Hasil untuk "Environmental Science"

A. Chatzipavlis, D. Trogu, A. Ruju et al.

<p>This study presents an Early Warning System (EWS) for coastal flooding that integrates wind, wave, and sea level forecasts which are validated using in situ records. The system employs the SWAN spectral wave model to simulate nearshore hydrodynamics while an empirical approach is used to assess Total Watel Level (TWL) exceedances over a user-defined morphological threshold, deriving from repeated topographic surveys. This approach utilizes widely used empirical methods for wave run-up estimation and makes use of the most effective one after calibration. The performance of the EWS is assessed through seven monitored surge events of varying magnitude and hydrodynamic conditions, demonstrating strong agreement between projected TWL exceedances over predefined morphological thresholds, particularly under high-energy wave conditions. Minor discrepancies are noted during events with marginal TWL exceedances over short durations. Results underline the system's potential as a valuable tool for coastal hazard assessment and risk management, with future improvements focusing on appropriate updates of the beach morphology and the integration of suitable numerical techniques and machine learning algorithms.</p>

Devabrat Sharma, Santu Das, B. N. Goswami

Ricardo Baettig, Ben Ingram

This study presents a comprehensive latitudinal analysis of air particulate matter (PM) across an 1400 km pollution corridor spanning Chile’s central-southern zone. We systematically analyzed PM_2.5 and PM₁₀ concentrations across eight major urban centers (2014–2015), providing crucial pre-Paris Agreement baseline data for South America’s most extensive air quality monitoring network. Our analysis reveals significant pollution gradients, with Coyhaique ranking one of the world’s most severely polluted cities (95th percentile globally, WHO database) and demonstrating an extreme 86% fine particulate matter ratio that far exceeds international urban standards. Residential wood combustion (RWC) demonstrates systematic correlations with fine PM concentrations (R² > 0.96), suggesting RWC is the dominant pollution driver across multiple climate zones. The documented pollution patterns represent a concerning continental-scale environmental pattern, with 4900–6500 annual premature deaths directly attributable to PM_2.5 exposure-one of the highest per-capita pollution mortality rates in South America. This work provides a methodological framework applicable to mountain-valley pollution systems globally while addressing critical knowledge gaps in regional air quality science. The evidence indicates the need for urgent implementation of comprehensive wood combustion control strategies and positions this research as essential baseline documentation for both national air quality policy and international climate change assessment frameworks.

Qianyao Si, Higor C. Brito, Priscila B. R. Alves et al.

Abstract Rapid urbanization and escalating climate change impacts have heightened stormwater-related concerns (e.g., pluvial flooding) in cities. Understanding catchment dynamics and characteristics, including precise catchment mapping, is essential to accurate surface water monitoring and management. Traditionally, topography is the primary data set used to model surface water flow dynamics in undisturbed natural landscapes. However, urban systems also contain stormwater drainage infrastructure, which can alter catchment boundaries and runoff behavior. Acknowledging both natural and built environmental influences, this study introduces three GIS-based approaches to enhance urban catchment mapping: (1) Modifying DEM elevations at inlet locations; (2) Adjusting DEM elevations along pipeline paths; (3) Applying the QGRASS plug-in to systematically incorporate infrastructure data. Our evaluation using the geographical Friedman test (p > 0.05) and Dice Similarity Coefficient (DSC = 0.80) confirms the statistical and spatial consistency among the studying methods. Coupled with onsite flow direction validation, these results support the feasibility and reliability of integrating elements of nature and built infrastructure in urban catchment mapping. The refined mapping approaches explored in this study offer improved and more accurate and efficient urban drainage catchment zoning, beyond using elevation and topographic data alone. Likewise, these methods bolster predictive stormwater management at catchment scales, ultimately strengthening urban stormwater and flooding resilience.

