Category Archives: Physiology

News > Environment > The global abundance of palm trees – University of Leeds

A major study has conducted the first global assessment of palm tree numbers to better understand tropical forest diversity and reduce uncertainty about carbon balance in these ecosystems.

This study, which includedseveral Leeds researchers, surveyed the total numbers of palms in tropical rainforests around theglobe.

Led by Uppsala University (Sweden) and University of Campinas (Brazil), the research reveals that in the Neotropical rainforests such as the Amazon,palms are more than five times more numerous than in comparable Asian andAfrican forests. Many palms were already known to prefer land with a goodgroundwater supply, and the new study confirmed that palm trees were moreplentiful in wetter areas with less fertile soils and shallower groundwater.

Tropical rainforestsare often seen as synonymous with biodiversity. However, this diversity is notevenly distributed, and most plants in a given area belong to only a handful ofspecies. More than half of the total biomass in the Amazon rainforest isdistributed among fewer than 300 tree species including several species of palms.

Palms are among themost common tree species in the Amazon rainforest, but in some tropical areasthey are unusual, or conspicuously absent.Palms are more closely relatedto grasses than to the deciduous trees of the tropics. They therefore differ inmany fundamental ways, in anatomy and physiology, from other tropical trees.

These differences mayhave far-reaching implications when it comes to estimating uptake and storageof carbon in tropical forests, as well as their resilience to climate change.The new study provides knowledge with a vital bearing on further research intoboth of these aspects.

Aerial photo of Quistococha, a Mauritia felxuosapalmswamp close to Iquitos, Peru. Picture: Gabriel Hidalgo

By using large networks of forest plots, the researchers were able to compile a huge database of 2,548 plots and then quantified palm numbers relative to other tree species in the sample plots.The team drew heavily on the networks led by the University of Leeds, particularly RAINFOR, AfriTRON and ForestPlots.net.

Professor Oliver Philips, from Leeds'School of Geography, said:This study shows the exciting potential ofnew, collaborative science that reaches across the world's tropical forests.

We are linking more than 1,000 researchers via plotnetworks and the ForestPlots.net technology developed at Leeds. ForestPlots.netalone includes over 4.5 million tree measurements from more than 15,000different species. The first was made as long ago as 1939, the latest asrecently as last month.

This resource andothers like it combined a huge field effort to reveal the fundamental patternof the tropics' most iconic plants.

Study co-lead author,Bob Muscarella, from Uppsala University, said: To get a better understanding of tropical forests and reduceuncertainty about carbon balance in these ecosystems during climate change, wesummarised data to show how the number of palms vary around the world comparedwith other tree species.

Understanding thedominant species in tropical forests is crucial to recognising how theseforests function and how vulnerable theyre going to be to disturbances andclimate change in the future.

Livistonasaribus in Vietnam. Picture: Nguyen Xuan Hong

Study co-lead author ThaiseEmilio, from the University of Campinas, said: Impressive levels of palm abundance do not come as a surprise to manytropical forest researchers. Days of work may be necessary to measure all thepalms of a single hectare in some places in the middle of Amazon.

However, afair representation of palms in studies of tropical forests functioning is yetto come. Showing where and when palms must be considered is a majorcontribution of our new study.

Further information

Top image credit:Howea forsteriana in Lord Howe Island (Australia). Picture by WilliamJ Baker.

The paperThe Global Abundance of Tree Palms is published inGlobal Ecology and Biogeography 6 July 2020. DOI: 10.1111/geb.13123

For additional information contact University of Leeds press officer Anna Harrison viaa.harrison@leeds.ac.uk

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News > Environment > The global abundance of palm trees - University of Leeds

The Now and Next of Cotton Scouting Technology – CropLife

When it comes to in-season management, the cotton crop presents agronomists with challenges that must be monitored.

