A comprehensive research on open surface drinking water resources in Istanbul using remote sensing technologies.

Istanbul is a megacity with a population of 15.5 million and is one of the fastest-growing cities in Europe. Due to the rapidly increasing population and urbanization, Istanbul's daily water needs are constantly increasing. In this study, eight drinking water basins that supply water to Istanbul were comprehensively examined using remote sensing observations and techniques. Water surface area changes were determined monthly, and their relationships with meteorological parameters and climate change were investigated. Monthly water surface areas of natural lakes and dams were determined with the Normalized Difference Water Index (NDWI) applied to Sentinel-2 satellite images. Sentinel-1 Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) images were used in months when optical images were unavailable. The study was carried out using 3705 optical and 1167 SAR images on the Google Earth Engine (GEE) platform. Additionally, to determine which areas of water resources are shrinking, water frequency maps of the major drinking water resources were produced. Land use/land cover (LULC) changes that occurred over time were determined, and the effects of the increase in urbanization, especially on drinking water surface areas, were investigated. ESRI LULC data was used to determine LULC changes in watersheds, and the increase in urbanization areas from 2017 to 2022 ranged from 1 to 91.43%. While the basin with the least change was in Istranca, the highest increase in the artificial surface was determined to be in the Büyükçekmece basin with 1833.03 ha (2.89%). While there was a 1-12.35% decrease in the surface areas of seven water resources from 2016 to 2022, an increase of 2.65-93% was observed in three water resources (Büyükçekmece, Sazlidere, and Elmali), each in different categories depending on their size. In the overall analysis, total WSA decreased by 62.33 ha from 2016 to 2022, a percentage change of 0.70%. Besides the areal change analysis, the algae contents of the drinking water resources over the years were examined for the major water basins using the Normalized Difference Chlorophyll Index (NDCI) and revealed their relationship with meteorological factors and urbanization.

A method for creating complex real-world networks using ESRI Shapefiles.

A classic optimization problem with many real-world applications is optimal route search in graphs or networks. Graphical networks resembling real world networks are an important requirement for these studies. Python packages NetworkX and OSMnx are probably the most popular approaches in industry for creating and analyzing real world graphical networks using ESRI Shapefiles (Geospatial Vector Data). However, creating such a network is a complex and tedious process as these packages require the input data to be in a specific format. In this study,•We outline a flexible method that can be used to easily create graphical network representations in NetworkX or OSMnx using road network topology data stored in ESRI Shapefiles.•A detailed step-by-step process is outlined to successfully transform the ESRI Shapefile data into the compatible format for graph analysis libraries like OSMnx and NetworkX.•A data cleaning strategy is suggested to reduce resource consumption without distorting the actual structure of the graph.This method will allow researchers to efficiently generate graphical networks and validate their theories by evaluating their efficiencies using real-world network data of different sizes and topologies. This method could benefit, but is not limited to, research areas such as Advanced Transportation Systems (ATS), Graph Neural Networks (GNN), Multi-Objective Genetic Algorithms, to mention a few.

Genetic determinants underlying the progressive phenotype of ß-lactam/ß-lactamase inhibitor resistance in Escherichia coli.

IMPORTANCE: The increased feasibility of whole-genome sequencing has generated significant interest in using such molecular diagnostic approaches to characterize difficult-to-treat, antimicrobial-resistant (AMR) infections. Nevertheless, there are current limitations in the accurate prediction of AMR phenotypes based on existing AMR gene database approaches, which primarily correlate a phenotype with the presence/absence of a single AMR gene. Our study utilized a large cohort of cephalosporin-susceptible Escherichia coli bacteremia samples to determine how increasing the dosage of narrow-spectrum ß-lactamase-encoding genes in conjunction with other diverse ß-lactam/ß-lactamase inhibitor (BL/BLI) genetic determinants contributes to progressively more severe BL/BLI phenotypes. We were able to characterize the complexity of the genetic mechanisms underlying progressive BL/BLI resistance including the critical role of ß-lactamase encoding gene amplification. For the diverse array of AMR phenotypes with complex mechanisms involving multiple genomic factors, our study provides an example of how composite risk scores may improve understanding of AMR genotype/phenotype correlations.

Modelling hydrological factors from DEM using GIS.

