Epidemiological analyses of health risks associated with non-optimal temperature are traditionally based on ground observations from weather stations that offer limited spatial and temporal coverage. Climate reanalysis represents an alternative option that provide complete spatio-temporal exposure coverage, and yet are to be systematically explored for their suitability in assessing temperature-related health risks at a global scale. Here we provide the first comprehensive analysis over multiple regions to assess the suitability of the most recent generation of reanalysis datasets for health impact assessments and evaluate their comparative performance against traditional station-based data. Our findings show that reanalysis temperature from the last ERA5 products generally compare well to station observations, with similar non-optimal temperature-related risk estimates. However, the analysis offers some indication of lower performance in tropical regions, with a likely underestimation of heat-related excess mortality. Reanalysis data represent a valid alternative source of exposure variables in epidemiological analyses of temperature-related risk.
- MeSH
- Weather * MeSH
- Climate * MeSH
- Temperature MeSH
- Hot Temperature MeSH
- Publication type
- Journal Article MeSH
- Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't MeSH
Necrophagous blowflies (Diptera: Calliphoridae) are of great importance particularly during investigations of suspicious deaths. Many studies have analyzed the distribution of blowflies based on pig experiments and baited trapping; however, data from real case scenarios are rarely used. In this article, the distribution of blowflies found during investigations of 160 real cases during 1993-2007 in Switzerland is evaluated based on habitat, altitude, and season. Ten species of blowflies were present in 145 out of the 160 cases. The most common species was Calliphora vicina, which occurs throughout the year and was present in 69 % of all cases. Lucilia sericata, Calliphora vomitoria, and L. caesar were identified among the rest of the flies as species of great forensic importance mainly due to their distributional patterns. After a comparison with a similar dataset from Frankfurt, Germany, some surprising differences were determined and discussed. The biggest discrepancies between our dataset and the German dataset were in the occurrences of L. sericata (30 % vs. 86 %, respectively), Phormia regina (5 % vs. 43 %), and L. ampullacea (1 % vs. 45 %). The life-history strategies and intraspecific behavioral variability of blowflies remain understudied, although they can be essential for an unbiased approach during a death investigation. Further research and comparison of occurrence patterns across the area of distribution of blowflies are therefore needed and recommended.
Phosphorus reuse by application of biochar is a recent concept that needs to be supported by long-term field data. To monitor biochar's long-term effects on P turnover, one-off biochar was applied in 2013 with mineral NPK fertilizers being applied every year since then. Biochar application rates included 0 t ha-1 (CK), 15.75 t ha-1 (BC1), 31.5 t ha-1 (BC2), and 47.25 t ha-1 (BC3). Over the 5 years' field experiment, P distribution in soil profile, inorganic and organic P fractions in bulk, and rhizosphere soil and maize P uptake were determined. The results showed that biochar reduced the inorganic P fractions (Ca2-P, Ca8-P, Al-P, Fe-P and O-P by 4.8-33.7%, 8.8-59.0%, 13.7-28.6%, 8.4-17.6%, and 3.3-25.5%, respectively), and increased organic P fractions (MLOP and HROP by 67.2-11.6% and 18.8-87.7%, respectively) in bulk soil, while in rhizosphere soil, Fe-P and MLOP were decreased by 13.4-34.5% and 67.2-111.6%, respectively, in 2017. After the application of biochar for 5 years, moderately labile organic phosphorus (MLOP), moderately resistant organic phosphorus (MROP), and highly resistant organic phosphorus (HROP) with different biochar treatments were enhanced by 12.8-42.7%, 20.1-48.0%, and 5.5-66.6%, respectively, but Ca8-P, Al-P, O-P, and Ca10-P were all decreased by 18.6-24.9%, 16.4-21.4%, and 3.3-23.48%, respectively. Total P storage in 0-100 cm was declined by biochar. Increases in maize P uptake in the stover (38.6-71.3%) and grain (20.9-25.5%) were occurred after 31.5 t ha-1 and 47.25 t ha-1 biochar addition. To sum up, biochar is found to regulate the distribution, storage, and transformation of soil P, which lead to increase in maize P uptake.
