Health and wellbeing benefits of urban forests in winter: a narrative review.

Urban trees and green spaces, hereafter, urban forests, are known to contribute to human health and wellbeing. However, research has predominantly focused on warm seasons. To understand whether these benefits extend to winter months, when vegetation is dormant, we conducted a narrative review of the health outcomes associated with urban forests in winter in cities with cold climates. We synthesized findings from 21 studies originating from Asia, Europe and North America. The most studied health outcomes were mental health, physical activity and physiological relaxation, all showing a positive relationship with urban forest exposure. These finding appear similar to those observed in warmer seasons. However, more studies are needed, on a diversity of health outcomes, to draw more robust conclusions in this emerging research field. Future research on urban forests should therefore consider winter and the effect of seasonality to improve health and wellbeing of urban dwellers in all seasons.

Development of the Standardized Navigation Of Winter Mobility & Accessibility Network (SNOWMAN) course.

Introduction: Manual wheelchairs (MWC) users have limited mobility during winter months as they encounter many environmental barriers that restrict their community participation. This paper outlines the creation and standardization of an outdoor environment designed to simulate the real-life conditions and obstacles experienced by MWC users in winter. Methods and results: This study consisted of four phases. In Phase 1, researchers used a qualitative ethnographic approach to document the specific challenges and adaptive strategies used by MWC users in winter conditions. In Phase 2, key informants with expertise in MWC winter mobility were invited to co-design the Standardized Navigation Of Winter Mobility & Accessibility Network (SNOWMAN) course. Participants reviewed draft design solutions and offered their input and suggestions to expand upon the initial design. A second co-design workshop included additional key informants, including service providers, policymakers, and professionals with expertise in landscape architecture and engineering, to validate the design solution. The workshops resulted in a detailed illustration of the SNOWMAN course, including five sections: platforms with side slopes, a miniature ice rink, curbs and curb cuts, a path with uneven winter surfaces, and modular ramps at various slopes. Phases 3 and 4 marked the conclusion of the study and involved fabrication of the SNOWMAN course and establishment of a standardized protocol for course setup and maintenance. Discussion: The project aimed to offer several additional potential benefits, supported by the various stakeholders across the study phases, that extend beyond creation of a controlled and safe environment for wheelchair users to develop their winter mobility skills. Practicing wheelchair skills in this area may assist wheelchair users in gaining confidence which may ultimately translate to increased participation in the community.

Microbial communities are thermally more sensitive in warm-climate lizards compared with their cold-climate counterparts.

Environmental temperature affects the composition, structure, and function of the gut microbial communities in host animals. To elucidate the role of gut microbiota in thermal adaptation, we designed a 2 species × 3 temperatures experiment, whereby we acclimated adult males of two agamid lizard species (warm-climate Leiolepis reevesii and cold-climate Phrynocephalus przewalskii) to 20, 28, and 36°C for 2 weeks and then collected their fecal and small-intestinal samples to analyze and compare the microbiota using 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing technology. The fecal microbiota displayed more pronounced interspecific differences in microbial community than the small-intestinal microbiota in the two species occurring in thermally different regions. The response of fecal and small-intestinal microbiota to temperature increase or decrease differed between the two species, with more bacterial taxa affected by acclimation temperature in L. reevesii than in P. przewalskii. Both species, the warm-climate species in particular, could cope with temperature change by adjusting the relative abundance of functional categories associated with metabolism and environmental information processing. Functional genes associated with carbohydrate metabolism were enhanced in P. przewalskii, suggesting the contribution of the fecal microbiota to cold-climate adaptation in P. przewalskii. Taken together, our results validate the two hypotheses tested, of which one suggests that the gut microbiota should help lizards adapt to thermal environments in which they live, and the other suggests that microbial communities should be thermally more sensitive in warm-climate lizards than in cold-climate lizards.

Cyclic and linear trajectories of ecosystem evolution on sand dunes in Siberian taiga: A comprehensive analysis.

