The cooling intensity dependent on landscape complexity of green infrastructure in the metropolitan area

The cooling effect of green infrastructure (GI) is becoming a hot topic on mitigating the urban heat island (UHI) effect. Alterations to the green space are a viable solution for reducing land surface temperature (LST), yet few studies provide specific guidance for landscape planning adapted to the different regions. This paper proposed and defined the landscape complexity and the threshold value of cooling effect (TVoE). Results find that: (1) GI provides a better cooling effect in the densely built-up area than the green belt; (2) GI with a simple form, aggregated configuration, and low patch density had a better cooling intensity; (3) In the densely built-up area, TVoE of the forest area is 4.5 ha, while in the green belt, TVoE of the forest and grassland area is 9 ha and 2.25 ha. These conclusions will help the planners to reduce LST effectively, and employ environmentally sustainable planning

Identifying and Setting Linear Water Space Priorities in Co-Urbanized Area Based on Multiple Levels and Multiple Ecosystem Services

Due to intense anthropogenic impacts, river networks in co-urbanized areas are severely degraded and fragmented, and their ability to supply multiple ecosystem services is greatly reduced. This study aimed to provide a novel technical approach to identify spatial priorities for complex and special linear water spaces in a co-urbanized area. This approach fully considers the features of river networks with multiple levels and multiple functions. We first identified two spatial configurations of river networks based on the river density: river cluster patches and river corridors, which were each divided into four spatial levels. We then assessed and mapped the multiple ecosystem services provided by each river level through a coupling evaluation model. Finally, based on the evaluation results and spatial clustering analysis, we identified priorities of linear water spaces using six priority grades. This priority identification method based on multiple levels and multiple ecosystem services of linear water spaces shows how a holistic catchment perspective can be applied to the practice of integrated river management in co-urbanized areas. Selecting conservation strategies for linear water spaces on the basis of their structural level and ecological contribution is a more targeted measure

What are the appropriate mapping units for ecosystem service assessments? A systematic review

Context: Without clear understanding of the units used for ecosystem service (ES) mapping, ES assessment accuracy and the practical application of ES knowledge will be hampered. Method: We systematically reviewed 106 studies over the past 11 years to explore the type, characteristic pattern and deficiencies of mapping units. Result: We proposed that ES mapping units can be categorized into minimal unit for assessing ESs using corresponding indicators and methods, and aggregated unit for analysis and application based on research objectives, and classified the mapping units into five common types. Of the 12 characterizing variables of ES mapping studies, some have been shown to introduce a difference in the selection of mapping units and to exhibit characteristic patterns. We also found that the accuracy of ES assessments based on minimal units was lacking, and aggregated units were insufficient to establish a link between ES knowledge and practice. Conclusion: Herein, we propose possible solutions such as the use of fine spatial resolution grids and the introduction of additional data beyond land cover as supplements to improve the assessment accuracy. To enhance the availability of the results for practice, aggregated units connected with urban planning units should be established at a spatial level suitable for urban management

Spatial Prioritizing Brownfields Catering for Green Infrastructure by Integrating Urban Demands and Site Attributes in a Metropolitan Area

Global urbanization and post-industrialization have resulted in the emergence of a large number of brownfields. The integration of brownfields into green infrastructure (GI) has been widely recognized as a sustainable development strategy in metropolitan areas. It is important to spatially prioritize brownfields catering for GI, which can enable the greatest enhancement of urban functions. Various studies have assessed brownfield site attributes or urban demands to define the priority of brownfields transformed into GI, but it is key to consider the coupling coordination between urban demands and site attributes in order to achieve more accurate matches. In this paper, an approach is proposed for assessing the priority of brownfields catering for GI in Xuzhou, China; this involved calculating the coupling coordination degree between site attributes and urban function demands, including heat island mediation, stormwater regulation, disaster prevention, landscape aesthetics improvement, and leisure and recreation increments. The results showed that 42.52% of the brownfields have a high degree of coupling coordination (“good coordination” and “primary coordination”) between site attributes and urban demands. Furthermore, 40.82% of the brownfields (120 plots) were selected to be integrated into urban GI; these are not only located in high urban functional demand areas, but also have a high coupling coordination degree. These brownfields were divided into three priority levels, and 4.42% and 17.69% of the total brownfields are of very high and high priority. Our proposed approach offers an accurate decision-making tool for urban GI optimization in high-density built-up metropolitan areas, and offers guidance for brownfield redevelopment

To Act or Not to Act: Are Natural Landscapes a Key Force in the Resilience of Historic Urban Landscapes?

