Role Of Environmental Factors Research Articles

A wake-up call: signaling in regulating ornamental geophytes dormancy

Ornamental geophytes are a group of important flowers worldwide. As perennial plants, geophytes go through several rounds of life cycle under seasonal climates. The dormant trait of underground modified organs in geophytes is critical for the process of storage, planting as well as breeding. Although the dormant physiology in geophytes is complex and largely unknown, several advancements have been achieved in this field. Here, we review the knowledge on the role of environmental factors, endogenous hormones, carbohydrates, and epigenetics in the regulation of geophytes dormancy and release (GDR). We also discuss dormancy release (DR) methods and their roles in geophytes, including small molecular chemicals and wounding treatments.

Influence of environmental factors on the evolution of phytocenoses of reclamation objects of the Ryazan Meschera

The limiting influence of weather conditions on agricultural crops is known, but from an ecological point of view, the preservation of the biological diversity of phyto- cenoses is important. In 2010-2020, within the framework of soil-reclamation monitoring, the climatic features of the territory of the Ryazan Meschera were analyzed and the evolution of phytocenoses of two reclamation objects in the Ryazan and Klepikovsky districts of the Ryazan region was tracked. Ryazan Meschera has a number of climatic features due to the distinctive features of heat and moisture availability, terrain, air humidity and other indicators. A high degree of coverage, a large number of individuals, but a small number of species have been established at the Tinki-II and Makeyevsky Cape reclamation sites. More moist soil was determined at the Makeyevsky Cape object, which is reflected to a greater extent by the development of grasses belonging to the hygrophytic group Alopecurus pratensis , Dactylis glomerata , Glycerria maxima , etc., less water-demanding cereals were identified at the Tinki-II object, for example, Bromopsis inermis , Dactylis glomerata , Festuca pratensis , Phlum pratense , etc. Summarizing the results of the research, the primary role of environmental factors on the evolution of phytocenoses of reclamation objects in the Ryazan Meschera is established.

Geographic Location Determines Differentially Methylated Gene Expressions in Autoimmune Diseases

Further observations support the role of environmental factors in autoimmune diseases via the alteration of the epigenetic machinery. In this context, ultraviolet light, smoking, chemicals, and psychological stress have been described as likely examples of this phenomenon. For this study, we took advantage of the PRECISESADS IMI project, which gathered joint data from 2500 individuals with systemic autoimmune diseases, including systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), systemic sclerosis (SSc), primary Sjögren’s syndrome (pSS), rheumatoid arthritis (RA), primary antiphospholipid syndrome (PAPS), and mixed connective tissue disease (MCTD), and aimed to determine such epigenetic modifications in SLE, SSc, pSS, and RA patients. Here, we performed a set of measures in several countries from the north and south of Europe. We observed that autoimmune patients from the north of Europe presented a higher hypomethylated profile associated with an increased gene expression than patients from the south. These genes were associated with interferon (IFN) pathways, immunity, and the pathways associated with cellular metabolism. Since the IFN scores were increased in this population, these patients presented a more inflammatory profile. To conclude, the geographical location of patients with autoimmune diseases has an impact on DNA methylation, RNA expression, and immunological profiles.

A makeover for Dudley’s Q+

Theoretical basis The Dudley Beauty case illustrates a contemporary branding, management and marketing challenge facing many companies that are 50 plus years old. Movahhed (2016) highlights the six elements to consider during brand strategy: the target audience, the brand promise, brand perception (past, current and future), brand values, brand voice and brand positioning. The times have changed with changing macroenvironmental factors including political, economic, sociological, technological, legal and other environmental (PESTLE) changes that affect a business but which the business does not directly control. Research methodology The case is based upon an interview with Dudley Beauty CEO and President Ursula Dudley Oglesby and secondary sources. Case overview/synopsis The “A Makeover for Dudley’s Q+” case explores the challenges of a second-generation textured hair care and personal care company in the direct selling channel as it faces an aging market and changing business and economic environment. A Black-owned company, begun in 1967 by her parents, Dudley Beauty is led by the founders’ daughter, Harvard College and Harvard Law School-educated, Ursula Dudley Oglesby. At over 50 years old, the company has continually created new textured hair products and has high brand awareness among older Black consumers but has not adequately addressed changing hair trends and shifting communication preferences of younger consumers. The company is at a critical point needing to reach a younger, larger market to survive. The business situation supports marketing, management, strategy, and/or entrepreneurship undergraduate students in understanding how macroenvironmental forces and internal structures affect businesses. Complexity academic level This case is intended primarily for use by undergraduates in a variety of courses. It is suitable for courses in Principles of Marketing, Entrepreneurial Marketing, general Entrepreneurship and Marketing Strategy courses covering topics such as direct selling, the role of environmental factors in business, rebranding efforts using digital and social media marketing and women/minority business owners.

