Construction of a refined population analysis unit based on urban forms and population aggregation patterns

The population analysis unit(PAU)is the basic unit employed in studies of urban populations.The commonly used PAUs are mostly administrative divisions,regular geographic grids.However,these units are different from urban forms,and cannot be used to consider the characteristics of population distributions and flow changes.In this study,we proposed a method for constructing a fine population analysis zone(FPAZ)based on the population aggregation pattern and urban form elements.First,considering the spatial structure of a city and the fine-grained demands of population analysis,the basic analysis unit was divided according to the functional heterogeneity of the population activity region at the micro-scale by combining urban form elements.Next,a population aggregation preference model was established by considering the spatial distribution characteristics of the local aggregation of the urban population flow and long-term stability characteristics depending on the dynamic changes in entrances and exits.Finally,we divided the FPAZ combined with the microstructural elements.Experimental results showed that compared with other types of PAUs,the FPAZ was more consistent with the urban morphology and was an appropriate and general spatial unit for expressing the accurate characteristics of population distributions and changes at the micro-scale.

Can we reestablish a self-sustaining population?A case study on reintroduced Crested Ibis with population viability analysis

Background:One of the most challenging tasks in wildlife conservation and management is clarifying which and how external and intrinsic factors influence wildlife demography and long-term viability.The wild population of the Crested Ibis(Nipponia nippon)has recovered to approximately 4400,and several reintroduction programs have been carried out in China,Japan and Korea.Population viability analysis on this endangered species has been limited to the wild population,showing that the long-term population growth is restricted by the carrying capacity and inbreeding.However,gaps in knowledge of the viability of the reintroduced population and its drivers in the release environment impede the identification of the most effective population-level priorities for aiding in species recovery.Methods:The field monitoring data were collected from a reintroduced Crested Ibis population in Ningshan,China from 2007 to 2018.An individual-based VORTEX model(Version 10.3.5.0)was used to predict the future viability of the reintroduced population by incorporating adaptive patterns of ibis movement in relation to catastrophe frequency,mortality and sex ratio.Results:The reintroduced population in Ningshan County is unlikely to go extinct in the next 50 years.The popula-tion size was estimated to be 367,and the population genetic diversity was estimated to be 0.97.Sensitivity analysis showed that population size and extinction probability were dependent on the carrying capacity and sex ratio.The carrying capacity is the main factor accounting for the population size and genetic diversity,while the sex ratio is the primary factor responsible for the population growth trend.Conclusions:A viable population of the Crested Ibis can be established according to population viability analysis.Based on our results,conservation management should prioritize a balanced sex ratio,high-quality habitat and low mortality.

Genetic diversity and population structure analysis of 161 broccoli cultivars based on SNP markers

To better understand the genetic diversity and population structure of broccoli cultivars planted in China,a total of 161 representative broccoli cultivars in the past 25 years were collected and analysed based on single nucleotide polymorphism(SNP)markers.Ten pairs of primers with good polymorphism and high resolution were screened from 315 pairs of SNP primers by 3 broccoli accessions(inbred lines)with different phenotypes and maturity.The 10 pairs of SNP primers were selected,producing 78 alleles.The diversity analysis indicated that the polymorphism information content(PIC)of SNP primer ranged from 0.64 to 0.90.The observed number of alleles(Na)was 2.00,the effective number of alleles(Ne)was 1.11–2.00,the Nei’s gene diversity(H)was 0.10–0.50,and Shannon information index(I)was 0.20–0.70 using PopGene32 software.The clustering results showed that the 161 broccoli cultivars could be divided into 4 major subgroups(A,B,C and D),foreign cultivars were all assigned to subgroup A,and domestic cultivars were assigned to 3 subgroups of B,C,and D.This study indicated that some domestic cultivars and foreign cultivars were similar in genetic background,but most domestic cultivars were still different from the Japanese cultivars.When K=2,the population structure result presented that 161 broccoli cultivars could be divided into 1 simple group(2 groups)and 1 mixed group.When Q≥0.6,143(88.82%)broccoli cultivars belonged to the simple groups.In simple groups 68(42.24%)broccoli cultivars of group 1 were derived from Japan,the United States,Switzerland,the Netherlands,China-Taiwan,and China-Mainland;75(46.58%)broccoli cultivars belonged to group 2;when Q<0.6,18(11.18%)broccoli cultivars belonged to the mixed groups.This study is helpful to understand the diversity and resolution of broccoli cultivars from worldwide,which is beneficial to plant breeding and materials innovation.And meanwhile,this result is also used for construction of broccoli fingerprint serving for cultivar identification.

