Landscape Change Research Articles

Investigation of urban biodiversity and factors influencing it based on modern technologies

In the article, the development of the cities of the Shirvan plain, located in the central part of the Republic of Azerbaijan, and the impact of this development on the loss of biodiversity of the cities were analyzed. Currently, cities, where more than 50% of the world’s population live, are the main reasons for the change of natural landscapes. The development of cities and the intensity of urbanization accelerate these changes. Therefore, our research is dedicated to the current issue. During the research, preference was given to modern methods. Landsat 5, 8 and 9 satellite images of 6 cities located on the Shirvan plain were obtained. As a result of the processing and analysis of these satellite images, the development of the territory and population of the cities was studied, and their effects on the natural landscape, its components, vegetation and water bodies were analyzed. The boundaries of cities in 1975 and 2023 were determined and compared. As a result of the conducted studies, it was determined by the processing of the 1975 topo plans and the 2023 satellite images that the area of the cities has increased by at least 2 times. The high average annual growth of the population has led to the transformation of cities from small towns to medium and large cities in a short period of time. This causes the loss of biodiversity as soon as possible and accelerates this process.

How Can Journalists Strengthen Their Fight Against Misinformation in a Changing Media Landscape?

This paper reflects on challenges and opportunities for journalistic practices in the fight against misinformation in light of recent changes in the online media landscape. On the one hand, recent innovations in technology and social media facilitate a rapid spread of disinformation placing increased pressure on journalists to fight falsehoods and (re)build trust in reliable information. On the other hand, journalists might be positively affected by the EU’s recent introduction of the Digital Services Act (DSA), which aims to regulate online platforms and facilitate the fight against mis- and disinformation. We focus on fact-checking because it is among the most powerful journalistic tools against misinformation and a practice that is directly affected by the DSA. We discuss five concrete challenges and provide evidencebased suggestions backed by practice examples that may be applied by journalists who seek to advance the efficacy of their fact-checking efforts on social media.

THE POLITICS OF FIDESZ-KDNP OF HUNGARY UNDER V. ORBÁN IN WESTERN MEDIA, 2010-2024

This article offers a comprehensive analysis of Western media coverage of the Hungarian government's political course under Viktor Orban and the FIDESZ-KDNP coalition from 2010 to 2024. The study encompasses a wide range of aspects of Hungary's domestic and foreign policy, tracing the evolution of "Orbanism" perception in international media discourse. The author examines in detail the key themes that dominated Western media regarding Hungary, namely: The transformation of the country's democratic system and discussions around the concept of "illiberal democracy". Systematic conflicts between Hungary and the European Union, especially on issues of rule of law and democratic values. Hungary's strict migration policy and its impact on European policy in this area. Economic reforms known as "Orbanomics" and their controversial perception in the international arena. Changes in Hungary's media landscape and discussions about press freedom. Hungary's foreign policy course, including its relations with Russia, China, the USA, and neighboring countries. Special attention is paid to the impact of the Hungarian governance model on regional politics in Central and Eastern Europe, as well as its perception by right-wing and conservative movements in Europe and the USA. The article also examines the dynamics of Hungary's relations with the EU and NATO, particularly in the context of Russian aggression against Ukraine and Hungary's position on this conflict. The research is based on a wide range of Western media sources, including leading newspapers, magazines, television channels, and online publications. The author traces changes in the tone and focus of coverage of Hungarian politics during the specified period, identifying key trends and turning points in the international perception of Hungary. The article also examines Western media's reaction to Hungary's presidency of the Council of the European Union. The author summarizes the main trends in Western media coverage of Hungarian politics and assesses their impact on Hungary's international reputation and its relations with key partners.

