The pathogenic mechanism of TAR DNA-binding protein 43(TDP-43)in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

The onset of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis is usually characterized by focal death of both upper and/or lower motor neurons occurring in the motor cortex,basal ganglia,brainstem,and spinal cord,and commonly involves the muscles of the upper and/or lower extremities,and the muscles of the bulbar and/or respiratory regions.However,as the disease progresses,it affects the adjacent body regions,leading to generalized muscle weakness,occasionally along with memory,cognitive,behavioral,and language impairments;respiratory dysfunction occurs at the final stage of the disease.The disease has a complicated pathophysiology and currently,only riluzole,edaravone,and phenylbutyrate/taurursodiol are licensed to treat amyotrophic lateral sclerosis in many industrialized countries.The TAR DNA-binding protein 43 inclusions are observed in 97%of those diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.This review provides a preliminary overview of the potential effects of TAR DNAbinding protein 43 in the pathogenesis of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis,including the abnormalities in nucleoplasmic transport,RNA function,post-translational modification,liquid-liquid phase separation,stress granules,mitochondrial dysfunction,oxidative stress,axonal transport,protein quality control system,and non-cellular autonomous functions(e.g.,glial cell functions and prion-like propagation).

三维薛定谔方程组的线性Profile分解

为了研究线性薛定谔方程组解Strichartz估计的紧性缺失问题,针对H•^(1)(R^(3))×H•^(1)(R^(3))中的三维线性薛定谔方程组的有界解向量序列,使用解序列的Profile分解方法,构造为解向量子列的(1/√h_(n))U(t-t_(n))/h_(n)^(2),(x-x_(n))/h_(n)类型的Profile分解和.其中,U是线性薛定谔方程组的解向量,在Strichartz范数估计下具有一个很小的余项.首先确定伸缩变换参数序列族,利用傅里叶变换和迭代的思想确定Profile分解族.其次验证了Profile分解和的收敛性,说明了Strichartz范数下余项的收敛性.最后证明了当线性薛定谔方程组的解序列有界时,都可以分解为解向量子列和的形式.

Deep learning approaches to recover the plasma current density profile from the safety factor based on Grad–Shafranov solutions across multiple tokamaks

Many magnetohydrodynamic stability analyses require generation of a set of equilibria with a fixed safety factor q-profile while varying other plasma parameters.A neural network(NN)-based approach is investigated that facilitates such a process.Both multilayer perceptron(MLP)-based NN and convolutional neural network(CNN)models are trained to map the q-profile to the plasma current density J-profile,and vice versa,while satisfying the Grad–Shafranov radial force balance constraint.When the initial target models are trained,using a database of semianalytically constructed numerical equilibria,an initial CNN with one convolutional layer is found to perform better than an initial MLP model.In particular,a trained initial CNN model can also predict the q-or J-profile for experimental tokamak equilibria.The performance of both initial target models is further improved by fine-tuning the training database,i.e.by adding realistic experimental equilibria with Gaussian noise.The fine-tuned target models,referred to as fine-tuned MLP and fine-tuned CNN,well reproduce the target q-or J-profile across multiple tokamak devices.As an important application,these NN-based equilibrium profile convertors can be utilized to provide a good initial guess for iterative equilibrium solvers,where the desired input quantity is the safety factor instead of the plasma current density.

