Karst regions offer a variety of natural resources such as freshwater and biodiversity, and many cultural resources. The World Karst Aquifer Map (WOKAM) is the first detailed and complete global geodatabase concerning the distribution of karstifiable rocks (carbonates and evaporites) representing potential karst aquifers. This study presents a statistical evaluation of WOKAM, focusing entirely on karst in carbonate rocks and addressing four main aspects: (1) global occurrence and geographic distribution of karst; (2) karst in various topographic settings and coastal areas; (3) karst in different climatic zones; and (4) populations living on karst. According to the analysis, 15.2% of the global ice-free continental surface is characterized by the presence of karstifiable carbonate rock. The largest percentage is in Europe (21.8%); the largest absolute area occurs in Asia (8.35 million km 2 ). Globally, 31.1% of all surface exposures of carbonate rocks occur in plains, 28.1% in hills and 40.8% in mountains, and 151,400 km or 15.7% of marine coastlines are characterized by carbonate rocks. About 34.2% of all carbonate rocks occur in arid climates, followed by 28.2% in cold and 15.9% in temperate climates, whereas only 13.1 and 8.6% occur in tropical and polar climates, respectively. Globally, 1.18 billion people (16.5% of the global population) live on karst. The highest absolute number occurs in Asia (661.7 million), whereas the highest percentages are in Europe (25.3%) and North America (23.5%). These results demonstrate the global importance of karst and serve as a basis for further research and international water management strategies. Karstregionen beinhalten eine Vielzahl natürlicher Ressourcen, wie Süßwasser und Biodiversität, sowie zahlreiche kulturelle und historische Ressourcen. Die Welt-Karstaquifer-Karte (WOKAM) ist die erste detaillierte und vollständige globale Datenbasis über die Verbreitung von verkarstungsfähigen Gesteinen (Carbonate und Evaporite), welche potentielle Karstaquifere darstellen. Diese Studie präsentiert eine statistische Auswertung von WOKAM, mit dem Fokus auf Karst in Carbonatgesteinen, und adressiert vier wesentliche Aspekte: (i) globales Vorkommen und geografische Verteilung von Karst; (ii) Karst in verschiedenen topografischen Settings und in Küstengebieten; (iii) Karst in verschiedenen Klimazonen; und (iv) Bevölkerung in Karstgebieten. Die Analyse ergibt, dass 15,2 % der globalen, eisfreien Kontinentalfläche durch Carbonatgesteine charakterisiert sind. Der höchste prozentuale Anteil tritt in Europa auf (21,8 %); die größte absolute Fläche in Asien (8,35 Mio. km²). Weltweit treten 31,1 % aller anstehenden Carbonatgesteine in Ebenen auf, 28,1 % im Hügelland und 40,8 % in Gebirgen; 151,400 km oder 15,7 % der globalen marinen Küstenlinie wird von Carbonatgesteinen geprägt. Etwa 34,2 % aller Carbonatgesteine kommen im ariden Klima vor, gefolgt von 28,2 % in kalten und 15,9 % in gemäßigten Klimaten, während nur 13,1 % bzw. 8,6 % im tropischen bzw. polaren Klima anzutreffen sind. Global leben etwa 1,18 Milliarden Menschen (16,5 % der Weltbevölkerung) in Karstgebieten. Die höchste absolute Anzahl wurde in Asien ermittelt (661,7 Mio.), während die höchsten prozentualen Anteile in Europa (25,3 %) und Nordamerika (23,5 %) auftreten. Diese Ergebnisse zeigen die globale Bedeutung von Karst und dienen als Basis für weitere Forschung und internationale Wassermanagement-Strategien. Les régions karstiques offrent une variété de ressources naturelles, telles que l’eau douce et la biodiversité, ainsi que de nombreuses ressources culturelles. La carte mondiale des aquifères karstiques (WOKAM) est. la première base de données géologiques mondiale détaillée et complète concernant la répartition des roches karstifiables (carbonates et évaporites) représentant les aquifères karstiques potentiels. Cette étude présente une évaluation statistique de WOKAM, entièrement axée sur le karst dans les roches carbonatées et abordant quatre aspects principaux: (1) la présence mondiale et la distribution géographique du karst; (2) le karst dans divers contextes topographiques et dans les zones côtières; (3) le karst dans différentes zones climatiques; et (4) les populations vivant sur le karst. Selon l’analyse, 15.2% de la surface continentale libre de glace dans le monde est. caractérisée par la présence de roches carbonatées karstifiables. Le plus grand pourcentage se trouve en Europe (21.8%); la plus grande superficie absolue se trouve en Asie (8.35 millions de km 2 ). À l’échelle mondiale, 31.1% de toutes les expositions de surface des roches carbonatées se trouvent dans les plaines, 28.1% dans les collines et 40.8% dans les montagnes, et 151,400 km ou 15.7% des côtes marines sont caractérisées par des roches carbonatées. Environ 34.2% de toutes les roches carbonatées se trouvent sous les climats arides, suivies par 28.2% sous les climats froids et 15.9% sous les climats tempérés, alors