The potential impact of geological environment on health status of residents of the Slovak Republic

In order to assess the potential impact of the geological environment on the health of the population of the Slovak Republic, the geological environment was divided into eight major units: Paleozoic, Crystalline, Carbonatic Mesozoic and basal Paleogene, Carbonatic-silicate Mesozoic and Paleogene, Paleogene Flysch, Neovolcanics, Neogene and Quaternary sediments. Based on these geological units, the databases of environmental indicators (chemical elements/parameters in groundwater and soils) and health indicators (concerning health status and demographic development of the population) were compiled. The geological environment of the Neogene volcanics (andesites and basalts) has been clearly documented as having the least favourable impact on the health of Slovak population, while Paleogene Flysch geological environment (sandstones, shales, claystones) has the most favourable impact. The most significant differences between these two geological environments were observed, especially for the following health indicators: SMRI6364 (cerebral infarction and strokes) more than 70 %, SMRK (digestive system) 55 %, REI (circulatory system) and REE (endocrine and metabolic system) almost 40 % and REC (malignant neoplasms) more than 30 %. These results can likely be associated with deficit contents of Ca and Mg in groundwater from the Neogene volcanics that are only about half the level of Ca and Mg in groundwater of the Paleogene sediments.     

Global distribution of a key trophic guild contrasts with common latitudinal diversity patterns

Most hypotheses explaining the general gradient of higher diversity toward the equator are implicit or explicit about greater species packing in the tropics. However, global patterns of diversity within guilds, including trophic guilds (i.e., groups of organisms that use similar food resources), are poorly known. We explored global diversity patterns of a key trophic guild in stream ecosystems, the detritivore shredders. This was motivated by the fundamental ecological role of shredders as decomposers of leaf litter and by some records pointing to low shredder diversity and abundance in the tropics, which contrasts with diversity patterns of most major taxa for which broad-scale latitudinal patterns haven been examined. Given this evidence, we hypothesized that shredders are more abundant and diverse in temperate than in tropical streams, and that this pattern is related to the higher temperatures and lower availability of high-quality leaf litter in the tropics. Our comprehensive global survey (129 stream sites from 14 regions on six continents) corroborated the expected latitudinal pattern and showed that shredder distribution (abundance, diversity and assemblage composition) was explained by a combination of factors, including water temperature (some taxa were restricted to cool waters) and biogeography (some taxa were more diverse in particular biogeographic realms). In contrast to our hypothesis, shredder diversity was unrelated to leaf toughness, but it was inversely related to litter diversity. Our findings markedly contrast with global trends of diversity for most taxa, and with the general rule of higher consumer diversity at higher levels of resource diversity. Moreover, they highlight the emerging role of temperature in understanding global patterns of diversity, which is of great relevance in the face of projected global warming.     

A century of increasing pine density and associated shifts in understory plant strategies

We analyzed one of the longest-term ecological data sets to evaluate how forest overstory structure is related to herbaceous understory plant strategies in a ponderosa pine forest. Eighty-two permanent 1-m2 chart quadrats that were established as early as 1912 were remeasured in 2007. We reconstructed historical forest structure using dendrochronological techniques. Ponderosa pine basal area increased from an average of 4 m2/ha in the early 1900s to 29 m2/ha in 2007. Understory plant foliar cover declined by 21%, species richness declined by two species per square meter, and functional diversity also declined. The relative cover of C4 graminoids decreased by 18% and C3 graminoids increased by 19%. Herbaceous plant species with low leaf and fine root nitrogen concentrations, low specific leaf area, high leaf dry matter content, large seed mass, low specific root length, short maximum height, and early flowering date increased in relative abundance in sites where pine basal area increased the most. Overall, we observed a long-term shift in composition toward more conservative shade- and stress-tolerant herbaceous species. Our analysis of temporal changes in plant strategies provides a general framework for evaluating compositional and functional changes in terrestrial plant communities.     

