Article
Environmental Sciences
Shan Li, Qiang Li, Jiahua Zhang, Shichao Zhang, Xue Wang, Shanshan Yang, Sha Zhang
Summary: Understanding variations in vegetation phenology is crucial for adapting to climate change and urbanization. However, there has been limited research on phenology in urban areas. This study focuses on Jinan city, China, using a local climate zone approach to investigate spatial and temporal variations in vegetation phenology. The results show that vegetation phenology in the study area generally exhibited advance, delay, and extension trends.
Article
Parasitology
Raquel L. Souza, Romero J. Nazare, Hernan D. Argibay, Maysa Pellizzaro, Rosangela O. Anjos, Moyra M. Portilho, Leile Camila Jacob-Nascimento, Mitermayer G. Reis, Uriel D. Kitron, Guilherme S. Ribeiro
Summary: Ae. aegypti habitats in a low-income urban community in Salvador, Brazil displayed high diversity and a high degree of heterogeneity in vector abundance in both space and time. Improving basic sanitation in low-income urban communities, such as regular water supply, proper solid waste management, and drainage, may reduce water storage and puddle formation, minimizing opportunities for Ae. aegypti proliferation in such settings.
PARASITES & VECTORS
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Renata Vcelakova, Marcela Prokopova, Vilem Pechanec, Lenka Sterbova, Ondrej Cudlin, Ahmed Mohammed Ahmed Alhuseen, Jan Purkyt, Pavel Cudlin
Summary: As urban areas expand, the importance of ecosystem services (ESs) provided by urban and peri-urban areas increases, particularly in mitigating climate change. This study presents a simple method to assess the performance of three ecosystem functions (EFs: evapotranspiration, carbon production, and habitat-and landscape-level biodiversity) in urban and peri-urban areas, indicating their capacity to provide relevant ESs. The results from two Czech cities showed that both cities had comparable or higher EFs levels than the national average. The method can help identify valuable urban habitats for protection or identify low functional value areas for adaptation strategies to climate change.
APPLIED SCIENCES-BASEL
(2023)
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Pingping Zhang, Yunqiang Wang, Hui Sun, Lijun Qi, Hao Liu, Zhe Wang
Summary: This study collected soil samples in Xi'an City to investigate the spatial variations and distributions of soil organic carbon, identifying main driving factors of SOC density and comparing different interpolation methods in predicting spatial distributions of SOCD. The findings provided important insights into the global carbon cycle influenced by urban soils and serve as a critical guide to land management in urban areas.
Article
Immunology
Amanda Beiral da Silva, Nayara Torres Cardoso-Marques, Italo de Moraes Dolores, Lucia Martins Teixeira, Felipe Piedade Gonsalves Neves
Summary: This study investigated the carriage prevalence, risk factors, serotypes, and antimicrobial resistance among pneumococcal isolates recovered from adults living in a Brazilian urban slum. The results showed a low frequency of pneumococcal carriage among the adult population but a high diversity of serotypes. Concerningly, some isolates displayed resistance to antimicrobial agents.
Article
Soil Science
Zihao Wu, Yiyun Chen, Zhen Yang, Yaolin Liu, Yuanli Zhu, Zhaomin Tong, Rui An
Summary: Understanding the spatial distribution and underlying mechanism of soil lead concentration in peri-urban areas is crucial for controlling lead contamination, ensuring food safety, and promoting sustainable urban development. This study used gradient boosting decision tree to investigate the threshold and interaction effects of environmental factors on lead content. The results showed that anthropogenic factors played a major role in lead contamination, and environmental variables had threshold effects on lead concentration. The findings highlight the importance of considering threshold and interaction effects to understand the processes leading to lead contamination and have implications for sustainable urban development.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Glauber das Neves, Joao Paulo Sena-Souza, Fabio Luis de Souza Santos, Edson Eyji Sano, Gabriela Bielefeld Nardoto, Antonio Felipe Couto Junior
Summary: The study developed a spatial model of soil 613C in the Cerrado region based on multiple linear regression analysis, showing higher values in the south and lower values in the north. Soil 613C serves as a proxy indicator of vegetation history at the landscape scale for the Central Brazilian savanna, despite some regions where the model could not estimate.
JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Danielle Regina Gomes Ribeiro-Brasil, Italo Braga Castro, Marcelo Petracco, Rodrigo Moco Batista, Leandro Schlemmer Brasil, Johnata Azevedo Ferreira, Thais Angelica da Costa Borba, Marcelo Rollnic, Gilberto Fillmann, Lilian Lund Amado
Summary: In this study, the spatial distribution of Butyltins (BTs) in surface sediments and gastropod tissues in the Eastern Amazon estuarine system was quantified. The results indicate that BTs concentrations are associated with area use and local hydrodynamics in the region.
MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN
(2021)
Article
Construction & Building Technology
Yang Chen, Jun Yang, Ruxin Yang, Xiangming Xiao, Jianhong (Cecilia) Xia
Summary: This study utilized map data and remote sensing images to identify urban functional zones in Shenyang, and evaluated their impact on the urban thermal environment. The results revealed a gradual decrease in land surface temperature in the city center, with public service facility land having the greatest influence on the urban thermal environment.
BUILDING AND ENVIRONMENT
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Haykanush Ohanyan, Lutzen Portengen, Anke Huss, Eugenio Traini, Joline W. J. Beulens, Gerard Hoek, Jeroen Lakerveld, Roel Vermeulen
Summary: This study investigated the relationship between environmental factors in urban areas and BMI, using multiple statistical methods to analyze the data. The results indicated that neighborhood house values, oxidative potential of air pollution, healthy food outlets, low-income neighborhoods, and one-person households were significantly associated with BMI.
ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL
(2022)
Article
Construction & Building Technology
Zeng Li, Fei Wang, Tingting Kang, Changjian Wang, Xiaodong Chen, Zhuang Miao, Li Zhang, Yuyao Ye, Hongou Zhang
Summary: This study investigated the impact of socioeconomic and urban form drivers on CO2 emissions in 275 cities in China. The results showed that socioeconomic factors had a greater impact on emissions than urban form, but the contribution from urban form was increasing.
SUSTAINABLE CITIES AND SOCIETY
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Yazhu Wang, Xuejun Duan, Tao Liang, Lei Wang, Lingqing Wang
Summary: This research analyzes the air quality data of 336 Chinese cities from 2014 to 2019, revealing a gradual decrease in pollutant concentrations and a decline in air quality from north to south and from inland to coastal areas. Industrial pollution emissions, population agglomeration, and vehicle exhaust are identified as the main contributors to air pollution, while economic development plays a significant role in reducing pollutant concentrations.
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Douglas William Cirino, Leandro Reverberi Tambosi, Thais Mauad, Simone Rodrigues de Freitas, Jean Paul Metzger
Summary: The spatial distribution and type of green areas have different effects on human health. Land sharing configuration is beneficial for preventing cardiovascular diseases, while land sparing and arboreal vegetation are relevant to reduce hospitalizations by lower respiratory diseases. Forests, on the other hand, are associated with increased rates of hospitalization by respiratory allergies causes. Therefore, a balanced distribution of green areas in urban spaces can create healthier environments.
JOURNAL OF APPLIED ECOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Zhihui Li, Haowei Wu, Feng Wu
Summary: Urban planning and development have a significant impact on CO2 emissions, and this study analyzed the effects of urban forms and socioeconomic factors on CO2 emissions in cities in Guangdong province. The results showed that increasing the continuity of urban areas and improving the traffic coupling factor can help reduce CO2 emissions, while economic growth, population increase, and economic openness degree increase would lead to stronger CO2 emission. Additionally, the spatial spillover effects would enhance the impacts of these driving factors.
JOURNAL OF CLEANER PRODUCTION
(2022)
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Hissah Al-Nefaie, Amirah Alsultan, Raghib Abusaris
Summary: This study investigated the distribution and spatial patterns of dengue fever cases in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, and explored the association between dengue fever and environmental factors such as temperature, humidity, land cover, climate, rainfall, epicenter of reproduction, and socioeconomic factors. The study showed three clusters of dengue fever in the middle and east of Jeddah. It highlighted the importance of investigating environmental factors and implementing intervention programs to reduce the endemic dengue in the area.
