Geographical Location Research Articles

IOT based Smart Pothole Detection System using ESP32

This project presents a comprehensive pothole detection and navigation system aimed at improving road safety and reducing vehicle wear and tear. The system utilizes an ESP32 microcontroller, a gyroscope, and a GPS module, integrated into car tires to enable real-time detection of potholes. The gyroscope measures vibrations and deviations caused by uneven road surfaces, while the GPS module pinpoints the exact geographic location of the detected potholes. The system also measures the depth and width of the potholes to provide detailed information. This data is transmitted wirelessly to a central server, where an AI-based algorithm processes it to eliminate duplicate entries and filter out false detections. Once validated, the pothole information is mapped onto a user-friendly mobile application, providing users with real-time updates on road conditions. By allowing users to choose safer and smoother routes with minimal potholes, this system ensures enhanced driving safety, reduced maintenance costs, and a more efficient travel experience. Additionally, the mapped pothole data can serve as valuable feedback for road maintenance authorities to prioritize repairs and improve infrastructure. Key Words: pothole detection, ESP32, gyroscope, GPS, AI, road safety.

A place in the shade? Shaded spaces as a domain of geographical research: a literature review (1990–2024)

The study of shade and shaded spaces has attracted growing interest in a number of disciplines. Although geographic studies specifically focused on this subject are relatively rare, there is a substantial body of interdisciplinary research that addresses the theme of shade in relation to ecological, urban, medical and social research interests. There have recently been calls to further analyze these spaces, especially if we consider their importance in relation to climate change. In response to this, this paper aims to examine shade as a field of geographical research through a literature review. Ninety-four articles published in international journals between 1990 and 2024 were identified. The articles were analyzed with particular reference to the distribution in time of the publications, the geographic location of the case studies, interdisciplinary connections, research interests, and the methodologies used. The study reveals the interdisciplinary nature of shade studies and their growth in recent years. The literature analysis enables us to identify dominant research trends and at the same time highlight certain gaps. The study also emphasizes the value of shade as a resource, its many benefits, and its environmental and social significance as a geographical factor at various levels. In conclusion, this paper seeks to bring the topic of shade to the forefront of research, encouraging further empirical studies with a particular focus on the right to shade and climate change mitigation.

Diversity and Characteristics of Fusarium solani Species Complex (FSSC) Isolates Causing Collar Rot and Fruit Rot of Passion Fruit in Taiwan.

Fusarium solani species complex (FSSC) is a causal agent of collar rot and fruit rot in passion fruit worldwide. This study investigated the diversity and characteristics of FSSC isolates causing collar rot and fruit rot in Taiwanese passion fruit. Thirty-five FSSC isolates were harvested from collar rot and fruit rot samples of passion fruit from various cultivars and different geographical locations in Taiwan. The majority of these FSSC isolates caused collar rot and fruit rot disease of varying virulence in the stems and fruits of the purple and yellow cultivars of passion fruit. FSSC isolates were categorized into four groups: F. solani-melongenae (FSSC 21; n = 29), F. solani (FSSC 5; n = 1), F. liriodendri (FSSC 24; n = 1), and an unknown group (n = 4) based on the phylogenetic analysis of internal transcribed sequence (ITS), translation elongation factor 1 alpha (TEF-1α), and RNA polymerase II subunit 2 (RPB2) sequences. In Taiwan, F. solani-melongenae was the dominant species causing collar rot and fruit rot in passion fruit. F. solani-melongenae was a homothallic fungus that produced perithecia in diseased tissues. However, F. solani and F. liriodendri did not produce perithecia. The unknown FSSC group showed morphological characteristics similar to F. solani-melongenae and produced perithecia. Phylogenetic analysis based on the ITS and TEF-1α sequences demonstrated that the Taiwanese FSSC isolates were distinct from the Brazilian and Chinese FSSC isolates. In summary, FSSC isolates causing collar rot and fruit rot of Taiwanese passion fruit showed high diversity, potentially associated with the geographical locations.