Extensive unforested sandy areas on the margins of floodplains and riverbeds, formed by dunes, barchans, and accumulation berms, are a ubiquitous feature across northern Eurasia and Alaska. These dynamic landscapes, which bear witness to the complex Holocene and modern climatic fluctuations, provide a unique opportunity to study ecosystem evolution. Within this heterogeneous assemblage, active dunes, characterized by their very sparse plant communities, contrast sharply with the surrounding taiga (boreal) forests common for the stabilized dunes. This juxtaposition makes these regions to natural laboratories to study vegetation succession and soil development. Through a comprehensive analysis of climate, geomorphology, vegetation, soil properties, and microbiome composition, we elucidate the intricacies of cyclic and linear ecosystem evolution within a representative sandy area located along the lower Nadym River in Siberia, approximately 100 km south of the Arctic Circle. The shift in the Holocene wind regime and the slow development of vegetation under harsh climatic conditions promoted cyclical ecosystem dynamics that precluded the attainment of a steady state. This cyclical trajectory is exemplified by Arenosols, characterized by extremely sparse vegetation and undifferentiated horizons. Conversely, accelerated vegetation growth within wind-protected enclaves on marginally stabilized soils facilitated sand stabilization and subsequent pedogenesis towards Podzols. Based on soil acidification due to litter input (mainly needles, lichens, and mosses) and the succession of microbial communities, we investigated constraints on carbon and nutrient availability during the initial stages of pedogenesis. In summary, the comprehensive study of initial ecosystem development on sand dunes within taiga forests has facilitated the elucidation of both common phases and spatiotemporal dynamics of vegetation and soil succession. This analysis has further clarified the existence of both cyclic and linear trajectories within the successional processes of ecosystem evolution.

Study on the outdoor thermal comfort of college students under different activity intensities in a high-altitude climate zone.

Introduction: Research on the outdoor thermal comfort (OTC) of a university campus is beneficial to the physical and mental health of college students. Methods: In this study, the OTC of students attending Tibet University in Lhasa, which experiences high-altitude cold climate conditions, under different activity intensities was studied using field measurements and a questionnaire survey. Results: With the increase in activity intensity, the comfort physiologically equivalent temperature (PET) value gradually increased in summer, while the comfortable PET value gradually decreased in winter. The most comfortable PET value is 17.6°C in summer and 11.5°C in winter. The neutral PET of Tibetan college students during outdoor activities in summer was 16.3°C, and the neutral PET of outdoor activities in winter was 12.1°C. Gender and ethnicity had different effects on thermal sensation under different activity intensities. Under vigorous-intensity activities, PET in winter and summer had the greatest influence on thermal sensation. The situation was different under moderate-intensity activity. PET had the greatest influence on thermal sensation in summer, and Tmrt had the greatest influence on thermal sensation in winter. Discussion: These findings provide a basis for an improved design of the outdoor environment under different outdoor activity intensities in high-altitude areas.

Influence of breed and environment on leukocyte telomere length in cattle.

High milk yield is associated with reduced longevity in high-producing dairy cattle breeds. Pre-term culling leads to high replacement heifer demand and economic losses for the dairy industry. Selection for this trait is limited because of low heritability and difficulties in phenotype measurement. Telomeres are elements found at the ends of chromosomes, consisting of repetitive DNA sequences, several thousand base pairs in length, coupled with nucleoprotein complexes. Eventually, in humans and most other animals, telomere length reduces with age. When telomeric DNA is truncated to a critical length, cell ageing, cell cycle arrest, and apoptosis are induced. As a result, telomere length can be considered as a predictor of health risks and an individual's lifespan. The leukocyte telomere length may be used as a proxy phenotype of productive lifespan to improve cattle selection. Our objectives were to assess the effects of breed and breed group (dairy vs. beef) on the leukocyte telomere length and to estimate the effect of cold climate on this trait in Kalmyk cattle populations from the South (Rostov Oblast) and Far North (Republic of Sakha) regions of Russia. The leukocyte telomere lengths were estimated computationally from whole-genome resequencing data. We leveraged data on leukocyte telomere length, sex, and age of 239 animals from 17 cattle breeds. The breed factor had a significant effect on leukocyte telomere length across our sample. There was no difference in leukocyte telomere length between dairy and beef groups. The population factor had a significant effect on leukocyte telomere length in Kalmyk animals. In conclusion, we found that breed, but not breed group (dairy vs. beef), was significantly associated with leukocyte telomere length in cattle. Residence in colder climates was associated with longer leukocyte telomere length in Kalmyk breed cattle.