JOURNAL OF INFECTION AND PUBLIC HEALTH
(2022)
Article
Immunology
Margaret L. Lind, Olivia L. Schultes, Alexander J. Robertson, Amy J. Houde, Derek A. T. Cummings, Albert Ko, Byron S. Kennedy, Robert P. Richeson
Summary: Through evaluation of the BinaxNOW rapid antigen test in different collection frequency strategies, this study provides evidence for the utility of serial rapid antigen test collection in congregate facility settings. The findings demonstrate high diagnostic accuracy of serial antigen test collection, supporting its use in outbreak investigation, screening, and situations requiring rapid detection.
CLINICAL INFECTIOUS DISEASES
(2023)
Article
Immunology
Margaret L. Lind, Richard Copin, Shane McCarthy, Andreas Coppi, Fred Warner, David Ferguson, Chelsea Duckwall, Ryan Borg, M. Catherine Muenker, John Overton, Sara Hamon, Anbo Zhou, Derek A. T. Cummings, Albert Ko, Jennifer D. Hamilton, Wade Schulz, Matt D. T. Hitchings
Summary: Using whole genome sequencing (WGS), the study provides evidence of declining vaccine effectiveness and variant-specific immune evasion during the Delta wave. The study suggests that calendar-period-based classification is prone to variant misclassification.
JOURNAL OF INFECTIOUS DISEASES
(2023)
Editorial Material
Veterinary Sciences
Igor A. D. Paploski, Andreia G. Arruda, Kimberly VanderWaal
FRONTIERS IN VETERINARY SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Cell Biology
Bruno Andraus Filardi, Valter Silva Monteiro, Pedro Vellosa Schwartzmann, Vivian do Prado Martins, Luis Eduardo Rosa Zucca, Gabriela Crispim Baiocchi, Amyn A. Malik, Julio Silva, Anne M. Hahn, Nicholas F. G. Chen, Kien Pham, Eddy Perez-Then, Marija Miric, Vivian Brache, Leila Cochon, Rafael A. Larocca, Roberto Della Rosa Mendez, Douglas Bardini Silveira, Aguinaldo Roberto Pinto, Julio Croda, Inci Yildirim, Saad B. Omer, Albert I. Ko, Sten H. Vermund, Nathan D. Grubaugh, Akiko Iwasaki, Carolina Lucas
Summary: The emergence of the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron sublineages resulted in increased transmission rates and reduced vaccine protection. Homologous CoronaVac booster doses showed lower efficiency in enhancing immune response compared to heterologous BNT162b2 or ChAdOx1 boosters, especially in individuals over 50 years old. These findings emphasize the potential benefits of heterologous vaccination strategies for older adults fully vaccinated with CoronaVac during the Omicron wave.
SCIENCE TRANSLATIONAL MEDICINE
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Jillian R. R. Jaycox, Carolina Lucas, Inci Yildirim, Yile Dai, Eric Y. Y. Wang, Valter Monteiro, Sandra Lord, Jeffrey Carlin, Mariko Kita, Jane H. H. Buckner, Shuangge Ma, Melissa Campbell, Albert Ko, Saad Omer, Carrie L. L. Lucas, Cate Speake, Akiko Iwasaki, Aaron M. M. Ring
Summary: mRNA-based vaccines reduce the occurrence and severity of COVID-19, but may have rare adverse effects. This study investigates whether these vaccines can also promote the development of autoantibodies, particularly in autoimmune patients. The researchers found that most individuals generate robust virus-specific antibody responses after vaccination, but autoimmune patients on certain immunosuppression methods have impaired immune responses. The dynamics of autoantibodies are stable in vaccinated patients, unlike COVID-19 patients who exhibit an increased prevalence of new autoantibody reactivities.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2023)
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Cleber Cremonese, Fabio Neves Souza, Fabiana Almerinda Goncalves Palma, Jonatas Fernandes Araujo Sodre, Ricardo Lustosa Brito, Priscyla dos Santos Ribeiro, Juliet Oliveira Santana, Rachel Helena Coelho, Juan P. Aguilar Ticona, Romero J. Nazare, Daiana de Oliveira, Caina Queiroz Silva, Max T. Eyre, Vinicius de Araujo Mendes, Jackie Knee, Paula Ristow, Christine E. Stauber, Yeimi Alexandra Alzate Lopez, Emanuele Giorgi, Peter J. Diggle, Mitermayer Galvao G. Reis, Oliver Cumming, Albert Ko, Federico Costa
Summary: This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of a simplified sewerage intervention in reducing the risk of exposure to contaminated environments and Leptospira infection in low-income communities in Salvador, Brazil. The study design includes non-randomized intervention and control clusters, with a cohort of 1400 adult participants. The primary outcome is the incidence of Leptospira infection assessed through serological measurements.
