Extension Project Research Articles

Transmission of Spatial Experience in the Context of Sustainability of Urban Memory

Urban memory involves the re-creation of a city’s physical, historical, social, and cultural elements in the memories of its inhabitants. However, urban transformation and commercial tourism-oriented projects may threaten the continuity of this memory. This study aims to provide an understanding of the relationship between urban memory and spatial experience while exploring how urban memory elements convey meanings to daily users and local inhabitants of a touristic settlement. The research focuses on Misi Village in Bursa, Turkey, a settlement with a 2000-year history known for its traditional architecture and natural beauty. Over the past two decades, local authorities have pursued extensive restoration projects to rebrand Misi Village as an Art and Tourism Village. The research employs the oral history method, focusing on two user groups: tourists and locals. The findings reveal that while tourists appreciate Misi Village for its natural beauty and recreational activities, they lack a deeper understanding of its history and the transformation of its identity. Instead, they mostly focus on commerce-oriented spatial experiences. In contrast, local residents emphasize daily life and traditional practices as they strive to sustain their livelihoods. By highlighting this difference, strategic planning is proposed to preserve Misi Village’s unique urban memory and promote sustainable, culturally centered tourism.

HEALTH IN THE WORKPLACE: POSTURE, ERGONOMICS AND MUSCULAR DISORDERS

Objective: The study aimed to map the epidemiological profile of chronic musculoskeletal disorders and the ergonomic risks of body posture in the office environment. Methods: Data were collected using an electronic form consisting of sociodemographic questions and adapted versions of the Nordic Musculoskeletal Symptom and Rapid Office Strain Assessment questionnaires. Results: The mean age of the 73 participants in the extension project was 25.3 years and most had higher education. Of these, 86.3% felt pain, numbness or tingling in the last 12 months and of these, 90.5% had more than one body part affected by the symptoms. Of the thirteen body postures evaluated (sitting, leaning, position of the knees, feet, elbows, forearms and head), all were identified as ergonomically inadequate, especially those related to the chair used. Conclusion: There is a clear need for immediate health care actions for this population, since the office environments were not ergonomically adequate and the workers were already ill. Ergonomic intervention and health education actions are essential to guide the risks of this environment and propose behavioral changes to reduce/prevent musculoskeletal disorders. A limitation of the study may be that the sample was affected by the healthy worker effect, that is, those who were already affected by chronic musculoskeletal disorders were interested in participating in the project.

CNSC-64. BEYOND THE LOCAL TUMOR MICROENVIRONMENT: CHARACTERIZING CHANGES TO NEURONAL ACTIVITY INDUCED BY PEDIATRIC HIGH-GRADE GLIOMA

Abstract Bidirectional electrochemical signaling between neurons and tumor cells is emerging as a critical regulator of pediatric high-grade glioma (HGG) pathology. Neuron-tumor interactions are known to induce local neuronal hyperactivity. However, recent work tracing the projections of these neuron-tumor networks revealed that HGG neuronal recruitment extends beyond the local tumor microenvironment (TME). These findings suggest that tumor-induced hyperexcitability may spread beyond the local TME and drive brain-wide circuit-level changes. To elucidate how non-tumor innervated brain regions are affected by TME hyperactivity we first characterized neuronal hyperactivity induced by a cortical patient-derived pediatric high-grade cell line in vitro on human iPSC-derived neurons. In vitro calcium imaging experiments demonstrated an increase in the number of calcium fluctuations in glioma co-cultured neurons. In parallel, multi-electrode recordings revealed increased population spiking activity and amplitude in neurons co-cultured with glioma cells. We then xenografted these HGG cells into the prefrontal cortex of mice and performed whole brain-clearing and cFos staining on tumor-bearing vs saline-injected control samples. As cFos is an immediate early gene activated by neuronal activity, we utilized the density of cFos expression as a readout-out of neuronal activation in our atlas-aligned segmented brain section analyses. We expectedly observed increased cFos expression within the ipsilateral primary and secondary motor region, which collectively comprise the local TME. Interestingly, we additionally observed elevated cFos in non-tumor bearing brain regions on both the ipsilateral and contralateral hemispheres, largely in layer 2/3 cortical neurons. These neurons form extensive cortico-cortical projections, and we coincidingly observed increased cFos expression in known cortical projection targets of the prefrontal xenograft location, such as somatosensory, visual, and retrosplenial cortices. Our findings suggest that tumor-induced neuronal hyperactivity extends beyond the local TME in a brain-wide manner and potentially follows established neuronal circuits, rendering these connected regions vulnerable to alterations in neuronal activity.

