Biophysical Characteristics Research Articles

Decoupling Individual Host Response and Immune Cell Engager Cytotoxic Potency.

Immune cell engagers are molecular agents, usually antibody-based constructs, engineered to recruit immune cells against cancer cells and kill them. They are versatile and powerful tools for cancer immunotherapy. Despite the multiplication of engagers tested and accepted in the clinic, how molecular and cellular parameters influence their actions is poorly understood. In particular, disentangling the respective roles of host immune cells and engager biophysical characteristics is needed to improve their design and efficiency. Focusing here on harnessing antibody-dependent Natural Killer cell cytotoxicity, we measure the efficiency of 6 original bispecific antibodies (bsAb), associating an anti-HER2 nanobody and an anti-CD16 nanobody. In vitro cytotoxicity data using primary human NK cells on different target cell lines exposing different antigen densities were collected, exhibiting a wide range of bsAb dose response. In order to rationalize our observations, we introduce a simple multiscale model, postulating that the density of bsAb bridging the two cells is the main parameter triggering the cytotoxic response. We introduce two microscopic parameters: the surface cooperativity describing bsAb affinity at the bridging step and the threshold of bridge density determining the donor-dependent response. Both parameters permit ranking Abs and donors and predicting bsAb potency as a function of antibodies bulk affinities and receptor surface densities on cells. Our approach thus provides a general way to decouple donor response from immune engager characteristics, rationalizing the landscape of molecule design.

Molecular logic for cellular specializations that initiate the auditory parallel processing pathways

The cochlear nuclear complex (CN), the starting point for all central auditory processing, encompasses a suite of neuronal cell types highly specialized for neural coding of acoustic signals. However, the molecular logic governing these specializations remains unknown. By combining single-nucleus RNA sequencing and Patch-seq analysis, we reveal a set of transcriptionally distinct cell populations encompassing all previously observed types and discover multiple hitherto unknown subtypes with anatomical and physiological identity. The resulting comprehensive cell-type taxonomy reconciles anatomical position, morphological, physiological, and molecular criteria, enabling the determination of the molecular basis of the specialized cellular phenotypes in the CN. In particular, CN cell-type identity is encoded in a transcriptional architecture that orchestrates functionally congruent expression across a small set of gene families to customize projection patterns, input-output synaptic communication, and biophysical features required for encoding distinct aspects of acoustic signals. This high-resolution account of cellular heterogeneity from the molecular to the circuit level reveals the molecular logic driving cellular specializations, thus enabling the genetic dissection of auditory processing and hearing disorders with a high specificity.

Multiple gating processes associated with the distal end of the S6 segment of domain II in the Nav channels.

Voltage-gated sodium (Nav) channels are transmembrane proteins that play crucial roles in the initiation and propagation of action potentials (APs) in excitable tissues such as the heart, muscles, and nerves. The distal ends of the four domain S6 segments of Nav channels contain hydrophobic residues, which form an intracellular gate. This gate allows Nav channels to control ion flux in excitable cells by opening and closing. However, the mechanism of the distal end of Domain II (DII) S6 segment in channel gating remains unclear. In this study, using whole-cell patch clamp recording, we systematically investigated the biophysical characteristics of various mutants L811 site (located at the distal end of the DII S6 segment) of Nav1.9 and the corresponding L796P mutant of Nav1.4. We found that the mutations significantly shifted the activation and inactivation curves, slowed the fast inactivation, accelerated the slow inactivation and use-dependent slow inactivation, and L811P altered the ion selectivity of the channel. Therefore, our findings suggest that the distal end of the DII S6 segment in Nav channels plays a pivotal role in regulating multiple gating processes.

