Accessible Area Research Articles

Voices Beyond Text: Unravelling Perceptions and Experiences of Thai Students with Visual Impairment using Microsoft’s Reading Progress - A Narrative Inquiry Approach

Students with disabilities have been facing issues in English proficiency improvement and limitations in material accessibility. This, too, happens to Students with Visual Impairment (SVIs). However, as announced in the United Nations' commitment to create equity in inclusive education, particularly in SDG Goal 4, it is vital for educators to draw attention to this issue. This qualitative study explores the perceptions and experiences of SVIs using Microsoft's Reading Progress program to develop English reading skills, particularly fluency and pronunciation, at a university in Thailand. Through a narrative inquiry approach, six Thai undergraduate students with visual impairments (SVIs) were purposively selected to narrate their perceptions and experiences through semi-structured interviews on the program assisting SVIs with English reading skill improvement. The collected data were analyzed and categorized into six themes regarding Pronunciation Improvement, bridging the Gap between Silent Reading and Pronunciation, Enhancing other English skills, and The Role of Microsoft’s Reading Progress Program in Enhancing Confidence in English Reading. However, challenges were revealed in the areas of accessibility facilitating SVIs users. Lastly, additional experiences also emerged under the themes of Balance Between Pronunciation and Comprehension. The study's implications are beneficial for educational institutions and policymakers to take accessible learning solutions into account under the unique needs of students with visual impairment and, importantly, to enhance equity in inclusive education.

A decade-long spatial analysis of opportunistic rice cultivation in a water-stressed agricultural landscape.

Rice cultivation is a highly criticized sector of agriculture in Iran. Despite the intensifying drought conditions, Central Iranian farmers continue to prioritize rice cultivation due to its substantial economic benefits, affecting the structure and configuration of irrigated agricultural landscapes. In a river catchment, we mapped rice fields over a 10-year period (2014-2023) using Landsat-8 OLI images, with mapping accuracy metrics showing kappa coefficients above 81.75 and overall accuracy above 92.78. Spatial analysis of the layers revealed the following: (1) an inconsistent pattern of rice cultivation over the study period, with more than 51% of the total agricultural area experiencing rice cultivation only once; (2) a contiguous area of high suitability for opportunistic rice cultivation along the main river of the region based on frequency hotspot analysis; and (3) years with larger rice cultivation resulted in more fragmented rice landscapes due to the incentive to cultivate smaller, scattered plots in newly accessible areas. Our results demonstrate that increased water availability does not necessarily translate to improved landscape structure; as rice cultivation expands, the landscape becomes more fragmented.

Removal of fuel retention by Direct-Current Glow Discharge under strong magnetic field in EAST superconducting tokamak

Abstract Recent research has been down on the removal of retained fuel particles from the first wall surfaces of the EAST superconducting tokamak, by using direct-current glow discharge cleaning (DC-GDC) under a strong magnetic field. The findings from these experiments reveal that GDC is highly effective in strong magnetic fields, boasting a significant fuel removal rate despite the plasma is strongly confined by the magnetic field. The cleaning process primarily targets the side portion of the limiter adjacent to the GDC anodes on the low field side via thermal desorption to access areas that are typically inaccessible to other plasma types. Additionally, it was noted that pulsed GDC is less effective in comparison to continuous GDC operation under intense magnetic field conditions. The efficiency of pulsed GDC mainly depends on the GDC duty cycle, which further suggests that thermal desorption is the predominant cleaning mechanism in such a strong magnetic environment. The integration of ion cyclotron wall conditioning (ICWC) with GDC in a pulsed mode yields an efficiency increase of roughly 35% over ICWC alone and expands the scope of the cleaning area. DC-GDC in the EAST tokamak, under the influence of a strong magnetic field, offers the benefits of high conditioning efficiency and the capability to tackle areas that are challenging for other wall conditioning methods to reach. Its potential synergy with a variety of techniques could further augment the cleaning area and improve the efficiency of tritium removal. These insights serve as crucial benchmarks for the removal of retained tritium in the presence of strong magnetic fields in future fusion reactors.

