Combining Measures of Dispersal to Identify Conservation Strategies in Fragmented Landscapes

Abstract: Understanding the way in which habitat fragmentation disrupts animal dispersal is key to identifying effective and efficient conservation strategies. To differentiate the potential effectiveness of 2 frequently used strategies for increasing the connectivity of populations in fragmented landscapes—corridors and stepping stones—we combined 3 complimentary methods: behavioral studies at habitat edges, mark‐recapture, and genetic analyses. Each of these methods addresses different steps in the dispersal process that a single intensive study could not address. We applied the 3 methods to the case study of Atrytonopsis new species 1, a rare butterfly endemic to a partially urbanized stretch of barrier islands in North Carolina (U.S.A.). Results of behavioral analyses showed the butterfly flew into urban and forested areas, but not over open beach; mark‐recapture showed that the butterfly dispersed successfully through short stretches of urban areas (<500 m); and genetic studies showed that longer stretches of forest (>5 km) were a dispersal barrier, but shorter stretches of urban areas (≤5 km) were not. Although results from all 3 methods indicated natural features in the landscape, not urbanization, were barriers to dispersal, when we combined the results we could determine where barriers might arise: forests restricted dispersal for the butterfly only when there were long stretches with no habitat. Therefore, urban areas have the potential to become a dispersal barrier if their extent increases, a finding that may have gone unnoticed if we had used a single approach. Protection of stepping stones should be sufficient to maintain connectivity for Atrytonopsis new species 1 at current levels of urbanization. Our research highlights how the use of complementary approaches for studying animal dispersal in fragmented landscapes can help identify conservation strategies.     

透水砖铺装的设施构造对运行效果的影响

为考察缝隙透水砖铺装的基层构造与材料对设施运行效果的影响,在上海市区建造了2个缝隙透水砖铺装(permeable interlocking concrete pavement,PICP)与1个不透水混凝土铺装(concrete pavement,CP)停车场,其中2个缝隙透水砖铺装分别采用水泥稳定碎石(PICP1)和普通碎石(PICP2)作为基层结构.在2018年实际降雨条件下对2个设施的水文效果及底部出流水质进行了长期监测.结果表明PICP1与PICP2的年径流总量控制率相近,分别为37. 0%和38. 7%,PICP1的峰值削减率及峰现延迟时间略优于PICP2.水质控制效果方面,PICP1比PICP2有更好地NH_4~+-N转化效果,两种设施底部出流均存在NO_3~--N淋出的现象; PICP1底部出流的TSS、TP、颗粒态磷和溶解态磷浓度均低于PICP2.采用水泥稳定碎石作为基层有助于提高设施的水质净化效果,并改善设施的水文控制效果.     

The BOR syndrome and renal agenesis-prenatal diagnosis andfurther clinical delineation

This is the first report of prenatal diagnosis of a fetus with brachio-oto-renal dysplasia (BOR) syndrome with right-sided renal agenesis and severe left hypoplasia. The father of this fetus had malformed external ears, a left-sided preauricular pit and branchial cyst, and bilateral mild to moderate deafness without a demonstrable renal anomaly. This family highlights the variable expressivity seen in the autosomal dominant BOR syndrome, the importance of genetic counselling for families with BOR syndrome, and the aetiologic heterogeneity of renal agenesis.     

Adsorption of dyes onto activated carbon prepared from olive stones

Activated carbon was produced from olive stones（OSAC） by a physical process in two steps. The adsorption character of this activated carbon was tested on three colour dyes molecules in aqueous solution： Methylene blue（MB）, Rhodamine B（RB） and Congo Red（CR）. The adsorption equilibrium was studied through isotherms construction at 30℃, which were well described by Langmuir model. The adsorption capacity on the OSAC was estimated to be 303 mg/g, 217 mg/g and 167 mg/g respectively for MB, RB and CR. This activated carbon has a similar adsorption properties to that of commercial ones and show the same adsorption performances. The adsorption kinetics of the MB molecule in aqueous solution at different initial concentrations by OSAC was also studied. Kinetic experiments were well fitted by a simple intra-particle diffusion model. The measured kinetics constant was influenced by the initial concentration and we found the following correlation： Kid = 1.55 C0^0.51.     

微型碎石管注桩治理深部软岩巷道底鼓新方法

针对造成巷道底鼓的物理和力学两种重要机制,研究并提出微型碎石管注桩治理深部软岩巷道底鼓的新方法。在物理机制方面,微型碎石桩具有渗透性极好的特点,在巷道施工和使用期间可汲取岩体中的渗水并透过碎石桩中的插管排出,从而降低软岩层因遇水膨胀导致的变形;在力学机制方面,微型碎石桩一方面通过钻孔置换出少部分底板软岩,从体量上减少变形岩体,另一方面能利用碎石桩体的侧向可压缩性耗散岩体水平变形,底板岩层中的水平地应力得以释放,极大减缓了促使底鼓变形的力学作用;通过微型碎石桩中的插管注浆加固底板岩体,提高了底板复合地基整体承载力。通过数值分析,阐明该方法在治理软岩巷道底鼓机制上的有效性。     

