North Region Research Articles

Decrease in Socioeconomic Disparities in Self-Rated Oral Health among Brazilian Adults between 2013 and 2019: Results from the National Health Survey.

This cross-sectional study assessed the magnitude of inequalities in self-rated oral health (SROH) among different socioeconomic groups in Brazil. Secondary data from interviews with a sample of adults (≥18 years) from the national health survey 2013 (n = 64,308) and 2019 (n = 88,531) were analyzed. Positive SROH was considered when participants selected the good or very good options. Socioeconomic indicators were monthly household income and years of education. The magnitude of inequalities among socioeconomic groups was estimated using the Slope (SII) and Relative Index of Inequality (RII). Interaction term assessed changes in SII/RII over time. Estimates were adjusted for sex and age. The prevalence of SROH was 67.50% in 2013 and 69.68% in 2019. Individuals with lower socioeconomic indicators had a lower prevalence of positive SROH. Significant reductions in the magnitude of the education-based RII between 2013 (1.58) and 2019 (1.48) in Brazil, as well as in north (1.70; 1.45) and northeast (1.50; 1.41) regions and reduction in the income-based RII in the north (1.71; 1.51) were observed. Socioeconomic inequalities in SROH persist across different Brazilian regions, although there was a reduction in disparities among education groups in 2019 compared with 2013. The findings of this study suggest that equitable Brazilian oral health policies may have contributed to reducing SROH inequality over time.

Study on performance deterioration and life prediction of reed straw-recycled brick aggregate concrete after freeze-thaw cycle

The current rate of carbon dioxide emissions poses a significant threat to global climate, making it increasingly important and urgent to lead the carbon-intensive construction industry to achieve carbon neutrality. Currently, the most practical method involves reusing waste materials. In this study, waste red bricks were used to replace 75 % of natural aggregates in concrete, and three different forms of reed stalks (including reed straw ash, reed straw strips, and reed straw powder) were added to prepare the recycled reed straw brick aggregate concrete (RSAC). Freeze-thaw tests were carried out for 25, 50, 75, and 100 cycles in water and sodium sulfate solution to establish a freeze-thaw deterioration model and perform life prediction. The results showed that the degree of freeze-thaw deterioration of the specimens in sulfuric acid solution was small, and the degree of deterioration of reed powder concrete (RSAC-F) and reed ash concrete (RSAC-H) was more serious than reed strip concrete (RSAC-T) and additive-free concrete (RSAC-0). After 100 water freeze-thaw cycles, the strength losses of the specimens were 21.55 %, 21.7 %, 18.71 %, and 20.54 %, and the relative dynamic elastic modulus losses were 6.11 %, 7.25 %, 4.39 %, and 5.79 %, and the mass losses were 1.79 %, 2.04 %, 1.4 %, and 1.5 %. The fitting results showed that the predicted values of the parabolic model and two-parameter Weibull distribution damage model were closer to the experimental values, and the fitting rates are both greater than 90 %. The life prediction results show that the freeze-thaw resistance of the four types of reed-brick aggregate recycled concrete can reach more than 80 years in southern China, meeting the durability requirements, and the RSAC-T and RSAC-0 group concrete could also be used in projects with lower frost resistance requirements in the north region of China.

Toxoplasma gondii DNA in Tissues of Anadromous Arctic Charr, Salvelinus alpinus, Collected From Nunavik, Québec, Canada.

