Sparsely Populated Research Articles

Mobility data shows effectiveness of control strategies for COVID-19 in remote, sparse and diffuse populations.

Data that is collected at the individual-level from mobile phones is typically aggregated to the population-level for privacy reasons. If we are interested in answering questions regarding the mean, or working with groups appropriately modeled by a continuum, then this data is immediately informative. However, coupling such data regarding a population to a model that requires information at the individual-level raises a number of complexities. This is the case if we aim to characterize human mobility and simulate the spatial and geographical spread of a disease by dealing in discrete, absolute numbers. In this work, we highlight the hurdles faced and outline how they can be overcome to effectively leverage the specific dataset: Google COVID-19 Aggregated Mobility Research Dataset (GAMRD). Using a case study of Western Australia, which has many sparsely populated regions with incomplete data, we firstly demonstrate how to overcome these challenges to approximate absolute flow of people around a transport network from the aggregated data. Overlaying this evolving mobility network with a compartmental model for disease that incorporated vaccination status we run simulations and draw meaningful conclusions about the spread of COVID-19 throughout the state without de-anonymizing the data. We can see that towns in the Pilbara region are highly vulnerable to an outbreak originating in Perth. Further, we show that regional restrictions on travel are not enough to stop the spread of the virus from reaching regional Western Australia. The methods explained in this paper can be therefore used to analyze disease outbreaks in similarly sparse populations. We demonstrate that using this data appropriately can be used to inform public health policies and have an impact in pandemic responses.

Possibility of Applying Social Impact Bonds and a Proposed Scheme for Public Transportation in Sparsely Populated Areas of Japan

Possibility of Applying Social Impact Bonds and a Proposed Scheme for Public Transportation in Sparsely Populated Areas of Japan

Increasing the availability of financial services in remote, sparsely populated and hard-to-reach regions through the development of an entrepreneurial initiative in rural tourism

Activities to increase the availability of financial services are the primary task of the state economic policy. The formation of an active consumer of financial services is possible through the development of entrepreneurial activity among residents of remote areas, whose sparse population can become a competitive advantage. World experience in rural tourism development has shown that it is the sparsely populated, remote rural settlements from industrial centers that make them attractive for potential users of tourist services that are supplied by local people: tourist accommodation, catering, souvenir production, etc. This article presents the results of a study of the level of physical accessibility of financial services for residents of the Pozharsky district of Primorsky Krai, as well as their level of satisfaction with financial products and services. The study was conducted in 2018-2019. The main goal of the article is to examine the problems of ensuring financial affordability in remote, hard-to-reach and sparsely populated regions by the example of Pozharsky District, Primorsky Region of the Russian Federation. Measures are proposed to increase the availability of financial services through the development of entrepreneurial initiative of the inhabitants of the region.

The M101 Satellite Luminosity Function and the Halo–Halo Scatter among Local Volume Hosts

Abstract We have obtained deep Hubble Space Telescope (HST) imaging of 19 dwarf galaxy candidates in the vicinity of M101. Advanced Camera for Surveys HST photometry for two of these objects showed resolved stellar populations and tip of the red giant branch derived distances (D ∼ 7 Mpc) consistent with M101 group membership. The remaining 17 were found to have no resolved stellar populations, meaning they are either part of the background NGC 5485 group or are distant low surface brightness (LSB) galaxies. It is noteworthy that many LSB objects that had previously been assumed to be M101 group members based on projection have been shown to be background objects, indicating the need for future diffuse dwarf surveys to be very careful in drawing conclusions about group membership without robust distance estimates. In this work we update the satellite luminosity function of M101 based on the presence of these new objects down to M V = −8.2. M101 is a sparsely populated system with only nine satellites down to M V ≈ −8, as compared with 26 for M31 and 24.5 ± 7.7 for the median host in the Local Volume. This makes M101 by far the sparsest group probed to this depth, although M94 is even sparser to the depth at which it has been examined (M V = −9.1). M101 and M94 share several properties that mark them as unusual compared with the other Local Volume galaxies examined: they have a very sparse satellite population but also have high star-forming fractions among these satellites; such properties are also found in the galaxies examined as part of the Satellites around Galactic Analogs survey. We suggest that these properties appear to be tied to the wider galactic environment, with more isolated galaxies showing sparse satellite populations that are more likely to have had recent star formation, while those in dense environments have more satellites that tend to have no ongoing star formation. Overall, our results show a level of halo-to-halo scatter between galaxies of similar mass that is larger than is predicted in the lambda cold dark matter model.

