Vulnerable Regions Research Articles

Enhancing the Mobility of Small-Scale Robots Via Nonlinear Structural Springs Exhibiting Negative Stiffness

Abstract Compared to traditional robotic systems, small-scale robots, ranging from several millimeters to micrometres in size, are capable of reaching narrower and vulnerable regions with minimal damage. However, conventional small-scale robots’ limited maneuverability and controlability hinder their ability to effectively navigate in the intricate environments, such as the gastrointestinal tract. Self-propelled capsule robots driven by vibrations and impacts emerge as a promising solution, holding the potentials to enhance diagnostic accuracy, enable targeted drug delivery, and alleviate patient discomfort during gastrointestinal endoscopic procedures. This paper builds upon our previous work on self-propelled capsule robots, exploring the potential of nonlinear connecting springs to enhance its propulsion capabilities. Leveraging a mathematical model for self-propelling robots with a von Mises truss spring, which is verified using a finite element model, we investigate the effects of negative stiffness and snap-back within the nonlinear structural spring on the robots’ propelling speed. Our analysis reveals that the negative stiffness of the von Mises truss can significantly reduce the sensitivity of the propelling speed to excitation frequency. As a result, the capsule robot exhibits a remarkably wider operational band where it maintains a high average propelling speed, surpassing its linear counterpart. This work sheds light on the potential for developing customized nonlinear structural systems for diverse scenarios in small-scale robot applications, opening up new possibilities for enhanced functionality and maneuverability in various biomedical applications.

Understanding the effects of flash drought on vegetation photosynthesis and potential drivers over China

Flash droughts characterized by rapid onset and intensification are expected to be a new normal under climate change and potentially affect vegetation photosynthesis and terrestrial carbon sink. However, the effects of flash drought on vegetation photosynthesis and their potential dominant driving factors remain uncertain. Here, we quantify the susceptibility and response magnitude of vegetation photosynthesis to flash drought across different ecosystems (i.e., forest, shrubland, grassland, and cropland) in China based on reanalysis and satellite observations. By employing the extreme gradient boosting model, we also identify the dominant factors that influence these flash drought-photosynthesis relationships. We show that over 51.46 % of ecosystems across China are susceptible to flash drought, and grasslands are substantially suppressed, as reflected in both sensitivity and response magnitude (with median gross primary productivity anomalies of −0.13). We further demonstrate that background climate differences (e.g., mean annual temperature and aridity) predominantly regulate the response variation in forest and shrubland, with hotter/colder or drier ecosystems being more severely suppressed by flash drought. However, in grasslands and croplands, the differential vegetation responses are attributed to the intensity of abnormal hydro-meteorological conditions during flash drought (e.g., vapor pressure deficit (VPD) and temperature anomalies). The effects of flash droughts intensify with increasing VPD and nonmonotonically relate to temperature, with colder or hotter temperatures leading to more severe vegetation loss. Our results identify the vulnerable ecological regions under flash drought and enable a better understanding of vegetation photosynthesis response to climate extremes, which may be useful for developing effective management strategies.

Abstract 2074: De Novo Nucleotide Synthesis Is Necessary For DNA Damage And Repair In Atheroprone Endothelial Cells

Aims: Endothelial cell (EC) metabolism is tightly regulated by hemodynamic changes to protect them from atherogenic injury induced by disturbed flow (d-flow) and other atherogenic risk factors. Therefore, characterizing the role of flow-induced metabolic reprogramming is important to develop new treatments for atherosclerosis and similar diseases. Currently, the effect of proatherogenic d-flow on EC nucleotide metabolism, including de novo purine and pyrimidine synthesis, remains under explored. ATIC and CAD are critical enzymes for de novo purine synthesis and pyrimidine synthesis, respectively. We investigated in the role of ATIC and CAD-mediated de novo nucleotide metabolism in atheroprone ECs. Methods and Results: (i) scRNA-Seq analysis results showed that DNA damage response was increased in ECs exposed to d-flow, this was accompanied by increased ATIC-mediated de novo purine synthesis and CAD-mediated de novo pyrimidine synthesis; (ii) Knockdown of ATIC or CAD with siRNA aggravated EC DNA damage, apoptosis and EC permeability induced by d-flow or other atherogenic factors; (iii) Supplement of nucleobases can rescue ATIC KD-mediated DNA damage and apoptosis in ECs; (iv) MYC, predicted high stringency binding with ATIC promoter, was highly expressed in d-flow induced ECs and MYC knockdown reduced the increased ATIC expression in d-flow induced ECs; (v) The atherosclerotic lesion size was markedly increased in EC-specific Atic deficient mice in atherosclerosis. Conclusion: ATIC and CAD-mediated de novo nucleotide synthesis in ECs supply nucleotides to repair DNA damage and preserve EC barrier integrity in vulnerable atheroprone regions and ultimately protect against the development and progression of atherosclerosis.

