Impact of morphological change of a regulated gravel-bed river on downstream fish habitat following a flood

This study uses the 2015 ‘Storm Frank’ flood on the River Dee, Aberdeenshire, to assess the impact of extreme events on river dynamics. The Storm Frank flood (>200 year recurrence interval) caused significant local morphological change that was concentrated in the middle portion of the 140 km long river and overall net degradation that primarily occurred through lateral adjustment processes. Although the flood did not cause widespread change in channel planform, morphological change at the reach scale (<1 km) was significant. Bank scour resulted in channel expansion and lateral migration as well as widespread aggradation on existing gravel beds. The HEC-RAS and CAESAR–Lisflood models were used to determine the impact of morphological changes from the Storm Frank flood on a series of future hypothetical floods. The results show that inundation is highly influenced by the degree of morphological change for moderate floods, but not for high magnitude ones. In-channel scour and bank erosion can lead to an increase in channel capacity, thereby decreasing inundation. Conversely, where conveyance capacity is decreased by aggradation, flood risk inherently increases. The impact of these changes was great for a five-year return period flood, but minimal for a magnitude flood comparable to that of Storm Frank. Our modelling results also reveal that the inundation model is sensitive to the grain size and channel bed roughness input parameters, as these parameters impact flow discharge and flood hydraulics. Accurate determination of sediment parameters and degree of morphological change is therefore critical in flooding modelling and flood hazard management. Supplementary material : Peak discharge and rainfall during the 2015 Storm Frank storm, parameters used in the hydrological model CAESAR–Lisflood and sediment budget statistics of each DEM of difference threshold are available at: https://doi.org/10.6084/m9.figshare.c.4847946 Thematic collection: This article is part of the Early Career Research collection available at: https://www.lyellcollection.org/cc/SJG-early-career-research

To quantitatively study the hydrodynamic changes in different river morphologies and clarify the impact of morphological changes on river ecosystems, this study examined a section of the Nansha River near Laoniuwan in the Haidian District, Beijing, and characterized different river morphologies by river sinuosity. The River 2D model was used for simulation and analysis, and the depth and velocity diversity indices were introduced to quantify the distribution of depth and velocity under different sinuosities. Cyprinus carpio was selected as the target fish in this study, and its suitability curve was determined using literature and field surveys. Combined with the simulation results, a weighted usable area curve was established to identify its inflection point and maximum value and determine the ecological flow in the river under different sinuosities, that is, to clarify the relationship between sinuosity and ecological flow. The results showed that the lower the sinuosity, the worse the depth and velocity diversity, but a greater sinuosity did not lead to better depth and velocity diversity. The depth and velocity diversity of a sinuosity of 1.5 were better than those of 1.89 in general, except for low flow conditions (Q = 5 m3/s). For rivers with water use restricted by nature and society and where ecological needs exist, ecological engineering that appropriately changes the planform of rivers can be considered to increase the diversity of river/channel geometry and provide a basis for the ecological restoration of rivers.

Simple SummaryThyroid Imaging Reporting and Data Systems (TIRADS) optimize the selection of thyroid nodules for cytological examination. There is a question: is the effectiveness of these systems affected by morphological changes to thyroid parenchyma that are visible in the course of Hashimoto’s thyroiditis (HT)? This question is very important because of the increased risk of malignancy in thyroid nodules in patients with HT. We investigated widely accepted ultrasound malignancy risk features with a special consideration of the suspected nodule’s shape in patients with and without HT. We also validated EU-TIRADS, K-TIRADS, ACR-TIRADS, and ATA guidelines in both groups and evaluated the impact of changes in the threshold for nodule’s shape criterion on the diagnostic value of these TIRADS. The presence of Hashimoto’s thyroiditis did not exert any significant adverse implications for the efficiency of examined TIRADS. The impact of changes in the threshold for nodule’s shape criterion was the highest for EU-TIRADS.The aim of the study was to validate thyroid US malignancy features, especially the nodule’s shape, and selected Thyroid Imaging Reporting and Data Systems (EU-TIRADS; K-TIRADS; ACR-TIRADS, ATA guidelines) in patients with or without Hashimoto’s thyroiditis (HT and non-HT groups). The study included 1188 nodules (HT: 358, non-HT: 830) with known final diagnoses. We found that the strongest indications of nodule’s malignancy were microcalcifications (OR: 22.7) in HT group and irregular margins (OR:13.8) in non-HT group. Solid echostructure and macrocalcifications were ineffective in patients with HT. The highest accuracy of nodule’s shape criterion was noted on transverse section, with the cut-off value of anteroposterior to transverse dimension ratio (AP/T) close to 1.15 in both groups. When round nodules were regarded as suspicious in patients with HT (the cut-off value of AP/T set to ≥1), it led to a three-fold increase in sensitivity of this feature, with a disproportionally lower decrease in specificity and similar accuracy. Such a modification was effective also for cancers other than PTC. The diagnostic effectiveness of analyzed TIRADS in patients with HT and without HT was similar. Changes in the threshold for AP/T ratio influenced the number of nodules classified into the category of the highest risk, especially in the case of EU-TIRADS.

