Designing resilient regions by applying blue-green infrastructure concepts

In Australia, weather extremes (droughts and floods) are an accepted component of coupled human-environment systems. Australia is the driest inhabited continent on earth and also has the greatest annual rainfall and run-off variability. Competition for water between the environment, agriculture and domestic uses is intense and the cause of much public debate. It is not unusual for parts of Australia to transition quickly from a state of extreme water scarcity to one of severe flooding. In fact, floods cause more damage in Australia than any other natural disaster. Climate change will exacerbate the situation through increased frequency and intensity of heavy rainfall events and also more intense and longer-lasting droughts. The combination of drought followed by intense rainfall increases the risk of severe flooding, with impacts on civil infrastructure (road and bridge washouts, damage to houses), and impacts on agriculture (soil erosion and destruction of crops and livestock). Structural flood mitigation activities in Australia, such as the construction of levees, was initially driven by private landholders. These measures were often not well planned or integrated at larger scales and therefore have been viewed with some suspicion. More recently, non-structural (land planning, emergency management) approaches have become the key flood mitigation measure. In contrast, The Netherlands takes a structural approach through concepts like Blue-Green Infrastructure (BGI), with the aim of “giving the flood a pathway”. In this context, structural interventions in the landscape provide alternative pathways for flood water, slowing the waters progress such that flood damage is mitigated. Our research focuses on the feasibility of implementing BGI in Australia, considering the costs and benefits in terms of the biophysical environment, infrastructure and socio-economic systems, in order to increase the resilience of rural and regional communities. The research will inform strategic and statutory planning at the regional level

Estimativa das alterações de temperatura no ciclo de cultivo de trigo e cevada para o ano de 2050 em Guarapuava, Paraná - Brasil

A mudança climática é um dos grandes desafios para a agricultura, torna-se cada vez mais imprescindível anteceder os prováveis impactos causados pelas alterações de temperatura no planejamento regional e rural. Esse artigo tem objetivo avaliar os efeitos das mudanças de temperatura média nos cenários RCP4.5 e RCP8,5 para o período de cultivo das culturas de trigo e cevada no município de Guarapuava no Paraná. Para o estudo de prognósticos foram utilizados modelos do IPCC (2014) (Intergovernamental Panel On Climate Change) relatório 2014, determinação de um cenário base para o período de anos entre 1970-2000 com dados climátios locais e  provenientes do WorldClim (Global Climate Data).Verificou-se que dentro da área de 3 178,6 km² ocorrerá aumento da temperatura para o período considerado, sendo que os valores mínimos de aumento da temperatura média poderão variar entre 2,4 e 4,5% considerando os cenários RCP4.5 e RCP8.5 respectivamenteEl cambio climático es uno de los grandes desafíos para la agricultura, se vuelve cada vez más imprescindible anteceder los probables impactos causados por los cambios de temperatura en la planificación regional y rural. Este artículo tiene como objetivo evaluar los efectos de los cambios de temperatura media con los escenarios IPCC RCP4.5 y RCP8.5 para el período de cultivo de trigo y cebada en el municipio de Guarapuava - Paraná. Para el estudio de pronósticos se utilizaron modelos del IPCC (Intergovernamental Panel On Climate Change), informe 2014, y la determinación de un escenario base para el período de años entre 1970-2000 con datos climáticos locales y provenientes de WorldClim (Global Climate Data). Se verificó que dentro del área de 3.178,6 km² ocurrirá aumento de la temperatura para el período considerado. A partir del escenario base (1985) los valores mínimos de aumento de la temperatura media podrán variar entre 2,4 y 4,5% considerando los escenarios RCP4.5 y RCP8.5 respectivamente.Climate change is one of the major challenges for agriculture, it is becoming more imperative to anticipate the likely impacts caused by temperature changes in regional and rural planning. This article aims to evaluate the effects of the average temperature changes in the RCP4.5 and RCP8.5 IPCC scenarios, for the cultivation period of the wheat and barley crops in the municipality of Guarapuava, Paraná. For the study were used the IPCC models (Intergovernmental Panel On Climate Change  (report 2014)) and determining a base scenario for the period of years between 1970-2000 with local climatic data and coming from WorldClim (Global Climate Data). It was verified that within the area of 3 178.6 km² there will be an increase in temperature for the period considered, and the minimum values of increase of the average temperature may vary between 2.4 and 4.5% considering the scenarios RCP4.5 and RCP8.5 respectively

Enabling political legitimacy and conceptual integration for climate change adaptation research within an agricultural bureaucracy: a systemic inquiry

The value of using systems approaches, for situations framed as ‘super wicked’, is examined from the perspective of research managers and stakeholders in a state-based climate change adaptation (CCA) program (CliChAP). Polycentric drivers influencing the development of CCA research pre-2010 in Victoria, Australia are reflected on, using Soft Systems Methodology (SSM) to generate a boundary critique of CCA research as a human activity system. We experienced the complexity of purpose with research practices pulling in different directions, reflected on the appropriateness of agricultural bureaucracies’ historical new public management (NPM) practices, and focused on realigning management theory with emerging demands for adaptation research skills and capability. Our analysis conceptualised CliChAP as a subsystem, generating novelty in a wider system, concerned with socio-ecological co-evolution. Constraining/enabling conditions at the time dealing with political legitimacy and conceptual integration were observed as potential catalysts for innovation in research management towards better handling of uncertainty as a social process using systemic thinking in practice (StiP)