Germplasm collection and ex situ conservation of Adansonia digitata in Ghana

ABSTRACT Baobab (Adansonia digitata L.) domestication and conservation have become necessary due to its increasing global usage and decreasing population. Although it is resilient and survives harsh environmental conditions, its destruction due to anthropogenic and natural forces could lead to genetic erosion. Therefore, it is important to domesticate the baobab and provide it with the necessary husbandry practices to ensure its survival. The objective of the study was to collect baobab germplasm across the Volta Region of Ghana for conservation. A reconnaissance survey was conducted and followed with germplasm collection. As a result, 109 accessions were collected within latitude 5°47ʹ46.24190ʹʹ to 7° 9ʹ34.15030ʹʹN and longitude 0°11ʹ35.25ʹʹto1°8ʹ36.74180 ʹʹE. They were from mangrove swamps, woodland savannah, grassland savannah and deciduous forest. The scions were grafted on pre-raised rootstocks. They are represented on a bar chart, and a three-dimensional map drawn indicating the geographic locations of collection. The lowest and highest altitudes at the ground at which the accessions were taken were 4 m and 287 m, respectively. The accessions were planted in the Ho Technical University ex situ gene bank. The collection will help in the maintenance of baobab genetic diversity, serve as materials for studies and crop improvement, and improve biodiversity.

Contrastive Dual-Pool Feature Adaption for Domain Incremental Remote Sensing Scene Classification

Remote sensing image classification has achieved remarkable success in environmental monitoring and urban planning using deep neural networks (DNNs). However, the performance of these models is significantly impacted by domain shifts due to seasonal changes, varying atmospheric conditions, and different geographical locations. Existing solutions, including rehearsal-based and prompt-based methods, face limitations such as data privacy concerns, high computational overhead, and unreliable feature embeddings due to domain gaps. To address these challenges, we propose DACL (dual-pool architecture with contrastive learning), a novel framework for domain incremental learning in remote sensing image classification. DACL introduces three key components: (1) a dual-pool architecture comprising a prompt pool for domain-specific tokens and an adapter pool for feature adaptation, enabling efficient domain-specific feature extraction; (2) a dual loss mechanism that combines image-attracting loss and text-separating loss to enhance intra-domain feature discrimination while maintaining clear class boundaries; and (3) a K-means-based domain selector that efficiently matches unknown domain features with existing domain representations using cosine similarity. Our approach eliminates the need for storing historical data while maintaining minimal computational overhead. Extensive experiments on six widely used datasets demonstrate that DACL consistently outperforms state-of-the-art methods in domain incremental learning for remote sensing image classification scenarios, achieving an average accuracy improvement of 4.07% over the best baseline method.

Challenges in Geographic Access to Specialized Pediatric Burn Care in the United States.

Geographical access to pediatric burn centers in the US is not well described. Patients may receive care at American Burn Association (ABA)-verified burn centers, unverified burn centers, or non-burn centers. A recent study indicated that most US counties do not have an ABA-verified pediatric burn center within 100 miles. However, access to unverified burn centers that provide care to pediatric burn patients was not considered. We studied access to all pediatric burn centers across different US regions, using American College of Surgeons (ACS) Committee on Trauma-verified pediatric trauma centers as a benchmark. An observational cohort study was conducted using 2022 US Census data. Individuals aged ≤14 years were included. Geographical location was determined by residence ZIP code. Pediatric burn centers were identified from the ABA directory. Pediatric trauma centers were identified by ACS verification status using the ACS Hospitals and Facilities directory. Population access to pediatric burn and trauma centers within 50, 100, and 300 miles of the home ZIP code was assessed. Of US children, 62.1%, 83.5%, and 98.6% live within 50, 100, and 300 miles of a pediatric burn center. Access to ABA-verified pediatric burn centers is lower compared to access to ACS-verified pediatric trauma centers. Overall, the US population has limited access to pediatric burn centers compared to pediatric trauma centers. The services offered and outcomes should be studied to better understand differences in the quality of care provided by verified and unverified centers.