Investigation of indoor thermal comfort and energy demand in different locations along the sub-Himalayan belt - A simulation based study.

The sub-Himalayan region extends over 2500 km, extending over several countries. Though the effects of climate change is widely anticipated in the diverse but fragile ecosystem of the Himalayas, very less research has been conducted on the indoor environment of the buildings in these regions. In this study, a pre-validated model of 3-storey concrete residential building was used to study the indoor performance and thermal comfort in the face of climate change in the 8 (eight) different hill towns (hill stations) located from west to the east. Rise in ambient and indoor conditions were evident as a part of climate change with colder locations being affected the most. The thermal comfort assessment using both the climate chamber based PMV model and adaptive models revealed the decrease in cold related discomfort and increase in hot related discomfort. On an overall, the indoor conditions improved in these cold locations. The indoor and outdoor thermal condition and thermal comfort plummeted significantly with latitude and elevation. The heating demand in the future climate reduced by about 50-70 % in warmer locations, while the cooling demand increased by as much as 1000-2000 % in cold locations, respectively. Additionally, it was seen that the thermal environment and comfort both declined more rapidly with elevation in the locations lying in the western Himalayas as compared to those in the eastern Himalayas.

Raynaud's phenomenon in the feet of Arctic open-pit miners.

The literature on Raynaud's phenomenon (RP) in the feet is scarce, especially in the occupational setting. The primary aim of our study was to investigate the occurrence of RP in the feet of miners. As part of the MineHealth project, written surveys and clinical examinations were completed by 260 Arctic open-pit miners working in northern Sweden and Norway (participation rate 53.6%). Data on RP were collected using standardised colour charts and questionnaire items. Clinical examination included assessing the perception of vibration and pain in both feet. There were eight women and three men who reported RP in the feet. Four also had RP in their hands but none acknowledged any first-degree relatives with the condition. Nine reported exposure to foot-transmitted vibration and one to hand-arm vibration. Seven showed signs of neurosensory injury in the feet. To conclude, the occurrence of RP in the feet of miners was 4.4%. Most cases with RP in the feet did not report the condition in the hands and were exposed to vibration transmitted directly to the feet. There were no reports of a hereditary component. Most cases with RP in the feet also had clinical findings suggestive of peripheral neuropathy in the feet.

Simulating the effect of urban sprawl on air quality and outdoor human thermal comfort in a cold city, Erzurum, Turkey.

Research on climate-sensitive urban planning is important to improve the quality of city life. Cold climate cities should respect climatic characteristics to diversify outdoor uses and increase air quality to maximize the benefits of winter. This study is aimed to explore the impact of changing urban pattern on air pollution and outdoor human thermal comfort conditions (HTCCs) in a newly developed urban area in Sükrüpasa neighbourhood, Erzurum, among the coldest cities in Turkey, with high PM10 and low HTCCs levels. Sensitivity of urban development pattern to climate conditions and its suitability to eliminate the winter disturbances caused by HTCCs and air pollution were investigated by producing maps for HTCCs and air pollution using morphological, meteorological and spatial data and ENVI-met model in winter period of 2017 and 2022. It was found that newly developed areas increase the unfavourable conditions in terms of air quality, temperature and HTCCs due to the reasons like improper land uses, urban sprawl, high urban density and ventilation problems. In high-elevated cold cities, spatial planning and design principles should strictly be followed by incorporating climate knowledge and without revising the spatial decisions.

Neurosensory and vascular symptoms and clinical findings in the hands of Arctic open-pit miners in Sweden and Norway - a descriptive study.

This cross-sectional study aimed to describe exposure to cold climate and hand-arm vibration (HAV) as well as neurosensory and vascular symptoms and clinical findings among open-pit Arctic miners. It was based on data from questionnaires and physical examinations, including 177 men and 75 women from two open-pit mines in Sweden and Norway (response rate 54%). Working outdoors or in an unheated building or machine for at least two hours per day was reported by 44% and HAV exposure of the same duration by 10%. Neurosensory symptoms (e.g. reduced perception of touch) in the hands were reported by 47% and Raynaud's phenomenon by 14%. In brief conclusion, the study showed that Arctic miners were commonly exposed to both cold temperatures and HAV. They also reported a broad range of neurosensory and vascular symptoms in their hands and had abnormal clinical findings related to the symptoms. The results emphasise the need for additional preventive measures in this occupational setting.