With the plethora of technologies unleashed on agriculture for a wide range of crops in recent years, a number of individuals, companies, and organizations are working to test their mettle in the cotton market. Among those leading the way is Ed Barnes, Senior Director of Agricultural and Environmental Research at Cotton Inc.

Barnes works extensively with companies and Universities on identifying the best pathways to commercializing technology for in-season scouting, and there are several promising products and practices that have, or will soon, emerge for use in the cotton production cycle.

The ubiquity of phone connectivity has led to targeted, highly functional apps to provide support and help maximize every scouting trip in the field.

For example, while irrigation in the southeast and mid-south regions has increased substantially in cotton and other crops, its a tricky business. Hyper-local pop-up storm activity is the norm, which confounds weather models based on ground sensing technology. And less is understood about the physiology of cotton as far as the impact of moisture depravation how much yield is lost if no rain falls during boll fill time?

Developed by the University of Georgia in conjunction with Cotton Incorporated, the SmartIrrigation Cotton app has been available to alert field scouts to irrigation deficit issues in fields since 2014. The app combines data from a farm-based sensor station, which is required for maximum effectiveness, with data aggregated from a range of available sources: Meteorological data, soil parameters, crop growth stage, crop coefficients, measured rainfall, and irrigation applications. The app returns an estimate of root zone soil water deficits in terms of inches of water and percent of total, which can be used to decide whether the time is right to apply water to a field.

GA Cotton Insect Advisor is an expert system for determining Extension prescribed insecticide treatments for management of cotton insect pests in the state of Georgia. The app displays the most appropriate insecticide or tankmix after users provide the appropriate week of bloom, predominant stink bug species, percent internal boll injury, and other pests present. At present, the app is intended for management of stink bugs. Recommendations are based on information on the manufacturers label and performance data from research and extension trials the University of Georgia.

On the insect side, North Carolina State University offers its Thrips Infestation Predictor for Cotton, an online tool that uses weather data to make predictions on the intersection of thrips dispersal and the development of susceptible seedlings, allowing for optimum timing of insecticide application.

There are also resources available through the Cotton Incorporated website, Cotton Cultivated, with connections to state level cotton sites that will keep you current with the latest recommendations specific to your area, notes Barnes.

The recent wave of technology investment in ag features extensive work in the area of sensing technology. And while a lot of stand-alone systems have come and gone, the next wave of systems and concepts are more targeted and collaborative.

Barnes notes that unmanned aerial systems (UAS) are continuing to demonstrate their value for crop scouting, in particular for taking plant counts. Research at the University of Tennessee and at North Carolina State University have demonstrated that UAV images can provide very robust stand counts to help in cotton replant decisions, he explains. More and more tools are coming to turn these UAS images into information.

Farmwaves on-the-go crop damage recognition system on soybeans.

A bit farther down the path but very focused technology is Farmwaves employment of artificial intelligence to detect disease issues on cotton. Using a camera mounted to a piece of field equipment to capture images in real time, the Farmwave system is able to see and diagnose disease issues while mounted on a rig travelling up to 20 miles per hour. The algorithm is powered by soybean and corn disease data collected over eight years and validated by scientists, and the results have been very positive, says Chris Palczynski, Farmwaves Chief Sales and Marketing Officer.

SpadeGeo is a recently launched company looking to expand machine learning technology to the broader agriculture industry, with particular interest in cotton. Cofounder Bobby Vick, who left a UAV company to start the new venture, sees opportunity to collaborate with existing ag companies and help farmers make gains in difficult but essential activities such as irrigation control, pest monitoring, harvest timing, and stand counts.

Schrimpf, an award-winning journalist, has covered the agriculture market since 1998. He is Group Editor of the Agribusiness Group at Meister Media Worldwide, with full editorial responsibility for CropLife, CropLife IRON, and PrecisionAg Professional. See all author stories here.

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The Now and Next of Cotton Scouting Technology - CropLife

Pirbright Institute: Pigs ideal for assessing flu antibody therapies – The Pig Site

They also demonstrated pigs are suitable for analysing the delivery systems used to administer the antibodies in order to provide longer lasting protection.