Hydrological modelling is a precondition for many scientific researches such as species distribution models, ecological models, agricultural suitability models, climatological models, hydrological models, flood and flash flood models, landslide models etc. Even the topographic control over many hydrological factors has also been studied. Over time different hydrological models have been developed and extensively used. Recently, these models have been used to prepare different types of conditional factors that are widely used in hazard modelling such as floods, flash floods, landslides etc. Quantitative analysis of the Digital Elevation Model (DEM) according to different models by engaging Geographic Information Systems (GIS) supports users to extract various types of information about landscapes where hydrological and topographic information are most important. Methods to prepare hydrological factors namely TWI, TRI, SPI, STI, TPI, stream density and distance to stream by processing DEM in GIS are discussed in this paper. These common hydrological factors are extensively used in many scientific research papers either for modelling or to measure their relationship with other environmental factors.•Hydrological factors have great importance in understanding the landscape and are widely used in scientific research, especially geo-environmental hazard mapping.•Physically based hydrological methods are engaged in ArcMap 10.5 software.•Commonly used hydrological factors are processed using freely available DEM and ArcMap 10.5 software.

Agro-industrial and fishery complex of the Russian Far East: Data on investment projects and transport connectivity.

In the article, the authors identified the most attractive areas for investment in the Far Eastern Federal District based on statistical data on the agriculture and processing industry. The authors presented a set of secondary data from the Federal State Statistics Service and the Investment Projects Digital Platform, which reflect the cost of implementing projects in the Far Eastern Federal District. These data were presented to characterize the region as deeply diversified, with a predominance of the livestock and fishing sectors. The authors identified the most promising investment projects in various regions of the Far Eastern Federal District and assessed their attractiveness in terms of accessibility to transportation. The result was a map of the implementation of the main areas of investment activity, taking into account transport connectivity. In addition, recommendations have been drawn for the development of agriculture in the Far Eastern Federal District. These recommendations deserve the attention not only of government specialists but also of all stakeholders involved in agricultural production.

Semirapid Detection of Piperacillin/Tazobactam Resistance and Extended-Spectrum Resistance to ß-Lactams/ß-Lactamase Inhibitors in Clinical Isolates of Escherichia coli.

Piperacillin/tazobactam (TZP) is a ß-lactam/ß-lactamase inhibitor (BL/BLI) recommended for the empirical treatment of severe infections. The excessive and indiscriminate use of TZP has promoted the emergence of TZP-resistant Escherichia coli isolates. Recently, we demonstrated that TZP may contribute to the development of extended-spectrum resistance to BL/BLI (ESRI) in E. coli isolates that are TZP susceptible but have low-level resistance to BL/BLI (resistance to amoxicillin/clavulanic acid [AMC] and/or ampicillin/sulbactam [SAM]). This raises the need for the development of rapid detection systems. Therefore, the objective of this study was to design and validate a method able to detect TZP resistance and ESRI in E. coli. A colorimetric assay based on ß-lactam ring hydrolysis by ß-lactamases was designed (ESRI test). A total of 114 E. coli isolates from bloodstream and intra-abdominal sources, characterized according to their susceptibility profiles to BL/BLI, were used. Detection of the three most frequent ß-lactamases involved in BL/BLI resistance (blaTEM, blaOXA-1, and blaSHV) was performed by PCR. The ESRI test was able to detect all the TZP-intermediate/-resistant isolates, as well as all the TZP-susceptible isolates with a capacity for ESRI development. Their median times to results were 5 and 30 min, respectively. All the isolates without resistance to BL/BLI displayed a negative result in the ESRI test. blaTEM was the most frequent ß-lactamase gene detected, follow by blaSHV and blaOXA-1. These results demonstrate the efficacy of the ESRI test, showing great clinical potential which could lead to reductions in health costs, ineffective treatments, and inappropriate use of BL/BLI. IMPORTANCE TZP is a BL/BLI recommended for the empirical treatment of severe infections. The excessive use of TZP has promoted the emergence of TZP-resistant Escherichia coli isolates. We recently reported that TZP may contribute to the development of ESRI in E. coli isolates that are TZP susceptible but have low-level resistance to BL/BLI. This raises the need for the development of rapid detection systems. Here, we demonstrated that the ESRI test was able to detect the TZP-intermediate or -resistant isolates and the TZP-susceptible isolates with the capacity for ESRI development. All the isolates without BL/BLI resistance were negative for the ESRI test and did not harbor ß-lactamase genes. For ESRI developers and TZP-intermediate or -resistant isolates, blaTEM was the most frequent ß-lactamase gene detected, follow by blaSHV and blaOXA-1. The sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values were all 100%. These data demonstrate the efficacy of the ESRI test and show that it has great clinical potential.

Experimental Evaluation of the Availability of LoRaWAN Frequency Channels in the Czech Republic.