Exploring the structural relationships between high school students’ perceptions of science learning environment, their motivation and self-regulation: evidence from Iran

ABSTRACT Background Students’ perceptions of learning environment is known as the most frequent construct related to their learning outcomes. Students’ motivation in learning science (i.e. personal mastery goals orientation, self-efficacy, and task-value) and self-regulation are among the outcome variables that are affected by their perceptions of science learning environment (i.e. perceptions of their parents, school, and science teacher’s mastery goals emphases, and peers’ mastery goals orientation). Purpose The purpose of the current study was to investigate the relations between environmental factors of students’ perceptions of their parents, school, and science teacher’s mastery goals emphases, peers’ mastery goals orientation, and the internal constructs of students’ motivational beliefs and self-regulation in science learning. Sample Participants were 475 Iranian students at lower secondary schools. Design and method A cross-sectional and correlational research design was employed in this study. Data were collected using a questionnaire consisted of three measures of perceptions of science learning environment, motivation, and self-regulation, which the participants were asked to complete. Structural equation modeling (SEM) and a bootstrap procedure were used to estimate the variables’ direct and mediated relationships. Results Results revealed that perceived peers’ mastery goals orientation and perceived parents’ mastery goals emphasis positively predicted personal mastery goals orientation. In addition, the results indicated that perceived teacher’s mastery goals emphasis positively predicted task-value. Moreover, task-value and self-efficacy were found to have a significant direct effect on self-regulation. Conclusions These findings provide novel insight into the role of environmental factors in students’ motivation and self-regulation in science learning. In particular, science teachers are suggested to focus on encouraging students to adopt higher levels of mastery goals orientation in science learning activities, with regards to the significant mediating role of personal mastery goals orientation between perceptions of science learning environment and other motivational beliefs.

Major Stressors Favoring Cholera Trigger and Dissemination in Guinea-Bissau (West Africa).

Cholera remains a heavy burden worldwide, especially in Sub-Saharan African countries, which account for the majority of the reported cases on the continent. In this study, a 27-year retrospective analysis of cholera epidemics in Guinea-Bissau was performed in order to highlight major stressors fueling the trigger and dissemination of the disease. Although the role of environmental factors did not always have the same degree of importance for the onset of epidemics, a cholera seasonal pattern was clearly perceived, with most of the reported cases occurring during the wet season. The generated theoretical hypothesis indicated rainfall above climatological average, associated with a lack of WASH (water, sanitation and hygiene) infrastructure, and the occurrence of concomitant epidemics in neighboring countries as the key indicators for optimal conditions for cholera to thrive in Guinea-Bissau. Warmer air temperature, the increase in sea surface temperature, and the decrease in salinity in the coastal areas may also contribute to the emergence and/or aggravation of cholera events. Prediction of the conditions favorable for cholera growth and identification of risk pathways will allow the timely allocation of resources, and support the development of alert tools and mitigation strategies.

Environmental Factors and Endometriosis.

Endometriosis is a common disease, affecting up to 60–80% of women, with pelvic pain or/and infertility. Despite years of studies, its pathogenesis still remains enigmatic. Genetic, hormonal, environmental, and lifestyle-related factors may be involved in its pathogenesis. Thus, the design of the review was to discuss the possible role of environmental factors in the development of endometriosis. The results of individual studies greatly differ, making it very difficult to draw any definite conclusions. There is no reasonable consistency in the role of environmental factors in endometriosis etiopathogenesis.

