Anethole inhibits growth of recently emerged multidrug resistant toxigenic Vibrio cholerae O1 El Tor variant strains in vitro

To search natural compounds having inhibitory effect on bacterial growth is important, particularly in view of growing multidrug resistant (MDR) strains of bacterial pathogens. Like other bacterial pathogens, MDR Vibrio cholerae, the causative agent of diarrheal disease cholera, is becoming a great concern. As an approach of searching new antimicrobial agents, here, we show that anethole, a well-studied natural component of sweet fennel and star anise seeds, could potentially inhibit the growth of MDR O1 El Tor biotype, the ongoing 7th cholera pandemic variant strains of toxigenic V. cholerae. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of anethole against diverse O1 El Tor biotype strains is evaluated as 200 µg/ml. Moreover, the effect of anethole is bactericidal and exerts rapid-killing action on V. cholerae cells. This study is the first report which demonstrates that anethole, purified from natural compound, is a potent inhibitor of growth of toxigenic V. cholerae. Our data suggest that anethole could be a potential antimicrobial drug candidate, particularly against MDR V. cholerae mediated infections.     

我国西北近50年春季沙尘暴活动的变化与气候因子相关性研究

本文根据我国西北不同地区近50年来气象观测资料,研究了该区沙尘暴活动特点及其与气候变化的关系。结果表明:近五十年来我国西北沙尘暴发生总体呈波动减小趋势,这主要与新疆和内蒙古等沙源区向暖湿方向发展有关,而1999—2002年沙尘暴活动增强的主要原因是降水减少和气温升高。气候要素中的降水量变化与沙尘暴的发生有着极其密切的关系,二者呈明显的负相关;气温的高低也与沙尘暴的发生呈负相关,但没有与降水量的关系明显。在沙尘暴多发的60—70年代,沙尘暴日数减少与春季降水量的增加关系密切;而在80—90年代,冬干气候对沙尘暴日数增加作用明显。在沙尘暴多发的60—70年代,拉尼娜年对沙尘暴日数有明显的减少作用;相反,在沙尘暴较少的80—90年代,厄尔尼诺年对沙尘暴日数有明显的增加作用。     

厄尔尼诺/拉尼娜事件对山西省北部地区气候的影响

通过对山西省北部50a来气象资料的搜集和整理,研究了厄尔尼诺/拉尼娜(El Nino—SouthernOscillation,ENSO)事件对山西省北部地区气候的影响。结果表明,大同、朔州、忻州地区厄尔尼诺事件发生年降水减少,平均气温降低,与正常年份相比年降水量分别减少了46.86,46.44和80.96mm,年平均气温分别降低了0.03,0.17和0.22℃;拉尼娜年降水减少,平均气温降低,与正常年份相比年降水量分别减少了21.27,26.32和25.30mm,平均气温分别降低了0.03,0.18和0.04℃,厄尔尼诺事件年平均气温变化与黄土高原相反。ENSO暖事件对山西省北部地区气温的影响具有从大同向朔州和忻州依次逐渐增强的特点,表明随着纬度的降低厄尔尼诺事件对气温的影响增强,对降水也有类似的影响。ENSO暖事件年发生旱灾的可能性较大,通常会给山西省北部地区的工农业生产带来不利影响。     

厄尔尼诺/拉尼娜事件对内蒙古自治区气候的影响

通过对内蒙古自治区近50a来气象资料的搜集和整理,分析了1961年以来内蒙古地区的气候变化特点,并对区内降水量、气温、自然灾害事件等因子与厄尔尼诺/拉尼娜事件的相关性进行了研究。结果表明,厄尔尼诺事件发生年内蒙古地区年平均降水量比非ENSO事件年平均减少了31.45mm,拉尼娜事件发生年内蒙古地区年平均降水量比非ENSO事件年平均减少14.69mm,表明ENSO事件具有减少内蒙古地区降水量的明显作用;厄尔尼诺发生年的年平均气温比非ENSO事件年平均气温高出0.12℃,拉尼娜事件发生年的平均气温比非ENSO事件年高出0.22℃,表明ENSO事件具有使内蒙古地区气温升高的作用;ENSO事件的发生增加了内蒙古地区干旱灾害发生的可能性,且厄尔尼诺事件发生年比拉尼娜事件发生年更容易暴发干旱灾害,ENSO事件的发生通常给内蒙古地区农牧业生产带来不利影响。     

Biological effects of El Niño on the Galápagos penguin

Long-term monitoring of physical and biological parameters is essential for understanding the effects of El Niño on bird populations, particularly for small or declining populations. We examined the biological effects of El Niño activity from 1965 to 2004 using instrumental sea-surface temperatures from the Galápagos Islands and 20 years of census counts of the Galápagos penguin. Between 1965 and 2004, nine El Niño events were recorded of which two were strong and seven were weak. The two strong El Niño events of 1982-1983 and 1997-1998 were followed by crashes of 77% and 65% of the penguin population, respectively. The evidence suggests that the increased frequency of weak El Niño events limits population recovery. The 2004 penguin population is estimated to be at less than 50% of that prior to the strong 1982-1983 El Niño event. We discuss the biological effects of increased El Niño intensity and frequency within the context of a 6000-year record of El Niño influence and in the light of increasing anthropogenic threats operating after 1535, when the Archipelago was discovered by Europeans.     