Constructed wetlands with recycled concrete for wastewater treatment in cold climate: Performance and life cycle assessment.

This study investigated the technical, environmental, and economic feasibility of using recycled construction material (concrete) as substrate in constructed wetlands for cold climate decentralized domestic wastewater treatment. The wastewater treatment efficiency was examined, and life cycle assessment (LCA) and cost benefit analysis were performed. The technical feasibility was assessed in lab-scale two-stage wetland systems with recycled concrete or lava stone as substrates, which were operated at 22 °C and 5 °C with local wild plants and vegetables. The wetlands removed ∼85 % and ∼51 % of organics and ∼67 % and ∼34 % TN at 22 °C and 5 °C, respectively; no significant difference was found between concrete and lava stone. The heavy metal contents in the cultivated vegetables met WHO standards for human consumption, showing the feasibility of nutrient recovery from the treated wastewater. A comparative LCA of septic tank standalone, septic tank + constructed wetland (with recycled concrete), and gravity-driven ceramic membrane (GDCM) system was performed. This aims to illustrate the benefits of intensifying the existing treatment process (i.e., septic tank) with the constructed wetland, with an alternative membrane-based treatment technique as benchmark. The LCA results revealed that using waste materials as the substrate in constructed wetlands could reduce the environmental impact of wetlands. Installation of the wetland as posttreatment of the septic tank (1) could reduce ∼50 % of eutrophication potential without increasing global warming impact compared to the septic tank alone; (2) had ∼90 % higher global warming impact and ∼40 % lower eutrophication impact compared to GDCM. Economic analysis revealed that the total cost of septic tank + constructed wetland (0.143 €/m3) was comparable to the septic tank alone (merely 3.5 % difference), and 49 % lower than that of GDCM (with recycled membranes). Therefore, the septic tank + constructed wetland scenario could be favorable for sensitive areas with eutrophication potential regarding its technical, economical, and environmental feasibility.

Seasonal trends and retention of polycyclic aromatic compounds (PACs) in a remote sub-Arctic catchment.

Atmospheric deposition is the most dominant source of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in remote and pristine areas. Despite low bioaccumulation potential, PAHs and their persistent transformation products (PAH-derivatives) are chemicals of concern as they can harm human and animal health through chronic low dose exposure. In this study, atmospheric deposition fluxes of polycyclic aromatic compounds (PACs) were measured on a seasonal basis (3-month periods) from 2012 to 2016 in a remote subarctic forest catchment in northern Europe. The target PACs included 19 PAHs and 15 PAH-derivatives (oxygenated, nitrogenated, and methylated PAHs). The deposition fluxes of Æ©PAHs and Æ©PAH-derivatives were in the same range and averaged 530 and 500 ng m2 day-1, respectively. The fluxes were found to be higher with a factor of 2.5 for Æ©PAHs and a factor of 3 for Æ©PAH-derivatives during cold (<0 °C) in comparison to warm (>10 °C) periods. PAHs and PAH-derivatives showed similar seasonal patterns, which suggests that these two compound classes have similar sources and deposition mechanisms, and that the source strength of the PAH-derivatives in air follows that of the PAHs. The terrestrial export of PACs via the outlet of the catchment stream was estimated to be 1.1% for Æ©PAHs and 1.7% for Æ©PAH-derivatives in relation to the annual amounts deposited to the catchment, which suggests that boreal forests are sinks for PACs derived from the atmosphere. Some individual PACs showed higher export than others (i.e. chrysene, cyclopenta(c,d)pyrene, carbazole, quinoline, and benzo(f)quinoline), with high export PACs mostly characterized by low molecular weight and low hydrophobicity (2-3 benzene rings; log Kow<6.0).

Anthropogenic petroleum signatures and biodegradation in subantarctic Macquarie Island soils.