Assessment of mental health stigma among public safety personnel in Portugal

Purpose This paper aims to assess the presence of mental health stigma among public safety personnel (PSP) in Portugal. Design/methodology/approach An online self-administered form was applied, including the Attribution Questionnaire (AQ-9), the Attitudes Towards Mental Health Problems scale (ATMHP) and the socio-demographic characterisation: age, gender, marital status, children, education and geographical location. The sample included police officers, workers of the General Directorate of Reintegration and Prison Services (DGRSP) and workers of the National Institute of Medical Emergency (INEM), as well as a control group (general population). Findings In total, 1,441 people participated, of whom 85% were police officers, 3.3% were INEM staff, 2.6% were DGRSP staff and 9.1% were from general population. The most common socio-demographic characteristics were male, married/common-law marriage, two children, 12 years of education and living in Lisbon and Tagus Valley. On AQ-9, all groups showed higher scores on the stigmatizing constructs help, pity and coercion and lower scores on blame, anger, segregation and avoidance. For the total score, the authors found significant differences only in comparison with INEM, who scored lower. The ATMHP showed that INEM and police officers generally had lower total scores than DGRSP and the general population, with the general population having the highest score. There were no significant gender differences for most of the results in both questionnaires. Originality/value To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first study assessing mental health stigma among PSP in Portugal. The authors found stigma among PSP, with INEM showing a lower score in stigmatizing attributions, and INEM and police officers showing better attitudes and less shame towards mental illness.

Navigating ethics in HIV data and biomaterial management within Black, African, and Caribbean communities in Canada

BackgroundThis study explored the ethical issues associated with community-based HIV testing among African, Caribbean, and Black (ACB) populations in Canada, focusing on their perceptions of consent, privacy, and the management of HIV-related data and bio-samples.MethodsA qualitative community-based participatory research (CBPR) approach was employed to actively engage ACB community members in shaping the research process. The design included in-depth qualitative interviews with 33 ACB community members in Manitoba, Canada. The study was guided by a Community Guiding Circle, which contributed to study design, data analysis, and interpretation. A diverse sample was recruited through community agencies, social media, and flyers, with considerations for variations in age, gender, sexual orientation, and geographical location. The study employed iterative inductive thematic data analysis.FindingsParticipants expressed significant concerns about the collection, sharing, and use of HIV data from healthcare encounters, revealing mistrust towards institutions like police, child welfare, and immigration accessing their health information. Their worries centered on the handling of biological samples, data misuse, potential human rights violations, HIV criminalization, deportations, challenging consent, privacy, and bodily autonomy principles. While open to contributing to medical research, they unanimously demanded greater transparency, informed consent, and control over the secondary use of their health data.ConclusionsThe study underscores the need for culturally safe approaches in HIV testing and ethical governance in healthcare for ACB communities. It highlights the importance of prioritizing participant empowerment, ensuring transparency, practicing informed consent, and implementing robust data security measures to balance effective HIV information management with the protection of individual rights.

Time series data on typhoid fever incidence during outbreaks from 2000 to 2022

This article presents a comprehensive dataset compiling reported cases of typhoid fever from culture-confirmed outbreaks across various geographical locations from 2000 through 2022, categorized into daily, weekly, and monthly time series. The dataset was curated by identifying peer-reviewed epidemiological studies available in PubMed, OVID-Medline, and OVID-Embase. Time-series incidence data were extracted from plots using WebPlotDigitizer, followed by verification of a subset of the dataset. The primary aim of this dataset is to serve as a foundational tool for researchers and policymakers, enabling the development of robust, model-based strategies for the control of typhoid fever outbreaks. The article describes the method by which the dataset has been compiled and how the quality of the data has been verified. Furthermore, it discusses the dataset’s potential applications in optimizing vaccination campaigns, improving public health planning, and tailoring interventions to specific epidemiologic contexts. This article contributes significantly to the field of infectious disease modeling, offering a valuable resource for enhancing typhoid fever control measures globally.

