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Evaluation of the former manors as rural landscape elements and identification the recreational potential of former manor environments is discussed in this study. Paper analyses the infrastructure and landscape components of former manors located outside settlements in the district of Pakruojis, Lithuania, and examines their suitability for employment within recreational activities. Historical data on former manors were collected by analyzing archival material and were supplemented with information obtained during expeditions by interviewing the people who currently live in the former manors. All described manors, buildings, and historical greenery have been established in open places. No parts of villages, roads, forest or forest stands are incorporated in these territories. The surveyed former manors are accompanied by parkland. The manor parks analyzed in this study are dominated by native plants, which account for at least 75% of the trees. An analysis of the diversity of the species revealed that Tilia cordata prevails (54-74%) in the majority of manors. The variety of park styles reflects the evolution of the European parks from Baroque parks (Geruciai, Pamusis II) to Romanticism (Dovydiskis) style. Visitors can marvel at the greenery composition of historic parks, explore age-old (Pamusis II, Geruciai) and fabled (Pavezgiai, Pamusis II) trees, and taste the fruit from historical orchards. In the studied territory there is a need to preserve the manor parks because they make a specific contribution to the overall form and aesthetic of the rural landscape, play an important role in the conservation of biodiversity, and represent significant cultural and historical landmarks.

The paper suggests a methodology for predicting next-year seasonal pollen index (SPI, a sum of daily-mean pollen concentrations) over large regions and demonstrates its performance for birch in Northern and North-Eastern Europe. A statistical model is constructed using meteorological, geophysical and biological characteristics of the previous year). A cluster analysis of multi-annual data of European Aeroallergen Network (EAN) revealed several large regions in Europe, where the observed SPI exhibits similar patterns of the multi-annual variability. We built the model for the northern cluster of stations, which covers Finland, Sweden, Baltic States, part of Belarus, and, probably, Russia and Norway, where the lack of data did not allow for conclusive analysis. The constructed model was capable of predicting the SPI with correlation coefficient reaching up to 0.9 for some stations, odds ratio is infinitely high for 50% of sites inside the region and the fraction of prediction falling within factor of 2 from observations, stays within 40-70%. In particular, model successfully reproduced both the bi-annual cycle of the SPI and years when this cycle breaks down.

Aerobiology is an interdisciplinary science where researchers with different backgrounds are involved in different topics related to microorganism, airborne biological particles, e.g. pollen and spores, and phenology. Some concepts, words or expressions used in aerobiology have a clear definition, but are however frequently misused. Therefore, the working group “Quality Control” of the European Aerobiology Society (EAS) and the International Association of Aerobiology (IAA) would like to clarify some of them, their use and presentation.

Background The EC-funded EuroPrevall project examined the prevalence of food allergy across Europe. A well-established factor in the occurrence of food allergy is primary sensitization to pollen. Objective To analyse geographic and temporal variations in pollen exposure, allowing the investigation of how these variations influence the prevalence and incidence of food allergies across Europe. Methods Airborne pollen data for two decades (1990–2009) were obtained from 13 monitoring sites located as close as possible to the EuroPrevall survey centres. Start dates, intensity and duration of Betulaceae, Oleaceae, Poaceae and Asteraceae pollen seasons were examined. Mean, slope of the regression, probability level (P) and dominant taxa (%) were calculated. Trends were considered significant at P < 0.05. Results On a European scale, Betulaceae, in particular Betula, is the most dominant pollen exposure, two folds higher than to Poaceae, and greater than five folds higher than to Oleaceae and Asteraceae. Only in Reykjavik, Madrid and Derby was Poaceae the dominant pollen, as was Oleaceae in Thessaloniki. Weed pollen (Asteraceae) was never dominant, exposure accounted for >10% of total pollen exposure only in Siauliai (Artemisia) and Legnano (Ambrosia). Consistent trends towards changing intensity or duration of exposure were not observed, possibly with the exception of (not significant) decreased exposure to Artemisia and increased exposure to Ambrosia. Conclusions This is the first comprehensive study quantifying exposure to the major allergenic pollen families Betulaceae, Oleaceae, Poaceae and Asteraceae across Europe. These data can now be used for studies into patterns of sensitization and allergy to pollen and foods.

Pollen is routinely monitored, but it is unknown whether pollen counts represent allergen exposure. We therefore simultaneously determined olive pollen and Ole e 1 in ambient air in Córdoba, Spain, and Évora, Portugal, using Hirst-type traps for pollen and high-volume cascade impactors for allergen. Pollen from different days released 12-fold different amounts of Ole e 1 per pollen (both locations P40% of Ole e 1 exposure in Évora was explained by high-potency pollen originating from the south of Spain. Thus, olive pollen can vary substantially in allergen release, even though they are morphologically identical.