TEACHING ANGLES AND POLYGONS USING GEOGEBRA SOFTWARE

The objective of this paper is to describe a didactic-pedagogical sequence developed to teach angles and polygons to an 8th grade class of a public state school in Palmeira dos Índios, Alagoas, Brazil. The sequence is part of the Extension Project "Mathematics and Active Methods" and addresses some common difficulties in teaching geometry, such as the abstraction of formal concepts and the students' lack of understanding of the connection of these concepts to real situations. Studies indicate that the use of digital technologies facilitates the visualization and interaction with mathematical concepts, promoting more dynamic and meaningful learning. In view of this, the sequence, applied in four classes, involved activities contextualized to sports, using the GeoGebra software. The results show that, although some students still face difficulties, the interactive and contextualized approach improved engagement and understanding of formal mathematical concepts, especially geometric ones.

Synaptic interactions between stellate cells and parvalbumin interneurons in layer 2 of the medial entorhinal cortex are organized at the scale of grid cell clusters.

Interactions between excitatory and inhibitory neurons are critical to computations in cortical circuits but their organization is difficult to assess with standard electrophysiological approaches. Within the medial entorhinal cortex, representation of location by grid and other spatial cells involves circuits in layer 2 in which excitatory stellate cells interact with each other via inhibitory parvalbumin expressing interneurons. Whether this connectivity is structured to support local circuit computations is unclear. Here, we introduce strategies to address the functional organization of excitatory-inhibitory interactions using crossed Cre- and Flp-driver mouse lines to direct targeted presynaptic optogenetic activation and postsynaptic cell identification. We then use simultaneous patch-clamp recordings from postsynaptic neurons to assess their shared input from optically activated presynaptic populations. We find that extensive axonal projections support spatially organized connectivity between stellate cells and parvalbumin interneurons, such that direct connections are often, but not always, shared by nearby neurons, whereas multisynaptic interactions coordinate inputs to neurons with greater spatial separation. We suggest that direct excitatory-inhibitory synaptic interactions may operate at the scale of grid cell clusters, with local modules defined by excitatory-inhibitory connectivity, while indirect interactions may coordinate activity at the scale of grid cell modules.

Respons-Able Trees. On Permaculture Ethics of Responsibility in the Films of the Exhibition "Cambio" (2020)

The extensive research project Cambio (2020) by the Italian designer duo Formafantasma focuses on the tree, the forest in its function of securing the existence of humans, animals and other plants. The project uses various forms of critical representation and storytelling to explore the connections between exploitation, consumer culture and colonialism in the face of the industrial timber industry. The question is: What responsibility do we bear in relation to the treatment of trees and what response-ability do trees themselves have? Based on three essayistic short films and other objects from the Cambio exhibition, my contribution addresses these questions of responsibility and respons-ability with regard to the relationship between humans and trees. In the sense of Donna Haraway, the what and how of artistic representation and narration itself becomes a question of response-ability - i.e. the possibility of becoming responsible in responding. Here, with Haraway in mind, the ethically necessary perspective unfolds of not having to distinguish between a real world and a world of stories and narratives, but of being able to think material-semiotic worlds in a (responsible) situated way and allow them to emerge. This paper proposes response-ability as a conceptual and analytical rubric and as a guiding ethical practice for the new materialist-inspired endeavor to rethink human and non-human interdependency in relation to trees. I will intruduce the exhibition Cambio and three of its films as an exemplary site of narrative and representational modes that have the potential to sensitize us to those relations of interdependency.