Promoting Accessibility and Equity in Social Work Education : Measures to Develop Forms of Outreach, Access and Support During Studies for Migrants

The education and labour markets have become segregated. Migrants find it difficult to find employment in specialist jobs in the healthcare and social welfare sector that require a university degree and are linguistically demanding. Particularly in social work, the need for a diverse workforce has been recognised: workers should be more representative of the population and respond to the needs of an increasingly diverse client base. The Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences at the University of Jyväskylä seeks to promote educational equity and to find ways to increase the representation of migrants in Finnish-medium social work degree programmes. This survey examines (a) how to better reach migrants to engage them in social work degree programmes, (b) how to improve access to degree programmes and (c) what kind of support should be offered to migrants during their studies. The survey proposes measures to promote accessibility and equity in social work degree programmes. While this survey focuses on a specific area of education, accessibility and equity issues concern the whole university field, which must be able to serve increasingly diverse groups of applicants and students. The results indicate that the marketing of social work degree programmes needs to be more clearly targeted at migrants: the recognition of social work needs to be increased, and the narratives of migrants’ careers and studies need to be shared across multiple channels and languages to make the pathways to university studies appear more accessible. New solutions are also needed to enable equitable access to degree programmes. When communicating about application and admission practices, linguistic accessibility should be considered. Similarly, the ongoing entrance examination reform should ensure cooperation with language, assessment and testing experts. Migrants should be offered the opportunity to be granted extra time in entrance examinations, so that they can compete with native speakers in student admissions. To improve conditions for equitable access, a dedicated admission path to a bachelor’s and master’s degree programme or a master’s degree programme must be established for migrants. As part of this, the linguistic accessibility of admission criteria and methods should be developed. The needs for linguistic support should be identified at the beginning of studies and appropriate language learning paths should be planned. Improving the accessibility of content studies requires a language-aware approach that integrates language and content, which, in turn, calls for the development of staff competence and resources for training and the consolidation of practices. A prerequisite for the targeting of these measures is the identifiability of migrants at universities. Overall, the promotion of educational accessibility requires addressing the issues of outreach, access and support during studies in parallel.

Beyond Numeracy, a Data Literacy Topical Scoping Review (2011–2023)

As society increasingly recognises the value of data, proficiency in using and understanding data has become crucial. However, there is no universal consensus on the definition of data literacy. Therefore, this study provides the first extensive, mixed methods scoping review of the topical evolution of data literacy within social and educational sciences from 2011 to 2023. By identifying key themes and research trends, this review offers a comprehensive understanding of the dynamic nature of data literacy. Our sample consists of 210 English-language, peer-reviewed articles from Scopus and Web of Science. The findings reveal a field that is evolving alongside media and digital literacy discussions, with notable growth in publications, particularly in 2019, 2020, and 2023, thus highlighting data literacy’s recognition as a distinct paradigm. Data literacy is shifting beyond traditional frameworks, with increasing attention to issues of equity and accessibility—areas still underexplored in current literature. Notably, the research demonstrates a shift from simply developing individual data skills to fostering a socially aware form of data literacy that empowers citizens to critically engage with data and navigate a datafied society actively and responsibly. This review emphasises the need for a nuanced, context-specific approach to data literacy, much like digital literacy, as different demographics and contexts encounter varying needs and challenges. As a dynamic, ever-evolving concept, future research and programs must address these diverse levels of engagement and expertise, ensuring that data literacy is inclusive, adaptable, and supported by social structures.

Bamboo-Inspired Hierarchically Hollow Aerogel MXene Fibers with Ultrafast Ionic Channels and Multiple Electromagnetic Wave Attenuation Routes Toward High-Performance Supercapacitors and Microwave Absorption.

