Area Allocation Research Articles

Dual winding slot area allocation ratio effect on torque and suspension performance of BPMSMs

Dual winding slot area allocation ratio effect on torque and suspension performance of BPMSMs

Simulation of Defoliation Effects on Relay Strip Intercropping Soybean: Elucidating Foliar Shedding and Leaf-to-Nodule Growth Plasticity.

Extensive foliar shedding in monoculture soybeans post-anthesis negatively impacts yield, whereas relay strip intercropping prolongs leaf area duration, enhancing productivity. However, little is known about the causes of leaf shedding in monoculture and its impact on physiological functions and plasticity of source and sink organs, we conducted a 4-year field experiment and leaf-removal simulations in relay intercropped soybeans. Results revealed that monoculture soybeans experienced severe self-shading and defoliation, while relay intercropping maintained better light conditions, supporting higher leaf area, nodule numbers, and carbon allocation. Increasing leaf removal initially increased leaf area but eventually reduced it. Extensive leaf-removal reduced Rubisco and sucrose phosphate synthase (SPS) activity, as well as sucrose, malate, ATP, and energy charge (EC) in nodules, revealing a trade-off between leaf growth and nodule development. Moderate leaf-removal (L30), however, balanced compensation and consumption, increasing total non-structural carbohydrates (TNC) in roots and N and ureide in leaves and pods. Network analysis showed that L30 improved the synergies of functional traits in leaves and nodules, ultimately benefiting overall plant growth and nutrient accumulation in pods. This study elucidates a mechanism of foliar shedding and highlights how relay strip intercropping optimizes source-sink coordination to enhance photosynthesis and nitrogen fixation.

A distributed simulation-optimization framework for many-objective water resources allocation in canal-well combined irrigation district under diverse supply and demand scenarios

To address the issues of both water resources allocation and sustainable management in agriculture areas with rising food demand, a simulation-optimization framework based on Flopy and Pymoo was proposed and developed for canal-well combined irrigation districts. The proposed framework first solved the many-objective water resources allocation problem which integrates groundwater simulation, crop production, and farmer income modules to quantitatively reveal the various trade-offs and synergies by using NSGA-III algorithm. The Entropy-TOPSIS method was then applied to recommend proper water allocation schemes. The proposed framework was further tested in Baojixia irrigation district considering various water supply and crop demand scenarios based on Copula-based uncertainty analysis. The Key findings are as follows: (1) the proposed framework could effectively optimize conjunctive water resources allocation problems of both surface water and groundwater; (2) low supply combined with high demand (p=0.17) is more likely to occur than high supply with high demand (p=0.02); (3) increased crop demand and restricted surface water negatively impact both water productivity and groundwater sustainability; and (4) the cumulative groundwater drawdown of recommend schemes is 36.9 % and 6.5 % higher under low to medium supply scenarios, while water productivity of recommend schemes decreases 28.2 % and 9.7 % with high and medium demand. This framework could provide useful insights for sustainable agricultural water management in canal-well combined irrigation district with various uncertainties in supply and demand scenarios.

Study on the Coupling Coordination Degree and Driving Mechanism of “Production-Living-Ecological” Space in Ecologically Fragile Areas: A Case Study of the Turpan–Hami Basin

One of the key conditions for achieving superior regional growth is ensuring the harmonious development of both the layout and functions of territorial space. Territorial space, which includes production space, living space, and ecological space, serves as a critical system and venue for economic, cultural, and social activities in a region. The harmonized growth of production–living–ecological space (PLES) is essential for attaining sustainable development goals. Research on PLES offers a fresh perspective on promoting sustainable development of the spatial domain and the sustainable use of resources. However, studies on PLE functions in ecologically fragile areas are lacking. Therefore, in this study, which adopts a PLES perspective, land-use data are used to classify land according to the dominant functions of production, ecology, and living. Integration of point-of-interest (POI) data with socio-economic data was established to spatially describe indicators at the grid level and create a scoring system for PLES indicators in ecologically fragile areas. Finally, the entropy weight method, holistic assessment methods, coupling coordination degree model (CCDM), and geodetector were employed to explore the coupling coordination relationships and factors influencing PLESs in the Turpan–Hami Basin from 2010 to 2020. The results indicate that the Turpan–Hami Basin consists predominantly of potential ecological space, mainly in the central and northern regions, which are characterized by the Gobi Desert and bare rock landforms. Over the past decade, the PLES framework has seen a notable rise in the allocation of residential and ecological areas, whereas the portion dedicated to production spaces has diminished. The overall coupling coordination degree (CCD) of PLES in the Turpan–Hami Basin is at a coordinated level and gradually increasing. The most significant impact on the degree of PLES coupling coordination is exerted by population and natural factors. The research findings provide theoretical support for the sustainable utilization of resources in the Turpan–Hami Basin and other ecologically fragile areas while also offering scientific evidence to promote the coupling coordination of PLES, thereby contributing to high-quality regional development.

