Local Group Research Articles

Peasantry and neoextractivism in São Paulo: dynamics and conflicts of the sugar-energy industry in the region of Ribeirão Preto

This research has investigated the productive dynamics of the sugarcane agribusiness and its effects on the social reproduction of peasant groups in the administrative region of Ribeirão Preto, in the interior of São Paulo, an important territory hegemonized by sugarcane, which has been the stage of several agrarian conflicts in the state. To pursue this, semi-structured interviews were conducted with representative agents for the topic at hand, as well as field visits and analysis of secondary data. Using a historical-dialectical paradigm, the aim of this article is to demonstrate that in the region in question, an intensive, predatory neoextractivist activity is located, led by the sugarcane sector which, in its production logic, disrupts and hinders peasant production and social reproduction. The conclusions indicate that, even outside frontier zones, there have been severe impacts on local peasant groups, resulting in dispossession, land concentration, and conflicts of various kinds.

"The sort of design sophistication we were all in need of," Ernst Plischke’s design for Paul’s Book Arcade (1949), Hamilton

In 1949 a remarkable interior design for a Hamilton bookshop by Ernst Plischke was, according to the client, "the sort of design sophistication we were all in need of." Paul's Book Arcade played a pivotal role in Hamilton social circles in the 1940s, with the owner David Blackwood Paul (aka Blackwood) and his wife Janet Wilkinson, forming their own "centre of human enlightenment." The Blackwood group of friends included painter Margot Phillips, who like Plischke, was a European refugee, painter, critic, and a writer for The Listener, Geoff Fairburn and his wife Jean (also an artist), as well as writer Alexander Gaskell Pickard. Paul's Book Arcade was established in Hamilton in 1901 by Blackwood's father William Henry Paul. In 1933, Blackwood took over the management of the bookshop, reportedly as the result of a disagreement with his father, who by then was a powerful community leader. Paul's local services were a more pressing concern, and so Blackwood inherited what was a "modest emporium" with the atmosphere of a general store. Blackwood would later transform Paul's Book Arcade to such an extent that in 1949 the visiting English publisher Sir Stanley Unwin numbered the bookshop among the fourteen best in the world, and one of the two best in New Zealand. So successful was the bookshop that in 1955 a further two stores were opened, each in Auckland. The first was located on Shortland Street, and the second on High Street, also designed by Plischke. The Blackwood social circle would have a lasting and far‐reaching influence on the mid‐century architecture of Hamilton. Connections with local artists and groups such as the Waikato Society of Arts, allowed a seamless flow of European‐inspired modernist ideals to inform Hamilton's new architecture, interior design, and cultural landscape. The first built manifestation of this movement was the 1949 interior design for Paul's Book Arcade by Austrian architect Ernst Plischke. This presentation will look at the relation between Blackwood and Plischke, the architect's design for the Book Arcade, and how the Blackwood's informed design sensibilities would influence Hamilton's modernist landscape for years afterwards.

Implementation of Subsidized Fertilizer Policy in Kotamobagu City

The objectives of this research are 1) to know, analyze, and describe the Implementation of Subsidized Fertilizer Policy in Kotamobagu City; 2) To find out and analyze and describe the factors that influence the Implementation of Subsidized Fertilizer Policy in Kotamobagu City. This research uses qualitative research methods with data collection techniques in the form of in-depth interviews, observation, and documentation studies. In this study, the focus of research is the implementation of subsidized fertilizer policies for farmers in Kotamobagu City with sub-focus research on sufficiency, equity, and accuracy. Informants in this study were determined using purposive sampling. The results showed that the implementation of the fertilizer policy in Kotamobagu City has not been effective. The influencing factors are 1) fertilizer distribution is often late and uneven distribution, 2) The distribution of subsidized fertilizers is no longer realized based on the Group Needs Definitive Plan (RDKK) as well as weak coordination and lack of active role in the preparation and implementation of the Group Needs Definitive Plan (RDKK), and 3) The inaccuracy of fertilizer availability is detrimental to farmers. Therefore, the recommendations of this study are 1) strengthen distribution supervision, 2) increase the role of farmer groups, and 3) strengthen collaboration between stakeholders: local government, farmer groups, distributors, and other related parties.

