Risk assessment for hurricane-induced pluvial flooding in urban areas using a GIS-based multi-criteria approach: A case study of Hurricane Harvey in Houston, USA.

As one of the most destructive nature hazards, hurricane-induced flooding generates serious adverse impacts on populations, infrastructure, and the environment globally. In urban areas, complex characteristics such as high population and infrastructure densities increase flood disaster risks. Consequently, the assessment of flood risks is becoming increasingly important for understanding potential impacts on an urban area and proposing disaster risk mitigation strategies. After conducting a comprehensive literature review, this study finds that most urban flood risk assessments often overlook urban ecosystem elements, focusing more on social and economic aspects. Hence, the role of urban ecosystems cannot be fully understood. To address this gap, this study proposes a social-ecological systems (SES) flood risk assessment framework for urban areas. Based on this framework, a comprehensive list of indicators collected through a literature review is provided for urban flood risk assessments. A comparative study of flood risk during Hurricane Harvey (2017) in Houston, Texas, USA, is carried out using the improved analytic hierarchy process (IAHP) weighting method and the equal weighting method for indicator weighting. Results are then compared with the damage data of Hurricane Harvey published by the U.S. Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). The analysis identifies that the western part of Houston had the highest flood risks, while the center of Houston was at lower flood risk. Comparisons between the results from the IAHP and equal weighting methods show that the latter produces a broader range of high flood risk areas than the former. This study also highlights the role of urban ecosystems in mitigating flood risks and advocates for more holistic, social-ecological assessments of flood risk. Such assessments could utilize the proposed framework and the indicator list but contextualize these to the specific urban area's contexts being investigated.

Free-ranging livestock affected the spatiotemporal behavior of the endangered snow leopard (Panthera uncia).

Long recognized as a threat to wildlife, particularly for large carnivores, livestock grazing in protected areas can potentially undermine conservation objectives. The interspecific interactions among livestock, snow leopards (Panthera uncia), and their wild prey in fragile Asian highland ecosystems have been a subject of debate. We strategically deployed 164 camera traps in the Wolong National Nature Reserve to systematically investigate the activities of snow leopards, their primary wild ungulate prey species, and free-ranging livestock. We found that snow leopard habitat use was influenced by both wild prey and livestock. Blue sheep served as the main wild prey that spatially attracted snow leopards and coexisted with yaks while free-ranging yaks significantly restricted snow leopard habitat use both temporally and spatially. This study challenges the conventional understanding that livestock indirectly impacts large carnivores by competing with and displacing wild prey. Our findings highlight that free-ranging yaks within the alpine canyon terrain could directly limit snow leopard habitat use, suggesting a potential risk of grazing in reducing apex predator distribution and jeopardizing their populations. Consequently, managing their coexistence in shared habitats requires a more nuanced approach. Furthermore, our research underscores the importance of further research efforts aimed at enhancing our comprehension of the complex interplay within animal communities and ecosystems. This knowledge will contribute to the development of informed, evidence-based conservation strategies and policies.

Groundwater recharge estimation using in-situ and GRACE observations in the eastern region of the United Arab Emirates.

The intensive agricultural expansion and rapid urban development in Abu Dhabi Emirate, United Arab Emirates (UAE) have resulted in a major decline in local and regional groundwater levels. By using the latest release (RL06) of Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment (GRACE) satellite measurements and Global Land Data Assimilation System (GLDAS) products, the groundwater storage change was computed and compared with the time series of in-situ monitoring wells over the period of 2010-2016. The RL06 GRACE products from Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), University of Texas Center for Space Research (CSR), German Research Center for Geosciences (GFZ), and JPL mass concentrations (MASCON) were assessed and have shown satisfactory agreements with the monitoring wells. The JPL MASCON reflected the in-situ groundwater storage change better than the other GRACE products (R = 0.5, lag =1 month, RMSE = 13 mm). The groundwater recharge is estimated for the study area and compared with the in-situ recharge method that considers multi recharge components from the rainfall, irrigation return flow and internal fluxes. The results show that the agreements between in-situ and GRACE-derived recharge estimates are highly agreeable (e.g., R2 = 0.91, RMSE = 1.5 Mm3 to 7.8 Mm3, and Nash-Sutcliff Efficiency = 0.7). Using the Mann-Kendall trend test and Sen's slope, the analyses of policies, number of wells, and farm areal expansion with groundwater time series derived from GRACE helped to validate GRACE and emphasize the importance of regulations for sustainable development of groundwater resources. The impacts of subsidy cuts after 2010 can be captured from the GRACE data in the eastern region of Abu Dhabi Emirate. The linear trend of groundwater storage anomaly obtained from GRACE over the period from 2003 to 2010 is -6.36 ± 0.6 mm/year while it showed a decline trend of -1.2 ± 0.6 mm/year after the subsidy cut. The proposed approach has a potential application for estimating groundwater recharge in other arid regions where in-situ monitoring wells are limited or absent.