SummaryClinical evidence supports a role for the extracellular matrix (ECM) in cancer risk and prognosis across multiple tumor types, and numerous studies have demonstrated that individual ECM components impact key hallmarks of tumor progression (e.g., proliferation, migration, angiogenesis). However, the ECM is a complex network of fibrillar proteins, glycoproteins, and proteoglycans that undergoes dramatic changes in composition and organization during tumor development. In this review, we will highlight how engineering approaches can be used to examine the impact of changes in tissue architecture, ECM composition (i.e., identity and levels of individual ECM components), and cellular- and tissue-level mechanics on tumor progression. In addition, we will discuss recently developed methods to model the ECM that have not yet been applied to the study of cancer.

The tsunami triggered by the 2018 Palu Earthquake has not only caused the collapse of public infrastructure, but also damaged beaches along Palu Bay. Based on direct investigation along the beaches, the coastlines have shifted inland up to 30 meters. This shoreline change was caused by the attack of the tsunami waves at high speed followed by massive abrasion. Another impact of the wave attackis a change in the morphology of the beach bed, including in the Palu Estuary. This study aims to investigate the impact of changes in bed morphology around the Palu Estuary as a result of the tsunami attack on transport sediment characteristics, as one of the determinants of bed morphology. Quantitative analysis was carried out by numerical simulation based on 2D hydrodynamic modeling using the Surface-water Modeling System (SMS). The geometry of the model is formed from the mesh generated from the bed elevation based on the after-tsunami bathymetry survey. Two boundary conditions and one main input data are applied to this model: discharge data, tidal data and bed load data. Discharge data as an upstream boundary condition consists of minimum discharge, average discharge and maximum discharge. The downstream boundary is defined by a tidal curve predicted from 15 daily data. The bed load data is presented in the form of a gradation curve that describes the distribution of sediment grains. The simulation output indicates that sediment settles intensively downstream of the river mouth at high discharge and low tide. At low discharge and high tide, sediment tends to settle before the flow reaches the river mouth. Referring to the results of previous studies, the direction and velocity of sediment motion changed slightly after the tsunami. Changes in the direction and speed of movement are related to changes in bed morphology at the river mouth due to the 2018 Palu Tsunami.

Impact of urbanization-related land use land cover changes and urban morphology changes on the urban heat island phenomenon

The purpose of this study was to analyse physiological and morphological changes in the most common woody species of the forest ecosystem under the influence of climate change and to investigate the adaptive mechanisms that these species use to overcome stressful weather conditions. The study examined the impact of global climate change on the biological characteristics of Scots pine, northern red oak, and silver birch. In particular, the adaptive mechanisms of trees that allow them to survive and adapt to changing conditions were analysed. The influence of an increase in average temperature, changes in precipitation regimes, and extreme weather events on the growth, development, and reproduction of woody plants was considered. Field monitoring methods and laboratory experiments were used to collect data on physiological and morphological changes that occur with tree species groups under the influence of climatic pressure. The results of the study showed that global climate change can lead to significant changes in the species composition of forests, their productivity and overall environmental sustainability. The findings highlight the need for adaptive strategies for forest management and biodiversity conservation in the face of global climate change. The study also examined guidelines for practical actions aimed at mitigating the negative effects of climate change on forest ecosystems. The vulnerability of Ukrainian forests to climate change in the 21st century in comparison with the climate norm (1961-1990) was assessed. Recommendations for assessing the impact of climate change on forests, analysing phytodiversity and environmental regimes based on forest monitoring data in the context of regulatory legal acts of Ukraine, in particular, the state forest management strategy until 2035 and recommendations of the state forest cadastre of Ukraine are provided. The results of the study can be used to develop forest management strategies, implement adaptation measures in forestry, and to monitor the state of forest ecosystems and predict their resilience to climate change within the framework of national environmental programmes

Eco-hydrologic model cascades: Simulating land use and climate change impacts on hydrology, hydraulics and habitats for fish and macroinvertebrates

The impact of climate-induced discharge change on fish habitats, based on 1951–2008 time series, was investigated within the crystalline catchment of the Grosse Muhl River in Northern Austria. A significant trend change of air temperature, based on Mann–Whitney statistical testing, was recorded for spring 1989 (P = 98.9 %) and summer 1990 (P = 99.9 %). This led to a pronounced increase in summer low flow periods. Hydrodynamic-numerical (one-dimensional/two-dimensional) modelling was applied to simulate the changing habitat characteristics due to decreasing discharge in relation to various morphological patterns (riffle-pool/plane-bed reaches). Using bathymetric data, which were sampled on cross sectional measurements, we clearly determined that plane-bed reaches (featureless bed forms) are sensitive to climate-related, reduced discharge, whereas riffle-pool reaches continued to exhibit suitable physical fish habitats even under extreme low-flow conditions. The impact of the decreased summer discharge on instream habitats was strong for subadult and adult grayling which have been used as target fish species. In situ measurements in microhabitats (velocity/depth) revealed habitat suitabilities. These values were taken as biotic input for habitat evaluation on the micro scale. The findings clearly show that river morphology is a decisive parameter in terms of habitat preservation and restoration in the context of the future impacts of climate change (decreased discharge).

