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Mayrovitz HN. Linkages Between Geomagnetic Activity and Blood Pressure. Cureus 2023; 15:e45637. [PMID: 37868483 PMCID: PMC10589055 DOI: 10.7759/cureus.45637] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2023] [Accepted: 09/20/2023] [Indexed: 10/24/2023] Open
Abstract
This review aims to critically examine and present evidence for and against potential linkages between geomagnetic activity and its effects on blood pressure (BP). Four databases were searched for peer-reviewed papers written in English: PubMed, Web of Science, EMBASE, and Biomedical Reference Collection. Retrieved titles were first screened for potential relevance followed by an abstract review for further clarifications if warranted. The preponderance of the reported evidence is consistent with the concept that space weather and related events that cause sufficiently large changes in the geomagnetic field (GMF) can impact BP. The associated BP change in most but not all cases is one in which both systolic blood pressure (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure increase, with SBP appearing to be more consistently involved. The magnitude of the reported BP increase ranges from about 3 to 8 mmHg depending on the intensity of the geomagnetic activity. The initiation of these BP changes has been variably reported to occur shortly before the GMF change or in synchrony with the abrupt change in the GMF. Such GMF-linked BP changes are not present in all persons and there appears to be increased sensitivity in women and in persons with co-existing hypertension. The utility of these findings in assessing or treating persons with known or suspected hypertension remains to be determined via future research. Further, research directed at determining the factors that determine responders from non-responders to GMF changes is warranted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Harvey N Mayrovitz
- Medical Education, Nova Southeastern University Dr. Kiran C. Patel College of Allopathic Medicine, Davie, USA
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2
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Zurita-Valencia T, Muñoz V. Characterizing the Solar Activity Using the Visibility Graph Method. Entropy (Basel) 2023; 25:342. [PMID: 36832708 PMCID: PMC9955573 DOI: 10.3390/e25020342] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/28/2022] [Revised: 02/03/2023] [Accepted: 02/09/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
In this paper, the Sun and its behavior are studied by means of complex networks. The complex network was built using the Visibility Graph algorithm. This method maps time series into graphs in which every element of the time series is considered as a node and a visibility criterion is defined in order to connect them. Using this method, we construct complex networks for magnetic field and sunspots time series encompassing four solar cycles, and various measures such as degree, clustering coefficient, mean path length, betweenness centrality, eigenvector centrality and decay exponents were calculated. In order to study the system in several time scales, we perform both a global, where the network contains information on the four solar cycles, and a local analysis, involving moving windows. Some metrics correlate with solar activity, while others do not. Interestingly, those metric which seem to respond to varying levels of solar activity in the global analysis, also do in the moving windows analysis. Our results suggest that complex networks can provide a useful way to follow solar activity, and reveal new features on solar cycles.
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Logvinenko L, Golubkina N, Fedotova I, Bogachuk M, Fedotov M, Kataev V, Alpatov A, Shevchuk O, Caruso G. Effect of Foliar Sodium Selenate and Nano Selenium Supply on Biochemical Characteristics, Essential Oil Accumulation and Mineral Composition of Artemisia annua L. Molecules 2022; 27. [PMID: 36500339 DOI: 10.3390/molecules27238246] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2022] [Revised: 11/18/2022] [Accepted: 11/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Selenium (Se) biofortification of aromatic plants is a promising strategy to produce valuable functional food with high biological activity and enhanced essential oil yield. The experiment carried out in 2021 and 2022 on A. annua treated with sodium selenate or nano-Se sprayed on foliar apparatus demonstrated a significant increase in photosynthetic pigments, pectin, waxes, macro- and microelements and a decrease in malonic dialdehyde (MDA) accumulation. Contrary to literature reports, neither selenate nor nano-Se showed a beneficial effect on essential oil accumulation; the oil yield did not differ between the selenate treated and control plants but was halved by the nano-Se application. Extremely high variations in the number of essential oil components, as well as in the eucalyptol, artemisia ketone, camphor and germacrene D ratio in the 2021 and 2022 experiments were recorded. The analysis of the 2016-2022 data for oil yield and composition in the control plants revealed a direct correlation between the number of components and of solar flares, and a negative correlation between oil yield and the percentage of spotless days. Both control plants and plants fortified with selenium showed higher levels of germacrene D and lower levels of artemisia ketone in 2022, characterized by more remarkable solar activity compared to 2021. Nano-Se supply resulted in the highest percentage of germacrene D accumulation. The results of the present research highlight the importance of the solar activity effect on the essential oil yield and quality of aromatic plants.