Bridging Global Mandates and Local Realities: Intermediary clusters and interorganizational collaboration for international development

Addressing international sustainable development is an urgent and critical challenge. Existing research has focused on the role of individual intermediary organizations in supporting and shaping inclusive local markets to enhance development. However, it has overlooked how clusters of organizations act as intermediaries to build development capacity, and how they do so through local public institutions. This study focuses on the United Nations (UN) system and examines a specific transnational governance arrangement (Delivering as One) that envisioned the creation of local clusters of UN organizations to facilitate institutional capacity-building in developing countries. By comparing the evolution of the eight pilot UN arrangements, we distil a model of how intermediary clusters facilitate local capacity-building through a process of contextual bridging driven by interorganizational collaboration within the cluster. Our findings identify four mechanisms of contextual bridging. The first two – functional amalgamation of operations and development of a cohesive collective voice – strengthened internal collaboration among cluster members; subsequently, sharing authority with local stakeholders and the local calibration of interorganizational collaboration (IOC) allowed the entrenchment of IOC into the local context. Our work contributes to the literature on interorganizational collaboration and transnational governance in the face of global challenges.

First detection of a deuterated molecule in a starburst environment within NGC 253

Deuterium was primarily created during the Big Bang nucleosynthesis. This fact, alongside its fractionation reactions resulting in enhanced abundances of deuterated molecules, means that deuterium abundances can be used to better understand many processes within the interstellar medium as well as its history. Previously, observations of deuterated molecules have been limited to the Galaxy, the Magellanic Clouds, and (with respect to HD) to quasar absorption spectra. We present the first robust detection of a deuterated molecule in a starburst environment and, apart from HD, the first one detected outside the Local Group. As such, we could constrain the deuterium fractionation as observed by DCN. We observed the central molecular zone (CMZ) of the nearby starburst galaxy NGC 253 covering multiple giant molecular clouds (GMCs) with cloud scale observations ($ 30$ pc) using the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array. Via the MADCUBA package, we were able to perform local thermodynamic equilibrium analysis in order to obtain deuterium fractionation estimates. We detected DCN in the nuclear region of the starburst galaxy NGC 253 and estimated the deuterium fractionation (D/H ratio) of DCN within the GMCs of the CMZ of NGC 253. We found a range of $5 $ to $10 $, which is relatively similar to the values observed in warm galactic star-forming regions. We also determined an upper limit of D/H of $8 $ from DCO within one region, closer to the cosmic value of D/H. Our observations of deuterated molecules within NGC 253 appear to be consistent with previous galactic studies of star-forming regions. This implies that warmer gas temperatures increase the abundance of DCN relative to other deuterated species. This study also further expands the regions, particularly in the extragalactic domain, in which deuterated species have been detected.

RUSSIAN PEASANTS IN THE ALEXANDROPOL DISTRICT: EMERGENCE, ORGANIZATION OF COMMUNAL LIFE, AND FORMS OF LAND TENURE FROM THE NINETEENTH TO THE EARLY TWENTIETH CENTURY