Ignoring the function of natural landscapes in the rapid development of urbanization, and especially in the conservation of historic urban landscapes, is still obvious today, and this has caused a large decrease in natural space, loss of habitats, and an increase in disasters. The resilience of a whole city and parts of it, such as historic urban areas where the historical process of man and nature have been recorded, as well as the interaction between nature, economy, and culture, is not strong enough to maintain the stability of urban ecosystems. It is misleading to think that the resilience can be built in a historic urban area without a natural landscape. We question whether this is true. Using a semantic differential analysis method from a historical perspective, this paper aims to answer this question through research on the correlation between resilience and man and nature through a case study of Yudai Trench historic urban landscape in Guangzhou, a historic urban area with 1000 years of history. A total of 212 pieces of evidence were extracted from 59 historical sources. The results showed that the cultural and economic conditions were in the same step and cycles as nature, which were influenced strongly by climate change, and that the natural landscape has a correlation on and is a dominant force in the resilience of historic urban landscapes

Quantification of Multivalency in Protein-Oligomer-Coated Nanoparticles Targeting Dynamic Membrane Glycan Receptors

Multivalent binding of proteins to glycan receptors on the host cell quantitatively controls the initial adhesion of most viruses. However, quantifying such multivalency in terms of binding valency has always been a challenge because of the hierarchy of multivalency involving multiple protein oligomers on the virus, limiting our understanding of virus adhesion and virulence. To address this challenge, we mimicked virus adhesion to cell surfaces by attaching protein-oligomer-coated nanoparticles (NPs) to fluidic glycolipid membranes with surface glycan density varying over 4 orders of magnitude. Using total internal reflection fluorescence microscopy to track single attached NPs, we show that the binding isotherms exhibit two regions, attributed to monovalent and multivalent protein/glycan interactions at low and high glycan densities, respectively. The bimodal binding curve allows the quantification of the different valency and binding constants of monovalent and multivalent interactions. In addition, the competitive inhibition of multivalency by the glycopolymer presenting multiple glycan moieties is quantitatively appreciated. This work is essential to mapping and understanding the complex binding specificities of glycan-binding proteins and inhibitory drug designs and applications

The Effect of Exercise on the Prevention of Osteoporosis and Bone Angiogenesis

Physical activity or appropriate exercise prevents the development of osteoporosis. However, the exact mechanism remains unclear although it is well accepted that exercise or mechanical loading regulates the hormones, cytokines, signaling pathways, and noncoding RNAs in bone. Accumulating evidence has shown that bone is a highly vascularized tissue, and dysregulation of vasculature is associated with many bone diseases such as osteoporosis or osteoarthritis. In addition, exercise or mechanical loading regulates bone vascularization in bone microenvironment via the modulation of angiogenic mediators, which play a crucial role in maintaining skeletal health. This review discusses the effects of exercise and its underlying mechanisms for osteoporosis prevention, as well as an angiogenic and osteogenic coupling in response to exercise

ER stress and subsequent activated calpain play a pivotal role in skeletal muscle wasting after severe burn injury

<div><p>Severe burns are typically followed by hypermetabolism characterized by significant muscle wasting, which causes considerable morbidity and mortality. The aim of the present study was to explore the underlying mechanisms of skeletal muscle damage/wasting post-burn. Rats were randomized to the sham, sham+4-phenylbutyrate (4-PBA, a pharmacological chaperone promoting endoplasmic reticulum (ER) folding/trafficking, commonly considered as an inhibitor of ER), burn (30% total body surface area), and burn+4-PBA groups; and sacrificed at 1, 4, 7, 14 days after the burn injury. Tibial anterior muscle was harvested for transmission electron microscopy, calcium imaging, gene expression and protein analysis of ER stress / ubiquitin-proteasome system / autophagy, and calpain activity measurement. The results showed that ER stress markers were increased in the burn group compared with the sham group, especially at post-burn days 4 and 7, which might consequently elevate cytoplasmic calcium concentration, promote calpain production as well as activation, and cause skeletal muscle damage/wasting of TA muscle after severe burn injury. Interestingly, treatment with 4-PBA prevented burn-induced ER swelling and altered protein expression of ER stress markers and calcium release, attenuating calpain activation and skeletal muscle damage/wasting after severe burn injury. Atrogin-1 and LC3-II/LC3-I ratio were also increased in the burn group compared with the sham group, while MuRF-1 remained unchanged; 4-PBA decreased atrogin-1 in the burn group. Taken together, these findings suggested that severe burn injury induces ER stress, which in turns causes calpain activation. ER stress and subsequent activated calpain play a critical role in skeletal muscle damage/wasting in burned rats.</p></div

Calpain is overexpressed and activated after severe burn injury, which could be suppressed by 4-PBA treatment.

<p>The rats were randomized to four groups: sham, sham+4-PBA, burn and burn+4-PBA. Calpain activity was measured at different time points post-burn in TAM specimens (A). Gene expression levels and protein amounts of calpain-1 and 2 in TAM specimens were respectively evaluated by real-time PCR (B) and western blot (C), with GAPDH used as an internal control; the results were normalized to sham group. At 7 days post-burn, the effects of 4-PBA on the protein amounts of calpain-1 and 2 in TAM samples were examined by western blot (D). n = 6 per group. *<i>p</i><0.05, ** <i>p</i><0.01 vs. sham group. #<i>p</i><0.05 vs. burn group.</p