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1.
PLoS One ; 19(9): e0310115, 2024.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-39240909

ABSTRACT

This article analyzes the geographical distribution of poets in Song China based on Complete Song Poetry (Quansongshi), which includes poems from over 9000 poets, with 6056 of them having clear native place. Visualization strategy is used to present the geographical distribution of these 6056 poets, and its formation factors are also analyzed. The results reveal that majority of the poets come from Zhejiang, Henan and Sichuan provinces, with Guangdong province also exceeding a hundred poets despite its remote location. In the central area of Ningbo, Luoyang and Meishan, there are also large distribution of the poets. Over time, the density of poets in the south increases while it decreases in the north, and this pattern becomes more pronounced as time progresses. By employing visualization strategy, we aim to provide a more comprehensive understanding of the geographical distribution of poets of Complete Song Poetry in Song Dynasty to reflect the cultural, economic, and political development of Song China.


Subject(s)
Geography , Poetry as Topic , China , Humans , History, Medieval , History, 16th Century , History, 17th Century
2.
PLoS One ; 19(9): e0309814, 2024.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-39240911

ABSTRACT

The examination of the characteristic law of traditional village transformation over time represents a vital nexus in cultural heritage preservation and the transmission of vernacular culture. Historical event points were used to augment village development information, facilitating the restoration of the village's historical pattern. Geographical analysis methods, including Standard Deviation Ellipse Analysis (SDSEA), Nearest Neighbor Analysis (NNA), and Source-Destination Analysis (SDA), were employed to explore the characteristics of the village's geographical center of gravity, changes in concentration and dispersion, and functional transfer. The stepwise progression of the village's evolution was investigated, as well as the mechanism of residents' behavior during the evolution process. The results reveal: 1) The spatial evolution of the settlement shows a trend of agglomeration. As time passes, the center of gravity of each functional space gradually converges, and the average distance between elements decreases, resulting in a shift from a dispersed to a clustered distribution. 2) The village space changes from simple to complex due to the conduct of the villagers. Residential behaviors promote the establishment of residential space and the development of public and commercial space. The usage, abandonment, and functional transitions that occur inside the space cause functional zones to nest with each other, resulting in a more intricate spatial structure. 3) Both the degree of change and the preservation of the village's functional space show an increasing trend, indicating that the protection of the built space and the expansion of the unbuilt space occur simultaneously. This represents a developmental trend that is consistent with the social surroundings and the villagers' ambitions.


Subject(s)
Rural Population , China , Humans , Geography , Spatial Analysis
3.
BMC Plant Biol ; 24(1): 834, 2024 Sep 06.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-39242997

ABSTRACT

Conservation and management of medicinally important plants are among the necessary tasks all over the world. The genus Dracocephalum (Lamiaceae) contains about 186 perennials, or annual herb species that have been used for their medicinal values in different parts of the world as an antihyperlipidemic, analgesic, antimicrobial, antioxidant, as well as anticancer medicine. Producing detailed data on the genetic structure of these species and their response against climate change and human landscape manipulation can be very important for conservation purposes. Therefore, the present study was performed on six geographical populations of two species in the Dracocephalum genus, namely, Dracocephalum kotschyi, and Dracocephalum oligadenium, as well as their inter-specific hybrid population. We carried out, population genetic study, landscape genetics, species modeling, and genetic cline analyses on these plants. We present here, new findings on the genetic structure of these populations, and provide data on both geographical and genetic clines, as well as morphological clines. We also identified genetic loci that are potentially adaptive to the geographical spatial features and genocide conditions. Different species distribution modeling (SDM) methods, used in this work revealed that bioclimatic variables related to the temperature and moisture, play an important role in Dracocephalum population's geographical distribution within IRAN and that due to the presence of some potentially adaptive genetic loci in the studied plants, they can survive well enough by the year 2050 and under climate change. The findings can be used for the protection of these medicinally important plant.