LoRaWAN communication allows you to create IoT (Internet of Things) solutions across many disciplines. A specific field of application is precision agriculture, which demands this technology mainly due to the fact that it is possible to create low power sensor devices with it. However, in densely populated areas, a lower success rate of message delivery can be observed on some communication channels. For example, this can have an impact on urban agriculture projects. After performing an experiment and analytical-statistical data processing using the Geographic Information System (GIS) tool ArcGIS Insights, it was shown that the success of message delivery on the basic LoRaWAN channel (868.3 MHz) is lower than for the others. Therefore, to ensure higher reliability and thus energy savings, it is appropriate to optimize the use of frequency channels.

Clustering of asymptomatic Plasmodium falciparum infection and the effectiveness of targeted malaria control measures.

BACKGROUND: Because clustering of Plasmodium falciparum infection had been noted previously, the clustering of infection was examined at four field sites in West Africa: Dangassa and Dioro in Mali, Gambissara in The Gambia and Madina Fall in Senegal. METHODS: Clustering of infection was defined by the percent of persons with positive slides for asexual P. falciparum sleeping in a house which had been geopositioned. Data from each site were then tested for spatial, temporal and spatio-temporal clustering in relation to the prevalence of infection from smear surveys. RESULTS: These studies suggest that clustering of P. falciparum infection also affects the effectiveness of control interventions. For example, the clustering of infection in Madina Fall disappeared in 2014-2016 after vector control eliminated the only breeding site in 2013. In contrast, the temporal clustering of infection in Dioro (rainy season of 2014, dry season of 2015) was consistent with the loss of funding for Dioro in the second quarter of 2014 and disappeared when funds again became available in late 2015. The clustering of infection in rural (western) areas of Gambissara was consistent with known rural-urban differences in the prevalence of infection and with the thatched roofs, open eaves and mud walls of houses in rural Gambissara. In contrast, the most intense transmission was in Dangassa, where the only encouraging observation was a lower prevalence of infection in the dry season. Taken together, these results suggest: (a) the transmission of infection was stopped in Madina Fall by eliminating the only known breeding site, (b) the prevalence of infection was reduced in Dioro after financial support became available again for malaria control in the second half of 2015, (c) improvements in housing should improve malaria control by reducing the number of vectors in rural communities such as western Gambissara, and (d) beginning malaria control during the dry season may reduce transmission in hyperendemic areas such as Dangassa. CONCLUSIONS: From a conceptual perspective, testing for spatial, temporal and spatio-temporal clustering based on epidemiologic data permits the generation of hypotheses for the clustering observed and the testing of candidate interventions to confirm or refute those hypotheses.

Control of Tungiasis in Absence of a Roadmap: Grassroots and Global Approaches.

Tungiasis is a tropical skin disease caused by the sand flea Tunga penetrans. It inflicts misery upon tens of millions of people, mostly children, across Central and South America and sub-Saharan Africa, and yet there is no globally accepted roadmap for its control. Here we review how research in the last 15 years has developed control methods and report on new grassroots and digital mapping approaches. Treatment is now possible with a two-component dimethicone, used for the treatment of headlice in Europe, Asia and Canada, but not yet available in most tungiasis-endemic areas. Prevention is possible through the daily use of repellents based on coconut oil. A Kenyan coastal community has successfully controlled tungiasis using a neem and coconut oil mix produced locally to treat cases, combined with spraying floors with neem solution and distributing closed shoes. Development of affordable hard floor technology is underway, although not yet widely available, but is a priority to control off-host stages in the floors of homes. A new web-based digital mapping application will enable researchers and health officials to collaborate, share data and map the prevalence of tungiasis. We conclude that tungiasis can be controlled through a multi-disciplinary, One Health approach.

Estimation of malaria incidence in northern Namibia in 2009 using Bayesian conditional-autoregressive spatial-temporal models.

As malaria transmission declines, it becomes increasingly important to monitor changes in malaria incidence rather than prevalence. Here, a spatio-temporal model was used to identify constituencies with high malaria incidence to guide malaria control. Malaria cases were assembled across all age groups along with several environmental covariates. A Bayesian conditional-autoregressive model was used to model the spatial and temporal variation of incidence after adjusting for test positivity rates and health facility utilisation. Of the 144,744 malaria cases recorded in Namibia in 2009, 134,851 were suspected and 9893 were parasitologically confirmed. The mean annual incidence based on the Bayesian model predictions was 13 cases per 1000 population with the highest incidence predicted for constituencies bordering Angola and Zambia. The smoothed maps of incidence highlight trends in disease incidence. For Namibia, the 2009 maps provide a baseline for monitoring the targets of pre-elimination.