COVID-19 and environment: a poignant reminder of sustainability in the new normal.

The nexus of COVID-19 and environment is conspicuously deep-rooted. The roles of environmental factors in the origin, transmission and spread of COVID-19 and the mutual impact of the pandemic on the global environment have been the two perspectives to view this nexus. The present paper attempts to systematically review the existing literature to understand and explore the linkages of COVID-19 with environment and proposes conceptual frameworks to underline this nexus. Our study indicates a critical role of meteorological factors, ambient air pollutants and wastewater in severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2(SARS-CoV-2) transmission-spread dynamics. The study also focuses on the direct and indirect impacts of COVID-19 on the regional and global environment. Most of the indirect environmental effects of COVID-19 were attributed to global human confinement that resulted from the implementation of the pandemic containment measures. This worldwide anthropogenic ‘pause’ sent ripples to all environmental compartments and presented a unique test bed to identify anthropogenic impacts on the earth’s natural systems. The review further addresses emerging sustainability challenges in the new normal and their potential solutions. The situation warrants critical attention to the environment-COVID-19 nexus and innovative sustainable practices to address the ramifications of short- and long-term environmental impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.Graphical abstract

Frontal Fibrosing Alopecia - a review and a practical guide for clinicians.

Despite a significant increase in reported cases of frontal fibrosing alopecia (FFA) in literature, discussion about the possible role of environmental factors, instruction for diagnosis and guideline for treatment, are limited. The review aims to provide a detailed synthesis of this condition that could be used by clinicians in their practise. Whether single-centre or multi-centre, studies of more than 60 cases less than 5 years old were mainly taken into consideration. Results obtained were that FFA affects mainly postmenopausal Caucasian women; the most common comorbidities are hyperlipidaemia, arterial hypertension, osteoporosis, hypothyroidism, depression, alongside dermatological disorders such as atopic dermatitis, rosacea, seborrheic dermatitis and androgenetic alopecia. Autoimmune, genetic, hormonal (e.g. estrogen deficiency, pregnancy, lactation, HRT and raloxifene) and environmental (e.g. daily use of facial sunscreens and less frequent use of hair dyes and shampoo) hypotheses were proposed for pathogenesis, as well as association with various predisposing factors (patient's health-social profile, disease's history and comorbidities). Clinical presentation of FFA can be divided into 3 specific patterns, each with a different prognosis. Diagnosis is usually made clinically with the use of trichoscopy; however, scalp biopsy remains the gold standard. The condition is regarded as a variant of lichen planopilaris (LPP) due to the similarity of the prominent histopathological findings, but the clinical image is distinct and therapeutic options vary. 5α-reductase inhibitors, intralesional steroids, and hydroxychloroquine provide the highest level of evidence for the treatment of FFA. The conclusion is that a better understanding of the disease is crucial for proper disease management.

Exploring the Drivers of Sentinel-2-Derived Crop Phenology: The Joint Role of Climate, Soil, and Land Use

The exploration of crop seasonality across a region offers a way to help understand the phenological spatial patterns of complex landscapes, like agricultural ones. Knowing the role of environmental factors in influencing crop phenology patterns and processes is a key aspect for understanding the impact of climate and land use changes on agricultural landscape dynamics. We identified pixels with similar phenological behavior (i.e., pheno-clusters) and compared them to the land cover map of the study area to assess the role of the land management component in controlling the phenological patterns identified. Results demonstrated that soil texture is the most important factor for permanent crops, while large amount of rainfall and high values of available water content are the main drivers in spring cultivations (i.e., irrigated crops). Scarce water availability (in terms of soil texture, low annual precipitation and high minimum temperature) represented the main driving factor for non-irrigated crops, whose phenology is characterized by summer drought and fall-winter productivity. Compared to vegetation maps that use only land cover from a single season or period, using seasonality of the NDVI time series to classify the agricultural landscape provides different and more ecologically relevant information about croplands.