Analysis of Migrant Population's Social Integration in Hangzhou

Since China began implementing reform and opening-up policies, along with a fast development of the national economy and great changes of social life, an increasing number of peasan＇s have kept flowing into cities and economically more developed regions. Aspiring to improve their life and yearning for a better urban life, they defy the restraint of the household registry system and, in the process of moving from one place to another, ignore economic and psychological costs. As early as in year 2000 China＇s migrant population reached 140 million, more than 10% of the total population. Since 2000 the migrant poptilation in Zhejiang Province, east China, has kept growing by 20% annually, the second fastest in the country for seven consecutive years.

Changes in Natural Mortality of Atlantic Cod(Gadus morhua) on Eastern Georges Bank

The assessment of Eastern Georges Bank cod with the assumption of a constant natural mortality of 0.2 has over-estimated stock productivity, resulting in a severe retrospective pattern since the late 2000 s. Comparing relative exploitation rate(ratio of fishery catch at age to survey abundance indices at age) with total mortality calculated from the age distribution in surveys indicated a conflict when constant natural mortality was assumed. This inconsistency implies an increase in natural mortality since the mid-1990 s. In this paper, natural mortality estimated by Virtual Population Analysis(VPA) indicated that natural mortality for this stock has increased to 0.8 since the mid-1990 s for ages 6+. Potential factors contributing to this elevated natural mortality, including poor fish conditions and increased losses due to seal predation were discussed.

Research on Variable Selection of Protein in Soy Lysine Spectroscopy Based on Latent Projective Graph

[Objectives] This study was conducted to solve the problems of complex near-infrared spectrum information of soybean lysine, serious collinearity and insufficient predictive ability of full-spectrum modeling. [Methods] A new variable selection method, i.e., variable combination model population analysis method, was used to select characteristic wavelengths of soybean lysine near infrared spectra. The binary matrix sampling strategy and exponential decay function were used at first to delete the variables providing no information and select the near-infrared characteristic wavelengths of soybean lysine, which were then combined the partial least square method to establish a prediction model. Compared with other variable selection methods, the Monte Carlo variable combination model population analysis method selected the least wavelength points and the model had the strongest predictive ability. The variable combination model population analysis method adopting the binary matrix sampling strategy made up for the shortcomings of the single Monte Carlo sampling method. [Results] The experimental results showed that the Monte Carlo variable combination model population analysis algorithm could better select the characteristic wavelengths of soybean lysine NIR spectra and improve the reliability of the prediction model. However, in general, the accuracy of the lysine prediction model is not satisfactory, and it needs to be further reconstructed and optimized in future research work. The reason might be that the determination accuracy of the chemical value of lysine content was insufficient, or it might be caused by the poor absorption of the hydrogen-containing group of lysine in the near-infrared spectrum region and the poor correlation with proteins. [Conclusions] This study provides a reference for soybean high-lysine breeding.

Genetic Analysis of 15 STR Loci in Chinese Han Population from West China

Allele frequencies for 15 short tandem repeat （STR） loci （D8S1179, D21S11, D7S820, CSFIPO, D3S1358, TH01, D13S317, D16S539, D2S1338, D19S433, vWA, TPOX, D18S51, D5S818, and FGA） were obtained from 7,636 unrelated individuals of Chinese Han population living in Qinghai and Chongqing, China. Totally 206 alleles were observed, with the corresponding allele frequencies ranging from 0.0001-0.4982. Chi-square test showed that all of the STR loci agreed with the Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium. We also compared our data with previously published population data of other ethnics or areas. The results are valuable for human identification and paternity testing in Chinese Han population.