К стратегии управления экологической безопасностью РФ и её регионов в современных условиях

In connection with the upcoming review of the Strategy for Environmental Safety until 2025, it is foreseen that changes and additions to it will be necessary in new socio-economic and political conditions. At the global level: due to the unidentified causes (natural or anthropogenic) affecting global climate change, the RF should withdraw from the Paris Agreement on Climate due to fundamentally incorrect estimates of contribution of countriesCO2 issuers in relation to the area of their territories. Because the share of CO2 emissions per unit area in the Russian Federation is much lower than in other countries, with very low population density and dispersion over production and infrastructure. In the exchange processes on the territory of the Russian Federation, up to 46,5% covered by forests, vegetation is able not only to bind anthropogenic CO2, but also to produce significant amounts of oxygen in the Earth’s atmosphere compared to other countries. Therefore, when investing capital in the Russian economy, countries with a large contribution of anthropogenic CO2 per unit of area must pay an environmental rent. At the regional level, the new direction of the Strategy for ensuring environmental safety of regions should be gradually moved to the assessment of territories not by the level of anthropogenic loads on the environment, but by the amount of their assimilation potential, as an indicator of the ability of nature itself to restore the quality of the environment in natural and economic complexes; to an adaptive system of natural resources management, according to the need not to fight against emergencies, related to climate change (landscape fires, mudslides, floods and so on), and adapt to environmental changes through the systematic relocation of infrastructure and production to less affected areas.

The Gig Economy and its Implications for Human Resource Management in Jambi: A Preliminary Investigation

The gig economy, characterized by temporary and flexible work arrangements, is rapidly expanding globally. However, its implications for human resource management (HRM) in developing regions like Jambi, Indonesia, remain largely unexplored. This study aims to provide a preliminary investigation into the gig economy's impact on HRM practices in Jambi. A mixed-methods approach was employed, involving a survey of 150 gig workers and 50 traditional employees in Jambi, along with in-depth interviews with 10 HRM professionals from various industries. The survey data was analyzed using descriptive statistics and comparative analysis, while the interview data was analyzed thematically. The study found that gig workers in Jambi face challenges related to job insecurity, lack of benefits, and social isolation. HRM professionals reported difficulties in recruiting, managing, and retaining gig workers due to the lack of formal employment contracts and the need for flexible work arrangements. The findings also suggest that the gig economy is creating new opportunities for HRM practices, such as the use of technology for talent acquisition and performance management. In conclusion, gig economy is transforming the nature of work in Jambi, posing challenges and opportunities for HRM. This study highlights the need for HRM professionals to adapt their practices to the changing landscape of work. Further research is needed to explore the long-term implications of the gig economy for HRM in Jambi and other developing regions.

Dissecting the immune infiltrate of primary luminal B-like breast carcinomas in relation to age.

The impact of aging on the immune landscape of luminal breast cancer (Lum-BC) is poorly characterized. Understanding the age-related dynamics of immune editing in Lum-BC is anticipated to improve the therapeutic benefit of immunotherapy in older patients. To this end, here we applied the 'multiple iterative labeling by antibody neo-deposition' (MILAN) technique, a spatially resolved single-cell multiplex immunohistochemistry method. We created tissue microarrays by sampling both the tumor center and invasive front of luminal breast tumors collected from a cohort of treatment-naïve patients enrolled in the prospective monocentric IMAGE (IMmune system and AGEing) study. Patients were subdivided into three nonoverlapping age categories (35-45 = 'young', n = 12; 55-65 = 'middle', n = 15; ≥70 = 'old', n = 26). Additionally, depending on localization and amount of cytotoxic T lymphocytes, the tumor immune types 'desert' (n = 22), 'excluded' (n = 19), and 'inflamed' (n = 12) were identified. For the MILAN technique we used 58 markers comprising phenotypic and functional markers allowing in-depth characterization of T and B lymphocytes (T&B-lym). These were compared between age groups and tumor immune types using Wilcoxon's test and Pearson's correlation. Cytometric analysis revealed a decline of the immune cell compartment with aging. T&B-lym were numerically less abundant in tumors from middle-aged and old compared to young patients, regardless of the geographical tumor zone. Likewise, desert-type tumors showed the smallest immune-cell compartment and were not represented in the group of young patients. Analysis of immune checkpoint molecules revealed a heterogeneous geographical pattern of expression, indicating higher numbers of PD-L1 and OX40-positive T&B-lym in young compared to old patients. Despite the numerical decline of immune infiltration, old patients retained higher expression levels of OX40 in T helper cells located near cancer cells, compared to middle-aged and young patients. Aging is associated with important numerical and functional changes of the immune landscape in Lum-BC. © 2024 The Author(s). The Journal of Pathology published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of The Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland.