Profile of Amoebic vs. Pyogenic Liver Abscess and Comparison of Demographical, Clinical, Radiological, and Laboratory Profiles of These Patients from Three Secondary Care Centers in Senegal

Background: Liver abscess (LA) is a suppurated collection in the hepatic parenchyma. In Africa, liver abscesses are most often of amoebic origin, but more recently, the rate of pyogenic liver abscesses (PLA) has increased. Objective: to assess the epidemiological characteristics, clinical features, biological radiological findings, and outcomes of patients with PLA and with amebic liver abscess (ALA) in order to determine the potential factors that may help improve diagnosis and treatment for LA in the context of secondary care centers with limited medical supports. Methods: Retrospective review of LA diagnosed and treated at three secondary care centers in Thiès over 11 years. Results: 61 patients, were included, 52.45% had ALA and 47.54% had PLA. Males were predominant (79.31% in PLA vs 65.63% in ALA, p = 0.2). The median age was 38 years for the PLA group vs 39 years for the ALA group (p = 0.4). In both groups, the most common symptom was right upper abdominal pain (81.97%), hepatomegaly (81.97%). The PLA group had a higher prevalence of fever (79.31% vs 46.88%, p = 0,009), chills (51.72% vs 18.75%, p = 0.007), right basi-thoracic pain (55.17% vs 28.13%, p = 0.032), and jaundice (55.17% vs 28%, p = 0.032). There was no difference in radiological features between PLA and ALA. Patients with PLA had a higher level of White blood cell (20.600 vs 15.400, p = 0.014). The most common bacteria identified in PLA were Escherichia coli (58.8%). All patients had received antibiotic therapy, which was combined with aspiration puncture (37.3%), transcutaneous drainage (43.3%), and surgery (9.0%). Seven patients had received antibiotic therapy alone and all had amoebic abscesses. Elsewhere, the occurrence of complications was higher in PLA cases (75.86% vs 37.5%, p = 0.003). The overall hospital mortality rate was 13.11%, higher in cases of PLA (24.14% vs 3.13%, p = 0.022). Conclusion: Clinical and biological features were more severe in PLA. But radiological features cannot be used to distinguish between PLA and ALA.

Three-Channel Interference Interpretation of Fano Profile

Fano resonance is a ubiquitous phenomenon, and it is commonly interpreted as a two-channel interference of the discrete and continuous channels. The present work investigates the Fano profile from a perspective of the temporal evolution of the wave function. By exciting the atom with a δ pulse and calculating the evolution of the wave function, the Fano formula is deduced. The results clearly show that the Fano resonance is of a three-channel interference, which is different from the traditional understanding. The three channels are revealed as the groundcontinuum, ground-discrete-continuum, and a previously unmentioned third channel, i.e., ground-continuumdiscrete-continuum. The present three-channel interpretation can be easily generalized to other physical systems,contributing to a deeper understanding of the Fano profile.

Genomic Profile of SARS-COV-2 Associated with COVID-19 Outbreaks in N’Djamena, Chad

Background: SARS-CoV-2 has circulated worldwide with dramatic consequences. In Chad, we have no data reported of variants. The aim of this study was to identify the SARS-CoV-2 variants that circulated during the epidemic from 2020 to 2021. Methods: This is a cross-sectional, descriptive study carried out between 2020 and 2021. Samples from patients with suspected COVID-19 were tested in five laboratories in N’Djamena. One hundred quality samples of the positives were sequenced in Kinshasa using Oxford nanopore technologies minion and the Protocol Midnight SARS-CoV2. Data were processed using Excel version 16 software. Results: Of the 100 samples sequenced, 77 (77%) produced sequences, 23 (23%) did not. The genomic profiles were wild-type Wuhan and minor mutations (19A, 19B (A), 20A (B.1, B.2), 20B (AV.1), 20D (B.1.1.1 /C.36), 20C), variant of concern Alpha (20I), variant of concern Delta (21A/J), variant of interest Eta (21D), variant of concern Omicron (21K) and unclassified variant under surveillance (B.1.640). Of these variants, the maximums were detected in patients aged 26 - 35 with 30.26% and 25.26% in 36 - 45. However, 24.67% were in travelers and 75.32% in residents, 35.06% in those vaccinated against COVID-19 and 62.33% in non-vaccinates. The estimated case-fatality rate was 2.44% (107/4374). Conclusion: This work has provided preliminary data on COVID-19 and SARS-CoV-2 variants circulating during the 2020-2021 epidemics in Chad.