Toxoplasma gondii is a very common zoonotic parasite in humans and animals worldwide. Human seroprevalence is high in some regions of Canada's North and is thought to be associated with the consumption of traditionally prepared country foods, such as caribou, walrus, ringed seal and beluga. While numerous studies have reported on the prevalence of T. gondii in these animals, in the general absence of felid definitive hosts in the North there has been considerable debate regarding the source of infection, particularly in marine mammals. It has been proposed that fish could be involved in this transmission. The objectives of the present study were to perform a targeted survey to determine the prevalence of T. gondii DNA in various tissues of anadromous Arctic charr sampled in Nunavik, Québec, and to investigate the possible role of this commonly consumed fish in the transmission of infection to humans and marine mammals in Canada's North. A total of 126 individual Arctic charr were sampled from several sites in Nunavik, and various tissues were tested for the presence of T. gondii DNA using PCR. Overall, 12 out of 126 (9.5%) Arctic charr tested in the present study were PCR-positive, as confirmed by DNA sequencing. Brain tissue was most commonly found to be positive, followed by heart tissue, while none of the dorsal muscle samples tested were positive. Although the presence of T. gondii DNA in brain and heart tissues of Arctic charr is very intriguing, infection in these fish, and their possible role in the transmission of this parasite to humans and marine mammals, will need to be confirmed using mouse bioassays. Arctic charr are likely exposed to T. gondii through the ingestion of oocysts transported by surface water and ocean currents from more southerly regions where the definitive felid hosts are more abundant. If infection in Arctic charr can be confirmed, it is possible that these fish could play an important role in the transmission of toxoplasmosis to Inuit, either directly through the consumption of raw fish or indirectly through the infection of fish-eating marine mammals harvested as country foods.

Telemedicine Rounding Support for Public Health System Pediatric Intensive Care Units in Brazil can Improve Outcomes.

There are discrepancies in resources and expertise available between pediatric intensive care units (PICUs) in Brazil that likely significantly impact the clinical outcomes of patients. The goal of this study was to evaluate the impact of telemedicine rounding support in two public PICUs located in the North and Northeast regions of Brazil. Our intervention involves telehealth rounds connecting two "level II" PICUs with specialist doctors from a hospital of recognized excellence. A before-and-after study was carried out to evaluate telemedicine's impact on PICUs between December 2018 and July 2019. Nine hundred and forty patients were evaluated during this period (426 pre-telemedicine, 514 post-telemedicine). The intervention occurred through telerounds between the command center and the ICUs assisted by telemedicine. In unit A, the implementation of telemedicine reduced the mortality rate from 18.86% to 9.29%, while in unit B, it decreased from 10.76% to 9.72%. There was no change in the median length of stay in unit A, but in unit B, it increased from 6 to 8 days. Logistic regression analysis confirmed a significant reduction in mortality in unit A (odds ratio (OR) 0.50; 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.29-0.86). The study found a positive correlation between adherence to telemedicine recommendations and mortality reduction across both units. This suggests that telemedicine can effectively improve outcomes in PICUs, particularly in regions with limited health-care resources.

Unmasking gender disparities in cocoa farming: the case of female land ownership in the Ashanti and Western North regions of Ghana

AbstractGhana's economy relies heavily on agriculture, with subsistence farming being the primary source of income for rural households. Over 50% of the food grown worldwide is produced by women. Land ownership is paramount to be recognized as a cocoa farmer in Ghana, as most land is owned by men following traditional inheritance. This gives men access to, and control over, land for agriculture, thus creating structural gender inequalities. Thereby, women's contribution to agriculture is minimized and roles undermined. This study analyses the challenges faced by women cocoa farmers in the context of land ownership and how they are influenced by social and demographic factors. We focus on ownership including sole ownership. The study, conducted in seven communities across the Ashanti and Western North regions of Ghana, comprises 160 females and 40 males. Results indicate that ownership of cocoa plots, in general, is mostly male dominated, but when female farmers make farmland decisions, they are likely to be sole owners. Marital status and the mode of acquiring lands are very important factors that dictate ownership and sole ownership of land. While the results show the importance of land as a resource that can enhance women's agricultural productivity, it also highlights that policies to reduce gender inequality in agriculture by advancing land rights are needed.