The Extend of Differentiated Instruction Implementation in Junior High School’s English Subject

The implementation of the Merdeka Curriculum in Indonesia has brought about significant changes in the educational landscape, particularly through the introduction of Differentiated Instruction. This qualitative descriptive research aimed to analyse the implementation of Differentiated Instruction in the English subject at SMP Islam De Green Camp Tanjungpinang, a Sekolah Penggerak for the Merdeka Curriculum. The study focused on exploring English teachers' perceptions of Differentiated Instruction, their understanding of its concept, and the extent to which it was being implemented in their classrooms. The findings revealed that while teachers generally had a positive perception of the Merdeka Curriculum and Differentiated Instruction, their practical implementation was still evolving. Although they understood the theoretical underpinnings of Differentiated Instruction, there were gaps in fully differentiating all four elements of instruction: content, process, product, and learning environment. This research contributes to the understanding of how Differentiated Instruction is being interpreted and applied in the context of the Merdeka Curriculum, highlighting both the progress made and the areas that require further development to fully realize the potential of Differentiated Instruction in enhancing student learning outcomes.

Spatial pattern and landscape change prediction of blowouts in sandy grassland

Blowouts are a common type of wind-eroded landform found in sandy and desertified areas. They also represent a major degradative surface process affecting grassland ecosystems. Blowouts exacerbate changes in surface morphology through their effects on other surface phenomena including vegetation. In this paper, Xilingol League sandy grassland blowouts are taken as the research object, and the U.S. Keyhole satellite data and China’s Gaofen-1 satellite data are used as the data source, and the blowouts are extracted based on the 3 S technology for a total of six periods of high-resolution remote sensing image data in the study area from 1962 to 2023. The Landscape Pattern Index method and Fuzzy Land Use Simulation (FLUS) modelling applied to changes over the last six decades provided spatial evolution parameters for predicting future blowout distributions. Results showed that blowouts affecting the Xilingol grassland area increased by 16.81% over the past 60 years. The patch density (PD) increased by 0.9 per hectare. The mean proximity index (PROX_MN) and mean Euclidean nearest neighbour distance (ENN_MN) showed a tendency to decrease and then increase indicating initial expansion and then merging of adjacent blowouts to create the present landscape. The FLUS model used ten factors to predict changes in blowout distributions from 2023 to 2033. Factors included digital elevation model (DEM), slope, aspect, normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI), mean annual temperature, mean annual precipitation, population density, real GDP, distance to water, and distance to impervious surfaces. It was found that grassland area decreased by 6217.12 hm2 and blowout area decreased by 102.91 hm2. Results of this study can expand understanding of blowout morphodynamics in ecologically sensitive areas.

LANDSCAPE CHANGES BASED ON HYDROLOGICAL CHARACTERISTICS IN THE WAE RIUAPA WATERSHED WEST SERAM REGENCY, MALUKU, INDONESIA

Changes in the Wae Riuapa River Basin landscape in West Seram Regency, Maluku, reflect complex ecological and social dynamics. The Wae Riuapa watershed is an integral part of the hydrological cycle in the region, influencing water availability, water quality, and geomorphological processes. This research aims to model changes in the landscape of the Wae Riuappa watershed regarding hydrological characteristics. The research method uses ArcGIS 10.3 for spatial analysis of 2010 and 2020 Landsat images and hydrooffice 12.0 software, BFLOW 3.0 module, a hydrological model for graphical separation of daily discharge. The results of modeling landscape changes in the Wae Riuappa watershed on hydrological characteristics obtained a regression model that depicts landscape changes as having a significant simultaneous and partial influence on discharge conditions in the Wae Riuappa watershed during the research period. The spatial pattern of area distribution for the nine land cover types in the study period was relatively similar. Widespread forest land cover still dominates the landscape of the Wae Riuapa watershed. However, the pattern of widespread distribution of changes is starting to decrease in primary and secondary forest land cover. Meanwhile, the distribution pattern of changes in agricultural land and mixed gardens and settlements has increased slowly and significantly. The results of a multi-temporal analysis of the hydrological characteristics of the Wae Riuapa watershed show that the daily discharge trend experiences multi-temporal fluctuations.

