Spatio-temporal landslide inventory and susceptibility assessment using Sentinel-2 in the Himalayan mountainous region of Pakistan

The 2005 Kashmir earthquake has triggered widespread landslides in the Himalayan mountains in northern Pakistan and surrounding areas, some of which are active and are still posing a significant risk. Landslides triggered by the 2005 Kashmir earthquake are extensively studied; nevertheless, spatio-temporal landslide susceptibility assessment is lacking. This can be partially attributed to the limited availability of high temporal resolution remote sensing data. We present a semi-automated technique to use the Sentinel-2 MSI data for co-seismic landslide detection, landslide activities monitoring, spatio-temporal change detection, and spatio-temporal susceptibility mapping. Time series Sentinel-2 MSI images for the period of 2016–2021 and ALOS PALSAR DEM are used for semi-automated landslide inventory map development and temporal change analysis. Spectral information combined with topographical, contextual, textural, and morphological characteristics of the landslide in Sentinel-2 images is applied for landslide detection. Subsequently, spatio-temporal landslide susceptibility maps are developed utilizing the weight of evidence statistical modeling with seven causative factors, i.e., elevation, slope, geology, aspect, distance to fault, distance to roads, and distance to streams. The results reveal that landslide occurrence increased from 2016 to 2021 and that the coverage of areas of relatively high susceptibility has increased in the study area

Molecular characterisation of Leptospira strains in Pakistan

Introduction: Leptospirosis affects a wide range of mammals, humans, and even a few poikilothermic animal species. In Pakistan, serological studies of equine leptospirosis have reported a prevalence of over 40%, but no study has ever been conducted towards molecular detection of Leptospira in horses. Material and Methods: Blood samples from 128 horses were screened using ELISA and 41 positive samples were examined for the presence of leptospiral DNA using specific primers for 16S rRNA gene. Results: Out of 41 tested samples, 20 samples were found to be PCR-positive, revealing a fragment of 306 bp after gel electrophoresis. Sequencing and phylogenetic analysis of positive samples revealed circulation of pathogenic Leptospira spp. in Pakistani horses. No evidence of circulation of intermediate species was found in this study. Conclusion: This study reports the first molecular evidence of equine leptospirosis in Pakistan and lays ground for further research in this area. It also confirms the efficiency of 16S rRNA for the diagnosis of equine leptospirosis

3-D seismic interpretation of stratigraphic and structural features in the Upper Jurassic to Lower Cretaceous sequence of the Gullfaks Field, Norwegian North Sea: A case study of reservoir development

Abstract The 3-D seismic dataset is a key tool to analyze and understand the mechanism of structural and stratigraphic hydrocarbon (HC) trapping in the subsurface. Conventionally used subsurface seismic characterization methods for fractures are based on the theory of effective anisotropy medium. The aim of this work is to improve the structural images with dense sampling of 3-D survey to evaluate structural and stratigraphic models for reservoir development to predict reservoir quality. The present study of the Gullfaks Field, located in the Norwegian North Sea Gullfaks sector, identifies the shallowest structural elements. The steepness of westward structural dip decreases eastward during the Upper Jurassic to Lower Cretaceous deposition. Reservoir sands consist of the Middle Jurassic deltaic deposits and Lower Jurassic fluvial channel and delta plain deposits. Sediment supply steadily prevails on sea-level rise and the succession displays a regressive trend indicated by a good continuous stacking pattern. The key factor for the development of reservoirs in the Gullfaks Field is fault transmissibility with spatially distributed pressure. The majority of mapped faults with sand-to-sand contacts are non-sealing, which provide restriction for the HC flow between the fault blocks. The traps for HC accumulation occur between the post-rift and syn-rift strata, i.e. antiform set by extensional system, unconformity trap at the top of syn-deposition, and structural trap due to normal faults. Overall reservoir quality in the studied area is generally excellent with average 35% porosity and permeability in the Darcy range. Our findings are useful to better understand the development of siliciclastic reservoirs in similar geological settings worldwide

Mitigation of tunnel support design risks for hydropower projects within high tectonic stress regimes – an empirical analysis