que seulement 13.1 et 8.6% se trouvent sous les climats tropicaux et polaires, respectivement. À l’échelle mondiale, 1.18 milliard de personnes (16.5% de la population mondiale) vivent sur le karst. Le nombre absolu le plus élevé se trouve en Asie (661.7 millions), tandis que les pourcentages les plus élevés se trouvent en Europe (25.3%) et en Amérique du Nord (23,5%). Ces résultats démontrent l’importance mondiale du karst et servent de base à la poursuite des recherches et aux stratégies internationales de gestion de l’eau. Las regiones kársticas ofrecen una variedad de recursos naturales, como agua dulce y biodiversidad, y muchos recursos culturales. El Mapa Mundial de Acuíferos Kársticos (WOKAM) es la primera base de datos geológicos mundial detallada y completa sobre la distribución de las rocas kársticas (carbonatos y evaporitas) que representan potenciales acuíferos kársticos. Este estudio presenta una evaluación estadística de WOKAM, centrada enteramente en el karst en las rocas carbonatadas y que aborda cuatro aspectos principales: (1) presencia mundial y distribución geográfica del karst; (2) el karst en diversos entornos topográficos y zonas costeras; (3) el karst en diferentes zonas climáticas; y (4) las poblaciones que viven en el karst. Según el análisis, el 15.2% de la superficie continental mundial libre de hielo se caracteriza por la presencia de roca carbonatadas kársticas. El mayor porcentaje se localiza en Europa (21.8%); la mayor superficie absoluta se encuentra en Asia (8.35 millones de km 2 ). A nivel mundial, el 31.1% de todas las exposiciones de superficie de rocas carbonatadas se dan en llanuras, el 28.1% en colinas y el 40.8% en montañas, y 151,400 km o el 15.7% de las costas marinas se caracterizan por rocas carbonatadas. Alrededor del 34.2% de todas las rocas carbonatadas se encuentran en climas áridos, seguidos del 28.2% en climas fríos y el 15.9% en climas templados, mientras que sólo el 13.1 y el 8.6% se encuentran en climas tropicales y polares, respectivamente. A nivel mundial, 1.180 millones de personas (16,5% de la población mundial) viven en el karst. La cifra absoluta más elevada se da en Asia (661.7 millones), mientras que los porcentajes más altos se dan en Europa (25.3%) y América del Norte (23.5%). Estos resultados demuestran la importancia mundial del karst y sirven de base para nuevas investigaciones y estrategias internacionales de gestión de los recursos hídricos. 岩溶地区拥有丰富的淡水资源,多样的生物种类,以及孕育了众多的文化。世界岩溶含水层分布图(WOKAM)是第一个详细并且完整描述潜在岩溶含水层(碳酸盐岩和蒸发岩)分布的全球地理数据库。本文完成了对WOKAM的统计评估,侧重于碳酸盐岩中的岩溶水资源,并涉及了如下四个研究内容:(1)全球岩溶的地理分布; (2)岩溶在各种地形环境下以及在沿海地区的分布; (3)不同气候条件下的岩溶分布; (4)居住在岩溶地区的人口。结果显示,15.2%的全球无冰陆地面积具有岩溶特征。其中百分比最高的是欧洲(21.8%);绝对面积最大的是亚洲(835万平方公里)。在全球范围内,31.1%的碳酸盐岩出露面积在平原,28.1%在丘陵地区,40.8%在山区,并且151,400公里或者15.7%的海洋海岸线具有岩溶特征。约有34.2%的碳酸盐岩出露面积处于干旱气候,28.2%在寒冷气候,15.9%在温带气候,而在热带和极地气候中分别仅占13.1和8.6%。在全球范围内,大约11.8亿人口(占全球人口的16.5%)生活在岩溶地区。绝对数字最高的地区是亚洲(6.617亿),而百分比则是欧洲(25.3%)和北美(23.5%)最高。这些结果证明了岩溶的全球重要性,并为该领域进一步的研究和国际水资源管理战略的发展奠定了基础。 Regiões cársticas apresentam múltiplos recursos naturais, como águas superficiais e biodiversidade, além de vários elementos culturais. O Mapa Global de Aquíferos Cársticos (World Karst Aquifer Map, WOKAM) representa a primeira base de dados geológica detalhada e de escopo global relacionada à distribuição de rochas carstificáveis (carbonatos e evaporitos) nas quais ocorrem aquíferos cársticos. Este estudo apresenta uma avaliação estatística do WOKAM, enfatizando apenas carste em rochas carbonáticas com foco em quatro aspectos: (1) ocorrência e distribuição de carste no planeta; (2) ocorrência de carste em relação a topografia e zonas costeiras; (3) ocorrência de carste em relação a zonas climáticas e (4) população que vive em regiões cársticas. De acordo com a análise, 15.2% da superfície continental (sem cobertura de gelo) é caracterizada pela presença de rocha carbonática carstificável. A maior porcentagem ocorre na Europa (21.8%) e a maior área total na Ásia (8.35 milhões de km 2 ). Em termos globais, 31.1% de todas as ocorrências expostas de carste ocorrem em planícies, 28.1% em zonas de morros e colinas, 40.8% em montanhas e cordilheiras e 151,400 km ou 15.7% do litoral apresenta rochas carbonáticas. Cerca de 34.2% de todas as rochas carbonáticas ocorrem sob clima árido, seguido de 28.2% em climas frios e 15.9% em climas temperados, ao passo que apenas 13.1 e 8.6% ocorrem em climas tropicais e polares, respectivamente. Em termos globais, 1.18 bilhões de pessoas (16.5% da população total) vivem em regiões cársticas. O maior número está na Ásia (661.7 milhões de pessoas), enquanto a maior percentagem ocorre na Europa (25.3%) e América do Norte (23.5%). Estes dados demonstram a importância global do carste e servem de base para futuras pesquisas mais aprofundadas, assim como para a elaboração de estratégias de cunho internacional relacionadas a manejo hídrico. Karstne oblasti karakteriše prisustvo raznovrsnih prirodnih resursa, kvalitetnih voda i predstavnika biodiverziteta, kao
