Site Survey Research Articles

Invisible Hand of Sampling for Management: Underlying Needs to Survey a Threatened Seabird Can Bias Aggregated Data

ABSTRACTAimSurveying for a species of concern ahead of proposed activities that alter its habitat is routine practice in conservation and management. Such surveys may accumulate large datasets that could further elucidate trends in abundance and distribution. However, the as‐needed surveying of proposed activities may impart a sample site selection bias on the data if used for another purpose. Management of a threatened, forest‐nesting seabird offered an example of this. Here we assessed how resource management planning and survey requirements can bias clearance monitoring survey data collected prior to proposed timber harvests, if those data are used for other purposes.LocationOregon and Washington, USA.TaxonMarbled Murrelet (Brachyramphus marmoratus).MethodsTo assess how timber planning and other factors influenced marbled murrelet survey location selection, we used logistic regression models to examine habitat associations of marbled murrelet survey sites (n = 9178) encompassing proposed timber harvests, and the survey stations (n = 38,923) therein, across the murrelet's inland range in Washington and Oregon, USA between 1989 and 2021. We then simulated the effect this selective sampling might have on assessments of occupancy trends.ResultsMost habitat characteristics considered did influence where surveys were located, with distance to roads often being the strongest predictor of survey location. The strength of selection for each covariate changed over time, such that a habitat characteristic strongly influenced location selection in a year but was less influential in another year. The simulation analysis suggested that the non‐random selection of survey sites could profoundly bias assessments of occupancy trends.ConclusionsWhen using these clearance monitoring survey data– or any data–beyond their original purpose, careful consideration should be given to the scope of inference provided and analytical methods used, to ensure that observed trends are the product of biological processes and not biased by sampling artefacts.

Temporal and Spatial Distribution and Risk Assessment of Volatile Chlorinated Hydrocarbons in Soils of Typical Industrial Parks in Chongqing Under the “Dual Carbon” Background

ABSTRACT In the context of China’s “Dual Carbon” initiative, controlling volatile compounds (VOCs) in industrial park soils was crucial for pollution control and carbon mitigation efforts. This study examined the distribution and risks of chlorinated hydrocarbons in the soils of Chongqing’s chemical and mechanical industrial parks. Through site surveys, in situ sampling, pollutant extraction and detection, and soil microbial diversity sequencing, we identified a higher pollution risk in chemical parks (detection rate of 18.5%) and compared to mechanical parks (1%). Surface soils exhibited greater pollutant concentrations (11.8%) than deeper soils (8.8%), with higher contamination levels in winter (27.8%) than in summer (9.3%). Microbial diversity analysis revealed richer microbial communities in summer, suggesting their role in the natural degradation of pollutants, with Proteobacteria dominating but remaining largely functionally uncharacterized. Trichloroethylene and tetrachloroethylene were the primary detected pollutants, though at concentrations below regulatory thresholds. These findings provided crucial data for refining carbon emission policies and environmental management strategies in industrial parks under the “Dual Carbon” framework.

Strategi Pelestarian Budaya Melalui Pembakuan Notasi Musik Kelintang Jolo di Muaro Jambi

This research aims to identify cultural preservation strategies through the standardization of Kelintang Jolo music notation in Muaro Jambi. The process skills used are ethnophysics-based qualitative research. This research uses a method that combines a qualitative approach with ethnographic and physics studies. The data collection techniques used were site survey, research instrument development, observation and documentation, interviews, data analysis and conclusion drawing, and evaluation. The results of this study indicate that Kelintang Jolo notation has an important role in preserving the traditional culture of Muaro Jambi which consists of (1) History of Kelintang Jolo. (2) The process of making Kelintang Jolo. (3) The concept of Ethnophysics in Kelintang Jolo. (4) Kelintang Jolo instrument. (5) Standardization of Music Notation. The implication of the research is expected support from various parties to maintain the sustainability of Kelintang Jolo music notation as a valuable cultural heritage. It is hoped that the results of this study can contribute to cultural preservation efforts through the standardization of traditional music notation in Indonesia.