Fair allocation of small-scale finfish mariculture zones in multi-use MPAs using multi criteria evaluation with stakeholder preferences

Mariculture zones in MPAs are primarily determined based on cost-effective/environmental criteria and rarely incorporate local community preferences. This study proposed a GIS-based site selection model to solve the conflicting issues in designing mariculture zones to support small-scale finfish farmers in MPAs. The work was undertaken in the Anambas Archipelago MPA to represent a commonly populated small-island MPA in Indonesia and other developing countries. A three-stage site selection model (constraint, site suitability, and stakeholder preference) with various criteria was employed using a modified parameter-specific suitability function (PSSF) with a non-weighted geometric mean. The stakeholder preference was used to counterbalance the dominance of environmental sub-models. The first stage analysis using the constraint sub-model determined that only 10.16% (1199.70 km2) of the total extent of the study area (11,811.77 km2) was categorized as feasible for finfish mariculture. The subsequent site suitability sub-model determined that only 32.3% (387 km2) and 30.1% (361.6 km2) of the feasible areas were classed best for finfish mariculture in dry and wet seasons, respectively. Areas classified as good covered 41.25% (494.9 km2) and 40.1% (481.65 km2) of the total feasible areas in the dry and wet seasons, respectively. The stakeholder preference sub-model had classified 33.21 km2 (2.77%) of the feasible area as the best sites that could be allocated as mariculture zones for the local community. The site selection model successfully incorporates multiple site selection parameters, addresses poor data availability and improves fair allocation of mariculture zone in the MPA via two specific approaches. The nature of the geometric mean prevents the allocation of suitable areas in the MPA-specific zones, such as core zones. Second, the stakeholder preference improves the fairness of the mariculture zone allocation due to the incorporation of local fish farmers' preferences. The proposed site selection model could be used to designate mariculture zones in a data-poor MPA environment and facilitate local communities in developing sustainable small-scale finfish mariculture in MPAs.

Links between deforestation, conservation areas and conservation funding in major deforestation regions of South America

Abstract Land‐use change is a major driver of biodiversity loss, affecting tropical forests and savannas at an unprecedented rate. To protect these ecosystems and their biodiversity, national conservation areas and international conservation funding have increased considerably in these regions. Understanding of how conservation funding allocation relates to dynamics in deforestation and conservation areas is crucial to identifying what mobilizes and distributes conservation funding. By applying fixed‐effect models on 30 years of dynamics in forest cover, conservation areas and conservation funding in the main deforestation regions of South America, we analysed the conservation funding allocation strategies in relation to deforestation (proactive vs. reactive), conservation areas (expanding or consolidating) and previous investment (agglomerating or not). We also assessed whether allocation strategies vary across regions and the stages of deforestation and conservation. We found that funding allocation followed conservation areas and higher prior funding levels over space and over time, across all regions and deforestation stages. This highlights the important role of recognized conservation areas (including protected areas and Indigenous territories) in mobilizing financial support for conservation. The allocation strategies relating to forest dynamics, however, varied depending on the scale of analysis, whether we look at the temporal or spatial dimension, and in which regions we assessed the allocation patterns. Capturing region‐level biases and within‐region dynamics is crucial for more effective and equitable conservation. As public and private actors commit to mobilizing more conservation funding and conserving more areas of the Earth, our insights on the relations between forest change and conservation efforts can help improve the allocation of conservation areas and conservation funding. Read the free Plain Language Summary for this article on the Journal blog.

