Differences in trace element profiles of three subspecies of Silene parnassica (Caryophyllaceae) growing on ophiolitic substrate

2016 ◽  
Vol 64 (3) ◽  
pp. 235 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sanja Đurović ◽  
Ksenija Jakovljević ◽  
Uroš Buzurović ◽  
Marjan Niketić ◽  
Nevena Mihailović ◽  
...  

The aim of the present study was to compare trace element profiles and the differences in uptake and translocation of trace elements in plants from five populations (three from Greece and two from Serbia) belonging to three subspecies of Silene parnassica Boiss. & Sprun. growing on ophiolitic substrates. For comparison of the subspecies, bioconcentration and translocation factors were used, as well as Spearman’s rank correlation coefficients for concentrations of elements in root and shoot samples. Chemical characteristics of the soil samples (pH, organic C, P2O5, K2O, Ca, Fe, Mg, Mn, Ni, Zn, Cu, Cr, Co, Cd and Pb) and plant samples (P2O5, K2O, Ca, Fe, Mg, Mn, Ni, Zn, Cu, Cr, Co, Cd and Pb) were determined, as well as bioconcentration and translocation factors and correlation matrices. All the three subspecies acted as strong Ni accumulators, with equal concentrations of Ni in roots and shoots, the values being several times higher than 100 mg kg–1, exceeding concentrations of available Ni in the soil. Concentrations of Cu and Cr in the aboveground plant tissues in samples from three localities were several times higher than expected, even for plants growing on metalliferous soils, exceeding, by multiple times, the available concentrations in the soil samples.

2012 ◽  
Vol 37 (1) ◽  
pp. 65-69 ◽  
Author(s):  
Prasath Jayakaran ◽  
Gillian M Johnson ◽  
S John Sullivan

Background and Aim: The physical asymmetries associated with a prosthesis raises the question of validity of the Sensory Organization Test (SOT) measures (equilibrium score (ES) and strategy score (SS)) in lower limb amputees. This study explores the validity of these measures in transtibial amputees by correlating with their corresponding centre of pressure (COP) excursion/velocity measures. Technique: Fifteen transtibial amputees (69.5 ± 6.5 years) completed three trials for each of the six SOT conditions. Discussion: The Spearman’s rank correlation coefficients between ESs and global COP excursion/velocity measures ranged from 0.52 to 0.71 for Conditions 1, 4 and 5, 0.79 to 0.85 for Conditions 2 and 3, and 0.39 to 0.43 for Condition 6. The coefficients for SSs ranged between 0.78 and 0.97 for Conditions 1 to 5 and 0.55 to 0.67 for Condition 6. The corresponding sound and prosthetic side COP variables demonstrated varying strengths of association with ES and SS. Clinical relevance Of the two clinical measures examined, the SSs are strongly reflective of COP excursion/velocity measures and these findings have application in the interpretation of SOT when evaluating balance in transtibial amputees.


2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ming Kei Chung ◽  
Kurunthachalam Kannan ◽  
Germaine M. Buck Louis ◽  
Chirag J. Patel

AbstractBACKGROUND:Along with time, variation in the exposome is dependent on the location and sex of study participants. One specific factor that may influence exposure co-variations is a shared household environment.OBJECTIVES:To examine the influence of shared household and partner’s sex in relation to the variation in 128 endocrine disrupting chemical (EDC) exposures among couples.METHODS:In a cohort comprising 501 couples trying for pregnancy, we measured 128 (13 chemical classes) persistent and non-persistent EDCs and estimated 1) sex-specific differences; 2) variance explained by shared household; and 3) Spearman’s rank correlation coefficients (rs) for females, males, and couples’ exposures.RESULTS:Sex was correlated with 8 EDCs including polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) (p< 0.05). Shared household explained 43% and 41% of the total variance for PFASs and blood metals, respectively, but less than 20% for the remaining 11 EDC classes. Co-exposure patterns of the exposome were similar between females and males, with within-classrs higher for persistent and lower for non-persistent chemicals. Medianrss of polybrominated compounds and urine metalloids were 0.45 and 0.09, respectively, for females (0.41 and 0.08 for males), whereas lowerrss for these 2 classes were found for couples (0.21 and 0.04).CONCLUSIONS:Overall, sex did not significantly affect EDC levels in couples. Individual, rather than shared environment, could be a major factor influencing the co-variation of 128 markers of the exposome. Correlations between exposures are lower in couples than in individual partners and have important analytical and sampling implications for epidemiological study.