Article
Microbiology
Banenat B. Dogonyaro, Henriette van Heerden, Andrew D. Potts, Folorunso O. Fasina, Arnau Casanovas-Massana, Francis B. Kolo, Christine Loetter, Charles Byaruhanga, Albert I. Ko, Elsio A. Wunder, Abiodun A. Adesiyun
Summary: This study provides the first molecular characterization of Leptospira spp. from slaughtered livestock in South Africa. The findings demonstrate the presence of pathogenic Leptospira in the livestock population, particularly in sheep, with a higher detection rate using molecular methods compared to culture-based isolation. This highlights the importance of molecular diagnostic approaches in reducing the under-reporting of leptospirosis in livestock, especially in South Africa.
Article
Infectious Diseases
Giselle da Silva Duarte, Alexandra Jones, Luciano Pamplona de Goes Cavalcanti, Moacyr Jesus Barreto de Melo Rego, Guilherme Ribeiro, Rosemary Boyton, Dhelio Batista Pereira, Julio Henrique Rosa Croda, Fabio Trindade Maranhao Costa, Angela Pinto Duarte, Marcia Edilaine Lopes Consolaro, Rodrigo Guerino Stabeli, Fabio Juliano Negrao, Jose Luiz Proenca-Modena, Juan Miguel Villalobos-Salcedo, Geraldo da Rocha Castelar Pinheiro, Amanda Pinheiro de Barros Albuquerque, Francisca Kalline de Almeida Barreto, Jose Moreira, Idalina Cristina Ferrari, Patricia Martinez Evora, Vania Ramos Sela da Silva, Marcus Vinicius Guimaraes Lacerda, Daniel Altmann, REPLICK Network, Andre M. Siqueira
Summary: This study is the largest evaluation of the long-term sequelae of individuals infected with CHIKV in the Brazilian population, focusing on musculoskeletal manifestations, mental health, quality of life, and chronic pain. The aim of this study is to better understand the disease burden and costs associated with CHIKV infection and to inform therapeutic guidelines.
BMC INFECTIOUS DISEASES
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Kevin Zhu, Cailee Hill, Aaron Muirhead, Mausumi Basu, Joe Brown, Margo A. Brinton, Matthew J. Hayat, Cristina Venegas-Vargas, Mitermayer G. Reis, Arnau Casanovas-Massana, J. Scott Meschke, Albert I. Ko, Federico Costa, Christine E. Stauber
Summary: During the Zika virus epidemic, the capacity for widespread diagnostic testing was hindered due to serological cross-reactivity and high costs. Wastewater monitoring approaches, however, may offer a means of community-level surveillance. The persistence and recovery of Zika virus RNA were studied in experiments using different water sources, providing valuable information for future wastewater monitoring efforts.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Margaret L. Lind, Murilo Dorion, Amy J. Houde, Mary Lansing, Sarah Lapidus, Russell Thomas, Inci Yildirim, Saad B. Omer, Wade L. Schulz, Jason R. Andrews, Matt D. T. Hitchings, Byron S. Kennedy, Robert P. Richeson, Derek A. T. Cummings, Albert I. Ko
Summary: The study investigates the impact of prior infection and vaccination on exposure risk in a correctional facility. The findings suggest that prior infection and vaccination can reduce the risk of infection, but the protection is weaker in cases of cell exposure. The study highlights the potential benefits of combining vaccination with non-pharmaceutical interventions to prevent infection in crowded settings.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2023)
Article
Microbiology
Weinan Zhu, Felipe J. Passalia, Camila Hamond, Cecilia M. Abe, Albert I. I. Ko, Angela S. Barbosa, Elsio A. A. Wunder Jr
Summary: This study identified MPL36 as the major plasminogen binding protein in pathogenic Leptospira, playing a crucial role in the invasion ability of the bacteria and its interaction with host tissues during infection. This finding contributes to the understanding of leptospiral pathogenesis and offers a potential candidate for improving the diagnosis and prevention of this important zoonotic disease.