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Wang VA, Zilli Vieira CL, Garshick E, Schwartz JD, Garshick MS, Vokonas P, Koutrakis P. Solar Activity Is Associated With Diastolic and Systolic Blood Pressure in Elderly Adults. J Am Heart Assoc 2021; 10:e021006. [PMID: 34713707 PMCID: PMC8751821 DOI: 10.1161/jaha.120.021006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
Abstract
Background Since solar activity and related geomagnetic disturbances modulate autonomic nervous system activity, we hypothesized that these events would be associated with blood pressure (BP). Methods and Results We studied 675 elderly men from the Normative Aging Study (Boston, MA) with 1949 BP measurements between 2000 and 2017. Mixed‐effects regression models were used to investigate the association of average 1‐day (ie, day of BP measurement) to 28‐day interplanetary magnetic field intensity, sunspot number, and a dichotomized measure of global geomagnetic activity (Kp index) in 4‐day increments with diastolic and systolic BP. We adjusted for meteorological conditions and other covariates associated with BP, and in additional models adjusted for ambient air pollutants (particulate matter with an aerodynamic diameter ≤2.5 µm, black carbon, and particle number) and ambient particle radioactivity. There were positive associations between interplanetary magnetic field, sunspot number, and Kp index and BP that were greatest with these exposures averaged over 16 through 28 days before BP measurement. An interquartile range increase of 16‐day interplanetary magnetic field and sunspot number and higher Kp index were associated with a 2.5 (95% CI, 1.7‒3.2), 2.8 (95% CI, 2.1‒3.4), and 1.7 (95% CI, 0.8‒2.5) mm Hg increase, respectively, for diastolic BP as well as a 2.1 (95% CI, 0.7‒3.6), 2.7 (95% CI, 1.5‒4.0), and 0.4 (95% CI, −1.2 to 2.1) mm Hg increase, respectively, for systolic BP. Associations remained after adjustment for ambient air pollutants and ambient particle radioactivity. Conclusions Solar activity and solar‐driven geomagnetic disturbances were positively associated with BP, suggesting that these natural phenomena influence BP in elderly men.
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Affiliation(s)
- Veronica A Wang
- Department of Environmental Health Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health Boston MA
| | | | - Eric Garshick
- Pulmonary, Allergy, Sleep and Critical Care Medicine Section VA Boston Healthcare System Boston MA.,Channing Division of Network Medicine Department of Medicine Brigham and Women's Hospital Boston MA.,Harvard Medical School Boston MA
| | - Joel D Schwartz
- Department of Environmental Health Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health Boston MA
| | - Michael S Garshick
- Department of Medicine Center for the Prevention of Cardiovascular Disease New York University School of Medicine New York NY.,Leon H. Charney Division of Cardiology Department of Medicine New York University School of Medicine New York NY
| | - Pantel Vokonas
- VA Normative Aging Study Veterans Affairs Boston Healthcare System Boston MA.,Department of Medicine Boston University School of Medicine Boston MA
| | - Petros Koutrakis
- Department of Environmental Health Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health Boston MA
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Miyake F, Panyushkina IP, Jull AJT, Adolphi F, Brehm N, Helama S, Kanzawa K, Moriya T, Muscheler R, Nicolussi K, Oinonen M, Salzer M, Takeyama M, Tokanai F, Wacker L. A Single-Year Cosmic Ray Event at 5410 BCE Registered in 14C of Tree Rings. Geophys Res Lett 2021; 48:e2021GL093419. [PMID: 34433990 PMCID: PMC8365682 DOI: 10.1029/2021gl093419] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2021] [Revised: 05/02/2021] [Accepted: 05/10/2021] [Indexed: 06/02/2023]
Abstract
The annual 14C data in tree rings is an outstanding proxy for uncovering extreme solar energetic particle (SEP) events in the past. Signatures of extreme SEP events have been reported in 774/775 CE, 992/993 CE, and ∼660 BCE. Here, we report another rapid increase of 14C concentration in tree rings from California, Switzerland, and Finland around 5410 BCE. These 14C data series show a significant increase of ∼6‰ in 5411-5410 BCE. The signature of 14C variation is very similar to the confirmed three SEP events and points to an extreme short-term flux of cosmic ray radiation into the atmosphere. The rapid 14C increase in 5411/5410 BCE rings occurred during a period of high solar activity and 60 years after a grand 14C excursion during 5481-5471 BCE. The similarity of our 14C data to previous events suggests that the origin of the 5410 BCE event is an extreme SEP event.
