Regional Changes Research Articles

Correspondence between white matter hyperintensities and regional grey matter volumes in Alzheimer's disease.

White matter hyperintensities (WMH) are the most common neuroimaging manifestation of cerebral small vessel disease, and is frequently observed in Alzheimer's disease (AD). This study aimed to investigate the relationship between WMH and cognition and to verify the mediation of grey matter atrophy in this relationship. The diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) technique analyses white matter fiber tract to assess white matter integrity. Voxel-based morphometry was applied to measure the grey matter volume (GMV). A linear regression model was applied to examine the associations between WMH and GMV, and mediation analyses was performed to determine the mediating role of regional GMV in the effect of WMH on cognitive function. Compared to the HC group, AD group have 8 fiber tract fractional anisotropy (FA) decreased and 16 fiber tract mean diffusivity (MD) increased. Compared to AD without WMH, AD with high WMH had 9 fiber tracts FA decreased and 13 fiber tracts MD increased. High WMH volume was negatively correlated with GMV in the frontal-parietal region. Low WMH volume was also negatively correlated with GMV except for the three regions (right angular gyrus, right superior frontal gyrus and right middle/inferior parietal gyrus), where GMV was positively correlated. Mediation analysis showed that the association between WMH and executive function or episodic memory were mediated by GMV in the frontal-parietal region. Damage to white matter integrity was more severe in AD with WMH. Differential changes in DTI metrics may be caused by progressive myelin and axonal damage. There was a negative correlation between WMH and grey matter atrophy in frontal-parietal regions in a volume-dependent manner. This study indicates the correspondence between WMH volume and GMV in cognition, and GMV being a key modulator between WMH and cognition in AD. This result will contribute to understanding the progression of the disease process and applying targeted therapeutic intervention in the earlier stage to delay neurodegenerative changes in frontal-parietal regions to achieve better treatment outcomes and affordability.

Desert-oasis evolutionary process in the Tarim Basin since ∼ 2.2 ka B.P. during the late Holocene and their environmental implications

Oases, serving as ideal locations for human settlements in arid regions, exhibit extreme sensitivity to regional climatic fluctuations. Consequently, the oasis deposition sediments play a pivotal role in the study of regional paleoenvironmental changes and the exploration of prehistoric human-environment interactions. The YSD and STM sections, both typical aeolian-lacustrine sections located at the edge of the Tarim Basin, were investigated in this study. By analyzing optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) dating results and grain-size proxy indicators, the environmental evolution patterns in the Tarim Basin since approximately 2.2 ka BP were reconstructed. Additionally, the parametric end-member analysis on the grain-size data was conducted to explore the environmental significance revealed by each end-member. The research findings indicate that: (1) ∼ 2.2–1.8 ka B.P., sediment morphology and grain-size parameters indicate that the climate in the Tarim Basin recorded by the STM section was relatively dry, with rivers gradually receding and frequent sand-drift activities. During the development of the YSD section (∼1.67–1.5 ka B.P.), the environmental conditions in the Tarim Basin transitioned to a relatively humid phase, with the Yarkand River experienced multiple episodes of natural diluvial deposition. The grain-size data of two sections both comprise five sedimentary dynamic components, serving as sensitive indicators of regional humidity conditions and winter monsoon intensity. (2) The oasis development in the Tarim Basin during the late Holocene (particularly refers to between ∼ 2.2 ka B.P. and ∼ 1.4 ka B.P.) exhibits a significant positive correlation with temperature records. (3) Environmental changes and human activities jointly regulate the spatial and temporal distribution and number of archeological sites during the development of both sections. However, the dominance of the two factors varied across different historical periods.

Interannual Glacial Mass Changes in High Mountain Asia and Connections to Climate Variability

We use data from the Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment and its Follow-On mission (GRACE/GRACE-FO) from April 2002 to December 2022 to analyze interannual glacial mass changes in High Mountain Asia (HMA) and its subregions and their driving factors. Glacial mass changes in the HMA subregions show clear regional characteristics. Interannual glacial mass changes in the HMA region are closely related to interannual oscillations of precipitation and temperature, and are also correlated with El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO). Glacial mass changes in the regions (R1–R6) are dominated by precipitation, and ENSO affects interannual glacial mass changes mainly by affecting precipitation. In region (R7) and region (R8), the glacial mass changes are mainly controlled by temperature. ENSO also affects the interannual glacial mass changes by affecting interannual changes in temperature. The interannual glacial mass changes in regions (R9–R11) are jointly dominated by temperature and precipitation, and also related to ENSO. Another interesting finding of this study is that glacial mass changes in the western part of HMA (R1–R6) show a clear 6–7-year oscillation, strongly correlated with a similar oscillation in precipitation, while in the eastern part (R9–R11), a 2–3-year oscillation was found in both glacial mass change and precipitation, as well as temperature. These results verify the response of interannual HMA glacial mass changes to climate processes, crucial for understanding regional climate dynamics and sustainable water resource management.

