Altitude Region Research Articles

Pixel level spatial variability modeling using SHAP reveals the relative importance of factors influencing LST

As an important indicator of the regional thermal environment, land surface temperature (LST) is closely related to community health and regional sustainability in general, and is influenced by multiple factors. Previous studies have paid scant attention to spatial heterogeneity in the relative contribution of factors underlying LST. In this study of Zhejiang Province, we investigated the key factors affecting daytime and nighttime annual mean LST and the spatial distribution of their respective contributions. The eXtreme Gradient Boosting tree (XGBoost) and Shapley Additive exPlanations algorithm (SHAP) approach were used in combination with three sampling strategies (Province-Urban Agglomeration -Gradients within Urban Agglomeration) to detect spatial variation. The results reveal heterogenous LST spatial distribution with lower LST in the southwestern mountainous region and higher temperatures in the urban center. Spatially explicit SHAP maps indicate that latitude and longitude (geographical locations) are the most important factors at the provincial level. In urban agglomerations, factors associated with elevation and nightlight are shown to positively impact daytime LST in lower altitude regions. In the urban centers, EVI and MNDWI are the most notable influencing factors on LST at night. Under different sampling strategies, EVI, MNDWI, NL, and NDBI affect LST more prominently at smaller spatial scales as compared to AOD, latitude and TOP. The SHAP method proposed in this paper offers a useful means for management authorities in addressing LST in a warming climate.

POSITIONING OF WHITE OAT CULTIVARS IN DIFFERENT ENVIRONMENTS FOR HIGH GRAIN PRODUCTIVITY IN ORGANIC SYSTEM

<p><strong>Background. </strong>White oat is a multifunctional species with significant benefits to human health, so the positioning of genotypes in the organic system is substantial to promote the expression of maximum productive potential. <strong>Objective.</strong> To select and identify the genotypes with greater stability and productive adaptability. <strong>Methodology.</strong> The study was carried out in 11 environments located in the countries of Brazil (states of Rio Grande do Sul and Paraná) and Paraguay (Itapúa) in 2019 and 2020, evaluating in each of them four genotypes of white oats (<em>Avena sativa</em>) (URS Corona, URS Brava, IPR Artemis and IPR Afrodite) each considered as treatments. The experimental design was randomized blocks with four replications per treatment. The variables analyzed were grain yield (GY, kg ha<sup>-1</sup>) and the cycle in days from emergence to physiological maturity (PM). With the presence of G x E interaction, AMMI and GGE biometric methods were used to study adaptability and stability. <strong>Results.</strong> With the data obtained, it was possible to form three mega-environments with the identification of specifically adapted genotypes. The URS Brava genotype was characterized as the ideal genotype, with high stability and wide adaptability for grain yield, which can be positioned in all environments. High altitudes promoted a longer crop cycle and lower grain yield, while low altitudes induced a shorter cycle and grain yield maximization of white oat genotypes. <strong>Implications.</strong> The current results indicate that it is possible to position a single genotype within a region formed by similar environments, as well as it was identified that the crops should preferably be carried out in regions of lower altitudes. <strong>Conclusion.</strong> The URS Brava genotype is considered the ideal genotype with high potential for productivity at low altitudes.</p>

Solar desalination/purification (solar stills, humidification-dehumidification, solar disinfection) in high altitude during COVID19: Insights of gastrointestinal manifestations and systems’ mechanism

From the starting of the pandemic different transmission routes of the pathogen was brought into the spotlight by researchers from different disciplines. This matter in high-altitudes was more boosted as the main parameters were not exactly realized. In this review we are about to highlight the possibility of consuming contaminated water generated form solar water desalination/disinfection systems in highlands. Three systems including solar still, solar disinfection (which experimented by the authors in 2019 in high altitude) and humidification-dehumidification were consider in this context. Ascribe to the risks of pathogens transmission in solar desalination/disinfection systems where the water resources are heavily polluted in every corner of the world, highlighting the risk of consuming water in high-altitude where there are many other parameters associated with spread of pathogen is of great importance. As it was reported, reliability of solar desalination and solar water disinfections systems against contaminated water by the novel coronavirus remained on the question because the virus can be transmitted by vapor in solar stills due to tiny particle size (60–140 nm) and would not be killed by solar disinfections due to low-temperature of operation <40 °C while for HDH contamination of both water and air by sars-cov-2 could be a concern. Although the SARS-CoV-2 is not a waterborne pathogen, its capability to replicate in stomach and infection of gastrointestinal glandular suggested the potential of transmission via fecal-oral. Eventually, it was concluded that using solar-based water treatment as drinking water in high altitude regions should be cautiously consider and recommendations and considerations are presented. Importantly, this critical review not only about the ongoing pandemic, but it aims is to highlight the importance of produced drinking water by systems for future epidemic/pandemic to prevent spread and entering a pathogen particularly in high-altitude regions via a new routes.