Aquatic ecosystems are particularly vulnerable to anthropogenic activity and climate change. The changes in flow regimes in Lithuanian lowland rivers due to the operation of hydropower plants (HPPs) and the impact of altered flow on some fish species have already been studied. The impact of climate change on future natural river runoff and the structure of fish assemblages was also investigated. However, it is still unknown how the combined effect of climate change and flow regulation related to hydropower generation may affect fish assemblages in the downstream river reaches below the Lithuanian HPPs. In this study, the physical habitat modelling system MesoHABSIM was used to simulate spatial and temporal changes in aquatic habitats availability for different fish species under the influence of HPP at different climate change scenarios. Changes in the available habitat were assessed for common fish species in four HPP-affected rivers representing different hydrological regions of Lithuania. The modelling results showed that the operation of HPP under climate change conditions in most rivers could be beneficial for small benthic fish species such as gudgeon Gobio gobio and stone loach Barbatula barbatula. Meanwhile, for larger fish species (e.g., chub Squalius cephalus and vimba Vimba vimba) the alteration in the temporal availability of suitable habitat was relatively higher.

Assessment of the sustainability of Gymnocypris eckloni habitat under river damming in the source region of the Yellow River.

The impact of habitat changes on fish has become increasingly prominent, leading to the decline of fish population in varying degrees. Therefore, the study of fish habitat is an important means to protect fish resources. This article introduces the current status of fish habitat research at home and abroad. Overseas fish habitats are more comprehensive. Domestic fish habitat research mainly focuses on fish reproduction hydrology research, fish reproduction hydrodynamics research, and fish habitat suitability. The purpose of this study is to provide a systematic scientific basis for the protection of fish key habitats, and to protect the sustainable utilization of fish germplasm resources and the sustainable development of fisheries.

Past occurrences of hypoxia in the Baltic Sea and the role of climate variability, environmental change and human impact

PurposeCoil embolization is a standard treatment for intracranial aneurysms. However, ischemic complications remain a concern, despite advancements in technology and the use of antithrombotic agents. Microcatheter-related thrombogenesis has been identified as a contributing factor to these complications. Although previous studies have focused on external morphological changes, limited data are available on the impact of changes in the inner lining of microcatheters on ischemic events. In this study, we used scanning electron microscopy (SEM) to investigate changes in the inner lining of microcatheters after coil embolization.MethodsFive SL-10, two Phenom 17, and one Echelon 10 microcatheters used in coil embolization procedures were examined using SEM. An unused microcatheter served as a control. The microcatheters were sectioned at various locations and analyzed under high magnification.ResultsSEM provided high-resolution visualization of the inner lining of the microcatheter, revealing morphological alterations that were undetectable by light microscopy. The control had an intact membrane, whereas the SL-10 microcatheters showed varying degrees of damage. Microcatheters used in multiple-coil deliveries exhibited extensive peeling and cracking of the inner lining. Additionally, clots composed of red blood cells were observed inside the microcatheters. The same morphological changes in the inner linings were observed in other types of microcatheters, such as Phenom 17 and Echelon 10.ConclusionSEM showed that repeated microcatheter use in coil embolization damages the inner lining, potentially contributing to thrombus formation and ischemic complications. These findings highlight the need to investigate microcatheter durability and thromboresistance to mitigate embolization-related ischemic risks.

Dam removal is considered an effective measure to solve the adverse ecological effects caused by dam construction and has started to be considered in China. The sediment migration and habitat restoration of river ecosystems after dam removal have been extensively studied abroad but are still in the exploratory stage in China. However, there are few studies on the ecological response of fishes at different growth stages. Considering the different habitat preferences of Schizothorax prenanti (S. prenanti) in the spawning and juvenile periods, this study coupled field survey data and a two-dimensional hydrodynamic model to explore the changes in river morphology at different scales and the impact of changes in hydrodynamic conditions on fish habitat suitability in the short term. The results show that after the dam is removed, in the upstream of the dam, the riverbed is eroded and cut down and the riverbed material coarsens. With the increase in flow velocity and the decrease in flow area, the weighted usable area (WUA) in the spawning and juvenile periods decreases by 5.52% and 16.36%, respectively. In the downstream of the dam, the riverbed is markedly silted and the bottom material becomes fine. With the increase in water depth and flow velocity, the WUA increases by 79.91% in the spawning period and decreases by 67.90% in the juvenile period, which is conducive to adult fish spawning but not to juvenile fish growth. The changes in physical habitat structure over a short time period caused by dam removal have different effects on different fish development periods, which are not all positive. The restoration of stream continuity increases adult fish spawning potential while limiting juvenile growth. Thus, although fish can spawn successfully, self-recruitment of fish stocks can still be affected if juvenile fish do not grow successfully. This study provides a research basis for habitat assessment after dam removal and a new perspective for the subsequent adaptive management strategy of the project.