bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Cross-Cultural Adaptation and Validation of the Oral Health Values Scale for the Portuguese Population
Authors: Machado Vanessa , Mendonça André , Proença Luís , Mendes José João , Botelho João , McNeill Daniel W. , Delgado Ana Sintra
Published: April 2022

Background: To adapt and validate cross-culturally the Oral Health Values (OHVS) questionnaire to Portuguese language. Methods: The OHVS questionnaire was culturally translated and adapted according to international guidelines. We enrolled 280 patients in a population-based epidemiological survey conducted at the Egas Moniz Dental Clinic (Almada, Portugal). The participants answered the Portuguese version of the OHVS (OHVS-PT), which is a 12-item scale with four-factor structure (Professional Dental Care, Appearance and Health, Flossing and Retaining Natural Teeth factor). Psychometric properties were tested using content validity, construct validity, internal consistency, and test–retest reliability. Results: The OHVS-PT presented adequate reliability (ICC = 0.93, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.86; 0.97, p < 0.001) with values for the Cronbach’s alpha coefficient of the sub-constructs ranging from 0.92 to 0.98. In the Confirmatory Factor Analysis, the final models presented good fit, with the Comparative Fit Indices ranging from 0.882 to 0.891 and the root-mean-squared error of Approximation between 0.065 and 0.069. Conclusions: The OHVS-PT was shown to be a valid and reliable tool to assess oral health values in a Portuguese population. Further studies should evaluate the psychometric properties of the oral personal representation on dental specialties and its impact on dental appointments and procedures.
The Promise of Nanotechnology in Personalized Medicine
Authors: Alghamdi Maha Ali , Fallica Antonino N. , Virzì Nicola , Kesharwani Prashant , Pittalà Valeria , Greish Khaled
Published: April 2022

Both personalized medicine and nanomedicine are new to medical practice. Nanomedicine is an application of the advances of nanotechnology in medicine and is being integrated into diagnostic and therapeutic tools to manage an array of medical conditions. On the other hand, personalized medicine, which is also referred to as precision medicine, is a novel concept that aims to individualize/customize therapeutic management based on the personal attributes of the patient to overcome blanket treatment that is only efficient in a subset of patients, leaving others with either ineffective treatment or treatment that results in significant toxicity. Novel nanomedicines have been employed in the treatment of several diseases, which can be adapted to each patient-specific case according to their genetic profiles. In this review, we discuss both areas and the intersection between the two emerging scientific domains. The review focuses on the current situation in personalized medicine, the advantages that can be offered by nanomedicine to personalized medicine, and the application of nanoconstructs in the diagnosis of genetic variability that can identify the right drug for the right patient. Finally, we touch upon the challenges in both fields towards the translation of nano-personalized medicine.
Leveraging Deep Learning Techniques and Integrated Omics Data for Tailored Treatment of Breast Cancer
Authors: Khan Deeba , Shedole Seema
Published: April 2022

Multiomics data of cancer patients and cell lines, in synergy with deep learning techniques, have aided in unravelling predictive problems related to cancer research and treatment. However, there is still room for improvement in the performance of the existing models based on the aforementioned combination. In this work, we propose two models that complement the treatment of breast cancer patients. First, we discuss our deep learning-based model for breast cancer subtype classification. Second, we propose DCNN-DR, a deep convolute.ion neural network-drug response method for predicting the effectiveness of drugs on in vitro and in vivo breast cancer datasets. Finally, we applied DCNN-DR for predicting effective drugs for the basal-like breast cancer subtype and validated the results with the information available in the literature. The models proposed use late integration methods and have fairly better predictive performance compared to the existing methods. We use the Pearson correlation coefficient and accuracy as the performance measures for the regression and classification models, respectively.
Mobility Status Plays an Important Role in the Risk of Cardiovascular Rehospitalizations in Patients with Heart Failure Undergoing Cardiac Rehabilitation: A Retrospective Cohort Study
Authors: Chen Po-Cheng , Yang Tsung-Hsun , Wu Po-Jui , Wang Lin-Yi , Chen Shyh-Ming
Published: April 2022

The aim of this study was to investigate the association between mobility status and cardiovascular rehospitalizations in patients with heart failure undergoing cardiac rehabilitation. This retrospective cohort study included patients with heart failure undergoing cardiac rehabilitation. Mobility status was evaluated using functional ambulation categories (FAC), and each cardiovascular hospitalization was recorded by the case manager. A Poisson regression model was used to analyze the association between mobility status and cardiovascular rehospitalizations. This study included 154 patients with heart failure undergoing cardiac rehabilitation. For cardiovascular rehospitalizations within 6 months, the Poisson regression model reported that the impaired mobility group had a higher risk than the fair mobility group (incidence rate ratio (IRR) = 2.38, 95% CI 1.27–4.46, p = 0.007). For cardiovascular rehospitalizations within 12 months, the Poisson regression model also reported that the impaired mobility group had a higher risk than the fair mobility group (IRR = 1.91, 95% CI 1.16–3.13, p = 0.010). Other covariates, such as LVEF, peak oxygen consumption, and PAOD, could have impacted the risk of cardiovascular rehospitalizations. Among patients with heart failure undergoing cardiac rehabilitation, the impaired mobility group had a twofold risk of cardiovascular rehospitalizations, compared with the fair mobility group within both 6 and 12 months.
The Use of Bruton Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitors in Waldenström’s Macroglobulinemia
Authors: Khan Abdullah Mohammad
Published: April 2022

