Geographic Populations Research Articles

Multiple Sclerosis-Associated Gut Microbiome in the Israeli Diverse Populations: Associations with Ethnicity, Gender, Disability Status, Vitamin D Levels, and Mediterranean Diet.

Microbiome dysbiosis is increasingly being recognized as implicated in immune-mediated disorders including multiple sclerosis (MS). The microbiome is modulated by genetic and environmental factors including lifestyle, diet, and drug intake. This study aimed to characterize the MS-associated gut microbiome in the Israeli populations and to identify associations with demographic, dietary, and clinical features. The microbiota from 57 treatment-naive patients with MS (PwMS) and 43 age- and gender-matched healthy controls (HCs) was sequenced and abundance compared. Associations between differential microbes with demographic or clinical characteristics, as well as diet and nutrient intake, were assessed. While there was no difference in α- or β-diversity of the microbiome, we identified 40 microbes from different taxonomic levels that differ in abundance between PwMS and HCs, including Barnesiella, Collinsella, Egerthella, Mitsuokella, Olsenella Romboutsia, and Succinivibrio, all enhanced in PwMS, while several members of Lacnospira were reduced. Additional MS-differential microbes specific to ethnicity were identified. Several MS-specific microbial patterns were associated with gender, vitamin D level, Mediterranean diet, nutrient intake, or disability status. Thus, PwMS have altered microbiota composition, with distinctive patterns related to geographic locations and population. Microbiome dysbiosis seem to be implicated in disease progression, gender-related differences, and vitamin D-mediated immunological effects recognized in MS. Dietary interventions may be beneficial in restoring a "healthy microbiota" as part of applying comprehensive personalized therapeutic strategies for PwMS.

Mitogenome Variations in a Global Population of Aspergillus fumigatus.

Aspergillus fumigatus is a ubiquitous, critical priority human fungal pathogen. Despite its clinical importance, there is limited knowledge regarding the variations of the genome within mitochondria, the powerhouse organelle within eukaryotic cells. In this study, we leveraged publicly available, raw, whole genome sequence data isolates from 1939 to investigate the variations in the mitochondrial genomes of A. fumigatus. These isolates were isolated from 22 countries on six continents, as well as from outer space and from within the International Space Station. In total, our analysis revealed 39 mitochondrial single nucleotide polymorphisms (mtSNPs) within this global sample, and, together, these 39 mtSNPs grouped the 1939 isolates into 79 mitochondrial multilocus genotypes (MLGs). Among the 79 MLGs, 39 were each distributed in at least two countries and 30 were each shared by at least two continents. The two most frequent MLGs were also broadly distributed: MLG11 represented 420 isolates from 11 countries and four continents and while MLG79 represented 418 isolates from 18 countries and five continents, consistent with long-distance dispersals of mitogenomes. Our population genetic analyses of the mtSNPs revealed limited differentiation among continental populations, but highly variable genetic differences among national populations, largely due to localized clonal expansions of different MLGs. Phylogenetic analysis and Discriminant Analysis of Principal Components of mtSNPs suggested the presence of at least three mitogenome clusters. Linkage disequilibrium, Index of Association, and phylogenetic incompatibility analyses collectively suggested evidence for mitogenome recombination in natural populations of A. fumigatus. In addition, sequence read depth analyses revealed an average ratio of ~20 mitogenomes per nuclear genome in this global population, but the ratios varied among strains within and between certain geographic populations. Together, our results suggest evidence for organelle dynamics, genetic differentiation, recombination, and both widespread and localized clonal expansion of the mitogenomes in the global A. fumigatus population.

Spatiotemporal Differentiation and Influencing Factors of Frost Key Date in Harbin Municipality from 1961 to 2022