Physical self-concept in Peruvian adolescent schoolchildren: Validity, reliability, and proposal of percentiles for its evaluation

IntroductionThe period of adolescence is characterized by marked changes relevant to adult life. The goals of this study were (a) to analyze the psychometric properties of the physical self-concept questionnaire (PSC) in adolescents and (b) to develop percentiles for evaluation by age and sex.MethodsA descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted in adolescents aged 11 to 17 years from an altitude region of Peru (3,812 m above sea level). The sample size was 1,263 schoolchildren (609 males and 654 females). The PSC was measured through the survey technique. The questionnaire proposed by Fox and Corbin (1989), composed of five dimensions (totaling 30 questions), was applied. Validity was assessed by means of confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) and reliability by means of internal consistency (Cronbach’s alpha). Percentiles were calculated using the LMS method (lambda: skewness, median; M and S: coefficient of variation).Results and DiscussionIn the CFA, factor loadings (communalities) were satisfactory for the model. Values ranged from (0.30 to 0.60), in addition, the Kaiser–Meyer–Olkin sample adequacy test was 0.89, X2 = 3401.086 (gl: 395, p&amp;lt;0.00), CFI (0.898), RMSEA (0.078) and % variation 47%. The reliability values (Cronbach’s alpha) per question evidenced values from r = 0.80 to 0.81 and the total scale r = 0.81. Percentiles were calculated: p3, p5, p10, p15, p25, p50, p75, p80, p85, p90, and p95. This study concludes that the psychometric properties of the PSC questionnaire applied to adolescents living in an altitude region of Peru were valid and reliable. The proposed percentiles can be used to categorize and monitor PSC by age and sex. These results suggest their use and application in the school system.

Latitudinal and Altitudinal Patterns and Influencing Factors of Soil Humus Carbon in the Low-Latitude Plateau Regions

The composition of forest soil organic matter is an important part of the global carbon cycle, which is effective by temperature and moisture. As we all know, the temperature and moisture in the low-latitude plateau regions are very sensitive to changes in latitude and altitude. However, the composition of soil organic matter response to changes in latitude and altitude in the low-latitude plateau regions is unknown. In this study, the effects of latitude (21–29° N) and altitude (500–4000 m) on soil organic carbon (SOC) and humic acid carbon (HAC), fulvic acid carbon (FAC), and humin carbon (HMC) in forest surface soil (0–10 cm) were investigated. The results showed that the contents of soil organic carbon and humus increased with the increase in altitude and latitude. The effect of altitude on the composition of organic matter was significant only at 23° N to 25° N. The composition of organic matter is not only regulated by mean annual temperature (MAT) and soil moisture content (SMC) but also affected by soil pH, carbon to nitrogen ratio (C/N), and powder. The soil surface layer (0–10 cm) carbon sequestration capacity in high-latitude and high-altitude areas is stronger than that in low-latitude and low-altitude areas. As a consequence, in today’s response to global climate change, the high carbon sequestration capacity of high latitude and high altitude areas should be given attention and protection.

Photothermal Solid Slippery Surfaces with Rapid Self-Healing, Improved Anti/De-Icing and Excellent Stability.

