Multi-character approach reveals a discordant pattern of phenotypic variation during ontogeny in Culex pipiens biotypes (Diptera: Culicidae)

2014 ◽  
Vol 105 (1) ◽  
pp. 129-138 ◽  
Author(s):  
B. Krtinić ◽  
J. Ludoški ◽  
V. Milankov
Keyword(s):  
Phenotypic Variation ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Culex Pipiens ◽  
Forest Ecosystems ◽  
Integrative Approach ◽  
Host Preferences ◽  
Novi Sad ◽  
Multivariate Traits ◽  
The City ◽  
Shed Light

AbstractCulex (Culex) pipiens s.l. (Diptera: Culicidae) comprises two distinct biotypes, pipiens (‘rural’) and molestus (‘urban’), both of which are thought to have differing capacities due to different host preferences. To better understand West Nile encephalitis epidemiology and improve risk assessment, local distinction between these forms is essential. This study assesses phenotypic variation at larval and adult stages of ‘urban’ and ‘rural’ biotypes of the species by complementary use of meristic, univariate and multivariate traits analyzed by traditional and geometric morphometrics. Third- and fourth-instar larvae from a broad area of the city of Novi Sad (Serbia) were collected and reared in the laboratory. After adult eclosion, the sex of each larva was recorded based on the sex of the corresponding adult. Examination of the association between variations of larval traits revealed contrasting variations regarding pecten spines vs. siphonal size and siphonal shape in the ‘rural’ biotype. Siphons of larvae collected in marshes and forest ecosystems outside urban areas were found to be the largest, but possessed the smallest number of pecten spines. In addition, statistically significant female-biased sexual dimorphism was observed in siphonal size, wing size and wing shape. Finally, we propose that an integrative approach is essential in delimitation of Cx. pipiens s.l. biotypes, since their differentiation was not possible based solely on larval and adult traits. Our findings shed light on the phenotypic plasticity important for population persistence in the changing environment of these medically important taxa.

scholarly journals Cycling in the city: Novi Sad on its way to become more bike-friendly city through the social activism

2021 ◽  
pp. 24-32
Author(s):  
Ivana Komadina
Keyword(s):  
Social Activism ◽  
Integrative Approach ◽  
Storage Space ◽  
The Social ◽  
Future Policy ◽  
Novi Sad ◽  
The City ◽  
Insight Into ◽  
Different Parts

Novi Sad is a city with great potential for becoming a major cycling city. However, there have been certain obstacles standing in the way. Via survey, people who cycle expressed their satisfaction with the number of parking spots, storage space at home, safety in traffic, quality of cycling paths, and density of cycling paths. On the other hand, a group that does not cycle was asked for reasons behind it as well as for their opinion on how to involve more cyclists. Furthermore, we tried to illustrate the importance of social activism in promoting cycling as well as its role in implementing new social policies. This paper offers an insight into the origins of the present issues while presenting potential solutions based on already implemented methods from other major cycling capitals. Overall we propose novel approaches to tackling this issue with the hope of using this research for making the future policy more coherently and continuously. Only with a multidisciplinary and integrative approach from different parts of the community, Novi Sad can fulfill its potential to become a safe and efficient area for cyclists.

scholarly journals A Study of the Health and Nutritional Status of Slums in the City of Baghdad Case Study in a Random Area

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (2) ◽  
pp. 59-67
Author(s):  
Hamdiya Muhammad Shahwani ◽  
Wissal Abdullah Hussein ◽  
Alaa Nabeel Al-Heali
Keyword(s):  
High School ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Research Team ◽  
Population Growth Rates ◽  
Nutritional Conditions ◽  
High Population Growth ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
The City ◽  
Shed Light

In this research we shed light on the nature of the relationship between the random housing areas and the health and nutritional reality of the residents of those areas, taking one of the random areas in the outskirts of Baghdad city as a field of research, specifically in the Al-Rashid area / as random housing (outside the law) was established behind each of the Al-Rashid clinic Model and High School Protectors. The research team prepared a questionnaire that included a set of questions, which were sent to a random sample of residents of that region, to seek their views on the health and nutritional conditions in which they live, as this research is concerned with the health and nutritional aspects of the residents of slums. Simple statistical programs were used to calculate percentages and prepare graphs. The research reached a set of conclusions, the most important of which is that the phenomenon of slums has started in Iraq several decades ago, in a limited manner, but it rose after 2003 as a result of high population growth rates in general, and its rise in urban areas in particular, as well as multiple causes, including economic, cultural and religious And security instability, contributed to the polarization of the population towards specific cities, and the city of Baghdad is the highest in terms of the presence of random areas, as it reached about 1022 gatherings, which accounted for 27.7% of the total total of random settlements in Iraq, with a number of housing units of 136689. This research reached a set of recommendations that would address this phenomenon.

