scholarly journals Molecular Detection of Bartonella Species in Rodents Residing in Urban and Suburban Areas of Central Thailand

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (12) ◽  
pp. 2588
Author(s):  
Phirabhat Saengsawang ◽  
Serge Morand ◽  
Marc Desquesnes ◽  
Sarawut Yangtara ◽  
Tawin Inpankaew
Keyword(s):  
Urban Areas ◽  
Citrate Synthase ◽  
Monitoring Program ◽  
Conventional Polymerase Chain Reaction ◽  
Blood Samples ◽  
Suburban Areas ◽  
Glta Gene ◽  
Blood Sucking ◽  
Risk Areas ◽  
Zoonotic Bacteria

Bartonella spp. are Gram-negative zoonotic bacteria transmitted to humans via various blood-sucking arthropods. Rodents have been identified as reservoir hosts of several zoonotic pathogens, including Bartonella spp. In Thailand, studies of Bartonella spp. in rodents from urban areas are limited; thus, a study in this area is necessary. The objectives of this study were to detect Bartonella spp. in rodents in Thailand and to compare the species’ distribution across different areas. In total, 70 blood samples from rodents in urban and suburban areas were tested for Bartonella spp. using a conventional polymerase chain reaction that targeted the citrate synthase (gltA) gene. All Bartonella-positive sequences were analyzed using polymorphism in order to build a phylogenetic tree. Approximately 38% of the rodents studied contained Bartonella DNA. Both Rattus exulans (Pacific rat) and R. tanezumi (Asian house rat) contained Bartonella spp. Four species of Bartonella were detected in blood samples: B. tribocorum, B. phoceensis, B. grahamii, and B. rattimassiliensis. In addition, eight Pacific rats contained the B. kosoyi–B. tribocorum complex. Bartonella phoceensis and B. tribocorum–B. kosoyi complexes were found in a specific habitat (p < 0.05). Interestingly, only seven haplotypes were identified in the sequences analyzed, and only haplotype A was found in both rodent species. Finally, a monitoring program for zoonotic Bartonella infection, especially the B. kosoyi–B. tribocorum complex, B. phoceensis, B. grahamii, and B. rattimassiliensis should be established, especially in high-risk areas.

scholarly journals Spatial characteristics of waste management in the "city-suburban" system

2017 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Urban Areas ◽  
Household Waste ◽  
Economic Factors ◽  
Suburban Areas ◽  
Spatial Features ◽  
Effective System ◽  
Risk Areas ◽  
The City ◽  
Socio Economic Factors

Goal. To establish the dependence of the formation of unauthorized dumps of solid household waste with spatial features and socio-economic factors. Methods. Field, statistical data processing. Results. As a result of inventory of landfills of waste related to urban areas. Babai and s. Zatyshne 23 objects were discovered. Each object is analyzed in accordance with a number of criteria designed to optimize waste accumulation and disposal processes in suburban areas. On the basis of the analysis, all objects are classified and grouped into groups for a number of common features. The conducted analysis and classification of landfills enable to give a clear linking of objects to the spatial features within which they were formed. In addition, the analysis of the socio-economic component gives an idea of the context of the formation of landfills, the features of their further growth and morphological composition. On the basis of the analysis, four zones of risk of the formation and development of unauthorized waste landfills are allocated. Risk zones are allocated on the basis of the number of formed landfills, their area and the dynamics of growth. Conclusions dedicated areas of risk of the formation and growth of unauthorized dumps give the opportunity to build an effective system of environmental management and a program of sanitary clearing of territories. Binding landfill to spatial features and socio-economic factors allows for forecasting and subsequent control, which will be aimed at stopping the formation of new objects. Important in this approach is the concept of "individuality" of populated areas, since identified risk areas for one group of settlements, may be irrelevant for the next territorial cluster of management.

scholarly journals A brief review: the prevalence of tick-borne pathogens in urban and suburban areas

Biologija ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 66 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Justina Snegiriovaitė ◽  
Jana Radzijevskaja ◽  
Algimantas Paulauskas
Keyword(s):  
Urban Areas ◽  
Leisure Time ◽  
Natural Ecosystems ◽  
Suburban Areas ◽  
Growing Seasons ◽  
Candidatus Neoehrlichia Mikurensis ◽  
Blood Sucking ◽  
Suburban Forests ◽  
Neoehrlichia Mikurensis ◽  
Babesia Spp