Fingolimod alleviates type 2 diabetes associated cognitive decline by regulating autophagy and neuronal apoptosis via AMPK/mTOR pathway

This study aimed to reveal the role of fingolimod (FTY720) in mice with type 2 diabetes-associated cognitive decline and explore its potential neuroprotective mechanism. Mice were divided into five groups: normal control, normal control + FTY720 (1.0 mg/kg/day), type 2 diabetes mellitus, type 2 diabetes mellitus + low-dose FTY720 (0.5 mg/kg/day), and type 2 diabetes mellitus + high-dose FTY720 (1.0 mg/kg/day). Different doses of FTY720 were administered daily for 8 weeks after the induction of type 2 diabetes using a four-week high-fat diet feeding combined with continuous low-dose intraperitoneal injections of streptozotocin. After 8 weeks of treatment, the body weights and fasting blood glucose levels of mice from the five groups were compared. Morris water maze and new object recognition tests were used to evaluate cognitive function. Pathological changes in the hippocampal CA1 region were observed using haematoxylin-eosin and Nissl staining, and the ultrastructure of the hippocampal neurones was assessed using transmission electron microscopy. The expression levels of autophagy- and apoptosis-related proteins, such as LC3, Beclin-1, P62, Bax, and Bcl-2, in the mice hippocampus were detected by western blotting. Simultaneously, AMPK/mTOR signaling pathway proteins were detected to understand the potential mechanism. FTY720 had no significant effect on the body weight or fasting blood glucose levels in mice with type 2 diabetes. However, both FTY720 doses improved the cognitive function and hippocampal damage. In addition, the results suggested that FTY720 dramatically decreased P62 and Bax levels and increased LC3 II/LC3 I ratio, Beclin-1, and Bcl-2 expression in the hippocampus of type 2 diabetic mice. FTY720 also affected the expression of the AMPK/mTOR signaling pathway. Thus, FTY720 improved cognitive function and hippocampal pathological changes in type 2 diabetic mice without affecting fasting blood glucose levels. Our results show that FTY720 may exert neuroprotective effects in vivo by enhancing hippocampal autophagy and inhibiting apoptosis via the AMPK/mTOR signaling pathway.

PSVII-1 Widespread allele-specific expression across tissues and cells of the chicken genome

Abstract Chickens are a valuable livestock species, providing an affordable and nutritious food source worldwide through eggs and meat. Additionally, chickens are extensively used in scientific research as model organisms in virology, immunology, epigenetics, development, and conservation biology. Considering this, there are increasing efforts to deepen our understanding of their genome complexity, such as efforts by the Functional Annotation of Animal Genomes (FAANG) Consortium. Toward this goal, we are working to contribute to the annotation of the chicken transcriptome. Allele-specific expression (ASE) is an imbalance of allelic gene expression often driven by genetic and epigenetic changes in cis-regulatory regions. We, therefore, aimed to determine allelic imbalances in gene expression across 20 tissues and cells to shed light on mechanisms regulating gene expression. Using replicate paired-end (PE) RNA-seq samples, we identified around 7 million variants across 20 tissues and cells (e.g., reproductive tissues, intestine tissues, muscle, and immune tissues and cells). We applied quality control measures and filtered out monoallelic and homozygous variants. After that, we calculated read counts per allele to determine allelic expression. We found 365,894 significant ASE SNPs and 11,530 ASE genes in at least one tissue or cell type (FDR ≤ 0.05). We discovered that ASE SNPs are widely distributed throughout the chicken genome, and ASE SNPs and ASE genes showed a varied distribution across tissues and cells. Primary macrophage exhibited the most abundant, while the pectoralis major (breast muscle) had the lowest ASE genes and ASE SNPs, ranging from 7,592 to 32,505 ASE SNPs and 773 to 2,387 ASE genes. Our findings reveal several important pathways affected by allelic imbalance of expression. These pathways included fatty acid biosynthesis and regulation, cell proliferation and differentiation, cell metabolism, adipocytokine signaling, proteolysis and autophagy, and focal adhesion. In summary, our study provides insight into relevant biological processes critical to chickens and can contribute to improving genome annotation, helping to expand the transcriptomic reference source.

