Daytime Heat Stress, Thermal Pattern, Hyperthermia and Body Caloric Overload in Tropical Acclimatized Holstein and Jersey Heifers

The influence of daytime tropical heat stress in the summer was studied in Holstein and Jersey heifers already acclimatized to tropical environments to determine their physiological response based on body thermal patterns and respiratory alterations according to psychrometric caloric indicators. Daytime psychrometric elements showed a tropical caloric potential for developing moderate to severe heat stress in dairy cattle. Body temperature and respiratory rate increased in both breeds open and pregnant (P < 0.01). Thermal body overload and respiratory works increased from 09 am to 12 md (P < 0.001);reaching and sustaining hyperthermia under the highest caloric pressure from 12 md to 03 pm. Rectal temperature increased +1.5˚C in open Holstein (OH), +1.3˚C in pregnant Holstein (PH), +0.8˚C in open jersey (OJ) and +0.8˚C in pregnant Jersey (PJ). The lowest heat stress index (HSI) was at 06 am, where OH and PH showed a HIS +2.25 and +2.30 and OJ and PJ +2.34 and +2.38. Maximum heat stress occurred at 12 md where OH averaged +3.28 and Pregnant Holsteins showed +3.85 at 03 pm. Open Jersey (OJ) showed a maximum HSI at 12 md (3.54) and PJ resulted in +3.89 at 03 pm. Open and pregnant Jersey heifers were more tolerant to heat stress based on lower body mass, insulation, feed consumption and greater relation between body surface and metabolic body size for thermolysis. Acclimatization between five and twenty-five months under tropical heat stress allowed Holstein and Jersey heifers to develop thermal tolerance. Middle thermal acclimatization lowered thermal sensitivity, hyperthermia and hyperpnea in Holstein and Jersey heifers in the morning;however, pregnant heifers in both breeds showed higher thermal alteration in the afternoon. Tropical acclimatization at low altitudes could be integrated with environmental improvements and nutritional and health management to reduce influences of severe heat stress and improve physiological comfort and welfare in Holstein and Jersey heifers in the summer. Those combined strategies will reduce daytime thermal and respiratory responses and allow growth, pregnancy and health with lower body heat overload and less hyperthermia.

High Arterial Oxygen Saturation in the Acclimatized Lowlanders Living at High Altitude

Blood oxygen saturation(SpO_(2))is a key indicator of oxygen availability in the body.It is known that a low SpO_(2)at high altitude is associated with morbidity and mortality risks due to physiological hypoxemia.Previously,it was proposed that the lowlander immigrants living at high altitude should have a lower SpO_(2)level compared to the highlander natives,but this proposal has not been rigorously tested due to the lack of data from the lowlander immigrants living at high altitude.In this study,we compared arterial oxygen saturation of 5929 Tibetan natives and 1034 Han Chinese immigrants living at altitudes ranging from 1120 m to 5020 m.Unexpectedly,the Han immigrants had a higher SpO_(2)than the Tibetan natives at the same high altitudes.At the same time,there is a higher prevalence of chronic mountain sickness in Han than in Tibetans at the same altitude.This result suggests that the relatively higher SpO_(2)level of the acclimatized Han is associated with a physiological cost,and the SpO_(2)level of Tibetans tends to be sub-optimal.Consequently,SpO_(2)alone is not a robust indicator of physiological performance at high altitude.

Implementation of the Acclimatization Process for Ginger Plantlets (Zingiber officinale Roscoe)

Ginger (Zingiber officinale Roscoe) is an important culinary and medicinal spice but is rarely cultivated due to the unavailability of seeds. Given the difficulties in adapting to plantlets produced in natural environments, it is important to analyze the survival conditions of ginger plantlets. For this reason, we varied the incubation temperature and humidity as well as the substrate during the weaning phase. Then, we varied the nutrients contained in the watering solution during the hardening phase. The statistical analysis showed that physical factors and substrates significantly influenced (p < 0.0001) plantlet survival. Nutrient solutions significantly influenced the phylogenesis, rhizogenesis, and height growth of the plantlets. The suitable physical factors for good development of plantlets are a temperature of 26.54˚C and a humidity of 96.16%. The 1C2T2TC substrate (1 Compost + 2 Soil + 2 Coconut Peat) had a significant survival rate of approximately 92.5%. During hardening, the Plantzym solution promoted good growth in terms of plantlet height (0.6 cm) and good development of roots (30 roots) and leaves (03 leaves). This work will make it possible to develop a technical seed production sheet for better development of ginger cultivation in Benin.

