Central-eastern Region Research Articles

Construction and optimization of ecological security patterns in the songnen plain

To address the ecological security issues in the Songnen Plain, this study constructs the ecological security pattern by using the Multi-Criteria Evaluation Method, Minimum Cumulative Resistance (MCR) model, and Circuit Connectivity Model. Results show that: 1) The ecological source areas were 66, 52, and 56 blocks in 2000, 2010, and 2020 respectively, which are composed mainly of forests, water bodies, and wetlands. The distribution of resistance values of the ecological resistance surface shows a gradually increases trend from the source areas to the outward surrounding regions. The high and low value areas are more dispersed, consisting with the overall spatial distribution; 2) The numbers of ecological corridors show a temporal declining trend from 178 in 2000 to 159 in 2020 with a reduction of 645.46 km in total length. Node areas are mainly distributed in the southwestern and central-eastern regions and its number decreased from 232 in 2000 to 229 in 2020. The sizes of obstacle areas are 74029.52 km2, 70203.72 km2, and 75529.72 km2 in the three periods; 3) The size of important ecological source areas has decreased by 5779.16 km2, the area of medium ecological source areas has increased by 11466.44 km2, and the area of general ecological source areas has increased by 9509.16 km2. The areas being classified as ecological conservation, ecological enhancement, ecological restoration, and ecological control are 30346.68 km2, 8480.56 km2, 51473.92 km2, and 122047.48 km2, respectively. The multiple spatial pattern optimization strategies are proposed based on the identified ecological source areas, corridors, node points, and other comprehensive ecological security patterns. It not only provides practical reference for the ecological restoration and ecological protection in the Songnen Plain, but also can be used for the ecological security pattern investigations in other study regions in the world.

Research on the Influence of FDI on China’s Economic Innovation Development

Foreign direct investment (FDI) and outward foreign direct investment (OFDI) are the primary methods through which capital moves internationally. They serve as significant conduits for technological spillover, which is vital for the progress of countries and regions. Through the combined impact of the growth in foreign direct investment and the two-way flow of FDI, China may enhance its access to various production resources, including labor, capital, and energy. Additionally, this enables China to improve the distribution of intangible assets such as knowledge and technology. Consequently, there is an urgent need to establish and implement a strategy that prioritizes innovation-driven development.This study utilizes China’s provincial panel data from 2000-2020 to examine the relationship between the expansion of foreign direct investment (FDI) and the level of innovation. The regional innovation index is used as the dependent variable, while the FDI scale is used as the independent variable. Additionally, a model is employed to test the impact of China’s FDI scale expansion on regional innovation capacity. Simultaneously, this study takes into account the disparities in development between the eastern region and the central and western regions, as well as the influence of the Pilot Free Trade Zone policy. Consequently, the sample is further categorized into the eastern region, central region, and western region for a more detailed analysis. Relevant countermeasures are provided based on the results of the empirical analysis mentioned above.

Mapping ethnobotanical aspects of the iconic Mandacaru cactus, Cereus jamacaru DC. in Brazil: a scientometric review.

Cereus jamacaru DC. occurs in the central-eastern region of Brazil and is among the best-known cacti in the country. Its phytochemical properties and fruits hold great significance to the local communities. We examined published ethnobotanical studies regarding C. jamacaru (mandacaru) undertaken between 2000 to 2024, to better understand its traditional uses and relationships with human communities in Brazil. The literature review was carried out by consulting the databases Google Scholar (166 articles), Scopus (1 article) and Web of Science (2 articles), and followed the PRISMA 2020 protocol. A total of 169 articles were identified, of which 45 were deemed relevant. The most frequent uses of C. jamacaru include medicinal (cited in 32 articles), human consumption as a non-conventional food (22), and forage (18). C. jamacaru is often cited to treat health conditions such as kidney problems, flu and inflammations, but it's also used for construction and crafts. Our results highlight the diverse and vital uses of C. jamacaru for human communities. Furthermore, we demonstrate the pattern of knowledge production regarding the ethnobotany of this species and the challenges for its conservation and the preservation of associated traditional knowledge.

