Absolute Humidity Influences the Seasonal Persistence and Infectivity of Human Norovirus

Norovirus (NoV) is one of the main causative agents of acute gastroenteritis worldwide. In temperate climates, outbreaks peak during the winter season. The mechanism by which climatic factors influence the occurrence of NoV outbreaks is unknown. We hypothesized that humidity is linked to NoV seasonality. Human NoV is not cultivatable, so we used cultivatable murine norovirus (MNV) as a surrogate to study its persistence when exposed to various levels of relative humidity (RH) from low (10% RH) to saturated (100% RH) conditions at 9 and 25°C. In addition, we conducted similar experiments with virus-like particles (VLPs) from the predominant GII-4 norovirus and studied changes in binding patterns to A, B, and O group carbohydrates that might reflect capsid alterations. The responses of MNV and VLP to humidity were somewhat similar, with 10 and 100% RH exhibiting a strong conserving effect for both models, whereas 50% RH was detrimental for MNV infectivity and VLP binding capacity. The data analysis suggested that absolute humidity (AH) rather than RH is the critical factor for keeping NoV infectious, with an AH below 0.007 kg water/kg air being favorable to NoV survival. Retrospective surveys of the meteorological data in Paris for the last 14 years showed that AH average values have almost always been below 0.007 kg water/kg air during the winter (i.e., 0.0046 ± 0.0014 kg water/kg air), and this finding supports the fact that low AH provides an ideal condition for NoV persistence and transmission during cold months.     

The influence of meteorology on the spread of influenza: survival analysis of an equine influenza (A/H3N8) outbreak

The influences of relative humidity and ambient temperature on the transmission of influenza A viruses have recently been established under controlled laboratory conditions. The interplay of meteorological factors during an actual influenza epidemic is less clear, and research into the contribution of wind to epidemic spread is scarce. By applying geostatistics and survival analysis to data from a large outbreak of equine influenza (A/H3N8), we quantified the association between hazard of infection and air temperature, relative humidity, rainfall, and wind velocity, whilst controlling for premises-level covariates. The pattern of disease spread in space and time was described using extraction mapping and instantaneous hazard curves. Meteorological conditions at each premises location were estimated by kriging daily meteorological data and analysed as time-lagged time-varying predictors using generalised Cox regression. Meteorological covariates time-lagged by three days were strongly associated with hazard of influenza infection, corresponding closely with the incubation period of equine influenza. Hazard of equine influenza infection was higher when relative humidity was <60% and lowest on days when daily maximum air temperature was 20-25°C. Wind speeds >30 km hour(-1) from the direction of nearby infected premises were associated with increased hazard of infection. Through combining detailed influenza outbreak and meteorological data, we provide empirical evidence for the underlying environmental mechanisms that influenced the local spread of an outbreak of influenza A. Our analysis supports, and extends, the findings of studies into influenza A transmission conducted under laboratory conditions. The relationships described are of direct importance for managing disease risk during influenza outbreaks in horses, and more generally, advance our understanding of the transmission of influenza A viruses under field conditions.     

Hydrating the respiratory tract: An alternative explanation why masks lower severity of COVID-19

The seasonality of respiratory diseases has been linked, among other factors, to low outdoor absolute humidity and low indoor relative humidity, which increase evaporation of water in the mucosal lining of the respiratory tract. We demonstrate that normal breathing results in an absorption-desorption cycle inside facemasks, in which supersaturated air is absorbed by the mask fibers during expiration, followed by evaporation during inspiration of dry environmental air. For double-layered cotton masks, which have considerable heat capacity, the temperature of inspired air rises above room temperature, and the effective increase in relative humidity can exceed 100%. We propose that the recently reported, disease-attenuating effect of generic facemasks is dominated by the strong humidity increase of inspired air. This elevated humidity promotes mucociliary clearance of pathogens from the lungs, both before and after an infection of the upper respiratory tract has occurred. Effective mucociliary clearance can delay and reduce infection of the lower respiratory tract, thus mitigating disease severity. This mode of action suggests that masks can benefit the wearer even after an infection in the upper respiratory tract has occurred, complementing the traditional function of masks to limit person-to-person disease transmission. This potential therapeutical use should be studied further.     