Circadian Clocks in Articular Cartilage and Bone: A Compass in the Sea of Matrices.

Temporally coordinated resorption and synthesis is the key to maintaining healthy bones. Articular cartilage is a highly specialized connective tissue within the joints that lines the surface of a long bone. Emerging evidence has suggested a critical role of the circadian system in controlling cartilage and bone biology. Articular cartilage is sparsely populated with chondrocytes, surrounded by abundant extracellular matrices that are synthesized and maintained solely by chondrocytes. Once damaged, the articular cartilage tissue has poor capacity for endogenous repair, leaving the joints prone to osteoarthritis, an age-related painful condition that affects millions of individuals worldwide. An important question is how articular cartilage has evolved its remarkable capacity to maintain homeostasis and withstand daily biomechanical challenges associated with resting/activity cycles. Equally important is how this avascular and aneural tissue senses time and uses this information to coordinate daily phases of metabolic activity and tissue remodeling/repair. Bone tissue derived from cartilage has similarly sparse populations of resident cells living in dense and largely mineralized matrices. We discuss recent progress on circadian clocks in these matrix-rich skeletal tissues and highlight avenues for future research.

Ghosts of Milky Way’s past: the globular cluster ESO 37-1 (E 3)

Context. In the Milky Way, most globular clusters are highly conspicuous objects that were found centuries ago. However, a few dozen of them are faint, sparsely populated systems that were identified largely during the second half of the past century. One of the faintest is ESO 37-1 (E 3) and as such it remains poorly studied, with no spectroscopic observations published so far, although it was discovered in 1976. Aims. We investigate the globular cluster E 3 in an attempt to better constrain its fundamental parameters. Spectroscopy of stars in the field of E 3 is shown here for the first time. Methods. Deep, precise VI CCD photometry of E 3 down to V=26 mag is presented and analysed. Low-resolution, medium signal-to-noise ratio spectra of nine candidate members are studied to derive radial velocity and metallicity. Proper motions from the UCAC4 catalogue are used to explore the kinematics of the bright members of E 3. Results. Isochrone fitting indicates that E 3 is probably very old, with an age of about 13 Gyr; its distance from the Sun is nearly 10 kpc. It is also somewhat metal rich with [Fe/H]=-0.7. Regarding its kinematics, our tentative estimate for the proper motions is (-7.0+/-0.8, 3.5+/-0.3) mas/yr (or a tangential velocity of 382+/-79 km/s) and for the radial velocity is 45+/-5 km/s, in the solar rest frame. Conclusions. E 3 is one of the most intriguing globular clusters in the Galaxy. Having an old age and being metal rich is clearly a peculiar combination, only seen in a handful of objects like the far more conspicuous NGC 104 (47 Tucanae). In addition, its low luminosity and sparse population make it a unique template for the study of the final evolutionary phases in the life of a star cluster. Unfortunately, E 3 is among the most elusive and challenging known globular clusters because field contamination severely hampers spectroscopic studies.