The first cavefish in the Dinaric Karst?Cave colonization made possible by phenotypic plasticity in Telestes karsticus

Cave animals are an excellent model system for studying adaptive evolution.At present,however,little is known about the mechanisms that enable surface colonizers to survive in the challenging environment of caves.One possibility is that these species have the necessary genetic background to respond with plastic changes to the pressures of underground habitats.To gain insight into this process,we conducted a comparative study with the fish species Telestes karsticus,which occurs in a hydrological system consisting of an interconnected stream and a cave.Results showed that T.karsticus resided year-round and spawned in Sušik cave,making it the first known cavefish in the Dinaric Karst.Cave and surface populations differed in morphological and physiological characteristics,as well as in patterns of gene expression without any evidence of genetic divergence.To test whether observed trait differences were plastic or genetic,we placed adult fish from both populations under light/dark or constant dark conditions.Common laboratory conditions erased all morphometric differences between the two morphs,suggesting phenotypic plasticity is driving the divergence of shape and size in wild fish.Lighter pigmentation and increased fat deposition exhibited by cave individuals were also observed in surface fish kept in the dark in the laboratory.Our study also revealed that specialized cave traits were not solely attributed to developmental plasticity,but also arose from adult responses,including acclimatization.Thus,we conclude that T.karsticus can adapt to cave conditions,with phenotypic plasticity playing an important role in the process of cave colonization.

Evaluation of Different Substrates Compositions for Acclimatization of Tissue Culture Taro Plantlets in a Propagator

Taro is cultivated in most Regions of Cameroon and it is affected by taro leaf blight disease since 2010 which has decreased its production. Lack of disease-free planting materials has been a main problem to farmers. This study was carried out at International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) Yaounde and Institute of Agricultural Research for Development (IRAD) Bambui to assess different substrates for acclimatization of tissue culture taro plantlets in apropagator. No information is available on acclimatization of Cameroonian taro plantlets in different substrates. Taro plantlets from tissue culture were acclimatised in a propagator for six weeks under different substrates, the first substrate consisted of sterile three parts of soil and one part of river sand mixed together (3:1), the second substrate consisted of sterile two parts of soil and two parts of river sand mixed together (2:2), the third substrate consisted of sterile two parts of soil, one part of rice husk and one part of river sand mixed together (2:1:1) and the fourth substrate consisted of sterile one part of soil and three parts of river sand mixed together (1:3). After acclimatisation of the different taroplantlets (Dark green petiole with small leaves (L1), Red petiole with small leaves (L2), Light green petiole with large leaves (L3) and Light green petiole with small leaves (L4) in these four substrates, it was observed that the best growth rate of plant was recorded on substrate sand + soil (1:3). The other substrates showed moderate growth of plants. Substrate sand + soil (1:3) can be recommended for acclimatization of Cameroonian taro plantlets.

Fifty Years of Botanical Gardens in China

The development, distribution and features of one hundred and forty botanical gardens (BGs) in China are reported and their functions on research, conservation, display and utilization of biodiversity are summarized in this paper. The contributions to the social and economic development in the early stage of Chinese BGs with the researches of economic plant (tobacco), medicinal plant (yam) and wild fruit tree resources are evaluated. The theoretical and applied achievements in recent years in seed science, plant conservation, economic plant introduction, acclimatization and breeding are also described. A general scope of living plant collections in Chinese BGs is presented and the outstanding ones, including Magnoliaceae, Zingiberaceae, Cycadaceae, medicinal plants, Actinidia and Rhododendron are particularly mentioned. With special reference to Chinese penjing art garden and silicified wood garden, the development of scientific popularization and tourism in BGs is reviewed.