The phosphorus footprint of China's food chain: implications for food security, natural resource management, and environmental quality

Efficient use of phosphorus (P) for producing food, preventing water pollution, and managing a dwindling rock P reserve are major challenges for China. We analyzed P stocks and flows in the Chinese food chain to identify where P use efficiency can be improved, where P leaks to the environment, and the research, technologies, and policies needed to improve P use. We found a high degree of inefficiency; of 6652 Gg P entering the food chain, only 1102 Gg P (18%) exit as food for humans. The greatest inefficiencies were a large build-up of soil P (3670 Gg P yr; 52% of P inputs) and high P losses to the environment from animal production (1582 Gg P yr; 60% of excreted P). Improving P use in China must focus on national-scale nutrient management strategies, better animal nutrition, and adoption of technologies and policies to reduce P discharges from the animal sector and recycle P as manures in agriculture.     

Fuzzy risk assessment of oil and gas offshore wells

Risk evaluation of offshore wells is a challenging task, given that much of the available data is highly uncertain and vague, and many of the mechanisms are complex and difficult to understand. Consequently, a systematic approach is required to handle both quantitative and qualitative data as well as means to update existing information when new knowledge and data become available. Each Basic Risk Item (BRI) in a hierarchical framework is expressed as a fuzzy number, which is a combination of the likelihood of a failure event and the associated failure consequence. Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) is used to estimate weights required for grouping non-commensurate risk sources. Evidential Reasoning (ER) is employed to incorporate new data for updating existing risk estimates. It is envisaged that the proposed approach could serve as a basis for benchmarking acceptable risks in offshore wells.     

Post-ejection nest-desertion of common cuckoo hosts: a second defense mechanism or avoiding reduced reproductive success?

Hosts of the common cuckoo (Cuculus canorus), an avian brood parasite, develop antiparasite defense mechanisms to increase their reproductive success. Ejection of the parasite egg and desertion of the parasitized nest are the most typical adaptations in response to brood parasitism, but nest desertion may also occur in response to partial clutch reduction, independently from parasitism. Some great reed warblers (Acrocephalus arundinaceus) showed both mechanisms in the same incidence of cuckoo parasitism: in 18% of successful ejections of the parasite eggs, they deserted their nests. We studied if such cases of post-ejection nest-desertion are caused by brood parasitism or reduced clutch value. We experimentally parasitized clutches consisting of five or three host eggs with two painted conspecific eggs to mimic parasitic eggs, as multiple parasitism is frequent in the area. Although hosts ejected these parasitic eggs in both clutch categories (100% and 67% for the larger and smaller inital clutch sizes, respectively), we found that after manipulation, post-ejection nest-desertion frequently occurred at small (3-egg) clutches (40%), but rarely at large (5-egg) clutches (17%). The same phenomenon also occurred when unparasitized 3-egg clutches were reduced by two eggs, but not when 5-egg clutches were reduced in the same way. A logistic regression model revealed that only initial clutch size affected nest desertion of parasitized nests in our experiments. Therefore, we conclude that post-ejection nest-desertion is not a second antiparasite mechanism, which might serve as a redundant antiparasite defense, but a reaction to typically small and further decreased clutch size.     

Advanced Aerogels from Wool Waste Fibers for Oil Spill Cleaning Applications

Journal of Polymers and the Environment - Oil spills causes severe degradation to marine ecosystems and poses long term health effects on many animals on the food chain, including humans. A...     

Spatial evolution and specialization division of crop planting structure in counties of Tibet,China北大核心CSCD