Comparing the effect of modeled climatic variables on the distribution of African horse sickness in South Africa and Namibia

Africa horse sickness (AHS) is a lethal disease of horses with a seasonal occurrence that is influenced by environmental conditions that favor the development of Culicoides midges (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae). This study compared and evaluated the relationship of various modeled climatic variables with the distribution and abundance of AHS in South Africa and Namibia. A comprehensive literature review of the historical AHS reported data collected from the Windhoek archives as well as annual reports from the Directorate of Veterinary services in Namibia were conducted. South African AHS reported data were collected from the South African Department of Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries. Daily climatic data were extracted for the time period 1993–2011 from the ERA‐interim re‐analysis dataset. The principal component analysis of the complete dataset indicated a significant statistical difference between Namibia and South Africa for the various climate variables and the outbreaks of AHS. The most influential parameters in the distribution of AHS included humidity, precipitation, evaporation, and minimum temperature. In South Africa, temperature had the most significant effect on the outbreaks of AHS, whereas in Namibia, humidity and precipitation were the main drivers. The maximum AHS cases in South Africa occurred at temperatures of 20–22° C and relative humidity between 50–70%. Furthermore, anthropogenic effects must be taken into account when trying to understand the distribution of AHS.     

The epidemiology of potato blight in the East Midlands 1923–74

Examination of the East Midlands records of potato blight epidemics and the meteorological data on critical 90 % relative humidity infection periods for the years 1923–74 indicates the importance of the amount of inoculum carried over from one season to the next in influencing the rapidity of progress of the disease and the date of destruction of the haulm. The success of forecasting outbreaks based on 90% r.h. periods is reviewed. The importance of taking into account both amount of inoculum and weather conditions in devising a disease control programme is discussed. It is concluded that the succession of seasons since 1968 without a major potato blight epidemic was due mainly to a combination of low carry-over of infection and sub-optimal weather conditions for the development of the disease and that the current control measures have not yet been subjected to a severe test.     

苹果果面日最高温与主要气象因子的关系

一天中 ,苹果果实表面最高温度与气温、日照、相对湿度和风速有着密切的关系。通过生长季自动监测果实表面温度的变化 ,并与设置在监测树旁边气象记录仪数据对比 ,揭示出树冠西南部果实表面温度与气温、日照、相对湿度和风速呈高度相关。结果还表明 :日照和气温是导致果实表面高温 (>45℃ )的两个主要因子。在大多数情况下 ,这两个因子相互作用决定果实高温是否发生 ,但气温的作用更为重要。一般在晴天 ,树冠西南部果实表面高温通常出现在 1 3 :3 0～ 1 5 :5 0。果实达到临界日烧高温 (>45℃ )的综合气象条件是 (1 0 :0 0～ 1 6 :0 0平均值 ) :日照 >5 80 W/m2 ;气温 >3 1 .8℃ ;风速 <1 .0 m/s;相对湿度 <3 0 %。气温、日照、风速和相对湿度与果实表面温度都呈高度相关 ,其多元回归方程为 :果实表面温度 (℃ ) =1 9.7 0 .842×气温 (℃ ) 0 .0 0 989×日照 (W/m2 ) - 2 .0 8×风速 (m/s) - 0 .1 48×相对湿度 (% ) ,r2 =0 .6 97     

Prepared salads and public health

In recent years the importance of prepared salads as potential vehicles of gastrointestinal infection has been highlighted by several large outbreaks both nationally and across international boundaries. Between 1992 and 2006, 2274 foodborne general outbreaks of infectious intestinal disease were reported in England and Wales, of which 4% were associated with the consumption of prepared salads. In total, 3434 people were affected, with 66 hospitalizations and one death reported. The attribution of prepared salad types and pathogens among prepared salad associated outbreaks are presented and discussed. Findings from UK studies on salad vegetables, fruit and mixed salads from 1995 to 2007 (21 247 samples) indicate that most bacteria of concern with regard to human health are relatively rare in these products (98.6% of satisfactory quality); however, outbreaks of salmonellosis were uncovered associated with bagged salad leaves and fresh herbs during two such studies. Although it is known that fresh salad vegetables, herbs or fruit may become contaminated from environmental sources, only in recent years has the association of foods of nonanimal origin, such as salad vegetables, with foodborne illness become evident and recurrent, demonstrating that major health problems can arise from consumption of contaminated prepared salads if hygiene practices breakdown.     

