Integrating topographic factors for effective urban sponge construction in mountainous regions: A case study.

The construction of sponge cities in mountainous areas is crucial to achieving high-quality development in these regions. Owing to rugged terrain, significant changes in elevation, and uneven distribution of cities, the construction of sponge cities in mountainous areas faces challenges such as difficulties in clearing mountains and roads, high cost, and varying regional development requirements. However, there is currently limited research focusing on the impact of terrain on sponge city construction plans. In this study, we developed an optimal low impact development (LID) system layout method based on the annual runoff control rate. This study suggests implementing LID plans in stages to balance cost-effectiveness and enhance resilience. The optimized case1_100 scheme, which takes regional differences into account, can effectively achieve a runoff control coefficient of less than 0.25 in 98.86% of the area. Remarkably, this achievement comes at a significantly lower total cost of only 1.22 billion RMB compared to the unoptimized case2_100 scheme (which does not consider regional differences) with a cost of 3.03 billion RMB. Interestingly, the optimized case1_100 plan, selected using the Technique for Order of Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution (TOPSIS) method, has an LID layout that is closely related to the surface terrain. Structural equation modeling analysis indicates that terrain affects land types, which in turn impacts the surface impermeability and runoff coefficients, ultimately influencing the corresponding LID deployment plan. The coefficients of relative elevation and slope on the final plan are determined as -0.13 and -0.77, respectively, with a high overall explanatory power of 0.84. This indicates that terrain characteristics have a significant impact on the spatial patterns and surface features of typical mountainous cities in China and the optimal LID strategy largely depends on the initial terrain conditions. This study provides valuable insights for optimizing LID construction in sponge cities, particularly in the context of new mountainous urban planning.

Effect of Echinacea purpurea (L.) Moench and its extracts on the immunization outcome of avian influenza vaccine in broilers.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Echinacea purpurea (L.) Moench (EP) is a perennial herbaceous flowering plant with immunomodulatory effects. However, the immunomodulatory effects of EP on broilers after vaccination are still unclear. AIM OF THE STUDY: The aim is to study the effect of EP and Echinacea purpurea (L.) Moench extracts(EE) on avian influenza virus (AIV) immunity, and further explore the potential mechanism of immune regulation. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Broilers were fed with feed additives containing 2% EP or 0.5% EE, and vaccinated against avian influenza. The samples were collected on the 7th, 21st, and 35th day after vaccination, and the feed conversion ratio (FCR) was calculated. Blood antibody titer, jejunal sIgA content, tight junction protein, gene and protein expression of TLR4-MAPK signaling pathway were also detected. RESULTS: The results showed that vaccination could cause immune stress, weight loss, increase sIgA content, and up-regulate the expression of tight junction proteins, including zonula occludens-1 (ZO-1), Occludin, and Claudin-1, as well as the genes of Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4), myeloid differentiation primary response 88 (MyD88), receptor-associated factor 6 (TRAF6), activator protein 1 (AP-1) protein gene expression on TLR4-mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathway, and the protein expression of MyD88, extracellular regulated protein kinases (ERK), and c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK). EP and EE could increase the body weight of broilers, further improve antibody titers, decrease FCR, increase sIgA levels, up-regulate the expression of tight junction proteins, including ZO-1, Occludin, and Claudin-1, as well as the genes of TLR4, MyD88, TRAF6, and AP-1 and the protein expression of MyD88, ERK, and JNK in the TLR4-MAPK signaling pathway. CONCLUSION: In conclusion, EP and EE can increase the broiler's production performance and improve vaccine immune effect through the TLR4-MAPK signaling pathway.