Inclusive and supportive aging: mental health and social care strategies for India’s elderly

Purpose As population aging accelerates globally, understanding the multifaceted needs of elderly individuals has become increasingly crucial. This paper aims to bridge significant research gaps in elderly well-being, particularly in the Indian context, by conducting a comprehensive bibliometric analysis and systematic literature review. While existing studies on aging primarily emphasize financial aspects like pensions and health insurance, this review identifies other essential yet underexplored dimensions impacting elderly well-being, such as emotional support, social connections, financial security beyond traditional income sources and spiritual well-being. Design/methodology/approach The data methodology for this paper involves a comprehensive bibliometric analysis and systematic literature review conducted according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines. The authors identified recurring themes, research gaps and emerging areas within the literature through thematic analysis. The combined insights from the bibliometric analysis and systematic literature review inform the development of a research agenda. Findings The findings of this study suggest that family and social support play an integral role in reducing loneliness, anxiety and depression among the elderly. However, urbanization and migration trends are diminishing traditional support structures. Financial security remains a concern, as many elderly individuals lack access to financial literacy resources and emergency funds, impacting their confidence and autonomy. Additionally, spiritual practices, which have shown positive correlations with mental health and cognitive function, are rarely incorporated into existing health-care programs for the elderly. Originality/value This paper provides several policy recommendations, advocating for integrating community-based social programs, financial literacy initiatives and culturally sensitive spiritual support in elderly care frameworks. These measures foster the aging population’s emotional resilience, financial independence and holistic health. Moreover, this study highlights the importance of future research focusing on specific subgroups within the elderly population, including differences by geographic location, educational background and socio-economic status. Ultimately, this research supports the development of inclusive and sustainable policies that promote health, independence and quality of life for the aging population.

Molecular epidemiology of human papillomavirus variants in cervical cancer in India

Background & objectives Cervical cancer (CC) has been documented as the fourth most common cancer worldwide. Persistent infections with high-risk human papillomavirus (hr-HPV) have been suggested in the development of CC. Although prophylactic vaccines are available for the prevention of prevalent hr-HPV types, intra-type variations exist within a particular HPV type that has varying oncogenic potential as well as the mechanism of pathogenicity and varying neutralization by antibodies. Therefore, we carried out a systematic review to determine the distribution of HPV intra-typic variations in different geographical locations of India and their reported implications. Methods Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) guidelines were followed to retrieve relevant articles from the standard databases using appropriate keywords. Consequently, 17 articles were included in the current review after screening based on inclusion and exclusion criteria. Results The majority of articles included in this review reported variations within the HPV16 E6 gene, followed by the L1 and E7 genes. Analysis of available data indicated the differential regional distribution of some variations. These variations have also been reported to impact the biological functions of various viral proteins. Interpretation & conclusions The distribution of lineages varied with the different genomic regions sequenced. Additionally, there were certain unique and common variations in the HPV genome with respect to geographical regions. Hence, we suggest the identification of region-specific variations for the development of diagnostic and prognostic interventions.

Analysis of Regional Development Planning Strategies In Central Kalimantan To Improve Community Welfare

Central Kalimantan Province has great potential in the agriculture, forestry, and mining sectors, but its management still faces various challenges such as limited infrastructure, low quality of human resources, and environmental damage. This study aims to analyze regional development strategies through a SWOT analysis approach to improve community welfare. The results of the analysis show that the potential of rich natural resources and strategic geographical position are the main strengths, while the limited infrastructure and access to public services are significant weaknesses. Investment opportunities and government support can be leveraged to accelerate development, but challenges such as environmental degradation and social conflicts must be managed effectively. Strategy recommendations include infrastructure development, human resource capacity building, and sustainable management of natural resources. Comprehensive implementation and multi-stakeholder collaboration are needed to make Central Kalimantan a developed and prosperous region.

Pakistan-Tajikistan Relations and Prospects for Energy Collaboration through CASA-1000

This article uses qualitative methods to explore the CASA-1000 project as it relates to the prosperity of central and south Asia and the energy needs of Pakistan. During the 2000s there was a surge in energy demand in Pakistan, exceeding supply. Its economy was crippled by the energy crisis, drawing attention to the need for a comprehensive and sustainable energy strategy. Efforts made by Pakistan to address this issue demonstrate a constructive approach to cooperation in the region and have led to the CASA-1000 project in collaboration with Tajikistan, a country with an advantageous geographic position and abundance of natural resources. Most Central Asian republics are seeking opportunities to enter the energy export market in order to effectively use their excess energy during the summer season. Similarly, South Asian countries are eager to acquire these resources to meet their energy requirements. Central Asian states can turn their energy resources into liquidity, which will boost their economies and bring about prosperity. It is apparent that ongoing projects such as CASA-1000 will benefit not only Pakistan and Tajikistan, but also other countries of south and central Asia.