Dating drainage reversal using mineral provenance along the Yangsan Fault, South Korea.

Tectonics is broadly accepted as one of the main factors controlling long-term landscape evolution. The impact of tectonics on short timescales is most often observed through earthquake rupturings that produce localized, metric-scale deformations. Although these deformations significantly affect the landscape, it remains challenging to precisely correlate major landscape changes with these localized earthquake deformations. Therefore, linking instantaneous deformation to long-term morphological changes often involves a thought experiment with potentially limited temporal resolution. At a paleoseismological site along the slow-moving strike-slip Yangsan Fault in South Korea, we employed optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) dating and detrital zircon analysis on all exposed unconsolidated layers in trench walls. The results reveal a significant provenance shift in the sediments accumulating in the trench, indicating a major reorganization of the drainage network. Based on our OSL and detrital zircon data, we estimate that this change occurred around 70ka. We propose that this drastic drainage reorganization was caused by a combination of very slow, yet continuous, earthquake activity and a temporary reduction in river erosion during the onset of the cold, dry spell characteristic of the MIS4 stage across the Korean Peninsula.

Current opinions: updates on the changing landscape in the management of cervical cancer

Current opinions: updates on the changing landscape in the management of cervical cancer

Reconstructing palaeogeography and landscapes around the ancient Greek colony of Abdera (Thrace, NE gr.): an integrated remote sensing approach

ABSTRACT We developed a multi-source, integrated remote sensing approach to characterize the geomorphological features of the alluvial and coastal lowlands around the ancient Abdera (coastal Thrace, Gr.). By combining multi-temporal composites of satellite imagery, DEM-derived products, orthophotography, and different cartographic resources, more than 1000 linear km of ancient landforms have been identified and mapped. When crossed with archaeological and historical data, our results allowed to propose a reconstruction of the palaeogeographic evolution and geomorphological dynamics in the eastern lobe of the Nestos Delta, the Kosynthos plain, Lake Vistonida and the Porto Lagos coast since the Antiquity. Our results suggest that the delta developed mainly between Hellenistic times and the Late Antiquity, when it had reached a shape similar to the current. Most of the large palaeochannels visible in the delta seem to be Nestos’ short-lived avulsions occurring in late Byzantine and Ottoman periods. Eastwards progradation of the Kosynthos plain, especially during Byzantine and Ottoman periods and accelerating in the 20th c. due to river channelization, was the main cause of the silting and a significant size reduction of Lake Vistonida since the Antiquity. Lake Lafra was also partially silted in late Byzantine and Ottoman times, likely due to the sedimentary discharge of the Kosynthos after a change in its course. By contrast, other lagoons and wetlands in the coast of Porto Lagos seem relatively stable in the last millennia with only minor silting and coastline progradation. Further geomorphological and geoarchaeological research in the area will allow to draw more precisely long-term interaction of past societies with environmental dynamics and resulting landscape change.

Violent farmer–herder conflicts in West Africa: landscape–livelihood interactions and the political ecology of customary dispute resolution

ABSTRACT This paper addresses the relationship among customary authorities, local disputes, and conflict escalation in Benin, West Africa, where violent insurgency is emerging. It uses a mixed-methods approach to investigate how changes in land use and livelihoods affect the capacity of customary authorities to resolve farmer–herder disputes as a prerequisite for violence prevention. It concludes that landscape changes and altered livestock migration patterns have weakened dispute resolution mechanisms to the point where they no longer function effectively. The result is a higher risk of escalation in areas where regional insecurity is linked to local conflicts between farmers and livestock herders.

Genetic Implications for Cancer Management: The Changing Landscape of Poly (ADP-ribose) Polymerase Inhibitor Indications in the Treatment of Ovarian Cancer.

