Using culturomics and social media data to characterize wildlife consumption

Wildlife provides food, medicine, clothing, and other necessities for humans, but overexploitation can disrupt the sustainability of wildlife resources and severely threaten global biodiversity. Understanding the characteristics of consumer behavior is helpful for wildlife managers and policy makers, but the traditional survey methods are laborious and time-consuming. In contrast, culturomics may more efficiently identify the features of wildlife consumption. As a case study of the culturomics approach, we examined tiger bone wine consumption in China based on social media and Baidu search engine data. Tiger bone wine is one of the most purchased tiger products; its consumption is closely related to tiger poaching, which greatly threatens wild tiger survival. We searched a popular social media website for the term “tiger bone wine” and focused on posts that were originally created from 1 January 2012 to 31 December 2018. We filtered and classified posts related to the purchase, sale, or consumption of tiger bone wine and extracted information on providers, consumption motivations, year of production, and place of origin of the tiger bone wines based on the texts and photos of these posts. We found 756 posts related to tiger bone wine consumption, 113 of which mentioned providers of tiger bone wine, including friends (53%), elder relatives (37%), peer relatives (7%), and others (3%). Out of the 756 posts, 266 indicated the motivations of tiger bone wine consumption. Tiger bone wines were consumed as a tonic (34%), medicine (23%), game product (30%), and a symbol of wealth (28%). Some posts indicated ≥2 consumption motivations. These findings were consistent with the search queries from Baidu index. Such information could help develop targeted strategies for tiger conservation. The culturomics approach illustrated by our study is a rapid and cost-efficient way to characterize wildlife consumption.     

Fluoride removal and its impact on oral health in Sri Lanka's dry zone: Discussion and recommendation

Fifty percent of the dry zone areas in Sri Lanka have fluoride levels above 1 ppm. This paper discusses the ground conditions and recommends an appropriate range of fluoride in drinking water which can support preventive practices for improving the oral health of children 8-years old and younger. In efforts to address the Chronic Kidney Disease of Unknown etiology (CKDU), water treatment to reduce contaminant level in potable water has been implemented. Such treatment would also remove fluoride and has resulted in potable water with various fluoride levels, depending on concentrations in the raw water. While it is important to reduce fluoride levels, it is important to have appropriate residual levels for prevention of dental caries. It needs, however, to be noted fluoride in excess can cause dental fluorosis. In Sri Lanka's dry zone areas increasing prevalence of dental fluorosis with decreasing prevalence of dental caries has been noted. Consumption of tea and powdered milk could increase total intake of fluoride. Fluoridated toothpaste, when used properly, may, however, result in negligible intake of fluoride. Sri Lanka's hot tropical climate which results in substantial intake of fluids reinforces the need to consider reduction in water fluoride. Consideration of local studies and international standards indicate fluoride levels should be in the range of 0.225–0.500 ppm. In the range of 0.225–0.500 ppm, the prevalence of dental fluorosis and caries was only 14% and 8%, respectively, in an endemic district. When fluoride levels are above 0.500 ppm, the issue of dental fluorosis shall need to be addressed. When levels are below 0.225 ppm, oral health care services shall need to be directed at preventing dental caries.     

全球液化石油气运输网络贸易社区特征及其演化分析

液化石油气在全球清洁能源消耗市场中扮演着极为重要的角色,其通过船舶在不同港口之间进行运输,而港口之间通过局部密集的运输关系,形成了联系极为紧密的贸易社区。采用复杂网络社区探测方法,基于2013—2017年全球液化石油气船舶轨迹大数据构建运输网络,并对其贸易社区特征及其演化趋势开展分析。结果表明：（1）液化石油气（Liquefied Petroleum Gas,LPG）贸易社区内的港口之间的联系更加紧密,不同社区内的枢纽港口联系也日益紧密;（2）各个贸易社区的规模呈现出增长趋势,且同一社区内的港口在地理空间上变得更为集聚;（3）亚太地区、中东、西北欧和地中海地区形成的社区在全球LPG贸易中一直保持着重要地位,而随着时间推移,美洲社区已逐渐从一个相对孤立的社区发展成为与其他社区存在紧密联系的社区。     

基于网络数据的乡村旅游热点识别及成因分析——以江苏省为例

基于旅游网站数据,提出一种乡村旅游热点识别方法,以江苏省为例,运用趋势面、核密度、热点分析等方法探寻乡村旅游冷热格局及演变特征,并借助地理探测器揭示其时空演化的影响因素。结果表明：（1）江苏省乡村旅游热度的时间演化规律明显,年际变化呈“S”型演变轨迹;季节变化呈“三峰四谷”特征。（2）江苏省乡村旅游热度的空间结构在2009—2017年间经历了“单核—双核—三核”的演化过程,但其空间异质性依然显著,整体表现为“南高北低,东高西低”的差异特征。（3）影响因素在不同时段的影响强度各异,交通条件、服务能力一直是主导因素,经济水平对乡村旅游发展早期的热度提升有显著影响,资源禀赋的显著性趋于下降,生态环境和政府导向的影响力逐渐增强。基于网络数据的乡村旅游热点识别为乡村旅游定量研究提供了新的研究视角,对乡村旅游资源开发与区域合作具有重要的指导意义。     

铁锰复合氧化物滤料去除地下水中四环素的效能

以化学挂膜成熟运行5a的铁锰复合氧化物滤料为研究对象,利用静态与连续流柱实验相结合的方式,探究了该滤料去除四环素的效果与机理.结果表明,去除过程符合准二级反应动力学模型;且滤料质量越大,初始浓度越高,对四环素去除的效果越好;当水中共存阳离子浓度为0.01mol/L时,Mg²⁺抑制四环素的去除,而Ca²⁺、K⁺对四环素的去除过程无显著影响.连续流柱实验与发光细菌毒性检测分析,表明,铁锰氧化物滤料对四环素去除效果显著高于石英砂,且铁锰复合氧化物滤料去除四环素后急性毒性降低.此外,机理探究实验结果证实了铁锰复合氧化物滤料去除四环素是吸附与氧化的过程.     