Assessment of Cowpea [Vigna unguiculata (L), Walp] Storage Technique and some Stocks Sanitary Quality in Center North Region of Burkina Faso

Cowpea plays an important role in food and nutritional security. Cowpea stock are subject to biotic and abiotic attack resulted stock lost that affected food security. Few research are doing on conservation techniques and stock sanitary quality. The objective of this work is to study the cowpea storage techniques and some stock sanitary quality according to producers and with laboratory analysis. A survey was conducted with 174 cowpea producers on storage techniques and 17 samples of cowpea were collected in stocks to determine aflatoxin B1 level and grain quality parameter according to official method. It was found that cowpea is preserved in the form of grains (98.28%), the house is the main storage structure (89.66%), the double-bottom bag is the most commonly used packaging material (57.71%), chemical substances are the most commonly used for preservation (52.19%), and pallets are generally used to furnish storage structure interior (73.56%). Insects and rodents (43.43% and 42.7% respectively) were the most encountered stock enemies and moisture (44.65%) the main abiotic spoilage factor. An AFTB1 contamination rate of 94% was found in the cowpea stocks sampled, 52.63% of which had levels above the maximum limit set by the European Commission for raw materials (2µg/kg). Correlation analysis showed a relationship between AFTB1 levels, moisture, pH, moldy kernels and kernel acidity. This study revealed that chemical product are more use to conserve cowpea and 94% of stocks sample were contaminated by aflatoxin B1 while half of them are levels above maximum limit.

Minimizing renewable hydrogen costs at producer's terminal gate with alkaline electrolyser, proton exchange membrane, and their co-installment: A regional case study in China

China leads in deploying large-scale alkaline (ALK) and proton exchange membrane (PEM) electrolysers for renewable hydrogen production. However, they are often overbuilt to handle intermittent renewable electricity (RE), leading to frequent system shutdowns, wasted capacity, or extensive investment. In this work, we propose a co-optimization solution in which ALK and PEM are collocated alongside hybrid RE supply from solar and wind energies. Implementing such a strategy could achieve the lowest hydrogen costs at producer's terminal gate, with production levelized costs of hydrogen (PLCOHs) down to 5.05, 4.13, 3.89, and 5.97 USD per kg respectively in south, north, west, and east regions of China. The co-optimization strategy, harnessing the combined strengths of ALK and PEM systems, efficiently minimizes hydrogen production costs while also presenting opportunities for the integration of advanced technologies into existing facilities.

Safety Assessment of Honeys from Northern and Southern Algerian Regions

Although the EU is a major producer of honey, commercial production is often insufficient to meet market demand and, as a result, honey is often imported into the EU from extra-EU countries that lack regulatory standards for food safety and quality. Since honey is a matrix highly susceptible to contamination, monitoring the quality and safety of extra-EU honey is of significant importance to show potential safety gaps. Hence, aim of the study was to monitor the mineral profile of monofloral and multifloral honeys from different regions of North (provinces of Tiaret and Laghouat) and South Algeria (province of Tindouf). In almost all the samples, Mg, Fe, Zn, Cd and Pb were found at levels exceeding the limits set for honey by the Codex Alimentarius and European Regulation 915/2023. In addition, a PCA analysis pointed out that the analysis of the element profile was useful to discriminate Algerian honeys more on the basis of geographical than botanical origin. The dietary exposure assessment indicates that the investigated honeys can be safely consumed in quantities comparable to those considered in Europe (1.8 g/day) and North Africa (0.3 g/day). Hopefully, data from this study may solicit the Algerian government to set regulatory limits on inorganic elements in honey and align with other international standards, to create a harmonized network able to improve the safety of this food.

A Population-Based Epidemiologic Study of Symptomatic SARS-CoV-2 Infections and Fatalities in Brazilian Children over 3 Years