A New Species of Brachystele (Spiranthinae, Orchidaceae) with Nonresupinate Flowers from Central East Argentina

Abstract— Brachystele morronei, a new orchid species recently discovered in the central-eastern region of Argentina, is described and illustrated. It is the first known species with nonresupinate flowers of the Pelexia clade, constituting a very distinctive member of the group. The phylogenetic position of the new taxon was inferred from nuclear ribosomal DNA (ITS) and two plastid DNA regions (matK and trnLF). The combined nuclear and plastid data analyses using Bayesian and parsimony-based methods revealed that B. morronei is closely related to B. camporum. The geographic distribution and a conservation assessment of the new species are presented. Morphological differences among sympatric Brachystele species are described.

Estimates of the global burden of non-Hodgkin lymphoma attributable to HIV: a population attributable modeling study

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) significantly increases the risk of non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) development, yet the population-level impact on NHL burden is unquantified. We aim to quantify this association and estimate the global burden of HIV-associated NHL. In this meta-analysis, we searched five databases (PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, Scopus) from database inception up to September 13, 2023, identifying cohort, case-control, or cross-sectional studies with an effective control group to assess NHL risk among individuals with HIV infection, with two authors extracting summary data from reports. Global and regional HIV-associated population attributable fraction (PAF) and NHL disease burden were calculated based on the pooled risk ratio (RR). HIV prevalence and NHL incidence were obtained from the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) and Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study 2019. Trends in NHL incidence due to HIV were assessed using age-standardised incidence rate (ASIR) and estimated annual percentage change (EAPC). This study was registered with PROSPERO (CRD42023404150). Out of 14,929 literature sources, 39 articles met our inclusion criteria. The risk of NHL was significantly increased in the population living with HIV (pooled RR 23.51, 95% CI 17.62-31.37; I2=100%, p<0.0001), without publication bias. Globally, 6.92% (95% CI 2.18%-11.57%) of NHL new cases in 2019 were attributable to HIV infection (30,503, 95% CI 9585-52,209), which marked a more than three-fold increase from 1990 (8340, 95% CI 3346-13,799). The UNAIDS region of Eastern and Southern Africa was the highest affected region, with 44.46% (95% CI 19.62%-58.57%) of NHL new cases attributed to HIV infection. The Eastern Europe and Central Asia region experienced the highest increase in ASIR of NHL due to HIV in the past thirty years, wherein the EAPC was 8.74% (95% CI 7.66%-9.84%), from 2010 to2019. People with HIV infection face a significantly increased risk of NHL. Targeted prevention and control policies are especially crucial for countries in Eastern and Southern Africa, Eastern Europe and Central Asia, to achieve the UNAIDS's '90-90-90' Fast-Track targets. Limited studies across diverse regions and heterogeneity between research have hindered precise estimations for specific periods and regions. Sichuan Provincial People's Hospital, Chengdu, China; Health Care for Cadres of Sichuan Province, Chengdu, China; Science and Technology Department of Sichuan Province, Chengdu, China.

Temporal, spatial and space-time distribution of infections caused by five major enteric pathogens, Ontario, Canada, 2010-2017.