Influenza A viruses (IAVs) impact the public health and global economy by causing yearly epidemics and occasional pandemics. Several anti-IAV drugs are available and many are in development. However, the question remains which of these antiviral agents may allow activation of immune responses and protect patients against co- and re-infections. To answer to this question, we analysed immuno-modulating properties of the antivirals saliphenylhalamide (SaliPhe), SNS-032, obatoclax, and gemcitabine, and found that only gemcitabine did not impair immune responses in infected cells. It also allowed activation of innate immune responses in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)- and interferon alpha (IFN alpha)-stimulated macrophages. Moreover, immuno-mediators produced by gemcitabine-treated IAV-infected macrophages were able to prime immune responses in non-infected cells. Thus, we identified an antiviral agent which might be beneficial for treatment of patients with severe viral infections. (C) 2015 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V.

The scientists evaluate the climate change by various methods. The long‐term phonological observation is a quite significant indicator of this phenomenon. Moreover, the forecasting of plants flowering period or changing of amount of pollen production is important for guarantying of social health. The aim of the research 0 to analyze the interdependence of flowering changes and pollen concentration under the climate change according to the long‐term phenological data and evaluation of aeropalynological situation in Lithuania. For this purpose one based upon the data of birch flowering (1970–1999) and birch flowering and pollen concentration in air (2004–2008). The interpretation of data with statistic methods showed that the start of birch flowering varies in different years (8–32 days) and the regional differences increase (approximately 3 days during 30 years). One phenological station does not reflect the real aerobiological situation in the observation site. Tight analysis of pollen and phenological data basing upon the flowering data allows gathering knowledge about possible change of the pollen seasons in future. Beržo genties žydėjimo fazių ir žiedadulkių sklaidos pokyčių analizė Santrauka.Klimato kaitą mokslininkai vertina įvairiais metodais. Labai reikšmingas šio reiškinio indikatorius – daugiamečių fenologinių stebėjimų duomenys. Augalų žydėjimo laiko ar žiedadulkių produkcijos kiekio pokyčio prognozavimas yra svarbus visuomenės sveikatai užtikrinti. Tyrimo tikslas – pagal ilgamečius fenologinius duomenis ir įvertinus aeropalinologinę situaciją Lietuvoje išanalizuoti žydėjimo pokyčių ir žiedadulkių koncentracijos tarpusavio priklausomumą vykstant klimato kaitai. Šiam tikslui remtasi beržo žydėjimo (1970–1999 m.) ir beržo žydėjimo bei žiedadulkių koncentracijos ore (2004–2008 m.) duomenimis. Duomenis interpretuojant statistiniais metodais nustatyta, kad beržo žydėjimo pradžia įvairiais metais varijuoja (8–32 dienos), ir didėja regioniniai skirtumai (apytiksliai 3 dienos per 30 metu). Viena fenologinė stotis neatspindi realios aerobiologinės situacijos stebėjimo vietoje. Glaudi žiedadulkių ir fenologinių duomenų analizė, remiantis žydėjimo duomenimis, leidžia daryti prielaidas apie galimą žiedadulkių sezonų kaitą ateityje. Reikšminiai žodžiai: Betula, žiedadulkės, žydėjimas, sklaida, klimato kaita, Lietuva, aeropalinologija, fenologija. Анализ изменений в цветении рода березы и дисперсии пыльцы Резюме.Для оценки изменения климата ученые используют различные методы. Значительным показателем этого явления являются многолетние фенологические наблюдения. Кроме того, прогнозирование времени цветения или изменения продукции пыльцы растений является важным этапом в управлении здравоохранением. Целью нашего исследования было на основании многолетних фенологических наблюдений и оценки аеропалинологической ситуации в Литве проанализировать взаимосвязь между изменением цветения и концентрацией пыльцы в воздухе в связи с изменением климата. Для этой цели были использованы данные цветения березы за период 1970– 1999 гг., цветения березы и данные концентраций пыльцы в воздухе, охватывающие период 2004–2008 гг. Благодаря применению статистических методов для интепретаций данныx, было установлено, что началo цветения березы колеблется из года в год (8–32 дня), увеличиваются региональные различия (около 3 дней за 30 лет). Показано, что одна фенологическая станция не отражает реальную аеропалинологическую ситуацию. Сравнительный фенологический и пыльцевой анализ, проведенный на основании данных цветения, свидетельствуeт о возможныx измененияx в пыльцeвыx сезонаx в будущем. Ключевые слова: Betula, пыльца, цветение, распространение, изменение климата, Литва, аеропалинология, фенология. First Publish Online: 27 Jun 2011

This paper presents the first ensemble modelling experiment in relation to birch pollen in Europe. The seven-model European ensemble of MACC-ENS, tested in trial simulations over the flowering season of 2010, was run through the flowering season of 2013. The simulations have been compared with observations in 11 countries, all members of the European Aeroallergen Network, for both individual models and the ensemble mean and median. It is shown that the models successfully reproduced the timing of the very late season of 2013, generally within a couple of days from the observed start of the season. The end of the season was generally predicted later than observed, by 5 days or more, which is a known feature of the source term used in the study. Absolute pollen concentrations during the season were somewhat underestimated in the southern part of the birch habitat. In the northern part of Europe, a record-low pollen season was strongly overestimated by all models. The median of the multi-model ensemble demonstrated robust performance, successfully eliminating the impact of outliers, which was particularly useful since for most models this was the first experience of pollen forecasting.