恐龙之乡川南游

川南地区，历史悠久，文化灿烂，风光优美，是四川的精品旅游路线之一。自贡的恐龙群窟，堪称世界奇观。盐都自贡僰海井，是中华民族智慧的结晶。万里长江第一城的宜宾，风景秀丽。珙县石碑龙，具有极高的旅游价值和重大的学术意义，僰人悬棺，是世界上最大的悬棺群。兴文石海洞乡是不可多得的喀斯特公园，其洞穴与漏斗都是世界级的，独具一格的景观配置，构成了一幅世界上极为壮观、极为独特的自然奇观。蜀南竹海更以其浩瀚的翠绿、万壑的柔情，无比的峻秀，给恐龙之乡增添了无比的美丽，无穷的魅力。     

Renal tubular dysfunction caused by dietary hexachlorocyclohexane (HCH) isomers

Abstract

Dietary administration of β‐ and α‐hexachlorocyclohexane (HCH) to albino rats caused an abnormal excessive excretion of glucose in the urine, blood glucose level being nearly normal. Occurrence of glucosuria was also accompanied by increased excretions of the two low‐threshold compounds ‐ creatinine and urea, their levels in blood being normal. The interference of HCH isomers with renal function as evidenced by biochemical data was also indicated by histopathological lesions observed in the kidney sections, viz., hypertrophy and degeneration of the renal tubular epithelia.     

Mineralogy and chemistry of urinary stones: patients from North Jordan

Urinary stone diseases are increasing in the Middle East. The majority of urinary stone cases are found in the northern part of the country. Stone samples taken from patients living in the Irbid area were collected from Princess Basma Hospital. The present study concentrates on the mineralogical and chemical composition of the urinary stones and on the effective environmental factors that assist in developing the different types of urinary stones. Using X-ray diffraction techniques, the mineralogical composition of the urinary stones was found to be as follows: oxalate, cholesten, and uric acid, with cystine stones occuring more frequently than the others. Cholesten and calcium oxalate stones are the most dominant types of stones. Calcium oxalate is the most common type of oxalate stone. Calcium oxalate is represented in: whewellite, wheddellite, and calcium carbonate oxalate hydrate minerals, in addition to other minerals such as brushite, ammonium phosphate, vaterite, valleriite, and bobierrite from other types of stones. Bobierrite (phosphate group) is a new mineral reported in urinary stones, and this has not been determined in any previous study worldwide. Apatite (calcium phosphate) is deduced using scanning electron microscope (SEM) images. The SEM technique determined crystal forms and systems, shapes, morphological features, and the names of the minerals forming urine stones, while optical properties are studied by polarizing microscope. X-ray fluorescence technique determined the concentrations of major and some trace elements. It revealed that Ca is the main constituent of the urinary stones, especially those composed of calcium oxalate and calcium phosphate. The concentration of trace elements was Ba = 1.57, P = 3.61, Fe = 1.78, S = 2.08, Zr = 4.63, Mo = 3.92, Cu = 1.89, Co = 1.56, and F = 4.2% and was higher in the urinary stones of Jordanian patients than in foreigners in the country. Questionnaires completed by patients suggest that the most significant factors directly effecting the formation of stones are water, climate conditions, food rich in protein and rich in different chemicals. Moreover, some drugs and diseases might also help in developing other stones.     

Possible linkages between lignite aquifers, pathogenic microbes, and renal pelvic cancer in northwestern Louisiana, USA

In May and September, 2002, 14 private residential drinking water wells, one dewatering well at a lignite mine, eight surface water sites, and lignite from an active coal mine were sampled in five Parishes of northwestern Louisiana, USA. Using a geographic information system (GIS), wells were selected that were likely to draw water that had been in contact with lignite; control wells were located in areas devoid of lignite deposits. Well water samples were analyzed for pH, conductivity, organic compounds, and nutrient and anion concentrations. All samples were further tested for presence of fungi (cultures maintained for up to 28 days and colonies counted and identified microscopically) and for metal and trace element concentration by inductively-coupled plasma mass spectrometry and atomic emission spectrometry. Surface water samples were tested for dissolved oxygen and presence of pathogenic leptospiral bacteria. The Spearman correlation method was used to assess the association between the endpoints for these field/laboratory analyses and incidence of cancer of the renal pelvis (RPC) based on data obtained from the Louisiana Tumor Registry for the five Parishes included in the study. Significant associations were revealed between the cancer rate and the presence in drinking water of organic compounds, the fungi Zygomycetes, the nutrients PO₄ and NH₃, and 13 chemical elements. Presence of human pathogenic leptospires was detected in four out of eight (50%) of the surface water sites sampled. The present study of a stable rural population examined possible linkages between aquifers containing chemically reactive lignite deposits, hydrologic conditions favorable to the␣leaching and transport of toxic organic compounds from the lignite into the groundwater, possible microbial contamination, and RPC risk.     

The diagnostic potential of fetal renal biopsy

The feasibility of fetal renal biopsy has been investigated in order to assess the diagnostic value of the histological specimen. Two fetuses with a severe bilateral renal abnormality (multicystic dysplastic kidney, Meckel-Gruber syndrome with polycystic kidney) and one fetus with Down syndrome (no detectable structural anomaly) were sampled. Histological findings in the biopsy specimens of cases 1 and 2 were diagnostic of an early obstructive renal disease. In case 3 , the findings were consistent with normal development for gestational age of the kidney. Fetal renal biopsy is technically feasible; histological examination of the samples showed a good correlation with postnatal findings. Further studies of its diagnostic value are required.