Population viability analysis of small population:a case study for Asian elephant in China

Small populations are at risk of extinction from deterministic and stochastic factors.Less than 250 Asian elephants(Elephas maximus)remain in China,and are distributed in a few isolated areas;yet,population viability analyses of this endangered population have not been conducted.Here,the current genetic status of the Pu’Er-Mengyang Asian elephant populations in China was analyzed,and the risk of extinction was predicted over the next 500 years.Factors affecting the viability of this population were determined through simulations.The genetic diversity of the population was very low(mean allele number:3.1;expected heterozygosity:0.463),even though a recent population bottleneck was not detected.The effective population size was approximately 24.1 adult elephants.Enough adult breeding individuals exist to maintain population viability.VORTEX simulation model showed that this population would not go extinct in the next 500 years.However,illegal poaching and harvesting could negatively affect population size.A sensitivity analysis showed that the mean stochastic growth rate of the study population is sensitive to sex ratio,number of breeding females,mortality of females of different age classes,carrying capacity,and lethal equivalents.Based on our results,we suggest that action should be taken to alleviate inbreeding and any further loss of genetic diversity,by connecting fragmented elephant habitat or by translocating individual elephants.In addition,human–elephant conflict should be mitigated using various modern approaches,including crop guarding techniques,and by encouraging farmers to switch to crops and income sources not vulnerable to elephant raids.

Population viability analysis: using a modeling tool to assess the viability of tapir populations in fragmented landscapes

A population viability analysis(PVA)was conducted of the lowland tapir populations in the Atlantic Forest of the Pontal do Paranapanema region,Brazil,including Morro do Diabo State Park(MDSP)and surrounding forest fragments.Results from the model projected that the population of 126 tapirs in MDSP is likely to per-sist over the next 100 years;however,200 tapirs would be required to maintain a viable population.Sensitiv-ity analysis showed that sub-adult mortality and adult mortality have the strongest influence on the dynamics of lowland tapir populations.High road-kill has a major impact on the MDSP tapir population and can lead to population extinction.Metapopulation modeling showed that dispersal of tapirs from MDSP to the surrounding fragments can be detrimental to the overall metapopulation,as fragments act as sinks.Nevertheless,the model showed that under certain conditions the maintenance of the metapopulation dynamics might be determinant for the persistence of tapirs in the region,particularly in the smaller fragments.The establishment of corridors con-necting MDSP to the forest fragments models resulted in an increase in the stochastic growth rate,making ta-pirs more resilient to threats and catastrophes,but only if rates of mortality were not increased when using cor-ridors.The PVA showed that the conservation of tapirs in the Pontal region depends on:the effective protection of MDSP;maintenance and,whenever possible,enhancement of the functional connectivity of the landscape,reducing mortality during dispersal and threats in the unprotected forest fragments;and neutralization of all threats affecting tapirs in the smaller forest fragments.

COVARIANCE STRUCTURAL ANALYSIS WITH POLYTOMOUS VARIABLES IN SEVERAL POPULATIONS

In this paper, covariance structures with polytomous variables in several populations are analyzed. A computationally efficient multistage procedure is proposed to estimate the thresholds and the covariance structure parameters.Statistical properties of the estimators are derived, and a computer program is implemented to obtain the solution. An artificial example is presented to illustrate the method.

