Mountains National Park Research Articles

Analysis of similarity among national parks in Korea: A comparison of habitat composition and species presence–absence data (Lepidoptera, aquatic insects, and higher plants)

AbstractA list of species of Lepidoptera, aquatic insects, and higher plant species inhabiting 22 National parks in Korea was compiled. A similarity analysis was performed to compare all National parks, and cladograms were constructed. In the case of higher plants, those inhabiting the Hallasan region were categorized as a separate group, while the plants living in National parks located near the southern and western coasts formed one group, and other terrestrial National parks were divided into two groups as follows: the Taebaek Mountain range/adjacent mountain group and the others group. Species of Lepidoptera, which appear to be related to plants, in the Hallasan, Taebaeksan, Taeanhaean, and Bukhansan mountains were each classified independently, and those in the Hallyeohaesang, Dadohaehaesang, Naejangsan, and Byeonsanbando in the southern and western parts of Korea were classified as a single group. In case of aquatic insects, those in the Hallasan, Taeanhaean, and Bukhansan region were categorized in independent groups, and other terrestrial National parks were placed in one group with high similarity. A similarity analysis was performed through a detailed classification of the habitats in National parks revealed that marine‐coastal National parks particularly showed low similarity with other mountainous National parks. In addition, other terrestrial National parks were further grouped into large and small National parks. Comparing the subject map that divided Korea into climate, vegetation, and topography, some marine‐coastal National park areas were confirmed to be distinguished from other areas. Furthermore, similarity analysis revealed that Gangwon‐do and Baekdu‐Daegan regions in Gyeongsangbuk‐do were categorized into one group with high similarity.

Research on Landscape Preference of Urban Mountain Park Based on Visitors’ Perception—Taking Xishan Park in Mianyang City as an Example

Research on Landscape Preference of Urban Mountain Park Based on Visitors’ Perception—Taking Xishan Park in Mianyang City as an Example

Living with leopards: an assessment of conflict and people's attitudes towards the common leopard Panthera pardus in a protected area in the Indian Himalayan region

AbstractProtected areas are important for wildlife conservation but they are also used by many local communities for livelihood activities. This often leads to conflicts and erodes the tolerance of local people for wildlife, particularly towards carnivores that prey on livestock. To enhance conservation success and improve the social carrying capacity of carnivores, it is essential to understand the factors influencing such conflicts and the attitudes of people interacting with carnivores. We used structured questionnaire surveys to assess the extent of livestock mortality and community responses to common leopards Panthera pardus in Kishtwar National Park, a relatively understudied protected area in the Greater Himalayan region of India. The mountainous Park and its surroundings have historically served as a haven for the local agro-pastoralists and transhumant pastoralists, resulting in complex human–wildlife interactions across the larger landscape. Our results showed that leopards were responsible for high livestock depredation (71 incidents in 2 years), and households with larger livestock holdings experienced a higher predation rate compared to those with smaller livestock holdings. An ordinal logistic regression model revealed that respondents’ age and period of activity in the Park significantly influenced their opinions regarding leopards. Large losses suffered by otherwise low-income households resulted in more negative attitudes towards these predators. Our study indicates that financial compensation for livestock losses is a key factor in improving human–leopard coexistence. A comprehensive, cross-sector collaborative approach would help to improve conflict resolution and promote favourable attitudes towards these predators.

Landscape Characteristics in Mountain Parks across Different Urban Gradients and Their Relationship with Public Response