Having been successfully utilised for Ebola virus and respiratory syncytial virus, the use of antibodies to provide protection and reduce symptoms of influenza is an area of great interest. Although several influenza antibodies have progressed to clinical trials based on their success in small animals (ferrets and mice), the outcome has been disappointing as no antibodies have shown therapeutic effect in humans.

A previous study by Pirbright showed that pigs are good models for influenza vaccine studies as they are naturally infected by the same subtypes of influenza viruses as humans, have similar immune systems and are more comparable in size and physiology than smaller animals.

The teams new research, published in the Journal of Immunology established that a human antibody (2-12C) can neutralise the H1N1 2009 flu pandemic virus in pigs, thereby providing protection. Both the amount of virus and signs of infection in the lungs were reduced in pigs that received treatment.

Alongside testing the efficiency of 2-12C, the team also assessed a new antibody delivery method that works by administering the antibody genes to pigs. Once inside pig cells, the genes continuously generate antibodies, providing longer term protection than a single direct inoculation of antibodies. The team showed that this gene delivery method for 2-12C was able to protect pigs from signs of disease typically caused by H1N1.

The success of this antibody and delivery platform in the pig model indicates that these treatments could potentially also work in humans. The pig provides an excellent intermediate step between trials in smaller animals and humans and could provide more accurate assessments of antibody therapies against influenza.

Dr Elma Tchilian, Head of the Mucosal Immunology Group at Pirbright said: We are very excited that the pig model is becoming useful for testing and refining antibody treatments for life threatening influenza infections and could be equally useful for other infectious diseases.

This research was funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC), part of UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) and the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, part of the U.S. National Institutes of Health.

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Pirbright Institute: Pigs ideal for assessing flu antibody therapies - The Pig Site

Male fruit flies’ decline in fertility with age is not only driven by changes in sperm – Mirage News

Infertility is one of the most striking effects of ageing. The impact of ageing on females fertility is more severe and much better understood, but it also affects males. Male reproductive ageing is less researched, but of those studies that do address it, most focus on sperm. However, ejaculate contains more than just sperm. Proteins in the seminal fluid are important for fertility, and in many animals, they have a dramatic effect on female physiology and behaviour. Little is currently known about the impact of male ageing on these proteins, and whether any changes contribute to poorer ejaculates in older males.

To resolve these questions, researchers at the University of Oxfords Department of Zoology conducted experiments in a model organism, the fruit fly, Drosophila melanogaster. This species typically lives for less than five weeks, which means that researchers can very rapidly measure the impact of age on male fertility, and their sperm and seminal fluid proteins. This species is also highly amenable to genetic studies, which allowed the researchers to genetically manipulate male lifespan, to see how this impacted the decline in fertility with age.

Published this week in PNAS are their results which show that both sperm and seminal fluid protein quality and quantity decline with male age, making distinct contributions to declining reproductive performance in older males. However, the relative impacts on sperm and seminal fluid often differ, leading to mismatches between ejaculate components. Despite these differences, experimental extension of male lifespan improved overall ejaculate performance in later life, suggesting that such interventions can delay both male reproductive ageing and death.

Lead author Dr Irem Sepil, from the University of Oxfords Department of Zoology, says: These results highlight that the decline in fertility with male age is not exclusively driven by changes in sperm. The quality and quantity of the seminal fluid proteins also change as males age, and these patterns can differ from the changes seen in sperm, but still impact male reproductive function. However, a manipulation aimed at increasing lifespan also slows down age-related reproductive decline. This means that it is possible that drugs and treatments aimed at promoting healthy ageing could be co-opted to slow down male reproductive ageing.

