scholarly journals The Effects of Weather and Environmental Factors on West Nile Virus Mosquito Abundance in Greater Toronto Area

2016 ◽  
Vol 20 (3) ◽  
pp. 1-22 ◽  
Author(s):  
E.-H. Yoo ◽  
D. Chen ◽  
Chunyuan Diao ◽  
Curtis Russell
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Factors ◽  
Temporal Correlation ◽  
Weather Conditions ◽  
Surveillance Data ◽  
Spatiotemporal Variability ◽  
Surveillance Program ◽  
Mosquito Surveillance ◽  
Mosquito Abundance ◽  
Greater Toronto Area ◽  
Temperature And Precipitation

Abstract We investigated how weather conditions and environmental factors affect the spatiotemporal variability in Culex pipiens population using the data collected from a surveillance program in Ontario, Canada, from 2005 to 2008. This study assessed the relative influences of temperature and precipitation on the temporal patterns of mosquito abundance using harmonic analysis and examined the associations with major landscape predictors, including land-use type, population density, and elevation, on the spatial patterns of mosquito abundance. The intensity of trapping efforts on the mosquito abundance at each trap site was examined by comparing the spatial distribution of mosquito abundance in relation to the spatial intensity of trapping efforts. The authors used a mixed effects modeling approach to account for potential dependent structure in mosquito surveillance data due to repeated observations at single trap sites and/or similar mosquito abundance at nearby trap sites each week. The model fit was improved by taking into account the nested structure of mosquito surveillance data and incorporating the temporal correlation in random effects.

scholarly journals An investigation of the effects of environmental and ecologic factors on cutaneous leishmaniasis in the old world: a systematic review study

2020 ◽  
Vol 0 (0) ◽  
Author(s):  
Abolfazl Mohammadbeigi ◽  
Salman Khazaei ◽  
Hamidreza Heidari ◽  
Azadeh Asgarian ◽  
Shahram Arsangjang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Review ◽  
Environmental Factors ◽  
Land Cover ◽  
Cutaneous Leishmaniasis ◽  
Weather Condition ◽  
Weather Conditions ◽  
Eligibility Criteria ◽  
Screening Process ◽  
Old World ◽  
Review Study

AbstractObjectivesLeishmaniasis is a neglected and widespread parasitic disease that can lead to serious health problems. The current review study aimed to synthesize the relationship between ecologic and environmental factors (e.g., weather conditions, climatology, temperature and topology) and the incidence of cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) in the Old World.ContentA systematic review was conducted based on English, and Persian articles published from 2015 to 2020 in PubMed/Medline, Science Direct, Web of Science and Google Scholar. Keywords used to search articles were leishmaniasis, environmental factors, weather condition, soil, temperature, land cover, ecologic* and topogr*. All articles were selected and assessed for eligibility according to the titles or abstracts. The quality screening process of articles was carried out by two independent authors. The selected articles were checked according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria.Summary and outlookA total of 827 relevant records in 2015–2020 were searched and after evaluating the articles, 23 articles met the eligibility criteria; finally, 14 full-text articles were included in the systematic review. Two different categories of ecologic/environmental factors (weather conditions, temperature, rainfall/precipitation and humidity) and land characteristics (land cover, slope, elevation and altitude, earthquake and cattle sheds) were the most important factors associated with CL incidence.ConclusionsTemperature and rainfall play an important role in the seasonal cycle of CL as many CL cases occurred in arid and semiarid areas in the Old World. Moreover, given the findings of this study regarding the effect of weather conditions on CL, it can be concluded that designing an early warning system is necessary to predict the incidence of CL based on different weather conditions.

scholarly journals An Unusual Case of “Conjugal” Polymyalgia Rheumatica after SARS-CoV-2 Vaccination

Rheumato ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 17-21
Author(s):  
Elena Vanni ◽  
Jacopo Ciaffi ◽  
Luana Mancarella ◽  
Francesco Ursini
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Factors ◽  
Polymyalgia Rheumatica ◽  
Temporal Correlation ◽  
Married Couples ◽  
Laboratory Findings ◽  
Immune Mediated ◽  
Asia Syndrome ◽  
Causative Effect ◽  
Genetic And Environmental Factors