- MeSH
- Charcoal MeSH
- Phosphorus * MeSH
- Zea mays MeSH
- Fertilizers analysis MeSH
- Soil * MeSH
- Publication type
- Journal Article MeSH
The plant hormone auxin is a key player in the regulation of plant growth and development. Despite numerous studies devoted to understanding its role in a wide spectrum of physiological processes, full appreciation of its function is linked to a comprehensive determination of its spatio-temporal distribution, which plays a crucial role in its mode of action. Conjugation of fluorescent tracers to plant hormones enables sensitive and specific visualization of their subcellular and tissue-specific localization and transport in planta, which represents a powerful tool for plant physiology. However, to date, only a few fluorescently labeled auxins have been developed. We report the synthesis of four novel fluorescently labeled derivatives of indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) in the form of a conjugate with a nitrobenzoxadiazole (NBD) fluorophore together with validation of their biological activity. These compounds, unlike other previously reported auxins fluorescently labeled at N1 position (nitrogen of the indole ring), do not possess auxin activity but rather show dose-dependent inhibition of auxin-induced effects, such as primary root growth inhibition, root hair growth and the auxin reporter DR5::GUS expression. Moreover, the study demonstrates the importance of the character of the linker and optimal choice of the labeling site in the preparation of fluorescently labeled auxins as important variables influencing their biological activity and fluorescent properties.
- MeSH
- Arabidopsis drug effects genetics growth & development MeSH
- Fluorescent Dyes chemical synthesis chemistry MeSH
- Spectrometry, Fluorescence MeSH
- Plants, Genetically Modified MeSH
- Plant Roots drug effects growth & development MeSH
- Indoleacetic Acids antagonists & inhibitors chemistry pharmacology MeSH
- Molecular Structure MeSH
- Plant Growth Regulators antagonists & inhibitors chemistry pharmacology MeSH
- Spectrophotometry MeSH
- Publication type
- Journal Article MeSH
The current evidence of cognitive disturbances and brain alterations in schizophrenia does not provide the plausible explanation of the underlying mechanisms. Neuropsychological studies outlined the cognitive profile of patients with schizophrenia, that embodied the substantial disturbances in perceptual and motor processes, spatial functions, verbal and non-verbal memory, processing speed and executive functioning. Standardized scoring in the majority of the neurocognitive tests renders the index scores or the achievement indicating the severity of the cognitive impairment rather than the actual performance by means of errors. At the same time, the quantitative evaluation may lead to the situation when two patients with the same index score of the particular cognitive test, demonstrate qualitatively different performances. This may support the view why test paradigms that habitually incorporate different cognitive variables associate weakly, reflecting an ambiguity in the interpretation of noted cognitive constructs. With minor exceptions, cognitive functions are not attributed to the localized activity but eventuate from the coordinated activity in the generally dispersed brain networks. Functional neuroimaging has progressively explored the connectivity in the brain networks in the absence of the specific task and during the task processing. The spatio-temporal fluctuations of the activity of the brain areas detected in the resting state and being highly reproducible in numerous studies, resemble the activation and communication patterns during the task performance. Relatedly, the activation in the specific brain regions oftentimes is attributed to a number of cognitive processes. Given the complex organization of the cognitive functions, it becomes crucial to designate the roles of the brain networks in relation to the specific cognitive functions. One possible approach is to identify the commonalities of the deficits across the number of cognitive tests or, common errors in the various tests and identify their common "denominators" in the brain networks. The qualitative characterization of cognitive performance might be beneficial in addressing diffuse cognitive alterations presumably caused by the dysconnectivity of the distributed brain networks. Therefore, in the review, we use this approach in the description of standardized tests in the scope of potential errors in patients with schizophrenia with a subsequent reference to the brain networks.