Unveiling Factors Influencing Mortality in Irish Hip Fracture Patients: A Comprehensive Five-Year Analysis

BackgroundHip fractures impose a substantial healthcare burden, contributing to increased morbidity, disability, and mortality. The Irish Hip Fracture Standards (IHFS) were officially employed in 2017, providing specialized pathways for hip fracture care to improve patient outcomes. This study evaluated the performance of our unit regarding hip fracture care and analyzed individual outcome parameters. MethodData spanning five years (2015 to 2019) preceding the COVID-19 era was extracted from our hip fracture repository. Patients aged 60 years and older were included. The dataset integrated demographic information and outcomes, validating mortality events using the Irish death events registry. Mortality rates were measured cumulatively and at various time intervals. ResultsThere were 1,685 hip fractures treated during the study timeframe average patient age was 78, with women constituting 68% of the cohort. The one-year mortality rate was 20.8% (n = 350). Adverse outcomes were observed in older patients, men, and those who had higher American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA)scores. Patients adhering to IHFS 1 (P ≤ 0.05) and IHFS 2 (P ≤ 0.05) exhibited improved outcomes. Our institution displayed lower compliance rates with IHFS 1 and 2 when compared to standards 3 to 6, with the latter standards showing no significant impact on mortality outcomes. ConclusionWhile our unit's hip fracture care outcomes align well with national averages, resource constraints hinder full compliance with IHFS 1 and 2, emphasizing the need for targeted resource allocation in areas with the greatest impact on outcomes.

A moving target: trade-offs between maximizing carbon and minimizing hydraulic stress for plants in a changing climate.

Observational evidence indicates that tree leaf area may acclimate in response to changes in water availability to alleviate hydraulic stress. However, the underlying mechanisms driving leaf area changes and consequences of different leaf area allocation strategies remain unknown. Here, we use a trait-based hydraulically enabled tree model with two endmember leaf area allocation strategies, aimed at either maximizing carbon gain or moderating hydraulic stress. We examined the impacts of these strategies on future plant stress and productivity. Allocating leaf area to maximize carbon gain increased productivity with high CO2, but systematically increased hydraulic stress. Following an allocation strategy to avoid increased future hydraulic stress missed out on 26% of the potential future net primary productivity in some geographies. Both endmember leaf area allocation strategies resulted in leaf area decreases under future climate scenarios, contrary to Earth system model (ESM) predictions. Leaf area acclimation to avoid increased hydraulic stress (and potentially the risk of accelerated mortality) was possible, but led to reduced carbon gain. Accounting for plant hydraulic effects on canopy acclimation in ESMs could limit or reverse current projections of future increases in leaf area, with consequences for the carbon and water cycles, and surface energy budgets.

Jobs-Housing Balance Dimension in the New Resettlement Areas Affected by the Hydropower Construction Project Case of: Samavkhyxay Village, Xieng Ngeun District, Luang Prabang Province

This study was conducted in Samackhysay Village, Xiengngun District, Luang Prabang Province, emphasizing the dimension of jobs-housing balance in the new resettlement areas of residents affected by the hydropower construction project and the resettlement process. 655 households have been moved from 10 villages. The methodology of the study employed a questionnaire with 250 households. The quantitative and qualitative approaches have been utilized with Binary Logistic Model in order to examine the relationships between housing and workplaces/balancing dimensions. Results of this study revealed that after the resettlement was completed, there are some positive and negative impacts illustrated, for instance, the community-level infrastructure has been updated with roads, schools, clinics, electricity, and water supply for the positive manners. Regarding the negative image, people are hard adapting to the new environment, the shortage of agricultural land and workplaces have been located far away from their residences, and their expenses increased with their longer trips to workplaces. The results also confirmed that the imbalance factor between jobs-housing is a crucial dimension of the resettlement of new locations. The Logistic Model revealed some critical issues regarding the inequalities of ethnicity, location of the original village, level of education, occupation, distance to the workplace, income, and conditions of homes and vehicles. The obvious change is that new occupations in the new resettlement area are workers compared to farmers. The outcomes of the study can be used as a guideline for creating a balance between housing and workplaces, especially the allocation of agricultural areas and the provision of occupations that are appropriate for the people to create a balance, to become the model village for the development and sustainability in the future.

Equity and efficiency of health resource allocation in the Chengdu-Chongqing Economic Circle of China.