2D materials feature large specific surface areas and abundant active sites, showing great potential in energy storage and conversion. However, the dense, stacked structure severely restricts its practical application. Inspired by the structure of bamboo in nature, hollow interior and porous exterior wall, hollow MXene aerogel fiber (HA-Ti3C2TX fiber) is proposed. Owing to continuous porous microstructure and optimized hollow cavity, this fiber possesses large accessible area to ions and abundant structural defects, leading to a fast charge transfer kinetics and high faradic activity. Consequently, the HA-Ti3C2TX fiber exhibits exceptional gravimetric capacitance of 355 F g-1. Besides, the solid-state asymmetric fiber-shaped supercapacitors (FSCs) display a high capacitance of 276 F g-1 and energy density of 9.58 Wh kg-1. Additionally, the HA-Ti3C2TX fiber delivers outstanding electromagnetic wave (EMW) absorption performance with a minimum reflection loss of -52.39 dB and the effective absorption bandwidth up to 4.6 GHz, which is attributed to multiple reflection paths, strong dielectric loss from this hollow and porous structure. This novel design of hollow fiber provides a new reference for the construction of advanced fibers for energy storage and EMW absorption materials.

Estimating the accumulation and re-accumulation of commercial tobacco, electronic cigarette, and cannabis waste based on a stratified random sample of census blocks.

We investigated the amount and distribution of waste generated by commercial tobacco, electronic cigarette, and cannabis (TEC) use to inform policy options aimed at mitigating the environmental harm caused by these products. Using disproportionate stratified random sampling, we selected 60 census blocks from the eight largest cities in San Diego County, California. We twice surveyed publicly accessible areas in these blocks to quantify TEC waste accumulation and its re-accumulation. All collected items were photographed, classified, geocoded, counted, and properly discarded. We identified demographic, land use, and behavioral data from public sources and direct observations. We modeled total cigarette butt quantities for all census blocks across the eight cities and found similar results for Round 1 (8.63 million) and Round 2 (8.66 million) collections. Single-use plastic cigarette filters were the primary contributor to TEC waste (94%). Total TEC waste counts and cigarette butt counts showed strong linear associations (r = +0.86 and r = +0.91). The area surveyed, land use category, resident demographics, smoking prevalence, and walkability explained 78% of the variance in cigarette butt count. The interval between Round 1 and 2 counts did not affect re-accumulation counts, suggesting that baseline TEC waste levels were re-established within 1-2 months after cleanup. Annually, we estimate up to 200 million cellulose acetate plastic filters may be discarded in public areas of the eight cities. Given the continuous deposition, vast quantity, heterogeneous distribution, and rapid re-accumulation of TEC waste after cleanup, increasing removal efforts alone are financially untenable and impractical downstream solutions for TEC waste. Community-wide policies (e.g., filter bans, outdoor smoking restrictions) and individual behavior changes (e.g., reduced smoking rates, proper disposal of cigarette butts) are necessary to effectively mitigate the environmental impact of TEC waste in urban settings.

Spatial Accessibility Analysis of Snake Antivenom.

To analyze the spatial accessibility of antivenom immunizing agents equipped hospitals in Hainan Province. This paper analyzes the spatial accessibility of medical institutions equipped with different types of snake antivenom using network analysis and two-step mobile search method, and evaluates the service level and spatial accessibility of medical institutions equipped with different types of antivenom immunizing agents in Hainan Province from the perspectives of both supply and demand. The number of people in Hainan Province who need to spend more than 1h to reach an Agkistrodon Hyalys antivenom, Naja antivenom, Bungarus Multicnctus antivenom, Agkistrodon Acutus antivenom equipped hospital, and equipped with antivenom for all species of snakes in the country is approximately 856,000, 231,300, 3,071,000, 2,666,000 and 4,721,000 people, respectively. In the results of accessibility of hospital beds/health technicians equipped with antivenom in Hainan Province, Haikou and Sanya cities had the highest accessibility. The accessibility of hospitals equipped with antivenom in Hainan Province is unevenly distributed, with areas of high accessibility in the southern and northern regions and accessibility in the rest of the country to be improved.