Waldenström’s macroglobulinemia (WM) remains an incurable malignancy. However, a number of treatment options exist for patients with WM, including alkylating agents, anti-CD20 monoclonal antibodies, and small molecule inhibitors such as proteasome inhibitors and Bruton tyrosine kinase inhibitors (BTKi). The focus of this review is to highlight the role of BTKi in the management of WM. The first BTKi to receive US Food and Drug Administration approval for WM was ibrutinib. Ibrutinib has been extensively studied in both treatment-naïve WM patients and in those with relapsed/refractory disease. The next BTKi approved for use was zanubrutinib, and prospective data for acalabrutinib and tirabrutinib have also recently been published. Efficacy data for BTKi will be discussed, as well as the differences in their adverse event profiles.
Vaccination Coverage against Tetanus, Diphtheria, Pertussis and Poliomyelitis and Validity of Self-Reported Vaccination Status in Patients with Multiple Sclerosis
Authors: Langhorst Silvan Elias , Frahm Niklas , Hecker Michael , Mashhadiakbar Pegah , Streckenbach Barbara , Baldt Julia , Heidler Felicita , Zettl Uwe Klaus
Published: April 2022

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic immune-mediated disease with a neurodegenerative component of the central nervous system. Immunomodulatory therapy can increase the risk of infection, which is a particular risk for MS patients. Therefore, a complete vaccination status is of utmost importance as protection against vaccine-preventable infectious diseases. Our aim was to investigate the vaccination status, vaccination card knowledge and the vaccination behavior of MS patients with regard to vaccinations against tetanus, diphtheria, pertussis and poliomyelitis. Three hundred twenty-seven patients with MS were evaluated by anamnesis, clinical examination, structured interview and vaccination card control in this two-center study. Based on the recommendations of the Robert Koch Institute, we assessed the completeness of the vaccination status of the examined vaccinations. Furthermore, a comparative analysis of patients with complete/incomplete or correctly/wrongly self-reported vaccination status was performed. In the cohort analyzed, the vaccination coverage was 79.5% for tetanus, 79.2% for diphtheria, 74.8% for pertussis and 84.8% for poliomyelitis. The assumed vaccination status was higher for tetanus (86.5%) and lower for diphtheria (69.4%), pertussis (61.2%) and poliomyelitis (75.9%). Patients who were unvaccinated or only partially vaccinated against tetanus had received vaccination advice from a physician less often in the past year (13.4 vs. 36.9%, p < 0.001) and had no one to check the vaccination card more often (35.8 vs. 12.3%, p < 0.001). High sensitivity (93.7%) and low specificity (30.3%) were determined regarding the validity of self-reported tetanus vaccination status. Patients with a correctly reported tetanus vaccination status were more likely to have their vaccination card checked by a physician than those who overestimated or underestimated their vaccination status (76.7 vs. 63.0/43.8%, p = 0.002). Similar findings were seen with regard to diphtheria, pertussis and poliomyelitis vaccination. Patients without a regular vaccination card control (17.1%) were more likely to be male (44.6 vs. 29.4%, p = 0.037), had fewer siblings on average (1.1 vs. 1.6, p = 0.016), dealt less frequently with the issue of vaccination in the past year (32.1 vs. 69.3%, p < 0.001) and more frequently had the wish to receive vaccination advice (48.2 vs. 34.4%, p = 0.030) than patients in whom the vaccination card was checked regularly by a physician. To minimize the risk of infection in MS patients, treating physicians should provide regular vaccination counseling and perform vaccination card controls, as these factors are associated with a higher vaccination coverage and a higher validity of self-reported vaccination statuses.
Mechanistic Insights in Hemophagocytic Lymphohistiocytosis: Subsequent Acute Hepatic Failure in a Multiple Myeloma Patient Following Therapy with Ixazomib-Lenalidomide-Dexamethasone
Authors: Constantinescu Catalin , Petrushev Bobe , Rus Ioana , Stefanescu Horia , Frasinariu Otilia , Margarit Simona , Dima Delia , Tomuleasa Ciprian
Published: April 2022

Hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH) is a rare, elusive, and life-threatening condition that is characterized by the pathologic and uncontrolled secondary activation of the cytotoxic T-cells, natural killer cells (NK-cells), and macrophages of the innate immune system. This condition can develop in sporadic or familial contexts associated with hematological malignancies, as a paraneoplastic syndrome, or linked to an infection related to immune system deficiency. This leads to the systemic inflammation responsible for the overall clinical manifestations. Diagnosis should be thorough, and treatment should be initiated as soon as possible. In the current manuscript, we focus on classifying the HLH spectrum, describing the pathophysiology and the tools needed to search for and correctly identify HLH, and the current therapeutic opportunities. We also present the first case of a multiple myeloma patient that developed HLH following therapy with the ixazomib-lenalidomide-dexamethasone protocol.
Credit Risk, Regulatory Costs and Lending Discrimination in Efficient Residential Mortgage Markets
Authors: Nickerson David
Published: April 2022

Significant differences in loan terms between demographically distinct groups of borrowers in the United States are often interpreted as evidence of systematic ethnic, racial or gender discrimination by lenders. The appearance and interpretation of such discrimination has long been a controversial issue in public policy and has significant implications for both the economic efficiency and equity of credit markets. Arising from concern for borrowers disadvantaged by such discrimination, the design and implementation of regulations preventing the disparate treatment of demographically distinct groups by lenders are generally considered to have enhanced the equality of access to credit. Unfortunately, existing research has not examined whether this gain in social equity comes at a cost in efficiency borne by all market participants. The reliance on adverse selection or moral hazard in current models of limited lending and credit rationing poses difficulties in empirical testing for the presence and magnitude of such costs. This paper offers a novel theoretical framework in which lending discrimination can endogenously arise in the presence of value-maximizing lenders competing in an economy with complete markets, common knowledge and arbitrage-free pricing. By avoiding the reliance of current models on the exogenous presence of adverse selection or moral hazard, this framework allows potential efficiency costs to beexamined in a market environment without an ex ante assumption of informational market failure. Owing to the presence of common knowledge among participants, we first show how equilibrium loan terms to borrowers in different demographic classes can diverge in such an efficient environment. We then apply the properties exhibited in market equilibria to measure the potential costs of misallocating credit risk owing to the type of regulations observed in actual credit markets.
The Performance and Diversification Potential of Non-Listed Value-Add Real Estate Funds in Japan
Authors: Hoesli Martin , Newell Graeme , Marzuki Muhammad Jufri Bin , Lai Rose Neng
Published: April 2022

In the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic, non-core investments are gaining traction amongst institutional investors due to the shifting preference towards investment vehicles that position higher on the risk–return curve. Non-listed value-add real estate funds in Japan are one such vehicle. This research develops a comprehensive bespoke benchmark total return index using the ANREV database to reflect the performance of Japan-focussed non-listed value-add real estate funds. We compare the performance of such funds with that of other asset classes and perform portfolio and regression analyses. We conclude that there are several advantages to investing in those funds, including: (1) strong absolute total return performance, (2) competitive risk-adjusted performance, and (3) significant portfolio diversification potential in a mixed-asset portfolio context. The strategic implications for real estate investors are also assessed.
An Assessment of the Association between Political Orientation and Financial Risk Tolerance
Authors: Grable John , Warmath Dee , Kwak Eun Jin
Published: April 2022

The purpose of this paper is to present findings from research that was undertaken to answer the following questions. First, to what extent is political orientation associated with financial risk tolerance, and second, to what degree is political orientation predictive of changes in risk tolerance across periods? Using panel collected before and after the 2020 U.S. presidential election, it was determined that the strength of affiliation with the Republican and Democratic Parties was descriptive of cross-sectional financial risk tolerance. Republicans were found to exhibit greater risk tolerance compared with Democrats. Across periods, the risk tolerance of Republicans was less stable, whereas the financial risk tolerance of Democrats was more stable. A significant decrease in risk tolerance was observed for those affiliating as a Republican pre-election to post-election. When political orientation was measured on a scale, the decrease in risk tolerance across periods for Republicans was significant. The risk tolerance of those affiliating as a Democrat increased across the periods but at a lower rate than in the drop in scores among Republicans. When viewed across the variables of interest in this study, political orientation was found to be an important descriptor of FRT.
Engagement on Twitter, a Closer Look from the Consumer Electronics Industry
Authors: Garcia-Rivera Danilo , Matamoros-Rojas Sebastián , Pezoa-Fuentes Claudia , Veas-González Iván , Vidal-Silva Cristian
Published: April 2022

Engagement represents the commitment and bond between a brand and its customers, and achieving high levels of engagement is now a competitive advantage for companies. Determining the engagement index was a high-cost activity for organizations and consumers in the past decade due to the time and cost of data collection. The massive use of social networks such as Twitter allows organizations and consumers to collect data without large costs, and determining the engagement rate is more feasible today. This research determines the effect of different interactions on Twitter on engagement in the consumer electronics industry. The methodology used is a mixed qualitative and quantitative, descriptive approach by analyzing (by regressions) 95,000 tweets from the 30 companies at the Consumer Electronics Show 2020. The main results show that Twitter mentions represent a relevant factor in determining engagement. The contribution of this research lies in the generation of empirical evidence on engagement in the consumer electronics industry and the identification of the key variable of mentions and their effects on Twitter.
Indicators as Mediators for Environmental Decision Making: The Case Study of Alessandria
Authors: Battisti Alessandra , Valese Maria , Natta Herbert
Published: April 2022

