Diffusion magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) provides a sensitive indicator of cerebral hypoxia. We investigated if apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) and transverse relaxation (T sub(2)) predict ...symptoms of acute mountain sickness (AMS), or merely indicate the AMS phenotype irrespective of symptoms. Fourteen normal subjects were studied in two groups; unambiguous AMS and no-AMS at 3,800 m altitude (intermediate AMS scores were excluded). T sub(2) relaxation was estimated from a T sub(2) index of T sub(2)-weighted signal normalized by cerebrospinal fluid signal. Measurements were made in normoxia and repeated after 2 days sustained hypoxia (AMS group symptomatic and no-AMS group asymptomatic) and after 7 days hypoxia (both groups asymptomatic). Decreased ADC directly predicted AMS symptoms (P<0.05). Apparent diffusion coefficient increased in asymptomatic subjects, or as symptoms abated with acclimatization. This pattern was similar in basal ganglia, white matter, and gray matter. Corpus callosum behaved differently; restricted diffusion was absent (or rapidly reversed) in the splenium, and was sustained in the genu. In symptomatic subjects, T sub(2,index) decreased after 2 days hypoxia and further decreased after 7 days. In asymptomatic subjects, T sub(2,index) initially increased after 2 days, but decreased after 7 days. T sub(2,index) changes were not predictive of AMS symptoms. These findings indicate that restricted diffusion, an indicator of diminished cerebral energy status, directly predicts symptoms of AMS in humans at altitude.
The level of tissue oxygenation provides information related to the balance between oxygen delivery, oxygen utilization, tissue reactivity and morphology during physiological conditions. Tissue ...partial pressure of oxygen (PtO sub(2)) is influenced by the use of anesthesia or restraint. These factors may impact the absolute level of PtO sub(2). In this study we present a novel fiber optic method to measure brain PtO sub(2). This method can be used in unanesthetized, unrestrained animals, provides absolute values for PO sub(2), has a stable calibration, does not consume oxygen and is MRI compatible. Brain PtO sub(2) was studied during acute hypoxia, as well as before and after 28 days of high altitude acclimatization. A sensor was chronically implanted in the frontal cortex of eight Wistar rats. It is comprised of a fiber optic probe with a tip containing material that fluoresces with an oxygen dependent lifetime. Brain PtO sub(2) declines by 80% and 76% pre- and post-acclimatization, respectively, when the fraction of inspired oxygen declines from 0.21 to 0.08. In addition, a linear relationship between brain PtO sub(2) and inspired O sub(2) levels was demonstrated r super(2) = 0.98 and r super(2) = 0.99 (pre- and post-acclimatization). Hypoxia acclimatization resulted in an increase in the overall brain PtO sub(2) by approximately 35%. This paper demonstrates the use of a novel chronically implanted fiber optic based sensor for measuring absolute PtO sub(2). It shows a very strong linear relationship in awake animals between inspired O sub(2) and tissue O sub(2), and shows that there is a proportional increase in PtO sub(2) over a range of inspired values after exposure to chronic hypoxia.
Reef corals are highly sensitive to heat, yet populations resistant to climate change have recently been identified. To determine the mechanisms of temperature tolerance, we reciprocally transplanted ...corals between reef sites experiencing distinct temperature regimes and tested subsequent physiological and gene expression profiles. Local acclimatization and fixed effects, such as adaptation, contributed about equally to heat tolerance and are reflected in patterns of gene expression. In less than 2 years, acclimatization achieves the same heat tolerance that we would expect from strong natural selection over many generations for these long-lived organisms. Our results show both short-term acclimatory and longer-term adaptive acquisition of climate resistance. Adding these adaptive abilities to ecosystem models is likely to slow predictions of demise for coral reef ecosystems.