The resource-making state: liquefied natural gas production networks and state strategies for domestic market development in Indonesia

Abstract In this paper, we suggest that Global Production Network (GPN) scholars have yet to deal more substantively with how nation-states, often in alliance with firm actors, actively work to create markets for resources in global production networks. We argue in this paper that GPN scholars should be better attuned to both resource-making interventions and the governance of market development. Resource-making highlights the heterogeneity of the biophysical characteristics of physical entities which entails that certain natures are not readily made available as commodities in markets, but require specific infrastructures, technology, and organizational structures for commercialization. When private capital fails to create markets for resources on its own initiative, states may intervene by facilitating resource-making and governing market development through configurations of ownership, commodification, and risk allocation. In this paper, we explore how the relationship between resource-making and market governance shapes the possibilities and limitations for state strategies in global production networks. Our discussion in the paper is informed by an empirical case study of failed plans by the Indonesian government from 2016 to 2019 to draw upon public-private partnerships to create markets for LNG in the peripheral regions of the country. Despite Indonesia’s status as a globally significant LNG exporter, we find that the interorganizational structures and infrastructure needed to deliver natural gas to markets in peripheral regions contradict with the configurations of ownership, commodification, and risk allocation through which the Indonesian government has sought to realize state strategies, thus resulting in the underdevelopment of liquefied natural gas markets in Indonesia.

Development and characterization of fluorescent cholesteryl probes with enhanced solvatochromic and pH-sensitive properties for live-cell imaging

We present novel fluorescent cholesteryl probes (CNDs) with a modular design based on the solvatochromic 1,8-phthalimide scaffold. We have explored how different modules—linkers and head groups—affect the ability of these probes to integrate into lipid membranes and how they distribute intracellularly in mouse astrocytes and fibroblasts targeting lysosomes and lipid droplets. Each compound was assessed for its solvatochromic behavior in organic solvents and model membranes. Molecular dynamics simulations and lipid partitioning using giant unilamellar vesicles showed how these analogs behave in model membranes compared to cholesterol. Live-cell imaging demonstrated distinct staining patterns and cellular uptake behaviors, further validating the utility of these probes in biological systems. We compared the empirical results with those of BODIPY-cholesterol, a well-regarded fluorescent cholesterol analog. The internalization efficiency of fluorescent CND probes varies in different cell types and is affected mainly by the head groups. Our results demonstrate that the modular design significantly simplifies the creation of fluorescent cholesteryl probes bearing distinct spectral, biophysical, and cellular targeting features. It is a valuable toolkit for imaging in live cells, measuring cellular membrane dynamics, and studying cholesterol-related processes.

SCREEN: A Graph-based Contrastive Learning Tool to Infer Catalytic Residues and Assess Enzyme Mutations.

when applied to inferred enzyme structures; and (iii) generalizes well to enzymes dissimilar from those in the training set. We also show that the putative catalytic residues predicted by SCREEN mimic key structural and biophysical characteristics of native catalytic residues. Moreover, using experimental data sets, we show that SCREEN's predictions can be used to distinguish residues with a high mutation tolerance from those likely to cause functional loss when mutated, indicating that this tool might be used to infer disease-associated mutations. SCREEN is publicly available at https://github.com/BioColLab/SCREEN and https://ngdc.cncb.ac.cn/biocode/tool/7580.

“It Is All Mine, Native!”: A Sense of Place in the Context of Informal Nature Management (the Case of Karakansky Pine Wood)

The article reveals the analytical potential of the concept of a sense of place in the annex to such large natural objects as suburban forests. On the data of ethnographic case-study held in 2021-2022 in the Novosibirsk region, shown how the biophysical characteristics of the natural-anthropogenic landscape, refracting through the history of life and individual experience of natural resource management, participate in the formation of place attachment, place dependence, place identity and place satisfaction. The components of a sense of place include both rational and irrational components, voluntariness and necessity, choice and lack thereof. Personal experience of pine wood users — rural residents, summer residents and city tourists — is characterized by different degree of rootedness in the landscape, which qualitatively and quantitatively measured by the duration of permanent and seasonal residence, the presence of generational ties with the place, features of environmental management practices. The experience of place, which shapes the value of the place and through it the components of the sense of place, can be both unifying, creating unconditional value, not based on comparison (native places), and individualizing, creating comparative satisfaction and attachment to place (place resource). Strong emotional experiences of unity with nature are balanced, and often reinforced by economic difficulties, which as a result leads to perception of the place not only as the “best”, but also as “native”, “own”.