Declining Tradeoff Between Resistance and Resilience of Ecosystems to Drought

AbstractResistance and resilience are widely used to characterize ecosystem drought stability. Tradeoff between resistance and resilience have been reported, but its long‐term trends remain uncertain at global scale. Based on remotely sensed vegetation indices, we assessed the spatiotemporal dynamics of drought resistance and resilience. Result revealed that there was a significant decline in the tradeoff between resistance and resilience, corresponding to a substantial increase in the proportion of areas with high resistance‐high resilience or low resistance‐low resilience. In the South Sahel, South Africa and Central China, the increased precipitation and vegetation coverage contribute to enhanced drought stability constructed by resistance and resilience; while rising temperature, decreased water availability and deforestation lead to declined stability in northeastern North America, South America and the Congo region. Increases in the areas with low resistance‐low resilience resulting from declining tradeoffs warn of increased regional ecosystem vulnerability.

Cellular iron deposition patterns predict clinical subtypes of multiple system atrophy

BackgroundMultiple system atrophy (MSA) is a primary oligodendroglial synucleinopathy, characterized by elevated iron burden in early-affected subcortical nuclei. Although neurotoxic effects of brain iron deposition and its relationship with α-synuclein pathology have been demonstrated, the exact role of iron dysregulation in MSA pathogenesis is unknown. Therefore, advancing the understanding of iron dysregulation at the cellular level is critical, especially in relation to α-synuclein cytopathology. MethodsIron burden in subcortical and brainstem regions were histologically mapped in human post-mortem brains of 4 MSA-parkinsonian (MSA-P), 4 MSA-cerebellar (MSA-C), and 1 MSA case with both parkinsonian and cerebellar features. We then performed the first cell type-specific evaluation of pathological iron deposition in α-synuclein-affected and -unaffected cells of the globus pallidus, putamen, and the substantia nigra, regions of highest iron concentration, using a combination of iron staining with immunolabelling. Selective regional and cellular vulnerability patterns of iron deposition were compared between disease subtypes. In 7 MSA cases, expression of key iron- and closely related oxygen-homeostatic genes were examined. ResultsMSA-P and MSA-C showed different patterns of regional iron burden across the pathology-related systems. We identified subcortical microglia to predominantly accumulate iron, which was more distinct in MSA-P. MSA-C showed relatively heterogenous iron accumulation, with greater or similar deposition in astroglia. Iron deposition was also found outside cellular bodies. Cellular iron burden associated with oligodendrocytic, and not neuronal, α-synuclein cytopathology. Gene expression analysis revealed dysregulation of oxygen homeostatic genes, rather than of cellular iron. Importantly, hierarchal cluster analysis revealed the pattern of cellular vulnerability to iron accumulation, distinctly to α-synuclein pathology load in the subtype-related systems, to distinguish MSA subtypes. ConclusionsOur comprehensive evaluation of iron deposition in MSA brains identified distinct regional, and for the first time, cellular distribution of iron deposition in MSA-P and MSA-C and revealed cellular vulnerability patterns to iron deposition as a novel neuropathological characteristic that predicts MSA clinical subtypes. Our findings suggest distinct iron-related pathomechanisms in MSA clinical subtypes that are therefore not a consequence of a uniform down-stream pathway to α-synuclein pathology, and inform current efforts in iron chelation therapies at the disease and cellular-specific levels.