This study analyzed frost formation data provided by the Harbin Meteorological Bureau and considered geographic factors, temperature, and population density. Various analytical methods, including linear fitting, the Mann–Kendall mutation test, the Pettitt method, and the sliding t-test, were employed to identify the temporal and spatial changes as well as the effects of these factors on frost dates in Harbin. The study shows that the first FSD occurred on 18 August, in both 1966 and 1967, which was the 255th day. The latest FSD was observed on 10 October 2006, which was the 283rd day. The earliest occurrence of an FED was on 24 April 2015, which was the 114th day, and the latest was on 21 April 1974, which was the 141st day. The highest number of frost days occurred in 2012, with 161 days, whereas the shortest year was 1966, with only 123 frost days. Throughout the study period, the FSD increased by 7.8 days at a rate of −1.27d/10a, the FED increased by 10.9 days at a rate of 1.77d/10a, and the FFS increased by 18.9 days at a rate of 3.05d/10a. The propensity rates of the FSD and FFS at each location in Harbin indicate an upward trend, while for the FED, certain locations display an upward trend. In general, the FSD has exhibited a delayed trend, the FED has shown an earlier trend, and the FFS has experienced an extended trend. With one-way linear regression, the FSD exhibited an increasing trend at each site, while the FFS also indicated a similar trend, and the FED showed an overall decreasing trend. Throughout the study period, a change was observed in the FSD in 2000, resulting in an average arrival time of the 265th day, or 22 September, of that year. Subsequently, post mutation, the average arrival time of the FSD in the study area was the 272nd day, or 29 September, of that year. In 2006, the FED also underwent a change, with the average arrival time in the study area being the 128th day, or 4 April, of that year. After the change, the average arrival time of the FED in the study area was the 121st day, i.e., 8 April. In 1 April 2004 of that year saw a change in the FFS. Prior to the change, the FFS in the study area averaged the 137th day, whilst following the change, the FFS in the study area averaged the 150th day. The FSD and FFS within Harbin exhibit a negative correlation with latitude and a positive correlation with temperature. Additionally, the FED displays a positive correlation with latitude and a negative correlation with temperature. As the FSD, FED, and FFS in central Harbin are the earliest, latest, and longest, the Pearson correlation coefficient method and multiple regression cannot adequately reflect the effect of longitude.

Multiple TP53 p.R337H haplotypes and implications for tumor susceptibility

The germline TP53 p.R337H mutation is reported as the most common germline TP53 variant. It exists at a remarkably high frequency in the population of southeast Brazil as founder mutation in two distinct haplotypes with the most frequent co-segregating with the p.E134∗ variant of the XAF1 tumor suppressor and an increased cancer risk. Founder mutations demonstrate linkage disequilibrium with neighboring genetic polymorphic markers that can be used to identify the founder variant in different geographic regions and diverse populations. We report here a shared haplotype among Brazilian, Portuguese, and Spanish families and the existence of three additional distinct TP53 p.R337H alleles. Mitochondrial DNA sequencing and Y-STR profiling of Brazilian carriers of the founder TP53 p.R337H allele reveal an excess of Native American haplogroups in maternal lineages and exclusively European haplogroups in paternal lineages, consistent with communities established through male European settlers with extensive intermarriage with Indigenous women. The identification of founder and independent TP53 p.R337H alleles underlines the importance for considering the haplotype as a functional unit and the additive effects of constitutive polymorphisms and associated variants in modifier genes that can influence the cancer phenotype.

Integrative taxonomy and evolutionary history reveal cryptic diversity in Myotis riparius (Chiroptera: Vespertilionidae)

Abstract Myotis riparius is an insectivorous bat species widely distributed in the Neotropics with evident geographical variation in morphological traits. We conducted an integrative study using mitochondrial DNA, qualitative and quantitative morphology, and current and past species distribution models to investigate the variation, population structure, and distributional limits within M. riparius populations. Phylogenetic inferences indicated that M. riparius is monophyletic, and populations are divided into geographically structured clades that split during the middle Pleistocene. There is no shared haplotype between geographical populations and strong evidence of partial restriction in gene flow. Morphological and morphometric variations revealed subtle distinctions among different populations, but little correspondence with molecular analysis. The distribution models indicated that M. riparius is associated with forest environments, with discontinuity between populations from South American ecoregions. Past distribution modelling, however, indicated that M. riparius had a larger distribution range in the Last Glacial Maximum than currently. Results of modelling and genetic analyses indicated that M. riparius consisted of a large, widespread, and panmictic (meta)population until the middle Pleistocene, when environmental changes driven by climatic dynamics fragmented and isolated the populations. Myotis riparius is here considered a complex of at least four allopatric and parapatric cryptic evolutionary units.

Population structure and mixed reproductive strategies in Bipolaris maydis from single and multiple corn cultivars in Fujian Province, China.

