Consistent findings about the inverse association of social network level with coronary heart disease mortality and morbidity suggest the importance of investigating biological pathways of association. Differences in plasma fibrinogen level were investigated among middle-aged men with weak and strong structural and functional social network ties. Men with low scores in the adequacy of social participation variable (structural) had higher mean values of plasma fibrinogen than those with high scores. The difference remained after adjustment for age, smoking and cardiovascular health status and after possible modifying factors were taken into account, but did not remain significant after allowing for physical fitness. Men with high scores in overall support (functional) had higher plasma fibrinogen levels compared to the men with low scores. This difference persisted after age and cardiovascular health status were taken into account but was explained by smoking. The data suggest that smoking and cardiorespiratory fitness are important mediating or modifying factors between structural and functional aspects of social network ties and plasma fibrinogen.
Epidemiological studies have revealed that stressful changes in social environment increase the risk of cardiovascular mortality. In this study, the influence of major negative and positive life changes on serum cholesterol was examined in middle-aged men to determine a possible biochemical link between life changes and cardiovascular mortality. The results showed no influence of negative life changes on serum cholesterols. However, positive life changes significantly predicted a reduction in total and LDL (low-density lipoprotein) cholesterol levels after adjustment for the baseline cardiovascular health status, baseline cholesterol level, diet, body mass index, waist-to-hip ratio and cardiorespiratory fitness. The odds ratio for lowering LDL cholesterol was 5·2 in the men reporting positive events compared with those reporting none. The findings suggest a predictive value of positive life changes for atherogenic lipid profile in middle-aged men.
Conventional dredging of ditches and streams to ensure agricultural drainage and flood mitigation can have severe environmental impacts. The aim of this paper is to investigate the potential benefits of an alternative, nature-based two-stage channel (TSC) design with floodplains excavated along the main channel. Through a literature survey, investigations at Finnish field sites and expert interviews, we assessed the performance, costs, and monetary environmental benefits of TSCs in comparison to conventional dredging, as well as the bottlenecks in their financing and governance. We found evidence supporting the expected longer-term functioning of drainage as well as larger plant and fish biodiversity in TSCs compared to conventional dredging. The TSC design likely improves water quality since the floodplains retain suspended sediment and phosphorus and remove nitrogen. In the investigated case, the additional value of phosphorus retention and conservation of protected species through the TSC design was 2.4 times higher than the total costs. We demonstrate how TSCs can be made eligible for the obligatory vegetated riparian buffer of the European Union agri-environmental subsidy scheme (CAP-AES) by optimising their spatial application with respect to other buffer measures, and recommend to publicly finance their additional costs compared to conventional dredging at priority sites. Further studies on biodiversity impacts and long-term performance of two-stage channels are required.
In: Datry , T , Allen , D , Argelich , R , Barquin , J , Bonada , N , Boulton , A , Branger , F , Cai , Y , Cañedo-Argüelles , M , Cid , N , Csabai , Z , Dallimer , M , de Araújo , J C , Declerck , S , Dekker , T , Döll , P , Encalada , A , Forcellini , M , Foulquier , A , Heino , J , Jabot , F , Keszler , P , Kopperoinen , L , Kralisch , S , Künne , A , Lamouroux , N , Lauvernet , C , Lehtoranta , V , Loskotová , B , Marcé , R , Martin Ortega , J , Matauschek , C , Miliša , M , Mogyorósi , S , Moya , N , Müller Schmied , H , Munné , A , Munoz , F , Mykrä , H , Pal , I , Paloniemi , R , Pařil , P , Pengal , P , Pernecker , B , Polášek , M , Rezende , C , Sabater , S , Sarremejane , R , Schmidt , G , Senerpont Domis , L , Singer , G , Suárez , E , Talluto , M , Teurlincx , S , Trautmann , T , Truchy , A , Tyllianakis , E , Väisänen , S , Varumo , L , Vidal , J-P , Vilmi , A & Vinyoles , D 2021 , ' Securing Biodiversity, Functional Integrity, and Ecosystem Services in Drying River Networks (DRYvER) ' , RIO , vol. 7 , e77750 . https://doi.org/10.3897/rio.7.e77750
River networks are among Earth's most threatened hot-spots of biodiversity and provide key ecosystem services (e.g., supply drinking water and food, climate regulation) essential to sustaining human well-being. Climate change and increased human water use are causing more rivers and streams to dry, with devastating impacts on biodiversity and ecosystem services. Currently, more than a half of the global river networks consist of drying channels, and these are expanding dramatically. However, drying river networks (DRNs) have received little attention from scientists and policy makers, and the public is unaware of their importance. Consequently, there is no effective integrated biodiversity conservation or ecosystem management strategy of DRNs.A multidisciplinary team of 25 experts from 11 countries in Europe, South America, China and the USA will build on EU efforts to assess the cascading effects of climate change on biodiversity, ecosystem functions and ecosystem services of DRNs through changes in flow regimes and water use. DRYvER (DRYing riVER networks) will gather and upscale empirical and modelling data from nine focal DRNs (case studies) in Europe (EU) and Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) to develop a meta-system framework applicable to Europe and worldwide. It will also generate crucial knowledge-based strategies, tools and guidelines for economically-efficient adaptive management of DRNs. Working closely with stakeholders and end-users, DRYvER will co-develop strategies to mitigate and adapt to climate change impacts in DRNs, integrating hydrological, ecological (including nature-based solutions), socio-economic and policy perspectives. The end results of DRYvER will contribute to reaching the objectives of the Paris Agreement and placing Europe at the forefront of research on climate change.