Methodology for assessing the state of transport services for the population of the subject of the Russian Federation on the example of the Omsk region

Introduction. Within the framework of the transformation of the passenger transportation industry of the Russian Federation, the relevance of assessing the current state of the public transport service system in the subjects of the Russian Federation is determined on the basis of the parameters laid down in current and prospective regulatory legal acts.Materials and Methods. The research uses current regulatory legal acts of the federal and regional levels in the field of public transport services, data from the administrative-territorial division of the subject of the Russian Federation, current registers of inter-municipal and municipal routes, up-to-date statistical information on the population. The following research methods were used: analysis, survey, formalization.Results. The research presents a methodology developed by the authors for rapid assessment of the current state of the public transport service system in the subject of the Russian Federation, including an algorithm for its application. The methodology is based on the assessment of six criteria, which are aggregated indicators of the parameters of public transport services in the areas of accessibility, safety, reliability and comfort. The results of the testing of the technique in the Omsk region are presented.Discussion and conclusions. The results obtained allow us to identify problem areas for which it is necessary to develop and implement measures to improve the quality of public transport services in the short term. The proposed methodology is not a substitute for the methods approved by the current regulatory legal acts, and can be used at the initial stage of development and updating of transport planning documents of the subject of the Russian Federation.

Malnutrition among under-5 children and its determinants in the southwestern coastal region of Bangladesh: A community-based study

ObjectiveThe study examines the prevalence of stunting, the most common form of malnutrition and its determinants among children under-5 in the southwestern coastal region of Bangladesh.DesignCross-sectional survey.SettingsTwo coastal villages of...

К вопросу о содержательных характеристиках коллективного финансирования

With the development of the digital economy and the expansion of crowd technologies, traditional investing is complemented by alternatives, among which crowdfunding is one of the most accessible and promising areas of network communications. In the current conditions of declining opportunities for traditional financing, an increase in the number of crowdfunding platform operators and an improvement in the quality of investment assistance services contributes to the development of innovations and social initiatives. The purpose of the article is a comprehensive study of the fundamental principles of the formation and development of crowd technologies to determine the substantive characteristics of crowdfunding. The objectives of the study are: analysis of the essence and formation of crowdfunding based on a study of the main approaches to the interpretation of this definition; allocation of economic and social functions of crowdfunding activities; characterization of crowdfunding models on various platforms; formation of a general and specific classification of crowdfunding, as well as determination of the advantages and disadvantages of each type of crowdfunding activities. The scientific novelty of the study lies in the systematization of interpretations and functions of crowdfunding, identification of the main types and models of public financing, identification of the advantages of using crowdfunding as one of the types of alternative investment. The authors identified social functions in addition to the economic component of crowdfunding activities; presented an algorithm for implementing a crowdfunding project, including general stages of interaction between the borrower and the operator and investors of the platform. The differentiation of models for collecting and returning funds from investors depending on the crowdfunding platforms used was revealed; the main criteria for classifying crowdfunding activities were identified: types of civil law entities (individuals, legal entities) participating in crowdfunding, and types of incentives offered by the authors of the project to investors. A conclusion was made about the advantages of using alternative financing, as well as the prospects for new crowdfunding technologies and their further research.

A Channel Measurement-Based Listen-Before-Talk Algorithm for LTE-LAA and WLAN Coexistence

To support the coexistence of long-term evolution (LTE)-license-assisted access (LAA) and wireless local area network (WLAN) in unlicensed bands, the load-based listen-before-talk (LB-LBT) scheme has been developed, incorporating channel sensing and backoff functions similar to those used in WLAN. In the LB-LBT scheme, the contention window size and clear channel assessment (CCA) threshold of the LTE-LAA eNodeB (eNB) significantly influences its transmission probability and the interference caused by concurrent WLAN transmissions outside the CCA range. However, most existing LB-LBT schemes use fixed contention window sizes and CCA thresholds, irrespective of the channel congestion status. To address this limitation, in this paper, we propose a channel measurement-based LBT (CM-LBT) scheme to enhance overall system throughput while ensuring fairness between LTE-LAA and WLAN systems. Our proposed CM-LBT scheme adaptively adjusts the contention window size and CCA threshold of LTE-LAA eNB in the LB-LBT scheme, according to the current channel access activities of LTE-LAA and WLAN systems. Through simulations, we evaluate the performance of our proposed CM-LBT scheme against existing LBT schemes by assessing the throughput of LTE-LAA and WLAN systems, as well as the fairness between them, using a reward function.