In Canada, enteric diseases pose substantial health and economic burdens. The distribution of these diseases is uneven across both geography and time and understanding these patterns is therefore important for the prevention of future outbreaks. We evaluated temporal, spatial and space-time clustering of laboratory-confirmed cases of Campylobacter spp. (n = 28,728), non-typhoidal Salmonella spp. (n = 22,640), Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC; n = 1340), Yersinia spp. (n = 1674) and Listeria monocytogenes (n = 471) infections, reported between 2010 and 2017 inclusive in Ontario, the most populous province in Canada (population ~ 13,500,000 in 2016). For each enteric pathogen, we calculated the mean incidence rates (IRs) for Ontario's 35 public health unit (PHU) areas and visualized them using choropleth maps. We identified temporal, spatial and space-time high infection rate clusters using retrospective Poisson scan statistics. Campylobacter and Salmonella infections had the highest IRs, while Listeria infections had the lowest. Campylobacter, Salmonella, STEC and Listeria mostly clustered temporally in the spring/summer and sometimes extended into fall, while Yersinia showed a less clear seasonal pattern. The IR visualizations and spatial and space-time scan statistics showed geographic heterogeneity of infection rates with high infection rate clusters detected mainly in PHUs across the southwestern and central-western regions of Ontario for Campylobacter, Salmonella and STEC infections, and mainly in PHUs located in the central-eastern regions for Yersinia and Listeria. A high proportion of cases in some of the significant Salmonella, STEC and Listeria infection clusters were linked to disease outbreaks. Results from this study will inform heightened public health surveillance, and prevention and control programmes, in populations and regions of high infection rates. Further research is needed to determine the pathogen-specific socioeconomic, environmental and agricultural risk factors that may be related to the temporal and spatial disease patterns we observed in our study.

A framework for identifying the distribution of revitalization potential of idle rural residential land under rural revitalization

Idle rural residential land (IRRL) serves as a crucial resource for rural land utilization. Evaluating its potential for revitalization forms the foundational research in rural land consolidation. In the context of rural revitalization, quantitatively determining the potential to revitalize IRRL is a fundamental scientific investigation, requiring focus within the field of rural land sustainability research. In our study, we have developed a framework for identifying IRRL revitalization potential under rural revitalization, combining with the village development environment and self-characteristics of IRRL, and have proposed a classification method of IRRL revitalization types. Our results found a spatial mismatch between the IRRL revitalization potential and the external conditions of consolidation potential release. Compared with the IRRL consolidation potential based on spatial characteristics, the vitality of rural revitalization in Pinggu is small, which is manifested as low vitality of rural revitalization and surplus revitalization potential. Under rural revitalization, the IRRL revitalization potential in Pinggu is low. In the central agricultural and eastern semi-mountainous regions, IRRL plays a pivotal role in land reutilization within the context of rural revitalization. Moderate revitalization is the dominant revitalization type. The revitalization of IRRL in the central agricultural and eastern semi-mountainous regions plays a pivotal role in the reuse of residential land within rural revitalization. The prominent revitalization type is characterized as moderate revitalization. Considering the diversity of rural revitalization in Pinggu, the revitalization of IRRL should prioritize meeting a range of land usage needs within the rural revitalization context. Furthermore, it should capitalize on surplus potential through strategies like spatial transfer or retaining idle IRRL. Our research aims to foster a fresh perspective on the potential for revitalizing IRRL within the rural revitalization framework, emphasizing rural regional systems. This, in turn, can facilitate the harmonization of IRRL utilization with rural development, offering theoretical underpinning for human-land coordination and sustainable rural development in developing nations.

Drought Characterization in Croatia Using E-OBS Gridded Data

Droughts are among the major natural hazards that are spreading to many parts of the world, with huge multi-dimensional impacts. An extensive analysis of drought phenomenon is presented for continental Croatia based on a meteorological E-OBS gridded dataset (0.25° × 0.25°), within the period of 1950–2022. The drought events were characterized by the Standardized Precipitation Evapotranspiration Index (SPEI), applied to different time-scales (6 and 12 months), in order to describe the subannual and annual variability of drought. The spatiotemporal patterns of drought are obtained through principal component analysis (PCA) and K-means clustering (KMC) applied to the SPEI field. An areal drought evolution analysis and the changes in the frequency of occurrence of the periods under drought conditions were achieved using a kernel occurrence rate estimator (KORE). The modified Mann–Kendall (MMK) test, coupled with the Sen’s slope estimator test, are applied to the SPEI series in order to quantify the drought trends throughout the country. According to the history drought events and considering the different morphoclimatic characteristics of the study area, the results showed that Croatia could be divided into three different and spatially well-defined regions with specific temporal and spatial characteristics of droughts (central northern, eastern and southern regions). A manifest increase is shown in the percentage of area affected by drought, as well as in the yearly drought occurrences rates, in both central northern and eastern regions, and an evident decrease is shown in the southern region for both 6- and 12-month SPEI time-scales. In the observation of the drought’s temporal characteristics, it was found that downward trends expressing increasing drought severities were strongly significant in northern and eastern regions, while a few significant upward trends were seen in the southern region. From this study, it is possible to obtain a broader view of the historical behaviour of droughts in Croatia, with the results providing useful support for drought risk assessment and decision-making processes.