EVALUATION OF THE EFFICACY OF THE "BELEZAS DO AGRESTE" SKINCARE KIT IN THE SKIN CARE ROUTINE OF A GROUP OF UPE VOLUNTEERS

Highlighting the importance of the skin and its protective and thermoregulatory functions, skin conditions and their psychosocial effects, and the increase in the search for hygiene and beauty products, the following study seeks to evaluate the effectiveness of the skincare kit distributed to volunteers by the Belezas do Agreste 3.0 extension project. The interactions of Instagram® users with the extension project page, which publishes reliable information on skin care on a weekly basis, were analyzed, and a beauty kit consisting of moisturizing gel and neutral and exfoliating soaps was distributed to volunteers who freely agreed to participate in the research. The kit was produced by the members of the extension project under the best hygienic and sanitary conditions, and personalized instructions for use were distributed to the participants according to their skin type assessment. The research, approved by the Ethics and Experimentation Committee with Human Beings of UPE, was conducted based on the collection of participants' responses to a structured online questionnaire to evaluate the products, respecting the privacy and integrity of the data obtained. The results are presented in the form of graphs and report positive evaluations regarding the information published on the project's social network and the products present in the beauty kit; specifically in relation to Instagram®, an increase of just over 1000% was recorded in the reach of the extension project's page. Considering the distribution of the beauty kit and the evaluation of its products, the participants claimed an improvement in the appearance of their skin, in addition to the reduction of oiliness and promotion of softness. Thus, this work can be considered productive and satisfactory in terms of reaching the general population on the subject of aesthetics through the dissemination of quality information on a social network, in addition to distributing a beauty kit to participants who voluntarily joined the Belezas do Agreste extension project and evaluated the products in the kit as efficient in improving the general appearance of the skin.

Projeto de extensão: resgatando sorrisos

The article addresses restorative and aesthetic dentistry, highlighting the importance of adhesion of materials to mineralized dental tissues. The philosophy of minimally invasive restorative treatment is based on principles of prevention and maximum preservation, with minimal intervention in dental structures. Dental aesthetics are subjective, influenced by several factors, and despite advances in aesthetic materials, the need for clinical evaluations on the behavior of composite resin restorations is increasing. In the Brazilian context, where the provision of government dental treatment is limited, perceived need becomes an important predictor of the use of dental services. There is a significant demand for restorative dentistry procedures, often performed by undergraduate and postgraduate students. The article highlights the creation of an Orthodontics Extension Project to deal with repressed demand, although new activities are necessary. It is concluded that initiatives such as extension projects are essential to mitigate the lack of care for the population and prepare academics for clinical practices in restorative dentistry.

The effects of locus coeruleus optogenetic stimulation on global spatiotemporal patterns in rats

Abstract Whole-brain intrinsic activity as detected by resting-state fMRI can be summarized by three primary spatiotemporal patterns. These patterns have been shown to change with different brain states, especially arousal. The noradrenergic locus coeruleus (LC) is a key node in arousal circuits and has extensive projections throughout the brain, giving it neuromodulatory influence over the coordinated activity of structurally separated regions. In this study, we used optogenetic-fMRI in rats to investigate the impact of LC stimulation on the global signal and three primary spatiotemporal patterns. We report small, spatially specific changes in global signal distribution as a result of tonic LC stimulation, as well as regional changes in spatiotemporal patterns of activity at 5 Hz tonic and 15 Hz phasic stimulation. We also found that LC stimulation had little to no effect on the spatiotemporal patterns detected by complex principal component analysis. We hypothesize that localized effects could be due to engagement of LC modules that support behaviors induced by our specific stimulation parameters, in addition to noradrenergic receptor profile distributions. Nonetheless, these results show that the effects of LC activity on the BOLD signal in rats may be small and regionally concentrated, as opposed to widespread and globally acting, further supporting emerging evidence of a modular LC.

The use of behavioral therapy for smoking cessation in a unit in the midwest of Santa Catarina