P. Duan, H. Li, Z. Ma et al.

<p>The 8.2 ka event has been extensively investigated as a remarkable single event but rarely considered as a part of multi-centennial climatic evolution. Here, we present absolutely dated speleothem multi-proxy records spanning 9.0–7.9 ka from Beijing in North China, near the northern limit of the East Asian summer monsoon (EASM) and thus sensitive to climate change, to provide evidence of the intensified multi-decadal climatic oscillations since 8.52 ka. Three extreme excursions characterized by inter-decadal consecutive <span class="inline-formula"><i>δ</i>¹⁸</span>O excursions exceeding <span class="inline-formula">±1<i>σ</i></span> are identified from 8.52 ka in our speleothem record. The earlier two are characterized by enriched <span class="inline-formula">¹⁸</span>O at <span class="inline-formula">∼8.50</span> and 8.20 ka, respectively, suggesting a prolonged arid event, which is supported by the positive trend in <span class="inline-formula"><i>δ</i>¹³</span>C values, increased trace element ratios, and lower growth rate. Following the 8.2 ka event, an excessive rebound immediately emerges in our <span class="inline-formula"><i>δ</i>¹⁸</span>O and trace element records but moderate in the <span class="inline-formula"><i>δ</i>¹³</span>C, probably suggesting pluvial conditions and nonlinear response of the local ecosystem. Following two similar severe droughts at 8.50 and 8.20 ka, the different behavior of <span class="inline-formula"><i>δ</i>¹³</span>C suggests the recovering degree of resilient ecosystem responding to different rebounded rainfall intensity. A comparison with other high-resolution records suggests that the two droughts–one pluvial pattern between 8.52 and 8.0 ka is of global significance instead of being a regional phenomenon, and is causally linked to the slowdown and acceleration of the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation that was further dominated by the freshwater injections in the North Atlantic.</p>

R. Ellen Hogentogler, George Garrow, Jessica Beiler et al.

OBJECTIVES/GOALS: Launch a case-based learning collaborative on best practices that meet social, emotional and physical health needs of underserved communities as they relate to environmental toxins—specifically those related to the train derailment in OH. Topics discussed could also include disasters and spills, air quality, extreme heat, and water. METHODS/STUDY POPULATION: In response to a call for action delivered by PA’s Acting Secretary of Health, we established a partnership between Penn State CTSI, Project ECHO at Penn State, and Primary Health Network (PHN). PHN is the largest Federally Qualified Health Center in PA, making it uniquely qualified to reach rural providers diagnosing and treating patients impacted by environmental events. Utilizing the ECHO model, we are hosting monthly, 1-hour sessions on environmental determinants of health starting October 2023. Experts in pulmonology, toxicology, atmospheric science, and rural medicine (whom many participants would have limited access to outside of the ECHO platform) and participants have the opportunity to share and learn from their varied experiences exemplifying a culture of ‘all teach, all learn’. RESULTS/ANTICIPATED RESULTS: Project ECHO is an ideal model for upscaling workforce quickly, allowing participants to be responsive in the care of their community, regardless of location and access to specialty clinics. 74 participants across 26 PA counties registered for the series, ranging from PCPs, medical directors, and state officials. Upon registration, nearly half of our direct patient-care participants do not routinely conduct an environmental exposure history and almost 70% report receiving questions from their patients related to how the environment might impact their health. More than half of those providers reported feeling unprepared to answer patients’ questions related to the environment’s impact on their health. Evaluation data will be collected at enrollment, after each session, and post-series. DISCUSSION/SIGNIFICANCE: This series could result in: * Reduction of health disparities caused by environmental events (no cost, virtual learning) * Increased preparedness to quickly address health questions/symptoms related to environmental exposures * Increased awareness of the environmental impacts on health. * Improved testing/treatment for patients

Reza Kanani, Ruhollah Kianfar, Hossein janmohammadi et al.