BACKGROUND: Allergies to grass pollen are the number one cause of outdoor hay fever. The human immune system reacts with symptoms to allergen from pollen. OBJECTIVE: We investigated the natural variability in release of the major group 5 allergen from grass pollen across Europe. METHODS: Airborne pollen and allergens were simultaneously collected daily with a volumetric spore trap and a high-volume cascade impactor at 10 sites across Europe for 3 consecutive years. Group 5 allergen levels were determined with a Phl p 5-specific ELISA in 2 fractions of ambient air: particulate matter of greater than 10μm in diameter and particulate matter greater than 2.5μm and less than 10μm in diameter. Mediator release by ambient air was determined in FcεRI-humanized basophils. The origin of pollen was modeled and condensed to pollen potency maps. RESULTS: On average, grass pollen released 2.3 pg of Phl p 5 per pollen. Allergen release per pollen (potency) varied substantially, ranging from less than 1 to 9 pg of Phl p 5 per pollen (5% to 95% percentile). The main variation was locally day to day. Average potency maps across Europe varied between years. Mediator release from basophilic granulocytes correlated better with allergen levels per cubic meter (r(2)=0.80, P&nbsp

Introduction. Exposure to allergens is pivotal in determining sensitization and allergic symptoms in individuals. Pollen grain counts in ambient air have traditionally been assessed to estimate airborne allergen exposure. However, the exact allergen content in ambient air is unknown. HIALINE therefore monitored atmospheric concentrations of Betula, Poaceae and Olea pollen grains and matched their major allergens Bet v1, Phl p5 and Ole e1 across Europe. Monitoring the allergens themselves together with pollen in ambient air might be an improvement in allergen exposure assessment. New knowledge through the use of new experimental approaches in the field of aerobiological monitoring will enable better in the prevention and clinical management of pollinosis. In order to disseminate the knowledge of the project we present the results of first year of birch pollen grains and the matched major pollen allergen Bet v1 monitored in Parma (UNIPR), Italy with a short reference to the results obtained by the other participants and about developing models of dissemination and forecasts of pollen and allergens. Materials and methods. The pollen was sampled by a Hirst pollen trap. Allergens was collected with a CHEMVOL® high-volume cascade impactor, extracted from pollen and quantified by ELISA. Antibodies for analysis of Bet v1 are delivered by the industrial partner in this project. Quality control has been carried out for the monitoring pollen activities and allergen concentrations. Results. The project has highlighted that it is possible also to measure pollen allergen in ambient air in different European areas. The results obtained from the center of Parma and other European partners have highlighted the different allergenic powers of pollen of Betula, in different geographical areas. Moreover, daily in each area the allergenic power of pollen grains was very variable. Discussion. HIALINE has been a very important project to understand the mechanisms of sensitization, clinical management of pollinosis and to improve immunotherapy towards a tailored immunotherapy. The results of the project will help medical doctors, authorities and patients, to better manage the different aspects related to pollinosis.

Pollen is routinely monitored, but it is unknown whether pollen counts represent allergen exposure. We therefore simultaneously determined olive pollen and Ole e 1 in ambient air in C ordoba, Spain, and Evora, Portugal, using Hirst-type traps for pollen and high-volume cascade impactors for allergen. Pollen from different days released 12-fold different amounts of Ole e 1 per pollen (both locations P < 0.001). Average allergen release from pollen (pollen potency) was much higher in C ordoba (3.9 pg Ole e 1/pollen) than in Evora (0.8 pg Ole e 1/pollen, P = 0.004). Indeed, yearly olive pollen counts in C ordoba were 2.4 times higher than in Evora, but Ole e 1 concentrations were 7.6 times higher. When modeling the origin of the pollen, >40% of Ole e 1 exposure in Evora was explained by high-potency pollen originating from the south of Spain. Thus, olive pollen can vary substantially in allergen release, even though they are morphologically identical.