焚烧飞灰重金属含量及浸出长期变化规律研究

通过对24个飞灰样品的重金属全量消解和高精度X射线荧光光谱法（HDXRF）快速检测结果进行线性回归分析,发现HDXRF法可较准确测定飞灰中Cu、Pb、Zn、Ni和Cd含量（线性回归决定系数R²³0.90）.采用HDXRF法对某焚烧厂飞灰重金属含量6个月快速检测及浸出毒性测定数据统计分析发现：飞灰重金属月均含量较稳定（变异系数CV<0.14）但日均含量波动较大（CV>2.54）;飞灰中Pb、Cu和Zn含量呈正相关（相关系数r>0.78）;金属浸出浓度受浸出液终点pH值影响显著,超标频率依次为Pb（68.9%）、Cd（66.1%）、Ni（24.0%）、Cu（14.2%）和Zn（1.6%）.短期飞灰金属含量和浸出毒性数据受焚烧工况,烟气处理工况和垃圾组分等多种因素共同影响,不具有代表性.为评估垃圾分类源头削减重金属效果,建议采用快速检测方法对焚烧飞灰重金属含量进行长期监测.     

用EXCEL进行精密度-偏性分析质控数据处理

利用EXCEL强大的数据处理功能，可以方便地对精密度—偏性分析质控数据进行处理，具有较高的推广价值。     

一次监测值用于水质评价的研究

以2003年长江和淮河水系为例,通过计算各个评价项目的单月监测值分别与季均值和年均值的相对误差及其分布,以及水质类别相同的断面比例,认为对于旬报、月报短期水质评价,采用一次监测的数据评价水质是可靠的;对于季报和年报中、长期水质评价,采用一次监测数据评价的可靠程度较差,应采用2次或2次以上的监测数据平均值进行评价。     

A ten year summary of concurrent ambient water column and sediment toxicity tests in the Chesapeake Bay watershed: 1990-1999

The goal of this study was to identify the relative toxicity ofambient areas in the Chesapeake Bay watershed by using a suiteof concurrent water column and sediment toxicity tests at seventy-five ambient stations in 20 Chesapeake Bay rivers from1990 through 1999. Spatial and temporal variability was examinedat selected locations throughout the 10 yr study. Inorganicand organic contaminants were evaluated in ambient water andsediment concurrently with water column and sediment tests toassess possible causes of toxicity although absolute causalitycan not be established. Multivariate statistical analysis wasused to develop a multiple endpoint toxicity index (TOX-INDEX) at each station for both water column and sediment toxicity data. Water column tests from the 10 yr testing period showed that49% of the time, some degree of toxicity was reported. The mosttoxic sites based on water column results were located inurbanized areas such as the Anacostia River, Elizabeth River andthe Middle River. Water quality criteria for copper, lead,mercury, nickel and zinc were exceeded at one or more of thesesites. Water column toxicity was also reported in localizedareas of the South and Chester Rivers. Both spatial and temporalvariability was reported from the suite of water column toxicitytests. Some degree of sediment toxicity was reported from 62% of the tests conducted during the ten year period. The ElizabethRiver and Baltimore Harbor stations were reported as the most toxic areas based on sediment results.Sediment toxicity guidelines were exceeded for one or more of thefollowing metals at these two locations: arsenic, cadmium,chromium, copper, lead, nickel and zinc. At the Elizabeth Riverstations nine of sixteen semi-volatile organics and two of sevenpesticides measured exceeded the ER-M values in 1990. Ambientsediment toxicity tests in the Elizabeth River in 1996 showedreduced toxicity. Various semi-volatile organics exceeded the ER-M values at a number of Baltimore Harbor sites; pyrene anddibenzo(a,h)anthracene were particularly high at one of thestations (Northwest Harbor). Localized sediment toxicity was alsoreported in the Chester, James, Magothy, Rappahannock, andPotomac Rivers but the link with contaminants was not determined.Both spatial and temporal variability was less for sedimenttoxicity data when compared with water column toxicity data. Acomparison of water column and sediment toxicity data for thevarious stations over the 10 yr study showed that approximatelyhalf the time agreement occurred (either both suite of testsshowed toxicity or neither suite of tests showed toxicity).     

Response of the Ascorbate-Peroxidase of Selenastrum capricornutum to Copper and Lead in Stormwaters

The green alga Selenastrum capricornutum expresses a uniqueascorbate peroxidase, that responds to copper and lead. Attemptswere made to test if this peroxidase could be used to monitor thelevels of copper and lead in natural waters. When S.capricornutum was exposed to a stormwater sample, the specificactivity of the peroxidase in the cell extract was commensuratewith the combined copper and lead contents in the sample. Theperoxidase responses were also correlated with the 96 hr biomasstoxicity assay of S. capricornutum. However, unlike thebiomass toxicity assay, the peroxidase activity was not affectedby the anions in the samples. The use of this peroxidase can beused as a marker for testing heavy metal toxicity in the water.