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Affiliation(s)
- F. Miyake
- Institute for Space‐Earth Environmental ResearchNagoya UniversityNagoyaJapan
| | | | - A. J. T. Jull
- Department of GeosciencesUniversity of ArizonaTucsonAZUSA
- Isotope Climatology and Environmental Research CentreInstitute for Nuclear ResearchDebrecenHungary
| | - F. Adolphi
- Alfred Wegener InstituteHelmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine ResearchBremerhavenGermany
| | - N. Brehm
- Laboratory for Ion Beam PhysicsETH ZürichZürichSwitzerland
| | - S. Helama
- Natural Resources Institute FinlandRovaniemiFinland
| | - K. Kanzawa
- Institute for Space‐Earth Environmental ResearchNagoya UniversityNagoyaJapan
| | - T. Moriya
- Faculty of ScienceYamagata UniversityYamagataJapan
| | - R. Muscheler
- Department of GeologyFaculty of ScienceLund UniversityLundSweden
| | - K. Nicolussi
- Department of GeographyUniversität InnsbruckInnsbruckAustria
| | - M. Oinonen
- Finnish Museum of Natural HistoryUniversity of HelsinkiHelsinkiFinland
| | - M. Salzer
- Laboratory of Tree Ring ResearchUniversity of ArizonaTucsonAZUSA
| | - M. Takeyama
- Faculty of ScienceYamagata UniversityYamagataJapan
| | - F. Tokanai
- Faculty of ScienceYamagata UniversityYamagataJapan
| | - L. Wacker
- Laboratory for Ion Beam PhysicsETH ZürichZürichSwitzerland
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Sovilj MP, Vuković B, Radolić V, Miklavčić I, Stanić D. Potential benefit of retrospective use of neutron monitors in improving ionising radiation exposure assessment on international flights: issues raised by neutron passive dosimeter measurements and EPCARD simulations during sudden changes in solar activity. Arh Hig Rada Toksikol 2020; 71:152-7. [PMID: 32975102 DOI: 10.2478/aiht-2020-71-3403] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2020] [Accepted: 06/01/2020] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Since air transport became more accessible, more and more people have been exposed to ionising radiation of cosmic origin. Measuring the neutron dose equivalent is a good approximation of total ambient dose equivalent, as neutrons carry about 50 % of the dose at flight altitudes. The aim of our study was to compare our measurements of the neutron component of secondary cosmic radiation dose, taken with passive dosimeters, with the data obtained from a simulation generated by EPCARD software, which is common in assessing flight crew exposure to ionising radiation. We observed deviations (both above and below) from the expected proportion of the neutron component (between 40 and 80 %), which pointed to certain issues with actual passive dosimeter measurement and the EPCARD simulation. The main limitation of the dosimeter are large uncertainties in high energy neutron response, which may result in underestimation of neutron dose equivalent. The main drawback of the software simulation is monthly averaging of solar potential in calculations, which can neglect sporadic high energy events. Since airlines worldwide almost exclusively use software (due to costs and convenience) to estimate the dose received by their crew, it is advisable to retrospectively recalculate the dose taking into account neutron monitor readings when solar activity changes.