Addressing the impact of canine distemper spreading on an isolated tiger population in northeast Asia

The continuation of the isolated Amur tiger(Panthera tigris altaica)population living along the China-Russia border is facing serious challenges due to factors such as its small size(including 38 individuals)and canine distemper virus(CDV).We use a population viability analysis metamodel,which consists of a traditional individual-based demographic model linked to an epidemiological model,to assess options for controlling the impact of negative factors through domestic dog management in protected areas,increasing connectivity to the neighboring large population(including more than 400 individuals),and habitat expansion.Without intervention,under inbreeding depression of 3.14,6.29,and 12.26 lethal equivalents,our metamodel predicted the extinction within 100 years is 64.4%,90.6%,and 99.8%,respectively.In addition,the simulation results showed that dog management or habitat expansion independently will not ensure tiger population viability for the next 100 years,and connectivity to the neighboring population would only keep the population size from rapidly declining.However,when the above three conservation scenarios are combined,even at the highest level of 12.26 lethal equivalents inbreeding depression,population size will not decline and the probability of extinction will be<5.8%.Our findings highlight that protecting the Amur tiger necessitates a multifaceted synergistic effort.Our key management recommendations for this population underline the importance of reducing CDV threats and expanding tiger occupancy to its former range in China,but re-establishing habitat connectivity to the neighboring population is an important long-term objective.

A Proportion Analysis of City/Town Population in China's Fourth Census in 1990

On the basis of the analysis of the standards for the city/town populationstatistics in the past censuses,the author makes a proportional analysis of the city/townpopulation according to the data obtained from the fourth census,and points out the dis-crepancies in the standard for the the city/town population statistics used in the fourthcensus and proposes ways for their correction.

Could wastewater analysis be a useful tool for China?——A review

Analysing wastewater samples is an innovative approach that overcomes many limitations of traditional surveys to identify and measure a range of chemicals that were consumed by or exposed to people living in a sewer catchment area. First conceptualised in 2001, much progress has been made to make wastewater analysis（WWA） a reliable and robust tool for measuring chemical consumption and/or exposure. At the moment, the most popular application of WWA, sometimes referred as sewage epidemiology, is to monitor the consumption of illicit drugs in communities around the globe, including China. The approach has been largely adopted by law enforcement agencies as a device to monitor the temporal and geographical patterns of drug consumption. In the future, the methodology can be extended to other chemicals including biomarkers of population health（e.g. environmental or oxidative stress biomarkers, lifestyle indicators or medications that are taken by different demographic groups） and pollutants that people are exposed to（e.g. polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons,perfluorinated chemicals, and toxic pesticides）. The extension of WWA to a huge range of chemicals may give rise to a field called sewage chemical-information mining（SCIM） with unexplored potentials. China has many densely populated cities with thousands of sewage treatment plants which are favourable for applying WWA/SCIM in order to help relevant authorities gather information about illicit drug consumption and population health status. However, there are some prerequisites and uncertainties of the methodology that should be addressed for SCIM to reach its full potential in China.

Temporal variation of microbial population in a thermophilic biofilter for SO_2 removal

The performance of a biofilter relies on the activity of microorganisms during the gas contaminant treatment process. In this study, SO2 was treated using a laboratory-scale biofilter packed with polyurethane foam cubes（PUFC）, on which thermophilic desulfurization bacteria were attached. The thermophilic biofilter effectively reduced SO2 within 10 months of operation time, with a maximum elimination capacity of 48.29 g/m^3/hr.Temporal shifts in the microbial population in the thermophilic biofilter were determined through polymerase chain reaction-denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis and deoxyribonucleic acid（DNA） sequence analysis. The substrate species and environmental conditions in the biofilter influenced the microbial population. Oxygen distribution in the PUFC was analyzed using a microelectrode. When the water-containing rate in PUFC was over 98%, the oxygen distribution presented aerobic–anoxic–aerobic states along the test route on the PUFC. The appearance of sulfate-reducing bacteria was caused by the anaerobic conditions and sulfate formation after 4 months of operation.