Comparing the value of Southern Oscillation Index-based climate forecast methods for Canadian and US wheat producers

Southern Oscillation Index (SOI) based forecasting methods are compared to determine which method is more valuable to Canadian and US wheat producers. Using decision theory approach to valuing information, the more commonly used three-phase method of El Niño, La Niña, and other is compared to a five-phase system. Because of differences in growing season and yearly SOI classification schemes, two different three-phase methods are used. The five-phase system is based on the level and rate of change of the SOI over a 2 month period. Phases are consistently negative, consistently positive, rapidly falling, rapidly rising, and near zero. As expected, results vary by the method used. Winter wheat producers in Illinois place no value on either of the SOI-based forecasting systems. Producers at seven of the 13 sites prefer the five-phase method over either of the three-phase method (spring wheat producers in Manitoba, Alberta, North Dakota and South Dakota, along with winter wheat producers in Oklahoma, Texas, and Washington). The value of the five-phase approach is up to 70 times more valuable than the three-phase approach. Producers growing spring wheat in Saskatchewan and Montana, along with winter wheat producers in Ohio and Kansas value the three-phase approach more than the five-phase. In this case, the value of the three-phase system is up to two times more valuable than the five-phase system. Depending on expected price and region, the values of the SOI-based forecasts range from 0 to 22% of the value of perfect forecasts. In both absolute and percentage of perfect forecasts, producers in Oklahoma, Texas, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, and South Dakota value either system more than producers in the remaining regions. Economic value and distributional aspects of the value of climate forecasts have implications for producers, policy makers, and meteorologists. Finally, the results clearly suggest all producers will not prefer one forecast type. Forecasts need to be tailored to specific regions.     

厄尔尼诺/拉尼娜事件对青海湖周边地区气候的影响

根据1961年来青海湖周边地区的气温和降水量资料,结合小波分析和ENSO事件的发生与变化,研究了1961年来青海湖周边气温与降水的变化趋势,以及厄尔尼诺/拉尼娜事件对该区气温、降水量以及旱涝灾害的影响.结果表明,1961年来青海湖周边地区的年降水量呈波动上升趋势,西部最显著,年降水量以8.73 mm/10 a的速率增加.该地区的年平均气温呈波动上升趋势,平均气温增温率接近或明显高于全国平均水平.1988-2010年多年平均气温比1961-1987年增加更显著.小波分析显示,青海湖周边地区降水变化周期约为3,7和17a,气温变化的周期约为3,7和29 a.不同研究区域的降水量和气温变化与ENSO事件相关性不同.研究数据表明,青海湖周边地区厄尔尼诺年发生涝灾多于旱灾,而拉尼娜年多发生旱灾.1961-2009年青海湖水位总体趋势在下降,2005年后出现回升,流域降水量对湖水位的年变化有显著影响.     

厄尔尼诺／拉尼娜事件变化特征及与长治气候之关系

为了揭示赤道中、东太平洋海温的冷暖交替异常变化特征,以及它对长治市降水量和气温的影响,笔者根据1961年以来长治市11个县站的降水和气温资料,分析1961年以来长治市年降水量和气温的变化趋势,研究了厄尔尼诺事件/拉尼娜事件的发生和变化,以及厄尔尼诺/拉尼娜事件对长治市年降水量和年平均气温以及旱涝灾害的影响。结果表明：（1）1961—2014年分别有15次ElNino事件和14次LaNina事件发生,发生概率分别为0.28和0.26;暖事件发生强度要大于冷事件发生的强度。（2）厄尔尼诺事件主要发生在春夏季,结束于秋冬季;拉尼娜事件主要发生在春—秋季,结束于春冬季。（3）长治市年降水异常年份均出现在厄尔尼诺/拉尼娜事件发生年或结束年,且厄尔尼诺开始年和结束年所对应的气候异常相反。（4）长治市年平均气温的高低与拉尼娜年有较好的对应关系。（5）长治市大旱大涝与厄尔尼诺/拉尼娜事件有极其密切的关系。     

福建省马尾松毛虫发生与ENSO事件的关系

以1971～1991年(反)厄尔尼诺事件、南方涛动指数及福建省马尾松毛虫发生程度的资料为基础,探讨它们之间的关系,揭示这种关系产生的内在机制,并建立福建省马尾松毛虫发生预测预报模型.结果表明:福建省马尾松毛虫发生与(反)厄尔尼诺事件年、南方涛动指数总和变动异常年有显著关联;所建立模型精度达83.33%,可以对马尾松毛虫发生、气候异常起监测作用.