The project's objective was to develop alternative actions for smoking cessation in a Basic Health Unit (UBS) in the mid-west region of Santa Catarina. The main goals included identifying smokers at the UBS, providing guidance on the benefits of quitting smoking, raising awareness of the risks associated with addiction, and directing and motivating patients who were able to stop using tobacco. The methodology adopted was a qualitative and descriptive study, based on a bibliographic review conducted in indexed databases such as Scielo, Google Scholar, and Lilacs. Based on this research, actions were outlined to prevent dependency and encourage patients at the UBS to quit smoking. The extension project was carried out in a single meeting, in the morning and afternoon, with the participation of approximately 40 patients interested in quitting smoking. During the meeting, an educational booklet and the application of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy as a cessation strategy were discussed. To help manage addiction and combat oxidative stress, packages of carrot sticks were provided as cigarette substitutes. In addition, patients received guidance on restructuring exercise routines to reduce anxiety caused by withdrawal. The intervention was considered essential for clarifying patient doubts, and continuous meetings and booklet distribution at the UBS are planned. The continuation of the project is seen as fundamental to combating smoking and promoting health in the community served. Objectives: To develop alternative actions for smoking cessation in a Basic Health Unit in the mid-west region of Santa Catarina. Identifying smokers at the UBS to implement the project; Providing guidance on the benefits of smoking cessation; Raising awareness of the risks associated with addiction; Guiding and motivating patients who are ready to quit smoking. Methodology: This is a qualitative and descriptive study. Through a bibliographic review in indexed databases such as Scielo, Google Scholar, and Lilacs, actions were devised to prevent addiction and encourage quitting among this group. Patients were invited to participate in a roundtable discussion where cessation methods, based on Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, were presented. Results: The extension project was carried out in a single meeting during the morning and afternoon, addressing approximately 40 patients interested in quitting smoking. During the meeting, the educational booklet and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy were explained. Carrot stick packs were provided to replace cigarettes and combat oxidative stress. Patients also received guidance on restructuring exercise routines to reduce anxiety caused by withdrawal. The intervention was considered crucial for clarifying doubts and will be maintained with continuous meetings and booklet distribution at the Health Unit. The continuation of the project is seen as essential for combating smoking and promoting health.

FACTORS INFLUENCING UTILIZATION OF AGRICULTURAL TECHNOLOGIES TRANSFER AMONG PARTICIPANTS OF ADOPTED VILLAGE EXTENSION PROJECT IN KADUNA AND NIGER STATE, NIGERIA

The study assessed the factors influencing utilization of agricultural technologies transfer among participants of Adopted Village Extension Project (AVEP) in Kaduna and Niger State, Nigeria. A Multi-stage sampling procedure was employed to select 246 participants of AVEP for the study comprising of 131 and 115 participants from Kaduna and Niger States, respectively. Primary data were collected with the aid of structured questionnaire complemented with an interview schedule. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, Technology Adoption Index (TAI) and Tobit regression analysis. The results reveal that the mean age of the participants in Kaduna and Niger States were 38 and 31 years, with a mean household size of 7 and 5 people, and mean farming experience of 14 and 10 years, respectively. The various agricultural technologies transferred to participants in Kaduna State among crop production were storage techniques (83.5%), improved seeds (80.0%) and weed management techniques (78.3%) ranked 1st, 2nd and 3rd respectively, while participants in Niger State indicated improved seed (90.1%), weed management techniques (83.2%) and planting techniques (78.6%) ranked 1st, 2nd and 3rd respectively. More so, among the livestock production technologies transferred to participants in Kaduna State were improved animal breeds (8706%), hybrid broilers (80.0%) and improved feed formulation (80.0%) ranked 1st and 2nd, respectively, while participants in Niger State indicated improved animal breeds (92.4%), hybrid broilers (82.4%) and hybrid layers (74.1%) ranked 1st, 2nd and 3rd, respectively. Respondents’ age (-2.05; p<0.05), education (1.76; p<0.10), awareness of technology (2.16; p<0.05), compatibility (4.35; p<0.01), relative advantage (1.98; p<0.10) and cost (-3.22; p<0.01) influences participants’ utilization of agricultural technologies transferred through AVEP in Kaduna State, while age (-2.41; p<0.05), education (2.02; p<0.05), farm size (2.54; P<0.01), awareness of technology (2.09; p<0.05), compatibility (3.12; p<0.01), relative advantage (1.74; p<0.10) and cost (-2.97; p<0.01) influences participants’ utilization of agricultural technologies transferred through AVEP in Niger State. The study concluded that socio-economic and institutional factors highlighted above significantly influences utilization of agricultural technologies by the respondents in the study area. It was therefore recommended that, for efficient transfer of agricultural technologies, there is need for increased sensitization by the research institutes on relative advantages of technologies adoption and utilization for greater output and income.