Icing phenomenon that occurs universally in nature and industry gets a great impact on human life. Over the past decades, extensive efforts have been made for a wide range of anti-icing/deicing surfaces, but the preparation of anti-icing/deicing interfaces that combine stability, rapid self-healing and excellent anti-icing/deicing performance remains a challenge. In this study, a photothermal solid slippery surface with excellent comprehensive performance is prepared by integrating cellulose acetate film, carbon nanotubes with paraffin wax (CCP). Apart from the excellent anti-icing and deicing properties at -17± 1.0°C under 1 sun illumination, the surface can further achieve deicing at temperatures as low as -22± 1.0°C under infrared light. The fabricated surface also exhibits great stability when placed in harsh conditions such as underwater or ultra-low temperature environments for over 30days. Even when suffering from physical damage, the prepared surface can rapidly self-repair under 1 sun illumination or near-infrared (NIR) illumination within 16.0± 1.5s. Due to the rapid and repeatable self-healing performance, the lubricating properties of the interface material do not deteriorate even after 50 repeated abrasing-repairing cycles. The photothermal solid slippery surface possesses wide-ranging applications and commercial value at high latitude and altitude regions.

Research on Dust Removal Strategies of Photovoltaic Panels in Ultra-high Altitude Photovoltaic Demonstration Base

Photovoltaic modules are susceptible to dust in the environment when generating electricity outdoors. If not cleaned in time, the conversion efficiency of the modules will decrease. Outdoor centralized power generation components are different from distributed power generation components. Centralized power generation often covers a large area and is located in a complex climate. Even within the same plant, the impact of dust on photovoltaic panels varies from region to region. In recent years, there have been more and more technologies for cleaning the surface of photovoltaic panels, such as manual cleaning, water cleaning, mechanical cleaning, and electrostatic cleaning. Depending on the geographical environment and climatic conditions, various methods have both advantages and disadvantages. This work firstly sorts out the characteristics and typical applications of different leading photovoltaic panel cleaning technologies, and then, the dust removal technology strategies for specific photovoltaic plants located in Sichuan Province of China is proposed according to the environmental attributes of low-latitude, ultra-high altitude, and cold regions.

Phytochemical screening of Datura using GC-MS in Shivalik and mid- Himalayan regions of Himachal Pradesh

Datura stramonium is a poisonous plant species reported in almost every corner of India which belongs to the family Solanaceae with a well-known history of ethno medicinal applications. The present study has attempted phytochemical screening of Datura in Himachal Pradesh based on altitude differences. In the present study, methanol extracts of D. stramonium were analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC–MS) to identify the important phytochemical constituents. In the present investigation, we have also attempted to provide proof of differences in the concentrations of phytochemicals within the same species as stated in previous literature. In the study, Datura stramonium was taken into consideration as an important toxic plant encountered in poisoning and abuse cases in Himachal Pradesh. Datura specimens were collected from selective regions of Himachal and were grouped according to altitude. The samples were carefully dried and subjected to microscopic examination and phytochemical screening. The GC–MS analysis of methanol extracts from seeds detected the presence of 15 phytochemical compounds. The GC-MS reports revealed variability in alkaloid concentrations with altitude. The area percentage occupied by the alkaloid peak was considered an indication of concentration. Scopolamine peak area percentage was between 21.46-27.06 in the mid – Himalayan region, while in the Shivalik region it was between 9.86-16.10. The samples from lower altitude regions had a lower content of Scopolamine in comparison to that of the higher altitude. This data can help in better forensic profiling of Datura. This may prove helpful in studying the origin of forensic evidence obtained at the scene of the crime.

Rainfall Wet Spells Variability Across Temperature Mean‐Change Years in the Northwestern Himalayan Region

AbstractTemperatures have risen at a faster rate across various mountainous regions around the world. A study of the changing rainfall patterns and their spatiotemporal variability is critical for agricultural, water resource, and hydrological planning and management. The goal of this research is twofold: first, using functional data analysis climate change hotspots are determined, which in turn identified most temperature increases in high elevations. Second, these hotspots are utilized to investigate the impact of temperature changes on the frequency of extreme rainfall events in this Northwestern Himalaya region. Our study observed that the frequency of rainfall extremes, such as, at the 90th, 95th, and 99.99th percentile values, is found to be increasing mostly in lower Himalayan regions. A warmer atmosphere leads to heavy precipitation events as the capacity of air to hold moisture increases with the increase in temperature. The continuous temperature rise possibly indicates an increase in extreme rainfall events in the region. Further, this study reports an interesting finding that can help us better understand the impact of climate change in the region: the frequency of shorter wet spells has increased around the recent mean‐change year, whereas the frequency of long spells has reduced. The frequency of longest wet spells shows a decrease across all seasons, leading to drought in the higher altitude region, whereas the short‐wet spell frequency has increased in the lower altitude regions. Insight into the changing patterns of rainfall is crucial for hydrological and agricultural management.