19 Indian Tribes in Montana, North Dakota, and South Dakota: A View from 30,000 Feet

The Guardians Project is a task force that was established in 2012 to identify and expose official corruption on the 7 Indian reservations in Montana. By all accounts it has been very successful. To date the project has obtained over 100 felony convictions or guilty pleas and their efforts are ongoing. My initial reaction to this program was: why Montana. Certainly fraud on reservations is not unique to Montana. The Assistant U.S. Attorney for the district of Montana said it was the result of receiving complaints from reservation residents that stimulus money was not reaching the people it was intended to help. Again, that is a broad complaint heard throughout Indian Country.As a result I decided to investigate if there was anything unique about Montana reservations. I chose to look at reservations in North and South Dakota also. The reason for this is that all the reservations are similar in many respects. All are quite remote and in states that are sparsely populated. All these reservations have consistently ranked among the poorest and most crime ridden. All have little in the way of economic opportunities and have historically been agricultural based until recent times when a few have been able to take advantage of mineral resources. All 19 tribes in these 3 states are gaming tribes but because of location and sparse population none have had significant impact on reservation economies.I utilized audits of federal grants to these 19 tribes over the past 14 years as the primary source for the investigation. The results showed that all 19 tribes had similar audit histories but it was not these similarities that were striking. It was the disparities between these 19 reservations, Indian Country in general and the U.S. overall that were striking and should be a real cause for concern. This paper compares the results of these audits using various filtering techniques that are summarized in 9 tables. My conclusions are that there is abundant room for additional study but this study alone should provide sufficient evidence that a real problem exists on Indian reservations and residents of Indian Country are being directly affected and they should be the ones to stand up and demand that something be done.

Challenges and Strengths of Early Childhood Education in Sparsely Populated Small Provinces the Case of Lapland, Finland

Challenges and Strengths of Early Childhood Education in Sparsely Populated Small Provinces the Case of Lapland, Finland

Challenges and Strengths of Early Childhood Education in Sparsely Populated Small Provinces the Case of Lapland, Finland

Background: Every under-school-age child in Finland is justified to receive day care and early childhood education according to law regardless of the childs place of residence. The nation wants to invest in quality early childhood education because both parents of the vast majority of families with children under school age are in full -time employment. How is this arranged in sparsely populated, remote provinces and municipalities? Purpose: Due to remote location and long distances between families, the solutions of guaranteeing quality day care services for all children is challenging. In this review paper, the practical realization of early childhood education in the province of Lapland with 6,000 children under school age is discussed. Conclusion: Suggestions for t he future are presented, especially the possibilities of distance education and online peer support for early childhood educators.

Historical perspectives on invasive grasses and their impact on wildlife in Australia

In recent years, there have been declines of varying severity in many vertebrate species across much of the sparsely populated savannas of northern Australia, and adding to the dismal record of extinctions from arid and semi-arid central Australia since European colonization. It is likely that multiple factors are responsible for the current wave of extinctions, but they are occurring in areas of sparse human population in extensive, seemingly unmodified landscapes. Habitat change is one likely contributing factor, with invasive exotic grasses an important component in some regions. Historically, conservation of native vertebrates has been poor in Australia, with many species being considered vermin under legislation. As late as the 1960s much scientific research was aimed at controlling species that are now considered threatened under legislation. Through the 20th century substantial efforts to introduce exotic pasture species saw the introduction for trial of twice as many species of grasses and legumes as occur naturally on the whole Australian continent. The legacy of these programs is the spread of grasses that, through a range of processes, lead to simplification of floristic structure and reduction in plant species diversity and habitat suitability for many native mammals. Management of these invasive species should focus on preventing their spread into and establishment in new regions, and controlling them where they are established. State and transition models may provide a framework for considering the management and environmental triggers that could lead to re-establishment of native grasses. © 2013 The Wildlife Society.

Renewing the Theory and Practice of European Applied Territorial Research on Mountains, Islands and Sparsely Populated Areas