Baseline design of the KunLun Turbulence Profiler instrument

Adaptive optics systems are the most powerful tools to counteract the image blurring caused by atmospheric turbulence,allowing ground-based telescopes to capture high-resolution images.A critical parameter influencing adaptive optics system performance is the atmospheric refractive index structure constant,C_(n)^(2),which characterizes the intensity of atmospheric optical turbulence as a function of altitude.Given its simplicity,the lunar scintillometer is the preferred method for detecting atmospheric turbulence in challenging environments like Dome A in Antarctica,where sites are still in the developmental stages and local environmental conditions are extremely harsh.However,optimizing the performance of such instruments requires carefully determining the baseline configuration of photon sensors according to each site's specific optical turbulence profile characteristics.This study uses a Monte Carlo method to identify the optimal configuration for the KunLun Turbulence Profiler(KLTP),an instrument comparable to the lunar scintillometer,developed for use at Dome A.Simulations conducted using the obtained optimal baseline configuration recovered three different model optical turbulence profiles,demonstrating the effectiveness of our method in obtaining an optimal baseline configuration.Our approach can be easily applied to baseline design for similar turbulence profilers at other sites.

Profile of Full-Term Births in Maternity Wards of Public Hospitals in Douala Cameroon

Introduction: Pregnancy as much as childbirth constitutes a risky situation, potentially fraught with sometimes dramatic complications: maternal death. Objective: We conducted this study with the aim of establishing the profile of those giving birth in our context with the aim to anticipate operationally in the future on morbidity but more on maternal deaths. Methodology: We conducted, using a structured questionnaire, a prospective descriptive study in representative maternity wards in the city of Douala;the study variables were socio-economic, anthropometric, obstetrical and clinical. Statistical analyses were carried out with CS Pro 7.3 and SPSS version 25.0 software. The Student, Chi-square and Fischer tests were used to compare the means of the variables and the percentages. Results: We recruited 305 births for our study. The average age of our births was 28.7 years ± 6.1 with an average height of 161.6 cm ± 5.06;an average body mass index at the start of pregnancy of 28.0 kilograms/square meter and 31.3 kilograms/square meter at delivery;the average weight gain was 8.4 g ± 5.37;an average gestation of 2.84±1.90;an average parity of 2.2 ± 2.1 with an average birth interval of 27.7 months ± 23.7. The average gestational age was 39.2 weeks ± 1.21 with pregnancy pathology dominated by malaria;85.9% began their prenatal follow-up before the 14th week of amenorrhea. Conclusion: The profile of childbirth in urban Cameroon does not seem potentially dystocic compared to that of the same regional and racial area.

Morphological,phylogenetic and metabolite profile of Prorocentrum clipeus,a newly recorded epiphytic dinoflagellate in the northern Yellow Sea

More than 30 species of benthic Prorocentrum have been identified,some of which produce okadaic acid(OA)and its derivatives,dinophysistoxins(DTXs),which cause diarrhetic shellfish poisoning(DSP).Increasing numbers of benthic Prorocentrum species have been reported in tropical and subtropical waters of China.In contrast,only a few benthic Prorocentrum species have been reported in temperate waters.In this study,morphological descriptions obtained using light microscopy,scanning electron microscopy and molecular characterization of one Prorocentrum clipeus strain isolated from the Yellow Sea are presented.Prorocentrum clipeus cells were nearly circular in shape,with a collar,ridge,and one protrusion.The periflagellar area was wide U-shaped,with two curved projections on platelet 1a.Nine periflagellar platelets of different sizes were observed.The morphology closely fits that of the species isolated from other locations.Phylogenetic analysis based on the molecular sequences of the small subunit(SSU)rDNA,internal transcribed spacer(ITS),and large subunit(LSU)rDNA was performed.A comprehensive metabolomic analysis incorporating target,suspect and non-target screenings was first applied to investigate the intracellular and extracellular metabolite profiles of the current isolate of P.clipeus.According to the results of the target and suspect screenings,179 metabolites or toxins produced by DSP-related algal species,including OA,dinophysistoxin-1(DTX1),dinophysistoxin-2(DTX2)and pectenotoxin-2(PTX2),were not detected.Non-target screening involving feature-based molecular networking(FBMN)provided a global view of major metabolites produced by the P.clipeus DF128 strain and revealed 23 clusters belonging to at least 13 compound classes,with organometallic compounds,lipids and lipid-like molecules,phenylpropanoids and polyketides,and benzenoids as major types.To date,this is the first record of the characterization of P.clipeus in samples from Chinese waters.Our results support the wide distribution of epibenthic Prorocentrum species.