As water temperatures rise in streams due to global temperature variations, dams, and increased water usage, native fish species face uncertain futures. Our study defines the thermal limits of ...flannelmouth sucker larvae. By raising sucker eggs at three acclimation temperatures (11 °C, 16 °C, and 22 °C), we defined ideal conditions for larval survival and the temperature tolerance range using critical thermal maximum (CTMax) and minimum (CTMin) trials. Larvae survived best at 16 °C. Within our three acclimation temperatures, our data suggest that larvae can survive static temperatures between 6.9 °C and 26.4 °C. Beyond an upper temperature of 34.8 °C and a lower temperature of 6.3 °C, these fish may fail to adapt. While flannelmouth suckers withstand high temperatures, even small temperature decreases prove detrimental. By defining the temperature limits of the flannelmouth sucker, we can make informed management decisions to preserve the populations of this desert fish.
The calorific value and construction cost of leaves reflect the utilization strategy of plants for environmental resources. Their genetic characteristics and leaf functional traits as well as climate ...change affect the calorific values. This study explores the differences in energy investment strategies and the response characteristics of energy utilization in leaves to climate change among nine clones of Chinese fir (Cunninghamia lanceolata). Considering the objectives, the differences in the energy utilization strategies were analyzed by determining the leaf nutrients, specific leaf area, and leaf calorific value and by calculating the construction cost. The results showed a significant difference in the ash-free calorific value and construction cost of leaves among different Chinese fir clones (p < 0.05). There were also significant differences in leaf carbon (C) content, leaf nitrogen (N) content, specific leaf area, and ash content. The correlation analysis showed that leaves’ ash-free calorific value and construction cost were positively correlated with the C content. Principal component analysis (PCA) showed that P2 is inclined to the “fast investment return” energy investment strategy, while L27 is inclined to the “slow investment return” energy investment strategy. Redundancy analysis (RDA) indicates that the monthly average temperature strongly correlates positively with leaf construction cost, N content, and specific leaf area. The monthly average precipitation positively impacts the ash-free calorific value and construction cost of leaves. In conclusion, there are obvious differences in energy investment strategies among different Chinese fir clones. When temperature and precipitation change, Chinese fir leaves can adjust their energy investment to adapt to environmental changes. In the future, attention should be paid to the impact of climate change–related aspects on the growth and development of Chinese fir plantations.
The temperature response of photosynthesis is one of the key factors determining predicted responses to warming in global vegetation models (GVMs). The response may vary geographically, owing to ...genetic adaptation to climate, and temporally, as a result of acclimation to changes in ambient temperature. Our goal was to develop a robust quantitative global model representing acclimation and adaptation of photosynthetic temperature responses.
We quantified and modelled key mechanisms responsible for photosynthetic temperature acclimation and adaptation using a global dataset of photosynthetic CO₂ response curves, including data from 141 C₃ species from tropical rainforest to Arctic tundra. We separated temperature acclimation and adaptation processes by considering seasonal and common-garden datasets, respectively.
The observed global variation in the temperature optimum of photosynthesis was primarily explained by biochemical limitations to photosynthesis, rather than stomatal conductance or respiration. We found acclimation to growth temperature to be a stronger driver of this variation than adaptation to temperature at climate of origin.
We developed a summary model to represent photosynthetic temperature responses and showed that it predicted the observed global variation in optimal temperatures with high accuracy. This novel algorithm should enable improved prediction of the function of global ecosystems in a warming climate.
Apart from water availability, low temperature is the most important environmental factor limiting the productivity and geographical distribution of plants across the world. To cope with cold stress, ...plant species have evolved several physiological and molecular adaptations to maximize cold tolerance by adjusting their metabolism. The regulation of some gene products represents an additional mechanism of cold tolerance. A consequence of these mechanisms is that plants are able to survive exposure to low temperature via a process known as cold acclimation. In this review, we briefly summarize recent progress in research and hypotheses on how sensitive plants perceive cold. We also explore how this perception is translated into changes within plants following exposure to low temperatures. Particular emphasis is placed on physiological parameters as well as transcriptional, posttranscriptional and post-translational regulation of coldinduced gene products that occur after exposure to low temperatures, leading to cold acclimation.
