Search

The Siberian roe deer (Capreolus pygargus) is a widely distributed ungulate in northeast China. Due to a series of human disturbance activities such as large‐scale forest cutting, deforestation and reclamation, road construction in the past, the appearance and internal structure of forest vegetation in the habitat of Siberian roe have changed significantly. At the same time, Siberian roe population had a series of ecological adaptation responses in the face of such habitat changes. Therefore, two typical vegetation types with differences were selected in the Muling Forest, China. We used nutritional ecology and microbial metagenomic analysis techniques to compare the nutritional selection strategy and the structure and functional characteristics of faecal microbiota of Siberian roe groups in two vegetation types. The results showed that the α diversity of dietary and gut microbes of deer in Natural Forest was higher than that in Plantation Forest. However, the gut microbes of the Plantation Forest group contained more unique enzymes in the functional pathways of carbon metabolism and biosynthesis of amino acids. This study suggests that habitat type is associated with plant community composition, and contributes to changes in the intake proportions of major macronutrients by altering the availability, quality, and composition of certain edible plants. Feeding behaviour may be an important regulatory factor of gut microbiota structure and function of deer. The metabolic function of gut microbiota to different nutrients may affect the microbial community structure. Therefore, our results suggest that the gut microbes of Siberian roe may have coevolved with their diets, and reflect the adaptability of deer populations to environmental changes (e.g., vegetation type). Our study provides new insights into how spatial heterogeneity affects nutrition and microecosystems by describing the interactions among the environment, diet, and symbiotic gut microbes in wild ungulates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many policies and studies globally have highlighted the pivotal role of wetland ecosystems regarding wetland biota and their ecological status. With the strengthening of wetland ecosystem management legislation and policy, wetland restoration should also consider increasing habitat diversity to improve biota. We explore whether the construction of artificial ecological islands can increase the diversity of and macroinvertebrates before assessing the effects of actively constructing islands via human intervention on wetland protection.We discuss changes in macroinvertebrate diversity (i) with and without islands, (ii) at different water‐level gradients surrounding the islands, (ⅲ) on different island substrates, and (ⅳ) at different time scales. We used ANOVA, ANOSIM, and cluster analysis to test the differences.The macroinvertebrate communities had spatially heterogeneous distributions which changes over time due to both natural and anthropogenic stresses. The establishment of islands significantly increased the community composition and biodiversity of the macroinvertebrate. Water depth and substrate affect community composition of macrozoobenthos. The abundance and diversity of macroinvertebrates can influence the biodiversity of their predators (fish and waterbirds). Potentially, the construction of islands could provide some cobenefits for the conservation of wetland fauna. Synthesis and applications. Establishing artificial ecological islands in broad open‐water areas and increasing water‐level gradient and substrate diversity can increase microhabitat availability and habitat heterogeneity. These changes can adapt to different ecological niches of aquatic organisms, increase biodiversity, and have a positive effect on the ecological restoration of inland freshwater marshes and wetlands. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: As part of our ungulate population protection program, the specific causes of ungulate mortality were examined and the effect of single habitat on habitat selection by ungulate analyzed. An integrated occurrence–mortality model for three ungulate species (wild boar Sus scrofa L., red deer Cervus elaphus L. and roe deer Capreolus capreolus Pallas) within the Wanda Mountains of Heilongjiang Province, China was then created. Results showed that steel cable snares and poison, used to kill ungulates, were the primary threats to survival of wild boar (40.07% poison, 27.79% cable snares), red deer (51.35% poison, 40.54% cable snares) and roe deer (29.31% poison, 56.90% cable snares). Furthermore, we found evidence that