The paper considers the possibilities of modelling the release and dispersion of the pollen of common ragweed (Ambrosia artemisiifolia L.), a highly allergenic invasive weed, which is spreading through southern and central Europe. In order to provide timely warnings for the allergy sufferers, a model was developed for forecasting ragweed pollen concentrations in the air. The development was based on the system for integrated modelling of atmospheric composition (SILAM) and concentrated on spatio-temporal modelling of ragweed flowering season and pollen release, which constitutes the emission term. Evaluation of the new model against multi-annual ragweed pollen observations demonstrated that the model reproduces well the main ragweed pollen season in the areas with major plant presence, such as the Pannonian Plain, the Lyon area in France, the Milan region in Italy, Ukraine and southern Russia. The predicted start of the season is mostly within 3 days of the observed for the majority of stations in these areas. The temporal correlation between modelled and observed concentrations exceeds 0.6 for the bulk of the stations. Model application to the seasons of 2005–2011 indicated the regions with high ragweed pollen concentrations, in particular the areas where allergenic thresholds are exceeded. It is demonstrated that, due to long-range transport of pollen, high-concentration areas are substantially more extensive than the heavily infested territories.

Exposure to allergens is pivotal in determining sensitization and allergic symptoms in individuals. Pollen grain counts in ambient air have traditionally been assessed to estimate airborne allergen exposure. However, the exact allergen content of ambient air is unknown. We therefore monitored atmospheric concentrations of birch pollen grains and the matched major birch pollen allergen Bet v 1 simultaneously across Europe within the EU-funded project HIALINE (Health Impacts of Airborne Allergen Information Network). Pollen count was assessed with Hirst type pollen traps at 10 I min(-1) at sites in France, United Kingdom, Germany, Italy and Finland. Allergen concentrations in ambient air were sampled at 800 I min(-1) with a Chemvol (R) high-volume cascade impactor equipped with stages PM > 10 mu m, 10 mu m > PM > 2.5 mu m, and in Germany also 2.5 mu m > PM > 0.12 mu m. The major birch pollen allergen Bet v 1 was determined with an allergen specific ELISA. Bet v 1 isoform patterns were analyzed by 2D-SDS-PAGE blots and mass spectrometric identification. Basophil activation was tested in an FC epsilon R1-humanized rat basophil cell line passively sensitized with serum of a birch pollen symptomatic patient. Compared to 10 previous years, 2009 was a representative birch pollen season for all stations. About 90% of the allergen was found in the PM > 10 mu m fraction at all stations. Bet v 1 isoforms pattern did not vary substantially neither during ripening of pollen nor between different geographical locations. The average European allergen release from birch pollen was 3.2 pg Bet v 1/pollen and did not vary much between the European countries. However, in all countries a >10-fold difference in daily allergen release per pollen was measured which could be explained by long-range transport of pollen with a deviating allergen release. Basophil activation by ambient air extracts correlated better with airborne allergen than with pollen concentration. Although Bet v 1 is a mixture of different isoforms, its fingerprint is constant across Europe. Bet v 1 was also exclusively linked to pollen. Pollen from different days varied >10-fold in allergen release. Thus exposure to allergen is inaccurately monitored by only monitoring birch pollen grains. Indeed, a humanized basophil activation test correlated much better with allergen concentrations in ambient air than with pollen count. Monitoring the allergens themselves together with pollen in ambient air might be an improvement in allergen exposure assessment. European Commission Christine Kühne - Center for Allergy Research and Education

ln general it has been observed similar profiles lor airborne pollen and aeroallergens content in the air, being aeroal/ergens more associated to XL Iraction stage. On the olher hand, ii has been delected al/ergenic activity out Irom pol/en season, especiaily in the case 01 M stage. Smaller particles are more exposed to medium-Iong distant transporto Moreover, results have provides strong evidence that similar value 01 airbome pol/en evokes different ambient air allergen loads in different geographicai areas. Even more, when lhe same area is considered the allergen load of the pol/en can vary within lhe season. Pollen differs in allergen release between European countries. Our sludy suoports lhe importance 01 lhe aeroal/ergen quantificatlon logether wilh airborne pol/en counls, in order to define the ouldoor air allergenic load. Conclusions: Under these results, the expected outcomes are lhe implementation 01 a network of European outdoor allergen measurements to belter predict allergic symploms. Also lhe climafic lactors that govem allergen exposure in ouldoor air will be eslablished. These can be used lo calculate the effect 01 climate change on lhe health effecls 01 airborne al/ergens. Pol/eninlo.org offers a new 1001 on Patient's Hayfever Diary (PHD).

The results in Italy should be compared with those from partners in other counlries. II will be important to confirm some observations during the first and second year of the projecl activity which showed the presence of a different allergenic power in difleren! geographical areas as observed for other types of pollen (Poaceae and Olea). The aim of lhe project was to measure the pollen's capacity to release allergens and this will result inlo an allergen exposure forecast, taking into consideration pollen counts and allergen release trom diflerent locations. The results of the project will help medical doctors, authorities and patients to better manage lhe diflerent aspects related to pollinosis.