Bipolaris maydis is the pathogenic microorganism of southern corn leaf blight, a persistent biotic constraint responsible for substantial yield losses of corn worldwide. In the present study, 96 isolates from six representative fields growing single and multiple sweet corn cultivars in Pingnan, Fuqing, and Jian'ou in Fujian Province, which are characterized by different geographical characteristics and cropping patterns, were genetically analyzed using inter-simple sequence repeat (ISSR) markers to assess the impact of geographical origins and corn cultivars on B. maydis population differentiation. B. maydis isolates originated from diverse regions possessed higher genetic variety than those from single and multiple sweet corn cultivars. Phylogenetic analysis showed that the isolates from single and multiple sweet corn cultivars were randomly grouped into different clusters, with those from the same location tending to form clusters. A greater genetic differentiation among different geographical populations than between those from single and multiple sweet corn cultivars was observed by pairwise comparison. Hierarchical analysis indicated that among-population variation was higher when comparatively analyzed B. maydis populations from different locations than in those from single and multiple sweet corn cultivars. In conclusion, these results suggest that geographical origin acts a more considerable role in genetic differentiation of B. maydis than corn cultivar. Two divided genetic clusters were detected in the B. maydis populations from single and multiple sweet corn cultivars at the three locations in Fujian Province, with major genetic variation being derived within populations. The high haplotypic diversity and expected mating type ratio of 1:1 in combination with significant linkage disequilibrium suggested that a mixed reproductive strategy occurs in the B. maydis population in Fujian Province. This study will enrich the information on the role that geographical origins and corn cultivars play in the population structure of the pathogen as well as the reproductive strategies in B. maydis population in Fujian Province.

A cyberGIS approach to exploring neighborhood‐level social vulnerability for disaster risk management

AbstractTimely identification of disaster‐prone neighborhoods and examination of disparity in disaster exposure are critical for policymakers to plan efficient disaster management strategies. Many studies have investigated racial, ethnic, and geographic disparities and populations most vulnerable to disasters. However, little attention has been paid to the development of easily accessible and reusable tools to enable: (1) the prompt identification of vulnerable neighborhoods; and (2) the examination of social disparity in disaster impact. In this research, we have developed a visual analytics tool that allows users to: (1) delineate neighborhoods based on their selection of variables; and (2) explore which neighborhoods are susceptible to the impacts of disasters based on specific socioeconomic and demographic characteristics. Through an exploration of COVID‐19 data in the case study, we revealed that the tool can provide new insights into the identification of vulnerable neighborhoods that need immediate attention for disaster control, management, and relief.

Geographic destiny trumps taxonomy in the Roundtail Chub, Gila robusta species complex (Teleostei, Leuciscidae)

The Gila robusta species complex in the lower reaches of the Colorado River includes three nominal and contested species (G. robusta, G. intermedia, and G. nigra) originally defined by morphological and meristic characters. In subsequent investigations, none of these characters proved diagnostic, and species assignments were based on capture location. Two recent studies applied conservation genomics to assess species boundaries and reached contrasting conclusions: an ezRAD phylogenetic study resolved 5 lineages with poor alignment to species categories and proposed a single species with multiple population partitions. In contrast, a dd-RAD coalescent study concluded that the three nominal species are well-supported evolutionarily lineages. Here we developed a draft genome (~ 1.229 Gbp) to apply genome-wide coverage (10,246 SNPs) with nearly range-wide sampling of specimens (G. robusta N = 266, G. intermedia N = 241, and G. nigra N = 117) to resolve this debate. All three nominal species were polyphyletic, whereas 5 of 8 watersheds were monophyletic. AMOVA partitioned 23.1% of genetic variance among nominal species, 30.9% among watersheds, and the Little Colorado River was highly distinct (FST ranged from 0.79 to 0.88 across analyses). Likewise, DAPC identified watersheds as more distinct than species, with the Little Colorado River having 297 fixed nucleotide differences compared to zero fixed differences among the three nominal species. In every analysis, geography explains more of the observed variance than putative taxonomy, and there are no diagnostic molecular or morphological characters to justify species designation. Our analysis reconciles previous work by showing that species identities based on type location are supported by significant divergence, but natural geographic partitions show consistently greater divergence. Thus, our data confirm Gila robusta as a single polytypic species with roughly a dozen highly isolated geographic populations, providing a strong scientific basis for watershed-based future conservation.