Urbanization of fauna on the example of marsh frog (Pelophylax ridibundus)

2015 ◽  
Vol 26 (3-4) ◽  
pp. 116-123
Author(s):  
A. P. Korzh ◽  
T. V. Zahovalko
Keyword(s):  
Urban Areas ◽  
Cognitive Modeling ◽  
Negative Impact ◽  
Natural Populations ◽  
Cellular Level ◽  
Anthropogenic Factors ◽  
Migration Routes ◽  
Corrective Effect ◽  
The Impact ◽  
The City

Recently, the number of published works devoted to the processes of synanthropization of fauna, is growing like an avalanche, which indicates the extreme urgency of this theme. In our view, the process of forming devices to coexist with human and the results of his life reflects the general tandency of the modern nature evolution. Urbanization is characteristic for such a specific group of animals like amphibians, the evidence of which are numerous literature data. Many researchers use this group to assess the bioindicative quality of the environment. For this aim a variety of indicators are used: from the cellular level of life of organization up to the species composition of the group in different territories. At the same time, the interpretation of the results is not always comparable for different areas and often have significantly different interpretations by experts. Urban environment, primarily due to the contamination is extremely aggressive to amphibians. As a consequence, the urban populations of amphibians may be a change in the demographic structure, affecting the reproductive ability of the population, the disappearance of the most sensitive species or individuals, resizing animals, the appearance of abnormalities in the development, etc. At the same time play an important amphibians in the ecosystems of cities, and some species in these conditions even feel relatively comfortable. Therefore, it is interesting to understand the mechanisms of self-sustaining populations of amphibians in urban environments. To assess the impact of natural and anthropogenic factors on the development of amphibian populations were used cognitive modeling using the program Vensim PLE. Cognitive map of the model for urban and suburban habitat conditions were the same. The differences concerned the strength of connections between individual factors (migration, fertility, pollution) and their orientation. In general, factors like pollution, parasites, predators had negative impact on the population, reducing its number. The birth rate, food and migration contributed to raising number of individuals. Some of the factors affected on the strength to of each other as well: the majority of the factors affected the structure of the population, had an influence on the fertility. Thanks to it the model reflects the additive effect of complex of factors on the subsequent status of the population. Proposed and analyzed four scenarios differing strength and duration of exposure. In the first scenario, a one-time contamination occurs and not subsequently repeated. The second and third scenario assumes half board contamination, 1 year (2 scenario) and two years (scenario 3). In the fourth scenario, the pollution affected the population of amphibians constantly. In accordance with the results of simulation, much weaker than the natural populations respond to pollution - have them as an intensive population growth and its disappearance at constant pollution is slow. Changes to other parameters of the model showed that this pollution is the decisive factor -only the constant action leads to a lethal outcome for the populations. All other components of the model have a corrective effect on the population dynamics, without changing its underlying trand. In urban areas due to the heavy impact of pollution maintaining the population is only possible thanks to the migration process – the constant replenishment of diminishing micropopulations of natural reserves. This confirms the assumption that the form of existence metapopulations lake frog in the city. In order to maintain the number of amphibians in urban areas at a high level it is necessary to maintain existing migration routes and the creation of new ones. Insular nature of the placement of suitable habitats in urban areas causes the metapopulation structure of the types of urbanists. Therefore, the process of urbanization is much easier for those species whicht are capable of migration in conditions of city. In the initial stages of settling the city micropopulationis formed by selective mortality of the most susceptible individuals to adverse effects. In future, maintaining the categories of individuals is provided mainly due to migration processes metapopulisation form of the species of existence is supported). It should be noted that the changes in the previous levels are always saved in future. In the case of reorganizations of individuals we of morphology can assume the existence of extremely adverse environmental conditions that threaten the extinction of the micropopulations. 