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Stoupel E, Radishauskas R, Bernotiene G, Tamoshiunas A, Virvichiute D. Blood troponin levels in acute cardiac events depends on space weather activity components (a correlative study). J Basic Clin Physiol Pharmacol 2018; 29:257-263. [PMID: 29397386 DOI: 10.1515/jbcpp-2017-0148] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2017] [Accepted: 08/30/2017] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Many biological processes are influenced by space weather activity components such as solar activity (SA), geomagnetic activity (GMA) and cosmic ray activity (CRA). Examples are total mortality, acute myocardial infarction (AMI), stroke (cerebrovascular accident), sudden cardiac death, some congenital maladies (congenital heart disease and Down syndrome), many events in neonatology, ophtalmology, blood pressure regulation, blood coagulation, inflammation, etc. The aim of this study was to check if the level of blood troponins (Tns) - markers of myocardial damage and recognized components of modern description of AMI - is connected with the mentioned space weather parameters. METHODS Patients admitted to a 3000-bed tertiary university hospital in Kaunas, Lithuania, with suspected AMI were the object of the study. Data for the time between 2008 and 2013 - 72 consecutive months - were studied. Of the patients, 1896 (1398 male, 498 female) had elevated troponin I (Tn I) or troponin T (Tn T, sensitive Tn) levels. Normal values were 0.00-0.03 ng/mL for Tn I and 0.00-14.00 ng/mL for Tn T. Monthly means and standard deviation of Tn I and Tn T were compared with monthly markers of SA, GMA and CRA. Pearson correlation coefficients and their probabilities were established (in addition to the consecutive graphs of both comparing physical and biological data). The cosmophysical data came from space service institutions in the United States, Russia and Finland. RESULTS AMI was diagnosed in 1188 patients (62.66%), and intermediate coronary syndrome in 698 patients (36.81%). There were significant links of the Tn blood levels with four SA indices and CRA (neutron activity in imp/min); there was no significant correlation with GMA indices Ap and Cp (p=0.27 and p=0.235). Tn T levels significantly correlated with the GMA indices and not with the SA and CRA levels (Ap: r=0.77, p=0.0021; Cp: r=0.729, p=0.0047). CONCLUSIONS First, the monthly level of blood Tn I in ACS is significantly correlated with the indices of SA (inverse) and with CRA (neutron); second, no significant correlation with the GMA indices was found; and third, the Tn T levels showed significant links with the GMA indices and none with SA and CRA (neutron).
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Affiliation(s)
- Eliiyahu Stoupel
- Division of Cardiology, Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Rabin Medical Center, Tel Aviv University, Denmark 2, Petah Tiqwa 49100, Israel.,Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Petah Tiqwa, Israel
| | | | - Gailute Bernotiene
- Institute of Cardiology, Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, Kaunas, Lithuania
| | - Abdonas Tamoshiunas
- Institute of Cardiology, Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, Kaunas, Lithuania
| | - Daiva Virvichiute
- Institute of Cardiology, Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, Kaunas, Lithuania
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Stoupel EG. Is antiarrhythmic drug effectiveness stable? Extrapolating ICD in different space weather conditions. J Basic Clin Physiol Pharmacol 2018; 29:103-104. [PMID: 29303775 DOI: 10.1515/jbcpp-2016-0124] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2017] [Accepted: 08/29/2017] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
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Samoylova NA, Shkilnyuk GG, Goncharova ZA, Stolyarov ID. [The influence of solar and geomagnetic activity on the risk of multiple sclerosis (results of correlation and regression analysis)]. Zh Nevrol Psikhiatr Im S S Korsakova 2017; 117:42-49. [PMID: 28617360 DOI: 10.17116/jnevro20171172242-49] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
AIM Multiple sclerosis (MS) develops as a result of an interaction between genetic and environmental factors, among them solar (SA) and geomagnetic activity (GMA) attract the particular attention. An impact of SA and GMA on intrauterine and postnatal period in MS was studied. MATERIAL AND METHODS The study included 358 patients with MS. Correlation (CA) and regression analysis (RA) were used to study the effects of SA and GMA during intrauterine period, the 1st year of life, a year of disease onset, a year before the onset. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS CA revealed the association between the MS onset and mean values of kp-index in the onset year and the year before the onset year, number of days with kp≥4 and kp≥5 in the onset year and the year before the onset year, mean SFU in the onset year. RA revealed the association between the MS onset and mean kp in the year before the onset year and in the onset year, number of days with kp≥7 in the onset year and the year before the onset year, mean kp during pregnancy, number of days with kp≥7 in the 1st year of life and during pregnancy. The influence of high GMA during pregnancy and in the 1st year of life increases the MS risk in the future and the high GMA predisposes to the MS onset in adults. The practical value of the study is that predicting the GMA changes we can try to prevent the onset and relapses in the risk groups.