2019 ◽  
Vol 43 (1) ◽  
pp. 73-83 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ksenija Jakovljevic ◽  
Sanja Djurovic ◽  
Mina Antusevic ◽  
Nevena Mihailovic ◽  
Uros Buzurovic ◽  
...  

Pontechium maculatum, a facultative metallophyte, was collected from four ultramafic localities in Serbia and analysed in terms of micro- and macroelement accumulation. The aim of the study was to reveal trace element profiles and differences in uptake and translocation of heavy metals in populations growing under heavy metal stress. The concentrations of major and trace elements in soil samples (Ca, Mg, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb, Cr, Zn, Cu, Co, Cd) and in plant tissues (Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb, Cr, Zn, Cu, Co, Cd) are presented. The results of our analysis indicate that P. maculatum efficiently absorbs Zn and Cr, while for most of the other elements accumulation levels fit in the range of values obtained for several other species from ultramafic localities on the Balkan Peninsula.


2018 ◽  
Vol 28 (82) ◽  
pp. 45-52
Author(s):  
Janusz Jaworski ◽  
Tadeusz Ambroży ◽  
Dariusz Tchórzewski ◽  
Krzysztof Durlik

Aim. The aim of this report is to identify variables determining the effectiveness of small football games at subsequent stages of training. Material and Methods. The study material comprised the results of tests conducted among 42 football players who were assigned to 3 categories: youngsters, younger juniors and seniors. The scope of the study included basic somatic features, selected motor skills tests and specific coordination tests of motor skills recommended for football players. Detailed correlation matrices were calculated using Spearman’s signed-rank test between all the analysed variables and the overall game perforance index (OPI). For each training group, morpho-functional profiles were calculated taking variables from previous analyses into account. Variables forming the structure of these models were normalised on the T scale. Results. 11 statistically significant Spearman’s signed-rank correlation coefficients were obtained between game performance indices and the analysed variables. In the 3 training groups of football players, considerable diversity of the internal structure of morpho-functional models was noted. In the group of juniors and seniors, differentiation between features was 1.2 of standard deviation. Conclusions. In terms of fitness, the influence of circulatory-respiratory endurance and speed ability on the indicator of overall performance for the seniors’ game was noted. In turn, taking the neuro-functional side of the players’ motor ability into account, correlations with the effectiveness of the game were mainly found within the ability of balance, kinesthetic differentiation and motor adaptation. Such regularities mainly refer to the youngsters and younger juniors.


2021 ◽  
Vol 30 (2) ◽  
pp. 211-223
Author(s):  
IC Travnik ◽  
AC Sant'Anna

This study into the behaviour of domestic cats (Feliscatus) aimed to assess the relationship between behavioural expressions obtained via the Qualitative Behaviour Assessment (QBA) and quantitative outcomes of temperament tests. Four behavioural tests were used: Unfamiliar person (UP); Novel object (NO); Conspecific reaction (CR); and Food offering (FO) tests. Tests were filmed and assessed using an ethogram that included 25 discrete behavioural categories, generating quantitative information (coding method) on the existing temperament dimensions. Videos were also assessed by another observer using the QBA method, based on a list of 20 adjectives rated in visual analogue scales (rating method). Data were analysed using Principal Component Analysis. Spearman's rank correlation coefficients were used to relate the principal components (PC) of QBA to the temperament dimensions obtained with the coding method. The QBA allowed us to identify three PC, explaining 76.63% of the total variance. PC1 ranged from 'calm/relaxed/friendly' to 'tense/fearful/alert', reflecting the valence of cats' behavioural and emotional expressions towards the stimuli tested. PC2 ranged from 'indifferent' to 'agitated/active', indicating the level of emotional arousal, and PC3 ranged from 'aggressive' to 'suspicious' and could be interpreted as an axis of 'aggressiveness — caution' in response to the stimuli. The first PC obtained for each test by using the coding method was significantly correlated with the PC1 of QBA, suggesting that the variations in cats' behavioural and emotional expressions identified by QBA were correlated with the main quantitative outcomes of temperament tests traditionally applied for domestic cats. QBA could be a promising tool for identifying and differentiating cat temperament profiles. Further research is required to assess the potential use of QBA as a feasible and practical method for use in shelters.