Efeito da pioglitazona sobre o remodelamento ósseo em diabetes tipo 2 / Pioglitazone effect on bone remodeling in type 2 diabetes

Alterações morfológicas no tecido ósseo têm sido descritas nos usuários de hipoglicemiantes orais da classe das tiazolidinedionas (TZDs). Hipotetiza-se que alguns genes relacionados com a osteogênese e osteoclastogênese podem ser influenciados pelo tratamento farmacológico, entretanto, o exato mecanismo ainda não está bem esclarecido. O objetivo do estudo foi avaliar o efeito da pioglitazona no remodelamento ósseo através de genes envolvidos na osteoclastogênese em indivíduos recentemente diagnosticados com DM2 e modelos animais, com a finalidade de identificar marcadores genéticos sensíveis de alterações ósseas. Foram convidados para participar do estudo 199 indivíduos (100 diabéticos e 99 normoglicêmicos), no ambulatório de dislipidemias do Instituto Dante Pazzanese de Cardiologia. Os indivíduos diabéticos foram tratados com pioglitazona (15, 30, 45, 45 mg/ dia/ via oral) por 16 semanas. Foram colhidas amostras de sangue, antes e após o tratamento para avaliações laboratoriais, extração de DNA genômico e de RNA total. Os polimorfismos e a expressão do mRNA nas células sanguíneas foram determinados pela PCR em tempo real através do sistema TaqMan®. Para o estudo em modelo animal após a indução da dieta hiperlipídica por 32 semanas, foram utilizados 12 camundongos machos da linhagem C57BL/J6, os quais foram divididos em três grupos: controle (n=4); diabéticos induzidos pela dieta hiperlipídica (DH, n=4) e diabéticos induzidos pela dieta hiperlipídica e tratados com pioglitazona 35mg/Kg/dia por 16 semanas (DHP, n=4). Para os grupos experimentais foram colhidos: amostras de sangue, para exames laboratoriais; fêmures, para a extração do RNA total; e tíbias, para determinação dos parâmetros histomorfométricos. Os pacientes DM2 apresentaram diminuição nas concentrações séricas de osteocalcina e na expressão de OPG e aumento na expressão de VDR em comparação ao grupo NG (p<0,05). A expressão de RANKL e IL6 foi maior entre as mulheres, enquanto que a expressão de PPARG foi maior entre os homens com DM2 em comparação ao grupo NG (p=0,032). Pacientes DM2 antes do tratamento apresentaram glicemia e expressão do mRNA de IL6 negativamente associados ao cálcio ionizado, enquanto que as transcrições de TNFA e VDR foram associadas positivamente e negativamente com bALP respectivamente (p<0,05). O tratamento com pioglitazona reduziu a glicemia de jejum, glicemia pós-prandial, insulina, HOMA-IR, triglicerídeos, VLDL-C, tALP e bALP e aumentou a HDL, tACP, TNF-α e a transcrição de OPG (p<0,05). A glicemia basal associou-se positivamente com o cálcio ionizado. A expressão basal de OPG foi associado negativamente com tALP, enquanto que a expressão basal de TNFA foi associada positivamente com tALP e negativamente com tACP. A expressão basal IL6 foi associada positivamente com tALP, enquanto que a expressão basal de VDR foi associada negativamente com osteocalcina e positivamente com bALP em resposta ao tratamento (p<0,05). O polimorfismo RANK rs1805034 foi associado com redução na transcrição do gene RANK nos indivíduos DM2 e com o remodelamento ósseo após o tratamento com pioglitazona (p<0,05). O polimorfismo RANKL rs9525641 foi associado com aumento da transcrição gênica de RANKL nos indivíduos NG e DM2 e melhora da resposta farmacológica nos indivíduos DM2 tratados com pioglitazona (p<0,05). O polimorfismo rs3102735 do gene OPG foi associado com aumento da formação óssea nos indivíduos DM2 antes e após o tratamento (p<0,05). O genótipo CG do polimorfismo OPG rs2073618 foi associado com alteração da transcrição de OPG no grupo DM2 pré e pós-tratamento (p<0,05). O polimorfismo PPARG rs1801282 foi associado com menor risco para o desenvolvimento de diabetes (p<0,05). O polimorfismo PPARG rs2972162 foi associado com melhora da resistência insulínica nos indivíduos DM2 tratados com pioglitazona (p=0,017). O polimorfismo ESRI rs9340799 foi associado com redução da formação óssea nos indivíduos DM2 (p=0,038). Nos camundongos, após a indução da dieta hiperlipídica por 32 semanas, observou-se aumento do peso, da glicemia, do colesterol total, da expressão do mRNA de RANK, RANKL, IL6 e TNFA em fêmures e aumento de Tb.Sp e diminuição de BV/TV em comparação ao grupo controle (p<0,05). O tratamento com pioglitazona diminuiu a expressão de TNFA (p=0,028). As medidas histomorfométricas não alteraram-se após o tratamento (p>0,05). Os resultados sugerem que o estado hiperglicêmico e o tratamento influenciam os marcadores bioquímicos e moleculares. Os polimorfismos dos genes RANK, RANKL, OPG e ESRI parecem estar envolvidos no remodelamento ósseo independentemente da hiperglicemia e do tratamento e os polimorfismos do gene PPARG parecem estar envolvidos com menor risco para desenvolver diabetes e com a melhora da resistência insulínica em resposta ao tratamento com pioglitazona

