Recently constructed hydropower dams were associated with reduced economic production, population, and greenness in nearby areas.

Hydropower dams produce huge impacts on renewable energy production, water resources, and economic development, particularly in the Global South, where accelerated dam construction has made it a global hotspot. We do not fully understand the multiple impacts that dams have in the nearby areas from a global perspective, including the spatial differentiations. In this study, we examined the impacts of hydropower dam construction in nearby areas. We first found that more than one-third of global gross domestic production (GDP) and almost one-third of global population fall within 50 km of the world's 7,155 hydropower dams (<10% of the global land area sans the Antarctic). We further analyzed impacts of 631 hydropower dams (≥1-megawatt capacity) constructed since 2001 and commissioned before 2015 for their effects on economy, population, and environment in nearby areas and examined the results in five regions (i.e., Africa, Asia, Europe, North America, and South America) and by different dam sizes. We found that recently constructed dams were associated with increased GDP in North America and urban areas in Europe but with decreased GDP, urban land, and population in the Global South and greenness in Africa in nearby areas. Globally, these dams were linked with reduced economic production, population, and greenness of areas within 50 km of the dams. While large dams were related with reduced GDP and greenness significantly, small and medium dams were coupled with lowered population and urban land substantially, and large and medium dams were connected to diminished nighttime light noticeably in nearby areas.

Global expansion of sustainable irrigation limited by water storage.

Providing affordable and nutritious food to a growing and increasingly affluent global population requires multifaceted approaches to target supply and demand aspects. On the supply side, expanding irrigation is key to increase future food production, yet associated needs for storing water and implications of providing that water storage, remain unknown. Here, we quantify biophysical potentials for storage-fed sustainable irrigation-irrigation that neither depletes freshwater resources nor expands croplands but requires water to be stored before use-and study implications for food security and infrastructure. We find that water storage is crucial for future food systems because 460 km3/yr of sustainable blue water, enough to grow food for 1.15 billion people, can only be used for irrigation after storage. Even if all identified future dams were to contribute water to irrigation, water stored in dammed reservoirs could only supply 209 ± 50 km3/yr to irrigation and grow food for 631 ± 145 million people. In the face of this gap and the major socioecologic externalities from future dams, our results highlight limits of gray infrastructure for future irrigation and urge to increase irrigation efficiency, change to less water-intensive cropping systems, and deploy alternative storage solutions at scale.

Molecular mechanisms regulating glucose metabolism in quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa Willd.) seeds under drought stress.

BACKGROUND: Abiotic stress seriously affects the growth and yield of crops. It is necessary to search and utilize novel abiotic stress resistant genes for 2.0 breeding programme in quinoa. In this study, the impact of drought stress on glucose metabolism were investigated through transcriptomic and metabolomic analyses in quinoa seeds. Candidate drought tolerance genes on glucose metabolism pathway were verified by qRT-PCR combined with yeast expression system. RESULTS: From 70 quinoa germplasms, drought tolerant material M059 and drought sensitive material M024 were selected by comprehensive evaluation of drought resistance. 7042 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were indentified through transcriptomic analyses. Gene Ontology (GO) analysis revealed that these DEGs were closely related to carbohydrate metabolic process, phosphorus-containing groups, and intracellular membrane-bounded organelles. The Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment analysis detected that DEGs were related to pathways involving carbohydrate metabolisms, glycolysis and gluconeogenesis. Twelve key differentially accumulated metabolites (DAMs), (D-galactose, UDP-glucose, succinate, inositol, D-galactose, D-fructose-6-phosphate, D-glucose-6-phosphate, D-glucose-1-phosphate, dihydroxyacetone phosphate, ribulose-5-phosphate, citric acid and L-malate), and ten key candidate DEGs (CqAGAL2, CqINV, CqFrK7, CqCELB, Cqbg1x, CqFBP, CqALDO, CqPGM, CqIDH3, and CqSDH) involved in drought response were identified. CqSDH, CqAGAL2, and Cqß-GAL13 were candidate genes that have been validated in both transcriptomics and yeast expression screen system. CONCLUSION: These findings provide a foundation for elucidating the molecular regulatory mechanisms governing glucose metabolism in quinoa seeds under drought stress, providing insights for future research exploring responses to drought stress in quinoa.