Ticks are widely distributed blood-sucking ectoparasites and vectors for numerous zoonotic pathogens that cause infectious diseases in humans and animals. The increase in the incidence of tick-borne diseases (TBD) is partially associated with climatic changes, such as shorter and warmer winters, prolonged growing seasons, and also with increasing urbanisation. In recent decades, a rising number of established populations of medically important ticks have been reported in urban and suburban areas such as city parks or suburban forests over many regions in Europe. The transformation of natural ecosystems into urban areas becomes actual significant problem because it could affect the circulation of tick-borne pathogens and increase the risk of infection for humans and domestic animals. Tick-borne pathogens, including Borrelia burgdorferi s. l., Rickettsia spp., Anaplasma phagocytophilum, Candidatus Neoehrlichia mikurensis, and Babesia spp., have been detected in urban tick populations in Europe. Such places as parks, leisure-time areas, green spaces, and gardens become endemic zones of tick-borne pathogens. This review describes the investigations on the prevalence of tick-borne pathogens in urbanised areas conducted in Europe during the last fifteen years (2005–2020).

scholarly journals A multiscale assessment of Red-tailed Hawk reproductive success relative to urban density and habitat type

2020 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Justin H White ◽  
Jessi L Brown ◽  
Zachary E Ormsby
Keyword(s):  
Urban Areas ◽  
Urban Expansion ◽  
Habitat Type ◽  
Nesting Success ◽  
Arid Environments ◽  
Hatch Date ◽  
Urban Density ◽  
Landscape Characteristics ◽  
Suburban Areas ◽  
Breeding Seasons

Abstract Despite the unique threats to wildlife in urban areas, many raptors have established successfully reproducing urban populations. To identify variations in raptor breeding ecology within an urban area, we compared metrics of Red-tailed Hawk reproductive attempts to landscape characteristics in Reno and Sparks, NV, USA during the 2015 and 2016 breeding seasons. We used the Apparent Nesting Success and logistic exposure methods to measure nesting success of the Red-tailed Hawks. We used generalized linear models to relate nesting success and fledge rate to habitat type, productivity to hatch date (Julian day) and hatch date to urban density. Nesting success was 86% and 83% for the respective years. Nesting success increased in grassland-agricultural and shrub habitats and decreased in riparian habitat within the urban landscape. Productivity was 2.23 and 2.03 per nest for the breeding seasons. Fledge rates were 72% and 77%, respectively, and decreased in riparian areas. Nestlings hatched earlier with increased urban density and earliest in suburban areas, following a negative quadratic curve. Nesting success and productivity for this population were high relative to others in North America. Productivity increased in habitats where ground prey was more accessible. We suggest that suburban areas, if not frequently disturbed, provide sufficient resources to sustain Red-tailed Hawks over extended periods. As urban expansion continues in arid environments globally, we stress that researchers monitor reproductive output across the urban predator guild to elucidate patterns in population dynamics and adaptation.

scholarly journals InSAR Multitemporal Data over Persistent Scatterers to Detect Floodwater in Urban Areas: A Case Study in Beletweyne, Somalia

2020 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
pp. 37
Author(s):  
Luca Pulvirenti ◽  
Marco Chini ◽  
Nazzareno Pierdicca
Keyword(s):  
Urban Area ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
The Other ◽  
Spatial Average ◽  
Calibration Data ◽  
Suburban Areas ◽  
Persistent Scatterers ◽  
Optical Images ◽  
Interferometric Phase ◽  
Multitemporal Data