Micropropagation protocol for Salvadora oleoides

Salvadora oleoides Decne. is a pharmaceutically important plant. Owing to poor seed formation, viability and, germination, and to anthropogenic disturbances, this species is on the verge of extinction. A reproducible micropropagation protocol to increase the population through tissue culture has been standardized and the results are reported here. Callus tissues were initiated from young leaves and stem explants. Leaf calluses proliferated with 1.5 mg/L BAP and 0.9 mg/L 2, 4-D with additives and continuous slow proliferation up to 15 weeks on 0.5 mg/L BAP and additives with 200 mg/L activated charcoal.Direct shoot initiation took place from stem node explants after 12 days; 4–5 shoots per node were produced in 30 days. Shoot clumps elongated and grew further on MS media supplemented with 2 mg/L BAP, 0.2 mg/L NAA and additives, which generated 20–23 shoots. The elongated shoots induced tap roots with 4 mg/L NAA and200 mg/L activated charcoal in 12 days. In vitro raised plants produced secondary roots when transferred to pots containing vermiculite maintained at 28–35 ℃. The plantlets successfully acclimatised in pots containing soil in natural conditions.

Plantlet regeneration of adult Pinus massoniana Lamb. trees using explants collected in March and thidiazuron in culture medium

A protocol for micropropagation using nodal explants from mature Pinus massoniana trees has been developed. Time of explant collection is crucial for the initial success of aseptic culture. Explants collected in early March gave the highest percentage of explant survival (64.5%) and shoot-forming percentage (52.3%). Thidiazuron (TDZ) concentration significantly influenced shoot formation; 4 mu M TDZ was optimum, with 4.8 shoots produced per explant with a mean length of 7.1 cm after 120 days of culture. Regenerated shoots rooted for 60 days in basic medium with 1 mu M NAA were ready for growth in pots. This is the first report on plantlet regeneration in vitro from mature trees of P. massoniana that provides a reliable method for propagating selected elites.

Acclimatization of <i>in Vitro</i>Propagated Pineapple (<i>Ananas comosuss</i>(L.), var. Smooth cayenne) Plantlets to <i>ex Vitro</i>Condition in Ethiopia

Pineapple (Ananas comosuss, var. Smooth cayenne), which is a popular tropical fruit, is propagated vegetatively. Conventional propagation alone does not provide clean and adequate planting material demanded in Ethiopia. Recently, in vitro multiplication has become a promising technique for large-scale production. However, the acclimatization to the external environment procedure impedes the efficiency, which needs carefully optimized acclimatization techniques. We report optimized acclimatization procedures following first- and second-stage hardening methods for in vitro pineapple plantlets. Primarily, Jiffy-7 peat pellet allowed growing plants vigorously and provided above 8% survival rate over soil mix. Nevertheless, in Ethiopia, soil mix is cheaper and locally accessible. The primarily acclimatized plantlets are needed to be hardened further for better establishment and survival in the field. Black polybag and polysleeve pots filled with soil mix were evaluated in the greenhouse. A significant difference was obtained between pots for number of roots and substrate weight. Polybags had higher root number than polysleeves and saved about 27% of substrates per plant, which is a reduction of 25% of total transportation cost. Hence, the soil mix and polybags were found to be preferable over substrates and pots, for subsequent in vitro pineapple acclimatization.