Going forward, the researchers want to look into the health of offspring. In humans, children of old fathers are more at risk of certain medical disorders, but the mechanisms driving these changes remain unclear. Also, whilst a lifespan-extending genetic manipulation helped fertility in older males, it is not clear whether less invasive treatments, which might be used in human medicine, would work similarly. There is ongoing research to understand how we can increase the healthspan of individuals. The aim is not to live longer but to age healthily, slowing down the onset of age-related diseases such as cancer, Alzheimers and arthritis.

It is important to note that the work described here was on a species of fly. While ageing mechanisms are often similar across animals, to understand whether the patterns are commonly shared, they will need to be examined in other species.

Read the paper in PNAS: https://www.pnas.org/content/early/2020/06/30/2009053117

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Male fruit flies' decline in fertility with age is not only driven by changes in sperm - Mirage News

Bringing smart science used to protect premiership footballers to the offshore market in the fight against Covid-19 – Bdaily

Tyneside-based marine engineering specialists, TSG Marine, is taking the latest molecular technology offshore to support the energy sector on its journey out of the Covid-19 crisis.

Utilising the same smart science used to protect premiership football players and staff in stadiums, TSG Marine has secured a deal to make the technology available to oil and gas, marine and renewable assets operating in the North Sea and beyond.

Energy companies have been particularly hard hit during the pandemic and ensuring offshore teams and their families are protected against the transmission of the Covid-19 virus is critical.

Going beyond disinfecting an environment, TSG Marine is deploying a rapid sanitisation system which not only renders a workplace virus-free but a molecular layer, when applied to surfaces, kills all viral, bacterial, mould and organisms for up to 30 days.

TSG Marines Protect+ is a process based on science, using the physiology of viruses, bacteria, mould and organisms against them.

When applied to a surface, ZOONO leaves behind a mono-molecular layer that bonds to the surface. These molecules form a barrier of positively charged microscopic spines that attract and pierce pathogens causing them to break up with lethal effect. This layer of molecular antimicrobial spines is laboratory tested to carry on working for up to 30 days on surfaces and isnt disrupted by regular cleaning practices.

TSG Marine, managing director, Erika Leadbeater, said: Were working with companies in the offshore energy sector as they plan their route out of the COVID-19 crisis. Its important we establish new ways of working that protect their teams and we believe this technology is the solution.

We work with our customers to design the most appropriate programme for their facilities to reduce risk, identifying high transmission areas, utilising fogging for maximum coverage and spray application for exterior locations. With training and supplies of top-up fluids for high contact areas, we will work with the infield personnel to educate and inform, keeping their environment safe. On completion, our technicians will issue a certificate of sanitation which customers can use to help reassure workers of their safety.

We are also bringing temperature monitoring equipment, as weve seen deployed in airports, to help the industry test workers joining facilities for signs of infection. This not only reduces the spread of the virus but ensures those workers showing signs of infection are not putting their own health at risk by travelling offshore.

This non-contact, fast screening process, utilises artificial intelligence to detect elevated temperatures in up to 30 people a second with an accuracy range of +/-0.5oC. Together with TSG Marines expertise in marine and offshore environments, this technology can be applied to make the offshore industry safer amidst a public health crisis that is challenging all companies to change the way they do things.

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Bringing smart science used to protect premiership footballers to the offshore market in the fight against Covid-19 - Bdaily

Paul Meakin – The Conversation UK

2020

Elevated circulating amyloid promotes concentrations in obesity and diabetes promote vascular dysfunction. , Journal of Clinical Investigation

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Small vessels, dementia and chronic diseases molecular mechanisms and pathophysiology. , Clinical Science

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Bace1-dependent amyloid processing regulates hypothalamic leptin sensitivity in obese mice. , Scientific Reports

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The beta secretase BACE1 regulates the expression of the insulin receptor in the liver. , Nature Communications

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Itaconate is an anti-inflammatory metabolite that activates Nrf2 via alkylation of Keap1, Nature

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Neuronal development is promoted by weakened intrinsic antioxidant defenses due to epigenetic repression of Nrf2, Nature Communications

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The susceptibility of Nrf2-null mice to hepatic steatosis and cirrhosis upon consumption of a high-fat diet is associated with a profound disturbance in metabolic enzymes in the liver, but not with insulin resistance. , Journal of Cell Biology

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Paul Meakin - The Conversation UK

Preparation is key when returning to exercise after lockdown – Mirage News

With the resumption of full training activities and competitions for community sport this week, there are concerns about the risk of injury from people increasing their exercise loads too quickly.

