Transport of Canadian forest fire smoke over the UK as observed by lidar

Layers of aerosol at heights between 2 and 11&thinsp;km were observed with Raman lidars in the UK between 23 and 31 May 2016. A network of these lidars, supported by ceilometer observations, is used to map the extent of the aerosol and its optical properties. Space-borne lidar profiles show that the aerosol originated from forest fires over western Canada around 17 May, and indeed the aerosol properties – weak volume depolarisation ( &lt; 5&thinsp;%) and a lidar ratio at 355&thinsp;nm in the range 35–65&thinsp;sr – were consistent with long-range transport of forest fire smoke. The event was unusual in its persistence – the smoke plume was drawn into an atmospheric block that kept it above north-western Europe for 9 days. Lidar observations show how the smoke layers became optically thinner during this period, but the lidar ratio and aerosol depolarisation showed little change. The results demonstrate the value of a dense network of observations for tracking forest fire smoke, and show how the dispersion of smoke in the free troposphere leads to the emergence of discrete thin layers in the far field. They also show how atmospheric blocking can keep a smoke plume in the same geographic area for over a week.</p

Genome-wide association and Meta-analysis of age at onset in Parkinson Disease

Background and Objectives Considerable heterogeneity exists in the literature concerning genetic determinants of the age at onset (AAO) of Parkinson disease (PD), which could be attributed to a lack of well-powered replication cohorts. The previous largest genome-wide association studies (GWAS) identified SNCA and TMEM175 loci on chromosome (Chr) 4 with a significant influence on the AAO of PD; these have not been independently replicated. This study aims to conduct a meta-analysis of GWAS of PD AAO and validate previously observed findings in worldwide populations. Methods A meta-analysis was performed on PD AAO GWAS of 30 populations of predominantly European ancestry from the Comprehensive Unbiased Risk Factor Assessment for Genetics and Environment in Parkinson's Disease (COURAGE-PD) Consortium. This was followed by combining our study with the largest publicly available European ancestry dataset compiled by the International Parkinson Disease Genomics Consortium (IPDGC). Results The COURAGE-PD Consortium included a cohort of 8,535 patients with PD (91.9%: Europeans and 9.1%: East Asians). The average AAO in the COURAGE-PD dataset was 58.9 years (SD = 11.6), with an underrepresentation of females (40.2%). The heritability estimate for AAO in COURAGE-PD was 0.083 (SE = 0.057). None of the loci reached genome-wide significance (p < 5 × 10−8). Nevertheless, the COURAGE-PD dataset confirmed the role of the previously published TMEM175 variant as a genetic determinant of the AAO of PD with Bonferroni-corrected nominal levels of significance (p < 0.025): (rs34311866: β(SE)COURAGE = 0.477(0.203), pCOURAGE = 0.0185). The subsequent meta-analysis of COURAGE-PD and IPDGC datasets (Ntotal = 25,950) led to the identification of 2 genome-wide significant association signals on Chr 4, including the previously reported SNCA locus (rs983361: β(SE)COURAGE+IPDGC = 0.720(0.122), pCOURAGE+IPDGC = 3.13 × 10−9) and a novel BST1 locus (rs4698412: β(SE)COURAGE+IPDGC = −0.526(0.096), pCOURAGE+IPDGC = 4.41 × 10−8). Discussion Our study further refines the genetic architecture of Chr 4 underlying the AAO of the PD phenotype through the identification of BST1 as a novel AAO PD locus. These findings open a new direction for the development of treatments to delay the onset of PD

Investigation of Shared Genetic Risk Factors Between Parkinson's Disease and Cancers

Background Epidemiological studies that examined the association between Parkinson's disease (PD) and cancers led to inconsistent results, but they face a number of methodological difficulties. Objective We used results from genome-wide association studies (GWASs) to study the genetic correlation between PD and different cancers to identify common genetic risk factors. Methods We used individual data for participants of European ancestry from the Courage-PD (Comprehensive Unbiased Risk Factor Assessment for Genetics and Environment in Parkinson's Disease; PD, N = 16,519) and EPITHYR (differentiated thyroid cancer, N = 3527) consortia and summary statistics of GWASs from iPDGC (International Parkinson Disease Genomics Consortium; PD, N = 482,730), Melanoma Meta-Analysis Consortium (MMAC), Breast Cancer Association Consortium (breast cancer), the Prostate Cancer Association Group to Investigate Cancer Associated Alterations in the Genome (prostate cancer), International Lung Cancer Consortium (lung cancer), and Ovarian Cancer Association Consortium (ovarian cancer) (N comprised between 36,017 and 228,951 for cancer GWASs). We estimated the genetic correlation between PD and cancers using linkage disequilibrium score regression. We studied the association between PD and polymorphisms associated with cancers, and vice versa, using cross-phenotypes polygenic risk score (PRS) analyses. Results We confirmed a previously reported positive genetic correlation of PD with melanoma (Gcorr = 0.16 [0.04; 0.28]) and reported an additional significant positive correlation of PD with prostate cancer (Gcorr = 0.11 [0.03; 0.19]). There was a significant inverse association between the PRS for ovarian cancer and PD (odds ratio [OR] = 0.89 [0.84; 0.94]). Conversely, the PRS of PD was positively associated with breast cancer (OR = 1.08 [1.06; 1.10]) and inversely associated with ovarian cancer (OR = 0.95 [0.91; 0.99]). The association between PD and ovarian cancer was mostly driven by rs183211 located in an intron of the NSF gene (17q21.31). Conclusions We show evidence in favor of a contribution of pleiotropic genes to the association between PD and specific cancers. © 2023 The Authors. Movement Disorders published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society. This article has been contributed to by U.S. Government employees and their work is in the public domain in the USA