Evaluation and spatial convergence of carbon emission reduction efficiency in China's power industry: Based on a three-stage DEA model with game cross-efficiency

Reducing carbon emissions is essential for achieving sustainable development in China. In this study, we developed a framework for measuring carbon emission reduction considering both thermal power and clean energy generation perspectives. Subsequently, we constructed a three-stage data envelopment analysis (DEA) model with game cross-efficiency to eliminate the influence of external environmental factors, random factors, and regional competition. Thereafter, we calculated the carbon emission reduction efficiencies (CEREs) of the power industries of 30 provinces in China from 2010 to 2020. Based on this, we conducted temporal and spatial analyses of the carbon emission reduction amount (CERA), evaluated CERE, compared different DEA models, and assessed spatial convergence effects. The evaluation results of CERE across 30 provinces, cities, and autonomous regions in China showed that: (1) although China's CERA increased, substantial regional differences exist in the carbon emission reduction structure. (2) The overall average CERE ranged from 0.485 to 0.737. Since 2016, the highest CERE values have been observed in southwest China, followed by the eastern coastal and central regions, while the northwestern region experienced notable fluctuations. (3) The three-stage DEA model with game cross-efficiency, which eliminates the influence of competition and external environmental factors, can be used to accurately measure CERE. (4) CERE has a spatial convergence effect on China's power industry and is promoted by energy structure, upgrading of industrial structure and government interventions. These findings provide important insights for optimizing the carbon emissions reduction structure and improving CERE.

On the conservation of white-clawed crayfish in the Iberian Peninsula: Unraveling its genetic diversity and structure, and origin.

European crayfish species are a clear example of the drastic decline that freshwater species are experiencing. In particular, the native species of the Iberian Peninsula, the white clawed-crayfish (WCC) Austropotamobius pallipes, is listed as "endangered" by the IUCN and included in Annex II of the EU Habitat Directive and requires especially attention. Currently, implemented conservation management strategies require a better understanding of the genetic diversity and phylogeographic patterns, as well as of its evolutionary history. For this purpose, we have generated the largest datasets of two informative ribosomal mitochondrial DNA regions, i.e., cytochrome oxidase subunit I and 16S, from selected populations of the WCC covering its geographical distribution. These datasets allowed us to analyze in detail the (i) genetic diversity and structure of WCC populations, and (ii) divergence times for Iberian populations by testing three evolutionary scenarios with different mtDNA substitution rates (low, intermediate, and high rates). The results indicate high levels of haplotype diversity and a complex geographical structure for WCC in the Iberian Peninsula. The diversity found includes new unique haplotypes from the Iberian Peninsula and reveals that most of the WCC genetic variability is concentrated in the northern and central-eastern regions. Despite the fact that molecular dating analyses provided divergence times that were not statistically supported, the proposed scenarios were congruent with previous studies, which related the origin of these populations with paleogeographic events during the Pleistocene, which suggests an Iberian origin for these WCC. All results generated in this study, indicate that the alternative hypothesis of an introduced origin of the Iberian WCC is highly improbable. The result of this study, therefore, has allowed us to better understand of the genetic diversity, structure patterns, and evolutionary history of the WCC in the Iberian Peninsula, which is crucial for the management and conservation needs of this endangered species.

