scholarly journals Unveiling the status of alien animals in the arid zone of Asia

PeerJ ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 4 ◽  
pp. e1545 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lyubing Zhang ◽  
Zhigang Jiang

Biological invasion is one of the most threatening factors for biodiversity conservation. Lacking information on alien species in certain regions of the world hampers a balanced understanding of invasion processes and efficient data exchange among stakeholders. Current knowledge gaps are in need of urgent concern. We therefore conducted a review on alien animals in Xinjiang, an unknown region of invasion ecology. Xinjiang lies in the heartland of the Asian continent, covering an area of 1,664,900 km2. In the past 64 years, 128 alien animal species were recorded in this region, 39% of which became invasive and led to loss of native biodiversity. Most of these species were introduced through diversification of local agriculture and aquaculture. This process was aggravated by improving transportation and flourishing trade. Multiple linear regression models and correlation analysis were run for explaining influence of environmental and anthropogenic factors on status of alien animals: economically developed areas with abundant water resource, oases in particular, were prone to be hotspots of alien animal species in this arid and semi-arid region. This study also revealed that taxonomically biased and lagged research were critical problems that impeded studies on biological invasions in Xinjiang, and proposed feasible solutions.

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yuan Tian ◽  
Bixiao Nian ◽  
Yongchen Ma ◽  
Xinyue Guo ◽  
Feng Wang ◽  
...  

Background: SARS-CoV-2 spreads rapidly around the world, and some patients present gastrointestinal symptoms. The existence of the virus in the gastrointestinal tract makes digestive endoscopy a high-risk operation, which associated with an increased risk of infection rate in healthcare workers. This study aimed at exploring current knowledge, practice and attitudes of healthcare workers in endoscopy units in China regarding the status of occupational protection during COVID-19 pandemic.Methods: A cross-sectional study of a national online survey involving 717 healthcare workers in endoscopy units from 94 medical structures in 24 provinces and municipalities around China was conducted online via a questionnaire platform called Wenjuanxing (wjx.cn). The data were analyzed using correlation approaches, Kruskal-Wallis test for independent samples, and linear regression models.Results: Most Chinese healthcare workers in endoscopy units had a good knowledge of COVID-19 (median: 10; range: 7–12), showed a strikingly positive attitude (median: 65; range: 39–65), and carried out good practice (median: 47; range: 14–50) in strengthening the protection, disinfection and management of COVID-19. In terms of attitudes, female staff was more concerned about protection against COVID-19 than male staff (KW = 8.146, P = 0.004). Nurses performed better in both attitude (KW = 2.600, P = 0.009) and practice (KW = 6.358, P < 0.001) than endoscopic physicians when carrying out personal protection, patient care and environmental disinfection against SARS-CoV-2 infection. More positive attitudes in protection were related to better protective behavior in endoscopic daily medical work (r = 0.312; P < 0.001).Conclusion: The findings of this study suggest that Chinese endoscopy healthcare workers have an excellent mastery of knowledge about COVID-19, which is transformed into positive beliefs and attitudes, contributing to good practice during daily endoscopic procedures. Medical staff may benefit from further education. With the gradual normalization amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, protection and management in endoscopy units may be changed accordingly.


2019 ◽  
Vol 14 (7) ◽  
pp. 598-606
Author(s):  
Sarah Albogami

Background:: Regeneration is the process by which body parts lost as a result of injury are replaced, as observed in certain animal species. The root of regenerative differences between organisms is still not very well understood; if regeneration merely recycles developmental pathways in the adult form, why can some animals regrow organs whereas others cannot? In the regulation of the regeneration process as well as other biological phenomena, epigenetics plays an essential role. Objective:: This review aims to demonstrate the role of epigenetic regulators in determining regenerative capacity. Results:: In this review, we discuss the basis of regenerative differences between organisms. In addition, we present the current knowledge on the role of epigenetic regulation in regeneration, including DNA methylation, histone modification, lysine methylation, lysine methyltransferases, and the SET1 family. Conclusion:: An improved understanding of the regeneration process and the epigenetic regulation thereof through the study of regeneration in highly regenerative species will help in the field of regenerative medicine in future.