The objective of this study is to examine the emergence of Russian peasants in the Alexandropol district of the Erivan province, as well as their communal life in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. The study of Russian ethnic groups in foreign environments presents several challenges. One significant question is whether to preserve or alter certain aspects of migrants’ traditional way of life. In new surroundings, some traditions may change, while others may disappear. The significance of this work lies in the examination of local groups of Russians residing in a different ethnic environment. This prompts inquiry into the nature of cultural and economic interplay between Russians and the local populace. The study of cultural and domestic interactions between different ethnic communities has become a significant area of focus in modern historiography as nationalities continue to come closer together. This field of study holds scientific importance and provides practical knowledge. To ensure a comprehensive review, it is important to consider factors such as the number of settlers, duration of residence, settlement features, cultural affinity with the local population, and other relevant factors. This paper examines the migration of Russian peasants to Alexandropol district and their economic and social development as they adapted to new natural, socioeconomic, and political conditions. In the literature produced prior to the revolution, the issues of interest to us were not adequately addressed. Some information on the history of Russian settlements can be found in articles by ethnographer S. Maximov and historian K. Borozdin.1 Small historical and ethnographic descriptions of the Russian settlers in Eastern Armenia can be found in local periodicals in the form of articles, travel notes and correspondence. These works, descriptive in their content, are valuable because their authors observed the life of Russian peasants directly. For example, S. Bunyatov, a priest, lived among Russian peasants for five years and wrote on the basis of his personal impressions.2 The publications on Russian settlers contained in the Memorial Books of the Erivan Province are of some value.3 During the Soviet era, the study of the Russian population of Eastern Armenia began only in the 1960s and was mainly devoted to the religious study of the sectarians of Transcaucasia.4 In recent years, historical works devoted to the issues of tsarism’s resettlement policy toward the Russian peasants of Eastern Armenia have appeared. A. Haityan, along with other issues, tried to trace the process of the formation of Russian villages in Eastern Armenia.5 The monograph by D. Ismail-Zadeh also deserves attention. The author gives a general characterization of the economic and social life of the Russian peasants of Transcaucasia, but the issues of interest to us are reflected only in a general way.6 Thus, in the works of both pre-revolutionary and Soviet authors, the issues of studying Russian peasants in Eastern Armenia and, in particular, in Alexandrolop district, have not the subject of a special study. This study intends to fill the existing gaps on the subject. This paper draws extensively on the archival documents of the National Archives of Armenia, many of which have been introduced for the first time in this study. The documents contain a wealth of information on the history of Russian resettlement in Transcaucasia, the policy of the authorities toward them, relations between Russians and native Armenians, and data on the state of agriculture, including crops and livestock numbers. It is imperative to approach these documents with a critical lens, as they were compiled by officials and reflect the government’s views on the settlers and their role in the new region. 1 Maksimov 1861; Borozdin 1891. 2 Bunyatov 1898; Bunyatov 1902. 3 Pamyatnaya knizhka Erivanskoy gubernii na 1892g., Pamyatnaya knizhka Erivanskoy gubernii na 1904g. 1903. 4 Kozlova 1966; Klibanov 1965. 5 Aytyan 1989. 6 Ismail-Zade 1982.

Three Quenched, Faint Dwarf Galaxies in the Direction of NGC 300: New Probes of Reionization and Internal Feedback

Abstract We report the discovery of three faint and ultrafaint dwarf galaxies—Sculptor A, Sculptor B, and Sculptor C—in the direction of NGC 300 (D = 2.0 Mpc), a Large Magellanic Cloud–mass galaxy. Deep ground-based imaging with Gemini/GMOS resolves all three dwarf galaxies into stars, each displaying a red giant branch indicative of an old, metal-poor stellar population. No young stars or H i gas are apparent, and the lack of a GALEX UV detection suggests that all three systems are quenched. Sculptor C (D = 2.04 − 0.13 + 0.10 Mpc; M V = −9.1 ± 0.1 mag or L V = (3.7 − 0.3 + 0.4 ) × 105 L ⊙) is consistent with being a satellite of NGC 300. Sculptor A (D = 1.35 − 0.08 + 0.22 Mpc; M V = −6.9 ± 0.3 mag or L V = (5 − 1 + 1 ) × 104 L ⊙) is likely in the foreground of NGC 300 and at the extreme edge of the Local Group, analogous to the recently discovered ultrafaint Tucana B in terms of its physical properties and environment. Sculptor B (D = 2.48 − 0.24 + 0.21 Mpc; M V = −8.1 ± 0.3 mag or L V = (1.5 − 0.4 + 0.5 ) × 105 L ⊙) is likely in the background, but future distance measurements are necessary to solidify this statement. It is also of interest due to its quiescent state and low stellar mass. Both Sculptor A and B are ≳2–4 r vir from NGC 300 itself. The discovery of three dwarf galaxies in isolated or low-density environments offers an opportunity to study the varying effects of ram-pressure stripping, reionization, and internal feedback in influencing the star formation history of the faintest stellar systems.