Special Antarctic Blend (SAB) diesel is the main fuel used on Macquarie Island and has been identified as the primary contaminant in several past spill events. This study evaluates the environmental impact of petroleum spills at high latitudes, in the soils of subantarctic Macquarie Island. Soil samples were collected from seven locations, including the "fuel farm" and main powerhouse that have been contaminated by petroleum in the past, and five reference locations, away from station infrastructure and from any obvious signs of contamination. Soils were solvent extracted and analysed using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. The results show that both contaminated and uncontaminated sites contained a suite of different chain-length hydrocarbons. The more contaminated samples from the fuel farm and main powerhouse contained higher concentrations and a greater range of hydrocarbons that typically indicate numerous spills of varying ages. The hydrocarbon signature of samples collected near the fuel farm and at some of the main powerhouse sites was typical of SAB diesel. However, the hydrocarbon signature at other main powerhouse sites suggest contamination with a heavier fuel with different characteristics, including lower pristane/phytane ratios. Traces of C21-C35 cyclic biomarkers in the spill sites may be derived from additional heavier fuels, and include a signature characteristic of crude oil derived from marine carbonate source rocks. Reference samples had lower concentrations of hydrocarbons, and these were dominated by high molecular weight n-alkanes with an odd-carbon-number predominance, typical of higher-plant derived lipids. Some reference samples also contained geochemical signatures that suggest that they too were contaminated by fuel oil. Variable levels of biodegradation of fuels in soils are consistent with a heterogenous site and a relatively slow rate of biodegradation. The occurrence of fresh spilled fuel overprinting biodegraded fuel from earlier spills is compelling evidence of multiple spills and complex mixing in the environment.

Indoor radon survey in Whitehorse, Canada, and dose assessment.

Radon-222 (222Rn) and its decay products are the primary sources of a population's exposure to background ionizing radiation. Radon decay products are the leading cause of lung cancer for non-smokers and the second leading cause of lung cancer after smoking for smokers. A community-driven long-term radon survey was completed in 232 residential homes in different subdivisions of Whitehorse, the capital of the Yukon, during the heating season from November to April in 2016-2017 and in 2017-2018. Radon concentrations were measured in living rooms and bedrooms on ground floors. The arithmetic and geometric means of indoor radon activity concentrations in different subdivisions of Whitehorse ranged from 52 ± 0.6 Bq m-3and 37 ± 2.3 Bq m-3in the Downtown area of Whitehorse to 993.0 ± 55.0 Bq m-3and 726.2 ± 2.4 Bq m-3in Wolf Creek. Underlying geology and glacial surfaces may partly explain these variations of indoor radon concentrations in subdivisions of Whitehorse. A total of 78 homes (34.0%) had radon concentrations higher than 100 Bq m-3, 47 homes (20.5%) had concentrations higher than 200 Bq m-3and 33 homes (14.4%) had concentrations higher than 300 Bq m-3. The indoor radon contribution to the annual effective inhalation dose to residents ranged from 3.0 mSv in the Downtown area to 51.0 mSv in Wolf Creek. The estimated annual average dose to adults in Whitehorse, Yukon, is higher than the world's average annual effective dose of 1.3 mSv due to the inhalation of indoor radon. The annual radon inhalation effective dose was assessed using radon measurements taken during winter; hence the assessed dose may be overestimated. Cost-efficient mitigation methods are available to reduce radon in existing buildings and to prevent radon entry into new buildings.