A multivalent binding model infers antibody Fc species from systems serology.

Systems serology aims to broadly profile the antigen binding, Fc biophysical features, immune receptor engagement, and effector functions of antibodies. This experimental approach excels at identifying antibody functional features that are relevant to a particular disease. However, a crucial limitation of this approach is its incomplete description of what structural features of the antibodies are responsible for the observed immune receptor engagement and effector functions. Knowing these antibody features is important for both understanding how effector responses are naturally controlled through antibody Fc structure and designing antibody therapies with specific effector profiles. Here, we address this limitation by modeling the molecular interactions occurring in these assays and using this model to infer quantities of specific antibody Fc species among the antibodies being profiled. We used several validation strategies to show that the model accurately infers antibody properties and then applied the model to infer previously unavailable antibody fucosylation information from existing systems serology data. Using this capability, we find that COVID-19 vaccine efficacy is associated with the induction of afucosylated spike protein-targeting IgG. Our results also question an existing assumption that controllers of HIV exhibit gp120-targeting IgG that are less fucosylated than those of progressors. Additionally, we confirm that afucosylated IgG is associated with membrane-associated antigens for COVID-19 and HIV, and present new evidence indicating that this relationship is specific to the host cell membrane. Finally, we use the model to identify redundant assay measurements and subsets of information-rich measurements from which Fc properties can be inferred. In total, our modeling approach provides a quantitative framework for the reasoning typically applied in these studies, improving the ability to draw mechanistic conclusions from these data.

Microplastic and Extracellular Vesicle Interactions: Recent Studies on Human Health and Environment Risks

Microplastics (MPs) are widespread environmental pollutants that have drawn significant attention due to their possible health risks to humans and animals, as well as their extensive presence in ecosystems. Recent growing evidence highlights a remarkable relationship between MPs and extracellular vesicles (EVs), nanoscale particles involved in intercellular communication. The purpose of this review was to investigate how the relationships between MPs and EVs can affect cellular functions and how this interaction could impact environmental conditions leading to broader ecological risks. The interaction patterns and bioactivity of both MPs and EVs are strongly influenced by biophysical characteristics such as hydrophobicity, surface charge, and particle size, which have received particular attention from the scientific community. Recent studies indicate that MPs affect EV distribution and their capacity to function appropriately in biological systems. Additionally, MPs can modify the molecular cargo of EVs, which may result in alterations of cell signaling pathways. Understanding the interactions between MPs and EVs could provide important opportunities to comprehend their potential effects on human health and environmental systems, especially when it comes to cancer development, endocrine, metabolic, and inflammatory disorders, and ecological disruptions. This review emphasizes the necessity of multidisciplinary research to clarify the molecular and biophysical mechanisms regulating the interaction between MPs and EVs.

A Novel Deer Antler-Inspired Bone Graft Triggers Rapid Bone Regeneration.

Adult mammals are unable to regenerate bulky bone tissues, making large bone defects clinically challenging. Deer antler represents an exception to this rule, exhibiting the fastest bony growth in mammals, offering a unique opportunity to explore novel strategies for rapid bone regeneration. Here, a bone graft exploiting the biochemical, biophysical, and structural characteristics of antlers is constructed. It is decellularized antler cancellous bone (antler-DCB) to obtain a bone scaffold. Then, an antler-based bone graft is constructed by integrating antler-DCB with antler-derived biological signals, delivered by extracellular vesicles (EVs) from antler blastema progenitor cells (ABPCs), a novel stem cells responsible for antlerogenesis is discovered. The antler-based bone graft transformed bone marrow stromal cells into cells with an ABPC-like phenotype and transcriptomic signature. In vivo, the antler-based graft triggered rapid bone formation in a rat model, with doubled volume of newly formed bones than commercial DCBs. In addition, the antler-based graft orchestrated a coordinated process of vascularization, neurogenesis, and immunomodulation during osteogenesis, partially imitating early antlerogenesis. These findings provide practical insights to develop a therapeutic intervention for treating severe bone defects.