Examining local action groups as territorial development polities: CLLD in Lisbon Metropolitan Area

ABSTRACT Over the past three decades, Local Action Groups (LAGs) have gained significant relevance as territorial development polities. Initially established in the 1990s under the LEADER programme, EU-funded LAGs were lauded for their ability to engage local stakeholders, promote proactivity, and build capacity for designing and implementing Local Development Strategies (LDS). With the introduction of the Community-Led Local Development (CLLD) policy initiative in the 2014–2020 Community Support Framework, the geographical scope of LAGs expanded beyond rural and coastal to include urban areas. However, there is a standing critique regarding the role and impact of LAGs in creating spatial-temporal fixes, addressing local issues through innovative governance arrangements, and facilitating multi-level interaction and territorial rescaling. This paper focuses on the Lisbon Metropolitan Area to critically examine these aspects amidst ongoing Europeanisation dynamics and a soft turn in planning theory and practices. Specifically, we scrutinize LAGs’ strategic territorial rationale, cultural adherence, institutionalization, and the intra – and inter-politics of their governance arrangements. The findings indicate limitations in governance rescaling due to the instrumentalization, over-centralization, and standardization of LAGs by external powers, which hinder their potential role and impact as territorial development polities and agents of state re-articulation.

Comprehensive analysis of water and sediment from holy water body ‘Pokhri’ reveals presence of biomolecules that may educe skin, gastroenterological and neurological dysfunction

‘Pokhri mai’ refers to the natural pond amidst the hilly forest slopes of the Buxa tiger reserve (BTR) nearby Jayanti considered to be sacred by the local ethnic groups serving as the prime source of water for wild animals and occasionally by neighbouring inhabitants. However, the water body is designated to be noxious by a group of native people with no scientific validation. This paper focuses to explore its toxicity status and allied environmental concerns through Pokhri water and sediment sample analysis through physicochemical assessment, in vitro antioxidant assay, microbiological investigation followed by AAS, GC–MS and in silico study. pH of soil and water samples were found to be quite high (>6.8) with organic matter, carbon and available nitrogen content being 1.5308 ± 0.28 %, 0.89 ± 0.17 % and 0.072 ± 0.34 % respectively. Profuse microbial growths were observed in both sediment and water samples with consortia obtained exhibiting tolerance against a range of antifungals and antibiotics. Inhibition zone was absent for sediment consortium whereas consortium of water samples portrayed susceptibility against various heavy metals viz. Cu2+, Pb2+, Zn2+, Fe3+ and Al3+ salts with corresponding AAS quantified values of sediment samples being 133, 223.3, 86.8, 1449 and 481.5 ppm. A summative of 18 metabolites were identified by GC–MS in Pokhri lake sediment among which 13 (occupying 96.35 % peak area) were investigated to be potentially toxic with 2,4-Di-tert-butylphenol (53.38 %) as the major compound. Biomolecular characterization, ADMET test and molecular docking study with dermal, gastrointestinal and neural peptides exhibiting high binding affinity scores (ranging between −2.6 to −8.3 kcal/mol) further affirmed the toxicity attributes of the GC–MS deciphered molecules. The findings clearly justifies the local ‘myth’ of Pokhri water to be deleterious with prospective dermatotoxic, neurotoxic and being evident of gastrointestinal toxicity emphasizing ecological risk to the environment, wildlife and microflora of the adjoining forests.

Pastoral culture in the economic space of the Kolyma region of Yakutia based on historical and ethnographic observations in the early twentieth century.