Subject(s)
Lamiaceae , Lamiaceae/genetics , Hybridization, Genetic , Genetic Variation , Geography , Genetics, Population
4.
Sci Rep ; 14(1): 20426, 2024 09 03.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-39227633

ABSTRACT

Identifying mechanisms that drive population divergence under varying geographic and ecological scenarios can inform our understanding of evolution and speciation. In particular, analysis of genetic data from island populations with known colonisation timelines allows us to identify potential source populations of diverging island subspecies and current relationships among populations. Silvereyes (Zosterops lateralis) are a small passerine that have served as a valuable study system to investigate evolutionary patterns on both large and small geographic scales. We examined genetic relatedness and diversity of two silvereye subspecies, the mainland Z. l. cornwalli and island Z. l. chlorocephalus, and used 18 077 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), to compare locations across southeast Queensland, Australia. Although silvereyes are prolific island colonisers our findings revealed population divergence over relatively small spatial scales was strongly influenced by geographic isolation mediated by water barriers. Strong genetic connectivity was displayed between mainland sites, but minimal inter-island connectivity was shown despite comparable sampling distances. Genetic diversity analysis showed little difference in heterozygosity between island and mainland populations, but lower inbreeding scores among the island populations. Our study confirmed the range of the Z. l. chlorocephalus subspecies throughout the southern Great Barrier Reef. Our results show that water barriers and not geographic distance per se are important in driving incipient divergence in island populations. This helps to explain the relatively high number of phenotypically differentiated, but often geographically proximate, island silvereye subspecies compared to a lower number of phenotypically less well-defined Australian continental subspecies.


Subject(s)
Genetic Variation , Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide , Animals , Passeriformes/genetics , Queensland , Genetics, Population , Islands , Geography , Australia
5.
Sci Rep ; 14(1): 20475, 2024 09 03.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-39227643

ABSTRACT

While the interbreeding of Homo neanderthalensis (hereafter Neanderthal) and Anatomically modern human (AMH) has been proven, owing to the shortage of fossils and absence of appropriate DNA, the timing and geography of their interbreeding are not clearly known. In this study, we applied ecological niche modelling (maximum entropy approach) and GIS to reconstruct the palaeodistribution of Neanderthals and AMHs in Southwest Asia and Southeast Europe and identify their contact and potential interbreeding zone during marine isotope stage 5 (MIS 5), when the second wave of interbreeding occurred. We used climatic variables characterizing the environmental conditions of MIS 5 ca. 120 to 80 kyr (averaged value) along with the topography and coordinates of Neanderthal and modern human archaeological sites to characterize the palaeodistribution of each species. Overlapping the models revealed that the Zagros Mountains were a contact and potential interbreeding zone for the two human species. We believe that the Zagros Mountains acted as a corridor connecting the Palearctic/Afrotropical realms, facilitating northwards dispersal of AMHs and southwards dispersal of Neanderthals during MIS 5. Our analyses are comparable with archaeological and genetic evidence collected during recent decades.


Subject(s)
Fossils , Neanderthals , Animals , Humans , Archaeology , Geography
6.
PLoS One ; 19(9): e0308104, 2024.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-39240873