- Publication type
- Journal Article MeSH
- Review MeSH
The incidence of tick-borne diseases caused by Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato, Anaplasma phagocytophilum and Rickettsia spp. has been rising in Europe in recent decades. Early pre-assessment of acarological hazard still represents a complex challenge. The aim of this study was to model Ixodes ricinus questing nymph density and its infection rate with B. burgdorferi s.l., A. phagocytophilum and Rickettsia spp. in five European countries (Italy, Germany, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary) in various land cover types differing in use and anthropisation (agricultural, urban and natural) with climatic and environmental factors (Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI), Normalized Difference Water Index (NDWI), Land Surface Temperature (LST) and precipitation). We show that the relative abundance of questing nymphs was significantly associated with climatic conditions, such as higher values of NDVI recorded in the sampling period, while no differences were observed among land use categories. However, the density of infected nymphs (DIN) also depended on the pathogen considered and land use. These results contribute to a better understanding of the variation in acarological hazard for Ixodes ricinus transmitted pathogens in Central Europe and provide the basis for more focused ecological studies aimed at assessing the effect of land use in different sites on tick-host pathogens interaction.
- MeSH
- Anaplasma phagocytophilum growth & development MeSH
- Borrelia burgdorferi growth & development MeSH
- Spatio-Temporal Analysis * MeSH
- Gram-Negative Bacteria growth & development MeSH
- Ixodes microbiology MeSH
- Nymph MeSH
- Climate * MeSH
- Rickettsia growth & development MeSH
- Animals MeSH
- Check Tag
- Animals MeSH
- Publication type
- Journal Article MeSH
- Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't MeSH
- Geographicals
- Europe MeSH
Considering that most of the falls in elderly population arise during walking, tests derived from walking performance would be desirable for comprehensive fall risk assessment. The analysis of spatial temporal parameters and the center of pressure displacement, which represents the interaction between the human body and the ground, would be beneficial. The aim of this study was to compare spatial temporal gait parameters and their variability and the variability of the center of pressure displacement between elderly fallers and nonfallers during gait at self-selected, defined and fast speeds. A prospective study design was used. At the baseline, measurements of ground reaction force during gait at self-selected, defined and fast walking speeds by two force plates were performed. In addition, the Tinetti balance assessment tool, the Falls Efficacy Scale-International and the Activities-Specific Balance Confidence Scale were used. Mean and coefficient of variation of spatial temporal gait parameters and standard deviations of center of pressure displacement during loading response, midstance, terminal stance and preswing phases were calculated. Comparison of the fallers and nonfallers exhibited no significant difference in clinical tool, scales or spatial temporal parameters. Compared to nonfallers' increased variability of walking speed at self-selected and defined speed, step width at fast walking speed and center of pressure displacement during preswing phase in medial-lateral directions at defined walking speed was found in fallers. However, application of the Holm-Bonferroni procedure for multiple comparisons exhibited no significant effect of group in any of the gait parameters. In general, our study did not observe an effect of group (fallers vs. nonfallers) on variability of spatial temporal parameters and center of pressure movement during gait. However, walking speed, step width as well as standard deviation of COP displacement in the medial-lateral direction during preswing exhibited a certain potential for distinguishing between elderly fallers and nonfallers.