Immunovirological Profile of HIV1 Infection in Children and Adolescents Followed at the Bangui Pediatric University Hospital

History: Pediatric management of HIV infection in children in the Central African Republic began in 2004 with the use of fractionated adult antiretrovirals and Cotrimoxazole. It has evolved over the years with the use of pediatric forms, oral suspensions and dispersible tablets. The transition to Dolutegravir took place in 2020. The active file of our patients will grow from 78 to over 1900 today. Follow-up examinations are carried out to assess adherence to treatment. Objective: To determine the immunovirological profile and factors associated with treatment failure during follow-up of children on ART at the Bangui pediatric university hospital. Patients and Method: This was a cross-sectional, analytical study from May 30 to December 02, 2022. The study sample was drawn from a cohort of HIV-1-infected children followed up at the Bangui pediatric university hospital and on ART for three semesters who met the selection criteria. Results: The prevalence of treatment failure varied from one semester to the next. Thus, the prevalence of therapeutic failure was 20% in the first semester, 10% in the second semester and 7% in the third semester. The prevalence of virological failure was 10.28% in the first half of the year, 6.91% in the second half and 4.98% in the third. Secondly, immunological failure was 0.48% in the first half of the year, 0.32% in the second 0.64% in the third half. Finally, clinical failure was 8.82% in the first half, 4.82% in the second half, 1.92% in the third half. Socio-demographic and clinical factors associated with treatment failure were male gender (p 1000 copies/ml (p Conclusion: The occurrence of treatment failures in children is a major problem, especially in our resource-limited countries, given the challenges facing antiretroviral therapy. It is therefore necessary to carry out a study on resistance genotyping in order to propose correct management protocols, as the future of treatment programs depends on it.

Improving a Patient’s CVD Risk Assessment—Updating the Interpretation of the Lipid Profile

The lipid profile remains an important laboratory assessment to prevent cardiovascular disease. Interpretation of the non-fasting lipid profile has significantly changed based on new information concerning the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis. In particular, the assessment of risk from cholesterol containing particles following triglyceride metabolism (termed remnant cholesterol) can now be done from a lipid profile. In addition, non-HDL cholesterol as calculated from the lipid profile will provide a complete assessment of total circulating cholesterol containing particles. Furthermore, the formula for measurement of LDL cholesterol from a lipid profile has now been revised so that triglyceride levels exert less interference. Finally, the old concept that the “higher the HDL-c, the better” is no longer tenable. New data indicate that the optimal high density lipoprotein level is below 100 mg/dl for both male and female patients. Correct interpretation of the lipid profile will optimize anti-atherosclerotic therapy and reduce the number one cause of death in the United States.