Design of a dual focal-plane near-eye display using diffractive waveguides and multiple lenses.

We propose a method to construct a compact dual focal-plane optical see-through near-eye display using diffractive waveguides and multiple lenses. A virtual image from a display device is projected into a three-grating waveguide using an objective lens, and a virtual image can be shown at a far distance with an extended eye box. One negative lens is employed to reduce the focus distance of the virtual image, and a corresponding positive lens is used to compensate for the distortion and accommodation errors. Thus, not only can a virtual image with a near distance be achieved, but also a virtual plane with a further distance can be generated by introducing another projection module and waveguide. Only two waveguides and two pieces of lenses are used in front of one eye to obtain a lightweight outlook. To verify the proposed method, a proof-of-concept prototype was developed to provide vivid virtual images at different depths in front of the human eye.

Subwavelength dielectric grating structures with tunable higher order resonance for achromatic augmented reality display.

Color non-uniformities caused by a dispersion effect can seriously affect the image quality for a diffractive waveguide display system. In this work, we propose a subwavelength multilayered dielectric grating structure by a rigorous coupled wave analysis as a novel coupling grating, to the best of our knowledge, for waveguide-based near-eye displays to overcome the "rainbow" effect. Such a grating structure exhibits a tunable high-efficiency resonance in first-order diffraction due to resonant coupling of incident light with the grating structure. A further analysis of the resonant behaviors helps us get a clear understanding of the underlying physics for the mode excitation and resonant coupling process. The first-order resonance with a diffraction efficiency of more than 60% can be achieved with the resonant angle continuously shifted to get a large field of view. The resonant angle, diffraction efficiency, and spectral linewidth can be easily tuned by the geometrical parameters of the grating structure.

Spiny mice activate unique transcriptional programs after severe kidney injury regenerating organ function without fibrosis.

Fibrosis-driven solid organ failure is an enormous burden on global health. Spiny mice (Acomys) are terrestrial mammals that can regenerate severe skin wounds without scars to avoid predation. Whether spiny mice also regenerate internal organ injuries is unknown. Here, we show that despite equivalent acute obstructive or ischemic kidney injury, spiny mice fully regenerate nephron structure and organ function without fibrosis, whereas C57Bl/6 or CD1 mice progress to complete organ failure with extensive renal fibrosis. Two mechanisms for vertebrate regeneration have been proposed that emphasize either extrinsic (pro-regenerative macrophages) or intrinsic (surviving cells of the organ itself) controls. Comparative transcriptome analysis revealed that the Acomys genome appears poised at the time of injury to initiate regeneration by surviving kidney cells, whereas macrophage accumulation was not detected until about day 7. Thus, we provide evidence for rapid activation of a gene expression signature for regenerative wound healing in the spiny mouse kidney.

Optimization of gratings in a diffractive waveguide using relative-direction-cosine diagrams.

Designing diffractive waveguides for head-mounted displays requires wide-angle conical diffraction analysis of multiple gratings. In this work, diffractive waveguide design using the relative direction cosine space, which extends the direction cosine space to a relative space involving refractive indices and can describe grating diffraction through various media, is demonstrated. A diffractive waveguide was fabricated with grating periods of 382 and 270 nm, which generated a monochromatic virtual image image in green light (520 nm). The maximum field of view was measured as 39° with 0.5° deviation from the center of view.

Genetic characterization and zoonotic potential of Blastocystis from wild animals in Sichuan Wolong National Natural Reserve, Southwest China.

Blastocystis is a prevalent eukaryotic parasite that has been identified in a wide range of hosts. Several species are considered potential sources of Blastocystis infection in humans, but little is known about the prevalence of Blastocystis in wild animals. In this study, the prevalence and subtypes of Blastocystis were investigated to assess the zoonotic potential of wild animals in Sichuan Wolong National Natural Reserve. A total of 300 fecal samples were collected from 27 wildlife species in three areas of the Reserve. The subtype (ST), genetic characteristics, and prevalence of Blastocystis were determined by PCR amplification of part (~600 bp) of the SSU rRNA gene. Thirty fecal samples (10.0%) were Blastocystis-positive. The highest prevalence of Blastocystis was found in Yinchanggou (18.3%), with significantly less found in Niutoushan (7.5%) and Genda (5.5%) (p < 0.05). No significant differences were associated with different orders of animals in prevalence, which may be because of the small number of positive samples obtained. Sequence analysis showed five subtypes (ST1, ST3, ST5, ST13, and ST14), with ST13 and ST14 being predominant (33% each), followed by ST1 (20%). This is the first molecular investigation of Blastocystis infection in the wild animals of southwestern China. Subtypes ST1, ST3, ST5, and ST14 have previously been identified in humans, suggesting that wild animals may be potential reservoirs of Blastocystis for humans.