Remote sensing and geospatial approach: Optimizing groundwater exploration in semi-arid region, Nepal

Groundwater is the fundamental component of the hydrological system that acts as a major factor in comprehensions of the physical processes in both the land surface and the atmosphere. Determining groundwater, which directly affects the agricultural productivity of semi-arid mountainous regions, is crucial. Mountain ecosystems, once abundant with flowing water, now face immense pressure from a changing climate, evident in the drying of springs and the diminishing flow of groundwater. Ensuring a steady flow of water, fair access to it, and responsible use are the cornerstones of a secure future for mountain communities. This study aims to assess the groundwater potential zones using remote sensing and a geospatial approach in the Mustang Valley's rural municipalities (Thasang and Gharapjhong). Nine factors were assigned to assess the groundwater potential map: slope, drainage density, lineament density, geology, soil, land use/land cover, rainfall, aspect, and soil moisture. The Bayesian weights of evidence model was used to delineate the groundwater potential zone. The study categorized groundwater potential across the region, creating five zones: very high, high, moderate, low, and very low. These zones covered 0.6 %, 12.4 %, 51.2 %, 35.5 %, and 0.3 % of the study area. The accuracy of the groundwater potential map was assessed by comparing its predictions with the actual locations of springs, using the area under the curve metric. The receiver operating characteristics curve analysis yielded an area under the curve of 0.7226, indicating a 72.26 % accuracy in predicting the presence of groundwater. The findings of this paper contribute to a better understanding of groundwater potential zones, which can support policymakers and planners for hydrological, meteorological, and crop planning applications in this climatically vulnerable region.

Karst fissures mitigate the negative effects of drought on plant growth and photosynthetic physiology.

Hard limestone substrates, which are extensively distributed, are believed to exacerbate drought and increase the difficulty of restoration in vulnerable karst regions. Fissures in such substrates may alleviate the negative effect of drought on plants, but the underlying mechanisms remain poorly understood. In a two-way factorial block design, the growth and photosynthesis of 2-year-old Phoebe zhennan seedlings were investigated in two water availabilities (high versus low) and three stimulated fissure habitat groups (soil, soil-filled fissure and non-soil-filled fissure). Moreover, the fissure treatments included both small and big fissures. Compared to the soil group, the non-soil-filled fissure group had decreased the total biomass, root biomass, total root length, and the root length of fine roots in the soil layer at both water availabilities, but increased net photosynthetic rate (Pn) and retained stable water use efficiency (WUE) at low water availability. However, there were no significant differences between the soil-filled fissure group and soil group in the biomass accumulation and allocation as well as Pn. Nevertheless, the SF group decreased the root distribution in total and in the soil layer, and also increased WUE at low water availability. Across all treatments, fissure size had no effect on plant growth or photosynthesis. Karst fissures filled with soil can alleviate drought impacts on plant root growth, which involves adjusting root distribution strategies and increasing water use efficiency. These results suggest that rock fissures can be involved in long-term plant responses to drought stress and vegetation restoration in rocky mountain environments under global climate change.

Fuzzy comparison of drought vulnerability based on the analytical hierarchy process

The vulnerability represents the level to which any ecosystem experiences impairment due to natural distress. One such distress is drought, a prolonged phase of deficient rainfall that causes the depletion of water resources. The possibility of the influences of drought principally depends on the vulnerability of the affected area. The predominantly arid climate of Pakistan and the dependence of its economy on agriculture make it vulnerable to climate change. Rahim Yar Khan and Tharparkar have similar environmental conditions, but Tharparkar experiences more droughts. Vulnerability factors observed by the two districts among the regions are different even with similar climate conditions. The system vulnerability to drought was observed for two districts by using the analytical hierarchy process (AHP) and drought vulnerability index (DVI). The drought vulnerability index (DVI) was used to assess the meteorological, agricultural, hydrological, and socio-economic indicators to build the hierarchy for these inconsistence factors and evaluate the most vulnerable and affecting cause among the meteorological, agricultural, hydrological, and socio-economic indicators. The selected measures specify the hypotheses and the relativity of the indicators to the overall vulnerability of the system. The evaluated weights for each variable are derived from the analytical hierarchy process by comparing the variables of the selected indicators. Due to different meteorological, agricultural, and socio-economic conditions, the weights for the DVI were not the same in both study districts, i.e., Rahim Yar Khan and Tharparkar. The classification of vulnerability depending upon the drought vulnerability index with AHP suggests that the DV indexation is favorable in assessing the regional drought vulnerability. The drought vulnerability assessment of Tharparkar indicates that Tharparkar is highly vulnerable to drought, i.e., DVI = 0.066, as it is highly dependent on irrigation resources for its agriculture and livestock. The unavailability of hydrological resources has increased the drought vulnerability of the Tharparkar, which corresponds to a high level of agricultural damage due to droughts. However, the district of Rahim Yar Khan with developed irrigation resources has a lower drought vulnerability index (DVI = 0.011). It is necessary for Tharparkar to establish countermeasures to mitigate the drought vulnerability through the development of water resources. Future studies are needed to be focused on more indicators for assessing particular drought vulnerability issues in order to reduce the drought vulnerability of Tharparkar.