Numerous researchers have demonstrated the positive impacts of urban green spaces on human physiology and psychology. In mountainous urban regions, mountains have often been preserved as green spaces during urban sprawl, owing to the limited costs associated with development. While the landscape elements of these mountain parks exhibit differences depending on their locations, the nature and effects of such differences on the public’s physiological and psychological perceptions remain unclear. Therefore, we employed panoramic cameras and semantic segmentation (PSPNet-based training algorithm) to analyze the composition of landscape elements in mountain parks along an urban gradient (i.e., urban areas [UA], suburban areas [SA], and exurban areas [EA]). Concurrently, open-ended questionnaires and portable physiological monitors (ErgoLAB 3.0 Portable physiological monitoring equipment) were utilized to examine relationships between specific landscape elements and the public’s physiological and psychological responses. Our findings revealed that: (1) Urban park landscapes possessed high proportions of paved areas, humanistic vibe, vegetation hierarchy, and vegetation color richness, alongside lower scene clutter; suburban mountain park landscapes were characterized by heightened contemporary ambiance and wide viewshed area; and exurban mountain park landscapes exhibited high green view indices, expansive water surfaces, broad view area, and low scene clutter. (2) HRV and EMG differed significantly between mountain parks situated across the urban gradient. EMG also significantly varied across landscape types. All four psychological perception metrics showed significant distinctions across the three urban gradients and three green space categories. It further highlighted the importance of naturalness perception in urban mountain parks. (3) Viewshed area, average sight distance, architecture, enclosure, humanistic vibe, contemporary elements, vegetation color richness, trees and shrubs, distant hills, and scene clutter showed significant effects on both physiological and psychological outcomes. However, the application of these findings needs additional refinement tailored to the typology of the landscape. (4) To provide practical insights for constructing diverse green space typologies, we employed partial correlation modeling to eliminate covarying factors and developed a perception feedback model for public physiological and psychological indicators. Our findings elucidate relationships between landscape elements and the benefits of urban forests for public physiology and psychology. By shedding light on these connections, we further understand how landscape elements shape human perceptions of mountainous urban forests. These results offer valuable insights for shaping policies that promote favorable urban forest landscapes while also advancing landscape perception research through the use of semantic segmentation and portable physiological monitoring.

The Role of One Health Approach Research for the Conservation of Endemic Wild Animals and Mitigation of Future Public Health Threat in Bale Mountains National Park, Ethiopia.

One of the things that made the Bale mountains park attract international attention is the home of many endemic wild animal including the world rarest canid, Ethiopian wolf. However, the park's major issues, especially public health study, wildlife and environmental sanitation, have not been adequately researched. The main objectives of the review is to highlight the study needed for prevention of animal and human health threat at Bale mountains national park. The water (river) rises from the park is used for drinking by the people downstream. As human approach to new area of the park, there is a chance for infected with new pathogens which may cause for newly emerging outbreak of the disease. The endemic animal in the park is infected with many disease from different reservoirs such as another wild animal and environment they reside in. As an example the Ethiopian wolf which listed as critically endangered species of the animal is infected with many disease which are transmitted from the rodents, carcass, stray dogs, human and the environment specially water bodies. Due to that infectious disease in rodents, stray dogs, human lives in the park and presence of pathogenic agents in water bodies should be investigated for prevention and controlling of infectious disease which could be causes extinction of the Ethiopian wolf. Wildlife waste is major water pollutants which may excreted and released from large animals to rodents found in Bale mountains national park. The pathogen from wild animal and human can made contamination of water bodies rise from mountainous area of the Bale and flow to the downstream can easily made the pathogen transported to lowland area of Ethiopia and Somalia which results a health risk of livestock, wild animal and human. Thus integrated research related to identification of pathogens found in wild animal, human lives in surrounding the park, and presence of pathogen in environment of the park (water bodies, soil) should be performed.

A study of the thermal comfort in urban mountain parks and its physical influencing factors

Urban thermal comforts are increasingly holding people's attention due to global warming and urban heat islands. Urban parks can absorb sunlight radiation, which reduces air temperature, improving urban microclimates. Various factors in the park are confirmed to be effective in heat mitigation. However, there are few studies on thermal comfort in urban mountain parks, and mountain areas might cause peculiar climatic conditions owing to their particular landforms. To fill this gap in the research, this study explored thermal comfort in mountain parks and the environmental factors that would affect thermal comfort. A field measurement in the summertime (July & August) of 2018, it was found that trees, the river, and the area of parks could adjust the thermal comforts of mountain parks. Their effects varied throughout the day, and the impacts of trees were most pronounced at noon and late afternoon, while the influence of rivers and park areas was most pronounced at noon. Increasing the leaf area index by 1 point could result in decreases in physiological equivalent temperature, land surface temperature, and solar radiation level by 3.90 °C, 2.69 °C, and 270.10 W/m2, respectively. The findings have practical implications for future urban mountain park design works.