Article
Genetics & Heredity
Georgia Charkoftaki, Reza Aalizadeh, Alvaro Santos-Neto, Wan Ying Tan, Emily A. Davidson, Varvara Nikolopoulou, Yewei Wang, Brian Thompson, Tristan Furnary, Ying Chen, Elsio A. Wunder, Andreas Coppi, Wade Schulz, Akiko Iwasaki, Richard W. Pierce, Charles S. Dela Cruz, Gary V. Desir, Naftali Kaminski, Shelli Farhadian, Kirill Veselkov, Rupak Datta, Melissa Campbell, Nikolaos S. Thomaidis, Albert I. Ko, David C. Thompson, Vasilis Vasiliou, Yale IMPACT Study Team
Summary: During the COVID-19 pandemic, we developed a machine learning predictive model to forecast disease severity and hospitalization duration, which can be used for future viral outbreaks. By combining plasma data, clinical information, and predictive algorithms, we created a patient triage platform that accurately predicts disease severity, length of hospital stay, and need for intensive care unit transfer. Additionally, we identified potential biomarkers such as eosinophils that indicate poor disease prognosis.
Review
Genetics & Heredity
Michela Biancolella, Vito Luigi Colona, Lucio Luzzatto, Jessica Lee Watt, Giorgio Mattiuz, Silvestro G. Conticello, Naftali Kaminski, Ruty Mehrian-Shai, Albert I. Ko, Gregg S. Gonsalves, Vasilis Vasiliou, Giuseppe Novelli, Juergen K. V. Reichardt
Summary: Three and a half years after the pandemic outbreak, COVID-19 remains a significant global issue despite the official declaration by WHO that the emergency is over. Recent genetic and genomic research on COVID-19 has focused on identifying genes affecting susceptibility and severity, providing new avenues for therapeutic approaches and potential genetic screening protocols. Continued vigilance and research are warranted as the pandemic transitions to an endemic situation, and international collaboration and timely data sharing are imperative to prevent future health crises.
Article
Infectious Diseases
Nagarjuna R. Cheemarla, Amelia Hanron, Joseph R. Fauver, Jason Bishai, Timothy A. Watkins, Anderson F. Brito, Dejian Zhao, Tara Alpert, Chantal B. F. Vogels, Albert Ko, Wade L. Schulz, Marie L. Landry, Nathan Grubaugh, David van Dijk, Ellen F. Foxman
Summary: This study aims to determine whether nasopharyngeal CXCL10 screening can be used to enrich for samples containing undiagnosed viruses. By testing patients, it was found that samples with higher CXCL10 concentrations contained undiagnosed viruses, suggesting that this method can be used for pathogen discovery and surveillance of clinical samples.
Article
Parasitology
Carla Celina Ribeiro, Andrea da Silva Santos, Daniel Henrique Tshua, Roberto Dias de Oliveira, Everton Ferreira Lemos, Paul Bourdillon, Alexandre Laranjeira, Crhistinne Cavalheiro Maymone Goncalves, Jason Andrews, Albert Ko, Julio Croda
Summary: This study evaluated the delay in the diagnosis and treatment of TB in Brazilian prisons, finding that the number of TB cases in prisons is higher than that in the general population and is the most common cause of death in prisons. Delays were significant between reporting of the first symptoms and diagnosis, highlighting the need for control strategies to avoid delays in diagnosis and treatment and reduce TB transmission.
REVISTA DA SOCIEDADE BRASILEIRA DE MEDICINA TROPICAL
(2023)
