Continental Level Research Articles

A binational temple for a transnational Virgin: the construction of the Argentine-Uruguayan Hortus Conclusus sanctuary in Palestine

ABSTRACT The article studies the construction process of the Argentine-Uruguayan Hortus Conclusus sanctuary, inaugurated in Palestine in 1902. It focuses on the project’s diffusion and the construction of solidarity networks between Latin America, Rome and Palestine articulated by the Archbishop of Montevideo Mariano Soler. The central argument is that the case studied exhibits some particularities of the “global turn” of the Catholic Church in the Río de la Plata, which rather than being a passive recipient of congregations, images and devotions received from European “centers” of Catholic renovation, functioned as a dynamic space of appropriation and even universalization for many of these forms and images. This can be perceived by reconstructing the life of transnational agents and projects that linked different places in the world, amplifying the global consciousness of Catholicism at the local, national, and continental levels. Also, the article exemplifies how a Marian devotion was able to function as a symbolic space in service of political identities, and as a vehicle for (trans)national movements.

MP51-04 THE EXSTROPHY EXPERIENCE: A NATIONAL SURVEY ASSESSING URINARY CONTINENCE, BLADDER MANAGEMENT, AND ONCOLOGIC OUTCOMES IN ADULTS

You have accessJournal of UrologyPediatric Urology IV (MP51)1 Sep 2021MP51-04 THE EXSTROPHY EXPERIENCE: A NATIONAL SURVEY ASSESSING URINARY CONTINENCE, BLADDER MANAGEMENT, AND ONCOLOGIC OUTCOMES IN ADULTS Natalia Arias Villela, Kelly Harris, Ridwan Alam, Wayland Wu, Rachel Davis, Pamela Artigas, Heather Di Carlo, and John Gearhart Natalia Arias VillelaNatalia Arias Villela More articles by this author , Kelly HarrisKelly Harris More articles by this author , Ridwan AlamRidwan Alam More articles by this author , Wayland WuWayland Wu More articles by this author , Rachel DavisRachel Davis More articles by this author , Pamela ArtigasPamela Artigas More articles by this author , Heather Di CarloHeather Di Carlo More articles by this author , and John GearhartJohn Gearhart More articles by this author View All Author Informationhttps://doi.org/10.1097/JU.0000000000002077.04AboutPDF ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack CitationsPermissionsReprints ShareFacebookLinked InTwitterEmail Abstract INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVE: The bladder exstrophy-epispadias complex (BEEC) is a rare spectrum of congenital genitourinary malformations with an incidence of 1:10,000 to 1:50,000. Advances in reconstructive surgical techniques have improved clinical outcomes, but there is a paucity in data about disease sequela in adulthood. This is the largest survey to date in the United States exploring the urinary continence, bladder management, and oncologic outcomes in adults with BEEC. METHODS: Respondents were over the age of 18 with a diagnosis of bladder exstrophy, cloacal exstrophy, or epispadias. They were treated at the authors’ institution, included in the Association for the Bladder Exstrophy Community (ABeC) mailing list, and/or engaged in ABeC social media. A survey was created using uniquely designed questions and validated questionnaires. Survey responses between May 2020 and July 2020 were processed using Research Electronic Data Capture. Quantitative and qualitative statistics were used to analyze the data with significance at p<0.05. RESULTS: A total of 159 patients completed the survey. The median age was 31.5 years (IQR 25.9-45.9). Most patients (>70%) considered themselves continent of urine, with a median satisfaction score of 74 (IQR 50-97) on a scale from 0 to 100. There was less leakage among those with a continent urinary diversion compared to those who void or catheterize per urethra (p=0.003). Patients with intestinal-urinary tract reconstruction, such as augmentation cystoplasty or neobladder creation, were more likely to perform bladder irrigations (p=0.03). There was no difference in urinary tract infection (UTI) (p=0.497) or recurrent UTIs (p=0.117) among patients with and without intestinal-urinary tract reconstruction. Three (1.9%) patients were diagnosed with bladder cancer. A small portion of patients (27.2%) were given bladder cancer surveillance recommendations by a physician. CONCLUSIONS: Most patients achieved a satisfactory level of urinary continence, with the best outcomes in those with a continent urinary diversion. Those with intestinal-urinary tract reconstruction were more likely to perform bladder irrigations, perhaps to avoid complications from intestinal mucous production. The rates of UTI and recurrent UTIs were not affected by the type of genitourinary reconstruction. Bladder cancer rate was low although long-term follow-up is needed. Periodic monitoring of the upper urinary tract and bladder cancer surveillance is likely beneficial in this patient population. Source of Funding: None © 2021 by American Urological Association Education and Research, Inc.FiguresReferencesRelatedDetails Volume 206Issue Supplement 3September 2021Page: e897-e897 Advertisement Copyright & Permissions© 2021 by American Urological Association Education and Research, Inc.MetricsAuthor Information Natalia Arias Villela More articles by this author Kelly Harris More articles by this author Ridwan Alam More articles by this author Wayland Wu More articles by this author Rachel Davis More articles by this author Pamela Artigas More articles by this author Heather Di Carlo More articles by this author John Gearhart More articles by this author Expand All Advertisement Loading ...