Integrated transcriptomic and metabolomic analyses reveals anthocyanin biosynthesis in leaf coloration of quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa Willd.).

BACKGROUND: Quinoa leaves demonstrate a diverse array of colors, offering a potential enhancement to landscape aesthetics and the development of leisure-oriented sightseeing agriculture in semi-arid regions. This study utilized integrated transcriptomic and metabolomic analyses to investigate the mechanisms underlying anthocyanin synthesis in both emerald green and pink quinoa leaves. RESULTS: Integrated transcriptomic and metabolomic analyses indicated that both flavonoid biosynthesis pathway (ko00941) and anthocyanin biosynthesis pathway (ko00942) were significantly associated with anthocyanin biosynthesis. Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and differentially accumulated metabolites (DAMs) were analyzed between the two germplasms during different developmental periods. Ten DEGs were verified using qRT-PCR, and the results were consistent with those of the transcriptomic sequencing. The elevated expression of phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (PAL), chalcone synthase (CHS), 4-coumarate CoA ligase (4CL) and Hydroxycinnamoyltransferase (HCT), as well as the reduced expression of flavanone 3-hydroxylase (F3H) and Flavonol synthase (FLS), likely cause pink leaf formation. In addition, bHLH14, WRKY46, and TGA indirectly affected the activities of CHS and 4CL, collectively regulating the levels of cyanidin 3-O-(3'', 6''-O-dimalonyl) glucoside and naringenin. The diminished expression of PAL, 4CL, and HCT decreased the formation of cyanidin-3-O-(6"-O-malonyl-2"-O-glucuronyl) glucoside, leading to the emergence of emerald green leaves. Moreover, the lowered expression of TGA and WRKY46 indirectly regulated 4CL activity, serving as another important factor in maintaining the emerald green hue in leaves N1, N2, and N3. CONCLUSION: These findings establish a foundation for elucidating the molecular regulatory mechanisms governing anthocyanin biosynthesis in quinoa leaves, and also provide some theoretical basis for the development of leisure and sightseeing agriculture.

Including Methane Emissions from Agricultural Ponds in National Greenhouse Gas Inventories.

Agricultural ponds are a significant source of greenhouse gases, contributing to the ongoing challenge of anthropogenic climate change. Nations are encouraged to account for these emissions in their national greenhouse gas inventory reports. We present a remote sensing approach using open-access satellite imagery to estimate total methane emissions from agricultural ponds that account for (1) monthly fluctuations in the surface area of individual ponds, (2) rates of historical accumulation of agricultural ponds, and (3) the temperature dependence of methane emissions. As a case study, we used this method to inform the 2024 National Greenhouse Gas Inventory reports submitted by the Australian government, in compliance with the Paris Agreement. Total annual methane emissions increased by 58% from 1990 (26 kilotons CH4 year-1) to 2022 (41 kilotons CH4 year-1). This increase is linked to the water surface of agricultural ponds growing by 51% between 1990 (115 kilo hectares; 1,150 km2) and 2022 (173 kilo hectares; 1,730 km2). In Australia, 16,000 new agricultural ponds are built annually, expanding methane-emitting water surfaces by 1,230 ha yearly (12.3 km2 year-1). On average, the methane flux of agricultural ponds in Australia is 0.238 t CH4 ha-1 year-1. These results offer policymakers insights into developing targeted mitigation strategies to curb these specific forms of anthropogenic emissions. For instance, financial incentives, such as carbon or biodiversity credits, can mobilize widespread investments toward reducing greenhouse gas emissions and enhancing the ecological and environmental values of agricultural ponds. Our data and modeling tools are available on a free cloud-based platform for other countries to adopt this approach.

Assessing the impact of river connectivity on fish biodiversity in the Yangtze River Basin using a multi-index evaluation framework.