Neurocognitive Profile of People Living with Human Immunodeficiency Virus Initiating Treatment in Kinshasa in the Dolutegravir Era, Democratic Republic of Congo

Context: Antiretroviral therapies improve the prognosis of NeuroAIDS contrasting with a high frequency of Minor Neurocognitive Disorders (MND) even in aviremic subjects. Objective: The objective of this study is to present the neurological and cognitive profile of People Living with HIV (PLHIV) initiating antiretroviral treatment in Kinshasa in the era of Dolutegravir (DTG). Methods: This is a multicenter, cross-sectional study with a descriptive aim carried out in 16 HIV Outpatient Treatment Centers (OTC) in Kinshasa from October 4, 2021 to February 15, 2022. The International HIV Dementia Scale (IHDS) correlated with the Activities of Daily Living (IADL) scale facilitated the categorization of NeuroCognitive Disorders (NCD) of PLHIV evaluated after carrying out a summary neurological examination. Results: Of the 96 patients recruited, 56.3% were women with a sex ratio of 0.68. The average age was 40.1 ± 12.1 years. The secondary education level was the majority at 64.6%. Malaria (44.8%) and tuberculosis (32.3%) were more common as opportunistic infections. They were alcoholics in (30.2%). Their history was heart disease (15.6%), high blood pressure (18.8%);drug abuse (10.4%). The IHDS score was light in 55.2% of cases. The correlation between IHDS/IADL watches asymptomatic neurocognitive impairments (ANI) in 77.1%, almost all of subjects are found with normal overall functioning (94.8%) and a disturbed neurological examination in 53.1% of cases with a predominance of motor impairments in 79.1%. Conclusion: In view of these results, early and systematic screening of NCD and associated factors remains necessary in our context. .

TP-PROFILE: Monitoring the Thermodynamic Structure of the Troposphere over the Third Pole

Ground-based microwave radiometers(MWRs)operating in the K-and V-bands(20–60 GHz)can help us obtain temperature and humidity profiles in the troposphere.Aside from some soundings from local meteorological observatories,the tropospheric atmosphere over the Tibetan Plateau(TP)has never been continuously observed.As part of the Chinese Second Tibetan Plateau Scientific Expedition and Research Program(STEP),the Tibetan Plateau Atmospheric Profile(TPPROFILE)project aims to construct a comprehensive MWR troposphere observation network to study the synoptic processes and environmental changes on the TP.This initiative has collected three years of data from the MWR network.This paper introduces the data information,the data quality,and data downloading.Some applications of the data obtained from these MWRs were also demonstrated.Our comparisons of MWR against the nearest radiosonde observation demonstrate that the TP-PROFILE MWR system is adequate for monitoring the thermal and moisture variability of the troposphere over the TP.The continuous temperature and moisture profiles derived from the MWR data provide a unique perspective on the evolution of the thermodynamic structure associated with the heating of the TP.The TP-PROFILE project reveals that the low-temporal resolution instruments are prone to large uncertainties in their vapor estimation in the mountain valleys on the TP.

Bacteriological Profile of Effusion Fluids Infections at Charles De Gaulle University Pediatric Hospital from 2017 to 2020

Introduction: Microbiology of effusion fluids in children in Burkina Faso is characterized by the scarcity of data. This work aimed to study the bacteriological and antibiotics susceptibility profile of bacteria involved in effusion fluid infections in paediatrics in order to improve the choice of probabilistic antibiotics therapy. Methods: A cross-sectional, descriptive study was used in children aged 0 to 15 years from 2017 to 2020 at the Charles De Gaulle Pediatric University Hospital Center (CHUP-CDG) in Ouagadougou. Classical bacteriology methods such as macroscopy, Gram staining, identification galleries and antibiotics susceptibility testing were used. Results: Of 231 samples, 64 bacteria were isolated. The most common bacterial strains of pleural fluid were Staphylococcus aureus (25%) and 40% for Enterobacteriaceae. Of the peritoneal fluid, 77% were Enterobacteriaceae with 57% Escherichia coli;and from joint fluid, 33% were S. aureus and 22% for P. aeruginosa. The overall susceptibility profile showed 29% extended-spectrum beta-lactamase-producing Enterobacteriaceae (ESBL), 10% methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA), and 8% carbapenemases. Conclusion: Bacteriological profile is characterized by ESBL-producing Enterobacteriaceae and MRSA. The most active antibiotics were macrolides, aminoglycosides, and cefoxitin (methicillin) for Gram-positive cocci, carbapenems, and aminoglycosides for Gram-negative bacilli. Then, the monitoring of antibiotics resistance must be permanent.