The main idea of the presented publication is to highlight the processes of spreading pastoral practices as a separate element of traditional Yakut culture in the Kolyma region of Yakutia in the first half of the twentieth century. The object of the study is the data of historical and ethnographic studies conducted in the 1950s by the staff of the Institute of Language, Literature and History of the Siberian Branch of the USSR Academy of Sciences. The materials they have collected are an important source on the ethnocultural history of the region, requiring a modern interpretation of the scientific data they have obtained. The subject of the study of this article is the reflection in these sources of the processes of expansion of pastoral practices to the northeast of Yakutia in the first half of the twentieth century and their adaptation to local natural, cultural and socio-economic conditions, which had not previously been considered in such a perspective and did not become the object of a separate study. The methodological basis of the article was the historical method of analyzing archival data and scientific literature related to the research topic. The use of historical-comparative, historical-systemic, problem-chronological and statistical methods allowed the most complete analysis of the studied processes. It has been revealed that studies conducted in the north-east of Yakutia in the middle of the twentieth century make it possible to more clearly understand the history and culture of its inhabitants, as well as identify the features of their daily life, traditions and customs. The works of scientists of that time are undoubtedly a valuable source of information about life and social relations in Kolyma. At the same time, the processes affecting the interaction of northern cultures in the conditions of adaptation and the formation of new economic models still remain insufficiently studied. Based on the collected materials, the main results of the ongoing integration economic processes in the north-east of Yakutia in the first half of the twentieth century were identified and it was noted that the modernization processes that took place during this period had an even more significant impact on the ethnic composition and economic activities of the indigenous population, accelerating the transition of local aboriginal ethnic groups to new, previously unusual for this region.

Propagation of cylindrical converging shock wave in rotating ideal gas containing dust particles

In this article, the propagation of strong converging cylindrically symmetric shock waves in ideal dusty gas is studied using the Lie group technique while considering the effect of an axial magnetic field in a rotating gas atmosphere. The constant density in an undisturbed medium is assumed, whereas the magnetic field, the azimuthal, and axial components of fluid velocity are considered to be varying. The arbitrary constants appearing in the expressions for infinitesimals of the Local Lie group of transformations bring about three different cases of solutions, i.e., with power-law shock path, exponential-law shock path, and a particular case of power-law shock path. Numerical solutions are obtained in the cases of the power-law shock path. The self-similar solutions to the problem are obtained, and the effect of the Shock Cowling number, the mass concentration of solid dust particles, the relative specific heat, the ratio of the density of solid particles, and the ambient azimuthal velocity exponent on the shock evolution are depicted through graphs.

Privacy-preserving local clustering coefficient query on structured encrypted graphs

Graphs and graph databases serve as the fundamental building blocks for various network structures. In real-world network scenarios, nodes often aggregate due to their approximate organizational associations with each other. The local clustering coefficient, which evaluates the proximity of nodes within a graph, plays an important role in quantifying the structural properties of graphs in scrutinizing network robustness and understanding its intricate dynamics. Despite the growing popularity of easily accessible cloud services among small and medium-sized enterprises as well as individuals, the potential risk of data privacy disclosure when outsourcing large graphs to third-party servers is increasing. It is vital to explore a technique for executing queries on encrypted graph data. In this paper, we propose a structured encryption scheme to achieve privacy-preserving local clustering coefficient query (STE-CC) on the outsourced encrypted graphs. To calculate the clustering coefficient, we design the PSIsum protocol to sum the number of intersections, in which the basic private set intersection (PSI) protocol combines Bloom filter (BF) and garbled Bloom filter (GBF) to perform the private matching for counting the number of common neighbors. When configured with appropriate parameters, it can achieve no false negatives and negligible false positives. Finally, the security analysis and experimental evaluation on real-world graph data substantiate the effectiveness and efficiency of our approach.

Cemetery as multifaceted space with leisure uses in the urban American and Western European context

ABSTRACT The main purpose of this article is to show the expanded potential of the urban cemetery as a place for leisure. Desk and field research identify various types of leisure activities that are performed at cemeteries and trace the physical factors that contribute to the diversity of its public use. The research assumption is that more expansive use of cemeteries by local groups enriches their character, social value, recreation opportunities, and helps in building local cultural and spiritual integrity. This study included 18 iconic, historic sites in Western European countries (Austria, Denmark, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Portugal, Spain, Sweden and the UK) and 5 in the United States, 23 cemeteries in total. In addition to field inventories, observations, surveys and interviews with cemetery managers, research tools incorporated user opinions from Google Reviews. Included is the authors’ set of recommendations on how to enhance cemetery space for leisure purposes.