Response of Airborne Mycoplasma pneumoniae to Abrupt Changes in Relative Humidity

The effect of an abrupt change in the relative humidity on the viability of airborne Mycoplasma pneumoniae has been examined. When the microbial aerosols were permitted to equilibrate in air held at either low or high humidities and were then subjected to a sudden shift to a mid-range humidity, a significant loss (>90%) of the colony-forming units per liter of aerosol occurred within 8 min. In contrast, a change in the relative humidity of more than 18% in either direction from a lethal mid-range humidity noticeably decreased the rate of biological decay. Double humidity shifts (i.e., from dry to a mid-range level and then to a high humidity range) were very detrimental, with very few survivors after 8 min. These results indicate that the biological stability of airborne M. pneumoniae may be easily modified by a sudden change in the relative humidity, such as occurs in natural atmospheres. This increased sensitivity brought about by producing changes in relative humidity through the lethal humidity range may provide a method whereby the control of these organisms in naturally contaminated indoor air environments may be eventually achieved.     

Occult pneumococcal bacteraemia and febrile convulsions.

Over two years 29 children had bacteraemia due to Streptococcus pneumoniae at this hospital. In 15 previously healthy children the site of infection could not be identified, and in most of them, bacteraemia was not suspected clinically. All 15 had high total white cell (greater than or equal to 17 x 10(9)/1) and neutrophil (greater than or equal to 11 x 10(9)/1) counts. Twelve children were under 4 years of age, and of these, 10 had been admitted because of a simple febrile convulsion and one had a prolonged febrile convulsion. Occult pneumococcal bacteraemia has been reported in the USA for more than 10 years, but no series has been reported from the United Kingdom. Occult pneumococcal bacteraemia may be an important cause of febrile convulsions. Persisting bacteraemia and the development of focal infections, including pneumococcal meningitis, have been reported. Meningitis did not occur after occult bacteraemia in our patients. Studies to date have been retrospective, and thus the true incidence of the complications and the best treatment are not clear. A prospective study of children with febrile convulsions could provide answers.     

Antibody Responses in Humans Infected with Newly Emerging Strains of West Nile Virus in Europe

Infection with West Nile Virus (WNV) affects an increasing number of countries worldwide. Although most human infections result in no or mild flu-like symptoms, the elderly and those with a weakened immune system are at higher risk for developing severe neurological disease. Since its introduction into North America in 1999, WNV has spread across the continental United States and caused annual outbreaks with a total of 36,000 documented clinical cases and ∼1,500 deaths. In recent years, outbreaks of neuroinvasive disease also have been reported in Europe. The WNV strains isolated during these outbreaks differ from those in North America, as sequencing has revealed that distinct phylogenetic lineages of WNV concurrently circulate in Europe, which has potential implications for the development of vaccines, therapeutics, and diagnostic tests. Here, we studied the human antibody response to European WNV strains responsible for outbreaks in Italy and Greece in 2010, caused by lineage 1 and 2 strains, respectively. The WNV structural proteins were expressed as a series of overlapping fragments fused to a carrier-protein, and binding of IgG in sera from infected persons was analyzed. The results demonstrate that, although the humoral immune response to WNV in humans is heterogeneous, several dominant peptides are recognized.     

美国黑核桃实生苗生态生理过程对环境因素响应的数值模拟(Ⅱ):气象要素日变化进程的数理模型

在建立植物生态生理模型（如光合作用、蒸腾作用数理模型）的过程中,气温、太阳辐射、相对湿度等气象要素的日变化及瞬时资料是必不可少的．本文根据常规台站的日常观测资料,建立了气温、太阳辐射、风速、相对湿度等气象要素日变化的数理模型．并应用实测资料对所建模型进行了验证．实践表明：（1）描述气温日变化的正弦一指数模型通常其模拟结果不甚理想,但通过引用最高温度的时间延迟参数及惯性系数,可增加模拟结果的准确性．（2）根据测量的太阳辐射日总量值以及太阳高度的日变化值等,可准确地模拟太阳辐射的日变化;（3）根据实际水汽压的日均值和气温常规资料可准确模拟相对湿度的日变化．如果区域参数已知或被正确估计。上述方法可得到较为理想的气象要素日变化的模拟结果．     

扬州古运河风光带不同绿地类型的降温增湿效应分析

采用LI-6400型便携式光合仪测定了扬州古运河风光带不同绿地类型气温及空气相对湿度的日变化。在夏季7：30至16：30,乔-草型和灌-草型绿地的气温均随时间推移而上升,最高值出现在12：00,但各时段的气温均低于对照点（园路）。绿地内的空气相对湿度随时间推移呈梯度下降的趋势,但绿地内的空气相对湿度明显高于对照点。研究结果表明,与对照点相比,2种绿地类型均具有明显的降温增湿效应,且乔-草型绿地的降温增湿效应优于灌-草型绿地。此外,乔-草型绿地的垂柳（Salix babylonica L．）林中,距林地中心越远,林地的降温增湿效应越弱。     