Experiences with the conservation of the Central Asian Tortoise Agrionemys horsfieldii Gray, 1844 during the construction of PV plants in Uzbekistan

The paper describes step-by-step actions to conserve a globally threatened species – the Central Asian Tortoise in the area of construction of PV plant in the Karnabchul steppe of Samarkand region of Uzbekistan. The total area of the solar PV plant is 350 ha. The research was conducted during spring and summer seasons from 2019 to 2022 during the planning and construction phase of this object. Fauna surveys of the project site in 2019 showed that the most abundant reptiles of the project site are the Central Asian Tortoise. A quantitative assessment of the individuals inhabiting the project site and an analysis the risk of planned technogenic impact were carried out in 2020. The likely damage to the turtle population from the installation and construction works was reasonably estimated at 430 individuals. This was a strong argument for postponing full-scale construction works until mid-2021. Preparations for the relocation of living on the project site turtles began in 2020: the design of the fence and the drainage channel profile were agreed to be as safe as possible for the animals; construction of the project site fence began and a 1250 ha relocation site with similar foraging and protection conditions was selected. In spring 2021, 4572 individuals were removed from the project site and relocated to the resettlement area. The necessary precautions were observed. In 2022, the effectiveness of translocating Central Asian tortoises into the contiguous territory was monitored. Population counts were carried out and the sex and age structure of the turtle population in the relocation area was studied. These studies show that the resettlement process has not disturbed the age and sex structure of the Central Asian tortoise in the area and has not resulted in the mortality of even a small number of individuals. The desert areas of Uzbekistan have the highest potential for solar energy development. At the same time, this sector of the economy also poses a potential threat to terrestrial vertebrate species, in particular the Central Asian Tortoise. The described actions on tortoise conservation in the conditions of Uzbekistan were applied for the first time and showed a good result. In our opinion, it can be used in the implementation of subsequent similar projects.

Spatiotemporal Changes and Recovery of Benthic Macroinvertebrate Communities after the Hebei Spirit Oil Spill in the Subtidal Area around the Taean Peninsula in South Korea

Marine oil pollution is a significant environmental issue that significantly threatens ocean ecosystems. It occurs frequently and has devastating consequences for marine life, coastal habitats, and human communities. We examined the recovery of benthic macroinvertebrate communities in shallow subtidal areas following the Hebei Spirit oil spill around the Taean Peninsula, South Korea, in 2007. Benthic macroinvertebrates were collected seasonally from 15 survey sites between 2008 and 2015. Immediately after the spill in 2008, species richness and density of benthic macroinvertebrates decreased by 66.7% and 37.0%, respectively, compared to before the oil spill in 2007. Cluster analysis based on benthic macroinvertebrate communities delineated the communities from 2008 to 2009 as a distinct cluster characterized by markedly low species richness. Communities from other periods exhibited spatiotemporal variability based on the sampling location and sediment characteristics. By 2011, species richness and density had recovered to levels similar to those in 2007, which was particularly pronounced regarding the resurgence of arthropods and mollusks. Notably, populations of amphipods that are particularly sensitive to oil, such as Urothoe sp. and Byblis spp., showed signs of recovery in 2011; however, recovery of the benthic community at the site nearest to the oil spill area, was not evident until July 2013, as indicated by the benthic opportunistic polychaete amphipod index. This underscores that prolonged time periods are required for communities to fully recuperate after oil spills.

Wi-Fi CSI fingerprinting-based indoor positioning using deep learning and vector embedding for temporal stability

Fingerprinting systems based on channel state information (CSI) often rely on updated databases to achieve indoor positioning with high accuracy and resolution of centimeter-level. However, regularly maintaining a large fingerprint database is labor-intensive and computationally expensive. In this paper, we explore the use of deep learning for recognizing long-term temporal CSI data, wherein the site survey was completed weeks before the online testing phase. Compared to other positioning algorithms such as time-reversal resonating strength (TRRS), support vector machines (SVM), and Gaussian classifiers, our deep neural network (DNN) model shows a performance improvement of up to 10% for multi-position classification with centimeter-level resolution. We also exploit vector embeddings, such as i-vectors and d-vectors, which are traditionally employed in speech processing. With d-vectors as the compact representation of CSI, storage and processing requirements can be reduced without affecting performance, facilitating deployments on resource-constrained devices in IoT networks. By injecting i-vectors into a hidden layer, the DNN model originally for multi-position localization can be transformed to location-specific DNN to detect whether the device is static or has moved, resulting in a performance boost from 75.47% to 80.62%. This model adaptation requires a smaller number of recently collected fingerprints as opposed to a full database.