Applying societal metabolism to characterize water availability, requirement, and scarcity in agriculture. A case study of Mexico

Given the environmental challenges of soil depletion, water scarcity, and resource competition, the agricultural products market demands a continuous increase in annual crop productivity. Nevertheless, it is often overlooked whether there are favorable conditions within the biophysical constraints of the natural system to meet such a requirement. This paper contemplates an integrated analysis that connects the interaction of water-land-food and production value (WLFPV) from the availability, requirement, and scarcity of water based on the Multi-Scale Integrated Analysis of Societal and Ecosystem Metabolism (MuSIASEM) framework. This study evaluates nine crops (agave, avocado, berries, coffee, figs, native maize, pitaya-pitahaya, critical banana, and vanilla) of high commercial value from the central-eastern region of Mexico to obtain their metabolic profiles and answer this question. For this, relative water stress index (RWSI) was used as well as intensity and metabolic density indicators for each crop. The findings were then visualized and communicated through maps. The results indicate that: (1) The annual available water satisfies the total water requirement of the crops of 1,782.6 hm3, planted in 276,965 hectares that produce 803,191 tons of food with a value of 165.2 million USD. (2) 65% of the area dedicated to the production of agave, pitaya-pitahaya, and other crops is affected by a water deficit. This area’s relative water stress index (RWSI) ranges from moderate to high. In the short term, they can constrain agricultural development areas. (3) The metabolic intensity and density indicators show that the combined efficiency of the water demand/supply relationship for native maize was very deficient in 23 of the 50 municipalities. From our analysis perspective, it was possible to understand the changes occurring in the Socio-Ecological System of the nine agricultural chains. A trend in decreased rainfall and water levels in the aquifers for food production was observed.

Analysis of Turkish language teacher candidates' speech anxiety in terms of various variables in the context of 21st century skills

The requirements of the 21st century encompass not only grammar and vocabulary but also effective communication through oral, written, and ICT-mediated processes. The teaching profession should be embraced as an art of addressing the student's soul and nurturing individuals. Speech anxiety is a common condition encountered in communication, language learning, and teaching processes, which can negatively affect students' language skills. The aim of this article is to analyze the speech anxiety of Turkish language teacher candidates in terms of various variables. The research was conducted using a survey model where the 'Speech Anxiety Scale,' a 5-point Likert-type scale, was employed. The sample of the study consisted of 200 voluntary Turkish language teacher candidates continuing their education at two different universities in the Eastern Anatolia and Central Anatolia regions in 2023. Descriptive statistics (% and f), independent samples t-test to determine changes in scores based on participants' gender, one-way ANOVA for class levels, and one-way ANOVA analyses to determine score differences based on the grade variable were used in the data analysis. After ANOVA, Dunnett C test was used for determining the differences that emerged. The research examined the levels of speech anxiety of teacher candidates and found that this anxiety was especially prevalent in items such as 'Fear of speaking in front of an audience,' 'Feeling embarrassed when talking about myself to people,' and 'Getting excited when talking to someone of the opposite sex' with 'Always' responses. While no significant differences were found between gender and class levels, factor analysis results revealed that the FF and DC groups had lower environmental-focused anxiety and overall speech anxiety compared to the BA group.