Mapping World: A Comparative Analysis of Functionality and Usability between QGIS and ArcGIS

The current review conducts a comprehensive comparison of Quantum GIS (QGIS) and ArcGIS in the context of healthcare applications, aiming to assist users in selecting the most appropriate GIS platform for their specific needs. Geographic Information Systems (GIS) are essential tools in healthcare, providing capabilities for spatial analysis, disease mapping, and resource allocation. Driven by the need to improve healthcare delivery and public health strategies, this study compares the functionalities, costs, and support systems of QGIS and ArcGIS. The major objective is to determine which GIS platform offers the best balance of cost-efficiency and performance across various healthcare scenarios. The methodology encompasses a detailed comparative analysis, incorporating quantitative data from user satisfaction surveys, performance evaluations, and real-world case studies. Findings reveal that QGIS, as an open-source GIS software, is highly cost-effective and customizable, making it particularly advantageous for budget-limited projects and smaller organizations requiring flexibility. Its extensibility via plugins and robust user community fosters continuous innovation and improvement. QGIS proves exceptionally effective in healthcare applications such as disease mapping and accessibility analysis, where customization and cost-efficiency are critical. Conversely, ArcGIS is distinguished by its advanced analytical capabilities and strong performance in handling complex, large-scale studies. Its sophisticated tools and comprehensive spatial analysis functionalities are essential for thorough healthcare research and planning. Although ArcGIS incurs higher costs, its extensive feature set, professional support, and exhaustive documentation justify the investment for large organizations and research institutions engaged in detailed GIS projects. In conclusion, both QGIS and ArcGIS exhibit significant strengths in key healthcare applications. QGIS excels in affordability and flexibility, while ArcGIS provides superior analytical power and support for extensive projects. Future research should focus on integrating real-time data and enhancing user experience to further optimize GIS applications in healthcare.

New Ways for Doing Extensive Reading: Hyperlearning and Cultural Context

Extensive reading is an effective approach to learning reading. However, this approach is sometimes criticized since it is difficult to measure the improvements in learners’ reading skills. This is due to the primary objective of extensive reading being "reading for pleasure." A refreshment is needed regarding the learning process by adding some supplements to the learning activities. This paper proposes a fresh perspective on implementing an extensive reading project by incorporating the concepts of hyperlearning and cultural context-based reading. Hyperlearning is leveraging technology to improve the reading experience while also solidifying a profound value whilst the cultural context involves selecting texts that are relevant to the interests or background of the learner. By incorporating this approach into their learning experience, learners can improve their language skills while enjoying a more dynamic and personalized learning experience. In this way, learners will cultivate learning habits that are called "hyperlearners".

Claustrum and dorsal endopiriform cortex complex cell-identity is determined by Nurr1 and regulates hallucinogenic-like states in mice

The Claustrum/dorsal endopiriform cortex complex (CLA) is an enigmatic brain region with extensive glutamatergic projections to multiple cortical areas. The transcription factor Nurr1 is highly expressed in the CLA, but its role in this region is not understood. By using conditional gene-targeted mice, we show that Nurr1 is a crucial regulator of CLA neuron identity. Although CLA neurons remain intact in the absence of Nurr1, the distinctive gene expression pattern in the CLA is abolished. CLA has been hypothesized to control hallucinations, but little is known of how the CLA responds to hallucinogens. After the deletion of Nurr1 in the CLA, both hallucinogen receptor expression and signaling are lost. Furthermore, functional ultrasound and Neuropixel electrophysiological recordings revealed that the hallucinogenic-receptor agonists’ effects on functional connectivity between prefrontal and sensorimotor cortices are altered in Nurr1-ablated mice. Our findings suggest that Nurr1-targeted strategies provide additional avenues for functional studies of the CLA.

Budget allocation problem for projects with considering risks, robustness, resiliency, and sustainability requirements