Ascent schedules,acute altitude illness,and altitude acclimatization:Observations on the Yushu Earthquake

During the Yushu Earthquake on April 14,2010,a large number of rescuers from sea level or lowlands ascended to the quake areas very rapidly or rapidly less than 24 h. However,Yushu Earthquake is the highest quake in the world at altitudes between 3 750 m and 4 878 m where is a serious hypoxic environment. A high incidence of acute altitude illness was found in the unacclimatized rescuers;the mountain rescue operation changed as "rescue the rescuers". Lesson from the Yushu Earthquake is that the occurrence of acute altitude illness may be closely related to the ascent schedules. This prompted us to study the relationship between ascent rate and the incidence and severity of acute altitude illness;five different groups were compared. The first group was 42 sea level male young soldiers who ascended to quake area very rapidly within 8 h at 4 000 m;the second group was 48 sea level male young soldiers who ascended to 4 000 m rapidly less than 18 h;the third group was 66 acclimatized medical workers from 2 261 m who ascended to 4 000 m rapidly within 12 h;the fourth group was 56 Tibetan medical workers from 2 800 m who ascended to 4 000 m rapidly within 8 h;the fifth group was 50 male sea level workers who ascended to 4 000 m gradually over a period of 4 d. The results showed that the sea level rescuers ascended to 4 000 m very rapidly or rapidly had the highest incidence of acute mountain sickness (AMS) with the greatest AMS scores and the lowest arterial oxygen saturation (SaO2);the sea level workers ascended to 4 000 m gradually had moderate incidence of AMS with moderate AMS scores and SaO2 values;whereas the acclimatized and adapted rescuers had the lowest incidence of AMS,lowest AMS scores and higher SaO2;especially none AMS occurred in Tibetan rescuers. AMS score is inversely related to the ascent rate (r=-0.24,p< 0.001). Additionally,acute altitude illness is significantly influenced by altitude acclimatization. The ascent rate is inversely re- lated to the period of altitude acclimatization whereas the time of perfect recovered from AMS is positively correlated to the time taken to acclimatize. Generally,the best means of preventing acute altitude illness is slow and gradual ascent to high altitude,as this allows time for establishing altitude acclimatization and tolerance to the hypoxic environment. However,during an emergency circumstance,such as mountain rescue operation,the rescuers must rapidly ascend to high altitude,so a series of preventive strategies including pre-acclimatization,using some prophylactic drugs and oxygen supplementary are sorely necessary.

Thermogenic responses in Eurasian Tree Sparrow(Passer montanus)to seasonal acclimatization and temperature-photoperiod acclimation

Background:Small birds in temperate habitats must either migrate,or adjust aspects of their morphology,physiology and behavior to cope with seasonal change in temperature and photoperiod.It is,however,difficult to accurately measure how seasonal changes in temperature and photoperiod affect physiological processes such as basal metabolic rate(BMR)and metabolic activity.To address this problem,we collected data in each month of the year on body mass(Mb)and BMR,and conducted a series of experiments to determine the effect of temperature and photoperiod on Mb,BMR and physiological markers of metabolic activity,in the Eurasian Tree Sparrow(Passer montanus).Methods:In one experiment,we measured monthly change in Mb and BMR in a captive group of birds over a year.In another experiment,we examined the effects of acclimating birds to two different temperatures,10 and 30℃,and a long and a short photoperiod(16 h light:8 h dark and 8 h light:16 h dark,respectively)for 4 weeks.Results:We found that these treatments induced sparrows to adjust their Mb and metabolic rate processes.Acclimation to 30℃for 4 weeks significantly decreased sparrows’Mb,BMR,and energy intake,including both gross energy intake and digestible energy intake,compared to birds acclimated to 10℃.The dry mass of the liver,kidneys and digestive tract of birds acclimated to 30℃also significantly decreased,although their heart and skeletal muscle mass did not change significantly relative to those acclimated to 10℃.Birds acclimated to 30℃also had lower mitochondrial state-4 respiration(S4R)and cytochrome c oxidase(COX)activity in their liver and skeletal muscle,compared to those acclimated to 10℃.Birds acclimated to the long photoperiod also had lower mitochondrial S4R and COX activity in their liver,compared to those acclimated to the short photoperiod.Conclusions:These results illustrate the changes in morphology,physiology,and enzyme activity induced by seasonal change in temperature and photoperiod in a small temperate passerine.Both temperature and photoperiod probably have a strong effect on seasonal variation in metabolic heat production in small birds in temperate regions.The effect of temperature is,however,stronger than that of photoperiod.