2020 ◽  
Vol 2020 ◽  
pp. 1-10
Author(s):  
Xuan Zhao ◽  
Wei Lin ◽  
Jiawei Li ◽  
Yunhui Chen ◽  
Anamica Patel ◽  
...  

Dosage is essential for studying the compatibility and effectiveness of traditional Chinese medicine. Danggui and Chuanxiong are widely used in traditional Chinese medicine for ailments and treatment of various disorders. 628 traditional Chinese medicine prescriptions containing Danggui and Chuanxiong were extracted from the self-built prescription database and screened for the three groups of prescriptions, i.e., irregular menstruation, sores, and stroke. We processed and tested the dosage of Danggui and Chuanxiong and selected the optimal copula function, Gumbel copula function, from the Archimedes function family and elliptical copula function family to establish the data model. To establish the presence of a correlation between the dose of Danggui and Chuanxiong, a graph of the joint distribution function of rank correlation coefficients, Kendall’s rank correlation coefficient and Spearman’s rank correlation coefficient, was used. Our results suggest that the model using the Gumbel copula function better reflects the correlation between the dose of Danggui and Chuanxiong. For irregular menstruation, sores, and strokes, Kendall’s rank correlation coefficients were 0.6724, 0.5930, and 0.7757, respectively, and Spearman’s correlation coefficients were 0.8536, 0.7812, and 0.9285, respectively. In all three prescription groups, the dose of Danggui and Chuanxiong was positively correlated, implying that, as the dosage of one drug increases, the dosage of the other increases as well. From the perspective of data mining and mathematical statistics, the use of the copula function model to evaluate the correlation between the prescribed dosage of the two drugs was innovative and provided a new model for the scientific interpretation of the compatibility of traditional drugs. This might also serve to guide the clinical use of traditional Chinese medicine.


2019 ◽  
Vol 32 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniel Vicentini de Oliveira ◽  
Amanda Mansano de Souza ◽  
Áurea Gonçalves Ferreira ◽  
Mateus Dias Antunes ◽  
Natália Serra Lovato ◽  
...  

Abstract Introduction: Despite the importance of appropriate levels of muscular strength to maintain the functional capacity and a healthy life in old age, the current literature still lacks studies that investigate the profile of elderly women who practice Mat Pilates regarding these variables. Objective: This study aimed to analyze muscular strength, functional capacity, and risk of sarcopenia in elderly women who practiced Mat Pilates. Method: This is a cross-sectional study carried out with 50 elderly women who practice Mat Pilates in the city of Maringá, Paraná. Sociodemographic and health questionnaires were used, in addition to tests created by a Latin American development group for maturity called Grupo de Desenvolvimento Latino Americano para a Maturidade (GDLAM), sitting-rising test, arm curl test, and SARC-F questionnaire. For data analysis, Shapiro-Wilk and Mann-Whitney U tests, as well as Spearman’s Rank Correlation Coefficients, were used. The level of significance was p < 0.05. Results: The 70-79-year-old elderly women showed worse results in the functional capacity and muscular strength tests of the upper limbs and a higher risk of sarcopenia than the individuals who were under 70 years of age. Muscular strength was inversely related to the reduction of the risk of sarcopenia, and functional capacity was directly associated with this risk. Conclusion: A good functional capacity seems to be related to the reduction of the risk of sarcopenia. Age seems to be an intervening factor for reducing muscular strength levels and functional capacity and increasing the risk of sarcopenia.