Introduction: Vitamin D3 is one of the important vitamins in calcium metabolism, which increases the active transport of calcium and phosphorus in the intestinal epithelium. However, the mechanism by which vitamin D3 increases the absorption of calcium and phosphorus is not fully understood. The active form of vitamin D3 or 1,25-hydroxycalciferol is transported to the nucleus of the intestinal cells. In the presence of 1, 25-hydroxycalciferol, a specific RNA is secreted from the cell nucleus, which is translated into a specific protein by the ribosomes, thereby increasing the uptake of calcium and phosphorus. The primary role of 1, 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 in vertebrates in regulating calcium homeostasis is the direct action of 1,25-hydroxyvitamin D3 on the gut, kidneys and bones by inhibiting the production of parathyroid hormone in the parathyroid glades. Vitamin C prevents stress by preventing the release of corticosteroid hormones, which can be effective for bird function, egg production and reducing mortality. In the liver, vitamin D3 is converted into 25-hydroxycalciferol, which is later converted into calciferol hydroxylase (activated by vitamin C) in the kidneys by the enzyme 25-hydroxy molecule. This metabolite increases the absorption of calcium and phosphorus from the intestinal wall and renal tubules. The aim of this experiment is therefore the effect of vitamin D3 and vitamin C on performance, egg quality and hatchability in broilers breeder hen at the end of the production period. Materials and Methods: A total of 240 broiler breeder hens and 24 cockers (Ross 308) were distributed in a 2×2 factorial arrangement including two levels of vitamin D (3500 & 5500 IU) and two levels of vitamin C (0 & 150 mg/kg) with 6 replicate pens of 10 hens and one cock each. The experiment lasted for 12 weeks (from the age of 49 to 61 weeks), and during the trial, the performance traits production and hatchability were recorded. Every 28 days 4 eggs were evaluated for internal and external quality. Results and Discussion: The results of the study showed that the main effect of vitamin D3 had a significant impact on egg weight, with higher concentrations resulting in a reduction in egg weight. However, there was no significant effect on other performance parameters. The main effect of higher concentrations of vitamin D3 was an increase in the number of hatching eggs, shell percentage, shell thickness, specific gravity of the eggs, a decrease in the percentage of egg breakage. However, this effect was not significant for other parameters. Increasing the level of 1,25 hydroxycalciferol significantly increased plasma calcium levels, which led to increased renal 1-alpha-hydroxylase activity, envelope secretion, reduced oocyte rupture, resulting in increased hatch fertility. The main effect of vitamin C significantly increased production percentage and reduced feed conversion and feed consumption per egg. However, there was no significant effect on other parameters. Addition of vitamin C significantly increased external characteristics of the eggs, including shell proportion, shell thickness, shell ash and phosphorus, number of hatching eggs, but reduced the number of broken eggs. However, there was no significant effect on internal parameters, except for yolk color. The use of vitamin C activates the enzyme 25-hydroxycholecalciferol hydroxylase to produce 1,25 hydroxycalciferol, which increases calcium absorption from the intestinal wall and reduces the number of ruptured eggs. Regarding the interaction of different levels of vitamin D3 and vitamin C, the results showed that higher levels of vitamin D3 and vitamin C increased production percentage, egg mass, number of hatching eggs, shell thickness, phosphorus and FCR. Intake in the egg removed significantly increased, but the number of broken eggs decreased. Conclusion: In general, according to the results of the present experiment, it can be concluded that the use of vitamin C in an amount of 150 mg / kg with 5500 IU of vitamin D3 can increase the production percentage, increase the mass of eggs and improve the feed conversion ratio. It can also increase shell thickness and the number of chickens produced weekly and over the period, decrease the number of broken eggs, increase the number of hatching eggs, reduce feed intake per egg and feed intake per chicken at the end of the broiler breeder production period.

Muhammad Asyraf Mohd Amnan, Teen-Lee Pua, Su-Ee Lau et al.