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Essential Newborn care (ENC) is a High-quality universal newborn health care devised by the World Health Organization for the provision of prompt interventions rendered to newborns during the postpartum period. Even though conducting comprehensive studies could provide a data-driven approach to tackling barriers to service adoption, there was a dearth of studies in Ethiopia that assess the geographical variation and predictors of missing ENC. Hence, this study aimed to identify geographical, individual, and community-level predictors of missing ENC messages at the national level. METHODS: This study used the 2016 Ethiopian Demographic and Health Survey, by using a weighted sample of 7,590 women who gave birth within two years prior to the survey. The spatial analysis was carried out using Arc-GIS version 10.7 and SaTScan version 9.6 statistical software. Spatial autocorrelation (Moran's I) was checked to figure out the non-randomness of the spatial variation of missing ENC in Ethiopia. Six items of care used to construct a composite index.0of ENC uptake were cord examination, temperature measurement, counselling on danger signs, counselling on breastfeeding, observation of breastfeeding, and measurement of birth weight. To assess the presence of significant differences in the mean number of ENC items across covariates, independent t-tests and one-way ANOVA were performed. Finally, a multilevel multivariable mixed-effect negative binomial regression was done by using STATA version 16. The adjusted incidence rate ratio (aIRR) with its corresponding 95% CI was used as a measure of association and variables with a p-value<0.05 were identified as significant predictors of ENC. RESULTS: The overall prevalence of missing ENC was 4,675 (61.6%) (95% CI: 60.5, 62.7) with a significant spatial variation across regions. The majority of Somali, Afar, south Amhara, and SNNPR regions had statistically significant hotspots for missing ENC. The mean (±SD) number of ENC items received was 1.23(±1.74) with a variance of 3.02 indicating over-dispersion. Living in the poorest wealth quintile (aIRR = 0.67, 95%CI: 0.51, 0.87), lack of Antenatal care (aIRR = 0.52, 95%CI: 0.49, 0.71), birth at home (aIRR = 0.27, 95% CI: 0.17, 0.34), living in rural area (aIRR = 0.39, 95% CI: 0.24, 0.57) were significant predictors of ENC uptake. CONCLUSION: The level of missing ENC was found to be high in Ethiopia with a significant spatial variation across regions. Hence, the government and policymakers should devise strategies for hotspot areas to improve women's economic capabilities, access to education, and health-seeking behaviours for prenatal care and skilled delivery services to improve ENC uptake.


Subject(s)
Postpartum Period , Humans , Ethiopia , Female , Infant, Newborn , Adult , Young Adult , Spatial Analysis , Adolescent , Infant Care/statistics & numerical data , Multilevel Analysis , Geography , Pregnancy , Socioeconomic Factors
7.
Molecules ; 29(15)2024 Jul 31.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-39125022

ABSTRACT

Olive leaves are a rich source of polyphenols with healthful properties and represent one of the most abundant waste products of olive oil production. The aims of this study were to explore the phenolic composition of olive leaves from the three main Tuscan cultivars (Leccino, Moraiolo and Frantoio) collected in Siena and Grosseto provinces and to investigate the possible use of these compounds as varietal and geographic origin markers. Discriminant factorial analysis (DFA) was used for distinguishing between different cultivars and locations. Apigenin and caffeoyl-secologanoside showed significant differences between cultivars. DFA showed that ligstroside, apigenin and luteolin have the most influence in determining the differences between sites, whereas total polyphenols, olacein and hydroxytyrosol acetate allowed for separation between leaves from the same province. The results of the present study indicate that concentrations of phenolic compounds, measured through high-resolution mass spectrometry, can be used as a marker for both the cultivar and of geographical origin of olive leaves, and possibly of olive-related products, as well as across small geographic scales (less than 50 km distance between sites).


Subject(s)
Olea , Phenols , Plant Leaves , Olea/chemistry , Olea/classification , Plant Leaves/chemistry , Phenols/analysis , Phenols/chemistry , Italy , Polyphenols/analysis , Polyphenols/chemistry , Biomarkers , Geography , Plant Extracts/chemistry
8.
Adv Parasitol ; 125: 1-52, 2024.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-39095110

ABSTRACT

As we strive towards the ambitious goal of malaria elimination, we must embrace integrated strategies and interventions. Like many diseases, malaria is heterogeneously distributed. This inherent spatial component means that geography and geospatial data is likely to have an important role in malaria control strategies. For instance, focussing interventions in areas where malaria risk is highest is likely to provide more cost-effective malaria control programmes. Equally, many malaria vector control strategies, particularly interventions like larval source management, would benefit from accurate maps of malaria vector habitats - sources of water that are used for malarial mosquito oviposition and larval development. In many landscapes, particularly in rural areas, the formation and persistence of these habitats is controlled by geographical factors, notably those related to hydrology. This is especially true for malaria vector species like Anopheles funestsus that show a preference for more permanent, often naturally occurring water sources like small rivers and spring-fed ponds. Previous work has embraced geographical concepts, techniques, and geospatial data for studying malaria risk and vector habitats. But there is much to be learnt if we are to fully exploit what the broader geographical discipline can offer in terms of operational malaria control, particularly in the face of a changing climate. This chapter outlines potential new directions related to several geographical concepts, data sources and analytical approaches, including terrain analysis, satellite imagery, drone technology and field-based observations. These directions are discussed within the context of designing new protocols and procedures that could be readily deployed within malaria control programmes, particularly those within sub-Saharan Africa, with a particular focus on experiences in the Kilombero Valley and the Zanzibar Archipelago, United Republic of Tanzania.