TITLE: Caractérisation génétique et potentiel zoonotique de Blastocystis provenant d'animaux sauvages dans la réserve naturelle nationale du Sichuan Wolong, sud-ouest de la Chine. ABSTRACT: Blastocystis est un parasite eucaryote répandu qui a été identifié dans un large éventail d'hôtes. Plusieurs espèces sont considérées comme des sources potentielles d'infection par Blastocystis chez l'homme, mais on sait peu de choses sur la prévalence de Blastocystis chez les animaux sauvages. Dans cette étude, la prévalence et les sous-types de Blastocystis ont été étudiés pour évaluer le potentiel zoonotique des animaux sauvages dans la réserve naturelle nationale du Sichuan Wolong. Au total, 300 échantillons de matières fécales ont été prélevés de 27 espèces de la faune dans trois zones de la réserve. Le sous-type (ST), les caractéristiques génétiques et la prévalence de Blastocystis ont été déterminés par amplification PCR d'une partie (~ 600 pb) du gène 18S de l'ARNr. Trente échantillons fécaux (10,0 %) étaient positifs pour Blastocystis. La prévalence la plus élevée de Blastocystis a été trouvée à Yinchanggou (18,3 %), avec une prévalence significativement moindre à Niutoushan (7,5 %) et à Genda (5,5 %) (p < 0,05). Aucune différence significative de prévalence n'était associée à différents ordres d'animaux, ce qui peut être dû au petit nombre d'échantillons positifs obtenus. L'analyse des séquences a montré cinq sous-types (ST1, ST3, ST5, ST13 et ST14), et ST13 et ST14 étant prédominants (33 % chacun), suivis de ST1 (20 %). Il s'agit de la première étude moléculaire de l'infection à Blastocystis chez les animaux sauvages du sud-ouest de la Chine. Les sous-types ST1, ST3, ST5 et ST14 ont déjà été identifiés chez l'homme, suggérant que les animaux sauvages pourraient être des réservoirs potentiels de Blastocystis pour l'homme.

First identification and molecular subtyping of Blastocystis sp. in zoo animals in southwestern China.

BACKGROUND: Blastocystis sp. is an anaerobic protozoan that parasitizes many animal hosts and the human gastrointestinal tract, and its pathogenicity is controversial. Captive wildlife may be potential reservoirs for human infection with Blastocystis sp. The present study was performed to investigate the prevalence and subtype distribution of Blastocystis sp. in zoo animals in Sichuan Province, southwestern China. METHODS: A total of 420 fresh fecal samples were collected from 54 captive wildlife species in four zoos in southwestern China between June 2017 and September 2019. The prevalence and subtype (ST) genetic characteristics of Blastocystis sp. were determined by PCR amplification of the barcode region of the SSU rRNA gene and phylogenetic analysis. RESULTS: Overall, 15.7% (66/420) of the animal samples and 20.7% (14/54) of the species tested were shown to be infected with Blastocystis sp. The highest prevalence of Blastocystis sp. was found in Panzhihua Zoo (24.3%), which was significantly higher than that in Chengdu Zoo (6.9%), and Xichang Zoo (2.9%) (P < 0.05). There are also significant differences in the prevalence of Blastocystis sp. among different species (P < 0.05), and the highest of Blastocystis sp. prevalence was observed in white-cheeked gibbon, black great squirrel, and red giant flying squirrel (100%). Subtype analysis of Blastocystis sp. revealed nine subtypes, including six zoonotic STs (ST1-5, and ST8) and three animal-specific STs (ST10, ST14, and ST17), with ST17 as the predominant subtype (26/66) in Blastocystis sp.-positive isolates. CONCLUSIONS: To our knowledge, this is the first report on the prevalence and subtype distribution of Blastocystis sp. among captive wildlife in zoos in southwestern China. This study highlights that these animals may serve as reservoirs for human Blastocystis sp. infections.

Effectiveness of management zoning designed for flagship species in protecting sympatric species.