Kama-taguste udmurtide kevadise suure päeva (bõddzh’õnal) kombetalituse laulufolkloor

The article is dedicated to the analysis of musical motifs performed by Eastern Udmurts within the framework of the spring ritual complex Bydzhynnal (The Great Day). The relevance of this study is justified by the limited exploration of the musical folklore of this local group. The primary sources for the analysis include field materials collected during the period from 2016 to 2023, as well as materials from the Scientific Archive of the Institute of Udmurt Philology, Ethnography, and Arts of the Ural Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, along with expedition records by Udmurt ethnographer Ranus Sadikov. The research methodology is based on philological and musicological approaches, involving a plot-thematic analysis of poetic texts and the identification of features in the development of melodies in the context of their modal, rhythmic, and melodic characteristics. The results of the analysis indicate the diversity of motifs used in the examined tunes. The identified anhemitonic tonal systems suggest similarities between the calendar musical compositions of Eastern Udmurts and the musical tradition of Southern and Western Udmurts. The rhythmic structures are presented in two main types. The presence of melisma in the melodies has also been identified, which is explained by the influence of Turkic culture.

A study of complex network features for electrocardiograms and its Applications in atrial fibrillation recognition

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is one of the most common arrhythmias in clinics. The traditional diagnosis of AF mainly depends on physicians’ visual observation of electrocardiograms (ECGs), which is an inefficient, time-consuming, and laborious task. Rapidly evolving complex network principles have opened up a new avenue for studying AF rhythm recognition. This paper thoroughly analyzes seventeen existing network features and proposes three novel network features: local efficiency distribution entropy (EDE), clustering coefficient distribution entropy (CDE), and degree distribution entropy (DDE). Different from the existing local efficiency entropy and clustering coefficient entropy, the three distribution entropy features can reflect probability distributions of network features. This paper compares EDE, CDE, and DDE with existing network features by using T-test, box plots, and machine learning models to validate their effectiveness in AF rhythm recognition. The experiments on PhysioNet/CinC Challenge 2017 show that EDE, CDE, and DDE are superior to existing network features and the accuracy of AF recognition can achieve 94.96%, 94.72% and 95.58%, respectively, when using time-domain features plus EDE, CDE, and DDE.

Gender equality advocacy and socio-economic inclusion: A comparative study of community-based approaches in promoting women’s empowerment and economic resilience (2022)

This review examines community-based approaches to gender equality advocacy and socio-economic inclusion, focusing on strategies to promote women’s empowerment and economic resilience. As global discourse on gender equality gains momentum, community-driven initiatives have emerged as pivotal agents of change, particularly in marginalized communities where structural, cultural, and socio-economic barriers persist. This provides a comparative analysis of grassroots movements, local advocacy groups, and capacity-building programs that seek to enhance women’s roles in economic and social domains. Through a qualitative approach, including case studies from various regions, this study explores how community-based strategies such as microfinance initiatives, vocational training, and entrepreneurial support networks have been instrumental in improving financial independence and workforce participation for women. Findings indicate that localized initiatives have achieved notable success in challenging traditional gender roles, expanding women’s access to resources, and fostering economic resilience. Financial inclusion mechanisms, such as savings groups and access to credit, emerged as critical factors in enhancing women’s economic stability, particularly in settings where formal financial systems are inaccessible. Additionally, the study highlights the impact of social empowerment initiatives that focus on health, education, and altering perceptions of gender roles, thereby creating a supportive environment for sustainable change. Challenges remain, particularly regarding the sustainability and scalability of community-based models, as well as cultural resistance to gender equality. The review concludes with policy recommendations to strengthen partnerships between governments, private sectors, and community organizations, promote adaptable models for broader implementation, and improve monitoring frameworks. This comparative analysis underscores the significance of community-based approaches in advancing gender equality, advocating for their expanded role in global efforts toward socio-economic inclusion and resilience for women.

A multitask interpretable model with graph attention mechanism for activity prediction of low-data PIM inhibitors.