The Role of Environmental Factors in the Investment Prioritization of Facilities Using Recycled PVC

The Role of Environmental Factors in the Investment Prioritization of Facilities Using Recycled PVC

Congenital Hypothyroidism: Space-Time Clustering of Thyroid Dysgenesis Indicates a Role for Environmental Factors in Disease Etiology.

Background: The etiology of most cases of congenital hypothyroidism (CHT) due to thyroid dysgenesis (DG) is unknown. If transient environmental factors can impact on thyroid gland development, then clustering of cases in time and/or space may occur, and this would be more likely in thyroid DG than dyshormonogenesis (DHG).Methods: The newborn screening program for CHT in Scotland is linked to a central database that includes case details such as postcode. The etiology of CHT is investigated in many cases of CHT using scintigraphy and/or ultrasonography. We looked for evidence of a change in CHT incidence with year of birth and according to season of the year. We then undertook space–time clustering analysis (using a method based on K-functions, with nearest neighbor thresholds) of CHT in Scotland between 1979 and 2015. We also looked for evidence of overall changes associated with sex and area-based birth density.Results: Of 531 cases with CHT during the study period, 290 cases had been categorized as DG (n = 229) or DHG (n = 61) following more detailed investigation. The incidence of CHT increased with year of birth and was in part linked to changing methodology, but there was no seasonality. There was no evidence of overall space–time clustering (p = 0.06), but there was evidence of clustering in babies with DG (p = 0.007). This picture appeared to be most closely linked to underlying thyroid gland hypoplasia rather than thyroid gland agenesis or ectopia. There was significant space–time clustering for both males and females, but clustering was restricted to lesser birth density areas. There was also evidence of clustering for unknown cases (p < 0.001). Clustering of these cases was restricted to females but was present for cases from both greater and lesser birth density areas. There was no evidence of clustering in cases of DHG.Conclusions: These data suggest that an unidentified environmental factor or factors may be involved in the etiology of thyroid DG in Scotland. The variation in CHT incidence observed internationally may reflect environmental as well as genetic factors.

Transmission modes of COVID-19 disease pandemic in the light of ancient wisdom of Ayurveda medicine: a review.

Human-to-human transmission of the Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) occurs most often when people are in the incubation stage of the disease or are carriers and have no symptoms. SARS-CoV-2 transmission on different levels showed that the cold and dry climate, hot wind and relative humid wind, maximum wind speed, turbulent wind, intensified recirculating flow were causing transmission higher than factors. The role of environmental factors described in Ayurveda like air, water, soil, season, frequent earthquakes, sunlight exposure, frequent thunderstorm with lightening, and factors from arthropods were revalidated in perspective of COVID-19 transmission. The authors searched the information regarding epidemic diseases in Ayurveda textbooks. Pubmed, Science Direct, Wikipedia, Elsevier, Lancet, and Springer were approached for the latest knowledge relating to SARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19. Google Scholar search engine was thoroughly checked upon for scientific evidence regarding the Ayurveda drugs. Various environmental factors like soil, air, water, frequent earthquake disasters, wildlife animals, aquatic birds, space, inevitable disastrous factors, weather or seasonal hazards, violent thunderstorm with lightning, intermediate hosts, sunlight exposure etc. were considered for their role in the genesis of the disease. The Ayurvedic concepts behind the etiology and development of epidemics are the same as modern epidemiological theories. The mysteries of many aspects of the current pandemic might be deciphered by traditional medicine knowledge and thus adding upon to the integrative medicine concept.