Subject(s)
Anopheles , Malaria , Mosquito Control , Mosquito Vectors , Malaria/prevention & control , Malaria/epidemiology , Malaria/transmission , Animals , Mosquito Vectors/physiology , Mosquito Control/methods , Humans , Anopheles/physiology , Anopheles/parasitology , Ecosystem , Geography
9.
PLoS One ; 19(8): e0308799, 2024.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-39196882

ABSTRACT

Inequality in economic and social outcomes across U.S. regions has grown in recent decades. The economic theory of crime predicts that this increased variability would raise geographic disparities in violent crime. Instead, I find that geographic disparities in homicide rates decreased. Moreover, these same decades saw decreases in the geographic disparities in policing, incarceration, and the share of the population that is African American. Thus, changes in policing, incarcerations, and racial composition could have led to a decrease in inequality in homicide rates. Moreover, the joint provision of law enforcement by local, state, and federal authorities may have reduced the impact of economic distress on violent crime.


Subject(s)
Homicide , Violence , United States/epidemiology , Humans , Violence/statistics & numerical data , Homicide/statistics & numerical data , Crime/statistics & numerical data , Socioeconomic Factors , Geography , Black or African American/statistics & numerical data
10.
PLoS One ; 19(8): e0308920, 2024.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-39146320

ABSTRACT

This paper presents the determination method of the exact geographical coordinates of aboveground nuclear tests (NT) epicenters based on the radioecological study results the example of the Semipalatinsk Nuclear Test Site. By testing the NT Epicenter software for determining the exact geographic coordinates of the NT centers, it was established that it is indeed possible to determine the exact coordinates of most of the aboveground NTs. Their locations are currently determined by the presence are currently determined by the presence of technogenic disturbance of the soil surface in the area of the alleged epicenter (the presence of a crater), as well as by comparing maps of radioactive contamination and a space image. The accuracy of the precise coordinates of the NT is highly dependent on the density of the auxiliary grid: the smaller the pitch of the auxiliary grid, the higher the accuracy of the NT epicenter.


Subject(s)
Radiation Monitoring , Radiation Monitoring/methods , Geography , Soil Pollutants, Radioactive/analysis , Software
11.
PLoS One ; 19(8): e0304812, 2024.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-39121103

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Geographic variation in COVID-19 vaccination can create areas at higher risk of infection, complications, and death, exacerbating health inequalities. This ecological study examined geographic patterns of COVID-19 vaccine completion, using age and sociodemographic characteristics as possible explanatory mechanisms. METHODS AND FINDINGS: Using 2020-2022 data from the North Carolina COVID-19 Vaccination Management System and U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey, at the Zip code-level, we evaluated completion of the primary COVID-19 vaccine series across age groups. We examined geographic clustering of age-specific completion by Zip code and evaluated similarity of the age-specific geographic patterns. Using unadjusted and adjusted spatial autoregressive models, we examined associations between sociodemographic characteristics and age-specific vaccine completion. COVID-19 vaccine completion was moderately geographically clustered in younger groups, with lower clustering in older groups. Urban areas had clusters of higher vaccine completion. Younger and middle-aged groups were the most similar in completion geographically, while the oldest group was most dissimilar to other age groups. Higher income was associated with higher completion in adjusted models across all age groups, while a higher percent of Black residents was associated with higher completion for some groups. CONCLUSIONS: COVID-19 vaccination completion is more variable among younger age groups in North Carolina, and it is higher in urban areas with higher income. Higher completion in areas with more Black residents may reflect the success of racial equity efforts in the state. The findings show a need to reach younger populations and lower income areas that were not prioritized during early vaccination distribution.