Temporal variation in utilisation distribution and direction distribution of dugong feeding trails in intertidal seagrass beds in Talibong Island, Thailand: an insight into dugong feeding routes

Context A better understanding of animal habitat use informs fundamental ecology and can provide underpinnings for effective management. Aims This study explored the temporal variation in feeding ground utilisation by dugongs (Dugong dugon) in two intertidal seagrass beds in Talibong Island, Thailand (Sites A and B), focusing on the distribution and direction of dugong feeding trails. Methods Drone-based aerial photography was conducted quarterly over 1 year and daily over 2 weeks to observe feeding trails and behaviour. Key results During five and seven separate photography periods over 1 year, 0.04 ± 0.01% (range: 0.03–0.06%) of Site A (200,000 m2) was covered with new feeding trails daily, while 0.35 ± 0.31% (range: 0.07–0.96%) of Site B (278,000 m2) was covered daily. This temporal variation in the feeding trail area corresponded to that in seagrass coverage. Daily observations over 2 weeks during six separate photography periods revealed a significant decrease in overlapping rates (intersection over union) of the core areas (50% kernel density estimation [KDE]) as time elapsed. The 1-year observation highlighted relatively higher overlapping rates of home ranges (95% KDE) (Site A: 0.27 ± 0.09; Site B: 0.49 ± 0.08) and low overlapping rates of core areas (Site A: 0.02 ± 0.03; Site B: 0.09 ± 0.09). The relative frequencies of the feeding trail direction remained consistent across survey seasons, and the most and least dominant directions were common across all survey seasons and sites. The circular correlation coefficient between the directions of dugong body axis and the estimated tidal current was 0.45, suggesting that feeding generally occurred in the upstream direction. The direction and spatial range of dugong feeding may be affected by temporally consistent factors. One factor that can affect the feeding direction is the tidal current. Conclusions Overall, dugongs may feed and move within seagrass beds in a temporally consistent manner, even when there are shifts in feeding hotspots. Implications This research enhances our understanding of how dugongs utilise their feeding grounds and highlights the importance of not only identifying feeding hotspots but also predicting their feeding routes by considering the direction and distribution of feeding trails.

Terminal Pleistocene–Early Holocene human occupation in north-central Chile

While a clear human presence may be recognised in the Andes by 12 000–11 000 cal BP, most archaeological research has focused on occupation of the Andean highlands. To understand the initial occupation of inland areas of South America, the authors consider regional connections and spatial exploitation strategies of hunter-gatherers highlighted in a recent survey of Andean sites. Focusing on north-central Chile, artefacts and radiocarbon dates from three rock shelters suggest sporadic and brief occupation during the Terminal Pleistocene–Early Holocene. Co-occurrence of marine and montane resources, the authors argue, demonstrates a strategy of high mobility and local adaptation in early Andean occupation, using rock shelters as landmarks to navigate and learn new landscapes.

Why are organisational approvals needed for low-risk staff studies in the UK? Procedures, barriers, and burdens

BackgroundHealth care staff should be given the opportunity to participate in research, but recruiting clinicians via their employing organisation is not always straightforward or quick in the UK. Unlike many countries outside the UK, very low-risk survey, interview or focus group studies can be subject to some of the same governance approval procedures as interventional studies. An exemplar study carried out by the NIHR funded Palliative Care Research Partnership North West Coast is used to highlight the challenges still faced by researchers and health care organisations when setting up a low-risk staff study across multiple NHS and non-NHS sites.MethodsA study database was created and information was collected on the first point of contact with the clinical site, Health Research Authority (HRA) and local organisational approval times, time from trust or hospice agreement to the first survey participant recruited and overall site survey recruitment numbers. Descriptive statistics (median, range) were used to analyse these data.ResultsAcross participating NHS trusts, it took a median of 147.5 days (range 99–195) from initial contact with the local collaborator to recruitment of the first survey participant and hospice sites mirrored these lengthy timescales (median 142 days, range 110–202). The lengthiest delays in the HRA approval process were the period between asking NHS trusts to assess whether they had capacity and capability to support the research and them granting local agreement. Local approval times varied between trusts and settings which may indicate organisations are applying national complex guidance differently.ConclusionsThere is the potential for HRA processes to use more NHS resources than the research study itself when recruiting to a low-risk staff study across multiple organisations. There is a need to reduce unnecessary administrative burden and bureaucracy to give clinicians and research staff more opportunities to participate in research, and to free up NHS R&D departments, research nurses and clinicians to focus on more demanding and patient focused research studies. Hospices need standardised guidance on how to assess the risk of being involved in low-risk research without adopting the unnecessarily complex systems that are currently used within the NHS.