Spatio-Temporal Evolution of Ecological Resilience in Ecologically Fragile Areas and Its Influencing Factors: A Case Study of the Wuling Mountains Area, China

The ecological environment of the Wuling Mountains region has been impacted by climate change and economic development, necessitating immediate reinforcement of ecological protection and restoration measures. The study utilized the normalized vegetation index (NDVI) as a proxy for ecological resilience. NDVI data from 2000 to 2020 were employed to compute the ecological resilience index of the Wuling Mountains area and to examine its spatial and temporal evolution as well as the factors influencing it. The findings indicate that: (1) The ecological resilience index increased in the Wuling Mountains area and Guizhou, Chongqing, and Hunan sub-areas but decreased in the Hubei sub-area. (2) The ecological resilience varies significantly in the Wuling Mountains area and the Guizhou, Hubei, and Hunan sub-regions, whereas it varies less in the Chongqing sub-region. (3) The primary elements influencing the ecological resilience capability of the Wuling Mountains area and its four sub-areas are climate conditions and socio-economic factors, respectively. The study can offer a scientific foundation for ecological conservation and restoration efforts in the Wuling Mountains area, as well as serve as a benchmark for measuring ecological resilience in other environmentally vulnerable regions.

On the utility of story loss functions for regional seismic vulnerability modeling and risk assessment

Vulnerability functions relate loss to seismic intensity and can be developed via several approaches. They are a fundamental part of seismic risk assessment on a regional level and support decision-making and intervention strategies aimed at reducing risk. This article discusses a prominent analytical approach to developing seismic vulnerability models for buildings based on equivalent single-degree-of-freedom (SDOF) modeling, fragility function, and damage-to-loss model integration. The fundamental assumptions are scrutinized, and their principal drawbacks are highlighted. An alternative approach also based on an equivalent SDOF modeling approach is discussed but instead capitalizes on story loss functions (SLFs) as a means to more accurately compute economic losses and their sources. The main benefit is that the contribution of floor acceleration-based losses can be directly considered, and the disaggregation of losses is fully represented. A case study comparison is presented to highlight the similarities and key benefits. It is seen that the SLF-based approach can provide a much more comprehensive means to compute and communicate loss contributions among different element groups (i.e., structural, non-structural, and contents) and individual stories along the building height. Existing models can simply be adjusted to this approach and provide a more holistic view of risk. The benefits and potential applications in the (re)insurance sector are also discussed.

Analyzing the COVID-19 Transmission Dynamics in Acre, Brazil: An Ecological Study.

The north region of Brazil is characterized by significant vulnerabilities, notably surpassing national poverty indicators. These disparities exacerbated the impact of respiratory illnesses on the healthcare system during the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly in areas with limited healthcare resources, inadequate infrastructure, and barriers to healthcare access. The crisis was further influenced by multiple lineages that emerged as significant virus variants associated with increased transmissibility. Within this context, our ecological study focused on analyzing the epidemiological evolution of COVID-19 in the state of Acre. We constructed time-series trends in incidence, lethality, and mortality from March 2020 to December 2022 using the Prais-Winsten regression model. Our findings revealed that in 2020, there was an increasing trend in incidence, while mortality and lethality continued to decrease (p < 0.05). In the following year, both incidence and mortality decreased, while lethality increased at a rate of 1.02% per day. By the end of 2022, trends remained stationary across all rates. These results underscore the importance of ongoing surveillance and adaptive public health measures to bolster the resilience of healthcare systems in remote and vulnerable regions. Indeed, continuous monitoring of the most predominant SARS-CoV-2 lineages and their dynamics is imperative. Such proactive actions are essential for addressing emerging challenges and ensuring effective responses to adverse situations.