SARS-CoV-2 uses CD4 to infect T helper lymphocytes

The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is the agent of a major global outbreak of respiratory tract disease known as Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19). SARS-CoV-2 infects mainly lungs and may cause several immune-related complications, such as lymphocytopenia and cytokine storm, which are associated with the severity of the disease and predict mortality. The mechanism by which SARS-CoV-2 infection may result in immune system dysfunction is still not fully understood. Here, we show that SARS-CoV-2 infects human CD4+ T helper cells, but not CD8+ T cells, and is present in blood and bronchoalveolar lavage T helper cells of severe COVID-19 patients. We demonstrated that SARS-CoV-2 spike glycoprotein (S) directly binds to the CD4 molecule, which in turn mediates the entry of SARS-CoV-2 in T helper cells. This leads to impaired CD4 T cell function and may cause cell death. SARS-CoV-2-infected T helper cells express higher levels of IL-10, which is associated with viral persistence and disease severity. Thus, CD4-mediated SARS-CoV-2 infection of T helper cells may contribute to a poor immune response in COVID-19 patients.</p

SARS-CoV-2 uses CD4 to infect T helper lymphocytes

The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is the agent of a major global outbreak of respiratory tract disease known as Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19). SARS-CoV-2 infects mainly lungs and may cause several immune-related complications, such as lymphocytopenia and cytokine storm, which are associated with the severity of the disease and predict mortality. The mechanism by which SARS-CoV-2 infection may result in immune system dysfunction is still not fully understood. Here, we show that SARS-CoV-2 infects human CD4+ T helper cells, but not CD8+ T cells, and is present in blood and bronchoalveolar lavage T helper cells of severe COVID-19 patients. We demonstrated that SARS-CoV-2 spike glycoprotein (S) directly binds to the CD4 molecule, which in turn mediates the entry of SARS-CoV-2 in T helper cells. This leads to impaired CD4 T cell function and may cause cell death. SARS-CoV-2-infected T helper cells express higher levels of IL-10, which is associated with viral persistence and disease severity. Thus, CD4-mediated SARS-CoV-2 infection of T helper cells may contribute to a poor immune response in COVID-19 patients.</p

A phylogenetic classification of the world’s tropical forests

Knowledge about the biogeographic affinities of the world’s tropical forests helps to better understand regional differences in forest structure, diversity, composition and dynamics. Such understanding will enable anticipation of region specific responses to global environmental change. Modern phylogenies, in combination with broad coverage of species inventory data, now allow for global biogeographic analyses that take species evolutionary distance into account. Here we present the first classification of the world’s tropical forests based on their phylogenetic similarity. We identify five principal floristic regions and their floristic relationships: (1) Indo-Pacific, (2) Subtropical, (3) African, (4) American, and (5) Dry forests. Our results do not support the traditional Neo- versus Palaeo-tropical forest division, but instead separate the combined American and African forests from their Indo-Pacific counterparts. We also find indications for the existence of a global dry forest region, with representatives in America, Africa, Madagascar and India. Additionally, a northern hemisphere Subtropical forest region was identified with representatives in Asia and America, providing support for a link between Asian and American northern hemisphere forests

Phylogenetic classification of the world's tropical forests

Knowledge about the biogeographic affinities of the world’s tropical forests helps to better understand regional differences in forest structure, diversity, composition, and dynamics. Such understanding will enable anticipation of region-specific responses to global environmental change. Modern phylogenies, in combination with broad coverage of species inventory data, now allow for global biogeographic analyses that take species evolutionary distance into account. Here we present a classification of the world’s tropical forests based on their phylogenetic similarity. We identify five principal floristic regions and their floristic relationships: (i) Indo-Pacific, (ii) Subtropical, (iii) African, (iv) American, and (v) Dry forests. Our results do not support the traditional neo- versus paleotropical forest division but instead separate the combined American and African forests from their Indo-Pacific counterparts. We also find indications for the existence of a global dry forest region, with representatives in America, Africa, Madagascar, and India. Additionally, a northern-hemisphere Subtropical forest region was identified with representatives in Asia and America, providing support for a link between Asian and American northern-hemisphere forests.</p

Conocimiento científico orientando la planificación estratégica

En cada época, la ciencia se moldea a partir de sus desafíos principales y evoluciona junto con ellos. Mientras que antes se entendía que la ciencia progresaba en un avance continuo en la certeza del conocimiento y el 'control' de los científicos sobre el mundo natural, ahora la ciencia se ve desde una perspectiva mucho más amplia. Asuntos relacionados con el medio ambiente y el uso de los recursos naturales, por ejemplo, tienden a ser globales, no solo locales, en su alcance sino también en su complejidad, incertidumbre y riesgos. Además, muchas de las posibles soluciones para enfrentar los problemas sociales actuales requieren una acción conjunta a nivel regional, urbano y local por parte de individuos, comunidades y organizaciones. La actividad de la ciencia está caracterizada cada vez más por la participación y la aceptación de diversos puntos de vista. De hecho, los procesos políticos reconocen en forma creciente nuestras obligaciones hacia las generaciones futuras, hacia otros seres vivos y, realmente, hacia todo el Planeta Tierra, y así, la ciencia también amplía el alcance de sus preocupaciones (Midgley, 2000; Capra y Luisi, 2014/2019)