Marine Synechococcus, a globally important group of cyanobacteria, thrives in various light niches in part due to its varied photosynthetic light-harvesting pigments. Many Synechococcus strains use a ...process known as chromatic acclimation to optimize the ratio of two chromophores, green-light–absorbing phycoerythrobilin (PEB) and blue-light–absorbing phycourobilin (PUB), within their light-harvesting complexes. A full mechanistic understanding of how Synechococcus cells tune their PEB to PUB ratio during chromatic acclimation has not yet been obtained. Here, we show that interplay between two enzymes named MpeY and MpeZ controls differential PEB and PUB covalent attachment to the same cysteine residue. MpeY attaches PEB to the light-harvesting protein MpeA in green light, while MpeZ attaches PUB to MpeA in blue light. We demonstrate that the ratio of mpeY to mpeZ mRNA determines if PEB or PUB is attached. Additionally, strains encoding only MpeY or MpeZ do not acclimate. Examination of strains of Synechococcus isolated from across the globe indicates that the interplay between MpeY and MpeZ uncovered here is a critical feature of chromatic acclimation for marine Synechococcus worldwide.
Okra is a vegetable that stands out for its low production cost, high yield, high nutritional and value and socioeconomic importance in income generation, especially in family farming. In this ...context, the present study evaluated the physiology, production and water use efficiency of okra under irrigation with saline water and exogenous application of hydrogen peroxide. The treatments were distributed in a randomized block design, in a 5 × 3 factorial arrangement, with five levels of electrical conductivity of irrigation water - ECw (0.3; 1.3; 2.3; 3.3 and 4.3 dS m-1) and three concentrations of hydrogen peroxide - H2O2 (0, 25 and 50 μM), with five replicates, totaling 75 plants. Irrigation with ECw above 0.3 dS m-1 negatively affected stomatal conductance, transpiration, number of fruits, total production and water use efficiency of okra cv. Clemson Americano 80. Hydrogen peroxide at concentration of 22 μM mitigated the effects of salt stress on CO2 assimilation rate, number of fruits, average fruit weight and total production of okra cv. Clemson Americano 80. Water use efficiency is favored by H2O2 application at concentration of 12 μM, especially in plants irrigated with ECw of 0.3 dS m-1.
RESUMO: O quiabeiro é uma hortaliça que se destaca pelo baixo custo de produção, elevada produtividade, alto valor nutricional e pela importância socioeconômica na geração de renda, principalmente na agricultura familiar. Nesse contexto, o presente trabalho teve como objetivo avaliar a fisiologia, a produção e a eficiência no uso da água de quiabeiro sob irrigação com águas salinas e aplicação exógena de peróxido de hidrogênio. Os tratamentos foram distribuídos no delineamento de blocos casualizados, em arranjo fatorial 5 × 3, sendo cinco níveis de condutividade elétrica da água de irrigação (0,3; 1,3; 2,3; 3,3 e 4,3 dS m-1) e três concentrações de peróxido de hidrogênio (0, 25 e 50 μM), com cinco repetições, totalizando 75 plantas. A irrigação com CEa acima de 0,3 dS m-1 afetou negativamente a condutância estomática, a transpiração, o número de frutos, a produção total e a eficiência no uso da água do quiabeiro cv. Clemson Americano 80. O peróxido de hidrogênio na concentração de 22 μM amenizou os efeitos do estresse salino sobre a taxa de assimilação de CO2, número de frutos, peso médio de frutos e produção total de quiabeiro cv. Clemson Americano 80. A eficiência no uso da água é beneficiada pela aplicação de peróxido de hidrogênio na concentração de 12 μM, sobretudo nas plantas irrigadas com CEa de 0,3 dS m-1.
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