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Warm Environment (warm + environment)
Selected AbstractsThe symptomatic treatment of multiple system atrophyEUROPEAN JOURNAL OF NEUROLOGY, Issue 3 2002C. Colosimo Multiple system atrophy (MSA) is a neurodegenerative disease of undetermined aetiology that occurs sporadically and manifests itself as a combination of parkinsonian, autonomic, cerebellar and pyramidal signs. Despite the lack of any effective therapy to reverse this condition, some of the symptoms may be, at least temporarily, improved with adequate symptomatic therapies. Medical treatment is largely aimed at mitigating the parkinsonian and autonomic features. The therapeutic results of levodopa therapy in cases of MSA are difficult to interpret because of their variability. Nevertheless, the statement that patients with MSA are non or poorly levodopa-responsive is misleading. Clinical and pathologically proven series document about 40,60% levodopa efficacy in patients with MSA presenting with predominant parkinsonian features. Unfortunately, other antiparkinsonian compounds (dopamine agonists, amantadine) are not more effective than levodopa. Orthostatic hypotension (OH) can be suspected from the patient's history and subsequently documented in the clinic by measuring lying and standing blood pressure. The diagnosis ideally should be confirmed in the laboratory with additional tests to determine the cause and evaluate the functional deficit, so as to aid treatment. A variety of pharmacological agents with different mechanisms of action have been used in MSA to reduce OH when this is symptomatic. OH can also be alleviated by avoiding aggravating factors, such as the effects of food, micturition, exposure to a warm environment and physiological diurnal changes and by using other non-pharmacological strategies. The treatment of the very common genito-urinary symptoms (incontinence, retention, impotence) should also be considered in order to improve the quality of life of these patients. [source] MicroRNAs, the epigenetic memory and climatic adaptation in Norway spruceNEW PHYTOLOGIST, Issue 4 2010Igor A. Yakovlev Summary ,Norway spruce expresses a temperature-dependent epigenetic memory from the time of embryo development, which thereafter influences the timing bud phenology. MicroRNAs (miRNAs)are endogenous small RNAs, exerting epigenetic gene regulatory impacts. We have tested for their presence and differential expression. ,We prepared concatemerized small RNA libraries from seedlings of two full-sib families, originated from seeds developed in a cold and warm environment. One family expressed distinct epigenetic effects while the other not. We used available plant miRNA query sequences to search for conserved miRNAs and from the sequencing we found novel ones; the miRNAs were monitored using relative real time-PCR. ,Sequencing identified 24 novel and four conserved miRNAs. Further screening of the conserved miRNAs confirmed the presence of 16 additional miRNAs. Most of the miRNAs were targeted to unknown genes. The expression of seven conserved and nine novel miRNAs showed significant differences in transcript levels in the full-sib family showing distinct epigenetic difference in bud set, but not in the nonresponding full-sib family. Putative miRNA targets were studied. ,Norway spruce contains a set of conserved miRNAs as well as a large proportion of novel nonconserved miRNAs. The differentially expression of specific miRNAs indicate their putative participation in the epigenetic regulation. [source] Effects of drought on contrasting insect and plant species in the UK in the mid-1990sGLOBAL ECOLOGY, Issue 1 2002M. D. Morecroft Abstract Aim We examined the effects of drought in the summer of 1995 and the subsequent year on contrasting species of plants, moths, butterflies and ground beetles. We tested whether population increases were associated with: (a) species of warm environments (b) species of dry environments (c) species with rapid reproduction (d) species with high rates of dispersal. Location The study was conducted at Environmental Change Network (ECN) sites throughout Great Britain and Northern Ireland. Methods Climate monitoring, recording of plant species in permanent plots, transect walking for butterflies, light trapping for moths and pitfall trapping for carabid beetles were used. Results There was an overall increase in the number of species recorded in permanent vegetation plots between 1994 and 1996, principally among the annual and biennial vascular plants, probably as a result of gap colonization in grasslands. Most butterfly and moth species increased between 1994 and 1995. Among the butterflies, a southern distribution and high mobility were associated with species tending to increase throughout the period 1994,96, whereas declining species tended to have a northern distribution. A similar number of carabid beetle species increased as decreased in the period 1994,96; decreasing species tended to be associated with lower temperatures and wetter soils. Conclusions Current climate change scenarios indicate that the incidence of droughts in the United Kingdom will increase. A series of dry, hot summers could lead to a rapid change in the population of some species although others, including many plants, may be more resilient. This may lead to complex changes in ecosystems and needs to be considered in planning conservation strategies. [source] Die-off of Cryptosporidium parvum in soil and wastewater effluentsJOURNAL OF APPLIED MICROBIOLOGY, Issue 1 2007A.M. Nasser Abstract Aims:, To determine the effect of biotic and abiotic components of soil on the viability and infectivity of Cryptosporidium parvum, and evaluate the suitability of viability tests as a surrogate for oocyst infectivity under various environmental settings. Methods and Results:, The die-off of C. parvum in saturated and dry loamy soil was monitored over time by immunofluorescence assay (IFA) and PCR to estimate oocysts viability and by cell culture to estimate oocysts infectivity. Pseudomonas aeruginosa activity resulted in digestion of the outer layer of the oocysts, as demonstrated by loss of the ability to react in IFA. Whereas, P. aeruginosa activity did not affect the DNA amplification by PCR. A 1-log reduction in the oocysts infectivity was observed at 30 °C in distilled water and in saturated soil while oocysts viability was unchanged. Incubation for 10 days in dry loamy soil at 32 °C resulted in a 3-log10 reduction in their infectivity while no change of oocysts viability was recorded. Conclusions:, Under low temperature, C. parvum oocysts may retain their infectivity for a long time. Soil desiccation and high temperatures enhance the die-off rate of C. parvum. Significance and Impact of the Study:, Previous die-off studies of C. parvum used viability tests that do not necessarily reflect the oocyst infectivity. Under low temperatures, there was an agreement observed between viability and infectivity tests and oocysts retained their infectivity for a long time. Desiccation and high temperatures enhance the loss of infectivity of C. parvum. The presented die-off data have significant implications on the management of wastewater reuse in warm environments. [source] | ||||||||||