ALBERT

Description: IJERPH, Vol. 15, Pages 855: Ecological Vulnerability Assessment Based on Fuzzy Analytical Method and Analytic Hierarchy Process in Yellow River Delta International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health doi: 10.3390/ijerph15050855 Authors: Chunsheng Wu Gaohuan Liu Chong Huang Qingsheng Liu Xudong Guan The Yellow River Delta (YRD), located in Yellow River estuary, is characterized by rich ecological system types, and provides habitats or migration stations for wild birds, all of which makes the delta an ecological barrier or ecotone for inland areas. Nevertheless, the abundant natural resources of YRD have brought huge challenges to the area, and frequent human activities and natural disasters have damaged the ecological systems seriously, and certain ecological functions have been threatened. Therefore, it is necessary to determine the status of the ecological environment based on scientific methods, which can provide scientifically robust data for the managers or stakeholders to adopt timely ecological protection measures. The aim of this study was to obtain the spatial distribution of the ecological vulnerability (EV) in YRD based on 21 indicators selected from underwater status, soil condition, land use, landform, vegetation cover, meteorological conditions, ocean influence, and social economy. In addition, the fuzzy analytic hierarchy process (FAHP) method was used to obtain the weights of the selected indicators, and a fuzzy logic model was constructed to obtain the result. The result showed that the spatial distribution of the EV grades was regular, while the fuzzy membership of EV decreased gradually from the coastline to inland area, especially around the river crossing, where it had the lowest EV. Along the coastline, the dikes had an obviously protective effect for the inner area, while the EV was higher in the area where no dikes were built. This result also showed that the soil condition and groundwater status were highly related to the EV spatially, with the correlation coefficients −0.55 and −0.74 respectively, and human activities had exerted considerable pressure on the ecological environment.

Description: Body Mass Index (BMI) is a risk indicator for some eye diseases. However, the association between BMI and Visual Impairment (VI) was not quite certain in Chinese students. Our aim was to assess the relationship between BMI and VI with a cross-sectional study. A total of 3771 students aged 6–21 years, including 729 with VI, were sampled from 24 schools in Huangpi District of central China to participate in the study. A multistage stratified cluster random sampling was adopted. Each of the students answered a questionnaire and had physical and eye examinations. The association between BMI and VI was examined with logistic regression and threshold effect analysis. The prevalence of VI was 19.33% (729/3771). Compared to normal and underweight, overweight/obese students showed a stronger relation with VI in age- and sex-adjusted (Odds Ratio (OR) = 16.16, 95% Confidence Interval (CI): 12.37–21.09, p 〈 0.001) and multivariable models (OR = 8.32, 95% CI: 6.13–11.30, p 〈 0.001). There was a nonlinear dose–response relation between levels of BMI and the prevalence of VI (p 〈 0.001). A high level of BMI (≥19.81 kg/m2) was associated with a higher VI prevalence (adjusted OR = 1.20, 95% CI: 1.15–1.25, p 〈 0.001). In conclusion, the study demonstrated BMI levels were significantly associated with the prevalence of VI.

Description: In order to study the effects of nitrogen stress on the lipid synthesis of Parachlorella kessleri TY02 and to understand the changes in growth, photosynthetic pigments, total protein and total carbohydrate contents during lipid accumulation, the cells of the strain were cultured in nitrogen-deficient (N−) and nitrogen-rich (N+) media for one week. Changes in cell growth, chlorophyll content, chlorophyll fluorescence parameters, neutral lipid and total lipid content, total protein content and total carbohydrate content were measured and analyzed. The results showed that, under nitrogen stress, the algal strain grew slowly, and chlorophyll and total protein contents decreased, while total carbohydrate and total lipid contents increased. This indicated that, under nitrogen stress, most of the carbon flowed to the synthesis of lipids and carbohydrates. Meanwhile, reducing the nitrogen content was a relatively economical and easy to operate method of promoting lipid accumulation.

Description: Genus Porphyridium is a primitive single-celled red algae widely distributed in seawater, freshwater, and moist soil. It can synthesize bioactive substances such as phycoerythrin, extracellular polysaccharides and polyunsaturated fatty acids during the growth process. In this paper, the culture and bioactive substance yield of Porphyridium purpureum were studied by setting salinity, nitrogen-to-phosphorus ratio, and pH at different gradient levels. The results showed that the optimal conditions for the growth of P. purpureum were salinity 34 ppt, nitrogen-to-phosphorus ratio 169:1, and pH 8; the optimal conditions for obtaining the polysaccharides were salinity 17 ppt, nitrogen-to-phosphorus ratio 14:1, and pH 8; the optimal conditions for obtaining phycoerythrin were salinity 17 ppt, nitrogen-to-phosphorus ratio 68:1, and pH 8; the optimal conditions for obtaining the lipids were salinity 34 ppt, nitrogen-to-phosphorus ratio 1:1, and pH 8. In actual production applications, culture conditions should be set according to different product accumulation purposes in order to achieve the optimal production efficiency.