The association between cold exposure and musculoskeletal disorders: a prospective population-based study.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of the study was to determine the association between occupational ambient cold exposure and neck-shoulder pain (NSP), low back pain (LBP), and radiating LBP. METHODS: The study cohort comprised of 3,843 working subjects in northern Sweden who answered a baseline (spring 2015) and a follow-up questionnaire (spring 2021). NSP, LBP, and radiating LBP were assessed in both surveys. Occupational cold exposure was assessed at baseline, on a whole number numerical rating scale (NRS) and categorized in quartiles. Binary logistic regression determined the association between cold exposure at baseline and incident NSP, LBP, and radiating LBP, adjusted for age, gender, body mass index, smoking, mental stress, and physical workload. RESULTS: There were statistically significant associations between high occupational ambient cold exposure (NRS 5-7 and NRS 8-10) and NSP (1.59; 95% CI 1.08-2.33 and OR 1.50; 95% CI 1.03-2.19); NRS 8-10 and LBP (OR 1.61; 95% CI 1.13-2.29); and NRS 5-7 and radiating LBP (OR 1.87; 95% CI 1.12-3.16). Gender-stratified analyses showed statistically significant associations between high occupational ambient cold exposure (NRS 5-7 and NRS 8-10) and NSP (OR 1.97; 95% CI 1.07-3.61 and OR 1.97; 95% CI 1.06-3.67) for men and between NRS 8-10 and LBP (OR 1.82; 95% CI 1.14-2.91) and NRS 5-7 and radiating LBP (OR 2.20; 95% CI 1.15-4.24) for women. CONCLUSIONS: Occupational ambient cold exposure was associated with NSP, LBP, and radiating LBP, and should be recognised as a possible occupational risk factor.

Review of the relationship and underlying mechanisms between the Qinghai-Tibet plateau and host intestinal flora.

The intestinal microbial community is the largest ecosystem in the human body, in which the intestinal flora plays a dominant role and has a wide range of biological functions. However, it is vulnerable to a variety of factors, and exposure to extreme environments at high altitudes, as seen on the Qinghai-Tibet plateau, may cause changes in the structure and function of the host intestinal flora. Conversely, the intestinal flora can help the host adapt to the plateau environment through a variety of ways. Herein, we review the relationship and underlying mechanism between the host intestinal flora and the plateau environment by discussing the characteristics of the plateau environment, its influence on the intestinal flora, and the important role of the intestinal flora in host adaptation to the plateau environment. This review aimed to provide a reference for maintaining the health of the plateau population.

Adiponectin, leptin, cortisol, neuropeptide Y and profile of mood states in athletes participating in an ultramarathon during winter: An observational study.

Background: The Montane® Yukon Arctic Ultra (YAU) is one of the longest (690 km) and coldest (+10.6°C-43.9°C) ultramarathons worldwide. Taking part in an ultramarathon is associated with great physiological and psychological stress, which can affect one's mood, level of hormones, and peptides. The current study aimed to identify relationships between peptides, hormones, and mood states in participants during this ultramarathon. Methods: The study cohort consisted of 36 participants (19 men, 17 women, 38.64 ± 9.12 years) split into a finisher (n = 10), non-finisher (n = 19), and control group (n = 7). Data were collected at four time points: baseline (PRE), during (D1 after 277 km, D2 after 383 km), and after the race (POST). Questionnaires were used to assess ratings of perceived exertion (RPE), total quality of recovery (TQR), and profile of mood states (POMS-SF). Serum NPY, leptin, adiponectin, and cortisol were measured. Results: Among non-finishers, scores for confusion, anger, depression, and tension-anxiety (PRE vs. D2, p < 0.05) increased, while vigor decreased (PRE vs. D1, p < 0.05). In contrast, finishers' tension-anxiety scores decreased (PRE vs. D1, p < 0.05). Fatigue increased in finishers (PRE vs. POST, p < 0.05) and non-finishers (PRE vs. D1, p < 0.05). In non-finishers, depressive mood correlated positively with leptin, anger, and confusion at several time points (p < 0.001). In finishers, NPY correlated with TQR at PRE (p < 0.05), while leptin correlated negatively with TQR at POST (p < 0.05). Tension-anxiety correlated highly with perceived exertion in non-finishers (p < 0.001) and with cortisol in finishers (p < 0.05) and non-finishers (p < 0.001). In finishers, confusion correlated negatively with NPY (p < 0.01). Conclusion: The study reveals an essential interplay between hormones and mood states affecting performance: Leptin was associated with anger and a depressive mood state in non-finishers and worse recovery in finishers. In contrast, NPY appeared linked to a lower confusion score and heightened recovery in finishers. A simultaneous increase in depressed mood, anger, tension-anxiety, and confusion might harm performance and lead to race failure.

Gut microbiota differs between two cold-climate lizards distributed in thermally different regions.