Network complexity of bacterial community driving antibiotic resistome in the microbiome of earthworm guts under different land use patterns

Recently, the study of antibiotic resistance in the soil animal microbiome has attracted extensive attention; however, the patterns of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) in soil and soil animals related to different land use types remain poorly studied. In the present study, soil and earthworms were collected from four different land-use types (farmland, hospital, park land, and mountain park), and 162 ARGs in the microbiomes of the soil and earthworms were quantified using high-throughput quantitative PCR. Our study showed that the abundance and number of ARGs were higher in soil samples than in earthworm guts, but earthworms as the living organisms created relatively isolated ambient surroundings, which allowed for a more heterogeneous ARGs profile. Meanwhile, land use significantly influenced the abundance, number and co-occurrence pattern of ARGs in the soil and earthworm samples. Furthermore, abiotic and biotic factors had significant effects on the ARGs profile, among which pH had a negative effect on the ARGs profiles of both soil and earthworm microbiomes, and bacterial network complexity had a positive effect on the earthworm ARGs profile. Our study provides new insights into the distribution and dispersal of ARGs in the soil animal gut microbiome under different land use patterns.

The change of green space well-being during rapid urbanization: A case study in Jinan, China, 2006-2018.

With the rapid advancement of urbanization, the green space well-being (GSWB) of developing countries faces drastic changes and is increasingly threatened. Green and residential spaces are the core elements of GSWB; however, we know very little about the interaction and combination of the two in terms of their effect on GSWB. This study identified the spatiotemporal features of GSWB and critically examined how patterns of residential-green combinations affect GSWB. Based on land-use data for Jinan from 2006 to 2018, and using the spatial measurement tool GeoDa, we found that both green and residential space have increased significantly in central Jinan. At the macro level, the spatial correlation between the two decreased significantly; meanwhile, at the micro level, there are obvious differences in time and geography. This led to differences in the distribution of GSWB between regions with high value and those with low value. We revealed that the development, preservation, and demolition of residential and green spaces influence changes in GSWB. The positive effects on GSWB come from (1) mountain park development policy in built-up areas, (2) theme park development policy in new urban areas, and (3) urban renewal and demolition policy. The negative effects on GSWB come from (1) issues remaining from prior extensive urban development, (2) the replacement of central areas driven by urban branding, and (3) the lack of supervision of nearby facilities for new housing development. To better understand changes in GSWB, it is necessary to consider its internal residential-green spatial collaboration and propose targeted response strategies. This can help to better safeguard the quality of human settlements in the process of urbanization in developing countries.

Visitation to national parks in California shows annual and seasonal change during extreme drought and wet years

This study examines the influence of drought indicators on recreational visitation patterns to National Park Service units in California (USA) from 1980 to 2019. We considered mountain, arid, and coastal park types across a climate gradient where seasonal recreational opportunities are directly or indirectly dependent on water resources. Significant departures from the normal hydroclimate, reflected by drought or unusually wet conditions, can lead visitors to change their behavior, including recreating at a different time or place. Drought conditions can facilitate earlier seasonal access at higher elevation parks, but displace visitors in other seasons and parks. Wetter-than-average conditions can displace visitors due to snowpack or flooding, but also facilitate other activities. We found a decrease in annual visitation at popular mountain parks including Yosemite (-8.6%) and Sequoia and Kings Canyon (-8.2%) during extreme drought years due to lower-than-average attendance in peak summer and fall months. Extreme wet years also had significantly reduced annual visitation in Sequoia and Kings (-8.5%) and Lassen Volcanic (-13.9%) due to declines in spring and summer use as snowpack restricts road access. For arid parks, drought status did not have a statistically significant effect on annual visitation, although extreme drought led to less use during the hottest months of summer at Death Valley, and extreme wet conditions at Pinnacles led to less visitation throughout the year (-16.6%), possibly from impacts to infrastructure associated with flooding. For coastal park units, extreme drought led to year-round higher levels of use at Redwood (+27.7%), which is typically wet, and less year-round use at Channel Islands (-23.6%), which is relatively dry, while extreme wet years led to higher levels of annual use at Channel Islands (+29.4%). Collectively, these results indicate the effect of extreme drought or wet years on park visitation varies by park depending on geography and recreational activities offered.