Drought is one of the severe environmental stresses threatening agriculture around the globe. Nitric oxide plays diverse roles in plant growth and defensive responses. Despite a few studies supporting the role of nitric oxide in plants under drought responses, little is known about its pivotal molecular amendment in the regulation of stress signaling. In this study, a label-free nano-liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry approach was used to determine the effects of sodium nitroprusside (SNP) on polyethylene glycol (PEG)-induced osmotic stress in banana roots. Plant treatment with SNP improved plant growth and reduced the percentage of yellow leaves. A total of 30 and 90 proteins were differentially identified in PEG+SNP against PEG and PEG+SNP against the control, respectively. The majority of proteins differing between them were related to carbohydrate and energy metabolisms. Antioxidant enzyme activities, such as superoxide dismutase and ascorbate peroxidase, decreased in SNP-treated banana roots compared to PEG-treated banana. These results suggest that the nitric oxide-induced osmotic stress tolerance could be associated with improved carbohydrate and energy metabolism capability in higher plants.

Sayedeh Sara Sayedi, Benjamin W Abbott, Brett F Thornton et al.

The continental shelves of the Arctic Ocean and surrounding seas contain large stocks of organic matter (OM) and methane (CH _4 ), representing a potential ecosystem feedback to climate change not included in international climate agreements. We performed a structured expert assessment with 25 permafrost researchers to combine quantitative estimates of the stocks and sensitivity of organic carbon in the subsea permafrost domain (i.e. unglaciated portions of the continental shelves exposed during the last glacial period). Experts estimated that the subsea permafrost domain contains ∼560 gigatons carbon (GtC; 170–740, 90% confidence interval) in OM and 45 GtC (10–110) in CH _4 . Current fluxes of CH _4 and carbon dioxide (CO _2 ) to the water column were estimated at 18 (2–34) and 38 (13–110) megatons C yr ^−1 , respectively. Under Representative Concentration Pathway (RCP) RCP8.5, the subsea permafrost domain could release 43 Gt CO _2 -equivalent (CO _2 e) by 2100 (14–110) and 190 Gt CO _2 e by 2300 (45–590), with ∼30% fewer emissions under RCP2.6. The range of uncertainty demonstrates a serious knowledge gap but provides initial estimates of the magnitude and timing of the subsea permafrost climate feedback.

Müller C, Hodecker BER, De Barros NF et al.

Water deficit is one of the abiotic stresses that most affects the growth and survival of Eucalyptus. Mechanisms used to tolerate water-limited environments influence the distribution of Eucalyptus species in their natural environment. Here, we take a physiological approach to pre-screen Eucalyptus plants for tolerance to drought. Ten different clones of E. urophylla and E. grandis × E. urophylla that are known to show contrasting responses to water deficit under field conditions, were grown in Clark’s nutrient solution (WW, well-watered) and with polyethylene glycol (-1.0 MPa) to simulate water deficit (WD). Clones responded differently to drought with differentiated photosynthetic limitations in drought-treated clones. Photosynthetic rates, stomatal conductance, transpiration and internal CO2 concentrations were reduced in all genotypes under stress conditions. Clone i144 had a smaller reduction in the evaluated physiological traits, also showing increased root growth in WD-treated plants. Clones 3367 and i224, thought to be moderately tolerant, also followed these patterns. Clones gg157, 1568 and 1641, all of which are moderately sensitive under field conditions, reduced most of the physiological characters evaluated. However, clone gg157 demonstrated increased root system growth, even during short periods of water stress. Clones i042 and i182 were deemed drought-susceptible, with large reductions in photosynthesis and growth, despite showing a high increase in abscisic acid content presumably as a defense mechanism. Interaction between A (photosyntetic rate), E (transpiration rate), ETR/A (electrons transport rate/photosynthetic rate) and SDM/ RDM (shoot dry matter/root dry matter) demonstrated the most significant differences between WD-treated clones and offer great potential for use as selection criterion for water deficit-tolerant genotypes.