The Yangtze River Basin, the world's third-largest river basin and a hot spot for global biodiversity conservation, is facing biodiversity crisis caused by reduced river connectivity. The deterioration arises from four dimensions: longitudinal, lateral, vertical and temporal. However, limited research has quantified the spatiotemporal connectivity of the Yangtze River Basin and further evaluated the consequent impact on fish biodiversity. In our study, a multi-index evaluation framework was developed to assess the variations in the four-dimensional connectivity of the Yangtze River Basin from 1980 to 2020, and fish biodiversity affected by reduced connectivity was detected by environmental DNA metabarcoding. Our results showed that the Yangtze River Basin suffers from a pronounced connectivity reduction, with 67% of assessed rivers experiencing deteriorated connectivity in recent years. The lost fish biodiversity along the river reaches with the worst connectivity was likely attributed to the construction of hydropower plants. The headwaters and the downstreams of most hydropower plants had a higher fish biodiversity compared with reservoirs. The free-flowing reaches in the downstream of the lowest hydropower station, had higher lotic fish abundance compared with that in the upstream. As for the entire Yangtze River Basin, 67% of threatened fish species, with 70% endemic species, were threatened by reduced river connectivity. Our result indicates that the massive loss of river connectivity changes the spatiotemporal patterns of fish community and threatens protected fish. More effective measures to restore the populations of affected fish in rivers with reduced river connectivity are required.

Small dams drive Anopheles abundance during the dry season in a high malaria burden area of Malawi.

This study explores the influence of small dams on the exposure to malaria vectors during the dry season in Kasungu district, Malawi, an area recently identified as high priority for malaria interventions by the National Malaria Control Programme. Small dam impoundments provide communities with a continuous supply of water for domestic and agricultural activities across sub-Saharan Africa and are considered vital to food security and climate change resilience. However, these permanent water bodies also create ideal breeding sites for mosquitoes in typically arid landscapes. The study focuses on a specific dam impoundment and its vicinity, aiming to assess its spatial and temporal influence on indoor vector densities. From May to August 2021, CDC light traps were used to measure indoor mosquito densities for two consecutive nights per month in three communities located at increasing distances from the dam (0, ~1 and ~2 km). Simultaneously, drone imagery was captured for each community, enabling the identification of additional standing water within approximately 400 m of selected households. Larval sampling was carried out within the impoundment periphery and in additional water bodies identified in the drone imagery. Generalised linear mixed models (GLMMs) were employed to analyse the indoor Anopheles abundance data, estimating the effects of household structure (open/closed eaves), month, temperature and water proximity on malaria vector exposure. Throughout 685 trapping nights, a total of 1256 mosquitoes were captured, with 33% (412) being female Anopheles. Among these, 91% were morphologically identified as Anopheles funestus s.l., and 5% as Anopheles gambiae s.l. Catches progressively decline in each consecutive trapping month as the environment became drier. This decline was much slower in Malangano, the community next to the dam, with abundance being notably higher in June and July. Further, the majority of An. gambiae s.l. were caught in May, with none identified in July and August. Anopheles larvae were found both in the impoundment and other smaller water bodies such as irrigation wells in each survey month; however, the presence of these smaller water bodies did not have a significant impact on adult female mosquito catches in the GLMM. The study concludes that proximity to the dam impoundment was the primary driver of differences between survey communities with the abundance in Chikhombwe (~1 km away) and Chiponde (~2 km away) being 0.35 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.19-0.66) and 0.28 (95% CI, 0.16-0.47) lower than Malangano, respectively, after adjusting for other factors. These findings underscore the importance of targeted interventions, such as larval source management or housing improvements, near small dams to mitigate malaria transmission risks during the dry season. Further research is needed to develop cost-effective strategies for vector control within and around these impoundments.

Unaccounted CO2 leaks downstream of a large tropical hydroelectric reservoir.

Recent studies show that tropical hydroelectric reservoirs may be responsible for substantial greenhouse gas emissions to the atmosphere, yet emissions from the surface of released water downstream of the dam are poorly characterized if not neglected entirely from most assessments. We found that carbon dioxide (CO2) emission downstream of Kariba Dam (southern Africa) varied widely over different timescales and that accounting for downstream emissions and their fluctuations is critically important to the reservoir carbon budget. Seasonal variation was driven by reservoir stratification and the accumulation of CO2 in hypolimnetic waters, while subdaily variation was driven by hydropeaking events caused by dam operation in response to daily electricity demand. This "carbopeaking" resulted in hourly variations of CO2 emission up to 200% during stratification. Failing to account for seasonal or subdaily variations in downstream carbon emissions could lead to errors of up to 90% when estimating the reservoir's annual emissions. These results demonstrate the critical need to include both limnological seasonality and dam operation at subdaily time steps in the assessment of carbon budgeting of reservoirs and carbon cycling along the aquatic continuum.