Eudaimonic well-being development: Motives driving mountain-based adventure tourism

Wellness adventure tourism is one attractive activity for tourists to gain a sense of self-achievement, ultimately leading to health and well-being. In recent years, mountain adventure tourism has made greater demands for the experience and sensation of such activities. The main aim of this paper is to seek an answer to the question of to what extent mountain-based adventure is the realization of eudaimonic well-being development. Qualitative research methods were employed in this study and a content analysis technique adopted to analyze data. The data were collected through 40 face-to-face interviews conducted at a mountain national park in Thailand. The results revealed that the motives driving tourists to participate in mountain hiking through eudaimonic experience could more easily achieve sustainable development of mountain-based tourism. It also helps to provide a greater marketing competitiveness advantage for a destination, helps to maintain and/or improve the physical and mental well-being of tourists, increases tourist numbers, and generates income to the community. It was found that the participants gave insight into the six components of the eudaimonic experience to generate well-being in life by participating in a wellness adventure tourism activity. The adventure activity helped the tourists to enhance their self-acceptance, purpose in life, autonomy, environmental mastery, positive relationship, and personal growth.

Genomic biomarker for the top risk factor of gallbladder cancer, cholelithiasis, in a Latinx population.

e16326 Background: Cholelithiasis or Gallstone disease (GSD), is one of the most common and costly digestive disorders in adults worldwide, presenting 10-20% of the general population but in greater than 30% of Latina and Hispanic American women aged 40 years or older. Moreover, GSD individuals contribute significantly to the incidence and mortality of gallbladder and other digestive system cancers; specifically, the excessive risk of gallbladder cancer is 3-10-fold. Parallel to gallbladder cancer, an appalling female preponderance of GSD has been documented for decades; thus, precisely defining high-risk populations and properly managing patients with GSD would lead to reduced disease burden from GSD and multiple cancers. Several genome-wide association studies (GWAS) in the past have identified genes associated with GSD but few were focused on Latinx population. Methods: To identify genetic risk factors for GSD in Latinx population, we used the Sangre Por Salud cohort (SPS) where participants are Latinx adult individuals aged 18-85 years who were current patients in the Mountain Park Health Center in Arizona. This sample represents historically underrepresented population with low socioeconomic status that are primarily Spanish-speaking, majority being born outside of the US, with low rates of health insurance coverage. A total of 172 GSD cases were identified, each matched with 6 controls (n = 1032) who were people from the same community but without history of GSD diagnosis; matching variables are age at enrollment to SPS, sex, height and weight, dyslipidemia, and HbA1C level indicative of type 2 diabetes. We characterized genome-wide interrogation for biomarkers predicting GSD and contributing to the observed gender disparity by performing a GWAS using a matched case-control design. Results: We identified several novel loci associated with GSD and validated few loci that were reported in previous GWAS. The top 3 loci (MATN2, GPRIN3, GPC6) were strongly associated with GSD in our overall analysis; follow-up pathway enrichment analysis suggests enrichment of GO terms that are associated with immunological pathways, enzymatic processes in gallbladder, liver and gastrointestinal tract and GSD pathology. In a sex-specific analysis, CDHR3 and RPL31P35-SEC61G were identified for females, which have been associated respectively with rhinovirus C infection and HbA1c level in previous studies. Conclusions: Our findings suggest directions towards better and deeper understanding of sex differences in GSD pathology, biological mechanisms, and disease progression among Latinx people. Knowing approximately 80% of gallbladder cancer patients harbored gallstones, our optimal goal is to provide evidence for an innovative strategy to early detect and effectively intervene the modifiable risk factors to reduce gallbladder cancer burden in high risk populations.

Addition to Erysiphe quercicola, A Powdery Mildew Fungus on Urena lobata in South China

Leaves of Caesar weed (Urena lobata) with typical powdery mildew symptoms were collected from Baiyun Mountain Park in Guangzhou, China during winter and summer in 2020 and 2021. Based on the morphology and molecular sequence analyses of Internal Transcribed Spacer (ITS) and large subunit (LSU) rDNA region, the causative agent was identified as Erysiphe quercicola. A description and relevant microscopic images of the pathogen are provided. According to our knowledge, this is the first report of E. quercicola on Urena lobata and this study expands the host range of E. quercicola. Further, we provided details of life cycle and geographical distribution of the fungus.