The rare occurrence of polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR) in married couples has been reported in the literature. Susceptibility to PMR is contributed by genetic and environmental factors and cases of PMR developing after influenza vaccine have also been described, in a debated phenomenon known as ‘ASIA’ syndrome. We report the case of two cohabitating married patients developing PMR few weeks after the first dose of ChAdOx1-S SARS-CoV-2 vaccine. Both patients presented with typical symptoms suggestive of PMR. Laboratory findings and ultrasound examination confirmed the diagnosis. Glucocorticoid therapy led to rapid improvment of symptoms. Anti-receptor-binding domain IgG titre was tested and, eight weeks after vaccination, both patients showed no antibody response. It has been suggested that vaccines might trigger autoimmune or inflammatory states in predisposed individuals and various hypotheses have been made regarding the pathogenesis of PMR. Although the causative effect of vaccines cannot be determined, the close temporal correlation observed in our case supports the potential role of environmental factors in triggering the onset of PMR. However, the literature indicates that post-COVID19 vaccination immune-mediated or inflammatory adverse events are extremely rare and vaccination should be encouraged since the benefit largely outweighs possible risks.

scholarly journals Analysis of German BSE Surveillance Data: Estimation of the Prevalence of Confirmed Cases versus the Number of Infected, but Non-Detected, Cattle to Assess Confidence in Freedom from Infection

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (19) ◽  
pp. 9966
Author(s):  
Matthias Greiner ◽  
Thomas Selhorst ◽  
Anne Balkema-Buschmann ◽  
Wesley O. Johnson ◽  
Christine Müller-Graf ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Food Chain ◽  
Gompertz Model ◽  
Credible Interval ◽  
Surveillance Data ◽  
Point Estimate ◽  
Surveillance Program ◽  
Birth Cohorts ◽  
Detection Probabilities ◽  
Freedom From Disease ◽  
Data Estimation

Quantitative risk assessments for Bovine pongiform ncephalopathy (BSE) necessitate estimates for key parameters such as the prevalence of infection, the probability of absence of infection in defined birth cohorts, and the numbers of BSE-infected, but non-detected cattle entering the food chain. We estimated three key parameters with adjustment for misclassification using the German BSE surveillance data using a Gompertz model for latent (i.e. unobserved) age-dependent detection probabilities and a Poisson response model for the number of BSE cases for birth cohorts 1999 to 2015. The models were combined in a Bayesian framework. We estimated the median true BSE prevalence between 3.74 and 0.216 cases per 100,000 animals for the birth cohorts 1990 to 2001 and observed a peak for the 1996 birth cohort with a point estimate of 16.41 cases per 100,000 cattle. For birth cohorts ranging from 2002 to 2013, the estimated median prevalence was below one case per 100,000 heads. The calculated confidence in freedom from disease (design prevalence 1 in 100,000) was above 99.5% for the birth cohorts 2002 to 2006. In conclusion, BSE surveillance in the healthy slaughtered cattle chain was extremely sensitive at the time, when BSE repeatedly occurred in Germany (2000–2009), because the entry of BSE-infected cattle into the food chain could virtually be prevented by the extensive surveillance program during these years and until 2015 (estimated non-detected cases/100.000 [95% credible interval] in 2000, 2009, and 2015 are 0.64 [0.5,0.8], 0.05 [0.01,0.14], and 0.19 [0.05,0.61], respectively).

scholarly journals Promising varieties of spring glumaceous oat of the mowing and grain-mowing directions, adapted to the natural and climatic conditions of the Volga-Vyatka region

2021 ◽  
Vol 36 ◽  
pp. 01003
Author(s):  
Elena Vologzhanina ◽  
Galina Batalova
Keyword(s):  
Weather Conditions ◽  
Climatic Conditions ◽  
High Yield ◽  
Positive Dependence ◽  
Green Mass ◽  
North East ◽  
The North ◽  
Temperature And Precipitation ◽  
Green Mass Yield ◽  
Favorable Conditions