aspect, slope, elevation and forest type are important factors in determining ungulate habitat preference. The integrated occurrence–mortality model indicated that 46.39% of suitable habitat was associated with mortality risk. This model correctly classified 8.06% (297.49km2) of the study area as unsuitable habitat, 5.43% (200.44km2) as first attractive sink-like habitat, 32.76% (1209.85km2) as second attractive sink-like habitat, 8.20% (302.77km2) as third attractive sink-like habitat, and 8.91% (329.00km2), 30.53% (1127.22km2) and 6.11% (225.29km2) as first, second and third source-like habitats, respectively. The results indicate that source-like habitats should be preserved to prevent habitat loss and degradation, while attractive sink-like habitats should be managed effectively to mitigate mortality risks. In particular, the various authorities need to be more proactive (increase patrolling, thereby providing employment, educational opportunities and increasing income) to reduce human-caused ungulate mortality. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Eastern roe deer (Capreolus pygargus Pallas) in northeastern China is currently threatened by habitat loss, fragmentation, and overhunting. In order to provide useful information for its conservation and management, we investigated the genetic diversity and population structure of the roe deer based on analyzing 460 base pairs of the mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) control region in 88 individuals sampled from three different geographic regions (Great Khinnhan Mountains, Lesser Khinnhan Mountains, and Wanda Mountains). Fifty variable sites and 30 haplotypes were identified. The roe deer exhibited high mtDNA diversity with haplotype diversity (H=0.967±0.007) and nucleotide diversity (π=2.641±2.595%). Based on the analysis of 30 haplotypes, the roe deer can be divided into three subpopulations. Although there appears to be gene flow among the three subpopulations, these data indicate that the population of deer from Great Khingan Mountains is genetically distinct with the other population and is worthy of specific conservation efforts. We recommend that a breeding program is established for the Great Khingan Mountains. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper studies on the regional selection of FDI and its determinants, which is studied by the first order difference of general moment method (DIF-GMM) utilizing the provincial panel data from 1988 to 2004. The DIF-GMM method can solve the endogenous problem better than the OLS and Fixed Effect Model which make the estimation more robust. The result implies that the openness, the market capacity, the extent of marketization, and the preferential policies will have positive effects on FDI, while the wage rate has a negative effect. The empirical results satisfy the most assumptions which we set at first. This paper gives possible explanation to the unexpected results and points out the further research direction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The newly discovered Zaorendao gold deposit is in the Tongren-Xiahe-Hezuo polymetallic district in the westernmost West Qinling orogenic belt. The estimated pre-mining resource is approximately 13.6 t of Au at an average grade of 3.02 g/t. Mineralization is predominantly controlled by NW-trending and EW-trending faults within diorite intrusions and surrounding sedimentary rocks. In the present study, in situ zircon U–Pb geochronology and Lu–Hf isotopic analyses of the ore-hosting diorite at Zaorendao were measured using LA-ICP-MS. The data suggest that the diorite was emplaced at ca. 246.5 ± 1.9 Ma. The large variation of zircon Hf isotopic composition (ɛHf(t) values ranging from −12.0 to −1.8) indicates a two-stage model age (TDM2) that ranges from 1.4 Ga to 2.0 Ga. Such Lu–Hf isotopic compositions indicate that the diorite was dominantly derived from a Paleo- to Meso-Proterozoic continental crust. The wide range of εHf(t) and the presence of inherited zircon can be interpreted to suggest the mixing of Paleo- to Meso-Proterozoic continental crust with a mantle component. Combining such characteristics with the geochemistry of coeval rocks that are associated with the diorite, we therefore proposed that the gold-hosting Triassic diorite in the Zaorendao gold deposit formed in an active continental margin that was associated with the northward subduction of the paleo-Tethyan ocean. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lakes and reservoirs are an important sources of drinking water for human life. However, numerous water quality indexes show seasonal fluctuation under different climatic conditions. We conducted a one-year investigation of Taiping Lake in year 2022 to construct relationship between water quality parameters and water quality. High water temperature promotes the growth of algae, and the existence of N species could provide the essential nutrient substance for the growing of algae. Under the irradiation of sunlight, algae will consume carbon dioxide through photosynthesis and release oxygen which can raise oxygen levels in the water. However, the rapid growth of algae could influence the acid-base balance in water through the consumption of carbon dioxide; thus, resulting in the increasing of pH values. These pH changes may pose a threat to drinking water. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Four new isoflavones were isolated from the stems of Millettia pulchra. • New isoflavones Pulvones A and C could modulate LPS-induced inflammation in RAW264.7 cells through inhibiting NF-κB pathway. • Pulvones A and C directly inhibited IKKβ kinase activity. Millettia pulchra is a renowned anti-inflammatory herbal medicine in southeast provinces of China. However, the underlying anti-inflammation mechanism remained incompletely understood. Herein, four new isoflavones, pulvones A-D and eleven reported constituents were isolated from the stems of Millettia pulchra with their structures being elucidated by HRMS and NMR analysis. The anti-inflammatory activities of pulvones A and C were further evaluated due to the better inhibitory activity on nitric oxide production in LPS-stimulated RAW264.7 cells and no obvious cytotoxicity to RAW264.7 cells. Western blot showed that pulvones A significantly decreased the levels of iNOS and COX-2 proteins and pulvones C only decreased the level of iNOS protein. ELISA analysis demonstrated that pulvones A inhibited the production of both interleukin-6 (IL-6) and IL-1β while pulvones C showed better suppression effect on IL-1β production in LPS-stimulated RAW264.7 cells. Then, their potential inhibitory effects on NF-κB pathway were tested in LPS-stimulated RAW264.7 cells. Immunofluorescence and western blot assay showed that pulvones A and C reduced the nuclear translocation of NF-κB(p65) and interrupted IκB phosphorylation. The ADP-Glo™ kinase assay showed pulvones A and C could directedly inhibit the IKKβ kinase activity with the inhibitory rate of 40%, which were also verified by docking study. Collectively, these results suggested that pulvones A and C's anti-inflammatory effects were relevant to the interruption of NF-κB activation by inhibiting IKKβ kinase. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

How Tibetan red deer ( Cervus elaphus wallichii ) acclimates to high altitude environment during the withered grass period is one of the challenges in maintaining their nutrient intake. It is an important basis to study the nutritional ecology of wild large ungulates in alpine ecosystems by investigating the changes in plant communities with altitude during the withered grass period and how these changes affect the food composition of Tibetan red deer. In this study, we selected the Tibetan red deer in Sangri County, Shannan region of Tibet as the research subject. We carried out field surveys on the altitude, plant communities, and feeding traces of the Tibetan red deer in March of 2021 and 2022 during the withered grass period on the Tibetan Plateau. Detrended correspondence analysis and canonical correspondence analysis were used to study altitudinal variations in plant communities and the regularity of food composition. The results showed that during the period of withered grass, Tibetan red deer ate primarily Salix daltoniana , Rosa macrophylla var. glandulifera and Dasiphora parvifolia . S . daltoniana accounted for more than 50% of the food composition, as the main food resources for red deer in withered grass period. In the low altitude area (4100-4300 m), plant community included Caragana versicolor , R . macrophylla and Berberis temolaica , and Tibetan red deer mainly ate R . macrophylla , C . versicolor and Artemisia wellbyi . In higher altitude area (4300-4600 m), plant community consisted of Rhododendron nivale , Rhododendron fragariiflorum , and Sibiraea angustata , and Tibetan red deer mainly fed on S . daltoniana , Salix obscura , and Carex littledalei . At different altitudes, the dominant plant species were the main food of Tibetan red deer. It is suggested that the changes of plant community composition with altitude directly affected food composition of Tibetan red deer, indicating different food composition patterns with altitude gradients.