A Comprehensive Survey on Visual Perception Methods for Intelligent Inspection of High Dam Hubs.

There are many high dam hubs in the world, and the regular inspection of high dams is a critical task for ensuring their safe operation. Traditional manual inspection methods pose challenges related to the complexity of the on-site environment, the heavy inspection workload, and the difficulty in manually observing inspection points, which often result in low efficiency and errors related to the influence of subjective factors. Therefore, the introduction of intelligent inspection technology in this context is urgently necessary. With the development of UAVs, computer vision, artificial intelligence, and other technologies, the intelligent inspection of high dams based on visual perception has become possible, and related research has received extensive attention. This article summarizes the contents of high dam safety inspections and reviews recent studies on visual perception techniques in the context of intelligent inspections. First, this article categorizes image enhancement methods into those based on histogram equalization, Retinex, and deep learning. Representative methods and their characteristics are elaborated for each category, and the associated development trends are analyzed. Second, this article systematically enumerates the principal achievements of defect and obstacle perception methods, focusing on those based on traditional image processing and machine learning approaches, and outlines the main techniques and characteristics. Additionally, this article analyzes the principal methods for damage quantification based on visual perception. Finally, the major issues related to applying visual perception techniques for the intelligent safety inspection of high dams are summarized and future research directions are proposed.

Fungal Diversity and Gibberellin Hormones Associated with Long Whips of Smut-Infected Sugarcanes.

Sugarcane smut, caused by the fungus Sporisorium scitamineum (Sydow), significantly affects sugarcane crops worldwide. Infected plants develop whip-like structures known as sori. Significant variations in these whip lengths are commonly observed, but the physiological and molecular differences causing these morphological differences remain poorly documented. To address this, we employed conventional microbe isolation, metagenomic, and metabolomic techniques to investigate smut-infected sugarcane stems and whips of varying lengths. Metagenomics analysis revealed a diverse fungal community in the sugarcane whips, with Sporisorium and Fusarium genera notably present (>1%) in long whips. Isolation techniques confirmed these findings. Ultra-performance liquid chromatography analysis (UHPLC-MS/MS) showed high levels of gibberellin hormones (GA3, GA1, GA4, GA8, and GA7) in long whips, with GA4 and GA7 found exclusively in long whips and stems. Among the prominent genera present within long whips, Fusarium was solely positively correlated with these gibberellin (GA) hormones, with the exception of GA8, which was positively correlated with Sporisorium. KEGG enrichment analysis linked these hormones to pathways like diterpenoid biosynthesis and plant hormone signal transduction. These findings suggest that Fusarium may influence GA production leading to whip elongation. Our study reveals fungal dynamics and gibberellin responses in sugarcane smut whips. Future research will explore the related molecular gibberellin synthesis mechanisms.

Two decades of clear-cutting threats in the Brazilian Amazonian protected areas around the Jirau, Santo Antônio, and Belo Monte large dams.

Deforestation rates in the Amazon have markedly increased in the last few years, affecting non-protected and protected areas (PAs). Brazil is a hotspot of Protected Area Downgrading, Downsizing, and Degazettement (PADDD) events, with most events associated with infrastructure projects. Despite the threats dams impose on PAs, there is a knowledge gap in assessing deforestation in PAs around large dams in the Amazon. This study investigates how deforestation affects Biodiversity Protection Areas (BioPAs) and Indigenous Lands around the Jirau and Santo Antônio (JSA) dams (Madeira River, Rondônia) and Belo Monte dam (Xingu River, Pará) in the Brazilian Amazon. We compared clear-cutting between PAs and control areas and the annual rates of forest change between pre-dam and post-dam periods. We discussed deforestation-related factors (e.g., PADDD events and the presence of management plans or councils). Our results show an increase in deforestation after the operation of the dams when environmental control from licensing agencies decreases and other political and economic factors are in practice. Indigenous Lands experienced a significant increase in deforestation around the Belo Monte dam, which is associated with the demarcation process and land conflicts. Surrounding the JSA dams, sustainable use BioPAs showed high deforestation rates, and 27 PADDD events were reported, four directly related to dams. In addition to dams, deforestation was associated with the crisis of Brazilian democracy and the weakening of environmental policies. In conclusion, the weak environmental control from environmental licensing agencies during dam operation and PADDD events have contributed to increased deforestation rates and additional stresses in the Amazon.