Mapping kinase domain resistance mechanisms for the MET receptor tyrosine kinase via deep mutational scanning.

Mutations in the kinase and juxtamembrane domains of the MET Receptor Tyrosine Kinase are responsible for oncogenesis in various cancers and can drive resistance to MET-directed treatments. Determining the most effective inhibitor for each mutational profile is a major challenge for MET-driven cancer treatment in precision medicine. Here, we used a deep mutational scan (DMS) of ∼5,764 MET kinase domain variants to profile the growth of each mutation against a panel of 11 inhibitors that are reported to target the MET kinase domain. We validate previously identified resistance mutations, pinpoint common resistance sites across type I, type II, and type I ½ inhibitors, unveil unique resistance and sensitizing mutations for each inhibitor, and verify non-cross-resistant sensitivities for type I and type II inhibitor pairs. We augment a protein language model with biophysical and chemical features to improve the predictive performance for inhibitor-treated datasets. Together, our study demonstrates a pooled experimental pipeline for identifying resistance mutations, provides a reference dictionary for mutations that are sensitized to specific therapies, and offers insights for future drug development.

Bridging molecular to cellular scales for models of membrane receptor signaling.

In cell signaling, the activation of a surface receptor leads to a cascade of intracellular biochemical events. Many of these occur near the inner plasma membrane surface. However, accurate rate parameters for these initial steps in models of signaling are rarely available because membrane-tethered reaction kinetics are difficult to experimentally measure. Here, we use a highly coarse-grained molecular simulator to model the kinetics of reactions between binding sites that are tethered to a membrane. We can fit these simulation outputs to 2-dimensional rate laws to obtain rate constants that can be used to build complex models of cell signaling. These rate constants can also be compared to understand the key biophysical features controlling the kinetics of bimolecular membrane reactions.

Anti-DENV-ED3 antibody cross-talks generate immune interference among the four DENVs

Objective: To evaluate the effects of primary anti-dengue virus envelop protein domain 3 (DENV-ED3) antibodies on secondary heterotypic anti-DENV ED3 antibody responses and the status of anti-DENV antibody responses against multivalent DENV ED3s in mice. Methods: Four different DENV-ED3s were purified and their biophysical characteristics were confirmed. Swiss albino mice aged 3-4 weeks were immunized with four different DENV-ED3s and the anti-ED3 IgG responses were determined by ELISA. Results: Firstly, the primary 1ED3-2ED3-3ED3 cross-reactive anti-DENV1 ED3 response boosted the secondary anti-2ED3 and anti-3ED3 antibody responses. In contrast, primary anti-2ED3 and anti-3ED3 antibodies neither had cross-recognition of 1ED3, nor had any effect on secondary anti-1ED3 response. Besides, the strict serospecificity of the anti-4ED3 sera did not affect other secondary anti-DENV ED3 responses. Secondly, 1ED3, 2ED3, and 3ED3 were co-dominantly immunogenic in trivalent ED3 formulations. However, the poorly immunogenic 4ED3 became almost non-immunogenic when injected after or together with 2ED3 and 3ED3, but showed slightly increased immunogenicity when injected with 1ED3, suggesting an adjuvanticity of 1ED3 on 4ED3’s immunogenicity. Conclusions: Although DENV1~4 ED3s share similar sequence homologies and structures, their immune induction potentials differ significantly in terms of immune magnitude, sero-specificity, and sero-cross-reactivity. Such intrinsic features of DENV1~4 ED3s may lead to ‘antigen interference’, limiting both the understanding of dengue etiology and the success of dengue vaccine development, which needs to neutralize all four DENV serotypes equivalently.