To provide a comprehensive overview of the epidemiologic characteristics, outcomes, and risk factors of COVID-19-related deaths in children and adolescents in Brazil. We conducted a population-based, retrospective cohort study that included all patients aged <18years with laboratory-confirmed, symptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infection as registered in official Brazilian national surveillance systems for COVID-19 between February 2020 and February 2023. The primary outcome was COVID-19-related deaths. Odds ratios (ORs) of risk factors associated with death were estimated using multivariable logistic regression. Over a 3-year period, 2855704 pediatric patients with symptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infection were registered in Brazil. Of these, 59179 (2.1%) were hospitalized, 13844 (0.48%) were admitted to the intensive care unit, and 4943 (0.17%) received mechanical ventilation. A total of 4740 (0.17%) patients had fatal outcomes. The case fatality rate increased to 7.9% among patients who required hospitalization; 2102 (44.3%) patients who died did not receive advanced critical support. Notably, 2 (65%, 95% CI 58-71) or 3 doses (86%, 95% CI 81-89) of the vaccine provided strong protection against death. The following adjusted covariates were significantly associated with increased odds of death: age (0-4 and 11-17years), ethnicity (Brown and Indigenous), region (Northeast or North), dyspnea, nosocomial infection, and comorbidities. Conversely, living in the South or Central-West regions, admission in the later period of the pandemic, and receiving a vaccine were all associated with protection against death. Our findings suggest that a complex interplay between individual factors and social inequities has shaped the impact of COVID-19 on Brazilian children and adolescents.

Accessibility of TB diagnostic services at primary healthcare clinics in the eThekwini district, South Africa: a geospatial analysis

BackgroundImproving geographic access can aid in managing tuberculosis (TB) by enabling early diagnosis and treatment initiation. Although geospatial techniques have been used to map the transmission patterns of drug-resistant TB...

The Implications of Criminal Responsibility on Law Enforcement Officers in Cameroon: Sanctions and Enforcement Mechanisms

Let me be clear-no one is above the law. Not a politician, not a priest, not a criminal, not a police officer. We are all accountable for our actions. Over the past years, Cameroon has witnessed an increase in misconducts committed by Law Enforcement Officers especially in the Far North, North-West and South-West Regions. This has caused the government to take drastic measures in ensuring that they are accountable before the law. The State of Cameroon has put in place legal, policy and institutional frameworks as well as administrative platforms to sanction such Officers. These notwithstanding, the abusive functions of some officers have regrettably gained grounds at an alarming rate in Cameroon. This paper therefore dwells on the judicial and administrative sanctions which can be meted against recalcitrant Law Enforcement Officers in Cameroon. This paper does so through accessing some legal frameworks, court decisions, administrative acts taken by the Minister Delegate at the Presidency in charge of Defense, Delegate-General of National Security and other persons in authorities having control over these officers. The data thus collected constitutes the sources upon which this paper is founded. The findings revealed that the trial of these officers is basically hindered through the involvement of the executive amidst other factors. The findings equally reveal the dire need for the implementation of the penal laws. It recommends that there should be an independent body to police the investigation of crimes committed by them and thereby answering the question of who polices these officers, and the judiciary should be given free hand to act. All these is offered with the view of enhancing the criminal trial of Law Enforcement officers in Cameroon without hampering the smooth running of their duties.

680. P02.06 MATTERHORN PCR BY REGION

Abstract Background FLOT was established as a perioperative therapy for GC/GEJC following the Phase 2/3 FLOT4 study conducted in Germany, with a pCR rate of 16% (Al-Batran et al, Lancet Oncol 2016). The global MATTERHORN study (NCT04592913) showed a statistically significant improvement in pCR with perioperative D+FLOT vs placebo (P) + FLOT in GC/GEJC at first interim analysis (Janjigian et al, ESMO Congress 2023). Subgroup analyses by region and country were completed to assess pCR rates with FLOT and benefit of D+FLOT across the global study population. Methods Participants (pts) with resectable GC/GEJC were randomized 1:1 to D 1500 mg or P every 4 weeks (Q4W) on Day 1 plus FLOT Q2W on Days 1 and 15 for 4 cycles (2 doses of D or P and 4 doses of FLOT pre- and post-operative), followed by D 1500 mg or P on Day 1 Q4W for 10 further cycles. Randomization was stratified by Asia vs non-Asia. pCR (Modified Ryan; central review) was assessed in prespecified (Asia) and post hoc regional subgroups, including 6 countries with the highest numbers of randomized pts. Results Of 948 pts randomized globally, 180 (19%) were in Asia. pCR outcomes with FLOT in Asia were consistent with global outcomes. pCR rates were improved with D+FLOT vs P+FLOT in all regions (Asia, Europe, North America and South America; Table), despite some imbalances in baseline characteristics and numerical differences in pCR rates by geographic location. The pCR rate with P+FLOT in the German subgroup (13%; 95% CI, 6.1–23.0) was similar to that with FLOT in the FLOT4 study. Improvement in pCR with D+FLOT vs P+FLOT was observed across subgroups by country. Similar trends across regional subgroups were observed for combined complete and near-complete response rate. Conclusions In MATTERHORN, pCR was consistently improved with the addition of D to perioperative FLOT in GC/GEJC across geographic regions. The study is ongoing for the primary objective of event-free survival.