Tibetan red deer (Cervus wallichii) is an endemic species to China, which was once considered extinct in the wild. As there are several other wild ungulates and domestic animals with similar feeding habits within its habitat range, it's thus essential to study interspecific competition and co-existence between Tibetan red deer and other cohabiting ungulates in the highly unique environment of Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. Using microscopic analysis on fresh fecal samples collected in Sangri Tibetan Red Deer Nature Reserve from August to September in 2013 and 2014, the trophic niche width and overlap index were calculated on the basis of diet composition of C. wallichii, Cervus albirostris, Procapra picticaudata, Bos mutus and Capra hircas in green grass period. We analyzed and compared the overlap and differentiation of feeding habits between Tibetan red deer and other wild ungulates and domestic animals. The results showed that C. wallichii fed on similar edible plants with other species, but differed in proportion of different dietary components, with the main edible plants of C. wallichii being mostly the secondary edible plants to other species. Leontopodium pusillum was the common main edible plant for C. wallichii (percentage in animal recipes was 11.2%) and B. mutus (10.2%), Salix xizangensis was the common main edible plant of C. wallichii (9.6%) and C. albirostris (11.4%). At plant family level, Leguminosae was the common main edible plant family for C. wallichii (21.4%) and P. picticaudata (42.5%). Cyperaceae was the common main edible plant family for C. albirostris (49.2%), B. mutus (33.4%) and C. hircas (50.3%). Compositae was main edible plant family for C. wallichii (29.6%), as well as the secondary edible plant family for C. albirostris (7.6%), P. picticaudata (11.6%), B. mutus (17.3%) and C. hircas (14.1%). As the secondary edible plant family for C. wallichii (7.1%), Gramineae took up a lower proportion than that of the other ungulates (C. albirostris (13.6%), P. picticaudata (12.3%), B. mutus (11.5%) and C. hircas (16.0%)). Food overlap indices between C. wallichii and the other ungulates were all higher than 0.5, and the highest with B. mutus (0.65). The food diversity index (1.32), evenness index (0.37) and niche width index (15.79) of C. wallichii were all at high values. Compared with the results from 2007 to 2008, dietary composition of Tibetan red deer changed greatly as the proportion of Leguminosae increased while that of Cyperaceae decreased, resulting in improvement of food quality. In addition, there was greater competition of food resources between C. wallichii and domestic animals, which would further affect the distribution range and living space of C. wallichii.

Background: There is currently no grading standard for the degree of clinical and bowel morphological changes. The objective of this study was to define clinical and bowel morphological classifications and investigate the possible relationship with the characteristics of patients with incarcerated groin hernias., Material and Methods: We retrospectively studied 195 patients who underwent emergency hernia repair with simultaneous bowel resection between January 1992 and January 2012. We classified the degree of clinical and bowel morphological changes into 3 grades based on the incarceration time, intestinal morphology after damage, hernia sac integrity, degree of inflammation, and the presence/absence of bacterial growth, peritonitis signs, mechanical obstruction, cellulitis, and systemic shock. We also recorded patient characteristics and analyzed their relationships with these degrees according to our grading system., Results: We identified 134, 42, and 19 cases of Grades I, II, and III of clinical and bowel morphological changes, respectively. Pearson's chi-squared tests revealed that advanced age (P=0.001), presence of comorbid disease (P=0.002), and high American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) score (P=0.017) were related to the degree. Morbidity and mortality also showed significant relationships with the degree (P<0.001, P=0.005, respectively), especially with regard to post-operative infection., Conclusions: The proposed 3-stage classifications of clinical and bowel morphological changes can be used to objectively reflect the degree of bowel damage. Greater levels of the changes were associated with higher incidences of complications and increased mortality, especially for older patients with comorbid diseases and poor ASA scores. Urgent surgery should be performed to avoid bowel damage exacerbation.

Partial sequences of the mitochondrial control region of northeastern China roe deer were analyzed to determine the degree of genetic diversity. Fourteen haplotypes were observed. The haplotype diversity was high (h = 0.872), nucleotide diversity was medium (p ( i ) = 0.0108), and the average Tamura-Nei nucleotide distance among them was 1.9%, indicating that genetic diversity of roe deer from northeastern China was relatively high and that the effective population size was large historically. To clarify the northeastern China roe deer's taxonomic status, these 14 haplotypes were compared with 31 haplotypes published in Genbank from Europe, Siberia, and Korea. The average genetic distance between haplogroups of northeastern China and European roe deer (5.8%) was more than twice that between northeastern China and Siberian roe deer (2.7%), indicating sufficient variation to consider roe deer of northeastern China and Siberia as a single species (Capreolus pygargus), distinct from European roe deer (Capreolus capreolus). This is the first presentation of mtDNA data for roe deer in northeastern China, which will be helpful in investigations of genetic diversity and clarifications of the taxonomic status of roe deer in the whole of China.