Loss and conservation of soil organic carbon and nutrients in arid and semiarid China during aeolian dust emissions

In this study, based on the application of the integrated wind erosion modeling system (IWEMS), we comprehensively simulated the loss and conservation of soil organic carbon (SOC), total nitrogen (TN), total phosphorus (TP), and total potassium (TK) during aeolian dust emissions over 2001–2020 in the arid and semiarid areas of China (ASAC). It was found that the past two decades witnessed decreasing trends in nutrient losses over the central-eastern region of Inner Mongolia, most parts of Qinghai Province, the southern part of the Xinjiang Autonomous Region, and the northwestern part of the Tibet Autonomous Region. The results, being model-based estimates, showed that the ecosystems of the ASAC were crucial in preventing annual losses of SOC, TN, TP and TK: approximately 27318.25 Gg, 2311.18 Gg, 1077.28 Gg and 35780.10 Gg, respectively. Both the losses and conservation of SOC, TN, TP and TK were consistently greater in spring and winter than in summer and autumn. The losses of SOC and nutrients during aeolian dust emissions were more serious in the west of the ASAC than in the east, both in the actual situation and the potential degenerative status. The prevention rates of SOC, TN, TP and TK for different land cover types were all greater than 92%. Comparatively speaking, the prevention rates of SOC, TN, TP and TK were the lowest for barren or sparsely vegetated land (∼92.85%−93.12%), open shrublands (∼95.65%−96.10%) and grasslands (∼98.44%−98.50%). For other land cover types, the prevention rates of SOC, TN, TP and TK were all over 99.62%.

Spatially varying relationships of soil Se concentration and rice Se concentration in Guangxi, China: A geographically weighted regression approach

In recent years, the biogeochemical behavior and environmental impact of Selenium (Se) on soil-plant systems have received widespread attention, and traditional statistical methods reveal generally positive correlations between rice Se and soil Se. However, that initial positive relationship may have been obscured by local external factors. Using local scale data from the geochemical evaluation of land quality project, this work employed geographically weighted regression (GWR) to examine the spatial variation of rice Se (as the dependent variable) and soil Se (as the independent variable) in Guangxi. Strong and weak correlation coefficients occur between rice Se and soil Se, thereby indicating that their relationships are spatially varying. Guangxi is characterized by significantly positive correlations in most areas, with weak correlations mostly found in the south-western and central-eastern regions. Areas with weak correlation can be divided into two patterns: high soil Se with low rice Se and high rice Se with low soil Se. The unique patterns are correlated with distinct natural factors, particularly the abundance of Fe-rich soils in the carbonate area; by contrast, sandstone areas in central Guangxi may have been affected by anthropogenic activities. To reveal the spatially varying relationships at the local scale, we employed GWR, an effective tool that allowed us to identify the association between environmental variables and influencing factors and explore spatially varying relationships between them. This study breaks through the existing understanding that soil Se is completely positively correlated with rice Se for the first time, and concludes that their correlation is spatially variable, providing an effective approach for the study of complex relationships.

How to Evaluate Ecological Civilization Construction and Its Regional Differences: Evidence from China

Ecological civilization construction (ECC) has positive significance for the sustainable development of China, and it has specific Chinese characteristics. This paper design an index system of ECC based on environmental, societal and economic dimensions. Panel data for the 30 provinces in China from 2012 to 2021 were collected from the statistical yearbook released by the Chinese government, and then we evaluated ecological civilization construction by using the entropy TOPSIS method and the coefficient of variation. This paper’s findings are as follows: firstly, the level of ECC in China presents a rising trend, with the level of ECC in China riing from 0.355 in 2012 to 0.553 in 2021. Secondly, China’s ECC has experienced three stages: a rapid rise period (2013–2016), a gradual decline period (2017–2019) and a steady rise period (2020–2021). Thirdly, the level of ECC in China is high in the central region and low in the eastern region and western region. Fourth, the dispersion degree of ECC in the 30 provinces of China first reduced and then expanded, and the dispersion degree of ECC ranges from high to low in the eastern region, western region and central region, respectively. Fifth, although there is a regional imbalance in the level of ecological civilization construction in different regions of China, their coefficients of variation from 2012 to 2021 are less than 0.2. Finally, some suggestions are proposed to improve ECC based on research findings.