Airborne glyoxal measurements in the marine and continental atmosphere: comparison with TROPOMI observations and EMAC simulations

Abstract. We report on airborne limb and nadir measurements of vertical profiles and total vertical column densities (VCDs) of glyoxal (C2H2O2) in the troposphere, which were performed aboard the German research aircraft HALO (High Altitude and LOng Range) in different regions and seasons around the globe between 2014 and 2019. The airborne nadir and integrated limb profiles agree excellently among each other. Our airborne observations are further compared to collocated glyoxal measurements of the TROPOspheric Monitoring Instrument (TROPOMI), with good agreement between both data sets for glyoxal observations in (1) pristine terrestrial, (2) pristine marine, (3) mixed polluted, and (4) biomass-burning-affected air masses with high glyoxal concentrations. Exceptions to the overall good agreement are observations of (1) faint and aged biomass burning plumes over the oceans and (2) of low-lying biomass burning or anthropogenic plumes in the terrestrial or marine boundary layer, both of which contain elevated glyoxal that is mostly not captured by TROPOMI. These differences in airborne and satellite-detected glyoxal are most likely caused by the overall small contribution of plumes of a limited extent to the total glyoxal absorption in the atmosphere and the difficulty in remotely detecting weak absorbers located close to low reflective surfaces (e.g. the ocean in the visible wavelength range) or within dense aerosol layers. Observations of glyoxal in aged biomass burning plumes (e.g. observed over the tropical Atlantic off the coast of West Africa in summer 2018, off the coast of Brazil by the end of the dry season 2019, and the East China Sea in spring 2018) could be traced back to related wildfires, such as a plume crossing over the Drake Passage that originated from the Australian bushfires in late 2019. Our observations of glyoxal in such aged biomass burning plumes confirm recent findings of enhanced glyoxal and presumably secondary organic aerosol (SOA) formation in aged wildfire plumes from yet-to-be-identified, longer-lived organic precursor molecules (e.g. aromatics, acetylene, or aliphatic compounds) co-emitted in the fires. Furthermore, elevated glyoxal (median 44 ppt – parts per trillion), as compared to other marine regions (median 10–19 ppt), is observed in the boundary layer over the tropical oceans, which is well in agreement with previous reports. The airborne data sets are further compared to glyoxal simulations performed with the global atmosphere chemistry model EMAC (ECHAM/MESSy Atmospheric Chemistry). When using an EMAC set up that resembles recent EMAC studies focusing on complex chemistry, reasonable agreement is found for pristine air masses (e.g. the unperturbed free and upper troposphere), but a notable glyoxal overestimation of the model exists for regions with high emissions of glyoxal and glyoxal-producing volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from the biosphere (e.g. the Amazon). In all other investigated regions, the model underpredicts glyoxal to varying degrees, in particular when probing mixed emissions from anthropogenic activities (e.g. over continental Europe, the Mediterranean, and East China Sea) and potentially from the sea (e.g. the tropical oceans). Also, the model tends to largely underpredict glyoxal in city plumes and aged biomass burning plumes. The potential causes for these differences are likely to be multifaceted, but they all point to missing glyoxal sources from the degradation of the mixture of potentially longer-chained organic compounds emitted from anthropogenic activities, biomass burning, and from the organic microlayer of the sea surface.