The results of the study of 12 varieties and promising lines of glumaceous oat in the competitive variety testing of the FASC of the North-East (Kirov region) in the period from 2018 to 2020 are presented. The purpose of the research is to assess the productivity, ecological plasticity and stability of the genotypes of glumaceous oat for feed and universal use in the conditions of the Volga-Vyatka region. The dependences of grain yield and dry matter harvesting on the state of agro-climatic resources (HTC), temperature and precipitation are established. The contrasting weather conditions during the years of research allowed to conduct the most complete assessment of the studied genotypes. The most favorable conditions for the formation of a high yield of green mass of oat were formed in 2020 (Ij=3.76), grain - in 2019 (Ij=1.35). The average degree of positive dependence of green mass yield on the height of oat plants was revealed (r=0.51). The variety of the high-intensity type of the universal direction Medved, promising lines of the mowing direction (178h13 and 245h14) are distinguished.

scholarly journals Hierarchical Environmental Factors Affecting the Distribution of Abies koreana on the Korean Peninsula

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jeong Soo Park ◽  
Hak Sub Shin ◽  
Chul-hyun Choi ◽  
Jinhee Kim ◽  
Junghyo Lee
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Factors ◽  
Regression Model ◽  
Korean Peninsula ◽  
Spatial Scales ◽  
Weather Conditions ◽  
Winter Precipitation ◽  
Slope Aspect ◽  
Dwarf Bamboo ◽  
Abies Koreana ◽  
Korean Fir

Regional declines of the Korean fir (Abies koreana) have been observed since the 1980s on the subalpine region. To explain this decline, it is fundamental to investigate the degree to which environmental factors have contributed to plant distributions on diverse spatial scales. We applied a hierarchical regression model to determine quantitatively the relationship between the abundance of Korean fir (seedlings) and diverse environmental factors across two different ecological scales. We measured Korean fir density and the occurrence of its seedlings in 102 (84) plots nested at five sites and collected a range of environmental factors at the same plots. Our model included hierarchical explanatory variables at both site-level (weather conditions) and plot-level (micro-topographic factors, soil properties, and competing species). The occurrence of Korean fir seedlings was positively associated with moss cover and rock cover but negatively related to dwarf bamboo cover. On site-level, winter precipitation was significantly positively related to the occurrence of seedlings. A hierarchical Poisson regression model revealed that Korean fir density were negatively associated with slope aspect, topographic position index, Quercus mongolica cover, and mean summer temperature. Our results suggest that drought and competition with other species are factors which halt the survival of Korean fir. We can predict that the population of Korean fir will continue to decline on the Korean Peninsula due to rising temperatures and seasonal drought, and only a few Korean fir will survive on northern slopes or valleys where competition with dwarf bamboo and Q. mongolica can be avoided.

scholarly journals Vertical Distribution of Arthropod Assemblages and the Effects of Weather Conditions on Arthropod Rain in a Temperate Conifer Forest

2021 ◽  
Vol 4 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tomohiro Yoshida ◽  
Yasunori Kusunoki ◽  
Yuya Fukano ◽  
Naoki Hijii
Keyword(s):  
Vertical Distribution ◽  
Weather Conditions ◽  
Vertical Stratification ◽  
Food Sources ◽  
Conifer Forest ◽  
Additional Food ◽  
Temperature And Precipitation ◽  
Taxonomic Groups ◽  
Forest Arthropods ◽  
Pan Traps