INFLUENCE OF DRAMA REHEARSALS IN REGULATING STUDENTS’ BEHAVIOUR AND MANAGEMENT OF DISCIPLINE IN SECONDARY SCHOOLS IN CENTRAL REGION, KENYA

&lt;p&gt;The use of drama rehearsals as a tool for inculcating discipline among students had been investigated by a number of scholars and education practitioners on global, continental and regional levels. However notable that drama rehearsals as a tool for inculcating discipline could be overlooked as a result of its demands, such as time. Therefore, purpose of the study was to determine effectiveness of drama rehearsals as a strategy in the management of discipline in secondary schools in central region, Kenya. The study used descriptive survey design. The target population was 79 deputy principals, 79 drama teachers, and 1888 drama students and non-drama students in secondary school in Central Region, Kenya. Both the census technique and random sampling were used to get a representative sample size of 419 respondents. Data was collected from the respondents using pretested questionnaires and was analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistical techniques with the aid of Statistical Package for Social Scientists (SPSS) and then interpreted. The study found that the relationship between drama rehearsals and management of discipline among secondary school students was significant. The study therefore recommended that there was need to for school administrators to facilitate more drama rehearsals in order to improve the levels of discipline among students. This will improve their communication skills and as a result bring more rapport between the students and administrators.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt; &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt; Article visualizations:&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;img src="/-counters-/edu_01/0875/a.php" alt="Hit counter" /&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

Edinburgh Lamarckians? The Authorship of Three Anonymous Papers (1826\u20131829)

In the space of four years, from 1826 to 1829, the Edinburgh New Philosophical Journal published three anonymous articles seemingly advocating doctrines inspired by Jean-Baptiste Lamarck. Decades of scholarship have initially attributed the most outspoken of the three articles, the 1826 “Observations on the Nature and Importance of Geology,” to Robert Grant, and subsequently to Robert Jameson, thanks to a critical reassessment by James Secord (1991). More recently, scholars have also ascribed to Jameson an article published in 1829, “Of the Continuity of the Animal Kingdom by Means of Generation from the First Ages of the World to the Present Times.” A third short contribution, the 1827 “Of the Changes which Life has Experienced on the Globe” has been credited to the Franco-German Ami Boué. Research undertaken over several years has led to the identification of the three authors hiding behind the veil of anonymity. They were not the ones scholars have agreed upon, nor were they really “Lamarckians.” The discussion of the ways in which the three texts reached Edinburgh broadens our understanding of the daily working practices of contemporary periodicals and of the networks of circulation of texts at the Continental level. Finally, when considered within their proper conceptual and social context, the three articles throw light on the many ways in which, during the 1820s, European amateurs, naturalists, and journalists debated the succession of life forms throughout the history of the Earth.