The design of urban public open spaces plays a key role in the development of micro-scale reactions to global phenomena (pandemic, climate change, etc.) that are currently reshaping the human habitat. Their transformability and healthy influence on the urban environment make them strategic nodes for acupunctural regeneration with systemic effects. Several methods, models, and indicators have been developed to face the complexity of these spaces, made up of tangible and intangible layers; however, there is a gap between theoretical investigation and the need for public administrations to devise feasible solutions, strategies, and guidelines. The paper focuses on this mediation, presenting, as a case study, an adopted methodology and the first results achieved according to guidelines for the regeneration of the system of squares in the historical center of Alessandria (Piedmont, Italy). In this case, a multidisciplinary approach and a Multi-Criteria Analysis (MCA) method, supported by geospatial analysis and GIS technology, have been employed to work as mediators for a participatory process which will involve public administration, stakeholders, experts, and researchers. The paper presents an overview of the workflow, with a focus on the first set of thematic indicators and an open conclusion. It will explain how they have been defined, integrated, and turned into a dialogic tool, with the aim of laying the foundation for the next stage of involvement by the public administration and stakeholders. Specific attention will be paid to the key role of vegetational and environmental parameters, which represents the requalification strategy’s backbone, for both local and systemic scales.
Inversion Estimation of Soil Organic Matter in Songnen Plain Based on Multispectral Analysis
Authors: Tang Siyu , Du Chong , Nie Tangzhe
Published: April 2022

Sentinel-2A multi-spectral remote sensing image data underwent high-efficiency differential processing to extract spectral information, which was then matched to soil organic matter (SOM) laboratory test values from field samples. From this, multiple-linear stepwise regression (MLSR) and partial least square (PLSR) models were established based on a differential algorithm for surface SOM modeling. The original spectra were subjected to basic transformations with first- and second-derivative processing. MLSR and PLSR models were established based on these methods and the measured values, respectively. The results show that Sentinel-2A remote sensing imagery and SOM content correlated in some bands. The correlation between the spectral value and SOM content was significantly improved after mathematical transformation, especially square-root transformation. After differential processing, the multi-band model had better predictive ability (based on fitting accuracy) than single-band and unprocessed multi-band models. The MLSR and PLSR models of SOM had good prediction functionality. The reciprocal logarithm first-order differential MLSR regression model had the best prediction and inversion results (i.e., most consistent with the real-world data). The MLSR model is more stable and reliable for monitoring SOM content, and provides a feasible method and reference for SOM content-mapping of the study area.
Land Is Life: Indigenous Relationships to Territory and Navigating Settler Colonial Property Regimes in Canada
Authors: Atleo Clifford , Boron Jonathan
Published: April 2022

Respectful and reciprocal relationships with land are at the heart of many Indigenous cultures and societies. Land is also at the core of settler colonialism. Indigenous peoples have not only been dispossessed of land for settler occupation and resource extraction, but the transformation of land into property has created myriad challenges to ongoing struggles of land repatriation and renewal. We introduce several perspectives on land rooted in diverse Indigenous worldviews and contrast them with settler colonial perspectives rooted in Eurocentric worldviews. We then examine several examples in Canada where Indigenous nations attempt to reconnect with their homelands, protect them, and/or engage with them for economic development. We look at land relationships rooted in historical treaties, contemporary comprehensive claims/self-government agreements, the Indian Act, and the defence of unceded territories. The Indigenous communities we look at include the Six Nations of the Grand River, the Nisga’a Lisims Government, the Westbank First Nation, and the Wet’suwet’en. We contend that a complex configuration of settler colonial institutions challenges long-term efforts for Indigenous land reclamation, protection, and sustainable development, however, Indigenous nations remain steadfast in asserting their self-determination in diverse relational ways inside and outside of settler state systems.
Assessing the Impact of Park Renovations on Cultural Ecosystem Services
Authors: Cheng Xin , Van Damme Sylvie Van , Uyttenhove Pieter
Published: April 2022