Influence of the October 14, 2023, Ring of Fire Annular Eclipse on the Ionosphere: A Comparison Between GNSS Observations and SAMI3 Model Prediction

AbstractCelestial phenomena such as solar eclipses disrupt the ionosphere's inherent photochemical, dynamic, and electrodynamic processes and can be viewed as a natural experiment that provides a unique opportunity to study ionospheric perturbations. We investigate the spatiotemporal ionospheric response induced by the 14 October 2023 annular eclipse using ground‐based Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) receivers located over the continental region of North and South America. The largest total electron content (TEC) change (∼22 TECU decrease) is observed over the path of the eclipse at around 16°–18°N which lies just before the greatest eclipse location. However, the percentage change in TEC here is ∼44% (of the background value), which is less than that observed at midlatitudes around 30°–35°N (∼18.7 TECU, ∼50%). We observed a latitudinal dependency of TEC variation and time delay in ionospheric response to the eclipse with midlatitudes experiencing greater TEC changes and longer time delays compared to low‐latitude and equatorial regions. The SAMI3 model used to simulate the impact of the eclipse, captures the large decrease in VTEC along the eclipse path. Interestingly, increases in the TEC are also observed in several GNSS sites and it varied from 4.5 to 6.5 TECU in the Northern Hemisphere and 7 to 12 TECU in the Southern Hemisphere. The SAMI3 model results also show an enhancement in TEC but significantly less than that observed. Moreover, the SAMI3 model simulations for individual GNSS site coordinates within the conjugate regions failed to predict accurately, the TEC enhancement recorded by the GNSS sites.

Impact of Age, Period, Cohort, Region, Race, and Health Services on Bladder Cancer Mortality in Brazil: A 23-Year Ecological Study.

Bladder cancer is one of the most economically costly types of cancer, but few studies have evaluated its mortality considering the factors that impact this outcome. This study aimed to investigate the impact of sociodemographic factors, period, cohort, and health services on bladder cancer mortality. This ecological study analyzed bladder cancer mortality data in Brazil from 2000 to 2022 and evaluated sociodemographic variables (race, region of residence), socioeconomic variables (gross domestic product per capita, Gini index of household income per capita, number of health professionals per inhabitant, expenditure on public health services, and consultations per inhabitant), and bladder cancer diagnosis and treatment procedures. These data were subjected to statistical analysis, which revealed that after the age of 50, there was a progressive increase in the risk of bladder cancer. Indigenous people had the lowest mortality rate, while white people had a significantly greater mortality rate than black and brown people. The North Region and Northeast Region presented the lowest mortality rates, whereas the South Region presented the highest mortality rates. In the South and Southeast Regions, a higher GDP was related to lower mortality. In the South, higher mortality was associated with a lower number of consultations per inhabitant per region. Fewer bladder punctures/aspirations and bladder biopsies were associated with higher mortality rates. In oncology, more procedures, such as total cystectomy, cystoenteroplasty, and total cystectomy with a single shunt, do not reduce the mortality rate. These results can serve as guidelines for adjusting public health policies.