Morphological, pathogenic and genetic diversity in Diplodia seriata associated with black rot canker of apple in India

Apple cankers are extremely destructive diseases threatening the global apple industry through direct and indirect losses. The population structure of the pathogens is of paramount significance for the development of efficient management strategies. Therefore, phenotypic, pathogenic, and genetic diversity of Diplodia seriata causing black rot canker of apple was investigated in this study. All the isolates were included for investigating the in vitro mycelial growth, conidial dimensions, and pathogenic variability on two-year-old potted apple seedlings. The ISSR approach was used to investigate the molecular diversity of D. seriata. Mycelial growth rates were found to vary significantly amongst the isolates; however, there were no major variations seen between the different geographical groupings of isolates. Pathogenicity tests revealed variations in the size of cankers among the isolates indicating the presence of virulence variability. The isolates were segregated into three virulence groups based on canker length. The Bayesian analyses of ISSR data divided the isolates into two genetic clusters. The genetic clustering of the isolates revealed no relationship with geographical origin of the isolates. Furthermore, no direct relationship of genetic clustering was observed with morphological or pathogenic variability. The ISSR primers revealed very high level of variability in D. seriata; however, no distinct populations of the pathogen existed which is an indication of high level of gene flow between the diverse geographical populations. According to our knowledge, this is the first thorough investigation on the diversity of D. seriata associated with apple black rot canker in India.

Sensitivities of Fall Armyworm (Spodoptera frugiperda) Populations in Different Regions of China to Four Bt Proteins

Fall armyworm (FAW), Spodoptera frugiperda, invaded the south of China in December 2018 and has since posed a huge threat to crop production in China. However, transgenic Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) corn can efficiently control the damage caused by FAWs. In fact, the Chinese government has issued biosafety certificates for several Bt corn hybrids expressing any one of four Bt proteins, Vip3A, Cry1F, Cry1Ab, and Cry2Ab, or combinations thereof, to control FAWs. These Bt corn events are soon to be commercialized in China. Therefore, it is necessary to monitor and evaluate whether the FAW has developed resistance to any of the Bt corn hybrids planted in fields in China. To address this issue, we collected 11 geographical populations of FAWs and determined the sensitivity of each to the aforementioned four purified Bt proteins as assessed by diet surface overlay bioassays. The ranges for the 50% lethal concentration (LC50) of the four Bt proteins to all FAW populations were as follows: 11.42–88.33 ng/cm2 (for Vip3A), 111.21–517.33 (Cry1F), 135.76–1108.47 (Cry1Ab), and 994.42–5492.50 (Cry2Ab). The corresponding ranges for the 50% growth inhibition concentrations (GIC50) were 1.43–14.86, 2.35–138.97, 1.58–464.86, and 25.01–1266.07 ng/cm2. The lethal effects and growth inhibition effects of the four Bt proteins on FAW were in the same order of Vip3A > Cry1F > Cry1Ab > Cry2Ab. A comparison with published LC50 values of Bt proteins towards sensitive FAW populations revealed that all 11 FAW populations in this study were sensitive to Vip3A, Cry1F, and Cry1Ab. This study provides foundational data for monitoring and controlling the resistance of Bt corn to FAW in China.

The distribution variation of pathogens and virulence factors in different geographical populations of giant pandas.