The aberrant expression of proviral integration site for Moloney murine leukemia virus (PIM) kinases is closely related to various tumors and chemotherapy resistance, making them attractive targets for cancer therapy. However, due to the extremely high homology among the three PIM isoforms (PIM1, PIM2, PIM3) and the limited availability of existing bioactivity data, screening and designing selective PIM inhibitors remain a daunting challenge. To address this issue, this study constructed a multitask regression model that can simultaneously predict the half-maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50 values). The model utilizes an attention mechanism to capture effects within local atomic groups and the interactions between different groups of atoms. Through weight sharing, the model enhances the accuracy of predicting PIM3 inhibitors by leveraging the rich and highly correlated data from PIM1 and PIM2 isoforms. Additionally, visualizing the weights of nodes (atoms in the molecule) in the model helps us to intuitively understand the relationship between molecular features and prediction outcomes, thereby enhancing the interpretability of the model. In summary, this work provides new insights and methods for performing activity prediction tasks for multiple similar targets in low-data scenarios.

Soundings: views from the urban forest: eulogy for urban trees

ABSTRACT Around the world trees are being removed unnecessarily for urban development works. At a recent protest rally against the removal of thousands of trees for a major road work project in Melbourne, Australia, local community groups and citizens gathered to protest and mourn the loss of over 20,000 trees. The protest took the form of a funeral service for the trees lost and as customary, a eulogy was delivered.

Epidemiological Characteristics and Spatiotemporal Analysis of Occupational Noise-Induced Deafness From 2006 to 2022 in Guangdong, China: Surveillance Study.

Occupational noise-induced deafness (ONID) has replaced occupational poisoning as the second most common occupational disease in China since 2015. However, there is a limited number of articles on epidemiological characteristics of legally diagnosed ONID. We conducted a comprehensive analysis of the epidemiological and spatiotemporal characteristics of ONID in Guangdong Province from 2006 to 2022, with the aim of providing a scientific foundation for policy formulation and health resource allocation. Surveillance data of ONID cases in Guangdong Province from 2006 to 2022 were obtained from the "Occupational Diseases and Health Hazard Factors Monitoring Information System." Joinpoint regression analysis was applied to assess the long-term trends in cases of ONID from 2006 to 2022. Global spatial autocorrelation analysis was performed to measure the overall degree of similarity of the attribute values of spatially adjacent or neighboring regional units. The local indicators of spatial autocorrelation (LISA) plots were then used to identify the local clusters of ONID in Guangdong. There were 3761 ONID cases in Guangdong Province from 2006 to 2022, showing a significantly increased trend in cases across the entire study period (average annual percentage change 21.9, 95% CI 18.7-35.1). The Moran's I values for the period of 2006 to 2022 ranged from 0.202 to 0.649 (all P<.001), indicating a positive spatial correlation of ONID across regions each year in Guangdong Province. A total of 15 high-high clusters were notably concentrated in specific counties within the Pearl River Delta. Significant spatiotemporal patterns of ONID in Guangdong Province from 2006 to 2022 were identified, characterized by a dramatic increase followed by stabilization in case numbers. ONID predominantly occur in manufacturing industries, domestically funded enterprises, among males, individuals aged 40-49 years, and those with 5+ years of occupational noise exposure. Spatial analysis demonstrated significant clustering in the Pearl River Delta region, with consistent positive spatial autocorrelation across years. These results could help prioritize the allocation of resources for targeted prevention and control measures for ONID.

Optimal facial regions for remote heart rate measurement during physical and cognitive activities

Remote photoplethysmography (rPPG) has gained prominence as a non-contact and real-time technology for heart rate monitoring. A critical factor in rPPG’s accuracy is the selection of regions of interest (ROI), as it can significantly influence prediction outcomes. Most studies typically use the forehead and cheeks as ROIs, but little research has explored other facial regions or how stable these ROIs are during physical movement and cognitive tasks. In this study, we analyzed 28 facial regions based on anatomical definitions using two mixed datasets derived from three public databases: LGI-PPGI, UBFC-rPPG, and UBFC-Phys. We applied rPPG algorithms such as orthogonal matrix image transformation (OMIT), plane-orthogonal-to-skin (POS), chrominance-based (CHROM), and local group invariance (LGI). Our findings show that the glabella, medial forehead, lateral forehead, malars, and upper nasal dorsum consistently perform well, with the glabella achieving the highest overall evaluation score. These results offer valuable insights for advancing remote heart rate monitoring technologies.