Zróżnicowanie zawartości glikozydów fenolowych i makroelementów (K, Ca, Mg) w korze wierzb zielarskich

The willows with high phenolic glycosides concentrations are used in herbal production. The knowledge about these metabolites are well documented, but less is known about macroelement concentration in the bark of herb willows. The aims of this study were to evaluate the content of phenolic glycosides and macroelements in the bark of Salix alba, S. daphnoides and S. purpurea originating from their natural habitats and cultivated on the two different soil types. The study was carried out in 2009 and 2010 on a 5–6 year-old plantation. All the species cultivated on the loess soil were characterized by the highest concentration of phenolic glycosides in the bark. The soil type under willow plantation determined both the content of phenolic glycosides and the content of macroelements in the bark of all the three willow species. Calcium primarily determined the difference in the chemical composition of the bark. Among the species studied, Salix alba was characterized by the highest content of K, Ca and Mg in the bark, compared to the other species studied, irrespective of the soil conditions.Wierzby charakteryzujące się dużą zawartością glikozydów fenolowych są wykorzystywane jako surowiec zielarski. Koncentracja tych metabolitów w korze jest stosunkowo dobrze udokumentowana, natomiast niewiele jest informacji odnośnie zawartości makroelementów. Celem badań było określenie zawartości glikozydów fenolowych oraz makroelementów (K, Ca, Mg) w korze Salix alba, S. daphnoides i S. purpurea, pozyskanych z naturalnych siedlisk występowania tych gatunków i uprawianych na różnych jednostkach glebowych. Badania były przeprowadzone w latach 2009 i 2010 na pięcioboi sześcioletniej plantacji. Wszystkie badane gatunki uprawiane na glebie lessowej charakteryzowały się większą zawartością glikozydów fenolowych w korze w porównaniu z uprawianymi na glebie piaszczystej. Właściwości gleby determinowały zarówno zawartość glikozydów fenolowych, jak i zawartość makroelementów w korze wszystkich ocenianych gatunków Salix sp. Z badanych pierwiastków zawartość wapnia w Salicis cortex była najbardziej zróżnicowana. Salix alba odznaczała się największą zawartością potasu, wapnia i magnezu w korze w porównaniu z pozostałymi gatunkami, niezależnie od warunków glebowych

Zawartosc mikroelementow w lisciach i korzeniach mniszka pospolitego (Taraxacum officinale F.H.Wigg.)

Badania połowę prowadzono w latach 2000 - 2002 na glebie płowej o składzie granulometrycznym piasku gliniastego mocnego, metodą split-plot, w czterech powtórzeniach, na poletkach o powierzchni 10 m². Czynnikiem pierwszego rzędu był sposób zakładania plantacji (siew nasion wprost do gruntu i wysadzanie rozsady). Czynnikiem drugiego rzędu było dokarmianie dolistne dwoma nawozami (Ekolist S i Rolvit-B). Na podstawie uzyskanych wyników stwierdzono, że mniszek uprawiany z rozsady daje istotnie większy plon korzeni i liści. Dokarmianie dolistne wpłynęło korzystnie na plonowanie oraz modyfikowało zawartość Cu i Zn w korzeniach i liściach mniszka pospolitego. Liście w porównaniu z korzeniami charakteryzowały się wyraźnie wyższą zawartością badanych mikroelementów (Cu, Zn, Mn i Fe).Field experiments were carried out in 2000 - 2002 on lessive soil of strong loamy sand granulometric composition, in split-plot design and four replications on 10 m² plots. The manner of plantation setting (seed sowing directly into ground and setting the seedlings) was the first-order factor. Foliar nutrition with two fertilizers (Ekolist S and Rolvit-B) was the second-order factor. On a basis of achieved results it was stated that common dandelion plants cultivated from the seedlings gave significantly higher yield of roots and leaves. Foliar nutrition positively affected the yield and modified Cu and Zn contents in roots and leaves of common dandelion. In comparison to roots the leaves contained distinctly more Cu, Zn Mn and Fe