A stack of Sentinel-1 InSAR data in an urban area where flood events recurrently occur, namely Beletweyne town in Somalia, has been analyzed. From this analysis, a novel method to deal with the problem of flood mapping in urban areas has been derived. The approach assumes the availability of a map of persistent scatterers (PSs) inside the urban settlement and is based on the analysis of the temporal trend of the InSAR coherence and the spatial average of the exponential of the InSAR phase in each PS. Both interferometric products are expected to have high and stable values in the PSs; therefore, anomalous decreases may indicate that floodwater is present in an urban area. The stack of Sentinel-1 data has been divided into two subsets. The first one has been used as a calibration set to identify the PSs and determine, for each PS, reference values of the coherence and the spatial average of the exponential of the interferometric phase under standard non-flooded conditions. The other subset has been used for validation purposes. Flood maps produced by UNOSAT, analyzing very-high-resolution optical images of the floods that occurred in Beletweyne in April–May 2018, October–November 2019, and April–May 2020, have been used as reference data. In particular, the map of the April–May 2018 flood has been used for training purposes together with the subset of Sentinel-1 calibration data, whilst the other two maps have been used to validate the products generated by applying the proposed method. The main product is a binary map of flooded PSs that complements the floodwater map of rural/suburban areas produced by applying a well-consolidated algorithm based on intensity data. In addition, a flood severity map that labels the different districts of Beletweyne, as not, partially, or totally flooded has been generated to consolidate the validation. The results have confirmed the effectiveness of the proposed method.

What Kind of People Use Carsharing for Commuting? Case Study in Shanghai

2019 ◽  
Vol 2673 (5) ◽  
pp. 770-778 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jianhong Ye ◽  
Daoge Wang ◽  
Hua Zhang ◽  
Hong Yang
Keyword(s):  
High Frequency ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Descriptive Analysis ◽  
User Characteristics ◽  
Logistic Regression Models ◽  
Highly Educated ◽  
Suburban Areas ◽  
Commuting Mode ◽  
Study Offer

Carsharing as a service has been growing rapidly worldwide. Its expansion has drawn wide attention in the research community with regard to the underlying driving factors and user characteristics. Despite these extensive investigations, there are still limited studies focusing on the examination of users using carsharing as a commuting mode. The answers to questions such as what kind of people would like to use carsharing for commuting and why they frequently use carsharing to commute are not clear. To enrich our understanding of these problems, this paper aims to investigate carsharing commuters in a mega city. Specifically, it intends to integrate the actual user order data with survey data from 1,920 participants to uncover the characteristics of carsharing commuters. Data from the Evcard carsharing systems in Shanghai were explicitly analyzed. Through descriptive analysis and logistic regression models, the characteristics and critical factors that affect the choice of carsharing as a commuting mode were captured. The results show that: 1. carsharing commuters mostly live or work in suburban areas in which public transport accessibility is limited; 2. carsharing commuters are more likely to be highly educated, in a higher income bracket, and older than other carsharing members; 3. high-frequency carsharing commuters own a reduced number of private cars; and 4. those high-frequency carsharing commuters with higher income are less sensitive to the carsharing costs caused by congestion. The findings in the study offer some insights into carsharing commuters and provide some supportive information for considering policies in developing carsharing systems in urban areas.

scholarly journals Integration of Satellite InSAR with a Wireless Network of Geotechnical Sensors for Slope Monitoring in Urban Areas: The Pariana Landslide Case (Massa, Italy)

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (13) ◽  
pp. 2534
Author(s):  
Andrea Ciampalini ◽  
Paolo Farina ◽  
Luca Lombardi ◽  
Massimiliano Nocentini ◽  
Veronica Taurino ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Urban Areas ◽  
Temporal Evolution ◽  
Monitoring Program ◽  
Slope Instability ◽  
Time Data ◽  
Public Authorities ◽  
Slope Movements ◽  
Multi Temporal ◽  
Slow Moving ◽  
Slope Monitoring