Variation in metabolic enzymatic activity in white muscle and liver of blue tilapia,Oreochromis aureus,in response to long-term thermal acclimatization

The effects of rearing temperature on white muscle and hepatic phosphofructokinase （PFK）, pyruvate kinase （PK）, lactate dehydrogenase （LDH）, aspartate aminotransferase （AST） and alanine aminotransferase （ALT） were examined in fingerlings of blue tilapia, Oreochromis aureus. The experiment was conducted for 14 weeks at temperatures of 18, 22, 26, 30, and 34℃. The activity of the glycolytic enzymes PFK, PK, and LDH in white muscle increased significantly with increase in water temperature. A reverse trend was observed for these enzymes in the liver, except for LDH, which behaved in the same manner as in white muscle. Cytosolic AST and ALT activity increased in both white muscle and liver in response to warm thermal acclimatization, while a reduction in mitochondrial AST and ALT activity was noticed at high temperatures in comparison with those at a lower temperature.

Evaluation of Four Methods for Restoring a Degraded Swamp Forest

Swamp Forests occur in permanently wet soils, with specific ecosystem which contributes to the conservation of biodiversity and water resources. However, there are many gaps in knowledge about the restoration of these forests. The present study was conducted in a degraded wetland in the town of Mineiros do Tietê, located in the state of S?o Paulo, Brazil, in order to test the efficiency of four methods for restoring a Swamp Forest (small mound, acclimated seedling, dry season and conventional tillage), using six forest tree species typical of this type of forest: Calophyllum brasiliense Cambess., Citharexylon myrianthum Cham., Cedrela odorata L., Tapirira guianensis Aubl., Ficus insipida Willd. and Croton urucurana Baill. The least favorable methods for all plant species were: conventional and soil pit tillageindry seasons. Analyzing the plant species individually, the best results in descending order were: Croton urucurana Baill. (acclimated seedling tillage in dry season), followed by Calophyllum brasiliense Cambess. (insmall mounds), Citharexylon mirianthum Cham. (with acclimated seedlings), Ficus insipida Willd. and Tapirira guianensis Aubl. (insmall mounds). Cedrela odorata L. presented low performance in all conditions, probably because it suffered the Hypsipyla grandella Zeller. The results have been successful for the establishment of Swamp Forest restoration strategies.

Improvement of heat-tolerance by training I. Evaluation of effects of long-distance running and march training on heat-tolerance

in order to verify the heat-tolerance effect, two trainings, 90 min marching with load (WBGT 24. 6～35.6℃) and 10 km running (WBGT 25.0～31.1℃) were performed in laboratory and field under hot climate.Ten to twelve times (days) of training were carried out

CO_2, H_2O exchange and stomatal regulation of regenerated Camptotheca acuminata plantlets during ex vitro acclimatization

For finding the changes in CO2, H20 exchange and their stomatal regulation during ex vitro acclimatization of regenerated Camptotheca acuminata plantlets, the net photosynthesis rate （Pn）, respiration rate （Ro）, light compensation point （Lc） and light saturation point （Ls）, transpiration rate （Tr）, stomatal conductance （gs） and water use efficiency（WUE） were measured during 37 days of ex vitro acclimatization. The results showed that Pn sharply increased until 29 days, then slightly decreased. A substantial decrease in Lc and a substantial increase of Ls in the former two weeks were observed, indicating the light regime enlargement for effective leaf photosynthesis. Tr and gs abruptly decreased during the first week then linearly increased until 29days ex vitro acclimatization, reflecting the strong regulation effect of stomata on water changes of ex vitro acclimating plantlets. Stomatal regulation effect on CO2 exchange was different from that on water exchange, i.e. P, was almost independent of gs during the first week, while P. was significantly correlated with gs thereafter （i.e. dual patterns）. Different from dual patterns of gs-Pn relation, the Tr monotonously linearly increased with gs. Furthermore, WUE was almost independent on gs during the first week, while a marked decreasing tendency with gs was found thereafter. At the beginning of the acclimatization, WUE was mainly determined by photosynthetic capacity, while transpiration becomes a main determinant factor for WUE from 7 to 37 days＇ acclimatization.