Urban parks are essential in enhancing the quality of city life by providing diverse cultural ecosystem services (CES). Despite considerable investments in park renovations, there is very little evidence about whether park renovations can properly secure CES. This study provides a basis for the incorporation of CES evaluation into urban park practice to maximize CES. We specifically ask how CES are influenced by park renovations. We developed a participatory mapping approach by asking people to assess CES on a current map and on a historical map, representing the situations before and after the renovation, instead of doing a follow-up study, in order to be more time-efficient and enhance the comparative effects. The results show that the park renovations had different impacts on CES and not all the renovations had positive impacts. This study has a huge potential for supporting park practice. First, this study shows that specific park renovations can be used to guide park management to enhance CES. Second, this study provides a new insight for landscape architects to rethink their design proposals before construction. Third, the study encourages the method of combining participatory mapping and interviews to link CES to a specific location and specific renovations.
Environmental Zoning in a Context of Strong Pressure from Productivist Agriculture in Brazil’s Northeast: The Case of the Ipojuca River, Pernambuco, Brazil
Authors: Gomes Oliveira Anderson , Souza Machado Ricardo Augusto , Lois González Rubén Camilo
Published: April 2022

The purpose of this work was the conceptual elaboration of a proposed zoning based on the concepts of recovery, rehabilitation, and restoration, for the Ipojuca watershed, located in the state of Pernambuco, in the north-eastern region of Brazil. It also sought to bring together a set of technical and normative instruments capable of being articulated in environmental policies that have river restoration as the main exponent of ecological and sustainability criteria. Data from the MapBiomas project, which aims to map the annual land cover and use in Brazil, and rainfall data from the stations located in the study area, were used as a basis for the zoning. From the combination of these databases, three sectors with similar characteristics were established, which served as the basis for the zoning. The overlap shown in these data confirmed the influence of the rainfall pattern on the characteristics of the land cover and pattern of use in each sector, where agricultural activities and urbanisation have played a decisive role in the degradation of water bodies and their bordering environments along the watershed.
Effect of Urban Green Space in the Hilly Environment on Physical Activity and Health Outcomes: Mediation Analysis on Multiple Greenery Measures
Authors: Sun Peijin , Song Yan , Lu Wei
Published: April 2022

Background: Green spaces reduce the risk of multiple adverse health outcomes by encouraging physical activity. This study examined correlations between urban green space and residents’ health outcomes in hilly neighborhoods: if they are mediated by social cohesion, visual aesthetics, and safety. Methods: We used multiple green space indicators, including normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) extracted from satellite imagery, green view index (GVI) obtained from street view data using deep learning methods, park availability, and perceived level of greenery. Hilly terrain was assessed by the standard deviation of the elevation to represent variations in slope. Resident health outcomes were quantified by their psychological and physiological health as well as physical activity. Communities were grouped by quartiles of slopes. Then a mediation model was applied, controlling for socio-demographic factors. Results: Residents who perceived higher quality greenery experienced stronger social cohesion, spent more time on physical activity and had better mental health outcomes. The objective greenery indicators were not always associated with physical activity and might have a negative influence with certain terrain. Conclusions: Perceived green space offers an alternative explanation of the effects on physical activity and mental health in hilly neighborhoods. In some circumstances, geographical environment features should be accounted for to determine the association of green space and resident health outcomes.
Geomatic Techniques Applied to the Dynamic Study (2001–2019) of the Rock Glacier in the Veleta Cirque (Sierra Nevada, Spain)
Authors: de Sanjosé Blasco José Juan , Atkinson Alan D. , Sánchez-Fernández Manuel , Gómez-Ortiz Antonio , Salvà-Catarineu Montserrat , Salvador-Franch Ferran
Published: April 2022

During the Little Ice Age (LIA), Corral del Veleta (Sierra Nevada) housed a small glacier of which relict glacial ice and permafrost still remain under packets of ice blocks. Currently, it is considered the southernmost rock glacier in Europe. The analysis and results of monitoring carried out on this rock glacier reveal it to be in an accelerated process of immobilization and that the relict glacial ice blocks and permafrost on which it lies are in a continual process of degradation. The rock glacier was monitored from 2001 to 2019 using diverse geomatic techniques, to which geophysical and thermal techniques were added. The results obtained during the observation period shed light on the dynamic of the rock glacier (morpho-topographic movements and deformations) as well as the physical state of the underlying frozen bodies (volumetric reduction and spatial distribution). The changes observed are related to variations in the dominant high-mountain climate of Sierra Nevada, particularly since the end of the 20th century, the general tendencies of which are increasing temperatures, decreasing annual snowfall, and a shorter duration of snow on the ground.
Complex Social Value-Based Approach for Decision-Making and Valorization Process in Chinese World Cultural Heritage Site: The Case of Kulangsu (China)
Authors: Liang Xiaoxu , Coscia Cristina , Dellapiana Elena , Martin John , Zhang Yu
Published: April 2022