BACKGROUND: The metabolic cold-climate adaption hypothesis predicts that animals from cold environments have relatively high metabolic rates compared with their warm-climate counterparts. However, studies testing this hypothesis are sparse. Here, we compared gut microbes between two cold-climate lizard species of the genus Phrynocephalus to see if gut microbiota could help lizards adapt to cold environments by promoting metabolism. We conducted a 2 species (P. erythrurus and P. przewalskii) × 2 temperatures (24 and 30 °C) factorial design experiment, whereby we kept lizards of two Phrynocephalus species at 24 and 30 °C for 25 d and then collected their fecal samples to analyze and compare the microbiota based on 16S rRNA gene sequencing technology. RESULTS: The gut microbiota was mainly composed of bacteria of the phyla Proteobacteria, Firmicutes, Bacteroidetes, and Verrucomicrobia in both species (Proteobacteria > Firmicutes > Verrucomicrobiota in P. erythrurus, and Bacteroidetes > Proteobacteria > Firmicutes in P. przewalskii). Further analysis revealed that the gut microbiota promoted thermal adaptation in both lizard species, but with differences in the relative abundance of the contributory bacteria between the two species. An analysis based on the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes revealed that the gut microbiota played important roles in metabolism, genetic information processing, cellular processes, and environmental information processing in both species. Furthermore, genes related to metabolism were more abundant in P. erythrurus at 24 °C than in other species ⋅ temperature combinations. CONCLUSION: Our study provides evidence that gut microbiota promotes thermal adaptation in both species but more evidently in P. erythrurus using colder habitats than P. przewalskii all year round, thus confirming the role of gut microbiota in cold-climate adaptation in lizards.

Relationships between Uncoupling Protein Genes UCP1, UCP2 and UCP3 and Irisin Levels in Residents of the Coldest Region of Siberia.

Currently, it is known that irisin can participate in the processes of thermoregulation and browning of adipose tissue, and, therefore, it is possible that it is involved in the microevolutionary mechanisms of adaptation to a cold. The aim of this study is to investigate the relationship between the uncoupling protein genes (UCP1, UCP2, UCP3) and the irisin levels in the residents of the coldest region of Siberia. The sample consisted of 279 Yakut people (185 females, 94 males, average age 19.8 ± 2.03 years). The females plasma irisin concentration was 8.33 ± 2.74 mcg/mL and the males was 7.76 ± 1.86 mcg/mL. Comparative analysis of irisin levels with the genotypes of six studied SNP-markers in females revealed a significant association of irisin with rs1800849-UCP3. The TT genotype of rs1800849 was associated with elevated levels of irisin (p = 0.01). It was also found that this TT genotype in females was associated with reduced weight and height (p = 0.03). We searched for natural selection signals for the T-allele rs1800849-UCP3; as a result of which, it was found that this allele has a significantly high frequency of distribution in northern (45%, CI: 0.42-0.484) compared with southern Asian populations (28%, CI: 0.244-0.316) (p = 0.01). The results obtained indicate the probable involvement of irisin and the UCP3 gene in thermoregulation, and the spread of its allelic variants is probably related to adaptation to a cold climate.

Leaf Removal at Véraison and Foliar K+ Application to Beibinghong Vines Improved Berry Quality under Cold-Climate Conditions.

(1) Background: Beibinghong is a grapevine variety that is well distributed in Northeastern China due to its adaptation to extreme cold conditions and vine diseases. Nonetheless, Beibinghong wines are extremely acidic and rich in phenolic compounds. The aim of this research was to study the effects of leaf removal at véraison and foliar K+ applications on Beibinghong vines to reduce the acidity and increase their polyphenol content. (2) Methods: Beibinghong berries were harvested when they reached close to 20 °Brix, and the physicochemical parameters were determined. (3) Results: Leaf removal at véraison plus K+ foliar applications to Beibinghong vines decreased the titratable acidity and increased the total phenolic and phenolic acid contents compared with the control. Moreover, the titratable acidity in the Beibinghong berries was negatively related to their total contents of phenols, proanthocyanidins, and anthocyanins. (4) Conclusions: Leaf removal at véraison performed with foliar K+ applications to vines could be an interesting alternative for Beibinghong production under cold-climate viticulture because it allows for a decrease in the acidity and an increase in the phenolic content of the berries, without incurring the risk of sunburn.