Subject(s)
COVID-19 Vaccines , COVID-19 , Vaccination , Humans , North Carolina/epidemiology , COVID-19 Vaccines/administration & dosage , Middle Aged , Adult , COVID-19/prevention & control , COVID-19/epidemiology , Aged , Adolescent , Female , Male , Young Adult , Vaccination/statistics & numerical data , Age Factors , SARS-CoV-2/immunology , Child , Geography , Socioeconomic Factors
12.
Sci Rep ; 14(1): 20020, 2024 08 28.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-39198562

ABSTRACT

Climate change affects the geographical distribution of species. Predicting the future potential areas suitable for certain species is of great significance for understanding their distribution characteristics and exerting their value. Based on the data of 276 effective distribution points of Polygonum capitatum and 20 ecological factors, the maximum entropy (MaxEnt) model and the ArcGIS software were employed to predict the areas suitable for P. capitatum growth, and the main environmental factors affecting the geographical distribution of this species were explored. Under the current climatic conditions, the areas highly suitable for P. capitatum are mainly distributed in southwestern China, with a small number of sites in coastal areas and most sites in Guizhou Province. Under different climate scenarios, the suitable areas were reduced to varying degrees. The dominant environmental variables affecting the distribution of P. capitatum were precipitation in the driest month, annual precipitation, and elevation, with a cumulative contribution rate of 84.1%. Against the background of a changing climate, the areas suitable for P. capitatum in China will be widely distributed in the southwestern region, with Guizhou Province and Yunnan Province as the main distribution areas; some sites will also be distributed throughout the southwest of Tibet Autonomous Region, the south of Sichuan Province, the north of Guangxi Autonomous Region, and the coastal area of Fujian Province. Optimal conditions for P. capitatum include a dry month precipitation range of 13.4 to 207.3 mm, elevations from 460.3 to 7214.3 m, and annual precipitation between 810 and 1575 mm. Given these insights, we recommend enhanced conservation efforts in current prime habitats and exploring potential cultivation in newly identified suitable regions to ensure the species' preservation and sustainable use.


Subject(s)
Climate Change , Polygonum , China , Polygonum/growth & development , Ecosystem , Climate , Models, Theoretical , Geography
13.
Sci Rep ; 14(1): 19961, 2024 08 28.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-39198570

ABSTRACT

Melioidosis caused by Burkholderia pseudomallei (Bp) is a public health threat. Genomic-epidemiology research on this deadly disease is scarce. We investigated whole-genome sequences of Bp isolates in relation to environmental source and drug susceptibility. In total, 563 Bp isolates were collected from 11 Northeast Thai provinces during the period 2004-2021. Patients (n = 530 isolates), infected animals (n = 8), and environmental sources (n = 25) provided samples. Phylogenetic analysis revealed genetic diversity among the Bp isolates, including numerous well-supported clusters of varying sizes. Through in-depth analysis of 38 monophyletic clades (MCs), we found eleven associated with province of origin (p-value < 0.001). Closely related clusters (CRCs) within MCs resembled MLST-identified "sequence types" (STs). We found 102 known and 52 novel STs. ST-70 was the most prevalent in this area (n = 78; 13.85%). Sample type (human/environmental) and sampling time intervals were not correlated with genetic distance among clonal Bp isolates. Some members of 12 CRCs had acquired resistance to co-trimoxazole and one against amoxicillin-clavulanic acid. Within Northeast Thailand, there is an association between Bp genotype and geographical origin.