Budget Allocation Problem (BAP) for projects is considered one of the critical risks that necessitate the completion of projects in the shortest possible duration. This aspect is significant in extensive projects such as national endeavors directly impacting people's livelihoods. This research focuses on introducing Sustainable, Robust, Resilient, and Risk-averse Budget Allocation for Projects (S3RBAP). A hybrid robust stochastic optimization approach was employed, incorporating Weighted VaR (WVaR) and the minimum function as risk criteria to ensure the robustness of the objective function. This model is designed to minimize the weighted expected value, WVaR, and the minimum progress function, thereby promoting the 3R and sustainability framework to tackle budget fluctuations and enhance project viability. The case study revolves around the construction of national projects in Iran. Ultimately, the project's required budget was allocated within the budgetary constraints. Sensitivity analysis found that the integration of 3R and sustainability led to a 13.5 % reduction in the progress function compared to scenarios without these principles. Furthermore, increasing the conservatism coefficient to 20 % decreased the progress function to −0.58 %. Reducing the resiliency coefficient had an adverse effect by disrupting the budget allocation process. The computational time is increased gradually with the escalation of problem complexity, while the progress function decreases due to the increased number of projects. The findings demonstrate that using an exponential function promotes risk aversion, whereas a sine function encourages risk-seeking behaviour within this research context.

Amelioration of social impairments in autism: Possible role of vagal afferent stimulation in modification of the prefrontal-amygdala connectivity

Impairment in social interactions is a prominent feature of autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The present hypothesis explains the possible role of vagal afferent stimulation in the modification of prefrontal-amygdala connectivity in the amelioration of social impairments in ASD. Currently, there is no definitive treatment for ASD. However, there is documented evidence showing that interventions that increase vagal tone lead to the improvement of autism-related social symptoms. However, the exact mechanism that explains the correlation between the elevation of vagal tone and the amelioration of autism-related symptoms has not been elucidated. In the present hypothesis, it is proposed that the increase in vagal tone affects the nucleus tractus solitarius (NTS) in the brainstem. The NTS has strong connections with other brainstem nuclei, such as the locus coeruleus and dorsal raphe nucleus. The aforementioned nuclei are the main sources of norepinephrine and serotonin, with extensive projections to various brain areas, especially the prefrontal cortex (PFC) and amygdala. PFC-amygdala functional connectivity plays an important role in social behavior and emotion regulation. Therefore, visceral stimulation, which subsequently increases the vagal tone, possibly leads to the improvement of autistic social deficits through the enhancement of PFC-amygdala functional connectivity. Further investigations are needed to evaluate the function of the mentioned neural pathways during visceral stimulation in individuals with ASD.

Social technology and people's mental health: informal work in an urban context

This article presents the experience of implementing the Health Promotion Extension Project through Social and Mental Health Education through Applied Technology, that is, Plant Biotechnology applied as a resource for Eco-Socio-Environmental Technology products. Aimed at members of indigenous peoples and ethnic groups in Rio de Janeiro, users of the Environmental Health, Parasitology and Bioethics Project (SAPB-LIPAT/FF/UFRJ), the project was carried out in an intersectoral partnership with the Laboratory for Studies on Aging Processes (PROVE/IPUB/UFRJ) and the Amazon Biobusiness Center (CBA), in a multi, inter and transdisciplinary approach. The article discusses the importance of social actors in the operationalization of public policy guidelines, with a focus on the promotion and defense of human rights, especially with regard to the right to work. The participation of the Sateré-Mawé and Tukano indigenous people was highlighted, demonstrating the leading role of these groups in solving local problems, which strengthened their cultures, worldviews and self-direction, demystifying attitudinal barriers. The present study was initiated through anamnesis in ethnopsychiatry (whose approach includes cultural anthropology). This study included the participation of these individuals from indigenous peoples and other peoples in an urban context in Rio de Janeiro, demonstrating how the anamnesis of unique ethnographic narratives favored investment in local study and work with elements of their cultures, reinforcing social ties and civic contribution. The project also explored procedures in plant biotechnology, specifically the ecophysiology of Euterpe oleraceae (Açaí) seeds, to analyze the desired biological effects of plant extracts of ethnic origin (Euphorbia tirucalli, Bixa orellana, Punica granatum and Tagetes erecta). Only E. tirucalli exerted antifungal action on the seeds used for informal work (crafts). In this way, equity of access and mental health were promoted through listening, but also through the resolution of concrete local problems, in a simple and viable way, maintaining the participation and autonomy of the participants through informal work. However, the expansion of this small and successful initiative depends on the engagement of a greater number of professionals, teachers and public managers committed to promoting dignity through work for these populations.

