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Heart failure (HF) is a major contributor to global morbidity and mortality. While distinct clinical subtypes, defined by etiology and left ventricular ejection fraction, are well recognized, their genetic determinants remain inadequately understood. In this study, we report a genome-wide association study of HF and its subtypes in a sample of 1.9 million individuals. A total of 153,174 individual
Climate change is increasingly recognized as a major security concern, with drought–migration–conflict linkages attracting significant attention in both policy and research. While some narratives portray drought as a direct driver of migration and conflict, evidence shows a far more complex relationship: climate stress can lead to more migration in some contexts and less in others, with internal m
This study develops a framework for investigating the spatiotemporal variability of dust storm (DS) susceptibility in a major DS source in the Middle East i.e., Tigris-Euphrates River Basin. Visual interpretation of true color composites of MODIS satellite images was used to identify DS sources during period 2000-2021. In total 1,028 dust storm sources were identified. Incorporating 70% of DS sour
The question of the degree to which participation by civil society contributes to environmental decisions in post-conflict societies has received little attention. This study sheds light on the extent to which degrees of participation contribute to environmental decision-making in the Puntland State of Somalia using questionnaire surveys. We found that active participation has the highest contribu
Dispersal ability is key to species persistence in times of environmental change. Assessing a species' vulnerability and response to anthropogenic changes is often performed using one of two methods: correlative approaches that infer dispersal potential based on traits, such as wingspan or an index of mobility derived from expert opinion, or a mechanistic modeling approach that extrapolates displa
Almost all countries in the world are party to the Rio Conventions. This entails a number of responsibilities, including reporting periodically on aspects of environmental health and national implementation of the convention. These reports can cover hundreds of pages, so completing reports is often a significant undertaking. Since countries can be party to numerous Multilateral Environmental Agree
Dispersal is a key process affecting population persistence and major factors affecting dispersal rates are the amounts, connectedness and properties of habitats in landscapes. We present new data on the butterfly Maniola jurtina in flower-rich and flower-poor habitats that demonstrates how movement and behaviour differ between sexes and habitat types, and how this effects consequent dispersal rat
Most in vitro reporter gene assays used to assess estrogenic contamination are based on human estrogen receptor α (hERα) activation. However, fish bioassays can have distinct response to estrogenic chemicals and mixtures, questioning the relevance of human-based bioassays for assessing risk to this species. In this study, zebrafish liver cells stably expressing zebrafish ERβ2 (ZELHβ2) and human br
With the amendment to the German Climate Change Act in 2021, the Federal Government of Germany has set the target to become greenhouse gas neutral by 2045. Reaching this ambitious target requires multisectoral efforts, which in turn calls for interdisciplinary collaboration: the Net-Zero-2050 project of the Helmholtz Climate Initiative serves as an example of successful, interdisciplinary collabor
The study analyzed the performance of Doho Rice Irrigation Scheme (DRIS), the largest public irrigation scheme in Uganda, using (1) water supply indicators comprising relative water supply (RWS), relative irrigation supply (RIS), and water delivery capacity (WDC) related to water supply from the system in relation to scheme crop water demand for the 2018–2019 growing season; and(2) water balance r
Feedback loops are among the core notions in systems thinking – and the various fields of theory and practice that draw on it, including systemic design. We use these notions to develop methodological approaches, conceptualise processes, assess the adequacy of solutions, and anticipate how the design object may interact with its immediate surroundings and beyond. In my presentation, I discuss the
At a geological time-scale, seas rise aloft and mountains crumble. We are currently in the middle of a debate on whether—in order to acknowledge the pervasive and geologically significant traces of human action on the planet—our present era should be labelled the “Anthropocene”, and if so, what would be the cut-off date for the commencement of that era. At the same moment, we are already contempla
Ecosystem functioning depends on biodiversity at multiple trophic levels, yet relationships between multitrophic diversity and ecosystem multifunctionality have been poorly explored, with studies often focusing on individual trophic levels and functions and on specific ecosystem types. Here, we show that plant diversity can affect ecosystem functioning both directly and by affecting other trophic
Bees are crucial for food security and biodiversity. However, managed bees are increasingly considered drivers of wild bee declines, leading to stakeholder conflicts and restrictive policies. We propose avenues to reconcile wild and managed bee proponents and point out knowledge gaps that hinder the development of evidence-based policies.
The vast potential of using sediment adsorbed DNA as a window to past and present biodiversity rely on the ability of solid surfaces to adsorb environmental DNA. However, a comprehensive insight into DNA adsorption at surfaces in general is lacking. Soot and charcoal are carbonaceous materials widespread in the environment where they read-ily can come in contact with extracellular DNA shed from or
Food systems have enormous impacts on people and the planet, with agriculture and food research becoming strategic for many countries. However, the way this research is conducted and the rise of new agri-food technologies have ethical and socio-economic implications. To address these, many scholars are gaining interest in participatory methods, such as citizen science, but are unfamiliar with the
Background, Motivation, and ObjectiveThe demand for tissue-mimicking materials (TMMs) is increasing alongside the advancement of hybrid imaging such as photoacoustic imaging (PAI). Developing suitable TMMs for PAI is challenging due to the need to mimic both optical and acoustic tissue properties. The TMMs with tunable properties are needed for the calibration of these imaging modalities, as well
Cation release rates to catchment runoff from chemical weathering were assessed using an integrated catchment model that included the soil's unsaturated, saturated and riparian zones. In-situ mineral dissolution rates were calculated in these zones as a function of pH, aluminum and dissolved organic carbon (DOC) concentrations along a hillslope in Northern Sweden where soil water was monitored ove