Carbon dioxide partial pressures and emissions of the Yarlung Tsangpo River on the Tibetan Plateau

Rivers are important routes for material and energy transport between terrestrial and marine ecosystems. Recent global-scale assessments of carbon (C) have suggested that C emission fluxes to the atmosphere are comparable to the fluvial C fluxes to the ocean. However, many previous studies only collected data from inland rivers in low altitude regions. Therefore, it remains unclear how plateau rivers affect C flux. In this study, 20 monitoring sites were set up along the Yarlung Tsangpo (YT) River on the Tibetan Plateau and detailed observations were carried out in the wet and dry seasons. The riverine CO2 fluxes exhibited significant seasonal patterns which ranged from 597.12 ± 292.63 μatm in the wet season to 368.72 ± 123.50 μatm in the dry season. The CO2 emission flux (FCO2) obtained from floating chamber method, ranging from 8.44 ± 6.94 mmol m−2 d−1 in sunmmer to 3.62 ± 6.32 mmol m−2 d−1 in winter, with an average value of 6.03 mmol m−2 d−1. Generally, the river was a weak carbon source with respect to the atmosphere. However, the pCO2 and FCO2 were much lower than that for other large rivers around the globe, which were obviously restrained by the weak microbial activities due to the low primary productivity and carbonate buffer activities in the carbonate background. Carbon loss via atmosphere exchange in the YT River on the plateau accounted for 2.2% and 10.6% of the riverine dissolved carbon fluxes (67.77 × 109 mol a−1) according to the floating chamber and thin boundary layer methods, respectively. The YT River probably acts as a “pipeline” to transport weathered nutrients from the plateau to downstream areas. Our results demonstrated the characteristics of a “weak outgassing effect and a high transport flux of carbon” for the plateau river, which is different from rivers on plains. Considering the global relevance of Tibetan Plateau, further studies with enhanced spatiotemporal resolution are needed to better understand the important role of plateau rivers on carbon budgets and climate change over both regional and global cycles.

Evaluation of NASA POWER Climatic Data against Ground-Based Observations in The Mediterranean and Continental Regions of Turkey

The weather reanalysis datasets are very advantageous data types worldwide that fill the gaps of missed measuring data and are alternatives that compensate for the scarcity of observed climate data. The main purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of horizontal distance, altitude, and climatic regions compared to sea level on NASA POWER reanalysis data for daily temperature variables, relative humidity, and wind speed observed in meteorology stations in the Mediterranean and Continental regions of Turkey. For this purpose, three different meteorology stations (Antalya airport, Elmalı, Teffenni) from the Mediterranean region with different distances and elevations compared to sea level and one station (Ankara) far from the Mediterranean region with continental climate were selected. The statistical approach used to compare observed and estimated values in this study was determination coefficient (R2), Nash-Sutcliffe Efficiency (NSE), Root Mean Square Error (RMSE), Normalized Root Mean Square Error (NRMSE), and Mean Bias Error (MBE). The results showed a high relation between the POWER reanalysis dataset and observed data for all parameters except wind speed. For daily maximum, minimum and mean temperature, the R2 and NSE achieved higher than 0.91 and 0.88 respectively, while the mean bias error MBE ranged between -3 °C up to +2 °C and the RMSE was less than 4 °C in all stations. Additionally, POWER estimated data correlation accuracy for temperature variables increased toward higher altitudes in the study area. Similarly, this performance was followed by relative humidity, increasing relation accuracy toward higher elevated regions. The R2 was higher than 0.69 in higher altitudes and less than 0.4 in lower elevations. The MBE for relative humidity ranges -2% in Antalya to +9% in Ankara, and the RMSE attained less than 13.81% in all regions. The POWER daily wind speed did not show relation with observed data without adjusting for elevation and seasonal bias correction. Overall, it was concluded that the NASA POWER dataset could predict temperature and relative humidity over study area and give a promising result if used in research, water, and agricultural decision-making where observation data are not available.

Vertical Profile of Meteoric and Surface-Water Isotopes in Nepal Himalayas to Everest’s Summit

This study presents isotopic compositions and their vertical profile of meteoric and surface water samples collected in the Southern Himalaya since 2015, with elevations extending all the way up to Mt. Everest’s summit. The data covering a wide altitudinal ranges and rich water types are presented for the first time. The series of in situ samples up to 8848 m asl lead to the following discoveries: (1) the dominance of rainy-season precipitation to surface-water composition in the Southern Himalaya, (2) the high correlation and high similarity between meteoric and surface-snow isotopes, thus implying the representation of surface-snow isotopes to high-elevation climatology, (3) a significant altitude effect in river and ground water, with the higher altitudinal lapse rate in ground water δ18O highlighting strong local impacts on the vertical profile of surface-water isotopes, (4) different transitions suggested by the vertical profiles of δ18O variation in snow and ice in the Southern Himalaya, with the transition in snow δ18O at a vertical zone between 6030 and 6280 m asl, and that in ice at 5775 m asl, and (5) complex circulation processes on top of the Himalaya, featuring the interaction of large-scale circulation with local mountain valley circulation, katabatic wind, and sublimation in the extremely cold and high environment. They, thus, confirm the correlation between isotopes and altitudes in regions influenced by complex circulation patterns to clarify the altitude effect, and suggest the application of isotopic study/isotopic chemistry in geological study.