Participatory analysis of disaster risk creation in Brazilian coastal cities: bridging remote sensing and citizen generated data

Purpose This paper aimed to develop a participatory methodology to analyze the disaster risk creation in coastal cities, based on an approach that combines social, urban, environmental and disaster risk elements. Design/methodology/approach The methodology uses some aspects of three theoretical approaches in a complementary way: i) the Pressure and Release (PAR) framework for the identification of dynamic pressures that contribute to disaster risk creation; ii) the application of Drivers, Pressure, State, Impact, Response (DPSIR) framework to analyze environmental dimensions; and iii) urban analysis, applying the Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats (SWOT) tool to classify urban processes. The methodology combined the use of satellite remote sensing data to analyze the urban sprawl and citizen science methods to collect social and environmental data, using the case study of the watershed of the Juqueriquerê River in the coastal city of Caraguatatuba, Brazil. The pilot project was part of a local university extension project of the undergraduate course on Architecture and Urban Planning and also engaged residents and city hall representatives. Findings The satellite remote sense data analysis indicated a continuous urban sprawl between 1985 and 2020, especially in the south of the Juqueriquerê watershed, reducing urban drainage and increasing the extension and water depth of urban flooding and riverine floods. Using citizen science methods, undergraduates identified settlements with limited economic resources to elevate houses and a lack of infrastructure to promote a resilient coastal city. After identifying the dynamic pressures that contribute to disaster risk creation and the weaknesses and strengths of a resilient city, undergraduate students proposed urban planning interventions and gray and green infrastructure projects to mitigate disaster risks. Social implications The paper identifies urban sprawl in disaster-prone areas as one of the risk factors contributing to disaster. It also comprehensively analyzes differences between different zones in the Juqueriqere River, which will be useful for policy-making. Originality/value The method presented an interdisciplinary approach that used satellite remote sensing data and citizen science techniques to analyze disaster risks in coastal cities. The multidimensional approach used to evaluate risks is useful and can be replicated in other similar studies to gain a more comprehensive understanding of disaster risks.

Long-Term Monitoring and Management of Genetically Modified Canola in Natural Environments: A 15-Year Study

The unintentional release of living modified organisms (LMOs) into natural environments poses potential ecological risks, particularly in terms of gene flow and biodiversity loss. Since 2009, the Ministry of Environment (MOE) in South Korea has conducted an extensive monitoring project to detect and manage LMOs, with a primary focus on LM canola. This study evaluates the outcomes of the LMO monitoring project over the past 15 years (2009–2023), analyzing the distribution, persistence, and management of LM canola across various environments. Our findings reveal that LM canola predominantly proliferates along roadsides, with occasional occurrences at festival and planting sites. Out of 10,571 monitored sites, 4326 suspicious samples were collected, with a significant increase observed in 2017, underscoring the ongoing risk of accidental releases. This study highlights the critical role of specific environments in the spread of LM canola, and assesses the effectiveness of post-management strategies in controlling these populations. The National Institute of Ecology (NIE) has developed and implemented advanced monitoring protocols and post-management systems tailored to the characteristics of the monitoring sites and the nature of the LMOs. These efforts have been effective in controlling the spread of LM canola, thereby helping to preserve the biodiversity of South Korea’s natural environments. In conclusion, the proactive and adaptive strategies employed by the NIE are essential for mitigating the ecological risks associated with LMOs. Our study emphasizes the importance of on-going vigilance and the continuous refinement of monitoring and management practices to safeguard biodiversity and ecosystems.

Beyond the Border: Exploring the Complex Dynamics of Water Tensions Between India and China

This paper explores the historical context and current dynamics of the transboundary water issues between India and China. Both countries share multiple transboundary river basins, with the Brahmaputra River being one of the most significant. The importance of the Brahmaputra River to both nations goes beyond just providing resources. It has implications for national security, regional stability, and human livelihoods. However, China's upstream control over the river and its extensive dam-building projects have raised concerns in downstream India and Bangladesh about potential impacts on water availability, agriculture, and livelihoods. The river system is critical for the socioeconomic well-being of millions of people, yet the competing demands for water resources have led to geopolitical tensions. The paper highlights China's strategic use of water resources, including plans for large-scale dams, which India views as a potential threat to its water security. It also underscores the importance of a nuanced understanding of hydropolitics, emphasizing the need for human security, particularly water security, in addressing these challenges. It argues that while "water wars" are unlikely, "water tensions" are significant and must be addressed through comprehensive bilateral agreements and collaborative efforts.