A critical approach to SDGs through Collaborative Online International Learning: experiences from Canada and Spain

IntroductionThe Collaborative Online International Learning (COIL) is described as a pedagogical experience linking the classrooms of two or more higher education institutions across culturally and linguistically differentiated regions. COIL intends to provide academics and students with the ability to communicate and collaborate with peers internationally through online interactions. During the Fall of 2021, this collaboration involved the Universitat Jaume I (UJI), located in the city of Castelló de la Plana in Spain and Algoma University, located on the traditional territory of the Anishinaabek Nation, as well as the homelands of the Métis Nation. The student profiles, each institutions’ geographical locations, as well as the linguistic, cultural and critical approaches to teaching and learning provided ample opportunities and challenges for the development and implementation of this experience.MethodsThe purpose of this paper is to provide a pedagogical reflection on the development of a 5-week module taught together during three academic years. The authors provide an account and reflection of their collaboration centered on the institutional challenges and opportunities that currently exist for courses that aim to engage Indigenous and critical/ecological thinking.Results and discussionThe background of the collaboration leads to a detailed analysis of the context of COIL implementation and the reflections on the modules’ development and improvement. Our recommendations are based on lessons learned from the substantive and technical challenges and opportunities on the complexity of teaching about contemporary ecological/social issues, as well as the tools required to inspire future activists.

Therapeutic benefits of glycerol in dry eye disease

Dry eye disease (DED) is one of the most commonly diagnosed eye disorders, with a prevalence ranging from 5 to 50%, depending on the geographic location. DED is a multifactorial disorder of the tears and ocular surface, which results in symptoms of discomfort, visual disturbance, and tear film instability with potential damage to the ocular surface. It is also accompanied by increased osmolarity of the tear film and inflammation of the surface of the eye. Multiple therapeutic agents have been used to treat DED, with glycerol emerging as a promising component of ophthalmic preparations, due to its humectant, lubricant, demulcent, and osmoprotective properties. This review aims to evaluate the current evidence concerning the therapeutic benefits of glycerol in managing DED, focusing on its possible mechanisms of action, clinical efficacy, and potential advantages over other treatments.

Preliminary Reference Intervals for Capillary Zone Electrophoresis Fractions and an Examination of MRP-126 as a Potential Marker of Inflammation in the Aldabra Giant Tortoise (Aldabrachelys gigantea)

The diagnostic utility and reference intervals for blood studies in Aldabra giant tortoises (Aldabrachelys gigantea) are not well described. Capillary zone electrophoresis (CZE) has been evaluated in non-mammalian vertebrates and shows a higher fraction resolution and less overall variation in results than agarose gel electrophoresis. To date, the investigation of novel biomarkers has been limited in reptiles. MRP-126, a calgranulin homologue in reptiles, has not been evaluated for its diagnostic potential in tortoises. The goals of this study were to establish preliminary reference intervals for CZE protein electrophoresis and to examine MRP-126 as a potential biomarker of inflammation in Aldabra giant tortoises. In 27 clinically healthy tortoises, CZE resolved seven protein fractions. In tortoises with an inflammatory or infectious disease process (n = 4), MRP-126 concentrations and CZE fractions did not consistently increase or were abnormal. To strengthen the understanding of the diagnostic value of CZE and MRP-126 concentration in this species, future studies should evaluate a larger sample set inclusive of repeated measures of clinically abnormal tortoises as well as CZE and MRP-126 variations in regard to additional health conditions, age, sex, season, and geographic location.