2012 ◽  
Vol 220-223 ◽  
pp. 1472-1475
Author(s):  
Qiu Lin Tan ◽  
Xiang Dong Pei ◽  
Si Min Zhu ◽  
Ji Jun Xiong

On the basis of automatic test system of the status in domestic and foreign, by analysis of the various functions and performance of the integrated test system, a design of the integrated test system is proposed, FPGA as the core logic controller of the hardware circuit. The system of the hardware design include: digital signal source output modules, analog output module and PCM codec module. Design of hardware circuit are mainly described. In addition, a detailed analysis of some key technologies in the design process was given. Overall, its data exchange with host computer is through the PCI card, data link and bandwidth can be expanded in accordance with the actual needs. The entire system designed in the modular principle, which has a strong scalability.


2020 ◽  
Vol 21 (20) ◽  
pp. 7697 ◽  
Author(s):  
Malvina Koni ◽  
Veronica Pinnarò ◽  
Maria Felice Brizzi

Cancer is one of the greatest public health challenges. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), 9.6 million cancer deaths have been reported in 2018. The most common cancers include lung, breast, colorectal, prostate, skin (non-melanoma) and stomach cancer. The unbalance of physiological signalling pathways due to the acquisition of mutations in tumour cells is considered the most common cancer driver. The Wingless-related integration site (Wnt)/β-catenin pathway is crucial for tissue development and homeostasis in all animal species and its dysregulation is one of the most relevant events linked to cancer development and dissemination. The canonical and the non-canonical Wnt/β-catenin pathways are known to control both physiological and pathological processes, including cancer. Herein, the impact of the Wnt/β-catenin cascade in driving cancers from different origin has been examined. Finally, based on the impact of Extracellular Vesicles (EVs) on tumour growth, invasion and chemoresistance, and their role as tumour diagnostic and prognostic tools, an overview of the current knowledge linking EVs to the Wnt/β-catenin pathway is also discussed.


2011 ◽  
Vol 43 (13) ◽  
pp. 789-798 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nir Eynon ◽  
María Morán ◽  
Ruth Birk ◽  
Alejandro Lucia

Aerobic ATP generation by the mitochondrial respiratory oxidative phosphorylation system (OXPHOS) is a vital metabolic process for endurance exercise. Notably, mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) codifies 13 of the 83 polypeptides implied in the respiratory chain. As such, there is a strong rationale for identifying an association between mtDNA variants and “aerobic” (endurance) exercise phenotypes. The aim of this review is to summarize current knowledge on the association between mtDNA, nuclear genes involved in mitochondriogenesis, and elite endurance athletic status. Several studies in nonathletic people have demonstrated an association between certain mtDNA lineages and aerobic performance, characterized by maximal oxygen uptake (V̇o2max). Whether mtDNA haplogroups are also associated with the status of being an elite endurance athlete is more controversial, with differences between studies arising from the different ethnic backgrounds of the athletic cohorts (Caucasian of mixed geographic origin, Asiatic, or East African).


2016 ◽  
Vol 17 (3) ◽  
pp. 520-528
Author(s):  
Thiago Vinicius Costa NASCIMENTO ◽  
Daniel Maia NOGUEIRA ◽  
Nilton de Brito CAVALCANTE

Summary Native fruits from Caatinga vegetation can be an important alternative to improve the productive performance of kids in the semi-arid region of Brazil. This work aimed to evaluate the effect of supplementation with Umbuzeiro fruits in natura over the weight gain and anthelmintic control of kids kept in Buffel grass pasture in the semi-arid zone of Pernambuco, Brazil. Twenty-four castrated, crossbreed kids were allocated into three treatments: 1) Control (n = 8) fed exclusively with Buffel grass; 2) Umbu 1x (n = 8) fed with fruits once a week and 3) Umbu 3x (n = 8) fed with fruits for three times a week. The following parameters were evaluated: variation of body weight, faecal egg counts (FEC) and coproculture. Overall, the average consumption of Umbu fruits in natura was 1.48 kg/animal/day, which corresponded to 133.5 g daily dry matter intake (DMI/animal/day). There were no significant difference (P>0.05) for any parameters evaluated. During the experimental period, the overall daily weight gain was variable between 108.75 to 116.70 g/animal/day and the average FEC was 436 eggs. In the present study, the goat kids supplemented with fresh umbu fruits showed a good productive performance, however the supplementation with umbu did not control the infestation of gastrointestinal nematodes in kids.


