密度和血清骨代谢标志物的相关性,受试者工作特征（ROC）曲线分析血清Irisin、SOST、H₂S对KOA合并OP的预测价值。结果：OP组血清Irisin、H₂S、OC、BALP、PINP水平,股骨颈、腰椎L1～4骨密度低于非OP组（P＜0.05）,TRACP、SOST水平高于非OP组（P＜0.05）。OP组血清Irisin、H₂S水平与股骨颈、腰椎L1～4骨密度,血清OC、BALP、PINP水平呈正相关（P＜0.05）,与血清TRACP水平呈负相关（P＜0.05）;SOST水平与股骨颈、腰椎L1～4骨密度,血清OC、BALP、PINP水平呈负相关（P＜0.05）,与血清TRACP水平呈正相关（P＜0.05）。Irisin、SOST、H₂S预测KOA合并OP的曲线下面积为0.784、0.773、0.755,联合预测KOA合并OP的曲线下面积为0.908,高于单独预测。结论：KOA合并OP患者血清Irisin、H₂S水平降低、SOST水平增高,低水平Irisin、H₂S和高水平SOST与骨密度降低、骨代谢异常有关,可用于预测KOA合并OP患者骨代谢异常状态和骨质流失风险。     

呼气末二氧化碳分压、C-反应蛋白/白蛋白比值及综合脱机指数对重型颅脑损伤机械通气患者撤机失败的预测价值

摘要 目的：探讨呼气末二氧化碳分压（PetCO₂）、C-反应蛋白/白蛋白比值（CRP/Alb）及综合脱机指数（IWI）对重型颅脑损伤机械通气患者撤机失败的预测价值。方法：选择2020年1月至2022年6月在安徽中医药大学附属六安医院进行机械通气的重型颅脑损伤患者96例作为研究对象,按照撤机结局分为撤机失败组（n=31）和撤机成功组（n=65）。比较两组撤机前PetCO₂、CRP/Alb、IWI及临床参数。应用多因素Logistic回归分析重型颅脑损伤机械通气患者撤机失败的危险因素。应用受试者工作特征（ROC）曲线评价PetCO₂、CRP/Alb、IWI对重型颅脑损伤机械通气患者撤机失败的预测价值。结果：撤机失败组PetCO₂、CRP/Alb、急性生理功能和慢性健康状况评分系统II（APACHE II）评分显著高于撤机成功组,机械通气时间长于撤机成功组,IWI、格拉斯哥昏迷评分（GCS）显著低于撤机成功组（P<0.05）。多因素Logistic回归分析显示,PetCO₂≥37.01 mmHg、CRP/Alb≥0.97、IWI≤78.23、GCS≤5.90分、APACHE II评分≥26.17分、机械通气时间≥4.49 d是重型颅脑损伤机械通气患者撤机失败的危险因素（P<0.05）。ROC曲线分析结果显示PetCO₂、CRP/Alb、IWI、GCS、APACHE II对重型颅脑损伤机械通气患者撤机失败均有较高的敏感度、特异度, PetCO₂、CRP/Alb、IWI三项联合检测对重型颅脑损伤机械通气患者撤机失败预测的曲线下面积（AUC）高于PetCO₂、CRP/Alb、IWI、GCS、APACHE II单独检测。结论：PetCO₂、CRP/Alb及IWI联合评估对重型颅脑损伤机械通气患者撤机失败具有较高的预测价值。     

CYFRA21-1、MMP-3及CEA 和细胞学联合检查对恶性胸腔积液的诊断价值分析

摘要 目的：探讨细胞角蛋白19片段（CYFRA21-1）、基质金属蛋白酶-3（MMP-3）及癌胚抗原（CEA） 和细胞学联合检查对恶性胸腔积液的诊断价值。方法：选择2020年1月至2023年1月我院接诊的100例胸腔积液患者进行研究,并根据病理结果分为实验组47例（病理检查结果恶性）,对照组53例（病理检查结果良性）,分析血清CYFRA21-1、MMP-3及CEA 和细胞学水平变化情况及其的诊断价值。结果：实验组患者血清血清CYFRA21-1、MMP-3及CEA水平显著高于对照组,差异显著（P＜0.05）;实验组患者CYFRA21-1、MMP-3及CEA 和细胞学阳性率均显著高于对照组,差异显著（P＜0.05）;CYFRA21-1诊断恶性胸腔积液的AUC为0.989,95%CI为0.977~1.000;MMP-3诊断恶性胸腔积液的AUC为0.979,95%CI为0.964~0.994;CEA 诊断恶性胸腔积液的AUC为0.982,95%CI为0.967~0.997;细胞学诊断恶性胸腔积液的AUC为0.823,95%CI为0.766~0.879,联合检测时AUC为0.995,95%CI为0.990~1.000,较单独检测曲线下面积比较显著差异;且特异度、准确度均较单独检测更高。结论：CYFRA21-1、MMP-3及CEA 和细胞学联合检查可有效提高诊断恶性胸腔积液的准确性,临床应用价值高。