This study aimed to evaluate the fairness and efficiency of health resource allocation (HRAE) in Chengdu-Chongqing Economic Circle after the new healthcare reform. This study also aimed to identify existing problems, providing empirical evidence for the government to formulate regional health plans scientifically and reasonably. The fairness of health resource allocation was analyzed using the Gini coefficient, Theil index, and agglomeration degree from population and geographical area perspectives. The three-stage data envelopment analysis and the Malmquist productivity index were used to analyze HRAE from static and dynamic perspectives. The Gini coefficient for population allocation in Chengdu-Chongqing Economic Circle was 0.066-0.283, and the Gini coefficient for geographical area allocation was 0.297-0.469. The contribution rate within a region was greater than that between regions, and health resources were mainly concentrated in economically developed core areas. The overall fairness of Chengdu Economic Circle was relatively better than that of Chongqing Economic Circle. Moreover, the adjusted mean technical efficiency was 0.806, indicating room for HRAE improvement in Chengdu-Chongqing Economic Circle. Stochastic Frontier Analysis found that different environmental variables have varying degrees of impact on HRAE. The adjusted mean total factor productivity change (Tfpch) was 1.027, indicating an overall upward trend in HRAE since the new healthcare reform. However, scale efficiency change (Sech) (0.997) limited the improvement of Tfpch. The fairness of health resources allocated by population was better than that allocated by geographical area. The unfairness of health resources mainly stemmed from intra-regional differences, with considerable health resources concentrated in core areas. Over the past 13 years, HRAE has improved but exhibited spatial heterogeneity and Sech-hindered productivity improvement. The study recommends strengthening regional cooperation and sharing to promote the integrated and high-quality development of the health and well-being in Chengdu-Chongqing Economic Circle.

Evolution of the Content of the Service Function of the Tax Authorities

The subject of the study is the activities of the Federal Tax Service (FTS of Russia), which annually strives to fulfil the objectives of not only increasing tax revenues to the budgets of the budgetary system of Russia, but also to improve the quality level of its activities. The key tool for the fulfillment of this goal for more than a decade remains digital technologies, allowing primarily for the improvement of tax control. Aim and objectives of the study. The analysis of the evolution of the development of technologies of control activity of tax authorities has led to the conclusion that strategically the control activity of the Federal Tax Service of Russia is increasingly built on the changing significance of other functions of tax authorities, among which the tax authority highlighted the service function. The article considers the foundations of the origin of the service function of tax authorities, transformation processes and development prospects taking into account new tools of interaction between tax authorities and taxpayers. At the same time, it touches upon the new services of the Federal Tax Service of Russia, as well as current directions of solving acute issues, in particular, the transition to EDI, the expansion of tax monitoring subjects, construction of a digital tax code, new tools for pre-trial consideration of tax disputes and minimization of tax risks. The study ultimately resulted in the construction of a scheme of the digital outline of the Russian tax system with the allocation of promising areas for further development.

Benefit Distribution Mechanism of a Cooperative Alliance for Basin Water Resources from the Perspective of Cooperative Game Theory

At present, global water resource security is facing serious threats, and the construction of a cooperative, open, and mutually beneficial water resource community is a potential solution to the global water resource crisis and water resource hegemony. Previous studies on the formation and beneficial distribution of water resources in cooperative alliances have more often focused on the idea that participants take all of their water resources when they join a cooperative alliance (i.e., a crisp cooperative alliance), while fewer studies have focused on participants including different proportions of their water resources and joining multiple cooperative alliances (i.e., fuzzy cooperative alliances), and even fewer comparative studies concern the use of different benefit-sharing mechanisms. In this paper, in order to improve the efficiency of water use, allocate water resources more optimally, and generate higher returns for water users in a given basin, we propose the establishment of a traditional crisp and improved fuzzy cooperative alliance for water resources in the basin from the perspective of cooperative game theory; we examine the water resource allocation mechanism within the alliance based on the principle of priority; we construct a benefit allocation mechanism for the cooperative alliance based on the core, least core, weak least core, and Shapley value method; and we carry out empirical research using the example of the Tarim River Basin. Our findings are as follows: (1) A cooperative alliance based on the perspective of cooperative game theory can effectively improve overall benefits and individual benefits, and a fuzzy cooperative alliance is more effective than a crisp cooperative alliance in improving the overall water benefits of the region. (2) The participants in the fuzzy cooperative alliance can obtain more benefits than in the crisp cooperative alliance, and the benefit distribution mechanism of the cooperative alliance helps the participants to determine the object of cooperation while maintaining the sustainable existence of the alliance. (3) The different methods of benefit distribution within the cooperative alliance directly affect the overall water benefits of the region. (4) The different methods of benefit distribution directly affect the stability of the alliance, and the players in the game have heterogeneous preferences for different distribution schemes. The resource-sharing mechanism and benefit distribution mechanism of a water resource cooperative alliance have good applicability as solutions to the problem of water resource optimization and allocation in river basins, and they may provide policy references for the efficient use of water resources and optimization of water resource allocation and management in areas with a shortage of water resources, such as arid and semi-arid zones.