China is undertaking effective actions to adhere to wider international standards with better consideration of the notion of authenticity, collective memory, identity, and the sense of belonging. Besides the traditional participatory management discussions, scholars are also interested in finding out how the ICTs can encourage and enable new forms of engagement with heritage in different cultural contexts. The article offers an innovative approach to understanding the value of community participation in order to obtain a more sustainable way for integrative approaches in cultural heritage management. It focuses on the identification of criteria for the evaluation of Digital Community Engagement (DCE) and proposes the multivariate evaluation model based on the online questionnaires and face-to-face interviews. The result shows that the transparency of the restoration process, the possibility of adopting bottom-up suggestions, and the coherency with the residents’ interests are the most important factors to influence the Willingness to Participate and the Willingness to Pay. The analysis based on theme-coding is essential to understand the opinions of various stakeholders with different educational and professional backgrounds. It concludes that multi-disciplinary and value-based methods should be encouraged as an exploratory way of enhancing community engagement in the specified urban heritage context.
A Geographic Analysis on Rural Reconstruction-Transformation-Revitalization: A Case Study of Jianghan Plain in China
Authors: Wang Mingjie , Yu Bin , Zhuo Rongrong , Li Zhuofan
Published: April 2022

At the beginning of the 21st century, with the rapid advancement of industrialization and urbanization, production factors such as population, capital, and land between urban and rural areas in China have gradually shifted to non-agricultural fields, the structure and function of rural territorial systems have been reconstructed and transformed therewith. In response to the relatively declining villages, the Chinese government proposed rural revitalization strategy. Taking the human–land relationship as the theoretical basis and functional changes of rural region as the main line, the study analyzes the characteristics of rural reconstruction, interprets the rural transformation mechanism and deconstructs paths of rural revitalization by using the rural reconstruction index, the model of rural transformation measurement and rural spatial transformation effect. The case study shows that: (1) Rural reconstruction in Jianghan Plain is characterized by temporal continuity and spatial imbalance. The periodical changes presents from social-reconstruction-dominated, economic-reconstruction-dominated to spatial reconstruction -dominated. The distribution of high values varied from the U-type to O-type along the main transportation routes, while that of low values alternated between points (hinterlands of the Plain) and lines from spatial viewpoint. (2) The driving mechanism of rural transformation was the coupling effect of the exogenous drivers and endogenous responses. The standardized regression coefficient between the drivers and the changes to rural regional functions is 0.766. The endogenous response is mainly manifested as the negative effect of the rural spatial reconstruction on the territorial agriculture-oriented function. (3) The key path of rural revitalization facilitated the optimization of regional functions through reorganization of the rural elements in Jianghan Plain. It is the strategic choice of rural areas to implement regional function zoning and realize the balance of spatial function. The research results can provide inspiration for theoretical research on rural geography, and provide policy and method support for rural revitalization in case areas.
Modeling Cadmium Contents in a Soil–Rice System and Identifying Potential Controls
Authors: Zhang Yingfan , Fu Tingting , Chen Xueyao , Guo Hancheng , Li Hongyi , Hu Bifeng
Published: April 2022

Cadmium (Cd) pollution in a soil–rice system is closely related to widely concerning issues, such as food security and health risk due to exposure to heavy metals. Therefore, modeling the Cd content in a soil–rice system and identifying related controls could provide critical information for ensuring food security and reducing related health risks. To archive this goal, in this study, we collected 217 pairs of soil–rice samples from three subareas in Zhejiang Province in the Yangtze River Delta of China. All soil–rice samples were air-dried and conducted for chemical analysis. The Pearson’s correlation coefficient, ANOVA, co-occurrence network, multiple regression model, and nonlinear principal component analysis were then used to predict the Cd content in rice and identify potential controls for the accumulation of Cd in rice. Our results indicate that although the mean total concentration of Cd in soil samples was higher than that of the background value in Zhejiang Province, the mean concentration of Cd in rice was higher than that of the national regulation value. Furthermore, a significant difference was detected for Cd content in rice planted in different soil groups derived from different parental materials. In addition, soil organic matter and total Cd in the soil are essential factors for predicting Cd concentrations in rice. Additionally, specific dominant factors resulting in Cd accumulation in rice planted at different subareas were identified via nonlinear principal component analysis. Our study provides new insights and essential implications for policymakers to formulate specific prevention and control strategies for Cd pollution and related health risks.
Functional Evaluation of Digital Soil Hydraulic Property Maps through Comparison of Simulated and Remotely Sensed Maize Canopy Cover
Authors: Kalumba Mulenga , Dondeyne Stefaan , Vanuytrecht Eline , Nyirenda Edwin , Van Orshoven Jos
Published: April 2022