Neurological Surgery Manpower Training and Density in Islamic Republic of Iran: A Population Study

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Significant disparities in worldwide neurosurgical training and workforce distribution are prominent primarily in low-income and middle-income countries. Although Iran is considered a lower middle–income country, neurosurgical density and distribution in Iran has surpassed the recommended ratio of 1 neurosurgeon for every 100 000 population. The objective was to determine neurological surgery density and distribution in Iran and the factors significant in the relative success in training and allocation of neurosurgeons in Iran. METHODS: Review of PubMed and administration of site surveys of multiple data sources including Neurosurgical Society of Iran, Iranian Board of Neurological Surgery, Medical Council of Islamic Republic of Iran, Universities of Medical Sciences in Iran, and Ministry of Health and Higher Education of Iran. RESULTS: Over the 72-year period from 1952 to 2024, 1200 neurosurgeons have been trained and distributed in 31 provinces in Iran, attaining a ratio of 1.4/100 000 population. All but 40 neurosurgeons were trained after 1981, which coincided with the Iran-Iraq War. Decentralization of medical and neurosurgical residency training programs, resolving the immediate need for neurosurgeons managing penetrating traumatic brain and spinal cord injuries during the 1980 to 1988 Iran-Iraq War, and active participation of legislative and executive branches of government in solving health care disparities were major factors in meeting the needs of the country. At the present time, more than 555 neurosurgeons are practicing in Tehran Province, a proportion of 3.8 neurosurgeons for every 100 000 population, which indicates an element of disparity in density distribution across Iranian land. CONCLUSION: Legislative initiatives and government support of public health care delivery and decentralization of medical and residency training programs after the Iran-Iraq War and introduction of the Ministry of Health and Medical Education are considered the main reasons for the relative success in meeting the neurosurgical demand and manpower density. Still, further adjustment of distribution of manpower is needed.

Enhancing monitoring to promote early detection and eradication of invasive species

Ecological niche models are often used to predict the distribution of invasive species before or after they have been detected in new regions. Such models should also be used to guide surveys to promote the early detection and eradication of invasive species. Here we propose a practical framework that seamlessly uses ecological niche models to develop sampling routes that promote detection of invasive species. Our framework uses habitat suitability predictions and occurrence data on incursion populations to generate potential survey sites, which are then prioritized for sampling based on their size and suitability. The generated survey route is then displayed on an open street map platform. Our framework was developed into the ‘enmRoute' R package and a user‐friendly website to facilitate its application, and we validated our framework with a case study. We show that integrating ecological niche models with human transport routes promotes identification of survey sites that are predicted to collect more individuals and have a greater potential for species detection than traditional sampling approaches. Our framework may help industries, invasion biologists, and regulators develop economical and efficient survey programs for invasive pest monitoring that make eradication programs more attainable.

Characteristics of body height, body weight and body mass index distributions in children aged 3-17 years in China

Objective: To investigate the distribution characteristics of body height, body weight and body mass index (BMI) in children aged 3-17 years in China. Methods: Data were obtained from the National Nutrition and Health Systematic Survey in 0-18 years old children in China. The study selected 70 853 children aged 3-17 years from 28 urban and rural survey sites in 14 provinces (autonomous regions and municipalities) in 7 regions of China with multi-stage stratified cluster random sampling. M (Q1, Q3) was used to describe the region, age and gender specific body height, body weight and BMI in the children aged 3-17 years. Wilcoxon rank sum test was used to compare the body height, body weight, and BMI between boys and girls in same age group. Kruskal-Wallis H rank sum test was used to compare the body height, body weight and BMI among boys in different age groups and among girls in different age groups, as well as among boys in same age group and among girls in same age group from different regions, and DSCF method was used for further pairwise comparisons. Results: In this study, the median body height and body weight were 172.0 cm and 62.9 kg in 17-year-old boys and 160.0 cm and 53.7 kg in 17-year-old girls. The median for children's body height, body weight, and BMI in most age groups were higher in northeastern and northern China than in southern China, and the differences could be observed until age 17 years. The differences in body weight and BMI in children in northeastern and northern China were greater in Q3 than in Q1 compared with southern China. Conclusions: The body height of children aged 3-17 years continues to increase in China. Northeastern and northern China have more children with higher bodyweight, showing an obvious body weight increase trend, to which close attention needs to be paid.