Flagship species have been used widely as umbrella species (i.e., species with large home range whose protection often provides protection for sympatric species) in the management of China's nature reserves. This conflation of flagship and umbrella species is best represented by the giant panda (Ailuropoda melanoleuca) and other large, endangered mammals designated as conservation targets in site selection and planning of reserves. Few empirical studies have tested the effectiveness of flagship species as surrogates for a broader range of sympatric species. Using extensive camera-trap data, we examined the effectiveness of management zones designated to protect flagship (target) species in conserving sympatric species in 4 wildlife reserves (Gutianshan, Changqing, Laohegou, and Wolong). We tested whether the progression from peripheral to core zones was associated with an increasing habitat association for both target and sympatric species. The distribution patterns of the study species across the zones in each reserve indicated a disparity between management zones and the species' habitat requirements. Management zone was included in the final model for all target species, and most of them had higher occurrence in core zones relative to less-protected zones, but zone was not a predictor for most of the sympatric species. When management zone was associated with the occurrence of sympatric species, threatened species generally had higher detections in core zones, whereas common species had higher detections outside of the core zone. Our results suggested that reserve planning based on flagship species does not adequately protect sympatric species due to their specialized habitat requirements. We recommend re-examining the effectiveness of management zoning and urge a multispecies and reserve-wide monitoring plan to improve protection of China's wildlife.

Efectividad del Manejo de Zonación Diseñada para Especies Bandera en la Protección de Especies Simpátricas Resumen Las especies bandera se han utilizado ampliamente como especies paraguas (es decir, especies con una extensa distribución cuya protección frecuentemente proporciona protección para especies simpátricas) en el manejo de las reservas naturales de China. Esta combinación de especie bandera y especie paraguas tiene su mejor representación en el panda gigante (Ailuropoda melanoleuca) y otros grandes mamíferos en peligro de extinción designados como objetivos de conservación en la selección de sitio y la planeación de reservas. Pocos estudios empíricos han probado la efectividad de las especies bandera como sustitutas de una especie simpátrica con una distribución más amplia. Con datos numerosos de cámaras trampa, examinamos la efectividad de las zonas de manejo designadas para proteger a las especies bandera (objetivo) en la conservación de especies simpátricas dentro de cuatro reservas de fauna (Gutianshan, Changqing, Laohegou y Wolong). Probamos si la progresión de las zonas periféricas hacia las zonas núcleo estaba relacionada con asociaciones crecientes de hábitat tanto para las especies objetivo como para las simpátricas. Los patrones de distribución del estudio de especies a lo largo de las zonas en cada reserva indicaron una disparidad entre las zonas de manejo y los requerimientos de hábitat de las especies. La zona de manejo se incluyó dentro del modelo final para todas las especies objetivo y la mayoría de ellas tuvo una presencia más alta en las zonas núcleo en relación con las zonas de menor protección. Cuando la zona de manejo se asoció a la presencia de especies simpátricas, las especies amenazadas generalmente tuvieron un mayor número de detecciones en la zona núcleo, mientras que las especies comunes tuvieron un número más elevado de detecciones fuera de la zona núcleo. Nuestros resultados sugieren que la planeación de reservas basada en las especies bandera no protege adecuadamente a las especies simpátricas debido a sus requerimientos especializados de hábitat. Recomendamos una reexaminación de la efectividad del manejo de zonación y urgimos que se genere un plan de monitoreo multiespecífico en toda la reserva para mejorar la protección de la fauna en China.

Interleukin-24 enhancing antitumor activity of chimeric oncolytic adenovirus for treating acute promyelocytic leukemia cell.

BACKGROUND: Acute promyelocytic leukaemia (APL) is a clonal disease arising by hematopoietic stem cell (HSC), which characterized by inappropriate proliferation/differentiation or survival of immature myeloid progenitors. Oncolytic adenoviruses have been under widespread investigation as anticancer agents. Recently, our data suggested that tumor cells were cured by AdCN205-IL-24, an adenovirus serotype 5-based conditionally replicating adenovirus expressing IL-24 after infection. METHODS: In this study, we created a novel fiber chimeric oncolytic adenovirus AdCN306-IL-24 that has Ad11 tropism and approved CAR (coxsackie adenovirus receptor, CAR)-independent cell entry, which could allow development of selective cytopathic effects (CPE) in APL cells in vitro. RESULTS: Formidable cytotoxic effect was specifically implemented in APL cells after infection with AdCN306-IL-24. The expression of IL-24 was up-regulated upon treated with accepted tumors. And the vector also induced superior cytolytic effects activity in APL cells by activation of programmed cell death. CONCLUSIONS: Taken together, our data suggested that chimeric oncolytic adenovirus AdCN306-IL-24 could express IL-24 gene, representing a potential therapeutics for acute promyelocytic leukemia.