Slow to extremely slow landslides in urban areas may cause severe damage to buildings and infrastructure that can lead to the evacuation of local populations in case of slope accelerations. Monitoring the spatial and temporal evolution of this type of natural hazard represents a major concern for the public authorities in charge of risk management. Pariana, a village with 400 residents located in the Apuan Alps (Massa, Tuscany, Italy), is an example of urban settlement where the population has long been forced to live with considerable slope instability. In the last 30 years, due to the slope movements associated with a slow-moving landslide that has affected a significant portion of the built-up area, several buildings have been damaged, including a school and the provincial road crossing the unstable area, leading to the need for an installation of a slope monitoring system with early warning capabilities, in parallel with the implementation of mitigation works. In this paper, we show how satellite multi-temporal interferometric synthetic aperture radar (MT-InSAR) data can be effectively used when coupled with a wireless sensor network made of several bar extensometers and a borehole inclinometer. In fact, thanks to their wide area coverage and opportunistic nature, satellite InSAR data allow one to clearly identify the spatial distribution of surface movements and their long-term temporal evolution. On the other hand, geotechnical sensors installed on specific elements at risk (e.g., private buildings, retaining walls, etc.), and collected through Wi-Fi dataloggers, provide near real-time data that can be used to identify sudden accelerations in slope movements, subsequently triggering alarms. The integration of those two-monitoring systems has been tested and assessed in Pariana. Results show how a hybrid slope monitoring program based on the two different technologies can be used to effectively monitor slow-moving landslides and to identify sudden accelerations and activate a response plan.

Leishmania infection in bats from a non-endemic region of Leishmaniasis in Brazil

Parasitology ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 144 (14) ◽  
pp. 1980-1986 ◽  
Author(s):  
CÉSAR GÓMEZ-HERNÁNDEZ ◽  
ELAINE C. BENTO ◽  
KARINE REZENDE-OLIVEIRA ◽  
GABRIEL A. N. NASCENTES ◽  
CECILIA G. BARBOSA ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Urban Areas ◽  
Leishmania Infection ◽  
Leishmania Braziliensis ◽  
Endemic Region ◽  
Blood Samples ◽  
Rural And Urban Areas ◽  
Rural And Urban ◽  
Minas Gerais State ◽  
Close Relationship ◽  
Epidemiological Significance

SUMMARYLeishmaniasis is a complex of zoonotic diseases caused by parasites of the genus Leishmania, which can develop in domestic as well as wild animals and humans throughout the world. Currently, this disease is spreading in rural and urban areas of non-endemic regions in Brazil. Recently, bats have gained epidemiological significance in leishmaniasis due to its close relationship with human settlements. In this study, we investigated the presence of Leishmania spp. DNA in blood samples from 448 bats belonging to four families representing 20 species that were captured in the Triangulo Mineiro and Alto Paranaiba areas of Minas Gerais State (non-endemic areas for leishmaniasis), Brazil. Leishmania spp. DNA was detected in 8·0% of the blood samples, 41·6% of which were Leishmania infantum, 38·9% Leishmania amazonensis and 19·4% Leishmania braziliensis. No positive correlation was found between Leishmania spp. and bat food source. The species with more infection rates were the insectivorous bats Eumops perotis; 22·2% (4/18) of which tested positive for Leishmania DNA. The presence of Leishmania in the bat blood samples, as observed in this study, represents epidemiological importance due to the absence of Leishmaniasis cases in the region.

scholarly journals Temporal–Spatial Patterns of Relative Humidity and the Urban Dryness Island Effect in Beijing City

2017 ◽  
Vol 56 (8) ◽  
pp. 2221-2237 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ping Yang ◽  
Guoyu Ren ◽  
Wei Hou
Keyword(s):  
Relative Humidity ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Late Summer ◽  
Beijing City ◽  
Near Surface ◽  
Suburban Areas ◽  
Island Effect ◽  
Different Seasons ◽  
Autumn And Winter ◽  
Beijing China

AbstractHourly datasets obtained by automatic weather stations in Beijing, China, are developed and employed to analyze the spatial and temporal characteristics of relative humidity (RH) and urban dryness island intensity (UDII) over built-up areas. A total of 36 stations inside the sixth ring road are considered as urban sites, while six stations in suburban belts surrounding the built-up areas are taken as reference sites. Results show that the RH is obviously smaller in urban areas than in suburban areas, indicating the effect of urbanization on near-surface atmospheric moisture and RH. A further analysis of relations between RH and temperature on varied time scales shows that the variations in RH in the urban areas are not due solely to changes in temperature. The annual and seasonal mean UDII are high in central urban areas, with the strongest UDII values occurring in autumn and the weakest values occurring in spring. The diurnal UDII variations are characterized by a steadily strong UDII stage from 2000 to 0800 LT and a minimum at 1500 or 1600 LT. The rapid shifts of UDII from high (low) to low (high) occur during the periods 0800–1600 LT (1600–2000 LT). The occurrence time of the peaks varies among different seasons: the peaks appear at 0700, 2100, 2000, and 0800 LT for spring, summer, autumn, and winter, respectively. Further analysis shows that large UDII values appear in the evenings and early nights in late summer and early to midautumn and that low UDII values mainly occur in the afternoon hours of spring, winter, and late autumn.