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Affiliation(s)
- N A Samoylova
- Rostov State Medical University, Rostov-on-Don, Russia
| | - G G Shkilnyuk
- N. Bekhtereva Institute of Human Brain, Saint Petersburg, Russia
| | | | - I D Stolyarov
- N. Bekhtereva Institute of Human Brain, Saint Petersburg, Russia
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Lindsey C, Braun D. Seismic imaging of the Sun's far hemisphere and its applications in space weather forecasting. Space Weather 2017; 15:761-781. [PMID: 29398984 PMCID: PMC5784405 DOI: 10.1002/2016sw001547] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2016] [Revised: 01/09/2017] [Accepted: 02/11/2017] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
The interior of the Sun is filled acoustic waves with periods of about 5 min. These waves, called "p modes," are understood to be excited by convection in a thin layer beneath the Sun's surface. The p modes cause seismic ripples, which we call "the solar oscillations." Helioseismic observatories use Doppler observations to map these oscillations, both spatially and temporally. The p modes propagate freely throughout the solar interior, reverberating between the near and far hemispheres. They also interact strongly with active regions at the surfaces of both hemispheres, carrying the signatures of said interactions with them. Computational analysis of the solar oscillations mapped in the Sun's near hemisphere, applying basic principles of wave optics to model the implied p modes propagating through the solar interior, gives us seismic maps of large active regions in the Sun's far hemisphere. These seismic maps are useful for space weather forecasting. For the past decade, NASA's twin STEREO spacecraft have given us full coverage of the Sun's far hemisphere in electromagnetic (EUV) radiation from the far side of Earth's orbit about the Sun. We are now approaching a decade during which the STEREO spacecraft will lose their farside vantage. There will occur significant periods from thence during which electromagnetic coverage of the Sun's far hemisphere will be incomplete or nil. Solar seismology will make it possible to continue our monitor of large active regions in the Sun's far hemisphere for the needs of space weather forecasters during these otherwise blind periods.
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Butler MJ, Metzger KL, Harris GM. Are whooping cranes destined for extinction? Climate change imperils recruitment and population growth. Ecol Evol 2017; 7:2821-2834. [PMID: 28428872 PMCID: PMC5395435 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.2892] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2016] [Revised: 01/26/2017] [Accepted: 01/30/2017] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Identifying climatic drivers of an animal population's vital rates and locating where they operate steers conservation efforts to optimize species recovery. The population growth of endangered whooping cranes (Grus americana) hinges on juvenile recruitment. Therefore, we identify climatic drivers (solar activity [sunspots] and weather) of whooping crane recruitment throughout the species’ life cycle (breeding, migration, wintering). Our method uses a repeated cross‐validated absolute shrinkage and selection operator approach to identify drivers of recruitment. We model effects of climate change on those drivers to predict whooping crane population growth given alternative scenarios of climate change and solar activity. Years with fewer sunspots indicated greater recruitment. Increased precipitation during autumn migration signified less recruitment. On the breeding grounds, fewer days below freezing during winter and more precipitation during breeding suggested less recruitment. We predicted whooping crane recruitment and population growth may fall below long‐term averages during all solar cycles when atmospheric CO2 concentration increases, as expected, to 500 ppm by 2050. Species recovery during a typical solar cycle with 500 ppm may require eight times longer than conditions without climate change and the chance of population decline increases to 31%. Although this whooping crane population is growing and may appear secure, long‐term threats imposed by climate change and increased solar activity may jeopardize its persistence. Weather on the breeding grounds likely affects recruitment through hydrological processes and predation risk, whereas precipitation during autumn migration may influence juvenile mortality. Mitigating threats or abating climate change should occur within ≈30 years or this wild population of whooping cranes may begin declining.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew J Butler
- Division of Biological Services U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Albuquerque NM USA
| | - Kristine L Metzger
- Division of Biological Services U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Albuquerque NM USA
| | - Grant M Harris