The radiological hazard and potential for generating acid mine drainage from a coal tailings dam.

The aim of this study was to analyze the radiological hazards and the potential for generating acid mine drainage from the fine coal waste commonly stored in tailings dams. The magnetic susceptibility, natural gamma radioactivity, and net neutralization potential of the tailings are characterized. The results show that the fine coal waste has a uranium equivalent concentration (eU) of 46-48 Bq kg-1, which is 37.14% higher than the world average, and 39-47 Bq kg-1 equivalent concentration of thorium (eTh), which is 56.66% higher than the world average. Also, the absorbed gamma radiation dose rate is higher than the world average. Acid-base balance tests indicate that the net neutralization potential ranged from 0.38 to 2.44. The physical properties indicate a possible radiological risk, while the chemical properties show that generating and non-generating acid drainage can coexist in the fine dam tailings.

Runoff mitigation on agricultural fields via micro-dams - Literature review and derivation of runoff curve number reductions.

Water runoff and soil erosion by water from agricultural fields lead to a loss of water available for plant growth, loss of topsoil and transport of plant protection products (PPPs), hence constituting contaminant pathways to adjacent surface water. Several mitigation measures are used, including small earthen dams or depressions, referred to as micro-dams. This practice has been applied worldwide since the 1930s. In the regulatory exposure assessment for the registration of PPPs, runoff curve numbers (CNs) are used in the PRZM model to quantify runoff and the effect of mitigation measures. An overview of the pertinent literature is presented to enlarge the knowledge base to give robust recommendations for the inclusion of the practice in the regulatory exposure assessment of PPPs. Literature on micro-dams was collected here in a review of the reported results from field trials in terms of runoff, erosion, and PPP transport mitigation. Selected data were further evaluated to derive runoff CNs. From 21 studies with 252 individual setups and trials, we derived a geometric mean reduction of runoff of 62% (42%-90%); results for maize and potatoes only were 62% (53%-73%) and 81% (71%-93%), respectively. Erosion was reduced by 73% (60%-90%; maize: 75% [63%-88%]; potatoes 89% [83%-97%]). From 19 studies with 246 individual setups and trials, the geometric mean of the CN reduction is 11% (4%-25%; maize: 7% [3%-17%], potatoes: 14% [6%-36%]). For PPP transport (5 studies; 10 different PPP), a geometric mean reduction of 67% (48%-94%) was derived (maize: 56% [38%-81%; 3 studies; 10 PPP]; potatoes: 91% [1 study; 4 PPP]). The application of micro-dams provides considerable reductions and can therefore be factored into the environmental exposure assessment by using percent reductions of runoff, erosion, and PPP transport or lowering the runoff CN in numerical modelling.

Integrated assessment of climate change and reservoir operation on flow-regime and fisheries of the Sekong river basin in Lao PDR and Cambodia.

This study assesses the cumulative impact of climate change and reservoir operation on flow regime and fisheries in the Sekong River Basin. Ensemble of five selected Regional Climate Models (RCMs) were used to project the future climate under RCP4.5 and RCP8.5 scenarios. The projected future climate was used to simulate the future hydrology using the SWAT model while HEC-ResSim was utilized for reservoir simulation. Finally fish-flow relationship was developed to estimate the fish catch and productivity in future. Upon investigation we found that, Sekong River Basin is likely grow warmer and drier in future under climate change. The basin is expected to face 1.3-3.6 °C rise in mean annual temperature and receive 0-6% less annual rainfall in future. The wet season in the basin is anticipated to be drier (0% to -6%) while the dry season rainfall shows no particular trend (-3%-10%). Such a change in climate is likely to alter the mean annual flow in future between -3 and 5% at Attapeu, -6 to 2% at Ban Veunkhane, Lao PDR, and -7 to 1% at Siempang, Cambodia (basin outlet). Under climate change, we expect decrement in minimum flow but increment in the maximum flow while opposite is anticipated under reservoir operation. Operation of Xekaman 1 and Sekong 4A are likely to increase the minimum flow at river outlet by 32-59% and 13-18% respectively whereas maximum flow is expected to decrease by 28-5%. In addition, climate change is likely to have crucial impact on fisheries with up to 19% and 12% reduction in fish catches and fish productivity respectively. However, reservoirs tend to have negligible impact on fisheries.