Influenza epidemics and Spanish climatic domains

The present article proposes a climatic approach to the study of the interaction between influenza spreading and climatic and meteorological factors in different climatic domains of the Iberian Peninsula. This association can be used to help in the prevention and mitigation of influenza epidemics. A biometeorological index has been defined and applied to the epidemic periods that took place in the Iberian Peninsula between 2000 and 2009 considering its climatic domains.

Safety-efficiency trade-offs in the cotton xylem：acclimatization to different soil textures

The acclimatization of plant xylem to altered environmental conditions has attracted considerable attention from researchers over several decades. Plants growing in natural environments must seek a balance between water uptake and the water loss of leaves from evaporation. Thus, the adaptation of xylem to different soil textures is important in maintaining plant water balance. In this study, we investigated the xylem changes of cotton（Gossypium herbaceum L.） xylem in sandy, clay and mixed soils. Results showed that soil texture had a significant effect on xylem vessel diameter and length of stems and roots. Compared with G. herbaceum growing in the clay soil, those plants growing in the sandy soil developed narrower and shorter xylem vessels in their roots, and had a higher percentage of narrow vessels in their stems. These changes resulted in a safer（i.e. less vulnerable to cavitation）, but less-efficient water transport system when soil water availability was low, supporting the hydraulic safety versus efficiency trade-off hypothesis. Furthermore, in sandy and mixed soils, the root： shoot ratio of G. herbaceum increased twofold, which ensures the same efficiency of leaves. In summary, our finding indicates that the morphological plasticity of xylem structure in G. herbaceum has a major role in the acclimatization of this plant species to different soil textures.

Effect of Salinity-Changing Rates on Filtration Activity of Mussels from Two Sites within the Baltic Mytilus Hybrid Zone:The Brackish Great Belt(Denmark)and the Low Saline Central Baltic Sea

Mussels from two sites within the Baltic mussel (Mytilus edulis × M. trossulus) hybrid zone were used in a comparative study on the effects of salinity-changing rates on filtration activity. The acute effect of varying salinity-changing rates was found to be similar in M. edulis from the brackish Great Belt and in M. trossulus from the low saline Central Baltic Sea, and the relationships could be described by linear regression lines through 0.0 indicating that the acute effect of deteriorating conditions at decreasing salinities is the opposite as for improving conditions when the salinity is subsequently increased. Further, both M. edulis and M. trossulus acclimatized to 20 psu reacted to an acute salinity change to 6.5 psu by immediately closing their valves whereupon the filtration rate gradually increased during the following days, but only M. trossulus had completely acclimatized to 6.5 psu within 5 days which may be explained by different genotypes of M. edulis and M. trossulus which probably reflected an evolutionary adaptation of the latter to survive in the stable low-salinity Baltic Sea.

Rooting of Pinus radiata somatic embryos: factors involved in the success of the process

In vitro conditions of the culture media, plant growth regulators and culture containers may cause anatomical and physiological changes that have negative effects on rooting and ex vitro acclimatization of somatic plantlets. The control of these factors could contribute to the improvement of somatic embryogenesis systems in conifers, especially in pines. The influence of macronutrient concentrations, explant type and culture containers in Pinus radiata D. Don in vitro somatic embryo rooting were analyzed. The highest rooting percentage was observed using half-strength macronutrient concentrations, complete micronutrients and vitamins of Quoirin and Lepoivre medium. Although the use of glass culture vessels was the best to increase the efficiency of the somatic embryogenesis process in terms of rooting, the use of ventilated containers resulted in a significant increase in the percentage of plants able to be planted in the field.