- Division of Biological Services U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Albuquerque NM USA
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Scholkmann F, Miscio G, Tarquini R, Bosi A, Rubino R, di Mauro L, Mazzoccoli G. The circadecadal rhythm of oscillation of umbilical cord blood parameters correlates with geomagnetic activity - An analysis of long-term measurements (1999-2011). Chronobiol Int 2016; 33:1136-1147. [PMID: 27409251 DOI: 10.1080/07420528.2016.1202264] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Abstract
Recently, we have shown that the contents of total nucleated cells (TNCs) and CD34+ hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells (CD34+ HSPCs) as well as the cord blood volume (CBV) in umbilical cord blood (UCB) show a circadecadal (~10 years) rhythm of oscillation. This observation was based on an analysis of 17,936 cord blood donations collected during 1999-2011. The aim of the present study was to investigate whether this circadecadal rhythm of oscillation in TNCs, CD34+ HSPCs and CBV is related to geomagnetic activity. For the analysis, the yearly averages of TNCs, CD34+ HSPCs and CBV in UCB were correlated with geomagnetic activity (Dcx index). Our analysis revealed that (i) all three UCB parameters were statistically significantly correlated with the level of geomagnetic activity, (ii) CBV showed a linear correlation with the Dcx index (r = 0.5290), (iii) the number of TNCs and CD34+ HSPCs were quadratic inversely correlated with the Dcx index (r = -0.5343 and r = -0.7749, respectively). Furthermore, (iv) CBV and the number of TNCs were not statistically significantly correlated with the number of either modest or intense geomagnetic storms per year, but (v) the number of CD34+ HSPCs was statistically significantly correlated with the number of modest (r = 0.9253) as well as intense (r = 0.8683) geomagnetic storms per year. In conclusion, our study suggests that UCB parameters correlate with the state of the geomagnetic field (GMF) modulated by solar activity. Possible biophysical mechanisms underlying this observation, as well as the outcome of these findings, are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Felix Scholkmann
- a Research Office for Complex Physical and Biological Systems (ROCoS) , Zurich , Switzerland
| | - Giuseppe Miscio
- b Apulia Cord Blood Bank , IRCCS "Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza" , S. Giovanni Rotondo (FG) , Italy
| | - Roberto Tarquini
- c Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, School of Medicine , University of Florence , Florence , Italy.,d Interinstitutional Department for Continuity of Care of Empoli, School of Medicine , University of Florence , Florence , Italy
| | - Alberto Bosi
- e Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Unit of Haematology, School of Medicine , University of Florence , Florence , Italy
| | - Rosa Rubino
- f Department of Medical Sciences, Division of Internal Medicine and Chronobiology Unit , IRCCS "Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza" , S. Giovanni Rotondo (FG) , Italy
| | - Lazzaro di Mauro
- b Apulia Cord Blood Bank , IRCCS "Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza" , S. Giovanni Rotondo (FG) , Italy
| | - Gianluigi Mazzoccoli
- f Department of Medical Sciences, Division of Internal Medicine and Chronobiology Unit , IRCCS "Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza" , S. Giovanni Rotondo (FG) , Italy
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Buelens B. Visual Circular Analysis of 266 Years of Sunspot Counts. Big Data 2016; 4:89-96. [PMID: 27441713 DOI: 10.1089/big.2015.0055] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
Sunspots, colder areas that are visible as dark spots on the surface of the Sun, have been observed for centuries. Their number varies with a period of ∼11 years, a phenomenon closely related to the solar activity cycle. Recently, observation records dating back to 1749 have been reassessed, resulting in the release of a time series of sunspot numbers covering 266 years of observations. This series is analyzed using circular analysis to determine the periodicity of the occurrence of solar maxima. The circular analysis is combined with spiral graphs to provide a single visualization, simultaneously showing the periodicity of the series, the degree to which individual cycle lengths deviate from the average period, and differences in levels reached during the different maxima. This type of visualization of cyclic time series with varying cycle lengths in which significant events occur periodically is broadly applicable. It is aimed particularly at science communication, education, and public outreach.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bart Buelens
- Astrostatistics.org and Flemish Astronomical Society, Genk, Belgium
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Stoupel E, Kusniec J, Golovchiner G, Abramson E, Kadmon U, Strasberg B. Association of time of occurrence of electrical heart storms with environmental physical activity. Pacing Clin Electrophysiol 2014; 37:1067-70. [PMID: 24645938 DOI: 10.1111/pace.12383] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2013] [Revised: 01/03/2014] [Accepted: 01/17/2014] [Indexed: 01/29/2023]