Transport model simulation prediction and environmental risk assessment of pyrethroid insecticides in urban artificial lakes caused by rainfall: A case study of Cloud Mountain Park in subhumid climate zone

Pyrethroid insecticides are among urban parks' most widely used and harmful insecticides. The advanced prediction method is the key to studying the pollution and diffusion risk of plant conservation insecticides in parks. A two-dimensional advection-dispersion model was established for the North Lake of Cloud Mountain Park in the subhumid area of Hebei Province. The temporal and spatial distribution of lambda-cyhalothrin pollution required by plant growth in artificial lakes under different rainfall intensities and the time of water renewal after rainfall was simulated and predicted. According to the model efficiency (E: 0.98), mean absolute error (MAE: 0.016–0.064 cm), and root mean square error (RMSE: 0.014–0.041 cm), the prediction results showed that the model fits well. The results showed that the concentration of lambda-cyhalothrin in the artificial lake was positively correlated with the increase in rainfall intensity. Under the three scenarios of moderate rain, heavy rain, and rainstorm, the variation of total pollutants into the lake over time conformed to the first-order dynamic equation (R2＞0.97), and the cumulative rates were 0.013 min−1, 0.019 min−1 and 0.022 min−1, respectively. Under light rain, the accumulation rate of lambda-cyhalothrin showed a double-linear relationship, which was in accordance with the second-order kinetic equation (R2＞0.97). The rapid accumulation rate of early-stage rainfall was 0.0024 min−1, and the slow accumulation rate of late-stage rainfall was 0.0019 min−1. The human health risk assessment predicted by the simulation was lower than the hazard value (Rtgn(a-1): 9.65 E−11–1.12 E−10 a-1). However, the potential risk value to aquatic species was higher (RQ: 0.33–23.05). In addition, the increase in rainfall intensity has no significant effect on the acceleration of water renewal time. The two-dimensional dispersion model of pollutants driven by water dynamics provided relevant examples for evaluating the impact of runoff on pesticide scour in parks and supplied scientific support for improving the management of artificial lakes in urban parks.

Visiting national parks during the COVID-19 pandemic - an example of social adaptation of tourists in the perspective of creating social innovations

Social needs arising from the occurrence of global threats prompt researchers from various fields to look for innovative solutions that are friendly to society. The COVID-19 pandemic was a global experience so strong that it influenced many social processes, enabling natural experiments to be conducted that provided new knowledge about human behavior. One of the greatest impacts of lockdowns was observed in the case of tourist activity. National parks are highly desirable destinations for tourists and are able to attract large numbers of visitors. Tourism inside national parks has shown systematic growth, driven not only by the desire to be close to nature and to seek aesthetically pleasing experiences, but also by the need for relaxation and for participation in outdoor sports. Even during the COVID-19 pandemic, visitor numbers to national parks did not decline, despite their temporary closure in 2020. The article presents the result of empirical research conducted in 2021 on tourists to selected national mountain parks. The research aimed to explore visitors’ motives for visiting the parks, as well as types of behaviour and the opinions of tourists regarding the restrictions placed on tourism in certain national parks. Analysis was also conducted of tourists’ attitudes towards restrictions on access to parks due to formal legal regulations, limitations caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as the potential to recompense for these needs by replacing them with alternatives behaviors in tourists’ place of residence in the form of open social innovations. It was found, based on the opinions of tourists, that they visited national parks during the pandemic mainly for recreational and health purposes. Motivation to explore and admire nature or local culture was ranked third. On the other hand, the most frequently mentioned substitute of limited access to the national park was visiting nearby forests, meadows and city parks. The research allowed to notice the need to develop innovative solutions conducive to the psychological comfort of a community deprived of the possibility of mutual contact.