Vertical stratification of forests results in the occurrence of different arthropod assemblages between the vertical layers. Fallen arthropods from the canopy layers (i.e., “arthropod rain”) are additional food sources for predators thriving on the forest floor (FF). However, the abundances of arthropods are strongly affected by weather conditions and vertical stratification. Therefore, in this study, we investigated the vertical distribution of arthropod assemblages and effects of temperature and precipitation on the arthropod rain in a temperate conifer (Cryptomeria japonica) forest. Arthropods were collected by water-pan traps and trunk-sticky traps in the upper canopy (UC; 16 m), lower canopy (10 m), and FF (0.5 m). Among the fallen arthropods collected by water-pan traps, wandering detritivores, and herbivores were more abundant ranging from the FF to the UC, whereas the abundance of wandering predators (mainly spiders) was similar in the upper and lower canopies. However, detritivores, herbivores, and predators showed the highest abundance in the UC among the flying arthropods. Wandering arthropods moved upward from the FF toward the tree trunks more frequently than downward, indicating the importance of arthropod immigration from the ground to arboreal habitats. Temperature and precipitation had different effects on fallen and moving arthropods among different taxonomic groups. Flying arthropods were affected only by temperature, while wandering detritivores and herbivores were affected by precipitation and temperature. Thus, the abundance of wandering and flying arthropods differed among the vertical layers of a temperate conifer forest; additionally, arthropod rain was closely associated with weather conditions.

scholarly journals Grassland communities in the USA and expected trends associated with climate change

2016 ◽  
Vol 69 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
David Paul Belesky ◽  
Dariusz Piotr Malinowski
Keyword(s):  
Net Primary Productivity ◽  
Weather Conditions ◽  
Anthropogenic Factors ◽  
Plant Resources ◽  
Global Trends ◽  
Temperature And Precipitation ◽  
The Usa ◽  
Grassland Communities ◽  
Growing Conditions

Grasslands, including managed grazinglands, represent one of the largest ecosystems on the planet. Managed grazinglands in particular tend to occupy marginal climatic and edaphic resource zones, thus exacerbating responses in net primary productivity relative to changes in system resources, including anthropogenic factors. Climate dynamism, as evident from the fossil record, appears to be a putative feature of our planet. Recent global trends in temperature and precipitation patterns seem to differ from long-term patterns and have been associated with human activities linked with increased greenhouse gas emissions; specifically CO<span><sub>2</sub></span>. Thus grasslands, with their diverse floristic components, and interaction with and dependence upon herbivores, have a remarkable ability to persist and sustain productivity in response to changing resource conditions. This resistance and resilience to change, including uncertain long-term weather conditions, establishes managed grasslands as an important means of protecting food security. We review responses of grassland communities across regions of the USA and consider the responses in productivity and system function with respect to climatic variation. Research is needed to identify plant resources and management technologies that strengthen our ability to capitalize upon physiological and anatomical features prevalent in grassland communities associated with varying growing conditions.

Effect of the weather conditions during solution preparation on lysozyme crystallization

2017 ◽  
Vol 50 (5) ◽  
pp. 1341-1351 ◽  
Author(s):  
Qing-Di Cheng ◽  
Rui-Qing Chen ◽  
Jin He ◽  
Da-Wei Li ◽  
Fan Yang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Particulate Matter ◽  
Environmental Factors ◽  
Protein Crystallization ◽  
Weather Conditions ◽  
Crystallization Experiment ◽  
Solution Preparation ◽  
Crystallization Solution ◽  
Potential Factor ◽  
Weather Parameters ◽  
Set Up

Protein crystallization is a delicate process that is always sensitive to environmental factors. When the environmental factors are not well controlled or not controlled at all, identical crystallization droplets from the same mother liquid may yield different crystallization results. One environmental factor, the weather conditions during crystallization solution preparation, is not usually considered as a parameter for protein crystallization. In this paper, it is shown that the weather parameters during preparation of the crystallization experiment, including the ambient temperature, humidity, pressure and particulate matter in the air, can all affect the reproducibility of lysozyme crystallization. An identical lysozyme crystallization experiment was repeated for an entire year, and the weather conditions when each crystallization experiment was set up were recorded along with the crystallization results. Among the parameters recorded, the humidity during the experiment setup showed the strongest effect on lysozyme crystallization. On the basis of these results, it is suggested that the weather conditions during crystallization solution preparation should be considered as a potential factor that can influence protein crystallization.