Prediction of Storm Surges in the East Coast of Peninsular Malaysia in Response to Climate Change

This study employed the MIKE 21HD modeling framework, integrating data from the future climate database, "Policy Decision Making for Future Climate Change (d4PDF)" on selected critical ensembles to investigate the impact of climate change on storm surge height (SSH) along the East Coast of Peninsular Malaysia during the Northeast Monsoon season. Three scenarios, including past-historical data, future climate with a 2°C increment (+2K), and future climate with a 4°C increment (+4K), were analyzed. The study had validated model accuracy through root mean square error (RMSE), demonstrating alignment with observed data. Results indicated a correlation between temperature increase and storm surge height (SSH), with higher temperature scenarios leading to more severe surge outcomes. The analysis identified the Future +4K scenarios as yielding the most critical SSH across all stations, with recorded SSH at Kuala Pahang (SSHmax = 1.379 m), Chendering (SSHmax = 1.344 m), Geting (SSHmax = 1.251 m), and Tanjung Sedili (SSHmax = 1.251 m) stations. Considering the findings, it was recommended to reassess the baseline provision for coastal engineering projects, suggesting a storm surge resilience design exceeding the observed maximum. The utilization of d4PDF data in this study laid the groundwork for targeted strategies to mitigate the impacts of climate-induced storm surges in vulnerable coastal regions.

Impacts of climate change on food system security and sustainability in Bangladesh

ABSTRACT Climate change poses a significant threat to the security and sustainability of global food systems, particularly in vulnerable regions such as Bangladesh. This paper comprehensively reviews the impact of climate change on food system security and sustainability in Bangladesh. Specifically, it examines the country's food system and, the climatic conditions endangering food systems and associated vulnerabilities. A systematic review methodology was adopted to select the relevant literature, based on predefined inclusion criteria and research questions. To mitigate selection bias, the research team independently screened and evaluated the articles for inclusion in the review process. Our review reveals increasing trends in temperature fluctuations and irregular rainfall occurrences, posing significant challenges in terms of crop management and planning. The occurrence of floods due to extreme rainfall and sea-level rise exacerbates food insecurity in affected areas. Additionally, moderate to severe droughts have been identified in some regions. The paper also evaluates the effectiveness of current adaptation initiatives and the degree of integration among relevant stakeholders. Through this analysis, the paper emphasizes the importance of local climate-change adaptation strategies and stakeholder collaboration in mitigating the adverse impacts of climate-change on food system security.

Socially vulnerable patients are more likely to fail outpatient management of symptomatic cholelithiasis

BackgroundSymptomatic cholelithiasis is a common surgical problem, with many patients requiring multiple gallstone-related emergency department (ED) visits before cholecystectomy. The Social Vulnerability Index (SVI) identifies vulnerable patient populations. This study aimed to assess the association between social vulnerability and outpatient management of symptomatic cholelithiasis. MethodsPatients with symptomatic cholelithiasis–related ED visits were identified within our health system from 2016 to 2022. Clinical outcomes data were merged with SVI census track data, which consist of 4 SVI subthemes (socioeconomic status, household characteristics, racial and ethnic minority status, and housing type and transportation). Multivariate analysis was used for statistical analysis. ResultsA total of 47,292 patients presented to the ED with symptomatic cholelithiasis, of which 6103 patients (13.3 %) resided in vulnerable census tract regions. Of these patients, 13,795 (29.2 %) underwent immediate cholecystectomy with a mean time to surgery of 35.1 h, 8250 (17.4 %) underwent elective cholecystectomy at a mean of 40.6 days from the initial ED visit, and 2924 (6.2 %) failed outpatient management and returned 1.26 times (range, 1–11) to the ED with recurrent biliary–related pain. Multivariate analysis found social vulnerability subthemes of socioeconomic status (odds ratio [OR], 1.29; 95 % CI, 1.09–1.52) and racial and ethnic minority status (OR, 2.41; 95 % CI, 2.05–2.83) to be associated with failure of outpatient management of symptomatic cholelithiasis. ConclusionSocially vulnerable patients are more likely to return to the ED with symptomatic cholelithiasis. Policies to support this vulnerable population in the outpatient setting with timely follow-up and elective cholecystectomy can help reduce delays in care and overutilization of ED resources.