Research on Public Space Area Indicators of Physical Examination Centers

With the increasing demand for medical checkups, problems such as overcrowding and confusion in the public spaces of physical examination centers are becoming prominent. This seriously affects the efficiency of medical checkups and the satisfaction of patients. Because of the lack of reference norms and standards, spatial resources are allocated blindly in physical examination centers. Therefore, the reasonable prediction of demands for space and the allocation of areas for public space are problems we need to explore. This study aims to establish a foundation for spatial resource allocation by analyzing the relationship between area allocation and volume of medical checkups and spatial comfort. The objective is to balance service quality and construction costs in physical examination centers. Utilizing AnyLogic, this research simulates pedestrian flow characteristics during peak hours based on empirical data. Additionally, it provides statistics on and analysis of such areas in 30 physical examination centers. The findings reveal that the average per capita allocation of public space ranges from 6.90 to 7.10 m2. The functional relationship between the area of public space (y) and the total area (x) is y = 0.3649x − 57.096. This paper also proposes a relationship between the waiting space and the daily volume of medical checkups according to two comfort levels. The percentages of waiting space in public space ranges from 10% to 12.5% (comfort level) and 7% to 10% (general comfort level). This research provides architects with a specific and operable foundation for space planning, enhancing the standardization and scientification of physical examination center construction. Furthermore, the methodology used in this study proves valuable for future analyses of the interrelationships among functional units in medical buildings. It can also be applied during the postuse evaluation phase, enabling continuous assessment and iterative improvement in the design.

Study on the change of urban spatial structure in Three Northeast Provinces of China based on the coupling relationship between POI and nighttime light data

Identifying and measuring urban spatial structure is a prerequisite for understanding urban spatial characteristics, formulating urban development strategies and testing urban planning results. As important data sources that can visually reflect the spatial distribution characteristics of urban socio-economic and other physical elements, urban points of interest (POI) and nighttime light data play an important role in the study of urban spatial structure. In this study, the main urban areas of 36 cities of the Three Northeast Provinces (Heilongjiang Province, Jilin Province, Liaoning Province) were selected as the study area, the POI (6,553,294 points of interest) and nighttime light data from 2010, 2016, and 2022 were chosen as the basic research data, and the methods of point kernel density estimation, data griddedness, and multifactor combination mapping were used to analyze the developmental dynamics of the urban spatial structure. The study demonstrated: (1) The spatial coupling consistency of POI and nighttime light data in the main urban areas of the Three Northeast Provinces was high, and both had good applicability in urban spatial structure research; (2) POI and nighttime light values formed the spatial pattern of “axis + core − periphery” with Shenyang, Dalian, Changchun and Harbin as the core, while the coupling relationship between the POI and nighttime light data identified that the main urban areas in the Three Northeast Provinces presented a centralized agglomeration type, a decentralized grouping type, a belt combination type and a radial expansion type urban spatial structure; (3) From the perspective of changes in the coupling relationship between POI and nighttime light, most of the main urban areas of resource-mature cities, resource-regeneration cities and non-resource cities were affected by the regional development agglomeration and the “T” railway network, and the “high/medium–high/medium” area showed an expanding tendency; most of the main urban areas of resource-decline cities were affected by the lower development potential and the deprivation of economic factors by the surrounding core cities, while the “high/medium–high/medium” areas showed a contracting tendency. The results of the study can provide a scientific basis and theoretical reference for the future adjustment of urban spatial structure, planning and construction as well as resource allocation in the main urban areas of the cities in the Three Northeast Provinces.