Forecasting model of bacterial leaf spot disease of mulberry caused by Xanthomonas campestris pv. mori

In order to develop weather-based forecasting model of bacterial leaf spot (BLS) disease of mulberry caused by Xanthomonas campestris pv. mori, weekly disease severity data were recorded for three years on the ruling cultivar S-1. Daily meteorological data viz. maximum temperature, minimum temperature, maximum relative humidity, minimum relative humidity, rainfall and number of rainy days were also recorded. It was observed that BLS appeared in April/May and continued up to November with maximum severity in July. The correlation coefficient between disease severity and meteorological parameters revealed that the BLS disease severity has significant positive correlation with minimum temperatures, maximum and minimum relative humidity, rainfall and number of rainy days and negative correlation with maximum temperature. Multiple regressions analysis revealed that average of maximum temperature, minimum temperature and rainfall of preceding seven days and maximum relative humidity, minimum relative humidity of previous 9–15 days was found to maximally influence BLS disease severity. The contribution of the meteorological factors was found to be highest of minimum temperature (40.65%) followed by maximum temperature (24.20%), maximum relative humidity (16.41%), minimum relative humidity (8.07%), rainfall (5.29%) and number of rainy days (5.38%).     

An Association between Air Pollution and Daily Outpatient Visits for Respiratory Disease in a Heavy Industry Area

In this work we used daily outpatient data from the Landseed Hospital in a heavily industrial area in northern Taiwan to study the associations between daily outpatient visits and air pollution in the context of a heavily polluted atmospheric environment in Chung-Li area during the period 2007–2011. We test the normality of each data set, control for the confounding factors, and calculate correlation coefficient between the outpatient visits and air pollution and meteorology, and use multiple linear regression analysis to seek significance of these associations. Our results show that temperature and relative humidity tend to be negatively associated with respiratory diseases. NO and are two main air pollutants that are positively associated with respiratory diseases, followed by , , , CO, and . Young outpatients (age 0–15 years) are most sensitive to changing air pollution and meteorology factors, followed by the eldest (age 66 years) and age 16–65 years of outpatients. Outpatients for COPD diseases are most sensitive to air pollution and meteorology factors, followed by allergic rhinitis, asthma, and pneumonia diseases. In the context of sex difference to air pollution and meteorological factors, male outpatients are more sensitive than female outpatients in the 16–65 age groups, while female outpatients are more sensitive than male outpatients in the young 0–15 age groups and in the eldest age groups. In total, female outpatients are more sensitive to air pollution and meteorological factors than male outpatients.     

An assessment of the geological evidence for previous Acanthaster outbreaks

Much debate has surrounded the notion that outbreaks of the crown-of-thorns starfish (Acanthaster planci) have occurred in the geological past and hence are natural phenomena. As this debate has recently been renewed, we have reassessed statistically data presented by Frankel (1977, 1978) as evidence for the occurrence of past outbreaks. This was done using Frankel's data as well as those from extensive starfish surveys conducted prior to the commencement of his research. Our analysis of these data indicates that the occurrence of A. planci remains in recent sediments is independent of whether or not the reef from which the sample was collected had experienced a recent outbreak. Based on this premise, it is not possible to infer from Frankel's data the occurrence of past outbreaks from similar material in much older sediments. Thus while the data presented by Frankel (1977, 1978) may show that A. planci has existed within the Great Barrier Reef for at least several thousand years it does not demonstrate that outbreaks of this starfish have occurred in the geological past.     

The relation between moisture content and moulding in cured hay

Samples of cured hay have been stored in closed containers at relative humidities of 0–95% at temperatures varying from 5 to 25° C. A curve relating equilibrium moisture content to relative humidity of the store has been constructed and the incidence of first mould growth noted. An explanation has been suggested to account for the apparent discrepancy between earlier published work concerning the onset of moulding and conditions normally prevailing on the farm. In laboratory storage experiments temperature conditions are relatively constant, whereas with hay stacked in the open air the high atmospheric humidity in winter is offset by a lowered temperature, and the higher summer temperature is accompanied by a lower moisture content in the hay.     