Polymeric Vehicles for Nucleic Acid Delivery: Enhancing the Therapeutic Efficacy and Cellular Uptake.

Therapeutic gene delivery may be facilitated by the use of polymeric carriers. When combined with nucleic acids to form nanoparticles or polyplexes, a variety of polymers may shield the cargo from in vivo breakdown and clearance while also making it easier for it to enter intracellular compartments. Polymer synthesis design choices result in a wide variety of compounds and vehicle compositions. Depending on the application, these characteristics may be changed to provide enhanced endosomal escape, longer-lasting distribution, or stronger connection with nucleic acid cargo and cells. Here, we outline current methods for delivering genes in preclinical and clinical settings using polymers. Significant therapeutic outcomes have previously been attained using genetic material- delivering polymer vehicles in both in-vitro and animal models. When combined with nucleic acids to form nanoparticles or polyplexes, a variety of polymers may shield the cargo from in vivo breakdown and clearance while also making it easier for it to enter intracellular compartments. Many innovative diagnoses for nucleic acids have been investigated and put through clinical assessment in the past 20 years. Polymer-based carriers have additional delivery issues due to their changes in method and place of biological action, as well as variances in biophysical characteristics. We cover recent custom polymeric carrier architectures that were tuned for nucleic acid payloads such genomemodifying nucleic acids, siRNA, microRNA, and plasmid DNA. In conclusion, the development of polymeric carriers for gene delivery holds promise for therapeutic applications. Through careful design and optimization, these carriers can overcome various challenges associated with nucleic acid delivery, offering new avenues for treating a wide range of diseases.

Preferences for sustainable intensification: Do agricultural interventions matter? Plot-level evidence from Senegal

To what extent do agricultural support programs that promote modern intensification shape farmers’ incentives to adopt sustainable agricultural management practices? We answer this question by examining the effects of receiving input subsidies and agricultural extension services on Senegalese smallholder farmers’ preferences for crop diversification, crop rotation, rotational grazing, fallowing, and mulching crop residues. The empirical investigation is based on the 2020/2021 Annual Agricultural Survey (AAS) and uses two identification strategies: selection on observables and the Abadie-Imbens matching approach to account for differences in farmers’ socio-economic backgrounds and biophysical characteristics of plots and the likelihood of benefiting from input subsidies and agricultural extension services. We find heterogeneous responses to extension services and input subsidies. In particular, we find that receiving agricultural extension services is associated with a higher likelihood of adopting crop rotation, rotational grazing and fallow. On the other hand, the effect of receiving fertiliser subsidies is significantly negative for these three practices. The results also indicate that receiving extension services is associated with a lower likelihood of adopting crop diversification, and receiving seed subsidies is associated with a higher likelihood of mulching crop residues. As international research and development organizations consider sustainable intensification as a means to effectively address soil degradation and achieve greater agricultural productivity in sub-Saharan Africa, our findings call for the design of agricultural policies to support smallholder agriculture that take into account unintended consequences in terms of disincentives for the adoption of sustainable agricultural practices.