Gløersen E. Renewing the theory and practice of European applied territorial research on mountains, islands and sparsely populated areas, Regional Studies. The mention of mountains, islands and sparsely populated regions in the European Treaty and in the European Commission's Green Paper on Territorial Cohesion (2008) reflects the importance of these categories in policy debates. Different studies have investigated whether there is an evidence base that would support the design of policies targeting the social and economic development of concerned areas. This paper argues that these categories are mental constructs as much as physical realities. On this basis, a critique of currently prevailing methods in the study of these areas is developed and alternative approaches are proposed. Gløersen E. 重塑欧洲山脉、岛屿及人口稀少地区领土应用研究的理论与实践，区域研究。欧盟条约和有关领土凝聚力的欧盟绿皮书中对山区、岛屿及人口稀少地区的提及，反映了这类领土在政策争论中的重要性。曾有不同研究探索是否有证据基础可以表明，政策的设计是以这些相关地区的社会和经济发展为目标的。本文认为这类区域不仅是物质存在，更关乎于精神建设。基于此，本文批判了当前通行的针对这些区域的研究方法，并提出了新的见解。 凝聚政策 地域多样性 山区 岛屿 人口稀少地区 Gløersen E. Renouveler les fondements théoriques et la pratique de la recherche territoriale appliquée sur la montagne, les îles et les espaces faiblement peuplés, Regional Studies. Le Traité européen et le Livre vert de la Commission européenne (2008) sur la cohésion territoriale font allusion aux montagnes, aux îles et aux espaces faiblement peoples, ce qui reflète l'importance accordée à ces catégories dans les débats politiques. Différentes études ont cherché à déterminer si on peut justifier empiriquement l'élaboration des politiques visant spécifiquement à promouvoir le développement social et économique des territoires concernés. L'article soutient que ces catégories géographiques sont des constructions mentales autant que des réalités physiques. Dans ce contexte, une analyse critique des méthodes actuellement en vigueur pour étudier ces territoires est développée et des approches alternatives sont proposées. Politique de cohésion Diversité territoriale Espaces de montagne Îles Espaces faiblement peuplés Gløersen E. Erneuerung der Theorie und Praxis der angewandten europäischen Territorialforschung über Berge, Inseln und dünn besiedelte Gebiete, Regional Studies. Die Tatsache, dass Berge, Inseln und dünn besiedelte Regionen im EU-Vertrag und im Grünbuch der Europäischen Kommission über territoriale Kohäsion erwähnt werden, zeugt von der Bedeutung dieser Kategorien in den politischen Debatten. In verschiedenen Studien wurde untersucht, ob es Belege gibt, die für die Entwicklung von Politiken zur sozialen und wirtschaftlichen Entwicklung der betroffenen Gebiete sprechen. In diesem Beitrag wird argumentiert, dass es sich bei diesen Kategorien ebenso um mentale Konstrukte wie um physische Realitäten handelt. Auf dieser Grundlage wird eine Kritik der momentan bei der Untersuchung dieser Gebiete vorherrschenden Methoden entwickelt, und es werden alternative Ansätze vorgeschlagen. Kohäsionspolitik Territoriale Vielfalt Bergregionen Inseln Dünn besiedelte Gebiete Gløersen E. Renovar la teoría y práctica de la investigación territorial aplicada europea sobre las montañas, las islas y los espacios escasamente poblados, Regional Studies. El hecho de que se mencionen montañas, islas y regiones escasamente pobladas en el Tratado Europeo y en el Libro Verde de la Comisión Europea sobre la cohesión territorial refleja la importancia de estas categorías en los debates políticos. En diferentes estudios se ha investigado si existe una base empírica que apoye el diseño de políticas que aborden el desarrollo social y económico de los territorios en cuestión. En este artículo argumentamos que estas categorías son tanto construcciones mentales como realidades físicas. Sobre esta premisa, hacemos un análisis crítico de los métodos actuales predominantes en el estudio de este campo y proponemos enfoques alternativos. Política de cohesión Diversidad territorial Áreas montañosas Islas Espacios escasamente poblados

Lay Leadership in Sparsely Populated Rural Australia: Uniting Churches in South Australia

South Australia is sparsely populated agricultural country. Small towns, many with Uniting Churches, serve the communities. Only a few of these churches have their own ordained minister. Most ministers serve a cluster of three or more churches, often assisted by lay teams which take some services. Many churches are led by teams of lay people. Surveys and case-studies showed that the vitality of the lay-led churches was no different from churches led by ordained ministers. In many lay-led churches there is a strong sense of ownership by the lay people, and those involved in leadership often reported that they had grown in faith through their responsibilities. The preferred pattern of leadership in rural churches adopted by the Synod of the Uniting Church in South Australia is that of local lay leadership. ‘Resourcing ministers’ are being appointed to mentor and resource the lay leaders of clusters of between six and 12 congregations.