Children’s Rights and COVID-19 Responses under the African Union: Recent Developments and Challenges

There is little doubt that children are at risk of being seriously affected by the socio-economic impact and the response measures to the COVID-19 pandemic that may inadvertently affect their rights, interests and well-being. UNICEF has declared that unless states act together, globally and regionally, to address this, it is possible that the pandemic will permanently cause damage to children and our shared future. The pandemic poses real challenges for children around the world, particularly the developing countries in Africa. Most African countries are already bedevilled by socio-economic frailties, corruption, conflict and institutional problems. In this article we explore responses to COVID-19 from the African Union (AU), to ascertain how regional responses have integrated the protection of the rights and interests of children. With the African Children’s Charter as a guide, it is argued that institutions at the AU continental and sub-regional levels are increasingly becoming aware of the importance of children’s rights as a distinct issue rather than being part of women’s concerns. The AU celebrated the thirtieth anniversary of the African Children’s Charter in 2020, and this occasion provides a timely opportunity to reflect on how regional institutions are integrating the principles of children’s rights in regional governance processes and decision-making.

Journal packing density of library and information science research journals at the global level: a study

PurposeThis study aims to find out the average journal packing density (JPD) of Library and Information Science (LIS) research journals published across the world. The concept, JPD, means the average number of research articles published by a research journal in one volume. Accordingly, the undergoing study evaluates the average number of research articles published in each volume of each research journal published in the field of LIS at the global level. Some other key aspects evaluated include the number of LIS research journal publishing countries, average JPD of LIS research journals at the continental level, etc.Design/methodology/approachThis study is purely based on secondary data retrieved from SCImago, which is SCOPUS data. Keeping in view the objectives of this study, the data about research articles published in all LIS research journals during the period 2015 through 2019 were retrieved to undertake the study.FindingsFrom the data analysis, it emerged that 256 research journals duly indexed by SCOPUS are published in the field of LIS across 36 countries. In all 48,596 research articles were published from 2015 to 2019 in these research journals at an average of 44.71 research articles per journal per volume. More than 75% of LIS research journals are published from Germany, Spain, Netherlands, the USA and the UK. Research journals published from the USA have higher JPD of 53.09 research articles per journal per volume, which is 18.74% higher than the average global JPD of LIS research journals. 50% of LIS research journal publishing countries are from Europe and the majority 52.55% LIS research articles were published in European LIS research journals. The average JPD of LIS research journals published from North America is 51.73 research articles per journal per volume, which is the highest across continents.Research limitations/implicationsStandardization of JPD of research journals irrespective of the subject discipline they are published in is important for many reasons and the foremost being, such standardization helps in keeping at bay the predatory research journals, which normally float such packing density norms, with the sole aim to earn money in the shape of manuscript handling charges, thereby publishing a far greater number of research article in each issue of a journal than the average research articles published by a research journal.Originality/valueVery few studies have been conducted around the concept JPD, especially by the authors of this particular study. This study has however been particularized to the LIS subject discipline, while the findings add to existing lot of study already undertaken, hence outcome can be generalized.

Differences in flight initiation distances between African and Australian birds

Associations between escape behaviours of birds approached by humans and life history traits differ between continents. This suggests environment and history have shaped the evolution of escape at the continental scale. We compared the escape behaviour of birds between eastern Australia (relatively low density and shorter history of human presence) and eastern Africa (high density and substantially longer history of human presence), in relation to life and natural history traits known to influence escape behaviour. We examined associations between flight initiation distance (FID) and life and natural history variables, using phylogenetically controlled analysis and model selection procedures, for 9372 FIDs from 516 bird species. Overall, African birds had shorter FIDs than Australian birds; however, this difference was only observed among nonmigratory (resident) species. Migratory birds showed no continental level differences in FIDs. Across continents, birds in ‘wetland’ and ‘treed’ habitats both had significantly longer FIDs than birds in ‘scrub’ habitats. Diet and social traits (cooperative breeding and flocking) did not significantly influence FID. The relationship between body mass and FID was positive for Australian birds but not so for African birds. This study (1) suggests that resident eastern African birds are more tolerant of humans and (2) supports the contention that some principles regarding escape behaviour of birds might represent universal patterns (e.g. longer FIDs in open wetland habitats), others (e.g. longer FIDs in larger birds) vary geographically or with habituation, perhaps in relation to the history of cohabitation between humans (and other predators) and birds.