Subject(s)
Anti-Bacterial Agents , Burkholderia pseudomallei , Melioidosis , Phylogeny , Burkholderia pseudomallei/genetics , Burkholderia pseudomallei/drug effects , Burkholderia pseudomallei/isolation & purification , Thailand/epidemiology , Humans , Melioidosis/microbiology , Melioidosis/epidemiology , Anti-Bacterial Agents/pharmacology , Multilocus Sequence Typing , Animals , Microbial Sensitivity Tests , Genetic Variation , Whole Genome Sequencing , Geography , Male
14.
Food Chem ; 460(Pt 2): 140643, 2024 Dec 01.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-39098195

ABSTRACT

The ancient native variety of elephant garlic, known as "Aglione della Valdichiana" and cultivated in the Valdichiana area of Tuscany, Italy, has gained recent recognition in the National Catalog of Local Varieties. The renewed interest in traditional products has led to a focus on identifying local varieties of elephant garlic, driven by their distinctive organoleptic and nutritional characteristics. However, other types of elephant garlic nowadays available on the market appear similar, but challenges exist in discerning their origin and composition. This study focused on characterizing elephant garlic from Lazio, Italy, and the Val di Chiana region through genetic, chemical, and aromatic analyses to understand genetic and geographic influences. ISSR markers differentiated elephant garlic from common varieties and highlighted regional genetic diversity. Chemical analysis revealed higher polyphenol content and antioxidant activity in elephant garlic compared to common garlic. Moreover, analysis highlights the variability in the concentrations of sulfur-containing compounds between common and elephant garlic. Aromatic and sensory assessments underscored distinctions between garlic types and regions, emphasizing the significant impact of geographic origin and genetic background on metabolite profiles in Allium genotypes.


Subject(s)
Garlic , Garlic/chemistry , Garlic/genetics , Garlic/growth & development , Italy , Humans , Antioxidants/chemistry , Antioxidants/analysis , Antioxidants/metabolism , Taste , Polyphenols/analysis , Polyphenols/chemistry , Plant Extracts/chemistry , Genotype , Geography , Genetic Variation
15.
Food Chem ; 460(Pt 3): 140652, 2024 Dec 01.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-39151290

ABSTRACT

This study explored the efficacy of multi-elements combined with chemometrics to discriminate the geographical origins of oysters (Crassostrea ariakensi). We determined 52 elements in 166 samples from four regions along the southeast coast of China. Significant regional variations of 51 elements were revealed (P < 0.05), while the principal component analysis (PCA) provided no clear regional delineations. The training models (n = 117) established on linear discriminant analysis (LDA), partial least square discriminant analysis (PLS-DA), and random forest (RF) uniformly achieved 100% predictive accuracy. The cross-validation accuracies of the final models (n = 166) derived from LDA, PLS-DA, and RF were 100%, 100%, and 99.4%, respectively. Even with the models simplified to 8 elements (Zn, Al, K, Cd, Cu, Rb, B, and Ag), high predictive and cross-validation accuracies were maintained, underscoring the robustness and algorithm flexibility of elemental profiling for accurately identifying the geographical origins of oysters.


Subject(s)
Crassostrea , Animals , Crassostrea/chemistry , Crassostrea/classification , Discriminant Analysis , China , Shellfish/analysis , Chemometrics , Principal Component Analysis , Feasibility Studies , Geography
16.
Food Chem ; 460(Pt 3): 140702, 2024 Dec 01.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-39116768

ABSTRACT

An optimized procedure for extracting and analyzing raw pistachio volatiles was developed through headspace sampling with high-capacity tools and subsequent analysis using comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry. The examination of 18 pistachio samples belonging to different geographic areas led to the identification of a set of 99 volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Molecules were putatively identified using linear retention index, mass spectra similarity, and two-dimensional plot location. The impact of preprocessing and processing techniques on the aligned data matrix from a set of samples of different geographical origins, after removing contaminants, was evaluated. The combination of scaling with log-transformation, normalization with z-score, and data reduction with random forest machine learning algorithm generated a panel of 16 discriminatory VOC molecules. As a proof of concept, raw pistachios' VOC profile was employed for the first time to tentatively classify them based on their geographical origin.