Abstract
AIM Many publications in recent decades have reported a temporal link between medical events and environmental physical activity. The aim of this study was to analyze the time of occurrence of electrical heart storms against levels of cosmological parameters. METHODS The sample included 82 patients (71 male) with ischemic cardiomyopathy treated with an implantable cardioverter defibrillator at a tertiary medical center in 1999-2012 (5,114 days). The time of occurrence of all electrical heart storms, defined as three or more events of ventricular tachycardia or ventricular fibrillation daily, was recorded from the defibrillator devices. Findings were analyzed against data on solar, geomagnetic, and cosmic ray (neutron) activity for the same time period obtained from space institutions in the United States and Russia. RESULTS Electrical storms occurred in all months of the year, with a slight decrease in July, August, and September. Most events took place on days with lower-than-average levels of solar and geomagnetic activity and higher-than-average levels of cosmic ray (neutron) activity. There was a significant difference in mean daily cosmic ray activity between the whole observation period and the days of electrical storm activity (P = 0.0001). CONCLUSION These data extend earlier findings on the association of the timing of cardiac events and space weather parameters to the most dangerous form of cardiac arrhythmia-electric storms. Further studies are needed to delineate the pathogenetic mechanism underlying this association.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eliiyahu Stoupel
- Division of Cardiology, Rabin Medical Center, Petach Tikva, Israel; Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
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Montag C, Eichner M, Markett S, Quesada CM, Schoene-Bake JC, Melchers M, Plieger T, Weber B, Reuter M. An interaction of a NR3C1 polymorphism and antenatal solar activity impacts both hippocampus volume and neuroticism in adulthood. Front Hum Neurosci 2013; 7:243. [PMID: 23761749 PMCID: PMC3672672 DOI: 10.3389/fnhum.2013.00243] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2013] [Accepted: 05/17/2013] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The investigation of the interaction of genes and environment in the context of mental health and personality yields important new insights for a better understanding of human nature. Both antenatal and postnatal environmental factors have been considered as potential modulators of genetic activity. Antenatally, especially smoking or alcohol drinking habits of the mother dramatically influence the health of the child during pregnancy and even later on in life. In the present study we would like to introduce a more "distant" factor that is not under the control of the becoming mother but that nevertheless plays a potential role for the health of the unborn child later on in adulthood. Here, we retrospectively investigate the influence of solar activity (while the child is still in the uterus of the becoming mother) on brain structure (with a focus on hippocampus and amygdala volume) and personality in adulthood. We observe an interaction of a genetic variant (rs41423247) of the glucocorticoid receptor gene (NR3C1) and solar activity in the first trimester after conception on both hippocampal volume and the personality trait neuroticism in adulthood in N = 254 participants. The NR3C1 gene is the focus of interest, because of its influence on the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis and negative emotionality. Carriers of the CC variant of rs41423247 grown in the womb under the influence of high sun radiation (high solar activity) show both the highest hippocampal volume in the left hemisphere and lowest neuroticism scores. The present findings should encourage researchers in psychology and psychiatry to include also environmental influences such as solar activity besides genetics to better understand the etiogenesis of psychiatric disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christian Montag
- Department of Psychology, University of BonnBonn, Germany
- Center for Economics and Neuroscience, University of BonnBonn, Germany
| | - Markus Eichner
- Department of Psychology, University of GiessenGiessen, Germany
| | - Sebastian Markett
- Department of Psychology, University of BonnBonn, Germany
- Center for Economics and Neuroscience, University of BonnBonn, Germany
| | - Carlos M. Quesada
- Department of Epileptology, University of BonnBonn, Germany
- Department of NeuroCognition/Imaging, Life and Brain CenterBonn, Germany
| | - Jan-Christoph Schoene-Bake
- Department of Epileptology, University of BonnBonn, Germany
- Department of NeuroCognition/Imaging, Life and Brain CenterBonn, Germany
| | | | - Thomas Plieger