Daily time series of river water levels derived from a seasonal linear model using multisource satellite products under uncertainty

Satellite altimetry helps to monitor continental water levels with global coverage and near-real time accessibility. However, a main drawback of satellite altimetry is its low acquisition frequency that hinders the use of altimeters in flood forecasting or reservoir operation processes. This study provides a new method to estimate daily river heights from multisource hydro-climate satellite products without using ground-based data. First, the approach develops a simple statistical model, a seasonal linear model, using satellite altimetry, land surface temperature (LST), satellite precipitation and satellite soil moisture products. Second, a Monte Carlo simulation is used to understand the model accuracy by attributing the model output errors to uncertainties from the multiple satellite products. For the first aim, the study shows that using high-frequency satellite data to improve the temporal resolution of the satellite radar altimetry is better than an approach merging multiple satellite altimetry data. With respect to the second objective, it is found that higher variances are found in seasonal transition periods where there are significant changes in satellite observations. The overall error of the model is attributed to both uncertainties of satellite input data and the interactions among their uncertainties. The results demonstrate the capability of using multisource satellite data to predict daily time series of river heights in data-poor areas. The results also highlight the importance of quantifying uncertainty to increase the reliability of flood forecasting models using satellite products.

Living Climate Change Impacts in Pacific SIDS: Articulating the Pacific Way in an Unresponsive World

Pacific Small Island Developing States (SIDS) are among the world’s smallest nations living the severe impacts of climate change and development that are consuming them while the world remains largely divided about how to adapt to and mitigate against these changes. This is an onerous concern because while the life-threatening impacts of climate change are becoming better understood across the world, humanity has not agreed on concrete plans and appropriate activities to effectively address the single most callous threat of our time.1 In spite of decades of the Conference of the Parties and associated meetings, assortments of agreements, treaties and conventions formulated at global, regional seas and continental levels and through various organizations, and innumerable partnerships that produced policy frameworks, guidelines, strategies, plans, action plans and pathways to direct countries, there has been little unified effective action taken by the global community. The deeply entrenched and polarized positions between the different countries and the variations in their activities have frustrated Pacific SIDS, which are fighting a losing battle against climate change unless all the major countries of the world commit to these initiatives.

Spatial disparities in trade-offs: economic and environmental impacts of road infrastructure on continental level

ABSTRACT Remote sensing and geospatial techniques are being used to provide large-scale and regional solutions for achieving the sustainable development goals (SDGs) of the United Nations, including sustainable infrastructure development. Road transportation infrastructure has a significant contribution to the economy, but it also increases environmental pressure. However, little knowledge is available about spatial characteristics in the relationship between road impacts on the economy and impacts on the roadside environment. This research explores the spatial disparities in the relationship of road impacts on a continental level in Australia from 2011 to 2016. The performance of road transportation infrastructure is characterized from the perspectives of road density, connectivity, traffic volumes, and service to communities, other transportations (e.g. ports and airports), and industries, using remote sensing data and spatial heterogeneity models. Local economy and roadside environment are respectively presented using resident income and the change of roadside Enhanced Vegetation Index (EVI) and Aerosol Optical Depth (AOD) derived from the moderate resolution imaging spectroradiometer (MODIS) onboard the Terra satellite generated from Google Earth Engine. The road impacts of variables and their interaction on the economy and environment were calculated using an optimal parameters-based geographical detectors model (OPGD). Results reveal that the interaction of road density and traffic volumes can explain 47.4% of the resident income. In addition, results demonstrate the significant spatial disparities in the relationship between road impacts on the economy and impacts on the local environment. In major cities, such as Sydney and Melbourne, the pressure of roadside environment is increased with the economic growth, but the roadside environment has been improved in suburban and rural areas. Areas with the service to industries range from 64.4 km to 128 km have the most significant roadside EVI increase (2.5%). To the best of our knowledge, this is the first research to explore spatially differentiated trade-offs between the economic and roadside environmental impacts of roads using remotely sensed data, geospatial data, and spatial heterogeneity model at the continental level. Findings from this study provide an in-depth understanding of the interactions and trade-offs of road impacts on the local economy and the environment. Geospatial trade-offs and impact analysis methods in the study can be applied in wider fields to achieve global and regional SDGs.