Soil maps can usefully serve in data scarce regions, for example for yield (gap) assessments using a crop simulation model. The soil property estimates’ contribution to inaccuracy and uncertainty can be functionally evaluated by comparing model results using the estimates as input against independent observations. We conducted a functional evaluation of digital maps of soil hydraulic properties of the Zambezi River Basin using a crop growth model AquaCrop. AquaCrop was run, alimented with local meteorological data, and with soil hydraulic properties derived from the digital maps of digital soil mapping (DSM) techniques, as opposed to estimations from the widely used Saxton and Rawls pedotransfer functions. The two simulated time series of canopy cover (CC) (AquaCrop-CC-DSM and AquaCrop-CC-Saxton), which were compared against canopy cover data derived from the remotely sensed Leaf Area Index (LAI) from the MODIS archive (MODIS-CC). A pairwise comparison of the time series resulted in a root mean squared error (RMSE) of 0.07 and a co-efficient of determination (R2) of 0.93 for AquaCrop-CC-DSM versus MODIS-CC, and an RMSE of 0.08 and R2 of 0.88 for AquaCrop-CC-Saxton versus MODIS-CC. In dry years, the AquaCrop-CC-DSM deviated less from the MODIS-CC than the AquaCrop-CC-Saxton (p < 0.001), although this difference was not significant in wet years. The functional evaluation showed that soil hydraulic property estimates based on digital soil mapping outperformed those based on Saxton and Rawls when used for simulating crop growth in dry years in the Zambezi River Basin. This study also shows the value of conducting a functional evaluation of estimated (static) soil hydraulic properties in terms of dynamic model output.
Modeling the Future Tree Distribution in a South African Savanna Ecosystem: An Agent-Based Model Approach
Authors: Lenfers Ulfia , Ahmady-Moghaddam Nima , Glake Daniel , Ocker Florian , Weyl Julius , Clemen Thomas
Published: April 2022

Understanding the dynamics of tree species and their demography is necessary for predicting future developments in savanna ecosystems. In this contribution, elephant-tree and firewood collector-tree interactions are compared using a multiagent model. To investigate these dynamics, we compared three different tree species in two plots. The first plot is located in the protected space of Kruger National Park (KNP), South Africa, and the second plot in the rural areas of the Bushbuckridge Municipality, South Africa. The agent-based modeling approach enabled the modeling of individual trees with characteristics such as species, age class, size, damage class, and life history. A similar level of detail was applied to agents that represent elephants and firewood collectors. Particular attention was paid to modeling purposeful behavior of humans in contrast to more instinct-driven actions of elephants. The authors were able to predict future developments by simulating the time period between 2010 and 2050 with more than 500,000 individual trees. Modeling individual trees for a time span of 40 years might yield more detailed information than a simple woody mass aggregation. The results indicate a significant trend toward more and thinner trees together with a notable reduction in mature trees, while the total aboveground biomass appears to stay more or less constant. Furthermore, the KNP scenarios show an increase in young Combretum apiculatum, which may correspond to bush encroachment.
Long-Term Assessment of Spatio-Temporal Landuse/Landcover Changes (LUCCs) of Ošljak Island (Croatia) Using Multi-Temporal Data—Invasion of Aleppo Pine
Authors: Marić Ivan , Panđa Lovre , Faričić Josip , Šiljeg Ante , Domazetović Fran , Marelić Tome
Published: April 2022

The karst landscapes of the Mediterranean are regarded as some of the most vulnerable, fragile, and complex systems in the world. They hold a particularly interesting group of small islands with a distinctive, recognizable landscape. The Republic of Croatia (HR), which has one of the most indented coasts in the world, is particularly known for them. In this paper, we analyzed the spatio-temporal changes (STCs) in the landscape of Ošljak Island, the smallest inhabited island in HR. Landuse/landcover change (LUCC) analysis has been conducted from 1944 to 2021. The methodology included the acquisition of multi-temporal data, data harmonization, production of landuse/landcover (LU/LC) maps, selection of optimal environmental indicators (EIs), and simulation modeling. In total, eleven comparable LU/LC models have been produced, with moderate accuracy. STCs have been quantified using the nine EIs. The dominant processes that influenced the changes in the Ošljak landscape have been identified. The results have shown that, in recent decades, Ošljak has undergone a landscape transformation which was manifested through (a) pronounced expansion of Aleppo pine; (b) deagrarianization, which led to secondary succession; and (c) urban sprawl, which led to the transformation of the functional landscape. The most significant of the detected changes is the afforestation of the Aleppo pine. Namely, in a 77-year span, the Aleppo pine has expanded intensively to an area of 11.736 ha, created a simulation model for 2025, and pointed to the possibility of the continued expansion of Aleppo pine. Specific guidelines for the management of this new transformed landscape have been proposed. This research provides a user-friendly methodological framework that can efficiently monitor LUCCs of a smaller area in the case when geospatial data are scarce and satellite imagery of coarser resolution cannot be used. Moreover, it gives an insight into the availability and quality of multi-temporal data for the HR.
The Socio-Cultural Benefits of Urban Agriculture: A Review of the Literature
Authors: Ilieva Rositsa T. , Cohen Nevin , Israel Maggie , Specht Kathrin , Fox-Kämper Runrid , Fargue-Lelièvre Agnès , Poniży Lidia , Schoen Victoria , Caputo Silvio , Kirby Caitlin K. , Goldstein Benjamin , Newell Joshua P. , Blythe Chris
Published: April 2022