A numerical investigation to assess changes to displacement front and by-passed zones employing kinetic interface-sensitive tracer

An important aspect in groundwater remediation is to understand changes of multiphase fluid front morphology and stagnant regions on macro scale. However, the prediction of those changes during two-phase flow remains a challenging task due to the interplay of various physical factors. Recent laboratory experiments have demonstrated tracers' ability to predict deformation in the front of a two-phase flow system by utilizing a new reactive tracer known as, the kinetic interface sensitive tracer (KIS). This research employs a reactive transport model coupled with a macro-scale two-phase flow model to numerically analyse how viscosity ratio, capillary number, and heterogeneities on the tracer's signal and its impact the frontal deformation. One homogeneous and two heterogeneous types of porous media are considered. The background porous medium is a fine-grained, low-permeability medium, with a coarser, high-permeability lenses, generating heterogeneous material properties. The high-permeability lenses account for 25 % of the total model area and are arranged in either periodic or random patterns. The findings are evaluated using four parameters (effective front length, swept area, front roughness, and transition zone length). The flow patterns dominating the shape of the front are characterized by the viscous and capillary forces i.e. capillary number and the viscosity ratio between the two fluids. The results show that changes in flow regimes can be quantified using effective front length, thus employing the effective front length the viscous fingering regions can be quantified. Furthermore, front roughness and transition zone length are extracted and their relevance to the by-passed zones is presented. The slope of the reactive KIS tracer breakthrough curve, plotted on a phase diagram, can also be used to predict the existence of the by-passed zones for a low viscosity ratio. Finally, changes in front roughness and transition zone length induced by the inclusions are correlated to the slope of the KIS tracer BTC. The findings of this study can contribute to a better understanding of the impact of different flow regimes on the KIS tracer breakthrough signals and the linkages between the tracer signals and the front sizes.

The Nexus between Environmental Factors and Behaviour Change in the Upper East Region of Ghana: The Mediating Role of Marketing Strategies

This study aimed to explore the mediating role of marketing strategies in the relationship between environmental factors and behavior change in healthcare utilisation. A cross-sectional survey design was conducted using a random sampling technique to select 474 healthcare workers from six Health Directorates across Municipalities and Districts in the Upper East Region of Ghana. The target population from which the sample size was determined was 1980. The theories that guided this study were the Health Belief Model and the Theory of Planned Planned Behaviour. A structured questionnaire was designed using a five-point Likert scale and administered to the respondents. The data was collected over three months from February to April. A Structural Equation Model (SEM) with AMOS was employed to analyse the data. Findings revealed that marketing strategies mediate the relationship between environmental factors and behaviour change. The predicted hypotheses were found to be positive and significant. The study highlights the importance of marketing strategies in disseminating health-related information, which influences positive behaviour change toward healthcare utilisation. The study found that marketing strategies play a crucial role in disseminating health information and promoting behaviour change. The mediating role of marketing strategies in the relationship between environmental factors and behaviour change was established. All hypotheses were confirmed, demonstrating the key role of marketing strategies in improving health outcomes through behaviour modification. It is recommended that healthcare facility managers consider incorporating marketing strategies into their strategic plans to optimise outcomes.

Non targeted and targeted LC-MS/MS insights into the composition and concentration of atmospheric microplastics and additives: Impacts and regional changes of sandstorms in Shanghai and Hohhot, China