Mobility Trends during the COVID-19 Virus Pandemic

The Coronavirus Pandemic (COVID-19) has a significant impact on countries around the world and many states have introduced restrictions to transport. This includes keeping essential transport moving, for example to transport medical supplies and other essential goods. Many countries have closed their borders and imposed curfews in sharp reductions in transport demand also on regional and continental level. Public transport but also shared mobility services are vectors for distribution of the virus, on the other hand, they are severely impacted by travel bans and individual concerns in order to avoid public gatherings leading to reduced travel and transport demand. Different countries have dealt with these challenging circumstances in different ways - and, in some cases, the directives vary from city to city. Cities in developing countries and emerging economies face bigger challenges than ever before. At the beginning of the Coronavirus Pandemic (COVID-19) google maps started to collect detailed statistics on the movement of people using location data from mobile devices. The paper analyzes the data obtained and shows the results for various areas of movement such as shops, recreation areas, parks, public transport and other. A comparison was made of the collected data in the Republic of Croatia, which had a solid measures, Italian Republic which had many affected during the pandemic and Kingdom of Sweden which had very mild measures during a pandemic. Therefore, a study was made on how measures affected the mobility of people in individual countries with different measures.

How space can support African civil societies: Security, peace, and development through Efficient Governance Supported by space applications

This study investigates the vast potential for space-based technologies and applications in supporting governance to strengthen civil society, bolster democratic processes, and allow for socio-economic development throughout Africa. It offers a comprehensive analysis of African governance levels, existing e-governance systems, African challenges relating to e-governance adoption, and how e-governance solutions can assist in realising the continent's development goals.First, the study explores the integral role of good governance in achieving the UN Agenda 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the AU's Agenda 2063 aspirations. Subsequently, the existing African governance structures established at a continental level are described to provide an overview of the frameworks informing governance within Africa. Specific challenges that need to be overcome to ensure good governance are then addressed and the current governance levels in Africa are evaluated. An assessment of e-government readiness levels both globally and within Africa is offered through an examination of the United Nations E-Government Survey from 2018. Specific barriers to e-government, both abroad and within Africa, are then analysed along with the associated risks relating to e-government systems. It then investigates how digital divides and lack of internet connectivity within Africa can be addressed by new technologies and commitments from both terrestrial and space actors. The opportunities afforded by rapidly growing satellite constellations being deployed to increase connectivity levels and reduce the costs thereof are then analysed in detail and the various planned constellations are assessed on a technical level. Lastly, the potential for Earth Observation and remote sensing data to assist with e-governance activities across sectors including healthcare, education, agriculture, water and sanitation, and emergency responses is investigated.