Subject(s)
Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry , Pistacia , Volatile Organic Compounds , Volatile Organic Compounds/chemistry , Volatile Organic Compounds/analysis , Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry/methods , Pistacia/chemistry , Pistacia/classification , Geography , Proof of Concept Study
17.
PLoS One ; 19(7): e0306832, 2024.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38980894

ABSTRACT

Species' range size is a fundamental unit of analysis in biodiversity research, given its association with extinction risk and species richness. One of its most notable patterns is its positive relationship with latitude, which has been considered an ecogeographical rule called Rapoport's rule. Despite this rule being confirmed for various taxonomic groups, its validity has been widely discussed and several taxa still lack a formal assessment. Different hypotheses have been proposed to explain their potential mechanisms, with those related to temperature and elevational being the most supported thus far. In this study, we employed two level of analyses (cross-species and assemblage) to investigate the validity of Rapoport's rule in spiny lizards (genus Sceloporus). Additionally, we evaluated four environmental-related hypotheses (minimum temperature, temperature variability, temperature stability since the last glacial maximum, and elevation) posed to explain such pattern, contrasting our results to those patterns expected under a null model of range position. Our results provided support for Rapoport's rule at both levels of analyses, contrasting with null expectations. Consistently, minimum temperature and elevation were the most relevant variables explaining the spatial variation in range size. At the cross-species level, our null simulations revealed that both variables deviated significantly from random expectations. Conversely, at the assemblage level, none of the variables were statistically different from the expected relationships. We discussed the implication of our findings in relation to the ecology and evolution of spiny lizards.


Subject(s)
Lizards , Animals , Lizards/physiology , Temperature , Biodiversity , Geography , Ecosystem
18.
JMIR Public Health Surveill ; 10: e44616, 2024 Jun 28.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38952026

ABSTRACT

Background: Behavioral differences exist between countries, regions, and religions. With rapid development in recent decades, an increasing number of international immigrants from different regions with different religions have settled in China. The degrees to which sexual behaviors-particularly risky sexual behaviors-differ by religion and geographical areas are not known. Objective: We aim to estimate the associations of religion and geographical areas with sexual behaviors of international immigrants and provide evidence for promoting the sexual health of international immigrants. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted via the internet with a snowball sampling method among international immigrants in China. In our study, risky sexual behaviors included having multiple sexual partners and engaging in unprotected sex. Descriptive analysis was used to analyze the basic characteristics of international immigrants as well as their sexual behaviors, religious affiliations, and geographical regions of origin. Multivariate binary logistic regression analyses with multiplicative and additive interactions were used to identify aspects of religion and geography that were associated with risky sexual behaviors among international immigrants. Results: A total of 1433 international immigrants were included in the study. South Americans and nonreligious immigrants were more likely to engage in risky sexual behaviors, and Asian and Buddhist immigrants were less likely to engage in risky sexual behaviors. The majority of the Muslims had sexually transmitted infection and HIV testing experiences; however, Muslims had a low willingness to do these tests in the future. The multivariate analysis showed that Muslim (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] 0.453, 95% CI 0.228-0.897), Hindu (AOR 0.280, 95% CI 0.082-0.961), and Buddhist (AOR 0.097, 95% CI 0.012-0.811) immigrants were less likely to report engaging in unprotected sexual behaviors. Buddhist immigrants (AOR 0.292, 95% CI 0.086-0.990) were also less likely to have multiple sexual partners. With regard to geography, compared to Asians, South Americans (AOR 2.642, 95% CI 1.034-6.755), Europeans (AOR 2.310, 95% CI 1.022-5.221), and North Africans (AOR 3.524, 95% CI 1.104-11.248) had a higher probability of having multiple sexual partners. Conclusions: The rates of risky sexual behaviors among international immigrants living in China differed depending on their religions and geographical areas of origin. South Americans and nonreligious immigrants were more likely to engage in risky sexual behaviors. It is necessary to promote measures, including HIV self-testing, pre-exposure prophylaxis implementation, and targeted sexual health education, among international immigrants in China.