Automation of determining the boundaries of river basins of small rivers: the case of Khangalassky district of the Sakha Republic (Yakutia)

Currently, the absence of a GIS system linked to river basins in Russia may complicate the work of important operational environmental and hydrometeorological surveillance services. It is important to note that simplifying and accelerating the allocation of river basins through open source software can significantly optimize the work of researchers, especially in conditions where it is important to respond promptly to floods and floods in a short time. The purpose of this work is to automate the allocation of river catchment areas, which can help in the study of vast territories of the Far East, as well as contribute to the creation of effective forecasting and monitoring systems. The study presents an automated approach to the identification of watersheds based on the use of geospatial data and information processing algorithms. The presented method demonstrates the effective allocation of watershed boundaries, which makes it possible to simplify the research process and increase the accuracy of the data obtained. The study was conducted within the boundaries of Khangalassky district of the SR(Ya). The data obtained using digital terrain models were corrected, and then used for rapid allocation of watersheds by means of an algorithm developed by the authors. The algorithm is a module for QGIS, which uses the QGIS and GDAL tools in turn, which significantly speeds up the process of creating materials for further research. The results of the study emphasize the accessibility of obtaining information about the geosystems of river basins as integral systems and put forward the prospect of improving GIS processes related to water resources for more effective monitoring of ecosystems and decision-making in the field of environmental protection.

Sex-specific strategies of resource utilization and determining mechanisms of Hippophae rhamnoides in response to community succession

Abstract The dioecious plant, Hippophae rhamnoides, is a pioneer species in community succession on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau (QTP), plays great roles in various ecosystem services. However, the males and females of the species differ both in their morphology and physiology, resulting in a change in the ratio of male to female plants depending on the environment. To further explore the functional traits critical to this sex-based distinctive response in the alpine grassland, we have surveyed the sex ratios, measured their photosynthetic parameters, height, leaf area and biomass allocation. The results showed that (i) The males had higher Pn, light saturation point, apparent quantum efficiency, Amax and lower water-use efficiency (WUE), which exhibited higher utilization efficiency or tolerance to strong light, while the females indicated higher utilization efficiency for low light and water. And it showed sex-specific biomass allocation patterns. (ii) H. rhamnoides populations across the successional stages all showed a male-biased sexual allocation, which was closely related to sex-specific WUE, Pn, root biomass/total biomass and root–crown ratio. (iii) The leaf traits of H. rhamnoides changed from higher Narea, Parea and leaf mass per area in the early and late to lower in the middle, which meant they moved their growth strategy from resource rapid acquisition to conservation as the succession progressed. (iv) The increasing soil total phosphorus mostly contributed to regulating the sex bias of populations and variations of traits during the succession. The results are vital for the management of grassland degradation and restoration due to shrub encroachment on the QTP.

Morpho-physiological adaptations to weed competition impair green bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) ability to overcome moderate salt stress.

The two stresses of weed competition and salt salinity lead to crop yield losses and decline in the productivity of agricultural land. These constraints threaten the future of food production because weeds are more salt stress tolerant than most crops. Climate change will lead to an increase of soil salinity worldwide, and possibly exacerbate the competition between weeds and crops. This aspect has been scarcely investigated in the context of weed-crop competition. Therefore, we conducted a field experiment on green beans (Phaseolus vulgaris ) to investigate the combined impact of weed competition and salt stress on key morpho-physiological traits, and crop yield. We demonstrated that soil salinity shifted weed composition toward salt tolerant weed species (Portulaca oleracea and Cynodon dactylon ), while it reduced the presence of lower tolerance species. Weed competition activated adaptation responses in green bean such as reduced leaf mass per area and biomass allocation to the stem, unchanged stomatal density and instantaneous water use efficiency, which diverge from those that are typically observed as a consequence of salt stress. The morpho-physiological modifications caused by weeds is attributed to the alterations of light intensity and/or quality, further confirming the pivotal role of the light in crop response to weeds. We concluded that higher yield loss caused by combined salt stress and weed competition is due to impaired morpho-physiological responses, which highlights the negative interaction between salt stress and weed competition. This phenomenon will likely be more frequent in the future, and potentially reduce the efficacy of current weed control methods.