Island Imaginaries: Introduction to a Special Section

ABSTRACT Colonial empires, scientists, philanthropists and Hollywood studios have long sustained an image of islands as remote places with unique ecologies and cultures, experimental labs, or loci of escapism. The climate crisis and the Covid-19 pandemic have contributed to a predominant view of islands as both exceptional spaces and testbeds to be scaled up onto continental or planetary levels. Likewise, the metaphor of the island is foundational to Western thought yet has been less explored in the context of scientific processes and technology development. Bringing together science and technology studies (STS) with critical Island Studies and related fields, this special section expands upon the spatial dimension of sociotechnical imaginaries to consider islands and their imaginations as both preexisting and channeling visions of science and technology. The introduced concept of Island Imaginaries captures the mutual constitution of island visions and their materialization in scientific, technological and technocratic endeavors that are imagined and pursued by scientific communities, policymakers, and other social collectives. Such an approach explores the co-constitutive dynamic of islands as sites for the foundation of technoscientific knowledge regimes, and the concomitant rendering of islands as conducive places for discovery and experimentation. The special section offers empirical case studies with insights into islands as synecdoche for larger wholes (the Earth), as experimental and exceptional sites for trialing business creation and political orders (in Singapore, and for Asia), and as variously interpreted laboratory paradise (of Hawai‘i). Further research themes for STS are suggested in the Conclusion.

Tracing international migration in projections of income and inequality across the Shared Socioeconomic Pathways

The Shared Socioeconomic Pathways (SSPs) represent five narratives of future development used for climate change research. They include quantified projections of socioeconomic variables such as population, income levels, inequalities, and emissions over the twenty-first century. The SSP’s population projections embody explicit, pathway-specific international migration assumptions, which are only implicit in the projections of other variables. In this contribution, we explicitly quantify the effects of international migration on income levels and income inequality across and within countries by comparing the original SSP projections to scenarios of zero migration. Income projections without migration are obtained by removing two effects of migration on income dynamics: changes in population size and remittances sent to origin countries. We base our remittance estimates on migrant stocks derived from bilateral migration flow estimates obtained from a gravity model. We find that, on average, migration tends to make the world richer in all SSP narratives. The nature of migration and remittance corridors is shaped by the specific scenario of future development considered. Depending on the particular SSP narrative and world region considered, the effects of migration on income can be substantial, ranging from −5 to +21% at the continental level. We show that migration tends to decrease income inequality across countries and within country in most destination countries but does not affect within-country inequality in origin countries. This new set of projections is consistent with the interdisciplinary framework of the SSPs, which makes it particularly useful for assessing global climate and sustainable development policy options.

Adopting a cross-scale approach for the deployment of a green infrastructure

The implementation of a Green Infrastructure (GI) involves several actors and governance scales that need adequate knowledge support. The multifunctionality of GI entails the implementation of a cross-scale approach, which combines assessments conducted at different levels and active stakeholder engagement. This paper provides a methodology to implement a cross-scale approach to support the deployment of a Regional GI. The methodology was tested in Lombardy Region (north-west of Italy), considering three relevant territorial scales and relative strategic and planning policies. The continental level representing the overall policy-context; the regional level, with its key role for guaranteeing landscape coherence and connectivity and the local level where planning actions are effectively designed and implemented. The EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030 and the EU GI strategy were used as references for the continental level; at the regional level, a proposal of Regional GI was evaluated focusing on two Provinces (Varese and Lecco), three regional parks (Ticino, Adda Nord and Campo dei Fiori). At the local scale, the new development plan of the Municipality of Cassano d'Adda (Milan metropolitan area) was evaluated considering different possible scenarios. The regional GI was evaluated with respect to the capacity to provide Cultural Ecosystem Services (CES). CES were mapped using the ESTIMAP-recreation model. The model was adapted to the regional and local level with the active engagement of local stakeholders. Additionally, census data were analysed to obtain an overview of the equitable distribution of the CES amongst inhabitants. Results show that, in 78% of the census blocks of the study area, inhabitants have a high-value recreation resource within 4 km (31% within 4 km and 47% within 300 m). Unmet demand characterises 22% of the census blocks in the study area, clustered in zones with a high population density. The regional GI covers almost completely the two Provinces and the regional parks. In Varese Province: 68% of the territory is included in the regional GI, 82% of the census blocks local demand for recreation opportunities is met, but the population density is higher where the demand is unmet. The Province is characterised by a relatively old population (share of people older than 65 years 23.4%). In Lecco Province, 80% of the territory is included in the regional GI, in 96% of the blocks the local demand is met and the local population is relatively old (share of elderly population 22.12%). The three regional parks present significant differences, strongly influenced by the territorial context. The Campo dei Fiori Park is almost completely included in the regional GI. The entire local population has nature-based recreation opportunities in their close vicinity. Nevertheless, the population density is very low and citizens are relatively old. The majority of the Parco Adda Nord is included in the regional GI providing recreation opportunities to 90% of the census blocks within the Park boundaries. A total of 70% of Ticino Park is included in the regional GI, where local residents are relatively old (share of elderly population 23.78%) and 90% of local census blocks are close to nature-based opportunities. At local scale, we explored how the approach can be used to estimate changes in the CES potential provision and how this can be integrated into a site management plan. This paper demonstrated that the combination of studies in a cross-scale perspective enhances the understanding of GI multifunctionality. It provides a framework to adapt CES mapping models to the local setting with active stakeholders engagement. Moreover, it demonstrates that also highly urbanised areas, such as the Lombardy Region in Italy, can play a role in the deployment of a continental GI and can support biodiversity and nature protection.