Integrity and credibility issues in strategic information on MSM and transgenders in Eastern Europe and Central Asia countries

The article describes the results of an expert survey of activists from two HIV-vulnerable communities (men who have sex with men (MSM) and transgender people), as well as public health professionals from seven countries in the Eastern Europe and Central Asia region regarding the state of strategic information (SI) regarding MSM and trans people in the context of HIV at the national level (quality, integrity, relevance and use of data). An analysis of scientific literature on studies of these communities was also used. According to the level of completeness and quality of SI, the studied countries can be ranked in descending order as follows: Ukraine, Kyrgyzstan, Georgia, Armenia, North Macedonia, Belarus, Estonia. At the same time, information about transgender people is available only in Armenia, Georgia, Kyrgyzstan and Ukraine. The integrity, relevance and use of strategic information in countries mostly depend on the availability of international financial and technical assistance resources, as well as the institutional capacity of organizations of vulnerable communities, in particular in the area of advocacy of the interests of the communities they represent in state authorities. The quality of the available information is also determined by other factors: differences in the definitions of the studied communities (in particular, the inclusion of trans women in the group of men who have sex with men), failure to take into account migration processes, the size and structure of general populations (mostly unknown), the impossibility of constructing non-random samples of sufficient size or insufficient quality of construction of pseudo-random samples, lack of coverage of the entire territory of the respective countries (only the capital and sometimes large cities), etc. In general, with few exceptions, the strategic information available in the Eastern Europe and Central Asia region on MSM and trans people in the context of HIV is incomplete, underutilized and of limited validity.

Global and regional estimates of cervical cancer burden associated with human immunodeficiency virus infection from 1990 to 2019.

Previous studies reported human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) could enhance human papillomavirus (HPV)-induced cervical cancer. Therefore, the burden of cervical cancer associated with HIV across different regions and time periods need to be assessed. We aim to investigate the global burden of cervical cancer associated with HIV infection. Age standardized rates (ASRs) of cervical cancer disability-adjusted life-years (DALYs) in females (≥15 years old) were calculated by standardization, according the age-specific DALYs numbers extracted from GBD data set 2019. Population attributable fractions was calculated by combining the published risk ratio, with the HIV prevalence (≥15 years old) from Joint United Nations Programme on HIV and AIDS (UNAIDS), and transferred to estimate the HIV-associated cervical cancer burden. Expected annual percentage changes (EAPCs) was calculated to describe the temporal trend of ASR from 1990 to 2019. Pearson correlation analysis were conducted to assess the correlation between the ASR or EAPCs and the socio-demographic index. The worldwide DALYs ASR caused by HIV-associated cervical cancer rose from 3.78 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 2.19-5.56) in 1990 to 9.50 (95% CI: 5.66-13.79) in 2019 per 100k population. In 2019, the region with the greatest burden was Eastern and Southern Africa, with the highest DALYs of 273 900 (95% CI: 149 100-476 400) and ASR of 254.44 per 100k population (95% CI: 168.86-329.28). Notably, the Eastern Europe and Central Asia regions had the highest EAPC (14.07%) of HIV-associated DALYs ASR. Women in Eastern and Southern Africa experience the greatest burden of HIV-associated cervical cancer, while the Eastern Europe and Central Asia regions had witnessed the largest increase over the last 30 years. Prioritize the promotion of HPV vaccination and cervical cancer screening for women living with HIV were crucial in these regions.

Spatial Distribution and Associated Risk Assessment of Heavy Metal Pollution in Farmland Soil Surrounding the Ganhe Industrial Park in Qinghai Province, China