Determination of sowing dates for hairy vetch (Vicia villosa) and rye (Secale cereale) cultivation in Korea north region

Determination of sowing dates for hairy vetch (Vicia villosa) and rye (Secale cereale) cultivation in Korea north region

Regional Disparities in Kidney Transplant Allocation in Brazil: A Retrospective Cohort Study.

Brazil has a large public transplant program, but it remains unclear if the kidney waitlist criteria effectively allocate organs. This study aimed to investigate whether gender, ethnicity, clinical characteristics, and Brazilian regions affect the chance of deceased donor kidney transplant (DDKT). We conducted a retrospective cohort study using the National Transplant System/Brazil database, which included all patients on the kidney transplant waitlist from January 2012 to December 2022, followed until May 2023. The primary outcome assessed was the chance of DDKT, measured using subdistribution hazard and cause-specific hazard models (subdistribution hazard ratio [sHR]). We analyzed 118 617 waitlisted patients over a 10-year study period. Male patients had an sHR of 1.07 ([95% CI: 1.05-1.10], p<0.001), indicating a higher chance of DDTK. Patients of mixed race and Yellow/Indigenous ethnicity had lower rates of receiving a transplant compared to Caucasian patients, with sHR of 0.97 (95% CI: 0.95-1) and 0.89 (95% CI: 0.95-1), respectively. Patients from the South region had the highest chance of DDKT, followed by those from the Midwest and Northeast, compared to patients from the Southeast, with sHR of 2.53 (95% CI: 2.47-2.61), 1.21 (95% CI: 1.16-1.27), and 1.10 (95% CI: 1.07-1.13), respectively. The North region had the lowest chance of DDTK, sHR of 0.29 (95% CI: 0.27-0.31). We found that women and racial minorities faced disadvantages in kidney transplantation. Additionally, we observed regional disparities, with the North region having the lowest chance of DDKT and longer times on dialysis before being waitlisted. In contrast, patients in the South regions had a chance of DDKT and shorter times on dialysis before being waitlisted. It is urgent to implement approaches to enhance transplant capacity in the North region and address race and gender disparities in transplantation.

EPIDEMIOLOGICAL PROFILE OF ACQUIRED SYPHILIS IN THE NORTHERN REGION OF BRAZIL FROM 2011 TO 2021

Sexually transmitted infections are among society&amp;#39;s most recurring public health dilemmas. Syphilis is aninfectious disease exclusive to humans, transmitted through unprepared sexual contact. It is estimated thatannually, 11 million new cases of syphilis occur in adults aged 15 to 49 years worldwide. The objective ofthe research was to identify the epidemiological profile of syphilis acquired in the states of the NorthernRegion of Brazil between the years 2011 and 2021. This is observational research with a quantitative andretrospective approach, with data collection from the SINAN available on DATASUS. Sociodemographicvariables were analyzed: sex, age, race, education level, and diagnostic criteria. It was found that between2011 and 2021, in the states of the Northern Region of Brazil, 50,810 cases of acquired syphilis werereported. The state of Amazonas had the highest notification rate with 18,709 (36.82%) cases, followed bythe state of Pará with 13,102 (25.79%) notifications and Tocantins with 6,728 (13.24%) reported cases. Theyear 2018 presented the highest incidence rate of the period, decreasing from 2019. Thus, the profile ofsyphilis acquired in the North Region was male individuals aged between 20 and 39 years, mixed race, withunknown education, and in relation to the diagnostic criteria, laboratory diagnosis presented the highest rateof notifications. In this way, the need to promote actions with the aim of clarifying sexual health and offeringeffective measures to combat syphilis in the most affected population is evident, as well as it is essential toreevaluate the mandatory fields for filling out the notification and investigation forms of the SINAN, as theyrepresent an essential source for determining health indicators.