While the beginning of lockdown saw an explosion of participation in online exercise classes and local parks filled with people completing their daily exercise, as restrictions eased, so did many peoples workout routines.

Lecturer in Exercise Physiology at UNSW Medicines School of Medical Sciences, Dr Mandy Hagstrom believes the risk of injury can be minimised by resuming training in the right manner.

If exercise is commenced gradually, then the risk of injury is minimal, she says.

The risk comes when people jump straight back into high volumes of physical activity when they havent been doing much for a while.

With delayed starts to sporting seasons, many people may be tempted to jump straight back into training at full intensity, hoping to make up as much ground as possible. But Dr Hagstrom recommends a more measured approach.

Start with less days per week, less time in the given activity, and perhaps at a slightly easier intensity than previously accustomed, she says.

You will be able to gauge how your body is going after a few sessions and increase as you can tolerate.

Its completely normal for people to feel a sense of fatigue and soreness when returning to activity, and equally as important for them to realise that these feelings will diminish over time with consistency in their routines.

Personal trainers can provide professional advice and guidance for people who are concerned about returning to exercise. Photo: UNSW Fitness & Aquatic Centre

Jack Burke, Health and Fitness Coordinator at UNSW Fitness and Aquatic Centre agrees, urging people to be kinder to themselves as they return to exercise.

For the vast majority of people, returning to exercise means not being in the same condition as pre-COVID, but you are not alone! he says.

Dont beat yourself up about coming back a little underdone in these unprecedented times. Stay positive, enjoy the feeling of exercise again and being back in the gym.

Dr Hagstrom also emphasises preparation as a key element of returning to training and exercise.

You can help prepare mentally, as well as physically, by planning out when you think you will exercise, she says.

What time of day will it be? What do you need to prepare beforehand? For example, do you need to pack breakfast to have at work? How many times are you going to try and exercise per week? Set yourself goals, but make sure they are achievable.

As for coaches and trainers working with large groups, Dr Hagstrom highlights that it is important to recognise that everyone will have been working at different levels during their time away from exercise.

People of different training backgrounds will be able to resume activity at different speeds, she says.

Dr Mandy Hagstrom emphasises the need for people to understand their own fitness levels and limits as they return to training.

Most people who were highly active, or competitive, will have managed to remain active even if its not in a manner that they were previously accustomed to and as such, they will likely be back to more normal routines sooner than others.

Those individuals who have been truly sedentary will have a much lower tolerance to exercise initially, however, these people will also make excellent results in the initial part of their program.

As with anything exercise prescription-related, individualisation is key, regardless of level.

For those who are concerned about their level of fitness and potentially sustaining an injury, Dr Hagstrom recommends consulting with a professional.

That may be a personal trainer, or an exercise physiologist if you have specific concerns related to your health and exercising, she says.

There wont be any judgement, and the professionals are here to help you achieve your goals.

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Preparation is key when returning to exercise after lockdown - Mirage News

NYC Nurse Thanks Fellow Heroes at Ascension Saint Thomas Rutherford – rutherfordsource.com

Trinette Lewis is a New York City nurse who pursued the profession because she loved studying anatomy and physiology and wanted to apply that knowledge in a tangible way. She says that her appreciation for her career has evolved in recent months, explaining: Once the pandemic began, I realized that nursing is more than a profession. Its a calling; its a movement, and its a beautiful expression of love.

