<u>Objective</u>: The main aim of the study was to determine whether COVID-19 epidemiological data reported by countries in different hemispheres correlated with the seasons of the year. Since stay-at-home...<u>Objective</u>: The main aim of the study was to determine whether COVID-19 epidemiological data reported by countries in different hemispheres correlated with the seasons of the year. Since stay-at-home orders could be a main factor affecting the time individuals spent outdoors, the progression of COVID-19 in countries that mandated the most stringent lock-downs and stay-at-home orders was compared to countries in the same hemisphere that did not order their citizens to remain at home. <u>Methods</u>: Infections attributed to COVID-19 per million inhabitants, deaths per infections × 100, and deaths per million inhabitants from different countries were analyzed utilizing national reports registered in the Johns’ Hopkins database together with the most recent world population data. The null hypothesis (no difference between countries with and without lock-downs) was tested (two tailed test, p < 0.01) for each paired set of data according to well established statistical analysis. <u>Results</u>: The shift of highest infection rates from countries in the northern-towards countries in the southern-hemisphere during early 2020 and the reverse in December of the same year correlates with the seasonal variation in the flux of germicidal sunlight. Mortality rate for the same virus among different countries did not show a seasonal component. COVID-19 infection mortality rate was considerably lower in developing countries of South America (11 of the largest countries) than in several (at least 8) developed European countries. <u>Discussion</u>: COVID-19 resulted in higher infections during winter than in summer. The finding of a seasonal component, correlating the progression of the pandemic with local solar flux, demonstrates that infectious virus in the environment plays a role in the pandemic since direct person-to-person transmission would afford little time for solar inactivation. Similar epidemiological data amongst “locked” and “unlocked” countries demonstrates that lock-downs and similar confining meas展开更多
As an advanced theory of evolution,neo-Darwinism broadens the concept of Darwinism,in which natural selection intervenes to ensure that those genes that best meet the need for adaptation to the environment are conserv...As an advanced theory of evolution,neo-Darwinism broadens the concept of Darwinism,in which natural selection intervenes to ensure that those genes that best meet the need for adaptation to the environment are conserved in the genetic background.Culture,which in human beings contributes to biological adaptation,is the sum of all the knowledge and technical innovation deriving from individual practical contributions handed down from one generation to the next,continuously influencing and changing biological life.As an unforeseen mechanism of adaptation,culture has enabled human beings to survive and to adapt to situations of environmental change and crisis.Indeed,climate change determines both cultural and genetic changes.The deterioration of the climate can have a significant impact on the spread of infectious diseases,to the point that the random mutation of a virus,such as SARS-Cov2 can easily result in a pandemic.We have violated biological ecosystems,destroying the environment and the communities that inhabit it.Spillover is what happens when an agent of disease,be it a virus or a bacterium,for any of a number of reasons,passes from one species to another,generating a zoonosis,i.e.,an infectious agent that can affect human beings.The mechanisms of biological evolution act on them rapidly,generating new biological potential and transforming spillovers into pandemics.We need to invest in multidisciplinary scientific and technological research,which entails interaction between various fields of knowledge including ecological,meteorological,anthropological,cultural,medical,and environmental.All these disciplines are closely connected to each other and to the health of animals,human beings,and ecosystems,and it is only by coordinating them that we can hope to respond rapidly to the new health and environmental emergencies and provide political decision-makers with correct information that can protect the human population from decline and extinction.展开更多
INTRODUCTIONHepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of themajor cancers in the world with a mortality of morethan 250 000 cases yearly.More than 137 000 casesof HCC were diagnosed each year in China,whichacount approxim...INTRODUCTIONHepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of themajor cancers in the world with a mortality of morethan 250 000 cases yearly.More than 137 000 casesof HCC were diagnosed each year in China,whichacount approximately for more than 40 percent ofthe total number in the world.HCC has become thesecond major cause of death for cancer in展开更多
Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L. [Walp.]) in one of the main grain legumes contributing to food security and poverty alleviation in Sub-Saharan Africa. To control the highly damaging legume pod borer Maruca vitrata F., tr...Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L. [Walp.]) in one of the main grain legumes contributing to food security and poverty alleviation in Sub-Saharan Africa. To control the highly damaging legume pod borer Maruca vitrata F., transgenic cowpea lines expressing the insecticidal Cry1Ab Bt protein were developed. In this study, we evaluated the impact of Cry1Ab transgene expression on the susceptibility of four cowpea lines (named IT97K-T, IT98K-T, Gourgou-T and Nafi-T) and their respective non-transgenic near isogenic lines (IT97K, IT98K, Gourgou and Nafi) to Cowpea aphid-borne mosaic virus (CABMV) in greenhouse conditions. In a preliminary quality control test by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, the presence of Cry1Ab protein in transgenic seed lots ranged from 59% to 72%, with no significant differences among the lines (χ2 = 3.26;p = 0.35). Upon virus inoculation, all cowpea lines exhibited mosaic symptoms with similar severity between 7- and 11-day post-inoculation. No significant differences were observed in symptom severity. Significant differences were found between cowpea lines for time of symptom onset, virus accumulation in plants and days to 50% flowering. However, while comparing pairs of transgenic lines and corresponding non-transgenic lines, virus accumulation showed not significant differences whatever the pair. Time of symptom onset and days to 50% flowering did not also differ significantly between pairs of cowpea lines except Nafi/Nafi-T in which transgenic Nafi-T showed earlier symptoms (7.4 ± 0.7 vs. 8.9 ± 0.8 days post-inoculation) and shorter flowering time (37.3 ± 0.6 vs. 42 ± 1.7 days after sowing). Overall, these findings improve our understanding of the effects of Cry1Ab gene mediated genetic modification on cowpea infection by Cowpea aphid-borne mosaic virus, with potential implications for environmental safety assessment.展开更多