Geospatial assessment of ecological vulnerability of fragile Eastern Duars Forest integrating GIS-based AHP, CRITIC and AHP-TOPSIS models

Assessment of the ecological vulnerability of regional forests is extremely vital for easing the struggle for forest conservation. Therefore, the present study aims to delve into the ecological vulnerability of the Eastern Duars forest in the Indian sub-Himalayan region. The study employs three cutting-edge multi-criteria decision-making methods, including AHP, CRITIC, and AHP-TOPSIS methods, in which geo-environmental (elevation, slope, soil texture), hydro-meteorological (precipitation, temperature, waterbodies), vegetation index and anthropogenic (land use land cover, road, settlement) criteria are integrated, to assess ecological vulnerability. The vulnerability maps indicate that very high vulnerable areas comprise 0.05%, 0.01%, 23.96%, high vulnerable 19.72%, 17.51%, 41.52%, moderate vulnerable 63.45%, 49.66%, 29.49%, low vulnerable 16.70%, 30.82%, 4.10% and very low vulnerable 0.08%, 2.02%, 0.92% of area as per AHP, CRITIC, and AHP-TOPSIS method respectively. The highly vulnerable region is found in human-modified areas, where anthropogenic activities disrupt the natural ecological process, and deforestation is evident. Hence, careful strategic policies should be enforced regarding the restriction of anthropogenic activities, human habitation expansion, and changing climate to sustain the fragile Duars forest ecosystem. The inclusion of objective and hybrid criteria weighting methods, along with predominant knowledge-driven subjective weighting method, will promote the practice of comprehensive ecological vulnerability assessment.

High-Grade Glioma Recurrence Is Delayed in Hispanic Patients despite Severe Social Vulnerability: A Retrospective Cohort Study.

High-grade gliomas (HGGs; WHO grade III or IV) are the most common and lethal brain malignancy. Patients of Hispanic ethnicity are diagnosed with HGGs earlier than non-Hispanic patients, but they exhibit improved HGG survival following diagnosis. Either environmental or biological factors could explain this survival benefit. We aimed to determine if post-diagnosis advantages would still be present in Hispanic patients with high social vulnerability, an environmental condition predisposing patients to poor oncologic outcomes. HGG outcomes were retrospectively assessed in a cohort of 22 Hispanic patients and 33 non-Hispanic patients treated for HGGs from 2015 to 2020 at a single institution that serves a highly vulnerable region. Compared to non-Hispanic patients, Hispanic patients demonstrated higher social vulnerability index scores (96.8 + 0.7 vs. 76.3 + 4.6; *** p = 0.0002) and a 14-month longer interval between diagnosis and recurrence (19.7 + 5.9 (n = 13) vs. 5.5 + 0.6 months (n = 19); ** p = 0.001). In only those patients with more aggressive IDH-1 wildtype tumors (glioblastoma), Hispanic ethnicity still related to a longer time before recurrence (15.8 + 5.9 months (n = 9); 5.5 + 0.6 months (n = 18); * p = 0.034), and in a multivariate analysis, Hispanic ethnicity predicted time-to-recurrence (* p = 0.027) independent of patient age, functional status, MGMT gene methylation, or treatments received. Therefore, environmental factors, specifically social vulnerability, did not obscure the post-diagnosis benefits associated with Hispanic ethnicity. In future experiments, basic studies should be prioritized which investigate the cellular or genetic mechanisms underlying this ethnicity effect on HGG progression in the hopes of improving care for these devastating malignancies.

Rising trend and regional disparities of the global burden of disease attributable to ambient low temperature, 1990-2019: An analysis of data from the Global Burden of Disease 2019 study.

Previous studies on the effect of global warming on the global burden of disease have mainly focussed on the impact of high temperatures, thereby providing limited evidence of the effect of lower temperatures. We adopted a three-stage analysis approach using data from the Global Burden of Disease 2019 study. First, we explored the global burden of disease attributable to low temperatures, examining variations by gender, age, cause, region, and country. Second, we analysed temporal trends in low-temperature-related disease burdens from 1990 to 2019 by meta-regression. Finally, we fitted a mixed-effects meta-regression model to explore the effect modification of country-level characteristics. In 2019, low temperatures were responsible for 2.92% of global deaths and 1.03% of disability-adjusted life years (DALYs), corresponding to a death rate of 21.36 (95% uncertainty interval (UI) = 18.26, 24.73) and a DALY rate of 335 (95% UI = 280, 399) per 100 000 population. Most of the deaths (85.12%) and DALYs (94.38%) attributable to low temperatures were associated with ischaemic heart disease, stroke, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. In the last three decades, we observed an upward trend for the annual number of attributable deaths (P < 0.001) and a downward trend for the rates of death (P < 0.001) and DALYs (P < 0.001). The disease burden associated with low temperatures varied considerably among regions and countries, with higher burdens observed in regions with middle or high-middle socio-demographic indices, as well as countries with higher gross domestic product per capita and a larger proportion of ageing population. Our findings emphasise the significance of raising public awareness and prioritising policies to protect global population health from the adverse effects of low temperatures, even in the face of global warming. Particular efforts should be targeted towards individuals with underlying diseases (e.g. cardiovascular diseases) and vulnerable countries or regions (e.g. Central Asia and central Europe).