Conflict Management in Protected Areas in Turkey: Küre Mountains National Park Example

Conflict Management in Protected Areas in Turkey: Küre Mountains National Park Example

A planted forest in the mountain steppe of Tabriz, Iran: Visitor’s perceptions of Eynali Urban Woodland Park

Eynali Urban Woodland Park (EWP) is a large mountain park in Tabriz, Iran, and is the largest urban woodland park in Iran. It was developed to increase the urban green space in the growing city of Tabriz for recreation, climate improvement, biodiversity, and ecological connection between the city and its natural surroundings. The planted hilly woodland is located in a natural mountain steppe in a semi-arid region and needs intensive management, including irrigation. By questioning 277 randomly selected park visitors’ frequency of visits, activities, accessibility, preferences, and especially nature preferences were analyzed using visualization of different nature types by photographs. The management targets were compared to visitors’ perceptions, preferences, and acceptances. The results show, that visitors prefer natural surroundings instead of artificial landscape design. Expectations of visitors for specific natural design attractions are lower than the actual status offers, and higher for social security, quality of infrastructure, accessibility, and utilization. Especially important are security by monitoring and guarding, enhancing picnic sites, improving the lighting system for evening visits, continuing forestry, public transport, and providing natural risk protection. Most visitors prefer nature-near vegetation, dry grassland with shrubs partly planted with trees and bushes, followed by planted forest. The planted forest is not the preferred preference. Vistors’ mental nature imagination matches quite well with the nature experience they have from the surrounding mountain steppe with forest patches. The use of the visitors’ expectations can improve the park landscape management can reduce the management costs.

Abstract P6-05-38: Breast Density Notification: Impact on anxiety, breast cancer worry, and self-perceived risk among Latinas at a federally qualified medical center

Abstract Mammographic breast density (MBD) has been shown to be a strong, independent risk factor for breast cancer (BC) irrespective of race/ethnicity. Given the risk association of MBD and its potential to mask tumors on a mammogram, state and federal laws have mandated that women receive information regarding their personal MBD in their mammography reports. However, concerns have been raised regarding the impact of MBD notification on patient anxiety, especially written information for women who experience health disparities such as racial/ethnic minorities, lower health literacy, limited English proficiency and lower socioeconomic status. We performed a randomized controlled clinical trial to examine the impact of three different written and interpersonal approaches to MBD notification on patient anxiety, BC worry, and self-perceived BC risk, among Latinas receiving routine mammography screening at a federally qualified medical center (FQHC). We hypothesized that interpersonal education would reduce anxiety and worry, relative to the written notifications alone. The study was performed at the Baseline Clinic of Mountain Park Health Center, a FQHC in Phoenix, AZ. Women between ages 40 and 74 years presenting for screening mammogram were eligible. After providing signed informed consent, participants were randomized equally to usual care (UC- mailed notification letter); enhanced care (notification letter and MBD educational brochure designed for this study): interpersonal care (notification letter, brochure, promotora education via telephone). A stratified block randomization procedure was used with age > 50 years (yes vs no), ethnicity (Hispanic vs non-Hispanic), and language preference (Spanish vs. English) as strata. Study participants completed surveys at the time of enrollment/pre-intervention (T0), at two weeks to six months after intervention was delivered (T1), and about one year after randomization (T2). Anxiety state was measured using the state anxiety subscale of the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory scale (STAI-S) (range from 20-80). BC worry was probed using the question: “How frequently do you worry about getting breast cancer someday”. The self-perceived lifetime risk of BC was rated between 0% (no chance of BC) to 100% (definitely will get BC). The proportion of participants with an increase or persistence of higher level for each outcome between time points was compared between the three study groups. The study was approved by the Mayo Clinic Institutional Review Board. 1332 Latina women were enrolled and randomized between October 2016 and October 2019. All completed the baseline (T0) survey, 928 completed T1, 632 completed T2, and 516 completed both T1 and T2 surveys. At study entry, majority of the participants were young (64.1% between age 40-49 years), had no family history of breast cancer (81.0%), had less than high school education (68.8%), and were married or partnered (67.8%). At T0, the mean (SD) anxiety STAI score was 32.5 (11.1); 51.8% with moderate or severe anxiety (score > 30). With regard to BC worry, 41.3% reported worrying “sometimes”, “often”, or “almost all the time”. Further, 25.4% reported a self-perceived lifetime risk of developing BC of >10% while only 6.6% had a Gail model estimated lifetime risk score of >10%. There was no significant difference in changes in anxiety, BC worry or self-perceived risk from T0 to either T1 or T2 surveys between the intervention groups. In summary, this study found high levels of baseline anxiety and BC worry (despite the majority being 40-49 years old and having no family history of BC) which persisted regardless of how notification and education were delivered. Future work is needed to improve the understanding of factors that could lower anxiety and BC worry and improve risk perception in this population. Citation Format: Karthik Ghosh, Sarah Jenkins, Jennifer Ridgeway, Jessica D. Austin, Bijan Borah, Bhavika K. Patel, Deborah Rhodes, Aaron Norman, Edna P. Ramos, Matt Jewett, Crystal Gonzalez, Valentina Hernandez, Davinder Singh, Vera Suman, Celine Vachon. Breast Density Notification: Impact on anxiety, breast cancer worry, and self-perceived risk among Latinas at a federally qualified medical center. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 2022 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium; 2022 Dec 6-10; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2023;83(5 Suppl):Abstract nr P6-05-38.

