Early developmental stages of native populations of Ciona intestinalis under increased temperature are affected by local habitat history

Temperature modulates marine ectotherm physiology, influencing survival, abundance and species distribution. While native species could be susceptible to ocean warming, thermal tolerance might favour the spread of non-native species. Determining the success of invasive species in response to climate change is confounded by the cumulative, synergistic or antagonistic effects of environmental drivers, which vary at a geographical and temporal scale. Thus, an organism's acclimation or adaptive potential could play an important evolutionary role by enabling or conditioning species tolerance to stressful environmental conditions. We investigated developmental performance of early life stages of the ascidian Ciona intestinalis (derived from populations of anthropogenically-impacted and control sites) to an extreme weather event (i.e. marine heat wave). Fertilisation rate, embryo and larval development, settlement, metamorphosis success and juvenile heart beat rate were assessed as experimental endpoints. With the exception of fertilization and heart beat rates, temperature influenced all analysed endpoints. C. intestinalis derived from control sites were the most negatively affected by increased temperature conditions. Opposingly, C. intestinalis from anthropogenically impacted sites showed a positive response to thermal stress, with a higher proportion of larvae development, settlement and metamorphosis success being observed under increased temperature conditions. No differences were observed for heart beat rates between sampled populations and experimental temperature conditions. Moreover, interaction between temperature and populations was statistically significant for embryo and larvae development, and metamorphosis. We hypothesize that selection resulting from anthropogenic forcing could shape stress resilience of species in their native range and subsequently confer advantageous traits underlying their invasive potential.

Eco-epidemiological factors' of Head Lice in 10-12 year-old girls in Birjand City in 2017

Introduction: Lice are external parasites found in all socioeconomic classes around the world, which infect millions of people, especially children aged 5-14 years. Considering the growing and epidemiological trend of head lice in recent years, despite careful health care, more prognosis is needed. Therefore, this study aimed to study eco-epidemiological factors of head lice in 10-12 year-old girls in Birjand City in 2017. Methods: This cross-sectional study with descriptive-analytic approach was conducted in Birjand City in the 2017. The participants were selected using cluster sampling method from girl primary schools in Birjand City and its suburb areas. Data were entered into SPSS version 22 and analyzed by logistic regression test at significant level of 0.0.5 Results: Head lice was evaluated in 2417 elementary school girls. The prevalence of head lice infection was 13.6% (n=329) in the population. The prevalence of contamination in urban areas was two times higher than the suburb areas. Significant correlations were observed between head lice infestation and father's education, mother's education, parent's job, family income, nationality, presence of foreigners in a class, habitat, history of previous student infections, presence of an infected person in the family, use of common Chador (piece of cloth worn by Muslim women to cover their body and hair) for praying at school. (p<0.05) Conclusion: The prevalence of head lice infection in the present study was higher than other studies. The prevalence of head lice infection was also higher in the suburbs. So, preventive measures, especially in the suburbs are required with regard to factors associated with infection by the health system.

Creating demand for the tourist product during the implementation of geotourist project for post-mining objects

The experience of recent years shows that geotourism in post-mining objects has got a large development potential due to, among others, moving away from the typical museums to modern tourism products much more engaging visitors and the transition from the idea of 3S (sun, sand, sea) for 3E (experiment, excitement, education) and 4H (heritage, handicraft, habitat, history). In the article the specifics of the tourism product in projects related to the adaptation and using of post-mining objects and sites were presented. The article presents an assessment of the possibility of building a branded tourist product based on the relics of the mining industry in the context of the development and implementation of subsequent phases of the project consisting in making these relics available to tourists. The examples of completed projects, among others, in Poland and Germany were used. The division of the primary and secondary value of the geotourist project and the activities affecting the increase of these values were proposed. The article also raises issues of variation in demand for mining heritage products and the economic viability of such projects, as well as the recommendations for future investor in the post-mining tourism’ venture were specified.