Ryan M Nancy Reed J D Thomas Martin Ellen Amanuel Alemu Barber Fullman Sorensen Bollyky McKee Nolte Abajob, Ryan Barber, N. Fullman
et al.
Summary Background National levels of personal health-care access and quality can be approximated by measuring mortality rates from causes that should not be fatal in the presence of effective medical care (ie, amenable mortality). Previous analyses of mortality amenable to health care only focused on high-income countries and faced several methodological challenges. In the present analysis, we use the highly standardised cause of death and risk factor estimates generated through the Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study (GBD) to improve and expand the quantification of personal health-care access and quality for 195 countries and territories from 1990 to 2015. Methods We mapped the most widely used list of causes amenable to personal health care developed by Nolte and McKee to 32 GBD causes. We accounted for variations in cause of death certification and misclassifications through the extensive data standardisation processes and redistribution algorithms developed for GBD. To isolate the effects of personal health-care access and quality, we risk-standardised cause-specific mortality rates for each geography-year by removing the joint effects of local environmental and behavioural risks, and adding back the global levels of risk exposure as estimated for GBD 2015. We employed principal component analysis to create a single, interpretable summary measure–the Healthcare Quality and Access (HAQ) Index–on a scale of 0 to 100. The HAQ Index showed strong convergence validity as compared with other health-system indicators, including health expenditure per capita (r=0·88), an index of 11 universal health coverage interventions (r=0·83), and human resources for health per 1000 (r=0·77). We used free disposal hull analysis with bootstrapping to produce a frontier based on the relationship between the HAQ Index and the Socio-demographic Index (SDI), a measure of overall development consisting of income per capita, average years of education, and total fertility rates. This frontier allowed us to better quantify the maximum levels of personal health-care access and quality achieved across the development spectrum, and pinpoint geographies where gaps between observed and potential levels have narrowed or widened over time. Findings Between 1990 and 2015, nearly all countries and territories saw their HAQ Index values improve; nonetheless, the difference between the highest and lowest observed HAQ Index was larger in 2015 than in 1990, ranging from 28·6 to 94·6. Of 195 geographies, 167 had statistically significant increases in HAQ Index levels since 1990, with South Korea, Turkey, Peru, China, and the Maldives recording among the largest gains by 2015. Performance on the HAQ Index and individual causes showed distinct patterns by region and level of development, yet substantial heterogeneities emerged for several causes, including cancers in highest-SDI countries; chronic kidney disease, diabetes, diarrhoeal diseases, and lower respiratory infections among middle-SDI countries; and measles and tetanus among lowest-SDI countries. While the global HAQ Index average rose from 40·7 (95% uncertainty interval, 39·0–42·8) in 1990 to 53·7 (52·2–55·4) in 2015, far less progress occurred in narrowing the gap between observed HAQ Index values and maximum levels achieved; at the global level, the difference between the observed and frontier HAQ Index only decreased from 21·2 in 1990 to 20·1 in 2015. If every country and territory had achieved the highest observed HAQ Index by their corresponding level of SDI, the global average would have been 73·8 in 2015. Several countries, particularly in eastern and western sub-Saharan Africa, reached HAQ Index values similar to or beyond their development levels, whereas others, namely in southern sub-Saharan Africa, the Middle East, and south Asia, lagged behind what geographies of similar development attained between 1990 and 2015. Interpretation This novel extension of the GBD Study shows the untapped potential for personal health-care access and quality improvement across the development spectrum. Amid substantive advances in personal health care at the national level, heterogeneous patterns for individual causes in given countries or territories suggest that few places have consistently achieved optimal health-care access and quality across health-system functions and therapeutic areas. This is especially evident in middle-SDI countries, many of which have recently undergone or are currently experiencing epidemiological transitions. The HAQ Index, if paired with other measures of health-system characteristics such as intervention coverage, could provide a robust avenue for tracking progress on universal health coverage and identifying local priorities for strengthening personal health-care quality and access throughout the world. Funding Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.