Empirical Evaluation and Simulation of the Impact of Global Navigation Satellite System Solutions on Uncrewed Aircraft System–Structure from Motion for Shoreline Mapping and Charting

Uncrewed aircraft systems (UASs) and structure-from-motion/multi-view stereo (SfM/MVS) photogrammetry are efficient methods for mapping terrain at local geographic scales. Traditionally, indirect georeferencing using ground control points (GCPs) is used to georeference the UAS image locations before further processing in SfM software. However, this is a tedious practice and unsuitable for surveying remote or inaccessible areas. Direct georeferencing is a plausible alternative that requires no GCPs. It relies on global navigation satellite system (GNSS) technology to georeference the UAS image locations. This research combined field experiments and simulation to investigate GNSS-based post-processed kinematic (PPK) as a means to eliminate or reduce reliance on GCPs for shoreline mapping and charting. The study also conducted a brief comparison of real-time network (RTN) and precise point positioning (PPP) performances for the same purpose. Ancillary experiments evaluated the effects of PPK base station distance and GNSS sample rate on the accuracy of derived 3D point clouds and digital elevation models (DEMs). Vertical root mean square errors (RMSEz), scaled to the 95% confidence interval using an assumption of normally-distributed errors, were desired to be within 0.5 m to satisfy National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) requirements for nautical charting. Simulations used a Monte Carlo approach and empirical tests to examine the influence of GNSS performance on the quality of derived 3D point clouds. RTN and PPK results consistently yielded RMSEz values within 10 cm, thus satisfying NOAA requirements for nautical charting. PPP did not meet the accuracy requirements but showed promising results that prompt further investigation. PPK experiments using higher GNSS sample rates did not always provide the best accuracies. GNSS performance and model accuracies were enhanced when using base stations located within 30 km of the survey site. Results without using GCPs observed a direct relationship between point cloud accuracy and GNSS performance, with R2 values reaching up to 0.97.

Semi-analytical prediction of energy-based acoustical parameters in proscenium theatres

Previous studies of the authors have shown that there are limitations when the existing acoustic energy models are applied to theatres. In the present study, a new semi-analytical model is developed based on site surveys and scale model measurements, aiming to overcome these limitations and provide a reliable prediction of the most relevant energy-based monaural parameters: clarity C80, definition D50, center time TS, sound strength G, early strength G80 and late strength GL, in the stall of proscenium theatres for a comprehensive evaluation of the acoustic quality. Three full-size halls plus two scale model cases of another hall, which differ in dimension, acoustical condition and style of interior decoration, have been exploited as a sample for data analysis to propose the model, and another two halls not included in the sample are chosen for model validation. The results reveal that the proposed model has significant improvement in prediction accuracy than the existing theory initially developed for concert halls. The good agreement between the predicted values of the six energy-based acoustical parameters (i.e., G80, GL, G, C80, D50 and TS) by the new model and those measured indicates that this model can be used for point-by-point predictions in the stall area of proscenium theatres with reasonable accuracy.

Spatiotemporal Evolution Analysis of Surface Deformation on the Beihei Highway Based on Multi-Source Remote Sensing Data

Under the interference of climate warming and human engineering activities, the degradation of permafrost causes the frequent occurrence of geological disasters such as uneven foundation settlement and landslides, which brings great challenges to the construction and operational safety of road projects. In this paper, the spatial and temporal evolution of surface deformations along the Beihei Highway was investigated by combining the SBAS-InSAR technique and the surface frost number model after considering the vegetation factor with multi-source remote sensing observation data. After comprehensively considering factors such as climate change, permafrost degradation, anthropogenic disturbance, and vegetation disturbance, the surface uneven settlement and landslide processes were analyzed in conjunction with site surveys and ground data. The results show that the average deformation rate is approximately −16 mm/a over the 22 km section of the study area. The rate of surface deformation on the pavement is related to topography, and the rate of surface subsidence on the pavement is more pronounced in areas with high topographic relief and a sunny aspect. Permafrost along the roads in the study area showed an insignificant degradation trend, and at landslides with large surface deformation, permafrost showed a significant degradation trend. Meteorological monitoring data indicate that the annual minimum mean temperature in the study area is increasing rapidly at a rate of 1.266 °C/10a during the last 40 years. The occurrence of landslides is associated with precipitation and freeze–thaw cycles. There are interactions between permafrost degradation, landslides, and vegetation degradation, and permafrost and vegetation are important influences on uneven surface settlement. Focusing on the spatial and temporal evolution process of surface deformation in the permafrost zone can help to deeply understand the mechanism of climate change impact on road hazards in the permafrost zone.