Exploring environmental factors driving wildfire occurrences in Alaskan tundra

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jiaying He ◽  
Tatiana Loboda ◽  
Nancy French ◽  
Dong Chen
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Factors ◽  
Weather Conditions ◽  
Empirical Modeling ◽  
The Arctic ◽  
Fire Weather ◽  
Fuel Type ◽  
Ignition Probability ◽  
Alaskan Tundra ◽  
Fire Ignition ◽  
Cg Lightning

&lt;p&gt;Tundra fires are common across the pan-Arctic region, particularly in Alaska. Fires lead to significant impacts on terrestrial carbon balance and ecosystem functioning in the tundra. They can even affect the forage availability of herbivorous wildlife and living resources of local human communities. Also, interactions between fire and climate change can enhance the fire impacts on the Arctic ecosystems. However, the drivers and mechanisms of wildland fire occurrences in Alaskan tundra are still poorly understood. Research on modeling contemporary fire probability in the tundra is also lacking. This study focuses on exploring the critical environmental factors controlling wildfire occurrences in Alaskan tundra and modeled the fire ignition probability, accounting for ignition source, fuel types, fire weather conditions, and topography. The fractional cover maps of fuel type components developed Chapter 2 serve as input data for fuel type distribution. The probability of cloud-to-ground (CG) lightning and fire weather conditions are simulated using WRF. Topographic features are also calculated from the Digital Elevation Model (DEM) data. Additionally, fire ignition locations are extracted from Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) active fire product for Alaskan tundra from 2001 to 2019. Empirical modeling methods, including RF and logistic regression, are then utilized to model the relationships between environmental factors and wildfire occurrences in the tundra and to evaluate the roles of these factors. Our results suggested that CG lightning is the primary driver controlling fire ignitions in the tundra, while warmer and drier weather conditions also support fires. We also projected future potential of wildland fires in this tundra region with Coupled Model Intercomparison Projects Phase 6 (CMIP6) data. The results of this study highlight the important role of CG lightning in driving tundra fires and that incorporating CG lightning modeling is necessary and essential for fire monitoring and management efforts in the High Northern Latitudes (HNL).&lt;/p&gt;

Can climate models capture the high amplitudes circumglobal waves and their surface imprints?  

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fei Luo ◽  
Kai Kornhuber ◽  
Frank Selten ◽  
Dim Coumou
Keyword(s):  
Soil Moisture ◽  
Climate Models ◽  
Phase Locking ◽  
Weather Conditions ◽  
Reanalysis Data ◽  
Circulation Types ◽  
Temperature And Precipitation ◽  
Wave Patterns ◽  
Precipitation Anomalies ◽  
June July

&lt;p&gt;Pronounced circumglobal waves can trigger and maintain persistent summer weather conditions by remaining in their preferred phase-locked positions for several weeks in a row. This phenomenon, especially important for wave numbers 5 and 7, has been observed in recent years, but it is unclear whether climate models can reproduce circulation types and their surface imprints.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Here we assess three climate models (EC-Earth3, CESM1.2, and MIROC5) &amp;#160;for their representation of amplified circumglobal waves and associated surface imprints in summer (June, July and August) over 1979-2016. ERA5 reanalysis data is used as reference to assess the models&amp;#8217; performance. We run a series of modeling experiments to understand the source of biases in the climate models: free interactive atmosphere and soil moisture runs (AISI), atmospheric nudged runs (AFSI), soil moisture prescribed runs (AISF), and both atmosphere and soil moisture nudged experiments (AFSF).&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;We show that all models reasonably well reproduce the climatological wave spectra. Further, both wave 5 and wave 7 are found to exhibit phase-locking behaviors across all models, resulting in similar wave patterns across the hemisphere as compared to reanalysis. The surface imprints are observed in the models as well, but depending on the model, the results vary in strength. We also found the biases in surface temperature and precipitation anomalies mainly come from the atmospheric circulation in the models as these biases reduced considerably from AISI runs to AFSI and AFSF runs where upper atmosphere levels were nudged. Nudging soil moisture also minimizes some biases in the models but not as obvious as nudging the atmosphere.&amp;#160;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;div&gt; &lt;div&gt; &lt;div&gt;&amp;#160;&lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt;

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