S. Yazar, José Alquicira-Hernández, Kristof Wing
et al.
The human immune system displays substantial variation between individuals, leading to differences in susceptibility to autoimmune disease. We present single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) data from 1,267,758 peripheral blood mononuclear cells from 982 healthy human subjects. For 14 cell types, we identified 26,597 independent cis-expression quantitative trait loci (eQTLs) and 990 trans-eQTLs, with most showing cell type–specific effects on gene expression. We subsequently show how eQTLs have dynamic allelic effects in B cells that are transitioning from naïve to memory states and demonstrate how commonly segregating alleles lead to interindividual variation in immune function. Finally, using a Mendelian randomization approach, we identify the causal route by which 305 risk loci contribute to autoimmune disease at the cellular level. This work brings together genetic epidemiology with scRNA-seq to uncover drivers of interindividual variation in the immune system. Description INTRODUCTION The human immune system has evolved to maintain tissue homeostasis and target exogenous pathogens by regulating specialized cell populations. It displays substantial variation between individuals, defining how people vary in susceptibility to disease and respond to pathogens or cancer. RATIONALE Our knowledge of how genetic differences contribute to immune variation at the cellular level has been limited by two main challenges in the generation of data at single-cell resolution. One of these challenges is to sequence from many individuals and the other is to sequence a large number of cells from each individual. Addressing these challenges is necessary to dissect the genetic and molecular underpinnings of common, heterogeneous diseases. RESULTS We present the OneK1K cohort, which consists of single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) data from 1.27 million peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PMBCs) collected from 982 donors. We developed a framework for the classification of individual cells, and by combining the scRNA-seq data with genotype data, we mapped the genetic effects on gene expression in each of 14 immune cell types and identified 26,597 independent cis–expression quantitative trait loci (eQTLs). We show that most of these have an allelic effect on gene expression that is cell type–specific. Our results replicated in two independent cohorts, one of which comprises individuals with a different ancestry to our discovery cohort. Over all loci, our discovery and replication cohorts have a concordance of allelic direction ranging from 72.2 to 98.1% across cell types. Using the top associated eQTL single-nucleotide polymorphism (eSNP) at each locus outside the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) region, we identified 990 trans-acting effects, most (63.6%) of which were cell type–specific. We show how eQTLs have dynamic allelic effects in B cells that are transitioning from naïve to memory states. Overall, we identified a set of 1988 eSNP–eGene (a gene with an eQTL) pairs expressed across the B cell maturation landscape, of which 333 have a statistically significant change in their allelic effect as B cells differentiate. Of these, 66% were only identified from the dynamic eQTL analysis and were not observed when testing for effects independently in cell types, highlighting the importance of investigating cell state–specific effects that underlie immune cell function. We investigated how eQTLs affect the expression variation of essential immune genes in specific cell types and provided experimental support for established hypotheses of cellular mechanisms in complex autoimmune diseases. Finally, we integrated genetic association data for seven common autoimmune diseases and identified significant enrichment of genetic effects operating in a cell type–specific manner. Through colocalization of single-cell eQTL and genome-wide association study (GWAS) loci, we found that 19% of cis-eQTLs share the same causal locus as a GWAS risk association. Using a Mendelian randomization approach, we uncovered the causal route by which 305 loci contribute to autoimmune disease through changes in gene expression in specific cell types and subsets. Of the shared causal loci, 38.4% are outside the MHC region and exhibit highly cell-specific effects. Highlighting multiple sclerosis, we identified the causal route underlying 57 risk loci. For example, we show that the loci at 3q12 causally acts through changes in EAF2 expression, but only in immature and naïve B (BIN) and memory B (BMem) cells, despite this gene being ubiquitously expressed in all cell types in our data. CONCLUSION This work brings together population genetics and scRNA-seq data to