Vaccination strategies to identify and reach zero-dose and under-immunized children in crisis-affected states in Sudan: a qualitative study

Abstract Background Globally, 21 million children were un- or under-vaccinated with Diphtheria-Tetanus-Pertussis (DTP)-containing vaccines in 2023. Around 20% of zero-dose children, those who had not received any DTP doses, live in conflict-affected settings in low and middle-income countries. There is insufficient evidence on vaccination interventions to identify and reach zero-dose children in these settings. This study aimed to map and assess current vaccination strategies to identify and reach zero-dose and under-vaccinated children in the crisis-affected states of South Kordofan, South Darfur and Blue Nile in Sudan. Methods We conducted a cross-sectional qualitative study guided by the (Identify-Reach-Monitor-Measure-Advocate (IRMMA) framework, developed by Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance. We conducted 20 individual semi-structured interviews during November and December 2022. We interviewed governmental and non-governmental vaccination stakeholders at federal, state and locality levels. We used the IRMMA framework to analyze the interview transcripts. Results Zero-dose and under-immunized children in the study sites were concentrated in opposition-controlled areas, nomadic communities, and remote rural areas. Zero-dose and under-immunized children in accessible areas were identified through routine vaccination strategies and surveillance reports. Various strategies were used in inaccessible areas. This includes tasking local institutions and individuals trusted by communities to identify and reach children, and infrequent integration and co-delivery of routine vaccines with other health interventions such as COVID-19 vaccination and insecticidal net distribution. There are inaccurate population estimates and a lack of guidance from ministries of health for measuring and monitoring zero-dose and under-immunized children. Respondents conflated advocacy with mobilization, and advocacy was broadly characterized as an ad hoc activity mostly connected to immunization campaigns. Conclusions Our study underscored the complexity of vaccinating zero-dose and under-immunized children in crisis-affected states of Sudan. Further research is needed to evaluate these practices and the role of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and community engagement in improving vaccination coverage. Furthermore, exploring alternative funding methods and using geographic information systems (GIS) could enhance vaccination data and address funding limitations.

Understanding MAT access in the context of unused MAT capacity in the United States: when increasing rural MAT capacity is not enough

BackgroundSection 1262 Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2023 eliminates the federal DATA waiver registration requirement to prescribe buprenorphine for opioid use disorder (OUD), along with patient limits, perhaps as a way to increase provider capacity to prescribe buprenorphine. Understanding the factors that influence provider capacity, patient access, and whether community need for MAT is met could inform how to capitalize on DATA waiver eliminations in the United States.MethodsThis observational study utilized required reporting from two cohorts of the Rural Communities Opioid Response Program (RCORP). Consortia (N = 80) provided data on OUD/SUD-related services, service area information, consortium membership, and grant progress, including barriers to and facilitators of achievements. These data were combined with National Survey of Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) and U.S. Census Bureau’s 2016−2020 American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates Data to examine MAT capacity, access, and service area need.ResultsA 79% increase in potential buprenorphine prescribers from 2019 to 2022 resulted in 1,060 rural providers with the ability to prescribe buprenorphine. The number of individuals who received MAT increased by 42% over the same three years, with over 20,000 individuals receiving MAT by the end of the funding period. While both capacity and access did increase, an additional 11,454 individuals could have potentially received buprenorphine if all waivered providers prescribed to a conservative patient limit of thirty patients. 70% of consortia provided MAT to at least 11.5% of their estimated service area need (national rate of MAT provision among individuals 18 years and older with an OUD), indicating unused MAT capacity was not related to lack of service area need. Provider (e.g., concerns of clinical complexity), patient (e.g., mistrust of the healthcare system), pharmacy (e.g., cost concerns), and pharmacist (e.g., stigma) barriers impacted MAT provision and availability.ConclusionMAT treatment capacity is a necessary but not exclusive requirement for increasing access to MAT. Addressing the multi-faceted barriers to prescribing MAT, particularly buprenorphine, will be critical to ensure the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2023 does in fact result in a larger workforce that actually prescribes buprenorphine and a pharmacy system that stocks these medications.