The impact of ecological civilization construction on the resilience of green technology innovation: evidence based on double dual machine learning

Can the accelerated development of ecological civilization promote the sustainable development of green innovation?This paper investigates the effects of ecological civilization demonstration zones (ECDZs) on green innovation resilience. Based on a sample of 237 prefecture-level cities across 31 provinces in China from 2011 to 2021, our double dual machine learning and spatial difference-in-differences model indicates that ECDZs significantly enhance urban green innovation resilience. Our findings also reveal a spatial spillover effect of ECDZ—the development of ECDZs in one city significantly improves the resilience of green innovation in neighboring cities. The spatial spillover effect reaches its maximum in the fifth year. Our analysis of the underlying mechanisms suggests that ECDZs promote urban green innovation resilience through the advancement of digitalization, green consciousness, and new quality productivity. We also conduct an analysis of heterogeneity based on geographical locations and levels of policy support, and the results show that the impact of ECDZs on urban green innovation resilience is mainly observed in western, inland, and strongly policy-supported regions. The findings of this study provide crucial insights and valuable guidance for developing national environmental conservation policies and programs.

Chemical Diversity of UK-Grown Tea Explored Using Metabolomics and Machine Learning

Background/Objectives: Dartmoor Estate Tea plantation in Devon, UK, is renowned for its unique microclimate and varied soil conditions, which contribute to the distinctive flavours and chemical profiles of tea. The chemical diversity of fresh leaf samples from various garden locations was explored within the plantation. Methods: Fresh leaf, which differed by location, cultivar, time of day, and variety, was analysed using Flow Infusion Electrospray Ionisation Mass Spectrometry (FIE-MS). Results: Random forest classification revealed no significant differences between Georgian N2 cultivar garden locations. However, a significant degree of variability was observed within four tri-clonal variants (Tocklai Variety) with TV9 exhibiting greater similarity to the Georgian N2 cultivar compared to TV8 and TV11, while TV11 was found to be most like TV1. The intraclass variability in leaf composition was similar between the varieties. We explored the metabolic changes over the day in one variant (Camellia assamica Masters), yielding a model with a significant R2 value of 0.617 (p < 0.01, 3000 permutations). Starch and sucrose metabolism was found to be significant where the abundance of these chemical features increased throughout the day and then began to decrease at night. Conclusions: This research highlights the complex interplay of cultivars, geographical location, and temporal factors on the chemical composition of tea. It provides insightful data on the metabolic pathways influencing tea cultivation and production and underscores the importance of these variables in determining the final chemical profile and organoleptic characteristics of tea products.

Forms of Innovation and the Core‐Periphery Divide: (Non‐) Technological Innovation and Geo‐Remoteness in Israel

ABSTRACTScholarly interest in innovation in the periphery has recently grown, along with the prevalence of studies investigating different forms of innovation. Given the relative paucity of research in these fields, this study aims to examine the probability of technological and non‐technological innovation in peripheral areas, compared to core regions. Drawing on a sample of over 3800 Israeli firms, we analyzed how their peripheral geographic location impacts their chances to innovate, in comparison to firms in Israel's core regions. The results showed that the probabilities to technologically innovate in most of the defined peripheries significantly exceed the probabilities in the core. Those probabilities decrease with the region's increasing peripherality. Peripheral firms that do tend to technologically innovate were found to be deeply embedded in their region's economy. Unlike technological innovation, peripheries' non‐technological innovation activity was found to benefit from urban agglomerations that endow local economies with an (technological) innovative buzz. The results have policy implications for the promotion of regional economic growth.

Strategic Determinants of Hub-and-Spoke Airport Policy for TAP Air Portugal: An Empirical Study Applied to Lisbon’s Internation Airport

The Lisbon’s International Airport (AHD) is a success story among the various European airports, making the geographic location as a huge strategic differentiating factor. This success is expressed, among other ways, in the rapid expansion of routes and the strong growth in demand, as well as in the recognition of the quality of the Airport by its users, namely, by the various connections between Latin America (with a focus on Brazil), Africa and Europe. In this article, we analyze some of the factors that influenced the success of Lisbon Airport, namely the level of investments to improve infrastructure, the increase in the number of routes and the increase in demand. Some of the main opportunities and challenges that this Airport will face in the coming years are also discussed. The results were promising and provide important information to improve business decision making, operation of business level and development policies.