Combining environmental DNA and visual surveys can inform conservation planning for coral reefs

Environmental DNA (eDNA) metabarcoding has the potential to revolutionize conservation planning by providing spatially and taxonomically comprehensive data on biodiversity and ecosystem conditions, but its utility to inform the design of protected areas remains untested. Here, we quantify whether and how identifying conservation priority areas within coral reef ecosystems differs when biodiversity information is collected via eDNA analyses or traditional visual census records. We focus on 147 coral reefs in Indonesia's hyper-diverse Wallacea region and show large discrepancies in the allocation and spatial design of conservation priority areas when coral reef species were surveyed with underwater visual techniques (fishes, corals, and algae) or eDNA metabarcoding (eukaryotes and metazoans). Specifically, incidental protection occurred for 55% of eDNA species when targets were set for species detected by visual surveys and 71% vice versa. This finding is supported by generally low overlap in detection between visual census and eDNA methods at species level, with more overlap at higher taxonomic ranks. Incomplete taxonomic reference databases for the highly diverse Wallacea reefs, and the complementary detection of species by the two methods, underscore the current need to combine different biodiversity data sources to maximize species representation in conservation planning.

Bigger pies, bigger slices: Increased hospitalization costs for lung transplantation recipients in the non–donation service area allocation era

ObjectiveOn November 24, 2017, lung transplant allocation switched from donation service area to a 250–nautical mile radius policy to improve equity in access to lung transplantation. Given the growing consideration of healthcare costs, we evaluated changes in hospitalization costs after this policy change. MethodsLung transplant hospitalizations were identified within the National Inpatient Sample from 2005 to 2020. Recipients were categorized as donation service area era (August 2015 to October 2017) or non–donation service area era (December 2017 to February 2020). Median total hospitalization costs (inflation adjusted) were compared by era nationally and regionally. Multivariable generalized linear regression was performed to determine if the removal of the donation service area was associated with total hospitalization costs. The model was adjusted for recipient demographics, Charlson Comorbidity Index, hospitalization region, transplant type (single, double), and use of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation, ex vivo lung perfusion, and mechanical ventilation. ResultsWe analyzed 12,985 lung transplant recipients (median age of 61 years, 66% were male): 7070 in the donation service area era and 5915 in the non–donation service area era. Demographics were not different between recipients in both eras. Non–donation service area era recipients had greater extracorporeal membrane oxygenation use, mechanical ventilation (<24 hours), and longer length of stay than donation service area era recipients. Median total hospitalization costs for non–donation service area versus donation service area era recipients increased by $24,198 ($157,964 vs $182,162, percentage change = 15.32%, P < .001). Median costs increased in East North Central ($42,281) and Mountain ($35,521) regions (both P < .01). After adjustment, median costs for non–donation service area versus donation service area era recipients still increased ($19,168, 95% CI, 145-38,191, P = .048). ConclusionsHospitalization costs for lung transplant hospitalizations have increased from 2015 to 2020. The transition from donation service area–based allocation to the non–donation service area system may have contributed to this increase after 2017 by increasing access to transplant for sicker recipients.

A Review on Parking Occupancy Prediction and Pattern Analysis

Parking occupancy prediction and pattern analysis is a crucial component of modern urban management systems. Utilizing advanced data analysis techniques, this project aims to develop a predictive model for forecasting parking occupancy levels and analyzing patterns within parking data. By leveraging machine learning algorithms and statistical methods, the project seeks to provide insights into parking behavior and optimize resource allocation in urban areas. The implementation of parking occupancy prediction and pattern analysis contributes to efficient urban planning, improved traffic management, and enhanced user experience. Through the integration of predictive analytics, decision-makers can anticipate parking demand, optimize parking space utilization, and alleviate congestion in urban areas.This project explores the application of data- driven approaches to address challenges in parking management, including predicting peak parking times, identifying trends in parking occupancy, and optimizing parking infrastructure. By harnessing the power of data analysis, the project aims to enhance urban mobility, reduce environmental impact, and improve overall quality of life. Keywords: Parking occupancy prediction, Pattern analysis, Urban management systems, Data analysis techniques, Machine learning algorithms, Traffic management, Urban planning.