A circumpolar review of the breeding distribution and habitat use of the snow petrel (Pagodroma nivea), the world’s most southerly breeding vertebrate

Knowledge of the spatial distribution of many polar seabird species is incomplete due to the remoteness of their breeding locations. Here, we compiled a new database of published and unpublished records of all known snow petrel Pagodroma nivea breeding sites. We quantified local environmental conditions at sites by appending indices of climate and substrate, and regional-scale conditions by appending 30 year mean (1992–2021) sea-ice conditions within accessible foraging areas. Breeding snow petrels are reported at 456 sites across Antarctica and subantarctic islands. Although many counts are old or have large margins of error, population estimates available for 222 known sites totalled a minimum of ~ 77400 breeding pairs. However with so many missing data, the true breeding population will be much higher. Most sites are close to the coast (median = 1.15 km) and research stations (median = 26 km). Median distance to the November sea-ice edge (breeding season sea-ice maximum) is 430 km. Locally, most nests occur in cavities in high-grade metamorphic rocks. Minimum air temperatures occur at inland sites, and maxima at their northern breeding limit. Breeding location and cavity selection is likely determined by availability of suitable breeding substrate within sustainable distance of suitable foraging habitat. Within this range, nest sites may then be selected based on local conditions such as cavity size and aspect. Our database will allow formal analyses of habitat selection and provides a baseline against which to monitor future snow petrel distribution changes in response to climate change.

METHODS OF FORMING OPEN RECREATIONAL SPACES IN CHILDREN'S HOSPITALS (A CASE STUDY OF THE KHARKIV CITY)

The article examines the features of the formation of open recreational spaces (ORS) for children's hospitals (CHs) in Kharkiv. Based on the analysis of regulatory documents, it was found that in Ukraine CHs are divided into multi-profile and single-profile, as well as specialized institutions. Multi-profile institutions provide a wide range of medical services for children with various diseases, for example, regional and city children's hospitals, while singleprofile institutions focus on the treatment of specific diseases, such as infectious or oncological. Specialized centers (rehabilitation, cardiology, etc.) are also distinguished that require special areas for rest and rehabilitation. The analysis of CHs in Kharkiv showed that most institutions have imperfectly organized territories, often unsuitable for full-fledged use. Many hospitals are parts of medical complexes or are located in dense urban development, which limits the space for ORS. The main shortcomings are insufficient landscaping, lack of necessary areas for children with various types of diseases, lack of special areas for rehabilitation and limited access for children with disabilities. Based on the analysis of the typology and needs of different hospitals, general recommendations for the Kharkov CHs were developed. For multi-profile hospitals, it is recommended to create multifunctional areas that will allow for physical rehabilitation, educational activities and relaxation, etc. (multimodal spaces, safe play, sports, recreational, etc.) For single-profile hospitals, it is worth providing highly specialized areas that will meet specific needs: sensory spaces for ophthalmology and otolaryngology hospitals, sports grounds with adaptive equipment for physiotherapy and traumatology hospitals. Thus, the article justifies the need to create ORSs in CHs that take into account the needs of different categories of patients. The proposed solutions are aimed at reducing stress, stimulating physical activity, and ensuring psychoemotional comfort, which ultimately contributes to the accelerated recovery of children and the improvement of working conditions for medical personnel.

Exploring Barriers to Timely Diagnosis and Treatment of Tuberculosis in Selangor, Malaysia: A Qualitative Study.

Tuberculosis (TB) occurs as one of the highest in the state of Selangor, Malaysia and its causes are currently underexplored especially from patients' perspectives of the disease. This study assesses perspectives from patients in relations to determinants of delayed presentation, diagnosis, and treatment of TB. The study utilises a qualitative methodology involving focus group discussions and in-depth interviews with patients selected based on specific inclusion and exclusion criteria. The research covered components which include social demographic, sociocultural factors, health-seeking behaviors, social support and resources, previous knowledge and experience as a TB patient, and treatment pathway. Thematic analysis was performed using NVivo 12 analysis software to interpret the data. This study aims to identify key barriers and facilitators of prompt presentation and diagnosis of TB patients. Results revealed that socioeconomic status, challenges faced during TB diagnosis and treatment, knowledge of TB, patient and healthcare-related factors, and health-seeking behaviours were the main emerging themes. Improvements are required in the areas of access to healthcare facilities, minimizing cost, providing specific clinics and proximity of health facilities to facilitate a prompt response, increasing capacity to isolate infected persons, and provision of adequate treatment. It is revealed that financial constraints, inaccessibility and long distance to healthcare facilities, poor knowledge of TB, and lack of family and social support contributed to delayed TB presentation and diagnosis. Findings from this study can be utilized to develop effective, locally tailored interventions to address delayed presentation and diagnosis of TB patients in the nation.