The farmland around the industrial areas in the Upper Yellow River is crucial for agricultural production but is vulnerable to contamination from the surrounding industries. This research focused on analyzing the spatial distribution and environmental risks of heavy metal pollution in the farmland around the Ganhe Industrial Park in the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau. A total of 138 surface soil samples were collected, and the concentration of seven heavy metals (Cd, As, Pb, Cr, Cu, Ni, and Zn) was analyzed using the random forest (RF) model. Pollution indicators, including the pollution index and Nemero index, were used to evaluate the pollution levels of soil heavy metals. The human health and ecological risks were estimated using the hazard index (HI) and the potential ecological risk index (RI). Cd and Zn were identified as the primary soil pollutants in the study area, with Cd being more concentrated than other heavy metals. Heavy metal contamination was most severe in the central–eastern region of the study area, with a ring-shaped distribution, which correlated with the presence of zinc smelting and chemical plants. Furthermore, the study revealed that soil heavy metal contamination posed a health threat to the local population, with children being particularly vulnerable to non-carcinogenic risks when the HI was 1.21 and to potential carcinogenic risks when the CR was 2.27 × 10−5. Additionally, heavy metal pollution caused a moderate to high ecological risk in 56.4% of the samples. The results highlighted the severe impact of soil heavy metal pollution on the delicate ecosystem of the Upper Yellow River and Qinghai–Tibet Plateau. The government should take action to improve soil environment management and prevent heavy metal pollution to protect the health of the local population and the ecological environment.

Design, implementation and preliminary results of a type-2 hybrid cluster-randomized trial of integrating screening and treatment for major depressive disorder into specialty clinics providing opioid agonist therapies in Ukraine

IntroductionUkraine has a high prevalence of co-occurring disorders (COD), defined as having both substance use (SUD) and psychiatric disorders. Major depressive disorder (MDD) is the most prevalent psychiatric disorder among people with SUD. People with COD experience poor health outcomes, and international agencies propose integrated COD care. In Ukraine, treatment for SUD is delivered in specialized substance use clinics, without providing any other medical services for comorbidities, including MDD. Here we present the protocol, along the with the preliminary results of the MEDIUM project, including observations over the first 6 months. MethodsA cluster-randomized type-2 hybrid trial was conducted to integrate MDD treatment into specialty clinics providing opioid agonist therapies (OAT) in Ukraine. Twelve clinics in four regions underwent randomization to control (N = 1) vs experimental arms (N = 2) in each region. Clinicians at experimental sites received tele-education through modified project ECHO using a facilitated screening, evaluation, and treatment algorithm of depression, with or without financial incentives. Service-, patient- and provider-level data were collected for the analysis every 6 months for 24 months. Preliminary resultsFor service delivery outcomes, 4421 patients enrolled on OAT across all sites were assessed for MDD for screening (76.7%), evaluation with diagnosis (43.5%) and treatment (30.7%) for MDD; 13.8% continued treatment at least for 6 months. For patient-level outcomes, 1345 patients and 54 providers participated in serial surveys every six months. ConclusionThis study will be the first to explore integrated COD care in Ukraine and generate evidence on effective service integration and delivery strategies for people with COD receiving treatment at substance use clinics with broader implications for Eastern Europe and Central Asia region.

GIS-based spatiotemporal analysis for road traffic crashes; in support of sustainable transportation Planning

Road traffic crashes pose a significant challenge worldwide, necessitating increased efforts to reduce them and promote sustainable transport systems. This study aimed to investigate spatiotemporal road traffic crashes and their causes in the State of Qatar by identifying hot spots of crashs and exploring whether they were primiarly attributed to behavioural practices and/or the geometrical design of roads and intersections. The study employed various methods, including Time-Space Cube analysis, Geographically Weighted Regression (GWR), Emerging Hot Spot analysis, and Spatial Autocorrelation analysis, with historical traffic crash data from 2015 and 2019. The findings indicated that crashes were mainly concentrated in the central-eastern region of Qatar and are related to driver behaviour. The analysis also revealed that crashes during the weekdays in 2019 were more strongly clustered than in 2015, suggesting a probable systematic cause of crashes. The results provide valuable information for policymakers to target high-incidence locations, prioritize interventions and develop more effective measures and policies to reduce crashs and promote a sustainable transportation system in Qatar. Overall, this study highlights the importance of continued research and policy development in this area and could potentially be applicable and transferable to similar regions.