Vibrational Markers of a Model Circulating Metastatic Cells LLC-R9

Metastasis in oncological diseases remains one of the main reasons for negative prognosis regarding treatment. Any new data on the biophysical and biochemical characteristics of circulating metastatic cells will help to develop a concept for antimetastatic therapy. In this study, we found a number of differences in the spectroscopic and morphological features of circulating metastatic cells. FT-IR and Raman spectra cultivated by adhesive and de-adhesive methods (with the latter used as a model for metastatic cells) have shown spectroscopic features, namely in FT-IR spectra in the region of CH stretching vibrations, which are associated with structural rearrangements in the cell membrane, as well as changes in the intensity and position of the PO2− group vibration bands correlated with proliferative activity. The spectral features in the regions of OH stretching and Amide I vibrations as well as other spectral markers of the metastatic cells grown under different cultivation conditions were derived. Raman spectra showed a redistribution of the amino acid Tyr/Trp (tryptophan to tyrosine) ratio and in Tyr doublet intensity in the region of 500–900 cm−1, as well as varying glycogen levels in different cells. The spectroscopic markers are in accordance with biochemical data. CARS and confocal optical microscopy were applied to determine the state of the cells and the F-actin expression level, which turned out to be higher for adhesive cells in comparison with de-adhesive cells. The shape and the morphological properties of the cells differ drastically. The correlation of vibrational markers with biochemical data and the cytofluorometric method was discussed.

Forecasting Spatiotemporal Dynamics of Daytime Surface Urban Cool Islands in Response to Urbanization in Drylands: Case Study of Kerman and Zahedan Cities, Iran

Urban micro-climate plays an important role in human activities and in ensuring public health. For instance, the urban heat island effect is crucial to the thermal comfort of citizens and tourists, similar to the urban cool island effect’s importance on human and infrastructure resilience. Approximately 35% of global big cities are located in drylands. While existing research has focused on the spatial and temporal changes of surface urban cooling island intensity (SUCII) in drylands in the past, there is a gap in predicting the future spatiotemporal changes in SUCII for cities within these dryland regions. This study aims to forecast the spatiotemporal dynamics of daytime SUCII of representative growing cities with a dry and cold climate. Kerman and Zahedan cities, which are undergoing large urbanization and have harsh hot summer climates, were selected as the study area. Landsat 5 and 8 images and products were utilized for six timestamps within the timeframe of 1986–2023. Various methods, including a random forest algorithm, spectral indices, Cellular Automata-Markov (CA-Markov) model, the cross-tabulation model, and spatial overlay and zonal statistics, were employed to assess and model the spatiotemporal changes in SUCII. Initially, historical land cover maps, land surface temperature (LST), surface biophysical characteristics, and SUCII data were prepared, and their spatiotemporal changes were evaluated. Then, projected maps for these variables for the year 2045 were produced. The results indicated that the built-up areas, bare lands, and green spaces of Kerman (Zahedan) city in 1986 were 26.6 km2 (17.6 km2), 103 km2 (92.5 km2), and 44.4 km2 (5.6 km2), respectively, and these values reached 99.3 km2 (41.9 km2), 61.2 km2 (70.7 km2), and 13.5 km2 (3.2 km2) in 2023. The built-up lands area of Kerman (Zahedan) city is expected to increase by approximately 26% (36%) by 2045, while bare land and green space are expected to decrease by about 32% (20%) and 39% (31%), respectively. The greatest rise in average LST of Kerman (Zahedan) city is associated with the conversion of green spaces to barren land, resulting in a notable increase of 5.5 °C (4.3 °C) in 1986–2023. The conversion of barren land to built-up land in Kerman (Zahedan) city has led to a decrease of 4.6 °C (3.8 °C) in LST. The SUCII of Kerman (Zahedan) city for 1986, 1994, 2001, 2008, 2015, and 2023 were −0.3 °C (0.9 °C), −0.8 °C (0.4 °C), −1.4 °C (−0.5 °C), −1.9 °C (−1.5 °C), −2.6 °C (−2.5 °C), and −3.2 °C (−3.4 °C), respectively. The projected SUCII in Kerman (Zahedan) city for 2045 is about −4.3 °C (−4.5 °C), indicating an increasing trend in SUCII in the future. The area of zones without SUCII in Kerman (Zahedan) city decreased by 44.8 Km2 (54.8 Km2) from 1986 to 2023, while the areas of low, medium, and high SUCII classes increased by 9.1 Km2 (9.9 Km2), 10.9 Km2 (11.9 Km2), and 24.8 Km2 (33.1 Km2), respectively. The area of non-SUCII and high SUCII classes of Kerman (Zahedan) city in 2045 is expected to decrease by 31.5 Km2 (12.0 Km2) and increase by 51.2 Km2 (9.5 Km2) compared with 2023. The findings of this research indicate that the physical growth of cities in drylands can lead to the moderation of LST, contrary to mechanisms in humid and wet regions.