Rainfall anomalies are a significant driver of cropland expansion.

Rainfall anomalies have long occupied center stage in policy discussions, and understanding their impacts on agricultural production has become more important as climate change intensifies. However, the global scale of rainfall-induced productivity shocks on changes in cropland is yet to be quantified. Here we identify how rainfall anomalies impact observed patterns of cropped areas at a global scale by leveraging locally determined unexpected variations in rainfall. Employing disaggregated panel data at the grid level, we find that repeated dry anomalies lead to an increase in cropland expansion in developing countries. No discernible effects are detected from repeated wet events. That these effects are confined to developing countries, which are often dominated by small-holder farmers, implies that they may be in response to reduced yields. The estimates suggest that overall, in developing countries, dry anomalies account for ∼9% of the rate of cropland expansion over the past two decades. We perform several tests to check for consistency and robustness of this relationship. First, using forest cover as an alternative measure, we find comparable reductions in forest cover in the same regions where cropland expands due to repeated dry anomalies. Second, we test the relationship in regions where yields are buffered from rainfall anomalies by irrigation infrastructure and find that the impact on cropland expansion is mitigated, providing further support for our results. Since cropland expansion is a significant driver of deforestation, these results have important implications for forest loss and environmental services.

Quantum Key Distribution for Critical Infrastructures: Towards Cyber-Physical Security for Hydropower and Dams.

Hydropower facilities are often remotely monitored or controlled from a centralized remote control room. Additionally, major component manufacturers monitor the performance of installed components, increasingly via public communication infrastructures. While these communications enable efficiencies and increased reliability, they also expand the cyber-attack surface. Communications may use the internet to remote control a facility's control systems, or it may involve sending control commands over a network from a control room to a machine. The content could be encrypted and decrypted using a public key to protect the communicated information. These cryptographic encoding and decoding schemes become vulnerable as more advances are made in computer technologies, such as quantum computing. In contrast, quantum key distribution (QKD) and other quantum cryptographic protocols are not based upon a computational problem, and offer an alternative to symmetric cryptography in some scenarios. Although the underlying mechanism of quantum cryptogrpahic protocols such as QKD ensure that any attempt by an adversary to observe the quantum part of the protocol will result in a detectable signature as an increased error rate, potentially even preventing key generation, it serves as a warning for further investigation. In QKD, when the error rate is low enough and enough photons have been detected, a shared private key can be generated known only to the sender and receiver. We describe how this novel technology and its several modalities could benefit the critical infrastructures of dams or hydropower facilities. The presented discussions may be viewed as a precursor to a quantum cybersecurity roadmap for the identification of relevant threats and mitigation.

Comparative Insight into Microglia/Macrophages-Associated Pathways in Glioblastoma and Alzheimer's Disease.

Microglia and macrophages are pivotal to the brain's innate immune response and have garnered considerable attention in the context of glioblastoma (GBM) and Alzheimer's disease (AD) research. This review delineates the complex roles of these cells within the neuropathological landscape, focusing on a range of signaling pathways-namely, NF-κB, microRNAs (miRNAs), and TREM2-that regulate the behavior of tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) in GBM and disease-associated microglia (DAMs) in AD. These pathways are critical to the processes of neuroinflammation, angiogenesis, and apoptosis, which are hallmarks of GBM and AD. We concentrate on the multifaceted regulation of TAMs by NF-κB signaling in GBM, the influence of TREM2 on DAMs' responses to amyloid-beta deposition, and the modulation of both TAMs and DAMs by GBM- and AD-related miRNAs. Incorporating recent advancements in molecular biology, immunology, and AI techniques, through a detailed exploration of these molecular mechanisms, we aim to shed light on their distinct and overlapping regulatory functions in GBM and AD. The review culminates with a discussion on how insights into NF-κB, miRNAs, and TREM2 signaling may inform novel therapeutic approaches targeting microglia and macrophages in these neurodegenerative and neoplastic conditions. This comparative analysis underscores the potential for new, targeted treatments, offering a roadmap for future research aimed at mitigating the progression of these complex diseases.