Epizootological features of demodicosis in homeless animals in the city of Tyumen ЭПИЗООТОЛОГИЧЕСКИЕ ОСОБЕННОСТИ ДЕМОДЕКОЗА У БЕЗДОМНЫХ ЖИВОТНЫХ В ГОРОДЕ ТЮМЕНИ

2019 ◽  
pp. 6-11
Keyword(s):  
Clinical Manifestation ◽  
Seasonal Dynamics ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Entire Population ◽  
Potential Threat ◽  
Stray Dogs ◽  
Stray Cats ◽  
The City

Широкое распространение безнадзорных животных на территории городов несет за собой потенциальную угрозу распространения зооантропонозных заболеваний, одним из которых является демодекоз. Невозможно разработать мероприятия, направленные на борьбу с заболеванием и его профилактику, без анализа данных особенностей возникновения и распространения инвазии среди всей популяции восприимчивых животных. Поэтому целью нашей работы явилось изучение распространения демодекоза среди безнадзорных собак и кошек в городе Тюмени. В задачи исследования входило изучение распространения демодекоза и его клинического проявления среди бездомных собак и кошек в условиях города Тюмени и определение сезонной динамики заболевания. Работу выполняли в 2016-2018 гг. на базе кафедры анатомии и физиологии ФГБОУ ВО ГАУ Северного Зауралья, в лаборатории акарологии ВНИИВЭА – филиала ТюмНЦ СО РАН, а также в производственных условиях на базе пункта временного содержания безнадзорных домашних животных МКУ «ЛесПаркХоз». Демодекозная инвазия распространена среди бездомных кошек и собак. Наиболее часто демодекоз встречается у собак, экстенсивность инвазии от 0,65 до 0,72%. Заболевание демодекозом у бездомных собак регистрировали на протяжении всего года, но 54,6% больных собак поступали в апреле и мае. Большинство больных демодекозом – это молодые собаки в возрасте от 1,5 месяцев до 2-х лет – 75,76%, животные старше двух лет гораздо реже страдали от демодекоза – 24,24%. Генерализацию демодекоза регистрировали у 21 собаки (63,64%), а локализованные очаги – у 12 собак (36,36%). Наиболее распространенной формой проявления демодекоза у бездомных собак является пустулезная, или пиодемодекоз. Данная форма заболевания была отмечена у 16 собак (48,49%), чешуйчатая форма отмечалась у 10 собак (30,30%), а смешанная – у 7 собак (21,21%). The widespread use of stray animals in urban areas carries with it the potential threat of the spread of zooanthroponotic diseases, one of which is demodicosis. It is impossible to develop measures aimed at combating the disease and its prevention without analyzing the data on the characteristics of the occurrence and spread of invasion among the entire population of susceptible animals. Therefore, the purpose of our work was to study the distribution of demodicosis among street dogs and cats in the city of Tyumen. The objectives of the study included the study of the spread of demodicosis and its clinical manifestation among stray dogs and cats in the conditions of the city of Tyumen and the determination of the seasonal dynamics of the disease. Demodectic invasion is common among stray cats and dogs. Most often, demodicosis occurs in dogs, with extensive invasion from 0.65 to 0.72%. Demodecosis in stray dogs was recorded throughout the year, but 54.6% of sick dogs were reported in April and May. The majority of patients with demodicosis are young dogs between the ages of 1.5 months and 2 years old - 75.76%, animals older than two years suffer less from demodicosis, only 24.24%. Generalization of demodicosis was recorded in 21 dogs (63.64%), and localized foci in 12 dogs (36.36%). The most common form of demodicosis in stray dogs is pustular or pyodemodecosis. This form of the disease was observed in 16 dogs (48.49%), scaly form, was observed in 10 dogs (30.30%), and mixed in 7 dogs (21.21%).

PHYTOMONITORING AS A METOD OF THE ASSESSMENT OF ATMOSPHERIC AIR POLLUTION BY URBAN ENVIRONMENT BY FINE DUST

2019 ◽  
pp. 42-53
Author(s):  
Irina Glinyanova ◽  
Valery Azarov ◽  
Valery Fomichev
Keyword(s):  
Urban Environment ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Fine Particles ◽  
Prunus Armeniaca ◽  
Dust Particles ◽  
Fine Dust ◽  
Control Zone ◽  
Atmospheric Air ◽  
Random Functions ◽  
The City