Paying the widening participation penalty: Racial and ethnic minority students and mental health in British universities

AbstractRacial and ethnic minority (REM) students are more likely to experience poor mental health than their White peers yet are less likely to seek help from university counseling services. In attempting to explain this puzzle, the role of environmental factors are rarely explored, despite evidence which suggests that the university environment is itself a major factor. Here, I take a qualitative paired comparison approach to examine the influence of the university environment on the mental health and help‐seeking attitudes of REM undergraduate students, evaluating their experiences at a Russell Group university (RGU) with low REM participation and a neighboring non‐Russell Group university with high REM participation. While both universities declared a commitment to widen participation and promote inclusion for REM individuals, semi‐structured interviews with 48 REM students reveal that feelings of isolation and the experience of discrimination were heightened at the RGU. However, students at both universities described having to navigate a “minefield” of racial microaggressions and “othering.” Further, these environmental pressures are compounded by personal factors (i.e., prior help‐seeking experiences, cultural norms, and family pressures). Together, these factors largely influence both their mental health and their help‐seeking attitudes. I argue that these factors create a widening participation penalty for REM students and suggest that support for these students must go beyond initial acts of increasing diversity on campus (for example, through Widening Participation schemes). Rather, efforts should focus on addressing and reforming the institutional environments and behaviors that hinder university campuses from becoming truly inclusive and mentally healthy environments.

Toileting Disability Among Older Adults in China and Role of Environmental Factors.

Objectives: We investigated the risk factors associated with toileting disability among older adults in China, focusing on environmental factors (physical, social, and external supports). Methods: Data were drawn from the WHO's SAGE wave 1. We proposed a conceptual framework to guide the selection of risk factors, and implemented logistic regressions separately for urban and rural subpopulations. Results: In both subsamples, older adults who relied on assistive devices were about three times more likely to be toileting-disabled. Rural residents using non-flush toilets were 1.94 more likely to have difficulty toileting than those using flush system toilets. Sharing toilets and did not feel safe in homes were also positively associated with toileting disability. For urban residents, low neighborhood trust was weakly predictive of higher odds of toileting disability. Discussion: This study highlights the importance of environmental factors in explaining toileting disability, and the potential for related policy interventions in developing countries.

Comments on the updated recommendations of the American College of Rheumatology (ACR) for the treatment of gout. Lifestyle (part 2)

Updated ACR recommendations for the treatment of gout concerning lifestyle are discussed. Factors related to a lifestyle, above all food habits, for many years were of leading importance in the treatment of patients with gout, even after application of effective drugs. The authors of the updated ACR recommendations for the first time offered to reconsider the role of environmental factors in the genesis of gout and objectively assess the possibility of its non-drug treatment. On the one hand, regardless of the activity of the disease, the need for restrictions of the alcohol, purine-rich products and fructose-containing beverages, as well as the decrease of body weight in obese patients and vitamin C usage unviability are confirmed. On the other hand, these recommendations are conditional. Their new version of ACR recommendations is significantly different from both its previous version and other international and national recommendations, including recommendations on the diagnosis and treatment of gout used in the Russian Federation.

The role of environmental factors in the realization of the epidemic process on ascariasis

Introduction. Ascariasis is one of the most common parasitic diseases that infect about 1.5 million people in the world every year. In Russia, from 40 to 60 thousand cases are registered annually. To make effective management decisions on sanitary-epidemiological and preventive measures, the search for environmental factors that potentially affect the epidemic process of ascariasis in the Vladimir region was carried out. Materials and methods. The study analyzed archived statistical data on the incidence of ascariasis in the population, the state of the environment (air, water, and soil pollution), the socio-economic situation (unemployment rate, average salary, number of doctors and nurses, housing provision), as well as climate indices (average monthly temperature, number of days in a month with precipitation, humidity and snow cover) in the region. Statistical data processing and correlation and regression analysis were performed using the Statistica software. The maps were built and edited using the ArcView 3.1 GIS program and the standard Paint computer program. Results. The incidence of ascariasis in the region is characterized by significant diversity. Statistically reliable correlations of morbidity with environmental indices were obtained, and a mathematical equation was constructed using linear regression to predict the level of morbidity in the region. Conclusion. In the epidemiology of ascariasis in the Vladimir region, a leading role retains climatic, environmental indices determining the possibility of developing eggs of ascarids in the environment to the infective stage. A regional factor that affects the epidemiological process (indirectly through the suppression of the protective functions of the child’s body and reducing the development time of Ascaris eggs) is air pollution by stationary objects. The data obtained can assess the risk of infection with ascariasis to ensure biological safety in the region.

Impact of Meteorological Conditions on the Dynamics of the COVID-19 Pandemic in Poland.