- MeSH
- Biomechanical Phenomena MeSH
- Spatio-Temporal Analysis MeSH
- Gait physiology MeSH
- Walking physiology MeSH
- Risk Assessment MeSH
- Middle Aged MeSH
- Humans MeSH
- Movement MeSH
- Postural Balance physiology MeSH
- Prospective Studies MeSH
- Spatial Behavior * MeSH
- Aged MeSH
- Body Height MeSH
- Pressure MeSH
- Accidental Falls prevention & control MeSH
- Check Tag
- Middle Aged MeSH
- Humans MeSH
- Male MeSH
- Aged MeSH
- Female MeSH
- Publication type
- Journal Article MeSH
BACKGROUND: Co-evolutionary arms-races result in spatio-temporally dynamic relationships between interacting species, e.g., brood parasites and their avian hosts. However, majority of avian co-evolutionary studies are limited to "snap-shots" of a single breeding season in an open-nesting host. In a long-term study (11 breeding seasons), we explored a unique system between the brood parasitic common cuckoo (Cuculus canorus) and its host, the common redstart (Phoenicurus phoenicurus) which is exceptional among all cuckoo hosts due to being a cavity nester. Conditions in cavities are different from open nests, e.g., lower risks of predation, more favourable microclimate, increased risks of unsuccessful eviction of host offspring by the cuckoo nestling. Different conditions in cavities thus can be expected to shape parasite-host coevolution differently from what is typically studied in open nesting hosts. RESULTS: In our highly parasitised nest-box population (32.5%, n = 569 nests) only 35.7% of cuckoo eggs were laid into the nest cup and incubated by redstarts. Host nests shifted availability to later into the breeding season from 2006 to 2016 and cuckoos followed this trend by also shifting their timing of parasitism. Although previous studies revealed that redstarts selectively eject experimental non-mimetic eggs (desertion was not a specific response to foreign eggs), the hosts never ejected naturally-laid cuckoo eggs or cuckoo eggs cross-fostered into naturally non-parasitised nests. We solve the long-standing debate about the origin of cuckoo eggs found on the nest rim: we gained the first direct video-recording evidence that eggs found on the nest rim were mislaid by parasites and not ejected by hosts. Naturally-parasitised nests were deserted more often (18.6%) than control non-parasitized nests (5.6%) or nests artificially parasitised by us (1.4%). This suggests that the sight of the laying cuckoo female is the primary cue that triggers egg rejection (by desertion) in this host. Review of data from this and other study sites (10 populations, n = 853 experiments) demonstrates high variability in rejection rates and shows that populations facing higher parasitism rates reject parasitic eggs with higher frequencies. Surprisingly, cuckoo chicks either growing solitarily or with redstart chicks did not differ in their fledging success. CONCLUSIONS: We suggest that the redstart is an ideal model system to study the flexibility and limits of brood parasite-host co-evolution in an extreme ecological setting.
- MeSH
- Biological Evolution * MeSH
- Models, Biological * MeSH
- Ecology * MeSH
- Nesting Behavior physiology MeSH
- Oviposition physiology MeSH
- Ovum physiology MeSH
- Parasites physiology MeSH
- Passeriformes physiology MeSH
- Birds physiology MeSH
- Seasons MeSH
- Geography MeSH
- Animals MeSH
- Check Tag
- Female MeSH
- Animals MeSH
- Publication type
- Journal Article MeSH
- Geographicals
- Finland MeSH
BACKGROUND AND AIMS: The Balkan Peninsula is one of the most important centres of plant diversity in Europe. Here we aim to fill the gap in the current knowledge of the evolutionary processes and factors modelling this astonishing biological richness by applying multiple approaches to the Cyanus napulifer group. METHODS: To reconstruct the mode of diversification within the C. napulifer group and to uncover its relationships with potential relatives with x = 10 from Europe and Northern Africa, we examined variation in genetic markers (amplified fragment length polymorphisms [AFLPs]; 460 individuals), relative DNA content (4',6-diamidino-2-phenylindole [DAPI] flow cytometry, 330 individuals) and morphology (multivariate morphometrics, 40 morphological characters, 710 individuals). To elucidate its evolutionary history, we analysed chloroplast DNA (cpDNA) sequences of the genus Cyanus deposited in the GenBank database. KEY RESULTS: The AFLPs revealed a suite of closely related entities with variable levels of differentiation. The C. napulifer group formed a genetically well-defined unit. Samples outside the group formed strongly diversified and mostly species-specific genetic lineages with no further geographical patterns, often characterized also by a different DNA content. AFLP analysis of the C. napulifer group revealed extensive radiation and split it into nine allopatric (sub)lineages with varying degrees of congruence among genetic, DNA-content and morphological patterns. Genetic admixture was usually detected in contact zones between genetic lineages. Plastid data indicated extensive maintenance of ancestral variation across Cyanus perennials. CONCLUSION: The C. napulifer group is an example of a rapidly and recently diversified plant group whose genetic lineages have evolved in spatio-temporal isolation on the topographically complex Balkan Peninsula. Adaptive radiation, accompanied in some cases by long-term isolation and hybridization, has contributed to the formation of this species complex and its mosaic pattern.