Fine dust: (PM2.5, PM10) is a priority pollutant that contributes to the development of numerous dis-eases in urban areas. The purpose of this scientific work is to study the dispersed composition of dust parti-cles on the leaves of apricot trees (Prúnus armeníaca) in the residential zone of Volgograd. The novelty of the work lies in the study of the dispersed composition of dust particles on the leaves of apricot trees (Prúnus armeníaca) in the residential zone in the city of Volgograd near the construction industry enterprise, me-chanical engineering, leather production and railway transport line in comparison with the conditionally clean (control) zone of the SNT “Orocenets” ”(Sovetsky District, Volgograd) from the standpoint of random functions expressed by integral distribution curves of the mass of particles over their equivalent diameters. As a result of the research, the dispersed composition of dust on the leaves of apricot trees (Prúnus ar-meníaca) in the residential area of Volgograd was revealed. Fine particles were found: PM2.5, PM10 in each of the studied points, which by their values, both in their number and mass fraction, significantly exceed the data on fine dust in a conditionally clean area (control) in the SNT “Oroshanets” (Sovetsky district Volgo-grad), which creates certain environmental risks for local residents. The dispersed analysis of particles from the standpoint of random functions in the future will allow with a sufficiently high degree of accuracy to pre-dict the dust content of urban atmospheric air in the range of monthly and / or seasonal average values compared to the traditional measurement of fine dust concentration in atmospheric air of the urban environ-ment as the maximum single or daily average. At the same time, further studies of dust on the leaves of plants in an urban environment, namely, the study of the density of its sedimentation, will also reveal a group of ur-ban plants that are best suited to retain PM2.5 and PM10 on leaf plates in this region, which can significantly increase the quality of the atmospheric air of the urban environment and be of a recommendatory nature for the state-owned landscaping services of the city of Volgograd when improving the green areas of a megacity.

A Wolf in the City

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cinzia Arruzza
Keyword(s):  
Political Theory ◽  
Detailed Analysis ◽  
Moral Psychology ◽  
Fifth Century ◽  
Political Leaders ◽  
Athenian Democracy ◽  
The City ◽  
Shed Light

A Wolf in the City is a study of tyranny and of the tyrant’s soul in Plato’s Republic. It argues that Plato’s critique of tyranny is an intervention in an ancient debate concerning the sources of the crisis of Athenian democracy and the relation between political leaders and the demos in the last decades of the fifth century BCE. The book shows that Plato’s critique of tyranny should not be taken as a veiled critique of the Syracusan tyrannical regime but, rather, as an integral part of his critique of Athenian democracy. The book also offers an in-depth and detailed analysis of all three parts of the tyrant’s soul, and contends that this approach is necessary to both fully appraise the complex psychic dynamics taking place in the description of the tyrannical man and shed light on Plato’s moral psychology and its relation with his political theory.

scholarly journals Changes in Water Quality of the River das Antas as It Passes through Rural and Urban Areas

Urban Science ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
pp. 22
Author(s):  
Valdemir Antoneli ◽  
Manuel Pulido-Fernández ◽  
João Anésio Bednarz ◽  
Leonardo Brandes ◽  
Michael Vrahnakis ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Rural Area ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Human Consumption ◽  
Rural And Urban Areas ◽  
Ph Values ◽  
Rural And Urban ◽  
Feasible Option ◽  
Decreasing Ph ◽  
The City

The catchment area of River das Antas (Irati, Paraná, Brazil) is of high importance both for human consumption and irrigation. Within Irati, this river passes through a rural area and through the city of Irati, crossing both poor and rich neighbourhoods. We selected three study areas downstream (a rural area, poor community, and rich neighbourhood) in which we measured turbidity, the concentration of sediments and pH during rainy days. Our results showed downstream trends of increasing turbidity and concentrations of sediments with decreasing pH. The values of turbidity and of concentration of sediments were significantly different in the rural area, while the pH values were significantly different between the three study areas. These findings highlight the effect of agricultural activities in the generation of sediments and turbidity. The—presumably expected—effects of organic urban waste from the poor neighbourhood were also detected in the pH values. We conclude that efforts should be made to ensure that land planning and training/education programmes on sustainable farming practices are undertaken by the authorities to reduce water pollution and its effects on water bodies during rainfall events, since paving streets is not a feasible option in the short term due to the high costs associated with this measure.

scholarly journals Understanding policing demand and deployment through the lens of the city and with the application of big data

Urban Studies ◽  
2021 ◽  
pp. 004209802098100
Author(s):  
Mark Ellison ◽  
Jon Bannister ◽  
Won Do Lee ◽  
Muhammad Salman Haleem
Keyword(s):  
Big Data ◽  
Urban Environment ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Multilevel Model ◽  
Open Data ◽  
Front Line ◽  
Criminological Research ◽  
The Social ◽  
Generalised Method Of Moments ◽  
The City