uncover drivers of interindividual variation in the immune system. Our results demonstrate how segregating genetic variation influences the expression of genes that encode proteins involved in critical immune regulatory and signaling pathways in a cell type–specific manner. Understanding the genetic underpinnings of immune system regulation will have broad implications in the treatment of autoimmune diseases and infections, transplantation, and cancers. Single-cell eQTL mapping and colocalization with autoimmune disease risk loci. scRNA-seq data from 1.27 million PBMCs were used to identify 26,597 cis-eQTLs (gray box). Dynamic eQTLs were uncovered as cells move from a naïve to a memory state (top right). Genetic variation between individuals influences immune regulation in a cell type–specific manner (middle right). In this study, 990 trans-eQTL effects (bottom right) and the causal effects for 305 autoimmune disease loci were identified (bottom left). Browsable results are available at www.onek1k.org. CD4NC, CD4 naïve and central memory T cells; CD8NC, CD8 naïve and central memory T cells; QC, quality control. Analyzing immune system gene expression Diseases involving the immune system are heritable, but it is unknown how genetic variation contributes to different diseases. To identify how implicated loci affect gene expression in immune cells from individuals from different populations, two groups performed single-cell RNA sequencing of immune cells, with each study investigating hundreds of individuals and more than 1 million immune cells (see the Perspective by Sumida and Hafler). These studies examined both proximal (cis) and distal (trans) genetic variants affecting gene expression in 14 different immune cell types. Perez et al. studied healthy individuals of both European and Asian descent, as well as individuals diagnosed with systemic lupus erythematosus. Yazar et al. performed a population-based study investigating how segregating alleles contribute to variation in immune function. Integrating these data with autoimmune disease cohorts identifies causal effects for more than 160 loci. Both studies observe how gene expression patterns are cell-type and context specific and can explain observed variation in immune cell function among individuals. Both studies also identify causal links between genome-wide analyses and expression quantitative trait loci, identifying potential mechanisms underlying autoimmune diseases. —LMZ Cell type and context affects gene expression affecting immune-mediated disease.
Abstract The Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) stress the necessity of private businesses’ active participation, appealing for their creativity and innovation to create value for the common good, such as reducing poverty, eradicating hunger, and protecting biodiversity. While currently some, especially recently formed private businesses may consider the common good as their main business goal, most existing stock-listed businesses clearly do not. The question that arises is why private stock-listed businesses should voluntarily engage with such common good objectives while being principally shareholder value oriented. This study aims to map the undiscovered terrain of corporate SDG involvement as emanating from the sustainability reports of the 2000 largest stock listed businesses worldwide. The methodology is based on an exploratory two-step approach. First, using logistic and quantile regressions, potential associations between reported SDG involvement and corporation attributes are investigated quantitatively for a sample of the 2000 largest stock listed corporations worldwide. Secondly, the most extensive SDG reporters are analyzed qualitatively in order to explore what is actually disclosed. The quantitative results show that corporate involvement in the SDGs is overall still limited, and mainly associated with commitment to other sustainability-related themes and East Asian country settings, as well as company size, and corporate sustainability level. Such implies that SDG involvement is inspired by a mixture of legitimacy and institutional motives. However, when the level of involvement is analyzed, a much more scattered picture occurs. Global Compact membership is the only factor that is consistently highly significant. More importantly, qualitative scrutiny of the individual reports reveals that company involvement is largely symbolic and intentional, rather than substantive. This suggests that companies treat the SDGs, similarly to the Global Compact, as a scheme with non-committal implications, facilitating impression management and learning. This study provides an initial understanding of current corporate practice, as well as clues for theorizing this largely unexplored research field. Practically, the overall lack of meaningful SDG disclosures implies that stakeholders with an SDG interest cannot rely on sustainability reports for their decisions.