Using UAVs to collect filtered water samples for mineral exploration: Will it take off?

The advent of unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) assisted surface water sampling and ongoing technological advances in sampling and data acquisition, offers many opportunities to conduct high-quality hydrogeochemical surveys with low cost, high efficiency, and reduced human interactions. Hydrogeochemical mineral exploration is one area that could greatly benefit from a UAV sampling revolution, with survey sites often located in highly remote areas with limited existing infrastructure. Currently, a lack of point source filtration and complicated physiochemical data acquisition hinder mainstream UAV deployment in the context of hydrogeochemical studies. The aim of this paper is to provide guidance on effective UAV sampling methods and physiochemical data collection for use in surface water hydrogeochemical mineral exploration. To date, case study surveys have utilized sampling systems where sampled waters are filtered after collection or analyzed for ‘total’ (unfiltered) concentrations. This paper details a methodology for point-source filtration of water samples using a UAV system to recover filter sample aliquots for the determination of ‘dissolved’ (<0.45 μm) trace element concentrations and compares UAV methods to conventional sampling strategies. This study systematically compares the quality of analytical data collected from lakes, ponds, and rivers in the Long Lake area of southern Ontario, using conventional manual sampling (from a boat or canoe) and a series of UAV-based sampling methodologies. The waters sampled within the study area are highly meteoric and show evidence of solute input from water-rock interaction with local country rocks. The results of this study show that in general, conventional sampling methodologies are statistically comparable to samples collected using UAVs. However, there is some evidence of element variation related to lake stratification, with dissolved Cu concentrations higher in samples collected at depth compared to those from the surface. Similarly, samples filtered after collection typically have lower concentrations of Fe and Mn, potentially resulting from precipitation before filtration. An enclosed sampling system offered from peristaltic pumping with in-line filtration removes the potential for contamination from the surrounding environment and from the UAV itself.

New Approaches for Regeneration of an Outstanding Baroque Living Heritage, the Széchenyi Linden Allée in Hungary

Allées used to be the essential artistic tools and indispensable parts of the strictly architectural, formal Baroque gardens. Beyond the practical purposes of edging paths and garden ways for walking, hunting, or horse and carriage riding, allées played a vital role in marking visual and landscape connections and thus the spatial projection of the noble estate, its wealth, and social rank. In Historical Hungary, Baroque architecture and garden art appeared in German-Austrian and French examples in the 18th century. The Széchenyi Linden Allée is an outstanding linear garden space of Baroque Garden art at Nagycenk, West Hungary. The generous composition, created by the prominent Count Széchenyi family in the mid-18th century, has remained a magnificent entity in the landscape ever since. Despite barely two hundred years of detected or unknown environmental or habitat changes, as early as 1942, the allée received a nature conservation nomination. More than a half-century later, in 2002, the allée became a historical and landscape aesthetical heritage within the Fertő-Hanság Cultural Landscape World Heritage site. Unfortunately, the once magnificent tree lines have severely eroded in recent decades due to mature trees’ subsequent death, inadequate replacement, lack of regular maintenance and tree care, and effects of climate change. In recent years (2011, 2018), landscape and horticultural analyses and visual and instrumental tree assessments were performed to help the conservation and rebirth of the allée, maintain the mature trees, and restore the landscape within a long-term renewal plan. Along with the 2018 survey and plan, the short-term maintenance works were completed in 2019–2020. This study, based on site surveys in 2022 and 2024, aims to identify the results of the primary management, analyses the vitality of mature trees after crown reductions, and then proposes a resilient and sustainable regeneration method with the habitat, cultural, natural, and genetic heritage, and the feasible maintenance contexts in focus. As proposed in the 2018 plan, the reproduction of mature trees started in 2020 and resulted in well-developing grafts for a later allée restoration. Due to the challenges of climate change, the regeneration project requires a special, long-term restoration management plan with a special focus on the still vital and possible remaining mature trees, the well-growing individuals from previous replanting, and the nursery school seedlings conserving the genetic heritage of the Széchenyi lime trees with long-viability capacity.