Introduction. The boreal forest and global change

The boreal forest is the second largest biome in the world containing 33% of the Earth's forest cover ([FAO 2001][1]) of which approximately 25% is natural. It is circumpolar and shares similar taxa across its range. It has approximately 20 300 identified species. Along with the tropics, the

Staying Safe and Guilty Pleasures

Staying Safe and Guilty Pleasures

Global dimming or local dimming?: Effect of urbanization on sunlight availability

From the 1950s to the 1980s, a significant decrease of surface solar radiation has been observed at different locations throughout the world. Here we show that this phenomenon, widely termed global dimming, is dominated by the large urban sites. The global‐scale analysis of year‐to‐year variations of solar radiation fluxes shows a decline of 0.41 W/m2/yr for highly populated sites compared to only 0.16 W/m2/yr for sparsely populated sites (<0.1 million). Since most of the globe has sparse population, this suggests that solar dimming is of local or regional nature. The dimming is sharpest for the sites at 10°N to 40°N with great industrial activity. In the equatorial regions even the opposite trend to dimming is observed for sparsely populated sites.

Detecting the Locations of Brazilian Pepper Trees in the Everglades with a Hyperspectral Sensor

Brazilian pepper is a small evergreen tree that forms dense colonies. It was introduced for horticultural use in the United States in the early 1800s and was widely distributed in Florida in the late 1920s. Previous remote-sensing projects to detect Brazilian pepper achieved moderate success and warranted additional research using a hyperspectral sensor. Detection with remote sensing is desirable because complete access to ground survey crews is not practical. The western half of the Everglades National Park was imaged at a 5-m spatial resolution with a hyperspectral sensor by Earth Search Sciences Inc. of Kalispell, MT, on December 12, 2000, and January 10, 2001. The sensor has 128 channels and spectral resolution between 450 and 2,500 nm. The purpose of this research was to develop spectral reflectance curves for Brazilian pepper and establish the accuracy of classified images. Classified images showed that a hyperspectral sensor could detect a “pure” Brazilian pepper pixel representing the center of an infestation but not “mixed” Brazilian pepper pixels at the sparsely populated edges. To define the sparse populations, images were classified using a spatial buffer (15- to 100-m radius) based on a low–omissional error image. A 25-m buffer reduced the amount of commissional error for Brazilian pepper in mangrove-dominated forest to 8.2% and buttonwood-dominated forest to 0%. Wider buffers did not significantly improve image accuracy when compared with the 25-m buffer distance. Results indicate that removal crews using hyperspectral images will be able to reliably find the colonies of Brazilian pepper but will not be able to use the images to find isolated scattered trees.

SUPPLYING LOCAL BUS SERVICES IN SPARSELY POPULATED AREAS

SUPPLYING LOCAL BUS SERVICES IN SPARSELY POPULATED AREAS

Social Service Delivery Systems in Sparsely Populated Regions: Israeli Rural Development Planning

(1988). Social Service Delivery Systems in Sparsely Populated Regions: Israeli Rural Development Planning. Economic Geography: Vol. 64, No. 1, pp. 86-87.

The Relative Cost Effectiveness of In-Service Approaches in Remote, Sparsely Populated Schools

This article provides an analysis of data obtained from the first 2 years of Project SPECTRE, a federally funded in-service training program for regular classroom teachers drawn from southern Nevada's remote, sparsely populated schools. Project SPECTRE was designed to assess the relative cost effectiveness of four types of in-service approaches, including instruction through independent study, by master teachers employed by the school district and by university instructors either on the university campus or on site. The 2-year results indicate that direct instruction of any sort produces gains in knowledge acquisition significantly superior to those obtained through independent study. In spite of its relatively lower initial costs, independent study was also found to be less cost effective than the direct-instructional approaches. Finally, of the three direct-instructional approaches, using university personnel in remote sites was found to be the most cost effective, followed, respectively, by the master-teacher and university-campus approaches.

Settlement Systems in Sparsely Populated Regions

Settlement Systems in Sparsely Populated Regions