Molecular epidemiology of Clostridium perfringens related to food-borne outbreaks of disease in Finland from 1984 to 1999

From 1975 to 1999, Clostridium perfringens caused 238 food-borne disease outbreaks in Finland, which is 20% of all such reported outbreaks during these years. The fact that C. perfringens is commonly found in human and animal stools and that it is also widespread in the environment is a disadvantage when one is searching for the specific cause of a food-borne infection by traditional methods. In order to strengthen the evidence-based diagnostics of food poisonings suspected to be caused by C. perfringens, we retrospectively investigated 47 C. perfringens isolates by PCR for the cpe gene, which encodes enterotoxin; by reversed passive latex agglutination to detect the enterotoxin production; and by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) to compare their genotypes after restriction of DNA by the enzymes SmaI and ApaI. The strains were isolated during 1984 to 1999 from nine food-borne outbreaks of disease originally reported as having been caused by C. perfringens. In seven of the nine outbreaks our results supported the fact that the cause was C. perfringens. Our findings emphasize the importance of a more detailed characterization of C. perfringens isolates than mere identification to the species level in order to verify the cause of an outbreak. Also, to increase the probability of finding the significant cpe-positive C. perfringens strains, it is very important to isolate and investigate more than one colony from the fecal culture of a patient and screen all these isolates for the presence of the cpe gene before further laboratory work is done.     

涡度相关观测的太湖CH4通量数据插补方法评价

涡度相关法是在湖泊开展CH₄通量长期连续观测的重要方法。受到多种因素的影响,CH₄通量观测数据存在大量缺失。为重构完整的CH₄通量时间序列,就需要适宜的数据插补方法。本研究利用太湖涡度通量观测网络东部的避风港站点2014—2017年的常规气象数据及涡度相关观测的CH₄通量数据,在分析半小时尺度以及日尺度CH₄通量影响要素的基础上,测试了非线性回归法以及随机森林算法和误差反向传播算法在半小时尺度及日尺度上插补CH₄通量缺失数据的可行性。结果表明: 在半小时尺度上,避风港站生长季CH₄通量主要受到底泥温度、摩擦风速、气温、相对湿度、潜热通量和20 cm处水温的影响,非生长季主要受到相对湿度、潜热通量、风速、感热通量和底泥温度的影响,而在日尺度上CH₄通量主要受潜热通量和相对湿度的影响。在对CH₄通量缺失数据的插补中,随机森林模型在所有时间尺度上都表现为最佳的插补性能,其中,将日序、太阳高度角、底泥温度、摩擦风速、气温、20 cm处水温、相对湿度、气压和风速作为输入变量的随机森林模型更适用于半小时尺度缺失数据的插补;将日序、底泥温度、摩擦风速、气温、20 cm处水温、相对湿度、气压、风速和向下短波辐射作为输入变量的随机森林模型更适用于日尺度缺失数据的插补;整体上,插补模型对日尺度缺失数据的插补优于半小时尺度。     

Temperatures of expired air under varying climatic conditions

Measurements of expiration temperatures were carried out under different climatic conditions. In one series of experiments the ambient air temperature was varied, in another the relative humidity of the ambient air. The temperatures of the ambient air ranged between –5°C and 30°C and the relative humidity between 10% and 90%. The results reveal a high variability of the expiration temperatures, when the ambient air temperature is changed, and almost constant expiration temperatures, when the relative humidity is altered but the ambient air temperature is kept constant. Nasal expiration temperatures are more sensitive to changes of the meteorological parameters than oral expiration temperatures.     

Empirical models of the conductance of leaves in apple orchards

Abstract. Seasonal data on leaf conductance (g_l) for three different apple cultivars grown in four separate orchards with different aged trees was studied between 1979 and 1985. A number of empirical models for predicting leaf conductance from environmental measurements were compared using this data and a general method for adapting such models for the prediction of different data sets is proposed. Although stepwise multiple regression identified relative humidity or vapour pressure as important variables, it frequently did not identify the optimal set of independent variables, which often did not include either of these. There was no advantage in regressing g_l against principal components of the environment, rather than against the raw environmental variables. A simple model involving air vapour pressure deficit, air temperature and a hyperbolic function of irradiance was found to explain between 32 and 62% of the variance in g_l for the different data sets. Parameters fitted for one data set led to the effective prediction of g_l in other years or plots. The model fit could generally be improved significantly by including soil moisture deficit among the independent variables.