Increasing dust storms impact ecosystems and human health by resuspending dust and microplastics. Plastic pollution is a major global concern. This study examines the molecular composition and concentration of atmospheric microplastics and additives in Hohhot and Shanghai, China during dust and non-dust days using non-target and target LC-MS/MS analysis with Multiple Reaction Monitoring (MRM) methodology and a self-established plastic monomers database. In Hohhot, 98 microplastics and additives types were identified on dust days (41 unique) and 70 on non-dust days (10 unique), mainly PEG, HTPE, PET, PPG, and Nylon. The types fluctuate ranging from 35 to 65 due to dusty conditions. In Shanghai, 50 types were identified (no unique), with 25 to 30 types consistently present. Hohhot's microplastics concentration during dust days peaked at 3531.59 ng/m3, about three times higher than non-dust days (1669.17 ng/m3) and significantly higher than Shanghai's maximum of 589.85 ng/m3. Overall, microplastic monomers in both cities were mostly compounds with low unsaturation, indicating potential for long-term atmospheric persistence. Highly reactive monomers like HTPE, PEG, thrive on dust days in Hohhot due to insufficient light and strong winds. These conditions reduce photochemical reactivity, accelerate microplastic aging through collisions, and resuspend more microplastics from the soil, resulting in a wider variety of microplastics with different m/z and carbon contents during sandstorms. On non-dust days, microplastics have more concentrated m/z values, indicating that substances with similar chemical properties disperse more under normal conditions. These findings highlight the significant impact of dust storms on microplastics characteristics. SynopsisThis study indicates that dust storms and regional differences can have significant impacts on the diversity and abundance of atmospheric microplastics.

DVL/GSK3/ISL1 pathway signaling: unraveling the mechanism of SIRT3 in neurogenesis and AD therapy

BackgroundThe established association between Alzheimer's disease (AD) and compromised neural regeneration is well-documented. In addition to the mitigation of apoptosis in neural stem cells (NSCs), the induction of neurogenesis has been proposed as a promising therapeutic strategy for AD. Our previous research has demonstrated the effective inhibition of NSC injury induced by microglial activation through the repression of oxidative stress and mitochondrial dysfunction by Sirtuin 3 (SIRT3). Nonetheless, the precise role of SIRT3 in neurogenesis remains incompletely understood.MethodsIn vivo, SIRT3 overexpression adenovirus was firstly injected by brain stereotaxic localization to affect the hippocampal SIRT3 expression in APP/PS1 mice, and then behavioral experiments were performed to investigate the cognitive improvement of SIRT3 in APP/PS1 mice, as well as neurogenic changes in hippocampal region by immunohistochemistry and immunofluorescence. In vitro, under the transwell co-culture condition of microglia and neural stem cells, the mechanism of SIRT3 improving neurogenesis of neural stem cells through DVL/GSK3/ISL1 axis was investigated by immunoblotting, immunofluorescence and other experimental methods.ResultsOur findings indicate that the overexpression of SIRT3 in APP/PS1 mice led to enhanced cognitive function and increased neurogenesis. Additionally, SIRT3 was observed to promote the differentiation of NSCs into neurons during retinoic acid (RA)-induced NSC differentiation in vitro, suggesting a potential role in neurogenesis. Furthermore, we observed the activation of the Wnt/ß-catenin signaling pathway during this process, with Glycogen Synthase Kinase-3a (GSK3a) primarily governing NSC proliferation and GSK3ß predominantly regulating NSC differentiation. Moreover, the outcomes of our study demonstrate that SIRT3 exerts a protective effect against microglia-induced apoptosis in neural stem cells through its interaction with DVLs.ConclusionsOur results show that SIRT3 overexpressing APP/PS1 mice have improved cognition and neurogenesis, as well as improved neurogenesis of NSC in microglia and NSC transwell co-culture conditions through the DVL/GSK3/ISL1 axis.

Extreme snowfall variations in the Southeastern Tibetan Plateau under warming climate

Snowfall is a critical component of the Earth system and an important indicator and amplifier of climate change. Climate warming is reducing the seasonal snowpack globally, which could have catastrophic consequences for the regions in high dependence on snow for water recharge. However, the climate influences on extreme snowfall events, which significantly impact humans, are still poorly understood. This study uses the Tibetan Plateau snowpack observation dataset combined with NASA Earth Exchange Global Daily Downscaled Projections (NEX-GDDP-CMIP6) climate data to investigate the spatial and temporal characteristics of snowfall, and to explore its response mechanism to climate change and future change trends across the Lower Yarlung Zangbo River (LYZR) in Southeastern Tibetan Plateau (SETP). Annual snowfall decreased at a rate of 1.05 mm per decade (P < 0.05) during the historical period (1960–2014). Relative to 1960–2014, annual snowfall would decline of ∼38 % and ∼ 73 % by the end of the 21st century under the SSP245 and SSP585 scenarios, respectively. At the same time, a general decrease in extreme snowfall averaged the LYZR is expected for historical and future periods, but it showed notable spatial variations. The regional increase in extreme snowfall is mainly distributed along the valley of Brahmaputra-Yarlung Zangbo. In addition, precipitation accounted for 66.5 % of the snowfall variations during the historical period. Meanwhile, according to future warming, temperature would dominate snowfall variations, contributing 56.66 % to 72.92 % during 2015–2100. The projected response of mean and extreme snowfall to climate change indicates that it is a double-edged sword. To scientifically address the risks and challenges posed by snowfall changes in alpine regions, it is imperative to limit future climate warming.