Racial Reckoning, Prosopopeia, and Consumer-Brand Disidentification: Rebranding and the Reimaging of Georgia's Stone Mountain Park

Abstract: In August 2021, the Stone Mountain Memorial Association in Georgia announced the launch of a new logo, removing graphic representation of the mountain's massive monument carving of Confederate leaders. Prior to this change, and for much of the Association's existence since the mid 1920s, representation of the granite carving had been an integral component of the Association's letterheads and logos. This change aimed to separate Stone Mountain Park from its ties to the Ku Klux Klan and from its celebration of the Confederacy. This research reflects on 100 years of visual representation of Stone Mountain Park and examines the 2021 Stone Mountain reimaging campaign in the context of other recent rebranding exercises, including those of Aunt Jemima, Uncle Ben's, Land O'Lakes, the Cleveland (formerly) Indians, and the Washington Commanders (formerly Redskins). The analysis considers the implication of rebranding to update a corporate image in response to changing attitudes to stereotypes and racially offensive representation. Through consideration of racial prosopopeia in advertising, this research considers the symbolic power of such branding in consumer-brand identification. The research also examines approaches to brand disidentification, and implications to the broader field of advertising practice, when corporations seek to reposition themselves as no longer representative of a past associated with racial inequity and racism.

Occurrence of legacy organochlorine pesticides in small mammals from two mountainous National Parks in southeastern Brazil

In southeastern Brazil, particular altitudinal grassland ecosystems, known as campos de altitude, occur at mountainous summits that host an outstanding level of biodiversity and endemism. However, despite being environmentally protected areas, several studies have shown their susceptibility to the impacts of climate change and airborne pollution. Previous studies highlighted that organochlorine pesticides (OCPs), present higher atmospheric concentrations along altitudinal gradients and can be locally deposited. On top of that, formerly used OCPs are still detected in the atmosphere on those mountaintops, long after their phase-out. Nevertheless, the potential bioaccumulation of OCPs by endemic species has not yet been assessed. Thus, we aimed to investigate the occurrence of OCPs in terrestrial subalpine wildlife and to establish a baseline for further in-depth studies on OCPs, or similar hazardous chemicals, in these endangered environments. In summary, 28 OCP congeners were investigated in 49 liver samples of ten small mammal species collected in 2013 and in 2016. Chemical analyses were based on gas chromatography coupled with electron capture negative ionization mass spectrometry (GC/ECNI-MS). Additional stable isotope analyses (δ 15 N and δ 13C) were performed to elucidate the role of trophic position on OCP bioaccumulation. Mirex, heptachlor, hexachlorobenzene, chlordane, and hexachlorocyclohexane congeners were the most frequently detected OCPs (59–97% of all samples). Regarding OCP contents in liver tissues, Mirex was also dominant. The atmospheric transport from secondary sources was assumed to be the origin of OCPs in the studied environment and their occurrence and difference between the two sampling sites are in good agreement with previous atmospheric monitoring. Further studies are needed to evaluate the exposure of campos de altitude endemic organisms to other airborne hazardous chemicals and to assess the potential toxicity posed by contaminant mixtures.

Assessing Local People’ Perceptions and Attitudes on Protected Areas in Popa Mountain Park, Myanmar

Assessing Local People’ Perceptions and Attitudes on Protected Areas in Popa Mountain Park, Myanmar