Asbestos is still paid for dearly

Abstract Background In Italy, asbestos is a current and important problem in terms of health effects due to the long latency of diseases related to its exposure. The aim of the study is to analyze the case history of malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) in the University Hospital of Siena in the period 2019-2023, comparing the type of exposure (occupational/non-occupational), the mean conventional latencies (MCL) of diagnosis, the histotype and the most exposed categories. Methods The study was conducted from January to April 2024, on 69 patients (79.7% male and 20.3% female) with a diagnosis of pleural mesothelioma between 2019 and 2023. 48 patients lived in Tuscany and 21 outside the region. The data were collected by consulting the medical surveillance records and radiological images through the VuePacs platform, then organized in a filtered database. Results Of 69 patients, exposure was occupational in 54 cases and non-occupational in the remaining 15. In patients with occupational exposure, the MCL was 55.9 years and the mean age at diagnosis was 73.66 years; in the other group, the MCL was 47.3 years and the mean age at diagnosis was 66.8. The study revealed the prevalence of epithelioid histotype in 76.81% of cases, biphasic in 15.94% of cases and sarcomatoid in 7.25%. The most at-risk categories were: metalworking (10 cases), construction (8), electricity/gas production (6) and shipyards (4). The study also identified two cases of atypical occupational exposure. Conclusions The shorter average latency in cases with non-occupational exposure is in accordance with the current scientific literature, as well as the prevalence of epithelioid histotype. Are hereby confirmed the primary role of health surveillance in the in-depth investigation of occupational anamnesis and of the environmental sites’ survey as prevention tool, especially in those cases of MPM whose evaluation, deviating from the exposure standards, could lead to the assignment of a misdiagnosed exposure. Key messages • The effects of asbestos exposure are a current and important problem in our country, even after its disposal, due to the long latency of disease onset. • In-Department investigation of occupational anamnesis and survey of environmental sites as prevention tool play an essential role in MPM evaluation, especially in those cases of atypical exposure.

City profile: Transformations and challenges of São Paulo's historic triangle

Unlike other American megacities, São Paulo's financial and administrative center has shifted multiple times, specifically four times over the last century. These shifts have significantly affected the city's former centers. This study examines the transformation of São Paulo's original center, the Historic Triangle, where layers of urban development that rapidly overlaid in the 20th century led to the demolition of historic buildings and verticalization. The shift of centrality subsequently caused the decay of this historic center. Despite the decline in its financial and administrative importance, the Historic Triangle remained a valuable site for its architectural heritage, though its cultural landscape and imageability are at risk. The data for this study was gathered from site surveys, historical maps, and experts' opinions and was analyzed using GIS and SPSS. An original 3D video was produced to illustrate the transformation and rapid verticalization of the Historic Triangle. To address the complex architectural landscape, the existing buildings are categorized into three generations: 1stG (oldest), 2ndG (transitional), and 3rdG (newest). We examined each category's façade details, building design, and urban integration and provided recommendations for conservation measures and policies to preserve the site's historical integrity and enhance its new role as a tourist heritage center.

Information and Technology Governance Capability Analysis Using COBIT 2019: Case Study of CV Wirelessindo

The implementation of IT supports company sustainability. Large companies use IT as an integral part of their business model. Digital strategies must align with business strategies to achieve sustainability. Wirelessindo, established in 2007, provides IT solutions such as equipment, site surveys, network design and security, and tower installations. Its mission is to increase company productivity to win the competition in the era of Industry 4.0. IT is used to enhance customer service and internal business process efficiency. Initial investigations found issues with IT function mismatches, financial losses due to data loss, errors in IT equipment installation and configuration, and business process incidents caused by emerging risks. Identified root problems include employee knowledge gaps, risk management disparities, errors in defining business needs, and change management gaps. Based on these findings, IT governance evaluation was chosen as the research focus. This study aims to provide an overview of CV Wirelessindo IT capability levels and recommendations for improvements to meet expected levels. COBIT 2019 were used in this study. The General Manager, IT Division Manager, Software Development Team, Network Monitoring Team, Project Manager, and HR Manager were selected as respondents based on the Responsible, Accountable, Checked, Informed chart guidelines. Of the nine selected objectives, BAI08 showed level 0. APO12, BAI02, BAI06, BAI07, and DSS01 showed level 1. APO07, BAI10, and DSS03 showed capability level 2. Therefore, 61 recommendations were provided to raise the IT governance capability level to level 3 for all objectives.