Sex-Specific Imaging Biomarkers for Parkinson's Disease Diagnosis: A Machine Learning Analysis.

This study aimed to identify sex-specific imaging biomarkers for Parkinson's disease (PD) based on multiple MRI morphological features by using machine learning methods. Participants were categorized into female and male subgroups, and various structural morphological features were extracted. An ensemble Lasso (EnLasso) method was employed to identify a stable optimal feature subset for each sex-based subgroup. Eight typical classifiers were adopted to construct classification models for PD and HC, respectively, to validate whether models specific to sex subgroups could bolster the precision of PD identification. Finally, statistical analysis and correlation tests were carried out on significant brain region features to identify potential sex-specific imaging biomarkers. The best model (MLP) based on the female subgroup and male subgroup achieved average classification accuracy of 92.83% and 92.11%, respectively, which were better than that of the model based on the overall samples (86.88%) and the overall model incorporating gender factor (87.52%). In addition, the most discriminative feature of PD among males was the lh 6r (FD), but among females, it was the lh PreS (GI). The findings indicate that the sex-specific PD diagnosis model yields a significantly higher classification performance compared to previous models that included all participants. Additionally, the male subgroup exhibited a greater number of brain region changes than the female subgroup, suggesting sex-specific differences in PD risk markers. This study underscore the importance of stratifying data by sex and offer insights into sex-specific variations in PD phenotypes, which could aid in the development of precise and personalized diagnostic approaches in the early stages of the disease.

Human-animal contact to inform zoonotic disease risk across gradients of agricultural land use change in the Central River Region (CRR) of The Gambia (ZooContact): a formative study.

Pilot studies are important initial steps in research, providing a preliminary assessment of the practicality, feasibility, and potential challenges of a proposed study. This study attempts to assess the feasibility, practicality, and acceptability of a study that integrates a human-animal contact (HAC) questionnaire, animal biodiversity survey using acoustic analysis, and zoonotic disease investigation in animals among rural households in the Central River Region (CRR) of The Gambia. The pilot study revealed granular insights that would otherwise go unnoticed, providing vital information that directly guided the design and implementation of the subsequent full-scale study on zoonotic disease risk. A pilot study was conducted in five villages in the CRR of The Gambia. Community sensitization was carried out together with the village leadership, followed by a familiarization tour of the study setting. Questionnaire-based interview was conducted among participants (n = 50) randomly selected to assess the acceptability and reliability of the questionnaire. The feasibility and acceptability of biodiversity surveys and animal sampling were assessed using verbal inquiries from participants and community leaders. The recruitment rate was 96%, and most participants, 50 out of 52, were willing to participate without compensation for lost time during interviews. For animal sampling, 45 out of 50 participants were willing to allow the study team to sample blood and feces from their animals without any form of incentive. All five village heads agreed to the usage of sound recorders to be placed within their community for animal biodiversity assessment. For the survey effort, one field assistant interviewed 25 participants per week. It took a total of 1 h to complete an interview, including random household selection, consenting, and questionnaire interview. The pilot study confirmed the feasibility of the research and informed the design of the larger study. Key parameters, such as community access, acceptability, recruitment success, and logistical requirements, contributed to robust sample size calculations and realistic project cost estimates. Additionally, the study enabled the research team to familiarize themselves with the communities and refine the methods for the full study.

Maternal And preGnancy hEalth duriNg elevaTed heAt – MAGENTA: Novel data linkages and methods to understand the impacts of climate change on deprived communities in Wales and London.