Study on performance and mechanisms of a novel integrated model with Power &amp; Thermal Management system and turbofan engine

• A novel integrated model is developed by combining PTMS and engine system. • An off-design heat exchanger submodule without specifying detailed geometry is embedded. • The coupling influences of PTMS and engine are revealed over the entire flight envelope. • The weak cooling performance of PTMS arises in high Mach number and altitude regions. With the improvement of modern aircraft performance, thermal management has become increasingly challenging. The power and thermal management system (PTMS) proposed by Honeywell is an integrated approach to solve this problem. Although the PTMS has inevitable mass and energy interactions with the engine, the existing PTMSs are usually designed based on limited flight states without considering the full engine condition. Therefore, we first propose a novel integrated model combining PTMS and engine based on a semi-precise heat exchanger submodule. Parametric analysis is conducted to find out the impact of the engine and PTMS design variables on the propelling and cooling performance of the integrated system, and energy and exergy analyses are adopted to evaluate the degree of coupled effects between PTMS and engine over the whole flight envelope. Results show that the influence of FAN and HPC pressure ratio on refrigerating performance is more significant than the bypass ratio and inlet temperature of HPT at the design point. The cooling efficiency of PTMS is improved by 4.1% and 1.2%, respectively, as the pressure of HPC and FAN rises by 50%. Besides, the refrigerating performance of PTMS gradually weakens with the increasing flight Mach number, while the cooling efficiency reduces by 50% as the Mach number increases from 0 to 1.8. This trend indicates that the working condition and flight environment of the engine need to be considered in the design process of the PTMS system. As for the control variables of PTMS, the refrigerating efficiency of PTMS decreases by 60% when the pressure ratio of PTMS compressor (PTMS_COMP) changes from -33.3% to 33.3%. Inconsistently, the refrigerating efficiency shows a positive correlation with the heat transfer capacity of the kerosene heat exchanger (PTMS_KEHEX) and primary heat exchanger (PTMS_PRHEX). Meanwhile, the impact of the second heat exchanger (PTMS_SEHEX) on the cooling performance of PTMS can be neglected. Above all, in future PTMS designs, the influences of the pressure ratio of PTMS_COMP, the heat transfer capacity of PTMS_KEHEX and PTMS_PRHEX, as well as the engine control variables need to be considered simultaneously.

An Empirical Model of the Sporadic E Layer Intensity Based on COSMIC Radio Occultation Observations

AbstractIonospheric sporadic E layers are common phenomena occurring in the ionospheric E region altitude (∼90–120 km) with much higher electron density. The lack of a large amount of sporadic E layer intensity observation on a global scale restrains the construction of global modeling of sporadic E layer intensity. Recent studies reveal that radio occultation observation can be used for sporadic E layer intensity inversion. In this paper, a low‐mid latitude empirical model of sporadic E layer critical frequency is constructed based on Constellation Observing System for Meteorology, Ionosphere, and Climate radio occultation data during 2007–2012. Model results show good accordance with ionosonde observations over 16 stations in different latitudes. In general, the model has a good performance in simulating the climate variation features of sporadic E layer intensity with averaged deviation 0.23 MHz which indicates a slight overestimation. Besides, spatial and temporal variations simulated by the model are also analyzed and show good agreement with known sporadic E layer features. However, the empirical may be only suitable for climate research at present and potential methods to improve the model will be investigated in the latter research.