Identification of factors affecting fattening efficiency of commercial pig herds and analysis of their impact at different performance levels

Improving fattening efficiency is an important goal of breeding commercial pigs, especially for the large-scale pig farms. Fattening efficiency index (FEI) can be used to evaluate the fattening efficiency. The aim of this study was to identify the factors affecting the fattening efficiency of commercial pigs in large-scale pig farms and further study the impact of these factors on the production performance of commercial pig batches at different production levels. The data of 9,570 batches was mainly consisted of four parts (farm facilities, general information of piglets, production performance of nursery pigs and finishing pigs). A total of 28 variables were evaluated by the multi-variable linear regression models. The differences in production factors significantly correlated with FEI at piglets-finishing stage were compared among high-performing (HP), moderate-performing (MP), and low-performing (LP) batches of commercial pigs during the nursery and finishing stage. Among the 28 variables, 18 were significantly correlated with fattening efficiency (P < 0.05), including 11 continuous variables and seven discrete variables. The significant differences among the 11 consecutive variables in the HP, MP, and LP batches of commercial pigs mostly persisted from the piglets-nursery stage to the growing-finishing stage, ultimately affecting the FEI at piglets-finishing stage. For the seven significant discrete variables, the HP batches had a lower proportions in owned source of piglets, number of the purchasing piglets in spring and winter, number of batches in the East and North regions and five-way crossbred pigs, while a higher proportions in the use of closed circuit television video (CCTV) and wastes treatment system. The fattening efficiency of commercial pigs in large-scale pig farms was comprehensively affected by farm facilities, piglets, and production performance at nursery and finishing stage. The low fattening efficiency may have started at the end of nursery stage.

Patterns and drivers of abundance and diversity of reptiles and amphibians in the protected area of Mount Chelmos

Abstract The primary objective of this study was to investigate patterns of abundance and diversity among reptiles and amphibians within the protected area of Mount Chelmos, located in Peloponnese, Greece. Our aim was to examine the drivers influencing abundance (for lizards, snakes, chelonians, anurans, urodels) and diversity (for reptiles and amphibians) within the finely-scaled study area and identify biodiversity hotspots. Land cover significantly impacted the abundance and diversity of all studied groups. Elevation had a significant impact on the abundance of snakes, chelonians, and anurans, as well as on reptile and amphibian diversity. Climate influenced all groups except chelonians. Slope significantly impacted anuran abundance and amphibian diversity. Aspect primarily influenced the abundance of lizards, anurans, and urodels, as well as reptile diversity. We have also identified abundance and diversity hotspots, emphasizing the importance of conservation and management efforts. In reptiles, abundance hotspots were predicted in the west, east, and south of the mountainous massif, whereas amphibian abundance hotspots were mapped to the west and east-southeast of the massif. Regarding diversity, the patterns were similar for both reptiles and amphibians, with hotspots emerging in the west, south, and southeast boundaries of the study area, and a few spots north of the mountainous region. Notably, many of these hotspots coincided with areas susceptible to human exploitation and vehicular transit.

Empirical Analysis of the Relationship Between Debt Level and Business Performance of List Companies in the A-share Real Estate Industry

Since China's reform and opening, the real estate industry has moved towards marketization, with rapid development with the help of market opportunities and financial leverage. However, in recent years, China has continued to promote industrial structure transformation and deleveraging, and affected by the world economy, the epidemic, and other factors, the market has continued to cool, and the past development situation is no longer applicable to the present, and the change in the real estate industry is imminent. Taking the real estate enterprises listed in Shanghai and Shenzhen A-shares as the analysis object, this paper uses the data from three consecutive years from 2019 to 2021, uses the Stata data analysis tool to conduct empirical analysis, and analyzes the relationship between the debt level and business performance of enterprises in the real estate industry in different regions through descriptive statistical analysis and multiple linear regression analysis. The results show that the results vary in different regions, and there is a significant positive correlation between the operating performance and debt level of real estate enterprises in other regions, while the north, Shanghai, and Guangzhou regions do not. The state should strengthen supervision, encourage new financing channels, promote the transformation of enterprise asset structure, optimize the level of assets and liabilities, and then reduce financial risks and ensure the benign development of the market.