Przebieg kwitnienia arniki gorskiej [Arnica montana L.] i lakowej [A. chamissonis Less.] w warunkach uprawy polowej przy sukcesywnym zrywaniu koszyczkow

The research on the flowering of Arnica montana L. and A. chamissonis Less, was carried out in the years 2005-2006 on two- and three-year plantations on grey-brown podsolic soil with the granulometric composition of heavy clay sand. The aim of the work was to determine the pattern and length of flowering of two- and three-year-old plants under field cultivation conditions with successive flower head collection. The flowering of Arnica montana in both years of study lasted 26 days (from the 28th of May to the 22nd of June). In this period, eight collections of flower heads were made. When analyzing the number of inflorescences gathered during particular collections, it was concluded that at the initial stage of flowering it was not great, but it successively increased with the passage of time up to the seventh collection. The pattern of flowering of the two- and three-year-old Arnica montana plants was similar. The inflorescences of Arnica chamissonis were collected six times, and the most abundant flowering was found in the middle period of this stage, which lasted 20 days.Badania dotyczące kwitnienia arniki górskiej (Arnica montana L.) i łąkowej (A. chamission Less.) przeprowadzono w latach 2005-2006 na dwu- i trzyletniej plantacji, na glebie płowej o składzie granulo- metrycznym piasku gliniastego mocnego. Celem pracy było określenie przebiegu oraz długości kwitnienia dwu- i trzyletnich roślin arniki górskiej i łąkowej w warunkach uprawy polowej przy sukcesywnym zrywaniu koszyczków. Kwitnienie arniki górskiej w obu latach badań trwało 26 dni (od 28.05 do 22.06). W tym okresie przeprowadzono osiem zbiorów koszyczków kwiatowych. Analizując liczbę kwiatostanów zebranych w poszczególnych terminach stwierdzono, że w początkowej fazie kwitnienia była ona niewielka, a sukcesywnie rosła w miarę upływu czasu aż do siódmego zbioru. Przebieg kwitnienia dwu- i trzyletnich roślin arniki górskiej był zbliżony. Kwiatostany arniki łąkowej zbierano sześciokrotnie, a najobfitsze kwitnienie stwierdzono w środkowym okresie tej fazy, która trwała 20 dni

Salix myrsinifolia Salisb. źródłem glikozydów fenolowych: rozmieszczenie i charakterystyka warunków siedliskowych w Polsce środkowowschodniej

In Poland, Salix myrsinifolia Salisb. reaches the south-western border of the dense geographical range. Therefore, the number of natural stands of this species is limited. The aims of this study were: to evaluate the content of phenolic glycosides in darkleaved willow bark taken from natural sites, and to investigate the habitat conditions and natural resources of this species in mid-eastern Poland. In the sites of S. myrsinifolia the annual shoots were taken, and the content of phenolic glycosides in willow bark was determined. The plant communities with the share of this species were characterised, and pH, organic matter, macro- and microelements in soils were determined. The bark of the dark-leaved willow is characterised by a very high content of phenolic glycosides and is considered to be potential natural source of salicylates. The plant communities with share of this species were formed spontaneously on highly transformed calcareous fens where peat was mined and on agriculturally developed peatlands. The number of natural stands is small, and gather from natural habitats is limited. Therefore, this species can be a good source of quality raw material during cultivating.W Polsce Salix myrsinifolia Salisb. osiąga południowo-zachodnią granicę zwartego geograficznego zasięgu, toteż liczba naturalnych stanowisk tego gatunku jest ograniczona. Celem badań było określenie zawartości glikozydów fenolowych w korze wierzby czarniawej ze stanowisk naturalnych, ocena warunków siedliskowych oraz zasobów tego gatunku w Polsce środkowo-wschodniej. W korze pobranej z jednorocznych pędów S. myrsinifolia oznaczono zawartość glikozydów fenolowych. Scharakteryzowano zbiorowiska roślinne z udziałem tego gatunku, a w pobranych próbkach glebowych oznaczono pH, materię organiczną oraz makro- i mikroelementy. Kora wierzby czarniawej charakteryzowała się bardzo wysoką zawartością glikozydów fenolowych i może być traktowana jako potencjalne źródło salicylanów. Zbiorowiska roślinne z udziałem tego gatunku wykształciły się spontanicznie na torfowiskach węglanowych przekształconych w związku z eksploatacją torfu oraz rolniczo zagospodarowanych. Liczba naturalnych stanowisk Salix myrsinifolia jest niewielka, a pozyskiwanie kory ze stanu naturalnego ograniczone. Celowe wydaje się wprowadzenie tego gatunku do uprawy