Lipid Profile of Patients Seen in Consultation at the Cardiology Department at the Ignace DEEN National Hospital (City of Conakry, Republic of Guinea)

The study addressed a crucial public health concern of dyslipidemia and its management, with a focus on the Ignace DEEN National Hospital patients, filling a research gap in the Republic of Guinea. It contributed valuable epidemiological data on dyslipidemia in the studied population, emphasizing gender, age, and socio-professional categories, which could inform tailored prevention and management strategies in improving the health care of dyslipidemia patients by proposing diets to help these patients better manage their disease and a food system for preventing dyslipidemia. The study focused on the lipid profile of patients seen at the cardiology department at the Ignace DEEN National Hospital Republic of Guinea (Conakry). This was a prospective, descriptive study lasting six (6) months from January 24 to July 23, 2021;aimed at determining the frequency of lipid abnormalities and pathologies related to the lipid profile. A total of 523 people were included in this study with a female predominance of 59.34% compared to 40.66% of males for a ratio of 1.5 in favor of women. The age groups of 45 - 54 and 55 - 65 were the most affected with respective frequencies of 45.42% and 30.03%. The most represented socio-professional category was that of housewives, i.e. 45.78%, followed by traders 18.68%. Our series was dominated by the married couple, i.e. 77.29%. Dyslipidemia constitutes a modifiable cardiovascular risk factor in patients seen in the cardiology department at the Ignace DEEN Hospital;its control must be strict through the use of hygienic and dietary rules and hypolipidemia medications.

An efficient physics-guided Bayesian framework for predicting ground settlement profile during excavations in clay

Recently,the application of Bayesian updating to predict excavation-induced deformation has proven successful and improved prediction accuracy significantly.However,updating the ground settlement profile,which is crucial for determining potential damage to nearby infrastructures,has received limited attention.To address this,this paper proposes a physics-guided simplified model combined with a Bayesian updating framework to accurately predict the ground settlement profile.The advantage of this model is that it eliminates the need for complex finite element modeling and makes the updating framework user-friendly.Furthermore,the model is physically interpretable,which can provide valuable references for construction adjustments.The effectiveness of the proposed method is demonstrated through two field case studies,showing that it can yield satisfactory predictions for the settlement profile.

Multi-circular formation control with reinforced transient profiles for nonholonomic vehicles:A path-following framework

This article investigates a multi-circular path-following formation control with reinforced transient profiles for nonholonomic vehicles connected by a digraph.A multi-circular formation controller endowed with the feature of spatial-temporal decoupling is devised for a group of vehicles guided by a virtual leader evolving along an implicit path,which allows for a circumnavigation on multiple circles with an anticipant angular spacing.In addition,notice that it typically imposes a stringent time constraint on time-sensitive enclosing scenarios,hence an improved prescribed performance control(IPPC)using novel tighter behavior boundaries is presented to enhance transient capabilities with an ensured appointed-time convergence free from any overshoots.The significant merits are that coordinated circumnavigation along different circles can be realized via executing geometric and dynamic assignments independently with modified transient profiles.Furthermore,all variables existing in the entire system are analyzed to be convergent.Simulation and experimental results are provided to validate the utility of suggested solution.

