ABSTRACT
Climate change affects animal populations by affecting their habitats. The leopard population has significantly decreased due to climate change and human disturbance. We studied the impact of climate change on leopard habitats using infrared camera technology in the Liupanshan National Nature Reserve of Jingyuan County, Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, China, from July 2017 to October 2019. We captured 25 leopard distribution points over 47,460 camera working days. We used the MAXENT model to predict and analyze the habitat. We studied the leopard's suitable habitat area and distribution area under different geographical scales in the reserve. Changes in habitat area of leopards under the rcp2.6, rcp4.5, and rcp8.5 climate models in Guyuan in 2050 were also studied. We conclude that the current main factors affecting suitable leopard habitat area were vegetation cover and human disturbance. The most critical factor affecting future suitable habitat area is rainfall. Under the three climate models, the habitat area of the leopard decreased gradually because of an increase in carbon dioxide concentration. Through the prediction of the leopard's distribution area in the Liupanshan Nature Reserve, we evaluated the scientific nature of the reserve, which is helpful for the restoration and protection of the wild leopard population.
ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVES: To assess the quality of life (QOL) and factors affecting QOL in hemodialysis patients so as to improve QOL of dialysis patients and provide the basis for better clinical care. METHODS: A retrospective study was performed to assess the QOL and factors affecting QOL in hemodialysis patients. We recruited 125 patients who had been receiving hemodialysis for at least 2 years in the dialysis units of nine hospitals in Shanxi Province, China, and conducted a multi-center questionnaire survey between 1 May 2015 and 1 July 2016. We investigated the patients' general condition and clinical data and used the Short Form-36 (SF-36) scale to measure QOL in these patients. RESULTS: The overall SF-36 score was 107.55 ± 14.50 in patients who had received hemodialysis for more than 2 years. Age (p < .05, F = 4.972) and gender (p < .01, t = 3.993) significantly affected the overall QOL score in these patients. Education level was also an influencing factor (p < .05, Z= -0.838), especially on the mental health of these patients. In addition, residual urine volume (p < .05, Z= -2.465) and diabetic nephropathy (p < .05, Z= -2.062) were important factors that affected the physical strength and QOL score in these patients. However, sources of medical expenses, marital status and different methods of dialysis, had no effect on the QOL score. CONCLUSION: The overall score of QOL in patients who have received maintenance hemodialysis for more than 2 years is higher in Shanxi Province than that in other provinces of China. Only a few factors influenced the QOL of these patients.