Between December 2014 and May 2020, the United States Food and Drug Administration approved 9 indications for poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) inhibitor use in ovarian cancer. Between June 2022 and September 2022, all 3 indications for PARP inhibitor treatment of recurrent ovarian cancer were withdrawn. Between November 2022 and September 2023, all 3 indications for PARP inhibitor maintenance therapy in recurrent ovarian cancer were restricted. The 3 indications for PARP inhibitor maintenance therapy in newly diagnosed advanced ovarian cancer are unchanged. This article reviews the timelines and data leading to regulatory changes for PARP inhibitor use in ovarian cancer in the United States.

Adapting to Changing Landscape: Strategic Planning and Change Management in Islamic Higher Education

This study aims to analyze the concept and process of strategic planning that can contribute to the success and effectiveness of strategic planning in Islamic universities by following the steps of strategic change developed by John Moore Bryson. The background of this study is based on the fact that the university environment, especially Islamic universities, generally still needs significant breakthroughs in strategic planning. The mixed method is used to consider the aspect of academic usefulness. First, the mixed method strategy gradually expands the findings. Second, the mixed method strategy combines quantitative and qualitative data into one piece of information to obtain a comprehensive analysis. The research findings show that the strategy model is an effort to integrate the main objectives and policies of the organization into a series of actions that can be relied on in achieving the organization at a certain point. The results of this study are expected to provide an essential contribution by identifying the gap between the John Moore-Bryson model and the strategic change model in the organizational environment of Islamic universities.

Changes in the Epidemiological Landscape of Diabetes in South Korea: Trends in Prevalence, Incidence, and Healthcare Expenditures.

Diabetes is a serious public health concern that significantly contributes to the global burden of disease. In Korea, the prevalence of diabetes is 12.5% among individuals aged 19 and older, and 14.8% among individuals aged 30 and older as of 2022. The total number of people with diabetes among those aged 19 and older is estimated to be 5.4 million. The incidence of diabetes decreased from 8.1 per 1,000 persons in 2006 to 6.3 per 1,000 persons in 2014, before rising again to 7.5 per 1,000 persons in 2019. Meanwhile, the incidence of type 1 diabetes increased significantly, from 1.1 per 100,000 persons in 1995 to 4.8 per 100,000 persons in 2016, with the prevalence reaching 41.0 per 100,000 persons in 2017. Additionally, the prevalence of gestational diabetes saw a substantial rise from 4.1% in 2007 to 22.3% in 2023. These changes have resulted in increases in the total medical costs for diabetes, covering both outpatient and inpatient services. Therefore, effective diabetes prevention strategies are urgently needed.

The impact of a whole foods dietary intervention on gastrointestinal symptoms, inflammation, and fecal microbiota in pediatric patients with cystic fibrosis: A pilot study

Gastrointestinal (GI) complications are a significant source of morbidity for people with cystic fibrosis (PwCF). Historically, dietary recommendations in CF have focused on calories, typically emphasizing a high fat diet. The changing landscape of CF highlights the need to update this nutritional strategy. There is little research into how the quality of calories consumed by PwCF influences nutritional outcomes, GI symptoms, or likely contributors: intestinal inflammation and GI microbiology. We assessed the feasibility of a whole foods-based diet (WFD) and avoidance of ultra-processed foods, measuring safety/tolerability, adherence, and GI symptoms, as well as fecal measures of inflammation and microbiota among children with CF (CwCF) with GI symptoms. Single center, 4-week dietary intervention involving CwCF aged 5-14 years who screened positive on GI symptom questionnaire. Assessments included weight, symptom questionnaires and adverse events (AEs). Stool was analyzed for microbiota (16S rRNA) and calprotectin. 108 children were pre-screened, 9 enrolled and 8 initiated and completed the study. There were no significant changes in weight and no AEs. PEDS-QL GI identified overall improvement in symptoms. Certain symptom domains (constipation, diarrhea, gas/bloating, stomach pain and hurt) demonstrated significant improvement on the WFD. Of two participants with abnormal fecal calprotectin at enrollment, both exhibited decreased values on WFD. There was no significant change in microbiota diversity. A WFD diet was feasible and safe in CwCF. There was improvement in GI symptom scores based on both parent and child assessments. Larger studies are needed to further investigate effects on intestinal inflammation and microbiota.