Subject(s)
Emigrants and Immigrants , Risk-Taking , Sexual Behavior , Humans , Cross-Sectional Studies , China/ethnology , China/epidemiology , Male , Female , Adult , Emigrants and Immigrants/statistics & numerical data , Emigrants and Immigrants/psychology , Sexual Behavior/statistics & numerical data , Sexual Behavior/ethnology , Sexual Behavior/psychology , Religion , Geography , Middle Aged , Adolescent , Young Adult
19.
PLoS One ; 19(7): e0306136, 2024.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38954690

ABSTRACT

In Europe, two fastidious phloem-limited pathogens, 'Candidatus Phytoplasma solani' (16SrXII-A) and 'Candidatus Arsenophonus phytopathogenicus', are associated with rubbery taproot disease (RTD) and syndrome basses richesses (SBR) of sugar beet, respectively. Both diseases can significantly reduce yield, especially when accompanied by root rot fungi. This study investigates the presence, geographic distribution and genetic traits of fastidious pathogens and the accompanying fungus, Macrophomina phaseolina, found on sugar beet across four geographically separated plains spanning seven countries in Central Europe. The survey revealed variable incidences of symptoms linked to these fastidious pathogens in the Pannonian and Wallachian Plains, sporadic occurrence in the North European Plain, and no symptomatic sugar beet in the Bohemian Plain. Molecular analyses unveiled the occurrence of both 'Ca. P. solani' and 'Ca. A. phytopathogenicus' throughout Central Europe, with a predominance of the phytoplasma. These fastidious pathogens were detected in all six countries surveyed within the Pannonian and Wallachian Plains, with only a limited presence of various phytoplasmas was found in the North European Plain, while no fastidious pathogens were detected in Bohemia, aligning with observed symptoms. While 16S rDNA sequences of 'Ca. P. solani' remained highly conserved, multi-locus characterization of two more variable loci (tuf and stamp) unveiled distinct variability patterns across the plains. Notably, the surprising lack of variability of tuf and stamp loci within Central Europe, particularly the Pannonian Plain, contrasted their high variability in Eastern and Western Europe, corresponding to epidemic and sporadic occurrence, respectively. The current study provides valuable insights into the genetic dynamics of 'Ca. P. solani' in Central Europe, and novel findings of the presence of 'Ca. A. phytopathogenicus' in five countries (Slovakia, Czech Republic, Austria, Serbia, and Romania) and M. phaseolina in sugar beet in Slovakia. These findings emphasize the need for further investigation of vector-pathogen(s)-plant host interactions and ecological drivers of disease outbreaks.


Subject(s)
Beta vulgaris , Phloem , Phytoplasma , Plant Diseases , Beta vulgaris/microbiology , Europe/epidemiology , Plant Diseases/microbiology , Phytoplasma/genetics , Phytoplasma/pathogenicity , Phytoplasma/isolation & purification , Phloem/microbiology , Phylogeny , Ascomycota/genetics , Geography , Prevalence
20.
Glob Chang Biol ; 30(7): e17408, 2024 Jul.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38984769

ABSTRACT

The geographic redistributions of species due to a rapidly changing climate are poised to perturb ecological communities and significantly impact ecosystems and human livelihoods. Effectively managing these biological impacts requires a thorough understanding of the patterns and processes of species geographic range shifts. While substantial recent redistributions have been identified and recognized to vary by taxon, region, and range geometry, there are large gaps and biases in the available evidence. Here, we use the largest compilation of geographic range change observations to date, comprised of 33,016 potential redistributions across 12,009 species, to formally assess within- and cross-species coverage and biases and to motivate future data collection. We find that species coverage varies strongly by taxon and underrepresents species at high and low latitudes. Within species, assessments of potential redistributions came from parts of their geographic range that were highly uneven and non-representative. For most species and taxa, studies were strongly biased toward the colder parts of species' distributions and thus significantly underrepresented populations that might get pushed beyond their maximum temperature limits. Coverage of potential leading and trailing geographic range edges under a changing climate was similarly uneven. Only 8% of studied species were assessed at both high and low latitude and elevation range edges, with most only covered at one edge. This suggests that substantial within-species biases exacerbate the considerable geographic and taxonomic among-species unevenness in evidence. Our results open the door for a more quantitative accounting for existing knowledge biases in climate change ecology and a more informed management and conservation. Our findings offer guidance for future data collection that better addresses information gaps and provides a more effective foundation for managing the biological impacts of climate change.


Subject(s)
Climate Change , Animals , Ecosystem , Geography , Biodiversity , Plants
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