Multi time scale influence of dams on bedload transport.

Dams are ones of the main sources of anthropogenic disturbance to the ecology and geomorphology of rivers. The aim of the present study is to understand the mechanisms underlying their influence on downstream bedload transport in three gravel-bed rivers in the Morvan massif, France. The hydrological disturbance caused by four dams is examined at a short (2.4-2.7 years) and longer (21-28 year) time scale. At the short time scale, bedload displacement was monitored (RFID) at 8 study sites around the dams. Morpho-sedimentary characterization of the bed substrate was performed at the study sites and combined with analyses of the long profile evolution and the current cross profile. The flood regime has been to a varying extent durably reduced by the dams depending on their size and purpose: the mean annual maximum flood was reduced by 9 to 40% and the number of flood events by 27 to 73.5% over the 21-28 years period. Sediment availability and loose structures were found above the dams and below medium-sized dams (<10 m) with a null or moderate influence on the flood regime (configuration I). Sediment deficit, consolidated structures, bed coarsening and vegetation encroachment were observed within 20 km downstream of large dams (>15 m) influencing strongly or moderately the flood regime (configuration II). These morpho-sedimentary features significantly affect the current bedload dynamics, creating conditions more or less favorable for the mobility of the present and incoming bedload. The cumulative mean bedload distances of RFID tracers in configuration II are significantly lower (6.8-45 m) than in configuration I (78-315 m). The current flow management of the dams has only a moderate effect on the bedload distances recorded, as shown by the mean virtual bedload velocities, which confirm the different dynamics (0.42-0.91 m/d, and 0.62-6.44 m/d, for II and I respectively). Our results demonstrate how modifications of dams on flow and bedload discharge altered the downstream morphology, but also that this inherited morphology may now be the main controlling factor of bedload transport. These findings invite further discussion about the most appropriate ways to restore rivers downstream of dams when dealing with multi-decadal inherited morphological features.

Large-scale hydropower impacts and adaptation strategies on rural communities in the Amazonian floodplain of the Madeira River.

Understanding social and environmental impacts and household adaptation strategies in the face of expansions in energy infrastructure projects is essential to inform mitigation and interventions programs that promote well-being. Here we conducted surveys in seven communities distributed across varying degrees of proximity to a hydropower dam complex in the Brazilian Amazon along about 250 km of the floodplain of the Madeira River. Based on interviews with 154 fishers from these communities, we examine how fishers perceived changes in fisheries yields, changes in the composition of fish species, and whether and how adaptation strategies had evolved 8-9 years after the dams' construction. Most respondents (91%) indicated declines in yields after the dams for both upstream and downstream zones. Multivariate analyses revealed statistically significant differences in the composition of species yields in pre-and post-dam periods for all communities and in both upstream and downstream zones (p < 0.001). The composition of yields diversified after the dams, with an apparent decline in yields of species of greatest market value (e.g., catfishes Brachyplatystoma spp., Pseudoplatystoma spp., and jatuarana Brycon spp.), and increases in yields of a set of other smaller bodied and faster growing species (e.g., 'branquinhas' Psectrogaster spp., Potamohinna spp., and sardines Triportheus spp.). Both downstream and upstream fishers indicated that fishing profits decreased since the dams' construction (76.8% and 67.9%, respectively). To cope with these changes, the majority of both upstream and downstream fishers (>70%) stated they have had to devote more time to fishing after the dams were built. The time fishers spend traveling to fishing locations also increased for upstream communities (77.1%), but not for downstream communities. Thirty-four percent of the interviewees changed the gear they use to fish after the dams construction, with twice as many mentioning uses of non-selective gear, such as gillnets, and declining use of traditional fishing gears such as castnets and a trap ("covi"). Fish consumption overall decreased: fish was consumed 'everyday' before the dams, but 1-2 times per week or rarely after the dams were built. Although the species that declined were those of high economic value, 53% of fishers stated fish prices have increased overall after the dams. These results shed light on the potential challenges faced by fishers and which adaptation strategies they have evolved to maintain livelihoods since the construction of the dams.