Roads are expanding at the fastest pace in human history. This is the case especially in biodiversity-rich tropical nations, where roads can result in forest loss and fragmentation, wildfires, illicit land invasions and negative societal effects1–5. Many roads are being constructed illegally or informally and do not appear on any existing road map6–10; the toll of such ‘ghost roads’ on ecosystems is poorly understood. Here we use around 7,000 h of effort by trained volunteers to map ghost roads across the tropical Asia-Pacific region, sampling 1.42 million plots, each 1 km2 in area. Our intensive sampling revealed a total of 1.37 million km of roads in our plots—from 3.0 to 6.6 times more roads than were found in leading datasets of roads globally. Across our study area, road building almost always preceded local forest loss, and road density was by far the strongest correlate11 of deforestation out of 38 potential biophysical and socioeconomic covariates. The relationship between road density and forest loss was nonlinear, with deforestation peaking soon after roads penetrate a landscape and then declining as roads multiply and remaining accessible forests largely disappear. Notably, after controlling for lower road density inside protected areas, we found that protected areas had only modest additional effects on preventing forest loss, implying that their most vital conservation function is limiting roads and road-related environmental disruption. Collectively, our findings suggest that burgeoning, poorly studied ghost roads are among the gravest of all direct threats to tropical forests. An effort to map roads in the Asia-Pacific region finds that there are 3.0–6.6 times more roads than other sources suggest, and that unmapped ‘ghost roads’ are a major contributor to tropical forest loss.
The biological assessment of rivers i.e., their assessment through use of aquatic assemblages, integrates the effects of multiple-stressors on these systems over time and is essential to evaluate ecosystem condition and establish recovery measures. It has been undertaken in many countries since the 1990s, but not globally. And where national or multi-national monitoring networks have gathered large amounts of data, the poor water body classifications have not necessarily resulted in the rehabilitation of rivers. Thus, here we aimed to identify major gaps in the biological assessment and rehabilitation of rivers worldwide by focusing on the best examples in Asia, Europe, Oceania, and North, Central, and South America. Our study showed that it is not possible so far to draw a world map of the ecological quality of rivers. Biological assessment of rivers and streams is only implemented officially nation-wide and regularly in the European Union, Japan, Republic of Korea, South Africa, and the USA. In Australia, Canada, China, New Zealand, and Singapore it has been implemented officially at the state/province level (in some cases using common protocols) or in major catchments or even only once at the national level to define reference conditions (Australia). In other cases, biological monitoring is driven by a specific problem, impact assessments, water licenses, or the need to rehabilitate a river or a river section (as in Brazil, South Korea, China, Canada, Japan, Australia). In some countries monitoring programs have only been explored by research teams mostly at the catchment or local level (e.g., Brazil, Mexico, Chile, China, India, Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam) or implemented by citizen science groups (e.g., Southern Africa, Gambia, East Africa, Australia, Brazil, Canada). The existing large-extent assessments show a striking loss of biodiversity in the last 2–3 decades in Japanese and New Zealand rivers (e.g., 42% and 70% of fish species threatened or endangered, respectively). A poor condition (below Good condition) exists in 25% of South Korean rivers, half of the European water bodies, and 44% of USA rivers, while in Australia 30% of the reaches sampled were significantly impaired in 2006. Regarding river rehabilitation, the greatest implementation has occurred in North America, Australia, Northern Europe, Japan, Singapore, and the Republic of Korea. Most rehabilitation measures have been related to improving water quality and river connectivity for fish or the improvement of riparian vegetation. The limited extent of most rehabilitation measures (i.e., not considering the entire catchment) often constrains the improvement of biological condition. Yet, many rehabilitation projects also lack pre-and/or post-monitoring of ecological condition, which prevents assessing the success and shortcomings of the recovery measures. Economic constraints are the most cited limitation for implementing monitoring programs and rehabilitation actions, followed by technical limitations, limited knowledge of the fauna and flora and their life-history traits (especially in Africa, South America and Mexico), and poor awareness by decision-makers. On the other hand, citizen involvement is recognized as key to the success and sustainability of rehabilitation projects. Thus, establishing rehabilitation needs, defining clear goals, tracking progress towards achieving them, and involving local populations and stakeholders are key recommendations for rehabilitation projects (Table 1). Large-extent and long-term monitoring programs are also essential to provide a realistic overview of the condition of rivers worldwide. Soon, the use of DNA biological samples and eDNA to investigate aquatic diversity could contribute to reducing costs and thus increase monitoring efforts and a more complete assessment of biodiversity. Finally, we propose developing transcontinental teams to elaborate and improve technical guidelines for implementing biological monitoring programs and river rehabilitation and establishing common financial and technical frameworks for managing international catchments. We also recommend providing such expert teams through the United Nations Environment Program to aid the extension of biomonitoring, bioassessment, and river rehabilitation knowledge globally.