Background and ObjectivesThe health impacts from changing climate, including increasing frequency, severity, and duration of heat are projected to worsen. The MAGENTA study will explore the impact of heat on pregnancy-related outcomes for deprived communities in Wales and London. ApproachMAGENTA will create linked data cohorts capturing some of the most deprived and diverse communities in Europe to analyse the impact deprivation, ethnicity, heatwaves, and urban heat islands have on pregnancy-related health. A consented data-linked cohort of pregnant women will provide biological samples and undergo direct measurement of themselves and their home environments to understand the heat stress response of pregnant women not acclimatised to heat during their pregnancy. Core to the study is our public involvement strategy which includes pregnant women and women who have recently delivered a baby, co-producing the research and how results are communicated. ResultsOur electronic cohorts cover &gt;10 years of climate and health data and capture all births in Wales &gt;300,000 and &gt;1.1 million in London. We will present how the novel data linkages can work in multiple trusted research environments, approaches for sharing methods in geospatial modelling and statistics across the project and preliminary findings from the study. Findings and ImplicationsThe MAGENTA study will help inform expectant parents, families and policy makers how to prepare for climate change in temperate regions. The comparison between different populations in Wales and London will give insight on where policies and interventions can be generally applied and where they need to be contextually adapted.

Measuring ecological effects and policy mechanisms of urban land use transition – a case study of Xi'an, China

ABSTRACT Measuring ecological effects and policy mechanisms of urban Land Use Transition (LUT) is the key to understanding regional environmental changes and achieving sustainable urban developments. This paper illustrates and demonstrates a formal method for measuring the ecological effect of LUT characterized by Ecological Security Index (ESI) and Ecosystem Value (ESV), and enhanced with a correlational analysis between the ecological effect model and urban policy mechanism. Using Xi'an, a major capital city of western China as a case study, based on multi-temporal Thematic Mapper (TM) remote sensing images, Digital Elevation Model (DEM) and relevant statistical data, the results show that the method using ESI and ESV, together with the Land Use Transition Probability Matrix (LUTPM) can comprehensively measure the ecological effects of LUT process in Xi'an from 2000 to 2020. The results show that due to the impact of urban expansion, regional construction land increased significantly (by 67.07%), while farmland decreased considerably (by 13.12%). The farmland and forestland around the main urban area of Xi'an were centrally converted into construction land, yet the mutual transition of other types of land was relatively scattered. The total amount of ESV has slightly increased from 40.1 billion yuan to 42.8 billion yuan, and the proportion of ecological service function value presents a decreasing trend in regulation function (65%), support function (22%), supply function (9%), and cultural function (4%). The ESI value slightly decreased from 0.517 to 0.512, and overall it is still in a state of ecological security. The trend of ESV and ESI decreasing from mountainous areas to plains indicates that high-intensity human activities in plain areas have had a significant impact on the ecological environment. The correlation analysis between policy mechanisms and ecological effects indicates that ecological protection policies have improved the ecological environment and maintain ecological security (high ESV-high ESI mode), and may also have limited economic activities and been detrimental to the security of urban composite ecosystems (high ESV-low ESI mode). Spatial expansion policies have driven the rapid growth of construction land and threatened ecological security (low ESV-low ESI mode). Zoning adjustment policies have led to the transformation of ecological land to construction land, threatening ecological security and reducing ESV (low ESV-low ESI mode), and may also have promoted industrial upgrading and economic development, providing economic assurance for improving ecological security (low ESV-high ESI mode). These comprehensive findings provide valuable insights for understanding the ecological effects and policy mechanisms of LUT in Xi'an for achieving sustainable urban development, and demonstrate and explore a novel method to more appropriately and effectively measure LUT by combining ESV and ESI.

Assessing the separate contribution of the domain, RCM and GCM to the uncertainty in CORDEX simulations over the overlapped regions that include Jordan

AbstractThe Coordinated Regional Downscaling Experiment (CORDEX) offers a framework for regional climate downscaling experiments over continental‐based domains that overlap; this allows for conducting multimodel analysis. However, a question is raised about the uncertainty due to domain selection. This study aims to evaluate the sensitivity of CORDEX simulations to the choices of domain, downscaling regional climate model (RCM) and driving global model (GCM) over a Middle East study region, including Jordan. Understanding these sensitivities helps assess simulation uncertainties and enhance regional climate change projections. Taylor diagrams and variance decomposition analyses were used to analyse seasonal temperature and precipitation climatologies. The results indicate that the domain contribution to variance is negligible, whereas the choice of GCM and RCM strongly influences simulations. Variance in temperature is significantly impacted by the driving model (GCM), whereas RCM has a higher influence on precipitation, which reflects their large‐scale versus local nature. The results of this study support the development of multidomain ensembles since projections produced by the same GCM–RCM model combination are consistent across different overlapping domains. On the other hand, this approach facilitates the consideration as well as a comprehensive quantification of the uncertainties arising from the utilization of multiple GCMs and RCMs within such an ensemble. This improves the reliability of regional climate information, thus facilitating the development of effective adaptation strategies and mitigation plans.