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is an infectious disease caused by the novel coronavirus. The role of environmental factors in COVID-19 transmission is unclear. This study aimed to analyze the correlation between meteorological conditions (temperature, relative humidity, sunshine duration, wind speed) and dynamics of the COVID-19 pandemic in Poland. Data on a daily number of laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 cases and the number of COVID-19-related deaths were gatheredfrom the official governmental website. Meteorological observations from 55 synoptic stations in Poland were used. Moreover, reports on the movement of people across different categories of places were collected. A cross-correlation function, principal component analysis and random forest were applied. Maximum temperature, sunshine duration, relative humidity and variability of mean daily temperature affected the dynamics of the COVID-19 pandemic. An increase intemperature and sunshine hours decreased the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases. The occurrence of high humidity caused an increase in the number of COVID-19 cases 14 days later. Decreased sunshine duration and increased air humidity had a negative impact on the number of COVID-19-related deaths. Our study provides information that may be used by policymakers to support the decision-making process in nonpharmaceutical interventions against COVID-19.

Occupation and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis risk: a case-control study in the isolated island population of Malta

Objective: Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a mostly sporadic neurodegenerative disease. The role of environmental factors has been extensively investigated but associations remain controversial. Considering that a substantial proportion of adult life is spent at work, identifying occupations and work-related exposures is considered an effective way to detect factors that increase ALS risk. This process may be further facilitated in population isolates due to environmental and genetic homogeneity. Our study investigated occupations and occupational exposures potentially associated with ALS risk in the isolated island population of Malta, using a case-control study design. Methods: Patients with ALS and randomly identified matched controls (1:1) were recruited throughout a four-year window, from 2017 through 2020. Data on educational level, residence, main occupation, smoking, and alcohol history were collected. Results: We found that compared to controls (44.4%), a higher percentage (73.7%) of ALS patients reported a blue-collar job as their main occupation (OR 2.04, 95% CI 1.2–3.72; p = 0.0072). Through regression analysis, craft and related trades occupations such as carpentry and construction (ISCO-08 major group 7), were found to be positively associated with ALS, with patients in this occupational category found to be more prone to develop bulbar-onset ALS (p = 0.0297). Overall, patients with ALS reported a significantly higher exposure to work-related strenuous physical activity (OR 2.35, 95% CI 1.53–3.59; p = 0.0002). Conclusion: Our findings suggest that manual workers particularly those working in the carpentry and construction industries have an increased ALS risk, possibly due to a history of intense or sustained physical activity.

The role of environmental factors in the pathogenesis of cardiovascular diseases Part 1. Air Pollution

Background. Many factors and mechanisms are involved in the pathogenesis of cardiovascular diseases (CVD). Among them, as recent studies show, environmental factors play a vital role. At the same time a number of modern achievements in health care, including the improvement of early diagnosis and treatment methods for CVD has not significantly affected the rates of morbidity, mortality and disability in the population worldwide. This circumstance emphasizes the need to study the influence of additional factors, including environmental factors, in the fundamental processes of CVD pathogenesis and the subsequent translation of this knowledge into clinical practice. Goal. To study the effect of air pollution on the development and progression of cardiovascular diseases and discuss underlying causes. Methods. Analysis of modern international literary sources indexed in the PubMed / Medline and Embase databases. Results. Current clinical and experimental data support the relationship between air pollution with the risk of development and mortality caused by cardiovascular diseases. However, the pathophysiological mechanisms underlying this relationship are still underreported. It is believed that a vital role in the pathogenesis is played by endothelial dysfunction, increased thrombus formation, inflammatory processes and oxidative stress, which underlies the formation and progression of atherosclerosis, as well as an imbalance of the autonomic nervous system, which contributes to the development of arterial hypertension. Conclusion. According to the study, atmospheric air pollution has a significant impact on the pathogenesis of cardiovascular diseases. There is an urgent need for a further study of the specific pathogenetic mechanisms underlying the influence of these environmental factors on the development and progression of CVD to develop further treatment and prevention strategies to minimize the negative impact.