2018 ◽  
Vol 64 (No. 10) ◽  
pp. 464-475 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hoang Viet

This paper aims to investigate the agricultural trade complementarity of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) countries on the global agricultural market over the period 1997–2015 by employing the trade complementarity index (TCI), the export similarity index (ESI), and Spearman’s rank correlation coefficients for competitiveness indicators. The results indicate that: (i) the ASEAN countries’ agricultural export patterns are weakly complementary in matching the regional import demands; while (ii) they are relatively complementary in exporting agricultural products to the world market; (iii) the countries’ agricultural competitiveness patterns are more affected by and benefited from the global integration than the regional integration; and (iv) the countries, moreover, tend to become more substitutable over time. The research results suggest that the ASEAN countries should cooperate and utilise the internal markets to enhance the competitiveness and predominantly focus on the external global markets.


2020 ◽  
Vol 23 (18) ◽  
pp. 3295-3303
Author(s):  
Yiyang Yue ◽  
Joshua Petimar ◽  
Walter C Willett ◽  
Stephanie A Smith-Warner ◽  
Changzheng Yuan ◽  
...  

AbstractObjective:To evaluate the validity and reproducibility of a 152-item semi-quantitative FFQ (SFFQ) for estimating flavonoid intakes.Design:Over a 1-year period, participants completed two SFFQ and two weighed 7-d dietary records (7DDR). Flavonoid intakes from the SFFQ were estimated separately using Harvard (SFFQHarvard) and Phenol-Explorer (SFFQPE) food composition databases. 7DDR flavonoid intakes were derived using the Phenol-Explorer database (7DDRPE). Validity was assessed using Spearman’s rank correlation coefficients deattenuated for random measurement error (rs), and reproducibility was assessed using rank intraclass correlation coefficients.Setting:This validation study included primarily participants from two large observational cohort studies.Participants:Six hundred forty-one men and 724 women.Results:When compared with two 7DDRPE, the validity of total flavonoid intake assessed by SFFQPE was high for both men and women (rs = 0·77 and rs = 0·74, respectively). The rs for flavonoid subclasses ranged from 0·47 for flavones to 0·78 for anthocyanins in men and from 0·46 for flavonols to 0·77 for anthocyanins in women. We observed similarly moderate (0·4–0·7) to high (≥0·7) validity when using SFFQHarvard estimates, except for flavonesHarvard (rs = 0·25 for men and rs = 0·19 for women). The SFFQ demonstrated high reproducibility for total flavonoid and flavonoid subclass intake estimates when using either food composition database. The intraclass correlation coefficients ranged from 0·69 (flavonolsPE) to 0·80 (proanthocyanidinsPE) in men and from 0·67 (flavonolsPE) to 0·77 (flavan-3-ol monomersHarvard) in women.Conclusions:SFFQ-derived intakes of total flavonoids and flavonoid subclasses (except for flavones) are valid and reproducible for both men and women.


2017 ◽  
Vol 31 (07) ◽  
pp. 670-676
Author(s):  
Dongzhe Li ◽  
Yu Liang ◽  
Kunlong Ma ◽  
Chang Zou ◽  
Yue Fang

AbstractThe aim is to assess the association between computed tomography (CT) findings and clinical outcomes in posterior tibial plateau fractures (TPF). This is a retrospective analysis of the records of 23 patients with posterior TPF treated at our institution between 2004 and 2011. Two indices of residual articular displacement of posterior TPF (gap and step-off) were measured from CT images, and clinical outcomes were assessed using the Short Musculoskeletal Function Assessment (SMFA) questionnaire. Spearman's rank correlation coefficient analysis was used to evaluate the correlations between the postoperative posterior TPF radiological findings and the clinical outcomes. Both the intraobserver and the interobserver correlation coefficients were high (0.90 and 0.92, respectively), indicating excellent agreement between the reviewers for the assessment of residual displacement via CT scans. Additionally, residual articular step displacement showed a strongly negative correlation with clinical outcomes (R = 0.700, p = 0.036), whereas the residual gap displacement did not (R = 0.400, p = 0.505). More importantly, the medial posterior step displacement was significantly correlated with the clinical outcomes (p = 0.040), whereas the lateral posterior step displacement was not (p = 0.618). Based on the data of this study, the higher the step-off deformity of the medial posterior tibial plateau, the worse the SMFA. More attention should be paid to this factor when treating medial posterior TPF.


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