Spatial and temporal variation in crop productivity and relation with soil fertility within upland agroforestry

Agroforestry can be an option of sustainable farming practices for upland communities. However, information of spatial and temporal variation in soil fertility and crop productivity along slopes, which can guide e.g. effective management, such as application of fertilizers, is limited. This study evaluated spatial and temporal variability in crop productivity and soil fertility along slopes in two different fruit tree agroforestry systems in upland areas of north-west Vietnam: (1) longan-mango agroforestry integrating longan (Dimocarpus longan L.), mango (Mangifera indica L.), maize (Zea mays L.), and guinea grass (Panicum maximum Jacq.), and (2) plum agroforestry integrating plum (Prunus salicina L.), maize, and guinea grass. The two systems were established on relatively steep slopes, 37 % and 65 % slope, respectively. Crop performance and soil fertility were measured in different positions relative to the fruit tree-grass rows over 4–5 years and compared with sole-crop maize. The results showed that maize height, grain yield, and leaf nitrogen (N) concentrations were significantly higher at the upslope than downslope side of tree-grass rows. For example, the grain yields were 30–35 % higher at the upslope than downslope side. Regarding soil fertility, there was a tendency that SOC, total N, total phosphorus (P), available P, and available potassium (K) were higher at the upslope than downslope side of tree-grass rows. Thus, the forage grass strips played an important role in trapping N and other nutrients, and enhanced nutrient use efficiency within agroforestry at the steeply sloping study sites. The maize performance and soil fertility in the areas mid-way between two tree-grass rows were comparable to those in sole-crop maize. The results of this study can provide guidance for farmers managing fruit tree agroforestry in north-west Vietnam or other regions with similar cropping, climate, and biophysical characteristics to implement more effective plot management practices on sloping land.

Dose dependency of subchronic lead acetate exposure on biophysical characteristics of rats’ right atrium and ventricle

Dose dependency of subchronic lead acetate exposure on biophysical characteristics of rats’ right atrium and ventricle

Integrated assessment of urban green infrastructure multifunctionality: Insights from Stavanger

Optimised contributions of green infrastructure (GI) to urban ecosystem services are strongly related to its multifunctionality. The challenge, however, is that the concept of multifunctionality still needs to be transformed into an operationalised assessment to evaluate current performance, which is instrumental in supporting spatial planning and policy strategies. Using the case of Stavanger City (Norway), the study conducted a spatial assessment of the multifunctionality of the urban green infrastructure. The study used a comprehensive set of 27 function indicators estimated for each of the 156 spatial units classified by their type, age, size, and biophysical characteristics. Correlation patterns among indicators and how the average and effective multifunctionality related to unit characteristics were analysed using correlation and multivariate approaches.The study demonstrated weak correlations between function indicators but revealed some potential trade-offs and function bundles. Notably, bundles related to tree cover (e.g. C sequestration, stormwater retention) had negative relationships with facilitation measures. There was a large overlap in functions between GI types associated with public green spaces and parks. Moreover, the characteristics of green infrastructure units, like size and age, primarily affected multifunctionality through effects on function indicators. Regarding the city-wide multifunctionality, we found some turnover and subsetting of functions among units, supporting multifunctionality at larger spatial scales. However, the average contributions from different GI types were similar. The study highlights the need to understand correlation patterns among function indicators and function bundles as critical to benefit from synergies and avoid unintentional trade-offs when designing and managing urban green areas.