- Department of Psychology, University of BonnBonn, Germany
| | - Bernd Weber
- Center for Economics and Neuroscience, University of BonnBonn, Germany
- Department of Epileptology, University of BonnBonn, Germany
- Department of NeuroCognition/Imaging, Life and Brain CenterBonn, Germany
| | - Martin Reuter
- Department of Psychology, University of BonnBonn, Germany
- Center for Economics and Neuroscience, University of BonnBonn, Germany
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Feulner G. Comment on "Strong signature of the active Sun in 100 years of terrestrial insolation data" by W. Weber. Ann Phys 2011; 523:946-950. [PMID: 22279242 PMCID: PMC3263400 DOI: 10.1002/andp.201100179] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2011] [Accepted: 08/10/2011] [Indexed: 05/31/2023]
Abstract
An analysis of ground-based observations of solar irradiance was recently published in this journal, reporting an apparent increase of solar irradiance on the ground of the order of 1% between solar minima and maxima [1]. Since the corresponding variations in total solar irradiance on top of the atmosphere are accurately determined from satellite observations to be of the order of 0.1% only [2], the one order of magnitude stronger effect in the terrestrial insolation data was interpreted as evidence for cosmic-ray induced aerosol formation in the atmosphere. In my opinion, however, this result does not reflect reality. Using the energy budget of Earth's surface, I show that changes of ground-based insolation with the solar cycle of the order of 1% between solar minima and maxima would result in large surface air temperature variations which are inconsistent with the instrumental record. It would appear that the strong variations of terrestrial irradiance found by [1] are due to the uncorrected effects of volcanic or local aerosols and seasonal variations. Taking these effects into account, I find a variation of terrestrial insolation with solar activity which is of the same order as the one measured from space, bringing the surface energy budget into agreement with the solar signal detected in temperature data.
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Affiliation(s)
- Georg Feulner
- Earth System Analysis, Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK) P.O. Box 60 12 03, 14412 Potsdam, Germany
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Abstract
In my reply I present a re-analysis of the data of the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory (SAO). For this, a new data reduction method is introduced, allowing a drastic lowering of data scatter, so that the time series of the reduced data clearly shows the ≈ 1% variation of the terrestric solar irradiance in parallel with solar activity. The implications are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Werner Weber
- Institut für Physik TU Dortmund, 44221 Dortmund, Germany
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Abstract
Global warming and attendant climate change have been controversial for at least a decade. This is largely because of its societal implications. With the recent publication of the Third Assessment Report of the United Nations' Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change there has been renewed interest and controversy about how certain the scientific community is of its conclusions: that humans are influencing the climate and that global temperatures will continue to rise rapidly in this century. This review attempts to update what is known and in particular what advances have been made in the past 5 years or so. It does not attempt to be comprehensive. Rather it focuses on the most controversial issues, which are actually few in number. They are: Is the surface temperature record accurate or is it biased by heat from cities, etc.?, Is that record significantly different from past warmings such as the Medieval Warming Period?, Is not the sun's increasing activity the cause of most of the warming?, Can we model climate and predict its future, or is it just too complex and chaotic?, Are there any other changes in climate other than warming, and can they be attributed to the warming? Despite continued uncertainties, the review finds affirmative answers to these questions. Of particular interest are advances that seem to explain why satellites do not see as much warming as surface instruments, how we are getting a good idea of recent paleoclimates, and why the 20th century temperature record was so complex. It makes the point that in each area new information could come to light that would change our thinking on the quantitative magnitude and timing of anthropogenic warming, but it is unlikely to alter the basic conclusions. Finally, there is a very brief discussion of the societal policy response to the scientific message, and the author comments on his 2-year email discussions with many of the world's most outspoken critics of the anthropogenic warming hypothesis.
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