从农业区域系统的角度分析农作物的空间集聚和专业化,可为农业产业结构调整及优化提供决策依据.以西藏粮食作物、油料作物、蔬菜和饲草4类作物为研究对象,基于1995-2020年西藏农业统计年鉴农作物播种面积数据分析西藏农作物种植面积时序变化,基于1995-2018年统计年鉴农作物播种面积数据和74个县域空间单元,综合运用重心模型、基尼系数、区位熵及空间自相关模型,通过ArcGIS软件分析西藏作物种植空间变化及专业化格局.结果显示:(1)西藏粮食作物种植面积占比历年均占绝对优势,但呈逐年下降趋势,油料作物种植面积整体呈波动性小幅上升,蔬菜和青饲料种植面积逐年明显增长.粮食作物、经济作物(含油料作物和蔬菜)、饲料作物比例从1995年的86:12:2调整到2020年的68:17:14.(2)1995-2015年间西藏粮食和油料生产重心较为稳定,未出现较大范围的地理迁移,其他农作物重心迁移距离较大,从东南向西北迁移416.7 km.(3)西藏农作物均呈现一定程度的空间集聚和区域专业化生产格局,但在研究期内生产集聚及专业化水平呈下降趋势.(4)将西藏粮食、油料和其他农作物划分为绝对优势区、比较优势区、优势衰退区、潜力优势区、不具优势区、优势退出区、可种植区和无种植区8种类型.本研究表明西藏农作物种植结构调整明显,基于生产格局及演变趋势划定了专业化分区,可引导农作物生产布局优化,对有效保障西藏地区粮食安全具有重要意义.(图6表5参26)     

Enhancement of MK-7 synthesis by engineered strains of Bacillus subtilis natto that overexpress men genes and by increasing available dissolved oxygen北大核心CSCD

In recent years, researchers have discovered novel physiological functions of vitamin K2. In addition to promoting blood clotting, it can prevent osteoporosis and cardiovascular disease and is expected to treat some tumors and Parkinson’s disease. Bacillus subtilis natto is a probiotic that has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for use as a bioproducer of vitamin K2. Its product’s main form is MK-7, which has a long half-life in the human body and high bioavailability. Bacillus subtilis natto displays great potential for large-scale biological preparation of vitamin K2. In this study, the Sipizizen method of Bacillus subtilis transformation was optimized to make it suitable for molecular transformation of Bacillus subtilis natto. Vectors for overexpression of all 8 genes involved in the menadione synthetic pathway were constructed, and changes in MK-7 fermentation yield after transformation of Bacillus subtilis natto were investigated. Three enzymes were found to exert significant effects on MK-7 synthesis, namely isopentenyltransferase (MenA), 1,4-dihydroxy-2-naphthoyl-CoA synthase (MenB), and nornaphthoquinone methyltransferase (MenG). A modified strain (BN-pABG) with higher MK-7 productivity was obtained by concerted overexpression of menA, menB, and menG. In a 5 L bioreactor, MK-7 synthesis was further enhanced by optimizing oxygen supply. The final yield of MK-7 from the modified strain was 62.21 mg/L, 1.26 times higher than that of the original strain. These results show that combined overexpression of menA, menB, and menG strongly promotes MK-7 synthesis by Bacillus subtilis natto, and optimizing the oxygen supply conditions also promotes more robust MK-7 synthesis. © 2022 Authors. All rights reserved.     

The diversity and floristic characteristics of mosses in Jiuzhaigou National Nature Reserve北大核心CSCD

苔藓是生态系统的重要组分和自然保护区的重点保护对象之一,在物种资源和生态系统功能维护中具有重要作用.通过野外标本采集和室内鉴定,对九寨沟国家级自然保护区的藓类植物的物种组成和分布特点进行研究.结果表明:(1)九寨沟共有藓类植物38科90属211种(含变种),其中优势科为青藓科(Brachytheciaceae)、丛藓科(Pottiaceae)、灰藓科(Hypnaceae)、金灰藓科(Pylaisiaceae)、提灯藓科(Mniaceae)、真藓科(Bryaceae)和羽藓科(Thuidiaceae);并且调查发现两种濒危级别的珍稀藓种.(2)九寨沟藓类植物的区系地理成分可划分为10个,优势成分为东亚分布,占34.2%,其次为北温带分布,占30.9%.(3)通过与西南地区5个自然保护区藓类植物的相似系数和区系谱主成分分析发现,九寨沟藓类植物种类与贡嘎山的共有种最多,达到94种,在区系成分上也与贡嘎山和王朗相近.本研究表明九寨沟高原喀斯特生境藓类植物物种资源丰富,虽然区系地理成分具有多样和复杂性,但主要还是以东亚分布和温带分布为主,在物种相似度和区系成分上与贡嘎山和王朗的藓类植物一致性更高.(图3表6参47)