Long-term directional changes in urban bird communities of Mar del Plata City, Argentina

Urban environments have been characterized by their temporal stability of resources, which could promote stability in bird composition. Several studies have found that bird communities in urban environments persist over the years, showing a similar species composition in the short term. However, studies analyzing continuous changes in urban communities over the long term are scarce. This study aimed to analyze the stability or directional changes (instability) in bird communities along an urban gradient. Bird counts were conducted in urban, suburban, and periurban areas over 8-10 years in 2002-2019. Changes in species composition were analyzed over periods ranging from one year to the next, to changes from one year to the seventeenth. Urban bird communities were more similar between years than suburban and periurban communities. Compositional changes were greater as time lags increased, indicating directional compositional shifts. The magnitude of these changes was similar across the urban gradient. The Chimango Caracara (Milvago chimango), the Picazuro Pigeon (Patagioenas picazuro), the Rufous Hornero (Furnarius rufus), and the Red-bellied Thrush (Turdus rufiventris) significantly increased their abundances during the period, while the House Sparrow (Passer domesticus) significantly decreased its abundance. Regional changes in species abundance, urban vegetation succession, and biotic interactions could explain the changes in bird communities.

Infrastructure and the evolution of settlement space: a study from a spatial anthropological perspective on the Pearl River Delta

The complex system of the settlement space in China’s Pearl River Delta region has always featured infrastructure as a key medium to explore the evolution of the settlement space. Therefore, anthropological research on infrastructure has become an important dimension for researchers to in analyzing social and spatial issues in the Pearl River Delta region. This study explores the correlation mechanism between infrastructure and settlement space by referring to literature reviews and empirical cases, revealing the underlying political factors, economic factors, cultural factors, and complex social change process of the physical space through empirical case studies. It provides a theoretical research genealogy for exploring spatial evolution in addition to a research sample for analyzing social and cultural changes in the Pearl River Delta region. Moreover, it emphasizes the cognitive significance of historical context and has important implications for future urban development.

Global sustainability scenarios lead to regionally different outcomes for terrestrial biodiversity

Abstract Mitigating climate change (CC) and reversing biodiversity decline are urgent and interconnected global priorities. Strategies to address both crises must consider the relationships, synergies and trade-offs between key response measures, including sustainable production and consumption patterns, protected areas (PAs) and climate mitigation policy (CP). In this paper, we review a large set of scenarios (n = 96) from the Integrated Model to Assess the Global Environment (IMAGE) describing future development of land use, greenhouse gas emissions and their impact on CC and biodiversity. We calculate the global mean temperature increase (GMTI) and the Mean Species Abundance (MSA) of plants, a metric indicative of local terrestrial biodiversity intactness. The set includes scenarios with and without specific CP to address CC, PA for biodiversity and demand and supply sustainability measures such as increased energy efficiency and reduced meat consumption. Our findings indicate that scenarios with integrated measures can prevent biodiversity loss at the global scale, yet with clear regional differences. By 2050, 15 out of 30 (50%) scenarios with at least 30% of global land as PAs show positive MSA changes in grasslands and tropical non-forests (Grass &amp; TnF), but only 1 (3%) does so in tropical forests (TF). We demonstrate that pasture and food/feed crops are the main drivers of MSA loss in Grass &amp; TnF and that scenarios with high levels of PAs prevent land conversion and increase biodiversity. By 2100, 28 out of 46 (60%) scenarios with mitigation measures to restrict CC to 2 °C or less in 2100 result in positive MSA changes in TF, but only 13 (28%) do so in Grass &amp; TnF, reflecting the larger impacts of land use change in the latter region. These results underscore the importance of time and regionally-tailored approaches to address the biodiversity and CC crises.