Aspects of Atlas Mapping for Analysis of Energy Infrastructure in Different Regions

he paper addresses the visualization and systematization of cartographic material for analyzing energy infrastructure in various world regions. It discusses the technology (architecture) for building maps based on the concept of atlas mapping. An interface was developed for the construction of interactive maps and navigation in any section of the world atlas - from the level of world continents to a detailed map of any region within the country. We have constructed and stored contour maps of all countries of the world in the database of the computing geo-information system (СGIS). CGIS allows constructing hybrid maps, which contain vector and raster map layers with the energy infrastructure overlaid on them in the selected territory. An algorithm was constructed to search for energy objects and administrative entities in any country or region of the world. The atlases built by CGIS are used at Melentiev Energy Systems Institute (MESI) of the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences to plot the solutions obtained with the optimization model ORIRES (which reflects the optimal operation of the interconnected power systems in different scenarios) on a map of a selected area or region.

The African Water Vision 2025: its influence on water governance in the development of Africa's water sector, with an emphasis on rural communities in Kenya: a review

Abstract Reliable and secure water resources for rural communities in Africa continue to be at the forefront of the challenges facing these communities in the last 20 years, particularly for smallholders, agricultural sector productivity, food security and economic development increasingly exacerbated by climate change and rapidly growing urban populations. Addressing these challenges requires well-structured policy in the water sector, to implement commitments and investments effectively, and ultimately ensure the quantity and quality of water supply. The AWV 2025 for Africa was commissioned by the World Water Council in 2000 to create a framework to target these aspects in Africa. We examine the progress towards achieving this vision after two decades, through the initiatives, government policies and water strategies that have been implemented. We take a closer look at the top-down impact of the AWV 2025 in the national context of Kenya and its rural population. While the water sector has evolved since 2000, it remains difficult to meet international standards, both at the continental level and in Kenya. This requires continued efforts to strengthen good governance in the water sector, address the financial challenges associated with the expansion of the infrastructure, and developing decentralized approaches to water supply provision.

Trade openness and employment: Implications on urbanization in Sub-Saharan Africa

Why are African countries urbanizing so fast? How do cities promote growth and why is it important to solve urban issues in Africa? In the context of higher push for trade liberalisation multilaterally, it is not trivial to ask these set of question. In this study the main objective is to check the influence of trade openness of African economies on their urbanisation rate. We also assess, how evolution of non-agricultural employment has also impacted this rate. We used panel data specifications, both in static and dynamic design. The data used are collected between 1990 and 2019 on 38 African countries. Although generally urbanisation has increased during recent years in Africa, regions have experienced different pathways in the process. The results show that both trade openness and non-agricultural employment have been motivation for people to urbanise over years, in Africa. When we consider countries with high amount of people living in slums, they are more driven by employment purpose. Other variables such as per capita GDP and the fertility rate have positive and significant influence, while FDI and national investment have mixed impact. It is important to collaborate in a continental level to take advantage of the rapid urbanisation.