Moisture Content Vegetation Seasonal Variability Based on a Multiscale Remote Sensing Approach

Water content is one of the most critical characteristics in plant physiological development. Therefore, this information is a crucial factor in determining the water stress conditions of vegetation, which is essential for assessing the wildfire risk and land management decision-making. Remote sensing can be vital for obtaining information over large, limited access areas with global coverage. This is important since conventional techniques for collecting vegetation water content are expensive, time-consuming, and spatially limited. This work aims to evaluate the vegetation live fuel moisture content (LFMC) seasonal variability using a multiscale remote sensing approach, particularly on rockroses, the Cistus ladanifer species, a Western Mediterranean basin native species with wide spatial distribution, over the Herdade da Mitra at the University of Évora, Portugal. This work used four dataset sources, collected monthly between June 2022 and July 2023: (i) Vegetation samples used to calculate the LFMC; (ii) Vegetation reflectance spectral signature using the portable spectroradiometer FieldSpec HandHeld-2 (HH2); (iii) Multispectral optical imagery obtained from the Multispectral Instrument (MSI) sensor onboard the Sentinel-2 satellite; and (iv) Multispectral optical imagery derived from a camera onboard an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Phantom 4 Multispectral (P4M). Several temporal analyses were performed based on datasets from different sensors and on their intercomparison. Furthermore, the Random Forest (RF) classifier, a machine learning model, was used to estimate the LFMC considering each sensor approach. MSI sensor presented the best results (R2 = 0.94) due to the presence of bands on the Short-Wave Infrared Imagery region. However, despite having information only in the Visible and Near Infrared spectral regions, the HH2 presents promising results (R2 = 0.86). This suggests that by combining these spectral regions with a RF classifier, it is possible to effectively estimate the LFMC. This work shows how different spatial scales, from remote sensing observations, affect the LFMC estimation through machine learning techniques.

A global assessment of preferential access areas for small-scale fisheries

We provide the first global assessment of the status of preferential access areas (PAAs), a relatively understudied policy tool to govern small-scale fisheries. We find 44 countries, most of them of low or low-middle income, have established a total of 63 PAAs encompassing 3% of continental shelf area worldwide. The analysis of an ad-hoc subsample of twelve countries in three continents for which data were available (2016–2017) revealed that PAAs supported greater amounts of small-scale fisheries marine catch volume, landed value, fishing for self-consumption, and more nutritious species than marine areas outside PAAs. This preliminary assessment suggests that if appropriately enforced through shared governance with fishers and responsible fishing practices, relatively small areas of the ocean could provide important nutrition security, economic, and employment benefits to millions of people living in coastal areas. We offer an agenda for future research and policy action based on our findings.

Exploring the equitable spatial planning on the accessibility of institutional elderly care in megacity: A study based on Chengdu, China

Mega-cities, while leveraging large populations for development, need to rationally plan spatial resources, especially for optimizing elderly care services. This study uses Chengdu, Sichuan Province, introducing factors such as accessibility of elderly-friendly medical institutions, weighted built environment factors, and selection influence factors considering service capacity levels and residents' maximum travel time into an improved potential model to explore the accessibility of elderly care services. The study found that the outskirts of Chengdu have a higher aging population, while the central city and its surrounding areas have a larger older population but lower aging rates. Elderly care facilities are mainly small and medium-sized, exhibiting a radial layout centered around the main urban area. The overall level of spatial accessibility to elderly care service resources is relatively low. The central city and its surrounding areas form high-accessibility zones, while the remote suburbs have large areas of low accessibility and scattered high-accessibility points. Based on the findings, four areas for future urban planning and resource allocation were identified: development retention areas, urgent optimization areas, configuration compensation areas, and remote special areas. This study provides new insights into the classification of elderly care resource accessibility and fairness evaluation, offering a reference for planning studies in other mega-cities.