Current and Future Distribution of the Cataglyphis nodus (Brullé, 1833) in the Middle East and North Africa

Climate change is a major threat to the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, which can cause significant harm to its plant and animal species. We predicted the habitat distribution of Cataglyphis nodus (Brullé, 1833) in MENA using MaxEnt models under current and future climate conditions. Our analysis indicates that the cooler regions of the MENA are projected to experience temperature increases of 1–2 °C by 2040 and 2–4 °C by the 2070s. Similarly, the warmer regions may anticipate rises of 0.5–2 °C by 2040 and 2–4 °C by the 2070s. MaxEnt model results for the current climate show good agreement with observations (mean area under the curve value of 0.975 and mean true statistical skill value of 0.8), indicating good potential habitat suitability for C. nodus. Significant factors affecting habitat suitability are elevation, mean monthly precipitation of the coldest quarter, temperature seasonality, and precipitation amount of the driest month. The research predicts that under Shared Socioeconomic Pathway (SSP) 1.2.6, the habitat suitability area may increase by 6% in 2040, while SSP 3.7.0 (0.3%) and SSP 5.8.5 (2.6%) predict a decrease. For 2070, SSP 5.8.5 predicts a 2.2% reduction in habitat suitability, while SSP 1.2.6 (0.4%) and SSP 3.7.0 (1.3%) predict slight increases. The results provide insight into the potential impacts of climate change on the species and regional biodiversity changes associated with the projected species distribution.

Precision Imaging in Neurodegeneration: The Superiority of Diffusion Tensor Imaging Over Conventional MRI in Differentiating Parkinson's Disease From Atypical Parkinsonian Syndromes.

Background Parkinson's disease (PD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder characterized by the degeneration of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra, leading to motor and non-motor symptoms. Atypical parkinsonian syndromes (APS), including progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP) and essential tremor (ET), present with overlapping clinical features, making differential diagnosis challenging. Conventional MRI has limitations in distinguishing PD from APS, necessitating advanced imaging techniques like diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) for more accurate diagnosis. Objectives This retrospective study aimed to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of DTIin diagnosing PDand APS, particularly assessing its ability to differentiate these conditions from each other compared to conventional MRI. Additionally, the study sought to determine if DTI could diagnose PD in cases where conventional MRI results were normal, thereby highlighting the potential role of DTI in enhancing diagnostic precision in neurodegenerative disorders. Methodology The study included 30 patients with clinically diagnosed PD or APS who underwent both conventional MRI and DTI. Data were collected retrospectively. Imaging was performed using a Philips Multiva 1.5-Tesla MRI scanner (Philips, Amsterdam, Netherlands). DTI sequences were analyzed for fractional anisotropy (FA)values in the substantia nigra, superior cerebellar peduncle, middle cerebellar peduncle, transverse pontine fibers, and dentate nucleus. The FA values were compared with established normal values, and the findings from DTI were correlated with clinical diagnoses and conventional MRI results. Results Among the 30 patients, 53.3% were clinically diagnosed with PDand 46.7% with APS, including PSP and ET. Conventional MRI findings were normal in 46.7% of cases, indicating its limitations in detecting early or subtle changes in neurodegenerative disorders. In contrast, DTI identified abnormalities in 83.3% of cases, demonstrating its superior diagnostic sensitivity. DTI detected significant FA value reductions in the substantia nigra in PD patients (mean FA: 0.440), which is consistent with the degeneration of dopaminergic neurons characteristic of PD. In PSP patients, the superior cerebellar peduncle showed marked FA reductions (mean FA: 0.523), correlating with the clinical features of PSP, such as bradykinesia and postural instability. ET was identified by reduced FA values in the superior cerebellar peduncle and dentate nucleus, distinguishing it from other forms of parkinsonism. DTI was particularly effective in cases where conventional MRI results were inconclusive or normal, identifying early-stage PD and differentiating it from APS with greater accuracy. The study demonstrated a sensitivity of 95.8% and specificity of 93.8% for DTI in differentiating PD from APS compared to conventional MRI. Conclusion This study highlights DTI as a superior imaging modality for the early diagnosis and differentiation of parkinsonian disorders, particularly when conventional MRI results are inconclusive. DTI's ability to detect significant microstructural changes in specific brain regions, evidenced by FA value reductions, enhances diagnostic accuracy. Incorporating DTI into routine clinical practice is essential for accurate differentiation between PD and APS, facilitating better patient management.