文摘<u>Objective</u>: The main aim of the study was to determine whether COVID-19 epidemiological data reported by countries in different hemispheres correlated with the seasons of the year. Since stay-at-home orders could be a main factor affecting the time individuals spent outdoors, the progression of COVID-19 in countries that mandated the most stringent lock-downs and stay-at-home orders was compared to countries in the same hemisphere that did not order their citizens to remain at home. <u>Methods</u>: Infections attributed to COVID-19 per million inhabitants, deaths per infections × 100, and deaths per million inhabitants from different countries were analyzed utilizing national reports registered in the Johns’ Hopkins database together with the most recent world population data. The null hypothesis (no difference between countries with and without lock-downs) was tested (two tailed test, p < 0.01) for each paired set of data according to well established statistical analysis. <u>Results</u>: The shift of highest infection rates from countries in the northern-towards countries in the southern-hemisphere during early 2020 and the reverse in December of the same year correlates with the seasonal variation in the flux of germicidal sunlight. Mortality rate for the same virus among different countries did not show a seasonal component. COVID-19 infection mortality rate was considerably lower in developing countries of South America (11 of the largest countries) than in several (at least 8) developed European countries. <u>Discussion</u>: COVID-19 resulted in higher infections during winter than in summer. The finding of a seasonal component, correlating the progression of the pandemic with local solar flux, demonstrates that infectious virus in the environment plays a role in the pandemic since direct person-to-person transmission would afford little time for solar inactivation. Similar epidemiological data amongst “locked” and “unlocked” countries demonstrates that lock-downs and similar confining meas
文摘As an advanced theory of evolution,neo-Darwinism broadens the concept of Darwinism,in which natural selection intervenes to ensure that those genes that best meet the need for adaptation to the environment are conserved in the genetic background.Culture,which in human beings contributes to biological adaptation,is the sum of all the knowledge and technical innovation deriving from individual practical contributions handed down from one generation to the next,continuously influencing and changing biological life.As an unforeseen mechanism of adaptation,culture has enabled human beings to survive and to adapt to situations of environmental change and crisis.Indeed,climate change determines both cultural and genetic changes.The deterioration of the climate can have a significant impact on the spread of infectious diseases,to the point that the random mutation of a virus,such as SARS-Cov2 can easily result in a pandemic.We have violated biological ecosystems,destroying the environment and the communities that inhabit it.Spillover is what happens when an agent of disease,be it a virus or a bacterium,for any of a number of reasons,passes from one species to another,generating a zoonosis,i.e.,an infectious agent that can affect human beings.The mechanisms of biological evolution act on them rapidly,generating new biological potential and transforming spillovers into pandemics.We need to invest in multidisciplinary scientific and technological research,which entails interaction between various fields of knowledge including ecological,meteorological,anthropological,cultural,medical,and environmental.All these disciplines are closely connected to each other and to the health of animals,human beings,and ecosystems,and it is only by coordinating them that we can hope to respond rapidly to the new health and environmental emergencies and provide political decision-makers with correct information that can protect the human population from decline and extinction.
文摘INTRODUCTIONHepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of themajor cancers in the world with a mortality of morethan 250 000 cases yearly.More than 137 000 casesof HCC were diagnosed each year in China,whichacount approximately for more than 40 percent ofthe total number in the world.HCC has become thesecond major cause of death for cancer in
文摘Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L. [Walp.]) in one of the main grain legumes contributing to food security and poverty alleviation in Sub-Saharan Africa. To control the highly damaging legume pod borer Maruca vitrata F., transgenic cowpea lines expressing the insecticidal Cry1Ab Bt protein were developed. In this study, we evaluated the impact of Cry1Ab transgene expression on the susceptibility of four cowpea lines (named IT97K-T, IT98K-T, Gourgou-T and Nafi-T) and their respective non-transgenic near isogenic lines (IT97K, IT98K, Gourgou and Nafi) to Cowpea aphid-borne mosaic virus (CABMV) in greenhouse conditions. In a preliminary quality control test by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, the presence of Cry1Ab protein in transgenic seed lots ranged from 59% to 72%, with no significant differences among the lines (χ2 = 3.26;p = 0.35). Upon virus inoculation, all cowpea lines exhibited mosaic symptoms with similar severity between 7- and 11-day post-inoculation. No significant differences were observed in symptom severity. Significant differences were found between cowpea lines for time of symptom onset, virus accumulation in plants and days to 50% flowering. However, while comparing pairs of transgenic lines and corresponding non-transgenic lines, virus accumulation showed not significant differences whatever the pair. Time of symptom onset and days to 50% flowering did not also differ significantly between pairs of cowpea lines except Nafi/Nafi-T in which transgenic Nafi-T showed earlier symptoms (7.4 ± 0.7 vs. 8.9 ± 0.8 days post-inoculation) and shorter flowering time (37.3 ± 0.6 vs. 42 ± 1.7 days after sowing). Overall, these findings improve our understanding of the effects of Cry1Ab gene mediated genetic modification on cowpea infection by Cowpea aphid-borne mosaic virus, with potential implications for environmental safety assessment.