2021 ◽  
pp. 912-926
Author(s):  
Fadel Abbas Zwain ◽  
Thair Thamer Al-Samarrai ◽  
Younus I. Al-Saady

Iraq territory as a whole and south of Iraq in particular encountered rapid desertification and signs of severe land degradation in the last decades. Both natural and anthropogenic factors are responsible for the extent of desertification. Remote sensing data and image analysis tools were employed to identify, detect, and monitor desertification in Basra governorate. Different remote sensing indicators and image indices were applied in order to better identify the desertification development in the study area, including the Normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI), Normalized Difference Water Index (NDWI), Salinity index (SI), Top Soil Grain Size Index (GSI) , Land Surface Temperature (LST) , Land Surface Soil Moisture (LSM), and Land Degradation Risk Index (LDI) which was used for the assessment of degradation severity .Three Landsat images, acquired in 1973, 1993, and 2013, were used to evaluate the potential of using remote sensing analysis in desertification monitoring. The approach applied in this study for evaluating this phenomenon was proven to be an effective tool for the recognition of areas at risk of desertification. The results indicated that the arid zone of Basra governorate encounters substantial changes in the environment, such as decreasing surface water, degradation of agricultural lands (as palm orchards and crops), and deterioration of marshlands. Additional changes include increased salinization with the creeping of sand dunes to agricultural areas, as well as the impacts of oil fields and other facilities.


2020 ◽  
Vol 29 (2) ◽  
pp. 111-155
Author(s):  
Snežana Jarić ◽  
Zorana Mataruga ◽  
Dimitrije Sekulić ◽  
Marija Pavlović ◽  
Dragana Pavlović ◽  
...  

The main aim of the conducted research was to determine the presence of allochthonous plants in the area of the protected natural reserve - The Great War Island. The research was conducted during the vegetation season of 2020. Thirty four allochthonous plant species were recorded and classified into 19 families. Asteraceae (8 species), Fabaceae Poaceae and Sapindaceae (3 species each) had the highest species diversity. Phytogeographic analysis of their primary distribution areas has shown that most belong to the category of floral elements of the "adventitious" areal type. The chorological spectrum is dominated by species of North American origin (58.8%), while in the biological spectrum the most common are therophytes (38.2%). Chronological spectrum analysis has shown the highest prevalence of neophytes (64.7%). Seventeen species have the status of invasive, 16 naturalized, while one species (Morus alba) is characterized as ephemerophyte. The most frequent neophytes on the Great War Island are Acer negundo, Ailanthus altissima, Amorpha fruticosa, Fraxinus pennsylvanica, while among neotophytes, Echinocystis lobata and Symphyotrichum lanceolatus stand out in terms of frequency of occurrence. The geographical position of the Great War Island, due to which it is exposed to periodic floods, high levels of groundwater, strong influence of anthropogenic factors and the biological characteristics of allochthonous species are the main factors enabling them to inhabit this area. Results of this research should be the basis for the development of a strategy for monitoring the condition and planning control measures for the unwanted plant species, in order to protect the indigenous flora. Only careful and responsible management of landscapes of outstanding features such as The Great War Island and taking appropriate preventive measures can prevent the settlement, domestification and further spread of allochthonous plants.


Author(s):  
Revinka Dyah Fatcahya

This journal discusses the implementation of the Border Control Management (BCM) system which is integrated with the Enhanced Cekal System (ECS), the Interpol I-24/7 system and also with the repository servers such as residence permits and DPRI systems in terms of security in this case based on the principle of selective policy. This form of research uses qualitative research with descriptive methods. Based on the research conducted, in the BCM system there is an Immigration Data Exchange as a regulator of integration between applications. The application of an integrated system in BCM makes the results of immigration checks at the time of scanning the passport showing the status of a ban, visa and residence permit, the last crossing, the status of Interpol, checking the transportation means, and checking other passports. However, the system is still often partially connected so that the Class I Special TPI Soekarno-Hatta Immigration Office must make various efforts such as having a Special IT team and making innovations to make immigration checks at TPI easier and more effective and in accordance with the principle of selective policies implemented by Indonesia.


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