A Scalable Machine Learning Pipeline for Paddy Rice Classification Using Multi-Temporal Sentinel Data

The demand for rice production in Asia is expected to increase by 70% in the next 30 years, which makes evident the need for a balanced productivity and effective food security management at a national and continental level. Consequently, the timely and accurate mapping of paddy rice extent and its productivity assessment is of utmost significance. In turn, this requires continuous area monitoring and large scale mapping, at the parcel level, through the processing of big satellite data of high spatial resolution. This work designs and implements a paddy rice mapping pipeline in South Korea that is based on a time-series of Sentinel-1 and Sentinel-2 data for the year of 2018. There are two challenges that we address; the first one is the ability of our model to manage big satellite data and scale for a nationwide application. The second one is the algorithm’s capacity to cope with scarce labeled data to train supervised machine learning algorithms. Specifically, we implement an approach that combines unsupervised and supervised learning. First, we generate pseudo-labels for rice classification from a single site (Seosan-Dangjin) by using a dynamic k-means clustering approach. The pseudo-labels are then used to train a Random Forest (RF) classifier that is fine-tuned to generalize in two other sites (Haenam and Cheorwon). The optimized model was then tested against 40 labeled plots, evenly distributed across the country. The paddy rice mapping pipeline is scalable as it has been deployed in a High Performance Data Analytics (HPDA) environment using distributed implementations for both k-means and RF classifiers. When tested across the country, our model provided an overall accuracy of 96.69% and a kappa coefficient 0.87. Even more, the accurate paddy rice area mapping was returned early in the year (late July), which is key for timely decision-making. Finally, the performance of the generalized paddy rice classification model, when applied in the sites of Haenam and Cheorwon, was compared to the performance of two equivalent models that were trained with locally sampled labels. The results were comparable and highlighted the success of the model’s generalization and its applicability to other regions.

Global Trends (1961-2017) in Human Dietary Potassium Supplies.

Background: Potassium (K) is an essential mineral and major intracellular electrolyte involved in the regulation of blood pressure, muscle contraction and nerve transmission in humans. Major dietary sources of K include fruits and vegetables, starchy roots and tubers, and whole grains. The aim of this study was to assess and report: (i) the sufficiency of K in national food systems globally, (ii) to quantify the contribution from food groups, and (iii) to explore spatial and temporal trends in the period of 1961–2017. Methods: Food supply and demography (1961–2017), K composition and K requirement data were combined to estimate per capita human dietary supplies of potassium (DSK), adequate intake of K (AIK) and K sufficiency ratio (KSR) at national, regional, continental and global levels. Results and Discussion: Globally, the mean ± SD. DSK (mg capita−1 d−1) increased from 2984 ± 915 in 1961 to 3796 ± 1161 in 2017. There was a wide range in DSK between geographical regions and across years, with particularly large increases in east Asia, where DSK increased from <3000 to >5000 mg capita−1 day−1. Roots and tubers contributed the largest dietary source of K, providing up to 80% of DSK in most regions. At the global level, throughout the 57-year period, the population-weighted KSR was <1 based on the 2006 Institute of Medicine AIK recommendation, while it was >1 based on the 2019 National Academies of Science and the 2016 European Union AIK recommendation. While KSR ≥ 1 shows sufficiency of DSK, KSR < 1 does not indicate K deficiency risk. Conclusion: Due to the absence of a Recommended Daily Allowance (RDA) for K, this study used the ratio of DSK:AIK (i.e., KSR) to assess dietary K sufficiency. Estimates of dietary K sufficiency are, therefore, highly sensitive to the AIK reference value used and this varied greatly based on different institutions and years. To quantify the risk of dietary K deficiency, bridging the data gap to establish an RDA for K should be a global research priority.