Cleavages and identities in the changing landscape of world politics

The article advocates updating the research concerning divided societies and complexly organized states. It addresses the genesis and advancement of complex identities of social actors and political agency. The discussion focuses on the correlation between the structuration and content saturation of identities. The use of operational interfaces from fundamental distinctions to various kinds of divides, demarcations and polarizations leaves still unresolved the problem of qualitative parameters of identities, and ways to represent and analyze them. Innovative approaches developed by Russian political scientists take into account the relationship between the processes of world development and the identity of its development drivers and agency from individual political actors to complex social movements. The article shows that the effective deployment of the respective research program requires not only external accounting of the temporal parameters, but full integration of modern evolutionary approaches into their methodology. It is necessary to overcome the usual interpretations of identity in the singular as an abstract universal idea. Equally it is necessary to move to the study of the complex interaction of the acting forces of development and the formation of a dynamic flow of individual and mutual identifications in the plural. To this end, it is suggested not only to update the Rokkanian paradigm of demarcations by expanding the set of distinctions and making the whole structure more dynamic, but also to use the possibilities of extended evolutionary synthesis.

Spatially Explicit Analysis of Landscape Structures, Urban Growth, and Economic Dynamics in Metropolitan Regions

Assuming that settlement morphologies and landscape structures are the result of economic transformations, the present study illustrates a statistical framework investigating metropolitan growth due to the inherent changes in landscape configurations vis à vis socio-demographic functions. Focusing on the evolution of their spatial drivers over time, metropolitan development was studied by adopting land parcels (or ‘patches’, as they are referred to in the ecological literature) as the elementary analysis unit—with the individual surface area and a specific shape indicator as the dependent variables and background socioeconomic attributes as predictors of landscape change over time. We specifically ran a Multiscale Geographically Weighted Regression (MGWR) testing the spatial dependence of the size and shape of landscape parcels on a vast ensemble of socioeconomic factors in a dense region (metropolitan Athens, Greece) with natural landscapes exposed to increasing human pressure. To investigate the spatial direction and intensity of the settlement expansion and landscape change, local regressions using the parcel area and fractal index (perimeter-to-area ratio) as the dependent variables and the elevation, distance from selected economic nodes, transport infrastructures, and natural amenities as the predictors were run separately for 1990 and 2018, representative of, respectively, a mono-centric configuration and a moderately polycentric organization of economic spaces. In a strictly mono-centric setting (1990), the parcel size showed a linear dependence on the distance from business districts, elevation, and wealth. Changes in the relationship between the parcel size and spatial (economic and non-economic) drivers may suggest a latent process of settlement de-concentration, and a possible shift toward polycentric development (2018), as documented in earlier studies. By integrating socioeconomic and ecological dimensions of landscape analysis and land evaluation, the empirical results of this study outline the increased complexity of dispersed landscape structures within dense metropolitan regions and along urban–rural gradients in Europe.

Dynamics of epitranscriptomes uncover translational reprogramming directed by ac4C in rice during pathogen infection.

Messenger RNA modifications play pivotal roles in RNA biology, but comprehensive landscape changes of epitranscriptomes remain largely unknown in plant immune response. Here we report translational reprogramming directed by ac4C mRNA modification upon pathogen challenge. We first investigate the dynamics of translatomes and epitranscriptomes and uncover that the change in ac4C at single-base resolution promotes translational reprogramming upon Magnaporthe oryzae infection. Then by characterizing the specific distributions of m1A, 2'O-Nm, ac4C, m5C, m6A and m7G, we find that ac4Cs, unlike other modifications, are enriched at the 3rd position of codons, which stabilizes the Watson-Crick base pairing. Importantly, we demonstrate that upon pathogen infection, the increased expression of the ac4C writer OsNAT10/OsACYR (N-ACETYLTRANSFERASE FOR CYTIDINE IN RNA) promotes translation to facilitate rapid activation of immune responses, including the enhancement of jasmonic acid biosynthesis. Our study provides an atlas of mRNA modifications and insights into ac4C function in plant immunity.