Karin Hirose, Yasuhiro Ishiga, Takashi Fujikawa

The kiwifruit bacterial canker (Pseudomonas syringae pv. actinidiae; Psa) causes severe damage to kiwifruit production worldwide. Psa biovar 6 (Psa6), which was isolated in Japan in 2015, produces two types of phytotoxins: coronatine and phaseolotoxin. To elucidate the unique virulence of Psa6, we performed transcriptomic analysis of phytotoxin synthesis genes and type III effector genes in in vitro cultivation using various media. The genes related to phytotoxin synthesis and effectors of Psa6 were strictly regulated in the coronatine-inducing mediums (HS and HSC); 14 of 23 effector genes and a hrpL sigma factor gene were induced at 3 h after transferring to the media (early-inducible genes), and phytotoxin synthesis genes such as argD of phaseolotoxin and cfl of coronatine were induced at 6 and 12 h after transferring to the media (late-inducible genes). In contrast, induction of these genes was not observed in the hrp-inducing medium. Next, to examine whether the changes in gene expression in different media is specific to Psa6, we investigated gene expression in other related bacteria. For Psa biovar 1 (Psa1), biovar 3 (Psa3), and P. s. pv. glycinea (Psg), no clear trends were observed in expression behavior across various culture media and incubation times. Therefore, Psa6 seems to exert its virulence efficiently by using two phytotoxins and effectors according to environmental changes. This is not seen in other biovars and pathovars, so it is thought that Psa6 has acquired its own balance of virulence.

David B. Resnik

An increasing number of human studies are asking participants to have substantial involvement in research. Citizens in human studies may contribute to various research activities, including study design, recruitment, data interpretation, and data and sample collection. Citizen involvement in research raises novel ethical issues for human studies, because individuals have traditionally occupied the role of researcher or subject, but not both at the same time. The confluence of these two different roles in the same person poses challenges for investigators and oversight committees because legal rules and ethical guidelines focus on protecting the rights and welfare of human subjects and do not address issues that fall outside this domain, such as study design, data quality and integrity, reporting misconduct, authorship, or publication. This article examines some of these issues and makes recommendations for investigators and oversight committees.

Yangyang Jiang, Guizhu Wu, Wenming Wu

Prashant Kumar, Angela Druckman, John Gallagher et al.

Cities are constantly evolving and so are the living conditions within and between them. Rapid urbanization and the ever-growing need for housing have turned large areas of many cities into concrete landscapes that lack greenery. Green infrastructure can support human health, provide socio-economic and environmental benefits, and bring color to an otherwise grey urban landscape. Sometimes, benefits come with downsides in relation to its impact on air quality and human health, requiring suitable data and guidelines to implement effective greening strategies. Air pollution and human health, as well as green infrastructure and human health, are often studied together. Linking green infrastructure with air quality and human health together is a unique aspect of this article. A holistic understanding of these links is key to enabling policymakers and urban planners to make informed decisions. By critically evaluating the link between green infrastructure and human health via air pollution mitigation, we also discuss if our existing understanding of such interventions is sufficient to inform their uptake in practice.Natural science and epidemiology approach the topic of green infrastructure and human health very differently. The pathways linking health benefits to pollution reduction by urban vegetation remain unclear and the mode of green infrastructure deployment is critical to avoid unintended consequences. Strategic deployment of green infrastructure may reduce downwind pollution exposure. However, the development of bespoke design guidelines is vital to promote and optimize greening benefits, and measuring green infrastructure's socio-economic and health benefits are key for their uptake. Greening cities to mitigate pollution effects is on the rise and these need to be matched by scientific evidence and appropriate guidelines. We conclude that urban vegetation can facilitate broad health benefits, but there is little empirical evidence linking these benefits to air pollution reduction by urban vegetation, and appreciable efforts are needed to establish the underlying policies, design and engineering guidelines governing its deployment. Keywords: Pollution exposure, Physical and mental health, Environmental health, Passive control, City greening