Despite extensive literature on the socio-cultural services of urban open spaces, the role of food-producing spaces has not received sufficient attention. This hampers advocacy for preserving and growing urban agricultural activities, often dismissed on justifications that their contributions to overall food supply are negligible. To understand how the social benefits of urban agriculture have been measured, we conducted a systematic review of 272 peer-reviewed publications, which drew on insights from urban agriculture sites in 57 different countries. Through content analysis, we investigated socio-cultural benefits in four spheres: engaged and cohesive communities, health and well-being, economic opportunities, and education. The analysis revealed growth in research on the social impacts of gardens and farms, with most studies measuring the effects on community cohesion and engagement, followed by increased availability and consumption of fruits and vegetables associated with reduced food insecurity and better health. Fewer studies assessed the impact of urban farming on educational and economic outcomes. Quantifying the multiple ways in which urban agriculture provides benefits to people will empower planners and the private sector to justify future investments. These findings are also informative for research theorizing cities as socio-ecological systems and broader efforts to measure the benefits of urban agriculture, in its many forms.
Bioremediation of Copper- and Chromium-Contaminated Soils Using Agrostis capillaris L., Festuca pratensis Huds., and Poa pratensis L. Mixture of Lawn Grasses
Authors: Havryliuk Olesia , Hovorukha Vira , Bida Iryna , Danko Yanina , Gladka Galina , Zakutevsky Oleg , Mariychuk Ruslan , Tashyrev Oleksandr
Published: April 2022

Environmental pollution by toxic metals is a common ecological problem. Chromium and copper compounds released into the environment as a result of human-made stress pose a serious threat to living organisms. Phytoremediation is a promising method of toxic metals removal from contaminated sites. The concentration of metals in grass biomass—in the roots and aerial parts—was determined by X-ray fluorescence analysis. The estimation of numbers of microorganisms was conducted by a tenfold dilution and spread-plating method. It was shown that lawn grass accumulated from 69.1 ± 13.2 to 497.7 ± 74.1 mg/kg Cu and Cr during the growth in the contaminated soil with 50, 100, and 200 mg/kg of metals. In general, there was a pattern of accumulation of copper in the aerial part of the grass and chromium in the roots. Thus, the total copper concentration in the aerial part ranged from 105.2 ± 23.8 to 497.7 ± 74.1 mg/kg of plant biomass. The total chromium concentration in the roots ranged from 156.4 ± 47.9 to 426.8 ± 62.5 mg/kg. The viability of the soil microbiome was not inhibited at such metal concentrations. The obtained data allow lawn grass to be considered as promising for the phytoremediation of contaminated areas.
State of the Art Review on Land-Use Policy: Changes in Forests, Agricultural Lands and Renewable Energy of Japan
Authors: Kohsaka Ryo , Kohyama Satomi
Published: April 2022

Policies in Japan are shifting focus on sustainable land-use management-related policies through consensus building, given the complex options for the community and the landowners. For instance, conversion of agricultural lands to renewable energy sites, which is an example of “land-use conversion for a newly found objective”, is rapidly progressing, and actions on “managing of croplands in a minimal (low labor demand) way” has been embodied in certain policies. Currently, there are political and scientific efforts to balance environmental conservation with production activities in agriculture and forestry sectors based on science and evidence. With policies catching up, it is possible to confirm what has been moved from the planning to the implementation stage of the proposed consensus-building system by summarizing and discussing the current progress of the project. More specifically, we highlighted the trends in reusing agricultural lands under the current national-level policies and management options for croplands, such as the “less maintenance way.” We also discussed and presented the preliminary results, insights, and prospects from the ongoing project, which then led to the discussion of future considerations in sustainable land-use management in Japan.
Border Procedures in the European Union: How the Pact Ignored the Compacts
Authors: Cornelisse Galina , Reneman Marcelle
Published: April 2022

This article analyses the (potential) role of the Global Compact for Migration and the Global Compact for Refugees in the development of EU law concerning asylum seekers who arrive at the external borders of the European Union (EU). Under the current rules, many asylum seekers are refused entry to the territory of the EU and detained while their asylum claim is examined in a border procedure. Some EU Member States even push back asylum seekers without a proper assessment of their needs for international protection. Despite widespread violations of the fundamental rights of asylum seekers at the external borders of the EU, the New Pact on Migration and Asylum presents the new integrated border procedure as an important instrument to ‘deal with mixed flows’ and make the Common European Asylum System (CEAS) work. However, the EU legislator has not substantiated the claim that border procedures will contribute to achieving the aims of the CEAS, such as the creation of a uniform, fair and efficient asylum procedure and prevention of abuse. Neither does the Pact provide a solution for pushbacks and systematic use of detention, nor does it guarantee the quality of the asylum procedure, including the identification of persons with special needs. The Pact therefore not only fails to comply with the EU’s own Better Regulation guidelines and protect the fundamental rights of asylum seekers, but it also ignores the standards of the Global Compacts. What role can the Global Compacts still play in the ongoing negotiations over the Pact?