Intestinal diseases caused by opportunistic pathogens seriously threaten the health and survival of giant pandas. However, our understanding of gut pathogens in different populations of giant pandas, especially in the wild populations, is still limited. Here, we conducted a study based on 52 giant panda metagenomes to investigate the composition and distribution of gut pathogens and virulence factors (VFs) in five geographic populations (captive: GPCD and GPYA; wild: GPQIN, GPQIO, and GPXXL). The results of the beta-diversity analyzes revealed a close relationship and high similarity in pathogen and VF compositions within the two captive groups. Among all groups, Proteobacteria, Firmicutes, and Bacteroidetes emerged as the top three abundant phyla. By using the linear discriminant analysis effect size method, we identified pathogenic bacteria unique to different populations, such as Klebsiella in GPCD, Salmonella in GPYA, Hafnia in GPQIO, Pedobacter in GPXXL, and Lactococcus in GPQIN. In addition, we identified 12 VFs that play a role in the intestinal diseases of giant pandas, including flagella, CsrA, enterobactin, type IV pili, alginate, AcrAB, capsule, T6SS, urease, type 1 fimbriae, polar flagella, allantoin utilization, and ClpP. These VFs influence pathogen motility, adhesion, iron uptake, acid resistance, and protein regulation, thereby contributing to pathogen infection and pathogenicity. Notably, we also found a difference in virulence of Pseudomonas aeruginosa between GPQIN and non-GPQIN wild populations, in which the relative abundance of VFs (0.42%) of P. aeruginosa was the lowest in GPQIN and the highest in non-GPQIN wild populations (GPXXL: 23.55% and GPQIO: 10.47%). In addition to enhancing our understanding of gut pathogens and VFs in different geographic populations of giant pandas, the results of this study provide a specific theoretical basis and data support for the development of effective conservation measures for giant pandas.

Crossbreeding of two populations of Ruditapes philippenarum reveals high growth and survival heterosis

Hybridization is an important breeding method to improve productive traits in aquaculture. The Manila clam Ruditapes philippenarum, a worldwide cultured bivalve, has achieved the great commercial success owing to a global appreciation of its delicious taste and affordable price. In order to evaluate the aquaculture potential of clam hybridization, a complete diallel cross between two geographical populations (Shandong and Guangdong) was performed in the present study. Two intra-population mating groups LL (L♀ × L♂) and ZZ (Z♀ × Z♂) and two crossbreeding groups ZL (Z♀ × L♂) and LZ (L♀ × Z♂) were established to investigate the potential heterosis of growth and survival in the clams. Three full-sib families were constructed in each mating group to calculate the growth and survival heterosis. During the larval stage (2 ∼ 10d), no significant difference was detected in averaged shell length between reciprocal hybrids and inbred groups. In contrast, hybrid spats after 15d cultivation showed a significantly larger size (shell length and shell height) than that of inbred spats. For the reciprocal hybrids, the greatest growth heterosis of shell length and height (33.42% and 33.13%) was detected from 20 days after fertilization in ZL. After 40d cultivation, ZL displayed the most growth potential in shell length and height, reaching maximum values of 0.900 and 0.858 mm, respectively. The hybrids had 25% ∼ 40% higher survival rates than those of the inbred groups, with the highest survival heterosis in ZL. The positive values for the general combining ability (GCA) were consistently detected in the Zhanjiang population. At day 40, the special combining ability (SCA) in ZL was approximately two-fold higher than that in LZ. These findings indicate that the hybrids produced by Laizhou males and Zhanjiang females have the greater aquaculture potential, providing a useful crossbreeding strategy for clam genetic improvement in aquaculture.

Population divergence in nutrient-temperature interactions in Pieris rapae.

The interaction between larval host plant quality and temperature can influence the short-term physiological rates and life-history traits of insect herbivores. These factors can vary locally, resulting in local adaptation in responses to diet and temperature, but the comparison of these interactions between populations is infrequently carried out. In this study, we examine how the macronutrient ratio of an artificial diet determines the larval growth, development, and survival of larval Pieris rapae (Lepidoptera: Pieridae) at different temperatures between two invasive North American populations from different climatic regions. We conducted a fully factorial experiment with three temperature treatments (18°C, 25°C, and 32°C) and three artificial diet treatments varying in terms of the ratio of protein to carbohydrate (low protein, balanced, and high protein). The effects of diet on life-history traits were greater at lower temperatures, but these differed between populations. Larvae from the subtropical population had reduced survival to pupation on the low-protein diet in the cold temperature treatment, whereas larval survival for the temperate population was equally high for all temperature and diet treatments. Overall, both populations performed more poorly (i.e., they showed slower rates of consumption, growth, and development, and had a smaller pupal mass) in the diet with the low protein ratio, but larvae from the temperate population were less sensitive to diet ratio changes at all temperatures. Our results confirm that the physiological and life-history consequences of imbalanced nutrition for insect herbivores may depend on developmental temperatures, and that different geographic populations of P. rapae within North America vary in their sensitivity to nutritional balance and temperature.