Morphological changes in bone tissue have been reported in users of oral hypoglycemic class of thiazolidinediones (TZDs). It is hypothesized that some genes related to osteogenesis and osteoclastogenesis may be influenced by pharmacological treatment, however, was not aware exact mechanism. The study aims was to evaluate pioglitazone effect on bone remodeling through genes involved in osteoclastogenesis in individuals newly diagnosed with DM2 and animal models, in order to identify sensibles genetics markers of bone alterations. Were invited to participate in study 199 patients (100 diabetics and 99 normoglycemic), in dyslipidemia ambulatory of Institute Dante Pazzanese of Cardiology. Diabetic subjects were treated with pioglitazone (15, 30, 45 or 45 mg /day/oral) for 16 weeks. Blood samples were collected before and after treatment for laboratory evaluations, extraction of genomic DNA and total RNA. Polymorphisms and mRNA expression in blood cells was determined by real time PCR using TaqMan® system. For study in animal model after 32 weeks of fat diet induction, was used 12 male mice C57BL/J6, which were divided into three groups: control (n=4); induced diabetic fat diet (DH, n=4) and induced diabetic fat diet and treated with pioglitazone 35mg/Kg/day for 16 weeks (DHP, n=4). For experimental groups were collected: blood samples for laboratory tests; femurs, for extraction of total RNA; and tibias, to determine histomorphometric parameters. DM2 patients showed decrease in serum osteocalcin and OPG expression and increased VDR expression compared to NG group (p<0.05). RANKL and IL6 expression were higher among women, whereas PPARG expression was higher among men with DM2 compared to NG group (p=0,032). DM2 patients before treatment showed blood glucose and IL6 mRNA expression negatively associated with ionized calcium, whereas TNFA and VDR transcription are positively and negatively associated with bALP respectively (p<0.05). Pioglitazone treatment reduced fasting glucose, postprandial glucose, insulin, HOMA-IR, triglycerides, VLDL-C, tALP and bALP and increased HDL, tACP, TNF-α and OPG transcription (p<0.05). Basal blood glucose was positively associated with ionized calcium. Basal OPG expression was negatively associated with tALP, whereas basal TNFA expression was positively associated with tALP and negatively with tACP. Basal IL6 expression was positively associated with tALP, whereas basal VDR expression was negatively associated with osteocalcin and positively with bALP in response to treatment (p<0.05). RANK rs1805034 polymorphism was associated with RANK gene transcription reduction in subjects with DM2 and bone remodeling after treatment with pioglitazone (p<0.05). RANKL rs9525641 polymorphism was associated with increased RANKL gene transcription in NG and DM2 subjects and pharmacological response improvement in DM2 subjects treated with pioglitazone (p<0.05). OPG rs3102735polymorphism was associated with increased bone formation in DM2 subjects before and after treatment (p<0.05). CG genotype of OPG rs2073618 polymorphism was associated with OPG transcription change in DM2 group before and after treatment (p<0.05). PPARG rs1801282 polymorphism was associated with lower risk for diabetes development (p<0.05). PPARG rs2972162 polymorphism was associated with insulin resistance improvement in DM2 subjects treated with pioglitazone (p=0,017). ESRI rs9340799 polymorphism was associated with reduced bone formation in DM2 subjects (p=0,038). In mice, after 32 weeks of fat diet induction, was observed increase weight, blood glucose, total cholesterol and RANK, RANKL, IL6 and TNFA mRNA expression in femurs and Tb.Sp increase and BV/TV decrease compared to control group (p<0.05). Treatment with pioglitazone decrease TNFA (p=0,028). Histomorphometrics measurements not change after treatment (p>0.05). Results suggest that hyperglycemic state and treatment influence biochemical and molecular markers. RANK, RANKL, OPG and ESRI polymorphisms seens to be involved in bone remodeling regardless of hyperglycemia and treatment and PPARG gene polymorphisms seens to be associated with lower risk for diabetes development and with insulin resistance improvement in response to treatment with pioglitazone