Trinette has been working tirelessly on the front lines at Lenox Hill Hospital on the Upper East Side of Manhattan. Earlier this month, she had the opportunity to take a much-deserved break to visit her mom in Murfreesboro. Though it would have been understandable if Trinette had used her vacation time to relax, she had something else in mind. I wanted to show appreciation to the nurses at Ascension Saint Thomas Rutherford because they have selflessly helped treat my grandmother, brother, and sister over the years, says Trinette. While Im far away in New York City, I am very grateful that I can trust Ascension Saint Thomas to care for my family when they are sick.

Determined to express thanks for Murfreesboros hard-working caregivers, Trinette and her mom delivered glazed donuts, hot coffee, and handmade prayer cards to the nursing staff. Trinette calls her gesture a small token of gratitude for the big ways nurses have helped our nation rise above this pandemic. To the nurses at Ascension Saint Thomas Rutherford, however, Trinettes gift was anything but small.

Trinette is now safely back at work in New York City.

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NYC Nurse Thanks Fellow Heroes at Ascension Saint Thomas Rutherford - rutherfordsource.com

Muscle Physiology Quizzes – GetBodySmart

Skeletal Muscle Fiber Location and Arrangement

are located inside muscles, where they are organized into bundles called []

An interactive quiz about the general anatomy of skeletal muscle fibers, featuring illustrations-based multiple choice questions.

An interactive quiz about the internal anatomy of skeletal muscle fibers, featuring illustrations-based multiple choice questions.

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Muscle Physiology Quizzes - GetBodySmart

Anatomage Announces Its Upcoming eBook For Students To Experience and Interact with True-Human Cadavers Online – PRNewswire

Anatomage eBook consists of 25 chapters that feature major anatomy and physiology concepts of 12 major body systems and functions. For each concept, users are visually guided through all of the related body parts - from macro to microstructures - with educational texts and dynamic images. As the majority of images from Anatomage eBook stem from the Anatomage Table's true-human cadavers, the digital contents exhibit accurate human anatomy content that helps students decipher and memorize anatomical terms easier.

Anatomage eBook is optimized for online learning which allows students to access the contents from anywhere. Unlike other online tools, the eBook offers a unique user experience that is highly engaging and easy to navigate. The contents are highly visual and based on Anatomage's renowned photorealistic human data.

Modeled as a dynamic web-based textbook, Anatomage eBook produces an interactive, aesthetically pleasing interface where students can explore a variety of anatomy and physiology topics using interactive controls. From tapping on the screen to scrolling the mouse, users are able to navigate through diverse anatomical parts. Adjacent and tiny structures are also highlighted with colors for distinguishment. Furthermore, cadaveric models can be rotated and engaged for a better view. Given its high interactivity, Anatomage eBook efficiently transforms the clinical and anatomical terminology into illustrative learning visuals that enhance students' memory.

Anatomage eBook is an effective learning tool for undergraduate Anatomy & Physiology students. To assist with assessing student learning, questions are included for various key topics in the textbook. Since Anatomage eBook can be accessed anywhere with Internet connectivity, it can be used as an online learning tool for both in-class and self-study sessions. By offering a multimedia platform combined with its accurate anatomy and physiology representation, Anatomage eBook embodies a new standard for digital textbooks in the medical education industry.

Adopting the Anatomage eBook will enable your students to -

For more information, please visit here or contact [emailprotected].

About AnatomageAs a market leader in medical virtualization technology, Anatomage enables an ecosystem of 3D anatomy hardware and software, allowing users to visualize anatomy at the highest level of accuracy. Established in both education and healthcare industries, Anatomage is transforming standard anatomy learning, medical diagnosis and treatment planning through its highly innovative products.Contact:Jack ChoiCEOAnatomage Inc.Phone: 1-408-885-1474Email: [emailprotected] http://www.anatomage.com

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Anatomage Announces Its Upcoming eBook For Students To Experience and Interact with True-Human Cadavers Online - PRNewswire