Search

The change of wetland ecosystem in the region can reflect the quality of regional ecological environment. Accurate and objective assessment of wetland degradation risk is the key to wetland management and sustainable development. In this study, four counties in Zhangjiakou, Hebei Province are selected as the research area, and the characteristics of wetland degradation are analysed by using the multi-period land use and landscape index data from 1990 to 2020. Eight indicators are selected to construct a wetland degradation risk evaluation index system. Based on two machine learning algorithms, random forest (RF) and support vector machine (SVM), the risk of wetland degradation in the Bashang Region is evaluated and partitioned. The results show that the wetland area in the Bashang Region is obviously degraded from 1990 to 2020, and the total area is reduced by 290.79 km2, and the salinization of the wetland is more serious. The results of model evaluation accuracy show that the AUC values of RF and SVM algorithms are 0.549 and 0.613, respectively, indicating that the SVM model is more suitable for wetland degradation risk assessment in this area. The analysis of wetland degradation risk assessment results based on SVM model shows that the proportion of severe degradation risk area is 23.94%, which is mainly concentrated in the western edge of the study area and the central Angulinao watershed. The proportion of mild degradation risk area is 22.54%, which is scattered, mostly seasonal lakes with small area and high fragmentation. The degradation risk of areas with good connectivity such as rivers and ditches between lakes is relatively low. The weight analysis of the influencing factors of wetland degradation shows that the weight of nighttime light accounted for the largest proportion, reaching 17.74%, indicating that human activities are the main influencing factors. The results of the study are helpful for local relevant departments to identify the risk area of wetland degradation in Zhangjiakou Bashang, and provide scientific decision-making guidance for maintaining the sustainable development of regional wetlands. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To study pantothenate kinase 2 (PANK2) gene mutations in Chinese patients with Hallervorden-Spatz syndrome (HSS)., Methods: PANK2 gene mutations were detected by PCR, DNA sequence analyses, restriction enzyme digestion and PCR-single strand conformation polymorphism in 5 patients, 3 unaffected family members and 51 unrelated healthy persons., Results: Novel compound heterozygous PANK2 gene mutations, A803G and T1172A, in exons 3 and 5, respectively, were found in one patient. At the same time, 3 types of single nucleotide polymorphisms, -38 t>a in 5'-UTR, IVS1+42 c>a and G77C in exon 1, were confirmed; among them, -38 t>a, IVS1+42 c>a, were first reported., Conclusion: PANK2 gene mutations can cause HSS in Chinese patients.

Epilepsy is a group of disorders characterized by recurrent seizures. The etiologies of idiopathic epilepsy commonly have a genetic basis. Gene mutations causing several of the inherited epilepsies have been mapped. In this review, the authors summarize the available information on the genetic basis of human epilepsies and epilepsy syndromes, emphasizing how genetic defects may correlate with the pathophysiological mechanisms of brain hyperexcitability and gene defects can lead to epilepsy by altering multiple and diverse aspects of neuronal function.