Reducing pain and discomfort associated with rubber dam clamp placement in children and adolescents: a systematic review and meta-analysis of effectiveness.

BACKGROUND: The application of rubber dams is a widely accepted method of tooth isolation in dental practice. Placement of the rubber dam clamp might be associated with levels of pain and discomfort, especially in younger patients. The purpose of the present systematic review is to evaluate the efficacy of the methods for reducing pain and discomfort associated with rubber dam clamp placement in children and adolescents. MATERIALS AND METHODS: English-language literature from inception until September 6th, 2022 was searched in MEDLINE (via PubMed), SCOPUS, Web of Science, Cochrane, EMBASE, and ProQuest Dissertations & Theses Database Global for articles. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing methods of reducing the pain and/or discomfort associated with rubber dam clamp placement in children and adolescents were retrieved. Risk of bias assessment was performed using a Cochrane risk of bias-2 (RoB-2) risk assessment tool and the certainty of evidence was assessed using the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) evidence profile. Studies were summarized and pooled estimates of pain intensity scores and incidence of pain were calculated. The meta-analysis was conducted in the following groups according to type of interventions (LA, audiovisual (AV) distraction, behavior management (BM), electronic dental anesthesia (EDA), mandibular infiltration, inferior alveolar nerve block (IANB), TA), outcome (intensity or incidence of pain), and assessment tool (face - legs - activity - cry - consolability (FLACC), color scale, sounds - motor - ocular changes, and faces pain scale (FPS)): (a) pain intensity using (LA + AV) vs (LA + BM), (b) pain intensity using EDA vs LA (c) presence or absence of pain using EDA vs LA (d) presence or absence of pain using mandibular infiltration vs IANB (e) Comparing pain intensity using TA vs placebo (f) Presence or absence of pain using TA vs placebo. Meta-analysis was conducted using StataMP software, version 17.0 (StataCorp, College Station, Texas). Restricted maximum-likelihood random effect model (REML), Mean difference (MD) with 95% confidence interval, and log odds ratio (OR) with 95% CI were calculated were calculated. RESULTS: Initially, 1452 articles were retrieved. Sixteen RCTs were finally included for reviewing and summarizing. Nine articles with a total of 867 patients were included for quantitative meta-analysis. The differences in pain intensity scores were not significant in any comparison groups (group a: [MD = -0.04 (95% CI = - 0.56, 0.47), P = 0.87, I2 = 0.00%], group b: [MD = 0.25 (95% CI = -0.08, 0.58), P = 0.14, I2 = 0.00%], group c [MD = -0.48 (95% CI = -1.41, 0.45), P = 0.31, I 2 = 0.00%], group d: [MD = -0.67 (95% CI = -3.17, 1.83), P = 0.60, I 2 = 0.00%], group e: [MD = -0.46 (95% CI = -l.08, 0.15), P = 0.14, I 2 = 90.67%], and group f: [MD = 0.61 (95% CI = -0.01, 1.23), P = 0.06, I 2 = 41.20%]. Eight studies were judged as having some concern for risk of bias and the remaining studies were considered as low risk for bias. The certainty of evidence was considered medium for all comparison groups. DISCUSSION: In the present meta-analysis, a considerable difference was obtained between the included studies regarding intervention methods and pain assessment tools and the analysis was performed in groups with small numbers of the studies. Owing to the mentioned variabilities and the small number of studies, the results of the analysis should be interpreted with caution. The indistinguishability of the manifestations of pain/discomfort from fear/anxiety, particularly in children, should also be considered while using the results of the present study. Within the limitations of the current study, no significant differences were found between the proposed methods for reducing pain and discomfort associated with rubber dam clamp placement in children and adolescents. A larger number of more homogenous studies regarding intervention methods and pain assessment tools need to be conducted in order to draw stronger conclusions. TRIAL REGISTRATION: This study was registered in PROSPERO (ID number: CRD42021274835) and research deputy of Mashhad University of Medical Sciences with ID number 4000838 ( https://research.mums.ac.ir/ ).