Geographical Variation Reveals Strong Genetic Differentiation in Cryptomeria japonica var. sinensis

The adaptive capacity of tree species is crucial for their survival under environmental change. Liushan (Cryptomeria japonica var. sinensis), an allogamous conifer species, is widely distributed across southern China. However, despite its broad distribution, there have been few investigations on the geographical variation and environmental adaptability of this species. Here, we combined the phenotypic (eight needle traits) and genetic data (14 nSSR loci) to fill this gap by assessing the genetic variation of geographical populations and exploring environmental adaptations of this species. Both phenotypic and molecular genetic analyses indicated a strong genetic differentiation among geographic populations. All populations could be clustered into three groups that were consistent with their geography. Most of the needle traits showed significantly correlated with geography and environmental factors. Geographical isolation and environmental differences are the main factors that have shaped current morphological traits and patterns of genetic variation. We suggest conservation measures to be implemented on a population level with existing populations, especially those with rare phenotypes as the main goal. Our findings shed light on the geographic variation in Liushan and expanded the knowledge of its putative adaptive mechanisms, ultimately benefiting the conservation of this species.

SOCIALIZATION OF STANDARD CALCULATION OF RECIPES AND FINANCIAL RECORDING OF MSMES DODOL TENJO BOGOR

Equality of welfare in Indonesia is difficult to implement due to several factors including geographical problems, population migration, and population registration. This resulted in several other problems arising, namely limited employment. To overcome this problem, the MSME entrepreneurship program is promoted by the government. Tenjo as a village famous for dodol MSMEs has a good track record in the production and distribution of dodol products in the Bogor and Tangerang areas. Unfortunately, the MSME industry is not supported by the standardization of prescriptions and financial records which are the basis for them to be able to take care of P-IRT (Home Industry Food) licenses. With the lack of knowledge from MSME business owners on the importance of standardizing prescriptions and financial records to take care of P-IRT licenses, the service team made the socialization of recipe standard calculations and financial records for MSME actors dodol Tenjo. Business actors are enthusiastic about socialization activities and can make standard prescriptions and financial records according to the model provided by the service team for them to use in their business.

Eimeria zuernii (Eimeriidae: Coccidia): mitochondrial genome and genetic diversity in the Chinese yak

BackgroundCoccidiosis caused by Eimeria zuernii (Eimeriidae: Coccidia) represents a significant economic threat to the bovine industry. Understanding the evolutionary and genetic biology of E. zuernii can assist in new interaction developments for the prevention and control of this protozoosis.MethodsWe defined the evolutionary and genetic characteristics of E. zuernii by sequencing the complete mitogenome and analyzing the genetic diversity and population structure of 51 isolates collected from eight yak breeding parks in China.ResultsThe 6176-bp mitogenome of E. zuernii was linear and encoded typical mitochondrial contents of apicomplexan parasites, including three protein-coding genes [PCGs; cytochrome c oxidase subunits I and III (cox1 and cox3), and cytochrome b (cytb)], seven fragmented small subunit (SSU) and 12 fragmented large subunit (LSU) rRNAs. Genome-wide comparative and evolutionary analyses showed cytb and cox3 to be the most and least conserved Eimeria PCGs, respectively, and placed E. zuernii more closely related to Eimeria mephitidis than other Eimeria species. Furthermore, cox1-based genetic structure defined 24 haplotypes of E. zuernii with high haplotype diversities and low nucleotide diversities across eight geographic populations, supporting a low genetic structure and rapid evolutionary rate as well as a previous expansion event among E. zuernii populations.ConclusionsTo our knowledge, this is the first study presenting the phylogeny, genetic diversity, and population structure of the yak E. zuernii, and such information, together with its mitogenomic data, should contribute to a better understanding of the genetic and evolutionary biological studies of apicomplexan parasites in bovines.Graphical

Understanding Presbyopia in Asmara: Prevalence, Association with Refractive Error, and Age-Based Addition.