Regional peculiarities of specific immunity in inhabitants of different mountain heights of the Kyrgyz Republic

Kyrgyzstan’s challenging natural conditions and fragile mountain ecosystems can weaken the immune system of individuals residing permanently in high-altitude areas. Our study aimed to explore specific immune protection indicators in healthy populations from the Chui and Naryn regions at varying mountain altitudes. We assessed percentages of CD3+ (T-lymphocytes), CD20+ (B-lymphocytes), CD4+ (T-helper lymphocytes), CD8+ (cytotoxic T-lymphocytes), IRI (immunoregulatory index), CIC (circulating immune complexes), and quantified immunoglobulins of classes A, M, and G. Using immunofluorescent methods and monoclonal antibodies; we determined the percentages of CD3+, CD20+, CD4+, and CD8+. Radial immunodiffusion was used to quantify immunoglobulins of classes A, M, and G, while Falk’s method helped study CIC levels in blood sera. The participant count was based on statistical expert recommendations and G power analysis. The analysis revealed a decrease in the total number of T-lymphocytes (CD3+), primarily due to reduced T-helper and cytotoxic T-lymphocyte subpopulations. However, a significant increase in cytotoxic T-lymphocytes (CD8+) was observed among high-altitude residents. Mountain residents exhibited wide-ranging individual fluctuations for each immunoglobulin class. Our findings suggest varying degrees of immune mechanism disruptions, which maintain natural protection and internal environment constancy at different altitudes, resulting in a mixed type of cellular and humoral immunity suppression. These results emphasize the need for further research in the region and consideration of altitude when implementing disease prevention strategies related to the immune system for the local population.

Desempenho vitícola de diferentes seleções avançadas de videiras resistentes a doenças fúngicas em três diferentes altitudes no Sul do Brasil

Abstract The objective of this work was to characterize the phenology and the viticultural performance of advanced selections of grapevines resistant to fungal diseases obtained by the Julius Kühn Institute, Institute for Grapevine Breeding Geilweilerhof. The experiment was conducted in three different grape-growing regions of Santa Catarina State, Brazil, in the municipalities of Videira (840 m), São Joaquim (1110 m) and Curitibanos (1000 m) during the seasons of 2018/2019 and 2019/2020. The advanced selections evaluated were the reds Gf.2004-043-0010 (Gf.10), Gf.2004-043-0013 (Gf.13), Gf.2004-043-0021(Gf.21) and the white Gf.2004-043-0004 (Gf.04). We found that pyramided loci Rpv1+Rpv3.1 and Run1+Ren3 were present, which confer resistance to downy mildew and powdery mildew, respectively. The phenological stages events evaluated were budbreak, full bloom, veraison and maturity. The productive variables evaluated were fertility index, number of clusters, cluster weight and yield. Technological maturity parameters were soluble solids, total acidity and pH. To understand the relationship between the variables and whether these relationships changed depending on the cultivation environment the Multi-Trait Genotype–Ideotype Distance Index was used to rank the genotypes based on the analyzed traits. For most selections, the budbreak occurred in the second half of September; full bloom occurred from late October to mid-November; the veraison occurred between the end of December and mid-January; and maturity occurred between the end of January and February. The earliest budbreak occurred in the vineyard located at the highest altitude (1110 m - São Joaquim), while the earliest full bloom, veraison and maturity occurred in the lowest altitude vineyard (840 m – Videira). All selections produced grapes with adequate concentrations of pH and total acidity to produce quality wines. Except for Gf.13, all selections produced grapes with levels of soluble solids suitable to produce quality wines. Based on the Multi-Trait Genotype–Ideotype Distance Index (MGIDI) the selections Gf.13 and Gf.10 are the most promising genotypes for the Videira region (840 m) and Gf.10 is the most promising genotype for the regions of higher altitude, 1000 m and 1110 m.

Severe Vitamin D Deficiency as a Risk Factor in Newly Diagnosed Tuberculosis Patients: Comparative Study on Inhabitants of High Altitude Region.