The study for the design of tunnels in similar geological settings, providing insights into potential challenges that may arise during excavation and offering strategies for mitigating risks in District Kalam on the Ushu River, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. The methodology involved geological mapping, rock sampling, discontinuity surveys, and laboratory testing for empirical analysis of tunnel parameters at the Weir House, Powerhouse, and tunnel alignment locations. Empirical analysis of tunnel parameters using three rock classification systems, rock mass rating (RMR), rock quality tunneling index, and rock mass index (RMi). Based on the classification, the rock quality was found to be fair, indicating favorable rock properties. The Q-system rated the rock as poor to fair, suggesting low discontinuity intensity, medium rock strength, or medium deformation modulus. According to the RMi, rock was rated as medium to strong, indicating low discontinuity intensity, high rock strength, or low deformability. The support design for the tunnel is based on empirical analysis, it recommends support design for the tunnel reinforcement elements such as rock bolts, wire mesh, and shotcrete lining. Overall, the tunnel is stable and does not have complex structure and weak zones

Pathological alterations in respiratory system during co-infection with low pathogenic avian influenza virus (H9N2) and Escherichia coli in broiler chickens

Introduction: Despite the advancements in the field, there is a lack of data when it comes to co-infections in poultry. Therefore, this study was designed to address this issue. Material and Methods: Broiler birds were experimentally infected with E. coli (O78) and low pathogenic avian influenza (LPAI) strain, alone or in combination. The experimental groups were negative control. Results: The infected birds showed most severe clinical signs in E. coli+LPAI group along with a significant decrease in weight and enhanced macroscopic and microscopic pathological lesions. The survival rate was 60%, 84%, and 100% in birds inoculated with E. coli+LPAI, E. coli, and LPAI virus alone, respectively. The results showed that experimental co-infection with E. coli and H9N2 strain of LPAI virus increased the severity of clinical signs, mortality rate, and gross lesions. The HI titre against LPAI virus infection in the co-infected group was significantly higher than the HI titre of LPAI group, which may indicate that E. coli may promote propagation of H9N2 LPAI virus by alteration of immune response. Conclusion: The present study revealed that co-infection with E. coli and H9N2 LPAI virus caused more serious synergistic pathogenic effects and indicates the role of both pathogens as complicating factors in poultry infections

Fungal Immunology: Mechanisms of Host Innate Immune Recognition and Evasion by Pathogenic Fungi

For a fungal pathogen to successfully infect, colonize and spread inside a susceptible host, it must have overcome the host immune responses. The early recognition of the fungal pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPS) by the host’s pattern recognition receptors (PRRs) results in the establishment of anti-fungal immunity. Although, our immune system has evolved several processes to combat these pathogens both at the innate and adaptive immune levels. These organisms have developed various escape strategies to evade the recognition by the host\u27s innate immune components and thus interfering with host immune mechanisms. In this chapter, we will summarize the major PRRs involved in sensing fungal PAMPS and most importantly the fungal tactics to escape the host\u27s innate immune surveillance and protective mechanisms

Characteristics of case patients (with neurological complications) and control patients (without neurological complications).

Characteristics of case patients (with neurological complications) and control patients (without neurological complications).</p

Removal of Safranin-T and Toluidine from Water through Gum Arabic/Acrylamide Hydrogel

Hydrogels as “smart sorbents” for wastewater treatment have attracted much attention due to their facile fabrication, rapid regeneration, environment friendly nature, and strong interaction with pollutants. In this study, gum arabic/acrylamide (GA/AM) hydrogel was developed via the free radical polymerization method by employing acrylamide (AM) (monomer), gum arabic (GA) (grafting backbone), N,N-methylenebisacrylamide (MBA) (chemical crosslinker), and tetramethylethylenediamine (TEMED) (accelerator). The fabricated adsorbent was characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, and surface area analyzer. The adsorption properties of the subject hydrogel were explored against cationic safranin and toluidine dyes in aqueous media. The point of zero charge (PZC) for the GA/AM sorbent was found to be pHPZC=7.1 whereas maximum sorption occurred at pH 11. Different kinetic and isotherm models were applied to evaluate the adsorption mechanism and estimate values of different adsorption parameters. The adsorption isotherm and kinetics were better explained by the Langmuir isotherm and pseudo-second-order kinetic model whereas the adsorption thermodynamics depicted the endothermic, spontaneous, and favorable nature of the process. The adsorbent was regenerated with acetone and reused for the selected dyes for many cycles. After the 5th cycle, the hydrogel retained safranin/toluidine removal capacity≥60% which pointed toward the reusability of the prepared adsorbent for cycles without appreciable reduction in its adsorption capacity. Hence, the GA/AM sorbent can be applied as an alternative of activated carbon to treat dye-contaminated waters