Radical Hysterectomy in Cervical Cancer: Patients’ Epidemiological and Clinical Profiles and Perioperative Outcome in Two Referral Hospitals in Cameroon

Background: Cervical cancer (CC) is one of the most frequent cancers and the leading cause of death from gynecological cancer in Low and middle income countries, Cameroon inclusive. Surgery is the primary treatment modality when the disease is diagnosed at early stage. Radical hysterectomy in cervical cancer has not been evaluated in recent years in Cameroon. The purpose of this study is thus to evaluate the epidemiological and clinical features and short term outcomes of patients who underwent surgery. Patients and methods: This retrospective study was conducted at the Douala Gynaeco-obstetric and Pediatric Hospital and the Douala General Hospital. Cervical cancer patients who underwent Radical hysterectomy between January 2015 and December 2020 were included. A pre-established data collection tool was used to record socio-demographic, clinical and outcomes information from patients’ files;additional outcome information was obtained from phone calls. Descriptive analysis was done using the SPSS version 26. Bivariate analysis was used to determine associations between disease and patients characteristics and occurrence of adverse postoperative outcome. P value of 0.05 was considered. Results: Sixty one patients were enrolled. Their ages ranged from 33 to 74 years with a mean age of 51.95 ± 10.29 years. Over 85% of women were married, 65.57% were unemployed and 86.88% were multiparous. Only 28% had never done cervical cancer screening. Most patients had stage IB1 to IB2 stage disease (57.1%). Less than 9% underwent radical hysterectomy and 8 of those (13.11%) suffered intraoperative complications. Twenty-five patients (40.98%) presented immediate and short term complications. There was no significant association between the disease or patients’ characteristics and adverse outcomes. Conclusion: Cervical cancer patients are relatively young in our settings and only 9% of them reach the hospital at early stage. Postoperative adverse outcomes rate is higher than that reported in the literature. Sensitization on screening and awareness of early symptoms can reverse the situation.

Kinetic equilibrium reconstruction with internal safety factor profile constraints on EAST tokamak

Reconstruction of plasma equilibrium plays an important role in the analysis and simulation of plasma experiments. The kinetic equilibrium reconstruction with pressure and edge current constraints has been employed on EAST tokamak. However, the internal safety factor(q) profile is not accurate. This paper proposes a new way of incorporating q profile constraints into kinetic equilibrium reconstruction. The q profile is yielded from the Polarimeter Interferometer(POINT)reconstruction. Virtual probes containing information on q profile constraints are added to inputs of the kinetic equilibrium reconstruction program to obtain the final equilibrium. The new equilibrium produces a more accurate internal q profile. This improved method would help analyze EAST experiments.

Soil resilience assessment using soil profile descriptions and Analytic Hierarchy Process in Mediterranean mountains considering diverse fire occurrences

Wildfires are complex natural phenomena that exert significant impacts on landscapes,societies,and economies.Understanding the concept of resilience is crucial in mitigating its possible negative impacts,as it involves preparing for,responding to,and recovering from wildfires.This research aims to demonstrate the utility of in situ soil profile description in assessing land use resilience using an Analytic Hierarchy Process(AHP)through an expert panel survey.The study examines a catchment located in the Balearic Islands,considering two fire occurrences(once and twice),comparing abandoned agricultural terraces and natural hillslopes.The results demonstrated that the priority ranking of variables to assess soil profile resilience against wildfires,determined by a panel of 10 experts,identified horizon depth(25.1%),slope inclination(21.5%),and hydrological connectivity(16.6%)as the most crucial factors.Other variables,such as number and size of roots,structure of pedal soil material,size class structure,and rock fragments,also contributed to resilience but to a lesser extent,with scores ranging from 5.7%to 9.6%.Analyzing the priorities established by the experts using AHP,the results showed that the least resilient soil horizon was H1 of the control hillslope,especially under high and low connectivity processes,which aligned with the loss of superficial soil horizons after one and two wildfires.Hillslopes showed greater changes in resilience after occurring wildfires compared to terraces,with the most significant alterations occurring after the second wildfire event.This study addresses a significant knowledge gap in the field by highlighting the interconnectedness of wildfires,resilience,and land use,providing insights into land management strategies for wildfire-prone regions.