Several global and regional initiatives exist to increase the proportion of seafloor mapped by direct measurements, brought together through international collaborations, of which the Nippon Foundation-GEBCO Seabed 2030 Project is perhaps the most well-known. Nearly halfway into the United Nations Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development, we used publicly available bathymetric and type-identifier datasets from the General Bathymetric Chart of the Oceans (GEBCO) to systematically evaluate progress in the global seafloor mapping effort between 2019 and 2024. We explore each major ocean basin and sea, exclusive economic zones (EEZs), and different depth zones. Proportionally, the North Atlantic (NAO) and North Pacific (NPO) have the highest mapping coverage, with over a third of each ocean mapped by the end of 2024. Nearly 30% of the seafloor in the Arctic Ocean (AO), South Atlantic Ocean (SAO), and Southern Ocean (SO) has been mapped by 2024. In contrast, the Indian Ocean (IO) remains the least mapped, with only 17.5% coverage. When considering mapping coverage by depth zones, approximately one-quarter of shallow areas (0–200 m) and the abyssal zone (3000–6000 m) have been mapped, comprising 6.3% and 68.4% of the global mapped seafloor area, respectively. Nearly 40% of seafloor in the upper (200–1000 m) and lower (1000–3000 m) bathyal zones has been mapped, corresponding to 5.6% and 17.7% of the global total mapped area. Although, the hadal zone (>6000 m) makes up only 1.0% of the global seafloor, it has the highest (55.6%) proportional mapping coverage, comprising up to 2.0% of global mapping effort. Evaluation of mapping coverage by sovereign states shows that progress is strongly influenced by EEZ size, economic status and the presence of offshore resources. This study reveals the uneven mapping efforts worldwide and suggests that more focus should be given to the two polar oceans, IO, and Southern Hemisphere in general, as well as the EEZs of African and Asian states, to reach the average global coverage. With the current average rate of new map generation of ∼3.2% of total seafloor area annually, we predict that the global seafloor could be mapped in approximately 20 years. Analysis of the seafloor mapping efforts in different depth zones of ocean basins, EEZs, and ABNJ provide future priority areas of exploration for the Seabed 2030 initiative.
Mark June Revolteado, M. Sato, Joseph Valencia
et al.
ABSTRACT Schistosomiasis, primarily caused by Schistosoma japonicum (Sj) in Asia, remains a major health concern in the Philippines, affecting 12.4 million people and causing symptoms like fever, abdominal pain, and hepatosplenomegaly. Chronic disease leads to stunting in children, and reinfection persists despite efforts to reduce morbidity. Current strategies focused on mass drug administration (MDA) and sporadic snail surveys, leaving gaps in monitoring and mitigating schistosomiasis transmission in the environment. To address these issues, this study refined an environmental DNA (eDNA)-based qualitative real-time polymerase chain reaction assay by making it field-applicable and multiplex, to detect both the parasite S. japonicum and its intermediate snail host, Oncomelania hupensis quadrasi (Ohq), using water samples. We surveyed the 30 sentinel sites quarterly—from July 2023 to March 2024—in Ekiran Village, Alangalang, Leyte, Philippines. Collectively, the eDNA of O.h. quadrasi was detected in 18 sites and that of S. japonicum eDNA was detected in 16 sites, while direct snail observation confirmed the presence in only five sites, with infected snails found in only one site. Consequently, the assay described temporal variation of Ohq and Sj, revealing the dynamics of Ohq colonies and Sj in Ekiran’s water sources. The eDNA confirmed the focality of Ohq and showed the erratic presence of Sj. Interestingly, both target species’ eDNA was observed more during the rainy season (December and March), which suggests a higher infection probability during this period. Integrating eDNA detection system with the existing control programs will enhance the identification of transmission hotspots, which may aid in reducing exposure risk for both humans and animals in the endemic areas. IMPORTANCE This study aimed to fill the gaps in monitoring and mitigating schistosomiasis transmission in the environment. This field-applicable environmental DNA (eDNA)-based qualitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) detection system focused on effectively detecting Schistosoma japonicum and its snail intermediate host, Oncomelania hupensis quadrasi, at the community level, moving from the traditional detection methods that are labor-intensive, less sensitive, and exposing surveyors to potential risk of infection. By introducing a field-applicable eDNA-based qPCR assay, this research provides a sensitive, non-invasive, and rapid molecular method for detecting S. japonicum and O.h. quadrasi in the environment. Additionally, the study not only provided insights in enhanced surveillance strategies but also contributed to a holistic eco-health approach by generating hazard maps for potential transmission and contamination sites, which could improve future control efforts and resource allocation for schistosomiasis elimination. This study aimed to fill the gaps in monitoring and mitigating schistosomiasis transmission in the environment. This field-applicable environmental DNA (eDNA)-based qualitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) detection system focused on effectively detecting Schistosoma japonicum and its snail intermediate host, Oncomelania hupensis quadrasi, at the community level, moving from the traditional detection methods that are labor-intensive, less sensitive, and exposing surveyors to potential risk of infection. By introducing a field-applicable eDNA-based qPCR assay, this research provides a sensitive, non-invasive, and rapid molecular method for detecting S. japonicum and O.h. quadrasi in the environment. Additionally, the study not only provided insights in enhanced surveillance strategies but also contributed to a holistic eco-health approach by generating hazard maps for potential transmission and contamination sites, which could improve future control efforts and resource allocation for schistosomiasis elimination.