scholarly journals Housing Resources and Needs in Light of Modern Urban Transformations: the Case of Poznan

2017 ◽  
Vol 25 (2) ◽  
pp. 72-78
Author(s):  
Sławomir Palicki
Keyword(s):  
Urban Sprawl ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Local Governments ◽  
Real Estate Market ◽  
Capital City ◽  
Central Cities ◽  
The Real Estate ◽  
Suburban Areas ◽  
Starting Point ◽  
Urban Transformations

Abstract Polish cities have been at the stage of a dynamic suburban development for over a decade (which has led to the phenomenon of urban sprawl beyond any control). The population of big urban areas, together with their agglomerations is continuously increasing; however, migration tendencies towards suburban areas are strong as well. In such a situation, the question arises regarding the possibilities and the methods of suppressing the outflow of people to the neighboring communities, and once again, making the city an attractive place to live. The attempt to explain such an issue requires research into both the housing infrastructure and its inhabitants. Poznan has been severely affected by suburbanization. The diagnosis and assessment of Poznan housing resources and the preferences of its inhabitants are the starting point for taking further steps in making the housing conditions more attractive. The article shows the initial results of widespread research regarding housing in the capital city of the Wielkopolska Province (comprising over 2,500 households). A similar study for the entire agglomeration (Poznan County) is due to be completed soon. It will allow for a comparative analysis and formulating recommendations regarding the conditions and the direction of changes on the real estate market which would increase the attractiveness of central cities suffering from suburbanization. In a wider context, the publication might be seen as an analysis of one of the elements of modern urban changes, such as either market driven, or free and spontaneous processes of urban sprawl, and conscious actions taken by local governments (together with developers) regarding the integrated urban revitalization policy.

scholarly journals Rapidly increasing SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence and limited clinical disease in three Malian communities: a prospective cohort study

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Issaka Sagara ◽  
John Woodford ◽  
Mamady Kone ◽  
Mahamadoun Hamady Assadou ◽  
Abdoulaye Katile ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Multivariate Analysis ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Herd Immunity ◽  
Exposure Rate ◽  
Blood Samples ◽  
Factors Associated ◽  
Rural Village ◽  
Rural Town ◽  
Antigen Elisa ◽  
Minimal Difference

Abstract Background The extent of SARS-CoV-2 exposure and transmission in Mali and the surrounding region is not well understood. We aimed to estimate the cumulative incidence of SARS-CoV-2 in three communities, and understand factors associated with infection. Methods Between July 2020 and January 2021, we collected blood samples and demographic, social, medical, and self-reported symptoms information from residents aged 6 months and older over two study visits. SARS-CoV-2 antibodies were measured using a highly specific two-antigen ELISA optimized for use in Mali. We calculated cumulative adjusted seroprevalence for each community and evaluated factors associated with serostatus at each visit by univariate and multivariate analysis. Results Overall, 94.8% (2533/2672) of participants completed both study visits. A total of 31.3% (837/2672) were aged &lt;10 years, 27.6% (737/2672) were aged 10-17 years, and 41.1% (1098/2572) were aged ≥18 years. The cumulative SARS-CoV-2 exposure rate was 58.5% (95% CI: 47.5 to 69.4). This varied between sites and was 73.4% in the urban community of Sotuba, 53.2% in the rural town of Bancoumana, and 37.1% in the rural village of Donéguébougou. Study site and increased age were associated with serostatus at both study visits. There was minimal difference in reported symptoms based on serostatus. Conclusion The true extent of SARS-CoV-2 exposure in Mali is greater than previously reported and may now approach hypothetical ‘herd immunity’ in urban areas. The epidemiology of the pandemic in the region may be primarily subclinical and within background illness rates.

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