Presbyopia is an age-related progressive decrease of near vision, corrected by near addition glasses. These age-appropriate glasses, however, vary across different geographical locations and populations. But there is no existing information on the age-based addition for Asmara and high number of uncorrected presbyopes, so this study determined the required age-based addition for the presbyopes in Asmara. A cross-sectional study was conducted on patients aged 35-60 years who visited all eye centers in the city. Patients with best-corrected visual acuity in both eyes better than 6/9 were included in the study. Near add was calculated using Monocular Estimation Method (MEM) and amplitude of accommodation results. Data entry and analysis were performed using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences v. 20. This study included 1310 participants of whom 48.5% were females and 51.5% were males. The prevalence of presbyopia was found to be 74.1% out of which 44% were females. There were 35.6% of the participants with a previous prescription for glasses, though only 24% of the participants presented with glasses on. Among the different occupational categories, laborers were the ones who had the highest number of presbyopes (79.5%), office workers (73%), and housewives (68.7%). The mean age of those with presbyopes was 49.5 ± 5.8 years. Multivariable analysis performed for presbyopia showed that older age and female sex were associated with a higher likelihood of presbyopia (<0.005). An addition table was prepared separately for males and females. On post-hoc tests, no significant association was found between the given and the different refractive status. The study showed that there is a high level of uncorrected presbyopes in the city, so the availability of refraction sites and glasses accessibility needs to increase. The near addition demand for this population varies from the previously stated amount in other countries. Therefore, guidelines specifically prepared for a society are necessary.

Home Grown Botanical Acaricides: A One Health Strategy to Prevent Tick-Borne Diseases

The prevalence of tick-borne zoonotic disease in Ontario, Canada, has steadily increased over the years. Global climate change has exacerbated the geographical spread, activity level, and population abundance of disease-causing ticks, resulting in the increased circulation of tick-borne disease and significant adverse health impacts on humans, non-human animals, and the environment. Given that existing initiatives demonstrate subpar efficacy and longevity, low accessibility and feasibility, or pose threats to non-human animal and environmental health, it is evident a One Health approach is needed to address this issue. This paper proposes a cost-effective home gardening guide that could be utilized to create botanical acaricides that have been proven to deter ticks. The solution, which employs the process of steam distillation to create essential oils from plants, uses Kingston, Ontario, Canada, as an example and places emphasis on the health and well-being of the environment, wild and domesticated non-human animals, and humans simultaneously.

Socio-political and ecological fragility of threatened, free-ranging African lion populations

Lions are one of the world’s most iconic species but are threatened with extinction. Developing effective range-wide conservation plans are crucial but hampered by the relative lack of knowledge on specific threats facing each population and the socio-political context for conservation. Here, we present a range-wide examination of the relative fragility of lion populations, examining socio-political factors alongside ecological ones. We found Ethiopia’s Maze National Park had the most ecologically fragile geographic population while Kavango-Zambezi was the least. At a country level, lion populations had highest ecological fragility in Cameroon and Malawi. When we examined socio-political fragility, Somalia was the most fragile lion range country, followed by South Sudan. When socio-political and ecological fragility were combined, lion populations in Maze National Park and Bush-Bush (Somalia) and more broadly, Somalian and Malawian lion populations were the most fragile. These insights should help inform more nuanced and appropriately targeted lion conservation plans.

Spatiotemporal Linkages between Administrative Division Adjustment and Urban Form: Political Drivers of the Urban Polycentric Structure

As a crucial government strategy for spatial management and resource allocation, administrative division adjustment (ADA) provides interesting insights in the investigation of the polycentric urban structure (POLY). Using high-resolution geographic grid population data, this study aims to interpret complex linkages between ADA and POLY. Specifically, this research explores the dynamic evolution of POLY and ADA, investigates the spatiotemporal impact of ADA on POLY based on geographically and temporally weighted regression models and analyzes the differences in socioeconomic driving forces for POLY in cities with and without ADA. The results demonstrate that the value of POLY had a rising trend during the study periods. In terms of spatial pattern, POLY has a higher value in the Eastern region and a lower value in the Western region. The influences of ADA on POLY are also characterized by spatiotemporal heterogeneity. The impact of ADA on POLY has a higher value in Eastern and Western China and a lower value in Central and Northeastern China. In addition, the impacts of socioeconomic factors on POLY between cities with and without ADA differed significantly in Central and Western China while differing insignificantly in Eastern and Northeastern China. To promote the balanced development of administrative institutional structures and urban spatial transformation, ADA should be selectively implemented to facilitate POLY following the level of population, economic and productive development in each region.