Abstract. The cryosphere in high mountain Asia (HMA) not only sustains the livelihoods of people residing downstream through its capacity to store water but also holds the potential for hazards. One of these hazards, avalanches, so far remains inadequately studied, as the complex relationship between climate and potential triggers is poorly understood due to lack of long-term observations, inaccessibility, severe weather conditions, and financial and logistical constraints. In this study, the available literature was reviewed covering the period from the late 20th century to June 2022 to identify research and societal gaps and propose future directions of research and mitigation strategies. Beyond scientific literature, technical reports, newspapers, social media and other local sources were consulted to compile a comprehensive, open-access and version-controlled database of avalanche events and their associated impacts. Over 681 avalanches with more than 3131 human fatalities were identified in eight countries of the region. Afghanistan has the highest recorded avalanche fatalities (1057), followed by India (952) and Nepal (508). Additionally, 564 people lost their lives while climbing peaks above 4500 m a.s.l., one-third of which were staff employed as guides or porters. This makes it a less deadly hazard than in the less populated European Alps, for example, but with a considerably larger number of people affected who did not voluntarily expose themselves to avalanche risk. Although fatalities are significant, and local long-term impacts of avalanches may be considerable, so far, limited holistic adaptation or mitigation measures exist in the region. These measures generally rely on local and indigenous knowledge adapted to modern technologies. Considering the high impact avalanches have in the region, we suggest to further develop adaptation measures including hazard zonation maps based on datasets of historic events and modelling efforts. This should, however, happen acknowledging the already existing knowledge in the region and in close coordination with communities, local government and civil society stakeholders. More research studies should also be attempted to understand the trends and drivers of avalanches in the region.
Background The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted health disparities affecting ethnic minority communities. There is growing concern about the lack of diversity in clinical trials. This study aimed to assess the representation of ethnic groups in UK-based COVID-19 randomised controlled trials (RCTs). Methods A systematic review and meta-analysis were undertaken. A search strategy was developed for MEDLINE (Ovid) and Google Scholar (1st January 2020–4th May 2022). Prospective COVID-19 RCTs for vaccines or therapeutics that reported UK data separately with a minimum of 50 participants were eligible. Search results were independently screened, and data extracted into proforma. Percentage of ethnic groups at all trial stages was mapped against Office of National Statistics (ONS) statistics. Post hoc DerSimonian-Laird random-effects meta-analysis of percentages and a meta-regression assessing recruitment over time were conducted. Due to the nature of the review question, risk of bias was not assessed. Data analysis was conducted in Stata v17.0. A protocol was registered (PROSPERO CRD42021244185). Results In total, 5319 articles were identified; 30 studies were included, with 118,912 participants. Enrolment to trials was the only stage consistently reported (17 trials). Meta-analysis showed significant heterogeneity across studies, in relation to census-expected proportions at study enrolment. All ethnic groups, apart from Other (1.7% [95% CI 1.1–2.8%] vs ONS 1%) were represented to a lesser extent than ONS statistics, most marked in Black (1% [0.6–1.5%] vs 3.3%) and Asian (5.8% [4.4–7.6%] vs 7.5%) groups, but also apparent in White (84.8% [81.6–87.5%] vs 86%) and Mixed 1.6% [1.2–2.1%] vs 2.2%) groups. Meta-regression showed recruitment of Black participants increased over time ( p = 0.009). Conclusions Asian, Black and Mixed ethnic groups are under-represented or incorrectly classified in UK COVID-19 RCTs. Reporting by ethnicity lacks consistency and transparency. Under-representation in clinical trials occurs at multiple levels and requires complex solutions, which should be considered throughout trial conduct. These findings may not apply outside of the UK setting.