The effective, efficient and equitable policing of urban areas rests on an appreciation of the qualities and scale of, as well as the factors shaping, demand. It also requires an appreciation of the factors shaping the resources deployed in their address. To this end, this article probes the extent to which policing demand (crime, anti-social behaviour, public safety and welfare) and deployment (front-line resource) are similarly conditioned by the social and physical urban environment, and by incident complexity. The prospect of exploring policing demand, deployment and their interplay is opened through the utilisation of big data and artificial intelligence and their integration with administrative and open data sources in a generalised method of moments (GMM) multilevel model. The research finds that policing demand and deployment hold varying and time-sensitive association with features of the urban environment. Moreover, we find that the complexities embedded in policing demands serve to shape both the cumulative and marginal resources expended in their address. Beyond their substantive policy relevance, these findings serve to open new avenues for urban criminological research centred on the consideration of the interplay between policing demand and deployment.

scholarly journals Gonoactivity of Culex (Culex) (Diptera: Culicidae) Mosquitoes During Winter in Temperate Argentina

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
María Florencia Branda ◽  
Magdalena Laurito ◽  
Andrés Mario Visintin ◽  
Walter Ricardo Almirón
Keyword(s):  
Developmental Stage ◽  
Culex Quinquefasciatus ◽  
Culex Pipiens ◽  
Life Cycles ◽  
Morphological Identification ◽  
Dry Ice ◽  
Culex Pipiens Pipiens ◽  
Host Seeking ◽  
Baited Traps ◽  
The City

Abstract The subgenus Culex L. includes species involved in summer–autumn arbovirus transmission but studies during winter are scarce in temperate Argentina. Female specimens were collected host-seeking at dry-ice-baited traps during autumn–winter–spring at two sites in Córdoba City during 2016 and 2017. The specimens were morphologically identified and dissected to determine the follicular developmental stage (gonotrophic activity). Females with advanced follicular stages (≥III) were subjected to molecular procedures to confirm or re-identify previous morphological identification. Five species (Culex apicinus Philippi (Diptera: Culicidae), Culex dolosus (Lynch-Arribálzaga) (Diptera: Culicidae), Culex maxi Dyar (Diptera: Culicidae), Culex pipiens pipiens L. (Diptera: Culicidae), and Culex quinquefasciatus Say (Diptera: Culicidae)) were collected and found gonoactive during winter; showing that a high proportion of Culex (Culex) females remain reproductively active during the unfavorable season for mosquito populations. Among them, it is worth noting the collection of Cx. quinquefasciatus, vector of the St. Louis encephalitis virus (endemic in the city), a specimen of Cx. p. pipiens, and a hybrid of Cx. p. pipiens/Cx. quinquefasciatus (during autumn). The study of this community during winter should continue because a high gonoactive female proportion with advanced follicular stages was found: 29.12 and 13.07% in 2016 and 2017, respectively. Local studies such as this one provide evidence about ornithophilic Culex species with active year-round life cycles, species that could favor arbovirus overwintering.

scholarly journals The importance of changing urban scenery in the assessment of citizens’ soundscape perception. On the need for different time-related points of view

Noise Mapping ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 138-161
Author(s):  
Jerónimo Vida Manzano ◽  
José Antonio Almagro Pastor ◽  
Rafael García Quesada
Keyword(s):  
Urban Areas ◽  
Noise Exposure ◽  
Noise Control ◽  
Action Plan ◽  
Heavy Traffic ◽  
Legal Protection ◽  
Complementary Method ◽  
Reduction Strategies ◽  
The Right ◽  
The City

Abstract The city of Granada is experimenting a big urban transformation, attending national and international commitments on clean air, energy efficiency and savings linked to greenhouse gases reduction strategies and sustainable development action plans. This situation constitutes a good scenario for new noise control approaches that take into account the sound variable and citizens empowering in urban design, such as the soundscape assessment of urban territory. In this way, soundscape tools have been used in Granada as a complementary method for environmental noise characterisation where traditional noise control techniques are difficult to be carried out or give limited results. After 2016 strategic noise map and in the preparation of the new noise action plan, the city came across a great acoustic challenge in a new area located outskirts characterised by growing urbanisation, still under development, the greatest legal protection because of sensitive teaching and hospital buildings and the greatest noise exposure from nearby ring-way supporting heavy traffic flow. As quiet urban areas are not characterised by the absence of noise but for the presence of the right noise, this research intended to provide the local administration with results and proposals to transform this conflict area in a pleasant or quiet urban place. Main results came from important and significative differences in morning and evening characterisation, as great differences appear in soundscape assessment over the day and along the soundwalk path, indicating the importance of time and local issues to adequately characterised citizens perception to be considered by administration in the development of strategies and effective noise control actions.

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