- MeSH
- Amplified Fragment Length Polymorphism Analysis MeSH
- Asteraceae anatomy & histology genetics MeSH
- Biodiversity MeSH
- Biological Evolution * MeSH
- DNA, Chloroplast genetics MeSH
- Genetic Markers genetics MeSH
- Flow Cytometry MeSH
- Publication type
- Journal Article MeSH
- Geographicals
- Balkan Peninsula MeSH
Východiska: Vývojová porucha pohybové koordinace (DCD) u dětí je často spojena se zhoršeným zpracováním vizuálně prostorových informací. Cíle: Cílem této studie bylo prozkoumat účinek vidění při řízení chůze u dětí s normálním vývojem motoriky (NM) a dětí s rizikem DCD (DCDR). Metodika: 16 dětí s NM (věk 9,1 ± 1,0 roků) a 16 dětí s DCDR (8,7 ± 0,8 roků) provedli chůzi v přímém směru v délce 10 metrů. Zařízením Optojump byly měřeny časové, rychlostní a vzdálenostní charakteristiky vzorce chůze při plném vidění (PV) a bez vidění (BV). Výsledky byly zpracovány dvoufaktorovou analýzou rozptylu 2 × 2 ANOVA se smíšenými efekty (2 skupiny – NM vs. DCDR × 2 zrakové podmínky – PV vs. BV) s opakovaným měřením (α = ,05). Výsledky: Výsledky odhalily, že chůze dětí s DCDR se vyznačovala kratšími a pomalejšími kroky než chůze dětí s NM. Vyloučení zraku také ovlivnilo parametry krokového cyklu včetně stojné fáze, jednooporové fáze, fáze zatěžování a předšvihové fáze bez ohledu na úroveň motorické koordinace. Závěry: Výsledky tohoto experimentu ukazují, že děti s vývojově zhoršenou pohybovou koordinací mají pravděpodobně zhoršenou senzomotorickou integraci nebo zhoršenou schopnost pro online řízení pohybu. Vyšší závislost těchto dětí na vizuálních informacích nebo zhoršené využívání proprioceptivních vstupů při povádění chodecké lokomoce v jednoduchých stálých podmínkách prostředí se neprokázaly.
Background: Motor coordination problems of children with developmental coordination disorder (DCD) have been frequently associated with poor visuospatial processing. Objective: The aim this study has been to investigate a role of the vision in the motor control of walking between typical developing children (TD) and children at risk of DCD (DCDR). Methods: Participants included 16 TD (mean age 9.1, SD 1.0 years), and 16 DCDR, (mean age 8.7, SD 0.8 years) who walked along a 10 meter walkway using the Optojump instrument to assess the spatio-temporal variables of the gait pattern in full vision (FV) and non-vision (NV) conditions. Data was analyzed in a two-way mixed-effect ANOVA (2 groups – TD vs. DCDR, 2 visual conditions – FV vs. NV) with repeated measurement on the last factor (p ≤ .05). Results: The results demonstrated that DCDR children walked slower and with shorter steps than their TD peers. Also, withdrawing the vision affects some parameters of the gait cycle including the stance-phase, single-support, load-response and pre-swing regardless of the level of motor coordination of the children. Conclusions: A higher dependency on visual information or impaired utilization of proprioceptive inputs for execution of simple walk in the stable environment were not confirmed in the children with motor difficulties.
- MeSH
- Analysis of Variance MeSH
- Time Factors MeSH
- Gait * physiology MeSH
- Child MeSH
- Humans MeSH
- Motor Skills Disorders * MeSH
- Postural Balance MeSH
- Psychomotor Performance MeSH
- Vision, Ocular MeSH
- Visual Perception * MeSH
- Check Tag
- Child MeSH
- Humans MeSH
- Publication type
- Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't MeSH
- Comparative Study MeSH