Universities as catalysts of change in locked-in and vulnerable resource-based regions of the Global South

ABSTRACT This paper explores the contribution of universities to regional development and innovation in locked-in and vulnerable resource-based regions of the Global South. Building on a regional change agency approach, we identify the combination of key factors and context preconditions for universities to successfully fulfil their local engagement role in a particularly challenging environment. To do so, we use a comparative case study of two mining regions in Peru. Our results reveal that the prevalence of a climate of conflict and the lack of an innovation culture in the regional ecosystem are important challenges, while strategic leadership and institutional capacities are central elements for universities to fulfil their role as transformative agents.

Characterization and identification of long-chain hydrocarbon-degrading bacterial communities in long-term chronically polluted soil in Ogoniland: an integrated approach using culture-dependent and independent methods

Escalating oil consumption has resulted in an increase in accidental spills of petroleum hydrocarbons, causing severe environmental degradation, notably in vulnerable regions like the Niger Delta. Complex mixture of these hydrocarbons particularly long-chain alkanes presents unique challenges in restoration of polluted environment due to their chemical properties. This study aimed to investigate the long-chain hydrocarbon-degrading bacterial communities within long-term chronically polluted soil in Ogoniland, by utilizing both traditional cultivation methods and modern culture-independent techniques. Results revealed that surface-polluted soil (SPS) and subsurface soil (SPSS) exhibit significantly higher total organic carbon (TOC) ranging from 5.64 to 5.06% and total petroleum hydrocarbons (TPH) levels ranging from 36,775 ppm to 14,087 ppm, compared to unpolluted soil (UPS) with 1.97% TOC and 479 ppm TPH, respectively. Analysis of carbon chain lengths reveals the prevalence of longer-chain alkanes (C20-28) in the surface soil. Culture-dependent methods, utilizing crude oil enrichment (COE) and paraffin wax enrichment (PWE), yield 47 bacterial isolates subjected to a long-chain alkane degradation assay. Twelve bacterial strains demonstrate significant degradation abilities across all enriched media. Three bacterial members, namely Pseudomonas sp. (almA), Marinomonas sp. (almA), and Alteromonas (ladA), exhibit genes responsible for long-chain alkane degradation, demonstrating efficiency between 50 and 80%. Culture-independent analysis reveals that surface SPS samples exhibit greater species richness and diversity compared to subsurface SPSS samples. Proteobacteria dominates as the phylum in both soil sample types, ranging from 22.23 to 82.61%, with Firmicutes (0.2–2.22%), Actinobacteria (0.4–3.02%), and Acidobacteria (0.1–3.53%) also prevalent. Bacterial profiles at genus level revealed that distinct variations among bacterial populations between SPS and SPSS samples comprising number of hydrocarbon degraders and the functional predictions also highlight the presence of potential catabolic genes (nahAa, adh2, and cpnA) in the polluted soil. However, culture-dependent analysis only captured a few of the dominant members found in culture-independent analysis, implying that more specialized media or environments are needed to isolate more bacterial members. The findings from this study contribute valuable information to ecological and biotechnological aspects, aiding in the development of more effective bioremediation applications for restoring oil-contaminated environments.

Effect of input subsidies and extension services: Evidence from rice productivity in Bangladesh

This study examines the effect of agricultural input subsidy cards and extension services on Bangladesh’s rice productivity, using plot level panel data from three waves (2011–2019) of the Bangladesh Integrated Household Survey. To control for endogeneity of the two programs, instrumental variable and control function approaches are used. Findings reveal that access to input subsidy cards and extension services raise productivity in rice-planted plots by nearly 20% and 22%, respectively. Further, the channels and type of advisory services matter. Finally, access to input subsidy cards and extension services is more beneficial in areas prone to droughts and excessive rainfall. These findings underscore the value of complementary investments in robust extension systems, especially in vulnerable regions, to optimize the performance of input subsidy programs. Expanded extension services coupled with input subsidies can be an effective policy mix to raise productivity, strengthen climate resilience, and promote inclusive agricultural growth in Bangladesh.