Population genetics reveals high connectivity of giant panda populations across human disturbance features in key nature reserve.

The giant panda is an example of a species that has faced extensive historical habitat fragmentation, and anthropogenic disturbance and is assumed to be isolated in numerous subpopulations with limited gene flow between them. To investigate the population size, health, and connectivity of pandas in a key habitat area, we noninvasively collected a total of 539 fresh wild giant panda fecal samples for DNA extraction within Wolong Nature Reserve, Sichuan, China. Seven validated tetra-microsatellite markers were used to analyze each sample, and a total of 142 unique genotypes were identified. Nonspatial and spatial capture-recapture models estimated the population size of the reserve at 164 and 137 individuals (95% confidence intervals 153-175 and 115-163), respectively. Relatively high levels of genetic variation and low levels of inbreeding were estimated, indicating adequate genetic diversity. Surprisingly, no significant genetic boundaries were found within the population despite the national road G350 that bisects the reserve, which is also bordered with patches of development and agricultural land. We attribute this to high rates of migration, with four giant panda road-crossing events confirmed within a year based on repeated captures of individuals. This likely means that giant panda populations within mountain ranges are better connected than previously thought. Increased development and tourism traffic in the area and throughout the current panda distribution pose a threat of increasing population isolation, however. Maintaining and restoring adequate habitat corridors for dispersal is thus a vital step for preserving the levels of gene flow seen in our analysis and the continued conservation of the giant panda meta-population in both Wolong and throughout their current range.

Sex differences in microglial CX3CR1 signalling determine obesity susceptibility in mice.

Female mice are less susceptible to the negative metabolic consequences of high-fat diet feeding than male mice, for reasons that are incompletely understood. Here we identify sex-specific differences in hypothalamic microglial activation via the CX3CL1-CX3CR1 pathway that mediate the resistance of female mice to diet-induced obesity. Female mice fed a high-fat diet maintain CX3CL1-CX3CR1 levels while male mice show reductions in both ligand and receptor expression. Female Cx3cr1 knockout mice develop 'male-like' hypothalamic microglial accumulation and activation, accompanied by a marked increase in their susceptibility to diet-induced obesity. Conversely, increasing brain CX3CL1 levels in male mice through central pharmacological administration or virally mediated hypothalamic overexpression converts them to a 'female-like' metabolic phenotype with reduced microglial activation and body-weight gain. These data implicate sex differences in microglial activation in the modulation of energy homeostasis and identify CX3CR1 signalling as a potential therapeutic target for the treatment of obesity.

Impacts of a Rapidly Declining Mountain Snowpack on Streamflow Timing in Canada's Fraser River Basin.

With its headwaters in the water towers of the western Cordillera of North America, the Fraser River is one of the continent's mightiest rivers by annual flows, supplies vital freshwater resources to populous downstream locations, and sustains the world's largest stocks of sockeye salmon along with four other salmon species. Here we show the Variable Infiltration Capacity (VIC) model's ability to reproduce accurately observed trends in daily streamflow for the Fraser River's main stem and six of its major tributaries over 1949-2006 when air temperatures rose by 1.4 °C while annual precipitation amounts remained stable. Rapidly declining mountain snowpacks and earlier melt onsets result in a 10-day advance of the Fraser River's spring freshet with subsequent reductions in summer flows when up-river salmon migrations occur. Identification of the sub-basins driving the Fraser River's most significant changes provides a measure of seasonal predictability of future floods or droughts in a changing climate.

[SRAP study on genetic diversity of radix plygoni multiflori in chongqing].

OBJECTIVE: To detect the polymorphisms of Radix Plygoni Multiflori in chongqing by means of a new marker system SRAP. METHOD: Different shaples of Radix Plygoni Multiflori from major production areas were collected. The SRAP was used to asses divergence among 16 populations. The data were analyzed using unweighted pairgroup method, based on arithmetic averages (UPGMA) bootstrap analysis. Cluster analyses was performed by using DPSv3.01 software, the alkaloid was extracted from P. ternate with chlorolform. RESULT: 104 combinations generated 250 polymorphie bands, the cluster analysis indicated that 16 materials could be distinguished into two main groups and one special type, Nei&Li similarity coefficient ranged from 0.23-0.99, and the average distance is 0. 44. CONCLUSION: The results of the study showed a potential application of SRAP fingerprinting for identification of Radix Plygoni Multiflori.