The present study was conducted to find the association between tuberculosis and vitamin D levels and assess severe vitamin D deficiency (VDD) as a risk factor for developing tuberculosis at high-altitude regions. This cross-sectional study was carried out at a tertiary care hospital situated at an average altitude of 5,412 feet above sea level. Newly diagnosed active cases of tuberculosis (Group A) and unmatched healthy individuals (Group B) were recruited in the study. Serum samples were analyzed for Vitamin 25(OH) D levels and correlated between the groups. The study included 54 newly diagnosed tuberculosis patients (Group A) (47 pulmonary and 7 extrapulmonary tuberculosis) and 87 healthy controls (Group B). Of the total 141 participants, 69 (49%) had severe VDD and 44 (31%) had VDD. The mean (SD) vitamin D level was significantly lower in patients having tuberculosis (12.6 ± 7 ng/mL) as compared to Group B (15.9 ± 7 ng/mL). The risk of tuberculosis infection was 2.13 times higher among those who had VDD (odds ratio = 2.13) (P-0.106), whereas those with severe VDD were at 3.2 times higher risk of developing tuberculosis (crude odds ratio = 3.2) (P = 0.001) and severe VDD independently contributed to being diagnosed with tuberculosis (adjusted odds ratio = 3.1) (P = 0.002). Vitamin D levels are significantly low in tuberculosis patients and severe VDD independently contributes to developing tuberculosis infection.

The Prevalence of Congenital Heart Disease among School-Age Children in China: A Meta-Analysis and Systematic Review

<b>Objectives:</b> To estimate the prevalence of Congenital Heart Disease (CHD) in school-age children, to identify the extent to which altitude affects the prevalence of the disease, and to examine trends in prevalence over time in China. <b>Methods:</b> Seven databases were systematically searched and last retrieved on September 10, 2021 for all studies reporting the prevalence of CHD in children after 1970 in China, which were then divided into high and low altitude regions based on 2500 meters above sea level. The random-effected model was used to combine prevalence data and subgroups analysis. The baseline data of all cases and individuals were used for comparison to calculate the odds ratio (OR) for overall and different altitude prevalence. <b>Results:</b> A total of 12,926,083 individuals (aged 3-18 years), with 31,835 cases from 86 studies, were included in the analysis. The pooled CHD prevalence of total children was 4.69 [95% confidence interval (CI): 4.10 to 5.29] per 1000 children. Overall, temporal trends analysis indicated that the prevalence of CHD in children continuously decreased with time, from 6.19 (95% CI: 4.50 to 7.88) per 1000 children in 1976–1985 to 3.30 (95% CI: 2.49; 4.38) per 1000 children in 2016–2021. The OR for the prevalence of CHD in children from high and low altitudes with baseline data was 2.84 (95% CI: 2.48 to 3.27) and 1.31 (95% CI: 1.13 to 1.53) (<i>χ</i>² = 53.89, <i>p</i> < 0.01), respectively. The OR of the prevalence of CHD in male children compared to females was 0.60 (95% CI: 0.53 to 0.68) at high altitudes and 0.79 (95% CI: 0.71 to 0.89) at low altitudes. Among the seven most common subtypes, patent ductus arteriosus was the most common at high altitudes, while atrial septal defects were the most common at low altitudes. <b>Conclusion:</b> This study provides valuable insights for further disease prevention and etiological exploration. The overall decreasing trend in the prevalence of CHD in children over time may indicate a positive effect of perinatal management and treatment during infancy.

Variation in morphological, biochemical and antioxidant properties of Lilium polyphyllum

Lilium polyphyllum D.Don ex Royle belonging to family Liliaceae is a medicinal plant distributed in temperate to high altitude regions of Himalaya. Its bulbs have been used for anti-aging and vitality properties in &gt;30 formulations of Ayurveda. Therefore, the knowledge on various traits of the plant is necessary so that quality of the finished products could be maintained. Present study investigates, morphological, biochemical and antioxidant properties in different populations of L. polyphyllum. A significant variation was recorded in different morphological parameters (Plant height, leaf number, leaf length, leaf width, bulb diameter, bulb fresh weight). Variation was also recorded for total soluble protein (7.81-11.35 mg/g), soluble sugar (96.14-116.14 mg/g), starch (116.37-122.43 mg/g) and total free amino acid (18.22-26.00 mg/g). Antioxidant properties in the bulb were determined and ABTS activity was 4.22 mM /100 g, DPPH activity recorded 0.85 mM/100 g and FRAP activity was 1.50 mM/100 g dw ascorbic acid equivalent, respectively. The diversity in wild populations of the species may serve as a baseline data for future breeding, domestication and conservation program.