Local adaptive evolution of two distinct clades of Beijing and T families of Mycobacterium tuberculosis in Chongqing:a Bayesian population structure and phylogenetic study

Background:Beijing sub-pedigree 2(BSP2)and T sub-lineage 6(TSL6)are two clades belonging to Beijing and T family of Mycobacterium tuberculosis(MTB),respectively,defined by Bayesian population structure analysis based on 24-loci mycobacterial interspersed repetitive unit-variable number of tandem repeats(MIRU-VNTR).Globally,over 99%of BSP2 and 89%of TSL6 isolates were distributed in Chongqing,suggesting their possible local adaptive evolution.The objective of this paper is to explore whether BSP2 and TSL6 originated by their local adaptive evolution from the specific isolates of Beijing and T families in Chongqing.Methods:The genotyping data of 16090 MTB isolates were collected from laboratory collection,published literatures and SITVIT database before subjected to Bayesian population structure analysis based on 24-loci MIRUVNTR.Spacer Oligonucleotide Forest(Spoligoforest)and 24-loci MIRU-VNTR-based minimum spanning tree(MST)were used to explore their phylogenetic pathways,with Bayesian demographic analysis for exploring the recent demographic change of TSL6.Results:Phylogenetic analysis suggested that BSP2 and TSL6 in Chongqing may evolve from BSP4 and TSL5,respectively,which were locally predominant in Tibet and Jiangsu,respectively.Spoligoforest showed that Beijing and T families were genetically distant,while the convergence of the MIRU-VNTR pattern of BSP2 and TSL6 was revealed by WebLogo.The demographic analysis concluded that the recent demographic change of TSL6 might take 111.25 years.Conclusions:BSP2 and TSL6 clades might originate from BSP4 and TSL5,respectively,by their local adaptive evolution in Chongqing.Our study suggests MIRU-VNTR be combined with other robust markers for a more comprehensive genotyping approach,especially for families of clades with the same MIRU-VNTR pattern.

Rapid ongoing decline of Baird’s tapir in Cusuco National Park, Honduras

During the International Tapir Symposium 16-21 Oct 2011,the conservation of Baird's tapir(Tapirus baindi)in Honduras received a boost with the signing of a memorandum of understanding between the Minister Direc-tor of the Honduran Instute of Conservation and Forestry(CF)and the Tapir Specialist Group(TSG)Despite this agreement,accelerating levels of hunting and habitat loss contimue to pose a threat to Baird's tapir in Hon-duras.An ongoing study in Cusuco National Park in northwestern Honduras has been monitoring changes in population dynamics of Baird's tapir since 2006 through the collection of occupancy data.The study has iden-tified an increase in hunting pressure,coinciding with a drastic decline in the encounter rate with Baird's tapir spoor.Here,we examine the significance of a range of demographic variables on Baird's tapir occupancy in Cu-suco National Park using the software PRESENCE,and simulate the effects of different management strategies on the fiuture dynamics of the population using the stochastic simulation software VORTEX The predictions of the theoretical population models are compared to observed changes in occupancy levels.We found that non-intervention resulted in the local extinction of Baird's tapir within a very short time fiame,but that various in-tervention models enabled the population to recover to near carrying capacity.Occupancy and extinction prob-ability were shown to respond marlkedly to the increase in hunting pressure;and occupancy models supported the fiuture population predictions generated by VORTEX.Our study suggests that immediate intervention is re-quired to reduce hunting pressure to near historical levels to prevent the imminent 1ocal extinction of the species.

A dynamic two-zone model of continuous fluidized bed layering granulation with internal product classification

A dynamic two-zone model is proposed to address the formation of granulation and drying zones in fluidized bed layering granulation processes with internal product classification. The model assumes a constant volume for the granulation zone, but a variable overall volume for the fluidized bed to account for classified product removal. The model is used to study the effect of various process parameters on dynamics and process stability. Stability is shown to depend on the separation diameter of product removal and the flow rate of the injected liquid. A lower and upper range of separation diameters with stable process behavior are found. In an intermediate range instability in the form of self-sustained oscillations is observed. The lower stability boundary is in qualitative agreement with recent experimental observations （Schmidt, Bück, ＆ Tsotsas, 2015）; the upper boundary was reported in a theoretical paper by Vreman, Van Lare, and Hounslow （2009） based on a single zone model.